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People Power

Making waves December 2015 | Member Newsletter

© Greenpeace / Cheryl-Samantha Owen. Francisca Kitheka inspects her pigeon peas field. Machakos District and Yatta Plateau. Kenya, 2015.

© Greenpeace / Cheryl-Samantha Owen. Francesca Kitheka holds pigeon peas, in Yatta, Machokos County. Kenya, 2015.

Credits Editorial Team Lerato Tsotetsi, Maryline Mangonet, Hellen Dena, Mbong Akiy Special thanks to Maryline Mangonet for the French translation of this year’s supporter newsletter. Contributors Dianne McAlpine, Bakary Koulibaly, Irene Wabiwa, Glen Tyler, Melita Steele, Valerie Naicker, Lesego Pitsa, Lerato Tsotetsi Design Kaitoma Creatives cc Published December 2015 Greenpeace Africa Printed on 100% recycled paper with vegetable inks Greenpeace exists because this fragile Earth deserves a voice. It needs solutions. It needs change. It needs action! Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Greenpeace has been working to end global environmental destruction and fighting for the right of Africans to a healthy environment since the early 1990s. Campaigns focus on climate change, destruction of forests and stopping the stripping of life from the oceans. For more information, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

Contents Ecologically farmed food for everyone! – Glen Tyler 4 Finally, a victory for the oceans – Bakary Koulibaly 6 Forests are important too – Irene Wabiwa 8 #NoNuclear – Melita Steele 10 Activism activated – Dianne McAlpine 12 Start your own campaign on GreenpeaceXtra!

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Environmental consciousness – Lesego Pitsa 16 You’re more than just a donor – Valerie Naicker 18 Message to our friends – Lerato Tsotetsi

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Sign up page

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Ecologically farmed food for everyone! By Glen Tyler Greenpeace Africa’s newest campaign has opened a new chapter for the organization. In April 2015 we launched the agriculture campaign in East Africa and we have been working like crazy for more ecologically farmed food on more plates. We aim to support farmers like Prisca Mayende, a farmer in Western Kenya who lives with her children and husband on her 3.8 acre shamba (farm in Kiswahili). When we launched the campaign alongside a report in Nairobi, Kenya showing that farmers can earn more money when they use ecological farming methods as opposed to chemical fertilisers and pesticides, we had farmers like Prisca in mind. Farmers who are already using ecological farming methods and are showing that despite the lack of support, they can feed their families, communities and the continent. To show off some of these farmers, their produce and different ways of cooking these foods, we hosted a food fair, together with two Kenyan organisations, the Kenya Biodiversity Coalition (KBioC) and the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN). We want to see farmers like Prisca receive more support – support that is currently going to chemical intensive plantations. With that in mind we developed a guide for funders, showing philanthropies and donor governments how they can support farmers to access markets and increase their yields. We exposed an example of the wrong type of agricultural development project – based on one commodity crop, rice and reliant on chemical fertilisers and herbicides, the Agrica plantation in Tanzania. This model of farming is trying to turn farmers like Prisca to a vulnerable form of agriculture and landing many of them in debt in the processes. Our campaign has been focusing on resilience, the ability for Prisca and other farmers to overcome environmental changes, particularly climate change. In July we launched an exhibition, which included Prisca, who is working hard to make her shamba more resilient to change by using practices such as intercroping and agroforestry (growing crops together with trees). With her reliance on various techniques; diverse crops and income streams; and help from agricultural development organisations, Prisca’s future looks bright. We invite you to walk with us as we campaign for more support to help farmers share Prisca’s successes, for a revolution in the way we produce and eat healthy ecologically farmed food in East Africa.

