IDEX Program Officers, Kat and Vini recently went on field visits in South Africa to research groups IDEX could support through our catalyst grants program. This blog post comes from Kat, who visited RUCORE at the end of April. Mambulu is a rural village 3 hours from Durban, and over an hour from Kranskrop, where the paved road ends. From there the rest of my trip was on a winding dirt road bouncing up and down the mountains of Zululand to reach Mambulu. I was on my way to visit the Thandanani Food Garden, established by local community leader Joseph Gewabaza with the support of RUCORE.
RUCORE, Rural Educational Development Corporation, was founded in 1991 to support the development of a living and learning center that promotes ecological approaches to sustainable community development. RUCORE initiated its support with the establishment of the Tlholego Village in 1990 near Rustenburg in the Northwest Province. It is here that Joseph was trained in sustainable agriculture, permaculture and ecological land use design.
Joseph is originally from Mambulu Village and but met Paul Cohen, the founder of RUCORE, in Johannesburg. Joseph learned about RUCORE’s work in the Tlholego Village and volunteered to be trained for a two-year apprenticeship. He wanted to see if he could replicate the model in his own village. He asked his community at the Mambulu Village, whether they would give him permission to go to bring back this expertise to his community and they approved.
After his two-year apprenticeship Joseph returned to Mambulu Village in 2000, and initiated the Thandanani Vegetable Gardens, which today has 90 community members, mostly women, working in them.
Thandanani means, "love each other" in Zulu. It also represents the important source of food security that comes from the garden and inspires community members to care and work together. The 90 community members come to the garden three times a week to work on the garden. All of them come together so that everyone can see each other working and it encourages trust among the members.
When I arrived there were around 30 women preparing the land for the fall season. In this garden they have cultivated cabbage, spinach, onions, green peppers, tomatoes, beetroots, corn and potatoes. Their main challenge is the lack of water; the nearest river is two-hour round trip by foot. The women organize shifts to collect water. Every morning at 8am, one group of women will go the river; another group sets off at noon. This way they can just about keep their plants watered.
Since they started the garden, they no longer have to spend time and money (US$2.20 per trip) traveling on the dirt road to Kranskrop to buy food. They’ve also been able to get the local municipality to support them with fencing to protect their garden. But this support is insignificant compared to the help received by nearby communities who use conventional farming methods.
Like many countries, South Africa is more supportive of conventional farming than organic farming. In spite of the women of the Thandanani Food Garden are determined to continue organic agricultural practices. Recently, the village won a local vegetable competition. They won quite simply because they had the highest quality vegetables.
Their commitment was evident. After meeting me the women went straight back to work in their garden. Without the garden they would have limited sources of income with which to buy food and cover other costs.
Now that they have food security for their households, their next goal is to grow enough to sell some vegetables and earn an income. After this they have plans to start community initiatives such as a new clinic and a kindergarten for their children. Currently they have to travel to get health care and go to school.
At Kranskrop we sought out Joseph to say goodbye. In addition to working with the Thandanani Food Garden he has a full time job as a minibus taxi driver. Always smiling, he waved us goodbye as people began to fill up his van.
Labels: RUCORE, South Africa, Thandanani Food Garden
BangladeshHC asks government to stop river encroachment 5-25-09, The Daily Star
The High Court (HC) yesterday directed the government to take appropriate steps to stop encroachment, earth-filling, and construction of illegal structures on the Buriganga, Turag, Balu, and Shitalakkhya rivers.
Bangladesh mutiny deaths probed 5-21-09, BBC
Bangladesh has ordered an inquiry into the deaths of 21 border guards who were held in custody after a mutiny in February that killed nearly 100 people.
Guatemala
Guatemala Murder Scandal Could Threaten the Presidency 5-20-09, Christian Science Monitor
The scandal surrounding accusations that Guatemala's president orchestrated the murder of a prominent lawyer is deepening divisions in the country. It is also handing the country its greatest threat to democracy since the civil war ended.
