Speech delivered by Ebrima S.

Dem, National Representative of Global Unification-

the Gambia, during the earth day celebration, held the Brufut beach, April 2010.

The honourable minster of forestry and environment, the Permanent Secretary and
staff of the ministry of forestry and environment, governor of western region, chief of
kombo south, the Alkalo of Brufut village, representative US embassy, Gambia
tourism authority, national environment agency, students, representative of the Global
Unification, Phoenix project, youth alliance, US peace corps, the management of
Banjul breweries, representative of la divas night club, DJ spices, members of ASSET
climate care group, ladies and gentle, all protocols respectfully observe.

First, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to

members of the earth day steering committee who have work day and night for the
past two weeks just to make this program successful. This includes Kadi Touray of
phoenix project, Joe Bongay of youth alliance, Fatoumatta Ba of Global Unification
and Ryan Reichet of the US Peace Corps. And of course my sincere appreciation goes
to our corporate sponsor, Banjul breweries, under their youki brand, the drink for the
youth and kid. Their support is invaluable and highly appreciated.

Today marks a historic day in our national efforts for climate change mitigation and
adaption. The day is historic in the sense that it is the first time that young people are
fully concern about the earth we live in and decided to contribute their quota is saving
our planet from the risk pose by climate change. As we stand together, work together,
drum together, party together for the sake of the earth, we are making our voice louder
and clearer in millions of miles away. Through the earth day celebration, young people
in the Gambia, like their counterparts all over are giving a voice to the voiceless
mother earth. Today is the beginning of a new era in young people’s call for climate
justice for our beloved country.

As we celebrate the earth day, we stand together as nation, stand together as leaders of
today and tomorrow, stand together in reflection of our collective responsibility to
save our planet for our for children, their children’s children.

In the Gambia, the impacts of climate change as we all know do not require a rocket
science to ascertain. It is there for every one to see. As we gather today in this
beautiful beach with cold breeze from the ocean, our environment is experiencing
serious degradation and climate change is threatening the life and livelihood of many
local communities. The rate at which the environment is being exploited, misused,
overused and polluted is calls for concern for all and sundry. The decline in land
productivity, rising sea level and bush fires is really affecting our country’s
environmental quality and productivity.

Therefore to save the environment, we all have a role play. As young people, there are
a lot we can do contribute in our national climate resilience efforts. Beginning today
with the earth day, we will continue to organise more beach clean up, plant and take
care of more trees, embark on more serious advocacy for the climate, developing
healthy feeding habits by reducing plastic litters from the streets, walking or biking to
reach our destinations as this reduces pollution and continue to use water and energy
efficiently, among others.

Finally, before we leave this beach, I would like to implore all of us to have in mind
that the planet belongs not only to us, but to the future generation as well. And thus
our survival, their survival should not be taking for granted. Together, we can repair
the damage already cause to our planet. Development is not about destroying nature
but rather living in harmony with nature which is central to solving the climate crisis.

On that note, I thank you for the kind attention.