SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN LAGOS

The fight against climate change can only be fought and won with effective political will and people’s will backing it, that is why the use of social media is important as a tool for sensitization and awareness so that every Nigerian, every Lagostians will know and be informed about the effect of climate change on their lives, health, livelihood and their entire existence as a whole.

Lagos is undeniably the fastest growing city in Nigeria, Lagos is just six meters above sea level, with the population estimated to be about 12 million by 2015(UN Habitat), Lagos as a coastal city has been struggling to stay afloat and fight the challenges posed by climate change, with global warming, Lagos faces a huge challenges such as rising sea level, flooding, effective waste management, food crises, creating effective transportation system etc.

Lagos is surrounded by water and this makes the city very unique and remains the pride of Nigeria, Lagos serves as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria accounting for over 60% of Nigeria’s income, Lagos is precious and we love her, but we must keep Lagos afloat and not close our eyes to climate change.

The importance of Lagos makes it expedient for the use of social media among young Nigerians to create awareness and help in the fight against climate change that is why the effort of Heinrich Boll Stiftung (HBS) and Community Conservation and Development Initiative (CCDI) should be applauded.

In response to challenges posed by climate change, Community Conservation and Development Initiative (CCDI) in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Stiftung have decided to create awareness on disaster management, waste management, disaster management, urban farming etc by working with various Local governments in Lagos, with the aim of creating a Local government that is responsive to the environmental needs of their community.

We intend to use social media to support their goal and further create awareness about climate change with the hope that you will add your voice to ours, together we can create a Lagos with a sustainable environment, free from the effect of climate change, with citizens and government sensitive enough to protect their environment from harm.

 Olaleye Taiwo-@greenernaija

ENVIROMENTAL DEGRADATION IN NIGERIA

I would always wonder and ask why things are the way they are, and if there can be true change, inspired by the people, by people’s desire for true change, world issues evolve around diverse issues and one cannot be isolated from the other, I will look at Environmental degradation and how it has affected Nigeria. Environmental degradation refers to deteriorating God-given resources like the atmosphere, water, soil, and forests.

Environmental degradation has led to increase in poverty rate in Nigeria because people whose livelihood is directly related to degraded natural resources will suffer, the average Nigerian lives on less than a dollar a day, for instance a fisherman in the riverside of Nigeria will have his livelihood cut off if there is any form of oil spills, even farm produce will be affected by such an occurrence affecting food supply, water supply, Lack of clean water etc. These Leads to all sorts of diseases like malaria, cholera, malnutrition.

A fisherman father in the riverside that cannot afford to provide basic livelihood for his family might end up daughters will have to sell their bodies to expatriate for survival and sons that will take to kidnapping thus leading to an increase in sexually transmitted diseases and crime rate.

The question that should be asked is when oil spills occur, is there any measures taken by the Nigerian government to cushion its effects? Are there measure taken to make sure these things do not repeat it? Is there a form of responsibility taken by those responsible for such acts?

We have leaders that won’t ask the right questions and the concept of due process and accountability is alien them, then achieving the desired change will be difficult. All this brings me to the Arab Spring which is a testimony to the fact that people can desire change and achieve change with a united purpose and determination. Let’s join our voice together and speak against environmental degradation in Nigeria. Let your voice be heard today! Let your voice be known for Environmental Sustainability!

Follow on twitter @greenernaija

the

THE FREQUENCY OF THIS CHANGE

The frequency and intensity of climate change coupled with its effects cannot be ignored, while growing up the weather pattern could be predicted, you could decide to get married in November or December and you can be sure it is not going to rain but over time this has not been the case, the changes in the weather pattern have been drastic and definitely unpredictable.

According to President Barack Obama “Today we are seeing that climate change is about more than a few unseasonable mild winter or hot summer. Its about the chain of natural catastrophes and devastating weather patterns that global warming is beginning to set off around the world……the frequency and intensity of which breaking records thousands of years old”.

From New York United State to Lagos Nigeria the story remains the same, for instance the recent Hurricane Katherine was the sixth strongest hurricane ever recorded and the third strongest to make landfall on the United States, In Lagos Nigeria the recent flooding was the worst hit in recent time, the rain that fell in a single day measures up to the amount of rain expected to fall in a month. These harsh realities of climate change did not come without destroying lives and properties.

QUOTES ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE:

All across the world, in every environment and region known to man increasingly dangerous weather pattern and devastating storms are abruptly putting an end to the long running debate over whether or not climate change is real. Not only is it real, it is here, and its effect are giving rise to the frightening new global phenomenon: the man-made natural disaster……………… President Barack Obama

Olaleye Taiwo

Follow on twitter@ greenernaija

THE ROAD TO DURBAN

The change is huge and it is happening so fast that it is almost difficult for us to keep up with all of them, and the effects of these changes are even huger and the frequency is so high we find it difficult to keep up. It is true the world is changing, and there are so many issues coming up daily demanding our attention, such issues such poverty, development ,gender, population growth, war etc these issue have been on the fore front of global debate ,but where does climate change stand?

We have had Kyoto protocol,yet there are still country that are yet to abide by what Kyoto protocol stand for ,Well here we are again we are heading to DURBAN for the climate summit. This time all road leads to Durban so we can help create a sustainable environment for the future generation.

Will these bring the desired change? Can Durban bring about the desired result Kyoto could not achieve? Let make the change happen and support alternative energy sources.

Quotes on Climate change: The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril. There may still be disputes about how much we are contributing to the warming of the atmosphere and how much is naturally occurring, but what we can be scientifically certain of is that our continued use of fossil fuels is pushing us to the point of no return. And unless we free ourselves from a dependence of these fossil fuel and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generation to global catastrophe…………..Barack Obama.

Let Durban count !!!#COP17 (follow on twitter @greenernaija)

Olaleye Taiwo

For greenernaija.

WOMEN CAN FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

WOMEN CAN FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE

A woman’s place in the society from history has always been controversial, why some believe the woman’s place should always be behind the scene, some believe they deserve to be at the fore front and be part of a process that will shape their lives, in the past women couldn’t vote or speak it was forbidden, some part of the world till date do not allow women to drive, and in other places a woman is considered delicate and should be treated with care and respect.

No matter where the place of a woman is in the society, a woman remains a great asset to the society and should be given the opportunity to thrive, in a male dominated world a woman should be brave and unstoppable, setting goals and achieving them, but there is a menace setting the woman back and slowing down her pace, this menace is climate change, the 21^st century woman in both developed and developing country is faced with a challenge that aims to take her back to the place of and vulnerability and uncertainty ,a place where the future seems uncertain and bleak, making survival almost impossible.

Climate change is harder on women especially women in developing nations, when they are faced with desertification or deforestation the men migrate to greener areas leaving the women behind to take care of the children and find a way to survive, women have to deal with scarcity of water and resources.

If women would fight for their right and today women can vote and be voted for, with the efforts of women like of Susan B. Anthony, these were the women paved the way for the likes of Charles Gyude Bryant of Liberia. If these can be done then we can fight climate change and win, we can join our voices together and help save the future generation.

QUOTES: So long as society says a woman is incompetent to be a lawyer, minister or doctor, but has ample ability to be a teacher...every man of you who chooses this profession tacitly acknowledges that he has no more brains than a woman?

Olaleye Taiwo

For: greenernaija

WOMEN CAN FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE A woman’s place in the society from history has always been controversial, why some be