Thursday, March 26, 2009

RE: while we're on the subject of electricty FREE events...

Hi all

 

Many of you are interested and affected parties to Eskom’s two proposals, I wish to share the following with you.

 

  • Stanford Birding is a registered I&AP
  • Tourism is the greatest contributor SA’s GDP
  • Birding is the fastest growing form of International Tourism
  • SA Tourism against Eskom/Govt nuclear proposal 4 Pearly Beach
  • It seems apparent, the applicant in the case of the Nuclear Power Station, is Eskom backed by the current govt.
  • Therefore, by association, the applicant in the case of the transmission lines is also Eskom backed by the current govt.  The irony, in this case, is that it is the current govt., albeit a different department, i.e., is the one who has final approval. [Makes me feel like a prawn in a game of Chinese Checkers! ]
  • Everyone working at the PPP (Public Participation Process) is on the payroll for either Eskom or the Govt.

 

*Subject:* STANFORD PUBLIC MEETING on ESKOM POWER LINES

 

Hi everyone,

 

My observations of some of the points that were raised at the Stanford meeting of yesterday are as follows

 

    * On question of separate EIA’s for power station and power lines.

      This appears to be a very sensitive point for Eskom and they could

      not come up with acceptable answers except that the two projects

      are handled independently by two different entities; power station

      by Eskom Generation and the lines by Eskom Transmission. (These

      are however two divisions or companies in the Eskom Group.) *This

      is a point that we can further hammer them on* *during upcoming

      meetings.*

    * The question of the ABI alternative and community involvement in

      identifying alternative routes _before_ any draft scoping report

      can be put on the table. Arcus Gibb agreed that if we, as a

      community, can come up with other alternative corridors that

      should be considered we can do so. They also agreed that if we

      write to them they will suggest to Eskom and the DEAT that enough

      time is given to the community to do so. They said however that a

      final answer would only be forthcoming by middle April. They

      emphasized that the proposal must come from a broad based group

      (probably involving ABI and all the various action groups

      currently in the area) - I guess that this may be considered to be

      a concession on their side but will only be of use if they give us

      months rather than a few weeks to do so. Important to emphasize a

      few points on this subject at upcoming meetings (1) *that we

      should be given sufficient time* since we have asked for this

      since August last year without receiving acceptable responses. (2)

      That we require an *answer much sooner* than two weeks before the

      current deadline for comments on the draft report. Ask why rush

      into this thing since the building of a nuclear power station is

      now a project which has no doubt been delayed by a number of years

      if not more.

    * At the Villiersdorp meeting there appears to have been a

      misunderstanding. There is no decision to build three smaller

      nuclear plants at all three sites. The purpose of the power

      station EIA is still to identify the most suitable site for the

      first power station. However if one site is chosen, it does not

      mean that the other two will not be used in future since the

      government’s current long term strategy calls for the construction

      of at least three nuclear stations in the longer term, probably 20

      or more years.

    * NMA made the point that they engaged all the major strategic role

      players in our community during the process so far. Following a

      request they undertook to supply us with a list of all these

      organizations with details about the meetings/workshops they had

      so far.

    * I think there is still confusion about the feasibility of running

      all 6 the lines originating at the power station (the 4 to Kappa

      and the 2 to Bacchus) in one corridor until they are out of the

      Strandveld area. *Try to get clarity.*

    * The question of including the possibility of using of underground

      lines in the Scoping study. It appears that it is only a matter of

      economics. However the power station will cost about R300 billion

      excluding power lines (reasonably accurate figure) while power

      lines cost R1-2 million per kilometer (guess). Underground lines

      are ten times more expensive (Eskom figure). If it takes 30 or 40

      kilometers to get outside of the Strandveld/Agulhas plain area the

      incremental cost of the entire project will increase by R800

      million which represents only 0.3% of the cost of the entire

      project. In the books of Eskom Transmission the R800 million will

      off course be a much larger proportion of the cost of their

      transmission line project. This is therefore another reason they

      should adopt an integrated approach (power station and lines

      together). *My suggestion is that we hammer them further on this

      issue at upcoming meetings.***

 

* *

 

There was a lot more points raised and anybody with further suggestions of matters to be raised at the upcoming meetings please circulate them (or send them to me and I will circulate them)

 

Danie

 

Goedvertrouw,

 

Posbus 872,

 

_Stanford_, 7210

 

Tel 028 388 0275

 

Faks 028 388 0831 of 0866 07 1946

 

Sel 082 554 1762

 

epos daniemay@omail.co.za <mailto:daniemay@omail.co.za>

 

 

--

Bruce Castle

bruce@digividsa.co.za

Cell: 0721351687

Tel: 0283410570

 

 

 

Nuclear Power Station news from Platbos Forest Newsletter

ESKOM is forging ahead with its plan to build a Nuclear Power Station on one of three locations in the country. Bantamsklip near Pearly Beach is one of the sites. This unspoilt area is regarded as the world´s "hottest of hot spots" in terms of its biodiversity and number of endemic species. Environmental Impact Assessments are currently underway for the transmission lines: 80 metres high, four pylons abreast, they are to occupy large corridors of the Overberg landscape. One of the proposed routes cuts directly over the canopy of Platbos Forest! I appeal to communities in the Overberg area to contact ESKOM and find out whether or not they will be affected by the development and to duly register as an Interested and Affected Party. There are still many landowners who remain uninformed about this looming threat.


