Liberia’s forest is under serious threat.  There are massive legal and illegal logging activities everywhere in the forest. Chainsawing is at its highest level.  Protected forest areas are being invaded on the quest for mineral resources, firewood, and human settlement. 

Traditional sacred trees are unmercifully cut while secret forests conserved for many years are depleting at an unbelievable rate.  The precious forests are dreadfully being cut down every single day.

Mounting scientific evidence and much prodding from environmental justice advocates point to rapid deforestation of Liberia’s forests.  There is loss of biodiversity, depletion of forest resources and changes in the weather pattern. 

Certainly, there is a need to enforce the acceptance of forest-protection policies in Liberia and dedicate more portions of the forests as protected areas.  The Norwegian intervention of 150 million dollars to stop deforestation is a step in the right direction, but more need to be done to ensure the million dollars program adapt a people-oriented approach.  This clearly demonstrates how deforestation needs to be addressed, because it erodes human well-being and economies.

During the regime of former President Charles Taylor Liberia’s forest was unrestrainedly exploited for the benefit of a few handful of greedy and well-connected individuals.  On top of that, the Taylor-led regime vividly illustrate how timber resources were mortgaged without proper conservation and actions. 

As a result, in 2003, when the United Nations imposed a sanction on Liberia, mainly timber exports, it was due to corruption, revenue embezzlement and the depletion of forest resources.  However, the ban was lifted following negotiation and review of logging activities by the Sirleaf-led administration. 

Even with all the rigorous procedures and processes put into place, a few members of the ruling establishment continue to single-handedly benefit from the forest resources. 

A classic example is the misuse and abuse of the Private Use Permit coupled with ownership of most logging companies belonging to government officials.  While a few wealth-obsessed individuals are cutting down the trees, the effects of changes in the weather pattern are being felt across the already poverty-stricken country.

A study has shown that forests provide protection against flooding. Therefore, the unabated loss of forests in Liberia due to the illegal logging which has become abundant may exacerbate the number of the flood we are currently experiencing.  It may also increase related disasters with severe negative impact on the environment and inflict million dollars on the economy. Sadly, illegal logging without reforestation is a bad news for glaring and galloping effects of global warming.  

With the facts that forests are linked with flood risk and severity in many developing countries like Liberia.  This article consented on the issue of reinforcing large-scale forest protection to protect human welfare and suggests that reforestation may help to reduce the frequency and severity of flood-related catastrophes.

We argued that reforestation can be regarded as part of the solution to stop deforestation by 2020 in achieving sustainable change and cut down of emission. Considering the measure in controlling flooding we seek the way forward in meeting these challenges.

Background and Introduction

In challenging the status quo by maintaining stringent and healthy environmental terrain in Liberia, this article seeks to address serious environmental problems, including deforestation and flooding.  Highlighting these problems and finding a suitable remediable solution is of the essence as Liberia faces a rapid pollution growth, poverty, strange flooding, and extreme temperature changes gearing towards sustainable development.

The scaring environmental movement in solidifying the debate and solving environmental issues in Liberia seems to be a nightmare. Instead of conserving the natural resources carefully, explicating it with environmental caution and using it efficiently, but sadly Liberia finds itself afflicted by the consequences of inappropriate policies, the right person to do the job (unjustifiable nepotism) which has led to having endemic political instability and an inability to manage Liberia’s economies and natural resources effectively.

The need of rigid environmental policies, innovative technologies and engineering scientific methods in protecting the environment of Liberia needs to be given strong awareness with the best minds and incorporated strategies that will yield to sustainable economic development in Liberia.

Liberia is a sub-Saharan Country located in West Africa with a considerable remaining rainforest indicating about 43% of the Upper Guinean forest. After 14 years of civil war and devastation, Liberia has experienced a tremendous economic growth and relative peace and stability compared to recent past regime.  

Liberia is endowed with many natural resources including one of the most respected earthly natural resources “Oil” based on African Petroleum seismic report and the economic growth is predominantly based on the use of these resources.

Regardless of the economic growth and its fragile peace, Liberia is facing many challenges.  In governing any country as natural resource dependence, the issue of providing sound economy by adapting and accommodating policies that seek to have an adverse effect on the citizen.  It signifies the healthy meaning of that country trajectory. By reinventing the wheel on the ecosystem, constraints on environmental variables and natural resource which have the propensity to enhance positive growth and development of Liberia economy is being looked at carefully.

An evidentiary map clearly illustrates how Liberia has been blessed with it ecological inheritance within the Upper Guinea Forest. Interestingly, the Liberian forest encompasses with many wildlife including fruits, nuts, and traditional medicines.

Without any doubt, Liberia accounts for more than half of West Africa’s remaining Upper Guinean tropical forest. Though Liberia contains the largest remaining forest blocks in the Upper Guinea region, but what is scaring is the threats and challenges faced with biodiversity conservation due to the illegal logging.

Recently in four years, flooding has been seen to be a gradually more common occurrence throughout Monrovia and many parts of the country.  As such, the level of preparedness for any future flooding needs supervision.  These changes have raised many questions about the impact of climate change in relation to the flood in Liberia through an illegal deforestation and human activities. 

There is a resounding question: What is the involvement of Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Land Mines and Energy, Forestry Development Authority, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Legislature doing to tackle deforestation?

Today, our West African neighbouring coastal countries are mitigating and finding a solution due to the impact of climate change on the flood regimes. The improvement of reliable drainage systems and surveillance on our beaches needs to be given serious attention for protection and safeguard our environment. Although Liberia has a low coastal plain which seems to be a factor, but yet still; the urgent protection of the coastal need serious management in the mitigation and controlling flooding.

This is a complete irony that West Africa is contributing very little to the issue of global warming because of low industrial development, but we are already experiencing effects of global warming. This is laughable and challenging. 

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, there are three climate change consequences that lead to flooding which includes: rising sea levels, quick- melting snow and more rainfall. Holding on to the IPCC report, Liberia is confronted with low coastal plain and more rainfall. 

Rising sea levels suddenly increase and lead to flooding based on the low coastal plain of Liberia due to prolong and heavy rainfall that has been experienced recently.  For the past four years of rainy season in Liberia, floods are becoming more frequent or more severe and to the extent roads blockage and devastation on coastal communities and homes got smash up. 

All the more so, a good number of parents and guardians in rural Liberia who depends on sustenance farming are faced with sudden change from the climatic condition. 

Unlike before, many rural farmers do not know when they will start planting; others who have planted cannot tell when they will harvest while for some the harvest is not just possible owing to the changing temperature and weather patterns.  Already impoverished, many children are used as breadwinners for parents and guardians who are jobless.   

