Excluded Headlines for 11–17 Nov 2022
Stay up to date on the global news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlooks, with journalist and author, Tamara Pearson
This week, some of the demands of poorer countries regarding climate change and damage did get somewhat close to the coverage they deserve, though it took a global UN climate summit, sponsored by Coca Cola and attended by some of the biggest polluters, to get there. Meanwhile, however, news about life and events in the poor majority world was still largely boycotted or under-reported, given its significance — including, Amazon trying to build on land where South Africans resisted European colonisers, the deportation of Afghani refugees, and conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
South Africa: Activists resist Amazon headquarters on culturally important land — A local court had temporarily applied an injunction against the corporation’s complex, as it would be built on land that is of historic significance to Indigenous peoples. However, that injunction has been overturned. Activists want the land to be declared a World Heritage Site. The first known battle between South Africans and European invaders took place there in 1510. Source
Peru: Right wing seeks to oust left wing president — Late last week thousands of Peruvians protested after a third impeachment motion against the president was put forward by right-wing legislators, who have a parliamentary majority. Protestors, including students, Indigenous people, farmers, and workers want the president to call for new legislative elections and to meet his promises of social and economic changes. Source, source
DR Congo: Local and foreign entities increase conflict in mineral-rich region — More than 355,000 Congolese have fled their homes so far this year, as around one hundred different militia groups fight over mineral and agricultural assets. Corrupt elites are also siphoning off the country’s natural resources. The militia groups often sell mineral resources to European companies like Afrimex and Trademet. Now, Kenya has sent a contingent of soldiers, supposedly to combat one of the key militia groups, the M23. DR Congo is the second biggest country for undisturbed tropical rainforest, but deforestation is speeding up. Source, source, video, source, source.
Uruguay: Strike against extending retirement age — Unions held a partial strike on Tuesday for four hours, in protest against the conservative government’s retirement reform. The changes include an increase in the retirement age by 5 years, and encouraging workers to save more for retirement, even though they already contribute more than their bosses. This is in a country where 541,000 full time workers earn less than US$600 per month. Protestors called the reform an “inequality model”. Source, source, source.
Afghan refugees: 240,000 deported from Iran and Turkey — Since the start of the year, officials in Iran and Turkey report that they have deported 240,000 refugees. Afghans are sent back to the desert province of Nimroz, or to Herat. Both countries do not recognise the governing Taliban Islamic Emirate, but continue to deport Afghanis back to a humanitarian, human rights, and economic crisis. Source
Pakistan: Disaster due to floods continues — The flooding that hit Pakistan mid this year continues to have an impact on people in the country. While initially the floods caused thousands of deaths, injuries, and displacement of millions of people, in the long term, 9.4 million acres of crop were destroyed. That has had a long term lasting on people’s livelihoods, and the UN says that 20.6 million people are in need. Source.
India: Indigenous people defend vital forest area against coal mines — Adivasi Indigenous communities are protesting in India’s Hasdeo forest, where coal mines are going ahead, without local consent. The Hasdeo is an important carbon sink. The protests have been going for months, and historically for 10 years now, and have managed to put three mining projects on hold. One of the main companies felling trees for its mine, is Adani, a multinational Indian corporation. Source, source, source.
