Mulday Mondays: Water Forums and Fukushima

JAPAN

“Fake it till you make it....
”

— The philosophy of Japan since the sun

…JAPAN WILL ALWAYS HAVE ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON EVERYTHING

The rest of the world sees this image if you say “Fukoshima Daiichi”

AP Photo

THREE YEARS AGO: THE PERCEPTION OF THE JAPANESE BUSINESS MAN

“Yes, Water from the same area......

I would like to try some. ”

— Buddha be a fence and filtration system on kidneys.

TODAY: GREENPEACE REPORT ON FUKUSHIMA

“ There are 16,280,000,000,000,000,000,000 Bq of potassium-40, rubidium-87 and many more radionuclides already in the world’s oceans and anything from Fukushima won’t affect these levels at all.”

— Scientist, James Conca

The plan is to slowly release the TREATED water into the pacific ocean. The pacific ocean has some other pressing issues and this will not be the reason for massive fish death or “disruption” to the ecosystem.
By the way, for massive fish deaths, just take a look at Australia. We have an interesting video below on the reasons behind these catastrophic deaths.

“Great Britain’s National Radiological Protection Board
(NRPB) predicts that there will be up to 1,000 additional
cancers over the next 70 years among the population of Western Europe exposed to fallout from the accident at Chernobyl. ”

— U.S EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

LET us PLAY the ADVOCATE for the DEVIL…

Increasingly, we notice that international organizations are becoming stronger non state actors in state affairs. However, there is a pick and choose attitude towards this “care for the environment and people”.

Where is the Greenpeace outrage on the United States Pacific Ocean States constantly recycling the pacific? As you filter the pacific, it gets saltier and can you guess the damage to the ecosystem?

The Mekong River and the South China Sea did not exactly blossom from the U.S administration’s use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War or “Conflict”

RESPONSE FROM JAPAN

WATER FORUMS IN AFRICA AND ASIA…

UGANDA

Kampala will host the 20th Congress of the African Water Association with over 2000 actors expected to discuss and provide solutions on WASH concerns from a scientific and technical lens.

KOREA INTERNATIONAL WATER WEEK
Daegu, September 4-7

Just another example of South Korea displaying middle power behavior. The title is not just earned because a state is geographically in the middle of two different size states or on paper(economically speaking). The state must invest in forums and conferences that invite the world to deal with security matters such as water.

Korea International Water Week

Cape Verde-1st International Forum on Water Scarcity in Agriculture
Praia, March 19-22

This small island state is becoming more active in engagement through small state niche diplomacy. This forum will focus on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and West African States. The aim is to understand water scarcity in agriculture and capitalize on it for sustainable development, food and nutrition security, and tackling climate change. They will focus on six core areas: Water and Migration, Drought Preparedness, Mechanisms, Water and Nutrition, Sustainable Agriculture Water Use and Saline Agriculture. 

South Africa- Transforming Sanitation in Africa
Capetown, February 18-22

The Regional power will be hosting a water related conference. AfricanSan5 and FSM5 are the organizations behind this event of looking at Sustainability, Policies,Funding, Practices of Sanitation.

SIDEBAR

The focus of this blog is always on Africa and Asia but every now and then we get alarming news from our neighboring continents.

Australia is experiencing a very bipolar version of mother nature and a combination of human stupidity. There are mass fish deaths in some rivers with reports of over 1 million in a few weeks. Another concern is the raising temperatures in Australia with temperatures ranging from 1130°C (113°F) to 50°C (122°F) .

See you next Mulday!

Muldays-Blue Economics & Africa: OverFishing

Institute of Security Studies(ISS)

Our topic for the day

“What is Blue Economics?
All that comes from the (Maritime Sector) that is used for economic development (Sustainable or not)”

— Water & Cassava

Try not to fall for greenwashing arguments that make this two seem the same. 

“What is greenwashing?
Think of all the lieeeeeeeeeeeeees, gloss and shiny companies use to promote “enviormental safe or friendly products””

— Water & Cassava

“What is Green Economics?
These are economies that have a primary focus to push for sustainable development by reducing environmental risks and scarcities. ”

— Water & Cassava

Africa Blue Economics might sound like another cool term that so called environmentalist or millennials have coined to simply describe the Ocean Economy but the current dynamics of Africa Blue Economics is truly deeply concerning. 

“Did you know that 70% of African countries have coastlines?”

