It is no longer Waste

Now, most of us believe that old toilet materials, especially the ceramics, become waste immediately we replace them with new ones. Could it because they are associated with "human waste," that we cannot reuse them? No! I think is lack of some basics on how one can recycle such materials...did you know that the ceramics could be turned into cement? Yes, the old ceramic toilet sitters and tanks could be actually crushed into fine particles, and finally cement. Indeed, Treacy's article, "Old toilets, other ceramic waste can be made into "greener" cement," discusses the process in detail:

ceramic castaways, as well as bricks, can be used to make a cement that's just as strong as traditional cement, but through a process that's much less dirty.

A more shocking revelation is that another waste material is used as an activator. According to Treacy, rice husk can be used instead of sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, meaning it is such an economical process that minimizes on costs and environmental damage. This type of cement is even much stronger than normal cement...wow! Great one there, and everyone is on the know.

Source: Tree Hugger 

-Abednego Osindi (Bsc. Environmental Science, UoN)-

© 2014. All rights reserved @Abedos Media!

 

Who is Fooling Who?

It is just a few hours I heard of a poaching incident in the Lake Nakuru National Park. In less than a week, poaching cases have been reported in the media for one too many times. For sure, as an animal and nature lover, all these stories keep me thinking "What is next for our Heritage?" "Are the Responsible bodies doing quite enough?" "What about the government?" "Could it be that somebody somewhere is sleeping on their job?" "Mwanakenya?"Or, "Who is Fooling who?" For sure, the Kenyan heritage is running down the drain while responsible bodies and the government are on the on look, Mwanakenya getting fooled all the way, and what is remaining are just mere consolations of "We Are on the Lookout!"
The other day, I watched the "Poachers and Butchers"  investigative piece by KTN's Dennis Onsarigo and it just drove me nuts! I may not be an expert in analyzing the details but for sure, my understanding would not lie that there is much truth in it. Truth that, somebody somewhere, so influential, affluential, and powerful is sitting at the throne of the "Kenya Wildlife Poaching Kingdom." It is in no doubt that the unemployed Kenyans have so much pride and satisfaction getting employed and manning "our" wild animals from killing by fellow poor Kenyans, while making sure that the animals are poached by the "Kingpins" as Onsarigo puts it. What made me convinced over this claim are the series of explanations Onsarigo gives; first, the controversies surrounding the killings of people linked to have information about the "powerful" people involved in poaching, second, the fact that poachers carrying ivory or rhino horns always escape but the rest are always shot, the "obsolete" weaponry found with poachers, and lastly but not least, the poaching occurs in most secure parks and sanctuaries of Kenya. Certainly, an higher authority must be in the know-how of all these!
Coincidentally, I read another shocking revelation on the linkage of Al-Shabaab to ivory trade. The Al-Shabaab have great connections in East Africa especially Kenya, where they manage to trade in ivory in the most lucractive exchanges ever witnessed. According to Kalron, the article author, this might be the reason why the Al-Shabaab never get short of finances to purchase heavy machinery and take care of its men:

A quick calculation puts Shabaab’s monthly income from ivory at between US$200,000 and US$600,000. Maintaining an army of roughly 5,000 men, each earning US$300 USD, demands at least US$1,500,000 a month, of which the ivory trade can supply a big chunk of it. 

So, somebody could ask how the two stories connect? The answer is very simple; remember the Kenyan army (KDF) has been deployed in Somalia to "finish" the Al-Shabaab, meaning the Al-Shabaab is deemed a big enemy by Kenya. Secondly, Onsarigo's investigative piece links powerful, and well-informed Kenyans to the ivory trade, where we have seen that the the Kenyan enemy (i.e. Al-Shabaab) is one of the intermediaries. I mean, why can't the government and responsible authorities take this chance to weaken Al-Shabaab financial sources, because it is clear that ivory is furnishing them? Could it be that fighting Al-Shabaab in Somalia is another "cover-up" tactic as the one reported in Onsarigo's "Poachers and Butchers?" While the ordinary Mwanakenya is advised to use Wildleaks in reporting the crimes, methinks it is time to demand for not only answers, but the RIGHT answers as to "Who is Fooling Who?"   

-Abednego Osindi (Bsc. Environmental Science, UoN)-

© 2014. All rights reserved @Abedos Media!