You can register through NMA Effective Social Strategists: 011 447 9737 / email: theoh@nma.org.za. Shortly, we will post a link on our Global Warming Page which will provide updates, meetings, and environmental data around the proposed Bantamsklip Nuclear Power Station and its Transmission lines.

 

Interesting Links:

 

http://www.gaia.com/terms_of_use

 

WWF Conservation Travel Providerhttp://www.nathab.com/about-us/wwf-nathab

 

Philippa Elaine Castle Throughly enjoyed her long walk with Lisa Lopion, 6 Whippets and a Jack Russel, along the Pearly Beach coastline to the proposed Nuclear Power Development site!

 

Wall Photos

March 22 at 11:09pm · Comment · LikeUnlike · Show Feedback (4)Hide Feedback (4)

 You and Francois Normandeau like this.

 Francois Normandeau likes this.

 Ester Quintana at 11:56pm March 22

Sorry to hear about the proposed Nuclear Power Development! but I am glad that you enjoyed your walk :-)

 Philippa Elaine Castle at 12:19am March 23

Don't be sorry, help me stop it... :-)

 Ester Quintana at 12:52am March 23

Oh Phillipa, I am dealing with my country's own environmental problems... this week I learned that local fishermen are harpooning dolphins and are using them for shark bites. I do research on wild dolphins and these findings are very disturbing. When I read your post, my first thought was that the planet needs lots of help! I need help to resolve this situation and I haven't figure out what to do...

 

Philippa Elaine Castle I am the self-proclaimed protector of the birdlife and their habitat conservation in our Internationally proclaimed Important Birding Area, home to the Blue Crane, South Africa's endangered National Bird.
I will dance, I will prance, I will even sing is push comes to shove, I will stamp my feet and I will beat my drum!
What else can I do to protect this most beautiful part of Southern Africa from destruction by power-hungry masses of humanity and the select few who profit substantially from selling such power?

Lighthouse Angel

Source: www.youtube.com

The song Angel, written and recorded by Johannes Basson, inspired me to put some of my own pictures together... some pictures were taken by Andre van der Merwe, some by Annalize Mouton, some by myself ...

March 22 at 8:54am · Comment · LikeUnlike · Share

 

Philippa Elaine Castle How the Dickens is Stanford's Twiggy going to get the support of SITES, WWF, Green Peace & the Prince of Wales to prevent Nuclear Development at Pearly Beach?

Mark's and Spencer Lighthouse Advert (2008)

Source: www.youtube.com

The New advert for Marks and Spencer in regards to their new season clothing collection. With Twiggy Lawson, Erin O'Connor, Noemie Lenoir, Elizabeth Jagger and Myleene Klass.

March 22 at 1:15am · Comment · LikeUnlike · Share

 

Philippa Elaine Castle is dancing on sunshine...
Love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation
Kalil Gibran

 

Wall Photos

Yesterday at 9:56am · Comment · LikeUnlike · Show Feedback (1)Hide Feedback (1)

 You and Anina Stenvert like this.

 Anina Stenvert likes this.

 

Johannes Basson is happy to kick ass allot

March 17 at 12:25pm · Comment · LikeUnlike

 

 

Philippa Castle

Stanford Glendower Bird Fair Committee

Email info@stanfordbirding.co.za

Website www.stanfordbirding.co.za

Tel 028 341 0570

Mobile 082 943 4327

Blog www.stanfordbirds.blogspot.com

 

p.s. it does not matter which way the wind blows… any wind will do!

P Consider the environment - do you really need to print this email?

 


From: Royd Frith [mailto:roydf@mweb.co.za]
Sent: 26 March 2009 06:09 PM
To: Royd Frith; peter hood; Elsa; dave mccarthy; Lindsay Frith; philippa castle
Cc: dave mccarthy; Allan Youens; Boet and Margaret Heese; David & Tessa Foreman; Deon Krige; Dick & Elspeth Ivey; Elaine Teague; Elzane Steynberg; Kathy Bullock; Lindsay Frith; Margaret Sommerville; Martin Ranger; Pamela Johansen; Peter and Sally Hood; Pierre & Gay du Toit; Tony Roper; Elsa Gebhard; Kathleen Sanders ; Royd Frith
Subject: Fw:

 

 

 

Spend EARTH HOUR

By Candle Light

 

Join 100 Million People

World wide

 

Saturday:  28th March 2009

Stanford Market Place

Bring: Picnic and Canldes in

            windfree holders.

Event: Lights off from 8:30 - 9:30

Music: Acoustic - bring your own

            and join up with others.

This is an Electricity free event !

 

Please grab all your Friends and Family and join us !!!

Thanks to Petronella for making this happen

Anka & Naja