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Issue 28 - August 2017

Fishing Nets, Bridal Veils, and Seedling Covers : The Un-Intended, but Intended Use of Mosquito Nets Aiding Ugandan Households

By Michal Matejczuk

Mosquito nets repurposed to cover seedlings. Photo by Michal Matejczuk

Imagine yourself standing in front of a beautiful lake; let’s envision Lake Victoria within Sub-Saharan Africa to simply name one. Beyond you are the waterlogged kilometers separating Uganda from Rwanda/Tanzania amid a horizon rich with the local catch awaiting your net before the sun finally breaks the sky. With the rising sun dissolving the chilled morning off your hands, you throw in your repurposed mosquito net now fishing net after expressing a silent prayer to yourself, with the hope of catching something to later support you and your family. Only that in this instance your situation includes having a family of eight with one more on the way, the with others awaiting for the payment of school fees, food for your family’s rumbling stomachs and extra supplies to ensure a successful path to a better future. An unfortunate burden for which you truly have no idea of.

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On the day of her wedding (referred to as an “introduction” in Uganda), women can be seen in a variety of styles. With wedding dresses ranging from the standard bridal dress from the western-side of the world kind of look, to a culturally rich gomesi dress made from kitenge fabric with striking edges and raised shoulders, all signifying the entrance into womanhood and marriage; though if you are truly wishing to set off a fashion statement with some added side gossip, a gentle mix of the two could maybe do. Finishing the look, the anxious but overjoyed bride receives her veil, but instead of the soft tulle normally draped across faces of those in the Western cultures, a few resourceful measures have given way to the opportunity of older mosquito nets being repurposed, re-sewn and bestowed for her special day; an addition with a former purpose, now with a splash of creativity.

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Coming off from one of the dry seasons, which in Uganda are never your best friends, millions of Ugandans descend out into their fields to prepare for the upcoming season with a hoe in hand and newborn children fastened to the backs of their mothers. The field for those who have the acreage proceed to have been dug and sowed, but for those who have inherited their smaller shares within Uganda’s new issue of diminishing land inheritances, shielding your promising crops from your chickens and your neighbor’s chickens and perhaps a roaming goat is the family’s newly acquired government-funded mosquito net, aside the few that have also been worn out from use.

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By Peace Corps Volunteer Chelsea Gaylord

If you happen to have the spare time today to read any of these articles from DispatchUG, NewVision, Massachusetts General Health, and even the NYTimes, you would’ve gotten the sense that there is a pressing issue with the use, abuse and rate of adoption of insecticide-treated bednets in malaria-endemic countries throughout Africa, more so in Uganda. Furthermore, that there is a bit of a childhood game of who to point the “blame finger” on when the intended use isn’t exactly achieved, but rather misused.

“Malaria kills nearly 650-1,000,000 people a year world-wide with Uganda having the world’s highest malaria incidence, with a rate of 478 per 1000 people per year. Malaria represents the leading cause of health care visits and is the cause of 70,000-100,000 child deaths annually. Universal access to insecticide-treated bednets has been the official policy since 2009, with 7.2 million bednets distributed in 2010 alone. However, in 2009 only 1.5-20.2% of children under 5 slept under a bednet the night before and a subsequent study in 2011 showed only 28% coverage. Obstacles to bednet use in rural sub-Saharan African households have direct effects on child survival.“ (Dr. Paul Krezanoski – Assistant Professor at UCSF School of Medicine)

In speaking with a handful of Ugandan children and older adults, to develop my own reality about mosquito net use, I found that you can write a book on the variety of answers why some people are not using these, often free, government-funded nets or if they do, what they are dealing with while using them.

“I don’t sleep under a net as I haven’t had malaria in over eight years, so it’s like I am immune to it,” spoke a young entrepreneur I met within Kampala.

“They are too expensive, and I want a free one,” spoke Sarah, a local bartender in Mbale, Uganda.

