Temperatures are rising in Iraq, while we and our partners had several activities in World Earth Day – and the Day of Kurdish Journalism
Shatoo Kameran, 23. 04.2025
Each year, humanity produces over 2.01 billion tons of waste—a figure set to skyrocket to 3.4 billion tons in just three decades. That’s not growth; that’s self-destruction. The planet isn’t dying. We are killing it.
When we talk about pollution, fingers automatically point to India and China. Convenient scapegoats. But the truth remains: For more than fifteen years, the United States has held the honorable title of the world’s top environmental destructor. And they’re not alone. Right behind them are China, Australia, Germany, Canada, Japan, France, the UK, and Turkey.
Meanwhile, the rest of us pay the price.
Iraq, one of the countries that is most affected by climate change, is choking. It’s only April, and rivers have run dry. Temperatures have soared to 37°C. This is in fact no longer “climate change”—this is climate collapse, and it is happening now.
But what’s worse than destruction? Denial.
They want you to believe your paper straw is meaningless. But that’s where they’re wrong. It’s not the straw—it’s your voice. Your resistance. Your refusal to stay silent while your land is scorched and your future is stolen.
So, what can we do? We organize.
We refuse to normalize this death spiral.
We educate, mobilize, and radicalize.
Because on a large scale, it’s not policies that create change—it’s people.
Not just citizens. Awake citizens. Angry citizens. Informed citizens.
Citizens who know who broke the planet and who refuse to let them get away with it.
There’s only one way forward: to fight back.
We fight with knowledge. We fight with protest. We fight with unity.
Because silence is complicity—and we’ve been silent for far too long.
On this day, Wadi’s partners in the Active Citizenship Program carried out various activities to honor our forgiving planet—tackling different environmental aspects and targeting diverse groups.
In Kifri, one of the areas most affected by climate change in the Kurdistan region, Adwi led several activities. In cooperation with Kifri’s Technical Institute, Adwi organized a panel titled: “Environmental Challenges and Their Effects on Our Planet.”
The panel highlighted major issues Kifri is facing, particularly in terms of sustainable agriculture, and offered simple, practical solutions that everyone can implement in their daily lives to make a long-term difference.
The event also emphasized the importance of recycling and environmental protection laws in Kurdistan. It concluded with a series of engaging discussions on possible solutions, with participation from various sectors including government, NGOs, and local institutions.
Meanwhile, in Kalar, Adwi’s teams organized a greening campaign for one of the remote villages that lacked green spaces—helping restore nature where it’s most needed.
Not far from Kalar, Nwe Radio was awarded a Recognition Award by the General Directorate of Tourism for its significant role in promoting environmental activities and attracting tourists through its radio programs.
In addition, Nwe Organization hosted a training seminar at United Science Colleges, presented by Dr. Karzan Abdullah. The training covered a wide range of environmental awareness techniques, aiming to educate and inspire the next generation of changemakers.
April 22 also marks the 127th anniversary of Kurdish journalism. In light of this, Qaisar Rahman and Rangin Salam, both members of Nwe Organization, published a joint statement on the state of journalism in Halabja. The statement showcased data on male and female journalists, radio and TV stations, digital media platforms, and cases of mistreatment toward journalists. This statement became the topic of discussion on one of Nwe Radio’s special programs.
Back in Kalar, Deng Radio also dedicated a program to discussing the current state of journalism in the region. Radio Deng’s podcast
As for our media partner KirkukNow, they collaborated with Adwi to conduct a small research project on the state of the environment in Garmian, while also covering the greening campaign organized by Adwi on April 22.
April 22 served as a powerful reminder of the connetion between our environment and our communities.
Through activities carried out across Kifri, Halabja, and Garmian, organizations like Adwi, Nwe,Deng Radio and KirkukNow showed how collaboration and awareness can spark real change.
Whether through environmental campaigns, educational panels, or journalistic advocacy, each effort contributed to a larger movement. As we honor both Earth Day and the legacy of Kurdish journalism, we’re reminded that protecting our planet and empowering our voices must go hand in hand—for a sustainable future, and for generations to come.
Shatoo Kameran is responsible for public relations in ADWI
We thank the Dutch Consulate in Erbil for their support of the Active Citizenship campaign.
Wadi 
