New Homes for African Penguins

The African penguin, also called the jackass because of its bray, is the only one to inhabit the African continent. It has shorter feathers than the Antarctic birds and is just 50 centimeters (20 inches) high. 

Numbers curious creatures have plummeted from around 3 million in the 1930s to just 120,000 because of overfishing and pollution. Some experts fear that the species will become extinct in as little as 11 years. 

Recently 200 specially designed nesting boxes big enough to house a happy family and protect the eggs and fledgling chicks from predators, and above all, from the sweltering African sun.   

Video by Eva Gilliam for AP (click on link below)

Park rangers build homes for penguins facing extinction

Organic Gardening in Cape Town's Townships

Harvest of Hope is a project of NGO Abalimi Bezekhaya, meaning “Farmers of Home” in Xhosa.  Abalimi is an urban agriculture and environmental action association operating in the poor townships of Philippi, Khayelitsha, Nyanga and surrounding areas on the Cape Flats near Cape Town, South Africa. Working with over 2000 individual member gardeners, Abalimi promotes self-sustainability and small, organic gardening practices.

Zimbabwean Playwright Jonathan Nkala Tells His Story

The World (radio): Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans illegally cross the border into South Africa searching for a better future. But they don't always find one. Many wind up homeless and jobless. Jonathan Nkala has written a play about his experience.

(radio) http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/23804

Proteas - Nature & Industry in SA

The Cape floral kingdom at the tip of South Africa contains the highest known concentration of plant species in the world. Table Mountain itself, in the center of Cape Town, has over 2200 plant species, more that the entire United Kingdom. The region was given international recognition as South Africa's sixth UN World Heritage site in June last year.

The protea is one of the dominant species in this kingdom, and nearly 400 of the world’s 1200 protea species are found here. According to the South African Protea Producers and Exporters (SAPPEX), the protea is a 40 million USD a year industry, with approximately 2000 hectares of land dedicated to protea farming.

OON...

Birding in Limpopo, South Africa

Limpopo Province in the north of South Africa is an ideal destination for bird watching at all levels. Of the 950 species of birds in South Africa, the Greater Limpopo Area boasts over 600, of which 420 are resident. BirdLife South Africa is working with local residents of the area towards conservation of the diverse habitats through the development of bird routes and professional bird guides. This work aims to promote Limpopo as the Bird Paradise it is, and through conservation, support the local economy. With voiceover. Provided to AP Horizons.

Cholera on the South Africa-Zimbabwe Border

Cholera is spreading in Zimbabwe due to a breakdown in infrastructure - no water, to medical care. The U.N. humanitarian affairs office said 12,546 people (with over 600 deaths) were thought to be infected with the disease, which under normal circumstances is preventable and treatable. The capital Harare is the worst affected.

On the border of South Africa and Zimbabwe, cholera has hit over 400 people, mostly refugees fleeing hunger in Zimbabwe, hoping to find a little something - food, money - in South Africa to bring back home to their families.

(video) http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=94893&videoChannel=1

Footage: Eva Gilliam

Mozambicans return home after Xenophobic attacks in South Africa - 2008

May 2008 saw violent xenophobic attacks in South Africa that had over 20,000 Mozambicans return home.

Mozambicans return home after xenophobic attacks in SA



(Radio) http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/18411