It was a strange thing to be supporting Street Child’s response to the mudslides in Sierra Leone from Maiduguri, the epicenter of the Boko Haram crisis in North-East Nigeria. As head of programmes for West Africa, I am normally based in Sierra Leone, in Freetown, where mudslides and floods killed at least 500 people in the early hours of Monday 14th August when an entire … [Read more...]
How hard is climate change affecting the world’s poorest nations?
When Nicholas Herold was hunting for data on how much climate change was affecting the world's poorest nations, he was surprised when he couldn't find answers in the published research. "Everyone's spoken for years about how poor countries are going to suffer more – or are suffering more – and I couldn't find one figure actually showing this," the research fellow at the … [Read more...]
Drought adaptation DIY style: steps to save water
January was not for chickens in the Cape – extreme drought and fires saw the gardens shrivel up and die. So sad to witness and feel the distress all round. Once our veggie plants got stressed the diseases followed. Watching your water consumption with Stage 3 water restrictions and growing food without the farmer’s concessions calls for innovation. How to capture each … [Read more...]
Lack of invasive plant management compounds Somerset West fires
“Landowners who have not managed invasive alien plants on their properties must be held accountable for that impact on the fires that have ravaged areas around Somerset West.” That is the view of Dr Guy Preston, Deputy Director-General in the Department of Environmental Affairs, responsible for the Working on Fire and Working for Water programmes. “We know that invasive … [Read more...]
No end in sight for Joburg’s storm of the century
The South African weather services has warned that extreme weather conditions – which have led to heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms and flash floods – is likely to continue on Friday. The thunderstorms which have hit Joburg – causing chaos in the East Rand in particular – has been described as a “once in a century” storm. Flash floods have already claimed at least 6 … [Read more...]
Win a floating edible island and fight the drought
Water shortage? How to use what you have and thrive. List as many benefits as possible to this home-made system and stand a chance to win one floating island, worth R1200. PS the floating islands are vegetated with edible plants. Food. Make your list in the comment space below this story. Entries close 31 October. … [Read more...]
Greenland ice melt goes into overdrive after record heat wave
In 2016, Greenland has seemingly been on a mission to prove that it, too, can experience truly warm weather of the sort that is typically confined to far more temperate areas. So far in June, the world's largest island has experienced record warmth that would be considered mild even in the lower 48 states. Take June 9, for example. That day it was warmer in Greenland's … [Read more...]
Icebergs show up four months early off Newfoundland
From pole to pole the ice is melting. Winter is retreating. And much of life and even the seasons themselves appear to have been thrown off-kilter. In the Southern Ocean near the Antarctic Peninsula, krill populations have dropped by more than 50 percent due to a shortening of the season in which sea ice forms. The North Pole now experiences near or above freezing … [Read more...]
Drought relief: animal feed urgently needed in Free State
Of major concern is the condition of tens of thousands of animals as they are facing thirst and hunger in the absence of feed. Loss of animals is impacting heavily on the farmers, both subsistence and large scale, with major implications for farm labourers, farmers and the general economy. It has been stated that farmers owe in excess of 125 billion rand to banks at the … [Read more...]
At least 3 farm structures destroyed in Houwhoek Pass fire
At least three farm structures have already been destroyed in the bush fires raging along the Houwhoek Pass in Overberg district. Additional fire crews and two helicopters have been deployed to assist with fire-fighting operations this morning. No injuries have been reported. Firefighters in the Overberg are preparing are in for another long day, with some working late … [Read more...]
Desertification step 1: drought and fires courtesy of climate change
Climate change is making floods, fires and droughts more frequent and severe, by intensifying the circulation of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. Higher temperatures increase the amount of moisture that evaporates from land and water, leading to drought in many areas. Lands affected by drought are more vulnerable to flooding once rain falls. As … [Read more...]
Dealing with heat exhaustion and heatstroke
As we melt our way through the SA's climactic summer, heat exhaustion and heatstroke are two potentially serious conditions that can occur if you get too hot. This overheating can also be caused by very strenuous physical exercise. Heat exhaustion is where you become very hot and start to lose water or salt from your body, which leads to the symptoms listed below and … [Read more...]
Temporary drought relief for Aliwal North
Extra water released from the Katse Dam at the end of last year is expected to reach drought-stricken Aliwal North, an Eastern Cape town on the Orange River. Water and sanitation director Margeret-Ann Diedricks gave the go-ahead for the release on December 31 in an effort to stabilise water levels in the Orange River. “The water was observed yesterday near Quthing in … [Read more...]
