GBM Blog

Climate Week 2011 is one of many of the positive steps that are being taken to combat climate change across Britain. Businesses, charities, schools, councils and others are running events during this week 21-27 of March 2011.

Yes, that's right! A year four class, at the Hitherfield Primary School and Children's Centre in London, has written the poem ‘A Tree Stands Alone and Wangari’s Dream’. They were inspired by Wangari’s life, in particular her admiration for an old wild fig tree growing in her home village Ihithe. This was a very special tree to Wangari and she often spent time there when she was little, both to play and to fetch water in a nearby stream. Her love for this tree inspired the class to invent this “Kenyan” proverb: “May the fig tree's leaves drop blessings on all who care”.

Red roses have become the quintessential symbol of love. This Valentine's Day, boyfriends, husbands and lovers alike will flock to their local flower store to buy a dozen red roses - an embodiment of their love, passion and commitment.

In the recently convened COP 16 in Cancun, the challenges women face, given they are on the front-lines of the climate crisis, was a major highlight as well as how gender factors in handling the challenges brought about by climate change. When natural disasters strike, they hit poor communities first and worst. Since women make up an estimated 70% of those living below the poverty line, they are most likely to bear the heaviest burdens. They, who regularly do the household work, cultivate the crops, collect the water and gather the fuel, are the most affected by climate change. But it should also be understood that women are vital to building resilience in poor communities.