Nelson Mandela’s Statue Unveiled in London

Published on 4th September 2007

A three-meter bronze statue of former South African President Nelson Mandela was unveiled in London to commemorate his struggle against apartheid. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who attended the ceremony, called the statue "a beacon of hope.” Though this statue is of one man, it should in actual fact symbolize all those who have resisted oppression, especially in my country," Mr. Mandela said. Nelson Mandela's statue will join other notable leaders such as Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln who also resisted oppression.

Doom for African Countries

Mr. Tetteh Hormeku, Head of Programmes at the Third World Network, a civil society organization spearheading the campaign against Economic Partnership Agreements has predicted doom for African countries after signing up on the EU led EPAs aimed at establishing a new WTO compatible trading agreement. Mr Hormeku warned that "thousands of workers will lose their jobs because many factories will collapse" when African leaders sign the EPA compact in December. According to him, over 70 percent of the local poultry industry has already collapsed as a result of the unfavorable economic policies, adding that "local industries cannot compete with the highly subsidized Western market.” The Free Trade Agreements will eliminate trade barriers on more than 90 percent of EU-Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific trade within the shortest possible transition period.

AU Conference of African Women

The first AU Conference of African Women in Science and Technology was held from 29-31 August 2007 in South Africa. Top women scientists and academics from across the continent attended the high profile conference. Calls were made for the establishment of more African Women Universities to empower women to take up studies in the field of science and technology. The conference sought to find ways of how best women in Africa can actively participate in the field of science and technology. "We need to change the structural obstacles which continue to hinder the development of science and technology for the benefit of the poor. We need to overcome barriers that continue to exclude girl children and women from the study of science and technology," South African deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka told the conference.

Africa: Positive Development gets Minimal Attention

Positive developments in Africa do not get the required attention, says Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Speaking in the Italian city of Turin, the Liberian leader, chronicled the growing trend of democracy in Africa, saying today the continent has 18 democracies, and that 21 countries have qualified for the first stage of debt relief. President Sirleaf was addressing the UN Turin Retreat 2007, convened by the U.N Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to enable his senior managers know each other better, exchange ideas and reflect on the experiences to date and the challenges ahead of the organization.

ITU to Unveil  Latest Report

The ITU - the world regulator of telecommunications will unveil its 8th report on Trends in Telecommunication Reform, the Road to the Next Generation Network (NGN) and give an update on the 'Connect Africa Summit' as well as the future of the ITU in global connectivity. The ITU says it has a strong financial footing to embark on a strategic plan to fulfill its mission of connecting the world, achieving the 2015 connectivity targets and fast-tracking the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The 8th edition of the report is aimed at enabling regulators and policy-makers in developing countries to understand changes and transformation in the ICT sector so that they could evolve their policy and regulatory frameworks to leverage today’s technological and market developments.

Compiled by Anne Mugoya
Inter Region Economic Network


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