Climate 'Is a Major Cause' of Conflict in Africa
Climate has been a major driver of armed conflict in Africa, research shows - and future warming is likely to increase the number of deaths from war. US researchers found that across the continent, conflict was about 50% more likely in unusually warm years. Writing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), they suggest strife arises when the food supply is scarce in warm conditions.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8375949.stm
Zimbabwe: Woza Leaders Presented With Top Award by U.S. President Obama
Leaders of the pressure group, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), on Monday took their message of peace to the White House in the United States, where they were presented with a prestigious human rights award by US President Barack Obama. Award winner Magodonga Mahlangu and WOZA co-founder Jenni Williams, both travelled to Washington DC to receive the 2009 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights award. Williams accepted the award on behalf of WOZA while Mahlangu was singled out in her personal capacity as a rights activist.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200911231971.html
Namibia: Not in the Forefront
With Namibia's National Assembly and Presidential elections around the corner the issue of equitable women's representation at the highest levels of political decision-making has been placed at the centre of the election agenda. Most political parties only really kicked off their campaigns in earnest towards the middle of September and observers were looking to see whether these elections would mark a watershed for Namibian women's inclusion on party lists, as well as how issues mostly affecting women were being addressed in election manifestos.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200911240357.html
South Africa Moves Out of Recession
South Africa's economy has come out of recession, with growth of 0.9 per cent in the third quarter of this year. Results, adjusted for seasonal variations, released on Tuesday showed southern Africa's biggest economy to have ended it's first period of negative growth in 17 years, the country's national statistics board said. "The seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product [GDP] at market prices for the third quarter of 2009 increased by an annualised rate of 0.9 per cent compared with the second quarter of 2009," Statistics South Africa said.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/11/20091124111757963696.html
East Africa: At Last, Common Market Becomes Reality
The East African Community officially ushered in a common market on Friday amid renewed commitment by the region's Heads of State to expedite the envisaged political federation by 2015. The Common Market Protocol was finally signed in Arusha, Tanzania, bringing to an end months of waiting and anxiety. Contentious issues nearly derailed the negotiations and the signing was pushed to this month from April.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200911230351.html
