The New Dark Age

29 November 2014 — Pambazuka News

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Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839

 

CONTENTS: 1. Features, 2. Comment & analysis, 3. Advocacy & campaigns, 4. African Writers’ Corner

 

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1 Features THE LESSONS OF LIBYA Dan Glazebrook

 

Led by Western self-interest, NATO embarked on a massive military intervention in Libya in 2011 that leaves many lessons for the Global South. Above all stands the lesson that Western military intervention cannot bring about the desired change, but rather creates failed states. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93456

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BUILDING SOLIDARITY WITH AFRICA: STRUGGLE AGAINST NEO-COLONIALISM AND IMPERIALIST MILITARISM All across the continent AFRICOM and NATO must be defeated to liberate the people Abayomi Azikiwe

 

Despite the existence of 54 independent states in Africa, today the principal struggle is against a new and more insidious form of exploitation and oppression, neo-colonialism. Africa must move towards socialist development in order to ensure its future. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93457

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR AFRICA TO LIVE UNDER A ONE PARTY PLANET? Alnoor Ladha

 

The powerful are now united in a global hegemonic project of neo-liberalism. And everyone else pursues their own profits or growth to the detriment of everything around us under the fundamental capitalist tenet of self-interest. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93458

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WORLD BANK BLINKS AS SOUTH AFRICA’S NEOLIBERAL STATE SUBSIDISES CORPORATES, EVACUATES PRO-POOR FISCAL SPACE Patrick Bond

 

A World Bank report makes the incredible claim that the South African Treasury has been exceedingly generous in social spending. With that, neoliberals can now justify social spending caps or even cuts. In reality, though, South Africa has the fourth lowest public social spending amongst the world’s largest 40 countries. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93460

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ON THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE ASSASSINATION OF WALTER RODNEY Wazir Mohamed and Horace G. Campbell

 

The commission of enquiry is both politically inconvenient and fundamentally important for justice and healing in Guyana. It is important that the friends and family of Walter Rodney internationally remain vigilant to ensure that the full truth of the circumstances surrounding the his assassination are brought to light. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93459

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THE KAGAME-POWER LOBBY’S DISHONEST ATTACK ON BBC DOCUMENTARY ON RWANDA: A REJOINDER Odora-Obote Alex

 

A recent article published by Pambazuka News raises many issues that relate to Rwanda’s internal politics under President Paul Kagame. But through misrepresentations, the authors reached conclusions that are untenable with regard to three key legal issues. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93461

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ICTR CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF ESTABLISHING IMPUNITY Ann Garrison

 

To celebrate its 20th anniversary the UN International Tribunal for Rwanda, based in the Tanzanian city of Arusha, has created a documentary, narrated by an American actor, to trumpet its achievements. But to one critic, the ICTR only succeeded in bolstering the Kagame regime through victor’s justice. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93462

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THE SO-CALLED ‘RWANDAN ECONOMIC MIRACLE’ IS A MIRAGE Rene C Mugenzi

 

Many observers, including Paul Kagame’s critics of his horrendous human rights record, seem to have swallowed his storyline that he has built a formidable economic powerhouse. But the facts and figures expose the myth. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93455

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VIOLENCE AND RESISTANCE IN PALESTINE An African American perspective on Israeli-Palestinian conflict Ajamu Baraka

 

A negotiated, relatively “peaceful” resolution of the conflict is impossible. People who believe that Israel would grant sovereignty and respect the human rights of Palestinians within the context of either a one or two state solution are either naive regarding the nature of Israel’s settler project or are fundamentally dishonest. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/93468

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2 Comment & analysis ANY KENYAN LIFE IS WORTH THE PRESIDENT’S RESIGNATION (OR APOLOGY AT THE VERY LEAST) Wandia Njoya

 

The latest unbelievably thoughtless statements by President Uhuru Kenyatta about runaway insecurity in Kenya are testimony enough that the lives of citizens mean little to him. It was not their votes that put him to power, but his wealth and tribe. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93469

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NIGERIA: AS ANOTHER CIVIL WAR LOOMS Chido Onumah

 

Nigeria is facing its worst existential crisis since the Biafra war. There is no alternative other than approaching the Boko Haram threat as a war. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93465

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VISION QUAGMIRE AND SUCCESSION QUANDARY The true legacy of Zambian President Michael Sata Charles Mwewa

 

The late leader was not a visionary. No one can point out to exactly what he stood for in the transformation of the Zambian nation. In their search for a leader to replace Sata, Zambians must awaken to the reality that a person’s popularity is not sufficient. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93466

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PARLIAMENT BEATS A RETREAT ON PLANT BREEDERS’ BILL Ali-Masmadi Jehu-Appiah

 

Despite the determination on the part of the powers that be to push the UPOV-compliant Plant Breeders’ Bill and GMOs down the throats of Ghanaians, they have been compelled by the mounting local and international pressure to beat a retreat http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93470

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‘STUCK IN A MOMENT YOU CAN’T GET OUT OF…’ Band-Aid 2014’s ‘Crumbs from your table’ Cecelia Lynch

 

Funds are needed to fight Ebola; yes, people are suffering; yes, it can be good to “do good”. But it is never good to parade the suffering of others without their consent, especially when showing them stripped of dignity. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93464

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POLICE VIOLENCE IN TORONTO’S JANE AND FINCH COMMUNITY Cops act like ‘military police in occupied territories’ Ajamu Nangwaya

 

There are legitimate concerns in the Afrikan community and among police accountability advocates about racist policing in racialized working-class communities. After years of denial, racial profiling of Afrikans by the cops in Toronto is now a well-documented fact. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93467

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WHAT THE DEATH OF REMY FRAISSE TEACHES US Moustafa Traore

 

Is it that some racially privileged white people must experience the atrocities that unprivileged non-whites live on a daily basis for the French society to be moved to show concern regarding some of the injustices in French society? Remy’s case shows once more that nothing has changed much since the Second World War. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/93472

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3 Advocacy & campaigns PAN-AFRICAN SOLIDARITY STATEMENT WITH THE BURKINABE PEOPLE

 

The events of 31st October 2014, leading to the popular uprising in Burkina Faso that removed Blaise Compaore from power, constitute a turning point for the entire region, and probably Africa as a whole. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/93471

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4 African Writers’ Corner AM I A FEMINIST? Ama Biney

 

Who is a feminist? And what does it mean to identify oneself as such? This poem provides a persuasive perspective for answering these and related questions. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/African_Writers/93463

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