2005 PROJECT ACTIVITIES REPORT
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
Mogadishu, Somalia

Activities, Seminars and Ceremony

Mogadishu University - Somali Centre for Water & Environment

Table of Contents
I. WED Activities Report in 2005
1. Introduction
2. Preparation Inputs
3. WED Ceremony Participants
4. Seminar Opening
5. Sessions and topics Covered
6. The WED Ceremony
II. Seminar Training Materials
1. Major Environmental Problems in Somalia
2. Marine Environment in Somalia
3. Globalization and Environmental Degradation
4. Sustainable Development and the Environment
5. Mother Earth Speaks Out (Poem)
III. ANNEXES
1. WED Seminar & Ceremony Schedule
2. Seminar Participants List
3. Summary Report on the WED
4. Handout Notes in Somali Language
5. Seminar and Ceremony Banners
6. Invitation Samples
7. WED Events Expenses

I. World Environment Day Activity Report

To commemorate the World Environment Day (WED) on June 5, 2005 the Somali Center for Water and Environment under the Mogadishu University (MU-SCWE) had organized two days seminar and large ceremony for the public in Mogadishu. Both the seminar and the WED ceremony were held at The HADHSO Youth Center in Mogadishu during 4-5 June 2005.

1. Introduction:

When the civil war broke out in Somalia in 1990, the institutional structure of the nation had collapsed as a result of the widespread chaos and strife that swept all across the country. The national infrastructure, particularly those which were not protected have been terribly dismantled, thus giving rise to environmental degradation in the future nation of Somalia.

The worsening condition of environment in Somalia reached shocking levels due to lack of central government controls on resources and their equity of use and distribution. In that case, tremendous havoc have been inflicted upon the eco-systems in which environment is generally based: the land, water and air.

As far as land is concerned, massive deforestation has (and still taking place) in many parts of Somalia. Unscrupulous merchants have employed militia and other people in disparate need for cash to cut down trees, burn them up and produce charcoal to be shipped off to countries in the Gulf such as the U.A.E. As for air and sea pollution, the situation is unbelievably serious given the uncontrolled plane air movement in our air space as well as the illegal fishing and hazardous waste dumping in our 3,300 Km long coast-line. Worst still is the fact that no one seems to be in-charge of our most precious resources on which our life is based.

It is against this grim background the Somali Center for Water and Environment has been set up. MU-SCWE was born out of a series of talks and meetings between Mogadishu University and its main goal is to improve the situation of water and environment in Somalia. Soon as SCWE office was opened in Mogadishu, we started to spread and disseminate environmental massages with the aim of creating awareness among the general population. As a step towards achieving this goal, SCWE organized a seminar for the youth and women groups and a ceremony to commemorate the World Environment Day from June 4 to 5 2005.

2. Preparation Inputs:

Preparations were made prior to conducting the seminar on June 4 2005. The steps taken to hold the seminar and the ceremony were as follows:

1. The SCWE Center Director, Hussein M Iman nominated a technical organizing committee consisting of five persons from the Mogadishu University alumni and from partner organization - Somali Center for Research and Training “SOCRAT”. The main responsibility of this committee was to undertake the following tasks:

2. Identify venue for the seminar. This includes visiting several sites and selecting the one most suitable for holding the seminar.

3. Procure stationary for the participants to enable them take notes during the seminar. It also includes shopping around to find the most reasonable price for training materials needed.

4. Identify young potential participants for the seminar; mainly those willing to learn about environment and fulltime participate at sessions during the seminar.

5. Prepare invitation cards and distribute them to participants.

6. Seminar refreshments: Also the committee members were asked to visit alternative and affordable suppliers of refreshments during the seminar days.

7. Training Topics: Several environmental protection-related topics were selected to be addressed during the training sessions.

8. Resource persons: Identify, contacting and committing resource persons willing to contribute their time was also important to cover those seven topics.

9. Activities time-table: The committee set the seminar and other activities time schedule to implement the plans for the entire WED programs including the two-day seminar.

10. Transportation: Arrangements were made for all the transportation needed to carry out the entire WED program including the ceremony and the seminar activities.

11. Electricity: Since the reliability of electricity lines in this country are poor, stand-by electrical generators were prepared for all the time to back-up the sound and music systems and operate the overhead projectors during the seminar and WED ceremony.

12. Secretariat services: Typing, printing, photocopying and taking minutes for the program activities were also conducted.

13. The rehearsal of the songs & poems before the WED Ceremony.

14. The printing of the invitations

15. (One for the two-day seminar participants and another one for the WED ceremony participants & guests).

16. The design & writing of the two event banners (one for the seminar & one for the WED ceremony).

17. The contacts and listing of the seminar participants.

18. The identification and contacts of the WED ceremony participants.

19. The distribution of the invitation for the seminar participants.

20. The distribution of the invitation for the WED ceremony attendees.

21. The identification and selection of a suitable and free venue for both events.

22. Briefing the Minister for Water & Mineral Resources Mr. Mohamud Salad Nur on the importance of the WED and getting his commitment of the WED attend.

23. Contacting and selecting the workshop and ceremony organizing teams among the MU-alumnia members

24. Contacting and getting the commitment of the TFG members, the City Mayer and Benadir Regional Authorities.

25. Contacting and getting the commitment of all the trainers and lectures of the seminar on the environmental protection.

26. Contacting and selecting the food and refreshments for both events.

27. The purchase of the training materials for the seminar.

28. Calling and informing the media groups in Mogadishu to report the news on the events and make radio propgrams.

29. Preparing the WED write-up for handout (in Somali language) for the participants of the WED ceremony and for the media.

