newsletteramarcafrica no7 en

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September 2011 No 7 AMARC Africa Quaterly Bulletin Content  AMARC ACTIVITIES & EVENTS  WORLD FOOD DAY 2011: Amarc celebrate on october 16 2011 the world food day  The 16 Days Campaign Against Violence on Women 2011: Putting an End to State Violence  AMARC AFRICA NETWORKS NEWS  ZACRAS Statement on Gov ernment’S procurement of community Radio Broadcasting equipment  Democratic Republic of Congo: The Federation des Radios de proximité du Congo (FRPC)  Ghana: Two-part Forum integrating Climate Change with the R ight to Communicate through Community Radio MEDIA AND RADIO NEWS  Mauretania: liberalization of the broadcasting?  Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) Conference Adopts Declaration on Gender and Media Global Events  Durban Conference on Climate change: Useful Links PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 3 PAGE 4 PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PAGE 5 PAGE 6 PAGE 6 Published by AMARC Africa Publishers: Oumar SECK NDI YE (President AMARC Afric) Franklin HUIZES (Vice President) Karamoko BAMBA (Treasurer) Marcelo SOLERVICEN S (Secretary General AMARC internationa) Alymana BATHILY (Coordonnateur AMARC Afrique - [email protected]) Editor: Alymana BATHILY Editorial A call for contributions to your Newsletter W e want to build this publication into a source of reference on community radio in Africa and establish it as a link between communi- ty stations and networks throughout the Continent and between those and the rest of the world. Your contribution as community media stakehold- ers is indispensable to achieve this objective. This is why, on behalf of the editorial team, I wish to request your regular contributions to our quarterly editions. You could notably: Announce the creation of a community media Announce the launch of an important project or initiative involving your community radio, media or network: a new partnership, a broadcasting proj- ect, a disaster etc. Report on important events involving or concern- ing community radio/media: training or advocacy sessions, national or international conferences or seminars, elections coverage, national cam- paigns, participation in international events etc. Report threats or aggressions against communi- ty radio/media and journalists. Inform on developments on the media laws and regulations as they affect community radio/ media in your or another country. Interview community radio/media activists, prac- tionners, scholars and other stakeholders. Review of a publication which is of interest to media and community radio stakeholders in Africa. Inform on a success story concerning communi- ty media/radios in your country or another country, regarding notably the viability of the station/net- work, the participation of the community in the sta- tion/network and the use of ICTs; Send your contributions along with photos by email to : [email protected] Contributions should not exceed 500 words

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September 2011 No 7

AMARC

AfricaQuaterlyBulletin

Content AMARC ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

 

WORLD FOOD DAY 2011: Amarc celebrate on october 16 2011

the world food day

 

The 16 Days Campaign Against Violence on Women 2011:

Putting an End to State Violence

 AMARC AFRICA NETWORKS NEWS

 

ZACRAS Statement on Government’S procurement

of community Radio Broadcasting equipment

 

Democratic Republic of Congo: The Federation des Radiosde proximité du Congo (FRPC)

 

Ghana: Two-part Forum integrating Climate Change with the Right to

Communicate through Community Radio

MEDIA AND RADIO NEWS

 

Mauretania: liberalization of the broadcasting?

 

Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) Conference Adopts Declaration

on Gender and Media

Global Events

  Durban Conference on Climate change:

Useful Links

PAGE 2

PAGE 3

PAGE 3

PAGE 4PAGE 4

PAGE 5PAGE 5

PAGE 6

PAGE 6

Published by AMARC AfricaPublishers:

Oumar SECK NDI YE

(President AMARC Afric)

Franklin HUIZES (Vice President)

Karamoko BAMBA (Treasurer)

Marcelo SOLERVICENS (Secretary General AMARC internationa)

Alymana BATHILY (Coordonnateur AMARC Afrique - [email protected]

