A number of African bloggers have written on the Australian race riots. MentalAcrobatics from Kenya - (http://www.mentalacrobatics.com/think/archives/2005/Dec/race_riots_in_a.php) discusses the riots in the context of Australia’s “White Australia Policy” which itself is rooted class conflict between “convicts and exclusives”. Australia is well known for its disgustingly abhorrent treatment of indigenous Australians which continues unabated today. It is therefore hardly surprising to hear that race riots have broken out and even less surprising to hear that once again it is Islam that is being blamed yet again. He concludes by pointing out that there is a lesson for Kenyans:

“Remember Mboya's quote on, ‘avoiding the pitfalls of those who run before us?’ Not only on a tribal level but on a racial level as well. For example when you ignore one part of the country while formulating a development agenda justifying it with statements like, ‘well they are not really Kenyan’ disaster will come, did come.”

Chippla’s Weblog - Chippla's Weblog (http://chippla.blogspot.com/2005/12/reforming-nigerian-aviation-sector.html) writes critically on the Nigerian aviation sector following yet another plane crash in which 110 people died, of whom 52 were children. Chippla has already written extensively on the previous two crashes and here he questions “the wisdom in allowing airliners older than 22 years to remain in service in Nigeria”. Apparently there is a law to this effect but it has not been implemented. The post goes on to provide a brief historical overview of the Nigerian airline industry from the early days of Nigerian Airways to the present liberalisation of the domestic airline industry.

“With the rush to liberalize the domestic airline market in Nigeria, common sense seemed to have been thrown to the dustbin. For instance, the airplane which crashed two days ago was not only 32 years old but was actually bought five years ago when it was 27 years old according to this report. Why should a carrier be allowed to buy an airliner this old? Furthermore, the airliner in question, a DC-9, was bought in 2000 at a time when its manufacturer McDonnell Douglas no longer existed (McDonnell Douglas was bought over by Boeing in 1997) which would have made it difficult to obtain spare parts.”

He concludes that temporary solutions should no longer be tolerated and there should be nothing less than an outright ban on aged airliners.

Freedom for Egyptians - Freedom for Egyptians (http://freedomforegyptians.blogspot.com/2005/12/social-freedoms-and-chas...) posts about the different responses in Egypt and the US to women being harassed by their partners. Using a female friend as an example, he writes that in Egypt harassment of a woman is not discussed or followed through in order to avoid spoiling her reputation:

“A family might advise their daughter never to mention a harassment issue no matter what because if a would-be groom learns that somebody tried to harass his future wife he might consider not marrying her. The reason is always that if a woman has good manners, she would not have been harassed in the first place. Having a harassed daughter in the family is a lasting stigma, because this means that she did not respect herself. Reporting violated rights is not an issue.”

On the other hand in the US when a woman reports sexual harassment either to her employers or her apartment owners, she is treated with respect and her concerns and fears are taken on board. He goes on to discuss “social freedoms” of women in Egypt and female circumcision both of which are used to control and subjugate women to “complete sexual obedience”.

Unashamedly pro American and libertarian, Rantings of a Sandmonkey - Rantings of a SandMonkey (http://egyptiansandmonkey.blogspot.com/2005/12/europeans-pissed-at-ahhno...) has a rant about the European media being “mad and disappointed at Arnold for rejecting clemency for Tookie's execution”. He is referring to the execution of convicted murderer and ex-gang leader, Stanley Tookie Williams at midnight on Monday in California. Clearly in favour of capital punishment, Sandmonkey writes in response to calls for clemency by the European media and human rights organisations:

“Let's see if you can follow this with me: Tookie killed people, and he founded a gang that killed people and ruined hundreds if not thousands of lives. The fact that after his arrest, conviction and being put on death row he finally saw the light and wrote a couple of children books against joining gangs, well, it's pretty goddamn convenient and doesn't change what he did. Will executing him bring back those he killed? No. Will it bring some sense of justice to the families of his victims? Sure. Is it an appropriate way to make him pay for his crimes? Nope. He should be executed 4 times, one time for each life he took by his own hands. But since that's impossible, killing him once will have to do. The fact that you can only kill him once, well, that's the travesty of justice. Ok?”

South African blogger, Mzansi Afrika - Mzansi Afrika (http://mzansiafrika.typepad.com/mzansi_afrika/2005/12/fuel_shortages_.html) writes about the recent fuel shortages in South Africa which are causing planes to be delayed and petrol stations to run dry. Apparently the cause of the shortages is being blamed on the change to unleaded fuel as from 1st January 2006, though it is not clear why this should cause fuel shortages. Coming from an oil producing country - Nigeria - where fuel shortages have been an everyday part of life for as long as I can remember, I don’t hold much sympathy for this temporary blip in fuel consumption for South African motorists - unless of course it continues for the next three decades!

Black Star Journal - Black Star Journal (http://blackstarjournal.blogspot.com/2005/12/shame-on-you-george.html) comments on George Weah’s refusal to concede defeat in the Liberian elections:

“The political neophyte lost a runoff to veteran opposition leader and economist Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, despite the fact that most of the political class endorsed him. I'm not sure if Weah is sore about losing to a woman or if his influential entourage is upset about not having access to the spoils of power.”

Given Liberia’s recent violent history, Weah’s macho muscle flexing behaviour is distasteful and irresponsible and transforms his reputation as an “honest” man into a spoiled brat and one who if not careful could lead the country into further violence.

