US universities in Africa 'land grab'

 Institutions including Harvard and Vanderbilt reportedly use hedge funds to buy land in deals that may force farmers out

• John Vidal and Claire Provost 
•  Wednesday 8 June 2011 20.18 BST

US universities are reportedly using endowment funds to make deals that may force thousands from their land in Africa. Photograph: Boston Globe via Getty Images

Harvard and other major American universities are working through British hedge funds and European financial speculators to buy or lease vast areas of African farmland in deals, some of which may force many thousands of people off their land, according to a new study.

Researchers say foreign investors are profiting from "land grabs" that often fail to deliver the promised benefits of jobs and economic development, and can lead to environmental and social problems in the poorest countries in the world.

The solar-powered bikini makes waves

By Laura Shin | June 7, 2011, 7:01 PM PDT

 

 

I’m all for free, cheap energy, which — technological hurdles aside — largely describes solar.
I once coveted a backpack sporting photovoltaic (PV) panels while on an eight-day trek in the Himalayas, I’ve looked into buying a solar-powered iPhone battery charging case and I’ve even written about sun-fueled compacting trashcans.
I look forward to the day when everyday objects have the ability to get an energy boost from the sun, or when our clothing, cars and other possessions can harness and transfer its energy to other devices.
But while I wait for solar power to become mobile and ubiquitous, I sometimes see things that make me wonder whether it can go too far.

FEATURE-Ex-militants pose latent threat to Nigerian oil

Wed Apr 6, 2011 4:39am EDT

* Jobs a scarce commodity in high-tech oil industry* Ex-militants could quickly regroup, return to creeks
* First head of state from Niger Delta favourite in polls

By Joe Brock

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, April 6 (Reuters) - Sat at the bar in a dingy former hotel on the edge of Nigeria's oil hub Port Harcourt, Silas Pyale lifts a muscular arm and points to a deep gash in his head.
"A bullet did that," says the 31-year old, staring into the middle distance. "We all hope those days are over but if there are no jobs, no money, it will be back to the old ways ... But even worse than before."
Pyale is one of thousands of militants to have emerged from the creeks of the Niger Delta, home to Arica's biggest oil and gas industry, under an amnesty deal brokered 18 months ago by then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan.

Nigerian leader to pick cabinet this week: source

Mon Jun 6, 2011 7:03pm GMT

 

By Felix Onuah

ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan will send a list of nominees for his new cabinet to the Senate for approval this week and some outgoing ministers will be retained, a presidency source said on Monday.

Nigerian army investigates threat of oil attacks

Mon Jun 6, 2011 4:53pm GMT

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria, June 6 (Reuters) - The Nigerian army said on Monday it was investigating a purported threat by the Niger Delta's main militant group to attack oil industry facilities.

'Nollywood' brings home-grown success to Nigeria

 

By Joseph Penney, Contributor / June 2, 2011

Lagos, Nigeria

Nigeria’s “Nollywood” is massive. Filmmakers here produced an average of 31 movies a week last year, more than America’s Hollywood and second only to India’s “Bollywood.” Not that production values are comparable: The movies are low-budget affairs shot in a few weeks, and most go directly to VCD – video compact disc, a precursor to the DVD format still popular in developing countries.

Africa Should Cut Reliance on Commodity Exports—Ministers

AFRICAN FINANCE MINISTERS

IMF Survey online

April 16, 2011

Africa should broaden its economic base and not remain so dependent on commodity exports for its growth, African finance ministers said during the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington.

Four ministers told a press briefing that diversification into more labor-intensive industry would make Africa’s growth less volatile and more inclusive.