The COP26 time on the occasion of Africa Youth Day. Sustainable and Unsustainable lifestyles, Mangrove - Blue Carbon. An article by Sofonie Dala

 This is a collection of hybrid doc-series and stories covering sustainable lifestyle trends around Africa, Angola 

Defining The Future Today: Youth-Led Solutions For Building The Africa We Want

Yesterday, November 1st 2021, we celebrated the Africa Youth Day. This date is commemorated every year and was proclaimed on the adoption of the African Youth Charter in Banjul, Gambia in 2006 and it recognizes youth as key agents for Africa’s socio-economic growth and sustainable development. As we look ahead to the future of the continent, we must pause and look back at the past year to appreciate the unyielding resilience of Africa’s youth. This is why this year’s theme “Defining The Future Today: Youth-Led Solutions For Building The Africa We Want” is of great significance.

H.E Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) appoints Chido Cleo Mpemba from Zimbabwe as the next Special African Youth Envoy

COP26: Opening Ceremony - World Leaders Summit

World Leaders are invited to the Opening Ceremony, hosted by the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, welcoming them to the World Leaders Summit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

Bonus: Echoes and Facts about Sustainable and Unsustainable lifestyles. Campaign with Sofonie Dala - Angola

Mangrove reforestation project launch ceremony, also called "Blue Carbon

Angolan president João Lourenço wants concrete actions to protect the environment.

"We have reached a time when it is no longer enough to talk. It is not enough to be aware (...). It is necessary to take concrete actions, small or large", he said.

Speaking at mangrove reforestation project launch ceremony, also called "Blue Carbon", João Lourenço said that the action, if it is multiplied, will certainly have its impact on the defence of the environment.

He pointed out the human being as the main responsible for the damage that the environment has been suffering, adding that it was "the action of man that led to the current situation of droughts, floods, typhoons, hurricanes, tsunamis and fires".

João Lourenço noted that all these disasters that have been observed all over the world are consequences "of man's irresponsibility, no matter where he is".He noted that this is a way forward, having said that the mangrove replanting project is an example of this commitment, in a partnership between Sonangol and Associação Otchiva, aimed at protecting mangroves.

Read more: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/10/president-wants-concrete-actions-for.html

What are our local influencers doing?

Social influencer Mateus Esteita - Chairman of the general assembly of Otchiva Mangroves of Angola.

He was recently elected as the new chairman of the board of the largest environmental protection project in the country, replacing the distinguished fellow engineer Quissonde recently appointed Vice Governor of the Province of Malange.

It is not an easy replacement given the remarkable and exemplary work carried out by his predecessor and we are sure that we will work with dedication, total commitment and professionalism to enhance our project and the continuous struggle to protect the environment and its ecosystems.

Saturday, July 31st was a historic day for all members of the project "Otchiva Mangroves of Angola" in particular for our volunteers and partners.

Thus, we ended the week of the mangroves with a record number of volunteers, there were more than 650 volunteers and we planted 104,000 mangroves in the village of Tapo in Mussulo, Mateus commented.

For Angola, let us save the mangroves.

Facts about unsustainable living in the country

Dead Fish in Mangroves

In the mangroves of Lake Kussanga, a wetland adjacent to the mouth of the Chiloango River, in Cabinda, several species of fish find it very difficult to survive and develop.

Otchiva's technical team is carrying out an expedition in these very degraded ecosystems to find answers for their possible solution, for the well-being, mainly of the local community of fishermen who exploit fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other marine resources in this local ecosystem. 

What led to the degradation of this ecosystem?

Why is marine life dying and no longer developing?

Why did many marine species disappear from the site?

 Infant fishing in Angola. Sustainable or Unsustainable? An article by Sofonie Dala

Excessive marine fishing damages the ecosystem. Are these children under control?

Control and respect for the specific season for capturing fish and its rational use are the recommended ways to preserve the ecosystem, aiming at sustainable development. On the other hand, uncontrolled overfishing has considerably harmed the aquatic ecosystem, particularly fish.

These boys are collecting some juvenile fish and crabs that are still alive, but trapped in the net inside the boat. Next they are using a knife to kill them in order to facilitate their collection.

They are catching Sardina pilchardus and crabs. It is observed that the children are doing this without the supervision of any adult fisherman.

The type of fishing most used in Angola is the split fishing known as mu-tuco, carried out with non-recommended meshes. The consequence is the capture of juvenile fish, unfit for consumption.

Hi!

Have you been fishing for many years?

Yes.

When you fish, what do you do with the fish. Do you sell or eat them?

we sell them.

Do you raise a large sum of money as a result of the sale?

Yes

Wow, this is good.

Do you know how to swim?

yes we know.

How old are you?

I am 14 and he is nine years old.

Is this a boat or canoe?

This is a canoe.

Is that the net you guys use to fish?

Yes

This fish net is very big!

Boy where is the fish? come to show me this fish!

The abandonment of fishing artefacts near lakes and rivers continue to kill fish and the use of mosquito nets to catch small fish unsuitable for fishing, are other consequences of the use of non-recommended mesh.

These children are showing the fish and crabs they collected. What a pity that they cut off the crab's arms.

There is an urgent need to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Exclusive:

Angola's Best Typical Dishes - Sustainable Eating

Roasted peanuts, roasted plantain and roasted cassava in both main meals and desserts, it is above all a favorite snack in Angolan communities, especially on the streets.

Grilled Bombó (grilled cassava)

Bombó is the root of cassava, dried and fermented. It is mainly used to make funge (cassava porridge). Bombó can be grilled or fried and is often sold as a snack on the street, but is also an accompaniment to main meals. Furthermore, Cassava is the main source of carbohydrates in the country.

Cassava and peanuts sustain women's businesses on the streets of Luanda

Women know how to grow and produce cassava, which is why they are the real protagonists of the value chain. Thanks to their perseverance and determination, they are able to put their products on sale”. In addition, women sell and buy cassava to eat because it increases breast milk.

Cassava and peanut sellers on the streets of Luanda

Poverty and hunger

Due to extreme poverty few very vulnerable people look for food in the garbage and this harms the health of thousands of children.

If we look in more detail at the analysis carried out on food in Angola, we see that the factors that negatively influence the ranking are diverse: poor access to clean water, poor nutritional diversity, high food costs and high volatility in food prices.

The problem of rubbish

The problem of rubbish in Luanda began to worsen in January 2021, after the provincial government suspended contracts with the cleaning operators.

Angola’s institutions do not have adequate capacity or coordination mechanisms, while partnerships with the private sector remain very weak. This is a problem for Angola’s management of municipal waste: the capital Luanda alone produces 6,000 tons of solid waste every day, which the city has struggled to manage. 

Public urination - Public intoxication

This police officer is a public official, by urinating on the streets he is not promoting any sustainable practices.

Urinating in public is illegal in every state. Defendants may be charged under a law that specifically criminalizes the act, or the prosecutor may allege that the defendant filed a public nuisance or is guilty of disorderly conduct. State law usually classifies disorderly conduct and similar crimes as misdemeanors, which are less serious offenses than felonies.

Unfortunately, in Angola there are lack of public toilets and many schools also lack very basic elements such as water, sanitation (toilets or latrines), and even suitable places for hand washing.