The Covid pandemic has made clear that there is no economic success without social wellbeing, which is founded on the health of people and ecosystems. When we imperil wellbeing, we demolish economic activity, resulting in more poverty and destitution. For over a decade, Prof. Fioramonti has been advocating a new theory and practice called “wellbeing economy” to demonstrate … [Read more...]
Protecting our oceans to save marine life
During my time as an oceans campaigner at Greenpeace, I’ve sat in a tiny boat in the middle of the Indian Ocean, watching a fishing boat pull in miles of drift nets. The nets were full of tuna, but there were also dead spinner dolphins, manta rays, thresher sharks and more – a grim demonstration of devastation at sea. I’ve been right up close with some of the biggest fishing … [Read more...]
Veterinary clinic provides free services to vulnerable companion animals
The TEARS Animal Rescue Veterinary Clinic and Mobile Clinic work jointly to mobilise free veterinary and primary healthcare services to vulnerable companion animals. More and more cases of animal neglect and abuse are being recorded by the TEARS Clinic, which performs about 200 sterilisations every month, as well as 200 Feral Cat sterilisations. The Charity, which has been … [Read more...]
Mozambican litchi programme brings the sweet taste of success
In a victory for more than 200 smallholder growers, Westfalia Fruit is celebrating a bountiful 2020 litchi season in Mozambique. The returns from the 2020 bumper crop are uplifting a community of small-scale farmers in Manica Province, who, with the help of Westfalia over the past five years, have secured market access to Europe, GlobalGAP status, and a World Bank grant to … [Read more...]
Industrialised food systems will not feed Africa
The Southern African Faith Communities’ Institute (SAFCEI) and faith community representatives from Africa recently made public its open letter to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. They are appealing to the Gates Foundation to reconsider its approach to “food security and food production” and to stop their push for “input-intensive crop” monoculture agriculture and … [Read more...]
WHO urged to lower electromagnetic exposure limits
A group of bioelectromagnetics experts have written a letter to World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus with grave concerns about the public health and environmental impacts of exponentially increasing use of wireless radiating devices relying on radio frequencies and extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields throughout the world … [Read more...]
Kenya emerges as leader in fighting plastic pollution
Kenya is emerging as a leader in the fight against plastic pollution and is among the first countries in East Africa to limit single-use plastics and sign the Clean Seas initiative to rid waterways of plastic waste. Juliette Biao, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Director for Africa lauded the country for banning plastic bottles, cups and cutlery in … [Read more...]
The frightening reality of SA’s legal poisons
Called “crop protection solutions” by producers, 67 agrichemicals which are banned in the EU remain legal in South Africa. An article published in September this year exposed the double standards of the EU in which the region was found to export (and obviously profit from) the self-same pesticides that they deem too poisonous for use in their own fields. It’s a shocking … [Read more...]
More education needed on environmental laws in SA
Following the questionable attempt at online public consultation regarding the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) last week, Earthlife Africa Johannesburg says it is more determined than ever to ensure that communities affected by large projects around the country know and exercise their environmental rights, as stipulated in the National Environmental Management Act … [Read more...]
SA entrepreneurs grow ideas into successful businesses
Despite living in different parts of South Africa, Simphiwe Makapela, Kylie Davids and Luvuyo Gushu each began their entrepreneurial journey with one common goal in mind – exploring opportunities to develop successful businesses in the water, biodiversity and environmental sectors. Historically, entrepreneurs looking to venture into specialised sectors, such as water and … [Read more...]
Concerns raised about Saldanha gas-to-power plant
While South Africa struggles to survive the impacts of the CoVid-19 pandemic, along with being ravaged by all the corruption that continues to be exposed, the Green Connection questions our government’s reasoning for pushing through Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), when there is little or no chance of meaningful engagement with those communities who will be most … [Read more...]
Protest aims to educate about the perils of 5G
While enticing ads for 5G are increasingly ruling the airwaves, scientists, communities and organizations around the world are rising up to oppose 5G technology proposed on every street corner and in space. An international effort has been launched to offer a reality check on 5G and educate others that this untested technology threatens our health, safety, property values, … [Read more...]
SA’s health and wellbeing are at stake
On July 22, 2020 Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams gazetted a new policy on the development of communications networks in South Africa. The motivation for promoting 5G electronic communications networks ‘was for the creation of a digital economy and society’, she said at the time. Activists have criticized the draft policy, that will … [Read more...]
