{"id":164,"date":"2024-07-11T13:33:30","date_gmt":"2024-07-11T13:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsan.com\/medicalfund\/?p=164"},"modified":"2024-07-14T15:17:15","modified_gmt":"2024-07-14T15:17:15","slug":"wmf-takes-part-in-the-green-santa-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/2024\/07\/11\/wmf-takes-part-in-the-green-santa-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"WMF takes part in the Green Santa Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you could ask for one thing for the planet this Christmas, what would it be? For the past few years, <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.deargreensanta.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>Green Santa<\/u><\/a> has been receiving messages from children around the world describing what they want for the planet at Christmas.<\/p>\n<p>The Green Santa project was first launched in 2019 by Dr. Laura Kehoe, a sustainability researcher at the University of Oxford, who has been working to find ways to support the living world since she was a teenager.<\/p>\n<p>The emergence of Green Santa comes at a time when young people are particularly stressed out about the ecological and climate crises. A recent survey revealed that nearly three quarters (73%) of 8 &#8211; 16 year olds said they are worried about the state of the planet right now &#8211; including 22% who say they are very worried.<\/p>\n<p>Green Santa is the sustainable and environmentally friendly older brother of the Santa Claus we all know and love, and this Christmas he is receiving Christmas wishes for the planet with families sharing their letters and drawings on social media by using #GreenSanta.<\/p>\n<p>These environmental issues are shared by children all over the world and this year, WMF decided to get involved and ask children at our Thandizo centre what their wishes to Green Santa would be. The children were very excited to take part and shared some great ideas from Malawi.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-721 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsan.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_82f1c565d4014cb88b8d492f62488507mv2.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_82f1c565d4014cb88b8d492f62488507mv2.webp 1080w, https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_82f1c565d4014cb88b8d492f62488507mv2-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_82f1c565d4014cb88b8d492f62488507mv2-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_82f1c565d4014cb88b8d492f62488507mv2-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_82f1c565d4014cb88b8d492f62488507mv2-768x768.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<div data-breakout=\"normal\">\n<p id=\"viewer-1i87p\" class=\"bbl5c dkFHG _8UBmS _-7CKp\" dir=\"auto\"><span class=\"zKS-7\"><strong>What did the children ask for?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-breakout=\"normal\">\n<p id=\"viewer-cb4gn\" class=\"bbl5c dkFHG _8UBmS _-7CKp\" dir=\"auto\"><span class=\"zKS-7\">Thokozani asked Green Santa to protect the fish in <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/289\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>Lake Malawi<\/u><\/a>. Lake Malawi is one of the deepest lakes in the world and is famous for being the home of many hundreds of fish species. The lake is considered globally important for <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iucn.org\/theme\/species\/our-work\/freshwater-biodiversity\/our-projects\/lake-malawi-catchment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>biodiversity conservation<\/u><\/a> due to the huge diversity of its fresh water fish species.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-726 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsan.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_3390646bc55c45dca78b324840c00097mv2.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"781\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_3390646bc55c45dca78b324840c00097mv2.webp 600w, https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_3390646bc55c45dca78b324840c00097mv2-230x300.webp 230w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\"><\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\">Godfrey asked Green Santa to help stop the flooding in Malawi. Malawi is considered highly vulnerable to climate variability and the country&#8217;s <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mountainresearchinitiative.org\/news-content\/africa\/addressing-climate-change-poverty-and-flooding-in-malawi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>Department of Climate Change and Meteorological services<\/u><\/a> has warned that these problems will continue. Flooding has a terrible impact on the agricultural sector and has led to <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.worldbank.org\/voices\/recent-floods-malawi-hit-poorest-areas-what-implies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>increasing levels of poverty<\/u><\/a> among smallholder farmers. Since <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fao.org\/3\/y4632e\/y4632e0n.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>agriculture<\/u><\/a> is important to Malawi&#8217;s economy overall, these issues also affect others in the country too indirectly.<\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-727 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsan.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_e775991b022a4469908eee8a4c4499e9mv2.