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ThE IrIsh Government have announced plans to engage Diaspora Africans in Ireland in their desire to be effective on overseas involvement, Minister of state for Trade and Development, Joe Costello T.D., has announced. Addressing participants at the Irish Aid White Paper review Consultation organised by the new Community Partnership (nCP), the Minister said that the government will be involving members of the new communities in Ireland in the affairs of Irish Aid. When I became minister, I decided that their voice will be heard in all deliberations in relation to policies of overseas development involving the portrait of irish prime Minister - enda Kenny by Sara Sinclair Irish Aid, he informed AfricaWorld. At the parley held in the Irish Aid centre, 2. What are the implications of the stakeholders thrashed out key issues on the changes in the global and domestic context runnings of Irish development efforts. They for the governments aid programme in the holistically set the tune to discuss future and how will these affect current fundamental questions such as: priorities? 1. has the government been successful in 3. how should the government respond implementing the commitments contained to the key issues of hunger, fragility/ in the White Paper on the Irish Aid? insecurity, climate change, basic needs,
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governance and human rights, and gender equality? Irish Aid, an institution of the state through which it participates in global efforts on poverty reduction and humanitarian crises, has been criticised over their modus operandi. Critics,
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April 2012
OPINION
editOriAL
International solidarity is not an act of charity, its objective is to aid the development of humanity.
samora Machels historical march ended on October 19, on his way back from an international meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, in the presidential Tupolev Tu-134 aircraft, when the plane crashed in the Lebombo Mountains, near Mbuzini, southAfrica. It is now clear that the international commission of inquiry set up by the south African Apartheid government under the leadership of Judge Cecil Margo lied to the world. Events have disproved the committees findings as one of the members of the special Forces revealed all to the sowetan journalist, Mpekeleni Duma. In the interview posted on AfricaWorld Facebook page via Youtube, hans Louw narrated some of the atrocities and killings he committed working in south Africas special Forces. According to Paul Els, author of We Fear naught But God, hans Louw was the only coloured in the Apartheid era special Forces. Due to Cold War politics, Western nations ignored russias findings, which countered that samora Machels plane was lured with a Mobile radio Beacon (Model 780 - 175 - 1P pvor) to a different direction. In 2011, Mozambican President Armando Guebuza accused the south African Apartheid regime of killing the countrys first president, samora Machel. Guebuza was speaking in Maputos Independence square, at a ceremony marking the 25th Anniversary of Machels death. Guebua recalled that the plane crash followed repeated public threats against our head of state made by top members of the Apartheid government - he was referring to threats against Machels life made by the Apartheid Defence Minister, Magnus Malan, in early October 1986. samora Machel is fondly remembered as an African hero whose doggedness and resilient attributes remain evergreen and echo in Africa and around the world. According to Thomas G. Karis, he helped lay the foundations for a nonracial society in Mozambique, as well as bring majority rule governments to power in Zimbabwe and Portugal. his widow, Graca Machel is married to nelson Mandela. samora Machel, we fondly love and remember you.
Samora maCHeL
Samora Machel, Mozambiques first independent president, died in a mysterious plane crash less than a mile away from Mozambique. Here is a portrait painted on a part of the plane wreckage
On ThE 19th October 1986, a bright star on the firmament of Africa dimmed. It went to sleep on on its own but involuntarily, life was snuffed out. One of Africas greatest, samora Machel died when his plane crashed into a hillside in south Africa. Although the complicity of south Africa was denied, instead pointing to pilot error. however, events and investigations have indicated that the Apartheid regime sent its special Forces to shoot down President Machels aircraft. samora Machel breathed first as a new born on 29th september, 1933, in Gaza province in the south of Mozambique. Like most of his generation, samora grew up in an agricultural village and attended elementary school run by missionary authorities. he completed the fourth class--the prerequisite certificate for any higher education. Ambitious and hardworking, samora met a hurdle in lack of funds to pursue higher education in nursing which he aspired. however, to secure the tuition fees to pay for formal training at the Miguel Bombarda hospital in Lourenco Marques (Maputo), he took a job working as an assistant in the hospital. This afforded him enough money to continue his education at night school. samora worked at the hospital until he left the country to join the nationalist struggle.
samora Machel began his political journey in the hospital of Loureno Marques where he led protests against the authorities for paying black nurses less than whites. In one of his interviews, he told a reporter how bad medical treatment was for Mozambiques poor, The rich mans dog gets more in the way of vaccination, medicine and medical care than do the workers upon whom the rich mans wealth is built. In 1962 Machel joined the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FrELIMO) which set out to struggle for an independent Mozambique. he received military training in 1963 in Algeria, and returned in 1964 to lead FrELIMOs first guerilla attack against the Portuguese in northern Mozambique. After the assassination of FrELIMOs President, Eduardo Mondlane, in February 1969, samora Machel emerged as the leader and Army commander. Under his leadership, the bloody war of independence against colonial Portugal took a new dimension. Eventually, Portugal was defeated and samora became independent Mozambiques first elected president on June 25, 1975. his assumption energized antiminority rule action against Ian smiths rhodesia and Apartheid south Africa, even providing training grounds for them.
the Editorial team at AfricaWorld would like to point out that it is aware of the Millennium Development Goals
and seeks to synergise its work in accordance with those aims wherever possible. Those goals are to improve
issues of Education, health, hIV/AIDs, Gender Equality, Environmental sustainability and Global Partnerships.
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April 2012
NEWS
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especially the African-Irish, abreast with the system back have often questioned Irish Aid home, so they have a role to play over hundreds of millions in since their home would be euros allocated to it every year. beneficiaries to Irish Aid, nora According to nCP, one of its Owen said. The former Justice funded outlets, Irish Aid have Minister feels positive about the 639m in its funds to spend in new roadmap being designed by 2012. Our role here is to see the current government and how our contribution can prays for continuity of the enhance or influence the White dialogue with Diasporans for Paper going forward; and how effective results. she further we can achieve the inclusion of enjoined Africans to set up three major themes structures so of - Irish Diaspora as to bring out Ireland actually Engagement; the best in developed as a Empowerment and country through dealing with Capacity assistance and trade the development of government links with the likes recipient countries/ of the Us and EU. If for the stakeholders and success of all. they want to help Business/ nora Owen some African Investment focus, countries, that will was a Teachta nCP asserted. be a good portunity Dla (TD) for On the current Dublin north engagement for a from 1981 to White Paper and why the 1987 and from 1989 to 2002. government is consulting Talking to AfricaWorld, Jabbi Africans in Ireland, Joe Costelo Mbemba of the Africa Centre TD has this to say, The Irish said that he came to the talkgovernment wants to tap the shop as a taxpayer and practical experience of beneficiary of Irish Aid. Diasporans who come from According to the Gambian, he is countries where we are very interested in how Irish Aid involved. Probing further, the spends their budget. On the new Labour TD said that his ministry roadmap, he welcomed it as a intends to come out with a positive development , specially renewed policy that will benefit for productivity. Ireland all stakeholders. actually developed as a country Partnering the Trade and through assistance and trade Development Minister, Joe links with the likes of the Us Costelo, at the review parley was and EU. If they want to help nora Owen. nora Owen, a former some African countries, that will Irish Fine Gael Justice Minister be a good opportunity. Mbemba from 1994 to 1997, was very advised that the new roadmap impressed about the outcome of should not be one-way traffic of the discussion. My impression Irish businesses into Africa but is that this was a highly useful mutual. he called Ireland to meeting. Many of the delegates intervene on behalf of African feel they have a role and they are countries for maximum benefit.
Another area that will boost trade, accoding to Jabbi Mbemba, is the issue of visa restrictions. If there are restrictions when business is being transacted, it does not let things go well. Mr. reginald of the nCP was in high spirit about the success of the parley. Earlier in his address, while the function lasted, he had thanked the government for their efforts so far. But he quickly reminded AfricaWorld that the days engagement was his initiative and his happiness is that the government are engaging. This is a stepping stone for Diasporans and we are happy that the Minister bought into the idea easily. It is interesting that the Minister is listening to us about the importance of participation. It is good that the mindset is being changed, the nCP leader said.
