The GMO decision making body of South Africa has given the green light for importation of maize that has been sprayed with dangerous chemicals. Studies have shown these chemicals to cause cancer, birth defects, neurological damage and interference with reproductive function. Unlike in the US, South Africans would be consuming this maize, putting the health of the entire … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest part 9: Pest control
This time on Stoep Harvest we look at pests. Pests come in all shapes and sizes. Large pests may include dogs, cats, birds, porcupines, monkeys, baboons, and even children and their sports equipment! Smaller pests include insects such as caterpillars and beetles. There are even microscopic pests such as nematodes and eelworm that cannot be seen by the naked eye but cause … [Read more...]
Through the eyes of a toad!
Imagine you are a western leopard toad living in your snug little home under a pot plant for 11 months of the year, happily snacking on organic, 'pesticide free' cockroaches and crickets in your vegetable patch at night while your human sleeps. It's the end of July, it's raining and the moon is getting fuller with every passing night. Your belly is laden with 1000 eggs … [Read more...]
Poison saga continues – nobody takes responsibility
You remember that we wrote the story of Mr Leslie Steenkamp who tried to rid his Plumstead house of borer-beetles, but instead ended up losing it due to an over-application of a pesticide CTX 108 by a fumigation company, Pestokil. As promised in our story last time, the Green Times has been in touch with all companies concerned in order to give them a fair chance to have … [Read more...]
Plumstead family displaced from poisoned house
In the Cape Town suburb of Plumstead stands a house poisoned by the over-application of a pesticide by a fumigation company some 11 months ago. The young Steenkamp family have battled since January this year to get their house restored to a safe and liveable home for their young baby daughter, who was born during May, in the middle of their struggle. To this day Mr Leslie … [Read more...]
The wells of not-so-ancient wisdom
My bookcase groans with the weight of green literature. Permaculture for idiots, double digging for novices, you get the picture. You see I am passionate about gardens, food and the planet. My garden should, in theory, be prolific with delicious organic food. Despite my cerebral imbibing of all knowledge organic, I have never been able to translate that knowledge into a food … [Read more...]
Farmers set to follow nature
Pressures on our natural capital, such as alien plant species, water pollution and overuse of resources, have caused a chain reaction of negative effects threatening our agricultural sector. Whether it is visible like sedimentation in our dams, or less visible such as fewer effective pollinators, the impact is enormous. This was said at the CAPE Partners' Conservation and … [Read more...]
End of the road for Endosulfan
Last Friday in Geneva it was agreed and announced that Endosulfan was too toxic to have on the planet. The Air That I Breathe (TATIB) Foundation, founded in Stellenbosch, has thanked their South African supporters for their commitment and endurance. After extensive review and debate, and years of work on behalf of especially the chairman, Jurgen Schirmacher, the chemical … [Read more...]
GM crop cultivation nosedives across Europe
On the day of the release of annual industry-sponsored figures, a new report from Friends of the Earth International reveals that the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops across Europe continues to decline, with an increasing number of national bans, and decreasing numbers of hectares dedicated to GMOs. The report, 'Who Benefits from GM Crops?', reveals that less … [Read more...]
Media thrown out of public pesticide meeting
A public meeting organised by The Air That I Breathe Foundation (TATIB) with the Stellenbosch city manager to discuss the issue of spray drift stalled this morning when planning, property and integrated human settlements director Basil Davidson, who deputised for the city manager at short notice, refused to proceed with the meeting until members of the media had left the … [Read more...]
The Silent Spring Continues
The use of toxic agricultural sprays - even in towns - seems set to continue unabated in our country, in spite of urgent requests from citizens, neighbours and parents of children on farm schools, in spite of the health risks they pose to vulnerable farm workers, the ground water and biodiversity. In a letter by medical doctor Johan Minnaar from Groblersdal to Rapport … [Read more...]
Spring is poison time in the Boland
I trust it is safe to say that spring has finally arrived in the Cape. And with it comes gorgeous flower, blossoms, birds and beautiful burst of colour. I have already been lucky to receive in my garden an active team of bees pollinating my mostly indigenous flowers, unlike many parts of the world where the bees are disappearing due to illnesses and also the indiscriminate use … [Read more...]
Attack of the pigweed
This may sound like a 1950's B-grade horror, but the phenomenon is real. As more and more herbicide is sprayed on the genetically-modified monocultural wastelands of the world, resulting in plants developing immunity to the herbicide, the United States, where the experiment has been carried out for the longest, is suffering the worst of the consequences. Pigweed, and other … [Read more...]
