EE Friends Quarterly Newsletter
September 2015
A
ugust and September saw us celebrate National
Women’s Day and Heritage Day, as well as numerous
environmental days and weeks, focussing on specific
species, waste, emissions and our atmosphere.
During my time in the environmental field, I have been lucky to
meet and befriend a number of women who work tirelessly and
passionately toward a better future. The contribution
of
women to sustainability and conservation should celebrated. In
this newsletter, many submissions and projects were and are
spearheaded and/or supported by amazing women. May we
all continue to support each others endeavours and applaud
the success stories.
GOALS OF THE EE FRIENDS
To enable networking and communication amongst
environmental educators.
To share ideas, information, programmes and
resource materials.
To provide opportunities to learn and be informed.
To improve coordination of environmental
education activities.
To enable people to participate in decision-making
and advocacy.
To enable members to promote their initiatives.
The Black Mambas - The power of women in conservation
The Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit was established in 2013 by
Transfrontier Africa to protect wildlife in the entire Balule area (400km²).
This unit is unique as it is comprised mainly of women, in what is seen as
a male dominated work environment. The Black Mambas not only
protect our valuable wildlife, but also educate communities on the
Balule boundaries in the hope that through education and with help
from local communities, the war on poaching can be won.
These brave women, many of whom are recruited from local
communities, risk
their lives daily to save wildlife (especially rhino). The Black
Mambas patrol the area disassembling snares and searching
for poachers. They were awarded first prize for Best Rhino
Conservation Practitioner this year as well as the UN's
Champions of the Earth Award for Inspiration and Action.
These women truly are an inspiration and deserve to be
acknowledged for their contribution to South Africa’s wildlife
and the surrounding communities.
James Suter
For more information visit their website.
Julia Gunther
CAPE TOWN PEST ALERT
Have you seen this invasive wasp?
This wasp is currently causing havoc in the northern suburbs of Cape Town and is
starting to spread to the southern suburbs. If you see this wasp, please report it
(via the Spotter Network on the link below) so that they can be controlled.
For more information about the European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) and
German wasp (Vespula germanica) see the attached flyer.
For more information visit the Cape Town Invasives website.
EE Events and Projects Gallery
It’s always lovely to see EE organisations working together, like the South African Education and Environment Project’s (SAEP)
winter holiday camp with 52 grade 8 learners from their Hope Scholars Programme, hosted by CTEET at False Bay Nature
Reserve: Zeekoevlei Section. The learners spent the weekend learning about the environment and the importance of
conserving it. The highlight was when the learners got to not just see a snake, but also touch it, a first for them all.
CTEET’s Conservation Leadership Programme seniors gave
ten indigenous trees to a member of the Village Heights
community who voluntarily helps others. The learners
recognised the privilege of being part of such a programme
and the experiences they had over the last two years. They
decided to take advantage of Stodels’ Arbor Day initiative,
exchanging a bag of newspaper for a free tree. Assisted by
CTEET staff the trees were planted to one day provide
shade and act as a windbreak. (4 September)
CTEET hosted a Portfolio Workshop for their Eco-Schools, at
the Zeekoevlei Environmental Education Centre and Soil for
Life. The workshop aimed to assist educators with structuring
their portfolios and encourage discussions on project
implementation, in a fun atmosphere. The educators
thoroughly enjoyed the composting programme at Soil for
Life, many were inspired to start their own composting
programmes at school. (21-22 August)
Chameleon Books is running a
crowdfunding campaign until the
end of October for a print run of
Rescuing Rhino. The great thing
about crowdfunding is it’s like preordering, you don’t just donate
but actually get the books
(postage included). The system is
set up such that you can pledge
and either keep the books or
donate them to a charity, school
or children in need.
Share your work and
exciting activities with us
Email photos with captions to
EE.Friends@capetown.gov.za
Reaching their tipping point and
doing a local print run is likely the only way they will be able to
get books available for sale in South Africa.
The South African Department of Arts and Culture is even
backing this project, by contributing R200 for each of the first
50 pledges of R100 or more.
Check out the Africa Geographic blog about their books.
They would appreciate if everyone could help and share the
campaign via their own networks. Contact Chameleon Books
with any other questions.
SAEP primary school learners (and the Bridging School
Programme reading coaches) had their first excursion and
were excited to visit Giraffe House, for many it was their
first encounter with such animals. tended. (15 August)
Upcoming Events and Projects
6 - 11 OCTOBER
12 - 16 OCTOBER
MUIZENBERG FESTIVAL
THE WHALE SHOW
Jungle Theatre Company will be offering two free
previews (6 and 8 Oct.) and The Whale Show (10
Oct.). As well as facilitating a Carnival Parade
creative arts workshop (7 Oct.) and performance
(11 Oct.) engaging children
from diverse communities.
