The news that the Uganda police force arrested opposition leaders who had chosen to walk into the capital city from their various homes in and around Kampala has permeated through various media fora. For some of the 'walkers', the reason was to 'stand in solidarity with those Ugandans who have to do this each day' for others, it was 'in demonstration against the current increase in food prices'. http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/14/751747The police and some media houses have however expressed a different view, simply that the increase in the cost of living is no fault of the government of Uganda, so in essence, the wrong party is being blamed here. In any case, 'Uganda “is not a welfare state that is obliged to look after every hungry person”.
Thus, we have had a stalemate between those who insisted on having a right to walk and the police who insisted that they can lawfully prevent that 'right to walk!?!. Ofcourse, the one with means of coercion always 'wins' the battle. Pictures and clips on various televisions show how these opposition leaders were picked up - some literally and others metaphorically - and charged with offences ranging from inciting violence to blocking traffic. Many of the accused are used to the court system now, having been either arrested before or even charged before the courts of law. For the police, it is a job well done and 'everyone can go back home happy'. Another attempt to ''cause unrest and topple a legitimate government elected by the people'' has been foiled. For the State prosecutors however, it is another lot of 'problematic cases'. It will be hard to prove - beyond reasonable doubt - that when a Ugandan, in light of the current economic situation in the country, chooses to walk to work, the only logical inferrence is that such person intends to 'incite violence and topple the government.'
For the rest of us outside the courtrooms, the questions remain- whose responsibility is it to ensure that the country has affordable prices for goods and transport? Who may or may not walk to work? Most crucially though, when will the right to demonstrate, as is expected in a 'free and democratic society' - and guaranteed by the Constitution -be deemed legal?
Lastly, one of the accused is quoted as having said this in his plea, ''If walking is an offence then am guilty and if condemning extravagancy exercised by our leaders is an offence then I should be charged. l am here because I am standing with millions who are sick and tired of enforced misery.'' http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1142904/-/c2rg2iz/-/index.html. Those words have caused me to remember other words - those of Martin Luther King Jr. in his famous ''letter from a Birmingham Jail'',.. 'I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that "an unjust law is no law at all."http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html
I rest my case - for now.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, March 07, 2011
How to write about Africa
By Binyavanga Wainaina ( lives in Nairobi, Kenya. He is the founding editor of the literary magazine Kwani? and won the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2002. His writing has also appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, and National Geographic.)
Always use the word ‘Africa’ or ‘Darkness’ or ‘Safari’ in your title. Subtitles may include the words ‘Zanzibar’, ‘Masai’, ‘Zulu’, ‘Zambezi’, ‘Congo’, ‘Nile’, ‘Big’, ‘Sky’, ‘Shadow’, ‘Drum’, ‘Sun’ or ‘Bygone’. Also useful are words such as ‘Guerrillas’, ‘Timeless’, ‘Primordial’ and ‘Tribal’. Note that ‘People’ means Africans who are not black, while ‘The People’ means black Africans.
Never have a picture of a well-adjusted African on the cover of your book, or in it, unless that African has won the Nobel Prize. An AK-47, prominent ribs, naked breasts: use these. If you must include an African, make sure you get one in Masai or Zulu or Dogon dress.
In your text, treat Africa as if it were one country. It is hot and dusty with rolling grasslands and huge herds of animals and tall, thin people who are starving. Or it is hot and steamy with very short people who eat primates. Don’t get bogged down with precise descriptions. Africa is big: fifty-four countries, 900 million people who are too busy starving and dying and warring and emigrating to read your book. The continent is full of deserts, jungles, highlands, savannahs and many other things, but your reader doesn’t care about all that, so keep your descriptions romantic and evocative and unparticular.
Make sure you show how Africans have music and rhythm deep in their souls, and eat things no other humans eat. Do not mention rice and beef and wheat; monkey-brain is an African's cuisine of choice, along with goat, snake, worms and grubs and all manner of game meat. Make sure you show that you are able to eat such food without flinching, and describe how you learn to enjoy it—because you care.
Taboo subjects: ordinary domestic scenes, love between Africans (unless a death is involved), references to African writers or intellectuals, mention of school-going children who are not suffering from yaws or Ebola fever or female genital mutilation.
