CLIMATE NEWS NETWORK AFRICA

By Charles Ogallo Hundreds of Kenyans took the Weekend of World Clean-up to the coastal beaches after a report named Kenya the second worst polluter of the ocean in Africa. Over 1,000 volunteers’ organizations and individuals came out this time to participate in the annual International Clean-up held at the Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach in Mombasa on 19th September 2009 in what was seen as an attempt to prove the report wrong this year. The Coastal Clean-up exercise was also held in Kilifi, Malindi, Diani, Watamu, Shimoni, Kikambala, Fort Jesus and English Point where hundreds of other volunteers gathered to clear the beaches of debris . According to last years International Ocean Report done by over 148 ocean conservancies in Washington DC, Kenya was named the second worst polluters in the shame list after Nigeria. Used shotgun shells, over 2000 used condoms, fridges and gas cookers were collected during the last years clean -up exercise in Watamu and Shimoni along the Kenyan Coast, the ...

By Kojanews African countries now want cash from main polluters as compensation for environmental damages. But question many people ask is why Africa, yet again, a special case? Yet the whole world is suffering at the moment. All have obligations to the environment, and all need to take more responsibility. African nations are among the lightest polluters but analysts say they will suffer the most from climate change. Representatives of 10 African countries met recently in Ethiopia to try to agree a common position on climate change, months before a crucial UN meeting where they renewed their demands for billions of dollars in compensation for Africa because of damage caused by global warming. They also renewed their calls for rich nations to cut emissions by 40 percent by 2012. But experts say the move to agree a common negotiating platform for Africa recognizes the continent's failure to make its voice heard on the debate. Environmentalist Alice Kaudia reiterated Kenya’s foreign ...

By KOJANEWS.NET The Committee to Protect Journalist is concerned Kenyan police are attempting to intimidate journalists at the private daily, The Star, to reveal their sources for a June 20 article that said the Kenyan Anti-Terrorism Police Unit had lost crucial files about an accused al-Qaeda member. In July, officers of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit interrogated Investigations Editor Andrew Teyie and reporter Maina Kamore for four hours about the sources for their story, according to defense lawyer Paul Muite. The police also summoned the newspaper’s editor, Catherine Gicheru, and political editor, Paul Ilado, for questioning. After refusing to reveal their sources, Teyie and Kamore received a summons to appear August 12 in the magistrate’s court in the coastal city of Mombasa to explain how they obtained information for the article, according to the court summons. Muite wrote a letter to Attorney General Amos Wako saying the summons breached Kenyan law; an individual cannot be sum...

By Charles Ogallo The Information and Communication Technology sector has experienced a steady growth over the last one decade creating excitements globally. There is no doubt that the new technology has made the world a global village. Information has also become easily available and stress-free to access at anytime and anywhere online. Moveme.com's unique Move Planner has utilized this technology to the fullest and made moving homes very stress-less experience. With a well defined mission, the site is making moving easier by giving potential clients all the information and resources needed to move into their new homes at no cost. Clients can now use this site freely to transfer or set up new services online, get quotes for removals, solicitors, locksmiths and more. Free moving help and advice from real moving experts and lastly plan their moves with unique planner and checklists. Moveme.com is an independent company which works with the leading household companies in the UK inclu...

By Kojanet.com US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is urging African governments to begin devising adaptation measures in order to cushion their people against the vagaries of weather. Clinton in her keynote address stressed the need for African governments to now more than ever, find solutions to nature's challenges including climate change and provide food to her people. However the climate changes community and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is also urging for significant reduction greenhouse gases emissions to reduce the effects of climate change. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga is also urging the industrialized nations to help Africa to mitigate the effects of climate change. A combination of both the industrialized and developing countries have continued to pump record levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Already Kenya is reeling under four years of failed rains while the downside will see a flooding period during the short rains when meteorolo...

By Charles Ogallo The speedy growth of ICT industry is turning on the global phone industry.The industry is introducing more better modern and high-tech phones. With the introduction of the iPhone back in November 2007, a flood of touch screen phones has been realized worldwide.Everyone now loves to have touch capabilities on their phone but how to access them is becoming a major problem. However, a new website specifically dedicated to phone lovers has finally been introduced. Touch-Phones.co.uk is where every mobile phone is touch capable. It’s the real and lively access to the latest phones, phone features and all online places to buy them! Touch Phones has also been discribed as the Ultimate Touch Screen Phone Comparison Site. The home to all Touch Screen Phones deals, Touch Phone Brands, Touch Phone Networks, Touch Phone Colors and Touch Phone Free gifts for everyone to choose from. Potential buyers have an opportunity and a chance to compare different brands from online retailers...

By KOJANEWS.NET Clean up the World has awarded the Kenya Online Journalists association –KOJA with a certificate of recognition for its immense efforts in promoting and supporting clean up the World and Helping to clean –Up, fix up and Conserve Environment. KOJA has also been accepted to be 2009 Member of Clean-Up the World following its member’s efforts and deep desires to be part and parcel of clean –up the world. The association members have shown a lot of interests in environmental matters,using much of their times to write articles and feature stories on climate change and pollutions among other environmental threats. http://environmentwatch-africa.blogspot.com/ KOJA has developed a number of strong networks both locally and internationally in its pursuit of uniting the global communities to combat climate change which is becoming a major threat to both the environment and socio-economic development globally. The move to network with Clean up the World has proved worthy for the de...

