'A VITAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE'

  Libreville, 7 August 2009 -  More than 120 countries celebrated the 18^th annual World Breastfeeding Week to encourage breastfeeding as  a life saving intervention for infants  before and during emergencies this year. Complex challenges prevent many mothers from safely feeding their children in Africa, particularly in emergency situations. Educating African mothers,  health professionals, governments, aid agencies, donors and the media is the key to overcoming these challenges.  Rebecca JAMES reports

TIEMOKO SANGARE
ON
SPECIAL NEEDS OF LDCs

Geneva (Switzerland), 24 June 2009 _ The Environment minister for Mali, Tiemoko Sangare feels more action is needed and that actions on issues, such as climate change, the Millennium Development Goals and many, many others need to be consolidated and simplified, so bureaucratic actions to not overtake activities on the ground.  Mali is already being affected by climate change, especially in the north of the country, where the Sahel desert is increasing its hold over the land...

ROBIN GWYNN

UK Climate Security Envoy for Vulnerable Countries

 

Geneva (Switzerland), 23 June, 2009 _ Africa must forge strategic alliances with other nations outside the continent that are vulnerable to the effects of climate change if they want their message heard and to force the West and other rapidly industrialising nations to impose strict-tough targets and consensus to be met in Copenhagen later this year 2009. If the envoy and those pressing for strict targets and controls on climate change at Copenhagen are successful, he will be out of a job, but no doubt satisfied with completing his stated mission.

SHERRY AYITTEY  

Views on Climate change in Africa

 
Geneva (Switzerland) June 23rd, 2009_ Ghana’s Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Sherry Ayittey expressed her disappointment by the selfish actions of much of the Western World and their reluctance to commit to action on reducing climate change. Ms Ayittey, in an exclusive interview with Afromedianet, confessed her frustrations and her hopes for International climate change agreements.

“West Africa is at risk of becoming an epicentre
For drug trafficking and the crime associated with it”

Bissau (Guinea), 26 June 2009_ Tons of cocaine from the Andean countries are transiting the region every year, heading north where they are worth billions of dollars on the streets of European cities. A United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report released in October of 2008 estimated at least 50 tons of cocaine from Latin America was entering West Africa every year, en route to Europe where the drug sells for almost $2 billion. Executive Director of UNODC, Antonio Maria Costa, warned that “West Africa is at risk of becoming an epicentre for drug trafficking and the crime associated with it”.