How a Small African Country is Leading the Fight Against Climate Change

How a Small African Country is Leading the Fight Against Climate Change

Could you imagine living in a country threatened to be consumed by rising sea levels? Since the industrial revolution, humans have polluted the planet with new factories and manufacturing centers. Rising temperatures, dying species, and environmental destruction are threatening the prosperity of human civilization. Today, you might think of Norway or Sweden as the leaders of climate action, but in reality, Morocco has led the world in climate action holding international conferences to push for more commitment (Bounoua). Almost every country in the world has failed to meet environmental requirements, pushing us further and further into the depths of global warming. It is time that a nation shows the world how they can create a healthy, working relationship with the environment (Dekkak). 

The climate challenges currently facing the African continent are dangerous, and they will likely continue to grow. Africa is a metropolis home to more than one billion people, and that doesn’t seem to be stopping as birth rates continue to rise in sub-Saharan regions despite a worsening climate. The ever-growing population demands ever-growing food supplies, but farming in the Nile has been threatened by new dam construction, putting limits on total farming quotas (Bounoua). The growing Sahara Desert continues to claim more and more territory, pushing into countries such as Morocco, decreasing precipitation and consuming arable land, threatening millions of Africans directly south of the desert (Washington). Many countries including Madagascar, Morocco, South Africa, and Niger are threatened by rising tides as large metropolitan centers are predicted to go underwater within a few decades if things do not begin to change (Dekkak). This places pressure on currently underdeveloped infrastructure, much of which is by the coasts. Many of these countries are already in heaven debt to countries such as China and the United States that have waged an economic war on the continent for the last few years, limiting local government action (Sheppard). Terrorist organizations take advantage of the turmoil caused by lost farming jobs and government insecurity to recruit new members. Sustaining Africa with a healthy relationship with the environment could go a long way in improving general stability, but terrorist threats require a lot of government resources.

Currently, The European Union, as well as the United States, have pumped billions of dollars into developing climate models with extremely high resolution that track current weather and climate conditions in Africa which can be used when building new infrastructure projects. Morocco has led multiple international conferences detailing how small changes to energy efficiency can go a long way into lowering coal and oil dependence (Platonova-Oquab). South Africa has committed to starting a program designed to broaden the reach of solar and wind power on the continent (Platonova-Oquab). Morocco has developed low-cost solar programs that see solar panels placed in local residences and decoupling persons from the main power grid (Dekkak). Local communities in Northern Africa with the help of European investment have implemented new technology alternatives that can help people lower their dependence on oil and gas as well as preserving natural parts of the environment (Platonova-Oquab). 

While climate change is looming, South Africa and Morocco lead the world in the battle to lower human impact on the environment. They have proven that despite domestic challenges and small budgets that they can meet projections and better their relationship with the environment (Debbak). As cities around the world risk being swallowed by the rising ties, we can look to Morocco as a leader in the fight against climate change, and urge our governments to take action.

Annotated Bibliography: 

"Africa: Climate Change." Gale Global Issues Online Collection, Gale, 2019. Gale In Context: Global Issues, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CP3208520147/GIC?u=los42754&sid=GIC&xid=13f423f6. Accessed 18 Apr. 2020. Climate change is a real threat to the African continent, as poor infrastructure, government corruption, and wide-spread poverty prevents real action. Many parts of sub-Saharan Africa have already warmed almost an entire Celcius degree, illustrating the gravity of the problem. This comes from a credible non-profit database that works to provide education and resources to students across the globe. I used this source mainly to provide background information on the subject, which I found extremely useful in introducing myself to the subject. It also pointed out many existing African initiatives, which may spur further investigation.

Bounoua, Lahouari. “Climate Change Is Hitting African Farmers the Hardest of All.” The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2020, theconversation.com/climate-change-is-hitting-african-farmers-the-hardest-of-all-40845. Agriculture remains a major part of the African economy, but climate disaster is poised to ruin that already fragile economic sector. Countries such as Morocco have the economic resources available to start on large infrastructure projects designed to reduce net-carbon emissions, but these projects are limited to a country’s ability to pay. The Conversation is a non-profit education news media website rated highly in factual reporting and unbiased analysis. It is stated that the author “does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.” I think that this was extremely useful in narrowing my topic down to a few countries, mainly Morocco.

Dekkak, Mohamed. “Morocco's Good Policies for Environmental Sustainable Development.” - Praying That I Could Be Braver than I Believe, Stronger than I Seem and Smarter than I Think., 12 Sept. 2018, dekkak.com/moroccos-good-policies-for-environmental-sustainability/. With significant investments from Europe, America, and China, Morocco is leading the developing world in the race to combat climate change. Not only did it rank among the top ten climate combatants, but helped organize and lead international conferences designed to spark climate advocacy in other African nations. The construction of new solar and wind power plants are noticeable, taking full advantage of the hot and windy biomes of southern Morocco. I do not think that this is completely unbiased, for the author openly shares his affiliations with a host of different business groups, so it is fully possible that the article was written from the perspective of a European pushing the agenda of European goodwill in Africa. General facts align fairly well with reality. This was extremely useful because it gave me a deeper dive into Moroccan environmental advocacy and what international players have done to affect that.

