The worldwide March Against Monsanto this past Saturday was no mere political demonstration. Rather, it was a worldwide mobilization against corporate greed, the assault on our health and environment, and the oppression of small farmers. Cape Town saw a great crowd in the streets on May 25, 2013 as the people marched against Monsanto, the pesticide giant and producer of … [Read more...]
Monsanto protests scheduled in 36 countries
An international protest planned for this weekend against biotechnology company Monsanto is slated to span six continents and include demonstrations in dozens of countries around the globe. Amid growing concerns over St. Louis, Missouri-based Monsanto and the impact the company is having on agriculture, activists have planned rallies for later this month in 36 … [Read more...]
Ag-Gag laws could make America sick
A wave of laws that target animal welfare activists who take undercover videos at factory farms has been criticized for chilling free speech and allowing cruelty to continue in secret. But it’s not only animal well-being at issue. So is public health. Some food safety experts say these so-called ag-gag laws will cloak disease-spreading industry practices, such as processing … [Read more...]
Will banning neonicotinoids end the bee genocide?
Will the end of one kind of agricultural chemical get bees back to a healthy population - or is it already too late? The world's honeybee population has been mysteriously declining for the last few years. It’s one of the most important food stories out there since bees pollinate a big chunk of the produce we eat and the population drop is continually getting … [Read more...]
Radioactive waste in your home - coming soon!
One day soon, people in South Africa will be subjected to radioactive particles in everyday household goods - from your child's braces or new toy, baby prams, jewellery, eating utensils, zippers - virtually anything that contains metal. According to a group of concerned activism organisations, our country is heading down a radioactive "recycling" road that will effectively … [Read more...]
Transparency demands amid Fukushima commemoration
Earlier this week, Greenpeace Africa commemorated the 2nd anniversary of the Fukushima disaster with a call to the South African government to ensure transparency and accountability in the nuclear build process. Early on Monday morning, Greenpeace activists staged a silent protest on Johannesburg’s Empire Road. The activists, dressed in black with stickers across their lips … [Read more...]
46 protesters arrested at Medupi power station
Development work at the Medupi power plant remains suspended owing to a prolonged labour dispute between subcontractors and workers, and intensified by the arrest of 46 workers following violent protests at the Medupi site. Construction at Medupi had been suspended since January 17. Eskom spokesperson Hilary Joffe said the power utility continued to engage with … [Read more...]
NUMSA plans Eskom price hike protest
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) will protest against Eskom’s proposed 16% electricity increase, the union said on Sunday. A snap electricity cost survey conducted by Numsa in November found that of the 10 companies with energy-intensive production surveyed, 37.5% anticipated closing down as a result of the proposed increase. The union was … [Read more...]
Hands off our Internet!
Right now at a UN meeting in Dubai, authoritarian regimes are pushing for full governmental control of the Internet in a binding global treaty. If they succeed, the internet could become less open, more costly and much slower. We only have until tomorrow to stop them. The Internet has been an amazing example of people power - allowing us to connect, speak out and pressure … [Read more...]
Nuclear energy in SA: no more secrecy!
Greenpeace Africa and the South African History Archives have lodged a formal complaint with both the Public Protector and SA Human Rights Commission with regards to the second refusal by the Minister of Energy to publicly release the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR). The review was compiled by the Department of Energy to assess South Africa’s readiness to … [Read more...]
Civil society marches against nuclear energy
Thousands of people from civil society groups across Gauteng took part in a march to protest against South Africa’s nuclear expansion plans. The activists marched from Pieter Roos Park to Beyers Naude Square, where they handed over a memorandum to the Presidency. Smaller protests and placard demonstrations happened simultaneously in Durban, Cape Town and … [Read more...]
Seed saving is life insurance
The Biodynamic Agricultural Association of Southern Africa responded to a request from the African Centre for Biosafety and invited all members and friends to contribute to an Open Letter from the Organic Movement to the Minister of Agriculture regarding GMO’s. Input, feedback and concerns were received from teachers and farmers, activists and parents. A final letter was … [Read more...]
Shell’s Niger delta spill clean-up: four years & counting
Two large crude oil spills from Shell pipelines in the Niger delta four years ago have still not been cleaned up by the company despite an outcry by the UN, Amnesty International and the Nigerian government about pollution in the area. Shell, which made £19.1bn profit last year, accepted responsiblity and pledged to fully restore the damage done by spills from its rusting … [Read more...]