— -Water & Cassava

The term Cassava Economics used under Cassava Diplomacy is based on African countries looking inwards for innovation and sustainability. The African Blue Economics surrounding the fishing sector with Africa Coastline countries could contribute to not just innovation and sustainability but also improve economic and social stability. 

“So between 2000 and 2011, 64 percent of China’s average annual catches, valued at more than $7 billion, came from West Africa?????
#WTF”

— The Pew Chritable Trust

“So we have to feed all of you because you will not invest in birth control?

I argue the same of Africa States that do not want to speak about birth control?

There are about 15 different ways to go about Birth Control!! ”

— ABI LEF WA FISH OOO

SOLUTIONS...NOT PROBLEMS???

AFRICAN UNION SOLUTION 

The African Union Solution has a strategy that for sure by 2050 will be in effect. The AU is quite depressing but anyway, please take a look below.

“The “2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy)” consists of the overarching, concerted and coherent long-term multilayered plans of actions that will achieve the objectives of the AU to enhance maritime viability for a prosperous Africa.”

— So when we are the fish have died....

The primary victims here are the coastal communities that are bearing the beatings from the overfishing and acidification of the ocean, but the African Union is aiming for 2050. These communities are never considered during the development and design of such policies. There is also the issue with pollution coupled with the overfishing, you get real security concerns and migration movements that can only best be described as chaotic. African coastal countries should focus on their unique eco-systems by researching what works best for their unique communities. 

“Hollistic route towards the coastal communities”

— Water & Cassava

UGALI DIPLOMACY OF KENYA & BLUE ECONOMICS

Kenya has decided to be proactive in their commitments and not reactive by having policies within their blue economics that aim for better options. The Kenyan Government in September 2016 established The Department of Fisheries and Blue Economy in the Ministry of Agriculture. This is exactly why Kenya will always maintain regional hegemony, other countries go towards a reactive approach, Kenya relies on frameworks, science and policy.

“The Africa Maritime Industry is located in 38 coastal states including Cape Verde, Sao Tomé and Principe, Mauritius, Seychelles and the Comoros profits $1 trillion per year”

— Water & Cassava

President Uhuru Kenyatta has hailed the new Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development in Africa signed Saturday in Lome Togo during the extra-ordinary summit on maritime security. Kenyatta termed the move by Africa to entrench the charter as the continent's commitment to international peace and security.

To know more, this link will take you to the Kenya Institute of Public Research

SEYCHELLES WILL NOT BE IGNORED

Read below to understand  more on the Seychelles Blue Economy Strategic Roadmap

SOUTH AFRICA, WHAT SAY YOU?

South Africa has adopted a policy, Operation Phakisa that focuses on four primary areas: marine transport and manufacturing, offshore oil and gas exploration, aquaculture and marine protection services.

“Captain Nemo would not like this....”

— Sci-Fi lover here, I had to plug in the Captain

 

 

What are African Countries Lacking?

Polices & Governance
Teamwork makes the dream work! Unified frameworks would help such as mulitlateral agreements. 
 

Coastal Law Enforcements
Look, I am not suggesting shooting to kill people. Heaven you should restrain from killing, however if deadly force must be applied….

United States
Take a trip to Alaska and just start overfishing and attempt hostility, Go on and try….
 

International & National Law
These laws are here for a reason!

Mandatory Registration, Permits for Fisheries
This is not a drive thru fast food joint, you are not going to have it your way

Surveillance
 CCTV for the Seas & Up to date technologies
 

CORRUPTION
I will let Uncle Bob speak on this to you

"Build your penitentiary, we build your schools" now can you hear "Build your coastlines, Build your communities"..

. 

Bob Marley - Crazy Baldhead (Live)

MORE SOLUTIONS PLEASE!

African Charter on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa (Lomé Charter)

The Committee of Permanent Representatives (PRC) of the African Union on Tuesday adopted the Lome Charter on Safety, Security and Development in Africa; ahead of the summit of Heads of State on maritime safety planned this Saturday in the Togolese capital.

“Blue Economics also includes: Offshore oil and Gas Production”

— It ain't about just the Fish......-Water & Cassava

“Africa looses $2 billion to illegal fishing
”

— Speechless all 54 states

There is also the Yaounde Code of Conduct for West Africa and Djibouti Code of Conduct aimed to curb the criminality behaviors of the seas.

Enjoy this article on China and West Africa Fisheries

Africa must be responsible for her oceans not other state actors. No blame game here just the dyanamics. 

From all of us at ESE & SEGYE, handle your antibiotics with  care

To Watch Educational Videos and understand the imporatance of this week

See you next Mulday!