 |
Drink Sustainably
Posted : 20 Febraury 2012 by Eitan Stern
I’ve only recently become a wine drinker. While I always drank wine, I guess I never really got the appeal. However, over the past few years I have started to take more of an interest in wine; the taste, the colour and the surroundings.
Then, last week, on my visit to Waterkloof Wine Estate just outside of Stellenbosch; my Oenoloy career overcame another hurdle. As I drove through the booms at Waterkloof onto their dirt road, the wonder of the surroundings is impossible to ignore: Vast lush fields of green vines lie beside browning, empty fields given a year’s break from harvest. The long road snakes up a steep hill over bends and through small valleys towards what one can just make out as a building at the top.
Not only are the hundreds of hectors of Waterkloof beautiful, but they are biodynamic as well. Biodynamic farming is a method of organic farming which prioritises the relationship between plants, animals, insects, soils and other natural elements. So instead of arriving at a piece of land, clearing it and beginning to farm; biodynamic farming works within the natural surroundings, sustainably growing crops year after year after year.
Biodiversity in Wines Initiative (BWI) is a certification body under the wing of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). It aim is to increase the biodiversity of wine farms in South Africa. Waterkloof, much like many other wines in the Stellenbosch region, is a BWI Champion. And the BWI certification is becoming a major factor in many wine drinkers’ choice of wine.
As an armature wine drinker, the intricacies of the taste often go unnoticed, and the luxurious restaurant, aesthetically stunning views and first class service are always impressive. So it can be difficult to choose one wine from another. So I largely guide my selection by what makes sense to me: what is the most sustainably grown wine.
View the eLabel for Waterkloof Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Wine
View the eLabel for Circle of Life Red 2009 Wine |
 |
 |
|
Elabelling tool could help to democratise the food system
Electronic environmental labelling or "elabelling" is the practice of liberating information about consumer products from the manufacturers and retailers, and, for the sake of transparency, putting it in the public domain; no need to rely solely on the label fixed to the product : just aim your smart phone at the barcode (usually at the back of the product) and tap into a network of experts (environmentalists, nutritional therapists) as well as other consumers who might have important information that retailers/suppliers may "forget" or neglect to include. Elabelling for consumers (albeit only really concerned ones, at this stage) will give them the power to choose – genuinely choose – between products on their shelves. |
Image of sustainable decentralised city :
Chernobyl liquidators after explosion :
Full document in PDF format here |
Which legacy will you leave?
We, as patriotic and committed South Africans, claim our right to take our lead and mandate from the ANC's Polokwane Resolutions at the 52nd Congress, and call upon all leaders to engage with us on the matters raised below. We are of the opinion that the current IRP2 electricity plans do NOT follow the resolution below, namely: "To further integrate climate change considerations with sustainable development strategies, the science and technology agenda, integrated energy planning, transport policy and industrial policy. In this context to maximize the integration of a full cost accounted economy in which product life cycle of products is
internalized and the goal of zero waste production is pursued. "
Members of Parliament are presently being asked how we as a nation should address electricity supply challenges through the Integrated Resource Plan 2010 (IRP 2010), a 25 year electricity plan.
The fundamental flaw with IRP2010 is that it has been drafted by those with vested corporate and economic interests, and the decision making panel does not
include representation by Civil Society and Labour. The decisions being made now regarding our energy future will have major consequences, for current and future
generations of South Africans. These decisions must have a firm moral footing, be bound by social and environmental justice and be unafraid to confront the scrutiny of future generations.
This briefing has been produced to give you, as an important decision maker, a deeper understanding of what a possible nuclear future holds for our country. As parliamentarians you need to consciously decide if you wish to assist in the development of a Nuclear State or if you wish to direct this country onto a more sustainable path. (FULL DOCUMENT IN PDF) |
IRP2010 Questionnaire Template
IRP2010 Questionnaire Template Project 90 by 2030 BM RF MISEREOR
|
To the left you will find a copy of the Project 90 by 2030 submission to the IRP2 process.
Unfortunately the department of energy will only fully analyse submissions in their prescribed format, so we suggest three options below. Fastest (only if you don’t have any time to spare): send an endorsement of Project 90 by 2030’s submission to IRP2 (but do include your organisation’s full particulars so it is registered properly as a separate submission) on your organisation’s letterhead to: IRP2010@mweb.co.za. Please cc: campaigns@90x2030.org.za.
10 mins of your time: read through the summary of main points from our submission that may relate to your work (at the bottom of this mail), insert your organisation's particulars at the top of the attached Project90 submission or on your organisation's letterhead, and submit as it is. Even if the submission looks the same, all the points will have to be counted twice and will have more weight.
10 minutes more: cut out anything you don’t want to include, keep only what you support fully and insert your organisation’s details at the top and submit (a blank form is also attached if you wish to make your own submission).
Whatever you decide, PLEASE make a submission by December 10th – this process could have serious implications for money spent on energy in the long term – South Africa cannot afford to spend vast amounts of money on bad energy choices!
Thank you,
Candice Pelser
for Project 90 by 2030
Pic Source : Activist
|
