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Your weekly green news round-up.
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Dear <<First Name>>

For 8 years the Green Times has focused on solution oriented stories, believing that our readers, like myself, would be inspired to follow those excellent examples. Trusting that innovation would grow similar brain connections, following the thought “wow, if they can, so can I.” This is what motivates me. I trust this has also contributed to many creative initiatives…

But that is only part of the story. As journalist I am also exposed to the truth – all truths, even those leading to uncomfortable insights, which may be hard to face. That to me is the ethics of journalism. I am motivated to change, also by sad and sometimes depressing stories. Like more people dying from the heat in Pakistan, the floods in New Zealand, the sixth extinction now in full swing. Raging fires in the Arctic – worse than ever before. Imagining what it’s like to live in these places, feeling the distress… Knowing that it could have been me.

So we are determined to bring you more balanced coverage. For the rate of change in our behaviour is simply not fast enough. In the past we wrote about threats, now they are consequences. More severe each month. No longer tomorrow, but today. Too much evidence calls for a total mind shift.

 

What are we waiting for?


Eco psychologists tell us that we are immobilised as we avoid the pain. Apathy is a refusal to suffer. So of course it’s nice to read good  news. Who doesn’t want to feel better? But does this move you? Does this make you question every move you make? Every drop of water you use, every element you burn, every kilometer you drive, every light you switch on, every purchase you make?

Separation illness – our disconnect from our source - sent us careering into destructive habits. We lost the sense of enoughness. This speaks of addiction. Blindly pursuing something in the hope of feeling better, but beyond the immediate high, I am yet worse off.

Why are some further ahead on the journey of healing, of reconnection with the earth, whilst others remain oblivious?



The answer seems to lie within the feeling function. Unless we’re totally ignorant, we are all in the grief process. The planet is in mourning, and we are part of her. We are in this demise together, joined at the hip. This leads to chaos in many places. Political unrest, collapsing systems, climate shocks. If we open our minds and hearts to the truth,  we cannot but feel the pain. And this is the mobilising factor. How can I know what I know and not devote my life to it? As a mother, that is impossible.

Every feeling person will have their own personal response. Taking responsibility within your circle of influence, growing that, using your particular skills and gaining more knowledge. To move in and through the pain, towards action. This is our sacred journey now. It is easy to get stuck along the way. The bulk of our society is possibly still in denial. This is the first stage of grief. Disbelief. So we have compassion with that too.

Let’s support each other in this process. If you battle, reach out. We need each other. Action is the antidote to despair. Find more good stuff on our Facebook timeline.

Enjoy this issue, respond, contribute, be active and move forward.




With love

Elma and the team

PS. Remember to check out the green events on our calendar.

One last chance to thwart the great African seed grab

 

Nineteen African nations met this week in Tanzania to finalise a ‘plant protection’ protocol that would open up the continent’s seeds to corporate interests, taking away farmers’ rights to grow, improve, sell and exchange their traditional seeds.

Wild Coast doc to give special community screenings

 

What are the prospects – pros and cons to the local community – of titanium excavation along the pristine Wild Coast?

Pakistan heat wave: Death toll passes 1000 in Karachi

 

Over the past week, Pakistan’s largest and most populated city has been scorched by a heat wave that has claimed more than 1,000 lives.

Enviro teams make a difference in Cosmo City

 

2015 has been a great year so far for Cosmo City. Three fantastic environmental projects have helped create jobs for 40 residents in the Joburg suburb.

Cape Town office block achieves SA's first socio-economic impact certification

 

Karl Bremer Office Block in Bellville, Cape Town, is the first project to achieve a Socio-Economic Category (SEC) Pilot rating in Africa as part of its 5-Star Green Star SA rating, announced the Green Building Council of SA.

African civil society slams junk GM maize deal

 

Non-governmental and farmer organisations from across Africa have strongly condemned the go-ahead given by the South African authorities for “drought tolerant” GMO maize seed to be cultivated in South Africa.