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Making Waves - December 2015

Farmer Prisca Mayende in Naigai, Bungoma County © Greenpeace/Cheryl-Samantha Owen

Francisca Kitheka inspects her pigeon peas field. Machakos District and Yatta Plateau. © Greenpeace/Cheryl-Samantha Owen

Augustine Wanyanga holds beans in Sauri, Siaya County. © Greenpeace/Cheryl-Samantha Owen

Francesca Kitheka holds pigeon peas, in Yatta, Machokos County © Greenpeace/Cheryl-Samantha Owen

Farmer Carren Onyango, Collines Otieno (Lucky) at her farm in Lower Nyando - Kisumu County County © Greenpeace/Cheryl-Samantha Owen

John Obuom and Mrs. Obuom at their farm in Lower Nyando Kisumu County. © Greenpeace/Cheryl-Samantha Owen

Farmer John Wambua holds a pumpking in Yatta, Machokos County. © Greenpeace/Cheryl-Samantha Owen

Jane Wavinyamwanzia holds maize cobs in Yatta, Machokos County © Greenpeace/Cheryl-Samantha Owen

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Finally

A Victory for the Oceans By Bakary Koulibaly

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After 17 years, the Senegalese government decided to review the fisheries code. A huge win came when the new legislation voted in June 2015 integrated one of Greenpeace’s recommendations: the ban of the monofilament nets, a dangerous fishing gear for marine life. This is how you made it happen. Along with four other Civil Society Organisations CSOs, we drafted recommendations and proposal for the fisheries code and its application decree. Together we propelled actions, amplified voices and showed the Senegalese government that major reforms need to be done in an open, inclusive and participatory way. Then you and small scale fishermen communities, women fish mongers, the general public and media sent the Senegalese president a letter through the online and offline petition themed “Yes for a progressive fisheries Code”, asking him to take into account GP and community recommendations. After one week of media buzz both nationally and internationally, the “inaccessible Senegalese Fisheries Minister” finally invited Greenpeace to a meeting. This movement was loud enough to reach all 150 MPs with recommendations from civil society, where we held face-to-face meetings. Your actions helped put the overfishing issue at Senegalese top level where some MPs became our allies for future campaign demands. That was certainly a victory! Overfishing in Senegal isn’t over yet, but this was a significant step in the right direction. This proves that as long as we have you - volunteers, supporters and donors - on our side, we will succeed, no matter the obstacles, in keeping African oceans beautiful, healthy and teeming with sealife. © Clémence Tardif/Greenpeace. Photo Opp at the foot of the Monument of the African Renaissance after the launch of Greenpeace Africa Report title “Scam on the African Coast: the Hidden Face of Chinese and joint-venture vessels Tonnage Fraud in Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Guinea”. Greenpeace displays a message questioning the government’s ability and will to ensure a fisheries renaissance in Senegal with a giant banner reading: “La pêche renaîtra-t-elle?” which can be translated to mean “shall we see a rebirth / renaissance in West African fisheries?”.

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Forests are important too By Irene Wabiwa

The Congo Basin forest Campaign has accomplished amazing work despite some internal and external challenges. The Trading in Chaos ‘Report and CCT’s (Compagnie de Commerce et de Transport) Briefer were both good ways to follow up on the community-based work and investigations in the DRC. The reports created media boom and attention from political and logging actors both in the DRC and in EU. The reaction from the DRC government and the resident of the DRC Industrial logging federation did not contradict what Greenpeace denounced in the report, instead, they tried as usual to justify themselves without any strong arguments. We used the World Forestry Congress (WFC) to urge governments of Congo Basin states, European countries and China to take concrete actions to protect the Congo Basin Forest. This is the second largest rainforest in the world. The main challenges that we are still facing is how to convert all the media and political pressure into real political change. This is the main battle that both Greenpeace programs and volunteers will focus on in the future. Your support can help us keep the momentum. Together, we’ll save the Congo Basin!

Photo op outside the World Forestry Congress. The “Become an Illegal Logger” petition, was a fun initiative that you took part in and demonstrated how easy illegal logging is for international corporates. © Greenpeace/Mujahid Safodien

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Greenpeace volunteers and staff. As the World Forestry Congress begins in Durban, Greenpeace activists call on the delegates to take action to protect the Congo Basin Forest. Activists hold banners outside the meeting which read “Stop Forest Crime in the Congo Basin.” Governments and corporations must back up their words with action to achieve ambitious global targets to combat deforestation. © Greenpeace/Mujahid Safodien