By Charles Ogallo Online marketing and promotions seem to have gone a notch higher in this era of ICT with entry of GearZap.com. With tough competitions emerging in the global market, companies and investment institutions seem to be heading towards such an importance and efficiency in online promotion and marketing as they fight to grab the wider but tricky market. The site stands out tall among many such companies as a specialist online retailer of Netbook and Laptop accessories globally. It is one such leading online retail companies with own peculiar style of promotion. It’s the only place where you can find everything for your Netbook and Laptop. GearZap.com has proved its worthiness to the world market in terms of high technology and efficiency in service provisions. Like a shopping mall, the site has a variety of links that easily take potential customers and clients to all range of attractive and durable netbook accessories and device specific accessories compatible present Ne...

By Charles Ogallo The Kenya’s coastal city faces threats from the direct and indirect impacts of climate change. Climate change has been singled out as a major challenge currently facing the world. Mombasa is Kenya’s second largest city and has more than 700,000 inhabitants. It is the largest seaport in East Africa, serving not only Kenya but also many landlocked countries and the north of Tanzania. The Coastal city has a history of disasters related to climate extremes including floods, which cause serious damage nearly every year and, often, loss of life. The floods in October 2006 were particularly serious, affecting some 60,000 people in the city and the wider province. According to a local case study; Climate Change and Coastal Cities, a big chank of Mombasa city land will be submerged by a sea-level rise of just 0.3 metres, with a larger area rendered uninhabitable or unusable for agriculture because of water logging and salt stress. Tourism which remains an important part of the...

By Miano Kihu UN Declaration setting aside June 8 as a World Ocean Day has won acclaim of organizations that work with Kenyan coast communities in protecting the Indian Ocean. Eco-Ethics International-Kenya Chapter (EEIU-K), a member of the Word Ocean Network, says the UN move is a major step in the oceans conservation campaign because this requires the governments of the world to give direct support such efforts. Even before the UN declaration, Eco-Ethics International-Kenya has been marking the day since June 8, 2006, together with other like-minded advocacy groups and individuals. “We hope that the setting aside of the World Ocean Day by the UN will now obligate our Kenya government and other governments to extend the much desired political and material support to the activities of that special day and to the overall campaign to safe oceans,” says Mr Bernard Okeyo, the Director of EEIU-K. According to him, efforts to protect the oceans which cover 21 per cent of the earth surface ha...

By Kojanews.net. Qype has in-depth information about Restaurants, Bars, Hotels, Events and more on Health and beauty around the globe. Whether it be Shopping, Eating / Drinking, Arts or anything else that you are interested in, http://www.qype.co.uk has all it takes. It’s the site of the day. The site is like a compass, it’s easy to navigate and use. With a click of a button, the world will be around you with information at your finger tips. And the results are all fantastic. Qype is becoming the world popular site for travelers, job seekers, shoppers, holiday makers, business personalities seeking for markets, explorers and students looking for best and quality colleges and Universities across the globe. From popular pizza restaurants in London to first class toy shops in Rio de Janeiro, Qype brings millions of people together online in seeking for best and secure places to be, anywhere and anytime across the world. With Qype you can build a network of friends and foes. You can swap ...

By Kojanews.net The concept for World Oceans Day was proposed in 1992 by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and it had been unofficially celebrated every year since then. Official designation by the U.N. is a significant step in conserving and protecting our world's ocean. World Oceans Day provides an opportunity each year to celebrate our world ocean and our personal connection to the sea. The Ocean Project, working closely with the World Ocean Network each year, helps to coordinate events and activities with aquariums, zoos, museums, conservation organizations, universities, schools, businesses. As of 2009, "World Oceans Day" has been officially declared by the United Nations as June 8th each year! Congratulations to all for helping make this happen! Why Should I Celebrate World Oceans Day? According to the Ocean Project , a non-governmental organization best known for its awareness activities on Ocean conservation , The world's ocean: Ge...

By Kojanews-network “The rights to life and to liberty and integrity and security of person and also to freedom of expression are fundamental human rights that are recognized and guaranteed by international conventions and instruments.” (UNESCO Resolution, General Conference 1997) World Press Freedom Day is celebrated every year on 3 May worldwide. It is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This Year, the World Press Freedom Day (3 May) will be celebrated in Stockholm at Sida, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, on 29 April, 2009. According to Fojo International, the event will focus on the importance of exile media to report and influence on the development of the countries where press freedom is violated. Gunilla Carlsson , minister for development cooperation, will spea...

