Pambazuka News 692: Imperialist plots, resistance and Ebola politics
Pambazuka News 692: Imperialist plots, resistance and Ebola politics
Whereas the author’s proposed multi-state solution is controversial and needs to take account of certain important practical realities, the new book is an engaging primer on Nigerian history and is worth reading for those with an interest in post-colonial studies
The Ebola outbreak, now considered the worst in history, has put the spotlight on Pan-Africanism and the role of the African Union. There has been much rhetoric but little to show in terms of continental solidarity as the crisis worsens
The charges against the former president – deposed by France, the US and Canada - center around corruption, money laundering and drug related, but are part of an ongoing politically motivated harassment against him
What is Ebola? How is it contracted? How is the disease highlighting the prejudices and shortcomings of the international community? In what ways is it undermining West African values and practices. Yohannes Woldemariam reflects on these questions and more.
In 2004, a Botswana Minister said there was no mining nor any plans for future mining anywhere inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. In 2014 a $4.9bn diamond mine opens
Pambazuka News 693: Africa rising? Fiction vs reality
Pambazuka News 693: Africa rising? Fiction vs reality
The mobile revolution. Geopolitical power shifts. A radically altered global economy. The world is changing, and so is the way that people fight for their rights. In order to be effective, Amnesty International’s (AI) International Secretariat needs to change how we work. That’s why we’ve opened a regional office in Dakar. And why we need your research expertise with us on the ground.
The mobile revolution. Geopolitical power shifts. A radically altered global economy. The world is changing, and so is the way that people fight for their rights. In order to be effective, Amnesty International’s (AI) International Secretariat needs to change how we work. That’s why we’ve opened a regional office in Dakar. And why we need your research expertise with us on the ground.
Amnesty International (AI) is establishing an office in Nigeria. We are seeking a proven expert on Nigeria, to lead on the development and implementation of campaigning strategies, and to manage and coordinate action on human rights concerns that ensures a lasting impact.
Amnesty International (AI) is establishing an office in Nigeria. We are seeking a proven expert on Nigeria, to lead on the development and implementation of overarching research and campaigning strategies that deliver lasting impact on national human rights priorities.
Pambazuka News 691: US-Africa summit, Gaza and murderous onslaughts
Pambazuka News 691: US-Africa summit, Gaza and murderous onslaughts
The conflict between Israel and Palestine, currently devastating Gaza, will continue without drastic changes. Workers and youths in the two nations and across the Middle East must unite against the system and build revolutionary democratic governments that serve the people
Where is the much-touted Responsibility to Protect with regard to Palestinians? Israel murders people in Gaza with impunity. The world has failed these defenceless and colonised people. It is a big shame
Forceful evictions are rampant in Kenya. The government has never addressed the question of landlessness. Nor has anyone been held accountable in cases where fake titles are issued by government officials
The situation in DRC illustrates the deficiency of global ethics, selfishness and the longstanding failure to value the lives of the African people. Tackling the DRC’s impasse requires a comprehensive approach and involvement of national, regional, continental and international communities
After decades of violent conflict, dictatorship, a weak state and massive foreign interference, one could give up on DR Congo. But the country is on course to restoration. It will indeed become the centre of the sun’s radiance for Africa
It is particularly in its failure to organize that the Congolese diaspora has been unable to bring sustainable support and change to the situation in their country. What needs to be done in order to organize effectively and bring to reality the change we want to see in Congo?
The petition urges urges all African scholars and scholars of Africa to sign against Israel's murderous onslaught in Gaza. The ongoing Israeli massacres in Gaza have been ghastly reminders of the complicity of Israeli academic institutions in the occupation and oppression of Palestinians.
