A new energy drink hits South African shelves, certified 100% Organic

Say hello to the world's first 100% organic, vegetarian and FairTrade approved energy drink! Racing driver Toby Scheckter delivers a product that is great-tasting, gives energy galore plus is good for you and the earth too.

Unlike most commercial energy drinks, Scheckter’s OrganicEnergy possesses no added preservatives, artificial additives or colours. The super-food ingredients sourced from all round the world make up the energetic properties of this beverage and the fruity taste is uniquely refreshing.

The perfect opportunity to purchase cutting-edge literature

First Book Fair
This Guy Fawkes marked the first anarchist book fair in Africa, a trend that has taken off all around the world. These events are a great opportunity for existing anarchists to come together and the common public to learn more about anarchism.

Located at Observatory’s quirky café Ganesh, the anarchist book fair on the 5th November had a revolutionary atmosphere, and you could almost feel the genius as it bred in small groups, big ideas swished around by foreigners and locals alike.

‘There were more anarchists at the book fair than we expected,’ says Stef, one of the fair's organisers. ‘I realise now how many are actually living in Cape Town. We sold loads of books and distributed tons of pamplets.’

On the steps of Thibalt Square podium

The Occupy movement started in Cape Town some Saturdays ago. A small group of locals hoping to reinact what has been going down all around the world for the last few months - Occupy Wall Street being the most well-known – decided to hold peaceful discussions on the lawn of Gardens outside Parliament. The intention was to plan what was to be done as well as how to spread what they felt to be an important message.

The Green Faire in Hout Bay last Saturday

A refreshing perspective on the local green-scene, the Hout Bay Green Faire is the perfect opportunity to network with like-minded people as well as support businesses that have their ethical heads on straight.

For people like me, who relish the idea of a zero-waste, creatively-inspired society living close to and in harmony with nature, this was a piece of paradise. Overwhelming even, to have so much of what you normally have to hunt for in the same place for one day. Almost makes those high ideals feel within reach.

As to be expected, Green Peace were busy sharing their message and the Talent Exchange guys could be spotted too. A cluster of trees standing near the centre represented the presence of Food and Trees For Africa, and many seedlings were on sale at

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.’

The Hemp House in all it's sunset-lit glory

After we had attended Tony Budden's talk a couple of Tuesday's back at , we had been super amped to check out his new home in Noordhoek.

Speaking about his own experience with hemp, Tony says:

‘I fell in love with hemp when I saw my first bit of cannabis fabric. It is so strong and durable...Then we started Hemporium . The work we do helps change the perception of hemp- we chose to make clothes because they are such a tangible product. Hemporium has been a good

Bikes from one of BEN's BIC's (bicycle empowerment centres)

Bike to work this Transport Month and be part of the solution.

With most of the worlds population now living in cities, it is no news to say that traffic congestion has become a huge urban problem, as is the pollution and accidents caused by motor vehicles. With the added fear of climate change and peak oil, there has arisen an urgent need for a social shift towards more sustainable mobility use.

The City of Cape Town recognises October as "Transport Month" and last week hosted a couple of events focussing on Public Transport Interchanges (PTI).

A PTI is a facility where commuters can

Conscious Babe believes youth deserve more of a chance at self-responsibility where the environment is concerned.

A punter rocks a can-top backpack

Seems that Rocking The Daisies are really putting their money where their mouth is regarding green, setting them apart from your average South African rock festival. Reminiscent of the UK festivals I have attended, I saw numerous green initiatives at the festival this last weekend.

Mathias and girlfriend Zola from MLT drives were giving away solar-popped corn next to the dam, you could charge your phone using the wind generator and some of the stalls were powered by solar power (both provided by Earth Power), a team of 15 were sorting much of the recycling on site, the rest of which was sent to the local Malmesbury recycling centre, all the food stalls used

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

Conscious Babe talks about the clothes swap she hosted last weekend…

Emma tries on as Mira forages
The idea of a clothes swap – an event where unwanted clothes are swapped for new ones – has been spreading amongst women of the western world during the last few years.
Who knew what sparked off this trend: be it the recession, the spreading of environmentalism, or a silent revolution against the infectious ‘consumerism’ monster, but the implications are countless, from the conscientious shopper aspect to the lightbulb notion of no-money events.

Not only is a clothes swap a great way to interact with other fashionistas in your community, but it also provides women with a very practical opportunity to purge unwanted clothes items, as well as gain new additions to their wardrobe.

It is a generally known cliché that