The Gold Winner of the Future Policy Award 2014 to end violence against women and girls was highlighted by US Vice President Joe Biden at an event in Duluth, Minnesota, on October 23. The City’s Coordinated Community Response to Domestic Violence, which is known as the “Duluth Model”, was recognised as the world’s best policy to end violence against women and girls at the Future Policy Award Ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland on October 14.
In addition to measures for enriching farmland and pastures with ‘conventional’ organic matter, a potentially important additional option is available in the form of ‘Biochar’. Biochar can be produced by pyrolysis (low-oxygen combustion) of organic materials – forest thinnings, sawdust, agricultural wastes, urban organic wastes or sewage solids – and the resulting charcoal-like substance can be incorporated into farmland as a long term carbon storage option. These are ways of producing ‘sustainable biochar’ as opposed to its production from monoculture tree plantations, which is rightly vigorously opposed by an international coalition of environmental groups.
Use of charcoal as a soil conditioner has ancient origins, and is best documented with reference to the ‘terra preta’ soils found in parts of the Amazon. Much evidence now exists that charcoal was mixed by Amazonian Indian cultivators with food- and human wastes to enrich poor and acidic soils. The predecessors of today’s Amazonian Indians left behind ‘terra preta’ soils rich in organic matter in some 10 per cent of the Amazon territory. Research has shown that charcoal incorporated in this way can last in the soil for hundreds to even thousands of years.
Biochar is a more stable nutrient source than compost and manure. The porous quality of the biochar particles can improve soil structure, and harbours a vast variety and quantity of micro-organisms and associated plant nutrients, enhancing fertility and life in the soil, and also helping it to retain moisture – which is very important in an age of climate change.
By ‘pyrolysing’ one tonne of organic material which contains half a tonne of carbon, about half a tonne of CO2 can be removed from the atmosphere and stored in the soil whilst the other half can be used as a carbon-neutral fuel (this equals a quarter of the CO2 absorbed by the plant during its growth). Biochar has the potential to lock the mineral carbon it contains safely away in the soil for centuries. Professor Johannes Lehmann of Cornell University and others have calculated that biochar applications to soil could remove several billion tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere per year.
Bio-char can be produced from many different organic materials, including sewage and urban biomass. At the sewage works in Bingen, Germany, semi-dried sewage sludge is pyrolysed and turned into black granules: the sewage is turned into charcoal. This can then be buried in farm soil and the carbon it contains can thus be prevented from entering the atmosphere. There is no doubt that the billions of tonnes of sewage and green wastes that accumulate in cities every year, if turned into biochar and buried, could greatly benefit the world’s soils soil as well as the atmosphere.
Incorporation of sustainably produced bio-char could be used to reward farmers as carbon stewards, enabling them to enhance their yields whilst also increasing our ability to deal with climate change.
Workshop on Food and Nutrition Security, 21 – 23 July 2014
Concluding Recommendations
After thorough deliberation at the Workshop on Food and Nutrition Security which was enabled by the City of Windhoek, the City of Belo Horizonte (Brazil), the World Future Council and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
We, the Mayors of Namibian Cities, policymakers, technicians, experts, and representatives of civil society organizations have compiled this document with the following recommendations which we strongly feel ought to be implemented by all stakeholders in order to ensure the right to food for all people.
Recognize the urgent need to act now at local and national levels to address the challenges in food and nutrition security our country is facing today and ensure food and nutrition security for future generations.
Commit to engage in a multi-stakeholder dialogue on food and nutrition security governance and interventions at different levels: from local to national, from public to private, including but not limited to civil society and international organisations, and media.
Acknowledge the fact that we need to develop and implement solutions that are fitting for our specific situations, including reviewing the policy and legal framework on national level, developing solutions for financing efforts on local level, and connecting political with technical will.
Commit to harmonize our efforts to tackling food and nutrition security in Namibia and build networks for multi-level stakeholder dialogue, partnerships, capacity building and implementation of follow-up actions.
Engage to realize the concrete recommendations, action plans and time frames that have been developed at the Workshop, especially in regards to the establishment of Food Banks in Namibia and the promotion of urban and peri-urban agriculture and city-region linkages.
Recommend that ALAN facilitates the establishment of an inter-municipal technical task force whose mandate is to engage further relevant stakeholders with the view to implementing concrete recommendations and action plans that have been developed at the workshop.