Platonova-Oquab, Alexandrina, et al. “Cross-Sectoral Approaches to Achieving Morocco's Climate Commitments.” World Bank, The World Bank, 29 Aug. 2019, www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/08/29/cross-sectoral-approaches-to-achieving-moroccos-climate-commitments. The Article details the UN’s effort to collaborate with the Moroccan government to increase and facilitate their climate change effort. They used economic and environmental models to coordinate a response and work with local communities to reduce carbon waste. This piece was written by three very accomplished analysts at the World Bank, which is probably only of the most unbiased organizations in the world. This really honed in my article and research to Morocco, I was really impressed by both the credentials of the writers and the information and background insight that they provided.

Shepard, Dan. “Global Warming: Severe Consequences for Africa.” Global Warming: Severe Consequences for Africa | Inter Press Service, Inter Press Service, 2019, www.ipsnews.net/2019/01/global-warming-severe-consequences-africa/. Africa is at risk of large Climate Change effects. The area called the Sahen is grossly underdeveloped and has a high population growth rate. Resources are declining as a whole and rising temperatures risk increasing crop failure, on a continent already facing limited resources. The United Nations put Africa at high risk of environmental disaster. This was published in some sort of partnership with the United Nations, which is the largest multinational organization in the world. I think that it would be an unbiased source. The facts and information provided align with previous research and claims are reasonable. Probably very little bias. I honestly did not find this very helpful, most of the information I already knew, but the highlighting of the Sahen as a high-risk area prompted more interest and research.

Washington, Richard. “How Africa Will Be Affected by Climate Change.” BBC News, BBC, 15 Dec. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-50726701. While East Africa is at risk of massive climate effects, new technologies are predicted to help the situation. Scientific breakthroughs that monitor climate at a distance of 2.3 miles will allow us to address specific climate problems that may lead to many trees dying. Richard Washington is a professor of climate science at the School of Geography and the Environment at Oxford University so he is probably taking this from a purely scientific perspective. Basic claims line up with other sources. I found a more scientific approach to the situation really helpful. It allowed me to take the perspective of someone wanting to solve the problem rather than just observe.

Homophobia Crisis knocking on Uganda’s Doorstep

Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, known for its vast variety of agricultural products, seems to be held back by its regressing society. While it is ranked 8th in most rapidly developing countries among the 47 Sub-Saharan African countries, it severely lacks social reform in comparison to Western progressive policies (Freedom). With the plausible reintroduction of the Anti-Homosexual Act, first implemented in 2015, Uganda’s LGBTQ+ community has every right to worry for their lives (Ruduša). The initiation of this act in 2015 was only the beginning of backlash that the LGBTQ+ community would face from society, beyond the nullification of the act in 2016 (Clark). This act entailed the death penalty for any person who was found guilty of participating in same-sex consensual acts or any who openly advocated for the homosexual community and their rights (Clark). With Uganda’s large population of over 45.5 million people, the implication of this act affects millions.

Not to mention that the establishment of this act was heavily inspired by the beliefs of two conservative US evangelists (Akumu). Due to the US’s progressive policies which protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people, two white American evangelists decided to venture towards Uganda to spread homophobic hate speech in churches, knowing they would be prevented from doing so in America. While presenting themselves as experts on the matter of homosexuality they made false reports, which include the comparison of homosexuality to pedophelia, only furthering the negative sitgma that surrounds the LGBTQ+ community (Gettleman). Accompanied by Uganda’s already religion centered policies, the evangelists inspired--or more accurately--forced their conservative influence on the matter of same-sex relations. Furthermore, the white superiority complex they so proudly used to their advantage made it particularly difficult to minimize their influence. While these Americans acknowledge their influence in the advocacy for the Anti-Homosexual Act, when met with criticism they claim to be oblivious to the lengths that legislation would go regarding the death penalty. These Americans are said to have “started a fire they cannot quench” as the LGBTQ+ community received more backlash than ever. Hate crimes ranged from death threats drawn onto people's homes to “correctional rape” (Gettleman). Whatever it may be people faced constant harassment upon the initial introduction of the act, far beyond the hands of Ugandan government. If that wasn’t bad enough, now talk of re-visiting the act has the Ugandan LGBTQ+ community in a frenzy.