According to reginald, the door is now open to continue a robust and productive parley, especially in getting Diaspora professionals on board as against the general belief by a minority that all Africans are asylum seekers. We are talking about involvement and engagement. The issue of remittances has not been touched and it is part of development Aid, reginald said. AfricaWorld was able to feel the verbal pulse of participants cutting across the African continent. Ferdinand Mensa from Malawi was upbeat about the new development. I think it is a brilliant idea, seeing the failures of many charities. With this kind of approach, projects will be result-oriented, the Malawi businessman said. For Brahanu hundi, an Ethiopian, the idea to involve
Diasporans is good and more effective. however, he cautioned that the government should put into practice all these ideas to gain the confidence of the people. Talking to AfricaWorld, Ebun Akpoveta, who is both a motivational speaker and guidance counsellor with Epic support Program, gave kudos to the roadmap initiative. We can see things they cannot see, Ebun opined. The motivational speaker told AfricaWorld that it is great that they want to talk to Diasporans. however, she quickly warned, It must not be allowed to die out. Minister Joe Costelo TD encouraged Africans to make their voices heard and get involved especially as these issues closely affect them. he promised to continue his open door policy throughout his tenure.
Joe Costello td, irish Minister of State for trade and development
By Dolores Martyn
to pay close attention to your FOLLOWInG ThE tragic killing of surrounding, especially if you are in Trayvon Martin,Al Dotson Jr., a lawyer an affluent neighborhood where in Miami and chairman of the 100 black folks are few.People may assume Black Men of America organization, you are a criminal especially if you told his 14-year-old son that he should are wearing certain clothes. It is also advised to never argue always be aware of his surroundings, with police, but protect your dignity and of the fact that people might view him differently because hes blessed and take pride in humility. It is pointed out that not all white people to be an African-American. The shooting has highlighted the see black people as a threat but as a ongoing issue of racial prejudice as black male the onus is on you to prove the type of person you are. parents across America explained the Black Male Code to their young sons. The code has been passed down through the black community for generations, from the days when an innocent remark could easily cost black people their job, their freedom, or even their life. The code warns MLAdeN ANtONOV/AFp/Getty images
By Paul Kelly
On MArCh 21st, Minister of state at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Joe Costello, formally launched this years simon Cumbers Media Fund. The fund has been running for seven years and, supported by Irish Aid, aims to provide increased coverage of development issues. It provides grants for journalists interested in
this year on climate change, as well as forgotten emergencies severe humanitarian crises which have drifted off the news, such as the ongoing crisis in Darfur, sudan. Mr Costello expressed his excitement at the recent economic growth across the continent and insisted that anyone would be crazy not to invest in Africa. Despite this, he asserted that we will not ignore the challenges that exist and emphasised that twenty per cent of Irish Aids funds go directly to tackle hunger. Mr Costello also emphasised the importance of the work of Irish Aid, especially in the partner countries which it focuses on. These include Mozambique, Ethiopia, Uganda, Lesotho, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Zambia, Vietnam and Malawi. he also highlighted the recent OECD review of the Irish Aid program which found it to be cutting-edge and among the best in the world; despite the fact its funding has fallen thirty per cent since the 2008 recession.
April 2012
NEWS
By Paul Kelly
On MArCh 27th the Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montague, launched a report on Monitoring Integration in Dublin City. The report summarises the issue of migrant integration into Dublin citys political, social, cultural and economic life. The report issued some damning statistics on integration attempts thus far, finding that 27% of subsaharan Africans have been subject to a racially motivated assault, threat or serious harassment. The launch was co-hosted by The Integration Centre whose chairperson, Pat Montague, stressed the importance of integration, as fifteen per cent of the population of Dublin are foreign nationals. Migration was seen as a temporary phenomenon by policy makers, he said. It was thought that the crash would sort out migration. But since the crash weve had net inward migration. he argued that migration patterns did not correlate with economic fluctuations due to the fact that people have embedded families. The report advocated an increase in the power of local authorities, as they currently lack control over
ThE WInD fell from Polish man Jan Lisewskis sails in his attempt to kite surf the 124 miles between the Egyptian town of El Gouna and Duba in saudi Arabia. For forty hours, among other concerns, he fought off sharks, I was stabbing them in the eyes, the nose and gills. he survived on energy drinks, some water, two energy bars and of course his knife, before rescuers located him via his sOs beacon.
By Max Uspensky
POLIsh PrEss Agency, PAP, finds that drivers in Madasgascar are finding themselves with writhing snakes between their legs at traffic lights. Apparently throwing snakes into cars is a new
April 2012
NEWS
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Emma Costelo hoisted the maiden copy, our sights were already set on redrawing the equation of multicultural media in Ireland. Pursuant to our ideals to serve and inform, we marshalled out salient targets and they include: To promote a balance on multicultural media reporting in Ireland through: in- depth reporting on issues affecting Africans and coverage of our readers candid opinions To showcase the beauty and creativity of Africans through reports that import diverse African cultures, values and entertainment
To bring Africa and its people closer to Ireland and to help promote Irish values to Africans in Ireland, Africa and the rest of the world. To provide objective and quality information about Africans in Ireland, Africa and around the world. An African adage says, Unless the hunted gives their account, the story of the hunt will always favour the hunter. AfricaWorld, anchored by young talents in a recession-prone Ireland, began a new era of telling the real story of our beautiful continent. From the first edition in the weeks
preceding President Obamas visit to the current one you are reading, the story has been all about improvement and the desire to do more. Our appetite to keep the momentum is like that of a lion. As an African proverb states clearly, no matter the hardship in the jungle, a lion cannot eat grass. We keep striving to bring our community to the limelight. Yes! AfricaWorld is the name and the perspective is the progress of the continent of Africa and those that genuinely love it. Our writers span across the terrestrial sphere of the globe, cracking brains from
Africa, south America, north America, Australia and Europe. We are the real United nations with much love for the continent and wider world, operating in a global village. AfricaWorld plans to widely promote Dublin as a tourist destination and a city where dreams can come to fruition, notwithstanding impediments as we have witnessed since the launch. Dublin in a beautiful Island and a city with hip attitude, hence the mentality of our outfit to stand firmly and tell stories as they are. From time to time, the beautiful city of Dublin
will be showcased to all as one of few cities that fought a sprawling empire. AfricaWorld will be celebrating its first birthday in May with our readers and supporters over cultural dances and speeches from incisive speakers. We intend to, as one of the programs of the day, inaugurate a memorial lecture in honour of an African icon. In our spirit of importing the real African traditions, we intend to launch the maiden DUBLIn C U LT U r A L F E s T I VA L , t o showcase numerous dances from different parts of Africa.
ThE AKIDWA conference entitled Connecting young migrant women, inspiring futures combined with the International Womens Day celebrations took place in City hall this year. It started at 5pm but was already a hive of activity from young wannabe models the more exp erienced ones b eing photographed on the steps to a group of teenage girls practising their dance routine. This years MC was Dil Wickremasinghe, newstalk presenter of Global Village. After registration there was time for a leisurely walk around which revealed posters of many migrant women living in Ireland and a list of some of their achievements. The group of young men dressed like Us rappers turned out to be traditional dancers and musicians whose aim was not only to showcase their talents but to dispel the negative stereotyping of immigrants portrayed by the media. special guests included the nigerian Ambassador Dr Kemafo Chikwe and representatives from the south African, Kenyan and Ethiopian embassies. The event was opened by Tina Akinola Jinad Akidwa Chairperson,
next the audience were entertained by the Moribo Wa Africa music and dance group. The entertainment consisted of traditional African singing and dancing accompanied by African drums. The dancing was spectacular and there was a collective scramble for camera phones by the audience in an attempt to capture the magnificent dancers which in my opinion made riverdance pale into insignificance. This was followed with a video clip entitled Inspirational stories of young migrant women in which several young women spoke about their hopes and dreams for the future. next there was a presentation by Amaka Okonkwo Akidwa Development officer called Future activities planned for young migrant workers. There was more entertainment provided by the swab Divas a four piece girl group ranging in age from 12 to 15 years old who sang, danced and rapped and could be Irelands future X factor hopefuls. Anne Walsh from the national Youth Council of Ireland gave a presentation and this was followed by the Akidwa strategic Plan 20122015 presented by salome Mbugua
Akidwa CEO. salome appealed for amazing outfits. other women to become members Finally we were served light of Akidwa. refreshments and this was followed We were given a preview of the by a raffle to raise much needed funds fashion show featuring young models for Akidwa. Everyone enjoyed the young who were followed by models from runway Models Academy; the show consisted of amazing designs in an array of wo n d e r f u l materials. several models wo re fascinators and beautiful necklaces designed by helen Moriarty to complement their outfits. Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Counsellor Maria Parodi launched the Akidwa strategic this was followed by the Fashion show. As usual the runway models were stunning from their unusual makeup to their With Moribo Group at dublin City Hall
night and looking forward to next year. www I would like to thank the ladies of Akidwa, Dublin City Council and the numerous other people who made the event the success it was.
