_Reading and Studying in the Text and Atlas
Study Questions for the First Examination --there will be more....
CHINUA ACHEBE "THINGS FALL APART"-The Nigerian author's theme
regarding post-independence Africa resonates in work by other authors in
Francophone as well as Anglophone Africa.
THE FIRST AND LAST MAJOR EUROPEAN COLONIES WERE IN AFRICA: Greeks, Romans,
to Portuguese who left in 1975 and the white settler regimes in southern Africa
which ceded power in 1980 (Zimbabwe) and 1994 (South Africa)
PORTUGUESE RE-STARTED THE AFRICAN ENTERPRISE FROM THE 1440S--- REACHED AND
THEN ROUNDED THE CAPE (OF GOOD HOPE) IN THE 1490s
BY 1870S, MUCH WAS STILL UNKNOWN: MAJOR RIVERS' COURSES, MOUNTAINS OF THE
MOON. IN PRACTICE, THE COLONIAL PENETRATION INLAND ASSUMED RES NULLIUS (no one
owned the land) - it was open for grabs.
IN HALF A GENERATION, 30 NEW COLONIES AND PROTECTORATES. 10 MILLION SQUARE
MILES, 110 MILLION PEOPLE
THE SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA: NOT DONE WELL, STILL HAS IMPACTS
BRITISH: INDIRECT RULE (AFRICANS nominally RULING AFRICANS)
FRENCH: TURN AFRICANS INTO FRENCH (ASSIMILATION)…our ancestors the
Gauls
BELGIANS, GERMANS: MAKE A PROFIT, USE FORCE, SLAVE LABOR
DENIGRATING AFRICANS WAS USED TO JUSTIFY APPROPRIATION OF THEIR LAND AND
THEIR SUBJUGATION. [Reports, books, media celebrating sagacity, wealth of
African rulers, prowess in battle decreased as the colonial enterprise
proceeded.]
TAXES IN CASH - FORCED AFRICANS INTO PAID LABOR
CORVEE LABOR - FORCED IN LIEU OF TAXES
COLONIAL TRADING COMPANIES, pre and post-independence government MARKETING
BOARDS, FOREIGN MULTI-NATIONALS: OFTEN CHEATED FARMERS
CURRENT TALK OF UN TAKING OVER SOME AFRICAN COUNTRIES - E.G., SOMALIA
Readings Text and Atlas
GOODE'S: FOCUS ON THE AFRICA THEMATIC MAPS ON PAGES 206-207, AND THE TWO
CONTINENTAL MAPS ON PAGES 208-209. NOTICE THE EXTENT OF THE "PLATEAU"
AREA AS COMPARED TO OTHER CONTINENTS (see text, p.331 and 332 also). In the
front part of the atlas, examine the population cartogram on page 7 to
appreciate the demographic weight of Nigeria in the continent
DE BLIJ AND MULLER
328 INSET: THE MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC QUALITIES
329 MEDICAL GEOGRAPHY: What would it be like to live there?
Carefully examine the maps, for instance, pages 334, 339, 342,
…..
348- Map, Inset on Lagos, and section on NIGERIA
361- Southern Africa section. You should note that Harm's expertise, going
back to graduate work in the 1950s is particularly focused on Kenya, Tanzania,
and South Africa
Also talks about the continued involvement of France (in this case) in the
affairs of its ex-colonies. This can be generalized to other francophone
countries in Africa.
BYLINE=PURNELL MURDOCK
DATELINE=OUAGADOUGOU
INTRO: WITNESSES IN NIGER SAY THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL,
NIAMEY, ARE
CALM FOLLOWING THE COUP SATURDAY THAT OUSTED PRESIDENT MAHAMANE OUSMANE. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT PURNELL MURDOCK REPORTS FROM OUR WEST AFRICA BUREAU.
TEXT: WITNESSES SAY TANKS CONTINUE TO GUARD KEY INTERSECTIONS IN THE CAPITAL, NIAMEY. BUT THEY SAY THE MILITARY PRESENCE ON THE STREETS OF THE CITY HAS DIMINISHED. THEY SAY PEOPLE ARE GOING ABOUT THEIR NORMAL ROUTINES AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE MILITARY ACTION.