Following a meeting with Parliament, officials discussed the possibility of introducing a new law “similar” to the Anti-Homosexual Act, which some could argue is essentially a copy-and-paste of the act that was formerly nullified. With officials frowning upon any form of support or “promotion” of the LGBTQ+ community, a serious lack in attempts towards the reparation of this crisis are evident. Because this act promotes violence based on homophobia, as seen in the inceptive establishment of the act, that violence is then reflected in the people’s treatment of those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community in any way. Hate crime rates and general treatment of homosexuals is drastically more inhumane as they are viewed as malevolent and considered sinners in a deeply Christian-rooted country (Ruduša). Previous to the introduction of the Anti-Homosexual Act in 2015 gay men and lesbians stated they could publicly advocate for their rights and hold conferences but with the introduction of the act they are crawling back undercover, due to fear of the act encouraging lynching as mobs are already violent as it is. An unfortunate prime instance of this violence was seen just as recently as October of 2019, in synchronicity with the announcement of the plausible renewement of the Anti-Homosexual Act. Brian Wasswa, non-binary LGBTQ+ community advocator, was killed in his own home (Kampala). Upon even a threat of the revival of the Anti-Homosexual Bill, Uganda experienced a rise in homophobic rhetoric displayed in the following few weeks. The Anti-Homosexuality Act poses not only a governmental threat but more importantly an infringement on the human rights of those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. The lack of regard towards the death of a seemingly innocent man or woman, let alone the conversations being had in support of the re-introduction of the Anti-Homosexual Act emphasizes the significant lack of effort to aid in repairing the losses this act has brought to Uganda’s doorstep. Now it is up to Uganda whether they will continue to make a downward spiral in terms of social reform or develop more progressive policies in light of their western allies.

Work Cited

Akumu, Patience. “The Anti-Gay Gospel.” New International, June 2015, go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=Magazines&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=MultiTab&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA415562404&docType=Article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZGIC&prodId=GIC&contentSet=GALE%7CA415562404&searchId=R1&userGroupName=los42754&inPS=true.

Clark, Msia. “Anti-Homosexuality Bill Could Mean a Death Sentence for LGBT People in Uganda.” Amnesty International USA, 12 Jan. 2010, www.amnestyusa.org/anti-homosexuality-bill-could-mean-a-death-sentence-for-lgbt-people-in-uganda/.

Gettleman, Jeffrey. “Americans' Role Seen in Uganda Anti-Gay Push.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Jan. 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html.

Kampala. “Uganda: Brutal Killing of Gay Activist.” Human Rights Watch, 16 Oct. 2019, www.hrw.org/news/2019/10/15/uganda-brutal-killing-gay-activist.

Ruduša, Daina. “Uganda Threatens To Re-Introduce ‘Anti-Homosexuality Act.’” Global LGBT Human Rights, 14 Oct. 2019, outrightinternational.org/content/uganda-plans-re-introduce-anti-homosexuality-act.

Climate Change Crisis

Can you imagine living in a state of fear, not knowing the quality of life tomorrow holds? In Africa, these people face the day to day struggles of continuously being malnourished, having inadequate healthcare and living in a place where the entire economy is becoming corrupt due to rapid climate change. Medical officials have called climate change the “biggest global health threat of the 21st century,” and Africa is already seeing the impacts; effects of newly rising temperatures and the changing of rainfall patterns being more evident (Peyton). No region in the world has been affected as much as the Sahel, which is experiencing rapid population growth, estimated at 2.8% per year, in an environment of shrinking natural resources, including land and water resources (Un.org). No continent will endure such severe impacts of climate change as Africa does while they have become the most vulnerable and facing the change and consistency of weather patterns. Due to its geographical position, the continent is especially vulnerable since Africa has considerably limited adaptive capabilities and have exacerbated by harsh widespread poverty due to the lack of wealth in these areas. In particular, climate change is a threat to their continuing growth in the economics and livelihood of populations that are vulnerable (unenvironment.org). Also, climate change creates a chain reaction of major issues for the population in Africa as there are newly introduced threats to their economy and medicine which both result in widespread impaired health. Longer periods without any rain and more intense precipitation when rainfall does happen have been observed as the seasonal timing if rainfall has shifted, causing a change in cropping seasons and overall shortening the growing season (Institution, Hoover). This lack of crop growth creates malnourishment nationwide as there is not enough food to support their population. Also, approximately 1.6 million African people have died from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV related illnesses in the year 2015. These diseases can be prevented or treated when having timely access to affordable and appropriate medicines or other health services (un.org). In this case, less than 2% of the drugs consumed in Africa are produced within the continent, meaning most sick patients don’t have the access to the locally produced drugs and/or might not be able to afford the imported ones (un.org). Along with healthcare being out of reach, temperature changes and unprecedented weather also contributes to the health of people in Africa. Due to the rapid climate change, this has become a much larger issue as increased temperatures create a better environment for insects like mosquitoes to produce and carry diseases such as malaria, that if not treated are deadly. The Washington Post states, “as part of the Paris Agreement, countries made national commitments to take steps to reduce emissions and build resilience. The treaty also called for increased financial support from developed countries to assist the climate action efforts of developing countries.” (post) This is a hugely pressing issue that continues to grow today as scientists strive to reach more breakthroughs and ways to help the people in Africa. Over recent years this has created the most apparent detrimental effects in Africa yet is raising awareness globally, and once efforts from more developed countries are offered it will result in a better future for people all around the world.

