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Report, December 2007 (Chair Ali Abdullahi)

The EEIU Nabuur Chapter report for December 2007 touches on various topics.

• Enchanting Island: A visit to Zanzibar's Stone Town is like a trip hundreds of years back in time, writes ELLY WAMARI, who visited the island recently.
• Democracy, Ethics And The Paranormal: By Ali Abdullahi
• Endangered Nile Perch In Retreat: Pollution has made fish to move to deep areas of lake where pirates maraud. By Tim Querengesser
• Four Questions To Mr. Adhengo
• Fishermen Cast Nets Deeper And Wide, But For Less: Illegal trawlers wreak havoc on Malindi's waters that were once resource-rich. By Ken Opala

The full report can be downloaded here in PDF format (196k).

Monkey Sighting in new habitat stirs climate fears in Kenya.

The discovery in Kenya of a new population of monkeys far from their normal habitat is a sign of how climate change may already be changing Africa's ecology, a leading volunteer informed the Project Nabuur Conservation Unlimited.

The white-bearded De Brazza's monkeys were found in the Great Rift Valley, a place they had never been spotted before, says Dr. Richard Leakey

"That is telling us a lot about the climate change scenarios we are looking at now". It puts climate change as the most critical consideration as we plan for the future.

The monkeys had moved into an area of forest which had dried out as the country's climate had become more arid. Africa is expected to be hid hardest by global warming blamed on carbon dioxide emissions from industry, transport and modern lifestyles in rich countries. It is also the continent least ready to cope with the droughts, floods and extreme weather predicted by scientists.

Leakey, whose paleontologist father, Louis, caused a radical rethink of human evolution with key fossil finds in East Africa, said African governments lacked funds to do their own climate change studies, and so had to rely on researchers who he said were typically more focused on temperate regions.

But he said he had witnessed dramatic ecological changes in northern Kenya himself, including a 50 - foot (15 meter) fall in the level of Lake Turkana over the last four decades. African leaders were not taking the climate threat seriously, he added.

Governments must be urged to save indigenous forests, plant trees, utilize rainwater and ban charcoal burning.

"Why do we think that we are somehow not going to have to deal with this issue? Until recently, de Brazza's monkey was not known to occur east of the Rift Valley.

Mombasa woman who lived with home - made diaphragm for 16 years

Women have been known to go to great lengths to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancies, but not possibly to the extent that a 44 - year old resident of Mombasa went through.

Reported in the January issue of the East African Medical Journal, the woman used a home-made diaphragm for 16 years to protect herself from pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The woman stitched a piece of cloth with folded polythene inside her body.

Although the study, investigating the acceptability of diaphragms among women in Mombasa is short on details, it tells of the woman who had completed nine years of school, is divorced, and has had three first - trimester miscarriages.

However, she is said to have recently switched to the latex diaphragm, provide through the diaphragm acceptability study. "Although latex diaphragm is harder to remove than her old device and offers less protection against STI infection, overall she prefers the new diaphragm as it causes less discomfort during sex and is easier to insert", says lead researcher Dr. A Schroth for the International Center for Reproductive Health, Kenya.

The study had set out on the premise that female and male condoms offer dual protection against pregnancy and STI. Limited evidence from observational studies suggests that the diaphragm provides protection against gonorrhea, pelvic inflammatory disease and tubal infertility. This claims the study is biologically plausible as the cervix is a primary site of entry for several STIs, including HIV and human papilloma virus.

The diaphragm, formerly a widely used contraceptive method, is currently not available in family-planning services in Kenya. Physical barriers covering the cervix have been used for centuries to prevent pregnancy. Ancient texts document use of lemon halves, bees-wax-plugs and crocodile-dung. "Mass production of the diaphragm began more than a hundred years ago and by the 1940's, it was the most commonly used contraceptive method in several countries. With development of more effective and coitus-independent contraception, diaphragm use decreased markedly and, at present, is not included in the contraceptive method mix in many countries" says the study.

Despite this study, the researchers say little is known about the use of home-made diaphragms.

"But cultural beliefs about objects entering the stomach through uterus could potentially decrease uptake of the diaphragm and related technology", says the study

Plastic threatens Lake Nakuru Park

Plastic bags have become the biggest environmental pollutant in Nakuru threatening the existence of one of the country's most beautiful parks, writes MICHAEL NJUGUNA

Swirling winds send dozens of used plastic bags flying in the air from Lake Nakuru Municipal Councils dumpsite on the slopes of Menengai Hill.

