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Media Workshop Update: Change As a Positive Opportunity
9 November 2011
Yesterday, Green Renaissance attended the Climate Change Media Training Workshop, hosted by the Western Cape Government and Climate Smart Cape Town.
It was a day of in-depth discussions, about everything from the science behind climate change, the functional aspects of the upcoming COP17 and presentations from local organisations that are responding to climate change in different ways, as well as a live webcast from a debate at the UK Foreign Affairs office.
Although it would be impossible to sum up the event in a short blog post, the overall message that I took from this workshop was that climate change does not have to signal “doom and gloom”, but can be an opportunity to change the way we live, consume and conserve for the better.
For more information about how the Western Cape in particular is responding to climate change, visit the following links:
http://www.oneworldgroup.co.za/
http://green-cape.co.za/
http://climatesmartcapetown.co.za/
http://www.westerncape.gov.za
http://www.erc.uct.ac.za
Image Source: Department of Ecology- State of Washington
Life in Stop Frame: A Video Short for a Tuesday
8 November 2011
As a film production company, we’re always interested in new films, and the different ways camera techniques are used to tell a story.
In this short video clip, the use of stop-frame animation creates a different sense of movement, just something short, fun and interesting for a Tuesday afternoon.
Climate Change and Adaption: Media Workshop Today
8 November 2011
Today, Green Renaissance’s social media representative will be attending the Climate Change Media Workshop in Cape Town, hosted by the Western Cape Government and Climate Smart Cape Town (CSCT).
This day aims to educate media practitioners about the realities of climate change, the science behind it, and the ways of adapting to changes caused by changes in global weather patterns.
It’s going to be an interesting day of talks, discussions and even a live webcast of a debate in the UK, something that we’ll definitely report back on in the ongoing build up to COP17.
Global Rhino Conservation: Sumatran Rhino in Trouble
7 November 2011
The Green Renaissance team has been humbled and inspired by the global response to our recent rhino translocation photos, and the general feeling of positivity as to WWF’s reinvigorated conservation efforts.
However, even with the wonderful success of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project in South Africa, rhino poaching is still a global issue, with Sumatran rhinos very much under threat from poaching and habitat loss.
According to an article on Mongabay, the Sumatran rhino is the smallest of the rhino species, and only found on the island of Borneo, Malaysia.
Conservation efforts similar to the WWF translocation that we photographed will need to take place to ensure their survival, which is even more urgent due to the recent extinction of the Javan rhino species.
Confronting Kusile: Greenpeace Takes a Stand Against Coal
7 November 2011
Greenpeace Africa has been running a campaign against “dirty energy” for most of the year, with a recent outdoor activation that saw protestors dumping coal outside of Eskom’s head offices in Johannesburg.
Today, Greenpeace has taken their campaign for renewable energy a step further, by occupying the Kusile Coal Plant, and putting up a banner that says “Kusile: Climate Killer” on the plant’s cooling towers. Kusile is going to contribute to pollution and unsustainable costs if construction goes ahead, according to Greenpeace’s “True Cost of Coal” research report.
To find out more more about this protest, read this post on the Greenpeace website, or visit their live update page.
Image Source: Greenpeace
Conservation Victory: Wonderboom Tree Saved
6 November 2011
In a nature conservation victory, a 200 year old Wonderboom has been saved from being cut down in Nelspruit.
The tree was going to be cut down to make way for a N4 highway extension, but after resistance from Lowveld environmentalists, the tree is now going to be preserved, and the highway constructed altered to save it.
The Wonderboom tree has held cultural significance for centuries, and is a type of wild fig tree that has been known to grow old and extensively.
Source: TRAC
Murmuration: Watching Birds Fly in Formation
6 November 2011
We see birds often, even in urban areas, but it’s rare to see them fly in formation, especially when there are thousands of them, flying together at the same time.
Conservation: Experiencing Nature with Trail View
5 November 2011
There are so many beautiful wilderness trails to explore worldwide, but the reality is that we might not get to see everything that the natural world has to offer, especially since many of them are facing closures, and threats like climate change, infrastructure expansion and pollution.
With technology similar to Google Street View however, people will soon be able to take a virtual hike of certain wilderness trails like Yellowstone National Park in the USA with Trail View- which will hopefully help to raise awareness about the importance of preserving these natural spaces.
Source: Treehugger
2 Miles on a Longboard, Downhill
5 November 2011
It must be an amazing feeling to move downhill on a set of wheels- a rush of adrenaline from the speed that you pick up as you gain momentum.
Being able to do this away from the city also seems like a wonderful privilege, something that we’re sure people will be doing more of as the summer heats up.
Perspectives on COP17: Wildlands Conservation Trust
4 November 2011
In the build up to COP17, there are still many questions to be answered. What will the outcomes of this event be, and what can we realistically expect to come out of these discussions?
