The New Dark Age

9 October 2014 — Pambazuka News

 

The authoritative electronic weekly newsletter and platform for social justice in Africa

 

Pambazuka News is delivered free to you with the support of donations from Friends of Pambazuka.

 

KEEP PAMBAZUKA FREE AND INDEPENDENT! BECOME A FRIEND OF PAMBAZUKA NOW! http://www.pambazuka.org/en/friends.php

 

Follow Pambazuka #PambazukaNews

 

Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839

 

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

 

//////////////////////////////////// 

 

1 Features 

 

EBOLA, THE AFRICAN UNION AND BIOECONOMIC WARFARE

 

Health questions and the challenges for Africa By Horace G. Campbell

 

Comprehensive public education about Ebola is required, including its possible links to biological warfare research in the West. As for the response to the present outbreak in West Africa, the AU and ECOWAS have horribly failed the people of that region and Africa. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93093

 

 ******

 

WANTED: FAR-SIGHTED AFRICAN LEADERSHIP AGAINST EBOLA Akong Charles Ndika

 

The Ebola outbreak is a “Rwanda moment” for Africa. But leadership on this issue from around the continent has been at best too little too late, exposing Africa external militarization of responses to the epidemic that could creep into other important policy spheres like the economy or upset the regional geopolitical balance http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93106

 

 ******

 

WHAT DOES PRESIDENT OBAMA “KNOW” ABOUT ETHIOPIA’S “ELECTION”? Alemayehu G. Mariam

 

Ethiopia will hold national elections next year. It is certain that the US-backed TPLF regime will rig the poll and proclaim a landslide victory. A look at the present repressive political climate shows clearly that there is not a chance for a free and fair election http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93094

 

 ******

 

THE ‘WORLD VERSUS BANK’ SEEN FROM SOUTH AFRICA Patrick Bond

 

This Friday, a new civil society campaign, ‘WorldVsBank’, featuring protests and teach-ins, will take place at the Bank’s Annual Meeting in Washington and ten other countries, including South Africa’s three largest cities. The campaign arises from widespread recognition all over the world that the Bank has made the world a worse place socially, politically, economically and environmentally. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93109

 

 ******

 

HAS THE ‘ASIAN TAKEOVER OF THE WORLD BANK’ WORSENED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST BLACKS? Frank E. Watkins

 

World Bank President Kim has vehemently rejected legitimate demands to establish accountability even in the most egregious cases of racial discrimination, which numerous Bank reports say is “systemic”. Now there are rumours that Asians have taken over at the Bank and worsened the racism. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93111

 

 ******

 

SOUTH AFRICA: POLICE TORTURE AT GLEBELANDS ENDS FRAGILE PEACE

 

Are assassinations, manipulation of the criminal justice system and intimidation used regularly to protect greedy officials plundering the KwaZulu-Natal public purse? It would seem so when reviewing incidents of violence relating to housing and tender allocations over the last six years in poor communities across Durban. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93107

 

 ******

 

TWIGA FARM: THE STORY OF A KENYAN LAND GRAB Leila van Rinsum

 

Landless citizens of a location just outside Nairobi have been fighting for their rights to land since Kenya’s independence 50 years ago. Successive governments – including those of two presidents, Jomo Kenyatta and his son Uhuru, who come from the area – have failed to give these people justice. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93096

 

 ******

 

CLIMATE JUSTICE RESURFACES AMIDST NEW YORK’S CORPORATE SHARKS Patrick Bond

 

What last month’s march did, better than any other event in history, was demonstrate the unity of activists demanding genuine emissions cuts and government funding of an alternative way of arranging society. They offered a transformative view of a world economy that must go post-carbon and post-profit if our species and countless others are to survive. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93092

 

 ******

 

NEW YORK CLIMATE SUMMITS WERE A CONTEST BETWEEN LEADERS AND PEOPLE Mithika Mwenda

 

