We've been in Cape Town two weeks now yet it feels much longer and I guess that means we have settled into the rhythm of summer in the southern hemisphere. I try to walk on the slopes of Table Mountain, in Newlands forest, early each morning while Tim often bikes to work after breakfast.
The students arrived ten days ago and the Stanford program is in full swing. We had a very interesting musical "Welcome Dinner" last Saturday at Solms-Delta wine estate, at the Fyndraai restaurant, enjoying the first of their summer concerts. Solms-Delta's farm band played a set followed by a group called Tribal Echo and the students danced up a storm winning four of the five prizes of Cape Jazz Shiraz, a low alcohol bubbly.
Another musical highlight came this week at the Baxter Theatre, the Kalahari Karoo Blues. The incredible David Kramer brought 5 musicians together, two from the Cape, three from Botswana, for a remarkable evening of cross-cultural music. He interspersed each act with video footage of past performers from his Karoo Kitaar Blues show that Tim & I saw a few years ago. Some well known youtubers were on stage; spoon slide guitarist Hannes Coetzee and upside-down guitarist Ronnie Moipolai. One act I was particularly drawn to was the song written by David Kramer, sung by one of the Sonskyn Susters in his band - Calvinia.
On my walk this morning I was reminded of an exceptional encounter I had with my three Jack Russell terriers on the exact trail I still follow today. I wrote about it then, in 1997, and here is what I had to say:
On
a balmy summer day I was taking a carefree walk along the woodcutter's trail when
suddenly all three dogs tore uphill, barking furiously. I, not quite as
nimble, hurried breathlessly after them and as I drew near noticed their
upturned heads, barking at the trees. “Oh no, not all this fuss for squirrels. How
annoying” I thought and started sorting through their leashes, planning to attach lines of
discipline to their collars. Something made me look up and there in the fork of
a tree, a little bit higher than my head and about 15 metres away, a caracal
(commonly called lynx) stared right back at me. Panic-stricken, I looked down to grab the dogs. If
they were in my arms I would surely be safe. But no, delighted that I now stood
guard over their prey, they were hunting other members of this
fearsome family. I don’t think I have ever experienced such a mixture of
terror, awe and incredulity. I was so close to the path where people walk daily
and there I was, face to face (almost) with this secretive and rarely seen wild
cat. Miraculously the dogs returned to me, allowed me to
quietly attach their leads and walk in docile silence down the hill, back to the car to return to the
clatter of civilization.
Returning abruptly to 2013, I no longer walk with dogs but their feisty little terrier spirits are with me as I wander the same trails.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Plastic, Plastic Everywhere
We've been in Cape Town a week now; initially shocked to be jolted right into mid-summer, especially trying to adjust to a 10 hour time change. But, after not too many nights I can hardly remember the cold and rain of the past few months in California.
Our week in Boca Grande with Tim's parents pushed our clocks ahead three hours which helped. As did the weather. Florida is definitely milder than the San Francisco Bay Area, so we had a good transition to summer. During our layover in London we spent the day with Gareth, Naz and Cameron at the Black Horse Inn near Heathrow for a long lazy lunch - four adults, three dogs and a very busy 20 month old baby.
When we picked up our housekeys from a friend we learned that while we were in the air, on our way to Cape Town, a home three roads away from us was burgled. The couple living there were tied up but once the burglars had made off with their loot, the wife managed to untie herself only to discover her husband was dead. He had no injuries so could have had a heart attack or been suffocated. Chilling news so close to the house we rent.
Cape Town always gets me thinking of the environment. When I first arrived in California thirteen years ago I signed up for an Environmental Education class where I learned about waste, water, soil, agriculture, energy, population, advocacy, and more. One day a week for eighteen weeks I'd return home exhausted at the end of each intense learning day. Some of the classes were field trips to farms and nature reserves. Others were in a classroom listening to speakers who were all experts in their field. I was struck in so many ways by how badly we humans treat the planet.
