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Poor topsoil control up stream from the feeding rivers keep on deposting sediment into the lake system. Since the estuary had no tidal movement for several years and the sediment cannot be flashed out to the ocean the estuary are rapidly being silted close as far as the bridge and higher up.
Some one will have to come up with a master plan to save this anciet water system. Wonder how far the GEF fund will help in solving this problem?
By: Petrus Vivers
... following signing of Environmental Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during state visit in August this year
8 Oct 2010
Shanghai, China – 8 October, 2010: Today at the South Africa Pavilion, the South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, formally opened the final month's theme of "Environment and Climate Change". The exploration of this theme is not only closely linked to the Shanghai Expo theme of "Better City, Better Life" but moreover builds on the Environmental Management MoU signed between the Republic of South Africa and the People's Republic of China during the state visit to China by President Zuma in August, 2010.
Minister Sonjica's visit to China is part of a strategic plan to increase dialogue between the two countries around issues of mutual importance including climate change, use of cleaner technology, water resource conservation, development of a green economy and a move towards sustainable development. Her visit to China will also include a meeting with Minister of Environmental Protection, Minister Shengxian Zhou, followed by participation in the UN (United Nations) climate change talks in Tianjin.
Demonstrating South Africa's unified approach to addressing environmental issues, the theme of "Environment and Climate Change" will include a seminar on 18 October 2010, led by the Department of Science and Technology entitled "Urban Planning through the Lens of Climate Change" while other departments such as the Department of Water Affairs will showcase their steps towards improving water quality and its provision in poorer communities; water scarcity and rainwater harvesting. The Department of Energy will explore on issues such as solar energy and cleaner technologies.
Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Sonjica explained "The theme of the South African Pavilion is "South Africa: The rise of a modern economy - ke nako" which means "it is time". It is time for decisive action to safeguard our environment for present and future generations and to combat the ravages of run-away climate change." South Africa and China have a growing number of joint research and exchange programs, and we recognise that there is tremendous potential growth in the areas of science and technology, as well as environmental research, for example cleaner development mechanism (CDM) projects.
The South African Pavilion's theme of "Environment and Climate Change" at the Shanghai Expo also comes at a time when Minister Sonjica will be attending the BASIC meeting on climate change in Tianjin from 10 to 12 October. The BASIC group is an alliance of likeminded developing countries comprising of Brazil, South Africa, India and China. The BASIC grouping is emerging as one of the most important formations in the climate change negotiations.
South Africa's recent signing of the Environment MoU with the people's Republic of China aims to create a platform for the development of joint projects and exchange of expertise in the biodiversity conservation, environmental monitoring, compliance and enforcement, as well as environmental technology and management of hazardous and toxic wastes which will have mutual benefit for the people of the two countries. Following the signing of this MoU, the two countries will put in motion plans and strategies to implement the provisions and objectives contained in the MoU. These activities, in addition to participation in Tianjin, will facilitate preparations for Convention of the Parties (COP) 16 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Cancun, Mexico in November this year as well as UNFCCC COP17 which will be held in South Africa in November 2011.
Notes to Editors:
South Africa's Pavilion design uses a traditional housing design of a Rondavel house with a modern twist as the centrepiece showcasing contemporary, modern living and showcasing how the home is the heart of the community. Against this powerful backdrop, the Pavilion showcases a different theme each month through Shanghai Expo.
Background on South Africa – China Relations in brief
1998: Formal establishment of diplomatic relations between South Africa and China
2000: South Africa and China sign the Pretoria Declaration on partnership relations, followed by the establishment of the Bi-National Commission (BNC), under which five sectoral committees, respectively on diplomatic affairs, trade, education, science and technology, and defense, have been set up.
2007: Cabinet Lekgotla's decision of July 2007, identified China as the test case for coordinated planning and implementation of the country's international relations; marketing South Africa abroad; and strengthening South Africa's economic diplomacy – today being realised by Shanghai Expo.
2008: 10 year anniversary of diplomatic ties. Strategic Partnership Dialogue between the Republic of South Africa and the People's Republic of China launched on 7 January 2008 as another vehicle to consolidate the bilateral relations between the two countries.
2010: State Visit by President Zuma to China:MoU on Environmental Management signed in August 2010.
Enquiries:
Jessie Song
E-mail: Jessie.song@mslworldwide.com
Source: http://www.environment.gov.za/
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs
8 Oct 2010
Speech delivered by Deputy Minister Derek Hanekom, at the closing of the heritage month activities
30 Sep 2010
Programme director,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Like most countries, including China, South Africa looks increasingly to science and technology to create a better future for all its citizens. We are keenly focused on that future. But, we are also very interested in the past, particularly those elements of the past that have a bearing on our ability to shape the future
Part of that past is being unlocked through the efforts of eminent paleoanthropologists all over the world who have shown us that, although we have differences in language, culture and beliefs, we are one species with a common ancestry that unites us. It is now accepted that the oldest evidence of that single ancient history is found on the African continent and that Africa is the symbolic Cradle of Humankind.
