SHADEF Takes Climate Change Awareness Campaign to Atan Offot Community

The Safe Space Development Foundation (SHADEF) has taken its campaign on climate education to Atan Offot Community in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The campaign which was held as a town hall discourse on Wednesday stems from the history of the community being perennially affected by flood until the State government’s intervention recently through drainage system.
The town hall which took place at Atan Offot Village Council had in attendance elders in council, village chairman, chiefs, women and the youths with a focus on climate change education, environmental pollution and the effect of inadequate ways of plastic disposal.
According to the Executive Director of SHADEF, Comrade Evelyn Eyo, the goal of the campaign is to raise awareness among the villagers to have a better idea on the effects of improper disposal of plastic waste, ways to stop them and the need to maintain proper environmental sanitation for the sustainability of the community.
Eyo who highlighted some of the causes of climate change to include burning of fossil fuels and indiscriminate plastic burning and disposal said it was time for climate action thus averting a climate crisis.
The Executive Director who pointed out the immediate effects of climate change to include flooding, sea level rise and drought, called on the community to adopt responsible and appropriate ways of plastics management through recycling, reducing, and reusing them.
She said when this is done, there will be less plastic in the environment and eventually elimination of plastics entirely will be possible.
Eyo displayed some of the things made of plastic waste to include market bags, apron, table cover, flower vase and others.
Also speaking, the resource person, Mr. Mfon Gabriel charged the community to live their daily life understanding that environment is life, as everything gotten for daily living stem from the environment hence the need to protect it.
He noted some of the causes of environmental and climate changes to include, bad planting methods, deforestation and sewage disposal.

Gabriel called on the community to embrace sustainable practices like shifting cultivation, cleaning of drainage, building in the right place not on waterways, and building above ground level to avoid the issue of flooding.
In response, His Royal Highness, Eteidung Idongesit Ekong thanked SHADEF for its campaign, describing it as timely.
He noted that if organisations emulate SHADEF to undertake climate change campaigns at the grassroots, it will go a long way in provoking thoughts towards climate action and a cleaner environment.
Eteidung Ekong assured that as part of his commitment, he will issue a notice for people to dispose properly and recycle plastics to make the environment cleaner and safer.
Highpoint of the town hall was interactive sessions that cut across how best to reuse, recycle plastics, and the alternatives to plastics.