We will go through all the stages of resistance
Nairobi, Kenya
We will go through all the stages of resistance
Nairobi, Kenya
The campaign centers on addressing and combating the significant and detrimental impact of climate change in result because of Energy Autocracy
Total’s extraction and profit-driven motives contribute to the worsening global climate crisis. Africa, despite contributing the least to global emissions, is disproportionately affected, experiencing droughts, floods, and shifting weather patterns, thereby threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions. Total’s developments seek to generate profit above all else- while shareholders celebrate their dividends and pay-outs, communities tend to shoulder all the risk, experiencing the harshest impacts of climate change and environmental degradation, while getting nothing by way of benefit.
Beyond direct harm to communities and individuals, Total's projects contribute to environmental degradation. Ecosystems are destroyed, waters are polluted, and vast areas are rendered uninhabitable or unsuitable for agriculture. The degradation of natural spaces, including sensitive ecosystems and important sites of biodiversity poses additional threats to livelihoods as existing industries such as tourism stand to be unravelled while subsistence modes of production become unviable.
Total's projects have been linked to community displacements, often underpinned by unfair and inadequate rates of compensation, leaving individuals without homes, land, or livelihoods. As communities rise to defend their rights, they face violence and intimidation, with activists, environmental and land defenders being particularly targeted.
We need to catalyze process that seeks to repair the harm caused by TotalEnergies to both the environment and affected communities. It goes beyond mere compensation or punitive measures and aims to address the root causes and broader impacts of environmental degradation and social injustices. fossil fuel companies must acknowledge their role in causing environmental damage and social injustices. This includes admitting to their impact on climate change, ecological degradation, community displacement, and health issues.
Total's operations stand in stark contrast to what true development for Africa should look like. Genuine growth should embrace renewable energy sources, respect and uplift traditional lifestyles and cultural nuances, and should- above all else- be measured alongside the realization of substantive freedoms such as education, healthcare, employment, nutrition, and housing. Total’s proponents tout false promises that their operations will bring jobs and growth while in reality, the damage done forces many into increasingly precarious conditions. Communities are forced to abandon effective and longstanding modes of production as environmental harm and dispossession renders these lifestyles unfeasible while those who do get employment are grossly exploited and are generally employed for incredibly short periods of time. In this, they are effectively pushed into modern-day wage slavery- earning only enough to reproduce their labour for the next day while working to service the profit margins of Total.
Direct appropriation of energy resources for uses other than those benefiting the citizens, communities or countries that rightfully own and should benefit from the resources.
Misuse, waste and loss of useable energy resources that could otherwise have been applied to socially or economically useful purposes.
A system of segregation or discrimination in which energy systems are built, owned, and operated to benefit a small elite group in society, in a way that systematically denies energy access to large segments of the population, particularly to poor and rural communities.
A system of segregation or discrimination in which energy systems are built, owned, and operated to benefit a small elite group in society, in a way that systematically denies energy access to large segments of the population, particularly to poor and rural communities.
Collaboration by economic or political elites, often between developed and developing countries, to dominate energy resources or systems, and extract, appropriate and accumulate rents, wealth and other benefits arising from them.
Africa is first a community before it is a continent. As such, we commit to uphold the spirit of Ubuntu, that I am because we are, and realise that with much in common than what separates us, this campaign will look at the continent as a borderless community that speaks one language (Pan Africanism) and wants one thing (restorative justice)
Africa is first a community before it is a continent. As such, we commit to uphold the spirit of Ubuntu, that I am because we are, and realise that with much in common than what separates us, this campaign will look at the continent as a borderless community that speaks one language (Pan Africanism) and wants one thing (restorative justice)
Africa is first a community before it is a continent. As such, we commit to uphold the spirit of Ubuntu, that I am because we are, and realise that with much in common than what separates us, this campaign will look at the continent as a borderless community that speaks one language (Pan Africanism) and wants one thing (restorative justice)
this campaign will respect and uphold this principle by pursuing and ensuring the consultation and participation of all Africans who support this campaign. We will endeavour to ensure that the campaign is co-owned and everyone’s voice counts.
We remain committed to this principle of cooperation among our respective nations and states. We will be driven by Pan-Africanism and nations out of Africa can join in support of, with Africans leading, and not to speak for the campaign.
This space and campaign recognises that a broad-based alliance, constituted by organisations, individuals and groups from numerous different backgrounds and with a multitude of lived experiences of extraction, needs to be rooted in core overarching values and ideals by which all actions are guided and through which all decisions are made.
Guided by this principle we recognise that our struggle transcends borders on the African continent and is one that deeply impacts and affects all of us. As such, we recognise that all Africans have a legitimate stake in both the campaign as well as its outcomes. We carry the belief that unity among Africans is vital to achieve and realise meaningful gains and further assert the need for this campaign to be spearheaded by African community-based and civil society organisations and campaigners who represent the interests of the most vulnerable and marginalised communities on the continent.
Informed that some of us will be more privileged than others either through having more resources, access to better technology and infrastructure or better connected, we will make all reasonable steps to ensure that each of us has an equal voice within the campaign and steps will be taken to ensure there is no hindrance in anyone to engage and be involved. This will include efforts to provide materials in languages spoken within the continent.
Informed that some of us will be more privileged than others either through having more resources, access to better technology and infrastructure or better connected, we will make all reasonable steps to ensure that each of us has an equal voice within the campaign and steps will be taken to ensure there is no hindrance in anyone to engage and be involved. This will include efforts to provide materials in languages spoken within the continent.
