23 September, 2008

EXCESS RADIOACTIVITY........

China rejects Nigerian mineral shipment over excess radioactivity


www.chinaview.cn 2008-09-22 20:41:45 Print

XIAMEN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- More than 70 tonnes of imported zircon sand, a refractory mineral, was ordered on Monday to be returned to its country of origin -- Nigeria -- for exceeding radioactivity standards, authorities said.

The Gamma-ray equivalent of the 74.25 tonnes of zircon sand loaded in four containers was found to be 100 times the normal standard, a Xiamen inspection and quarantine official said.

The zircon sand had been destined for the coastal city of Quanzhou for ceramic production, he said.

Such high level of radioactivity was rare. Importers should set limits on the radioactive standards of minerals, he said.


Editor: Wang Yan
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/22/content_10093603.htm

GENITAL MUTILATION & IMMIGRATION

AG: Don't deport genital mutilation victim

From Terry Frieden
CNN Justice Producer

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. attorney general is trying to prevent immigration authorities from sending a Muslim woman to her home country, where she was a victim of female genital mutilation.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey ordered an immigration court to reconsider an African woman's case.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey ordered an immigration court to reconsider an African woman's case.

In a stinging order overriding federal immigration courts, Mukasey blasted a decision that said a 28-year-old citizen and native of Mali should be expelled "because her genitalia already had been mutilated [so] she had no basis to fear future persecution if returned to her home country."

Calling the rationale "flawed," Mukasey sent the case back to the Board of Immigration Appeals with orders to reconsider.

The woman, a native of Mali, begged the court not to send her back to her Bambara tribe.

The 28-year-old said if she returned and had a daughter, the child also would be subject to mutilation. The woman also said she faced forced marriage if she had to go home.

Mukasey cited what he concluded were two significant factual errors in the court's rejection of her appeal.

"Female genital mutilation is not necessarily a one-time event," Mukasey said. He noted that the board in a previous case had granted asylum in to one woman whose "vaginal opening was sewn shut approximately five times after being opened to allow for sexual intercourse and child birth."

He also concluded that the Board of Immigration Appeals was wrong to assume that the woman "must fear persecution in exactly the same form [namely, repeat female genital mutilation] to qualify for relief."

Mukasey had been urged to look into the matter by angered members of Congress in the wake of the January decision.

"This recent action taken by the Board of Immigration Appeals is a step backward for the rights of women worldwide," declared Rep. John Conyers, D-Michigan, in a January letter.

"Female genital mutilation is a gross violation of a woman's human rights and has traditionally been grounds for the granting of an asylum claim," Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-California, said in the letter.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, issued a statement applauding Mukasey's action, and declaring female genital mutilation a "barbaric practice widely regarded as a human rights abuse."

The Justice Department acknowledged it is extraordinarily rare for an attorney general to jump into a relatively low-level immigration case. The immigration courts decide about 40,000 cases a year, and an attorney general has issued an opinion on a case only three times in the past three years.

Female genital mutilation is common in parts of Africa, Asia and in some Arab countries, according to the United Nations. The operation is viewed by some ethnic groups as a means to control a woman's sexuality and is sometimes a prerequisite for marriage or the right to inherit.

The procedure can cause tissue injury, severe infection and fever, among other complications. The U.N. has recorded cases in which hemorrhaging and infection lead to death.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/09/22/genital.mutiliation.immigrant/index.html?eref=edition

21 September, 2008

'brain gain'

Oil-rich Nigeria enjoys 'brain gain' as expats take advantage of boom

LAGOS, Nigeria — They speak in the clipped tones of the British upper class or the soft drawl of southern California. They boast degrees and work experience from elite overseas institutions. And now they're coming home.

Nigerians who left their homeland to seek riches abroad are increasingly returning as Africa's biggest oil producer rides an energy bonanza that is opening up unprecedented opportunities.

Abiola Lawal, 41, is part of this "brain gain."

He was earning a six-figure salary with business software giant SAP AG in southern California before he returned to Nigeria in 2005 after 17 years abroad, joining a major Nigerian energy firm, Oando PLC, as chief strategy officer.

"There are lots of 30-and 40-something-year-olds who are CEOs in this country, and that would never be in the States or the U.K. because the experience pool is much deeper there," said Lawal. "In the States I will have opportunities, but not at the level we are getting them in Nigeria, and that's the reality."

While most of Nigeria's 140 million citizens are deeply impoverished, some parts of the waterfront commercial capital of Lagos are becoming mini boomtowns.

With petro dollars strengthening the economy and the government deregulating key industries, Nigeria's telecommunications, banking and energy sectors are growing at double and sometimes triple digit rates, with stock prices to match. The overall economy is forecast to grow at about nine per cent in 2008.

This growth has created a growing appetite for internationally business savvy recruits. Many companies now organize career fairs in major cities in the U.S. and Europe, seeking to personally woo Africans with overseas training and work experience.

For many Nigerian expatriates, it's a tempting proposal: the chance to contribute to the development of their country while enjoying compensation packages that often include fast-track promotion, housing, a maid, a car and a driver.

No firm figures exist for how many Nigerians educated or working overseas are coming home. But recruitment companies report hundreds of applications for each job they advertise and up to 85 per cent of the applicants are Nigerians working in the West.

Shola Ajani, who runs recruitment company Maximise Potentials, says that in the last three years the company has placed 700 Nigerian expatriates in professional jobs in their homeland. Their portal, nigeriajobsonline.com, has a database of some 10,000 Nigerians living overseas who have registered their interest in repatriating, he says.

Nigeria has always seen some of its diaspora return home, a process kick-started by the end of three decades of military rule in the country in 1999. But brain gain "has taken a new dimension in the past year," as the economy booms, says Ade Odutola of another recruitment site wazobiajobs.com, which has grown nearly threefold in the past year. "We are seeing greater awareness of the opportunities in Africa by Africans in the diaspora."

