TAMKO LA LEAT KULAANI JARIBIO LA KUMUUA NDUGU TUNDU ANTIPHAS MUGHWAI LISSU

Ndugu. Tundu Antiphas Mughwai Lissu

Timu ya Wanasheria Watetezi wa Mazingira kwa Vitendo (LEAT) imepokea kwa mshituko na simanzi kubwa jaribio la kumuua Ndugu Tundu Antiphas Mughwai Lissu huko Dodoma mnamo tarehe 7 Septemba 2017. Jaribio hilo si tu ni la kinyama bali lilitendwa kwa lengo moja tu, kumuua Ndugu Lissu.

Waliotenda jaribio hilo, na wale waliowatuma, walilenga kumnyamazisha milele Tundu Lissu. LEAT inasema kuwa wote hao ni watu waovu ambao hawana hata chembe ya utu kwani dhamira zao zimekufa. Damu ya Lissu waliyoimwaga itaendelea kuwalilia na kuwaandama wao na vizazi vyao. Damu yake, kwa upande mwingine, itawachochea Watanzania na wapenda haki na amani kusema ukweli wakati wote bila woga.

Ndugu Lissu alifanya kazi nasi hapa LEAT kwa kipindi cha miaka 10 (1998-2008) na katika miaka hiyo alishiriki kwa ujasiri na ufahamu mkubwa katika kampeni mbali mbali za kupigania utunzaji bora wa mazingira na maliasili za nchi yetu. Aidha, alishiriki katika kampeni za kufichua jinsi ambavyo madini ya nchi yetu yalikuwa yanaporwa kupitia mikataba mibovu ya madini pamoja na sheria mbovu za madini, kodi, na mauzo. Aliwasemea bila woga wachimbaji wadogo walioporwa migodi yao na kampuni hizo zikisaidiwa na vyombo vya dola vya nchi yetu. LEAT inajivunia na kuienzi kazi aliyoifanya ambayo matokeo yake yanaonekana kwa serikali kuanza kuchukua hatua za kubadilisha sheria za madini na petroli pamoja na kuanza majadiliano na makampuni ya madini.

LEAT inataka kufanya uchunguzi huru kuweza kuwabaini wote waliohusika na jaribio hili la kinyama ambalo ni kinyume cha ibara ya 14 ya Katiba ya nchi yetu ikiwa ni pamoja na wale waliowatuma na kuwafikisha katika vyombo vya sheria. Jaribio hili,  pamoja na matukio mengine kama haya ambayo yamepita bila kuchukuliwa hatua, yamechafua vibaya sana taswira na heshima ya nchi yetu. Ni lazima yakomeshwe kwa kufanywa kwa uchunguzi huru, kuwashika na kuwapeleka mahakamani waliyoyatenda.  Kutokufanywa kwa hayo ni kubariki na kuyachagiza na ni kinyume cha dhana ya utawala wa sheria.

LEAT inatoa pole sana kwa Tundu Lissu, mkewe (Alicia) na wanawe, wanachama wa Chama cha Mawakili wa Tanganyika (TLS), wapiga kura wake wa Jimbo la Singida Mashariki, wabunge wenzake, chama chake cha Chadema, Watanzania wote na watu wote wapenda haki, demokrasia ya kweli, amani, na utawala wa sheria.

Tunamuomba Mwenyezi Mungu aendelee kumtendea miuujiza na kumponya Tundu Lissu haraka. Amina.

http://leat.or.tz.dnnmax.com/NewsCenter/TabId/193/ArtMID/880/ArticleID/1122/

LOCALS TAKE ACTION TO END DESTRUCTIVE MINING IN THEIR COMMUNITY

VILLAGERS TURN TO ADVOCACY TO SAVE THEIR  

LOCAL FOREST RESERVE

June 2017—Residents of Mfyome village were desperate. For years, residents in Mfyome village had relied in the Ganga la Mtumba forest reserve found within their village for their livelihood. However, spurred by the belief that the area contained gold deposits, small-scale miners flooded the area for mining activity contrary to the law. As a result, permanent residents were quickly losing access to the local forests their families had relied on for generations.

