21 May 2013

Environment & Conservation

Cloaks without daggers?

Minister of State Security Siyabonga Cwele says that a solid case is being built against South Africans suspected of having links with terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab; arrests can be expected soon. In passing, however, he also mentioned that the government wants to recruit more spies. That begs the question for some: what for? It also makes some people wonder... given the fact that we have an air force that cannot fly many of its aircraft, and an army that ... well ... hasn't fared too well recently, and a navy that has its subs up on blocks, will our budding 007s be properly trained and equipped to do the job? Or will it be a case of cloaks without daggers.

Durban says, "Yes, we iCANN!" and the city's exclusive internet namespace .durban is on its way after passing its first ICANN hurdle.

One wedding and a whitewash? Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Jeff Radebe has said that the probe into the Waterkloof incident is to continue. However, a number of commentators believe that the so-called "probe" is little more than a whitewash to protect Jacob Zuma and an assortment of cabinet ministers, with officials taking the heat in their stead.

There's nothing like trying to get the message across... the WWF and TRAFFIC are targeting rhino horn consumers, particularly in Vietnam, as part of their global campaign against illegal wildlife trade. The bodies have developed a series of advertisements to discourage Vietnamese citizens from buying or consuming rhino horn.

Well, good luck and we hope it works, but in the meantime, efforts to stop the poaching must be stepped up, the kingpins be arrested and sentenced to rot in jail, and perhaps local communities around our game reserves be involved in some sort of system that rewards them for reporting suspect activities and people in their areas.

Rod Baker, Content Director

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Weekly top stories

WWF, TRAFFIC target rhino horn consumers
As part of their global campaign against illegal wildlife trade, particularly rhino horn trade in Vietnam, the WWF and TRAFFIC have developed a series of advertisements to discourage Vietnamese citizens from buying or consuming rhino horn. Read more >>
SANParks unveils 2022 Responsible Tourism Strategy
Eco Rangers encourage youth to Pikitup


Editorial news

Environment & Conservation
Summit engages with Joburg's new waste management strategy
The Joburg Waste Summit 2013, held at the Sandton Convention Centre on 15 and 16 May 2013, aims to provide opportunities for the city to engage the waste industry and other stakeholders on its new waste management strategy. The summit revealed that some solutions to certain South African social and enironmental challenges may be closer to home than previously thought. Read more >>

Eco Rangers encourage youth to Pikitup
The Eco Rangers project is an initiative of Pikitup, the City of Johannesburg's waste management entity. The project was conceived as a platform to raise awareness and educate young children about environmental issues, their impact and how these can be managed into the future. Read more >>

Earth Probiotic launches new composting bag
African food waste recycling company, Earth Probiotic, has launched a new product for the domestic market: a bag which recycles organic material into compost. Made from upcycled billboard material, the bag is manufactured by Waste-to-Wow, a non-profit company with the specific objective of creating employment amongst black South African women. For more information, go to http://waste2wow.co.za.


Conservation
WWF, TRAFFIC target rhino horn consumers
As part of their global campaign against illegal wildlife trade, particularly rhino horn trade in Vietnam, the WWF and TRAFFIC have developed a series of advertisements to discourage Vietnamese citizens from buying or consuming rhino horn. Read more >>

98 alleged poachers arrested in 2013
The past week saw four people arrested for alleged rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park, bringing this year's national total to 98 people arrested for allegedly poaching rhino and smuggling rhino horn. Read more >>


Environmental management
Rats, rats as big as bloomin' cats
City of Johannesburg spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane said the environmental directorate conducts rodent control blitzes regularly. Read more >>

SANParks unveils 2022 Responsible Tourism Strategy
The South African National Parks (SANParks) has made public its 2022 Responsible Tourism Strategy (2022 RTS), according to Glenn Phillips, SANParks managing executive: tourism and marketing, who said that the next 10 years will see SANParks doing things differently. Read more >>


Motion Pictures & Film
Wild Talk Africa calls for natural history, wildlife pitches
The Wild Talk Africa Festival invites wildlife filmmakers to submit proposals for the open pitching sessions. The festival takes place at the Docklands Hotel & Conference Centre in Durban from 23 to 26 July 2013, running concurrently with the Durban International Film Festival. Read more >>


Sustainable development
Lesotho Highlands scheme gets the nod
[Linda Ensor] The R12bn phase two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), which will secure a continued supply of water for SA and hydroelectric power for Lesotho, was approved in principle by the two countries this week. Read more >>

Mining and biodiversity guideline launched
On 22 May 2013, the minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa and the minister of Mineral Resources, Susan Shabangu, will launch the Mining and Biodiversity Guideline: Mainstreaming Biodiversity into the Mining Sector, at Kirstenbosch, Cape Town. Minister Molewa will also launch the Life: State of Biodiversity Report. Read more >>

Think Planet, think bike - Rezidor
Rezidor is rewarding all 230 staff members of the Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront for their energy efficiency. Each staff member will receive a bicycle in recognition of the hotel's support for Rezidor's energy saving initiative, Think Planet. Read more >>

Hydrogen fuel cells to be made in SA
Government is aiming to drive up demand for platinum by developing hydrogen fuel cell technology, Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom said on Thursday (16 May). Read more >>


Wildlife management
Tusker research goes social
[Janine Erasmus] Conservation-minded folk can participate in the Amarula Elephant Research Programme (AERP) through a new Facebook app that allows them to track their favourite jumbo, learn more about its habits, and share its movements with others, thereby raising awareness of the importance of protecting the magnificent beasts. Read more >>

Elephant born at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
Mother's Day was celebrated appropriately at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, just outside Cape Town and part of Shamwari Group, by the birth of a healthy elephant calf, which became the sixth elephant calf born at Sanbona. Read more >>


International
Deadly Oklahoma tornado kills hundreds
WASHINGTON, USA: A powerful tornado with winds of up to 320km/h pulverised an Oklahoma City suburb on Monday (20 May), hitting at least two schools and wiping out blocks of homes. Up to 100 people were reportedly killed. Read more >>

Climate change warnings may be invalid
PARIS: A global warming "pause" over the past decade may invalidate the harshest climate change predictions for the next 50 to 100 years, a study said on Sunday (19 May) - though levels remain in the danger zone. Read more >>

More International...


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