All human beings of goodwill wherever you may be; allow me to be your oracle declaring the relentless match of a catastrophe. This catastrophe is being hurried nigh by none other than powerful and connected American and European businesses. This is none other than the destruction of the main equatorial forest in Africa; the Congo Forest.
Barack Obama, Nicholas Sarkozy, Dimitry Medvyedev, Queen Elizabeth, Manmohan Singh, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, Nelson Mandela, Jacob Zuma, Umaru Musa Y'ar Adua as well as Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga, plus Omar El Bashir and Salva Kiir Mayardit all know it. So do Joseph Kabila, Paul Kagame, Pierre Nkurunziza, Jakaya Kikwete and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
There is massive, wanton and horrific logging going on in the Congo Forest! Who are the real beneficiaries? Why are the great Green Movements of the worl not interested at all in fighting for the Congo forest? Why is this massive water tower for the entire continent being raped with complete impunity? These questions beg urgent answers.
It would be just fine if this was a trivial regional matter. But, sadly, this is not the case. The massive equatorial forest is a carbon sink for the entire continent and beyond. It aborbs millions of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere every second. It is the only major regulator of climate in Africa, and the only true check on the advance of the deserts, the Sahara from the north and the Kalahari from the south.
There is a great amount of heat, no light at all, being generated in Kenya over the comparatively insignificant Mau Forest in the eastern Rift Valley that takes hardly five minutes to fly over. The government has already resolved to move the occupiers, both legal and illegal, out of this Kenyan water tower. The Green Belt Movement, politicians, religious leaders and the like, have been very vocal about this emotive issue. Many kilometers of lines in the newspapers have consumed much ink on the matter. I do not wish to dwell on this one therefore.
My attention is in the Congo forest. This is where we need massive international support. This, compared to Somalia, is where order can easily be restored. The perpetrators of this huge impending humanitarian crisis are known by their governments and can be stopped. Who will take the requisite action?
When Al Gore made the celebrated "An Inconvenient Truth" Video, he managed, in spite of a huge budget and research data, to ignore and skirt around the massive issues surrounding the Congo Forest, but mentioned one of the immediate sysmptoms: the melting of the ice caps on the Mount Kilimanjaro.
In my opinion, the congo forest suffers because as Upton Sinclair put it; "it is DIFFICULT to get a man to understand something when his SALARY depends upon hi NOT UNDERSTANDING IT". How many leading lights and powerful men and women look to the Congo Forest for their salary? Evidently, many more than we care to imagine.
Reference website: http://www.a24media.com/index.php/category-news/314
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Friday, 31 July 2009
OF THE CLINTONS, SEWAGE (SLUDGE) AND THE OBAMA GARDEN
Probably you have heard that there will be no garden veggies for Malia and Sasha Obama. At least not from their White House garden.
The rich also cry, indeed. I'm certain that their cousins in Nyang'oma K'Ogello are spoilt for choice in this regard. They have something that the Obamas will never have in Washington: an unspoilt natural environment. These are the daughters of US President Barack and Lady Michelle Obama. You can never, really, have it all, can you?
The story is that former tenants Bill and Hillary Clinton, with their daughter Chelsea, used sludge as a fertilizer substitute in the garden before the Obama children were born. "Bad bad big sis, Chelsea! You spoilt Malia and Sasha's soup." Sadly, the levels of sewage, estimated from the residues of lead in the soil are such that the American Firsl Lady, no less, can not achieve her dream of organic vegetables at her backyard. This is barring that Barry will do what Nebuchardnezzar II did for his sick wife Amyrtis of Media and create, for Michelle, the Hanging Gardens of Washington.
Wait a moment. Do we know the soil condition at the house on the hill in Nairobi? In Washington, it is the National Park Service that took samples of soil from the White House, analysed, and made this monumental discovery.
The facts are that most of the greens, read, Sukuma Wiki, consumend in Nairobi is grown on sewage. Pray, I wonder, how much lead does the average Nairobian consume in a year? Who will tell us? NEMA? KEBS? Whoever!
