International funding efforts to help poor nations cope with climate change have been woeful, it emerged at this year’s big climate change conference in Bali. In a damning report released recently development agency Oxfam said that rich nations had donated only R469-million (-million) to a fund dedicated to adaptation.

Next week the cream of the world’s best negotiators will converge on the tropical paradise of Bali to discuss how to save the world. They are not likely to be dressed in superman capes, but may be wearing Armani suits in the tropical heat and their weapons of choice will be briefcases packed with their countries’ position papers.

Fired Rapport columnist Deon Maas slays holy Afrikaner cows with the skill of an abattoir boss, but that is not to say the cows will not put up a fight. And some especially vicious ones bite back, as Maas found out last week. Recently Maas still exhibited the scars from his fight with Rapport readers, which ultimately led to his dismissal.

The SABC has embarked on a charm offensive, instructing, some say, its current affairs and news programmes on story angles and guests. Elements of its strategy document, Inside the SABC: Empowering Citizens with Knowledge about their SABC, have been implemented already.

Africa’s coastline is in trouble. Research shows that over the past three decades, the amount of fish in West African waters has declined by up to 50%. Pollution has also increased in the same waters, including South Africa’s west coast as more oil companies set up shop in Africa’s west coast waters. A damning report shows that sensitive wetlands (mangroves) and coastal forests have been lost forever.