AfricaFocus Bulletin
Recent Commentaries by AfricaFocus Editor
(New in 2019)
July 15, 2019 Africa/Global: New Horizon for Off-Grid Solar
With their most dramatic success in Kenya and other East African
countries, off-grid solar home systems are expanding rapidly,
reaching more consumers and extending beyond basic lighting and
mobile-phone charging, now even offering bundles with solar-powered
flat-screen televisions. Costs continue to drop precipitously, and,
according to
Beyond Fire, a new report released at the end of May, the next
new horizon may be in the kitchen, with solar-energy-powered
cooking.
July 2, 2019 Kenya/Global: Big Victory for #SaveLamu/#deCOALonize
“On Wednesday 26th June, Kenya’s National Environment Tribunal
(NET) made a landmark ruling that set aside the license granted to
Amu Power Company Ltd by the National Environment Management
Authority (NEMA) to construct a 1050MW coal plant in Lamu. The
tribunal noted that … there was no evidence that Amu Power properly
informed residents of Lamu of the impacts that the coal plant
project would have on their environment, livelihood or health.” -
#deCOALonize press release, June 29, 2019
June 19, 2019 AfricaFocus Updates: Sudan, Ebola, Mozambique
AfricaFocus Bulletin normally contains material on one topic only,
as in bulletins earlier this year on Mozambique in January and March, Sudan in March
, and
Ebola in April. Each provides substantive excepts from current
material as well as links for ongoing coverage.
May 27, 2019 Africa/Global: World Bank Ramps Up Attack on Small Farmers
“Enabling the Business of Agriculture,” promoted by the World Bank,
and now enhanced with a new sub-indicator on land policy, is
presented as a way to advance agricultural development,
particularly in Africa. In reality, notes a new report from the
Oakland Institute, it gives an additional push to a “land rush” by
mostly foreign corporate interests. This trend, notes Harvard land
tenure scholar Pauline Peters, “marks the most radical shift in the
distribution and tenure status of land since colonial times.”
May 13, 2019 Africa/Global: Cutting the Costs on Remittances
“Some people use their savings to start a business, while others
turn to family and friends to borrow cash. But Ismail Ahmed’s case
was more unusual. He launched WorldRemit, a money transfer
business, with compensation cash he received after uncovering
alleged corruption at the UN. … Ahmed had waited four years since
he’d submitted the dossier alleging corruption to the UN. But the
wait proved worthwhile when in February 2010 he received £200,000
in compensation for the way he had been treated after making
allegations, the money he used to fund the launch of WorldRemit.” -
Guardian, January 20, 2017
More on:
politics&human rights|peace&security|health|economy|ict
AfricaFocus Archive:
by date | by place | by topic
April 30, 2019
Africa/Global: Fighting Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance
April 15, 2019
Africa/Global: Ebola Resurgence Tests Global Response
April 9, 2019
South Africa: Politicians Scapegoating Immigrants
April 9, 2019
Africa: Migration within the Continent
March 22, 2019
Southern Africa/Global: Cyclone Idai and Climate Justice
March 11, 2019
Sudan: Just Fall, That is All!
February 26, 2019
USA/Africa: From Wakanda to Reparations, Part 2
February 26, 2019
USA/Africa: From Wakanda to Reparations, Part 1
February 11, 2019
Nigeria: Many Candidates, Few Alternatives
January 30, 2019
USA/Africa: Paradigms of Foreign Intervention
January 30, 2019
USA/Africa: China, Bolton, and Jimmy Carter
January 22, 2019
Zimbabwe: Repression & Dreams Deferred, Again
January 8, 2019
Mozambique/Global: Who Pays for Transnational Corruption?
December 10, 2018
Africa/Global: Green New Deal Could Be Game-Changer
November 12, 2018
Africa: Africa Mining Vision
November 12, 2018
Africa: Why Mining is Hard to Tax
October 16, 2018
Africa/Global: Drug Company Profits vs. Public Health
October 1, 2018
Africa/Global: Professionals Enabling Corruption
September 17, 2018
Uganda: Time for the Youth
August 27, 2018
Africa: Migration Reports Show Complex Realities
August 15, 2018
West Africa/Europe: From Cocoa to Chocolate
July 30, 2018
East Africa: Ethiopia/Eritrea Peace Hopes, Cautions
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