We too are as human as those who live in Washington and deserve to know the state of our diet. This is true even where options are few.
Honourable Minister Beth Mugo, could your motherly concern help with this please?
- Alligator Makori
The rich also cry, indeed. I'm certain that their cousins in Nyang'oma K'Ogello are spoilt for choice in this regard. They have something that the Obamas will never have in Washington: an unspoilt natural environment. These are the daughters of US President Barack and Lady Michelle Obama. You can never, really, have it all, can you?
The story is that former tenants Bill and Hillary Clinton, with their daughter Chelsea, used sludge as a fertilizer substitute in the garden before the Obama children were born. "Bad bad big sis, Chelsea! You spoilt Malia and Sasha's soup." Sadly, the levels of sewage, estimated from the residues of lead in the soil are such that the American Firsl Lady, no less, can not achieve her dream of organic vegetables at her backyard. This is barring that Barry will do what Nebuchardnezzar II did for his sick wife Amyrtis of Media and create, for Michelle, the Hanging Gardens of Washington.
Wait a moment. Do we know the soil condition at the house on the hill in Nairobi? In Washington, it is the National Park Service that took samples of soil from the White House, analysed, and made this monumental discovery.
The facts are that most of the greens, read, Sukuma Wiki, consumend in Nairobi is grown on sewage. Pray, I wonder, how much lead does the average Nairobian consume in a year? Who will tell us? NEMA? KEBS? Whoever!
We too are as human as those who live in Washington and deserve to know the state of our diet. This is true even where options are few.
Honourable Minister Beth Mugo, could your motherly concern help with this please?
- Alligator Makori
SAVING THE SEVENTH WONDER - THE GRAND MAASAI MARA OF KENYA, EAST AFRICA
The debate rages on in Kenya: How do we rid the Mau Forest of the 4,000-odd settlers occupying 25% of this water tower?
The entire Eastern Africa and beyond does well to watch with bated breath because this might very well turn out to be a matter of life and death. Not only in Kenya, but also in north-central Tanzania, Uganda, the Sudan, and Egypt. Rivers emanating deep in the Mau supply the Mara River and Lake Natron, several rivers draining into the lake Victoria and the Nile, not to mention practically all lakes in the Kenyan Rift Valley, save, perhaps, only perhaps, for Lake Bogoria.
The Kenyan politicians are a strange lot. It is beyond most people of average intelligence that anyone can argue against the logic of moving the settlers out of the Mara asap, like, say, yesterday. Ultimately, they are all illegal settlers and, on the basis of natural justice, deserve no compensation at all. Those who were duped into buying the land nonprocedurally exiced from the Mau are in possession of stolen property, and like good honest fellows should be rightly filled with angst and indignation for those who thus conned them. They should be all too willing to point fingers and lead us to the real criminals. on their part, they should be exceedingly penitent, since they have contributed to the rape and denudation of the once resplendent forest teeming with wildlife and beauty, blessing us for non-interference with all manner of permanent rivers with crisp clean life-sustaining water.
Picture the future of Kenya without the Mau Forest. There will be a vast, mostly lifeless near-desert to the south in the place of present-day Maasai Mara game reserve and parts of the Serengeti around Lake Natron. The riverbeds will be a mixture of dust, crocodile and hippo skeletons whose owners died stranded after the supply line dried. No wildlife teeming the vastness, but the odd snake rolling itself over the torrid hot sands in search of a craggy shelter.
How about the Manyatta? These dwelling of the beautiful Maasai people will become abandoned ruins good only for geckos and crickets. Those that survived the many hungers will be dwelling in camps for the internally displaced persons (IDPs). Their young, of course will be part of the dreaded illegal militia terrorizing anyone and everyone.