30. Preparation of interviews for the local media for releasing an awareness program for the public about the WED and the protection of our declining environment.

31. Briefing the MU management on the plan of SCWE program on the seminar and the WED ceremony organizations.

32. Informing the SCWE HQ people in Sweden about the MU-SCWE Mogadishu activities on the seminar and WED programs preparations.

33. The organization and commitment of the MU cameramen for recording the events.

3. WED Ceremony Participants

In that event of the WED ceremony held at the HADHSO Youth Center in Mogadishu on June 5, 2005, there were over 264 participants between the higher government authorities, youth, women groups, artists, etc. Just to name some, their list included the following:

1. Minister for Water & Mineral Resources of the TFG, Hon. Mr. Mohamud Salad Nur
2. Vice Minister of Education of the TFG, Mr. Mukhtar Mohamed Yusuf.
3. President of Mogadishu University, Dr. Ali Sheikh Ahmed Abubakar,
4. Six members of the Parliament of the TFG.
5. Mayor of the Mogadishu City, Mr, Ibrahim Shaweye,
6. Senior members from the Mogadishu City Council and Benadir Region authorities,
7. Eight artists, singers, musicians and & famous poets,
8. Lecturers and trainers of the two day seminar,
9. Members from the local women elders,
10. Active members from the civil society groups,
11. Twenty people from the local media groups
12. Seventy seminar participants from youth groups.
13. Other guests.

See seminar participants list in the ANNEX.

4. Seminar Opening

On the morning of the 4th of June, a two-day seminar on environmental protection was held at the HADHSO Youth Center in Mogadishu. About seventy participants from different youth clubs in Mogadishu were there during the opening of the seminar. The Mr Iman introduced the facilitator and the resource persons to the participants. He highlighted the history and background of the World Environment Day. He elaborated on the deteriorating condition of Somalia’s environment and called up these young trainees to pioneer the making of an important choice between “life and death” on Somalia’s environment and to safe the national heritage of Somalia.

Mr. Iman also welcomed Prof Ali Abdirahman, former Minister of Environment for TNG, to open the seminar. Prof Ali addressed the participants and gave long historical background about the desertification and warned out the ever declining status of Somalia’s environment and deteriorating eco-systems in this region. He also spoke at length about the importance of holding such seminars. Then he called up the Somali people to protect their environment and wished the participants a successful seminar.

5. Sessions & Topics Covered

Session One: Introduction and opening of the seminar sessions with Quranic verses. Then the opening statement was made by the former Minister of Environment Prof Ali Abdirahman Hersi.

SessionTwo: The first topic of the seminar was: Changes in Somalia’s Environment in Perspective. Prof Ali Abdirahman, former Minister of Environment of TNG and former Dean of the Lafole College of Education in Somalia, gave a historical background of country’s environmental degradation through time. He stressed the need to concentrate our efforts on the betterment of Somalia’s environment.

Session Three: Dr. Noor Weheliye was the second resource person in the seminar. He shed light on the multiple environmental problems facing this country. He made an impressive link between environmental degradation and poverty in Somalia.
Session Four: Engineer Muse and Engineer Abbas from the Somali Seamen Union, have jointly cooperated in the delivery of their presentation. Their topic concentrated mainly on the foreign ships illegal fishing and hazardous waste dumping in the Somali seas. The explained how the lives of the coastal people depend on the marine resources. They made a serious alarm call on the current polluting operations and their effects on marine and human life.

Session Five: Engineer Aweys Warsame from the Center for Research and Dialogue (CRD) mad the fourth presentation in the seminar on Globalization. He showed a power point presentation on how globalization factors of consumerism and greed affects the ongoing devastation in Somalia’s environment.

Session Six: Ali Iman Sharma’arke, member founder of the Horn-Afrik Media in Somalia, was the last resource person in the two day seminar. In his paper and presentation Mr. Sharma’arke pinpointed the desperate need to improve the lives of the Somali people and their environment through the application of sustainable development strategies.

Session Seven: While the lessons and presentations were in progress, Mr Abdinur Haji from SOCRAT had facilitated the workshop. At the same time he had a resource person’s role and presented a paper based on his poem on “Mother Earth” concerning the protection of our environment.

Session Eight: This was participants’ contribution session where many participants(4 females and 4 male) volunteered to present their appreciation for what they have learned in the previous sessions about the environment. They presented poems and songs of their own creativity symbolizing the importance of environmental protection calling for the Somalis to save their natural and environmental resources. They were very emotional and intresting in the concepts.

6. The WED Ceremony

Session nine: This was the opening and entertainment session for the World Environment Day Ceremony. Different professional artists including Mustafa Sheikh Elmi, Osman Farah, Mahamednur Jangow, Zahra Ige, and Qarbosh and many more had presented songs, music, poems and short play on the theme of environmental protection in Somalia, .

Session Ten: WED closing speeches were made by the Authorities including Mr Shawey: Mayor of Mogadishu, Dr Ali Sheik Ahmed: MU Chancellor, Hon- Mahamud Salad Nur: Minister for Water & Mineral Resources TFG. All of them focused their topics on the importance of the matter and its urgency for action. At 12:30 noon time, the Minister Mahamud Salad Nur had officially closed the ceremony.

II. WED Seminar Training Materials

1. Major Environmental Problems in Somali

By Nur Weheliye
Director Ministry of Planning and Economic Coopration
June 4, 2005, for the World Environment Day Seminar in Mogadishu,
Organized by the Somali Center for Water & Environment

The following are some of the major environmental problems in Somalia:

Absence of institutional and policy framework to assume responsibility and authority over quality and performance of Somalia environment resources;

In absence of national government, human security was threatened causing human and livestock movement and hard competition for resources, such as water and land for grazing, cultivation and settlement, causing environmental degradation because of population pressure and encroachments on rangelands.

