Green police’ bring muscle to battle to protect environment
Platinum industry vs Spoor and affected communities
FIRE BREAKS OUT AT NaDEET CENTRE
Elephant Management & Owners Association
Mabula Ground Hornbill Research & Conservation Project
Heat reduces and shifts premium wine production
POSITION(s) AVAILABLE
Tailpiece
Hi again,
Herewith, some snippets from various sources.
I appeal to you to send me items to distribute to our members for the Cleft Stick, the Game Ranger magazine and to be posted on the web site. These are your magazine and website, so ensure it gets the news that you would like to see in it.
Please let me have any changes to your physical address, phone no. or e-mail address to keep the database up to date.
Thanks to all of you who have made the effort. Please will any of you who know of members who do not get this “electric” Cleft~Stick, & have access to e-mail, pass their address along to me.
Don Yunnie
7 Chalet Drive, Hilton, 3245, South Africa Local Tel & Fax (033) 343 1534 Int. Tel & Fax (+2733) 343 1534 cell 082 377 7562 E-mail dyunnie@xsinet.co.za.
If you do not wish to receive this e-mail newsletter please send a blank e-mail to me at the above address with the word “unsubscribe C~S ” as the message heading.
Awards
Yes it‘s that time of the year again! It’s your opportunity to nominate someone who is deserving of a GRAA award for their conservation work. Please let your regional chair person have your motivation to forward to the Africa Committee – preferably before the end of this month, to be discussed at the next meeting.
The categories are:-
Norman Dean Award - Gold medal:
The highest award and honour that the Association can bestow upon anyone.
This award can only be given to one person in any one year.
Silver medal:
An award made to an Honorary Member, Professional Member or Member of the Association for outstanding achievement and excellence in the profession of Game Ranger, or in furthering the profession of Game Ranger and/or the Association.
Bronze medal:
An award to any person or grouping of persons, member/s or non-member/s, for outstanding achievement and excellence towards furthering conservation, the profession of Game Ranger and/or the Association.
Honorary Membership:
An award made to a Professional Member or Member who has made a significant contribution towards conservation, the profession of Game Ranger and/or the Association, and who, at the discretion of the Committee, is deserving of Honorary Membership.
Life-Time Achievement Award (“Spirit of Africa” Award):
An award made to any person for an acclaimed significant and enduring legacy towards conservation in Africa and/or the Association and/or the profession of Game Ranger
Certificates
Although the Association shall strive to seek excellence among its membership on a continuous basis, if there are no nominations, or nominations are not worthy of the award, no award need be made in that year.
CRITERIA FOR AWARDS:
The awards of the Association are for made for outstanding achievement and excellence in the profession of Game Ranger, or in furthering the profession of Game Ranger and/or the Association.
. All awards, except for Honorary Membership, are made for performance or action/s by the recipient, which took place during the twelve months prior to being nominated for the award.
Green police’ bring muscle to battle to protect environment
Chantelle Benjamin, Johannesburg Metro Editor
GOVERNMENT has established a new environmental policing unit with the same investigative and arresting powers as the police.
This move will see businesses or individuals who flout environmental legislation brought to book.
New regulations relating to the National Environmental Management Act, which were put in place this year, have given environmental authorities much-needed teeth to fight destruction of the environment by those who plunder natural resources or dump toxic material.
The environmental management inspectors unit has been set up to give the environmental affairs and tourism department the ability to enforce the law. There is an increased chance of arrest and there are heavy penalties.
Gauteng has become the first province to launch its environmental management inspectors unit. Members completed an intensive training course run by the department and the University of Pretoria.
The programme was supported by the environmental agencies of England and Wales as well as the Environmental Protection Agency of the US.
The new unit, succeeding an earlier group known as the Green Scorpions, will have powers of search and seizure, will be able to set up road blocks, issue enforceable compliance notices and carry out routine inspections. Fines of up to R5m can be issued for contraventions.
This gives environmental management teams the capacity to prevent abuse.
