
South Africa
November 2011
Participants at COP 17 conference in Durban, South Africa.
South Africa, November 2011
Q: Coin a slogan for a climate change campaign. Why have you chosen that particular slogan?
Q: What is the message you want to get across and how will IT help you achieve this?
Durban, 29 November: I have not seen the sun in days. It has been threatening grey skies in Durban, South Africa since we arrived on 27 November. Torrential rains and flash flooding have killed about five people in the townships in the last few days. This has not pushed the UN Conference on Climate Change – COP 17 – off the news headlines though. The people in suits have come to talk and nothing will stop them from listening to the sound of their own voices.
Durban, 29 November: What comes to mind when you hear the words “climate change”? Uncertain weather patterns, torrential rains, storms and dry spells? Chronic food shortage and a rise in temperatures that might cause serious health problems? The coming together of more than 20000 people from across the globe to Durban for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17), or UN Conference on Climate Change, testifies to the seriousness of the issue. Youth, on the other hand, are seeing a world full of opportunities.
Durban 29 November: The dramatic changes to weather patterns as a result of climate change will have dire consequences on agriculture, the major source of food and income for Africa’s small scale farmers, the majority of whom are women. Millions of people will be forced to migrate as they seek better living environments to sustain themselves and their families as the land becomes unproductive. Not enough is being done in national adaptation strategies to acknowledge the different gender dimensions of climate change and migration.
It is very very important for us to take action at the local level. Because sometimes when we think of global problems, we get disempowered. But when we take action at the local level, we are empowered. À“ Wangari Maathai, Kenya.
Gender and Climate change, Gender and climate justice start with local government
A Maurice, nos forêts nous rendent d’innombrables services écologiques. Il nous faut non seulement protéger celles qui existent mais en replanter d’autres.
Avec la diminution inéluctable de la superficie de nos terres sous culture de canne (-10 000 hectares entre 1996 et 2008), des choix s’imposent. Soit on continue sur la voie actuelle du développement qui consiste en grande partie Á traiter le pays comme un énorme bien immobilier, soit on opte pour une vision Á long-terme, privilégiant la protection de la nature et de notre qualité de vie. Il faut dire que la situation est déjÁ inquiétante.