Kampala Declaration
Communique issued after the Oilwatch Africa General Assembly, 12th - 18th May 2010, Kampala, Uganda
1.0 Preamble
Civil society groups, community based organizations, campaigners, the media and individuals from various communities in Africa converged in Kampala Uganda, under the auspices of Oilwatch Africa to discuss emerging environmental concerns in Africa; such as the intensifying rush for new oil in Africa, the struggles of our communities for survival and the need to build solidarity. Participants also used the space to share experiences about their different struggles as well as the suppression of the rights of communities to associate freely. Finally the meeting afforded participants the opportunity of critically examining our evolving movement building process. The theme of the meeting was Building a movement to spread the message of keeping oil in the soil”
2.0 Opening
The theme of the consultation was carefully chosen to provide a concrete basis for addressing the multiple crises confronting Africa. These crises manifest themselves in the form of environmental impacts, climate change, food crisis and poor political governance. Positions articulated by the various resource persons, experiences shared by our community representatives and practitioners in the field during the plenary as well as in-depth discussions by participants during the group work form the basis of our observations below
3.0 Observations
- The exploration of oil in ecologically rich bio diverse but fragile and protected regions in Africa presents a grave danger to the environment, livelihoods and peaceful co-existence of countries that share common resources and urgent action is required to halt this trend
- We acknowledge that the level and magnitude of work required is enormous, yet the resources in terms of people’s capacity, funds and time are limited.
- To make appreciable impact with our work, it must be based on supporting communities and building capacity at the local level to help impacted communities mobilize and campaign for change
- Communities need sufficient and comprehensive information on the process of oil production and its impacts as distinct from the euphoria whipped up by spin doctors of our governments, International Development partners and the oil multinationals; on the cost and benefits of oil extraction.
- The continuing deplorable conditions of resource rich communities who have continued to live in penury despite the huge revenues being generated from the exploitation of resources from their areas
- There is need for proper cost benefit analysis to be carried out resource rich countries of Africa by governments to determine what would be more profitable between extracting oil and gas and utilizing and preserving the environment.
- That the oil business in Africa is intrinsically violent, ranging from the cutting of seismic lines, through pristine forests, the forceful displacement of communities, the detonation of explosives to determine the availability of oil, the roaring flames from gas flares and the pollution of communities from oil spill
- That in the case of Uganda, the potential for conflict within the Albertine region is great among communities and across borders; it was noted that the Nile River and other shared resources in the region would lead to conflict in case a spill occurred. That the displacement of fossil fuels from where nature intended them to be has been a major contributor to the growing disproportionate climate impact in Africa.
- That the Kyoto protocol and the market mechanisms that have evolved from it such as carbon trade, clean development mechanism etc have failed to address the climate crisis and the dilemma of fossil fuels because it is not founded on justice, equity and fairness.
- That oil and gas bearing communities in Africa live in perpetual danger as a result of the unethical practices of oil multinationals. Our governments aggravate this state of affairs by failing to listen to and address issues of environmental injustice and human rights violation on the continent. They instead, collude with the oil multinationals to criminalize the peoples’ struggles; repress and militarize communities to ensure unhindered exploitation of natural resources
- That the World Bank and other financial institutions have continued to invest disproportionate amounts in the extractive sector to the detriment of the renewable sector as evidenced by the recent loan granted Eskom to finance coal fired power plant in South Africa.
4.0 Resolutions
Recognising that protection of the environment and the dignity of the African people is a duty and an obligation we all owe the earth, humanity and our continent, the forum resolved as follows:
- That African government should embrace the idea of “keeping new oil in the soil’’ as this is an idea whose time has come. The development benefits inherent in this approach far outweigh the reliance on oil; it halts new polluting potentials as well as human rights abuses and the potential for violence and conflicts. It also ensures the reliance on the productivity of the people to raise revenues for government activities and thereby re-establish the peoples’ right to demand accountability and transparency
- All areas declared ecologically sensitive and pristine in Africa, such as parts of the Rift valley, the Nile river and its tributaries should be declared a no go area for oil and any other extractive resource exploitation
- An appropriate cost benefit analysis should be undertaken with popular participation to review the long term costs and impacts of extraction against perceived benefits.
- That all communities in Africa must deepen their struggles against environmental and climate injustices by building alliances, solidarity and sharing experiences
- That communities and CSOs should highlight and Africanise relevant aspects of the Peoples Agreement signed in Cochabamba Bolivia and campaign for its adoption by African government
- That the global north must take the lead in reducing carbon emissions, providing technology for adaptation and finance which should be in the form of payment of ecological/climate debts rooted in a history of reckless plundering, colonialism and inequitable use of a global commons.
- African peoples must ensure that only governments that flow from their mandate are allowed to govern them. Governments must respect the will of peoples and communities who are determined to keep oil in the soil.