Some of the flying bags land on buildings in the town or on pastures at the Lake Nakuru National Park while others end up on tree tops. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials at the Lake Nakuru National Park now say that the collection of solid waste material swept into the park by winds and storm water has become a big inconvenience. The dumpsite located in an old fault - line becomes the major source of pollutants during the wet season when raging floods sweep down the hill carrying huge loads of pollutants into the town and the beautiful Park.

A manager at one of the supermarkets in Nakuru town says that sometimes the outlet releases more that 1,000 plastic bags daily. Research scientist Jackson Raini of Flamingonet, an NGO involved in conservation programmes says that the recycling of waste plastics was one of the best options for Nakuru owing to the town's proximity to a lake which has a very delicate ecosystem. Mr. Raini said there was a plan to engage residents in converting the waste plastic bags into items that they could sell and earn a living. "Over 300 women from the low income- high density residential areas will be trained each year to learn to crochet, knit and plait plastics bags and will earn a living by selling the items", Mr. Raini says in a paper of a proposed project to the Institute for African Ecology and Philosophy.

The plastic bags will be reused to make various articles including hats, mats, nets, baskets, and curtain. The waste bits will be stuffed into sewn fibre bags to make dog mattress and cushion. Mr. Raini said that according to a study, making one hat requires an average of 20-30 bags depending on the thickness. One table mat will take about 10 bags, a shower mat about 20-25 plastic bags, a shower curtain about 60-70 bags and a shopping basket approximately 30-35 plastic bags.

If one purchases one of each of the items, it would have at least helped prevent at least 140 plastic bags from the environment or being washed into Lake Nakuru. Street children and disadvantaged groups will be hired to collect and clean the plastic bags.

According to Ms. Fauzia Makena, Nakuru town generates an estimated 240 metric tones of domestic solid waste while the commercial sector accounts for another 2,400 tonnes daily. Only about 60 percent of this is removed to approved dumping sites while the rest accumulates in the environment and is eventually swept into Lake Nakuru by storm water and wind. She says that pre-treatment of industrial waste was the exception rather than the rule and that storm water was discharged into the lake without prior treatment.

Nakuru is the fourth largest town in Kenya supporting a population of more than 400,000 people. For the last three decades, the urban population has been growing at a rate of 10% per annum.

Mr. Raini said that like most cities, Nakuru was a huge consumer of resources, and a prodigious producer of waste and that although only 19% of the town was connected to the Municipal Council's sewerage system, a total of 9,000 m3 of sewerage was generated each day, and processed in two treatment plants before being discharged to Lake Nakuru.

Ms. Makena informs that environmental health committees had been formed in 15 high density-low income residential estates in Nakuru town. Each committee will conduct at least one clean up per month in each of the estates.

Solid waste indiscriminately discarded on the streets will be collected and deposited in refuse chambers already in existence. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) built refuse chambers in various estates in the town. The committees will also maintain vigilance on the waste disposal habits of the residents of their respective estates and pressurize offenders to comply with the new Municipal Council of Nakuru - environmental by-laws, 2006.

Ms. Fauzia Makena said that although some organic garbage had been used as fertilizer by composting on a small scale in Nakuru. It will be difficult to apply a large scale composting system mainly because of compositional reasons.

Domestic solid waste is mixed up with various materials and segregation of organic garbage from others such as waste paper, waste glass and waste plastic is difficult, consequently, any compost obtained will not be of good quality.

Mr. Raini said that if public agencies preferentially purchased recycled products, it might increase the recycling business. Waste plastic recycling is expected to increase significantly among various recycling businesses. Construction material such as sheathing plates, U-drains, posts, benches, flower pots and others can be produced from waste plastic.

Ms. Fauzia has been carrying out waste management and refuse collection campaigns in low income estates of Lakeview, Pangani, Kaptembwa, London, Free Area and Lake Nakuru National Park. She has an ongoing project in Nairobi, the City Garbage Recycling Plant in Maringo Estate.

Have you been abducted?

The truth is really out there, CAROL ODERO tells alien buffs (codero@eam.co.ke)

Have you been abducted? Not by gun-totting carjackers or Somaliland war lords but by other beings? The wind howls mournfully outside an empty street, along a dark alley. A lone can clatters sharply over the pavement; pieces of paper are blown every which way as a cat meows softly and runs away into hiding. The neighbourhoods do rises from its big, lazy bum and whines, runs to its owners' door, scratching and growing feverish before finally barking frantically. A swift, bright light takes over the lane, and that quiet house that minded its own business is suddenly one occupant less. Don't you remember that night when some strangely illuminated creatures walked through the wall of your house and completely changed your life? If you are the chosen one, chances are, they will return again and again, to take whatever it is that they want from you. They are, after all, the Pod People.

