#food security Kenya

[farmerstrend]

High Court Clears Path for Genetically Modified Crops in Kenya

A Kenyan court has dismissed a second legal challenge to the government’s decision to lift its decade-long ban on genetically modified crops, effectively allowing their continued cultivation and import. This ruling, made on Thursday by judge Lawrence Mugambi, builds on a 2023 decision in which an environment court ruled that no evidence showed GM crops posed risks to health or the…

[phaon1]

Almost two dozen countries at high risk of acute hunger, UN report reveals

Don't forget about charities and NGOs you can donate to and/or share!

https://muslimrelief.org.uk/

[cheaphousespending]

Kenya: Mudavadi Urges Universities to Innovate in Agriculture to Boost Food Security

Nairobi — Universities have been urged to embrace agricultural innovations and research, to create solutions that will ease the cost of living. Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi has said the agricultural sector is the backbone of the economy, contributing approximately 33 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Similarly, the sector employs over 40 per cent of the total…

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #14

April 12-19 2024

The Department of Commerce announced a deal with Samsung to help bring advanced semiconductor manufacturing and research and development to Texas. The deal will bring 45 billion dollars of investment to Texas to help build a research center in Taylor Texas and expand Samsung's Austin, Texas, semiconductor facility. The Biden Administration estimates this will create 21,000 new jobs. Since 1990 America has fallen from making nearly 40% of the world's semiconductor to just over 10% in 2020.

The Department of Energy announced it granted New York State $158 million to help support people making their homes more energy efficient. This is the first payment out of a $8.8 billion dollar program with 11 other states having already applied. The program will rebate Americans for improvements on their homes to lower energy usage. Americans could get as much as $8,000 off for installing a heat pump, as well as for improvements in insulation, wiring, and electrical panel. The program is expected to help save Americans $1 billion in electoral costs, and help create 50,000 new jobs.

The Department of Education began the formal process to make President Biden's new Student Loan Debt relief plan a reality. The Department published the first set of draft rules for the program. The rules will face 30 days of public comment before a second draft can be released. The Administration hopes the process can be finished by the Fall to bring debt relief to 30 million Americans, and totally eliminate the debt of 4 million former students. The Administration has already wiped out the debt of 4.3 million borrowers so far.

The Department of Agriculture announced a $1 billion dollar collaboration with USAID to buy American grown foods combat global hunger. Most of the money will go to traditional shelf stable goods distributed by USAID, like wheat, rice, sorghum, lentils, chickpeas, dry peas, vegetable oil, cornmeal, navy beans, pinto beans and kidney beans, while $50 million will go to a pilot program to see if USAID can expand what it normally gives to new products. The food aid will help feed people in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Yemen.

The Department of the Interior announced it's expanding four national wildlife refuges to protect 1.13 million wildlife habitat. The refuges are in New Mexico, North Carolina, and two in Texas. The Department also signed an order protecting parts of the Placitas area. The land is considered sacred by the Pueblos peoples of the area who have long lobbied for his protection. Security Deb Haaland the first Native American to serve as Interior Secretary and a Pueblo herself signed the order in her native New Mexico.

The Department of Labor announced new work place safety regulations about the safe amount of silica dust mine workers can be exposed to. The dust is known to cause scaring in the lungs often called black lung. It's estimated that the new regulations will save over 1,000 lives a year. The United Mine Workers have long fought for these changes and applauded the Biden Administration's actions.

The Biden Administration announced its progress in closing the racial wealth gap in America. Under President Biden the level of Black Unemployment is the lowest its ever been since it started being tracked in the 1970s, and the gap between white and black unemployment is the smallest its ever been as well. Black wealth is up 60% over where it was in 2019. The share of black owned businesses doubled between 2019 and 2022. New black businesses are being created at the fastest rate in 30 years. The Administration in 2021 Interagency Task Force to combat unfair house appraisals. Black homeowners regularly have their homes undervalued compared to whites who own comparable property. Since the Taskforce started the likelihood of such a gap has dropped by 40% and even disappeared in some states. 2023 represented a record breaking $76.2 billion in federal contracts going to small business owned by members of minority communities. This was 12% of federal contracts and the President aims to make it 15% for 2025.

The EPA announced (just now as I write this) that it plans to add PFAS, known as forever chemicals, to the Superfund law. This would require manufacturers to pay to clean up two PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid. This move to force manufacturers to cover the costs of PFAS clean up comes after last week's new rule on drinking water which will remove PFAS from the nation's drinking water.

