The immense socio-economic impact under one of the world’s most extreme lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in South Africans uniting for their voices to be heard under a grassroots movement called Move One Million. The movement, launched in July 2020, has garnered interest from half a million South Africans to date and organisers are using a combination of … [Read more...]
Belgian green parties introduce bill to make ecocide a crime
The Belgian Ecolo-Groen (Eco-Green) parties have been quick to seize the moment to propose establishing the crime of ‘Ecocide” in Belgium and in the wider international community, following French president Emmanuel Macron’s recent statement in support of making ecocide a crime. Belgian eco-green parties, in consultation with French legal expert and Stop Ecocide associate … [Read more...]
The race to feed SA must turn from marathon to sprint
The emerging lockdown risks of civil unrest and an increase in crime related to food scarcity have turned into reality. Both risks were communicated to media and relevant public sector officials in late March by the Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA). These incidents of unrest and crime are arising due to the lockdown restrictions that caused a disruption to … [Read more...]
Celebrating the end of Mad March
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...]
Conserving sharks and rays in the Indian Ocean
At a press conference held in Johannesburg recently, the issue of overfishing and overuse of ocean resources was unpacked with a specific focus on the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). WILDOCEANS, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and TRAFFIC collaborated on a presentation given at the conference with a specific focus on overfishing linked to sharks and rays. Rhett Bennett, … [Read more...]
Pangolin poaching requires urgent government action
South Africa and neighbouring states must act urgently to save what is already the world's most smuggled mammal. The conservation NGO WildAid estimates that 100 000 pangolins are taken from the wild each year in Africa and Asia. Scales from more than a million pangolins have been traded globally in the past decade, with seizures by law enforcement surging from 21 kg in 2011 to … [Read more...]
Youth delegates from across the world pledge to protect wildlife
The World Youth Wildlife Summit brought together 225 youth delegates, adult chaperones (educators and community leaders), conservation experts and keynote speakers from the 21st – 24th September, to equip the youth to become Ambassadors for Conservation and influencers to reduce wildlife crime. The impact of wildlife crime was highlighted during the Opening Ceremony when … [Read more...]
Let’s help make ecocide a crime
A growing number of people believe ecocide should be recognised as an atrocity crime at the International Criminal Court - alongside Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity. Ecocide is serious loss, damage or destruction of ecosystems, and includes climate and cultural damage. Any member state, however small, can propose an amendment to the International Criminal … [Read more...]
Fuel most foul: purgatory times for oil majors
As the ravages of climate breakdown barrel at exponential speeds across the planet, the fossil fuel conglomerates are facing unprecedented pushback. The anger is mostly coming from teenagers, who will bear the brunt of the devastation. But the protests are being supported by rising calls for fossil fuel executives to be tried for crimes against humanity, by strident … [Read more...]
New UN report highlights crimes that have serious environmental impacts
The new Report “The State of Knowledge of Crimes that have Serious Impacts on the Environment” has been published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). Environmental crime is a complex type of crime that requires thorough analysis and strong coordination among different … [Read more...]
Monsanto to face tribunal for ecocide and crimes against humanity
Last week, dozens of farming, sustainable food, and environmental justice groups announced they would bring insidious agrochemical giant and food-experimenter, Monsanto, to trial before The Hague for charges of ecocide and crimes against humanity and nature. The tribunal will commence in The Hague, Netherlands, appropriately, on World Food Day, which falls on October 16th of … [Read more...]
New law seeks to punish GMO producers
A draft law submitted to the Russian parliament seeks to impose punishment up to criminal prosecution to producers of genetically-modified organisms harmful to health or the environment. The draft legislation submitted on Wednesday amends Russia's law regulating GMOs and some other laws and provides for disciplinary action against individuals and firms, which produce or … [Read more...]
Bread Tags For Wheelchairs honours brave teen
A 16 year old hero from Brits in the North West Province who was paralyzed on Old Year’s Eve when he tried to protect his friend during an attempted robbery, has become the latest recipient of a wheelchair thanks to the Breadtags for Wheelchairs Project administered by the Polystyrene Packaging Council (PSPC). A brave act by Luday van der Merwe changed his life forever when … [Read more...]
