REACH OUT PROGRAM, EXPRESSING LOVE DIFFERENTLY

This is a program that was adopted by Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change-Kenya in 2010 and is meant to give back to the society. In this program, we realised that in as much as we are a group working predominantly on environmental issues, there are some socio-economic aspects that we cannot isolate ourselves from. Based on our weekly voluntary contributions, we are able to stand with the vulnerable in the society.

Kenya is currently facing high level of inflation and like many other households, Watoto Wema Children centre has in the recent past been struggling with their feeding program. They made an emergency call to the well wishers to come to their aid in this had economic times. Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change-Kenya wishes here to congratulate Harambee Stars under the guidance of Dennis Oliech for heeding to the emergency call and giving food donations to the centre. God bless you as you strive to represent the country in Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers

Barely one week after the visit made by the Stars, had Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change made yet another visit to the centre. We are happy to have taken part in this noble initiative! We took to the kids 60kg of maize flour and this as we told by management, is sufficient enough to feed children for ten days. Certainly, this is giving a hand to the vulnerable in the society.

We had a very wonderful time with the kids and we listened to them sharing what they would like to be in future. We are sincerely moved by the confidence that the children have developed when it comes to public address. We had a standard one kid translating from Swahili to English relatively well. And to this, I think it is worthy giving thanks to the management of the centre for ensuring that the children do on just benefit nutrition wise but also in how they relate to the people outside.

Currently, the children home is located in Saika Kayole but has acquired new land in Ruai. They are currently mobilizing for the resources and will soon relocate. They are therefore appealing to the public and the well wishers to help them in this process. If you are reading this from your room and probably know of anyone who can help, you need to get in touch with us so that we can see how to help these children.

Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change is in the process of seeing what project to introduce to the centre once they move to their new place. It was felt that sustainability is the best way to go and therefore even if we were able provide for their needs presently, it will not go on forever and therefore making the children and the centre empowered is the best way to go.

To all AYICC-K members who made it to the centre on Saturday, receive my heartfelt appreciations. To all of you who committed to contribute towards this project, thank you and God bless in all your endeavours.

AYICC RWANDA: Pubic lecture and open discussion on climate change

Story by: J.F Regis NISENGWE

On this Friday July 22^nd, 2011 at 2h: 45, KIST Environmental Conservation Club (KECC) and African Youth Initiative on Climate Change Rwanda (AYICC Rwanda) held a public lecture and open discussion on climate change. The event, supported by both the Head of Department of Chemistry and the Dean of faculty of science, took place at KIST, Muhabura block, room P016. The presenter was Dr. Landry Ndriko MAYIGANE, AYICC (East Africa Cordinator), who was joined in the effort by other special environment activists Shawel MULATU (AYICC Ethiopia), Jordi MUSONI (JVE Rwanda) and Claude and another guest from international student organization, Beatrice ONYANGO (AISEC).

It all kicked off with the presentation on “climate change and youth involvement” made by Dr. Landry Driko MAYIGANE, and after we heard from other special guests of the day starting with Shawel MULATU and then Jordi Michel MUSONI. They all emphasized the importance of youth involvement in fighting against climate change. They all pointed out, moreover, that youth must be serious and active in order to be successful.

Members of the club joined by other students from different departments noticeably took great interest from the very first slides of the presentation and it peaked up when the open discussion began. The interest was markedly expressed by a wide spectrum of observations, views, interventions, proposals, opinions…. from attendees. Dr. Landry received a sizable number of questions from the attendees which he conveniently and relevantly answered. Other guests too took time to answer questions and give opinions on matters that needed further clarification.

As planned, this afternoon event was crowned by an interesting documentary movie entitled “HOME” that highlights all the aspects of the environment while giving pertinent facts and figures. It also shows the effects of anthropogenic activities (such as cutting tree, mining, oil industries,…) on the environment.

