OIL AND GAS DISCOVERED IN ZAMBIA

Is this a blessing? Who is to blame for Africa’s misfortunes?

Submitted by Herta Malita Shikapwashya
KNN Staff-International Geopolitics Reporter

In celebration of Zambia’s 42nd Independence day, October 24, 2006.

Part 1

Where is Zambia? Formerly known as Northern Rhodesia, The Republic of Zambia, a peaceful landlocked country is located in South Central Africa and surrounded by 8 neighbors: Angola on the West, Botswana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia to the South, Malawi on the East, Tanzania on the North-East and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the North. Zambia is named after the Zambezi River. Zambia, a country lightly larger than Texas, the 39th largest country in the world (after Chile) is divided into nine provinces, and an appointed deputy minister performs the duties of a governor. Each province is subdivided into districts with a total of 72 districts in the country and 72 Bantu speaking tribes. The Provinces are: Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern and Western. The capital city of Zambia is Lusaka.

So why are the blessings of discovering oil, in an unknown landlocked country making the news? In order to understand the reasoning readers must have some knowledge of Zambian history.

Zambia a former British colony got her independence on October 24, 1964 under the leadership of Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda. The liberation (struggle for) independence took a great toll on Zambians and its economy. Despite its considerable mineral wealth (copper), there were many challenges as Zambia’s neighbors, Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) and the Portuguese colonies (Mozambique and Angola) were under colonial rule. Additionally, Zambia shared a border with Namibia (formerly South-West Africa) which was under the control of White South Africa. To better understand the price of liberation, Zambia hosted the ANC (African National Congress) to liberate South Africa, Swapo (South-West Africa People’s Organization) to liberate Namibia, Zanu (Zimbabwe African People’s Union) and allied parties to liberate Zimbabwe, MPLA (Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola translation: The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) and Unita (União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola translation: National Union for Total Independence of Angola) to liberate Angola. Today, Zambia continues to host and attempt to stabilize other African Countries. Resources that were meant for the local people were utilized not only to support the struggle for liberation, but to also host many refugees that migrated to Zambia to look for a peaceful home. In addition, Zambia has hosted exiled leaders such as the late Milton Obote who died in Lusaka, Zambia (1985-2006). Since independence, Zambia has had other Presidents, Dr. Frederick Titus Chiluba and the current President, Patrick Levy Mwanawasa, sc. Zambia’s prized possessions are peace, and its motto: One Zambia, One Nation.

Zambia has always understood that its independence was incomplete unless her neighbors were equally independent of external interference. Therefore, Zambia positioned herself to champion the liberation of other countries and the result of that was, a number of countries from east and west Africa joining in towards the struggle of independence for Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and today, South Africa. A stable Southern Africa is born.

The discovery of Oil
While discovering oil in a landlocked country could bring employment to many of Zambia’s poor people, one must not forget what has already happened in Africa. Zambia has always valued peace and has welcomed many people from all walks of life. But the one thing that Zambians must do is safe guard the peace that most African countries can only wish for. History has demonstrated that wherever there is oil, gold, or diamonds in Africa: there is a war or instability.

So who can be blamed for Africa’s misfortunes? The beautiful thing about African’s is that we are a forgiving people. We continue to forgive despite the fact that we have been raped time and time again. If you are wondering about the who’s, why’s and when’s then all you have to do is read books such as ­–Confessions of an Economic Hitman, by John Perkins, and if you are not satisfied, then look at some of the richest companies in the world, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Firestone, Monsanto and Ford Automobile. Once you conduct your research, you will find that it is not a coincidence that the rest of the world is trying to help Africa. It is not by accident that some of the richest men and women are in Africa conducting “charity work”. The likes of Jay-Z holding concerts; BET’s Bob Johnson’s $30 million dollar donation and consortium; and Bill Gates/Rupert Murdock philanthropy demonstrates high motivation to possibly help. It simply comes down to exploitation of people, exploitation of resources, and exploitation of generosity. Nothing that is going on in Africa is a coincidence or happenstance. The rest of the world owes Africa and her children, and owes them enormously.

If you have any question please use the comments link below.

SCLC to Play Global Peacekeeping Role

by George E. Curry - NNPA Editor-in-Chief
BlackPressUSA.Com

DAYTON, Ohio (NNPA) – With a conflict resolution center already established in Israel and a direct line of communication to Hamas, one of Israel’s most ardent foes, SCLC President Charles W. Steele Jr. says Dr. Martin Luther King’s old organization is poised to play a key role in defusing tensions around the world.Steele, a former Alabama state senator, made that observation Sunday in his keynote address opening the group’s 48th annual convention here.“In a world of prejudice, violence, poverty and ignorance, the message of SCLC is to teach and apply Martin Luther King Jr.’s principles of non-violence and conflict resolution,” Steele said.

