What a month March has been! First we had a burglary and my son was assaulted in the house in the middle of the day. My life changed in an instant. Nothing can be as intense for a mother as having your child’s life threatened. How are people so brazen to commit crimes in broad daylight? Why did my big and uber defensive German shepherd not protect him? Was she drugged? How I … [Read more...]
Project Manager needed for River Ambassadors Programme
The Cape Town Environmental Education Trust (CTEET) are looking for a highly motivated, enthusiastic self-starter to project manage a novel training programme linked to river corridor rehabilitation. This position requires an engaging person with the relevant field experience and desire to mentor young trainees. Job Information Location: River corridors in Cape Town. … [Read more...]
Groundbreaking plastic upcycling invention to launch in SA
Imagine if all South Africa’s unrecycled plastic waste, at 1 100 000 million tons per year, could create thousands of jobs, clean our environment and help build our houses, hospitals, schools and roads. Don Thompson, the CEO of The Center of Regenerative Design and Collaboration (CRDC), is about to make this a reality. He is the inventor of a process that can turn any … [Read more...]
Which party to vote for our children?
Our short month ends with political parties’ manifestos being published for all to see. First thing I look for has to be how will they preserve our habitat so that our and all children can make a future here? No matter how much the focus zones into other matters, if we don’t have sufficient and clean water, food and renewable energy all that talk will be wasted, for we … [Read more...]
Disposable diapers a growing threat to African rivers
Since the invention of disposable baby diapers in the 1960s, consumption has sky-rocketed. Along with the increase in use of disposables come numerous environmental consequences. The pollution of water systems caused by used diapers is becoming obvious in many African countries, and globally, disposable diapers create large quantities of waste. Solutions to the problem must fit … [Read more...]
South Africa: Stop this criminal devastation of the Transkei ecology
Now you can voice your concern about the toxic spraying in the Transkei. In 1995, the South African Police Service (SAPS) began the aerial spraying of cannabis in the rural former Transkei. Every year since 2000, three SAPS Air Wing squirrel helicopters (donated by the American DEA) arrive at a luxury resort in Port St Johns on the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast. For 3 - 4 weeks, … [Read more...]
Lourens River to receive emergency repairs after severe flooding
As part of the City of Cape Town’s commitment to building a safe city, emergency repairs and the replacement of damaged infrastructure will start soon at Lourens River, following the severe flooding in Somerset West on 15 and 16 November last year. The City had requested financial assistance to deal with the required emergency work after the area was declared a provincial … [Read more...]
Hydropower project to increase renewable power in Africa
The African Development Bank Group’s (AfDB) efforts to improve sustainable energy supply and access in Africa took a leap forward with the Board of Directors’ approval of the Regional Rusumo Falls Hydropower Project. The Bank Group allocated US $97.3 million from the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund for the multinational project, which will support … [Read more...]
When we celebrate water, we celebrate life
Water is life and not a single living organism on earth could survive without it. Rivers form the lifeblood of our existence and protecting these crucial ecosystems is becoming more and more critical as economic development and growing populations require increasing amounts of water. Throughout southern Africa, freshwater ecosystems are under severe pressure with more than 80% … [Read more...]
Riaan Manser takes on the Peninsula Paddle
The annual paddle event from the Indian to the Atlantic Oceans along Cape Town’s waterways takes place on Sunday 9th June. This paddling adventure passes through many neighbourhoods of the city through its canals, lakes and rivers. This year Riaan Manser joins the paddle. Riaan has ridden around Africa on his bike, paddled right around Madagascar and Iceland. Now he is going … [Read more...]
Riverboarding Orange River for water quality
Earlier this month, Cape Town-based adventurer Ray Chaplin began a 2 300km source-to-sea expedition. He aims to follow the length of the Orange River - from its source in Lesotho to the Atlantic Ocean - by riverboard. Titled ‘The Plastics SA Nampak Rigid Plastics Orange River Project’, Chaplin will take four to six months to accomplish this mammoth journey. There have … [Read more...]
Siyabona Youth demand water improvements
Bike mechanics in Auckland New Zealand went through the city offering free bicycle repair. Boy Scouts in Mexico installed energy efficieent light bulbs in cities. Robben Island started to go solar. Cyclists took to the streets in Durban and joined in a clean-up of the Mgeni river. These were but a few of the actions for earth that took place in more than 7000 places in … [Read more...]
Water gives and takes life
It came as a surprise to me that only 0.25% of the water on our planet is available to us. I do know that it is not evenly distributed and that water is the source of all of life. I've also heard a rumour about the shortage of this resource. It is therefore no surprise that an entire conference was recently dedicated to spreading awareness about the serious trouble our water … [Read more...]