Effect of Floods in Liberia

Most coastal communities in Liberia largely inhabited by underprivileged and underserved segment of the population run the risk of becoming history with wreckages beneath the vast ocean floor. 

From 2011-2016, the issue of sea erosion is troubling. Many of the coastal communities including Monrovia and others Counties have faced a severing consequence. The results shows the existence of trends in flood magnitude and flood casualty for the past four years.

Considering the precipitation along the coast of west African which is high, where rainfall is high with its lowest salinity in the Gulf of Guinea and the experience of semi-diurnal tide, this should be an indication that the coastline of West African countries have to be careful due to effect of global warming and the alteration of the North and South poles. 

For the east coast of Madagascar, the Mediterranean coast of Egypt experience mixed spring tide range mostly. Liberia has a semi-diurnal tide which has two high and two low waters tidal.  In other words, whenever the sea level rises, the effect of the semidiurnal current will lead to flooding based on the high precipitation and heavy rainfall in Liberia. 

Forest

Without any uncertainty, the forest of Liberia is one of the unrivalled in West African in terms of its species and herbs. Miserably, the forest of Liberia is threatened by human activities.

From 2003 to 2012, the forest of Liberia has been depleted through Illegal logging leaving the forest into a blind alley by losing approximately 400,000 hectares with an average rate of 9,000 hectares per year. The deforestation rate is 0.6% in Liberia and this rate is so high to the extent that is about three times the global average.

With the continuation of deforestation, Liberia considered being vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather events.  Forest loss is often associated with loss of habitat and biodiversity and reduced resilience to extreme climate events. These elicit practices are actually alarming and no wonder why the gradual change of weather condition is worrisome. Deforestation has severe environmental consequences.

Overall, when the forests are cleared, habitat, environment or species are destroyed and biodiversity is wholly diminished.  Clearing the forest of Liberia is hampering our atmosphere while causing more carbon dioxide to remain in the air, upsetting the delicate balance of the atmospheric gasses. So, one may ponder why harm our environment and the future generation?

Scouting developed sustainable forest and protecting the precious ecosystem in Liberia is very urgent. In recent times the highest recorded temperature in November has been 39°C that is 101°F, with the lowest recorded temperature 16°C, about 60°F

Liberia weather condition is dangerously becoming abnormal and there is a need to stop deforestation of the remaining forest of Liberia to prevent overheating and heavy irregular rainfall. 

A massive protest to cancelled permit in 2012 was a genius step by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Madam Sirleaf adheres to international disparagement in the submission of terminating licenses given to companies to do deforestation, but what is more saddened is the 58% of the primary rainforest that was going to be lacerated.  Notwithstanding, illegal logging is still going on.

Short-term financial rewards have to stop and take into account of environmental cost and long term benefits of the generation. Because saving forest is one of the speedy ways to avoid dangerous climate change like the change of temperature and flooding and is in the self-interest of the nation in shifting economic development.  

When the environment is in excellent condition, there is a better assortment of future development alternative. 

For instance, in deforested and environmentally degraded locale, the chance for Liberia to broaden its horizons strategies in favour of reducing future susceptibility is greatly abridged. 

Based on application, it is a great deal to handle in reducing potential risks when your natural resources currently are viable and intact; your choices simply are greater.

Early in September 2014, the intrusion of the Norwegian government to stop ineffectual logging activities by 2020 in Liberia is applauding.  Resultantly, Liberia was compelled to accept funding because a neighboring country in West Africa has accepted and agreed to stop deforestation in 2020.

The motive of the funds will be given in meeting basic needs for rural dwellers for protecting the forest, having a rigorous capacity building to monitor and keep watch over the forests in stopping specific environmental problems such as ozone depletion, deforestation, global warming and acid rain.

Floods are primarily caused by heavy rainfall. Although all countries of the world are subject to annual flooding of different magnitude, but the implementation of numerous flood alleviation measure to reduce the adverse impacts of the unwanted event in terms of hardship and economics constrained is by protecting biodiversity (Forest). 

Worst of all, inadequate dredging of riverbeds for sand mining activities, disruption of existing drainage system by road construction without adequate culverts and by building of unplanned houses are actually disturbing and contributing to flooding. Liberia has exactly 350 miles coastline, coastal lagoons and mangroves, rainforest and mountainous plateaus while 45% of the total land comprises of a rainforest.

Liberia is experiencing something called Coastal and River Floods due to its geographical location. The influence of the river floods is because of heavy and prolongs rainfall. Many rivers in Liberia, when rainfall heavily, it overflows their banks because it raises high and spread water result into the flood zone, where floating debris causes a jam.  Such debris flows tend to occur primarily in the dry season. Liberia has a low coastal plain and semidiurnal tide. 

Additionally, Liberia has experienced coastal floods that caused extreme sea level, which arise due to the tide. For that reason, the occurrence of a massive flood from the ocean should not be a strange factor, but mitigation or control measure can be handling.  It is also important to note that coastal flooding generally caused by extremely heavy precipitation which Liberia is of no exception.

Consequently, Liberia rainfall is heavier passed other part of the west coast of Africa that also have high precipitation except for  Freetown Peninsula in Sierra Leone and a small isolated location near Buea in Cameroon. The annual rainfall near the coast is nearly 4550 mm (180 inches) but the amount has exceeded this in some years due to climate change.  

This year dry season, it might not be surprising for a temperature to exceed 105◦F. For example, the recent River, and coastal floods affected many residences in 2016 show a warning sign for the dry season.

Between May and June of 2016, heavy downpour of rain affected central Monrovia and its environs which resulted in floods including Margibi, Lofa county and Grand Bassa and Robersport . The affectation of various places close to the coastline like New Kru Town, Robertsport and Grand Bassa are feeling the impact of sea erosion. Generally, the coastal have a large human population and these residents are particularly vulnerable to damages cause by flooding.

As global warming increases without regulating deforestation and human activities in Liberia, Liberia will greatly be affected by floods by the increase of water level with an expected sea level of 0.6-1.0 m by 2100, an average increase in annual temperatures from the 1970-99 average of 0.9-2.6°C by the 2060s, and of 1.4-4.7°C by the 2090s.

Since we have low coastal plain and deforestation is out of control with the anticipation to stop cutting down trees by 2020, actions remediation methods have to be put into operation or service to better understand and address climate change challenges throughout the country. With the potential impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and mortality, the results imply that future climate change may substantially hamper our economic growth.

