From catastrophic chain-reactions which could push us into dangerous climate change, to cooling effects which balance out global warming, climate feedbacks are an important area of research for scientists. This happens when a change in our climate causes an impact which changes our climate further - a knock-on effect which feeds back into our climate. There are two kinds … [Read more...]
Lwandle: don’t shoot the wounded
Last week I received a call from Ses’khona head, Loyiso Nkhona about the forced removals and demolishment of housing in the Lwandle informal settlement. I was due to meet with Loyiso yesterday out at the settlement. At 3pm he went into a meeting with the Minister of Transport and the Premier of the Western Cape. He asked me to go out and meet with a Ses’khona representative and … [Read more...]
Foxglove organic stories Part 5: Chicks and beekeeping
Amazing things are happening this early part of winter on the farm. 4 of our hens have been sitting on eggs and our first new chicks have hatched! Hopefully, over the next 2 weeks, I will be up to my elbows in little chicks. Sadly, the daddy of these chicks is no longer with us. The most gentlemanly rooster I have met so far, had a tennis ball-sized cancerous growth on his … [Read more...]
Thinking ahead for a future worth living
“Ask yourself: Are you thinking of now, or are you thinking of your grandchild’s future?” This was the question posed by climate scientist Inez Fung, a professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of California and co-director of the Berkeley Institute of the Environment. Prof Fung was giving a lecture entitled ‘Climate Math,’ which was hosted by the African Institute … [Read more...]
What makes northern lights happen?
One of the most stunning natural events our atmosphere offers us is the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. Waves of color dance across the sky during the night, displaying different colors and patterns. But what makes this happen? The answer is an interesting combination of solar wind, magnetic fields, electrical currents, and at least one person standing around to go, … [Read more...]
