Tag: south africa
South Africa mining takes a violent turn
By Joan Martinez-Alier. The Xolobeni saga, which dates back at least ten years, involves the proposed open-cast mining of titanium ores from a 22km stretch of ochre-coloured sand dunes south of …
Can “Natural Capital Accounting” Come of Age in Africa?
By Patrick Bond. In early June, a University of Pretoria conference at the Governance Innovation Centre [2], keynoted by Indian eco-feminist Vandana Shiva, contemplated how to go “beyond GDP.” The current …
Choosing between coal or wetlands in Chrissiesmeer
By Franz Fuls. As a developing country, the South African government has identified coal as a primary energy source. It grants permission to extract minerals through mining rights. Xstrata recently sold …
Complete and utter chaos at Chrissiesmeer, South Africa.
By Franz Fuls. During a chaotic public meeting Xstrata’s successor, Msobo Coal, announces its plans to mine inside the Chrissiesmeer Biodiversity Area, Mpumalanga, South Africa. On 26 March 2013 Msobo Coal held …
BRICS meet for the scramble of Africa (the sequel)
By Nick Meynen. When in 2001 the term BRIC was coined to group emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India and China – nobody saw them as a block challenging the likes …
Disappearing Diamonds
By Khadija Sharife. From time to time, a VIP-configured Airbus jetted into Lanseria International Airport, a small and privately-owned base facility near Johannesburg, South Africa. The plane, an Airbus 319CJ, …
Sensitive South African peatland threatened by mining
By Franz Fuls. Lakenvlei is one of the largest and deepest peatlands in South Africa. It is under threat from planned diamond and coal mining. Sources and wetlands may be affected …
David VanWyk on South Africa 2
South Africa causes 98% of air pollution in Africa and 86% of waste in Africa – mainly due to the heavy impacts of mining. The Marikana Massacre in South Africa was followed …
PODCAST: David VanWyk on platinum mining 1
The Marikana Massacre in South Africa was followed by wide spread mining unrest, which is seen as a sign of a deeper crisis. David VanWyk does research for the Bench …