Work Cited;

Institution, Hoover. “Climate Change and Africa's Future.” "Hoover Institution", Hoover Institution, 14 Jan. 2019, www.hoover.org/research/climate-change-and-africas-future.

Peyton, Nellie. “As Threats Rise, African Scientists Delve into Climate Change Health Impacts.” "Reuters", Reuters, 29 Jan. 2020, www.reuters.com/article/us-africa-climate-change-health/as-threats-rise-african-scientists-delve-into-climate-change-health-impacts-idUSKBN1ZS2FH.

Post, Washington. “Analysis | African Nations Are among Those Most Vulnerable to Climate Change. A New Survey Suggests They Are Also the Least Prepared.” "Washington Post", Washington Post, 23 Sept. 2019, www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/23/african-nations-are-among-those-most-vulnerable-climate-change-new-survey-suggests-they-are-also-least-prepared/.

Un. “Dying from Lack of Medicines.” "United Nations", United Nations, 13 Dec. 2016, www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/december-2016-march-2017/dying-lack-medicines. .

Un Environment Programme, Unep -. “Responding to Climate Change.” "UNEP - UN Environment Programme", UNEP - UN Environment Programme, 26 Mar. 2020, www.unenvironment.org/regions/africa/regional-initiatives/responding-climate-change.

Turmoil in Nigerian Oil. Africa Issue Research Project

Turmoil in Nigerian Oil 

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) ‘failed to pay’ about $16 billion in revenue owed to the state’s treasury, according to an audit.” (Turkson) The missing money that was supposed to go to the states treasury would have greatly helped the Nigerian Citizens.  The money could’ve helped the 112 million Nigerian Citizens live below the poverty line. (Agbonile) The root of this issue is in the oil companies, and it is supported by the government as well. Due to the corruption in the NNPC and the Nigerian Government, much of the money that comes through taxes on Nigerian Oil doesn’t reach the people. But, how does corruption in the Oil Industry and Government in Nigeria affect the lives of the citizens? 

The NNPC is often blamed to be the root issue of much of the poverty inside of the country. Nigeria relies on oil as it’s main source of income, this is because 95% of its exports are oil. (Cocks) The NNPC is also ranked near the bottom of the Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. (Cocks) The Nigerian government is also partially to blame, the Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iwaela said at a press conference, much of the money in the country’s oil savings were distributed to the 36 Nigerian governors, instead of being saved for later. (Cocks) Much of the infrastructure in Nigeria is so poor that the oil companies cannot even track how much oil they are producing accurately, which makes it easy to lie, and avoid certain amounts of taxes by subtracting a few barrels of oil than they are actually producing. Nshira Turkson, A writer for The Atlantic writes, “Poor infrastructure has resulted in people siphoning crude oil from decades-old, rusted pipes into drums. These drums are then transported on boats to illicit refineries, from where oil is sold on the black market. Even the U.S. Government recognizes the challenges that Nigeria faces in its country, detailing how they struggle with persistent structural weakness in their public buildings and infrastructure. (U.S. Department of State) Because of the corruption in the NNPC and the Nigerian Government, much of the ‘missing’ money which is owed to the state treasury never quite reached it, and if the extra money had made it to the state treasury, there could be better infrastructure, and better oil refineries. 

 The corruption in the NNPC also takes its toll on the citizens of Nigeria. All the ‘missing money’ could’ve been used to help the impoverished residents of Nigeria. More than 60% of the Nigerian population lives in poverty. (U.S. Department of State) In the country, three in five homes have access to fresh water, 48% of all homes have access to electricity, and seven in ten Nigerian Citizens live off of less than USD $1.25 per day. (InterNations) It is hard for the Nigerian Citizens to see any benefits of their booming oil economy while it is being controlled by an acknowledged corrupt organization. As of 2016, there were 112 million Nigerian Citizens living in poverty, which is up from 1990, when there were 51 million impoverished citizens. (Agbonile) It is evident that the people aren’t seeing the benefits of their oil industry. The state doesn’t have the proper funding to put up buildings such as medical schools, libraries, or even collages to help educate their citizens to perform specialty jobs, such as being a doctor. In Nigeria, there is a shortage of healthcare professionals, per 1,000 Nigerian Citizens, there are less than 2 healthcare professionals. (Agbonile) Although, they still have to tackle the corruption in the NNPC, and there are still 112 million Nigerian Citizens living in poverty. 

Missing tax money from the NNPC is one of the biggest contributors to Nigerian poverty, and it is rarely spoken of. With no money to fund schools, colleges, and proper housing, the people are stuck in an endless loop of poverty. The Nigerian Government has much work to do if it would like to tackle subjects such as poverty and corruption. Presidential Candidate, Goodluck Jonathan will, ‘solve the problem of corruption in this country.’ By using technology and strengthening institutions, he told a crowd in Ibadan in January. (Cocks)

Works Cited.

