HoW is it Possible?

When I was young, I grew up with my grandfather, who really was my best friend. He used to take care of trees in his compound. We used to see him argue so passionately that we needed trees, and we could feel the difference between our land and that of our neighbors, who did not have any trees.

When we lost him in 2006, when I was six years old, things changed in our family. My grandfather’s children didn’t see the need to take care of the trees, and some neighbors felt that their freedom to do whatever they wanted was finally here. Things changed, and within just a few years, all the natural trees were destroyed. The land was empty. That’s when we started to really understand how important they had been.

Growing up, I didn’t really understand the concepts of “environment” and “conservation” until I completed high school and was able to read about sustainable development goals. That’s when I started to identify my own little things I could do to contribute to climate action. That’s when I started relating the challenges that we face in our own communities to global climate change.

Our pastoral communities have existed for a long time in harmony with biodiversity, and now they’re on the receiving end of so much injustice. It’s crazy how those injustices come not only from those contributing the most to climate change, but also from local governments. I’ve realized that the community itself is always willing to do whatever it takes, but because of ongoing challenges and a lack of political will, the community gets left behind. The community is left to do the work, but then they do not get to enjoy the results of their efforts.

As I look at climate change and all the issues around it, I keep asking myself the same question: how is it possible that the most intelligent creature to ever walk the planet is destroying its only home?

How is it possible that the most intelligent creature to ever walk the planet is destroying its only home?

Thank you.