Are you interested in saving the world?

May 8th, 2012 by Guest Author No comments »

Homo Sapiens

Passion for the world you live in. Concern for how the future of the earth will play out for you and/or your offspring. Ultimately, it’s a game of survival of the fittest. The fittest in this case being the smartest of them all – Homo sapiens. The irony, of course, is the fact that as much as we claim to be the smartest we manage to contradict ourselves at every turn. Whether it’s our disregard for the obvious or our inert belief that we rule the world.

Your input would be nice

South Africa has not quite joined the conversation around climate change, which makes one wonder: Does South Africa not think it can be affected in any way by global warming and climate change?

Cue the tsunami warnings that would have come had the earthquake in Banda Aceh, Aceh Province, on 11 April, 2012 been powerful enough. Or had the tectonic plates affected by the earthquake caused the seabed to heave and send towering waves racing toward our shores.

“What if?”

That is all you need to ask when questioning the need for long-term preparation or some form of awareness and readiness to learn more about climate chance and encourage people to find some way of altering their mindsets now while we have time. We’ve had time for a while and we changed for a bit back in 2009 when ESKOM had implemented those rolling blackouts. We dealt with it. We cut our electricity use; we became better people for a while. But when everything went back to normal, the outdoor heated pool found warmth again.

‘AuWinter’ is here

The truth is we feel how things are changing. Summer ended far too soon. Winter seems to have merged itself with autumn here in Cape Town (AuWinter). As we wake up in the mornings to go to work and its dark outside we know it’s all getting very real. Should we not try to learn more from the research scientists are doing on the phenomenon and find a way of taking what they’re saying and working towards finding a way to mitigate the effects of what may come? At the very least, we could start building bunkers that can hold us should the worst come.

 

(Post by our new intern Boipelo Seswane)

(Image by Planet Observer, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, via Flickr)

No comments »

Posted in Clean Up, Climate Control

Tags:

Veggie recipe: Chinese boiled dumplings

April 2nd, 2012 by Guest Author No comments »

This is a traditional Chinese recipe I found on the charming Sammy Way’s blog. As with many vegetable-orientated Chinese dishes (I’m thinking spring rolls and noodle dishes), making vegetarian or vegan alternatives is easy. These dumplings are vegan, but serve them to any guest with noodles and they will be none the wiser as they are very filling indeed. I’ve found that you can play around with the vegetables you put in them and you can choose if you only want to boil them or deep fry them afterwards for a crispy coating – not as healthy, but very tasty.

C=cups, t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon

Dough

2½ C      All purpose flour

½ t          Salt

1 C         Warm water

1 t           Sesame oil

First add the salt to the flour, give it a quick mix and then add the rest of the ingredients and mix thoroughly.  Knead the dough and add more flour if it’s too runny.  At first, it might be sticky (or, as in my case, very sticky), but relax. If it is sticky, allow it to sit in a warm place (Sammy says she usually just sticks it in the oven) for 15 to 30 minutes and it will firm up a bit.

Filling

1kg      thinly shredded Napa cabbage (blanched until slightly translucent and drained thoroughly)

3 T          Soy sauce

2 t           Sesame oil

¼ t          Black Pepper

½ t          Sugar

400g      Firm or extra firm tofu, drained and pressed thoroughly

4             Stalks of green onion, chopped

½ t          Fresh minced ginger

Preheat a large pot of water.  You can add a small amount of salt and/or oil.  It must be deep enough for the dumplings to be little dough submarines.

Put all the filling’s ingredients into a bowl and smash everything together. The tofu should be the same consistency as for a tofu scramble, with some small chunks.  Taste, and adjust flavors if necessary.

Roll the dough out into a thin 10cm circle, place a decent amount of filling in the center, and fold the dumpling shut.  Make sure you don’t add too much filling, or roll the dough too thin.  This will lead to dumpling disaster: your dumplings will burst open or you won’t be able to close them at all because the moisture from the filling keeps oozing out.

It’s bath time!  Stir the dumplings as you put them in the water to ensure that they don’t immediately stick to the bottom. When they float they are done. Check your first one, and if it’s not totally cooked all the way through (thick dough takes longer), then allow them to float for a couple of minutes before you remove them.  Drain them for a short period and set them off to the side to cool.

Sauce

¼ C        Soy sauce

1/8 C      Balsamic vinegar

1/8 C      Water

½ T         Sugar

Fresh minced garlic and chili to taste

Dip your dumplings in the sauce, or if you’re having noodles with them, let your guests pour the sauce over everything.

