insert_link Environment South Africa’s crucial water supplies from Lesotho: what the six-month shutdown means for industry, farming and residents By Ifedotun Aina, University of Cape Town The main water supply to South Africa’s economic hub, greater Johannesburg in the Gauteng province, and to the country’s breadbasket in the Free State, is scheduled to be cut off for six months. Maintenance work on the 37 kilometre Lesotho Highlands Water Project tunnel is due to begin in October 2024. Ifedotun Victor Aina, a senior researcher at the Water and […] today5 April, 2024
insert_link Namibia Omuthiya Mayor plans concrete reservoir for the town The Omuthiya Town Council has put up two water reservoirs due to the low water distribution pressure experienced in the town and to mitigate water scarcity in the region. OTC Mayor Johannes Ndeutepo in an interview with Nampa on Tuesday said they will be looking to build other sources of water. Ndeutepo the town council is planning to construct a concrete reservoir that would cater to the whole town in […] today2 April, 2024
insert_link World Fasting is a key part of Ramadan, but for many Muslims, climate change is making food scarce all year By Nasya Bahfen, La Trobe University Every Ramadan, volunteers at Westall Mosque and OneSpace in Melbourne hold free weekly iftars (communal dinners to break the fast in Ramadan). This year, volunteers say numbers are up. To cut down on the resulting landfill, attendees are asked to bring their own reusable food containers and water bottles. In dedicated bins, bottles and cans are collected and recycled under the […] today2 April, 2024
insert_link Environment Omusati region faces severe drought crisis Omusati Governor Erginus Endjala says the region is hard hit by extreme drought and as a result crops, livestock, and water supply have been negatively impacted. today26 March, 2024
insert_link World Critics fear catastrophic energy crisis as AI is outsourced to Latin America By Gerry McGovern, Sue Branford “We walk for the water we need. If we don’t walk, who will give it to us?” asks Juan, a middle-aged man born in the Indigenous rural community of Maconí, Mexico. “It’s a four-hour journey each day to fetch water … Since last year, there hasn’t been rain, and this year it’s the same.” The bean crop has withered and there’s no corn […] today22 March, 2024
insert_link Environment 17 million South Africans live on communal land – new study of a rural valley offers insights on how to manage it Tyhume Valley in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Wonga Masiza, Author provided Wonga Masiza, Agricultural Research Council The Tyhume River, flowing from the forested Amathole Mountains in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, gives its name to a valley of 20 villages on communal land. Much of the land is being used to keep livestock, as crop production has declined over the years. This land is under the custodianship of traditional leaders. […] today14 February, 2024
insert_link Environment An ancient system that could bring water to dry areas By Gaathier Mahed, Nelson Mandela University Some of Africa’s dry areas face serious water shortages due to minimal rainfall. An ancient system of drawing water from aquifers, the “qanat system”, could help. Gaathier Mahed, an environmental scientist and expert on the management of groundwater, has studied the feasibility of these systems. He tells us more. How does the qanat system work? There are bodies of water underground known as […] today17 January, 2024
