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DISMANTLE THE BOX, TIME IS UP

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Distinguished Professor Makau Mutua in one of the recent columns-local daily, shamed the no-ugali restaurants. The ‘high-end’ restaurant in Nairobi, Kenya, and in the African continent incapacitated the Prof’s big appetite for sirloin, sukuma-wiki, and ugali . He drove home for a delicious lunch of matoke. As a good student, I got the assignment—the subject: Decolonization of the Black African mind. Africans’ confinement to think within the box, proves detrimental. Our heroes thought outside. We’ve got no name to the box owner we are confined to think within or the one we’re urged to think out of. Throwing away that box - start plain thinking and self-introspection, is the surest way. Things have changed and keep on changing. Static thinking within and around the box makes us not creative with no vision as others adjust and embrace changes before our naked eyes. Education, religion, and politics affect our thinking—agents of thought formatting. Yes, our education system empha
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LET US BROADEN OUR VALUES, RECONSIDER CLEAR-CUT LOGGING

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Photo: File ASSIGNMENT: The regard to the recent Presidential declaration on lifting the 2018 ban on forest logging. The President of Kenya said we can no longer keep old mature trees rotting in the forest while locals suffer due to lack of timber. His move is meant to increase timber production and create jobs for the youths. Only when money is exchanged for products and services, is the transaction recognized as having economic worth in the value system inherent in the sort of economics our society has chosen. The tree only acquires value when it enters our economy by generating revenue. As an Environmentalist, I am not in support of this statement. My perspective: That one tree was a tiny element of a community of species that had evolved over thousands of years. That community is made up of trees, a minuscule percentage of the forest’s life forms. Tens of thousands of kinds of microorganisms-viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa-as well as bigger nematodes, worms, insects, and m
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UNVEILING THE SECRETS OF CLIMATE CHANGE: ADAPTATION, LOSS, AND DAMAGE!

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While on my recent school tour and speaking about Environment/Climate to passionate and unpassionate innocent pupils, I got so many questions. Questions challenging my thoughts and exciting my research notes. These questions, make me think on my feet and sometimes send me to the books for in-depth knowledge and technical know-how. Let the questions come my way! I believe I am not stupid and excuse myself to going back to my notes and recheck what I was taught in class but use my expertise and experience to respond.   “My name is Natasha and I am in Grade 4. I am passionate about Environmental management and have one question: What is this about Climate Change-Adaptation, Loss and Damage?   Hello, young environmental enthusiast! I'm here to talk to you about climate change, a big problem that affects our planet. Climate change occurs because humans release greenhouse gases into the air, which trap heat from the sun and make the Earth warmer. This warming causes many chan
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ENERGY OF THE FUTURE: RENEWABLE ENERGY

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Investing in renewables is something that should be given an extra weight across the globe for development that safeguards Mother Nature. Fossil fuels, which has been the primary source of energy, should be brought to a halt. It has affected the global economy and proved detrimental to the wellbeing of the environment – heating up the planet earth. Africa, my home continent, is associated with low development and under investment. I believe the continent can rapidly accelerate its infrastructure development and advancement by going green. Most African countries have been unable to deliver regularly occurring power access. The economic model inherited from the colonizers has failed many years after independence. My one trusted friend from Nigeria confirms to me that despite his country extracting oil reserves in enormous volumes, they still grapple with energy challenges. Another one from South Africa, informs me that his country relies on coal-fired power plants, they still
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MONSTROUS CREATURE FROM OUTER SPACE

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  Survival requires strategy, too. Possessing a large, complex brain endowed with the ability to look further - project ahead - into the future; anticipate the likely and possible consequences of actions thus, survival strategy of our species – Homo sapiens. Because of this foresight, making choices makes our species unique. Our species can recognize options, weighing not only their hazards but also benefits, and deliberately choosing an action that will maximize the potential for benefits while minimizing risks. This evolutionary approach has been incredibly successful for Homo sapiens and has given us a characteristic of unparalleled supremacy on Earth. I find it ironic that in this such a time of huge amplification of our brainpower through scientists, engineers, computers and telecommunication, we - humans - no longer seem capable of doing what our forefathers did routinely: assessing the hazards confronting us and choosing the best option suitable for long-term surviv
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WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

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I had just delivered my presentation at a local event, then one youthful comrade caught up with me at the exit. We exchanged some pleasantries before he looked straight into my eyelid and asked: “Sir, what is the most pressing environmental issue we face?” The most urgent environmental hassle confronting us! I thought to myself reframing the question. Not all of us know the major environmental issues confronting us, except for environmentalists and those who care to know and do follow discussions on environmental topics. But all of us know we are in the 21 st  Century. Correct! For those who need to be reminded, I will; those with no idea but are willing to know, let me share that climate change, toxic pollution, species extinction, and desertification are the major issues that are confronting us. Replying to the above question, I gave an honest answer that the above are serious ecological issues that are confronting humankind and no one has any idea on one that can trigger a
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KNOWING BENEFITS OF THE PLANET SHOULD HELP US TREAT IT BETTER

  The way we see the world shapes the way we treat it; a river should be seen as one of the veins of the land and not dumpsite or waste disposal site.   The planet should be seen as our mother, not an opportunity - then we will treat our environment with great respect knowing we will get benefits. Pollution in Nairobi River, to be specific, is a serious ecological issue which can and might trigger an irreversible and catastrophic collapse in the planet’s life support system apart from the climate change, species extinction, deforestation and global warming. We need to rediscover our biological place and learn to live in balance with the natural world that sustains us and see ourselves as part of the natural world; recognizing that our biological nature determines our most basic needs, which all come from nature. The destruction of the Nairobi River is surely driven much by the overarching crisis residing in the modern urban human mind and in values and beliefs from the people who
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