By the end of the century half of all species will be extinct. Does that matter?
By Julia Whitty
Published: 30 April 2007
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2494659.ece
Posted on April 30th, 2007 by admin
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SWC are urging all interested parties to please URGENTLY write letters of concern to the under mentioned government departments before 5 May in an effort to pre-empt the approval of application for mining rights in the Pondoland Centre of Endemism. (Your public participation and lobbying regarding the mining is extremely important) [Read more...]
Posted on April 26th, 2007 by admin
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The Herald April 26, 2007
Guy Rogers’ Elephant Ear
MINERALS and energy department regional director Nomvuyo Ketse makes the baffling statement that she knows of no report that advocates that eco-tourism is the best option for Pondoland.
This makes no sense. It means that Ketse – apparently forthright and always helpful, and one of the key officials who will guide what development option becomes the focus in Pondoland – knows nothing about the large bundle of Wild Coast land-use planning studies, hailed as an historic breakthrough at the time, and completed in 2005.
The studies were commissioned by government and undertaken by the Wild Coast Conservation and Sustainable Development Project, led by Dr James Jackelman. [Read more...]
Posted on April 26th, 2007 by admin
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Sunday Tribune April 22, 2007 Edition 1
the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) is still attempting to bulldoze through its proposed route for the N2 toll road through the Transkei.
This is despite outraged calls from local and international environmentalists, the eThekwini Municipality, the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, various community leaders and the public in general.
Consultants last week released the final scoping report, in terms of which it appears the agency is not prepared to consider any of the alternative routes being put forward. Instead, it seems determined to stick to its original route plan on the controversial Durban-East London road.
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 by admin
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Sunday Tribune April 22, 2007 Edition 1
For people in far-flung communities in the Transkei, it’s a Catch-22 situation. They want a road that will improve their lifestyle, but at the same time are not enamoured with the idea of mining on their doorstep.
John Clarke, a consultant social worker and development facilitator based in Johannesburg, feels that local communities are being manipulated by both South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) and those in favour of mining who are presenting their cases in such a way as to make people believe they have their interests at heart.
At a recent meeting Clarke said about 75 people, crowded into a tiny hall in Sigidi, had all opposed the ploughing up of their land to make way for unsightly open-cast mining. [Read more...]
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 by admin
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Sunday Tribune April 22, 2007 Edition 1
While there are seven proposed mainline toll plazas and 10 ramp plazas between Durban and East London, one in particular is being targeted to fill the war chest – the Isipingo toll, and Durban motorists are the bedrock which will make the controversial road viable.
The South African Roads Agency (Sanral) wants the issue of tolls dealt with at a later stage by the minister of transport, rather than up front as part of the environmental impact assessment process. But the exhaust fumes raised by this passing of the buck are already thick in the air. [Read more...]
Posted on April 22nd, 2007 by admin
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The Herald. April 20, 2007
By Guy Rogers
TWO communities living next to the site of the proposed Australian ilmenite mine in northern Pondoland have filed a complaint about the project with the Human Rights Commission.
Social worker Jon Clarke, representing the Sigidi and Mtentu communities with prominent human rights lawyer Richard Spoor, said yesterday the complaints centred on two fundamental rights which were being violated by the developer, Mineral Resource Commodities (MRC).
The communities charge that the mining company is violating their “right to have their environment protected for current and future generations”, and their “right to information relevant to the exercise of protection of rights”. [Read more...]
Posted on April 20th, 2007 by admin
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