By Leocadia Bongben
Greenpeace Africa and motorbike riders will storm the streets of Yaoundé come Saturday, August 29, for a public mobilisation to raise awareness about floods, climate change, forest loss, poor waste management and the growing environmental pressures affecting communities across the city.
In a press release, Greenpeace says the rationale for engaging motorbike riders stems from the fact that they are among those most directly affected by flooding during the rainy season. “Heavy rains can make roads impassable, threaten their safety, disrupt mobility and reduce their daily income. At the same time, because riders interact with thousands of passengers and community members every day, they are uniquely positioned to become powerful relays for climate awareness across Yaoundé,” the release reads.
To empower riders to act as climate ambassadors, Greenpeace Africa will provide them with awareness materials and campaign messaging to use in their daily job. The city’s motorbike network will become a moving platform for environmental education and public participation with the distribution and display of some 500 climate awareness stickers.
Additionally, the activity will give riders a forum to discuss their personal flooding experiences and explain how excessive rainfall impacts their mobility, safety, and means of subsistence. Their testimonies will underscore the need for robust action on forest conservation, waste management, climate justice, and accountability while bringing the public closer to the realities of climate.