Le Nord Kivu à l’heure du développement

Le Nord Kivu à l’heure du développement: Paroles du Gouverneur de Province Julien Paluku Kahongya devant la Presse après deux semaines passées en Europe.

Devant la presse de Goma à sa résidence officielle, le dimanche 20 septembre 2009, Julien Paluku Kahongya, gouverneur du Nord Kivu a soutenu : « La province passe de l’île de la pauvreté vers l’île de développement ». Ceci est motivé selon lui par le résultat de la longue tournée sur le vieux continent à la recherche des investisseurs dans divers domaines de la vie du Nord Kivu, à cette période post-conflit. Le gouverneur Julien Paluku Kahongya a affirmé avoir convaincu certains investisseurs à venir appuyer le développement entamé depuis la proclamation de la fin de la guerre dans cette partie de l’Est du pays en mars dernier après la signature des accords de paix et les engagements des parties à oeuvrer ans la même vision.


Le périple européen du numéro un du Nord Kivu débuté en Italie et poursuivi au Pays – bas , en Allemagne, en Belgique et en France,apportera au Nord Kivu dans un futur proche des grand capitaux dans le domaine de l’énergie,du tourisme, de l’habitat,de la petite entreprise et même de la science car des échanges scientifiques sont sur les réussites de l’autorité pour promouvoir l’élite universitaire actuellement en pleine floraison au Nord Kivu.
En bref,la délégation du gouverneur Kahongya a visité des usines de fabrications des maisons modernes, les entreprises de productions des tuyaux galvanisés dans la conduite de l’eau, des agences et firmes de tourisme, des établissements de transformations des déchets ménagers et de cuisine en énergie électrique; quoi de plus facile à ne pas faire rêver à un décollage proche de cette province longtemps connue pour des cas des violences sexuelles,des tueries et autres insécurités dans un passé proche.

L’homme de la proximité des actions de Paluku se voit déjà en pleine piste de reconstruction de ce qui a été facilement détruit sans beaucoup d’efforts,mais l’habitat de cette partie du pays devra se soumettre à un exercice de culture fiscale pour arriver à se mettre au diapason des autres habitats de cette unique planète a martelé le gouverneur Julien, répondant à une question de la presse sur les leçons tirées de ce périple qui a tout de même coûté près de 30.000$ du contribuable du Nord Kivu.

Une firme Allemande du monde de tourisme « Karawane » s’est dite prête à investir au Nord Kivu pour valoriser les richesses naturelles nombreuses de cette contrée surtout au regard de la diversité écologique de son prestigieux Parc National des Virunga et autres attractions. A ces jours,le tourisme au PNVI est très actif depuis sa relance en Mai 2009 et ce genre d’activités restent la bienvenue pour les riverains du Parc;quand on se souvient que l’ICCN consacre désormais 30% des recettes de ce tourisme au profit des communautés pour leur développement.

« Nous devons donner un autre message au monde sur le Nord Kivu et combattre l’incivisme fiscal pour réaliser le développement » a conclu le gouverneur Julien devant les chaînes des radios et TV diffusant à Goma ainsi que la Presse Ecrite implanté dans cette partie du pays.

Comme on le voit, la main de chaque contribuable congolais évoluant au Nord Kivu est sollicitée pour que la cloche du bonheur commence à retentir au profit des habitants de cette sphère géographique, qui constitue une bonne courroie de transmission et un miroir de l’EST afin d’entraîner comme toujours le reste du Kivu et faire ainsi bien luire les rayons solaire sur l’ensemble de la région. Pour ceci,les organes habiletés devront accordé plus de manœuvre au pouvoir actuel pour que des crédits soient octroyé afin de matérialiser les contacts d’importations des machines et autres dans le domaine de l’habitat,car les différents déplacés des récentes guerres retournent déjà dans leurs villages.
Tuver Wundi

Climate change could deepen poverty in developing countries, study finds

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Urban workers could suffer most from climate change as the cost of food drives them into poverty, according to a new study that quantifies the effects of climate on the world's poor populations.