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By Melita Steele Greenpeace activists have pushed boundaries this year in making the call for renewable energy investments. In February this year, the Rainbow Warrior sailed into Cape Town harbour with a banner reading ‘Renewable energy is the solution’, as part of a month-long South African tour. The controversial plans for new nuclear investments are a distraction from the real solution to the country’s electricity crisis: investments in renewable energy. It would take up to 15 years for nuclear to deliver electricity, but South Africans cannot afford to wait that long. While the Rainbow Warrior was in Cape Town, Greenpeace activists protested at the opening of the 2nd Nuclear Industry Congress Africa - by unfurled a banner inside the meeting venue that read nuclear investments cost the earth. This was a direct action demanding a halt to short-sighted nuclear plans, and the prioritisation of renewable energy investments. New nuclear projects are likely to cost up to R1 trillion, which would bankrupt this country and force skyrocketing electricity prices.

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© Greenpeace/M

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Greenpeace activists co nfront the Mi down to a fou nister of En r metre hig ergy by loc h wooden nu the Departm king thems clear ‘Troja ent of Energ elves n Horse’ ou y headquart protesting ag tside ers in Preto ainst the De ria. The activ partment’s investments ist s are lac k of transpa in nuclear en rency aroun ergy, and to plan is nothi d proposed remind the ng less tha Minister tha n a trap - a Africans ca t the nuclear Trojan horse nnot afford wi th a price tag . © Greenp eace/Mujahid South Safodi

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The protest was followed by the announcement that Greenpeace had filed papers in the High Court taking the Minister of Energy to court over her failure to update key nuclear liability regulations. The regulations have not been updated for 10 years and deal with how much the South African public would be liable for in the case of a nuclear accident. The case is ongoing but should be resolved in 2015. New nuclear investments have been shrouded in secrecy, and in August Greenpeace activists confronted the Minister of Energy by locking themselves to a four metre high wooden nuclear ‘Trojan Horse’ outside the Department of Energy headquarters in Pretoria. The activists protested against the Department’s lack of transparency around proposed investments in nuclear, and to remind the Minister that the nuclear plan is nothing less than a trap - a Trojan horse with a price tag South Africans cannot afford. None of this work would have been possible without the kind help and contributions made by people like you. Next year we continue the fight and hope you to see you on the frontlines.

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Activism activated By Dianne McAlpine

JOIN GREENWIRE NOW! Greenwire.greenpeace.org

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It is hard to believe that 2015 has come to an end - what a busy year! 2015 has been a lot about letting go and providing the platforms needed to empower individuals to take action in their communities – we are encouraging a billion acts of courage- and we’d like you to join! We launched two exciting online platforms: Greenwire and Greenpeace Extra. Greenwire is an online platform where you can create your own activist profile, create groups, join events, and have a birds-eye view of everything happening in the Greenpeace Africa (GPAf) world. Greenpeace Xtra is a petition platform where you can bring light to issues you have found in your city, country, community or workplace. We will give you advice every step of the way so that you can achieve your goals! We were also lucky to work with the University of Johannesburg and Community Hours SA, to bring South Africa the first #NGOThinkTank in March. The event that saw over 100 participants from many organisations and charities from across South Africa was a rousing success. We know this was just one step - we hope to see more conversations, partnerships and success in the years to come! We would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new teams in Cameroon and Kenya - and look forward to working together in future - if you’d like to find out more about what they are doing you can sign up to Greenwire Africa here: Greenwire.greenpeace.org See you online!

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Start your own campaign

1 Go to extra.greenpeaceafrica.org and click on the Start A Campaign button right at the top

2 Next you will see this page below, fill in the details of your project, then click the save button.

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3 Fll in the details of your project, then click the save button.

tra!

on

4 Sign up to GreenpeaceXtra, check out the terms & conditions at the end then click register at the end of the page. If you prefer, you can register using your Facebook account. Complete your registration with your contact number, click continue and review your campaign. Here, you can also upload an image for your campaign.

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If you’re happy with your campaign, click next, now you can share your campaign with friends on social media, and via email. You can do more edits of you petition under campaign admin (see far right). Now, you’re well on your way to changing your world!

