August 4, 2020

AV Caravan – Last stop in the heart of Africa

This Thursday, 6th August at 9 AM GMT+2, we will put the spotlight on the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), one of the biggest oil megaprojects threatening the lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems of thousands across East Africa. Please join the webinar and add your voice to the petition. You can also tweet about the campaign and help them reach a wider audience. 

This Thursday, 6th August at 9 AM GMT+2, we will put the spotlight on the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), one of the biggest oil megaprojects threatening the lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems of thousands across East Africa.

I will be joined by frontline communities and activists from Uganda who have been resisting this controversial project backed by big oil companies, banks, and external powers.

In the last few months, civil society groups across Uganda, East Africa, and the world have been mobilising and rejecting the project. They launched a petition asking Standard Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation to not fund it. Over 24,000 individuals have so far signed on it. And while the two banks are yet to officially communicate on the funding engagement, the AfDB has indicated it will not fund the (EACOP).

There are several reasons why this project has to be stopped. It is already putting tens of thousands of people at risk, forcing them to abandon their lands and disrupting their lifestyles. The EACOP is being developed in the heart of a natural protected area which is a sanctuary for fragile and rare biodiversity. If constructed, the pipeline could contaminate Lake Albert and neighbouring rivers, polluting the water sources and other livelihoods for local communities.  The emissions from burning the oil transported through the pipeline alone are estimated to 33 million tonnes of CO2 per year.

As we conclude this amazing journey which has taken us to the four corners of the continent, don’t miss the last stop to hear stories of people’s power, resistance, and real climate action against extractivism and neocolonialism. 

Curious to hear those stories and get a chance to interact with them? Please join the webinar and add your voice to the petition. You can also tweet about the campaign and help them reach a wider audience. 

We need your support to ensure we keep the pressure to urgently stop EACOP and to rebuild our continent and world in a more healthier and sustainable way.

Landry Ninteretse, 350Africa.org Managing Director.