Crushed Dreams: How Chinese Mining is Wrecking Zimbabwe's Mountains

This mountain you see used to be the same as the one in the background before it was destroyed. If this doesn't stop next generations will only see these mountains on pictures and videos 

The Hidden Cost of Granite Mining

Granite mining in Zimbabwe has been on the rise, and it’s often led by Chinese companies. While granite is a beautiful, strong material used in homes and buildings, the process of getting it comes with a heavy cost. The mountains that have stood tall for centuries are now being destroyed, leaving the environment scarred and communities suffering.

Mountains Don't Grow Back

Imagine a giant mountain that took millions of years to form. Now picture it being blasted apart for rocks. That’s what’s happening in Zimbabwe. These mining operations strip away layers of earth, making it hard for plants to grow back. Nature needs time to heal, and when mountains are destroyed, the landscape changes forever.

Pollution: A Silent Killer

It’s not just about the mountains. Mining brings tons of dust and chemicals that pollute the air and water. Have you ever thought about where your drinking water comes from? When nearby rivers are filled with mining waste, it puts everyone at risk. Families can get sick, and animals can’t survive in polluted streams. This should worry us all.

Lost Homes and Livelihoods

Many local villagers depend on the land for their living. When mining companies come in, they take over these lands and push people out. Imagine losing your home because someone else wants to dig for rocks. People are left with nowhere to go and no way to earn a living. The promise of jobs often doesn’t match reality; many workers face unsafe conditions and low pay.

Environmental Laws in the Shadows

Zimbabwe has laws meant to protect the environment. Unfortunately, these rules aren’t always enforced. Mining companies sometimes get away with cutting corners. It’s like having a safety net that has holes in it. Without strict enforcement, the land and its people continue to suffer.

The Fight for a Greener Future

Local communities are starting to stand up against these mining practices. They know that if they don't speak out, the mountains will vanish, and their families will face even harder lives. Activists are pushing for better regulations and more support for sustainable practices. People are realizing that granite isn't worth the sacrifice of their homes and health.

Conclusion: The Choice is Ours

As consumers, we have the power to make choices that protect our environment. When we think about the products we buy, we should consider where they come from and how they impact the world. If we choose to demand responsible mining, maybe we can save those beautiful mountains in Zimbabwe from destruction. It’s time to stand together for a cleaner, healthier planet.

Environmental Education Short Courses

Lets Protect the environment 

Global Waste Cleaning Network has some amazing Environmental Education Courses 

The courses include 

1: Understanding Environmental Education and Education for Sustainable Development!

The course introduces you to the basic foundations of Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), including their origins and the educational processes connected to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

2: Strategies to Advance Circular Economy

Circular Economy provides a regenerative framework to design a production and consumption system in which materials are used in cycles of closed loops. The course provides you with an overview of the concept of Circular Economy, its principles and introduces how the principles are being used to shift from a linear economy to a circular economy. 

3: Introduction to Environmental Literacy

This course will introduce you to the basics of Environmental Literacy, by providing you with an overview of the environmental literacy concept and its components. The course, divided into 6 Modules, will also present to you the bases of environmental literacy excellence and how you can create your own logic model for environmental literacy assessment.

These courses will help you as an environmental activist understand the fundamental principles of environmental literacy and equips you with enough knowledge to share during Environmental Awareness Campaigns 

To enrol visit http://www.gwcnweb.org/ and search the courses under the Education tab.

Happy learning!!

HEAVY RAINS HITS KwaZULU NATAL-MORE EXPECTED TO HIT CAPE TOWN

A traffic round -about destroyed by heavy floods in KZN

Heavy rainfall has hit a South African province, KwaZulu Natal.

At least 459 people have been reported dead by the time of publishing.

A lot of infrastructure and properties have been damaged, Houses could be seen drowning like mother earth is swallowing them.

Containers of goods, trucks and cars are seen covered in water, Highways looking like straight rivers.

It's really an eyesore, The damage caused by this floods is so disturbing.

Among the prominent damaged buildings is a Blind People's home, A big number of blind people were left homeless after the shelter was damaged.

Roads got destroyed during the KZN storm

Authorities reported that they had opened community halls in their efforts to assist the affected residents with shelter.

Climate change has resulted in parts of Southern Africa being hit by cyclones that have seen Mozambique and parts of Zimbabwe hit by 2 cyclones in a short space of time.

Climate change activists are calling for people to take their advice seriously and reduce their carbon emissions.

Speaking to SABC News , Climate Change and Energy activist Thandile Chinyavanhu warned that authorities in Cape Town must be prepared for similar or worse storms in the near future.
 

Treeman-THE CHAMPION GLOBAL WARMING FIGHTER

TREEMAN TAKES GLOBAL WARMING BY THE HORNS!!!

By Takesure Matewa 

Born J. Murali in India on the 14th of February 1989,Treeman is among many environmentally conscious global citizens who have decided to take global warming head-on.

Treeman who said he almost died between the rocks under a tree when his mother couldn't bear the labor pains anymore and had to give birth under a tree got his connection and love for trees because of what happened on that day.

 A tree became his and many other people's maternity ward. 

One good reason he has this undying and strong connection with trees.

As world leaders are meeting in Glasgow discussing how to tackle Climate Change at the COP 26 conference, In India there is a man who is tackling it in action!

A true hero indeed!!

Treeman is fighting this imminent global disaster through his amazing initiative of planting trees in all vacant pieces of land, basically turning any empty and bare piece of land into a forest-Amazing isn't it?

"I started this initiative in 2017 " remarked Treeman with a wide smile on his face.

"The first step was to turn my land into a forest" he added.

"I planted about 100 trees as a start-up on that piece of land"

Just like most heroes, Treeman was inspired by someone and he told me that he drew his inspiration from sir Nammazhvar

"There are very special collaborative individuals and organizations that are always walking with me in this journey and I want to give special mention to them," he said.

"These people are Sherry Bollerud, David Tracy, Theresa Gliha, Fletch Fletch, and The Paradise Restoration Movement Team from Sweden Claudia Wutkowska, Jonathan Tolleson, and Sanna Scholander  who are the largest group supporting me in planting trees at a large scale."

"I am grateful to all the above-mentioned people and organizations for always supporting me in my work of planting trees." 

Since he started looking for pieces of land and turning them into forests, he estimates the number of trees he has planted to over 4000 a number that could see this world getting a significant number of trees if we can have 400 men and women like Treeman from each country!

His success story wasn't going to be an easy one without his dear friends Natalia and Hector who are very supportive of what he does.

Treeman's vision is bold and clear -"Today it is very difficult to green India and the whole planet without the cooperation of the people," he said.

"They graze their livestock mainly sheep and cattle and they end up feeding them on the forests " That is a major challenge.

"We are giving people who are willing to convert their pieces of land into forests for free" added Treeman.

"We also go and do the planting of saplings for those who wish to have them planted for them but can not do it due to different circumstances "

Treeman has also planted forests for different individuals and organizations. 

One organization he has planted trees on their behalf is Paradise Restoration Movement.
Treeman can plant trees for anyone around the world if the land is available.

You can choose if you want the tree or forest to be named after you or your organization 

He sincerely appeals to readers and everyone around the world to help him plant more trees so that we can all bring back the glory and beauty of our planet whilst combating global warming 

Those who want to get in touch with this Reforestation Warrior can find him on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/treeman.treeman.581

We would love to hear your thoughts about what this great fighter is doing, Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments box below 

If you have any interesting stories also leave your comment or email address we will contact you.