Podcasts about sanparks

Joining Mike Wills is Charles Phahlane, spokesperson for SANParks. We ask him what practical interventions are on the table and whether enough is being done to reverse what many are calling a crisis of safety on the mountain. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Frank Dwyer, Independent Tour Guide, Mountain and Hiking Guide, and founding member of the VSS initiative, to discuss the formal announcement of the dissolution of the VSS agreement with SANParks/TMNP. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Maytham is joined by Allan Johnston, Co-Founder and Executive Director of South African Experiences and spokesperson for Chiefs Tented Camps, to talk about a vibrant return to one of South Africa’s most spectacular seasonal offerings, the Namaqua Flower Beach Camp. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Burning Planet is the Daily Maverick section devoted to expert environmental opinion and analysis. We partner up each Friday on the Afternoon Drive to discuss a burning issue. John Maytham speaks to John Davies, Project Co-ordinator for Raptor Conservation and Research at the Endangered Wildlife Trust, following one of the most devastating wildlife poisoning incidents ever recorded in southern Africa. Follow us on:CapeTalk on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTalkCapeTalk on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@capetalkCapeTalk on Instagram: www.instagram.com/capetalkzaCapeTalk on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567CapeTalk on X: www.x.com/CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Graeme Raubenheimer is in conversation with Charles Phahlane of SANParks, to speak about the recent fires that ravaged parts of Table Mountain National Park and surrounding areas. They are currently assessing the damage. Afternoon Drive with John Maytham is the late afternoon show on CapeTalk. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic, and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30 p.m. CapeTalk fans call in to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B.” Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live – Afternoon Drive with John Maytham is broadcast weekdays between 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) https://www.primediaplus.com/station/capetalk Find all the catch-up podcasts here https://www.primediaplus.com/capetalk/afternoon-drive-with-john-maytham/audio-podcasts/afternoon-drive-with-john-maytham/ Subscribe to the CapeTalk daily and weekly newsletters https://www.primediaplus.com/competitions/newsletter-subscription/ Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTalk   CapeTalk on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@capetalk   CapeTalk on Instagram: www.instagram.com/capetalkza  CapeTalk on X: www.x.com/CapeTalk  CapeTalk on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Maytham spoke with Megan Taplin from Table Mountain National Park about the concerns about the Tokai Fire, including questions over the speed of the response and the management of alien vegetation. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show. This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily. Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit. Listen live – Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit is broadcast weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) https://www.primediaplus.com/station/capetalk Find all the catch-up podcasts here https://www.primediaplus.com/capetalk/good-morning-cape-town-with-lester-kiewit/audio-podcasts/good-morning-cape-town-with-lester-kiewit/ Subscribe to the CapeTalk daily and weekly newsletters https://www.primediaplus.com/competitions/newsletter-subscription/ Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTalk   CapeTalk on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@capetalk   CapeTalk on Instagram: www.instagram.com/capetalkza  CapeTalk on X: www.x.com/CapeTalk  CapeTalk on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Africa Melane is joined by Charles Phahlane, Senior Communications Manager at SANParks, to unpack how nearly 3,000 hectares of vegetation—including irreplaceable indigenous flora—have been reduced to ash due to the Tokai fires. Follow us on:CapeTalk on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CapeTalkCapeTalk on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@capetalkCapeTalk on Instagram: www.instagram.com/capetalkzaCapeTalk on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567CapeTalk on X: www.x.com/CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SANParke het veiligheid in die Tafelberg Nasionale Park verskerp deur 'n helikopter van die Krugerwildtuin te ontplooi. Die lug-ondersteuning is deel van SANParke se veiligheid- en sekerheidstrategie wat see-, lug- en bergspanne insluit. JP Louw van SANParks sê die helikopter dien as sigbare afskrikmiddel en verseker vinnige reaksie op moontlike bedreigings. Hy sê dis al bewys dat lugoperasies suksesvol is wanneer daar baie besoekers is soos tydens Paasfees, Kersfees en Nuwejaar:

Fiona Macleod, editor of Oxpeckers Environmental Journalism, joins John Maytham to unpack a chilling exposé on the criminal networks driving rhino horn trafficking across the South Africa-Mozambique border. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy MacIver speak to Andy Davies, Chairperson of Friends of Table Mountain, a group dedicated to preserving the safety, accessibility, and integrity of the park, about the safety in the Table Mountain National ParkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Burning Planet is Daily Maverick’s section dedicated to expert environmental opinion and analysis. Each Friday on The Afternoon Drive, we partner up to discuss a pressing environmental issue. This week, John Maytham is joined by award-winning journalist Estelle Ellis to discuss the March 5, 2025, incident in which four elephants were involved in a truck accident on Olifantskop Pass.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To discuss the latest updates, the reopening of trails, and lessons from this fire season, John Maytham is joined by Megan Taplin, Park Manager at SANParks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining us now is Charles Phahlane, Senior Manager Communications at SANParks. Charles is here to provide clarity on SANParks' role in managing the Hout Bay area, their approach to invasive tree removal, and how they aim to balance ecological preservation with community concerns.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joining us now is JP Louw, Head of Communications and Spokesperson for SANParks. JP will guide us through the New Year’s Eve safety plans for Table Mountain National Park and share why adhering to these guidelines is vital for keeping this treasured natural site safe during the festive season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Maytham speaks to JP Louw of SANParks ahead of New Year’s Eve. Authorities have made an appeal to the public to avoid using fireworks in and around the Table Mountain National Park as they fear it may lead to fires.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Maytham speaks to Sarah Waries, the CEO of Shark Spotters about an agreement they have entered into with the City of Cape Town, SANParks and Cape Nature to implement the Baboon Strategic Management Plan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Maytham speaks to JP Louw, Head of Communications and Spokesperson for SANParks, about how these measures ensure a safe and enjoyable experience at one of South Africa’s most iconic destinations. Stay tuned!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lester Kiewit speaks to JP Louw, Head of Communication at SANParks, and Ben Koene, owner of Black Box Coffee, about the recent closure of the popular coffee trailer in Table Mountain National Park. JP explains the evolved tender process and why it was introduced, while Ben shares the challenges small businesses face under this new system. With growing concern from the public, the discussion explores the impact on entrepreneurs and the balance between fair opportunity and long-term sustainability.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the festive season approaches, SANParks has announced its National State of Readiness to welcome a surge of local and international visitors across its renowned parks.   With an emphasis on safety, environmental conservation, and enhancing visitor experience, SANParks has implemented a range of preparations to accommodate the holiday crowds.   JP Louw, SANParks Head of Communications Manager and Spokesperson explains more  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Insight - Last Knysna Forest Elephant: SANParks Debate Intervention by Radio Islam