Throughout the book, adopt a sotto voice, in conspiracy with the reader, and a sad I-expected-so-much tone. Establish early on that your liberalism is impeccable, and mention near the beginning how much you love Africa, how you fell in love with the place and can’t live without her. Africa is the only continent you can love—take advantage of this. If you are a man, thrust yourself into her warm virgin forests. If you are a woman, treat Africa as a man who wears a bush jacket and disappears off into the sunset. Africa is to be pitied, worshipped or dominated. Whichever angle you take, be sure to leave the strong impression that without your intervention and your important book, Africa is doomed.
Your African characters may include naked warriors, loyal servants, diviners and seers, ancient wise men living in hermitic splendour. Or corrupt politicians, inept polygamous travel-guides, and prostitutes you have slept with. The Loyal Servant always behaves like a seven-year-old and needs a firm hand; he is scared of snakes, good with children, and always involving you in his complex domestic dramas. The Ancient Wise Man always comes from a noble tribe (not the money-grubbing tribes like the Gikuyu, the Igbo or the Shona). He has rheumy eyes and is close to the Earth. The Modern African is a fat man who steals and works in the visa office, refusing to give work permits to qualified Westerners who really care about Africa. He is an enemy of development, always using his government job to make it difficult for pragmatic and good-hearted expats to set up NGOs or Legal Conservation Areas. Or he is an Oxford-educated intellectual turned serial-killing politician in a Savile Row suit. He is a cannibal who likes Cristal champagne, and his mother is a rich witch-doctor who really runs the country.
Among your characters you must always include The Starving African, who wanders the refugee camp nearly naked, and waits for the benevolence of the West. Her children have flies on their eyelids and pot bellies, and her breasts are flat and empty. She must look utterly helpless. She can have no past, no history; such diversions ruin the dramatic moment. Moans are good. She must never say anything about herself in the dialogue except to speak of her (unspeakable) suffering. Also be sure to include a warm and motherly woman who has a rolling laugh and who is concerned for your well-being. Just call her Mama. Her children are all delinquent. These characters should buzz around your main hero, making him look good. Your hero can teach them, bathe them, feed them; he carries lots of babies and has seen Death. Your hero is you (if reportage), or a beautiful, tragic international celebrity/aristocrat who now cares for animals (if fiction).
Bad Western characters may include children of Tory cabinet ministers, Afrikaners, employees of the World Bank. When talking about exploitation by foreigners mention the Chinese and Indian traders. Blame the West for Africa's situation. But do not be too specific.
Broad brushstrokes throughout are good. Avoid having the African characters laugh, or struggle to educate their kids, or just make do in mundane circumstances. Have them illuminate something about Europe or America in Africa. African characters should be colourful, exotic, larger than life—but empty inside, with no dialogue, no conflicts or resolutions in their stories, no depth or quirks to confuse the cause.
Describe, in detail, naked breasts (young, old, conservative, recently raped, big, small) or mutilated genitals, or enhanced genitals. Or any kind of genitals. And dead bodies. Or, better, naked dead bodies. And especially rotting naked dead bodies. Remember, any work you submit in which people look filthy and miserable will be referred to as the ‘real Africa’, and you want that on your dust jacket. Do not feel queasy about this: you are trying to help them to get aid from the West. The biggest taboo in writing about Africa is to describe or show dead or suffering white people.
Animals, on the other hand, must be treated as well rounded, complex characters. They speak (or grunt while tossing their manes proudly) and have names, ambitions and desires. They also have family values: see how lions teach their children? Elephants are caring, and are good feminists or dignified patriarchs. So are gorillas. Never, ever say anything negative about an elephant or a gorilla. Elephants may attack people’s property, destroy their crops, and even kill them. Always take the side of the elephant. Big cats have public-school accents. Hyenas are fair game and have vaguely Middle Eastern accents. Any short Africans who live in the jungle or desert may be portrayed with good humour (unless they are in conflict with an elephant or chimpanzee or gorilla, in which case they are pure evil).