Nigerian blogger in London, Soul On Ice - Soul on Ice (http://obifromsouthlondon.blogspot.com/2005/12/smells-like-biafran-money...) raises the issue of Biafra which is once again in the news as the Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) calls for strikes in Eastern Nigeria in support of a new Biafra. Referring to the Nigeria civil war (1967-1970) in which a million plus people died including Soul’s own relatives, he concludes that 35 years on little has changed – the legacy of colonialism lives on.

“From Nigeria, Palestine all the way to Pakistan and India wars and tribal tensions flourish. You gotta love the British Colonist. First they enslave us and then leave our lands in ruins. Incapable of unifying because of marked differences. Differences ignored because of the hunger and greed for everything African. Divide and conquer. The art of war. The sun tzu doctrine. For how can you drive out the invader if you are fighting amongst yourselves? The British legacy lives on till this day. Amen.”

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks

* Please send comments to [email protected]

Some of you may remember that as part of the World AIDS Day roundup I posted a piece from Kid’s Doc in Jos - http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/faith-died_72 - on 15th month old HIV+ twins Faith and Favour. At the time Faith was very ill with pneumonia. The heartbreaking news is that baby Faith died on Thursday 1st December – World AIDS Day, 2005 aged 15th months. He is survived by his twin, Favour and their mother.

“Faith died yesterday, in the ICU. Now his mom would like someone to care for his sister. She doesn’t see any way she can do it all herself, and find a job to support the two of them. I am so worn out this week, I’m sad about Faith, at the same time I feel bad that I no longer feel the full impact of a child’s death. And I wonder how I can even be sorry for myself being tired and failing to save Faith, when the mother’s loss is so great. Most of her ‘support team’, counselors from Spring of Life, left for the all-Africa AIDS conference in Abuja the morning after Faith died, so she’s lacking even that support right now.”

The death of baby Faith will leave all of us with a heavy heart but even more than that - anger. Anger at the complete failure of the Western and African leaders to deal with this terrible illness that is killing children and their parents. People with HIV and AIDS NEED DRUGS – without drugs there is nothing but death and more death. Faith never had a chance and neither will his sister or their mother. If he had been in Europe or had access to HIV drugs he would be alive today.

Aqumada - aqumada http://yekolotemari.blog.com/435192 writes about his recent experience of traveling in the West – a Black man with a US passport being detained and interrogated.

“A lone black traveler, however, does not have the same rights as other white travelers. The questions in the interrogation room mainly focused on my cultural and racial identity. Many ridiculous questions such as what my religion was and whether I go to the mosque were posed. Although irritating and embarrassing, I had to answer the questions in a way that would distance me from the stereotypical image of a terrorist (Arab and Muslim). At one point, one of the cops suggested that he remembered arresting me the previous week (a week I was not even in Britain). Not being able to control my anger, I lashed out at the police officers. Although he retreated from this question, I was probed via intentionally constructed misleading questions intended to find out whether I was an Eritrean/Muslim/Somali etc. I believe the fact that two Somali men (still at large) killed a British police officer during the previous week and the recent bombing incident that an Ethiopian man was involved in did not help.”

Nigerian Blog, Grandiose Parlour -
Grandiose Parlour http://grandioseparlor.blogspot.com/2005/12/nigerians-need-to-act-or-shu... writes that Nigerians need to “Act or shut up”. He is referring to the forthcoming 2007 elections which are already being heatedly debated in the Nigerian blogosphere and national media.

“Nigerians including my humble self are darn good critics, but unfortunately our rants hardly get transformed into actions. A good example is the current political nonsense unfolding in Nigeria, despite the outcry from all corners of Nigeria and the world it appears those with the powers to act are not listening or ready to take action.”

Ethiopian blog Weichegud! ET Politics - Weichegud http://weichegud.blogspot.com/2005/12/dedessa-new-waterloo.html has a commentary on the Channel 4 documentary “Ethiopia’s Agony” and the report in last Sunday’s London Observer “Democratic Dawn in Ethiopia Fades as Abuses Come to Light” both of which report on the thousands detained in the Dedesa concentration camp set up my Prime Minister Meles who seems to be competing with Mugabe to see who can commit the worst atrocities on their own people and political opposition.

“Only the minds of the people who run the EPRDF could have thought no one would notice the arresting of tens of thousands of people and dumping them in a detention camp.”

Nonetheless as Wonkette writes

“It will take a few more thousand deaths before the main stream media latches on to this story. That is inevitable. The world will be outraged. One of the imprisoned leaders of the opposition will die in prison. A couple of high-ranking government officials will resign/defect and spill the beans. In order to hide what has happened in Dedessa, the government will commit even more atrocities. And the rest will be history. It's a textbook case of an autocrat who has worn down the welcome mat.”

And that’s about it!

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks

* Please send comments to [email protected]

Today is World AIDS Day so I have chosen to focus on those African blogs that have written about HIV/AIDS from a range of perspectives.

Feminist African Sister – (http://feministafricansisters.blogspot.com/2005/11/bush-has-gone-too-far...) criticises George Bush, who has extended the “GAG” rule which prevents funding from the US to any NGO that “perform abortions in cases other than a threat to the woman’s life, rape or incest; provide counselling and referral for abortion; or lobby to make abortion legal or more available in their country.”

Thus Bush has “Essentially, locking out large numbers of organizations in Kenya and structures, which could provide useful access to target communities at the highest risk i.e. women in the 15-24 age bracket”. The GAG rule has also been applied in Uganda and in Ghana where 647,000 “Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana clients will lose access to family planning services, counselling, and HIV/AIDS prevention education.” This is a slap in the face to the millions who are HIV+ or have AIDS in Africa and makes a mockery of the prevention campaigns which are designed so we can begin to see a reduction rather than increase in the numbers affected by this illness.