One of SCLC’s goals, he said, is: “To bring peace, security and hope to the afflicted people in the South, throughout America and around the world.” Steele said that mission was crystallized in a conversation he had in December 2004 with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his chief of staff.“I was in Israel talking with the chief of staff and the prime minister and he [the chief of staff] said, ‘You all can bring about world peace. You all have been through the Trans-Atlantic African slave trade and you got lynched, you were murdered, your women were raped and killed, but you didn’t turn out to be terrorists. You didn’t strap yourselves with a bomb, you don’t have any blood on your hands.’“I said, ‘What are you saying Mr. Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister?’ He said, ‘Charles, what I am saying is you can stop the war.’” Steele said representatives of Hamas have recently gotten in touch with him, urging SCLC to help diffuse tension in the Middle East. And Steele says he plans to do just that. For Complete Article See: SCLC to Play Global Peacekeeping Role

USVI reparations leader says Danes altered UN Resolution

KNN-ST JOHN, USVI
by Susan Mann
Caribbean Net News St Thomas-St John Correspondent

ST JOHN, USVI: The St Croix, US Virgin Islands-based African Caribbean Reparations and Resettlement Alliance president, Shelley Moorhead, has accused the UN Danish Mission of "backpedaling at the United Nations." In a letter dated October 20, written to Danish Consul General Soren Blak, Moorhead explained that a UN Resolution passed in June of 2006, has been modified by the Danish Mission, and now excludes a significant reference to reparations activities between the USVI and Denmark, as well as statements of endorsements by the United Nations. The UN Resolution is entitled "Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples." The original document, dated June 9, 2006, included the following statement; "Noting the ongoing cooperation between the territorial Government and Denmark on the reparation of artefacts and archives, and the agreement between the Danish Human Rights Institute and the African Caribbean Reparations and Resettlement Alliance, a non-governmental organization based in the Territory, to examine the question of reparations between the people of Denmark and the people of the United States Virgin Islands with respect to the institution of slavery..."

Moorhead has announced that last week, before the document was to reach the General Assembly for vote, "the Danish Mission used its 'diplomatic muscle' to procure an amendment to the resolution," editing the latter paragraph and also "removing the UN recognition, endorsement, and acknowledgment of the USVI/Denmark shared past with respect to the institution of slavery." A representative from the office of USVI Delegate to Congress, Donna M. Christensen, said Christensen could not comment on the matter because she had not reviewed the current UN document. Moorhead issued the following statement to Caribbean Net News: "The abrupt withdrawal at the United Nations level arouses great concern that Denmark might be continuing along its historically traveled path to denying its role and responsibility in the tragic slave history of its former colony." The ACRRA President told the Consul General, " If the Danish Foreign Ministry can do nothing positive to influence the agreement between the Danes and Virgin Islanders with respect to our shared history and the restoration of our collective humanity, then perhaps it may be advisable that they do nothing at all until they are prepared to accept the reality of Denmark's history and its impact on her former colony."

There are currently several joint endeavors underway between the USVI and Denmark, all of which were spearheaded by ACRRA. In addition, during the month of July, a USVI delegation traveled by official invitation to Ghana where they participated in a reparations-related healing ceremony. Caribbean Net News will report any further developments concerning the final content of the United Nations document following a General Assembly vote.

Preliminary Research Links Cell Phone Use, Weakened Fertility

By K.C. Jones, TechWeb Technology News

Cell phone use could affect sperm and it may be linked to a decline in fertility, according to recent findings. The number of hours men use cell phones each day was linked to sperm counts and quality, according to findings announced Monday and presented at the 62nd annual meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). The findings are preliminary and have not been confirmed. Researchers in Cleveland, Mumbai and New Orleans observed 364 men, who were divided according to cell phone use. Those who did not use cell phones at all had sperm counts of 86 million per milliliter, with 68 percent motility (ability to move) and 40 percent normal shape and form.

Men who used cell phones more than four hours a day had a sperm count of 66 million per milliliter, with 48 percent motility and 21 percent normal shape and form. That is a significant reduction, according to the ASRM. The World Health Organization states that normal sperm count is at least 20 million per milliliter, with normal at least 50 percent motility and 30 percent normal shape and form. Researchers believe the effect of cell phones on sperm may be due to electromagnetic radiation or to the heat cell phones generate. They noted that more study is needed to identify the mechanism involved in the reduction of sperm quality due to cell phones. Also see: Cell Phone Use May Reduce Sperm Count

The End of an Era?

With Farrakhan Ill, the Nation of Islam Prepares for Change
By Darryl Fears and Hamil R. Harris - Washington Post Staff Writers

Nearly 30 years after Louis Farrakhan seized control of the Nation of Islam, the organization is preparing for a change at the top. The controversial minister is battling what he has described as a "life-threatening" illness -- painful swelling of the prostate that has left him more than 30 pounds underweight, dehydrated, anemic and unwilling to eat. Farrakhan, 73, recently relinquished his duties and turned control over to an executive panel of trusted lieutenants, exhorting them to move the Nation of Islam forward and prove that it is more than the charisma and influence of one man. See Complete Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/21/AR2006102100337.html

Kindergartners get sex ed classes

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND - City schools will expand sex education curriculum to include age-appropriate lessons that begin as early as kindergarten, officials said. The initiative comes as Cleveland's teen birth rates are high but dropping - about 40 of every 1,000 girls ages 15-19 become pregnant every year, according to state data - and rates of some sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, are rising. Cases of chlamydia, the most common STD, rose 30 percent over the past five years while HIV, rarely diagnosed in adolescents, turned up in 19 Cuyahoga County teens.

"One-third of all the HIV/AIDS cases in Ohio are in Cleveland," said Lita Townsend, responsible sexual behavior coordinator for the district. "Really, the best weapon we have right now is education." Cleveland schools already offer sex education to many of their middle- and high-school students. The schools also are required to teach HIV prevention. The new classes, which begin soon, will address self-esteem and peer pressure as well as biology. Children in grades K-3 will learn about how viruses work and appropriate and inappropriate touching. Grades 4-6 will start learning about menstruation and other aspects of reproductive health.

In grades 7-12, the discussion shifts to interpersonal relationships, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, teen pregnancy and respect for sexual orientation. Abortion will be explained and defined but not promoted, said Townsend, adding that she's unaware of other programs in the state that target every grade level.