His Excellency, President Hu Jintao, on the occasion of his visit to South Africa in February 2007, had the opportunity to view important hominid fossils at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. At this same site, in April 2010, the discovery of a new species, Australopithecus sediba, was announced. These remarkably well-preserved fossilised remains, dating back almost 2 million years, provide us with new and astonishing insights into events that produced people like you and me. We wanted to share these recent discoveries with the people of China, which is why precise replicas of these important discoveries have been on display here, in our national pavilion, during the month of September.
But, our involvement with the past does not end there. Our continent has a long and distinguished history in astronomy. We are proud of the curiosity that led scientists to look up into the night skies and wonder. In Nabta Playa in the desert of southern Egypt, scientists have found evidence that construction work, based on astronomical principles, took place 11000 years ago. Later, the Pyramids were built according to the same principles. And, in Cape Town, the famous astronomer Sir John Hershel started mapping the southern skies the day after he disembarked from his ship on 16 January 1834.
Our zeal for unravelling the mysteries of the past has been given a timely boost by the announcement that either South Africa or Australia will host the Square Kilometre Array, the largest radio telescope ever constructed. With this magnificent project, which, in our case, involves a partnership with a dozen other strategically placed African partner countries, we will be able to look back in time to over 13 billion years ago, to an era when the universe was in its infancy, a mere 500 million years after the Big Bang which set the universe in motion.
The outcome of the contest between ourselves and Australia will not be known until the end of next year, but we are hopeful that the African bid will succeed and bring with it a variety of economic, social and technological opportunities for South Africa and the Southern African region.
I am pleased to have this opportunity to thank the People's Republic of China for providing us with a chance to showcase some of the discoveries that make our country unique, while also providing a platform for us to engage with other countries on matters of mutual interest. I would also like to express our appreciation for our cooperation in the fields of palaeoanthropology and archaeology that has resulted, among other things, in Professor Philip Tobias, South Africa's pre-eminent palaeontologist, being appointed an Honorary Professor at the famous Academy of Sciences in Beijing and an Honorary Professor of the University of Nanjing.
The Shanghai World EXPO 2010 has been a particularly successful event, and I congratulate the people of China on this magnificent achievement. These congratulations come from a country which has itself this year hosted a successful multination event, the FIFA World Cup 2010. I believe we both have reason to be proud.
I am also pleased to announce that these very precise replicas of the Sediba fossils, painstakingly reproduced in the palaeoscience laboratories at the University of the Witwatersrand, will now be donated to the Museum of Natural History here in Shanghai and the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) in Beijing. We are proud to be able to share evidence of our mutual, lengthy past with our Chinese friends. In line with this sentiment we have recently collected a fossil of the mammal-like reptile Lystrosaurus in South Africa which were are currently exposing from the surrounding rock in South Africa and will be donating to China as a symbol of unity between our two countries through the IVPP in Beijing. Lystrosaurus was specifically chosen as it is the symbol of the Palaeontological Society of Southern Africa.
In addition it has been found in China as well as South Africa and shows that South Africa and China were connected in the single continent of Pangea more than 200 million years ago. Our bilateral agreement in the field of palaeosciences will further unite our two countries.
I thank you, and I thank the Government and people of the People's Republic of China.
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
30 Sep 2010
1 Oct 2010
Buyelwa Sonjica, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs will be hosting a Rhino Summit to discuss the drastic increase in the number of incidents of illegal killing of rhino in the country, on 5 and 6 October 2010 at the Reserve Bank Conference Centre, in Pretoria.
The minister is committed to addressing the current upsurge in the illegal killing of rhinoceros in South Africa and the summit forms part of the implementation of the National Strategy for the Safety and Security of Rhinoceros Populations in South Africa.
The summit is intended to inform all role players of and review current interventions with a view to improve efforts in the fight against the illegal killing of rhinos and also to strengthen stakeholder collaboration.
Media is invited to the summit.
Details are as follows:
Venue: Reserve Bank Conference Centre, Church Street, Pretoria
Dates: 5 to 6 October 2010
Time: Day one: starting at 12h30
Day two starting at 08:30
To RSVP please contact:
Ernest Mulibana
Tel: 012 310 3990
E-mail: EMulibana@environment.gov.za
Moses Rannditsheni
Tel: 012 310 3901
Cell: 082 448 2450
E-mail: MRannditsheni@environment.gov.za
Enquiries:
Albi Modise
Cell: 083 490 2871
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs
1 Oct 2010
