Crisis

Burning: The cause of drought in Northern Uganda?

nakirya — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:18:55 +0200

It looks like its a routine in Northern Uganda,for farmers to burn forests ruthlessly...............

World Heritage Site - Kasubi Tombs - Burns to Ashes.

cissy — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:09:57 +0200

The Kasubi tombs -- commonly known as a “Masiro” -- are situated five kilometers away from Kampala City Centre on Kasubi Hill, on the Kampala/ Hoima Road. The place is a burial ground for Buganda Royal Kings and a cultural heritage centre.

The Kasubi Tombs entrance site was inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list in 2001. The Tombs are marked by a thatched hut. It is a major example of an architectural achievement in organic materials -- principally wood, thatch, reed, wattle and daub. The site's main significance lies, however, in its intangible values of belief, spirituality, continuity and identity.

The grass thatched Kasubi Tombs were gutted by fire in the night of 16th March 2010, at about 8.30 pm. The Uganda Police have yet to establish the cause of the fire. The arrival of Uganda Fire Brigade did not save anything as the fire caught up the grass thatched huts (Esuubi) and gutted them within no time. The raging fire burnt the whole rear hut, and fumes could be seen from a distance by some of us who are neighboring the tombs.

The crowd flocked to the scene of the fire scene singing, the “Ekitibwa kya Buganda”, drumming and chanting, making a lot of noise. This hampered the fire brigade from effectively extinguishing the fire. See http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/713151

To maintain peace and order, security personnel had to be deployed to protect the remains.

The deployed personnel were forced to fire in the air scaring away the hooligans who would run to and fro. By 11pm, the fumes could still be seen from a distance. The fire brigade team did not save much and the grass thatched huts were burnt to ashes, including most of the traditional tools, which are used to perform some rituals according to Buganda cultural norms.

It is reported that “four people are feared dead in the chaos reigning at the Kasubi tombs” (www.256news.com). The famous heritage site, “Kasubi Tombs” is no more. It’s a pity the traditional rituals could not foretell the incident.

A lot of noise still goes on as the idlers take advantage and disrupt the efforts to safe guard the remains. Chanting and singing have scared Ugandans who have not forgotten the riots last year that cost many lives of innocent Ugandans.

Kasubi Tombs is a very important and historical site for Buganda. The Kings (Kabakas) always built their palaces on strategic hills to control the major roads to the Palace, and find easy ways to escape in case of an invasion or rebellion. When they died, the traditional practice was to bury each Kabaka at a separate site to establish a royal shrine to house his jaw bone, which was believed to contain his spirit.

These shrines were staffed by descendants of the Kabaka's leading chiefs, his wives, his ritual half sister, and by spirit medium through which the dead Kabaka communicated with his successors. Many of the shrines are still maintained today. The four Kabakas have been laid to rest forever at Kasubi Tombs.

The structures of Kasubi Tombs are traditionally built with non permanent materials, and this makes it prone to fire dangers. The gate house was constructed using wooden columns supporting a thatched roof, with walls made of woven reeds. The entire structure is divided into departments. The Bajjabukula leads to a small courtyard which contains the Ndoga-Obukaba, a circular house in which the royal drums are kept.

One enters the main courtyard (Olugya) enclosed by a fence constructed of reeds and several houses built for the widows of the Kabakas and for other Ritual purposes. The entrance into this county yard is a striking experience, as one immediately faces the main tomb building known as Muzibu-Azaala- Mpanga, which is the architectural masterpiece of this ensemble.

The hidden part inside the great house is known as the” forest" or Kibira. It is a sacred and secret area where king’s spirits reside. Only the widows have access to this part behind a bark cloth curtain.

Apart from the Royal burial ceremonies, other traditional rituals are carried out throughout the year. They include the new moon ceremony and the consultation of the mediums. But the main spiritual life is not visible to the ordinary visitor as many ceremonies are performed secretly inside the buildings. The Baganda observe the myths concerning the origin of death. People believe that every person's death has a spiritual origin.

The government will assist in the restoration of the vandalized Buganda Kingdom tombs at Kasubi in Kampala, according to a statement from State House. We hope this historical Buganda cultural site will be restored to its original state.

