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WATER IS LIFE
The UN’s Water for Life decade (2005-2015) appears to have become relegated as the world continues to focus on energy, climate change and oil dependency. Since the end of the second world war the global population has risen nearly threefold and continues to rise at an alarming rate. With 70% of all the earth’s fresh water being used for crop irrigation, increasing strain is bring placed on our fresh water supplies. Rapid urbanisation and burgeoning living standards have increased contamination in both surface and groundwater, reducing our global fresh water bank. Even now there are 5 million deaths per year from water related illnesses and patients occupy 50% of all hospital beds in developing countries. Thousands die daily from diarrhoea, typhoid, cholera, and a range of other diseases. However this is nothing compared to the catastrophe that lies just a generation away as clean water supplies diminish further.
With future climate change predicting temperature rises of 2-6 celsius, increased frequency of droughts, longer dry seasons and a shorter but more concentrated wet season, crop failure will become common place and animal livestock will have great difficulty adjusting to the new climate conditions. Mass movements of people looking for better environmental conditions are being predicted and could bring people into conflict.
Water scarcity and contamination, exacerbated by continued population increase and climate change paints a grim future for our planet. The joint provision of clean water and sanitation should become an international development priority.
PAUL SHAW and ALAN ERVINE
NAYD Kenya’s Climate Debt Campaign
What
is climate debt?
The industrialized countries are mainly responsible for polluting the world.
This pollution leads to change in the climate which results in extreme weather
conditions like droughts. Some of the effects of this drought are ruined
agriculture and limited access to water. This climate change affects many
people in KENYA for instance. There is a pressing need for adaptation to
these changes before it becomes a disaster. The industrialized countries
owe a debt towards countries affected by these changes to help them to adapt.
Why
the campaign ?
We
want to know how climate changes affect YOU and what you need be able to
adapt to climate changes. Therefore we need two things :
1. Your story to help us put pressure on politicians to pay their climate
debt.
2. Your help to get good pictures that we can use in our campaign.
NAYD KENYA MEMBERS from left Easter, Gibson, Celestin, Michael, Joyce, Oreste and 3 guests from Denmark during the planting of trees in Anthiriver
UGANDA - Motherhood Childcare Project
ur
organization is non-profit making located at little way off the primary
School, Kawempe-Maganjo parish, Nabweru sub-county, Wakiso District Uganda.
We have 450 registered vulnerable children, including those infected
with HIV/Aids, orphans, disabled & others. We cater for these children
through community outreach. Our mission is to provide maximum comfort,
discipline, welfare, child rights, and improve on the livelihood of vulnerable
children and our vision is to advocate and promote the lives of vulnerable
children, through provision of social services, care & support. We
have a set of objectives which include;
- Support children infected with HIV/Aids in health, clothing, beddings & scholastic materials; to bring up our children in a god fearing and humble manner; co-ordinate scholarships for them at all levels; rural illiteracy transformation; providing shelter for the homeless & disadvantaged children; promote mutual co-operation amongst them & international relationships; promote the girl child education; setting up projects for widows; training children in recreational activities i.e. sports & drama etc; lobbying for development projects for these children in all fields. ■ Alice Norah Zahura
CAMEROON - Promotion for Sustainable Development in Donga-Mantung (PROSDOMA)
ROSDOMA
was created against the backdrop of the dire need for our local population
to know how to sustainably manage the forest and non-timber Forest Products
(NTFPs). Thus the association has as mission objectives, bringing to low
income population diversified support in the managing of natural resources
like, soil, forest and wildlife and to fight against illegal exploitation
of the forest and NIFPs.