 

(Post by our intern Elizabeth Smit)

(Image by Alpha, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr)

No comments »

Posted in Vegetarian, Vegetarian Recipes

Tags:

World Water Day, 22 March2012 – curtailing your pool’s thirst

March 22nd, 2012 by Guest Author No comments »

In recent years, South Africa has experienced devastating droughts and recurrence is an ever-present threat. On World Water Day this March, pool owners, heavy consumers of water on a domestic level, need to critically examine their water footprint andbecome more vigilant in water saving practices.

For every square metre of water surface, over a year an average-sized local pool will lose a metre of water to evaporation. Given that there are an estimated one million pools in South Africa, that’s a lot of water being lost annually! However, a pool’s water consumption is remarkably easy to address with a pool cover, according to Caryn Formby of PowerPlastics Pool Covers.

“The concept is simple and logical. If you cover water, it can’t evaporate as readily and consumption goes down accordingly. Think of pool covers as a solar intervention on a micro scale,” says Formby.

Tests conclusively demonstrate that a thermal pool cover will lower water consumption, with evaporation losses reduced by up to 98%. Water is up to six degrees warmer too, allowing for a longer swimming season. Filtration and energy consumption are also reduced by 50%. Not just water-wise, pool covers make for a far more eco-friendly pool.

“Pools and gardens can account for 60% of a home’s water usage. While we commend the concept of recycling water, it is not viable to top up a pool with grey water from the home. The ammonia found in cleaning agents can wreak havoc with water pH and a pool pump’s components. Pool owners are not out of options though. This is where a pool cover comes into its own,” says Formby.

It is useful to consider the alternative – letting the water levels drop and the pool stand idle in order to save water. Firstly, to maintain a pool pump it needs to be run, which requires a certain water level. Left out of service for long periods, pump components quickly degrade.

Secondly, if pool water is stagnant and left unfiltered, it quickly becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and mosquitoes, never mind the unsightliness of the green water and unpleasant odour.

Lastly, should a pool be emptied entirely, the surface can crack and in some cases the pool shell can lift out of the ground without the weight of the water to bed it down. Pool refurbishments are a costly exercise.

“Even small daily steps taken towards domestic water conservation can significantly relieve pressure on our local water infrastructure and help combat the effects of drought and climate change,” says Formby.

Just as a filter is a pool maintenance necessity, a cover is the essential tool for smart pool owners. Other cover types such as the PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover are also an excellent way to curtail water consumption and, like thermal covers, offer a hassle-free way to close pools in the off-season or when pools are inactive for long periods.

 

WATER SAVING

Pool maintenance requires a holistic and disciplined approach with a fundamental shift in thinking and long-term water resource management by all. For pool owners, the benefits of a pool cover will not only be felt throughout the entire water supply chain and ultimately by our planet, the considerable monetary savings will be felt almost immediately in household budgets too.

Household tips for a water-wise pool

  • Install a thermal pool cover to curb evaporation (and heat your pool). For larger pools, add a rollup station to reduce the amount of water lost when removing the pool cover.
  • If your water levels are dropping abnormally fast, check your pool for leaks immediately and get them fixed.
  • Filtration increases evaporation rates so run your pool pump in the cooler hours, not during the heat of the day.
  • If you have children and are concerned about pool safety, adding a dark coloured Solid Safety Cover is also an excellent way to reduce filtration and associated evaporation. Dark covers prevent light entry therefore curb algae growth, reducing the amount of filtration required, lowering water consumption as well as power consumption.
  • Turn off any rim flows, fountains and waterfalls. Water aeration increases evaporation.
  • Keep the water in the pool! Avoid diving and boisterous swimming to reduce splashing.
  • Look into replacing your old pool pump with the new morewater-efficient pumps.
  • Don’t use recycled kitchen or bath water in your pool, rather collect rainwater for use in your pool.
  • Never leave a heated pool uncovered – warmer water evaporates more quickly.
  • If possible, shield your pool from wind. Planting shrubs or using screens as wind barriers can significantly reduce water evaporation.

