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/ 20 February 2008
A group of Nobel laureates called on Wednesday for an arms embargo against Burma, dismissing elections planned for 2010 as flawed if pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi is barred from standing. Seven laureates, including Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu, said the junta should face sanctions for its crackdown on Buddhist monks.
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/ 20 February 2008
South Africa is sitting on gold, platinum and other minerals that are selling at record prices on world markets, yet its economy is, quite literally, underpowered. The rand, the worst performing currency this year, has lost 12% against the dollar in the past month since the country was hit with electricity shortages that kept mines from working.
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/ 20 February 2008
Hazardous chemicals are detrimental to the environment. In China last week sulphuric acid leaked into the water supply from a chemical factory, poisoning at least 26 villagers, illustrating just how dangerous chemicals can be. China has a bad track record. It has some of the most chemically polluted cities in the world, following decades of massive industrial and economic growth.
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/ 20 February 2008
A report released by environmental group WWF at the end of last year showed that luxury brands still have a long way to go to improve their green record. The 52-page report, Deeper Luxury, said consumers of luxury goods are waking up to the fact that their favourite brands do not have the best green record and are pushing them to become more environmentally friendly.
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/ 20 February 2008
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has delivered what he terms a "can do" budget that aims to put the doomsayers and naysayers at rest by boosting infrastructure and people. Manuel noted that this was important or else the doomsayers and naysayers would simply "take control".
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/ 20 February 2008
Small deeds, despite the sceptics, can make a difference. In Soweto, a community clean-up campaign is helping to restore wetlands that have suffered from decades of pollution. Members of organisations such as the Mayibuye Wetlands Programme are spending hours cleaning up the Klip River, which has been described as one of the most polluted rivers in Gauteng.
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/ 20 February 2008
I kickstarted 2008 with what I believed was a noble resolution: to pay a fair price for everyday luxuries such as chocolate and coffee. These two products often have a high toll on the environment, as virgin forests are cleared away to make way for new coffee or cocoa plantations, writes Jocelyn Newmarch.
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/ 20 February 2008
This year’s categories for Greening the Future include the Companies and organisations with innovative environmental strategies that improve business performance. This category is sponsored by Rhodes University.
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/ 20 February 2008
The issue that dominated world media in 2007 was climate change. It grabbed headlines and filled column inches almost daily. Surely there is not a business leader on the planet who hasn’t given consideration yet to how his or her company will be impacted by climate change and what the company can do to minimise risk and find opportunities.
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/ 20 February 2008
South African companies are becoming increasingly aware that they can green their business, starting in their offices, in addition to the green projects they run. More companies are investing in offices that are energy efficient and help workers to lessen their ecological footprint. Some office designers also realise that there is a market for "green" office interior design and are cashing in on the trend.