(pictures taken by temmy temmy our reporter from iringa)
we all know that Climate Change is now considered one of the most serious global threats to sustainable development, with diverse impact already vivid on the environment, human health, food security, human settlements, economic activities, natural resources and physical infra structure.
To empower broadcasters in addressing this issue, which is attributed either directly or indirectly to human activity that alters atmospheric composition, a special training was provided in Dar Es Salaam by the Thomson Foundation, to a group of eighteen Radio Broadcasters from various parts ofTanzania, from 21-25 November 2011. It was organized by the British High Commission. I represented both, Mtwara Community Radio, and the Journalists Environment and HIV/Aids Network, (JEAN-media) a non-profit service that is a driving force behind the community Radio.
Way forward after this would be raising awareness to community on Climate Change and it’s impacts to livelihoods especially through Radio Broadcasts, and specifically targeted to policy and decision makers, so as to enhance adaptation through financial resources from developed countries, to meet the incremental costs. (National Adaptation Plan of Action) This is in accordance to theTanzania status of negotiations and outstanding issues forDurban.(COP 17) by the Vice Presidents Office.
Activists like The Civil Society Forum established in 2009, pointed out in their presentation ‘Climate Change And Politics,’ some challenges hindering the way forward in following up of Adaptation Plans as being among others, lack of transparency and accountability of leaders especially in the African Region, of course Tanzania inclusive. This is a task which we jointly need to accomplish, before we are able to use funding opportunities available, such as foreign sources of funds like the general budget support from a group of donors like International Multilateral Fund (UNFCCC, GEF, AF) Green Climate Fund, (GCF) Special Climate Change Fund, (SCCF) and Loans and Grants from the International and Regional Financial Institutions.
Creating Community Awareness
What should be understood is that it’s the Green House Effect that makes life on earth possible, and that without Natural Green House Gases in the atmosphere, the Average Temperature of the earth would be 30 degrees Celsius lower. Actually, after the earth has used the heat it needs, surplus heat needs to be reflected back to the atmosphere, to prevent global warming. But due to human activities, we have been producing more and more heat, trapping gases into the atmosphere, raising the average global temperature, and thereby over the years, causing Climate Change!
Because of the magnitude of the the problem already created such as increased impacts including droughts, death of animals due to droughts, water shortage, floods, (the Bibi Tititi /Morogoro road,) sea level rise, (Maziwa Island) degraded sea walls, (Pangani) and degraded sea walls along Ocean Road, we all need to do everything possible to tackle this global problem, looking for alternative means, making Climate Change ‘Live,’ not theoretical, since no matter where we generate the heat on earth, the dangerous effect will be felt globally. 
Human activities resulting to smoke and production of Carbon Dioxide; (Cooking by charcoal and fire wood as well as clearing waste by burning) contributes to blockage of heat from leaving the atmosphere, and hence warming the earth. There is need to stop the average temperature of the earth (which is 0.5 degrees centigrade world wide and 1.0 degrees centigrade in Sub Saharan Africa.) at 2degrees centigrade, since it’s already too late to stop it any earlier, due to the speed involved. Option? Adaptation!
Creating awareness On Community Adaptation.
Since of the many challenges surrounding Climate Change issue, is the low community awareness, and above all it is not easy to change people’s behavior over night, Community Radio must strive to raise awareness through Dramatic, lively, interesting and outstanding Radio Programmes to interest the people. Special techniques must be applied specifically Community participation involving farmers and women all the way, for joint successful solutions, such as switching to the use of bio-gas for cooking, etc. We must involve farmers because bear one understands the weather as well as they do, given the opportunity to contribute. Creative Radio Programmes must be about ‘showing’ not telling, recreating tension, as Radio is always about Drama!
Besides that, we must all come up with ideas from a special interesting angle in our areas, be it on issues of gender, women (who are most affected by Climate Change as their men leave home in search of work in towns) and children. After ideas are looked into, we may combine them into a special magazine programme comprised of information on a particular topic from where everybody resides. We could get this into news by Social media before or after broadcasting it at our stations.
For example, we pick a topic on the REDD Initiative. (Reduced Emissions for Deforestation andForestDegradation.) so as to reduce Carbon Dioxide produced by cutting of trees and other hazards related de forestation in our areas. Everyone will choose an angle and create his story. The best idea will be used by all of us, to produce interviews, or reports with community, environmental activists, metrological experts, United Nations Agencies, Vice Presidents office etc based on our findings. After that, we somehow put together a unique mixture of information in a unique Climate Change magazine programme!
so far the local media has not played a satisfactory role in addressing this issue either towards COP 17 or after. which makes this very sad
jean media is on the move following up on the environmental hazards through our reporters ho attended this training.
