Archives for October, 2011
The Mad Dash for Land

The Mad Dash for Land

Published On Monday, October 31, 2011. Under: Africa, World.
A farmer in Uganda Photo: REUTERSIt’s called the new “resource curse” – a drive by rich nations to take over swaths of fertile and cheap farmland in poor nations. Yet rather than bringing wealth to these poor nations, a lack oversight means these deals are only spreading hardship and poverty, especially in Africa, not ending it. 100Reporters' Diana Jean Schemo looks at the billions that are being spent in a land-buying frenzy and how the World Bank both criticizes these deals and yet helps makes them happen. [FULL ARTICLE]
The Conflict Over Conflict Minerals

The Conflict Over Conflict Minerals

Published On Monday, October 31, 2011. Under: World.
Fifteen months after President Barack Obama hailed the Dodd-Frank Act as a mighty weapon against reckless excesses on Wall Street, the measure is sparking fierce debate for a far different reason: Its effort to clamp down on “conflict minerals” which are found in everyday objects, but which are often linked to brutal African conflicts and dictators. It may seem a far stretch for a law aimed at cleaning up Wall Street to also take on the trade in minerals from the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo. That it does is setting off fierce debate that pits human rights activists against some of the most powerful business interests in Washington. In addition to its myriad regulations covering the banking and financial … [FULL ARTICLE]
Venezuela’s Vanishing Billions

Venezuela’s Vanishing Billions

Published On Monday, October 31, 2011. Under: World.
Nearly $30 billion is missing from a Venezuelan national development fund controlled by President Hugo Chávez, who appears to have diverted some of the missing money to his political allies in other countries, while much of the rest remains unaccounted for. The money came from a $69.4 billion fund for development aid, known as Fonden, which is designed to take public money, largely from Venezuela’s state-run oil company and its Central Bank, and use it on domestic development projects such as highways, schools, factories and hospitals. For years in Venezuela, critics of the president have nicknamed Fonden “Chávez’s slush fund.” Information only now becoming public shows that is not far off the mark: El Fondo de Desarrollo Nacional, as it … [FULL ARTICLE]
Where the Spirit of Inquiry Ends

Where the Spirit of Inquiry Ends

Published On Monday, October 31, 2011. Under: World.
Protesters target a land deal by the Prime Minister, benefactor of Lawrence Technical University in MichiganShould American universities accept multi-million dollar gifts from dictators and other heads of state who have cracked down on their own citizens? 100Reporters' Noya Kohavi investigates a money pipeline extending from such countries as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Libya, whose current and former leaders have fought calls for democracy, to campuses of American universities. University officials say they see nothing wrong; transparency advocates disagree. [FULL ARTICLE]
The Chinese Solution

The Chinese Solution

Published On Monday, October 31, 2011. Under: Africa, World.
Miners at the Marange mind in Eastern Zimbabwe. Photo: APThe Chinese have come to Zimbabwe to mine diamonds from the rich Marange field, the largest diamond strike in more than a century. Previous mining concessions in the region have only enriched cronies of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, while his country sinks deeper into poverty every day. Now the Chinese have proposed building a military college, which Zimbabwe is paying for with diamonds. 100Reporters' Leslie Wayne shows how this deal may well help Mugabe continue his reign of fear and terror. [FULL ARTICLE]