In 2009, PROSDOMA succeeded in the fight against illegal exploitation of forest with some illegal exploiters caught and brought before the law. It also succeeded in sensitising the population of Ako and Misaje subdivisions on the sustainable management of forest and Non-Timber Forest Products. Given that the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) talks on eliminating extreme poverty and environmental sustainability amongst others, PROSDOMA is determined to work towards environmental protection in 2010. This will be done through campaigns and seminars. The aim of these campaigns and seminars will be to create awareness on the dangers of environmental degradation. In all these activities, the fight against sexually transmissible infections and the HIV/AIDS pandemic will not be left out.■ Ngenge Emmanuel Ngeh
Waterforall Africa ‘STAG’ water filtration system
im
Rae, a member of NAYD and former senior manager with North Lanarkshire
Council where, amongst other engineering disciplines was responsible for
swimming pool purification processes, has felt for some time now that the
international funding targets are not in line with the basic needs of the
vast majority of Africans. ‘Water is what every villager I have ever
met has said to me and I have spoken to thousands of them, men women and
children - they want it, they need it and they will have better
lives with it.’ He believes that clean drinking water combined with better
sanitation and hygiene will massively cut Sub-Saharan African medical bills
by eliminating waterborne illnesses. Having installed many water points
in The Gambia, Malawi and elsewhere over the last decade he has come to
realise that the groundwater being pumped through the many boreholes installed
by global charities and local organisations is contaminated - people were
becoming ill and dying from these charitable offerings.
This contamination is caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites. The bacteria such as e-coli and cryptosporidium come from both wild and domestic animals, from pit latrine soak-aways, person to person transfer, from water borne diseases which leaks into the groundwaters or directly deposited into wells and streams. Deforestation and heavy rains are now exposing hitherto buried minerals such as arsenic and cyanide and these are also contaminating every water source. Even rainfall can have acid contamination so no water source is safe now. Those with a reduced immune system because of infections through the likes of Malaria or HIV/AIDS will quickly succumb to diarrhoea, dehydration and stomach problems.
Jim has a lot to say about boreholes – ‘A whole book could be written here - I went around hundreds of villages in Malawi and visited many more boreholes drilled by well known charities near clinics and health centres and village centres and without exception I saw poor workmanship, badly sited boreholes eg too close to latrines, inferior pipes and materials, no records of depths, no water tests, no manuals. Some inexperienced operatives who were appointed to oversee these installations had little or no knowledge of the engineering or water chemistry required in obtaining clean, safe water from boreholes. Jim is concerned about the lack of consistency in testing water conditions and recording results in all of the countries he has worked in.
To
make a significant contribution to this situation, Jim has devised an ingenious
non-chemical based water filtering device called STAG that safely removes
the contaminants from the water. The prototype has been tested at the Glasgow
Scientific Laboratory with remarkable results. Feeding virtually raw sewage
into it the unit removed 99.999% of all contaminants out. He has even drunk
the output in live demonstrations to prove his confidence in the system. Further
tests proved its effectiveness with other potential contaminants like the
parasitic bilharzia.
Major charities have shown keen interest in the filter units but before they will adopt them they require field tests to be carried out in rural tropical conditions. Prototype testing will be conducted jointly with local hygiene education programmes. Jim has identified 4 villages in Malawi and Kenya that were badly affected by contaminated ground water for this purpose and intends to install and test these filters from April this year. A fundraising event has been organised at the Woodside Halls in Glasgow this Sunday ( February 7th) to raise money for this purpose.
If you are interested in finding out more about the STAG filter please send an email to jim@waterforall.ltd.uk ■Paul Shaw
TANZANIA – Tanzanian Youth Environmental Network (TAYEN)
AYEN
is a registered non-governmental organization established in September
2007 at University of Dar es Salaam by three of its students. It is non-profit
youth led organization that gets children and youth to participate in environmental
conservation activities. TAYEN conducts environmental education programs
in primary and secondary schools as well as in colleges and universities.
We are interested in raising awareness
among Children and Youths on environmental problems that are facing our
country and globally..
TAYEN ACTIVITIES
Climate Change Education to young people in Tanzania
TAYEN
in collaboration with MYCLIMATE Foundation of Switzerland is implementing
the “Hot
Stuff – Chill Out” project that links school classes around the
world where young people exchange ideas about the effects of climate change
in their country with other young people in other country as their partner
class, learn how other countries are dealing with the problem, set a worldwide
example on selected days and realize projects to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions. 
