It's hard to believe that COP 17 is coming to a close. According to my "source", an outcome could be forthcoming by 4:00 a.m.! That's a few hours away yet, as it's only 1:30 here. It will be interesting to see what finally gets pulled together.
My "blog" is also coming to a close...I've enjoyed sharing my experiences and thoughts on this whole conference. People have talked about their experience of COP in terms of "peaks and valleys" and I would definitely have to agree. I hope I'm ending on a peak, but a more accurate description might be a plateau!
I have also had the opportunity to meet so many amazing and inspiring people, including the members of the Canadian negotiating team. They are a fun bunch and tolerated my presence with a generous spirit and lots of patience for my many questions!
I owe a huge amount of thanks to The Climate Registry for providing me with my accreditation. To have the opportunity to experience some of the side events and all the associated goings-on of COP 17 was a once-in-a-lifetime event, which I won't soon forget.
COP 17's symbol for the conference is a Baobab tree. In fact, there is a giant, man-made one right on the beachfront near our hotel, lit with LED lights, powered by bicycle energy. One of the hotel's cleaning staff left a little bead work tree, along with the story of the Baobab tree. I am going to copy it here for you, as it seems to me a fitting conclusion.
Africa's Tree of Gifts
A Bushman Myth (re-told by Gill Steyn)
Nxou was a young Bushman boy who travelled with his family across the desert in search of food and water. Nxou longed to be allowed to hunt with the hunters but while he was young, he had to stay behind with the women of the tribe as they built shelters and prepared food. But when the hunters returned, Nxou would happily help them to skin and cut the animals they had caught with their sharp, pointed arrows. Nxou's life was very different to ours. His school was the wide open spaces of the desert and his teachers were the elders of the tribe. At night they would gather around the fire and Nxou would listen to stories told by his parents and grandparents. There were no computers, no shops, no electricity and no books. But Nxou loved the fireside stories that told of the beginning of the earth and strange animals that could speak. One night as they sat under a huge baobab tree, Nxou's grandfather told him how the tree had come about.
"In the misty past, before the stars lit up the sky and before man walked on earth, the great Creator was busy making the plants we see today. He created each one and carefully placed it on the ground where it immediately began to grow. The great Creator was pleased with the plants. He made some which were food for the animals and others that would be used by man for firewood, shelter and food. He created trees for shade and flowers to brighten the desert.
The Creator worked very hard for many months until he was satisfied that he had created all the plants the humans and animals would need when they walked the earth. The Creator was just putting the finishing touches to his creation when he came across the baobab tree. "This is an incredibly ugly tree," he thought. He looked down and saw the weeping willow with its beautiful long leafy branches, the sturdy oak, the tall pines and the jacaranda tree covered in purple flowers. The Creator was disappointed with his last tree and so he threw it down to earth expecting it to die where it lay.
The following day the Creator looked down at the earth and was surprised to see that the baobab tree was growing - and upside down at that! The branches of the tree were firmly embedded in the hot sand and the roots of the tree were proudly reaching for the sky. The Creator was so impressed by the tenacity of the baobab tree that he made it "the tree of gifts". The bark of the tree would carry water for the Bushmen to chew when they were thirsty. The wood of the branches could be made into rope and the leaves of the tree would be edible for animals and humans. The fruit of the baobab was to be a medicine chest containing tartaric acid, calcium and vitamin c. The seeds of the tree could be ground to make coffee and the pollen was to be used as glue."
Nxou was fascinated. "Grandfather, you have mentioned every part of the tree that gives us a gift but what about the flowers of the tree? Did the Creator forget about the flowers?"
"The flowers, little Nxou are very beautiful. They are the Creator's gift of splendour.
As you sit quietly at the fire at night or as you lie on your mat, listen carefully and you will hear a distant 'thud'. You will then know that the Creator has thrown another baobab tree down to earth as a gift to Bushmen people."
To this day, the baobab tree and its gifts are still used by animals and man.
