STOP THE PLANS TO DRILL AND FRACK IN OKAVANGO DELTA

STOP THE PLANS TO DRILL AND FRACK IN OKAVANGO DELTA

Started
30 October 2020
Petition to
Michael Möller (Terra Firma Eco) and 2 others
Signatures: 33,861Next Goal: 35,000
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Why this petition matters

Started by Terra Firma Economy

The Okavango Delta is a vast swampy inland river delta formed where the Okavango River reaches a tectonic trough in the central part of the endorheic basin of the Kalahari. The Okavango River starts up in Angola, flows through Namibia and into the Northern area of Botswana, where the Okavango Delta is located. Each year, about 11 cubic kilometres of water spread over the 6,000–15,000 km2. All the water reaching the delta is ultimately evaporated and transpired, so it does not flow into any sea or ocean.

It's known for its sprawling grassy plains, which flood seasonally, becoming a lush animal habitat, where hippos, elephants and crocodiles occupy the water and on dry land, wildlife includes lions, leopards, giraffes and rhinos.

Recently there have been raised concerns from conservationists and community leaders in the spectacular Okavango wilderness region of Namibia and Botswana over oil and gas exploration and potential production that they fear would threaten the water resources of thousands of people and the already endangered wildlife (NG)

A petroleum exploration company headquartered in Canada, ReconAfrica, has licensed more than 13,600 square miles of land in the two countries (Namibia & Botswana). On the company’s website,  they have stated their intention to open “a new, deep sedimentary basin” - basically a new oil and gas field (it is said to be the largest oil play in the past decade) (NG)

If the company finds oil, a February investor presentation says, then the ultimate goal is to drill “hundreds of wells” in the area and open at least some of them using “modern frac stimulations,” a reference to fracking, the controversial practice where underground shale is injected with high-pressure fluid to crack open the rock and release oil and gas.(NG)

WHY DO WE NEED TO STOP THIS?

As the world moves towards more sustainable methods of living and transportation - Fracking: oil and gas drilling - still leans heavily towards the negative damaging of the environment, it can poison groundwater, pollute surface water, impair wild landscapes, and threaten wildlife in the surrounding areas.

We as the people need to ensure that these foreign corporations dont come into Africa for the purpose of filling their pockets with more materialistic money over the protection of animals, the environment and overall biodiversity in these regions!

@TerraFirmaEco

ARTICLE: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/10/oil-drilling-fracking-planned-okavango-wilderness/

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Signatures: 33,861Next Goal: 35,000
Support now
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Decision-Makers

  • Michael MöllerTerra Firma Eco
  • Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and TourismEnvironmental Affairs
  • Environment Investment Fund of NamibiaEIF.NA