On 25 May 2013, William Nyirenda the Environmental Justice Coordinator for the local civil society organisation Citizens for Justice will give a presentation on the impact of Mining in Malawi. Nyirenda holds an Environmental Science degree from the University of Malawi. The public talk to be given at 10am at the Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary has been organised by the Lilongwe Branch of the Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi.

According to the organiser’s, Nyirenda, who is passionate about ensuring that socio-economic development in Malawi is in harmony with nature and human rights, will focus on

social, economic, environmental and labour issues associated with mining in Malawi. The talk will revolve around the impacts of mining on the livelihoods of surrounding communities, i.e. the impact on people’s health, labour rights, resettlement and compensation to communities, corporate social responsibility, environmental degradation and awareness of local communities.

This will take place at the same time as Lilongwe’s first TedX event. TedX Lilongwe, which is an independently organised TED event, will happen on Saturday from 8am-4pm at Crossroads Hotel. Henry Kachaje, who has been quoted by this blog for his opinions on Malawi’s economy, will present at TedX. Kachaje, an economist by training and Managing Director of Business Consult Africa, will present “Imagine an economically independent Malawi”.

Note: TED is a non-profit organisation under the Sapling Foundation committed to ‘ideas worth sharing’ through global conferences. These conferences are held twice a year where the “world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers” are brought together to talk about their lives in a maximum of 18 minutes. The TedX event that will be held in Malawi is aimed to “stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences“.