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The main activities in this event included: community clean-up of the Kigoma urban environment (market places), a parade culminating in speeches by regional authorities, displays of environmental posters, film presentations, environmental messages from school children and traditional groups of musicians, dancers and drummers performing songs with environmental messages. LTBP took the lead role in aiding Kigoma authorities to coordinate these activities.
The importance of Lake Tanganyika in providing: water for domestic use, fish as a primary source of protein, employment, transport, and recreational uses like swimming and leisure were discussed. Threats to Lake Tanganyika, including: contamination by sewage and oil products, cultivation without any soil conservation measures leading to increased siltation and habitat destruction, and unsustainable fishing practices including the use of chemicals and small net sizes, were also the subject of many speeches and discussions.
Culminating a week of activities is different villages, on World Environment Day, 5 June 1999, a procession led by a brass band and followed by scouts, primary school children, Kigoma residents and other invited guests were received by the Regional Commissioner.
Kigoma Town Council and Radio Tanzania Dar es Salaam in Kigoma were commended for being on the fore-front in planting trees and spreading the message about the importance of conserving the environment.
It is hoped that WED will be commemorated every year along the lake shore and that Kigoma Town Council will ensure the sustainability of WED and WED activities.
Bart D. Tarimo is the LTBP Environmental Education Co-ordinator for Tanzania.
** Learn about Burundi's 1999 WED celebrations in our Newsletter |
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