Greenpeace Africa marks environmentalism milestone

This November, Greenpeace Africa (www.Greenpeace.org/Africa/) celebrates 10 years of environmental activism on the African continent.

Partnering with artists, volunteers and other civil society organisations, the environmental watchdog is organising an open day to spark an environmental revolution. As part of commemorative activities in South Africa and Senegal, artwork will be used to encourage partners and Africans to celebrate their individual acts of courage towards the environment.

“Greenpeace Africa is using this occasion to highlight environmental concerns and calling on partners to share their memories of being part of this environmental movement over the years. The challenges facing the environment are enormous in Africa and it is impossible for Greenpeace Africa to address them without the goodwill of other stakeholders,” says Njeri Kabeberi, Greenpeace Africa’s Executive Director. 

Greenpeace Africa currently runs campaigns on four key issues on the continent; to protect the Congo Basin from large-scale deforestation, stop overfishing in West Africa, promote ecological farming in the horn of Africa as well as demand a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources in South Africa in order to reverse the impacts of climate change.

Over the past 10 years, it has exposed illegal fishing by Chinese companies in West Africa which led to the cancellation of over 29 fishing licenses in 2012 and pushed relevant ministries to seek help from it in finding solutions to the problem of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in West Africa.  I

And in the Congo Basin, it has investigated and exposed breaches on the moratorium and succeeded to push the government to cancel more than three illegal logging titles.

The ten-year anniversary is therefore an opportunity for it to appreciate and amplify the contribution of local and indigenous communities, volunteers, staff and donors who have given substance in the struggle to protect the environment.