IGIHE

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  • Speech by Rwanda’s Ambassador to Turkey at Launch of Kwibuka20 in Ankara

    Speech by Rwanda’s Ambassador to Turkey at Launch of Kwibuka20 in Ankara

    {{Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda in Ankara, HE Caesar Kayizari}}

    6 February 2014

    Official Launch of Kwibuka20

    Ankara, Turkey

    {{Government Representatives

    Members of the Diplomatic Corps

    Distinguished Guests

    Ladies and Gentlemen

    Greetings}}.

    Firstly, I would like to thank you for joining us today to launch Kwibuka20 with the Embassy of Rwanda in Turkey. It is the beginning of a journey of remembrance in this year of 2014 that marks the 20th commemoration, an important occasion to remember the lives that were lost, show solidarity with survivors and unite to ensure that it never happens again – in Rwanda or anywhere else in the world. It is also a chance to share our history of reconciliation and nation building with the world.

    This year, Rwanda seeks to remember, as a nation, our vision of a better future for all Rwandans and what we need to do to achieve this goal. Activities for the twentieth commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi formally begun in Kigali on 7 January. A dedicated website www.kwibuka.rw was launched as a resource designed to enable anyone, anywhere in the world, to engage in commemoration-related activities and organise their own events.

    All Rwandan Embassies around the world are engaged in similar activities as this one here today in Ankara. Activities such as public lectures, conferences, and workshops will commemorate, for the 20th time, a genocide in which more than a million men, women and children were murdered in one hundred days.

    This 20th commemoration is a time to pause in our work of building a prosperous and secure future in order to look back with honesty and to ensure that the legacy of genocide is faced with dignity. Then we can look forward with a deepened understanding.

    “Remember – Unite – Renew” this is our guiding theme for this year’s commemoration. Remembrance, unity and a shared future is for everyone Rwandan and this has enabled all Rwandans to live and work together in dignity. Remembrance and unity provide a preventative weapon against violence and denial. Truth lights the ways from darkness, bringing clarity and positive visions for the future.

    For the survivors, dignity comes when their stories and experiences are witnessed and believed. Truth telling honours the victims and the survivors.

    This 20th commemoration is a time for those who have not yet told their stories to step out of silence and find their voice and share with others and to find dignity in doing so. It is a time to establish the memory of genocide and combat its ideology, negationism and revisionism. It is a time to remember together and to hold each other in our knowledge of the past and in our shared commitment to a common future.

    Over the past 20 years survivors have become stronger and more forward looking. During this year’s planned commemorative activities we honour survivors and the country with truth. We commit to a society in which survivors are provided with the dignity, the recognition, and the assistance that they need in order to continue their healing and to work together with all Rwandans to shape a bright future.

    It is our responsibility as human beings to remember the victims as the entire humanity diminishes whenever a human being’s live is lost.

    We also remember to make sure that genocide NEVER occurs AGAIN anywhere. “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Edmond Burke.

    Nothing in life is wasted if we can learn from it, Rwanda and Rwandans have learnt their lesson. One million lives is a high price to pay for any lesson in life. The lessons and legacy of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi have yet to be fully grasped mainly because the perpetrators and their apologists try to dispute the basic facts.

    As we remember, honour our people and bow in prayer for them – as we remember the pain and grief, we should with the same spirit stand strong and confidently declare that this will not happen again. We should convert our grief into strength and determination to build a better future that Rwanda deserves. We have the capability in us to do this – we should make this a culture and protect the memory of the victims by exposing all those with the genocide ideology.

    Honourable guests,

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    I am pleased to take this opportunity to tell you that, even though we are here to commemorate for the 20th time the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the country has undergone a huge transformation;

    Today, Rwanda has a voice on the international stage and enjoys respect among the nations of the world. All Rwandans, in Rwanda and abroad, now have a sense of pride and dignity in being Rwandan. This is mainly because Rwanda is today a country that is based on sound principles.

