NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

( Peace to all, in the spirit of Christmas. )

By Rev. Tegga Lendado, PhD.

This is one of the most important calls regarding the African environmental justices that I have known in my lifetime. We need global leadership and personal commitment in every sense of the word. Not, talk but action! It is not about the usual so-called 'global warming' debate but the erratic African climatic crisis induced by its detrimental effects.

The world’s climate summit in Copenhagen, Denmark is convening to devise an international policy on the issue the environmental crisis affecting global climate. Africa’s and Africans’ contribution is negligible compared with the Western nations, Japan and China. As such, Africa is a victim of the climatic extremes that threaten the life of innocent human beings and their environment. For too many years, we attributed the climate crisis as God’s wrath for our spiritual conditions and so on. But, now we have found out that our enemies are “we” on the side of the hemisphere. The culprits are both the accused are the judges in this case. We have no choice but to stand and fight for our right to survive.

It is a just cause. We need to live like others. We have the right to freely breathe unpolluted air. We do not want to be extinct like the dinosaurs. It should now become a moral issue for the Western and industrialized nations to clean up their mess. You cannot kill someone and go back to your bed to sleep and snore. God will disturb your conscience if you have any. Some how, someway the Almighty God who made us equally from the dust but in His own image will execute His justice. Fighting for climate conservation is a just war. It is for the survival of the weakest, not even the fittest any more.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister Zenawi, who is a controversial figure with regards to his national government, represents the victimized Africa nations and people. However, the issue he is bringing to the table is not controversial. It is the very same issue that many humanitarian organizations, experts and persons of bare common sense have been advocating for many decades. I am with the PM of Ethiopia on this burning issue as he debates this particular African dilemma. All serious and sensible Africans and others around the world should rally around the PM's plea before world leaders in Copenhagen. ( Continues below..... )

Photo Above: Map of Denmark showing Copenhagen

I am not saying this as unconcerned by-stander. I opposed the massacre of trees for the European market consumption in 1980's in Mozambique where I worked as a forestry engineer. The government needed 'foreign currency' badly to feed its newly independent nation. We shipped raw logs of black ebony to Europe and Japan. Since we did not have the funds for reforestation, it only became just a term rather than an alternative activity.

I had fought against the communist military government's land policy in 1970s, which contributed to the destruction of the virgin forest of Ethiopia. We managed to plant 11 million trees in the central region of Ethiopia before I moved to Mozambique. Later, I helped some forestry development projects in Southern Africa. One of the reasons I abandoned the profession was because of such onslaughts on the natural resources of Africa.

Now about 30 years later, I am still weeping with the world over the spilt milk. While I praise the cooperation of the Prime Minister of Denmark, I challenge the apathy of the culprits. They do not seem to be interested to rescue Africa after years of unchecked exploitation. As Martin Luther King said, " Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere (paraphrased)". I can therefore, only agree with our late Emperor Haile Selassie, "God and history will judge" in due time.

As a side note of caution, let me say to my fellow environmental activists that no amount of monetary compensation can recuperate the loss. I believe Africa is the most affected region of the world by the unethical behavior of the Western industrial nations, Japan and China. Such environmental immorality of their irresponsible stewardship should hold them accountable, at least financially if not ethically. They should also be aware that they are the culpable co-habitants of this planet. I am requesting that Europe, Japan, America and China should adopt green technology, devise a system to reverse the damage they inflicted on the environment, fund all projects of reforestation of indigenous species in Africa and pay for training and research of environmental, conservation sustainability and development in Africa.

I am also calling on all Africans and friends of Africa worldwide to agree on this one solitary issue, i.e., to stand for Africa’s environmental justice beyond all our differences.

May this message get in the heart and heads of the Copenhagen dignitaries and conferees!

God bless you.

Rev. Tegga Lendado, PhD., African Network International, SADA-Georgia Chapter, Atlanta, USA.

*Tags: Africa, Ethiopian, World, Zenawi, Global, Warming