Nothing has captured collective imagination as much as alien invasions. They are beings who allegedly posses a superior intellect. Despite the number of movies and television series made, the aliens never tell us what it is they want. Or what we did to them. They have in equal measure grown sinister by intending to destroy us, or merely aspire to educate us. Some are friendly, some not so much. Extra Terrestrials ceased to be inexplicable and foreign, the moment Steven Spielberg brought ET to the planet Earth. This very friendly, sweet and lovable alien with grey skin has disproportionately large cranium with the intellectual capacity of three geniuses. ET became the stereotype alien. They and their hybrid offspring have crash-landed on our screens and are now walking among us and their story is just as important as ours.

In scripts out of the twilight zone, books, television and radio shows and programmes and especially the internet, have been flooded with alien conspiracies. Something is out there, people say, but the government is hiding it. You would be surprised at the amount of trivia that has been generated and the sediment that has settled in your head regarding aliens. You realize you expect a microchip implant, the aliens' way of staying in touch with their abductees'. There is always a slew of disbelievers, the fascinating mix of abductees, people who actually long for an abduction, the experts who seem to know everything, that one individual whose quest in life is to find out exactly what the hell is going on. May be there will be formation in crops. Experts called ufologists think it very arrogant of mankind to presume that we are the only living species in the universe.

Religions exist that believed on the turn of the century that the mother ship would come for them. Books have been written by people who are perceived as perfectly sane, productive members of society on aliens. Most of those who have held an encounter, have described them as less than five feet, with poorly formed bodies, two or three fingers on each hand, gigantic heads, and a most unusual way of communicating with each other - telepathy. Scripts have evolved however and now aliens have recognizably human traits. Area 51in Nevada is perceived by alien buffs as the meeting place between us and them. Inexplicable life forms are under scrutiny of US scientists. The US government maintains that is a military base. The area is declared off limits. If there was a "grey area" it would be this stretch of land. In much the same way, the aliens have treated us is how we treated them. They prod, dissect and study humans trying to find what makes us tick. We do the same when we find one of them albeit the trauma lasts on both ends. You would be surprised at the amount of trivia generated and the sediment that has settled into your head regarding aliens. You expect the alien. Even so, the proof is doubtful. Then again the truth really is out there.

Spare a thought for the poor refugee
Outside the box, Beatrice Ofwona bofwona@yahoo.com

A sentiment was expressed the other day having buses ferry refugees from one camp to another is something (a luxury?) Kenya cannot afford. Listening to these sentiments one may be forgiven for being confused about who these terrifying foreigners, who could only exist in isolation, are.

There are all shades of opinions about refugees; some of us dismiss them as lazy war-mongers who choose to be where they are. But recently, Kenyans were treated to what is fast becoming a not-so-rare spectacle. Right in front of their eyes and as if to mock their civilized existence, Molo, Kuresoi and Mt. Elgon as well as Kibera and Mathare at some point became battlefields and residents were forced out.

Kenyans are left in no doubt that the peace they enjoy should never be taken for granted and that to be a refugee is now not an "if" question but rather a "when" one that in one night, people who have co-existed as brothers and sisters should turn against one another, mercilessly killing, maiming and burning like the demented beings they portray, all thought of brotherly love and cultural tolerance forgotten in insane moments of hatred, barbarism and destruction, is truly disturbing.

To have the roof over our heads ripped of, nay, torched is as easy as it takes to forget that which unites us - respect for cultural diversities and dissimilarities. And yet we must always be reminded of what the good book calls love for our neighbours and keepers of our brothers.

Why must we therefore align ourselves with people we perceive as being of "our" tribe even when they perform despicable acts of wanton destruction? And instead of condemning their actions we remain aloof, smug, vindictive and unforgiving, forgetting that its is this very country that the future generations must inhabit even as the cancer of tribalism spreads, making people who feel marginalized have more, forever planning and determined to revenge.

Before we dismiss refugees as people whom we would rather dissociate ourselves from, let us remember that the camps that they inhabit are abodes of disease, disempowerment and despair. Not to know when it will ever be safe to go back home is as despairing and traumatic as it could ever get. To have dreams curtailed, school attendance interrupted and marriages put on hold is as frustrating as the deafening silence that accompanies our leaders' non - reaction in making their lives better.

But mostly, to be subjected to what a writer of refugees journal Wajibu refers to as "monotonous food rations", knowing well that we were once farmers, producers, bread -earners and happy-go-lucky children before all the mayhem and smog that clouded our days is what is most depressing. Before we get too comfortable with ourselves and our lives, let's give a thought to people who are not so lucky to have a roof over their heads and who must contend with overcrowded, mostly unhygienic, crime-infested camps. Give a thought to your neighbour, too, but mostly, give love and tolerance. For who knows where we could be tomorrow or even (God Forbid) this very day? Let us promote the ethics within our ecosystem, let us unite!