Windhoek, 23 July 2014
| Name
Cllr Agnes Kafula Cllr Muesee Kazapua Cllr Uilika Nambahu Cllr Juuso Kambweshe Cllr Helaria Mukapuli Cllr Hilka Leevi Cllr Emma Taukuheke Cllr Lidia S. Bezuidenhoudt Cllr Ndangi Sheeteketa Cllr Jason Asisno Cllr Eve Massdorp Cllr Carolina Arendse Cllr Ronny Negonga Cllr Gustav IHoaeb Cllr Erastus Kandjimi Cllr Daniel U. Muhuura Cllr Tuarungua Kavari Cllr Matheus Ndeshitita CIlr Julia Shikongo Cllr Paulus Haikali Cllr David lpinge Cllr Isai D. Uuzombata Mr Willian Shenldee Cllr Onesmus Shilunga Cllr Andreas Shintama Cllr Hesikiel Nanyeni Cllr John Viakongo Cllr Charles M. Matengu Cllr Markus Damaseb Cllr Henry Edward Coetzee CIlr Esme S. Isaack Cllr Thyphosa Moloto Cllr Hilda Jesaya Cllr Vaierie Aron Cllr Aila Haufiku Cllr Moses Titus Cllr Kleophas Geingob Cllr Alex Kamburute Cllr Bartholomeus Rooi Cllr Yvonne Bok Cllr Petrus Boois Cllr Christine Garoes Scholtz Cllr S Haikwiyu Cllr Susanna Motinga CIlr Christina lsaaks Cllr Edward Wells Cllr J Khachab Cllr Feitje Basson Cllr Regina Aebes Mr Pete Gurirab Cllr Maria Ganuses Cllr Magdalena Aebes Cllr Franciska Nakare Cllr Livey van Wyk |
Title and Institutions
Mayor of the City of Windhoek Deputy Mayor, City of Windhoek President Mayor Forum Mayor of Swakopmund Deputy Mayor of Luderjtz Mayor of Rundu Mayor of Grootfontein Mayor of Cobabis Mayor of Tsumeb Mayor Ongwediva Mayor of Rehoboth Mayor of Karasburg Mayor of Ondangwa Mayor of Usakos Mayor of Nkurenkuru Mayor of Arandis Mayor of Opuwo Mayor of Outapi Mayor of Eenhana Mayor of Hetao Nafidi Mayor of Karibib Mayor of Okahao MC Chairperson of Oshikuku Mayor of Oshakati Mayor of Ruacana Mayor of Omuthiya Mayor of Okakarara Mayor of Katima Mulilo Mayor of Otavi Mayor of Oranjemund Major of Aranos Mayor of Khorixas Mayor of Otjiwarongo Mayor of Okaha ndja Mayor of Hentjes Bay Mayor of Keetmanshoop Mayor of Outjo Mayor of Marientet Chairperson: Aroab Village Council Chairperson: Gibeon Village Council Chairperson: Gochas Village Council Chairperson: Kalkrand Village Council Chairperson: Matahöhe Village Council Chairperson: Stampriet ViIageCouncil Chairperson: Berseba Villaee Council Chairperson: Bethanie Village Councit Chairperson: Koës Village Council Vice Chairperson: Tses Village Council Deputy Chairperson: Kamanjab VillageCouncil CEO: Kamanjab Village Council Kamanjab Village Council Kamanjab Village Council Chairperson: Leonardville Village Councjl Chairperson: Witvlei Village Council |
Three-day workshop on food and nutrition security comes to successful close as leaders agree to drive urban agriculture
Windhoek, Namibia, 24 July 2014 – A declaration to end hunger in Namibia was adopted by mayors, policymakers, technicians, experts, and representatives of civil society organizations in Windhoek yesterday. The document promises a review of national policy and legal frameworks and a commitment to harmonize current efforts to tackling food and nutrition security. First concrete measures will oversee the establishment of Food Banks and greening the riverbeds in Windhoek.
Three-day workshop on food and nutrition security in Windhoek kicks off with keynote by Namibian Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Marco Hausiku
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Argentina are culturally, linguistically and geographically diverse nations. However, both are fighting to realise change and bring about a new direction in their country’s development.
Over 750,000 illicit weapons and 16,000 tonnes of ammunition currently circulate within the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Easy access to weapons largely left over from the conflict in the 90’s has led to these circulating remnants of war being involved in more than 10 violent incidents each week.
Argentina too has also faced risks caused by the availability of guns and a lack of gun violence education. In 2004, a 15 year old boy killed three classmates in Southern Argentina, wounding five. It is clear that despite their many evident differences, firearm awareness actions needs to be taken to curb the blight of gun violence in both nations for future generations.
“Tragedies caused by guns and other small arms are nearly a daily occurrence. Without the widespread availability of these weapons such tragedies could not occur. Further, guns can play no positive role in resolving conflicts or achieving reconciliation between conflicting parties. Resolving conflicts requires peaceful processes, including negotiations and diplomacy. Peace cannot be attained by either random or targeted killings – thus, the importance of disarmament, gun control and a non-killing ethic.” – David Krieger WFC Councillor & President, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.
As part of our follow-up activities to the 2013 Future Policy Award on Disarmament, on March 6-7, the World Future Council together with UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovinas ‘Choose Life Without Weapons‘ coalition provided an opportunity for governmental entities from Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina to come together to exchange their experiences in combating the blight of the small arms and light weapons within their unique national contexts.
