Featured
This week's Pambazuka is brought to you directly from Tunis, the city hosting this year's World Summit on the Information Society. This summit is about making access to the internet universal, it is about the fine sentiments of democracy, accountability and good governance in relation to the internet. Yet it has been the venue for severe and systematic repression of civil society voices, the use of bureaucratic meddling to prevent democratic discussion and, ironically, making access to the internet a logistical nightmare. For this reason, this week's Pambazuka News is shorter than usual (we can hear sighs of relief from some, and groans of disappointment from others). Normal service will be resumed next week.
EDITORIAL: Patrick Burnett reports from Tunis on WSIS and the attempts by the authorities to block plans to hold an alternative civil society forum.
COMMENT & ANALYSIS:
- IFEX launch protest against repression
- The internet is not as accessible as people think
- How 'big brother' can watch what you're doing
- A brief history of Tunisia
and links to news sites
BLOGGING AFRICA: Sokari Ekine focuses on what bloggers have to say at WSIS
PAN AFRICAN POSTCARD: Tajudeen returns with commentary on political unrest has been widespread in Ethiopia since May elections and calls for calm on both sides.
BOOKS & ARTS:
Book Review: The Trial and Other Stories by Ifeoma Okoye
Poem: The Charade is Over - Requiem for the Ogoni 9, by Rotimi Sankore
GCAP: More than 40 representatives of youth, women’s networks, national coalitions, faith-based organizations organized in Africa gathered in Harare last week.
CONFLICTS & EMERGENCIES: New report claims AU troops in Darfur have made a difference
WOMEN & GENDER: Pambazuka News continues its analysis of the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, focusing this week on land rights
ELECTIONS & GOVERNANCE: Women contenders for parliament in Egypt demand greater representation
DEVELOPMENT: Water privatisation critised by report
HIV/AIDS: South Africans to test candidate Aids vaccine
and much more ...
STOP PRESS
WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: REGISTRATION POSTPONED TO NOV 30
Registration of self organized activities for the polycentric WSF 2006 – which will take place in Bamako (Mali), Caracas (Venezuela) and Karachi (Pakistan), in January, 2006 – were postponed until November 30th. Attention: there will be no further postponement! Over 3,400 organizations have already registered at the activities registration website. By the morning of November 16th, a total amount of 2,100 activities were registered for the three events.
Registration at the African venue in Bamako, Mali, have been slow. Pambazuka News urges African civil society organisations and activists to make sure that the Mali event represents the full range of African voices. Register Now! Contact [email protected] Bamako (Mali) or visit http://www.wsf2006.org/