For millennia we humans roamed the vast lands of this planet Earth, foraging for foodstuffs, hunting animals to supplement our diet as necessary. We took what we could find, as needed, and our searches led us across the accessible landmasses. It is fascinating to think of the various landscapes that scores of successive generations saw - Earth in a state before any human … [Read more...]
Can I be vegan and biodynamic?
Whether someone wishes to eat meat or not is a very individual decision. Some people feel the need to eat meat regularly while others become ill if they so much as smell it. It can be for reasons of personal health and it can be a matter of principle. Either way being a vegetarian or a vegan is a very noble aspiration and one which need not conflict with biodynamic … [Read more...]
Become a Conservation Champion
The WWF brought together stakeholders from the wine industry and conservation to create the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) in 2005. Over the next decade, the initiative fostered greater awareness of the Cape’s unique natural heritage and encouraged many farms to implement biodiversity-friendly farming. The partnership also saw South Africa’s voluntary sustainable … [Read more...]
Local musicians work together to create environmental awareness
The preservation of the environment is a matter which Jean Marais, owner of Tunes Studio in Stellenbosch and local drummer, has held dear since an early age. A few months ago, and to his utter dismay, he discovered that his hometown sports a severe lack of recycling infrastructure. After a few phone calls to the local municipality and recycling companies in Stellenbosch, … [Read more...]
Right to food includes the right to nutrition
In South Africa, all citizens have the right to food. Yet the current approach is to focus on food security, forgetting that security doesn’t necessarily mean nutrition. The right to food wholeheartedly includes the right to nutrition. A recent dialogue event, hosted by the Centre for Complex Systems Transitions (CST) in Stellenbosch, raised some interesting views, current … [Read more...]
Drug waste in SA’s drinking water raises health concerns
Traces of antiretrovirals, anti-epileptic drugs, antibiotics and antidepressants are allegedly lingering in South African tap water. Compounds of these drugs have been found in several studies on water sources around South Africa between 2013 and June 2015. Professor Hugh Patterton, chief researcher at Stellenbosch University, said the compounds and concentration levels … [Read more...]
Do you live in a biosphere reserve?
Did you know that you live in a Biosphere Reserve? If you are from Stellenbosch, Pniel, Franschhoek, Paarl, Wellington, Rawsonville or Villiersdorp you live inside the beautiful Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR), while people from Ceres and the Strand live just outside it. The CWBR was designated in 2007 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural … [Read more...]
Stellenbosch to host Africa’s first student environmental summit
European models for sustainability often shape what we know about the subject. And this is often irrelevant to the developing world's context. It is against this background that the World Student Environmental Network's Global Summit will be held in South Africa – in the developing world for the first time since its inception seven years ago. From 30 June – 5 July … [Read more...]
Tree marathon captures hearts in Klapmuts
A renewed energy and excitement filled the air in Klapmuts when crowds of people, including the honourable Mayor Conrad Sidego and over 140 volunteers from five corporate entities, gathered to take part in one of many Tree-a-thon’s (mass planting events) set to take place this year, as part of the “Million Trees” project. The crowd were addressed by the Mayor Conrad Sidego, … [Read more...]
Water management in SA leaves much to be desired
No one can live without water. However, judging by how many South Africans waste water, one would think we have an unlimited. What many of us may not realise is that there’s not enough water to go around. And the little water we do have is often too dirty for human consumption. It’s a gloomy picture, but true. Let us not beat around the bush - South Africa has major … [Read more...]
Lourens River to receive emergency repairs after severe flooding
As part of the City of Cape Town’s commitment to building a safe city, emergency repairs and the replacement of damaged infrastructure will start soon at Lourens River, following the severe flooding in Somerset West on 15 and 16 November last year. The City had requested financial assistance to deal with the required emergency work after the area was declared a provincial … [Read more...]
What is the Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve?
Did you know that you might live in a Biosphere Reserve? If you are from Stellenbosch, Pniel, Franschhoek, Paarl, Wellington, Rawsonville or Villiersdorp you live inside the beautiful Cape Winelands Biosphere Reserve (CWBR) while people from Ceres, and the Strand live just outside it. The CWBR was designated in 2007 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural … [Read more...]
Tackling urban challenges in heart of Winelands
The response to the call for papers has been entirely positive and the Abstract Committee approved more than 60 academic papers for presentation at the 2014 International Winelands Conference. The Programme for workshops on the first two days of the Conference (31 March and 01 April 2014) under the theme "Innovation in Practice" has now been confirmed. These will … [Read more...]
