Matter of Fact
Hi again,
Herewith, some snippets from various sources.
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Don Yunnie
7 Chalet Drive, Hilton, 3245, South Africa Local Tel & Fax (033) 343 1534
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--- SAD NEWS
It is with great regret that we have to advise that Mark Coetzee and James Wakelin were killed in an aircraft accident near Beira in Moçambique on Saturday 20th September. Details are still sketchy. Mark, Membership no. 376, leaves his wife, Julia, and a daughter from a previous marriage. Both men worked for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and were on a business trip to investigate the issuing of an EIA. Mark was a very talented artist and ran the EKZNW Design Studio. They will be sadly missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing them.
--- DIVERS CAUGHT ILLEGALLY SALVAGING NICKEL FROM SHIPWRECK IN TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK MARINE PROTECTED AREA
MEDIA RELEASE SANPARKS GARDEN ROUTE, 18 September 2008
Tsitsikamma National Park Nature Conservation staff surprised divers illegally salvaging Nickel off the shipwreck Evdokia, situated inside the Tsitsikamma National Park Marine Protected Area earlier this week.
The rangers were doing a routine boat patrol when they noticed the divers. Three suspects were arrested and a 6.5 metre rubber duck, scuba diving equipment and nickel from the wreck were confiscated. All confiscated items have been booked into the SAPS and an investigation docket has been opened under the Marine Living Resources Act.
The Evdokia was a Greek vessel with a cargo of tin, copper, ingots and nickel that went down in 1979 on its way from Port Elizabeth to South America. The Customs and Excise department is also investigating the matter and the suspects will be charged under their legislation as well. MEDIA RELEASE BY KNYSNA PR | Nicci Rousseau on behalf of SANParks Garden Route
--- Carbon trading could become one of world’s largest markets
Macquarie Capital Funds , By: Chanel Pringle, Published: 16 Sep 08
The carbon economy was receiving a lot of political support worldwide, especially from the US, with carbon trading set to become one of the largest markets in the world in future, Macquarie Capital Funds director Andrew Johnstone commented during a cogeneration conference on Tuesday.
He added that many people believed it was possible that a carbon central bank would eventually be set up for this purpose.
Johnstone explained that carbon trading could lead to a value of about $500-billion a year.
Meanwhile, he noted that the cost of renewable energy, which is sometimes more expensive than thermal energy, would at some stage in future probably be equal to the cost of thermal energy, as thermal energy prices were increasing.
Further, Johnstone said that while South Africa's power utility Eskom had fallen behind in bringing renewable energy on stream, the country had been doing capacity planning.
He added that South Africa was currently experiencing the biggest boom to date in terms of fixed capital formation and infrastructure construction.
He noted that there was also a huge momentum to focus on the power sector.
If South Africa invested in cogeneration, it would not only satisfy the country's current electricity needs, but would also position the country for future growth.
Edited by: Mariaan Olivier
--- DME delays official signing of Xolobeni mining right
By: Christy van der Merwe
Published on 19th September 2008
The official signing and granting of the Xolobeni heavy minerals mining right will not be executed on October 31, as initially envisaged, in light of the appeal process lodged against the granting of the mining right, Mining Weekly Online understands.
Australian mining junior Mineral Commodities was informed by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME), in August, that it had been granted the right to mine at the controversial project located in the Eastern Cape, on South Africa’s Wild Coast. The environmental management plan was expected to be signed on October 31, when the licence would become official.
However, on September 5, a notice of appeal was filed with the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Buyelwa Sonjica, to suspend and appeal a decision to award a mining right.
It was filed by the Grahamstown office of the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), on behalf of the Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC), a group of local residents in opposition to mining.
The DME said in a letter to the LRC, which Mining Weekly Online has seen, that it had taken note of the appeal that had been lodged.
The basis of appeal was that mining right was granted without sufficient and reasonable notice to, consultation with, or invitation for, comments from the community, as an interested and affected party, which was unlawful.
While MRC insisted that community consultations did take place, a large number of community members directly affected by the mining said that they were not properly consulted.
“The traditional leadership structures represented by the King and Queen and the Chief, or Nkosi, of the Amadiba administrative area Lunga Baleni, of the Amopondo, have been deliberately sidelined in the consultation process as they are opposed to the mining in this area,” said the LRC.
DME deputy director-general of mineral regulation Jacinto Rocha confirmed that the Minister met with the Amadiba community in Xolobeni on September 12, after the notice of appeal was filed. Going forward “the consultation that the Minister will undertake with His Majesty King Sigcau and Chief Baleni will be within the context of the appeal lodged by LRC on behalf of the ACC”, he said in the letter to the LRC.