Na ASIA KILAMBWANDA, Dar es salaam.
Asia Kilambwanda (Envaya field assistance) leo amekuja kutembelea ofisi yao kuu ya Envaya iliyopo katika jengo la sayansi eneo la kijitonyama (maji machafu), jijini Dar es salaam.
Wananchi watakiwa kutunza mazingira
Na ASIA KILAMBWANDA, Mtwara
Wananchi Mkoani Mtwara wametakiwa kutotupa taka hovyo hususani katika maeneo ya pwani ya bahari ya bandari ya Mtwara na badala yake watunze na kuhifadhi maeneo hayo kwa kuwa ni sehemu ya vivutio vinavyoingiza pato la Taifa kwa ajili ya vizazi vya sasa na vijavyo.
"Pwani ya Mtwara imepata athari kutokana na watu wengi kutupa taka hususani mifuko ya plastiki na chupa za maji hali hii inatokana na watu wengi kutokuwa na elimu ya mazingira",alisema Okachu.
Kauli hiyo imetokana na katibu wa Occupational safety Health and Environment (OSHE), Melessy Edward Okachu wakati akiongea na waandishi wa Habari katika ofisi yake iliyopo katika bandari ya Mtwara kuhusu ushiriki wao katika kuadhimisha siku ya Mazingira ambayo itafikia kilele chake tarehe 5 mwezi wa 6 mwaka huu.
Aidha Okachu amesema kuwa tatizo la uchafuzi wa mazingira linatokana na wananchi kwa idadi kubwa ya wananchi wasio na elimu ya mazingira jambo ambalo amelitaja kuwa changamoto inayotakiwa kufanyiwa kazi kwa haraka. 
Tafiti zinaonekana kuwa asilimia kubwa ya upatikanaji wa maji yanatokana na uwepo wa mazingira yaliyojitosheleza kwa kukidhi mahitaji hivyo watu wanatakiwa kubuni njia mbalimbali za kukabiliana na uharibifu wa mazingira.
Wakati wa uandaaji wa mkakati wa kukuza uchumi na kupunguza umaskini (MKUKUTA wa kwanza na wapili) wadau wa mazingira walijalibu kubuni njia za kukabiliana na uhalibifu wa mazingira mbinu hizo zililenga kupunguza idadi ya watu wanaotuma kuni na mkaa asilimia 90 hadi 80.
Aidha athari zinazotokana na kuwepo uharibifu wa mazingira n pamoja na uharibifu wa tabaka la hewa ya ozone, magonjwa ya ngozi , ongezeko la Joto , ukame na mabadiliko ya tabia ya nchi.
Ndazigula: Walimu hakikisheni idadi ya wasiojua kusoma kuandika inapungua
Na ASIA KILAMBWANDA
Mwenyekiti wa halmashauri ya Mtwara vijijini Musa Saidi Ndazigula amewataka walimu kuhakikisha idadi ya wanafunzi wasiojua kusoma na kuandika inapungua au kutoweka kabisa kwa kuhakikisha anajitioa kutumia muda wa ziada kuwasaidai wanafunzi wasiojua kusoma na kuandika .
Ndazigula amesema hayo katika ufunguzi wa mafunzo ya siku 4 ya waalimu wa darasa la kwanza na la pili katika halmashauri ya wilaya ya Mtwara vijijini yenye lengo la kuwafundisha mbinu bora za ufundishaji wa madarasa ya kwanza na yaq pili yaliyo chini ya shirika la kuhuduma watot UNICEF.
Ameongeza kuwa Halmashauri ya Mtwra vijijini jumla ya wanafunzi 46440 kati ya hao wanafunzi wasiojua kusoma ni , kuandika na kuhesabu ni 3400 huku akiwataja waalimu kuwa chanzo kikubwa cha idadi hiyo.
Aidha Ndazigula ametaka waalimukupitia kwa kina changamoto zinazo wakabili katika utekelezaji wa elimu katika Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Mtwara na kuibua mbimu na mikakakti imara itakayo wasidia kuboresha hali ya taaluma
Kwa niaba ya upande wa washirika wa mafunzo ya hayo wametajam changamota zinazoikabili sekta ya elimu kwa kuwa na idadi ya kubwa ya watoto wasiojua kusoma , kuandika na kuhesabu katika halmashauri ya Mtwara vijijini kuwa ni pamoja na umasikini , uelewa mdogo wa wazazi , mlundikano watoto darasani na baadhi ya watoto kuto taka kuandika .