A team led by Purdue University researchers examined the potential economic influence of adverse climate events, such as heat waves, drought and heavy rains, on those in 16 developing countries. Urban workers in Bangladesh, Mexico and Zambia were found to be the most at risk.

"Extreme weather affects agricultural productivity and can raise the price of staple foods, such as grains, that are important to poor households in developing countries," said Noah Diffenbaugh, the associate professor of earth and atmospheric sciences and interim director of Purdue's Climate Change Research Center who co-led the study. "Studies have shown global warming will likely increase the frequency and intensity of heat waves, drought and floods in many areas. It is important to understand which socioeconomic groups and countries could see changes in poverty rates in order to make informed policy decisions."

The team used data from the late 20th century and projections for the late 21st century to develop a framework that examined extreme climate events, comparable shocks to grain production and the impact on the number of impoverished people in each country.
Thomas Hertel, a distinguished professor of agricultural economics and co-leader of the study, said that although urban workers only contribute modestly to total poverty rates in the sample countries, they are the most vulnerable group to changes in grains production.

"Food is a major expenditure for the poor and, while those who work in agriculture would have some benefit from higher grains prices, the urban poor would only get the negative effects," said Hertel, who also is executive director of Purdue's Center for Global Trade Analysis. "This is an important finding given that the United Nations projects a continuing shift in population concentrations from rural to urban areas in virtually all of these developing countries."

With nearly 1 billion of the world's poor living on less than $1 a day, extreme events can have a devastating impact, he said.

"Bangladesh, Mexico and Zambia showed the greatest percentage of the population entering poverty in the wake of extreme drought, with an additional 1.4 percent, 1.8 percent and 4.6 percent of their populations being impoverished by future climate extremes, respectively," Hertel said. "This translates to an additional 1.8 million people impoverished per country for Bangladesh and Mexico and an additional half million people in Zambia."

A paper detailing the work will be published in Thursday's (Aug. 20) issue of Environmental Research Letters. In addition to Diffenbaugh and Hertel, Syud Amer Ahmed, a recent Purdue graduate and a member of the development research group for The World Bank, co-authored the paper. The World Bank's Trust Fund for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development funded the research.

The team identified the maximum rainfall, drought and heat wave for the 30-year periods of 1971-2000 and 2071-2100 and then compared the maximums for the two time periods.

The global climate model experiments developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, were used for the future projections of extreme events. The team used an IPCC scenario that has greenhouse gas emissions continuing to follow the current trend, Diffenbaugh said.

"The occurrence and magnitude of what are currently the 30-year-maximum values for wet, dry and hot extremes are projected to substantially increase for much of the world," he said. "Heat waves and drought in the Mediterranean showed a potential 2700 percent and 800 percent increase in occurrence, respectively, and extreme rainfall in Southeast Asia was projected to potentially increase by 900 percent."

In addition, Southeast Asia showed a projected 40 percent increase in the magnitude of the worst rainfall; central Africa showed a projected 1000 percent increase in the magnitude of the worst heat wave; and the Mediterranean showed a projected 60 percent increase in the worst drought.

A statistical analysis was used to determine grain productivity shocks that would correspond in magnitude to the climate extremes, and then the economic impact of the supply shock was determined. Future predicted extreme climate events were compared to historical agricultural productivity extremes in order to assess the likely impact on agricultural production, prices and wages. Because the projected changes in extreme rainfall and heat wave events were too large for the current model to accept, only the extreme drought events were incorporated into the economic projections, making the projected poverty impacts a conservative estimate, he said.

To assess the potential economic impact of a given change in wages and grains prices, the team used data from each country's household survey. The estimates of likely wage and price changes following an extreme climate event were obtained from a global trade model, called the Global Trade Analysis Project, or GTAP, which is maintained by Purdue's agricultural economics department.

Purdue's GTAP framework is supported by an international consortium of 27 national and international agencies and is used by a network of 6,500 researchers in 140 countries.

Large reductions in grains productivity due to extreme climate events are supported by historical data. In 1991 grains productivity in Malawi and Zambia declined by about 50 percent when southern Africa experienced a severe drought.

