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For many people a new year means burying the past and beginning afresh. To some it means letting go of the bad habits and practices and starting working on healthier ones. Some sit down with a paper and a pen to jot down their new resolutions which at times they don’t accomplish at the end of the year or they only accomplish a half if not a quarter of those resolutions. The question is how many have given a little thought to those bad minor practices that end up causing havoc to our heritage-the environment?

Five million African children are facing death due to malnutrition, hunger and poor environmental conditions. Africa is rich with many different resources but Africans are poor. Droughts, hunger, floods and other natural calamities have become a normal thing in Africa which used not to be the case in the past. Most people believe its due to rich nations that we face these calamities. I like one of the Nigeria sayings that says, ‘ignorance is a killer disease, it will eat to consume you’. Ignoring the simple things we do like throwing chewing gums anywhere, sticking it under the table and so on instead of throwing it into the dustbins, can cause great negative effects to the environment. As youths and even the parents and the old, let us be responsible in what we do and more specifically in conserving our forests, and environments because if we don’t care about our environment, then who will? Be responsible and you will see great rewards from the environment.

It is with great distress to hear a senior official say that forests have no bearing on the rain because while rains comes from the clouds, the forest is on the ground. This I term it as a higher order of ignorance and self centeredness. We are a continent facing calamities of drought, poor food security and poverty by choice. The 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Wangari Maathai said, “If we don’t take care of the environment, it will take care of you in a very harsh way”. This is where we are. My fellow youths, we have a choice to make. Our choice is to be disciplined, preserve and improve our environment- the real heritage from our creator. Our different religious books state clearly that man was given the duty to take care of the environment. The year is still fresh, we have the strength and every reason to make a choice to guard and improve our environment.

All African nations need to ensure sustainable, exploitation, utilization, management and conservation of the environment and its natural resources and the equitable sharing of the accruing benefits. The states should ensure that social and cultural values traditionally applied by African communities for sustainable management of the environment and natural resources are observed. Any rules that concern the conservation of our heritage should be observed at individual and community levels.

My grandma once told me if I cut down a tree, I should plant two or more so that I can use it in future in constructing my house. Remember this was an illiterate old woman but she knew the importance of conserving the environment. Most of us youths don’t know this. Imagine if our ancestors did not replace the trees the cut. I am sure we could be in worst conditions than the ones we are right now.

I believe this article will touch someone and together we can make our environment a better place to live but one thing we youths should know is that change begins with you and me. It can be done play your part. I welcome your response. Thank you.

Felix Mwake- Youth