IN THIS EDITION
Welcome
News
Green Climate Fund approves funding for regional water investment programme
Retail tenants turn to renewables to keep their doors open
Community gardens bloom from vacant lots in Salt River
Welcome new Mycelium members
To diarise
The Plett Ocean Festival: 30 June – 2 July
Plastic Free July
World Population Day: 11 July
The Eco-Logic Awards
Earth Overshoot Day: 2 August
Film Festivals to Enter
FICAM Morón International Environmental Film Festival, Argentina
Festival International Nature Namur, Belgium
Mares da Fin do Mundo, Spain
Fungi Film Fest, USA
Interesting reads
The Kuils River Blog Series
Rediscovering local wild food in South Africa’s Western Cape
Climate change journalism in South Africa misses the mark by ignoring people’s daily experiences
We are loving …
Mentoring programme behind a new wave of young female climate advocates
Raisin SA launches Vine Academy in Northern Cape
Indlela Yokuphila is Making Waves!
Who are Mycelium?
WELCOME 
By Stef Swanepoel
Reading through the stories and notices in this month’s newsletter, I am struck by how much is being done around the world to try and shift humanity onto a transitional pathway to a better life for all, including nature and all the life forms it supports. And then, as always, I spend way too much time pondering why nothing is changing or at least changing fast enough to avert the ecological – and subsequent social collapse – that we know is coming. Perhaps the answer lies somewhere in the level at which work is done or the level at which it is reported. There are big international programmes and projects, national level commitments to activities and then millions of people-led and often grassroots initiatives – but where is the middle?
It is the middle-class, middle-level business sector, middle-of-the-road consumers that we need to galvanise into action. This is perhaps the biggest challenge of all – these are often invisible stakeholder groups in that they don’t appear on the news, there are no projects directly targeting them, and for the most part they are just getting on with their lives and businesses. We need an active ‘middle’ to spur on a transition and carry it through. Would this mean promoting the uptake of a values framework related to ecological and social ‘good’s that is broad enough to encompass the many worldviews, religions and cultures on our planet and in our own countries? Would it mean advocating for stricter ‘rules’ or ‘penalties’ around consumption? Or possibly it is about not shying away from tacking the long, slow and often tedious work required to meet and work with those in the middle. It is exciting to work at the top and it is rewarding to work at ground level; we need, however, to find the motivation, the messages and the means to engage the middle.
Please feel free to share your thoughts on this topic with us.
NEWS
Green Climate Fund approves funding for regional water investment programme
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved a grant to support preparations for a regional climate-resilient water investment programme in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Funding from the GCF Project Preparation Facility (PPF) will support the development of an investment programme that aims to leverage at least USD 117 million, which is expected to benefit 140 million people in the SADC region.
GCF will provide an initial project preparation grant of USD 1.5 million for the SADC regional water investment programme. The programme is under the Continental Africa Water Investment Programme (AIP) that was adopted by the African Union Heads of States Summit in February 2021. The AIP is part of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa led by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD).
Increasing climate hazards and cyclones across the SADC region threaten existing investments in water, energy, food security, human health, and socioeconomic development. The SADC AIP will contribute to closing the water investment gap in Africa. The AIP aims to mobilise USD 30 billion annually by 2030 in order to close the water investment gap in Africa. It is supported by the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa led by the President of the Republic of Senegal, H.E. Macky Sall; Prime Minister of the Netherlands, H.E. Mark Rutte; President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E. Hage Geingob; and Former President of the Republic of Tanzania, H.E Jakaya Kikwete, who all serve as Co-Chairs. The High-Level Panel was formally inaugurated in November 2022 on the margins of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. “Currently USD 10 billion to 19 billion are invested each year in water in Africa, whereas at least USD 30 billion per year is needed to achieve water-related SDG targets by 2030,” said H.E. Macky Sall when he announced the panel at COP27.
At the United Nations Water Conference in March 2023, the High-Level Panel launched a landmark report, Africa’s Rising Investment Tide, with recommendations to increase water investments and called for global leaders and partners to at least double their current investments and to implement regional and national climate resilience water investment programmes.
