Fracking the Karoo is a heated subject, with strong views on both sides. A 2012 report by Econometrix claims the project will generate hundreds of thousands of jobs, a classic case of arguing economy over environment.
Fracking the Karoo is a heated subject, with strong views on both sides. A 2012 report by Econometrix claims the project will generate hundreds of thousands of jobs, a classic case of arguing economy over environment.
But is this real? In a country with over 800,000 unfilled skilled jobs, it is not clear that flooding the economy with money will generate jobs. Also, the report neglects negative externalities, costs to parties outside the transaction, such as pollution, damage to rural roads and loss of ground water.
There are many other issues around fracking, such as long-term social problems and how water is reused after fracking. This “produced water” can be cleaned up and sold back to frackers or returned the environment – something that works in parts of the world with sound environmental regulation.
That South Africa ranks 72nd on the 2014 Environmental Performance Index, however, is cause for concern that we would get this right.
Environmental Performance Index country rankings: http://epi.yale.edu/epi/country-rankings
Keeping things clean
For many years, Angela Barberton has been on a campaign to keep our town beautiful by picking up trash and removing invasive alien vegetation.
She has passed on the challenge of carrying on her work to the Kowie Catchment Campaign (KCC) and the local Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) branch. WESSA plans to contact local businesses to look after one of various sites including: the Bible Monument; the 1820 Settlers Statue; the Toposcope; Dassie Krantz; the area at the top of Woest Hill; Fairview Spring; and Grey Dam. Sponsors can put up a sign (example illustrated) to advertise their contribution to keeping the site clean.
The KCC are making efforts to involve other groups, such as President’s Award candidates, on a formal and supervised basis to keep these sites clean.
Will two organisations be enough to fill her considerable shoes?
Contact WESSA via Roy Lubke r.lubke@ru.ac.za 083-576-2626
Students study waste management in Makana
Managing solid waste places a huge burden on under-resourced municipalities. Problems include illegal dumping and health issues for those living semi-permanently at the dump site.
Environmental Science third year students, divided into 10 groups, will be trying to understand more about waste in our town, including: flows (generation and separation) collection; transfer and transport; treatment; recycling; and final disposal of waste.
They will also research residents’ attitudes towards waste management and recycling, and locally driven actions to combat illegal dumping. Research topics for these 10 groups of students include: assessing waste produced by households; identifying and mapping illegal waste dumps; assessing impacts of this dumping on quality of life and the environment.
They will also explore public attitudes and views on waste management including: littering; economic contribution of waste picking to pickers’ livelihoods and challenges they face; exploration of economic opportunities created through waste recycling; and assessment of the extent of composting practices and re-use of organic wastes.
Through this work they hope to improve understanding of waste management challenges in Grahamstown, look for solutions and directly feed into Municipal sustainable waste management plans and strategies.
Look out for the students and share your views and experiences with them. If you have a particular issue or success story you would like to share contact the coordinator for the year-long practical, Dr Gladman Thondlhana (g.thondhlana@ru.ac.za) or the HOD, Prof Sheona Shackleton (s.shackleton@ru.ac.za).
Nikki Köhly: n.kohly@ru.ac.za, 046 603 7205 | Jenny Gon: j-gon@intekom.co.za, 046 622 5822 | Trisha Nathoo nathootrisha83@gmail.com, 078 584 9496 | Nick James: nickjames@intekom.co.za, 082 575 9781 | Philip Machanick: p.machanick@ru.ac.za, 046 603 8635 | Strato Copteros: strato@iafrica.com, 082 785 6403
