Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 3 October 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# More than 215 people, including 35 children, have been killed and dozens are missing, after heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides across Nepal. Many of the deaths occurred in the heavily populated capital of Kathmandu. Unicef’s Florine Bos says access to essential resources, such as fresh water, will be a challenge in the coming days. She adds that once the floodwaters have receded, there is the threat of water and vector-borne diseases such as dengue:

# The University of Cape Town’s Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research has devised a one-of-a-kind project that breaks down waste. The Waste-Energy-Food-Water Nexus project can be used as an energy source for cooking, or to produce fit-for-purpose water that can later be used to irrigate on-campus vegetable gardens. The project forms part of UCT’s sustainable campus initiative. The university says the project will bolster sustainable practices on campus, and ensure everyone remains eco-conscious.

# And students of the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Architecture and Planning are transforming waste into art. They have built a temporary structure called Alex Shed in collaboration with Alexandra Water Warriors, and local artists from Stjwetla in Alexandra. The shed, built from reclaimed materials including over 300 tins and plastic bottles from the Jukskei River, draws attention to the ongoing pollution along the river. Project coordinator, Paulo Moreira, says the Alex Shed is a reminder that creative, community-driven projects can spark conversations about environmental sustainability and social justice.

Stay tuned for more news………….