- 2 days ago
Youth humor to fight fossil fuels, solar grandmas in Ghana; bamboo to save homes from landslides and sacred sites protecting biotopes in Uganda.
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00:17Welcome to EcoAfrica where we bring you news of sustainable solutions and inspiring people
00:23from all over the continent and beyond from laughter to lasers and grammars.
00:28My name is Chris Elims and I'm speaking to you from Lagos, Nigeria.
00:33My co-host as ever is Malama Mukunde in Zambia.
00:41Greetings from Lusaka.
00:43We have another fine selection of stories for you.
00:47Let's get started.
00:50How bamboo could stop this terrifying landslide.
00:56We see how Ghana's solar grandmothers are bridging a vital gap in renewable energy.
01:03And we witness the importance of Uganda's sacred sites for humans and non-humans alike.
01:10It has long been said that laughter is the best medicine.
01:15It is also a potent weapon for confronting oppression or anxiety about the environment, for example.
01:24Faced with seemingly hopeless situations, humor can give hope and satire can give strength.
01:31We saw these effects in action when we hang out with a group of young people in Zimbabwe.
01:37We value our African sea life and oceans.
01:40As long as it doesn't get in the way of our drilling.
01:42Students in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, are familiar with this poof video,
01:47which takes aim at French multinational total energies.
01:50For years, the company has been portraying itself as a driving force behind the energy transition,
01:56while extracting oil and gas on a massive scale.
02:00Hello South Africa and Nigeria!
02:02We pride ourselves on being green and clean.
02:05How come?
02:06Because we say so.
02:07Just look at our adverts with solar panels.
02:09And windmills.
02:10And nice renewable energy crap like that.
02:12Or in greenwashing lingo.
02:13A little goes a long way.
02:16Can satire on social media actually bring about change?
02:20I think you have to make use of almost every means of communication.
02:25No matter how outdated it is, or no matter how modern it is,
02:30you have to make use of all of them,
02:32because you never know what a certain community uses to communicate certain things.
02:37We just need to drill, baby, drill, to end it in Tungabwe.
02:42Afghans need jobs, not solar panels.
02:45I love it!
02:47Scar, Sebata, and Trash Chikodzo use social media to reach the younger generation.
02:51Their next video is already in the works.
02:54Renewables kill cold.
02:56They work for Magamba Network,
02:58a RR-based media organization that combines culture with activism.
03:02The new production looks at social media influencers parroting and spreading disinformation
03:08originating from their sponsors.
03:10Oil will make Africa rich.
03:13Rich, jobs and energy for everyone, anytime now.
03:17Rich for me?
03:18The profits go offshore faster than your Wi-Fi drops during load shift.
03:22You want that message to not be too rigid and easy, just easy to understand in such a way
03:29that you can never laugh, but at least after you've watched that video,
03:33you come out of that watching session with at least something that you've grasped,
03:38something that you, you know, spark that fire within you to want to, you know, demand for
03:44a future that is better.
03:45Climate disinformation is actually a huge threat.
03:48You'll find on social media, on the internet, the news sites that we see,
03:52they propel fossil fuel propaganda.
03:56So that's disinformation.
03:57When information is fed to the public directly in a way to mislead them into thinking that
04:04maybe the fossil fuel industry is doing amazing things for the green sector when it's actually not.
04:11The burning of fossil fuels is the main driver of rising temperatures and climate change.
04:19And when climate conferences end in disappointment, sometimes satire is not enough when it comes
04:25to combating fake news about bad news.
04:29Which is why Trust Chikodzo also organizes an annual environment festival for Magamba Network
04:35to promote a cleaner and eco-friendlier Harare.
04:39The Green Cities Expo is attended by over 100 artists.
04:44The focus here is not on digital media use, but real-world action of the analog variety,
04:51such as photos laying bare the issues of waste management, and collaborative collages depicting
04:57a cleaner and a better world.
05:00As Magamba Network, we normally use satire, right?