Every one present was grateful that the program was put into place and the attendees were interested and willing to join AYICC-Rwanda in its prospective actions such as road show to Durban due in September, inter alia. In addition to that, members of KECC and other youth that joined the program decided that they must take action to save the environment when they still can.

J.F Regis NISENGWE, AYICC Rwanda member, and the host and organizer of the program

Environmental Genocide

Environmental Genocide is what I see

Toxic gases are what I breathe

Murder of trees

Witnessing execution of rivers, lakes, air etc

Stop decapitating the environment please

This ignorance has to seize

This existing arrogance has to exiiiiit

We need plants, water,air and land to live

Like Adam needed air to breathe

Like Eve needed Adams rib

Every waste you inject in water and seize

Some people take it back and drink

The water you drink might be your urine

That's why people get sick

Environmental genocide is what I see

Blowing hot poisonous gases from chimneys

And car engines,

Lack of will,

To let the environment heal

Thus people get ill

Shaking like twigs

Bodies getting weak

Like a malnutritioned Sub-Saharan kid who has not eaten for weeks

Coughing four hundred days per year, eight days a week

Thin air difficult to breathe

People being artificially asthmatic

Environmental genocide is all I see

Injustice vicious cycle is all I see

A human pricks the environment

The environment stubs them back to death

A cold war is all I see

Neither human nor environment wins

So I preach peace

Start with you and me

And let the others follow the wind

Cause am not gonna sit

And watch the environment slap human beings

So join in

And let’s stop this

Cause environmental genocide is all I see

By: Simon Muoki

*Simon is a young environmental enthuasiast fresh out of high school, he writes and perfoms environmental and other poetry!

Grave threat to Lake Turkana: Gilgel Gibe 3 dam!

StopGibe3 campaign- Save Lake Turkana Save Humanity  http://www.stopgibe3.org/

Sign the petition. Our rights, Our waters, Our people.

By Grace Wanjuki

We have all seen it in the news and we all know from history that Northern Kenya is a fragile and vulnerable Ecosystem faced with many a challenges occasioned by climate change, poverty, malnutrition, bad politics and tribal conflicts to mention but a few. Allow me to bring to your attention another of the many afflictions facing our people in the Lake Turkana basin communities; Gibe 3 dam.

Lets put things into perspective: Kenya has many power/ electricity options: Geothermal, solar, hydro-power, wind energy (Ngong hills and the recently registered Lake Turkana Wind Power-LTWP) etc. Now, feasibility and in what percentages is a discussion on another level, what is of interest though, is that we don't have enough to sufficiently supply Kenya such that we are ready to buy Electricity from our neighbour Ethiopia; who is in the process of constructing the largest hydro-electric dam in Africa in order to generate electricity for domestic use and export (1900MW; 95 per cent more power than is presently available).

This project if completed is envisioned to light up Ethiopia and its neighbours- Kenya, Djibouti and Sudan- and most importantly help Ethiopia yank its people from poverty. This is such a contradiction- since this very project will condemn 500,000 (already) marginalized Ethiopians and Kenyans to poverty by ruining their only sources of livelihood. Correct me if I’m wrong, but solving a problem with an even bigger problem is not the key to development!
Dams have quite the potential to be disastrous; now, this project is called Gibe 3 since there is Gibe 1 and Gibe 2. About 10 days after its high-profile inauguration ceremony Gibe II experienced a head-race tunnel collapse "provoked by an unforeseen geological event” ...you
assume right, repairs cost money! What's more, the same Italian contractors; Salini Costruttori 'won' the no bidding contract for Gibe 3.

L. Turkana photo from International rivers website

This project is marred by a myriad of anomalies: the tendering process was corrupt, the Environmental Impact Assessment was neither comprehensive nor independent (it was released in 2008 while the project commenced in 2006) and there was no prior and informed consent of the affected tribes/ communities among others.

