Building Resistance Movement against the EACOP project in Tanzania
By Baraka .D. Machumu for Green Conservers Tanzania
In the sun-drenched expanses of Tanzania, the land hums with a rhythm known only to its people. For generations, this land has been the lifeblood of its communities, providing sustenance, culture, and a profound connection to nature. However, the proposed East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) threatens to disrupt this harmony, sparking a movement that intertwines tradition and activism. In the past six months, our Stop EACOP campaign has grown in leaps and bounds, driven by the unwavering support of the 350 grants fund and the relentless spirit of the communities affected by the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project.
Green Conservers, a youth organization that advocates environmental and climate justice, joined forces with the local community members to build a resistance movement. Over six months, they engaged 246 community members, including 115 women and 27 indigenous people, each bringing unique perspectives and invaluable knowledge. Our journey, marked by collaboration, empowerment, and advocacy, has significantly heightened awareness and galvanized action against the environmental and social injustices posed by the EACOP project. Together, they forged a collective voice, powerful enough to echo across the valleys and reach the corridors of power.
Engaging Media and Influencers
With the 350 organization's support, we launched a comprehensive media engagement strategy, partnering with media houses and social media influencers to amplify our message. This strategy was crucial in reaching a wider audience, informing the public about the environmental injustices tied to the EACOP project, and rallying support for our cause.
- 11 Communities were visited to collect the stories and more than 30 people were interviewed
- 11 Stories were published in Newspapers, 1 TV and 7 radio sessions conducted
- 25 Young people trained in digital advocacy and activism
- More than 3 million reached both Green conservers and young activists handles
- 3 social media influencers were engaged online and offline
Empowering Communities
The Fund enabled us to empower and mobilize communities across eight regions in Tanzania affected by the EACOP project. Through targeted outreach and empowerment programs, we provided these communities with platforms to voice their concerns and demand accountability. Our advocacy efforts culminated in organizing five peaceful protests and eleven community visits, where 246 community members, including 115 women, 107 youth, and marginalized individuals, shared their experiences and voiced their concerns.
Voices of Women and Marginalized Groups
A cornerstone of our campaign has been the inclusion of 115 women and marginalized groups, who are disproportionately affected by the EACOP project. The Fund facilitated targeted outreach programs that ensured their meaningful participation in advocacy efforts. By amplifying their voices, we not only highlighted the gender-specific impacts of the project but also advanced gender equality and social inclusion in our advocacy work.
Building a Broader Movement
Collaboration has been at the heart of our strategy. The Fund enabled us to strengthen ties with like-minded organizations, advocacy groups, young people, and civil society partners. This collective effort has increased our impact, creating a powerful movement for environmental justice and sustainable development. By uniting with other stakeholders, we have amplified our advocacy efforts, drawing greater attention to the plight of the affected communities. Also using social media was a great achievement for our movement.
Strengthening Organizational Capacity
To sustain and enhance our advocacy efforts, we invested in strengthening our organizational capacity. The Fund facilitated training workshops and capacity-building initiatives, equipping our team with essential skills in advocacy, community mobilization, and media engagement. These initiatives have been instrumental in empowering us to effectively advocate for environmental justice.
Amplifying Community Voices
Our advocacy efforts have led to heightened community involvement and awareness about the EACOP project's impacts. Through peaceful marches, demonstrations, and community forums, we provided platforms for community members to voice their concerns, share their experiences, and demand accountability from decision-makers. These events were not just about protest but about creating a space for dialogue and empowering communities to take a stand for their rights.
A Journey of Empowerment and Resilience
From December 2023 to May 2024, our journey has been one of empowerment, resilience, and unwavering determination. The Fund has been instrumental in driving positive changes and outcomes in our advocacy work against the EACOP project. We have seen greater awareness, empowerment, and resilience within affected communities and beyond.
The fight against the EACOP project is far from over, but with the continued support of the Fund and the collective strength of the communities, advocacy groups, and civil society partners, we are confident that we can drive meaningful change. Together, we will continue to amplify voices, demand accountability, and work towards a future of environmental justice and sustainable development.