Agbonile, Adesuwa. “An Expanding Country: Four of the Main Causes of Poverty in Nigeria.” The Borgen Project, Borgen Project https://borgenproject.org/causes-of-poverty-in-nigeria/ Gives four of the main reasons why poverty is so pervasive in Nigeria. Bad healthcare, Government Corruption, Lack of Infrastructure, and lack of education are the main reasons. The rate of doctors to patients is 1.95/1000. Government corruption stops money from getting to the public fund. Which is the reasoning behind much of the lack of infrastructure. This source is credible, they remain rather neutral while just saying the facts of the situation. 

Cocks, Tim, and Joe Brock. “Special Report: Anatomy of Nigeria's $20 Billion ‘Leak.’” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 6 Feb. 2015, www.reuters.com/article/us-nigeria-election-banker-specialreport/special-report-anatomy-of-nigerias-20-billion-leak-idUSKBN0LA0X820150206. The head central banker of the NNPC was fired for releasing that the company had not paid $20 billion dollars to the government. This sparked investigations but there was no solid evidence that this had occurred. Although, soon it came out that the company had actually not paid the money, but it was estimated to be somewhere around $16 billion dollars. On a separate occasion, the company failed to pay $1.64 billion dollars. The source is credible, and is often listed next to other sources such as BBC, and the New York Times. The bias seems to support Lamido Sanusi and his allegations. 

“Living in Nigeria.” Living in Nigeria | InterNations GO!, InterNationsGO, 13 Dec. 2017, www.internations.org/go/moving-to-nigeria/living. This source gives a lot of information on the lifestyle in Nigeria. It details how half of all houses have electricity and poor internet connection. It also details how 70% of all people live below the poverty line. These people live off of $1.25 U.S. Dollars per day. Two in five households live without clean water. This source is credible, the amount that they live off of should be checked. It is not biased because it’s purpose is to help people move to new countries. 

Turkson, Nshira. “The Nigerian Oil Company's Missing Billions.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 18 Mar. 2016, www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/03/nigeria-oil-corruption-buhari/473850/.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation failed to pay $16 billion dollars to the Nigerian State Treasury, although, the corporation estimates this number to actually be as low as $1.64 billion. The corporation says the missing money is due to thieves and maintenance fees.  Thieves target the poor infrastructure and steal oil straight out of the pipes, then, they sell it on the black market. Although, the money loss is most commonly attributed to corruption in the government and the Nigerian oil industry. In 2014, the central bank governor, Lamido Sanusi, reported $20 billion dollars of ‘leaked’ oil. He was promptly fired from the company and replaced for speaking out against the corporation. This article is likely biased toward the side of Lamido Sanusi, and they think that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has purposely not paid this debt to the state treasury. This source is credible because many other sources align with it, in it’s facts, and it’s figures. 

“U.S. Relations With Nigeria - United States Department of State.” U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State, 4 Dec. 2018, www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-nigeria/. The source summarizes all of the interactions that Nigeria and the US have had. It is noted that Nigeria struggles with corruption, that it relies on oil exports as its main form of income. The US is also the largest foriegn investor in Nigeria. Most of this invested money is centered in the petroleum and mining industries. Found on the LAHS database. This is useful to me because it shows me how other countries view Nigeria and their oil and government corruption. Trump invited the president of Nigeria to the White House and they discussed how to fight government corruption and promote healthy trade.  I will use this to support many of my other sources.  

An Epidemic of Cellular Expansion

Imagine growing up in a poverty-stricken town, in a world that feels like 200 years ago. You wake up and walk two miles for freshwater and a few eggs for your breakfast. You have no idea what is happening in the world around you with no access to the daily news or even the weather, let alone Wikipedia and books. But, one day, a fifty dollar phone is put into your hands and suddenly you now have access to the entire internet. You finally have the tools to learn about what's happening worldwide, you can read every article ever written, view every painting ever painted, stream any video you want, and with endless possibilities, there’s a chance to access education to finally level the playing field with the rest of the world. This is exactly what is starting to happen in Africa as a result of a boom in technology and mobile phones. They are skipping the phases we went through, gaining access to desktop computers and then evolving to laptops and then finally to mobile phones. Africa is skipping these steps and jumping right to the cut, a device to surf the entire internet, right in the palm of your hand.

People are finally getting access to previously untapped information and this is starting to bring about a new age in Africa with many positives that can improve education and quality of life as a result of mobile devices, which puts an entire computer in a small pocket. Africa is finally being bought online at a rapid and unprecedented pace. 

