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Prince Harry Calls for an End to Drilling in Africa's Okavango River

Prince Harry is advocating for one of the most important natural resources in Africa.

In an open letter for The Washington Post, the Duke of Sussex called for an end to corporate drilling in the Okavango River, a body of water that, according to the prince, has "nourished humans and wildlife in Southern Africa for generations."

"The Okavango is a force of life, providing the main source of water for nearly 1 million Indigenous and local people and some of the planet’s most majestic wildlife, including critically endangered species," Harry wrote. "Though drought-ridden for much of the year, the region averages 2.5 trillion gallons of water flow during flooding season. But there is an imminent threat on the horizon: corporate oil drilling."

He also expressed concern over ReconAfrica, the Canadian oil and gas company that has been granted licenses for "exploratory drilling," an act the prince describes as something that would "pillage the ecosystem for potential profit."

"Some things in life are best left undisturbed to carry out their purpose as a natural benefit. This is one of them," Harry added. "Further, the world is slowly beginning to adapt to greener energies and the power of nature-based solutions. The ecological, moral and economic imperatives to protect our natural resources eclipse the financial incentives of drilling. … With their warning in mind, the world must take swift action to transition away from fossil fuels and toward clean, green and renewable energies."

Harry isn't the only one in his family using their platform to speak out about environmental activism. His brother, Prince William, recently said that he wasn't impressed by billionaires funding "space tourism" when global warming appears to be a far more pressing matter.

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