What Lies In Store For Us And Our Children? Come And Find Out At The Eden To Addo Fund Raising Talk By Ian Michler At The Beacon Island Hotel, Plettenberg Bay On The 19th February At 6.00P.M.

BECAUSE humans have become the most influential species on the planet, it is increasingly being suggested that our current epoch, the Holocene, be replaced by the Anthropocene – a new geological time period that defines our current impacts.

First mooted back in 2000 by the Dutch chemist Paul J Crutzen, this time in Earth’s history is currently being examined and heavily debated among the scientific community.

Environmental factors such as climate change, the loss of biodiversity, and global pollution levels are typically seen as primary features when explaining our current global situation. But these have not occurred in isolation, and any meaningful discussion must also embrace political and economic paradigms, education systems and population levels, among many others.

Either way, evidence from around the world is overwhelming: almost all of Earth’s physical, chemical and biological systems are being altered by humans, and some at alarming levels.

And no matter your status on our planet, this should be concerning to every single one of us as these are the same systems that ensure human life and our general well-being.

If you are interested in understanding the Anthropocene as well as exploring all the links that feed the scientific debate, then please join Eden to Addo and Ian Michler for an insightful presentation on February 19 at the Beacon Island.

Using powerful imagery and scientific data, Ian will unpack the challenges we face as well as discuss the reasons why individuals and societies seem reluctant to change, before offering possible out- comes as we head into the next 50 years and beyond.

The Anthropocene’ by Ian Michler is a fundraiser for the Eden to Addo Corridor Initiative on Wednesday February 19 at 7pm. Doors do the Lagoon Room open at 6pm and there will be a cash bar on the terrace facing Robberg Beach.

The lecture will be followed by a silent auction of mounted photographs and prints by renowned photographer Obie Oberholtzer.
Tickets at R150 each are available from Barnie Barnard at The Market Square Info Cen- tre (044 533 3219). For booking details, email admin@edentoaddo.co.za or visit the Eden to Addo Facebook page.

Master photographer Obie Oberholzer has availed several of his photos, including this one pictured above, to be auctioned after Ian’s February 19 talk; take note that an 18A-receipt will be issued for all funds raised during the silent auction.

IAN MICHLER has spent the last 29 years working as a specialist guide, safari operator, photo- journalist and consultant across Africa. His writing focuses on the continent’s conservation and environmental challenges and he is the author and photographer of seven natural history and travel books. He is the lead character, researcher and co-campaign leader for the feature documentary Blood Lions and a director of Eden to Addo. He currently runs Invent Africa Safaris and is enrolled as part-time student at the Sustainability Institute, Stellenbosch University.