Sean Sinclair-Day's Blog
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
According to a report by Human Rights Forum , an independent organization based in Harare, 5,307 human rights violations in Zimbabwe during the first of 2007. This figure is almost double the number during the first half of 2006. The report was published on ZimOnline, an independent Zimbabwean news service working from South Africa.
The group, which consists of 16 NGOs, detailed the abuses which included 328 cases of torture, 481 assaults by the state, 802 instances of unlawful arrest and detention, 935 incidents of political victimization and intimidation, and 1,935 infringements on freedom of expression and movement. There were also two politically linked deaths in the report.
The highest profile case this year occurred in March when Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition, was hospitalized after being assaulted and arrested while on his way to attend a prayer meeting.
President Robert Mugabe has watched Zimbabwe's inflation soar as people and business have struggled to survive. Earlier this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated that Zimbabwe's inflation would reach 4,000 percent. The official inflation is 4,500 percent and now the IMF predicts that it could rise to 100,000 percent by the end of the year.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
The July issue of Vanity Fair is devoted to the world's most troubled and diverse continent. Annie Liebovitz paired 21 people to create 20 different "historic covers." The faces on the front include President George W. Bush, Oprah Winfrey, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Muhammad Ali, Bill and Melinda Gates and Maya Angelou in this special African issue, which will not be available much longer.
Musician and anti-poverty advocate, Paul "Bono" Hewson, the issue's guest editor, says they are "trying to bring some sex appeal to the idea of wanting to change the world." Inside, the unreserved activist, who has campaigned for third world debt relief and awareness for the AIDS pandemic, asks America's 2008 presidential candidates what they would do for Africa. Seven Democratic hopefuls and six Republican challengers share their thoughts on this complicated question.
Highlights
Other articles focus on a wide variety of captivating stories. Jeffrey Sachs's $200 Billion Dream by Nina Munk explores the economist's vision of eradicating extreme poverty. Millions perish each year because of utter destitution but "the basic truth," states Sachs, "is that for less than a percent of the income of the rich world nobody has to die of poverty on the planet."
China's insatiable thirst for oil is examined in Enter China, the Giant. Sebastian Junger's piece looks at how the Chinese-African codependency has contributed to regional conflict and has kept the violence simmering in Darfur.
In The Lazarus Effect shows how more affordable anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs have transformed and extended the lives of thousands. In 2002, only 50,000 Africans had ARVs. Now, 1.34 million are being treated.
Other features include Hollywood icon, Brad Pitt, interviewing Desmond Tutu as well as Bill Clinton's observations of Nelson Mandela's HIV/AIDS crusade. The Continental Shelf will be enlightening for those who want to know about the fresh voices emerging from a new generation of African writers.
Spirit of Africa
It is hard to ignore African poverty, disease and corruption but in Spirit of Africa, Vanity Fair profiles 71 Africans who continue to inspire and offer a more moving glimpse of those on the continent. Amongst these leaders, economists, artists and athletes are Liberia's Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, writer Ishmael Beah, Angelique Kidjo, in addition to a host of African filmmakers and the Ivory Coast Football team.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
Puntland, the self-proclaimed autonomous region of northern Somalia, has avoided much of the violence and anarchy that has enveloped the south over the past 16 years. Hunger has been the most critical issue affecting this part of the Horn of Africa and food problems may get even worse as crops are now being devoured by swarms of locusts.
In some cases, the scale of the plague has been so immense that witnesses say locusts have blotted out the sun and sky. In Puntland, millions of the ravenous insects have stripped bare hundreds of acres of mango, orange and pawpaw orchards. Some families sell fruit and vegetable as their sole means of income but these pests have now rendered people dumbfounded and powerless.
The price of some produce has quickly doubled and some locals fear they may soon have to do without fruit altogether. Many defenseless farmers report that their farms and orchards have been destroyed as locusts continue to ravage new harvests, "eating anything that is green."