April 2012
NEWS
Tuareg rebellion Sparks Coup THe renegade Woman WHo beCame PreSidenT oF maLaWi in mali eCoWaS dilemma
ECOWAs turned their flight around, when demonstrators had converged upon the runway. ECOWAs leader, Alassane Ouattara, president of Ivory Coast along with other regional heads, nigerias Jonathan Go o dluck, Burkina Fasos Blaise Compaore, Liberias Ellen Johnson- sirleaf, nigers Mahamadou Issoufou and Benins Yayi Boni were all due to fly into Bamako with the aim of returning constitutional order to the country. some 130,000 have been displaced by the conflict moving into neighbouring niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. The food crisis and rising food prices across the whole region no doubt have aggravated an oscillating social equilibrium. One protestor, Khalifa sogo, extols, They (the coup leaders) should stay to resolve the problems in the north, corruption and education. That is more important than elections. sanogo, meanwhile, in response to sanctions wants to hold elections as soon as possible and return to established order. PrOPhET TB Joshua of The synagogue of All nations in nigeria is fast becoming the talk of the Internet over his accurate predictions. In an online media outfit monitored by AfricaWorld, the fiery preacher had predicted the death of an ageing African President outside West Africa. Many had waved the predictions aside until President Bingu wa Mutharika submitted to death days later. As a matter of fact, the late President sneaked into nigeria on 27 February without dropping a hint on his itinerary. It wasnt until the nigeria Television Authority (nTA) sighted and reported about his visit that Malawians knew that their president was not in Lilongwe. nyasatimes had reported that the late President Bingu wa Mutharika left Kamuzu international Airport at 6.45am notwitstanding the lack of confirmation from Government spokesperson Patricia Kaliati and Presidential spokesman hetherwick ntaba. As a matter of fact, rumour was rife that he went to meet with the nigeria Prophet TB Joshua whose prophecy sent shivers down his spine. AfricaWorld cannot confirm if he ever succeeded seeing the fiery preacher whose church, The synagogue of All nations, attracts the high and mighty from all corners of the earth, in the quest to receive instant miracle. Following the passing on of President Bingu wa Mutharika, the former Vice President, Madam Joyce Banda has been sworn in on holy saturday as the new president of Malawi. Although her assumption had not come easy as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) tried to upstage her through unconstitutional means, including scheming to install Peter Mutharika, Foreign Minister and younger brother to the late leader. Madam Joyce as Vice President did not enjoy a good working relationship with the late leader, after the earlier refused to support the nomination of Peter wa Mutharika, the late leaders younger brother as DPP presidential candidate. The VPs refusal earned her political trouble and excommunication, and eventually sack in December 2010 from the presidential clique and ruling party, forcing her to form a new party, Peoples Party (PP). The late President Bingu wa Mutharika will be buried on 23rd April in his sprawling ndata farm in southern Thyolo, beside his late wife Ethel.
By Max Uspensky
MALIs ArMY at 7,000 personnel is not very large. Apart from being poorly equipped, soldiers sent to confront the Tuareg rebellion apparently have done so on empty stomachs. This logistical failure is blamed for the scores of lives lost by the military and its decision to take over responsibility for, both its own and the countrys affairs. The March 22nd coup has taken place just weeks prior to elections in which the standing president Amadou Toumani Toure said he would no longer stand. The coup leadership has installed itself as the national Committee for the
restoration of Democracy and state (CnrDr) with Captain Amadou sanogo at its head. Meanwhile Toure remains free and at large somewhere in the country. The coup has been widely condemned The African Union suspended Malis membership within 24 hours, ECOWAs the west African regional governance body described it as military adventurism, while the EU, World Bank and African Development Bank have all suspended their aid programs. Amid some rioting and looting in the capital Bamako six heads of state representing
deputy Foreign editor at rte Anthony Murnane at a seminar on the Syrian crisis
ThE TrOUBLE in syria was the issue at Griffith College Dublin on 14th of March when politicians, journalists, victims and students engaged in a talk show. From 7 -10pm, speakers and concerned participants engaged syrians through skype to know the current situation in homs, which
is the flash point in the revolution. Public demonstrations in syria began on 26th January 2011 and developed into a nationwide uprising. Protesters demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad, the overthrow of his government, and an end to nearly five decades of Baath Party
rule. In a function featuring fourspeakers including: Dr. hassan who has been a victim of Assad brutality, ronan Brady head of International Federation of Journalists, Deputy Foreign Editor of Irish Television (rTE) and representative of Amnesty international. narrating his personal story and that of family odeal, Dr. hassan said that the international community should come to their aid as brutes run President Assad security. In their quest to march down the will of the people, They kill recklessly, maim people including cutting genitals. 100,000 arrested and most are missing while stadiums and sport centres are turn into jails. Eid Lib (syrian Journalist in homs) briefed participants from skype. Issues like the insecurity of journalists were also discussed at the function. As the revolution is being televised, issues like the insecurity of independent journalists, citizen journalism, human rights for targeted p opulations and conflict resolution were also discussed at the function.
nUMBErs rEPOrTED at risk across the sahel have dramatically increased. A massive 13 million, including one million children are now said to be threatened. Chad, Burkina Faso, niger, Mauritania and Mali have all declared emergencies and called for international assistance. senegal also effected, following state elections is yet to respond accordingly. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has reported that state food production levels are down by an average of 25% on 2010 levels.
The drought situation is exacerbated by conflict across the region and by high food prices, currently 25% above average and set to maybe even double. Mamadou Biteye, Oxfam regional director for west Africa implores, Millons of people are on the threshold of a major crisis. All signs point to a drought becoming a catastrophe if nothing is done soon. The world cannot allow this to happen. A concerted aid effort is needed to stop tens of thousands dying due to international complacency.
