Stop Africa burning: Women speak after COP 17

The following is an account of the  ActionAid International (AAI) Zimbabwe Women’s Rights Team which attended the  Rural Women’s Assembly Regional Meeting and the Durban Conference of Parties) (COP) 17 Meetings 29th November to 9th December 2011. The Women’s Rights team comprised of Thandiwe Chidavarume, Nanganidzayi Makoho, Roselyn Muzerengi and Jane Maponga.

Introduction

Twenty two (22) women farmers and four ActionaAid International Zimbabwe (AAI Zimbabwe) staff members from Women’s Rights team attended the Rural Women’s Assembly [RWA] regional meeting held at KwaZulu Natal University [Howard University] from 1-7December 2011.They also took part in other climate change meetings facilitated by various Civil Society Organizations from across the world and joined peaceful demonstration demanding action from the governments and extension of the Kyoto protocol. The RWA meetings saw over 1500 women mostly rural farmers from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Ghana, Uganda, Swaziland, Lesotho, South Africa, Kenya, Burundi, India, Guatemala, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Australia coming together to share problems and impact of climate change.

Background information of RWA, Climate change and COP 17

The Rural Women’s Assembly

The Rural Women’s Assembly is an initiative started in Southern Africa which is aimed at uniting rural women so that together they can strategize on how best they can effectively deal with issues affecting them. It has been noted that rural women form the majority of the farmers in Africa however their voices were not recognised and heard because they were not coordinated. Since its inception the RWA has been focusing on administrative issues and sharing of problems affecting them without focusing on policy issues. The Durban COP 17 meeting was an opportunity for the RWA to meet, speak, discuss and advocate for climate change justice as one African with one voice. This year saw RWA mobilising women from the whole of Africa to influence decisions at COP 17 meetings on climate change.

Climate Change

Climate change refers to the changes in the weather patterns caused by global warming due to emission of green house gasses. Effects of climate change include droughts, floods, and rise of sea level, coastal flooding and erosion. The changes are caused by global warming with the average temperature around the world rising. Green house gases are created by many activities that are part of how people live in developed and industrial societies, these are:

• Burning fuels or gas for homes, hospitals factories and schools
• Burning petrol to run cars, gasses, aeroplanes and machines used on farms
• Growing crops on very big farms and plantations that use chemical fertilisers and are far away from where the food gets eaten
• Destructive logging of forestry [which naturally helps to prevent climate change] to produce timber or for plantations to grow crops like those used to grow agro fuels
• Consuming products that are produced very far way from where they are produced

History of Conference of Parties

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) held its first meeting in Geneva in November 1988 to judge the effects of climate change and find solutions. This was followed by the August 1990 IPCC first assessment report which said that unless something is done to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by humans will worsen the impact of climate change. Several other meetings followed but of importance to note are the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the |Convention  (UNFCC) on Biological Diversity of 1992 which were signed by `194  countries. Every December the UNFCC meet to discuss critical elements like the reduction of emissions and assisting poor countries to deal with climate change. These yearly meetings have been dubbed the Conference of Parties (COP).The first one took place in Berlin between March and April1995.Several others followed including 1997 Kyoto Protocol which was made into law in February 2005 and the 2009 15th COP in Copenhagen. It is however interesting to note that the Kyoto Protocol is the only legally binding document on Climate Change in which the industrialised countries were and are still obliged to reduce green house gases 5,2%  and ensure that these rich countries contribute new funding to help poor and developing counties to deal with the climate crisis. To date the UNFCC has held its 17th COP but the powerful countries have not honoured their obligations in accordance with the KYOTO PROTOCOL which is the only people centred legal framework due to expire in 2012.   

COP 17 was held in Durban from the 28th November to 9th of December 2011 and is generally understood as an African COP and the major focus was on protecting the interests of small holder farmers across the continent, especially the female farmers whose soul livelihood is farming which is under threat from climate change.

Climate change and how it affects women

During the sessions women farmers from across the Africa and other regions that were present shared the effects of climate change in their daily lives.

Africa will suffer a greater share of the impacts of climate change as compared to other regions of the world. It will face more severe draughts if we do not manage to prevent more catastrophic climate change. Scientist tells us that without dramatic change. Climate change will mean loss of Africa’s crop yields by 2020. Ten of thousands across the continent will be displaced from their home to become climate refugees.

Problems of accessing water for up to 250 million by 2020 and up to 600 million more by 2050 and the majority of these are women.

Environmental degradation due floods, deforestation, and mining turning vast pieces of land into agriculture for agro fuels. This will lead to economic meltdown and extreme poverty among the women folks, social disorders and loss of jobs.

Demands by women farmers to the Governments

They said that the main reason why governments are failing to focus on climate change is the same reason why they are failing to provide enough jobs, hospitals and schools. They are too focused on looking after the interest of a small number of powerful people and corporations and are not concerned enough on the interest of the majority of the people. They said Africa is burning and we want action now.

