Peace may yet be possible in Northern Uganda in 2005. Many elements seem to be in place, but they need to be pursued by President Museveni’s government in a more comprehensive framework, given stronger international support and — most urgently — be committed to by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in the context of a specific process with a clearly definable endgame.

The outlines of rebel demands are clearer, the government has expressed flexibility, and the LRA military position is becoming more tenuous. However, there has not yet been tangible progress. The unanswered question is whether Joseph Kony, the unpredictable insurgent leader, is truly nearing a strategic decision that his prospects and those of his supporters are better served by a deal or whether he is merely playing for time in order to regroup as he has done several times previously. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is expected to issue arrest warrants for Kony and senior deputies shortly, which will put new pressure on all concerned, including the government and its authorised mediator, Betty Bigombe, to decide whether they will continue with the effort at negotiation. Patience is wearing thin on all sides.

The mediation has been pursued in recent months against a backdrop of continuing LRA atrocities directed at Acholi civilians. The LRA remains focused on terror tactics, not the control of territory. Even with gradually eroding force levels, it still can wreak havoc with spectacularly brutal strikes, which prevent resettlement of the 1.5 million displaced persons and give the appearance the government is not in firm control of the North.

Leaving the decision on peace or war solely in the hands of the brutal Kony would be irresponsible on the part of the government and the international community. Much more can be done now not only to support the potential the talks seem to retain in the wake of recent gestures by Kony to meet with Bigombe, but also to prepare the ground for sustainable peace and reconciliation in Northern Uganda as a society. The government, in cooperation with the concerned international community, should construct and implement a comprehensive strategy for peace including the following elements:

Kampala/Brussels, 23 June 2005

After some 18 years of uninterrupted rule by President Yoweri Museveni, Uganda now faces a historic political test. It has to demonstrate that it has created the necessary institutions of government for a smooth power transfer from President Museveni and from non-party movement politics to multi-party democracy in 2006.

Indeed in March 2003, the NRM declared it was freeing up political parties and that by 2006 Uganda would have returned to multi-party democracy. Presently however, there is total lack of consensus across society on the political future of the country. Instead, there is growing tension over what is seen as the NRM’s attempt to amend the Constitution to allow Museveni seek another term without any limit, effectively making him a life President of Uganda. A crisis of governance which could degenerate into direct conflict clearly has to be prevented in Uganda. The unending armed rebellions against the NRM and the restrictive legislation on freedom of association and speech equally needs stronger attention.

The Ugandan government confirmed in 2004 that it would seek a military solution while remaining open to a negotiated end to the 18-year conflict with Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in northern Uganda. The government claims the LRA has entered its death throes.

Nevertheless, at the turn of 2004/2005, both tracks – peace talks combined with a limited government ceasefire offered in November and December 2004 and an enhanced military operation in Uganda and southern Sudan – are yet to yield a lasting solution. The people of the north have had no respite from violence for two generations.

Meanwhile, concern has grown at the increasing autocratic tendencies of government in the run-up to the anticipated transition from the current no-party system to a multi-party system in 2006. Crisis Group reporting focuses on containing, preventing and ultimately resolving these issues in Uganda.

Our reports on Uganda are listed below, starting with the most recent. You can also search for relevant reports using the search box in the top right hand side of this page.

