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/ 28 October 2003

Pythons put squeeze on rampant Java rats

Fed up with traditional methods that have failed to contain a plague of rats wreaking havoc in local rice fields, an Indonesian city is to take on the pests with the most dangerous predator of all: mother nature. Three hundred two-metre pythons and five pairs of owls will be released into fields in Sleman regency, central Java, next week.

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/ 28 October 2003

Pride of the African bush

Sabi Sabi. It’s a name that has become synonymous with the ultimate in private game lodges. But in reality Sabi Sabi is much more than a luxury leisure destination. Since its establishment in 1980 Sabi Sabi has led the field in forward-thinking conservation programmes, protecting and enhancing the environment and communities in which it operates.

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/ 28 October 2003

Flying the credibility flag

Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) works with a variety of mainstream, emerging and community-based tourism enterprises that provide services directly to tourists. In order to receive the Fair Trade in Tourism Trademark, businesses must be able to show they are committed to fair and responsible practices.

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/ 28 October 2003

A jewel in Venda’s cultural crown

Venda is one of South Africa’s most impoverished regions. Luxury lodges in the bushveld representing the best of Limpopo’s blooming industry appear as unapproachable monuments to the shack-dwelling communities that surround them. But Shiluvari Lodge is helping a nearby community, Elim, to develop skills and encouraging visitors to support the villagers by buying their unique crafts.

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/ 28 October 2003

South Africa’s saving grace

Tourism has been touted as a crucial means to empower poor communities. But sadly most disadvantaged communities trying to make a living out of the industry still do not receive their fair share of tourism revenue. Jennifer Seif is an American with a big South African heart who is out to promote fair trade in tourism.

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/ 28 October 2003

Adrenaline empowers communities

Stormsriver Adventures has become one of the largest new job creators in the eco-adventure industry in South Africa. The company only employs locals — all of whome live within a 25km radius of the business. The company also only buys goods from local businesses and has started up a catering project designed to empower women in the region.

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/ 28 October 2003

Where hope springs eternal

Spier Estate, on the banks of the Eerste river in the heart of the Cape winelands, is a place punctuated with mystery and the sparkle of the unexpected. This eco-friendly estate in the heart of the Cape winelands has developed an ethos that will ensure the future of its community, writes Sharon van Wyk.

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/ 28 October 2003

Fair trade city in the making

In March Croydon became the first London borough to gain fair trade status, paving the way for the rest of London. To gain fair trade status, Croydon had to reach a number of set goals, including increasing the availability of fair trade products in shops and cafés and forming a steering group.

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/ 28 October 2003

A totally different experience

Natanya Dreyer not only persuades volunteers to work on needy environmental projects, but gets many of them to pay for doing so. Bio-Experience is innovative in that it captures the country’s rising tourism status and combines it with a desire among adventure travellers for a wilderness experience that involves more than watching animals from the back of a game vehicle.

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/ 28 October 2003

Keeping score for growth

The Financial Sector Charter is a start — and it is a positive start. Not only will adherence to the charter transform the huge institutions within the sector, but its implementation will also boost the outlook for sustainable and higher economic growth. The charter has been well received.