COMMENTARY 

There are so much critical information in your article Mr Korir. You need to gather proper intelligence so that you can have some influence in that direction you choose to follow, mind you Sweden has totally a different type of tradition transparency since 1730s. Foreigners can’t repress democracy that is enjoyed in this country by everyone. I believe the ODM is choosing to invade the Ambassador’s residence because they think she/he is unreachable. My tips would be to contact the ambassador in person so that a succsesful venture is contained without alot of manipulated information. Know that Kenya is famous for corruption and by barring freedom here in scandinavian would not be in fashion.

By Ajuoga Auka

Reacting to Korir’s article below;

 Sweden: ODM-K Scandinavia chapter will invade Kenya ambassador’s residence on the 2nd of December; our contact in Stockholm has said!

African Press in Norway wrote a story recently about the need to include Africans in the running of the day to day government activities in Norway.

Some Africans have kept a low profile for a long time, despite their maturity and vast experience. What we do not understand is why no black man or woman gets appointed as a Minister, Permanent Secretary, or a Directorship, for example to become the Director of NORAD.

The time has come to take the African man and woman seriously. They are part of your nation and have the right to get opportunities like the ethnic Norwegians.

Your government talks of equality in all fields irrespective of religion, gender, or race, and yet when questions of this nature are raised, as we now do about appointments, the majority in the society may not be able to see the point at all.

African Press in Norway has researched on the education, experience and cultural understanding of your permanent secretaries and ministers. Some of them, you have elevated simply because of being party members, do not match the education, experience and cultural understanding of some Africans in Norway, and yet you appoint them, not that we are against such appointments but, we understand the said appointments to have been given because the benefiiaries are either ethnic Norwegians or party members wo are being rewarded for campaign loyalties.

If one took time to think of the good that would be achieved if a chance was given to one or two black people to head a ministry or a directorate, then creating positions could not be a problem. It is easier if people in positions looked at others as good contributors to success in the society and not see them as a liabilty.

The Ministry of International Development suits well for the purpose we are raising. Of course, there are other ministries that Africans will have no problems to administer.

If the problem is the shortage of ministries, then create the Ministry of Cultural Understanding and Human Resource Development, and let a black man or woman to run it.

The above suggested ministry would do a lot of good things for all Norwegian residents in relation to integration, cultural education/understanding and adult education to enable human development to become a success in the country.

African Press in Norway will despatch this articel directly to the Prime Minister for his comments. We would like to know whether he thinks time has come or not, to consider our suggestions and take Africans in Norway more seriously than it is done today.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Mr Doe says people in Spain, still ask him whether he has just arrived by boat to the country, even after living there for 14 years!

This world is a world where “man” suspects “man.” Yes, man suspects one another. The problem, however, is that Africans are more the suspects!

Most Africans are unable to get visas to European countries because Europe does not want them around. BBC reports that, “the arrival of boatloads of African immigrants to the Canary Islands is a sorry sight for Ghanaian businessman Tomas Doe, 51.”

The reason behind boat trips is because some Africans cannot board a plane to any European country due to lack of visas.

According to BBC’s report the Ghanaian man, ”has lived on the island of Tenerife for 14 years and has a boat maintenance business in Los Cristianos. He is president of the Sikaman Association for the island’s Ghanaian community which has about 35 members.”

For him, who has lived in Europe for 20 years, seeing Africans resorting to boat trips because Europe has closed their doors on his fellow brothers and sisters is saddening.

BBC quotes him saying, “the situation is a disgrace. I’m ashamed as a black man to see my people in this way. The problem is that Europe will not give Africans visas. If they could go by plane they would not have to resort to this.”

After living in Europe for many years, he understands the European mentality, saying “I have been living in Europe for 20 years – 14 in the Canary Islands. Before the European Union countries created joint policies, many African countries could rely on trade with former colonial powers. Now that has ended, the local currency suffers and trade with Europe is expensive.”