Gauteng conservation and environment MEC Khabisi Mosunkutu said yesterday that the unit heralded a new period for environmental management.
“It will convey a positive and firm message to the Gauteng community that they now have a force exclusively dedicated to ensuring no one will, with impunity, degrade the environment and compromise our health.
“The honeymoon for environmental criminals is coming to an end. The (inspection units) are well trained and sufficiently well motivated to deal with (them).”
The units were set up to comply with constitutional obligations. These say South African citizens have a right to a clean environment that is not harmful to their health and wellbeing.
Platinum industry vs Spoor and affected communities
GEASPHERE , www.geasphere.co.za , Jubilee South Africa press release, 7 August 2006
Jubilee South Africa would like to register its wholehearted support for the communities ravaged by the platinum industry who are fighting the injustices imposed on them, and for their lawyer, Richard Spoor, who has proven his willingness to speak truth to power.
In typical arrogant fashion, Anglo Platinum and Potgietersrus Platinum Mines took Spoor to court in an effort to silence him, but the Judge refused on Friday to award an interim gagging order.
The platinum industry is indeed deserving of Spoor's criticisms for the ruthless way in which the companies have destroyed the environment and shattered the lives of the people and communities that stand in their way.
The platinum industry has left a wasteland in the wake of its mining activities around the Rustenburg area in the North West province, with poisoned water points, cracked houses and sinking gravesites. Communities are struggling to eke out an increasingly tenuous existence in the face of the everpresent drone of the mine ventilation shafts.
The damage caused is being replicated in the platinum belt stretching from west to east across Limpopo province and through some of the most densely populated areas of the province. In some instances, mining operations in and amongst communities are also interfering with water systems, causing subsidence and damaging houses. In others, communities are forcibly removed, as in the case of the Ga Pila community, uprooted to a rural area far from town and from employment opportunities.
The platinum companies are not satisfied with the damage done in South Africa and are already active in Zimbabwe, with every intention of expanding their activities there.
They have been allowed to operate unhindered by the mainstream media, which largely turns a blind eye to the practices that any self- respecting media person should surely feel obliged to expose.
They have been encouraged and supported by the government, in direct violation of its duty to protect the citizens of this country, including those living on platinum-rich land.
Government has been complicit in forcing people off the land, as in the case of the Ga Pila community. A large dam, the de Hoop dam, is being built to service the platinum industry, and will cause serious harm to the Olifants River and the communities dependent on its water in both South Africa and Mozambique. Government policy on Zimbabwe is determined in no small measure by the interests of the mining companies.
In a climate in which the platinum industry operates with increasing impunity, it is not surprising that the platinum companies are responding so arrogantly to Richard Spoor for exposing the damage they are causing. They seem to believe they have the right to keep reality from view and, in so doing deny Spoor and the affected communities their right to express themselves. They further seem to have expected the legal system to comply in the manner of the media and government.
It is for these reasons that Jubilee is expressing its support for Spoor and the communities affected by the industry. This support goes beyond the current court case. Jubilee will work with the communities towards exposing the truth and fighting for the reparations that these communities are entitled to.
For further information, contact:
George Dor, General Secretary, george@mail.ngo.za, w +27 (0)11 403 4858, 076 736 0005
MP Giyose, Chairperson, 046 624 2557, 082 350 0361
For those of us that attended the this years AGM, give some thought to the folks there!
FIRE BREAKS OUT AT NaDEET CENTRE
At 4:45 pm on the 16th of June, a fire broke out in the kitchen of the main building of NaDEET Centre. NaDEET staff saw the smoke clouds at the office and immediately drove to the Centre 1 1/2 kilometers away. When we arrived at the Centre, the whole kitchen and our two storerooms were ablaze.