Poverty reduction programs under fire 5-21-09, Latin America Press
The Social Cohesion Council, a government body dealing with social development, announced a Strategic Plan to Reduce Chronic Malnutrition which will distribute about US$12 a month to the beneficiaries of the conditioned cash transfer program Mi Familia Progresa, in four Mayan Chortí municipalities of Chiquimula.
India
In Punjab, Crowding Onto The Cancer Train 5-11-09, NPR
Train No. 339 routinely carries at least 60 cancer patients for treatment at the government's regional cancer center. Researchers caution that the findings do not prove that pesticides are causing cancer. But are the modern farming methods brought by the so-called Green Revolution of the 1960s and '70s making people sick?
Indian Rights Activist to be Freed on Bail 5-25-09, AP
India's top court on Monday ordered that a human rights activist facing trial in eastern India for allegedly aiding the region's communist rebels be released on bail.
Mexico
Crisis Drives Up Poverty Rate 5-23-09, IPS
Between 1994 and 1996, the poverty rate in Mexico climbed from 52 to 69 percent due to a deep but short-lived global economic recession that broke out in this country. Now this country is experiencing another depression, which originated in its northern neighbor, and that will last at least until 2010.
Avalanche of anti-abortion laws 5-22-09, IPS
In the last 13 months, 12 of Mexico's 32 states have approved amendments to their state constitutions defining a fertilized human egg as a person with a right to legal protection, and seven other state parliaments are taking steps in the same direction.
Nepal
Senior UN official lauds Supreme Court reforms 5-19-09, UN News Service
The top United Nations human rights official in Nepal today welcomed Supreme Court reforms initiated by the fledgling democracy’s newly appointed Chief Justice. The measures are aimed at enhancing transparency in its system of jurisprudence.
Successive governments have ignored agriculture 5-25-09, eKantipur
According to a recent report from the Ministry of Agriculture, 40 percent of the people in the hills and mountains, barring the eastern region are suffering from a serious food deficit of 133,000 tons. Jagannath Adhikari, a geographer by training, has undertaken extensive research in Nepal's rural areas, studying, among other things, remittances, migration and food security.
Constitution-drafting process finally begins after a year 5-25-09, eKantipur
Only a year after its first meeting was convened, the Constituent Assembly (CA) has finally entered the constitution-drafting process. The CA’s National Interest Preservation Committee (NIPC) among its 11 committees presented its concept paper on the constitution.
South Africa
The Grass Beneath the Fighting Elephants 5-22-09, Pambazuka
There is an African saying that when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. In South Africa lately, the elephants have been the two biggest winners in the April elections-the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA). The grass is democracy and women's rights.
South Africa goes into recession 5-25-09, BBC
The South African economy has gone into recession for the first time since 1992, following a sharp slowdown in the manufacturing and mining sectors. Africa's biggest economy contracted at an annualized rate of 6.4% between January and March.
South Africa gets anti-crime boss 5-21-09, BBC
South Africa has appointed a relatively unknown police officer to head its new serious crimes agency that replaced the elite Scorpions unit. He will head the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation when it launches in July.
Zimbabwe
No Movement on Media Reform Despite Government Pledges 5-21-09, SW Radio Africa News
Repeated promises to reform the repressive media environment in Zimbabwe are proving hollow. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Thursday said there have been "significant improvements," but improvements are not translating into action.
Long Road to Water Sustainability 5-22-09, IPS
As Zimbabwe's national unity government approaches 100 days in office, Finance Minister Tendai Biti has said it will take some time for the country to return to 1996 standards, before what was once southern Africa’s second largest economy went into a tailspin.
General
2009 Report on State-Sponsored Homophobia
ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association published the third edition of its report and map on State Sponsored Homophobia, a collection of legislation criminalizing consensual sexual acts between persons of the same sex in private over the age of consent.
