Wetlands are valuable in supporting life by

·         their ability to purify and store water;

·         their ability to ensure sustained water production by catchments;

·         providing humans with a range of services, functions and products that have direct economic, social and cultural value; and

·         being the warehouse of biodiversity through maintaining plant and animal species.

Visit - www.wetland.org.za

22/01/2012
Have a flutter
Butterflies are a treat in our summer gardens but habitat loss means many species are in steady decline. Help them out by cultivating butterfly-friendly plants like Buddleia and Tecoma.

15/01/2012
Sparkly taps
Remove limescale from taps by taking half a lemon and rub around the end of your taps, or leave slices around the base. Leave for an hour, or overnight if they're bad, then rub with an old toothbrush or cloth and rinse. Lemon juice shouldn't be used on plated taps

08/01/2012
Treat your greens
Wash veggies in a bowl, rather than under a running tap. Then pour the water on your houseplants afterwards rather than see it gurgle down the plughole.


2011
11/12/2011
Give a Gift to the Environment
While you are preparing for the coming of Christ, as well as rushing around with all the Christmas preparations – spare a thought everyday for the Environment.  Do something each day to lessen your environmental footprint on this precious Planet – the Planet that God gave us! You don’t need to wrap it – just remember to do it!

04/12/2011
Santa on his way?
During the next few weeks, furious Christmas shopping will be exercised by everyone!  Before buying anything, ask yourself - "Do I really need this?" and “Is this the most suitable gift”?   Rampant consumerism plays a huge role in carbon emissions as production cycles are for the most part energy intensive and one of the by-products of the cycle is carbon dioxide - not to mention other toxic chemicals. When purchasing, keep "green" close to mind.  Wrap in recycled gift wrap, or something useable such as a tea towel.

27/11/2011
Reduce – Reuse -  Repair -  Recycle.
You’ve heard it before, but it’s still great advice. Manufacturing products produces an average 2-5kg of CO₂ for every kilogram of manufactured product.

Energy reduction is up to YOU: kick the carbon habit – Turn or Burn! …. Draai or Braai ….

20/11/2011
When your electronics are “off” they may still be using power while plugged in or on standby. About 5-10 percent of electricity can be drained by “vampire” energy loss in the home each year. Be sure to unplug electronics and appliances you’re not using for awhile.

Energy reduction is up to YOU: kick the carbon habit – Turn or Burn! …. Draai or Braai ….

13/11/2011
Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Your Life
Only 40% of the average person’s carbon footprint is due to their direct energy use. The other 60% is indirect; it comes from everything we buy and use—goods and services. Pay attention to your consumption and waste habits, and you’ll find lots of opportunities to conserve

Energy reduction is up to YOU: kick the carbon habit – Turn or Burn! …. Draai or Braai ….

06/11/2011
COP17 is the 17^th annual meeting of the United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held in Durban from 28 November – 9 December.  It serves as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol which ends in 2012 and which will have serious repercussions for the global natural environment.  Processes have been taking place to replace it with a new binding agreement.  In 2007, The Bali Action Plan sought such an agreement. COP 15 in Copenhagen called for a new deal but could only the non-binding Copenhagen Accord was formulated. COP 16 in Mexico in 2010 resulted in the Cancun Agreements.  It is up to South Africa to ensure that a solid binding agreement is in place to supersede the Kyoto Protocol in order to reduce the anticipated average global temperature rise of 2° which will have dire consequences across the globe.

23/10/2011
Treat your tiles
Give tiles a sparkle by cleaning with a simple solution of 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water. Rinse then wipe dry

23/10/2011
Tidy freezer
Save energy with a quick tidy up in your freezer. Organise the drawers or shelves in whatever way works for you, label things you might not be able to identify later, and put items you use frequently in the most accessible drawer. This should help you save time and energy rummaging with the door open, and it can help you spot when you're running low on products.

