By Kebba AF Touray
In an effort to restore and support mangroves in the Gambia, Action-Aid International-The Gambia together with civil society groups like ‘Activista’ and partners, on Saturday 20th September, embarked on a massive mangrove planting exercise with the aim of planting 20, 000 mangrove plants at the Tanbi Wetland in Bakau.
With September 15th to 21st dedicated as a global week of action, the day is used by Action Aid and other civil society groups to examine rights and justice, and to push for a just world.
According to Muhammed Lamin Saidykhan, civil society groups such as Activist Network, ActionAid-The Gambia, and Global Platform, have mobilized young people who are dedicated to champion the cause of climate justice.
“This mangrove planting exercise is one of the actions that is coming at the end of the nationwide caravan that these young people have been conducting to talk to different stakeholders including communities. The mangrove planting exercise showcases the solutions to the climate crisis as one of the critical trees that helps to cut down emissions. Mangroves are resilient and sustainable, and can go a long way in contributing to the cutting down of emissions and in controlling carbon emissions,’’ he said. He deduced that heat waves being witnessed in Africa and everywhere else in the world, is caused by the effects of climate change, including the big floods and droughts. He alleged that the people responsible for the climate crisis are the big industries of the West who are not ready to put their money on the table to curb the crisis.
“We are requesting and demanding for them to give us US$1.3 trillion, to pay the debt that they owe to communities in Africa. But what they gave us is just US$300 billion, and this comes with conditions and many other challenges, making it unfavorable to us,’’ he said.
Ussey Ceesay, vice-chairperson of the KM Chapter’s Global Platform, described the exercise as a big initiative for his organization as a way of finding solutions to the crisis.
“So I think as an individual, if I take part in mangrove planting, I am contributing to society. I therefore urge everyone to stop blaming others and start taking action, because the smallest thing you do will go a long way in mitigating the problem,” She said.
Nyima Jammeh, program officer at the University of the Gambia’s Global Platform Chapter, said climate change affects everyone especially Africans who emit less. She called on the Western world to fund climate actions and initiatives in order to eradicate some of the negative effects of climate change in the country.
Fafa Cham, Head of Program and Policy for Action in Gambia, said Gambia is one of the least producers of greenhouse emissions estimated at 0.01% of all global emissions. This he said is relatively insignificant. He said when it comes to climate change impacts Gambia is one of the hardest hit countries. He said at the beginning of the rainy season, there were long dry spells, and floods that destroy homes at the middle or the end of the season. He said climate justice means asking those responsible to take account of their actions because they are the heavy polluters.
Aja Fofana, a third year student at the UTG, said the core to all the solution on climate change or anything that is affects our environment, is to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. She called for people to change their attitude and responsibilities towards their environment or our surroundings.
Saikou Darboe, the national coordinator with Global Partners, said the world faces devastating effects of climate change which is not ‘our’ making. He said those responsible should be reminded of their actions, and said that is why they were present with the media to engage in the exercise.
