A Fun One!

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-june-24-2010/world-cup-2010--into-africa---goal-diggers

Check out this great piece by the Daily Show...really puts the effect of the World Cup on S.Africa in perspective.

Cultures of Resistance

The Darkside of Soccer in Africa

Vanguard's Soccers Lost Boys

Don't Eat Shit.

Vanguard's "The World's Toilet Crisis"

I remember my first health training session in Tanzania, with my Peace Corps Medical Officer Edith Mpangala, who told us to avoid disease simply, "Don't eat shit!". An important issue in development today, open defecation is very much a part of life in third-world countries. Vanguard's documentary "The World's Toilet Crisis" illustrates that billions around the world lack toilets and that a main cause of death in the third-world today is not related to AIDS, TB, or malaria, but from the spread of infectious disease related to poop. In my experience in Tanzania, I noticed the lack of toilets, toilet paper (most use water or leaves), lack of hand washing with soap after (spreading poop through food preparation, hand-shaking, etc), and also communal eating (washing usually with only water).

Although statisticians and scholars have show a loose link to poverty and terrorism, I would theorize that there may be a link between health, human dignity, and insurgency within communities. (Insurgents may be providing this infrastructure and goods that communities are lacking and terrorists may be angered by the state of their homeland's infrastructure.)I have read it estimated that the US will lose billions of dollars in counter terrorism operations due to these such health related disease.

Additionally, Vanguard's documentary shows how educational seminars and positive reinforcement can be used toward behavior change in communities to end "open defecation". Organizations have made it "cool" to have a toilet. They provide people with education for behavioral change in their community, a reason why to end open defecation (explaining the health repercussions for the water supply, environment, and people), provide affordable infrastructure, and certificate and pride to show to their community that they are the proud owners of a toilet. Increasing the use of toilets and sanitation also provides sustainable jobs in these communities through installation, draining and transport of sewage, as well as the growing use of human waste to create organic fertilizer.

Please watch this amazing documentary and decide for yourself whether there may ultimately be a connection between terrorism and development. Regardless, if my theories are correct, after my experiences in Tanzania and watching this documentary, I will never take my toilet for granted again.

How Development Can Fight Radicals

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/66432/eli-berman-joseph-h-felter-and-jacob-n-shapiro/constructive-coin

It is my belief that the elimination of terror (insurgency, ethnic cleansing, and terrorism) can be achieved by focusing on increasing the fundamental human rights through a more tailored development of infrastructure. Foreign Affairs recently published an article entitled, Constructive COIN, How Development Can Fight Radicals written by and Eli Berman (an Economist), Joseph H. Felter (a military commander in Afghanistan) and Jacob N. Shapiro (A Political Scientist). The strength of their argument is found in their wide range of expertise and their use of empirical evidence. (which I hope to learn more about)

The article deals mainly with fight insurgency within Iraq and Afghanistan, and the change in strategy/tactics from that of "mowing the grass"-clearing areas of insurgents only to see it grow back again- to "winning the hearts and minds of the population"- a development-based strategy. Most importantly the article states, "in a study we conducted using data on reconstruction spending and violence in Iraq, we found the the provision of certain government services DOES lead to a reduction in violence."!!! Admittedly, this has not always been the case. But it seems that use of tailored, strategically place development aid and "improved governance" can serve to successfully disrupt the control of terrorists. As the article concludes, "The time to build our knowledge base to prepare for future conflicts is now" and that means research into the effectiveness of development to fight insurgency.

Advertising for Justice (in the Face of Terror): The International Criminal Courts and Africa

During week 5 of this course, we are reviewing responses to terror including War Crime Tribunals, international trials and the movement to recognize universal human rights.

