Crocworld Conservation Centre on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast welcomes two dynamic speakers to the programme for the November edition of the educational monthly talks. On Saturday, 9 November, Ndivhuwo Shivambu (PMB) and Tinyiko Cavin Shivambu (PMB), PhD candidates in Zoology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), will each give a presentation on the impact of exotic pet species on the South African environment. Martin Rodrigues, Manager of Crocworld Conservation Centre, said there was a big need to educate the public on the dangers of the exotic pet trade: “The animals themselves are put at great risk and they pose a huge threat to the country’s conservation and biodiversity. With the survival of the natural world a massive concern globally, it’s vital that people make informed decisions about animal purchases and realise the long-term repercussions. We are excited to welcome Ndivhuwo and Tinyiko, both of whom can give expert insights into what’s happening at a local level.” After completing her Honours degree in Zoology at the University of Venda, Ndivhuwo went over to the University of Pretoria. It was here that she completed her MSc degree focusing on the influence of the pet trade and scientific laboratories on the potential spread of the invasive Rattus species in South Africa. She is enrolled for a PhD in Zoology at UKZN and will base her talk, ‘Assessing the potential impact of exotic small mammals in the south African pet trade’ on her current thesis. “The sale of small, exotic mammals is increasing and most of these have become invasive through escape and release pathways in other parts of the world,” she explained. “In South Africa, several species of small mammals are sold and kept as companions, and this poses an invasion threat.” In her presentation, Ndivhuwo will explain how the climatic match and Generic Impact Scoring System (GISS) are used to assess the potential impact exotic pets would have if they escaped from captivity, thereby …
7.5 Tons Of Vinyl Floor Off-Cuts Collected Thanks To Industry Collaboration
Polyflor SA and Innovative Pvc Compounds (IPC), both members of the Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA), joined hands recently to ensure that 7.5 tons of vinyl floor off-cuts are collected, of which 6 tons were recycled, following an installation at the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital – a new R3bn hospital in KwaMashu that is scheduled to open its doors by December 2019. About the project The 500-bed regional hospital named in the honour of Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme, one of the first black lawyers in South Africa and a founding member of the African National Congress (ANC), is the largest hospital currently in development in South Africa. It is situated near Bridge City Mall (a new mixed-use precinct that serves as a business, commercial and transportation hub for the eThekwini Municipality) and will be amongst the largest public healthcare facilities in the country once it is completed. The new development forms part of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health Hospital Revitalisation Programme. It will provide 1.5 million people living in KwaMashu, Inanda, Ntuzuma and surrounding communities in the northern Durban catchment area with a full spectrum of medical services. The power of networking Polyflor SA, one of South Africa’s leading suppliers of vinyl sheeting and luxury vinyl tiles to the healthcare-, retail-, education- and commercial industries, was awarded the contract to supply more than 35 000 m² of vinyl sheeting at the hospital. Polyflor SA launched the country’s only official programme that recycles vinyl sheeting off-cuts generated during installations in 2016. The company’s contractors are given specially branded recycling bags in which they place the off-cuts, in order to be returned to the company’s head office in Sebenza, Johannesburg, for weighing and recording and collection by recyclers. “Upon hearing of our involvement in the project through our networking at SAVA and given the fact that it was literally taking …
Don’t Let Hotspots Pour Cold Water on Solar
Thermal cameras are ideal when it comes to the regular inspection of roof-mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar panels recommended by the manufacturers. “Not maintaining solar panels can be dangerous and lead to poor performance at best,” says Philip Smerkovitz, Managing Director of GoThermal.co.za and a 20-year veteran of the thermal imaging, instrumentation and automation sector. He explains that solar panel obscurants such as accumulated bird droppings can cause hotspots. When the latter comes into contact with dry leaves, grasses and bird nests for an extended period of time, this organic material may ignite. Inefficient cells and component faults in the PV panel can also cause isolated hotspots or even total panel meltdowns. Solar panels collect solar energy and convert it into Direct Current (DC) electricity which is then sent to an inverter. The inverter takes the DC electricity from the solar panels and charges installed batteries which then power homes and businesses. Hotspots have been in the news recently after US retailer Walmart filed a multimillion dollar lawsuit against electric car and renewable energy firm Tesla. Walmart claims Tesla failed to properly install and maintain solar panels on the roofs of dozens of its stores leading to them catching fire. Local retailer Makro last year demonstrated South African business’ interest in renewal energy by installing a 572 kW PV plant on the roof of its Brakpan, Gauteng store. With 2 160 solar panels, its clear that this typical retail PV installation would benefit from thermal event monitoring that places a premium on efficiency. “The risk of fire caused by hotspots and failing components is substantially reduced by regularly inspecting roof-mounted solar panels with handheld thermal imaging equipment or with thermal cameras attached to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones,” says Mr Smerkovitz. “The last thing a local business with a large roof-mounted solar installation wants when …
Fab Tanks Contribution to the World’s First Bank for the Business of Water
