Mozzie bites and memories

Do the holidays seem like they happened ages ago? Does it feel like all you have left of the holiday are mozzie bites and memories? Or are you still feeling upbeat and energised? For me, this has been a very long seeming week... and I miss having my family around. BUT, it is a whole new year!

It is 2017 and (that's ridiculous and insane and where does the time go?) the New Year gives you the opportunity to reflect on life and decide what you like and what you would like to change. It puts a full stop on the previous year, whether good or bad (even if it is a totally artificial full stop given that the 2016 day isn't extraordinarily different to the 2017 day). It gives people, organisations and countries a chance to reset their stats and try better for the year and stops the list of famous people that have died in 2016 (thank goodness). 

If you are looking for New Year's Resolutions (it really is never too late) think about becoming a revolutionist by cutting out/down on meat.  If you haven't already (and I can't imagine why not) commit to eating only sustainable seafood (check out SASSI green list or look for the MSC logo). And of course, you have already stopped using personal care products with microplastics but maybe you now want to make sure you diligently use reusable shopping bags or stop using straws (which I am all for, but it is tricky with milkshakes, so if anyone wants to buy me a reusable steel - one that's actually washable - my birthday is coming up... and so are most people's because there have only been 13 days of birthdays this year.)

Don't forget to use water as if you were paying for it - which you ARE but people don't seem to think like that (seriously, who leaves the tap running when brushing teeth - why does that even come up as a water saving tip?) You really learn to value water when it is no longer available... and that will be the reality if we don't meet the water saving targets. (El Nino might be over, but climate change isn't, and less rain is a reality of our future and "water-shedding" might be too.)

And, if you are already a Planeteer...  resolve to not let the horrible people get you down and focus on being a good example of inclusivity, tolerance and kindness. There would be less Trump in the world if people took a step out of that rat race and opened their arms to life. Do new things, open your mind to possibilities that are different and engage in conversation with people who think differently to you, or just chat with your uber driver - their lives might give yours perspective.  It's a brand shiny new year and there are loads of reasons to be hopeful and happy (just ask Bill Gates - Also, what is bubble tea?)

Find happiness in the small things like a walk on the beach! 

Ostriches

I haven't written for a while, but I am going to stop apologizing for that because it has become the norm. Someone asked me this week whether I was still blogging and my reply was that I am finding the world very uninspiring at the moment. And I am. It is more than that even, I don't want to think about all the things that are going terribly wrong. I want to stick my head in the sand and think about the little white eyes fluttering outside my office window or about what I am doing this weekend or what the next (happy) book I will read will be (suggestions welcome - but rainbows and happiness, OK?)

I definitely don't want to think about the Guptas, Nkandla, Thuli no longer being Public Protector, SAA, SABC, poor Pravin, the Nuclear deal, Bexit, Trump or #Feesmustfall (which is particularly difficult because I really want to give UCT a big hug). It is very difficult to avoid thinking about these topics though but I know little about the intricacies involved, so I won't even try to talk about them (because I only really know what the media tells me). 

I do know a bit more about the environmental issues I would rather not have to (but can't avoid) think about. For instance, I know that I want to bang the door down of the Namibian environmental ministry and ask "WTF" (possibly even in the full words, even though I am not a fan of the last one). What are you thinking NAMIBIA? WHAT? First, there is the company wanting to catch LIVE AND FREE marine animals to put in to an aquarium! Ridiculous. How dare you even consider it. And while the CITES conversations are happening in Johannesburg? How can you think it is a good idea to catch ENDANGERED African Penguins and dolphins from what is probably a small, (~100 individuals) closed population resident in Namibia. It is crazy! But how can you think it is a good idea when there has relatively recently been such public outcry about marine mammals in captivity (even those born in captivity)? (I haven't even watched Black Fish because I know it will make me too angry/upset). 

And now, they are considering (? or allowing?) marine phosphate mining! Huh? You can check out the Safeguard Our Seabed website for details on how terrible an idea this is, but let me just say that it is open strip mining but in a marine environment it will impact the whole marine ecosystem and the scale of it is INSANE. All for something that is actually available on land and shouldn't be used in such huge quantities because it contributes to eutrophication (Google definition: excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to run-off from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life.) which is a whole other set of problems. 

I am not meaning to pick on Namibia, South Africa is also doing silly things! And one of the reasons (although one of many) I am worried about phosphate mining in Namibia is that it sets the precedent for the same to occur in South Africa. 