African Finance Ministers to Discuss Impact of Economic Crisis 5-21-09, Afrique en ligne
African ministers have scheduled a meeting to discuss measures required to deal with the global economic crisis. The meeting will explore ways of dealing with the crisis through enhanced fiscal planning and ways of raising funds internally within Africa.
Labels: Bangladesh, Guatemala, IDEX NewsFlash, India, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa, Zimbabwe
IDEX Program Officers, Kat and Vini recently went on field visits in South Africa to research groups IDEX could support through our catalyst grants program. This blog post comes from Kat, who visited Rainman Landcare at the end of April.Today I'm in the Valley of 1,000 Hills, a long stretch of hills between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Years ago the Zulus would have their huts on each of the hills and call out to each other, or so I was told. I’m here to visit Rainman Landcare Foundation in an area called Peacevale.
Raymond Auerbach is the director and founder of Rainman Landcare Foundation. He used to be a university professor at Pietermaritzburg but saw the academic field of organic farming lacked a way of teaching practical skills. He was inspired to found Rainman Landcare to provide the services such as:
1) Vocational skill training in organic farming,
2) Organic farming facilitator course following the train the trainer model, and
3) Policy work in terms of lobbying for more support for the organic movement in South Africa.
Today is the first day back from Easter break for 23 students and they are eager to see the progress their green beans have made. They come here to become accredited as an organic farmer, and the training takes 8 months. The students are all community members who want to learn about organic farming so they can grow their own food gardens.
Before the break, the students had put mulch on the land to maintain moisture in the soil, and to protect their beans from pests during their absence. Now they observed the differences in bean growth between those students who had mulched properly and those who hadn’t.
Raymond then took me to visit a community in Cliffdale. One of his graduates from the course had trained other members in his community to farm organically. 16 community members are managing the land quite successfully. But even though they've been able to farm good organic crops they haven't been able to transport any of their products to sell at the bigger stores, such as Woolworth's or Pick and Pay, as no one owns a car.
They’ve also grown indigenous plants to encourage the preservation of their culture. The crops that are grown on this field go first to the members working on the garden and then the food is distributed for those who can't work the land, such as young orphans or the sick. The rest is then sold to the community.
Building on their success they have started to raise free-range chickens. The group hopes to access government resources to repair their chicken coop so the chickens feel comfortable in laying their eggs.
Although Rainman Landcare organic farming skills were taught to just one person in Cliffdale, 16 people can now farm in an organic way. They continue to find ways to use the skills and training to improve their community. They are even involving the local school and want persuade the school to allow them to develop an organic garden in their backyard for the student to learn about their vegetables and food.
Labels: organic farming, Rainman Lancare Foundation, South Africa
BangladeshHR Watch for disbanding DGFI Rab 5-19-09 The Daily Star
Human Rights Watch has recommended the disbanding of the Rapid Action Battalion and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence, terming them symbols of abuse and impunity in a report released yesterday.
World Bank helps Bangladesh control air pollution 5-13-09 Reuters
The World Bank approved on Wednesday a $62.2 million credit to help Bangladesh to control urban air pollution through cutting emissions in key polluting sectors such as transport and brick-making.
Guatemala
Guatemala's Dirty War 5-18-09 ZNet
Guatemala released secret NCP files on suspected "subversives". Other files, released from the Military Archives, implicate the military's high command in their planning and execution.
Guatemalan protests as leader faces murder claims 5-14-09 AFP
Angry crowds marched in downtown Guatemala City, some demanding the resignation of President Alvaro Colom and others defending him against accusations of murdering a prominent lawyer.
India
Development trumps regional issues in Indian vote 5-18-09 Reuters India
Millions of Indians appeared to have jettisoned caste and linguistic identities to vote for good governance in India's general election, which may change policies to win over voters, analysts said.
India rupee posts biggest gain in 11 yrs after poll 5-18-09 Reuters India
The Indian rupee surged over 3 percent on Monday, posting its biggest gain in more than a decade on hopes for reforms, foreign inflows and a massive jump in the share market after the ruling coalition swept national polls.