Word is spreading fast. Internet communities such as the Move Back Club put new "repats" in touch with those hoping to make the move.

Recruitment companies say brain gain is running at the highest levels in Nigeria. But they say flagging western economies are pushing more young professionals toward other fast-growing, if sometimes volatile, markets such as South Africa and, more recently, Ghana.

The contrast between the often high-living ways of repats and other rich elite - such as politicians and oil tycoons - and the circumstances of ordinary Nigerians can be jarring.

Misuse of government funds and widespread corruption has left Nigeria's infrastructure crumbling. Few people have access to reliable electricity, decent schools and health clinics or flushing toilets.

In the few comparatively posh sections of Lagos, high-security gated compounds have sprung up, roads have been resurfaced and glistening shopping malls opened. The elite can be seen quaffing champagne and dining on sushi in air-conditioned restaurants while outside, beggars and street children guard their immaculate SUVs.

Nigeria's government isn't complaining. It has set up groups such as the "Nigerians in the Diaspora Organisation" to encourage Nigerians living and working overseas to come back and share their skills.

"These people are interested in staying and rebuilding their homeland, not just seizing the opportunity and then leaving back for overseas," says John Ejinaka, a senior consular official involved in the multimillion-dollar effort. "It's a great opportunity for all of us."

Erabor Okogun, a 34-year old business consultant, studied in Britain and held a job with Transport for London, the government body that runs London transport system. He returned to Nigeria in 2003 to work for the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria PLC - a vast conglomerate with interests across the hospitality, energy, telecommunications and trade sectors.

He said salaries are high in Nigeria, but that companies get what they pay for.

"Yes, we command above and beyond what is normally expected for employees in Nigeria," he said, swirling a glass of cognac. "But in terms of work output, ethics, ideas and concepts the company gets a lot of value. The economy gets a lot of value."

Of course, he said, there are drawbacks to moving back to a deeply corrupt country that receives only a couple of hours of state-provided power each day. Roads are filled with potholes and snarled with traffic. Rates of gun crime are high in the disorderly city.

"In the U.K. everything has its place, there's an order to things: That's what I miss most," says Okugun. "And that's what I want to create here."

For some Nigerian repats being able to watch, and participate in, the development of their nation is sufficient reward. But for most there's another message that trumps all: "You can write your name in gold in Nigeria," says Okogun with a smile.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5ii1UZuDOlyHI0iMVH8GYA9OwVGnQ

"THE NIGERIAN MAFIA...........?"

The recent happenings in Castelvolturno (massacre of 7 Africans) by people suspected to be members of the CAMORRA (the Naples mafia) has seen fingers being pointed to the CASALESSI family. In this havoc there are many things that people in the Nigerian community in Italy may be worrying about.

The first report that hit the press was of the killing of 6 Nigerians by the mafia because of non payment of drug royalties. The killings had every indication that would make anyone point to an organized group like the Camorra; hundreds of bullets form automatic Kalashnikovs by 6 people on 'fake' police jackets and cars……….

Later in the day the news came out clearer and the identities of those killed were known; 4 Ghanaians, a Togolese, and a Liberian. There was no Nigerian involved. The poor Africans were all working in their textile and tailoring shop where they sew and mend cloths for Italians and foreigners.

The story changed and some press reports had it that since they were non Nigerians it would have been a mistake by the commando that carried out the operation, insinuating that the Napoli mafia (Camorra) was really annoyed with the Nigerian mafia which has an alliance with them but in the recent past started to disobey and have their own (Nigerian) bosses thereby stopping to pay royalties from drug proceeds. It was also reported that the Nigerian group that had signed pacts of alliance many years ago with the main mafia for the indirect control of drugs, prostitution, illegal labor, illegal immigration etc were gathering too much powers ;therefore should be thought a lesson or re-dimensioned. http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2008/settembre/19/Camorra_strage_extracomunitari_co_8_080919002.shtml

http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2008/settembre/19/Roberti_Una_pulizia_etnica__co_8_080919003.shtml

The police still insist that those killed were involved in drug movement in the area (they are Africans after all) notwithstanding that no drug was found in their workshop or in their residences.

The Nigerian mafia had their first clash with the Italian mafia 22 years ago (1986) when 6 Nigerians were 'kneecapped' . There was apparent peace and cooperation with the two mafias until the night between 23rd and 24th April 1990 when the camorra organized a commando that hit a group of their Nigerian allies in bar Centro di Pescopagano- leaving two deed and many who were not even connected with drugs wounded. In the month of January this yare 3 persons were charged with the death of those Nigerians.

These are just little bits of the 'Black mafia' which has in the past 17 years gained a lot of powers and is peculiar for the its tribal based set-up and the sort of impunity it has amongst other organized criminal groups.

According to the report it is hard to believe that among the numerous drug pushers none of the Nigerians has ever collaborated with the justice to reveal what happens within the group and they have continued to propel their activities from Italy to all over Europe growing from the sells of heroine to the control and wholesale of the cocaine and the control of prostitution.

The recycling of the black mafia money is through money transfer and other complicated connections that are difficult for the Italian central bank or the European Central Bank (ECB) to discover and dismantle. The report claims that the Nigerian Mafia in this form has shown a great competitiveness that makes it the 5th Mafia in Italy.

http://www.positanonews.it/dettaglio.php?id=16812

Some question I would ask members of the community who read all the press reports , analysis and tv reports on Nigeria and her nationals in Italy:

· Are we all prostitutes, mafians, and drug pushers?

· What is the population Nigerian in Italy and what is the percentage involved in these vices?

· Who speaks or will speak for the community and defend her and the Nation for all the exaggerations and accusations that has been going on these days in the press?

· what is our mission (embassy) doing to see that the numerous Nigerians that are resident in Italy and are highly law abiding do not face unnecessary harassments and molests from Italians and the serotypes of the Italian law enforcement agencies? many African ambassadors went or sent their representatives to Castel Volturno some days ago; did anyone from the Nigerian mission travel to that area to ascertain the security of law Abiding Nigerians living in that region?