These particular locusts, known in the region as Luga Case or "red legs," are the most destructive of the genus and have not been seen in the area in over 20 years. The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) have been consulted by the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa but, presently, there appears to be no pesticide to combat the insect. A sample of the menace has been sent abroad in order to determine which chemical can be used to prevent further damage.
The FAO has also reported other outbreaks in Eritrea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
[Using information from Reuters and the United Nations Integrated Regional Information Networks.]
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
June 20 marked World Refugee Day and, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there was a 14 percent increase in the global refugee population. This figure is largely due to the sectarian turmoil that has prompted many to flee Iraq but
The UNHCR says that there are 9.9 million refugees worldwide. Below are the refugee totals for 2006 (with a couple of current amendments) as well as some other numbers regarding internally displaced people (IDP) estimated by the Norwegian Refugee Council.
TOP REFUGEE COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN
1. Afghanistan - 2.1 million
2. Iraq - 1.5 million (now 2.2 million)
3. Sudan - 686,000
4. Somalia - 460,000
5. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) - about 400,000
5. Burundi - about 400,000
In Sudan's western Darfur region, conflict persists but President Omar al-Bashir appears to have finally agreed to accept a UN force to help the struggling African Union (AU) peacekeepers. Many Darfuris have fled into neighbouring Chad. A recent curfew imposed in Mogadishu suggests that fighting is far from over between Islamic militants, clans and the Ethiopian-backed Somali government. Most Somali refugees have escaped into Kenya.
The 1998-2002 civil war in DRC is officially over but insecurity in eastern provinces has prevented people from returning. Burundi's 13-year civil war, which ended in 2006, caused the exodus of hundreds of thousands into Tanzania. The process of refugee repatriation continues.
PEOPLE INTERNALLY DISPLACED BY CONFLICT
There are a total of 24.5 million IDPs, 12.9 million of whom are protected or assisted by the UNHCR.
MAIN COUNTRIES WITH INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE:
1. Colombia - 3 million
2. Iraq - 1.8 million (now more than 2 million)
3. Uganda - 1.6 million
4. Sudan - 5 million (of whom UNHCR assists 1.3 million)
5. DRC - 1.1 million
Another deadline is approaching for the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to assemble in Ri-Kwangba, a camp in southern Sudan. If this occurs, after nearly one year of problematic negotiations, it could put an end to Uganda's 20-year civil war in the north. But reintegrating 1.6 million IDPs into society, many of whom grew up in the camps, will pose new difficulties.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
On June 9, 2007, Ousmane Sembène, one of Africa's filmmaking pioneers died at his home in Senegal at the age of 84. Many even referred to him as the "father" of African cinema. As a writer, he was also influential attaining the same recognition as Africa's giants of literature, Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka.
Expelled from school at an early age, Sembène still developed a love for reading that would turn him into a self-educated writer. Sembène collected material for his stories through his diverse experiences working in France and Africa as, among other things, an apprentice mechanic, plumber, carpenter, docker and bricklayer. In 1944, he was drafted by the French Army in World War II.
By the 1960s Sembène had realized the potential for film to reach wider audiences than literature and traveled to Moscow to study filmmaking. His first feature-length film, "La Noire de..." (1966) is commonly referred to as the first African film.
Former Senegalese president, Abdlu Diouf, saw Sembène as a "fervent defender of liberty and social justice." While his cinematic endeavours would occasionally cause controversy with French and Senegalese authorities for his representations of French colonialism and African corruption, he was celebrated internationally and inspired many African directors.
Ousmane Sembène will be remembered by his peers as a man who encouraged Africa to realize its identity and confront its cultural destiny during the continent's postcolonial emergence. His impressive oeuvre consists of five novels, five collections of short stories, four short films, nine features, and four documentaries
Quotes from Ousmane Sembène
"The development of Africa will not happen without the effective participation of women. Our forefathers' image of women must be buried once for all."
"At a moral level, I don't think we have any lesson to learn from Europe."
"I benefited from a synthesis of values - in the house, the compound, the country and Koranic and French schools. We conserved our own culture; we had nightly gatherings with tales. Now I call it my own theater."