Bonus:

President Biden met a Senior named Bob in Pennsylvania who is personally benefiting from The President's capping the price of insulin for Seniors at $35, and Biden let Bob know about a cap on prosecution drug payments for seniors that will cut Bob's drug bills by more than half.

[dontforgetukraine]

October 16th marks World Food Day.

It is not the first time Russia has weaponized food as a means of control and aggression (ex: Holodomor). In Ukraine's fight against Russia's war, it has become an unprecedented guarantee of food security for the world through the "Grain from Ukraine" program. This grain is distributed by the UN's World Food Program to recipient countries suffering food shortages. This is all while Russia shells grain terminals, blockades Ukrainian ships, and wages its aggression towards farmers in its war. Remember, much of the agricultural land is contaminated with mines and other unexploded ordnance.

In order to maintain food security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has listed what it will take.

Full and safe navigation in the Black and Azov seas.

Restoration of Ukraine's sovereign control over its ports.

Establishment of new ports

Expansion of the assortment of Ukrainian goods transported by seas.

Security guarantees are not just important for Ukraine, but for the entire world. Already Ukraine has delivered 228,960 tons of agricultural products to:

Somalia

Ethiopia

Kenya

Yemen

Mauritania

Nigeria

Sudan

Djibouti

Mozambique

the Democratic Republic of Congo

Palestine

Supporting Ukraine means supporting the world. History has already seen Russia weaponize food. Russia's war shows it is doing so again right now. If we fail to support Ukraine, don't be surprised if Russia chooses to manipulate countries that need Ukrainian grain.

[lgbtiqrefugeesblog]

My names are Peter from

uganda, asylum-seekers living in Gorom Refugee Camp in Sudan but also once ever been in kakuma refugee camp in kenya but due to increased insecurities and also most was going to loose life hence my second flee to sudan.

In the East African community, Sudan's North that's where we find Gorom refugee camp with a population of almost 200,000 people, and it's with in that camp that we the queer people are living.

A refugee has the right to safe asylum and freedom of thought, of movement, and freedom from torture and degrading treatment according to united Nation.

And according to the universal declaration of human rights article 5, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” We the LGBTQIA+ refugees in Sudan have for long been living out of the scope of these fundamental human rights.

On the donations that are made,by well wishers they' provide us with a food so that we don't sleep on empty stomachs. This is because we receive roughly 2 kilograms of sorghum to take each person for a month from World Food Programme.

When we go to camp hospitals, we are not treated. We are discriminated and have to end up going to private hospitals to get proper treatment as per their sexualities. The donations always support us to ensue that we get this.

Hence we have decided to speak in unison to address these and a number of other issues that have either been overlooked or misrepresented by NGO's giving a false picture of security and safety here in Gorom refugee camp. In so doing, we have been denied a safe environment resulting in avoidable injuries, loss of personal property and life. This false picture has been painted with the help of external organizations which have come bearing a tag of human rights defenders when indeed their interest has either been monitory or have simply been used to promote the absurd notion that a few material things can make death and injuries resulting from homophobia and transphobia bearable. Based on that notion promoted by these organizations, some of who have appeared alongside UNCHR while speaking to the press, they have created the narrative that, it’s is the fault of the LGBTQIA+ refugees because we are not able to hide who we are. This narrative also has implied that the LGBTQIA+ refugees are simply looking for resettlement in the fourth country. According to the UNHCR and its agents, it’s very unreasonable for the persecuted and dying refugees in Gorom refugee camp to want a safe environment outside of Sudan and kenya and that the horrors that we face on a daily basis are ok. This is a homophobic and transphobic attack on us by the very institution that purports to protect us from the same.

Therefore, we strongly refute the allegations that we are not peaceful people and that the attacks we have suffered have been provoked. We also strongly refute the claim that African refugee camps and other places are not homophobic and transphobic. We continue to struggle to understand why we find ourselves in the same homophobic camp where UNHCR and the African government had to evacuate the LGBTQIA+ refugees as recently as 2019 to protect them from homophobic attacks. We have been given a shocking impression that upholding the African encampment policy is more important than saving lives even though this policy can and has been waived in the recent past.

We are disappointed by the casual approach and the laxity which the UNHCR and its partners continue to display in the way they have responded to the attacks on LGBTQIA+ refugees in Gorom and kakuma refugee camps which have claimed lives and left many with grave physical and psychological injuries. We read with a lot of shock their inaccurate statements claiming that African camps are now hospitable to the LGBTQIA+ and that the majority of us are living in relative safety. We can confirm that this is not true and that as a whole the LGBTQIA+ group in Gorom, we continue to face attacks irrespective of which part of sudan we live in. Children, women and others in the LGBTQIA+ community continue to face unprovoked attacks, harassment and heavy discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. UNHCR’s attempt to make it look like the problem lies within the queer community itself constitutes an attack on our vulnerable community and is out of line with their primary duty to recognize and protect those that are most vulnerable. This is highly regrettable and a strong deviation from their mandate.

