more pics....
more...
and
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Airshow in Cape Town
Excellent display of South African military aircrafts including fighter jets...
more pics....
more...
and
more pics....
more...
and
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
A visit to Kagga Kamma Private Game Reserve
On the 5-7 September, my extended family, my family and I visited and lodge at Kagga Kamma, which is located near the Cederberg mountains. The whole trip, the scenary was refreshing. Driving more than 70km's on gravel road reminded me of the former Transkei region with the mountainside roads. Hikes, Snow, Animals - boks, Bushmen's ancient paintings, all was just amazing.
Pics....
Pics....
Friday, August 1, 2008
InWent course on Renewable Energy
On the 14-16 July 2008, I attended a Renewable Energy course, sponsored and facilitated by InWent, a German-based organisation. The course focused on the State of Bavaria - how they are optimising the manufacture and implementation of wind turbines and PV panels.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
"Cap your Carbon"! Happy World Environment Day, South Africa!
Happy World Environment Day to all! Today the world is celebrating the WED by encouraging people from all nations and all walks of life to TAKE ACTION against the greatest threat of all, the global Climate Change. The UN theme for 2008 is "Kick the CO2 habit! Towards a low carbon economy!" In that, everyone is encouraged to put a ceiling to their business-as-usual, carbon-intensive lifestyle and pursue a low-carbon lifestyle.
Our organisation is celebrating the day by encouraging the employees to play "Climate Change Quiz" on a Touchscreen Kiosk (that I personally masterminded). The Quiz has ten questions ranging from what the definition of CC to what actions the Provincial Government of the Western Cape is taking, to personal actions that individuals should adopt.
The prize for the winners is a cap (a tight-fitting headdress...see picture below) with the label "CAP YOUR CARBON". The cap was introduced by the Provincial Minister of Environmental Affairs, Ms Tasneen Essop during her Budget Speech in the Legislative House, encouraging the Legislative members to calculate their Carbon Footprints in order to necessary steps in reducing their footprint. The Carbon Foorprint of all the senior managers in my organisation has been calculated.
The Cap...
The employees queueing to participate in the CC Quiz...
I personally want to challenge, YOU (the reader) to calculate your Carbon Footprint, and then examine what small and big changes you may need to make in your everyday lifestyle.
Happy WED!
Our organisation is celebrating the day by encouraging the employees to play "Climate Change Quiz" on a Touchscreen Kiosk (that I personally masterminded). The Quiz has ten questions ranging from what the definition of CC to what actions the Provincial Government of the Western Cape is taking, to personal actions that individuals should adopt.
The prize for the winners is a cap (a tight-fitting headdress...see picture below) with the label "CAP YOUR CARBON". The cap was introduced by the Provincial Minister of Environmental Affairs, Ms Tasneen Essop during her Budget Speech in the Legislative House, encouraging the Legislative members to calculate their Carbon Footprints in order to necessary steps in reducing their footprint. The Carbon Foorprint of all the senior managers in my organisation has been calculated.
The Cap...
The employees queueing to participate in the CC Quiz...
I personally want to challenge, YOU (the reader) to calculate your Carbon Footprint, and then examine what small and big changes you may need to make in your everyday lifestyle.
Happy WED!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
GISSA's GIS Week 2008 event
During 5-9 May 2008, GISSA (Geo-Information Society of South Africa) - an association that represents the interests of Geospatial experts in South Africa - hosted the GIS Week event at the UWC; targeting the School learners and educators. Since GIS has been incorporated as part of the Geography Syllabus for the Grade 10-12 learners in South Africa, there is need for all the geospatial experts and organisation to assist in training and support schools especially rural schools. So GISSA is doing their bit by hosting them.
This year I led my staff in exhibiting and assisting in the training lab. I believe our stall was the best as our touchscreen kiosk (that I designed) was the centre of attraction. Every time the learners get the highest score on the Climate Change QUIZ, they were given prizes (including a bag, water bottle and a pencil case - all with a message on Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Recycling).
Our exhibit theme was "Greening 2010 Soccer World Cup as part of our Climate Change Action Plan". Some of our work showcased included the GreenStaySA - an initiative targeting the hotels to reduce their footprint through clean production, energy and water efficiency, etc. Our aim is to get as many hotels participating in the Campaign. We also demonstrated the possible applications of GIS on Climate Change scenarios, e.g. Sea level rise in an informal settlement. We also promoted Energy Efficiency and the use of Renewable Energy.
Pics...
This year I led my staff in exhibiting and assisting in the training lab. I believe our stall was the best as our touchscreen kiosk (that I designed) was the centre of attraction. Every time the learners get the highest score on the Climate Change QUIZ, they were given prizes (including a bag, water bottle and a pencil case - all with a message on Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Recycling).
Our exhibit theme was "Greening 2010 Soccer World Cup as part of our Climate Change Action Plan". Some of our work showcased included the GreenStaySA - an initiative targeting the hotels to reduce their footprint through clean production, energy and water efficiency, etc. Our aim is to get as many hotels participating in the Campaign. We also demonstrated the possible applications of GIS on Climate Change scenarios, e.g. Sea level rise in an informal settlement. We also promoted Energy Efficiency and the use of Renewable Energy.
Pics...
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Solar Water Heaters Launch at Hessequa, Riversdale
On the 17th April I participated in a Solar Water Heater Project Launch that was held in Riversdale in Hessequa Local Municipality (just about under 100km away from George). The event was graced by the presence of MEC Tasneem Essop, the Provincial Minister of Environment, Planning and Economic Development, and the National Minister of Minerals and Energy, the Honorable Minister Buyelwa Sonjica.
