The Foundation has been following the progress of the Trans African Caravan of Hope as it makes its way to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa.
The Foundation has been following the progress of the Trans African Caravan of Hope as it makes its way to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa. The Caravan, a convoy made up of almost 300 civil society, activists, environmental scientists, farmers and journalists is travelling across Africa on a 17 day journey to bring its message to COP17.
The Caravan has been organised by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) with the aim of creating awareness about the impacts of climate change and to highlight the testimonies and stories of how it is affecting African people. Travelling through 10 countries, the caravan will pick up members in each country it stops.
Along the way, it is aiming to bring its message to as many people as possible and is holding events such as concerts, a tree-planting ceremony and a climate walk. It is also gathering signatures for the Africa People’s Petition, which is calling on heads of state and policy makers to take urgent action domestically and internationally to cut greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change. The Caravan will hand the petition to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, Ms Maite Nkona-Mashabane, who is also the incoming president of COP17.
President of the Foundation, Mary Robinson, will meet the Caravan when it arrives in Durban ahead of COP17. Mary Robinson said:
“Climate change poses serious challenges for many poor people in African countries and impacts on the continent’s agriculture and food security. The hosting of this year’s Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework on Climate Change by South Africa, is an opportunity to highlight and address these challenges. I wish the Trans African Caravan of Hope all the best on its journey to Durban and in its efforts to bring real live African stories of coping and resilience to the world’s attention in the run-up to COP17.”
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You can follow the progress of the Caravan of Hope on the blog TransAfricanCaravanofHope.blogspot.com