By Andre Marais – Amandla Magazine*

Jolene Beukes. Credit: Andre Marais/TerraViva

DURBAN, Dec 7 – (TerraViva) Cape Town couple Johannes and Jolene Beukes travelled across the country to Durban at their own expense to attend an assembly of the world’s indigenous peoples at the Peoples’ Space, the alternative conference taking place in conjunction with the U.N. Climate Conference. Continue Reading

Khanyisa Sinqe – Zithethele Community Newspaper*

Women from the Eastern Cape at the Rural Women's Assembly. Credit: Khanyisa Sinqe/TerraViva

The women – including farm workers, farm owners, and farm dwellers from inside South Africa, and as far away as Zimbabwe and Malawi, Kenya and Senegal – were not accredited participants in the air-conditioned venue in the city centre.

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By Andre Marais – Amandla Magazine*

DURBAN, Dec 6 – (TerraViva) A re-working of the Adam and Eve story into a side-splitting farce on the growing environmental crisis and its ramifications is on stage at the U.N. climate conference. This must-see political comedy draws on the traditions of vaudeville and agitprop to unpack many of the urgent issues raised around the negotiations, but with a spunk and humour absent from the ranks of grey suits inside the talks. Continue Reading

By Phumza Sithole – Rainbow News*

DURBAN, Dec 5 – (TerraViva) “Durban is green! I can see it!” exclaimed Nomasikizi Khonza, Mayor of Amathole Municipality in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. Continue Reading

By Joseph Bushby – Winelands Echo*

DURBAN, Dec 5 – (TerraViva) “The atmosphere holds approximately 3.4 quadrillion liters of water in vapour form at any given time,” says Medwyn Jacobs, CEO of N&M Technologies. “We have the patented technology to harvest and condense that vapour into tested, clean, drinkable water.” Continue Reading

By Khanyi Xulu – Genuine Media*

DURBAN, Dec 5 – (TerraViva) Among the many items on display in the exhibition halls of the COP17 is something that has been around for ages and remains as useful as it was when it was first introduced. Continue Reading

By Andre Marais – Amandla Magazine*

DURBAN, Dec 5 – (TerraViva) Durbanite Prevan Chetty is the frontman of a rock outfit called Dismantling The Sky. This quintet combines heavy metal, classical Indian music, grunge, and R&B with an ecological message and an anti-consumerist sensibility.

The band’s distinctive sound is partly due to their use of instruments rescued from the scrap heap, such as reconditioned guitars as well as instruments built from scratch using materials like tins and plastic. Chetty dubs it “recycled metal”, suggesting the band’s fresh new take on heavy metal classics by groups such as Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin – which he credits as major influences. Continue Reading

By Andre Marais – Amandla Magazine,
Henrietta Mongalo – Ngulunews Community Paper,
and Happy Pretty Ntsanwisi – Nthavela Newspaper

photos by Khanyisa Sinqe – Zithethele Community Newspaper*

DURBAN, Dec 4 – (TerraViva) “Unite against climate change” was the order of the day on Dec. 3, when Greenpeace successfully coordinated a march through the streets of Durban. Several thousand people took part, including both South African activists and campaigners from around the world who have come to Durban to make their voices heard on the issue of responding to global warming. Continue Reading

By Ramatamo wa Matamong – Alex Pioneer*



DURBAN, Dec 4 – (TerraViva) The 900 yellow bicycles at the U.N. climate conference in Durban, South Africa, may not be getting heavily used now – but that will change when they reach their permanent homes sometime in the new year.
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Noluthando Banda. Credit: Happy Ntsanwisi/TerraViva

by Happy Pretty Ntsanwisi – Nthavela Newspaper*

DURBAN, Dec 3 – (TerraViva) Noluthando Banda comes from Newcastle, not far from where the U.N. climate conference is taking place in Durban, South Africa. She is attending the conference hoping to learn how to reduce the threat global warming poses to her community. Continue Reading