The New Dark Age

2 December 2011 — Pambazuka News

The authoritative electronic weekly newsletter and platform for social justice in Africa
Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839

1 Features

CHALLENGING CLIMATE APARTHEID
Nnimmo Bassey
The climate conference in Durban has led some observers to conclude
that developed countries are engaged in a form of apartheid against
the rest of the world. But Nnimmo Bassey hopes negotiators will heed
the voices of the people.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/78372
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TO COOK A CONTINENT: DESTRUCTIVE EXTRACTION AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS IN AFRICA
Media release from Pambazuka Press
Nnimmo Bassey’s new book ‘To Cook a Continent: Destructive Extraction
and the Climate Crisis in Africa’, published by Pambazuka Press, shows
that exploiting Africa?s resources has delivered huge profits to the
North and huge damage to Africa. Overcoming the environment and
climate change crises means also addressing corporate profiteering and
resource extraction.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/78365
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WHAT IS AT STAKE IN DURBAN
A civil society analysis of mitigation issues in the climate talks
Civil society groups say the Durban conference is shaping up as a
clash of paradigms between those who believe that the world needs a
science- and rules-based multilateral climate system and those who are
seeking to dismantle the existing one.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/78373
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KENYA’S MEDIA IN BED WITH THE MILITARY
Reports on Somalia invasion are mostly propaganda
Henry Makori
National media coverage of Kenya?s invasion of Somalia all comes from
a single source ? the military, writes Henry Makori. No wonder there
seems to be so little opposition to the war.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/78374
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DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATISATION IN AFRICA
Interrogating paradigms and practices
Issa G. Shivji
The liberal democratic model imperialist-capitalist countries seek to
universalise is ‘essentially meant to rationalise, justify and protect
and defend private capitalist property’ in order to ‘reproduce the
system of class exploitation,’ argues Issa G. Shivji.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/78361
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16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE
Diary of an activist
Colleen Lowe Morna
On the eve of the global 16 days of activism against gender-based
violence, Colleen Lowe Morna is in Lusaka, Zambia, where she reflects
on the numbers of victims. But she also hears about moving real-life
stories, inspiring initiatives and some humour.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/78316
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AUDACITY, MORE AUDACITY
Samir Amin
Samir Amin is proposing a way out of the current situation of
capitalism in crisis. Nations should socialise the ownership of
monopolies, de-financialise the management of the economy and
de-globalise international relations.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/78392
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ANGOLA: FIFTY YEARS OF CONTINUED UPRISINGS
Horace Campbell
The struggle for democracy and democratisation in Angola involve far
more than removing Jose Eduardo dos Santos, argues Horace Campbell.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/78390
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REVISITING HISTORY: PRESAGING THE IGBO GENOCIDE
Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe
Looking back at the atrocious massacre of the Igbo people of Nigeria
in the 1960s, Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe is convinced that the British
government was fully culpable. Britain today, he urges, needs to
accept this fact and make the long-overdue restitution.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/78317
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THE ICC, THE NTC AND SAIF AL ISLAM GADHAFI
Franklin Lamb
While NATO and its allies have claimed that Libya is fully capable of
handling the trials of former regime loyalists, Franklin Lamb argues
that the case of Saif al Islam Gadhafi is too critical to put this to
the test.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/78364
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2 Announcements

FAHAMU REFUGEE LEGAL AID NEWSLETTER – DECEMBER ISSUE
In this month’s issue ( http://bit.ly/FRLAN1211 ) [PDF]:

– The Bangkok Principles on the Status and Treatment of Refugees
– African NGO resolution on the rights of refugees, asylum seekers,
migrants and displaced persons
– Asia Pacific model pledge towards upholding refugee rights worldwide
– MIGREUROP explores readmission instruments
– The situation of refugees in Israel
– Question & answer: the Cessation Clause examined
– The Cessation Clause: a primer
– ECtHR allows extradition to Rwanda of alleged Hutu genocidaire with
refugee status in Denmark; UNHCR does not intervene
– ?Is this Caribbean idyll the worst place in the world to be a woman??
– WikiLeaks diplomatic cables: a tool for refugee legal aid workers?
– In limbo in Latvia
– Asia Pacific Regional Immigration Detention Working Group workshop
– Country of origin & legal news headlines
– Requests, announcements, publications & opportunities

