Art Director Murilo Melo has designed these two new adverts for WWF which show a dead tree and barren reef with their related wildlife removed and displayed alongside them asking you to imagine these ecosystems without plants and animals.
The copy reads "There's a lot of life in a tree. Imagine in a forest." and "There's a lot of life in a reef. Imagine in an ocean."
Striking and thought-provoking.

As seen on Colossal. Detailed images available on Melo's website.

So I went down to Durban for COP17. I figured it would be remiss of me not to go and show my support when the conference was in my very own country. I was only able to go for 5 days, but I’m glad I did, even though my overall takeout of the conference was one of disappointment and frustration.

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Things have been a bit quiet online here at The Green Forrest for the past few months – sorry about that. I’ve been making some big decisions in my life, plus there was COP17 and then the summer holidays to steal my attention away.

Never fear tho, for I am back! I will endeavour to increase the number of posts, and to bring you more interesting things to read and discuss on our paths to living more sustainable lives.

So with that in mind, Happy New Year and let’s get to it…

Greenpop – a tree planting initiative out of Cape Town - are currently in Durban for COP17, and they held a tree planting day on Sunday at the Bluff Eco Park as part of COP taking action. As it was an open invitation, I went along to take part (after all, physically planting a tree to offset my flights down here is better than just handing over the money to someone else to do it, right?)

We planted 60 trees in total in an area where the park is trying to recreate an indigenous belt of trees in place of some syringas. The park was actually once a landfill, but you wouldn’t think so now by looking at the greening that has taken place. The odd hole we dug up reminded us that it was indeed a landfill though – we unearthed things like glass bottles, plastic and bricks. (Reminding us of course that glass and plastic should be recycled!!)

Everyone had great fun – especially the kids that joined us – and it was great to be part of that. I do hope to return in a few years to see how the trees are doing.

The Gobal Day of Climate Action was celebrated here in Durban with a huge march though the city centre, past the ICC where the COP17 UN Climate Change talks are being held, and through to the main Durban beachfront. It was an incredible sight with thousands of people from various different groups all marching, singing, dancing and chanting about the climate crisis. It was truly inspiring! I took hundreds of photos, but here are just a few to give you a taste of the fun!

Friday morning saw me head off to Planet Image Productions in Johannesburg to be interviewed along with artists C.9ine, for the Good MorningAfrica television show, which is broadcast on the Africa Magic Channel on DSTV right across Africa – to some 150 million viewers – in order to promote 350’s “People Power” song.

Having never done a television interview this was both exciting and nerve-wracking, but I think I managed to pull it off!

The South African group, C.9ine, is busy working on a remix of 350’s “Power People” song and we were to be interviewed together – C.9ine talking about their remix and myself acting as a representative of 350 and my interview. For various reasons, I ended up doing a separate interview to C.9ine, which gave me some extra space to talk more about climate change and why we all – rich and poor; urban and rural – need to concern ourselves with the climate crisis.

I hope the interview will come out well, and that once the full segment is put together, with both the 350 views on climate change and C.9ines views on how music aids spreading the message, we’ll end up with a great story.

I’ll be sure to share the details as to when the show will air just as soon as I get them!

"The struggle to save the global environment is in one way much more difficult than the struggle to vanquish Hitler, for this time the war is with ourselves.  We are the enemy, just as we have only ourselves as allies."  - Al Gore

Quote via Food & Trees for Africa November 2011 newsletter.

Earthlife Africa held a climate march through Joburg's streets last Saturday and I went along to get involved and take some photos. The march was to raise awareness ahead of COP17 and to demand a solution to climate change.

There was a great turnout - looked to me to about 800 people in the end, with lots of singing and dancing all the way along the march. There were many onlookers, with some people even joining in along a route.

Here are 10 of the hundreds of photos I took. Enjoy!

Join Earthlife Africa this Saturday for a climate march through Johannesburg to push for a successful resolution at the upcoming COP17.

March starts at 9am, Pieter Roos Park, Cnr. Empire and Victoria Road, Parktown, Johannesburg. (Parking at Constitution Hill)

I'll be there - look forward to seeing you!