Thank you for supporting Save Black Johnson Beach.
President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Bio are finally in Glasgow at Cop26 following an extended summer of globe trotting ostensibly raising funds for projects like the "fish harbour" and a non existent sanitary towels for school girls project in Sierra Leone.
At home the president has consistently refused to answer questions or engage with local stakeholders regarding the Black Johnson debacle. Choosing instead to plough ahead with plans to needlessly destroy five separate ecosystems including pristine rainforest, protected wetland and fish spawning grounds; home to endangered species. Local residents and landowners have been threatened and intimidated by armed police and soldiers for speaking out against their plans.
International and social media pressure is having some impact. It seems that the Bios are more concerned about their international image than the plight of their people or country. Cop26 provides us with a unique opportunity to get some answers. By working together we can make a difference and prevent this reckless plan from going ahead.
Use the hashtags on Twitter;
#SaveBlackJohnsonBeach
#NoFishFarm
#TheWorldisWatching
Please forward this press release to every journalist, media contact and political representative that you have to demand action https://www.theyworkforyou.com
*PRESS RELEASE*
Black Johnson Land Owners Group 31st October 2021
President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Maada Bio are attending Cop 26 in Glasgow with a large delegation from Sierra Leone, West Africa. We appeal to the international media to ask the questions which these leaders suppress at home and call out their climate hypocrisy.
The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) plans to destroy five separate ecosystems including pristine rainforest, unique protected wetlands & fish spawning grounds. This is a home to endangered species on the Western Peninsular, Freetown West Africa. The wetlands are protected by an international Convention to which Sierra Leone is a signatory.
GoSL refuses to disclose detailed plans, despite repeated requests under Freedom of Information laws of Sierra Leone.
GoSL refuses to engage with main stakeholders who live and work on the beach.
GoSL denies facts and uses intimidating tactics like unannounced visits to the beach with GoSL ministers and officials for the Lands Ministry, together with armed police and soldiers.
GoSL controls local media and uses fake propaganda and pictures on its state media.
GoSL must be held to account. Especially the President, the First Lady and the Minister of the Environment who all expressly support this plan.
This is not just a local issue. The fish-meal factory that they plan to build is the latest in a chain of toxic industrial plants built by the Chinese government that supplies protein pellets to the global market, destroying local food resources and livelihoods in its wake. They call it a “fish harbour” and deny it is a fish-meal factory but stated in a GoSL Press Release 10 May 2021;
“ It is a facility for Tuna vessels and other bigger fishing vessels.----[It] will comprise a waste management component (sic), which will involve recycling of marine and other waste products into useful products.” This describes a fish-meal factory.
Questions that need asking;
Why are you trying to seize and destroy five separate ecosystems including pristine rainforest, protected wetlands & fish spawning grounds and a home to endangered pangolins?
Where is the Environmental, Health and Social Impact Assessment for Black Johnson Beach?
Specify what useful commodity will be produced by the waste management component , which will involve recycling of marine and other waste products?
Why were some local landowners refused entry into two secret meetings between ministers from your Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Ministry of Lands and infamous land grabbers in Black Johnson on Friday 15th October and Thursday 28th October 2021?
Why has your armed police and army threatened, intimidated and scared local residents and landowners at gunpoint on three separate occasions, twice after you had officially been made aware of this illegal activity?
Did you know GoSL is being monitored by Amnesty International about this matter?
History
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/save-black-johnson-beach
(for details of the story so far see the updates).
For media enquiries contact
James +447538499080
Email - Blackjohnsonlandowners@gmail.com
Twitter - @JohnsonOwners
*Ends