The Baobab tree is revered in African culture for many reasons. In ancient times kings, elders and leaders would hold meetings under huge Baobabs to discuss matters of great importance. Not only did the trees provide shelter, but the tribal leaders also believed that the spirit of the baobab would always help them make wise decisions. Let us hope that the "spirit of the Baobab" has guided all the people who have gathered here in Durban to hopefully ensure climate justice for all.
Remember, every day is Earth Day! Do what you can, where you are...
(Thanks for following this little blog. We are leave for Cape Town on Sunday and are continuing the rest of our African adventure.)
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!
Heidi
Friday, December 9, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
And the week goes on...
My apologies for falling behind on my blog entries! A quick comment on the COP 17 negotiations that are coming into the home stretch...As I am sitting here at the computer in the Convention Centre, there is a video monitor to my left broadcasting speakers for the high-level segment attended by Heads of States and Heads of Government and other heads of delegation.
Speakers are asked to adhere to a 3-minute time limit (which does not always happen). Wednesday, I had the opportunity to sit in and listen to these statements, including those of Canada's Minister of the Environment, Peter Kent. I thought about his comments about Canada being "a willing partner" and how "we must be fair if we're going to be effective", or the six Canadian activists who stood up and protested by turning their backs on him, wearing t-shirts that said, "Turn your back on Canada." All very interesting, but maybe another time. (He was one of many, including representatives from Nigeria, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Malta, Finland, Slovakia, and even Lichtenstein, a tiny country of 36 000 covering 160 sq km. Today, Ministers from Ecuador, Bangladesh, Romania, Lesotho, France, Croatia, Benin, Kiribati, Greece, United States, and on and on will present their statements, all seemingly with the same urgent message and impassioned pleas. These have gone on for days now. We were at a reception last night, and one of the speakers pointedly noted, There is no time for Planet B.
As I said in a earlier blog, I'm trying to maintain an educational focus here, on some of my experiences, without getting too bogged down by the actual negotiations. There are many websites to be discovered (like a Globe and Mail article from Wednesday, December 7: In Durban, Kyoto seems set to meet its end) and individual blogs with that focus if one wants to get that angle.
There have been some positives to report on, including a panel discussion hosted by the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (ISSD). The topic: Working to Bridge the Gap: Canadian Mitigation Action at the Provincial Level. The 7 panelists included Diana McQueen, Minister of the Environment for Alberta, and Dan McInnis, Assistant Deputy Minister, Climate Change and Environmental Protection for Manitoba. There were representatives from BC, Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland/Labrador.
Alberta has committed to four carbon capture and storage projects in the province: "steel in the ground by 2015" according to the Minister. Two will be for coal, and two will be for oil projects. With Alberta poised to be a global energy supplier, the companies involved in these projects will share information learned across Canada and internationally.
Dan highlighted some of Manitoba's mitigation actions. Manitoba established a Climate Change Plan in 2008 with 67 action plans. Manitoba already has a low-carbon profile due to its reliance on hydroelectricity (98%), but there are still plans to phase out the use of coal. The province has also deployed 238 megawatts of wind power and implemented a program to remove all pre-1995 vehicles from its roads. Of the 67 action plans, 63 have been achieved, and Manitoba has reduced 2010 emissions to lower than 2000 emissions.
The other representatives shared their provinces' strategies, including wind power, smart meters, land use planning and development of public transport. Gerald Crane, (Director, Newfoundland) summed it up best: one must "balance economic growth with environmental integrity", a definite challenge when one is facing increasing emissions from the offshore oil and gas industry and iron ore.
Last night we attended a reception hosted by the Climate Action Network at the stadium. There were several notable speakers, among them one who spoke about Wangari Maathai, a Nobel Peace laureate and first African woman and first environmentalist to receive this honour. She founded the Green Belt movement in 1977. You can read more about this incredible woman at www.greenbeltmovement.org. Unfortunately, she recently passed away in September 2011, at the age of 71, but her legacy continues with a fight for climate justice for Africa.
