HWC 14-15

Famine is nearing Somalia. After a year of little rain and heavy fighting, millions of people are at risk. There have also been many people trying to escape the country due to the al-Shabab militants. They have prevented food from traveling roads. Another famine would also jeopardize the fragile process of rebuilding Somalia. This relates to the article about the terror of al-Shabab militants and how they are controlling the residents in Somalia.

Somalia is very close to reaching a famine that would deplete the population of Somalia by nearly one million. Many people in Somalia have already been considered on the brink of famine, and are very hungry. Currently people are asking for $1 billion to help the people of Somalia, but it is more likely that they will get around $313 million.

This article talks about the food shortages in Somalia. This connects to the issue that if America has strict restrictions on areas that the Shabab are in, then the innocent civilians cannot receive the aid they need.

A leader of Shabab was killed by an American airstrike. Since then, they have named a new leader and still have access to a lot of money and weapons, which means they are still a threat.

12 people were killed when a suicide bomber crashed into an AU convoy in Somalia. al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack.

Somaliland wants independence from Somalia, and it is very clear. They have wanted independence since 1991 and they wonder why they are not given it after seeing South Sudan gain independence, and Scotland hold a referendum on whether or not to become an independent country. It is mainly believed that if Somaliland gained independence it would cause other African countries to want to be free. Also, it is believed that Somaliland independence could disrupt the peace that exists between Somaliland and Somalia.

This article relates how Belgium took millions of dollars of Zimbabwean diamonds. Ever since the UN lifted the sanction on diamonds in 2013, these gems have been a large contribution to the debt-stricken economy. This relates because the database article discusses how sanctions on exports can negatively affect the economy, and how land reform is causing disputes on whose property is whose.

Belgian authorities took Zimbabwean diamonds that were at an auction waiting to be purchased. A court order gave compensation to a South African mining company that had lost that concession. On September 12, around 500,000 ounces of diamond worth $45 million belonging to Zimbabwean shareholders was seized. The World Diamond Center wants to sell 12 million carats of diamonds from Zimbabwe this year. Zimbabwe has the second largest metal deposits behind South Africa.

Belgian authorities seized about 500,000 ounces worth roughly $45 million and belonging to companies with Zimbabwean state shareholdings were seized on Sept. 12. A court ruling stated that a South African Mining company would given compensation for the concession they had lost.

This article talks about the lack of clean water in Zimbabwe and how it is negatively affecting the population. This relates because the database article we read discussed how lack of public infrastructure put the economy on a downward spiral, and that these difficulties make land reform initiatives unsuccessful.

This article describes a health crisis in Zimbabwe due to a insufficient water system. The article blames the government for neglecting the public water system for the water issues, rather than a drought. This relates to our studies, because we studied the land reform, which had failure largely due to the unorganized government just as the water system is failing today.

This article describes how one of Zimbabwe's largest hospitals has been operating for most of the year without running water. This violates many public health standards and is being blamed on the government for not taking care, and watching out for the public water sources.

This article discusses the case of a white man who was forced out of his commercial farm by black squatters under government orders. This relates to the database article we read because it provides a modern example of land occupation under land reform.

A fig tree farmer had been evicted from his farm in Zimbabwe because of the land reform. The government had allowed native people to settle back on the land without telling the farmer. Now this farmer is stranded with no place to go. There are lawyers trying to settle this dispute. This refers to the article from Part E because of the unfair use of land reform.

This article is about a farmer who is not allowed to visit his farm due to Robert Mugabe's land reform.

This article discusses a claim made by Sadc's Director for Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources saying that land reform in Zimbabwe has created a surplus of cereals. The writer states that while agriculture has slightly improved, there is not a surplus since the country still imports tons of cereals. Also, the author refutes the Sadc director's statement that other African countries should pursue land reform because reform in Zimbabwe damaged the economy and only sought to increase voter support. This relates to Part E since it details some of the failures of land reform.

This article tells how Russia is about to sign a major joint platinum mining deal in/ with Zimbabwe. This relates because before, there were rumors of gold in Zimbabwe, but mining revealed no such gold. However, in Harare, platinum is confirmed to be in Zimbabwe's reserves and it will not be soon until mining will commence for this platinum.

This article describes how some people have abused the Zimbabwe land reform. It states that people have gotten more land by registering under the names of their children as young as 10. This shows that the land reform in Zimbabwe can be abused.

Somalia Ambassador Mohammed Abdi Affey has dismissed claims that Kenya is keen on creating Jubbaland in Somalia as a buffer state against the AL-Shabaab militants. Instead, it is the people of Jubbaland that want to create a state. Creating this state would require massive investment. This article relates to or studies because it discusses the terror in Somalia right now with the al-Shabaab militants.

Desmond Tutu argues that racial integration is not occurring on the rugby field and the negative effects of apartheid are still being felt. As a result, a new regulation proposes that there must be at least seven non-white players on South Africa's Springboks next year. This relates to the integration of colored people into aspects of society after the fall of apartheid.

This article relates to two South African issues: education and HIV. Unplanned pregnancies give women an unfair disadvantage in schooling systems. These pregnancies also cause health issues among women (HIV), leading to a high dropout rate and hurting the education systems.

Former African President F. W. de Klerk argues that the ANC should not implement drastic changes to current property laws in South Africa, as the new laws could cause economic collapse. This land redistribution issue is one that sprang from the end of the era of apartheid. The fact that it is continuing to be an issue highlights the great effect that apartheid had in South Africa.

Sixteen undocumented immigrants have escaped from the Rustenburg police station where they were imprisoned. The immigrants from Mozambique and Zimbabwe, escaped between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning after cutting a hole in the roof. An investigation has been taken place and police say serious steps will be taken if it can be found that there was negligence on the part of some officers.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will be in Lesotho to mediate in the mountain Kingdom's political and security problems. An emergency meeting was held this week after union leaders disagree on a date to reopen Parliament in Maseru. Ramaphosa will himself meet with members of the fragile alliance government and other political role players to try and restore stability to the mountain Kingdom.

French volunteer working for Medicines Sans Frontieres in Liberia has caught Ebola. She was put in quarantine and sent to France in a special medical plane as soon as the early symptoms of disease appeared. President Obama has called Ebola a major threat to global security and announced a major expansion of our country's role in annihilating its spread.

This article is about a black South African who was exiled because of his writings about the apartheid government. This connects to the issues addressed in this activity because is shows how serious apartheid is and how is still exists.

On September 18, an international conference directed at renovating Somali National army and improving security in Somalia is being held in London. Prime Minister Abdiweli is supplying details of security expansions including the successes of government forces in seizing areas from Al-Shabaab and the need to build strong Somali forces capable of taking over security from the more than 20,000 military forces. Somalia's government will outline its vision for the development of the national army and the pathways for alliance of regional militias, adherence with the arms embargo, economic planning and human rights agreement.

This article is very similar to the one we read. It describes how the al-Shabab receives money from taxes, sponsors, poaching, and discreet money transfer in a system called Hawala. It also gives updates on what has changed in the past year and how that affects their income, such as the recent death of Ahmed Godane, their leader. This relates because it similarly describes the financial practices of the Somali terrorists.