The immense socio-economic impact under one of the world’s most extreme lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in South Africans uniting for their voices to be heard under a grassroots movement called Move One Million. The movement, launched in July 2020, has garnered interest from half a million South Africans to date and organisers are using a combination of … [Read more...]
Global day of protest planned against 5G rollout
While the media’s attention with regard to environmental issues has been captured by climate change, fracking, and plastics in the ocean, the 5G Space Appeal has been has been quietly making its way around the world. Signed by 4,800 scientists, 2,800 medical doctors, 770 beekeepers, 2,000 environmental organizations, and 180,000 others from 202 countries and territories, … [Read more...]
Go-ahead for controversial oil project off KZN coast
Marches, protests and objections to plans to drill for gas and oil along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline over the past few years have come to naught. The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has granted environmental authorisation to the Italian energy group, Eni, and Sasol Africa to conduct exploratory drilling in the Durban and Zululand basins, covering a total offshore area … [Read more...]
Shopping without plastic bags?
South Africa does not have a law banning plastic bags. However, to reduce littering and discourage customers from buying them, the plastic bag levy was increased in April by 50 percent to 12 cents per bag. SA department store chain Woolworths Holdings will be removing single-use plastic bags from one of its stores during a six-month trial period in a bid to end plastic … [Read more...]
Underwater ruins of lost Roman city discovered in Tunisia
A vast 1,700 year old Roman settlement has been discovered off the coast of Tunisia after several years of archaeological exploration in search of the ancient city of Neapolis. Neapolis is believed to have been submerged after a tsunami in the 4th century AD destroyed most of it, as recorded by Roman soldier and historian Ammien Marcellin. The natural disaster also badly … [Read more...]
Pope Francis seeks swift action on climate change
Pope Francis on Thursday called for a radical transformation of politics, economics and individual lifestyles to confront environmental degradation and climate change, blending a biting critique of consumerism and irresponsible development with a plea for swift and unified global action. The vision that Francis outlined in a 184-page papal encyclical is sweeping in ambition … [Read more...]
World Refugee Day: Three stories of struggle
Today is World Refugee Day. Refugees mostly flee from violent situations - and most violence is linked to the scarcity of resources - or hunger. Both could be linked to climate change and the scramble for environmental support. Indeed this escalating trend is set to increase as changing climates place more and more pressure on our land and people to adapt to difficult … [Read more...]
From linear into circular society
“There is no Planet B. We are all a part of the global market and live on a planet with finite resources. We have the same aspirations and visions but will have to find a unique strategy when it comes to our waste management and recycling challenges.“ This was the message from the first South African and European Colloquium on Recycling that took place in Cape Town last … [Read more...]
New form of barter faces focuses on creativity
Imagine coming into possession of a unique piece of artwork, design object, photography or furniture without paying for it, but just swapping it with something useful or unique of your own. Otherwise, imagine you can take some common objects you like or need without buying them, but just exchanging them with an artwork, picture or object created by yourself. Welcome to … [Read more...]
Three more die in Italy floods; Venice waters receding
Three people died when their car fell off a collapsed bridge on Tuesday, as flooding battered central Italy for a third straight day, forcing part of Italy's main north-south highway to close. Water levels were receding, however, in Venice, the lagoon city and Unesco world heritage site that at the weekend saw its sixth-worst flooding since records began in 1872. St … [Read more...]
A TREE SEEKER IN ITALY
I walk through the landscape. Italy is so a big and amazing place to discover. We have a long history, a great artistic heritage from the Etrurian age, the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages local cultures and towns, the Renaissance masterpieces, etc. When a person, everywhere in the World, think about Italy probably imagine about Leonardo da Vinci, Rome, Venice’ channels, … [Read more...]