05:05But incorporating these other elements makes sure that this, like, environmentalism is participatory.
05:13Like, trying to demand for that just transition, trying to demand for cleaner, safer, and healthier
05:20environments, needs us to look at it with a holistic lens when it comes to how we can engage
05:26with people, young people.
05:28A transition that is urgently needed.
05:31The Zimbabwean capital produces over 400,000 tons of waste every year,
05:37of which less than half is disposed of by professionals.
05:41Parts of Harare are drowning in garbage.
05:45Also among the responses at the Green Cities Expo is the costume, or cosplay, where people
05:51dress up as characters from movies or video games.
05:55This guy is playing a figure from a first-person shooter game, but his weapons are perfectly harmless.
06:02It, like, starts off that conversation by telling people I made this out of, like, recycled things,
06:06upcycled things.
06:07We can then lead the conversation to talking about, you know, climate change and how it's
06:11affecting things.
06:12Garbage?
06:13Yeah.
06:14I'm a garbage lady, yeah.
06:16And garbage lady's guitar is likewise, 100% recycled.
06:22I've had these things for two years now, but if I hadn't went and started to make something
06:29else, it probably would have been burned somewhere and the fumes are very dangerous.
06:34So imagine if everyone, like, in small households, tried to be creative and make beautiful art out
06:41of things that they want to throw away.
06:42Then there'll be less pollution and trash in the landfills and such.
06:49Ultimately, it's the words of a young woman during a poetry slam that seem the most impactful.
06:54Our industries are building kingdoms of methane and carbon dioxide in the sky, creating the
07:00world into an inferno, and we blame the sun for heatwaves when she hasn't changed in all
07:05the years that she has existed.
07:07We have.
07:10We have broken our world.
07:12So we can repay it?
07:13Trust Chicozo is mobilizing young people to make that happen with creativity, determination
07:20and no shortage of energy.
07:26When it rains in Kinshasa, there is a real risk that some people will lose their houses.
07:32The capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo is growing at a huge rate.
07:37Many people have settled on hillsides or other areas at risk of landslides or flooding.
07:42We're going to see one idea for stopping erosion and saving lives.
07:54Bertin Mboyer is a man on a mission to protect his environment.
07:58The university graduate is passionate about tackling climate change and its devastating impact
08:04on communities.
08:06He's the coordinator of a project called the Chinese Bamboo Green Wall.
08:10For seven years now, the initiative has been busy planting bamboo on the outskirts of
08:15Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
08:19The plants will help prevent soil erosion and hopefully slow the creation of trenches that
08:24threaten homes across the city.
08:28So far, we've planted more than 15,000 bamboo trees near this university.
08:34The idea from an environmental perspective is, first of all, to reinforce the soil structure.
08:40The soil in Kinshasa is vulnerable to erosion because it is very sandy.
08:46The bamboo we plant frees up a huge quantity of organic material.
08:51When the bamboo leaves fall, they decompose and produce nutrients that improve the soil structure.
09:01Kinshasa is home to some 17 million people.
09:05Rapid, unplanned urban growth means many live dangerously close to the trenches or gullies
09:10that are created or widened by heavy rain.
09:13In recent years, severe flooding has repeatedly hit Kinshasa, with devastating consequences.
09:21Some 12,000 people in the DRC lose their homes each year because of these gullies, according
09:27to research by the Earth and Life Institute of Belgium.
09:34We are facing a very big problem here, and it is all caused by insufficient discipline.
09:43We tried to solve the problem by planting trees.
09:48We added about 1,500 acacia trees, but most of them were cut down.
09:57Today, I doubt we even have 100 of them left.
10:05But Bertin Mboya and his team remain undeterred.
10:08They continue planting bamboo and educating the community about its vital role.
10:15The fast-growing bamboo's dense root network helps stabilize soil and retain water,
10:20forming a natural barrier against erosion.
10:24And it has even more virtues, especially beneficial in a congested megacity like Kinshasa.
