Alex Whiting
Alex Whiting joined the AlertNet team in July 2005. Before that she was assistant editor of Panos Features and correspondent of Gemini News Service, specialising in trade, aid and development. She began her journalism career making television documentaries for the BBC and Britain's Channel 4, and since then has also worked in radio. Now she is combining work with a part-time MA in Middle Eastern studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies.
China: New kid on the block of Darfur diplomacy
Author: Alex Whiting
China has made it increasingly clear that, where Africa's concerned, Western donors must take the new kid on the block seriously.
China comes with an impressive legacy of economic growth and a new package of solutions for Africa's problems. But it also comes with different rules, such as not interfering in another country's affairs, and giving massive loans with no political strings attached.
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Author: Alex Whiting
China has made it increasingly clear that, where Africa's concerned, Western donors must take the new kid on the block seriously.
China comes with an impressive legacy of economic growth and a new package of solutions for Africa's problems. But it also comes with different rules, such as not interfering in another country's affairs, and giving massive loans with no political strings attached.
...
Trees - Africa's weapon against drought and desert
Author: Alex Whiting
One thing that helps keep water in the soil is trees. The two regions in the world that have lost the most forest cover are Africa and Latin America, according to the State of the World's Forests 2007, released on Tuesday. Whereas many regions are reversing centuries of deforestation, Africa lost nearly 10 percent of its forests in the last 15 years.
Some countries, however, are bucking the trend. Farmers in Niger have saved their land from the encroaching Sahara desert, and local researchers are amazed to find that trees have spread to over 3 million hectares in just two or three decades. And to boot, the process has cost practically nothing. In an excellent article published in the New York Times last month, Lydia Polgreen explains how the farmers transformed their lives and land.
...
Author: Alex Whiting
One thing that helps keep water in the soil is trees. The two regions in the world that have lost the most forest cover are Africa and Latin America, according to the State of the World's Forests 2007, released on Tuesday. Whereas many regions are reversing centuries of deforestation, Africa lost nearly 10 percent of its forests in the last 15 years.
Some countries, however, are bucking the trend. Farmers in Niger have saved their land from the encroaching Sahara desert, and local researchers are amazed to find that trees have spread to over 3 million hectares in just two or three decades. And to boot, the process has cost practically nothing. In an excellent article published in the New York Times last month, Lydia Polgreen explains how the farmers transformed their lives and land.
...
Ethnic Nepalis try to break centuries'-old power grip
Author: Alex Whiting
Just when Nepal thought it had finally put an end to a decade-long civil war between its royalist government and Maoist rebels, which killed more than 13,000 people, up pops a wave of ethnic groups threatening to derail the peace process with violent protests and strikes.
But why? Well, according to an article in the Economist, the ethnic movements are trying to break a centuries'-old stranglehold by the country's top Hindu castes.
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Author: Alex Whiting
Just when Nepal thought it had finally put an end to a decade-long civil war between its royalist government and Maoist rebels, which killed more than 13,000 people, up pops a wave of ethnic groups threatening to derail the peace process with violent protests and strikes.
But why? Well, according to an article in the Economist, the ethnic movements are trying to break a centuries'-old stranglehold by the country's top Hindu castes.
...
Who cares about tropical diseases?
Author: Alex Whiting
Ever heard of hookworm, elephantiasis or snail fever? A staggering two billion people worldwide are infected with one or more of these so-called 'neglected tropical diseases' (NTDs). The world's poorest are most at risk, and once infected, face a lifetime of severe disability. The cure? Scientists say treatment to control five of the most devastating of these diseases could cost as little as $0.50 per person a year. But they need funds to find a way of coordinating the treatment. And that brings us back to the 'neglected' part of NTDs. ...
Author: Alex Whiting
Ever heard of hookworm, elephantiasis or snail fever? A staggering two billion people worldwide are infected with one or more of these so-called 'neglected tropical diseases' (NTDs). The world's poorest are most at risk, and once infected, face a lifetime of severe disability. The cure? Scientists say treatment to control five of the most devastating of these diseases could cost as little as $0.50 per person a year. But they need funds to find a way of coordinating the treatment. And that brings us back to the 'neglected' part of NTDs. ...
Why AIDS isn't toppling governments
Author: Alex Whiting
We've just come across a book that's likely to spark plenty of heated debate: "AIDS and Power: Why there is no political crisis - yet" by Alex de Waal, published by Zed Books and David Philip. De Waal points out that, although the HIV/AIDS pandemic has plunged life expectancy in Africa to pre-modern levels, people aren't rioting in the streets or overthrowing governments over their inadequate response to the disease. ...
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Author: Alex Whiting
We've just come across a book that's likely to spark plenty of heated debate: "AIDS and Power: Why there is no political crisis - yet" by Alex de Waal, published by Zed Books and David Philip. De Waal points out that, although the HIV/AIDS pandemic has plunged life expectancy in Africa to pre-modern levels, people aren't rioting in the streets or overthrowing governments over their inadequate response to the disease. ...
