24 November 2009

24 November 2009

AFRICA:

• Uganda = I didn’t expect to see this headline, ever: Right-wing Evangelicals Challenge President Over Anti-Gay Bill. Exodus International (A US-based Christian group which advocates for changing the behavior of homosexuals in Uganda) and the Executive Council of the Anglican Church of Canada (and others) have joined such African groups as Sexual Minorities Uganda and The Rainbow Project of Namibia in decrying the proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill as a violation of fundamental human rights. The Bill would expand the punishments in Uganda for homosexuals to the death penalty for those who are HIV positive. (AWID)
• Here’s a link to a petition calling on Christians globally to oppose the Bill. (AWID)
• Zimbabwe = Anyone want a blood diamond? After a November meeting in Namibia, the Kimberly Process (the group governing the international diamond industry) failed to suspend Zimbabwe, even after determining that Zim’s diamond mines were operating in “significant non-compliance” with the Kimberly requirements. Georgette Gagnon of Human Rights Watch has said, “this diamond monitoring body has utterly lost credibility.” (HRW)

CULTURAL:

Afghanistan = Check out the indie pop band, Kabul Dreams who have songs like “Sound of Peace and Love.” Nice.