Julie Evans, journalist at the Daily Maverick weighs in on what is known about the last Knysna elephant, known as Strangefoot. Data on her life has been documented by dedicated SANParks rangers Karel Maswati and Wilfred Oraai for the past 30 years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a discussion with Mike Wills, Sam Ferreira, a Large Mammal Ecologist at SANParks, highlights the complexities of managing elephant populations in Kruger Park, where Environment Minister Dion George has ruled out culling. Despite elephants causing significant environmental damage—such as habitat destruction, overgrazing, and soil erosion—Ferreira stresses that the problem isn't simply about numbers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Parke het sy 2040-visie in Sandton bekendgestel met die doel om toekomstige bewaring te verbeter. Die raadsvoorsitter, Pam Yako, verduidelik die plan is daarop toegespits om klimaatsweerstandige, beskermde gebiede te skep en nasionale trots te bevorder, wat alle Suid-Afrikaners betrek. Sy beklemtoon dat gevorderde tegnologie die plan sal aanvuur om bestaande omgewingsuitdagings aan te pak en ekostelsels te versterk.

Lester Kiewit speaks to Megan Taplin, Park Manager at SANParks for Table Mountain, to discuss security concerns on Table Mountain especially for events such as the RMB Ultra Trail Cape Town. A number of participants were mugged while participating in 2023, which has led to a reluctance among some international athletes to enter for this year's race. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Ranger Day is an annual global observance on the 31st of July, dedicated to commemorating rangers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty and acknowledging the invaluable work they do to protect the planet's natural treasures and cultural heritage.JP Louw, head of Communications and Spokesperson for SANParks joins us on the line    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Skukuza  Magistrate Court, in Mbombela is expected to sentence three men who were convicted of poaching related charges in May this year. Thirty-three-year-old  Dominic Mnisi,31-year-old  Ayanda Ngomane and 31-year-old Lwazi Malambe were convicted of seven counts including, trespassing at a national park, hunting of rhinoceros in a nation park and possession of unlicensed firearm, among charges. For more on this and a look at the fight against rhino poaching in South Africa, Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SANParks spokesperson, Ike Phaahla.

The fire that was sparked by lighting on Sunday has largely been contained according to SANPARKS  approximately 283 hectares of veld was destroyed. Megan Taplin from SANPARKS joins us live for the latest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South African National Parks is expected to unveil SanParks Vision 2040 towards the end of this month. It's believed the plan will include a plan to create real jobs in the tourism industry. Locally an announcement was recently made about upgrades at the much-loved West Coast National Park home to Churchaven and Kraalbaai and the Postberg spring flower extravaganza. Joining me on the line now to tell us more about the improvements is park manager Charlene Adams. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pippa chats to JP Louw, SanParks' Head of Communications about booking the Otter Trail. This after a listener raised a red flag and started a petition about costs being unnaturally inflated by third parties.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenny Threthowan from Baboon Matters gives her take on the recent meeting about baboon management in the Cape Peninsula, involving stakeholders such as SANParks and CapeNature. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lauren Howard of SANParks speaks to Lester Kiewit about dangerous sinking sands on Noordhoek beach which left a horse trapped.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pippa speaks to the head of communications at SANParks JP Louw. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Megan Taplin is The Manager of Table Mountain National Park and she joins John to discuss current systems and potential strategies to manage the efficiency of the experience of 100s of 1000s of tourists that will visit Cape Town's proudest landmarks this season.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concern has been raised over the safety of visitors to one of South Africa's major tourism draw cards - the Table Mountain National Park. The increasing spate of muggings and robberies led to a peaceful protest last week to highlight safety and security issues. The latest reported attacks include foreign tourists and mountain bikers who were robbed at knife point. Concerned groups have accused SANParks of not doing enough to provide security in the national park, especially now as we head into the festive season when more visitors are expected.  We spoke to Table Mountain National Park manager, Megan Taplin.

Guest: Co-director of AVISENSE Africa Dr. Andrew Jenkins joins John to discuss on what the SANParks can do to improve the conservation of African Penguin as it is at the brick of extinction.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille will conduct an oversight visit to various sites within the Kruger National Park to inspect investment projects by the Department of Tourism and the private sector. Minister de Lille will engage the SANParks Management on general tourism matters as well as safety issues in and around the Kruger National Park. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to SANParks, spokesperson Ike Phaaphla

This episode is the ultimate guide to birding in Northern Kruger! I chat with one of the best Kruger bird guides, Marc Cronje from Nature Travel Birding. We find out all about where to find all the sought-after species in this section of the park, including routes to travel, camps to stay at, where to get food, and even some hints on the SANPARKS rangers to do game drives with. This episode has everything you need to plan your next Kruger escape and add lots of birds to your life list. Visit our online store to get your birding-related merchandise at great prices https://www.thebirdinglife.com/online-storeIntro and outro music by Tony ZA https://soundcloud.com/tonyofficialzaLinks from the show:Westerman's https://valemount.co.za/westermans/Nature Travel Birding www.naturetravelbirding.comRhino Post Safari Lodge www.rhinopostsafarilodge.co.za/

Guest: Jon Friedman is the Media and Communications Manager at SANParks, and he joins Amy to discuss the problem of graffiti on Table Mountain. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SANParks says the murder of a German tourist near the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga is a huge setback for the tourism sector and the country.

Members of the public can, from tomorrow (Monday) until Friday, visit any South African National Park of their choice for FREE! That's because this year's National Parks Week, running from 12th to 16th September, sees entry fees at just about every SANParks gate dropped. SANParks says the initiative aims to give the public an understanding of the role that SANParks plays as custodian of the country's natural heritage and hopes communities around its parks will use the opportunity to see parks. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to SANParks spokesperson Ike Phaahla 

South African National Parks (SANParks) is set to launch its 17th annual SA National Parks Week from 12 to 16 September 2022. Africa is joined by Reynold Thakhuli, Head of Communications at SANParks to talk about what's on offer. SANParks week is aimed at linking the South African national parks system to the global national movement and to also showcase the best of South Africa's national parks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hello fellow travellers! In this episode I discuss the South African travel deals that are annually made available to local citizens during September. These include the SA Travel Week and the SANParks week. Do make sure to not miss out on these deals. Enjoy! *Disclaimer: Limpopo is a Province. In this episode, I make the mistake of saying it is a country. My mouth sometimes tends to betray me and it seems to do so, more especially, throughout this episode.

