Wealth from Waste: Poverty-Environmental conservation nexus

By Henry Kazula,

Author: Mtazamo Wako Ni Upi?

Trainer, Author, Mentor, Green/Sustainable Business consultant,

CEO Jielimishe Kwanza Co.Ltd

E-mail: jielimishekwanza@gmail.com

Mob: +255 754 572 143

As it has been stipulated in the Tanzania National Environmental Policy (1997) that; there is clear cause-and-effect relationship between poverty and environmental degradation. Environmental degradation is ascribed to widespread poverty-equally; poverty is habitual cause to environmental degradation as it undermines the capacity of people to manage resources wisely.

If we consider destitute people as one side of a coin in taking full responsibilities to environmental conservation; are not taking into account the need to care for the “common pool resources” in the environment;      as are equally shared and no one can restrict the right of others to use the same resource. The main target of destitute people is to find a quick and simple ways to utilize available resources for the sake of “making a day count” regardless of negative impacts to the environment in near future.

Overexploitation of the common pool resources like water, forest and land for the sake of sustaining difficulties in life has created a lot of pressure to available resources in the environment leading to serious environmental degradation.

Taking a context that most people in Tanzania solely rely on charcoal and firewood from forest for cooking, water for; domestic uses, fishing and farming, land for; habitation, small-scale agriculture and animal grazing, whereby the current mode to resources utilization is unsustainably analogous to the so called a “tragedy of the common” with respect to “overuse or misuse of certain resources as are common owned” when referred to what a conservative Garrett Hardin (1968) oddly highlighted in his famous essay “The Tragedy of the Commons.”

The reality will stand still that, difficulties in finding the daily bread make most people i.e. the destitute to ignore their role in conserving our environment as compared to those who are well off. To site a better example, try to make an overview of people living in slums; level of pollution is extremely higher in such a way that the inhabitants consider such a situation as standard of living. No one is thinking about what is called “wastes”…people stay and eat with waste around, which is unhealthy! Nobody cares! Everybody is thinking about finding their daily bread to sustain a day and tomorrow will seek for its own!

Referring the other side of a coin, it doesn’t imply that those who are well off take fully responsibility to environmental conservation. The weak point of people in this category is fixed to lack of knowledge, attitude and practice or ignoring mentality or disobedient related to environmental conservation i.e. waste management. People in this category need to shift their mindset and attitude on their way of practice in respect to environmental conservation; the same, to change mode of practice-taking example of well off people who misuse common pool resources or throwing away different types of wastes (throwing away mentality) to an innocent environment. “Business as usual” as the prime personal interest with respect to environmental interest being a slogan in daily basis. No one cares! It has been taken as norm and traditional way of practice, but in the real context of taking justice to environmental conservation is not a good practice!

Writing this article is not by coincidence, is to join hands the efforts made so far by National agenda as was spearheaded with example by Dr.John Pombe Magufuli, the President of United Republic of Tanzania and other Environmental activists in the country and abroad in creating awareness on Environmental conservation i.e. Environmental cleanliness in every Saturday and at the end of every Month.

Likewise, I’m writing to express my expertise from my critical observation of ordinary ways of addressing environmental challenges in the country; as I used to strictly speaking with the public via Radio and training programs, public events, and business forums, that; “collecting of what referred to as ‘wastes’ from one point and dump in a stream/wetland/river/lake/ocean or the bush is not ‘Green’ as far as principles of environmental management are concerned ” and that of;  “collecting of what called ‘wastes ’in a dustbin or a dump site/landfill without appropriate sorting mechanisms for ‘value creation’ out of that is not ‘Green’ in striving for ‘Going green’.”

 Our struggle to make a dirt-free country-Tanzania what we’re dreaming about, a better place to live with improved life standard of people, all stakeholders shouldn’t ignore the societal value creation from environmental conservation. The public should be aware that wastes could be minimized and appropriately sorted and effectively recycled into valuable materials.