Nabuur Report, (from Chair: Ali Abdullahi)

Towards the East African Federation of Eco - Ethics International Union

I have been in continuous consultation with my members and the distinguished members of the Eco-Ethics International Union who at the moment are members of various chapter. These members have agreed to identify with the newly formed chapter, EEIU Nabuur, and indeed, they are supportive of the concept of Regional Integration. They agree that they are sitting on important ideas that the world needs to know. They pray that a channel for communicating the important topics that they have at this time of "Climatic Crisis" be well defined.

As the Chapter Chair for EEIU Nabuur, I assure members of union, that they can feel free to identify with our initiatives, either as supporters or volunteers in a participatory status.

Participants at a networking session before entry to our Pre-World Philosophy Day seminars organized by UNESCO and facilitated by the Institute for African Ecology and Philosophy through the Project Nabuur Initiative.

Nobel Laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai having a networking session during the conference on Climatic Change organized by the Institute for African Ecology and Philosophy in 2006 at Grand Regency Hotel.

Prof. Wole Soyinka being escorted to a conference on African Art and Biodiversity organized by the Institute for African Ecology and Philosophy and the Project Nabuur, Stand Up Against Poverty, campaign initiative.

German Ambassador to Kenya (right) speaking with Ms. Fauzia Makena during the conference on Climate Change organized by the Institute for African Ecology and Philosophy in 2006 at the Grand Regency Hotel, Nairobi.

Mr. Boaz Adhengo of the Project Nabuur initiative sits attentively during the conference on " Climatic Change" at the Grand Regency Hotel.

Overall 2006 had been a marvelous experience for the Project Nabuur initiative, and in 2007 we joined the global network on Ecological Ethics, the EEIU, thereby attaining a full Chapter status as at 13th September 2007. We have not been visible for long but our effects prior to being unionized are evident by the remarks made by the Media and Kenyans at large.

The Project Nabuur Initiative has embarked on recruiting its membership in a non - partisan way, the Kenya Petroleum Oil Workers Union which has a growing membership that currently stands at 1560 has agreed to be our partners in the spirit of promoting ecological ethics. We will hence engage in our tree planting initiatives and seek their assistance in the EEIU Brochure translation.

We are still meeting with the special committees for the Institute for African Ecology through our distinguished colleagues, Ms. Fauzia Makena and Mr. Boaz Adhengo, to deliberate the way forward in negotiating the effective representation of workers involved in environmental duties through the Project Nabuur Initiative.

I am looking forward to a continued support and my we continue working together!

Yours truly,
For Project Nabuur Initiative

Ali Abdullahi Chapter Chair, EEIU Nabuur

Note : Please read our strategy on the East African Federation for Eco - Ethics International Union as put below.

Statement of the Problem: Most chapters as visualized within the Kenya websites are dormant, having mission strategies upon formation but not progressive. Ecology as a way of life is ever transformative, with clear influence and radical changes that need constant monitoring. Ethics is a wider definition of morality, yet it is true to say that moral system of various chapters link towards a specific ethical perception. By having an East African Federation of Eco-Ethics, we will be in a position to operate progressively, relate and more so, touch the livelihood of many who define the ecosystems we represent. I have thus tentatively highlighted the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that we might have, if at all, we operate as a unit.

1. Strength: It will be easier to attract donors for specific projects. And upon identification of certain activities, equal participation of the chapters within the partnership will be a priority. It will also be easier to have regional seminars at different towns within East Africa, hence creating awareness of the EEIU, attracting more members and identifying new issues.
2. Weakness: The most notable weakness of having a regional unit will be leadership. As known to many, every organization must have an anchor or in other words, various arms of operation. The weakness could be too much pressure on the federation, increased dormancy of chapters or even, getting the best structure and constitution for smooth relations.
3. Opportunities: The advantage of operating as a federation are endless, mostly linked to strength. But specifically, the chapters who will agree voluntarily to be part of the partnership, will have a chance of traveling to other locations, visiting the EEIU components within the region because of common interest, hence, increasing the chapters experience and scope of operation.
4. Threats: I cannot think of any threats at the moment!!

