The issue of climate change is becoming increasingly serious, as it causes changes in weather patterns and temperatures. “These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas,” the United Nations says.
Fossil fuel combustion produces greenhouse gas emissions, which act as a blanket around the Earth and traps the sun’s heat, boosting temperatures.
“Extinction Rebellion has occupied the London headquarters of oil giant Shell to demand a meeting with CEO Ben Van Beurden. Three people have glued themselves to the reception desk and others are glued on in the entrances outside. Outside the building, members of XR’s whistleblowing platform TruthTeller used placards to invite named employers to share insider information about the company’s planet-damaging activities,” said Extinction Rebellion via a statement.
Extinction Rebellion is a movement that describes itself as “non-violent, disruptive civil disobedience” with members of the both the civil and scientific community peacefully protesting.
“We are in the midst of a climate and ecological breakdown. We are facing an uncertain future – our world is in crisis and life itself is under threat. Now is not the time to ignore the issues; now is the time to act as if the truth is real. The science is clear. We are in the midst of a mass extinction of our own making and our governments are not doing enough to protect their citizens, our resources, our biodiversity, our planet, and our future,” the organisation said via its official website.
The movement protested outside of oil and gas giant Shell’s London HQ aimed at encouraging employees to become whistleblowers for the organisation and share their knowledge of unscrupulous and environmentally-harmful acts.
“A flyer handed out to Shell employees invited them to join Extinction Rebellion, while there’s still time.It invited staff to ‘switch to the right side of history, before Shell turns toxic on your CV”,” the movement said.
“As everyone knows, the fossil fuel industry’s social licence is fast expiring. In a few short years it will make the tobacco industry seem like an ethical choice. We’re here to help employees at Shell and all planet-damaging companies to either speak up internally, share insider information via www.TruthTeller.Life or jump ship – before it’s too late,” said Zoe Blackler, coordinator of XR’s TruthTeller.
XR is Extinction Rebellion’s whistleblower platform, where employees of companies can reveal information about their employers’ environmentally-harmful practises, anonymously.
“The consequences of climate change now include, among others, intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity,” the UN said.
How climate change impacts East Africa
Research by the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research’s (CGIAR) International Researchers from the International (ILRI) has determined that East Africa’s cattle are in danger as a result of climate change and the resultant global warming.
“Projections show that, in the coming years, heat stress in animals will occur more frequently and for longer periods. This will affect milk and meat productivity for cattle, small ruminants (like goats and sheep), pigs and poultry across East Africa.
“This will make much of the region unsuitable for exotic pig, poultry and cattle production – animals whose productivity is easily compromised by heat stress,” the report reads.
Heat stress in Ugandan livestock has also been reported to be on the rise. More than 90% of Uganda’s districts are expected to experience “extreme heat stress” by the end of the century, putting the pig industry in jeopardy.
Also read: New report: Climate change threatens East Africa’s livestock
