The South African Organic Sector Organisation (SAOSO) in collaboration with Participatory Guarantee System South Africa (PGSSA) has launched SA’s first Ecological Organic Agriculture Pollinator programme. The programme is training 20 people to set up PGSs throughout South Africa that will help build more connected local food systems, provide organic assurance for consumers … [Read more...]
The collapse of ideology and the end of escape
An essay on the deeper causes and implications of climate-driven societal breakdown, by Professor Jem Bendell. If you have begun to anticipate the climate-driven collapse of societies, what can you wish for? I have written elsewhere about the problems of being attached to hope, if that means we falsely assume we can’t engage in the world creatively unless we have an … [Read more...]
Cape Town museum depicts global water story
Water is the most vital resource for life on Earth and no living thing exists without it. The global water story exhibition, H2O Today, examines the diversity and challenges of water sources worldwide and promote conversation, creativity and innovation through art, science and technology. The exhibition is now on at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town. An … [Read more...]
Two monks, Wood and Wasi help assess King IV
Two companion monks came across a swollen, raging river on their travels. A pretty, young woman who had reached the same bank, asked them to help her cross the river. Without hesitation the older and senior of the two picked up the woman and helped her across. The younger monk was aghast because his companion had broken a vow that they had both taken – never to touch a … [Read more...]
Rural Acornhoek kids taught to love their environment
Children who have never seen wildlife struggle to draw pictures of them. This is in a rural township wedged between the affluent tourist regions of the Greater Kruger and the Blyde River Canyon. Even though they live in a world-renowned area for game viewing, they don’t comprehend concepts like loving nature, caring for wildlife and conserving its habitat. Luckily change is … [Read more...]
Empowering waste collectors in the North West
Collectors of recyclable waste are being trained to build sustainable businesses. PETCO, in partnership with the Paper Recycling Association of South Africa (PRASA) and Ngaka Modiri Molemo District Municipality, recently convened a collectors’ workshop in Mafikeng. The aim of the workshop was to give collectors information they need to build sustainable businesses through … [Read more...]
Order Mother Earth Book
Here is a loving tribute to Mother Earth and a call to action for children, their parents and grandparents. "What if our religion was each other If our practice was our life If prayer, our words What if the temple was the Earth If forests were our church If holy water--the rivers, lakes, and ocean What if meditation was our relationships If the teacher was life If … [Read more...]
Climate Reality Project trains 700 new climate leaders
More than 700 community leaders, entrepreneurs, activists and business innovators became Climate Reality Leaders this week at a three-day training held by The Climate Reality Project in Johannesburg, South Africa. The organisations also announced the launch of The Climate Reality Project Africa, a new branch that will further mobilise individuals and communities across the … [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 project aims to capture oral Bushman traditions
The Cape Bush Doctors (CBD) are currently trying to raise funds for a project that will use digital technology to record the threatened and vastly disappearing oral traditions of the San healers and 'shamans' in their own words. The Cape Bush Doctors/Kaapse Bossiedokters main objective is the formalization, protection and restitution of Southern African indigenous healers … [Read more...]
Wild and healthy weeds: gifts from nature
“Did you know that wild foods have at least 10 times more nutrients than cultivated foods?” So said Tracy Armbruster, who conducts wild food courses in Villiersdorp. I have always known that there is something special about weeds. Natural, indigenous, resilient plants that arrive uninvited. We all know that spraying them to death with toxic chemicals, killing the rest of the … [Read more...]
Stellenbosch: Low wage dissatisfaction ‘warranted’
Farmworkers’ dissatisfaction with their low pay is warranted, Stellenbosch Deputy Executive Mayor Martin Smuts said last week at a book launch outside the Winelands town. “Privileged kids often have breakfast in the morning with a value of around R150, so asking for a living wage of R150 is reasonable,” he said. Smuts was speaking at a workshop around a new Stellenbosch … [Read more...]
Kulula celebrates 24 hours of reality
Kulula's Project Green programme, which aims to combat the atmospheric carbon loads and greenhouses gases released by its aircraft, has raised R1 million to support greening and mitigate climate change through Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA). By February 2009 Project Green had planted 2009 trees. Now, thanks to the thousands of Kulula fans who contributed money every time … [Read more...]