TROOPS SURROUNDED THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE SATURDAY, AND PUT PRESIDENT OUSMANE UNDER HOUSE ARREST. PRIME MINISTER HAMA AMADOU AND SEVERAL PROMINENT POLITICIANS WERE ALSO ARRESTED. MILITARY SOURCES SAY AT LEAST FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN FIGHTING BETWEEN TROOPS AND SOLDIERS LOYAL TO PRESIDENT OUSMANE, BUT OTHER REPORTS LIST THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES AT AROUND 30.
TELEPHONE SERVICE HAS BEEN RESTORED TO THE COUNTRY, BUT THE AIRPORT REMAINS CLOSED.
COLONEL IBRAHIM BARRE MAINASSARA, NIGER'S ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF, SAID HE STAGED THE COUP TO END WHAT HE CALLED THE ABSURD CRISIS IN PARLIAMENT. DURING THE PAST YEAR PRESIDENT OUSMANE AND PRIME MINISTER HAMA AMADOU HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN A POLITICAL STALEMATE. COLONEL IMAINASSARA SAID THE ARMY HAS NO INTENTION OF HALTING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, BUT IS TRYING TO PROVIDE A NEW BEGINNING FOR THE WEST AFRICAN NATION.
THE COLONEL DECLARED HIMSELF HEAD OF A 12-MEMBER COUNCIL OF NATIONAL SALVATION. HE HAS SUSPENDED THE CONSTITUTION, DISSOLVED GOVERNMENT AND BANNED ALL POLITICAL PARTIES. A NIGHT-TIME CURFEW IS ALSO IN AFFECT.
THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS CONDEMNED THE COUP, SAYING IT IS SUSPENDING AID TO THE COUNTRY. NEIGHBORING MALI DENOUNCED THE TAKE-OVER AS A BLOW TO THE CAUSE OF DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA.
FRANCE, THE FORMER COLONIAL POWER IN NIGER, ALSO CONDEMNED THE COUP AND SUSPENDED MILITARY AND ECONOMIC AID. IN A STATEMENT, THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT CALLED FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF PRESIDENT OUSMANE AND PRIME MINISTER AMADOU, AND A RESTORATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN THE COUNTRY.
NIGER, A SPRAWLING, ARID STATE OF EIGHT-MILLION PEOPLE, GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE IN 1960. THE COUNTRY MOVED TOWARDS MULTI-PARTY POLITICS IN 1992 AND HELD PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN 1993.
THIS WAS THE SECOND COUP IN 10-DAYS IN THE WEST AFRICAN REGION. EARLIER, MILITARY OFFICERS IN SIERRA LEONE STAGED A BLOODLESS COUP TO OUST FORMER MILITARY HEAD OF STATE VALENTINE STRASSER.
SINCE NOVEMBER 1993 THERE HAVE BEEN MILITARY COUPS IN NIGERIA, GAMBIA, AND SIERRA LEONE. ALL THE COUNTRIES REMAIN UNDER ARMY CONTROL.
MEANWHILE, A DELEGATION FROM THE FIVE-NATION ENTENTE COUNCIL OF WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES IS EXPECTED TO GO TO NIGER TO TRY TO MEDIATE A SOLUTION TO THE MILITARY COUP. THE COUNCIL, WHICH WAS FORMED IN 1959, GROUPS BENIN, BURKINA FASO, IVORY COAST, NIGER, AND TOGO.