TAYEN
has been teaching young people in secondary schools in Dar es Salaam. The
Hot Stuff Chill Out project gave the children in these schools a chance
to learn about climate change and shared experience with young people in
other countries participating in the project. More information at www.hotstuffchillout.org
Kigamboni Ferry station Clean up campaign
On 5th June 2009 TAYEN in collaboration with Vodacom Foundation conducted Clean Up campaign to clean Kigamboni Ferry station in Dar Es Salaam. The primary objective educate was to educate young people and Dar es Salaam residents using the station on proper management of solid wastes and keeping the Ferry station clean and safe for all users. During the campaign over 150 youths from local secondary schools and Universities took part.
TAYEN members and Vodacom staff collecting waste on the coast of Kigamboni Ferry station with distribution of large dust bins and sign boards
Global Warming Film shows in schools
With climate change becoming a serious problem, TAYEN has been showing a famous global warming film An Inconvenient Truth by the famous climate change activist and former United States Vice President Mr Al Gore attracting large audiences of young people. This film helps young people learn the causes and impacts of climate change and what can be done to stop it from happening
Tegeta secondary school Clean Up campaign
On 10th October 2009 TAYEN in collaboration with Tegeta secondary school admistration conducetd a clean up campasgn in Tegeta secondary school to educate Teegeta secondsry students to keep the school campus clean for safer learning environment.
TAYEN members in Tegeta secondary school cleaning the school campus during Tegeta secondary Clean Up campaign.
RWANDA – Rwandan Youth Organisations Network (RYON)
YON
was established in June 2009 and gathers three youth associations striving
to improve the living conditions of Rwandan rural population on a volunteering
basis. Those associations are: MEDSAR (Medical Students ‘Association of
Rwanda): aiming at health issues and human rights promotion in rural areas,
MMHA (Medical Students’ Mental Health Association) aims at improvement
of mental health in Rwandan people and AEJTR (Association des Enfants et
Jeunes Travailleurs de RISIZI) : this association is made of university
students and secondary students who work with street children and try to
help them to join their families as well as doing advocacy for them.
One of the goals of RYON is to build the capacity of youth and it is in this perspective that a five days workshop on research skills study and financial management has been organized for 51 young volunteers from three associations forming the network (17 from each association).
The objective of these topics was to provide youth with the skills of carrying out baseline surveys before implementing community based programs in order to know from where they come and to assess the
RYON Members after getting certificates
impact of their activities at the end of those programs.
We furthermore wanted to provide youth with financial management skills for insuring the sustainability of their organizations.
The workshop took place from the 8th-12th December, 2009 in Huye district in the southern province of Rwanda.
The workshop was closed with the certificate delivering to the participants. And the participants have appreciated the workshop of capacity building and suggested that it can continue and be extended to other youths from the different organizations. Further information about us at http://rwandanyon.wordpress.com/
Prepared by ABAHUJE Egide, Coordinator of RYON and NAYD member, Edited by Hovaire NSABIMANA, Rwanda NAYD Coordinator.
The COP-15 climate negotiation
rom
the 6th to 19th December 2009, citizens of the world
of all works of lives converge at city of hope, Copenhagan, Denmark, for
COP-15 climate conference, hoping that the leaders of the community of
nations will put aside their individual national interest to face the global
treat to survival cause by climate change.
L-R Ibrahim S Dem, Ms. Mac Dove, Hon. Jatto Sillah, (Minister of Environment) at the Bella Center
However, as the clock ticked to the final day of the negotiation, the whole process turns out to be sham and unfulfilled endeavours as our politicians fail to agree on principle for a Fair Ambitious and Binding ( FAB) deal. The COP which was the 15th session of the parties to Kyoto protocol brought together more than 50, 000 delegates representing youth leaders, policy makers, politicians, UN agency, and climate change experts among others to discuss the future of the planet.
Why was the participation of young people necessary at the COP?
The participation of young people in this historic conference was very crucial in the sense that as young people, we are one of the most vulnerable groups to climate change. This is because we are to live with whatever decision arrived today at this climate conference. Many of those negotiating might not have live long enough to witness the more imminent global disaster pose by climate change, hence the question that young people ask, how old will you be in 2050, please don’t bracket our future.
What
was my task at the COP?
As youth representative, my task at the cop-15 was to advise, support and work with the Gambia’s climate delegation to negotiate a fair deal needed for national development, especially a deal that put into account the voices and concerns of the young people in the country. Looking at our country’s economy and geographical location, for us, the issues of climate change is matter of between life and death, hence the need for urgent action.