The project has long been met with resistance from environmentalists and those concerned for the human rights of people living in the area. The project is located in an ecologically sensitive area, dubbed a “biodiversity hotspot”, and it was felt by many that eco-tourism in the area could bring more benefit to locals.
--- UK firm plans 5 500 ha biofuels project in Tanzania
By: Reuters, Published: 18 Sep 08 - 9:08
Britain's Sun Biofuels plans to grow about 5 500 hectares of the biofuel plant jatropha in Tanzania in the next 10 years, the firm's local subsidiary said on Thursday.
Sun Biofuels Tanzania is in the final stages of acquiring 8 000 hectares of land west of the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
Peter Auge, Sun Biofuels Tanzania's managing director, told Reuters in an interview that the company planned to plant 70 percent of that with jatropha, while the rest would be left as forest or game parks.
"If we plant 1 000 hectares a year, it will take us five to six years to plant the land," Auge said on the sidelines of a regional biofuels conference.
"We are almost a year away from planting. It will take us five years to plant, then it will take us five years to get into full production, so effectively we will only be getting full production in 10 years."
Soaring fossil fuel costs and concerns over carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming have led investors to turn to cleaner energy sources like biofuels. Many are focusing on Africa.
Sweden's Sekab also plans to start producing 100-million litres of ethanol a year in Tanzania by 2012 at a cost of between $200-million and $300-million. It also hopes to set up several more plantations in the country in the coming years.
Auge did not give the exact price of establishing Sun Biofuel's plantation, but he said it would cost about $1 000 per hectare - or $5,5-million in total -- to get the farm up and running.
He said his company was interested in acquiring more land in Tanzania, and that it would use its current acreage as proof that the company could take on more tracts successfully.
Sun Biofuels also operates in Ethiopia, where it has grown 1 000 hectares of jatropha and will start biofuel production in 2008/2009.
The company is also active in Mozambique, where it has 5 000 hectares of land and expects to plant jatropha on 2,000 hectares beginning in November.
Sun Biofuels is majority owned by Trading Emission Plc, a London-listed renewable energy investment firm.
Edited by: Reuters
--- LAKE NATRON CONSULTATIVE GROUP
This is a regular update by Lake Natron Consultative Group (The Group) to raise awareness on the proposed construction of a soda ash plant by Tata Chemicals Ltd in collaboration with the Government of Tanzania, at LAKE NATRON in Tanzania. The lake is the only significant breeding site for Lesser Flamingos in Eastern Africa. The surrounding cross border ecosystem is also critical in sustaining the livelihoods of the local communities. The proposed plant could seriously affect the breeding of this near threatened species - thus wiping out 75% of the global Lesser Flamingo population. The livelihoods and health of the local communities are also at risk.
The Lake Natron Consultative Group (based at the BirdLife International Africa Partnership Secretariat, Nairobi) - a growing coalition of (now 34) environmental and conservation institutions - is spearheading the advocacy campaign to save Lake Natron. The Group’s updates are sent to thousands of supporters, partners and institutions across the globe. Once in a while we send out an extraordinary update focussing on a special happening or event. Please find today’s update:
In this EXTRAORDINARY update:
1. The Wildlife Conservation Society joins Lake Natron Consultative Group
2. The Pan African Ornithological Congress 12 passes a resolution urging for the protection of Lake Natron.
3. The report of the Ramsar Advisory Mission (RAM) on Lake Natron, Tanzania, released.
4. Other Threatened Ecosystems: briefs on Tana Delta in Kenya and Ecosystem under siege: Central Rift Valley in Ethiopia
1. We start off by welcoming the 34th member of the Lake Natron Consultative Group – the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). This is courtesy of the Country Director in Tanzania, Dr Tim Davenport. At the global level WCS saves wildlife and wild lands through careful science, international conservation, education, and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks.
This is not the first time WCS is getting involved in efforts to save Lake Natron. In October 2007, Tim wrote to the then Minister for the Environment, Hon. Mark Mwandosya, to express WCS’s serious concerns about the planned soda ash development. We heartily welcome WCS and do hope that together we can make a positive impact on the future of Lake Natron ecosystem and the local communities that depend on it.
2. The Pan African Ornithological Congress (PAOC12) was held 7th-12th September at Goudini Spa and Conference Centre, Rowsonville, Cape Town, South Africa. The Congress, which is held once every 4 years brought together over 250 conservation experts from all over Africa, with some attendees from Europe, America, Middle East and Australia. It was hosted by the Animal Demography Unit and the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and by the AP Leventis Ornithological Research Institute at the University of Jos, Nigeria.
