Resources and Social Justice Issues in Africa Today
Africa is the second most populous continent in the world with a population of over 900 million people and a wealth of natural resources ranging from precious metals, oil, fertile agricultural land, rivers and magnificent tourist sites. In spite of all the natural wealth, most Africans are desperately poor. The gap between the haves and have-nots is huge. Although some of the available resources are right where the people are, this has not made a difference for the majority of African peoples’ livelihood.
This series will examine issues of resource distribution, the larger political economy and social justice questions that they raise; the driving forces behind them; their immediate and long term consequences on the people, the environment, and the socio-economic fabric of the African nations
The Politics of Piracy in Somalia, by Dr. Abdi Samatar , University of Minnesota
OCTOBER 22, 2009
3:30 – 5:00 PM
ENGLISH ROOM, KS UNION
“It is called Somalia, but to most of the world it could easily be renamed the Land of Pirates. Havoc on the high seas has become routine off the coast of this East African nation, with scores of hijackings so far this year. Last month, Navy SEALs rescued an American merchant captain after Somali pirates raided the Maersk Alabama as it was making its way around the Horn of Africa to deliver aid. For nearly 20 years, Somalia has endured political chaos and bloodshed. The impoverished country's 10 million people are living without a formal economy or a functioning central government. But, known for their pragmatism, they survive. For many Somalis, choosing a line of business is the most practical decision of all. What works is right, and what doesn't work is wrong. That is why piracy has taken hold in the country: It's a multimillion-dollar industry that works” (NPR, May 2009, Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103815312]
On the news about piracy in Somalia:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/opinion/17iht-edpirates.html [Fighting piracy in Somalia- NY Times Editorial]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7734985.stm [ Q & A on Somali piracy-BBC News]
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103815312 [In Somalia, piracy is an attractive career-NPR News]
September 17, " Neoliberal Policy, Rural Livelihoods and Urban Food Security in West Africa: A Comparative Study of the Gambia, Cote d' Voire and Mali, presentation by Dr. William Moseley, Macalester College
Venue: Multicultural Resource Center
This Seminar is Co-sponsored by the Department of Environmental Studies, KU
