The Raiding Lizard

How can I express how much I love you, if you’re so apathetic. The distance doesn’t help either.  

My anger continues…

Went on a recent rant about Jatropha and what they’re planning to do in Tana Delta. One company had the nerve to twist my words like I support their work when its bloody far from it. In response to their claims I said, that the eviction of the villagers to make way for a sugar cane plantation for a wider land grab going on in Kenya’s Tana Delta is darn right shameful. Not only pushing people off plots they have farmed for generations, stealing their water resources and raising tribal tensions that many fear will escalate into war, but also destroying a unique wetland habitat that is home to hundreds of rare and spectacular birds. Haven’t heard back from them. Cowards.

Reasons to support Local tribes against the Jatropha Project in Tana Delta, Kenya

It is now apparent that private companies are using threats to silence those who are opposed to massive developments in Tana Delta in Kenya. In the last month, Mr. Hajj Idris Bakero, a religious leader in Garsen Division, received death threats, presumably for his opposition to a jatropha project in the area.

On September 9th 2011, his wife Hamida Kori found a black plastic bag at the main gate to her compound, in it was petrol in a small plastic bag, four rounds of ammunition for an M16 Gun, and a warning note.
Translated, the note warned the cleric not to continue “barking “about the project or else “these four bullets will get into your body, we will burn your wife and children with petrol so that your name disappears forever.” This threat has now been reported to the Kenyan Police.

The previous week, officials of Bedford Biofuel, a foreign investor planning to grow Jatropha plantations on local group ranches, held a meeting at Hamesa estate in Garsen Township to collect views from the public. These meetings were meant to convince the local people that there is value in Jatropha growing. It was at this meeting that Mr. Bakero raised concerns that the project might affect future generations.

Bedford Biofuels, a Canadian Company was granted a licence by the government agency in Kenya to plant Jatropha on 10,000 hectares of the Delta. However, there was intense opposition to this move by Nature Kenya (BirdLife in Kenya) and other environmental organisations. It is now widely expected that the Bedford licence will be revoked and hence these frantic efforts.
In the recent past, many studies have shown that growing of Jatropha has failed in a massive scale in Africa, Asia and Latin America. It has also been shown that the proliferation of Jatropha and other biofuels is contributing to food insecurity and loss of biodiversity.

via www.birdlife.org

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I really should be doing my work instead of being here, but then I should have been doing a field work report in April, the deadline is on the 28th and I haven’t done anything! Not sure how many words is needed (I’m such a mess).

Instead, my friend is coming over and we’re going to play card games, I never been into it but recently have been! Its actually quite fun! He’s got a Star Wars set card games, fittingly for May the fourth. After watch a movie (probably do the entire Star Wars Episode marathon).

Haven’t felt fully relaxed! Especially that I be travelling on my own for the first time! I generally don’t mind but the more sooner the date comes the more anxious I get! I’m guessing that’s perfectly normal, the last time I been on a plane was when I was 16 with my parents, trip to Northern India and Nepal. Luckily the flight is only 2 hours (not bad right?) I should start acting like a 21 year old! Aaah okay I feel a lot better now! Kinda…