16/10/2011
National Marine week
National Marine Week is celebrated every year during the third week of October to create awareness about the marine and coastal environment, the promotion of sustainable use and conservation of these resources, for the benefit of all both present and future generations.

We are all dependant, directly or indirectly on the sea and its up to each one of us to respect, protect the ocean use its resources wisely and sustainably

09/10/2011
Colourful solution
Consider buying coloured clothes rather than whites. Crisp, bright whites need to be washed at high temperatures if they're to look good so they'll add to your energy costs.

02/10/2011
Natural appeal
For a bit of zest in your cooking, add some peel. Wash unwaxed oranges or lemons, and remove peel with a sharp vegetable peeler. Dry on a tray in the oven, after you've switched it off after a baking session. Store in a jar when cool. Use chopped up for flavouring cakes, puddings, stuffings or even tea.

25/09/2011
Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed; if we permit the last virgin forests to be turned into comic books and plastic cigarette cases; if we drive the few remaining members of the wild species into zoos or to extinction; if we pollute the last clear air and dirty the last clean streams and push our paved roads through the last of the silence, so that never again will we be free of the noise, the exhausts, the stinks of human and automotive waste. ~ Wallace Stegner, letter to David E. Pesonen of the Wildland Research Centre, 3 December 1960.

18/09/2011
Water is life!
Water in liquid form, is the essence of all life.  Our planet is the only one that has it.  97% of earth’s water is sea water. Two thirds of the remaining fresh water is locked up in polar and glacial ice.  South Africa is a water scarce country.  We get only half the world’s average annual rainfall, 60% of which falls in 20% of the country.  Climate change is causing more intense weather events like hurricanes, tornados, hail and super storms, droughts and floods.  The growing unpredictability of rainfall patterns makes water management a challenge.  While suburban dwellers in South Africa have reliable supplies of good quality water, this is not the norm for people living in townships, informal settlements and rural areas.  (12% of South Africans do not have reasonable access to safe drinking water and 45% do not have adequate sanitation).  Future water scarcity threatens our long term political, social, economic and ecological security and sustainability

11/09/2011
Need not Greed - What can we do?

04/09/2011
Problems on Earth
People have wasted a lot of what they take from nature — plants, animals, water, metals, minerals, oil. Some of these precious resources nature can replace, but it often takes a long time. Others are irreplaceable. Many people use soil in ways that take away its life and allow it to be washed away where it clogs up rivers and lakes. Many industries release pollutants into air, water, and soil. While some people have much more than they need, many, many others do not have enough food or clean water to stay healthy. Violence, such as war, destroys homes, health, and life

28/08/2011
International Vulture Awareness Day – 3 September
Vultures are an ecologically vital group of birds that face a range of threats in many areas that they occur.  Populations of many species are under pressure and some species are facing extinction.

The first Saturday of September each year is observed as International Vulture Awareness Day. The purpose of this day is to create awareness of the continued plight of all vulture species and to highlight the work being done conserve these magnificent birds.

This year International Vulture Awareness Day will take place on 3 September 2011 and is dedicated to the splendour of vultures across the globe and the critically important services they provide in our environment.  Visit the BirdlifeSA website – www.birdlife.org.za – to find out more

22/08/2011
Why Recycle?
All man-made objects use raw materials. Metals are mined from the ground to make all sorts of things from cars to drinks cans. Trees are cut down to make paper and cardboard. Collecting raw materials can damage the environment making it hard for plants and animals to survive.  Dumping it takes massive amounts of space in landfills.  Therefore it makes good environmental sense to practice the “4-Rs” in our everyday lives – Reduce, Reuse, Repair and as a last resort – Recycle!

13/08/2011
Go wild
With Spring on its way, and your garden glaring ominously at you - keep things low maintenance, go indigenous in your garden - or if you prefer, you could set aside a totally wild area for your garden. This will encourage biodiversity, and attract beneficial insects which in turn will help with pollination and pest control.

