SOS Environnement

Sustainable Development: Yes, BUT

par Ababacar
 

An expression translated from English, the term "sustainable development"
appeared for the first time in 1980, in the book written by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).  Then in 1987 came the publication of the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) report, Our Common Future, also called the Brundtland Report, after WCED chair GRO Harlem Brundtland. The report contained the first definition of the term sustainable development--development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainable development has a long-term vision taking into account the indisociable character of the environmental, social and economic dimensions of development.  Sustainable development became the quest of Graal, of governments and of political leaders, but this concept has often remained elusive and unattainable.
Are we now progressing towards sustainable development? If not, what are the obstacles?  Conventional indicators of progress, like Gross Domestic Product (GDP), do not take in account the fundamental human and ecological problems and do not bring answers to these questions.
As far as we can see, sustainable development is in the interests of our elected officials. But a nation is not made only of its elected officials: there are also those who carry them to their positions of power on the promise of a better life. What one notes and what unfortunately remains is that there is an economic language which is addressed only to those privileged enough to speak it and which does not reflect the wellbeing of the people and their environment. It is well and good for the stock markets to finish in the black and be able to pay pay off or erase their slate of foreign debt (as it is often the case for our countries). However if economic gains do not reflect the true quality of life of the populations, the latter will undoubtedly be disinherited from the dividends of growth. We are tempted to say sometimes that our economists fudge the books or simply that their employers (our governments) cultivate ignorance. Such a situation can continue for a time but not forever. Must we
continue to develop to the detriment of the environment and society? Does Africa have to follow in the footsteps of Western development, to be rewarded by the IMF with the title of "good student, studious pupil"?  Are the objectives of sustainable development realizable and not utopian? There are many questions, but few answers.  The observation we have made is that certain regimes devoid of inspiration grapple for the concept of sustainable development as for a life preserver. Yes, sustainable development can be a lifesaver, in particular for our people and all the people of the world in a general way. But it is first necessary to seek to see how to introduce it into our respective countries, considering each country has its geographical, socio-cultural, and economic specificities. What is valid for the North may not be valid for the South and vice versa. However we can all arrive at agreeing on certain points, such as deforestation, as being an obstacle toward the fight against global warming, or linear economics as a foundation of development which has shown its limits for a long time. But it is because we are too stubborn to maintain the idea, and also because old habits die hard, but especially because the unknown often creates fear, that we hesitate to adopt a new type of economics suitable for sustainable development--circular economics. There is theory, but not enough results. What are we missing?  Grassroots involvement? Maybe it has been a problem, but what can you expect when in schools and training programs the message of the environment is almost nonexistent. Does the problem lie in our elected leaders? It is necessary to know the existing priorities and to make steps to move forward: one should not put the plough before the horse! School is a tool for education, the children constitute a vector of development; it follows that good programs of Education Relating to the Environment (ERA) for the children would be productive. “There exists a problem of engagement of individuals in  local projects and movements. There is a lack of conscience citizens,” they tell us.  
How can they claim to ensure the development and well being of their people without even holding preliminary discussions with the grassroots before making decisions? Regarding the safeguard of biodiversity and emancipation of the populations in the fight against climate change and its consequences, it should be said that there is an urgency of action. Nevertheless, the emergency measures, are not only unproductive but also draconian, even radical. Let us talk about sustainable development before adopting it. That will help us to avoid the mistake of our leaders: adopting rather than adapting ideas coming from abroad.
Paraphrasing the Brundtland Report, “To reach that point, corporations, public authorities and civil society will have to work hand in hand in order to reconcile three spheres which have ignored each other for a long time, the spheres of economy, ecology and society. In the long run, there will be no effective development if it is not economically effective, socially equitable and ecologically tolerable."

The Process of Reforestation

By Abdourahmane Tamba

Reforestation: We Need a Timely Solution

Tropical forests are known for their breadth of the diverse of species of flora and fauna. As opposed to ecosystems in temperate climates where, because of the harshness of the climate, competition between species gives rise to adapted resistant ecotypes, the African environment is characterized by the brush, an area of the highest ecological productivity. The abiotic ecological factors in the climate, such as the temperature and humidity, are at nearly the optimal level for growth, leading to the abundance of different species. An ecosystem is mature once it conforms to its physical environment after a long series of adaptations, culminating at the climax stage. At the climax, all the biomass, but particularly the vegetation, creates the conditions which come together in a balanced ecosystem of the food chains and networks that rely on all the living beings in the system. The climatic stage of an ecosystem therefore consists of stable biodiversity existing across multiple human generations. In Senegal, only the sacred forests of Casamance could still be considered climatic, as they are virtually undisturbed by human activity.

In order for the woods, the brush, or the forest to thrive in a climatic state, there must be cycles of dependence between the living beings – flora and fauna – that stay in equilibirum. Humans, in even partially destroying the biocenose[i] of an area, destroy this natural equilibrium. For example, desertification, caused by human activity, is a factor in the disequilibrium of an ecosystem because it disrupts food chains, and thus, causes progressive depopulation on the energetic level. The environment cannot return to equilibrium through reforestation, in which we create a veritable plantation of the same plant or tree, planted over and over in an area, but rather by a repopulation with the animal and plant species characteristic of the original climax.