Diffenbaugh said this is an initial quantification of how poverty is tied to climate fluctuations, and the team is working to improve the modeling and analysis system in order to enable more comprehensive assessments of the link between climate volatility and poverty vulnerability.

Writer: Elizabeth K. Gardner, 765-494-2081, ekgardner@purdue.edu

Sources: Noah Diffenbaugh, 765-490-7288, diffenbaugh@purdue.edu

Thomas Hertel, 765-494-4199, hertel@purdue.edu

Related Web sites:

Purdue Climate Change Research Center: http://www.purdue.edu/climate/

Purdue Center for Global Trade Analysis: https://www.gtap.agecon.purdue.edu/

IMAGE CAPTION:

These maps show projected changes in frequency and magnitude of climate extremes. A Purdue team found that the occurrence and magnitude of what are currently the 30-year-maximum values for wet, dry and hot extremes are projected to substantially increase for much of the world. (Diffenbaugh lab image)

A publication-quality image is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2009/climatechange-maps.jpg

IMAGE CAPTION:

This graph shows the percentage of the population in poverty in 2001 and the change in poverty due to extreme climate for the sample countries. A Purdue team found that urban workers could suffer the most from climate change as the cost of food drives them into poverty. (Hertel lab image)

A publication-quality image is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2009/climatechange-poverty.jpg

PHOTO CAPTION:

Factory workers in Bangladesh. (Photo copyright the World Bank/Thomas Sennett)

A photo is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2009/climatechange-workersLO.jpg

Abstract on the research in this release is available at: http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2009b/090820DiffenbaughHertel.html

DES QUESTIONS ENVIRONNEMENTALES TRAITEES PAR LES PRESIDENTS KABILA ET KAGAME AU SOMMET DE GOMA

La rencontre au sommet entre les Présidents Joseph Kabila et Paul Kagame du 7 août 2009 dans la salle des conférences de l’hôtel Ihusi de Goma a aussi traitée des questions environnementales qui restent parmi les priorités dans la coopération entre les 2 pays de la région des grands lacs.
En effet, s’adressant à la presse dans la zone neutre séparant les villes de Goma et Gisenyi, les deux présidents ont affirmés qu’un regard devra être placé sur les questions de l’environnement au cours des différentes discutions entre les partenaires de cette région pour faciliter une intégration régionale sans faille dans toutes ses dimensions.
On devra cependant remarqué que le volet environnement est l’un des axes très développé entre le Rwanda et la RDC depuis des dizaines d’années,surtout quand on sait que l’habitat naturel des gorilles des montagnes du massif des Virunga est l’un des grand couloirs écologiques du monde qui facilite les mouvement sans passeport des animaux entre ces pays et la protection s’en suit sans casse par les institutions ayant en charge la conservation de la nature dans chacun des pays voisins.
Il existe même un accord de collaboration transfrontalière qui fait généré des recettes aux uns et aux autres qu’il s’agisse dans le tourisme que dans les échanges scientifiques.
Les 2 présidents ont soutenus avec intérêt que l’avenir entre le Rwanda et la RDC doit désormais compté sur les relations réchauffées par ce tête à tête tant attendu depuis plus de 12 ans car la dernière visite officielle d’un président Rwandais sur le sol congolais remonte au 29 Mai 1997 lors de la prestation de serment de feu Mzee Laurent Désiré Kabila à Kinshasa pendant le règne du Pasteur Bizimungu et la réplique congolaise s’était faite en septembre de la même année.
L’accueil de Paul Kagame à Goma par Joseph Kabila a eu lieu à la grande barrière sous le coup de 12h15, leur entretien sans témoins de l’hôtel Ihusi de plus d’une heure et demi s’est déroulé dans le calme et la sérénité ; car on a pu noté sur les visages des experts dans la cours de l’hôtel des assurances pour un lendemain meilleur.
La rencontre de Goma a surtout balisé le chemin d’avenir sur le plan politique, social, économique, culturel et scientifique surtout que l’on sait que la coopération dans les grands lacs passe par une entente sincère entre les habitants de la région et l’exemple venant d’en haut, les rwandais et congolais peuvent désormais croire à la fin de la guerre.
Les deux chefs d’états ont appréciés positivement les efforts de mettre fin à la présence des forces négatives encore actifs dans les forets congolaises par les opérations militaires en cours amorcées par « Umoja wetu », la nomination des ambassadeurs des deux pays,la relance de la CEPGL et autres. Kagame et Kabila ont soutenus que le partage des expériences dans l’extraction du gaz méthane déjà actif au Rwanda aidera les habitants de ce Lac Kivu à utiliser les ressources du gaz pour améliorer leur vie en bénéficiant de l’énergie.
C’est sur fond satisfaisant que les deux chefs d’états se sont séparé par la zone neutre de entre Goma et Gisenyi.

