KENYA: Greenpeace delivers solar panels to the step-grandmother of U.S. President Barack Obama

Record ID: 362186

  • Title: KENYA: Greenpeace delivers solar panels to the step-grandmother of U.S. President Barack Obama
  • Date: 20th August 2009
  • Summary: KOGELO, NYANZA PROVINCE, KENYA (AUGUST 19, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ELECTRICITY CABLES OUTSIDE SARAH OBAMA'S HOUSE
  • Embargoed: 4th September 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Nature / Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVA97L9KVIM44LDUOH127W54V29A
  • Story Text: Young people taking part in a renewable energy workshop in Kenya installed solar panels on Wednesday (August 19) on the roof of U.S. President Barack Obama's step-grandmother, Sarah Obama's home.
    The workshop is being conducted by Greenpeace's Solar Generation programme, which promote the use of clean energy among the world's youth. Some of the workshop's participants are from the Kibera Youth Programme, which has been helping young residents of Africa's largest slum develop solar-powered solutions for their energy needs.
    Greenpeace is using activities like this to pressure leaders, into giving about 140 million U.S. dollars per year towards protecting the environment in the developing world.
    U.S. President Barack Obama and other world leaders will be meeting in Copenhagen in December to discuss climate change.
    "Politicians talk and leaders act. Youth around the world are actually leading climate action, we are pressuring and challenging President Barack Obama and other heads of state to have an agreement by the Climate Summit in Copenhagen that would not compromise the future generation and that would protect the environment," said Abigail Habinas, the co-ordinator of the Greenpeace Solar Generation workshop.
    Most of Kenya's power is generated by hydroelectric dams but drought has depleted water levels and led to power cuts.
    The country is now planning to ramp up production of environmentally-friendly energy by adding electricity from geothermal, wind and clean coal sources.
    "There is not enough support by governments and the industry to push this to communities and to institutions such as schools. Most of the time energy comes from coal and dirty fossil fuel power stations which actually causes climate change. We want in this initiative, to show that renewable energy is clean, its cheaper and in the long run a much better choice for the future generations. We want president Obama and other world leaders to show that they are supporting renewable energy as well," Habinas added.
    Sarah Obama has fully endorsed Greenpeace's efforts to move Kenyans and other Africans over to solar power.
    "The benefit that I have seen is that I do not have to buy kerosene. When night falls, I switch on the lights powered by solar energy. Light is the most important thing for which I require energy at night. I do not have to use a torch but just switch on the light when I am looking for something whether it is day or night. I do not have to buy any kerosene for my lighting. I really love solar energy because of that," she said.
    Environmental campaigners like Greenpeace also point to the various employment opportunities that clean energy can provide as an incentive. Kenyan youth are being trained to produce solar-powered lamps and chargers that can power mobile phones and batteries.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register