April 2012
OPINION COLUMN
dimkPa
By Mazi Uche Azukaoma Osakwe
sOME PEOPLE view religion as being something outdated, some see it as being something that cannot be explained, but some believe in a supernatural being. The adherents to the Christian faith believe that he is a Messiah called Jesus Christ who came to redeem mankind.The Christians, especially the so-called born-again, cite the Book of John in the holy Bible as saying that unless you are born again, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God. The Christians believe in the second coming of Christ as their hope of fulfilling the promise of the scripture.The Christians hinge their faith on resurrection after death; and argue for the existence of heaven and hell.Those who do well and obey the Ten Commandments will go to heaven, while those who do badly will go hell. The Christians faith is about belief and they are strongly fanatical about it. Other denominations have their own different ways of worship and communicating with their God. The Muslims believe in the sanctity of the Prophet Mohammed as their spiritual leader. The Muslims believe that whatever happens in this world, Allah has predestined it to happen. The question is: what is religion? religion is a system of beliefs and practices relating to the sacred uniting its adherents in a community and has a powerful hold on the peoples way of
iT iS good For THe Wind To bLoW So We Can See THe baCkSide oF THe Hen
thinking, acting and perception of interests. This shows that religion is something that its followers believe without questioning it. It directs them and shapes their thinking and reasoning. It is not something you can measure or quantify, but it is a powerful force which is exerted upon those who believe. hence religious feelings can mobilize people faster than any other element of their identity. The moral and spiritual forces of religion encourage people to act and change. Another important aspect for the adherents of religion is the practice of rituals. rituals are powerful means of communication, through which followers of a religion connect with their spiritual sources and observe their values and beliefs. When a moral message serves to mobilise mass action, or when the moral messenger backs its words with effective leadership of its own, the religious actor can become a significant catalyst for change. religion is a very powerful instrument, and like wildfire, it can be very dangerous, though at the same time it can be an agent of change and can also be a source of joy for many. That is to say that religion can also be destructive when it is misapplied by the religious fundamentalist. For instance, the misinterpretation of a Koran verse by Muslim fundamentalists in Kano state, nigeria, led these fundamentalists to cut off the head of Gideon, a so-called unbeliever because he was alleged to have desecrated the holy Koran by tearing a page and using it to go to the toilet. In this case, the fundamentalists took the law into their own hands by dispensing instant judgment without allowing the law of the land to take its due course.Also, the activities of Boko haram in nigeria have cost thousands of lives and in property losses.This group struggles with the concept of secularism, democracy and modernity, calling instead for the declaration of Islamic state. however, religion can be an agent of change, mobilisation, enlightenment, peace-building and communal co-existence. In Latin America, religion was the force that drove dictators out of power; in Mozambique it became an instrument to call for peace-building and in former apartheid south Africa, it was an instrument of mobilisation and change. The religious denomination in the then apartheid south Africa joined hands together, irrespective of creed, colour or race, in condemning the racist government and its policies, and created awareness for its members. As a follow-up to this, the antagonists of religion who have claimed religion as a propellant of violence have cited the 2001, 9/11 attacks by Muslim fundamentalists; Bosnia, the black spot of religious war; the sectarian crises in northern Ireland, India and Pakistan; and the extremist despotic regime of the Taliban in Afghanistan and sub-saharan Africa as cases of prominence. But the instances of religious conflict in sub-saharan Africa have been traced to poverty, greed, grievances and colonial legacy. Due to these factors, various groups tried to assert their own identity and fought over resource control and political power. The politicians employed ethno-religious cleavages to perpetuate hatred and divide the people amongst themselves. The consequences of these actions are conflicts along the religiousethnic line.The problem is religious extremists escalation of religious conflict. They see radical measures as being necessary to fulfilling Gods wishes. Fundamentalists of any religion tend to take a Manichean view of the world. If the world is a struggle between good and evil, it is hard to justify compromising with the devil. Any sign of moderation can be decried as selling out, more importantly, of abandoning Gods will. hence the fundamentalist are driven by a desire to get back to basics that was untainted by secularism. They also believe that they exclusively possess the truth, usually a patent interpretation of a sacred text. In the face of competing religious claims in our shrinking world, many turn to dialogue as a hopeful way of fostering understanding, reducing violence and in cooperative religious pluralism as a panacea in understanding other religions.
As ThE second and final tenure of the incumbent president of Kenyan Mwai Kibaki comes to an end on or before December 31, 2012 and leading to the first presidential election under the new constitution of Kenya that was passed during the 2010 referendum where the candidates face a second round between the first and second if none achieves slightly over 50% majority in the first round or if the winner does not bag 25% of the votes in at least 24 counties.The government and active voting public of Kenya must now turn to ICT and the media to ensure that a free and fair elections are held and the winner celebrated over rounds of muratina and nyama choma or other local brews and delicacies. Information and Communications technology has enabled new approaches to electoral reforms and governance in the west and parts of Africa in which stakeholders across sectors and jurisdictions are engaged in consensus-building and implementation processes while the populace and media goes viral through social networking and other communication means. This article is focused on how Africa and in this particular instance, Kenya can achieve success in her forth coming 2013 presidential elections using the power of ICT and social networking
in the driving seat. All Kenyans need do is simply give the whole world and the voting public the right information, at the right time, in the right place and in the right context to be complaint, which fundamentally defines the concept of social networking and social enterprise. social networking not only helps the electorate to record and report metrics and bias of the voting caucuses across regions and boundaries, but may also sway the voting charts to favour early social networking powered campaigns and spin doctors as observed during the 2008 Us presidential elections. social networking sites (sns) have been growing in popularity over the past five years. however, the 2008 U.s. Presidential election shone a spotlight on their potential for making a realworld impact. some credit Barack Obamas success to his commitment to utilising online social networking tools for connecting with the electorate. Early in the campaign, Obama hired one of Facebooks founders to develop his own campaign sns as well as a strategy for utilizing other sns platforms to spread their message and to mobilize supporters to take action. his staff sought to ensure that the Obama social network would mirror the off-line world, because supporters would foster more meaningful connections by attending
neighbourhood meetings and calling on people who were part of their daily lives (stelter, 2008). The Obama campaigns social network also married community organizing to the Internet by applying two-way (perhaps more accurately multi-way) communication processes on a major scale (Feek, 2008). Following the election, people began to discuss more seriously whether social networking sites might be powerful tools for reshaping governance. The key factors to measure the performance of any political or electoral systems are metrics and indicators, ranking highest amongst them are the political performance indicator which addresses the ranking of voter turnouts, competitiveness of the political parties and systems, and the legitimacy of the judiciary to bring a timely and reasonable closure to political and electoral disputes. While these seem to be lacking in most political and electoral systems in quite a number of African countries, ultimately leading to electoral malpractices, rigging and failed elections, ICT and social networking tools can provide solutions to address such issues In the concluding part of this article AfricitWorld will examine available ICT and social networking tools that could help drive successful Kenyan 2013 presidential elections. Please note that all information on this page is an independent view or culled from online sources in some cases and does not represent that of any third party or employer.
April 2012
COLUMN
perCeptiON (pArt i)
By Max Uspensky
EssE Es percipi extolled Dublins Trinity College philosopher cleric, The reverend Bishop Berkeley in 1713. And perception is crucial for understanding Africa as most people outside of Africa have never visited it therein lies the importance of perception. We may only perceive what is, what the chief problems are and how we might treat them through the constructions of others. Astonishingly even those who have spent time there lend a perception that is at once false and perverse and maybe at best simplistic. (Consider Kony 2012). Loosely, the bishops ideas promote an ideal of immaterialism where the existence of material substance is denied and all familiar objects exist only as ideas in the minds of those who perceive them. In the African context this is clearly a means by which outside interests might seek to manipulate the idea of their presence on the continent such manipulation might be termed public relations. Writing in an article for the Observer recently the journalist Afua hirsch commented, There are many plagues in Africa, but the only one seemingly impossible to treat is the curse of bad Pr. Our minds eyes are continually adjusted by an at best an erroneous view of the continent. (Consider again Kony 2012). Or indeed the following perception of the Congo one tale of the good book informs us of how on the seventh day when the good man called god good god became tired, he dropped all that was left in his sack of wealth right there upon the Congo and thus it became rich in mineral resources, lush vegetation and a diversity of humanity. What was he thinking? Europeans, having rewritten the good book
if not our own perceptions, if upon every roundabout in Europe we might erect monuments to all those who perished in this mad pursuit of the rubber fetish and corporate greed? A museum stands to Leopolds achievements in the heart of the European project in Brussels, why not one to the Congos sacrifice? And let us perceive the Congo for what it is for without its god given coltan wed have no phones, laptops, play stations or satellite technology. And what of the perception of independence? A conservative 11 million dead in pursuit of corporate profit, scars which barely could have healed by its (independence) due date. In 1960 the Belgians agreed to independence, which in actuality was just a perception when in reality the Belgians were playing out le pari congolais they bet that without indigenous human resources, outside corporate concerns would remain in charge of the countrys resources. Upon independence just three Congolese existed in a civil service of 1,400, just 169 Congolese children had completed secondary education and only 30 Congolese held university degrees. This combination of the external brain
and the native hand results in a form of government often highly acceptable to the general body of inhabitants Thus commented Winston Churchill in 1907 of the colonialist relationship and it was one which corporate colonialism had no desire to change. Thus the Congos problems of ownership of its own resources (as with all African countries) continued and as they have done to this day. The public relations industry appropriates the term, The resource curse. Crucially, among all African countries the Congolese people suffer exclusively over the mining of Coltan highly in demand and vital to the digital age. (Again what Kony 2012 should be addressing). Were Bishop Berkeley alive today, keen as he was to produce verse of philosophical content, he might have penned the following perception, I find it extremely odd That the phone which I see Continues to be Even though the coltan is soaked in blood. God Bless the Congo.
