Charcoal and deforestation

In Somaliland in northern Somalia, people are trying to survive by cutting down trees and making charcoal.  This means of survival is solution that ultimately is going to create a bigger problem.  The rapid deforestation is turning the area into a desert, which will make it harder for plants, animals, humans to survive.  I would resolve to save the long-term forest in lieu of someones short-term financial gain.  In order to do so, it would only be proper to provide the man with some alternate source of income, which is another huge task.  Either way, someones life is going to be greatly affected.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20413272

South African Rats

With an ever growing rat problem, South Africans have turned to cages and poisons, but none have worked.  Their next step is to release high numbers of owls.  Many people are superstitous towards this idea.   I also have a feeling that these owls make backfire.  I believe it is possible that these owls will throw off the ecosystem.  There is a two minute clip, just click on the link below.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20330207

29 Kenyan Police, 3 attackers, and possibly more dead

  When something is stole or you are burglarized, most people automatically contact the authorities.  That's what happened when cattle in Kenya were stolen.  In this instance, the police were killed trying to retrieve the stolen cattle.  29 police officers were killed to be exact.  They were ambushed and only 3 of the attackers were killed in the process.  It is possible there were more deaths, but these are the numbers so far.  Conflict over cattle and grazing is common and apparently out of the authorities control.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20294747

Wow! Watch this crazy clip of a S. African group

    This is a side of South Africa I have never seen or expected.  The group Die Antwoord sings in English and Afrikaan, and are totally wild.  They apparently have even performed in the US at Coachella and have made waves around the world.  I could not find just the clip of the interview, only the whole episode.  The 5 minute clip is called "the vice guide to everything Zef." If you don't want to watch the whole vice guide episode (27 minutes or so), you can try to jump 17 mins into the clip to see the part I am posting about...  Just check it out.. you don't have to read any long article or anything.

http://vimeo.com/18754690

French Drones in Mali

   France is now focusing on Mali, as rebels in Africa are holding 6 french hostages.  They are turning their attention from Afghanistan to West Africa, more specifically northeast Mali to the Sahel region, planning to send drones.  Many are worried that the region will be the "next Afghanistan"; The area is likely to be used to train extremist groups for possible acts of terrorism.  The former colonial ruler in parts of that African region, France, is believed to be one of the prime targets for these terrorist groups.  France does not want to send in troops, but instead wants African troops to take out the Al-Qaida-linked groups. The French pledged intelligence, training, and support to the African troops to reclaim the northern part of Mali.  It is good that countries are getting involved in stepping on terrorist and their organizations, but don't want to appear as to aggressive, probably in fear of retaliation from these extremist.



http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ap-exclusive-france-sends-drones-mali-crisis-17535415#.UIXEQbT3C8o

South Africa: 19 Kids in a Teacher's Renault Clio

      In South Africa, a teacher was fined $170 for stuffing 19 preschoolers in a car the size of a Honda Fit.  The teacher was taking the preschoolers out for lunch at a local mall as a way to celebrate with the kids. The teacher was caught when people at the mall saw the kids coming out of the vehicle and called the police.  The teacher admitted to police that she already had dropped off about 12 kids, and was found with the 19 remaining kids in the car, totaling 31 students overall.  What was this lady thinking?  She is lucky that she was not in the US, she would have been facing some major consequences.  She is even more lucky that no one got hurt.  I hope they fire her, she is not fit to be responsible for those kids.

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/preschool-teacher-caught-hauling-19-kids-minicar-gets-163645531.html

Inheritance Equality for Women in Botswana

      In Botswana, Edith Mmusi and her 3 sisters (all over 65 years) were being evicted from their parents house by their nephew.  The son of the family was to inherit the property, but passed away and promised the property to his half-brother.  The half-brother's son (the nephew) had taken the women to court claiming the property as his own inheritance due to customary law.  Since women were not permitted to inherit property, they lost the court case.  After appealing the court decision, they lost the appeal as well.  It seemed gloomy, but they did not give up.  The next step the women took was civil court.  Luckily, the women actually won this case on the grounds that it was discriminatory.  The women won the case and kept their house, but still there was no changes in regards to the customary law.  The nephew complained that his country's culture disrespected and undermined.  There is no doubt in my mind that the women deserve the property.  It almost seems ridiculous that someone could think they could come in and just take the roof from right over your head, especially since that is Mmusi's parents house.  It's sickening how the nephew had no consideration for his aunts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19924723

Corrupt EFCC agents in Nigeria

Two anti-corruption agents were given 5 years sentences for corruption charges.  The two agents were supposed to investigate a politician for possible mismanagement of public funds, but instead were bribed to destroy documents involved in the investigation.  After the agents attempted to bribe a local chairman in Borno and got caught in a sting when they delivered the money to the chairman. Many Nigerians are disappointed with the fact that only small cases of corruption are coming to light, while the high dollar corruption scams never see justice.  It is sad how the people who are trying to stop corruption are corrupt themselves, especially for a petty $630.  If the agents would pull a stunt like that for so cheap, imagine what they would do when big money is involved.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19843161

Doping in Kenya Athletics

Mathew Kisorio ran a half-marathon in the 4th fastest time ever in 2011. In June, tests for doping confirmed the presence of illegal substances. After being suspended, Kisorio said that there were a lot of the Kenyan athletes participating in doping; The head of Athletics Kenya, Isaiah Kiplagat, argued otherwise.  Kisorio should have took his punishment like a man and should have not tried to justify the situation by saying others were also doping.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19763647

Albatross

    In Cameroon, a court just sentenced the ex-minister Marafa Hamidou Yaya for embezzling millions of dollars.  The money was supposed to go towards buying a presidential jet, but instead he just put a fresh coat of paint on an old plane and kept the money.  The situation was brought to light when the plane had problems and had to make an emergency landing.  Yaya was sentenced to 25 years in prison, along with others involved. This is one of many situations that are clear examples of people abusing their power to make money.  I believe Yaya is lucky no one got hurt or that a huge tragic accident did not happen, or he would be facing a more severe punishment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19687328

Zimbabwe's PM and possible bigamy

 On Saturday the prime minister of Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, had a marriage ceremony even after being told by a magistrate he could be charge with bigamy. The reason he was told that he could be charged with bigamy was that he had a suit filed against him by a woman claiming they "were still married under Zimbabwe's tribal laws." Being in such a high position, he should expect that his every step is being monitored and that mistakes like this will catch up to him.  The prime minister, on the other hand, feels as if he did not make a mistake in dating these women after his wife died. Tsvangirai felt he was justified that he had to go through a couple of different partners to find the right one, even though some people thought he was showing negative characteristics of the man in charge of their country.  There is nothing wrong with seeing different women until you find the right one, but if you are considered married it is not appropriate to continue.  Tsvangirai proceeded with the ceremony and exchanging vows, but never signed the register as a away around the charge of bigamy.  It was such a risky move that some of the invited regional leaders refrained from even appearing.  This regional leader no-show indicates that many possibly believe it was a choice that will catch up to the prime minister.  Between the oncoming scrutiny and suit filed against him, the prime minister will really have to prove himself.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/16/morgan-tsvangirai-face-bigamy-charge

New Somali President

I chose this article because it struck me as interesting that Somali  MP's have to vote secretly, in fear of extremist groups that control southern and central parts of the country.  It apparently has been a while since a president was even elected on Somali soil.  The current Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has been accused of corruption by his opponents, but he states that these claims are false.  Lastly, there have been rumors that votes are being sold.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19540325