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Non Governmental Organisations in Delta state partnered to celebrate the World International Day of peace at Ujevwu, Udu Local Government Area, Delta state.
The World International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September, every year, and the theme of this year event is “Climate Action for Peace”
Speaking at the event that was put together by West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP Nigeria), in partnership with Development Initiative for Community Impact (DICI), Neferok Development Initiative (NeDI), Peace and Community Empowerment Initiative, and Ideal Women Advancement Initiative, the Delta state coordinator, WANEP Nigeria, who is also the Executive Director of Peace and Community Empowerment Initiative, Collins Newuwumi, said if not checked now, the effects of climate change are going to be more disastrous than the effects of the every day conventional war, adding that sensitization of the people is paramount in the mitigation process.
“If you look around today the atmosphere is not friendly due to activities of man, we have issues of deforestation, Oil spill, gas flaring, and farming activities that are also destroying some of our natural endowment created by God”
“That is why we have to come out today to Ujevwu and sensitise them on how to mitigate the effect of climate change”
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The focal person, Women in Peace Building Network (WIPNET), Delta state chapter, who is also the Executive Director, Development Initiative for Community Impact, Rachael Misan-Ruppee,in a chat with The South Daily correspondent, explained why they(NGOs) choose Ujevwu for the event.
She said “we were here in this community for an event sometime ago, and we observed from research, that the activities of the people in this community are impacting on climate change seriously.
“They are into alcohol production as the main occupation, and the waste product are pour into the river. In this community too there are a lot of tree falling, almost turning the community to a desert. There is also rampant issues of Open defecation”
“But thank God today that the leadership of the men, the youths and the women are here, and they have drew an action plan to end all of these harmful practices. They also agreed to set up a committee to monitor compliance too”
Rachael misan-Ruppee, in her advise to all Deltans and Nigerians at large, she said ” let everyone of us, from the home, the community, the Local Government, state, Nigeria, and the international community at large, let our actions be climate friendly, avoid the usage of plastics, lets encourage reuse and recycling, lets also encourage responsible consumption of energy; let us do things that will help protect our environment”
The Executive Director, Neferok Development Initiative (NeDI), Ayo Okotie, while explaining the importance of the program to the community, call for a collaborative effort to mitigate the negative effect of Climate Change, adding that Natural disaster destroy peace faster.
” Most of the things discussed were new to them(Ujevwu Community), many of them never knew that their activities such as cutting down of trees for firewood is detrimental to their health. They said they are going to change their method disposing their refuse, because before now according to them they dump them in gutters and canals”
“They have also decided in their action plan that henceforth, whoever buys land will not be allowed allowed cut down all the threes while developing the land”
“The crisis coming as a result of climate change is on the increase globally, so there is need for all hands to be on deck to mitigate against climate change, because the crisis coming will be worst than when we have crisis as result of people shooting themselves with guns”
“Natural disasters affect people more, it takes away the peace of the community faster than conventional crisis.”
One of the participant in the program, Patrick Komoda, appreciate the various organizations for coming up with such an eye opening event.
READ MORE: Flood: Delta Govt sends relief materials to affected oil community
“The event par say was good for the community because it created awareness”
The community woman leader, Blacky Belezu, said the event will attract development to their community.
“Everything discussed here today will bring development to our community and I like that”
