#Desertification Campaign

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Echoes of the Desert Dance: St. Barbe Baker's Legacy Continues

[fuckyeahmarxismleninism]

On Oct. 15, 1987, Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso’s West African revolutionary leader, was assassinated. Sankara, a Marxist and revolutionary, has been nicknamed “Africa’s Che Guevara.”

It is interesting to note that at a time when youth have focused the world’s attention on the dire issue of climate crisis, and workers and Indigenous people in Ecuador are rising up against the International Monetary Fund’s austerity demands — that Sankara spearheaded major programs in both areas.

He promoted and led a massive people’s campaign called the “One village, one grove” program to combat desertification of the Sahel (the area between the Sahara Desert and Sudanian Savanna). Over 10 million trees were planted. That legacy lives on. 

Under Sankara’s leadership, Burkina Faso nationalized land and mineral wealth and refused aid from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which incurred the wrath of both U.S. and French imperialism. 

[anarchywoofwoof]

January 11, 2023 9:15 AM EST

Whereas worldwide temperatures have increased by an average of 1.1°C since pre-industrial times, in Israel and the surrounding areas, average temperatures have risen by 1.5°C (2.7°F) between 1950 and 2017, according to the Israeli Meteorological Service, with a forecasted increase of 4°C (7.2°F) by the end of the century. Meanwhile, rising sea levels—projected by Israel’s Environment Ministry to be as high as a meter by 2050, according to a new investigative report by Haaretz newspaper—threaten to obliterate Israel’s famed beaches, damage its desalination plants and undermine the sewage and drainage systems of many coastal cities. In the densely populated Gaza strip, where 2.1 million Palestinians are crammed into 365 square km (141 sq. mi.), sea level rise means a loss of precious real estate as well as saltwater intrusion into an already overtaxed aquifer.

...

In an arid region already threatened by desertification and declining precipitation, one would think that the looming climate catastrophe would catalyze a powerful climate movement. Instead, the whole thing is largely an afterthought. Climate made barely a ripple in the recent Israeli election, and in Palestinian politics, it has been sidelined by the government’s justified preoccupation with, well, Israeli occupation. In forming his new cabinet, Netanyahu replaced a vetted environmental protection minister with the former chairperson of the Knesset’s Labor, Welfare and Health Committee, who is widely considered to be more palatable to his ultra-conservative allies in the new government.

...

The problem, says Majdalani, is that both Palestinians and Israelis are so focused on the politics of their current existence that they can’t plan for future threats. The late Palestinian-American social commentator and literary critic Edward Said once dismissed environmentalism as “the indulgence of spoiled tree huggers who lack a proper cause.” That sentiment still lingers, Majdalani says, casting climate activism as secondary to establishing a fully independent Palestinian state. “The average Palestinian wakes up in the morning worrying about how to get to work without crossing a checkpoint. Their priority is the [Israeli] occupation. For the Israelis, it’s security, the sense that there is a dangerous enemy on the other side that needs to be controlled.” Dror Etkes, an Israeli activist who campaigns against the growing number of illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian controlled West Bank, says that Palestinians are given little choice but to focus on the immediate threat. “Of course climate change is important. It’s going to influence life here enormously. But when you’re almost drowning, you don’t have the time to think about anything else. You just want to keep your head above the water.”

...

Meanwhile, the power imbalance between Jewish Israelis—even those who are politically left-wing—and Palestinians promotes fears among Palestinian climate activists that cooperation could be misinterpreted as “normalizing” relations before the conflict is resolved. It’s a situation that Majdalani, of EcoPeace, has frequently faced in her own activism. “There’s this pervasive sense of ‘we don’t cooperate with the occupier, it’s not the right political environment.’ But if we wait for the right political environment, we will lose more land. We will have more people suffering water shortages, more farmers leaving their farms, and the crisis will continue.” Meanwhile, progress on the two-state solution has effectively stalled under a far-right government that opposes any efforts to create a viable Palestinian state. If the expansion of Israeli settlements on what is supposed to be Palestinian land in a two-state future continues at the same pace, says Etkes, the anti-settlement activist, “[Climate change] might not even be a Palestinian problem in 30 years, it might just be a purely Israeli one.”