There are more questions to be asked and to be answered on this issue Do you have any?

Okey. Chukwubike C


-----PHOTO THOUGHTS----: 7 AFRICANS EXECUTED.... CAMORRA?#links

-----PHOTO THOUGHTS----: 7 AFRICANS EXECUTED.... CAMORRA?#links

AFRICAN WOMEN

Women to rule Rwanda parliament

Women voters in Rwanda
Rwanda already holds the world record for highest proportion of female MPs

Rwanda will be the first country where women will outnumber men in parliament, preliminary election results show.

Women have taken 44 out of 80 seats so far and the number could rise if three seats reserved for the disabled and youth representatives go to females.

Rwanda, whose post-genocide constitution ensures a 30% quota for female MPs, already held the record for the most women in parliament.

The ruling party coalition won 78% of seats in Monday's vote.

Indirect elections for women's quota seats took place on Tuesday and votes for two youth representatives and a disabled quota seat are taking place on Wednesday and Thursday.

It is the second parliamentary elections since the genocide of 1994 when some 800,000 minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered by Hutu militias in just 100 days.

80-SEAT PARLIAMENT
Elected seats: 53
* RPF: 42 seats, 78.76% of the vote
* Social Democratic Party: 7 seats, 13.12% of the vote
* Liberal Party: 4 seats, 7.5% of the vote
Quota seats: 27 (women 24, youth 2, disabled 1)
Women total: 44 seats, 55% of parliament
Preliminary results Rwanda National Electoral Commission

President Paul Kagame was instrumental in establishing the Tutsi-led 's Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) - the rebel force which took power and ended the genocide.

The BBC's Geoffrey Mutagoma in the capital, Kigali, says the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party have conceded defeat.

In the outgoing parliament, 48.8% of MPs were women - the world's highest rate. It is now set to be at least 55%.

Women who stood in seats reserved for female candidates were not allowed to represent a party.

"The problems of women are understood much better, much better by women themselves," voter Anne Kayitesi told the BBC's Focus on Africa.

"You see men, especially in our culture, men used to think that women are there to be in the house, cook food, look after the children... but the real problems of a family are known by a woman and when they do it, they help a country to get much better."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7620816.stm

20 September, 2008

NIGERIANS NOT INVOLVED

Camorra blamed in immigrant murders
Police suspect notorious Casalesi clan killed six
(ANSA) - Caserta, September 19 - Police on Friday said the notorious Casalesi clan of Naples' Camorra Mafia was probably behind the murder of six immigrants in the small Campania town of Castelvolturno.

Three Ghanaians, two Liberians and a Togo national were shot dead on Thursday night at an ethnic clothing shop where local residents often brought clothes for minor adjustments.

A third Liberian died in hospital on Friday morning, and doctors were operating on another man injured in the attack.

Investigators said the 84 shell cases found at the scene of the crime came from a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a semi-automatic pistol.

Police believe the same weapons were used 20 minutes earlier in nearby Baia Verde to kill a 53-year-old Italian known to have had links with the Casalesi clan, who was shot 20 times.

According to investigators the killers may have been posing as policemen, since witnesses reported seeing four men wearing uniforms pull up in a car with flashing lights.

Police said they believed the murders were connected to drugs trafficking in the town, where African immigrants had recently begun dealing autonomously and had stopped paying percentages to the local Mafia.

But relatives of the dead men reacted angrily to suggestions that the killing was drugs-related.

''He worked from morning till night, he didn't even stop to eat,'' said the partner of the 28-year-old Ghanaian who worked in the shop.

''He was innocent, he wasn't a criminal,'' Another friend of the Ghanaian said he had been ''murdered while he was sewing''.

Immigrants claiming the crime was race-related clashed with police on Friday after setting up a road block in front of the shop, shouting ''you Italians are all b******s, this is racism''.

'DEAD MEN WALKING'.

Other residents said the murders were just the latest of a series of Mafia crimes in the small town and hit out at the government for abandoning them to the Camorra.

''Does this seem like a normal town to you? Is it normal that 18 people have died in a few months when the town's population is less than 20,000?'' asked one man in the town's central square.

''We're dead men walking here. The state has abandoned us, our fate is sealed,'' he said.

Another elderly man at a bar in the square said it was impossible to carry out any business activity here without paying the Mafia first.

''We're afraid here, afraid to be killed even sitting outside a bar. People say nothing because they are afraid of dying''. The Bishop of Naples, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, called on the Camorra to put down their weapons following the massacre and compared them to ''poisonous snakes''.

''Until these bearers of death are defeated we will always have cemeteries full of hatred and violence,'' he said.

One of the most feared Naples Camorra outfits, the Casalesi clan's criminal empire was exposed in Roberto Saviano's worldwide bestseller Gomorra, now also a film that won the second prize at Cannes this year
http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2008-09-19_119270584.html

19 September, 2008

" Chained to a poll" ......


Dove ?: Monza (Milano, Lombardia) FOTO SHOCK !


IMMIGRANT CHAINED TO A POLE IN AN ITALIAN POLICE STATION. THE POLICE SAID ALL THE CELLS WERE OCCUPIED............Hummm...
Over to you for your comments.

Quando: 18 Settembre 2008

Categoria: Cronaca

Descrizione dell'utente
La foto è stata diffusa da un sindacato di polizia, ed è comparsa con grande enfasi sul sito online del quotidiano La Repubblica.
Al commissariato di via Romagna a Monza, mancano le celle di sicurezza: dunque ecco la soluzione.
Ammanettano le persone fermate al palo. Mancano le celle di sicurezza, non c'è l'impianto antincendio,
si lamentano i rappresentanti sindacali che poi sottolineano i cronici problemi di organico: 'per una citta' di 130 mila abitanti circola una sola Volante e a volte con due soli agenti a bordo'



NIGERIA NUT OUTSCAMS STOX 'CROOK'

NIGERIA NUT OUTSCAMS STOX 'CROOK'

By DAREH GREGORIAN

MICHAEL AXEL<BR>Broker at court yesterday
MICHAEL AXEL
Broker at court yesterday


September 19, 2008

A stone-hearted - and rock-headed - securities broker stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from elderly clients, money he then sent to Nigeria in hopes of collecting an $8.7 million inheritance from a "long-lost relative" who e-mailed him, prosecutors said yesterday.