In a modern way of thinking, all stakeholders in shared efforts have to address both social and environmental issues i.e. finding ‘Green’ solutions to all forms of environmental degradation while taking a second role to improve the life standard of people i.e. alleviating poverty by building capacity and let people realize that, they can “turn wastes into money” by following professional wastes sorting and recycling mechanisms. Does that make you startle? Yes. It is very possible! This is to remind the public that under natural system, there are no wastes; it is where the idea of “waste equals food” came about i.e. something considered as waste or not required in one system, can be very useful as raw material in another system. It’s about encouraging the public to set up businesses and embrace Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)-involving giving back to the community i.e. set up of Green/Sustainable businesses that can address environmental challenges of our time while creating social, economic and environmental value.

People of different background can be trained and empowered to setup Green/ Sustainable business or reinvent business model for Green growth with both shared societal and environmental values. Ultimately, people can manufacture valuable products from something considered as wastes or deliver services to minimize the impacts of environmental degradation and maximize environmental benefits with improved life standard.

Playing our cards well in addressing the challenges to Green growth, “Jielimishe Kwanza”-“Educate Yourself First” a Training and Consultancy company advocates the shared social and environmental values through customized programs-“Go-Green-Tanzania” and “Social & Environmental Entrepreneurship in Tanzania” (SEE-Tanzania) and outstanding Short training courses and seminars on “Building Green Business” (BGB), “Green Team Building”(GTB), Sustainable/Social/Environmental Entrepreneurship and consultancy services for Green Growth, hence minimize company operational costs, minimizing environmental impacts and maximize profit i.e. addressing issues related to sustainable development – Economic Prosperity, Environmental Protection and Social Justice in their local communities creatively in business and managerial setting.

As a testimony of what I’m preaching, I have noted and working with few companies and organizations that buy irons leftovers (scraps), plastics, paper, organic leftovers etc. They make valuable products ranging from jewelry to decoration and domestic utilities, organic fertilizer and cooking stoves using less charcoal etc. The other companies opened businesses to provide household services of collecting wastes in appropriated mechanism of Environmental management involving sorting process ready for recycling into valuable products. Unlike in nature, the other companies that are providing household services of collecting waste and transfer directly to the landfills.

With respect to what they do, has been a source of employment to inhabitants as they’ve opened small workshops to make products for financial gain. This is in line with actively engagement of people in common understanding of valuing wastes while in one way or the other they eliminate wastes from the environment. Improving life standard of those so-called poverty stricken people, we can save resources, reducing pollution and hence achieve sustainable development.

Published by Jielimishe Kwanza

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Set up Green/Sustainable business: Business as unusual for Sustainable development

By Henry Kazula,

Author: Mtazamo Wako Ni Upi?

Trainer, Author, Mentor, Green/Sustainable Business consultant,

CEO Jielimishe Kwanza Co.Ltd

E-mail: jielimishekwanza@gmail.com

Mob: +255 754 572 143

Our planet-earth is facing number of unprecedented environmental challenges-scientifically diagnosed as “global sickness” resulted from environmental degradation grounded from human activities for self-interest to profit making in business setting. Tanzania among the other developing countries in making every effort to alleviate poverty is at higher risks in facing the negative impacts from various forms of environmental degradation; as there is a close relationship between poverty and environmental degradation. In seeking a daily bread to call a day, most people in developing countries find immediate resources from common pool resources-“natural capital” as initial investment capital to start small businesses (i.e. unsustainable charcoal making, unsustainable agriculture, unsustainable fishing etc.). Whereas the giant businesses keep on embracing unsustainable production of goods and services while the consumers keep on purchasing unsustainable goods and services with a myths of living a modern lifestyle, that, all inclusively create grave environmental impacts to our planet.

Energetically influencing the community to turn around their mode of production and consumption from individual/business/ organizational practices to more sustainable, I cannot underestimate a collective thinking of pioneers in business, government and civil society on the concept of sustainable development, simply defined in the ‘Brundtland Commission’ report of 1987 of the UN as the “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustainable development concept and its principle application have been in use for about three decades now as a means of our time to harmonize both development activities (i.e. human consumption and production) and available natural resources as “natural capital.” Also, the concept is a guiding principle to a newly established UN Global goals- Sustainable Development Goals (17 SDGs by 2030).