Lack of technical capacity to assess environmental conditions and trends and relevant environmental management decisions;

Threat of water scarcity and continued land based environmental degradation caused by overgrazing and drought;

Somalia’s absence from international arenas to represent its national interest;
Livestock export ban contributed to unsustainable use of natural resources like tree cutting for charcoal export to compensate the revenue lost.

Solutions

An appropriate approach towards sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity, biodiversity, conservation, a forestation and habitat conservation and protection should be applied taking into account the socio-political and economic situation of the population. It should also consider the development of alternative source of food and income generation that will help to reduce livelihood dependence levels on unsustainable use of natural resources.

2. Marine Environment in Somalia

By Enj Muse Mohamed & Enj Abbas
For the Two-Day Seminar on Environmental Protection for
The World Environment Day Event in Mogadishu, Somalia
Organized by the Somali Center for Water and Environment (SCWE)
At HADHSO Youth Center in Mogadishu, Somalia
June 4-5, 2005,

At the moment it can be said that the Somali Coast is under serious, Marine pollution threat and disasters, however a serious problem exist which have to be overcome in order to allow coastal land and water resources to fulfill the potential. For sustainable development Marine resources need to be reviewed, updated, strengthened and expanded. It is important there should be alpaca the necessary institutional – arrangements to prevent and deal with any accidental environmental pollution and disasters.

Despite allegations that toxic waste dumping goes on in Somalia and illegal fishing uncountable fishing trawlers sweeping out prohibited fishing nets to all Somali Coasts the past 15 years.

The Somali Maritime Zone is one of the largest in the West Indian Ocean (WIO) it also embraces one of the most important large Marine ecosystems in the Indian Ocean namely the Somali current marine ecosystem with, its rich seasonal upwelling resulting in raised productivity and associated high biodiversity with fisheries resources.
Oceanography of the Somali Coast

Somalia has a Coastline of about 3300 km of which about 1300 km is the south east of the Gulf of Aden and 2000 km Fringes the Indian Ocean.

The continental shelf is generally narrow and rarely exceeds 15Km, but in the vicinity. Ras-Asir and Ras-Hafun it extends to 60 – 80 Km the total area of the continental shelf is estimate of between 35,000 and 40,000 Kilometer square, the Coastline of a serious of sandy beaches interrupted of intervals by rocky cliffs which at places extend into the sea.
Despite the long Coastline, the continental shelf is narrow and falls off sharply into the deep water.
The width varies between 10 – 15 Km except on the North-coast where it extends to over 60 – 90 Km.

Fish concentrations are often associated with areas of upwelling a pronounced area of upwelling occur 40km of the North-east Somali Coast however various estimates in regard to the actual fishery potential in Somalia have been made but these should be interrupted circumspectly.

Estimates of the levels of biological productivity are indicators of possible abundance levels of fish and shellfish stocks, among others nutrients which form the first elements in food chain of fish are Phyto – and Zooplankton, the Phytoplankton abundance levels in the Gulf of Aden and long parts of the Red Sea Coast of Somalia are among the highest in the world and comparable to the levels of major fishing grounds in the case of Zooplankton only the Gulf of Aden shows similar levels to those fishing grounds the Arabian Sea Coast shows only intermediate levels of abundance of Zooplankton on the basis of the above evidence it would appear that at least a moderate concentrations of fish and shellfish would be expected to occur along the Somali Coast.

Damage of Pollution
Pollution means a anything natural that might change it’s formulation and cause damage to all living in the sea.

The past fifteen years the Somali Coastline was destroyed as the rest of the country and coastal pollution increasing day after day advantaging lick of Government heavy sealed Tanker life Jackets full of waste nuclear materials floating to all Somali coast damaging number of fishermen’s production damaging large number of fish the pollution of the Somali Coast may cause in the future to immigrates all kinds of fish to other zones to seek to secure places the illegal fishery trawlers is also part of damping to the Somali Coasts because of using prohibited fishing nets that may result to immigrant all marine livings oil pollution and diesel pollution are part of damping it may also cause the death of large number of marine living.

Fishing Seasons in Somali

A fishing season in the Somali Waters is considered to be that part of the calendar year between 15th September of the proceeding year to the 15th May of the following year in which fishing activity reaches it’s highest peak. The definition is valid for the artisinal fishing doesn’t affect the offshore (deep sea) fishing which engage large vessels but large and medium size fishing vessels and compelled to frequency change their fishing grounds and species. The number of fishing days vary between 180 – 220 days the off seasons usually coincides with the on-set of South-West Monsoons in the summer.

Within the above defined fishing periods there should be several non-fishing days for both of- shore and inshore fisheries mainly due to short storms and swells.

