Africa

Stop Texting, to Save Lives in Africa

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:25:39 -0400

by Jeffrey Allen

WASHINGTON- Activists asked cell phone users to stop texting for one hour on Wednesday -- not to save energy or focus on the road, but to call attention to one of the deadliest and most underreported conflicts in the world.

What's the Story?

Four-Year Drought Pushes 23 Million Africans to Brink of Starvation

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:58:41 -0400

by Tristan McConnell in Mwingi

"The last time I had a good harvest was 2003 - there has been nothing at all for the last three years," said Mutindi Maithya, 36, a widow who lives with her six children on a four- acre plot of sun-baked land.

Sitting beneath a thorny acacia tree, she picks up ochre lumps of dried mud from the ground and crushes them to dust between her fingers. "It is hard to cope," she said.

Can One Woman Save Africa?

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:06:56 -0400

by Johann Hari

When does planting a tree become a revolutionary act - and unleash an army of gunmen who want to shoot you dead? The answer to this question lies in the unlikely story of Wangari Maathai.

How UK Oil Company Trafigura Tried to Cover up African Pollution Disaster

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:44:23 -0400

by David Leigh

The British oil trader Trafigura has offered to pay out in a historic damages claim from 31,000 Africans injured by the dumping of toxic waste in one of the worst pollution disasters in recent history, the Guardian can reveal.

The compensation deal for the victims of toxic oil waste dumping in west Africa – likely to be confirmed imminently – means the full extent of attempts to cover up what really happened can be detailed for the first time.

Clinton Sprinkles US Military Aid Across Africa

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:25:46 -0400

by Daniel Volman

WASHINGTON - On Aug. 6, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed in Kenya and pledged to provide more military aid and training to the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

At a joint press conference after the meeting, Clinton said that the U.S. will "continue to provide equipment and training to the TFG."

Food Security in Africa: Will Obama Let USAID’s Genetically Modified Trojan Horse Ride Again?

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 09:52:14 -0400

by Paula Crossfield

Yesterday Secretary Clinton was in Kenya with a delegation that included Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, as well as Representatives Donald M. Payne (D-NJ) and Nita M. Lowey (D-NY). While the group was there on a broad platform to discuss economic development in Africa, including food security issues, the delegation took the opportunity yesterday afternoon to visit the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) lab, which is best known for unsuccessfully trying to produce a genetically modified, virus-resistant sweet potato under a US-led program.

G8 Promises $20 Billion in Agricultural Aid: Real Change or Business as Usual?

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:19:38 -0400

by Paula Crossfield

Today, the Group of 8 meeting in L'Aquila, Italy pledged 20 billion dollars in agricultural aid, responding to a request made yesterday by President Obama. For the first time, instead of being given directly as food aid, these funds are set to be allotted for building an agricultural economy in nations in need, specifically in Africa.

Straight Talk: Revealing the Real US Africa-Policy

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:56:50 -0400

by Gerald LeMelle

It's time for some straight talk on U.S. foreign policy as it relates to Africa. While Obama administration officials and African Military Command (AFRICOM) representatives insist that U.S. foreign policy towards Africa isn't being militarized, the evidence seems to suggest otherwise. While Africans condemned U.S. military policy in Africa under the Bush administration, the Obama administration has not only mirrored Bush's approach, but has in fact enhanced it. President George W.

Françafrique: Propping Up Africa's Dictators

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:45:30 -0400

by Khadija Sharife

"We cannot assure our development on our own," stated France's pet dictator and Africa's longest-serving ruler, Omar Bongo. The Gabonese leader was talking about national economic development, but he might just as well have been talking about his own personal economic development. Transparency International's French chapter singled out Bongo, who died this month at 73 after ruling his country for 41 years, for a spectacular misappropriation of state funds.

All That Glitters is Not Gold: Biotechnology Has Failed Us, So Why Promote It Abroad?

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:07:22 -0400

by Paula Crossfield

The head of the World Food Program announced on Friday that an additional 105 million more people have become hungry in 2009, adding to the one billion plus who were already food insecure. The day before, Secretary Clinton gave a speech about hunger in the world, speaking in broad strokes: "[H]unger belies our planet's bounty. It challenges our common humanity and resolve.