Thus, Economic effects of climate harnesses have to be taking into consideration as a major factor because it has the propensity in damaging the economy. Preventing those expenses with proper climate policies ought as an economic benefit.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Liberians should not sit reluctantly and wait for their government to take action first, but instead every Liberian must begin to create an environmentally aware culture through research, education and people centered grassroots initiatives like environmental restoration, ecosystem rehabilitation and planting trees campaign in every community across the country.

The unfolding danger, direct threats to the environment and its species including biodiversity which caused by deforestation and human activities is thwarting. And flooding the complexities of environmental issues that vary from deforestation, pollution, environmental degradation flooding has significant impacts on human health. 

Destruction of the Liberia tropical rain forest is of great concern. The rapid increases in human population threaten the unique biodiversity of Liberia with a recent population growth of 4,615,222 Million.

These effects from global warming might coerce Agricultural production and reduced access to the availability of food. Considering the global climate change which is said to be legitimate science debate, Liberia is going to suffice when laws and rules are enforced to sustain the environment.

The Concession that comprises natural resource (forestry, agricultural, hydrocarbon, and mining) which help in changing the economic paradigm shift in Liberia in its positive trajectory has not been taken seriously.

Economic profitability and environmental standards relative on all of these concessions was not properly managed due to the lack of opportunity for participation, transparency, and accountability. Today, our forest has been mortgaged without positive rewards where climate change is at the face of Liberia.

The following recommendations are opt of the possible conservation of the forest and mitigation of flooding:  Implementing a sustainable reforestation program and a technique involves putting large area of forestlands especially lowland under the control of indigenous people for agricultural activities thus providing a continuous food supply.  

In a relatively short period of time, the Forestry Development Authority should reserve the loss of forest habitat within Liberia until the goal of its original mandate to ensure a sustainable development agenda for our generation. Liberia is already experiencing climate change.

Establish a transparent independent institution in policing concession processes and monitoring social and environmental conditions until sustainability are met.  Environmental awareness with civil society and involvement in the midst of concession companies in conducting environmental assessments in protection the ecosystem. 

Establish a flood forecasting since the warning is a prerequisite for successful mitigation of flood damage. Due to its effectiveness depends on the level of preparedness and correct response, train interest people.  Hence, the responsible authorities should provide timely and reliable flood warning, flood forecasting and information. 

Constructing walls high enough to keep floodwater out around the coastline and river communities that have the likelihood of flood can be an effective way of keeping flood damage to a minimum.  Together, let us work to make a greener country where deforestation and flood can become history told to future generation.

About Authors:

Stephen B. Lavalah is an advocate and the Founder & Executive Director of Youth Exploring Solutions (YES), a passionate, non-profit and voluntary grassroots youth-led development organization. For more information about YES

Ambulai Johnson is a young Liberian Environmentalist who hails from Gbarpolu County. A prospective Ph.D. student of Energy, Environmental and Chemical engineering at Washington University St. Louise, USA. Ambulai holds a Bachelor’s of science degree from Cuttington University, Liberia  and a Master of Science degree from Coventry University, England alone with many Postgraduate Professional Certificates including NEBOSH, IOSH, GIS AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP. Currently conducts series of environmental feasibility stimulation studies for possible environmental mitigation –  ambulaijohnson.88@gmail.com

Incontrovertibly, of all natural resources on the planet, the ocean is the most abused. This may be partly due to its humongous size or limited attention which has resulted into poor regulation.  Pollution from many sources, overfishing, and now major issues due to climate change all threaten the largest and most diverse contiguous habitat on the planet.  

Experts have predicted that sea level may rise by up to six feet before the end of the century as a result of global warming and climate change. 

Scientists and researchers are also alarming about the number of dead zones and endanger species in our ocean.  And, every single day, environmental advocates and ocean champions are warning about massive pollution and plastic waste that are going into our ocean.

Why Liberian Ocean Matters?

With 13.5% of the total land mass covered in water, the coastline of Liberia is an estimated 565-km in length and is home to some of the country’s largest cities, beautiful sandy beaches and estuaries conducive to fishing and tourism. It serves as the spawning ground for different species of sea turtles.

More than half of our population lives along the coast and their survival is directly linked to the ocean.  In fact, everyone in Liberia is directly connected to the ocean.  Over 90 percent of consumable and other goods are transported to Liberia by means of the ocean.  From the stable food-rice- to the petroleum product to everything that keeps our commerce running are associated with the ocean. 

It is no doubt that the ocean feeds us, protects us, regulates our climate, our weather, and anchors industries from transportation to tourism to trade of all kind and services.  Our ocean connects us to the rest of the world, foster our economies and improve the wellbeing of our citizens.  Just imagine, without the ocean, what will happen to us.  

As a country with the world’s second largest shipping registry, the health of oceans around the world should matter to us greatly.  It should form a part of our national security priority and the heartbeat of our foreign policy.  The ocean is the engine of our national growth and revenue generation. 

Hence, we should now begin to concentrate on the health of our ocean because it has the proclivity to shape our country’s future.

Sadly, the way we use and manage our ocean threatens our very existence.  The effects of harmful practices and activities along and within our ocean are gradually beginning to hurt us.  Some of the few despicable practices include open defecation, waste dumps, marine pollution, illegal beach sand mining, and inadequate assessment of fish population, unsustainable fishing practices, and uncontrollable discharge of municipal wastewater. 

Because of these acts, the ocean is becoming more acidic, thus threatening and endangering marine lives. Empirical analysis indicates that at the current rate of pollution, our ocean is projected to have more plastic than fish by 2050.   

All the more so, the congestion of human settlement along the urban coastal areas in Liberia with inadequate toilet facilities for most homes and misshaped structures further complicate the problem. 

Coastal erosion as a result of sea level rise has also compounded the numerous problems.  For the first time in a century, there are more people being displaced from the effects of the ‘Rising Ocean’ and climate change.   Educational facilities and dwelling places and worship centers and market places are being submerged into the vast Atlantic Ocean with wreckages settled beneath the ocean floor.  

Our people are becoming homeless due to consistent, persistent and insistent coastal erosion.  These problems are mostly prone to Montserrado County and other overcrowded coastal communities. 

Sadly, most coastal dwellers who contribute significantly to wrecking the ocean have got little or no knowledge on challenges facing our ocean.   They carry out open defecation, dump waste, and contaminate our ocean. 

Nonetheless, we are forever hopeful despite the problems that have engulfed our ocean.  We cannot pretend that we don’t smell feces from our beaches.  We cannot turn a blind eye on the constant marine pollution and plastic waste, especially the burial of solid waste on the beaches. 

