Dreaming of a Green Fest!
#PoachingMustFall
I stopped to admire Campbell, the prized rhino bull at Bucklands, more than once.
I am devastated to hear that this beautiful creature has now been poached – sincere condolences to the Stewart family at this awful time.Why does this keep on happening?
Because some wealthy monsters, mainly in Vietnam, need to feed their status-anxiety habit. It’s been said before: showing tragic pictures of poached rhinos has no effect on these users – they have no affinity for the animal.
According to Breaking the Brand, we have got to reduce demand for rhino horn. The consumer must get the message that using rhino horn will negatively impact his social status, and that the safety of the product cannot be guaranteed.
Some good news is that three men have been arrested in connection with the Bucklands tragedy.
They have proved to be a useful link to a highly professional poaching gang.
Please report any environmental crime. Call SAPS Crime Stop on 086 001 0111 or the DEA Environmental Crimes & Incidents Hotline 080 020 5005.
What’s Green at Fest?
A quick search at www.nationalartsfestival.co.za gave us a sense of some of the environmental performances and exhibitions at the Festival this year…
Green Performances
• Waterline (Standard Bank Ovation Award-winner). Uyabona Ke. A sensational group of masked performers with physical adeptness and versatility to create a visually captivating show.
• The Last Drop. Samnqoba Productions, directed by Thabani Mahlobo. Dancers from the northern part of KwaZulu Natal give clues to help us solve the puzzle in the context of climate change and global warming mayhem.
• Hildegard von Bingen. Inspiring musical portrait of a visionary 12th-century Benedictine nun, composer, philosopher, playwright, poet, naturalist, scientist, physician, herbalist and ecological activist.
• Songs Without Words from Three Generations. Felix Mendelssohn, performed by Ammiel Bushakevitz. Piano songs of birds and whales, lullabies and battle horns, the vibrations of nature and the fragile light which is human life.
• Be a Better Dog. Seiphemo Alex Motswiri, African Tree Productions (written by Ikaneng Makhubalo). Set in the timeless world of heavenly life, the story is told through the eyes of a dog.
Think!Fest
• Traditional Fishing Methods of Africa (book launch). Mike Bruton. An illustrated overview of Africa’s astonishing variety of innovative traditional fishing methods, which have been developed through an intimate knowledge of the distribution and behaviour of fishes and the dynamic properties of aquatic environments.
Many of these methods harvest fishes sustainably but they have been replaced by ruthlessly efficient ‘ modern’ gear, devastating fish stocks.
• Florence and Watson and the Sugarbush Mouse (book launch). Rob van Vuuren and Danielle Bischoff.
A whimsical South African tale narrated by two honey badgers who use rhythm and rhyme to tell the story of the sugar bush mouse who saves her village with her unique talents. A little dab of magic and laughter are the order of the day.
Green Art exhibitions with an environmental flavour include:
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• Johan Carinus Art Centre & Annex (Donkin Street): ‘Common Roots, Different Routes’ featuring superb Sally Scott art; ‘ Portals’ featuring local photographer extraordinaire Roddy Fox; ‘Reflection’ featuring the talented Tori Stowe.
• Albany Museum (Somerset Street): ‘Unearthed’ featuring Moses Tladi; ‘Art in Action' featuring Sonnett Olls; 'Palettes in Nature’ featuring Mandy McKay, Alison van Zijl, Susan Lucas; ‘ Open Spaces’ featuring Gordon Legg.
• Trinity Hall (Hill Street): ‘Fragments of Land’ featuring Bretten-Anne Moolman; ‘Deep Time: a Final Countdown’ featuring Anthony Harris.
• Steve Biko building (Prince Alfred Street): ‘ God’s Perfect Palette’ featuring Brian Hammond; ‘Unlocking Horns’ featuring Donvé Branch, Sue Hoppe, Stephanie Liebetrau; ‘Free State Arts Talk’ and ‘Local Artists Exhibition’.
Green Film – movies with an environmental flavour include:
• Wolf Totem. A young Beijing student goes to live among the nomadic herdsmen of Inner Mongolia, caught between the advance of civilization from the south and the nomads’ traditional enemies to the north – marauding wolves. Humans and animals, residents and invaders alike, struggle to find their true place in the world. This visually magnificent movie brings to life the majesty and mystery of wolves, invites us into the world of Inner Mongolia and tells a compelling tale of human love and loss.
Spring Water Quality
The water quality at Fairview spring is still good! We can give the thumbs-up, based on monthly indicator tests using Dr Roman Tandlich’s lowcost H2S kit to monitor the spring water quality. Dr Jenny Gon, one of the KCC’s founding members, tests the water while she collects it for drinking. She notes that thousands of people use the spring every month.
More info: www.kowiecatchmentcampaign.org.za
Find us Online: www.grocotts.co.za/environews
Contacts for Makana Enviro-News:
Nikki Köhly: za, 046 603 7205 | Jenny Gon: j-gon@intekom.co.za, 046 622 5822 | Nick James:
082 575 9781 | Philip Machanick: za, 046 603 8635 | Tim Bull: timothybull05@aol.com, 076 289 5122; Rod Amner
046 603 7123.