And now this blog is already too long and I haven't gotten to the other thing that is making me mad (mad enough to rant about to my poor, wonderful mom when I was meant to be just wishing her a very happy birthday - The rant came about because we were chatting about the crazy weather, particularly in Bloemfontein).  Climate Change! I feel like South Africa is acting as though the drought was a surprise to them when meanwhile, the El Nino event (that are associated with droughts) was forecast and climate change modelling has shown increased likelihood of drought and extreme weather events in South Africa. And yet, what measures are South Africa taking to deal with this? I know that the people in power have their hands full with all the things I listed in the second paragraph, but climate change is an issue we NEED TO BE PROACTIVE and NOT REACTIVE to. And yet, we haven't ratified the Paris Agreement. Let's be clear, Climate Change isn't a luxurious problem, it will impact the poor and marginalised communities the most. 

So, unfortunately, we can't be ostriches. We need a rational and active citizenry who hold the government to account for both its economic , social and environmental (which will impact social and economic conditions) decisions.... without throwing faeces or petrol bombs.

Update on 28th October: We also need this

I'm Melting!

If this continues,
I am going to need a swimming pool!
(Whether or not it continues, I regret all the
[warm] days where a pool has been available
and I didn't swim!)

While I am probably on record somewhere saying that I would never complain about heat, it has been unprecedentedly hot lately. I was just opening the blog page and it took longer to load than normal which meant that it was stuck on the picture of water which is my background. I wanted to dive into my computer screen. Yesterday was a landmark day for me because I voluntarily closed the blind of my office window which you will know is crazy behaviour for me (don't worry - the slats are sideways so I can still see outside). 

We know that this is El Nino driven and exacerbated by climate change. The news is full of stories about droughts and Operation Hydrate (great initiative) and how expensive maize and rooibos are going to be. I do have to wonder why, when we knew an El Nino was predicted, we didn't plan in advance? I know drought doesn't seem like a thing you can plan for, but when it is predicted? Could the water restrictions been enforced before the drought started? Could South Africans not have invested in water tanks? I think we all realise that these hot temperatures and low rainfalls aren't going anywhere - yes, there will be respites - BUT we do know what the climate change predictions for South Africa will be so can we start planning ahead?

Can we start to start to anticipate instead of react? I know there are already some great initiatives but I think we need to keep the momentum from the days leading up to COP21 going. I hope all the climate change deniers are realising that this isn't just a patch of weird weather... these El Nino years are a practice run for the future.

My brain doesn't work in 40C heat and my skin definitely can't cope so what can we do? Some of you might, but I don't have the budget for solar panels and water tanks (and I live in a block of flats with very different priorities - not super proud of my block lately) but, leading up to the local elections later this year, I can ask our local politicians what they are doing in their neighborhoods to a) decrease carbon emissions and b) to mitigate against the impacts (especially if you live in Fishhoek + surrounds) - but take what ever they say with a pinch of salt because it is an election year so keep the pressure on!


P.S. This is the most important issue - Cartoons capture it all

Do they know it's Christmas Time at all?

Yes. I know that BandAid made lots of money that all went to good causes (well I presume that part) which is great  and that PARTS of Africa are still impoverished and desperate but Africa is huge. But, I, for one, am very aware it is Christmas time (and thrilled that it is not snowing!) (I have mixed feelings about the lyrics but not the intentions of that song)

I think anyone that knows me knows that I love Christmas! I genuinely think that people seem happier at this time of year - or maybe I am just happier and project that on my surroundings. I love the cheesy decorations and the cheesy music. I love finding gifts that I hope my family will like and I LOVE that I get to see them all soon. I also love Love Actually and The Holiday and the fact that December means I get to watch them (my own rule - but an important one). I also love that it is Summer. 

It is definitely a time of year that should inspire people to do "the right thing" and I am sure it is (statistically, even) a time of year that has an increase in charitable giving, volunteering and general "do-good-ing". I mean, even I went to help paint a children's hospital this month (actually maybe the end of last month - time also goes so quickly at this time of year). So I think it is an excellent time of year for the COP21 to be happening. I hope that it will inspire the World leaders to look beyond economies and elections and make decisions that will benefit everyone. 

Meanwhile, it isn't just about them, this is something we should all be thinking about ALL the time. And we should face the fact that it isn't easy. I love my car, I do, I love driving, I love the freedom of being able to pop off somewhere. While I was at UCT I took the free Jammie Shuttle and could feel a little smug occasionally but now I drive to work everyday. I also drive to the Common to go for a walk. These are the sorts of things that we should think about changing (although there are always excuses: no public transport routes on my way to work, and I am really walking an awesome dog who lives near the Common). 

