Welcome to the world of living and working in a more Earth honouring way. We don't have the answers; we ask the questions to evoke new solutions. Enjoy with us the encouraging creative role models we find across the country. This space belongs to anyone who cares about the future of our planet. Join our green community and share your green news and business with us.
The Global Work Party is coming!
I know, I know, work is pretty hard to sell as a party, but the Global Work Party being held on October 10, 2010 (10:10:10) is different. This work will send a message and make a difference. And who doesn`t like a good party? Global Work Party is being organized by 350.org, who you no doubt remember were the architects of the Global Day of Action.
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A Prayer for the Gulf of Mexico
Dr. Masaru Emoto is a scientist from Japan who has done alot of research and publications about the characteristics of water. Among other things, his research has revealed that water physically responds to emotions. Many people have the predominantly angry emotion when we consider what is happening in the Gulf. And while justified in that emotion, we may be of greater assistance to our planet and its life forms if we sincerely, powerfully and humbly pray the prayer that Dr. Emoto, himself, has proposed.
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Historic Clean Water Act Suit Seeks $19 Billion from BP
In the largest citizen enforcement action ever taken under the Clean Water Act, the Center for Biological Diversity has sued BP and Transocean Ltd., for illegally spewing more than 100 million gallons of oil and other toxic pollutants into the Gulf of Mexico. The suit was filed in federal court in New Orleans.
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Solar Water Heater Campaign
While there is currently furious debate about South Africa`s energy development path, the country continues to be perceived as one of the world`s biggest coal-based economies. Relative to our size, we contribute far more than most countries to climate change. But South Africa is also one of the world`s sunniest countries. We also still have a great many households not on the national electrical grid – and a great many people who are unemployed. Taken together, all these factors make for an incredible opportunity. Instead of building huge amounts more coal burning power capacity, South Africa can and should dramatically expand the number of domestic solar water heaters.
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Power kick for Africa
It feels as though the world closed ranks in June, united by the universal love for football. The World Future Council was in the middle of it, with the “Power Kick for Africa” project keeping many of the staff on their toes. To promote the use of renewable energy in Africa, we organized a policy workshop in Ghana’s capital Accra. Also, a World Cup public viewing powered by solar energy was organized in the non-electrified small town of Oboadaka, two hours from Accra.
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Pick n Pay rolls out sustainable green distribution centre
Pick n Pay today launched its R628-million sustainable distribution centre in Longmeadow, Gauteng. The efficiencies and successes of this green initiative will enable the rapid roll-out of four distribution centres around the country within the next three years.
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Stellenbosch biofuels company brings USA technology to SA
A new biofuels technology company, Stellenbosch Biomass Technologies (SBMT), was launched this month. The company has the ability and expertise to lead Southern Africa towards a sustainable energy future. The Stellenbosch based SBMT holds the rights to commercialise and adapt the latest conversion technology developed by USA-based Mascoma Technologies company.
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KWV plants 500 trees in Paarl
More than 300 community members from Paarl-based township Mbekweni
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Worm bin donated to nourish food gardens
Enviroworks recently handed over a large worm bin with an army of 500 red wrigglers to the catering company, Sweet and Lovely, in Kayalitsha to help re-nourish replenished soils and grow healty food.
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Afrikara Co-op Launch
On Sunday the 4th of July, a group of customers, suppliers, friends and interested parties celebrated the official launch of AFRIKARA Co-op, a new style consumer-producer association. The founding of Afrikara was spearheaded by Aletta Venter, Francois & Henriëtte Malan, Gustav van der Merwe, Liesl Haasbroek and Louis le Roex, all of them passionate supporters of a new social order in which active communities and healthy environments form the foundation of sustainable living and prosperity.
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Environmental and Social Justice go hand in hand
If South Africa wants to adapt to climate change, it needs to move away from an immoral economic agenda towards value-based development. Otherwise it will be too late to find a solution to environmental degradation.
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Antarctic funding to study temperature stress on Marion Island
A Stellenbosch University researcher working on aspects of climate change, Dr Susana Clusella-Trullas, has received an Antarctic Science 2010 Award to study how marine invertebrates on Marion Island in the sub-Antarctic respond to changing temperature regimes.
