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My Antarctica Expedition – Erasto Njavike from Tanzania reflects on his once in a lifetime experince

Crossing The Antarctica Circle @66 ?33’52.824’S on March 3rd 2018 was a day when I set my own lifetime record. I am proud of myself and I am thankful to Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Program, Explorer’s Passage and 2041. If there is a place where you can be an eyewitness to the power of creation and peaceful coexistence, Antarctica is paramount.

This amazing opportunity happened for me following a competition open to all Roots & Shoots members from around the world, We took a quiz on what we are doing for Roots & Shoots and what are our solutions to the climate change challenge and how our projects help animals, the environment and the community. My “Friends of Donkeys” project, that looks after animal welfare, and the Mount Kilimanjaro “community centred conservation initiatives” came on top and led to me being nominated for this golden chance.

Antarctica renewed my knowledge on climate change issues, Marine ecosystems and importance of curbing carbon emissions. Antarctica is at danger because of its uniqueness and greatness.

Our oceans become even more acidic as it absorbs fifty percent of Carbon Dioxide. These have direct negative impact to marine life and the whole ecosystem, affecting beautiful penguins, whales, wandering albatross etc. These animals’ lives are all in danger and are compromised by human development activities. Krill’s are the heart of food chain; if they are in danger then their entire lives will be jeopardized. The melting of glaciers creates rising sea levels, making the coastal cities at high risk of flooding or disappearing entirely. Despite of all this bad news there are still hundreds of good things to learn and will give a lifetime experience. Humpback whales are enormous and have great skills to hunt krill’s, and wandering albatross birds enjoy their left overs. Penguins are just cute and very friendly, jumping around, feeding and chasing each other. They curiously wonder if we were strangers, and indeed we were! You can spend two tireless hours enjoying humpback whales swim very timely, effectively and leave screaming elephant seals alone.

The pristine Antarctica needs us and we need Antarctica more than we know. If we combine our efforts as individuals, families, communities and nations
all over the globe, we all make better change. The choice of our future is in our hands.

Erasto Njavike, Roots & Shoots Tanzania

   

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