I also heard about the Commit to Action - Join the Billion Tree Campaign!Under the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, people, communities, organizations, business and industry, civil society and governments are being encouraged to plant trees and enter their tree planting pledges on their web site. The goal is to plant at least one billion trees worldwide each year.The idea for the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign was inspired by Professor Maathai, and her Green Belt movement which has planted more than 30 million trees in 12 African countries since 1977. When a corporate group in the United States told Professor Maathai it was planning to plant a million trees, her response was: “That’s great, but what we really need is to plant a billion trees.” (www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/) Some of you may have already been part of this amazing movement.
As an aside, Prince Albert II of Monaco and his wife (Princess??) Charlene were in attendance at the reception. That's my celebrity sighting so far! The prince made a speech and seemed to be a supporter of the Billion Tree Campaign (but don't quote me on that!)
On a lighter note....(we need more of those!) we enjoyed a "Bunny Chow" at a local restaurant (a food court, I might add!) No, it is not of the fluffy rabbit variety, but starts with a fluffy loaf of bread which has been hollowed out. It is not a full-sized loaf of bread, but a more "personal" sized-loaf which is then filled with your choice of curried food: lamb, chicken, beans, vegetables, etc. or combinations thereof. Wikipedia has some interesting history of its origins, but apparently it is a Durban speciality. With our great East Indian restaurants in Winnipeg, I think there would be a definite market for "the bunny". It is easy to transport, and no cutlery is required. Abdullah, our taxi driver, recommended you eat it with your fingers, although I'm afraid our Western sensibilities encroached and we used knife and fork. Some members of our group found it a tad spicy (Dan?) while others spooned on the extra hot sauce! It was yummy and filling and we were happy to be able to walk the promenade back to the hotel.
I did have the opportunity to view the Youth Climate Report which I reported on in my last blog. It truly is an excellent compilation of interviews of top scientists by young people (ages 15 to 23) for a world audience. William Rees, a professor at UBC astutely observed, "No collective intelligence has been applied." (Hmmmm, I thought that's what they were doing here!) Another climatologist from Environment Canada suggested it was very urgent for everyone to learn how to adapt to changing climate. Stewart Cohen from Environment Canada has studied the changes in snow pack in mountains that supply water to the Vancouver region. We heard from an Arctic biologist about rapidly melting Arctic ice and its impact on changing ocean currents and climates, not to mention water levels. These are just a few examples of the dozen or so researchers who were interviewed. Any student could find someone in their town or city working in the area of climate change to interview. Not only would their science literacy be improved, but their media literacy skills would benefit as well.
I will leave you with some quotes to ponder.
We never know the worth of water till the well is dry. ~Thomas Fuller,
Gnomologia, 1732
Gnomologia, 1732
There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.
~Mohandas K. Gandhi
~Mohandas K. Gandhi
When we heal the earth, we heal ourselves. ~David Orr
Thanks for reading.
Monday, December 5, 2011
A new week in Durban
Hi everyone. Hope you all had a great weekend!
Saturday was a working day here, although some people (wisely) chose to go off on a day safari to gain some fresh perspective on things. I, unfortunately, was not one of them! We did manage to get to a soccer (football) game though. More on that later...
I had the opportunity instead to attend Climate Induced Migrants: Human Rights Perspectives, and hear directly from some of the people directly affected climate change.
There has been global discussion on Climate Forced Migrants (CFM) since the 1980's, and now resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration of these people has added additional stressors in political circles. Although there is some disagreement on the definition of these groups of peoples (as well as the terminology), generally they've had to leave their habitats for one of three climate change events: sea-level rise, extreme weather, and drought and lack of water.
