Rebellion Rises singer Ziggy Marley is objecting to Canadian petroleum exploration company ReconAfrican prospecting for oil in the ecologically sensitive Kavango region of Namibia.
Publications like National Geographic have reported that farms, water, and endangered wildlife are threatened as ReconAfrica expands its operations despite violations, including the unsanctioned bulldozing of protected land in the central African country.
On Sunday, the Fly Rasta singer, in reacting to the developments, likened the controversial 14-month-long search for oil and gas in Namibia to a “war” against Planet Earth.
“While the eyes of the world are focused on the war in Ukraine remember the war against the planet and life itself is still being waged by greedy corporations who will stop at nothing and for nothing to fill their pockets. They don’t care about us period,” Ziggy noted on his Instagram page.
“We have to keep our eyes on all atrocities committed against humanity including the atrocities against indigenous people who’s lands and lives are being destroyed daily to the detriment of all people on this planet. Where is the urgency on that front, where is the help we need to save our life giving natural habitat. You know I mean??” he added.
Ziggy, who is the eldest son of Bob Marley, expressed discomfiture that the environment was being sacrificed to satisfy the demands of avaricious corporations.
“The struggle in Namibia’s Kavango region in Africa needs light. Let’s use this platform to help spread this consciousness to all who will give ear to the plight of our source of life which is the Earth’s natural environment,” Ziggy wrote.
“ReconAfrica exploitation dreams in the Kavango Delta will not only negatively impact local communities & wildlife in Africa, but will also worsen the already devastating crisis we face as we destroy the ecosystem all over the planet for corporate greed,” he added.
Over the years, Ziggy has taken on environmental causes, and has complained bitterly that politicians and corporate entities have been ignoring global environmental concerns. He had used his 2018 Grammy-nominated album Rebellion Rises, featuring songs such as The Storm is Coming and See Dem Fake Leaders, to drive home his point.
He has, in the past, given his support to environmental preservation campaign groups such as Extinction Rebellion, a movement which fights against food insecurity, climate breakdown, loss of biological diversity and the risk of social and ecological collapse.
In the Namibian case, Natural Geographic reported recently that the once pristine landscape of the remote northeastern region of Naminia, where only elephants, giraffes, elands, sable antelopes and cattle used to roam, was now scarred by massive tractor tires and octagonal “thumper” plates used to locate oil and gas deposits.
ReconAfrica, according to reports, believes that the Kavango Basin holds significant amounts of recoverable oil. The company’s exploration license covers more than 13,200 square miles near the Okavango Delta and is home to some 200,000 people and abundant wildlife, including the world’s largest remaining elephant herds.
The report said that the newly bulldozed roads are strewn with dead trees and bushes, resulting from a 280-mile-long seismic survey contracted by ReconAfrica, which “plowed through virgin forest and local croplands and widened existing roads—actions prohibited by the company’s seismic survey permit”.
It also noted that despite increasing allegations and evidence of wrongdoing brought to Namibian authorities and international financial regulators, the work has continued.
“ReconAfrica declined to answer questions for this story, but in a statement emailed to National Geographic in December, the company said “ReconAfrica categorically denies that it engaged in any wrongdoing.” It added, “The Company’s commitment to ethics and business conduct are based on the highest standards of corporate governance, respect, integrity, and responsibility,” National Geographic reported.