My participation at PAOC 12 was enabled by support from the Horn of Africa Environment Centre & Network based at the University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We really do appreciate HoA for this support.
Here are some PAOC 12 highlights that are relevant to our campaign:
The Lake Natron Consultative Group and BirdLife International would like to applaud PAOC 12 for passing this resolution. This resolution takes the discussions and debate on the future of Lake Natron a notch higher.
Both presentations were well received by symposium participants with most of them signing to subscribe to our mailing list.
BirdLife International (Africa Partnership Secretariat) has written to the Minister for Environment (Tanzania) and Minister for East African Cooperation (Kenya) forwarding two original copies of the PAOC resolution.
The report of the Ramsar Advisory Mission (RAM) on Lake Natron, Tanzania has been officially released. The full report can be accessed at this link
http://www.ramsar.org/ram/ram_rpt_59e.htm .
Click the links for background information on the threat to Tana Delta:
http://www.birdlife.org/action/campaigns/tana_delta/index.html and
http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/tana_tcm9-188706.pdf and
http://www.birdlife.org/news/news/2008/07/tana_reprieve.html .
The latest press article on shifting of the course of Tana River can be accessed here:
--- SA lays out its hydrogen-economy stall
By: Esmarie Swanepoel
Published: 17 Sep 08 - 17:54
Against the backdrop of growing concern about the sustainability of current global energy system – particularly in light of the fact that oil reserves were being exploited faster than new resources were being found to match supply with strong growth in demand, especially from developing countries – the South Africa government has announced plans to intensify efforts to develop hydrogen as an alternative energy carrier.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) revealed earlier this week that it had selected hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies as a key research themes under its frontier science and technology programme, which aimed to foster proactive innovation for the development of new industrial activities, based on South Africa’s natural resource endowment. With South Africa possessing about 80% of the world’s known platinum-group metal (PGM) reserves and fuel cells being dependent on platinum, government felt there was a natural synergy.
Speaking at the launch of the hydrogen and fuel cell technologies research, development and innovation strategy, Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena argued that the link between PGMs and new energy alternatives had the potential to raise South Africa’s strategic importance in the global economy
He added that this reality should be seen as an opportunity to create socio-economic spin-offs for the country.
“In this context, my department developed a strategy, which was approved by the Cabinet in May last year.
“The strategy document sets out South Africa’s response to the globally emerging hydrogen and fuel-cell effort. PGMs and our natural resources are at the core of the strategy, and the national research, development and innovation effort,” Mangena said.
At it centre, the strategy aimed to create wealth through high value-added manufacturing of PGM catalysts, with a target of supplying 25% of global catalyst demand by 2020.
It also proposed to build on existing knowledge of high-temperature, gas-cooled nuclear reactors and coal gasification and liquefaction technology to develop new cost-competitive hydrogen-generation solutions.
Three centres of competence would be established to drive the various elements of the strategy, with each centre having separate core responsibilities.
The centre of competence for catalysts would be jointly hosted by State-owned minerals research entity Mintek and the University of Cape Town.
The University of the Western Cape would host the centre for systems integration and validation, while the CSIR and the University of the North West would jointly host the hydrogen infrastructure centre of competence.
Implementing the strategy would involve a considerable capital investment from government, with the department estimating that it would require an investment of R400-million over a period of three years.
About 80% of this funding would be geared towards technology and expertise development, while the remaining 20% would be used to stimulate private sector involvement in programme, with the department involving companies such as Anglo Platinum and Johnson Matthey.
Edited by: Terence Creamer
--- Even If Greenhouse Gas Emissions Hold Steady, Warmer World Faces Loss Of Biodiversity, Glaciers
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080917145509.htm
ScienceDaily (Sep. 17, 2008) — The earth will warm about 2.4° C (4.3° F) above pre-industrial levels even under extremely conservative greenhouse-gas emission scenarios and under the assumption that efforts to clean up particulate pollution continue to be successful, according to a new analysis by a pair of researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.
That amount of warming falls within what the world's leading climate change authority recently set as the threshold range of temperature increase that would lead to widespread loss of biodiversity, deglaciation and other adverse consequences in nature. The researchers, writing in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, argue that coping with these circumstances will require "transformational research for guiding the path of future energy consumption."
"This paper demonstrates the major challenges society will have to face in dealing with a problem that now seems unavoidable," said the paper's lead author, Scripps Atmospheric and Climate Sciences Professor V. Ramanathan. "We hope that governments will not be forced to consider trade-offs between air pollution abatement and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions."
