Has the economic crisis crushed the green movement? If you think the answer is yes, then think again. Today Wednesday, April 22, 2009, is Earth Day. This anniversary of Earth Day will be recognized by future generations as a world turning point, and a shift toward global sustainability symbolized by the birth of the Green Generation. This year’s Earth Day will be marked at a critical and historical time when the world strongest economies faced with economic meltdown are all “turning green”.

To demonstrate this resolve, the President of the United States Barack Obama recently called for the US to become energy independent, saying its reliance on foreign oil and global warming posed threats. President Obama’s economicstimulus package includes plans to build up clean-energy industries, provide loan guarantees and other support to open up credits for renewable energy investors. This is coming on the heels of last year’s record gas prices and the concern over climate change which has made it increasingly clear that the present energy trend is not sustainable.  

To keep up the momentum on the plan to boost the economy and repower America, Obama’s called for greater fuel efficiency and an "energy economy" as well as doubling of renewable energy generating capacity in three years from sources such as wind, sun, and biofuels. By this singular action, Obama is demonstrating that there is limited time for America and the rest of developed economies to make this transition before it's forced upon everybody.

Under the umbrella of The Green Generation^TM thousands of events are currently being planned in schools, communities, villages, towns and cities around the world. In the midst of all the glamour and excitement I paused and wondered; where is the place of Africa in this new world of green culture?

In every discussion on climate change, the global north will be quick raise concern over growing population in developing countries and how deforestation in Amazon and sub Saharan Africa is going to compound the already battered planet. Suddenly, in an attempt to slow global warming and preserve biodiversity, stopping deforestation have gathered such momentum that one can only feel sorry for poverty, malaria, HIV/AIDS, lack of access to basic infrastructure in developing countries.

Yet, our political leaders in Africa appear not to be bothered with the current trend. Unfortunately, we are in the present predicament because sub-Saharan African countries missed the bus of industrialization. Now, we are watching the bus of green economy built on clean and renewable energy pass by again. The old African saying that a man of sense does not go hunting little bush rodents when his age-mates are after big game should knock our political leaders back to consciousness.

Those of us who are at the heart of environmentalism and good governance have found ourselves on the crossroads. How do we make our leaders rise up to this new challenge of integrating measured response to the emerging energy-climate era and the perennial problem of poverty and its siblings? It was partly the failure of Thabo Mbeki to acknowledge the enormous threat of HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa in preference to poverty that has left the continent in the present dire state.

We cannot afford to neglect poverty and basic social and health infrastructure for our people. Neither can we afford to fold our hands and watch this fast moving train of green generation pass our children. This is a cry for an awakening of the old African spirit. Was it not the ground squirrel who says he who walks should sometimes break into a trot, in case the need to run arises? This is the time for flying.

Until we the “lions of Africa” start being our storytellers, on issues of poverty, deforestation and failed governments in Africa as the root causes of environmental degradation, current tales of the hunt in our backyards and jungles will always exalt the hunters from the global north some of whom cannot tell the difference between Nigeria and Sudan.  

The bottom line; clean energy economy will not only prosper Africa’s economy, it will slow down deforestation, solve energy poverty, help resolve some of our health related problems and make our children competitive. Sub-Saharan Africa will also have more jobs, less brain-drain and less footprint on earth.

Churchill.okonkwo@gmail.com

Robot  # 1 | 22.04.2009 05:24

Until we the “lions of Africa” start being our storytellers, on issues of poverty, deforestation and failed governments in Africa as the root causes of environmental degradation, current tales of the hunt in our backyards and jungles will always exalt the hunters from the global north some of whom cannot tell the difference between Nigeria and Sudan. ...Read the full article.