Kwa mujibu wa taarifa iliyotolewa na Ndazigula imesema kuwa kabla ya lkuanza kwa mpango wa Maendeleo ya Elimu ya msingi (MMEM), Karibu nusu ya watoto wenye kustshili kuingia shule ya msingi hawakuwa wakiandikishwa shuleni kila mwaka na zaidi ya hapo watoto wenye umri mkubwas wa miaka 8-13 walikuwa waiandikishwa kuanza darasa la kwanza sambamba na wale wenye umri wa miaka 7 hali hii ilisababishakwepo kwa idadi ya kubwa ya watoto wanaokadiriwa kufikia takribani milioni 2.5wanaokosa elimu ya na wale wanaoachashule kabla ya kumaliza darasa la saba.
WWF, VICOBA MKOMBOZI WA MAZINGIRA MTWARA,
Na ASIA KILAMBWANDA, Mtwara
Katika kufahamu umuhimu wa mazingira na jinsi ya uharibifu wa mali asili ilivyo wadau wa mazingira wakishirikiana na Serikali wanafanya jitihada au njia mbadala za kukomesha uharibifu huo.
Mtwara ni Mkoa unaotambulika kwa kuwa na rasilimali nyingi za kimaendeleo zinazopaswa kulindwa na kutunzwa hususani maeneo yaliyokaribu na bahari pamoja na misitu, hivyo basi endapo maeneo hayo hayatotunzwa yanaweza kuhatarisha hali ya Uchumi wa Mkoa na Taifa nzima.
Kutokana na hali hii Shirika la Kimataifa linaloshughulika na utunzaji wa mazingira na maendeleo ya Jamii la World Wide Fund for a living planet (WWD) wakishrikiana na shirika linaloshughulikia mikakati ya maendeleo ya kijamii na kiuchumi la Social and Economic Development Initiatives of Tanzania (SEDIT) Wanaweza kuanzisha mfumo wa kibenki wa kuweka na kukopa ujulikanao kama Village Community Banks (VICOBA) ambavyo vinalenga kuwakwamua na wanachi katika hali duni ya maisha na kuhuisha eneo la Hifadhi ya Bahari ya Ghuba ya Mnazi na Maingiliano yam to Ruvuma ambalo litakuwa hatarini kutoweka kutokana na wakazi wengi wa meneo hayo kutegemea zaidi Rasilimali Bahari katika kuendesha maisha yao ya kila siku.
Kupitia tathmini inayofanywa na Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa SEDIT, Benson Wadelanga katika eneo la Hifadhi chini ya Meneja wa mradi Mkoani Mtwara Elias Mungaya inaonesha mfumo wa kumiliki unendesha na WWF katika eneo la hifadhi umeondesha mafanikio makubwa kutoka na mwamko wa wananchi katika kuendesha shughuli za kimaendeleo mbali na rasilimali bahari kama biashara ndogondogo zinazojumuisha ufugaji wa nyuki, ufugaji wa samaki, kuuza nyanya (mbogamboga) sabuni, kuku, mgahawa, nguo na maandazi.
Miradi mingine ni pamoja na uvuvi, kilimo cha mpunga, muhogo, korosho, mahindi na mazao mengine ya biashara na chakula.
Pia mradi wa VICOBA umeweza kuwafanya jamii ya eneo la hifadhi kuondakana na utegemezi kutokana na kupenda kujishughulisha jambao amabaoo limewafanya baadhi ya vikundi kikiwemo cha Juhudi katika kijiji cha Tangazo waweze kufikia hatua ya kununua gari ya kubebea mizigo Mei 6, 2011 lenye namba za Usajili T767ADA aina ya Iruzu, vikundi vingine vina miradi ya ufugaji wa ng’ombe wa maziwa na ujenzi wa Ofisi kwa ajili ya kuendeshea miradi yao.
Kama ilivyo kawaida palipo mafanikio hapakosi changamoto, baadhi ya changamoto zinazowakabili jamii iishio eleo la hifadhi na pamoja na kutokuwaq na eleimu ya mazingira, elimu ndogo ya ujasiliamali na hata wale walio ndani ya mfumo wa VICOBA kuwa waoga kwa kufanya biashara zao binafsi kutokana na mazoea ya kutegemea rasilimali bahari.
