industry news Clean up for Mandela campaign
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uring July South Africans were urged by the ANC Government to clean up their cities, towns, neighbourhoods, villages and schools on Nelson Mandela International Day. “Government encourages all South Africans to work together and dedicate 67 minutes of their time to clean up South Africa on 18 July, Nelson Mandela International Day,” government said in a statement. Some of the activities that people were urged to participate in included cleaning up of streams, clinics, schools, picking-up litter, among others.
Communications Minister Faith Muthambi said the call was in line with President Jacob Zuma’s call for a major clean-up of the country’s cities, towns, townships, villages and schools. Every citizen was urged to play their part in beautifying South Africa. “Making a clean South Africa is a collective effort, which will require us to go out in numbers and participate in activities that will improve our surroundings,” said Mithambi. The private and public sectors were also urged to dispose of waste in
a responsible and environmentallyfriendly way. Muthambi said the clean-up initiative promoted the very essence of the country’s blueprint, the National Development Plan (NDP). “No matter how small the action, the aim is to practise a healthier and cleaner way of living by taking care of our environment,” she said. President Jacob Zuma and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa also participated in the clean-up campaign in the Eastern Cape and North West, respectively.
Cleaning the clock faces of Big Ben
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team of experts has begun a job that requires a head for heights and the ability to keep a close eye on the clock at one of Britain’s most famous landmarks, according to an article in the Daily Mail.
The specialists abseiled by rope to clean and inspect the faces of the Great Clock, commonly known as Big Ben, at the Palace of Westminster, and they wear ear defenders to protect their hearing from the chimes. A working week has been set aside for the job, one day for each of the four clock faces, with a contingency day in case the weather makes it too risky to work on the 95.7 metre high Elizabeth Tower. The clock was last cleaned in 2010 and as well as removing any dirt that has built up since then, the technicians will carry out a photographic survey to check the dials for damage. Each clock face, measuring 7 metres in width, is made up of 312 pieces of pot opal glass panels held together by a cast iron framework. The opal glass panels
will be gently buffed with chamoisleather cloths. The clock was installed in April 1859 but would not work at first, as the cast-iron minute hands were too heavy. Once lighter copper hands replaced them, it successfully began keeping time on 31 May 1859. The clock will continue to keep time during the cleaning process, but the hands on the face being washed will not move. Deputy keeper of the clock Steve Jaggs said: “Big Ben is one of the UK’s greatest icons, and cleaning the Great Clock is a vital part of its maintenance. “The process is complex and requires a real head for heights. We have an expert team who will ensure that the clock is thoroughly cleaned and that this piece of our national heritage is safeguarded for future generations.”
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African Cleaning Review September/October 2014