Climate Change at Work in Uganda

nakirya — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:13:40 +0200

It is unfortunate that there is a general climate change in many parts of Africa, especially Uganda, and farmers who are directly involved in farming activities are not really aware.

As a result, this has taken many lives in parts of the world including the Buduuda area in western Uganda, where it is estimated that more than 85 people were swept away by mud.

People need to be more informed about their immediate environment and how to handle climate change before such disasters. One major way is communication through the Internet, print media, and radio.

Malaria a National Disaster, says Tanzanian President

pmlay — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:19:17 +0200

President Jakaya Kikwete has declared malaria a national disaster. The disease kills 291 people in Tanzania every day.

“This is the disease which kills more Tanzanians than any other,” said Kikwete on Saturday at the launching of a special campaign against Malaria in Dar es Salaam. He said the war against malaria was one which Tanzanians must fight and win. “We have the motive, zeal and ability to end it,” he stressed.

The President said 291 people, many of them children, were dying of every day of malaria, a disease which can be prevented and cured. “In other words, 10 people die of malaria every hour. This is a big number. This is a national tragedy,” Kikwete told the nation in a televised launching ceremony.

The president mentioned three ways of fighting and winning the war against malaria. They include use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets and ensuring availability of the nets; preventing the replication of mosquitoes that carry malaria and lastly, using effective drugs to treat those with malaria.

On nets, the President further said that while children under five were currently getting them for free, plans were in the final stages to enable every household to have at least two treated nets.
“We must ensure we annihilate these mosquitoes and their breeding sites. It is possible to ensure that we become the last generation to die of malaria. Other countries in the world have managed. It is possible for us to make it. Remember Zanzibar have managed, we can as well do it,” said Kikwete.

The president said the campaign would strive to prevent unnecessary deaths. “This is a campaign to save our lives," he said. "It is a campaign to prevent deaths which can be avoided.”

The campaign is a collective undertaking between the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other key stakeholders. These include institutions like Malaria No More, Population Services International (PSI) and Johns Hopkins University of the USA.

Preside Obama, Bush And Clinton's Meeting: A Lesson To Some African Nations

maureen — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:59:08 +0200

Following the recent earthquake that claimed thousands of people in Haiti, humanitarian organizations are seeking aid from several nations, organizations and individuals to save the victims of the earthquake.

The earthquake caused major damage to Port-au-Prince. Most major landmarks were significantly damaged or destroyed, including the Presidential Palace and the National Assembly building mong others. The United Nations (UN) reported that the headquarters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), located in the capital, had collapsed and that the Mission's Chief, Hédi Annabi, and his deputy were confirmed dead.

Elisabeth Byrs of the UN called it the worst disaster the United Nations has experienced because the organizational structures of the UN in Haiti and the Haitian government were destroyed. Though relief supplies started arriving in the local airport soon after the disaster, slow distribution and the large number of affected people created concerns of civil unrest.

The meeting between former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton was a very good gesture of unity in times of need and catastrophy. According to Politico.com, when Obama called the former two Ameircan presidents after the earthquake, they both asked “How can I help?” This showed their willingness and solidarity in addition to their love for America.

As I follow what is going on in Haiti, I do not forget to look at our own African nations. What if a similar catastorphy had occurred in Africa? Would former presidents ever come together to find a solution to the problem or would they use it as a way of undermining the current president/s?

With the exception of South Africa and maybe Tanzania, I think most governments in Africa lack the sense of unity and the positive impact it has. President Obama’s gesture should be a lesson to most nations. They should learn that one cannot achieve something in isolation.

Donations can be sent through the website set up by the former presidents.

Coffin chaos at Chisokone Market

Lukondebrian — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:19:42 +0200

There was pandemonium at Chisokone Market in Kitwe this morning, when the coffin of a dead man was brought to the office of the association called Zanama (Zambia National Marketeers Association). 
Mourners from Kitwe Central Hospital’s mortuary carried the coffin of a dead man shoulder high, and headed for Zanama office at Chisokone market in protest against the Association, which they claimed was responsible for the man’s death after he was beaten by the so-called security neighborhood watch.

