By Susan Anyangu-Amu
NAIROBI, Jan 28, 2010 (IPS) – The testimonies of women who survived sexual violence during post-election conflict in 2008 should be heard, say advocates. The magnitude of the crimes committed against women because of their gender must be recorded and prosecuted to prevent such violence from occurring again. Continue reading KENYA: Documenting Sexual Violence
Daily Archives: February 9, 2010
10 Ways to Stop Corporate Dominance of Politics
YES Magazine
It’s not too late to limit or reverse the impact of the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision in Citizens United v. FEC.
by Fran Korten
The recent Supreme Court decision to allow unlimited corporate spending in politics just may be the straw that breaks the plutocracy’s back.
Pro-democracy groups, business leaders, and elected representatives are proposing mechanisms to prevent or counter the millions of dollars that corporations can now draw from their treasuries to push for government action favorable to their bottom line. The outrage ignited by the Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission extends to President Obama, who has promised that repairing the damage will be a priority for his administration. Continue reading 10 Ways to Stop Corporate Dominance of Politics
Secret airstrip built at Zimbabwe diamond field
ZW News
By Peta Thornycroft in Harare and Sebastien Berger
A secret airstrip is being built in a diamond field illegally seized by the Zimbabwean army 14 months ago which would enable clandestine weapons shipments. Diplomats and analysts believe that the mile-long runway is intended for arms shipments, probably from China, for which troops loyal to President Robert Mugabe would pay on the spot with gemstones from the Chiadzwa diamond mines. Aerial pictures show construction work is well under way, with a newly built control tower apparently complete and the runway nearly ready for surfacing. There are other airfields within a short distance of the mining area, and no obvious need for a runway long enough for transport planes to take off and land even closer to the mines. A Western diplomat said the existence of the runway, out of sight except from the air, was “extremely” worrying. Continue reading Secret airstrip built at Zimbabwe diamond field
HAITI: ‘Adoption Not the Best Choice for Quake Orphans’
By A.D. McKenzie
PARIS, Jan 23, 2010 (IPS) – Thirty-three children from Haiti arrived in France to adoptive parents Friday evening, as charities and international organisations differed on whether adoptions should be speeded up or halted while the search for relatives continues. Continue reading HAITI: ‘Adoption Not the Best Choice for Quake Orphans’
‘Copenhagen Accord Not Legal, Kyoto Protocol Is’
By Ranjit Devraj
NEW DELHI, Jan 26, 2010 (IPS) – While the BASIC bloc countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China – will submit their plans for voluntary mitigation actions by the Jan. 31 deadline stipulated by the Copenhagen Accord, they have taken care to emphasise that the agreement, reached at the end of the December climate change summit in the Danish capital, has no legal basis. Continue reading ‘Copenhagen Accord Not Legal, Kyoto Protocol Is’
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