We have turned to activists to get basics such as medical care and food, things which should be UNHCR’S obligations. Their attempts to undermine these humanitarian efforts shows that they are not bothered about our wellbeing. As the entire LGBTQIA+ family living in hostile and homophobic African refugee camps, we reiterate asking for your advocacy and support.

lgbtiq-refugees-blogs

Please 🙏🏿 consider my humble request for support.

Your's sincerely Peter from south Sudan refugee camp.

This is our fundraiser link, please read more here and donate for our survival.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with-queer-refugees-in-africa-peters-story?utm_medium=customer&utm_source=whatsapp&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&lang=en_US

[theangelcatalogue]

Hey Guys! Another important post!

This is @lawrence86sblog, they and other 480 people that are refugees from a Kauma camp in Kenya, to Gorom camp of South Sudan, need supplies, help and support!! Here is what @lawrence86sblog sended to me

______________________________________________________________

MY COURAGEOUS JOURNEY AS A QUEER REFUGEE FROM KAUMA CAMP IN KENYA TO GOROM CAMP OF SOUTH SUDAN.

"Hello world,

I want to share with you a journey of courage, resilience, and hope. My name Lawrence and I am one of the many queer refugees who fled Kenya's brutality in search of safety and acceptance in Sudan.

Leaving behind everything I knew was not an easy decision. In kakuma camp of Kenya, LGBTQ+ individuals like myself faced discrimination, violence, and legal persecution on a daily basis. The fear of being targeted simply for being who I am became too much to bear. So, I made the brave choice to seek refuge elsewhere.

Now, here I am in Gorom, a place of both sanctuary and uncertainty. The road to rebuilding my life is fraught with challenges. From securing shelter to accessing healthcare and food, every day brings new obstacles to overcome.

But I refuse to be silenced. I refuse to let the struggles I've faced define me. My voice matters, and I will not rest until it is heard. I call upon the world to stand in solidarity with queer refugees like myself, to tackle our top priority challenges like food security to inadequate shelter facilities.

We are not asking for special treatment. We are simply asking for the right to live freely and without fear of persecution. Together, we can create a world where everyone is valued, respected, and able to live authentically.

Thank you for listening.

Lawrence kizito

______________________________________________________________

Here is a post of my friend, Steren, that explains better about their situation!

The members of this camp, includes people of all sexualities and genders, that need basic things to live (Like shelter and food)!

PLEASE SHOW THEM SOME SUPPORT!!

AND IF YOU CAN, PLEASE RAISE A FUNDRAISER FOR THEM (WITH THEIR PERMISSION OF COURSE)

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

Most people are “very” or “extremely” concerned about the state of the natural world, a new global public opinion survey shows. 

Roughly 70 percent of 22,000 people polled online earlier this year agreed that human activities were pushing the Earth past “tipping points,” thresholds beyond which nature cannot recover, like loss of the Amazon rainforest or collapse of the Atlantic Ocean’s currents. The same number of respondents said the world needs to reduce carbon emissions within the next decade. 

Just under 40 percent of respondents said technological advances can solve environmental challenges. 

The Global Commons survey, conducted for two collectives of “economic thinkers” and scientists known as Earth4All and the Global Commons Alliance, polled people across 22 countries, including low-, middle- and high-income nations. The survey’s stated aim was to assess public opinion about “societal transformations” and “planetary stewardship.”

The results, released Thursday, highlight that people living under diverse circumstances seem to share worries about the health of ecosystems and the environmental problems future generations will inherit. 

But there were some regional differences. People living in emerging economies, including Kenya and India, perceived themselves to be more exposed to environmental and climate shocks, like drought, flooding and extreme weather. That group expressed higher levels of concern about the environment, though 59 percent of all respondents said they are “very” or “extremely” worried about “the state of nature today,” and another 29 percent are at least somewhat concerned.  

Americans are included in the global majority, but a more complex picture emerged in the details of the survey, conducted by Ipsos.