There is every reason to be very afraid. I read from one columnist in The Standard (Ecosystem, "Water is Life, now please shut up!" - Kipkoech Tanui) that some villagers are already creating little dams on once mighty, killer Ex-Mau river's that are now reduced to rivulets. The grim picture of the Maasai Mara here painted could very easily be replicated many times in may places in our lifetime. Worse still, it will lead to the obliteration of entire communities worse than any genocide in living memory.
All the might and good sense in President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and all their men and women must come to bear to prevent this eventuality. It is worth every sacrifice. If we can,let us compensate those that it makes sense to compensate on humanitarian grounds; namely, those that realistically lack other options. Can those from whom they bought land donate alternative land voluntarily? If not, can they be compelled to do so? How about those known to be in possession of vast expanses comparable only to provinces in area? If sincere in their public pronouncements of empathy and sincerity in looking for funds to help settle the prospective evictees, they really need look no further than at their own title deeds.
Posterity, the few that may survive by divine grace, will judge us very harshly if we do not do something drastic. We are proving to be much worse for ourselves than the colonial oppressors. There is no record anywhere that they massacred so many in peacetime as we are doing yearly by denying our fellow citizens so primordial right as food. The grimmest of prospects is that we will bury yet more before our turn if we sit back and politic about the Mau Forest. Delay in taking action will lead to the loss of the picturesque Maasai Mara and the lives and livelihoods of many along with it. William Ruto will survive. So will his namesake Isaac and Kutuny, Keter and the Mois. Incidentally, so will Kibaki, Raila, and probably, just probably, me too. Certainly, I speak for the majority.
The time for action is yesterday!
- Alligator Makori, Blogger
The entire Eastern Africa and beyond does well to watch with bated breath because this might very well turn out to be a matter of life and death. Not only in Kenya, but also in north-central Tanzania, Uganda, the Sudan, and Egypt. Rivers emanating deep in the Mau supply the Mara River and Lake Natron, several rivers draining into the lake Victoria and the Nile, not to mention practically all lakes in the Kenyan Rift Valley, save, perhaps, only perhaps, for Lake Bogoria.
The Kenyan politicians are a strange lot. It is beyond most people of average intelligence that anyone can argue against the logic of moving the settlers out of the Mara asap, like, say, yesterday. Ultimately, they are all illegal settlers and, on the basis of natural justice, deserve no compensation at all. Those who were duped into buying the land nonprocedurally exiced from the Mau are in possession of stolen property, and like good honest fellows should be rightly filled with angst and indignation for those who thus conned them. They should be all too willing to point fingers and lead us to the real criminals. on their part, they should be exceedingly penitent, since they have contributed to the rape and denudation of the once resplendent forest teeming with wildlife and beauty, blessing us for non-interference with all manner of permanent rivers with crisp clean life-sustaining water.
Picture the future of Kenya without the Mau Forest. There will be a vast, mostly lifeless near-desert to the south in the place of present-day Maasai Mara game reserve and parts of the Serengeti around Lake Natron. The riverbeds will be a mixture of dust, crocodile and hippo skeletons whose owners died stranded after the supply line dried. No wildlife teeming the vastness, but the odd snake rolling itself over the torrid hot sands in search of a craggy shelter.
How about the Manyatta? These dwelling of the beautiful Maasai people will become abandoned ruins good only for geckos and crickets. Those that survived the many hungers will be dwelling in camps for the internally displaced persons (IDPs). Their young, of course will be part of the dreaded illegal militia terrorizing anyone and everyone.
There is every reason to be very afraid. I read from one columnist in The Standard (Ecosystem, "Water is Life, now please shut up!" - Kipkoech Tanui) that some villagers are already creating little dams on once mighty, killer Ex-Mau river's that are now reduced to rivulets. The grim picture of the Maasai Mara here painted could very easily be replicated many times in may places in our lifetime. Worse still, it will lead to the obliteration of entire communities worse than any genocide in living memory.
