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Locals attend a beach cleanup to mark World Oceans Day at Kalk Bay, Cape Town, South Africa, on June 8, 2022.
In the spirit of community and mutual love for the sea, local cafe Sirocco, the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF), the SOSF Shark Education Center and The Beach Co-op on Wednesday jointly hosted the beach cleanup at the Kalk Bay Harbor in Cape Town. (Photo by Francisco Scarbar/Xinhua)
Botswana pursues green energy projects to create jobs
Botswana is pursuing certain programs and projects in the green energy sector, as the southern African country seeks ways of transitioning from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based one and creating jobs.
President Mokgweetsi Masisi made this revelation Wednesday when giving a keynote address during the Botswana World Economic Forum (WEF) post-analysis seminar in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana.
“In our quest to transition from a resource-based to knowledge-based economy and create jobs, there are certain programs and projects that we are pursuing, some of which are in the green energy sector,” said Masisi.
Masisi said Botswana, which is currently reviewing its integrated resource plan in order to expand the contribution of solar energy to Botswana’s energy mix, is working around the clock to ensure that there is the financing of programs and projects in the green energy sector.
The envisaged expansion in the contribution of solar energy in the southern African country’s energy mix is necessitated by Botswana’s best sunrise for solar energy, according to Masisi.
Mpho Regoeng, an independent energy expert based in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, told the seminar that green investments lead to a job shift instead of net job gains in the long run and may well create net new jobs in the short run if they are undertaken in an economy.
Regoeng cited an example by saying that investing in solar photovoltaic energy creates an average of 1.5 times as many jobs as investing the same amount of money in fossil fuels.
According to the International Labour Organization, a shift to a greener economy could create 24 million new jobs globally by 2030 if the right policies are put in place.
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Sub-Saharan African countries are committed to the speedy transition from fossil fuels to green energy in their quest to promote the resilience of cities bearing the brunt of climate emergencies, senior officials said.
The officials who spoke at a forum held in a hybrid format in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, stressed that greater adoption of renewable energy in the rapidly growing cities will be key to generating jobs and strengthening the response to climate change.
Monica Juma, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for Energy, said that a new green energy agenda for African cities was imperative, to help them cope with the unfolding climate crisis.
“Sustainable urban energy solutions will unleash inclusive growth, generate new jobs, promote social inclusion and greater ecological protection in the continent,” said Juma.
Convened by the Nairobi-based green lobby, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), and Chatham House, a London-based policy think-tank, the one-day forum aimed to explore innovative ways to realize a just, green, and resilient transition for African cities.
Nnena Lily Nwabufo, the Director-General, East Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office at African Development Bank (AfDB), said that multilateral lenders have prioritized financing of green projects in the continent, to hasten low-carbon and resilient growth.
According to Nnena, investments in climate resilient infrastructure projects like roads, power grids, water, sanitation, and housing, have ensured that African cities are able to withstand shocks like floods, heatwaves, and rising sea-water levels.
Nwabufo said the Pan African lender has set aside special funds that municipal authorities in the continent can tap into and implement green projects that generate jobs besides strengthening the protection of natural habitats.
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She added that the Nairobi forum under the theme, “Towards just transition in Africa: Green financing for urban energy solutions and job creation”, will inject vitality into efforts to renew African cities through green mobility, clean lighting, and cooking alongside circularity.
Philip Kilonzo, the Head of Policy, Advocacy, and Communication at PACJA said that new policy and legislative tools should be enacted to support the creation of green and resilient urban centers across the Sub-Saharan African region.
Investing in sustainable energy systems, low carbon mobility, and waste management should inform efforts to promote the resilience of African cities in the face of climatic shocks, said Kilonzo.
Grace Kibuthu-Ogola, a financial sector specialist at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector lending arm of the World Bank, said that structured green investments are required to strengthen climate mitigation and adaptation for African cities.
A visitor tries a virtual reality headset during the expo of the 4th Industrial Revolution Conference in Windhoek, Namibia, on June 7, 2022.
The southwestern African nation on Tuesday commenced with the country’s 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) Conference which began with an expo in Windhoek. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua)
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former Governor of the southwestern state of Lagos, has emerged as the Presidential candidate of Nigeria’s governing All Progressives Congress (APC) party for 2023 general elections…reports Asian Lite News
Tinubu, also a national leader of the APC, defeated 13 other aspirants, including Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Senate President Ahmad Lawan, to clinch the party’s presidential ticket at a three-day special convention attended by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
The former Governor of Lagos polled 1,271 votes, while his closest rivals for the presidential ticket, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate past Transportation Minister, and Osinbajo polled 316 and 235 votes respectively, Xinhua news agency reported.
