We’re delighted to bring you reports of activities, events and stories that were of great significance to our work in the third quarter of the year. We hope that reading this edition of eco-Instigator will not only enlighten you on key happenings in our space but also spur you into actions that will beneficially contribute to the struggle for environmental justice and food sovereignty.
As highlighted in the first article after this Home Run, history has proven to be a unifying force, establishing lessons and shining light on the paths that must be taken to avoid the repetition of unpleasant actions and decisions made in the past. The economic history of Nigeria, as explained in the article, shows our nation’s unpleasant journey with resource exploitation, which has made Nigeria a classic case study of the tragedy of the commons. There’s no contention that the Niger Delta is a privatized and sacrificed zone following the obnoxious privatization of the region and the resultant conversion of its ecosystems into waste dumps. We’re harnessing people power for action in the Niger Delta through the Niger Delta Alternatives Convergence (NDAC), born out of the hunger and urgent need to address the impacts of the over six decades of natural resource extraction in the resource-rich region. This edition presents articles showing just how we can build people power and drive the recovery of sacrificed zones not just in the Niger Delta but across Africa. Further addressed in this edition is the need for humanity to return to harmonious living with the Earth, which is the focus of the article on establishing peace with Mother Earth.
While we walk to resist extractivism, rescue our sacrificed zones and maintain peace with Mother Earth, there are tools that we must put to better use. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one such tool, and an article here explains how it can be best used to support our work and campaign for environmental justice.
Once again, but not for the last time, we must remind ourselves that the time to transition from dirty to clean energy is now! Culture-based, just energy transition is a real solution to the fossil industry-orchestrated environmental despoliation and aggravated climate conditions than the new and emerging technologies like geoengineering, which polluting corporations promote as solutions. Through our School of Ecology (SoE) sessions, the dangers of some of the technologies are exposed, as seen in a report by one of the SoE scholars.
Recombinant technology, of which Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are one of its products, is one of such technologies of concern due to its links to human, environmental and economic malaise. Nigeria has already approved 25 genetically modified (GM) products with the recent approval of the GM TELA Maize—done irrespective of warnings of potential dangers—sparking dissent across the country. We continue to amplify voices against this dangerous technology through activities on our hunger politics work track and articles in different editions of the eco-Instigator. Articles in this edition showcase the ethical, religious and human rights implications of GMOs, the role/information needs of the judiciary and real solutions for cracking the food and climate crises we face. In between positively stimulating articles, we have an artfully written poem for your reading pleasure, as well as a book review to help you keep a tab on the state of play in our ever-evolving field. Enjoy reading the articles, reports, poem and review in this brimming edition.
It’s always a delight to hear and read from you. We never stop looking forward to receiving your feedback, stories, articles, poems, or photos. Continue to share with us at [email protected].
Until Victory!
Download and read Eco-Instigator Issue #45 here.
