Tree-Nation announced plans to develop an ecological project as it proposes the idea of planting 8 million trees in Africa.

 ”Desertification affects the livelihoods of millions of people, as it occurs on all continents”

The Project

With a focused objective Tree-Nation aim to tackle desertification in Niger as it’s large-scale plantation of trees will effectively increase the lands productivity.

Why?         

Desertification threatens the livelihoods of some of the worlds poorest and most vulnerable of populations caused largely by unsustainable use of scarce resources.

           Image courtesy of Tree-Nation

Who will benefit

Niger is primarily one of the poorest countries in the world with Sub-Sahara being the most affected by desertification and poverty.

Making a difference

In helping Tree-Nation to fulfil its pledge you can buy your own tree in the hopes of investing in the future of others and the fight against global warming, desertification and poverty. You can also sign the 100.00 pledge setup by Tree-Nation to help attract more attention to the project.

What Niger stands to gain

The benefits of such a project will help provide better education and farming practices to the people of Niger and across Africa.

Sources: greenfacts, yicrosoftdirectorygirl

“Africa has for a long time been a primary source of natural resources for the European and American markets”

China’s presence in Africa has led to a rapid expansion in its environmental footprints as China plans to extract Africa’s natural resources that have been inaccessible until now.

China’s Africa strategy

In using Africa’s unspoiled natural resources China aims to exploit its investment as their project involves building large mines, oil explorations, roads, railways, power plants; and power transmission lines.

Controversy amongst spectators

At present China’s activities in Africa has stirred numerous reactions from various observers, effectively becoming a heated topic of debate as it was suggested from one source that
: “China’s environmental concerns at home led to resources overseas”.

Other spectators chose to examine similarities in that of china’s actions and that of western countries in exploiting Africa as a primary source.

“African goverments of all political stripes have strongly welcomed China’s growing presence on the continent. they have not only expressed appreciation for the econmonic boost triggered by chinese investment, but also for the pragmatic and speedy way in which has deleivered aid projects”

Justifiable reasons

A new report: China’s Environmental Footprint in Africa justifiably analyses China’s Africa strategy and its resemblance to the Western approach through statements such as: “Africa has for a long time been a primary source of natural resources for the European and American markets.”

The report also includes African and Western reactions to China’s environmental footprint stating: “African governments of all stripes have strongly welcomed china’s growing presence on the continent” and that “The Chinese are doing more than the G8 to make poverty history”.  

Conclusions

China’s role in Africa is indeed potent offering similar assurances to those of Western companies and could genuinely be good for Africa; concerns however should address the issue of future possible dangers of further environmental damage that such investments could cause to Africa’s environment.

Sources: Chinadialogue, China Chas, Blogger, Blogging Canadians

    Image courtesy of Volvic1for10

For the past two months Danone Waters and World Vision have been running a marketing campaign for Volvic’s 1L-for-10L in helping to supply Africa with clean drinkable water.

How it Works

The idea is kept simple for every litre of Volvic water bought in the UK; ten litres of safe drinking water will be provided to four countries across Africa, involving Zambia, Ghana, Mali; and Malawi.

Its purpose is to help improve the quality of life for many Africans in the hopes of generating over 6 Billion litres by the year 2010.

Those Supporting the Campaign

Support for the campaign is offered by leading British actress and Bafta award winner Thandie Newton and various national radio stations including Galaxy FM, XFM, Kiss, Capital; and Essex FM.

What We Can do to Help

Getting involved is easy, simply buy Volvic Natural Mineral Water or Volvic Touch of Fruit to quench your thirst with specially branded packs being sold in the UK until September 2008 and help to spread the word by telling your friends, families, classmates or work colleagues.

It’s that simple and yet it will help to make a real difference to children in Africa and around the world.

Sources: Volvic1for10, World Vision, talkingretail

Image courtesy of End Water Poverty

Water and sanitation is a global crisis affecting Billions of people across the globe as millions of women and children endure hours of walking in search of clean water.

How it affects Africa

Africa is faced with an epidemic as only 62% of Africans have access to safe water and 60% to adequate sanitation.

As a result of climate change Africa is forced to bear the burden of the worlds actions with millions of Africans being confronted with the consequences of water stress.

What’s being done?

Many projects are underway in addressing Africa’s water shortage and in closing the gap between the millions of people who are unfortunate to not have access to clean water.  

