Burkina Faso-Niger

            Burkina Faso-Niger – Militant kidnappings of Foreign Nationals by Islamist extremists have escaladed over the past few months.  Security Specialists in the area have stated that the hostages are being used to raise money for upcoming conflict, as well as possible human shields if conflict does begin.  NGO’s, international leaders, and foreign nationals are all required to travel in armed convoys or police escorts through “hot” zones.  Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is expected to begin a military campaign early next year in an attempt to destroy these terrorist organizations that threaten member states (Aid 1). 

            In the past year Burkina Faso has become prime breeding ground for Islamist groups.  High unemployment, and the government’s failure to raise living standards has caused many to resort to other, more extreme ways to gain income.  As the economy and living standards continue to fail, Burkina Faso and Niger are going to see large increases in terrorist attacks, and if the ECOWAS decides that it will begin a campaign throughout the region expect to see not only foreign nationals being targeted, but ECOWAS leaders as well (Aid 1).

            This issue is important because it outlines how terrorists are operating in the poor countries of this African region.  It shows that even though the states are trying to resolve the issue of Islamic groups, the attacks on state leaders have increased drastically.  This has greatly slowed down the countries ability to progress forward since resources are being focused toward suppressing these groups.  

            The most likely course of action for the terrorist groups will be to continue the kidnappings and attacks on convoys in the region.  The only way for the state to successfully rid of these groups will be to beef up security on critical targets that if attacked would present a great cost to the state, as well as incorporate more jobs and infrastructure to the economy.  In a theory proposed by Kydd and Walter (2006) the strategy of Attrition where Terrorist groups use attacks to make their threats more credible, the only way to successfully counter this strategy is the increase security on heavy cost associated targets (Kydd 55).  Thus, ECOWAS should still incorporate the military attacks as part of the plan, but should do it in a way that is not so forceful.  The process will take a while, but if the countries security is increased, the Islamist groups will have a harder time completing their goals. 

Works Cited:

Kydd, Andrew H., and Barbara F. Walter. "The Strategies of Terrorism." International Security 31.1 (2006): 49-79. Web.

"Aid Agencies Tighten Security." AllAfrica. N.p., 06 Nov. 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. <http://allafrica.com/stories/201211061390.html?viewall=1>.

            

Food Shortages in Sub-Saharan Africa

Usually, when one thinks of the major conflicts that are going on in Africa, they think of the HIV/AIDS dilemma or the constant civil wars that have been occurring since the time of independence. However, there are many more very important issues that are happening on the continent that need to be looked at. The amount of food that is being produced in many overly populated countries in Sub-Saharan Africa is just simply not enough. With the supply of food going down, but the demand going up, basic economics tells us that there is a problem. Of course, the theory is correct. Citizens of these countries are spending so much of their income on food that it is taking away funds for things like “school fees, sanitation, and health” (Addis, Ababa, and Nairobi, 2011). The lack of funds spent on education and health services, due to too much spending on food is happening in countries like Uganda, which need all the funding they can get on these programs. Considering HIV/AIDS has severely affected Uganda in the past, the money to further educate the country on how to prevent the disease is not available, which is causing even more problems. Along with the problem of the lack of money, the shortage of food is also pushing more and more women into professions like prostitution in order to provide for their family. They want to make enough money to put food on the table for their children, but engaging in such practices are making them more susceptible to HIV, which links back to the lack of education in the countries.

The reason why these food shortages are occurring can be traced back to “inefficient farming, an estimated loss of 40% of produce on the way to the market, and the high cost of fuel” (Addis et al., 2011). The amount of good farmlands is hard to find, and it is even harder to get land titles and land rights. With 40 percent of produce being lost on the way to the market, it is no wonder there is a shortage. Hopefully a plan will be thought up in order to decrease this number by at least half. In regards to the cost of fuel, the reason this is making food prices go up and supply go down is because it is costing more to put effort into farmlands. Farmers need fuel to start up their machines, and if they have to pay more to do this, the more money they are selling their goods for.

Not having enough food in these African countries is starting to cause riots, which in turn is putting more pressure on the African governments and leaders, which never leads to good things. However, there are some countries like Kenya that are trying to help this issue by managing food markets. What I like about some of these countries is that they hand out “vouchers” for other goods that allow the people to have more money to spend on food. Maybe if these ideas were implemented into all the countries, the problem would not be as bad. However, these programs cannot last forever. What I think needs to be done here is to have foreign and maybe even domestic aid step in to help solve this severe issue. Some of the ways would help with food shortages would be “exploiting unfarmed land, building more reservoirs, warehouse and roads, using better seeds and more fertilizer, and installing drip irrigation” (Addis et al., 2011). If these conditions continue to get worse, what does this mean for the futures of these countries? Will the riots start to turn into food wars? Will the people living in these rough areas be able to make it? Tough ideas to think about, but it is interesting how this major problem is happening in our world and its often not talked about as much as other issues in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Works Cited:

Addis, Ababa, and Nairobi. "A Recipe for Riots." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 26 May 2011. Web. 06 Nov. 2012. <http://www.economist.com/node/18745313?zid=304>.

