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	Environmental Sustainability as a Tool for Peace Building an article by Ms. Adam Ceesay Environment is mostly seen as an abstract item in our lives. However, I believe it serves as an integral link between all other factors of life and if used effectively can lead to harmonious collaborations within communities. click on photo to enlarge For example, a pollution prevention initiative called "Operation Clean the Nation" in The Gambia has brought together people from communities of various ethnic groups for the joint cause of ensuring a clean environment. With a disregard for religious, political and tribal differences; these communities have united to form unbreakable bonds of love, trust, fun and laughter. With daily meetings at community development centers, women and youth groups in certain villages can now boast of better economic gains through reuse of waste materials such as plastic bags to make beautiful products e.g. local fans, slippers and bags. These same groups also boast of successful community advocacy programs on safe use of the environment e.g. encouraging use of solar energy and biogas technology. This has in no small measures resulted in fewer cases of deforestation and better use of the local people’s time for sustainable economic gains. In essence, working towards environmental sustainability in The Gambia through joint initiatives by the local communities has reduced the amount of time people actually special on negative issues such as tribalism, religious segregation and violent politics; leaving them with the choice of having closer contact with their fellow citizens, as well as learn and share new environment-friendly development activities. This is what I call a peaceful and harmonious coexistence in a society.		DISCUSSION Question(s) related to this article: What is the relation between the environment and peace? Thematic forum(s) in which this article is being discussed: ECOLOGY - ECOLOGIE
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