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On 17Th of March, alumni of roosevelt high school in Johannesburg began the first of a series of events to celebrate their 10th reunion. Describing it as a reunion for Charity, the group planted 40 fruit trees at rethabiseng community centre just outside Bronkhorstspruit. The centre is in use as a nursery for over a hundred children and the land had long been designated for the fruit trees. Unfortunately, however, the community centre had not had the financial means to plant the trees and it was only with the arrival of the former students that the work began. The planting was very successful and the alumni also included current roosevelt high school students and the nurserys children in the process. It is hoped the trees will grow to provide a naturally healthy diet as well as spark the entrepreneurial spirit in them as the fruits are highly valued. They include figs, pomegranates, avocados, mangos, citrus and plums and the alumni said the fact that the nursery children were involved was crucial, as they will no doubt feel some form of personal
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ownership toward the trees. The idea of the reunion came together on Facebook when Jekaterina saveljeva, our current managing editor, highlighted the charity Door of hope which seeks to tackle the issue of infant abandonment.
April 2012
Goodness Sibanda is the Secretary of AfricaWorld Newspaper and former Miss Africa Ireland for 2008. A Zimbabwean, Sibanda is a professional dancer and tennis player. The beauty queen speaks five languages and teaches dance to people of all ages. She has appeared in numerous musical videos as a back-up dancer. Ms Sibanda has won laurels in beauty pageants and tennis. She will be studying Travel & Tourism next academic session. Ms Goodness Sibanda loves to teach dancing and help in community works. She is excited at what AfricaWorld is doing and intend to serve the community through the medium.
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DINNING MENU egusi with either: native Jollof rice, yam beans, okro Garri, fried rice, goat, mear, fresh eforirio Pounded yam, fish pepper soup, nkwobi, ila wheat flour ugba, snail, isi ewu, assorted ewedu semovita meat, Jollof rice, yam pottage ogbono ukwa and gizzard. OUR SPECIALS ofe owerri, ofe oha, Rosted fish & plantain, Afang-& nsala, vegetable and ofe ugba, ofe onugbu, ofe okazi ADDRESS: 130 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 - (01)8736008 / 0871645676
size of your choice. Wash neatly in a pan or the sink. With the wash, it is ready to boil in the pot. Sprinkle some salt on it to add to taste. this is one of the easiest meal to cook as the yam is left to boil By Chinwe Ihegbu between 10 - 15 minutes. You can check the yam ingredient intermittently with a fork or sharp object. As soon as the 1 tuber of yam penetration is smooth, the yam Salt is ready to serve. Chili pepper You can heat oil in the Utazi Leaves microwave or drop a piece of 5 tsp oil hot yam in the oil to melt. Add salt depending on the taste of Preparation the yam. Add chili pepper and peel the yam scale utazi leaves if available and neatly and slice it to the your meal is ready to eat.
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April 2012
COLUMN
wife knowing she was the one (ex), she came visiting in company of a male friend pretending to be her husband and my wife started entertaining her as a family friend without knowing that the man who pretends to be her husband was actually her younger brother. My dear ladies, things are happening and youve got to be wiser. He prefers texting to calling You cannot tell me you are in love with someone without you having the desire for him.A guy who is just playing games with you does not call on a daily basis. he comes with the excuse that he is not always free to call because of work and makes you believe his text messages are there to prove his love for you. But the truth is that he does not love you. I dont care where he resides or the demanding nature of his job, when a man is truly in love with you, nothing takes his eyes off you. hmmmm, you dont agree with me on this; no problem, time shall tell. Does not introduce you to friends and family I have seen ladies being deceived by men to the point that they agree to keep the relationship secret. If that relationship is going to be kept secret, there is something wrong about it. A man who is genuinely in love with a lady will flaunt her before friends and family. When next a man tells a lady to avoid talking about it, please lady, use your tongue to count your teeth because there is something wrong somewhere. Because of wickedness of men, some have genuine reasons for keeping their relationships secret, but I can tell you that majority of those good reasons are lies. Why go on with a man who is not bold enough to hang out with you? There are others who will never let you visit their house. They keep coming to your house and taking you out from there, but you dont know where they live. Be careful because your heart is about being broken into pieces; save yourself the stress of endless night vigils. If he really loves and appreciates you, his secretary, mum, siblings, friends, colleagues,will all know you are the one. Avoids Public Display of Affection (PDA) I laugh when I see these things. Men go out with their girlfriends and act very formal with them. some will even tell you before you leave home that you just have to keep it formal out there because of friends, mum, and pastor. If he is still afraid of giving you a kiss/peck in the presence of mum, then he is not manenough to have you; run away from the mamas boy. If he is honest with you and there is nothing wrong somewhere, he will always feel like a baby around you. some use religion to cover up; they tell you not to allow pastor to see you get a peck from him and he shouldnt also see you holding hands with each other. My question is; is there anything wrong with two people in love giving and receiving pecks or holding hands together in public? It is time you became free from that doctrinal bondage and accept the truth. holding hands and ordinary peck will not lead you to hell; just be careful not to get carried away. No mentions of future plans Does he bring you in when it comes to discussions that are to do with his future? If he is really interested in you, he will bring you in when it is time to paint his new apartment to know what you like. he will be interested in your future and vision. Infact, he shows you in everything he does that you are a part of his future. Lack of Kindness I have continually said it; love gives. Dont allow them deceive you by their constant complaining of the materialistic nature of most ladies. If he loves you and is genuinely interested in you, he wont stay away or embark on an emergency trip when it is time for house rent. I have even noticed that men who are in love dont wait for the woman to ask; they go ahead and give even before she asks, and they take your burden from off your shoulder. There is nothing like being tight fisted when he is in love. A man who is in love with you will let you have his ATM pin number because he trusts you.The problem is that we have players instead of lovers.We still have them out there, but just a few. Keep praying and asking God for such a man; he will send him your way. No interest in people you love If he loves you, he loves everything about you. A man will love and wholeheartedly accept your relations and children if any. something happened recently; after reading one of my articles, a guy called me out of pain when he found out that the woman he wanted to marry has a child. Trust Africans; friends tried to talk him out of it, but thank God he called me. I advised him to overlook the issue of single motherhood and go ahead with her if truly he is in love with her. Just recently, I got a text message from the guy thanking me for the emotional support. To the glory of God, they got married on the 13 May 2011. I pity women who are ready to ignore their children all in the name of love. If a man doent love your children, please let the man keep his love to himself. Ladies, I decided to do this because daily I see women being misled by men. Most 21st century women, especially African women are known for loving with conditions. It is time they stopped pretending to be what they are not and turning themselves to celebrity actresses just because they want a man to accept them. Ladies, you dont need to become what you are not and put yourself under unnecessary pressure for a man to propose. If he loves you, he will stick with you unconditionally. Your size, height, educational qualification, number of children, family status, have nothing to do with it. I have seen it happen and I know you can experience that unconditional love if you will refuse to lower your standards out of desperation for a man.