We asked Andrew Venter, CEO of the Wildlands Conservation Trust, to share his thoughts:
“What we are hoping for, is a significant shift in the way that South Africa’s leadership engages with the challenges and opportunities of climate change. There is already an apparent shift, with the opportunities of the “green economy” being actively touted and pursued.
We’d like to see our leadership recognising the importance of our eco-systems in this equation. Our rivers, wetlands, forests, grasslands and marine systems not only underwrite our survival, but will also help buffer us against the impacts of climate change. As such, we need to see these systems actively protected and restored.”
This Space Available: Taking Back Public Space
4 November 2011
In Cape Town and many other parts of South Africa, we are fortunate enough not to be as bombarded with outdoor advertising as people in North America seem to be.
Judging from the trailer for This Space Available, public space in North American cities seems to be saturated with advertising, lighting and corporate messaging.
Although advertising is an inevitable part of our consumer society, and as Ed Gillespie argues, not inherently evil, it’s good to know that there are people concerned with preventing unnecessary visual pollution.
Gardening in Urban Spaces: The Edible Bus Stop
3 November 2011
The Green Renaissance team has been inspired by how easy it is to grow food. We have even started to set up a small gutter garden outside our offices.
We are also not the only ones who see the value of inner city gardening, as there are many guerilla gardening projects taking place all over the world, including the The Edible Bus Stop in London.
This project has taken ownership of a small unused piece of land next to a bus stop, and is now using the previously empty space to grow organic food instead- a shift towards sustainability and the upliftment of a dull urban space.
Image Source: The Edible Bus Stop
Rhino Conservation: A Reason for Hope
3 November 2011
Yesterday, WWF announced that the number of rhinos poached so far this year has exceeded the total number of rhinos poached in 2010. This means that 341 animals have been lost to poaching in 2011- a cause for grave concern.
However, Green Renaissance feels that there is reason for hope, because of initiatives like the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, which is expanding our threatened black rhino population by relocating rhino to less saturated areas.
We will be releasing a video next week, which will explain the entire process, so keep a look out on our blog and Facebook page. In the meantime, here are some photos of the move- one which we assure you was done with the utmost respect for the rhinos’ wellbeing.
Upcoming Event: Red Hill Bicycle Challenge
2 November 2011
The Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN) is an organization that imports and distributes second-hand bikes to low-income areas, and is committed to providing people with a low-carbon and sustainable form of transport.
Based predominantly in the Western Cape, BEN will be hosting their annual Red Hill Challenge this Saturday, to raise funds for the organisation, and to continue to promote the bicycle as a way to address poverty and mobility.
To find out more about this event, visit the BEN website.
Trailer: Banff Mountain Film Festival
2 November 2011
The Banff Mountain Festival is still screening two more shows before the end of the week at cinemas in Pretoria, Joburg and Cape Town, so there is still a chance to take in nine epic short films on mountain sports.
Here’s just a short trailer that gives an indication of the scale and size of nature filmed in various parts of the world, and the adrenaline-addicted people who regularly, and bravely, take it on.
Movember: Rhino Africa Raising Funds for Conservation
1 November 2011
Every year in November, men all over the world take pride in growing their facial hair to raise funds for cancer awareness.
This year, the Rhino Africa team is taking this annual campaign a bit further, by growing moustaches not only to raise funds for Movember, but also to contribute to the Wildlife ACT fund, which is actively involved in rhino conservation.
To sponsor one of the team members, and contribute to the cause, visit the Given Gain link and use the word “Movember”.
First Light: The Story of a Rural Solar Project
1 November 2011
Greenpeace Africa is currently running a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of switching to solar as an effective and renewable energy source.
The Project 90 x 2030 initiative below also demonstrates how switching to solar is definitely a viable option, and is capable of changing the lives of millions of South Africans.
IUCN Campaign: Destruction of Endangered Species
31 October 2011
With the world population estimated to reach a staggering 7 billion today, it is more imperative than ever to consider our impact on the environment, especially when it comes to already endangered species.
Our industrial growth has a direct impact on other species, including the very fragile global frog population, which is addressed in the IUCN campaign below.
Source: Trendhunter
World Population Estimated to Reach 7 Billion Today
31 October 2011
According to global estimates, the world population has reached 7 billion people today- which brings into question our increasing ecological impact.
We’ve featured this video on our blog before, but thought it would be appropriate to share it again, and consider how our growing world population is going to affect our natural environment.
Buy a Leaf: Pledge Your Support for Climate Action
30 October 2011
Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA) is currently running a campaign to gain support for climate action, as climate change is going to affect all of us if we don’t come up with ways to deal with it.
By buying a virtual leaf on their Pledge Tree, you can express your thoughts, and contribute to climate action, as for every ten pledges made FTFA will plant an actual tree.
For more information, and to make a pledge, visit the FTFA website.
Image Source: FTFA
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