"Bread came wrapped in French newspapers. Each time my father unwrapped a baguette, he asked me to read to him."
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
On May 8, 2007, Amnesty International (AI) published a detailed report accusing China and Russia of continuing to violate a United Nations (UN) arms embargo by supplying Sudan with weapons. The arms, AI claims, are used in military operations carried out in Darfur by Janjaweed forces and militant opposition groups. China and Russia, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, deny the allegations.
Amongst the most alarming charges in the report is the claim that the Sudanese government is using three Russian-made Antonov-26 aircrafts painted white to resemble UN planes. With the aircrafts, the government has been moving military equipment into Darfur in addition to bombing targets and conducting surveillance on villages in the region. If this is true, it is a most ignominious act by the Sudanese to cloak themselves as the agents of an international human rights organization in order to further the goals of their genocidal campaign.
Although China and Russia refute Amnesty's assertions, their domestic human rights records are hardly stellar. The high profile deaths of journalist Anna Politkovskaya and former FSB spy, Alexander Litvinenko, have brought even greater suspicion onto the Kremlin while any glossing of the AI or Human Rights Watch sites reveal the oppressive nature of the Chinese communist leaders. China and Sudan have become close allies during recent years as Khartoum continues to satisfy Beijing's energy lust with African oil. In turn, China has promised to lend Sudan its veto power whenever the Security Council drafts a resolution that is contrary to the wishes of dictator, Omar al-Bashir.
The cost of human life in Darfur is usually estimated at 200,000 people with another 2.5 million displaced due to violence. Rape has also been called a weapon of the conflict, but it would be hard to accuse China and Russia of that. The effects of the crisis have spread beyond Sudan's borders into neighbouring Chad and Central African Republic. Amnesty created their report through data from "independent specialists" and eyewitness accounts of those who have been in the region.
See the full AI report here.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
During the current book tour for his debut work, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Child Soldier, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ishmael Beah. We talked about his traumatic experiences in Sierra Leonne, what he has accomplished since arriving to the United States and the shamefully persistent use of child soldiers.
The night before, Beah moved an audience with a reading at St. Barnabas Church, his presence and charisma arresting the crowd, who were transfixed by this extraordinary storyteller. During our phone interview, I heard a less vigorous voice. As he was escorted from Toronto to Waterloo for yet another engagement, he sounded close to exhaustion. And who could blame him? It was the last evening of his Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto whirlwind promotion. Fatigue would have overcome anyone by this point but the emotional density of his subject matter must weigh heavy at times.
"There is still a very rampant use of children in war," he says. In fact, on the day of our interview, April 19, Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a media release entitled " DR Congo: Army Should Stop Use of Child Soldiers ." HRW claims that between 300 to 500 children currently serve in the army.
On the sleeve of A Long Way Gone, is the shocking reminder of an estimated 300,000 children involved in armed conflict. Beah is quick to mention this phenomenon is not strictly an African issue. "It's a world problem. There are children recruited in Burma, Sri Lanka, Colombia...It's happening everywhere and the numbers are growing so significantly." He then emphasizes his memoir's raison d'être, "I wrote this book, really, to expose [this issue] so that people can see the humanity of those children...and that these children should be helped."
I have always felt that child labour is abhorrent enough, so the rise of children in conflict seems infinitely more disturbing. But Beah informed me that it's easy to turn someone into a killer. "What you do is you destroy everything they know. You destroy their communities, towns, villages, institutions, culture, traditions, their families and then they have nothing to look for. They've lost hope in living." This is the voice of one who knows through experience.
After only fifteen minutes with Ishmael, it's easy comprehend this young man's weariness. Each day he relives the anguish in hopes that other children will be saved. Look for the Ishmael Beah Foundation, launching soon.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
The Acholi people of northern Uganda have suffered more than many can conceive. This neglected pocket of northern Uganda has experienced two decades of civil strife that has exacted an immeasurable toll on Acholis in terms of casualties, trauma and dignity, and no peace accord will ever restore their losses. As the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government attempt to negotiate a lasting truce in Juba, Sudan, 1.4 million Ugandans, mainly Acholis, remain living in the degrading limbo of squalid Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camps.
