The recent revelation that the Syrian blogger activist 'Gay Girl in Damascus' was actually 'Straight American Man in Scotland' Tom MacMaster sent ripples through international media circles and left deep scars in the LGBTI community. But why is this hoax so potentially harmful? asks the Association for Progressive Communications. 'It comes down to identity and rights. This case touches on some of the core issues surrounding identity and human rights - especially online...MacMasters, in claiming that his fictitious lesbian persona had been arrested by Syrian authorities, lends credence to the claim of many repressive regimes that LGBTI movements within their countries are somehow alien or under foreign influence.'

The aim of this issue is to discuss the multi-dimensional interactions between African universities and 'their' territory. More than anywhere else, African universities are facing the hardly reconcilable missions and objectives of meeting growing socio-educational demands, maintaining academic standards to preserve their reputation, contributing to local development while keeping their autonomy and negotiating political pressures. These are challenges which young African universities are confronted with in a context of declining public funding. This issue proposes to analyze those interactions and their mutual effects.

The Climate Change Media Partnership has published a briefing paper that recommends ways for policymakers to support a better class of climate change journalism that is relevant to local audiences, builds public awareness of the issues and contributes to improved policymaking. You can download the four-page briefing paper from the CCMP website.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni should ensure independent and transparent investigations into killings which occurred during the 'Walk to Work' protests and hold security forces accountable, a coalition of 105 human rights, media, and development organisations said in a letter to the president. The coalition, including civil society groups from every corner of Uganda, urged the president to invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions.

The Somali Journalists Association Network said on 14 June they had learnt that the National Security Agency for the Somali government had detained two radio journalists in the capital city of Mogadishu. Both were working for the privately owned independent Radio Kulmiye Based in the capital Mogadishu.

The Zimbabwean state has dropped the most serious charges against six activists who faced the death penalty for treason. They now face the lesser charge of 'subverting a constitutional government' - but this still carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. Their trial begins on 18 July. Their bail conditions have also been relaxed - they have to report to the police once a month instead of three times a week. The six, including former MP Munyaradzi Gwisai, were among more than 40 people arrested on 19 February for watching a video about the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia.

The first-ever official meeting of Ministers of Agriculture from G20 countries, to be held in Paris 22-23 June presents an extraordinary opportunity, says this IPS article. 'Tasked with developing an action plan to address price volatility in food and agricultural markets and its impact on the poor, the ministers are uniquely positioned to not only tackle the immediate price volatility problems, but also to take on a more fundamental and long-term challenge - extreme poverty and hunger. As experts in agriculture, the ministers no doubt know what extensive research confirms: Investing in agriculture and rural development, with a focus on smallholder farmers, is the best bet for achieving global food security, alleviating poverty, and improving human wellbeing in developing countries.'

Amandla has been on the air for 23 years, making it Canada’s longest running African current affairs radio show. It works every week to shift the public’s attention away from the mainstream media’s narrow portrayal of Africans as passive victims of war, famine, drought, dictatorship and corruption. Amandla seeks to explain the root causes of these afflictions, but also to move beyond this focus to encompass the creativity, ingenuity, innovation, ideas and struggles for change that Africa also embodies. Amandla, Wednesday, 7pm to 8pm EST, on

Critics are challenging the way a major procurer of vaccines for the developing world operates. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), a public-private initiative that held a major funding meeting in London, United Kingdom recently, raising US$4.3 billion, has come under fire for the way it spends its money. 'The GAVI model depends on giving more and more money, year after year, to get vaccines to poor countries in ways that are not self-sustaining and at prices that are unaffordable,' says Donald Light, a professor at Princeton University, United States. GAVI's decisions are skewed by the pharmaceutical companies that sit on its board, non-governmental organisation Médecins Sans Frontières and development charity Oxfam, tell The Guardian.

'A nation?wide escalation of threats and violence against foreign traders in townships and informal settlements is spreading across South Africa. The African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS) calls for the South African government, in collaboration with civil society actors, to implement an urgent, public and sustained response to this xenophobic intimidation.'

Raising Voices welcomes applications from qualified individuals interested in being SASA! TA providers. SASA! TA Providers are consultants who will support the Raising Voices SASA! team to conduct trainings and provide TA to organizations using and interested in the SASA! approach to prevent violence against women and HIV. SASA! TA providers will work with Raising Voices to respond to the ever growing demand for TA on the SASA! approach to organizations in the region. This is an exciting opportunity for Raising Voices and the TA providers to strengthen quality of VAW programming in the region. Download the SASA! TA Providers Terms of Reference and application form at

The economics of foreign aid...