Water is fast becoming Africa’s most important currency and Fab Tanks has joined the ranks of water storage tanks solutions companies in playing a significant role in contributing to the success in Agriculture, Business, Industry and Mining sectors in African countries as well as to keep communities running. In a world where water will determine who thrives and who doesn’t, who you bank with will make all the difference. Fab Tanks was founded by then founder, now Executive Chairman, Mannie Ramos Senior. During the time when Fab Tanks was established, few people had ever heard of the term ‘climate change’, much less knew what its consequences would mean to the normal running of businesses and communities. But Mannie identified that many communities lacked access to adequate water supplies and that many others faced future water shortages without urgent planning. With uncanny foresight, Mannie Senior anticipated the increased frequency of water scarcity and, more importantly, the need to be able to supply clean water to Africa’s businesses and communities via to enable them to successfully operate even in times of a water shortage. More than 35 years later when drought and changes in rainfall patterns have become more and more commonplace, Fab Tanks has emerged as the definitive leader in the design, manufacture and installation of innovative water storage tanks Their expertise, on-the-ground experience and exceptional service has taken Fab Tanks far beyond Southern Africa to more than 35 countries. The Fab Tanks brand is well-known and trusted throughout Africa and beyond. As the leader in providing innovative water storage tanks solutions in Southern Africa for many years, Fab Tanks has become known as a ‘water bank’, providing an economical, convenient and stable supply of water to protect every community in Africa from the risk. Our ‘water banks’ act like a ‘savings account’ so that businesses and communities have the water they need to keep …
Shifting Sands of Time – New World Class Waves For St Francis Bay
A world class series of spitting sand bars at St Francis Bay and the rolling tubes of the old Bruce's Beauties are on the cards with the news of exciting plans There are many reasons why there is no more sand in St Francis Bay, and they all fall under the banner of human intervention. It started with the stabilisation of the dunes that once fed sand to create the fabled tubes of Bruce’s Beauties. Leighton Hulett owned the farm back then, but it was a man named Tom Brown who introduced alien Australian acacia shrubs Port Jackson and Rooikrantz willow to stabilise the dunes. It worked. The sand stopped moving. The sand stopped shifting to the point, and subsequently the beaches. Brown was believed to be a descendant from a survivor from “Lady Heal” - an East India vessel wrecked at the Kromme River Mouth in 1859 on her way home from Rangoon to Liverpool. A Liverpudlian was most likely the man who quelled the critical flow of sand in St Francis Bay. For the full article go here - WAVESCAPE Video: Shifting Sands of Time - New World Class Waves For St Francis Bay More Info on Shifting Sands of Time - New World Class Waves For St Francis Bay here: https://www.wavescape.co.za/ CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
World Food Day: Drawing the line on food waste – right here, right now – is a critical priority
16 October 2019 – There is a strong movement towards the immediacy of reducing the effects of climate change as so adequately echoed in young Greta Thunberg’s recent UN speech, underpinned by the sentiment - Right Here. Right Now - and as she tackles issues of magnitude in this regard – the question has to be asked, what role does food waste play in the plight against climate change? This World Food Day, Interwaste takes a closer look at not only the impact of food waste, but the solutions that should be considered to change this. “Research shows that each ton of food equates to almost 4.14 tCO2e and that 4.3% of South Africa’s greenhouse gas emissions are from the disposal of organic waste. This indicates not only a high emissions rate, but also provides grounds to argue that food waste is an important contributor to climate change – a contributor that can, and should, be avoided,” says Jason McNeil, CEO at Interwaste. “What’s worse is that, in a country that is already water scarce, the very food that is being wasted is using up 22% of the country’s water supply through the agricultural process – a significant impact on the larger climate change discussion. As such, there is no doubt that food waste needs to be stopped – not only to curb hunger but as importantly, to make sure that the water used to grow it - is not used in vain.” “Food waste is a major climate issue, but it is more than that – it is an economic, sustainability and – most importantly, a socio-economic issue. Statistics show that 27% of available food in sub-Saharan Africa is wasted, resulting mostly from production and retail, and that edible food waste through the value chain in South Africa is costing the country R61.5 billion per annum, and 2.1% of National GDP. In a country that is already economically and socio-economically challenged, we have to ask ourselves - can we afford to waste food and similarly, as a global player, what are we doing to aid the global climate?” adds …
The epic BANFF Mountain Film Festival is back for the 15th year
Ain’t no mountain high enough, right? Well that’s certainly the sentiment echoed by outdoor adventure enthusiast Andre Gie and top trail runner Kaine Reilly in Andrew King’s Kloof Corner Ridge. The short film, one of two winning entries in the Cape Union Mart Adventure Film Challenge 2019, is just one of many incredible films that will be shown as part of the BANFF Mountain Film Festival 2019, at selected Ster Kinekor cinemas from 25 October to 3 November. As the world’s most prestigious adventure film festival, Cape Union Mart prides itself in bringing it to SA every year, giving local viewers access to the highest calibre of inspirational and authentic stories that showcase an inclusive and diverse range of strong everyday sports and adventure heroes, as well as amazing cinematic talent. The following Ster Kinekor cinemas will be screening the BANFF Mountain Film Festival: BROOKLYN CAVENDISH SANDTON TYGERVALLEY BAYWEST GATEWAY CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za. …