Retail tenants turn to renewables to keep their doors open
With major retail supermarket giants spending tens of millions of rands per month on diesel for their backup energy generation, collaborative efforts and innovation are needed to weather the energy crisis in South African shopping centres and ensure that trade continues regardless of the load shedding challenges.
The recent South African Council for Shopping Centres (SACSC) Retail Trading Index Q1 2023 Collabinar highlighted the plight that most shopping centres in South Africa face – keeping their tenants’ doors open during bouts of load shedding. While shopping centres are seeing increased thoroughfare, there is an alarming inflation in gross operating costs, with the retail cost-to-income ratio increasing to 45% compared to 37% in 2018.
It is becoming more expensive for tenants to occupy space as electricity constraints continue to affect the ability of landlords and tenants to operate effectively. So much so that insights by MSCI – a global provider of real estate indexes – indicate that 29% of a tenant’s overall operating costs are assigned to electricity. As landlords are required to recover 100% of electricity usage, the increased economic pressure on tenants has resulted in landlords being unable to increase rental costs.
With the likes of Shoprite spending R100m a month on diesel and Pick n Pay spending R60m a month across their respective national footprints, the impetus to steer away from diesel-based energy generation is becoming increasingly important for tenants to stay afloat.
Solutions, such as energy management systems, have proven their worth in reducing unnecessary energy consumption, while improvements can also be made by manually altering how a store consumes energy. This includes changing the behaviour of employees in stores and implementing additional ways to curb their electricity usage, such as switching off the electricity entirely once the store closes (if viable), reducing the need for air conditioning during winter months, or increasing the temperatures of air conditioning systems slightly to reduce the energy required to generate colder air – a practice that can see a 40% to 60% saving in energy consumption.
Apart from solar generation, which provides significant long-term economic benefits, the introduction of gas-converted generators is proving a cost-effective solution, costing only R4.25 per kilowatt hour. Tenants can also investigate the viability of thermal storage as opposed to cold storage facilities that can reduce energy consumption by 20% to 25%. Furthermore, the likes of smart meters for water and sensors for lights and equipment have proven effective in dramatically reducing energy and water consumption.
Community gardens bloom from vacant lots in Salt River
Vacant lots that were used as dumping sites are being turned into safe gardens thanks to a non-profit organisation based in Salt River, Cape Town. Tour guide Nadia Agherdine had the idea of turning disused spaces into gardens while she was taking two German visitors on a tour of street art in Salt River.
She said in front of one piece of art was a “huge” rubbish heap in an empty lot, which was embarrassing. Deciding to do something about it, she teamed up with local horticulturist Marius Zenker to form Neighbourhood Gardens, a non-profit organisation. “It was the perfect match. I’m from the community and he has all the indigenous plant knowledge,” said Agherdine.
They received funding from German organisation Stiftung Bienenwald to clear the plot and build a new fence. They called it The Nature Park and turned it into an indigenous garden. “The community came out with spades, rakes and bags. The aunties came with water and sandwiches. It was wonderful. We cleaned up a plot and we decided it was going to be 100% indigenous. The most amazing thing that came out of that garden was the kids’ participation. They couldn’t wait to start planting and digging,” said Agherdine.
When the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown in 2020 brought home the need for food security, Agherdine and Zenker worked with the Salt River Community Action Network to start a food garden on a disused lot in Kipling Street. Again, the community helped clean up the plot. “It was just a beautiful show of what can be done if people were keen for something,” said Agherdine.
Neighbourhood Gardens now has five community gardens in Salt River, transforming about 650 square metres of vacant land. The most recently developed one being at Salt River High School where they started an indigenous plants garden in February. The school also has a food garden, implemented by the Gugulethu Urban Food Forest Initiative last year.
This article was originally published on GroundUp.
Welcome new Mycelium members
We are a network of changemakers, regenerators and multimedia creatives working on different aspects and at different scales but all with the same passion to bring about a better world. A critical element necessary for large-scale transformation of our social and economic systems is the ongoing co-creation and sharing of knowledge. We are delighted to have new members join the Mycelium Network!
