Monday 31 October 2016

The Role of Young People in Climate Change Issues

By Thabiso Makhurane


"The most important thing about global warming is this. Whether humans are responsible for the bulk of climate change is going to be left to the scientists, but it’s all of our responsibility to leave this planet in better shape for the future generations than we found it.” Mike Huckabee

Climate change is by far the most serious, recurrent challenge facing Zimbabwe as it adversely impacts on the sustainable livelihood and well-being of the current and future generation. Climate change has resulted in increased temperatures, heat waves, altered rainfall patterns, drought, diminished natural resources and depleted environments. These changes have enormously affected the economic, social, environmental health and national security. The impact of climate change is that it has plunged communities into poverty, hunger and vulnerability. As leaders of today and tomorrow, young people have a crucial role to play towards addressing climate change issues.

Young people are the largest demographics in the world and the first generation to feel the impact of climate change. Young people are also the most economically active group, have the monopoly of the latest technology, access to information, education and numerous opportunities. If the world is to curb the global challenge of climate change, the honors fall on young people to take the leading role in such issues. The role of young people in addressing the challenge of climate change involves them steering climate change research, education or awareness, information dissemination, adaptation and mitigation initiatives.

The role of young people in climate change research involves them coming up with area specific information about the impact of climate change in specific localities. Research thus entails young people coming up with localized climate change information. Young people also hold the responsibility of creating climate change awareness and education. This entails going back to their communities, education them about the cause and impact of climate change. Since young people have monopoly of the latest technology, they occupy a central role in climate change information dissemination. Young people have the responsible of dissemination information through the various social media platforms. The role of young people in addressing climate change also involves them coming up with adaptation as well as mitigation initiatives. Adaptation initiatives involve ways of reducing people’s vulnerability to climate change while mitigation involves slowing the process of climate change through initiatives like afforestation.

The role that young people play in steering climate change initiatives cannot be overemphasized. Young people have enormous power, energy and potential to initiative social change and create a better tomorrow for the current and future generation to come. Young people are agents of social change and occupy a central role in the addressing the global challenge of climate change.

Sunday 30 October 2016

A Call to Civic Leadership

By Angelinah Chiwonerwa


"You can not teach an old dog new tricks", so they say. Well, this does not mean that we should not at least try to "teach", or try to eradicate the bad thoughts and ideologies that some people hold about community development. This does not mean that we should fold our hands and watch the society's morals go down the drain.

It is time to ask the appropriate questions , "What can we do for our country?", not, "What can our country do for us?". We are rolling the sleeves and getting our hands dirty. This is a call to CIVIC LEADERSHIP.

Civic leadership? Yes... CIVIC LEADERSHIP!
You have to offer a helping hand in the development of your community and nation at large.You make a decision to be part of the solution providers.You cease to be the team leader for those who are waiting for someone to catch a fish for them and feed them.You are out there teaching people how to fish. It reminds me of a Chinese proverb, Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

The unemployment rate in Zimbabwe is at alarming levels and the youths are greatly affected. This is not the time to play the blame game, blaming the government and other leaders. It is the time for young people to wake up and smell the coffee.Wake up! If jobs can not be provided to you, you need to create them. Remember, you are the "future" and this "future" begins now. You went to school to get an education to become something. NOW BECOME that thing. Education is there to open your mind to infinity possibilities. Do not wait for someone to come and feed you. In these hard times, young people have to rise. As Maya Angelou recited it:
 
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise

Zimbabwean young people should be actively engaged in community building and nation resuscitation. With whatever you have, you can make a difference. Our nation has a strong sense of  "UBUNTU",  humanity to others. Let us work on maintaining that as young people. You may not be formally employed but that does not mean you do not have the skills to help your community. YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE. THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR YOU. Other young people offer mentorship sessions to students in high schools. That is impact! Others volunteer in different projects. Mr Rabison Shumba works with young people in his initiative "Touching Lives". Hope has been restored, dreams birthed and nurtured as this team knocks on doors with solutions. You can not afford to be doing nothing. This is a call to civic responsibility, civic leadership... answer it! Remember - Nothing About us Without us.