By Charles Ogallo Kenya is listed among major polluters of the Ocean in Africa and said to be among developing countries in the world with poor marine environmental management policies. The new Ocean Conservancy report features Kenya as the second worst ocean polluter after Nigeria, with almost 90,000 items such as plastic bags, Leaking chemical drums, cast-off motor-oil bottles and paint cans and many other items dumped annually along Coastlines. The globally recognized report comes few days after a team of local researchers admitted that Kenyan coastal waters was unsafe both for marine wildlife and coastal residents, implicating poor management of the marine ecosystem as main cause of alarm. Published annually by the ocean environmental watch-dog, the report also listed Tanzania and Egypt as third and fourth ocean poluters respectively. Researchers from a Mombasa based Kenya Marine and Fisheries research Institutes also said uncontrolled mass discharge of both liquid and solid wast...

By Charles Ogallo World Governments have unveiled a historic treaty to tackle pollutant heavy metal Mercury that is threatening Marine Ecosystem. The Global treaty on the poisonous pollutant mercury was agreed by environment ministers at the end of the UN Environment Programme's (UNEP) Governing Council held from 16th -20th in Nairobi ,Kenya. The landmark decision, taken by over 140 countries, sets the stage for the lifting of a major health threat from the lives of hundreds of millions of people especially those living along the coastlines. Governments unanimously decided to launch negotiations on an international mercury treaty to deal with world - wide emissions and discharges of a pollutant that threatens the health of millions, from fetuses and babies to small - scale gold miners and their families. Achim Steiner, UN Under - Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, said: "UNEP has, for some seven years, coordinated and contributed to an intense scientific and pol...

By Charles Ogallo The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has urged world environment ministers meeting this week from February 16-20 in Nairobi, Kenya to adopt a strategy to curb the use of the highly toxic metal mercury. Mercury is a heavy metal whose highly toxic compounds propagated notably by the production of coal, certain kinds of plastics and improper disposal of fluorescent light bulbs -- poison millions of people worldwide. According to Achim Steiner, the UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, the world's environment ministers will use the Nairobi meeting take a landmark decision to lift a global health threat from the lives of literally hundreds of millions of people. Fish-eating is the first source of exposure to toxic metal Mercury among humans. The effects of mercury ingestion include damage to the brain, kidney and lungs. Steiner said a policy framework drafted after seven years of extensive research would be submitted to the ministers. ...

An International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) report has revealed that one hundred journalists around the globe were killed in the course of their duty last year. According to the report the number had decreased from 175 deaths recorded in 2007 as the International Federation of Journalists warned that this year could be the deadliest yet for journalists. IFJ said the international community still needs to step up to confront the challenge of impunity in the innocent killing of journalists. “We often see politicians, even in democratic countries showing callous indifference to the threats posed by attacks on journalists and media. That must end,” said IFJ secretary Aidan White in the report released yesterday. In its latest report on journalists working conditions, Iraq remains the most dangerous country despite a substantial drop of media casualties from 65 in 2007 to 16 last year. The other dangerous zones were Mexico and India with 10 deaths each recorded. Kenya has recorded one d...

By Charles Ogallo. Kenyan environmental activists seem to be dissatisfied with how the Kenya Government is planning to undertake proposed second port in Lamu. Many of them have allayed fear over massive destruction of marine ecosystem when and after the Port is completed. Led by Rashid Athman, a local environmentalist, a number of them said the Government needs to conduct a thorough environmental impact assessment study on the proposed project and the final report made public before any work begins. Others among them Fishermne also argued that pollutions from the port which many experts believe will be of great economic benefits to local communities and Kenya in general may on the other hand endanger the marine environment."For years m Lamu people have depended on this Ocean for fishing, how sure are they that when this port comes our facing activities will not be interrupted? we need to be told." said Ali Juma Mondhar , a long time fisherman. Rashid also claimed that fishi...

The Kenya Online Journalists Association -KOJA joins CPJ to call on President Mwai Kibaki to reject the recently passed Kenya Communications Amendment Bill, which includes provisions that would severely harm press freedom. TO; H.E. Mwai Kibaki President of the Republic of Kenya Office of the President, Harambee House P.O. Box 30510 Nairobi, Kenya Via facsimile: (254) 202-50264 Dear Mr. President, We urge you to reject the recently passed Kenya Communications Amendment Bill, which includes provisions that would severely harm press freedom. Legislators approved the measure on December 10, ignoring concerns raised by journalists, media company owners, and even fellow lawmakers. This month, on the day marking Kenya's independence, journalists such as Caroline Mutoko, Larry Adego, Mzee Jalang'o were detained after demonstrating against this deeply flawed legislation. We believe the concerns of Kenya's media community should be heeded. Journalists are alarmed that...

By Charles Ogallo. Scientists now warn Western Indian Ocean countries of a catastrophic future unless immediate interventions are put in place to reclaim the badly depilated Mangrove Forests in the region. They attributed frequent impacts of sea surges, inundations and natural disasters recorded in the recent years in the coastal areas as strong evidence of increased vulnerability of the region to ecological disasters. Researchers say mangroves which cover 37 percent of the WIO region and have significantly played economical and socio-cultural roles in the lives of coastal communities was badly being degraded. Mangroves were known to have environmental values as they protect the coastal strip from erosion. Mangroves forests also play vital roles biologically, with a high level of fauna biodiversity as over 80% of commercial fisheries and other aquatic species spent most or part of their life cycle in the mangroves. Ecologically, they play a crucial role in fertilisation, stabilisation,...