Africa: Faces in Words - Salem-News.Com

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Unseen, unheard; no one should be the bearer of these two words. Unfortunately, Africa is often in the forefront of this association.

Our common humanity should change this; we should never look away because it is too distant. Our commitment to one another, to human rights, and the ability to learn should always keep us connected no matter the severity and complexity of problems.

Name and Shame Measures Used to Combat Child Soldiers - A child rights expert says there have been some major breakthroughs in efforts to combat the recruitment of child soldiers. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict says U.N. Security Council resolutions, which name and shame countries that violate the rights of children caught in war are proving effective. Name and Shame Measures Used to Combat Child Soldiers - Voice of Africa

Western Firearms Retarding Africa’s Growth – Jonathan - President Goodluck Jonathan, while attending the summit of Group of 8 and Group of 20 Industrialised Nations in Canada, has declared the dumping of small arms and light weapons on Africa by western countries as a major factor retarding the continent's quest for economic advancement. Africa: Western Fireams Retarding Africa's Growth - Jonathan - allafrica.com/

Editor of censored Rwandan Paper is Assassinated - A top editor of an independent Rwandan newspaper that was recently banned by the government was assassinated in front of his home late Thursday, according to local journalists and news reports. An assailant shot Jean-Léonard Rugambage, left, acting editor of Umuvugizi as he drove through the gate of his home in the capital, Kigali, around 10 p.m., Rwanda National police spokesperson Eric Kayiranga told CPJ. Editor of censored Rwandan paper is assassinated - Committee to Protect Journalists

UPDF call for calm as Rwanda deploys on Border - The army has called for calm following the deployment of Rwandan troops along the Uganda –Rwanda border in Kabale District. Mr Banett Champion, the chairman of Butanda Sub-county in Kabale District, says hundreds of Rwandan troops have been sighted along the border sparking fear among residents. But Lt.Col. Felix Kulaigye, the Army Spokesperson, says the deployment of Rwandan troops is no cause for alarm. UPDF call for Calm as Rwanda deploys on border - Saturday Monitor

Eating Leaves and Lizards to survive in Niger - Aid organisations are warning that millions of people are facing starvation from drought and crop failure in the West African country of Niger, and some people are turning to desperate measures to survive. Eating leaves and lizards to survive in Niger By Chris Stewart - The BBC

Undercover for Change - hrough his undercover investigations, Anas Aremeyaw Anashas exposed human trafficking rings, corruption in Ghana's customs offices and child prostitution. U.S. President Barack Obama mentioned Anas and his work in a speech to Ghana's parliament last year. Most recently, Anas was in Washington, DC, to receive his 2010 Global Health Council Excellence in Journalism Award for his undercover work in exposing the mistreatment of mental health patients in Ghanaian hospitals. Saratu Abiola and Bunmi Oloruntoba caught up with the undercover reporter to talk about his passion, the importance of journalism and his hopes for Africa and his native country, Ghana. Africa: Undercover for Change - allafrica.com

Uganda reburies Lake Victoria’s Rwanda Genocide Victims - The last of three ceremonies to rebury victims of Rwanda's 1994 genocide who were washed up on the shores of Lake Victoria in Uganda has taken place. Nearly 11,000 bodies thrown into rivers in Rwanda were recovered from the lake and buried by Ugandan villagers. Uganda reburies Lake Victoria's Rwanda genocide victims - The BBC

Angola: End Case against Cabinda Rights Defenders - The Angolan government should drop politically motivated criminal charges against three prominent rights advocates who go on trial on June 23, 2010, in Cabinda, Angola's oil-rich province, Human Rights Watch said today. Vienna: Act on Human Rights Theme of AIDS Conference - Human Rights Watch

Kimberley Process: Halt Zimbabwe Diamond Trade - The government of Zimbabwe has broken its promises under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) work plan to improve abusive practices in its diamond fields and should formally be suspended from the Kimberley Process, Human Rights Watch said in a 16-pagereport released today. Kimberley Process: Halt Zimbabwe Diamond Trade - Human Rights Watch

Alysha Atma spends many hours working on projects that support and benefit the beleaguered people of African nations who spend way too much time off the western media's radar. This writer explains that she is a culmination of all her experiences, most importantly knowledge she says, and all that she still needs to learn; lessons of love, laughter and the extraordinary giving of both young and old. She says she has the enormous fortune of learning from the best; every person around her, and the amazing strength and fortitude of those she has never met but will always strive to listen to. "I continue to work and write because I believe in the power of community and the power of one, both contradictory to each other and yet can move together in a very powerful way. I feel a responsibility to use my place, freedoms and connections here in the US to stand up and yell for those who need my voice and actions. I have seen such strength in my fellow humans that I cannot even begin to comprehend, they have traveled distances, have gone without food, water, shelter and safety for days and weeks at a time. I have a responsibility as a fellow human to put our common humanity before anything else. Everyone deserves to look towards tomorrow, to dream of a safe future and to have a peaceful present." You can write to Alysha Atma at: alyshann78@comcast.net