Electrifying Africa: the hunt for the off-grid solution

 

More than 95% of those without access to electricity live in sub-Saharan Africa and developing Asia. While progress is being made, rapid population growth continues to challenge that progress.

Fantastic international acts and more to rock the Daisies

 

Rocking the Daisies, SA's greenest music fest, is going all out for its 10th birthday this year. The international acts so far announced are Australia’s beloved Cat Empire, British indie rockers The Kooks and German folk duo Milky Chance.

New recycling centre a hit with kids and community

 

A novel approach to eco-friendly service delivery in the community of Mapleton is encouraging recycling, growing entrepreneurs and providing a lifeline for many.

Will you join Pope Francis in the call for climate action?

 

"This first encyclical on the environment brings the world a step closer to that tipping point where we abandon fossil fuels and fully embrace clean renewable energy for all, by the middle of the century."

Collective efforts needed to reduce plastic litter in the oceans

 

“South Africa has what it takes to become one of the world leaders in reducing the amount of litter that ends up in our oceans."

Shell’s Arctic oil rig departs Seattle as ‘kayaktivists’ warn of disaster

 

After a final protest by kayak-paddling activists, Shell’s deep-sea oil drilling rig left the port of Seattle, headed for Alaska’s Chukchi Sea – and, environmentalists say, towards imminent disaster.

Tiny island nations target fossil fuel giants for climate change compensation

 

The tiny island of Vanuatu is taking on the world’s fossil fuel giants, seeking compensation for destruction linked to climate change.

Africa Progress Panel supports G7 fossil fuel & renewable energy targets

 

The Africa Progress Panel welcomes the commitment made by the G7 to make deep cuts in emissions and to phase out of fossil fuels by the end of the century.

Climate scientists reading planet’s distress signals

 

Climate science researchers, scientists, journalists and activists have all been struggling with grief around the state of emergency we are witnessing.

Ecuador auctions off Amazon to Chinese oil firms

 

Ecuador plans to auction off more than three million hectares of pristine Amazonian rainforest to Chinese oil companies, angering indigenous groups and underlining the global environmental toll of China’s insatiable thirst for energy.

Bolivia opens up national parks to oil and gas firms

 

The Madidi National Park in Bolivia is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, even hosting 11% of the world’s bird species. This natural life is set to be threatened by looming plans for extensive hydrocarbon exploration activities.
 

Aid donors’ investment deal causing hardship for Tanzanian farmers


Millions of pounds of UK aid money have been invested in a project in Tanzania which is destroying the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, driving them into debt and impacting the local environment.

Scientific model flags risk of civilisation’s collapse by 2040

 

If we don’t change course, in less than three decades industrial civilisation will essentially collapse due to catastrophic food shortages triggered by climate change.

New study confirms Earth’s sixth mass extinction has begun

 

We are currently witnessing the start of a mass extinction event the likes of which have not been seen on Earth for at least 65 million years. This is the alarming finding of a new study published in the journal Science Advances.
 

Pope Francis seeks swift action on climate change

 

Pope Francis has called for a radical transformation of politics, economics and individual lifestyles to confront environmental degradation and climate change.

Carbon time-bomb in Siberia threatens catastrophic climate change

 

A devastating and sudden acceleration of climate change which is currently being sparked could result in “awful consequences”, a leading scientist has warned.

Minimizing the risks of extreme weather the focus of UQAM gathering

 

There’s nothing worse than having to go to summer school on a rainy, miserable Monday. Unless, of course, you’re a climate expert trying to boost your expertise on how to minimize the risks of climate and climate change.
 

Patriarchy is killing our planet – women alone can save her

 

The global epidemic of violence against women and their systematic exclusion from the power structures that rule us are integral to man’s violent exploitation of Earth and her resources, writes Nafeez Ahmed.
 

G7 calls for end to fossil fuel use by 2100

 

G7 leaders are committed to a goal of limiting the rise in average global temperatures to 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels, German Chancellor Angela Merkel says.
 
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