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World Water Day: Privatization Of Water Antithetical To Principles Of Commons – Bassey

Published

1 month ago

March 23, 2024

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

As the World Water Day is being celebrated globally, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, has called for a collective action to save freshwater and its ecosystems.

INFO DAILY reports that World Water Day is held yearly on March 22nd to draw awareness of the need to tackle the global existential water crises.

In a statement to mark the Day with the theme: Water for Peace, Executive Director, HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, said peace becomes a mirage in the absence of justice.

He lamented that “many people across the world are going through a lot of stress to access clean water, and some are forced to travel over long distances just to get a few liters of potable water,” due to “crude capitalism.”

In the statement made available to INFO DAILY by Kome Odhomor, Media/Communications Lead, HOMEF, the Executive Director, said the “enclosure, grabbing and privatization of water is antithetical to the principles of commons.”

According to him, “it is important that our rivers, creeks, lagoons, and oceans are treated sanely and not seen as waste dumps.”

Bassey added: “With the massive destruction of water bodies by mining, oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities, dredging activities and the development of infrastructure in critical freshwater ecosystems, it is imperative to call for the restoration of degraded water bodies and wetlands everywhere in Nigeria and by extension, Africa and globally.”

He continued: “Valuing water must not be construed to mean that water can be commodified or privatized, but that the intrinsic value of this prime gift of Nature be respected and protected.

“Water is not a commodity for privatization. We must treat our waters with respect because water is life and access to clean, the right to safe water to meet daily needs is a fundamental human right.”

Bassey further noted that “beyond our need to secure our potable water sources, our entire aquatic ecosystems must be secured to promote cultural practices, preserve knowledge and enhance livelihoods especially for our fisher folks.

“Polluters must be adequately sanctioned. We must be mindful of the fact that plastics and toxic items dumped in our waters get eaten by fish and enter our food chain thereby endangering our own health. Water for peace should be a wake-up call to take responsibility for protecting our waterways and to oppose all forms of privatization of water.”

On his part, Coordinator of Fishnet Alliance, Stephen Oduware, stated that “while climate change can be blamed for droughts and related water crises faced in the world today, there have been direct interference with our waterbodies causing pollution from the dumping of wastes and release of harmful chemicals from industries, including those in the petroleum sector, into our water bodies and intensify shortages of potable water. The intrinsic value of water cannot be over-emphasized because it is the basis of life forms on Earth.”

They, therefore advocated for a “realignment of our relationship to our water bodies including the oceans as zones of life and not zones for exploitative and polluting economic activities.”

They also urged the government at all levels to ensure that polluted waters and other destroyed environments are cleaned and restored.

Related Topics:HOMEF Nnimmo Bassey World Water Day

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How God Saved Me From Firing Squad – Gospel Artiste, Buchi

Published

11 hours ago

April 28, 2024

Editor

A popular gospel singer, Buchi Atuonwu, simply known as Buchi, has revealed how God saved him from firing squad.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief program on Friday, Buchi said he and some other people were already lined up for execution by the firing squad.

He said despite not being religious, his desperation to be alive made him call on God and make a promise to dedicate his life to serving Him in exchange for his life if spared.

He narrated, “At a point in my life, we were laying up for execution. Indeed, the people who were to execute us were already kneeling, ready to fire. It is true that I called out to a God that I didn’t know, saying if you save me, I will serve you. Since we don’t have all the time, let me just say that He saved me from that firing squad.

“Then I devoted my life to serving him. To see that my music is not empty and that it becomes an extension of a classroom for me having been a teacher in the university. The stage became an extension of the classroom. Who says musicians can not sing about GMOs, government policies, trends, events, and happenings that inform the quality of life of the people?”

Speaking on what influenced his choice of music, Buchi said his background and an intention to make a change after being spared from death were the factors responsible for his style of music.

“I come from a peculiar background. Night club DJ and at the same time a university lecturer and transiting to the choir of a church having been involved in the campus confraternity, drug abuse, and youth violence amongst others.

“My kind of music has to be somewhat different. Influenced by that background and also with an intention to make a change, it led me to the kind of stories that you are referring to. Stories that manured the songs that I put out, such as gun running and violence,” he stated.

No relationship between reggae music and weed

Speaking on a controversial comment that every musician must use performance-enhanced drugs to perform at their best, Buchi said it is a narrative sold by people, adding that there is no relationship between reggae music and weed.

“It is a narrative sold by people interested in the matter. It’s like saying to watch a good movie, I need popcorn. yes, they go together, people buy it and do it. They practice it. It is also like saying to watch a good football match. I need a particular kind of drink with me.

“It is okay to sell your products and ideas but I don’t have to accept it absolutely because I know that I can watch a good movie without popcorn and I can also watch a good football game without the drinks in question. In the same way, there is no relationship between reggae music and weed.

“Yes, I have been there, and now I am here. I know for sure that the substances that I took at that time did not enhance my performance. It is true that you have to be in a certain state of mind to give your best, but drugs don’t take you there. There are so many other things like deep thinking and concern for what you are that can take you there.”

In January, the music star refuted claims that his genre of music— reggae was connected to his past romance with marijuana.

His response followed criticisms from those who questioned the inspiration behind a book he published.
PUNCH

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UNIBEN Ex-deputy VC Is Dead

Published

13 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Editor

A Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Benin, Edo State, Prof. Pius Iribhogbe, is dead.

Until his demise, Prof. Iribhogbe was also a consultant trauma surgeon, head of the Department of Surgery and coordinator of the School of Paramedics at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.

The academic scholar passed on in Saudi Arabia.

UNIBEN’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, who confirmed the surgeon’s death said the school was yet to issue a statement.

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Residents Displaced As Rainstorms Wreck Havoc In Edo Community

Published

14 hours ago

April 27, 2024

Editor

Lampese community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State has been ravaged by rainstorms.

The incident was said to have occurred Friday as a result of a heavy downpour which affected many houses including the electricity transformer.

An eyewitness account described the incident as very unfortunate following the level of devastation.

Residents of the community have therefore called on the state and local governments and all concerned authorities to come to their rescue with a view to proffering urgent solutions and resettling displaced residents.

Reacting to the situation, the local government council chairman, Tajudeen Suleman, who said he was far away in Enugu State for an official engagement, disclosed that he has mobilised the council officials to the scene for an on-the-spot assessment immediately he got the news, promising to visit victims as soon as he returns today.

He also said he was in touch with the state deputy governor, Marvellous Omobayo and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on moves to fast track the process of resettling affected persons.