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Editor’s Note
September goes down as a very important month in the development sector and for those of us who work in different projects at the community to push for sustainable development. This month the 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by UN member states and heads of states unanimously agreed to push for the implementation of these goals in their respective countries. This is another important step in the path towards a sustainable continent, it means that development actors like you have a guidance they can follow and tailor their community efforts. It is also very important for the Global South; it is yet another chance for meaningful partnerships to be established with the North on which action will be based. This is what NAYD will focus on in the next quarter of the year. We hope that you will partner with us as we move towards implementation - every effort towards sustainable development counts; your effort counts.
In this issue of INSPIRE, we bring you articles and other development related reports that shaped the last few months as we moved towards the adoption on the SDGs. It will also mark the end of one phase and the start of another. As such we welcome your ideas on how you think SDGs can better be implemented and localised by youth at the community level. We also very much welcome other suggestions on what you’d like to see in future INPIRE editions.This is a collaborative effort with you, the young people who inspire the work that we do at NAYD so we welcome your views.
Topics such as climate change, renewable energy, urban sanitation and community development initiatives are covered. This is very appropriate as we look forward to the climate talks this December in Paris. Find out more about COP21 here.
NAYD features the work of young people impacting positive change in theircommunity. We would like to feature your organizationand its activities - please email Judyannet, NAYD’s social media coordinator, at. Enjoy this issue of INSPIRE and let us know what you think through our social media, links at the end of this edition.
Editorial Team
CLIMATE CHANGE COVERAGE IN THE MEDIA: A NEW MINDSET WILL ARISE
It is no doubt that the mainstream media, being one of the most powerful voices we have in the world, does not give climate change and other conservation issues of actual concern the coverage they deserve.
For this reason early this month, from June 01stto the 11th, I was fortunate to benefit from a bloggers’ and web journalists’ training organized byUNESCO and the French Agency for Media Cooperation (CFI) inNairobi, Kenya.
TheMedia 21 Journalism and Climate Changeprojectaims to impart better communication skills and approach among journalists and influential bloggers in select developing countries to aid their governments tip the balance in the upcoming UN climate talks and in the long run inspire a conscious public to act.
There is growing recognition that effective climate change communication can be the first step to garner public support. Selected journalists and bloggers will be expected in the post-training period to boil down the hard technical parts of the climate change debate and make it easy for the public to understand.
This will among others helpensure that the negotiation at the UN talks are more balanced and help developing countries get what they need: finance and technology support for their climate change governance interventions.
The beneficiaries of the initiative are also expected to build a conduit between their governments, NGOs, the public and other stakeholders, so that desirable climate policies are better understood, carried out and monitored.
In one of the training sessions, I metMr. Wanjohi Kabukuru, founder ofthe Indian Ocean Observatory(IOO), an online news and analysis platform covering the Western Indian Ocean region.
Telling stories that matter on how issues such as politics, energy, environment, diplomacy, economy, security just to mention a few, affect people living around the Indian Ocean, IOO is a vindication of why media coverage matters.
Leveraging entertainment to bring about quantifiable global change
The past two weeks also saw me do a restricted review of theRevolution, an exhilarating and hard-hitting full length feature film from award-winning Sharkwater filmmakerRob Stewart.
The film not only sheds light on crucial environmental topics and how we can save the planet, but also shows how past world events have taught us what we need to do to save the future.
Revolution is not just about the environment—it’s really a landmark film about hope and inspiration. It’s a call-to-action with an uplifting message that tells us it’s possible to alleviate the damage already done to our critical ecosystems.
Revolution tells stories that Ocean Acidification, Deforestation, Climate Change and Overfishing are happening right now, affecting our existence at present, not in the future.
By raising the profile of such issues, it will hopefully be a center piece for jump starting an international conversation on the same and reinvigorating the engagement.
It is not clear whether we will win the fight against issues of climate change and conservation of the earth’s biodiversity or not. The film gives us the charge needed to put the energy mobilized into work with the amazing images and stories in the film.
The more people who watch this film, the more it will send a message. You can watch the film fromhereand Revolution will donate $1 of every film purchased online to the World Wildlife Fund!
The remainder of each purchase is being put towards supporting Sharkwater Production’s continued mission of raising awareness and funds for conservation through its current and future environmental movies and through Rob’s other work with ecological organizations.
