“Half-baked software” or not Ushahidi makes a timely deployment to map the conflict in the DRC

The mobile number to send SMS reports to is +243992592111.

For more on the “fight for DRC resources” see this piece by Mandisi Majavu

It is reported that the cutback on tin production, which has forced tin buyers to rely on the metal from the DRC, is likely to remain in effect until the rest of the year. According to Reuters, the renewed fighting in the DRC has had a ‘disproportionately large effect on tin prices as international buyers increasing rely on the relatively small producer’ - the DRC as major producer Indonesia cuts output. “Benchmark tin prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) closed at $15,225 per tonne on Wednesday, up 31 percent since Oct. 27, the day after heavily-armed rebel troops began marching toward major eastern city and tin trading centre Goma” says Reuters.

AFP reports that what prevented Laurent Nkunda and his men from completely taking over Goma was the UN peacekeeping forces, which used helicopter gunships to stall the rebel advance. The idea of Laurent Nkunda capturing the city of Goma makes global capitalists anxious to say the least Continued………………. .

TAGS:
DRC
Ushahidi

On the 16th October members of WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise) held a demonstration declaring the food situation a “national disaster” and demanding immediate food aid. On that day 9 members of WOZA were arrested, 7 were released on the same day but 2, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, remain in custody.

Members of WOZA and other Zimbabwean women have always been at the center of the struggle against repression and state violence in the country. Yet if you follow the mainstream and alternative media sources you would imagine that the women of Zimbabwe, if at all reported, were solely the victims of violence. Otherwise they are largely silent. How many times do you hear women activists, academics or politicians speak to the crisis in the country? In a recent essay in Pambazuka News, Pumpla Dineo Gqola uses her experience in Zimbabwe to highlight the “conspicuous absence” of women in political events and the use of “gender neutral language” of the media.

Where were the women in all the coverage of Zimbabwe, in the negotiations, in the interviews broadcast, among the experts explaining and helping the continent and the world make sense of the crisis? I know from reading, watching and from interactions with feminists from the continent over the years that Zimbabwe has a very strong women’s movement. How is it that I was hearing so little about what women were doing, when they were not being brutalised, inside Zimbabwe?

Pumla goes on to speak of the women she met on her recent trip to Zimbabwe as part of a feminist solidarity group from Southern Africa who were organising “across class and educational status in ways which directly in ways that directly intervene in the crisis”. Evidence of the power of these women can be found in the violent response of the state and men and is further evidence of the direct connection between the “militarization of society” and increased violence against women as seen in Zimbabwe, Nigeria and remains a legacy of Apartheid in South Africa.

Including women in any decision making process is about improving the lives of everyone - women are not at war, women are not killing and destroying life. On the contrary it is women who are the ones calling for peace, growing food, maintaining the homes we grow in, the majority of displaced, of refugees and victims of violence.

[Read more…]

Congratulations to Ugandan lesbian Prossy Kakooza who has won her asylum case after 15 months. According to the report, the judge was influenced by the medical evidence and the expert’s report which highlighted the extreme difficulties of being LGBTI in Uganda.

The judge was heavily influenced by three factors: the Country Expert Report, the medical evidence, and Prossy’s campaign. The Country Expert Report highlighted the terrible plight that lesbian and gay people endure in Uganda, as well as the “extra-judicial” activities of the police.

Her asylum also shows us that campaigns can be successful even when there seems to be an endless trail of obstacles to surmount.

* 5200 people from countries, and church congregations, from all over the world who have signed her petition to the Home Office.
* The 100s of people who have written or emailed the Immigration Minister.
* The 80 members and friends of MCC Manchester who have supported her.
* The 19 friends who went to court with her and helped her collect signatures on her petition at Pride festivals all over the country.
* The 10 friends who gave evidence in court on her behalf.
* The 3 lawyers who drafted and prepared her cases (Ruth Heatley from the Immigration Aid Unit and barristers Mark Schwenk & Mel Plimmer).

So please keep sending those emails, making phone calls, publicising campaigns, holding vigils and demos because it all helps and can influence the outcomes.

In another asylum case, Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre staff have been caught “stealing” a Guide on detainees rights. The Black Women’s Rape Action [BWRAP] project issued the following press statement following reports by one of the women they are working with in Yarls Wood…..

On 15 October, Ms Mercy Wanjiku[1], a rape survivor from Kenya, called from Yarl’s Wood IRC to report that Legal Action for Women’s Self-Help Guide against detention and deportation, which she had received by post had been confiscated by Yarl’s Wood staff. The Guide contains essential information that Ms Wanjiku needed for a legal hearing three days later. It took an official complaint, intervention by Black Women’s Rape Action Project (BWRAP), letters to her MP and a theft report lodged with the police to force Yarl’s Wood authorities for the Guide to be returned.

Background

On 8 October, and despite her protests that it was an infringement of her right to privacy, Ms Wanjiku was forced to open her mail in front of Yarl’s Wood staff. The Self-Help Guide was confiscated even though Ms Wanjiku informed officers that she urgently needed access to information in the Guide as she had an appeal hearing for her asylum claim in three days and she had no lawyer (see notes below). She was told by a male member of staff that it was “illegal to have the book in here” and that he was following orders!

In the absence of sufficient lawyers due to cuts in legal aid provision, many women rely on the Self-help guide to provide them with the necessary information to process their cases. This is yet another in many illegal and inhumane acts committed by Yarls Wood including the recent damming report by UK Children’s Commissioner, Sir Aynsley-Green.

BWRAP is “one of the few groups providing information and support services run by and for African, African Caribbean and other women of colour surviving rape, domestic violence, racist assault, other torture and persecution”.

Tags:
Prossy Kakooza
Uganda
Asylum UK
Black Women’s Rape Action Project
LGBTI
Yarls Wood

Mohammed’s trial is set for tomorrow @

The blogger was arrested last Friday, September 5th following the publication on the e-zine Hespress.com of an article entitled “The King Encourages His Subject’s Dependency” criticizing the social policy of King Mohamed VI (original version in Arabic, French translation, English translation ). He was sentenced 72 hours later in an expedited trial reported to have lasted 10 minutes without having access the most basic to be assisted by a lawyer which speaks volumes about the Moroccan justice system.Continued……………

Tags:
Blogging
Morocco
Mohammed Erraji

Congratulations to Ushahidi as this excellent African project has won first prize at the Net Squared Challenge competition. This is one huge prize and just shows what can be done with little resources - where there is a will there is a way. They project now has $25,000 so there is no telling where this project will end.

Read more about the project and the prize at White African………..

Tags:
Ushahidi
Web 2.0 + Africa
Kenya