http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/save-the-groot-marico-river/

Just a couple of immediate thoughts on this one.

You really need to raise the National and International profile of what “African Nickel” are up to. A bad international press, especially on an ecological issue, (following hot on the heals of BP’s oil disaster) could hurt them financially.

Can you get a delegation to Nelson Mandela, make as much noise as you can. When Mandela speaks the world listens!

Remember the ANC and the “Freedom Charter”? The ANC has taken a lot of bad press on the Freedom Charter but if you could make it an issue you may force them to take action to regain general support. (There’s a lot more that could be said on this, however my feeling is to make this whole “African Nickel”, with its foreign investors, a very big Freedom Charter issue).

You could also try and invoke International Law and the United Nations to slow down the process. Equally the human rights issue would put you in the international spotlight as would appeals to the various International Human Rights Tribunals.

Not an easy path to tread.

Peter

1. Regulate what people cannot do and punish violations.

2. Offer incentives to encourage certain choices.

3. Provide information that rings so true it compels good choices.

If you believe that, for the most part, people want to do the right
thing, the most effective and peaceful method of influencing good decisions is to provide good information so the right thing becomes self-evident.

For example, Maine has historically had one of the highest teen smoking rates in the nation. We have made laws against teen smoking and punished violators. We have created incentives against smoking such as high taxes on cigarettes. These have not had satisfactory results.

Only recently has the rate dramatically declined and it is because we launched an information campaign that made the detrimental health effects of cigarette smoking clear. We provided truthful information on television and radio. For all those teens who want to do the right thing, it’s now clear what that is.

Practical Tip: Provide all decision makers with the best possible information about the issue being considered. Good, truthful information is extremely compelling.

Actually, good information is the only thing that is truly compelling and results in sustainable decisions.”

Craig Freshley

Keep on providing information that rings so true it compels good choices. You surely do in this article!

This little town features a bunch of really lovely people who are nature, community and spirit concise, there are allot of good things happening in Groot Marico, Ram Pumps, Organic Gardening, Alternative power, Small Permaculture projects, Buddhist Temple, Tipi’s, Cob Housing, Community Gatherings, Nature reserves, Fishing, Sound Journeys and Drum Circles… and a whole bunch of exciting stuff.

Please help us by signing the petition
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/586/253/543

So that you will have a lovely place to come visit
swim in crystal spring water, drink it while you swim, help out on a Permaculture Project, gather with the community, play some instruments, share and soak up the Beauty and Tranquility of the lovely Marico

Ps : Find the Happy Toes Farm ( http://www.happytoes.co.za/ ) and get your feet dirty.

See: http://eartheasy.com/blog/2010/04/our-psychic-connections-to-nature/