8 October 2015 — Pambazuka News

PAMBAZUKA NEWS 745: CELEBRATING THE JOYS AND COSTS OF RESISTANCE

 

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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 CELEBRATING A DECADE OF STRUGGLE Abahlali baseMjondolo

 

South Africa’s shack dwellers movement was founded ten years ago by citizens frustrated by the ruling ANC’s failure to deliver the promises of democracy in the ‘new’ nation. It has been a worthwhile struggle against a neo-liberal state that pays scant attention to needs of the majority poor Black people. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95673

 

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10TH ANNIVERSARY OF ABAHLALI BASEMJONDOLO MOVEMENT Keynote address delivered at Curries Fountain Sports Ground, Durban S’bu Zikode

 

A lot has been achieved through the principled stand of the members of the shack-dwellers movement, with some of them paying the ultimate price for justice and freedom. Several other individuals and partner organisations have been an important part of the journey. The struggle continues. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95670

 

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IT’S ALL ABOUT POWER AND MONEY: THE PRESENT STATE OF THE ANC Dale T. McKinley

 

The ANC has morphed from its earlier transition days as a ‘modern’ bourgeois political party designed to consolidate a class-based system of power overlaid with narrow racial interests to an inveterately factionalised, patronage-centred, corrupt, rent seeking and increasingly undemocratic ex-liberation movement. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95672

 

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CAN WORLD’S WORST CASE OF INEQUALITY BE FIXED WITH PIKETTIAN POSTURING’ Patrick Bond

 

Despite happy noises made by the World Bank, status quo economists and other commentators, South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. A policy of growth-through-redistribution is certainly needed. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95689

 

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THE NEW MBA AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN BUSINESS SCHOOL SECTOR The more things change, the more they remain the same Dhiru Soni

 

The ‘gurus’ of South Africa’s business education sector need to learn to be increasingly adaptable ‘ making sense of uncertainty and managing complexity. The qualities of openness, empathy, integrity and self-awareness should replace harmful elitist posturing. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95674

 

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40 YEARS A REFUGEE, FOR THE LOVE OF FREEDOM Peter Kenworthy

 

This November marks 40 years since Morocco invaded and colonized Western Sahara, today Africa’s last colony. Abba Malainin was only a child when he had to flee the war on foot through the desert to Algeria, to refugee camps where his family and thousands of other refugees still live today. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95688

 

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT: WHY IT FAILS IN KENYA John O. Kakonge

 

Kenya is building huge infrastructural projects such as the Thika Highway and the Lamu Port. These have been accompanied by malpractice in construction, land grabs, displacements, environmental degradation with no or insufficient information to the public. The environmental impact assessments that should prevent such malpractices are ineffective. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95686

 

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EMPOWERING TEACHERS: THOUGHTS ON WORLD TEACHERS DAY 2015 Steve Sharra

 

The theme for this year’s World Teachers Day is ‘Empowering teachers, building sustainable societies.’ It is such a gratifying, highly motivating theme, demonstrating the seriousness with which the teaching profession needs to be taken. Without urgent attention to the state of this key profession in Africa ‘ and globally ‘ the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the just launched Sustainable Development Goals will not be achieved. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95665

 

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CHINA’S ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WORLD Daouda Ciss’

 

As China’s growth begins to slow following decades of fast development, what are the impacts on the resource-rich countries whose economies recorded impressive growth thanks to high levels of export to China’ http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95691

 

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AN OPEN LETTER TO BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON Courtenay Barnett

 

When viewed in the overall historical context of the 300 years of free labour building Britain during the slavery and colonial period, the 400 million pounds UK is offering the Caribbean as presumably an alternative payment for reparations is simply laughable. There remains a case for reparatory justice. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95671

 

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JORGE RISQUET: CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY DIES 40 YEARS AFTER ANGOLA His life exemplifies links between African revolution and Cuban internationalism Abayomi Azikiwe

 

A committed revolutionary from his youth, Risquet led the Cuban delegation in the talks that resulted in the withdrawal of the apartheid army from southern Angola and the liberation of neighboring Namibia under settler-colonial occupation for a century. His last visit to Africa was in 2012 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Kwame Nkrumah’s death. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95666

 

