Salem-News.com Africa articles Page 60

Racism`s Long and Torturous History Against African-Americans

The Civil War was fought in part over slavery, but legal prejudice against African-Americans and other cultures was sanctioned by U.S. laws, and it wasn't until the 1940's and 50's that things really began to change.

(SALEM, Ore.) - There are no simple answers for racism. Few problems in our society rival it, and for the first time in U.S. history, we will very likely elect our first black President. This scenario leaves many people grinning, and others grimacing, as they watch something take place that they never would have predicted.

It is important to separate fact from fiction when it comes to racism and the plight of African-American people in the history of this place we call the United States. White people have lived from the beginning of western society, with a relative amount of comfort. They have for the most part, had the ability to work and be paid fairly for that day's labor.

Black Americans of African descent on the other hand, lived generation after generation as slaves from 1619 to 1865. That is when the southern states that separated from the United States in a bloody Civil War that cost millions of lives, was defeated. Slavery was abolished.

Time to Take Down Zimbabwe`s Robert Mugabe

The United States calls foul, the British government allows the killer's henchmen to open bank accounts, and the UN is more than tolerant. So much for the war against terrorism.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Problems in Zimbabwe under the dictator Robert Mugabe are out of hand and military commitments from the west are all tied up. Hope is scarce in this part of the world where Mugabe's henchmen this week broke a one-year old baby's legs in order to punish his father who opposed a Mugabe-friendly councilor in Zimbabwe.

UN Calls for World Efforts to Combat $32 Billion Human Trafficking Industry (VIDEO)

"Words must be put into action to fight human trafficking" – Assembly President Srgjan Kerim says.

(NEW YORK) - As we fight a war in Iraq that has destabilized an entire region of the world, and our President continues to suggest that Iran is a danger, a $32 billion annual industry in Human Trafficking is flourishing.

Violence in the Former Land of Apartheid Threatens South African Immigrants

Doctors Without Borders Calls it a rapidly deteriorating crisis.

(JOHANNESBURG, South Africa) - Responding to recent outbreaks of violence against migrants in Johannesburg, South Africa, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is currently providing emergency medical care for wounded people seeking shelter in police stations, community halls, and other locations to which they have fled for safety.

Amnesty International Cites Routine Killings of Civilians in Somalia

Security in many parts of Mogadishu is non-existent and the entire population of the city bears the scars of having witnessed or experienced egregious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

(MOGADISHU) - The dire human rights and humanitarian crisis facing the people of Somalia has been revealed in a groundbreaking new Amnesty International report.

First-hand testimony from scores of traumatized survivors of the conflict is included in the report, which exposes the violations and abuses they have suffered at the hands of a complex mix of perpetrators.

Groups Band together to Stop Rape in DR Congo

The partnership between UNICEF and V-Day is just one of several UN initiatives to help women in the DRC who are victims of sexual violence.

(BRAZZAVILLE, DRC) - The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the global movement to end violence against women and girls known as V-Day have launched a new partnership to end rape in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and ensure justice for the victims of this heinous crime.

The new partnership was announced by UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman and playwright and V-Day founder Eve Ensler on Saturday during V-Day’s tenth anniversary celebrations in the United States city of New Orleans.

UN Cites Major Gains in Treating Women and Children with AIDS

UN report cites major gains in treating women and children with AIDS.

(GENEVA) - A United Nations report released today shows progress in treating children with AIDS and preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, but urges greater efforts to stem the tide of the global epidemic.

According to Children and AIDS, there were some 2.1 million children under 15 living with HIV in 2007, most of whom were infected before birth, during delivery or while breastfeeding.

Rwandan Woman Shares Story of Hope and Survival

Ilibagiza lost most of her family and friends, but arose out of the conflict to become one of the country’s most outspoken survivors.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Immaculée Ilibagiza survived Rwanda’s 100-day genocide to tell her story of faith and forgiveness that transcends the most brutal fear, suffering and loss.

The Rwandan survivor will speak at 7:00 PM March 28th at Willamette University’s Smith Auditorium in Salem. People who have suffered the effects of violence and abuse in their own lives and their friends, families, counselors and supporters are encouraged to attend the event.

UN Ties Growing Number of Mercenaries to Serious Human Rights Abuses

Private security companies lack oversight and regulation – UN working group

(GENEVA) - A growing number of private security and military companies are operating domestically and internationally without effective oversight or accountability, the United Nations working group on the use of mercenaries warned today.

Presenting its report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the working group said that private security companies in such conflict-wracked countries as Iraq, Colombia and Afghanistan are recruiting former policemen and members of the military from developing countries as "security guards" in their operations.

Bands Bring Hope to Darfur at March 4th OSU Benefit

This projects represent GI-Net's mission to directly protect civilians on the ground from genocidal violence.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The OSU group STAND is hosting a benefit concert to raise funds to increase civilian protection in Darfur.

The Bands which will play at the March 4th event are "Break as we fall" (Rock, Pop, Funk), "The Badfish Band" (Reggae, Funk), and "Eleven Eyes" (Nu-jazz, Funk, Drum and Bass). The event begins at 7:00 PM located at the MU Ballroom on the Campus of OSU.