Uganda Opens Disease Centers

By: Alex Nunez

The first clinics in northern Uganda finally open to help children who have a mysterious fatal condition known as Nodding syndrome. The disease mostly appears in northern Uganda and has affected thousands of children. Some of the symptoms are seizures, stunted growth, both physical and metal, and nodding of the head. There have also been cases in South Sudan and Tanzania. When the clinic opened on Monday over 200 children showed up and for treatment in the centers in the districts of Kitgum, Pader and Lamwo. The cause of the disease is not known so definitive treatment cannot be given and the people at the clinic have been trained to help the children feel more comfortable by treating the neurological symptoms. Anti-epileptic medication has been effective in treating the disease. Uganda's health ministry has recorded 3,000 cases and almost 200 deaths since 2010.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17350567

Death Sentence For North Africa Chief

A Algerian court sentenced fugitive head of Al Qaeda's north Africa offshoot to the death sentence to death on Tuesday for multiple attacks he orchestrated in 2007. His most notorious act was a bombing at the prime ministers office. His name is Abdelmalek Droukdel he is the leader of the Islamic Magreb it is a terrorist group obviously. There were 3 bomb attacks on my birthday April 11th 2007, the attack killed 20 people and injured 222. The first attack took place when a man drove a truck filled with explosives into the government headquarters, it housed the Prime Minister. The attack killed 12 and wounded 135 people. Minutes after that 2 cars were triggered to explode in the eastern suburb of Bab Ezzouar. The fourth attack took place when security officers triggered a car bomb on the road of the international airport. Experts say he introduced suicide bombing to Algeria. Abdelmalek has suicide bombing commandos who are committed to him 100%.

A mis-Communication Between Countries.

    *The sad image of the bullet infected walls of the failed rescue.

It was a sad day for two people payed victim to being hostages. British Foreign Secretary William Hague went in search of answers to explain exactly why Rome had not been informed before a failed rescue attempt. This attempted took two hostages life's Thursday in Nigeria, one Italian and one Briton. "Mr. Hague made it clear that there had been a limited opportunity to secure the release of the two hostages whose lives were in imminent are growing danger," stated by a UK-Italian statement. There was just a huge communication issue between the two countries. The Italian foreign Minister Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, and the Britain Minister took place in the Copenhagen. William gave a little insight into what went on between the two sides during the meeting. He stated "Mr. Terzi expressed deep sorrow and disappointment over the tragic outcome of the operation." They also came to a surprising agreement to share each sides information fully.  The Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan stated that the men were killed even before the forces could reach their hideout somewhere north if Sokoto. The two hostages worked together for the construction firm B. Stabilini and Co. McManus was a 28 from England while the female Lamolinara was 47, married with two kids. Such a sad event to happen to these two innocent people, I wish there family and kids the best.

Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/09/world/africa/nigeria-hostages-killed/index.html

Protest in South Africa

Greenpeace Protest!!

Near Witbank South Africa there is a coal plant. Recently protesters have chained themselves to the plant. Protesters have even climbed the crane at the power plant. The six men that climbed the crane were persuaded by police to come down. The six men were then taken into custody. They are being charged for trespassing. The protesters are trying to prevent South Africa from being coal dependent. Construction of a new coal plant is to be completed by 2016. Eskom the state owned power company is the main provider of greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa. Eskom spokesperson Hillary Joffe says that Eskom can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. They are also moving toward becoming more green. World Bank has donated $250 million dollars to Eskom so that they can construct a Solar and Wind power plant.

Madagascar and Cyclone Irina

By: Alex Nunez

The storm first hit the Indian Ocean nine days ago. Today 65 five are dead, 70,000 have been left homeless and three have been reported missing after Cyclone Irina yesterday. The worst of the storm were floods and landslides. Information is slowly coming in from the remote, isolated areas of Madagascar. Sadly this was not the worst the people of Madagascar have seen this year. Earlier, Cyclone Giovanna killed 35 people and left 240,000 homeless. The worst of Cyclone Irina was left in Madagascar as it went on to batter South Africa and Mozambique. Tropical storms and cyclones like Irina and Giovanna are regular around Feburary and May's rainy season in Madagascar. It is also the world's fourth largest island.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17276543

South Africa's Nationalization of Mine's might Increase the Poverty within the Country

There is a good chance of South Africa nationalizing the nations mines, in particular, the platinum mines. The country is no longer top in gold production, but it still produces 80% of the world's platinum. PLatinum metals make up for the majority of SA's mineral Value.

PLatinum productions have been falling  since 2007, but this article explores a different issue. 17,000 workers have been dismissed from a company's mine, and a large amount of them are now illegally striking outside of the mine, and keeping the replacements from getting inside to work.  Strike violence has not only hospitalized 59 workers, but led to the death of another three. Many of the workers did not want to take part in the strike, and were beaten to the point of hospitalization. 

Organizations have been working to make the mines safer, but the deeper they go and the more they pay attention to safety, the more money is spent. So in a land of rich land and impoverished, much of the precious contents of the earth stay there, while the families above starve.

~Paul Ford

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Mises-Economics/2012/0305/Will-nationalizing-mines-make-South-African-poverty-worse

The Dates Have Been Set in Egypt!!!!!

This is Egypt's first presidential election since the downfall of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. The date has been set to take place on May 23rd-24th, with the final results coming roughly a month later on the date June 21st. This was announced Wednesday by the head of the election commission. The outcome will be announced just 10 days before the military council outcome ruling. The election commissioner head, Farouk Sultan stated that candidates would be able to register for the presidential election from March 10th until April 8th. This leaves a three week gap of campaigning that will commence on April 30th. The mandatory stats for candidates is that they must have at least 30,000 supporters from over 15 different cities. For the Egyptians living abroad they will be able to vote around May 11th to May 17th they want everyone to have an equal voting opportunity. Sultan stated that the police will "ensure the transparency of the elections" so that nothing out of order occurs. The election is taking a place just a year after the big revolts erupted throughout the city of Egypt.



Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/29/world/africa/egypt-election/index.html

Pirates Kidnap Nigerian Crew

By: Alex Nunez

On Febuary 28th, Pirates raided a cargo ship off the coast of Nigeria. The Dutch ship was attacked by 8 armed men. Two crew members were kidnapped and one was injured. The U.N. has warned that pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea have gotten more and more violent. The men were said to have driven up to the ship on speedboats and started shooting at it. Two weeks ago, gunmen attacked another ship, killing the capitan. The West African coast has been said to be a major attack center and is now in the same risk catagory as Somalia. There have been 8 reported attacks and many more that were not. West African countries have been urged to take a stand against pirates by the U.N.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17209921