Environmental activist from Uganda Gaster K Kiyingi who along with delegates from 11 countries is in the capital for attending FGLG conference opined "Leading democracies of the world like India and South Africa should lead from the front in order to counter the influence of developed countries on the environment related issues."
The conference is going on at the IIFM devising the ways for making small enterprises work better for the poor. He also expressed satisfaction on India's role in the environment related issues till now.
Kiyingi, a journalist by profession and Knowledge and Communication Manager with the Global Water Partnership, while talking to The Pioneer on Wednesday, informed about the agitation in his country which initiated to force their Government for revoking the decision of permitting deforestation for making way to the sugar mills and palm oil industry. "The decision was economically beneficial for the area but was disastrous in terms of ecological balance of the region" said Kiyingi.
He said that they took various steps to force the Government to revoke the decision like taking the Government to the court, initiating a campaign with local communities, involving local, regional and international media, sensitising local communities and inviting carbon credit companies.
He added that they had explained to the communities that though the project looks beneficial in terms of employment and revenues yet it would have long term effects like climatic changes and expansion plans.
They also sought support from Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting, CHOGM nations on the matter.
Their efforts finally paid off and the Government revoked the decision at least for the time being. Stressing the future strategy of the least developed nations on environment issues, Kiyingi said that they should formulate a common agenda and leading democracies like India and others should lead from the front on international level.
He flayed the developed countries for exploiting the resources of developing and backward countries. He urged the Asian, African and least developed countries to raise their voices together on matters of common interests.
Kiyingi talks about future plans for securing his region's environment
Kiyingi is working as the Knowledge and Communication Manager with the Global Water Partnership, an NGO working for Global Water Resources Partnership in the East African countries.
The GWP is a part of the global network of NGOs under the banner of Forest Governance Learning Group, FGLG.
The FGLG works to exchange learning and develop ideas on forest governance in Asian, African, Latin American and parts of European countries and for helping them work for practical, just and sustainable forest use. Kiyingi, elaborating the future plans for their region informed that African Union Summit on climate change next year, Africa Water Week in June 08 and Integrated Water Management and Forest Conservation under the banner of African Union.