3. Globalisation and Environmental Degradation

By Enj Aweys Warsame- CRD Researcher
For the Two-Day Seminar on Environmental Protection for
The World Environment Day Event organized in Mogadishu, Somalia
By the Somali Center for Water and Environment (SCWE)
At HADHSO Youth Center in Mogadishu, Somalia
June 4-5, 2005,

Globalization Takes Many forms
Trade (Goods and Services)
- Finance (Banking, Investment, Foreign Exchange,Capital Movements)
- Communication ( Education, Information and Technology)
- Governance (Institutions, Regulations and Norms)
- Culture (Art, Music and Entertainment)
- Work and Leisure ( Labor, Immigration and Tourism)

Economic Globalization
- Trade
- Finance

Environmental Degradation
- Perturbation of Ecosystem:
- Loss of Balance of carbon dioxide cycle
- Draughts
- Health Hazards
- Poverty
- Conflicts over resource

Driving Forces of Economic Globalization
- Consumerism
- Urbanization
- Industrialization
- Telecommunication
- Wealth imbalance
- Greed

Driving forces of Environmental Degradation
- Consumerism
- Urbanization
- Industrialization
- Technological divide BW North and South
- Greed

Intersection points
- Consumerism
- Urbanization
- Industrialization

Attributes of Intersection points
- Consumerism
- belief that use of excesses bodes well
- throw-away mentality (one time use)
- Urbanization
- Creates high demand
- behavioural changes (life style, tastes)
- Industrialization
- Creates demand for raw materials
- Creates demand for over use

THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES

Upshots
- Rich in the North sell Manufactured goods
- Poor in the south lease natural resources (raw materials)
- Rich endowed with recycling technologies
- Poor do not recyle; but put burden on the nature
- Rich produces; poor consumes
- Rich in the driving seat; poor follows suite

Quote I
“God forbid that India should ever take to Industrialism after the manner of the West. The economic imperialism of a single tiny island kingdom (England ) is today keeping the world in chains. If an entire nation of 300 million took to similar economic exploitation, it would strip the world bare like locusts.” Ghandi, 1945

Quote 2
“Iraq's fields were bombed with more than 300 tonnes of depleted uranium, causing a fourfold increase in cancer among children. For more than 13 years, twenty four million Iraqi people have lived in a war zone and been denied food and medicine and clean water.” Arundhati Roy, Environmentalist

4. Sustainable Development & the Environment

By Ali Iman Sharma’rke
For the Two-Day Seminar on Environmental Protection for
The World Environment Day Event organized in Mogadishu, Somalia
By the Somali Center for Water and Environment (SCWE)
At HADHSO Youth Center in Mogadishu, Somalia
June 4-5, 2005,

Development is primarily a learning process - one group cannot develop another; the only type of development possible is self-development" (Ackoff 1990)

Sustainable Development is a concept that recognizes that all development decisions must simultaneously consider aspects of Economy, Environment, and Equity. If future generations are to enjoy a high quality of life, then this generation's plans must include opportunities for our communities' most disenfranchised stakeholders and they must guarantee the integrity of our natural resources. The international community recognizes the gap between today’s utilization of natural resources on one hand, and the need of sustainable development that respects the need of the future generation and protect environment on the other hand. The environmental problem and the absence of sustainable development policy are more acute in Sub-Saharan Africa, and more so in Somalia.

The most comprehensive global development initiative was the 1992 governmental United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio, Brazil. It is true that given its ambitious agenda, it may not have achieved all that was hoped for. But among its successes must be counted the recognition of the mutual dependencies between North and South, as well as the clear acknowledgement that the causes of environmental decay are now seen to be more significant than the effects. New pathways were opened for public participation in intergovernmental communications, allowing for increased communication and cooperation between governmental and non-governmental organizations. Indeed, Rio provided a clear role and responsibility for all sections of society, with the recurring message repeated over and over again that “real change is most likely to come with the involvement of ordinary people".

And finally, in a more formal sense a number of agreements were forged between governments asking countries to develop more sustainable practices. The very act of securing political commitment for these has legitimised the connections between environment and development, and placed the notion of sustainability firmly on the international diplomatic agenda. Indeed, Principle 1 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development proclaimed inter alia that ...“Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature”

The special challenge posed by this concept of development, extended to include the ecological dimension, consists of improving the material base for people (especially those in developing countries) whilst at the same time conserving the natural resource base on which life depends. This dilemma can only be resolved through wise decision-making to ensure the efficient, equitable and environmentally sound management of our natural resources.

The absence of public institutions to enact policy and force laws and regulations eliminated all possibility of soon environmental protection in Somalia. Citizen responsibility, moral obligation, and social norms are the only remaining factors that lend some sort of protection for our natural resources and the environment in general. Deforestation of the country for commercial charcoal, chemical and other waste damming on Somalia Sea water are the biggest challenging facing our environment and indeed our nation. As the international community is concerning the misuse of natural resources for the current generation, our country is facing immediate and total destruction of natural resources and our ecosystem.

The understanding and aiming of sustainable development is important for our country and it is the responsibility of the young generation to moral enforces the international norms and the concept of sustainable development. To prevent the destruction of land and resources the idea of sustainable development was created. Sustainable development is a type of economic activity that can be continued indefinitely, like generating power from wind, because it does not use up or destroy natural resources, like fossil fuels, in the process. As a result the present generations needs would be met without compromising the ability of future generations to provide for their economic needs.

Deforestation

The common rhetoric from government and international agencies is that deforestation is the result of "poverty," "under-development," and "over-population." It is true that the impoverished farmers are the principal and direct agents of deforestation as they move into the forest for survival, however the cause that drives them into the forest is that they have been deprived of land or other means of subsistence which in many cases can be directly attributed to the government and international agencies. For example, government policies and international agencies promoted and even subsidized massive transfers of populations into tropical forests. These planned settlements have been promoted in Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. Brazil has also promoted the colonizing of the Amazon region. A similar program was promoted by the Mengistu regime in Ethiopia which threatened to destroy that country's remaining forest which is down to only 3 percent of its total land area.

This argument can be applied to Somalia and in 1975 drought in the country had trigged the first planned relocation of people. However, the civil war has create other sets of problems, like internally displaced people, unplanned usage of land, and greed driven massive deforestation. Somalia, geographically can be characterized semi-desert land, and our people relay on livestock, and nomadic life. So, that the current deforestation can eliminate the livelyhood of nomadic life of our society.

