Be the Change You Wish to See
On August 21, 2008, a young baby was delivered at the Hohoe municipal hospital. After the umbilical cord was severed from the mother, the baby cried and spoke in a language only he understood. Perhaps he was asking, “Where am I?” The caring mother took her son and said, “Woe zor va Ghana, Sena,” which means, “You are welcome to Ghana, Sena.” And that baby was me.
That scene ushered me into the world of humanity and the beautiful country called Ghana.
As a child, I was raised by my grandparents in a rural community in West Africa, where friendships are cherished. Having numerous friends was not what we compared to as news; as the elders always say, “When a dog bites a human, it is not news, but when a human bites a dog, it is considered news.”
I have two best friends who have made, and continue to make, my life on Earth a better one. They have inspired me to make informed decisions in life. Growing up, we did almost everything together, and our most cherished moments were spent watching cartoons on television. We all had great dreams for ourselves and our beloved country.
During those formative years, I wanted to be a superhero. I dreamed of having superpowers and being like Superman, Captain America, or Thor. However, as I grew older, I realized that they were fictional characters created by imagination and technology.
Yet, in some way, I became the superhero I always wanted to be. I am a superhero—no cape, no mask—just a superpower. A superpower so simple, yet so rare: the power to change. And in times like these, when the fate of our Earth hangs in the balance, change is the only real superpower we need.
Together, my friends and I fight one of humanity’s greatest battles—the battle for net-zero carbon emissions in our own small way. We bring you “EARTH”: our plan, our acronym, our hope.
E – Empowering Energy Innovation
One day, my friends and I looked up at the blazing sun and asked ourselves, “Why waste all this power?” We installed small solar panels on rooftops, capable of powering entire houses and giving bright children the privilege to study. We didn’t stop there; we turned our food waste into bioenergy to fuel cooking stoves, thereby reducing carbon emissions. We harnessed wind energy to pump water for farming activities.
By empowering our village with energy innovations, I learned that when you give people light, you awaken a sense of hope in them.
A – Adapt Sustainable Agricultural Practices
Recognizing that agricultural practices accounted for a significant proportion of greenhouse gas emissions, we decided to address this pressing issue by using sustainable agricultural methods and educating locals to do the same.
We converted a portion of our farmland to organic farming, replacing chemical fertilizers with compost and cow dung and using natural pest control methods like neem oil and garlic spray. Additionally, we practiced crop rotation. These activities significantly reduced carbon emissions from our agricultural processes.
R – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
My friends and I did our best to reuse resources, stop burning them, and recycle as much as possible to cut down carbon emissions. We also planted trees and nurtured their growth, contributing to the beauty of nature.
T – Transition to Eco-friendly Transportation
We worked diligently to avoid rusty vehicles spewing noxious fumes from their exhaust pipes, which emitted the very pollutants we aimed to combat. We utilized the few electric vehicles available and hoped that one day, they would replace the old ones that harm the environment. For places we could walk, we simply did so.
H – Harnessing Hearts and Minds
And finally, the most important part of our story: the people. We knew we couldn’t win this fight alone, so we turned our mission into a movement. We spoke to locals and visited schools where children sat under trees to learn. We taught them about net-zero carbon emissions and how small actions—like planting trees, saving water, or switching off lights—help save Mother Earth.
We held community workshops to educate farmers about sustainable practices, helping them appreciate the value of protecting the land their ancestors cherished. Slowly, people’s hearts and minds began to shift. Net-zero carbon emissions stopped being a distant idea—it became our way of life.
It is my fervent hope that anyone who reads this piece will also make this their way of life. This isn’t just our fight; it’s a battle for every village, every city, and every child yet unborn. So let us rise together. Let us use our superpower to save this Earth and make Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action a possibility. Change starts now, and it starts with you and me.
Thank you.
By: Kelvin Sena Datsa
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