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_e775991b022a4469908eee8a4c4499e9mv2.webp 600w, https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_e775991b022a4469908eee8a4c4499e9mv2-225x300.webp 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\"><\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\">Hanke decided to ask Green Santa for more trees to be planted in Malawi. The country has a diverse variety of trees &#8211; the <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.makeheritagefun.com\/malawi-baobab\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>baobab tree<\/u><\/a> is just one example that is highly valued in <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0254629917315752\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>southern Africa<\/u><\/a> and has become famous all over the world. Although efforts have been made to stop <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-malawi-deforestation-prosecution-idUSKBN1871J1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>illegal logging<\/u><\/a>, which has has led to a huge loss of trees, the danger of <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/gfw.global\/3eouJDt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>deforestation in Malawi<\/u><\/a> is growing. If deforestation continues at its <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/africageographic.com\/stories\/addressing-malawis-deforestation-crisis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>current rate<\/u><\/a>, Malawi could be stripped of all trees by as early as 2079.<\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\"><\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-728 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsan.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_7791cd13db9143fdbdd3faf0aeb6813cmv2.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_7791cd13db9143fdbdd3faf0aeb6813cmv2.webp 600w, https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_7791cd13db9143fdbdd3faf0aeb6813cmv2-225x300.webp 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\"><\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\">Shukulani asked Green Santa to protect the elephants in <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africanparks.org\/the-parks\/nkhotakota\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve<\/u><\/a>. Sadly, due to poaching, erosion of their habitat loss and other human activities, these beautiful animals are <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.savetheelephants.org\/about-elephants-2-3-2\/threats-to-elephants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>disappearing across Africa<\/u><\/a>. According to the charity <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.savetheelephants.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>Save the Elephants<\/u><\/a>, around 100,000 elephants in Africa were killed for their ivory in just three years between the years 2010 and 2012. Thankfully, Malawi has had a successful track record in recent times in revitalising the elephant population through its <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africanparks.org\/newsroom\/press-releases\/500-elephants-move-malawi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>500 Elephants initiative<\/u><\/a>. At present, there are more than <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africanparks.org\/campaign\/500-elephants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>400 elephants in the reserve<\/u><\/a> and they are thriving.<\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-729 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsan.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_8980b4d12bf946849d87215ba90efdb1mv2.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_8980b4d12bf946849d87215ba90efdb1mv2.webp 600w, https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/2d2bc1_8980b4d12bf946849d87215ba90efdb1mv2-225x300.webp 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\"><\/div>\n<div data-hook=\"rcv-block14\">\n<div data-breakout=\"normal\">\n<p id=\"viewer-fnfaj\" class=\"bbl5c dkFHG _8UBmS _-7CKp\" dir=\"auto\"><span class=\"zKS-7\">The Green Santa campaign has been a <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pimpmycause.org\/news\/there-is-a-new-santa-in-town\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>great success<\/u><\/a> this year and has even attracted attention from major media organisations such as <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/climatecast-dreaming-of-a-green-christmas-12497652\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>Sky News<\/u><\/a>. WMF recognises that the issues being discussed as part of Green Santa are equally important to children in Malawi and is looking forward to taking part in future events.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-breakout=\"normal\">\n<p id=\"viewer-appf3\" class=\"bbl5c dkFHG _8UBmS _-7CKp\" dir=\"auto\"><span class=\"zKS-7\">\u201cWe want everybody, not just kids, to write letters to Green Santa about what they want to happen to make the world a happier and healthier place.\u201d says Dr. Laura Kehoe, sustainability scientist at the University of Oxford and <a class=\"L-ZXL QZImc\" href=\"https:\/\/www.deargreensanta.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-hook=\"WebLink\"><u>founder of Green Santa<\/u><\/a>, \u201cWe can get caught in a trap of focusing on what we are against, this is a refreshing and empowering way to allow ourselves to envision what we are for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-breakout=\"normal\">\n<div id=\"viewer-a3kgt\" class=\"XFQsU\">\n<div class=\"_4zxWp eu4Ur\">\n<figure class=\"-NM7M\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-hook=\"imageViewer\">\n<div id=\"a3kgt\" class=\"AE5h6 _3EJkQ bk5lD\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you could ask for one thing for the planet this Christmas, what would it be? For the past few years, Green Santa has been receiving messages from children around the world describing what they want for the planet at Christmas. The Green Santa project was first launched in 2019 by Dr. Laura Kehoe, a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":165,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-164","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=164"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":730,"href":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/164\/revisions\/730"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medicalfund.rahatulahsanrafi.com\/medicalfund\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}