Mexico
Mexico Faces Downgrade After 'Very Complacent' Decade 5-12-09 Bloomberg
Mexico's credit rating may be cut as the global recession exposes the government's failure to raise taxes and ease its dependence on oil income, according to Credit Suisse Group AG and UBS AG.
Guerrillas, narcos, Washington, and the ghosts of 1910 5-14-09 Frontera NorteSur
A guerrilla group made allegations that the government was supporting the Sinaloa Cartel, as the U.S. Congress is considering a $470 million Drug War request by the Mexican government.
Nepal
Political impasse delays humanitarian assistance 5-15-09 IRIN
The ongoing political impasse in Nepal has affected the flow of humanitarian assistance and development work, local and international aid workers say.
Experts call for climate change adaptation plans 5-8-09 IRIN
Nepal is one of a number of South Asian countries directly affected by global warming: Local experts warn that climate change adaptation plans urgently need to be put in place.
South Africa
Minister Moves to Ease Relationship With Traditional Leaders 5-18-09 BusinessDay
A traditional leaders' institution would be established to improve ease tensions between elected public officials and traditional leaders on rural development issues.
Huge Fire Kills Seven in South Africa 5-16-09 Shabelle Media Network
At least seven foreign and South African people have died and more others injured after enormous fire burnt a shop in Cape Town overnight.
Zimbabwe
International Relations Move From Freezer to Fridge 5-18-09 IRIN
A defrosting of relations combined with a financial mechanism designed to avoid donor money flowing through the hands of ZANU-PF is gently prising open the door for assistance.
Environment Conservation Proves Tough Call 5-14-09 Financial Gazette
While a decade of economic decay has exerted pressure on the environment as well as pushing marginalized communities into abject poverty, conserving what is left is proving to be a tough call.
Prominent Human Rights Lawyer Arrested 5-14-09 AP
A prominent Zimbabwean human rights lawyer was arrested Thursday at a court in Harare, colleagues said. Alec Muchadehama was arrested at a magistrates court where he had gone to work.
General
Grain crisis and political economy of a new scramble for Africa 5-14-09 This Day
A far-reaching crisis in the financial systems of the developed world and food security in many Asian countries is compelling them to seek land elsewhere. Africa is the choice continent, but it is brittle.
Turning Agriculture into a Business 5-14-09 API
A plan by the Africa Commission to side-step African governments and target the private sector to invigorate the continent's business and agricultural capacity was launched in Copenhagen, on 6 May.
LGBTI Activists Optimistic about Progay Resolution 5-15-09 Pambazuka
African LGBTI human rights defenders are optimistic that a resolution to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in Africa will be adopted by the African Commission.
Labels: Newsflash
GuatemalaIntl Women's Meeting in Guatemala - Prensa Latina – 10 May 09
Women Redefining Democracy for Peace, Justice and Equality Conference begins in Antigua, Guatemala Sunday, with some 130 women delegates attending, four of them Nobel Prize winners.
Guatemalan Closing Indigenous Gap - Prensa Latina – 8 May 09
The forum for the 32nd Meeting of the Direction Council of the Fund for Development of the Indigenous People in Latin American and the Caribbean, gathered representatives of different Latin American and Caribbean ethnic groups who prepared proposals of political inclusion and their demands to their respective governments.
Mexico
Mexico's schools cleaned, ready to resume classes - Signonsandiego.com – 11 May 09
Mexico's primary schools and kindergartens are ready to welcome back millions of students on Monday.
Mexico drug violence rises on border despite army - Reuters – 11 May 09
Killings between rival drug cartels are rising again in Ciudad Juarez despite a massive army deployment.
India
In Punjab, Crowding Onto The Cancer Train - NPR – 11 May 09
Researchers in India found that farming villages using large amounts of pesticides have significantly higher rates of cancer than villages that use less of the chemicals.
Kashmir strike mars India polls - Aljazeera.net – 7 May 09
The fourth phase of voting in India’s month long general election is taking place, with 85 seats up for grabs in seven states. Heavy security has been deployed for polling in the Kashmir valley, the disputed northern Himalayan region claimed by both India and Pakistan.
