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Lobbying for Africa

Lobbying is a form of advocacy with the intention of influencing decisions made by legislators and officials in the government by individuals, other legislators, constituents, or advocacy groups.

Lobbyists exist for diverse interest groups: individuals with disabilities, specific industries, nations, and institutions, and so forth.

Jewish lobby for instance have a strong presence in the US capital and play a significant role in shaping policies affecting business, international finance, the media, academia, and popular culture.

Hispanic groups are well represented by Hispanic politicians who vigorously take on the specific issues affecting Hispanic people. Hispanic politicians never hide, never run away and never apologize when it comes to issues affecting Hispanics.

Last summer, after Arizona passed its tough immigration law, Hispanic politicians reacted with fervor. Some compared the decision to apartheid while others embark on peaceful demonstration and hunger strikes. They articulated that if the law affects one Hispanic, it affects all Hispanics.

It has always baffled me why African American leaders shy away from speaking out on Africa and the issues affecting the nearly one billion people on the African continent. African American politicians and leaders in general speak narrowly, though very well, about issues touching the ‘African American’ in the US. Unlike their Latino counterparts who speak for Mexico, for example, as though they are Mexicans, African American leaders address African American problems and that is enough for them.

Many African countries have made significant progress in creating a more business-friendly environment as well as impressive progress towards political stability. In spite of these, trade policies in most western economies are not designed to make these markets accessible to African goods and services. In fact, some of them are calculated to accomplish the exact opposite.

What is needed is an advocate who will stand up in the Congress, Senate or Parliament and fight for a more afro-centric trade, immigration and environmental policies. The African-American politicians can play a leading role in this.

It is my hope that African Americans leaders, students, musicians, and pastors will realize one day that our destinies are together. The African American will not be accorded the respect and dignity he or she deserves in this country or elsewhere, until the current perception of Africa in the mind of the Westerner is expunged. And this requires work, not only by the African leaders and people but also by their African American brothers and sisters.

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Religion, Politics and -Phobias

I grew up in a very conservative African community, typical of what I guess most readers know. Church on Sundays was literally a requirement in order to have your laundry done to begin the school week. If I look back, I may be tempted to say that even the non-believers, as we used to call them, were more conservative than regular church goers in some western societies.
Certain word and phrases such as ‘homosexual, lesbian, bisexual and transgender’ were not part of the vocabulary.  If you heard somebody read Leviticus 20:13 which says ‘If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads” it actually wouldn’t mean much to you, because as far as you know, such a thing could only happen in Gomorah.
That was then. Today reading the verse quoted above in public, especially by a powerful man or woman,  might actually result in death of people, especially if read by a politician or Man of God. A few weeks back, one Ugandan MP proposed the death penalty for gay people. Again, the PM of Kenya on Nov 29 declared a national crackdown on homosexuals and called upon the police to arrest anyone found to be a homosexual.
 
I understand why African politicians see this as a winning strategy. Homosexual lifestyle is foreign to the African way of life and therefore anyone who promises to root out this tumor from the society is likely to have his approval ratings bump a significant number of points. Again, religious leaders are very powerful in most African communities. An endorsement by a man or woman of God is worth more than a billion-dollar worth of campaign donations. The politicians know this and they’re exploiting it to the fullest. Western religious activist are also pumping resources into Africa to energize greedy politicians to hold the fort.
 
Christians, Moslems and even traditional African rulers have condemned homosexuality for centuries so that is news. Draconian measures such as execution are just kind of new. Or is it just me?
If you were raised in religious home as I was, I will understand why the practice may be repulsive to you. It is not in my blood either. But who am I to call for someone’s death because he or she chose to live a particular way? From a religious point of view, if I have negative views about homosexuality, ‘prayer and fasting for the lost sheep’ is what Jesus will advise. Death by firing squad? I’m not sure about that.
Another thing that is difficult for me comprehend is a report that in Kenya, some Muslim groups are joining the campaign to crackdown on homosexuals. I’m a Christian but a few weeks ago I presented a strong position against ‘Islam-Phobia ‘ and ridiculed Juan Williams of Fox News and former NPR contributor for his blinkered comment about Moslems.

Just like homophobia, Islam-phobia has become a powerful weapon used by politicians to appeal to defined groups of people. For a Moslem who is constantly fighting against the bigotry and discrimination to join the call for the death of homosexuals is incomprehensible. It’s just like Juan Willians, an African American wresting with black stereotypes to join the chauvinism against Moslems.