It is not wrong that Africans are exposed to international events. However, exposure causes interest and he puts it rightly that, “television and events like the Paris-Dakar rally tempt young Africans to want to go to the West. These are young guys, they see the bikes, the computers, the internet and they are attracted,” adding that, “they cannot get visas – even to go to watch the World Cup – so they prefer to gather their money together and buy a cayuco (fishing boat).”

He says when he saw the first group arrive, it was alright, but that the success they got by reaching Spain pulled many others over and from there on they all started arriving.

For him as a black man, he feels his people suffer a lot trying to achieve their goals saying, “It is a real shame because many have died on their way to Europe. Nobody can say how many have died trying as we only see the bodies that come ashore.”

Using a friend as an example to put his point across he says, “a friend from Ghana who works in Senegal called me to say he had paid for his daughter, Linda Peter, 25, to come by boat. His business of salting fish to send to Ghana had collapsed because all the fisherman had gone – they had either sold their boats or driven them over to the Canary Islands.”

The plight of many families is in the balance and those who are able to get an opportunity to make a better living will not hesitate to use any means to travel. And because his friend was determined to send his daughter out and, “could not get a visa, so his daughter made the trip to Tenerife,” – nine days at sea in dreadful conditions, then she was held at the police station for five days before being transferred to the centres.”

In symphaty with the new arrival, Mr Doe decided to check out what was happening with her after arrival. He took time to visit and got a terrifying story from her experience when she briefed him that, “they do little more than sleep. They are allowed out for a short time each day then are taken back underground.”

BBC has quoted him saying, “I tried asking the Red Cross and a lawyer what I could do to get her out, but once she was in the centre it was too late. She has now been transferred to a centre in Fuertaventura.”

Some countries that do not want Africans crossing their borders tend to make arrangements with neighbouring states to ensure no Africans get through. He says, “Spain has created this problem for itself. It had a deal with Morocco to keep its borders secure and gave them money to look after the immigrants that arrived there – but they just bussed them out to the desert and left them.”

Such arrangements causes problems in the future. He says, “when people talk about an immigration problem they only think of black men. If two white men and one black man are selling things in the street, the black man will be asked for his papers.”

Making himself clear he says he does not say this things because he is a racist but that he wants the authorities, “to be fair,” adding, “I’ve been here 14 years but some people think I’ve just arrived and ask how did I come? Did I come by cayuco?”

It is the same almost everywhere in Europe. A black man remains a suspect in almost everything. When European authorities do this things to black people, the problems are taken up on TV,  and when European children watch the way the black people are being treated, they conclude that every black man in the west has entered the west by boat illegally, because the TV scenes stikk in their minds.

BBC quotes him saying, “the EU does not respect Africa – and Africa’s leaders just go there to beg. The EU should deal more with the African Union and regional blocs like Ecowas to help or put pressure on countries like Senegal.”

However, this will only happen if African leaders start the ball rolling by demanding, not begging, EU to treat African Union as an equal partner.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Source.bbc

By Chief editor Korir, API

It is not fair not to take up this matter. The contest is misleading African girls living in Norway. They look at the contest as a key to an opening to greater pastures mirrored to international contests that may put them in the world map.

Some even drop out of school, while some leave their existing careers thinking the contest organizers will become their managers and ladder to higher goals.

What is the purpose of having the contest? Who benefits – is it the contestants or the arranging organization?  Many questions could be asked, including the need to know how much public funds goes into such arrangement!

Girls have been made to involve themselves in the contest to become miss Africa in Norway for a number of years now.

The participants, mainly young girls who are made to believe it is the beginning of a career in modelling and eventually becoming a star, are happy to participate only to be disappointed on discovering they have to pay for some of the costs from their own pockets. The organizations organise the event and invite willing contestants.

African Press has learnt that the girls who win are not guaranteed the status a winner should have.

Organizations simply use them to publicise their projects in a hope to attract public funding.

