Kenyan Lilian Ikal Angelei Wins Environmental Goldman Prize 2012

Lilian Ikal Angelei is probably little known in her backyard Kenya however for the people of Turkana she is an acclaimed  recusant fighting for the rights and the voice of the voiceless community against formidable financial institutions and Governments that have little or no regard for the welfare of the people dependent on Lake Turkana for their livelihood So who is Lilian Ikal Angelei one of the the recipients of the 2012 Goldman Environmental Prize : the worlds largest prize honoring grassroots environmental activist?
Who is She?
For one she is the founder and a Director of Friends of Lake Turkana  a non profit engaged in the conservation of the Lake Turkana especially against the recent proposed development and Construction by the Ethiopian  Government of the Gibe 3 Dam along the River Ormo, the source of 90 percent of Lake Turkana’s water. The Gibe 3 Dam, if completed, would be the largest hydroelectric plant in Africa, and the fourth largest in the world and it is expected to cause the lake’s water level to drop by as much as 23 to 33 feet within the first five years, depleting fish stocks and depriving communities of a critical source of potable water in this desert environment.

This development is likely to heighten resource conflicts and poverty between the communities largely dependent on the lake for their livelihood.






What She Has Accomplished So Far !

Apart from winning this prestigious award and recognition, Lilian Ikal Angelei has been true to her cause helping the marginalized communities living in the Turkana region to stem the ominous tide heading their way by successfully convincing major banks, including the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the African Development Bank, to withdraw their considerations for financing of the Gibe 3 Dam. The Dam is almost 40 percent complete at present and her gallant efforts have necessitated the Ethiopian government to seek additional funding elsewhere.

 So far only ICBC, a large commercial bank from China, has approved a $500 million loan for the dam’s equipment . Ikal has held the bank to account for its destructive project in the international media, and continues to do so. Even in China, ICBC’s decision is now being considered a case of lacking corporate social responsibility. A few weeks ago, the Chinese government directed its banks to align overseas projects with “international best practices” on social and environmental risks.

She is at present lobbying the Kenyan Government to pull out of the project as Kenya was slotted to purchase one-third of the electricity generated by the dam.For this she is to be lauded as a heroine with much foresight.Indeed while the desire to generate and increase the capacity of the Ethiopian Government to provide electricity is a beneficial venture, it must be done in an Eco friendly and sustainable manner taking into consideration the needs of the communities dependent on the Lake Turkana for their livelihood.

Congratulations Ikal Angelei continue voicing the voices of the voiceless  majority!

Ecotourism in Kenya

Ecotourism refers to responsible tourism practices within the tourism industry; this entails adoption of best sustainable practices in the use of tourism resources by involving the local communities in the use of resources and management of tourism wastes.

According to Wikipedia Ecotourism is basically: 

"a form of tourism involving visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds for ecological conservation, to directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities, or to foster respect for different cultures and for human rights"

Although ecotourism may be relatively new in Africa, its growth in Kenya is spectacular. In fact, Kenya was chosen by the United Nations as the venue of the first African  Ecotourism conference in 2002, this is because it is the original home of African Safari. 

It is not surprising that he world’s top-most promising tourism project have emerged from Kenya; with initiatives that have empowered local communities (as custodians of their natural resources)to make use of their natural resources and has encouraged recycling of tourism waste.

Kenya's ecotourism industry first drew international attention in 1997, when the now-famous community lodge at Il' Ngwesi was a runner-up in British Airways' prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow awards. In the four years since, two other properties - Tortilis Camp in Amboseli and Ol Donyo Wuas in the Chyulu Hills - have also been honoured in the awards. Il' Ngwesi (for more info please visit the website)has gone on to become a model for community tourism projects across Africa. 

 

These developments have led to the establishment of a Leadership Mentoring Programme which empowers its members by enlightening them on the fundamentals and best practices of ecotourism. This program blends the academic and professional aspects of ecotourism with the practical aspect which impresses on empowering local communities to own ecotourism projects hence making the project sustainable. 

 

Ecotourism Kenya has launched an Eco-Rating Scheme which certifies tourism accommodation facilities based on environmental and social criteria.

(Guest post by Pamela of Mapambo Decor Blog)