#COP27🌍 Insights during COP27. She is a female climate activist who #FlipsTheScript

How is climate change affecting Angola and what are you doing to flip the script? 

Sofonie Dala's Thoughts

Climate change is becoming a very serious matter for the whole world. Unfortunately, many people still don't know about this, they don't know what climate change is and what causes it. Worst of all, these people who lack this knowledge are the same people who cause environmental pollution and climate change, simply because they are unaware of the consequences of their actions. Then the problem becomes even more complicated.

For example, here in my community, we continue to produce tons of garbage daily, there are a lot of plastics in every corner, people are not even aware of the damage that plastics cause to the environment.

People continue to cut the trees in their backyards and around their homes, burn the trees, without any knowledge that the trees would provide them with oxygen and protect them from global warming.

Gardeners and men are hired to cut down trees and destroy biodiversity, all of which are the result of a lack of knowledge.

To eliminate this problem, I think people could be educated, there is little awareness program in communities, especially families, in schools, in units, in short, very little is said about this in our country.

The government must think about this, must work with climate change activists, civil societies and people who are really interested in protecting the environment on our planet.

How is climate change affecting Angola

Angola is currently facing the worst drought emergency in the last 38 years as a result of climate change. The effects of the drought include: shortages of food, lack of potable water, cattle dying from disease and malnourished children (among other things).

Southern and central Angola are facing one of the worst climate shocks in recent years, including alternating droughts and floods. Vulnerable populations use untreated wastewater for consumption, such as stagnant and unprotected pond water, where animals drink and defecate, and rural populations seek water that is dangerous to drink, cook and feed their animals.

 Angola also has been struggling to manage municipal waste: the capital Luanda alone produces 6,000 tons of solid waste every day, which the city has struggled to manage.

Angola faces significant rainfalls shortfalls and high temperatures. We have been witnessing heavy rainfall, killing people and animals, causing flooding, destruction of infrastructure and plantations.

The rains come on the back of severe regional drought due to years of erratic rainfall and record-high temperatures.

What are you doing to flip the script? 

I'm already doing my part, and one of the initiatives I've taken is to provide free non-formal training to people who really need to acquire this knowledge.

Educational interview with school girls

Have you heard about the environment and climate change?

Yes, we've heard.

What causes climate change?

This question is very difficult.

What is the environment?

What? We don't know either.

OK. You've heard about it but you don't know what causes it, don't you?

Yup.

One of the causes of climate change is man's negative actions on the environment.

Hmmm, now we understand...

Humans pollute the environment, humans cut trees.

Yes people pollute a lot. I've also heard of air pollution. I don't like air pollution. Especially when I'm in my neighborhood, I don't like to see people start burning something.

Really?

Yes, nobody likes it.

So you must advise people to stop doing this, because we are being harmed and our planet is getting more and more damaged.

Fashion can urge people to help the cause against climate change

We are also producing a line of reusable menstrual pads for girls. In order to educate them through fashion. The pads are personalized with writing that transmits a certain communication, a certain education to people.

Mainly about plastics and the damage they cause to the environment. We are writing on our pads, woman without plastic - protect the environment. We use fashion to convey education. This way people will read and learn why plastics are bad.

With this, we intend to reduce the use of plastic sanitary pads, which are very expensive for our population, which is mostly made up of poor people who do not have the money to buy such items that they sell in supermarkets.

 So we are producing reusable menstrual pads to help the most vulnerable people and others too who need to take part in protecting the environment.