07/08/2011
Save energy - forget the ironing
Save your energy - do you really need to iron your clothes and bedding? Save time, cash and cut your carbon footprint, and live with the odd crease. If you have to iron some clothes, do it while they're still slightly damp to make ironing quicker.

31/07/2011
Take a load off
If you have to drive regularly, clear the boot of clutter. Removing unnecessary objects will reduce the overall weight of the vehicle - cutting fuel consumption and carbon emissions by easing the load on the engine.

24/07/2011
Check your tyres!
With the present uncertain petrol supplies, keeping your tyres inflated properly can improve mileage by over 3%. Every 4.6 litres of petrol saved also keeps 9kg of CO2 out of the atmosphere!  So you are helping yourself and doing your bit against climate change

17/07/2011
Treat your tiles
Give tiles a sparkle by cleaning with a simple solution of 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water. Rinse then wipe dry.

10/07/2011
Pack it in
Sending something fragile by post? Use bunched-up strips of newspaper or waste paper as packaging instead of commercial bubble wrap. It'll save resources and you can add a polite note asking the receiver to either re-use or recycle the paper on opening.

03/07/2011
Waterwise
Save the water from cooking your vegetables.  It is full of vitamins and minerals and is excellent for your health, and for the garden. Don’t pour it down the drain. Let it cool, and either:

26/06/2011
White wash
Get your whites brilliant by soaking them in a solution of water and lemon juice and then hanging them in the sunshine. Natural light and citrus juice will combine to give a gentle bleaching effect. That way you won't have to run energy-hungry hot washes to get your whites really dazzling.

19/06/2011
Uses for old carpet
Carpets have a surprisingly big impact on the environment - so why not get the most out of yours? When they're no longer suitable for the floor, use small pieces to line cupboards, car boots, pet baskets, as doormats or to lag pipes. They're also handy to put under plant pots to protect windowsills or shelves.

12/06/2011
Garbage greenhouse
Cut empty plastic bottles in half and place them over seedlings as individual greenhouses. Very young plants will benefit from the warm micro-climate created beneath the plastic, which also protects them from hungry slugs and snails.

05/06/2011
By the time a tree has reached 100 years of age
It will have:

·         Processed the carbon dioxide in 18 million cubic metres of air and fixed it as 2,500 kg of pure carbon.

·         Made 6,600 kg of molecular oxygen available.

·         Drawn 2,500 tons of water up from its roots and out through its crown and evaporated it into the atmosphere.

·         Supplied one person with enough oxygen for 20 years.

When we consider that trees also:

·           create top soil,

·           provide us with timber, raw materials, fodder, food, medicines and spices, shade and shelter,

·           and create harmonious environments in which to live,

then we can start to understand that our lives and trees are inextricably linked

29/05/2011
Washing vegetables
To save water, wash vegetables in a bowl of water rather than under a running tap. Then you can water your houseplants with the discarded water

22/05/2011
Rich Rainforests
Rainforests, including those in Africa, provide homes and habitats for more than 50 percent of the species on Earth as well as for millions of Indigenous communities. What’s more, rainforests also serve as one of our key defences against global warming by storing massive amounts of carbon. Over 40 percent of the world’s oxygen is produced from the rainforests. It may sound clichéd, but the adage is true: Rainforests are the lungs of the planet.

15/05/2011
Moving Planet
Moving Planet is a worldwide rally to demand solutions to the climate crisis—a single day to move away from fossil fuels. For too long, our leaders have denied and delayed, compromised and caved. That era must come to an end: it's time to get moving on the climate crisis.

Come on bike, on skates, on a board, or just on foot. Come with your neighbors and your friends, your family and your co-workers. Come be part of something huge.  Visit www.moving-planet.org for more information.

08/05/2011
You'll grow into them
Don't throw away old pairs of pantihose, as they can be put to good use in the garden. Cut the legs off an old pair and fill them with compost to make a mini grow bag. Simply tie off the open end and cut small holes along the length of the leg for planting vegetables or flowers.

