Break Free 2018 - Here's What Happened!

On Friday, people across Africa stepped up their commitment to keeping fossil fuels in the ground with courageous actions that have challenged business as usual across Africa.

Click here to see photos from Break Free actions that happened on Friday!

Lephalale, South Africa. Photo by Greenpeace Africa, Shayne Robinson, 25 May 2018

Break Free stood up to the proposed coal-fired station in Lamu, Kenya - told the Development Bank of Southern Africa to not fund Thabametsi, or any more coal projects in South Africa - reached out to communities in the Eastern region of Ghana (Dome, Asayansu, Kwesi Kunde, Fori) to promote and distribute renewable energy solutions.

With powerful actions involving people across the continent, Break Free from Fossil Fuels took the fight directly to the fossil fuel industry and showed just how powerful we can be when we act together.

Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

The only way we’ll defeat the fossil fuel industry, which is wrecking our climate is if we all come together to show it up for what it is: an immoral and dangerous industry that is at odds with a safe future.

Lamu, Kenya

As the planet becomes dangerously hot, our greatest collective hope is that this movement continues to grow in size, strength and boldness. Friday showed what we can accomplish together.

Abuja, Nigeria

In every country that took action on Friday -- Cote D’Ivoire, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Zambia, Senegal, Kenya, Togo, Uganda, Ghana -- organising against fossil fuels and for renewable energy will continue, stronger than ever.

Because people everywhere see the writing on the wall: the planet is heating up, renewable energy is becoming more affordable, and the fossil fuel industry is entering a financial crisis, the time has come to stand up to its power and pollution.

Bargny, Senegal

This movement will continue to grow in all of its forms: divesting from fossil fuels, blocking fossil fuel extraction and transportation, passing fracking bans, stopping new coal plants, ending fossil fuel subsidies, and securing commitments build a 100% renewable economy.

But our work does not end here. The need for a rapid transition to renewable energy has never been more urgent, and the way we get there is by continuing to organise, mobilise and campaign.

Even though Break Free 2018 is now over, you can get involved in climate campaigns and mobilisations by signing up to the deCOALonise.africa platform mailing list, or getting involved in the global mobilisation, Rise for Climate.

by mamadou

Break Free 2018: These events caught our imagination.

We’re a couple of days away from the Break Free from Fossil Fuels mobilisation -- Can you believe it? Over 20 events are registered so far, highlighting the devastating impacts of climate change and the need to break our ties with the fossil fuel industry.  
Below are just some highlights of the amazing events that are being planned across our continent:
  • In Kenya -  Folks will be rolling out coordinated actions - Photo exhibitions, debates, twitter chats, and an “AntiCoal Khanga show“ in Lamu challenging women to use a traditional attire (Khanga: a vibrantly coloured East African cloth worn by women) to tell the African story of fossil fuel impacts.
  • In Nigeria - People will be joining forces to talk about the easy switch from generators and kerosene for lighting to solar in a caravan around a college.  A press conference with people from mining-affected communities, a renewable energy presentation and non-violent direct action training will also be held.
  • In Ivory coast - Film screenings and community debate to denounce a coal plant project in San-Pedro, alongside a Twitter chat addressed to the AfDB -  who are funding coal projects across Africa to reiterate that Ivory Coast doesn’t need coal, but rather renewables to satisfy its energy demand and accelerate its development.
  • In South Africa, events range from rallies to workshops on climate change and the case for breaking free from fossil fuels, to people calling on the Development Bank of Southern Africa to publicly commit to not funding the Thabametsi coal-fired power plant.
  • In Senegal - Civil society and climate justice groups, local communities, students and women groups are attending a large community forum in Bargny to oppose the launch of the first coal power plant in Senegal and call on the government to stop this project.
  • In Ghana - 350 GROC is reaching out to communities in the Eastern region of Ghana (Dome, Asayansu, Kwesi Kunde, Fori) to mobilise on renewable energy This event is part of the ongoing campaign led by GROC to advocate for a rapid transition towards 100% renewables as a way of increasing electricity access to communities.
These are just some of the inspiring events we are excited about. It couldn’t be easier to get involved in the Break Free Mobilisation where you live by attending an action near you.
The only way we’ll defeat the fossil fuel industry, which is wrecking our climate is if we all come together to denounce it loudly enough for what it is: an immoral and dangerous industry that is at odds with a safe future.
You can check out more events on the map here.