Negrophobia, Xenophobia, Bibleophobea/Theophobia, Judeophobia. Which do we support? When politics comes in, it’s whichever the occasion calls for

I’m a chemist and I’ve tried very scary chemical reactions in my career. Politics plus religion is not one of my favorite reactions. The two don’t mix very well, and if they do, the product is always an explosive waste.

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Africa Needs an Open Access to Western Markets, Not Aid

For decades African governments have largely depended on Western donors to fund everything from community latrines to public universities. Admittedly, some societies could not have survived to this day had it not been for foreign aid.

The African growth model based solely on foreign aid has so far not delivered the promises it was hoped to deliver. Actually, it has done more harm than good.

One will agree with me that foreign aid has served to promote oppressive regimes rather the everyday African people. Politicians in the category of Sani Abacha of Nigeria and Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire/Congo eventually stacked the money in foreign banks which is then loaned back to Africa. Others do it in mild way by using the money to feed their cronies and families and have enough to send even children of their friends to world-class universities abroad. Opening markets to African goods and services will not solve the entire problem but at least leave some power in the hands of the ordinary people.  It is time that Western donors stop handing out billions of dollars in humanitarian and economic to dictators in Africa and then turn death ears and blind eyes to their deeds.

I believe, however, that it is time for us to begin to look at a different growth model for the African economy that depends less on foreign aid. This new model in my opinion should be based on open markets where African goods and services have free access to western markets. Growth in China, and to some extend India, have largely been dependent on the access of goods and services from these geographical regions into the western markets.

When we talk about goods and services, most readers will ask ‘what can Africa deliver? Well, it’s actually a lot. I’m not talking about Kenya or Senegal exporting cell phones and laptops to the US next year. But what about a system that makes it attractive for the US manufacturer to import raw materials from the African farmers, if that is what we bring to the market at this period in time.

Let us consider some figures. In 2001, the US approved about $4 Billion in subsidies to nearly 25,000 cotton growers in the US for cotton crop that was worth only $3 Billion at the world marker price. Other figures I came across pointed out that a single cotton grower in a mid-western US state received $6 million in subsidies, which is larger than the combined annual earnings of 25,000 cotton farmers in Mali. (For your information, the $4 Billion government subsidy is also more than one third what the US spends on the nearly 1 billion people on the African continent).

This policy makes it unattractive for manufactures to import raw materials from Africa and other developing countries

This system is being perpetrated not only by the US but also by the European Union and China, which is destroying the livelihood of countries like Mali, Senegal, Chad, and Benin which are all major cotton producing countries. A recent study by UNCTAD-India pointed out that if the US were to do away with some of these subsidies, farm output will decline by nearly 40%. Although we would pay more at the grocery story in the US, it will spur up more imports from Africa and other developing regions which will generate enough foreign exchange the fund their community development activities.

This is not advocating for a loss-loss situation for the US and Europe. In fact, it’s more than a win-win case. Western countries have more to gain than lose.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) were enacted to do just this. AGOA provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for a wide range of products from eligible African countries, while spurring African governments to make their countries attractive to U.S. investment. I think this is the type of initiative that needs an injection of momentum and expansion.

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Why African women are saying YES to the female condom

Female condoms campaign

 

 

An estimated 22.5 million people are living with HIV in the part of African below the Sahara – around two thirds of the global total. The use of condom during sex is one of several preventive measures against HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, in most communities, it is difficult to get the men to use the condom.
Some of the excuses men give against the use of condoms are:

  • it is a sin to use condoms

    •  

    For these reasons, some anti-HIV campaigns have shifted focus onto the women and educating them to protect themselves if the men will not. The female condom has become and alternative to an increasing number of women which they resort to anytime their partners refuse to use the male condom.

     
    The female condom is a thin, soft loose-fitting polyurethane plastic pouch that is used during intercourse to prevent pregnancy and reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. It has flexible rings at each end. Just before vaginal intercourse, it is inserted deep into the vagina. The ring at the closed end holds the pouch in the vagina. The ring at the open end stays outside the vaginal opening during intercourse. And during anal intercourse, it is inserted into the anus.

    If women always use the female condom correctly only 5% of users will report unexpected pregnancy each year. It can even be made more effective if used with a spermicide
     
    Warning: Most spermicides contain nonoxynol-9 which has certain risks. If it is used many times a day, or by people at risk for HIV, it may irritate tissue and increase the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

     
    The major limitation of the female condom reported is the coverage of the external genitalia. This coverage had a particularly negative impact on the device’s aesthetics, and noise associated with use.
    Again difficulties associated with insertion and removal, discomfort, messiness and inconvenience are easily reported issues.
     