Hali ambayo Wadelanga ilimsikitisha na kulazimika kuwatia moyo wanakikundi wa kila kikundi cha VICOBA alivyokifanyia tathmini ya mendeleo tangu vianzishwe mwaka 2008.
Hifadhi ya Bahari ya Ghuba ya Mnazi na Mainglio ya Mto Ruvuma kuna takribani vijiji 11 ambavyo kwa ujumla kinakadiriwa kuwa na watu wapatao 30,000 wanaishi kuzunguka enelo la uhifadhi chini ya mradi wa maendleo ya jamii na matumizi endelevu ya rasilimali za bahari.
Kwa mujibu wa Wadelanga VICOBA ni mfumo wa kuweka na kukopa unaolenga kumuendeleza mwnanchi mwenye kipato kidogo katika kujikwamua kiuchumi mfumo wa VICOBA uliibuliwa mara ya kwanza nchini Naija Afrika Magaribi kwa msaada wa shirika la CARE International, 1991 ambao ulijulikana kama mata masu Dubara (MMD) wenye maana ya jitihada za kinamama katika kutafuta maendeleo.
Baada ya mfumo huu kuonesha mafanikio nchi zijulikanazo kama West Nile yaani Zimbabwe, Msumbiji, Uganda na ile ya Eritrea ziliiga mfumo huu ambako pia umeweza kuondsha mafanikio katika kuinua hali ya kipato cha watu wenye hali duni.
Aidha hapa nchini mufumo huu uliingizwa kwa msaada wa Shirika la Care Tanzania na kuendeshwa mara ya kwanza katika Visiwa vya Unguja na Pemba, Zanzibar, baada ya kupata mafanikio makubwa ndipo mfumo huu ukaanza kuenezwa na wakufunzi wa shirika la SEDIT katika maeneo mbalimbali ya Tanzania bara kwa msaada wa taasis, Halmashauri za Wilaya na Mashirika mbalimbali ya kimaendolo.
Kwa upande wa Mkoa wa Mtwara shughuli ya kuratibu mfumo wa VICOBA ndani ya eneo la Hifadhi ya bahari ya Ghuba ya Mnazi na maingili yam to Ruvuma inatekelezwa kwa ushirikiano wa karibu kati ya WWF, Hifadhi ya Bahari (Marine Park), Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Mtwara pamoja na asasi isiyo ya kiserikali iitwayo kikundi mwavuli Mtwara (KIMWAM).
Hatupaswi kubeza jitihada za WWF katika kuinua miradi mbadala ya kukwamua hali ya uhalibifu wa mazingira kwa kubuni miradi ya kimaendeleo kwa jamii yenye hali ya chini.
“tangu tupate elimu ya ujasiliamali na utunzaji wa mazingira katika eneo la uhifadhi na hata maeneo yanayotuzunguka kumeweza kumudu maisha pasipo kutegemea rasilimali za bahari kama vile kuvua kwa kutumia nyavu zenye matundu madodo/uvuvi harama au uvuvi wa makokoto kama wengine wanavyofahamu), kukatamiti ovyo na kuchoma misitu kwa niaba ya matumizi ya mkaa na uchomaji wa chokaa badala yake tumeweza kutunza mazingira na nyanzo vya maji kwa kupanda miti na kufanya biashara tofauti na mazingira ya bahari”, ni kauli ya Hassan Mwarabu mmoja wa mwanakikundi cha Juhudi kilichopo kijiji cha Tangazo Mkoani Mtwara kati ya vikundi 30 vya VICOBA vilivyounda na WWF na SEDIT kuzunguka eneo la Hifadhi.
Aidha kwa kupunguza utegemezi wa bahari kwa kutengeza mabwawa wanavicoba kwa kushirikiana na wanakijiji wanasimamia shughuli za uhamishishaji wa upandaji wa miti na kusiriki katika sherehe za mzaingira.
Ukipitia rejea uharibifu wa mazingira umechangia kwa kiasi kikubwa kukauka kwa vyanzo vya maji ambavyo ni chanzo kikubwa cha nishati ya umeme ambayo husaidia kurahisisha shughuli mbalimbali za maendleo na kwa matumizi ya jamii kama kupika chakula.
Awali miaka ya 1961 maji yliyojitosheleza katika mabwawa ya kuzalishia umeme na kuwezesha kupaikana kwa megawati 4,700 kwa mujibu wa tafiti zilizofanywa na wataalamu wa mazingira kutokashiriki la mpango wa maendeleo la Umoja wa Mataifa (UNDP) ambapo kwa sasa tafiti zinaonesha vyanzo vya maji vinaonesha kuzalisha asilimia 560 tu hali ambayo haipaswi kufumbua macho.