+++++++ CAMEL EXPRESS TELEMATIQUE
++++ ++++ =========================
- - Original notes from correspondents follow. I've eliminated or disguised their names if it seemed needed for security reasons. AVW -
thought this discussion of military instability and France's hand in Africa might be worth passing on
David
- -
+++++++ CAMEL EXPRESS TELEMATIQUE ++++ ++++ ========================= ++ \ Juma'a, ran 23 ga Fabrairu ga 1996 | N I J A R | | a kan waya | CHOLERA EPIDEMIC STRIKES WESTERN NIGER ++++++ | TEACHERS WILL NOT SUPPORT MILITARY FUND \ / NIGERIENS EVACUATED FROM SIERRA LEONE \ /+++++++++++++++ \++++ 49 people have died of cholera since November of last year, according to the head of the Hopital National de Niamey, Mr. Balama Oumarou. A total of 946 cases have been reported. Most of the cases have been west of the Niger River, but seven people have died of cholera near Niamey in the last three weeks. [source: Reuter article of February 22, 1996]
Niger's National Teachers Association says its members will not contribute a percentage of their income to the government's national development fund. The military government asked employees in the country to give 30-40% of their salaries as a financial contribution to improve the country's economic situation. Stringer Lawal Boucar reports. (VOA/ HAUSA 2/21)
The government of Niger has evacuated one hundred eighty five Nigeriens from war-ravaged Sierra Leone. Hausa stringer Lawal Boucar interviews some of the evacuees, who said they were caught in the middle, in the fight between government soldiers and RUF rebels in Sierra Leone. The evacuees expressed gratitude to their home government for evacuating them in a timely manner. (VOA/ HAUSA 2/22)
=================== COURIER ELECTRONIQUE ======================= Date: Thu, 22 Feb 96 9:51:28 EST From: Issoufou Kapran IKAPRAN@DEPT.AGRY.PURDUE.EDU
Joel I think the surprise would have been that France really backs up a democratic alternative that is good for Niger. In support of your 'paranoia', here are two pieces of information, the second one to handle with care until confirmed. 1) current French president,Mr. Chirac, has said publicly a few years ago that Africans are not ready for democracy. 2) after the january coup, when Ba'Are met with diplomats and received their concerns, he is reported as replying to the French ambassador that the two of them have discussed the political crisis on many occasions. Any comments from anyone out there? Issoufou ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 10:53:21 -0600 (CST) From: hame abdou kadi kadi Subject: Re: Reaction to your comment on CET: Feb 21,96. Soir.
Well Yawale! I believe you are not being a paranoid. France policies in Africa is a "deux poids deux mesures". Think back at what happens at the early hours of the coup in Niger. France asked its citizens to stay away from the streets of Niamey. Then the next days it issued many statements condemning the takeover and suspended its assistance to Niger and the western countries followed. Many other things happen that involved France's showing its non commitment to Niger at all. What we should ask ourselves is: Who is profiting from the relations between France and Niger? Of course the metropole. See the coup is nothing but a theatrical show in which the victims are the Nigeriens and the actors being France, the Nigerien elite politicians and the militaries who seized the power. If the coup does not satisfy France appetite for the benefit it will gained in Niger; it would have send legionnaires to chase out the new members of the Niger new "Conseil de Salut National" and restore the so called legitimate government. It used to do such intervention like in Burundi, Rwanda and Comores (lately). The Nigerien case is not to France a concern, if it is it should have intervened but it said the military collaborative agreement does not say so. With the new settings, France will gain more with the new regime as it did with the Kountche and Ali's regimes; it can now be more involved in policies control with the new people and the government may conduct any unpopular measures because it has guns and can repress the opposing views. For sure, France is acting like an hypocrite. The France's ambassador in Niamey will not say no. To some extent the members of the CSN had France's blessings when they conducted the coup. So, see how France react in this situation is nothing but it desire to divide the Nigerien people so it can profits more from our weaknesses. Its showings in many international (EEC, ACCT, etc...) organizations where the coup was and is being condemned in nothing but an act of unfaithfulness since it should express its real feelings about the coup, instead of hiding them. The return of french employees to Niger is nothing but some positive nods to the army to go on leading the country with France at its side. History is around and soon or later we will learn in Jeune Afrique or other newspapers, the extent at which France was involved in the coup. For now all we can ask ourselves is: What will the Nigerien gain out of this coup?
Bonjour a tous mes compatriotes, les members du NIGER NET et les lecteurs de CET. Merci. Vive le Niger. Allah ya kiyyaye. Amen ------------------------------------------------------------------------
On page 4 of the prologue you write: " The body of an African medium is possessed by a "European" deity [Hauka] who presides over a Roundtable discussion in which the views of Africans and other "Europeans" are expressed in a mixture of pidgin French and Songhay, an African language spoken by three million people in the Republics of Niger and Mali." Then you later add that Hauka are the songhay spirits that burlesque European personnages....