Hampering the peace process are the International Criminal Court's (ICC) indictments for LRA's leaders, who refuse to leave the bush and join talks, fearing they will be arrested for war crimes and crimes against humanity. And although the LRA has abducted between 20 to 30 thousand children and committed brutal acts of murder, rape and mutilation during their insurgency, some of the Acholi have hoped to find justice through traditional local practices.
In Acholi culture, a ceremony known as mato oput is held in cases of murder. The Uganda Amnesty Act of 2000 suggests that this method of reconciliation is available for the LRA and the fellow Acholi they have terrorized, but it would appear that under international law, the ICC warrants are equally enforceable.
Mato oput
Mato oput is a daylong cleansing ceremony that is intended to restore social harmony. Perpetrators are forgiven for their wrongdoing by accepting responsibility for their transgressions, asking forgiveness and offering compensation to victims. They are also exempt from further state prosecution, essentially receiving a full amnesty.
In the most important part of the ritual, two clans bring together the perpetrator and the victim's family and the two parties share an acrid root drink concocted of a calabash. The drink symbolizes the two sides putting aside their bitterness and differences, thus explaining its literal meaning, which can be translated into "drinking the bitter root." One of the problems, however, with using mato oput for the leaders of the LRA is that they refuse to admit they have committed any crime against the Acholi. Whether or not the heads of the LRA are captured and forced to spend the remainder of their lives in a Hague facility or allowed a rare amnesty through mato oput, an end to the chapter of northern Uganda's brutal history must be written.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
It has almost been thirteen years since the Rwandan Genocide and survivors are still living with the aftershocks of the massacre where almost one million people were killed in a hundred days. Statistics collected by the Rwandan government indicate, for example, that there are over 14,000 widows and 19,400 child-headed households because of the genocide, only a fraction of the horrific legacy of this tragedy.
The United Nations (UN) observes April 7 as 'International Day of reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda,' a date worthy of the reminder considering the ethnic cleansing that persists in western Sudan. But Rwandans continue to blame the UN for standing by as thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered and it appears that the government is considering taking action against the UN for allowing genocide to happen.
Kigali is currently discussing legal issues with its ambassador to the UN and if a lawsuit evolves, it would set an interesting precedent. It may send a stronger message, for instance, on how the situation should be handled in Darfur. If a case emerges, it could force leaders, countries and organizations to be more aware of their accountablity for such humanitarian crises.
While there has been recent, if not belated, progress, the UN's attempt to exert its influence over Khartoum has been supremely unsuccessful, demonstrating its lack of clout and often-ineffective role as the peacekeeping force it should be. But it is quite easy, perhaps unfairly easy, to accuse the UN of its shortcomings given its lack of support. The fact is that each person has the opportunity to demand a stronger stance from their leaders in order to prevent these atrocities, especially once they are underway. In essence, it is the whole of humanity that failed Rwanda and the fate of those in Darfur rests in our decisions, or lack thereof.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
Sudan has not only had its tarnished name dragged through the court of public opinion but also through international courts recently. Khartoum, however, has repeatedly shrugged off any outside rulings, insisting that their own judiciary will manage domestic issues.
On March 16, a court in Norfolk, Virginia ruled that Sudan is responsible for the USS Cole terrorist attack in 2000, which killed 17 American sailors in Yemen. The judge presiding over the case said there was "substantial evidence" that al-Qaeda could not have carried out this bombing without Sudanese support. He added he would need some time to determine the damages for the families, who are seeking over $100 million in compensation.
In late February, the International Criminal Court (ICC) named two Sudanese suspects they claim are responsible for 51 crimes against humanity and war crimes related to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Darfur. ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo accused Secretary of State for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmed Haroun, and Ali Kosheib, a Janjaweed militia leader, for extreme violations, including murder, torture and mass rape.