Nepal
Nepal parliament to pick new prime minister - Reuters - 10 May 09
Nepal's President Ram Baran Yadav asked the Himalayan nation's parliament on Sunday to elect a new leader to replace Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda who resigned last week after failing to sack the army chief.
Experts call for climate change adaptation plans - IRIN – 8 May 09
Nepal is one of a number of south Asian countries directly affected by global warming, especially in mountainous regions. Local experts warn that climate change adaptation plans urgently need to be put in place.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh seen hit hard by global recession – EU - Reuters – 7 May 09
Bangladesh’s economy, particularly exports and remittances, could be hit hard in the next fiscal year, beginning in July, due to the global recession, EU officials in the south Asian country said on Thursday.
Bangladesh seeks foreign aid to dredge silted rivers - The Hindu – 7 May 09
Bangladesh has sought foreign aid to dredge all its rivers and has told prospective donors that funds provided would be properly used.
South Africa
More Women Make Up New Cabinet - allAfrica.com – 10 May 09
Fourteen Ministers and 12 Deputy Ministers are women, putting the representation in the new Cabinet at almost 42%.
Zimbabwe
Police Swoop On Zimlnd Offices - allAfrica.com – 9 May 09
Officers from the Police Law and Order Section were sent in with orders to arrest two editors of the Zimbabwe Independent over a story published on Friday naming Central Intelligence Organization officers and police officers who were allegedly involved in the abduction of human rights and MDC activists in November last year.
Govt Gets Seven-Day Ultimatum – allAfrica.com - 09 May 09
Civil servants have given government a seven-day ultimatum to address their demands for more realistic salaries or risk a crippling strike.
Don't Abuse Visa-Free Scheme – Mohadi - allAfrica.com – 7 May 09
Zimbabweans can obtain a free visitor's permit at the border or airport that entitles them to stay in South Africa for up to 90 days, but Home Affairs Co-Minister Kembo Mohadis warns against abusing the new system.
Zimbabwean migration camouflages human traffickers - IRIN – 1 May 09
The southern African spokesman for the International Organization for Migration stated that conditions at the South African and Zimbabwe border are ideal for human traffickers.
General
Foreigners Lead Global Land Rush - IPS - 5 May 09
More than 20 million hectares of farmland in Africa and Latin America are now in the hands of foreign governments and companies, a sign of a global "land grab" that got a boost from last year's food crisis.
Labels: Newsflash
IDEX Program Officers, Kat and Vini are on field visits in South Africa to research groups IDEX could support through our catalyst grants program.We spent South Africa's election day in South Durban's industrial wasteland with the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA). SDCEA was founded in 1996 as a coalition of communities working for environmental justice in South Durban and beyond.
We met with Desmond D'Sa, SDCEA’s director, who shared stories of protests, actions and campaigns; we were devastated and inspired at the same time. 52% of all children in South Durban have asthma. Absentee rates at the schools in the area are over 40% due to respiratory illness. Cancer rates are higher than any other single geographic area in the province.
From a hilltop in the middle of South Durban, which is home to 300,000 people, we saw heavy industries spewing waste into the ocean and the air. The industries generate 40 million Rand in profit each day, and there is little incentive for the government to move them.
South Africa’s largest landfill site was also in this area. It finally closed last year as a result of public pressure. Until then, the landfill received contaminated waste from hospitals, including needles and industrial waste. The landfill was next door to a semi-rural area in a black township.
Desmond told us that until last year, children played on the landfill. There are no records of how many kids died but community reports indicates many are still sick. SDCEA gather evidence and generates reports to mobilize community and policymakers. He took us to a previously white owned area where a petrol leak sprung up a few years ago. Overnight residents fled but the oil company preserved the homes in the hope that up and coming middle class blacks would move in… and they did. People are still living on oil pipelines, over contaminated soil.