    With estimated 22.5 million people living with HIV in just the part of African below the Sahara, it’s highly welcomed that women are taking charge over their own health even if their male counterparts aren’t on board yet.

    We hope our effort here contributes in some way to the campaign. Our hope is a world without HIV and Malaria.

     

    [youtube]zjmoQlAQP4Y&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

     

    The penis is directed into the pouch through the ring at the end, which stays outside the vaginal during the intercourse. By covering the inside of the vagina or anus and keeping semen and pre-cum out, female condoms reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections.

    The female condom was first made from polyuthrane. This version is officially called the FC FEMALE CONDOM. A newer version is made of nitrile rubber and called FC2. It is made from natural latex; the same material is used in male condoms.

    The newer nitrile condoms are less likely to make potentially distracting crinkling noises. FC1 and FC2 are the only female condoms encouraged by the World Health Organization. They are sold under many brand names, including Reality Femidom, Dominique, Femy, My Femy, Protective and Care.

    A target campaign to promote the female condom in some African communities is turning it into a mainstream women accessory; more and more now carries the female condom in their purse.

    It is more acceptable to the men as it does not result in a significant decrease in sensation as with the male latex condom. Female condoms do not constrict the penis as do latex condoms. As a result, sensitivity of the male partner may not be substantially reduced.

     

  • it decreases pleasure or enjoyment of sex
  • it ruins the mood
  • I can’t feel anything when I’m wearing a condom
  • if a women loves me, then she you should just trust me
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    Shamefully misplaced priorities

    Homophobia kills

    TalkAfrique’s mission is to predominantly cover great stories that you never hear about the African continent and people. We will try as much as possible to let the good stories dominate our posts. It will be difficult and irresponsible, however, to keep quiet over certain developments.
    I read today that Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga has ordered a nationwide crackdown on homosexuals in Kenya.

    Mr. Odinga ordered the police to arrest anyone found engaging in such behaviors and take appropriate legal action against them. The Prime Minister cited the recent population census results which put the ratio of men to women equal and wondered why people should engage in homosexuality.

    I will not use this blog to defend or attack any lifestyle at home or abroad. My thought about this is a matter between myself and my pastors.

    I rather find it uncanny and irresponsible that a prime minister of a country in a public meeting will call upon the police funded by tax payers to arm themselves to crackdown on a group of people.
    Surprising, Mr. Odinga describes himself as a ‘Progressive’ politician, whatever that means. What a farce.

    There are many deep issues in Kenya that need to be addressed. Poverty and diseases afflict infants and mothers. Rather than use the pulpit that is graciously offered him to motivate and encourage his countrymen and women to move the nation forward, Odinga rather decided to use the opportunity to promote hatred and violence.

    If the Kenyan police have any unexploited logistics, perhaps they could employ them to arrest drag traffickers, corrupt politician and land grabbers who are terrorizing peaceful men and women in Kenya.

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    Shame, Shame Shame!!

    I read with utter shock that a 72-year-old woman accused of being a witch has been burned to death in Tema, Ghana.
    What frustrates me most is that one of the culprits is believed to be a pastor. This man is a disgrace to the church. I call upon true Christians to condemn so-called ‘ministers’ who make their living by feeding upon the ignorance of people rather than preaching good health, honesty, and service to the country and church. Jesus was more concerned about speaking out against the injustices of the rulers of the land and providing food to his followers than he was about casting out their devils.
    The BBC reports that the suspects tortured the woman, Ama Hemmah, until she confessed to being a witch. The then doused her with kerosene (which they described as ‘anointing’ oil) and set her on fire.
    This is a horrible human rights abuse and the perpetrators should be made to face the law to the letter. Witch hunting normally directed at older poor women is a common episode in some African communities. It is time that churches, educational institutions and government groups join hands to fight this evil.
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    It will be shameful for the EC to welcome Mugabe

    It is reported that the Zimbabwean tyrant Robert Mugabe is planning to attend the 3rd EU-Africa Summit to be held in Tripoli, Libya on November, 29-30, 2010. I have no doubt that the dictator will be accorded every honor deserving of a Head of State.
     
    I would like to categorically say that is will be utterly disgraceful for the European Council and European Commission to welcome Mr. Mugabe to the meeting.
     
