Lüderitz 2024 (09. 04. 2024)

Ladies and Gentlemen

 

First of all, I would like to thank you for allowing us to come together here today to talk about a topic that concerns us all: the future of hydrogen projects in and around Lüderitz and the associated rights and needs of the Nama Nation.

 

I am both honored and troubled to stand before you.

-Hon Kornelia Kashiimbindjola Shilunga (MP) Deputy Minister- Mines &Energy
- Hon. Aletta Fredericks Governours: //Kharas Region

Dear government representatives, ministers, economic and scientific actors, it is clear that we are at the beginning of a technological revolution that has the potential to transform our country and our world. But as promising as this future seems, we must remember that technology is never neutral. It's not just about what we build, but also how we build it and who we involve in the process.

I stand before you today not only as a representative but also as a guardian of the interests and heritage of the Nama Nation. It is an honor for me to address this symposium, which deals with a topic of such great importance: “Indigenous reflection on Green Hydrogen Production in Sothern Namibia”. But at the heart of this discussion lies a burning question that goes beyond mere technological and economic progress - the question of inclusion and respect for the rights of indigenous peoples.

 

For too long, the Nama Nation has seen decisions affecting our land, our heritage and our future being made without our input. The principle “Nothing about us without us !" is central to every discussion that concerns our collective well-being, and yet it has not been truly taken into account in the context of current hydrogen projects.

 

Let me be clear: the representatives of the indigenous peoples, especially the Nama Nation, have not yet been adequately included in the planning of the hydrogen projects. This not only violates our deep understanding of justice and cooperative dialogue, but also the principle "Nothing about us without us !", which should be of central importance to all of us.

 

This symposium is not the result of a government draft, it is an initiative of our own - an act of coming together and the desire to understand. The fact that no concrete action has been taken by the government to date shows a mismatch. A mismatch between the importance of this project and the involvement of those it most affects.

We would like to thank our partners, the Society for Threatened Peoples and the Hering Foundation, for their support. But let us be clear that no strategy can be complete without including the voices and perspectives of those most directly affected.

 

Our goal must be to develop an informed, sustainable and equitable hydrogen strategy that respects and prioritizes the rights and needs of the Nama. It is about establishing clear and transparent mechanisms that include the Nama Nation and other indigenous peoples in all phases of planning, development and ultimately the implementation of the projects.

I stand here today to tell you: It is time that we not only accept this principle, but also actively implement it. The initiative of this symposium demonstrates the will and the need to create an informed dialogue. It's about developing a strategy that is not only technically or financially viable, but also culturally and socially sustainable.

 

My message to you today is a call to action. It is time for us to unite and build an inclusive future where every voice is heard and every contribution is valued. The Nama Nation is ready for dialogue, ready to sit at the table of decision-makers, ready to lead and be led. Are you ready to meet us there? Not as supplicants, not as an expression of the mood, but as equal partners in a project that affects us all and from which we can all benefit.

 

I appeal to everyone present here: let us work together to make the hydrogen initiative a model project for sustainability and inclusion. It's not just about the energy industry, it's about human rights, environmental protection, social justice and a future worth living for everyone.

 

We are the Nama. Our knowledge and experience are deeply rooted in the country, which is now at the center of the energy transition. We request that all concerns that concern us be discussed openly and honestly with the umbrella organization of Nama Traditional Authorities, the NTLA, to ensure that the entire Namas community is fully involved.

 

Let us enter into a process together where transparency, respect and true partnership come first. We don't want to just be spectators; we demand to be viewed as equal partners. Only if we work together can we ensure that the hydrogen projects not only follow a sustainable development model, but also protect the rights and needs of the Nama nation.

 

We have the opportunity to make history - a history in which everyone's voices are heard and honored. Let us choose this path of inclusion and respect today and shape a future where progress and tradition go hand in hand.

 

I thank you for your attention and look forward to the upcoming discussions and the common effort to leave a fair, respectful and sustainable world to our children and grandchildren.

 

Thank you.