2011: Africa
Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria
Kenya
Friends of Lake Turkana held barazas (public meetings) along the lake in the towns of Kalokol, Loareng'ak and Nachukui where they worked with partner environmental groups within the regions to create awareness and update the communities about the developments with the campaign against Gibe 3 Dam.
On a National level, DVDs about the WCD+10 , Stop Gibe 3 brochures, Gibe 3 fact sheets and a Letter of Appeal were delivered to every member of the Kenyan Parliament, Various Diplomtic Missions, UNEP, and news agencies. This was to further create awareness and clearly indicate what Friends of Lake Turkana and other activists are asking for, so that all parties understand.
Contact:
Ikal Angelei
Friends of Lake Turkana
ikal@friendsoflaketurkana.org
Mozambique
Mphanda Nkuwa: Life, People, Environment, What Future?
Justiça Ambienta and Friends of the Earth Mozambique organized a photo exhibit, in honor of Day of Action For Rivers and in protest against the proposed Mphanda Nkuwa Dam on the Zambezi River. The exhibit was entitled "Mphanda Nkuwa: Life, People, Environment, What Future?" At the event they also showed short films about the dam's impacts, and the local river communities' concerns for their future.
Contact:
Anabela Lemos
Justiça Ambienta and Friends of the Earth Mozambique
anabela@ja.org.mz
Namibia
For the second year, a community action project in Windhoek, Namibia requested Day of Action for Rivers materials from International Rivers. They distributed information on March 14th to create awareness about the number of dry rivers surrounding their district.
Nigeria
Cleaning Up the Banks of the Ikang River
The Edem Children Foundation (ECF) works with women and youth in Nigeria, and is initiating a program with children to help create awareness about the importance of clean rivers and advocating against new dam construction. In celebration of March 14, ECF held a River Cleaning event by the Ikang River in New Bakassi, Cross River State, Nigeria. They mobilized about 50 children from the community to clean the river banks and raise awareness about the importance of clean and healthy rivers.
Contact:
Ms Fiona Ekpo
The Edem Children Foundation (ECF)
ecfnd@yahoo.com
Petition to Nigerian Government
River Ethiope Trust Foundation/Living Rivers Foundation Nigeria, sent a series of letters to the Nigerian Government, calling on them to set up laws to protect Nigeria's rivers from further destruction and protect the rights of people that depend on these rivers.
Contact:
V.I. Dafe
River Ethiope Trust Foundation/Living Rivers Foundation Nigeria
retfon@yahoo.com
For Free Flowing Rivers
The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria Competitive Agricultural Research Grant Scheme (CARGS) in partnership with stakeholders within the Hadejia Jamaare Komadugu Yobe Basin came together on the International Day of Action For Rivers to improve the livelihood of people and the environment by addressing one of the key burning issues within the river systems: The invasion of typha has been an environmental problem affecting the Ecosystem and Biodiversity of the Komadugu Yobe Basin. Groups met to discuss how to improve the free flow of water along the river systems. Read more about this event here.
Contact:
Dr Muslim Idris
Hadejia Jamaare Komadugu Yobe Basin Coalition
drimuslim@yahoo.com