    Among these principles we can single out: fighting genocide ideology, promoting national unity, eradicating sectarianism , giving Rwandans equal rights and opportunities, power-sharing, building democracy based on different ideas and opinions and the right of choice, the rule of law, and a firm development vision that must be implemented as quickly as possible.

    There can be no doubt that Rwanda has made good progress in all key areas in the last twenty years. Our country has a vision (Vision 2020) and a programme for creating wealth (EDPRS one and two) that are the catalysts of sustainable development.

    We now have security throughout the whole country. Rwandans and foreigners can go about their business without fear.

    We owe all these developments to good governance that has taken root in our country. Through decentralisation, services have been brought closer to the people. Rwandans have a bigger role in choosing their own leaders and a say in programmes intended for them. Regular, free and peaceful elections are now part of Rwandan culture, as are accountability and transparency. Leaders must present to citizens their programmes for evaluation!

    Honourable guests,

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    After the Genocide we had to restore the security and unity of Rwandans. Orphans and widows needed protection. The sick, wounded and traumatised needed special attention. We had to get the economy back on its feet. We had to rebuild schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.

    In addition, we had to restore the justice system and end the culture of impunity. In short, we had to start the country afresh. Some thought Rwanda would never be a viable country again because; all reconstruction efforts had to start from scratch.

    But now, Rwanda’s economy continues to grow. In the last few years, our GDP has been growing at an average rate of 7% annually. Revenue collection has also increased so that it now stands at more than half of our national budget – this means Rwanda can look forward to a near future when it will be self-sufficient.

    Annual per capita income is now more than US $650. We are now self-sufficient in food production and even have excess for the market. Famine, which had become chronic in some parts of the country, has been eradicated.

    Infrastructure has improved significantly, including roads, availability of clean water and electricity. The number of Rwandans with access to clean water has risen from 41% in 2003 to 80% today.

    The number of Rwandan and foreign investors also continues to increase, providing jobs, contributing more revenue and building the nation in general. We have adopted strategies to protect our environment, natural resources and tourist attraction sites, which have led to an ever growing number of tourists visiting Rwanda every year. For instance, last year, we received about 680,000 tourists who contributed US $250 million to our economy.

    There are now more schools for Rwandan children at every stage of their education, all with better materials, books and equipment. This is a fundamental step toward the building of a knowledge based economy.

    Honourable guests,

    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Coming back to why we are gathered here tonight, the reconstruction of Rwanda and the level of development achievements so far, have been possible because Rwanda and Rwandans understood the supreme necessity to work together as one people.

    Rwanda is committed to finding solutions to the survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi, harmony and peace between Rwandans.

    And in the spirit of Never again to Genocide, Rwanda participates actively in peace support operations worldwide as a United Nations troop and police contributing country. We currently have more than 4000 soldiers and over 380 Police officers in both Sudan and South Sudan and more than 540 Police peacekeepers serving in different UN missions in Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Chad and Haiti. Our recent deployment was last week where 850 Rwandan soldiers were sent to help restore peace in Central Africa Republic.

    The genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda was possible because we tolerated hate speech, unaccountability, ethnic manipulation and the inaction of international community at that time. And now 20 years later there are people and groups who made carriers in denying the Genocide against the Tutsi and advocate for its ideology just to feed their political aspirations. This must not be tolerated.

    In order to understand the lessons of the genocide we must understand why it happened, we cannot look at the results. We must learn to spot the signs and symptoms of a problem. We should never let things escalate when we see the signs.

    As my Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs put it in her last month speech: Kwibuka20 is a time to join in solemn remembrance, to reflect on the past twenty years, and to turn our attention to the challenges that lie ahead. It is a time to recommit ourselves to the simple but powerful idea: Never Again. Not just for Rwanda, but for the world. But for Never Again to be a reality – and not just words — Never Forget must also be our creed.

