7 April 2000 : news summary:

Natural Disasters, Hazards and Emergencies

‘Cyclone menaces Madagascar‘, G, 3/4/00
~ A further cyclone is expected to hit disaster stricken Madagascar.
Also: ‘Mozambique warned of fresh cyclone‘, DT, 4/4/00
~ Cyclone moves towards Mozambique after hitting the north of Madagascar.
Orissa cyclone.

‘Flooding sparks fear of malaria‘, DT, 1/4/00
~ Southern Africa, particularly Mozambique, is at risk from outbreaks of malaria after heavy rain.

‘Food plea‘, MIR, 31/3/00
~ Save the Children warn of the renewed risk of famine in Ethiopia.
Also: ‘Famine threat to 12m Africans‘, G, 1/4/00
Also: ‘Africa is getting worse‘, G, 3/4/00
Also: ‘Curse of famine returns to haunt millions yet again‘, EXP, 4/4/00

‘In the wake of the Orissa cyclone‘, Developments, FQ, pp20-21
~ Now forgotten by the millions who saw the tragedy reported in the media, Prodeepta Das tells of the efforts to overcome the continuing devastation caused by the
Orissa cyclone.

Security/Conflicts

Various, DT, 30/3/00 – 5/4/00
~ Continuing reports of unrest in Zimbabwe. Mugabe threatens farmers with "severe" violence but has promised Robin Cook that general elections will take place in May .
Also: ‘Mugabe regime faces meltdown‘, G, 30/3/00
~ Feature on the impending downfall of the Mugabe regime.

‘President thinks he can ride out Nigeria’s clashes over Islamic law‘, G, 30/3/00
~ Despite violent clashes in the north of Nigeria the president Obasanjo will not attempt to halt the implementation of Sharia law.

Human Rights

‘Turkmen abuses ‘worst of worst‘, FT, 1/4/00
~ US congress have claimed that Turkmenistan is the ‘worst of the worst’ in terms of human rights abuses.

‘Slavery‘, Developments, FQ, pp17-19
~ Examines slavery in the 21st century.

‘Plan adopted to bring halt to trafficking in women‘, FT, 1/4/00
~ An action plan to combat the trafficking of women and children in Asia has been adopted by countries at a conference in Manila.

Corruption

‘UK tardy in bribery battle‘, G, 30/3/00
~ Britain urged by OECD to legislate against companies using bribery to secure foreign contracts
Also: ‘Warning shot a reminder that UK bribery laws need a quick fix‘, G, 3/4/00
~ British government is dragging its feet over corruption laws.

‘Anti-corruption opposition movement is launched‘, FT, 4/4/00
~ Philippines President Joseph Estrada is facing an opposition movement targeting corruption within his government.

‘Chavez steps up battle against graft‘, FT, 31/3/00
~ Campaign against corruption by the government in Venezuela means the probable sackin g of seven mayors.

Others

‘Face to face‘, Developments, FQ, pp12-15
~Diana Mitlin of International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) talks about how homeless and landless people in Asia and Africa have been "using community exchanges as a tool to take control of their own development."

‘From apartheid to welfare state.‘, The Economist, 1-7 April 2000, pp58-9
~ South Africa’s attempts to fight poverty with a welfare department that is corrupt in parts and incompetent in others.

‘Poor nations are wronged‘, G, 3/4/00
~ Comment on the notion that developing countries can trade rights for showing responsibility.

‘Senegal offers model as new leader sworn in‘, FT, 3/4/00
~ The inauguration of the new president of Senegal after 40 years of Socialist rule gives Africa a ‘rare model for the democratic transfer of power’.

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