What We’re Reading 2/11/10

Feb 11th, 2010 10:42 AM UTC
By Robyn Mitchell

The New York Times: The Grotesque Vocabulary in Congo (Op-Ed, Nicholas Kristof)
Reporting from the Congo, author Nicholas Kristof responds to some of his readers’ claims that the international community, specifically the United States, cannot do anything to stop the devastating violence and destruction in the war-torn African country. The author refutes these comments by highlighting some of the successful results that aid groups have achieved, including the International Rescue Committee, which is helping rape survivors recover and the efforts of “The Vagina Monologues” author, Eve Ensler, who is working with UNICEF to train Congolese women to transform their communities. Kristof concludes by saying that “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to eastern Congo last year was a landmark, but it needs more follow-up from the Obama administration. What is required isn’t some new formula but much greater political will.”

Reuters: South Africa marks 20 years since Mandela walked to freedom
Reuters reports that thousands of South Africans, chanting “Viva, Nelson Mandela, Viva,” marked 20 years on Thursday since the anti-apartheid icon walked to freedom after 27 years as a political prisoner. However, since the euphoria of 1990 and multi-party elections four years later, “the reality of dismantling four decades of official — and many more of unofficial — apartheid has hit home”. Reuters writes that with every passing year, the country’s “liberation struggle” credentials wear thinner as poor black voters – more and more of whom do not remember apartheid – demand clean streets and clean politicians. Said one young student, “The politicians of today are just eating the money. They are not doing their jobs. They only care about cars and houses, not the people.”

Afro.com (U.S.): Concern Over Haiti’s HIV/AIDS Crisis Grows
Afro.com reports that after decades of progress in starving off the tide of HIV/AIDS in Haiti, health advocates are concerned about regression after the powerful Jan. 12 earthquake wiped away any existing infrastructure used to combat the disease. According to Charles King, CEO of a New York-based anti-AIDS organization, treating victims of the earthquake is the primary priority, which leaves patients with other needs in the cold. However, despite the current situation, the CEO said he is hopeful that a new approach could produce a new methodology in the way HIV/AIDS is treated in the country. Said King, “I would hope that this provides us an opportunity to rethink how we do HIV/AIDS care. Not just have a new influx of more international involvement taking over, but providing resources and technical assistance to local organizations and helping them build the capacity to address the epidemic themselves.”

Health-e (South Africa): South Africa: The President And HIV Prevention (Op-Ed)
Journalist Kerry Cullinan explores the AIDS epidemic in South Africa, arguing that HIV prevention is based on getting people to change their sexual habits – a process, which is being impeded by South African President, Jacob Zuma. According to Cullinan, President Zuma’s choice to engage in sexual intercourse without the proper use of conception and with multiple partners is providing South Africans with an adverse example for how to prevent the spread of HIV. Argues the journalist, “While Thabo Mbeki’s presidency was characterized by his denial of HIV/AIDS, Jacob Zuma may be remembered for providing South Africans with a textbook example of how difficult it is to change behaviour. Neither are good examples in a country where HIV is the biggest killer and our efforts to prevent it are not a simple case of ABC.”

Afrique en Ligne: Africa: Ban wants more partnership to boost Africa’s development
African newspaper, Afrique en Ligne, reports that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has called for a stronger partnership for Africa’s development amid the current global financial meltdown, climate change and energy crises. The Secretary noted that the adverse social consequences of the crises were likely to remain for much longer time in Africa and therefore, he recommended that African countries bear the majority of responsibility for their own development in order to mitigate these long term effects. The Secretary said this could be achieved by continuing to integrate and mainstream the priorities of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), such as infrastructure, agriculture and food security, science and technology, trade and environment, into their national development plans.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy (Washington D.C.): Gates Foundation Makes Changes to Improve Its Operations
Chief Executive for The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Jeff Raikes, said the organization is taking several management steps designed to improve its ability to help impoverished people in developing countries and its other beneficiaries. According to the executive, the Foundation is trying to clarify its strategies and decision making both for its employees and grant recipients. Raikes said that in terms of global-development grant-making, the foundation will continue to help poor people get access to financial services, such as savings accounts, with mobile technology and other tools, while also increasing their focus on improving sanitation in poor parts of the world. In America, the executive said that the Gates fund will maintain its focus on public education, putting an emphasis on finding out what makes a good teacher effective.

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