The City of Cape Town is this month meeting with residents and businesses in baboon-affected areas, to engage with communities about baboon management. The intention is to discuss more sustainable proposals. These meetings will include residents, businesses SANParks, CapeNature, and the City of Cape Town. The meetings will be online, and all residents, businesses, interest groups and affected parties are encouraged to attend. Meetings are scheduled for every affected community, and residents are encouraged to attend the meeting in their area, and any other meeting if they so wish.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Couch - Rhino War Two guests join us on the virtual couch today, to talk about the war on rhino poaching about how a shift in tactics has at last started delivering some results in the Kruger National Park. The department of Environmental Affairs last released rhino poaching figures in February this year. They told that 451 rhino were poached in South Africa during 2021 – - a 24% decrease compared to 2019, which is the last meaningful comparison year seeing as Covid lockdowns skewed the figures dramatically in 2020. It's also a notable drop from where we were a few years back, when over a thousand rhino were poached every year from 2012 to 2017. When one looks specifically at the Kruger National Park, we see that 209 rhinos where poached last year, a drop from 247 in 2019, and down from a peak where over 500 animals were being killed per year in the mid 2010's. Despite the steady decrease, the impact on the rhino population has been devastating, with the park's numbers dropping by 60% since 2013. It is a grim picture despite the hopeful downturn. But one thing stood out in Minister Edna Molewa's press statement this Feb – her comment about how collaboration between police and Sanparks had led to an increase in arrest and convictions, and how the increased intensity of anti-poaching activities in the park was contributing to the steady decline.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Head of Communication and Marketing at SAN Parks, to social media star. We chat to Sipho Mkhwanazi who quit his job at Sanparks, to make videos on tik tok. We chat about changing careers and the challenges that come from it.  Tik Tok star Sipho “Alphi” Mkhwanazi decided to quit his comfortable job as the head of communication and marketing for South National Parks seven months after the social media bug bit him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Treasury, economists and consumer lobby groups discuss SA's government's decision to reduce the fuel levy by R1.50 in order to deal with the exorbitant increases in the price of petrol.  Post-Covid honeymoon over for SA businesses so, how is the business sector dealing with the hangover. Pam Yako, Board Chairperson at SANParks new tourism investment opportunities on offer in National Parks.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On across the desk this week, Clement hosts game rangers.  What are the stories of the game rangers, drivers and wildlife trackers?  He speaks to rangers from across the country's national parks, Dhiraj Nariandas, Innocent Lebepe and Kwena Mabala. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest: Sipho  Mkhwanazi |  Regional Marketing and Communications Manager at                                                             SANParks   Wasanga is joined by Sipho Mkhwanazi, Regional Marketing, and Communications Manager at SANParks to talk about the top 10 travel tips to take into consideration when planning your next vacation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following previous protests by surrounding communities about the lack of economic opportunities for them in the Kruger National Park, SANParks is expected to embark on a series of Economic Transformation roadshows that seek to communicate available business opportunities within the Park for local communities to take part in. SANParks says the initiatives will provide up-to-date and relevant information to businesses and communities which explains what SANParks, as a public entity can and can't do. For a look at what the roadshows will entail,  here is Kruger National Park's Managing Executive, Gareth Coleman... If you are interested or want more information you can get hold of Media and Communicaition manager, Ike Phaahla on 083 673 6974  

WARRIORS OF LIGHT SHOW | THE LANGUAGE OF SPIRIT WITH THATO TSHUKUDU | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 04TH | 5:00 PM, CAT. This new episode with Thato Tshukudu is; ~ A transmission on the language of spirit with the understanding that spirit communicates with us at all times and in different forms. ~A reflection on some of the languages of spirit such as the language of connection & surrender, the language of symbolism, the language of transformation & resonance, the language of memory, the language of transmutation, the language of synchronicity and the language of frequency & vibration. ~An expansion on the gifts of Clair senses which include clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairempathy and how they are linked to our intuition as genetic pathcutters. ~ Breaking down the five elements which are; air, water, earth, fire and ether, and how they are interconnected to the language of spirit ~ Understanding the importance of acceptance and deep surrender into the initiation path, in order to forge a stronger relationship with spirit as a genetic pathcutter. ~ An appreciation of kuphahla as a mantra and a form of meditation for connecting to the language of spirit that connects one to their lineage. ABOUT THATO TSHUKUDU Thato Tshukudu (Gogo Mthunzi/Mkhulu Manzini) is a sangoma, diviner and nature therapist living in Pretoria and has been practising as a traditional healer for over 11 years. Her passion is to debunk the myths and negative publicity that surrounds traditional healing. She is an avid promoter and advocate for the celebration and preservation of African culture and heritage. She shares her experiences regarding her gift on social networks and various media platforms to demonstrate the positive impact that traditional healing has on the community and to encourage tolerance and acceptance for African Spirituality within our society. She takes people on specially curated spiritual retreats to sacred sites and natural spaces nationwide in order to encourage their connection to the divine healing power of Mother Nature. During these retreats she customises activities, rituals and dialogues that are linked to the 5 elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit) of nature and that highlight the unique energy of the spaces that are visited. Thato also encourages conservation of nature amongst healers and for guests to honour and respect natural spaces for future generations. She believes the retreats are a way to spiritually decolonise these sacred sites that were deliberately usurped from their indigenous people and their custodians denied access because the oppressors understood their divine importance to significant elements of African cosmology. She also works as an Operations Manager at SANParks and was part of the team that pioneered the introduction of Cultural and Spiritual experiences at the organisation. The first one of these was the African Spirituality Weekend at Golden Gate Highlands National, followed by the Mapungubwe Lecture Series at Mapungubwe National Park, a world heritage site, which is now in its third year running. The experiences aim to promote and celebrate cultural heritage, spiritual tourism and educate people on understanding and having respect and tolerance for cultural diversity. Learn more here : http://joymogami.com/warriors-of-light-show/

Of All things Powerful and Powerless! Local Elections are done and dusted - bar the squealing, Load Shedding is here and there - but COP26 may bring some new light to the scene, The Bokke are there in Cardiff, SANParks are granting free access between 22 - 28 November (START PLANNING!), Elon Musk should build a uni in SA, not Texas, and a flying visit by Ted Blom to Ronnie's Sex Shop and Route 62. All this and more to #BeHeard on the SAPeople.com podcast, website and FB page.