Tuver Wundi

Climate change poker: The barriers which are preventing a global agreement

As the world's environment ministers, government officials, diplomats and campaigners prepare to attend the COP15 conference in Copenhagen in December 2009 to unite in the battle against climate change in one of the most complicated political deals the world has ever seen, the increasingly complex territory of climate negotiations is being revealed in an article published today, 5 August, 2009, in IOP Publishing's Environmental Research Letters.

The paper 'Tripping Points: Barriers and Bargaining Chips on the Road to Copenhagen' lays bare the main tripping points – political barriers and bargaining chips – which need to be overcome for countries to reach a consensus on how to address global climate change.

One of the key issues delegates will face in their attempt to agree on mitigation, is that what some countries see as barriers, others perceive as bargaining chips. While many developed countries, including the UK, favor extending mitigation actions to some developing countries, many developing countries will be using finance and technology transfer as a deal breaker for their consent to the overall deal.

Bargaining is expected to evolve around what is referred to as the 'chicken and egg question', that is whether actions depend on financing, or financing on actions. Researchers predict that similar to a poker game, countries will be delaying decisions until the last hours of the conference when all the bargaining chips will be on the table and parties cannot wait any longer to see who will show their hand first.

Other barriers delegates will face in their bid to reach an agreement on a post-2012 framework are issues evolving around the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and how to implement adaptation to climate change.

Even if some consensus is reached in Copenhagen, there is however no guarantee a deal will be agreed on. Nevertheless, the researchers write "Regardless, however, of the perspective from which one frames the discussions, success in Copenhagen and beyond will depend on parties' ability to negotiate past the tripping points […] by finding ways to match barriers with bargaining chips in envisioning how the details of any future agreement can be hammered out in the months and years to come."

Contact: Lena Weber
lena.weber@iop.org
44-020-747-04896
Institute of Physic

17TH NILE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS IN CHARGE OF WATER AFFAIRS REAFFIRM BASIN-WIDE COOPERATION

Alexandria, Egypt
27-28 July 2009

The 17th annual meeting of the Nile Council of Ministers in charge of water affairs was held from 27 to 28 July 2009 in Alexandria, Egypt, upon the invitation of the Government of Egypt.

Ministers from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda as well as Eritrea attended the meeting and held discussions on key strategic issues regarding the future of the Nile Basin Initiative, including the River Nile Cooperative Framework Agreement.

Ministers reaffirmed the determination of their respective Governments to strengthen basin-wide cooperation in the area of water resources management of the River Nile and beyond. They highlighted the critical importance of the Nile Basin Initiative’s Shared Vision to sustain this cooperation by achieving an inclusive agreement, underscoring the reality of the climate change phenomenon that brings countries ever closer to each other irrespective of geographical remoteness.

Reiterating the desire of the member states to move forward in the spirit of cooperation on the basis of ‘one Nile, one Basin and one Vision’, the ministers have decided to allow an additional period of six months to enable member states to move forward in concluding an inclusive treaty. They also expressed the wish for continued cooperation with the Development Partners.

In this regard, the ministers have mandated members of the Technical Advisory Committee and Negotiating Committee to consult with international experts and advise them on procedures for signing the Cooperative Framework Agreement. An Extraordinary Meeting of the Nile Council of Ministers will be convened to receive the report.

