News and Events   EEIK NEWS   PREPARATION FOR WORLD OCEANS DAY - 2012 Thursday 23rd Feb, 2012 Ethics International Kenya (EEIK) has been the focal point for the Worlds Oceans Day (WOD) activities in Kenya since 2006. During the event, fisher groups come together with government officials, experts, NGOs and schoolchildren to celebrate Kenya's marine resources - and campaign for their protection.     Preparations for this year's World Oceans Day is already underway, the Secretariat  , Ministry of Fisheries Development and other key stakeholders responsible for organizing the event, have started their weekly meetings and formed commitees that will oversee the smooth running  of the event on the D-day, going by the theme: Youth The Next Wave of Change.   Last year's World Oceans Day event brought together various stakeholders in appreciation of the Indian Ocean marine ecosystem as an important source of food security and as an important regulator of the climate as well other economic, environmental and recreational benefits. The official designation of World Oceans Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international and local communities in connection with the oceans. Madam Betty Nzioka, director of communications and environmental education, NEMA, congratulates a participant for winning a prize at the World Oceans Day event in 2011

 

THE WORLD WETLANDS DAY Friday 5 February, 2012   Eco Club Members vow to conserve the environment and protect the wetland areas   Eco – Ethics International – Kenya (EEIK) organization held a successful celebration of World Wetland Day 2012, at The Star of The Sea Primary School in Mbaraki – Mombasa County, Kenya.   The event started at 3 pm on Friday February 3, 2012 was graced by Eco-Club pupils from the The Star of The Sea, Teachers and the Media who came for coverage.   EEIK Project Manager, Iddi Juma Iddi was the Chief Guest and gave a talk on why it is importance to conserve our environment going by the Theme: Responsible Tourism Support Wetlands and People.   Iddi gave a brief history of the World Wetlands Day by saying that, it started on 2 February, 1971 in a meeting that was held in Ramsar, Iran – where a group of Scientists were discussing the importance of our land and how to conserve the wetland areas.   He added that targeting students at Primary and Secondary level was the only way of educating them on how to conserve and care for the environment so that they can understand the impacts and dangers that affect human beings and animals when the environment is not protected.    '' Students are the ones who can understand the importance of planting trees and can be mobilized to so as opposed to the adults who concentrate in their work and forget about conserving the environment.'' Said Iddi.   After the EEIK officer had done teaching the pupils, he reminded them that this years World Oceans Day will be held on 8 June 2012 and the Theme is – Wetland and Tourism.   After which the Eco-Club Members made a vow that – Their Responsibility as Eco-Club Members is to conserve the environment and Wetland areas in the world.   Ends///     SOME FUN..  STAFF RETREAT By Florence On the 2nd and 3rd of July, the staff members and interns of Eco-Ethics participated in a retreat in the Ukunda and Shimba Hills game reserve at the coast of Kenya. Participants left the offices at 3.00pm on Saturday the 2nd to the University of Nairobi hostels at Diani where they spent the night. After we settling our sleeping arrangements preparations to make supper began earnestly. With Grace and Hawa at the helm and Iddi, Gladys, Jennifer and Manuel helping them, nothing could go wrong. The menu lined up included pilau, fried beef, and peas for the vegetarians in tow, a salad and fried squid newly fished from the sea.                      Members (squatting) enjoy themselves at the falls                              The food                                                                              Needless to say the food was delicious and we were all licking our fingers after all the hard work that went into making our supper. After supper those who had not participated in the cooking cleaned up and ensured that the kitchen was left spotless. After allowing our food to settle down we all decided to take a walk along the beach. We waked, raced and played other games under the star-studded sky after which some went to bed and others went dancing at a nearby club known as Shakatak. We were to have an early morning on Sunday in order to see the animals at the Shimba Hills Game Reserve but this was not to be. Several of us woke up late and we all paid for this. After having breakfast and making packed lunches we all got back into the vehicle and drove to Shimba Hills. We were lucky to see two giraffes, a few warthog and a herd of buffalo while we drove around the game reserve.

