MOTHER EARTH IS CRYING

Mother earth is crying; she says the land is polluted. Deforestation is at an alarming rate with hectares of forest being burned and cut each second. The trees hold the soil together and make it difficult for erosion to take place and are also a home for the vast majority of plants and wildlife. Agriculture is a means to feed mankind not to be used as an instrument of deforestation or for the application of harmful fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, pesticides and insecticides. Industries, households and individuals are busy releasing toxic and material waste onto the land thereby increasing the amounts of landfills and lither on the surface of the earth. Furthermore, miners are destroying the land in the form of removing topsoil, bringing waste earth and rocks to the surface and underground coal fires which are emitting toxic gases.

Mother earth is crying; she says the waters are polluted. Sewage, garbage, solid and liquid waste from household, agricultural lands and industries which contain harmful chemicals (lead, mercury, petro chemicals etc) are discharged into water bodies making the water poisonous for aquatic animals and plants. Water bodies get polluted due to oil spill from ships and tankers while travelling. The oil spills hardly dissolves so it pollutes the water by forming thick layers on the water surface. Furthermore, acid rain which is caused by air pollution sends in toxic chemicals into our water bodies. Global warming leads to increase in water temperatures which in turn cause bleaching of coral reefs, death of aquatic plants and animals thereby polluting the water body.

Mother earth is crying; she says the air is polluted. The livestock industry is polluting the air through a number of greenhouse gases they send into the atmosphere through animal waste and unbearable smell for local residents. The increase rate of deforestation is reducing the amount of oxygen in circulation, thereby leading to increase in carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Global warming or increase in temperatures if melting glaciers and releasing toxic gases beneath the glaciers which are not meant in the atmosphere. There are also harmful discharges (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, sulphur etc) to the air from manufacturing and mining industries. Next is exhaust in the form of soot and other harmful gasses from vehicles and automobiles are major air pollutants in the environment. Furthermore, ammonia based fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides by farmers are unwanted chemicals in the atmosphere. Finally the use of detergents, insecticides, paints for household activities and also a major cause of air pollution.

Mother earth is crying, the ecosystem is collapsing and we are at the verge of extinction. People are sick and dying of many climate related diseases like cancers, malnutrition, cardiovascular diseases etc. There is an annual increase in the number of persons who are displaced and in refugee camps because of natural disaster provoked by climate change plus uncountable deaths. The effects of climate change can be clearly seen on the low rate of agricultural productivity because the land is becoming barren due to land pollution. Scientists are forecasting a 20% increase in world hunger by 2050 due to climate change. We are losing insects, trees, animals and human life which are meant to be working for the ecological wellbeing of the planet. We are losing Mother Earth in the name of making money but we should be rest assured there is no future on a dead planet. I hereby declare a CLIMATE EMMERGENGY!!!!

As a rural woman, a mother to the earth planet and mother to humanity and I won’t let mother earth and humanity continue to cry therefore I choose to be the voice of the voiceless “earth planet”. Firstly, to help kill the livestock industry, I have decided to go vegan and for a start I am cutting 50% of my meat intake and I avoid leather products. Secondly to help counter the problem of deforestation, I plant a number of trees annually and I reduce the amount of writing and tissue paper I use daily. Thirdly i practise vegan organic farming without bush burning .Fourthly, I have reduced the number of light bulbs in my home and the number of electrical appliances at home. I also endeavour to switch off lights and other electrical appliances when they are not in use. In carrying out household chores, I avoid over washing and dirtying clothes and items so that i use less detergents in cleaning and washing. Furthermore, I use more of public transport and bicycles so as to reduce emissions from too many vehicles. And to reduce and manage waste, I use reusable and recyclable items (water bottles, bags, cutlery, plates etc) as well as avoid littering as much as possible. To increase my knowledge on the climate change, I partner with local and international organisations that are fighting for the same course. I also follow organisations on social media, radio and television to be fully aware of the situation of the climate. Lastly, I am an advocate and activist fighting to stop climate change.

As rural African women, mothers to the earth planet and humanity, our culture puts us as farmers, cooks, breadwinners, housemaids, activists and advocates for climate change we have a duty to protect the planet. Women hold more than half of the climate in their hands and hence should rise up and take responsibility for the failing ecosystem.