Clara PardoI am very proud of the work of Manos Unidas in this difficult moment".– Supernatural The Human Being Effect" campaign coincides with the 65th anniversary of Manos Unidas and, as indicated in the documents provided by the organization itself, seeks to "convey to Spanish society the urgent need to end the climate injustice suffered by the most vulnerable peoples".
Cecilia Pilar Gracia, president of Manos Unidas, stated that "we will denounce how the mistreatment of the planet affects to a greater extent, and with much more devastating consequences, millions of disadvantaged people living in countries that have contributed little or nothing" to this deterioration.
Furthermore, Cecilia Pilar Gracia stressed that "in southern countries affected by extreme droughts, hurricanes, cyclones or torrential rains, these phenomena and the lack of means to mitigate or adapt to them are the cause of hunger, conflicts, poverty, migration and even death. And that is inequality. And that is climate injustice.
For the social projects being carried out by Manos Unidas (currently 550 in total, in 51 different countries), it relies on the help of 6460 volunteers, "distributed in the 72 delegations that the organization has", in addition to 73100 members.
Missionary of Turkana, Kenya
Manos Unidas is currently working in 50 countries in the world. AfricaAsia and America. As an example of the impact of climate change in Africa, the press conference was attended by María Soledad Villigua, a missionary in the Turkana desert in Kenya.
The missionary explained how in the last years the rains are scarcer in this area, which is reducing the water of Lake Turkana and making fishing difficult, besides causing deaths to the livestock of the nomadic herders of the area.
At the same time, María Soledad Villigua pointed out other difficulties faced in these environments, such as the exchange of girls for goats to men much older than them who already have several wives. In view of this, a shelter has been created for girls, both for orphans and for those who run away from their families when they are going to be exchanged.
This was followed by Donald Hernández, who explained the effects of the climate crisis in his country, Honduras.
Youth and climate change
Manos Unidas has also carried out a study, conducted by the consulting firm Gfk, "to know the perception that young Spaniards have about climate injustice and their commitment to reverse its effects".
The results of this study, briefly presented during the press conference, indicate that "76 % of young people in Spain believe that the climate crisis is real and a large majority are concerned about the situation, have a high sensitivity to environmental issues and are well aware that the future of all is linked to a large extent to our ability to care for the earth and its resources".