Marketeers and other traders had a tough time in trying to secure their properties as they saw a mob entering the market, while customers were also amused and scampered to safety.  The coffin was taken to Zanama's office in order for them to decide where to take it, since it was believed that they were the ones that murdered the young man who was a Kaponya (someone who sells carrier bags and help people carry heavy things).

 The Zanama office was left burnt to ashes along with some neighboring stores. Meanwhile the police had to intercept and got hold of the coffin, which was later taken to the civic centre, where burial arrangements were made.

It was discovered that the security neighborhood watch got hold of this man and took him to the same office where he was beaten to death. After realizing the man could not respond in any way he was rushed to the hospital and was certified dead. 

Three of the security personnel were arrested and have since been taken to Kamfinsa Prison waiting to appear before the courts of law.

Zanama president Mr. Elvis Nkandu, acknowledged that the beating was done and the culprits had been booked. Then he was quick to claim that the whole incident of storming the market with the coffin was engineered by at faction called Zatma, which also operates at the same market. According to Mr Nkandu, Zatma does not have support of the majority.

He accused Zatma members of trying to fight Zanama in any way possible so that they can get more support from the maketeers.

The mother of the deceased who came from Serenje clad in a church uniform could not comment, and efforts to get comments from Zatma members, police and the council proved futile -- the phones were not reachable. 

Community News

Corn And Rice Fertilised

Khama — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:31:10 +0200

Conservation farming was the main stay of rural and urban dwellers before the introduction of chemical fertilizer and herbicides as well as GMOs genetically modified organisms. The Bible in Genesis tells us of one Adam in the Garden of Eden. He grew almost everything without chemicals and crops thrived and bore fruits. Then the bible advised us to go out and multiply. As the population grew with time, over billion Chinese and Indians, hundreds of millions in Africa, the quest for more food could not be over emphasized.

Different type of seeds like corn and rice were mass produced to feed millions. Fertilizers and herbicides were introduced to quicken growth of the widely used crops. The advent of hybrids and fertilizers were a panacea to avert words worst hunger, especially in South America, Asia and Africa. Several Governments were given grants and loans to procure the now dubbed chemical fertilizer rush. Several years down the road fertilizers and GMOs hybrids could still not manage to feed the world. The effects of fertilizer chemicals have had on people are well documented. Soils have been destroyed due to excessive use of the chemical. The climate change with extreme heat and cold in areas where things were normal, these chemicals are part of the contributing factor. Despite the damage to our soils and water, Governments in Africa and Zambia in particular are promoting the use of fertilizers, herbicides and they provide grants to small scale farmers and peasant farmers to acquire fertilizers. Despite such huge investments corn and rice is forever in short supply

Preparations are needed as the rain starts in Dar es Salaam

Kamala — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:38:40 +0200

This morning as I was walking from a commuter bus stop to my normal business place I encountered a shocking though normal condition – it was somehow heavily raining. I cared not, and kept on walking to the office before my shirt became totally wet. It is raining in Dar es Salaam and it has not rained for a long enough period of time compared to the normal rainy seasons here.

As the rains begin, the city of Dar es Salaam city and the nation of Tanzania at large needs some precautions. Tanzania’s weather authority has been warning of the possibility of flooding since the end of August this year. Ironically, food shortages due to lack of rains may be prolonged by flooding.

However Dar es Salaam’s city streets are not very ready to accommodate water flows. There are some reported cases of outbreaks of cholera, which might be aggravated by flooding waters. Traffic jams cannot be left aside either.

All of this shows the effect on Tanzania of global warming. When there’s no rain the country is in trouble, and when it is raining the country is in more trouble.

General

Help! Coffee disease is drying all our coffee

daisy — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:44:38 +0200

In Masaka District, Kako Samalien parish, the coffee is drying. What is surprising is that when this coffee dries it follows a straight line. At one time it looked like it was decreasing, then the coffee started drying again. So what we have been doing for this problem is that we cut, burn and burn the infected coffee. The tools we use like the pangas we use, we also burn them. We worry that our income will decrease since we depend on coffee. Our fellow farmers, how do you handle such cases? We would be grateful for your advice.
Sarah Mulenga
Jane Walusimbe
Celac Masaka

I will love you up to the dry up of Lake Victoria.