Editor: Alymana BATHILY

EditorialA call for contributions to your Newsletter

We want to build this publication into a sourceof reference on community radio in Africaand establish it as a link between communi-

ty stations and networks throughout the Continent

and between those and the rest of the world.Your contribution as community media stakehold-ers is indispensable to achieve this objective.This is why, on behalf of the editorial team, I wish torequest your regular contributions to our quarterlyeditions.You could notably:• Announce the creation of a community media• Announce the launch of an important project orinitiative involving your community radio, media ornetwork: a new partnership, a broadcasting proj-ect, a disaster etc.• Report on important events involving or concern-ing community radio/media: training or advocacysessions, national or international conferences orseminars, elections coverage, national cam-paigns, participation in international events etc.• Report threats or aggressions against communi-ty radio/media and journalists.• Inform on developments on the media laws andregulations as they affect community radio/ mediain your or another country.• Interview community radio/media activists, prac-tionners, scholars and other stakeholders.• Review of a publication which is of interest tomedia and community radio stakeholders in Africa.• Inform on a success story concerning communi-ty media/radios in your country or another country,regarding notably the viability of the station/net-

work, the participation of the community in the sta-tion/network and the use of ICTs;Send your contributions along with photos by emailto : [email protected]

Contributions should not exceed 500 words

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AMARC Africa Quartly Bulletin No 7 September 2011 Page 2

The World Association of CommunityRadio Broadcasters (AMARC) ispleased to announce that it was admit-

ted to the United Nations FrameworkConvention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)as an observer organization. AMARC willhave the opportunity to attend various ses-sions of the UNFCCC assemblies. AMARCmay also organize side events and exhibi-

tions.The participation of AMARC as an NGO willbegin at COP 17 in Durban, South Africa, atthe end of this year, as well as at theRio+20 in Brazil, in June 2012, where it candemonstrate the important role of commu-nity radio in the prevention, support and asan educator during natural disasters and inthe context of climate change and con-tribute to:• Uphold the right of everyone to receiveclear and timely information on environ-mental issues, and on development plansthat may affect us, or in which we have aninterest.

• Adopt the climate change agenda so thatcommunities we work with in different partsof the world have quality information thatenables them to take more effective actionand to demand that those in power adoptpolicies to mitigate the causes of climatechange.• Strengthen the standards of environmen-tal reporting and build the capacity of envi-ronmental communicators at local andcommunity level.• Support civil society at local, regional andglobal levels, and promote the participationof all individuals and organizations in deci-sion making that affects their lives and

livelihoods.• Protect and exercise the right to freedomof opinion, expression, association and dis-sent to rethink new, more just, more equi-table and more sustainable models ofdevelopment• Strengthen local communities capacity totake care of their environment• Adopt best practices in our own activitieswith respect to environmental managementand promote a carbon neutral communitymedia sectorWe call on governments, international andmultilateral organizations to promote theexistence and development of community

media that serve those populations mostexcluded from development and thosemost affected by the consequences of cli-mate change; to establish mechanisms

and adequate economic investment forlocal community media to realize their fullpotential in order to build informed soci-

eties that are conscious of the need toimplement local actions to mitigate theglobal phenomenon of climate change. ■

WORLD FOOD DAY 2011

Amarc celebrate on october 16 2011 world food dayThe 2011 day theme

Food prices: from crisis to stability 

Between 2005 and2008, the world’s sta-ple food prices soa-

red to their highest levelsin 30 years. During thelast 18 months of thatperiod, maize priceincreased by 74 percentwhile that of rice almosttripled, climbing a whole

166 percent.Food riots broke out inmore than 20 countries.Editorialists decreed theend of cheap food. Butthen, after peaking inJune 2008, prices slum-ped again – falling 33 per-cent in six months – large-ly as a vast financial andbanking crisis threw theglobal economy intorecession.The Universal Declarationof Human Rights of 1948

first recognized the rightto food as a human right.It was then incorporatedin the International Cove-nant on Economic, Socialand Cultural Rights(Article 11) adopted in1966 and ratified by 156states, which are todaylegally bound by its provi-sions. The expert inter-pretation and morerefined definition of this right are contained in General Comment 12 of the Committee onEconomic, Social and Cultural Rights (1999). The Voluntary Guidelines to Support theProgressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food

Security – the Right to Food Guidelines – were adopted by the FAO Council in 2004 andprovide practical recommendations on concrete steps for the implementation of the right tofood. ■

http://www.amarc.org/index.php?p=World_Food_Day

AMARC Activities & Events

 

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AMARC Africa Quartly Bulletin No 7 September 2011 Page 3

The 16 Days Campaign Against Violence on Women 2011: Putting an End to State Violence