The US-Africa leaders summit is a public relations exercise in pomp, ceremony and ritual meant to disguise the militarised foreign policy represented by AFRICOM. It is also aimed at countering the Chinese presence on the African continent
NATO claimed that its intervention in Libya was a historic success. But three years later, Libya is in complete chaos. Some 1700 militias have a combined total of 250,000 men under arms. Another external intervention seems necessary to stabilize the country. But the US and NATO must never be involved
Russia’s presence in Africa remains marginal, largely due to historical reasons. But this could soon change. Several delegations from African states have visited Moscow in recent months and the Russian government appears determined to strengthen ties with Africa
Examples of non-state structures and social networks that carry out political and economic tasks in DRC and Nigeria, in the absence of an effective state, suggest a more diverse and inclusive concept of shared power in African societies that goes beyond the simplistic Western conceptions of a rational state with the monopoly of power
The US-Africa summit will serve the interests of many but ultimately not the African people. The themes of the summit are centred around investment and business which is nothing more than the continued exploitation of Africa for external beneficiaries
This film by an Israeli director about albino killings in Tanzania is replete with Western stereotypes about the African savage, without any historical or political context
All five libraries have been established through partnerships with writing organizations, arts organizations, existing libraries, and influential individuals in the arts from each of the five launch countries, and all have received start-up donations of books collected and sent to them by the Fund
It is quite evident that the much-hyped summit was not about how the US can help Africa, but rather how the US can reconstruct its relations with Africa for its own interests, especially in the light of the growing presence of the BRICS
Time for the CBC and our black political class denounce apartheid and ethnocracy in Israel-Palestine
The contradiction between the supposed origin of our black political class out of the struggle against Jim Crow and its collaboration with Israeli apartheid can't be resolved. We can only save the good name of our own people by calling out the black US collaborators with apartheid, holding them up to derision and ridicule, by sustaining a storm of disapproval and opprobrium until they and the ethnocratic regime in Israel are no more.
There is ridiculously high fear-mongering about Ebola. Although this is a serious epidemic, the impression must not be created that humanity is at the brink of extinction. We will overcome Ebola
Campaigners want an award-winning film about the Marikana massacre of 2012 shown on TV so that South Africans can know the truth about the brutal killing of the miners by police in 2012
The African Grantmakers Network (AGN) invites you to the Third Biennial Assembly to be held in Accra, Ghana on 17th - 19th November 2014 and hosted by the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF). It will bring together leaders in philanthropy to discuss actions that will contribute to and sustain the growth of African economies through philanthropy development.
Click for details.
Pambazuka News 690: US-Africa leaders summit, Gaza and Western ire
Pambazuka News 690: US-Africa leaders summit, Gaza and Western ire
Despite Africa’s rapid economic development, African nations are not fairly represented in groups such as the G-20 and the World Bank. The 2014 US-Africa Leaders Summit is a prime opportunity to fix this systemic racism plaguing global economic fora.
Rwanda pretends that it would like its refugees to return. But many of these citizens are scared of the Kigali regime, which is known to target refugees for assassination or abduction. Meanwhile, Rwanda continues to create new refugees as the tyrannical state cracks down on critics and Hutus back home
There is currently talk of devaluing the Ethiopian currency - again. Ethiopian authorities do not seem to realise that sound macroeconomic policies are the road for success and that continuous devaluation could not be a panacea for the country’s economic ills.
An unacceptable ethical double-standard is evident, where the violent actions of the Israeli state are framed as legitimate, reasonable and deserving of support, and all acts of resistance on the part of the captured and oppressed Palestinians are seen as criminal, immoral and terroristic
Adewole’s poetry is entangled in a broad spectrum of issues encompassing private and public deliberations and, of course, spiritual concerns. The key themes are belonging, acceptance and understanding.
Institute calls on all scholars of the world, women’s organizations, all who fight for freedom and justice to take a clear stand against the racist state of Israel’s continuous war crimes, genocidal acts and rape culture.
'We stand with the Palestinian community and with activists all over the world in condemning the flagrant injustices of the current Israeli massacre against the Palestinians of Gaza; the land, air, and sea blockade of Gaza; and the Israeli occupation of Palestine'
China has greatly increased its foreign aid to developing countries in the recent years. On one hand China hopes to promote bilateral relations with recipient countries to enhance economic and trade cooperation; on the other the fast rising nation is shouldering its international responsibilities and promoting poverty reduction.
