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AFRICA AND THIRD WORLD HAVE FAILED TO FEED ITSELF

BY JOSEPH ADERO NGALA
NAIROBI-KENYA
JUNE 7, 2008

Gigantic waves-like those surged across  the Indian ocean in 2005 taking counter less lives- area sweeping through the poorest nations of the world. In addition to the cyclonic waves that have wrought so much destruction this month, there are waves of hunger and anger caused by dramatic rise in prices for food staples like maize, wheat, rice and soybeans. The cost increases have spawned deadly riots in countries as far apart as Haiti and Indonesia. The riots implications for spreading political unrest understandably worry world leaders.

The story of Africa is a sad one but the one of Kenya laziness and war mongers. More and more food riots could erupt around the country due to their laziness and political bickering-any time if the escalating food prices are not contained, a local Non governmental organization in Kenya capital of Nairobi has warned.

The national community based organization council whose members were arrested last week for demonstration warned that mass food protests were underway in several cities of Kenya and they have threaten they would start “anytime from now” Group Chairman Tom Aosa vowed in recent interview to continue pressing on with the protests until the issues was addressed” the sheer magnitude of the force applied to disperse the protestors was uncalled for “said Aosa.

He said we want to tell police to be prepared to arrest thousands of protestors around the country because the campaign has started and will not stop”. The cost of food has risen by nearly 30 per cent around the world and by more than 40 per cent in Kenya.

It has been described as a global crisis pushing 1000 million people into hunger, threatening to s toke social and political turmoil and set the fight against world poverty back by seven years. Now the food prices are being tackle in Rome by the world leaders which conspicuously Kenya is not represented by the Kenya President Mwai kibaki. The leaders are discussing and seeking ways of reducing the suffering for the worlds poorest people and ensure the Earth can produce more food to sustain an ever growing population.

“It is time for action,” said Jacques Diof, the head of the United Nations Food and agriculture Organization (FAO) who called the summit late last year before full extent of the food crisis was cleared.

Father Joachim Omolo Ouko, a member of Apostles Jesus a journalist on his own right and recently visited south Nyanza has this to say” It is critical that we focus on specific action” he said “This is not  an issue like HIV/AIDS where you need some research breakthrough. People know what to do” yet they are not committed in doing so.

The United nation urged a summit on the global food crisis to help stop the spread of starvation threatening nearly 1 billion people of lowering trade barriers and removing export bans.

“Nothing more degrading than hunger, ” United Nation secretary General Ban Ki-Moon told world leaders who are likely to disagree over the link between bio-fuel production and high food prices. However some observers have said that wealthy nations have been spending billions of dollars on farm subsidies wasteful and excess consumption of food, and on arms.

In neighboring country Ethiopia a clutching an intricate bronze cross he used to dig graves during  Ethiopia’s 1984-1985 famine priests Alemayu  Gede prays for drought and high food prices will not make him prays drought and high food prices will not make him use it as a showed again.

At the height of the famine that caused more than one million deaths and spawned the Band Aid project bringing dozens of top musicians together to raise money. Alemayu help to dig 200 graves a day with the symbol of his faith which he carries everywhere.

Alemayu standing at a grave for 300,000 people just out side the northern town of Korem that attracted world attention in 1985 when hundreds of thousands of people streamed down from surrounding hills looking for food.

As survivors gathered in the town this week to unveil a memorial sculpture and lay a ceremonial cornerstone for a hospital paid for band aid, the threat of deadly hunger loomed again in the Horn of Africa country.

About 70km (44 miles) a way in Nehoni, a farmer Kassu belay said seven of the cattle had died as watering holes dried up in the searing heat, forcing pastoralists to crowd their cows, goats and camels around the fast-disappearing liquid. No rains are coming. “0ur animals are dying” he said “And for us that means we must be ready to die” in Ethiopia more than 400 children suffering from malnutrition, and the UN children agency’s estimate 126,000 children are severely malnourished.

Ethiopia sub Sahara Africans second most populous nation behind Nigeria, itself needs $197 million to meet the food shortfall, the United Nations agencies estimate.

Recently Professor Merere Gudin who trots the world freely as renowned scholar and a member of parliament in Ethiopia, Mengistus whose life is in danger after his country’s court recently entered a death sentence verdict against him. The former strong man is living in Zimbabwe, another sinking titanic, courtesy of President Mugabe. “Ethiopia cannon be equal to Kenya except in athletics or we are just ahead in giving birth to our 80 million human.

It has been like jumping from fire to the frying pan and then getting caught up in a ball of explosive fire” he said.

Prof Gudin is the chairman of Political Science and international Relations department, Addis- Ababa. He was in Kenya at the invitation of his former professor Anyang Nyongo Kenya minister for medical services and co chairman of Africa research and Resource forum.

Professor Gudin stood up for Prime minister and his former University colleagues Meles Zanawe in 2005 during alive transmitted officials opening of parliament to challenge his speech and he warned that “When people cannot find anything to eat, they can end up eating their Leaders”

The statement irritated the Prime minister to the point of refusing to answer his question, yet in Ethiopia it is an offence for the Prime Minister to give answer in parliament. Prof Gudin led a student’s participation in the revolution that overthrow Emperor Haile Selesian in 1974 and helped Mengistu, then a military officer, take over power, and now he is a thorn in flesh to Zenawi.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

E-Mail ppa@africaonline.co.ke
Tel 254-20-4441372
    Website : www.peopleforpeaceinafrica.org

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Date:  Sat, 7 Jun 2008 10:31:52 +0300
From:  PEOPLE FOR PEACE IN AFRICA <ppa@africaonline.co.ke>
Subject:  Regional News