The numbers are staggering: more than 27 million people were defined as CFM (Norwegian Refugee Council) and estimates suggest the number will be more than 250 million by 2050. If one considers additional refugees from political and ethnic cleansing, war and conflicts, more than just environmentalists become increasingly concerned about the situation. Regional and even global security may be threatened by these huge numbers of displaced people. There is also the human aspect to these stories. What about the connection people may feel toward their ancestral homes? Generations of the same family may have lived in a place only to be forced to leave under the most stressful of conditions. Yes, some people in North America have experienced extreme weather events (tornadoes, hurricanes, fires) but hopefully we have a better social safety net than in developing countries like Bangladesh.
Compare this to a scenario in Bangladesh when two cyclones (Sidr) and (Aila) hit within a year and a half of each other. Sidr hit in 2007, killed 3 500 people and displaced 10 million, with 400 thousand displaced by Aila. Hundreds of thousands end up migrating to cities where conditions seem even worse: 97% were forced to live in the slum areas with a 39% unemployment rate. Only 2% of these people have water from a safe water supply, and there is one toilet for every 40 people in the slums. I can't help but think of what that means for the women children and men living in those conditions, and of our North American abundance. (I'm sorry if I'm on my soapbox again. I'm thinking of myself here; not pointing fingers.) (For complete numbers please check out http://www.equitybd.org/ and http://www.humanitybd.org/).
On Saturday we also had the opportunity to stand behind the barrier surrounding the ICC (International Convention Centre) and watch the participants in the Global Climate Day of Action march go by. There were lots of different groups represented there from farmers' unions, Greenpeace, the South African Waste Pickers Association, Landless Peoples' Movement, lots of other NGO's and ordinary people. They were there to express their over-riding desire for real action from their governments on climate change, and did so in an enthusiastic and respectful way. Despite the armoured police vehicles at the head of the march, and plenty of riot police lining the route, other than some drumming, the odd vuvuzela honking in the crowd, and some impassioned speech-making, the march of approximately 6 500 seemed as focussed as the message on their placards demanding Climate Justice.
Sunday was probably the nicest day weather-wise we have enjoyed so far. Hot and sunny with a light breeze, and judging from the red faces I saw later that afternoon, a reminder to wear sunscreen! We had the pleasure of walking down the relatively new Durban Promenade, a beautiful, 15-metre wide surface of clay brick and tinted concrete paving along the beach. On one side, you have a beautiful view of the ocean, and on the other, restaurants, hotels, etc.
Apparently, Durban experienced some recent and extensive flooding which damaged the sand dunes. Now, they have made a concerted effort to repair and re-establish the dunes along the beachfront. Information on the Durban Beachfront upgrade explains the following:
"Repairing and re-establishing the dunes along the beachfront will do two things, then. The dunes will help to keep the beach sand where it belongs – on the beach. In addition, the re-establishment of dunes will restore the biodiversity of plants and the insects and birds that go with it.
In fact, dunes provide a vivid illustration of biodiversity, of the symbiosis between flora and fauna and the environment, and plans are being made to organise school tours so that Durban’s dunes can be used for educational purposes."
It made me think of the sand dunes at Grand Beach, and how we should maybe be doing more to protect them. Here, they have designated walkways, so people aren't trampling the plants (or the dunes.)
The afternoon saw us walking the other way down the promenade, right to the Moses Mabhida Stadium to see a soccer (football) game between Amazulu FC vs Maritzburg United. There were probably less than 3 000 people in a stadium that seats between 56 000 and 85 000 (for Olympic events), but strangely, it did not feel "too big". We made sure to cheer for the home team, but despite our best efforts, the match ended in a 0-0 tie. For a virtual tour of this incredible stadium go to http://www.mosesmabhidastadium.co.za/.
Our last adventure for the day was a lovely reception (Thanks David and Laura!) at a Durban restaurant where I was able to meet some more dedicated people.
One of them is John Kelly, Founder and Executive Producer of the Youth Climate Report (their company, Neko Harbour Entertainment). In this film, John explained how they put youth in touch with interested researchers who they believe are doing important work. The kids then upload their interviews to YouTube for the world to see. Through Neko Harbour Entertainment's partnership with the United Nations Environment Program, they bring the youths' work to the Climate Change Conference and screen it for delegates and negotiators. (It's definitely on my list of "things to do"!)
