EDITORIAL
African countries joined the rest of the world in celebrating this year's World Environment day (WED). This year's theme for Global Environment Day is "Give Earth a Chance", which is intended "to convey a message of urgency about the state of the earth and the broader quest for sustainable development".
"More than ever, we need to take the necessary steps to ensure that the environment remains on top of the global agenda" and attracts the relevant political attention and action, UNEP executive director, Klaus Toepfer said as reported by UN's IRIN humanitarian information unit.
In this issue our lead stories focus on environmental issues from selected African countries. Mqondisi Dube reports from Botswana highlights the case of the San people who have been accused of depleting the natural resources. From Swaziland, James Hall, reports on government's efforts in encouraging its people to care about the environment. Brian Ligomeka's report from Malawi reveal that environmental preservation Management projects in Lake Malawi National Park and Mlambe Natural Resource have proved to be economically profitable. Read also Zambia and Kenya. Other stories on different themes follow.
Africanews is very excited to announce that we are expanding our services to you! Beginning this month, we are offering two new features. The first is Africanews-Sudan, which consists of a chronology of events in Sudan over the past month, one or two analysis pieces of some aspect of Sudanese politics, economics, culture, or life, and a chronology of events in Northern Uganda and the Horn of Africa, since they are intimately linked with Sudan. The aims of Africanews-Sudan are three-fold: to provide reliable, timely, and accurate information that will assist in the work of people and organisations interested in Sudan; to bring to the world's attention issues that haven't been covered by existing wire agencies; and to provide a forum for marginalized people in Sudan and the Diaspora to convey to the world issues that they feel are important to their lives. Editing this section will be Africanews' associate editor Matthias Muindi. He can be reached at: muindi64@hotmail.com
The second feature is Kenya Election Watch, which consists of a chronology of major events over the past month (with weekly updates) pertaining to Kenya's election – expected to be called by the end of this year – and constitutional reform, along with one or two analysis pieces. We feel that it is important to put the spotlight on Kenya because of its regional importance and the fact that the country has been ruled by the same party for almost 40 years, making it one of Africa's longest-standing governments. Editing this section is Africanews' managing editor Cathy Majtenyi. She can be reached at: cathymaj@hotmail.com
Kudos to our Swaziland correspondent James Hall! Described by Time Magazine as “a Chicago-born Swazi” and Reuters as “a seasoned Swaziland observer,” Hall has just released his book “Life Stories: Testimonies of Hope from People with HIV and AIDS.” The 129-page book, sponsored by the United Nations' Children Fund (UNICEF), is filled with moving, inspiring, hope-filled testimonies of people living with HIV/AIDS, along with their loved ones and associates. “This is a book about life, and contrary to what you might expect from its subject matter, not at all about death,” writes Hall in his introduction. “People adapt to circumstances; the paramount impulse is to live.” For more information, contact Africanews.
This is a very sad month for Wajibu, the Nairobi-based quarterly journal of social and religious concern that has been running for 17 years and has featured on the Africanews website. Due to the passage of the Media Bill in Kenya, Wajibu will no longer be published because of the requirement that all publishers must post a bond of Ksh1 million (US$12,990) before they are allowed to publish, as described in the article co-written by Africanews editor Clement Njoroge and Zachary Onyango “Wajibu has managed to survive periods of censorship as well as periods of penury,” said a note in the June-August 2002 issue of Wajibu, its last. “But we are not in a position to sign a million shilling bond, nor will we be able to find someone to sign a surety for this amount.” Please check Wajibu's website for updates and more information.