Carl Peters

Carl Peters was a German explorer, journalist and philosopher, instrumental in the founding of German East Africa and helped create the European "Scramble for Africa". Despite being vilified for cruelty to Africans and removed from office, he was later praised by Kaiser Wilhelm II and was considered a German hero by Hitler.

Ernegy Vampires

Have you ever noticed that there are certain people - co-workers, relatives, friends - who are like happiness leeches, sucking you dry of your energy with their bad vibes and, in turn, showering you with their own negativity? You know the types, they consistently bring you down with their dark outlook and petty grievances, using their own lack of self-assurance to knock down everyone else in sight, and speaking only of what's wrong, instead of what's right.

These are the ones for whom the proverbial glass is always half empty. Moreover, they are the ones who are so toxic, they not only miss the rainbow after a rainy day, but they also miss the beauty of the rainy day itself. And then they leave you covered with the detritus of their own misery.

There's no need to fall victim, however. Even though you can't always avoid such energy vampires, you can protect yourself from absorbing their bleak worldview and negativity so you can continue to embrace life without depressive interruptions.

Definition: positive energy
First, imagine positive energy as a perfect alignment of emotions, thoughts and behavior. An example would be a dinner party, surrounded by like-minded people whose intellect and conversation match your own. You feel buoyed by such connections and can let your guard down. There is no danger of being pulled into the undercurrent of jealousy, anger or resentment - only the uplifting feeling of positivity. Imagine yourself as having a protective shield surrounding you. The shield is always on, but at this moment it is on a dimmer switch and doesn't need to be activated to optimal brilliance.

In a negative energy situation - a meeting at work with lots of blame-laying and hurt feelings, or an outing with a friend who never ceases to gripe - your shield should be up, full force. This energy force of golden vibes and protective love is what you tap into when you feel the need. You may not see this protective light, but you can sense it. This also applies to your own negative "voices" - the ones that say you're not good enough, smart enough, talented enough to get the job, promotion or good life that you want. If you can't ignore those voices of self-doubt, just tell them to "be quiet." You're in control, not them - because if you give in to them, your creativity is out the window.

Bad vibe protection
You must protect yourself from drowning in the bad vibes of others so that your own subtle energy doesn't become stagnant and weigh you down. Aside from the energy shield, there are other techniques you can follow. In yoga, the word "Satnam" means "the truth within you." By surrendering to your truth, you will follow your proper life path. Repeat this word as you breathe out negativity and inhale positivity.

Absorb the loving energy instead: the unconditional love of your pet as it nestles up to you, the sweet caress of a lover, the sound of voices joining in unison in a spiritual gathering… these are all good and should be embraced. Like energy "candies" they fortify you with their joyous purity to better handle toxic encounters that may arise.

Deactivation
Use humor to alleviate dark emotions and remember to vanquish your own by freeing yourself of resentment. Identify your fears, face them, embrace them and then say goodbye to them. Trust your gut about danger and choose your actions wisely. Keep a journal that lists both the good things you've done and the amends you need to make. Then act on them.

Besides all this "feel good" advice, use common sense: Drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, commune with nature and don't spend so much time with electronic gadgets that you forget to live life for real. You'll feel centered and re-energized.

Remember, energy begets energy. This is a reflection of physiology but also describes emotions. What you put out is what you'll receive - if you're sending off enough positivity, you may then force it through the negative person's shield and wind up helping them as well. Now wouldn't that be great?

Trees planting at Rivers Songota valley

The map shows that 83% of the land surface is influenced by the one or more of the following; human population density greater than 10km square, agricultural land use, built-up areas, access with 15km of road, major rivers or coast, and nighttime light bright enough to be picked up by satellite sensors.

Most of the human activities on the earth affect the environment which is based on balance ecology.

Songota River it among the small rivers flow from the volcanic mountain, Mount Meru (4565m). The river rejoined another river as it flows towards the Maasai plains and latter turns to the Indian Ocean. South -West, South, and South –East of Mt. Meru as well as most of the mountain in East Africa which receives the wind from the Indian Ocean experience enough rainfall. The rainfall makes a crucial contribution to supporting the lush green forest the source of the catchment and several rivers.

The distribution of the people in East Africa up to 20th century was (and still is to the great extent) determined by the variables such as elevation, distribution of lakes and rivers, vegetation, and climate. For stance; the farmer communities were consecrated and still are, in the fertile soil in the high land. These communities went trough fast-growing population because the region is free from Malaria and other contagious.

The utilization of natural resource in these areas was high and still are. They to have to clear the forest to extend farms in order to increase the production for substance and for exchange, get more space for building space and building material, and for energy (firewood).

Due to these limit consideration activities, areas such as the Songota rivers valley started to erode because of trees cutting and unplanned farming systems. According to local people around the valley was characterized by unpetrateble riverine forest. Slowly people start to exploit it. Today there are no trees and grasses used to stabilize the soil such as bamboo or fig. trees.

Songota Falls Lodge is ecolodge established nearby in the valley and make the use of the falls. The management conserves and protects a small area of the valley. The conservation of this area gives an example.

The first time when I was doing bird watching in this and went down to rest at the waterfalls I was excited with the conserved area. I have been disappointed by the bare areas which started to react by eroding. I went to the lodge we discuss the matter with the owner Joyce Kimaro, the owner decides that we will arrange the trees planting in the valley.

As we were still working on the tree planting the lodge receives three clients. Brian Canadian man with his two children. Mike who is now doing research on agroforest in Kenya. And Shana a postgraduate student in Canada. Mike admires our ideal as he says he would like to participate in this event.

We decide to plant trees on 14th May 2019. Songota Falls Lodge contributes 100 trees and organizes the participation of the villagers, I myself I contribute 30 trees, Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania (WCST) 20 trees, and villagers apart of participating the contribute a lot of grasses which also can be used to feed their livestock on the future.

A total of 150 trees and lots of grasses were planted. The villagers promise to make a follow up of the progress of the trees.