For too long sharks have been unfairly portrayed as aquatic villains, with unnecessary fearmongering and human greed leading to the decimation of several shark species to the point of near extinction. In an effort to turn the tide and save this 450-million-year-old underwater inhabitant, all ocean-user groups are encouraged to participate in the sixth annual Paddle Out For Sharks (POFS) event taking place on Saturday, 17 June at 8am. In support of World Ocean Day’s ‘Our Oceans, Our Future’ celebrated on 8 June, ocean lovers – including surfers, divers, swimmers, anglers, spearfishermen, scuba divers, lifesavers, SUP paddlers, bodyboards, conservation groups and more – will take to the water, leaving all differences ashore, in the hopes of uniting to raise awareness about sharks and the importance of their natural habitat. “All ocean lovers, conservation and ocean-user groups are invited to join the Paddle Out for Sharks event this Saturday at Scottburgh backline at 8am when we gather as a community to celebrate our local population of sharks on Aliwal Shoal,” commented Shannon Dean on behalf of Shark Angels South Africa. “We need to spread the word that live sharks are worth more than dead sharks as they contribute hugely to sustainable ecotourism. The Sharks of Aliwal Shoal are also instrumental in educating the public through positive outreach programmes and, more importantly, these marine animals are vital for a healthy and thriving ecosystem.” Drawing on the surfing tradition of ‘paddling out’ in memory of a fallen surfer, POFS acknowledges the millions of sharks that are cruelly decimated every year for sport, as a delicacy or captured in nets across the coastline annually. Their role within the marine ecosystem and, by extension, significance on all terrestrial life, cannot be overlooked any longer. “The Paddle Out for Sharks platform is excited that beach users and scuba divers will be coming together for the sixth consecutive year to celebrate . . .

The South African plastics industry recently launched Operation Clean Sweep on World Oceans Day (8 June 2017) at the uShaka Marine World, Durban. According to Douw Steyn, Sustainability Director at Plastics|SA, the primary goal of the campaign is to stop plastic pellets, flakes and powder used in the plastics industry, from reaching the sea. “We as the plastics industry produce the pellets and flakes used to manufacture plastic bags, bottles and other plastic products. When these micro-plastics are spilt during the manufacturing process, they are swept into drains from where they enter the sewerage system and eventually end up in our rivers and ultimately the sea. These pellets are smaller than a sunflower seed, therefore not easy to pick up during regular beach clean-ups. As a result, they are ingested by turtles, birds and marine life," Steyn explains. Mark Liptrot, Sustainability Manager at the packaging company, Constantia Afripak, said the extended effect of plastics on the ocean is a growing problem as micro-plastics attract chemical pollutants that are ingested by marine life, which, in turn, is eaten by other marine animals. Addressing the media, industry and members of the public who attended the breakfast launch, Steyn emphasised that plastics are integral to every aspect of our lives, particularly in protecting food from contamination. “It is where we use it, how we use it and what we do with the plastic product once we are done with it,that is important. To address this problem and offer a workable solution, Plastics|SA launched “Operation Clean Sweep” - a worldwide drive aimed at reducing the amount of plastic pellets that end up in rivers and ultimately in the ocean”, Steyn said. He added that the plastics industry as a whole had a role to play –from the producers and importers of raw materials pellets and flakes, to the converters and manufacturers of plastic products, as well as the recycling companies. "Our goal is to achieve zero . . .

The successful staging of the second Mdumbi Green Fair Music Festival at Mdumbi Point on the Wild Coast was held in May. A popular and unique fundraiser for TransCape NPO, which is deeply involved in development work in the area, and with the surrounding Xhosa communities, the festival not only draws much needed tourists to the region and thus provides income opportunities for the local population, but it is also used as an opportunity to educate the community about the importance of reforesting the area. With that in mind, Husqvarna, a world leader in outdoor power products, along with its local dealer, Outdoor Machine Shop, sponsored 150 indigenous trees to the event that were planted over the weekend. Not only that, this sponsorship also helped pay to fence off the newly planted area and for the employment of community members to dig the holes and help with the planting. Co-organiser and one of the sponsors, Wayne Barton of Tata Waste, said: “Mdumbi was nominated by Getaway magazine as the most beautiful beach in our country, but the vegetation around it has been eroded over the years. With people constantly having to source firewood for cooking, along with goats, sheep and cattle eating new seedling trees, there has been little hope for a sustainable forest eco-system. Today there are very few trees left for tourists to sit under in the hot summer months. We need to re-establish the forest, and thanks to Husqvarna’s valuable donation, we can dramatically enhance the area as a tourist attraction.” He added that other factors endangering the coastal forests were the intruder plants inkberry and lantana. “To plant the 150 trees we cleared these plants from the allocated piece of land by derooting them. That was a huge job and took us, plus four community employees, five long days. This was all made possible through Husqvarna’s contribution.” He thanked Husqvarna for its willingness to sponsor and be involved in the event. “The area has no industry . . .

Recycled Homes For A New Future This years ECR House and Garden Show presents a forest of new home innovations to refresh your space, inside and out, including a brand new move in the quest to go green. African Green Revolution (AGR) presents the African Green Revolution House, a sophisticated new low cost home made exclusively from recycled products. The one room structure is crafted from re-purposed plastic, including two litre plastic bottles for bricks and plastic bottle lids for flooring. The house is the cornerstone of the African Green Revolution initiative, spearheaded by Michelle Markram from MSQ Interiors. “We are focusing on providing sustainable homes to displaced families currently living in informal settlements,” said Markram. ‘We’ve used solid waste to form the house’s key building structures. In this way we have the ability to re-purpose tons of rubbish, thereby reducing the amount sent to landfills and environmental impact in general.’ With an integrated team of professional development consultants that include specialist town-planners, engineers, and environmental and legal consultants, AGR are taking the fight to waste as well as providing stylish and sustainable living solutions. While the focus is on waste reduction, there is also a thrust towards the re-generation of communities and sustainable practices going forward. The AGR House includes a re-purposed wooden pallete roof top vegetable garden, envisioned to become a long term source of food for the resident family. “Our goal is to both solve sustainable building issues and inspire new innovations,” said Markram. “The AGR House demonstrates the value and the wealth in waste, a profound new direction for society as a whole to move toward.” Date/s: 30 June to 9 July 2017 Show Times: Mon – Thurs 10am – 9pm | Fri – Sat 10am – 10pm | Sun 10am – 8pm Entrance Fees: R85 adults | R60 seniors (over 60) and students (bring student ID) | Under 12 FREE (with adult) Mid-Week . . .