Fahamu Refugee Legal Aid ( http://www.srlan.org )
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3 Comment & analysis

COP 17: A FEW KEY ISSUES SUMMARISED
Trust for Community Outreach and Education
In this briefing TCOE, one of the lead organisations in the Rural
Women?s Assembly at COP17, sets out some key issues at stake in this
week?s climate change conference in Durban.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/78395
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20 YEARS OF 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM, HOW FAR ARE WE?
Shuvai Nyoni Kagoro
On the 20th anniversary of the global Sixteen Days of Activism on
gender violence campaign, Shuvai Nyoni Kagoro asks whether ?the
millions of dollars spent in cash and human time? have significantly
reduced the violence women and other marginalised groups face ?because
of their gender?.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/78362
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PAUL BIYA’S ROGUE GOVERNANCE OF CAMEROON
Peter Wuteh Vakunta
President Paul Biya’s regime has deeply disillusioned the Cameroonian
people, writes Peter Wuteh Vakunta. But Biya will not be president
forever, so the challenge for Cameroonians is to look beyond the
failed leadership and begin to imagine a new future for themselves.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/78318
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4 Advocacy & campaigns

16 DAYS CAMPAIGN ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
FEMNET
The African Women?s Development and Communication Network has issued a
press statement in observance of the campaign, appealing to “all
African leaders to ensure that they uphold all international and
regional instruments that protect women which they have ratified.”
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/78394
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ACTIVISTS TO UNITE AGAINST CLIMATE GANGSTERS
Sharon Pillay
groundWork
Dirty Energy Week has come to an end, but the ‘unity started’ by the
event “has a great potential to grow and be at the forefront of moving
beyond fossil fuels”, says the South African campaign organiser,
groundWork.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/78363
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ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (AIDC) ACTIVITIES AT COP17
AIDC has organised a series of activities at the UN Climate Change
Conference in Durban, South Africa, between 1-6 December.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/78379
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5 Obituaries

CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU-OJUKWU: ?FOCUSED, SELFLESS, STELLAR?
1933-2011
Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe
Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, leader of the Biafran resistance to the
Nigeria state?s genocide against the Igbo people, has passed away.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/obituary/78366
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6 Books & arts

FINAL DECLARATION OF FILMMAKERS
Meeting of filmmakers from Africa, the Caribbean and their diasporas
The first Encounter of Filmmakers from Africa, the Caribbean and their
diasporas, spanning nine African countries and 18 countries in Latin
America, North America and the Caribbean was held in Havana, Cuba, in
September.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/books/78375
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TRANSCENDING SUPERFICIAL BOUNDARIES
A review of Amira Kheir’s ‘Somewhere to aim for’
Hannah Gibson
Sudanese-Italian singer/songwriter Amira Kheir’s “mesmerising” first
album “comes from a place of gritty determination and commitment by
the artist to her art. And it may be that we can all learn something
from that determination,” writes Hannah Gibson.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/books/78376
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TORONTO IS READY FOR ITS ARTISTIC RENAISSANCE
Kemba King
Artists have been gathering in Toronto to share their varied
experiences and talents and to network as people of colour living in
the diaspora. Next week they launch a movement billed as a wave of
cultural and artistic collaborations.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/books/78315
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7 African Writers’ Corner

THOUGHTS ON FREEDOM
devorah major
to not want some say
that is where freedom lies
to be always in the moment
some say that is where freedom lies

there is no freedom some say

some say our world is defined
by one creator who has
determined the rules and
regulations that confine our fate
and only inside those boundaries
and under those laws
can the skeleton of freedom be found

some say freedom has no borders
some say freedom has no form
to be fully alive is freedom some say
only in death lies freedom some say

death is an eternal reward or punishment
there is no freedom some say
only a choice of good or evil

freedom some say is the wind
some say freedom is a dream

only those who have never
known freedom
doubt its existence
all others keep trying to know
it again and again
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/African_Writers/78319
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8 Cartoons

LIFE AFTER MUBARAK
Plus ca change…
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/cartoons/78381
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PRESIDENT ASSAD AND THE OPPOSITION
No easy way to deal with them!
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/cartoons/78382
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THE EU CRISIS AND AFRICA
Gado
A visit from seasoned advisors…
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/cartoons/78380
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Fahamu – Networks For Social Justice
http://www.fahamu.org

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