Stop the massacre!

Thought of the day

"Bou fore yombéé seug dina diafé lol"

When it's too easy whatever you do it's fluff missed

Senegal has lost much

by Ababacar

Senegal has lost much in the last 20 years. Each day, a little more of our cultivable land crumbles into sand dunes; each night, our pirogues (traditional fishing boats) return with a little less fish than the day before. The rural exodus and illegal immigration are the forerunners of an ecological poverty which threatens the margins of our survival.
Due to all these problems, the cost of life in Senegal is high and getting higher.
Negotiations between the Senegalese government, the unions, and employers were held more than three months ago. At this meeting, according to the news reports, the different parties came together to examine the demands for an increase in buying power. Saying that poverty is gaining ground is becoming redundant in Senegal and in many African countries. For many years, “Africa experts” have maintained that the main reason for the poverty of the continent is tribal wars. But even if there is some reason in this theory, seeing the example of Senegal and of other countries which have not been at war, one must question the truth of these generalizations. A common phenomenon right now, which illustrates the level of poverty and despair which holds sway in the country, is the young people who take to the sea in pirogues in an attempt to migrate to Europe. Here they tell us that the youth are the vehicles of development, but they never say what kind of development or in whose or what interest. Most young people refuse to discuss politics, saying that it is a waste of time. Is this true, or are they simply falling victim to a vision of politics created by the people in power? Are we letting them get away with their lies? They tell us we must go to university, and be successful.  Most of us go to school to relieve loneliness, but unfortunately find ourselves there alone because most of the professors are absent from their classrooms (University of Dakar, Department of Letters and Social Sciences/ English). According to a source at the association of students of the College of Letters and Human Sciences, their college was constructed to hold 600 to 1,200 students but it has passed between 25,000 and 30,000 registered students, 25 to 40 times more than the number predicted.

DIY: Algae-based compost

With three simple ingredients, algae-based compost is an opportunity for every Senegalese on the Petite Côte.  And after seeing the results, we think that every compound should have a pile! 

What do you need? 1) desalinized seaweed 2) ramial chipped wood (RCW) 3) a microbial innoculum composed of cow chips or kitchen scraps

We start with the RCW; essentially this is composed of the twigs and leaves of trees and other plants.  This is where the tree's growth takes place.  Consequently, this matter concentrates essential oils.  We also use RCW from the nitrogen-fixing plants.  We select the RCW from certain trees such as the nime.  Next, we chop the leaves into tiny pieces under 5 cm with less than 1 cm diameter, so that they will infuse the compost with their biopesticidal oils.  You could say that this is the medicinal layer of the compost.  Using horse or cow dung or kitchen scraps allows us to accelerate the fermentation process; this is the "yeast" that permits decomposition.  Finally, we plaster soaked seaweed on top of the heap and cover it with plastic bags.  Ten days later we turn the mixture and in a few more weeks the compost is ready to use.  The finished product can be applied to soil and sustains a healthy agriculture, loaded with minerals and resistant to parasites.

For Your Information

by Ababacar

The anthropogenic greenhouse effect has three main consequences in the coastal marine environment: sea level rise, increase of sea water carbon dioxide content and lastly increase of seawater temperature. Marine communities are principally sensitive to temperature increase. While mobile species can change positions, stationary species suffer more or less acute mortality events. Present ecophysiological knowledge is not sufficient to anticipate these events. Systematic monitoring of marine communities becomes a necessity, parallel to the monitoring of physicochemical parameters and their palaeoclimatic history. To cite this article: L. Laubier, C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).

It seems that, for most people, sea level rise is the best known of these consequences of global warming.  The idea holds a lot of relevance in Senegal, where a few centimeter's difference in sea level could mean stranding part of Dakar in the Atlantic Ocean.  In other words, the peninsula of Dakar risks becoming an island.  But the question is whether we should continue to take these assertions like old wives' tales or realize that there is a grain of truth in such fantastic predictions.  The danger we run in ignoring the ocean's incursions is to one day wake up to widespread displacements of coastal populations having nowhere left to go; on the ecological front, we face a significant loss of arable land in zones such as Palmarin Ngalou.

Algae in the News

Algae Hold the Key to Biofuel Conundrum (New Scientist). Popular Mechanics did a similar piece a year ago.

Algae plays a starring role in the lunar colony of tommorow.

Nonsense

by Erin

Before & After

Voilà, in this battle between development and sustainability, the bulldozers were the victors.  Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade mounted a giant roadworks project to pave the way for the Organisation for the Islamic Conference (OIC).  Wade's "guests," as the Senegalese say, are getting the red carpet rolled out for them in the form of a refurbished infrastructure.  Senegal is home to a dual economy where the jet set, even the sloppiest tourist, gets much better treatment than the autochthones.  This time, it was the permaculture garden* at the headquarters of the Senegalese Ecovillage Network (GEN/SEN) that got the shaft.

*designed by our own Abdourahmane Tamba

Thought of the day

by Ababacar

"Lou ben meun niar moko raw."      

"What one does well, two can do better."