February 27, 2022

Eritrean rider Natnael Tesfatsion wins the 14th edition of Tour du Rwanda 2022

The Eritrean Natnael Tesfatsion (Drone Hopper – Androni Giocattoli) has been proclaimed the final winner of the 14th edition of the Tour of Rwanda after finishing the eighth and last stage, which started and finished in the capital, Kigali, over 75.3 km, in which the Rwandan Moise Mugisha (ProTouch) won in a sprint between three.

Tesfatsion (Asmara, 22 years old), achieved his second absolute victory in the Rwandan round, since in 2020 he took the yellow jersey. On this occasion, without stage wins, he endured in the complicated last day marked with 7 heights and was able to maintain the leadership that allows him to succeed the Spanish Cristian Rodríguez, winner in 2021, in the record.

The stage victory was awarded to the local cyclist Moise Mugisha (ProTouch), 25 years old, faster in a reduced sprint than the French Sandy Dujardin and Alexandre Geniez (Total Energies), the latter deprived of the triplet by the African cyclist, who He crossed the finish line with a time of 2h.08.16. Seventh crossed the Spanish Óscar Pelegrí (Burgos BH), at 1.52, and tenth, at 1.53 minutes, Tesfatsion , already as the final winner of the round.

The Eritrean cyclist, again on top of the podium, was joined in the places of honor by the Ukrainian Anatoliy Budyak (Terengganu Polygon) and the Irishman Jesse Ewart (Bike Aid), second and third respectively in the general classification.

The stage began with the presence of the country’s president, Paul Kagame , at the exit, and then the battle took place from start to finish on a short route, but not an easy one, with 1,800 meters of unevenness and 7 climbs on a circuit that had to do 3 laps to finish on a slope.

In the escape of the day were the aforementioned protagonists, Dujardin and Geniez (Team TotalEnergies), Moise Mugisha (ProTouch), Edo Goldstein (Israel-Premier Tech) and the Spanish from Burgos BH Mario Aparicio.

In the end, the Arandino cyclist gave in and it seemed that Dujardin and Mugisha were going to dispute the stage between the two, but Geniez came back to join the party. Two Frenchmen from the same team against the African, but the Rwandan beat both of them and celebrated in style.

Source: Dehai Eritrea Online

February 27, 2022

Natnael Tesfatsion Champion of Tour du Rwanda

Eritrean Cyclist Natnael Tesfatsion member of the Italian team of Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli has become champion of the 14th Tour du Rwanda 2022 held from 20 to 27 February.

Natnael tesfatsion winner of the yellow jersey by finished the race in 23 hours 25 minutes and 34 seconds and has become the best rider of Tour du Rwanda 2022.

At this year’s Tour du Rwanda, Eritrean riders from various clubs who participated in the championship include Henok Mulubrhan and Metkel Eyob and finished the race with 5th and 12th position.

Source: Ministry of Information Eritrea

February 27, 2022

UNEP Seeking Solution to Issue of Increased Plastic Waste

Decreasing the usage of plastic and increasing its recycling is the aim of a resolution being presented at a United Nations Environment Program conference that opens Monday in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. According to the UNEP, 300,000 tons of plastic are produced yearly, and only 10 percent recycled, contributing to environmental pollution that, according to the UNEP, is reaching critical levels.

On the Dandora dumping site in Nairobi, visitors can see a hilly landscape full of decades of garbage and plastics generated from the city. People are sifting through the smelly waste with their bare hands, looking for something to sell or eat.

On this particular day, the site gets a visit from Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Program, along with the UNEP assembly president, Espen Barth Eide. They are inspecting piles of blue and transparent plastics that are baking in the sun. According to the UNEP, only 10 percent of global plastic production is recycled, while the rest risks polluting the environment. The UNEP says plastics even enter the human body. Espen Barth Eide took a blood test.

“We found nano plastic traces and also phthalates, a chemical product that we use to soften plastic, in my blood, and I don’t think my blood is unique and I think this is true for all of us on the planet,” said Eide.

The UNEP is looking for a solution to the issue of increased plastic waste collection, preventing it from ending up in nature or on dumping sites.

Twenty-year-old Isaac is a garbage picker on the Dandora dumping site. He collects a lot of plastic here for selling, like bottles, known here as chupas.

“Even bottles, chupas of soda. These plastic papers and plastic chupas like water, Omo, yogurt, all of it,” he said.

The UNEP’s Andersen says a lot more plastic will have to be collected for recycling purposes to keep the environment clean.

“We understand we need plastic. We take it from the belly of the Earth with hydrocarbon, said Andersen. “We make it into plastic. But once it is in the economy, let us not put it back into the environment; let us keep it in the economy.”

At a recycling plant in Nairobi, plastic waste is turned into polythene bags and bricks which are offered on the market. It can be seen as a sign that the process has started, but for the UNEP, it must be accelerated for a cleaner world.

Source: Voice OF America