The authorities funding such organizations must scrutinise much more than they seem to do, before dishing out public funds that will not even benefit the targets – contestants.

Now the question we will raise is the wish by many Africans in Norway to know who really benefits from the event!

When organizations organise the event, we believe they may benefit from getting public funding, and use the money to promote the contestants that win. Instead reliable sources has told African Press that the organizations or the organizers are the one that benefit from the event. The girls who participate gets peanuts, if not nothing at all, of the income that the arrangement brings, in form of cover-charge and public funds or donations.

Another question is how contestants are selected and what qualifications the judges who determine the winner have in the field of contests of this kind.

It is important to have professional judges who understand the qualities of becoming a “miss something…” rather than having friends or relatives of some contestants to serve as panel judges.

There is no way relatives or friends of a contestant will not be biased.

Should public funds be given to organizers of such an event? We are raising the question. Those who do not agree with API have a right to have their say. From our point of you – African Press, no public funds should be given to those who arrange miss Africa in Norway, unless they prove that the contestants are the beneficiaries and not the organisers themselves.

If you disagree with us, have your say!

End

BBC has reported that, “two men have celebrated South Africa’s first gay wedding in the Southern Cape town of George on the day the law allowing same-sex unions took effect. “

The two men, Tony Halls (left)) and Vernon Gibbs  (right) have been attackedhomophobically”

Two white men, Vernon Gibbs and Tony Halls have used eight months to plan their wedding.

For them they chose to get married on the International Aids day saying that for them it was, ”significant that the union took place on World Aids Day.”

According to BBC report the wedders have said, “this marriage… is for all HIV/Aids sufferers and gay people who have experienced discrimination.”

Gay marriage is not allowed in many countries. A few countries have seen the need to allow their citizens the freedom to choose whoever partner they so wish.

Norway allows partnership. The country does not lack many leaders who are homosexuals. Many of them have top political positions and the people they lead treat them humanly.

Some, however, at times face hard time because they get stigmatised and considered as Hiv/aids carriers by those who do not want to take time and understand why they live a life like that.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN

africanpress@chello.no

Source.bbc

Yesterday was international aids day. “South Africa has announced a five-year plan to try to combat HIV/Aids, with a promise to cut infection rates by half.”

This is a good sign for the country that is having to deal with many sufferers everyday. It is reported that, “more than 1,000 South Africans die of Aids-related illnesses every day, but many more are still being infected.”

Now that the government has taken this important step, other countries that have not given the fight against this killer diseases should emulate South Africa.

BBBC reports that, “the government action plan is seen as a message of hope, reversing its previous advice of a diet of garlic and beetroot as a treatment, the government has formed an alliance with civic groups campaigning on Aids.”

The president Mr Mbeki, was quoted a few years ago as a man who did not want to have his country “condomised but rather his people use traditional medicine men, was opposed to the preventive measures other countries were using. Instead, he would rather have his people trust traditional healers. The media reports that, “activists have welcomed the new plan, but warned it was still vague and lacked specific commitments. The broad framework document, announced by Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, marks a significant change in government policy.”

A plan like this one should be given a chance  by the activist to bear results instead of being critical. If the plan turns out to be without tangible results, then activists will have a right to confront policy makers who have come with the plan.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

Africanpress@chello.no

source. bbc 

<>Tutu)

 BBC reports that the, “Nobel Prize winner Desmond Tutu has warned that South Africa is in danger of losing its moral direction,” adding that the country, “had failed to sustain the idealism that ended apartheid and warned of growing ethnic divisions.”

Tutu thinks South Africa has become a dangerous place, and while, “referring to South Africa’s high murder rate and the rape of children as young as nine months, he said the African reverence for life had been lost.” 

Tutu is  a man that has never stopped speaking against human injustices in his country.

This are strong words from a man who fights for justice to be accorded to others. BBC reports that, “the retired Anglican archbishop opposes ex-Vice President Jacob Zuma becoming president due to his “moral failings.”