The 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and what it means for Tanzania
On the 19th of December, after the anniversary, Partnership for Green Future mobilized University students to ensure the youths' voice on climate change from different faiths are given space to advocate for clean energy and a future they can rely on. The main goal of the event was to bring together young people in the climate movement to mark the 5th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and call on the government to demonstrate real climate leadership to stay within 1.5 by keeping fossil fuels on the ground and not funding their infrastructure.
The event was attended by the students of University of Dar es Salaam, Climate Action Network Tanzania, Climate Science community and TAJPI. Other participants included Dar es Salaam University Student Organization (DARUSO), Association of Students from Geography and Environmental Studies (AGEM), University of Dar es Salaam Association for Wildlife and Conservation (UDAWICOSA), Earth day and Go Green.
Key moments
- Sports: The event started with sports, basketball and football, which took place at Mabibo Hostel grounds. Sports is considered as a good strategy of mobilization in Tanzania.
- Talent show and short messages:
After the sports, some of the students showed their talents by singing in different styles focusing on themes about tackling the effects of climate change and the role of youth in climate action. There was also a performance of various written messages that were displayed and delivered verbally.
The Main Speech: Ms. Rehema Peter, the host of the event, shared information with guests and participants on the real challenges Tanzania is facing due to climate change. "Dar es Salaam has become the hottest city in East Africa and people are still ignorant of the cause". She also raised an alarm about the development of the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) which is going to put Tanzania at high risk. She called for University students and other stakeholders to use all channels to advocate for a Fossil Free Tanzania and for the Government to keep fossil fuels in the ground. There was also a special moment to share the message with all the students gathered, and to remind them that they are the voice of change. East Africa Radio from Dar es Salaam covered the event, taking the message of the day to be aired and published, and promised a platform for climate action. Different young people at University were recorded with various messages calling for clear action towards a just recovery ahead of COP 26.
The students emphasized the need to be empowered on issues related to fossil fuels and strategies so as to build a successful climate movement. "We appreciate each and everybody who made this event a success, especially the support from 350 Africa and we cannot wait to change the tide in our beloved country."
By Rehema Peter, founder of Partnership for Green Future
Why youth voices matter in tackling the climate crisis
This year, many Local Conference of Youths have aimed at laying strategies to hold our countries accountable and demand for increased action in regards to the Nationally Determined Contributions. Targets were set in reducing national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Youths further presented green innovations and different initiatives that each of them is doing in their various communities to combat climate change and contributing to the domestic mitigation and adaptation measures.
The Local Conference of youths is normally organized to acquaint youths with the upcoming negotiations and lay local strategies that can be applied at the Global Conference of Youths and Conference of parties. However, it was identified that most of the initiatives are still at a small scale and yet they have the potential to be replicated in various communities and countries across the globe.
Many were prepared to present the above presentations but due to the change, we were left asking each other where would our voices be heard at the highest level Conference of Parties?
Despite this, the youth did not throw in the towel and a strong decision was made in the shortest time to have the 15th Conference of Youths at two venues, one in Madrid and the other one in Santiago as formerly planned. Further still, the decision by the Chilean Government did not deter the different Local Conferences of youths that were organized by youths in their different countries across the globe ahead of the Global 15th Conference of youths and the 25th Conference of parties. The youth enthusiasm, collectiveness, and ambitiousness shown on this cannot be taken for granted.
Youths have risen up and are now at the centre of the action with global climate strikes. However, corrupt leaders, multinational corporations and more have kept on failing us, the youth, by not giving us an enabling environment to scale-up our initiatives, excluding us from the decision making processes and most of all only giving us the observer seat at these negotiations. But youths have continued to prove to the world that they are unstoppable, and they cannot be shut down.
Now, the 25th conference of Parties has kicked off and we have managed to show unbelievable courage to continue demanding governments to prioritize Youths and their demands in the upcoming decisions.
As the leaders will be meeting to discuss the future of our planet at COP25, youths in the different countries, communities, cities, towns, villages will also have a global chain of climate actions on 6th December. Youths will leave the negotiation rooms, boardrooms, for action to make visible the emergency and the urgency of climate action. There is hope!
By Joanita Babirye, Girls For Climate