The two Summits held last month ended on different notes. But while the world’s leaders failed to live up to people’s expectations, the people on the other hand showed that they will no longer sit idle waiting for a solution to the climate crisis – they are ready to find solutions http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93091

 

 ******

 

PREVENTING THE OIL AND GAS RESOURCE CURSE IN EAST AFRICA Namakula Evelyn Mayanja

 

East African countries have joined the ranks of oil and gas producing nations. How can these countries avoid the ‘resource curse’ that many African nations have been facing and instead turn their resource wealth into opportunities for their citizens? http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93101

 

 ******

 

//////////////////////////////////// 

 

2 Comment & analysis 

 

THE THREAT OF EBOLA AND RUSSIA’S RESPONSE Kester Kenn Klomegah

 

Russia has provided funding for the purchase and supply of medical modules, medicines and disposables for 60,000 people in countries most affected by the Ebola outbreak. More medics and volunteers are expected to go to West Africa in the coming days http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93099

 

 ******

 

FROM AMILCAR CABRAL TO SHAILJA PATEL: MASKING NO DIFFICULTIES, CLAIMING NO EASY VICTORIES Aya de Leon

 

There can be no excuse for the sexual assault of woman. And no one should be silent regarding the violence allegedly perpetrated by Kenyan columnist and writer Tony Mochama http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93097

 

 ******

 

CIVIL SOCIETY SITUATION ANALYSIS ON THE SOCIO-POLITICAL TURMOIL IN SOUTH SUDAN Peter Lasu Ladu

 

Global attention to the crisis that broke out in South Sudan nearly a year ago has almost entirely disappeared. But difficult negotiations are ongoing, despite periodic outbreaks of fighting. To find lasting solutions, the stakeholders need to appreciate the complex realities leading up to the crisis http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93100

 

 ******

 

STOP THE POLITICAL PERSECUTION OF ARISTIDE AND FANMI LAVALAS ONCE AND FOR ALL Danny Glover

 

Is the government scared of facing Fanmi Lavalas party in a free and fair election? It seems so. President Martelly was elected in 2011 and parliamentary elections have been due for three years. Aristide’s party presents a clear problem for the US-backed regime http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93104

 

 ******

 

NIGERIA, THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS AND THE REST OF US Amenaghawon Joseph Idahosa

 

Elections are coming up in Nigeria in February. A quick look at the situation in the country today shows that the elections is ill-prepared for a successful exercise in terms of personnel and funding. But there are also other worrying concerns nationally that will likely complicate the mammoth exercise http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93105

 

 ******

 

KARUTURI STILL GOING DOWN Dutch branch goes bankrupt, farm in Ethiopia sold off

 

Karuturi has seemingly lost control of its operations in Kenya, the Netherlands and Ethiopia, there is not much left for the company to hold onto, except some small operations in India – and a whole lot of debt. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93108

 

 ******

 

RUSSIAN MARKETS ATTRACTING AFRICAN EXPORTERS Kester Kenn Klomegah

 

As a response to the Ukraine crisis, Western countries have imposed bans on exports to Russia, which have especially affected the country’s food import. President Putin turned to other nations and African countries are ready and willing to fill in the gap. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93114

 

 ******

 

MEXICO: THE STRUGGLE TO PROTECT MAIZE CONTINUES Adelita San Vicente Tello

 

Small farmers and seed sovereignty activists have for years stood against Monsanto and other GMO giants, the Mexican government, the US government, and the World Trade Organization in a protracted resistance to protect the staple food, maize. They have won some difficult victories http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93098

 

 ******

 

//////////////////////////////////// 

 

3 Advocacy & campaigns 

 

GLOBAL PROTESTS AGAINST WORLD BANK Groups will stage “Creative Resistance” outside of Bank’s Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.–and around the world–on October 10 & 11

 

Farmers, indigenous peoples and NGOs take to streets in ten cities demanding an end to World Bank’s morally bankrupt development http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/93113