With the support of the Department of Arts and
Culture and Whale Coast Conservation, Jungle
Theatre Company will tour The Whale Show to the
Overstrand region for Marine
Week, performing for local
primary schools.
Support their project through
their Thundafund campaign
- rewards to be won!
For more information:
www.jungletheatre.co.za
20 - 23 OCTOBER
24 OCTOBER
NATIONAL WETLANDS INDABA
CAPE LEOPARD TRUST TRAIL RUN
The 20th annual National Wetlands Indaba will be
hosted in the Western Cape, at Goudini Spa. The
theme Wetlands for our Future, will highlight the role
that wetlands play in sustainable development and
management of urban and rural
landscapes and livelihoods.
Join the inaugural run at
Cascade Country Manor.
There are three races (5, 15,
20 km) & amazing prizes.
Tickets & route descriptions
available on Quicket.
For more information:
Funds raised are for the
projects of CLT.
indaba2015.wetlands.za.net
Check These Out
Online climate change education
Climate Kids is produced by NASA’s Earth
Science Communications Team. It is an amazing
resource for teachers and learners, with exciting
projects, films, career information and games.
climatekids.nasa.gov
Join the Cape Town Early Detection Rapid
Response (EDRR) Spotter Network
The Cape Town Invasives website
provides information and updates
on projects and target species. To
assist in managing invasive alien
species, join the Spotter Network
and record your sightings of the
target species. The information
helps target management efforts
for maximum effect.
To find out more and sign up to the Spotter Network,
visit: www.capetowninvasives.org.za
Need funding?
www.thundafund.com
Member Profile: Two Oceans Aquarium EE Centre
T
he Two Oceans Aquarium
Environmental Education
Centre has a team of ten
extremely dedicated, full time
staff who offer unique programmes.
Last financial year the largest
number of school students visited
since opening (over 59 000) and the
outreach programmes visited
15 000 children.
Their programmes and offering can
be further explored by following the
links below. In light of the Women’s
the May programme went on to
develop and implement some
really exciting projects - with one
school collecting over 2000 kg of
recycling, winning R140 000.
Day focus, meet some of the
women who keep the aquarium
afloat.
Some of the education projects:
- The Marine Sciences Academy
- Marine science at the aquarium,
which now includes a new grade 11
Ocean Zoology course which
complements the grade 11 Ocean
Science Course.
- The annual grade 9 SeaFans
learning course encourages
an
interest in science, with the intention
that learners will continue with
maths and science in the FET phase.
- The well known grade 10 Young
Biologist Volunteer programme
For more information:
Tel: +27 (0)21 418 3823
www.aquarium.co.za
education@aquarium.co.za
- Smart Living Courses, run in
association with the City of Cape
Town. The group that took part in
The Lighter Side
Do you know what these SUPERWOMEN are famous for?
Next Meeting:
12 November 2015
Inspiration for Educators
BSG EE Centre
Activities are welcome
5 May 2016
Tourism and Smart Living
Two Oceans Aquarium
Sylvia Earle
Eileen Kampakuta Brown
and Eileen Wani Wingfield
Dian Fossey
Dr Wangari
Maathai
Some answers - their achievements are
many, Google for more!
Sylvia Earle: a marine biologist and explorer that
has won many awards. She was the first female
chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and Time
Magazine’s first Hero for the Planet.
Eileen Kampakuta Brown and Eileen Wani
Wingfield: awarded the Goldman Environmental
Prize for their efforts to stop plans for a nuclear
waste dump in Australia's wild desert and for
protection of their land and culture.
Dian Fossey: author of Gorillas in the Mist,
mountain gorilla researcher and conservationist.
Buried alongside her gorilla friends (many of
whom were killed by poachers), her murder
remains unsolved but is thought to be related to
her anti-poaching work. Her last diary entry
reads “When you realize the value of all life, you
dwell less on what is past and concentrate more
on the preservation of the future.”
Dr Wangari Maathai: first African woman to
receive the Nobel Peace Prize, for her
contribution to sustainable development,
democracy and peace.
EE Friends is an informal network of individuals and organisations involved in Environmental Education in and around Cape Town;
without a constitution, office-bearers or membership fees. For more information please visit www.capetown.gov.za/EEFriends.
If you would like to know more or become a member of EE Friends, please contact:
Mrs Skye McCool
Tel: +27 (0)21 487 2318
E-mail: ee.friends@capetown.gov.za