The 16 days campaign starts on November25th with the International Day for theElimination of Violence Against Women; itcontinues on November 29th with theInternational Women’s Human RightsDefenders Day; followed by December 1:World AIDS Day; December 6: Com-memoration day of the Montreal (Canada)

Massacre in 1989 and ended with the com-memoration of sixty years of the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights on December

10th for the International Human rights Day.Community radio producers from Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe, NorthAmerica and Latin America and theCaribbean will dedicat these 16 days cam-paign to highlight the effort of women andmen working to put an end to gender vio-lence. The audio files of some of the partic-

ipating community radios and productiongroups in the 16 Days AMARC-WIN will beavailable at www.amarc.org/16jours . The

programs featured will include documen-taries, interviews, debates, poetry, musicand much more. This multilingual broadcastcampaign mobilizes community radiosaround a global issue and encouragesthem to use new communication technolo-gies such as the Internet to extend thereach of their voices. ■

http://www.amarc.org/index.php?p=16_Days_Against_Violence_on_Women

ZACRAS Statement on Government’s procurement of community Radio Broadcasting equipment

The Zimbabwe Association of Com-munity Radio Stations welcomes gov-ernment’s procurement of community

radio broadcasting equipment.According to the Chronicle of 3 September

2011, Transmedia Corporation ChiefExecutive Officer, Mrs Florence Sigudu-Matambo, indicated that the equipmentwhich comprises of transmitters, antennaeand general hardware has been delivered.However, the Zimbabwe Association ofCommunity Radio Stations (ZACRAS) isbaffled by the Transmedia CorporationCEOs statement that installation of thetransmitters and antennae will commenceafter the Broadcasting Authority ofZimbabwe (BAZ), is finished with the licens-ing process. This can be likened to theZimbabwe National Roads Agency (Zinara)stating that it will not construct any roadsuntil the Central Vehicle Registry (CVR) hasregistered cars.Transmedia is a commercial state ownedcompany providing signal distribution serv-ices for broadcasters in ZimbabweInstallation of community radio equipmentshould not be dependent upon BAZ’slicensing of community radios. Transmediaand BAZ are two separate entities, with theformer being mandated with making certainthat requisite broadcasting infrastructure isavailable, and the latter ensuring that inter-ested broadcasting players are licensed.In the past, the Permanent Secretary in theMinistry of Media, Information and Publicity,George Charamba has indicated that thebroadcasting infrastructure in the countrycreates no room for new broadcastingentries. Therefore, it is ZACRAS’ convictionthat the acquisition of broadcasting equip-

ment will put to rest the excuse of poorinfrastructure as the reason for the non-licensing of alternative broadcastingplayers.Since 2003, ZACRAS has been repre-

senting the interests of community radioinitiatives in Zimbabwe. Presently, theAssociation has a membership ofeleven community radio stations whichhave proper structures and the supportof the communities where they arebased. Two of the Association’s mem-bers, Radio Dialogue in Bulawayo andCORAH in Harare, are equipped withbroadcasting equipment which will enablethem to start broadcasting once they aregranted licenses.ZACRAS therefore urges the President ofZimbabwe, the Prime Minister of Zim-babwe, Morgan Tsvangirayi, the Minister ofMedia, Information and Publicity, WebsterShamhu , and the Committee on StandingRules and Orders to expedite the processof appointing a properly constituted BAZ.This will result in the calling for applicationsand subsequent licensing of communityradio stations in a credible and transparentmanner.The regulatory authority should howeverensure that real community radios with aclear mandate of advancing communitydevelopmental issues are licensed. TheZACRAS Harare Declaration of 2011defines community radio as being “for, by and about the community, whose owner- ship and management is representative of the community, and pursues a social devel- opment agenda, and is non-profit making”.Therefore, community radios must not behijacked as propaganda machinery for self-

serving individuals and organisations at theexpense of communities’ need to articulatetheir issues. To this end, it is ZACRAS’ viewthat the decentralization of the state con-trolled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corpora-tion (ZBC) radio stations which churn outparty propaganda at the exclusion of alter-native voices should not be mistaken for

community radios.The Association maintains its position thatthe licensing of community radios is consis-tent with the democratization and develop-ment of Zimbabwe. It is ZACRAS’ firm con-viction that it is only when communitieshave access to information and can freelyexpress themselves that they are able toparticipate in governance issues from aninformed point. ■

