South African NGOs and foundations (and unions, schools, universities and faith bodies) can multiply their impact with one simple decision — divesting from companies that are socially irresponsible. And that means — among other things — not investing in corporations that contribute to global heating. Every South African NGO, union or foundation either has invested or endowed … [Read more...]
Big business dominates farming while small producers wilt on the vine
Agricultural policy still favours neoliberal models of big agro-business and works against small producers who simply don’t have the resources to compete. It’s difficult not to conclude that this policy has been hijacked deliberately to channel resources from smallholders into commercial and corporate pockets. Read the full article at Daily Maverick. … [Read more...]
Civil society opposed to Eskom’s requested tariff increases
On Monday (14 January), the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) – along with faith and community leaders, and other partners – will present its arguments to the National Energy Regulator (NERSA), opposing Eskom’s proposed tariff increases. Eskom is requesting an electricity price hike of 15% for 2019, with a projected overall increase of 45% to … [Read more...]
Youth highlight the plight of our oceans
The recent expedition of WILDOCEANS and its partners into the Comoros, made possible by CEPF (Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund), saw the first visual mesophotic surveys conducted in the deeper habitats (the depth between 40m and 200m) of their waters. These surveys made use of ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) and Stereo BRUV (Baited Remote Underwater Video), equipment … [Read more...]
A new generation picks up the struggle against coal in the Czech Republic
Libkovice could have been a very pleasant place to live. Lying along a stream on the foothills of the majestic ore mountains that separate Czech Bohemia from German Saxony, the village used to be home to several hundreds of people. It had its own bakery, a typical countryside inn, and reportedly quite a strong communal spirit. Regrettably, Libkovice is no more. It has … [Read more...]
What happens to your waste after you throw it away?
Ever wonder what actually happens to your waste after you throw it in the rubbish bin? The truth is, most of the waste we throw into rubbish bins end up in one of South Africa’s strained landfill sites. A more sustainable and environmentally-friendly option would be to start recycling. Where does the process of recycling start? Recycling starts in your home when the … [Read more...]
Cleaning up Robben Island for International Coastal Clean-up Day
This past week (12-17 September 2016) marked Clean-up & Recycle SA week, the aim of the week is to increase awareness in South Africans of the many benefits of recycling (socially, environmentally and economically) and the importance of a litter-free environment. This year, we celebrated the twentieth year of South Africa’s active participation in the International … [Read more...]
Rwanda, coffee haven emerging from a dark past
The tiny country of Rwanda is beautiful. Trapped between Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda is a country of green hills, mighty volcanos, dense forests, and the vast Lake Kivu. Known as the “land of a thousand hills”, its population of 11.7 million is squeezed into 26,338 km2 of land. Rwanda has experienced its share of trauma and … [Read more...]
Sodexo’s 100% cage-free commitment a victory for SA hens
Sodexo has announced that it will source only cage free eggs (both shell and liquid) worldwide by 2025. They will collaborate with specialised NGO partners to define and implement an action plan to ensure the company and its suppliers can achieve this goal within the next nine years. Neil Barrett, Group SVP Sustainable Development said: “For a company like Sodexo, with … [Read more...]
65 organizations looking for marine litter solutions
Plastic packaging is a huge contributor to marine litter. Now the plastics industry has created a Global Declaration for Solutions to Marine Litter. Packaging SA is in full support of the drive to prevent marine litter and they are the latest signatory to the Declaration. “We recognise that plastic packaging is a major contributor to marine litter and consequently feel … [Read more...]
Sort according to colours for better recycling business
How will recyclers weather current challenges on the ground, like a lack of access to markets and buyers of their materials? These and other crucial issues faced in the recycling sector were discussed and information shared during a workshop hosted by PETCO in Polokwane on 3 July 2014. The well attended workshop was aimed at sharing information about waste management and … [Read more...]
Congress shows strong commitment to local climate action
The Pan-African Local Climate Solutions for Africa Congress 2013 (LOCS 2013) was held from 30 October – 1 November 2013 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. When it came to a close earlier this month, a strong commitment was demonstrated of driving local climate action in Africa. The Congress, which was opened by the Vice President of Tanzania, Dr Mohamed Ghalib Bilal, proudly … [Read more...]
Eskom spying: NGOs quit stakeholder forum
Environmental NGOs Earthlife, groundWork, and Greenpeace have suspended their participation in Eskom’s NGO forum following reports that Eskom contracted an intelligence company to spy on the organisations. "Eskom’s shocking move highlights the deep rot within the organisation that takes us back to the dark days of apartheid. If we cannot trust Eskom’s leadership to deal … [Read more...]
