The New Dark Age

6 December 2012 — Pambazuka News

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Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839

CONTENTS: 1. Features, 2. Announcements, 3. Comment & analysis, 4. Advocacy & campaigns

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1 Features

POLITICAL PIED PIPERS ON THE ROAD TO MANGAUNG
A different kind of tale
Dale T. McKinley

As the ANC holds its national leadership conference at Mangaung this
month, Dale T. McKinley takes a satirical look at the party elite who
have become increasingly tone-deaf to the demands of the masses
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85686
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TUNISIA IS UNEASY AS LEADERS AWARDED
Mounira Chaieb

Although their top leaders were recently feted internationally,
Tunisians are restive due to high unemployment and insecurity. Many
feel life was better under President Ben Ali prior to the 2011 Arab
Spring
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85690
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THE STRIKE’S OVER, NOTHING’S SOLVED
Benjamin Fogel

The weakness of the second round of strikes by farmworkers in the
Western Cape, South Africa, is likely to set back the farmworkers’
struggle for years
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85685
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DIMINISHING RELEVANCE OF NIGERIAN UNIONISTS
Adewale Stephen

Millions of workers in Nigeria look up to their union leaders to
organise them to protect their rights. But recent events show that
unionists are fast losing the confidence of the masses
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85687
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SOUTH AFRICA’S SANITATION CESSPOOLS
Patrick Bond

Neoliberal sanitation experts attending the Toilet Summit may well
argue that the world cannot afford flush toilets for everyone. But the
alternatives they propose are failing.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85694
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EXIT STRATEGIES OUT OF GOMA
A five-point agenda
Theogene Rudasingwa

With the on-going conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo with
the emergence of Rwanda’s proxy, M23, Theogene Rudasingwa puts forward
five exit strategies to facilitate a long-term solution to problems in
the region
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85678
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WAR ON TERROR NOT ENDLESS? A PAN-AFRICA VIEW
Horace G. Campbell

The planned winding down of the global war on terror has major
implications for the peace movement internationally and cannot be
carried out without vigorous engagement from all. (
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/view?q=US+anti+terror+protests&uname=110842048834086824084&psc=G&filter=1#5660314246134830690
)
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85698
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US AFRICA POLICY WILL REMAIN IMPERIALISTIC
Abayomi Azikiwe

Africa will continue to be exploited, pillaged, plundered and
militarized by the US administration led by Barack Obama as he
continues to serve neoliberal imperialist interests
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85680
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DOHA CLIMATE TALKS AND THE CLASH OF INTERESTS
Farooque Chowdhury

As the COP18 Doha climate crisis talks come to a close, the planet’s
climate health is turning worse while conflicting capitals are busy
fighting.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85682
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HOW STATE RIGHTS BODY HAS FAILED UGANDANS
The case of Moses Mukisa
Vincent Nuwagaba

Vincent Nuwagaba challenges the Uganda Human Rights Commission on its
abysmal failure to promote and protect human rights, let alone award
compensation to victims.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85679
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FEMINISM AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Will women judges make a difference?
Munyonzwe Hamalengwa

With an increasing number of women occupying positions of power
globally, hopes are rising that these women will use their
intellectual property to advocate for full and equal recognition and
status for fellow women
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85689
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CUBA AND SOUTHERN AFRICAN LIBERATION
The unknown story
Isaac Saney

One of the greatest military victories in African history, conducted
jointly by Angolan and Cuban troops in 1987-1988 in the Angolan town
of Cuito Cuanavale, is little known in global history
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85677
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VIOLENCE, RACE AND THE STATE IN BRITAIN
Adam Elliott-Cooper

Following the August 2011 unrest in cities and towns across England,
the British government’s response was emphatic criminalisation and
pathologising of those involved, as well as a punitive state response
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/85691
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2 Announcements

012 ISSUE AVAILABLE

The Fahamu Refugee Programme is pleased to announce the December 2012
issue of the Fahamu Refugee Legal Aid Newsletter. The issue can be
found here ( 012 )
. Please feel free to share it widely.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/Announce/85692
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3 Comment & analysis

CHILDREN SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN POST-CONFLICT RECOVERY
Joseline Amony

Many kids on the streets in northern Uganda are driven there by
failing post-conflict recovery and reconstruction programmes and an
indifferent central and often under capacitated local governments
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/85684
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KENYA: ATTEMPT TO SUPPRESS THE DIASPORA VOTE
Nathan Wangusi

Democratic election is a game of numbers and, as things stand, Kenyans
in the diaspora who would have been the proverbial swing voters in the
March 4 election have effectively been disenfranchised for political
reasons
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/85695
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SUDAN: MASS ARRESTS OF CIVILIANS IN NUBA MOUNTAINS
Osman Naway

The Sudanese government continues its atrocities against civilians in
the Nuba Mountains region. A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding,
yet the international community watches in silence
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/85697
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WAS CHIEF AWOLOWO AN AWOIST?
Uchenna Osigwe

There is no question that Chief Obafemi Awolowo is one of the greatest
Nigerian political figures ever. But nobody, no matter their ethnic
affiliation, would in all honesty support the callousness Awolowo
exhibited during and after the Biafra war
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/85683
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4 Advocacy & campaigns

AFRICANS IN THE DIASPORA LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN

Africans in the Diaspora (AiD) launches its “New Year, New AiD”
holiday fundraising campaign to raise resources for three African
social change organizations.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/85675
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BURKINA FASO: HARSH PRISON TERMS UNDERMINE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
CIVICUS and RESOCIDE

Civil society groups urge the government of Burkina Faso to take
necessary steps to guarantee freedom of expression
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/85688
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EUROPEAN FOOTBALLERS DECLARE SUPPORT FOR PALESTINE

Sixty-two English Premier League and 1st division European footballers
have issued an open letter in solidarity with Palestinians and
condemning UEFA’s upcoming hosting of its 2013 Under 21 tournament in
Israel.
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/85676
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SOUTH AFRICAN CHURCH DELEGATION ON SOLIDARITY VISIT TO PALESTINE

A group of South African Christians and Christian leaders are in the
occupied territories of Palestine on a one week solidarity visit till
the 9 December
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/85696
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TAKE ACTION: SOTU CAMPAIGN
State of the Union (SOTU)

The State of the Union, SOTU, is carrying out a campaign in which
Africans are called upon to urge their governments to ratify the
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and the
Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa.

Take action: Click http://www.sotu-africa.org/?page_id=44]here (
http:// here ( http://www.sotu-africa.org/?page_id=44 ) ) [/url] to
sign the petition.
******

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End of Pambazuka-news Digest, Vol 247, Issue 1
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