Extinction Rebellion South Africa shares the concern voiced by many people and organizations over Minister Gwede Mantashe’s unreasonable fixation on nuclear power. In May, Minister Mantashe said, when addressing the Portfolio Committee: “We are going to explore all options, when there is appetite for nuclear in the market, we will go ahead with it.” Is that a sound plan? Why … [Read more...]
Greenpeace Africa activists demand clean air now
Last weekend, at least six Greenpeace Africa activists wearing superhero costumes leapt onto the SuperSport Park cricket field during the international T20 match between England and South Africa. Their mission was to hand the Proteas captain Quinton de Kock and his team an air pollution mask. This follows the release of a new study by Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Center … [Read more...]
South Africa’s renewables industry growth is fastest in the world
In 2015 SA had the world’s fastest growing green economy! This news broke at the countdown to Windaba. Moody's Corporation’s report shows the highest growth year-on-year globally for asset finance at 300%, totalling $4.5 billion (ZAR 63 billion) in 2015. In another industry affirming move this week, President Jacob Zuma clarified the government's position on the Independent … [Read more...]
Rich-poor climate reconciliation in sight at UN talks
The UN climate process is a complex beast, but at its heart lies a debate over the balance of responsibilities between rich and poor. It’s a pointed subject right now as the global climate change architecture is being reconfigured, with December’s Paris summit the endgame venue. In previous deals, the 42 countries deemed industrialised in 1992, plus post-Soviet states, … [Read more...]
Solving the Eskom problem and poverty simultaneously
The South African government’s plan to spend almost R1 trillion on nuclear power, and the nuclear agreements between SA and China, Russia, France, Korea have got me thinking. Imagine this scenario. The Russian state-run bank lends SA R1 trillion. SA pays this 1 trillion straight back to the Russian State-run Nuclear company Rosatom who spends a portion of this on building … [Read more...]
Cost of climate change high on Davos agenda
From within the Davos Congress Center, you can see skiers racing down the slopes outside of the World Economic Forum. Looking at the snow outside, some participants might wonder why there's so much talk about global warming. Not so Christiana Figueres. Standing in the snow, the UN climate chief said she is pleased the topic is so high on the agenda at Davos. "The risk of … [Read more...]
State intends to go ahead with fracking
In a General Notice, published by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Bomo Edna Molewa, dated 23 August 2013, there is a clear indication that the state intends to allow exploration for the purposes of shale gas production. The process used to obtain shale gas is colloquially referred to as "fracking". The Minister has also reiterated in a press briefing in … [Read more...]
Localization grows the Economics of Happiness
We know what makes us happy—but too often our economic decisions stand in the way. Here's Helena Norberg-Hodge, director of the Economics of Happiness and winner of the 2012 Goi Peace Award, on how to change all that. "The number of Americans who say, 'Yes, I'm very happy with my life' peaks in 1956 and goes slowly but steadily downhill ever since." That's … [Read more...]
Price of water could increase by 45% in 2 years
The hospitality and leisure industry will need to pull in its belt to meet the challenges of increased water tariffs, announced by the Department of Water Affairs’ long term investment plan released earlier this week. This is the opinion of the Heritage Environmental Management Company, Africa’s leading tourism-based environmental certification brand. This plan will see … [Read more...]
Talmbeweging sit gesondheid en genot terug in kos
Siek en sat van die gejaagdheid van die stadslewe? Gesinslede sien mekaar soms net oor naweke. Insidente van spanningsverwante siektes styg jaarliks. Die koop, voorbereiding en gebruik van voedsel is net nóg een van die gejaagde aksies wat daagliks moet plaasvind. Geriefsvoedsel is dikwels die enigste en vinnigste antwoord. Selfs op plase het vierwielmotorfietse en bakkies … [Read more...]
No ‘clowning’ about climate change
On October 10, 2010, millions of people across the globe got together to work towards solving climate crisis as part of the global 'Work Party'. There were more than 7000 events taking place in 183 countries. 350.org 'Green Bay' Global Climate Change Awareness Campaign, co-ordinated by ETC-Africa, hosted at Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre over the weekend, made a huge … [Read more...]
Waste mother leads her team to new heights
Today I salute a rising star in the waste industry in whose bright face I see recycling grow into a central instrument in the healing of our planet. Cynthia Vundisa supervises 64 staff members at the WastePlan recycling transfer station outside Somerset West. Her story illustrates the inter-dependence between a single mother with vision and recycling targets on which the … [Read more...]
A One TRILLION Rand Yellow Cake Gravy Train
What would you do for One Trillion Rand, or ZAR 1,000,000,000,000? Or perhaps I should rather ask these questions: What would Companies do to take a slice of a ZAR 1,000,000,000,000 cake? What would politicians do ensure some gravy from a ZAR 1,000,000,000,000 train? Well, the cake is yellow and the train loads are fissile. This exorbitant number, almost 12x the cost of … [Read more...]
