A recent report highlights the social backlash of international sporting events by documenting the preparation for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October. ‘The 2010 Commonwealth Games: Whose Wealth? Whose Commons?’, shows that the costs fall primarily on the local poor and marginalised, shocking numbers of whom are evicted and displaced. Despite clear indicators that a proposed host city will need to evict people to prepare for a sporting event, steps to protect the local population prior to accepting a host bid have not been taken by international organisers or national governments, reports Dana Wagner. While cities worldwide vie to host prestigious mega-events, history suggests that the resident poor will continue to pay, as thousands of South Africans and Indians have for events in 2010 alone.

As oil giant Chevron faces off against Nigerian activists and their families over the company's alleged role in the deaths of two protestors in the Niger Delta in 1998, Dana Wagner discusses the case and its significance for corporate responsibility.

A civic education session attracts women from Kabete, Nairobi, who listen to educators and MPs deconstruct Kenya's proposed constitution ahead of the 4 August referendum. The event is one of many organised by Warembo ni Yes, a movement conceived by the women's arm of community group Bunge la Mwananchi and created to educate and prompt women to vote yes. Event organiser and Warembo ni Yes sister Grace Ngugi explains why her group reaches out to women, and why women are responding.

The East African Community has accelerated negotiations with Europe for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The race is on for negotiators and lobbyists to either let Europe in or keep it out. And so far, influential EPA advocates are in the lead, according to Yash Tandon, former head of the South Centre and critic of African EPAs with Europe. As corporate proponents advance the trade deal, negotiations threaten East African unity at a critical time in its still early development.

Members of the ‘Yes’ camp in the run-up to Kenya’s constitution referendum continue to reject the legitimacy of a recent ruling by the Constitutional and Judicial Review Division of the High Court of Kenya that deemed the inclusion of Kadhi’s courts in the country’s draft constitution ‘discriminatory’, writes Dana Wagner. Wagner investigates how the inclusion of Kadhi’s courts in Kenya’s constitution has become a contentious issue in the country, and how this issue has given constitution debates a sharp religious edge.

Ten days after the Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla that left nine activists dead, the response from African governments and civil society groups is unrelenting. Organisation continues around the effort to condemn the 31 May attack, and to dismantle the Gaza blockade. Pambazuka News provides an update of last week’s condemning the violence against both the aid workers and the Palestinians of Gaza.

Israel’s raid on an aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip has left at least nine dead and several more wounded. On board were activists and aid workers from more than 30 countries, accompanying more than 10,000 tonnes of aid supplies intended for Palestinians in Gaza. Dana Wagner provides a round-up of responses from African governments and civil society groups.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into Kenya's post-2007–08 election atrocities is being dubbed the country’s ‘last hope’ for justice due to a lack of domestic initiatives to deal with suspects, writes Dana Wagner. Amidst high Kenyan and international expectations, can the ICC deliver this justice as a lone and external judicial body?

The death of Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem one year ago was marked on Tuesday 25 May in Nairobi with the launch of , a collection of his Pan-African Postcards. His legacy was manifest amidst Africa Day celebration and debate. Images from the day accompany this article.

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/483/reading_draft_constitution… this , a team from the grassroots organisation