'Natural capital' as adopted from Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) published report of 2015 -“Doing business with nature” by the Natural Capital Leaders Platform, it is an economic characterisation of the limited stocks of physical and biological resources found on Earth. It refers to the limited capacity of ecosystems to provide services (i.e. the direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well-being). With a major intention to grow businesses that last in response to social, environmental and economic interests; business owners, managers and other key stakeholders shouldn’t ignore the principle application of sustainable production and consumption of goods and services from “natural capital” for Green growth.

“Doing business with nature” a report of 2015 revealed that the current human consumption to “natural capital” is facing the three major challenges fixed to biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, overexploitation of water resource (1/5 of world’s aquifers are being overexploited) and degradation and eroded of arable land (10million hectares of arable land being degraded and eroded every year-Global scale). The identified challenges affect all of us in various aspects as fixed to consumption and production of goods and services. In business setting, businesses operating in a context of “business as usual”, have to think smart and differently to address the existing environmental challenges while creating both social and environmental value.

I’m writing this article specifically to challenge “business as usual” and status quo while opening a chat with stakeholders and invite businesses to reflect upon their business model and strategy in relying to “natural capital” for Sustainable development. It’s all about making a “waking-up call” and encourage business owners and those who want to set up new business on judging business strategies to balance or minimize their ecological footprint-the human demand on the planet’s ability to provide renewable resources and ecological services” at the same time create more business value.

In agreement with global community and environmental activists with Green growth programs, I keep on arguing against all human activities leading to climate change impacts, unprecedented environmental pollution (solid waste, air and water pollution, soil and natural resources degradation). Consequently, I argue venturing in “Green/Sustainable business”-among Green growth programs as a powerful tool accepted by Environmental activists globally to rescue our Planet from the impacts of human activities resulted from conducting “business as usual”.

As a matter of assisting understanding, “Green/ Sustainable business” refers to a model of conducting business as “business as unusual” to reduce or overcome the negative impacts to the environmental, the community, society or economy at global or local level while creating more value and reputation for sustainable development. It’s an enterprise that heeds the interest of Planet, People and Profit i.e. triple bottom line.

A response to “business as usual” as glued to business mindset and status quo in business setting, “Jielimishe Kwanza”-“Educate Yourself First”, a training and a consultancy company in Tanzania with a team of experienced staff members in sustainability issues and business development find a worthwhile opportunity in developing human capacity at global and individual levels by assisting the business owners, managers/CEOs, young entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs explore new concepts/ideas /business opportunities and share insight with practical skills to embrace Green growth programs and sustainably investing from “natural capital” to reinvent business model and establish innovative Green/Sustainable businesses.

“Jielimishe Kwanza”-“Educate Yourself First” with our programs-“Go-Green-Tanzania” and “Social & Environmental Entrepreneurship in Tanzania” (SEE-Tanzania) and outstanding Short training courses and seminars on “Building Green Business” (BGB), “Green Team Building”(GTB), Sustainable/Social/Environmental Entrepreneurship and consultancy services for Green Growth, advocates the shared social and environmental values for the sake of minimizing operational costs, minimizing environmental impacts and maximize profit i.e. addressing issues related to sustainable development – Economic Prosperity, Environmental Protection and Social Justice in their local communities innovatively and creatively in business and managerial setting.

Regularly speaking with the public via Radio and training programs, public events, and business forums, I strictly insist that; “success in business is not relying on building number of different businesses, it’s about doing business differently in a smart approach while taking a forefront interest of the Planet-Earth and the Market (People) at the same time maximizing profit.” It’s about encouraging the public to set up business that can address environmental challenges of our time while creating social, economic and environmental value.

Likewise, it must be taken into account that, any success in business involves wheeling together with changing time while creating more value to value chain. Entrepreneurs, Business owners and Start-up Companies have to “turn a blind eye to” business mentality of believing on conducting “business as usual” for economic growth i.e. running a business with a central and selfish interest on accumulating profits regardless of any serious environmental destruction with unsustainable production of goods and services and negative human health impacts.