Taking further action

In helping to put an end to the global crisis in water and sanitation the End Water Poverty organisation has launched a global campaign aimed to reduce poverty and improve the health of billions in response to the 2008 UN year of sanitation.

Please show your support and take the time to visit the website.

Sources:  WSP, The World Bank, peopleandplanet, End Water Poverty, WaterAid

The hope of solving the energy crisis in Africa could rest upon the dirt beneath our very own feet as the discovery of dirt fuelled cells could be the key to Africa’s salvation.

A team from Harvard and founders of Lebônê have been named amongst the winners of the World Bank Lighting Africa 2008 Development. The aim of Lebônê is to develop a series of dirt based fuel cells that are capable of lighting high efficiency LED lamps.

Lebônê        

Lebônê Solutions, Inc. was founded in the hopes of ending the energy and lighting crisis in Africa. Currently in Africa there is a dramatic shortage of electrical power, as 95% of its population is living with no access to electricity (World Bank Millennium Goals Report 2006).

Lebônê offer a unique combination of lighting and energy technologies readily available to all Africans. Its microbial fuel cells are used to charge a battery or cheap super-capacitor used to power LED or PLED lamps.

Lighting in Africa                                             

Lighting Africa is a World Bank Group Initiative that aims to provide people in Sub-Saharan Africa with access to low cost, safe and reliable modern lighting by the year 2030.

To date there is 1.7 billion people worldwide without electricity, with Sub-Saharan Africa being the most affected as presently over 500 million people lack modern electricity.

Concerns of Bloggers

Many bloggers have embraced the idea of dirt fuelled electricity as a way of improving the lives of those living in rural townships with some bloggers labelling it as “Dirt Power“ and another saying: “I love the idea of free energy and admire the ingenuity“.

However there are those that are more sceptical to the idea and seem less convinced as one blogger referred to it as: “A feel good for people who like playing in the mud”.

Another blogger suggested that: “At some point, we’ll run out of stuff to burn or we’ll run out of a place to burn it”.

Africa’s Hope

The concept of dirt based fuel cells provide many opportunities to new advances in lighting technologies and as the Light Up The World Foundation would suggest has “the power to illuminate lives” in many third world countries.

Sources: Digg, inhabitat, World Bank

All images are courtesy of Stock.xchng – Many thanks to all the photographers

In commemoration of African liberation day I chose to illustrate Africa’s promise of liberation and emancipation through the images of its future.

On may 25 2008 the world celebrated African Liberation Day. This year marks the 15^th anniversary commemorating those that sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the African people.

For many years Africans have enforced new ideas of liberation such as environmental justice, better education, the rights of women, food security; and improved health services in order to secure their future as a liberated nation.

“The future of African liberation will be informed by a new mode of politics where ordinary African men, women and children will be able to revel in the idea of Africa for the Africans at home and abroad and tear down the borders of oppression and control which were created in 1885″

Africa’s People

At present African people continue to strive for a better quality of life by empowering its people with the voice to intervene in the dominated political environment in which they live.

Both African men and women seek to give meaning to the word liberation in the hopes of delivering a realised dream to the youths of Africa.

Africa’s Environment

Environmental repair and justice contribute to Africa’s liberation as concerns of exploiting Africa’s natural resources continue to go unscathed.

“African Liberation Day for us is only an instrument to help organize our people”

Crimes against Africa’s people (more specifically its children) and its environment proves formidable with the continuing extraction of Africa’s resources, disregarding any humane thought to the health and safety of its people whilst contributing to the destruction of the world’s environment.

Sources: Pambazuka, Britain.TV, Pan-African news

The last topic of discussion for my online journalism module (at Birmingham City University) involved audio-slide shows and the benefits to being an online journalist.

Its impact

Compelling audio and imagery used in an audio-slide show help emulate a successful story on the web and with great simple to use tools (available on the web) this can easily be accomplished.

Adding multi-media skills to journalism

The discussion of taking journalism to new heights through the use of multimedia continues to be a hot topic as various new tools come in to play offering online journalists a new foreground in which they can explore.

Those offering help

Various websites offer guides and advice as to how to create audio slides shows, how to tell a good story using audio slideshows; and how to spot when not to use multimedia in a story.