SAMAH KRICHAH
Feminist economics and women, peace and security researcher
Speciality Area: Feminist Economics / Women Peace and Security / Gender and Sustainability
Experience: For six years, she has delved into the issue of feminist peace with what that means in terms of sustainability, equal access to resources and the enhancement of life quality for all, especially for women and LGBTQIA+ communities, especially in North Africa. Samah worked as a MENA research associate for the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom covering issues related to access to resources and conflict. She also undertook the role of feminist economics advocate at the Kvinna Till Kvinna foundation. The latter experience taught her a great deal on the nexus between environment, climate change and climate justice.
Skills: Advocacy and activism, policy knowledge, gender analysis, an interdisciplinary approach and community building and networking skills as well as fostering collaborations .
I believe that there’s no social justice and feminist sustainable peace without climate justice and a thriving life for all.
MEGAN NELL
Writer, Director and Editor for Theatre, Film and Installation
Speciality Area: Botanical Storytelling
Experience: 20 years in storytelling – from children’s TV to touring interactive theatre pieces. Working on the Turning Into Flowers project with Rupert Koopman and Tiffani Dlamini since 2018, exploring the unique floral heritage of South Africa and the idea of the beloved landscape. documenting floral species in situ and human responses to these species.
Skills: Interactive performance and storytelling, and creating spaces of play and story that allow people to connect with their own memories and to dream their own futures.
BAHA LAJMI
Filmmaker
Speciality Area: Content Creator
Experience: 8 years in film making. Baha, a 2021 graduate from the School of Art and Decoration (EAD), has made a remarkable impact on the world of science and media. He is the innovative mind behind Tunisia’s first pop science YouTube channel, “Draw My Science”, and has collaborated with multiple NGOs on various projects. His notable collaborations include the Tunisian Association of Positive Prevention (ATP+), where he created videos on sexual education and HIV, Access Now, for which he produced a video on the biometric card, and RAWSA MENA RAWSA where he wrote and directed a series of five animated videos highlighting the importance of safe abortion in the MENA region. Baha Lajmi’s expertise in the field has been widely recognized, as evidenced by his invitation to serve as a jury member for the Silbersalz Science & Media Festival’s 3rd and 4th editions held in Halle, Germany.
Moreover, in 2019, Baha Lajmi was selected to participate in the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers in Tokyo, where he was an EMERGING PRODUCER. This experience enabled him to showcase his talents, network with other professionals, and further enhance his skills and knowledge. Baha Lajmi’s contributions to science and media have been highly valued, and his work continues to inspire and educate audiences worldwide.
Skills: Has skills in crafting engaging scripts and mastering the art of video editing, with a keen understanding of what captivates audiences and how to create compelling content that leaves a lasting impact.
Using the power of storytelling and the lens of my camera, I strive to give a voice to our planet, unveiling the beauty, challenges, and urgency of environmental issues. Together, let’s create a sustainable narrative for a greener and brighter future.
DIARISE
The Plett Ocean Festival: 30 June – 2 July
The Plett Ocean Festival is anchored by a three-day marine science symposium (30 June – 2 July 2023) which returns with a fresh and interesting programme that includes a variety of topics from great – the humpback whale – to small – the Knysna seahorse, and everything in between. Talks from Melissa Nel’s Shark Seasonality in Plett and Alison Towner’s “Fear at the top – the fascinating chronology of orcas displacing coastal sharks in South Africa” to Plett Shark Spotters with Gareth Greenwood are topical and sure to create essential dialogue.
Interested in birds? Join Zanri Strydom, Prof. Pierre Pistorius, Chanel Hauvette and Brittany Arendse on their talks ranging from marine bird strandings, African penguins, Cape gannets and protecting our marine bird breeding grounds. Bottlenose dolphins, bronze whaler sharks, Southern right whales, marine protected areas, Bryde’s whales and stingrays share the spotlight with conversations about a, exploring the Keurbooms estuary, boat-based whale watching and communication through conservation. Book per session, a one-, two- or three-day pass: https://bit.ly/PlettMSS
Plastic Free July
Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. This registered charity based in Australia has inspired 100+ million participants in 190 countries. You making a small change will collectively make a massive difference to our communities. You can choose to refuse single-use plastics in July (and beyond!). Best of all, being part of Plastic Free July will help you to find great alternatives that can become new habits forever. https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/
World Population Day: 11 July
In 2011, the world reached a population of 7 billion. This year, the number will hit 8 billion, prompting the attendant responses. Some will marvel at the advancements in health that have extended lifespans, reduced maternal mortality and child mortality and given rise to vaccine development in record time. Others will tout technological innovations that have eased our lives and connected us more than ever. Still others will herald gains in gender equality. But progress is not universal, throwing inequality into razor-sharp relief. The same concerns and challenges raised 11 years ago remain or have worsened: climate change, violence, discrimination. The world reached a particularly grim milestone in May: More than 100 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide.