The Way Forward:
The Project Nabuur Initiative has taken the lead in implementing its founding documents. We have become motivated by our inspirational mentors, the EEIU Morogoro chapter, with whom we will be partners in our strides toward ecological conservation. It is thus agreed that Project Nabuur Initiatives will be introduced in areas where EEIU Chapters exist (Kenya and Tanzania) thus, Project Nabuur will be the sole unifying factor for the chapters. The Project Nabuur Initiative will be a Memorandum of Understanding following from a Collective Bargaining Agreement by the Chapter Chairs willing to be included in the federation. And to put the stone on the roll, Project Nabuur Initiative is in operation in both Tanzania and Kenya. In Tanzania, it is being managed by EEIU Morogoro while in Kenya, EEIU Nabuur has taken the role, being housed by the Institute for African Ecology and Philosophy. EEIU Nabuur will recruit and mobilize support needed for the federation to progress. But as we know, "two is a group" and we encourage other Chapters to follow on our initiatives, to join and assist the federation in voluntary growth as required by the principles of democracy.

EEIU Nabuur also being a national organization with an NGO status (non - governmental organization) will embark its campaign throughout Kenya and will plant the seeds of Project Nabuur in areas where it has planned interest i.e. Mombasa, Kisumu, Isiolo and Maraland. We will be honoured to have other chapters being party to this wonderful strategy. We have also agreed that EEIU Morogoro being the sole chapter in Tanzania, will establish programs of Project Nabuur in Zanzibar, Morogoro, Dar - es -Salaam, Serengeti and Arusha.

Action and Focus:
At the moment, as this report has proposed, we are in the process of organizing a regional conference to be attended by members of the EEIU within East Africa.

Ms. Fauzia Makena being the principal consultant for the Institute for African Ecology and Philosophy has engaged the Lake Basin Management Authority in a negotiation that should result in the growth of EEIU towards Uganda. She is at the process of establishing the Project Nabuur Initiative for Lake Victoria as a unifying factor for Uganda, Tanzania and Kenyan scholars on sanitation, drainage and ecological hygine within the basin. Thus, a consortium operating as Project Nabuur Initiative will be established in Njinja town of Uganda.

Nabuur Report, Summer 2007 (from Chair Chair: Ali Abdullahi)

I am happy to have been introduced to Eco Ethics International Union by Ms. Makenas involvement in realizing our project of organic fertilizer in Nairobi.

EEIU Nabuur being the newest chapter on this network, we will be happy to bring into light the active participation of our members. Though we are still in the tide for a full Chapter status, our tracks are open for anyone to scrutinize and give advice as to what ways are best for our collaboration.

EEIU Morogoro is steps ahead on the regional integration, as is EEIU Mombasa, which is a Kenyan chapter.

Though I have not met with Okeyo I am sure that a joint participation of all chapters will steer an adequate realization of a formal NGO system, capable of attracting major funding, and performing major activity.

The Institute for African Ecology and Philosophy in Tanzania, together with the Sokoinne University for Agriculture are supporting the regional integration of our chapters (though a volunteer initiative). They only suggested, in a meeting which I was present, that, no chapter should be eroded of its influence capacity. That it should be much more of a democratic interaction, not based on patriotic interests but ecological science.

Ms. Nimu Njonjo, who is the manager for the East African Whales Sharks Trust has agreed to put much effort into seeing a smooth operative of this regional initiative should Ms. Makena succeed.

As for EEIU Nabuur, we are in the development stage, and as we pull together resources our focus will become more clear. We are currently working on a journal.

As of now, it could be only three chapters in collaboration i.e. Nabuur, Mombasa and Morogoro, although we hope to have more join.

I have also started the EEIU Brochure translation into Arabic, this will be done with the help of two Universities - Dar - es Salaam and Nairobi after which a major ecology conference for its approval will be scheduled at Makerere in Uganda.

Let us unite, and let us promote ethics in its ecological understanding as united East Africans.

Dr. Ali Abdullahi Ph.D
Chapter Chair, EEIU Nabuur
International Representative, IAEP
International Association for Environmental Philosophy
www.environmentalphilosophy.org

Tree planting

Ms. Fauzia Makena who is the Principle Consultant for the Institute for African Ecology and Philosophy plants a tree at the Voi village along Mombasa road.

Ms. Ahsna Fatuma of the Maendeleo ya Wanawake plants a tree at Ngong Hills in Nairobi. The activity was sponsored by the Kenya Commercial Bank Ltd.

Pupils of Brookhouse Primary School and St. Marys Academy participate in a tree planting event at UHURU Park grounds in Nairobi.

Residents of Kilifi participate on the Project Nabuur Initiative to promote waste garbage recycling by utilizing the fertilizer to plant trees. They planted fifty trees and are set for Kibwezi town. This was organized by the Kilifi Islmia Women.

The task force in charge for National tree planting campaign poses for a photo shoot at Kisumu town, 2km from Lake Victoria.

This page was last updated on 16 February 2009.