ECO CLUB EDUCATION FIELD TRIPS SET FOR MAY AND JUNE Wednesday 7 March 2012   Preparations for the Eco-Ethics schools education field trips are on top gear after local companies confirmed to support the exercise with buses that will transport the pupils and teachers to the venues selected and some have also pledged to donate snacks, beverages’ and other food stuffs.   According to the Eco-Ethics school clubs Coordinator Ms. Dutch Hodges, who is organizing the trips said that Likoni Primary and Secondary, Mt. Sinai and Secondary, Yeji, Mbweka and Consolata schools have been slotted for a day visit to a marine eco system on the South Coast on May 11 this year.   And, on May 18  Eco Club Teachers, Star of the Sea, MM Shah, Kipevu, Mgongo, Concordia               and St. Charles Schools will travel to Arabuko Sokoke Forest in North Coast. The Students and Pupils will have lessons and hikes in forest eco system conservation.   Eco-Ethics International Kenya is an Environmental Mombasa based non-profit making organization. It works together with many schools registered as Eco Clubs Members. Eco Ethics is also preparing this year’s World Oceans Day to be held in June, going by the Theme: Youth Next Wave of Change. Ends///     Oil and Gas Panel Policy Discussion Thursday 26 February, 2012   The search for oil and gas has intensified in the recent years. While the development of this sector is welcome move for economic development of the country, concerns on the environmental as well as social and economic aspects arising from the oil and gas exploration and production have been raised.   The      Eco-Ethics International – Kenya on Friday 23, February, this year attended a public panel policy discussion on Oil and Gas development in Kenya for the Coast Region organized by Community Action for Nature Conservation (CANCO), at The Mombasa Polytechnic University College - with an aim of creating awareness and building capacity on understanding the impacts and effects of oil and gas exploration towards human beings and the environment.   The discussion policy focused on communities and empowering them on understanding the potential opportunity of the resources they have, enhancing knowledge and skills on how to use funds and equipments. Panelist were also concern with how the process in this sector was moving at a high rate without proper planning adding that this may lead to many Kenyans shying away from agriculture sector which is one of the key pillars on economic development in this country.   In addition, as part of its activities in the upstream business, National Oil together with the Ministry of Energy, National Fossil Advisory Committee and the exploration companies have also embarked on a nationwide campaign to sensitize communities and demystify oil exploration activities.   Ends////

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the 4km hike to Sheldrick falls and back.

 

                                    

Sheldrick falls at the Shimba Hills Game Reserve Crossing the bridge

Going first down hill we passed through savannah like surroundings and went into thick forest, even crossing a river by wood bridge on our way to the falls. When we got to the falls we rested and some of us even took a dip in the cool waters at the bottom of the 25m drop.

It was time for lunch when we got back uphill (which was slightly harder for some of us) and we had our picnic lunch at a campsite. 

We followed the lunch with a few team-building games such as Simon Says and Hit the Mango. These were the occasion for much laughter and were enjoyed by everyone.

After the games and quick clearing of the picnic site we boarded the vehicle once more and we were dropped off at the ferry to make our ways home after a full and eventful weekend.    

Environmental Concerns of the Kenyan Coast

Thursday 9 February, 2012

The Kenyan Coast is approximately to be about 100km width of land running alongside a coastline of about 500km long bordering Somalis to the North and Tanzania on the Southern side.

Prevalence of poverty in the Coastal region is high as the index rates that the 16% are the least poor while an overwhelming 84% people are the poorest. Ganze and Bura Constituencies are rated to be at 84% and 30% ranges of poorer respectively.

And about 3.3 million people are believed to be living in coastal region and with over 900, 000 people concentrated in Mombasa County – this is according to Central Bureau Statics.

Mombasa is over-populated by the Kenyan standards and distribution of resources in the county is not effective and the situation is also a serious challenge to proper environmental management such as; increasing and choking garbage, dwindling of fresh water supply in the town and its environs, polluted and congested traffic.

On the other not the city planners have failed to meet its rapid expansion which does not match the provision of infrastructure and services delivery or understanding the complexity of environmental services upon which all urban cities are pegged.

The need to engage and educate the Mombasa urban dwellers on urban ecology will transform exercises like street tree projects and increase social connections among urban residents. Furthermore, it will enhance the ability to enjoy, feel safe and trust others in your community.

ENDS///
 

International Conferences

Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries conference in Bangkok – Thailand

The two days of the workshop kicked off from the 15th - 16th October 2008.
Major topics of discussion in the conference included:
· Governance
· Access rights
· Local level management of small-scale fisheries
· Marine Protected Areas and possibilities of involving small-scale fishers
· How to recognize fishery livelihoods and culture
· The interdependencies of small-scale fishers with other sectors
· Small scale fishers and international trade
Post harvest sector and fisheries management.

Several lessons were learnt from this preparatory workshop.

 International Fishers Organizations and representatives strongly advocated on fisher rights and the possibility to get them involved in instances where the state might be infringing on the rights of small scale fishers.

Small-scale fishers in Kenya are poorly represented in international civil societies. This might present an opportunity to lobby for our small-scale fishers or their representatives to be represented within these bodies.

 Intergovernmental forum on chemical safety (IFCS)

Forum six of the IFCS took place in Dakar Senegal at Le Meridian President Hotel from September 15- 19, 2008. (EEIU-Kenya’s programs officer) participated in the forum by making a plenary presentation on Challenges of Substitution and Alternatives in chemicals management in the developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Just like other presentations, his input was useful in drafting of the Dakar recommendations on substitution and chemicals safety.

Other major issues at the forum included nanotechnology, Lead (Pb) in paints, transport of Lead and Cadmium via trade and ecologically based integrated pest management and integrated vector management.

EEIU-Kenya was amongst the ten organizations which participated in the community exchange program sponsored by the British Council. 

EEIU-Kenya programs officer Mr. Richard Kiaka was paired with Sue Weston from England and whose work was to develop a sixth form for three schools in the Thurrock Council. 
The participants visited England – Thurrock Council for three weeks in November 2008 where they learnt from other cultures. The program aimed at promoting Intercultural Dialogue.