Wakati wa wandaaji wa Mkakati wa kukuza uchumi na kupungza umasikini (MKUKUTA) wadau walijaribu kubuni njia za kukabiliana na uhalibifu wa mazingira, mbinu hizo zililenga kupunguza idadi ya watu wanaotumia kuni kutoka asilimia 90 hadi 80 kwa MKUKUTA-I wa mwaka 2003, mbinu ambazo zililegnga kurudisha baadhi ya asili ya mazingira ambazo hazikufanikiwa kwani katika mapitio ya MKUKUTA wa kwanza hali ilionesha watumiaji kuni ulifikia asilimia 99 mwishoni mwa mwaka 2009.
Wakati MKUKUTA wa kwanza haukufanikiwa kupungza uharibifu, MKUKUTA –II umeibuka na adhima ya MKUKUTA -1 wa kupunguza watumiaji wa nishati ya kuni katoka asilimia 90 hadi 80 ikizingatiwa kuwa suala la uhifahi wa mazingira si la serikali pekee bali ni la ushirika kati ya serikali na jamii kwa ujumla.
Moja kati ya madhara makubwa yanayotokana na uharibufu wa mazingira ni ongezeko la joto (Global Warming) linalosababisha uharibifu na tabaka la hewa ya OZONI.
Tabaka la Ozoni (ozone layer) ni blanketi lililo juu ya uso wa dunia linalosaidia kuzuia mionzi mikali ya jua (utra-violet-rays) isifikie anga ya dunia bila kuchujwa.
Uharibifu wa tabaka la hewa ya ozone husababisha kuruhusu mionzi ya jua aina ya utraxiolet b kufika ardhini na kusababisha magonjwa ya kansa ya ngozi, uharibufu wa macho kama vile motto wa jicho ambao baada yae husababisha upofu, upunfufu wa kinga na magonjwa mengine ya ngozi, pia ongezeko la joto linalotokana na uharibifu wa ozone ni kuathiri fiziolojia ya mimea na mabadiliko ya tabia nchi kama vile kukauka kwa vyanzo vya maji, mimea na jangwa.
Vitu vinavyosababisha uharibu wa takala la hewa ya ozone unatokana na gesi zinazotumika katika majokofu, viyoyozi, vifaa vy kuzimia moto chuma utengenezaji magodoro, uchomaji takataka moshi wa viwanjani, kemikali na dawa zinazotumika kuhifadhi nafaka katika maghala, vitalu vya tumbaku na kilimo chamaua.
Kuelimisha na kuhamasisha umma kuhusu umuhum wa tabaka la hewa ya Ozoni na uharibifu wa mazingira na athari zake kwa kizazi cha sasa na baadaye na athari zake kwa kizazi cha sasa na badaye ni jambo la muhimu katika kuhfadhi takala hilo.
Aidha kila mdau wa Mazinga anapaswa kuwepoka kuingia gisi zisizorafiki wa mazingira ambazo zimepiigwa marukuku kuingia nchini na vifaa vinavyotumia gesi hizo kama vile majokofu na kiyoyozi vilivyotumika (Mitumba).
Mambo ya kuzingatia katika kuhifadhi mazingira na Takaba la ozone; Nunua bidhaa zilizowekwa nembo isemayo “Rafiki wa mazingira (Ozoni)”.
Kutumia njia mbadala za kuhifadhi mazingira ni sehemu ya kuokoa uharibifu wa mzaingra, hivyo basi huhudi za WWF na SEDIT katika kutoa mafunzo ya shughuli za kibeki vijijini (VICOBA) ni sehemu muhimu inayolenga kuwakwamua wananchi na kuwafanya waweze kuyalinda mazingira katika uhai kama upandaji miti na vinavyofanana navyo.
Kumbuka kwamba inawezekana kuokoa mazingira na anga isiangamie endapo kila mmoja atatimiza wajibu wake. Juhudi zozote za kupunguza matumizi ya kemikali hizo zitaleta matokeo ya manufaa kwenye urejeshi wa tabaka la ozone katika hail ya kawaida. Juhudi za kila mmoja wetu zinatakiwa ili kupunguza na kuondosha madhara haya yanayosababishwa na bidhaa tunazonunua majumbani au sehemu za biashara.