30 July 2015 — Pambazuka News

PAMBAZUKA NEWS 737: HOW THE WEST UNDER-DEVELOPS AFRICA

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Pambazuka News (English edition): ISSN 1753-6839

CONTENTS: 1. Features, 2. Announcements, 3. Comment & analysis, 4. Advocacy & campaigns, 5. Jobs

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1 Features

FINANCING FOR (UNDER)DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA? How the West underdeveloped Africa and is now trying to ‘finance develop’ it Alemayehu G. Mariam

The cause of Africa?s underdevelopment is well known: Imperialism. Yet heads of state, ministers and representatives have been strutting on the world stage promising to beat the old horse of poverty to death in Africa. Loaners and donors get on their high horses and with great fanfare issue the same old empty promises, sweep up their old broken promises under the rug and recycle the same old pledges about sustainable development and the rest of their meaningless litany. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95255

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THE ‘NEW BRAZIL’ OF AFRICA How development institutions are financing land grabs in the Democratic Republic of Congo Zahra Moloo

In this interview, Devlin Kuyek, Senior Researcher at GRAIN, talks about a report that reveals how a Canadian agribusiness company, Feronia, financed by American and European development institutions, is involved in land grabbing, corrupt practices and human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95259

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OBAMA IN ETHIOPIA: A PRESIDENTIAL VISIT IN CONTEXT Seifudein Adem

In order to understand the broader significance of President Barack Obama?s July 2015 visit to Ethiopia more fully, we must put it in a historical perspective, argues Professor Seifudein Adem, associate director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies at Binghamton University, United States. Tracing back the history of Ethio-American relationship is one step in that direction. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95260

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OBAMA’S TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO KENYA AS PRESIDENT John Githongo

US foreign policy vis-?-vis Africa has always been transactional. The bottom line is that the value of Africa for the United States is essentially how to mitigate global terrorism and other issues like AIDS and Ebola that could harm US national security. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95257

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BEHIND THE OBAMA VISIT TO EAST AFRICA United States imperialist policy a source for instability throughout the region Abayomi Azikiwe

In Kenya, Obama pledged over a billion dollars in investments from the U.S. government along with U.S.-based businesses. Half of the investments will go to women and young people to promote entrepreneurship. Yet U.S. policy in Eastern Africa has been militaristic along with extraction of minerals, exploiting labor and agricultural commodities. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95253

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RWANDA AND BURUNDI: WHO’S ‘PROMOTING INSTABILITY THROUGH VIOLENCE??’ Ann Garrison

Burundi has received far greater vilification from the West compared to Rwanda which has supported rebels in neighbouring countries and whose government is accused of widespread assassinations and forced disappearances targeting the opposition and the media. Burundi appears to provide perfect cover for the odious Kigali regime and its backers abroad. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95251

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JOSEPH KABILA FOREVER The dangers of an extended presidency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Ken Roth and Ida Sawyer

Joseph Kabila, the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, faces a historic choice: Does he step down when his constitutionally limited two terms in office come to an end in December 2016, or does he succumb to the delusion of indispensability that is making the rounds in parts of Africa and try to cling to power? http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95254

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THE VENERABLE JULIUS NYERERE OF BUTIAMA, TEACHER AND LEADER Mary Serumaga

The rare display of groundedness and humility by a sitting African head of state was enough to catapult Nyerere on to the path to canonization. His daring socialist experiment and the decision to leave office at the end of his term, something that remains difficult for African presidents, are significant highlights of his pro-people politics. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95267

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MOZAMBIQUE’S 40 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE: PAST AND PRESENT CHALLENGES Fredson Guilengue

In 40 years of self-rule Mozambique has undergone drastic political and economic changes, from a socialist one-party state and to a neoliberal democracy. The people of Mozambique have been plunged into ? and survived ? a civil war, political crisis and now the neoliberal appropriation with high economic growth but persistent poverty. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95249

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WHY I SUPPORT THE BDS MOVEMENT AGAINST ISRAEL Chris Hedges

