An Environmentalist with a Passion, Michael O’brien-Onyeka.
Represent caught up with Environmentalist Michael O’Brien-Onyeka, the Executive Director of Greenpeace Africa to discuss issues around Global Warming and to find out where Africa as a continent stands in the fight against this phenomenon. Read the interview after the jump. 1. What has been the number one priority in your portfolio as an environmental activist and why As a Pan African environmental activist on a continent where many are already feeling the impacts of devastating climate change, I am working as a catalyst; seeking solutions for, and promoting open, informed debate about society’s environmental choices. We can no longer continue to ignore the plight particularly of the many vulnerable women and men – who although did not necessarily contribute to global warming trends – are now having to deal with environmental and social injustice. As an activist, it is also about speaking truth to power irrespective of how uncomfortable we may feel or make others particularly governments and corporates feel. For me as an activist it is also about the courage to not simply think out of the box, but also being willing enough to throw away the box altogether in the quest to create a better legacy for humanity. For example if we continue allow over fishing to regulate the oceans in the Eastern oceans of Senegal, that would eventually result in an empty ocean which would mean an absence in the ecosystem which would ultimately affect all living creatures on earth for as we know everything lives off another. 2. What are the top main challenges Africa is facing when it comes to preserving the environment? This beautiful continent is at risk. Over 60% of Africa’s population is poor, faced with food insecurity, dwindling livelihoods, poor health and the impacts of decade long unsustainable resource exploitation, growing water scarcity, pollution and overfishing, just to name a few. The scale of the loss of species over the decades is scary to say the least, all made worse by the devastating impacts of climate change. In South Africa alone, poverty among youths is prevalent due to the extremely high number of unemployed youths, and this presents a major challenge. • Over 180 million people in sub Saharan Africa will be directly impacted by the consequences of global warming. • Food security in many African countries and regions will be severely affected by climate change. Agricultural losses are estimated to be possibly severe for several areas (like the Sahel, East Africa, and southern Africa) accompanied by changes in the length of growing periods impacting mixed rain-fed, arid and semi-arid systems becasuse of changes in the eco-system. · According to the...
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