After celebrity activists and aid workers, conservationists are Africa’s most important people. Do not offend them. You need them to invite you to their 30,000-acre game ranch or ‘conservation area’, and this is the only way you will get to interview the celebrity activist. Often a book cover with a heroic-looking conservationist on it works magic for sales. Anybody white, tanned and wearing khaki who once had a pet antelope or a farm is a conservationist, one who is preserving Africa’s rich heritage. When interviewing him or her, do not ask how much funding they have; do not ask how much money they make off their game. Never ask how much they pay their employees.
Readers will be put off if you don’t mention the light in Africa. And sunsets, the African sunset is a must. It is always big and red. There is always a big sky. Wide empty spaces and game are critical—Africa is the Land of Wide Empty Spaces. When writing about the plight of flora and fauna, make sure you mention that Africa is overpopulated. When your main character is in a desert or jungle living with indigenous peoples (anybody short) it is okay to mention that Africa has been severely depopulated by Aids and War (use caps).
You’ll also need a nightclub called Tropicana, where mercenaries, evil nouveau riche Africans and prostitutes and guerrillas and expats hang out.
Always end your book with Nelson Mandela saying something about rainbows or renaissances. Because you care.
Always use the word ‘Africa’ or ‘Darkness’ or ‘Safari’ in your title. Subtitles may include the words ‘Zanzibar’, ‘Masai’, ‘Zulu’, ‘Zambezi’, ‘Congo’, ‘Nile’, ‘Big’, ‘Sky’, ‘Shadow’, ‘Drum’, ‘Sun’ or ‘Bygone’. Also useful are words such as ‘Guerrillas’, ‘Timeless’, ‘Primordial’ and ‘Tribal’. Note that ‘People’ means Africans who are not black, while ‘The People’ means black Africans.
Never have a picture of a well-adjusted African on the cover of your book, or in it, unless that African has won the Nobel Prize. An AK-47, prominent ribs, naked breasts: use these. If you must include an African, make sure you get one in Masai or Zulu or Dogon dress.
In your text, treat Africa as if it were one country. It is hot and dusty with rolling grasslands and huge herds of animals and tall, thin people who are starving. Or it is hot and steamy with very short people who eat primates. Don’t get bogged down with precise descriptions. Africa is big: fifty-four countries, 900 million people who are too busy starving and dying and warring and emigrating to read your book. The continent is full of deserts, jungles, highlands, savannahs and many other things, but your reader doesn’t care about all that, so keep your descriptions romantic and evocative and unparticular.
Make sure you show how Africans have music and rhythm deep in their souls, and eat things no other humans eat. Do not mention rice and beef and wheat; monkey-brain is an African's cuisine of choice, along with goat, snake, worms and grubs and all manner of game meat. Make sure you show that you are able to eat such food without flinching, and describe how you learn to enjoy it—because you care.
Taboo subjects: ordinary domestic scenes, love between Africans (unless a death is involved), references to African writers or intellectuals, mention of school-going children who are not suffering from yaws or Ebola fever or female genital mutilation.
Throughout the book, adopt a sotto voice, in conspiracy with the reader, and a sad I-expected-so-much tone. Establish early on that your liberalism is impeccable, and mention near the beginning how much you love Africa, how you fell in love with the place and can’t live without her. Africa is the only continent you can love—take advantage of this. If you are a man, thrust yourself into her warm virgin forests. If you are a woman, treat Africa as a man who wears a bush jacket and disappears off into the sunset. Africa is to be pitied, worshipped or dominated. Whichever angle you take, be sure to leave the strong impression that without your intervention and your important book, Africa is doomed.
Your African characters may include naked warriors, loyal servants, diviners and seers, ancient wise men living in hermitic splendour. Or corrupt politicians, inept polygamous travel-guides, and prostitutes you have slept with. The Loyal Servant always behaves like a seven-year-old and needs a firm hand; he is scared of snakes, good with children, and always involving you in his complex domestic dramas. The Ancient Wise Man always comes from a noble tribe (not the money-grubbing tribes like the Gikuyu, the Igbo or the Shona). He has rheumy eyes and is close to the Earth. The Modern African is a fat man who steals and works in the visa office, refusing to give work permits to qualified Westerners who really care about Africa. He is an enemy of development, always using his government job to make it difficult for pragmatic and good-hearted expats to set up NGOs or Legal Conservation Areas. Or he is an Oxford-educated intellectual turned serial-killing politician in a Savile Row suit. He is a cannibal who likes Cristal champagne, and his mother is a rich witch-doctor who really runs the country.
