If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
The Blog
Africans have lots of opportunities to trade that they have not yet exploited -- opportunities that are outside of China's reach. The first of this "low-hanging fruits" is food.
For activist movements seeking positive change, there is only one thing worse than obscurity: the infliction of unintended negative consequences on those you are trying to help.
"Faith is what gives me hope for tomorrow, but my music is the painkiller for today."
For millions of indigenous villagers and pastoralists it means forced relocation, loss of livelihoods, and a death blow to their ancient cultures. Ethiopia is a sad example of the worst of these outcomes.
A failure on the part of regional governments to deliver on their promises, raise living standards, and resist the temptation to impose majority rule on the minority will likely result in the same political apathy and disillusionment that is so prevalent in South Asia.
While the Kony 2012 video has brought a wave of attention to Uganda, subsequent headlines have often failed to target inspiring women overcoming great odds -- many of whom are brightening the future for other Ugandans and their families.
The discovery of oil must be good news for people of Turkana who have always felt left out by government of the day. But will people of Turkana really benefit from the excursion? The signs do not look good.
There is a need to integrate gender into all levels of power to enable women to participate and become full beneficiaries of the oil revenue. That's why we're advocating for women to be part of government and part of whatever bodies are set up to address the issues of the Niger Delta.
I have read and discussed many analyses of the Kony 2012 phenomenon. I have watched the movie. I have sought out and met the team behind Invisible Chi...
Despite what the UN says, the terror continues in Darfur. UN officials say there is now "much less organized violence" in the remote western province of Sudan. However, the Sudanese government continues to bomb, rape and terrorize its own citizens in Darfur.
Journalists, pundits and politicians seem increasingly obsessed with fears that Islamists winning elections in the wake of successful Arab Spring uprisings will prove detrimental to democracy, regional security, and the War on Terrorism. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Across Sudan, millions suffer without relief, and I am called by a power greater than I can even imagine to lend some measure of myself to their cause.
Is it possible to cope with the immense dangers posed by the rapid consumption of the world's resources? In The Race for What's Left, Michael Klare claims that it is -- but only through a significant change in behavior.
Life for the "pampered" generation may finally be getting tougher. We are becoming more critical, analytical, rational and judgmental. We are, *GASP!*, growing up and maturing. And so are our idealistic tendencies.
Unfortunately, 783 million people -- 11 percent of the global population -- still have no access to clean water. For context, that is more than two and a half times the population of the United States.
We're happy to go home. We know that we have a lot to go back to, but we're also very much wanting to stay.
