Eastern Africa concerns on Global Warming

Stephanie Adams 8/28/08, 11:30 a.m.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is an organization comprised of 7 eastern African countries, including; Uganda, Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea. These countries came together through the U.N. in order to deal with the drought and development issues that have caused famine and hardship to the Eastern region of Africa.
Recently at their 22nd Climate Outlook Forum, IGAD proposed that other developing nations stand their ground and refuse to agree to international climate conventions that did not acknowledge developing countries and to voice their concerns when attending international climate conventions. Comments were made directed towards larger industrialized nations, to take responsibility and decrease green house gas emissions that are taking a toll on the rest of the world. The environmental responsibilities of Eastern African communities were not ignored.
The rise in global temperatures was labeled as the cause of the ongoing flooding, vector borne diseases in Eastern Africa and the melting of glaciers in Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro. Other environmental concerns were discussed, such as the pollution of rivers in urban areas. IGAD used the forum to discuss the climate outlook for the upcoming month as well as develop strategies to handle any possible future climate or environmental hardships.
This article from the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation gave information on the IGAD forum that seemed to produce multiple concerns for developing countries that are affected by not only their own pollution but the pollution of other countries. Speakers at the IGAD forum seemed to see this issue as of great importance due to the already weak economies of developing nations and their lack of importance to larger developing countries. IGAD seemed to stress the need of not only Eastern African developing countries but of all other developing countries, to come together and stand their ground when it comes to global warming and climate changes that affect their communities and economies.
http://www.kbc.co.ke/story.asp?ID=52134