Among your characters you must always include The Starving African, who wanders the refugee camp nearly naked, and waits for the benevolence of the West. Her children have flies on their eyelids and pot bellies, and her breasts are flat and empty. She must look utterly helpless. She can have no past, no history; such diversions ruin the dramatic moment. Moans are good. She must never say anything about herself in the dialogue except to speak of her (unspeakable) suffering. Also be sure to include a warm and motherly woman who has a rolling laugh and who is concerned for your well-being. Just call her Mama. Her children are all delinquent. These characters should buzz around your main hero, making him look good. Your hero can teach them, bathe them, feed them; he carries lots of babies and has seen Death. Your hero is you (if reportage), or a beautiful, tragic international celebrity/aristocrat who now cares for animals (if fiction).
Bad Western characters may include children of Tory cabinet ministers, Afrikaners, employees of the World Bank. When talking about exploitation by foreigners mention the Chinese and Indian traders. Blame the West for Africa's situation. But do not be too specific.
Broad brushstrokes throughout are good. Avoid having the African characters laugh, or struggle to educate their kids, or just make do in mundane circumstances. Have them illuminate something about Europe or America in Africa. African characters should be colourful, exotic, larger than life—but empty inside, with no dialogue, no conflicts or resolutions in their stories, no depth or quirks to confuse the cause.
Describe, in detail, naked breasts (young, old, conservative, recently raped, big, small) or mutilated genitals, or enhanced genitals. Or any kind of genitals. And dead bodies. Or, better, naked dead bodies. And especially rotting naked dead bodies. Remember, any work you submit in which people look filthy and miserable will be referred to as the ‘real Africa’, and you want that on your dust jacket. Do not feel queasy about this: you are trying to help them to get aid from the West. The biggest taboo in writing about Africa is to describe or show dead or suffering white people.
Animals, on the other hand, must be treated as well rounded, complex characters. They speak (or grunt while tossing their manes proudly) and have names, ambitions and desires. They also have family values: see how lions teach their children? Elephants are caring, and are good feminists or dignified patriarchs. So are gorillas. Never, ever say anything negative about an elephant or a gorilla. Elephants may attack people’s property, destroy their crops, and even kill them. Always take the side of the elephant. Big cats have public-school accents. Hyenas are fair game and have vaguely Middle Eastern accents. Any short Africans who live in the jungle or desert may be portrayed with good humour (unless they are in conflict with an elephant or chimpanzee or gorilla, in which case they are pure evil).
After celebrity activists and aid workers, conservationists are Africa’s most important people. Do not offend them. You need them to invite you to their 30,000-acre game ranch or ‘conservation area’, and this is the only way you will get to interview the celebrity activist. Often a book cover with a heroic-looking conservationist on it works magic for sales. Anybody white, tanned and wearing khaki who once had a pet antelope or a farm is a conservationist, one who is preserving Africa’s rich heritage. When interviewing him or her, do not ask how much funding they have; do not ask how much money they make off their game. Never ask how much they pay their employees.
Readers will be put off if you don’t mention the light in Africa. And sunsets, the African sunset is a must. It is always big and red. There is always a big sky. Wide empty spaces and game are critical—Africa is the Land of Wide Empty Spaces. When writing about the plight of flora and fauna, make sure you mention that Africa is overpopulated. When your main character is in a desert or jungle living with indigenous peoples (anybody short) it is okay to mention that Africa has been severely depopulated by Aids and War (use caps).
You’ll also need a nightclub called Tropicana, where mercenaries, evil nouveau riche Africans and prostitutes and guerrillas and expats hang out.
Always end your book with Nelson Mandela saying something about rainbows or renaissances. Because you care.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Excerpt from 'Song of Lawino'
The Democratic Party
How does it differ
From the (Uganda People's) Congress?