I have never thought of myself as an activist but ever since that course I have been particularly aware of our addiction to plastic and I'm reminded of that every time I enter a South African supermarket where if something isn't already packaged it will get bagged by a determined staffer before you leave the store. Yes, it is possible to recycle but how many people are conscientious and do this? And isn't this placing the onus on the shopper? Shouldn't supermarkets take responsibility for bad packaging practice? Plastic never disappears. It will break down into smaller pieces but will be on our planet forever.
I always feel I am some sort of freak when I say "No plastic bag" in the store. One of the big supermarkets here doesn't weigh produce at the checkout. Instead an employee stands at a scale in the vegetable section weighing and bagging items, whether is is just one item or many. She then ties a firm knot in the bag and sticks a gluey price tag onto the outside. Do you think that bag gets re-cycled, let alone re-used?
One place where plastic ends up is the Great Pacific Garbage patch. In an area of ocean two times the size of Texas, debris circles endlessly, trapped in the North Pacific Gyre, some of it washed ashore onto remote islands in the Pacfic Ocean.
Some interesting watching & reading:
Two Ted Talks on YouTube - Beth Terry - Living Plastic Free & Charles Moore:Sailing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Wikipedia definition - The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Los Angeles Times - Great Pacific Garbage patch a bigger worry than tsunami
If you are reading this take a look next time you're shopping. Be aware of all the plastic and think about where it will go. I know that the small bit I do will not make a significant difference, but it's my personal choice and I hope it sets an example and encourages others to do be more aware. Especially after examining the photo below, the insides of a juvenile albatross.
Our week in Boca Grande with Tim's parents pushed our clocks ahead three hours which helped. As did the weather. Florida is definitely milder than the San Francisco Bay Area, so we had a good transition to summer. During our layover in London we spent the day with Gareth, Naz and Cameron at the Black Horse Inn near Heathrow for a long lazy lunch - four adults, three dogs and a very busy 20 month old baby.
When we picked up our housekeys from a friend we learned that while we were in the air, on our way to Cape Town, a home three roads away from us was burgled. The couple living there were tied up but once the burglars had made off with their loot, the wife managed to untie herself only to discover her husband was dead. He had no injuries so could have had a heart attack or been suffocated. Chilling news so close to the house we rent.
Cape Town always gets me thinking of the environment. When I first arrived in California thirteen years ago I signed up for an Environmental Education class where I learned about waste, water, soil, agriculture, energy, population, advocacy, and more. One day a week for eighteen weeks I'd return home exhausted at the end of each intense learning day. Some of the classes were field trips to farms and nature reserves. Others were in a classroom listening to speakers who were all experts in their field. I was struck in so many ways by how badly we humans treat the planet.
I have never thought of myself as an activist but ever since that course I have been particularly aware of our addiction to plastic and I'm reminded of that every time I enter a South African supermarket where if something isn't already packaged it will get bagged by a determined staffer before you leave the store. Yes, it is possible to recycle but how many people are conscientious and do this? And isn't this placing the onus on the shopper? Shouldn't supermarkets take responsibility for bad packaging practice? Plastic never disappears. It will break down into smaller pieces but will be on our planet forever.
I always feel I am some sort of freak when I say "No plastic bag" in the store. One of the big supermarkets here doesn't weigh produce at the checkout. Instead an employee stands at a scale in the vegetable section weighing and bagging items, whether is is just one item or many. She then ties a firm knot in the bag and sticks a gluey price tag onto the outside. Do you think that bag gets re-cycled, let alone re-used?
One place where plastic ends up is the Great Pacific Garbage patch. In an area of ocean two times the size of Texas, debris circles endlessly, trapped in the North Pacific Gyre, some of it washed ashore onto remote islands in the Pacfic Ocean.
Some interesting watching & reading:
Two Ted Talks on YouTube - Beth Terry - Living Plastic Free & Charles Moore:Sailing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Wikipedia definition - The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Los Angeles Times - Great Pacific Garbage patch a bigger worry than tsunami
If you are reading this take a look next time you're shopping. Be aware of all the plastic and think about where it will go. I know that the small bit I do will not make a significant difference, but it's my personal choice and I hope it sets an example and encourages others to do be more aware. Especially after examining the photo below, the insides of a juvenile albatross.
 |
| Plastic in the stomach of a dead albatross |
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