Astonishingly, only 0.5% of land in South Africa is forested. And within this, our increasingly rare mistbelt forests occupy an even tinier fraction. On the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal lies one such special place. Ferncliffe. It is the precious remnant of a biome that originally stretched over 2000 hectares. In a largely dry country, Ferncliffe is blessed … [Read more...]
Climbing the ladder of awareness
When it comes to our understanding of the unfolding global crisis, each of us seems to fit somewhere along a continuum of awareness that can be roughly divided into five stages: 1. Dead asleep At this stage there seem to be no fundamental problems, just some shortcomings in human organization, behaviour and morality that can be fixed with the proper attention to … [Read more...]
Floating base for HOPE on the Black River
The HOPE statue placed in the water where the Liesbeeck and Black Rivers converge, has become a much-loved and well-known sight for motorists travelling along the M5 highway near the N2 interchange. The brainchild of Fred du Preez, an art director and self-proclaimed river man, this symbol of pollution-free rivers and oceans has recently received a brand-new floating base … [Read more...]
Virtual conference to focus on sustainable urban development
The 5th Local Climate Solutions for Africa (LoCS4Africa) Congress, ICLEI Africa’s flagship climate change event for cities, will take place online from 3 to 12 November 2020. This free-to-attend solution catalyst is the only pan-African event focused on African cities and finance to happen in 2020. It will contribute significantly to raising local climate action momentum on the … [Read more...]
iThemba Tower combines art, recycling and community
Officially opened in July 2016, the iThemba Tower is a community art project made with over 7 000 recycled plastic drinks bottles decorating a decommissioned 20m high cellular tower. The tower, in the garden of the Spaza Art Gallery in Troyeville, Johannesburg, has become a point of pride for people living and working in the area. https://vimeo.com/226310331 The project … [Read more...]
New book for tree lovers
There is a beautiful new South African tree book for both the scientifically and artistically minded to indulge in. “...(T)his book is a humble attempt to capture the beauty and power of trees for lovers, the lovers of the glory of the tree; from those who talk to trees to those who cannot name a single plant.” So reads the introduction to “South African Flowering Trees – A … [Read more...]
New form of barter faces focuses on creativity
Imagine coming into possession of a unique piece of artwork, design object, photography or furniture without paying for it, but just swapping it with something useful or unique of your own. Otherwise, imagine you can take some common objects you like or need without buying them, but just exchanging them with an artwork, picture or object created by yourself. Welcome to … [Read more...]
A beautiful conversation with Ian McCallum
Ian McCallum talks about our profound connection to the wilderness, and our place in it – an instinct we have tuned out. A renowned doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, wilderness guide and poet; Ian uses his insight to connect the dots between human psychology and the role our environment plays in our internal make up. “We are intimately linked to wild places, wild animals, … [Read more...]
Art for our rhinos’ sake
A picture says more than a thousand words. Personally I feel that eco art should play a much stronger role in getting our urgent environmental message across than currently happens in our country. Our future demands that – our hearts need to be stirred by all means possible. Why are our musicians not taking up the cause, the artist illustrating our problems, the poets not … [Read more...]
Celebrate the important things this Valentine’s Day
Love is in the air. The weather is scorchingly beautiful and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. We live in a part of the world where there are plenty of eco-friendly and inexpensive ways to celebrate love on this day. As is the case with most special days, this day started out with noble intentions as a simple celebration of love, and has evolved into another … [Read more...]
Leopard made of gin traps on display
The Landmark Foundation is currently hosting an art exhibition at the Grahamstown Arts Festival. A life-sized leopard is on display, which was crafted by some talented young students out of gin traps and scrap metal. Other artists have also donated works for raising awareness and funds for leopard conservation. Apex of Evolution A young man was brought into the biology class … [Read more...]
Have a Green Christmas
I was walking in the mall with my son who noticed all the Christmas trees when I realized that I do not know why we have Christmas trees. Which made me wonder about the Christmas tradition and what it has become; surely it was not meant to be this mad rush we experience every year. Therefore I decided to explore Christmas knowing that as a parent I help build my son’s memories … [Read more...]
Climate Train adventures: drawing Mother Earth
It was the morning of day nine of our journey across South Africa on the Climate Train. I found myself lying on the boardroom table in the conference carriage. Perfectly still, I lay on a large piece of canvas looking out at the dinky station with sunny yellow boarders. My dear friend and fellow cultural practitioner on the train, Dylan McGarry was sketching my body’s … [Read more...]
