Time to be very worried about the warming

The 2006 US-edition of Time Magazine reported on how big a threat global warming is in the world.Most scientists agree that it is really happening and caused by human induced factors.South Africans may not really think of the ice caps melting and the polar bears "stories" being a threatening issue, but the evidence of some plants and animals that have reacted to developments in the environment over time in South Africa.

Climate change basics

Climate change -refers to any change in climate over a long period of time, whether due to natural or human induced activities.Although often referred to as ‘global warming’, global climate change is more about serious disruptions of the entire world’s weather and climate patterns, including impacts on rainfall, extreme weather events and sea level rise, rather than just moderate temperature increases.

Global air temperature anomalies

The intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change defines "climate change" as a "change in climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural variability observed over comparable time periods".

“For fifteen years now, some small percentage of the world’s scientists and diplomats and activists has inhabited one of those strange dreams where the dreamer desperately needs to warn someone about something bad and imminent; but somehow, no matter how hard he shouts, the other person in the dream - standing smiling, perhaps, with his back to an oncoming train - can’t hear him. This group, this small percentage, knows that the world is about to change more profoundly than at any time in the history of human civilisation. And yet, so far, all they have achieved is to add another line to the long list of human problems- people think about ‘global warming’ in the way they think about ‘violence on television’ or ‘growing trade deficits’, as a marginal concern to them, if a concern at all. Enlightened governments make smallish noises and negotiate smallish treaties; enlightened people look down on America for its blind piggishness. Hardly anyone, however, has fear in their guts.” (McKibben, 2003)

Air quality in Gauteng

The Vaal Triangle Priority area

The minister of environmental affairs and tourism has declared the Vaal Triangle as a high priority area....mmm I feel like suffocating.The quality of air in that triangle is very poor, I drove around there over the weekend and passed Iscor and Sasol plants and wondered how the people living around the two industries manage to breath everyday? somebody please help!

In terms of section 18 (1) of the AQA, the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism may, by notice in the Gazette, declare an area as a priority area if the Minister reasonably believes that :
ambient air quality standards are being, or may be, exceeded in the area, or any other situation exists which is causing, or may cause, a significant negative impact on air quality in the area and the area requires specific air quality management action to rectify the situation

There are very high levels of air pollution associated with household coal burning that are known to create severe health and environmental problems, especially during the winter months when coal is not only used for cooking, but as an essential heating source in most areas like eKasi and the rural areas za seMzansi.I rembember the past uMagogo beka basa umbawula nje nge njwayelo kanje, a fake amaphepha, izinkuni and then bese a fake amalahle.Hayi phela gogo....izinto ziya shintsha.The Department of Minerals and Energy started a programme called Basa njengo magogo, a technology that involves placing coal at the bottom of the brazier, followed by paper, few sticks of wood. This is then followed by lighting the paper to burn the wood. Once the wood is burning, a handful amount of coal is placed on top. This handful amount is takenfrom the same bucket or container of coal intended for burning in a brazier. The method can be applied when making coal fire using stoves, brazier, “braai” stands and in the fireplace".The Basa njengo magogo way of making umbawula releases less smoke as compared to the traditional method.What's good about it is that this method uses less coal, and less smoke and saves your time to cook. What's not sooo good is that method reduces emissions of particulates, but not of sulfur dioxide,exposure to the sulfur dioxide emissions from coal and wood burning contributes to the overall health effect of indoor air pollution. So, what happened to "protecting the rights to life and to an environment not harmful to their health and well-being"?