[cedar-glade]

If you’ve met me in person or have followed me on instagram, you’ll know how I feel about lawns, the usage of fungicide sprays instead of systemics,  how I think smokey the bear is one of the biggest perpetuated lies/ propaganda machines in forestry history, how I feel about the honey bees in the United States and the misrepresentation of the “save the bees” campaign has increased problems, and how vermiculture and the idea of using surface earthworms in compost has caused reprehensible and some of the most detrimental issues to our ecosystems as a hole. Areas where the phenology of egg laying worms conflicts with fire ecology and burn zones that are highly compartmentalized or continuous burn zones despite either human (first nations) land management or natural or areas where we have glacial fronting history had deep earth worms but never had frequent upper surface earth worms. We are so deeply effected them from the destruction of bacterial and mycological communities that decline in forests. Upper surface earth worms in the US are also what aids establishment of invasives and can even increase foreign allelopathic desertification faster. If you know about ground dwelling bees, or overwintering insects, you should be concerned. If you know about salamanders and foodweb interactions for birds and reptiles as well as small rodents, you should be concerned. From the composting and fishing communities continued usage this decline will only increase. If you live in the subtropical south flat lands post burn we have worms that can thrive because their phenology for surface appearance never is disrupted by burn season, instead it’s beneficial. These earthworms (deep soil) resolve themselves to earth until it’s time to lay eggs.

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/terrestrialanimals/earthworms/index.html

https://ecosystemsontheedge.org/earthworm-invaders/

[realcleverscience]

This is one of those new techs that few people even know about but which is set to transform the world:

Adsorbant-based Atmospheric Water Collection

Basically, they design adsorbants that can specifically bind to certain shaped/sized molecules. In this case, water molecules. The water in the air will cling to this stuff, and once the temperature is raised (either by the sun, or through electric heating/cooling cycles), the water flows out as a liquid, and the material can start the process again.

Unlike the old methods of compressing air to generate water (e.g. like your air conditioner does), this uses much less energy. If you rely on the sun to heat it directly, then it requires literally no artificial energy inputs.

Some people are making these to generate drinking water by electrically running many hot/cold cycles in a day. The water is generally clean, but minerals have to be added for it to be drinking safe. That said, I don't think that issue applies to plants.

Other people are taking a different approach, like the one in this article: The material isn't used in a machine, but rather, it is mixed into the soil. This way it does two things: 1: It retains water a LOT better. 2: It can even generate some of its own water using the day/night cycle.

This article shows massive benefits for crops that used this. In addition, they also engineered the materials to contain fertilizers which, like water, are retained in the water for longer, and which are released into the soil for plant uptake in a much more efficient way.

Considering that agriculture uses *most* of society's water, this can revolutionize farming, potentially drastically reducing farm water needs. Even more, this material can be especially useful in depleted soils and/or in areas with minimal irrigation options.

You can literally produce water in the desert with this stuff.

Just as solar panels created energy independence; this stuff will create water independence.

Just imagine an agri-voltaic farm, producing energy, which produces water, which can be used for both plants and (with some modification) drinking as well.

Just imagine projects like both Africa's and China's "Great green wall" projects, which seek to stop desertification through planting in depleted and sandy soils. They, like many tree planting campaigns, have struggled, in part, because these trees lack the water they need to survive. This could change that.

FYI: DARPA is really interested in this stuff. Just imagine a soldier's canteen that can refill itself. (Maybe a tiny pellet of minerals is added before use.)

So many applications. Really revolutionary stuff.

[santong]

Dream Hunt Ghana Empowers schools to be Environmental advocates on World Environment Day

As the world grapples with pressing environmental challenges such as land degradation, desertification, and drought, the significance of World Environment Day (WED) becomes increasingly poignant. This year, the campaign revolves around land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience, encapsulated in the empowering slogan: “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.” Continue…

[vssraipurindia]

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 focuses on land restoration, stopping desertification and building drought resilience. The World Environment Day was celebrated by planting tree saplings in the campus. Students also went on a Save Soil campaign to spread awareness of land degradation. It is to increase awareness among students about the importance of the environment and the need to protect it.

[petula-xx]

June 5th is World Environment Day.

This year’s World Environment Day campaign focuses on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience under the slogan “Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration.”  