Soul on Ice - Soul on Ice (http://obifromsouthlondon.blogspot.com/2005/11/aids-in-africaaggression....) writes that out of some 4.7 million HIV+ Africans only a mere 500,000 are presently receiving ARV drugs. He expresses his anger which is personalised as he explains how he lost his uncle’s family to the illness.

“I lost my uncle and his family some years ago to the dreaded disease and this put it all in perspective for me. Prior to that I'd viewed it as something that happens to other people. Damn I'd even doubted its existence like agnostics. It's like faced with such horrible things you switch to denial mode. And here we are worrying about more money for material stuff and an African woman in Malawi has to travel 20 miles once a week to pick up tablets that will keep her alive to give her five kids a chance in life. Fuck the West for keeping the beautiful continent poor and defenceless. Stupid patents on life saving drugs. And they want to moan about terrorists.”

Malawian blogger, afrika-aphukira - Afrika-aphukira (http://mlauzi.blogspot.com/2005/11/yesterday-and-global-hivaids-discours...) writes about the film “Yesterday”, a story about a South African couple who are HIV-positive. The film, which is an HBO (US based TV station) production, interestingly is in Zulu with English subtitles.

“The pride and depth of an African language in driving such a powerful social message should make African elites and policymakers think twice about their insistence on making English a language used by a tiny fraction of the population, the lingua franca of policy, business, politics, administration, and education.”

He does however have some criticisms of the film, which portrays Africans as being largely ignorant of the disease and fails to deal with issues such as racism and the capitalist mining industry.

“The movie leaves unmentioned issues such as the racist, apartheid era bio-war research suspected to have been aimed at blacks, dismissed as a conspiracy theory by dominant, mainstream views. Also unmentioned is the role played by the capitalist mining industry which sequestered male miners in hostels, away from their wives and families for months or years on end, a situation that facilitated the spread of HIV/AIDS. Thus the dominant ideologies keep framing the HIV-AIDS debate in the same terms of individual responsibility, ordinary villagers as ignorant and needing ‘education’, and Africans as more promiscuous than the rest of humanity.”

Eseme Udoekong's Africa - Eseme Udoekong's Africa (http://www.bbc.co.uk/africalives/myafrica/blogs/005009) focuses on AIDS from the perspective of alternative healing including “faith healing” in the Christian church.

“Now let's get back to the point of this discussion. For example, I believe in medication (orthodox/herbal) and divine healing, but I don't worship either as god. At times when I'm sick he that is in me can say, 'just pray and I pray'. Or 'take only water' or 'go to the hospital'. All that it takes me to be healed is obedience to his bidding. You cannot tell me that unless I see the Doctor I can't be healed when I have been enjoying such divine healing benevolence. It may be so or otherwise to other people, depending on one's mind set.”

Black Looks - Black Looks (http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks/2005/11/personal_story_.html) posts an interview she had with a woman who is HIV positive but lives in Europe (UK).

“For those of us who were diagnosed such a long time ago and are still alive - if I was in Africa I would have been dead a long time ago - we are the ‘lucky ones’, those living in Britain or the West. But the problem is we were told we were dying and then after about 10 or 15 years of ‘dying’ the doctors suddenly changed their story and said you are not dying anymore take these pills and get on with your life. And for many of us this has been very difficult. They try to equate having HIV nowadays in the West with medication, as being just like having any other kind of chronic illness like diabetes. But it will never be the same. Because if I had diabetes I wouldn't be concerned about revealing my identity and nationality, I wouldn't be afraid of my neighbours or employers knowing about my illness. Because HIV will never loose the shame and stigma that has always been attached to it. The pain and despair never goes away – it’s the worst thing that ever happened to me. I hate it. I know there are people who are HIV+ who are much worse off than me but I feel like the last 20 years I have lived HIV and little else - even though I am not dead in some ways I am.”

Kid’s Doc in Jos - Kid's Doc in Jos (http://www.ecwaevangel.org/blog/faith_71) based in Jos, Nigeria, writes about two of his patients, 15 month twins Faith and Favour, who are HIV positive. He writes that Faith is now sick with pneumonia and has lost a lot of weight.

“I admitted him (which we could do only because we have some supporters who have given money to help such children), ordered a bunch of labs and a bunch of medicines. Tomorrow Barb will make a care package of some oranges, yoghurt, cookies, and so on.”

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks

* Please send comments to [email protected]

Somali blog, Ayaan Hirsi Ali - (http://ayaanhirsiali.web-log.nl/log/4184803) which is dedicated to the work of Dutch Somali MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali reports that the “once tolerant Dutch society has been transformed by the action of Islamist murders and threats”. Film director Theo Van Gogh was murdered last year by an Islamic extremist because of the film he made with Hirsi Ali which exposed domestic violence in Islam. Since then Hirsi Ali has been under 24 hour protection. She is now in the process of making another film about homosexuality in Islam which no doubt will put her in even more danger.

The Big Pharaoh – The Big Pharaoh (http://bigpharaoh.blogspot.com/2005/11/islamist-gains-in-egypt-give.html) reports that the recent gains by Islamists in the Egyptian elections will give George Bush “pause for thought”. He believes this to be good news as it may slow down the democratic process which will put more pressure on the present Egyptian regime.

“That's good news. I have always argued for a slow transition to democracy in Egypt. In other words, pressures to be added on the regime so it opens up a bit by bit. Abrupt democracy and sudden elections are not necessary the best way forward.”

