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2020: An unprecedented start to a critical decade

2020: An unprecedented start to a critical decade

8 December 2020

As we share this message to reflect on the events of 2020, we acknowledge the extraordinary circumstances of this year and the devastating impacts of COVID-19 on lives, health, and livelihoods for people in our country, and around the world. Our staff has been touched by the COVID-19 pandemic in many ways, and our thoughts… continued

Another milestone as criminal charges proceed against coal polluter Eskom

Another milestone as criminal charges proceed against coal polluter Eskom

7 December 2020

Last week, the Department of Environment, Forestry & Fisheries (DEFF) confirmed that the National Prosecuting Authority has resolved to proceed with the criminal prosecution of major polluter and state-owned entity Eskom, for criminal violations of air pollution laws at its Kendal coal power station. Kendal power station is situated in the heavily polluted Mpumalanga Highveld, 40km… continued

Celebrating a major climate victory: Court sets aside approval for Thabametsi coal power plant

Celebrating a major climate victory: Court sets aside approval for Thabametsi coal power plant

1 December 2020

Last week, the High Court in Pretoria set aside the environmental approval for the 1200 MW Thabametsi coal-fired power station that would have been built in its first phase at 557 MW outside Lephalale in Limpopo province. The court order was the result of the settlement of a court application brought by environmental justice groups Earthlife Africa and groundWork, Friends of the… continued

15 more activists graduate from the virtual 2020 Environmental Rights & Remedies Course for Activists

15 more activists graduate from the virtual 2020 Environmental Rights & Remedies Course for Activists

27 November 2020

On Friday, the Centre for Environmental Rights hosted a virtual graduation ceremony for the 15 community activists who successfully completed our 2020 Environmental Rights & Remedies Course for Activists. The ceremony was attended by CER attorneys and staff, and the keynote address delivered by internationally recognised local environmental justice activist Makoma Lekalakala, director of Earthlife… continued

More tough questions for climate rogue Sasol at its AGM on Friday 

More tough questions for climate rogue Sasol at its AGM on Friday 

20 November 2020

On Friday, 20 November 2020, activists and lawyers from the Life After Coal campaign will participate in the virtual Annual General Meeting of Sasol Limited. They will be joining community and civil society organisations and activists from South Africa and Mozambique, all of whom have acquired shares in Sasol and therefore attend as shareholders, to ask pertinent questions of Sasol’s board and management. The Life After Coal… continued

Major climate impacts scupper another coal power plant

Major climate impacts scupper another coal power plant

11 November 2020

Major climate impacts and exorbitant costs have sounded the death knell for one of the last new proposed coal-fired power stations in South Africa: Thabametsi in water-scarce Limpopo. Last week, environmental justice groups Earthlife Africa and groundWork, who have been challenging the Thabametsi power station in court since 2016, secured agreement from both Thabametsi and… continued

New anti-SLAPP website launched by Asina Loyiko campaign

New anti-SLAPP website launched by Asina Loyiko campaign

21 October 2020

On 20 October 2020, the Asina Loyiko campaign launched its new website to serve as a resource and connection hub for activists confronted by SLAPP suits (strategic litigation against public participation) and other uses of the law to discourage and silence activism and free speech. The collaborative Asina Loyiko: United Against Corporate Bullying* campaign, launched in 2019,… continued

Two exciting opportunities to work at CER

Two exciting opportunities to work at CER

19 October 2020

We have extended the application deadlines for two vacancies at CER to 1 November 2020. The first position is for an attorney in our Pollution & Climate Change programme. We are looking for an attorney with at least 3 years’ post-qualification litigation experience who has a passion for environmental justice. This is your chance to… continued

Join a webinar launch of Asina Loyiko anti-SLAPP website

Join a webinar launch of Asina Loyiko anti-SLAPP website

19 October 2020

You are invited to the launch of the Asina Loyiko Website! Please join us for the launch and webinar featuring local and international experts and a keynote address by local hero and activist, Nonhle Mbuthuma of the Amadiba Crisis Committee. RESISTING CORPORATE BULLYING AND INTIMIDATION Around the world, human rights activists are subjected to immense physical and… continued

Law, people, planet, justice: CER turns 10!

Law, people, planet, justice: CER turns 10!

6 October 2020

This week, the Centre for Environmental Rights honours a decade of litigation, advocacy and activism for environmental justice: it has been 10 years since CER opened its doors in 2010. Where it all started In the late 2000s, although section 24 of the South African Constitution guaranteed the right to a healthy environment, the concept… continued

Protecting water means protecting women

Protecting water means protecting women

13 August 2020

This article was first published in the Daily Maverick. South Africa is a water-scarce country, and in rural areas, women bear the brunt of water collection and provision. Many of those communities are affected by mining, which is not only heavily extractive, but also a major polluter of scarce water resources. Water is a burning issue… continued

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