These photos were taken in KZN in November - they were
super festive animals. I added the festive fence in -
but just want you to know - they weren't behind fences.

We should think about whether we need to eat something that was flown in from the other side of the world and weigh up the benefits between sustainable from Portugal, ethical from Kenya or locally made products. I don't have the answers, but I do think we need to be asking the questions. I know that my non-conservationist friends probably find me a little tiresome, and my conservationist friends find me a little slack, but we should be setting personal challenges for ourselves and pushing ourselves further. In 2013 I gave up pork and have stuck to that despite the fact that bacon is delicious. Years before that I cut down my meat eating drastically and continue to decrease it. I promise you, it isn't that hard (even though steak is yummy). Think about what you can do (you don't have to tell anyone or shout it from the roof tops to encourage others to do likewise). These are just examples - what are you doing?

If you want a more informed weigh-in on the COP then read the various expert reports (e.g. this one by Conservation International) or the news (e.g. BBC) or official website media reports (here). I am not an expert. I am just an optimist. I am expecting big things out of this meeting. 

P.S. Yes, I know I posted 4 pictures that say Merry Christmas... but I REALLY REALLY wish you a Merry Christmas

  

OGTP... intrigued?

So, OGTP is not some new fancy acronym that the cool kids are using, it is actually just the acronym for the Ocean Governance Training Program that IOI-SA has just finished running... Well, actually it finished last week Friday but recovering from running a 4-week long course takes a little while (and I prefer to blog when the sun is shining - sun makes me a happy person). It is also a partial excuse for my lack of blog posts recently, which at least one person has commented on (THANKS M! I love that someone noticed). 

I want to avoid sound like I am writing up the course report (because I have actually already done that), but I do want to chat about it a little bit. Organising the course was really my main job description so it has been taking up a lot of space in my head and I loved it! When I started here I didn't have a good grip on what 'Ocean Governance' actually is, but now I understand why, it is too huge a thing to get a grip on, it includes everything from shipping and maritime law to alien invasive species and climate change; and yes, we crammed that all in to four weeks. 

Zandvlei

And the biggest perk of this job (for someone who is a nerd like I am) is that I got to sit in on almost all of the lectures, so when I went to watch 'The Martian', (movie with Matt Damon - very good you should check it out!) (I also got free lunch everyday which is pretty awesome). I felt like he was talking about an old friend when he mentioned International Maritime Law. Yes, I know exactly how nerdy that is. 

Zandvlei again.
It was lovely, great
views and lots of birds but also with a HUGE
litter problem (mostly getting
washed down from the informal
settlements, suburbs and
urban areas)... 

So, I promise not to give you a blow by blow account of the course because it is possible that the thought of UNCLOS and ballast water management doesn't make you as it excited as it made me (for at least the duration of the lecture) but I wanted to say that the course really highlighted the HUGE challenges and possibilities that exist in the world. I love that the world has come together recently to commit to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and while I am not naive enough to ignore that the world has come together to make promises in the past (I did after all go to the public parts of the WSSD in Johannesburg) I remain optimistic (actually, there was an advert about it before 'The Martian' and when has there even been an advert like that before a main stream movie?). I hope that good things also come out of the climate change meeting in Paris in December - hold thumbs. I love that these issues are being discussed and taken seriously at the highest level. I also love that this course brought together very intelligent and competent people from all over Africa who will hopefully return to their own countries and carry on the discussion and start making change from within Africa.  

I am aware that people kind of cringe when I sprout on about sustainable fishing or plastic pollution or recycling AGAIN and AGAIN, but I think this is something we should all be talking about - I mean, even Russell Brand is talking about climate change (I saw him in Cape Town recently, (thanks M) and he is really funny while he talks about it). I think one of the mistakes we ALL make is thinking it is someone else's problem, but it isn't. Things change only when there are enough people wanting it to change. I mean people are pretty amazing and inventive but while we actually can't realistically or successfully manage the climate or environment, we can manage people's behaviour. 

The OGTP crew at International Coastal Clean Up Day

I know it is so hard to think about what impact every tiny decision you make will have on the environment, and hard to prioritse in the face of life's insistent immediacies: can afford your bond; what school would be best for your kids; how to deal with that annoying person at work; where to watch the rugby... but we also can't ignore it anymore. OK, enough preaching, thanks for indulging me. The course highlighted a lot of the problems that are out there, which could feel a little overwhelming and depressing, but I am trying to think of it as an opportunity, we can all do something... What are you going to do?

PS I also love that they called me 'Dr Shannon', cheap thrills :)