10 Eco-Friendly Ways to Make a Difference on Mandela Day

Hey, did you know that Mandela Day is coming up? It’s a special day when we can all take some time to celebrate the amazing Nelson Mandela and the incredible things he did for people. This year, Mandela Day falls on Thursday, July 18th, which is also his 95th birthday! Well, I’ve got some great news for you. There’s a cool global initiative called Nelson Mandela International Day that encourages people like you and me to spend 67 minutes doing something good for others. Why 67 minutes? Well, that’s because it represents the 67 years that Mandela spent fighting for what he believed in.

Now, I know that you might be interested in volunteering for an environmental cause, but maybe you don’t have a lot of extra time or money. Well, guess what? You can still make a big difference, even if you only have 67 minutes to spare. Check out these awesome Mandela Day initiatives that you can get involved in:

5 eco-friendly projects for you to engage in this Mandela Day

Join the SANCCOB beach cleanup in Milnerton

Come along and take part in the beach cleanup organized by the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) at Lagoon Beach in Milnerton. This fantastic event offers you the chance to meet and interact with SANCCOB’s adorable ambassador penguins! Additionally, there will be an informative session on the hazards posed to sea birds by garbage.

When and Where?

Make sure you head to the parking lot of Lagoon Beach on Thursday, July 18th. The cleanup event will run from 10:00 to 11:30. For further details, please visit the official SANCCOB Facebook page.

Participate in the Rooi Els beach cleanup in Rooi Els

If you’re busy on Thursday at work or school, but you’re interested in joining a beach clean-up, you should definitely check out the event happening this Saturday in Rooi Els. They’re working to get rid of all the trash that has blown onto their beautiful beaches from Cape Town due to the North-Westerly winds. Even though it’s a bit far from Milnerton, Rooi Els is located along the stunning coastal R44 and is a part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. It’s definitely worth a day trip from Cape Town.

Now, let’s talk about the details. The beach clean-up will take place in Rooi Els on Saturday, July 20th. If you’re interested in participating, make sure to get in touch with the event organizer at [email protected] They’ll be able to provide you with more information.

And on another note, have you heard about the “67 Minutes of Hope” event in Fish Hoek? It’s a great initiative that encourages people to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to make a positive impact in their community. It’s happening soon, so if you’re interested, keep an eye out for more details.

Come and join us at Living Hope, a group of organizations dedicated to helping underprivileged communities in the Southern Cape Peninsula. We’re looking for volunteers to help us clear a 19-acre plot of land from invasive alien plant species. These plants are harmful to our native plants, so we need your help to get rid of them.

Where and When

If you’re interested in being part of this initiative, meet us at the Living Hope Head Office on Kommetjie Road in Fish Hoek on Thursday, July 18th. Our team will be there between 10:00 and 15:00.

If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to reach out to Mario at 073 279 9190 or [email protected]

River Clean-Up and Planting on the Keysers River in Retreat – Cape Town

Hey there! I have some exciting news to share with you. WESSA, also known as the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, is hosting a special clean-up drive along the beautiful banks of the Keysers river in Retreat. But that’s not all! After the clean-up, we’ll be planting native plants to make the riverbanks even more stunning.

If you’re interested in joining us, all you need to do is bring along your gumboots and any gardening tools, like spades, pitchforks, or gloves, that you think might come in handy for the planting.

Where and when

We’ll be meeting on Thursday, July 18th, at the grassy patch on Military Road, right next to the Steenberg train station. Exciting, right? If you want to be a part of this amazing event, please reach out to the organizers at [email protected] They’ll give you all the details about when we’ll be meeting up.

Students Anti-Pollution Society’s Cleaning Campaign – Leherutshe, Zeerust, North West

The Motto of the Students Anti-Pollution Society is “A cleaner Environment is a Conducive Environment for Learning”. I couldn’t agree more, and even though this event might stick out from the rest geographically, it absolutely deserves recognition. The Students Anti-Pollution Society aims to protect and care for Zeerust’s environment and the sustainable livelihoods of neighboring cities like Mafikeng. They will be launching officially on Mandela Day and will kick things off with a cleaning-up campaign on the outskirts of Leherutshe.

When and Where

The launch and cleaning campaign will take place on Thursday, July 18th, in Leherutshe. If you want to join in, you can get more specific information by contacting the event organizer at [email protected]

Main image by Albert Gonzalez Farran, UNAMID on Flickr

Discover 5 Fun and Eco-Friendly Activities to Celebrate Mandela Day

Hey there! Did you know that you can make a difference for the environment this Mandela Day, no matter where you are? Forget about those big organized events – I’ve got six unique ideas that you can do in just 67 minutes to help create a greener world. Let’s check them out!

1. Experience the Power of Going Electricity-Free

Hey there! Let’s make a positive impact on the environment together. I have a fun challenge for you – turn off all your electrical devices. Yes, I mean everything – lights, plug sockets, your geyser… everything! It might not seem like a big deal, but every little bit counts.

We all know that our increasing electricity use is putting a heavy strain on the environment. So, even if turning everything off for just 67 minutes doesn’t make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things, it’s a great opportunity for you to step outside and reconnect with the world. Trust me, being inside without electricity can make you go a little crazy!

Now, here’s a challenge within a challenge – use those 67 minutes to create a homemade compost bin or worm farm. It’s a great way to recycle your kitchen scraps and turn them into nutrient-rich compost for your garden. Not only will you be doing something good for the environment, but you’ll also have a fun project to work on.

If you’re not sure how to get started, don’t worry! There are plenty of guides and tutorials available online to help you. Just make sure to choose a spot in your garden that gets plenty of sunlight and follow the instructions carefully.

So, what do you say? Let’s switch off those devices, step outside, and get our hands dirty. Who knows, you might just discover a new passion for gardening and become an eco-warrior in the process. Have fun!

P.S. Don’t worry, your devices will still be there when the 67 minutes are up. Take this time to unplug and enjoy the simple pleasures of life!

Did you know that we waste a lot of stuff that could actually be good for the environment? If you have a garden, you can use some of that waste to make your plants grow better. You can make your own composter easily by putting holes in a drum. This lets air in and allows the good stuff to go into the ground or a container underneath. There are lots of different ways you can make your own composting bin, like using wooden crates on the ground. If you want more information, go to www.howtocompost.org.

Let’s spend a little more than an hour exploring the ways we can improve our daily habits for the sake of the environment. Climate change can seem overwhelming, but we have the power to make a difference. There are plenty of websites that offer practical tips on how to incorporate eco-friendly changes into our daily routines.

Go on a trip to a game reserve (this might be seen as a little extravagant)

Why not take some time this Thursday, or over the weekend, to visit one of the many game reserves across the country? Many of these protected areas that we cherish are funded by the fees paid by visitors like you. And if you live within just 67 minutes’ drive of a nature reserve, you really don’t have any excuse not to go! Plus, it doesn’t have to feel like a full-on vacation. You could simply donate an extra R67 on top of the entrance fee to make yourself feel even better about it. Or, even better, you could bring along someone who has never had the opportunity or means to visit a game reserve and witness wild animals in their natural habitat.

Apply for a Nedbank Green Affinity Account

We all know that banking and dealing with financial matters can be a real drag. Thankfully, with the Nedbank Green Affinity Account, you can make a difference without any extra effort. Every time you use your account, a contribution is made to conservation through The Green Trust, and it won’t cost you a thing. So, why not set aside 67 minutes this Thursday to visit a Nedbank branch and open a Green Affinity Account? Alternatively, you can simply gather more information about it. We understand that people can be quite particular when it comes to their banking.