And, we cannot sit and wait for coastal communities to be encroached and swallowed by coastal erosion.  We simply cannot continue to treat the ocean anyway we want to.

Solving Our Ocean Problems

The problems facing our ocean cannot be solved by a single action from one nation or an individual or a philanthropic organization or within a relatively short span of time.  It can neither be solved by shaping blame mentality nor dependency on the wealthy and powerful nations. 

Whether or not we are poor or rich, developed or undeveloped, young or old, politician or populace, we all have to protect our ocean.   We need to come together united to tackle the problem facing our ocean.  We must help the weak, support the innovative and join forces for our ocean.

The task is upon us to protect our ocean and prevent pollution.  Our ocean problem calls for more realistic and holistic actions.  Each of us can make a difference in the way we use our ocean and its resources.  We must act with a very high degree of urgency taking into consideration the rate at which we are polluting our ocean. 

Let us not forget that it is upon us to change the ways we operate within the ocean and find reliable grassroots-based approaches and long-term solutions with national and international commitment. 

Every Liberian should get involve utilizing their innovation, determination and dedication. Irrespective of the county of origin, the dialect spoken, religion confessed, social status, the level of education, and family background, we are all connected to the ocean. 

From the food we eat to the air we breathe and the materials we buy are all connected with the vast ocean.  So, we must galvanize our energy, enthusiasm, and ingenuity to act together with one common purpose of ensuring a healthier, safer, and cleaner ocean. 

We must take as a matter of urgency safeguarding our ocean for ourselves, our children and grandchildren because our very existence depends on the ocean.  We need the ocean more than the ocean needs us.

In Liberia, the facts are glaring.  More than half of our people live along the coastal.  And, over half of our population directly depend on the ocean for their livelihood.  Hence, if we dare not take grassroots actions now, our national security will be detrimental while many of our people will die of starvation. 

Our collective efforts can transition into clean beaches and ocean, which could pave the way for immense economic benefits.  This could create the much-needed jobs to increase purchasing power, boost infrastructural development, foster tourism and improve trade of all kind and enhance service delivery. 

Therefore, we should muster the courage and commitment to crack down on overfishing, marine pollution, illegal and unsustainable fishing practices.  In so doing, we must reduce the glaring and galloping effects of climate change, clean our beaches, and begin the designation of marine protected areas. 

For overfishing and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing practices, we must strengthen our marine surveillance and upsurge patrol of the Coast Guards.  We can also form a strategic partnership and foster mutual coordination with coastal communities including other state actors. 

In addition, our country should join the ‘Safe Ocean Network.’  This network would enable us to detect illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices.  It would also ensure enforcement of international law and empower us to prosecute those who violate and endanger our ocean. 

Our ocean matters to everyone and world leaders are taking actions.  The Honorable John Kerry, Secretary of State of the United States of America is leading Our Ocean movement alongside a number of international representatives including Presidents, Head of States. 

In addition, ocean champions from industry, civil society, the philanthropic community, research institution, and academia are supporting a clean and healthy ocean campaign.  Secretary Kerry’s ocean conferences have raised $9.2 billion dollars in initiatives and commitments to protect 9.9 million square kilometers of ocean.

Our Ocean movement has also been supported by the Government of the Republic of Liberia and other world leaders through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 14, which calls for concrete actions to protect and conserve our ocean.

While the world leaders are working towards a greener planet, safer ocean, and cleaner air, our government is surely doing her utmost best.  The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia is playing a pivotal role in developing policy and regulation to protecting our ocean. 

However, more grassroots and community-based actions are needed to clean our beaches, restore our marine habitat, and establish marine protected areas. 

Luckily, Youth Exploring Solutions based in Liberia in partnership with a US-based international NGO called IDEAS For Us have begun implementing “Ocean Engagement Dialogue” as part of its project named and styled “Liberian Ocean Matters Initiative”. 

This project hopes to nurture more ocean champions, intensify coastal cleanup, multiple coastal tree planting, and increase ocean advocacy and outreach activities.   Working together with individuals, religious institutions, schools, families, businesses, elected officials, and other stakeholders, we will establish Liberia’s first Ocean Day and help protect our ocean for ourselves and posterity.

In the words of U.S. Secretary of State of the United States of America: “With every positive step that we take, with the marine protected areas that we create, with the networks that we create and the safeguards that we enforce to protect against illegal fishing, with the cooperation we pursue to combat climate change and to deepen scientific research – with each of these steps, we are restoring and preserving the health of the ocean.”

About Authors:

Urias S. Goll is the Deputy Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency. Stephen B. Lavalah is an advocate and the Founder & Executive Director of Youth Exploring Solutions (YES), a passionate, non-profit and voluntary grassroots youth-led development organization. For more information about YES work in Liberia

Liberia’s emerging Ocean Champion, Stephen B. Lavalah has urged Liberians to take practical and appropriate actions to protect the ocean for the generation yet unborn. Lavalah is the founder and executive director of Youth Exploring Solutions (YES), an accredited not-for-profit, passionate and voluntary grassroots youth-led development organization based in Liberia.

He recently participated in the 2016 Our Ocean conference hosted by the Honorable John Kerry, Secretary of State of the United States of America in Washington, D.C. on September 15 to 16.  The conference focused on the key ocean issues of our time – marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution, and climate-related impacts on the ocean.

There were series of events to engage local and international audiences in the effort to protect our ocean which included: Our Ocean, Our Future: Youth Leadership Summit, Our Ocean Concert, Our Ocean Film Showcase, Our Ocean Idea Stage, Our Ocean Exhibit Hall and Our Ocean Film Stage.

It was Lavalah’s very first time walking through the doors of the U.S. Department of State and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.  He listened to and interacted with world leaders and amazing scientists, researchers, oceanographers, civil society leaders, heads of states, presidents, authors, actors and representatives of various governments.

These engagements further enlightened, educated and strengthened Lavalah to work alongside his colleagues and volunteers in developing innovative initiatives that safeguard the ocean.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to listen and learn about the ocean and seeing world leaders and philanthropists and foundations making huge commitments to establish Marine-Protected Areas, deal with marine pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, protection of the marine ecosystem and impact of climate change on the oceans” the young Ocean Champion noted.

Lavalah continued: “As a country with 350 square miles of coastline, we need to clean-up our beaches, and stop using it as dumpsites and restrooms; we have to conserve the shoreline and deviate from beach sand mining; we must dedicate portion of our ocean most especially our exclusive economic zone as a Marine-Protected Areas and stop fishing everywhere continuously as well as drastically end the long last illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing practices that are taking place in our ocean”.