01/05/2011
White wash
Get your whites brilliant by soaking them in a solution of water and lemon juice and then hanging them in the sunshine. Natural light and citrus juice will combine to give a gentle bleaching effect. That way you won't have to run energy-hungry hot washes to get your whites really dazzling

23/04/2011
Greasy stains
To remove grease stains on fabric, it may be enough to sprinkle the spot with flour, leave it for a while to absorb the grease, shake the flour off and wash as usual.   Alternatively, run very hot water through the stain, apply eucalyptus oil to absorb the grease, and wash as usual.

07/04/2011
Put the bottle down.
Bottled water and other highly packaged items contribute to landfills and emissions. Filter systems are cleaner and cheaper. Ninety percent of the cost of bottled water goes to the cap and bottle, making it 240 to 10,000 times more expensive than that of tap water!

03/04/2011
Try it cold
If your washing machine has a cold wash option, try using it for lightly soiled clothing. Most detergents still work extremely well at low temperatures, so you'll save energy as well as money.

27/02/2011
Save energy – forget the ironing
Save your energy – do you really need to iron your clothes and bedding?

Save time, cash and cut your carbon footprint, and live with the odd crease. If you have to iron some clothes, do it while they're still slightly damp to make ironing quicker

20/02/2011
Earth Hour 2011

13/02/2011

Slick solution
Get rid of oil stains on clothes by rubbing chalk onto the affected area before washing. This should get the job done without resorting to chemical stain removers or petrol.

06/02/2011
Respect Water, Respect Life
March is WATER MONTH – All life on earth needs water to survive.  Without water, everything would be dead. The water we have on earth today was used by the dinosaurs million of years ago.
Because water is life, we must RESPECT it and use it wisely.  We must also RESPECT all life on earth.
Think of ways of using water wisely in your homes and gardens.

27/02/2011
Litter, Oh! Litter!
Young children who are constantly reminded to use refuse bins for waste, and who are taught that littering is unacceptable, generally continue to behave responsibly throughout their adult lives.  In turn, they teach their own children.  Parents must be good role models and continually teach and enforce this message.

20/02/2011
Junk or treasure?
Before you bin anything, stop! Find out if there is another use for your junk, and save money, time and the planet. Or maybe you have some suggestions for what other people can do with their junk? Browse some wacky ideas at http://www.junkk.com/ - just click on the 'Ideas' tab

13/02/2011
Junk or treasure?
Before you bin anything, stop! Find out if there is another use for your junk, and save money, time and the planet. Or maybe you have some suggestions for what other people can do with their junk? Browse some wacky ideas at http://www.junkk.com/ - just click on the 'Ideas' tab

13/02/2011
All purpose cleaner
Make your own Mild All-Purpose Cleaner to clean dirt, food spills, stains, and build up on most surfaces. Its deodorising properties make it an ideal solution for cleaning fridges, microwaves, tiles, even children's toys. Mix 4 tablespoons of bicarb of nsoda and 2 pints of water, then wipe surfaces with a soft cloth.

06/02/2011
Wetlands

Wetlands, also known as vleis, bogs, swamps marshes or sponges, are some of the most productive ecosystems in the world because they serve as sponges that regulate river flow (especially in times of heavy rain).  They provide habitats for a variety of plant and animal species and they help to absorb silt and clean the water of pollutants.  They provide us a range of services, functions and products that have direct economic, social and cultural value – and wetlands don’t charge for their services!

Wetlands are often though of only in terms of their hydrological (water) importance, but they also hold great cultural significance.  Many cultures have developed traditional practices and belief systems for regulating the use of wetlands to protect these valuable ecosystems.

Our Wetlands are at risk because of draining the land for alternative use such agriculture.  The construction of dams, removal of plants, waste water being pumped into the wetland by industries, seepage of agricultural fertilisers and mining are all threats to these sensitive ecosystems.