Blogs I found to be really useful include reportr.net, mastering multimedia, and teaching online journalism. These particular blogs had a certain element of infusing creativity and journalism, whilst maximising multimedia’s full ability in interacting with the audience on the web.

Sources: mindymcadams, dmxzone, andydickinson.net

Digital technology allows online journalists to become more creative. The term journalist is vastly becoming more complex, as it’s no longer just about being able to write well. Nowadays a journalist is about having the ability to embrace the digital age in which we are forced to confront.

Unsure and insecure – What is vodcasting anyway?

In an attempt to understand the reasons as to why vodcasting is important to a journalist, I decided to explore the many areas that were readily available to me, courtesy of the internet.

A clearer picture

Many websites I came across offered great explanations to both podcasting and vodcasting, and how you can go about creating your own. The BBC offers a more simplistic explanation, while Channel 4 supplies us with a more attractive layout.

More in-depth

The vod-casting website is great for information on vodcasting and vodcast RSS feeds. I also came aross a blog by Robin Good who looks at how disruptive podcasting and vodcasting could be to higher education.

The benefits of being more digitally skilled

By incorporating digital technology and its capabilities within journalism, allows for a more wider scope of creativity to be explored. The emerging business that digital offers many major companies such as Sky, Virgin Media, and the BBC, is to supply its consumers with a more readily avaialble service.

Sources: Journalsim, Educationalvodcasting, Vodcasts.TV  

So what is fair-trade fortnight?

Fair trade fortnight is an annual campaign that has been established to help spread awareness of the fair trade mark and to introduce fair trade products to the public.

A step in the right direction

With the fair trade tour bus coming to Birmingham I seized at the opportunity to learn more about fair trade and the meaning behind its mark.

 Bus tour: Birmingham

On Thursday 6th March I attended the fair trade bus tour in Victoria square to find out what was on offer and how fair trade is making a difference.

Representative

Not only did I attend the event as a member of the public genuinely interested in fair trade, I also went as a representative of ENO (environmentalnewsonline), to report on Birmingham’s fair-trade event.

Valuable Contributors

Companies and organisations that took part in the event that helped to reinforce the importance of fair trade include the Co-OP, Traidcarft, LUCIA, and WhatsOn. Their presence was noticeable by many and stood out amongst the stalls as they were constantly in demand.

Impressionable Responses

For I few hours I had the opportunity to interview those that were willing and enthusiastic about celebrating fair trade with members of Birmingham’s public.

Reflective response

To my surprise I found the event not only enjoyable but well organised and informative. I began to reflect on my initial response and was able to instinctively point out its naïve flaws.

What the future holds for fair-trade

I asked many the question, what they thought the future holds for fair trade? With many responding with this simple answer:

“ With the way fair-trade stands now, it can only get better. With the UK already on board with trying to establish fair trade, its only a matter of time before the rest of the world recognises its importance and gives their support”.

Sources: FAB, SmartPlanet

Intrigued by its appearance I approached the stall and was overwhelmed by its warmth and formidable presence. It was at that moment that I was introduced to LUCIA.

The birth of LUCIA

Its creational birth came about after Sylvia Gardiner (Chair of the charity’s board of trustees) visited her son in Ethiopia.

Taunted by the extent of Ethiopia’s poverty, Sylvia gathered a group of colleagues upon her return and within a few months held LUCIA’s first official charity event.

What LUCIA does

LUCIA (Life Uplifted by Change In Africa) is a UK based charity founded in Birmingham, that aims to improve the lives of many in poor areas of Africa.

LUCIA’s fight for change

LUCIA aid in the struggle to equip African people with the skills to help themselves (particularly women) without the reliance of international aid, through long-term self sustainable development projects.

What LUCIA stands for

‘Life Uplifted by Change In Africa’ forms the basis of the charity’s motto and is key to its positive approach towards change in Africa.

What we can do to help

Like many charitable organisations LUCIA needs the support of its public and fellow peers within the UK. Help support LUCIA’s efforts in Africa by donating money, prizes, your time and putting forward and fund-raising ideas.

Spreading LUCIA’s word

After speaking with Sylvia and hearing the energy in her voice as she described success stories of women in Africa, I felt compelled to write this blog in the hopes of helping LUCIA gain its recognition.

Sources: Fairtrade Foundation, LUCIA