Kamala — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:02:19 +0200

Global warming is hitting us. Lake Victoria’s water level is sinking and stones are coming up while marine life is threatened. This takes me back to when we were school students. One boy was once found with a letter to his girlfriend to-be. The boy tried to convince the girl by showing how much he thought he loved her.

One part of the letter read, “I will love you up to the dry up of Lake Victoria”. Many people who lived near by the lake used to say that a lot about the lake. Now that boy’s dream to love the girl till the dry up of the lake has been brought into effect by global warming. It is still not easy to know if people have caused the water level to sink because of their words or global warming has just chipped in to fulfill their dreams.

Will they be ready to change their words to, "up to the filling of Lake Victoria? At first the plenty and fullness of water proved to never dry, but nowadays it is no longer so.

General

Egypt with water re-use, let's unite and fight as one

Kamala — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:50:38 +0200

There is an ongoing dispute on the use of water from Lake Victoria and the river Nile. The dispute is between Egypt and other nations which share the Nile basin or benefit from it directly and indirectly. Mostly these are East, north and some central African states, such as Sudan and Uganda.

I recently attended a video conference on water re-use, where six countries were invited to discuss water scarcity in the world, and water re-use as the only solution. Mexico and Spain are said to be among countries with water shortage where they have succeeded to set water re-use as a priority and a working solution.

Countries in North Africa also experience a shortage of water as one of their main problems. Egypt is now undergoing a water re-use exercise, but some Egyptians are complaining that re-used water is spreading disease, due to improper treatment.

What was not clear to me was how Egypt is recycling water. Maybe the reason Egypt’s water is spreading disease is that the water from the Nile is already recycled and contaminated.

Remember that the main source of the Nile is Lake Victoria. Tanzania might be the main polluter of Lake Victoria’s water. The World Bank has insisted to developing countries like Tanzania that they should undergo direct foreign investment and Tanzania has attended to that call, especially in the mining sector.

The foreign mining companies are now using poisonous chemicals in mining and cleaning minerals. Those chemicals include cyanide, which is leaking into Lake Victoria. Also some other industries are contributing their poisons to Lake Victoria.

Here in Tanzania, we are being strongly prohibited from using Lake Victoria water for human activities. Swimming in the lake and eating its fish can be endangering our lives. That is the water that is later directed to Egypt, where they use it and re-cycle it.

I don’t think Egypt and other Nile basin countries should rely on colonial laws regulating who should use the Nile / Victoria water*. instead, as Africans, let’s unite and fight global warming as one.
We all have the need for water. In Tanzania if we use other water sources very well, we can release much cleaner water to Lake Victoria then to the Nile. All we need is to use all the human resources we have as Africans and fight global warming.

We need to forget all colour differences, ethnicity and any other discriminatory taboos and realise that nature created us and joined us with our mother continent through boundaries and her sweet sources of lives.

Nobody from outside will help us. The Word Bank is telling Tanzania that foreign investment is good while killing our natural resources and on the other side, helping Egypt to fight water scarcity by recycling contaminated water. Africa must unite and fight as one.

If we can cooperate in various activities like in mining our minerals as Africans who cares about our mother continent, we can never use poisons and killer chemicals since we shall be caring about our fellows elsewhere, as well as the next generation. The sin we commit is self denial. We embrace colonial territories which are not naturally created.

If we had set aside colonial territories (countries/boundaries) we would have fought as one and environmental pollution which is leading to global warming would be reduced. Our sin is costing us. Tanzania is now clearing bushes and forests for export while endangering water sources. Lake Victoria's water level is getting lower and lower. When will we unite to fight our common problem as one?

I love Africa. I hate those who are polluting our resources.