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Graskop Griet and the Eco Sunlight Gallery
“Heal our planet, nurture nature and all her creatures” the words of the bright mural stood out from the kaleidoscope of birds, flowers, trees, stars, leopard and antelope. I was amazed to see such a beautiful mural at the back of the garden of the Sunlight Gallery in the sleepy town of Graskop, Mpumalanga. The artist, Griet van der Meulen wandered past and I asked if I could take a photograph of the mural. I explained that I am an environmentalist, a term that I dislike in the sense that it implies that others are not, and she replied “off course” and proceeded to show me other artworks. “Wait”, I said and rushed to the car, grabbed my video camcorder and rushed back.
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Green Design 2: Eco Lighting
A range of delightful lighting: standing lamps, desk lamps, pendant fittings and chandeliers, are handcrafted in Cape Town, using materials that are as eco-friendly as can be. Designed and made (until the workshop is up and running) by architect Andy Horn, they follow his passion for the respect and understanding of nature and natural elements, and how best they can be applied in our living, working and recreational spaces.
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Non-profit organisation thinks out of the box
Omo boxes, romany cream boxes, Liqui fruit boxes and many more are being carefully hand crafted into stylish practical wallets at Mamelani Projects, a Cape Town based health NGO, as part of an income generating project. Its a community-based health programme that empowers women to access clinic services, gain knowledge regarding a range of illnesses affecting them and their families, and take action to improve their health and the health of their loved ones. A special focus is placed on pregnant mothers, advising and supporting them in making the correct feeding choice to prevent HIV transmission and malnutrition. As part of this programme, women attend a series of workshops, receive counselling, attend healthy cooking demonstrations and are also referred for specialised services, such as legal support and domestic violence counselling.
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Heart shopping for abundance
Heart currency fosters generosity and abundance, alleviates poverty, builds community and is good for the environment. This was how Dawn Pilatowicz explained the Cape Town Talent Exchange on the documentary “Talents Accepted Here”. All these characteristics are lacking so often in the world of greed currency, otherwise known in South Africa as Rands and cents.
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Pet Talk 6: Natural Flea Remedies
Great news that the toxic pesticide used in flea collars and dog shampoos is now banned. The Department of Agriculture and the Legal Resource Centre have called for the pesticide Chlorpyrifos, the active ingredient in dog shampoos and flea collars, to be completely prohibited in South Africa.
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international certification for sustainable tourism
ETC-Africa, a KwaZulu-Natal based environment and consultancy firm has been appointed as the South Africa representative for NaturCert, a global leader in environmental certification for the hospitality industry.
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Green Annex brings nature to the city centre
Sniffing out, or being sniffed out, by emerging green businesses is one of the most exciting aspects of my job. It reminds me of looking for Easter eggs as a child – you never know when another unexpected treasure appears in the most unlikely place.
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Beauty that benefits the earth
How deep do we need to go in greening our lives? As deep as it goes – to the bone. Of course it matters what we feed one of our biggest organs, the skin. Who would like to knowlingly expose their lymph glands to a concoction of chemicals contained in ‘regular,’ often toxic, cosmetics and body products?
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Homeopathy 3: Every headache is different
A headache is generally understood as a pain somewhere on the head, and most people turn to a “one size-fits-all” medication for help, such as paracetamol, aspirin, codein or brufen, regardless of the nature of the headache. Homeopathy recognises that there are hundreds of different types of headaches. When choosing a remedy, it is important to consider the location, sensation and modality of the ailment
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Watch out for the toad moon
The next full moon is the start of our resident endangered Western Leopard Toad`s epic migration across the Western Cape’s roads to their local breeding ponds! In Noordhoek a group of special folk, the ToadNUTS (Noordhoek Unpaid Toad Savers) dedicate themselves to helping ensure a safe passage for the toads towards and back from their breeding places. Now they are counting the days to the big work ahead.
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Shyann my Service Dog
A little over a year ago I applied to SA Guide Dogs for a service dog. I was a little nervous, as I knew it was going to be a big change in my life. For those of you who know me and have been involved in my life for the last few years, you will know that since I lost the ability to walk unaided, my life had shrunk to the extent that I only went out with others, either using an organic walker (someone else`s arm) or my own walker or being pushed in my wheelchair.
