Scorched

Foraging for a convertible (M&G)

Friday, December 12th, 2008 | uncategorized | 1 Comment

There’s a reason I drive a third-hand, decade-old tjor with rust streaks down the passenger door and a starfish-shaped crack inching across the windscreen. It’s a political decision. I’m swimming upstream against the flood of bling culture that parades along the otherwise dull streets of suburbia.

Well, I told myself this yesterday when a dishy black diamond pulled up next to me at a Cape Town petrol station in a twinkling convertible, its paintwork dark as bitumen and gleaming like an out-of-the-box toothpaste ad. An R&B track belted out across three city blocks.

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“Sky is falling” – 60 seconds to save the Earth

Thursday, December 11th, 2008 | climate change | No Comments

Confessions of a carbon addict (Extra Virgin)

Monday, December 1st, 2008 | uncategorized | No Comments

You’ve worked hard this year, and you’ve earned your break. But getting from home to that seaside resort has never been more punishing on the environment, nor has the environment ever needed the extra carbon less. Leonie Joubert fesses up.

“Hello. My name is Leonie, and I’m responsible for global warming.”

“Hello Leonie!” the circle of faces choruses in support. At the back of the hall, the urn bubbles its encouragement, setting the teacups trembling as it shakes the table and puffs out a column of conciliatory steam. › Continue reading