Namibian court poised to punish local communities for opposing devastating oil and gas drilling in the Okavango River Basin (KBA)
Chair KBA Community
Dear KBA Community
The High Court in Namibia will decide whether Kavango communities–who have led the fight against Canadian company ReconAfrica with few resources–must pay nearly USD$35,000 to cover the government’s legal fees. We are asking the KBA Community to share this news and raise social awareness of this social and environment injustice impacting local communities and a KBA.
Re:wild worked with local community leaders and activists to pull together a video, which you can find here:
We are asking people around the world to share this with the hashtag #StandWithKavango and/or to post a video response using that hashtag.
Below are suggested social media text or you can share from Re:wild's account (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).
Share with this video
Communities in Namibia who have been outspoken against Canadian oil and gas company ReconAfrica may have to pay up to USD$35,000 in government legal fees. This video is proof that the people of the Kavango will NOT be intimidated into silence. Will you add your voice? Share this video or create your own to show that you #StandwithKavango. Show your support by demanding that the court and the government waive these fees and any others that may still be levied.
The local communities filed a request to Namibia’s High Court to have their urgent appeal heard to prevent ReconAfrica from continuing to drill for oil and gas on community-managed land--affecting freshwater rivers that feed the floodplains that make up the Okavango Delta, a #KeyBiodiversityArea which is a place critical to the persistence of the planet’s biodiversity. Their request was rejected, and the High Court will decide on Feb. 21 how much in fees it will require the local communities to pay, in a move that some activists are saying is an intimidation tactic to silence opposition to the destructive project.
Urge the Namibian High Court not to punish, bankrupt and silence communities for exercising their legal rights to protect their homes and the Okavango River Basin, a crucial source of fresh water for more than 250,000 people, from oil drilling.
#StandwithKavango #SavetheOkavango #KBAs
@save_the_okavango
Tweet #1: 🚨BREAKING🚨 Namibia’s High Court will decide on 2/21 whether Kavango communities—who have led the fight against Canadian company #ReconAfrica with few resources—must pay USD$35,000 to cover the govt’s legal fees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsC0FU6hr18 #StandwithKavango #KBAs
Tweet #2: We join the local Kavango communities & activists in calling on the court to waive the fees & instead protect the communities from threats posed by exploration for oil - protecting a #KeyBiodiversityArea, which is a place critical to the persistence of the planet’s biodiversity.
Share with this video
Communities in Namibia who have been outspoken against Canadian oil and gas company ReconAfrica may have to pay up to USD$35,000 in government legal fees. This video is proof that the people of the Kavango will NOT be intimidated into silence. Will you add your voice? Share this video or create your own to show that you #StandwithKavango. Show your support by demanding that the court and the government waive these fees and any others that may still be levied.
The local communities filed a request to Namibia’s High Court to have their urgent appeal heard to prevent ReconAfrica from continuing to drill for oil and gas on community-managed land - affecting freshwater rivers that feed the floodplains that make up the Okavango Delta, a #KeyBiodiversityArea which is a place critical to the persistence of the planet’s biodiversity. Their request was rejected, and the High Court will decide on Feb. 21 how much in fees it will require the local communities to pay, in a move that some activists are saying is an intimidation tactic to silence opposition to the destructive project.
Urge the Namibian High Court not to punish, bankrupt and silence communities for exercising their legal rights to protect their homes and the Okavango River Basin, a crucial source of fresh water for more than 250,000 people, from oil drilling. #StandwithKavango #SavetheOkavango #KBAs.