By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | JOHANNESBURG (IDN) — Torrential rainfall and flooding came full throttle to Johannesburg for a third time in December, damaging hundreds of houses in Soweto, Roodepoort, Protea Glen and surrounding areas. The heavy downpour loosened street poles, flooded transformer chambers, uprooted trees and damaged overhead cables and […]
US Foundation Commits $19.2 Million to Bolster Nigerian Media
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has announced 13 grants totalling more than $19.2 million to strengthen local and regional investigative journalism in Nigeria. The initiative, awarded through the foundation’s Nigeria program, seeks to reduce corruption by supporting Nigerian-led anti-corruption efforts that advance […]
Fiji: Two Former Coup Leaders Fight for Democratic Right to Govern
By Ravindra Singh Prasad SUVA, Fiji (IDN) — It is an ironic fact in Fiji Islands, a multi-ethnic nation of under one million people in the South Pacific, that coups don’t work and ultimately lead to constitutional reforms and democratic elections. As Fiji goes to the polls on December 14, the choice is between choosing […]
Health Workers Protect Us, but Who Protects Them?
By Dr Roopa Dhatt and Dr Becky Cox* WASHINGTON DC | OXFORD (IDN) — The pandemic generated waves of applause for frontline health workers, 90 per cent of whom are women, but some others continued to behave in a more sinister way. Our two organisations received reports of increased issues around protection and safety and […]
Concern Over Export of Ancient Baobab Tree from Kenya
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | NAIROBI (IDN) — Stories abound of the majestic baobab tree landmarks across Africa where they stand tall, adapted to arid landscapes, the basis of myths, the home of vultures and bees, and the giver of fruits that can feed families during drought. Baobab, or ‘mbuyu’ in […]
ANC Worried About Possible Ouster of South African President
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | JOHANNESBURG (IDN) — A convoluted tale of monies hidden in a sofa in the home of the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa threatens to unseat a popular leader while it creates more headaches for the African National Congress. According to the charges, a fortune in U.S. […]
Recalling the Massacre in Namibia on Genocide Prevention Day
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Genocide Prevention Day falls on December 9 and marks the anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (also known as the UN Genocide Convention. On this day, the victims of genocide worldwide are remembered. People around the world […]
Putting Anti-racism & Anti-discrimination High on the International Agenda
Viewpoint by Simone Galimberti* KATHMANDU (IDN) — A recent UNESCO Forum provided some impetus to the fight against racism and discrimination, but the level of the problems involved required a much bigger commitment. It is unfortunate that the second edition of the Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination, organized by UNESCO in Mexico City on […]
Climate Change Threatens the Health of Refugees in Camps
By Jaya Ramachandran GENEVA | LONDON (IDN) — Climate uncertainty is creating health threats for thousands of migrants as overcrowding and pollution place huge stresses on humanitarian organisations’ ability to provide sanctuary in refugee camps, a new study reveals. Locating camps in disaster-prone or climate hotspot areas increases their vulnerability and, coupled with stress from […]
World Aids Day Addresses Inequalities Between Global South and North
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) — Every year, on December 1, World AIDS Day is commemorated. People worldwide unite to show support for those living with HIV and remember those who have passed on from AIDS-related illnesses. Ten years ago, HIV had infected at least 10 per cent of the population […]