[delicatelysublimeforester]

Sowing Seeds of Change: Richard St. Barbe Baker's Green Legacy

[thefree-online]

Earth’s Blue Aura Launches its Indiegogo Campaign to Address Desertification and Climate Change

By: AB Newswire Earth’s Blue Aura, LLC, an environmental technology firm based in Louisville, Kentucky, has launched its crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, focusing on the severe issues of frequent, prolonged drought and its effect on desertification and climate change. Since its establishment in 2019 by Dr. Arpan Jain, Earth’s Blue Aura has been developing sustainable methods to […] Earth’s…

[himalayatreats]

Our company’s sincere and effective approach for nature conservation and restoration campaign in Himalayan country Nepal. Nature conservation has been crucial like never before in this age of time as the catastrophic climate change impacts are visible right in front of us in the form of deadly desertification, flash floods, sea level rise or loss of snow in Himalayas or many other visible and invisible forms. We must unite together to fight against climate change.

[hardynwa]

NGO distributes 20,000 tree seedlings to Boko Haram survivors in Adamawa LG

A Non-governmental organisation, Iliya Kwache Foundation, has distributed another batch of 20,000 tree seedlings to survivors of the Boko Haram insurgency in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State to combat climate change and improve the living conditions of residents of the area. Chairman, Board of Trustees, of the Foundation, Iliya Kwache, who contested under the Labour Party for the Michika/Madagali Federal Constituency seat but lost, said he undertook the regular tree planting exercise, through his foundation to address desert encroachment and protection of the environment against the impact of Climate change in the area. The foundation distributed 20,000 tree seedlings, which included Mahogany, black plum, Shea butter, olive tree, and economic trees, for free to residents during its mass tree planting campaign. The goal of the campaign was to improve the living conditions of survivors of the insurgency. The beneficiaries were encouraged to plant the seedlings. Kwache charged the government to create a conducive atmosphere for the citizens who are returning back to their homelands after being forced to flee from the insurgency. He also suggested a day to be set aside as National Tree Planting to address climate change during the mass tree planting exercise by the foundation. He said, “We suggest the Federal government of Nigeria create a Ministry for Tree planting and declare a “National Tree Planting Day annually. Trees are the best attack and best defence against climate change and global warming as the benefits are enormous. During the tree planting exercise, some stakeholders pledged to support the convener’s campaign to protect the environment by opposing the activities of tree loggers. District Head of Michika, Ngida Zakawa promised the support of traditional institutions in tackling the indiscriminate cutting of trees. He said this would be done by deploying vigilantes to help enforce the directive of the state governor outlawing the cutting of trees for charcoal fuel. “We have been telling our people that whoever is caught cutting down trees will face the music as directed by the governor. We are ready to direct vigilantes to enforce the governor’s directive,” Zakawa stated. Lama Luka another beneficiary of the tree seedlings distributed during the mass tree-planting campaign praised the effort of the environmentalist. He said the mass tree planting exercise will help to restore the lost glory of the environment and curb fast encroaching desertification. Read the full article

[abigailshorel5]

WWF Campaigns

https://www.trendhunter.com/slideshow/wwf-campaigns

WWF have created some effective campaigns raising awareness to climate change. I have found that they are so successful because they use powerful imagery and very limited type. 

Stop Climate Change Before it Changes You

2008 WWF campaign to bring awareness to climate change by mutating into a fish, it is saying that reverse evolution may occur in response to ice melting at an alarming rate

Disintegrating Animals 

2011 campaign to bring awareness to the negative impacts animals are going through due to climate change, in particular species going extinct. ‘Desertification destroys 6000 species every year’, the visuals in the campaign show the animals turning into dust reminiscent of a desert. 

Forest as Lungs

This campaign was to create awareness for deforestation. It is a powerful image that shows the damage that is being done and the importance trees have to our oxygen.

Horrifying Campaign

It is showing that a world with a shark/snake is scary but a world without them would be scarier. 

#lastselfie

Don’t destroy their life for your pleasure

[worldnotobaccoday]

Grow food; Not Tobacco.

Tobacco growing harms our health, the health of farmers and the planet’s health. The tobacco industry interferes with attempts to substitute tobacco growing, contributing to the global food crisis.