"Yes, he fell for that scam," Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said of Tripp & Co. broker Michael Axel. "It's a classic example of a con man getting conned."

If the charges against Axel, 69, are true, he doesn't make for a very sympathetic victim of the ubiquitous and notorious Nigerian e-mail scammers.

Prosecutors said that among those he ripped off were a high school teacher and a 90-year-old woman living in a nursing home. They also believe he stole from an account shared by a mentally incompetent 83-year-old man and his daughter, who was dying of ovarian cancer.

Prosecutors said they weren't able to file criminal charges in that instance because the woman died before they could make their case - but they did charge Axel with stealing from another account the 83-year- old shared with his son.

Axel, 69, pleaded not guilty to charges of forgery and grand larceny, and was released on his own recognizance. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Lewis Bart Stone ordered him to come back to court on Nov. 16 for "a possible disposition" of the case, a sure sign a plea deal is in the works.

Prosecutors said Axel's first victim was a teacher whom he started ripping off in 2002. Morgenthau said Axel had asked for checks to be cut from the teacher's account and sent to him for delivery, when no such request had been made.

He then forged the teacher's signature and deposited the checks into his own account, the DA said. He allegedly stole more than $150,000 from the man over three years.

Axel's need for cash reached a fever pitch in 2005, when he got an e-mail from a Nigerian "lawyer" concerning an $8.75 million inheritance.

Of course, the e-mail came from a spammer.

Morgenthau said Tripp & Co., which is based at Rector Street, repaid Axel's clients, and Axel has so far repaid the firm half of what he stole.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/09192008/news/regionalnews/nigeria_nut_outscams_stox_crook_129828.htm


NIGERIANS & THE CASALESI MAFIA

ENGLISH SUMMARY:

Six Nigerians were killed with automatic machine guns and one wounded yesterday

after a gun battle .This bloodbath is being suspected to be the hand work of

a powerful mafia family -THE CASALESI- who control drug movements and

sales in the areas from Castel Volturno to north Napoli.

The Nigerians have not been identified because they were all without

documents. An Italian bar owner was also killed.

The area where this havoc happened yesterday is called "regno dei nigeriani",= THE NIGERIANS KINGDOM. An area that is mainly 'occupied' inhabited by immigrants of all nations but controlled by the Nigerian drug mafia .The residents (Italians and non) of that area has always lived in perpetual fear.
Summary by.
Chukwubike Okey C

Castel Volturno, sei nigeriani uccisi e uno ferito
Forse strage opera dei casalesi, la droga il movente

CASERTA (18 settembre) - Sei extracomunitari sono morti e uno è rimasto ferito gravemente in uno scontro a fuoco avvenuto a Varcaturo, nei pressi di Castel Volturno, in provincia di Caserta. Le vittime, tutte di nazionalità nigeriana, sono state fatte oggetto di centinaia di colpi di arma da fuoco mentre si trovavano nella trattoria Totore (abituale luogo di ritrovo degli immigrati nigeriani), lungo la statale della Domitiana, al chilometro 43, al confine fra le province di Napoli e Caserta. L'ipotesi investigativa è quella di un regolamento di conti tra bande di trafficanti di stupefacenti, probabilmente casalesi e nigeriani. Gli inquirenti non conoscono le generalità delle vittime, tutte prive di documenti.

Il regno dei nigeriani. Il luogo in cui è avvenuto il fatto è considerato il "regno dei nigeriani", un territorio costellato da villette e fabbricati abusivi, occupati di fatto da moltissimi extracomunitari provenienti dalla Nigeria. Castelvolturno e i suoi dintorni sono noti come base di un intenso traffico di droga, che si ricollega poi alle basi napoletane. Le vittime della sparatoria, secondo gli inquirenti, potrebbero avere tra i 30 e i 40 anni; ma servirà del tempo per accertarne le generalità. Intanto nella zona si è diffusa la notizia, e c'è chi tra i residenti ha paura per i propri cari: a qualche chilometro dal locale Totore una signora risponde quasi piangendo, «in quella zona lavora mia figlia, vorrei sapere cosa è successo, al solo pensiero sto già tremando...».

L'omicidio di Baia Verde. Non vi sarebbero elementi che collegano la strage di Varcaturo con l'uccisione del titolare italiano di una sala giochi a Baia Verde di Castelvolturno, se non la quasi contemporaneità degli episodi e la non grande distanza. A sparare contro il commerciante uno o due sicari poi fuggiti in sella a una motocicletta, riuscendo a fare perdere le proprie tracce. I sicari hanno eluso i posti di blocchi effettuati dai carabinieri nella zona. La vittima si chiamava Antonio Caliendo e aveva 53 anni: aveva precedenti penali per furto e rapina.

http://www.ilmessaggero.it/articolo.php?id=31301&sez=HOME_INITALIA

17 September, 2008

STOP.......THE RACKET OF NIGERIAN GIRLS

 ENGLISH SUMMARY:
To stop the prostitution of African girls, adopt one of them.

In italy  thousands of Nigeria girls live in  clandestinity and  as  prostitutes:
   They are exploited through a racket that brought them to    Europeprostituta africana with false promises and later reduced them to a complete state of slavery.
 