The World Population Dashboard showcases global population data, including fertility rate, gender parity in school enrolment, information on sexual and reproductive health, and much more. Together, this data shines a light on the health and rights of people around the world, especially women and young people.
The Eco-Logic Awards
The Eco-Logic Awards is inviting South African individuals, organisations, projects, products and services that are beneficial for people and the planet to enter its 2023 edition. There is no cost to enter the Eco-Logic Awards and all entries will be judged by 12 independent, highly-respected, environmentally-conscious executives from a diverse range of occupations and professions. The categories are:
Climate Change
Nature Conservation
Water Conservation
Circular Economy and Waste innovation
Eco-Fashion and Lifestyle
Eco-Health and Wellness
Eco-Hospitality and Tourism
Eco-Innovation
Eco-Friendly Products
Eco-Communities and Schools
Eco-Angel
Eco-Warrior
Entries close on 31 July 2023. Enter now at www.eco-logicawards.com
Earth Overshoot Day: 2 August
Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. In 2023, Earth Overshoot Day lands on August 2. We maintain this deficit by liquidating stocks of ecological resources and accumulating waste, primarily carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Earth Overshoot Day is hosted and calculated by Global Footprint Network, an international research organization that provides decision-makers with a menu of tools to help the human economy operate within Earth’s ecological limits. To determine the date of Earth Overshoot Day for each year, Global Footprint Network calculates the number of days of that year that Earth’s biocapacity suffices to provide for humanity’s Ecological Footprint. The remainder of the year corresponds to global overshoot. Earth Overshoot Day is computed by dividing the planet’s biocapacity (the amount of ecological resources Earth is able to generate that year), by humanity’s Ecological Footprint (humanity’s demand for that year), and multiplying by 365, the number of days in a year:(Earth’s Biocapacity / Humanity’s Ecological Footprint) x 365 = Earth Overshoot Day
Earth Overshoot Day 2023 falls on August 2. https://www.overshootday.org/
FILM FESTIVALS TO ENTER
FICAM Morón International Environmental Film Festival, Argentina
The “FICAM Morón International Environmental Film Festival” is an open festival that brings together international audiovisual productions made by young people between 14 to 35 years. And whose works express their vision on the issue environment and the challenges for youth in this regard. Its objective is to contribute to the construction of a culture for environmental sustainability, through the democratization of communication, the promotion of youth participation and the access to common goods and technology. Looking for the production of innovative messages that generate new perspectives on the challenges environment of our time. Regular Deadline: July 13, 2023 https://sites.google.com/view/ficamoron/
Festival International Nature Namur, Belgium
Born in 1995, the Festival International Nature Namur is now the meeting place for lovers of nature and beautiful images, bringing together each year more than 35 000 spectators and visitors from all backgrounds! With its four international competitions – photos, amateur films, professional films and ultra-short films – and its many outdoor activities, it is now placed among the 5 biggest European events of the kind, bringing together each year photographers and filmmakers from around the world. Deadline for Amateur & Ultra-short Films: July 31, 2023 https://www.festivalnaturenamur.be/
Mares da Fin do Mundo, Spain
Mares da Fin do Mundo is the only international documentary film festival in Galicia (Spain) which focuses on the topics of sustainable fishing practices and the preservation of the marine environment. It is an event of contrasts, locally rooted but with a wide international reach, aiming at promoting traditional trade from a global and modern perspective. It is a festival committed to the protection of the marine environment and the fishing sector, which seeks to raise awareness about the need to take care of one of our most valuable natural resources: the sea. Regular Deadline: August 15, 2023 https://maresdafindomundo.gal/
Fungi Film Fest, USA
The Fungi Film Fest (FFF) is the world’s only short film festival dedicated to the beauty, weirdness, and human influences of mushrooms, lichens, and micro fungi. Filmmakers of all backgrounds and genre types are welcome to submit to the festival, with the only requirement being that their film feature fungi in some way. Submission Deadline: August 31, 2023 https://www.fungifilmfest.com/
INTERESTING READS
The Kuils River Blog Series
The Kuils River rises in the hills of Durbanville just outside of Cape Town as a trickling stream. Looking at where it originates, one would never imagine the multiple beings and things it affects, nor the vast history this river has in shaping Cape Town’s landscape, and also the politics, infrastructure technologies and economics of the day.