THE GREEN POPE

The first one in centuries,
To display efforts,
Towards environmental conservation,
He has gone green.

Believes in the warning,
Of human induced global warming,
And obtained an electric car,
To take him around Vatican.

May soon put up a parsnip garden,
Highly recommended for lent consumption,
Its roots survive in winter,
As Christians survive in lent,

Will cast out evil with Angelica,
That blooms on Michael The Archangels' day,
He knows Coriandrum sativa,
One of the bitter herbs during the Passover.

Christians all over the world,
Already have a spear header,
In environmental sustainability,
He is one of our own.

Francis of Assisi,
Our  patron saint of Ecologists,
Pray for us,
That we may live by this.

All rights @Aosindi 2012!

Think.Eat.Save. . .Reduce Your FOODPRINT!

I know most of you would greatly oppose my statement that ‘food somewhere is food nowhere’ but I am in my gloves ready to prove you wrong. I am out to eat and live so that I can give a testimony to the coming generations the importance of clearing food and forwarding only plates to the sink.

It is not long since I was at Uhuru Park, Nairobi in the ‘Kenyans for Kenya’ campaign whose aim was to raise funds to feed empty stomachs in the North of the very country. Elsewhere in the country farmers were complaining of bumper harvests that had staled in the shamba; maize, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, kales…gone bad. All these as a result of inefficient storage, poor infrastructure to ferry goods to the starving North and worse of all the neighbor has plenty of it and therefore no need for charity. As the farmer was cursing of wasted efforts, the wasted food was hungry because it was not  consumed.

The human feeding lifestyle is growing more and more unique with time! While the slum family is fighting over ‘ugali-salt’ supper, the elite’s pride is to throw half-consumed chicken into the bin. It is so shocking that food for pigs is a hot cake business at the dumping site especially from the posh garbage. I guess it must have been an Easter celebration if the wasted food found itself in the gates of children’s home or those street urchins!  Will it not be fair enough for you Mr/Ms ‘foody’ thinking over this and taking necessary action?

My roommate is never at peace when he sees half-empty cooking pot on the cooker. He could better witness food remains than clear his plate! The room conditioning is gone pathetic because he never empties the rotten tomatoes. He brought so much from home and was never at ease when I gave out some to our neighbor. I wish you could hold to my granny’s ‘left-over theory’. Please promise to cook enough and purchase wisely.

I like attending parties and social gatherings. In most cases I witness people eat themselves sick! It is so funny that the uneaten food in such functions can account for almost half of the preparation budget! I think it never kills for you to serve what can hold your stomach; neither does it cost anything to go for a top-up. Safe the rest for tomorrow because you never know what it brings.

Walking across the retail market a strange smell hits my nose. This is from the decomposing heaps of perished foodstuffs piled in the open space. The trader made haste to harvest the maximum even with the knowledge of market situation. He even disposed some that appeared 'ugly'.  It is high time we stop emphasizing on appearance and go for nutrition!

Just think of that time you will be yearning for your favorite meal and it misses! The very food you were consuming carelessly has gone too expensive or no longer exists. You saw it go into waste in that conscious mind and now your health is compromised because of the decomposing gas inhalation. The very gas that accelerates global warming! The leachate contaminated water you drunk is now a threat to your meager salary. Unsightly dumping sites have replaced aesthetic sceneries. You will soon turn into the wild for easily accessible food but remember it is shot lived too! Let today’s surplus be tomorrow’s saving!

SOURCES (LINKS)

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Tree Hugger

Think Eat Save

-Abednego Osindi (Bsc. Environmental Science, UoN)-

© 2013. All rights reserved @Abedos Media!

THE POISONED BIRD.

Like a particle under free fall,

I saw it come down with a thud.
Thought it were having fun,
Not realizing the pain.

Two days gone by,
And at the valley bottom
Lies the bird carcass
That has been feeding on domestic grains.

Beautiful feathers scattered,
Not to be replaced by new ones
But gone for good.
Never to be seen again.

Nostrills torn apart
By the scavenging ants.
Will they survive thw poison?
I guess they may follow suit.

Elegant scaly feet,
Peeling back with haste.
To expose the fleshy section
And accelerate saprophytism.

They enchroached the habitat,
Aiming to change the bird habit
That never worked even a bit.
Best way was to exterminate it.

All rights reserved @Aosindi 2012!
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