Vivienne MARARAAdvocacy and Information Officer 

Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS)

ZACRAS, Suite 703,7th Floor Pioneer Hse, Cnr8th Ave/Fife St, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Tel:+263 9 77986/77988, Fax: +263 9 77987,Cell: +263 712 636 682/91 2 982 134

AMARC Africa Networks News

From November 25 to December 10th,the Women’s International Network ofthe World Association of Community

Radio Broadcasters (AMARC-WIN) will

actively participate in the 16 days ofactivism against gender violence with anInternet campaign to Denounce Genderviolence in the media and transform media

into a catalyst to end violence againstwomen. The audio documents and otherinformation will be available onwww.amarc.org/16days

 

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AMARC Africa Quartly Bulletin No 7 September 2011 Page 4

Democratic Republic of Congo: Election of a new President of the High Commission on broadcasting

By a press release dated on September27, 2011, from Kinshsha « rejoicesover the election of Mr Abbot Jean-

Bosco BAHALA as President of the ConseilSupérieur de l’Audiovisuel et de laCommunication (CSAC) (High Commissionof broadcasting ).The press release presents the Fédération

des Radios de Proximité du Congo as a

network of more than 230 communityradios, and Mr Abbot Jean-Bosco BAHA-LA, as a member of the FPRC . In indicat-ed that FPRC « believes strongly in MrAbbot Jean-Bosco BAHALA’s professional-

ism and his ability to face successfully tothe many challenges confronting the broad-casting and communication sector in theDRC . The Fédération des Radios de prox-imité du Congo (FRPC) believes stronglythat both the President and the electedboard of the regulatory body has thecapacity to work for the unity of the sector inthe best interests of all its stakeholders. “It is

high time to restore order, professionalismand responsibility for the sector to reclaimits past image. The community radios wishthe President and the Board a successfultenure and assure them of their total sup-

port and collaboration in their task aheadwhich is particularly difficult considering thecontext of our country… » ■

Rigobert MALALAKOExecutive Secretary, FRPC 

CONTACT :

Tél : 243.815003234, 243.998949240E mail : [email protected]

[email protected] - Siege : Av. Bongan°61/72 Q.Matonge Kinshasa/ Kalamu.

www.frpcmedias.net

Ghana: Two-part Forum integrating Climate Change with the Right to Communicate through Community Radio

The Ghana Community Radio Network (GCRN) held a Forum on Thursday, 25 August 2011 in Accra on the overall theme: Pursuing theRight to Communicate through Community Radio: Community Voice for Participatory Development and Climate Change Adaptation.

Even children came to give testimony at the Climate Change part of the forum. (To the right, holding the mikes: AMARC Africa Board Member Kofi Larweh.) 

Tne forum featured a two-part pro-gramme. The first part of the forum pre-sented the methodology and findings

of “Climate Airwaves”, a joint pilot project onClimate Change Adaptation of GCRN andIDS (Institute of Development Studies,Sussex, UK). The pilot project, which wasimplemented by three GCRN-memberCommunity Radio stations along the lower

Volta, applied systemic action researchcombined with participatory broadcasts toenable vulnerable communities to articulatethe critical challenges to their ability toadapt to Climate Change. The project wassupported by the multi-country RadioConvergence and Development in Africaprogramme of the International Develop-ment Research Centre of Canada.Representatives of communities in whichthe research had taken place came fromtheir rural areas to participate in the forum.Speaking in their respective local lan-guages, translated for the benefit of otherforum, they gave testimony to the difference

that community radio has made to theirlives. Climate change specialists at theforum lauded the project for placing vulner-able communites first in the process ofClimate Change Adaptation and for provid-

ing a good, and rare, example of how com-munities can feed into Climate Change pol-icy. The experience of the project informedthe GCRN-IDS submission to the NationalClimate Change Policy Framework(NCCPF).The second part of the forum presented theexperience of the project on “The Right toCommunicate through Community Radio”