“Western companies are putting drugs in these nets to prevent our people here from getting pregnant. I don’t like…” from a woman living within village of Budadiri.

“I need to protect my maize first, and then I will protect myself. Mosquitos don’t live here in the mountain since its cold,” expressed a farmer from the district of Bududa.

“It TOO HOT when I’m sleeping, so I don’t use,” spoke Roony, one of my neighborhood kids in Mbale, Uganda who later received malaria later that month; still not using the net.

Mosquito net turned soccer net. By Peace Corps Volunteer Chelsea Gaylord

So, who is to likely to be blamed for the misuse or misconceptions about these nets? Is it the communities with a disregard to using nets? The government, or agencies responsible for distribution? The poor planning, or the spread of misconceptions about these nets? The blame finger continues to spin around these options more than the degree dial on a compass, with neither side available to accept the fault or determine the error.

In my opinion, the greater issue at hand is beyond that of the distribution of these nets, and the misappropriations found throughout the various household products made of them. These organizations combating malaria are attempting to combat the much-needed battles of malaria, yet somehow falling short with first satisfying what I believe to be the first level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, physiological.

“I’ve seen nets as dress detailing, as head wraps, as diapers, as seedling covers, as fishnets, as ant collecting nets, as toys and as loofahs.” Peace Corps Volunteer Kelsey Sabo

“I’ve seen them [mosquito nets] used more often for what they shouldn’t be than what they should – soccer goal nets, fishing nets, goat ropes…” Peace Corps Volunteer – Chelsea Gaylord

Mosquito-net ropes for tying up animals for grazing. By Peace Corps Volunteer Chelsea Gaylord

Maslow was onto something when he expressed his research about the various levels of human motivation, in relation to being  “relative”, “general”, and “primary,” based on the level of need attempting to be satisfied. Instead of being frustrated about the unorthodox list of uses these costly nets with the millions of dollars invested into their distribution turn out to become, some of these government programs and assisting agencies should be frustrated on why the greater needs of the same individuals they wish to assist aren’t being worked on.

Rather than address the immediate need that they perceived to be the greatest need for these countries that they don’t even live within, perhaps after taking some advice from Ernesto Sirolli, they would also remember to simply, “shut up and listen.” How much do we actually listen to each other or the group we are interested in supporting before we ever put a dollar amount or a grant to?

As Maslow noted, a certain need “dominates” the human organism, and I find that to the be case with bednets sent out to treat malaria-endemic areas, where the true need is not being met before a new need is adopted by that same community [Maslow, A (1954)].

Being a Peace Corps volunteer stationed in Eastern Uganda has opened not only my mind to the struggles of living, trudging and working within a country termed “developing” by the Western model of economic development, but my experience in its entirety has granted me the opportunity to bare witness to domestic and foreign aid programs while being at the grassroots’ level of behavior change.

The real-life scenarios I wrote earlier in this article represent a small drop in the bucket of what lives are like in Uganda. I say that not to convey sympathy or to bring about another group of “white saviors” to come “save Africa” on their own terms over their communities’ terms, but what I try to attempt to do is to persuade others to understand. To understand that billions (if not trillions) of dollars continue to circulate around the world in the name of aid meaning to impart assistance is often the assistance that ends up not quite assisting in what they are meant to support.

Upon reading this article in NewVision of the local government wanting to jail a fisherman for diverting government-distributed malaria nets into their livelihoods, I was moved. From a Peace Corps volunteer mindset, wouldn’t the better decision to come of witnessing this be to intervene with better motives by supplying new nets for those fishermen, offering the same type of catchment with no insecticide residue. This action would greatly reduce the risk these fishermen are causing on the local water sources, meanwhile allowing them to continue providing for their families. Why shame or threaten the same individuals you are wishing to assist rather than taking a step back to setup a chain of services to better the growth of their livelihoods and protect against malaria, than a growth aimed at their criminal records.

