Rising levels of carbon dioxide are harming all forms of marine life because the oceans are acidifying as they absorb the gas, German researchers found. Molluss, corals and a class of creatures called echinoderms that includes starfish and sea urchins are the worst affected by the uptake of CO2 by the seas, according to a study in the journal Nature Climate Change by … [Read more...]
U.S. Palm Oil Plantation Endangers Chimps in Cameroon
Endangered chimpanzees, other primates and forest elephants could lose stretches of their habitat in Cameroon if a U.S. company’s plan to establish a palm oil plantation goes ahead. Based in New York City, Herakles Farms, known as SG Sustainable Oils in Cameroon, has claimed that its palm oil project in Cameroon’s Southwest Region would convert an area of little conservation … [Read more...]
Calling all white lion protectors
The pioneering White Lion Leadership Academy is a CALL TO ACTION - equipping each participant with the lion-hearted values and intuitive courage to take their enhanced and heightened awareness into hard, fast, realistic and practical application in our critical times. The objective of the Academy is to inspire and empower participants to embody White Lion leadership … [Read more...]
Another shipwreck: not a ‘Smart’ move
During the high seas experienced from inclement weather and spring tides, our coast is taking a hammering from the threats of sinking ships. As if the disaster off the Knysna coast is not enough, now another ship is stranded off the coast of Alkantstrand, Richards Bay. The 230m coal carrying vessel, called ‘Smart’, ran aground as it attempted to sail out of port on Monday 19 … [Read more...]
Wrecked Fukushima plant leaking radioactive water
Contaminated water with dangerously high levels of radiation is leaking from a storage tank at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, the most serious setback to the clean up of the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. The storage tank breach of about 300 tons of water is separate from contaminated water leaks reported in recent weeks, plant operator Tokyo Electric … [Read more...]
Monarch butterfly population is dwindling
Walking through the Boston Nature Center’s butterfly garden, 11-year-old Elijah Moran can identify an eastern tiger swallowtail, a viceroy, and all of the plants the insects flit among. What’s missing is Elijah’s favorite butterfly: the monarch. “I like them because of their cool designs on their wings, and its name — like it’s regal, king of the butterflies,” the Dorchester … [Read more...]
Art for our rhinos’ sake
A picture says more than a thousand words. Personally I feel that eco art should play a much stronger role in getting our urgent environmental message across than currently happens in our country. Our future demands that – our hearts need to be stirred by all means possible. Why are our musicians not taking up the cause, the artist illustrating our problems, the poets not … [Read more...]
Knysna’s hope to remove oil spill rides on the waves
Almost a week later, and the Kiani Satu cargo ship remains stranded off the coast of Buffels Bay, Knysna. Officials are working hard and fighting the elements to float the vessel away from the protected coastline. Saturday morning 3 tonnes of oil had spilled into the ocean. By Monday 15 tonnes mar the marine protected coastline of the Goukamma Nature Reserve, which stretches … [Read more...]
Knysna saddled with ongoing oil spill disaster
On Thursday 8 August a cargo ship ran aground off the coast of Buffels Bay, Knysna. Oil is seeping into the sea and endangering the marine and coastal wildlife of the Goukamma Nature Reserve. After a mechanical failure Chinese cargo ship, Kiana Satu, beached 50m from the shore at Buffels Bay. The 168m vessel was on course to Gabon couriering 15 000 tonnes of rice and 30 … [Read more...]
Is this our last chance to save the elephants?
It's hard to imagine that anyone reading this blog isn't already aware that right now elephants are in crisis. For many years, leading global conservationists and charities have been doing all they can to stop the killing of elephants to fuel the illegal ivory trade - some behind the scenes and some in the public eye, but all fighting a common cause. Over the last few years … [Read more...]
Intense cold front expected
An intense cold front is expected over the Western Cape, southern parts of the Northern Cape as well in the Eastern Cape, southern Free State and south-western KwaZulu Natal. The public and small stock farmers are advised that very cold conditions, heavy rain and snowfalls can be expected in places. Below are suggested strategies during cold/snowfall weather … [Read more...]
Celebrate African and Asian rhinos next month
What is World Rhino Day? World Rhino Day celebrates all five species of rhino: Black, white, greater one-horned, Sumatran and Javan rhinos. When is World Rhino Day? World Rhino Day is on September 22nd. How did World Rhino Day get its start? World Rhino Day was first announced by WWF-South Africa in 2010. The following year, World Rhino Day grew into an … [Read more...]
Journey to the Star Lions
White Lions are known by the African Elders as “Star Lions” and the name Tsimba Vati- is an ancient one, directly translating into “Lion Star.” The Shangaan people, indigenous to the area, believe that the white lions are guardians of the land. These words of Maria Khosa, who was known as the “Lion Queen of Timbavati” “Loku u Dlaya ngala basu u dlaya tiko” (If you kill a … [Read more...]