I am curious to know if you know that the word "Hauka" is a Hausa word, or may be not? If it is, why do you think the spirits are so called? I am fascinated by your interpretation which to me will be even more interesting if the Word Hauka is indeed Hausa. As you may know Songhay and Zarma have both borrowed from Hausa as well as from Arabic and other languages.
I wrote a paper in which I also analyzed how colonial personages have been integrated into the bori religion in the Hausa speaking areas of Western Niger where Christianity is prevalent. In your case I am intrigued at the fact of a European deity, as you said, with a Hausa name! What is your reading of the case if we agree that hauka is a Hausa name, which I think it is?
By the way I was in West Chester University (In philadelphia, I guess?)
Chaibou Elhadji Oumarou. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Globalization and the Challenge to Small States:
Small states are
bellwethers of globalization. The ever faster exchange of resources, technology
and information is making traditional institutions obsolete, opening formerly
closed economies and sectors, and fostering devolution in governance. Our future
is likely to be one in which relatively small political communities are
integrated into a network of regional, continental and world political and
economic associations. Even these will be fragmented by the uninhibited flow of
information and capital among individuals and organizations. Today's Europe
provides an example. Twenty-nine of the thirty-five non-CIS states west of the
Bosporus have populations no larger than that of the Netherlands. All are
becoming even more trade dependent, while information and electronic currency
spill easily across their boundaries. The former Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia
have dissolved. Cries for more autonomy ring out in Scotland and the Basque
region. Economic irredentism (e.g., Alpa Adria) challenges traditional state
control.
| cowandi fonda | INFLATION DOWN TO 5.5% INQUIRY SAYS PLANE CRASH WAS
ACCIDENT
\ / UEMOA MINISTERS REACH TARIFF AGREEMENT
\
/+++++++++++++++
\++++ Official figures published on Wednesday showed
inflation for 1995 at 5.5%, a sharp decrease from the 40.6% rate of 1994. It
would appear that not paying fonctionnaires' salaries has succeeded in holding
down the demand for goods that would normally cause prices to rise. Certain
members of the House of Representatives may take heart from this story as they
attempt to implement a similar strategy in the United States.... The
cost-of-living statistics for December showed an increase in the price of some
cereals due to shortages, but an overall decrease of 0.6%, compared with drops
of 0.1% in November and 2.4% in October.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The special team of inquiry into the December 15 plane crash in the Air that killed Tuareg leader Manu Dayak and four others issued a preliminary report on Tuesday, saying that the crash was an accident. The team includes experts from Niger, France and Burkina Faso. The report states that the Cessna 337 "failed to take off from the length of runway available, and on the way it hit a stone and fell into a ravine." It then was said to have immediately burst into flames. Forensic evidence has been sent for further study to laboratories in France and the U.S., and the final report won't be issued until a more detailed analysis of the findings is received. Mano Dayak led a faction known as the Tamoust Liberation Front, which opposed the Ouagadougou Accord signed last April by the Tuareg coalition group, the Organisation de la Resistance Armee, and the Government. Also killed were his chief of staff Wilwil Yahaya, two other Nigeriens, one of whom was the pilot, and a French citizen. They were taking off for Niamey when the crash occured. The Cessna had been chartered from a private firm, Niger Air Services, which later issued a statement saying the plane was in good condition. The ORA claimed that France and the Niger government were responsible for the crash and called for an international inquiry.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finance Ministers of the Union Economique et Monetaire Ouest-Africaine, which includes the CFA-zone nations of West Africa, have reached in interim agreement on preferential tariffs as a step toward a free trade zone within the community. It provides for a 30% reduction in tariffs among the member states: Niger, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo and Mali. This will go into effect three months after the agreement is approved by the governments of the member-states. The agrreement also provides for a 5% reduction on selected goods from outside the community. However, a Community Solidarity Tax of 0.5% on other goods from outside the zone will be levied to compensate the UEMOA Commission for the loss of revenues during the interim period.
