A number of free events are also being run concurrently. Most of the action will be concentrated along the Beachfront, from Ushaka Marine World to the uMngeni Green Hub near Blue Lagoon. Please refer to the attached docuemnt for names of the specific areas along the Beachfront. There will be lots and lots other events happening all over the City as well, some of which are listed in the attached programme.

Please watch the press and check the website www.cop17-cmp7durban.com for details of additional events, and updates on schedules.

FINAL COP17 EVENTS.pdf

The COP17 Tree at the Durban Beachfront

The Indigenous Knowledge Centre at the North-West University (South Africa) in cooperation with the NRF/DST Chair on African Traditional Medicines (University of KwaZulu-Natal), the National IKS Office (Department of Science and Technology, South Africa), and The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency, will be organizing round table discussions and Exhibition during COP 17 UN Conference in Durban (29-30 November 2011) on the Role of Indigenous Knowledge, Young Scientists and Youth  on Climate Change in Durban.

The venue will be at the University  of KwaZulu-Natal (Howard Campus). The focus will be on indigenous knowledge strategies on food security and health in climate change for vulnerable groups. The round table discussions are a continuation of the International Student Conference on Climate Change and IKS (CCIKS2011) which was held in Johannesburg,  South Africa (29-31 August, 2011).

The Objectives of the Round Table Discussions

• To share with the international community the outcomes
  of the International Student Conference on Climate Change and Indigenous Knowledge
  Systems (IKS) held in Johannesburg (29-31 August 2011), especially the
  strategic framework for the establishment of continental forums on African
  Young Scientists and Youth Initiative on Climate Change  and IKS
• To create a platform for Young Scientists, Youth and
  Indigenous Knowledge holders from within and outside Africa to share experiences
  and contribute to the programmatic initiatives of COP 17 UN Conference on
  Climate Change;
• To provide an opportunity for young scientists and youth
  attending COP 17 UN Conference on Climate Change to build networks on promoting
  the role of IKS and youth in climate change.
• To mainstream indigenous knowledge and climate change
  in the knowledge agenda of development agencies, academic and research institutions
  for sustainable livelihood and development.

Target Audience

• Youth and Young Scientists interested in the role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Climate Change
• Development Agencies
• Academic and research institutions
• Policy makers
• Indigenous Knowledge holders and practitioners
• Civic organizations

Venue: Howard Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Durban), http://www.ukzn.ac.za

Program: To be announced, check for updates online at http://aysiccik.blog.com/

Contact and Registration: (Participation is free of charge)

Please register to secure a place due to limited space. Send the following information:

Full name, position, institution, contacts (phone, email and postal) as well as your areas of interest with the
subject “COP17IKS” to: kayah.kaya@nwu.ac.za; and copy to both: ankeweisheit@web.de; gqalenin@ukzn.ac.za;

Deadline: 25th November 2011 or until all 100 slots filled

Kindly bring along the confirmation email provided by us.

Please note: The organizers can not provide travel funding or other related funding

Organising Committee

Prof. Hassan O. Kaya, Co-ordinator, IKS Centre, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa, Tel: +27-18-3892294, email: kayah.kaya@nwu.ac.za,

Prof. Nceba Gqaleni, NRF/DST Chair on African Traditional Medicines (University of KwaZulu-Natal,
Durban, South Africa, Tel: +27-847270119, email: gqalenin@ukzn.ac.za,

Ms. Anke Weisheit, Taskforce Leader, establishing the Institute of IKS, Mbarara, University
of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda, Tel: +256-772-888096, email: ankeweisheit@web.de

Link to the Invitation in PDF

The underlying sense of ‘belonging’ and ‘connectedness’ to a social group can play a key role in the ability of vulnerable communities to cope with and recover from the impacts of climate change.

Acknowledging the linkages between cultural identity and climate change resilience is particularly relevant within vulnerable developing contexts given the richness of their traditional knowledge and cultural heritage, the need for innovative responses to the challenges posed by climate change, as well as the new opportunities provided by information and communities technologies (ICTs) to access, assess and use information and knowledge.

