Saving the environment with compostable sanitary pads, Our Club's public image gets lauded, calling all volunteers and Why we should make EcoBricks....

 From the Pen of the President...

 

At the time of writing, we are facing reduced water supplies that are expected to last for another 2 or so days. Not too long ago we had load shedding, or the now more used term of blackouts. We feel inconvenienced and annoyed that those in charge don’t seem to have gotten their act together. Yet, for so many of our citizens a reliable supply of water, electricity and basic services is a pipe dream.  Perhaps we would do well to be more tolerant of the problems service providers face and plan how best to cope with breakdowns and interruptions that will likely be with us for many years still.  Also, let us continue to help those who cannot help themselves.

Costa Qually
President

Tailpiece

He who is not content with what he has, would not be content with what he would like to have. (Socrates)

Last Friday...

.. Dr Coenie Louw, executive director of Gateway Health Institute and Growth.Life, was invited to address the club about his  research and development of socially, economically and environmentally sustainable sanitary pads made from natural banana fibres. These pads are 100% compostable, breaking down to soil in less than 180 days.

Why sanitary pads?

• Commercially available sanitary pads are unaffordable for a large portion of the female population
• Commercially available pads take 850 years to biodegrade
• They pollute the environment with micro-plastics
• Sanitary pads donations drives are unsustainable
• On average a young girl loses 44 school/work days a year due to menstruation.
• Just because girls are poor it does not mean that they need sub-standard products.
• With such high youth unemployment girls and young women need economic empowerment opportunities.
• Job creation for female small-hold farmers and in manufacturing and marketing.
• It is good for the environment 
• The bio-plastic is produced by the CSIR, use of organic glue and disinfected by UVC
• Sustainability is guaranteed by planting of banana trees to provide the fibre.
• Additional income through the sale of the fruit
• Compostable sanitary pads could cost 50% less 
• Carbon credits
• Expansion plans for tampons and disposable nappies.
• The R & D is almost complete, the SABS and CSIR will soon be testing samples for microbiology, absorption and composability.
• They plan on manufacturing 35 000 pads to be tested on 500 girls and young women.
• They will then be able to register 4EVA and the IP and create social franchises.

And a  Prestigious Public Image Award goes to....

Calling all Volunteers to offer their time for the annual Norwood Spar Food Drive..

On the last weekend of November we need 2 volunteers to fill the Saturday 27th  9:00 - 11:00 time slot and a further two for the 13:00 - 15:00 time slot.

On Sunday the 28th of November we need one volunteer to join David Bradshaw for the 11:00 - 13:00 time slot.

On Saturday the 4th of December we need 1 volunteer for the 9:00 - 11:00 time slot to join Mike Honnet and  further 2 volunteers for the 11:00 to 13:00 and another 2 for the 13:00 - 15:00.

Please contact Tutty Faber on fabertutty@gmail; he is co-ordinating the roster.

Why we should make EcoBricks...

Our club has enthusiastically supported the Rotary Club of Randburg's EcoBrick project in Diepsloot and it gives us pleasure to showcase their successes.

EcoBrick Classrooms

This Friday....

It will be Club Assembly. It will be a hybrid in-person and Zoom meeting and we urge as many members as possible to attend.