Roughly one in two Americans said they are not very or not at all exposed to environmental and climate change risks. Those perceptions contrast sharply with empirical evidence showing that climate change is having an impact in nearly every corner of the United States. A warming planet has intensified hurricanes battering coasts, droughts striking middle American farms and wildfires threatening homes and air quality across the country. And climate shocks are driving up prices of some food, like chocolate and olive oil, and consumer goods. 

Americans also largely believe they do not bear responsibility for global environmental problems. Only about 15 percent of U.S. respondents said that high- and middle-income Americans share responsibility for climate change and natural destruction. Instead, they attribute the most blame to businesses and governments of wealthy countries. 

Those survey responses suggest that at least half of Americans may not feel they have any skin in the game when it comes to addressing global environmental problems, according to Geoff Dabelko, a professor at Ohio University and expert in environmental policy and security. 

Translating concern about the environment to actual change requires people to believe they have something at stake, Dabelko said. “It’s troubling that Americans aren’t making that connection.”

[orangetubor]

Urgent news, many lgbtqi residents of kakuma refugee camp are now homeless. Here is a statement from my friend Peter:

As an LGBTQIA+🏳️‍🌈, I bear witness to the horrifying police brutality that unfolded before my very eyes, along with my fellow LGBTQIA+ advocates, freedom fighters, and refugees in Kakuma refugee camp. It was a day we had come together to celebrate our pride, a moment of unity and empowerment during Pride Month. However, what transpired shattered our sense of safety and belonging.In the midst of our joyful pride party, the police forcefully invaded our presence, displaying an alarming disregard for our rights and humanity. Our small tent house, adorned with rainbow flags symbolizing our pride and resilience, was ruthlessly torn down. We, the members of the LGBTQIA+ community, were subjected to brutal beatings by those who are entrusted with the duty to protect us, but who instead exhibited violent, homophobic, and transphobic tendencies.This appalling act served as a stark reminder that within Kakuma refugee camp and Kenya at large, there is no place for us. Even the officials who should be safeguarding our rights have become perpetrators of violence and discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ family. We pose no threat, for we bear no weapons and have not inflicted harm upon anyone. Yet, we are continually targeted by the refugee community, subjected to brutality, torture, persecution, discrimination, and social stigma solely due to our sexual orientation and gender identity.The conditions we endure in the camp are unbearable, pushing us to exist in a state of constant fear, insecurity, and suffering. We are forced to live in a primitive and inhospitable environment, stripped of our dignity and denied basic human rights. This relentless adversity places an immense burden on the LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and refugees in Kakuma refugee camp, compromising our very survival.Therefore, I implore all those who champion human rights and stand against injustice to join forces and provide us with international support. We call upon activists, organizations dedicated to protecting LGBTQIA+ rights and lives, and the global community at large to unite as one, advocating for our freedom from the confines of Kakuma refugee camp. It is evident that this camp will never be a safe haven for us.We desperately need your unwavering support and solidarity. Ignoring our plight is not an option; it is through your intervention and collective efforts that we can secure our liberation. Together, let us work towards a world where every LGBTQIA+ individual can thrive, free from persecution and discrimination. Our lives and well-being depend on it..wish we find your support and solidarity on the less fortunate, thanks

(he sent this to me over whatsapp, you can also find it on his tumblr, @peterkats )

Please share this, spread international outrage, and get them help

The owner of the compound sold it, and many are now homeless. The nearest refugee camps are in Somalia, Zambia, Sudan and South Africa, which are miles away, they have no food or water, and many are sick or injured.

If you can, send aid through World Remit or Send Wave, to the phone number +254712692466, belonging to Abdul Luyombya, a friend of Peter's.

[farmerstrend]

What to Expect from ICCF 2024: A Sneak Peek into Kenya’s Largest Contract Farming Event

“Discover how the International Conference on Contract Farming (ICCF 2024) is set to transform Kenya’s agriculture sector by promoting sustainable practices, enhancing market access, and fostering transparent partnerships.” “Learn about the ICCF 2024 in Nairobi, where farmers, policymakers, and agribusiness leaders will explore solutions to contract farming challenges, technology integration, and…

[probablyasocialecologist]

On September 5, the annual Africa Food Systems Forum, organised by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), will launch in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Government officials, experts, policymakers and business leaders will come together to discuss – in their words – “building back better food systems and food sovereignty”.

[...]