Head of State: President Yoweri Museveni, January 1986– (first elected 1996, re-elected 2001) Uganda gained independence from Britain 1962 and experienced nearly ten years of multiparty democracy albeit under increasingly authoritarian President Milton Obote. Obote ousted 1971 by non-commissioned army officer Idi Amin to initial widespread enthusiasm. Amin, who expelled Uganda’s South Asian mercantile class to create economic opportunity for Ugandan Africans, grew increasingly brutal and erratic. He was ultimately overthrown 1979 by Tanzanian-backed rebellion including current President Museveni. When Museveni failed to win presidency in 1981 elections widely viewed as rigged, he began bush war against reinstated Obote leading to victory of Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) January 1986 and installation of “no-party” government system. Uganda, in 1997 alliance with neighbouring Rwanda, backed rebellion to oust Zaire’s (see Democratic Republic of Congo) President Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997 alliance. During 1998-2002 war, Uganda and Rwanda fought three major battles over control of resources in eastern Congo. Museveni and NRM co-opted many former Ugandan rebel groups, but Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), claiming to represent interests of marginalised Acholi people in northern Uganda, continued anti-government fight. Eighteen year war with LRA, characterised by abduction of children and teenagers to serve as soldiers or concubines, has resulted in displacement of nearly one million in northern Uganda and thousands of deaths. LRA supported by neighbouring Sudan, where LRA leaders have base, in retaliation for Uganda’s support of Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) rebel movement in southern Sudan. Negotiations to end Sudan’s 21-year civil war led to lessening of tensions between Uganda and Sudan 2003, which allowed Ugandan army troops to pursue LRA into Sudan. Mid-2004 army enjoyed series of successes against LRA, and number of senior rebel commanders took advantage of amnesty to desert. Uganda faces presidential elections in 2006. updated 22 September 2004

For more information from International Crisis Group go to: http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm

This is a really amazing place- check out more….

This cool program allows youth to learn, interact with adults and other community members and create something out of nothing. Check out their site and head to their farmers market if you live near Brooklyn (Or send friends!).

Youth Empowerment

• Summer Youth Intensives: During an intensive eight-week training period new participants develop a strong sense of self and community while learning the skills necessary to grow food from seed to sale.
• Academic Year Program: Beginning in the fall with the Added Value Institute teens strengthen their core skills while taking over operation of the Farmers’ Market, and building a strong foundation of knowledge related to the critical issues, such as under employment and obesity, that effect our community and develop their capacity to be agents for change.AV Leadership Institute Youth begin the spring honing their abilities to educate and motivate their peers and our community. Working together in groups and on individual projects they sharpen their skills while selecting a core program are to specialize in;
  • Digital Horizons: Our Media Literacy and Multimedia Laboratory
  • Herban Solutions: a Sustainable Business Development project
  • Project Real Improvement: Community Education and Organizing

  As active participants in the growing Food Justice Movement Participants attend local, national or even international conferences on youth empowerment, urban agriculture, food security and sustainability. Added Value youth make key contributions at these conferences, by planning events and activities, delivering trainings, and documenting the events. By attending these events our teens are educating others about our local efforts and harvesting knowledge from colleagues that will be shared through trainings they develop for their peers or through their reporting on our website.

  Teens who complete the Institute have gained the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve their educational and employment goals and are prepared to lead their peers and community towards a more just and sustainable future. Those wishing to continue their work with Added Value may apply for a Youth Leadership position and work with staff and Interns to run our summer programs.

Urban Agriculture
Red Hook Community Farm working with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Added Value is transforming a once dilapidated playground into vibrant community resource where young and old work, study and grow together as they sow, nurture and harvest plants on a 2.75 acre urban farm. Operated by our staff, youth leadership team and a dedicated core of volunteers and interns the Farm is a vibrant intergenerational space and experiential educational environment for all. Food grown on the Farm is sold at our Farmers’ Markets, to local restaurants and donated to those in need. Today the Farm provides sustenance to residents, creates meaningful work for neighborhood teens, generates economic activity and improves the health and well-being of our community.

Farm to School
Added Value hosts a variety of educational programs during the school year. Teachers may choose to come for a half-day or day-long service learning project in which they explore the Farm while learning about the social, economic, and environmental issues related to urban agriculture. A school may also choose to develop a long-term relationship with the Farm in which Students use exploratory learning to support standards-based educational opportunities. Some activities include growing produce in dedicated planting beds and undertake agricultural and food-related educational and arts activities.

Growing A Just Food System
The Red Hook Farmers’ Market and CSA
Through our Farmers’ Markets and CSA we are creating new opportunities for regional farmers and producers to market the highest quality meats, dairy, vegetables and value added products to urban consumers. By working with project partners we are ensuring that all can have access to locally grown, healthy, safe and affordable food. Profits from the sale of produce are cycled back into the program to support stipends for our youth participants.
Restaurant Partnerships
In addition to our Farmers’ Market and CSA we a pleased to have worked with food providers who have committee have committed themselves to providing the highest quality food to their customers. Currently we work intensively with two locally owned business Restaurant 360 and Restaurant Ici. Throughout the year 360 and ICI work with our staff and youth leaders to make sure that their customers can enjoy the freshest produce available in America and that a portion of the dollars you spend on an excellent meal goes to support the growth of a new generation youth leaders.