The Ministers also agreed that the interim period should last one year, after which all tariffs on goods exchanged between member states will be abolished. The UEMOA's aim is to set up a single market of 60 million people and "ensure free movement of people, goods and services, and harmonization of laws, particularly on taxation. The Ministers also agreed on the immediate removal of trade barriers other than tariffs, and declared their intention to set up national economic policy committees to "harmonize macro-economic development." The agreement was announced Monday in Burkina Faso in an official statement following the meeting.
There has been and is considerable worry about the impacts of Africa's problems on the European Union countries. An Italian Admiral raised alarms about the Meditteranean becoming the front line for NATO in the 80s due to the need to control illegal flows of migrants from North Africa-- because of its sensitive nature, there is no OFFICIAL NATO position on this problem.
From: @cpo-link.eucom.mil
Dear Mr Williams,
Thanks for having shown interest in our offer.
Unfortunately, the issue you asked about is not -- technically -- an AFSOUTH issue. I am not aware of any NATO official having termed illegal migrants "a major (security) concern" but I am not surprised to hear that an Italian Admiral said that it may become a concern for the years ahead.
Having said that, I may offer to you a few personal considerations, which I have to ask you to consider as such (personal view). This is the only way I can quickly react to requests for information on wide range topics. Those who really need an "official" answer will have to wait for the questions to be processed.
While we dot address 'immigration' as a security concern 'per se', we do address the overall problem of "demography" around the Mediterranean as one of our concerns, as the trends observed so far may lead to situations were security may be involved. I believe this is relevant to your question, because demographic problems are also the cause for illegal migration.
Here is a passage from our Command Briefing which you may find interesting, not because it pretends to tell you anything you do not know, but because in the past it was not usual for NATO commands to officially make reference to 'political' issues as potential sources of security problems:
"...the nations of the third world have populations that are expanding well beyond the means to feed them. The growth rate for nations in North Africa and the Middle east are staggering by comparison with the continent of Europe. If the rates of increase do not change, then their population will increase from 240 million today to almost 500 million by the year 2020. In addition, the number of young people in countries adjacent to our region is disproportionately high. History tells us that when the percentage of youngsters in a country exceeds or is near 20 percent, these nations are likely to be unstable. This is due to youthful idealism, competition for education, jobs and resources.
If the picture is bleak now, it is bleaker for the future. vast populations on the African continent are starving, as fertile land dries up and literally blows away. Nearly all North African and Middle Eastern nations must import more than one-half of their food. Moreover, eight north african and Middle East nations will not have sufficient water supplies by the year 2000.
The humanitarian support these people require from their more fortunate neighbors is a burden few nations are willing - or are able to shoulder. The rich are getting richer, and the poor are having children. Moreover, the poor are spending their national wealth on arms. While in Europe arms reductions are occurring, in the Middle East and North Africa arms sales are increasing. Our concerns are compounded by missile acquisitions and developing technology throughout the Middle east and Libya. Syria possesses Scud missiles and has recently acquired a longer-range North Korean missile.
Additionally, Libya possesses the 300-kilometer Scud and is developing the Al-Fatah missile with a range of 1,000 kilometers. Another area of concern is Iranian capabilities and intentions...(omissis)...."
As you will understand, our interest can only be in 'security' concerns. And demography and immigration are not. But they are indicators of potential future problems. The passage I quoted, however, should not be seen out of its contest: the above described situation is only one of the several potential sources for future trouble in NATO's southern European region. With no reference - as you can see -- to illegal immigration. A problem European nations seem willing to address individually and collectively. Before it becomes a security problem, one would hope.
I hope there will be further opportunities to keep in touch. Cheers. Franco
Getting Maps and Data. There are lots of places on the internet where you can get maps and download them to your disk or print them. One that comes along with recent data is the CIA site http://www.odci.gov/ Explore it! The World Fact Book for 199x is where you'll find data and maps.
Universities also have data sets available. For maps, one of the nicer sites is at the University of Texas, Austin. Their map site is http://www.lib.utexas.edu/PCL/Map_collection/Map_collection.html
Happy browsing. Warning: don't become a NET addict :-)
Essays and short answers
1. What, if any, events of 1994 through early 1998 might be worthy of note in this course were it to be given in 2096?
2. What, according to Goode's Atlas, are the 5 fundamental themes of geography? Into what theme or themes do those blank political boundary maps we looked at in the first week fit?