by mamadou

Why we’re Breaking Free from fossil fuels on the 25th of May

We’re gearing up in South Africa and together with groups from all over the continent to #BreakFree from fossil fuels on the 25th of May - Africa Day. With groups hosting events in many different countries, we hope it will be a day where we demonstrate that African people do not want fossil fuels.

This is why we think this work is so important:

  1. Fossil fuels are killing us. Burning of coal for electricity causes terrible air pollution which has been shown to be responsible for illness and deaths among those affected.
  2. Climate change is impacting our continent hardest, displacing people and destroying livelihoods.Image © AlJazeera
  3. We believe a more equitable energy future is possible. Renewable energy has the potential to put the power of generation in many people's hands, not only a few.
  4. We need a united voice. There are many African people and groups working to end the age of fossil fuels in Africa, if we all come together at the same time though, our voices are more powerful. deCOALonise.africa was started in order to do this.

 

What are your reasons for getting involved? We’d love to hear them.

You can help us by joining an event near you, or hosting your own event. Can you believe that our very own African Development Bank is financing coal-fired power plants all over Africa? Join us in showing them that we want to deCOALonise our continent!

by mamadou

Africa uniting forces to challenge the fossil industry on May 25

Coal plant bi dou fi takke. This is the slogan hammered by the community in Bargny, a village located 30 km south from Dakar that the 350 Africa team recently met on the site where Senegal’s first coal plant has just been built.

Coal plant bi dou fi takke means 'the coal-fired power plant will not get launched here'. The completion of the plant did not affect the determination of the Bargny and Sendou communities who continue to oppose this project.

In Senegal as in Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria and Mozambique where governments seem to be fond of coal-fired power stations, we are hearing and seeing this same strong feeling of resistance and opposition from communities, local groups, and civil society in general. Collectively, they denounce the so-called energy projects with disastrous social, health and environmental impacts.

Conscious of this fierce opposition from communities against the proliferation of coal-fired power plants on the continent, 350 Africa in collaboration with these same communities and regional partners is organising a Regional Day of Action called "Break Free from Fossil Fuels" on May 25.

On that day, communities, civil society groups and other activists will organise various mobilisation actions - from street walks to the community forums, field visits to affected sites,  exhibitions and press conferences - all of them united by the same message : No to fossil fuels in Africa, targeting the existing and proposed fossil fuel projects on the continent.

Now more than ever, the time has come for Africa and its people to reject this type of obsolete energy, which is being phased out across the world. It is unanimously recognised for its major contribution to the ongoing climate crisis. Being the most vulnerable continent to climate impacts, it is inconceivable to consider a polluting, destructive and obsolete energy model in the name of development in Africa.

No, Africa does not need fossil fuels to meet its growing demand for energy. Africa has a wide range of renewable resources that can be used to boost its economy. This is the message that African activists are going to convey to their local and national leaders, as well as to international institutions like the African Development Bank that continues to fund coal projects on the continent.

The registration of events for Break Free from Fossil Fuels 2018 has already started and is still going on. We encourage you to register yours as soon as possible. It doesn’t matter at this stage if you don’t have a clear idea or plan in place - register your action and we’ll help you with the rest. We’ll encourage and help you plan powerful, public actions that pull the mask of respectability off the fossil fuel industry.

by mamadou

2018 is a crucial year in fighting for a Fossil Free Africa!


