ENVIRONMENT TERRORISM, GLOBAL WARMING AND GENDER

Jacob Waiswa
Situation Health Analyst
Dishma-Inc.
P.O. Box 8885,
Kampala-Uganda
Tel. +256392614655/+256752542504
dishma.imhs@gmail.com
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com

An estimated 10 million people are at risk of severe drought in East Africa in East Africa. Over the years UNEP has warned of the effects of potential climate change, deforestation, and the loss of grasslands and wetlands (DeCapua, J. 2011).

The single cause of global warming today is man’s insensitive activities –including destruction of nature for survival and curiosity, and perpetuation of violence in struggle for remaining yet scarce natural resources that by far destroys life –including man himself or herself.

While we would rely on the fact that history judges people accordingly, on the part of any individual destroying the environment, it judges everyone –regardless of whether they are environment terrorists or not.

This makes conflict eminent when man’s own intentions lead to global warming, when global warming claims the already scarce resources and, ultimately, when the scarce natural resources lead to conflict.

However, experts have argued that, behind the debates on global warming are greater ill-intentions. “Some elites have created this debate, but the intended purpose is to say there are too many people on the planet unsustainably and these guys have a depopulation project going on; AIDS, bird flu, SARS and others tools yet to be unleashed. They are actually saying the 3rd world who are still using wood and charcoal, are contributing very much to global warming since they produce carbon dioxide (CO2) in great quantities, but good scientists are saying its CO2 that is needed by plants and, of course, its removed from the environment, and the amount of CO2 have never increased. There are also econ issues which haven’t been digested.” –Simon Nantamu (PhD), Global Health, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.

Women in Uganda represent 80% of the agricultural labor force, responsible for 80% of food crop production, and 60% cash crop production. Such important contribution from women is undermined by armed conflict. As a result, an estimated 2.3 million children get chronically malnourished –a condition that also affects their brains (Wandera and Mashoo, 2011).

The United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 recognizes that women and girls are most affected by armed conflict and, thus, calls for their participation in decision making.

During that time, they are not in position to gather food for the family, let alone the failure to contribute to the countries economic development. On top of the lack of incomes from agricultural produce, inflation becomes the order of the day –which worsens the poverty situation at household level.

The districts of Kampala, Iganga, Mayuge, Jinja, and Nairobi were put into perspective by way of observations, focused group discussions with community members mindful of gender, stories and cases, and review of data from other individuals and organizations that have worked or lived there –in line with the questions that related to the above objectives, and visited Nairobi (Kenya) the following year for further assessment and comparison with its neighbor –Uganda.
Lifestyle choices towards management of natural resources depicted food availability and a healthy population to manage them, and young people exhibited most aggression towards the environment; modernization in Uganda was understood in terms of tarmac roads, high administrative and commercial building, highest corporate life and, not at all, in terms of development of the natural environment of which humanity was part or which sustained life systems.

In just one year 4/5 days in the coolest month (July) in Kenya were as warm as Uganda unlike the previous year –and famine now threatens life on the African continent and in particular East Africa –with children and women most endangered; features of flooded areas were seasoned during the last five years, along with broken sewerage systems that went on to contaminate food and other human environments, denying affected population access to main roads, and without electricity and, most recently, has been a threat of lightening that killed an estimated 40 people in Uganda.

In conclusion, selfish and egocentric yet destructive behaviors towards nature and nature fighting back in terms of generate conditions for infectious diseases and “wild” rains, scramble for scarce resources, famine migrations and violence.

The situation is now endangering the whole continent –Africa. “As humans get lost in what makes them be below the most stupid animal those who are armed with skills to help them become well acquainted with their issues and try to help them rise above that animal.” Fred Charles Oweyegha-Afunaduula, National Association of Professional Environmentalists, Kampala, Uganda.

JOURNALISM FOR DEVELOPMENT

The impression created by the media over years has been held with mixed feelings. Whereas some media corporate world are known to have positively helped transform societies politically, economically, culturally and technologically; some other have only torn the world apart through negative reporting that supports aggressive confrontation, glorifying terror activities to make eye-catching headlines with selfishly money motive.

Similarly, the aggressive, corrupt and oppressive groups and individuals (religiously, politically or economically) have been glorified in the way that sustains situation that steadily extinct some societies.

Their content hardly provided or suggested solutions to alarm-triggering headlines. And much of the media activities have lacked an element of social responsibility that is tangible to give a voice to the voiceless and direct transformative opportunities to the poor, disabled and other disadvantaged groups

Journaling is a key communication tool. All organisms by nature communicate either verbally or non-verbally, yet attempting to make sense of whatever cues that are exchanged or evaluated.

True, we tend to be evaluative of one another whilst trying to figure out what intentions the other party could have towards you. The aim can be to help measure up the relationship that possibly could be developed, whether health or not.

Of course, in certain encounters some people could be threatened, suspicious, lack confidence, defensively withdraw or get on well in a healthy and rewarding relationship. This, indeed, is how communities can influence attitudes and behavior towards one another. That way, we could manage, control and direct directs and behavior. What a powerful tool a pen can be!

But success through journaling it self needs a period of training and practical experience, such that we can communicate to effectively make or unmake relationships or evolve life through the aspects of observing, reading and listening to words and actions of others and things.

The primary motivators to writing is the element of having an opinion yet unique. As part of research steps, one would be required to publish a final report or summarized article from the investigations, results and analyses carried out. Other researchers or students would want to review literature about statements pending investigation. From their successes, investigators either get awards or promotion.

Through practical experience, some people make careers out of their abilities and skills to communicate effectively as writers, as advertising agents, as interpreters and, as counselors or therapists.

Secondary employment too could be provided by journalism like driving, distribution, sale or retailing, legal advising etcetera. Eventually, those associated to it could become social icons or global media giants.

On the other hand, journaling could have important health benefits as stress reliever. By writing about one’s traumatic experience, sufferer could drop so much mental toxins off him or her.

And, at the same time it would help improve on analytical and problem-solving skills crucial in successful dealing with the ever emerging challenges encountered in day-to-day life.

From the natural or ecological sense, journaling or communication significantly help to connect different elements of the eco-system –through the principles of interconnectivity and interdependence.

And through media, we can help improve the dangerous global situations as nuclear conflicts, to make the world a better place for everyone to live in. But this would only be so if we formed a common objective in solidarity to it (non-violence) under the principle of conscious non-violence through tolerance and respect for divergent views.


Waiswa Jacob
Situation Health Analyst
DISHMA-CONSULT
P.O. BOX 8885
KAMPALA-UGANDA
Tel. +256774336277 or +256754890614
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com