education Archives - Jean-Jacques Cornish

Canada’s dilemma about withholding aid to protest homophobia in Tanzania

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 22:00:00 +0000

Canada’s at the horns of a dilemma about joining other countries in cutting aid to Tanzania to express concern about President John Magafuli’s authoritarian and homophobic policies.

Ottawa’s International Development Minister says she’s afraid that taking such punitive action will hurt innocent people.

Tanzanian President John Magafuli’s crackdown on homosexuals has caused the EU to withdraw its ambassador to Dar es Salaam and review its $88m aid package to the East African country.

Denmark’s withholding $10 million from Tanzania and Washington has issued a travel advisory warning of homophobia there.

Canada’s aid minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says her country’s involved in health and education projects in Tanzania she believes are making a difference.

A quarter of Canada’s aid to Tanzania goes directly to government. Most of of the $90m directed there this year is going to multilateral projects and non governmental bodies.

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We can end poverty by 2013: Bill Gates

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 22:00:00 +0000

Bill Gates says the world’s priority should be reducing poverty in Africa.

The annual report of the Bill and Melinda Gates Fund says 90% of extreme poverty on the planet exists in Africa.

The world’s second richest man has what he calls a simple plan to tackle poverty in Africa.

He says having the world invest in the health and education of the next generation of Africans will achieve this.

The Global Fund ,supported by the foundation he shares with his wife Melinda, has halved maternal deaths, halved deaths from malaria and more than halved global prpoverty.

But it still has the job of meeting the global goal endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly of wiping out extreme poverty by 2030.

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Angry over corruption, Africans remain optimistic

Jean-Jacques Cornish — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 22:00:00 +0000

Despite continued anger about corruption and economic woes, South Africans are the most optimistic among three of the continent’s leading economies polled.

Most believe inequality has become worse and their countries are run for the benefit of a few groups of people.

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The Washington based Pew group, which calls itself a fact tank, researched 3 330 respondents in South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya.

In all three countries, those polled believe healthcare and education will be better for the next generation.

More than three-quarters also say that young people who want a good life should stay in their countries rather than emigrate.

Respondents report high levels of political engagement.

Most say ordinary citizens can influence their governments if they make the effort.

More than half say they had voted in the past year – roughly the same level as in the US.

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