The spraying of agricultural chemicals is widespread, not just on farmlands, vineyards and fruit orchards, but also in towns, public parks and gardens, playgrounds, schools, sportsfields and on verges. These notes may help you, should you find yourself exposed to spray drift. There are a few laws in South Africa that protect people and the environment: Fertilizers, farm … [Read more...]
UK government’s hypocrisy over ‘nerve agent’ spy poisoning
Anyone seeing the sight of the specialists investigating the nerve agent attack in Salisbury totally cocooned from head to toe in the most advanced chemical protective equipment and gas mask style respirators, will have raised an eyebrow or two. Not only because of the spaceman style appearance, but most strikingly because of the sight of innocent members of the public, with no … [Read more...]
Clever kids use rainwater to clean windscreen
It’s an idea that could one day help save billions of litres of water. Instead of simply wiping raindrops off our car windscreens, why not collect and reuse the water via the washer jets? Brother and sister Daniel and Lara Krohn were travelling in the family car last summer when the heavens opened. But when their dad Gerd, who was driving, tried to clear away the smears, the … [Read more...]
Joburg school fills swimming pool with plastic to teach students a lesson
Plastic bottles are affecting our oceans and the environment, leaving a path of destruction where all living beings are affected. That is why the Dainfern College Foundation and Student Head of Environmental Affairs, Stella Ritsito, decided to do something bold to bring their student’s attention to the damage created by our consumption of plastic. The Annual Swim-a-Thon, … [Read more...]
Gauteng campaign teaches kids the importance of forests
WESSA is excited to launch a new environmental education programme for schools that is aimed at increasing knowledge about the key role forests play in enabling sustainable life on our planet, including the cultural, ecologic, economic and social functions and benefits. LEAF (Learning About Forests) is an innovative, international programme that encourages learners and … [Read more...]
Desks made from recycled waste help schools and the environment
Learners at City Kids Pre – and Primary School in Johannesburg were gifted 15 double – seater school desks made from recycled plastic pledged by Extrupet, PETCO and AKRARA as part of the Joburg City Clean – up earlier this year. The 15 double – seater desks, manufactured by Extruwood, weigh 68kgs each and can comfortably seat a classroom of 30 learners. The desks look and … [Read more...]
Firm ‘no’ to fracking in KwaZulu-Natal
A company wanting to explore the province for natural gas has admitted that “fracking is a possible end goal”. Environmental consultant Matthew Hemming, of SLR Consulting and acting on behalf of Rhino Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa, made the statement at a heated meeting at Ashburton Community Hall in the first of 11 public consultation meetings being held throughout … [Read more...]
45 recycled desks donated to Hout Bay underprivileged kids
In the Cape Town suburb of Hout Bay today, 45 new desks were delivered to the learners of Ikhaya le Themba in Imizamo Yethu as part of the Old Mutual Two Oceans Marathon #GOGREEN campaign. Funded by the Two Oceans Marathon Initiative (TOMI), the unique desks were made from non-organic event waste collected during the marathon earlier this year. Thirty of the donated Green … [Read more...]
Why empowering women is the best way to solve climate change
In April of this year, the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii recorded its first-ever carbon dioxide reading over 410 parts per million (ppm). This is a brand-new state of affairs, as humans have never existed on Earth with CO2 levels over 300 ppm. If carbon emissions continue their current trend, our atmosphere could get to a point it hasn’t been at in 50 million years—when … [Read more...]
Only 23% of SA toddlers eat a proper diet
The latest major health survey from Stats SA reveals that only 23 percent of South African toddlers are fed a diet considered to be adequate in terms of child nutrition. This is a figure which should concern us all: its implications for the future development of this demographic cohort are frightening. As a new book by agricultural economist Dr Tracy Ledger makes clear, at … [Read more...]
Annual clean-up competition urges schools to recycle
Schools around the country stand a chance to once again win big prizes in Plastics|SA’s annual schools competition, entitled “Let’s do it … Let’s Clean-Up South Africa!” According to Douw Steyn, Director: Sustainability at Plastics|SA, the aim of this national competition is to educate and encourage schools, communities, businesses and organisations to play their part in … [Read more...]
Help Project Sunshine bring light to the children of Diepsloot
Diepsloot is a densely populated neighbourhood situated in the north of Johannesburg, South Africa. Over 200 000 inhabitants live in self made shacks, with living conditions worsened by a lack of access to basic facilities, like water, proper sanitation, education and public lighting. The Philile Foundation is a non-profit organisation that aims to transform the lives of … [Read more...]
Toxic chemicals in children’s toys exceed proposed hazardous waste limit
A new global survey finds that recycling plastics containing toxic flame retardant chemicals found in electronic waste results in contamination of the world’s best-selling toy along with other children’s products. Ironically, the chemical contaminants can damage the nervous system and reduce intellectual capacity but are found in Rubik’s Cubes – a puzzle toy designed to … [Read more...]
