If you’re an environmentalist, read this.
What is my role as an environmentalist? This is the question I found myself asking as I walked through Bus Station on Thursday last week. The place was a sight for sore eyes. The drainage was blocked with garbage and the air stunk to the high heavens. What has always astonished me, and continues to
Be part of the anti-litter movement
As an anti-litter activist in Kenya, every time I see somebody litter, I have to talk to them about it. The conversation usually starts like this: “Habari yako? Nimeona umetupa peel yako ya ndizi (ama chupa ama yoghurt) after umemalizia. Unaona kama umefanya kitu nzuri? (English: Hello? I’ve seen that you’ve thrown away your banana
Lesson from Rwanda: Should poverty be an excuse to be dirty?
Two weeks ago, I saw a doormat written, “Did you call first?” I found it to be very funny because it reminded me of a behaviour that human beings have pertaining to house visits. There are many reasons why people like to be called in advance before they’re visited. In my experience, I’ve found these
Three reasons why plastic recycling doesn’t work in Kenya.
Recycling is seen as an easy and fairly popular way of mitigating climate change in the world. And Kenya has not been left behind since we use a lot of plastic in our daily lives. Each year, Nairobi generates over half a million tons of plastic waste. Out of this, only 15% is recycled and, only
Three insights from our July 2019 cleanups
On Saturday 27th July 2019, we, Mazingira Safi Initiative (MSI) held our first cleanup of 2019. This was done in partnership with the Nairobi County Council Environmental Department of the Kilimani Ward. It was an exciting venture not only for the organizers but also for the MSI and NCC volunteers who were involved. We swept
How to talk with children about climate change.
Recently, I asked myself what I was doing when I was sixteen years old. The trigger for this question was the realization that teens of today, like Greta Thunberg and other young people, are fighting battles I never had to fight. My memories are still as fresh as just brushed teeth. At sixteen, I was
The Role of the Internet in Environmental Conservation
Mobile phone penetration in Kenya has crossed the 100% mark. This is according to the Communications Authority of Kenya, which also stated that customer subscription has hit 46.6 million. Yes, you read that right. 46.6 million Kenyans have a mobile phone. In addition to that, internet penetration is at a whooping 84% with 43.3 million
How to Conduct a Successful Cleanup with the NCC
On the 27th of July 2019, MSI will be having its first cleanup of 2019; 28th cleanup as a movement. Using our experience, we share how you can organize one with your team. GUIDING FACTS Safety and credibility are the most important aspects. It should be as fun as it is purposeful. TIME FRAME &
Where is God in this era of climate change?
“Where is God in this era of climate change?” That’s the question I found myself asking last week after reading yet another sad report on the state of the earth, and how we’re doomed if we do nothing. Environmental news lately has been nothing but worrying. With every piece of news I read, I think
Let’s be serious about recycling or forget about it
In the 1990s, as China grew to be one of the biggest manufacturers globally, it began importing plastic waste from countries with the aim of recycling it. With 45 per cent of the plastic waste landing within its borders, it effectively became the global plastic trash can. Many countries found it cheaper to ship their