NaDEET staff used buckets, water from a cut water pipeline and sand to try to contain the fire as much possible. To prevent the fire from spreading further, walls were knocked down as well as the shade cloth roof. Approximately 20 minutes later, a gas bottle in the kitchen exploded, causing more damage and increasing the spread of the fire. Assistance from NamibRand Nature Reserve, Wolwedans Lodge, Tok Tokkie Trails and Jabus du Toit arrived approximately 45-60 minutes later. Using the water they brought, the fire was then quickly put out. A lot of items such tables, chairs, cooking supplies, food stuffs and most importantly teaching materials were destroyed. The kitchen contained our solar system including solar panels, batteries, inverter, low energy fridge and freezer. A school group that was due to arrive to NaDEET from St. George’s College had to be cancelled.
CLEANING UP AND ASSESSING THE DAMAGES
A clean up was done and some of the items are undamaged and will still be used. An assessor appointed by our insurance brokers visited the site to assess the damage.
NaDEET Centre was insured in four categories for fire: building, ‘stock in trade’ (contents), solar equipment and our data projector. We had hoped to receive a settlement of N$313 000 for all of the damages. Due to our ‘stock in trade’ and ‘buildings’ being underinsured we are to receive a settlement of N$234 221.
REBUILDING NaDEET
On the 5 July reconstruction of the NaDEET Centre’s main building commenced.
The main structure is nearing completion as well as the main wooden structure. Then the ‘inside’ work remains, which includes electricity, plumping, varnishing and shelving. In addition the roof must also still be painted to blend in with the rest of the Centre. We hope to be able to ‘move in’ on the 1 August to prepare for the group arriving a few days later.
If you would like to make a financial contribution to rebuild NaDEET Centre, donations can be made as a cheque (all major currencies accepted) or bank transfer to: Bank transfer in Namibia Bank transfer in Germany
NaDEET NaDEET, First National Bank Windhoek-Namibia Sparkasse Rosenheim Branch Code: 280
172 Bankleitzahl: 711 500 00, Account No: 620 451 071 68 Konto Nr.: 102 520 855, SWIFT: FIRNNANX SWIFT: BYLA DE M1 ROS
Contributed by: NaDEET
Word of Thanks from the NaDEET team
NaDEET would like to thank all of its supporters in the past month! Without your help NaDEET’s quick recovery would not be possible. We are very grateful for not only financial and in-kind donations, but also the moral support we have received.
Elephant Management & Owners Association
EMOA, WORKSHOP AND AGM
Date: 4th October 2006, Venue: SANBI, Pretoria
Date: 4th October 2006, Venue: SANBI, Pretoria You are cordially invited to join us for a one-day workshop.
Members are additionally invited to the 11th AGM
(Please note that a new Committee will be elected this year).
The day will start with some exciting presentations on the latest developments in the field of elephant management tools.
Due to past events and sometimes one-sided reporting by the media on elephant issues, the Committee decided to hold a workshop on “How best to get our message across”. The workshop will be discussing a media release by EMOA on the elephant management situation.
Costs: R 150.00 per person for the day (inclusive of teas and a light lunch).
This extremely generous and special price was offered by SANBI.
Please post, fax or email this registration together with payment advise or cheque to: 014 755 4455 or mgarai@esnet.co.za
Mabula Ground Hornbill Research & Conservation Project
We have produced a new up to date website :
It will be a week or so before this is up on Google so CLICK HERE NOW :
www.mabulagroundhornbillconservationproject.org.za
Ann Turner
Co-ordinator
The Mabula Ground Hornbill Project
The Mabula Ground Hornbill Research & Conservation Project,
Mabula Game Reserve, Private Bag X1644, Bela-Bela, 0480, South Africa
Tel: +27(0)14.734.1788 (unreliable) ,Fax: +27(0)14.734.0013, Cell: +27(0)83.743.4270
Email: ann@ground-hornbill.org.za, Website : www.mabulagroundhornbillconservationproject.org.za
We thank our sponsors of many years :
SASOL Limited :
The Green Trust (a Partnership between WWF & Nedbank Green Affinity)
Mabula Game Reserve : United Breweries
The Tony & Lisette Lewis Foundation SA
San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park
The Honorary Rangers : Shekinah : Goldfields
The van der Merwe Family
WAZA Branding
Many other friends of Ground Hornbills.