Ocol says
They want Uhuru,
His brother says
They want Uhuru and Peace,
Both of them say they fight ignorance and disease!
Then why do they not join hands,
Why do they split up the army
Into two hostile groups?
The spears of the young men
And their shields,
Why are the weapons
And the men and women
Dispersed so uselessly?
And while the pythons of sickness
Swallow the children
And the buffalos of poverty
Knock the people down
And ignorance stands there
Like an elephant,
The war leaders
Are tightly locked in bloody feuds,
Eating each other’s liver
As if the D.P. was leprosy
And the Congress yaws;
If only the parties
Would fight poverty
With the fury
With which they fight each other,
If diseases and ignorance
Were assaulted
With the deadly vengeance
With which Ocol assaults his mother’s son,
The enemies would have been
Greatly reduced by now.
Okot p'Bitek was born in 1932 in Gulu, Northern Uganda to Acholi parents. He began writing in his mother tongue Lwo, one of the Western Nilotic languages, subsequently his works White Teeth and Song of Lawino were translated into English. 'Bitek passed away on July 20, 1982.
How does it differ
From the (Uganda People's) Congress?
Ocol says
They want Uhuru,
His brother says
They want Uhuru and Peace,
Both of them say they fight ignorance and disease!
Then why do they not join hands,
Why do they split up the army
Into two hostile groups?
The spears of the young men
And their shields,
Why are the weapons
And the men and women
Dispersed so uselessly?
And while the pythons of sickness
Swallow the children
And the buffalos of poverty
Knock the people down
And ignorance stands there
Like an elephant,
The war leaders
Are tightly locked in bloody feuds,
Eating each other’s liver
As if the D.P. was leprosy
And the Congress yaws;
If only the parties
Would fight poverty
With the fury
With which they fight each other,
If diseases and ignorance
Were assaulted
With the deadly vengeance
With which Ocol assaults his mother’s son,
The enemies would have been
Greatly reduced by now.
Okot p'Bitek was born in 1932 in Gulu, Northern Uganda to Acholi parents. He began writing in his mother tongue Lwo, one of the Western Nilotic languages, subsequently his works White Teeth and Song of Lawino were translated into English. 'Bitek passed away on July 20, 1982.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
BATTLES
Battles in my heart. Battles in my soul. Tugging and pulling at my soul. Struggling in my spirit!
What happened to me? Where is the God who intervened with fire ? With blood? What?
Where? Are you O God? Can't you see I tussle?My habits pull me down, my body disappoints me. Am hit, torn, dragged , beaten against the rocks-
These hard rocks!
Against the shore by these huge waves of sin, despair and hopelessness-
Like a ship at sea,
Am pushed
am pulled-
its getting closer
closer to my doom
the tide-
rises
higher and higher
anytime now I will be vanquished!
lost...
gone into the deep darkness
Like an Eagle-
you come to my rescue
sweeping me away
your wings beating the huge dark winds
with energy, valour
lightning
Awash! Awoosh
you sweep me away
to safety in the highest place
up, up
and away-
yeeaaaahh
O God you were there
Your eagle eye always looking
watching
minding my business-
I am your business
minding your business-
-me!
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Court ‘orders’ 70 Legislators disqualified
It has been reported that the Ugandan Constitutional Court on the 31st of Jnauary 1 ruled that ''it is illegal for independent MPs to stand for elections on any party ticket and also for political party MPs to contest as independents.'' The report indicates that ''the court ruled that any independent MP should have vacated their seat before being nominated to contest on a political party ticket.'' Further, that ''an MP who was elected on a political party ticket in the previous election, should also have vacated their seat before contesting again as an independent.'' See Court ‘orders’ 70 Legislators disqualified http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1099978/-/cimlw6z/-/index.html also Court throws out 70 MPs from polls http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/745494
I appreciate the finding of the Court in so far as one should resign (or 'vacate the seat' as stated in the Constitution)when one's political leanings change. However this should only apply during the current term of Parliament referred to and in this case, the '8th Parliament'. However I am not in agreement with the finding of the Court that the subsequent nominations for the next parliament are null and void.