I may be a Peace Corps volunteer for another year or two, but it doesn’t mean I cannot contribute my part to both sides of the “battle to end malaria.” The truth of the matter is, the rate of malaria throughout Uganda has decreased over the years, and it has been due to a wide variety of angles meant to subdue this disease from growth. The government of Uganda along with the agencies affiliated with the national malaria campaigns are fighting a tough battle, but in the years to come I hope that their methods continue to be refined around the individual.

If I have learned something about malaria from my short time here, it is that malaria doesn’t care if you are black, white, female or male, a Peace Corps volunteer or just a tourist here to visit the gorillas of Bwindi. It is a 100% preventable and treatable illness, but one that requires more of a humanitarian approach instead of a “white savior complex” approach in dealing with malaria-affected countries.

Whether it means discussing bed net care to youth at the village-level to relinquish their common misconceptions or changing bad practices about mosquito nets with older adults, I envision being a better advocate for change.  I like to think that twenty years from now, by recounting my personal experiences living as a volunteer in Uganda, I can hope to advise on better strategies for agencies wishing to throw a few million mosquito nets at a problem when they should first just introduce themselves, and listen.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions are exclusively my own and do not represent the opinions of the United States Peace Corps, the government of Uganda, and the government of the United States of America.

 

A year ago, Michal Matejczuk came into the country of Uganda with no expectations of what he would eventually experience. From daunting taxi vans with curious passengers examining the amount of his arm hair, or to waking up to a pack of goats found chewing up  his garden, these are his experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mbale, Uganda.

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Issue 28 - August 2017

Issue 28: August 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Letter from the Editor. …we are going to take a deeper look into what we need to do to inspire and train the next generation of ocean and environmental leaders…

 

 2. California Marine Science Educators Visit Cuba. A group of marine science educators from California visited Cuba early May to begin information exchange and collaboration with Cuban marine scientists and educators.

 

 

3. Green Coconut Run explores the Pacific. …we began in the lagoon-enclosed Gambier Islands, a remote corner of French Polynesia; next…

 

4. 1 Topic, 5 Facts: Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This regular feature will help acquaint you with our blue planet. 

 

 

 

5. If you value SEVENSEAS Media as a resource and as the free PR arm for everyone in marine conservation and sustainable tourism, we need your support! Learn more about how to get involved and ensure we remain a valuable resource…

 

6. FEATURE DESTINATION: The Long Tail of the People. Witness wild animals in their magnificent display and be amazed by the beautiful life the underwater world has to offer…

 

7. FEATURE DESTINATION: Swimming with Oslob Whale Sharks. There is a lot of controversy about swimming with the whale sharks in Oslob. Many divers refuse…

 

8.  FEATURE DESTINATION: Moalboal Community and Beach Clean Up. Volunteers were made up of ninety-five students from grade five, along with twelve teachers and fifteen members of Savedra staff…

 

9. FEATURE DESTINATION: The Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE). …the largest independent non-stock non-government organization dedicated to the conservation of marine megafauna and the marine environment in the Philippines….

 

10. FEATURE DESTINATION: Scientists from the California Academy of Sciences  advancing hope for reefs in the Philippines. Researchers return from the Philippines with new species discoveries and deeper insights into threatened coral reef ecosystems.

 

 

11. Shark Tagging Expedition to Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park Hailed a Success. Researchers from TMO and LAMAVE have successfully tagged nine grey reef sharks and one tiger shark with acoustic…

 

12. Katie Pumphrey Paints Her Path On The Open Water. …Pumphrey taps into her experiences in the water to paint and says that all her work is movement related. She paints hoping that a viewer will stand there a little longer to experience…

 

 

13. New Zealand from Top to Bottom. An epic 4-month road trip through one of the most diverse countries on earth…

 

14. Under the Waves with Karim Iliya: August 2017. A massive iceberg floats in a fjord off the coast of Eastern Greenland.

 

15. A true collaboration of art and science. Hello Ocean conducts first expedition exploring pressing ocean conservation topics of the Mesoamerican Reef. 