Lake Victoria in Decline

Lake Victoria, located between Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, is the second largest lake in the world and currently provides a living to more than 2 million Africans in the region.  There are numerous fisheries around the lake and many individuals come from miles around, everyday, to fish for food and product to sell in markets.  Because of the lack of regulations on the fisherman that troll Lake Victoria's waters, the lake is in a state of overfishing, making it difficult for many of the people who depend on it sustenance to continue to survive.
There are currently no regulations or limits on the number of fish, or the size of those fish that people can take out of the lake for food.  In many other common fishing areas around the world, there are minimum requirements for the size of fish.  This allows for fish to grow to at least an acceptable age where they could have reproduced a couple of times, thus replenishing the population and reducing the chances of overfishing.  Having a maximum number of fish allowed to be caught also limits the number of fish being taken out of the lake on a daily basis.
Overfishing of Lake Victoria is a problem that needs to be addressed because overall fish size has decreased along with the number of fish catches.  This reduction in size and number poses a threat to the region, which has previously been the most productive fishing region in the world.  Lots of people depend on it to continue their way of life.  Some solutions include ideas of having hatcheries and fisheries to allow fish to grow to the right size and age to regulate fish populations.  This does not address the problem of not limiting or regulating fishermen and is not the ultimate saving solution.  However, something needs to be done soon or Lake Victoria will not continue to sustain life for the people that depend on it.

Works Cited:

Ogutu-Ohwayo, Richard. "The Fisheries of Lake Victoria." UNEP.org. UNEP, n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2012 <http://www.unep.org/bpsp/Fisheries/Fisheries%20Case%20Study%20Summaries/Ogutu(Summary).pdf>.

Webb, Malcolm. "Uganda's Fish Stocks Depleting - Africa - Al Jazeera English."Uganda's Fish Stocks Depleting - Africa - Al Jazeera English. Al Jajeera Africa, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/11/201211264350764134.html>.

Moving towards a green economy - South Africa takes the lead

In previous class lectures, we spent a lot of time discussing why South Africa is and always has been different than other countries on the African continent. An article was recently published, showing once again, that South Africa is in fact once again an exception, this time in relation to the environment, a topic we will be discussing next week in class. Engineering News published an article about how South Africa is “taking a continental lead in the integration and implementation of a green economy” (Vermeulen).

South Africa is ultimately the first African nation to acknowledge and address environmental concerns, and as a nation that is extremely dependent on natural resources, this was a seriously necessary action. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Resource-based Sustainable Development competency area manager Dr. Doug Trotter explained that “the underlying principle is to reduce the reliance of economic development on the increased consumption of, and damage to, natural resources and the environment, while meeting social needs and understanding inequalities” (Vermeulen). Research continues to be done in order to find the best ways to reduce South Africa’s reliance on coal and invest in renewable energy sources. Trotter further stressed that these new environmentally friendly practices ultimately need to reduce poverty and enable socioeconomic development if the programs ever want to truly take off across the continent.

I agree with Trotter in that Africa has many other important issues to address regarding poverty and standard of living, and that although environment friendly measures are important, the people are the most important priority. I hope that this move towards a “green economy” does help improve the lives of Africa’s people, through outlets such as education, skills training, and providing new jobs. With time, we will see whether these new programs are beneficial for the environment and the people, or both, or neither.

Do you think this is a crucial issue that South Africa should be addressing? How could a green economy benefit the people of Africa? Do you think this movement will take off across the continent?

Article and Photo: SA leading in implementation of green economy 

Reactions to the HIV/AIDS Crisis: Significant Differences

Although HIV/AIDS has posed a global threat since the 1980’s, it’s devastating impact has been lessened in many western countries, while countries across Sub-Saharan Africa continue to wage war against it. Certainly, economic factors play one of the largest roles in creating this discrepancy. Despite this obvious difference, it is important to also recognize more nuanced variances in order to create the most successful public health initiatives against HIV/AIDS in Africa.

As the AIDS crisis quickly spread in the 1980s, the UK was one of the first countries to react on a national scale. Although elected officials are often uncomfortable around issues surrounding sexual health, the looming devastation predicted encouraged leaders to act quickly. Television advertisements were bold and direct; stressing the fact that AIDS was a threat to everyone, rather than a single social group (such as gay people or drug-addicts, as some presumed). Ads were popular, frequent, and catchy. People remembered their messages and took them to heart. This early counterattack to the crisis was swift and largely successful.