AFRICA:
1. What features of its physical geography hindered European exploration of Africa south of the Sahara, particularly its interior? How many of those features are still significant problems?
2. What are Africa's current MAJOR problems? Use specific countries as examples
3. What good things COULD happen in Africa -- based on its physical, population and social geographies?
4. What were (and are) the major attractions in Africa for outsiders?
NIGERIA:
1. What were the key event(s) of 1993-1998 in Nigeria?
2. What are Nigeria's THREE major problems?
3. What are Nigeria's causes for HOPE?
SOUTH AFRICA:
What features of its physical geography and location attracted the attention of outsiders?
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE INTRODUCTORY SECTION OF GOODE'S ATLAS:
1. HOW MANY MAP PROJECTIONS ARE THERE? _______
2. LARGE SCALE MAPS ARE USEFUL FOR _____________
3. SMALL SCALE MAPS ARE USEFUL FOR _____________
4. WHAT SPATIAL RELATIONS DOES THE GLOBE SHOW FAITHFULLY____________
5. WHEN GREENLAND LOOKS LARGER THAN SOUTH AMERICA, WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE MAP PROJECTION?
6. WHY WAS THE MERCATOR PROJECTION DEVELOPED?
7. ARE RUSSIA AND THE UNITED STATES ON "OPPOSITE SIDES" OF THE WORLD?
8. PROVIDING PRECISE VALUES IS NOT THE PURPOSE OF MAPS. WHAT INFORMATION DO
MAPS PROVIDE IN A COMPACT AND EFFICIENT FORM?
9. DEFINE THE FOLLOWING TERMS IN THE CONTEXT OF MAP-MAKING
a. generalization b. simplification c. classification
d. induction e. symbolization f. scale
New York Times Studying. Pay attention to "our" countries especially.
SOME EARLIER STORIES…GIVES AN IDEA OF WHAT SORTS OF THINGS TO LOOK FOR..
NIGERIA'S DEADLY OIL WAR: SHELL DEFENDS ITS STAND
WEST PRESSES SUDAN
ON HARD-LINE POLICY
SUDAN PAYS HIGH PRICE FOR TIES TO ISLAMIC MILITANTS
AFTER THE IRA BOMB
FRENCH BISHOPS SUPPORT SOME USE OF CONDOMS
NIGERIA'S RULERS SET ELECTION TIMETABLE
FROM COLD WAR, AFGHANS INHERIT BRUTAL NEW AGE
UN-IRAQ PROGRESS IN OIL
TALKS
(GERMANY) IT'S A WOMAN'S WORLD ...
U.S. IS SEEKING FORUM TO
CALM ASIAN TENSIONS
SHARP RISE IN METAMPHETAMINE STIRS CONCERN
UPROAR OVER A DEBT CRISIS
(JAPAN)
NYT THIS TERM'S STORIES--bold face for our countries
12/1
South Asia (1). India. A new Gandhi? [Will the ruling family dynasty continue]
Britain (1). N.Ireland. Kin of Sinn Fein (IRA) chief killed. Start of new killings?
Mexico (3) Indian women (in Chiapas state) protest the army's role in searches
Mideast (4) Iraq. Interference with the UN Inspection Teams
13/1
Asia (1) Economic turmoil puts a break on the regional arms races and lowers business prospects for American (and other) arms producers
Japan (C1) Despite spending billions it worries about earthquakes
Germany (3) Some professional people fight the prospect of a European Currency
France (4) Rejects interference in Algeria because of bad memories and current interests
Middle East (4) Israel: Snow in Jerusalem. Pakistan: Sunni muslims kill Shiite muslims
US (11) Census director resigns. Too much turmoil over ethnic aspects of 2000 census
US (D1) Detroit trying to cut its costs to meet tougher prospective Asian competition
14/1
Britain (3) N. Ireland. Death toll reaches 3233 in the 29 years of the "troubles."
Middle East (9) Algeria rejects mission from the European Union
Americas (4) Brazil. Poor worry about their organs being removed before they are dead.
