Safari Notes

So far, most, if not all of those wanted, indicted and punished by the International Criminal Court have been from Africa. It makes one wonder: is this international court for Africans only? Is the ' Peace Through Justice ' and its ' years of fighting impunity ' only meant for, and supposed to be enforced on, Africans? Even in Africa, the court seems to be selective: any leader who strongly opposes or chastises Western countries, the US in particular, will most likely end up on the ICC list. Mr. Robert Mugabe, maybe due to his age or his being very knowledgeable about the West, has been lucky; so far.  African leaders who have been friendly profitable to the West, however brutal and cruel they are, have been spared by the ICC. Case in point is the Equatorial Guinea's leader: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who is the longest serving African leader (he has been in power for 34 years now); he is one of the most cruel and one of the most wealthy heads of state in...

The first post-colonial independent Black-led nation in the world. The only nation whose independence was gained as part of a successful slave rebellion. The only predominantly Francophone independent nation in the Americas. And one of  poorest country in the world and it is the most impoverished country in the Western hemisphere, where about 80% of its population live below the poverty line. That is Haiti . View Larger Map Haiti: a country that, for decades, has been ruled by dictators and despots. When we think of the words 'voodoo', 'zombies' and 'Tontons Macoutes' - Haiti comes to mind. Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier, who ruled Haiti with an iron fist for 14 years, was delighted when US President John F Kennedy, on whom it is said the mad Doc had placed a curse, was assassinated on 22 November 1963. A country that has experienced military coups, UN sanctions and other tragedies such as severe storms and flooding - is now facing its worst moment....

It saddens. It shocks. The fires that have been mercilessly sweeping across South Eastern Australia have been described as the country's worst peace time disaster. What is even most shocking is that, arsonists are now said to be the cause of some or many of the fires. What kind of human being; what kind of people - would be so evil so as to do some thing as destructive and horrible as that? Only a deranged and truly evil minded being would ever attempt that. Only sick people would do that. Not only have many died or been badly injured, but thousands have lost their homes and livelihoods; many of these people will never recover from this tragedy. And there's the unseen, unmentioned tragic side of the fires: the many animals and plants, both domesticated and wild, that have perished or been maimed in the flames. View Larger Map View the extent of the fires above on Google Maps and on NASA Earth Observatory What a world we live in? Not only have we damaged our environment and clim...

I have always wondered at America's Africa strategy! And agenda! It some times seems to me: the US doesn't have any long term policy or agenda on Africa. That is most likely! I still remember how the US handled apartheid South Africa - taking too long to put pressure on it; then Sudan: for years, the US wholly supported the North against the South which was then supported by the Soviets, then - in the nineties, America turned against the North and shifted its support to the South. In both South Africa and Sudan, the human suffering and toll has been enormous! And then, there's the recent shift in Libya ! And now: Chad !

For years, Americans were welcomed with open arms and looked at with awe, wherever they went; not any more. America's recent policies and doings, have turned many against Americans.Sadly, many non Americans do not realize that, at present - most Americans are not happy at all with their government. It is right to hate the present regime in Washington, but not all Americans. It is also interesting to note that: Donald Rumsfeld believes that by using the Internet more forcefully, the minds and feelings of non-Americans can be won. He is utterly wrong! America has to change how it relates to other countries; it has to respect others and accept international opinion and laws; it has to stop being a bully. Otherwise, America will only continue to have negative re-action from non-Americans. Before the collapse of the USSR, people looked at the US - as a protector and savior; and America was very much respected and welcomed world-wide; but, now - the US is looked at as an arrogant, imperi...