This is because my reading of the Article 83 doesnt seem to suggest this. In my view, this is also what Moses Serwanga seems to be opining when he states that 'the candidates for seats in the next parliament therefore need not to resign as per article 83 as declared by court.' see http://msserwanga.blogspot.com/
To put it colloquially, how can they resign from a parliament that is not yet in existence? If the effect of this judgement is to disqualify the 70 MPs who have been nominated, doesn't that give an unfair advantage to their opponents? or worsestill, what happens in situations where such MP/candidate stands unopposed? Does the disqualification of such candidate mean that the constituency will not be represented in the next Parliament? If not, doesnt it mean that such candiate will be entitled to run again - albeit having resigned from the 8th Parliament which will have more or less concluded its term of office?
In my opinion therefore, (which is unfortunately based on reading the newspaper reports and the law but not the judgement itself) is that the effect of the judgement, if allowed to stand, would mean that we re-do the elections at least for those 70+ constituencies. However my opinion might change when i read the full judgement although i doubt it
I appreciate the finding of the Court in so far as one should resign (or 'vacate the seat' as stated in the Constitution)when one's political leanings change. However this should only apply during the current term of Parliament referred to and in this case, the '8th Parliament'. However I am not in agreement with the finding of the Court that the subsequent nominations for the next parliament are null and void.
This is because my reading of the Article 83 doesnt seem to suggest this. In my view, this is also what Moses Serwanga seems to be opining when he states that 'the candidates for seats in the next parliament therefore need not to resign as per article 83 as declared by court.' see http://msserwanga.blogspot.com/
To put it colloquially, how can they resign from a parliament that is not yet in existence? If the effect of this judgement is to disqualify the 70 MPs who have been nominated, doesn't that give an unfair advantage to their opponents? or worsestill, what happens in situations where such MP/candidate stands unopposed? Does the disqualification of such candidate mean that the constituency will not be represented in the next Parliament? If not, doesnt it mean that such candiate will be entitled to run again - albeit having resigned from the 8th Parliament which will have more or less concluded its term of office?
In my opinion therefore, (which is unfortunately based on reading the newspaper reports and the law but not the judgement itself) is that the effect of the judgement, if allowed to stand, would mean that we re-do the elections at least for those 70+ constituencies. However my opinion might change when i read the full judgement although i doubt it
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
on love
...so, love is selfless and kind. We do not EARN it by what we do or say. We take it when it is given to us and it makes NO demands that we should repay. When 'love' purpotedly asks for payback, we should question its purity and content....
DRRZ, 01.02.2011
DRRZ, 01.02.2011
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Agriculture ministry must tell the public everything about GM tests
By Dr Opiyo Oloya
DEAR President Yoweri Museveni,
On Friday, I received an e-mail from Komayombi Bulegeya, the Commissioner of Crop Protection in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF).
The letter, written on official MAAIF letterhead, spelt out what appeared to be the official Government’s response to my article (New Vision, November 17) on the need for good laws to protect indigenous seed varieties, small farmers and naturally organic agriculture harvests (NOAH). I know that you have asked to be briefed on the issue that I raised a month ago against testing of genetically modified maize in Uganda. Thank you for listening to this very important issue of protecting indigenous seeds and small farmers in Uganda from big multinational businesses.
However, by the time of writing this article, the authenticity of the letter could not be confirmed. I would suggest that Mr. Bulegeya make copies of the letter widely available to the media as part of ongoing effort to educate Ugandans on the issue of genetically modified crops. In the meantime, Mr. President, I should inform you that since my original letter to you in October in which I expressed strong opposition to the testing of genetically modified maize, hundreds of people from across the world and from Uganda have spoken against the proposed testing of genetically modified maize by Monsanto and Uganda scientists. Many of the people who signed the petition (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/noah-uganda/) to protect NOAH in Uganda wrote passionately about why our beautiful country should stay away from genetically modified crops generally and specifically the testing of GM maize.
From across the world, strangers wrote in support of Uganda’s small farmers and the preservation of NOAH.
Simon Validzic (Croatia) wrote: “Just because people have little money does not mean that they should have to accept whatever they are given. I live in Croatia and we do not grow GMOs here."
Rajee Seetharam (India) wrote: “We wish our African brothers and sisters good health. What hinders health should be stopped.”