* The most important colonial-era agreements are the May 7, 1929 agreement between Egypt and Anglo-Egyptian Sudan and the 1959 Nile agreement between the Sudan and Egypt. The 1929, agreement gave Egypt complete control over the Nile during the dry season when water is most needed for agricultural irrigation. It also severely limits the amount of water allotted Sudan and provides no water to any of the other riparian states. The 1959 Nile agreement allowed the entire average annual flow of the Nile to be shardd among the Sudan and Egypt.

General

Global warming now set to affect production in the agricultural sector.

pmlay — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:21:15 +0200

Production in the agricultural sector will fall by 33 per cent in few years to come due to climate change, the Parliament heard yesterday.

The health sector, according to experts, has started experiencing the wrath of climate change which has increased temperature in areas that were known to be cold, thus increasing cases of malaria.

The Minister in the Vice President’s Office (Environment) Batilda Burian said increased amount of carbon generated in the developed world is likely to affect agriculture activities in the country and the world at large.

She said while Africa contributes three per cent of the total carbon generated, the United States contributes 26 per cent.

The minister was responding to a question from Ludewa MP, Prof. Raphael Mwalyosi (CCM) who had wanted to know how much Tanzania contributes to the climate change.

Prof. Mwalyosi also wanted the government to state the cost of destruction caused by global warming in the country.

Burian said Tanzanian contributes only 0.1 per cent in the areas of industries, deforestation and tree burning.

She said Tanzania has 33.3m hectares of forests which take a large amount of carbon generated in developed countries.

The minister said the government has prepared the National Adaptation Plan of Action to find areas which need quick interventions.

Drought kills thousands of Cattle in Northern Tanzania.

pmlay — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:50:28 +0200

Tanzania recently lost between 3,000 and 4,000 cattle worth 1 billion in a decade’s worst drought, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Livestock Development and Fisheries Ministry Jonas Melewas has said. Most cattle died in the north of the country – the northern highlands – he told the media in Arusha this week.

Ngorongoro, Longido and Monduli Districts in Arusha are the hardest hit. “With livestock dying and water being scarce, pastoral way of life has been reduced to struggle for survival.

Now the government has announced to build several modern abattoirs as part of a plan to buy animals from herdsmen

The ravages of the drought are clear in areas around Lake Natron and Oldonyo Lengai, reduced to desolate stretches of bare land. “This is the worst drought in ten years,” said Ngorongoro herdsman Lazaro Saitoti.

“The weather is all wrong, he says: "Rain falls when it should not, and does not come when it should,” said Naini ole Sirya, a pastoralist woman from Engikaret Village, Longido District.

The old woman said: “In 1980s and 1990s we used to get heavy and reliable rainfall. We had three rainy seasons but today it is only one season, which is also unpredictable.”

Naini said they face acute shortage of water for humans and cattle.

Another villager, Saipi Kimesera said: “I had 600 heads of cattle in 1989, today I am left with only 30, the rest having mostly died.

The villagers are no longer noticing dew that in the past used to be common during the early hours of the day. Elderly Koto Laizer lives near Namanga Town. According to her, that dew was very favourable to cows, but of late it has disappeared.

The impact of climate change seems to be worst on the lives of pastoralist people, like the Maasai and Barbaig as well as the Hadzabe and Akiye, who are hunters and gatherers respectively.

The indigenous people depend on the land and its natural resource base.

As it stands now, the majority of pastoralists’ families do not have enough animals to support the households. The catastrophe has also prompted conflicts between pastoralists and other landowners, such as farmers and investors.

Lifuraha Laltaika, Lecturer in Environmental law at Makumira University College, Arusha, cited the on going land dispute in Loliondo as being a result of climate change:

Laltaika is also the elected representative of Indigenous peoples of Africa in the Policy Board of the UN-REDD--(a Collaborative Programme of the United Nations agencies aimed at Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in developed countries). Another major challenge facing indigenous peoples as a result of climate change, he says, is lack of medicine because herbs are no longer readily available.

Laltaika who attended the just ended climate change negotiations in Bangkok, Thailand said, indigenous peoples globally are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change due to fragile and harsh ecosystems.

However, he is optimistic that governments will take this fact into account when deliberating on an international agreement to curb Carbon emissions during the 15th Conference of Parties to the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held in Copenhagen-Denmark in December 2009. In the international negotiations, Indigenous Peoples are lobbying for

inclusion of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). They also envisage reference to 'Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)'.