Support the local food movement by visiting these establishments

The Red Hook Farmers’ Market
Currently Added Value operates two Farmers’ Markets. Between the last weekend in June and the Saturday before Thanksgiving On Wednesday we open up outside the Red Hook Seniors Center at 6 Wolcott Street, while on Saturday the Market is located at Red Hook Community Farm (590 Columbia Street).

Our market features our famous salad greens and other produce grown on Red Hook Community Farm by our youth leadership team as well as products from other regional farmers including fresh milk, yogurt and ice cream, a full selection of fruit and pasture raised meats.

Our Market
Unlike other Farmers’ Markets, our farm-stand and the CSA are run by Added Value’s youth participants and are supervised by staff and volunteers. By working in the Market, participants are attending to a critical need in the community while honing the transferable skills acquired during training, which they will draw on for the rest of their lives.

Since its inception in June 2001, the RHFM has accomplished the following:

• Effectively advocated for the participation of the Red Hook Senior Center in the New York States Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), leveraging more than $20,000 in benefits.
• Enabled 1,000 new and expectant, low-income mothers to receive similar vouchers through the local WIC office, resulting in $60,000 of food benefits for the community.
• Donated an additional $15,000 worth of vegetables to individuals in need.
• Helped found the Friends of Coffey Park and revitalize this community asset.
• Provided meaningful work for Red Hook teenagers.
• Annually hosted 10 educational workshops for residents and CSA participants.

Why a Farmers’ Market in Red Hook?
Twice in the past three years Red Hook’s only full-service grocery store closed, forcing residents to walk three miles and cross an eight lane road or take a $10 cab if they want to shop there. If you are have limited resources or are physically unable, as much of our population is, the only options are corner stores and delis which stock few fresh fruits and vegetables, carry meat and dairy products of questionable quality and charge inflated prices. With few healthy choices available, our neighbors eat many meals at fast food restaurants; and the preferred diet among teens is chips, honey buns, and a “fruit drink”.

Limited access to healthy safe and affordable food and limited understanding of proper dietary practices has contributed to a neighborhood health crisis. Red Hook residents suffer disproportionately from asthma, hypertension, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. Child hospitalization rates for diabetes are over twice that of NYC; for adults, the ratio is roughly three to two.

For years, Red Hook was a textbook example of a broken food system and its effects on a community. Now, we are becoming a model of how residents, businesses, social service agencies and religious institutions can come together with City, State, and Federal government agencies and begin to rebuild a food system that promotes social interaction and economic activity while nurturing our health and improving the environment.

History
The Red Hook Farmers Market was established in June 2001. Opened in historic Coffey Park in the heart of Red Hook, Brooklyn, Today it has grown to become a hub of neighborhood activity serves as the sole provider of fresh produce for neighborhood residents.

In May of 2001, Red Hook’s only supermarket closed its doors, leaving a vacuum in the community and a serious need for safe produce. Added Value seized upon this opportunity and decided to create the Red Hook Farmers Market. The market was an immediate success; within two weeks the market served approximately 200 weekly customers, our three farmers were averaging $1000 in weekly sales, and most importantly, the market was embraced by community residents as both a much needed resource, as well a fun place to interact with neighbors and to sit and enjoy the afternoon. The Market consisted of one conventional grower, an organic farmer who also brokered organic dairy products, one orchard, and the Added Value farm stand. The 2001 season concluded on the third Saturday in November and immediate planning began to expand the diversity of the Market and to attract more vendors for the coming year.