Liberia’s lone representative to the 2016 Our Ocean conference is also calling on the Government and the people of Liberia to do everything in its power to safeguard our ocean, according to him, protecting the ocean as Liberians is an imperative and not an option.

“We must take as a matter of urgency safeguarding our ocean for ourselves, our children and grandchildren because our very existence depends on the ocean.  The ocean feeds us, protect us, regulate our climate, our weather, and anchor industries from transportation to tourism to trade of all kind. 

As the world’s second largest open registry, the ocean plays a pivotal role in our economy and the revenue generation.  So, we must do everything humanly possible to crack down on overfishing, marine protection, and begin to designate marine sanctuaries” the youth leader asserted.

The young Ocean Champion further stressed the need for Liberia to develop its first-ever National Ocean Policy that would provide a roadmap for our fishing industries, offshore drilling activities, marine research, maritime operations, pleasure craft users, shipping companies and every citizen. 

Such policy would ensure that decision makers take appropriate actions to utilize marine resources and ocean operations based on enforceable regulation grounded on the science and available research-based statistics.

Lavalah stated that every citizen, especially coastal inhabitants, should prioritize cleaning the beaches and engage in various grassroots conservation initiatives that are resilient to the consequences of climate change. The effects of climate change are visible to the rapid sea erosion in West Point, the Brought of New Kru Town and many other coastal communities’ homes to already poverty-stricken people.

“Everyone needs to get involve in protecting the ocean and solving the climate change crisis.  We cannot continue to treat the ocean anyway we want, we need the ocean more than the ocean needs us. 

More than half of our people livelihood directly depend on the ocean for their very existence and if we dare not take actions now, our national security will be detrimental while many of our people will die of starvation” the youth leader pointed out.

The team leader of YES emphasized that they are leading the quest for a safer ocean, greener planet and cleaner air utilizing a youth-led sustainable movement through their sweat, blood, and tears. 

More dedicated, determined and committed environmental enthusiasts are regularly joining the safe ocean campaign.

“Over the coming months and years, we will redouble our grassroots efforts to nurture more young ocean champions and emerging environmentalists, initiate anti-plastic bag campaigns, intensify our coastal clean-up initiatives, multiply our coastal tree planting program, and increase our environmental advocacy and outreach activities” the founder & executive director of YES reaffirmed.

The young Ocean Champion has conveyed his deepest gratitude to Lilieth Whyte, Economic Officer of the U.S. Embassy Monrovia for recommending him to participate in the 2016 Our Ocean conference. 

“I will forever remain grateful and delightful to her leadership and farsightedness in recognizing our grassroots efforts” Lavalah stated.

Background of Our Ocean Conference

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry launched the first Our Ocean conference in 2014, gathering a community of bold thinkers and actors to find solutions to the threats facing our ocean.  In 2015, Chile hosted the second conference, spurring more action to protect and save this precious resource. 

Together, these Our Ocean conferences have produced partnerships and initiatives valued at over $4 billion, as well as commitments to protect almost 6 million square kilometers of the ocean – an area almost twice the size of India. 

The 2016 Our Ocean conference in Washington, D.C., continues the momentum, celebrating the great progress made on previous commitments and catalyzing even more ambitious actions to protect our ocean. More than 100 new initiatives and contributions have already begun.

Participants in third Our Ocean conference, held September 15 – 16 in Washington, D.C., announced over 136 new initiatives on marine conservation and protection valued at more than US$5.24 billion, as well as new commitments on the protection of almost four million square kilometers (over 1.5 million square miles) of the ocean.

In the words of U.S. Secretary of State of the United States of America: “With every positive step that we take, with the marine protected areas that we create, with the networks that we create and the safeguards that we enforce to protect against illegal fishing, with the cooperation we pursue to combat climate change and to deepen scientific research – with each of these steps, we are restoring and preserving the health of the ocean.”

Ask a typical Liberian anywhere in the world to describe Liberia and it is no surprise to hear damaging, defaming, demeaning, disdainful and slanderous depictions of the country in which Africa’s liberation, redemption and emancipation first began.

From the ruling establishment, to the politicians, to the religious leaders, to the journalists, to the economists, to the educationalists, to the agriculturalists, to the environmentalists, and the entire populace perpetually criticize the country with no hope for a prosperous future. 

In homes, offices, university campuses, transportation facilities, and across street corners, where group of people from the intelligentsia meet to flex intellectual muscles, the discourse is mostly centered on all sorts of badmouthing and castigating utterances with pessimistic outlook about Liberia’s future. 

Moreover, radio and television talk shows hosts as well as regular callers portray doomed images that recovery from the fourteen years of intermittent and devastating civil conflict is far from reality.   Even the leading stories in the print media all too often paint gloomy pictures that the country is retrogressing rather than gradually progressing. 

It seems most Liberians are very fascinated about disparaging portraits of the country.  Some Liberians prefer print and electronic media that denigrate the country in almost every edition.  While other consistently and persistently visit small intellectual centers to malign everything about their own country mostly in the presence of foreigners without regard to the fundamental adverse impact.

Too often a considerable number of Liberians have the tendency to brand their country as “good for nothing, backward, corrupt, impoverished, dirty, worthless, among others awful vitriol”.  For most, the country can be equated to a den of hell with iniquity at its highest peak.  Some even cast a spell that Liberia will never go anywhere and nothing good will come from the country. 

Of course, in a democratic, heterogeneous, and multicultural society like ours, people will always have opposing views and diverse opinions on many issues arising, be it local or national or international.

Therefore, no one expect Liberians to turn a blind eyes on the extreme hardship, abject poverty, appalling education system, dreadful healthcare, frightful unemployment, unacceptable inequality and unbearable cost of living coupled with lack of safe drinking water, electricity, nutrition, and unending corruption in every sphere of the country.

Liberians would not fold their hands, silent their voices and shut their pens in the midst of the closure of radio stations for exposing and unearthing corruption and other dirty deeds of the government. 

The people of Liberia cannot sit back and relax when members of the Honorable House of Representatives formulate two blocks while other stay away from work and being paid by high earned taxpayers’ resources.  It is very obvious that the people of this glorious land of liberty continue to standup to defend, protect and uphold the Organic Law and other fundamental rules.

In fact, it is expressed in the language of the 1986 Constitution of this great Republic that: “All power is inherent in the people.  All free governments are instituted by their authority and for their benefit and they have the right to alter and reform the same when their safety and happiness so require. 

In order to ensure democratic government which responds to the wishes of the governed, the people shall have the right at such period, and in such manner as provided for under this Constitution, to cause their public servants to leave office and to fill vacancies by regular elections and appointments”. 

