Imagine there was a place you could go to learn about Climate Change in a fun, interactive way?

The International Polar Foundation is bringing these kind of science centres to the world and South Africa gets to accommodate the first one!!

A small taste of what is to be

(image by Grant Mcpherson)

For young and old, businesses and families, this science society interface will function to provide all the information and knowledge to empower a more ecologically responsible future.

With the recent discoveries on humankind’s specific

The UPliftment programme is a local organisation committed to uplifting and supporting society by sharing the healing power of joy.

A child benefits from play

Through their work, encourages people’s natural inclination towards kindness and love. Their aim is to inspire the growth of laughter, smiles and play in the world.

‘Bliss is the gift you receive when you share joy with another,’ believes Nicola Jackman, founder and chairlady (AKA ‘cheer lady’) of The UP. Self-proclaimed ‘joy activist’ this lovely lady is all about bringing back the smile, in a big way.

‘I like to greet people as I pass them, as nothing beats the feeling of seeing someone eyes light up,’ says Nicola.

For years The UP have been

A wonderful mosaic stands at the door

In the quiet Cape Town suburb of Plumstead a listed national monument building houses a vegan/vegetarian friendly restaurant that specialises in fresh and fantastic lunch buffets.

Michelle Carelse, the owner of Organic at Heart, took us for a walk around the kitchen garden - a space that was car park only 8 months back, now a thriving veg patch - where we discuss companion planting, worm-composting and the joys of eating as fresh as the last pick.

‘I like the idea of sustainable living,’ says Michelle. ‘This garden inspires people to start their own vegetable gardens. It’s not difficult to start growing your own herbs and salads – if everybody could just grow a little bit we could be well on our way to becoming a more self-sufficient society.’

Hout Bay Green Faire - Sat 29 Oct 10am

One of our favourite events on the green calendar. The Hout Bay Green Faire 2011 has something for everyone. You'll be able to find information and products for greening your lifestyle and lowering your ecological footprint, gifts and entertainment for the kids and yummy local and organic food, plus a whole lot more. An authentic green exhibition in the open air! (remember sunscreen, depending on weather).

There is a REALLY COOL line up of talks on the day, view the Hout Bay Green Faire Programme here.

Some highlights include:
Sue Visser showing you how to make and use probiotics for garden and human health.

Andy Le May on sustainability as the new norm the "realisation that what each of us does is essential in forging the world we want our kids to live in.”

Anthea Torr providing insight into living in peace and harmony to heal ourselves and the planet.

Rod Tritton uncovering some mind-expanding mysteries in his new book Exploring Mystery, Changing History, Taking Responsibility

Tony Budden on the process

pic: a child's work of art as featured in the calendar

Harvest of Hope (HoH) is currently producing a calendar for our annual art competition. Children from several schools have painted pictures for Abalimi and we have selected 12 winners to be presented in our calendar. The calendars will be spiral bound and produced to a high standard and would be a perfect gift for any loved one for Christmas.

Being an NGO we work to a tight budget and therefore would like to receive orders from our loyal supporters before we print the calendars.
The picture above is one of the twelve included in the calendar all with a gardening/vegetable theme.

If you would like to support Abalimi please purchase one of our beautiful calendars for R 100 by making a deposit into our bank account.

A pregnant Tatum Roche‘I can have my baby at home?'

In North American and ancient San Bushmen tradition, women would give birth squatting, sometimes held up by a lover or a friend.

‘I think there is something in the human body that wants to give birth naturally,’ Marianne Littlejohn, a local practising midwife with 25-years experience behind her, explains.

‘Most people are just surprised to hear it’s an option,’ Ruth Ehrhardt, co-ordinator of Cape Town’s Home Birth Gathering groups, explains. ‘They ask questions like ‘I can have my baby at home? Am I allowed to?’ The answer is yes and yes.’

Ruth is also a practising Doula- a birth supporter - and currently studying to be a Midwife, who is a person trained in assisting prospective mothers with pregnancy and birth. She believes it to be important mothers have their baby where they feel most comfortable and safest.

Expecting and planning for home birth

Tatum Roche, 30 years old and 6 months pregnant with her first baby, hopes to be able to give birth at home in a birth pool, and in as natural way as possible.

‘The reaction I get from most people when I tell them I plan to have this baby naturally and at home is ‘What would you want to do that for? Are you crazy?’’ she says. ‘It would be nice if

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

I’d like to say that the most ill considered thing about disposable nappies is the name. They last for centuries. All the disposable nappies ever "disposed of" are still around...

But even less logical, is the idea that "disposable" nappies are convenient.

The CON in CONVENIENCE
Ask a mother why she uses "disposable" nappies rather than cloth nappies. The short answer is "Its convenient". I wonder if she knows this is short for "I find it convenient to transfer current inconvenience for me into future inconvenience for my baby". I wonder if she’s thought it all through thoroughly. I wonder if she’s done her "convenience sums" correctly.

Babies in "disposable" nappies take six to twelve months longer to potty train, than babies in cloth nappies. Convenient?

Cloth nappies never run out. "Disposable" nappies are always on your shopping list. Convenient?

Respect the Earth

Youth Day, commemorating the Soweto Uprisings in 1976, reminds South Africans of the pivotal role played by the youth in overcoming Apartheid. The day reminds us that all voices, particularly those of youths, need to be heard in order to solve issues facing society. The day reminds us that the voice of the youth is indeed powerful. Perhaps, just as the youth were pivotal in overcoming the struggles of apartheid, they too will be pivotal in finding a solution to the issues facing society today. The youth can add a unique and valuable perspectives to environmental challenges and the manner in which we live on the earth.

For Alex Lanferna, a Masters student at Rhodes University, Chairman of the the South East African Climate Consortium Student Forum (SEACC SF) and founding member of the Bluebuck Network (see below) "the strange thing about these modern times is that the youth are being

A new study reported in The Lancet last month found that with a restricted diet alone, many children experienced a significant reduction in symptoms.

I recently found myself on the couch. In an educational psychologist's office. I won't bore you with the details of how I found myself in such a position, but suffice to say the debate turned to ADHD or ADD and medication very quickly.