Do you want things to be done, and done properly, in 2015? Then do it yourself. Behave as if government is not going to deliver any services, and if it does, see that as a bonus. The poor management and planning, deployment of loyal cadres not up to the job, attempts at state capture, corruption and weak political leadership of the last decades are now really adding up and … [Read more...]
Dirty coal shown red card by India’s Supreme Court
Green activists on Wednesday cheered the Supreme Court's decision to cancel 214 coal blocks across many states in India and urged the government to spare forest areas from mining while auctioning new blocks in future. Stating that the "dirty coal is shown the red card today", Greenpeace India that has been protesting against clearances to the Mahan coal blocks of Madhya … [Read more...]
Disquiet continues over nuclear ‘deal’
A flurry of meetings between President Jacob Zuma and Russian President Vladimir Putin have contributed to growing unease over a nuclear co-operation pact. News of a nuclear co-operation agreement between South Africa and Russia has been accompanied by much wheeling out of mirrors and blowing of smoke. Is it a done deal that we will procure 9 600MW of nuclear capacity … [Read more...]
New partnership to encourage Southern Cape recycling
The Eden district is on board for serious recycling and waste minimisation, setting a cool example of the way forward for the Southern Cape area. “PETCO is delighted to experience the beginning of a working partnership between Eden District and PETCO in our efforts to minimise waste and to encourage recycling in the Southern Cape area,” says the company’s CEO, Cheri … [Read more...]
Dark day for democracy but petition signed by laureates
The Mandela, De Klerk, Tutu and Luthuli foundations will be writing to President Zuma appealing to him to intervene in order for the Dalai Lama to get a visa to attend the World Peace Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates next month. A further petitioning letter will be signed by former Nobel Peace Prize laureates and has already been signed by President Lech Walesa, Mairead … [Read more...]
Groups seek glyphosate limits to protect butterflies
Monarch butterflies are declining in number due to herbicide spraying related to biotech crops, according to environmental groups in the US. Environmental groups seeking federal protection for monarch butterflies blame the use of genetically modified crops for the insect’s steep decline. Petitioners claim that while there were as many as 1 billion monarchs as recently as … [Read more...]
City to offset small-scale electricity generation
Small scale alternative energy generators - yes that includes you and I with solar PV on the roof - will finally be able to feed our excess energy back into the grid and get paid for it by the City of Cape Town! The City of Cape Town has set itself a target of sourcing 10% of its electricity from renewable energy resources by 2020 and the roll-out of the small-scale embedded … [Read more...]
Fight for your right to natural health
Our rights to natural health are under threat in this country. This since the Department of Health, during November 2013, passed new regulations to control complementary medicines in the same way as pharmaceutical drugs. In response the Natural Health Alliance was formed last month, chaired by Dr Bernard Brom (photograph on the right)), an Integrative Doctor, who has used … [Read more...]
204 512 people from 160 countries help save Great Barrier Reef
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Doha, Qatar, on 18 June 2014 was a huge win for the future of the Great Barrier Reef and the millions who united around the world in its passionate support. In the face of intense pressure, the World Heritage Committee held the line and put the Australian Government firmly on notice to take stronger action to protect the Great … [Read more...]
Vote of no confidence in SA government
If any year goes down in history, 2014 is going to be it. As of writing this article 7000 South Africans have signed a vote of no confidence in the South African Government, Parliament and the political class that simply is not listening to the people. A Vote of No Confidence is a statement or vote which states that a person in a superior position is no longer deemed fit to … [Read more...]
French energy minister promises 100,000 green jobs
Segolene Royal, appointed French energy and environment minister this month, said she planned to create 100,000 jobs in the next three years with a drive for green growth. Royal told a news conference she wanted to accelerate investment in renewable energies like wind, solar, biomass and marine energy, as well as in insulation of buildings. In coming days, Royal will make … [Read more...]
Forewarned is forearmed: shifting waste laws
Understanding the legal issues in the waste industry is important for entrepreneurs to enter this growing sector of our society. PETCO’s Law and Order: An Overview of Waste Law in South Africa workshop was hosted on 18 March in Cape Town. Attended by more than 60 delegates, the workshop answered some of the key questions relating to the legal aspects of waste management and … [Read more...]
Conflicting rights to exploit natural resources
Should parliament pass the current proposed amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act No. 28 of 2002 ("MPRDA") without any further regard to the potential conflict which could arise between the mineral provisions and the petroleum provisions thereof during an application process for mineral rights (prospecting and/or mining rights) and petroleum rights … [Read more...]