"The Gibe 3 Dam is Africa's most destructive power project. It will ravage the fragile ecosystems of the Lower Omo Valley in Ethiopia and Lake Turkana in Kenya, and the 500,000 poor indigenous people who depend on them," said Peter Bosshard, policy director of International Rivers, an international NGO focusing on dams.

It is for these reasons that Friends of Lake Turkana (FoLT); a Kenyan NGO, Counter Balance, Campagna per la Riforma della Banca Mondiale (CRBM) and International Rivers launched a campaign to halt the Gibe 3 Dam in Ethiopia: Stop Gibe 3: http://www.stopgibe3.org/

BREAK THROUGHS:

Many people may think this is just noise from the civil societies, good news is; this noise we make has shone light to a disaster in waiting:

1. Europe has withdrawn funding (EIB- European Investment Bank)
2. Italy's export credit agency (SACE) has denied support to the
   project
3. World Bank is not financing the project (because of the Indigenous peoples
   safeguard policy and the Bank's Procurement policy)
4. US bank is also not getting involved because of violation of environmental standards which the have previously endorsed
5. African Development Bank has also withdrawn its support because of violation of International procurement laws

We now need to convince the Chinese; Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) who has intentions to fund, to back out as well, because Gibe 3 contradicts its core value- Environmental protection. This might actually be a test case for China's role in Africa- its environmental responsibility!

Truth is Ethiopia cannot complete the project without International support therefore, "Let's not waste development aid (US$1.75 billion) on a dodgy and destructive deal that is Gibe 3!!" Said reform the World Bank campaign.

It’s a rather sad issue, laden with hydro-politics (http://www.stopgibe3.org/pdf/The%20Gilgel%20Gibe%20Affair.pdf ) but we have to and we must stand up for what is right! Our people, our water, our rights!

To sign the petition against the completion of the destructive dam>>>
http://www.stopgibe3.org/

For more information:

International rivers website

Friends of Lake Turkana Facebook page

Friends of Lake Turkana website
 

Protests at the Chinese Embassy in Kenya

Wind power to earn Kenya 4.2 billion shillings in carbon credits
 

Kenyan Wind Power Project

FAITH LEADERS ISSUE STRONG STATEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND COP 17 IN DURBAN

‘‘Earth is God’s handiwork-a sacred gift, a seamless cloth, woven from many connecting threads.’’ Eco-Congregation Programme of SAFCEI (www.safcei.org.za)

In an unprecedented occurrence, 132 faith leaders from over 32 African countries representing Muslim, Christian, Hindu, African traditional, Bahá'í and Buddhist communities gathered on Kenyan soil to talk about Climate Justice and Sustainable peace in Africa for two whole days. The Venue was UNEP, Nairobi perhaps in a symbolic show of the gravity of the situation and in recognition of the transboundary nature of the issue at hand., UNEP Director, Achim Steiner in his opening remarks said that, ''The Faith Community has a duty, legitimacy and the power to bring back a sense of responsibility to the Climate talks'' .

We (Africa) are part of the solution (to the climate change crisis) echoed Rev. Dr André  Karamaga, General Secretary, All Africa Council of churches(AACC).According to Sheikh Ibrahim Asmani Lethome, ‘ Religious teaching is well placed to address climate change quoting Chapter 6 verse 38 of the Quran’.

‘We’ve sold our souls to acquiring wealth’, said Bishop Geoff Davies in reference to humanity’s uncaring attitude for our planet. Speaker after speaker talked of the need to take bold steps as a faith community, because Africa is a continent full of people of faith, faiths wherein lie messages of care, nurture and protection not destruction and overexploitation.

At the end of the forum was a strong statement making demands of world leaders, calling on them to take steps to finding a solution to the climate crisis,

''We have no doubt that the Durban COP must decide on a treaty – and second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol – that is fair, ambitious and legally binding, to ensure the survival of coming generations '.