 

16. Wildscreen Exchange: August Edition. Wildscreen Exchange is a unique global hub for conservation communications. It provides… 

 

17. Fishing Nets, Bridal Veils, and Seedling Covers : The Un-Intended, but Intended Use of Mosquito Nets Aiding Ugandan Households. Imagine yourself standing in front of a beautiful lake; let’s envision Lake Victoria within Sub-Saharan Africa to simply name one… 

 

 

18. Protect your business with Green Fins. …your business directly depends on a healthy and diverse marine environment, which means that if you want to keep your business running…

  

19. OceanGate and the Cape Eleuthera Institute to Launch a Year-Long Manned Submersible Expedition in the Bahamas to Assess Sharks and Sea Life Hidden Deep in the Ocean. …the deep sea survey in October will be conducted as a series of one-day and three-day missions.

 

20. Study on sea turtle health. A scientific study on how contaminants such as mercury and natural toxins from red tide algal blooms affect sea turtles’ health. 

 

21. Shells as Religions and Spiritual Objects in Hinduism and Buddhism. Sea shells evolved more than 500 million years ago and have amazed humans since the beginning of our time…

 

 

22. New fish species in New Caledonia. The new fish, Polyipnus laruei, is named after yachters Pierre and William…

 

 

 

23. Dominique Robertson Underwater Photography. Dolores a 3 year old female pacific octopus happily chilling in her tank with a mason jar full of goodies tucked tightly under 2 of her tentacles…

 

24. What in the world is this sea creature?! A friend in Papua New Guinea was posting these photos with the hopes…

 

25. Connect with the Global Marine Community. In a nutshell, the Global Marine Community is a free interactive resource that gives you access to a weekly email detailing a round-up of events and opportunities in ocean conservation.

 

26. New Zealand Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) as LT&C Exemples – Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve.  …tourism can help support and sustain conservation, particularly in areas where local authorities are under resourced and financed.

 

27. Surasak Nuibut, Mountain Climber, Adventurer & Travel Photographer: Vang Vieng, Laos. The town has grown substantially due to the influx of travelers attracted by the opportunities for adventure tourism in a limestone karst landscape.

 

28. Northwest Straits Initiative Shares New Animated Short Film. Puget Sound is a living jewel that encompasses thousands of shoreline miles in Washington state and…

 

 

29. Interested in advertising, contributing an article, or becoming a donor? 28 Issues, readership in 174 countries, nearly 15,000 subscribers, 20,000 monthly visitors…and growing.

 

 

ECO-TRAVEL DEALS

Be sure to mention SEVENSEAS Media for special rates and discounts when making your inquiry. 

1. Oceanic Society Expeditions. See this “Senegal: African Manatee and Turtle Conservation” trip plus many others in the new 2017-2018 Expeditions Catalogue. 

 

2. Ever dream of swimming with humpback whales? Now you can. If you are interested in swimming with or photographing humpback whales Karim guides people in small trips in Tonga…

 

3. Introducing Isla Mar Research Expeditions – Field Courses in Puerto Rico. A field course coordination company in Puerto Rico that specializes in organizing and hosting island ecology (marine/terrestrial) themed courses.

 

 

4. Pangaea Ocean Sailing Expedition. Panex is opening up sailing expeditions for guest crew. This is an unique opportunity to go sailing, cross an ocean, and be a part of something bigger.

 

 

 

5. Loggerhead Marinelife Center. Imagine roaming some of the world’s most beautiful ecosystems. Gorgeous vistas, affordable travel and amazing memories; immersing yourself in the sounds of nature.

 

 

 

6. SEE Turtles. …protect endangered turtles throughout Latin America and the world by supporting community-based conservation efforts through ecotourism, education, and Billion Baby Turtles.