The summit in Washington was supposed to be about trade, but it’s not. US imperialism does not sustain itself by competitive trade, but by force of arms. The real objective was to ensure that mutually beneficial African trade with China and Brazil results in no shift in African nations’ political orientation away from the US
The guest list of African ‘leaders’ and ‘partners’ attending the summit in Washington this week includes some of the 21st century’s worst criminals against humanity, killers, torturers, con men and scammers in designer suits and sunshades. The meeting will change nothing about Africa
The many children who have been murdered by Israeli soldiers in Gaza are not just statistics. They are real human beings who shared loved ones, stories and dreams. Here is a selection of pictures of some of them
There are many roads to peace. But conflict resolution has the advantage that if well done it can have immediate impact: a conflict solved, less frustration, less aggression, less violence, more peace
Coverage of the Israeli violence in Gaza is poor, especially in South Africa where the media relies on reports from international news organisations. There seems to be too much attention devoted to the rituals of journalism. The truth about the Israeli occupation ought to be told
Among the African presidents who visited the White House this week for the US-Africa Leadership Summit is Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Obama needs to be reminded that Kagame has been linked to serious violations in his country, ranging from assassinations to theft of Congolese resources
Next year’s presidential elections will be a defining year for Nigeria with massive ramifications for the region and continent. Among the defining issues are the Boko Haram menace but ultimately how the elections will be waged and who will be the contenders? Will the giant of Africa continue to disappoint?
As Africa seeks to reassert its independence, some forces in the West are doing all they can to stop “Africa rising.” As part of this, commentators who provide a different narrative from that of the West become a target of some western embassies in Africa. Those expressing views which seem to question western domination in Africa are particular targets
Pambazuka News 689: International crimes, elite disasters and the BRICS bank
Pambazuka News 689: International crimes, elite disasters and the BRICS bank
Boko Haram represents two contradictory developments in Nigeria. One, it is a reflection of the level of poverty, disillusionment and discontent in the region where Boko Haram have their base. Two, it's also a reflection of elite politics played with the mask of ethnicity and religion
A small elite owns the bulk of the land and wealth of Kenya while the majority suffocates under an oppressive system that condemns them to poverty and hardship. Only the people’s revolution can turn the tide to ensure everyone gets a share of the pie
Community members are resisting a massive tourism project being undertaken by the government on Haiti’s beaches. It will likely cause displacement of people, forced migration to the overcrowded capital in search of work, loss of food production in a hungry nation, further economic impoverishment and environmental and cultural degradation
The inverted reality presented by the US corporate media of the 1.7 million captive and largely defenceless Palestinians in Gaza as vicious aggressors against the peace-loving settlers of Israel fails to recognise the nature of the relationship between Israel and Palestine. What we are witnessing is the systematic eradication of a colonised people – an international crime
Some significant steps have been made around Africa regarding the rights of women since the adoption of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa 11 years ago. But some challenges still remain, which require renewed efforts
How should one describe the U.S.-Israeli relationship? “Co-conspirators”? “Co-dependents”? “Frenemies”? “The corporate media in the United States and other western nations ignore, minimize or tell outright lies about the ongoing massacre” of Palestinians, but surely the Israeli media would do the same for the U.S. How about “Co-enablers in War Crimes”?
The continued detention of a prominent human rights defender highlights worsening repression of state critics ahead of elections next year, an issue that has received wide condemnation even from the UN
Eritrea’s remarkable success in combating HIV/AIDS is founded upon a multisectoral approach that involves the targeting of harmful societal behaviors and traditions like banning child marriage and female genital cutting
The African Union-appointed commission set up to investigate the current conflict in South Sudan has been a virtual paper tiger to date. The commission needs to provide unflinching recommendations aimed at stabilizing the country’s social, political, economic and military situations.
Two groups of people deeply affected by the genocide are rarely mentioned in the news or the academic literature: the Batwa and children conceived through rape during the genocide
The goal of the Pre-congress meeting is to mobilize Pan African organizations and activists in North America to organize and engage in the process leading up to the 8th Pan African Congress to be held in Ghana in November
The approach to Somalia’s problems and that of Al-Shabaab should go beyond militaristic solutions and lie in genuinely dealing with the socio-economic problems of the country in terms of job creation and participation of Somalis in institution building
In Nigeria there is a dangerous perception among elements of the elite that elections are a form of warfare. Soldiers have recently been used in a few states by the incumbent political party to entrench the kleptocratic oligarchy by rigging elections
Over 65 percent of the world’s nations keep their foreign exchange reserves in the US dollar, the dominant world currency. The creation of the BRICS Bank and other financial interventions will likely weaken the dollar’s dominance and contribute to the creation a new international economic order
There is nothing to celebrate about the new financial architecture unveiled by the BRICS as an alternative to capitalist dominance. In fact the BRICS are happy enablers of Western capitalism and its destructive excesses
The mobile revolution. Geopolitical power shifts. A radically altered global economy. The world is changing, and so is the way that people fight for their rights. In order to be effective, Amnesty International’s (AI) International Secretariat needs to change how we work. That’s why we’ve opened a hub in Johannesburg. And why we need your campaigning expertise with us on the ground.