But they didn’t stop there, they went further to commit to walking the talk themselves observing the need to be examples to those they lead and to the whole world,

‘As African faith leaders, our responsibilities will be to: Set a good example for our faith communities by examining our personal needs and reducing unsustainable consumption’.

The climate change campaign may just have gotten a shot in the arm because of this, never before have faith leaders been so emphatic about climate change and environmental issues.

And there are lessons to learn from this, the gathering of faiths, that there exist points of convergence regardless of our individual beliefs, economic wealth and political status. That oneness in our diversity is where the answer to most of our problems lies.

Faith leaders have spoken, what remains to be seen is how well their message will be received and how their role and influence over the current climate scenarios takes shape and hopefully leads to a much desired positive outcome from the Durban negotiations.

We are after all children of the earth, ‎''The earth is but one country, humanity its citizen'' as aptly put by a leader of the Baha’i faith in the opening reflections.

By: Winnie Asiti

Full Text of the Statement by Faith Leaders


http://www.facebook.com/notes/we-have-faith-act-now-for-climate-justice/climate-justice-for-sustainable-peace-in-africa-a-message-from-african-faith-lea/203795679664740


UNEP Press Release


http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=2645&ArticleID=8779&l=en&t=long

The World Environment Day - A day worth its purpose:

As I walked into the grounds of the YMCA-Nairobi, I knew this would be no ordinary day. The conviction was beyond the strained voices of the Christian choirs as they worshipped, something beyond the chirping sounds of the early morning birds; it transcended the deep faith of the congregation that gathered in churches and yet it was the same magic envelope that bound all these forces together, it was the outcry of Mother Nature. I could feel the joy of a day set aside to commemorate the importance of our environment, a day set aside to give back to nature. The rigorous planning and anticipation were soon to become a reality. A number of guests had already arrived and more were streaming in. The anxiety on people’s faces was not difficult to spot.

At the back yard something wonderful was being created. The strength with which the tough ground was being broken and turned up was a sure sign of the solid readiness to offer something back to Mother Nature. The warmth and cheer that was easily exchanged as everyone went down to task was marvelous. Picking of stones, clearing of the ground, digging, raking out fibers, sieving of the soil, making of fine ridges and shaping up of the tilled land were all in  preparation of the seed beds. Great information, knowledge and skills were passed across from one to another. A knowledge that was priceless, a knowledge that was being put into practice. It was the perfect atmosphere to learn and pick up life lessons. It was an environment of mentoring and being mentored. Soon the beds took shape and it was time for setting in the seeds. As the seeds were buried into the soil, I was convinced that the hard toil of their hands would indeed bear fruit. the toil of people who were not afraid to get their hands dirty, people who were selfless and made a sacrifice to get out and respond to the call of nature(no pun intended), people who felt  the pain of the bleeding environment, people who were there to build something for the future generation. It was the faith, the focus, the unspoken power, the strong will and unyielding determination that bound these people and convened them to mark this event.

The afternoon session could only be the icing to the cake. It was a forum to relax, have fun and interact in the celebratory spirit of our environment. There was an unbound sense of fun in the atmosphere. As others found the swimming pool more enticing, others found the dance floor more than appealing. Whichever way, the goal was achieved. The music did not disappoint neither did the deejay. It was a great combination of skill, talent and easy enjoyment. The dancing was entertaining as well as inspiring. The swimming was enjoyable-an awesome way to utilize the resources in the environment. As the sun set on the event, with it was a promise. A promise that was sealed in everyone’s heart: a promise to take care of the environment, to ensure that the wellbeing of the future generation would not be jeopardized by the careless mistakes and actions of our present generation. Wow! If I had it my way, every day would be the World Environment Day!!!

By Riziki Winnie (AYICC-KENYA)

REVISITING BACK TO EDEN - NOT JUST A MERE TERM BUT A REALITY

The Kenyan youth under the umbrella of Kenya Climate Youth Network, KYCN have this time made it perfect! For long, we have been undertaking many activities. But the question, "what have you done?" remained almost constant amongst many people. I think this has been the case partly because for a long time, we have been in advocacy which is equally important as it serves to instigate many others to start and run physical activities.