INITIATIVE FOR A YOUTH-LED DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
What do you do when you notice a problem in your community? You can either ignore it oryou can become proactive and do something about it. This is an article about doers that exist among us. To arrive at a youth-led development in Africa means having more young people involved in various activities. There are many young people doing great things out there in the community but we need more people to rise up and do something. In this digital age where everything is characterized with speed and the need for fast results it is possible to be discouraged from taking action. However some young people out there continue to inspire us to do more; if we get more young people taking initiative then a developed Africa will be a reality in time and not just an illusion.
Today we highlight such a young person who has been working at the community in different capacities for a long time now.Stephen Machua is a Kenyan whose passion for volunteerism and social media has influenced most of his work at the community. For his extensive service at the community Stephen has just been recognized by KCA University among other young people withThe 25 Under 25 Entrepreneurs 2015 Award.
Stephen isthe Co-Founder of Change Mind Change Future a youth led NGO based in Kenya. He previously served as a volunteer for the first United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) (2014), Rotaract Club President (2012/2013), Voluntary ambassador for Jamie Oliver Food Revolution (2012), organizing committee member for the first African Youth Charter Summit (2013), Organizing committee member for Umeclick Peace Campaign (2012/2013), University Student Leader (2011/2012) and Organizing committee member for the Rotary Family Health Day (2011).
He is alsothe founder of AFROM Media, a social enterprise which was founded in August 2014.It provides social media trainings and management services to businesses and organizations with the objective of expanding their operations, creating partnerships and building their capacity for optimization of their online revenue, reducing the cost of advertisement and publicity. AFROM Media has worked and continues to work as the social media partner of various organizations like The High Level Youth Policy Dialogue that was convened by the Organization of African Youths at the United Nations Office in Nairobi, The Timeless Women Conference at Safari Park Nairobi, The 2ndAfrica Ecosystem Adaptation for Food Security Conference 2015 scheduled to happen at the end of this month at the United Nations Office in Nairobi.
In the spirit of been an all round community worker, Stephen is also involved withCheza Sports Academy a youth soccer project operating in South B, Nairobi. It nurtures soccer talents and equips and equips life skills to the youth while aspiring to discover, nurture, develop and enhance growth of potential talent in football through youth programs.
Stephen has played a huge role in shaping up the conversation of the youth through social media. He isa longtime volunteer with Network of African Youths for Development (NAYD) where he serves as a co-host of the weekly #NaydChat. This is an online chat that brings young people involved in development work in different capacities to talk about topical issues and inspire more action from the youth offline. #NaydChat continues to reach many young people across the globe and shape dialogues that translate into action at the community level.
ByJudyannet Muchiri, Social media coordinator, NAYD.
NAYD DRC MEMBER NEW DAY TELLS US ABOUT THEIR ACTIVITIES
Sustainable waste management and urban sanitation in Bukavu
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, poor waste management is one of the causes of disease and pollution in several cities.In Bukavu, the people do not know that hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste are piling up all over the city. The lack of good waste management policy poses serious problems that can be disastrous. In many neighbourhoods there is the lack of refuse collection and the locals are forced to dispose of waste either on the street or in gutters or in the lake.
Aware of the need to intervene in this area, often neglected in national and local policies or international aid policies, NEW DAY Association decided to organize on July 25, 2015 a green brainstorming workshop with young people on the theme - sustainable waste management and urban sanitation in Bukavu.
The workshop’s objectives were to inform young people of the dangers of waste on human health, to encourage young people to participate in the remediation of the city of Bukavu and to get young people with a dynamic network exchanges to conduct research and pilot actions in order to find lasting solutions to the waste problem.
At the end of the workshop the young people proposed to organize regular collection, composting and recycling of waste and have requested that such activities be organized in all the municipalities of the city of Bukavu to inform young people about the dangers to human health and encourage them to be agents of development in their municipalities.
Champs-Paysan School - a promising approach for the young unemployed of Kavumu
School Champs-Paysan (CEP) is an approach that was developed in the years 1989 in Indonesia with the aim of informing rice farmers in integrated pest management. CEP is a method of community education and participatory extension; it is a school without walls where the agri-farmers learn by observation, by sharing and experimentation in their own fields. The purpose is not to educate farmers rather to empower them and make them capable of making their own decisions so they become experts in their own fields.
This approach has spread worldwide and has gone beyond integrated pest control to encompass all agricultural activities. Anxious to make a difference in finding a solution to youth unemployment problems in rural areas, NEW DAY association was inspired by CEP to mentor the young unemployed of Kavumu.