The mobile revolution. Geopolitical power shifts. A radically altered global economy. The world is changing, and so is the way that people fight for their rights. In order to be effective, Amnesty International’s (AI) International Secretariat needs to change how we work. That’s why our Southern Africa Regional Office needs your research expertise with us on the ground.
The next Pan African Congress will be held in four months time. Nations, organizations and individuals from around the Pan African world are invited to offer support prepare for this event
Pambazuka News 688: SPECIAL ISSUE: GMOs, food sovereignty and Africa
Pambazuka News 688: SPECIAL ISSUE: GMOs, food sovereignty and Africa
The debate in Ghana over the cultivation of genetically modified seeds provided by international aid agencies demonstrates that foreign aid often comes with an agenda determined by foreign financial and political backers, not by the end-users of the assistance.
The debate around Genetically Modified Organisms has been characterized by lack of information and understanding of the complexities around biotechnology. Any state must undertake careful consideration about potential benefits and risks before deciding to introduce GMOs into the country.
Myths and outright lies about the alleged benefits of genetically engineered crops (GE crops or GMOs) persist only because the multinationals that profit from them have put so much effort into spreading them around.
The conservative views of international agencies and rich-world environmentalists are denying Africa access to technology that could improve its own food security, and is transforming agriculture elsewhere in the developing world
Food Sovereignty Ghana calls for an indefinite Moratorium or ban on the propagation, cultivation, raising, and growing of Genetically Modified Organisms in Ghana.
The religious organisations insist that Ghana’s dwindling food production cannot be attributed to our non-usage of GMO technologies but due to poor access roads to farms, lack of credit, unavailability of ready market, lack of storage facilities and agricultural processing
Monsanto and friends, the biotech industry, its lobbyists and its paid media representation continue to push for monopoly control over the world’s food through its seed supply.
In addition to questions of human health, environmental impact and corporate control over the food value chain, there are a number of other issues which must be addressed as part of the debate around genetically engineered crops and food.
In a response to Mr Rhodes-Vivour’s article on the danger posed by GMOs to the Nigerian population, El-Kurebe now contends that such crusades by a misinformed and gnorant minority are denying the majority of the population the real benefits of genetically modified organisms.
African governments are under intense pressure from within but also from big agribusiness and Western governments to embrace GMOs. Governments must resist all forms of arm-twisting and food colonialism and make their biotechnology choices based on the facts
A new propaganda effort to convince Africans is vigorously pursued by corporations and the development industry trying to convince us that we need genetic engineering to overcome malnutrition and food shortages.
On account of population pressures and diseases that are affecting Uganda’s coffee, maize, banana and cassava production, GMOs are necessary to address the food insecurity and hidden hunger in the country
GMOs are presented as a magic bullet to the problems of agricultural productivity without seriously examining the alternative route to industrial agriculture. Agro-ecology with an emphasis on ecosystem farming and local knowledge development of African farmers is the alternative that Zimbabwe should adopt
Pambazuka News 687: Big brother, the BRICS and blanket immunity
Pambazuka News 687: Big brother, the BRICS and blanket immunity
Afro-Uruguayans have contributed to the construction of Uruguay as a consequence of enslavement. They have set up important organisations such as Mundo Afro to lobby the national government to recognise its black minority as an equal member of the national community
Countries in the South have jumped on the biometric bandwagon, including South Africa, in spite of the many red flags about the technology. Citizens need to be aware that the ID cards allow governments to carry out surveillance of people considered to be a threat to the interests of the ruling classes
Should little children be allowed to stay with their mothers in prison or they should be separated? This is a difficult question, but there are some suggestions on what should be done for the best interests of the child
Leaders who fail to follow the law must be accountable for their actions before courts of law. But the Protocol adopted by African leaders on 4 July turned this basic legal principle on its head.
