Category Archives: Holidays

Earth day began being celebrated in 1970 in the USA. The initial aim was to recognize the earth as the provider of all the resources we need for our survival and also ways we can give back by protecting it from harm.

In his write-up #LaudatoSí, the late Pope Francis ( may he rest in peace) encouraged Christians and the world at large to care for the Earth and keep it beautiful as God created it and intended it to be.

Unfortunately several decades later a threat to the earth was created by man in the name of plastics and it has threatened the very life of the earth by choking the oceans,the rivers,and the city streets.

Man in his endeavor to reduce the waste on the surface of the earth, resulted in heaping the waste in small and bigger piles in different corners where humans live and then set it ablaze producing deadly fumes.

This has brought about respiratory problems to the people living around the dumpsite. It has also resulted in micro plastic poisoning. This occurs when the plastics break down in very tiny particles due to acts of nature which later get into the food chain when they are eaten by fish and other edible organisms .
Medical reports have shown micro plastics is semen and blood clot samples as well as other vital fluids of the body.

On Earth Day 2025, we are encouraged to embrace the circular economy, which leads to #zerowaste in the effort to #beatplasti,c which is the #theme for #earthday2025

This can happen if people agree to segregate waste at source (office/home) and reuse what can be reused and rot all the biodegradable materials.
Plastic containers can be used as a balcony garden (as in the photo) therefore keeping it from going to the dumpsite or even worse to be washed down to our rivers and oceans.

Article by Julia Wahome

Wetland ecosystems are covered by either salt, fresh and in-between water permanently or seasonally.
They offer very important ecosystem services for the stability of the environment and our future

The benefits include nutrient cycling, water cycling, acting as a habitat for macro and microorganisms, ecotourism sites, reduce the risk of flooding amongst others due to the increase in population and hence the increase in demand for building land or just sheer human greed, the wetlands are at great risk of being encroached. This will translate to the loss of all the ecosystem services and a lot of species, as well as the risk of loss of human life due to floods, water shortages, or disease outbreaks due to the lack of filtration service that wetlands offer.

We can however protect the wetlands by avoiding encroaching on them by implementing the guidelines provided by the law and also penalizing the encroaching parties.
Rehabilitation of the wetlands that have been destroyed by planting the right species for the area, especially the indigenous trees and grasses. Bamboo is a great species for the rehabilitation of wetlands and more species can be found in the Jaza Miti App that was developed by the Kenya forestry research institute in partnership with the Ministry of environment in Kenya.

Non-extractive use like bird watching, beekeeping, kayaking, and sustainable fishing amongst other economic activities may encourage the neighbouring communities to protect the Wetland because of the direct benefit they get. Sensitization of the community members including school children on the importance of wetlands is important as most people view them as an ecosystem that needs to be “corrected ” by draining them or filling them up.

As we celebrate this year’s World Wetlands Day, let us rethink our attitude towards the wetland ecosystems for the safety of our own future and that of the many species that depend on them.

Happy World Wetlands Day!

Article written by Julia Wahome

In the world today we have a lot of purified water being sold packaged by different companies. It is a good indicator that people are conscious of the water they consume. Most of this water is purified through the Reverse Osmosis process by a Reverse Osmosis Plant. Simply, a reverse osmosis (RO) plant works by applying high pressure to contaminated water, forcing it through a semipermeable membrane that allows only pure water molecules to pass through, leaving behind dissolved impurities like salts and minerals.

The purified water is then collected as clean drinking water while the concentrated waste is typically discarded. It’s fascinating that nature also has such a system in place that it is actually more advanced.
As surface water flows over land it carries with it pollutants. These pollutants usually depend on the land use and land cover the water passes through and may include soil particles, fertilisers, pesticides, grease and oil from machinery among others. When these waters flow through wetlands the pollutants are removed by sediment trapping, nutrient removal and chemical processes.

As water flows through a wetland, its velocity slows down, allowing suspended sediments and particles to settle out and accumulate on the Wetland floor. On nutrient removal, some wetland plants such as reeds have the ability to absorb nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus through their roots and leaves. Microorganisms present in wetland soils mostly bacteria decompose organic pollutants including pesticides from agricultural lands and heavy metals into fewer substances. Some bacteria convert nitrate in the wetland soils into gaseous nitrogen, which is released into the atmosphere, thus reducing nitrogen levels in the water.

Wetland soils can also bind certain pollutants, like heavy metals, through adsorption processes, preventing them from leaching into the surrounding environment. It’s paramount that we protect mangroves, marshes, swamps, deltas and other wetlands to enjoy the immense benefits they have to offer for the well-being of all.

Happy Wetlands Day!

Article by Rael Nelly

World Toilet Day 2024 Theme: Toilets, A Place for Peace

Until the spirit of sustainable ecosystems and livelihoods, this year’s World Sanitation Day should be viewed as a day to evaluate where we are at as a society in putting sanitation in the circular economy.

This can be done by ticking the achievement boxes and crossing the ones not met on the entire sanitation chain.

The evaluation will start by checking the provision or availability of toilets that are dignified and serves the purpose of providing “a place for peace “ .

Secondly to tick or cross whether the system used is able to collect the waste effectively which will there after be treated for ease and safety of handling during the transformation to renewable energy, organic fertilizer and clean water.

In a situation where dignified toilets, Waste collection system, Waste treatment and waste transformation boxes are all ticked then good health will be achieved,food security enhanced and jobs created.

However, despite the UN including the Open defecation free (ODF) as a goal in the sustainable development goals (goal 6) ,It is yet to be achieved especially in developing countries due to people reverting back to open defecation despite getting the certificate due to collapsing toilets .

Although there has been a decline in the open defecating households in the world from 1.3 billion to 419 million between 2000 and 2022,(journal of health, population and nutrition 43 ) there is still high open defecation in the sub Saharan Africa, Kenya included.

Article Written by Julia Wahome