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Making Tracks, the New Zealand TV series takes NZ music around the world in order to have it blended with the music and cultures of other countries, touched down in Ghana late last year, and while it isn't - and doesn't claim to be an in-depth look at urban culture in Ghana, it's certainly worth viewing if you're feeling guilty for not knowing anything about Ghana. The most interesting thing to come out of the visit, though, was Wanlov's adaptation of the gospel-soul song Bathe in the River by Hollie Smith & Don McGlashan to lament the problem of river pollution in Ghana (lyrics at the bottom of this piece). Apropriately, Wanlov's interpretation is called For The River. Watch For The River (Bathe In The River) by Wanlov The Kubolor It's a problem with many culprits, some of whom truly have no idea they're contributing to the problem. The image directly above and the one that follows are part of a series by Andrew McConnell about Accra's Agbogbloshie Dump. This is where a significant percentage of the old computers from Europe and the States end up. Andrew writes: Of the 20 to 50 million tons of electronics discarded each year 70% will end up in poor nations, and in the EU alone 6.6 million tons of e-waste are unaccounted for every year...Increasingly this e-waste is finding it's way to West Africa and countries like Ghana, Nigeria and Ivory Coast. Traders bypass international laws by labelling the equipment as second-hand goods or charity donations, but, in reality as much as 80% of the computers sent to Ghana are broken or obsolete. Some of the toxic metals lead, beryllium, cadmium and mercury - end up in the bloodstream of the people who work the dump, some seeps into the ground, some into the river. Other culprits include farmers (bad farming practices), the fishing industry (fishing with chemicals), and regular folk (inappropriate disposal of domestic waste), but the worst culprits are industrial companies (who direct their waste liquids directly into nearby streams and rivers) and mining companies. Research commissioned last year in Ghana by the human rights and mining advocacy NGO Wacam revealed that 250 rivers in mining communities around Obuasi and Tarkwa had been polluted by cyanide and heavy metals. And while all this has been going on what have the public officials whose job is to ensure the environment isn't befouled - and if it is to bring the culprits to book been doing? Besides bringing some attention to the problem, Wanlov's video is also a timely prelude to the Environmental Film Festival of Accra, running from the 7th to 19th of June. If you're in Ghana during this period be sure to check their programme coz you're bound to see something that'll inspire you to take action. Wanlov the Kubolor's European tour to promote his any-day-now new album Brown Card kicks off on the 3rd of June (Listen to the first single, African Gypsy, feat. Keziah Jones). Check his Facebook page for all gig dates and locations so you don't miss he when he hits your city.