Enviro NGO's

Useful Enviro Info

Touched by wild

Nature Encounters in the Scenic South

Here's looking at you kid!

Think for a moment what we would see if we could turn Cape Town upside down and gently shake the City - just enough to tip out its wild residents. Dislodged from their niches in our homes and gardens, from the rivers and parks we pass on route to school and work and from the coast and mountains that frame our City. What would we see? Lynx and lizards, eagles and egrets, bats, baboons and buck, tortoises and toads, otters and owls, snakes and scorpions, fish and... a whole parallel ecology of wild creatures - large and small, some living undercover and others in our face. Right here and now in 'Our City'. This column aims at gently shaking out the wild stories and storytellers in our City - for our enjoyment, appreciation and learning. Stories of real encounters with wildlife in the City. Stories of special people who dedicate their energy to protecting this wildlife. Stories from our diverse cultural roots which explain how The Cape was formed and functions. Stories which remind us of what we have lost or have forgotten. And the stories which speak to us of the need to rethink nature and our role in the natural order. I invite you to share your stories with us. Email me here

Killer whale calf photographed cavorting in False Bay

A pod of about nine Orcas in False Bay, including a calf, once again provided Dave Hurwitz of The Simon’s Town Boat Company a perfect photographic opportunity.

Thousands of pretty pink jelly fish – Pelagica noctiluca – in False Bay

Small pinkish jelly fish, Pelagica noctiluca, are floating in profusion in False Bay at the moment – beautiful to look at from the safety of one’s kayak, but not very inviting if one is wishing to have a dip!

Lapwing family in the picture at Silvermine Wetlands

Evanne Rothwell sent in delightful pictures of a family of Lapwings growing up at the Silvermine Wetlands between Fish Hoek and Clovelly.

Another pod of Orcas – killer whales – in False Bay

Dave Hurwitz writes that he saw a new pod of six Orcas – killer whales – off Partridge Point near Smitswinkel Bay in False Bay on the 28 April. Once again he spellbinds us with his photographs …

Abdim’s Stork photographed at Noordhoek sports fields

Trygve Hvidsten submitted photos of an Abdim’s Stork taken at the Noordhoek sports fields.The Abdim’s Stork is not usually seen this far south.

Hands on for Green Action

Volunteers sought for planting trees with Greenpop

I am Matthew Koehorst and am currently involved in a project run by “Greenpop” a greening NGO based in Cape Town. On the 1st of June we aim to plant out 750 indigenous trees on a piece of land in Wilderness heights. I am including the link to the press release. Our main aim now [...]

Local Action Against Genetically Modified (GM) Food & Monsanto 25 May 2013

All Are Welcome to a GM Food Awareness and Action Event at the Fish Hoek Library Hall on 25 May

Sun Valley Eco Watch (SVEW) initiated to preserve Sun Valley wetlands

Join a dedicated band of residents who are aiming to make Sun Valley “an even nicer place to live, with safe, clean streets & pristine natural areas” for recreation.

MammalMAP- an Africa-wide mammal conservation project

Become a citizen scientist and help conserve our wildlife. ‘Absolutely anyone, anywhere can get involved in this initiative. All that’s needed is an interest in wildlife and to be a registered “MammalMAPPER”.’

Peaceful demonstration against the annual killing & capture of wild dolphins

There are to date 30 events taking place outside Japanese Emabassies and Consulates all over the world on the 22nd and Cape Town is just one of them.

`Courage 2 B Cool’

Do you have the Courage 2 B Cool for the Earth and for the future of humanity?

We have been brainwashed into believing that excessive materialism and consumption is the justifiable reward for enterprising endeavor and hard work – and that the future of our economy depends on it. “People with stuff have status – they’re cool.” Does keeping up with, or surpassing the Jones’s really make us better people? Are we, are you, happier surrounded by all the stuff we have to insure, house, maintain and upgrade? Does the money we pay for excessive consumption go toward `fixing’ the environment. Sadly no. Too many people’s lifestyles are costing the Earth.

We are using the Earth’s Capital at an unsustainable rate and polluting essential-to-life services such as water, air, the sea and farmland.

Nature needs 2 B Cool 2. On an international level role models like Lewis Pugh – the Human Polar Bear and Ric O’Barry of The Cove have gone to extraordinary lengths and shown incredible courage to raise awareness. To use Lewis’s slogan, “It is time to Believe”. We can individually make a difference. Every time you and I make choices to reduce our impact on the Earth and to be Earth Cool rather than materially Cool takes Courage.

Lewis Pugh, fondly called the human Polar Bear, is a Scenic South local. On 7 Sept he told a capacity crowd at a Scenic South event to launch the Courage 2 B Cool concept how and why he swims in the coldest places on Earth to raise awareness about global warming. Click here to read about the Courage 2 B Cool evening with Lewis Pugh.

