eco kids film initiativeA great idea whose time has come: environmental films for kids!

The Eco Kids Film Initiative Environmental Film Festival for Kids will be taking place from 3 to 7 October from 10am to 12pm at the Labia on Orange cinema in Cape Town.

Through films that are entertaining, educational, and above all inspirational it is EKFI’s goal to inspire real change through the children of today and generations to come by promoting a proactive strategy to environmental awareness through film as medium.

Each of the films has been selected for their strong environmental theme by a panel consisting of parents, childhood experts, environmental educators and conservationists. We have taken great care to ensure that the films that have made the final selection speak positively to children of diverse ages, backgrounds and cultures and are made for children rather than about children.

Format: Two parallel screening sessions of a selection of short films, taking place daily from

Incoming from Uncle Al:

"24 Hours of Reality taught many important lessons. One of them is this: If you care about the climate crisis, you're not alone.

The live broadcast had over 8.6 million views - and that doesn't count people who watched in large groups, who watched on broadcast television or who tuned in to our video library after the event. But it's still not enough. The 23 people who gave presentations with me in September are more than just activists. They are Climate Presenters I personally trained to talk about the climate crisis in their communities. And there are more than just 23. There are over 3,000.

Bring this presentation to your hometown: Invite a Climate Presenter to deliver a free presentation in your community.

Between October 1 and November 28, the kickoff date for COP 17 - a United Nations conference on climate change - we want to give as many Climate Reality presentations in as many locations around the world as possible. We will create a

Green Day launched to take environmental awareness more mainstream

Food & Trees for Africa (FTFA) and Global Carbon Exchange (GCX) have proclaimed tomorrow, 30 September 2011 'Green Day' - a day to make environmental awareness issues more mainstream.

According to FTFA founder, Jeunesse Park, ‘From an environmental point of view, we find that we are often preaching to the converted. Environmental issues need to enter the public domain so more people become aware of the role they can play in ensuring a sustainable future.’ Green Day aims to raise consciousness of green issues such as climate change, water, waste and energy management, natural resource depletion and sustainability in general.

It was a cold and cloudy Sunday on which environmental activists got their groove on in Hatfield, Pretoria to shake up the people and move for the planet. What follows is an account by Kyla v de Westhuizen, who is part of the Project 90x2030 youth forum, Generation Earth member and Grade 12 learner at Holy Rosary School.

We started our rally outside the Hatfield Spur, where some bystanders and passers-by were unimpressed by our presence. We were called “hippies", and asked if we really thought we could make a difference. Many bystanders were curious, however, as to what was going on and we attracted many people off the side of the street.

The Masses Gather...The 350.org Moving Planet Parade in Cape Town on Saturday was fantastic. Noah and I helped out at the Project 90x2030 offices the weekend prior to the march so knew we weren't going to be the only ones showing up. But you're still nervous. What if only twenty of you pitch and you look a right banana? So it was cool to arrive at the Cape Town station forecourt and see a massive bunch of people there. Actually it was more like a throng than a bunch! Getting there was an interesting affair as we were travelling by wheelbarrow...

Join us for Moving Planet this Heritage Day 24 SeptOn Heritage Day Saturday 24 Sept 2011 join the movement and move the planet! Embrace your inner activst and stand up for the planet! Join hundreds of thousands of us around the world as part of 350.org's moving planet where ordinary citizens band together and DO SOMETHING about climate change. Let's send a clear signal to our leaders and the general public that climate change needs to be tackled urgently.

We've made a list of the main events happening around South Africa tomorrow (incl. Grahamstown and Howick!). See you there!

Cape Town Moving Planet Events

Tread lightly parade through the central city

WHERE: Cape Town station forecourt
WHEN: 10:30 am
WHAT: Join the low carbon Moving Planet Parade on heritage day! Take the train, bus, car-pool or cycle (Metrorail will permit bikes onboard for the day) and join the 'Tread lightly' parade through the central city.

Bring your bike, pram, wheelchair, skateboard or any other form of low carbon transport. Think about

“Have you seen a firefly lately?” asked City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Infrastructure and the Environment, Clr Roslynn Greef, as one of her opening statements for the environmental themed week of the City of Johannesburg’s Growth and Development Strategy 2040 planning and consultation leg. It was an interesting way to introduce the week and draw attention to issues of environmental quality. Fireflies, as beautiful and magical as they are, are also an indicator of air quality.

Through a series of themed weeks the Joburg City Council is re-examining its policies and getting feedback from citizens and key stakeholders, on all matters from resource sustainability to the environment, to what makes a city liveable. This week (19th-23rd) is environment week, and the following is economic week – we encourage all Joburg Sprouts to make their voices heard. Be a part of the process by exploring the sites, attending the events that you have interest in, and adding

pic: GreenpopWe're planting 1000 trees on Saturday 24th September for Day of 1000 Trees and we need a few more planting team leaders and assistants - can you help?

If you've planted with us before, are free next Saturday from 7am (sharp) and feel like being part of this epic Heritage Day celebration, please email lauren [at] greenpop.org for all the details. We will be having a meeting for all leaders/assistants on Wednesday 21 Sept at 6pm at the Greenpop office so would be great if you're available for this too.

1000 trees – 1 day – 1 under-greened community

What better way to celebrate Heritage Day and Arbour Month!

Day of 1000 Trees is a Greenpop initiative that will see community members and school learners of Manenberg near Cape Town as well as volunteers coming together to plant 1000 trees in 1 day to celebrate our country’s natural heritage on Heritage day.

With September being Arbour Month, Day of 1000 Trees has already started spurring excitement among the community of Manenberg which will be the beneficiary of

Earthlife protest 2009: pic by Real Deal

Earthlife Africa Jhb will march on Eskom and BHP Billiton in Johannesburg on Friday 16 September 2011 to protest these companies' continued disregard of the environment and the nation. Of particular concern is Eskom's official status at the UNFCCC as a member of the South African negotiating team.

The march will start at 10am at Westgate Metro Station, stop off at BHP Billiton (10:15 to 10:30am, cnr. Hollard and Marshall) and end at Eskom's office (204 Smit Street, Braamfontein).

Along with Sasol, Eskom is on South Africa's official negotiating team in terms of climate change. Eskom, in other words, will represent South Africa at the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP17) at Durban in December. COP17 is supposed to determine how to reduce global emissions, and the South African government is sending its biggest emitter of greenhouse gases to negotiate emissions cuts. This is a

Climate Reality DurbanThe Climate Reality Project's 24 hour event begins this Wednesday 14 September to "mobilise the world to confront the reality of the climate crisis". The event will span 24 time zones and will be broadcast live over the internet by Ustream, viewed at www.climaterealityproject.org

The event kicks off in Mexico City at 7pm Central Time on Wed 14 (it will be 2am Thurs 15 Sep in South Africa) and will move westwards around the globe ending with a presentation in New York City by former Vice President of the US, Al Gore at 7pm Eastern Time September 15 (1 am Fri 16 in SA).

So most of us will be sound asleep when the event kicks off and again as it closes, but we'll be able to catch all the action in between from the time we wake up on Thursday morning.

Those in Durban will be able to attend the Climate Reality presentation at the Durban Botanical Gardens, and those in Joburg will be able to watch the presentation at the Joburg Green Drinks held at the FTFA Khaya (more details below).