YOU hAVE been in a relationship for long and you seem to be enjoying every bit of your relationship with him.he has taken you round the world and made you forget every other guy. To you, this guy is Godsent and the best any lady could ever ask for.he makes you feel wanted and appreciated when you are alone with him, but in the midst of all these, something keeps telling you he is not in for anything deeper or like my friend put it ,he did not propose for marriage, but for dating. I was angry, but at the same time couldnt help laughing the day I was listening to a popular FM radio programme. A guy called in for music to be played for his fianc of ten years. The presenter asked severally to be sure he said fianc. What on earth could make a lady stay in a dating relationship with a man for ten good years? You have ignorantly become Mrs XYZ even when you have no place in his future. You even have your picture on the wall of his house (like I saw last week, asked, and was told she did it herself), parade yourself as the owner of the house, but the truth is that he is just keeping you for his sexual satisfaction. The moment he is ready for marriage, you will know that even with your presence all these years, he has been searching for the right person. I was shocked when I asked the guy to go ahead and marry the lady whose picture is on the wall; he laughed and said: Abdul, na so you hate me reach? she is just my girlfriend, but certainly not my wife. The earlier you pack your things and leave his house, the better for you. I remember advising one time college student to quit being a live-in-lover of five years. It was very difficult for her the first week until she finally made up her mind to listen to me. I told her that her leaving will cause her to know if truly
hAVE YOU ever been accused of being stubborn? I have on more than one occasion. Many times it wasnt a good thing but sometimes it paid off. I remember when I had just graduated from the University and was looking forward to serving my country via the national Youth service Corps (nYsC) scheme. My first choice of organisation to carry out my work placement was Central Bank of nigeria (CBn), Abuja. My mother had talked to a childhood friend of hers who worked with the nYsC telling her to ensure that I was placed in Abuja as that was my desire. however when the postings were out, I was placed as a primary school teacher in Lagos state. I was gutted. here was I, born, bred and buttered in Lagos and now I had to work there too? noo...not for me. As soon as camp was over we were all instructed to resume in our various organisations on a given date. I ignored the instruction and
April 2012
11
FAMILY COrNEr
how are the mighty dancing? In tune for burying service they keep singing Because its for keeping Like a vulture walking Meandering and crying Like a pauper starving Praying and genuflecting Like the priest expecting Devours the heart salivating The soul of his originality he lives on opportunity Atop his own perching Carcass hes munching
P oems
THE ECHO SO FAR Journey seem awry Born in birth of the holocaust Frizzy flakes place a cost son of man in haste Medulla seeking to taste Praying for it to come fast soon did I just start? he has to show what hes got names afar so tight Burning the issues with light The nod that seem like a pact Journey that is beyond might Alas it comes to sight.
CrY OF A BErEAVED WOrLD MWANAMKE MZURI Ushers in the greatness Like the vine keeper Thighs herald the dawn Yet tops are yet to none Loving you are to prove Tempests you conquer Flashing your fangs For the eagle that poach For the one that devour salt of the world Kiss that lures forth Touch that soothe And genesis of it Oh! omo mi, from the cradle you seemed so serene and sweet people lived in harmony peace never melted joy never left............, And love........, A guardian angel. Destiny told a lie, The angel lied...., Like thieves at night, As gan gan would sound, As the closing of a lid, All vanished, Death became impudent, Gone.....Gone was my baby. Oh!! omo mi, how i weep...wee..e..p, At your transformation, Friends at loggerheads, Eyeballs became blackboards, shame thrown to the wind, Oppression was happy, Greed........smiling, none could hide, Can a house hide? none can tell, The east from the west, The curtains fell........, For how long........? Would deadly sounds torment for this long? how i crave my peace. By Michael Mordi
ALL I WANT IS YOU What a terrible distance! My cherry shows substance In manners so constant The heart needs assistance cos it is so persistent And also more important And much more committed Without complacency she talks from a distance Emotion seem authoritative Making the ears attentive Pulse race beating automatic
Wisdom Bits
When stringed beads cut and fall around, it can never be complete again Meaning: If a great trust is betrayed it cannot be completely regained no matter how thick darkness is, light must overcome it. Meaning: hard work triumphs over laziness A stubborn fly normally follows corpse to the grave Meaning: Lack of advice leads to destruction Unless you carry the sheep from the salt, it would poison itself. Meaning: negative addiction is very bad Live and let live Meaning: Co-existence is a positive quality The authority of a hawk over a chick exceeds human control Meaning: nature is beyond is bigger than man
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and I am a wizard and this shop is for witches and wizards how did you get here? sophie saw a wand in the shop; she took it and ran to sam. The Wizard took a bigger wand from the wall and tried to turn sophie into a frog but sophie dodged and used her wand to turn the wizard into a butter fly. sam and sophie used the wand to get home safely.
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April 2012
ENTErTAINMENT/ NEWS
Cartoon by Dimitri
April 2012
13
NEWS/ENTErTAINMENT
Part 3
CHiT CHaT
YOUr FOOd is on the dining table dear, she replied. its your favourite! pounded yam and egusi soup with all the condiments to sweeten your palate. thank you my dear! he said happily. Youre my angel, the one that always fills my heart with joy! Mr Ade settled down and ate the food with relish. He was almost through with the pounded yam when he developed a stomach ache. Ooh! im not feeling well! he said racked with pain, holding his belly. God, whats happening to me? he screamed. Mrs Ade who had gone into her bedroom came running
ThE JOUrnEY of Motherhood is a beautiful one and can be described in so many ways. It can be described as joyful, challenging, unique, consuming, wonderful, exhausting, humbling, interesting, rewarding but easy isnt one of them. Yet, we often say that being a mum is still the best job in the world! This is b e c au s e , e ve n though motherhood can be very challenging, it is still one of the most rewarding positions in life.
neWS in brieF
By Paul Kelly -DjIBOUTIS 16TH annual International semi-Marathon was held on March 2, including over 800 runners from across the continent. -FRANCE HAS refused to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Evian accords, which marked the end of Algerias war of independence, due to fears of instability during the French presidential and Algerian legislative elections. -SOMALIA: OVER 100 Al shabaab militants have been killed in somalia after an ill-fated attack on the town of Dhusamareb. -SPAIN HAS announced new plans to invest in Angola with spanish firms Incogas and Yesos Ibricos s.A intending to invest heavily in natural gas and plaster powder respectively. -EGYPT HAS announced new plans to build a fourth metro line, using a $1.28 billion loan extended by Japan. -MALAWIS ATUPELE Muluzi has been arrested following riots earlier in the month. Muluzi, deputy leader of the united democratic front, has staged repeated protests against Malawis increasingly autocratic government and is charged with inciting the public to engage in violence. -SOUTH AFRICA: 3 men have been killed by vigilantes by having tyres placed around them before being set alight. The men were accused of robbing houses. -BENIN HAS been granted $10 million by the World Bank in order to improve malaria treatment as a part of the health system Performance Project. -MALIS MILITARY have mutinied, thrusting the country into chaos with staterun radio and television broadcasts quickly shut down. -SOUTH SUDANESE MPs have announced that if sudanese President Omer Bashir visits the state to conclude the Comprehensive Peace Agreement he will not be arrested as south sudan has not recognised the authority of the ICC. -BOTSWANAS BUSHMEN have regained access to water after a new well was dug and the legal right to use the water gained. The Bushmen had been denied the water by Botswanas government in an attempt to force them off land valued for diamond mining. -ETHIOPIA HAS mounted a raid into Eritrea, claiming to have destroyed three mercenary camps.