The notion of cultural identity is linked to the way in which we relate to the customs, practices, languages and worldviews that define a group or territory. It involves the conservation of social memory, the generational transfer of indigenous knowledge, the ability of a community to self-organise around common interests and shared values, and the maintenance of social networks that are based on trust and solidarity, among others.

All of these factors are pivotal in the capacity of vulnerable communities to deal with change and uncertainty, and to build resilience in the face of climate change.

Read the full article …

The arrival of the undersea fiber cables in Kenya in 2009 has revolutionized the technology and economic sectors. Kenya is one of very few countries in Africa with a comprehensive framework set up in this regard. Average national download speeds have increased from 670.89 kbps in 2009 to 3,806.03 Kbps in 2011. Further, mobile broadband speeds have also drastically increased while cost of Internet access decreased.  Mobile broadband is the ability to access data, voice and video at high speeds over an Internet connection through a portable modem especially a mobile phone. Recently, Safaricom and Orange announced download speeds of up to 21Mbps on their 3G networks .

Read the full article at iHub …

Read the full article on the Business Day …

• Read the document (PDF, 10mb) …

This year’s Living Legends were Mbongeni Mtshali, Jonathan Rhodes, Sam Ramsamy, Dr Angelo Lambiris, Dudu ‘Lady D’ Khoza, Graeme Pollock, Thandie Ngonelo, Felicity Keats, Professor Paulos Zulu, Mato Madlala, Don Mkhwanazi, Susan Barry, Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, Lucas Nel, Professor Thandinkosi Madiba, Dr TP Naidoo, Ndikho Xaba, Lorraine Scott, Vivian Reddy, Roslyn Narain, Miriam Cele and Obe Mlaba

Profiles of each Living Legend will be added to the Ulwazi Community Memory.

The topic for the evening’s panel discussion was “The role of youth academies in the development of internationally competitive footballers in South Africa”,  Moderator Lindani Mbense of SABC Sport introduced the three panelists Clive Barker, Sugar Ray Xulu and Thabo Dladla.

The evening's three panelists were Thabo Dladla, Sugar Ray Xulu and Clive Barker

Clive Barker decried the academies as a strategy for development. He was against sending off children to academies, which disregards the role that parents and families should be playing in the development of their children. Thabo Dladla of the Izichwe Programme, an initiative based in Pietermaritzburg which combines development in football and academic training, argued that parents have forgotten their moral responsibility to ensure that their children acquire skills which would hold them in good stead in future. Sugar Ray Xulu felt strongly that young people should be coached by experienced people. He highlighted that soccer is a mind game, that perfection is achieved through the drilling in of mental techniques and that discipline is very important. In principle he was not opposed to the concept of academies hoped the academies will involve skilled and experienced coaches. Clive Barker supported the involvement of former players in the development of football. Dladla echoed Clive Barker’s sentiments on parent involvement and argued that the migration of local youngsters to Gauteng to join academies there should be discouraged and local structures created. Barker emphasised the need to support local teams and create local programmes for upcoming soccer players, whilst Neil Tovey argued for structured school football to be brought back, highlighting the role that schools’ league and tournaments can play in advancing sport development.

From the floor soccer legend Bhiza Dlamini made the point that football today is not only a game but big business and argued that federations have killed football by not investing in development. . A point on the need for sustainability, good governance and transformation was raised from the audience. According to Dladla, development is about commitment, we can’t afford to sit back and blame the South African Football Association (SAFA) because SAFA starts at home. Clive Barker proposed development of the under 17 national league and under 17 teams to play curtain raiser matches for big games.

The panelists receive their award from Tebogo Mzizi, Senior Manager: Libraries

Views from the audience stated clearly the key role of the Education Department  - that physical education must be done by professional sports people and that strong, well-managed associations are indispensible for development.

Written by Bheki Mchunu