This Youth Climate Report is a video compilation of these interviews. The kids also get instructions about the basics of planning, shooting and editing and professional video interview, which is invaluable. For previous COP's (Copenhagen and Cancun), Neko Harbour screened two climate change documentaries: The Polar Explorer and The Antarctica: A Global Warning. Check out http://www.youthclimatereport.org/ for a link to a movie trailer.
John noted that, "screening a film with information on the latest science can have positive and profound impacts." As their website says: Your Climate, Your World, Your Story. John doesn't like to think of students as the leaders of tomorrow, but rather the leaders of today! I couldn't agree more! Students???
A large oceanliner is cruising by, not the usual string of oil tankers. Signing off for now. Have a great Monday!
Saturday was a working day here, although some people (wisely) chose to go off on a day safari to gain some fresh perspective on things. I, unfortunately, was not one of them! We did manage to get to a soccer (football) game though. More on that later...
I had the opportunity instead to attend Climate Induced Migrants: Human Rights Perspectives, and hear directly from some of the people directly affected climate change.
There has been global discussion on Climate Forced Migrants (CFM) since the 1980's, and now resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration of these people has added additional stressors in political circles. Although there is some disagreement on the definition of these groups of peoples (as well as the terminology), generally they've had to leave their habitats for one of three climate change events: sea-level rise, extreme weather, and drought and lack of water.
The numbers are staggering: more than 27 million people were defined as CFM (Norwegian Refugee Council) and estimates suggest the number will be more than 250 million by 2050. If one considers additional refugees from political and ethnic cleansing, war and conflicts, more than just environmentalists become increasingly concerned about the situation. Regional and even global security may be threatened by these huge numbers of displaced people. There is also the human aspect to these stories. What about the connection people may feel toward their ancestral homes? Generations of the same family may have lived in a place only to be forced to leave under the most stressful of conditions. Yes, some people in North America have experienced extreme weather events (tornadoes, hurricanes, fires) but hopefully we have a better social safety net than in developing countries like Bangladesh.
Compare this to a scenario in Bangladesh when two cyclones (Sidr) and (Aila) hit within a year and a half of each other. Sidr hit in 2007, killed 3 500 people and displaced 10 million, with 400 thousand displaced by Aila. Hundreds of thousands end up migrating to cities where conditions seem even worse: 97% were forced to live in the slum areas with a 39% unemployment rate. Only 2% of these people have water from a safe water supply, and there is one toilet for every 40 people in the slums. I can't help but think of what that means for the women children and men living in those conditions, and of our North American abundance. (I'm sorry if I'm on my soapbox again. I'm thinking of myself here; not pointing fingers.) (For complete numbers please check out http://www.equitybd.org/ and http://www.humanitybd.org/).
On Saturday we also had the opportunity to stand behind the barrier surrounding the ICC (International Convention Centre) and watch the participants in the Global Climate Day of Action march go by. There were lots of different groups represented there from farmers' unions, Greenpeace, the South African Waste Pickers Association, Landless Peoples' Movement, lots of other NGO's and ordinary people. They were there to express their over-riding desire for real action from their governments on climate change, and did so in an enthusiastic and respectful way. Despite the armoured police vehicles at the head of the march, and plenty of riot police lining the route, other than some drumming, the odd vuvuzela honking in the crowd, and some impassioned speech-making, the march of approximately 6 500 seemed as focussed as the message on their placards demanding Climate Justice.
Sunday was probably the nicest day weather-wise we have enjoyed so far. Hot and sunny with a light breeze, and judging from the red faces I saw later that afternoon, a reminder to wear sunscreen! We had the pleasure of walking down the relatively new Durban Promenade, a beautiful, 15-metre wide surface of clay brick and tinted concrete paving along the beach. On one side, you have a beautiful view of the ocean, and on the other, restaurants, hotels, etc.