Veronica Goddard (Britain) pleaded: “Please support organic agriculture”.
Linda Coenen (Netherlands) registered her objection, writing: “I am not a citizen of Uganda but anti-GMO campaigner at Action for Solidarity, Equality, Environment, and Diversity Europe. I just want to express my support for this initiative.”
More urgent and dire warning, meanwhile, came from Kevin Coleman (Britain) who wrote: “Please consider the impact that Monsanto and its chemicals have had on Paraguay before you even go anywhere near GM maize. It is a disaster waiting to happen. Your people will starve because the maize will be exported to feed livestock kept in factor farms in Europe and the US.”
Linda Gray (USA) echoed a similar alarm when she wrote: “The safety of genetically modified foods has not been proven over time. These crops that are able to absorb toxic pesticides without dying insure that those who consume them are ingesting those toxins. Also, these unproven GMO foods cross-pollinate with organic crops thereby destroying their original and organic crops.”
Mr. President, Ugandans are also speaking out because they do not understand the push for genetically modified crops in a country blessed with rich soil and plentiful rain. Here is just a sample of the voices.
Michael Kizito wrote: “Monsanto is not interested in the Ugandan farmers. It wants to control agricultural production in order to get super profits. It has already alienated Indian rice farmers…We say NO”.
Richard Mugisha wrote: “Responding to the needs of small holder farmers, Uganda should take precautionary approaches to GMOs. The main reason to say NO to GMOs is that it will bring a total loss of control for smallholder farmers as what to farm and how to farm.”
Magezi Rubaale wrote: “Uganda is gifted by nature. We have the best soils, and as a nation and citizens we should reject GMOs and use our natural resources. There is a banana brand called "FIYA". Once it is planted next to any of our traditional bananas they end up eating traditional ones.”
Mr. President, if I may pick up on the point made by Rubaale, one of my biggest fear and opposition to GM maize is that it will contaminate indigenous maize varieties in Uganda. In 2004, scientists from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) led by Dr. Lidia Watrud reported that GM varieties of creeping bentgrass near Madras in central Oregon, US, contaminated other grass 21 kilometres away. As well a study in Mexico concluded that GM maize contaminated indigenous variety 100 kilometres away.
Mr. President, the Confined Field Test that the Ministry of Agriculture designed to stop the unintended contamination of indigenous plant species will not work for maize. The testing of GM maize in any corner of Uganda, say in Kasese, Arua, Gulu, Mbarara, Teso, Masindi or elsewhere, will rapidly contaminate indigenous maize varieties elsewhere. Even the smart people at MAAIF cannot stop the wind from blowing GM maize pollen wherever it pleases. It is for this reason that
I strongly recommend that you order the shutdown of all planned testing of GM maize in Uganda. Secondly, you should ask the Ministry of Agriculture to inform the public about other GM tests and where they are being carried. Meanwhile, I am keen to volunteer my time to work with officials in the Ministry of Agriculture in designing a public campaign to educate Ugandans about genetically modified crops.
Opiyo.oloya@sympatico.ca
DEAR President Yoweri Museveni,
On Friday, I received an e-mail from Komayombi Bulegeya, the Commissioner of Crop Protection in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF).
The letter, written on official MAAIF letterhead, spelt out what appeared to be the official Government’s response to my article (New Vision, November 17) on the need for good laws to protect indigenous seed varieties, small farmers and naturally organic agriculture harvests (NOAH). I know that you have asked to be briefed on the issue that I raised a month ago against testing of genetically modified maize in Uganda. Thank you for listening to this very important issue of protecting indigenous seeds and small farmers in Uganda from big multinational businesses.
However, by the time of writing this article, the authenticity of the letter could not be confirmed. I would suggest that Mr. Bulegeya make copies of the letter widely available to the media as part of ongoing effort to educate Ugandans on the issue of genetically modified crops. In the meantime, Mr. President, I should inform you that since my original letter to you in October in which I expressed strong opposition to the testing of genetically modified maize, hundreds of people from across the world and from Uganda have spoken against the proposed testing of genetically modified maize by Monsanto and Uganda scientists. Many of the people who signed the petition (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/noah-uganda/) to protect NOAH in Uganda wrote passionately about why our beautiful country should stay away from genetically modified crops generally and specifically the testing of GM maize.