Of All things Powerful and Powerless! Local Elections are done and dusted - bar the squealing, Load Shedding is here and there - but COP26 may bring some new light to the scene, The Bokke are there in Cardiff, SANParks are granting free access between 22 - 28 November (START PLANNING!), Elon Musk should build a uni in SA, not Texas, and a flying visit by Ted Blom to Ronnie's Sex Shop and Route 62. All this and more to #BeHeard on the SAPeople.com podcast, website and FB page. SAPeople.com · Solid Gold Podcasts

Rusty is coming back to Doctor Who. No, not that one. It's Russell T Davies, back to regenerate the greatest show on TV with his old production team. It remains to be seen whether he can recapture the magic, but the BBC must be desperate. Gaming PCs are incredibly rare, and they're likely to get even rarer. This means people will pay a massive premium, and that entry level parts don't really exist anymore. This makes us sad. Everyone should have the opportunity to build a PC and learn about electronics. Maybe in the post apocalyptic future there will be enough supply to meet demand. An Aussie team has created a significantly cheaper and easier to make solar panel that outperforms traditional panels. The sunniest place on Earth could really use some of those. They still need to scale up, but it's great to see Aussie scientists making huge strides. Doctor Who: A New Hope? - https://twitter.com/bbcdoctorwho/status/1441405833997217798 Affordable PCs are now a pipe dream- https://www.pcgamer.com/rip-cheap-graphics-cards/Tech Start Up makes new Solar Cell- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-21/australian-start-up-creates-world-s-most-efficient-solar-cell/100476152Other topics discussedBBC - 5 things the Doctor does in any worrying situation | @Doctor Who - BBC- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0ED6CGmjm4Russell T Davies (a Welsh screenwriter and television producer whose works include Queer as Folk, The Second Coming, Casanova, the 2005 revival of the BBC One science fiction franchise Doctor Who, Cucumber, Years and Years and It's a Sin.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_T_DaviesTorchwood (a British science fiction television programme created by Russell T Davies. A spin-off of the 2005 revival of Doctor Who, it aired from 2006 to 2011.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TorchwoodBad Wolf (production company) (a British television production company founded by Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter in 2015, with its headquarters in Cardiff, Wales.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Wolf_(production_company)Olly Alexander set to be new Doctor Who as first gay actor to play Time Lord- https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/15405348/olly-alexander-doctor-who-actor-gay/Ruth Clayton (a human identity assumed by the Fugitive Doctor, who hid on Earth using a Chameleon Arch.)- https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Ruth_ClaytonJo Martin (Jo Martin played Ruth Clayton/Fugitive Doctor in the Doctor Who television stories Fugitive of the Judoon and The Timeless Children, alongside Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor. She was the first non-white actor to be cast in the role of the Doctor in the DWU.)- https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Jo_MartinDoctor Who: actor Christopher Eccleston reveals he has anorexia- https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/49719101Christopher Eccleston is the Doctor!- https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/christopher-eccleston-is-the-doctorMurray Gold (an English composer for stage, film, and television and a dramatist for both theatre and radio. He is best known as the musical director and composer of the music for Doctor Who from 2005, until he stepped down in 2018 after the tenth series aired in 2017. He has been nominated for five BAFTAs.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_GoldDaleks and Cybermen- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCsXO7r6-z4Bob Baker (scriptwriter) (a British television and film writer. Baker and Martin devised for Doctor Who the robotic dog K-9 (created for The Invisible Enemy), the renegade Time Lord Omega (created for The Three Doctors, Doctor Who's 10th anniversary story) and the Axons. K-9 was originally intended to appear in one story only, but the BBC decided to make it a recurring character. )- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Baker_(scriptwriter)Elisabeth Sladen (an English actress. She became best known as Sarah Jane Smith in the British television series Doctor Who, appearing as a regular cast member from 1973 to 1976, alongside both Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, and reprising the role many times in subsequent decades, both on Doctor Who and its spin-offs, K-9 and Company (1981) and The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007–2011).)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_SladenSarah Jane Smith (a fictional character played by Elisabeth Sladen in the long-running BBC Television science fiction series Doctor Who and two of its spin-offs.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Jane_SmithThe Sarah Jane Adventures (In addition to Sladen, the first series of the programme stars Yasmin Paige as Maria Jackson, Sarah Jane's 13-year-old neighbour in Ealing, west London, and Tommy Knight as a boy named Luke, who is adopted by Sarah Jane at the conclusion of the introductory story.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sarah_Jane_Adventures#Cast_and_crewSadie Miller (an English actress and author. She is known for her portrayal of Natalie Redfern in the Sarah Jane Smith audio drama series by Big Finish, her novel, Moon Blink, from Candy Jar Books's series, Lethbridge-Stewart, as well as her association with the science fiction series, Doctor Who. She is the daughter of actors Brian Miller and Elisabeth Sladen.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadie_MillerSean Pertwee (the son of Jon Pertwee, who played the Third Doctor. He briefly appeared as himself in the 50th anniversary story The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.)- https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Sean_PertweeJon Pertwee (played the Third Doctor from 1970 to 1974, beginning from Spearhead from Space to Planet of the Spiders.)- https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Jon_PertweeGotham (TV series) (an American crime drama television series developed by Bruno Heller, produced by Warner Bros. Television and based on characters published by DC Comics and appearing in the Batman franchise, primarily those of James Gordon and Bruce Wayne.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotham_(TV_series)Showrunner Russell T. Davies wants a Doctor Who Cinematic Universe- https://winteriscoming.net/2021/01/25/doctor-who-cinematic-universe-russell-t-davies/The Day of the Doctor (a special episode of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who, marking the programme's 50th anniversary.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_of_the_DoctorJourney's End (TV story) (Journey's End was the thirteenth and final episode of series 4 of Doctor Who. It was the final regular appearance of all the Tenth Doctor's companions, though they would all appear in cameos in The End of Time (barring Catherine Tate and Bernard Cribbins who prominently feature) to commemorate David Tennant's final story.)- https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Journey%27s_End_(TV_story)Torchwood: Miracle Day (the fourth series of the British science fiction television programme Torchwood, a spin-off from the long-running show Doctor Who.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torchwood:_Miracle_DayDay One (Torchwood) (the second episode of the first series of the British science fiction television series Torchwood. The episode centres on Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) working her first case with the alien hunters Torchwood in Cardiff, when she lets loose a purple alien gas that survives on the energy of orgasms. Over the course of the episode, the team hunt for Carys before the gas kills her.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_One_(Torchwood)Everything Changes (Torchwood) (the first episode of the British science fiction television programme Torchwood, which was first broadcast on 22 October 2006. The story is told from the perspective of Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles), who comes across the Torchwood team through her job as a police officer with the South Wales Police, who are investigating a series of strange deaths in Cardiff.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everything_Changes_(Torchwood)Resurrection gauntlet (The resurrection gauntlet — also known as the resurrection glove or just the glove, and, jokingly, the risen mitten — was a metal gauntlet that had the ability to revive the dead for a limited time, though with unfortunate and usually deadly consequences.)- https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Resurrection_gauntletTorchwood: Children of Earth (Children of Earth is the banner title of the third series of the British television science fiction programme Torchwood, which broadcast for five episodes on BBC One from 6 to 10 July 2009.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torchwood:_Children_of_EarthRyzen (a brand of x86-64 microprocessors designed and marketed by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) for desktop, mobile, server, and embedded platforms based on the Zen microarchitecture. It consists of central processing units (CPUs) marketed for mainstream, enthusiast, server, and workstation segments and accelerated processing units (APUs) marketed for mainstream and entry-level segments and embedded systems applications.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RyzenWhy is there a chip shortage?- https://www.bbc.com/news/business-58230388Nvidia sold $155 million in crypto mining chips last quarter, but PC gaming remains its biggest market- https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/26/nvidia-pc-gaming-still-more-important-than-crypto-for-revenue.htmlThe Life of a Miner - Crypto Mining Farm at Apartment | August 2021 Update- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB7NV7SR3bAChubbyemu - A Bitcoin Miner Heatstroked In His Sleep. This Is What Happened To His Organs.- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr8bp8a2QS4PCPartPicker - Asus Radeon RX 580 8 GB DUAL Video Card- https://au.pcpartpicker.com/product/jkFXsY/asus-radeon-rx-580-8gb-dual-video-card-dual-rx580-o8g?history_days=730China's top regulators ban crypto trading and mining, sending bitcoin, rivals tumbling- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-25/chinas-top-regulators-ban-crypto-trading-/100491122Chrome OS (a Gentoo Linux-based operating system designed by Google. It is derived from the free software Chromium OS and uses the Google Chrome web browser as its principal user interface. Unlike Chromium OS, Chrome OS is proprietary software.