The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is known not only for its biggest responsibility of being the greatest share of tropical rainforest in Africa, but also it has the biggest responsibility to ensure that carbon emissions from Sub-Saharan Africa do not increase significantly. That is why this year, a group of Congolese youth decided to join 350.org for different actions in Kinshasa and Brazzaville, respectively the capital city of DRC and the Republic of Congo, and advocate in regards to climate change issues. “We are committed to run a dozen of 350 actions from now on and prepare for big actions for the October 24th here in DRC and Brazzaville” said Patrick Kipulu, the 350 actions volunteer in Kinshasa. “Kinshasa is a city of 9 millions inhabitants, people need to know about climate change issues so that they can bring the message their own community, and inspire their friends and neighbors”.
This week in Kinshasa, the youth from Different organizations including the Young Volunteers for Environment (JVE-DRC) discussed about how to create a strong climate movement and develop a group of community organizers in order to strongly prepare for the October 24th International Action Day with 350.org. In a report called “Reseau Climat 350”, Tati Maniania Mandola and Mubengayi Pierre, and Patrick Kipulu both 350 climate actions volunteers, emphasized on the establishment of a structure, according to the standards of 350.org. In short run, JVE RDC will help reinforcing the capacity of the structure. They did not wait to start actions in Kinshasa and neighborhood. Patrick Kipulu and his crew met children from an orphanage in the town of Mount Ngafula, in Kibondo district. These children’s parents were small farmers hit by extreme poverty, water scarcity and diseases, said Patrick Kipulu. He will organize other 350 events in Kinshasa with very small farmer women, handicaps and students from different local schools.
Like in many Sub-Saharan African countries, the 350 organizers in Kinshasa are facing many challenges among them the lack of appropriate technology device like digital camera and smart phones to keep posting us images of amazing actions but also the cost of internet per minute in the cyber café is the highest in the world and remain a very big challenge for these people mainly living with less that 1US$ per day. IT infrastructure is a big challenge, not everyone can afford it, said Patrick Kipulu, who asked a friend to use his camera, but this will not going to stop us bringing more actions for 350.org because this is about our future and the future of the humanity.
In Poznan, 350.org has committed to reach the communities in the regions suffering the digital divide and outreach, build capacity and empower local youth to be able to work in their communities as advocates and activists in regards to climate related issues. With the fish shortage in the lake tanganyika, the ice melting on the top of the Ruwenzori, the endangered mountain Gorilla in the eastern of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, the deforestation of the congo bassin, the unconsoled Batwa population who are forced to leave their homes in the Congo forest, RDC is a great challenge and a good example of how the 350 message is reaching people who desperately need to know the truth about the science of 350.