Map of elephant DNA reveals trail of ivory smugglers | Environment | The Observer

Map of elephant DNA reveals trail of ivory smugglers | Environment | The Observer: "Scientists have used a revolutionary genetic technique to pinpoint the area of Africa where smugglers are slaughtering elephants to feed the worldwide illegal ivory trade.

Using a DNA map of Africa's elephants, they have found that most recent seizures of tusks can be traced to animals that had grazed in the Selous and Niassa game reserves on the Tanzania and Mozambique borders."

Treeplanting at Rietvlei Farm in Gauteng

Riaz Simjee is inviting for SAFCEI members in Gauteng to take part in a project at Rietvlei Farm:

I have just undertaken a project with the correctional services of Johannesburg female section. Female learners form the institute that I work for and the inmates will be undertaking a project together at a kind of Nature reserve where they will be planting trees etc. this programme will begin on the 29th June 2009 to 03 July 2009. I believe that this will be an ideal opportunity for us to get involved in encouraging the youth into environmental issues an awareness. I would like to know if it is possible to have some of the faith leaders attend. The best part is that they do not have to attend the entire week but we have set a day, 30th June 2009, aside for the tree planting. This will be the ideal day for faith leaders to be present, this can be done with their families. The venue is the ‘Reitvlei Farm, near Alberton, in Gauteng.

Riaz can be contacted at 0845999104 riazsim@gmail.com if you are interested in finding out more.

Fasting and the environment

Most religions have fasting disciplines. Christians have traditionally fasted on Wednesdays and Fridays, abstaining from meat and other animal products.

Now there have been proposals for new secular fasts, on Mondays or Thursdays -- for more information and links see here: Notes from underground: Meat-free Monday?

But perhaps there is a need for a revival of the fasting disciplines of the various faith communities.

It would be good if people could explain briefly what their fasting disciplines are in comments below.

For Orthodox Christians it is abstention from meat and animal produce (eggs, cheese, butter etc) on Wednesdays and Fridays, in Advent and Lent, and from today until 29 June, and the first fortnight of August.

Alice In Blogland: Don't Buy a "Green" Thing

There are all sorts of "green" products advertised that we are often tempted to buy something just because iot claims to be "green". But here's a better way.

Alice In Blogland: Don't Buy a "Green" Thing:

We’re so hooked on consumption that we’re coming up with ideas to reduce it by essentially consuming more. We’re inventing more “needs” that we can satisfy with ideas borrowed from sustainable solutions, while forgetting that we already have real needs far more deserving of our efforts to meet them more sustainably.

GM food conference in the Vatican hijacked

John Vidal on a GM conference in the Vatican | Environment | The Guardian:

Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo is the chancellor of the Vatican s Pontifical Academy of Sciences the official voice of Catholic science. Alas he appears to have no idea how far his organisation has been hijacked by the genetic modification GM companies and their chums. This week the academy is hosting a 'week of study' about food and Sorondo says the intention has been to gather 'an objective' group of experts. Ho-hum. Of the 40 people invited all are well-known GM enthusiasts claims Spinwatch an independent organisation that 'monitors the role of public relations and spin in contemporary society'. One of the participants Eric Sachs is a Monsanto employee; another Robert Paarlberg is an adviser to Monsanto s CEO; and several others work for companies heavily backed by Monsanto.