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrome_OSSolarCity (a publicly traded company headquartered in Fremont, California that sold and installed solar energy generation systems as well as other related products and services to residential, commercial and industrial customers.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolarCityElon Musk's Battery Farm Has Been a Total Triumph. Here Comes the Sequel.- https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/green-tech/a34598095/elon-musk-battery-farm-sequel-australia-tesla-powerpack/Hornsdale Power Reserve (a 150MW/194MWh grid-connected energy storage system owned by Neoen co-located with the Hornsdale Wind Farm in the Mid North region of South Australia, also owned by Neoen. During 2017 Tesla, Inc. won the contract and built the Hornsdale Power Reserve, for a capital cost of A$90 million, leading to the colloquial Tesla big battery name.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornsdale_Power_ReserveHornsdale Power Reserve (Elon Musk placed a wager that the battery would be completed within "100 days from contract signature", otherwise the battery would be free. Tesla had already begun construction, and some units were already operational by 29 September 2017, the time the grid contract was signed. The battery construction was completed and testing began on 25 November 2017. It was connected to the grid on 1 December 2017. The 63 days between grid contract and completion easily beat Musk's wager of "100 days from contract signature", which started when a grid connection agreement was signed with ElectraNet on 29 September 2017, 203 days after Musk's offer on 10 March (in Australia).- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hornsdale_Power_Reserve#ConstructionNorwich Games Festival - Ashens - Gallery of Shame - 1 June 2019- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFF9O73iwkoS.S. Antarctica (a battleship owned by the penguins of Antarctica.)- https://simpsonswiki.com/wiki/S.S._AntarcticaSS Penguin (a New Zealand inter-island ferry steamer that sank off Cape Terawhiti after striking a rock near the entrance to Wellington Harbour in poor weather on 12 February 1909.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_PenguinElden Ring (an upcoming action role-playing game developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game is a collaborative effort between game director Hidetaka Miyazaki and fantasy novelist George R. R. Martin.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elden_RingBandai Namco Selects “My Dark Souls Story” Contest Winners- https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/03/11/bandai-namco-selects-my-dark-souls-story-contest-winners.aspxNerdy, Inc. - My Dark Souls Story: Biography of the Chosen Undead - The Dark Souls Story- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbiLl-m0Ry4NASA's Mars Rover Curiosity Had Planetary Protection Slip-Up- https://www.space.com/13783-nasa-msl-curiosity-mars-rover-planetary-protection.htmlAmazon Women in the Mood (the first episode in season three of Futurama.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Women_in_the_MoodApocalypse Now (a 1979 American epic psychological war film directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola. It stars Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall, Martin Sheen, Frederic Forrest, Albert Hall, Sam Bottoms, Laurence Fishburne, Harrison Ford, and Dennis Hopper.)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypse_NowCast Party: A Dungeons & Dragons Podcast (TNC podcast)- https://www.patreon.com/CastPartyShout Outs 20th September 2021 – Mick McGinty, Legendary Video Game Artist, passes away - https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/09/legendary_street_fighter_ii_artist_mick_mcginty_has_passed_away Mick McGinty, an artist that produced cover art for video games like Street Fighter II and Streets of Rage 2, has died. While many gamers might not know McGinty by name, those that grew up in the '90s will immediately recognize his art. The artist contributed some of the most iconic images in all of gaming, telling stories that immediately captivated players. McGinty was an immensely talented artist, as is evidenced by the impressive collection of work on his personal site, but for gamers of the '90s, his output will be almost synonymous with video game covers. He is perhaps most famous with Nintendo fans for creating the western cover artwork for the SNES version of Street Fighter II. While many people took issue with the 'westernisation' of the artwork at the time, it was very common practice for companies like Nintendo to commission entirely new artwork which was better suited to a particular region. McGinty's cover – which features Chun-Li fighting Blanka over the prone body of Ryu – has gone down as one of the most recognisable video game covers of all time. McGinty's association with Street Fighter would continue with Street Fighter II: Champion Edition on the Mega Drive / Genesis, Street Fighter II Turbo on the SNES and Super Street Fighter II.21st September 2021 – Endangered South African penguins killed by swarm of bees near Cape Town - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58622482Sixty-three endangered African penguins have been killed by a swarm of bees in a rare occurrence near Cape Town, bird conservationists in South Africa say. The protected birds, from a colony in Simonstown, were found on the shore with multiple bee-stings. They had no other physical injuries. National parks officials told the BBC this was the first known attack at the world-famous Boulders Beach, which attracts up to 60,000 visitors a year. "Usually the penguins and bees co-exist," said Dr Alison Kock, a marine biologist with South Africa's national parks agency (SANParks). "The bees don't sting unless provoked - we are working on the assumption that a nest or hive in the area was disturbed and caused a mass of bees to flee the nest, swarm and became aggressive," she added. "Unfortunately the bees encountered a group of penguins on their flight path." Post-mortems found that the birds had been stung around the eyes and on their flippers. That is because "those are the parts that are not covered by feathers," Dr Katta Ludynia, from the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob), told the BBC. Penguins have pink sweat glands around their eyes and "that area is particularly thin - similar to human fingers," explained Shanet Rutgers, senior penguin keeper at Cape Town's Two Oceans Aquarium. One of the penguins had been stung 27 times. African penguins are distinctive for their small size, and live on the coast and islands of South Africa and Namibia - though some have been spotted as far north as Gabon.Their populations are rapidly declining, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says. The national body said in a statement on Sunday that it was still conducting toxicity and disease checks on the birds, and would continue to monitor the situation.22nd September 2021 – 10th Anniversary of Dark Souls - https://www.glitched.online/landmark-rpg-dark-souls-celebrates-its-10th-anniversary-today/ Ten years ago to the day, Japanese video game developer From Software released the critically acclaimed dark fantasy action RPG, Dark Souls, which would go on to change the gaming landscape forever. Refining the formula already established in Demon's Souls while introducing a bevy of new mechanics that have been adopted and replicated by other titles, Dark Souls would spearhead an entirely new sub-genre of gaming. Today, Dark Souls officially celebrates its 10th anniversary. Dark Souls‘ history is relatively straightforward in comparison to many other success stories in gaming. From Software first dabbled in the dark fantasy setting with Demon's Souls, showcasing their ability to tell epic but narratively mysterious tales featuring fantastical beasts, ambiguous NPCs and deceptively challenging gameplay. The last part has remained the foundation of all From Software games since, increasing their difficulty in newer titles like Bloodborne and Sekiro while still retaining their creative power for captivating and immersive stories, worlds and characters. Dark Souls was well-received by fans, often cited as their favourite game of all time. It's success went on to spawn two sequels, Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III; two creative spiritual successors in Bloodborne and the upcoming Elden Ring; and a Tenchu-styled action title Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice that heavily borrowed elements from From Software's trademark style. Demon's Souls may have been the first, but it was really Dark Souls that put the Japanese studio on the map, leaving behind a legacy that has been the source of inspiration for a number of games like the Nioh series, The Surge, Lords of the Fallen, Mortal Shell, and numerous others. Dark Souls is not only remembered for its staple difficulty, but inspired world design, creative boss encounters, a plot that simply begged to be dissected and explored further, and a blueprint for a new style of game that bounced off the success of this defining RPG.24th September 2021 – 20th anniversary of Ico - https://www.nme.com/en_au/features/gaming-features/ico-minimalist-masterclass-in-cinematic-and-emotional-storytelling-3051674 Released between those two films in 2001 and 2002, Ico (pronounced ‘ee-ko' – but don't worry if you get it wrong, I did so too for a very long time) is a single-player action-adventure game developed by Sony's Japan Studio. This game kicked off the career of Fumito Ueda. It was the first in a series of games that featured similar themes, including beloved titles like Shadow of the Colossus and The Last Guardian. Ico is special in the way it handles abandonment and isolation. Devoid almost entirely of all dialogue, Ico essentially works like a silent film. There's a clear sense of loneliness that's present throughout the entire game. But there's also a feeling of hope. Ico's soundtrack is almost suffocating at times, though it also presents a number of beautiful pieces. “Heal,” for example, is one of the best save themes in any game. Ico's soundtrack is almost suffocating at times, though it also presents a number of beautiful pieces. “Heal,” for example, is one of the best save themes in any game. One of the game's fans is also Hidetaka Miyazaki of FROM Software. Miyazaki, the creator of Demon's Souls, and in turn the Souls series, is one of the biggest game industry figures of the last decade. Much in the way the game would inspire Straley and Druckmann, Miyazaki cites Ico as a game that showed him the different possibilities that video games as a medium had to offer.Remembrances21st September 1954 – Mikimoto Kōkichi - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikimoto_K%C5%8DkichiA