The fight for the Palestinians is our fight. If the Palestinians are not liberated none of us will be liberated. We cannot pick and choose which of the oppressed are convenient or inconvenient to defend. We will stand with all of the oppressed or none of the oppressed. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95256

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2 Announcements 

2015 DRIVERS OF CHANGE AWARDS: A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Nominations for the 2015 Drivers of Change Awards are now open! Nominate individuals, businesses, civil society organisations and government agencies that are making a real impact to end poverty. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/announce/95170

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CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: MASTER?S DEGREE (LLM/MPHIL) IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATISATION IN AFRICA APPLICATION DEADLINE: 31 JULY 2015 Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria

( http://www.chr.up.ac.za/index.php/academic/llm-human-rights.html) This prestigous degree is presented by the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria in partnership with 13 leading African universities.

APPLY ONLINE: http://www.chr.up.ac.za/index.php/llm-mphil-online-application-2015.htmlhttp://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/announce/95077

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SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS: PAN-AFRICAN COLLOQUIUM IN BARBADOS UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES/BARBADOS, JANUARY 12-15, 2016 Pan-African Colloquium

The Departments of History and Philosophy; Government, Sociology and Social Work, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados and PANAFSTRAG are pleased to issue a second call for papers for this inaugural international Pan African Colloquium to be held at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados over the period January 12-15, 2016. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/announce/95128

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3 Comment & analysis 

PUTTING PROFITS FIRST 10 labourers hospitalised after use of toxic pesticide at China-Zimbabwe farm Promise Ndlovu

In a scenario reminiscent of the slave era, workers at this farm jointly owned by Zimbabwe and China have been exposed to high levels of a toxic chemical without adequate protection, in contravention of both local and international laws. Complaints have been met with deaf ears and some worker leaders have been dismissed for airing their grievances. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/95250

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THE ASSASSINATION OF SANDRA BLAND AND THE STRUGGLE AGAINST STATE REPRESSION Ajamu Baraka

The young black woman from Illinois, an activist with Black Lives Matter, was stopped for a minor traffic violation, beaten, jailed and found dead two days later in her cell. The official explanation about her death is unacceptable. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/95258

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MOST POST-DISASTER FUNDING IS A DISASTER: HOW TO DO IT RIGHT Fatima van Hattum and Arianne Shaffer

In the world of post-disaster funding, good intentions are at best simply not enough, and at worst, actually harmful. The crux is to be an engaged ally as much as a funder. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/95252

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4 Advocacy & campaigns 

10 YEARS OF DEFENDING HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN EAST & HORN OF AFRICA Hassan Shire

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project marks ten years of its founding this year. In that period, the organization has done extensive work in providing protection for human rights defenders, advocating against repressive laws and building capacities to strengthen regional civil society. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/95270

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AN OPEN LETTER TO OBAMA: WE NEED YOUR PARTNERSHIP IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Mohamed Adow

With about one billion people, Africa contributes very little to cause the climate problem but its people are among the most seriously harmed. The US, which accounts for nearly a third of greenhouse gas emissions now causing climate change, should lead efforts to heal the Planet. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/95262

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5 Jobs 

COUNTRY CAMPAIGNER: HORN OF AFRICA AI Amnesty International

The mobile revolution. Geopolitical power shifts. A radically altered global economy. The world is changing, and so is the way that people fight for their rights. In order to be effective, Amnesty International?s (AI) International Secretariat needs to change how we work. That?s why we?re opening a hub in Kenya. And why we need your campaigning expertise with us on the ground. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/jobs/95189

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THE CIHA BLOG WORDPRESS DEVELOPER AND DESIGNER CIHA The CIHA Blog

The CIHA Blog is looking for a talented freelance WordPress developer with a keen eye for design to update the blog design, customize existing themes to design specification, fix bugs in the back and front-end, and improve usability and site performance. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/jobs/95183

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End of Pambazuka-news Digest, Vol 369, Issue 1

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