In their analysis, Ramanathan and co-author Yan Feng, a Scripps postdoctoral research fellow, assumed a highly optimistic scenario that greenhouse gas concentrations would remain constant at 2005 levels for the next century. For the concentrations to remain at 2005 levels, the emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide must decrease drastically within the next decade. Economic expansion, however, is expected to see emissions increase. The researchers then analyzed expected future warming by assuming that the cooling effect of man-made aerosol pollution will be eliminated during the 21st Century. Currently, particulate air pollution caused by fossil fuel combustion, forest fires and smoke from cooking and agricultural waste burning serves to mask global warming caused by greenhouse gases. The smog does so chiefly by creating a dimming effect at Earth's surface.
But mitigation of this type of pollution has been increasingly successful by countries around the world. Because soot and similar particles remain airborne only for a matter of weeks, it is expected that clean-up efforts produce relatively immediate results. Therefore, the authors based their projections of temperature increase assuming the absence of these pollutants in the atmosphere.
By contrast, greenhouse gases can remain in the atmosphere for decades or, in the case of carbon dioxide, more than a century.
Ramanathan and Feng estimated that the increase in greenhouse gases from pre-industrial era levels has already committed Earth to a warming range of 1.4° C to 4.3° C (2.5° F to 7.7° F). About 90 percent of that warming will most likely be experienced in the 21st Century. In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change identified a temperature increase range between 1° C and 3°C (1.8° F and 5.4°F) as the threshold at which society commits the planet to biodiversity loss and deglaciation in areas such as Greenland and the Himalayas.
The pace at which the world approaches the threshold depends in part on national and international air pollution reduction policies. Despite the masking effects of atmospheric aerosols, the authors note that their removal is still an important objective because of the deleterious human health, agricultural and water supply effects of smog. The authors point out that the real problem is not the reduction of air pollution, but it is the lack of comparable reductions in emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases to offset the reductions in the surface cooling effect of fog. The paper also offers potential solutions.
"Given that a potentially large warming is already in our rear-view mirror, scientists and engineers must mount a massive effort and develop solutions for adapting to climate change and for mitigating it," Ramanathan said. "Drastic reduction of short-lived warming agents is one way to buy the planet time for developing cost-effective ways for reducing CO2 concentrations."
--- The Virunga Park again disturbed by political conflicts in the region
By: Jean Pierre Jobogo Mirindi, E.mail:jmirindi@yahoo.com
The recent conflict raised in the Eastern of the Democratic Republic of Congo did not leave aside the natural reserves including the biodiversity. The troops of the Chief rebels Laurent Nkunda did not respect his engagement signed during the peace conference held in Goma. All armed forces were to keep on their positions while both governments of Rwanda and DRC were planning to work together to repatriate the Interahamwe militias back to their original country in Rwanda.
The geographic position of Virunga National Park in the Eastern Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo has led this reserve to be victimized by rebels groups backed by Rwanda the neighboring country. Although Nkunda has no interest to destroy the park, but for strategic reasons he is obliged to occupy the Gorilla sector where he will get an easy support from Rwanda.
On the other side of the park, Kirolirwe and Burungu sectors have been destroyed by deforestation, and agriculture. More than 10.000 families have been settled into the park and park guards could not control the armed cattle breeders grazing their liverstock while the number of displaced people is keeping on increasing in refugees’ camps.
Last week another clash was announced in the western region of the Virunga Park, two fronts were opened by Nkunda’s rebels group to attack the government positions one in Ntamugenga another in Nyanzale and Kibirizi. Heavy weapons were heard and caused a mass movement of people from their original home to the safe region. The gorilla sector was again surrounded by armed militias and the gorilla sector in between the two opponents. It becomes now difficult to know whether all gorillas survived after the battle or simply migrated to Rwanda for safety.
Presently the East, Centre and Northern sector of the Virunga National Park is safe and despite the mass movement of the troops, poaching has reduced. Last week end hippos were again targeted by Mai Mai militias, the park authority has adopted a program of sensitization since nothing could be done at military court, it was a bit risky to launch field patrol with park rangers to stop them.
The UN forces have no option than applying their Chapter 7 to impose peace in the region and we hope this action will be saluted by Congolese residents who are viewing the UN as an agency to keep the conflict on. The mandate of protecting the environment is none of their business but on request they do help with minimum impact. Unesco World Heritage requested MONUC to link with the park authority and help to reduce the threats through joint patrols unfortunately the results were not significant as expected. The national radio announced yesterday that there will be no further negotiations with rebels groups, the body elected lastly will work hard to oblige them to respect their commitment signed for the benefit of peace in the region. I believe at this level conservationists will be able to carry out their daily activities.
