The November 2011 edition of AEFJN's Forum for Action is now online. It contains articles on the ethical responsibility of the Church on the climate issue, on the clean up of the Ogoniland oil spills, which will take decades, on the spread of Libyan arms in the Sahel, on the production of medicines in Africa and on the EU's attempt to force African countries to sign EPAs.
The national election campaign officially started the 28th October in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), exactly one month ahead of historic presidential and legislative elections, scheduled for November 28 2011. 41 humanitarian and human rights organizations, among them AEFJN, have expressed concern about the high political tension and deteriorating security situation. They have called upon all Congolese and international actors involved to take urgent measures to prevent electoral violence, better protect civilians and ensure credible, free and fair elections.Concerns about biofuels
We at AEFJN-UK encourage the development of renewable sources of energy, but have specific concerns about biofuels:
1. The lack of transparency by some African governments negotiating land leases with nation states/multinationals;
2. The use of crops needed for food, e.g sorghum, maize, millet, cassava;
3. The displacement of indigenous peoples who have traditionally farmed the land for food;
4. Employment conditions that do not comply with Fairtrade conditions i.e. human rights, wages;
5. Use, and pollution, of water, lowering the water table, land degradation.
In biofuel production we encourage:
- Repair and renewal of degraded land areas;
- Sustainable use of resources;
- Compliance with Fairtrade standards;
- Respect for indigenous peoples and their traditional values and way of life;
- Significant economic value for local people;
- Use of soda lakes for algae farming.
References:
“Deals can be good news when not made behind closed doors” The Observer, 7/03/ 2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/mar/07/africa-land-grab-food-water
Kilimanjaro Biofuels Corporation (jcl-bjf)