Land Sustains Life
by cad_communication | November 11, 2009 at 3:48 AM
Land is the bases of human survival, particularly in Africa. In land we get all the resources we need to sustain our lives. That is why in Africa we talk of our “motherland”.
Like a womb, land gives birth to life. Like a bank, wealth is stored in it and like a mirror, it reflects who we are.
If you possess land, you have power. If you have power, you control other resources. If you control resources, you make decisions for yourself and change your life and your community – this is what most women in Africa lack.
The destruction of land is tantamount to the destruction of life and as such, I appreciate the importance of preserving land.
The land invasions that took place in Zimbabwe less than a decade ago has played a major role in my understanding of the value and meaning of land.
War veterans illegally grabbed land that was in the hands of white commercial farmers. This acted as a catalyst to political chaos and economic instability in Zimbabwe.
The results are there for the world to see and women are the worst affected because they rely mainly on land to survive. For instance, there is rampant ecological destruction as war veterans haphazardly destroy the natural flora and fauna.
Land is our heritage, the keeper of our wealth and the provider of all forms of life.
Comments
So true
Gertrude, I love the metaphors you used. Land does indeed give birth to life and reflects who we are. Unfortunately, the latter indicates an uncaring world ready to rape the land for all that it can offer, without care, without thought. In Zimbabwe, it has been used to wield power and in the process has suffered. I hope that one day, the destruction and carelessness will be a thing of the past and the Land will soon be in the care of the women who know and understand what Land can provide if nurtured. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Best wishes,
Janice
Destroy what we need?
Thank you for these words. It strikes me again how crazy it is that some people destroy the land, but, as you wrote, the land is the basis for human survival. How can anyone damage that what they are dependent on for living? But it happens again and again. I also like how you say that the land is a bank and can store wealth. That is such a great way of thinking about land. I share the hope of Janice and of yourself that one day the land will be nurtured again!
I appreciated that you shared this with us.
Marlies
Well done. I hope all the VOF
Well done. I hope all the VOF correspondents sumit the land story.
Love
Nusrat
Hi! Beautiful article! Keep
Hi! Beautiful article! Keep writing,,,
Congratulation once more.
love,
malaya
Nicely put "Like a womb, land
Nicely put "Like a womb, land gives birth to life. Like a bank, wealth is stored in it and like a mirror, it reflects who we are". Land is alive just like humans, indeed it is our heritage.
However, i would have loved to read more about how you personally connect with land, what it means to you, your story!
Peace!
Fatima