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"MADE IN AFRICA - FOR AFRICA" FDA NEWSLETTER
MASS MAIL
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The AFRICA TRADE CENTRE AND THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA proudly presents you with the following information that may add value to Africa's development.
Within the framework of the Triple Bottom Line (Economics - Social - Environment) the management of air quality, by minimizing pollution and harmful emissions, seems to be lacking in contributing toward the Millennium Development Goals.
Ozone depletion, due to air pollution, is a direct threat to human health.
Air Pollution is one of the most challenging problems that is widespread and growing in importance and has clear and known impacts on health and the environment. The human need for transport, manufactured goods and services brings with it impacts on the atmospheric environment.
The rate of development of the global economy brings new pressures and the willingness of governments to regulate air pollution is often balanced by concerns over the economic impact of such regulation. Science is the key to identifying the nature and scale of air pollution impacts and is essential in the formulation of policies for regulatory decision-making.
Continuous improvements in our knowledge of the fundamental science of air pollution and its application are necessary if we are to predict properly, assess and mitigate the air pollution implications of changes to the interlinked local, regional, national and international economic systems.
I will be chairing a conference on the Management of Air Quality - Minimizing Pollution and Harmful Emissions to be held here in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, on 2 and 3 September 2009 at the Sandton Convention Centre.
The Conference will highlight the following topics:
Speakers include:
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
For more events taking place see:
Nepad and AfDB are promoting investigations an All Africa dimension under the banner of PIDA = Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa starting in September 2009 to be completed by 2030.
The PIDA emphasis is on Transport, Energy , Water and ICT but we consider that in our experience in all areas of Africa, Europe and the Middle East in developing major Infrastructure Projects is that a much wider scope has to be considered involving all relevant structures in a Multi Disciplinary, Multi Sector and Multi Modal integrated approach to the Development of sustainable infrastructures.
The facilities recommended have to be appropriate, achievable, acceptable, accountable, transparent, efficient, reliable, bankable and value for money.
Each individual Nation has to prepare their own National Infrastructure Plan which has to conform to the overall criteria for Regional and Pan African dimensions dictated by PIDA..
We have commented that Zambia cannot wait until PIDA conclusions in 2030 after spending millions of scarce Donor Money on delegate appearances at endless meetings, discussions, conferences, studies upon studies and no decisions to introduce reforms and develop new Infrastructure facilities especially with the current expansion of Industrial and Mining Activities now being prospected and promoted in the more remote Western and North Western Provinces and throughout Zambia generally which have been starved of new development and maintenance of Infrastructures in the past by successive Governments .
RESOURCES
Sky Scrapers have been developed in Lusaka while the majority of the escalating population live in Shanty Towns or in inferior accommodation in the bush and rely on kerosene, candles, and charcoal and the indiscriminate cut out of Virgin forests for charcoal without any attempt at reforestation only leads to lowering of water tables, yields and increase in desertification, hunger, mal nutrition, poverty, disease and death.
The medical effects of the pollution from the fumes from Charcoal in confined domestic buildings must be a contributing factor to ill health.
TRANSPORTATION
We have to seek alternative Funding arrangements for new Infrastructures including Transport and other sectors for development in Zambia.
We have identified 12 more practical International Routes converging in Zambia and serving the immediate neighbours of Botswana and the Congo and it will be necessary to carry out further investigations into the compatibility of these alternative routes with local conditions and will benefit the specific area .
An arterial spinal South to North International Trunk Trade Corridor with a series of transverse West to East Corridors will provide better access for South African produce to be transported more efficiently, faster , safer and secure in more direct routes from Southern African Ports through Botswana, Zambia and the Congo to Central Africa and even further North and complete Rhodes's unfinished dream of Cape to Cairo but modified from Eastern Cape to Mid Med in a possible integrated Master Plan we have identified.
Atlantic to Indian Ocean, Port to Port, Capital City and Priincial Town to Capital City and Provincial can provide essential Freight and passenger services using more environmentally forms of transport and reduce the inevitable congestion and chaos which will soon stagnate Trade, Transport, Transit, Traffic, Travel and Tourism in Zambia
More importantly it will ensure the main products from Zambia and Neighbouring States can be exported through Southern African Ports at competitive rates to External Markets with reciprocal imports of essential plant, equipment, machinery and materials to process the many minerals available.
ENERGY
We have identified several major and minor Hydro Electric Projects which can be introduced with provision of multi advantages for all Sectors with benefits throughout Southern Africa.
The current Hydro generation capacity in Zambia is 1700 MW which could easily be 6,000 MWe.
Vast quantities of conventional Coal , Peat and Biomass can be converted into Thermal Energy and Electricity using modern Environmentally friendly Technologies and we Can arrange for Technology Transfers.
WATER
Our proposition is to erect a series of Dams across the major rivers for multi purpose applications and reduce the effects of alternating droughts and floods which will be accentuated under Global Warming.
ICT
BIOTECHNOLOGIES
The mitigation of the harmful effects of Climatic Change and Global warming has to be given priority and the reduction of Greenhouse gases to comply with International targets such as Kyoto has to be achieved.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
The recovery, recycling and reuse of the waste materials arising from agricultural,. Forestry, Mining, Municipal Commercial and Industrial activities will reduce the atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic pollutions arising from manufacturing and power generation Enterprises and reduce the costs of eliminating Environmental damage
We contend that Waste Management is a sector that has been overlooked by the PIDA and waste should be coonsidered as a valuable resource and a source of Energy.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
We note your concerns about Air Pollution and we are interested in the promotion of Cleaner Greener Power in all Energy spheres.
ECONOMY
Favourable investment environments have to be created to convince Private Investors that Africa is a safe place and Governments have to provide Incentives with facilitating access to International Funding and create confidence with Guarantees of repayment
The achievement of the reduction of poverty and increasing Economic growth is within the grasp of All Africa.
Good luck at your conference on 2nd and 3 rd September
Frank FERGUSON
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