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3 years ago

60 sec Interview with Sam Ooko, SolarGren Media CEO and Publisher GreenBusinessAfrica

1. HF: Could you tell us in a few words what essentially is Greenbusinessafrica?

SO: Simply put, as the name implies, GreenBusinessAfrica.com is about engaging business sustainability in Africa and providing a platform for thought leadership on green issues. We reach out to Africa whilst covering news, commentaries, views and resources on these subjects that we believe have a direct bearing on the continent as it moves towards a more sustainable world with the rest of the globe.

2. HF: Where did the idea come from?

SO: All around us. We are constantly pushed by our resolve to do things right. We see things that are not done right or those that can be done better. The three all important P’s – people, profit and planet – define our commitment and enable us to engage with our audience about matters green and sustainable. But we are also results-oriented. We believe that GreenBusinessAfrica.com can be the bridge that connects Africa with sustainability to spur the continent to greater economic prosperity in an environmentally and socially fulfilling way.

3. HF: Would you say that Africans are sensitive to the issues of sustainability and global warming?

SO: Africans, by cultural disposition, have always been kind to the environment. But more education is needed to sensitize people that looking forward means we work hard toward conservation of our environment and putting human and natural resources to sustainable use for the benefit of our beloved continent. Global warming is here with us and we must join in global efforts by adopting local solutions to addressing the pertinent issues around it. This generation of Africans has this responsibility and I seriously believe we are up to it.

4. HF: A new report by a conservation group warns that food and water supplies in Africa could be put at risk if Global warming continues at this current rate.  What is Africa doing to address this?

SO: We should all come around and speak with one voice. We also should act with one accord. Africa needs us much so as the rest of the world does. If there are indentified contributory factors that need to be addressed in mitigation, we all should be able have a genuine desire to correct things and put the continent, and the planet, ahead of our nationalistic, economic or personal interests. The buck must stop somewhere and someone must show some responsibility for their own actions. Africa should demand that equity and social and economic justice must prevail in mitigation against effects of global warming. Global processes about these mitigation efforts, clean development mechanisms (CDMs), if effective at all, and general economic growth must take cognizance of this.

5. HF: If droughts continue in Africa, what impacts will this have on immigration and wars within the continent?

SO: Naturally, if there are persistent droughts in Africa, people will move to ‘greener’ pastures. We are already seeing conflicts that are kindled, to a significant extent, by the scarcity of natural resources – Darfur, name it. It has been said that the poor, women and children are the most affected. But these conflicts are now adopting a dangerous class move: nations will rise against nation to compete not for lucrative holdings on gold and oil reserves but for basic necessities such as water and food, including fisheries, as is the case currently with Uganda and Kenya on Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest fresh water body. When the state becomes the robber, depriving poor fishermen in a neighboring nation of their only livelihood in the name of protectionism, this is very dangerous…

6. HF: is there one country in Africa who is taking the lead on climate change issues?

SO: Even though the continent is considerably less responsible for global warming, Africa has been hard hit by effects of climate change. We have seen this in increasingly prolonged droughts resulting in crop failures, and elsewhere. The general skepticism with which climate change has been received in the world, and Africa in particular, is faded now and both policy makers and private institutions, including business, are rallying people in climate change mitigation processes. South Africa, recently hard-hit by energy woes, is turning to greener sources of generating viable electricity. Kenya, often regarded as a geothermal hotspot, is increasingly encouraging new investors to exploit this renewable energy source. Ghana is seriously looking for biofuel investors from India and China. But South Africa is way ahead in climate change mitigation in a broader sense. These are but very few examples of how African nations are actively involved in creating a more sustainable world.  

7. HF: Do you think the International Community is doing enough to help Africans combat climate change and what would you like to see improve? Question brought to you by our key and loved member Deepuckjoe

SO: It has always been said that Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and carbon credits will help spur Africa towards sustainable economic growth and even in achievement of Millennium Development Goals. But this process has been largely skewed in favor of developed nations who are supposedly the biggest polluters.  No meaningful results have been achieved yet since Kyoto and the prospects are even dimmer with Copenhagen this coming December despite some pushing from developing nations and the added voice of UN chief, Ban Ki-Moon. The bottom line is: developed nations must be ready to keep their promises and channel funds to this effort. But innovative carbon credit programs like the Carbon Manna cell phone credit system hold a lot of promise on Africa’s economic prosperity, environmental quality and social justice and should be given a chance.

8. HF. China, India, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and other countries are buying / taking on lease very large tracts of land in Africa for cultivation. How do you visualize this impacting the management of forests in Africa , since cash strapped African countries do not mind giving land in return for money and hope that jobs will be created for the locals?

SO: This recent trend must be a cause for worry especially when even the risks outweigh the opportunities. Governments in Africa are entering into very unpopular deals with foreigners to take over native lands for their own benefit. The Madagascar-South Korean land deal forced the ouster of president Marc Ravalomanana early in 2009. The first act of the incoming president was to rescind this deal. Where in the world must all the land be used up at the same time? Who benefits from this deals? Are the locals consulted at all; and how do the opt-out options look like, if at all? Ultimately this neo-colonialism will wipe out Africa's forests and arable lands and impoverish Africa the more. More so, I think this trend may derail the much-touted Green Revolution in Africa to make the continent food-independent and even turn her into the bread basket of the world. The center will hold no longer when climate change mitigation strategies like carbon credit mechanisms that may benefit the continent are threatened while the inherent forces are at play: the environment will suffer (there are cases that involve destroying marshlands and forests, threatening the local ecosystem), the locals will be impoverished as the foreigners will largely benefit at their expense and African economic progress will be stagnated by binding agreements that are not beneficial at all. African governments can enter into partnerships to empower the locals to put their land to better use instead of giving it away!

9. HF: In your view, what is the biggest environmental challenge humanity faces today?

SO: The biggest environmental challenge today is, in my view, conservation of Mother Earth. Each individual has a role to play, but the question remains whether we are responsible at all for our activities that have negative impact on the environment. It calls upon us that every one of us should be able to bequeath an inheritance of a healthy, sound planet to future generations.

10. HF: Cooltribe 2009 objective is to connect as many environmental individuals/groups around the world as possible and to support them in their low carbon emission journey.  Will you help us reach out to more fellow Africans and if yes, how?

 

SO: Yes. We are all supposed to engage in lowering our carbon footprint, and we should all march forth on this journey with a common purpose and embrace a common sustainability dream for posterity. SolarGren Media and GreenBusinessAfrica.com will play an active role in reaching out to all and sundry in Africa and aptly play their part in innovative public-private partnerships (PPPs) in this endeavor.

11. HF: In a few words, what is your message to our community?

SO: We can borrow six simple words from cooltribe: make your mark on the world. Remember, People, Profit and Planet must always be in tandem.

Thank you for giving us your time, Mr. Ooko.  It has been a pleasure talking to you.

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greenbusinessafrica, interview, sam ooko, solargren

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