10:34This bamboo that we have planted participates in the filtering of the ambient air
10:39and of vehicle and other emissions that are released everywhere.
10:43We are part of the air purification cycle.
10:48Anyone who has ever weeded a garden knows how annoying it can be.
10:54On a large scale, it can be a serious problem.
10:58Weeds are a silent harvest stealer.
11:01They can cut crop yields, drive heavy pesticide use,
11:05and demand hours of back-breaking work.
11:09In our next report, we explore a high-tech solution to all that from Germany.
11:21In northern Germany, a new machine rolls across an onion field,
11:26burning away weeds with laser beams.
11:29Controlled by AI, this groundbreaking technology targets only unwanted plants.
11:36All that's left is a fine layer of ash.
11:41It heats the soil a lot,
11:43and operators need to be careful not to get burned by the laser beam.
11:49The machine delivers around 24 kilowatts of optical power,
11:53with each laser at 2 kilowatts.
11:56That's enough to cause deep tissue burns within milliseconds,
11:59if, for example, you put your hand beneath it.
12:05Stefan Heinrich invented the machine.
12:07Growing up on a farm,
12:09he knew the problems weeds can cause and wanted a solution.
12:12A generator at the front of the tractor powers the laser beams,
12:16while satellite navigation guides it across the field.
12:23The core innovation is the AI software Heinrich developed
12:27as part of his doctoral thesis.
12:28The camera system can distinguish between crops and weeds,
12:33and control the laser beam with pinpoint accuracy.
12:37The software recognizes every stage of plant growth,
12:41and stores millions of bits of information,
12:44which it can then retrieve again and again.
12:47The cameras are mounted underneath the housing,
12:50and the software guides the laser beams to exactly where they're needed.
12:54We work outdoors where environmental conditions constantly change.
12:59Some weeds are larger, some smaller, with different leaf shapes.
13:02Adjusting all these parameters is very complex.
13:05With AI, many of them can be learned and controlled much more easily.
13:09That's why AI is a small revolution in this field.
13:14Small-scale carrot and onion farmers could especially benefit,
13:18particularly in regions with labor shortages.
13:22Germany and the EU are pushing to phase out pesticides and protect pollinators,
13:27and this technology offers an ecologically friendly alternative.
13:32AI software is set to transform agricultural technology in the years ahead.
13:37For now, the system is still in its infancy.
13:44Africa is rich with sacred sites,
13:47from pilgrimage destinations to mountains and waterfalls revered by local communities.
13:53Now, these places of tranquility and reflection
13:56open a window into the continent's diverse belief systems.
14:00Our next report from Uganda shows that these sanctuaries
14:04are not only important for preserving our human heritage.
14:10Kawaka's Lake is a precious jewel on the edge of the Ugandan capital Kampala.
14:16It was created in 1886 by Kawakamuanga II,
14:21then ruler of the Kingdom of Buganda.
14:24It was part of a royal project near his palace.
14:27The current king of Buganda still maintains the palace.
14:32While he holds no direct political power,
14:35he remains highly revered as a cultural and spiritual leader.
14:40Today, Kawaka's Lake still provides a bond
14:43between Uganda's largest ethnic group, the Buganda, and their king.
14:48Every day, Lamek Kale removes garbage from the lake out of respect for the monarchy.
14:55I love keeping the lake clean.
14:58So if my king, the Kawaka, comes here, he finds it impressive.
15:03But Kawaka's lake is not only a symbol of cultural identity.
15:08It is also a living ecosystem in a busy city.
15:11As a rainwater reservoir, it helps to cool the microclimate
15:16and provides a habitat for water birds,
15:19such as the opened bale stock,
15:21an indicator of the health of wetlands,
15:24carrion eating marabou stocks,
15:26and little egrets that breed here.
15:30Lamek's quiet dedication without a wage is preserving nature.
15:38Sometimes there are loyal pilgrims who appreciate what I do.
15:42They might easily give me 10,000 shillings in gratitude for my work.