Coalition for Darfur - Coalition for Darfur (http://coalitionfordarfur.blogspot.com/2005/11/uganda-un-to-step-up-supp...) reports that the UN is planning to increase its activities in Northern Uganda where the Lord’s Resistance army rebels are based in order to provide support to some 2 million refugees displaced by this conflict.

“Nearly 2 million people have been displaced by the 19 year-old conflict, 1.7 million of whom live in over 200 squalid and overcrowded camps, relying largely on international assistance to survive. Estimates indicate that more than 1,000 people a week die from disease or violence, according to a July 2005 Ministry of Health/UN World Health Organization (WHO) mortality survey.”

Kenyan blogger Mshairi - Mshairi (http://mshairi.com/index/index.php) posted a roundup of Kenyan blogs on the Kenyan Constitutional Referendum held on Monday 21st November –
Kenya and the Constitutional Referendum (http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoices/2005/11/21/kenya-and-the-const...)

“In brief, the draft constitution proposes investing the presidency with greater powers, the main area of contention for the Orange campaign, which favours a constitution where a prime minister shares executive powers with the president. While both the Yes and No campaign have concentrated campaigning around this issue, attention has shifted from other proposals such as the call for radical land reform, the outlawing of gender and other discrimination and the inclusion of clauses providing for affirmative action.”

Mzansi Afrika - Mzansi Afrika (http://mzansiafrika.typepad.com/mzansi_afrika/2005/11/apartheid_era_m.html) reports on the mass graves uncovered in Namibia which date back to the Apartheid era when South Africa occupied Namibia.

“The graves were found near Eenhana 850km north-east of Windhoek. This was a military base for the South African army's 54 Battalion. Over 300 people are said to have died as a result of the fighting. According to Peter Tseehama, the Namibian Minister Safety and Security, "some of the bones were children's, possibly siblings of former freedom fighters". He said other items found were guns, bullets and parts of what might have been explosives. "The bodies appeared to have been burnt before being thrown into the graves.”

The bodies are believed to have been SWAPO soldiers blind folded and executed then dumped in the graves.

Black Looks - Black Looks (http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks/2005/11/i_would_rather_.html)has a report on the Ugandan lesbian and gay activist who has been in hiding in Kampala for the past 4 months. Ms Mukussa went into hiding following a raid on her home by security forces and the arrest of her Kenyan house guest. She has now decided to sue the Ugandan security official responsible for the raid in order to highlight the human rights violations faced by the Ugandan Lesbian and Gay community.

“By taking the matter to court JM hopes to use the case as a tool in the advancement of gay rights in Uganda and elsewhere in East Africa. By declaring the violation of her rights she is making a larger statement about the rights of LGBT and human rights advocates to be able to carry out their work and live their lives without treat of invasion.”

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks

* Please send comments to [email protected]

Ethan Zuckerman’s My hearts in Accra - (http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=256) is on his way to Tunis for the World Sumit on Information Society (WSIS). Like many others he says he is:

“attending with misgivings over the usefulness of the gathering, the absurd cost of the meeting, and the fact that it’s being held within a deeply repressive country with a history of detaining people who use the Internet to exercise their right to free speech”. (Last week I reported on a Tunisian blogger who after being detained for 18 months in prison, was released and suffered a heart attack)

Nigerian blogger Gbenga Sesan - Gbenga Sesan (http://www.gbengasesan.com/blog/?p=32) believes the most important issue to be discussed is Internet Governance.

“Just this morning, the BBC relayed the story of how the EU and the UN is trying to wrestle the control of the Internet from the US." Clearly, there’s a lot of interest in the issue of Internet Governance, and this is the best time for some countries that have taken the different issues around Internet Governance lightly to wake up before they sell their future to the best called ignorance.”

One of the problems with WSIS is that many participants will miss one of the most important factors of the conference which is not who governs the Internet but whether the internet as place of “free speech” can be respected by all governments. As Ethan mentions the conference is being held in a country where freedom of speech and media are held in contempt by the government. Andy Carvin’s Waste of Bandwidth blog - Waste of Bandwidth (http://www.digitaldivide.net/blog/acarvin/view?PostID=7638) reports taking photos at the conference is banned by the Tunisian authorities and attempts will result in interrogation by security officials.

Friends of Ethiopia - Friends of Ethiopia (http://friendsofethiopia.blogspot.com/2005/11/better-beware-white-elepha...) posts a report from AllAfrica.com “Better beware the white elephant”.

“At the World Summit of the Information Society in Tunis from November 16-18, these ICT lobbyists will bemoan the "digital divide" and call for a Digital Solidarity Fund. Dazzled by the allure of e-commerce, the global information society, e-learning and other buzzwords, they believe that new technology will allow them to leap-frog decades of incompetence and corruption and achieve rapid development. But the barriers to technological development are exactly the same as the barriers to any economic development: market restrictions, lack of contract law, state controls, customs duties, bureaucracy, and corruption.”

Tunisian blogger, Neila Charchour Hachicha - Blog de Neila Charchour Hachicha (http://plmonline.blogs.com/plm/2005/11/citizens_summit.html) reports on the Citizens Summit for Information Society (CSIS) which is also meeting in Tunis from 16-18 November as a side event. However the Tunisian government is trying its best to prevent the CSIS from meeting by obstructing their efforts to find a venue in Tunisia.

“The CSIS builds on a long tradition of civil society events linked to United Nations conferences. More than 80 international civil society organizations and coalitions have pledged their support and plan to take part in the three-day Citizens Summit, but a venue previously confirmed for the event was withdrawn at the last minute for reasons that CSIS organisers believe to be in response to political pressure from the Tunisian government.”