With great admiration for the efforts to freeze fossil fuel energy developments in Africa, we report back from the inaugural deCOALonise.africa meeting of Non-profit Organisations (NPOs) advocating for the end of coal in Africa. On February 1, 2018, more than 15 activists representing regional organisations from across Africa gathered in Johannesburg as part of a series of anti-coal organising and campaign capacity building meetings. In sum, participants were introduced to the deCOALonise.africa platform and shared knowledge, experiences and approaches to advocating for a coal-free Africa. The days' discussions focused on approaches to strengthening African anti-coal solidarity, strengthening capacities for organising, mobilising, and engaging with the media through participant-led storytelling, in addition to putting forward ideas of how we as a collective can engage with upcoming global and regional anti-fossil fuel moments in 2018.  

The deCOALonise.africa campaign platform aims to unite campaigns and movements working to end the age of coal in Africa. Inspired by campaigners in Kenya, the objective of the platform is to highlight the impact of coal on affected people through strengthening solidarity and providing regional campaigns with tools and resources to scale up their efforts to achieve a coal-free Africa powered by 100% renewable energy.

The day's dialogue was kicked off by Chris Kif, Digital Campaigner at 350 Africa. His presentation on what the platform seeks to achieve, and spotlight on how its already working in Ghana and Kenya was followed by participant stories of their campaigns and discussion on how best organisations that are spread across the continent can work together. After some discussion and suggestions, the Decoal platform was endorsed as a useful tool with clear objectives and a solid vision. The remainder of the day was spent discussing how to implement the organising guidelines into their campaigns and how to energise the platform with opportunities to work together.  

This first meeting was both inspirational and full of learning. It was valuable to witness and feel the excitement and energy around deCOALonise.africa, and the possibilities it holds for resisting the importation of dirty energy developments into Africa. We’re all back in our respective countries, cities and communities, but bound by an unyielding commitment to stand up against coal. Going forward, participants will meet virtually on the 1st and 6th of March 2018 to plan for key global and regional moments in 2018 - if you are interested in joining this call, you can sign up here. Join us, and let’s set Africa on a coal-free path through people power!

by mamadou

#ThumaMina – call on the DBSA to publicly commit to not financing new coal

350Africa is calling on the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to publically commit to not funding Thabametsi coal-fired power station because of the devastating effects this will have in Lephalale, Limpopo, South Africa.

We all know we don't need another coal plant. Besides the immediate impact on the health of people living close to the plant, emissions from coal-fired power plants contribute to climate change. Burning more coal will only lead to more catastrophic climate change, more extreme weather and even more impacts like the drought in the Cape and dangerous storms. Coal is killing us and our planet and it's time we took action to stop it.

South Africa is at the shore of a national water crisis. Corruption within the coal sector threatens the country’s democracy and has been entrenched into the highest levels of governance. Reports on how load shedding was used as a money-making scheme, irregularities within the Water and Sanitation Department and ensuing economic misfortune has reached extreme levels and has South Africans feeling despondent in the midst of a water crisis. In order to avoid the situation becoming any worse, public and private financial institutions need to be persuaded to break ties with the coal sector, which threatens our collective well being.

This is why 350Africa has launched the Thuma Mina(lend a hand) DBSA campaign calling on the DBSA to permanently withdraw from financing Thabametsi. The plant will use outdated technology and as a result will be a coal plant with disproportionate emissions, impacts on human health, water availability, and agricultural productivity in an age when any new coal plant cannot compete economically with renewable energy and is a climate crime. Set to begin operating in 2021 with a lifespan of 45 years, the plant would mean that either South Africa will not be able to meet its climate change obligations, or that the power plant will close early, becoming a stranded asset.  

The Life After Coal campaign has made incredible progress towards stopping Thabametsi. We now call on the DBSA to continue their work supporting renewable energy and commit to not funding this new coal power plant. Their slogan is #MakeChangeHappen, let’s do it sustainably.

You can join the call by visiting the campaign website and signing the petition asking the DBSA to commit to not funding coal. 

by mamadou