A total of 2,322 party delegates were selected from the 774 local government areas of the country to participate in the voting exercise to elect one of 23 aspirants for the APC presidential ticket. However, nine voluntarily stepped down or withdrew their presidential ambition, leaving only 14 aspirants to take part in the final lap of the race.
ALSO READ:Humanitarian Crisis Brewing In Africa: AU
In his address at the Eagle Square, the venue of the special convention, Buhari said the critical task ahead of the governing party was to “continue to forge the unity of purpose among party members and to keep securing needed compromises”.
Tinubu, in his acceptance speech, acknowledged that the most populous African nation had been saddled with a myriad of challenges. He, however, vowed to revive the economy and rebuild the nation if given the opportunity to emerge as winner of the presidential election slated for February 2023.
Four UN agencies including UNICEF warn catastrophic hunger looms over Somalia
Four United Nations agencies on Monday warned of looming terrible hunger in Somalia as the risk of famine increases amid the historic fourth failed rainy season.
The agencies including the World Food Programme, UNICEF, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) jointly called on donors to urgently increase their support to avert famine.
“We must act immediately to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. The lives of the most vulnerable are already at risk from malnutrition and hunger, and we cannot wait for a declaration of famine to act,” El-Khidir Daloum, WFP’s Country Director in Somalia, said in a joint statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
Daloum said it’s a race against time to prevent famine, adding that WFP is scaling up as much as possible, prioritizing the limited resources to save those most at risk.
“But as these new figures show, there is an urgent need for more resources to meet this escalating hunger crisis,” he said.
The UN agencies said a historic fourth consecutive failed rainy season, skyrocketing prices, and an underfunded humanitarian response have resulted in a 160 percent increase in people facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity, starvation, and disease in Somalia.
With no end in sight to the devastating drought affecting the country, the agencies warned that the risk of famine looms larger than ever.
Adam Abdelmoula, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator said Somalia is in danger of entering an unprecedented fifth consecutive failed rainy season, meaning hundreds of thousands of people face the risk of famine.
“We are staring at a potential calamity; failure to act now will be tragic for scores of families in Somalia,” Abdelmoula said.
He said famine cost the lives of 260,000 Somalis in 2010-2011, adding that this cannot be allowed to happen again in 2022.
“It is urgent that more is done to avert this risk and done now,” the UN official said.
The UN agencies and partners are now focusing their limited resources on famine prevention to protect the country’s most vulnerable, as meteorological organizations warn that another below-average rainy season could follow later in the year.
ALSO READ:MBZ orders provision of Dh35 million aid to Somalia
Angela Kearney, UNICEF Somalia Representative said the UN children’s agency has supported the treatment of more than 114,000 children with severe acute malnutrition between January and April.
“This is a child crisis. It’s not only about water or nutrition, but also about children losing education, falling vulnerable to child protection issues and having poor health; all impacting their future,” Kearney said.
According to the UN, about three million livestock have died due to the drought since mid-2021, and the decline in meat and milk production has also led to worsening malnutrition, particularly among young children in pastoral areas who are dependent on local supply.
FAO said the grim food security situation is unfolding as humanitarian funding from the international community has so far fallen short of coming close to what actors need to avert a famine in the country.
“The support required has not yet fully materialized, and hundreds of thousands of Somalis are at a very real risk of starvation and death,” said Etienne Peterschmitt, FAO’s Representative in Somalia.
Children perform martial arts during a graduation ceremony in Cotonou, Benin
 (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Africa reached 11,664,758, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said…reports Asian Lite News
The Africa CDC, the specialised healthcare agency of the African Union, said the death toll from the pandemic across the continent stands at 253,417 as of Sunday evening, Xinhua news agency reported.
Across the continent, 11,028,183 patients have recovered from the disease so far, it was noted.
South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt are among the countries with the most cases in the continent, according to the agency.
ALSO READ: Africa’s covid-19 cases near 11.66 mn
South Africa has recorded the most Covid-19 cases in Africa with 3,967,078 cases, while the northern African country Morocco reported 1,168,920 as of Sunday evening, it was noted.
In terms of the caseload, southern Africa is the most affected region, followed by the northern and eastern parts of the continent, while central Africa is the least affected region in the continent, according to the Africa CDC.
Namibian artist renders old newspapers into artwork … writes Ndalimpinga Iita
A Namibian artist is transforming discarded waste and old newspapers into artwork. Equipped with glue and varnish, Josefina Awala, from the capital Windhoek, uses old newspapers to create items such as storage baskets and jewellery.
“I collect old newspapers, re-sculpt and bring them into new forms,” the 37-year-old artist said Sunday.
Awala found herself gravitating to the art of recycling newspapers into baskets in 2019, after completing a master’s degree in International Contemporary Art and Design Practice in 2018.
