Environment conservation; the new focus.

Environment conservation; the new focus.

Last week I had a visit to Upperhill, up the hill literally, for Nairobians. At this time of the year, the temperatures are pretty unfriendly. For the work environment close to the Railways Sports Club, still it feels cool and breezy. The golf club stands next to the Nairobi Lunar Park on Haille Selassie Avenue.

While I was coming back to town, I came eye to eye with some rather unique scenery which made me wonder a little. Most of the trees that stood at the corner next to the club, as you move towards Ng’ong road just before the NSSF headquarters, have been cut. I wondered why they had to be cut at such a time when we are facing a dry spell. Further injury is that I didn’t see any new trees that had been planted.

With these thoughts racing through my head, I recalled something Moon Express CEO Naveen Jain said to his son. His eldest son had told him that he will make more than he, Naveen, had made. Instead of the dad telling him, “Ok. Go ahead and do it,” he gave him a different path to walk.

He told his son that he will be pleased by the many hearts he will touch, and the many lives he will be able to transform. Value to humanity was his greatest challenge to his son. The son saw the importance of this and took it head-on.

Seeing the trees cut down, with no new ones planted, I pitied posterity. We need to always look ahead of time. Our policies are always written by individuals who least look at tomorrow. Looking at the moment only especially in policy formulation is unethical.

Another problem is that the people who sign these policies don’t do so for the sake of the future but rather for that instant moment. Prof. Wangari Mathai saw the value of Uhuru Park long before her time. Mulla Jevanjee too saw the iconic Jevanjee gardens ahead of his time. We better start seeing ahead of our time.

What next?

I, for example, expect the country’s government to consider urban planning key as the century draws along. Any development should not be done anyhow for the sake of development. Compromising some critical aspects as natural resources for the sake of some developments that do not add equal value is immoral. We have explanations to give to our children about the resources we didn’t guard as given by our ancestors and as created by God.

Going forward, our goals need to rotate about natural resource conservation. We need to in a lot of ways look at climate change from a different perspective. Our focus should revolve around our contribution toward natural resource conservation as opposed to our group contribution. If we took the time and realized that we have many generations to come, we could be more serious. If we become more united and peaceful, we could focus more on such pertinent issues as climate change.

Our politics have always been that of the same monkeys and same forests. Sleeping and waking up normally as if everything is perfectly right. The funny things we do is ask, “What can we do now?” and forget that we are the highest in the primate hierarchy.

We mar what we have when we are expected to conserve and protect it. The Monkeys, Lions, Elephants, Leopards, Gazelles, and the many more wild animals expect us in a sense to care for them. What do we do to them instead? Destroy their habitats, Kill them and make them victims of circumstances. By destroying their habitats, we are destroying ours too.

Climate change and changing weather patterns are a result of our actions. Whatever we ought to do, we need to do it fast. Whatever can work towards conserving the environment and changing it to the paradise it used to be, we better do it and do it smartly.

Let us go back and study how the city of Babylon did it despite being a desert. How they were able to turn things around to their favor should be our new way of thinking. In as much as we are turning to deserts more than we are reclaiming our glamour, we can still do something. It starts with me and you. See what you can do for this noble cause and do it pretty prudently.

Copyright @2017

Geoffrey Ndege

Geoffrey Ndege

Geoffrey Ndege is the Editor and topical contributor for the Daily Focus. He writes in the areas of Science, Manufacturing, Technology, Innovation, Governance, Management and International Emerging Issues. For featuring, promotions or support, reach out to us at info@dailyfocus.co.ke
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x