This week, as South Africa adjusts to the eased of restrictions of lockdown Level 1, more people are likely to travel domestically again, many heading to SA’s economic hub for business. According to Earthlife Africa Johannesburg’s Makoma Lekalakala, “Many South Africans do not know that Johannesburg, the country’s largest city, is also the most radioactive city on the … [Read more...]
Levels of uranium found in Gauteng hair samples
A novel new study using hair snipped from customers at barber shops across Gauteng has found how residents living in and near gold mining areas are exposed to elevated environmental levels of uranium, which eventually finds its way into their bodies. The study, Human Exposure to Uranium in South African Gold Mining Areas Using Barber-Based Hair Sampling, aimed to uncover … [Read more...]
SA parliament finds “no persuasive arguments against nuclear”
Yesterday, the Portfolio Committee on Energy (PCE) delivered its report on the Department of Energy’s (DoE) Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), to Parliament. According to the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI), Parliament has once again failed to act in the people’s best interest, stating that it found “no persuasive arguments against … [Read more...]
Renewables vs Nuclear – choose a legacy!
While listening to a recent nuclear vs anti-nuclear energy discussion hosted by Cape Talk Radio, it dawned on me that choosing nuclear or renewables is much more than choosing an energy option. It is a choice between two divergent socio-economic opportunities and the consequent legacies. It is a choice that needs public participation and far wider involvement than the Dept of … [Read more...]
Time to act on uranium mining while we still can
We have a small window of opportunity – until Tuesday 15 March 2016 - to make submissions on the uranium mining rights application of Tasman RSA Mines, which is set to destroy more than 500,000ha of Karoo farmland and contaminate the last remaining groundwater. Beaufort West will be the epicentre of millions of tons of radioactive uranium ore. This cannot be the future for … [Read more...]
Justice organisation calls for public hearings
The events at Fukushima over the past few weeks have raised public awareness about the health risks of nuclear power. Earthlife Africa is calling for a firm stand against nuclear energy: 'Around Fukushima Daiichi Station, on March 23rd, they measured 400 millisieverts - that's per hour. With this measurement (Chief Cabinet Secretary) Edano admitted for the first time that … [Read more...]
Alliance demands nuclear phase-out
In a joint statement 50 laureates of the Right Livelihood Award and members of the World Future Council demanded a global nuclear phase out earlier this year. "Nuclear power is neither the answer to modern energy problems nor a panacea for climate change challenges. There is no solution of problems by creating more problems, " states the declaration issued by experts, … [Read more...]
To nuke or not to nuke…
As ancient and unprecedented as nuclear energy is in the history of controversial technology debates, knowledge of nuclear power and its potentially disastrous effects has always remained so atrociously obscure to me that I would often find myself on the nod-and-listen end of any intelligent discussions on the matter. I remembered some things about radioactivity from the … [Read more...]
Harsh realities of global warming in Namibia
I'm woken by the sound of rushing water. I get up and hang out of the window. A river rushing by? Indeed. I have lived on dry river banks for many years, so it's a sound I know well. But now we're in a suburb of Windhoek. It's cool and damp and you might think you were in a Cape Town winter, as it never seems to stop raining. Yet this is March and Windhoek is the capital of … [Read more...]