Japanese entrepreneur who is credited with creating the first cultured pearl and subsequently starting the cultured pearl industry with the establishment of his luxury pearl company Mikimoto. He was inducted into the house of peers by imperial decree and posthumously awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure. On April 18, 1985, the Japan Patent Office selected him as one of Ten Japanese Great Inventors. The company was ranked as one of the world's most luxurious brands by Women's Wear Daily Magazine and Mikimoto was considered one of the best Japanese financial leaders of the 20th century by Nihon Keizai Shimbun. He is also known as the founder of Mikimoto Pharmaceuticals, a company specialising in beauty products containing pearl calcium. Mikimoto Pearl Island is named after him. In addition, the "Phoenix Mikimoto Crown" used by Miss Universe winners as well as the pageant crown used by Miss International is credited to his patented work. Mikimoto began his search of an alternative method to produce pearls as the chairman of the Shima Marine Products Improvement Association. At this point the demand for pearls had severely outweighed the supply, prompting the consideration of an effort to protect the oysters. In 1888, Mikimoto obtained a loan to start his first pearl oyster farm at the Shinmei inlet on Ago Bay in Mie prefecture with his wife and partner Ume. On 11 July 1893, after many failures and near bankruptcy, he was able to create the hemispherical cultured pearls. The pearls were made by seeding the oyster with a small amount of mother of pearl. In 1927, Mikimoto met with inventor, Thomas Edison, who was in awe of Mikimoto's cultured pearls as it was "supposed to be biologically impossible". He died at the age of 96 in Japan.Famous Birthdays21st September 1902 – Allen Lane - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_LaneA British publisher who together with his brothers Richard and John Lane founded Penguin Books in 1935, bringing high-quality paperback fiction and non-fiction to the mass market. In 1967 he started a hardback imprint under his own name, Allen Lane. He rose quickly at Bodley Head, becoming managing editor in 1925 following the death of his uncle. After conflict with the board of directors who were wary at first—for fear of being prosecuted—of publishing James Joyce's controversial book Ulysses, Lane, together with his brothers Richard and John, founded Penguin Books in 1935 as part of the Bodley Head. Penguin Books became a separate company the following year. The legend goes that on a train journey back from visiting Agatha Christie in 1934, Lane found himself on an Exeter station platform with nothing available worth reading. He conceived of paperback editions of literature of proven quality which would be cheap enough to be sold from a vending machine; the first was set up outside Henderson's in Charing Cross Road and dubbed the "Penguincubator". Lane was also well aware of the Hamburg publisher Albatross Books and adopted many of its innovations. Most booksellers and authors were against the idea of paperbacks. They believed that paperbacks would result in individuals spending less money on books. Lane was a person that was very stubborn when it came to his company. He operated mainly on intuition and imagination. "He thrived in an atmosphere of crisis and came most fully alive under the challenge of great dilemmas." He was a creative genius that once he had an idea he would not stop until it came to fruition. Once he decided on creating paperbacks he set about in deciding what the books should look like and finding a name. He had decided that the books would be reprints so he also needed to approach other publishers to see if they and their authors would be willing to sublease the rights of the books. He was quoted as saying, "I have never been able to understand why cheap books should not also be well designed, for good design is no more expensive than bad." He was born in Bristol.Events of Interest21th September 2003 – The Galileo spacecraft is terminated by sending it into Jupiter's atmosphere. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_project#End_of_mission_and_deorbit When the exploration of Mars was being considered in the early 1960s, Carl Sagan and Sidney Coleman produced a paper concerning contamination of the red planet. In order that scientists could determine whether or not native life forms existed before the planet became contaminated by micro-organisms from Earth, they proposed that space missions should aim at a 99.9 percent chance that contamination should not occur. This figure was adopted by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) of the International Council of Scientific Unions in 1964, and was subsequently applied to all planetary probes. The danger was highlighted in 1969 when the Apollo 12 astronauts returned components of the Surveyor 3 spacecraft that had landed on the Moon three years before, and it was found that microbes were still viable even after three years in that harsh climate. An alternative was the Prime Directive, a philosophy of non-interference with alien life forms enunciated by the original Star Trek television series that prioritized the interests of the life forms over those of scientists. Given the (admittedly slim) prospect of life on Europa, scientists Richard Greenberg and Randall Tufts proposed that a new standard be set of no greater chance of contamination that that which might occur naturally by meteorites. Galileo had not been sterilized prior to launch and could have carried bacteria from Earth. Therefore, a plan was formulated to send the probe directly into Jupiter, in an intentional crash to eliminate the possibility of an impact with Jupiter's moons, particularly Europa, and prevent a forward contamination. On April 14, 2003, Galileo reached its greatest orbital distance from Jupiter for the entire mission since orbital insertion, 26 million km (16 million mi), before plunging back towards the gas giant for its final impact. At the completion of J35, its final orbit around the Jovian system, Galileo impacted Jupiter in darkness just south of the equator on September 21, 2003, at 18:57 UTC. Its impact speed was approximately 48.26 km/s (29.99 mi/s).21st September 1994 – Dinosaur Island premiered in Japan - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109627/ On this day in 1994 in Japan, Dinosaur Island enjoyed its premiere on home video. The Fantasy/Comedy feature starred Griffin Drew and Michelle Bauer, and here's the premise: "An army captain is flying three misfit deserters home for a court martial when the plane has engine trouble and they must land on an uncharted island. There they find a primitive society of cave women who routinely sacrifice virgins to appease The Great One, the top dog dinosaur on the the island. Mistaken for gods, the men must destroy The Great One or face death, but meanwhile they fall in love."The cavewomen's ranch was constructed on a remote portion of David Carradine's ranch.Shot in 12 days.Almost every day was extremely hot during the shooting of this film except one.A sequence with a stop-motion animation dinosaur attacking people on the beach was changed to a hand puppet dinosaur in post-production.The filmmakers paid an additional four thousand dollars for the poster art used to advertise this film.Antonia Dorian said she was nervous filming her first love scene in this film, especially since she was going to be topless. She'd danced topless in Vegas shows and in videos, but that wasn't the same as being on a small set surrounded by male actors and crew just a few feet away, all staring at her. Jim Wynorski gave her wine to calm her nerves. He also limited how many people would be on set. That and the wine helped her finally get through the scene.When the female warriors are chasing the dinosaur towards the ocean, you can see Malibu homes in the background hills.Wynorski said that Roger Corman asked he and Fred Olen Ray to make the film after Jurassic Park came out. "It wasn't so much a Jurassic Park rip off as a cavewoman movie", Wynorski said.Wynorski and Ray said they rewrote the script entirely. They knew who they were going to cast, employing actors they had worked with before, and tailored the script accordingly. They based the characters of the soldiers on characters in Stripes. Another influence was The War that Time Forgot, part of the Star Spangled War Stories comic book series.The movie was shot at Vasquez Rocks and David Carradine's ranch at Sun Valley over ten days. Wynorski says he and Ray made it "on a wing and a prayer".Wynorski later said, "I'd never co-directed a movie before, but it was smooth sailing all the way. When one of us got tired, the other would take over. I'd usually go back to the comfort of the air-conditioned motor home and hang out with the girls. You really can't beat that."Wynorski says he was at a party when he met Joe Pesci who told him he loved the film, saying "everytime I watch it I feel like I want to go there."IntroArtist – Goblins from MarsSong Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJFollow us onFacebook- Page - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/- Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/440485136816406/Twitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamatedSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrSiTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nerds_amalgamated/Email - Nerds.Amalgamated@gmail.comSupport via Podhero- https://podhero.com/podcast/449127/nerds-amalgamated See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Former Umkonto We Sizwe commander, SanParks boss and Home Affairs director general, Mavuso Msimang is widely recognised as one of the most level-head people to emerge from the struggle against apartheid. Now retired, he has been corralled by President Cyril Ramaphosa to do an almost impossible job and to speed up the process by which someone with a so-called “critical-skill” can come and live and work in South Africa. The problem is that there's this list, and if your skill isn't on it you can't come and live here, no matter how good you may be at whatever it is that you do. The Critical Skills List is the produce of the Department of Higher Education, The Department of Employment and Labour, the department of trade, industry and competition, the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Qualifications Authority so you can imagine what a disaster it is. The latest draft of a new list wants you if you're, among others, a farm manager or caravan park and camping ground manager. It wants you if you're a policy and planning manager but not if you're programme or project manager. Perhaps the list is merely a collection of the vacancies in the departments concerned. Mavuso Msimang has a few months to make the applications process faster. He tells Peter Bruce in this edition of Podcasts from the edge that its a tall ask.

