WUNRN
WOMEN NEWS NETWORK
January 21, 2010
PATRICK K. WROKPOH in
In partnership with Panos
London Illuminating Voices
Monrovia: On the outskirts of Monrovia, the
Liberian capital, in the town of Jah Tondo, I recently saw for myself the real
impact of climate change in a tropical developing country.
Jah Tondo is in the lower Western Cluster
region of
When delegates meet at the United Nations
climate change summit, they try to pursue their common target: how to tackle
the warming climate confronting them all.
“In the past we farmed in keeping with a familiar
seasonal pattern. But things have changed. When we think we should be planting,
harvesting or resting, in fact it’s the opposite, because of the climate.”
- Mrs. Agnes Kortimai
Executive Director, Zorzor District Women’s Care
Some delegates join forces to press towards
their common cause. Others try to draw the world’s attention to key issues
that, while important, are sometimes overlooked.
Benjamin Karmorh was a member of the
Liberian delegation to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s 2008
summit in the Polish city of
Karmorh says there is one compelling reason
to bring gender issues into the mainstream. “There must be a framework put into
place to address women’s and children’s needs” he says, “Because we believe
they feel the worst impacts of climate change.”
“We intend to highlight the important role women play,
especially in caring for crops, planting trees and ensuring they grow to
maturity, and making reforestation happen.”
- Benjamin Karmorh
Liberian delegation, UN Convention on Climate Change 2008
He said
Karmorh continued, “Whenever there are
climate change impacts, for example flooding, it hampers women’s ability to
farm. And, as you may know, in most African settings women are good farmers,
and if they cannot farm their children are affected and there will be no food
for their families.”
Back on
She says climate change worries them: “We
are concerned because over the years we have seen how it has affected us.
“In the past we farmed in keeping with a
familiar seasonal pattern. But things have changed. When we think we should be
planting, harvesting or resting, in fact it’s the opposite, because of the
climate.”
Krubo Seanneh farms in
“But we are not keeping to this schedule
any longer because the weather changes so much. When this happens, we do not
grow enough food, meaning shortages, especially between June and July. And then
the food prices increase because of the scarcity,” she added.
As part of its efforts, Karmorh said, “
“Our efforts are now gaining momentum and
we are planning, with the government of
Karmorh said the colloquium was due to be
attended by world leaders including Tarja Halonen, the President of Finland,
and the US First Lady Mrs. Michelle Obama, the US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton as well as other prominent women from across Africa and the world.
“We intend to highlight the important role
women play, especially in caring for crops, planting trees and ensuring they
grow to maturity, and making reforestation happen”, he said.
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See Website Link to Access 2 VIDEOS:
The voices of rural African women, who are working
hands-on with food production, farming and agriculture, is becoming a vast
resource to aide in improving climate change and global warming. This video
features some of the women who participated in the AWLAE – African Women
Leaders in Agriculture and Environment education program. A 2008, 2:26 min,
Winrock International video production.
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Margaret Ryan weighs in on a 2009 report released by the U.N.
stating that women play a pivotal role in the assessment and improvement of
climate change. The UN report also states that population and the global
empowerment of women with reproductive education does make a difference in the
now deteriorating condition of our planet. A 5:57 min Clean Skies (The Energy
and Environment Network) News production, Nov 2009.
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