30/01/2011
What is PET?
PET (polyethylene terephthalate -  a plastic resin and a form of polyester.) is the type of plastic labelled with the #1  code on or near the bottom of bottles and containers and is commonly used to package soft drinks, water, juice, peanut butter, salad dressings and oil, cosmetics and household cleaners.  It is a very light-weight material and 25 two-litre bottles can be recycled in approximately one kilogram of pillow or duvet stuffing.

23/01/2011
 "Having been given this earth to keep and protect - dominion over a living planet - we're on the verge of wiping away much of creation. In the process we're already making life impossible for millions of our poorest brothers and sisters. This is ... a kind of blasphemy. Global warming shouldn't be a moral question, but because of our inaction it's become the greatest moral challenge of our time."  Bill McKibben

16/01/2011
Seasonal treats for January
After a month of indulgence, January is normally a time for resolutions and diets, but there are plenty of fresh veggie treats to enjoy.  Buy in season and preferably local produce!

2010
012/12/2010 - 05/01/2011
Words of Wisdom for this special time of year:
We must learn to walk in balance, sacred steps to take
Weaving peace and understanding through all that we create
A tapestry of love and light finest threads of gold
Sacred flame ever burning bright through all that we behold
When we learn to walk in balance the healing will take place
The healing of this earth our mother the healing of the human race
A tapestry of love and light finest threads of gold
sacred flame ever burning bright through all that we behold.
(Denean)

05/12/2010
A cure for smelly sneakers

Running shoes/takkies can sometimes get a bit ripe, especially in hot weather. Stamp out smells by pouring a little bicarbonate of soda inside your shoes in the evening and shaking it out the next day. The baking powder will absorb odours overnight.

28/11/2010
Light my fire
After cooking, use residual oven heat to bake discarded orange or lemon peels until they darken in colour. These baked rinds are full of citrus oils and can be used as fragrant, festive firelighters to light your braai  - with none of the nasty chemicals used in commercial products.

21/11/2010
Solar Energy
Without solar energy, we would freeze and starve to death very quickly.  The sun’s rays strike the earth and most of the energy is absorbed as heat.  Some of the energy is reflected back into the atmosphere, making the earth’s environment warmer.  Excessive carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is directly responsible for global warming (and therefore climate change) as it absorbs most of the heat that should be reflected back into the atmosphere – trapping the heat and producing what we could think of as a massive down duvet around the planet

14/11/2010
Don't get antsy
Discourage ants from entering your home by dabbing lemon juice around holes where they gain access. Ants will be deterred by the juice, avoiding the need to spray the area with pesticides

31/10/2010
Soil – No Soil = No Food
Most people take soil for granted.  There is no obvious shortage of soil.  With a world population of more than 6.2 billion, it is useful to remember that soil is the only medium we have for growing food in large quantities.  We are increasingly asking a lot more of the soil.  It must store and contain much of our hazardous waste, store and filter our drinking water, and at the same time grow out food.  Spare a thought for the soil and treat it with the care that it deserves!

24/10/2010
Glass:
In South Africa, 30% of glass is re-used; 25% is recycled but a whopping 45% is sent to landfills! – Let’s re-use and recycle 100% of the glass we produce

17/10/2010
Light fantastic
Garden lights are great for entertaining outdoors on summer evenings. Why not install solar models that don't suck energy from the mains? These are recharged by the sun during the day, saving energy, cash and carbon emissions. A selection are available from Builder’s Warehouse

10/10/2010
Licensed to kill!
Alien vegetation are plants and trees that have been introduced accidentally or deliberately taking over areas and crowding our natural species.  Black Wattle and Bug Weed are just two examples of trees introduced into South Africa for other countries which have become out of control and now  threaten our own indigenous species and have to be removed at great cost. 

10 – 17 October is “Weed Buster Week” so do your bit by checking your garden and surrounds

03/10/2010
The Tree
Let’s us pause for the taking of inventory
  To measure the debt we owe the tree
For the searching root that knits the soil,
  The cooling shade for those who toil,
The air we breathe, nature’s greatest gift,
  And the leaf that heralds each season’s shift.

