Former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein (pictured, right), who resigned from parliament in protest over the bribes compatriots took from South Africa’s infamous R70bn Arms Procurement Deal, says that plundering will “seem like small change” against what’s planned from the proposed Nuclear Build programme. In our interview two months ago, Feinstein urged his countrymen to “take to the … [Read more...]
Court case exposes web of secrecy in government nuclear dealings
Earthlife Africa (ELA) and SAFCEI are in the process of filing and serving a supplementary founding affidavit in their court challenge against the Government’s proposed nuclear deal. In the case of purchasing nuclear reactors for South Africa, Minister Joemat Petterssen has gone on record saying that there will be a transparent, fair process when it comes to the nuclear … [Read more...]
Zuma signs away our access to natural health
It has happened. President Jacob Zuma has signed the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Bill 6 of 2014 into law in terms of section 84(2) of the Constitution. This new Act creates a new legal framework for the Medicines Control Council (MCC) to be scrapped, and for the establishment of a new South African Health Products [sic] Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), similar … [Read more...]
‘No jobs on a dead planet’ says Kumi
"Preparing for the 22nd Century, Environmentally" was a talk held by Greenpeace Executive Director Kumi Naido at the Cornerstone Institute in Cape Town recently. Kumi said that faith communities must come to terms with the inconvenient and uncomfortable truth that without the involvement of faith communities, we won’t be able turn around catastrophic climate change. There … [Read more...]
SONA: response to environmental commitments
WWF's Salim Fakir asked the Presidency to rethink the so called need for nuclear power in his response to President Jacob Zuma’s 2015 State of the Nation address. He commented on the address in terms of environmental matters: Fakir, Head of WWF’s Living Planet Unit, commended the focus on the energy crisis and the need for both short-term and long-term energy planning. … [Read more...]
Zuma has 30 days to halt fracking process
"We want to see physical steps to halt the fracking process....He is the one that needs to put a stop to it [bearing in mind] the new evidence," CEO Jonathan Deal told reporters in Johannesburg. TKAG and civil rights group Afriforum hand-delivered a letter to Zuma's offices at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Monday. In the letter the groups call for Zuma to investigate … [Read more...]
Nuclear an expensive investment in national suicide says NUM
The government and the ruling party should reconsider plans to forge ahead with expanding nuclear energy, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Thursday. The NUM's national executive committee (NEC) met on Wednesday, where it discussed President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address. On Tuesday, Zuma signalled that South Africa would push ahead with nuclear … [Read more...]
Madiba getting better, SA youth challenges ahead
Former president Nelson Mandela's health has shown sustained improvement, President Jacob Zuma said at a Youth Day celebration in KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday. "We are grateful that he continues to get better. Over the last two days, although [his condition] remains serious, his doctors have stated that his improvement has been sustained. He continues to engage with … [Read more...]
Let’s rewire South Africa
The South African government is in the process of deciding our electricity future for the next 20 years, and its heading in the wrong direction. Instead of ensuring just, sustainable energy to every person in South Africa, President Zuma and the Department of Energy are taking cues from the biggest polluters. We can do better Let's let President Zuma and his ministers know … [Read more...]