Thinking about the problem of climate change in Africa from the angle of low-carbon economy can be useful as it addresses environmental, economic and technological matters of development all at the same time
Mangaliso Robert Sobukwe is not as well known as he should. The founding president of the radical Pan African Congress, Sobukwe was the single most potent threat to apartheid. Without the fire in his breast and the unshakable conviction of his mind, it is unlikely that apartheid would have collapsed when it did.
Extraordinary rendition violates every rule in the human rights book. The process invariably involves forceful abduction, detained incommunicado for an extended period, interrogation and torture
With Africa firmly integrated into the international financial order, there is almost no potential within the existing political arrangements for substantial advancements in the socio-economic status of workers, farmers and youth.
Numerous Palestinian civil society organisations are calling on people and nations of the world to demand and end to the orgy of brutal violence conducted by the Israeli government in Gaza. Without international pressure, Israel will continue the massacres
Eradicating violence and discrimination against women in Zimbabwe is an arduous task that demands hands-on training and mobilization in the rural areas where the violence is most prevalent. Not by a well-meaning Western NGO, mind you, but by the women themselves.
Two members of civil society were attacked and wounded by goons hired by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa last Saturday when they visited Kibagare wetland where PCEA has begun construction of luxury apartments. Now civil society wants the PCEA leadership to stop the destruction of the wetland
Two organizations allege that deliberate actions by the State of Michigan through its Governor Rick Snyder and majority right-wing legislative bodies are calculated and well-planned to foster the disempowerment of the African American people
Many reputable organisations have over the years demonstrated that the EPAs are against the fundamental developmental needs of the economies of West Africa. The EPAs will lead to the collapse of the domestic manufacturing and other productive sectors due to undue pressure from the subsidized goods from Europe and loss of revenue from trade taxes
The cases of two women who were arrested for protesting against the demolition of their homes were dismissed last week. It is a positive sign, but the struggles of the shack-dwellers against state neglect and violence continue
Pambazuka News 686: Dreams of revolution: Women, youth and the environment
Pambazuka News 686: Dreams of revolution: Women, youth and the environment
What are the citizens supposed to do when the president blatantly violates the constitution he was elected under and which he swore to uphold, protect and defend? That is the questions Kenyans are grappling with
Rwanda gets plenty of applause for putting the genocide behind and creating a reconciled society focused on marching forward to a prosperous future. But is that so? In this article, we learn that former high-ranking officials who were acquitted of genocide charges by the international crimes tribunal in Arusha, or who served their sentences, are not welcome back home.
The feeling of hope after the independence of South Sudan was short-lived for many South Sudanese and has now been replaced by cynicism and suspicion. In this light, a new agreement to end war in South Sudan gives only little hope that it will set a different path for the Africa’s youngest nation.
In the 20 years since genocide, Rwanda’s government has fostered the appearance of national progress while focusing its machinations on concentrating power along ethnic lines. Rwanda has not reached reconciliation, healing, or equality, increasing its risk of another round of national upheaval.
This year’s African Union summit was marked by calls for economic and political independence from the West. Mutually beneficial relations between the AU and China as well as internal security are critical to the discussion around Africa’s sovereignty and the ways in which the continent may seize its rightful place in international affairs.
In a few months, Zambia will turn 50. A sober assessment of how the country has fared since independence would show that some notable progress has been achieved. But serious challenges still persist. Zambia now needs new blood, new formulae and new commitment to drive its economic and political agenda
True strength does not come from capitalist economic power. True strength is found in life, in nature. It comes from realizing that we are part of the natural world. We are not just struggling to earn more money. The struggle is about the defense of life in all its forms.
Young gay men are taking refuge online as their lives become increasingly difficult in this deeply conservative country
The post-revolution governments in Egypt have done little to appease a disgruntled, restless and marginalised youth. The youth spearheaded the revolt that toppled the Mubarak dictatorship, but a largely ageing elite is still at the helm.
Although New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has OK’d a $40 million settlement with the Central Park 5, who were wrongfully imprisoned for brutal rape, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg insists the police acted in “good faith.” In a sane, non-racist society, the fact that five innocent children had been made to confess to a horrible crime that they did not commit would be viewed as a prima facie case of police misconduct.