Therefore, every morning, our national delegation meets at as team to review activities of the previous day and assign new responsibilities. My work was cantered more on following side events that have special interest on young people.
Side Events
1.
REDD (Reduce Emission on Deforestation and forest degradation). In this
side event, participants discuss the impact of climate change on forest
degradation and the role of young people in forest degradation. The side
event looks at young people as victims, perpetrators and potential agent
of change regaining the forest cover for most vulnerable communities especially
in
2. EU-Africa youth forum
This
side event brought together youths from Europe and
3. Meeting with Dutch minister for development
Youth from various countries met the Dutch to discuss on best young people can consolidate the efforts of the policy makers on climate change mitigation and adaptation. He reiterated his support to lobby for more fund to support capacity building and climate change adaptation projects and developing green jobs for youth.
4. African youth delegation side events
Throughout
the conference, Africa youth delegation have had series of meetings geared
toward compliment and supporting the
Climate justice advocate and Ebrima S. Dem
Consultation and networking
During
the conference, I also had the opportunity to meet a number of youth leaders
from various NGOs to discuss ways to support and share best practices with
youth from the
What was Africa’s position at the COP?
The African group, led by the minister of environment of Algeria wanted the following to be included in the negotiating text for a FAB deal that put into account the following commitments:
- The retention of Kyoto protocol to at least a second commitment period
- Keeping global warming to a temperature below 2 Centigrade or at most 1.5 putting into account historical and current responsibilities of the developed countries to climate change and enhancing the right of the developing countries to sustainable development
- Industrialized countries as group must take a target to reduce their emission of more than 40% below 1990 level by the year 2020- Note: this emission cut should be account for and quantified
- Emission from deforestation and forest degradation must be reduced to zero by 2020, funded by at least US$ 35 Billion per year from developed countries.
- Developed countries need to provide at least US$ 200 billion in public financing per year by 2020 to support climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. This financing should be grants not loans.
- Developed countries to provide technology transfer and capacity building for climate change adaptation and mitigation in developing countries.
- That the deal should be legally binding.
Copenhagen accord-Not a FAB but a sham
After two weeks of intense negotiations, it turns to be very embarrassing that the world leaders cannot provide a FAB (Fair, Ambitious and Binding) deal needed to salvage the poor people especially those from developing countries. The infamous Copenhagen accord was just:
v A vague commitment to keeping temperature rise below two degrees and to low emissions reduction targets
v The non-binding declaration promises short-term finance for developing countries of $30billion up to 2012 and $100billion by 2020, but it is not clear that this money will be new, additional or where it will come from.
v Deep cuts in carbon emission by both developed and developing countries but no numerical figure was agreed
v Copenhagen green climate fund shall be established to provide financial mechanism and support activities relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation and capacity building
v Technology transfer will be enhance only when guided by country-driven approach and will be base on national circumstance and priority
Lesson learnt
Though our leaders could not agree for a FAB deal, the COP-15 has really reawakened the spirit of the global citizens that climate change is global problem which requires the concerted solution of all and sundry. The COP will go down in history as one of the biggest meeting of the world citizen in a drive to find a solution for a common problem to humanity.
My recommendation:
I believe that for Africa to remain strong against the pressure pose by impact of climate change, the continent should focus more on adaptation and less on the medium and long-term projections of green house gas emissions. In the Gambia, to ensure our climate resilience as a country, I would suggest that the current climate committee to be revisited and become all-inclusive. That is, the committee should include all major stake holders such young people, women, children, politicians, technocrats etc. The committee should also have a legal mandate in which it does operate. We should also come up with country-driven programs that support climate adaptation.
To ensure that the young people become a force to be reckoned with in the run up to realization of climate resilience at the country level, I would recommend the formation of umbrella body of youth groups involve in climate advocacy work to synergize their efforts.
Prepared by Ebrima S. Dem, youth delegate and national representative of Global Unification in the Gambia.
NAYD Discussion
Is Africa undeveloped?