Apparently, Durban experienced some recent and extensive flooding which damaged the sand dunes. Now, they have made a concerted effort to repair and re-establish the dunes along the beachfront. Information on the Durban Beachfront upgrade explains the following:
"Repairing and re-establishing the dunes along the beachfront will do two things, then. The dunes will help to keep the beach sand where it belongs – on the beach. In addition, the re-establishment of dunes will restore the biodiversity of plants and the insects and birds that go with it.
In fact, dunes provide a vivid illustration of biodiversity, of the symbiosis between flora and fauna and the environment, and plans are being made to organise school tours so that Durban’s dunes can be used for educational purposes."
It made me think of the sand dunes at Grand Beach, and how we should maybe be doing more to protect them. Here, they have designated walkways, so people aren't trampling the plants (or the dunes.)
The afternoon saw us walking the other way down the promenade, right to the Moses Mabhida Stadium to see a soccer (football) game between Amazulu FC vs Maritzburg United. There were probably less than 3 000 people in a stadium that seats between 56 000 and 85 000 (for Olympic events), but strangely, it did not feel "too big". We made sure to cheer for the home team, but despite our best efforts, the match ended in a 0-0 tie. For a virtual tour of this incredible stadium go to http://www.mosesmabhidastadium.co.za/.
Our last adventure for the day was a lovely reception (Thanks David and Laura!) at a Durban restaurant where I was able to meet some more dedicated people.
One of them is John Kelly, Founder and Executive Producer of the Youth Climate Report (their company, Neko Harbour Entertainment). In this film, John explained how they put youth in touch with interested researchers who they believe are doing important work. The kids then upload their interviews to YouTube for the world to see. Through Neko Harbour Entertainment's partnership with the United Nations Environment Program, they bring the youths' work to the Climate Change Conference and screen it for delegates and negotiators. (It's definitely on my list of "things to do"!)
This Youth Climate Report is a video compilation of these interviews. The kids also get instructions about the basics of planning, shooting and editing and professional video interview, which is invaluable. For previous COP's (Copenhagen and Cancun), Neko Harbour screened two climate change documentaries: The Polar Explorer and The Antarctica: A Global Warning. Check out http://www.youthclimatereport.org/ for a link to a movie trailer.
John noted that, "screening a film with information on the latest science can have positive and profound impacts." As their website says: Your Climate, Your World, Your Story. John doesn't like to think of students as the leaders of tomorrow, but rather the leaders of today! I couldn't agree more! Students???
A large oceanliner is cruising by, not the usual string of oil tankers. Signing off for now. Have a great Monday!
Friday, December 2, 2011
The week continues in Durban
The clock says 4:34 p.m. Friday, so the first week is drawing to a close. I feel like I'm back in school again: the "side events" generally run for an hour and a half, and that's a lot of sitting! The air conditioning in the rooms is marginal, which is reasonable considering it's a climate change conference, and the humidity is around 80%. The temperatures have been mid-20's, so it's not scorching. (Maybe it's my age that's the problem, not the humidity!)
I attended two related presentations yesterday and today: Achieving Food Security in the Face of Climate Change and Climate-Smart Agriculture. I started to write about all the areas of research that the experts identified as a high priority, but the facts of the matter are that climate change has huge implications for agriculture and our food supply. This is even more true for those who depend heavily on agriculture for income: the rural poor in developing countries. When one hears the projections for drought and famine, it is almost beyond comprehension the human suffering that will result from climate change.
One of the speakers came from a small low-lying atoll in the South Pacific (Tokelau) only 1-2 metres above sea level! They are incredibly vulnerable to cyclones and storm surges and are doing what they can to ensure their survival. They have banned all fertilizers and chemicals, because the last time there was a cyclone, they all ended up in the bay, where there was huge algae growth among other problems. They are hoping to be 100% solar energy in the very near future.
It was a quote he spoke in his language that he left us with that stayed with me: Whatever we do is for the children, the future of our land and oceans. It is a message that has been repeated in different variations in different venues, but now it needs to be acted upon. The African people are being asked to "Save the planet, one stew at a time" with the Wonderbag. What are we North Americans being asked to do??
