…stand against gas flaring
Women resident in Eleme, a hub of heavy hydrocarbon industries in Nigeria, have taken a stand against gas flaring and other environmental pollution created by oil and gas industries in the area.
The women, organized under the umbrella of Mba Okase Eleme Initiative, on Saturday played two commemorative novelty football matches at the RSTV grounds, Elelenwo and Ascension High School, Ogale to pass on their message.
The event was also part of signature collection exercise for the African group attending this year’s Conference of Parties (COP) taking place in Azerbaijan.
The Coordinator of Mba Okase Eleme Initiative, Dr. Patience Osaroejiji, told National Point that last Saturday’s event was called Climate Caravan, which was all about climate change, gas flaring and pollution from extractive and chemical companies in the environment.
“We are talking about the impact of the pollution and the impact the flaring has caused women. You know women are at the brunt of every pollution and every crisis that happens around us. That is why today, we happen to do this programme called, Climate Caravan, just to show and say the kind of problems that women have.
“In those days, you didn’t see women with cancer in our environment here. But if you go around the communities, you will find women with cancer and early menopause for young girls who have not reached the age of 30, 40. They are in menopause. And then for men, it causes them low sperm count and then low erection; for the children and the elderly, respiratory problems. That is why we came together today to celebrate this occasion,” Dr. Osaroejiji said.
She said the use of football was done to create awareness. “We are celebrating for the world to come to our aid because with regard to the gas flaring, there are many things they can do with gas flaring. Overseas, you won’t see any gas flaring because they convert it to help every home to use gas.
“As it is flaring, it is causing us danger. So, why did they just leave it like that to be flaring? We need them to convert it into what it is supposed to be.”
Mr. Mike Karikpo of Natural Justice and member of African Activists for Climate Justice, one of the supporters of the Climate Caravan programme, said, “We are looking at the COP that is going to start in Azerbaijan on the 9th. This is part of our own gathering of signatures and opinions and positions that we want to present as Africans.
“Today’s event is to show how women who are engaged in normal activities are impacted by the gas flares you see behind us there. There are two gas flares behind us. For each gas flare there is scientific study that shows that 30 kilometres radius of each gas flare point is impacted by the toxic cocktail of dangerous gases that are released during flaring of gas.”
Climate Caravan in Nigeria is supported by Oxfam in Nigeria, and African Activists for Climate Justice.