Heat reduces and shifts premium wine production
Here is an abstract of an open access article just published online in Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) that describes the potential impact of climate change on quality wine production in the US.
Already I have heard this research being covered on our local (English) radio station here in Geneva, and I suspect that many people will be more convinced to support action to mitigate climate change to preserve their wine supply than to conserve biodiversity!
The article does carry 3 important messages -
(i) the socio-economic impacts of climate are going to be wide-ranging and will impact almost every facet of human livelihoods as well as biodiversity;
(ii) extrapolating from global average temperature increases to predict regional impacts of climate change remains at the limit of our data and modelling ability; and
(iii) extreme events (the most difficult to predict) may be the prime determinants of many long-term bioshperic responses to climate change.
David Duthie, UNEP-GEF Biosafety Unit, Geneva, david.duthie @ unep.ch
Extreme heat reduces and shifts United States premium wine production in the 21st century
M. A. White, N. S. Diffenbaugh, G. V. Jones, J. S. Pal, and F. Giorgi, PNAS published 13 July 2006, 10.1073/pnas.0603230103
OPEN ACCESS ARTICLE
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/0603230103v1?etoc
Premium wine production is limited to regions climatically conducive to growing grapes with balanced composition and varietal typicity. Three central climatic conditions are required: (i) adequate heat accumulation; (ii) low risk of severe frost damage; and (iii) the absence of extreme heat. Although wine production is possible in an extensive climatic range, the highest-quality wines require a delicate balance among these three conditions. Although historical and projected average temperature changes are known to influence global wine quality, the potential future response of wine- producing regions to spatially heterogeneous changes in extreme events is largely unknown. Here, by using a high-resolution regional climate model forced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emission Scenarios A2 green-house gas emission scenario, we estimate that potential premium winegrape production area in the conterminous United States could decline by up to 81% by the late 21st century. While increases in heat accumulation will shift wine production to warmer climate varieties.
POSITION(s) Available
Game Reserve Manager
Public company seeks mature management couple for large conservancy adjoining Kruger Park One partner must have proven people management expertise and a strong interest in conservation management
The other party must deal with all kinds of people and have sound administrative skills.
To apply, send CV’s to: The Senior Consultant, WMS, P O Box 41343, Craighall, 2024
Tailpiece-
The Bush Computer Dictionary
Log On - Make the braai hotter
Log Off - The braai is too hot
Monitor - Keeping an eye on the braai
Download - Get the firewood off the bakkie
Hard drive - Trip back home without any cold beer
Keyboard - Where you hang the bakkie and bike keys
Window - What you shut when it's cold
Screen - What you shut in the mosquito season
Byte - What mosquitoes do
Bit - What mosquitoes did
Mega Byte - What mosquitoes at the lake do
Chip - A bar snack
Micro Chip - What's left in the bag after you have eaten the chips
Modem - What you did to the lawns
Dot Matrix - Uncle Jan Matrix's wife
Laptop - Where the cat sleeps
Software - Plastic knives and forks you get at KFC
Hardware - Real stainless steel knives and forks
Mouse - What eats the grain in the shed
Mainframe - What holds the shed up
Web - What spiders make
Web Site - The shed (or under the veranda)
Cursor - The old bloke what swears a lot
Search Engine - What you do when the bakkie won't go
Yahoo - What you say when the bakkie does go
Upgrade - A steep hill
Server - The person at the pub what brings out the lunch
Mail Server - The bloke at the pub what brings out the lunch
User - The neighbour what keeps borrowing things
Network - When you have to repair your fishing net
Internet - Complicated fish net repair method
Netscape - When fish manoeuvres out of reach of net
Online - When you get the laundry hung out
Off Line - When the pegs don't hold the washing up
Matter of Fact
This is an electronic newsletter of the Game Rangers' Association of Africa. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Association, nor of the Editor. This is intended to be an exchange of news snips, ideas and communication between members. Newsletter content may be copied and re-distributed without authorisation. Correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at dyunnie@xsinet.co.za