Africa's last elephants

I'm devastated. A Canadian oil giant is ripping through my homeland - Africa's hidden Eden, the Okavango Delta. This home to Africa's largest remaining herd of elephants is directly at risk from corporate greed, but Namibia’s Minister of Environment and Tourism has the power to halt the devastation! He’s been delaying an overdue decision, and with enough international pressure, we could compel him to revoke ReconAfrica's drilling permit. Sign and take a stand with us. ReconAfrica, a Canadian oil and gas company tried to silence me with a bribe and a job offer.But my people are tired of corruption, and we will not remain silent as this oil giant threatens us, our rights and pushes wildlife closer to extinction.I'm Thomas Muronga, Chair of the Kapinga Kamwalye Community Conservancy.In our ancestral home, we've safeguarded iconic species like lions and giraffes, but Africa's elephants, once 26 million strong, have dwindled to under 450,000. The largest remaining elephant herd in Africa, a mere 130,000, that call the Okavango home, teeters on the brink, threatened by ReconAfrica. Can you imagine them no longer existing?In June 2022, we joined the Economic and Social Justice Trust, an advocacy group fighting corruption and advocating for rights in Namibia, in a massive appeal against Minister Pohamba Shifeta's approval of ReconAfrica's exploitative activities, despite its blatant violations of rights and laws.But after two years, we still have NO ruling. Meanwhile ReconAfrica can continue to pillage and disembowel our land and our livelihoods -- completely unchecked.Join our global call NOW to tell Minister Pohamba Shifeta to stop delaying a decision and save the Okavango Delta! For its people, my people and its magnificent wildlife -- sign now and share with those you know! [Sign Now]( I'm devastated. A Canadian oil giant is ripping through my homeland - Africa's hidden Eden, the Okavango Delta. This home to Africa's largest remaining herd of elephants is directly at risk from corporate greed, but Namibia’s Minister of Environment and Tourism has the power to halt the devastation! He’s been delaying an overdue decision, and with enough international pressure, we could compel him to revoke ReconAfrica's drilling permit. Sign and take a stand with us. [Sign Now]( Dear friends, ReconAfrica, a Canadian oil and gas company tried to silence me with a bribe and a job offer. But my people are tired of corruption, and we will not remain silent as this oil giant threatens us, our rights and pushes wildlife closer to extinction. I'm Thomas Muronga, Chair of the Kapinga Kamwalye Community Conservancy. In our ancestral home, we've safeguarded iconic species like lions and giraffes, but Africa's elephants, once 26 million strong, have dwindled to under 450,000. The largest remaining elephant herd in Africa, a mere 130,000, that call the Okavango home, teeters on the brink, threatened by ReconAfrica. Can you imagine them no longer existing? In June 2022, we joined the Economic and Social Justice Trust, an advocacy group fighting corruption and advocating for rights in Namibia, in a massive appeal against Minister Pohamba Shifeta's approval of ReconAfrica's exploitative activities, despite its blatant violations of rights and laws. But after two years, we still have NO ruling. Meanwhile ReconAfrica can continue to pillage and disembowel our land and our livelihoods -- completely unchecked. Join our global call NOW to tell Minister Pohamba Shifeta to stop delaying a decision and save the Okavango Delta! For its people, my people and its magnificent wildlife -- sign now and share with those you know! [Save the Okavango]( To us, ReconAfrica personifies greed's relentless march, shrouded in the cloak of legality but devoid of moral compass, putting its financial interests before life. The vibrations from ReconAfrica’s exploratory work continue to disturb elephants, and the increase in construction, roads and traffic has upended their migration routes, pushing them into unprepared villages, ravaging crops as they roam but also opening the area up to poachers. As local communities we were inadequately consulted or left unaware of the oil project. Our rights have been ruthlessly trampled, treating our lives and the wildlife we protect as though they are worthless. ReconAfrica’s extraction efforts in the Okavango will likely result in a catastrophic disruption of Africa’s largest remaining population of elephants. We are witnessing the accelerated extinction of earth’s last great walkers When enough of us sign this petition, we will take it directly to Minister Shifeta in support of our appeal to defend the rights of my people and the rights of thousands of species who can't stand for themselves. Will we stand by and watch as corporate interests lay waste to one of Africa's last sanctuaries? No, we will unite to defend the Okavango and honor its sacred legacy! [Save the Okavango]( As we stand on the brink of irreversible damage, the call to action has never been more urgent. We must rise against greed's onslaught and defend our sacred land. Join the battle to protect the Okavango Delta, before it's too late! With hope and determination, Thomas Muronga with the Avaaz team Information: - [They ripped through a protected wilderness to find oil. Instead, they found trouble]( (National Geographic) - [Lawyers allege Calgary-based oil and gas company committed human rights abuses in Namibia]( (Calgary Herald) - [In wake of Canadian oil company pausing operations, local leaders and international community again urge an immediate moratorium on drilling in Okavango River Basin]((Re:wild) Avaaz is a 70-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 18 countries on 6 continents and operates in 22 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns [here](, or follow us on [Facebook](, [X](, or [Instagram](. You became a member of the Avaaz movement and started receiving these emails when you signed "Join Avaaz!" on 2016-03-01 using the email address {EMAIL}. 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