The City of Cape Town is encouraging residents to keep a special eye out for the Cape Dwarf Chameleon, which is classified as a vulnerable species. This will assist the City in tracing where these chameleons occur. With the onset of autumn, these chameleons, also known as Trapsuutjies in Afrikaans, should be delivering offspring ahead of the rains, which usually occur around … [Read more...]
Kiribati president calls for moratorium on coal mines
The president of Kiribati, one of the world’s most climate vulnerable countries, has written to fellow world leaders asking them to support a global moratorium on new coal mines. Anote Tong said the future safety of his people depended on collective and aggressive action to stem the use of coal, the largest source of the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate … [Read more...]
Cape Peninsula anticipates heavy rain and more flooding
The City of Cape Town’s disaster response teams remain on high alert as a result of the severe weather system that is developing, and which is set to bring heavy rainfall as from Thursday night and Friday over the Cape Peninsula. The South African Weather Service has informed the City’s Disaster Risk Management Centre of the following weather watches that have been … [Read more...]
New seed legislation spells disaster for small farmers
Civil society organisations from the SADC region, and around the world have condemned the SADC draft Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (Plant Breeders’ Rights) as spelling disaster for small farmers and food security in the region. These groups, representing millions of farmers in Africa and around the world have submitted their concerns to the SADC … [Read more...]
Reality of climate change in Southern Africa
Snowfall in Gauteng after 31 years. Unprecedented heat waves across the northern half of SA. Tornadoes in Ficksburg and Springs. Devastating hailstorms around the country. Signs of the Apocalypse or tell-tale symptoms of climate change? Whether or not the majority of South Africans give it a second thought or not, climate change is real and doesn’t seem to be slowing … [Read more...]
Energy tariff increases declare war on the poor
"Eskom's application to NERSA needs to be put on hold until a review of the Integrated Resource Plan," states Tristen Taylor, Project Coordinator of Earthlife Africa Johannesburg. "Only then we all will have more current information to base decisions on." This formed part of the comments by Earthlife Africa Johannesburg to Eskom's MYPD3, who said the hearings application has … [Read more...]
Energy saving technologies could save the day
Hunger and poverty go hand in hand. Every cent saved could mean a lot to a starving child; so reduction of fuel costs could mean the difference between going to bed without food or having a meal. Energy saving technologies abound…from old fashioned ideas such as a Haybox or Wonderbox to a myriad of designs for rocket stoves. However, this knowledge is not being passed on to … [Read more...]
KwaZulu-Natal storm support increased to R1 million
Hungry, wet, cold and extremely sad - this was the condition of ordinary people in various areas of Ladysmith following the devastating storm on Sunday evening that damaged 500 houses and displaced 3000. In spite of Gift of the Givers responding rapidly with R400 000 of emergency aid, more rain last night aggravated the misery, affecting the same victims and many … [Read more...]
Creative women find solution for paper waste
In September 2010, a warm-hearted, creative woman in Kleinmond, in the Western Cape, had the idea of teaching jobless women to make gift bags from waste paper. With the support of a friend, they set up a workshop and hired women to learn the skills. Of the original group, two showed their commitment and their willingness to work longer and harder than they were paid to do – … [Read more...]
Bird Island celebrates centenary of gannet population
It is with great excitement that CapeNature, together with residents from Lamberts Bay this month celebrate 100 years since the Cape gannets colonised Bird Island, making it one of only six breeding colonies of this vulnerable seabird, worldwide. Eighty two year old resident, John Phillips was already a registered fisherman at age sixteen and confirmed that “the gannets … [Read more...]
FoodBank Initiative applies business logic to SA food
The South African constitution states that every South African citizen has a right to sufficient food and water, but food security in South Africa is a highly complex social challenge and today eleven million South Africans are still going hungry. In 2000, Alan Gilbertson and his wife Carol had retired from business and wanted to give something back. They bought a truck for … [Read more...]
Calls for GM maize ban after shocking cancer study
Explosive results from a new French study conducted on the long-term health impacts of genetically modified (GM) foods published in the peer reviewed journal 'Food and Toxicology' last week, suggest that consumers in South Africa face a very serious threat from one of their staple foods. The results have the biotechnology industry spin doctors, and those of Monsanto in … [Read more...]
New York investors’ big African land grab exposed
A new report from The Oakland Institute, in collaboration with Greenpeace International, exposes how a New York-based agri-corporation, Herakles Farms, and its local subsidiary SG Sustainable Oils Cameroon (SGSOC), are involved in a land deal that is questionable under Cameroonian Law and opposed by locals since 2010. Herakles Farms has just pulled out of the industry’s … [Read more...]
