Ceteris paribus, the last Saturday of
every month is environmental in
Lagos, Nigeria (this changes only when there are other more pressing issues for
that day, as determined by the government). It’s probably the same in other
states across the nation, Kaduna being the only other state of which I am sure
of - I grew up there. The government declares a curfew of sorts between the
hours of 7am – 10pm, as residents are expected to stay home and clean their
houses and surrounding environment. This activity is called environmental
sanitation. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise if an average Nigerian like me misconstrues
Environment Day to be “environmental” when he/she comes across it. Yes?
World Environment Day (WED) was
celebrated a few days back, specifically Tuesday June 5th, and it
was its fortieth (40th) anniversary. World Environment Day, like Earth
Day, is one of the numerous sub programs of the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) that is geared towards raising global awareness on the need to
take positive environmental action that would lead to sustainable development. Hence,
environmental, why not being what
World Environment Day totally embodies, is a tiny and important part to what
the Day stands for and means in Nigeria. I think we deserve a tap on the back
for this - government and citizenry.
“…World Environment Day is an annual event
that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day
for positive environmental action. World Environment Day activities take place
all year round but climax on 5 June every year...World
Environment Day celebration began in 1972 and has grown to become the one of
the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the
environment and encourages political attention and action…the UN Environment
Programme is able to personalize environmental issues and enable everyone to
realize not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents
for change in support of sustainable and equitable development…”
For the celebrations every year,
there is a theme and that for this year is, “Green Economy: Does it include you?”
On the pages of WED, UNEPs’ site (link below), is an explanation of the theme,
breaking it into two parts. Various aspects of green economy have been written
on this blog under the SM4CC series, more to come, kindly read up. The site has
this to say concerning the second part of the theme “Does it include you?” “…If
the Green Economy is about social equity and inclusiveness then technically it
is all about you! The question therefore asks you to find out more about the
Green Economy and assess whether, in your country, you are being included in it...”
Below are some of the activities, from around the world, showing involvement.
The Rubavu
rehabilitation project in the western province of Rwanda, the planting of trees
by children of the Tripoli elementary school in collaboration with the Libyan
Ministry of Education and UNICEF, documentary screening: 'What I Grasp and What
I See' in Panama, Green Economy Seminar
in Bangkok, Thailand, UNEP/Mathare Green Heroes: Green Economy Waste
Management Initiative organized waste management education and football fun day
in Mathare, Nairobi, Kenya, a celebration in Switzerland to mark 10th
anniversary of Switzerland's admission to the United Nations, 40th anniversary
of UNEP and 20 years of the Rio conference…the list is endless. But, what about
Nigeria?
In Lagos, there
were plans by the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, the Nigerian
Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the Lagos State branch of the Nigeria Environmental
Society in partnership with the newly established non-governmental organization,
Verte Initiative, to hold a one-day event on the environment. Sadly, the Lagos
State Ministry of the Environment on Tuesday, understandably cancelled the
celebration of the 2012 World Environment Day in the state to honor the victims
of the Dana Air plane crash (may their souls rest in peace) and to comply with
the cancellation of all state events in order to commiserate with the families
and relations of the deceased.
There were
activities in other states of the federation such as the World Environment Day
celebration organized by the Environmental Health Students’ Association,
Department of Environment Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, College of
Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, an Art &Craft Exhibition in
Gwarimpa, Abuja by Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition (NYCC) in collaboration
with GreenBack Nigeria etc. The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim
Mailafia was to lead stakeholders from across the nation in marking the 2012 World
Environment Day. She was also to use the occasion to comment on Nigeria’s
preparations for RIO+20. I’m yet to confirm if the event actually held.
In conclusion, “…world
remains on unsustainable track despite hundreds of internationally agreed goals
and objectives ambitious set of sustainability targets can be met, but only with renewed
commitment and rapid scaling-up of successful policies…” After environmentals, Lagosians flood the
streets and highways with so much speed and alacrity, its apparent they could
not wait to leave their homes and go about their various businesses. That’s the
attitude we need to possess towards the pursuit of a greener environment and
economy. In the words of Secretary General Mr. Ban
Ki Moon, "We are all part of the solution".
Sources
http://nigerianyouthclimatecoalition.blogspot.com
http://fmi.gov.ng
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