Convinced that these efforts towards advancing cooperation among their countries will also contribute to regional and global stability, peace and prosperity, and encouraged by the mutually unswerving commitment to pursue this path as displayed in the meeting, the Nile Basin countries expressed hope that their next meeting will mark the last step of signing of the Cooperative Framework Agreement.

---------------------------------
NOTE TO THE EDITOR
The Cooperative Framework Agreement is a proposed international treaty currently being negotiated among the countries which share the River Nile – Burundi, DR Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda (with Eritrea as an Observer). It lays down principles of cooperative water resources management and would establish a permanent Nile River Basin Commission.

For more information:
Henriette NDOMBE, Executive Director
The Nile Basin Initiative
Plot 12 Mpigi Road
P.O. Box 192, Entebbe-Uganda
Tel: +256- 414 -321424/321329/321208
Mobile: 256 753321511
Email: hndombe@nilebasin.org
www.nilebasin.org

********
The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) is a partnership of the Nile Basin Countries - Burundi, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda (Eritrea is an Observer) - to Achieve sustainable socio-economic development through equitable utilization of and the benefits from the common Nile Basin water resources.

Formally launched on 22 February 1999 in Dar e salaam, Tanzania by the Council of Ministers of Water Affairs of the Nile Basin states, the Initiative provides a unique forum for the countries of the Nile Basin to move forward a cooperative process to realize tangible benefits in the Basin and build a solid foundation of trust and confidence.

To strengthen the cooperation in relation to the River Nile, NBI Member States are pursuing the establishment of a permanent River Nile Basin Organization.