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l a t n e nm

o r i v En iousness c s n o C sa

go Pit

se By Le

Environmental consciousness is a pivotal transition in the way that we human beings think and behave. Whilst the fashionable trend of ‘GOING GREEN’ is a positive step in the right direction, the subsequent step forward, is to become an environmentally conscious individual. It has become increasingly apparent that the more we allow the Earth’s environment to become spoiled and disrupted, the greater the negative knock-on effect on us. Because we did not pay sufficient attention to this simple fact in the past, we are now facing a number of serious threats to human health and our wellbeing including climate change, pollution, loss of Marine life to name a few. While we do need to take remedial action to deal with these threats, it is important that we also look at the underlying causes. We need to recognize that all of these threats are symptoms and effects of the mind-set and value systems that caused them. If we wish to fix these symptoms and effects, then we have to begin by ‘changing our minds’. We need to consider that there are sub-conscious values and drivers that contribute to the destruction of our Environment. Destructive Drivers: Ignorance; short-term thinking; isolated thinking; greed; dogma; combative attitudes and consumer culture. So if these values and mind-sets are the underlying drivers of our environmental and social troubles, then the next logical step is to identify the level of environmental consciousness and values that can guide our actions toward a healthier planet and society.

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You’re more than just a donor By Valerie Naicker

It has been the best of times for the fundraising team and as we head towards the festive season it seems like the opportune time to give appreciation and gratitude to our wonderful supporters that have made this possible. We have had the pleasure of working with two amazing temporary staff in our upgrade programme who helped us increase our monthly income by R20000 per month. There are still more challenges ahead for Greenpeace Africa in implementing our campaigns successfully across Africa. We believe that with your help we can achieve this. Whether you join us on Greenwire, like us on Facebook, give regular monthly donations, participate in one of our actions, volunteer, share your skills, leave us a legacy in your Will or simply tell your friends about us – no matter how big or small, every action and contribution counts. We’d like to give a special thanks for the amazing R325 500 donation we recently received from the estate of the late Frances Harriet Chantler and Ronel Bester for her generous donation of R5 000. We are truly grateful to everyone who supports Greenpeace Africa. Every cent goes a long way from launching our new Food For Life campaign; the fight against nuclear & coal in SA; making overfishing a top level issue in Senegalese parliament; protecting the Congo Basin - thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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Volunteers Dylan Barsby and We ndy Damarell dis promoting solar pla energy in Cape Town to mark the y banners the four-day So uth African Intern start of ational Renewa Conference (SA ble Energy IREC). © Greenp eace / Justin Sh olk.

Thank you! m o t t o b e h t m o fr of our hearts! People Power


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Message to our friends By Lerato Tsotetsi

You have been amazing! 2015 has been a challenging year, not only here at home but also for our friends in Greenpeace India, as their government tried to close down their office; we see all over the world activists movements and freedom of speech being stifled. Now more than ever it is important to take a stand. To “stand up until they lose count.” But it is because of your unwavering support that GP, globally, still stands together another year. It is because of your strong and determined spirit that we’ve seen a victory in our Senegalese oceans with one of our recommendations taken into stock. People like you helped us kick Shell out of the Arctic, and are set on course for keeping them out for good. You made it possible for us to start a food campaign in Kenya that we hope to spread in other parts of Africa. You made your voices heard when you stood up against nuclear in South Africa. You make a huge part of the Greenpeace family. Thank you for partnering with us, none of this work is possible without you. While we look to the next year, we say bring your friends, colleagues and family on the journey, as we anticipate more victories. Have a warm, safe and happy festive season and we’ll see next year!

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Greenpeace Africa has offices in Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal & South Africa. To contact Greenpeace Africa, please use the details below. DRC Office: 11,Kauka, Q/ Royal, Gombe/Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo Senegal Office: 2, Avenue Hassan II, 6eme etage, Dakar, Senegal South Africa Office: 10A and 10B Clamart House, Clamart Road, Richmond, Johannesburg, South Africa Postal address: Greenpeace Africa, PostNet Suite 125, Private Bag X09, Melville, Johannesburg, 2109, South Africa Tel: +27 (0)11 482 4696, Fax: +27 (0)11 482 8157, [email protected] For supporters: +27 (0)11 726 2404, [email protected] Website: www.greenpeaceafrica.org Facebook: Greenpeace Africa Twitter: @greenpeaceafric © Greenpeace / Cheryl-Samantha Owen. Kenya, 2015.