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Good news from Namibia and around the world

LOCAL

The Forests of a Desert Land

TH!NK Namibia is a national information campaign centred around environmental awareness, renewable energies, water conservation, climate-smart agriculture and sustainable forest management. In April this year TH!NK Namibia is launching a docuseries focusing on the impact that deforestation has on local communities and our country as a whole. This branch of the information campaign aims to raise awareness, support information exchange and build capacity and knowledge to implement sustainable forest management in Namibia.

Watch the video: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=RlLuCIFBozI

Source: TH!NK Namibia

Dr Esperance Luvindao receives the Commonwealth Points of Light award

In 2019 the Namibian healthcare advocate and humanitarian began offering online consultations to rural communities, free of charge. She has since consulted over 44,000 people who would otherwise have to travel long distances and wait up to 10 hours to see a doctor. Dr Luvindao’s outstanding volunteer work has been recognised by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, who awards inspirational individuals for selfless efforts in their communities and beyond.

Source: Points of Light

Walvis Bay teenager celebrates her birthday by feeding the needy

Azelle van Rooi chose not to throw a party for her 14th birthday, instead asking her mother to buy ingredients with which she and her cousin prepared meals for a disadvantaged community in the harbour town. Initially wishing to remain anonymous, Azelle was later encouraged to tell her story and hopefully inspire others to help the less fortunate. She says “I grew up in a privileged home where I have enough. I rather wanted to use my gift to bless others who need it. I gave it to the councillor (Ryan Gordon) as he would know who to give it to.”

Source: The Namibian

Swakop River reunited with the Atlantic after 11 years

After much-needed heavy rainfall inland, the river that mouths into the Atlantic at its namesake coastal town reached the ocean for the first time since 2011. The Swakop River and its tributaries have been dry for over a decade. This historic event sent Swakopmund locals and holidaymakers rushing to the mouth of the river, with some digging out sand barriers to help the stream gush into the ocean. Aerial photography shows the muddy river reunited with the sea after seemingly endless years of drought in the country.

Source: The Namibian

THE WORLD

New Swiss technology allows man with cut spinal cord to walk again

A motorcycle accident paralysed Michel Roccati, who lived an active life of boxing, running and fitness training before his spinal cord was completely severed. Shortly after receiving a medical implant that emits electrical signals to the spinal cord, Michel was able to take some steps assisted by a wheeled walking aid. It is the first time someone with a complete spinal cord cut has been able to walk freely. Epidural electrical stimulation (EES) functions like a WiFi repeater, carrying signals further down the body. While the device is too complex to be used in everyday settings, the dormant leg muscles are exercised through this rehabilitation and is considered a massive leap towards improving the quality of life of paralysed people.

Source: BBC

Iceland to hang up harpoons and end whaling from 2024

Recent economic feasibility studies show that whales would generate more revenue from tourism – with whale watching tours – than from being hunted and eaten. In light of this and many other factors, Iceland’s Minister of Fisheries, Svandís Svavarsdóttir, has cancelled all new permits for commercial whaling. Current permits will expire in 2023 after which whaling in Iceland will end for good. Their last full season of whale hunting in 2018 saw 146 endangered fin whales and six minke whales caught for the export market in Japan. In the past three years, only one minke whale was hunted. Instead of ending up on plates, whales around Iceland are the stars in a budding ecotourism scene that saw 360,000 whale watchers visit the country in 2019.

Source: Al Jazeera