15:47At Kampala's Chambogo University,
15:51environmental scientist Mary Therese Kagua has found that
15:55when people sense a spiritual connection with nature,
15:59they tend to actively preserve it.
16:01In that sense, there is that all broader benefit we get
16:05that when this site is not interfered with,
16:08okay, by anthropogenic activities and all that,
16:12it remains intact.
16:13Around 30 kilometers east of Kampala
16:16lies another sacred place in the kingdom of Buganda,
16:21the Sizibwa Falls.
16:23Legend has it that a woman gave birth to twins here
16:27in the form of two rivers,
16:28a divine event that makes the place sacred to this day.
16:33People come here to pray and seek healing.
16:37Spiritual guardians like Mubiru Basawa care for the area,
16:41but the sacred forest around the waterfall
16:43almost protects itself through the powerful stories
16:47that are linked to it.
16:52For instance, we have specific trees
16:55that should never be cut down for any reason.
16:58Our forefathers foretold that
17:00destoring one of these trees would cause disasters
17:02that could not be reversed later.
17:08This sanctuary, protected by tradition,
17:10provides an emergency backup for the future.
17:14We get organisms, both flora and fauna.
17:18We get the abundances maintained
17:21of those different organisms,
17:23but also these sites end up working like gene banks for us.
17:29School students now come to Sizibwa Falls
17:32to witness the power of preservation.
17:36Because as we started,
17:38they informed us that these forests
17:40have what they call carbon dioxide
17:42that reduces this growing rate of global warming.
17:45So I learned that I should protect the environment in this place
17:50and also in our areas as we go back.
17:53The UN's cultural heritage agency, UNESCO,
17:58also notes that identity, spirituality,
18:01and cultural pride can all help drive conservation.
18:05At Sizibwa Falls, nature is protected,
18:08not by law, but by cultural taboos
18:12and spiritual beliefs.
18:14Likewise, at Kawaka's Lake,
18:16in serving the king,
18:18Lamekale is a true steward of the environment.
18:23Imagine living your whole life without electricity.
18:28No lights, no fans,
18:31and no way to charge your phone.
18:33That is the daily reality
18:35for many rural communities in Ghana.
18:38However, things are changing
18:41thanks to a new generation of solar installers.
18:45But we're not talking about the fresh, young face graduates here.
18:49On the contrary,
18:50these inspiring engineers are breaking stereotypes
18:54in more than one way.
18:58Salamatu Abukhari is 65 years young
19:01and known here as a solar grandmother.
19:04Today, she is repairing a loose connection in a power model.
19:08Apart from her,
19:09there are no trained solar technicians in the village.
19:13If a solar facility breaks down in this community,
19:17they call me.
19:18Some closely watch
19:20so they can fix their own system when I'm not around.
19:24I want to share my knowledge
19:25so that everyone understands a little about solar power.
19:30Her customer had to go to Mars
19:32without use of his solar-powered lamp.
19:34Now, it works just fine again.
19:40She's doing a great job.
19:42Since she came along 10 years ago,
19:44everyone has gotten rid of their querison lamps.
19:49And the hassle of buying flashlights and batteries
19:52is now a thing of the past.
19:59Dupari is a small community north in Ghana.
20:02Energy poverty is still widespread in the region,
20:05with around a quarter of households
20:07not connected to the grid.
20:09Pylons did arrive in Dupari 15 years ago,
20:12but were not followed by a joint power.
20:15Then, fate intervened in the shape of the solar grandmothers,
20:19Salamatu Abukari and Nimatu Abudu.
20:22They are journeying to becoming solar technicians
20:24as an extraordinary one.
20:26About 10 years ago,
20:28the two women were selected by their villages
20:30to embark on a special mission.
20:33After flying all the way to India
20:35in making their way to Barefoot College in Rajasthan state,
20:39they attended a UN program
20:41that combines female empowerment
20:43with the fight against energy poverty.
20:46Together with three other women from their region,
20:48they learned how to install solar panels
20:51and carry out repairs.
20:55The biggest challenge was the language barrier.
20:59But once they started showing us,
21:01step by step,
21:02how to connect panels and wire up batteries,
21:05learning became easy.
21:08When they gave us books,
21:10we couldn't follow.
21:11We just had to guess.
21:16There was no fear anymore
21:18because we relied on each other.
21:20If you didn't understand something,
21:22there would always be someone to help.
21:29We came from different countries to learn.
21:32They taught us the work.
21:34We benefited a lot
21:36and got to really appreciate each other.
21:38Now we're back home
21:39and are busy doing our new job.
21:42And thanks to their help,
21:44that power is lighting up homes.
21:46The solar grandmothers are passing on their expertise.
21:48A UN program has enabled Salamatu Abukhari
21:52to set up her own workshop.
21:54She's already trained 10 people
21:56so that they can now run
21:57their own small-scale solar systems at home.
22:03I trained them for a reason.
22:05When I had the skill alone,
22:08it didn't benefit many people.
22:11But by training the younger ones,
22:13they can pass it on
22:15and help even more.
22:18Some of those I've trained
22:19are now studying
22:21photovoltaic technology in school.
22:28Kasanga Sonoba is proud
22:30of what Hepilu Villager has achieved.
22:33Salamatu Abukhari's success
22:35has also bolstered respect
22:36for women in the community.
22:43Hajiya Salamatu went and learned.
22:46And when she came back,
22:47the whole community praised her
22:49and gave her our support.
22:52What she learned is good for us.
22:54I see that as inclusion.
22:56When another opportunity comes,
22:58we'll all get involved.
23:01As for the village's male residents,
23:04opinion is divided on the matter.
23:06When you call a woman
23:07to come and do a certain job like this,
23:10tomorrow she'll tell you that I'm cooking.
23:13I want her to go to search water.
23:16I want her to do this,
23:17I want her to do that.
23:18Everything, there should be gender balance.
23:20There is a saying that
23:22what men can do,
23:24women can equally do it better.
23:27She has been moving to the house to houses,
23:29installing them.
23:30When there are problems,
23:31she comes and then she solves the problem.
23:35In Dupari itself,
23:36the nights are now brighter.
23:38The new lights have brought
23:40a greater sense of security,
23:42a new energy into village life.
23:44This report taught me one clear thing.
23:48It is not about education
23:50before you can contribute to development.
23:53These women have not gone to school.
23:55They basically can understand
23:57what alphabets and numeracies are.
24:01But they are able to contribute significantly
24:03in terms of bridging energy poverty
24:06in their communities.
24:07Over 150 solar panels have been installed
24:11around the region by five solar grammatists.
24:14The UN-funded electrification program has ended.
24:17Bringing more reliable power to northern Ghana
24:20will require more than the expertise of the women.
24:23What these solar engineers are doing,
24:27they are just complementing
24:30the efforts of government.
24:31What I'll add is that
24:33the government should create
24:36an enabling environment
24:38so that we can have opportunities
24:41of public-private partnerships
24:44so that more of the solar panels
24:48and the batteries can be installed.
24:53Barring sickness or death,
24:55by the grace of God,
24:57I pledge to do this work
24:59till the end of my life.
25:02There has already been
25:03significant change in the Paris,
25:06empowerment for local women
25:07and more power for the village,
25:10thanks to the solar grammatists
25:11lighting the way to a brighter future.
25:17It just goes to show
25:18what you can achieve
25:19if you involve everyone.
25:22Well, that's it for this week's show.
25:24We hope you have been inspired
25:25by what you have seen.
25:27It's goodbye from me,
25:28Malama Mukonde,
25:29in Lusaka, Zambia.
25:31And goodbye from me,
25:33Chris L. Amps,
25:34in Lagos, Nigeria.
25:35You can find plenty more
25:36EcoAfrica online.
25:38And please write to us
25:39and share your thoughts
25:40at ecoadw.com.
25:43See you next week.
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