This associationan  an ONG here in Italy has initiated  a help project called  "LA RAGAZZA DI BENIN CITY" =  THE BENIN CITY GIRL http://www.inafrica.it/benincity.html. They are creating awareness of the problems of thei phenomenon  and  calling for  peoples  participation and solidarity.
SUMMARY BY,
Chukwubike Okey Charles

 

solidarietà

Per fermare la prostituzione di ragazze africane, adottane una

 

In Italia vivono, clandestine e prostitute, migliaia di ragazze nigeriane, sfruttate da un racket che le ha portate in Europa con false promesse e le ha ridotte in stato di vera e propria schiavitù

 

17/9/2008

prostituteIn Italia vivono, clandestine e prostitute, migliaia di ragazze nigeriane, sfruttate da un racket che le ha portate in Europa con false promesse e le ha ridotte in stato di vera e propria schiavitù.

L'incoscienza di clienti che - di fatto - contribuiscono a sfruttarle; il perbenismo di quanti ritengono che il problema può esser risolto solo rispedendole in Africa; il moralismo di quanti non sopportano neppure l'idea di dover parlare di prostituzione; l'indifferenza di quanti vivono solo del loro egoismo e non sanno auspicare altro che soluzioni punitive e detentive; il razzismo sempre e comunque presente; l'imperfetto impegno civile di chi ha espresso solidarietà per Safiya e per Amina, che hanno rischiato di essere lapidate in Nigeria, ma non sa far nulla per le tante Safiya ed Amina che vivono in Italia …. queste sono le pietre con le quali, ogni giorno, le africane sono lapidate in Italia.Il Progetto "La ragazza di Benin City" affronta la problematica delle ragazze africane che giungono in Italia, ridotte in condizione di schiavitù e vuol farsi strumento non confessionale di azione concreta, operando su quattro fronti:

1 – con le "organizzazioni del volontariato", incentivando a loro favore il flusso dei sostegni finanziari grazie ai quali possono portare avanti percorsi di recupero di queste ragazze;
2 – con le "istituzioni", sollecitandole a non risolvere il problema solo con il rimpatrio delle ragazze;
3 – verso i "clienti", recuperandoli ad un comportamento responsabile ed aiutandoli a superare il loro stesso disagio con l'apporto di gruppi spontanei di auto-mutuo aiuto;
4 – verso l'opinione pubblica proponendo iniziative di sensibilizzazione.Il Progetto non raccoglie direttamente e non gestisce denaro, ma invita chi può e lo desidera, ad adottare a distanza una ragazza, finanziandone, in modo reciprocamente anonimo, il percorso di recupero attuato dalle organizzazioni del volontariato.Il Progetto vuol essere un moltiplicatore di iniziative e vi operano ex clienti, operatori culturali, volontari, testimonial. L'idea di fondo è che se non si coinvolgono tutti gli attori, il fenomeno non sarà né compreso, né debellato. Chi vuole spendersi in prima persona può farlo; chi vuol fare qualcosa, ma restare anonimo può farlo; chi vuole uscire dal proprio disagio può farlo.Al fine di mediatizzare l'iniziativa e di valorizzare il ruolo dei mezzi di informazione, è stato creato il Premio "La ragazza di Benin City" che ogni anno verrà attribuito ad un personaggio che abbia contribuito a creare una cultura della solidarietà relativamente al problema della schiavitù e della condizione della donna. Alla Fiera del Libro di Torino 2002, la prima edizione del Premio è andata a Toni Capuozzo, giornalista di Canale 5.Il Progetto prende avvio dalla storia d'amore di un italiano per una giovane nigeriana. Alcuni lettori del romanzo che ne è nato, "Akara-Ogun e la ragazza di Benin City" di Claudio Magnabosco, edito da Quale Cultura - Jaca Book, hanno fatto "rete" tra loro, trasformando l'esperienza di ciascuno in una concreta azione di solidarietà umana e di impegno sociale e civile.


Abbiamo costituito l'Associazione le ragazze di Benin City della quale fanno parte le nostre ragazze clandestine e ancora dentro alla tratta, alcune ragazze che ne sono uscite e donne italiane solidali. Non siamo delle intellettuali, non siamo brave a parlare in pubblico e a scrivere, ma vogliamo aver voce. E per fare le cose che noi non sappiamo ancora fare, è necessario ci siano al nostro fianco delle donne che diano una mano. L'adesione è poco più che una formalità, non ci sono soldi da versare, scadenze da rispettare ma è richiesta attenzione ai problemi delle ragazze trafficate e disponibilità a fare qualcosa. Ad esempio diffondere i materiali che riusciamo a fare, le cose che vogliamo dire pubblicamente. Da donna a donna ti chiedo di aderire alla nostra Associazione che ha un semplice Statuto.


per aderire http://www.inafrica.it/benincity/aderire.html

http://www.modica.info/new.asp?id=1655

 


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16 September, 2008

Racist attack in Milan leaves one dead

Published on the 15-09-2008

Racist attack in Milan leaves one dead

Italian police on Monday played down accusations that the murder of an immigrant beaten to death after he allegedly stole a packet of biscuits from a Milan bar over the weekend was a racist attack.

Nineteen-year-old Abdul Salam Guibre, an Italian citizen originally from Burkina Faso, is thought to have stolen the biscuits with two friends from a bar near the city's central station on Sunday.

Bar owners Fausto Cristofoli, 51, and his son Daniele, 31, chased the three men in a van they used as a mobile cafe', allegedly shouting ''thieves, f****** niggers'', before catching them up.

The three men began throwing bottles at the bar owners and armed themselves with improvised clubs, but were beaten with an iron bar used to open the van's service window.

Guibre was hit around the head and fell into a coma, dying in hospital a few hours later.

Milan mobile police unit chief Francesco Messina admitted there had been ''an exchange of insults'' between the men, but said the attack had been motivated by theft.

''The fact is that a boy is dead because of a packet of biscuits and there are two people who have committed murder and who will pay,'' he said.

The incident reignited a debate over the Italian government's recent crackdown on public safety and immigrant crime, with Democratic Party opposition leader Walter Veltroni accusing the centre-right of encouraging ''a climate of hate and intolerance''.

