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Reflections on the Tsunami
If we are to learn anything from the Asian tsunami, it is how fragile our self-confidence and existence is. Even in this era of progress, great science and advanced devices of prediction we cannot quell or tame the hidden powers of Mother Nature.
This year began with tragic news: with a mass of floating bodies and debris as destruction was wrought across many nations. Peoples at war, and countries who have lived in hostility with each other have had to come to terms with a common fate that has been foistered upon them unwillingly, where nature is impervious to class, race, age, national pride, sectarianism or the vagaries of political power. Full Story
IUCN's Response to the Tsunami Disaster: Mobilising a Task Team
IUCN- The World Conservation Union joins the world in mourning the loss of life that occurred as a result of the devastating tidal waves that hit eleven countries across Asia and Africa on Sunday 26 December 2004. As we watched the news unfold, it was difficult to comprehend the sheer magnitude of this tragedy. The death toll climbed drastically day by day and now sits at just over 280 000 known deaths, yet still many more thousands are unaccounted for, their chances of survival are beyond improbable. But not only did this disaster cause the death and injury of so many thousands of people it also destroyed their livelihoods and their natural environments. Many of the people affected have lived all their lives in abject poverty and the hurdles they face after the initial shock recedes are going to be considerable. It is therefore up to other countries, governments and organisations to step
in and do all they can in helping the people and the governments in the affected regions to rebuild their lives, their livelihoods and their natural environments.Full Story
"Linking
the Jewels below the ground to the Jewels above the ground" (R.
Cowling*)
The South African Mining and Biodiversity forum.
The New Year started off with a major event for IUCN-SA. The first workshop of the biodiversity and mining forum of South Africa was held at the National Biodiversity Institute in Pretoria on the 19th and 20th of January. This dialogue is a follow on of the international dialogue currently occurring between these two sectors.
The South African Chamber of Mines and the IUCN-SA office have been in communication since the World Parks Congress over the idea of creating a biodiversity and mining forum for South Africa. The coordinating committee consists of expertise from both the mining and the conservation sectors. This committee is tasked with assessing whether such a forum is required in South Africa and if so, to create a programme of engagement and dialogue for the next few years. Full Story
Mourning the loss of a colleague
It is with deep regret that we inform you all of the untimely passing of Dr Jerry Ndamba early Thursday morning the 27th of January. Dr. Ndamba, a holder of a PhD from the Royal Danish School of Pharmacy, Copenhagen (Denmark), joined the Institute of Water and Sanitation Development, from the then Blair Research Institute in 1996 as the Research Manager of a project called the Capacity Building for Integrated Water Resources Management in Southern Africa. A joint project of the University of Zimbabwe's Department of Civil Engineering, the Insitute of Water and Sanitation Development and the IHE- Delft. It was through the efforts of Jerry and Pieter van de Zaag as managers of this project and many friends that WaterNet and WARFSA were born. In 2004 recognising his many ciontributions to the Institute, he was promoted to the post of Deputy Director (Research and Special Projects). Dr Ndamba worked closely with IUCN-SA and ROSA on our Water Demand Management Project, ensuring its success. We join the Institute in mourning Dr Ndamba's passing.
Job Possibility
Position for Assistant to the Chair of the Species Survival Commission. For details click here.
Contact
Details
South African Country Office
Tel: +27 0 12 342 8304/5/6/9
Fax: +27 0 12 342 8289
Email: iucnsa@iucn.org
Website: www.iucnsa.org.za
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