But since Khartoum did not ratify the Rome protocol, it refuses to recognize the ICC and insists that the international legal body has no jurisdiction over Sudanese citizens. Rebels in Darfur, however, praised the ruling and hoped that additional charges would be brought against other senior officials.
Sudan's leader, Omar al-Bashir, claims there is a Western conspiracy to overthrow his government and take his country's resources. He has rejected United Nations proposals to support the 7,000 African Union peacekeepers with additional troops. Meanwhile, observers say that over 200,000 people have been killed and that 2.5 million have been displaced since fighting between rebels and Janjaweed forces erupted in 2003.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
Not many writers are fortunate enough to have their debut work earn them an appearance on The Daily Show and sold on the shelves of Starbucks. But this is what Ishmael Beah has achieved with his first book, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Child Soldier. There is even talk that it will be part of Oprah's Book Club. His explicit memoir, the first autobiographical account from a child soldier, is a unique primary source which captures a brutal and often ignored chapter in our recent history.
While the civil conflict in Beah's homeland, Sierra Leone, has abated, the problem of child soldiery is as unfortunate as ever. The United Nations estimates that 250,000 children are still involved in armed conflict. Drawing attention to the plight of this nameless mass, while exorcising his own demons, Beah shares his horrific experiences, detailing the killing, torture and looting he performed while under the influence of brown brown, a noxious mix of cocaine and gunpowder.
A Long Way Gone involves three distinct journeys of survival: Beah's desperate, peripatetic quest for his estranged family after rebels raid his village; his coerced service into the ranks of the army where he is transmogrified into a killing machine known as 'Green Snake'; and, finally, his painful "repatriation" and brave flight into Guinea to escape Sierra Leone.
Embedded in Beah's memoir is the bold message that anyone can transcend their humanity and commit unspeakable acts during times of war. The promise of food and revenge is enough to persuade a starving boy that murder is justifiable, especially when they are forcefed narcotics. But A Long Way Gone is also a powerful testament of courage for anyone who has faced adversity and a reminder that life's worst circumstances can be overcome. Beah lost his entire family to war, witnessed friends die and was once a young assassin. Now, he works for the Children's Division Advisory Committee for Human Rights Watch.
Beah's writing is that rare combination of sincerity and brutality that can only be borne from harrowing experiences. His prose is captivating and his narrative gift will arrest readers as they absorb terrors through the eyes of a child. It is worth noting that, while A Long Way Gone ends happily for Ishmael Beah, thousands of other former child soldiers have had to endure a much worse fate.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
GuluWalk is an organization that has focused on raising awareness for the plight of the Acholi children in northern Uganda. In a region ravaged by conflict, each evening, thousands of children known as night commuters, walk great distances for a haven from being abducted or killed by insurgents known as the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Inspired by their story, in July 2005 Adrian Bradbury and Kieran Hayward, founders of GuluWalk, decided to attempt their own night commute. Their continued work has now blossomed into what The NonProfit Times has deemed "one of the World's Best Fundraisers" and a shining example of how individuals can make an enormous difference.
On February 22, GuluWalk held their inaugural gala event in Toronto, Canada. A sold-out crowd of more than 300 people helped raise another $50,000 for Acholi children. Amongst those who spoke at the event were Halifax MP Alexa McDonough, the Ugandan High Commissioner, Amb. George Marion Abola and Opiyo Oloya, who delivered a moving speech personalizing the plight of those in northern Uganda.
There was also a performance by Juno winner Donné Roberts, in addition to live and silent auctions featuring an impressive list of items from generous donors. The event's keynote speaker was former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, Allan Rock, who reminded those in free societies about our duty to assist those who suffer in other regions of the world.
Just four months ago, GuluWalk raised over $500,000 from their second annual GuluWalk Day which took place in 82 cities in 15 countries involving more than 30,000 people. Almost two decades of conflict between the LRA and the Ugandan government showed signs of improving in August 2006 but, unfortunately, the situation has recently worsened and it appears that the efforts of GuluWalk will remain as necessary as ever.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
The Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA) was signed in Abuja, Nigeria on May 5, 2006 by the Sudanese Liberation Movement (SLM), led by Minni Minnawi, and the Sudanese government. But two rebel groups rejected the deal and remain outside the accord. Those groups include the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) and the National Redemption Front (NRF), which have splintered to form several smaller groups.