Ghanian blog, the Trials and Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen - Fresh-Arrived Denizen (http://ekbensahinghana.blogspot.com) has a different take on the WSIS where he seems to be somewhat in awe of Tunis and Tunisians:

“Goodlooking—nay, gorgeus-looking—women pass with their boyfriends, friends, etc, passing a poster that says 'KILL BILL. Cette Semaine au Cinema'...The information society may be lost to many people. In the beginning, even I couldn’t get my head round the utility of a conference round it, but now having back-pedalled and seen the bigger picture, I am beginning to think that it’s pretty cool being here. Especially in Tunis. We are treated like royalty. We, being those delegates going to the WSIS. These people are far friendlier than I ever anticipated or expected. Many of them after they ask me where I am from say 'bienvenue. Tu es chez toi.' Alright so they are tutoieing me, that is not using 'vous' since they do not know me, but I am not bothered. They seem to like me, and I certainly find them personable.”

Finally a return to Egyptian blogger, blogger Abdolkarim Nabil Seliman who runs the blog Kareem Amer. Last week I reported that he had been detained by the security forces since the 26th October. The Big Pharaoh - The big Pharaoh
(http://bigpharaoh.blogspot.com/2005/11/abdolkarim-released-egyptian-blog...) reports that he has now been released.

“He posted a short entry on his blog saying that he will tell us about what happened to him and that he thanks everyone who stood beside him even if he/she didn't share his thoughts. Of course, those who helped Abdolkarim include a lot of non-Egyptians who took the time to email or call the Egyptian embassies around the world.” If you can read Arabic you should go directly to his blog - Karam903 (http://karam903.blogspot.com) otherwise check Big Pharaoh or Freedom for Egyptians - Freedom for Egyptians (http://freedomforegyptians.blogspot.com/2005/11/freedom-of-expression-at...) for his report.

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks

* Please send comments to [email protected]

Weichegud! Et Politics - (http://weichegud.blogspot.com/2005/11/who-will-tell-their-stories.html) likens the present political violence in Ethiopia to 1978 when:

“The generation Ato Meles belongs to went on protest marches on the streets of Addis Ababa in the early 70s without the indignity of being mowed down. They were demanding a revolution - the usurping of the Ethiopian constituency, and the deposing of the Emperor. They held placards calling the Emperor a ruthless dictator who had to be brought to justice. They told the world that they were standing for the poor, the downtrodden and the forgotten.”

Yet they were not shot down whilst this time “those same people are pointing their guns at children” all in the name of “protecting the constitution". He concludes that hopefully when this is all over the people of Ethiopia “will have the strength for justice and not revenge!"

Freedom for Egyptians - Freedom for Egyptians (http://freedomforegyptians.blogspot.com/2005/11/freedom-of-expression-at...) reports on the detention of Egyptian blogger/writer, Nabeel Abdul Kareem who has a blog called “Kareem Amer”. Abdul Kareem was taken from his home by state security forces who confiscated his writings. Freedom for Egyptians writes:

“I have read Abdolkarim’s last blog on the Alexandria sectarian violence. Kareem has been a witness to this violence. He wrote his testimony on those black days in Egypt. Detaining him is considered an intimidation or assault on a witness.

In his article, he called for the rejection of hatred in Islam to non-Muslims, hinting to the position of the Egyptian Copts. He witnessed himself the sectarian violence in Moharm Bik district in his home city of Alexandria. He gave in his blog an example how some Islamist thugs burned a liquor store owned by an Egyptian Copt while at the same time allowing a Muslim man to sell alcohol.

Abdul Kareem is not the first North African blogger to be detained. In Tunisia, a blogger spent 18 months in prison and a similar sentence was given to Libyan blogger – both for criticising their respective governments.

The detentions of the three bloggers draws attention to the fact that in many countries the only “free press” are in fact bloggers. Even where professional journalists are subjected to arrest and harassment by their governments at least they are “public” people who have some, albeit often small, protection from their employers. Bloggers on the other hand have no protection; there is likelihood that they may loose their jobs; they may not have the funds for legal representation; their arrest may not become public knowledge.

The Moor Next Door (MND)- The Moor Next Door

The Economist fails in it’s report (at least this paragraph) by first referring to the two dead boys as North Africans when in fact, one was Senegalese. The report then states there is 10% unemployment and a poor Muslim population when in fact the unemployment amongst minorities is nearly double that and the religion of the rioters is not the issue.

What is amusing are some of the government responses such as:

Iran - “The Iranian foreign minister demanded that France respect its minorities and protect their human rights." (since when is such a "liberal" idea such as human rights believed in by the Islamic Republic?)

Libya – “The Colonel offers "help" to France! Perhaps he will enlighten Mr. Chirac as to how Libya deals with such youths, avec une balle.”

Italy – "Opposition leader Romano Prodi called on the Italian government to take urgent action, telling reporters: 'We have the worst suburbs in Europe. I don't think things are so different from Paris. It's only a matter of time.” I suggest they hurry with whatever they intend to do!

Senegal: “Senegal's president announced his belief that France should « casser les ghettos et intégrer les Africains qui demandent à être intégrés ». (Break the ghettos and integrate the Africans that ask to be integrated." The French need to listen to that one!

Zimbabwean Pundit - Zimbabwean Pundit (http://zimpundit.blogspot.com/2005/11/dell-treatment-for-would-be-protes...) reports on the unabated repression of Mugabe’s government of it’s own citizens.