New industry guidelines for recyclable plastic packaging released
THE growing impact of the green economy on company profits has forced brands both big and small to radically transform their environmental strategies, including how their products are designed, made and packaged for customers. To facilitate efforts by companies to think about their product packaging with reuse and recycling in mind, the PET Plastic Recycling Company (PETCO) has released a definitive guide to packaging design, created specifically for the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) manufacturing sector. According to PETCO chief executive officer Cheri Scholtz, it is essential that retailers, brand owners, packaging manufacturers and designers embed recyclability responsibilities into the design process so that PET plastic packaging can be successfully recycled and re-used in new products. “Now, more than ever, companies failing to address consumer demand for environmental performance in product design and development will find it increasingly difficult to compete in the local and global market,” said Scholtz, adding that the Waste Act also made Extended Producer Responsibility a legal requirement. Designing for ecosystems – keeping plastic out of the environment – must be at the heart of rethinking how organisations approach the circular economy and supply chain, Scholtz said. Designing for the environment Going forward, she said, a key focus would be on minimising plastic waste through design for recycling, whether it involved using more recycled content (rPET) or improving the recyclability of PET plastic bottles, which make up 70% of the PET market, as well as trays and punnets and other packaging. Currently, all plastic trays, tubs and punnets – regardless of their plastic make-up – are not collected for recycling. “PET plastic remains a lightweight, cost-effective, fit-for-purpose material. But we must understand and utilise the value of its post-consumer waste as the economic resource it is in building a sustainable circular …
Granny Mouses’ Guide To Growing Roses
(Source Anne Balogh https://www.gardendesign.com/roses/care.html) Granny Mouse is blessed with many beautiful flowers and none so beautiful as their rose bushes. Guests often tell our team how much they admire the display and say that they are pretty intimidated and couldn’t imagine producing such blooms on home turf. However, take it from us, roses aren’t as high maintenance as they’re made out to be. Modern rose bushes are really tough and much easier to grow than ever before and seldom need more loving care than most other flowers or shrubs. The general rule is to keep your rose bushes in a sunny spot and make sure that the soil is well drained. Fertilize regularly, water evenly and prune before the summer kicks in... and, if you’re still a little daunted by the prospect of producing home grown roses, here are 10 tips from our Granny Mouse pros: 1. Know your roots You can purchase roses already potted in soil or as dormant bare-root plants. Each type has its benefits. If you’re a novice rose grower, container roses are a great way to go because they are easy to plant and establish quickly. They can also be purchased at local nurseries throughout the growing season, allowing you to plant them when climate conditions are ideal. For first-time rose growers, a potted rose may be worth the additional expense if you can find the specific rose variety you want to grow in your garden 2. Don’t overdo it There are numerous classes of roses, ranging from micro-miniatures to grandifloras and from groundcovers to climbing roses, with some classes containing hundreds of different varieties. While it may be tempting to fill your rose garden with a wide assortment, you are likely to end up with a disorderly array. A few well-chosen plants will give you far more satisfaction than dozens of mismatched plants that don’t work in harmony. Ask your local nursery for some advice as they are experts and can tell you which plants are likely to suit your garden and …
Benefits of Retiring on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast
The South African coastline, which boasts some of the world’s most iconic beaches and towns, has long been popular for residential investors. Along the country’s warmer KwaZulu-Natal coastline lies the idyllic South Coast, a region dense with natural forest and ocean views, which is fast becoming a retirement haven. Here are some of the reasons why retirees are finding a permanent home on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. - Weather The warm Indian Ocean and sub-tropical local climate means that residents can enjoy year-round comfortable conditions. Averaging an incredible 320 days of sunshine a year, the South Coast winters hover around 20°C, with the summer temperatures ranging between 24° and 32°C on average. There has been significant research into the impact of climate on physical and mental wellbeing and – overall – results indicate enhanced alertness and memory, as well as heart and respiratory function in warmer climates. Because cold weather requires your body to work harder to regulate heat, blood pressure can increase to unhealthy levels, leading to long-term damage. - Active Lifestyle While everyone has good intentions with regards to exercise, it is significantly easier to get outdoors and exercise at the coast. The ocean views and fresh sea air are generally more enticing than the cities and built areas. Where colder areas encourage a more indoor lifestyle, the warmer South Coast climate encourages residents to get out and enjoy the natural beauty of the region. In addition, the South Coast is home to numerous cycling and hiking trails within coastal forests, as well as endless sports’ facilities, and aquatic activities such as swimming and paddling. It’s also worth noting that exercising near the sea has been found to burn more calories than indoor activities, while the exposure to sunshine increases calcium absorption, enhancing bone strength and fighting hypertension. - Health Benefits A study from the European Centre for Environment …