Last week, Kenya held a national election tainted with vote-tampering. It ended in a claim of victory for incumbent President Mwai Kibaki over the challenger Raila Odinga who had led the polls - now Kenya’s future hangs in the balance. Violence has broken out across the country, with roving gangs of machete-wielding youth terrorizing the population. Suddenly, this hopeful country could be sliding toward genocide.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu has flown into Nairobi, joining the African Union in an effort to broker a power-sharing agreement and review the election results. But if talks are to succeed, foreign governments must avoid prematurely recognizing a fraudulently elected government and locking in their power.
Avaaz.org have put up a page which enables you to quickly send a note to your foreign minister today, asking them to withhold recognition of any Kenyan government until agreement is brokered and the election results are independently reviewed – please follow the link below, it will take you less than a minute:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/kenya_free_and_fair/5.php
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Jan 4th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
My heart is broken by the photos and reports of the children’s bodies that are literally piling up in the morgues. I do not think I will ever understand the cruelty of man……..
Jan 9th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I am not saying, or advising your readers to take a different course, just to realise that Africa is different. Those who are interested can set themselves a task to see why Africa is different. There are two Africas and they are very different, Africa North of the Sahara, and Africa South of the Sahara. I have been bitten with the “Africa Bug as I spent my childhood in Africa. It attacks those who visit Africa South of the Sahara sometimes and is pretty deadly. You find your bank balance goes down as year by year you feel a compunction to go back. Your knowledge of the rest of the world lacks as you want to go back only to Africa.
Kenya would be much worse at this moment in time of the Masai were involved. But fortunately they are nomadic people and take little interest in politics.
Diana, you can look a lot closer to home for the cruelty of man. Your (and my British) politicians. For these people kill hundreds of thousands. And subject millions of their own citizens with their lust for power and control.
Jan 9th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
You’ll get no disagreement from me on that account, Mr. Taylor. I’ve done foster care for infants who have been abused… indeed Africa has no corner on the cruelty market. Sadly, there is quite enough of that to go round the world.
Still, seeing such a graphic example breaks my heart, and I hope I can remain soft enough so that it always will.
I checked out your website and it seems like a most worthy endeavor…I wish you all success:-)