“In yet another shameless display of how far Harare will go to quash any dissent to their iron fisted grip over the nation, they have arrested 150 leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).”

South African blogger, Floyd’s Perspectives – Floyd's Perspectives (://floydn.blogspot.com/2005/11/sascos-ideological-perspectives.html) has a comprehensive post on the South African student movement which he says has been at the forefront of the struggles in the country. He begins by tracing the origins of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) and the South African Students’ Congress (SASCO) and then goes on to examine the relationship between the student bodies and the ANC in the anti-apartheid struggle. He concludes by acknowledging that the contemporary struggles of SASCO are ideological ones.

“The major, persistent, consistent, and often indomitable struggles waged by SASCO in campuses are mostly class struggles...Financial exclusions, academic exclusions, democratisation, access and success, conducive learning environment and curriculum content are but some of the ideological struggles SASCO is waging in campuses."

Black Looks - Black Looks (http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks/2005/11/_members_of_par.html) – gives her perspective on the ongoing Paris riots together with a brief description of the events that led to the riots and why they spread after an initial calm down. She highlights some of the similarities of the French riots to those that took place in England in the mid-1980s

“The reasons then are the same as the ones facing North and West Africans in France today; inferior education, lack of job opportunities, appalling housing conditions in run down estates (three arson related fires have taken place this year in properties lived in by West Africans);exclusion from the political process with no representation in government or in the police force; institutionalised racism, racist police who systematically harass young West and North African males.”

She concludes that: “The riots are the outcome of a culmination of experiences and incidents over a period of time, they are not simply happening in a vacuum of nothingness. France will have to face the reality of this otherwise it and Europe will sink into further violence as communities become even more polarised.”

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks

* Please send comments to [email protected]

African Refugees - (http://africanrefugees.blogspot.com/2005/10/taste-of-west-africa.html) reports that West African and Sudanese refugees are making their presence felt in the southern Australian city of Prospect. People from Liberia, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo took part in a “Taste of Africa” festival of music, an exhibition of arts and crafts and a fashion show and of course food. Sounds much like London in the early 1980s at the height of “multiculturalism”!

Egyptian Person - Egyptian Person (http://egyptianperson.blogspot.com/2005/10/my-opinion-regarding-moharam-...) discusses the aftermath of a play in Alexandria that caused rioting amongst the Muslim population. Some people were killed and many injured outside the church where the play took place as people demanded that the church be burnt down. EP describes the mentality of the people calling for the church to be burned down as the same as those that demand the killing of someone who chooses to convert to another religion. She goes on to say:

“(It is) the same mentality that sentenced Salman Rushdy to death because of his book "Satanic Verses", and the same mentality that moves a terrorist. A complex of long-term brainwashing, ignorance, hate, suppression, and an inability to accept the "other". Religion in the Middle East is indeed a perfect tool to control the masses.”

Tunisian blogger – jrayda diaries - jrayda diaries (http://jrayda.blogspot.com/2005/10/ce-nest-pas-de-la-politique.html) has an excellent post entitled “Its Not Politics” (in French) where he questions the debate on Muslim women wearing the veil in so called democracies that claim to uphold freedom of speech and human rights. He raises a number of important questions such as “are there two different freedoms, one the choice to wear jeans and another the choice to wear the veil”? What about the freedom to exercise your religion or freedom to choose what you wear? Why shouldn’t Muslim women wear the veil? Catholic nuns do! What is it that enrages people so much about Muslim women wearing the veil? He describes the reaction of the West to the veil as “a nuclear reaction that risks to explode the planet”. Following on from Muslim women and the veil, he asks why is it that Muslim men are expected to shave their beards whilst orthodox Jews are able to keep theirs? The same applies to Muslim dress – why does it cause such a negative reaction yet people do not react to Jewish attire or Buddhists or any other religious attire? He concludes sarcastically that no it is not politics!

Digital Africa – Digital Africa (http://digitalafrica.blogspot.com/2005/11/congratulations-anna-and-all-o...) ask us to join in the one year birthday celebrations of Open Café – who have spent one year of building open source communities in Africa.

Kenyan Pundit - Kenyan Pundit (http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=57)
posts Part V of the “Constitutional Referendum” – Devolution in which she shares her notes from a workshop on the constitution. From what I have read in the Kenyan blogosphere, the constitution makes for difficult reading. Her summary on devolution:

“There will be devolved government with one level of devolution (districts). There is no Senate, but a National Forum for District Government whose utility is questionable. Government can suspend district government.”

As the price of oil rises there is a need to find viable energy alternatives. Timbuktu Chronicles - Timbuktu Chronicles (http://timbuktuchronicles.blogspot.com/2005/10/palm-oil-biofuel.html) reports on new research which “suggests that Biofuels derived from locally available Palm Oil are a viable option. Vegetable oil is one of the alternatives which can be used as fuel in automotive engines either in the form of straight vegetable oil, or in the form of ethyl or methyl ester...".

Friends of Ethiopia - Friends of Ethiopia (http://friendsofethiopia.blogspot.com/2005/11/eight-die-in-clashes-with-...) reports on Tuesdays clashes between riot police and opposition supporters in Addis Ababa which resulted in the death of at least 5 people and injured many others. The riots followed the arrest of 30 taxi drivers who participated in demonstrations against the government and claimed the elections were rigged.

Black Looks – Black Looks (http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks/2005/11/in_1975_freedom.html) returns to Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence by looking at the variety of literature on the contribution of women to that struggle. The poems and writings of Freedom Nyamubaya alongside testimonies of mothers and short stories by Zimbabwean writers.

