By: Tia Ayele As one of the most controversial issues in the discourse of public health and human rights, female genital mutilation (FGM) persists in much of the developing world. Practiced in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, it is estimated that over 3 million girls undergo FGM each year. Although FGM is perceived as a provincial cultural [...]
By: Tia Ayele The plight of human rights in Africa is one of grave concern to the international community. Daily obstructions to fundamental rights are discernable in most countries in Africa, as the suppression of political freedom and expression is largely universal to African authoritarian regimes. With such poor levels of human rights, it seems rather farcical to expect Africa [...]
By: Tia Ayele Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s twenty year reign over Ethiopia came to an abrupt end in August when he unexpectedly passed away due to unspecified illnesses. Prime Minister Zenawi died at the age of 57, leaving behind a long legacy of food security and rapid economic development. His contributions to the nation have not gone unnoticed by the [...]
By Patrick Wheat On May 31, 2012, the trial of former President Charles G. Taylor of Liberia came to a close in The Hague, Netherlands. After six years and over 115 witnesses called to give testimony, the International Criminal Court sentenced Mr. Taylor to 50 years in prison for his role in organizing the brutal crimes committed against the people [...]
By: Emily Fountain The use of genetically modified (GM) foods, often referred to by critics as ‘Frankenfood’, has stirred controversy at home and abroad for decades. This debate has recently erupted and become a pivotal point of contention for North America, Africa, and Europe in the years following the introduction of the first genetically modified food. In the mid 1990s, [...]
By: Virginia McNally The government of Zimbabwe has been driving on spare tires and an empty tank since 2009. After a violent and fraudulent 2008 presidential election, the Global Political Agreement (GPA) was put in place not only to prevent a complete breakdown, but also to elevate the country to a better state by 2013. The drivers of the government, [...]
By: Lauren Anderson While this past calendar year has seen its share of government overthrows stemming from the Arab Spring, the ousting of President Amadou Toumani Toure of Mali last month nevertheless came as a complete surprise. Following a 1991 coup (led by Toure himself) and subsequent constitutional reforms allowing for multiparty elections, this bow tie-shaped West African country has [...]
By: Tia Ayele Given that there is more human genetic diversity in Africa than anywhere else in the world, it is hard to imagine that the plurality of Africa’s rich history, traditions, and cultural practices could be summed up in a three-hour show. Despite the huge challenge associated with putting on such a show, UGA’s African Student Union (ASU) has [...]
by Virginia McNally Victimized, Not a Victim Born in Zimbabwe in 1957, Peter Godwin is a lawyer, journalist, author, and activist dedicated to the cause of Zimbabwe. In his latest book, The Fear, he describes his purpose as “bearing witness” to the violence and intimidation that occurred between the Zimbabwean presidential election in March 2008 and the run-off that was [...]
By: Tia Ayele In a televised interview alongside Zambian president Rupiah Banda, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Africa of neocolonialism, stating: “Investments in Africa should be sustainable and for the benefit of the African people. It is easy – and we saw that during colonial times – to come in, take out natural resources, pay off leaders, and [...]
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