Oceans Not Oil has started a petition calling on Minister for the Environment Barbara Creecy, to withdraw her approval of Italian oil corporation ENI and Sasol’s application (ER236), for exploratory drilling offshore of Richards Bay and Scottburgh. These companies, with poor safety reputations, were given the go ahead to drill at record depths in the Agulhas Current, known … [Read more...]
Energy plan should include voices of small-scale fishers
This past Saturday (21 November) was World Fisheries Day – a day that highlights the critical importance of fish and the lives they sustain and issues of concern such as over-fishing and fishing rights. The Green Connection also continues to raise awareness of the negative implications of offshore gas and oil exploration and drilling for the small-scale fishers living in about … [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...]
Life, the Sea and Big Oil
When I learned about the oil giant BP’s plan to drill off the coast of my home, my heart felt like it dropped out of my chest. As I write this the West Aquarius rig is well on its way to the Nova Scotian Shelf. By the time this is published, it might have already arrived. My thoughts went immediately to those oil sullied shorelines in the Gulf of Mexico, and to the fishermen … [Read more...]
BP oil spill killed several trillion larval fish
Louisiana's coastal marshes will be the key focus of $8.8 billion BP will pay to restore vast natural resource losses caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, part of a $20.8 billion settlement with federal and Gulf state governments announced Monday (Oct. 5). The environmental portion also includes targeting significant money on Gulf of Mexico resources, federal … [Read more...]
Let’s stop the pollution support!
G8 leaders released a statement on Saturday calling for a phase out of inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies over the medium term - but they failed to take strong action. The momentum is building, we have one month until key environmental talks where we can win an end to crazy polluter subsidies for good. Help grow the call by forwarding this campaign to your friends! It’s … [Read more...]
Seli 1 wreck reduction operations a resounding success
Seli 1 wreck reduction operations to date have been confirmed as a resounding success; however the public are advised to keep a wide berth as further operations to ensure the safety of recreational users must still take place. A recent follow-up assessment of the Seli 1 wreck off the Table View coastline has confirmed that the operation has been a success, with the primary … [Read more...]
Hopes to salvage Kiani Satu sink along with the ship
All hopes to save the ship wrecked off the coast of Knysna plunge as the Kiani Satu sinks into the dark abyss of the Indian Ocean on Wednesday 21 August. After the attempt to float the ship on Saturday 17 August, nature took its course at 4:00 am on Wednesday and dragged the vessel underwater 200m South of Buffels Bay. The carcass of Kiani Satu now lies at a depth of 1000m … [Read more...]
Another shipwreck: not a ‘Smart’ move
During the high seas experienced from inclement weather and spring tides, our coast is taking a hammering from the threats of sinking ships. As if the disaster off the Knysna coast is not enough, now another ship is stranded off the coast of Alkantstrand, Richards Bay. The 230m coal carrying vessel, called ‘Smart’, ran aground as it attempted to sail out of port on Monday 19 … [Read more...]
Storm threatens Knysna’s oil spill cleanup
Almost a week later, and the Kiani Satu cargo ship remains stranded off the coast of Buffels Bay, Knysna. Officials are working hard and fighting the elements to float the vessel away from the protected coastline. Saturday morning 3 tonnes of oil had spilled into the ocean. By Monday 15 tonnes had entered the marine protected coastline of the Goukamma Nature Reserve, which … [Read more...]
Knysna saddled with ongoing oil spill disaster
On Thursday 8 August a cargo ship ran aground off the coast of Buffels Bay, Knysna. Oil is seeping into the sea and endangering the marine and coastal wildlife of the Goukamma Nature Reserve. After a mechanical failure Chinese cargo ship, Kiana Satu, beached 50m from the shore at Buffels Bay. The 168m vessel was on course to Gabon couriering 15 000 tonnes of rice and 30 … [Read more...]
Rainbow Warrior Day 2: 14 nationalities, one passion
Robert is fun to have around the mess – always smiling and joking in his heavily accented but good English. It’s a game for me to try and guess where people are from. There are 14 nationalities on-board. People grew up in countries far apart from each other, in totally different cultures and with completely diverse types of educations or skills. What brings them all together … [Read more...]
Shell says oil spillage will not be recovered
While Shell previously asserted that it would be able to recover 90% of any oil spilled as a result of its planned Arctic oil drilling, they are now claiming that it is impossible to make such claims. According to Shell spokesperson Curtis Smith: "We say in our plan we expect to 'encounter' 90 percent of any discharge on site, very close to the drilling rig. We expect to … [Read more...]
