Thoughts on current political and financial developments, travel, climate and the environment with a humorous twist where possible
The following article results from a two day workshop organised by the Gauteng Dept of Agriculture and Rural Development attended by different levels of government in South Africa, consultants, and green scorpions (environmental law enforcement agents) and which two of us from the Korsman Conservancy in Benoni, South Africa (SA) were fortunate to be able… Continue reading South African Wetlands and Conservation
The Western Cape continues to suffer an acute water shortage as rainfall sets record lows for recent years. The (regrettably poor screenprint) graph below shows a solid red line for 2017’s cumulative rainfall to 24 August which is now below any of the 40 earlier years’ lighter lines. The degree to which rainfall has fallen… Continue reading South Africa Drought and Climate September 2017
From The New York Times 7 August 2017 - "A final draft report by scientists from 13 federal agencies concludes that Americans are feeling the effects of climate change right now. The report was completed this year and is part of the National Climate Assessment, which is congressionally mandated every four years." It was uploaded… Continue reading US National Climate Assessment Leaked
My 23 June blog on this topic emphasised that despite the decline in the El Niño there was little indication of a La Niña developing (except for the forecast of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography of the University of California, San Diego). In its July update the International Research Institute for Climate and Society of… Continue reading Southern Africa Drought, Dam Levels, Outlook August 2017
As noted in my May blog on this the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Frozen British Pensions ceased to exist when Parliament was dissolved on 3 May. Subsequent to the election it has been re-formed and met for the first time on 18 July. Once again it reflects an all party interest with Sir… Continue reading Expatriate British Pensions Update July 2017
With this being the dry season over most of Southern Africa the only part that warrants attention as far as rain and dam levels is concerned is probably the Western Cape that relies on winter rainfall. My 6 May post showed that all other provinces (plus Lesotho) had dam levels above 50% of capacity but… Continue reading Southern Africa Drought, Dam Levels, Outlook June 2017
Based on a visit in May 2017. Photos by the author except where otherwise indicated. To some the South African Karoo is an area to be passed through as quickly as possible while driving between the Cape and the population centres in Gauteng and the rest of the northern regions, or to be flown over… Continue reading The South African Karoo and its Farming