From this constitutional provision, one can easily surmise that in a democratic society like ours, political power is ultimately inherent in the people and not under the jurisdiction of affluent individuals, the political elites, and members of the ruling establishment.

However, our consistent, persistent, insistent vilification of our country have led us to where we are today.  In the words of René Descartes, a French philosopher, mathematician and scientist dubbed as the father of modern Western philosophy, “Cogito ergo sum” a Latin philosophical proposition meaning “I think, therefore I am”.

 We as Liberians must begin to perceive our country from optimistic viewpoints not permissive stances.  We must begin to work toward a free, just, and equal society, where every man, woman and child can achieve their full potential and measure of happiness through their own imagination, creativity, culture, and national proud. 

The way we think of our country, is the way it would be.  But, if we concentrate on the opportunities instead of only the dangers in the midst of overwhelming challenges, it would be difficult to develop and improve as a country. 

It is not to illusively believe that everything is fine or live in a world of fantasy or just being hopeless without any action.  This is about mustering the courage and braveness to carry forward the dream of our founding fathers and ensure it is turned into reality for the common good of all not just for a few privileged individuals. 

We have to appreciate our country, believe in ourselves, love our fellow countrymen and countrywomen, be proud of our identity, accept our culture and tradition, and have faith in our country, and refuse to fail our country no matter what circumstances we are experiencing and challenges that lie ahead.  Let the quest to develop and better our country be greater than our individual ambition or greed for power or desire for wealth. 

On the other hand, there are those who believe that patriotism would not exist or become practical when civil servant who keep the wheel of government turning cannot get the justifiable pay on time. When diligent and gallant men and women in uniform do not obtain their manageable salary and accompany benefits on time.

  When prices of everything on the market skyrocket and profit margin becomes extremely low due to high import taxes.  When education is being branded as a “mess” and healthcare has failed too many.  And, when thousands go to bed hungry without any hope to get meal the next day. 

Obviously, these are undisputable and unarguable facts.  For the most part, what is even more disheartening and disappointing is the government unwillingness to listen and hear the cry of her citizens.  Frustratingly, the people are still hopeful in the government, and they are expressing their displeasure every now and then in various forms and manners.  Howbeit, the people must take appropriate actions and initiatives to help themselves out of poverty first instead of relying and waiting on the government for everything. 

Let us make no mistake; no country in the world is perfect and capable of providing all of the assistance its citizens need, not even the world’s most powerful and wealthiest countries.  They too have their own problems just as we continue to come face-to-face with human struggling and extreme poverty every day.  Although, ours is a little bit complex due to structural and governmental and political issues. 

Notwithstanding, in every developed countries now, it is the people who have worked hard to change their respective countries from poverty to prosperity.  In the wisdom of Presidents Barrack Obama: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time.  We are the one we’ve been waiting for.  We are the change that we seek”.

We must change the way we do things from reliance, dependency syndrome, handout and begging mentality, and begin to work very hard with our hands and innovate with our minds.  It is our time to do away with the usual tussle and hustle for political jobs and employment in the public sector and fighting over the small jobs in the private sector which in most cases are short-term, because of the massive lay off strategy. 

We need to become the maker of our own things, author of our own history, and creator of our own destiny.  We cannot just be end users and final consumers of various commodities most especially our stable food. 

Take a moment and ask: Why farmers in India, Pakistan, Japan, China, and other populated countries should produce abundant food to feed themselves, then supply us with rice amidst our rich soil and climatic condition rated favorable to agriculture?  One can only ponder for possible answers.  We must begin to engage into mechanized farming of rice and other edible corps. 

The government and the people themselves must provide the enabling environment and opportunity, where the people can be mobilized and motivated to become agriculturalists with different specializations and conviction of competing with and exceeding other nations in term of food production.  This is our time to reorganize, rethink, reinvigorate and reclaim our future to become one full of opportunities and successes.

The change we seek would not come on a silver platter or within a relatively short span of time or extreme dependence on aid or blame shaping mentality, but rather it must come from ourselves as people united in a the truest sense of patriotism, discipline, and hard work.  

As Nelson Mandela rightly put it: “There is no easy walk to Freedom”.  The road maybe rocky or muddy or rickety, however we should never lost focus and give up along the way.   We should continue our journey to prosperity, lifting each other up, helping each other out and standing up for each other.

We must now begin to demonstrate a special affection for our country, nurturing a sense of personal identification and learning to seek the well-being of our country as well as adopting the spirit of willingness to sacrifice for the good of the country.  We have got to envision a “New Liberia” that is greater than our religion confessed, our dialect spoken, our county of origin, our place of birth or the sound of our last name. 

Patriotism should and must not be only the usual flamboyant utterances and cosmetic fanfares.  It must contain a great meaning with a deep sense of loyalty, peace, love and the eagerness to make Liberia the best nation on earth.  It is not an exaggeration or an illusion; this is definitely achievable if we begin to start thinking clearly for the common good of all.

The young people should be taught and willing to volunteer and give back to their communities and country.  Patriotic young Liberians should be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to join the Armed Forces of Liberia, the Liberia National Police, the National Fire Service, the Bureau of Immigration & Naturalization, and the Executive Protective Service along with other state security apparatus. 

The children and even those outside the family of the gallant men and women protecting our borders and defending our statehood should appreciate that it is more honorable to be a soldier, respectable to be a police officer, and admirable to serve the country.  

The government must play a pivotal role in providing appropriate accommodation, logistics and better incentive to commensurate with the prevailing economic situation.  We the people must organize innovative initiatives to assist our valiant and astute state security personnel. 

The lip service render to our men and women in uniform has got to immediately stop.  Moreover, civil servants who keep the wheels of our government turning must be treated with dignity and respect.  The threats, intimidation, and humiliation from Presidentsial appointees, elected officials and well-connected supervisors must come to an immediate end.

The tendency of blame shaping for Liberia’s misfortune must be eradicated and a rebirth of a new paradigm shift introduced.  It is about time that Liberians begin to avoid the propensity of eulogizing individuals whose actions and supports contributed to the prolonged civil war as well as those who embezzle the nation’s much needed revenue. 

The era of praise singing for people that steal public resources, commit atrocities and make use of unlawful wealth to swindle the common people under the disguise of being self-proclaimed humanitarians is over. 

Liberia has got to change and cannot continue to trend on the same path of hailing former warlords, belligerent citizens and corrupt officials just because of pseudo developmental initiatives or somewhat benevolent assistance.  After all, if the nation’s resources were equitably distributed for the common good of all, no one would actually strive to entreat the few that are wealthy.

