A group of Ugandans on Twitter has taken to the timeline to blast, troll and ridicule self-styled climate activist Vanessa Nakate over a handwritten letter she posted, calling for the attention of US President elect Joe Biden and his Vice Kamala Harris.
In the letter written with pen and paper, Nakate calls upon the elect leaders of the United States of America to do everything they can to fight climate change, saying it’s affecting women and children in Uganda.
“I am a climate activist from Uganda who is worried about the present and the future. Are you going to do everything you must to fight the climate crisis?” an excerpt from her letter reads.
“Climate change is affecting many people’s livelihoods in my country especially children, girls and women. Are you on our side?” she further posed a question in the letter.
The letter was received with mixed reactions from Ugandans and non-Ugandans with the former blasting Nakate while a bigger percentage of the latter praised her for a bold move.
Use of Pen and Paper.
The first reaction was about her choice to write on a piece of paper instead of making a Twitter thread or something environmentally friendly.
“To save the environment huh!, still writing on paper!” wondered a one Stuart Mubiru.
Production of paper involves a broad range of natural resource and environmental impacts because fiber supply relies on trees.
Paper manufacturing further requires fuel inputs, and paper waste disposal can contribute to emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane.
In most of the reactions, responders described her move as attention seeking as opposed to activism.
“While climate change is a fundamental issue, activism alone won’t save us. Objectivity demands that we avoid whipping emotions and appearing as though we are out to attention seek. And yes charity begins at home. Look inwards. Take the authorities at home to task. Keep up,” wrote Bundi Okemwa.
Other problems Uganda is Faced with.
Whereas climate change is an issue affecting everyone in the world, Ugandans were bitter about the fact that many activists have ignored bigger domestic problems and concentrated on selling global topics.
Some of the sampled responses advised Vanessa to ask the US President elect to also come in and give a hand in the fight against some issues like autocracy, Police brutality, persecution of the Political opposition among others.
“I see nothing here just seeking relevance just…Crossed fingers. You should have asked Mr. Joe Biden to help us get rid of these military juntas in Uganda. In fact, Uganda’s climate is not that bad Crossed fingers,” said a one UgaQueen [alias]
“So climate change is better than human life? Or police brutality in Uganda doesn’t concern you? How many trees did u plant last month? Clown face Clown face Clown face Clown face Clown,” a one M Kyewalabye submitted.
Tackling the problem from Home first.
On the matter of tackling the climate change issue domestically first, some responders blasted the 23-year-old for wanting to “jump ladders” instead of first seeking the attention of domestic leaders.
“Some time, it’s better to first seek the attention of the leadership closest to you. It’s like asking a stranger to buy you bread yet your father has the capacity to,” said a one Gaza laughs [alias]
Uganda is in a period of Presidential campaigns where eleven candidates including three army Generals are seeking to unseat President Museveni who has led the country for over three decades.
The Tower Post can confirm that Nakate has not taken any initiative to raise the issue to the candidates who are already on their campaign trails.
Disregard of the boy child.
In her letter, Ms. Nakate asserts that “Climate change is affecting many people’s livelihoods in my country especially children, girls and women”, a statement that wasn’t received well.
Many responders have bashed her for ignoring boys and men who live in the same environment as the women.
“I never knew climate change has a gender preference,” wondered a one CocoKeylis [alias]
“Not to be that guy, I just need to know, exactly how does climate change affect especially children, girls and women? How doesn’t it affect the men and boys as much?” a Paul David Tumusiime asked.
But despite the negativity she is getting, Ms. Nakate seems unshaken and going forward with her activism.
“I have become a laughing stock in my own country for writing a letter to Kamala Harris and Joe Biden about demanding for an equitable and sustainable future for all of us- AND I AM LOVING IT!!! Keep the trolls coming,” she said.
The youthful Nakate is also enjoying praises from many other responders who are calling her a climate hero for the bravery and action taken.
Who is Vanessa Nakate?
Vanessa Nakate became very popular in Uganda after the Associated Press cropped her out of a picture where she was appearing with Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg together with other peers of hers.
In the Picture, she was the only black lady and was cropped out, leaving only white ladies which raised dust on the internet forcing the Associated Press to issue an apology.
But before that, Ms. Nakate had already started her crusade as a lone protestor calling for conservation of the environment for over one year.