Contrast this with many countries across sub-Saharan Africa, a region where superstitions, denial, and conflicting ideas surrounding the crisis abound. Although $15.6bn is spent annually on AIDS prevention around the world, public health initiatives, such as those in the UK, continue to falter in the region. In addition to the issues we discussed in class, such as the difficulty of distributing information and condoms and the differing opinions concerning abstinence and protection, Africa also faces other unique obstacles that differentiate it’s public health initiatives from that of many western countries.

Cultural differences, and differences in educational and sexual cultures specifically, create a unique problem. Some of the tactics used in western countries simply aren’t culturally relevant in many African countries. Additionally, the plurality of regional languages makes creating popular advertisements difficult. These issues, paired with antipathy and denial on the part of many officials, has led to foot-dragging when it comes to creating successful initiatives.

This, of course, has had a devastating effect in waging a war against HIV/AIDS, where the UK has proven timeliness is key. By comparing the regions, we see that attempting to fix the HIV/AIDS issue in Africa with strategies employed in many western countries will not be wholly successful. The British response to the crisis was swift AND culturally relevant, helping it resonate with citizens. Cultural differences create unique challenges that must not be overlooked in order for public health initiatives to be successful across Africa.

To read more about the UK’s approach to the AIDS crisis and how it differs from African initiatives, click here.

Drug-resistant HIV on the rise?

While we have looked at various successes and failures when dealing with HIV and AIDS in Africa this week, another potential problem in the region is the increase in drug-resistant HIV. This problem mostly occurs when patients don’t take their medications properly and is on the rise in Eastern and Southern Africa. However, Central and Western Africa haven’t seen similar problems. While drug-resistant HIV isn’t unique to Africa, it is growing there more than it is elsewhere.

Factors involved with this could include lack of clean water to take the medication and absence of frequent patient monitoring. Health care professionals continually monitoring patients may be one of the biggest issues in Africa, as not all HIV drug regimens are the same. As seen here, there are a number of different drugs on the market and each patient needs a customized plan.

Lack of health care resources, along with strained heath care systems due to the high number of patients in certain regions of Africa also contribute to improper patient monitoring and make it harder for people to properly follow their regimens. One of the biggest ways to help correct this problem is through education. Properly instructing patients on not only how to properly take their drugs, but also stressing the importance of following the regimen are good foundational steps. In addition, governments must continue to make resources such as access to health professionals and affordable drugs readily available to patients.

News article source: BBC News
HIV drug information source: AIDSinfo
Image source: Albany Times Union

Ugandawood

With all the sadness and anger from this week's classes, I wanted to lighten up the mood in our blog.  The movie, Who Killed Captain Alex?, is about two years old, but met with positive feedback on Youtube (where it is available to watch for free).  Though by watching the trailer (on this blog) we can see that it is a comedic hit.  Flaws and unrealistic special effects are no match for Hollywood.  Yet, the movie is more than just a contest of production value.  It is Uganda's first action movie (Quigley).  Uganda might have the internal problems of AIDS, education, and the whole "Kony thing," among others; yet it is also experiencing a rather young film industry.  While it is in its early stages, what we can hope to see in their future is more films and maybe recognition by Western critics (positively).

Uganda is not alone, though.  South Africa and Nigeria have more established film industries and can hinder their outlook.  Therefore, Uganda faces strong competition within Africa as well as outside.  Adding to this, Nigeria is notorious for pirating movies which make the film industry lack-worthy of profit.  Yet, Uganda tries to counter competition from Nigeria by producing quality in their films not found in Nigeria.  Nigeria's films are described as "makeshift" by Moses Serugo, an arts journalist specializing in East African film (Kagumire).  Uganda, on the other hand, tries to implement events and dramatics from Ugandan history.  Uganda film explores experimentation works, short films, and works that can influence the international community (Omope).  One film, Imani, explores the character of a child soldier from the eyes of a Ugandan--easily forgotten from the eyes of UN leaders and The Economist writers (Omope).  The film garnered many awards within Africa, and it shows the boundaries that Uganda filmmakers would take to put Uganda on a map lined up to Hollywood.

Uganda has a tough road ahead in its film industry.  It lacks safety nets and medical attention to its actors (i.e. medical ambulances in case of injury on set).  Piracy prevents professional actors and actresses from committing to film work.  Uganda has no support from the government to aid in film production, and to top it off the economy does not fare too well.  Filmmakers also lack the required and wanted equipment for them to compete with other countries.  CD's are difficult to come by.  High definition cameras are too expensive and outside their budgets.  Locations are limited as well, due to high costs of filming in homes, forcing filmmakers to work in undesirable sets.  Yet, with all these problems, aspirations remain high.  Who Killed Captain Alex? received over 2 million views on Youtube, and is expecting a sequel (Quibley).

(Quibley) http://www.geekosystem.com/who-killed-captain-alex/
(Omope) http://www.africanscreens.com/africanfilms/read_interview.php?interviews_id=7
(Kagumire) http://www.cannesvupar.com/telling-the-story-against-all-odds-state-of-uganda-film-industry/