As we left the conference centre today, there was a protest in the street by the "Landless Peoples' Movement". A drive to the hotel which is normally 7 minutes, took nearly an hour. We drove through dense, rush-hour traffic, and had a sample of the Durban air. I'm trying to remain optimistic, but it's getting harder! On the positive side, I did overhear two delegates behind us on the bus discussing the conference. One said, at the official level things didn't seem too positive, but with the informal discussions taking place among delegates, there was much more reason for optimism.
Till next time.....
I attended two related presentations yesterday and today: Achieving Food Security in the Face of Climate Change and Climate-Smart Agriculture. I started to write about all the areas of research that the experts identified as a high priority, but the facts of the matter are that climate change has huge implications for agriculture and our food supply. This is even more true for those who depend heavily on agriculture for income: the rural poor in developing countries. When one hears the projections for drought and famine, it is almost beyond comprehension the human suffering that will result from climate change.
One of the speakers came from a small low-lying atoll in the South Pacific (Tokelau) only 1-2 metres above sea level! They are incredibly vulnerable to cyclones and storm surges and are doing what they can to ensure their survival. They have banned all fertilizers and chemicals, because the last time there was a cyclone, they all ended up in the bay, where there was huge algae growth among other problems. They are hoping to be 100% solar energy in the very near future.
It was a quote he spoke in his language that he left us with that stayed with me: Whatever we do is for the children, the future of our land and oceans. It is a message that has been repeated in different variations in different venues, but now it needs to be acted upon. The African people are being asked to "Save the planet, one stew at a time" with the Wonderbag. What are we North Americans being asked to do??
As we left the conference centre today, there was a protest in the street by the "Landless Peoples' Movement". A drive to the hotel which is normally 7 minutes, took nearly an hour. We drove through dense, rush-hour traffic, and had a sample of the Durban air. I'm trying to remain optimistic, but it's getting harder! On the positive side, I did overhear two delegates behind us on the bus discussing the conference. One said, at the official level things didn't seem too positive, but with the informal discussions taking place among delegates, there was much more reason for optimism.
Till next time.....
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Durban Drivel Day3
Greetings from Durban! With each passing day, it seems to be more of a challenge to keep up with all the "information overload" and sift out some highlights. I'll give it my best shot.
We enjoyed lunch with Ani, an enthusiastic Canadian youth delegate staying at a local youth hostel. Besides sharing stories of cockroaches at the hostel, Ani, a Public Education and Outreach Coordinator for Climate Change Connection (a project of the Manitoba Eco-Network) was more than happy to share her thoughts on Canada's irresponsible policies and (Minister of the Environment) Peter Kent's comments. (Please check out 350orbust.wordpress.com/ for Ani's blogs and others from the Canadian Youth Delegation. They should generate some good discussion!)
Wandering through the Exhibition Centre, we came across a fascinating invention: the WONDERBAG! No, it is not for aching muscles, but instead is an environmentally friendly, fully recyclable, insulated "cooker" made up of two poly-cotton bags filled with expanded polystyrene balls. The idea is that you simply bring your food to a boil (rice, stew, casseroles) and then place it into the "cooker" where it will continue to finish cooking.
You're probably asking about some of the benefits of these Wonderbags to the community and to the environment. Well, I'm going to list them, just like at school!
We enjoyed lunch with Ani, an enthusiastic Canadian youth delegate staying at a local youth hostel. Besides sharing stories of cockroaches at the hostel, Ani, a Public Education and Outreach Coordinator for Climate Change Connection (a project of the Manitoba Eco-Network) was more than happy to share her thoughts on Canada's irresponsible policies and (Minister of the Environment) Peter Kent's comments. (Please check out 350orbust.wordpress.com/ for Ani's blogs and others from the Canadian Youth Delegation. They should generate some good discussion!)