-SWAZILANDS MINISTER of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has threatened Facebook users with the force of international law for showing disrespect to king Mswati III. -BURUNDI HAS launched a campaign to register its 1.5 million children who lack birth certificates in order to allow them to avail of free medical care. -GABONS AUTHORITIES have begun legal proceedings against six journalists for critical comments on the use of the presidential plane by Chief of staff Maixent Accrombessi for an unofficial trip to Benin. -MOROCCOS LEGISLATION on rape was condemned by human rights Watch on March 23rd after it resulted in a 16 year old girl committing suicide. The legislation allows rapists to escape prosecution if they marry their victims. -CAMEROON HAS announced plans to send a delegation of high level officials to discuss a resolution to an injunction presented by the ethnic sawa chiefs over the construction of a $115 million cement factory on their land. -THE GAMBIA: Foday Gassama has been charged with treason after allegedly attempting to solicit a coup dtat. -MOZAMBIqUE HAS released a spanish fishing boat which had been detained following illegal tuna fishing in Mozambican waters. Its owners have been fined $1.2 million. -TANZANIAN ACTIVISTS have announced plans to sue doctors after an estimated 300 people died as a result of their strike action. -ANGOLAN HAS announced a gift of 7,500 hectares of arable land to Cape Verde in order to strengthen bilateral relations and investment opportunities in Angolan agriculture. -GHANAS TOP football coach Goran stevanovic has been dismissed. The Ghana Football Association has announced that the decision was taken in the best interest of the nation. -TOGO HAS been called on by the Committee to Protect Journalists to investigate a complaint that a photojournalist was recently assaulted. The incident occurred after the victim took a photograph of police seizing a motorcycle during a protest. - THE AFRICAN Union and the United nations have announced plans to commit 5,000 troops to hunt down Ugandan terrorist group the LrA and its leader Joseph Kony. -USA ASSISTANT secretary of state Johnnie Carson has declared that African Democracies
represent the future. -NIGER IS facing a drastic food shortage as over 6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to United nations resident Coordinator, Fod ndiaye. -TUNISIAS UNION for Unemployed Graduates undertook mass protests outside regional employment bureaus and head offices across the country on the 21st of March. -GUINEA-BISSAUS opposition party has demanded a cancelation of the presidential election, declaring it a sham. -THE UGANDAN Peoples Conference has called on MPs to clarify the reasons for impeachment of current President Museveni in order to better ensure its success. -THE FEDERATION of Muslim Womens Associations of nigeria has called on the nigerian government to begin talks with terrorist group Boko haram to end the conflict. The Federation said that the killings of both Christians and Muslims show that it is not a religious issue. -KENYAN POLICE officers who were arrested for invading Comoros waters have announced that their detainment was due to miscommunication. -RWANDAS TRADE is expected to be boosted following the arrival of Qatar Airways into the countrys aviation sector. -THE CONGOLESE red Cross and the International Committee of the red Cross are continuing work to help and save victims of the arms explosion on the 4th of March which killed over 200 people. -SUDANESE TEACHERS in nyala have protested the non-payment of over 6 months wages for over 5,000 employees. negotiations between teachers and government officials are on-going. -LESOTHOS PRIME Minister Pakalitha Mosisili has abandoned the cross as the symbol of his political party following furious protests by the Christian Council of Lesotho and the Lesotho Catholic Bishops Conference. -ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT sata has invited Chinese investors to expand investment in the country, especially in mineral extraction. -THE DRCS human rights record has been stained by a recent Un report which stated that there were numerous killings, disappearances and arbitrary detentions committed by security forces during last years presidential and legislative elections. -LIBERIAN jOURNALIST Mae Azango has gone into hiding after receiving death threats for her article condemning female genital mutilation. -MAURITIUS AND seychelles have signed a
ground-breaking treaty on joint management in the use of 400,000 sq km of seabed. It is the largest offshore joint management area in the world and embraces international best practice in exploration, development and conservation. -ZIMBABWE: THE lawyer representing the family of deceased general solomon Mujuru has claimed that the coroner examining the case erred when he found that he had not been murdered. -EGYPTS FOREIGN minister Mohamed Kamel Amr has offered Cote dIvoire four tons of medicine to prop up the countrys struggling health system. -LIBYA, FRANCE and the ICC have called on Mauritania to extradite former Libyan spy chief Abdullah al-senussi. -SIERRA LEONE has pledged to almost double classroom hours and increase secondary school education by a year following poor education results earlier this month. -MOZAMBIqUES EDUCATION Ministry has declared that there is no justification for a strike by 80 Mozambican students living in Algeria. The students are protesting against the low grant paid by the Mozambican government. -EGYPT HAS begun an exhibition in Japan entitled Tutankhamen the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. Minister of Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim has said that the exhibition contains a message of peace and amity from Egypt to the Japanese people. -GLOBAL LEADERS have condemned the military coup overthrowing President Amadou Toumani Toure of Mali, with nigeria refusing to recognise the rebels new government and the UsA calling for the immediate restoration of democracy. -NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Angola have formally launched the Kavango Zambezi Trans-frontier Conservation Area which forms a huge conservation area between the five countries. -ETHIOPIA AND Eritrea have been urged to show restraint by the East African Community in order to deter any increase in the rising conflict between the two states. -MALAWIS PRESIDENT, Bingu wa Mutharika, has rejected calls to step down following protests calling for an end to fuel and foreign currency shortages. -SOMALI AND Ethiopian forces have successfully prevented a landmine blast which was placed by Al-shabaab militants in a local airport.
14
April 2012
ikhuoesan United-Club
Sarajevo on the 20th anniversary of the siege of Sarajevo - photo by AfricaWorld Managing editor
the Archbishop of dublin celebrates Mothers day with African women in Swords
April 2012
15
COLUMN
ThE ArGUMEnT that morality and poverty are closely related is indeed true. The argument also that many persons in the society have been victims of immorality as a result of poverty cannot be denied. But the fact or even the argument of placing poverty ahead of morality is one that lacks validity. Otherwise, rich persons have no reasons to indulge in immoral and corrupt acts. For instance, we hear of bribery scams committed by very rich personalities in the bid to increase their already gotten wealth. such persons are not poor but are inherently given to the irresistible tendency of material acquisition. And we remember here that Christs warning was for the rich thus, It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19: 2325). We are thus concerned with the relationship between morality and poverty in todays society given the high rate of poverty and the efforts to escape its hooks. recently I met one Mrs. Christie, a nigerian woman with a poor background. The woman in question lives in a village together with the husband Wilfred and three children. Two of these children nneka and Ijeoma are girls who claimed they dont receive financial assistance from their relatives. so they took to a life of prostitution and waywardness to the knowledge of the mum. The mother herself does not frown at their behaviour, rather she encourages them since according to her, it is only a means to survive. Mrs. Christies reason was that other ladies of her childrens type also do such to succeed. she said the important thing is to play safe and be wise to see if they would end in the hands of straying rich men. This puts us in the dilemma of choosing between what is morally wrong and surviving the quagmire of poverty because there are many people in the same situation like nneka and Ijeoma in society today. still in the nigerian circumstance, the high rate of unemployment has led many girls and ladies searching for greener pasture to assume immoral lifestyles. They sleep around with rich men in top
establishments who promise them employment in so far as they agree to their sexual terms. Ironically, often, these girls succumb and are used and dumped with the promise of employment yet eluding their grasp. But because they lack the necessary connection to secure them job opportunities, they still fall prey to similar traps and compromise the dignity of their womanhood over and over again. some no longer feel the danger of such compromises as they believe survival is the primary issue. The truth is that poverty is a threat to healthy living. Although material acquisition distracts, poverty itself is a disaster. Imagine that Mr. Andrew is sick but cannot see the doctor basically because he has not the financial capacity to do so. Imagine that his children cannot acquire education not because he doesnt desire it but because he cant afford to pay school fees. Imagine that Mr. Andrews house rent has expired and he cant renew it, he faces threats of ejection from the landlord with all its concomitant insult; cannot pay his bills, cannot keep food on the table for his household and so cannot come out in public to talk before his peers. Mr. Andrew cannot even sleep comfortably because he lacks the sense of fulfillment and inner joy to go on living. But a basic question arises as to the cause of abject poverty in some societies. Undoubtedly, it could be caused by a persons background where somehow the individual is fundamentally incapacitated. he simply inherits it irrespective of his struggles. Poverty can also be caused by the individual due to ones mistake in life either because of laziness or as a result of wrong career choice. The individual is culpable because he blew his opportunity. Thats not the issue in this write up; rather the dilemmas arising from poverty and moral decisions are our preoccupation. Can one do evil so that good may arise hereafter? Can a person go for robbery in order to alleviate other peoples sufferings? Can a student not read but wait for expo in order to pass exams? st. Paul answers it this way, You might as well say that if my untruthfulness makes God demonstrate his truthfulness, to his greater glory, then I should not be judged a sinner at all. In this case, the slanderous report some people are spreading would be true, that we teach that one should do evil that good may come out of it (rom. 3:7-8). In another place he writes, What should we say then? should we remain in sin so that grace may
