NEVSON MPOFU
Nations in their frantic bid to reduce pollution are severely pulled down by human fertility factors related to high birth rate causing high population, which is the main anthropogenic agent of several pollution types. Population explosion compromises on fast rate resource scarcity, a contributing factor to loss of Biodiversity through mismanaged Human and Natural Ecological systems. This reduces chances of countries to move towards what we term Green Economy.
At a Global glance, looking at United Nations Convention on Climate Change protocols, it is target of every country to eliminate rather than reduce. This consummate well with Thomas Malthus theories of the 18 century that over population would be a big problem by this 21st century .Overpopulation against existing natural resources in Industrialized Global Economies has led to depletion of the ozone layer through air pollution.
.This led to Global Warming then Climate Change induced natural disasters, EL-Nina and LA-Nina which are agents of droughts.
The British Demographer and Economic Analyst envisaged of social and economic problems arising from over population in the world .Imagine, by that century the World’s total population was less 1 and half billion .Today the World is in demographic exponential heights, with a total bulging population of 7 and half billion .That alone is biotic threat to attainment of a Green Economy which is the human, plant and animal path for a sustainable World.
POLLUTION EFFECTS ON GREEN ECONOMY
Sundry of arising challenges, climate change from Global Warming, , desertification, natural disasters and above all POLLUTION ,the core subject fail the World to achieve a GREEN ECONOMY. Green Economy is free from human and natural environmental intoxications like pollution. Later a Green Economy produces advantages of gain related to sustainable resources which make people have livelihoods in a livable community.
Pollution defined as human negligence with waste output violating the natural environment, falls in five categories, air which rises up with greenhouse gases like carbon-dioxide affecting the ozone layer that which protects us from sun’s rays called ultra-violet .In air as well, is circulation of carbon –monoxide, tar and smoke fumes from Industry and burning dioxins which lead to cardio-vascular and respiratory diseases affecting lungs.
Water pollution causes cholera caused by vibrio bacteria. It manifested its intense effects with the 2008 Health breakdown which broke up in Harare where at least 3000 people died and some became ill , this leading to depreciation of family income and Government tight budgets .A leading United Nations Agency UNICEF drilled a number of boreholes which saved local urban communities .
Water is no longer safe to drink owing also to the fact that Land Pollution continues to act as undying threat to humanity .It is evidenced by littered garbage in urban centers like the tense menace of situations in high density suburbs where population is alarmingly high due to urban drift. The increase has decreased Infrastructural growth. That is one of the main reasons why the Government of Zimbabwe conducted Operation Murambatsvina in 2005.
The above mentioned pollution types are scapegoated to the Government, Urban council’s lack of proper management on waste especially in urban areas. However, this is getting to affect rural communities. The challenge in many countries is on achievement of Sustainable Development Goals like Goal, 3 on Good Health, 6 on clean water, Goal 11 on Sustainable cities and communities, Goal 13 climate action, Goal 14 life below water, Goal 15, Life on land .
A Green Economy needs to create a World of dirty, scum and refuse removal where human lives are sustained their lives by natural and human resources which make communities livable. Livable communities are safe from pollution. In order to create livable communities, we need to be sustainable as we get financial and food resources to foster Food Security projects and programs to do with Green economy.
SWEEDEN-ZIM GREEN- JOBS PROJECT
Green Economy can only be made possible by working out on pollution programs meant to focus strictly on building sustainable and livable communities with people who have innovative knowledge , equitable resources with Gender sensitive policies and Legislation to equate populations , share ideas and create Health policies from National levels cascading down in all communities at the same height and level.
In a GREEN JOB ECONOMY communities get participated, engaged and involved in sustainable Waste Management projects which can make every unemployed person get involved. Plastic containers get recycled into manufacture of several paraphernalia like plastic utensils, jackets and some form of creation, which reduces unemployment, create green jobs, HYGIENIC HEALTH and make lives sustainable.
EXPERTS from the Environment sector under the Swedish Embassy are working on projects in Zimbabwe, which focus waste management. The Government of Sweden is supporting the idea of plastic waste collection and recycling to avoid littering, loss of resources and improve Environmental Health.
GOVERNMENTS of many developing countries are still struggling to come up with means on how to build sustainable communities through creation of green economy, which demands removal of waste, recycling it and manufacturing from what is recycled. The other way round, it is a matter of creating a pollution free, hygienic world.
There is currently need of strong civil society to push on Policy issues. Governments of many countries are failing on policy framework, modalities and strategies for implementation .An Expert in the RECYCLING FIELD laments on the role of the Government to put in place robust ideas and aggressive policies on eliminating pollution as we RECYCLE to MANUFACTURE and build a GREEN ECONOMY .
THE ZIMBABWE MINAMATA PROJECT
Currently, Zimbabwe which is signatory to Minamata Convention is working out on solutions to eliminate the use of Mercury in Gold mining areas where there is massive illegal Gold mining .At a recent symposium in the City, the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri said since Mercury is dangerous to human lives the Government is on a project on mercury elimination since it poses problems related to bad health.
Mercury affect fetal neurological development in pregnant women and is linked to low fertility, brain and nerve damage and heart diseases in adults who have high levels of mercury in their blood .The project is taking advantage of the United Nations Environment Program [UNEP] tool –kit . .
Awareness is in Gold mining areas like in Chakari, Kadoma, where training and teaching Gold mining communities on mercury handling , use and maintenance is going on .
The project is important since focus is on its possible elimination because almost 70% of people especially children and women in mining areas have been affected .Mercury chronic intoxication has mainly affected children in many Gold mining areas where researches were done and found that many deaths and illnesses occurred . It was also ascertained that 1,5 million small-scale miners were using mercury at the expense of mainly pregnant women and children.
Mercury in the town of Minamata, Japan after its spill , decades back , killed thousands of people and some became seriously ill , some becoming disabled , pregnant women succumbing to feotal neurological development and death .Later a convention was convoked. However, Zimbabwe ‘s Environmental Management Act [CHAPTER 20-27] Section 70 prohibits discharge of waste. It further states that, no person shall discharge or dispose waste whether generated within or outside Zimbabwe in such a manner as to cause pollution to Environment or ill-health to any person.