Italian Communists' Party leader Paolo Ferrero singled out the Northern League party for ''xenophobic and racist campaigns''.

''Episodes like the one in Milan are the fruit of a climate of poison created by political forces like the League that hold up immigrants as the source of all evil,'' Ferrero said.

Northern League House whip Roberto Cota hit back at criticism as ''unworthy exploitation'' of Guibre's murder.

But Milan's centre-right mayor, Letizia Moratti, acknowledged the anti-immigrant overtones of the attack in her condolences to Guibre's family.

''Milan strongly condemns such episodes of intolerance and racism,'' she said.

http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/crime/racist-attack-milan-leaves-one-dead

15 September, 2008

As gay church arrives Nigeria

As gay church arrives Nigeria, Christian, Muslim clerics declare:It's evil!
• 'National Assembly must fight it'
By JOSSY IDAM & PAUL OMO OBADAN
Sunday, September 14, 2008

•The church
Photo: Sun News Publishing

A welter of criticism has greeted the emergence of the first openly declared gay church in the country.
Both Christian and Muslim clerics have not only condemned it, they equally dismissed it as evil.

In very strong terms, therefore, they want the National Assembly to enact laws to stop what they describe as a festering sore from gaining roots and spreading.

The Archdeacon of Oleh Diocese in Delta State, Ven. M.A.E Igri, in his reaction, said "the church is not biblical and out of tune with God's plan. God created man and woman to be married to themselves. The situation where a man will be married to a man is wrong and unacceptable."

Coincidentally, while the Lagos debauchery was on, Anglican priests in Nigeria were holding an All-Anglican Clergy conference at Nsukka, Enugu State, where they spoke against gay marriages that is currently threatening the cohesion in the Church.
Similarly, the National Missioner of the Ansar-u-deen Society of Nigeria, Abdurrahman Ahmad called on the National Assembly to legislate against homosexuality in Nigeria.
Said he: "All people of conscience and people of faith must rise to fight this evil."
Genesis
For the first time in Nigeria, men who openly declared themselves as homosexuals gathered penultimate weekend at a church in Ojudu, a Lagos suburb.
Under the auspices of a yet-to-be registered church - House of Rainbow Metropolitan Community Church - the men held a seminar and night vigil.
The heavily guarded event paraded men who wore necklaces, rings, conducted themselves and spoke softly like women.
Grand Irony
Ironically, the homosexuals held the fiesta in the hall of United Bible University, Yakoyo Road, Ojudu, Lagos. The venue also serves as a place of worship for Christian Pentecostal Mission (CPM). The event, Sunday Sun learnt, was championed by a lawyer and Theologian, Rev. Roland Babajide Macaulay. On the days of the event, a retinue of mean – looking, ill-tempered security men barred our reporter from entering the venue and meeting the men.

However, when Sunday Sun revisited the place Wednesday evening, the hall, SARRMAC Auditorium, was being arranged for an evening worship by CPM. The church's minister distanced the CPM from it.
"We have no connection with them whatsoever. We only hire this hall for service. We don't own it," he said. But he however, acknowledged hearing of the event.
Unmasked
As revealed by a plaque on the wall of the auditorium, the building was commissioned by the convener of the event, Rev. Roland Babajide Macaulay, on Saturday, November 10, 2001.
Sunday Sun investigation reveals that the man is the son of the founder, president and director of studies of United Bible University, Rev. Dr. Augustus Olakunle Macaulay. When our reporter sought to speak with him, a female secretary of his said he was out of town.
On his own
Contacted on phone, Rev. Macaulay denied having any link with the event. "God forbid! I don't support any thing that's contrary to the teachings of the bible and God," he said, sounding shocked.
Asked to comment on his son's glaring contradictory stance, he declined, saying, "I don't want to discuss that. All I can say is that the man is my son and he's over 40."

Pressed for a proper interview, Rev. Dr. Augusts said he was at Owerri conducting a seminar, and from there he would head to Akwa Ibom and won't be back until end of the month.
The United Bible University was established in 1994. The date is boldly emblazoned on its outer wall. To prove the top connection of the owner of the University, a new storey building - Moses Iloh Hall - was commissioned on Saturday June 17, 2006, by Hon. Oluyemi Cadoso, former Commissioner for Budget and Planning in Lagos State. The institution, according to a message on the wall of the new hall, aims to "develop moral Christian and ministerial education."
Honours list
A board in the University's SARRMAC Auditorium listed Mrs O.A. Adeboye as O.A. Adeboye as Appreciation Award and Best Award Winner, for 1980 to 1994. Those listed as Activity Award Winners include Mr. C.A. Sodipo, Lady Evang. C. Arinola Ogunye, Mr. A.O Adeneye, Evang. S.A. Aroyehun, Mrs. E. Doyin Mould-Olupitan, Evang. V.A. Akande, Mr A.O. Oduwole, and Mrs B.A. Sodipo.

Other names on the list include Mrs M.O. Makanjuola, Mrs Bandele Jacobs, Mr. J. Babatunde Ebadan, O. Oduwole and Mr. Emmanuel B.O. Shobande.
Homosexuality and HIV/AIDS
In a recent survey, Integrated Biological and Behaviour Surveillance ranks homosexuals second to female sex workers, as the group with the highest figure of HIV/AIDS. In fact, the survey puts the prevalence rate among men who have sex with men (MSM) at 13.5 percent.
Closet existence
Sunday Sun learnt that the church, House of Rainbow Metropolitan Community Church has been existing in the closet since 2006. The church, according to a source, is affiliated to other metropolitan community churches in America and Europe.
In a public statement, Rev. Roland Macaulay is quoted as saying that the church is "a mission and vision to transform hearts, lives and history and especially, to help people reconcile their sexuality and spirituality."
Raging controversy
The ordination of gays as priests in the Anglican Church has raised a lot of dust and it is threatening to splinter the Anglican Communion. The leaders of the church in America and Britain have conciliatory view on the matter. But African bishops are resolute on non-admittance and ordination of gays.
Woe betide them
At a week-long All-Anglican Clergy Conference which ended penultimate Friday at Nsukka, Enugu state, the issue reverberated. The Primate of All Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Peter Jasper Akinola said that, "Anglican orthodox members of this church are poised to do the mission of the church and those who say that gay is their concern woe onto them."
Crime and punishment
A lawyer in Lagos, Mr Godwin Ewa took a critical look at the gathering of gays and described it as a fad in Europe and America being imported into the country.
"Nigeria is a dumping ground for all manners of products and perverted ideas and lifestyle. From this development, it won't be long before we begin to hear of gay rights, same sex marriage and so on," he said.

