Hotstuff Chillout Diary

Project Ideas

erutta83@hotmail.com — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:58:10 +0000

Students in Cornelius would like to do the following as their project in education people in Tanzania about climate change:

· They would like to produce a series or drama about climate change which will involve students acting on various issues that cause climate change such cutting down trees, use of charcoal and wood in cooking and others. The drams or series then is taken to National TV and shown monthly or weekly to educate people about climate change.

· They want to go and raise money for Tree planting campaign in Dar es Salaam where they will stand in entrance gates of famous shopping Mall in Dar es Salaam known as Mlimani City and give coupon for each person that will be entering in Mall and pay for 500 Tanzania Shillings as his/her contribution in raising money for Tree planting campaign. The raised money will be used to buy trees that will be planted in Dar es Salaam. During this event Cornelius students will be wearing T-shirts with messages about climate change and Bill Boards with messages to take action on tackling climate change.

· They want to establish TAYEN Picnic park that will be planted with various species of trees and flowers and with playing games for Children.. The park will be used as tourist place where people will come and stay with their children and families and pay a small amount of money when visiting.

· Plant tress in round circle of the junction of Sam Nujoma and Chuo Kikuu roads, this tree nursery will be managed by TAYEN and later employ people to take care of it.

· Organize debate competition for TAYEN member schools to debate about various topics about climate change, winners be given awards like books about climate change, student school bags and others.

Climate change to hit the poorest people hardest

Sun, 31 May 2009 22:57:11 +0000

Speaking during the Civil Society Climate change forum held in Dar es Salaam yesterday (26th May 2009), an official from the Environment Department in the Vice-President's Office, Ms Emelda Adam, said that impact of global warming have manifested in the country and were affecting all sectors of the economy. She said that agriculture, water, and health sectors were the most vulnerable and affected by climate change. She said that Tanzania like any other least developed country was more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and hence the need for developing countries to take the lead in supporting adaptation of measures put in place to curb the problem. Ms Adam said that cooperation between developed and developing countries in technology development and transfer was key to mitigate climate change effects. She said that rich countries have largely created the climate crisis but it was the poor countries that were most hit by its consequences, yet they were least able to cope with the climate change disasters.

Mwakilasa: Man who dreams biodiesel fuel

Sun, 31 May 2009 22:28:06 +0000

This is an article read in the newspaper The Citizen, Dar Es Salaam He is a man working hard to promote biodiesel as an alternative for fossil fuels, increasingly blamed throughout the world for causing climate change.

Michael Mwakilasa picked interest about bodiesel from a friend, Anthony Park while in the United States where he lived and worked for more than 10 years.

Mwakilasa, who is married with two sons, last year founded Mafuta Sasa Biodiesel Ltd, which is headquartred in Dar es Salaam. Anthony Park is a co-director in the company.

He says their accompany has set up a mini-refinery that has so far produced 330 litres on test runs. Biodiesel is extracted from fresh or waste vegetable oils. It's an environmentally safe, low pollution fuel for most internal combustion and turbine diesel engines.

They plan to use mainly oil produced from the 'Jatropha Caucas' plant, known in Kiswahili as 'Mbono Kaburi,' which he says is good opportunity for another cash crop that won't compete with food crops for both financial and land resources.

Jatropha Caucas, he says, grows in marginal lands, rarely used for growing other food and cash crops. It also thrives in areas with low rainfall totals, which could be another good economic opportunity for semi-arid regions, he adds.

"I decided to return in response to the call by President Jakaya Kikwete to Tanzanians in the Diaspora to come back and invest in our national economy," he says.

Jatropha Caucas grows well in areas with rainfall ranging from "250 mm to 2350mm. His company would provide farmers with quality seeds, he says.

"I have seen people live by Jatropha Caucas farming in developed countries, and I can bet it shall be the same way in Tanzania when farmers start cultivating the plant," says the soft-spoken man.

But Mwakilasa says biodiesel can also be extracted from discarded cooking oil, especially from large-scale operations like hotels and the fish market in Magogoni in the city.

Producing biodiesel has very good potential to provide employment and create jobs in rural areas. He envisages a day when biodiesel will replace fossil fuels in schools and hospitals. Farms near schools could also be part of income generating projects.

Floods to hit region hard, officials say

Sun, 31 May 2009 22:26:22 +0000

The Citizen, Dar Es Salaam, By Zephania Ubwani, Arusha

The East African region is facing a severe drought and floods due to climate change, a senior official of the regional bloc said yesterday.

Mr Juma Mwapachu, the East African Community (EAC) secretary-general said the region needs urgent support to mitigate global warming.

He was speaking during a consultation meeting with a delegation from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

All the five EAC member states are currently engaged in climate change roundtable discussions aimed at gathering and incorporating their views in the EAC Climate change Master Plan.

The plan is aimed at addressing the region�s climate change detection, vulnerability, mitigation strategies and adaptation measures.

Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi are all signatories to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, an international environmental treaty seeking to address global warming.

Mr Mwapachu urged the Swedish government to assist the EAC finalise and implement the masterplan, which has stalled due to lack of funds, saying the region faced a major threat from climate change.

Drought, floods, high temperatures caused by deforestation are some of the effects of climate change, which is usually seen as resulting from human activity.

Dar es Salaam means \"House of Peace\" in Arabic.

Sun, 31 May 2009 22:17:31 +0000

Things we really enjoy are many. We as girls of Cornelius we like and enjoy swimming, singing, sports, listening to music, chatting using mobile phones and have time to relax. Swimming is a very relaxing activity but we all know that without clean environment with fresh air, swimming won’t be relaxing. Then in order to enjoy swimming will not be relaxing. At Cornelius Girl’s secondary school we have a chance to do things we enjoy. Since our school is a boarding school the school has good timetable for those who enjoy sports they go for sports everyday after classes, and for those who like swimming ask for permission to go swimming to the Beach on Saturdays or Sundays, however for those who enjoy chatting with mobile phones have no chance enjoying chatting we are not allowed to use/own mobile phones.

what do they know about climate change?

Sun, 31 May 2009 22:08:16 +0000

Our school is a boarding school so was asked to school Staff what they know about climate change. These are their answers: Headmaster (Mr. Sagata): I think Climate change is the rise and fall of weather condition, the changes are happening in the globe and the effects may be positive or negative. Our Class Teacher (Mr. Tesha): For sure I don’t know anything concerning Geography because I am a Biology and Chemistry teacher. Our School Secretary (Ms. Eveline): I think climate change is due to weather change but I am not very sure. Our Librarian (Mr. Ambele): I am not concerned about climate change Our Computer Teacher (Mr. Caesar): What I know is that we human beings are the ones destroying the environment, due to human activities and that’s all. Our Store Keeper (Mr.Mangi): I think my environment is not suitable for me because I am surrounded by papers everywhere. Our School Chef (Mr. Ngosha): Because I am the school chef, I always experience smoke around me, truly I don’t know where exactly that smoke goes and it affects the climate. Our School Cleaner ( Ms. Rehema): I don’t know and I have no idea concerning climate change the only thing I know is to sweep the school environment. Our School Matron (Ms. Lydia): I know nothing about climate change and climatic condition but I would like you to teach me. Our School Nurse (Ms. Mary): Please don’t disturb me because I have a lot to do