From across the world, strangers wrote in support of Uganda’s small farmers and the preservation of NOAH.
Simon Validzic (Croatia) wrote: “Just because people have little money does not mean that they should have to accept whatever they are given. I live in Croatia and we do not grow GMOs here."
Rajee Seetharam (India) wrote: “We wish our African brothers and sisters good health. What hinders health should be stopped.”
Veronica Goddard (Britain) pleaded: “Please support organic agriculture”.
Linda Coenen (Netherlands) registered her objection, writing: “I am not a citizen of Uganda but anti-GMO campaigner at Action for Solidarity, Equality, Environment, and Diversity Europe. I just want to express my support for this initiative.”
More urgent and dire warning, meanwhile, came from Kevin Coleman (Britain) who wrote: “Please consider the impact that Monsanto and its chemicals have had on Paraguay before you even go anywhere near GM maize. It is a disaster waiting to happen. Your people will starve because the maize will be exported to feed livestock kept in factor farms in Europe and the US.”
Linda Gray (USA) echoed a similar alarm when she wrote: “The safety of genetically modified foods has not been proven over time. These crops that are able to absorb toxic pesticides without dying insure that those who consume them are ingesting those toxins. Also, these unproven GMO foods cross-pollinate with organic crops thereby destroying their original and organic crops.”
Mr. President, Ugandans are also speaking out because they do not understand the push for genetically modified crops in a country blessed with rich soil and plentiful rain. Here is just a sample of the voices.
Michael Kizito wrote: “Monsanto is not interested in the Ugandan farmers. It wants to control agricultural production in order to get super profits. It has already alienated Indian rice farmers…We say NO”.
Richard Mugisha wrote: “Responding to the needs of small holder farmers, Uganda should take precautionary approaches to GMOs. The main reason to say NO to GMOs is that it will bring a total loss of control for smallholder farmers as what to farm and how to farm.”
Magezi Rubaale wrote: “Uganda is gifted by nature. We have the best soils, and as a nation and citizens we should reject GMOs and use our natural resources. There is a banana brand called "FIYA". Once it is planted next to any of our traditional bananas they end up eating traditional ones.”
Mr. President, if I may pick up on the point made by Rubaale, one of my biggest fear and opposition to GM maize is that it will contaminate indigenous maize varieties in Uganda. In 2004, scientists from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) led by Dr. Lidia Watrud reported that GM varieties of creeping bentgrass near Madras in central Oregon, US, contaminated other grass 21 kilometres away. As well a study in Mexico concluded that GM maize contaminated indigenous variety 100 kilometres away.
Mr. President, the Confined Field Test that the Ministry of Agriculture designed to stop the unintended contamination of indigenous plant species will not work for maize. The testing of GM maize in any corner of Uganda, say in Kasese, Arua, Gulu, Mbarara, Teso, Masindi or elsewhere, will rapidly contaminate indigenous maize varieties elsewhere. Even the smart people at MAAIF cannot stop the wind from blowing GM maize pollen wherever it pleases. It is for this reason that
I strongly recommend that you order the shutdown of all planned testing of GM maize in Uganda. Secondly, you should ask the Ministry of Agriculture to inform the public about other GM tests and where they are being carried. Meanwhile, I am keen to volunteer my time to work with officials in the Ministry of Agriculture in designing a public campaign to educate Ugandans about genetically modified crops.
Opiyo.oloya@sympatico.ca
World Aids Day
I remember the souls of the departed and the cries of the suffering on this World Aids Day.
I also remember those who should have done something or were supposed to do ''that'' thing but did ''other'' things ...
I remind those who keep waiting to do ''anything'' to do ''every''thing.
I also remember what a great man said .... "At the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." (Martin Luther King Jr.)
I also remember those who should have done something or were supposed to do ''that'' thing but did ''other'' things ...
I remind those who keep waiting to do ''anything'' to do ''every''thing.
I also remember what a great man said .... "At the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." (Martin Luther King Jr.)
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