Worldwide 215 million children are engaged in child labour, and of these 115 million are involved in what is considered to be hazardous work, says this report from the Food and Agricultural Organisation. Agriculture is the sector where the largest share of child labourers is found - a staggering 60 per cent of boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 17.

Soon after independence in 1960, the government set the legal age of consent to marriage at 20 for men, 18 for women and 21 for couples without parental consent. But the law is widely ignored in a society where many say that marrying young is the cultural norm. When female teens become eligible for early marriage, their school enrollment drops off sharply. While 66 per cent of girls enroll in primary school, just 19 per cent go on to secondary school, according to UNICEF.

The Democratic Republic of Congo's parliament has passed an electoral law, a crucial step toward organising 28 November presidential and legislative elections, but opposition leaders have expressed concern over the poll's credibility. The timetable for registering millions of voters is tight, and opposition parties want greater international involvement in monitoring preparations for the election.

FLORIBERT CHEBEYA'S DEATH, ONE YEAR AFTER: A STRONG SIGN!

Jean-Pierre Mbelu

How can the struggle for human rights be converted into a struggle with the Congolese people (male and female alike) so that they become defenders of their own social, economic and cultural rights and political freedoms? What to do with the Congolese people whose rights and freedoms are constantly violated so that they do away with their status of 'innocent victims' defended only by a few worthy sons and daughters of Congo? How to enable them to become a people able to shout ‘their indignation’ without fear of death nor of vampires which can suck blood but cannot eat the spirit of resistance against the forces of death? Such are the questions which should bring the Congolese together, passionate for peace, justice and truth, and fighting for the advent of another Congo on this day when we remember these worthy sons and daughters of our people. Our article explores a few ideas.

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GABON IN RUINS FROM SHATTERED DEMOCRACY

Marc Ona Essangui

The visit to the United States of America by the Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba from 6 to 9 June has sparked off protests from Gabonese civil society. In a letter addressed to President Barack Obama, the Gabonese civil society not only denounced the catastrophic state of democracy and governance in their country but also reminded President Obama of his speech in Accra, Ghana, which should form the basis of his relations with African leaders.

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MADAGASCAR: STOP THE DISORDER

The political crisis continues in Madagascar, with false solutions and missed opportunities in the search of a return to political stability. For the members of the observatory of public life, it is time to get out of this cycle which has brought about the crumbling of everything and now the Malagasy people have started to lose their bearings.

A Thomson Reuters Foundation poll may have found that Afghanistan is the most dangerous place to be a woman, but Somalia's women's minister is astonished any country could be worse than her own. 'I'm completely surprised because I thought Somalia would be first on the list, not fifth,' said Maryan Qasim. 'The most dangerous thing a woman in Somalia can do is to become pregnant,' Qasim said. 'When a woman becomes pregnant her life is 50-50 because there is no antenatal care at all...There are no hospitals, no healthcare, no nothing.'

Swedish defence group Saab admitted that millions were paid to clinch a South African contract for fighter jets but said its erstwhile British partner BAE Systems had paid the bribes. Saab said R24-million had been paid by BAE in the form of bonuses and salaries between 2003 and 2005 for the deal involving 26 JAS Gripen fighters. The comments came after Sweden's TV4 television channel said it had evidence Saab had promised to pay Fana Hlongwane, then advisor to the South African defence minister and also serving as a consultant to the Swedish firm, millions of euros in bonuses if Pretoria did not back out of the Gripen deal.

Public health officials may be able to forecast cholera outbreaks months in advance by looking at temperature and rainfall data, according to a study. Researchers looked at cholera outbreaks in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and found that they correlated with increases in temperature and rainfall. They calculated thata one degree Celsius increase - from 23 to 24 degrees Celsius - was followed by a doubling of cholera cases four months later.

ARTICLE 19 has urged the Rwandan Parliament to pass the Access to Information Bill that was adopted by the Rwandan Cabinet on 1 June 2011 as a matter of priority. 'The Rwandan Government’s adoption of the Access to Information Bill is a clear acknowledgement of the key role free flow of information can play in good governance and transparency and in the sustainable development of the country. The Rwandan Parliament must now expedite the enactment process so that the people of Rwanda can start enjoying the benefits of this law,' said Henry Maina, Director, ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa.