IGIHE

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  • Rwanda Film Festival 2013, LAYLA FOURIE Tuesday 23 July, 6.30 pm at the New Papyrus

    The German Focus contributes to this year’s Rwanda Film Festival theme, “Our Mother’s Our Heroes”, with a special view on German female filmmakers and female protagonists in cooperation with IWFF – Dortmund | Cologne International Women’s Film Festival.

    Ten feature films will present some of the most well known directors like Hermine Huntgeburth, Sandra Nettelbeck, Pia Marais and Maren Ade and actresses like Martina Gedeck, Nina Hoss, Sandra Hüller and Birgit Minichmayr.

    Each film had its cinema release in Germany and the lot won several prestigious awards. From classic thriller and drama, to romance and comedy; from films of ‘the Berlin School’ to documentary, the themes and genres of the German Focus are deeply human and eclectic. They focus on women in different roles and positions in society.

    While the documentary 11 FRIENDS shows the inner life of the girls of the German women’s national football team, MISS STINNES MOTORS ROUND THE WORLD tells the story of the first woman to circle the world by car, including original footage
    from her expedition in 1927.

    Several films deal with topics of Germany’s recent history: BARBARA is a doctor working in 1980s East Germany who finds herself banished to a small country hospital because she wants to emigrate to the West.

    The comedy,

    ALMANYA, spans a period of 45 years to portray a turkish family arriving as “guest workers” at the end of the 60s to Germany, later returning for a journey to their old country. Another comedy, MOSTLY MARTHA, tells the story of a female supreme ruler of the kitchen staff, who suddenly has to care for her young niece.

    Silver Bear-winner, EVERYONE ELSE, is an intimate love story of a couple in search of their own identity. Two further films deal with cultural differences in mixed relationships: while the most successful German film of the year 2005, THE WHITE MASAI, tells the autobiographical story of a Swiss woman meeting a Samburu warrior in Kenya, the documentary THE CROCODILES OF THE WANDAOGO FAMILY, follows the journeys of German director Britta Wandaogo and her daughter Kaddi to her husband’s home village in Burkina Faso.

    Several years later, Kaddi reflects the role she plays in her German and African families in the short film CROCODILES WITHOUT SADDLES.

    Recently released in German cinemas, the thriller, LAYLA FOURIE, is set in South Africa, where director Pia Marais was born and raised. It deals with the problems of society’s mistrust and a single mother, whose daily life is affected by paranoia and fear.

    The film was given a “Special Mention” by the International Jury during this year’s Berlin Film Festival.

    While those films present a broad spectrum of social themes in today’s cinematic work of Germany, the Focus as a special introduction will present the documentary, GERMANY FROM ABOVE, which takes the audience on a journey with spectacular aerial shots of nature and cities of Germany, discovering the country from a bird’s eye view. Seen from above, you get a wider perspective of the setting, of time and history. We hope to see you all in the cinemas!

  • Ethiopia told to Fix Poor Human Rights

    {{The European Parliament (EP) delegation that visited Ethiopia this week has expressed disappointment over the country’s poor human rights conditions.}}

    The delegation, in a statement, further expressed its dissatisfaction at the inability to further assess potential cooperation in improving conditions in prisons and detention as discussed with the Human Rights Commissioner and the minister of Federal Affairs.

    “While welcoming the open discussions with the different interlocutors, Members of European Parliamentarians deplored the unexpected refusal of the prison visit without prior notification, after arrival at Kaliti prison,” said the statement in part.

    The delegation visited Ethiopia from July 15-17 and discussed human rights concerns associated with the controversial anti-terrorist and civil society laws with the host officials.
    It called for the opening of the domestic space for civil society, which could only contribute to the overall development of the country.

    The European lawmakers stressed that civil society organisations should be allowed to function freely, without interference, harassment and undue restrictions.

    Security situation

    The Ethiopian authorities, the delegation said, should acknowledge the important role of civil society actors and of trade unions in reaching their ambitious development objectives.

    “The restrictive NGO framework should be urgently revised,” emphasised the chair of the EP delegation, Ms Barbara Lochbihler.

    “Free, independent and pluralistic media are one of the cornerstones of any democracy and maintaining and strengthening their freedom and independence is in the common interest,” said Ms Lochbihler.

    She expressed fear that certain broadcasters were jammed and that access to the Internet and to social media was regularly restricted.

