#AfrikaVukaNews: New year and re-energized in our pursuit for climate justice

As we leap into the month of February we hope that this last month, since we started the new year, has been good to you and that you are still staying safe and healthy.

We continuously acknowledge that many communities across the world are still experiencing the adverse effects of climate change and are working hard to rebuild what has been lost. We stand in solidarity with them and hope that this year, the AfrikaVuka Newsletter will continue to inspire more people in the world to stand up to the fossil fuel industry to build a sustainable future.

AfrikaVuka believes in unity and with this new year, this new chapter, the words of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu continues to echo in our hearts, saying:

“We are made for goodness. We are made for love. We are made for friendliness. We are made for togetherness. We are made for all of the beautiful things that you and I know. We are made to tell the world that there are no outsiders. All are welcome: black, white, red, yellow, rich, poor, educated, not educated, male, female, gay, straight, all, all, all. We all belong to this family, this human family, God’s family.” 

In Case You Missed It

Nigeria Climate Bill: On Thursday, 18 November 2021, Nigeria’s President Muhammad Buhari signed into law the climate change bill passed by the national assembly. This comes after the country’s announcement of working towards a 2060 net-zero target at the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow.

Nigeria now joins an elite group of countries that have enacted emissions-target legislation aiming to curb carbon emissions. The new climate change law is significant in many ways as it sends a strong positive message to the world that Nigeria understands the enormity and urgency of resolving the current climate crisis.

San Pedro coal-fired power plant: Communities of San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire, local and global environmental civil society, have been fighting for years for the cancellation of the controversial San Pedro coal-fired power plant project. These communities are now demanding an official statement from the government to confirm if the Ivorian government is serious about abandoning the project. The announcement to abandon the project was reportedly made on November 18th by the Minister of the Environment and Sustainable Development speaking to parliamentarians during the budget session. 

 

#StopEACOP: The #StopEACOP (East African Crude Oil Pipeline) Campaign started the year with a bang with activists from Uganda and Tanzania crossing the oceans to France on a quest to denounce the involvement of the French oil giant, TotalEnergies, in the EACOP project and its related activities. In a ceremony meant to celebrate the city of Grenoble as Europe’s Green Capital, activists called out the irony of the award when the most ecologically destructive project is organized in the same country. The activists protested at various TotalEnergies gas stations and organized street marches as well as challenged the leaders of the country to take action and stop the EACOP project.

You can continue to show your support by writing to the banks most likely to consider financing the pipeline. Together we can #StopEACOP and create a just and sustainable economic future. 

One to Watch

 

2022 – Hope Needs Action 

As we review 2021, we cannot help but be amazed at some of the epic wins, and very insightful learnings on events and campaigns that are important to stopping the climate crisis. Through these, we will continue to raise our voices and stand against climate justice.