Liberians have got to embrace an attitude of strategic thinking and do away with perpetually criticizing everything without any alternatives, badmouthing campaign for little or nothing and singing everlasting praises to the powers that be.  While Liberians are quite busy with all sorts of trivial issues, the foreigners are making use of every single opportunity to enrich themselves at the detriment of the already poverty-stricken Liberians.  T

he foreigners see the opportunities in the midst of crisis and Liberians only envision the dangers.  Throughout the country, legal and illegal immigrants are in all sectors especially dominating the private sector. 

The economic power of our country is now in the hands of the Chinese, Indians, Lebanese, Pakistanis, Syrians, Nigerians, Ghanaians, Guineans and Malians among other nationals.  Since our organic law prohibits foreigners who are not Negro from being citizens and owning land, these foreigners have swiftly learned to acquire real estate property through long-term lease agreements or marriage or allow other Liberians to front for them. 

From the largest commercial district of Red-light Market, to the budding Tubman Boulevard, and in the heart of our nation’s capital, new buildings are being constructed by these foreigners while we sit and wait for the next election to obtain political power and engage into negativism against our own country  under the canopy of flexing intellectual muscles. 

Of course, there is nothing wrong with foreigners doing business in Liberia, but Liberians need to get involve in business and entrepreneurship in order to create more jobs and compete with the foreigners.  If we are not careful and continue to trend on the path as usual, in the next ten to twenty years, our political power too will be in the hands of foreigners, because one who has economic power in any country controls the politics and determines who becomes what in the government and even influence laws, policies and regulations. 

So, we need to work overtime to catch-up and even surpass the foreigners in every aspect of business.  We need to exhibit a high degree of trustworthiness and believe in ourselves.  It is up to us to change our mentality and adopt a new approach to foster economic growth and venture into different businesses in order to change the future of Liberia.

We will also need to fix the problem in the education system and turn it from mess to best not just in words, but through a revolutionary and aggressive overhaul of the system and it should not be about perpetual criticism or blame shaping or continuous excuses.

Now is the time to ensure accessible, affordable, effective, efficient, and state-of-the-art education for all irrespective of creed, status, gender, and affiliation.  With education for all, young minds will be developed to build new roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals across the country.  Education for all will ensure the construction of factories to produce goods with the inscription “Made in Liberia”; on top of that basic infrastructural facilities to better the standards of living and improve clean energy and provide safe drinking water. 

Furthermore, education for all will fill the knowledge gap through the development of human resource capacity of young people thereby yielding more medical practitioners, engineers, business tycoons, entrepreneurs, lawyers, social workers, educationalists, scientists, and other specialists to tackle the difficulties now and future challenges that lie ahead.  Investment in the development of human resource capacity within the public sector will decrease government’s expenditure on consultancy and provide employment opportunities that boost the economy.

The time has come for every Liberian to set their sight higher and begin to think about solving our problems and not just talking about them.  It is time for us to begin to teach every man, woman and child about the importance of patriotism.  It is time for us to put aside petty jealousy, partisanship, corruption, greed for power and quest for wealth and change the future of our country.  And, it is time for us to take collective, decisive, and proactive actions to swing the pendulum of Liberia from criticism to patriotism.  Together, we can fulfill the dream of creating a glorious land of liberty under God’s command and a more prosperous future.

About The Author: 

 Stephen B. Lavalah is an advocate and the Founder & Executive Director of Youth Exploring Solutions (YES), a passionate, non-profit and voluntary grassroots youth-led development organization. For more information about YES work in Liberia, please visit website. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not represent YES.

More than ever before in the history of Liberia, many inhabited coastal communities are being plunged or on the verge of being submerged beneath the vast Atlantic Ocean.  From Cape Mount to Cape Palmas, coastal erosion continues to wipe out the shorelines. 

Experts have argued that consistent and persistent occurrence of coastal erosion along Liberia’s coastline could either result from unregulated sand mining or global climate change leading to rising sea levels compounded with abrasive currents, high energy wave patterns and storm surges combine to create serious levels of coastal erosion.

While experts argued distinguishing facts from fictions, hundreds of people are becoming displaced on a regular basis, most of whom are already poverty-stricken.  Strong storms in most part of the country are destroying the homes occupied by thousands of people, who continue to taste the bitter swill of poverty and human suffering.  

It is not only the people that are affected, but their homes and other basic infrastructural facilities that provide the much needed social services get swallowed leaving thousands homeless without food, water, clothing let alone access to affordable healthcare and education.

Think of the famous D. Tweh High School, the only public high school in one of Liberia’s largest shantytowns is on the threshold of being swept away with wreckage shatter underwater.  Contemplate on the picturesque Atlantic Street in the Port City of Buchanan that is being washed away and efforts are underway to somewhat cease the debris from falling for a very short span of time with huge rocks being stockpiled for coastal defense.  

Consider the populous West Point community in the heart of our nation’s capital that is being squeezed with countless number of homes submerged underwater or at the point of being wiped out in the not too distance future.  Every now and then, coastal erosion is taking away homes and hard-earned meager resources of our compatriots while we sit and shape blames or badmouth authority or give illusive hope or share pseudo relief items to gain political favor.

However, the growing wave of coastal erosion in recent time calls for decisive, appropriate and long-term action from broader and bigger perspectives involving holistic and realistic approaches that take into consideration practical solutions from experts, investment in long-standing research and grassroots actions on the part of every citizen.  

Notwithstanding, these are not just the solutions to the worsening coastal erosion problem along Liberia’s shoreline, but the changes in the attitude, behavior and mindset of the people who are directly affected by this devastating erosion on the coastline.  Most importantly, there must be the people will, institutional will, international will and political will to finding amicable remedies to the worrisome encroaching sea.

Every so often, scores of coastal dwellers choose to engage into illegal beach sand mining under the canopy of earning daily meal.  There is always demand for beach sand as people engage into construction of their homes and businesses without consideration the environmental issues and the merciless coastal erosion.  

The huge demand for beach sand even with the prohibition, people prefer to go the extra mile eager to collect sand.  Due to the limited house spots in most clustered coastal communities, some inhabitants choose to build their homes within the proximity of the ocean or near the very place coastal sand mining had been carried out.

The exponential increase of coastal sand mining and construction of misshaped structures severely damaged all or nearly all native vegetations that usually served as natural barrier to the destructive coastal erosion that seems to be unstoppable.    

Sadly, most coastal dwellers already busy with food, shelter and clothing as well as healthcare and school fees; have little or knowledge about effects of their accumulated activities on the coastal erosion problem they are encountering.  Coastal residents need to accept the fact that their very actions and activities along the shoreline are causing the increased coastal erosion.  

