Environmentalist Identifies Economic Reason as Cause of Climate Change

By Okon Bassey in Uyo

An environmentalist, Mr. Nnimmo Bassey, has identified economic reason as being responsible for the massive harm done to the environment in the country and non-implementation of the necessary legal framework to protect it.

Bassey, who is the Director of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), made the assertion weekend at a workshop held at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State.

He said governments at all levels, multinational and local companies as well as individuals were guilty in this direction as they have played major roles in creating negative impact on the environment now tagged climate change.

Speaking on the theme: “Unpacking Re-Source Democracy”, he said rising consumption and wastages had led to massive extinction of species and severe environmental change, some of which might well be irreversible, adding that environmental degradation disrupts “our linkages to nature, shrivels our humanity and throws us into unhealthy rivalry and struggles to whatever goods remain”.

“It alters our thought patterns and social relations. The arrival of crude oil and petroleum resources literally poisoned and damaged our environment, economy, politics and socio-cultural relationships. Agriculture got ignored, manufacturing got side-lined and all eyes got riveted on US dollars flowing into the national pot,” he said.

Details later…