PRESS STATEMENT ON WORLD EARTH DAY 2024
(Kampala – April 22, 2024) On the occasion of the World Earth Day, we join Ugandans to recognize steps the government is taking to ensure a greater focus on environmental protection. However, it is clear the urgency of the environmental challenges we face calls for an even greater commitment and more comprehensive measures to protect our environment. This year’s theme “Planet vs. Plastics,” highlights the health and environmental hazards posed by plastics. Recently, we have witnessed the National Environmental Authority (NEMA) intensify its efforts to protect the environment, cracking down on activities that destroy our wetlands, which serve as crucial water catchment areas. However, plastic waste remains a significant challenge. The pervasive use of plastics and their improper disposal pose a severe threat to our environment, including wetlands. It’s important that we implement robust waste management strategies and promote the use of more eco-friendly alternatives to plastic. We have all experienced how climate change has affected our weather patterns, registering one of the hottest periods and extreme weather events, in some cases causing flooding, deaths and displacements. Environmental protection is everyone’s duty. However, there are individuals – Environmental Human Rights Defenders (EHRDs) – who have dedicated themselves to this cause and are increasingly under threat. We have seen how protestors, who raise environmental concerns about the potential unmitigated effects of East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline Project (EACOP), continue to be arrested in a highhanded manner. On this important day, we call for respect for the fundamental rights of EHRDs to expression, association and assembly as they stand up #ForTheEnvironment. As Green Deal, we welcome the recent positive statements from the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, made while launching the Patriotism Environment Protection Campaign at Kitebi Senior Secondary School in Rubaga Division, Kampala District on Friday April 19, 2024, on conservation of wetlands and protection of the Environment. This follow similar remarks made by the President on February 2, 2024 during commemoration of World Wetland Day in Gulu where he called for citizen protection of wetlands. He was represented by the General duties minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba. The fight to save and conserve the “EARTH” is a responsibility we all share. Let us continually commit to protecting the Earth in our day-to-day activities. As Green Deal, we remain available to collaborate with Government line Ministries, Departments and Agencies towards protection of the Environment. We, like other EHRDs, continue to stand up #ForTheEnvironment.
For more information please contact: info@greendealglobal.org
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