which was facilitated by GCRN and nation-al and District CSO partners with the sup-port of the United Nations Democracy Fund(UNDEF). Community Radio initiatives facil-itated under the project went through aninclusive, participatory process thatemphasized the responsible, dialogic useof the airwaves before submitting theirapplications for Community Radio frequen-cies. Prior to the forum, 11 of theseCommunity Radio initiatives, located in ruralareas in the Ashanti, Northern, Upper Eastand Western Regions, submitted a jointpetition to NCA (National CommunicationsAuthority) to expedite the award of their fre-

quencies.The petition specifically asked NCA to pres-ent their frequency approval letters at theforum. The Community Radio initiativesinvoked a provision which requires NCA to

make a decision on frequencies within 60days of the submission of an application butwhich had quietly been expunged from theamended law. NCA did not respond posi-tively to the petition and, in fact, did noteven show up at the forum. This drewstrong reactions from forum attendees,including those who did not belong toGCRN. Participants who attended both

parts of the forum could not hep but ask:Why, if all this good work is going on, areCommunity Radio initiatives being deniedfrequencies?It must have been one of these participantswho passed on the information to Article 19.Without GCRN’s foreknowledge, a storytitled “Ghana: Stop denying broadcastinglicences to community radios” appeared inthe organization’s newsletter of 08September 2001. In the story Article 19specifically stated that the “NCA’s practicesunder the current legislation are clearly inbreach of international law.” The advocacycontinues for Community Radio frequen-

cies and for transparency and equity as awhole in the allocation of the airwaves. ■

Ghana Community Radio Network

 

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AMARC Africa Quartly Bulletin No 7 September 2011 Page 5

Mauretania: liberalization of the broadcasting?

On Tuesday August 23, 2011, M.Hamdy Ould Mahjoub,Mauretanea Communications Minister, has provided theRegulatory Commission (the High Authority on Press and

Broadcasting : Haute autorité de Presse et d’Audiovisuel –HAPA-)with the specifications for the licencing of 5 private radios and tele-visions.He indicated also that the present state controlled radios and tele-visions will be turned into public service corporations. He informedat the same time of the creation of an independent television to pro-vide services for both the public service television and the privateones.The Mauritanian Communications Minister announced that this was“the end of the State monopoly information in place since 1960” andthat his announce was signaling “ a qualitative leapfrog and anessential element in the democratic evolution of Mauretanea”.The law on the liberalization of the broadcast media had been

enacted by a large majority vote of the National Assembly back onJuly 2, 2010.Community media : next stepHamdy Ould Mahjoub indicated that the next step of the liberaliza-tion of the broadcast media will concern the community sector.HAPA- for High Authority on Press and Broadcasting, the regulato-ry body will issue a call for licence applications. “ the governmentwill not intervene in the license granting process ». It will only signthe licenses granting frequencies to applicants selected by thelicensing and regulatory authority ».The Mauretanean Communications Minister indicated also that thelinguistic diversity of the country will be one of the specifications thatapplicants for community radio and television licenses will have toabide by. ■

Source:www.rfi.fr

Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) Conference Adopts Declaration on Gender and Media

Tne All-African Conference on Genderand Media organised by theFederation of African Journalists

(FAJ) has concluded today in Kigali,Rwanda, after three days of debate. Thefollowing is the text of the Declarationadopted by the conference:We, the participants to the All-AfricanConference on Gender and Media gath-ered in Kigali from 26-28 August 2011,on the theme «Empowering AfricanWomen Journalists: Stepping up to theChallenge of Gender Equality»:• Conscious of the huge challenges fac-ing the African region in its quest to

enhance gender equality in the mediainstitutions, unions, associations and thesociety at large;• Underscoring that African women jour-nalists continue to occupy lower gradedlevels in the media industry, where theyface marginalisation, discrimination,exploitation, harassment and abuse;• Noting the challenges and constraints ofwomen journalists in Africa;• Considering the barriers to women jour-nalists’ active participation in activities ofjournalists’ organizations;• Cognizant of the difficulties facingwomen journalists in attaining leadership

positions, equal treatment and remunera-tion in the work place;• Concerned about gender discriminatorypractices prevalent in the media, maledomination of journalists organizationsand low understanding of gender issuesamong journalists;• Taking into account the concerns, chal-lenges and recommendations thatemanated from the gender surveys con-ducted by the IFJ, the FAJ and the affili-ates in the five sub regions of the AfricanContinent;• Considering the guidelines and stan-dards of the International Labour

Organisation (ILO) and the InternationalTrade Union Confederation (ITUC) in theworkplace;• Noting the gender policies and pro-grammes of the African Union (AU) and

the UN Women;• Recognising the contribution thatwomen journalists make to developmentin Africa,• Considering that the conference hasadopted a comprehensive regional gen-der sensitive policy framework whichmainstreams gender into the structures,programmes and processes of the FAJthat would serve as a guiding tool to theunions and associations in the interest ofgender equality and equity as well asimprove the chances for fair, balancedand ethical reporting that will in turn posi-tively impact the quality and quantity of

reporting from a gender perspective.• Reaffirming the policies and pro-grammes of the FAJ, the InternationalFederation of Journalists (IFJ) and theiraffiliates around the fundamental andinalienable rights of people for a just andequal society;

Hereby resolve:1. To call on FAJ to encourage its affiliatesto promote better representation ofwomen at all levels by setting some mech-anisms such as quota system and others;2. To ensure the establishment and buil-ding of gender structures and employ-

ment of gender coordinators in all affiliatesand regional associations;3. To campaign for women to take upstrategic leadership positions;4. To embark on a review of the statutes,constitutions and collective bargainingagreements of its membership with aview to mainstreaming gender equalityinto the operations of the unions andassociations as well as promoting genderconcerns, in particular issues that arespecific to women in the workplace inorder for the unions to be able to gen-uinely advance the interests of womenjournalists;

5. To engage the media employers andeditors, especially in countries in conflict,so that they provide their employees - irre-spective of their gender- with a conducivework environment which guarantees their

safety and security;6. To develop a systematic mentoring andtraining programmes to address the spe-cific needs and aspirations of youngwomen journalists;7. To advocate for gender education in thecurriculum of the journalism schools andother training institutions;8. To campaign side-by-side other rele-vant gender advocacy groups to eliminategender inequality and violence againstwomen in the media industry of Africa andthe broader African society as well asunemployment, poor and unsafe workingconditions of female and male journalists;

9. To uphold the norms and standards ofemployment of the ILO and ITUC on gen-der mainstreaming;10. To make journalists trade unions andassociations affiliated with the Interna-tional Federation of Journalists and theFederation of African Journalists demo-cratically accountable and responsive tothe needs of both female and male mem-bership;11. To urge the IFJ, FAJ and their affiliatedorganizations to commit and mobilizemore resources to finance women struc-tures and all other gender equality work inAfrica;

12. To establish a continental Commis-sion/Council for Gender Equality (CGE) toadvance, promote and protect genderequality within the journalists’ movementand the media industry in Africa;13. To commit to build monitoring andevaluation systems of the gender policiesand programmes in order to assessprogress;14. To allocate resources through genderbudgeting in order to address genderobjectives more effectively. ■

Adopted in Kigali, Rwanda28 August 2011

Source :International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

www.ifj.org

Media and Radio News

 

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AMARC Africa Quartly Bulletin No 7 September 2011 Page 6

What demands will Africa make in itsCommon Position?Africa wants an outcome based on sci-ence that is fair and honours the promis-es all countries have made in the U.N.Climate Convention and its KyotoProtocol. We need to agree to globalreductions for 2050 that limit warming towell below the predicted 1.5 degreesCelsius in Africa. We need to close the‘mitigation gap’ by ensuring developedcountries take on fair and appropriatecontributions. Their current weak

pledges, along with accounting loop-holes, would result in them doing very lit-tle or nothing to curb climate changebefore 2020.

With 54 countries, the AGN is one of thelargest negotiating blocs. Is it difficult toagree on a common position?Obviously. We have 54 different nationalinterests and development levels thatmake it challenging to come to a com-mon position. But we understand theimportance of reaching middle ground.We need critical mass that cannot beignored. We need to go beyond nationalinterests. Speaking with one voice willgive us leverage.

How do you ensure the COP process does notbecome «an expensive talkfest», as somecritics believe?No group has been more critical aboutthe tendency for «talk without action»than the African group. For any processto remain relevant it must produce. Thebig issue - cutting emissions – remainselusive.We have, for instance, been discussingthe same greenhouse gas reduction tar-gets since 2005. What we are now look-ing for is a simple commitment to actionby our negotiating partners. It is not aquestion of horse-trading. There aresome things we cannot compromise on ifwe are to protect our people.