Mr Zuma who was vice President to Mbeki was dropped by his boss after allegation of rape and corruption. The man’s, “presidential aspirations received a major boost earlier this month after corruption charges were dropped against him. He was acquitted earlier this year on a rape charge.”

But for Tutu not to forgive is strange, because as a man of God, a believer he should let God deals with Zuma’s sins. If God can forgive and let him win the presidency that should be respected because we must not harbour anger in us for long.

Quoted by the media, “Archbishop Tutu said the country had achieved a remarkable degree of stability in 12 years of democracy despite problems poverty, Aids, corruption and crime. Tutu has long spoken out against injustices in South Africa.”

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Source.bbc

Blaming the chimps ancestors? Instead of trying to get those to dish the blame to, we better do more research and get teh cure before Hiv/aids eradicates mankind from teh face of the earth!

The BBC has reported that, “a genetic study of SIV – the Aids-like virus that infects monkeys – suggests that HIV – the virus that causes Aids in humans – came about through the combination of two viruses in chimpanzees.”

It now seems scientists are suggesting that HIV in human was solely caused by a chimp. They are pushing the start of HIV to Africa when they say the monkeys were in Cameroon. Everything bad seems to be directed to a source in Africa in an effort to say the first to get Hiv was a black person. As we look for the origin and medicine let us not forget that there were white men who we read in books as people who claim to have discovered African continent.

Let us also not forget that the black people are not the kind of people that started to curdle with animals in the forests. The transfer of the combination of the disease could as well have been spread in Africa by white settlers who were fond of being friends with wild animals.

BBC writes that, “chimp.s could have been infected by other SIV-type viruses when they preyed on monkeys. The study confirms what has been established about the origin of Aids: it emerged from the forests of western Africa some time in the last century.”

It is not time to pin-point where it started, but rather how we can work together and find a cure.

Now scientist say, “humans caught it from chimpanzees when they ate them as food, or became exposed to their blood in rituals.”

Surely, do you understand what they are saying? The want to say it is an African wo got it first through eating raw meat because of hunger in Africa. They want to say Africans drunk the Chips blood and therefore got the disease. When scientist say this things, we should not only read and let it be there without analysing what they are saying.

When BBC quotes the scientist saying they, “know more about the origin of Aids than most people think. Genetic studies have shown conclusively that HIV is a variant of the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) that is found in wild African monkeys and apes. At some time in the recent past, SIV entered humans and mutated to become HIV. From this incident sprang the epidemic which has killed 20 million people and infected 15 million more,” then I start doubting their findings because it is aimed at pining down and stigmatising Africa and the African people as the cause of the disease.

And as the talk of the origin continues you see the scientists started speaking of Cameroon as the place where the monkeys that spread the disease were. And further, they are pushing it now across the continent to legitimise their claim that aids started in Africa and not America. According to BBC they are quoted saying they no longer have doubt as to the origin of the disease because now they say, “where this virus transfer took place is fairly well established: the Guinea-Bissau region of West Africa. Many scientists believe the transfer occurred more than once because of the multiple strains of Aids that infect humans.”

It is not difficult to see the intentions of the scientists. When they say, “ significantly, millions of Africans were forcibly removed from their homes as slaves in the 19th Century, and none of them was infected. This suggests the origin of Aids is post-1860,” they are trying to make genuine their findings because they are not able to establish the exact thing that happened before the disease infected the first person.

The slaves taken to America had no Hiv, as the scientists seem to confirm in their findings. Yes, we agree with them, but interestingly, they do not want to say that the slave owners could have had the disease that they passed on to the Africans when they used them as slaves. We know that many slave masters were raping their slaves and some even got them forcefully to get pregnant. This means the slave masters never used condoms.

Instead of using a lot of resources to identify the source, in search of who to blame, we had better put the resources to research for the discovery of the much needed cure.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, Apn.

africanpress@chello.no

Source.bbc