“We were all victims of resource loss,” said Mfyome resident Chuki Mduda. “My fellow villagers and I would always complain over the ever-increasing mining taking place in our village’s forest reserve.”

Millions of Tanzanians rely on the land and its resources to make a living and provide for their loved ones—but it can come at a steep price. Population growth, environmental mismanagement, and commercial expansion increasingly put Tanzania’s natural assets at risk, spelling disaster for rural communities. Without the knowledge and resources to respond at the grassroots level, villages like Mfyome risked losing it all.

It wasn’t until residents teamed up with USAID in 2014 that Mfyome village was able to put their fears to rest. In partnership with the Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team—one of Tanzania’s premier environmental protection organizations—USAID trained 35 natural resources committee members (villagers) in environmental law and natural resource management. Before long, trainees were able to recognize and crack down on illegal environmental practices without outside assistance.

Once the training was completed, villagers quickly realized the nearby mining operations were not just destructive, but downright illegal. To start with, the miners failed to conduct an environmental impact assessment of the area, which is required for any activity that could impact the environment or public health. Without this assessment, the permission granted by district officials was null and void. Armed with these insights, residents had everything they needed to stop local prospecting dead in its tracks.

“After the trainings, we recognized that the miners were undertaking their activities illegally and did not have an environmental certificate as required by law,” recalled Mduda. “We also arrested a truck driver who was transporting mineral ores. We fined him and banned him from ever mining in our village.”

With the mining crisis now behind them, residents can once again dream of a better future for their community. It’s a bittersweet victory: while they have retaken control of their village, it will be some time before nearby woodlands fully recover. But that doesn’t deter locals. Now that they have the power to protect the surrounding landscape, they are not only able to watch over the forest’s recovery, but prevent future environmental disasters from happening in the first place.

USAID works with communities like Mfyome to monitor and protect their local environment through the Citizens Engaging in Government Oversight in Natural Resources Management project, a four-year USAID-funded effort implemented by the Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT) the project has trained 5,264 citizens (villagers 2977, Village Natural Resources Committee members 1,490, District Natural Resources Officers 27, and Community Based Organizations members (Trainers of the Trainers) 68, and 702 beekeepers) in the two project districts of Mufindi and Iringa in Iringa Region to monitor natural resources and ensure government institutions tasked with environmental oversight are fulfilling their mandate.

MAZINGIRA NI LAZIMA YAHIFADHIWE.

Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Iringa, Bi. Amina Masenza kwa mara nyingine amesisitiza kuwa Mazingira katika Mkoa huo ni lazima yahifadhiwe na kulindwa kwani itasababisha baadhi ya wananchi kuathiriwa kwa namna mbalimbali endapo wataendelea kufanya shughuli zinazoathiri Mazingira.

Mkuu wa Mkoa ametoa Msimamo huo katika kilele cha wiki ya Mazingira ambayo Kimkoa imeadhimishwa katika kijiji cha Mangalali wilaya ya Iringa.

Katika hotuba yake iliyosomwa na Katibu Tawala Msaidizi idara ya Mipango, Bw. Nuhu Mwasumilwe, Mkuu wa Mkoa ametoa changamoto kwa wataalam kufikiri tofauti ili kuja na njia mbadala itakayosaidia kupunguza shughuli zinazosababisha uharibifu wa Mazingira. Na hii ni kutokana na ukweli kuwa, kwa sasa kila mmoja ameshaguswa na athari zinazosababishwa na uharibifu wa Mazingira.

Afisa Maliasi wa Mkoa wa Iringa amesema baadhi ya shughuli zinazofanywa ili kusaidia uhifadhi wa Mazingira ni pamoja ufugaji wa nyuki ambapo mpaka sasa Mkoa unakadiriwa kuwa na mizinga elfu thelathini (30,000) ya watu na vikundi mbalimbali ambapo Timu ya Wanasheria Watetezi wa Mazingira (LEAT) kupitia mradi wake wa Ushiriki wa Wananchi katika Usimamizi wa Maliasili, unaofadhiliwa na Shirika la Misaada la Marekani USAID, ni moja ya wadau waliochangia mizinga hiyo kwa kutoa mizinga 704 kwa vijiji 32 Mkoani Iringa.

 Kikundi cha sanaa Mashujaa kutoka Mfyome wilayani Iringa, wakihamasisha wananchi kutunza mazingira katika kilele cha siku ya mazingira duniani, ambayo kimkoa ilihadhimishwa kijiji cha Mangalali, mkoani Iringa.

 Mgeni Rasmi, Katibu Tawala Msaidizi idara ya Mipango, Bw. Nuhu Mwasumilwe akipanda mti ikiwa kama kumbukumbu ya maadhimisho ya siku ya mazingira duniani katika kijiji cha Mangalali, wilayani Iringa.

 Kikundi cha sanaa Mashujaa kutoka kijiji cha Mfyome wakiwa katika picha ya pamoja baada ya kuamaliza tukio la kupanda mti wa kumbukumbu katika maadhimisho ya siku ya mazingira duniani, kijiji cha Mangalali, Mkoani Iringa.

Afisa Habari na Mawasiliano kutoka LEAT akitoa salamu katika maadhimisho ya kilele cha siku ya mazingira duniani, ambayo kimkoa yalifanyika kijiji cha Malangali, wilayani Iringa, Mkoani Iringa.

PROF. ANNA TIBAIJUKA ATAMKA KUWA GHARAMA YA SERIKALI KUIPUUZA LEAT IMEONEKANA

Mkutano wa Saba wa Bunge umeendelea Dodoma. Kazi kubwa ikiwa ni mapendekezo ya wabunge katika bajeti ya Wizara ya Nishati na Madini ambapo miongoni mwa waliopata nafasi ya kuchangia ni Mbunge wa Muleba Kusini Professor Anna Tibaijuka.

"Mhe Spika kuna Taasisi ya Lawyers' Environmental Action Team (LEAT) ina vijana wamekaa  vizuri sana. Sasa wamekuwa wakipuuzwa wakati wote na gharama ya kupuuzwa mnaiona". Alisema Prof. Anna Tibaijuka.

"Tuweke utamaduni wa kuwaheshimu na kuwasikiliza wataalam wetu. Tukiendelea kuwaita wanaharakati huku tukiwabeza na kuwapuuza, hatutatoka hapa tulipo". Aliongezea Prof. Tibaijuka

Tafadhali fungua video hiyo hapo juu kupata taarifa kwa kirefu.

SEMA KWELI - Tulifikaje na Tunatokaje kisheria

Dr. Rugemeleza Nshala, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Timu ya

Wanasheria Watetezi wa Mazingira kwa Vitendo (LEAT),

amezungumzia suala la Makinikia katika kipindi cha "Sema Kweli"

kilichorushwa tarehe 31.05.2017, saa nne (4) usiku kupitia 

Chanel 10.

Hii ni kutokana na Ripoti ya kamati maalumu ya Rais wa Jamhuri

ya Muungano wa Tanzania juu ya uchunguzi wa kiwango cha

madini.

Dr.Nshala akiwa kama Mwanasheria aliyebobea kwenye masuala

ya mazingira, analizungumzia suala la Madini kwa upana wake. Na 

kuelezea tumefikaje hapa tulipo na tutatokaje kisheria.

Lengo ni kuisaidia nchi, serikali yetu na pengine kumshauri Mhe. 

Rais namna ya kutoka hapa tulipo.

Tafadhali fungua video hapo juu kufuatilia kipindi hiko

Tamko la LEAT juu ya Ripoti ya Kamati Maalum ya Rais kuhusu Mchanganyiko wa Madini katika Makontena.

Timu ya Wanaseheria Watetezi wa Mazingira kwa Vitendo 

(LEAT) Imetoa tamko juu ya Ripoti ya Kamati Maalumu ya Rais juu ya Mchanganyiko wa Madini (Makinikia) katika Makontena yaliyozuiliwa bandarini.

Kwa kifupi LEAT haishangazwi na kile kilichobainika kwani 

ni kile ilichokuwa inakisema miaka yote tokea mwaka 2001. 

LEAT inataka mabadiliko makubwa katika sekta za mafuta, gesi na madini kwani sheria zinazoziongoza zinaruhusu kuporwa kwa rasilimali hizi muhimu za nchi.

Fungua link hii kusoma Tamko hilo.

http://leat.or.tz.dnnmax.com/NewsCenter/TabId/193/artmid/880/articleid/1106/Tamko-la-LEAT-juu-ya-Ripoti-ya-Kamati-Maalum-ya-Rais-kuhusu-Mchanganyiko-wa-Madini-katika-Makontena.aspx

International Day for biological biodiversity: celebrate by protecting biodiversity, not promoting tourism.

21 May, 2017

Tourists waiting to take photographs  of orangutans during feeding 

time at Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre,  

Sabah, 

Malaysia.© Center for Intern

ational Forestry 

Research

22 May 2017 is International day for biodiversity and this year’s theme is tourism. The UN Convention on biodiversity (CBD) is using this opportunity to promote the value of tourism in significantly reducing threats to, and maintaining or increasing key wildlife populations and biodiversity through tourism revenue. It does mention the need to reduce the negative impacts of tourism but, whereas it sings the supposed values of tourism, it merely whispers the negative impacts.

Positive examples of tourism do exist, such as Community Based Tourism projects, which protect territories, livelihoods and cultures. Friends of the Earth has worked with several such initiatives around the world, such as community based eco-curtural tourism in Timor Leste.  Self-governance is essential, as are revenues that go directly to the local community and respect for their traditional ways of generating income. Unfortunately many initiatives don’t survive without the help of NGOs. 

Sadly few sustainable tourism projects are actually viable. 

For example many “ecotourism” initiatives, whilst better for the environment, fail local communities by denying them revenue generation and self-determination. On a global scale, positive tourism is minimal. Yet the few examples that exist are being used to suggest that the entire tourism sector could become sustainable.

The biggest culprit of unsustainable and economically unjust tourism remains mainstream tourism. Indigenous peoples are often evicted from their land to make way for tourist resorts. Human rights abuses are rife, with some cases ending in death for people protecting their land. Hotels are often built on valuable ecosystems, destroying them in the process. Proposals such as the El Salvadoran Government’s tourism project in 2013 which threatened both coastal mangrove forests and local communities often fall foul of more than one injustice. 

Young boy swimming in mangroves in La Tirana, El Salvador ©Friends of the Earth International / Jason Taylor

Indigenous people are often banned from their own territories as sacred sites are privatized, so tourists can enjoy them undisturbed. The profit from tourist resorts remains in the hands of transnational corporations. Furthermore local people are often exploited as workers in these resorts and hotels. A person’s water usage in hotels is significantly higher than at home.  In some cases tourists use 16 times as much water as locals, causing conflict and disease.

Food waste is a huge issue. Even small resorts waste up to 150 tons of food a year, and a staggering 36% of all food purchased ends up in the bin. Cruise liners dump up to 3.8billion litres of sewage in the oceans polluting ecosystems. These are just a few of the issues generated by mainstream tourism.

Sustainable tourism initiatives usually mean a mere change in the levels of waste and energy consumption rather than a change of business model. Initiatives are purely voluntary, a practise which has proved disastrous in other economic sectors. 

It seems unlikely that tourism can become a green industry. 5% of global emissions are linked to tourism, purely for the benefit of richer middle and higher classes. The aviation industry alone plans 700% growth by 2050. It plans to offset its increased emissions through REDD programs. REDD is a false solution and desperately unsustainable.  

Tourism comprises 10% of the global GDP with a projected annual growth of 3-5%. It does not need the promotion for economic development the UN is giving it on this day of International biodiversity.

What tourism needs is policies that respect the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples,

including their right to self-determination, the visitors they receive, a fair share of the revenue, and protection for their ecosystems. Official studies on the negative impacts of corporate tourism and tough measures to prohibit the worst practices are desperately needed. Please help us celebrate International biodiversity day by calling for a change in the tourism business model.