2 BAGS… HOW EASY IS THAT?
In communities where recycling has become the norm, good communication between the recycling operator and the public is vital.
Ok, let’s get things straight. It’s a 2-bag system. If you support recycling, you will hardly ever need to put out a full black bag. You put all the recycling stuff into the other (clear, yellow, orange) bag – how easy is that? And believe me, most of our waste is recyclable, as long as it isn’t wet or smelly!
Don’t fuss if you see both bags being thrown into the municipal truck. It will get to the right place. The Masihlule Project sorters will grab all the recycling bags as they come off the truck. ‘Masihlule’ means ‘let us sort’ and that is exactly what these people do. They then sell the items, which means they are making a living from it. Support the 2-bag system, it’s the right thing to do!
More info: Mr Mark Price 046-624.4911 / 072-483.4490 / mark.price@iwars.co.za or Ms Nosipho Manona 073-387.6496 / nosiphomanona@yahoo.com
2 BAGS… HOW EASY IS THAT?
In communities where recycling has become the norm, good communication between the recycling operator and the public is vital.
Ok, let’s get things straight. It’s a 2-bag system. If you support recycling, you will hardly ever need to put out a full black bag. You put all the recycling stuff into the other (clear, yellow, orange) bag – how easy is that? And believe me, most of our waste is recyclable, as long as it isn’t wet or smelly!
Don’t fuss if you see both bags being thrown into the municipal truck. It will get to the right place. The Masihlule Project sorters will grab all the recycling bags as they come off the truck. ‘Masihlule’ means ‘let us sort’ and that is exactly what these people do. They then sell the items, which means they are making a living from it. Support the 2-bag system, it’s the right thing to do!
More info: Mr Mark Price 046-624.4911 / 072-483.4490 / mark.price@iwars.co.za or Ms Nosipho Manona 073-387.6496 / nosiphomanona@yahoo.com
FRACK ’N OIL RUSH
Just east of Port Elizabeth, offshore exploration concessions have been granted to Bayfield Energy and New African Global Energy. These are just two of the ten petroleum companies that are rushing to grab oil reserves off the southern African coast. Not to mention the huge area that Shell and other companies want to frackin’ explore for shale gas.
PetroSA, the state oil and gas company, has an online map showing all the areas where applications for exploration rights have been granted or are pending. Go to www.petroleumagencysa.com then click on “Exploration Activities Map”. Scary stuff!
Job creation? In the short term, yes – so it’s boom then bust. Nothing sustainable. Worst of all, it will affect our food security, whether it’s ocean-based (the fishing industry) or land-based (farming and agriculture). We can turn a blind eye to this… at our peril.
ENVIRO AWARD WINNERS
Congratulations to this year’s Rhodes University Environmental Award winners! Paul Juby (Individual Category), Hilltop 3 Residence (Student Society/ Residence category), and the Environmental Learning Research Centre (Institute/ Department category) accepted their unique and beautiful floating trophies and certificates at a celebratory award ceremony on Friday 7 October. More info: www.ru.ac.za/environment/committee/environmentalawards
THE ENVIRO WEEK THAT WAS
Well done to the SRC Environmental Councillor and all the student environmental organisations at Rhodes University for a fantastic Enviro Week. The programme, starting on Sunday 2 October, covered a diversity of topics and activities, and ended on Saturday 8 October with the Green Fund Run.
The opening by the Vice Chancellor at the Environmental Learning and Research Centre was followed by a fascinating talk by David Kronlid from Uppsala University in Sweden, on his research in environmental ethics, mobility and climate change justice. Other highlights included a water seminar with Prof Janine Adams of NMMU speaking on conservation and management of SA’s estuaries, and a talk by Professor Jay O'Keeffe on training water resource scientists for sustainable management, drawing on the UNESCO IHE and 'Great Rivers' perspective . The UNESCO Institute for Water Education, where O’Keeffe was based for 7 years, is the largest water education facility in the world.
Greening activities included the SRC Centenary Tree planting event and gardening at Cynthia’s Soup Kitchen in Xolani. There was also a recycled arts and crafts workshop run by Neo Koza, and a fascinating workshop on bio-mimicry – the art of learning from and then emulating nature to solve human problems and create more sustainable designs. Other events included documentary screenings of 'Home','The Coconut Revolution' and 'Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai' in the relaxed atmosphere of the Monastery in New Street; student discussions on youth mobilization in environmental issues; getting to know our food; and interactive events happening on campus throughout the week.
GREAT GREEN FUN(D) RUN
The second Rhodes University Green Fund Run took place on Saturday. Amazing outfits – weird, wild or wonderful – depicting the crazy lack of leadership in government when it comes to environmental issues. Awesome baton designs symbolising sustainability. Look for the full report with colour pictures in the next issue of Grocott’s Mail.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Riverine Rabbit and big business – sustainability justified: Wednesday 12 October, 6.30 pm, RU Eden Grove Blue (Lucas Ave). RIBS Business Forum guest speaker Mr Andrew Johnston, Group Company Secretary of Altron, will speak about the beautiful and critically endangered Riverine Rabbit and why big business is interested. Don't miss this very interesting talk! More info: www.ru.ac.za/businessschool
Feral Cat Day: Sunday 16 October, also the second birthday of the Grahamstown Feral Cat Project, an initiative to address unchecked cat breeding in a humane and sustainable way. More info: www.gfcp.info
State of the Environment in Grahamstown: Friday 21 October, 2pm-3pm, RU Botany Major. RU Dept of Environmental Science 3rd year students present findings from their year-long projects. If you plan to attend, please contact Kathy on k.cassidy@ru.ac.za / 046 603 7013.
Grahamstown Flower Festival: Weekend of 29-30 October. Food and flowers, gardens, indigenous plants and green technologies. Come to Grahamstown’s very own ‘Sustainability Fest’! More info: www.grahamstownflowerfestival.co.za
Contacts for Makana Enviro-News:
Nikki Köhly: n.kohly@ru.ac.za, 046 603 7205 / Jenny Gon: j-gon@intekom.co.za, 046 622 5822 / Nick Hamer: n.hamer@ru.ac.za, 084 722 3458 / Nick James: nickjames@intekom.co.za, 046 622 5757 / Lawrence Sisitka: heilaw@imaginet.co.za, 046 622 8595 / Strato Copteros strato@iafrica.com, 082 785 6403