(Press Release by Adlam Ink PR on behalf of PowerPlastics Pool Covers)

(Image from author)

No comments »

Posted in Eco-friendly Products

Tags:

5 Pieces of Evidence That the Internet Will Help Us Go Green

February 16th, 2012 by Guest Author No comments »

As the Internet and its information infantry moves, sometimes slowly and sometimes with the flashing speed of a lightning bolt out of the blue, into a place of prominence in our everyday lives, it doesn’t take a broadband expert to realise that it is changing the way we live our lives. Whether this will help us live greener, more eco-friendly lives remains to be seen.

I believe that a world that is more educated will be a world that is greener and environmentally friendlier. And the Internet is certainly educating us about the state of our planet and what we can do to change it. Here are five additional pieces of evidence that the Internet will help us go green.

The Internet Saves on Raw Materials

Every time you buy an album, movie, song, e-book, or game online, downloading it straight to your computer instead of bringing it home on an actual physical DVD, CD, or paperback, you contribute toward saving the planet. By turning much of the top entertainment on the planet into downloadable content, the Internet has helped to save hundreds of thousands of trees and many other nonrenewable resources that would have otherwise gone into making books, CD jackets, and other hard copies.

The Internet Cuts down on Travel

The invention of video conferencing has enabled hundreds of thousands if not millions of businessmen to stay home and conduct their meetings via video. This, in turn, has saved millions of gallons of fossil fuel that hasn’t been used in the airplanes, rental cars, and even ships in which these businessmen have not needed to travel. Today, thanks to video conferencing, you don’t need to hop on a plane to conduct that important interview or business meeting, and you don’t have to rely on a phone conversation alone.

The Internet Promotes Recycling

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of major Internet businesses like Craigslist and eBay. Did you know that a huge percentage of the online sales made on these sites are of used items? Another word for the resale and reuse of an item no longer needed by one party is, that’s right, recycling. Thanks to these sites and others like them, the Internet has played a huge part in making recycling possible and even cool on a worldwide scale.

The Internet Shares Information

Thanks to the Internet, anyone interested in minimising their carbon footprint or even just cutting down on the amount of greenhouse gases they emit has access to a wealth of green tips right at their fingertips. No longer is going green a mystery. Anyone with an Internet connection has immediate access to the latest and greatest green tips, environmental forums, and how-to guides.

The Internet Can Be Green Too

If you really want to turn all of the Internet’s power on itself, be sure you are navigating with a green Internet service provider. Green Internet service providers are Internet service providers that do everything in their power to minimise their emissions levels. They may use solar or water power instead of burning regular fuel or have an extra emphasis on recycling in their company. They may even donate their proceeds to a green charity.

Conclusion

The Internet helps to cut down on raw materials used, facilitates the recycling of used items, and helps minimise travel. Best of all, the Internet is a powerful tool that can be used to educate people about how to live a greener lifestyle.

 

This is a guest article by Ruben Corbo, a writer for the website Broadband Expert where you can find internet service providers in your area and compare prices on different deals for your mobile broadband needs.

 (Image by aloshbennett, CC by 2.0, via Flickr)

No comments »

Posted in Green Living

Tags:

iPhone Apps to Help You Be Green

February 14th, 2012 by Guest Author No comments »

Saving the planet can be affordable and easy with great mobile broadband deals and a few nifty and green iPhone apps to point you down the right road. Although some iPhone apps marketed as “green” are certainly nothing more than poor excuses promoted by trend-conscious marketers, others can really help you lead a greener life. Here are eight great iPhone apps to help you be green.

Go Green

Like the majority of green iPhone apps, Go Green is free. Go Green contains a treasure trove of tips to help you stay green. Tips are displayed every time you click on its icon. Open your mind open and think out of the box in a way that is both modern and green with Go Green.

Green Tips

Like Go Green, Green Tips is a free app that provides tips about keeping green every time you click on its icon. This app distinguishes itself from the others by allowing you to cycle through as many of its treasures as you like by simply pressing the refresh button. You can also email your favorites to any of your contacts in order to help them stay green too.

The Green Lemur

This green encyclopedia is chock full of ideas, tips, and tricks on how to lead a greener life. The Green Lemur comes with a search function to help find that tip you were sure you saw last time, a category browser to help you find specific tips for specific occasions, and a favorites menu where you can catalogue all the ideas that stood out to you the most.

MeterRead

Get a jump on your electric bill by using this app to take note of the reading on your electricity meter as often as you please. For only $2.99, MeterRead can not only closely predict your monthly electrical consumption but also the amount of your next bill. Use this knowledge to beat the house and become more efficient.

