Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, S. Africa, Malawi join #MarchForScience on Earth Day

Africa

As the world marks the 2017 Earth Day to create awareness on environmental and climate protection, tens of thousands of scientists and science advocates worldwide are marching in 500 cities to speak out about the importance of scientific research.

Although the March for Science was sparked by the Trump Administration’s position on climate change and budgetary cuts for science research, Africans in Africa are also marching for more investment in science in their countries.

The march is going on in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, Ghana’s capital Accra, Kampala in Uganda, Blantyre in Malawi and Cape Town as well as Durban in South Africa among other cities.

Speeches will be delivered by scientists as well as researchers and climate ernthusiasts to educate people on the importance of science and the importance of climate protection against the Earth Day.

The #marchforscience in Nigeria will bring together scientists, researchers, the media and lovers of #Science to speak with one Voice! pic.twitter.com/KRt0rPcvMu

— OFAB Nigeria (@OFABnigeria) April 17, 2017

#marchforscience in #SouthAfrica will be in #Durban from City Hall to Gugu Dlamini Park from 10:00 to 12:30 MRCza NRF_News dstgovza
— Elsabe Brits (elsabebrits) April 21, 2017

Join the #MarchforScience tomorrow April 22 at the Afia Beach Hotel at 10am. pic.twitter.com/0rjW8eYNGE

— Humanists Ghana (@HumanistsGH) April 21, 2017

The organisers of the main March for Science in United States capital Washington D.C. say the march is “not only about scientists and politicians; it is about the very real role that science plays in each of our lives and the need to respect and encourage research that gives us insight into the world.”

“In the face of an alarming trend toward discrediting scientific consensus and restricting scientific discovery, we might ask instead: can we afford not to speak out in its defense?” they questioned.

The Earth Day activities have been infused into the March for Science to build a global citizenry fluent in the concepts of climate change and aware of its unprecedented threat to the planet.

“Environmental and climate literacy is the engine not only for creating green voters and advancing environmental and climate laws and policies but also for accelerating green technologies and jobs,” it says on the Earth Day website.

Google has also launched a doodle for Earth Day on Saturday with a series of stories of a sleeping fox that has a nightmare about the consequences of climate change, featuring melted icebergs and dead plants.

Disturbed, the fox enlists two friends to be more thoughtful about conservation – the trio eat vegetables, grow plants, ride bikes and use solar energy.

See below some pictures and reactions from the #MarchForScience events in African cities.

Preparing for the march in Uganda #marchforscience ScienceAlly UgandaBIC MakBBTSociety pic.twitter.com/RaJsWSv6gR
— busuulwa ian peter (lms121319) April 22, 2017

Supporting Science always… #marchforscience OFABnigeria roxydado ScienceAlly pic.twitter.com/QX7flmaFNQ
— OFAB Nigeria (OFABnigeria) April 22, 2017

Here's why we #marchforscience ScienceAlly #ScienceMarch Nigeria #WorldEarthday 2017 pic.twitter.com/dOLlMSYyJq
— Modesta (modestannedi) April 22, 2017

Why we #marchforscience. #GlobalScienceMarch pic.twitter.com/9OkQOrLEdY

— Humanists Ghana (@HumanistsGH) April 21, 2017

If you live in #SouthAfrica #MarchforScience in #CapeTown. For more info check https://t.co/71pcSzxsCF pic.twitter.com/UCxOdycyhM

— Eric Balfour FanSite (@EricBalfourFans) April 22, 2017

when a picture says a million words! #marchforscience #marchforscienceug pic.twitter.com/xcIaJQiTj9

— UBIC (@UgandaBIC) April 22, 2017

We're organizing a #MarchForScience in Blantyre, #Malawi. Join us. https://t.co/zNyJ4XQl2b pic.twitter.com/pWJXX9V17U

— Terrie Taylor (@ttmalawi) April 9, 2017