Mobile phones are starting to touch every corner of Africa with monumental rates of expansion. In Sub-Saharan Africa, in 2018, there were around 456 million citizens that had access to the internet via cellular devices. This number is going to increase to almost half of the population of Africa gaining access to and owning their own smartphone by 2025 (GSMA). These numbers show how rapidly a 6% increase in mobile smartphone penetration can bring the majority of a continent online. Africa is starting to be brought online and access to a mobile phone is starting to become more and more useful and essential to their everyday needs. Twenty years ago, access to information was a major problem in Africa. Ten years from now, everyone will have access to this once scarce information and the question now will be whether you use Facebook or Google. 

Not only is access to mobile devices growing, but the number of services and applications available to Africans is growing even faster. With the rapid penetration of mobile phones in Africa, people are starting to rely more and more on constant access to the internet to manage essential tasks daily. Messaging apps like Whatsapp are immensely popular but you also see examples of people in Ghana, Africa managing their bank account solely via their phone, they use it to withdraw and deposit cash and even to transfer money by texting (Bloomberg). This shows how Africans are starting to use their new smartphones to their advantage and are getting the most out of their phones. These applications are also getting easier to access and African’s are starting to use similar apps such as WeChat in China, where on one platform you can text, surf the web, and distribute money.

Almost all of Africa will finally become online in the near future and will follow a very similar trend to what India has recently just gone through. This will most likely result in a large boost to Africa’s economy as more and more citizens will finally start receiving the education they need and become internet literate, and start to engage with the world economy as they are given access to a much, much wider world. 

Citations

“Cell Phones in Africa: Communication Lifeline.” Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project, Pew Research Center, 30 Dec. 2019, www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/04/15/cell-phones-in-africa-communication-lifeline/.

Beres, Damon. “In Parts Of Africa, Cell Phones Are Everywhere And Landlines Barely Exist.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 21 Apr. 2015, www.huffpost.com/entry/africa-phone-study_n_7081868.

Dzawu, Moses Mozart. “Mobile Phones Are Replacing Bank Accounts in Africa.” News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 13 Aug. 2019, www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/mobile-phones-replacing-bank-accounts-africa-190813101049937.html.

Elliott, Roxana. “Mobile Phone Penetration Throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.” GeoPoll, GeoPoll, 8 July 2019, www.geopoll.com/blog/mobile-phone-penetration-africa/.

“The Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa 2019.” The Mobile Economy, www.gsma.com/mobileeconomy/sub-saharan-africa/.

Baby Machine

Baby Machine

Living in Silicon Valley, education expectations are high for both girls and boys. There is typically no question of if you are going to college or not, the question is which college. In Sub-Saharan Africa, however, most girls aren’t expected to make it past middle school. Access to education is difficult already, however with the immense gender bias the Sub-Saharan countries of Africa have against women and girls, schooling seems almost impossible. Women are locked in a box with the label of mother and wife and the key is thrown away. To break out would be a miracle but a rare one at that, which is why so many women are silenced into accepting their roles in society; the baby maker. Women are held responsible for all the household chores along with their families to take care of, leaving little time left in the day for an education. This is unfortunately why so many families do not prioritize education for their daughters. An article written in 2018 on Gender-Based Inequality published by Gale states, “The availability of basic services facilitates execution of domestic chores hence, free up time for girls and women to pursue educational opportunities”(Gale). If simple chores were taken care of, women would gain some time to themselves to explore what they are capable of and what they can accomplish in this world rather than cook, clean, and give birth. However, even if a woman is lucky enough to find herself finishing up her education and pursuing a career, it doesn't get easier for her as men are very protective of their power. The roots of these gender bias norms were established decades ago, however, they have been passed down from generation to generation and therefore continue to have significance in Sub-Saharan societies today. Men have gotten used to the idea of control and do not wish to let go of their power and women are coerced into silence. An article was written by United Nations Resident Coordinator for the country of Kenya, Siddharth Chatterjee discovered that “76.3 percent of women in Mali and 92.1 percent in Guinea believe a man is justified in beating his wife if she goes out without telling him, neglects the children, refuses sex, burns the food or argues with him” (Africa.com). Domestic abuse has been so normalized in these societies that women believe it is justifiable for their husbands to punish them. And as their daughters grow up in the same environment, they will think it is okay for their husbands to punish them as well in the future. This then silences women of any voice they might have, in fear they may be punished for speaking up. Thus forcing them to subdue to their trivial roles in society and overlook the thought of an education and career completely. Fortunately, the solution to this problem is not impossible. The United Nations Resident Coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee made note that “ensuring that all girls get at least secondary education in sub-Saharan Africa, would reduce child marriages by more than half”(Africa.com). With more representation of women and a break in the sexist societal norms, baby steps will lead to strides as Sub-Saharan Africa puts in the effort to make education a priority for both girls and boys. And as time goes on, young girls and women will see themselves as something more than a babymaker.