In June 2002 the RHFM opened with new energy and offering new products to customers. This past season the Market expanded to provide pasture-raised poultry and lamb, locally caught fish, and local baked goods. In September 2002 the RHFM became one of three New York City Farmers Markets to pilot a cellular device allowing customers to use Visa, Mastercard, Debit, and EBT cards at all participating farm stands. Similar to most New York City Farmers Markets, the 2002 RHFM experienced a drop in weekly attendance; approximately 150 customers, reducing average sales to roughly $700. Added Value attributes this reduction to current economic conditions, rather than to the RHFM’s popularity. To promote the RHFM our youth flier the three connecting neighborhoods twice each week, we coordinate special events with community partners, offer various weekly specials and the Market also attracts local media attention.

In April 2003, the Red Hook Farmers Market Advisory Committee met to discuss the relocation of the Market to make it more accessible to the majority of Red Hook residents, as well as for the rest of South Brooklyn. The Markets’ new location at the intersection of Clinton Street and Centre Mall, the entrance to the Red Hook Houses East, is directly across the street from the Red Hook Post Office and is three blocks from the F Train. This new home continues to serve as a hub of neighborhood activity and now functions as a Community Supported Agriculture pick-up site. Added Value youth will soon offer community-wide trainings on vermicomposting at the Market, and chefs from throughout New York City will begin conducting cooking demonstrations in September.

By Stephanie Hanes | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
FINETOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – Winnie Mabaso seems to float through the kitchen, quietly eyeing the huge vat of porridge teetering on the small gas stove. She smiles at her helpers, who have spent the past three hours chopping carrots, and then checks her list of children’s names, to see who in this impoverished township has been eating. She glances at her watch. Outside, she knows, her orphans are getting hungry.

Hundreds are waiting. Most are under 6 years old, because it is lunchtime and the older children are still away at school. They play on a thin metal slide that Ms. Mabaso bought for them, and run in and out of the two large shipping containers that she set up in her backyard to serve as classrooms. Later, after school, the older children will return, lining up for whatever “Mamma Winnie” can give them.

LOVE’S LABOR: Winnie Mabaso relies on small donations to feed and care for hundreds of children affected by AIDS in Finetown, South Africa. MELANIE STETSON FREEMAN - STAFF

Mabaso never intended to have this type of operation, with lists and helpers and industrial-size cooking equipment - let alone the nursery school in her backyard and the 20 children sleeping in her house. But somehow, she says, what started as an impulse to give soup to a few young neighbors has grown into something else altogether - a support network for a community desperate for care.

“I never planned this,” she says. “I didn’t know it would get this big.”

Mabaso, who is past the age when most people retire, is one of a growing number of people around southern Africa who, with little or no help from government or aid organizations, have started trying to alleviate the impact of AIDS. These grass-roots helpers, often with little money themselves, tend to be women living in areas where the disease is a constant presence, according to AIDS experts. They care for sick neighbors, feed children whose parents are bedridden, and collect clothes for orphans. Neighborhood by neighborhood, family by family, they are making Africa’s Age of AIDS a bit more bearable.

“It’s a regional phenomenon,” says Richard Delate, spokesman for UNAIDS in southern Africa. “Especially as the burden of the epidemic deepens, the burden of care is shifting to the community. Without them I don’t know where the response would be.”

Sub-Saharan Africa, which has 10 percent of the world’s population, is home to 60 percent of all people infected with HIV, according to the United Nations. Across the continent the statistics are sobering: Botswana - 24 percent HIV infection rate; South Africa - 5.5 million people infected, more than in any other country; Mozambique - 120,000 AIDS-related deaths a year. The social impact of those numbers is huge. Teachers, nurses, and soldiers are dying; healthcare systems are strapped; welfare networks are overwhelmed. Government and aid groups are unable to reach everyone in need of care.

Which is why people such as Mabaso have taken charge.

“There are people who need our support,” says Precious Makodi, a 20-something who has joined other women in her neighborhood to start a home healthcare group. The group is based in Orange Farm, a poor township outside of Johannesburg, which now has dozens of “clients.”

“They are our neighbors,” she says. “They are HIV positive; they have tuberculosis. Nobody else is caring for them.”

There was nobody caring for Finetown’s orphans, either.

The demographics of Finetown, another settlement south of Johannesburg, have changed from white to Indian to black as South Africa moved through its recent history. It has large brick houses surrounded by aluminum-sided shacks, dirt roads, and an unemployment rate near 70 percent.