The following are abstracts from a recent NAYD group discussion
‘Many
will argue with a lot of energy and fists that Africa is a rich place with
plenty of resources from Human Capital to natural resources as one James
Shikwati of a leading local think thank called (Irenkenya.org) does often
talk happily about......but How do we measure development when in Africa
no team from Africa has ever won the world cup since it was started.
Africa is where you will find a safe haven for Somali pirates
Africa is where we have dictators still pulling the shots
Africa is where poverty level are so high that it is normal for one to live
on one dollar per day
Africa is where literacy level are so low that you wonder if we have any
schools
Africa is where we have open corruptions and inflated governments tenders
If these are not signs of being undeveloped then what can it be?’
Gibson Amenya
‘The
Continent is not undeveloped but the Minds of the people including their
Leaders are Undeveloped.
Period.’
Cecil S. Nutakor, President and CEO - E I L Group
‘Dear African,
I have just watched 2010 movie, the last scene in the film is the Africa map. Because Africa is the only continent which has survived, that means it is African people who will rebuild the World after it was destroyed.
After the film I said I'm proud of being African girl.’
Abeer
Rabei, Cairo,Egypt
‘Well, you mean the movie called 2012, it is a nice well documented movie... and indeed the only Continent that is going to survive is Africa. Viva Africa.
And for Gibson maybe this year we will get the World Cup since it is going to take place in South Africa, let us pray and cross fingers :))’
Samira Hassan, Hargeisa, Somaliland
‘Hi
guys,
There's no doubts that Africa has a HUGE
Reserve of tools to survive any potential
Upcoming disastrous events.
And Africa's first and foremost resources are
Its people whom have shown how resilient they are throughout
centuries of unimaginable hardship.’
Aline, CFO 2Cafrica
‘If Africa was modelled on the United States all the present heads of state would be Senators able to make their own laws and democratic decisions but still in the end answerable to a higher authority namely the Senate. Each newly defined borders by that I mean non European defined would that be good for all Africans - would it slacken the iron grip that most countries leaders have on the populations - would corruption be less if newly formed states were under scrutiny and answerable
Now I know it’s massive and I know that the USA HAS DROPPED AN AWFUL LOT OF BOMBS IN RECENT TIMES but I am not asking you to adopt their policies or politics just the state system.
Could Africans be pushed around, exploited if they were the United States of Africa - I don’t think so
There is another dimension which will come upon Africa and that is how you will handle population migration due to land being made useless by global warming. Right now we are facing the possibility of many conflicts.
What if all the oil which is in Africa was shared by all of Africa - all the gold, diamonds, uranium, platinum... oh the list is endless - what if there was a system of common wealth (two words folks not taking about colonial days coming back) wouldn't these great resources be put to even greater use that is right for Africans?!!!! and NOT for the multi-nationals who are only interested in lining their own pockets. Will the Chinese, Americans, Europeans care if you are all out there hacking each other to pieces@ No they won’t because if you are fighting each other you are leaving them alone to make their fortunes and who pays - would you like me to give you a hint ?
the same people who didn't cause global warming but who will pay the highest price.
That's right brothers and sisters you!!!!
AFRICA NEEDS....................................
African countries united against exploitation
African countries without corruption
African countries at peace
Is it a dream? It does not have to be if you young people wake up, take off the blindfolds and set about changing things. You think Obama is a miracle well he’s not... YOU are the miracle makers, ITS UP TO YOU!’
Jim Rae, Scotland
If readers have any further comments please use the below form.
Posted
by: Shey Aloysius
Sah
Comment: It is interesting to hear people think of peculiar perspectives
with which to assess the development of Africa. Well history and time should
not go unnoticed for those who serve as standards for measuring development
today had their share of this stage in their development only less pronounced
due to poor media coverage. Africa's issues more are complicated due the
fact that she has to grapple with not only internal development yet have
to put up enough protective and speeding mechanism to stay affloat the currents
of global trends and pressures. For instance living under a dollar daily
is only a western standard of measurement, for in africa with rich food reservoirs
half a dollar may just suffice to feed well, especially in the rural areas
where poverty seems to find its face more. I do think that our challenge
lies more in matters of policy and civic responsiveness of the leaders and
the common man.