5. Mother Earth Speaks Out (Poem)

By Abdinur Haji Mohamed
For the Two-Day Seminar on Environmental Protection for
The World Environment Day Event in Mogadishu, Somalia
Organized by the Somali Center for Water and Environment (SCWE)
At HADHSO Youth Center in Mogadishu, Somalia
June 4-5, 2005,

(Monday, January 05, 2004)
Do we know that if we do not protect the earth, we shall perish from its face.
MOTHER EARTH TALKS TO MANKIND

I AM MOTHER EARTH
I AM YOUR NATURAL HABITAT
I AM A GIFT FROM GOD
I AM A WONDERFUL CREATION

HEY MAN, IN HEAVEN YOU HAD BEEN SO UNCAREFUL
THE BREATH OF A FARTING DEVIL TOUCHED YOU IN THE HEART
IN UTTER M DISAPPOINTMENT YOU WERE SOON DISCHARGED
“GET DOWN” GOD ORDERED YOU
YOU WERE SENT OFF TO A PLACE YOU NEVER SAW BEFORE
YOU HARVESTED SORROW, REAPED DISCORD

OF ALL THE PLANETS, ONLY ME OFFERED YOU A PLACE
I STRETCHED MY HANDS OUT TO WELCOME YOU
KISS YOU, HUG YOU, CARRY YOU IN MY CHEST
IN GOD’S WITNESS WE SIGNED A PROTOCOL
I TO GIVE COMFORT.YOU TO GIVE PROTECTION
BUT THE RECEPROCATE HAS NEVER BEEN FAIR

AGAINST ME YOU WAGED A WAR
AXES, MACHETES, PANGAS
WEAPONS OF STONE AGE
WEAPONS OF MODERN AGE
ALL DRAWN UPON ME
WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG, MAN?

REMORSELESS SO YOU ARE
YOU SUCKED AWAY MY NUTRIENTS
YOU NEVER REPLENISHED. DID YOU?
LIKE A BABY ON HIS MOTHER’S LAP
YOU ONLY THINK OF YOUR FILL
YOUR NAME IS TODAY
YOU DON’T SMELL TOMORROW
I AM STAGGERING. I AM STUMBLING.
I AM IN TEARS. I AM AGED. I HAVE WRINKLES
I AM FAINTING OUT OF DEPLETION
I AM ON MY DEATH BED

I WEEP. I WAIL
I CRY OUT FOR HELP
YOU COME NOT TO MY RESCUE
YOU IGNORE MY SQUALL
YOU SHRUG YOUR SHOULDERS
AND OFF YOU MELT AWAY.

YOU TALK TO NATURE, DON’T YOU?
YOU TALKED TO WATER
YOU PROMISED NOT TO POLUTE
YOU TALKED TO TREES
YOU PROMISED NOT TO DESTROY
YOU TALKED TO MOUNTAINS
YOU PROMISED NOT TO MOVE THEM
THEN WHY RAPE THE FOREST?
WHY MOLEST THE SEAS?
WHY ABUSE THE ATMOSPHERE?
YOU MADE THE LAND BARREN
YOU STRIPPED ME NAKED
I AM THE SHADOW OF MY FORMER SOUL
HEY MAN, YOU BROKE THE RULES
YOU BARELY HAVE SANITY

I AM BURNING WITHOUT BEING ON FIRE
TEMPERATURES ARE ON THE RISE
SEASONS ARE MORE ERRATIC
SEAS ARE MORE AGGRESSIVE
THE HOPE-GIVING SKIES ARE NO MORE IN PLACE

I AM LIKE A HOUSE WITH A DAMAGED ROOF
POISONED ARROWS ARE SHOOTING IN
I AM EXPOSED. I AM VULNERABLE
DANGER IS IN THE OFFING
I AM A VICTIM OF YOUR GREED
YOU ARE A REAL MONSTER. AREN’T YOU?
________________________________________

III. ANNEXES

1.
DATE / HOUR SESSION TOPIC PERSON(S)
SATURDAY 4-June-05
08:20-08:50 Session I Introducing and Opening the Seminar Agenda for all Abdinur Haji, Hussein M Iman and Prof Ali Abdirahman
08:50-09:30 Session II Changes in Somalia’s Environmental in Perispective Prof Ali Abdirahman, Former Minister of Environment of the TNG
09:30-10:20 Session III Major Environmental Problems in Somalia Nur A. Weheliye, Director General of Ministry of Planning TNG-TFG
10:20-10:40 Tea / Coffe Break
10:40-11:40 Session IV Illegal Fishing & Hazardous Waste Dumping in Somali Seas Enj Abbas, Enj Muse, from the Somali Seamen Union
11:40-12:30 Session V Effects of Globalization on Environmental Changes Enj Aweys Warsame, Center for Research & Dialoque (CRD) Somalia
12:30:--PM Break for the Day
SUNDAY 5-Jun-2005 Session VI Application of Sustainable development Strategies for Somalia Ali Iman Sharma’arke, Founder, owner of the Horn Afrik Media in Mogadishu
08:20-09:00 Session VII Importance of Our Environment "Mother Earth Poem" Abdinur Haji, from the SOCRAT Center, Somalia
09:00-10:00 Session VIII Participants Contribution in Poems, Songs on Environmental Protection Ten Participants (4 female & 4 male) have read their inspiring poems on Environmental protection
10:00-10:30 Tea/ Coffe Break
10:30-11:50 Session IX Music, Songs, Poems, short plays and shows by professional Artists, Mustafa Sh Elmi, Osman Farah, Jangow, Zahra Cige, Qarbosh, and many more
11:50-12:30 Session X WED closing speeches by Authorities Mr Shawey: Mayor of Mogadishu, Dr Ali Sheik Ahmed: MU Chancellor, Hon- Mahamud Salad Nur: Minister for Water & Mineral Resources TFG
12:30--PM End of the Ceremony WED Ceremony was officially clossed
2. Seminar Participants’ List