It is time to showcase the people in our community who have the `Courage 2 B Cool’. The Scenic South website will be showcasing locals who stand up for the Earth, who defend Nature’s right to life and who promote living lightly (sustainably). We would welcome articles and comments from readers about having the `Courage 2 B Cool’ – so send us your stories or the names of people who you think have the Courage 2 B Cool.

Does business in Fish Hoek have the Courage 2 B Cool?

`Hoeked on Green’ with “Keep Fish Hoek Beautiful” & Scenic South Website. Nov 2010

“Hoeked on Green “ is an initiative to gauge the green awareness of Main Road businesses and to understand which environmentally friendly initiatives are appropriate for Fish Hoek. A checklist was designed to identify the pro-active steps local businesses are taking to reduce the environmental impact of their services and products. The results of survey will be presented at the Keep Fish Hoek Beautiful awards ceremony on 16 Nov. Read about Hoeked on Green here.

KimK

[return to top]

Enviro News
Enviro Events

Become an ambassador for biodiversity …

Scenic South readers may wish to become citizen scientists and “ambassadors for biodiversity”. Read more about it in the newsy and informative newsletter of the Animal Demography Unit of UCT… http://www.scenicsouth.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/adunewsletteraprmay20130523.pdf See also http://www.scenicsouth.co.za/2013/04/mammalmap-an-africa-wide-mammal-conservation-project/

Simon’s Town Beaches: How Should They Be “Managed”?

Concerns have been raised about the condition at the end of the summer season of the Simon’s Town beaches. The following is a report by Prof Geoff Brundrit of the Simon’s Town Coastal Forum. The issues will be addressed at the next meeting of the Forum.

Alison Kock on solving Cape Town’s Great White Shark puzzle

Alison Kock , who for the past eight years has been researching the behaviour of the Great White Sharks in False Bay for her PHD, presented a talk entitled “Solving Cape Town’s Great White Shark puzzle: Can an improved understanding of shark habits help us to live together?” to a fascinated audience.

Thousands of pretty pink jelly fish – Pelagica noctiluca – in False Bay

Small pinkish jelly fish, Pelagica noctiluca, are floating in profusion in False Bay at the moment – beautiful to look at from the safety of one’s kayak, but not very inviting if one is wishing to have a dip!

African Centre for Biosafety warns of GM Maize in Purity baby cereals

The African Centre for Biosafety (ACB) has released results of tests conducted on 7 baby formulas and cereals, by an independent and accredited GM testing laboratory. The results reveal that Purity baby cereals contain extremely high levels of GM content…

MyBirdPatch presentation at Intaka Island Enviro Centre, Century City 8 June

If you are interested as a citizen scientist, novice or experienced birder find out more about MyBirdPatch …

Celebrating International Biodiversity Day at Kirstenbosch 22 May 2013

Kirstenbosch celebrated International Biodiversity Day with interesting and educational walks, talks and film shows and news of South Africa’s 33rd gold medal from Chelsea

Invitation to GEESE and Simon’s Town Coastal Forum meeting

GEESE invite you to the Simon’s Town Coastal Forum Quarterly Meeting to be held on Saturday 25 May 2013 starting at 09h30 in St Andrew’s Church, 71 Glen Road, Glencairn It is advisable to wear walking shoes and be dressed for the weather! Programme 09h30 Presentation on Research being done by [...]

Local Action Against Genetically Modified (GM) Food & Monsanto 25 May 2013

All Are Welcome to a GM Food Awareness and Action Event at the Fish Hoek Library Hall on 25 May

Peninsula Paddle 2013: Taking back the City’s waterways

The fourth Peninsula Paddle on 9 June 2013 will see paddlers use kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddle (SUP) boards to highlight the urgent need to deal with the condition of Cape Town’s inland waterways.

For any emergency phone:

THE EMERGENCY CONTROL CENTRE
021 782 0333
FREE 24HR SERVICE

List your green business

List your green organisation

Lewis Pugh Enviro Event

Thanks so much for arranging the Lewis Pugh lecture. What an inspiration he provides to us. Ronnie Glass

Birding Fundis in the Scenic South

I have enjoyed your “Scenic South ” this month. Thanks for all the effort. Do you have the names of some birding fundi’s – I would like to make contact with people who are authorities on birds in this area . I live on Lake Michelle Noordhoek and it would be of interest to our [...]

View all comments

This is a public forum for constructive comment on issues important to you. Please add your name to your comment. New comments will be held for moderation before appearing (usually within 24 hrs).

Comment title

My opinion

My name

Weather

Weather forecast...

Facebook

Join our Facebook group

Twitter

Follow us on Twitter...

© Copyright Scenic South 2009 | Terms and conditions | Disclaimer
Website Design and Development by Bounce Design