Last year, 2010, we as have now become a routine responsibilty of the network; we organized one of the most successful annual national youth conferences on climate change. Unlike the previous ones, this one culminated to another initiative which referred to as “Back to Eden”. In this initiative, we had planned to plant ten thousand trees in Eastern province in partnership with Muli Children’s Family, MCF. Unfortunately, we managed to plant 4500 trees.

On Saturday May 28, 2011, Thanks to St Johns Community, four of us had an opportunity to travel to Yatta and see the work of our hands. And I have good news for you guys. We are just on our way to have our name stipulated as one of the groups that were able to make Man Made Forest not just one of academically recognized terms but a reality. Trust me when I say this. The seedlings we planted six months ago are now trees.

The most interesting part is that the survival rate was almost 95% and even the few that died were replanted! I personally thank The Muli Children’s Family for the work they have done in taking care of the trees. Certainly, they are not just humane to children but also to the environment. And as i listened to Virginia, one of the girls at the center and the current leader of MCF environmental club; i had no doubt that this team was and is still committed to making Yatta a better place for living. May God bless them all accordingly and meet them at there points of need.

If you are out there and you know that you were involved in this process, either through organizing or otherwise, be assured that you have a reason to be proud to have contributed to this successful process. On behalf of the organizing committee, I take this opportunity to send my heartfelt congratulations to you all. But most importantly, I want to thank Norwegian Church Aid for hosting Kenya Climate Youth Network. It would have been impossible for many other NGOs to host over twenty youth running in out of their offices till late in the night as we did on the on the eve of “Back to Eden”

World Environment Day

World Environment Day (WED) is a day that stimulates awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and public action. It is on 5 June. It was the day that United Nations Conference on the Human Environment began. The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was from 5–16 June 1972. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972. The first World Environment Day was on 1973. World Environment Day is hosted every year by a different city with a different theme and is commemorated with an international exposition in the week of 5 June.

Theme 2011: Forests-Nature At Your Service- Forests cover one third of the earth’s land mass, performing vital functions and services around the world which make our planet alive with possibilities. In fact, 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods. They play a key role in our battle against climate change, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere while storing carbon dioxide. In Kenya, only 2% of our total land mass is covered in trees. This year being the international year of Forests, we (as AYICC-Kenya and other like minded partners) seek to create awareness on the importance of trees and forest cover in particular. Thousands of activities are being organized worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibits, film festivals, community events and much more.

Below is what we have planned:

W.E.D activity for this year:

Building upon the exemplary partnership that Africa Youth Initiative on Climate Change (A.Y.I.C.C-Kenya- www.ayicc.net) have forged with the YMCA, Nairobi branch, we will be partnering with the YMCA Y's Youth movement and setting up a tree nursery at the YMCA. This will serve as a home for the hundredes of tree seedlings for the next few months before they are planted in various areas around our country by both organizations. We have planned to have a concert to mark the event and this will be done on the same day.


There will also be free swimming. Prepare to swim!

Apart from using the day to create awareness on the need to protect our forests, we would also like the day to remind ourselves of the relationship we have with the Creator and His creation.


Plan for the Day:
'There is no better way to stimulate change than to be the Change'. We plan on carrying out this activity using the vast human resource we have in our
youth groups and create a platform where they can learn (practically) how to set up a tree nursery. A.Y.I.C.C - Kenya will provide the seeds and expertise while the Y's Youth from YMCA will provide hard labour & performing artists.

We do sincerely hope that the information shared will be of use to you as you seek to partner with us towards this noble and necessary event. Many thanks.


NB: The program with timing and all the activities will be sent by tomorrow.



Yours in service,



W.E.D planning team