Lamenting that homosexuality is an infringement and a complete assault on the nation's core values, Ewa blamed it on the lax law and lenient punishment for offenders. The law classifies it as "unnatural offences" under Section 214 and "indecent practices between males" under Section 217 of the Criminal Code," he said.
According to him, the Criminal Code criminalizes homosexual, gay marriages, lesbianism and sodomy. When an offender is convicted, he or she could be jailed for up to 14 years.

13 September, 2008

TOTAL WAR?

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

MEND suffers heavy casualty in offensive with the JTF

Bolaji Ogundele, Port Harcourt - 14.09.2008

Having lost about seven of its men to an offensive with the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Flush Out 3, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) says it is commencing another armed campaign against the nation's oil interest.

As a first course of action, the armed group has given oil and gas related companies in the region to evacuate their expatriate workers from the region within the next 24 hours to avert loss of personnel.

Sunday Tribune gathered that clash between the JTF and a group of armed men from MEND ensued early yesterday when MEND attacked a patrol team of the men around Elem Tombia in Rivers state.

According to a text message from the spokesman of the JTF, Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, the exchange of gun fire was sparked off when unknown militant group members opened fire on a JTF patrol team around Elem Tombia.

Though he said the army patrol sustained no casualty, he said they did not just leave the place without fighting back. "It was on such patrol today at about 1035hour, at Elem Tombia that unknown group of militants opened fire on our patrol team, which resulted in an exchange of fire.

"The aircraft seen hovering around the place was just for routine surveillance and reconnaissance, no cause for alarm. No casualty was recorded on our side and the situation is under control", Musa said.

But on the contrary, the militant group claimed the attack was "unprovoked", vowing that all its separate positions in the region would go all out to avenge the loss of its men.

In two separate messages from its spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, the group claimed an earlier attack claimed three persons from its rank, while an updated version put the casualty figure at seven, with several wounded .

"Tombia, Rivers state, 1245 Hrs: MEND fighters have suffered about three casualties and RPG's were fired on two army attack helicopters that came at close range. We suspect one of them may have been damaged. The helicopters were repelled and have not returned. No news of enemy casualties. Fierce fighting is still going on with MEND fighters adopting guerrilla tactics.

"At about 0900 Hrs today, September 13, 2008, the armed forces of Nigeria began a full scale aerial and marine offensive on the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) positions and neighboring Ijaw communities in Rivers state with helicopter gunships, jet fighters and over 20 gun boats and landing crafts filled with heavily armed soldiers mainly from the northern axis of Nigeria.

"We hold the governor of Rivers state and the president of Nigeria accountable for the genocide on the defenseless civilians who are bearing the brunt from indiscriminate airforce bombs.

"All MEND positions in the Niger delta will respond to this unprovoked attack coming at a time the government is canvassing the so-called Niger Delta Ministry to hoodwink the people", Gbomo claimed. He later said "1500 Hrs: Seven fighters have so far been lost in the attack by the army on our position in Rivers state with several others injured. Three army helicopter gunships returned and began firing missiles indiscriminately into the mangrove vegetation because of the excellent camouflage of our men and boats.

"We can not tell the casualties from the army who have suffered some losses from sniper rifles", adding "this may be the beginning of a full scale oil war".

The group, which blamed the federal and Rivers state governments for the assault, however, gave a 24- hour ultimatum to oil companies to evacuate their expatriate workers from the area.

"Oil companies are warned to move out their workers within the next 24 hours because a hurricane is about to sweep through oil installations in the entire Niger Delta region", the group warned.

About 27 oil workers, including five foreigners; British, South Africans and Ukrainians, were declared trapped in the ongoing military/militant offensive going on in the creeks. The oil workers were abducted from MT Blue Ocean.

In the ongoing offensive, the militants claimed, two communities, Elem Tombia and Ogboma have been heavily hit with high civilian casualties.

"The 27 oil workers rescued yesterday by MEND from the pirates that kidnapped them from the MT Blue Ocean and taken to the camp under attack to be offered as a reward leverage for the release of Henry Okah are trapped in the fighting between our fighters and the Nigerian military forces.

"The workers are made up of five expatriates from Britain, South Africa and Ukraine, while the remaining twenty two are Nigerians. "It was learnt that the military on faulty intelligence as usual embarked on what is now a botched rescue attempt.

"Some of the oil workers are injured but are being treated with the same local herbs we are using in treating our wounded. The Red Cross or doctors from MSF should be allowed passage to attend to them. Injuries are mainly from high caliber machine guns and shrapnel.

"Meanwhile, two civilian communities; Elem Tombia and Ogboma have been razed to the ground by the rampaging soldiers who have not been able to take our positions. Civilian casualties are high", MEND claimed

Meanwhile, the National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress, Otunba Gani Adams has said that the idea of total war against the people of the Niger Delta would only aggravate the problem because the people are determined to fight with their blood and when people are fighting with their blood no amount of intimidation can suppress them.

He added that if the Federal Government succeeds now the solution will be temporary as coming generation will continue with the struggle.

He said the idea of setting up a ministry for Niger Delta is not the answer as it is just a mere duplication of NDDC. He said the best way out of the problem is to review the constitution in such a way that it will give the people at least 50 per cent control of their resources.