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, http://okrasoup.typepad.com/black_looks

Agathon Rwasa - http://agathonrwasa.blogspot.com/2005/10/fnl-kill-twenty-civilians-since-early.html is a blog dedicated to bringing Burundi rebel group FNL’s (Forces nationales de liberation) leader Agathon Rwasa to justice and highlighting the atrocities of FNL.

“Twenty civilians have died at the hands of the FNL since early September, according to the Burundian human rights group Ligue Iteka. The group has also raised concerns about eleven killings by government forces, together with reports of torture and arbitrary arrests. There has been no further news on the whereabouts of Agathon Rwasa, who was reportedly deposed by a pro-peace faction of the FNL eight days ago.”

Despite an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity it seems Agathon Rwasa is still being welcomed in Tanzania! There is a full list of astrocities committed by Agathon Rwasa on the blog.

Mzansi Afrika - Mzansi Afrika (http://mzansiafrika.typepad.com/mzansi_afrika/2005/10/africa_digital_.html)
reports on how European and American recycling firms use Africa as a dumping ground for useless equipment. This saves the expense of having to recycle properly.

“Re-use is a good thing, bridging the digital divide is a good thing, but exporting loads of technotrash in the name of these lofty ideals and seriously damaging the environment and health of poor communities in developing countries is criminal,” said Jim Puckett, coordinator of BAN who led the field investigation."

No holes barred, Egyptian blogger Sandmonkey –
Sandmonkey (http://egyptiansandmonkey.blogspot.com ) takes shots at George Galloway “I wanna see that bastard go down” , Syria “Syria fakes own support rally” and even George Bush has “crossed the line” for suing the Onion (the US’s “Alternative News Weekly).

Subzero Blue - Subzeroblue (http://feeds.feedburner.com/SubzeroBlue?m=924) announces the BBC’s decision to set up a new Arabic TV channel.

“The World Service says its new Arabic language television service is 'part of a wide-ranging package of proposals aimed at maintaining and enhancing BBC World Service's pre-eminent position and impact in an emerging multimedia age.' The Arabic channel, due to launch in 2007, forms part of a £30 million (U.S.$53 million) package of new initiatives."

What is interesting about this development is what is happening elsewhere. The BBC is cutting most of it’s Eastern European language provision. Could this have anything to do with the “death of communism” in these countries and rise of “anti West” in the Arabic speaking world? Also the Arabic News channel al- Jazeera is planning to start an English language service soon. How unsubtle can you get?

ZimPundit - Zimpundit (http://zimpundit.blogspot.com/2005/10/twenty-seven-mdc-members-file-sena...) reports that 27 members of the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) have filed papers with the Nomination Court without party leader Morgan Tsvangirai's approval. Zimpundit asks the important question:

“How are the standing political parties going to respond to these renegade candidates? Assuming (and this is unlikely), that the MDC will indeed expel those that did file papers without their party leader's sanction, the candidates are now outsiders to the party. They leave it with their resources and supporters, making MDC a much weaker political party. Let's not forget that the candidates are from the same provinces that the MDC has been walloping ZANU, we're talking a large chunk of their rural base.”

And ends with:

“There's a lot that could happen. This whole senate thing is turning out to be much more compelling than I had expected!”

Musings of a Naija Man - Musings of a NaijaMan (http://uknaija.blogspot.com/2005/10/unanswered-questions-from-nigerias.html) takes time to ask some pertinent but unpleasant questions around the death of Mrs Stella Obasanjo who died at the weekend following liposuction surgery in Spain and the misinformation broadcast following the Bellevue plane crash that killed 117 people.

“Why did it take so long to determine where the crash site was? Where did the "government official" who announced that there were 50 survivors get information. Why was the Nigerian First Lady having cosmetic surgery done? Who was footing the bill?”

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks,

Ghanaian blogger, “The Trials & Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen” - - (http://ekbensahinghana.blogspot.com/) has an amusing story about a song which poked fun at a small Ghanaian town called Tubodom. The elders of the town were very angry over the lyrics and started a campaign to ban the song. However this only made the song even more popular and the town itself is now on the tourist map.

“And teachers from the village who are working in other parts of the country are reported to have asked to be sent home because students have been making fun of them...Other Ghanaians, though, have expressed a desire to visit the previously little-known place.”

Africa Unchained, Africa Unchained - (http://africaunchained.blogspot.com/2005/10/rebuilding-africa.html) reports on the rise of the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India & China) and their relevance to Africa.

“The Rise of BRIC the nations is dispelling the myth about archaic political doctrines and development models. The countries in question cut across all ideological spectrum and continents (except Africa). They all seem to agree on one thing - that the "market" is king."

African Refugees based in Australia - African Refugees (http://africanrefugees.blogspot.com/2005/10/on-female-circumcision-and-l...) reports on FGM and the law in Australia.

“All procedures involving partial or total removal of the external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs, whether for cultural or other reasons, are prohibited by the law...In fact, the law says it is illegal to 'aid, abet, counsel or procure a person to perform female circumcision or FGM on a woman, girl or female baby'; even if the female wants it to be done."

Black Star Journal - Black Star Journal (http://popeyeafrica.blogspot.com/2005/10/not-him-too.html) points out a growing “intolerance towards dissent” being shown by Senegalese President, Abdoulaye Wade as yesterday (Tuesday 18th October) the government closed down the country’s most popular radio station, SUD FM.

“Sud FM landed in hot water for interviewing a hardline leader of the MFDC, a group that wants the southern Casamance region to secede from Senegal. The government said Sud FM's interview had posed a threat to state security, according to the BBC. Rebroadcasts of the interview were banned and the case had been referred to the state prosecutor.”