Wandering through the Exhibition Centre, we came across a fascinating invention: the WONDERBAG! No, it is not for aching muscles, but instead is an environmentally friendly, fully recyclable, insulated "cooker" made up of two poly-cotton bags filled with expanded polystyrene balls. The idea is that you simply bring your food to a boil (rice, stew, casseroles) and then place it into the "cooker" where it will continue to finish cooking.
You're probably asking about some of the benefits of these Wonderbags to the community and to the environment. Well, I'm going to list them, just like at school!
- Improved air quality in homes by reducing smoke from cooking fires
- Reduced risk of shack fires caused by paraffin stoves. (There are 45 000 paraffin-related fires in South Africa and 3 000 deaths, not to mention life-threatening burns.)
- Households can save around 50 percent of energy used for cooking, which gives the communities extra money to spend on other things.
- Tasty, nutritious meals which can be made ahead of time (with recipe books included)
- Food wastage is reduced as food cannot burn or overcook (Hey, I need one!!)
- From the stovetop, meals can be transported in the Wonderbag over long distances and arrive hot and ready to eat several hours later.
- The Wonderbag can also be used to store cold food, which allows people who rely on public transportation to bring their food purchases home before they spoil.
- The manufacturing process creates jobs and develops skills.
- With regular use, one Wonderbag can avoid one ton of carbon emissions every two years.
- The total community demand for wood as fuel is reduced in rural areas, allowing forest regrowth and biodiversity.
It also gives women less time in the kitchen, and more time to pursue education. Who can argue with that?
Due to the Wonderbag's potential to lessen the effects of climate change, the project is being registered by the UNFCCC as a Clean Development Mechanism project. This will allow the company, Natural Balance, to earn and trade "carbon credits" equal to one tonne of carbon dioxide.
Please check out www.Naturalbalancesa.com/ for a complete (and complex) explanation of this topic and some great pictures of the Wonderbag and its use.
Still continuing in the Exhibition Hall, we came across an amazing neighbourhood transformation project called the Transition Project. Althea was incredibly passionate about her role in changing a workplace and neighbourhood from one filled with crime, vagrants, and littered streets, to one of relative safety, with homeless people meaningfully engaged, and street boulevards filled with flowers and vegetable gardens. The crown jewel of the project is a phenomenal roof-top garden, which incorporated a number of recycled items in order to make the transformation happen: discarded pallets were painted and placed to form a walkway around the roof-top; similarly, used barrels were cut in half lengthwise and used as planters; and tires were recycled as planters, used singly and stacked in doubles for plants with deeper root systems. The "garden" furnture was made from recycled plastic.
Althea described how everything happened in stages...first, it was the volunteer labour provided by employees to "green" up the space. Everyone took a turn weeding the roof-top garden as it developed and grew. The owner of the building was unwilling to provide any money to the project, so a system was devised to collect and distribute rainwater. A solution also had to be found for the many street people who populate the area. They were given carts in which to collect the cardboard that covers the sidewalks, where it was returned to the office for recycling and payment of a nominal wage. Eventually, two homeless people were hired to maintain the garden and are now gainfully employed, not to mention developing a set of skills that will serve them well.
Vegetables of every description were being grown: cauliflower, carrots, lettuces, spinach, pumpkin, herbs of all varieties, and even borders of marigolds. I learned that according to the Asian culture, marigolds keep away bad spirits, but they also keep away pests and harmful insects. They even had a large bin of red wigglers for their vermicomposting operation. (Where have I seen those before??) I think they had all their bases covered. It is a very large roof-top garden, and most of the produce is shared with the homeless people in the area, with a small percentage sold in order to buy seeds, etc.
It is a truly inspiring project, which hopefully will spread to other parts of the city, as well as the world. With people like Althea, change is possible. As we walked through a city park on our way to the Transition Project, Althea believes in the adage that It takes a village to raise a child. She is the quintessential mother, and had no problems telling people in the park to pick up their litter and put it in the garbage containers. Old habits die hard, but change does start with each individual.
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