Salim Ahmed Salim of the African Union helped broker the DPA and has exerted tremendous effort in February 2007 with the United Nations' Jan Eliasson, attempting to persuade rebels to sign the deal. In theory, the DPA is an important document but little can be done to implement its terms without a consensus from the major players.
DPA's main points
The DPA stipulates that the Sudanese Government of National Unity will ensure that the government-backed Janjaweed militia disarms, a process which is to be verified by the AU. After this has been achieved, rebel forces are to assemble for their own disarmament and demobilization.
The agreement also specifies that 4,000 former combatants be integrated into the Sudanese Armed Forces, 1,000 be absorbed by the police forces and another 3,000 are to be given education and training support.
Money to rebuild the region has also been promised under the terms. The Sudanese government has mandated an initial sum of $300 million with an additional $200 million for two years to help rebuild the region as well as $30 million in compensation for victims of the conflict. A referendum scheduled for July 2010 will also determine whether or not to establish Darfur as a unitary region with a single government.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
The Gambia is Africa's smallest nation but it has made big headlines in 2007. Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, recently went public with his curative power . His Excellency claims he can restore health to those afflicted with HIV/AIDS and asthma. For those who are unfamiliar with this leader, here is a small profile highlighting some interesting facts about The Gambia's leader.
Taking power
Yahya Jammeh assumed power in 1994 in a coup d'etat, the preferred method for many an African leader. Before Jammeh seized control, The Gambia was one of Africa's oldest multi-party democracies. Although Jammeh eventually allowed elections two years later, political restrictions were imposed upon deposed government officials, who were banned from running until 2001.
Limited freedoms for journalists
President Jammeh has been also criticized for his restrictions on freedom of the press, The Gambia amended their laws in 2004 to ensure that those found guilty of sedition or libel would serve long sentences for their comments. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) have both articulated their concern for the unjust treatment of independent journalists who have paid the price for expressing their disapproval of the government's repressive legislation.
Jammeh once said of critical journalists that he believed in "giving each fool a long rope to hang themselves" and also threatened to bury them "six-feet deep." The unsolved murder of editor Deyda Hydara is a case deserving of greater attention. Hydara was a campaigner who voiced his opposition to the president's draconian measures. He was killed in December 2004 but no serious investigation has been launched by the Gambian authorities. A letter from CPJ also calls for the government to explain the disappearance of Ebrima B. Manneh, a journalist who was arrested by authorities in July 2006 but has not been seen since.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
I would never claim to be a wine connoisseur but I do feel safe calling myself a practicing oenophile. There are few grapes I would not befriend and the Shiraz is no exception. I recently came home with a bottle of KWV International's UbunTu 2005 Shiraz, a South African vintage. This was the first time I remember purchasing a wine named for an ethos rather than a region, legend or animal, and I was curious to learn more about the interesting ubuntu ideology.
For anyone whose spirit subscribes to the tenets of keeping their goblet replete whilst imbibing with company, the UbunTu's appeal will be in its philosophical namesake rather than its flavours, which do carry hints of berries (my tongue may have even detected its piquant tones). For the palate, this Shiraz delivers everything the label promises but, bouquets and tannins aside, the ubuntu creed is what makes this wine unique.
Modus vivendi
Ubuntu is a humanist ideology that originated in sub-Saharan Africa expressing the concept that "a person is a person through people." In a larger sense, it states that we are all connected and responsible for each other, an idea that has also been adopted by the fair trade market in our globalized world. Ubuntu stresses the bonds between people and essentially declares that we only exist because of our relationship to others (Perhaps ubuntu is a good enough reason why one should never drink alone).
The Archbishop Desmond Tutu, describing the worldview says, "a person with ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good..."