 

 

7. Bodhi Surf & Yoga Camp. …a surf and yoga camp located in Bahia Ballena, Osa, Costa Rica.

 

 

 

 

Cover photo by Didier Baertschiger. Philippines – Bohol – Chocolate Hills.
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Issue 28 - August 2017

Letter from the Editor – August 2017

Last week a colleague and I were discussing the growing need for workforce development surrounding ocean conservation. There have been a string of polls over the last few years indicating Millennials are the most environmentally conscious generation yet and as they are excelling through the workforce, they are flexing their purchasing power accordingly. Now is the time to engage and inspire an even younger generation of environmental stewards and to prepare them for a future with even narrower margins and greater threats than we see today.

While visiting Italy, one of my oldest and best friends, Pete Muller, snapped this portrait above of me during our stay in Polignano a Mare. Pete and his wife Jehan, another dear friend of mine, currently live in Kenya where they have dedicated their lives to international development, journalism, and to unearthing the the root causes of conflict in much of the world. Even though during our college years at American University, I was the “scientist” in our group, giving lessons on ecosystems or evolutionary process, we all had one common yet loosely defined goal – to better the current state of affairs in whichever corner of the planet we could have influence.

Now, I often find myself asking why did we grow up to become adults motivated more by contributing to the greater good and less by the bottom-line ? What helped us develop a worldly view at a young age? Was it walking across a polluted beach or logged forrest as a teenager and realizing the permanence of human destruction? Was it that one inspirational teacher [Hi Wendy Amo] from middle school? Was it watching David Attenborough as a child and learning the delicate balance between all living beings? Perhaps it was not any one incident but a combination of all of these experiences.

Unfortunately, since graduating college and starting my first job at Conservation International in 2004, I witnessed the rapid decline of our ocean’s health and the degradation of coastal ecosystems, and though there are countless success stories, similar can be said for many other conservation efforts. I have returned to coral reefs and within a decade and seen them transform from loud and colorful, to silent and covered in sediment and algae. So what does this portend for our human and natural future? The future is now. Every day we pass thresholds of no return all while those of us who have dedicated our lives to conservation are banging our heads against the wall as we face roadblock after roadblock on protections, access to resources, or even the basic acknowledgment that a problem exists.

In the coming months SEVENSEAS Media is going to take a deeper look into what we need to do to inspire and train the next generation of ocean and environmental leaders. If you have any input or would like to contribute thoughts or solutions towards creating an effective workforce surrounding ocean conservation and stewardship, please reach out to me. I am 35 years old and my generation was handed a bruised and battered planet from our parents. What are we going to hand to the generation of tomorrow? At a minimum let it be the tools, education, and hope they need in order to repair the mistakes of the past.

More photos by Pete Muller from our quick trip to Polignano a Mare, Italy:

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This month on SEVENSEAS Media we have some great stories coming out of the Philippines, we learn about the Green Coconut Run sailing voyage in French Polynesia, California marine science educators visit to Cuba, Hello Ocean’s expedition exploring the Mesoamerican Reef, we visit New Zealand, New Caledonia, Puget Sound, Laos, plus lots of science talk, unique eco-vacation deals, and much much more. Be sure to check out the full Table of Contents for August. If you would like to publish a story on your work, research, or organization, please see our very simple guidelines here.

At SEVENSEAS Media we work tirelessly to inspire and educate the next generation while fostering collaboration and building a close knit community between all our partners in marine conservation. We directly act as a free PR arm and fundraising tool for hundreds of organizations doing invaluable work.  At the same time, we need your support. On a shoestring budget with thousands of volunteer hours logged-in, every donation goes a long way and helps ensure we keep telling the stories of all those who need their voices to be heard. Please consider a tax-deductible gift to keep SEVENSEAS Media running through 2017 and beyond.

Encourage friends, colleagues, and classmates to like and subscribe to free products and organizations like SEVENSEAS Media. The larger our network, the stronger our conservation message, and more significant our impact.

SEVENSEAS Media is the leading free resource that promotes marine conservation through community engagement, online media, and eco-tourism, to our readers all across the globe. We ask that YOU be that inspiration for others to follow in your footsteps.