Mabaso, a retired nurse, bought one of Finetown’s larger houses with her husband in 1999. It was the first time she had neighbors who lived in shacks, she says, and she worried about the children she saw walking to and from these flimsy structures. She started standing by her gate with soup and bread, and began talking with the growing number of children who flocked to her house.

ROOM FOR EVERYONE: Orphans and vulnerable children from the neighborhood play on a ladder at Winnie Mabaso’s day care. MELANIE STETSON FREEMAN - STAFF

“I would ask them, ‘Where is your mom?’ They would say, ‘My mom is sleeping. She is not well,’ ” Mabaso recalls. She started going to the children’s homes and found parents who were immobilized by AIDS. Sometimes there were no parents at all.

Soon, children would line up down the street, waiting for her soup. She let some come into the house to take naps. When she started hearing horror stories of little children being raped - a dangerous myth here is that sleeping with a virgin will cure AIDS - she spread word that the neighborhood toddlers should spend their days at her place.

Her husband, who died in 2004, was not pleased. “He didn’t want all of this,” she says. “I said, ‘There’s nothing to discuss.’ ”

But she did agree that the demand was getting too big for her alone. So she started asking neighbors to join her efforts.

“I was not working, and I saw that here in Finetown, people were suffering,” says Poppy Dhlamini, one of the first volunteers to join Mabaso. “Of course I wanted to help.”

There are now 50 neighborhood volunteers who work with Mabaso, feeding children, counseling them, and checking on the shacks where they know people are sick.

Earlier this year, Mabaso moved across the street, and now has a full-time nursery school in her backyard. Three times a day, volunteers dish out food paid for by the small donations Mabaso collects. They call their group “Zenzele,” which means “do it yourself” in Zulu.

Mabaso estimates that over time, some 1,700 orphans have come to her for food. She also has 20 children who live with her full time - and she says she’d have more if she could afford the additional beds.

HELPING HAND: Day-care teacher Violet Shisanlandaku is part of ‘Zenzele’ - a Zulu word that means ‘do it yourself.’ The all-volunteer group that supports Winnie Mabaso’s efforts. MELANIE STETSON FREEMAN - STAFF

These are children like Jonathan Phiri, a 12-year-old from Malawi who came to South Africa three years ago with his grandmother. After Jonathan’s mother, who was still in Malawi, and his grandmother both died in February, he went to live in a shack with his 86-year-old great-grandmother.

It was an impossible situation, Mabaso says. The elderly woman was unable to care for Jonathan, who was born with only one leg. He was not going to school and was hungry. Mabaso spoke to the great-grandmother, and then invited Jonathan to stay with her. “I feel like it’s my family now,” Jonathan says.

On the other side of the patio, 10-year-old Seun Marou plays jacks with a pile of small rocks. His mother died a few months ago; he and his 12-year-old sister have no other family. He has sad eyes that seem to brighten only when he starts talking about his favorite sport, soccer.

Seun and his sister live with Mabaso now. When asked when he will go elsewhere, Mabaso replies, “When he finishes school and he can stand on his own.”

Lunch is finally ready, and one of Mabaso’s helpers hands Seun a plate of pap, the starch staple of South Africa, and stew. He smiles slightly. “They are looking after me,” he says.

The estimated number of slaves in the world today is 27 Million
-Kevin Bales
Founder of Free the Slaves and expert on modern day slavery

All around the world individuals are being forces or coerced into slavery. Instead of being sold in public places, like it was historically done, people are now bought and sold by trafficking rings, producing the third largest international black market industry (drugs and arms taking first and second place). Many of these victims are women and children who are bought and sold into sex-slavery or domestic servitude.
Free the Slaves is a remarkable organization working to assist slaves around the world. By learning more, not only will you be able to help detect slavery happening in your own community, but you will also be able to educate others to become modern day abolitionists.

How do slaves contribute to the global economy?
According to research done by Kevin Bales, with an estimated 27 million slaves working today, the total yearly profit generated by slaves is in the order of $13 billion. Although their contribution only equals about what the American population spends on jeans each year, their contribution is much greater. Slaves provide the labor that produces many of the raw materials and manufactured goods around the world. It would be difficult to go a week without purchasing something that has not been touched by the global slavery market.

