Specialised but also special, the African Union is making great progress
Just today, SABC got the opportunity to run the entire press conference within AU. It is unfortunate that we were the only news agency’s whose questions were passed within the African Union, but at least, with the SABC’s coverage over the African Union, you can most definitely take comfort in the realest updates and information. After all, it is SABC’s Africa as much as it is our Africa.
Delegates of the African Union have made a tremendous effort to reach a consensus. In the highly exclusive press conference, many delegates offered their opinions and instead of shutting down other delegates, they built upon each other’s ideas, resulting in seemingly feasible and appropriate solutions.
Personally, a daunting problem that is slowing biting off Africa’s prosperity is the condition of our water. Many fellow Africans drink from natural water sources. Unfortunately, many of these water sources are horribly contaminated which result in the outbreak of diarrhoea-cholera outbreaks at home. The United Nations is a strong proponent in the belief that access to water and sanitation are basic human rights. In fact, it is a right that one literally cannot live without. Putting it this way, access to clean water is basically the same as the right to live, or at least, a crucial part in being able to live. We have strong beliefs in the delegate of São Tomé and Príncipe’s proposed ideas, as he puts elegantly, “waste water treatments, microfiltration and UV disinfection”. He also brought up the very feasible idea of activated chlorine, an idea much agreed upon within the African Union, as seen when the delegate of Ghana agreed wholeheartedly as he went on to explain the science behind activated chlorine.
According to research, activated chlorine, also known as chlorine dioxide, is widely used “for a variety of antimicrobial uses, including the disinfection of drinking water”. When added to water, it destroys bacteria, viruses and even parasites, the very infectants that are making the people of our Africa sick and ill. However, it is also quite hefty in price and might just cost Africa an arm and an leg. Perhaps, implementing another solution can aid with the cost, but it is not to say that delegates should forget about implementing the usage of activated chlorine.
Fixing the water quality is one thing, but what would happen if there was not any water to purify in the first place? Irrigation might be irritating to some, but it is crucial in the sustainability of water supply. As of current, Africa seems to be in a deadlock, government-led irrigation projects have limited impact and have not been successful due to the strict cultivating and watering regimes imposed and the breakdown of high-cost equipment. On the other hand, small-scale, flexible, farmer-led irrigation projects have achieved significant success but the actual impact of these irrigation projects is considerably quite limited to a small sphere of influence as very few of these farmer-led schemes end up becoming large-scale commercial processes that significantly boost the functionality of water irrigation. Hence, perhaps the best way to get the best of both world would be the cooperation between the state and the smaller parties and private corporations. Many delegates have agreed with this, ranging from Cabo Verde, who said that it would aid in the outreach to “rural areas”, to Kenya, who claimed that “19 million (African people) lack water” and that working with farmers would ensure for sustainability. The delegate of South Africa pulled through with a well-though out answer, which we fully agree with. Cooperation can be good on a grassroots level but the trustable respective governments have to ensure the needs of the individual entity are met, and that in no way should the state allow private corporations to use water as a form of leverage. In essence, irrigation projects led by farmers or non-state actors can be sustainable with government intervention.
We are very glad that the African Union is working together to come to a foreseeable decision or resolution and hope that delegates will continue to try their best, as well as discuss other important facets of the issue at hand like privatisation of water and other legal-related usage of rivers. Thank you for trying your best, African Union delegates! The fate of our home lies in your hands.
(Op-Ed)
Citations:
https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/human-rights/
https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/chlorine-dioxide/
Just today, SABC got the opportunity to run the entire press conference within AU. It is unfortunate that we were the only news agency’s whose questions were passed within the African Union, but at least, with the SABC’s coverage over the African Union, you can most definitely take comfort in the realest updates and information. After all, it is SABC’s Africa as much as it is our Africa.
Delegates of the African Union have made a tremendous effort to reach a consensus. In the highly exclusive press conference, many delegates offered their opinions and instead of shutting down other delegates, they built upon each other’s ideas, resulting in seemingly feasible and appropriate solutions.
Personally, a daunting problem that is slowing biting off Africa’s prosperity is the condition of our water. Many fellow Africans drink from natural water sources. Unfortunately, many of these water sources are horribly contaminated which result in the outbreak of diarrhoea-cholera outbreaks at home. The United Nations is a strong proponent in the belief that access to water and sanitation are basic human rights. In fact, it is a right that one literally cannot live without. Putting it this way, access to clean water is basically the same as the right to live, or at least, a crucial part in being able to live. We have strong beliefs in the delegate of São Tomé and Príncipe’s proposed ideas, as he puts elegantly, “waste water treatments, microfiltration and UV disinfection”. He also brought up the very feasible idea of activated chlorine, an idea much agreed upon within the African Union, as seen when the delegate of Ghana agreed wholeheartedly as he went on to explain the science behind activated chlorine.
According to research, activated chlorine, also known as chlorine dioxide, is widely used “for a variety of antimicrobial uses, including the disinfection of drinking water”. When added to water, it destroys bacteria, viruses and even parasites, the very infectants that are making the people of our Africa sick and ill. However, it is also quite hefty in price and might just cost Africa an arm and an leg. Perhaps, implementing another solution can aid with the cost, but it is not to say that delegates should forget about implementing the usage of activated chlorine.
Fixing the water quality is one thing, but what would happen if there was not any water to purify in the first place? Irrigation might be irritating to some, but it is crucial in the sustainability of water supply. As of current, Africa seems to be in a deadlock, government-led irrigation projects have limited impact and have not been successful due to the strict cultivating and watering regimes imposed and the breakdown of high-cost equipment. On the other hand, small-scale, flexible, farmer-led irrigation projects have achieved significant success but the actual impact of these irrigation projects is considerably quite limited to a small sphere of influence as very few of these farmer-led schemes end up becoming large-scale commercial processes that significantly boost the functionality of water irrigation. Hence, perhaps the best way to get the best of both world would be the cooperation between the state and the smaller parties and private corporations. Many delegates have agreed with this, ranging from Cabo Verde, who said that it would aid in the outreach to “rural areas”, to Kenya, who claimed that “19 million (African people) lack water” and that working with farmers would ensure for sustainability. The delegate of South Africa pulled through with a well-though out answer, which we fully agree with. Cooperation can be good on a grassroots level but the trustable respective governments have to ensure the needs of the individual entity are met, and that in no way should the state allow private corporations to use water as a form of leverage. In essence, irrigation projects led by farmers or non-state actors can be sustainable with government intervention.
We are very glad that the African Union is working together to come to a foreseeable decision or resolution and hope that delegates will continue to try their best, as well as discuss other important facets of the issue at hand like privatisation of water and other legal-related usage of rivers. Thank you for trying your best, African Union delegates! The fate of our home lies in your hands.
(Op-Ed)
Citations:
https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/human-rights/
https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/chlorine-dioxide/
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