What Becomes Dirtier as it Cleans?
Lake Victoria is the largest mass of water in the east Central part of Africa. Our school is privileged to be situated to this second largest fresh water lake in the world. Our community which live around the lake have a local name for it. We call it 'Namlolwe'which means an endless, undying mass of water.
Yet the Lake's staying power seemed threatened, thanks to polluters and the invasive water hyacinth. You will see from some of the photos that our lakeis filled with a green weed called the water hyacinth. As if that is not all there is the decline of fish stocks and deteriorating water quality, experts have already filed Lake Victoria's death certificate.
During one of our environmental class presentations at Kisumu High school in Kenya, Doreen a 13 year old girl poised this riddle;
"What becomes dirtier as it cleans?"
After a while of guessing and attempts, Doreen gave an answer that shocked and surprised us all.
"It's Lake Victoria." She said with a calm voice.
My class burst out in applause for Doreen's Riddle. The riddle had summarized all our fears; the world's second largest fresh water lake looks beautiful and full of life and vitalities; it cleans our clothes, our cars and our industries, but a closer look reveals massive pollution caused by cleaning of motor vehicles on shallow beaches, not to mention industrial effluent and run-offs from urban areas. But a startling scientific report now says that Kisumu's booming car wash industry posses a fresh threat to the lake's well being.
Oil spills and dirt washed from the vehicles covers the water surface and cuts off oxygen supply. There are about 100 car washers at Kichinjio and each takes home not less than sh300 daily as they charge between sh100 to sh500 per vehicle. They are aggressive and always convince motorists to have their car washed. The vehicles are driven into the shallow part of the lake, where they are cleaned as the owners enjoy their meals.
Early in the year 2007, Kisumu High Environmental club partnered up with Mr Geoff Nelson on a cleaning exercise of the pollutants, oil cans, plastic bags and dirt of the Kichinjio beach of Lake Victoria.
This exercise did not go un noticed. The Kisumu Municipal Council Environment officer not only thanked us for the good job, but he also gave us a litter van to assist in ferrying all the dirt we collected from the beach area.
He also gave us a challenge. He said, young people in Kisumu can help change the attitudes of those cleaning cars around the lake.
During our summer holidays, we plan to raise funds, and hold an environmental campaign dubbed "Remove Motorcars from the Lake Victoria".
Part of our plans include:
Putting up a car cleaning service that has proper piping and dirty water disposal and recycling plant next to the lake area. The only way to stop people from having their cars washed directly in the lake is to give them an alternative.
Putting up posters and banners urging the Kisumu city population to stop washing their cars in the Lake. Make handbills and draw cartoons sensitizing Kisumu residents on the dangers of pollution. Our club intends to use kids from our school and neighboring schools to reach out to their parents and relatives with the above message.
Hold demonstrations and processions in Kisumu Town urging the authorities to take action against car washing in Lake Victoria. Hold an Essay writing contest and invite essays from all school going children on the theme of "Dangers of Lake pollution to nature"
To achieve this our club needs 5,000 US dollars. So far we have raised and received pledges of $1200. US dollars. We are calling to all lovers of nature to join us in this campaign. You can write to us with your views and comments or even make a contribution.
We are committed to a cleaner Lake Victoria in our generation and time. Thank you.
Kisumu High Environmental and Conservation Club
Email [email protected] , Contact Person. Mr Peter Amunga, P.O. BOX 2296, Kisumu 40100, Kenya.
Lake Victoria is the largest mass of water in the east Central part of Africa. Our school is privileged to be situated to this second largest fresh water lake in the world. Our community which live around the lake have a local name for it. We call it 'Namlolwe'which means an endless, undying mass of water.
Yet the Lake's staying power seemed threatened, thanks to polluters and the invasive water hyacinth. You will see from some of the photos that our lakeis filled with a green weed called the water hyacinth. As if that is not all there is the decline of fish stocks and deteriorating water quality, experts have already filed Lake Victoria's death certificate.
During one of our environmental class presentations at Kisumu High school in Kenya, Doreen a 13 year old girl poised this riddle;
"What becomes dirtier as it cleans?"
After a while of guessing and attempts, Doreen gave an answer that shocked and surprised us all.
"It's Lake Victoria." She said with a calm voice.
My class burst out in applause for Doreen's Riddle. The riddle had summarized all our fears; the world's second largest fresh water lake looks beautiful and full of life and vitalities; it cleans our clothes, our cars and our industries, but a closer look reveals massive pollution caused by cleaning of motor vehicles on shallow beaches, not to mention industrial effluent and run-offs from urban areas. But a startling scientific report now says that Kisumu's booming car wash industry posses a fresh threat to the lake's well being.
Oil spills and dirt washed from the vehicles covers the water surface and cuts off oxygen supply. There are about 100 car washers at Kichinjio and each takes home not less than sh300 daily as they charge between sh100 to sh500 per vehicle. They are aggressive and always convince motorists to have their car washed. The vehicles are driven into the shallow part of the lake, where they are cleaned as the owners enjoy their meals.
Early in the year 2007, Kisumu High Environmental club partnered up with Mr Geoff Nelson on a cleaning exercise of the pollutants, oil cans, plastic bags and dirt of the Kichinjio beach of Lake Victoria.
This exercise did not go un noticed. The Kisumu Municipal Council Environment officer not only thanked us for the good job, but he also gave us a litter van to assist in ferrying all the dirt we collected from the beach area.
He also gave us a challenge. He said, young people in Kisumu can help change the attitudes of those cleaning cars around the lake.
During our summer holidays, we plan to raise funds, and hold an environmental campaign dubbed "Remove Motorcars from the Lake Victoria".
Part of our plans include:
Putting up a car cleaning service that has proper piping and dirty water disposal and recycling plant next to the lake area. The only way to stop people from having their cars washed directly in the lake is to give them an alternative.
Putting up posters and banners urging the Kisumu city population to stop washing their cars in the Lake. Make handbills and draw cartoons sensitizing Kisumu residents on the dangers of pollution. Our club intends to use kids from our school and neighboring schools to reach out to their parents and relatives with the above message.
Hold demonstrations and processions in Kisumu Town urging the authorities to take action against car washing in Lake Victoria. Hold an Essay writing contest and invite essays from all school going children on the theme of "Dangers of Lake pollution to nature"
To achieve this our club needs 5,000 US dollars. So far we have raised and received pledges of $1200. US dollars. We are calling to all lovers of nature to join us in this campaign. You can write to us with your views and comments or even make a contribution.
We are committed to a cleaner Lake Victoria in our generation and time. Thank you.
Kisumu High Environmental and Conservation Club
Email [email protected] , Contact Person. Mr Peter Amunga, P.O. BOX 2296, Kisumu 40100, Kenya.