I’m back from half term hols and in catching up with messages I was struck by the commitment communities are prepared to make in putting the case to defend places that are both vital for the natural world and a key part of their lives.
At home, the second full week of the Public Inquiry into proposals to extent the runway at Lydd airport will get underway tomorrow. And it is in this week that our evidence will be given and cross-examined. It’s a case that we’ve been following closely and working side by side with local communities to ensure that the full range of issues are fully argued at the Public Inquiry.
The inquriy continues
Another case we’ve been following is the threats to the Tana River Delta in Kenya – a very different mix of issues but a similar mix of local activism working alongside the contribution made by our friends and colleagues in Nature Kenya.
This update from Sarah Munguti, Nature Kenya’s Communication and Advocacy manager was waiting in my inbox when I got back to work
The Tana court case came up for hearing yesterday 14 Feb 2011 at 9 AM as scheduled before Justice Muchelule. It was however stood over to 4th April 2011 following requests by some of the respondents for more time to file their responses and submissions against the community lawyer's application for conservatory orders. About 100 people from Tana Delta travelled overnight to Nairobi to attend the hearing. They were joined by another 50 people who come from Tana Delta but reside in Nairobi. Afterwards the community representatives held a demonstration within the Nairobi High Court grounds with media covering the demo. High Court Advocate Job Thiga who is representing the community addressed them briefly and explained what had happened in court. He also spoke to media and availed copies of the community petition to the media.
At about 10.30 a.m. the 150 community representatives walked to the Vice President's office and presented the issues on Tana to him. The Vice President requested a written petition on the issue and promised them to look into the issue and even raise it with the President. The community representatives wrote the petition, all of them signed it and sent two of their own to present it to the Vice President.
It was encouraging to see so many people from Tana Delta at the High Court and they drew the attention of many. Still more encouraging that the community fundraised on their own and with support from well-wishers and 'friends of Tana Delta' managed to attend the hearing yesterday. They have vowed to attend the next hearing, follow up with the Vice President and the Prime Minister on the issue.
More Kenyans are aware of the case and issues in the Tana. For instance, the Member of Parliament for Galole heard about the demo while in North Eastern Kenya and contacted the community coordinator while he was still in Nairobi.
Thank you for your support
Sarah on a visit to the Delta
I’ll keep updating you on both stories as they move towards their conclusions. Both places have benefited hugely that local communities have been central to giving Dungeness and the Tana River Delta the profile and campaigning zeal that means they are both getting their days in court.
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