Safe travels & happy swimming,

Giacomo Abrusci, Executive Director, Editor-in-Chief

“The scope of emerging national and international ocean-related issues facing society demands that we develop broad perspectives on graduate education and training in the ocean sciences. A multifaceted ocean workforce and new kinds of intellectual partnerships are needed to address ocean science research priorities, strengthen our understanding of coupled human-natural ocean systems, engage and inform public policy and management decision making, and increase ocean literacy. Alumni from graduate programs in ocean sciences are following diverse career paths in academia, government, nongovernmental organizations, and industry, and thus can inform us about the diverse skills needed to succeed. The ocean science academic community should build on its current strengths (e.g., multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research and education, international partnerships), and capitalize on what some might view as limitations (e.g., remote, yet inviting, coastal campuses, diversity of ocean science programs), to become an incubator of innovation that will advance the field and strengthen graduate education and training. Partnerships within and among institutions with ocean-related programs, and with professional societies, employers, and others, can help us provide cutting-edge, relevant academic options, facilitate professional development, and proactively position graduates for career paths that reflect and address important societal needs.” [Schaffner, Linda C., et al. “Moving Forward: 21St Century Pathways to Strengthen the Ocean Science Workforce Through Graduate Education and Professional Development.” Oceanography, vol. 29, no. 1, 2016, pp. 36–43. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/24861946.]

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Issue 28 - August 2017

The Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE)

LAMAVE LOGO

The Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (LAMAVE) is the largest independent non-stock non-government organization dedicated to the conservation of marine megafauna and the marine environment in the Philippines. We strive for conservation through scientific research, policy and education.

THE LAMAVE MISSION 

Conservation through Research and Education

Our primary objective is the conservation of marine biodiversity in the Philippines. Using proven and novel scientific data collection methods, we research the abundance and habitats of cetaceans, whale sharks, turtles, shark and rays in the Philippines.  We strive to identify imminent threats facing these species. Our local and international researchers and volunteers work closely with local governments, communities, businesses, and tourists to ensure the conservation of large marine animals through science, education, and advocacy.  The scientific data we gather is used to advise local governments on conservation policy and legislation, to counsel local and regional authorities on sustainable tourism, and to empower local stakeholders to better protect the unique biodiversity in Philippine waters.

WHY THE PHILIPPINES?

The Philippines is located in the center of the Coral Triangle, the ‘global center of marine biodiversity’, an area which is home to 1000’s of marine species especially large marine megafauna. Over 200 species of sharks and rays, 26 species of whales and dolphins, 5 species of turtles and the dugong are all found within Philippine waters. However, many of these species are now listed as threatened or endangered due to a degradation of their natural environment, unregulated fishing practices, incidental capture and pollution. 

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THE LAMAVE STORY

Large Marine Vertebrates Research Institute Philippines (“LAMAVE Research Institute”) was founded in 2014 by the Filipino members of the research team to develop social responsibility and build local capacity.  Before 2014, LAMAVE was a project of Physalus, a non-stock non-profit organization registered in Rome, Italy (TIN 97507360580). Today both organisations contribute to marine conservation in the Philippines. LAMAVE Research Institute collaborates with local and national authorities and works in cooperation with communities to ensure our continued conservation work in the Philippines, while through Physalus we work to raise awareness for marine conservation in Italy and empower early career researchers to build capacity and advance professionally. 

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OUR TEAM

LAMAVE would be nothing without its dedicated and passionate team.  United by their drive for conservation many of our team are experts in their field, with a focus on science and communication. While LAMAVE specialises in research, all media, (including this website), was produced in house thanks to our communications team. Interested in joining the team? Click here for open vacancies.

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SEVENSEAS Media logo for marine conservation articlesCheck out more of the latest articles on SEVENSEAS Media here. You can take a break from your day and check out some art on the SEVENSEAS Media Gallery here. Want to get in touch with questions or a submission? Contact us here.

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