Nikiwe Solomon from Environmental Humanities South, at the University of Cape Town recently completed her PhD exploring the relationships between the Kuils River and people, water governance and multi-species communities. “What kind of events have occurred along the river and shaped the way people are living today? What does this mean for future generations?” She has written up a series of blogs for Water Stories that draw on 3 years of ethnographic fieldwork in the Kuils River catchment area.
Rediscovering local wild food in South Africa’s Western Cape
Mycelium member Megan Lindow has written a wonderful profile on food activist Loubie Rusch who is working with communities to reintroduce endemic edible plants into the local food system, recover long-lost food heritages, and potentially help save the threatened biodiversity of the Cape. Rethink
Climate change journalism in South Africa misses the mark by ignoring people’s daily experiences
South Africa’s media houses rely too heavily on events like conferences, climate disasters and the release of scientific papers in their reporting on climate change. That’s a problem: it creates the potential for day-to-day issues related to climate change, like ongoing mitigation and adaptation efforts, to go unreported. The Conversation
WE ARE LOVING…
… these initiatives which support our aim of living in a more sustainable world.
Mentoring programme behind a new wave of young female climate advocates
The 2023 Afrobarometer survey on climate change awareness in South Africa shows that most South Africans who are educated about climate change believe it is making life worse in the country. However, the impact of climate change is disproportionately felt by vulnerable groups like women, who are also the country’s least informed about climate change. Less than half of women in South Africa are aware of climate change, compared to 53% of men. The survey suggests that empowering these vulnerable groups could contribute to developing a more inclusive and resilient foundation for addressing climate change. Mail and Guardian
Raisin SA launches Vine Academy in Northern Cape
The Kgodiso Development Fund and Raisins SA have officially opened the Vine Academy in Kakamas, Northern Cape, which will provide classroom-based and practical training for emerging farmers and farm workers. It will also establish a model farm to serve as a research and development centre for raisin production and farming in South Africa. The Vine Academy was founded in partnership with Martin Oosthuizen High School, one of the oldest agricultural schools in South Africa.
Indlela Yokuphila is Making Waves!
The captivating short film Indlela Yokuphila, which translates to “The Soul’s Journey” in Zulu, has taken the world by storm. Researched and narrated by Mpume Mthombeni from Empatheatre and directed by the talented Marc Moynihan from Shells & Spells, along with Dr Dylan McGarry from Empatheatre/Rhodes University, this film aims to breathe life into intangible ocean heritages. Through mesmerizing animation and thought-provoking public dialogues, it seeks to reintroduce the sacred into our conversations about ocean well-being. Watch.
Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter! Please share this with like-minded friends or join our conversations on Facebook and Instagram.WHO ARE MYCELIUM?
Mycelium Media Colab is a co-operative of multimedia creatives and regenerators working together towards a healthy and sustainable world. We’re a collaborative enterprise with a strong focus on communication for change, producing compelling content and experiences that shift people’s mindsets.
We collaborate with academics, activists, dreamers, big thinkers, movers & shakers, and those who want to grow a regenerative world. Bringing together the talents, skills, resources and energy of multimedia creatives, we offer a networking, support and income-generation platform for members and affiliates. We develop and implement our own initiatives, and provide a range of professional services.
Membership to the Mycelium Media Colab is open to multimedia storytellers, artists and regenerators that share our vision collaborative and transformative change. It offers a networking and support space for members to share skills and inspiration, and creatively cross-pollinate, as well as a platform and organisational structure for projects that require a team. Ownership of projects is shared between the creators and the co-operative. Contact info@myceliumcolab.com for more information and visit https://myceliumcolab.com/