The World No-Tobacco Day 2023 campaign encourages governments to end tobacco growing subsidies and use the savings to support farmers to switch to more sustainable crops that improve food security and nutrition. 

Campaign objectives

Mobilize governments to end subsidies on tobacco growing and use of savings for crop substitution programmes that support farmers to switch and improve food security and nutrition.

Raise awareness in tobacco farming communities about the benefits of moving away from tobacco and growing sustainable crops;

Support efforts to combat desertification and environmental degradation by decreasing tobacco farming;

Expose industry efforts to obstruct sustainable livelihoods work.

The key measure of campaign success would be the number of governments that pledge to end subsidies on tobacco growing.

[theoppositeofprofound]

I’m going a wild about John again, because imagine. You are a little boy born in Aotearoa in 2005 or 2006. Not very poor but not very rich, you grow up playing with hand me down toys your mum played with decades ago, buying your best friend down the street mince pies cause your allowance is a little bigger than his. You’re Māori and proud of it but you’re only tv-and-preschool conversational in Te Reo, you know your descent by heart but you also once won a bet with it. You love the earth the way everyone does, fiercely but absently. You love people so much it sometimes hurts. You’re young and so certain you’re going to change the world. This is the generation!

You’re also very, very clever, so clever that you get a scholarship to an expensive boy’s school your nana could never afford on her own. You wow all the teachers, stay at the top of the pack, pick up a glib attitude to fend off any attacks, learn a certain disdain for your crueler, more entitled classmates. The strength of your grades keeps you at top unis all the way through your terminal degree and you learn to loathe the rich kids who buy a new iPad every year and assume they’ll always have a escape from the consequences of their actions. Between academics you do a bit of light activism, some climate strikes, some protests.

After all, you’ve grown up in a world slowly dying and your youthful certainty that this is the generation to fix things is giving way to mild panic. Nothing you can’t joke about on twitter, but enough to have you rethinking your career. People are dying out there.

You devote everything to medicine, do a few years with the Peace Corp, see the victims of the first droughts and floods. You help develop a more method of freezing food-to cut down on global transportation costs, reduce emissions, reduce global food shortages. It never gets fully implemented because companies don’t want to switch over, no incentive they say. You campaign in that for years. As you do you start to think, what if we could freeze people instead of food? Save them, put them on ice until the earth can heal. You make more contacts in the medical field, an enterprising duo working in human cryogenetics who haven’t already gone to suck up to the fat cats. Your collaborative research shows great promise with victims of acute injury but you’re still working on scale and a few other kinks.

In the meantime, your earth is dying. You see your own country begin to drown. The extinctions kick into full gear, the Great Barrier Reef goes two decades earlier than anticipated. The human population hits 10 billion by the time you’re thirty five, as birth control availability gets scarce in crisis hit areas. Desertification exacerbates starvation. The last typhoon season kicked off a refugee crisis that turned your own nation—your own nation!— nasty with selfishness.

It’s getting harder and harder to justify putting humans on ice on earth, not when their security could be so easily compromised. Mars is a nonstarter, only idiots try to go to Mars. No, you have to look farther. You stake your whole career on a plan as reckless as it is brilliant and you’re so sure that for once the world will go right! This is the generation that will save the world, and just in the nick of time.

They cancel your project, they shutter your facilities. They give no true explanation, only a refusal. For the first time in your life you know despair, true and absolute.

And for a moment in that heartbreak, that bubbling, scorching fury, you feel an echo of the planet’s pain. A child of the land, raised on promises that you alone can protect the earth, you find that for once you’ve been given a miracle.

[1solone]

For all of you guys getting anxious about the environment and pollution.

y’all deserve to hear the good news too, and yes i fact checked these.

7 miles of habitat for bees will be planted in london.

the biggest coal plant in north america has been converted to solar panels.

roads in edinburgh will close once a month to help pollution.

the bees in notre dame survived the fire, and the roof could possibly built in a more eco-friendly way.

106 new species of bees have been discovered in australia since 2010.

China plans on making a “forest city” to help clean up their air.

A national park has been built in the amazon (3.3 mil acres in peru) to preserve the rainforest.

There is a cleanup campaign being planned for mt. everest.

20 countries in africa are planning to make a “green wall” of trees and plants that will span the width of africa to stop desertification.