--- Recycle your batteries
Household battery recycling seems not to receive the same amount of publicity in South Africa as other recyclable products, like glass, metal, paper and plastic. However, environmentalists recognise the health and environmental risks associated with the high number of batteries disposed of at municipal solid waste sites. They raise concerns about contamination caused by the heavy metals and other toxic chemicals that leach out of these spent batteries into the ground and water.
Much is currently being done on recycling, mostly focused on reclaimation and reuse of materials. Battery recycling is no different, with some batteries being more recyclable and yielding more valuable products. A lead-acid car battery for example, is nearly 90% recyclable. The regular household alkaline and rechargeable batteries are however also recyclable.
So, if your conscience bothers you, and if you would like to reduce your environmental footprint, why not drop off your household and rechargeable batteries at our head office (EWT)? We will ensure that they are properly recycled or disposed of in an environmentally responsible way.
Be responsible - REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE!
--- Recycle your Nokia devices and accessories
At Nokia we take our environmental responsibility very seriously. Our product designers work constantly to increase the amount of recyclable materials we use in our devices and accessories. So when you decide to upgrade to your next Nokia device, please play your part.
Just drop of your old device and accessories at any Nokia Care point and we will send them to the nearest Nokia approved recycling company. Mobile phone recycling leads to both material and energy recovery from old devices, and helps ensure the proper disposal of harmful substances.
Further information available at www.nokia.com/werecycle
--- Director: Finance and Administration
The Endangered Wildlife Trust, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, has grown over the past thirty five years
into one of the major conservation non-governmental organisations operating throughout southern Africa.
The EWT Director, Finance and Administration (DFA) is a new post being created at the EWT in recognition of the organisation’s continued growth and development. This growth has created the requirement to introduce high calibre finance, administration and governance skills into the EWT. The DFA will be a member of the Executive Management Team and will report to the CEO with whom she/he will work closely.
The focus of the DFA is on financial, operations, systems and governance strategy and management to ensure that the EWT’s operations are efficient and effective. The role will also oversee the management and best utilisation of EWT resources. The preferred candidate will have exemplary administrative and organisational skills and a passion for the environment and conservation. A highly professional person is required with strong communication skills and the ability to think creatively.
The preferred candidate will have:
• Graduate financial qualifications (CA or MBA is an advantage) or adequate experience in managing financial systems
• Preferably some form of legal training or experience in legal matters
• Experience in managing and administering an organization
• HR experience or qualifications
• Management experience (project management, office management etc)
• Maturity and professionalism
• A solid, professional person with sound principles
• Conservation skills and knowledge are not required
An understanding of, or willingness to adapt to the NGO environment is essential.
A workable knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite of software is required. Fluency in one or more South African language/s in addition to English will also be an advantage.
This is a contract appointment. The salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications and in line with the NGO sector.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust is an equal opportunity employer.
Successful applicants will be required to attend interviews in Johannesburg, and the selected candidate will be based in Johannesburg.
Applicants are to submit a comprehensive CV which includes e-mail address for referees, as well as a motivation as to how they would see their role in this post.
All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Candidates, who have not been contacted within 14 days of the closing date, must please assume that their applications were not successful. The EWT reserves the right not to make an appointment.
Closing date: Friday, 3rd October 2008.
To apply please e-mail your CV to alisonj@ewt.org.za
Or post to “Human Resource Manager”, Private Bag X11, Parkview, 2122. Or fax to +27 (11) 486 1506
--- Tailpiece
There is a factory in Northern Minnesota, which makes the Tickle Me Elmo toys. The toy laughs when you tickle it under the arms.
Well, Lena is hired at The Tickle Me Elmo factory and she reports for her first day promptly at 8:00 AM. The next day at 8:45 AM there is a knock at the Personnel Manager's door. The Foreman throws open the door and begins to rant about the new employee. He complains that she is incredibly slow and the whole line is backing up, putting the entire production line behind schedule.
The Personnel Manager decides he should see this for himself, so the 2 men march down to the factory floor. When they get there the line is so backed up that there are Tickle Me Elmo's all over the factory floor and they're really beginning to pile up. At the end of the line stands Lena surrounded by mountains of Tickle Me Elmo's. She has a roll of plush red fabric and a huge bag of small marbles. The 2 men watch in amazement as she cuts a little piece of fabric, wraps it around two marbles and begins to carefully sew the little package between Elmo's legs. The Personnel Manager bursts into laughter.
After several minutes of hysterics he pulls himself together and approaches Lena. 'I'm sorry,' he says to her, barely able to keep a straight face, 'but I think you misunderstood the instructions I gave you yesterday...'
'Your job is to give Elmo two test tickles.