21/1
US (16) Corruption of our police and judiciary because of the "war" on drugs and its profits
23/1
Middle East (6) Turkey. Orthodox church protests arson and killing at a holy site. Greek population's distrust turns to fear
24/1
Germany (6) New tests of saliva (DNA) of immigrants claiming family in Germany
25/1
Caribbean (8) Cuba. African-related Santeria cult intermingles with Catholicism
Africa (3) Liberia:Sierra Leone - war on the border. Outsider intervention by the U.S., France, Taiwan, Libya, South Africa, Nigeria. Nigeria's fears of France preventing it from achieving regional hegemony
Germany (6) Neo-nazis fight leftists in Dresden
Africa (4:3) Wealth often only buys trouble - discussion of mineral wealth of the Congo
26/1
Sri Lanka (3) Suicide bomber attack on holiest (Temple of the Tooth) Buddhist shrine kills 11 and starts ethnic/religious riots of Buddhists against Hindus
Africa (D1) Ivory Coast, Abidjan. Problems of introducing technology (The world wide web)
27/1
Africa (1) Ethiopian keepers of the lost Ark (as in Indiana Jones)
Middle East (7) Israel. Who is a Jew?
Japan (D1) 2 top bank officials arrested for bribery.
28/1
Japan (1) Tokyo--- Finance Minister resigns to take responsibility for bad acts of subordinates
Germany (4)--Catholic counseling centers will no longer issue abortion certificates.
India (4) -- Move against English (5% speak it) as a national language "Nehru spoke it but it's still foreign." NOTE: There are 18 official languages in India.
2/2
Davos, Switzerland (3) --Annual World Economic Forum...movers and shakers, economic as well as political and "experts" talk about current problems and trends
Indonesia (1)--Ethnic Chinese will likely be scapegoats for any violence if economic conditions get worse (4% of the population, 70% of the wealth)
Korea (4)--Racial prejudice against foreigners
30/1
Zambia(3) --- Former President (Kenneth Kaunda) under investigation for 3-hour coup attempted last October. Interesting discussion of his character and that of his successor, born-again Christian, F. Chiluba
India (4) -- Tales of a Tamil Nadhu Entrepreneur -- ties in story of British Empire in South Asia.
Congo D.R. (4)--Kabila accuses France, Caritas, UNHCR of aiding eastern rebels
Turkey (20 - Editorial)--The government was the underworld: murder, assassination, drugs etc.
UK (1) -- Prime Minister Blair sets up new inquiry of (1972) Bloody Sunday in N. Ireland
2/1
Ecuador (12) -- People protest over Texaco's damaging the environment and peoples' health. Clean up toxic oil residues, please.
4/2
US/Mideast(1) -- Readying for attacks on Iraq. {Question: What is our Vital Interest there?}
Liberia(3) -- A 1989 Massacre that Prototyped many current African Conflicts
Sudan (2) -- Just a "squib" from Reuters noting airdrops to 150,000 refugees in South Sudan, a north:south, Moslem:Christian conflict of long standing
4/4
Sri Lanka (Colombo)(AP)--Security is Tightened for (British) Prince Charles' visit on 50th anniversary of independence
Russia (1, 6)--How desperate are things there? About 150 million people but the population is expected to drop by a million each year for the next decade. There are more deathsfrom tuberculosis in Russia than there are casesin the United States. {AVW: Life expectancy of men is about 55, lower than in some African countries. Causes: hopelessness, cigarettes, joblessness, vodka.}
5/2
SOUTH AFRICA(D1)Legends of Ore talks about the fate of one of the big businesses (gold mining, etc) taken over by black entrepreneurs. The story has some vignettes from South Africa's history so READ IT.
India (3) --Sonia Gandhi and the upcoming Elections. READ THIS.
SRI LANKA (3)--Raids by Rebel Tamil forces on the eve of the Independence celebration.
Germany (9) -- Activisits/Liberals protest plans for Holocaust Monument in Berlin -- it's too "brutalist" and should memorialize also gypsies, homosexuals and the disabled -- all of whom were sent to death camps.
Canada (11) -- British Columbia practises democracy in recall election
Brazil (1 and 10) -- The human costs of currency crises fall on the poor