All the might and good sense in President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and all their men and women must come to bear to prevent this eventuality. It is worth every sacrifice. If we can,let us compensate those that it makes sense to compensate on humanitarian grounds; namely, those that realistically lack other options. Can those from whom they bought land donate alternative land voluntarily? If not, can they be compelled to do so? How about those known to be in possession of vast expanses comparable only to provinces in area? If sincere in their public pronouncements of empathy and sincerity in looking for funds to help settle the prospective evictees, they really need look no further than at their own title deeds.
Posterity, the few that may survive by divine grace, will judge us very harshly if we do not do something drastic. We are proving to be much worse for ourselves than the colonial oppressors. There is no record anywhere that they massacred so many in peacetime as we are doing yearly by denying our fellow citizens so primordial right as food. The grimmest of prospects is that we will bury yet more before our turn if we sit back and politic about the Mau Forest. Delay in taking action will lead to the loss of the picturesque Maasai Mara and the lives and livelihoods of many along with it. William Ruto will survive. So will his namesake Isaac and Kutuny, Keter and the Mois. Incidentally, so will Kibaki, Raila, and probably, just probably, me too. Certainly, I speak for the majority.
The time for action is yesterday!
- Alligator Makori, Blogger
Monday, 27 July 2009
A GREATER SENSE OF URGENCY NEEDED IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MANAGEMENT [Kenya]
A popular Kiswahili adage says mgala muue na haki umpe. This is a call ascribe due credit even to those that we generally do not find much good. All honest observers must appreciate the good work done by the Kenya Roads Board (KRB) in revamping our road network countrywide.
In congratulating themselves, KRB has proceeded to craft an advertisement that insinuates that work on roads has been extensive around the country. That this is far from the truth is exemplified by the swift reactions from those that are unfortunate enough to travel often to Lodwar and back to Kitale, those that live in Nyanza, Western, Eastern and Coast provinces. There’s no point mentioning North Eastern Province as this has become monotonous. It is important pursue egalitarian approaches when expending the common fund; tax money.
It is notable that many roads are being widened and a few flyovers being constructed. This will no doubt increase the throughput of vehicles, providing that these wide roads are not feeding to narrow city passes. The city authorities have done their bit in showing the way as far as continuous traffic flow is concerned. The nodes that impede smooth flow must be dealt with on our highways as well. What we need now is a paradigm shift in the design of roads. When does KRB plan to do away with archaic level crossings, junctions and roundabouts near metropolitan areas?
A recent report by researchers from the United States International University on the role of Private Public Partnership (PPP) was heavy on the exigency of attending to the city infrastructure. This, as the research leader, Dr. Francis Wambalaba, averred, is needed if the city will be restored to “a world class city”. This evokes the sense of a safe, sophisticated, fast moving metropolitan economy with only the minimum time spent moving from one point to another. This is certainly a distant dream with the growing menace of traffic snarl-ups everywhere in Nairobi, matatus plying the road shoulders while executing dangerous maneuvers and thus endangering the lives of many.
Another important aspect in the future of our road network is intrinsic safety. KRB needs to urgently adopt “Vision Zero” the international road safety policy direction based on the idea that serious injury and death on the road network should not be tolerated. This approach encourages sustainable engineering design and operation solutions that can prevent death and serious injury on the road network, in spite of human fallibility. Road carnage, such as witnesses in Narok recently, can not always be blamed on the road users Time tested design and management solutions being implemented successfully around the world are within our grasp.
Responsible roads authorities around the world appoint teams that help design safety into the roads. One such Safe Systems Working Group in Australia had as the first objective to “positively contribute to the design and construction of a “forgiving roadway” to prevent collisions where impact forces exceed the known limits of human tolerance resulting in death or serious injury.” This is what our money, maize and fuel guzzling parliamentarians should be agitating for. It is also worthwhile for the civil society to clamour for this as well. The gains are immediate, and we can enjoy more journeys that deliver us to the destination. On this one, KRB needs to exhibit a greater sense of urgency.
Meanwhile, kudos! KRB for what is already accomplished.