It sounds as though ubuntu is similar to being intoxicated. This passage easily inspires recollections of tipsy times when our trust in people is at its highest, our judgment of others nonexistent. (Of course, we have all witnessed bad drunks, too, who are confrontational and suspicious of everyone instead of affable and accepting).
When Bill Clinton addressed the Labour party in Britain in September 2006, he told his audience to get into ubuntu. It is a wise recommendation for all to follow. A bottle of KWV International's UbunTu 2005 Shiraz won't induce any kind of Dionysian epiphany but if its eponymous wisdom proves to be infectious, then this is a highly recommendable wine. I think, at the very least, this is the quintessential accompaniment to any soirée.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
According to the UK-based charity, Save The Children , "The future of Uganda's children is under severe threat." The disintegration of peace talks in the southern Sudanese town of Juba can be blamed for these lamentations. The landmark discussions between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the government of Uganda were once regarded with great optimism but deadlines for disarmament continue to be ignored by the LRA and insecurity in the region remains high.
Joseph Kony 's LRA maintains that they want to relocate the venue to Kenya or South Africa after comments from Sudan's president suggested that they were no longer welcome on Sudanese soil. The Ugandan government, however, insists that Juba will be the only venue for dialogue. This debate leaves more than a million people wondering what will happen with respect to their lives.
Stolen youth
During the past two decades, Kony and his insurgents gained a reputation for being one of the most vicious rebel outfits imaginable, kidnapping somewhere between 20,000 to 30,000 children and forcing them to become child soldiers, porters and sex slaves. Before Kony performed a volte-face and declared his wishes for peace, their acts of violence and mutilation were unparalelled. In fact, things we so consistently grave - the fear of Kony and his marauders so severe - that children in northern Uganda, known as the "night commuters," had to leave their villages before sunset to avoid the almost certain chance of being abducted by the LRA.
Save The Children states that some 10,000 children are still missing in northern Uganda and that another 1,500 could still be captive within the ranks of the Lord's Resistance Army. A truce reached in August between the LRA and the Ugandan government appeared as though it might herald an end to one of the world's most forgotten crises but stalls have put the fate of these people, once again, in limbo.
In July 2006, Reuters conducted a poll and, while experts easily nominated Sudan as the world's most dangerous place for children, Uganda garnered the dubious distinction of being runner-up. The two-decade conflict has uprooted 1.7 million people, 935,000 of whom Reuters claims are children, spread out over more that 200 squalid Internally Displaced Persons' camps.
Posted by Sean Sinclair-Day
In addition to the atrocities committed in Darfur, the African continent has experienced a rash of conflict over the past few decades. Fighting has begun to intensify in Somalia but here are some other recent African wars that have, more or less, come to a conclusion.
The Second Congo War (1998 to 2003): Africa's worst modern war and the world's worst conflict since World War Two. One could argue that the war has yet to finish as Congo's eastern provinces still experience some rebel activity under Peter Karim and Laurent Nkunda.
The Rwandan Genocide (1994): this infamous war saw the massacre of Tutsis and moderate Hutus en masse. Deaths are commonly quoted at being 800,000 over 100 days but the Rwandan government has put the official toll at 937,000.
Ugandan Government vs. The Lord's Resistance Army (1987 to present) : Under the leadership of Joseph Kony, the LRA launched their insurgency that would lead to the deaths of up to 100,000 people, the abduction of between 20 to 30,000 child soldiers and almost 2 million Acholi people forced to live in Internally Displaced Persons Camps. They are still trying to negotiate a peace deal in Juba, Sudan.
Burundi Civil War: another conflict between ethnic Tutsis and rival Hutus claiming the lives of approximately 300,000 since 1993. The election of Pierre Nkurunziza in 2005 is usually considered the end to the war but there is still unrest within the country.
Liberia and Sierra Leone: Charles Taylor is currently in a cell in The Hague, charged with 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He is viewed as the most culpable figure behind a series of wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone that led to the deaths of about 400,000 people between 1989 and 2003.