Don’t feel like reading? No worries, we gotcha! This version of the #AfrikaVukaNews is also on video.
It’s been a minute. Although we were quiet and on a mini-hiatus from publishing this newsletter, you have been on our minds constantly. In fact the climate movement in our region has been very active and the past few months have seen a continued partnership with the many groups and communities we serve. Through their commitment our campaigns have grown, and that’s why we’re here today – able to come to you with a recap of what has transpired for each campaign we push. And boy, do we have some great updates to share with you.
Get comfortable, have a glass of water or tea.
Before you jump into it, we want to honor a very very special someone who brought so much life to this newsletter. This entire column was her baby from inception, and she invested so much that you all were up-to-date on all things climate related in our region. We thought it would be fit to pay tribute to her passing in this edition.
Although our dear friend Roya may be out of sight, she will live forever in our minds and hearts with memories wrapped in love. We will always honor and remember her soft nature and sarcasm that brought so much warmth to the 350Africa.org team. We love and miss you so much Roya. May you find peace 🕊️
In Case You Missed It
The campaign for a Green New Eskom is led by the Climate Justice Coalition (CJC), a coalition of South African civil society, grassroots, trade union, and community-based organisations.
This year, the campaign took a focus to demand that Minister Mantashe and his dysfunctional Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) shift to a rapid and just transition to renewable energy.
What has followed since is;
- In March, the CJC held a People’s Tribunal, putting the DMRE on trial for their crimes against the people of South Africa. You can find out more about this on the Just Us and the Climate podcast episode, and more about the campaign to #UprootTheDMRE mobilisations at UprootTheDMRE.org;
- We saw progress in June, when we had the opportunity to sit down with the CEO of Eskom and the head of their Just Energy Transition;
- In July, to honor Mandela Day, they took it to the streets marching to the Union Buildings to deliver a petition to the presidency. A very important initiative as the country has been plunged into darkness with the rolling blackouts. In turn, there was a major win as the president announced a major national energy plan. Of course the president’s plan isn’t perfect, and we have some big issues that we believe need to be addressed;
- Therefore, we will continue pushing for a Green New Eskom, and if you want to learn more to support the campaign. Please visit – GreenNewEskom.org
Our campaign continues to target the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) demanding a fossil fuel exclusion policy, increased consultation and inclusivity of civil society as well as equitable and democratic funding of the Just Transition.
- A major achievement this year has seen 350Africa.org being the host member of the newly launched Fair Finance Coalition of Southern Africa (FFCSA). Consisting of 7 members in Southern Africa to work collectively towards transparent and accountable development finance institutions.
- Another exciting win for the campaign has been the announcement of DBSA’s net-zero commitment made at COP26.
Our next steps for the campaign are aimed at refining our lobbying, the FFCSA is undertaking research into the investment policies of the Development Finance Institutions (DIFs). With this research we hope to support workshops where there are existing DBSA funded projects and engagements. We hope you can support us by visiting our website and signing up for campaign updates.
Since February, TotalEnergies , CNOOC and Governments of Uganda and Tanzania have been racing to get the oil out. We have been just as proactive and strategic across our region and beyond the borders, with our many partners and communities to ensure that this East African Crude Oil Pipeline of a disaster is not completed.
Our efforts have led to now 20 banks, 3 Export Credit Agencies and 8 Insurers committing not to be involved in the EACOP project financing and underwriting.
Remember we said our many partners also got involved in the movement. Yes so our supporters in France showed up and also blocked Total’s physical Annual General Meeting (AGM), while others confronted president Macron on France’s involvement in the pipeline.
What’s next for the campaign?
Glad you asked, because we need all the support we can get to continue raising our demands for the end of this giant pipeline project;
- We aim to hold monthly Twitter spaces every 1st Thursday of the month.
- Campaign tours have been working to raise awareness for EACOP, so we want to continue this with similar movements in the world starting with August Hearing for cases filed at the East African Court of Justice and in France.
Now all these plans are only achievable with your continued support, so we plead with you to take action on our StopEACOP website. We have a list of things you can do at the click of a button.
Fossil Free Virunga is our ongoing campaign that seeks to protect the immense and rich diversity of ecosystems, incomparable fauna and flora in the Virunda and Salonga parks. Unfortunately they are both under threat as the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo plans to license rounds of oil exploration through the Ministry of Hydrocarbons.
Currently, the government has decided to auction off 27 oil and 3 gas blocks in the peatlands and protected areas including Virunga.
Our efforts so far have focussed on mobilising and organising the grassroot movements and activists in the DRC through online and offline actions targeting Effora, the Minister of Hydrocarbons and the President;
- The activists delivered the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports to the authorities;
- Four activists shared their story on their fight to protect their home;
- A petition calling an end to the oil exploration was delivered to the President and his Minister of Environment.
We all can play a part in ensuring that the parks are not touched, and in order to do that we need to keep calling for a Fossil Free DRC. Help us achieve this by signing and sharing the petition or by tweeting the demands
One To Watch
350 Africa mobilizes across the continent for Africa Week 2022!
This year for Africa Week, 350 Africa celebrated climate champions and resisted harmful fossil fuel projects. Throughout the continent, they organized concerts, marches, and actions to create awareness of the threats posed by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and to target Total Energies and other financiers linked to the project. They also called on the African Development Bank (AfDB) to implement 100% renewable energy in its lending portfolio.
As Africa suffers disproportionately from the effects of climate change, the African climate justice movement persists in its resistance to fossil fuels and calls for a Just Transition to renewable energy!
Proverb of the month
“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.”
— Helen Keller