Black Star Journal points out the irony of the President’s action as it was the independent media that helped him gain the Presidency in 2000 and comments:

“Perhaps Wade confused this with loyalty to his person and has been shocked that the press hasn't shirked its civic duty now that opposition leader has become president of the Republic.”

Sudanese Aid worker’s controversial blog , Sleepless in Sudan - Sleepless in Sudan (http://sleeplessinsudan.blogspot.com/2005/10/ive-been-accused-of-bloggin...) responds to those who have accused her of “blogging to much on the problems of Darfur and the mistakes people are making – and not offering any bright solutions myself."

She therefore offers one solution:

“Send us those Canadian armoured personnel carriers...There are currently 105 armoured personnel carriers stuck in a warehouse in Senegal - waiting to be transported to Darfur so that the African Union soldiers can use them in their patrols. Unfortunately, the Sudanese government - which has very little concern about the safety of people in Darfur - is refusing to let the shipment come into the country unless it gets a certain degree of control over their use. After much negotiation, it seems that 35 have now been granted permission to come here.”

Nigerian blogger, Jangbalajugbu-Homeland Stories – Jangbalajugbu Homeland Stories (http://www.edwardpopoola.com/blog/) has a horrific story from Nigeria that shows the brutality of mob rule Lagos style. A young 11 year old boy was caught attempting to steal a baby and subsequently the boy, Samuel was burnt to death by a Lagos mob.

“At a point, Samuel mentioned his mother in the course of his self defence and the angry mob asked him to take them to where his mother was. Samuel was not allowed to walk on his own, he was gruesomely dragged like a sheep to be slaughtered. His was worse than Mel Gibson’s passion of the Christ. It was a wicked scene and I felt for him as he was gradually loosing the right to his life. When Samuel pointed at a woman as his mother, the woman outrightly denied knowing who he was. And then, all of a sudden, someone threw the fire! As the fire burnt his head, Samuel, with the last batch of energy in him ran frantically to quench it. He tried it three times consecutively. After each success, he was ignited again. At the third attempt, he was too weak to give a fight. He burnt to ashes."

What an African Women Thinks - What An African Woman Thinks (http://wherehermadnessresides.blogspot.com/2005/10/in-blackness-of-my-sk...) discusses the changing nature of identity - what is it that “constitutes her Africaness?”

“How times change. Now, I think of myself not as a Christian who happens to be a woman and African, but an African woman who is a Christian. Is it an identity I’ve constructed for myself as a response to a global hierarchy that places the African woman at the very bottom of the rung? Or is it a facet of my identity that's always been there but has never needed to assert itself? Like a gem with myriad faces, perhaps, and each time you turn it, the light refracts differently, unveiling a 'new' image?”

* Please send comments to [email protected]

Zimbabwean civic action group, Sokwanele - (http://www.sokwanele.com/) reminds us that the “crisis” facing Zimbabwe today is not one single issue but many. There is a severe crisis in the economy for instance, as in manufacturing, as in agriculture, in education, health care and so on. In fact just about every sector of the national life is plunged into deep crisis right now.

Health is of particular concern and while the main focus here has been on AIDS, there are in fact other health issues that have been neglected such as Sleeping Sickness spread by the tsetse fly.
This is a slow, wasting illness characterized by fever and inflammation of the lymph nodes, leading to profound lethargy that frequently ends in death; in other words, a most unpleasant way to die. However it is not just a case of “sleeping sickness as sleeping is the sickness”.

Egyptian blogger, Baheyya – Baheyya (http://baheyya.blogspot.com/) has a last word on the re-election of Mubarak - YOU ARE NOT WANTED – YOUR TIME IS UP.
“A decrepit regime faces off with a society in movement. Egyptian society is debating, organising, learning, mobilising, demanding, manoeuvring, grumbling, watching, transforming, and of course, sulking”.

Jewels in the Jungle - Jewels in the Jungle (http://jewelsnthejungle.blogspot.com) reports on diamond mining in the DRC via a photo essay in this months Foreign Policy magazine.

“A Trail of Diamonds” by photographer Kadir van Lohuizen who followed the trail of the diamond trade around the world. This trail is dirty, oft-times violent and bloody, and littered with the destroyed lives of marginalized and victimized children, young people, and adults from Africa to India who work as underpaid labourers and unpaid slaves in the mining, cutting, and polishing of billions of dollars ($$$) worth of diamonds every year.

Telegraphic Congolais - Telegraphic Congolais (http://kivu.blogspot.com/) is the only blog I know reporting from the DRC (periodically at least). Unfortunately it has not been regularly updated so its not clear who the author is (journalist, activist or both or neither). In his latest post he mentions the Goma film project which is producing a documentary “Heal My People”.

The film “documents the lives of rape survivors in the Congo as they work with medical staff and counsellors to regain their health and dignity. Documentaries like this require extreme sensitivity and one hopes that the voices of the women are presented without distortion and from an Afrocentric perspective.

Finally Mzansi Afrika - Mzanis Afrika (http://mzansiafrika.typepad.com/mzansi_afrika/) has a report on how AIDS is causing a dramatic increase in school dropouts.

“According to the report (HRW) millions of children in southern and eastern Africa are dropping out of school as a direct result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. “Other experts on this issue have made the obvious observation that the effect of Aids in the classroom will have long term consequences by dampening economic growth across the continent. One of the solutions that springs to mind would be for government to provide special grants to orphaned children who can't afford uniforms and school fees”.