With COP17, the Kyoto Protocol’s first com-mitment period will come to an end. Whatare the chances of developed nations re-committing?Some wealthy countries are delaying theKyoto negotiations. Three countries –Japan, Canada and Russia – haveexpressed reluctance to honour theirpromises. The United States repudiatedits commitments a number of years ago.

But the world cannot be held hostage bya handful of countries. Africa will notserve as the burial ground of the onlylegally binding treaty requiring those

most responsible for causing climatechange to reduce their climate pollution.

How will you manage the potential ‘financinggap’ after 2012?Finance is one of the key issues forDurban. We expect the polluters, and notthe poor in Africa, to pay. If Africa is totake on new actions (commitments), weneed to ensure we are getting new andadditional finance. There is no commit-ment for 2013, and the pledge of devel-oping nations to pay 100 billion dollars ayear from 2020, while an important start,bears no relation to the level of need asidentified by major institutions includingthe U.N. and World Bank. Durban mustdeliver an agreement on finance.

Some developed nations demand to include

emerging economies like China, India, Braziland South Africa in legally binding emissionsreduction targets. Do you agree?The U.N. climate convention is very clearabout this. Historical responsibility lieswith developed nations. The demand bydeveloped countries that all «majoreconomies», including some developingcountries, take on binding commitmentsdeparts from the 2007 Bali Roadmap. Ifwe depart from promises made asrecently as 2007, how can we trust whatcomes next? Africa is more than willing toplay ball, but only if the other side doesnot keep moving the goalposts.

Are the projects planned during last year’sCancun Agreements on track?The Africa Group has written proposals

on the technology mechanism, adapta-tion framework, standing committee onclimate finance, forum on responsemeasures and other institutional arrange-ments. Egypt, DRC, Burkina Faso, Gabonand Zambia have submitted a proposalfor the new Green Climate Fund. We seethese as essential building blocks tostrengthen the climate architecture. Butthey need to be complemented byprogress on the key issue for curbing cli-mate change: cutting emissions.

Will carbon markets be the way to reducegreenhouse gas emissions?Right now, the prospect of carbon mar-kets is bleak. The U.N. EnvironmentProgramme says we must achieve 12gigatonnes (Gt) of global reductions by2020. Developing countries have

pledged 5Gt, if supported with finance.This would leave 7Gt for the developedcountries.But they have, unfortunately,pledged less than 4Gt, and have around4Gt available in so-called «loopholes».They are offering nothing. If they (do nothave to effectively reduce emissions) by2020, then why would they need to pur-chase carbon credits from Africa or else-where? ■

Interview by Kristin PALITZAM Tosi MPANU-MPANU

who will lead the COP17 negotiationson behalf of the African Group

of Negotiators.

Source:Inter Press Service IPS

M.TosiMpanu-Mpanu

Durban Conference on Climate change:

Africa will have to present a strong position at the United Nationsclimate change conference later this year to ensure the conti-nent will receive the financing to mitigate and adapt to climate

change. Africa contributes only four percent of global greenhousegasses but it is the continent most vulnerable to climate change’sadverse effects.

During the Nov. 28 to Dec. 9 17th U.N. Framework Convention onClimate Change in Durban, South Africa, Tosi Mpanu-Mpanu willlead the negotiations on behalf of the African Group of Negotiatorson Climate Change (AGN). Mpanu-Mpanu is also director of theClean Development Mechanism Designated National Authority ofthe Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Global Events

 

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Useful LinksAMARC■ www.amarc.org/index.world_food_day_2011

www.amarc.org/index.16_days_against_violence

■ World Food Daywww.fao.org/getinvolved/fr

■ Against Violence on Women

www.un.org/french/womenwathc

■ DR Congo Community Radio Networkwww.frpcmedias.net

■ Radio France Internationalewww.rfi.fr

■ Zimbabwe Association of Community Radioswww.zacras.co.zw

■ International Federation of Journalistswww.fij.org

■ Inter Press Service (IPS)www.ipsinternational.org/fr

■ UN Conference on Climate Changewww.un.org/fr/climatechange