http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/Earth_Continents_Africa_18_197_673.html Press Review of the Earth from the most relevant websites. Keep in touch with the Earth and your future ! fr-FR http://www.earth-stream.com/logo-stream-Earth.png http://www.earth-stream.com Fri, 03 Oct 2008 06:24:25 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/Photographer-Awarded-TED-Prize-for-Work-on-War-Disease_18_197_673_134807.html : Photo: James NachtweyLast year, acclaimed war photographer James Nachtwey was honored with the 2007 Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) Prize for his work documenting images of war, disease and political unrest across the globe for over 25 years. Along with President Bill Clinton and Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson, Nachtwey was awarded $100,000 to help him bring "one wish to change the world" to fruition. James' wish was to share an underreported worldwide story, prove the power of news photography in the digital age and raise awareness about a global health issue that has the potential to become a worldwide pandemic — Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB). Tonight Nachtwey will unveil the images of the disease he hopes to combat at a special screening at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. His poignant images will be used to offer awareness about the worldwide spread of tuberculosis through a multimedia campaign on all seven continents, in 50 cities around the globe, and across the web. You can find out more information about screenings and the images at http://www.xdrtv.org. Nachtwey shared his digital images with us and took a few moments to tell Wired.com what he learned during the yearlong process of tracking the global spread of tuberculosis. : Photo: James Nachtwey Wired.com: When did you first encounter XDR-TB? James Nachtwey: In 2000, I did a story for Time on AIDS in Africa. It was my first introduction to that subject. In South Africa and Zimbabwe, people who had AIDS were co-infected with TB. And it was actually TB that killed them. I had thought TB was eliminated. : Photo: James Nachtwey Wired.com: Why is TB still such a problem? Nachtwey: The conditions of poverty are a breeding ground for TB. If your immune system becomes lowered, TB is like a predator. It remains latent until the immune system is depressed. And it attacks the weak. Even if the medication exists in certain places, people have to get to the medicat ... Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:06:37 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/How-To-Build-Crops-That-Can-Beat-Aluminum-s-Toxic-Effects_18_197_673_134762.html Researchers may have found the key to engineering plants capable of thriving in environments laden with toxic aluminum, according to new report. Aluminum -- a metal that is generally plentiful in the earth's crust -- causes particular problems for farmers in South America, Africa, and Indonesia, where acidic environments turn the metal into a form that stunts the growth of plants and especially plant roots. Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:05:55 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/Prizewinning-Affordable-Housing_18_197_673_134760.html The contemporary looking building pictured here is not a high-end green building full of high tech features. Rather, it is a prizewinning affordable housing design for South Africa that costs significantly less than a new car. This is a house designed to provide affordable housing for very little cost: 50,000 South African rand (which is about US$ 6,000). And there are a lot of things to like about this design. Read more of this story » Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:09:41 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/Video-Working-to-Save-Central-Africa-s-Forests_18_197_673_134673.html Recognizing the regional and global importance of the Congo Basin’s forests, WRI began working in Central Africa ten years ago and has since built an extensive on-the-ground presence to contribute to the development and maintenance of sustainable forest management in the region. The following video introduction by Pierre Méthot, Program Manager for WRI’s Forest Information and Governance Initiative in Central Africa, is the first in a series of pieces examining WRI’s expanding role in this important region: Stretching across six countries, the Congo Basin contains the second largest contiguous tropical forest in the world and is home to a wealth of biodiversity and wildlife populations. In addition to serving the livelihoods of the estimated 30 million people living in the region, the Basin’s forests absorb atmospheric carbon, thereby mitigating global warming. The health of this rich ecosystem, however, is under increasing strain. Industrial logging is expanding across the region due to mounting local and international demand for the Congo Basin’s forest resources, particularly from Asian markets. Moreover, as continued infrastructure improvements enhance forest accessibility, forest degradation and fragmentation is accelerating in even the most remote areas. Alongside the Amazon and Southeast Asia, Central Africa has consequently become a focal point for tropical deforestation, which currently accounts for 20% of global carbon emissions. While not yet experiencing the high rates of deforestation seen in the other two regions, Central Africa will likely face similar levels as demand and populations increase. In August, I traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo with colleagues in the People and Ecosystems Program to visit our local offices in Kinshasa and Brazzaville and interview regional partners in government, NGOs, civil society, and the private sector. The experience illuminated both t ... Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:12:22 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/Cichlid-Fish-Adapted-Vision-To-Form-New-Species_18_197_673_134567.html Researchers said Wednesday that some colorful cichlid fish in Africa's Lake Victoria formed a new species by adapting their vision, showing that geographical isolation is not essential for divergence.Ole Seehausen, who led the study, said the fish evolved to improve their ability to see food and predators at different depths, and this also affected the way they saw colors and attracted mates."The split of one species into two was initiated by adaptation of the sensory system, in this case the eyes, to the local environment," said Seehausen, an evolutionary biologist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology in Kastanienbaum.Seehausen said the cichlid fish are an important model for evolutionary biologists because no other group of vertebrates has split into so many species -- about 2,000 -- so quickly.Generally, originating a new species requires geographical isolation -- such as two continents drifting apart. Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:48:07 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/HIV-AIDS-Emerged-as-Early-as-1880s_18_197_673_134393.html National Geographic: The AIDS pandemic in humans originated at least three decades earlier than previously thought, and it may have been triggered by rapid urbanization in west-central Africa during the early 20th century, according to an international team of researchers. A better understanding of the conditions that helped fuel the pandemic could be key in controlling the disease and preventing future outbreaks of other emerging viruses. "Rapid urbanization was the turning point that allowed the ... Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:35:23 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/Fans-Follow-Tagged-Osprey-to-Grim-End_18_197_673_134290.html A tagged osprey making his first migration from Scotland to North Africa headed out into the Atlantic and is believed to have died there. Deshar, born three months ago at a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds sanctuary, was fitted with a satellite tag, The Scotsman reported. Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:02:26 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/The-Entire-Debt-of-Africa-Is-Only-$350-Billion_18_197_673_134136.html WorldChanging Team: $700 billion still goes a long way. by Eric de Place I just can't help wondering what else we could do with $700 billion. According to... Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:50:43 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/US-aid-agency-denies-contraceptives-for-Africa_18_197_673_134048.html People and Planet: The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has instructed its staff to force governments in several African countries to discontinue the provision of US-funded contraceptive supplies from a leading non-government agency - a decision which, the NGO warns, is likely lead to more abortions and deaths in several East African countries. The USAID instruction, issued by Assistant Administrator for Global Health Kent Hill, said the action was necessary because UK-based Marie Stopes ... Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:37:20 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/Sahara-Desert-Was-Once-Green_18_197_673_133974.html Image 2: Dr. Rik Tjallingii investigates the Earth's climatic past by analyzing sediment cores from the sea floor; here at the Institute of Geosciences at Kiel University. Photo: CAU, J. Haacks Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:06:50 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/Africa-Sending-Massive-Wealth-to-Europe-America_18_197_673_133963.html An innovative campaign from HelpSweden.org is turning notions of wealth and poverty on their heads. HelpSweden.org has drafted a petition to Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, asking for four concessions to promote the Millennium Development Goals when Sweden holds the European Union presidency in the second half of 2009. It’s a reminder of the first world’s forgotten debt to the rest of the world for resources and labor. Think Africa’s poor? Think again. Most diamonds and gold in the world come from Africa. In the Congo, there’s a saying, “We’d be so much better off if we weren’t so rich.” Much of the African continent is blessed with crop and livestock conditions far better than, say, Iceland. Yet with not a scrap of natural resources, Iceland has the fourth largest economy in the world. So what gives? Read more of this story » Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:39:54 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/-Q-Drum-Makes-Water-Transport-Easier-in-Africa_18_197_673_133865.html The Q Drum, developed in South Africa, is aiding water transportation for those in poorer nations with distances to trek just to gain this most basic resource. The design allows relatively easy towing of 50 liters of water across reasonably flat terrains. Sources: Green Upgrader Image: Q Drum Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:50:40 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/Eco-Child-s-Play-Donation-CHOSA-Giving-Hope-to-the-Children-of-South-Africa_18_197_673_133823.html Periodically, I like to make a small contribution to a charity on behalf of the readers and writers of Eco Child’s Play. It is an effort to be social responsible and highlight an organization helping children and/or the environment around the world.  