House Speaker Flags Off The Caravan

Raising the Kenyan Flag high

By Maria Wanza

Kenya's house speaker  Hon Kenneth Marenda through his temporary speaker Prof Philip Kaloki  officially flagged off the Trans African Caravan of Hope  in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday. The colorful event was well attended by government officials who included Hon Wilbur Otichillo, who is part of the PANARECC, Parliamentary Network  on Renewable Energy and Climate Change, The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, MEMR, Hon Ali Dawood Mohamed, civil society, women and youth groups. The flag off started as a procession from central park and made its way to Kenyatta International Conference Center,KICC and was led by a colorful prisons band who were followed by banner holding and branded tshirt wearing crowd. In his speech, the Hon Marende said that climate change is a challenge to economic growth and development as Kenya's economy relies heavily on natural endowments. Droughts, he said, those specifically of 1998 to 2000 had cost the country USD2.8 billion. This was as a result of forest fires, loss of crops and livestock, damage to fisheries, reduced hydro power generation, reduced industrial production and water supply. He noted that even though he was aware that adaptation was the most effective option for helping Africa, it was going to come at a cost.Adaptation, he added, would cost USD1 to 2billion per year by the year 2030. Africa's hopes and aspirations should be held high in South Africa, he said. Adding that the Trans African Caravan of Hope, should as they tell the African story on the impacts of climate change include, climate is now a justice issue.

Mr Isaac Kalua, Chairman Green Africa Foundation looks at the just signed petition as PS Ali Dawood and PACJA,Continental Coordinator , Mithika Mwenda,look on

On his part, PS Mohamed said that during an AMCEN meeting earlier this year, African ministers had a position which would be presented during  COP17 which in essence said that the west must take historical responsibility. He said,Durban  would not be easy but that Africa should be flexible and be ready to engage with partners. PACJA which is coordinating this huge awareness effort had its continental coordinator, Mithika Mwenda, present. In his speech he appreciated the efforts of Kenya Climate Change Working Group on awareness on climate change.He also pointed out that this event was a clear indication of the solidarity Africa is taking to Durban.

Participants get engaged
during the launch

During the event the KCCWG convener, John Kioli said that the demands of Africa were clear: to keep Africa and the world safe and prevent catastrophic climate change impacts, share the effort of curbing climate change fairly and ensuring polluters, not the poor, must pay. These demands are a summary of the Africa People Petition that PACJA and her partners are going to present to the incoming COP17 president Minister of International Relations and Cooperation South Africa, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. The Caravan left for Dar es Salam Tanzania where a colorful flag off is expected.

Trans African Caravan of Hope Visits Kabale, Uganda

It is a market day in Kabale, Uganda and the Trans African Caravan of Hope has come to town. On this market day the Caravanites have come to officially start the Ugandan chapter flag off of the Caravan. Kabale is a town in Western Uganda. 

On this day, Youth Plus Policy Network are in charge of the event. The caravanites did a march through town to the Kabale Municipal stadium. After the march the enthusiastic group sang 3 national anthems of  Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda as a sign of solidarity. Youth Plus officials then explained what the Caravan was about and afterwards over 300 signatures were collected by caravanites on this market day.

Iris Nagudi, one of the caravanites says of the signature collection event, ‘The people in the market were so easy to talk to and they eagerly signed on.’ Some of those in the market were farmers who requested as Iris put it, ‘Let the caravanites go and bring us solutions that have worked elsewhere. We want to learn to adapt.’ Iris works with Youth Plus Policy Network as a Programme Assistant and has been on the caravan since its kick off in Bujumbura, Burundi.

Muyambi Ellady is one of the Uganda Caravanites headed to Durban, South Africa.He is a social scientist,  toxicologist and secretary general of Uganda Network on Toxic Free Malaria Control - UNMETMAC. Muyambi tells me that Kabale district has been seriously affected by the impacts of climate change. ‘This  district used to be disease free but degradation of wetlands and destroying of forest covers has seen temperatures rise. A type of environment that now favors mosquito breeding.’ Consequently, he says, changes in climate have caused this place to experience more disease. A situation, he notes, that is increasing the disease burden in Africa. 

Not very long ago, Kabale was an area that was chilly and cool, that has drastically changed. This is confirmed by a Youth Plus Network participant, Colline Saabwe who adds, “There was never a mention of Malaria in Kabale. Malaria is now common in this area.”

Muyambi says that COP17 ‘must see world leaders held responsible in order for them to make commitments for a more healthy and educated community.’ The disease burden must dealt with he adds.

PACJA Sponsors Moi University's Environment Day

‘ Hatutupi Mawe, Tunasafisha’ whose direct translation is, ‘We are not throwing stones. We are Cleaning Up.’ This was the  thunderous shout by students dancing and singing about cleaning their environment as they carried their brooms and other cleaning materials. Ululations from the ladies.  A vibrant student leader leading his team on. A very different scene from what Kenyans are used to of students throwing stones as they claim their rights. This event however was different. It was a chilly drizzly Morning on Saturday 29^th October 2011 and about 500 students from Moi University had gathered to mark their annual Environment Day.

At the centre of the event was Migdad Hussein, a 3^rd Moi University Student leader who was the link between the university and PACJA.

PACJA Sponsors Moi University Environment Day

 PACJA through The Trans African Caravan of Hope supported this event which sort to carry on Prof Wangari Maathai’s legacy. On that day, the students cleaned around the city of Nairobi and planted trees at the Jevanjee gardens. This garden is open to the public and is based in the Central Business District of Nairobi, Kenya. The Late Prof Wangari Maathai was known for fighting for fighting for the preservation of spaces like this. It’s no wonder the students and their faculty wanted to get involved in this event.

FACT SHEET - TRANS AFRICAN CARAVAN OF HOPE

What is the Trans African Caravan of Hope?

The Trans African Climate Caravan of Hope is a road show that will seek to galvanize the cross country stakeholder voices, with an ultimate aim of telling the African story while making known the demand of Africa among its inhabitants and the rest of the world. The Caravan is a huge mobilization and awareness creation opportunity for African civil society to highlight the challenges climate change poses to Africa’s efforts to extricate herself from poverty and attainment of Millennium Development Goals.

   What are the Main Objectives of the Caravan?

   ·    To mobilize and rally together African civil society towards a common advocacy and campaign demands on climate change and climate justice towards United Nations Framework Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) – Conference of Parties (COP) 17;

·         To create awareness and build momentum towards UNFCCC- COP17 among African people and the rest of the world;

·         To lobby and pressurize African leaders/policy makers to work together in support of an international climate change treaty that is responsive to the continent’s realities and reality to science;

·         To drum up support for pro-people and just responses to climate change;

·         To share civil society (and African People’s Protocol) perspectives and positions on climate justice with influential political actors, including the African Heads of State.

Happened A few Hours Ago...Story Coming Up

Rebecca Muna, ForumCC coordinating team member, Latif Amars, Project Manager, ForumCC and Beatrice Kamugisha, Caravan Coordinator

The ForumCC – also known as the Tanzanian Civil Society Forum on Climate Change  today held a press conference to discuss the Trans African Caravan of Hope and UNFCCC-COP 17. ForumCC is an association of civil society organisations committed to work on climate change in their own programs as well as through advocacy.  It brings together development and environment organizations, those with technical skills and those with a more delivery and advocacy focus.  Below is a press release sent out by ForumCC. More details will be sent to you later.