Keeping on embracing “business as usual” will make all of us and the future generation fall short of ecosystem services to support human life; meaning that the world will not be a better place to live for all.

Unavoidably, all stakeholders in collective action have to take into account the prime interest of protecting natural resources as referred to as “natural capital” followed by human development and economic gain. Let’s join our efforts and change our attitude to set up “Green/Sustainable business” to rescue existing situation before it’s too late!

Published by Jielimishe Kwanza

A version of this article appeared on African Climate Reality Project (ACRP).

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Attitude_Know That Change Begin With You

KNOW THAT CHANGE BEGIN WITH YOU...

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Photo:www.savingthewild.com

"Be the change you wish to see in your world“

-Mahatma Gandhi

By Henry Kazula,

Author: Mtazamo Wako Ni Upi?

                                                                   

                                                                          SPONSORED BY

https://www.facebook.com/seetanzania?ref=bookmarks

Our planet Earth is going through an era of unprecedented changes with extreme events not limited to drought, increased temperature, flood, biodiversity loss, increased storm damage, melting of glaciers and sea level causing submerging of small Islands due to climate change linked to global warming. Whereby, natural events and human activities being considered to be a focal cause. Without underestimating extreme poverty and eruption of deadly diseases around the world; the countries at the South of Sahara desert facing more impacts of climate change.

Apart from what is happening to our planet Earth, it’s very unfortunately that the world is “full up” of mankind who want to see and accept positive changes knock their doors; hardly any who want to change positively to change the world i.e. none of them who aspire to drive positive change aspired to be seen by every mankind in the society.

When there is a call of action for many people to change their attitude and be part of positive change in the society- in making the world a better place, they escape in another door of negativity…very contrary to what Mahtma Gandhi in his life-changing saying of all time of “Be the change you wish to see in your world.“

Currently, the situation is worsened as for the world is “very hungry” of talented people with genuine desire to dedicate time to change themselves first and advocating positive change in the society while making the world more better place to live.

Sadly to see the good number of very reluctant people who claps and wait for the positive change to come on their ways while there are very few people who are heavily sweating for the positive change to come to the world including the majority.

I can’t guess the category you belong, otherwise keep it up to maintain your good will to change yourself and realized your purpose of worthy living to change the world around you.

Following my intensive research on the willingness of people in the community to change themselves first to change the world, I’ve found the need to encourage many people through this piece of inspiration to change and fall into this category of "positive change makers" to make our world more better.

You might eagerly want to know exactly on the way you can change yourself from a relaxing situation preferred to as a comfort zone to a "positive change maker"; the techniques are very easy to adopt; firstly, if you want to change yourself, change personal environment i.e. friends, TV-media & Radio, books, newspaper you’re interacting with. Then, starting living a life with purpose-a worthy-life living for the other.

Secondly, be open to re-learn from your personal experiences while clearing negative doubts on your way to address the problems around you. Remove “im” from “impossible”, take a new look to every problem as..."is very possible" by testing number of possibilities. This will assist to restructure your personal philosophy towards life.

Also, be ready to adopt another philosophy of life-“Ubuntu”-an ancient African word meaning “humanity to others” or "human kindness" as translated by Nguni Bantu of South Africa. It also means, “I am what I am because of who we all are” or “I am because of you”. This is inline with believing that your success for attaining your dream depends on other people around you as Taylor Swift, a Grammy award winner 2016 once said in receiving speech; “But if you just focus on the work and you don’t let those people sidetrack you, someday when you get where you’re going, you will look around and you will know it was you and the people who love you who put you there, and that will be the greatest feeling in the world.”

Remember, people around us can contribute to our success by criticizing our path and there are those who hold up our hand when we lose hope and support. Learn to embrace the contribution from the two positively, stop complaining, keep learning to change yourself everyday, start now to act with energy for the sake of making our planet Earth a more better to live while alleviating the pain of those in need around you.

Published by Jielimishe Kwanza