Biowatch – South Africa

Biowatch South Africa was established in 1997 as a national non-governmental organisation to publicise, monitor and research issues of genetic engineering and promote biological diversity and sustainable livelihoods. The organisation has its head office in Cape Town in the Western Cape and rural offices in Elandskraal in Limpopo Province and Mtubatuba in KwaZulu Natal. Both rural offices work with small scale farmers on sustainable agriculture, food and seed security and farmers’ rights. Read more about our outreach work.

A board of trustees oversees the overall policy and direction of Biowatch South Africa. The chairperson of the trust is Dr David Fig. Other trust members are Ms Dot Keet, Dr Thembela Kepe, Mr Thabang Ncgozela, Ms Rosieda Shabodien, Ms Sakhile Sifelani, Dr Nombulelo Siqwana-Ndulo, Ms Rosemary Williams and Ms Rachel Wynberg.

The day-to-day running of the organisation is carried out by a director and staff who specialise in research, advocacy, lobbying and policy, media, small farmer support and networking, financial management and administration.

Biowatch South Africa strives to prevent biological diversity from being privatised for corporate gain. We aspire to an environment where people control their food supply systems, where the benefits from commercial use of biological resources are fairly shared and where ordinary citizens are encouraged to help make policy choices about new technologies, such as, genetic engineering. We are working towards a future where there is no hunger, where there is social justice and where our land, water and air is protected.

Contact:
PO Box 13477
Mowbray 7705
South Africa
Tel: +27 21 447 5939
Fax: +27 21 447 5974

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VACANCIES

Advocacy Officer for the African Biodiversity Network. Full-time, based in Africa. More detail.

Gaia Learning Centre

2008 Programme of Events.

A range of workshops and evenings, to inspire and strengthen our relationship with the natural world and influence the choices we make in our daily lives.

** BOOK NOW **
Wild Law Workshop - 26-28 September - with the Environmental Law Foundation and the UK Environmental Law Association.

Earth Ethics Series

Summaries from recent Gaia Evenings.

Zero Carbon Britain - by Peter Harper

Restoring the Mythological Paradigm - by Jules Cashford

The Colombian Amazon: An Indigenous Peoples' Journey - by Dr. Martín von Hildebrand

Changing America's Environmental Laws - by Andrew Kimbrell.

Science's Changing Myth - by Prof. Brian Goodwin.

Countdown: Life on a Hotter Planet - by Mark Lynas.

A New Relationship with the Living Earth - by Dr. Rupert Sheldrake.

Get Involved

Other events and links to inspire you:

The Age of Stupid - the unmissable new climate change documentary for the big screen. Documentary footage, drama and cutting-edge animation asks "Why didn't we stop climate change when we had the chance?"

Earth is Community - DVDs
For anyone who was not able to make our Earth is Community event, celebrating the vision and path of Thomas Berry. A set of DVDs with the main presentations, now available.

Earth Community Network

Schumacher College and Bija Vidyapeeth offer residential courses on Earth democracy and sustainable living. Visit the Earth Community Network for more opportunities in experiential learning - in Brazil, Kenya, India, UK.