GreenMeter

This app uses your iPhone’s built-in accelerometer to analyse your driving habits and calculate a number of handy figures in real time. One of the best is the real time miles per gallon calculator that can tell you exactly what mileage you’re getting with your current driving style.

Shopgreen

If you’ve always wanted a monetary incentive to live a greener life, shopgreen may have the answer for you. When you begin, shopgreen puts you through a small interrogation to determine how green your lifestyle is. It then uses your answers to calculate the amount of CO2 your environmentally-friendly choices are saving. This final number determines the type of discounts you can get when shopping with any local store that participates in its programme.

3RdWhale

3rdWhale will help you locate all the greenest businesses in your area, whether within driving, biking, or walking distance.

Yowza!

Another location-aware green app, Yowza! not only finds green businesses in your area, it also tells you if any coupons are available for those businesses. If there are, those coupons can be scanned right from your iPhone’s screen to help you avoid wasting paper. Of course, both Yowza! and 3rdWhale won’t work without the help of great mobile broadband deals to keep you connected to the Internet from wherever you are.

Although some of these apps seem a more useful than others, each can help you in its own way to become a more environmentally-friendly person who drives, shops, and lives in a more environmentally-conscious manner.

 (guest post)

(Image by ariana873, via stock.xchng)

No comments »

Posted in Eco-friendly Products, Environment, Green Living

Tags:

Digital printing for a green poster campaign

February 7th, 2012 by Guest Author No comments »

If you’re running a poster campaign, you might have considered the impact it will have on the environment. Digital printing is a great way to decrease your footprint, but there are a few other principles to think about beyond that.

Any form of paper-based marketing is going to have a potential environmental impact – something that the green business will want to offset in various ways. Digital printing has several advantages in this respect, so long as you choose the right supplier. Here are five ways to keep your poster campaign as green as possible:

1. Digital printing vs. economies of scale

Conventional printing is typically set up for large volumes. This is fine if you want to print thousands of posters, but not so great if you want a limited print run. It is expensive on this scale because the plates take time to put together. By comparison, digital printing allows you to print small volumes economically. This means you are less likely to over-order due to price breaks for larger runs, and less paper will be wasted.

2. Eliminate unnecessary proofs

Digital printing also allows you to avoid the proofs stage as posters can be viewed electronically instead. The limited print runs also mean that mistakes can be corrected easily without pulping large quantities of stock. The upshot of this is that digital printing allows you to refine your concept as you go along. Instead of developing an idea in-house and staking everything on a large poster run, you can approach your marketing more organically, printing smaller runs and evolving your ideas as you go – finding out what works in the real world and building on that.

3. Conventional vs. digital printing processes

There are different kinds of digital printing, as there are different forms of conventional printing. Laser printing and ink jet are two forms. However, the inks used in these processes are significantly different. The inks found in traditional printing methods are frequently petroleum based, which leach volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. They also use other chemicals to prepare the plates, as well as large quantities of water. Digital printing usually avoids most of these problems, though you should check your print company’s environmental credentials to make sure.

4. Recycling and energy policy

The environmental footprint of your poster campaign goes far beyond the printing methods and the waste at your end. Check with the digital print company what their energy and recycling policies are. It doesn’t make sense if you’re trying to reduce your carbon footprint and you hire a company that counters your efforts. Find out whether they have a commitment to low energy use, and what happens to their waste paper (which there will always be in any printing business). Green printing should be part of a wider policy towards the environment, not just a gimmick to attract environmentally-minded customers. On your end, estimate as accurately as possible how many posters you will need to avoid waste, and recycle any you don’t need.

5. Pick a standard size

Most digital printing companies offer products in a wide range of shapes and sizes. However, unless there is good reason not to, you should generally choose something that is a standard size. There are two reasons for this: one is simply that these tend to be most pleasing to the eye, since the ratio of height to width have been carefully calculated. The other is that non-standard sizes entail more waste, since the printing company won’t routinely produce them. They will be more used to dealing with standard sizes, and sticking to these will keep waste to a minimum.

Conclusion

Digital printing is a greener alternative to traditional print methods, but there are still several caveats to consider when placing an order for your poster campaign.

 

This article was supplied by printed.com, suppliers of unbeatable quality digital printing, and a Forest Stewardship Council accredited company.