Brief History of the ICC in Africa

When large scale international crimes occur such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, or human rights violations, the countries involved often do not have the judicial organs needed to investigate the allegations. In the past, the international community has addressed the issue of how to accuse and prosecute international crimes with ad hoc tribunals, including the Nuremburg Trials (1945-1946) related to the investigation and prosecution of criminals involved in the Holocaust, and the UN tribunals in relation to crimes in former Yugoslavia as well as the ongoing Rwanda tribunals related to the investigation and prosecution of genocide. The success of these ad hoc tribunals suggested the need for a more permanent and legitimate international court structure. [1] Recognizing this need, 120 states adopted the Rome Statute on July 1, 1998, in order to establish a permanent International Criminal Court (ICC), "to investigate and bring to justice individuals who war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide." (CRS Report for Congress) First, the UN Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter of the UN refers the situation to the prosecutor, who opens the investigation officially. Then, the prosecution section issues warrants of arrest. Much controversy stems from the UN’s lack of authority to then arrest these criminals, which limits the effect of the ICC’s sentencing. The ICC has investigated and charged individuals for crimes in Northern Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and Darfur.

The ICC has shown that it is not in the business of "imposing" justice on African nations, but has had varying levels of support from African leaders. (Economist) The ICC is currently investigating 5 "situations" on the continent of Africa, of which, 3 of the "situations" were referred to the ICC from African governments by Uganda, Congo, and the Central African Republic. Additionally, the ICC is investigating Sudan and Kenya. * (Economist) The ICC Office of the Prosecution is an information gathering process to determine preliminary analysis of the situation and to give legitimacy behind the hunt and arrest of a major player in the situation. [2]

Current Issues with the ICC in Africa

One of the arguments against the effectiveness of the ICC is the lack of physical presence within Africa. The ICC will now be opening an office in Ethiopia, a strategic maneuver as it will be near to the African Union headquarters. (Economist) Additionally policy analysts suggest that the ICC will be ineffective without sufficient support from African governments including the initiative to improve each African nations individual justice system so that somewhere in the future there will be no need for the ICC. The toughest job of the ICC in Africa will now be to host a productive public relations campaign to increase its legitimacy by showing that it is able to provide un-biased justice in the face of terror in Africa. However, peace in many current conflicts is fragile, Priscilla Hayner of the International Center for Transitional Justice wrote “it would be wrong to suggest that pragmatism always trumps principle in matters of life and death, and thus that one must ease up on justice in order to achieve peace. In some cases, the interest of peace has been well served by strong, forthright efforts to advance justice.”(CRR Report for Congress)

Interestingly:

• Only 30 of Africa's 53 countries have agreed to participate in the ICC
• According to the article, "4 of the 13 people for whom there have been arrest warrants have been brought to court" Some leaders who are charged of war crimes, genocide, human rights violations, etc.continue to hold onto power due to the lack of viewed legitimacy. This is not a promising track record thus far. (Economist)
• ICC does not have the ability to enforce its sentences or findings (This lack of authority, has been argued, to be "counter-productive".) (Economist)

Policy Recommendations for the ICC in Africa

It will be interesting to see the continuing evolution of the ICC as it strives to become more localized and legitimate among African governments. Truly, the ICC must present a better advertisement of the unbiased and consistent "vision" of its mission throughout African nations, and beyond all, it shouldn't be afraid to get a little creative in voicing its expectations of justice and peace in Africa.

* My own personal experience as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania put me face to face with several situations which have relevance to the ICC today. I witnessed the evacuation of Peace Corps volunteers and other Americans from Kenya due to the election violence in 2007, and also was able to visit the site of Rwanda Tribunals occurring in Tanzania. From these life changinig experiences, I continue to be extremely curious in researching the delicate balance of peace and vengeance in Africa.

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL34665.pdf (an interesting report about the history and actions of the ICC in Africa)

http://www.economist.com/node/16274301 ( The Economists "The International Criminal Court: Why Africa still needs it.")

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[1] Milton, Harry P. International Criminal Court: Policies, Status, and Overview. (Nova. New York, 2009.)
[2] ICC Structure of the Court Office of the Prosecutor, available at,
http://www.icccpi.int/Menus/ICC/Structure+of+the+Court/Office+of+the +Prosecutor/
Portions of the Brief History of the ICC Section were taken from research and a paper I wrote in fall 2009 for Professor Driesbach's Constitutional and Criminal Procedure where I compared the ICC to the American Grand Jury System