Forget not the fruit that feeds man and beast,
  The branch that burns to prepare the feast.
That sturdy frame that builds the home,
  And the paper on which you read this poem.
The tree give all an asks no prize
  Even making the axe that ends its life.

26/09/2010
Don't bottle it
Last year,, South Africans drank a whopping billion litres of bottled water!  When one considers that it takes 8 litres of water to produce 1 litre of bottled water – that’s and awful lot of water going to waste!!! Next time you work up a thirst in hot weather, why not reach for the tap?

19/09/2010
The plight of the Rhino
With 153 rhino having been poached between January and the end of July this year, it is time that every South African citizen becomes involved in the fight against the wanton killing of our rhino.
  A hotline has been set up to help stop rhino poaching.  Members of the public could call 082-404-2128 to report poaching, or trade in rhino horns, as well as veterinarians, hunters or pilots involved.  Land owners were asked to report individuals who had offered to dehorn their rhino as a security measure and buy the horn.
  On the 22^nd September at 13:00 – everyone is asked to blow their vuvuzela or hoot to raise awareness of the rhino’s plight.
Woolworths will be launching their new envoi-bag for R10 each – all the proceeds of these bags country-wide will go to the support of guards for rhinos.

12/09/2010
Go wild
Keep things low maintenance, and let some wild flowers grow in your garden – preferably begin to transform your garden into a totally indigenous one.  This will encourage biodiversity, and attract beneficial insects which in turn will help with pollination and pest control.

Visit www.randomharvest.co.za for some good ideas or ask your local nursery to advise you on indigenous planting.

04/09/2010
What is “Biodiversity”?
“bio” means Life and “diversity” means Variety – Biodiversity describes the variety of life in an area, including the number of different species, the genetic wealth within each species and the interrelationships between them, and the natural areas where they occur.

29/08/2010
Celebrate Arbor Week, 1-7 September by planting a Family Tree

Big events like a birth or a wedding deserve to be celebrated. Why not mark a happy occasion by planting a tree? It will grow with your family and soak up CO2 as the years go by, helping to ensure the climate stays healthy while providing a leafy, lasting home for wildlife

22/08/2010

An earthworms eats its own weight in leaves, grass and soil every day.  Although it may take centuries for fallen leaves, twigs and other plant matter to decompose (disintegrate) and mix with earth to produce a layer of topsoil, earthworms do the job in only a decade.

As the earthworm burrows, it eats organic matter in the soil – digesting carbon, nitrogen and minerals and expelling them in the form of casts.  These casts become part of the soil and serve as natural fertiliser to give seed and young plants a nutritional boost.  The worm’s passages loosen the soil and allow air and water to penetrate deep underground.  No wonder an earthworm is the gardener’s best friend!

08/08/2010
Brushing your teeth
You can waste up to 4.5 litres of water if you leave the tap running while brushing your teeth – instead, use a glass of water for rinsing, or short bursts from the tap, and you'll only need a fraction of this amount

01/08/2010
Say cheers!
When buying your next bottle of wine look out for the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative label.  The label, which features a sugar bird on a protea, serves to identify and endorse wines that have been produced in accordance with BWI's conservation requirements

31/07/2010
Stop squeaking
If you've got a squeaky door, try applying a little olive oil to the hinge. You'll find it makes life quieter without the need for petrochemical lubricants.

24/07/2010
For the Birds!
If you don't have a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card yet, simply apply for your card now and select BirdLife South Africa as the beneficiary. Once you start swiping your card, the charity of your choice will start receiving funds. You can swipe your card at Woolworths, Engen, Reggies, Waltons and Supa Quick to mention a few. There is no extra cost to YOU.

Apply on-line for a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card now by visiting http://www.myschool.co.za and select BirdLife South Africa as the beneficiary.

If you already have a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card, but would like to change your beneficiary to BirdLife South Africa, simply call the Client Service Centre on 0860 100 445 - there is no need to get a new card!