[AGRA] has failed to deliver on its own promises to increase productivity and incomes for 20 million farm households while halving food insecurity by 2020. Of the 13 countries it has primarily worked with, three have reduced the number of malnourished people over the past 15 years: Zambia by 2 percent, Ethiopia by 8 percent and Ghana by 36 percent, still short of the 50 percent target. In countries like Kenya and Nigeria, both of which have embraced industrial agriculture policies, the number of undernourished people has grown by 44 percent and 247 percent, respectively. Taken together, the population of undernourished people in the 13 states AGRA has primarily worked with has actually risen by 50 percent over the past 15 years. A donor-commissioned evaluation released in 2022 also confirmed that AGRA “did not meet its headline goal of increased incomes and food security for 9 million smallholders” in the previous five years. That is because the industrial agriculture practices AGRA and others promote degrade soils over time and decrease productivity – as our research has shown. Still, under pressure from foreign donors and big agribusiness, countries across Africa have been adopting policies that reflect this harmful approach to agriculture.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

Canada airlifted 18 vulnerable Canadians out of Haiti by helicopter to the Dominican Republic on Monday, and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says more will be offered the chance to evacuate in the coming days. Haiti has been in a profound security crisis since mid-2021, when gangs took control of key infrastructure and started violent turf wars that have led to the collapse of most of its medical and food systems. "Gangs are terrorizing the streets; women and children are scared of getting out of their homes," Joly told a news conference. The chaos escalated earlier this month when Ariel Henry, Haiti's unelected prime minister, visited Kenya to confirm plans for an international military intervention led by police from the east African country.

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[ivorydragoness44]

Jurassic Park - Robert Muldoon S/O Dialogue Writing Prompts

• "I'm not staying on an island full of dinosaurs during a tropical storm."

• "This fence is supposed to keep that in?"

• "These aren't petting zoo animals, Robert... Does Hammond understand this?"

• "The raptors should be in a sealed room. Not an open Tupperware."

• "Foe, friend, or food."

• "Do we really trust future guests to keep the windows up while they pass the dilophosaurus enclosure? We need some sort of strong, reinforced glass or something."

• "Personally, I don't trust the safety of the paddocks. No offense intended." "Please don't tell me that." "The electric wire looks like spaghetti next to the tyrannosaur."

• "Just knowing that Nedry's workstation looks like that, makes me want to pull my hair out."

• "How many pairs of those shorts do you own? Not that I'm complaining. Just curious."

• "You have some...strong opinions on the raptors, yeah?" "Yeah. Why?" "What do you think about having an extra paddock around the pen that they already have? You know, for extra security."

• "Can I wear your hat?"

• "I prefer the more docile herbivores." "It's a wonder why you're with me."

• "Should we live in one of the emergency bunkers then?"

• "I understand the need for security cameras, but why not also implement security personnel?"

• "Is ten-thousand volts enough?"

• "Got your hat?" "Yep." "I.D.?" "Of course." "Your--" "And my vest, and my boots. Darling, I have everything."

• "Which do you prefer: Kenya or Isla Nublar?" "There's no dinosaurs in Kenya, you know."

• "If the raptors are dangerous and smart... What does that make us?"

• "The sounds they make give me nightmares."

• "Robert, I love you, but please take your boots off of my desk."

• "Do you think the raptors recognize faces?"

• "A park full of dinosaurs. Who in their right mind is going to believe that enough to fly all of the way out here to drop cash on someone's word?"

• "You're being very cautious." "I didn't want to alarm you, your back was turned." "I appreciate that."

• "How on Earth did you find me over here? Wait... Did you track me down?" "You are fearsome to behold." "Your flattery won't make me dismiss my question."

• "Day one-hundred of no one installing locks on the vehicle doors." "Don't remind me, love, please."

• "If anyone can keep the visitors safe when the park opens, it's you."

• "Tomorrow's another transport day?" "Yep. I'll be heading over to Isla Sorna shortly. I have to ensure that all preparations are in-place."

• "You're back late. What happened?" "We tranquilized the raptors for transport to the island, but they woke up. One of the raptors took Jophery...I tried to save him."

• "They still want to keep the raptors? Even after everything?"

• "Maybe if we were to provide enrichment to the velociraptors?" "Enrichment?" "Yeah, you said that they're smart. They solve puzzles and...are looking for a way out--but why not give them something to do?"

• "They're lethal at what age?"

• "Robert, love, may I tell you something about a paddock without you getting upset?" "Sure. As if I could ever get cross with you." "Okay, um... I don't like walking around outside--between the buildings--and having the raptor pen so close. And there's no additional fencing around it. They frighten me."

• "Could your shorts be any shorter?" "You never complained before."

• "With legs like yours, you could jump as high as a velociraptor."

• "Can I go with you next time to Isla Sorna? I've never been there."

Bonus:

• "Well, aren't you a clever boy/girl?"