    Ms Lochbihler observed that blocking the free flow of information was directly at odds with the Ethiopian Constitution, which enshrined the freedom of expression.

    While taking cognisance of the highly volatile security situation of Ethiopia’s immediate neighbourhood, the delegation, however, raised questions on the reported misuse of the anti-terrorism legislation for stifling dissent at the domestic level.

    The delegation also noted flaws in the impartiality of the judicial system, and called on the Ethiopian authorities to release all journalists, members of the opposition, and others arbitrarily detained or imprisoned for exercising their legitimate right to freedom of expression, freedom of association, as well as freedom of religion and belief.

    “The Government of Ethiopia must guarantee freedom of opinion, speech and the right of peaceful assembly at all times, in accordance with its Constitution and obligations under international law. The 2015 elections should be an occasion for the Ethiopian government to demonstrate its commitments to democratic principles,” the statement noted.

    {agencies}

  • You are Insane, Mugabe Tells U.S.

    {{President Robert Mugabe on Thursday rebuked the “insane” US for criticising his push for elections without key reforms and told it to keep its “pink nose” out of Zimbabwe’s affairs.}}

    “America must be mad, absolutely insane,” President Mugabe, who is seeking to extend his 33-year rule, told an election campaign rally in the northern town of Chinhoyi.

    US President Barack Obama during his visit to South Africa last month called on Zimbabwe’s government to apply key reforms ahead of the landmark elections.

    “For anyone to suggest that our elections must not be held even after the expiry of the term of parliament, because some party is arguing for reforms of our security forces, is a mad argument, completely.”

    President Mugabe declared July 31 polling date to choose a successor to the wobbly power-sharing government.

    His main rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had wanted a delay to allow time to implement a battery of reforms including an overhaul of the security forces headed by Mugabe’s allies.

    During his visit to neighbouring South Africa, President Obama said “harassment of citizens and groups needs to stop and reform needs to move forward so people can cast their votes in elections that are fair and free and credible.”

    Mr Mugabe said Zimbabwe would determine its own future and that the US has no moral ground to chastise his regime.

    “Keep your pink nose out of our affairs, please.”

    “Where do you get that audacity to open your mouth and try to sermonise us,” questioned Mr Mugabe, alleging racism was rife in the US.

    “Your prisons are still full of blacks. Where is your democracy? There is lots of racism in your country.”

    He reiterated his decision to bar the US and the European Union from observing the Zimbabwe vote.

    “We have already invited well meaning friends. Ill-intentioned friends, we never can invite.”

    Observers from the Southern African Development Community and the African Union will watch the vote.

    The EU Thursday wrapped up a summit with South Africa, urging Zimbabwean political players to take all the necessary steps “to create and ensure a conducive environment for the holding of peaceful, credible, free and fair elections.”

    AFP

  • EAC Single Currency Getting Closer

    {{The East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers adopted a draft protocol on the establishment of the Monetary Union this week.}}

    The document has now been referred to the Sectoral Council on Legal and Judicial Affairs, which meets in Bujumbura, Burundi, next week, for legal input, the EAC Secretariat announced here yesterday.

    The Council of Ministers, during its extraordinary two-day meeting in Arusha early this week, also adopted the roadmap for the implementation of the Monetary Union Protocol. The details of the new roadmap, which will provide the time line for the signing of the protocol by EAC heads of state, could not be immediately known.

    Some analysts have described adoption of the draft protocol as historic and a milestone. The draft protocol is a culmination of rigorous negotiations that started in January 2011.

    The monetary union project is, however, behind schedule. The 11th extra-ordinary summit of EAC heads of state held in Arusha in April resolved that negotiations on the proposed East African Monetary Union (EAMU) should be concluded in August and the protocol signed in November ,this year.

    But the new roadmap shows that this would not be possible.

    “This (adoption of the draft protocol this week) is historical because it established the legal and institutional framework for the EAC to progress to the third pillar of integration which is the Monetary Union,” said the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Prof Tarsis Kabwegere, who is also Uganda’s Minister in Charge of General Duties in the Office of the Prime Minister. He said the EAC policy organ met in Arusha “to consider the outcome of the conclusion of the negotiations of the Monetary Union Protocol”.

    EAC Secretary-General Richard Sezibera said the people of East Africa were resolute to embrace the monetary integration “having been energized by the benefits they had so far reaped from the implementation of the Customs Union and the Common Market”.

    He pleaded to the policy makers as well as technocrats to help prioritize statistical and related issues which will, among others, “make our transit to the East African Monetary Union more seamless”.

    He added: “Given the financial sector challenges in other parts of the world, some people in our region could be skeptical of the Monetary Union. It is, therefore, your expertise to reassure them and indeed the entire EAC that our Monetary Union is viable and we can all cope with the possible challenges ahead.”

    Achieving the common monetary policy and, therefore, a common currency is a tall order, according to experts.

    {additional reporting NMG}

  • Australia Announces Papua New Guinea asylum deal

    {{People arriving by boat to seek asylum will no longer be resettled in Australia but will go to Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced.}}

    The news came as Mr Rudd set out an overhaul of asylum policy ahead of a general election expected shortly.

    Australia has seen a sharp rise in the number of asylum-seekers arriving by boat in recent months.

    Mr Rudd said the “hard-line decision” was taken to ensure border security.

    The prime minister, who ousted Julia Gillard as Labor Party leader amid dismal polling figures last month, made the announcement in Brisbane flanked by the PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

    “From now on, any asylum-seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as a refugee,” Mr Rudd said.

    Under the agreement, new arrivals will be sent to PNG for assessment and settled there if found to be a refugee.

    To accommodate the new arrivals, an offshore processing centre in PNG’s Manus island will be significantly expanded.

    No cap has been placed on the number of people Australia can send to PNG, Mr Rudd said.

    The prime minister said the move was aimed at dissuading people from making the dangerous journey to Australia by boat.

    “Our country has had enough of people-smugglers exploiting asylum-seekers and seeing them drown on the high seas,” he said.

    BBC

  • EAC Students’ Integration Debate Set For September

    {{The second EAC University Students’ debate on regional integration is slated for 2 – 3 September 2013.}}

    The debate whose theme is: “Understanding the opportunities and challenges arising from the EAC integration for youth in East Africa” aims at promoting continuous dialogue among the youth and to interest them in advocating for regional integration initiatives.

    The debate will be based on a topical issue related to the EAC integration. It will be moderated by five judges with expertise on the specific area of discussion and on the overall area of EAC integration in general and political integration in particular.

    Six participants will be selected from each of the EAC partner state, drawn from national universities, public, private and other institutions of higher learning.

    The participants will be either on the opposition or proposition side but the Secretariat reserves the prerogative to ensure that both sides have equitable membership.

    Participation in this debate is limited to students who are in their second year at the university pursuing a degree.

    Students who participated in the 1st debate need not to apply to give an opportunity to others to take part. Interested applicants with good analytical and communication skills; and a good command of English are encouraged to apply.

    The debate will be conducted in English.

    Applicants who are interested to participate should apply by explaining why they are interested to participate, indicate which University they come from and the year of study.

    In addition, applicants are expected to write an essay on “Understanding the opportunities and challenges arising from the EAC integration for youth in East Africa”.

    The essay should not exceed 2 pages, bookman old style font with single line spacing. Lastly, applicants are required to attach their CVs, copies of their national ID and university identity card.

    Applications should be sent to – EAC-Nyerere Centre for Peace Research, on Email: eac@eachq.org and copy Barbara Kaboha, Program Assistant, Nyerere Centre for Peace Research, on email – BKaboha@eachq.org and Pamela Kanora, Research Assistant, Political Affairs, on email PKanora@eachq.org.

    The application should reach EAC not later than 2nd August, 2013.

    The East African Community Secretariat will cover transport expenses, accommodation and meals for the participants during the two days event.

  • Spanish aid Workers Kidnapped in Kenya Freed

    {{Two Spanish aid workers who were kidnapped while working at the Dadaab refugee camp in eastern Kenya in October 2011, Montserrat Serra and Blanca Thiebaut, have been freed in Somalia, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have said.}}

    The two were working near the Somali border for the aid agency when they were kidnapped, in the same month that Kenya sent troops across the border into Somalia in pursuit of al-Shabaab militants.

    “Both are safe and healthy and keen to join their loved ones as soon as possible,” MSF said in a statement on Thursday.

    The agency said it was still working to return the two aid workers home, promising to offer further details on their release at a news conference on Friday.

    “MSF strongly condemns this attack on humanitarian workers who were in Dadaab offering lifesaving medical assistance to thousands of refugees,” the agency said.

    {aljazeera}

  • Ghana Imposes Tax on Condoms

    {{While many people in Ghana are worried over the imposition of tax on condoms, Dr. Edward Larbi-Siaw, a tax policy consultant at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has assured Ghanaians that the 1% levy placed on condoms will not affect the prices of condemns in the country.}}

    The issue about condom tax in Ghana sparked controversies among the public with some saying “the move could undermine the fight against HIV/AIDS and other STDs”

    Meanwhile he clarified that “condoms that come through the Ministry of Health and donors like the Bill Gates Foundation, USAID and other official channels, although included in the schedule imports will be exempted.”

    Dr. Larbi-Siaw explained that the tax is a 1% percent levy placed on all imports including condoms.

    He added that the taxation in general is to stabilize the economy, however if this is not done the country’s currency will depreciate and will affect all commodities including condoms.

    The Consultant stated that Laws are made in general so that there are not too many loopholes however with socially defendable projects including condoms, mechanism are employed to reduce effects on them.

    {Myjoyonline}

  • Detroit City Files for Biggest US City Bankruptcy

    {{Detroit has become the largest city in United States history to file for bankruptcy after decades of decline and mismanagement rendered the city insolvent.}}

    Michigan’s governor, Rick Snyder, said on Thursday that there was no other option to tackle the city’s $18.5bn of debts.

    “This is a situation that’s been 60 years in the making in terms of the decline of Detroit. From a financial point of view, let me be blunt, Detroit is broke,” Snyder said in a video on the state’s official website.

    Once the fourth largest city in the US, Detroit’s population has shrunk from 1.8 million in 1950 to 685,000 today – as crime, flight to the suburbs and the decline of the car-making industry ate away at its foundations and finances.

    “The fiscal realities confronting Detroit have been ignored for too long,” Snyder said in a statement accompanying the bankruptcy file.

    “I’m making this tough decision so the people of Detroit will have the basic services they deserve and so we can start to put Detroit on a solid financial footing.

    “The only feasible path to a stable and solid Detroit is to file for bankruptcy protection.”

    However, the filing puts the city on an uncertain course that could mean laying off municipal employees, selling assets and scaling back already threadbare basic services.

    {aljazeera}

  • Nigeria’s Gen. Gowon Urges Govt to Address war-time Abuses

    {{The last may not have been heard of the Nigerian Civil War, as the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief at that time, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has asked the Federal Government to reopen and investigate the abuse of power committed during and after the war in order “to do justice to the aggrieved.” }}

    Gowon spoke Thursday during the launch of the book, The Tragedy of Victory, written by the civil war Chief of Staff of the 3rd Marine Commando, Brig.-Gen. Godwin Alabai-Isama (rtd).

    Gowon, who wrote the forward to the book, said it is a “loud statement of the need to rectify what appears to smack of injustice perpetrated against the otherwise innocent.”

    According to him, “this is not just an Army problem; it is national malaise that causes people in authority to use the weight of their office and authority to hurt perceived personal ‘enemies’.

    “With the firm establishment of democratic governance in Nigeria, wrongs done under the military and civil authorities as a result of abuse of power can and should be reopened and investigated to do justice to the aggrieved.”

    He commended the author, who he said “has unobtrusively posed the question whether anyone, however highly-placed, should get away with injustice deliberately perpetrated against the innocent, even under cover of national security.”

    Meanwhile, the book reviewer, Kunle Ajibade, said the launch did not only coincide with the birthday of South Africa’s former President, Nelson Mandela, but that the chief presenter, former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), was one of the actors the author attacked in the book.

    In his review entitled “Combatant Chronicle of the Nigeria/Biafra War,” Ajibade said The Tragedy of Victory has rendered former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s memoirs on the civil war, My Command, a “distortion of facts” and “tapestry of inaccuracies.”

    Stating that “Obasanjo lied to massage his ego,” he described Alabi-Isama’s memoirs as a book of strategy and military campaign.

    Nevertheless, the author, Alabi-Isama, said that two reasons motivated him to write the book.

    These, he claimed, were the lie that Obasanjo told in his war account, My Command, and the library of war photographs, which was preserved by his mother many years after the war.

    Obasanjo, he said, demonised everyone and ignored the heroic performance of especially the women who helped to end the war earlier than expected.

    At the launch were Lt.-Gen. Danjuma, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd), Brig.-Gen. Mobolaji Johnson (rtd), Lt.-Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa and royal fathers, among others.

    {NgrGuardian}