be given the more fully? Out of the question! (rom.6:1-2). so the first response to the problem of morality vis--vis poverty is to recognize the ethical principle that evil is evil and that the object of evil is that it is evil. Good cannot be substituted with evil at any time. so in the case of young Ijeoma and nneka, it must be recognized that prostitution in itself is evil and is morally bad. It cannot be permissible else every other person in such circumstance concocts poverty as an alibi to prostitution. Again, if the act of prostitution is permitted on the grounds of poverty or employment is secured on the grounds of sexual gratification, then the Machiavellian principle that the end justifies the means becomes an acceptable norm. But when the means is wrong, there is already a faulty premise which ab initio deforms the end product. This is typical of the instances in our hands here. A further argument may be posited from the consequences of such immoral acts. The negative effects of prostitution are very glaring and may even affect the individual before she actualizes her dreams. The tendency of falling into wrong hands abounds because of the difficulty of deciphering the men with genuine intention. since it is business, men who patronize prostitutes also think of their own gain as well. They do not have any other genuine intention than to satisfy their libidinal instinct. There is no help in that case as it is a matter of give and take. Those who give money to prostitutes do not do any charity; rather they merely pay for the services the prostitutes render. They can as well be mean if for any reason the prostitute fails to satisfy their wants. In that case, it becomes a completely risky job. Therefore, the basic solution to the problem of poverty is to confront it headlong through hard work. Those who succumb to poverty under the guise that it was inherited make fundamental mistakes because they fall into the fallacy of fatalism. Many who were born into poor background had overcome poverty because they vowed not to live with it. It is all about hard work and optimism which involves the development of strong will power. To succumb to poverty and use it as a garb to immorality is completely wrong. To become a prostitute using poverty as an excuse is morally wrong. To compromise ones dignity in order to secure job is also morally evil. To become a criminal because one needed something and could not get it is equally not permissible. Imagine
where all poor ladies in the society take to prostitution or every job seeker gives herself away in order to be offered employment. Imagine also a society where everyone steals to become a philanthropist. such society will simply sink into moral depravity that cannot be salvaged. To place poverty before morality, therefore, is like placing the cart before the horse. Poverty is a great threat to healthy living. It threatens morality, sound thinking, inner joy, healthy coexistence, etc. It also affects responsibility but it cannot become a justification for immorality. so the best thing a
society could do is to launch a collective battle against poverty in order to avoid the dangers it breeds. For instance, a society that fights poverty by assisting the poor to be reasonably employed saves herself from the menace of prostitution, etc. By so doing, she preserves her moral rectitude. In conclusion, morality cannot trail poverty. It cannot be relegated to the background in order to justify the extremes of poverty. In practical terms, poverty can become a threat to morality but it cannot be placed above morality else it results to moral permissiveness.
A COnTrOVErsIAL international agreement could see life-saving drugs prevented from reaching African countries. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which has provoked protests across Europe in recent months, aims to give governments, courts, Internet service Providers and the entertainment industry greater powers to clamp down on violations of copyright law. Although much of the attention of protestors, which included marches in Dublin and Cork in February, has focused on the implications of this law for internet privacy and freedom of expression, it could also have huge implications for the use of generic drugs. French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Kader Arif has pointed to this possibility: The problem with ACTA is that, by focusing on the fight against violation of intellectual property rights in general, it treats a generic drug just as a counterfeited drug.This means the patent holder can stop the shipping of the drugs to a developing country, seize the cargo and even order the destruction of the drugs. On January 26th Arif resigned as lead negotiator for ACTA, criticizing the secrecy under which talks on the Agreement have operated. This agreement may have a major impact on the lives of our citizens, Arif protested, and yet everything is done so that the European parliament has no say. I will not participate in this charade. Many African states have a history of using generic drugs to combat epidemics such as hIV and for use in public healthcare. This has led to conflict between governments and pharmaceutical companies. A European Commission fact sheet drafted in 2008 stated: The
proliferation of intellectual property rights (IPr) infringements poses an ever-increasing threat to the sustainable development of the world economy... Today, we face a number of new challenges: the increase of dangerous counterfeit goods (pharmaceuticals, food and drink, cosmetics or toys, car parts)...All these factors have made the problem more pervasive and harder to tackle. however, critics dispute this use of the term counterfeit. There is considerable doubt as to whether a copy of a digital file can be classified alongside knockoff jeans or DVDs. In this case, it is neither stolen nor of inferior quality- it is copied, with the original remaining intact, and may be shared informally between friends. There is still more fear that affordable generic versions of drugs which would otherwise be more expensive could be classified as counterfeit or dangerous under this law. some interpret the Agreement as allowing shipments of generic drugs to be seized and destroyed. slovenia, Poland and Bulgaria, in response to protest movements earlier this year, have suspended ratification of ACTA. In the United states in January, similar legislation received a blow when over seven million Us citizens contacted their elected representatives to protest against the stop Online Piracy Act (sOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA). This followed a day-long blackout by online encyclopaedia Wikipedia and other websites. The Irish and European parliaments are expected to vote the ratification of ACTA this summer. In the African context, it is hoped that despite the above discussed concerns regarding counterfeit items/goods, that lives wont be lost due to consequent non delivery of effective drugs.
16
April 2012
SPOrT
Zambias captain Christopher Katongo, right, and president of Football Association of Zambia Kalusha Bwalya, second right, hold up the trophy of the African Cup of Nations after their final soccer match against ivory Coast at Stade de LAmitie in Libreville, Gabon, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012. photo: Francois Mori / Ap
World Player of the Year in 1996. he was nominated as a playing coach of the Zambian national side in 2004, but failed to qualify for the World Cup.After a first round exit in the 2006 African Cup of nations, thus resigning from this post. he is the President of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and under his administrative direction, the Chipolopolo has
conquered Africa in football by becoming the current holders of Africa Cup of nations. he also serves on the CAF and FIFA technical and administration committees. Kalusha Bwalya is the founder of the Kalusha Bwalya Foundation Trust which partners with the Dutch to promote sports, hIV/AIDs awareness and other positive interest. competition for schools. It was a big step up for everyone. We were playing very good teams with strong traditions of winning. Malindi secondary managed to draw twice but were knocked out after losing the last game of the group stage. As we near full time, the referee gives a penalty to Malindi. Aaron shouts across the pitch for Konoko to take it. Konoko is Malindis captain this year after he was noticed by Tanzanian football scouts last season as an exceptional player at the same Games. he is our best player. I was delighted that he was asked for trails Aaron says confidently. Konoko calmly drives the ball past the goalkeeper to the left corner and the crowd invade the pitch in delight. As the game ends in a win for Malindi, I ask Aaron his thoughts for this season. We are training twice a week, and now we are winning. But our main objective is to go to the same Games this June and get out of the group. If we can achieve that, we will have made progress and who knows where we can go from there. To find out more about Aarons journey, watch hands on Tanzania, a one hour long documentary about suji and the Irish volunteers.
By Peadar Mitchell
AArOn CUnnInGhAM may come from Donegal in Ireland but he is quite happy living with the Paree Tribe high up in the mountains of northern Tanzania. They call him Wzungu, which means white man, an honour for the young 22 year old who has been welcomed and accepted warmly by the people of suji village. Aaron is the mathematics teacher in Malindi secondary, a government based school, with around 400 pupils. he originally came with five other Irish teachers in november 2010 for a full teaching year, but returned on his own earlier this year. I went home. It was cold and Ireland was in a recession he says. I didnt have to think about it for too long. I missed being here, so I decided to come back. Aaron is sponsored by Tanzanian Village renewal, an Irish charity who in the past two years have brought fifteen volunteers in total to suji. The charity is small and is run by Maureen Mescall, a retired lecturer of Economics from nUIG, who was delighted when Aaron said he was
Back row (From right to left) ruben Kessi, Gadi Omari, Said Kinoko (captain) Fadhiti Mshana, Josefu elihudi, iameki elikuda, Aaron Cunningham - Front row (From left to right) thafania Mshana, Nuhu idi, Kelivini Jackison, imanuel timo, imanuel timoseo