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Blitz Houses receive garden trees
Three giants on the sustainable development front have partnered to plant 112 trees in the Mbekweni township just north of Paarl as part of Food and Trees for Africa’s Trees for Homes initiative.
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Turning bread tags into wheelchairs
Some think it’s an urban legend that all bread tags collected in boxes across the Cape Peninsula and further afield go to a granny in Noordhoek, who provides wheelchairs to the needy. Think again, I went to visit Mary Honeybun to experience her incredible project.
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Clean water legacy of World Cup
Clean drinking water and sanitation facilities for thousands of schoolchildren and their immediate communities, is one of the legacies that The Coca-Cola Company, a primary sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ - is bringing to South Africa.
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Fans were for love of water
As part of Green Goal 2010, FLOW together with Celebrity SA and the City of Cape Town is bringing free, clean, drinking water to football fans along the Fan Walk and in the FIFA Fan Fest™ at the Grand Parade.
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News:
Biogreen Diesel opens new biodiesel refinery in SA
Biogreen Diesel has opened a new refinery in Port Elizabeth, using its jet reactor to produce pollution-reducing biodiesel from both virgin and waste oil. Biogreen started at the beginning of 2009 and its main clients include Pick n Pay, Spar and Cape Concrete as well as a number of smaller companies who are environmentally conscious about their operations, and wish to reduce their carbon emissions.
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Honda to launch two hybrid vehicles in SA
Honda South Africa will introduce the CR-Z, a hybrid sports coupé, to the local market within the next few months. This will be followed by the Insight, a more family-oriented hybrid vehicle, which will be unveiled before the end of the year, says spokesperson Joeline Dabrowski.
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no more toxic cosmetics
This morning, just hours after we released our new film, The Story of Cosmetics, three members of the U.S. Congress introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010, which would close the gaping holes in federal regulation of personal care products. The current law - if you can call 1938 `current` - allows the cosmetics industry to make its own decisions about what`s safe. The FDA can`t require companies to assess cosmetics ingredients for safety, can`t require that all the chemicals in cosmetics are disclosed to consumers, and can`t even require product recalls.
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Nedbank is carbon neutral
Green banking giant Nedbank on Tuesday announced that it is South Africa`s first corporate entity to achieve carbon neutrality.
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Nashua Mobile beautifies Riverlea with trees
Nashua Mobile planted over 550 trees in Riverlea, Soweto, near Soccer City, as part of their drive to green and beautify South Africa and also to improve quality of life in communities where it does business. These trees were planted through Food & Trees for Africa’s Trees for Homes programme for 550 residents of this new settlement.
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The truth behind the so-called 'toilet wars'
This week has been dominated by what the media have described as `toilet wars`. And, as usual, in war of any kind, truth is always the first casualty. This edition of SA Today sets out, for the record, the facts of this messy situation.
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Toilet war may be over soon
An end to Cape Town`s toilet war may be in sight, thanks to an initiative by the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco). Sanco official Thanduxolo Sithekela said on Friday that a Paarl company had agreed to supply 100 fully-functioning precast concrete toilets in the Makhaza area of Khayelitsha.
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Viable Sanitation Options Do Exist
Unnoticed in the battle between the DA and ANC Youth League over exposed toilets is a disgraceful and much larger problem. In 2008, The Water Dialogues-South Africa, a multi-stakeholder initiative, commissioned research on Cape Town`s portable sanitation services in informal settlements, as one of nine national case studies. This article is drawn from that research and subsequent engagement between civil society groups and the City of Cape Town.
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Green Star Retail Rating Tool Launched
Following the successful launch of the Green Star SA environmental rating system for office buildings in 2008, the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) has released the much-anticipated Retail Centre rating tool. This is the second in the suite of Green Star SA rating tools now available.
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Your guide to what those product labels really mean
With the Gulf of Mexico oil spill heavy on minds everywhere these days, taking care of the environment seems even more important. It’s all a matter of choice, from deciding whether to throw away or recycle that cardboard cereal box to what ends up in your grocery cart.
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