"Africa pays highest price for globalisation"

Africa pays highest price for globalisation
Anti-globalisation protestors are gathering this week for the first World Social Forum in Africa, the world’s poorest continent which they say is the worst victim of a process aimed at reducing inequalities. Thousands of anti-globalisation activists, debt relief campaigners and African advocates for the rural poor were to meet in the west African country of Mali from Wednesday to discuss alternative development models.

Cynicism, hope precede WSF in Africa
With just a day to go before Africa's first-ever World Social Forum (WSF) gets under way in Mali, attitudes towards the meeting appear somewhat mixed in the West African country. "This forum will not lead to anything; we'll just hear the same speeches," says Aliou Traoré, a teacher in the capital, Bamako, where the gathering is being held. "Before, it was politicians putting us to sleep with their words -- now it's those who question globalisation who are doing so."

African 'al-Jazeera' aims to give a fairer view of the continent

Eritrea denies US mission’s permission to visit border area
The Eritrean authorities have denied two U.S. diplomats permission to visit an Eritrean border area that is the object of a simmering dispute with neighboring Ethiopia, a State Department official said Wednesday.

Nigerian rebels threaten more oil firms
A militant group attacking oil installations in the Niger Delta has said it will widen its range of targets to include more multinational companies.

Five protesters killed as UN peacekeepers open fire in Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast is tottering on the brink of renewed civil war after at least five people died in violent confrontations between UN peacekeepers and youthful supporters of President Laurent Gbagbo. Young "patriots" blocked the streets of Abidjan, the country's economic capital, for the third day to protest against a proposal to dissolve the pro-Gbagbo national assembly.

Haiti's Elites Pressure the UN
Pressure from the elite sector of Haitian society has been mounting against the U.N. Mission in Haiti during the past several weeks. As the on again, off again elections approach the renewed deadline of Feb. 7, the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) in Haiti has been led to believe in and listen to Haiti's most reactionary voices. The U.N. is being pressured to crack down hard on poor neighborhoods that remain loyal to ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide and who have recently staged large rallies in support of Rene Garcia Preval.

Selling the Amazon for a Handful of Beads
In the midst of an Amazonian oil boom, classified documents reveal deep links between oil companies and Ecuador's military.

China, India Urged To Shun Western-Style Waste

When 'news' is harmful to your health

Imperial Mongers of Civilization: From Gladstone to "King George"

Is Bush Stupid -- Or Is America?

God, Blood, Oil and Iraq

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MLK in Port au Prince Prison with Fr. Jean-Juste

No Child Left Unharassed
The Obstacle Course to School

The US is willing to mediate in DR-Haiti issue