They ought to dust their off, wakeup, shakeup and standup to begin the work of minimizing or stopping the disastrous coastal erosion with their own creativity, responsibility and ingenuity.  Coastal dwellers can put an end to sand mining at this very moment, because every problem can be solved through the willingness of the people.  This is a truism that most shorelines lacking all human habitation do not experience coastal erosion as compare to inhabited areas since it is firmly secured with natural barriers.

Therefore, coastal inhabitants must begin to plant native vegetations, create buffer zone and cease the cutting of mangroves.  They should and must call their government to begin taking practical steps in addressing coastal erosion as well as solicit the help of international partners and other stakeholders.  

They should and must tell powerful and rich nations to begin stop the massive pollution so as to stop the Earth from getting warmer leading to rising sea levels.  They should and must uphold and adhere to the laws and other regulations set forth in order to protect and preserve the environment for themselves and generation yet unborn.  All of this is possible when people to decide to work together with one common purpose for good of all.

Besides, regulatory institutions charged with the responsibility to safeguard Liberia’s coastline ought to galvanize all of the necessary resources and logistics in order to effectively and efficiently monitor and effectuate the rules and regulations governing beach sand mining and construction of housing units along the shoreline.  These regulatory bodies should create massive publicity and outreach initiatives including organizing community based town hall styled meetings coupled with focused group discussions to explain laws as well as penalty associated with its violation.  

Projects implemented through these statutory institutions established under the law of Liberia should involve local coastal inhabitants in order to provide jobs and avert beach sand mining.

Additionally, there should be regulatory framework that takes into consideration early warning, evacuation plan and disaster management support for coastal residents.  It is also advisable for regulatory body to institute working group on coastal erosion so as to better coordinate and avoid unnecessary government bureaucracy.

On the other hand, the international community must play a pivotal role in protecting coastal areas against erosion and climate change.  Rich and powerful nations should muster the courage in implementing the historic Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Some countries with relatively plenty resources have got to limit investment in fossil fuel, coal and nuclear power as cheaper sources of energy and divert to clean and renewable energy.  

No matter how much financial aid being provided to combat the glaring and galloping effects of climate change, developed countries should not be blindfolded as the sea swallows coastal communities and erodes shorelines.  

The task is upon the world’s most influential nations to prevent the glaciers from melting at a faster pace than estimated with stronger committed not just through lengthy speeches and countless conferences, but rather practical actions to reduce carbon emissions and sharing the much needed technological know-how to minimize the threat of coastal erosion dislodging people and possibly added to refugee crisis the world is currently experiencing.

The world’s major emitters must rethink about the future of thousands of communities on the verge of being submerged underwater and millions of people that are going to be displaced without hope for a better future.  We the people of this world cannot continue to ruin our planet in pursue of economy power.  

We are all living under “one sky”, and what sets us apart are vast oceans and imaginary border lines and all too often what distinguishes us is the color of our skin.  Nevertheless, no matter where one lives or religion confessed or language spoken or perceived social status; know that climate change will affect all of us and it is just a matter of time.  Hence, we the people of this world, rich or poor, powerful or powerless, environmental activist or social advocate; ought to do everything in our power within our lifetime to save our planet and put an end to coastal erosion.

All the more so, political will is very paramount in ensuring our leaders take appropriate actions to safeguard eroding shoreline and massive coastal erosion displacement of people.  It is time to make our leaders walk the talk and uphold their promise to combat climate change and stop the coastal erosion.  In Liberia, our Government has sign up to many international treaties, protocols and agreements as well as approval numerous legislations, regulations, policies and laws to guide against climate change, howbeit, most of these brilliant documents are yet to be turned into practical actions.

 The Liberian Government must begin the work of ensuring the popularization and implementation of all climate change related documents through consulted and coordinated efforts involving every state actors.  The time for blame shaping game is over.  Our Government must keep its promises avoid speedily contrived solutions, but instead work towards long-lasting initiatives that will make our coastline becomes safer, healthier and cleaner.  

Our Government must no longer wait until hundreds of homes in West Points vanish or D. Twe disappears or Atlantic Street debris falls beneath the Ocean floor or another disastrous coastal erosion to occur before taking actions and calling for help.  Our Government must incorporate the science of climate change in the national curriculum so as to engage and educate the present generation of young Liberians to learn about the effects of the climate crisis and develop possible solutions to solve one of the greatest crises in human history.  When young people are involved in putting an end to eroding shorelines and the fight against climate change with their energy, enthusiasm and innovation, there are endless possibilities.

Already many voluntary grassroots organizations like Youth Exploring Solutions are leading the quest for a greener future to save our Earth.  Through our sweat, blood and tears, more dedicated, determined and committed environmental enthusiasts have joined the implementation a very ambition plan to building sustainable Liberia and create an ecosystem of innovation in the areas of Energy, Water, Food, Waste and Ecology utilizing a youth-led sustainability movement.  

Furthermore, we are informing, involving and inspiring young people to take practical grassroots actions to safeguard our one Earth whether it is community town hall engagement for coastal dwellers or nurturing emerging environmentalists or anti-plastic bag campaign or coastal cleanup initiatives or planting trees or environmental advocacy and outreach activities, we playing our part with tremendous support from U.S. Embassy Monrovia to help make our planet greener, our water safer and our air cleaner. However, our incredible grassroots efforts are just a drop in the ocean, because no one organization or country on the face of this Earth can put an end to the climate crisis.

Now, it is the time to get everyone involved in solving the climate crisis. We need not to retreat from a battle affecting us and will definitely have substantial impact on our children, grand children and generation yet unborn.  We have got tackled climate change head-on through collective efforts to make our planet habitable, our water drinkable, our air breathable, our food consumable, our energy cleanable and our environment livable.

It is on to everyone to set their sight higher from their comfort zones and imaginary border lines and begin the work of solving the climate crisis through our own creativity and collective actions.  It is on us to begin taking every action possible to fight for ourselves, our country and our one world with the artisanal that defeats the climate crisis in our lifetime.  It is on us to rethink the way we utilize energy that is threatening our very existence.  Together, we can tackle climate crisis and save our Earth for ourselves and the next generation and put an end to the eroding Liberia’s shoreline.

About the Author:  
Mr.  Stephen B. Lavalah is an advocate and the Founder & Executive Director of Youth Exploring Solutions (YES), a passionate, non-profit and voluntary grassroots youth-led development organization. For more information about YES work in Liberia, please visit YES.  The views expressed are the author’s own and do not represent YES.