In congratulating themselves, KRB has proceeded to craft an advertisement that insinuates that work on roads has been extensive around the country. That this is far from the truth is exemplified by the swift reactions from those that are unfortunate enough to travel often to Lodwar and back to Kitale, those that live in Nyanza, Western, Eastern and Coast provinces. There’s no point mentioning North Eastern Province as this has become monotonous. It is important pursue egalitarian approaches when expending the common fund; tax money.
It is notable that many roads are being widened and a few flyovers being constructed. This will no doubt increase the throughput of vehicles, providing that these wide roads are not feeding to narrow city passes. The city authorities have done their bit in showing the way as far as continuous traffic flow is concerned. The nodes that impede smooth flow must be dealt with on our highways as well. What we need now is a paradigm shift in the design of roads. When does KRB plan to do away with archaic level crossings, junctions and roundabouts near metropolitan areas?
A recent report by researchers from the United States International University on the role of Private Public Partnership (PPP) was heavy on the exigency of attending to the city infrastructure. This, as the research leader, Dr. Francis Wambalaba, averred, is needed if the city will be restored to “a world class city”. This evokes the sense of a safe, sophisticated, fast moving metropolitan economy with only the minimum time spent moving from one point to another. This is certainly a distant dream with the growing menace of traffic snarl-ups everywhere in Nairobi, matatus plying the road shoulders while executing dangerous maneuvers and thus endangering the lives of many.
Another important aspect in the future of our road network is intrinsic safety. KRB needs to urgently adopt “Vision Zero” the international road safety policy direction based on the idea that serious injury and death on the road network should not be tolerated. This approach encourages sustainable engineering design and operation solutions that can prevent death and serious injury on the road network, in spite of human fallibility. Road carnage, such as witnesses in Narok recently, can not always be blamed on the road users Time tested design and management solutions being implemented successfully around the world are within our grasp.
Responsible roads authorities around the world appoint teams that help design safety into the roads. One such Safe Systems Working Group in Australia had as the first objective to “positively contribute to the design and construction of a “forgiving roadway” to prevent collisions where impact forces exceed the known limits of human tolerance resulting in death or serious injury.” This is what our money, maize and fuel guzzling parliamentarians should be agitating for. It is also worthwhile for the civil society to clamour for this as well. The gains are immediate, and we can enjoy more journeys that deliver us to the destination. On this one, KRB needs to exhibit a greater sense of urgency.
Meanwhile, kudos! KRB for what is already accomplished.
Rise and Shine
The sun has risen in the East, and is on its relentless ascent in the sky,
Make it then your daily object; to rise along with it or even ahead to fly.
Hold your head up and daily rise, deploy your best and be sure to shine!
The human brain, the scientists say, is the largest place in the universe,
But thoughts fly in a flash every way, one end to the other and reverse.
Hold your head up and daily rise, deploy your best and be sure to shine!
My own thoughts must travel then, faster than the speed of beams of light,
Much swifter and futher can I run, and sweep more space than birds of flight
Hold your head up and daily rise, deploy your best and be sure to shine!
If they tell you that you can't be, tell them you can be all that you wish,
Not just because you want to be, but that you already are because you wish,
Hold your head up and daily rise, deploy your best and be set to shine!
Make it then your daily object; to rise along with it or even ahead to fly.
Hold your head up and daily rise, deploy your best and be sure to shine!
The human brain, the scientists say, is the largest place in the universe,
But thoughts fly in a flash every way, one end to the other and reverse.
Hold your head up and daily rise, deploy your best and be sure to shine!
My own thoughts must travel then, faster than the speed of beams of light,
Much swifter and futher can I run, and sweep more space than birds of flight
Hold your head up and daily rise, deploy your best and be sure to shine!
If they tell you that you can't be, tell them you can be all that you wish,
Not just because you want to be, but that you already are because you wish,
Hold your head up and daily rise, deploy your best and be set to shine!
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