“After studies, I struggled to secure a job amid a dwindling economy. It was a module on recycling that I enrolled in the final year of studies that inspired me to pursue recycling as an art for an income,” she said. “This is now my lifeline.”
With diverse artworks produced since then, the project has grown into more than just an income-generating venture. Apart from the economic gains, transforming waste into artwork helps protect the environment.
“Using the old newspapers is cost-effective and reduces waste deposited into the environment,” Awala said.
According to the artist, just by making one small basket, she saves the environment from three A3-sized print newspapers that could have been dumped.
“When I curate 30 baskets, you can imagine the bulk of waste offset from the environment,” Awala said.
Newspapers and other waste are sourced locally, while others are donated by companies after word spread about her venture.
Awala has since curated about 500 baskets from old newspapers. Most locals and visitors buy them as souvenirs.
“I love my career more, recognizing that art is important, especially during this crisis amid limited job opportunities,” she said. “Moreover, because of the positive impact of art on the environment.”
Meanwhile, Awala also transfers her skills to empower other local artists, especially the self-taught ones in rural areas, to improve the quality of their products.
Other projects include grooming young talented children and enhancing unity among artists.
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Despite challenges such as inadequate access to markets and a lack of support and understanding from the authorities, Awala said, she hopes to grow her venture, officially registered as Shanangolo Art Academy.
Meanwhile, she is also turning to other waste such as plastics and render them into poetic, decorative items.
“I am progressively combining a variety of artworks such as newspaper baskets, traditional baskets, and wooden products,” Awala said.
She is also utilizing social media platforms to market her products and advocate for the protection of the environment. “The sky is the limit.”
African Union expresses deep concern over complex humanitarian situations in Africa
The African Union (AU) expressed deep concern over the complex humanitarian situations in the African continent.
The urgent call was made by the AU’s Peace and Security Council in a statement issued on Friday that followed its recent meeting that dwelt upon the state of humanitarian actions in Africa.
The council “expresses deep concern over the continued prevalence of complex, multifaceted and, at times, unprecedented humanitarian crises in the continent,” an AU statement read.
The council associated the worsening security and humanitarian situations in Africa with climate change-related and public health emergences, amongst other hazards, especially in areas that are already fragile due to terrorism and violent conflicts which cause food insecurity and forced displacements.
It further expressed concern over the increasing number of vulnerable populations in Africa, notably refugees, internally displaced persons, returnees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, missing persons and their diminishing resilience capacity.
It underlined the imperative of continental collaboration and an action-oriented approach to strengthening the resilience of these vulnerable populations.
The council further emphasized the need to address the root causes and drivers of humanitarian crises and to ensure that the Continental Early Warning System incorporates multi-hazard early warning and early action systems.
Such efforts would enable timely interventions to address the diverse humanitarian disaster risks and their potential consequences, the council said.
ALSO READ: Inflation Dogs Africa
Meanwhile, the council commended African countries for hosting refugees in their countries, albeit with limited capacities. It further appealed to the international community to provide adequate and flexible support to countries hosting refugees to allow them to effectively respond to the needs of the refugees taking into consideration the unpredictable nature of humanitarian needs.
The council also called on the AU Commission, working closely with member states, to expedite action in the finalization of the AU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Statelessness in Africa.
Attack on UN Troops
Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Moussa Faki Mahamat has condemned the latest terrorist attack against United Nations peacekeepers serving in Mali.
“The AU condemns in the strongest terms yet another appalling terrorist attack against UN peacekeepers serving in Mali,” Mahamat said in a Twitter post.
“My sincere condolences to the families of the two Egyptian peacekeepers who paid the ultimate sacrifice. My prayers for a full recovery to their comrades,” he was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday condemned the killing of two Egyptian members of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, a UN spokesman said.
Two other peacekeepers were injured when their armored personnel carrier hit an improvised explosive device outside of the town of Douentza, in the Mopti region of central Mali, said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for Guterres.
Since May 22, there have been six attacks on UN mission convoys, the spokesman said. A terrorist assault on a convoy near the town of Kidal, in the northern part of Mali, killed a Jordanian peacekeeper and injured three colleagues Wednesday.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed addressed an event to honor Ethiopian police forces in Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed addressed an event to honor Ethiopian police forces in Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He said the police have played a significant role not only in protecting Ethiopia from imminent national security threats that jeopardize the country’s sovereignty, but also in terms of realizing ongoing efforts to build a peaceful and prosperous nation. He said the government’s prime aspiration is to build a well-organized and technologically modernized security apparatus with an overarching goal of protecting Ethiopia and its national interest against forces that want to tarnish the country’s sovereignty.
