Daily Archives: March 20, 2010

Nigeria

Nigerian government takes action against water sanitation crisis

Media Global Voice of the Global South

In 2009, 216,122 pupils in 229 primary schools in Nigeria gained access to improved sanitation and hygiene facilities through government-funded water sanitation projects. (Photo credit: Creative Commons)

Lagos state government met this week to discuss the ban of latrines and illegal locations of petrol filling stations in the urban communities of Nigeria. The Lagos 2010 Sewage and Wastewater Summit was held from March 2 to 4. At the summit, Environment Commissioner Muiz Banire expressed concern that pit latrines contributed to groundwater contamination in the communities that depended on shallow wells for water. He proposed that the 1978 ban on latrines be revisited and reinforced. Continue reading Nigerian government takes action against water sanitation crisis →

Nigeria

Nigeria: more than 500 killed in tribal clashes

Independent Catholic News

More than 500 people, including women and children, from the Berom tribe were killed with machetes, in three Christian villages in Nigeria close to the city of Jos on Sunday. A mainly Muslim clan known as the Fulani have been blamed for the attacks. Homes and churches were also burned. Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said the Catholic Church felt “sadness and concern” at what he called the “horrible acts of violence”. Continue reading Nigeria: more than 500 killed in tribal clashes →

Nigeria

ICC receives list of 20 post violence suspects

Catholic Information Service for Africa

International Criminal Court has submited a list of 20 individuals known to have fuelled post-election violence in 2007 to pre-trial judges . The ICC prosecutor stated, “They utilized their personal, government, business, and tribal networks to commit the crimes”. The Kenya National Human Rights Commission believes justice will prevail soon. Continue reading ICC receives list of 20 post violence suspects →
Economic Justice, Haiti

Jubilee USA Welcomes Passage of Haiti Debt Cancellation Legislation

Bipartisan Congressional Leadership Paves the Way for Quick Relief for Haiti

For Immediate Release

Jubilee USA Network
Contact: Melinda St. Louis, Deputy Director, 202-783-0215, 202-441-7579
Hayley Hathaway, Communications Coordinator, 202-783-3566

The United States House of Representatives showed their support for the cancellation of Haiti’s outstanding debts yesterday through the passage of the Haiti Debt Relief and Earthquake Recovery Act of 2010 (HR4573), introduced by Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Spencer Bachus (R-AL). This comes a week after the US Senate approved the Haiti Recovery Act (S2961), introduced by Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Lugar (R-IN).

Both bills direct the Secretary of the US Treasury to ensure that international financial institutions cancel Haiti’s debt quickly. Last month, G-7 finance ministers committed to cancel Haiti’s $709 million in outstanding debts to the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and International Fund for Agricultural Development. Continue reading Jubilee USA Welcomes Passage of Haiti Debt Cancellation Legislation →

Climate Change, Environment

CLIMATE CHANGE: The U.N.’s Boys’ Club

By Selina Rust
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 18, 2010 (IPS) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s decision to appoint a 19-member, all-male high-level advisory group on Climate Change Financing (CCF) has triggered strong protests from women’s groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) outraged by the composition of the panel.

The new panel was announced on Mar. 12 when the United Nations, ironically, concluded a two-week meeting on gender empowerment.

“That is incomprehensible,” Karen Hardee, Population Action International’s vice president of research, told IPS. Continue reading CLIMATE CHANGE: The U.N.’s Boys’ Club →

Kenya, trafficking

Is Kenya turning into a human trafficking hub?

1 Comment

The Standard
By Maureen Mudi and Michael Oriedo

Police officers at the Coast Province guard suspected victims of human trafficking who were apprehended in Mombasa. Photos: Maarufu Mohamed/Standard

It was early in the morning when 13 girls were found stranded outside one of the offices to a bus company in Mombasa.

The girls, who were aged between 10 and 16 years, looked dazed, confused and worn out and claimed to be waiting for someone to come and collect them. Unfortunately, no one ever came to collect them. Continue reading Is Kenya turning into a human trafficking hub? →