 

 ******

 

STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH ABAHLALI BASE MJONDOLO

 

AbM have survived nine years of repression. Despite their heroic victories and struggles in communities, the ruling party and the state continue to unleash violence and lies against the movement. This must stop. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/93112

 

 ******

 

UGANDA: LAST ATTEMPT ADVOCACY ON THE KEROSENE TAX

 

Members of Parliament on 15 September scrapped the proposed tax on kerosene, which would hurt low-income earners. But last week President Museveni revoked Parliament’s decision, saying the government needs taxes from kerosene to finance its Shs15 trillion budget. Call, SMS or email your MP to reject Museveni’s move http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/93095

 

 ******

 

MYTH OF MALAWI’S GREEN REVOLUTION SUCCESS STORY EXPOSED

 

New report shows that resources are transferred from small-scale farmers to multinational agribusinesses. The farmers are trapped in a cycle of debt and dependency on costly external inputs with limited long-term benefit. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/93102

 

 ******

 

CAMEROON: WWF COMPLICIT IN TRIBAL PEOPLE’S ABUSE

 

Survival has uncovered serious abuses of Baka “Pygmies” in Southeast Cameroon, at the hands of anti-poaching squads supported and funded by the WWF. Instead of focusing on organized poaching, these squads arrest, beat up and torture Baka people who hunt only to feed their families. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/93103

 

 ******

 

EXPEL THE ISRAELI MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FROM THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION! Protest tomorrow (Friday, 10 October) in Durban starting at 10h00.

 

This is part of the global campaign to isolate Israel through boycott, divestment and sanctions because of the Jewish nation’s murderous violence and apartheid against the Palestinian people. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/93110

 

 ******

 

////////////////////////////////////

 

Fahamu – Networks For Social Justice http://www.fahamu.org

 

Pambazuka News is published by Fahamu Ltd.

 

(c) Unless otherwise indicated, all materials published are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License. For further details see: http://www.pambazuka.org/en/about.php

 

Pambazuka news can be viewed online: English language edition ( http://www.pambazuka.org/en ) Edicao em lingua Portuguesa ( http://www.pambazuka.org/pt ) Edition francaise ( http://www.pambazuka.org/fr ) RSS Feeds available at http://www.pambazuka.org/en/newsfeed.php

 

Pambazuka News is published with the support of a number of funders, details of which can be obtained here ( http://www.pambazuka.org/en/about.php ) .

 

To SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE go to: http://pambazuka.gn.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pambazuka-news or send a message to editor@pambazuka.org with the word SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line as appropriate.

 

The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of Pambazuka News or Fahamu.

 

With around 2,600 contributors and an estimated 600,000 readers, Pambazuka News is the authoritative pan-African electronic weekly newsletter and platform for social justice in Africa providing cutting edge commentary and in-depth analysis on politics and current affairs, development, human rights, refugees, gender issues and culture in Africa.

 

Order cutting-edge climate titles from Pambazuka Press:

 

‘Earth Grab: Geopiracy, the New Biomassters and Capturing Climate Genes ( http://fahamubooks.org/book/?GCOI=90638100969040 ) ‘ – OUT NOW

 

To Cook a Continent: Destructive Extraction and the Climate Crisis in Africa ( http://fahamubooks.org/book/?GCOI=90638100628980 ) – OUT NOW

 

* Pambazuka News is on Twitter. By following ‘@pambazuka’ on Twitter you can receive headlines from our ‘Features’ and ‘Comment & Analysis’ sections as they are published, and can even receive our headlines via SMS. Visit our Twitter page for more information: http://twitter.com/pambazuka.

 

* Pambazuka News has a Del.icio.us ( http://Del.icio.us/ ) page, where you can view the various websites that we visit to keep our fingers on the pulse of Africa! Visit http://delicious.com/pambazuka_news.