This month, I have selected CHOSA:  Giving Hope to the Children of South Africa. CHOSA’S vision is based on the belief that every South African child is entitled to grow up in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment that will lead to uplifting the entire community. In order to achieve this, our goal is to create an organization that is based on integrity, compassion and efficiency. CHOSA’s mission is to identify and support community based organizations (CBOs) that reach out and take care of orphans and other vulnerable children in South Africa. CHOSA takes a holistic approach to community development. By supporting these CBOs, we help empower other marginalized people in these communities. Moreover, through community participation, CHOSA promotes local action, self-empowerment, and peer-to-peer networking as essential strategies for community-owned development. Read more of this story » Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:23:14 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/A-Bird-in-the-Hand-_18_197_673_133817.html   Click for full view Courtesy: Throbgoblins The birds of the world are in serious trouble, and common species are in now decline all over the globe, a comprehensive new review suggests today. From the turtle doves of Europe to the vultures of India, from the bobwhite quails of the US to the yellow cardinals of Argentina, from the eagles of Africa to the albatrosses of the Southern Ocean, the numbers of once-familiar birds are tumbling everywhere, according to the study from the conservation partnership BirdLife International. - The Independent Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:54:34 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/Gallery-Retired-Drugs-Failed-Blockbusters-Homicidal-Tampering-Fatal-Oversights_18_197_673_133783.html : Photo: Associated PressThe history of medicine is rife with missteps. Even with today's standards in biochemical sciences and well-funded clinical trials, bad drugs can get into consumers' hands. We smirk that the words mercury and curative were once lumped together. Or that heroin was part of a physician-sanctioned regimen. But who knows what problems our present ignorance will cause in the future. In an effort to know the past in order to avoid repeating it, let's take a look at some drug recalls from recent history and the stories that led to the drugs' demise. Left: Thalidomide From the late '50s to the early '60s, a German manufacturer sold thalidomide under 40 different brand names in 50 countries. Designed to relieve morning sickness and let pregnant mothers rest, the popular drug soon turned into a nightmare. Children all over Europe and Africa were born with catastrophic birth defects because of the drug. No one knows exactly how many cases were linked to thalidomide, but one estimate of birth defects put the number at more than 10,000 children. The United States was spared, however, thanks to the Food and Drug Administration. Frances Oldham Kelsey received a request from a company to bring the drug to the United States, but she had reservations about its safety. Despite pressure from the company, and the fact that dozens of other countries had approved the drug, Kelsey persisted in asking for further studies. Her fears were soon confirmed when studies began linking the drug to birth defects. Kelsey was instrumental in shaping legislation regarding the FDA's oversight of pharmaceuticals. She received national recognition from John F. Kennedy for her role in averting the threat. : Blockbuster Drugs Gone Bad: Redux The cover story of a September 1996 issue of Time magazine asked, "The New Miracle Pill?" Doctors sure thought so, scribbling out 85,000 prescriptions a week and driving $300 million in sales that year. Redux was part of the p ... Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:29:52 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/Did-Pirates-Seize-Ship-With-Iranian-WMD-_18_197_673_133772.html By Joseph Abrams courtesy As Somali pirates brazenly maintain their standoff with American warships off the coast of Africa, the cargo aboard one Iranian ship they commandeered is raising concerns that it may contain materials that can be used for chemical or biological weapons. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:34:52 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/SR-Telecom-Announces-Multi-Million-Dollar-Order_18_197_673_133756.html SR Telecom & Co. S.E.C, a leading supplier of WiMAX Forum-certified solutions, today announced it will provide Canada-based Airtel Telecom Group (ATG) with symmetryMX(TM) solutions to support the growing demands for carrier-class wireless services in Central and Western Africa. Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:23:30 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/The-Green-Sahara-A-Desert-In-Bloom_18_197_673_133399.html New North African climate reconstructions reveal three ‘green Sahara’ episodes during which the present-day Sahara Desert was almost completely covered with extensive grasslands, lakes and ponds over the course of the last 120.000 years. Reconstructing the climate of the past is an important tool for scientists to better understand and predict future climate changes that are the result of the present-day global warming. Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:29:19 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/UK-and-US-ask-west-to-keep-aid-promises-to-Africa_18_197_673_133030.html Wealthier nations asked to honour promises made at G8 summit and food conference to aid African farmers Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:04:30 GMT http://www.earth-stream.com/Earth/Continents/Africa/Japanese-Businessman-Abducted-Rescued-in-South-Africa_18_197_673_132841.html Text of report in English by Japan's largest news agency Kyodo Tokyo, Sept. 29 Kyodo - A Japanese business man was kidnapped in South Africa but has been rescued safely, investigative sources said Monday.