Desmond showed us incredible photographs documenting over ten years of tireless work. But his greatest pride is a curriculum of books developed for township schools to teach about environmental justice.
Mrs. Gawanda lives in South Durban, in public housing with her husband and 5 grandchildren. She told us that all of her grandchildren except one have asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Yet health care is hard to come by; the nearest clinic is a 2-hour bus ride away, and medication is not available in regular supply. But Mrs. Gawanda calls herself a fighter. She is at every action meeting to demand an accessible clinic and clean air in her neighborhood. "I do this for my grandkids. That's why I can’t stop", she says.
More information on S. African's environmental justice movement is also available from another organization we visited: Groundwork.
Labels: environmental justice, SDCEA, South Africa
GuatemalaGuatemala Debt at 22% GDP - Prensa Latina – 30 Apr 09
The Bank of Guatemala (BANGUAT) has over $4.3 billion in foreign debt; a reported $225 million will be covered with bonds from the Treasury if approved by Congress.
Guatemala Fights {Childhood} Malnutrition - Prensa Latina – 29 Apr 09
The Guatemalan government will be implementing a pilot program in 4 municipalities in the eastern department of Chiquimula that will work to decrease childhood chronic malnutrition among the poor.
Mexico
Congress Closed to Indigenous Women - IPS – 30 Apr 09
Two indigenous women, Rogelia González of Oaxaca and Celia López of Chiapas, running for Congress seats in the July legislative elections would be the first in Mexico’s Congress if successful.
Mexico health chief: Swine flu cases leveling off - SignonSandiego.com – 30 Apr 09
Health secretary Jose Angel Cordova reported on Thursday that the number of new swine flu cases is stabilizing in country.
Bangladesh
Taking Jobs to Bangladesh’s Poor - BBC – 30 Apr 09
Forty women in the rural area of the Jamuna river area speak about the benefits they have experienced working for a company that sells hand-knitted baby clothes and toys to customers in Europe, Australia, and the U.S.
India
Indians vote in key third phase - BBC – 30 Apr. 09
Voting has ended in India in the third of five stages of the country's general election. Millions cast ballots in 107 constituencies across nine states and two federal territories.
Nepal
Protests erupt in Nepal after PM fires army chief - Associated Press – 3 May 09
Nepal's prime minister fired the army chief Sunday after a struggle over admitting former Maoist rebel fighters to the military, sparking mass protests.
Senegal
African Bid to Fix Fallout - allAfrica.com – 30 Apr 09
Some of Africa's leading minds meet in Dakar, Senegal at the weekend to find ways of reducing the impact of the global economic crisis on the continent.
Drop in Malaria – Increased Efforts or Reduced Errors - allAfrica.com – 27 Apr 09
The number of infections and deaths reported as malaria have dropped by at least 74% since the country started using rapid diagnostic tests in October 2007, according to the government.
South Africa
Country Countering Xenophobia With Help of the UN Refugee Agency - allAfrica.com – 1 May 09
UNHCR is assisting the Government and independent humanitarian organizations, such as the Nelson Mandela Foundation in their efforts to combat xenophobia in South Africa where tens of thousands fled their homes last year after a wave of attacks on foreigners.
ANC Announces its Premier Candidates - allAfrica.com – 30 Apr 09
The ANC has announced its premiers, with 5 being women, but 4 will rule the provinces as Lynn Brown will be a shadow premier in the Western Cape that was lost to the DA.
Zimbabwe
More Zimbabwean Migrants Expected in Musina - allAfrica.com – 30 Apr 09
The South African border town of Musina is bracing for an increase in migrants as faith in Zimbabwe's new unity government wanes and the lure of a new permit system specifically tailored for Zimbabweans makes it easier for them to work and study in SA.
Relief Efforts Gear Up - allAfrica.com – 29 Apr 09
International humanitarian aid efforts to Zimbabwe to help combat a continuing cholera outbreak and overcome widespread food shortages are intensifying.
Labels: IDEX NewsFlash