Salem-News.com Africa articles Page 56

Efforts Underway to Free Two Pirate-Held Planes in Somalia

"Puntland 'seizes Kenya-bound planes that transported pirate suspects'" - garoweonline

(PUNTLAND, Somalia) - Authorities in Somalia's Puntland State government have seized two Kenya-bound airplanes that allegedly transported pirate suspects to Puntland without the local government's knowledge, government sources tell Garowe Online.

The two airplanes were seized by Puntland security forces on Sunday after landing at the airport in Galkayo, the provincial capital of Mudug region.

Pirates Free MV Hansa Stavanger Along With Crew

The box-ship with around 1,070 containers was sea-jacked by Somali sea-shifta on 3rd April 2009 400 km off the southern Somali port of Kismaayu.

(NAIROBI, Kenya) - "The nightmare of being held hostage in Somalia is over for five Germans, three Russians, two Ukrainians, two Filipinos, 11 Tuvaluans and one sailor from Fiji," according to Ecoterra International, a group in Africa that monitors the pirate situation off Somalia around the clock since 1986.

They say pirates freed the German owned, German-flagged MV Hansa Stavanger and the vessel is sailing - Ecoterra's sources confirmed.

Pirates Release German Ship and Crew for Ransom

Crew members aboard two separate vessels are all reported to be in good health.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Ecoterra reports that the ship MV Victoria, which was seized by pirates off the Somalia coast, was released overnight against a ransom payment of US$ 1.8 million.

Oregonians Mobilize Campaign to Support Darfur

The UN estimates that 35,000 Darfuri’s are dying each month, and this figure could soon rise above 100,000 per month.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Oregon activists concerned with the plight of Darfur are asking others to join them in a letter writing campaign targeting U.S. Senators.

Alysha Atma with i-ACT, says the objective is to affect change, bring awareness, and educate senators that have not effectively stood for action and given their voices for Darfur.

Mandela Day Concert Live (VIDEO)

The Mandela Day campaign calls upon people around the world to commit 67 minutes of their time to make an imprint and help change the world around them.

(NEW YORK) - 46664 and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, together with live video streaming partner, Livestream, have launched Mandela Day TV, a free and pay-per-view event that lets viewers anywhere in the world take part in the Mandela Day concert at Radio City Music Hall, New York on July 18th.

The concert boasts a wonderful range of artists from all over the world including Stevie Wonder; Wyclef Jean; Aretha Franklin; Loyiso; Will.I.Am; Jesse McCartney; Cyndi Lauper; Zucchero; Josh Groban; Baaba Maal; Angelique Kidjo; the Soweto Gospel Choir and many more.

Sila & the Afrofunk Experience Will Appear at Salem World Beat Music Festival

"Guaranteed to keep you glued to the dance floor" - San Francisco Bay Guardian

(SALEM, Ore.) - A group set to perform at Salem's World Beat Festival Saturday, June 27th, San Francisco ensemble Sila & the Afrofunk Experience, will also appear at the Someday Lounge in Portland, Oregon on June 26th.

The band is celebrating the release of their sophomore recording Black President (Visila Records, May 26, 2009), an album inspired by the historic election of the first African-American U.S. president whose title track has already been downloaded more than 8,000 times.

Protecting Natural Resources & Coping with Climate Change in Rural Africa

Africans find effective practical solutions—June 5th is World Environment Day.

(NEW YORK) - Africa, the world’s poorest continent, has the lowest emissions of greenhouse gases. Yet it’s is likely to be hardest hit by climate change.

The UN estimates that, by 2020, as many as 750 million Africans will face water shortages, while in some countries rain-fed agricultural production may drop by 50 percent. To remedy the situation, as much as $50 billion in annual spending may be required. But wealthy nations are not keeping up as it is with making good on a string of promises of much smaller sums in humanitarian and development aid for Africa.

Actress Mia Farrow Joins Fast to Fight Hunger & Violence in Darfur

She says you can also be a part of this growing Ecosystem of Change, as Peter Gabriel called it during his fast.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - In response to inaction from the world in addressing increasingly desperate conditions in Darfur, Activist-Actress Mia Farrow began a water-only hunger strike on April 27, 2009.

Stop Genocide Now Writes Open Letter to Obama to Help End Bloodshed in Chad

"Last weekend you upheld your promise to Michele to take her to dinner and Broadway performance in New York. What about your promise to the Darfuri people?" -Alysha Atma, Stop Genocide Now

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The group Stop Genocide Now reports that one of the refugee camps in Chad has been bombed.

"Not only is Al-bashir embolden enough to starve his own people by expelling the aid organizations he is now bombing them, AGAIN," they report. The group's Alysha Atma has drafted an open letter to President Obama seeking help for the people there.

UN Deplores Campaign of Violence Against Somali Government

The Security Council has condemned the recent resurgence in fighting in the Horn of Africa nation, and called for the end of all hostilities.

(MOGADISHU) - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned the continuing armed attacks against Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government, expressing concern at the growing numbers of civilians killed, wounded and displaced by the violence.

Intense fighting between the Government and the opposition Al-Shabaab and Hisb-ul-Islam groups erupted in several north-west areas of the capital, Mogadishu, on 8 May, uprooting over 67,000 people, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.