Former Umkonto We Sizwe commander, SanParks boss and Home Affairs director general, Mavuso Msimang is widely recognised as one of the most level-head people to emerge from the struggle against apartheid. Now retired, he has been corralled by President Cyril Ramaphosa to do an almost impossible job and to speed up the process by which someone with a so-called “critical-skill” can come and live and work in South Africa. The problem is that there's this list, and if your skill isn't on it you can't come and live here, no matter how good you may be at whatever it is that you do. The Critical Skills List is the produce of the Department of Higher Education, The Department of Employment and Labour, the department of trade, industry and competition, the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Qualifications Authority so you can imagine what a disaster it is. The latest draft of a new list wants you if you're, among others, a farm manager or caravan park and camping ground manager. It wants you if you're a policy and planning manager but not if you're programme or project manager. Perhaps the list is merely a collection of the vacancies in the departments concerned. Mavuso Msimang has a few months to make the applications process faster. He tells Peter Bruce in this edition of Podcasts from the edge that its a tall ask.

Guest: Rey Thakhuli The South African National Parks says 12 of its parks will be going cashless from the first of September. This change will be implemented in two phases with the remaining parks moving to a cash-free payment system in the next financial year. The move is part of a bid to minimise queueing times and reduce the risk for staff and customers associated with the handling of cash. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The South African National Parks has announced that it is set to go cash-free from next month. The cash-free payment system will be implemented in a two-phased approach with several parks implementing from this year and the remaining parks implementing at a later stage. SANParks' Chief Financial Officer, Dumisani Dlamini elaborates....

