On July 22, 2020 Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams gazetted a new policy on the development of communications networks in South Africa. The motivation for promoting 5G electronic communications networks ‘was for the creation of a digital economy and society’, she said at the time. Activists have criticized the draft policy, that will … [Read more...]
Youth protest lack of climate action in Joburg
“This year has been a complete right-off for climate action and a massive knock for the people, especially the youth, of this country! We are in a race against time to keep temperatures well-below 2 degrees or stabilise at 1.5°C degrees, and as it stands, current levels of warming has already resulted in human rights’ violations.” So said Earthlife Africa Johannesburg … [Read more...]
Somkhele environmental activist Fikile Ntshangase murdered
“I refused to sign. I cannot sell out my people. And if need be, I will die for my people.” Tragically, grandmother Fikile Ntshangase’s words became a reality when she was gunned down in her home at Ophondweni, near Mtubatuba, on the evening of 22 October 2020. Mama Ntshangashe was the Vice-Chairperson of a sub-committee of the Mfolozi Community Environmental Justice … [Read more...]
Clean air a basic human right, not a luxury
This World Environment Day we face the reality that more than 9 out of 10 people globally are breathing unsafe air. “Clean air isn’t a luxury; it’s a basic human right. It’s not acceptable that so many people around the world are being forced to breathe polluted, toxic air. More and more people are having to deal with the terrible health impacts and they’ve had enough – … [Read more...]
West Coast communities say no to mining
The West Coast Food Sovereignty and Solidarity Forum and the communities of Koekenaap and Lutzville on the West Coast are protesting tomorrow at a meeting between Minister of Mineral Resources, Gwede Mantashe and a mining company, Mineral Sands Resources (MSR) because of their plans to expand mining along the West Coast without any consultation. Despite not honouring the … [Read more...]
Coming together for water crisis awareness and solutions
Water is essential to sustaining all forms of life on Earth – a heavenly gift. Yet, driven most critically by climate change, water crises are on the rise and access to safe, clean water for drinking and for purposes of sanitation – as well as, of course, agriculture – is becoming increasingly problematic in many parts of the world, including our own. It is also becoming … [Read more...]
Are SA’s energy plans a threat to citizens’ human rights?
On Tuesday and Wednesday, 13 & 14 December the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg (ELA-JHB) are in the Cape Town High Court to legally challenge the SA government’s nuclear procurement process, which has been shrouded in secrecy and misinformation. This is one of the most significant challenges to government … [Read more...]
Human rights investigation into climate change proceeds despite fossil fuel opposition
The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHR) today initiated the next steps in the world’s first-ever national investigation into human rights harms resulting from climate change, despite apparent opposition from some fossil fuel companies. A legal petition submitted by 18 individuals and 14 organisations, including Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Philippines) - … [Read more...]
Right to food includes the right to nutrition
In South Africa, all citizens have the right to food. Yet the current approach is to focus on food security, forgetting that security doesn’t necessarily mean nutrition. The right to food wholeheartedly includes the right to nutrition. A recent dialogue event, hosted by the Centre for Complex Systems Transitions (CST) in Stellenbosch, raised some interesting views, current … [Read more...]
Seeking justice for the Arctic 30
A case was launched yesterday at the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of the Arctic 30, who spent two months in Russian jail for a peaceful protest to save the Arctic. The 30 individuals are requesting "just compensation" from the Russian Federation, and importantly, a statement from the independent Court saying that their apprehension in international waters by … [Read more...]
The secret ‘free’ trade agreement lives
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a highly secretive and expansive free trade agreement between the United States and twelve Pacific Rim countries, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, the USA and Vietnam. Despite the global outpouring of opposition to this corporate giveaway, governments around … [Read more...]
11 yr old to Kenya police: rape is a crime
Kaia* was eleven years old when she was assaulted and raped on the way to school. A teacher took her to the hospital, but the police demanded bribes for even taking down a statement. So Kaia did something incredibly brave. She sued the police for failing to protect her. What's even more incredible is what happened next. In Kenya where Kaia lives, a woman or girl is raped … [Read more...]
Saving trees costing lives in Turkey
A friend of ours from Germany received this urgent message last night from her friend Anne who has lived in Turkey for some years now. Here is her plea: Something terrible is happening in Turkey. It all began with a peaceful demonstration against deforestation of 80-year-old trees in a park (Geziparki) located in Taksim Square, where the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is … [Read more...]