Works Cited

Africa.com. “A Material Difference.” Gale, All Africa Global Media, 15 Mar. 2019, go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=News&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=3&docId=GALE%7CA578935101&docType=Article&sort=Updated+Date+Reverse+Chron&contentSegment=ZGIN&prodId=GIC&contentSet=GALE%7CA578935101&searchId=R1&userGroupName=los42754&inPS=true.

Chatterjee, Siddharth. “Gender Inequality Is Stunting Economic Progress.” Africa.com, IPS, 24 Feb. 2020, africa.com/gender-inequality-is-stunting-economic-progress/.

Development Programme, United Nations. “Human Development Reports.” | Human Development Reports, 2020, hdr.undp.org/en/countries.

Education Letter. “New Data from University of Southern Florida Illuminate Findings in Social Science (Electricity Supply, and Access to Water and Improved Sanitation as Determinants of Gender-Based Inequality in Educational Attainment in Africa).” Gale, NewsRX LLC, 21 Feb. 2018, go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=News&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=8&docId=GALE%7CA527995056&docType=Report&sort=Updated+Date+Reverse+Chron&contentSegment=ZGIN&prodId=GIC&contentSet=GALE%7CA527995056&searchId=R2&userGroupName=los42754&inPS=true.


Patel, Nirav, and Genevieve Jesse. “African States' Varying Progress toward Gender Equality in Education.” Brookings, Brookings, 26 June 2019, www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2019/06/13/african-states-varying-progress-toward-gender-equality-in-education/.

Criminal Flavor

Vanilla. A rather simple flavor. Sweet and highly aromatic, but very familiar and predictable at the same time. However, this seemingly innocent spice is surrounded by what's least expected of it: crime, money, and even murder.

Every year, Madagascar exports around 80 percent of the world's vanilla, and the recently inflated price tag of up to 600 dollars a kilogram (O'Reilly) makes it seem like the country is spilling over with riches. But the many people involved in the vanilla process would say otherwise as Madagascar is full of poverty and a lack of strong leadership(Lind). The Malagasy people are left to work problems out on their own, and when one of the most expensive spices in the world is involved, issues begin to erupt, and finding a solution is ignored.

The high demand and inflated price of vanilla have led to an extreme increase in crime rates surrounding the industry. A majority of the Malagasy population is desperate for money, and the expensive price tag of vanilla along with its small size makes it the perfect crop for stealing. The fear of plants getting stolen has taken over many Malagasy farmers. One farmer claimed that he was robbed while at a funeral and returned home to find that half of his vanilla was stolen(Lind). Most farmers are already living on less than a dollar a day, and when such crimes take place, they are left struggling to make up for the lost profits(Lind). The crime doesn't end with stealing, there have been dozens of murders, and thieves are constantly committing violent acts to guarantee they get a hold of the vanilla(Watts). A group of thieves in Anjaana threatened farmers before raids telling them to "prepare what we want" (Watts). Overall, crime is profoundly affecting the lives of farmers, and many are forced to compromise their lifestyle due to lost profits.

Unfortunately, high crime rates have even caused a decrease in the quality of vanilla beans produced. As a way to prevent their crop from being stolen, farmers have begun harvesting earlier than usual (Rabary). Vanillin is the compound found within the vanilla spice that gives it the aromatic flavor it is known for. The earlier the spice gets picked, the lower the levels of vanillin within it are. Over the past five years, the vanillin in Madagascar beans has decreased between 1.2-1.3 percent (Rabary). But has this decrease in quality created a noticeable effect? The answer is yes--well known French chef Gilles Marchal even claimed that he has been using less and less of the spice found in so many of his desserts(Allemandou). Pastry chefs have also been replacing the natural vanilla bean pods with the synthetic version to guarantee a consistent flavor (Allemandou). In the future, the increasing popularity of artificial vanilla could lead to many profits lost for Madagascar, a country that is heavily reliant on the spice.

What are the Malagasy people doing to combat high crime rates? Farmers have begun sleeping in the vanilla fields in hopes of scaring away possible criminals (Lind). Others hire a group to patrol the fields, each with a weapon in their hands (O'Reilly). Many feel that the only way to prevent thieves from getting away with the crimes they are committing is by labeling each pod with a logo or name of the farmer who produces the vanilla(Lind). Although this method makes it easier to track the seeds back to where they came from, it's a monotonous and extremely laborious job.

Using labor-intensive techniques such as marking vanilla pods with the name of the farmer or hiring a group to guard the plots of land may be effective, but only for a certain amount of time. For the problem to be solved, the root of it needs to be addressed, and this responsibility lies in the hands of the government. When the police officers can easily get bribed(O'Reilly) when the justice system is anything but just, and when those supposedly in charge let criminals get away with crime, how can the people be expected to do any better?

Works Cited

ALLEMANDOU, Ségolène. “Crisis in Madagascar as Price of Vanilla Nears That of Gold.” France 24, France 24, 20 Apr. 2018, www.france24.com/en/20180420-magagascar-vanilla-price-trade-crime-crop-weather.





