“According to Dr Anthony Turton, director of Touchstone Resources, consideration should be given to studying the economic feasibility of ‘mining’ South Africa’s problematic acid mine drainage (AMD) and wastewater (mentioned in the December 2010 Scan) for metals, minerals, salt and even hydrogen. Turton is a protagonist not only of ‘mining’ AMD, but also the water in sewage works and obtaining phosphate, which is crucial for food security, as a by product. Turton favours consideration being given to the use of ion-exchange technology to remove the metals and minerals.

Organized crime is becoming increasingly globally connected and more powerful. In their capacity to grow they are changing the rules of daily life for poor communities in urban centers. Organized crime units are providing social services for communities where government has failed to do so, and at the same time are becoming increasingly embedded in everyday life of poor urban communities globally.

In an innovative move Southern African countries have charted out a trans-border tourism park in the hopes of creating increased stability, environmental protection, and development.

For many poor countries tourism is one of their main industries. Having a better understanding of how tourism contributes to the economies of these countries is a very important step that until know has not been much understood.

Increasing oil prices will not just effect the GDP of poor countries in potentially startling degrees, but will also make life dramatically harder for the poorest households.

A project that uses participatory mapping as a means of protecting forests in the Congo has been nominated for Buckminster Fuller prize.

“Every year, South Africa’s higher education and training sector produces 3 000 graduates that cannot find jobs, a third of who are trained in the engineering and science fields, a skills expert revealed recently. South Africa’s National Skills Development Handbook editor Mike Stuart said that this was mainly owing to a gap between the supply of skills and the demand of the occupational dispensation in the country.

Angolans are getting fed up with their dire living situation—an estimated 87% of the population live in shanty towns—despite oil wealth and a supposed peace dividend after their long civil war ended in 2002. Although large Arab Spring protests may not be possible in Angola due to both a heavily controlled state and memories of a recent war, the Angolan government is becoming concerned.

Wal-Mart is in the processes of acquiring a majority stake in African retailer Massmart. The 14 countries in Africa that Massmart is present in have different policies regarding competition and local procurement. South Africa appears to be posing the largest struggle for Wal-Mart through its competition hearing and strong unions.

The discovery of a highly resistant superbug raises questions about the public health implications of so much global mobility - and who suffers the most in the case of drug-resistant pandemics.

The South Africa Node writes,