1.0 Preamble
Civil society groups, community based organizations, campaigners, the media and individuals from various communities in Africa converged in Kampala Uganda, under the auspices of Oilwatch Africa to discuss emerging environmental concerns in Africa; such as the intensifying rush for new oil in Africa, the struggles of our communities for survival and the need to build solidarity. Participants also used the space to share experiences about their different struggles as well as the suppression of the rights of communities to associate freely. Finally the meeting afforded participants the opportunity of critically examining our evolving movement building process. The theme of the meeting was Building a movement to spread the message of keeping oil in the soil”
2.0 Opening
The theme of the consultation was carefully chosen to provide a concrete basis for addressing the multiple crises confronting Africa. These crises manifest themselves in the form of environmental impacts, climate change, food crisis and poor political governance. Positions articulated by the various resource persons, experiences shared by our community representatives and practitioners in the field during the plenary as well as in-depth discussions by participants during the group work form the basis of our observations below
3.0 Observations
- The exploration of oil in ecologically rich bio diverse but fragile and protected regions in Africa presents a grave danger to the environment, livelihoods and peaceful co-existence of countries that share common resources and urgent action is required to halt this trend
- We acknowledge that the level and magnitude of work required is enormous, yet the resources in terms of people’s capacity, funds and time are limited.
- To make appreciable impact with our work, it must be based on supporting communities and building capacity at the local level to help impacted communities mobilize and campaign for change
- Communities need sufficient and comprehensive information on the process of oil production and its impacts as distinct from the euphoria whipped up by spin doctors of our governments, International Development partners and the oil multinationals; on the cost and benefits of oil extraction.
- The continuing deplorable conditions of resource rich communities who have continued to live in penury despite the huge revenues being generated from the exploitation of resources from their areas
- There is need for proper cost benefit analysis to be carried out resource rich countries of Africa by governments to determine what would be more profitable between extracting oil and gas and utilizing and preserving the environment.
- That the oil business in Africa is intrinsically violent, ranging from the cutting of seismic lines, through pristine forests, the forceful displacement of communities, the detonation of explosives to determine the availability of oil, the roaring flames from gas flares and the pollution of communities from oil spill
- That in the case of Uganda, the potential for conflict within the Albertine region is great among communities and across borders; it was noted that the Nile River and other shared resources in the region would lead to conflict in case a spill occurred. That the displacement of fossil fuels from where nature intended them to be has been a major contributor to the growing disproportionate climate impact in Africa.
- That the Kyoto protocol and the market mechanisms that have evolved from it such as carbon trade, clean development mechanism etc have failed to address the climate crisis and the dilemma of fossil fuels because it is not founded on justice, equity and fairness.
- That oil and gas bearing communities in Africa live in perpetual danger as a result of the unethical practices of oil multinationals. Our governments aggravate this state of affairs by failing to listen to and address issues of environmental injustice and human rights violation on the continent. They instead, collude with the oil multinationals to criminalize the peoples’ struggles; repress and militarize communities to ensure unhindered exploitation of natural resources
- That the World Bank and other financial institutions have continued to invest disproportionate amounts in the extractive sector to the detriment of the renewable sector as evidenced by the recent loan granted Eskom to finance coal fired power plant in South Africa.
4.0 Resolutions
Recognising that protection of the environment and the dignity of the African people is a duty and an obligation we all owe the earth, humanity and our continent, the forum resolved as follows:
- That African government should embrace the idea of “keeping new oil in the soil’’ as this is an idea whose time has come. The development benefits inherent in this approach far outweigh the reliance on oil; it halts new polluting potentials as well as human rights abuses and the potential for violence and conflicts. It also ensures the reliance on the productivity of the people to raise revenues for government activities and thereby re-establish the peoples’ right to demand accountability and transparency
- All areas declared ecologically sensitive and pristine in Africa, such as parts of the Rift valley, the Nile river and its tributaries should be declared a no go area for oil and any other extractive resource exploitation
- An appropriate cost benefit analysis should be undertaken with popular participation to review the long term costs and impacts of extraction against perceived benefits.
- That all communities in Africa must deepen their struggles against environmental and climate injustices by building alliances, solidarity and sharing experiences
- That communities and CSOs should highlight and Africanise relevant aspects of the Peoples Agreement signed in Cochabamba Bolivia and campaign for its adoption by African government
- That the global north must take the lead in reducing carbon emissions, providing technology for adaptation and finance which should be in the form of payment of ecological/climate debts rooted in a history of reckless plundering, colonialism and inequitable use of a global commons.
- African peoples must ensure that only governments that flow from their mandate are allowed to govern them. Governments must respect the will of peoples and communities who are determined to keep oil in the soil.
