africa

Help Darfur

- Adam Clare 1 Comment

blue hat dudeDarfur is a region in trouble. For years there have been killings and other tragedies. Obviously this is not good news at all – in fact it’s the opposite of good news. Today’s good news about Darfur comes from people wanting to help the region through action. Show your support online by wearing a blue hat!

The Global Day for Darfurwas originally conceived by a group of NGOs who were concerned about the international communityÂ’s slow response to the crisis in Darfur. ItÂ’s truly global: the day will see peaceful demonstrations, rallies, marches, exhibitions and concerts in cities around
the world including Abuja, Addis Ababa, Berlin, Cairo, Hong Kong, Khartoum,
Kigali, London, Melbourne, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Toronto, Paris and
Vancouver.

South Africa to Speak Truth About HIV/AIDS

- Adam Clare

This August we have spoken a lot about HIV and AIDS, which means that some good news is happening. Here’s some more goodness: South Africa is going to actually suggest real solutions to preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS.

South Africa has been criticized for suggesting bizarre “natural” cures for HIV, which are clearly not cures at all. Well, activists have demanded change and it looks like change will come.

I see a ship in the harbour

- Adam Clare

boatSomalia has opened the Mogadishu port and for the first time in more than 10 years a ship has docked. Until now porters had to unload ships from natural harbours and carry the goods ashore. Workers have been working hard to clear the access to the port.

This is a good sign for a country that has been plagued with strife and hardship. Ships arriving at the port are expected to bring down the price of goods such as TVs. There is hope that the opening of this port will also help curb piracy in the local seas.

“Mogadishu’s port used to be one of the busiest in East Africa, before the conflict led to its closure.

The port and international airport have been closed since United Nations and US troops ended their operations in the city as it descended into chaos in the mid-1990s following the collapse of central government.”

Sub-Saharan Africa Makes Milestone in HIV Treatments

- Adam Clare

Universal health care for all is still years away, but the number of people receiving HIV antiretroviral therapy has reached the one million mark in sub-Saharan Africa. This is a huge milestone that was announced this week at the International AIDS Conference.

“The one million figure represents a tenfold increase since December 2003, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Sub-Saharan Africa still accounts for 70 per cent of the global unmet treatment need, however, and 95 per cent of the 38.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS live in the developing world, where countries face tremendous challenges in dealing with the epidemic.”

Good Voting

- Adam Clare

A basic democracy needs people to vote at the very least. Recently two democracies that have been under question have actually defended the basic tenet of democracy. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), people were able to vote for the first time in forty years!

‘”I voted for the first time in my life!” shouted one man with excitement as he left the voting station’

In the United States, civil rights groups are celebrating the renewal of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The act protect minorities from racial discrimination in elections.

“The bipartisan support for the legislation underscores the recognition of and importance of equality for all citizens’ right to use the voting booth to elect officials who reflect their concerns. For, if liberty and equality are found chiefly in a democracy, as Aristotle said, then it is best attained when everyone shares in the government to the utmost.”

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