17/07/2010

Say cheers!
When buying your next bottle of wine look out for the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative label.  The label, which features a sugar bird on a protea, serves to identify and endorse wines that have been produced in accordance with BWI's conservation requirements

04/07/2010
Create a splash of warmth!
 The fiery spikes of Aloe flowers can make the coldest day feel warm and will invite all manner of nectar-loving birds into your garden. Aloe arborescens (arborescens means tree-like) has the common name of Krantz Aloe and is found over much of South Africa, from the coast to an altitude of about 2000 m.
 
 It is able to withstand moderate frost and comes in an array of colours from reddish orange through to yellow. The tall flower spikes start appearing in May and decorate the bush for a couple of months. When not in flower, the succulent leaves form an artistic background to other plants in your garden.
 
 Winter can mean lean times for our feathered friends, but a patch of flowering Aloe arborescens is just the thing to bring nectar-loving birds into your garden. The spikes of tubular flowers are a magnet for sunbirds, and a whole lot of not-so honest nectar robbers such as weavers. These lovable thieves cannot get to the nectar by the authorised method, having no long and curved beak, so they simply go for the base of the flower and steal the treat within. The usual plan for flowers is to attract a pollinator with the promise of a nectar-treat, who then takes grains of pollen to the next plant offering the same reward; but the nectar-robbers fly in the face of such a plan. Interesting that nature has its baddies, but as long as they keep a low profile and don’t cause too much damage, our great natural world can cope.

27/06/2010
Check the labels!
Have you ever considered how far your food has travelled to reach your plate?  Check the labels of the produce – you will be surprised just how much carbon has been belched into the atmosphere as a result!
Discuss with your family what you can do to reduce the effect of your food on climate change. For example, you could try to buy local foods which don’t have any packaging. Choose products made closer to home, which were not transported long distances. Try to find out which products grow in season in your area and where you can buy them fresh.  It is healthier for you and better for the environment. If you buy foods out of season, these will probably have been flown or shipped from distant countries.

20/06/2010
Family tree
Big events like a birth or a wedding deserve to be celebrated. Why not mark a happy occasion by planting a tree? it will grow with your family and soak up CO2 as the years go by, helping to ensure the climate stays healthy while providing a leafy, lasting home for wildlife

13/06/2010
Football Fever!
Going to a Game? Don't forget to reduce, reuse and recycle. You can do this as easily as you can at home, as many venues now have on-site collection facilities. And take home any waste you can't recycle at the Stadium!

06/06/2010
World Environment Day – 5 June
Established in 1972, World Environment Day is the United Nations flagship environmental event, celebrated every year on 5 June in more than 100 countries around the world.

The purpose of World Environment Day is to focus worldwide attention on the importance of the environment.  The event seeks to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote and understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure that all nations and peoples enjoy a safe and and more prosperous future.

30/05/2010

No such thing as a free lunch
Recycling is far better than just sending trash to landfill, but it still uses energy and creates climate-changing CO2 emissions.  In other words, recycling isn't a free pass - it, too, has its cost.  Deciding not to buy products you don't really need is the greenest choice of all.
23/05/2010

Working to Save Africa’s rich Biodiversity
The United Nations has named 2010 International Biodiversity Year, acknowledging the continued loss of plant and animal species around the world from population growth, urbanization, deteriorating habitats, invasive species, and more. Last year, the U.N. reported that 17,000 animal and plant species are at risk of extinction and some 60 percent of our planet’s ecosystems are no longer able to provide the food, clean water, and other benefits that they had in the past. Many of these species and ecosystems are found in Sub Saharan Africa, where millions of families depend on farming and home gardens for food and income. Wildlife and plant species rely on healthy ecosystems that are severely damaged.

Many NGOs are working tirelessly with community groups and farmers, to manage the land in ways that benefit biodiversity such as native plants and animals as well as food production.  The outlook, however, still looks bleak for Africa’s biodiversity and ecosystems.

