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Saturday, June 29, 2013

Thieves



 I have had a few emails from other people about these people doing the same thing elsewhere! Keep your eyes open – Mike G
…….
1.      This same group have been hitting a number of hardware shops, where they have managed to get hold of cash - the same ploy of buying some small item.  We thought they were just going into  Indian owned stores, but it seems that is not the case.……….2.       These three woman were in Mutare last month and robbed us and several other companies with the same distraction techniques.  The police were able to lift fingerprints but nothing more has come of it.
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Voter's Role



Check the excellent www.myzimvote.com website to see if you , your friends, your workers etc are on the Voter’s Roll. Check spellings and details carefully.

ANTI-HIJACK UPDATE FOR JUNE 2013




 We are half way through 2013 ….. where has this year gone? …. And sadly we have to report that the crime has by no means abated …..  Reports still going out to be alert and aware of con men, being extremely polite, but bold enough as to just walk onto properties with  a story of either looking for property to rent or that the yard they are in is for sale or a delivery for the address then may ask for a glass of water to drink to divert attention as another accomplice enters into the house and quickly takes all valuables( mobile phones, jewellery, laptops) and searches for cash, before taking off out the gate or over the wall to a waiting getaway car.  These men are well dressed and well spoken, full of smiles and small talk …..They are in no hurry and take time in surveying the property and house.  The getaway cars have been reported as a silver Mercedes, a black/ dark green Toyota vehicle, or a light grey CVR …… Please be alert and warned.

Mount Pleasant has seen several break ins  with laptops, hard drives, mobile and I phones, jewellery with a family crest on the one ring, watches, drivers licence and documents, this is very stressful to all concerned.  This is not the only area, there has been feed back in many areas, including Greystone Park, Borrowdale, Chisipite, The Chase, Alex Park and as far as Marondera.

There has been quite a bit of advertising on the subject of pets, please read it and make sure that your animals are not outside at night where they can easily be poisoned. Get them to the nearest vet or 24 hour vet as soon as possible, to witness them in pain and often death is not pleasant.  Animals inside are wonderful alarms and the tone of the bark tells all. This in conjunction with your house alarm that should always be activated is a great peace of mind.  The usual reminder to please check on all security equipment, remotes and backup systems are in good working order especially with all the power cuts we are receiving on a daily basis


Let’s ALL fight this crime together  - stay ALERT and SAFE ! 



ANTIHIJACK TRUST: Email: hijack@mweb.co.zw or hijack@zol.co.zw
Phone : 0772221921 or your nearest Police Station.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Burning of waste



Backyard or community trash burning has become a common method to dispose of garbage.
·        Health concerns from trash burning
·        Better trash disposal options available to you                                                                                        
Most people who burn their waste do not realize how harmful this practice is to their health and to the environment.  Current research indicates that backyard burning is far more harmful to our health than previously thought.  
A study measured the types and amounts of many chemicals in the smoke from burn barrels. For some of those chemicals, burning about 10 pounds a day of trash in a household burn barrel may produce as much air pollution as a modern, well-controlled incinerator burning 400,000 pounds a day of trash!
Backyard burning of trash in a barrel, pile or illegal dump site releases smoke into the air.  The content of the smoke depends on the trash that went into the fire, the temperature of the fire and the available oxygen.
Trash fires in burn barrels can smolder and as a result produce greater amounts of harmful chemicals in the smoke. Harmful chemicals can also be present in the ash.
Trash containing plastics, polystyrene (such as foam cups), CCA pressure-treated wood and bleached or colored papers can produce harmful chemicals when burned. For example, when CCA pressure-treated wood (which contains arsenic) is burned, arsenic can be released in the smoke or remain in the ash.

