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Is there a pollution solution
To make one cotton T-shirt up to 2 700 litres are used – that is two-and-a-half years of drinking water for one person.

Dr Cindé Greyling, a UFS DiMTEC (Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa) alumni, studied drought mitigation – with a strong focus on communicating important water-saving information. 

Coming out of the closet

“We often point to the mining, agriculture, and energy sectors as water pollution culprits, which they are, but what about closer to home?” Dr Greyling asks. It is good if you take short showers, harvest rainwater, and are conscious about closing taps, but, she explains, there is a big problem hiding in your closet. Textiles. “It is difficult to put an exact number or ranking to it, but the textile industry could easily be in the top 10 water polluters. The cotton plant requires a lot of water and is one of the most chemically dependent crops in the world. Long before manufacturing starts, water is already at stake.” Not that polyester, or polyester blends are much better – when washed, thousands of microplastic fibers are released that eventually end up in our water sources and the oceans.

To dye for
“Most dyes used for textiles are also heavy water pollutants,” she explains. “And since we’ve developed a taste for cheap, mass-produced clothing, the production sites take strain – putting the community and environment at risk. When you wash these cheaply made garments, the same toxic dye is often visibly released.” The fashion industry is regularly criticised by animal activists for their insidious labour practices. But maybe it is time to help limit their environmental impact too.  

One in, one out
“We must unlearn our fashion gluttony. There is no pride in having a wardrobe full of clothes that you do not wear. Buy less, buy better quality, and care for your clothes so that you don’t have to replace them that often. To make one cotton T-shirt, up to 2 700 liters is used – that is 2 ½ years of drinking water for one person. My household applies a ‘one-in-one-out’ rule. You can only buy, for example, a new pair of denim jeans, if you take an old pair out that you either donate or repurpose. It works very well – you think twice about purchasing.”

A helping hand
Dr Greyling thinks that beside individual efforts, the UFS community can contribute a lot toward reducing textile water pollution, such as opening a pre-used clothing bank on campus. “Students are very influential and can easily create a ‘cool to re-use’ fashion trend, even if just locally. Also, research students can further explore and develop textile alternatives like bamboo, hemp, or a more water-friendly synthetic.” 

News Archive

Scaena Theatre: Boom! (Afrikaans) 7-9 May
2009-05-08

Produksie: Boom!
Regie: Adriaan Meyer
Teks: Nataniël
Kostuums: Errol Arendz
Stelontwerp: Strijdom van der Merwe
Datum: 7-9 Mei
Venue: Scaena-teater
Kaartjie-pryse: R65 & R95
Besprekings: Computicket

BLOEMFONTEIN: Nataniël-aanhangers wat nog nie Boom! gesien het nie, moet gou spring vir kaartjies. Die produksie is gedurende Mei-maand moontlik vir die laaste keer in Bloemfontein te sien.

Boom! is deur Nataniël geskryf. Al die 2008-vertonings van die stuk op Aardklop en die Volksbladfees is al uitverkoop. Ekstra vertonings moes gereël word. Die produksie was ook op ander feeste, soos die Woordfees op Stellenbosch te sien. Die eenvrou-tragikomedie is `n vertoonstuk vir die vaardige spel van met Hilletje Möller.

Hilletje Moller verwerf in 2005 haar B.A Drama en Teaterkuns aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat, waar sy Universiteits erekleure vir teaterkuns verwerf. Hilletjie maak haar professionele debuut, tydens haar vertolking van die hoofrol in Skerp-sin (oorspronklike teks deur Pulitzer pryswenner Margaret Edson). Verder was sy al op die verhoog te sien in produksies soos “Die Huweliksaansoek" , “Nag van Legio", “Bloedbruilof", “Weer" en “Bewys" wat in 2008 Beste Debuut Produksie by die Volksblad Kunstefees aangewys is. Hilletje is in 2008 gekeur om haar studies aan die Lee Strasberg drama instituut in New York voort te sit.

Op 7-9 Mei om 19:30 is BOOM! In die Scaena-teater op die UV-kampus te sien. `n Middagvertoning om 14:30 is ook op Saterdag gereël. Kaartjies is beskikbaar teen R65. Teen slegs R95 per persoon is 20 sitplekke per vertoning beskikbaar op die leerbanke en sluit sjerrie in.

Besprekings is deur Computicket (Mimosa Mall en Checkers).
 

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