 (Image by net_efekt, CC by 2.0, via Flickr)

No comments »

Posted in Recycling, Responsible Industry

Tags:

From Nuisance Weed to Biofuel Crop

February 1st, 2012 by Guest Author No comments »

Field pennycress, also known as french weed, is an invasive plant found alongside many of our roads. According to researchers, it could be a good source of biofuel. Scientists have found that the plant yields copious amounts of seeds whose oil can be used for biofuel production and even as a biological herbicide.

It can be an organic bioherbicide due to its high concentration of glucosinolates, which can be used for suppressing a variety of weeds, such as white cockle, dandelion or redroot pigweed. However, the amount of meal necessary for effective weed control is very high, so the plant has more potential for use in horticultural crops.

Pennycress belongs to the Brassicaceae family, of which other oil-rich plants, such as canola and mustard, are also a part. The oil content of a pennycress seed ranges from 26 to 40 per cent; the oil is also suitable for low temperature lubrication. In order to produce bio-diesel and glycerol, pennycress has to be treated with acid and alcohol in the initial stages of production. Once refined, the biodiesel has the potential to be used as a commercial commodity.

However, further research is needed in order for scientists to be sure that this sort of biodiesel can meet industry standards. The biodiesel has to be of sufficient quality to be used in today’s engines. All diesel-based oil starts to gel when the air is cold enough, so the cloud point, the temperature at which crystals become visible in the fuel, is vital for the production of biodiesel.

Researchers have also found that pennycress biofuel is better for cold rather than hot climates, and better than using soybean oil-derived biodiesel as it produces twice the oil per acre than soybeans. Another advantage is that pennycress does not compete with farmers’ summer soybean production because the plant can be grown in winter and harvested in late spring. Pennycress production also absorbs CO2, a harmful greenhouse gas, and can be grown on any type of wasteland, unlike most biodiesel feedstocks that require fertile soil.

As with everything, there is also a negative side to using an invasive plant for biofuel. In the USA and many European countries, pennycress has a largely negative impact on the ecology and economy. It obstructs river systems, ruins wildlife and livestock habitats, limits access for irrigation, and reduces water quality and quantity. But luckily, if approached in the right way, the weeds can be used for something positive.

(Post by Ivelina Dineva)

(Image by Andrew Curtis [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

No comments »

Posted in Alternative Energy & Fuel

Tags:

5 Nonfood Biofuel Crops to Power your Car

January 30th, 2012 by Guest Author No comments »

The next big thing on the horizon for sustainable fuel is nonfood biofuel crops, which do not create competition between food and fuel. Inedible and invasive weeds seem to be on top of the list due to their low demand for water, pesticides, herbicides and rich soil. Weeds can also grow in contaminated soil, which allows them to absorb and clean pollutants through the process of phytoremediation.

However, there is still some resistance to using weeds as biofuel due to the risk of invasive species taking over native species and destroying the surrounding eco-system. But surely with a well-dedicated team of workers and good management these renewable pests can be kept under control. Below is a list of the five most desirable and fuel-efficient weeds.

1. Arundodonax

This plant grows almost three inches per day in various soil and climatic conditions. It is one of the strongest candidates as a renewable energy source because it is the most productive, has the lowest impact of all energy biomass crops, and it can grow for 20 to 25 years without having to be replanted.

2. Amaranthus

Also known as pigweed amongst farmers, this plant has all the makings for a biofuel crop. Its drought tolerance, fast photosynthesis rate, and resistance to disease and pests have gained it a lot of attention from researchers at the University of New Mexico.

3. Kudzu

This vicious plant can grow more than 6.5 feet a week and absorbs any trees and bushes in its way. Its high-carb content can be converted to ethanol using a yeast-based process. Kudzu will only be worth harvesting if it is economically viable and easy to access, as most of it grows on steep hillsides.

4. Pennycress

Pennycress is one of the strongest weeds and is an enormous threat to the eco-systems around it. But, it is also extremely efficient and can grow in nickel-contaminated soil that most plants would not be able to survive in. Researchers are working on developing Pennycress as a biofuel in Peoria, Illinois.

5. Jatropha

Jatrophacurcas is also a strong candidate for future biodiesel production. Crushed Jatropha seeds produce Jatropha oil that can be processed to produce high-quality biodiesel. Even the residue can be processed and used as biomass feedstock to power electricity plants. However, the long-term environmental effects of large-scale use are unknown.