SOMALI CENTER FOR WATER & ENVIRONMENT
Two-Day Seminar for the World Environment Day 2005

NAME ORGANIZATION ADDRES + EMAIL
1. Faiso Sheikh Hassan
2. Hassan Abdulqadir Muday
3. Mohamed Moallim Ibrahim _ 937945 kalamey@hotmail.com
4. Salad Moallim Ibrahim _ 937945
5. Ayan Jama’ Dahir __ 596409
6. Ahmed Mohaoud Elmi Ainan Secondary School 633475 suldamum@hotmail.com 7. Ikran Shakib Suufi Al-xikma 250783
8. Yasin Mire Hassan Amana Consulting 658860
9. Abshir Moallim Muqtar Bulo Hubay 930663
10. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdi COSNO 93594 / 574084
11. Abdullahi Hassan Salad COSNO 850239 / 512297
12. Halimo Hussein Humai COSNO 652037 Humai4@hotmail.com 13. Mohamed Mohamoud Elmi COSNO 527260 sultanelmi@hotmail.com 14. Naima Ali Abdalla COSNO 277034 / 858512 / 223353
naciinka2@hotmail.com 15. Nasteho Hussein Hilowle COSNO 655338
16. Sagal Omar Salad COSNO 516367 / 938129 / 260633
17. Abdifatah Badal Ibrahim HADHSO
18. Abdirahman Mohamed Ali HADHSO 579754 / 260677
19. Abdirihim Aden Abdi HADHSO 223629 shaakir2@hotmail.com 20. Abdiwahid Mohamed HADHSO 235097, 570936 - 230641
21. Ahmed Abdi-Nur HADHSO 930821, Farrcaanoo5@hotmail.com 22. Aweis Hagi Nur HADHSO 850202 - Deriska
23. Hassan Abdulkadir Mudey HADHSO 570936 xasanyare77@hotmail.com 24. Ifrah Hassan Mohamed HADHSO 935613 ifraaxxasan1@hotmail.com 25. Mahad Mohamed Sh. (Istiila) HADHSO 260220 / 850265
26. Mohamed Yusouf Abdulle HADHSO
27. Ayan Hassan Elmi HAnso 659799 ayaan270@hotmail.com 28. Mohamed Ali JUWA 981564
29. Abdiqani KANAVA 250142 / 858189
30. Abdiqani Aden Dhabaney KANAVA 583353 daacad80@hotmail.com 31. Abdisalam Abdi Barre KANAVA 655590
32. Hussein Yusouf KANAVA 250142 / 858189
33. Ibrahim Maax KANAVA 217439
34. Jamaal Ahmed Sharma KANAVA 217439
35. Mohamed Adan Omar KANAVA 929232 caaqilka808@hotmail.com 36. Mohamoud Mohamed Sh. Bashir KANAVA 858189 timajilac25@hotmail.com 37. Rahmo Sheikh Hussein KANAVA 621321
38. Sacdiyo Mohamed Ibrahim KANAVA 656975 kayt_23@hotmail.com 39. Said Mohamed Hussein KANAVA 851754
40. Saleiman Sheikh Ismail KANAVA 601775 / 858189
41. Shire Salad Hassan KANAVA 858072 cowke11@hotmail.com 42. Siyad Aden Hussein
KANAVA
Siyadfantastic1@hotmail.com
iradso@hotmail.com . 929297 43. Sowdo Hussein Abdullahi KANAVA 650770 sowdo114@hotmail.com 44. Ubah Ahmed Hagi KANAVA 592132 ubaxeey2@hotmail.com45. Yahye Jamac Samatar KANAVA 575185 jucfe4@hotmail.com 46. Zamzam Dahir Mohamoud KANAVA Xilkas98@hotmail.com 47. Anab Mohamed KANAVA - Kismayo 524881 cadar2@hotmail.com 48. Abdullahi Mohamed Ilkacase Kooxda Horseed 659821
49. Eng. Mohamed Ali Dirie Ministry of Minerals water Resources of the Somali Republic 235103 Home /273310 C/phone
260047 Home-office
gulet2000@yahoo.com50. Abdi-Nur Wehlie Afrah Miyama Umul Qura 930850
51. Abdullahi Hassan Mohamoud Mogadishu University 646645, 655454
52. Adan Jimcale Alasow Mogadishu University 245638
53. Mohamed Mohamoud Omar Mogadishu University 945965 Mobile-400706 danuma@hotmail.com 54. Abdullahi Sharief Da’ud S.Y.F 514017
55. Mursal Sharief Abdulrahan S.Y.F 932375 / 224810 / 687921
56. Halimo-Sacdiyo Mohamed Ali Save Som. Women & Children (S.S.W.C) 656561 / 601641 sagal89@hotmail.com 57. Ayan Ahmed Mohamed SOVEC 223127 anfac34@hotmail.com 58. Zamzam Ahmed Mohamed SOVEC 225127 zamka03@hotmail.com 59. Ayan Mohamed Dirie SSWC 653741 ayaan3355@hotmail.com 60. Khadijo Ise Faracadde SSWC 637719
61. Qali Mohamed Mohamoud SSWC 229903 yaaska142@hotmail.com 62. Abdulrahman Hassan Ahmed SYRO 625235 / 231210
63. Abdisalam Ahmed Yusouf Zamzam Foundation
64. Asha Mahamed Warsame ---
65. Maryama Nur Moalim Gheedi ---
66. Osman Haji Amin ---
67. Abdullahi Abdi Ali ---
68. Fardowsa Ismail Jama ---
69. Mumin Haji Abdi

3. Summary Report on the WED
As Somalia’s civil war crisis toppled the central government of Somalia in early 1991, widespread chaos and strife swept all across the country. As a result all the national institutional structures had collapsed and the productive infrastructures of the nation have been terribly dismantled. Unscrupulous merchants have employed militia and other people in disparate need for cash to cut down trees, burn them up and produce charcoal to be shipped off to countries in the neighboring Gulf States such as the U.A.E.