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ALPRENTICE ‘BUNCHY” CARTER WOULD HAVE RODE WITH NAT TURNER Norman (Otis) Richmond, aka Jalali

 

Carter was an iconic black revolutionary from Los Angeles who made a notable contribution to Africa, Africans and oppressed humanity. We should remember him every October 12. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/95687

 

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2 Announcements

 

IRRI RIGHTS IN EXILE NEWSLETTER: OCTOBER 2015 ISSUE

 

The October 2015 issue of the International Refugee Rights Initiative’s Refugee Legal Aid Newsletter (formerly the Fahamu Refugee Legal Aid Newsletter) is out. Find the full newsletter here ( http://rightsinexile.tumblr.com/ ) .

 

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3 Comment & analysis

 

ETHIOPIA’S NEW PARLIAMENT: INAUGURATION OF ELECTORAL AUTHORITARIANISM Eyob Balcha Gebremariam

 

In May the ruling party claimed to have won an incredible 100 per cent of the seats in a country that has nearly 80 political parties that contested the elections. And the regime’s allies around the world keep churning out reports of rapid economic development ‘ while turning a blind eye to the widespread repression by the dictatorship. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/95668

 

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THE PLIGHT OF AFRICAN REFUGEES IN ISRAEL Alessandra Di Cataldo

 

Israel has implemented a two-step plan to reduce the number ‘infiltrators’ from Africa. The first step has been to stop the flow of asylum seekers into the country by constructing an expansive fence on the Egyptian border. Second, an old law has been updated to keep asylum seekers in detention without trial for a year. Additionally, refugees are being repatriated to third countries without consent. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/95676

 

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BUHARI IS NOT ALONE, JOIN OR RESIGN NOW! Rex Essenowo

 

All well-meaning Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora must now rise up and join to return looted wealth that is stashed away abroad, and to fight grand corruption at home. It is time bring back decency in government and restore human dignity to the people. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/comment/95690

 

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4 Advocacy & campaigns

 

IT’S OFFICIAL: 19 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SAY ‘NO’ TO GMOS Lorraine Chow

 

Although GMOs are widely grown in many parts of the world, the topic is fraught with contention in Europe. Many of EU countries have strict laws against GMOs out of public health and environmental concerns. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/95667

 

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LACK OF POLITICAL AND JUDICIAL WILL UNDERMINING MAURITANIA’S ANTI-SLAVERY LAW, SUDY SAYA

 

The report, drawing on a number of case studies, faults the criminal justice process at all stages: from lack of initial police follow up, inadequate investigation by prosecutors, to judges not enforcing proper procedure or sentencing in compliance with the law. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/advocacy/95669

 

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5 Jobs

 

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT – DAKAR Permanent €29,474 per annum Closing Date: 14th October 2015 A I Amnesty International

 

( http://careers.amnesty.org ) Amnesty International is moving closer to the ground! Our West Africa Regional Office, located in Dakar, works to ensure respect for human rights, and for equal and just societies throughout the region. You’ll provide substantial support to help our management team to succeed. The West Africa Regional Director is a central figure and is seeking a driven and team-oriented person to provide substantial administrative support and assist with her busy agenda. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/jobs/95587

 

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FINANCE AND OFFICE ASSISTANT – NAIROBI Closing Date: 8th October 2015 Fixed Term Contract – 6 months $28,287 USD A I Amnesty International

 

( http://careers.amnesty.org ) For over 50 years, we’ve been campaigning for human rights wherever justice, freedom and truth are denied. We’ve reshaped policies, challenged governments and taken corporations to task. In doing so, we’ve changed thousands of lives for the better. Join Amnesty at our new regional office in Kenya and you will too. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/jobs/95559

 

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2015 TRUSTAFRICA / UKZN POST DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP Deadline for bursary applications: 15 October 2015

 

( http://appliedpovertyreduction.com/2015/09/08/2015-trustafrica-ukzn-post-doctoral-fellowship/ ) The South African Research Chair initiative (SARChI) in Applied Poverty Reduction Assessment is pleased to announce two new 2015 TrustAfrica / UKZN Post Doctoral Fellowships. http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/jobs/95469

 

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End of Pambazuka-news Digest, Vol 377, Issue 1

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