A WINDOW ONTO NATURE'S WORLD - THE CELEBRATION OF EARTH DAY with ON-GOING CHALLENGES

Earth Day on 22nd April enables Scientific Societies and highly regarded community members to acclaim where there has been evidence of successful activities, raise concerns where our Water Supply woes continue without end, and present a Global picture regarding "Climate Change" with heating recorded in the oceans causing depletion of sea life and habitat loss. The pendulum of our weather cycles reflect the El Nino current, with the El Nina variant which are responsible for our periods of heavy rainfall followed by drought years. Beyond our northern borders Zimbabwe and Zambia are being crippled by drought with catastrophic loss of crops and livestock. The cost of life-saving food importation is expected to run into billions. Conversely, South Africa has announced the "Wettest April" in 59 years of records. The negative impact is that the Harvest season maybe "bogged" down with maturing crops rotting in sodden fields and vehicles unable to enter. Where there is scarcity in the market-place inevitably prices will rise to the consumers. Once again this highlights the needs for communities at all levels to become self-sufficient with home produce becoming a priority. Where grasslands are saturated burning of Fire Breaks will be delayed.

      It is evident, with reference to Town Planning that large communities have been allowed access to extensive areas without adequate infrastructure for Potable Water, Sewer controls or areas of "Commonage" for cultivation and home produce. Skills training is essential to enable these communities to be responsible for Repair work including leaks, piping replacement and removal of blockages. Then increase implementation and management of Stormwater Capture into Rainwater Tanks for "grey water" usage. The "Commonage" area would offer employment opportunities, with the regular gardeners being entitled to remuneration on sale of the produce at their Saturday Market. An Allotment system, with annual crop rotation would enable year-round production. The purchase of all necessary commodities, including implements, fuel, composts, dolomitic lime, seeds or seedlings for food production and the Rehabilitation of "Wind-breaks" banks and slopes to be without VAT.

    The incidence of Global Warming has been attributed to the increase in the atmosphere of Carbon dioxide, Methan and other gases which accrue to man-made activities. A recent media illustration referred to Methane which occurs naturally in our bogs and Wetlands with a Global estimated figure of 194 Mt, then Agriculture 141 Mt, Energy 135 Mt and Waste 73 Mt giving a total of 394 Mt. "Plastic" is a target issue with RE-CYCLING and strict regulations necessary to avoid increased production, particularly where throw-away societies accumulate vast quantities without adequate waste collection. Waste and pollution contaminants increase disease, once again with direct and costly impact on our economic growth. It is perhaps ironic that isolated and non industrial lands and islands where communities live closest to nature, with fishing, gathering of fruits and vegetation, will be hit the hardest with the warming of the seas, and the atmospheric fall-out from their industrialized neighbors. Thus highlighting that where there is any deviation from the Paris Agreement of 2015, with regard to the targets for 2030 by any form of Administration or politician, this should be considered as a serious legal default.

    Dire Water problems arise in the Mining Industry where water percolates through the rocks and over exposed surfaces with iron pyrite (foods gold) combining to form sulphuric acid. The occurrence of "acid mine water" (AMD) requires careful and expert extraction and treatment which is very costly. The contamination levels in the Oliphants River record the lack of management and CARE.

    For the Final celebration for "Earth Day" we hold the cup high for our amazing Bio-diversity throughout all provinces. Our variety of indigenous trees, woody species, array of shrubs with seasonal flowering ambience, succulents, bulbs, grasses and low growing groundcovers, with the unique Vynbos species adorning the Cape Landscape. A realm where Wildlife cohabits in harmony. The Challenge is to create Awareness, adopt proven Methodology and ensure "Duty of CARE" for OUR EARTH FOR ALL.