In a peaceful area of Western Uganda there is a small town called Nyakauingo. This small town has no particular distinction. There is no electricity, no plumbing and no permanent structures. But for some reason, beyond the knowledge of mere mortals, orphaned children started making their way there.

Orphans were showing up in the town from nearby, far away, and everywhere in-between. The children were orphaned because of AIDS, War, Lack of Medical Care, and the hard life that exists for most of the people in Uganda. So many orphans started showing up in this town that the residents decided they needed to do something about it.

Without any help from the Ugandan Government, without any help from USAID, without any help from the United Nations, (who of course had their vans going through the town all the time, but never really noticed the town,) the people of the town decided to build a school for the orphans.

The people looked around to see what they had. They had mud and sticks. So they built a school out of mud and sticks. And as they were building the school, more orphans started showing up. So they built another school building. Now, they have three school buildings. And 240 children….So Far

When it is time for the children to leave school, the people in the town let then come to their homes to sleep. Sometimes the children walk for long distances to get to the home where they can stay.

The children of course needed teaches for the school. But the people of the town did not worry about that…They built the buildings, and the teaches came. The teachers left other schools where they were paid a nice salary (In Uganda Standards) to come teach at the mud and stick school for orphans. The teachers are not getting paid anything now. But they are doing what they know is important to do.

The children learn Math, Science, History, Literature, Social Studies and English. But they don’t have books – but they did find chalk boards. The big problem now is feeding 240 I mean 241 children. Everyday,….Breakfast and Lunch. I asked the head master how much money it cost to feed the children breakfast and lunch everyday. He asked me if that was “with meat or without meat.” I said “with meat”. He said that with meat twice a week, it would cost $1200 American Dollars a month.

The School would LOVE the help in feeding all the children who they care for.

Young, motivated and excited about starting life in the Big Apple- Margaret was ready to tackle the adventures of life in New York City. Beginning University, learning her way around Manhattan, and embarking on the self discovery process that most young adults embrace in their early 20’s, she could never have imagined how this city would change her life. But shortly after moving to the city she was hit by a NYC bus while crossing the street. Margaret’s whole life was changed. Joining the large percentage of Americans amputees, Margaret decided that was not the only way her life was going to change- she was going to change her world. Dedicated to assisting other amputees around the world, she has traveled to visit different developing nations to see what she can do to help. Margaret has a goal to provide prosthetics for children all around the world, and she is starting right here in the United States by organizing a fund raiser called Kicking for Kids Who Can’t.

Each year more than 150,000 individuals join a list of over 3 to 4 million existing amputees in the U.S. The Limbs for Life Foundation (LFLF) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to providing fully functional prosthetic care for individuals who cannot otherwise afford it and raising awareness of the challenges facing amputees. When a person becomes an amputee, they are faced with staggering emotional, physical and financial lifestyle changes. Many even lack the financial resources to obtain adequate prosthetic care.

That’s where the Limbs for Life Foundation comes in. LFLF’s goal is to provide a financial bridge between low-income amputees and the quality prosthetic care needed to restore their lives. Since the foundation began in 1995, about 700 amputees a year obtain the care that has enabled them to move forward with their lives.

There were 1,285,000 persons in the U.S. living with the limb loss (excluding fingers and toes) in 1996. The prevalence rate in 1996 was 4.9 per 1,000 persons. The incidence rate was 46.2 per 100,000 persons with dysvascular disease, 5.86 per 100,000 persons secondary to trauma, 0.35 per 100,000 secondary to malignancy of a bone or joint. The birth prevalence of congenital limb deficiency in 1996 was 25.64 per 100,000 live births. The prevalence rate is highest among people aged 65 years and older ~ 19.4 per 1,000.

For children, these risks are often harder than losing a limb in the later stages of life. They risk “not fitting in”, or being “different” at a young age, this can lead to great depression and isolation. By being given a prosthetic and proper therapy, they are empowered to overcome these issues and learn to run, jump, hit a ball or ride a bike - to play as each child deserves to!