Friday, March 12, 2010

No to nuclear



Nuclear Energy does not help us to combat climate change at all

This is the main message that C.A.N.E. - the Coalition Against Nuclear Energy - wants to put across and make people aware of. There is a lot of documentation supporting this statement and some of the main points are the following:

  • We do not have time for nuclear power to make a difference
  • Nuclear power costs too much
  • Nuclear power doesn't create the amount of jobs that could eleviate poverty that using renewable energy like solar and wind power would create
  • Nuclear power is not safe, nor is it simple
For more information go to www.cane.org.za.

Sign the Avaaz petition against a R29 billion loan to Eskom to build the fourth-largest coal plant in the world

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

WOODSTOCK ART REEF
At the Greatmore Art Studio in Greatmore Street, Woodstock

Join the crochet community
Crochet Coral Sculpture for the Woodstock Art Reef
Communal crochet sessions on Wednesdays

COME TO HEAR TALKS AND SEE SLIDES
coral reefs alive and dying
climate change and the environment
crocheting new geometries and coral reefs
coral reef communities – mother and sister reefers

MEET ARTISTS, CRAFTERS AND CROCHETERS
science sisters maths mothers koeksisters and teatimers
collaborate to make a Woodstock Art Reef
crochet with the community art project
crochet materials and patterns

all welcome

WEEKLY WORKSHOPS
WEDNESDAYS from 2.30pm to 5.30pm
Welcome full-time and part-time

Greatmore Art Studios 47 Greatmore Street Woodstock tel. 0214479699
Maria 0726480818 * Leonie 0827773205
woodstockreef.yolasite.com
see Woodstock Art Reef Project on facebook

Monday, January 25, 2010

10 Feb Atlantic Seaboard Greendrinks meet

Greendrinks 10th February 2010 Edition : Woolworths’ sustainability strategy
Speaker : Justin Smith, Woolworths’ Sustainability Manager

Greendrinks is a free forum, open to anyone who wants to share green experiences, discuss ideas for more conscious living, network, listen to new developments and have a good time. (www.greendrinks.org)

DATE: Wednesday 10th February 2010
NEW VENUE : Cafe Bar : La Vie, on 205 Main Road, Sea Point
NEW TIME : 6.30 pm for 7 pm 'till late

Hope to see you there !
Spread the invite to your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues.

More details : email seaboardgreendrinks@gmail.com

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Fynbos Music Festival



There's an awesum music festival happening on the 23rd & 24th Jan 2010 in aid of raising legal funds for the Swartland Forums fight against the Malmesbury Aviation Estate.
  • STEVE NEWMAN
  • GUY BUTTERY
  • ROB VAN VUUREN (mc)
  • DEREK GRIPPER
  • KARNAMRITA DASI (international act)
  • ERROL DYERS
  • HILTON SCHILDER
  • ALL IN ONE
  • SANGAM
  • Koitrans
  • The Frown Family Karavan
  • aMani
  • Take Two
  • Miss Texas 1977
  • African Mbira Band
  • Off The Record
Drumming in the forest, fire dancing, Riebeek steel drum performance, food and craft stalls, mountain views and walks!

Join the Fynbos Music Festival fan page on Facebook for more info or go to www.swartlandforum.yolasite.com



The Swartland Forums are campaigning against the development of an aviation estate that could and would have huge effects on the natural environment on the surrounding area.
"There are direct implications of the proposed aircraft estate not only for neighbours of the proposed estate, such as nearby farms, the Paardeberg mountains, but also for all of those in Malmesbury, Abbotsdale, Tierfonteinon, Chatsworth, Kalbaskraal and Riverlands. It also affects areas further into the region which are within easy distance of a flying jaunt, like Riebeeksrivier, the Riebeek Valley and Wellington. The developers are talking about 120 movements (120 airplanes, gyrocopters, helicopters and microlites) perhaps more per day, especially over weekends. This would mean that there would be a plane up in the air every 5 minutes, every Saturday and every Sunday from sunrise to sunset. "
Help spread the word!
And make sure you don't miss out on this great local event!!



Photographs from the Fynbos Music Festival Facebook page & the Swartland Forum website.
Illustration of an owl playing the flute by Janet Botes.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Viva for veggies



Read this! (yes, click on "read this") here's an excerpt:

The scientists have spoken, and the politicians are getting edgy. Vegetarian campaigning charity Viva received a leaked email from an official at the Environment Agency showing that the Government is trying to work out how to get us to eat less meat. "The potential benefits of a vegan diet in terms of climate impact could be very significant," it said, adding that eating less meat is one of the "key environmental behaviour changes" needed to save the planet.
It's about the importance of a vegan lifestyle to reverse global warming. No, I won't try and convert you, and I'm not telling you that you HAVE to become vegan (I'm still learning to cope with being a vegetarian, really missing fish and sushi, so nevermind cutting out milk, chocolate and cheese which I absolute LOVE). I'm just saying that the more people change to a vegan lifestyle or at least reduces their dietary focus on meats and animal products, the better it will be for our environment, and the sooner we are really starting to make a change. Even small change is good, because a lot of drops into a bucket makes it full. If you can't live on veggies and raw food alone, or feel really unable to eliminate meat from your diet, then try just reducing your intake of red meat, fish, poultry, milk, eggs and cheese and you'll be surprised at how good you will feel! The article also gives these pointers:

How to be a caring carnivore

* Elect to eat one or two organic, locally produced cuts of meat a week rather than eating cheap processed meat every day

* Roast a chicken and live off it for a week, making stock from the bones and eating the leftovers avoiding wastage

* Investigate meat alternatives such as tofu (pictured left), tempeh, textured vegetable protein and Quorn

* Buy organic milk, or try soya (pictured right), almond, oat, hazelnut or quinoa milk instead

* Chicken and pork are more carbon-efficient and produces less methane than beef

* Be aware of other good sources of protein. These include pulses, beans, nuts, seeds and, of course, soya beans

* Many kinds of bread and even some vegetarian products contain unnecessary milk products like whey, buttermilk or lactose, or eggs. Check the packaging and avoid buying non-organic dairy by avoiding these products