12 September, 2008

Agrigento: italiane scacciano nigeriane, "Seducono i nostri uomini"


ENGLISH SUMMARY: Italians sends Nigerians (girls) packing..."They seduce our
men"


The seven Nigerian immigrants(females) aged between 16 and 17, guests of a local humanitarian association were transfered from Parlemo to another center in Agrigento.
The minors were transfered with a Police van. The mayor of the town and directors of the center say they do not know anything about this.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Translated/summarized by Chukwubike O Charles




Agrigento: italiane scacciano nigeriane, "Seducono i nostri uomini"

11 set 19:42 Cronache

PALERMO - Novelle "Bocche di Rosa" scacciate da Santa Margherita Belice, il paese del Gattopardo, perche' secondo le donne del luogo, seducevano i loro uomini. Le sette immigrate nigeriane, tra i 16 e i 17 anni, ospiti di un'associazione umanitaria, sono state trasferite in un altro centro dell'agrigentino. Le minorenni sono state portate via su auto della polizia. Il sindaco e la responsabile del centro dicono pero' di non saperne nulla. (Agr)

http://www.corriere.it/ultima_ora/notizie.jsp?id={114AF158-2764-439F-9939-257A5E9F5C9E}
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07 September, 2008

SEX IN TRAINITALIA

For those who  do not speak Italian the summary  of the story below is:

A 27   year old Nigerian lady resident in Italy was travelling in an EuroStar  train   without  a valid  ticket. The train  controller  a 53 years old Italian gave  her the option of having sex with him  for the  ticket. Sex took place in one of the cabins and after the abuse  the  lady  reported to her partner who was travelling in another  wagon, The partner called 113 (the police) on his phone. At the  bologna  station the train  controller was arrested by the police . he denied all  the  Nigerian lady accused her of ,however, Trainitalia  Spa has suspended him  for 60 day  awaiting more investigations  before other actions may be taken.

http://www.ansa.it/opencms/export/site/notizie/rubriche/inbreve/visualizza_new.html_759745637.html

 

CAPOTRENO PRETENDE SESSO DA DONNA SENZA BIGLIETTO
BOLOGNA  - Un capotreno di 53 anni, di origine campana ma residente a Milano, è stato denunciato dalla Polfer per aver preteso una prestazione sessuale da una passeggera scoperta a viaggiare su un treno senza biglietto. L'uomo è stato sospeso in via cautelativa da Trenitalia. Il fatto è successo lo scorso 21 agosto. La donna, una ragazza nigeriana di 27 anni regolare in Italia, stava viaggiando sul convoglio 9417, un Eurostar Milano-Lecce, quando nella tarda mattinata - transitando nella zona di Reggio Emilia - è incappata nel controllo del biglietto. Il dipendente di Trenitalia, quando ha capito che la giovane non aveva il tagliando, ha spiegato alla donna che se voleva evitare le conseguenze del mancato pagamento del biglietto poteva appartarsi con lui per una prestazione sessuale. Prestazione effettivamente consumata poco dopo - sempre stando al racconto della donna - in un locale appartato in uno scomparto nella parte posteriore del convoglio. 

Dopo aver subito l'abuso però la donna ha subito avvisato il compagno (che viaggiava sullo stesso treno, ma separato da lei) che a sua volta ha chiamato con il telefono cellulare il 113. A quel punto - il treno era già a ridosso della stazione ferroviaria di Bologna - sono intervenuti gli uomini della Polfer del capoluogo emiliano. I poliziotti hanno raccolto i racconti di entrambi. 

Lui ha negato ogni addebito, lei invece ha fornito particolari precisi della vicenda. Alla fine la polizia ferroviaria ha denunciato l'uomo all'autorità giudiziaria per concussione sessuale. Sulla vicenda erano subito intervenute, il giorno dopo, le Ferrovie dello Stato, con una nota in cui spiegavano che il Gruppo, informato dell'episodio di "presunto tentativo di molestie sessuali" aveva "immediatamente avviato i necessari accertamenti per chiarire la dinamica dei fatti. Qualora fosse accertata la responsabilità del dipendente saranno adottati i provvedimenti disciplinari previsti". L'uomo è stato effettivamente sospeso in via cautelare per 60 giorni. In attesa che si completi l'accertamento dei fatti Trenitalia, alla luce degli elementi acquisiti, ha ritenuto opportuno applicare il provvedimento.


Ladies and gentlemen;

The story as  told in the Italian dailies has a lot of omissions  which anyone  in the community or some of us working with  the immigration  and immigrants will easily notice. However, the investigations are for the police ,who  are  believed to be  better prepared for the job.

I explain in brief  just only two   major dynamics in this sort of case (if we  may call it a case).

 

1.First; some of the immigrant girls especially Nigerians, Rumanians, Ukraine  and south American who are clandestine  or not regular with immigration  documents caught without a valid travelling ticket by the TRAIN ITALIA CONTROLLERS   are often  threatened  and intimidated  with  handing them over to the police  at the next stop if the they do not have sex in the train with the train  operators and sometimes with their  friends also. I have over heard at my desk or during colloquium   some people who painfully accepted to 'play the game' instead of finding themselves in their countries just for an unpaid  train ticket!!!!!

 

2.Second; there are many girls  still from most of the countries  I named above  who deliberately  travel without tickets  because they have their TRAINITALIA men on board. These  ladies are mostly prostitutes going or returning  from  'work' (I dare not say it is not  work or I might run the risk of loosing any election in the community even to a Russian), These train men give them the correct time  they have to take the train and find them. I have also learnt of the train men organizing their friends to  board the train for a 'discounted show' and in turn these girls also indicate  as many people as they like that may not pay the train  fare for that trip…............'flying  (travelling) to her patronage'; I do not mean to blaspheme.

 

You can see it  is a business or game some  train  operators and some  hustlers (prostitutes)  play.

My brother  me I dey pay my ticket every time ooo.

Chukwubike O. Charles

(Cultural Mediator)