    We must never forget what happened here, and why. We must never forget how the world stood by, capable of intervening to prevent or reduce the slaughter, but unwilling to do so. We must never forget the million lives lost, the countless lives destroyed.

    We cannot escape the past, and we should not try. We are bound to our history but, with honest and compassionate reflection, we are not bound to repeat it. In fact, it is only in memory can we find the seeds of renewal.

    Thank you for your kind attention.

    Source:{Kwibuka.rw}

  • Uganda’s role in S. Sudan May Derail Peace Talks: Rebels

    Uganda’s role in S. Sudan May Derail Peace Talks: Rebels

    {{A member of the SPLM in Opposition – a rebel entity that emerged following a split within South Sudan’s ruling party on Thursday claimed his team was less optimistic about prospects of success in the next round peace talks with government.}}

    “We believe the forthcoming talks will not bring much progress as long as Ugandan troops continue occupying South Sudan land,” said Bor Gatwech, a lawmaker and humanitarian liaison officer for the SPLM/A in Opposition.

    The rebel official, speaking to journalists from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, insisted Uganda removes all its troops from South Sudanese territory and take a neutral position over what he described as an “internal” crisis.

    Uganda, a member of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), has been facilitating talks between South Sudan’s warring parties since early January.

    The presence of the Ugandan People Defense Forces (UPDF) in South Sudan was one of the main sticking points in the first round of peace talks, which culminated in a fragile ceasefire deal signed on 23 January.

    Kampala’s role in the conflict, rebel official told Sudan Tribune, could disrupt the IGAD brokered peace talks due to resume on 10 February in Addis Ababa.

    Despite the truce agreement, however, government forces and rebels have continued fighting in Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile states where large parts of the military defected to form the SPLM/A in Opposition, led by ex-vice president Riek Machar.

    {sudantribune}

  • UN Wants CAR Lynchers Punished

    UN Wants CAR Lynchers Punished

    {{UN envoy to the Central African Republic has urged the country to “make an example” of soldiers who lynched a man accused of being a rebel.}}

    The man was stabbed and beaten to death and then his body was burned in the capital, Bangui.

    It happened just moments after interim President Catherine Samba-Panza finished speaking at an army ceremony.

    Separately, France says its peacekeeping forces are now likely to stay for longer than six months.

    The lynching is the latest in a series of shocking acts in CAR which have continued despite the resignation of a former rebel who seized power last year.

    Much of the violence has been along religious lines, between minority Muslims and Christian groups.

    ‘Horrific attacks’
    UN envoy Babacar Gaye said the killing of the man was “unacceptable” and “must be properly investigated and the culprits punished and made an example of”.

    map
    The man, suspected of being part of the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels, was killed in view of several photographers and as African Union peacekeepers looked on.

    “This situation is an illustration of the fact that the population, they have lost their references. It is all the more worrisome that it happened within a community that has the responsibility to hold the weapons of the country and to protect the population,” Gen Gaye told the BBC’s Focus on Africa TV programme.

    For such situations to stop, a “comprehensive approach” was needed, involving restoring the country’s security forces, a reconciliation process, the resumption of economic life and having impartial international forces on the ground, he said.

    Meanwhile, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drians says his country’s peacekeeping forces are likely to stay in CAR for more than the six months they initially planned to remain.

    The UN Security Council authorised French and African troops to intervene in the country last December.

    On Wednesday, Human Rights Watch warned that Seleka fighters who had fled the capital Bangui had regrouped in the north-east and started attacking civilians.

    The militants were engaging in “a new wave of horrific attacks against civilians”, the charity said. It added that in some cases, Seleka were being helped by Chadian peacekeepers.

    Thousands of people have been killed in CAR since Seleka rebels overthrew President Francois Bozize last March.

    {BBC}

  • UN Says Millions at Risk in Sahel Food Crisis

    UN Says Millions at Risk in Sahel Food Crisis

    {{The UN is seeking $2bn this year to combat food insecurity in Africa’s Sahel region, where 1.2 million people have been forced to flee their homes because of violence.}}

    UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos announced the appeal in Rome on Monday, saying “more people than ever” were at risk of hunger.

    The UN projects 20 million people to be at risk of food insecurity in the Sahel region, with 2.5 million needing “urgent lifesaving food assistance”.

    According to the UN, five million children younger than five in the region will suffer from malnutrition this year.

    At the event in Rome, the UN launched a three-year response plan, to help the Sahel, which it defines as a nine-country region stretching from Chad to Senegal.

    “A dramatic increase in the number of food insecure is expected, driven in particular by a deterioration in the food security situation in Northern Nigeria, Northern Cameroon and Senegal. These three countries represent over 40 percent of the overall caseload,” the response plan said.

    Besides instability in countries like Nigeria and Mali, population growth and high food prices are contributing to the problem.

    The three-year plan aims to track and analyse risk and vulnerability to develop humanitarian programmes, respond to warning signals earlier and deliver “integrated life-saving assistance to people affected by emergencies.”

    “Life-saving naturally continues to be the first priority of the humanitarian community in the Sahel. Special effort will be directed towards a more inter-Cluster response to key vulnerabilities such as food insecurity, malnutrition, epidemics, conflict and displacement and natural disasters,” the report said.

    aljazeera

  • US Apologises to EU for Leaked Barb

    US Apologises to EU for Leaked Barb

    {{Washington’s new top diplomat for Europe, Victoria Nuland, has apologised to EU counterparts after she was caught cursing the European response to the crisis in Kiev.}}

    US officials, while not denying such a conversation took place, didn’t go into details about the apology, and pointed the finger at Russia for allegedly bugging the diplomats’ phones.

    A video, titled the “Marionettes of Maidan” referencing the centre of protests in Kiev, was published on YouTube on February 4th, and shows photos of Nuland and the US ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt.

    In the audio, voices resembling those of Nuland and Pyatt discuss
    international efforts to resolve Ukraine’s ongoing political crisis.

    At one point, the Nuland voice colorfully suggests that the EU’s position should be ignored.

    “F— the EU,” the female voice said.

    A US State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to publicly discuss the matter, told the Associated Press news agency that it sounds like an authentic recording of a call that occurred last week.

    State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Thursday that Nuland “has been in contact with her EU counterparts and of course has apologised for these reported comments”.’ But Psaki did not reveal to whom Nuland apologised on Thursday.

    US blames Russia

    The leaked phone call appears to reveal US frustration with the EU over handling Ukraine, which is torn between leaning to the European Union and its past master Russia.

    US officials pointed out that an aide to Russian deputy prime minister, Dmitry Rogozin, was among the first to tweet about the video that contains audio subtitled in Russian of the alleged call.

    In the tweet, posted some seven hours before existence of the video became widely known on Thursday, Loskutov, said: “Sort of controversial judgment from Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland speaking about the EU.”

    White House spokesman Jay Carney pointed to the tweet and Russia’s clear interest in what has become a struggle between pro-Moscow and pro-Western camps in the former Soviet Republic, but declined to comment on the source of the audio.

    “I would say that since the video was first noted and tweeted out by the Russian government, I think it says something about Russia’s role,” Carney told a news conference.

    He would not comment on the substance of the conversation, in which the Nuland and Pyatt voices also discuss their opinion of various Ukrainian opposition figures.

    State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that if the Russians were responsible for listening to, recording and posting a private diplomatic telephone conversation, it would be “a new low in Russian tradecraft”.

    {agencies}

  • BHARTI AIRTEL APPOINTS BUSINESS LEADERS TO DRIVE STRATEGY IN AFRICA

    BHARTI AIRTEL APPOINTS BUSINESS LEADERS TO DRIVE STRATEGY IN AFRICA

    {{BHARTI AIRTEL APPOINTS BUSINESS LEADERS TO DRIVE STRATEGY IN AFRICA}}

    • Key appointments aimed at supporting the new structure across Airtel Africa
    • Experienced telecommunications business leaders to lead and provide strategic direction to SBUs

    Nairobi, Kenya. February 6, 2013. Bharti Airtel, a leading telecommunications services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa has announced key appointments in its new organizational structure at Airtel Africa aimed at pursuing its growth agenda.

    The announcement follows a new structure of Airtel’s operations in which all operating countries will now be clustered into four Strategic Business Units (SBUs) whose leaders will report into the MD & CEO – Africa with effect from 1st April 2014.

    Mr. VG Somasekhar has been appointed Executive Operations Director of the SBU clustering Zambia, Congo B, Malawi, Burkina, Niger, Chad, Madagascar and Seychelles.

    Mr. Somasekhar has been Managing Director for Airtel Uganda since December 2010. He has delivered consistent business growth to make Uganda one of Airtel’s most profitable businesses in Africa.

    Mr. Christophe Soulet has been appointed as Executive Operations Director of the second SBU consisting of Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Gabon, Uganda, Sierra Leone and Rwanda.

    Amongst other leadership roles, Mr Soulet has worked with Millicom as Chief Operating & Executive Officer – Tigo DRC, as Chief Executive Officer – Ghana & DRC, Chief Regional Officer – Ghana, DRC & Chad and as Chief Regional Officer – Africa.

    Whilst at Millicom, Christophe led and executed a solid Africa strategy that resulted in high double-digit year on year revenue. He also coached and built winning leadership teams across Africa.

    Both Soma and Christophe will be based in Nairobi for their new assignments.

    Making the announcement Airtel Africa CEO Mr. Christian de Faria said: “These two business leaders have distinguished themselves with their exceptional understanding of the African telecoms landscape. We will leverage their experience, leadership and understanding of the African market to accelerate our market leadership opportunities and develop team capabilities as we seek to take our brand to the next level.”

    Mr. de Faria also stated that both Mr. Segun Ogunsanya currently MD & CEO Nigeria and Mr. Louis Lubala currently MD for DRC, will continue to lead Nigeria and DRC, the other two business units.

    Following Mr. Somasekhar appointment, Mr. Arindam Chakrabarty who is currently Chief Commercial Officer for Airtel Uganda will be acting as the Managing Director until a new Managing Director is appointed.

    Present in 17 African countries, Airtel is the largest telecoms service provider across the continent in terms of geographical reach and had over 68.3 million customers at the end of quarter ended December 31, 2013. Globally, Airtel is ranked as the 4th largest mobile services provider in terms of customer base.

  • Balotelli Finally Acknowledges Paternity

    Balotelli Finally Acknowledges Paternity

    {{AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli finally acknowledged he was the father of his daughter Pia, two months after failing to attend a hearing in Italy aimed at establishing paternity.}}

    In a message on Twitter, Balotelli wrote: “Finally the TRUTH :-)??…PIA … Sweet child of mine !!! your Dad.”

    Italy striker Balotelli is no longer the partner of former on-and-off girlfriend and showgirl Raffaella Fico, who in July 2012 announced she was pregnant with his child.

    Pia was born in December 2012 and Fico later accused Balotelli of distancing himself from his newborn baby daughter.

    The 23-year-old player retorted several weeks later by threatening Fico with legal action if she continued making “further irresponsible comments”.

    The couple had waged a bitter war of words in the Italian media since then, but Balotelli’s announcement is believed to have followed the completion of a DNA test.

    Balotelli, however, posted a follow-up message which appeared to be aimed at Fico and said: “What was the point of all that wasted time telling lies about me on television and in the newspaper? And what did it achieve?

    AFP

  • Dar es Salaam Rents Highest in E.Africa

    Dar es Salaam Rents Highest in E.Africa

    {{Dar es Salaam city in Tanzania is gradually getting expensive as the cost of renting an appartment is highest compared to cities in the Eastern Africa region.}}

    According to a survey conducted by the {Citizen} Renting an 85m² (900 sqft) room in an expensive area in the city costs up to $2,711 per month the highest compared with Nairobi, Kigali and Kampala.

    An online survey-based cost of living calculator, expatistan.com, shows that a similar house in expensive areas will cost $1,247 in Nairobi, $1,182 in Kampala and $933 in Kigali.

    On the food aspect, Kigali has the highest cost of combo meal in fast food restaurants (Big Mac Meal or similar) at an average of $12 while the same food is available at an average of $7 in Dar es Salaam, Nairobi and Kampala.

    Kampala has the highest price of bread for two people for one day.

    It costs $1.05 while a similar food is sold at $0.95 in Dar es Salaam, $0.63 in Kigali and $0.62 in Nairobi, the survey shows.

    The price of a pair of shoes costs an average of $88 in the city centre of Kigali, $76 in Dar es Salaam, $54Kampala and $53 Nairobi.

    Taking public transport is the highest in Kampala as a monthly ticket costs an average of $77, followed by Nairobi at $46, Dar es Salaam at $35 and $15 in Kigali.

    However, taxi transport is the most expensive in Nairobi. For instance, a taxi trip on a business day, basic tariff for 8km costs the average of $23 in Nairobi, $18 in Dar es Salaam and $14 in Kampala.For Kigali its approximately $13.

    On personal care, Kigali has the highest shaving cost as a standard men’s haircut in expat area of the city charges $15 while it is $9 in both Dar es Salaam and Nairobi and $8 in Kampala.

    Entertainment is also the most expensive in Kampala. For instance, two tickets to the movies cost $16 in Kampala followed by Nairobi at $14, Dar es Salaam at $12 and the lowest in Kigali at $10.

    {Citizen}

  • GMO Foods top 10 Most Unhealthy, Cancer-Causing Foods

    GMO Foods top 10 Most Unhealthy, Cancer-Causing Foods

    {{The statement “everything causes cancer” has become a popular hyperbole, and one that some people use as rhetorical fodder to excuse their own dietary and lifestyle failures, particularly as they pertain to cancer risk.}}

    But the truth of the matter is that many common food items have, indeed, been scientifically shown to increase cancer risk, and some of them substantially.

    Here are 10 of the most unhealthy, cancer-causing foods that you should never eat again:

    1) {{Genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). }} It goes without saying that GMOs have no legitimate place in any cancer-free diet, especially now that both GMOs and the chemicals used to grow them have been shown to cause rapid tumor growth.

    But GMOs are everywhere, including in most food derivatives made from conventional corn, soybeans, and canola.

    However, you can avoid them by sticking with certified organic, certified non-GMO verified, and locally-grown foods that are produced naturally without biotechnology.

    2) {{Processed meats. }} Most processed meat products, including lunch meats, bacon, sausage, and hot dogs, contain chemical preservatives that make them appear fresh and appealing, but that can also cause cancer.

    Both sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate have been linked to significantly increasing the risk of colon and other forms of cancer, so be sure to choose only uncured meat products made without nitrates, and preferably from grass-fed sources

    3) {{Microwave popcorn}}. They might be convenient, but those bags of microwave popcorn are lined with chemicals that are linked to causing not only infertility but also liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancers.

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in microwave popcorn bag linings as “likely” carcinogenic, and several independent studies have linked the chemical to causing tumors. Similarly, the diacetyl chemical used in the popcorn itself is linked to causing both lung damage and cancer

    4) {{Soda pop.}} Like processed meats, soda pop has been shown to cause cancer as well. Loaded with sugar, food chemicals, and colorings, soda pop acidifies the body and literally feeds cancer cells.

    Common soda pop chemicals like caramel color and its derivative 4-methylimidazole (4-MI) have also specifically been linked to causing cancer

    5) {{‘Diet’ foods, beverages.}} Even worse than conventional sugar-sweetened soda pop, though, is “diet” soda pop and various other diet beverages and foods.

    A recent scientific review issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of more than 20 separate research studies found that aspartame, one of the most common artificial sweeteners, causes a range of illnesses including birth defects and cancer. Sucralose (Splenda), saccharin and various other artificial sweeteners have also been linked to causing cancer

    6) {{Refined ‘white’ flours.}} Refined flour is a common ingredient in processed foods, but its excess carbohydrate content is a serious cause for concern.

    A study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Mile Markers, and Prevention found that regular consumption of refined carbohydrates was linked to a 220 percent increase in breast cancer among women.

    High-glycemic foods in general have also been shown to rapidly raise blood sugar levels in the body, which directly feeds cancer cell growth and spread

    7) {{Refined sugars}}. The same goes for refined sugars, which tend to rapidly spike insulin levels and feed the growth of cancer cells.

    Fructose-rich sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are particularly offensive, as cancer cells have been shown to quickly and easily metabolize them in order to proliferate.

    And since cookies, cakes, pies, sodas, juices, sauces, cereals, and many other popular, mostly processed, food items are loaded with HFCS and other refined sugars, this helps explain why cancer rates are on the rise these days

    8) {{Conventional apples, grapes, and other ‘dirty’ fruits}}. Many people think they are eating healthy when they buy apples, grapes, or strawberries from the store.

    But unless these fruits are organic or verified to be pesticide-free, they could be a major cancer risk.

    The Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that up to 98 percent of all conventional produce, and particularly the type found on its “dirty” fruits list, is contaminated with cancer-causing pesticides

    9) {{Farmed salmon.}} Farmed salmon is another high-risk cancer food, according to Dr. David Carpenter, Director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University of Albany. According to his assessment, farmed salmon not only lacks vitamin D, but it is often contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), flame retardants, pesticides, and antibiotics

    10) {{Hydrogenated oils.}} They are commonly used to preserve processed foods and keep them shelf-stable. But hydrogenated oils alter the structure and flexibility of cell membranes throughout the body, which can lead to a host of debilitating diseases such as cancer.

    Some manufacturers are phasing out the use of hydrogenated oils and replacing them with palm oil and other safer alternatives, but trans fats are still widely used in processed foods.

    {naturalnews}

  • World Bank to Fund Mineral Resources Mapping in Africa

    World Bank to Fund Mineral Resources Mapping in Africa

    {{The World Bank would launch a US$1bn fund in July 2014 to map mineral resources of Africa, using satellites and airborne surveys, according to a report}}

    The bank has reportedly committed US$200mn to the five-year fund, and has been meeting with mining companies and governments from sub-Saharan Africa, Reuters reported.

    Paulo de Sa, senior manager, World Bank mining unit, said, “Times are tough, so the mining companies are counting their pennies, but there is a lot of interest because it is exactly when commodity prices are low and the companies are reducing their investment budgets. Having the information to guide their priorities right now is valuable.”

    The mapping fund hopes to unearth up to US$1 trillion worth of new mineral resources on the continent.

    De Sa met with 10 mining companies, including Rio Tinto and Ivanhoe Mines. Initially targeting southern and eastern Africa, the fund would aim to collate existing data onto a single, digital platform that would be accessible to the public, the report added.

    Besides helping to guide exploration investment, African governments could reportedly benefit by being able to negotiate better deals when handing concessions to mining companies.

    “If they know what they have in their territory, they are in a better position to fine-tune and calibrate the fiscal regime and mining laws,” he added.

    The bank, which has received expressions of interest from Malawi and Mozambique to assist with geological mapping, also wants to identify copper prospectivity in Zambia, Africa’s top producer of the metal.

    {africanreview}