Solutions

1. There is need to change the way people live in industrialised societies in order to protect the mother earth [the year 2010 recorded the highest level of emission ever, the responsible countries should cool the earth  -- ‘Amandla Awetu—“ (the power is with us as women to change our lives)
2. That our governments prioritised the interest of people and communities and government should stop entering into agreements with multinational companies in the name of investments to the detrimental of human [women’s] livelihoods.
3. Demand that countries, companies and wealth people who are responsible for producing lots of pollution take action to reduce this pollution and honour obligation in the Kyoto protocol.
4. Live the coal, oils and gasses in the ground and make sure that people can afford to fuel their homes with renewable energy.
5. Stop cutting down forests and protect the rights of communities who live in them.
6. Change the way we produce and access food so that people are able to grow and consume good, affordable food which has been grown locally i a way that protect the natural environment.
7. Strengthen public transport systems and help provide more good jobs near where people live
8. Take more care about our natural resources by empowering communities who live near them.
9. There is a need for governments to sign a legally binding document

10.  Make sure that people enjoy a happy life and ensure reusing and recycling wherever we can.

11.  There is need for establishment of an unconditional climate change fund for mitigation and adaptation.

Strategies used to deliver the demands

Meetings to share facts and influence the negotiators

People space, climate justice stand

Demonstrations [occupy ICC, occupy Durban, and occupy the streets, World of Work pavilion]

Banners and fliers, pamphlets, protests, IEC materials,

Voices from the Zimbabwe rural women farmers

 Theresa Marwei from Rukweza Ward 27 – Makoni District, Manicaldn Province

I learnt firstly that the women of Africa are united because of our plight. Our problems are similar – droughts, floods etc, we do not have livelihood, there is lack of water because of the water table that has receded. The woman’s health has been affected because we have to travel 6 to 8 km to look for water this is affecting our health in Zimbabwe. Our livestock are also affected because of lack of grazing areas and there are dyeing and this has perpetuated our poverty.

 Georgina Makaza from Romac Farms Ward 16, Gweru District, Midlands Province 

I found out that RWA is a solidarity organisation, I thought it was only in Zimbabwe. RWA movement is on the move and the women are united. When we marched in Durban the solidarity of the women from all over the world was evident, we marched as one force with one voice and united. I would like to see a situation where all the ministers of Environment could come together and be united like the RWA women and Fight the Climate Change Justice.

 Benenia Jeche from Chiendambuya Ward 5 Makoni District, Manicaland Province

I learnt What is climate change? Is........ I learnt what causes Climate Change, it is caused mostly by the industrialised communities emitting gases into the atmosphere from their industries and Land degradation from mining, deforestation. As a Rural farmer I depend on farming, because of Climate change poverty levels will continue because of droughts and sometimes floods, lack of water  causing us to walk for long distances, then we have to queue for the water and this reduces working time in the fields and other activities. The lack of water also causes water borne diseases because.  Also learnt what the COP17 was, and that the RWA group was a voice and as well as a force demanding Climate Justice. As Zimbabwe RWA women we should adopt and adapt new methods of agriculture so that we mitigate the Climate Change caterstrophy.

Regina Ndhlovu from Chiwundura Gambiza Ward 10, Gweru District Midlands Province

I learnt that Climate change affects rural women who earn a living from the land and also affects them health wise because of the heat. All women come together as RWA and air out their view on Climate Change women voice will be better heard.  Also the industrialized communities will be able to listen and understand the women voices and change their systems that cause Climate Change.

Dominica Shumba’ from Ward 5, Shurugwi District, Midlands Province 

My experiences on this trip include: the RWA gathering as well as the COP17 was an eye opener because when people unite they can easily speak with one voice and they can be heard. As rural women were given opportunities to talk to the press and where being interviewed and everyone was equal and was being respected as a woman. There was also a lot of sharing with no limitation to language race or creed. There was space for the rural woman to   share even her seeds and wares. There was also solidarity in songs and testimonies. No one was disadvantaged. Our Governments should listen to the Rural\Women Assembly when we register. We attended in large numbers but there was no chaos even during our marches. I think governments should adopt the RWA concept maybe there will be less chaos in the world

Conclusions

COP 17 which was hosted by South Africa was a grand opportunity for the rural women to add their voice to the so many voices in   Africa and across the globe calling for the reduction of gases that are causing climate change. Their voices were loud and clear and called on multinational companies to STOP BURNING AFRICA under the disguise of investment which is not benefitting Africans. The rural women who are the guardians of seed, life and earth marched in solidarity with mother earth and the rest of civil society to say we are tired of these so called COPS which according to many have become talk shows and strategies to buy time by Western countries and COPS were nicknamed Conference of Polluters. The women demanded action by African governments were urged them to unite against Climate Injustice that is being caused by the developed nations especially the USA which according to research is the heaviest polluter of the atmosphere. The women encouraged African leaders to stop entering into sweet heart deals with western governments to satisfy economic and political interests which are detrimental to mother earth to whom women believe we all belong to. They were also reminded that they have a moral, political and legal obligation to STOP THE GENOCIDE which is threatening the lives and future of civilians in Africa and the rest of the world. The rural women also advocated for rich western countries to support women in Africa to adapt to the effects of Climate Change as agreed in the Kyoto protocol. Hopefully somebody was listening without which Africans will continue to be massacred by the alleged greed and insensitivity of some western nations who want to continue exploiting mother earth  for their selfish benefits.

VIVA AMAKOSIKAZI (VIVA RURAL WOMEN)!!!!!!!!!!

AMANDLA AWETU SISTERS!!!!!!!!!!!! (THE POWER IS IN OUR HANDS AS WOMEN TO CHANGE OUR LIVES)