NBI PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE
Alexandria, Egypt - 26 July 2009
Nile Ministers of Waters Affairs to attend Annual Meeting in Egypt
Ministers in charge of Water Affairs from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda are starting a two-day meeting tomorrow in Alexandria, Egypt to review progress, work plans and strategic documents and reports of the Nile Basin Initiative.
Mr. Jose Endundo Bononge, Minister of Environment, Nature Conservation and Tourism of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who is completing his one-year term as Chair of the Nile Basin Initiative, will pass the torch to Egypt?s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Nasr El-Din Allam. The chairmanship of the Nile Council of Ministers (Nile-COM) is a rotational position among the Nile Basin countries.
Organized under the theme ?Nurturing Our Partnership for Prosperity?, the 17th Annual Nile-COM Meeting (27-28 July 2009) comes at an important time in the history of the Nile Basin. Since its launch in 1999, the Nile Basin Initiative can point to significant accomplishments in the region. With singular focus on its ?Shared Vision? of achieving development through equitable utilization of and benefit from the Nile, almost US$800 million of investments in the Nile Basin Initiative Portfolio are now under implementation, including projects such as the Egypt West Delta Irrigation Project, the Ethiopia Irrigation Project, Power Interconnection between Ethiopia and Sudan, as well as Regional Transmission Projects in the Equatorial Lakes Region. An additional US$600 million of projects are being prepared such as the Rusumo Falls Hydro-electric and Multipurpose Project, Eastern Nile Planning Model, Eastern Nile Flood Preparedness and Early Warning-Phase 2, Bugesera Integrated Water and Irrigation Project, and Lakes Edward and Albert Fisheries Project. Consequently, Nile cooperation is yielding close to US$1 billion in tangible benefits to the region.
At this 17th Annual Nile-COM Meeting, members will emphasize the importance of a ?United Basin? approach to managing the River Nile to ensure the most effective development of the Nile for the citizens of these nine countries.
--------
COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE
Alexandrie, Egypte
Le 26 juillet 2009
Les Ministres des pays membres du Bassin du Nil se rencontrent en Egypte
Les Ministres des pays membres du Bassin du Nil, à savoir le Burundi, la République Démocratique du Congo, l?Egypte, l?Erythrée, l?Ethiopie, le Kenya, l?Ouganda, le Rwanda, le Soudan et la Tanzanie se rencontrent demain à Alexandrie en Egypte. L?objectif de la rencontre est de passer en revue le plan de travail, les documents et rapports stratégiques, et les progrès réalisés dans la mise en ?uvre des projets de l?Initiative du Bassin du Nil.
Monsieur José Endundo Bononge, ministre de l?Environnement, Conservation de la Nature et Tourisme de la République Démocratique du Congo, qui achève son mandat d?une année comme président du Conseil des Ministres du Nil en charge de l?Eau, cédera son poste au Prof. Dr. Mohamed Nasr El-Din Allam. La présidence du Conseil est une fonction qui s?exerce d?une manière annuelle et rotative entre les pays membres.
La dix-septième rencontre annuelle du Conseil des Ministres qui se tient du 27 au 28 juillet 2009 sous le thème « Forgeons notre partenariat pour la prospérité » est organisée à une période importante dans l?histoire du Bassin du Nil. Depuis sa création en 1999 et guidée par sa « Vision Commune », l?Initiative du Bassin du Nil a déjà enregistré des avancées significatives dans l?exécution de ses différents projets à travers une utilisation équitable et un partage de bénéfices générés par le fleuve Nil.
Des projets d?investissement de l?ordre de 800 millions USD sont entrain d?être mis en exécution tels que: le Projet d?Irrigation dans le Delta Ouest de l?Egypte, le Projet d?Irrigation en Ethiopie, le Projet d?interconnexion électrique entre l?Ethiopie et le Soudan, et les Projets de transmission dans la région du Lac Equatorial. Des projets évalués à 600 millions USD sont en phase de préparation dont le Projet hydro-électrique de Rusumo, le Projet de modèle de planification pour le Nil Est, le Projet sur la prévention des inondations phase 2 pour le Nil Est, le Projet d?intégration d?eau et irrigation de Bugesera, et enfin le Projet de pêche dans les lacs Edouard et Albert. Par conséquent, la coopération régionale a déjà produit des bénéfices tangibles pour la région qui s?évaluent à plus d?un milliard de dollars américains.
Au cours de ce dix-septième rencontre annuelle, les membres du Conseil des Ministres mettront de l?importance sur l?approche « Un Basin Uni » en vue de gérer et d?assurer un développement durable des ressources en eau du Nil pour le bien-être de la population de des pays membres de l?Initiative du Bassin du Nil.
-------
Daniel MASSAMBA MEBOYA
Public Information & Communication Specialist
The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI)
P.O. Box 192 Entebbe, Uganda
Tel: +254 754 785 642
skype: massmeboya
www.nilebasin.org

SGI Quarterly seeks environmental journalists

SGI Quarterly (http://www.sgiquarterly.org) is looking for young journalists (age if possible not older than 30) to write short articles (around 600 words each) on climate change reporting in their region, in response to to R.K. Pachauri of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s point that ‘News media is not sufficiently addressing the severity of climate change’. The objective is to show how from across the globe "young people are communicating about issues of crucial importance to their generation."

If you are interested, please contact Elizabeth Ingrams as soon as possible at ingrams.elizabeth@googlemail.com

The copy deadline is 14 August 2009. Although SGI Quarterly is a not-for-profit NGO, they are able to reimburse contributors at an honorarium rate for writing.

About SGI Quarterly:

The SGI Quarterly is published by Soka Gakkai International, a lay Buddhist association with headquarters in Tokyo which is also active as an NGO promoting peace, education, environmental awareness and cultural exchange. Each issue of the magazine carries a feature on a current issue of global concern. For instance recent issues covered: The Life of Food, The Arctic, Parents and Children, Huaman Rights. We also carry news about the activities of Soka Gakkai International.

The magazine is available online at http://www.sgiquarterly.org

Approximately 50,000 copies of the Quarterly are distributed each issue, mostly through educational, research, NGO, UN and diplomatic channels.

Our current issue is on Youth taking action for peace. Other contributors so far from around the world include the Global Youth Action Network, Dominic Stucker (Earth Charter Youth Network Coordinator); Kimmie Weeks; Three Faiths Community Project (UK) and others.