    In an earlier article, I pointed out how dictators from African countries are cuddled by the western powers who preach against such regimes. Mugabe is at this time marshalling armed violence to stamp on democratic expression in Zimbabwe.
     
    Political prisoners in Zimbabwe, pregnant mothers dying for lack of care, and unemployed youth on the streets of Harare will find it disgustful to hear he is being welcomed to join a conference with the themes of ‘peace, security, governance and human rights’.
     
    This surely does not send any good message to the heroic people who are trying to fight dictatorship, abuse of human rights, violence, corruption and suppression of free speech in Zimbabwe and other African countries.
    Mugabe’s rule has been synonymous with massive economic mismanagement, hyperinflation and lawlessness. Human rights abuses are rampant with no remorse. Mugabe and his team pay no ear to external criticisms. Zimbabwe’s economy which was once uncharacteristic of an African country has completely collapsed. Poverty and disease threaten the lives of children and mothers.
     
    Under President Mugabe, life expectancy in Zimbabwe is the lowest in the world; for females it is 34 years, while for males it is 37 years. For comparison, the average life expectancy in Japan is 82. In spite of all this, the president and his family live profligate live. They graciously handed out $300,000 to the Zimbabwean Big brother reality show loser. (A teacher in Zimbabwe earns $5.00 a day). Zimbabwe’s first lady is proudly referred to as the First Shopper. If you ever meet someone with $300 sunglasses and a $40,000 diamond-covering Rolex hanging off her wrist, she’s likely to be the First Lady of Zimbabwe, Grace Mugabe.
     
    How insulting it will be for the suffering Zimbabwean masses to see Robert and Grace embracing world leaders who are supposed to represent the exact opposite of the Zimbabwean first family.
     
    It is time for world democracies to do what they preach.

     

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    The Currency wars: when two elephants engage in a wrestle fight…

     Governments across all continents are doing whatever they can in order to avoid ever using the ‘R’ word in any briefing. I mean the RECESSION.

    That itself is not a bad thing. They way they do it could have damning unintended consequences on developing nations, especially those in Africa.
    The US and China have been in a tug of war for a while regarding currency manipulation by the latter. Perhaps in order to show its disapproval of the Chinese policy, the US Federal Reserve announced it was pumping over $600 billion into the US economy. Several countries were swift to register their disapproval of the US move but similar or alternative policies with similar effects are being employed by all big economies.
    Let us call it  the Cold ‘International Currency’ War. The big guys will surely find a way to resolve it among themselves either by sitting around the table or by indirect punitive measures as is already happening.
    We often say that ‘when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers’. If Africa’s fragile economies get caught up in the middle of this tug of war, the consequences are obvious. And it would not be the first time Africa will have to suffer the consequences of a currency war. In fact currency war indirectly led to the rise of Hitler and hence the second world war in which 1000s of African military were drafted to fight for their colonial masters and never came back home.
    This time, I doubt it will be a war of the armies. It will be a war around kitchen tables and markets across Africa. My fear is that if policies that allow cheap money to flood the markets are unguarded and go viral, they may leave African countries with no borrowing power, less export potential, and dependent on imported goods. A few days ago, I wrote my opinion here on what is needed to really lift the African economies to the level always talked about: it is open access to western markets of African goods and services. Cheap western money will have the direct opposite effect.
    Currently, the Bank of Japan, the US federal Reserve, the Bank of England the European Central Bank are competing with one another in pumping out billions of electronic money into their economies. This is no different from the race to build the first nuclear bomb. This policy which they call quantitative easing [The term quantitative easing (QE) describes a monetary policy used by some central banks to increase the supply of money by increasing the excess reserves of the banking system] is flooding fragile economies with the wrong kind of investors leading to unexpected rise in exchange rates, again. African economies are caught up in the middle of the war among the giants.
    Many African countries have made significant progress in creating a more business-friendly environment to promote local investment as well as foreign direct investment. Undeniably, many African countries have made impressive progress towards political and economic stability, too. I applaud the World Bank’s move to promote the African economy with press releases and even YouTube videos. Currently some analyst rate the African economy with the highest return on foreign investment. Annual foreign direct investment flow in Africa rose from $9 billion in 2000 to 62 billion in 2008. Currency policies that will be at war with such an enviable trend are very unwelcome.
    By the way, is it not about time that we got a globally empowered body to police financial policies of all nations: the US, Europe, China, and others, to ensure a uniform playing field?
     
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