16/05/2010
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) caused by the last centuries gold mining activities in the Witwatersrand has been oozing from the surface since August 2002 and is currently flowing uncontrollably out of an old mine ventilation shaft on the West Rand, near Randfontein.  The water is polluted with toxic heavy metals, including uranium.  At another exit point the toxic water is only 1cm away from overflowing, and in the Krugersdorp Game Reserve it is posing  a threat to the aquatic life of the river, the animals of the Krugersdorp Game Reserve, the down stream users and eventually the cave systems in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.
Click here for Fact Sheet on Acid Mine Drainage (PDF 250KB)

09/05/2010
Let’s all “Blackle”!
http://www.blackle.com - Black Google - Blackle - was created by Heap Media to remind us all of the need to take small steps in our everyday lives to save energy.  Blackle searches are powered by Google Custom Search.

Blackle saves energy because the screen is predominantly black.  Image displayed is primarily a function of the user's color settings and desktop graphics, as well as the color and size of open application windows; a given monitor requires more power to display a white (or light) screen than a black (or dark) screen.

You are encouraged to set Blackle as your home page.  This way every time you load your Internet browser you will save a little bit of energy.  Remember every bit counts!  You will also be reminded about the need to save energy each time you see the Blackle page load.

Spread the word about Blackle by telling your friends and family to set it as their home page

02/05/2010
Rhino Poaching

Rhino poaching in both private game reserves and wildlife areas controlled by Parks authorities has shown a significant increase.  Very organised groups are spending vast resources in obtaining rhino horn. Traditional methodology of poaching is being replaced by highly organised approaches with extensive support structures in place and that there is a great increase in poaching incidences within the private sector.  There is no justification by any stretch of the imagination for the slaughter of these prehistoric mammals purely for the purpose of satisfying greed

The need for rhino horn is created for the making of ornamental dagger handles and its use for medicinal purposes in the Orient. Rhinos indigenous to Africa are bearing the brunt of this exploitation and are decimated for this purpose.

Please pray for everyone involved in trying to combat this latest scourge.

25/04/2010
Fluttery will get you nowhere

Stop moth larvae from munching on your favourite threads by placing dried lemon rind in clothes draws. Alternatively, wrap rinds in thin cloth to hang in cupboards and wardrobes where they will deter unwelcome grubs without the need for formaldehyde-laden mothballs

18/04/2010
You'll grow into them
Don't throw away old pairs of pantihose, as they can be put to good use in the garden. Cut the legs off an old pair and fill them with compost to make a grow bag. Simply tie off the open end and cut small holes along the length of the leg for planting vegetables or flowers. This works really well for tomatoes.

11/04/2010
Fresh Bathroom
Mints love the damp environment of a bathroom so grow some in a pot for a fresh, clean smell.
Place some lemon verbena leaves underneath the bath mat to combat mildew and give a nice smell

04/04/2010
Did you know?
The Wandering Albatross flies up to 10,000 kilometres to find food for its chick. In most albatross species females lay only one egg per breeding season.

Click here for the Carbon Fast document (PDF) - for daily actions for you to undertake to reduce your Carbon Footprint - especially during Lent.

14/02/2010
Water Wise
Water in liquid form, is the essence of all life.  Our planet is the only one that has it.  97% of the earth’s water is sea water. Two thirds of the remaining fresh water is locked up in polar and glacial ice.  South Africa is a water-scares country; we get only half the world’s average annual rainfall, 60% of which falls in 20% of the country. Climate change is causing more intense weather events like hurricanes, tornados, hail and super storms, droughts and floods.  The growing unpredictability of rainfall patterns makes water management a challenge.

07/02/2010
Moisturise like the stars:
It's said that movie-icon Sophia Loren used nothing but olive oil to moisturise her skin.  Many people, from masseurs to individuals who suffer from cracked skin, report that olive oil works as well as expensive commercial products, if not better

31/01/2010
Southern Africa has some of the world’s most diverse and critically threatened environments: