Threatened lakes in the Albertine Oil Rift in Uganda
Was the discovery of oil in Uganda in 2005 a blessing or a curse for its poor population? Meanwhile, it's become clear that oil exploitation is a great threat to people and the environment through corruption and misuse of natural resources. Frank Muramuzi of the Ugandan organisation NAPE visited Both ENDS on January 28th to talk about the threatened lakes in the Albertine oil rift. A number of western oil companies have a permit for mining in and around Lake Albert, resulting in large scale erosion. Chances are that Uganda will suffer from the lack of regulation and legislation around this topic, and like many African countries, will go down in the battle for oil. As members of the Ecosystem Alliance, NAPE, Both ENDS, IUCN NL and Friends of the Earth are actively involved in protecting this area.
Risks for people and the environment
The Albertine rift has the world's largest biodiversity because it's situated on the border of eastern and western species. The area around Lake Albert provides for livelihoods of four million people. The oil mining threatens fishery of the local population and erosion causes the area to be less resistant against the consequences of climate change. Human rights are violated on a large scale and the population is often forced to make way for oil companies.
Minor transparency
Uganda has very clear laws to protect its natural areas. However, the government has made a lot of concessions to oil companies for using the natural resources. Nor the government, nor the oil companies provide any information about their plans and about the profits they gain from it. So the problem lies primarily with the management of the area. According to Frank Muramuzi this can be solved with the so-called 'Negotiated Approach' that is already being applied by Both ENDS and her partners in other areas. This approach is all about providing the local people with a voice at the negotiation table, so they can express their ideas on proper management of the area. Unfortunately the government has forbidden NGO's to inform the local communities, doing so can even lead to sanctions.
Salt mining in Lake Katwe
Lake Katwe, a little south of Lake Albert, is threatened by salt mining: in a couple of years time the surface of the lake has decreased from 7 to 3,5 km. The surrounding communities are dependant on salt mining but they haven't been using the lake sustainably which has caused the banks to erode and be surrounded by cattle keepers and salt layers. It's not NAPE's purpose to deprive the local people of their income but to teach them better ways of using the area.
Intervention
NAPE has drafted a plan of action to cut back the damaging consequences for people and the environment in the region of the Albertine Lake and promote sustainable use of the area. The organization does so by providing documentaries and publications, trying to involve the government and the oil companies with the well-being of the local people, and supporting court cases against human rights violators. NAPE also supports local communities with campaigns for a better environment, for example on planting trees on the river banks. Finally, NAPE organises gatherings and trainings for the local people, they founded the 'Sustainability School' to teach local communities how to profit from their environment. Both ENDS supports these initiatives and will keep on supporting NAPE as much as possible.
Read more about this subject
-
Instalink / 21 november 2024
-
Blog / 19 november 2024
Building Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning systems based on mutual accountability and trust
Just before summer, on June 27th we participated in a panel discussion on inclusive conservation in a learning event organized by WWF Netherlands. Several organizations joined in a discussion on inclusive, decolonial, rights-based, and community-led approaches in conservation. We discussed the barriers, gaps and opportunities in how power is shared, inclusion promoted, and accountability practiced in our work. The question raised was: as Dutch-based organizations, are we doing enough to really work inclusive? In 2023 Both ENDS started an Examination of Power process to research how power is experienced in our partnerships. I share a couple of practical tips and insights that I feel might benefit the greater conversation around Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) in our sector.
-
Instalink / 18 november 2024
-
Blog / 18 november 2024
The global rise of authoritarian regimes demands global strategies
The global funding landscape for civil society movements is changing, and is increasingly faced with policies that restrict funding streams, limit philanthropic work, and silence critical voices. These are not incidental shifts but part of a broader pattern that erodes the support for those international networks and movements under the guise ‘necessary financial cuts’, ‘aid reform’ or ‘efficiency’.
-
Publication / 18 november 2024
-
Instalink / 16 november 2024
-
Instalink / 15 november 2024
-
Event / 15 november 2024, 12:50 - 16:45
#BothENDSatCOP29 Side Events
Both ENDS’ participation at COP29 includes three critical side events that will highlight gender-just climate finance, locally-led adaptation, and multilateral approaches to a just energy transition and industrialisation in the Global South.
-
Instalink / 14 november 2024
-
Instalink / 13 november 2024
-
Instalink / 12 november 2024
-
Press release / 12 november 2024
Ruling climate case Shell: "Shell has an obligation to protect human rights."
The Hague, 12 November 2024 - The court has ruled in Shell's appeal in the Climate Case that Milieudefensie won against Shell in 2021. The Court of Appeal has ruled that the oil and gas giant has a responsibility to reduce its emissions, but has not imposed a reduction obligation.
-
Instalink / 12 november 2024
-
Instalink / 11 november 2024
-
Press release / 11 november 2024
Both ENDS's response to government letter on future cooperation with civil society organisations
DEN HAAG, 11 November 2024 - Today, the Dutch government published its policy on future cooperation with development organisations, both in the Netherlands and abroad. PVV minister Reinette Klever is putting the axe to this funding: she has decided to cut the budget for aid to international civil society by more than two-thirds: from roughly €1.4 billion to €0.4 billion in the period 2026 to 2030. This has major implications for critical voices at home and abroad, at a time when civic space for organisations around the world is already shrinking. Karin van Boxtel, director of environmental and human rights organisation Both ENDS: ‘This is an unprecedented step in exactly the wrong direction. Civil society organisations are essential for sustainable and social change worldwide. International movements fulfil multiple, indispensable roles: as a watchdog of the rule of law, as a driver of change, and as a counterforce against authoritarian tendencies. The weakening of support for these roles is a telling signal.’
-
News / 11 november 2024
Kenya Terminates Bilateral Investment Treaty with the Netherlands
The government of Kenya has officially terminated its bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with the Netherlands, marking a significant win for economic justice and environmental protection. Kenya’s decision reflects a growing global trend of rethinking outdated treaties that often prioritize corporate interests over public welfare. The Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development recently confirmed that Kenya unilaterally ended the treaty in December 2023, rendering it inoperative from 11 June 2024. Kenya now joins South Africa, Tanzania, and Burkina Faso as the fourth African country to terminate its BIT with the Netherlands.
-
News / 9 november 2024
Why is the Dutch climate case against Shell important to our partners in the Global South?
On November 12th, a new ruling will be issued by the Court of Appeal in The Hague in the climate case against Shell, in which Both ENDS is a co-plaintiff. Ahead of this ruling, we asked our partners why this Dutch lawsuit is important for the Global South.
-
Instalink / 3 november 2024
-
News / 1 november 2024
Both ENDS at COP29: advocating for gender just climate finance
On November 11th, the 29th UN Climate Conference will start in Baku, Azerbaijan. Just like previous years, Both ENDS will be there to advocate for local access to climate finance, and to support our partner organisations in their advocacy work. How do we do that, and what are our hopes (and worries) about this 29th edition of the UNFCCC COP? We asked Marius Troost, who will be joining COP29 together with Daan Robben.
-
Instalink / 31 oktober 2024