Kenya Justice Cafe Report

[Joseph Waweru]

Kenya Justice Café event Held on 17th October 2010 at St. Patrick Catholic Church Youth Hall at 3.00 pm

Brief Summary from the host.

The justice café was very successful. At first getting started was challenging due to the following:

1. The participants had not understood the concept and therefore getting along at first was a challenge.
2. By the due start time, only three participants had arrived.
3. Participants could not relate how climate change could affect them at a local level and therefore could not relate their role in the same.
4. Participants thought that matters of climate change were supposed to be deliberated in international conferences.

After understanding the concept, the interactive section was very interesting and it took us three hours instead of the stipulated one and a quarter hours. In fact, the café continued until it got dark.Overall, I would term it as a success and am sure the next café will see a bigger turnout. The café also came up with recommendations which include advocacy on climate change, embarking on widespread afforestation programs to mention but a few which will be rolled out in the near future.



Introduction

Justice Café is an initiative of IJPC with YIN being the host in Kenya
YIN has been working on various youth programs both in the Rural and Urban areas
The Host took participants through justice café guidelines.
One of the participants was asked to take the members through the checklist of the order and timelines of every activity.
The host read out the topic of discussion for the month of October, which was climate change.

Open Forum

Members shared out what they understood by climate with each giving out their views but arrived at this unanimous conclusion:


Climate change are effects experienced due to the depletion of ozone layer which results from the concentration of the greenhouse gases (water vapor, CO2etc) which trap infrared radiations thus cause the greenhouse effect. This effect is a natural phenomenon, which helps maintain a stable temperature and climate on Earth. Human activities, such as fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and some industrial processes have led to an increase in greenhouse gases concentration. Consequently, more infrared radiation has been captured in the atmosphere, which causes changes in the air temperature, precipitation patterns, sea-level rise, and melting of glaciers (global warming).

Local examples of climate change experiences:

1. Snowing in Nyahururu last year (Rift Valley Province of Kenya) which is unheard-of phenomenon in the history of Kenya
2. Continuous and unpredictable floods in Northern parts of Kenya and especially in Marsabit with widespread destruction
3. Typhoons sweeping out fish and deaths of Flamingos in the lakes eg Lake Nakuru.

Reactions from conversation starter questions

• Destruction of the ecosystems and widespread carbon emissions will see lakes and rivers dry up in fifty years.
• Human habitation of forest areas will see forests vanish within the same period eg.Kieni forest in Gatundu has over 200,000 inhabitants to date.
• Tortoise presence in an area makes it not rain, which is a misconception.

Proposed Appropriate Remedies (PAR)

• Ensuring that every citizen is enlightened on climate change issues which includes inclusive and detailed cover of the same in the schools’ curriculum (advocacy)
• Upcoming industries ensure they have frameworks that minimize/reducing carbon emissions
• Advocacy to start from the top downwards so that climate change issues are factored in the policy making process

Ideas for action

• Embark on massive afforestation programs by the café to show a good example which will eventually lead to others joining up.
• Replacement of every tree cut by planting three
• Advocating for enforcement of the existing laws on environment
• Imposing hefty fines to people who cut trees as for fun.

Concluding Remarks from participants

“Am enlightened and pledge to take action”-Christian Mwema

“Am delighted at this opportunity to share out with others with global minds and promise to share out this information I got today with my peers”-Boniface Mungai

“I have understood better matters climate change.inorder to counter the effects of climate change,we need to change our ways which calls for sacrifices today for the sake of generations to come”-William Mwangi

“I have learnt a lot. The rest is only to put to practice the information obtained”-Bernard Kinuthia

“I have gotten a broader perspective of climate change.Will enlighten others and encourage them to take action”-Josephine Njeri

“This was an awesome experience. I have understood how the big guys spoil the environment at the expense of the poor. I appreciate I have a role to play at a personal level”-Ann Wanjiru

“Am excited at seeing people join the intiative.With the same spirit impact is inevitable”-Raphael Wanjaria

“The positive attitude and response in encouraging. Lets put the deliberations in to practice”-Joseph Waweru

“I will go out and share the information with friends. Will also encourage them to attend next month’s justice café”-Hilda

[Raphael Wanjaria Njararuhi]

It is a great start.Now we have a brilliant working team,they understand the concept and they will be part of it till the end.

[Joseph Waweru]

This was an amazing start.With everything set rolling cant wait the next cafe with this awesome team