Burning rubbish can lead to the following
  • it adds to air pollution
  • burning garden waste produces smoke, especially if it is damp and shouldering
  • burning plastic, rubber or painted material not only creates an unpleasant smell but also produces a range of poisonous compounds
  • it will also add to the general background level of air pollution
  • it causes detrimental health effects
  • smoke may cause problems for asthmatics, bronchitis sufferers, people with heart conditions and children
  • it causes annoyance to neighbours
  • the smoke, soot, and smells from fires are the subject of many complaints to
  • smoke prevents your neighbours from enjoying their gardens, opening windows or hanging washing out, and reduces visibility in the neighbourhood and roads
  • it is a potential safety risk
  • fire can spread to fences or buildings and cans are a hazard when rubbish is burned
  • piles of garden waste are often used as a refuge by animals, so look out for hibernating wildlife and sleeping pets

Who Is At Risk?
Smoke from any fire can affect your health, your family's health and your neighbor's health. The smoke from backyard burning is released close to the ground where people can easily breathe it. The smoke from the fire can deposit chemicals on garden vegetables and garden soil. People can be exposed to those chemicals by eating fruits and vegetables grown near the trash-fire or in garden soil tilled with the ashes. Young children may be at greater risk than adults because of their playing behaviors, their small size and their developing bodies.
The chances of developing health effects from contact (exposure) with smoke from burn barrel fires depends on how much smoke a person contacts, how a person is exposed (e.g., breathing the smoke or eating vegetables affected by the smoke) and how long and often the person is exposed. Some people may be more or less sensitive than others to chemicals in smoke. People exposed to smoke could experience burning eyes and nose, coughing, nausea, headaches, or dizziness. Some people find the odors produced by burn barrels disagreeable, and they may experience discomfort, headaches, and nausea. Smoke can trigger asthma attacks. People with heart and lung conditions are at greater risk for health effects. Repeated exposures to pollutants in burn barrel smoke may occur when people burn trash on a regular basis, and this may increase the risk of chronic health problems. Also, unattended burn barrels or backyard burning can cause accidental fires.
Smoke from burning trash in a barrel contains particulate matter, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen cyanide, benzene, styrene, formaldehyde, arsenic, lead, chromium, benzo(a)pyrene, dioxins, furans and PCBs. Some of these chemicals are found in smoke from any fire. Although substances such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde can cause immediate health effects with enough exposure, some chemicals such as dioxin can build up in foods and in your body. Some of these chemicals can remain in the environment for a long time and can remain on your property (for example, soil outside and dust inside your home).

How Can Burning Trash Get Chemicals Into Your Body?
  • Breathing the smoke.
  • Eating food contaminated by smoke and ash.
  • Playing in areas of contaminated soil or dust.
How Can Chemicals From Burning Trash Get Into Your Food?
  • Smoke and ash can settle on fruits and vegetables.
  • If ash is mixed into the garden soil, chemicals can be taken up by crops.
  • Chemicals can enter milk, eggs or meat if farm animals eat contaminated feed or soil.
Break The Habit! And Stop Backyard and Community Burning.
Here are some simple tips to avoid the need to burn your trash:
  • Reduce
Avoid waste. Buy fewer items and select products with the least packaging.
  • Re-use
Buy products that can be re-used and/or come in containers that can be re-filled.
  • Recycle
Learn about your community's recycling programs. Dispose of your recyclables accordingly and urge others to do the same.  RAZ – Recycling Association of Zimbabwe recycling@environmentafrica.org
  • Compost
Compost plant-based kitchen and yard waste – Step by Step instructions available
  • Dispose
Weekly Municipal Refuge Collection, or contact City of Harare for additional removal of waste. Director of Waste Management Mr Chibanda email WMANAGEMENT4@GMAIL.COM emuzavazi@harare.co.zw - Landline no. 770362 or 780127  
Be considerate of your neighbors!
For your health, the health of your family and your neighbors and your community's environment,   you are urged to Stop Backyard Burning.
Burning Trash Is Not Only a Bad Idea: It is Against the Law.
DR MUNGOFA                                             MRS SHOKO                                            
Director of Health Services                          Environment Management  Agency
Cellphone No. 0712 860 734                         Cellphone No. 0772 951 287 / 0712 236 835
Landline: 753330 / 772926                            Landline: (04) 793125 / 705662