O'reilly, Finbarr, and Craig Allen. “Precious as Silver, Vanilla Brings Cash and Crime to Madagascar.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 30 Aug. 2018, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/30/world/africa/madagascar-vanilla.html.


Rabary, Lovasoa. “Madagascar Vanilla Crop Quality Suffers as Thieves Spark Violence.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 18 July 2019, www.reuters.com/article/us-madagascar-vanilla/madagascar-vanilla-crop-quality-suffers-as-thieves-spark-violence-idUSKCN1UD12N.





"The bitter taste of Madagascar vanilla." Al Jazeera America, 19 Feb. 2017. Gale In Context: Global Issues, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A481697535/GIC?u=los42754&sid=GIC&xid=cad6e805. Accessed 10 Mar. 2020.





Watts, Jonathan. “Madagascar's Vanilla Wars: Prized Spice Drives Death and Deforestation.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 31 Mar. 2018, www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/31/madagascars-vanilla-wars-prized-spice-drives-death-and-deforestation.

Sexual Assault in South Africa

A girl in South Africa is raped every five minutes (Shostak). She is sexually violated, and then violated again by the legal system and the health system of her home country (Jaafari). This is the reality women in South Africa face every day.
Sexual assault is rampant in South Africa. According to South African Police Service statistics, there were 41,583 reported cases of rape total from 2018-2019. In that same year, there was an average of 114 women raped a day, a 5% increase from the previous year (Mofokeng). But the numbers are most likely far larger, as only 10% of rapes are actually reported to police (Bauer). The rape culture is largely due to “a historical culture of ‘might is right’” and imbalanced power dynamics between men and women (Dewey). This culture of “might is right” stems from the patriarchal society in South Africa, encouraging toxic masculinity. Furthermore, the high male unemployment and wealth gap make men feel inferior and weak due to economic insecurity, leading them to take it out on women (Dewey). Because women in South Africa have low social status and a severe lack of power, men feel entitled to women’s bodies. This is evident as two-thirds of the men in South Africa don’t believe in a woman’s right to say no to sex (Shostak). However, these women are not only victims of sexual assault, but also of a country that is not prioritizing their health and their justice.
Hospitals in South Africa are forced to use old and expired rape kits, leading to loopholes that let suspects walk free and attack another woman (Dewey). Furthermore, women often cannot access sexual and reproductive health services like safe abortion (Mofokeng). The health system forces women who get pregnant after being raped to carry the unwanted pregnancy or turn to illegal abortion pills. In addition, when women get unsafe, unsanitary abortions, it can often lead to sepsis and hemorrhaging. But South African women are also being harmed by the legal system.
According to a 2017 study, since 2003, only 6% of reported assaults and rapes in South Africa ended with a conviction (Jaafari). South African rape culture normalizes and trivializes sexual assault on women—even the former president, Jacob Zuma, was tried for rape in 2005, though he was, unsurprisingly, acquitted (Dewey). Most incidents aren’t even reported, as many women do not come forward and report the incident because they do not think that they will be believed. Furthermore, many women do not have lawyers or adequate support during the trial. Even if there are laws that protect women’s rights in these aspects, they are not actually enforced (Jaafari). The legal system in South Africa is not giving victims of sexual assault the justice that they deserve.
The rape culture in South Africa must end in order to lower such high rates of sexual assault, and that will happen only when the patriarchal society encouraging toxic masculinity and male dominance ends. As protestor Tefo Tlale said, “Women don't feel safe. They don't feel like this is their country. Women are not seen as equal decision-makers or having a critical role to play in society. We have to . . . ensure the next generation [doesn’t] grow up in a society where they think they are better just because they are men” (Bauer).

                                                                    Works Cited

Mofokeng, Tlaleng, et al. “Violence Against Women Is Blocking Development by Tlaleng Mofokeng.” Project Syndicate, Project Syndicate, 21 Feb. 2020, www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/violence-against-women-blocking-development-by-tlaleng-mofokeng-2020-02.

Bauer, Nickolaus. “South Africa: Protesters Demand Action on Violence against Women.” News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 13 Sept. 2019, www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/09/south-africa-protesters-demand-action-violence-women-190913132640008.html.

Dewey, Caitlin. “South Africa, Once Called 'the World's Rape Capital,' Is Running out of Rape Kits.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 5 Mar. 2013, www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/03/05/south-africa-once-called-the-worlds-rape-capital-is-running-out-of-rape-kits/.

Jaafari, Joseph Darius. “In South Africa, a Call to Punish Rapists.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 27 Aug. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/08/27/opinion/in-south-africa-a-call-to-punish-rapists.html.

Shostak, E.M. "South Africa's Struggle with AIDS." History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide, edited by Sonia G. Benson, et al., vol. 3, Gale, 2002. Gale In Context: Global Issues, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ2309003023/GIC?u=los42754&sid=GIC&xid=bca9fb37. Accessed 23 Mar. 2020.