“In brief this means that indigenous peoples must have free access to information on all projects planned on their land as well as the impact they have on their living conditions” he noted.

Laltaika is concerned that developing countries such as Tanzania should stand firm in the negotiations and ensure that developed countries commit themselves to reduce emissions by at least 40 percent in the next 25 years compared to the 1990s baseline levels.

Tanzania Power shedding problem, Solution announced at last.

pmlay — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:07:54 +0200

The first batch of heavy oil meant to get Independent Power Tanzania Limited (IPTL) generators running arrives tomorrow, Energy and Minerals minister William Ngeleja said yesterday.

He told a press conference in Dar es Salaam that a ship with 7,524-tonne consignment of oil procured by Total would dock at Dar es Salaam port.

The minister said would be “a crucial step in the implementation of President Jakaya Kikwete’s directive on Tuesday that urgent measures should be taken to ensure the generators begin operations as soon as possible.

“This is also in a way a follow-up on Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda’s special meeting with the ministers for Energy and Minerals, Finance and Economic Affairs and Constitutional Affairs and Justice, Tanesco (Tanzania Electric Supply Company) and other organisations to discuss the matter and ensure that IPTL machines are switched with minimum delay,” added the minister.

IPTL generators, which have been lying idle at Tegeta on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam for quite some time, are supposed to add 100 megawatts to the 150MW-short national grid.

The deficit has forced Tanesco to institute 14-hour power shedding throughout the country.

According to Ngeleja, President Kikwete’s directive to switch on the IPTL generators was not meant to interfere with court procedures. Rather, his ministry and the Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA), which is legally mandated to oversee the property of companies, would work around the clock to ensure the nation did not experience needless blackouts.

“Efforts to switch on the IPTL generators as soon as possible are under way alongside talks to resolve the pending court case amicably,” he noted.

He assured the public on availability of funds from the Treasury for the procurement of adequate oil upon receiving advice from a technical team on the costs the importation would involve.

Ngeleja explained that the Hale hydro-power dams in Tanga Region, which were down with technical faults, had been repaired “but can generate only five MW and not the normal eight MW, following a drop in the water level”.

“Our projection is that power rationing will come to an end by November 30,” he added.

The Songas power plant at Ubungo in Dar es Salaam, whose recent collapse made the power crisis bigger, resumed operations yesterday afternoon.

The plant runs on natural gas and can generate 20 MW, which would cut the current power deficit to 130 MW.

Before the current power shedding, the country’s demand stood at over 750MW, while actual production capacity was 669 MW.

Tanzania started experiencing power shedding early this month after three major sources of power – the Kihansi and Hale hydro-power dams and the Songas plant – experienced technical faults.

In June this year, Tanesco announced that it was in urgent need of 312bn/- to help it generate emergency power to forestall a looming power shortage across the country.

Minister Ngeleja visited the IPTL plant at Tegeta on Thursday and announced that said the 45-MW Wartsila project, which will run on natural gas, was being finalized and would start generating power on November 1.

The State House had meanwhile revealed on Wednesday that President Kikwete had directed the Finance and Economic Affairs ministry to ensure that there was adequate funding for buying oil and financing other matters associated with the generation of power from the IPTL.

Opinion was divided among Dar es Salaam residents interviewed yesterday on the new developments relating to efforts being made to boost the national grid.

Abdallah Mchome, who operates a barber shop in the city centre, called on the government to exercise vigilance in the face of looming emergencies “instead of always depending on fore brigade-type operations”.

“We have incurred irreparable loss in revenue and the new developments won’t do us much good. However, I am inspired by the President’s concern and intervention,” he said.

Samora Avenue café operator Mariam Malya meanwhile said her business usually gets “a much-needed boost”, adding that the fact that she had no generator “means that I have no option but to sell every drink hot, which in turn means very poor business”.

“This automatically puts off customers. The trend very negatively impacts on my business especially because landlords want their rents in full and will not tolerate excuses,” she added.

Another city resident, Festo Pius, commended the president for ordering that the IPTL generators start operations.