A conference at UN House in Sarajevo on 6 March allowed participants to share lessons learnt from their arms control programmes, while a visit to Banja Luka on 7 March gave participants the chance to witness and participate in the melting of collected weapons, which are then recycled to manufacture spare parts for windmills and other public infrastructure.
In 2013, Argentina’s ‘National Programme for the Voluntary Surrender of Firearms’ was recognised with a Silver Future Policy Award by the World Future Council, in collaboration with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Under the programme, the governmental agency RENAR has successfully collaborated with civil society in reducing the number of illicit firearms while promoting a culture more focused on non-violence and peaceful conflict resolution.
The kick-off event in Sarajevo included the screening of the documentary Football Rebels and the football match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Argentina later that evening.
Choose life without weapons was launched in 2013 by UNDP, and their partners, to prompt action and open discourse over the issue of gun violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The campaign encourages citizens to take advantage of an amnesty law allowing weapons and explosive devices to be handed over to the police without legal repercussions. Collected weapons are then melted and recycled into components for infrastructural development across the country.
Argentina similarly encouraged sustainable action against armed violence through the formation of The Argentine Disarmament Network, a coalition of civil society organisations attempting to tackle armed violence.
Ensuring enough healthy food for every child is one of the aims of our work. Our ambassador, German TV presenter Jörg Pilawa, visited various aid projects in Namibia, to understand the food security situation there.
Press release – for immediate release
Carbon Labelling is supported in the framework of the Intelligent Energy Europe programme
It has been shown that the carbon footprint of food products (‘foodprint’) can vary substantially. Depending on its production method (organic versus chemical), its content (meat versus vegetarian or vegan), transport routes (air freight, sea freight or local), processing method (fresh versus deep-frozen) and disposal of residues (use as organic fertilizer versus waste), each food item is responsible for a certain amount of GHG emissions during its life-cycle.
Making this information available to the consumer increases transparency in the food market, raises awareness of the consumer, creates incentives for the industry to lower its carbon footprint, and rewards climate friendly products. Consumers should know whether the organic kiwi from New Zealand or the home grown chemically fertilized apple does more harm to the climate. In general, environmental labelling has been a success story since the 1980s. Labels, such as the Energy Star, energy efficiency ratings or the Nordic Swan label have changed the behaviour of consumers and manufacturers. An Eurobarometer survey showed that for an overwhelming majority of Europeans (83 percent) the impact of a product on the environment plays an important aspect in their purchasing decisions.
An evaluation of the specific circumstances of the political and regulatory environment will determine the best choice in each case. Whereas a mandatory label ensures a broad participation, voluntary schemes might have a better acceptance in the industry. A food label should be based on total lifecycle emissions, as opposed to considering only the use-phase. Possible are both, comparative labels which provide consumers with product information through use of a specific number (e. g. ‘1 kg CO2’) or rating (e. g. A–F or 1–5 stars), or endorsement labels which prove that the product meets certain criteria (e. g. below average carbon footprint).
Implementing new labelling schemes necessitates conformity assessment procedures involving testing, inspection, certification, accreditation and metrology. These processes are essential for the effective implementation and acceptance of the scheme.
The EU Commission has taken a first look at this issue but, not surprisingly, has received opposition from the food industry. However, the example of the UK Carbon Label and the Swedish climate labelling initiative show that the concept can be implemented and, with the assistance of governments and industry, can be established on a larger scale.
In Sweden, the two major certification bodies, KRAV and Swedish Seal, have developed a climate label for food. As the project has been joined by several major food and agriculture companies, the Swedish climate labelling initiative has become the first comprehensive and country wide policy of its kind in Europe.
The climate label covers the food chain from farming to the sale of the produce. So far, criteria for meat, fish, milk, greenhouse vegetables and agricultural crops have been set. Food produced and distributed with at least 25 percent less GHG than comparable products can be labelled with a respective note. In this way the label focuses on the climate friendliest products within a group, but does not help the consumer to choose between meat and beans.
The climate label is accompanied by an information and education campaign, which resulted in recommendations for climate compatible nourishment. In addition, the initiative works with the industry to implement measures to reduce the GHG emissions of food production.
According to press reports (Spiegel-online of 7th Nov. 2009) the climate label increased the sale of Max burgers by 20 percent. Experts are cited to expect a 50 percent reduction of GHG emissions in the Swedish food industry, if the population would switch to climate friendly alimentation. The labelling initiative maintains that 60 percent of consumers would like to see a climate label on products.
Anna Richert, climate expert of the label initiative, says: “The strength of the label is that reductions in climate impact have been made wherever possible. The producer participates in making the food chain more sustainable.”
Click here to access Klimatmärkning homepage.