(This is a post by Ivelina Dineva)

(Image by ceridwen [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

No comments »

Posted in Alternative Energy & Fuel

Tags:

The Plight of the Sumatran Wildlife

January 30th, 2012 by Guest Author No comments »

What do the Sumatran Elephant, Orangutan, Tiger and Javan and Sumatran Rhino have in common? All of them are critically endangered and on the brink of extinction. These are all incredibly beautiful and extremely rare animals that need to be conserved, but many governments choose to see the financial returns that forest clearing will bring, and not the environmental impact that goes with it.

The mass clearing of ancient forests in Indonesia and Sumatra has led to the widespread loss of habitat for many of the indigenous species. This is, however, not only limited to Indonesia. The loss of habitat has caused the extinction of the Javan Rhino in Vietnam.

The Sumatran Elephant has recently been re-classified as ‘Critically Endangered’. This is also due to habitat loss in Indonesia.

Recent estimates are that all these species could be completely extinct in 30 years time.

Many organizations, including the WWF, are calling on the government of Indonesia to stop deforestation to help prevent further habitat loss.

Big corporations, like APP (Asia Pulp and Paper), are among the main culprits when it comes to deforestation. They regularly clear large parts of protected forest and further put the endangered animals at risk of extinction. In a spectacularly dim-witted move, APP cleared a large part of a forest they claimed to have set aside to conserve the habitat of the Sumatran Tiger. This has led to many big name companies, like Mattel and Hasbro, no longer dealing with APP.

The Sumatran Tiger is one of the most beautiful animals in the world, but is in critical danger. It is estimated that there are only 300 of these tigers left in the wild.

This was all due to the efforts by Greenpeace to stop APP from clearing more endangered forests. Credit must go to them for helping prevent further damage and highlighting the fact that even though a company may brand themselves as ‘Green’, it does not mean they are environmentally conscious.

Everyone can do their part. All you need to do is find out where your products that you buy come from and not support any organization that rampantly destroys forests.

(This is a post by our intern Kristian Meijer)

(Image by Daniel Beilinson, CC by-SA 2.0, via Flickr)

No comments »

Posted in Conservation, Endangered Species, Environmental Damage

Tags:

Why we need to change

January 27th, 2012 by Guest Author No comments »

Greenpeace recently commissioned a survey to determine the true cost of coal to South Africa. The survey, done by the University of Pretoria’s Business Enterprises unit, delivered truly shocking results.

More than 90% of the electricity in South Africa is generated by coal powered stations, and Eskom isn’t planning on changing that any time soon. Eskom is currently building two more coal powered stations, Kusile and Medupi, which, on completion will be among the largest in the world. The budget to build these new stations is R385 billion and each will have a life span of 50 years! Even worse is the fact that Kusile will produce up to 37 million tons of carbon dioxide every year.

This has led to South Africa becoming one of the biggest polluters in the world. South Africa is the fifth highest producer of coal, and the sixth highest user in the world.

The other side of the spectrum is even worse. Only 2 GWh (Gigawatt) of South Africa’s 237 000 Gwh is produced from wind power. The fact that they are currently building these two massive stations has also meant that there is no funding  available for the development of renewable energy sources .Eskom is lax in it’s efforts to build more solar and wind powered stations, and that needs to change!

The South African government wants to create 111 000 new jobs in the current energy industry, but this study has found that 149 000 new jobs can be created, if government invested in the renewable energy sector.

Greenpeace also recently published a different report entitled ‘The Advanced Energy [R]evolution: A sustainable energy outlook for South Africa’, in which it outlines key aspects of the renewable energy sector. They state that if government gradually phased out coal power, and invested in sun and wind power, half of South Africa’s energy could come from renewable sources by 2030, thus eliminating the need to build the Kusile power station.

Eskom argues that these stations are necessary in order to provide electricity to the nearly 10 million people living without it, but this is not true. It would take much less time and money to build renewable electricity stations close to areas that need it most, and so doing, be able to provide 10 million people with safe, renewable energy.

The easiest way to petition against the building of these coal stations is at http://www.greenpeace.org/africa/en/use-me-more/ . Here you can sign up to the Greenpeace petition to get government to better utilize sun and wind power.

It is up to you to make the change. So sign up, and help protect our beautiful planet.

(This is a post by our intern Kristian Meijer)

(Image by Senor Codo, CC by-SA 2.0, via Flickr)

No comments »

Posted in Alternative Energy & Fuel, Carbon Emissions, Climate Control, Environment, Environmental Damage

Tags: