Does the world need nuclear energy?

Nuclear power: the energy crisis has even die-hard environmentalists reconsidering it. In this debate, Stewart Brand and Mark Z. Jacobson square off over the pros and cons. A discussion that'll make you think -- and might even change your mind.

Because this is 2010 Shanghai Expo!

By BK

Can you imagine a water city where you live like a fish, a space city where the city is in orbit, an intelligence city, characterized by sophisticated electronic meeting places, production, marketing, and distribution system. Or an eco-city where nothing is wasted but used in an ecosystem-like fashion? Can you imagine a toilet that intelligently detects biochemical substances? Can you imagine the kitchen of the future, or an energy garden?

This is an account of the places I found interesting at the Shanghai Expo 2010 and in the city itself. I will also write some of the things that my other group members and I did for the entire time of our stay. We visited the Expo 2010 courtesy of an award from a project competition we won at Jacobs University - our project: the usage of snake robots for underground pipe system maintainance in megacities.

Our journey was quite long but of a great experience. Having left Bremen on June 1 at 1815 (German time) we arrived in Shanghai on June 2 at 1355 (local time). We were then picked up and accompanied to our hotel. That evening we went out for a walk at the People's Square and on to Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road is a commercial street, nicely decorated with a lot of lights. We loved this place so much for its liveliness, and nice shops.

Nanjing Road, Shanghai

On June 2, we drove from our hotel to the Expo 2010 site. Located in Zone E at the Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) we first visited the Jacobs University stand where we were shown the multimedia interactive exhibit of the university displaying the university's core objective of preparing leaders of tomorrow-who, in abundance, will become global citizens. We were then shown the Bremen Case-for Bremen and North-West Germany.

Future oriented projects are showcased that range from a simple but highly beneficial car-sharing concept and electric cars to nature, energy and science. Just like the name suggests, with a car-sharing concept, cars will be owned by a special body and everyone would use a car without having to worry about maintenance but their bills only that are payable at the end of the month. This would be of advantage to young people or people who cannot afford to buy cars. Most importantly, it would reduce heavy traffic and environmental pollution.

Bremen Pavilion at EXPO 2010

At the Bremerhaven stand, the Alfred Wegner Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), tells us that beautiful Shanghai will be underwater if proper measures to control the climate change are not taken. They have other nice projects too.

I personally loved the Beluga stand that proposes tapping wind energy using wind turbines carried in a huge ship that floats in an ocean. The concept is much more complicated involving a strong base for the ship to resist storm winds and water waves. Also the tapping of wind energy using wind turbines built in the ocean is exhibited.

Airbus, Kaefer, Werder Bremen, and Hochschule Bremen (University of Applied Science) are also there. We then helped out with some tasks at our stand before we went on to see the rest of the pavilions at the zone.

Oh, I loved the Pavilion of Future! Seeing it I was reminded that we human beings are highly limited by our imagination. While others dream the future others might just be observers. As you may anticipate, this pavilion showcases cities of future; water city, eco city, energy city, space city and intelligence city. They have a multimedia visualization projected on a really huge screen, in a huge dark building.

The intelligence city was so amazing. I think I did not grasp it well, but everything is "electronized" in this city. For example if you wish to move from one place to the next you do some "electronic magic" and you have a skate or something. Just nicely and all over a sudden you start moving. All you need is a remote control.

We visited the Hamburg pavilion. We saw the Theater of the Future at the Taipei Pavillion. I also went to Dusseldorf City, Seoul, Cairo, Information and Communications pavillions.

In the evening we decided to cross the Huangpu River to go shopping at the Super Brand Mall in Pudong District. But we were late and the mall was closing. Because we knew that we could be late, we had plan B in mind; to visit Lujiazui where The Oriental Pearl Tower is located. This street is the skyline of Shanghai. It has many (expensive) restaurants, banks, hotels and offices. We could not climb the tower, but took a lot of photos. We later enjoyed a nice view of the Bund in Huangpu District from the other bank of the river. The Bund is characterized by European-like archicture. We took lots of photos and a video of it.

Apart from the fact that Shanghai Streets may be considered as very superficial with unnecessary lighting leading to power wastage, there is a lot of amazement in it.

Oh! Wait! I love the way business is done in Shanghai. No price is final. Bargaining is the right way to go. And you really have to be hard at it.


The energy garden, the future kitchen, and the elderly lounge, elderly bedroom, elderly parlor and bathroom are found at the Shanghai Pavilion. The Wine Bar at Barcelona's case is where Spain's famous Torres wine is sold is also a good place to chit-chat and enjoy the Spanish wine.

On Monday June 7 we met our professor while later in the afternoon we met our University president. We then went to Tongji University, one of China's finest universities to visit the Department of Environmental Research and the university as a whole. On June 8 I visited a large International Logistics Fair at Expo. On June 9 we visited Zhujia Jiao, an ancient water town. On June 10 my friends returned to Bremen and I went to Xi'an, Shaanxi province in Northwestern China. I will head back to Germany on June 18 to begin my internship.

BK, a Tanzanian national, is a final year student of Electrical Enginering and Computer Science at Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany.

Bremen Pavilion feature, ICS

Japan's bribes on whaling; old news?

by Felicity Ogilvie
A conservation activist says an investigation into claims that Japan bribes small nations for their support on whaling is confirmation of what has been common knowledge for a long time.

Two reporters from Britain's Sunday Times newspaper posed as the lobbyists of a fictional Swiss billionaire and set out to buy votes at next week's International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting.

Six countries told the reporters they were willing to consider their offer, but the reporters were told they would need to better the aid the countries are already getting from the Japanese.

Tanzania's IWC commissioner is recorded saying that as well as aid, politicians from his country are flown to Japan where they are offered prostitutes.

Geoffrey Nanyaro told the undercover reporters he has never used Japanese prostitutes.

"As a Christian, I live by the Bible, so I never indulge in such [activities]," he said.

Mr Nanyaro says when he visits Japan he is put up in a five-star hotel, and women offering massages often call his room.

"They start by saying you know, do you want massaging, you know, it will be free massaging, you know. Are you not alone there?"

Nicola Beynon from Humane Society International says the undercover investigation adds weight to what environmental groups have long suspected.

"It has been common knowledge for a long time that a number of countries that vote in favor of commercial whaling at the IWC are not actually voting because they genuinely want to see a return to commercial whaling, but they are voting because they are beholden to Japan and Japan's very generous fisheries aid," she said.

"This is confirming what has been common knowledge for a long time and there has been very few occasions where we have had proof of it."

Continue to read...(There is an audio report on the right hand side of the page.)

If you don't know what 'Whale Wars' are all about (you probably don't watch Southpark, I guess), check out this clip:

Poison Fire

by Lars Johansson (with English subtittles)

The documentary is about oil and gas abuse in Nigeria.

Cry of the Forest

by Lars Johansson

This documentary is about efforts to protect what remains of the incredibly rich montane and coastal forests of East Africa through a grants programme by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund.

Tumesahau sakata la Mara?

As-Salaam Alaikum Vijana.

Takribani miezi mitatu iliyopita, blogs zetu zilijaa taswira za wananchi wenzetu walioathirika na uchafuzi wa mazingira - mto Tighithe. Bila shaka macho yako yalishuhudia picha ifuatayo:

Na nina uhakika wengi wetu tulitoa maoni na vilio vyetu. Pia, kuna wale ambao waliahidi kutusaidia kufikisha hili suala kwenye vyombo vya habari vyenye nguvu (Kanada na Marekani). Ni matumaini yangu kuwa zile nguvu, hasira, vilio, mayowe, machozi n.k. hazikuishia kwenye majabali.

Kwa bahati mbaya au nzuri, Vijana FM ilifanikiwa kupata nakala za mikutano na ripoti za mambo yaliyokuwa yanaendelea (kuanzia Mei 2009 hadi mwanzoni mwa mwaka 2010). Binafsi, nadhani kitu muhimu zaidi kilikuwa ni ripoti ya utafiti wa kisayansi uliofanywa na Åsgeir R. Almås, Charles Kweyunga na Mkwabwa LK Manoko.

Sina uhakika watu wangapi walisoma zile makala hapa Vijana FM (tulikuwa ndio kwanza tunaanza...). Uchambuzi wa ripoti za Wizara ya Nishati na Madini unapatikana hapa. Na utafiti uliofanywa na Åsgeir R. Almås et al unapatikana hapa.

Mara ya mwisho niliambiwa kuwa watu wa Foundation HELP waliwapeleka waathirika nane kwenye hospitali ya Muhimbili kwa lengo la kufanyiwa uchunguzi. Mimi sio mtaalamu wa baiolojia, lakini nilitegemea kuwa vitu kama nywele, kucha, n.k. za waathirika zingechukuliwa kwa ajili ya utafiti wa kina -- ambao ungechukua muda mrefu. Na huu ndio ushauri uliotolewa na Åsgeir R. Almås et al.

Lakini, kilichotokea ni hiki: Waathirika walirudishwa kwasababu wanatoka kwenye ukoo mmoja! Kwa maneno mengine, yale yote ni matokeo ya "genetic disorder". Sasa, kipindi chote hiki nilikuwa najiuliza: Hivi, mbona haya matokeo ya genetic disorder yanaonekana baada TU ya uchafuzi wa mto Tighithe?

Chonde chonde wahusika. Sio kila mtu ni mpumbavu... Na Barrick wanajulikana kwa vitendo vyao dunia nzima.

Uharibifu wa mazingira Geita na Mara - Sehemu ya tatu

Baada ya kulivalia njuga hili suala nazidi kupata taarifa zaidi kila kukicha. Na mimi sisiti kuwapa taarifa Watanzania wenzangu na watu wengine wanaolifuatilia hili jambo kwa makini. Nakala hii ya uchunguzi wa kina inapatikana kwenye websites za Business & Human Rights na Africa Files. Na inaangalia mazingira ya sehemu mbili - migodi ya Geita na Mara.

Ingawa ripoti inamalizia kwa kuomba kufanyika uchunguzi zaidi, hasa kuangalia afya za waathirika, kuna dalili kuwa hili suala litafika kwenye vyombo husika vitakavyoweza kutusaidia Watanzania.

___________________________________________________________________

Investigations of trace metal concentrations in soil, sediments and waters in the vicinity of ”Geita Gold Mine” and ”North Mara Gold Mine” in North West Tanzania

The study was conducted by The Norwegian University of Life Sciences in cooperation with the University of Dar es Salaam. Researchers were Åsgeir R. Almås, Charles Kweyunga and Mkwabwa LK Manoko. It was commissioned by the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Bakwata, and the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT). The results are based on sampling of water, soil and sediments. Samples were taken at 36 different sites around the Geita Gold mine, North Mara Gold mine and control locations. A total of 100 soil and sediment samples and 36 water samples were taken. The samples were analyzed at the University of Life Sciences Norway.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the environmental impact of the mining activity in Geita and North Mara.

Key findings:

North Mara Gold Mine (Barrick Gold)

The mine is situated in the Mara-district east of Victoria Lake in North Tanzania. The closest town is Tarime.

The environmental situation in North Mara is very worrying. For a while people have claimed that the tailing dam is leaking and so fear contamination of the area. Barrick has alleged that people have been stealing the lining of the tailing dam and destroying pipes. The area surrounding the tailing dam is not fenced. In May 2009 a major spill occurred at the mine. Samples were taken both the area of the spill and the tailing dam at various distances.

The study finds extremely high levels of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, crom, nickel and zinc at the area around the spill. The environment has been seriously contaminated. The arsenic (As) content in the most contaminated water sample were one to two orders of magnitude higher than the WHO drinking water guidelines (10 µg/l). The most extreme water sample contained 8449 µg/l, which is about half a lethal dose of arsenic for a human. Currently, the WHO guideline for maximum As concentration in drinking water is 10 µg/l, but this standard is set to be lowered to 5 µg/l in the near future. This site is currently not being used by the population, but is accessible and represents a very real danger. Also, the extreme levels of dangerous substances found at the site show how toxic the material handled by the mine is and the danger that accidental spills represent.

There are also extreme concentrations of arsenic around the tailing dam itself. Concentrations of arsenic ranging from 1142 to 111 µg/l were found in water samples. One area used for grazing by cattle contained 413 µg/l of arsenic. A nearby area regarded as safe by the population and used for drinking water contained 8 µg/l of arsenic – just below current WHO-standards.

This area also contained high levels of cobalt up to 319 µg/l. WHO has no guidelines for dangerous levels of cobalt in drinking water. The proposed Canadian guidelines for aquatic life state that the level should not exceed 4 µg/l for chronic exposure and 110 µg/l for acute toxicity. In other words aquatic life starts dying above 110 µg/l.

Samples from the soil also show high levels of arsenic at the spill site and higher than normal levels of other minerals. Sediments (top layer) also showed high and very high levels of arsenic. All other metals also have elevated levels compared to the control sample taken well away from the mine. It is therefore clear that the mine is having a sustained impact on the surrounding environment in North Mara.

The study does not speculate on possible reasons for this contamination in North Mara. However, one likely reason is that the tailing dam is leaking.

When dug the earth in this area seems to be saturated with water. The company has placed pumps at various places to pump water back into the tailing dam. Another possible reason is leeching from the rock deposited in the landscape.

Geita Gold Mine (Anglo Gold Ashanti)

In Geita the situation is less acute. The study finds higher levels of arsenic and other metals in sediments compared to natural levels. Water samples were all within WHO drinking standards with the exception of one site in a restricted area. Still, the higher levels measured in sediments is worrying and probably means that pollution has occurred in the past through flooding. When measuring water you are getting a picture of the situation at that moment. Finding arsenic in sediments at various sites is of concern even if the concentration in water bodies were not very high.

Cyanide

Cyanide was not found to be a problem in Geita or North Mara at the time of the study. This could be due to the fact that cyanide quickly bonds with other substances turning into harmless compounds. It is therefore very difficult to measure the level of cyanide in water unless the measurements are taken at the time of a spill.

Consequences

There are many serious health effects resulting from exposure to arsenic. A variety of cancers, birth defects and numerous skin problems are among the effects. People with skin problems consistent with arsenic poisoning can be found both in Geita and North Mara. More research is needed through taking hair, nails and urine samples to confirm that arsenic is the problem.

In North Mara the area where the spill took place is toxic and dangerous for people and cattle – it is a disaster site. The area around the tailing dam and in effect between the two rivers Tighite and Mara might become contaminated and harmful to people unless the contamination caused by the tailing dam is stopped.

And here is the Barrick's response:

___________________________________________________________________

Kwa mtazamo wangu nadhani taarifa kutoka Barrick zinakinzana kidogo na majibu yao hayajaniridhisha. Kumbuka, hawa hawa ndio waliokuwa wanadai wanavijiji ndio wa kulaumiwa; kwa kuiba vizuizi kwenye bwawa la takataka la mgodi. Napenda kurudia, haya yangeweza kuzuilika. Na tuna uhakika kuwa hawa waliofanya huu uchunguzi hawakuruhusiwa kuingia kwenye mgodi!

Kama wachangiaji kadhaa walivyosema kwenye makala zilizopita shughuli hii ni pevu. Kwahiyo tunahitaji umoja na mshikamano. Kama unaweza kusaidia kwa njia yoyote ile, usisite kuwasiliana nasi au Foundation HELP (info@foundationhelp.org); iwe kwa kututumia taarifa unazodhani zitasaidia (kutoka kwenye Wizara ya Nishati na Madini au Barrick Mara).

Natanguliza shukrani za dhati!

Uharibifu wa mazingira Mara Kaskazini - Sehemu ya pili

Asalaam-aleikum Vijana wenzangu!

Unapoona picha za watu wanavyoathirika kutokana na uzembe, tamaa, uchoyo na ukatili wa binadamu wengine (angalia nakala iliyopita), hisia zinaweza kuchukua mkondo wake na ukabaki na fikra ambazo sio sahihi au zilizopotoka kwa namna moja au nyingine. Kwahiyo, baada ya kutulia nikaamua kuliangalia sakata la vitendo vya Barrick Gold Mine, na matokeo yake - uharibifu wa mazingira na athari zake kwa afya za watu - kwa utulivu.

Kama kijana wa Kitanzania, sitegemei au sitaki kuanzisha shari, lakini naamini kuwa wananchi wanastahili kujua kinachoendelea na kujibiwa maswali yao. Na hilo ni jukumu la uongozi wa Barrick GM, Mara na Serikali yetu. Kama kuna sehemu ambayo nimekosea kwenye uchambuzi au mtitiriko wa yanayojiri huko Mara, nitakubali kukosolewa na kuwekwa sawa (mimi sio mkemia wala mwanasheria)!

Tatizo la uchafuzi na uharibifu wa mazingira kwenye sehemu zinazozunguka mgodi wa dhahabu unaomilikiwa na Barrick GM lilianza mnamo Mei 2009. Na Wizara ya Nishati na Madini ilifanya uchunguzi.


Ripoti ya Wizara iliyotolewa tarehe 4 Juni, 2009 ilijadili uharibifu wa mazingira tu. Chanzo cha haya yote kilikuwa ni maji ya acid kutoka kwenye dampo la Barrick GM yaliyokuwa yanaingia kwenye mto Tighithe. Maji hayo yalikuwa yanaingia kwenye mto kupitia bwawa lililokuwa halina vizuizi. Cha kusikitisha na kushangaza sana ni kilichoandikwa kwenye ripoti:


Jamani, uchunguzi wa Wizara yetu, inayopaswa kuheshimika na kuaminiwa, ni kuangalia pH level tu? Yaani kwenda pale na litmus paper/solution au phenolphthalein? Kwenye karne hii? Hawajui kwamba labda kulikuwa na elements nyingine zinazoweza kuhatarisha maisha ya binadamu? Ni kama kumpima mgonjwa wa Ukimwi kwa kuangalia upele wake tu; na kumwambia akaoge maji ya chumvi.

Majadiliano kati ya 'wawakilishi' wetu na uongozi wa Barrick GM yalikuwa kama ifuatavyo:


Bila chembe ya aibu na kukataa jukumu lao, uongozi unatupia lawama uhalifu unaofanywa na wananchi. Na kuna Watanzania wanaodiriki kusema, "(Waathirika) wameyataka haya matatizo wenyewe." Tuwekane sawa kwanza: Jukumu la Barrick GM ni kuwaelimisha wananchi kuhusu mambo yote yanayoendelea na utupaji wa taka kutoka kwenye mgodi. Kama kuna takataka za sumu ilipaswa wataarifiwe na waelimishwe madhara yake. Pia, ulinzi wa kutosha unatakiwa uwepo sehemu kama hizi muda wote. Ukifuatilia mambo yanayoendelea kwenye sehemu kama hizi (mining sites na nuclear plants) kwenye nchi zao (Ulaya na Amerika), utaona jinsi mitaro ya takataka ilivyojengwa kwa zege zito ambalo kibaka hawezi hata kuchora juu yake. Doria za wanausalama ni masaa 24! Lakini kwasababu shughuli zinafanyika Tanzania...

Ripoti inamalizia kwa kusema:


Haya yalipaswa kutekelezwa kabla shughuli za uchimbaji haujaanza. Nina uhakika haya matatizo tunayoyaona na kuyasikia leo yasingetokea kama Wizara yetu na uongozi wa Barrick GM wangekuwa makini.

Cha kusikitisha zaidi kwenye matukio yote haya ni kitendo cha viongozi wetu kuwasahau kabisa watu wanaoishi kwenye vijiji vilivyoko jirani na mgodi - hasa watumiaji wa mto Tighithe. Ripoti ya Wizara haitaji wala kujadili athari zozote kwa afya za wananchi.

Athari za uchafuzi wa maji ya mto Tighithe kwa afya za watu zilianza kuonekana. Foundation HELP ya Mara ilianza zoezi la kupima afya za baadhi ya waathirika wenye dalili ambazo ni rahisi kuziona. Dalili za waathirika zinatofautiana; kuharisha, kutapika, kujikuna, maumivu ya tumbo, mapunye (madonda makubwa makubwa) na wengine wana dalili za magonjwa ya kansa ya ngozi. Makelele haya yalifika kwenye masikio ya viongozi wa Barrick GM, ambao walitupia lawama uwizi unaofanywa na wananchi (kumbuka, hili lingeweza kuepukwa).


Kwa mujibu wa Foundation HELP, eneo zima la Mara Kaskazini lipo katika mkondo ambao ni hatari. Ikumbukwe kuwa pamoja na kuwa kulikuwa na shughuli za wachimbaji wadogo hapo kabla, hakukuwahi kuwa na matukio kama hayo ambayo Barrick wanalaumu. Eneo hilo lina miamba inayotengeneza acid, na acid hii inayeyusha vitu vingine (heavy metals).

Binafsi nadhani hapa ndipo "siasa" inapoingia - kuweka facts pembeni na kujitahidi kuonesha umma kuwa hakuna kosa lililotendeka. Wakati huo huo afya za watu walioathirika zinazidi kudhoofika.

Dalili za waathirika zinaasharia madhara ya kula heavy metals. Watu wa Barrick wanadai eneo hilo lina heavy metals kupita kiasi cha kawaida. Je, kama wanalijua hilo, kwanini hawakuwa waangalifu zaidi kuhakikisha yanayotokea sasa hivi hayatokei??

Suala la fidia kwa waathirika? Barrick ni corporation kubwa na wana bima ya kufidia walioathirika kwenye hii "ajali". Mbona kimya mpaka leo? Au hawajawaona waathirika?

Serikali yetu nayo imekuwa bubu. Si ni wajibu wenu kututetea wananchi; au angalau kutujibu maswali yetu?

Kusema ukweli sakata zima linasikitisha sana na kutia hasira! Kwa wale waliokuwa na imani hata chembe na Serikali na viongozi wetu nadhani sakata hili litawafumbua macho. Na inashangaza pale vyombo vya habari vinapogoma kufanya kazi yao.

Edit:

Kwenye mtiririko wa mambo yote haya, hakuna hata sehemu moja ambayo uzalishaji na uchimbaji kwenye mgodi ulisimamishwa ili kufanya uchunguzi, ukarabati au mambo mengine ambayo yangeweza kupunguza athari kwa wananchi!

Tupeleke macho yetu Mara!

Niliambiwa kuwa fimbo ya mbali haiuwi nyoka! Lakini nakumbuka kuwa niliandika insha kadhaa kubatilisha baadhi ya methali na nahau zetu ambazo kwa namna moja au nyingine haziwezi kutusaidia kwenye baadhi ya mazingira na mazingara.

Najua unaanza kujiuliza maswali kuwa ninajaribu kusema nini haswa leo hii. Usiache kusoma...

Nimeingia 'mzigoni' leo asubuhi mapema, kama kawaida kwa kuanza kuangalia habari kutoka nilipokulia - Tanzania. Bahati mbaya siku imeanza kwa habari zinazosikitisha. Na sisiti kueneza habari zenyewe kama zilivyo; bila ya kuficha chochote kwa kutumia nahau, methali ua maneno mengine matamu.


Mei 24, 2009, Chambi Chachage alitoa taarifa kupitia blog ya Udadisi kuhusu vitendo vya Barrick Gold Mine vya kumwaga takataka za sumu kwenye mto Tighithe, Mara. Athari za takataka hizo kwa afya za watumiaji wa mto Tighithe zilianza kuonekana.

Jana, Machi 16, 2010, Chacha Benedict Wambura wa Foundation HELP alitupa picha halisi ya afya za waathirika kwa kutumia blog ya Udadisi tena. Idadi ya waathirika inazidi kuongezeka na mpaka wakati naandika hii nakala nilikuwa sijapata msamiati sahihi ambao unaweza kuelezea hali ya afya zao.

Kinachotia hasira zaidi ni ukimya wa Serikali yetu na watu wengine husika (uongozi wa Barrick Gold Mine)! Jamani, hawajui haya yanayojiri huko mto Tighithe? Au wamekuwa na roho ngumu kiasi kwamba vitu kama hivi haviwashtui? Hawajali?

Nimeshawahi kusoma visa kama hivi, ambapo urasimu na uchunguzi wa kuhakikisha kuwa takataka kutoka kwenye migodi ndio chanzo cha matatizo kama haya tunayoyaona huchukua miaka. Bahati mbaya wakati muafaka unapatikana vijiji karibu na Tarime vitakuwa vimesha'angamizwa; na hakuna fidia yoyote - kwa watoto na ndugu zao - itakayoweza kuwarudishia maisha yao!

Jamani, viongozi wetu chonde chonde, jamani! Kwenye usahili wa mgodi huu hamkuangalia vitu muhimu kama utupaji wa takataka za sumu? Au, hata hamkutaka kujua ni aina gani ya takataka zitatoka kwenye mgodi huu? Hela mnazopata ndizo zinawafumba macho?

Vijana wenzangu itabidi tufanye chochote tunachoweza kuokoa jahazi - popote tulipo! Fimbo yangu iko mbali, lakini mtandao utanisaidia kumchapa huyu nyoka.


Edit: Ripoti ya Wizara ya Nishati na Madini iliyotolewa Juni 4, 2009 inaishia hivi:

........................................................
Recommendations:
- Local village residents around the mine should be educated on the environmental impacts caused by vandalism and theft of liners...
- There should be timely reporting of various incidents by the mine to the licencing authority.
- It is proposed that liners be covered with compacted thick materials as deterrent to vandalism and theft.
- Mine management should work on ways to ensure that such environmental incidents do not occur in the future.
........................................................

Vipi, mbona suala la afya za waathirika limefumbiwa macho? Watapata fidia za aina yoyote ile?

Tanzania to host Young Global Leaders summit in May 2010

Young Global Leaders (YGL) - a branch of the World Economic Forum - will hold is seventh annual summit in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania from May 2-7, 2010.

The summit promises to engage youth in sustainable projects that directly relate to the economic and social progress of people.

An extract from the summit notice webpage:

"This event promises to be the largest gathering of YGLs where they will have an opportunity to interact with local and international organizations working in the YGL “Global Redesign” areas of activity: health, environment and sustainability, education and youth, entrepreneurship, values and governance. The YGL Annual Summit will be an occasion to connect local experiences with global issues and to understand the underlying development environment."

Read more:
World Economic Forum homepage
YGL homepage
YGL summit notice webpage