About Annette!
She is from Uganda, East Africa, and is a climate activist. She started out about 5 years ago inspired by her love for nature, and also by news that shocked her. In 2008, environmental strains led to crop failure in Maharashtra, India. In reaction to this, farmers committed suicide. The pain of this news awoke her fighting spirit, and she has been on her journey of activism ever since.
Some of the environmental campaigns that are close to Annette’s heart include: The domestic use of plastic: “If you can’t reuse it, don’t use it." She also creates awareness through her email signatures.
Annette’s parents and family have been supportive of her climate activism. However, her community has not. Even so, she has created awareness by informing, mentoring, encouraging others to ‘join in' and take action.
In her community, she has worked with laywomen, young girls and the youth. Many of them now know about climate change, and the challenges it poses. They are encouraged to be part of the solution to rescue the planet.
In addition, Annette has had NGOs reach out to her for the online/digital support of their activities. Therefore, despite the health crisis, she remains focused on her journey.
She has engaged her agency to address pollutive operations of Coca-cola and Mukwano plastics in Uganda.
With regard to climate awareness, she says she would rate Ugandans as a ‘7’ on a scale of 1 to 10. ‘1’ representing zero awareness and ‘10’ representing utmost awareness.
She says the level of awareness in her community affects her activism, because there is a lack of appreciation for her efforts. When asked whether the level of awareness in urban is more than that in rural areas, she said no, it’s not.
The challenges she has encountered as an activist in Africa include: high expectations from upcoming activists, political interference, insecurity, limited financial support and commercialized activism which interferes with ‘real’ activism.
When asked if African activists were willing to work with each other for the continent, Annette said ‘no’. However, she added that funding of strictly networked activism groups would improve the chances of collaboration among them.
Q&A
What is your definition of Ubuntu in activism?
Ubuntu in activism, is working together as one in activism. But this is still figurative and does not currently exist in Africa.
Regarding a post-covid ‘just’ recovery (an ongoing topic of discussion) please describe the better new normal Africa that you wish for:
An Africa focused more on technological advancements that solve our problems, that encourage less construction, that limit unnecessary movement and that render the gathering of people in order to execute plans, redundant.
You are part of a community tasked with rebuilding Africa for a better new normal Africa, what skills do you hold that you believe to be useful?
Training the community on computer skills, in order to equip them with knowledge on how to use ICT, at least the basics.
Why is awareness for climate change in Africa important?
With more awareness on climate change, its causes, its impact and how to become resilient, there would be a window of opportunity to rescue what remains of our natural resources
If we fight climate change, with coordinated action everywhere, Africa will:
Will be able to rescue a few of its ‘God-given’ resources, that are currently endangered.