Inspired by stories like Huberta, the migrating hippo and the elephants trekking across China, Peter's editorial focuses on the great and mysterious migrations of animals. Simon believes media outlets should be more responsible though and explains how sensationalist media can put wildlife and people at risk.Donkey collagen is a booming industry - and so are the animal welfare issues that come with it.Should social media companies like Facebook do more to prevent the growing number of illegal wildlife trade transactions on social media platforms? Proposed legislation should be supported. Simon suggests a discussion on our Wildlife & Conservation Club on Clubhouse. Follow the profile for more details here.Kenya's anti poaching efforts are working with no rhino poaching incidents reported for 2020.One poacher killed and several arrested in South Africa as SANParks reacts to the potential of increased poaching as the effects of Covid continue to grip the country.In response to yet another public call for rhino horn trade to be legalised, Simon asks that we be honest about motive. We must put differences said, yes, but we also need to agree on the objective and that should be how to protect wild rhino, not how to protect the opportunity of a few to profit from trade.Are we being hypocrites in challenging the fossil fuel and extraction industries? Perhaps, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't improve our own habits and continue the pressure on unscrupulous corporates like Recon Africa.Namibia could be facing new poaching challenges.The first fully vegan 3-star Michellen rated restaurant opens its doors in New York while Burger King open their first fully vegan outlet in Germany. A sign of a growing shift in animal welfare issues?

Guest: Nicky Schmidt | Chairperson at Parkscape The process for the review of the Tokai Cecilia Management Framework got underway last night, but not without any issues. To give you some context, Last Friday, Sanparks published a notice giving stakeholders and the public 5 days to register in order to take part in the engagement process for the review of  Tokai Cecilia Management Framework. Nicky Schmidt of the community-environmental NPO, Parkscape, attending that meeting, and says it was 'technological disaster', and has called for that meeting to take place again... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest: Nicky Schmidt | Chairperson at Parkscape             Frans van Rooyen |Table Mountain National Park's manager   On Friday evening, Sanparks published an notice giving stakeholders and the public 5 days to register in order to take part in the engagement process for the review of the Tokai Cecilia Management Framework.  It says the intended first review of the framework was delayed several times since 2015 by fires, a litigation process, and then the Covid-19 pandemic which made direct public engagements not possible. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest: Reynold "Rey" Thakuli | Acting head of communications  at SANParks To attract more local travellers to its parks, SANParks has turned to registered stokvels and hiking groups. The Stokvel and Travel club programme will give discounts of up to 20% at selected parks and camps, between certain dates during the course of this 2021-2022. Acting head of communications, Reynold Thakhuli, discusses this programme and gives up update on the rehabilitation of the Table Mountain Park following the fires in April.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earth Day Round Up! Greta Thunberg goes toe-to-toe with Rep Ralph Norman in a subcommittee hearing in Congress. Shannon thanks everyone for donating on Clubhouse, and we discuss ways that everyone can do their bit.Furch Guitars and Taylor Guitars are moving toward a more sustainable future and are becoming more conscious about the use of endangered and exotic woods in the manufacturing of their guitars - providing yet another way artists and consumers can use the power of their dollar to improve the planet. A new species of venomous snake discovered in Asia.  The latest union of hunters in South Africa, called the Sustainable Utilisation Coalition, leaves a lot to be desired…SANParks have a great week with multiple apprehensions in Kruger National Park.We discuss the update on ReconAfrica’s drilling in Namibia.

South African National Parks - SANPARKS - has opened its gates to day visitors for self-drive excursions. SANParks says the reopening of parks, after two months of closure during the Covid-19 lockdown, is being done under strict health protocols to safeguard both staff and visitors.

SA Cyclist Nicholas Dlamini had his arm broken by SanParks officials last December in Cape Town after they accused him of entering the Table Mountain National Park without a permit Guest: David Kapelus who is the Director Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc

The South African National Parks believes it is turning the tide in its fight against poaching in the Kruger National Park. This follows the arrest of nine alleged poachers in different parts of the park over the last three days. The sections where the arrests were made have been the hardest hit areas of rhino poaching over the years. SANPARKS rangers say the poachers were in possession of heavy calibre rifles and ammunition at the time of the arrests

Members of the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (HOSPERSA) at national parks have embarked on a strike for higher wages. Workers on strike included rangers, field guides, cleaners and security guards. The strike was suspended last week after SA National Parks tabled a new offer of 6,1 percent. SANParks runs 19 national parks including prime tourist resorts Kruger National Park, Table Mountain National Park and the Karoo National Park.Sakina Kamwendo spoke to HOSPERSA General Secretary Noel Desfontaines

The fifth lion that escaped from the Kruger National Park is still on the loose 2 days after a pride of 5 lions was first spotted under a bridge on the N4 highway. Four of the escaped lions were captured on Tuesday in the Mananga area and have since been returned to the park. Residents are being urged to remain vigilant. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to acting head of communications at SANParks, William Mabasa....