“This year has been a complete right-off for climate action and a massive knock for the people, especially the youth, of this country! We are in a race against time to keep temperatures well-below 2 degrees or stabilise at 1.5°C degrees, and as it stands, current levels of warming has already resulted in human rights’ violations.” So said Earthlife Africa Johannesburg … [Read more...]
Back to the wild: a story of orphaned rhino
Somkhanda Community Game Reserve, co-managed by WILDLANDS – a programme of the WILDTRUST, will for the first-time release two white rhino orphans back into the wild, giving them a second chance at a normal life. Makhosi (4 years old), who was named by the Zulu Royal family and Mpilo (3 years old) or Ncenga iMpilo in full, a name he was given by the Emvokweni Community Trust, … [Read more...]
South Africans plan mass global demonstration
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...]
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...]
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...]
Less than a quarter of us understand climate change threats
How aware, concerned and active are South Africans about climate change and how does this compare to Europeans and Americans? Who is the good, the bad and the ugly in this unfolding story? According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), climate change takes 150 000 casualties every year and will flood around 100 million people by the end of the century. What’s more though, … [Read more...]
Saving rhinos with new canine recruits
Rico, the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) two-year-old Belgian Malinois sniffer dog, has been hard at work foiling the efforts of wildlife poachers trying to smuggle contraband through O.R. Tambo International Airport. Rico (photographed, right) recently flagged a suspicious package and, once law enforcement officers and other sniffer dogs were brought to the scene, ivory and … [Read more...]
The rhino hunt continues – 3 more horns found
One rhino poacher captured The police have busted a 40 year old man in Pretoria North on Tuesday after 3 rhino horns were found in his possession. No further arrests have yet been made in connection with the 11 de-horned rhino carcasses which were found in the Kruger National Park last week. The man is due to appear in the Pretoria North Magistrates Court soon, after he was … [Read more...]
Suspected rhino poachers killed and 3 more carcasses found
Two weeks into the New Year and already 11 rhinos have been found dead and dehorned in the Kruger National Park (KNP). Just hours after 2 suspected poachers were killed in the KNP, 3 more rhino carcasses were found on Thursday 12 January bringing the total rhino killings for 2012 so far, to 11. Following the gruesome discovery of the 8 adult rhino carcasses found in the … [Read more...]