During the 2015 growing season, NEW DAY used this approach to improve the socioeconomic conditions of a group of 65 young unemployed in Kavumu and South Kivu. The project objectives were to teach young people good agricultural practices, organize youth group of producers, train and inform young people about the fundamentals of economic law and marketing of agricultural products and develop in young the idea of support through work.
At the end of the project 65 young unemployed have been able to produce and market vegetables; 49 young people have financial stability and are able to support themselves; in June 2015 the markets of the city of Bukavu were supplied by vegetables from the fields of youth Kavumu farmed NEW DAY association. To sustain these kinds of activities NEW DAY association wants to create a strong partnership with national and international organisations.Ir. Prince Bobo, Co-Founder and Deputy Co-ordinator, NEW DAY. Email:
Climate Change Science and Negotiations
Students recently completed the Climate Change Science and Negotiations Course organised over 3 months by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) led by Professors Jeffrey Sachs and Emmanuel Guerin. The aim of the course was to give its students a better understanding of the science of climate change and the complexities in potential negotiations so that they can become intelligent advocates in the battle to secure fair global targets in Paris in December this year.
Whilst scientific consensus is overwhelming that global warming is real and manmade and that catastrophic climate change will result if we continue on the business as usual trajectory, the world has yet to seriously address the issue despite many Conference of Party (COP) talks. This is because there are organisations and individuals like Exxon Mobile and Rupert Murdoch who pay for climate change denials to confuse the public about the science, and also that previous attempts to effect a legally binding framework have been paralysed as countries have either ignored their commitments (like Australia and Canada) or legislation was stalled (USA).
Global Warming happens because the earth’s natural balancing of the suns radiation is affected by mans excessive loading of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere such that outgoing radiation is reflected back to earth. Some of the gases can be resident in the atmosphere for thousands of years. Carbon Dioxide (co2) is the biggest emitter and one of the longest resident with coal 22% more polluting than oil and 685% more than natural gas. Land use is the biggest direct cause and electricity generation the largest indirect cause of co2 emissions.
Although energy efficiency has increased in the last few decades the population continues to rise at a dramatic rate with a subsequent increase in demand for energy. If we continue on a business as usual trajectory scientists predict that the global average temperature will increase up to 8c by the end of century with consequential increases in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather. UNEP stated in 1989 that 2 degrees centigrade (2c) was an upper limit beyond which the risks of grave damage to ecosystems and of non linear responses are expected to increase rapidly. The window of opportunity to effect this limit is closing fast, so how do we prevent global warming beyond 2c and decouple mankind from fossil fuels?
The drivers of co2 emissions are mainly driven by energy and carbon intensity so it is necessary to increase energy and carbon conservation, but how do we do that? Possible solutions include more efficient vehicles using advanced bio-fuels like algae, increased use of electric vehicles, smart city transport systems, reductions in private transport, creation of more energy efficient equipment and materials in buildings, improved efficiency of heat and waste systems in industry, increase of renewable and use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) alongside fossil fuel burning. We need to lower carbon electricity and switch fuels from high to low carbon but in an economic way such that we reach Grid Parity or when an alternative energy source can generate electricity less than or equal to the cost of purchasing from the electricity grid.
The cost of solar panels has already drastically reduced through consumer demand but managing power systems of renewable energy is a challenge as the energy delivered is generally intermittent and we currently rely on base level power provided by coal and gas to fill the shortfall of energy at peak times and when renewable energy is not being created (e.g. at night or when there is no wind). We need to improve our energy storage options, use CCS and Hydro Electric Power (HEP), and manage power demand more effectively. Nuclear Power is an option but there is public resistance through waste management and safety which have to be addressed. Deep Decarbonisation(DD) technologies are within reach but commercial readiness has to be accelerated. We can learn from previous technological successes and set up roadmaps with clear goals & timelines, involving both the public and private sectors. Industry must both compete and co-operate assisted by grants issued on a highly competitive basis and Intellectual Property must be shared. Road maps do help mobilise public, private & expert communities.
Research led by Professor Emmanuel Guerin through teams in 15 countries worldwide has shown that DD is feasible, with a pivotal role played by electricity, but that different countries would rely on different pathways to change to a low carbon output. For instance Australia, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea would focus on solar energy whilst Canada, China, France, Germany and Japan on wind power. The research concluded that detailed roadmaps are required for DD yet very few countries have looked at it to date. Long term backcasting to 2050 is critical (i.e. this is where we want to get to by 2050, what are the steps we need to take to get there?). Solutions will require shared global commitment and a sustained public/private effort to introduce low carbon technologies in all countries.