http://www.africafiles.org/ AfricaFiles is a network of volunteers committed to promoting African perspectives and alternative analyses for human rights and economic justice in Africa. en-ca Copyright 2010 AfricaFiles. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:09 EST 20 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23165 This short article complements a previous article by Edward Pentin of the National Catholic Reporter entitled "Nigeria: How to bring peace" posted on 9 March 2010. It shows that the international press is throwing fuel on the fire by presenting the clashes in Plateau State clashes as a religious conflict between Christians and Muslims. Such reporting threatens to ignite sectarian hatred and ignores the initiatives being undertaken by Christians and Muslims to reduce tension in the area. BT Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23165 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23158 A local NGO made up of orphans and people living with HIV/AIDS tells harrowing stories of abandonment and discrimination through HIV-related drama and music performed at offices, colleges, and community centres. Significant numbers visit the voluntary counselling and testing clinics that accompany the performances. DN Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23158 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23159 Cameroonian women shy from any political process even though they account for 52 percent of the population, a potentially determining demographic weight. The reason for their weak political culture was discussed recently in a conference in Yaounde organised by the NGO, More Women in Politics. HSEN Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23159 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23160 The conference was titled "Restoring Hope in the Niger Delta." But MEND regarded it as another "tool of deception". The group insists that the Nigerian State is continuing to give the Niger Delta people the crumbs that fall from the oil table while big people in the North and other parts of Nigeria enjoy the full benefits. JMPA Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23160 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23161 Species diversity must not be left in the hands of agri-businesses and laboratories. The FAO estimates that during the 20th century three quarters of the genetic base of agricultural crops disappeared. The practice of farmers for thousands of years to develop, grow, or breed plants and animals according to their very specific cultural needs and geographic and climatic conditions has been compromised. Support the SWISSAID “Our seeds, our life” campaign. Globally, just 15 plants and eight animal species supply 90% of our food. Rice, corn, and wheat meet half of our food requirements. DN Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23161 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23162 Seeds are a farmer’s most important capital. An animation shows consolidation occurring in the global seed industry from 1996 to 2008 in QuickTime format. It shows that the pace of the acquisitions was fairly rapid in the late 1990s, slowed in the early 2000s (including a brief pause in 2003), but accelerated again in the last five years. DN Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23162 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23163 "The Congolese Constitution stipulates the implementation of major steps towards decentralisation before May 2010, local election before end of 2011, and first-round presidential elections three months before end of Kabila’s current mandate on 6 December 2011. There are major concerns about the smooth implementation of the Congolese democratic roadmap as agreed during the period of transition by the former belligerents." DN Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23163 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23164 Here is an overview of the conflict history of Zimbabwe from 1965 to the present. DN Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23164 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23153 Over the past two years parents in Zimbabwe had to pull together some incentives in the form of money or groceries to give to teachers at certain schools to encourage them to keep on teaching. The education minister has called for a stop to this practice. M.Makoni Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23153 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23155 The official government newsletter from the Angolan Embassy, London. Some headings: New constitution promulgated; courts returned it to Parliament demanding that the President and Vice president be elected by direct vote; it claims here that these amendments were added before promulgation. 49 Arrests for embezzlement, at functionaries’ level only; OMA 48th anniversary (Offical gov't women’s organisation); Human rights report presented at UN; World Bank forecasts 7.5% growth, US$2.4 billion in SONANGOL profits. JK Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23155 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23154 In a bid to address energy shortages the Southern African Development Community and the Southern Africa Initiative of German Business have taken part in an Energy Infrastructure Development Conference in Germany to woo energy sector investors. FJ Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23154 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23156 The ruling party in Somalia, the Transitional Federal Government,is to sign a pact with a moderate Islamic group called Ahlu Sunna wal-Jamea. But is it enough to repel the hardline opposition rebel parties? DH Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23156 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23157 "The former South African president and head of the AU High Level Implementation Panel, Thabo Mbeki, sent a letter to leaders of Sudanese parties this week informing them of an indefinite adjournment of a summit that was to bring them together to discuss a number of thorny issues primarily related to the upcoming elections in April." Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23157 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23147 WHO commissions a new drug for advanced sleeping sickness. In parts of the West Nile and southern Sudan regions, the disease is endemic. This drug is now released after five years of study. DH Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23147 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23148 The Council on Foreign Relations in Washington has released a report advising the United States to an accept an "Islamist authority". It calls the current U.S. approach toward Somalia of propping up the Transitional Federal Government "counterproductive". The USA and others were hoping that the installation of Sharif Ahmed, the former head of the Union of Islamic Courts, as president in January 2009 would attract other Islamist leaders. But the TFG is considered weak and ineffective. See below, an Overview and the Contents, Intorduction, Recommendations and Conclusion of the report. DH Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23148 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23149 University students in Swaziland want recognition for themeselves and for primary school children who must benefit from free primary school education. The government, however, feels it has done its best under the circumstances. M. Makoni Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23149 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23150 Anti-apartheid struggle stalwart Fatima Meer died following a stroke. She was a former SABC board member and a sociologist. Despite crippling banning orders Fatima built a reputation as a prolific academic and a powerful advocate of gender equality. Condolences. DN Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23150 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23151 Civil society organisations across Africa are shocked at the arrest and detention without bail of three activists from Eye For Development a youth-based NGO in Malawi. DN Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23151 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23152 This opinion piece calls for halt the large scale mining that is set to start later this year. DN Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23152 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23142 A trainee community radio station reporter considers her own expeience as a bride at 16 and resolves work to empower her community and create awareness of the importance of education for all. DN Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23142 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23143 Mining companies must be blocked from extracting minerals from Ghana’s few remaining forest preserves, said the head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Cardinal Peter Turkson. AB Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23143 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23144 In theory, burning or ’flaring’ the waste gas produced when oil is pumped from a well was supposed to stop in Nigeria in 1984, but oil companies have been granted exemptions year after year that allow them to continue the practice. The UN now has proposed a project that will process hitherto flared gas to generate electricity. The carbon credits earned by cutting greenhouse gas emissions will be sold abroad. AB Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23144 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23145 A progressive analysis of current climate change policies, using a visual presentation. With link. AB Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23145 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23146 Faced by hunger it is harder to take HIV/AIDS and tuberculois medication in Kenya. M.Makoni Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23146 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23130 Intergration for the community for victims of xenophobic attacks is taking long; maybe it will never happen at all. M. Makoni Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=23130