As South Africa is facing power outages as well as load shedding, this initiave aims at contributing to Electricity Savings in the Province. Solar Water Heaters/Geysers have been identified as one of the measures to be installed by households and businesses in order to save electricity. In this project, 240 SWH units will be installed in Riversdale alone, and about 760 in Cape Town.
This project will also address three areas of challenge, namely,
(1) Global Climate Change (SWH uses clean energy to heat water - no emissions released during the operation of the unit),
(2) Job Creation & Poverty Alleviation (about 50 jobs were created in Riversdale alone - a training academy for SWH is to be established during 2008)
(3) Save electricity (this technology save up to 40% of the total electricity consumption for heating water)
More pics...
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Exhibition for the Cuban visitors
Due to my exhibition experience in my organisation, I have been tasked to lead a team of staff to exhibit for the "Friends of Cuban Society" in Cape Town as well as Cuban visitors to South Africa. Among the delegation is the son of the former president of Cuba, the Nuclear Physicist Professor Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart.
On the 31 March he presented a lecture at CSIR where he noted that Energy Conservation and the use of Renewable Energy (wind and solar) is an alternative to nuclear energy. He made a note that there was a time when Cuba had power outages just like South Africa, but they no longer have. Some of the topics being presented by him and the South Africa research institutes and Government are Biotechnology, nanotechnology, nuclear and energy technology as well as climate change.
The workshop between the Western Cape Provincial Goverbnment and Cuban will focus on "Energy and Climate Change" issues. Our organisation has made strides in the area of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy policies, and Climate Change strategy. We will be exhibing some of the work done by our organisation.
During the Event
The venue was packed to full capacity with activists, representatives from NGO's, and the public. A documentary on "Cuba and the Peak Oil Crisis" was played. I was so impressed by how the Cubans managed to survive the energy crisis. They used bicycles to commute, created mixed use buildings (houses/schools/shops/workplace in close proximity), practiced urban farming, organic farming (with less use of fertilisers and pesticides), conserving energy, increased the supply using renewable energy (Solar PV, Solar water heaters, wind facilities), etc.
The documenntation was followed by followed by powered speeches by the MEC Tasneem Essop and Dr Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart. The Western Cape Environment minister highlighted the challenges of 2006 power outages in the Western Cape, and how the province joined hands to save energy. She also dealt with the hot issues of Climate Change. "The poor people are the most vulnerable to Climate Change effects", she said. Dr Castro noted that Cuban theme for the year is "Energy Revolution". He highlighted what Cuba has gone through and had their breakthrough with regards to energy issues.
Photos...
On the 31 March he presented a lecture at CSIR where he noted that Energy Conservation and the use of Renewable Energy (wind and solar) is an alternative to nuclear energy. He made a note that there was a time when Cuba had power outages just like South Africa, but they no longer have. Some of the topics being presented by him and the South Africa research institutes and Government are Biotechnology, nanotechnology, nuclear and energy technology as well as climate change.
The workshop between the Western Cape Provincial Goverbnment and Cuban will focus on "Energy and Climate Change" issues. Our organisation has made strides in the area of Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy policies, and Climate Change strategy. We will be exhibing some of the work done by our organisation.
During the Event
The venue was packed to full capacity with activists, representatives from NGO's, and the public. A documentary on "Cuba and the Peak Oil Crisis" was played. I was so impressed by how the Cubans managed to survive the energy crisis. They used bicycles to commute, created mixed use buildings (houses/schools/shops/workplace in close proximity), practiced urban farming, organic farming (with less use of fertilisers and pesticides), conserving energy, increased the supply using renewable energy (Solar PV, Solar water heaters, wind facilities), etc.
The documenntation was followed by followed by powered speeches by the MEC Tasneem Essop and Dr Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart. The Western Cape Environment minister highlighted the challenges of 2006 power outages in the Western Cape, and how the province joined hands to save energy. She also dealt with the hot issues of Climate Change. "The poor people are the most vulnerable to Climate Change effects", she said. Dr Castro noted that Cuban theme for the year is "Energy Revolution". He highlighted what Cuba has gone through and had their breakthrough with regards to energy issues.
Photos...
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
GDEST 2008 conference: presentation
I made a presentation to the US and African Scientists at the GDEST 2008 conference on Geospatial Sciences for Sustainable Development, which was held on the 17-19 March in Cape Town. The conference is sponsored by the US Department of State.
GDEST 2008 (Global Dialogues on Emerging Science and Technology): GEOSPATIAL SCIENCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA is a conference that was attended by 98 participants from the US and Africa who engaged in geospatial science and technology analysis and applications. The overall objective of the conference is to engender increased collaboration between and among US and Africa scientists in a number of applied areas using geospatial science, information and technology. It had about 35 presentations, panel discussions and workshops over the three-day period of the conference.
As my organisation hosted an exhibition stall at the conference, we (the exhibitors) were requested to make Technology Showcase presentation to the audience that included the Geographer of the United States, Dr Lee Schwartz. I enjoyed every moment of the presentation.
GDEST 2008 (Global Dialogues on Emerging Science and Technology): GEOSPATIAL SCIENCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA is a conference that was attended by 98 participants from the US and Africa who engaged in geospatial science and technology analysis and applications. The overall objective of the conference is to engender increased collaboration between and among US and Africa scientists in a number of applied areas using geospatial science, information and technology. It had about 35 presentations, panel discussions and workshops over the three-day period of the conference.
As my organisation hosted an exhibition stall at the conference, we (the exhibitors) were requested to make Technology Showcase presentation to the audience that included the Geographer of the United States, Dr Lee Schwartz. I enjoyed every moment of the presentation.
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