Posted
by: Victor Mwaipungu
Comment: It is possible to develop Africa. All this needs is young people
to be active and aggressive. In Tanzania the country I'm from I can see
our resources being taken abroad but still most of the young people are
silent. We should not be beggars any longer whilst we are blessed with
both human and natural resources. As this time most young educated people
cross the continent looking for better paid jobs. This is a very wrong
philosophical approach because good jobs are made through creation of good
infrastructure. And this need our creativity. We need to understand that
Europe once was poor. It was not developed as today. USA once was colonized
like Africa. This helps us understand that development is a gradual process
even though sometimes like in Africa development is forced. If I wake up
and you do the same and speak together for sure we can make Africa possible.
Join me to speak for AFRICA.
Posted
by: Stephen Aminadabu
Comment: HI! I do agree with Victor Mwaipungu. although he focused too much
from the books. Africa is very rich as it is and everybody in this world
knows.
Posted
by: Gilles Lewat
Comment: Good Job! Please keep me informed & connected
Posted
by: Mr Victor Mwaipungu
Comment: Africa needs its own persepectives/models to explain its development.The
meaning of develepoment is relative indeed. if we say Africa is developed
or undeloveped where are we comparing from? We compare with what time?
if we are mentioning all these things say corruption,malpractice,wars etc
in Africa; what do we concider their sources? are they happening only in
undeveloped worlds like in africa? My fellow NAYD members is the time which
africa needs its own disciplines to explain our own issues. We need our
own Philosopy, Sociology, psychology, Ecomomic, Polity and Science to explain
our things. if we continue using the approaches that were used in Europe
and trying to equate with Africa it should be totally wrong becuse development
is contextual. We vary in history, culture and environment/nature. Marxist
or Functionalism approachs are inadequate to explain about Africa. Our
disciplines will be able to explain our own courses of development, say
where we came from and why we are the way we are and what should be the
impact if we continue using models of other people to explain our life.
According to the book of 'HOW EUROPE UNDERDEVELOPED AFRICA' by Walter Rodney
you can see the needs of having our own models. if we take notes from Walter
Rodney's book and if we all agree that our Development was disturbed by
certain people as Rodney complains then we will see the important of having
our perspectives. I things the time is yet to stop blaming other people
upon our development even if we know that our recent development is due
to the effects of some intruders. Rodney claims that per capita income
by the18th Century in Africa was high that of today.Now we need to concentrate
on removing from fake ties such as parternership, fake treaties in ivenstments,privatization
and avoid funds with expoitative conditionalities. We should start to think
on our own course of development after all these disturbances. I dont agree
when we say youth is the national of tommorow. It is total wrong assumption.
Africa needs you to be aggessive about development of to day and not tommorow.
Posted
by: Jama Mohamed Ahmed
Comment: First of all I would like to thank you because of the great, wonderful
and interesting job that you have. The only thing that I want to tell you
is to keep going.
Posted
by: Comfort Abeng Odor
Comment: We do not need prophets to tell us that Africa is not developed.
Yes Africa is embedded with all the resources(human&material) that
will make it one of the most developed continents on planet earth. Regretably
these resouces are not explored for meaningful development. The people
called Africans and the material resources that make up the African continent
are resources but if both resources are not developed then Africa is not
developed. It is now left for young Africans to seize the opportunity the
elderly refused to, and make the African continent a developed one by developing
ourselves and the God given resource meaningfully.
Posted
by: Pochi Tamba Nsoh, CEO NAYD International
Comment: Gibson is right about the Somali pirates, the dictators pulling
the shots, the one dollar per day living standard, the low literacy level,
the open corruption and inflated governments tenders. But I do not agree
that all these cancel the fact that Africa is very very rich in Natural
resources. And it is this natural wealth that tears us apart and keep us
down. Think of oil in Nigeria, diamonds in Botswana, the Congolese minerals
tin, gold and diamonds especially Coltan found in cell phones, laptops
and other electronics around the world. All that we need to do is to start
doing things right, for Africa to be saved. When I say we, I think of us,
the present generation who are still young and hopeful. We complain more
than we act. If we start, one person with one action at a time, I am positive
that Africa will be safer, healthier and stronger tomorrow. I refuse to
think our greed, our shortsightedness and our waste has definitely cast
a dark cloud on the future of Africa.