The cycle of misuse and abuse continues giving rise to environmental degradation every where in Somalia. As for air and sea pollution, the situation is unbelievably hopeless. Uncontrolled planes use the air space as well as the illegal fishing and hazardous waste dumping continues in our 3,300 Km long coast-line. Worst still is the fact that no one seems to be in-charge of these most precious resources perishing at a shocking speed. These call for a quick and systematic action to counteract the ongoing wide scandal on Somalia’s natural resources.

It is against this grim background the Somali Center for Water and Environment (SCWE) had been set up in Stockholm, Sweden. SCWE moved its operation to Mogadishu to implement its programs within the Country and in coopration with Mogadishu University established an office and library. Its main goal is to improve the situation of water and environment through public awareness-raising, research and training in Somalia. An urgent need was there to face and challenge the worsening conditions of environment in Somalia.

As a step towards achieving this goal and in commemoration of the World Environment Day (WED), the SCWE organized a two-day seminar for 70 participants from different youth groups in Mogadishu on June 4 to 5 2005. In the opening, the SCWE Director, Mr Hussein M Iman introduced the facilitator and the resource persons to the participants. He elaborated on the deteriorating condition of Somalia’s environment and called up these young trainees to pioneer the making of an important choice between “life and death” on Somalia’s environment and to safe the national heritage of Somalia. During those two days, several environmental protection-related topics were taught by experts and senior environmentalists in Mogadishu.

At the end of the seminar at the HADHSO Youth Club, the SCWE center also organized a big ceremony to commemorate the World Environment Day on June 5, 2005. Many people were invited from the general public including women, artists, poets, singers and other civil society groups. The artists and poets performed shows, songs and poems about the declining Somali environment and how to protect it. As the participant emotions were heavily agitated by poems and songs, they gave positive feedback by composing several original poems themselves and citing them in front of the crowd in the ceremony.

Other dignitaries including the representatives from the Benadir Regional Authorities, the Mayor of Mogadishu City, representatives from the Transitional Federal Governmnet (TFG) including the Minister for Water and Mineral Resources Mr Mohamud Salad Nur, Vice Minister for Education, several MPs, and the president of Mogadishu University, Dr Ali Sh. Ahmed also attended the Ceremony. After the heart-touching shows, songs and poems performances on the environment, at the end Dr. Ali Sheikh Ahmed – president of MU and the Minister for Water Mr. Salad made strong speeches on the World Environment Day and stressed the importance to protect and safe Somalia’s natural resources.

