Yes, it has taken awhile for me to get this going. But for networking reasons-its about time. I am currently in Monrovia, Liberia working for Green Advocates. GA is a public interest law firm in Monrovia and I am one of the four legal interns here for the summer. As the picture demonstrates, it is the corner office I have always dreamed for...
Working in the public interest sector here in Liberia has been an interesting experience to say the least. Aside from composing some strategies for a nation wide monitoring effort and attending budget meetings, the first few weeks have involved me getting my bearings straight and trying to decide how to make my time here as effective as possible. With the grateful assistance of those at the EPA US, I have compiled a resource for Environmental Impact Assessment critiques for GA staff to use in evaluating reports from the companies with development projects in Liberia. Unfortunately, there are no EIA reports. While the recently passed Environmental Management Law of Liberia requires for EIAs to be produced and evaluated by the EPA, companies have yet to submit reports and the EPA has yet to hire, let alone train, individuals to review them.
That is just one example of the numerous "dead ends" that I have encountered since being here.
It appears that my position has been that of an idea generator, but to no particular avail. I am interested in developing a project that can be initiated within the next couple of weeks and carried of out after my departure from Liberia, because the lack of infrastructure offers too many obstacles for effective execution of environmental projects within a two month period. Today I am researching the prospect of solar power as a energy supplement to the diesel powered generator that intermittently powers the GA office. According to the President of GA, Alfred Brownell, due to the cost of gas many organizations in Liberia like GA are going out of business. GA has an office positioned on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the building on corner of Broad St and Macdonald. I am hoping to research the costs of solar development projects in West Africa and produce a report that would help Alfred gather support from donors to start a solar project at GA's office. Wish me luck!