4. Handout Notes in Somali Language

Qoraalka Maalinta Degaanka Adduunka
World Environment Day, 5ta Juun 2005

Qarnigan 21aad waa qarnigii caalamku ku heshiiyey inuu noqdo kii horumarinta dunida iyo daryeelka degaank dabiiciga ah. 5ta bisha Juun sanad walba waxaa lagu magacaabay inay noqoto Maalinta Degaanka Adduunka (World Environment Day). Waa maalin si aad ah u mudan in wax laga taabto guud ahaan degaanka dunida ee sii xumaanaya iyo gaar ahaanna dhibaatooyinka degaaneed ee heysta dalkeenna Soomaaliya.
Bishii Juun sanadkii 1972 ayey aheyd markii ugu horeysay oo la qabto Shir caalami ah ay Qaramada Midoobay (QM) qabanqaabisay oo looga hadlo degaanka bani'aadanka. Shirkaas (United Nations Conference on Human Environment) oo lagu qabtay magaalada Stockholm, dalka Sweden, kama aysan soo qeyb gelin dowlado badan oo dunida sadexaad ah ayaga oo u arkayey in kulankaasi uu quseeyo oo kaliya dalalka warshadaha leh oo ah kuwa ay iyagu heysato dhibaatooyinka wasaqeynta degaanka. Si kastaba waxa uu shirkaasi noqday kulankii ugu muhiimsanaa ee bilow u noqday doodda calaamiga ee dhinaca degaanka.
Isla sanadkaas 1972 waxaa Golaha Guud ee Qaramada Midoobay ka soo baxay go'aanno dhowr ah oo degaanka ku wajahan: sida go'aankii lagu aasaasay Hey'adda Qaramada Midoobay u qaabilsan Barnaamijka Degaanka 'United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)' oo ay xarunteedu tahay magaalada Nairobi ee dalka Kenya. Waxaa kaloo la go'aamiyey in sanad walba bisha Juun 5-teeda loo aqoonsado Maalinta Degaanka Adduunka. Waa maalin caalami ah oo adduunka oo idil laga xuso, loogana hadlo qiimaha degaanka uu leeyahay iyo arrimaha la xiriira degaanka dunida.
Xuska maalintan qiimaha badan leh ee 5ta Juun, ayada oo dalwaliba si gaar ah looga xuso lana fuliyo hawlo iyo mashaariic ku wajahan daryeelka degaanka, ayaa haddana Qaramada Midoobey sannad waliba waxa ay soo saartaa tibaax “theme” ama halkudhigga diiradda la saaro oo la xiriira horumarinta bey’ada & degaanka dunida. Xuskaasina sannad walba waxaa lagu qabtaa dal iyo magaalo hor leh.
Sanadkan 5ta Juun, 2005, tibaaxda ama “theme”ka ama halkudhigga la qaatay waa “GREEN CITIES” PLAN FOR THE PLANET” oo loola jeedo in la dhireeyo lana qurxiyo magaalooyinka dunidan. Duqowda ama meeyarada maamula magaalooyinka dunida oo dhami, bishan Juun 1-5teeda waxay ku kulansan yihiin magaalada San Fransisko ee Gobola Kalifornia ee dalka Mareykanka, si ay ugu dabaaldegaan maalintan, una qorsheeyaan mustaqbalka magaalooyin cagaaran oo qurxoon. Waxayna dejinayaan xeerar lagu horumariyo degaamada magaalooyinka, waxayna soo saarayaan Cahdiga San Fransisko ee Bay’ada Magaalooyinka (The San Francisco Urban Environment Accord).
Dalkeenan Soomaaliya, waxaa si weyn u aafeeyey dagaaladii sokeeye. Inta badan magaalooyinkeenna waxaa ka muuqda burbur xoog leh, waxayna u baahan yihiin di-u-dhis weyn, qorsheyn iyo maalgelin ballaaran. Dunidana si weyn ayaan uga harney, faqriga iyo jahliga waxay na dhaxalsiiyeen in dadkeenu aanay fahmin lahaanshaha guud iyo waxa dadka ka dhexeeya. Waxaana dhaqan u noqotay in qofku dhowro hantidiisa gaarka oo keliya, lagu tunto, lana burburiyo wixii dadka ka dhexeeyey.
Waxayaalaha sida weyn loo burburiyey ma aha oo keliya magaalooyinka, balse waxaa ka mid ah oo si ba’án loo boobay dhamaan khayraadkeeni dabiiciga ahaa xagga badda iyo berrigaba. Shirkadaha dalalka warshadaha leh waxay si weyn u xaalufiyeen noolihii badaheenna, waxayna ka sameeyaan kalluumeysi sharci darro ah, waxayna ku soo shubaan wasakhda khatarta ah ee warshadahooda, taasoo culeys iyo khatar badan ku haysa dadkeenna xeebaha deggan.
Si aan taasi ka liidan waxaa iyana berrigeenna weerar ku haya dadka Soomaliyeed. Waxay si xad-dhaaf ah u jaraan dhirta iyo keymaha awalba liitey, waxayna shidaan dhuxul aad uga badan tan dadkeenu u baahan yihiin, waxayna u dhoofiyaan dibedda. Sidoo kale waxaa la ugaarsadaa, la dilaa, lana soo qabqabtaa duur-joogta oo qaarna la cuno qaarna lagu dhoofiyo nolosha, lana siisto qiime jaban. Sidoo kale waxaa si ba’an loo dhhofiyaa dheddigga xoolaheena, ayadoo dalalka iibsada ay fursad weyn u heleen inay dalkooda ku beertaan kuna badsadaan si ayba uga maarmaan in Soomaaliya wax laga soo iibsado mustaqbalka. Taasina ay dhibaato iyo culeys dhaqaale oo weyn u keeni doonto umadda Soomaaliyeed.
Dhibaatooyinka waa in la helo qaab lagu yareeyo, laguna badbaadiyo degaankeenna iyo bey’adeenna sii baabaáya. Si la isugu baraarujiyo arimahan la xiriira daryeelka degaankeenna ayaa Xaruntan Biyaha iyo Bey’áda Soomaaliya ee Jaamadda Muqdisho u qaban qaabisey seminaarkan loogu baranayey daryeelka degaankeenna si loo helo xoog aqoon u leh arimaha daryeelka bey’ada. Xaruntan Biyaha iyo Bey’áda ayaa iska xilsaartey qabanqaabada xafladdan weyn ee lagu xusayo Maalinta Degaanka Dunida si aan ula soconno una hiigsanno fikirka iyo horumarka ka jira caalamka.
Qormadan waxaa idiin soo diyaariyey:
Cabdullahi Cilmi Maxamed: Gudoomiyaha Xarunta Biyaha & Degaanka Soomaaliya iyo
Xussein M. Iman: Maamulaha Xarunta Biyaha & Degaanka Soomaaliya, Muqdisho.


5. Seminar & Ceremony Banners

6. Seminar & Ceremony Invitation Samples

7. WED Events’ Expenses

Date: June 08, 2005

On June 4-5, 2005 on the commemoration of the World Environment Day in Mogadishu, SCWE have organized a two-day seminar on Environmental Protection and a public ceremony where different people attended. The modest costs incurred are as follows:

1. Different Media Groups reporting on the seminar and the WED Ceremony events $85.20
2. Printing seminar invitation, copying training materials, painting cloth banners $56.70
3. Stationary materials(Philip charts, markers, white papers, etc...) $42.60
4. Taxi & transportation $146.30
5. Facilitators Abdinoor Haji (850,000) $56.00
6. Refreshments & meals $230.20
7. Artists, Poets 6 x 15 $84.00
8. Seminar venue clean-ups $20.00
9. Communications, mobile phone charges $40.00
10. Photo Albums + Video tap copies $38.80
Total Expenses Seminar plus WED ceremony $799.80

Hussein M Iman
MU-SCWE Director
Mogadishu, Somalia
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