Monday, May 4, 2015

DR. WILFRED SLAA'S SPEECH AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY, INDIANA, U.S.A.

Huu ni mwaka wa uchaguzi. Si vibaya kuwajua wanasiasa wetu. Someni mwananchi kupata mawili matatu juu ya watia nia. Pia si mbaya kujua Dr. Slaa alisema nini huko USA. Kama imejirudia ignore.

DR.SLAA DELIVERS YET ANOTHER OUTSTANDING SPEECH.

Keynote Address, PURDUE University

April 13, 2015

By Dr. Wilbrod Slaa

Over a year and a half ago, I visited Indiana, toured various places, met different state and federal officials, visited various learning institutions and also toured Perdue. At Purdue, I met Dr. Suresh Garimella and other faculty members and could not have been more impressed, with what I learnt in this institution, and your willingness to support education in Tanzania, and that’s why when I received an invitation to come back, I felt privileged.

To the Dean of School of Agriculture, Jay Akridge, faculty, staff, students, invited guests and the public at large, accept my appreciation for the special welcome you have accorded me along with my delegation. You have made us feel at home away from home.

I have rather brought with me greetings from people of Tanzania; Men, and women children who have been walking for more than five decades to a new world of social economic liberation. Tanzanians are almost seeing a new dawn, and needs your prayers and moral support

Along with me, I have also brought you greetings from CHADEMA Party chairman, Mr. Freeman Mbowe, and his co-principals in the new economic liberation alliance called UKAWA. Notably, Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba, of CUF, Dr. Emanuel Makaidi of NLD and James Mbatia of NCCR Mageuzi respectively

In the year 1869, a visionary man, who understood the importance of education, decided to give part of his wealth back to the society, by establishing an academic institution which would become one of the best agricultural and engineering school in the world.

This visionary business leader, in West Lafayette, Indiana, realized that for America to compete in the global arena, for America to have comparative economic advantage, it had to have its own educated population in the field of Agriculture and Engineering that could turn the soybeans into various final products. Thank you to John Perdue

Today, in Tanzania the interior part of Tanzania, at Selian Agricultural Research Center, Mbulu, Endallah villages John Purdue’s name is living on, The institution he established is doing all possible to make the world a better place by imparting and sharing the knowledge and expertise with the rest of the world.

For decades now, the global community has been talking about 'New World Order', and the like, and the irony of it all, is that, most of this talk does not go beyond the Conference rooms, and or ended on the Shelves of bureaucrats. At the same time,

Erick Reinert, A Norwegian Economist in his publications categorically stated that, While rich and developed first world get richer, third world countries get poorer

Prof. Reinert says that, Rich countries such as, Holland, England, and Italy, developed through rounds of diversification, and industrialization protected by government intervention. Holland followed the process through shipbuilding. England on the other hand started with wool, and later cotton, coming to dominate the European clothing markets.

Each country realized that selling finished products was more worthwhile than selling raw materials, and used tariffs and sanctioned monopolies to protect their early industries. It was England’s planned shift from selling raw wool to selling finished cloth that set it on the road to development.

On the other hand, the proponents of the “New World Economic Order” have been imposing on developing nations something we would consider abominable and oppressive. Poor nations are encouraged and even forced to gear their whole economies towards raw materials.

Poor nations are encouraged to focus on one trade-able commodity, like coffee, rather than diversify. They are forbidden to use tariffs, subsidies, and other forms of market protection to develop any kind of manufacturing industry.

In the modern global society that is on a daily basis becoming a village, this imbalance is inacceptable. Especially if we genuinely believe on rhetoric’s that we are all Children of same Loving, Generous and all encompassing God,

The situation of a huge global population living in abject poverty is unacceptable. And this is not a question of reverting back to old theories of "communism" and or " Socialism", It is a question of being consistent with the principles of "equitable Trade" and comparative economic advantage.

We in Africa and indeed in Tanzania are not looking for Meritorious Treatment but rather we would like to see a World Economic Order that adheres to principles of fare and equitable Trade.

My American friends,

Tanzania is endowed with abundance of all sorts of natural resources, from fertile arable land, that can feed half of the Western hemisphere to the world finest beaches of Zanzibar. Tanzania has immense variety of flora and faunathat could generate high-class tourism; I am talking of Serengeti National Park, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Selous game Reserve just to name a few.

My country is blessed with both renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. From large deposits of Natural Gas (proven reserves of 47trillion cubic feet), large rivers; critical sources for hydropower, to abundant sun and wind for renewable energy

Tanzania has large deposits of all kinds of minerals and gemstones imaginable to man. Uranium, coal, iron-ore, copper, bauxite, diamond, ruby, nickel, tanzanite, sapphire and many others are all found in Tanzania. In abundance.

Yet the paradox is that despite all this reaches Africa and indeed Tanzania, still fall within the category of world "poorest Country". Sadly, enough, my sitting president has gone into the record books, as the only head of state, in the entire world, to state in the glare of cameras, that he had no clue as to why his country was ranked one of the poorest.

A very sad and embarrassing statement from a head of state

Maybe the president was embarrassed to tell the truth to the world, that the country had been suffering from a fifty-four year old, cancerous tumor also known asChama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). A political pandemic that has been ruling Tanzania since its inception; a party synonymous with corruption and mismanagement, and had no time focus on comparative economic advantage, instead focusing more on begging that workings towards adding value to the country raw resources.

It is the CCM pandemic, which has stagnated economic progress; killing country’s innovation spirit, by flooding our domestic market with dangerous, substandard and unreasonably cheap goods from Far East

It is this CCM, a cancerous tumor that has killed Tanzania’s quest for industrial revolution

It is this CCM, a cancerous tumor that has killed Tanzania’s dream to agricultural revolution

It is the CCM, a cancerous tumor, which has turned Tanzania into a minefield, with millions of young people’s dream, quashed, and now have become time bombs.

It is the CCM a cancerous tumor that has killed Tanzania’s health care system, educational and economic dreams. CCM has ruined the lives of our people, and rendered the country into a charity case instead of being a global economic player.

CCM is a party without morals. It is a gang of rulers who plants into their own people dangerous elements of division based on religious and ethnic lines so it can remain in power despite the possibility of disintegrating the society.

It is only in Tanzania of today, where a poor man stealing a goat to feed his family, is likely get a life sentence, yet drug lords, economic criminals, and poachers (killers of elephants) are well protected behind CCM party walls; those that steal billions of dollars from public coffers are walking with state security protection; A practice so common with corrupt and totalitarian regimes.

This is the party that brands those that are fighting for their country, and who simply oppose their views, TERRORISTS. It is the party that uses the police and security organs, not to protect the population, but rather to suppress their voices of descent.

Once you become a member of an opposition party, you are an enemy of state, and subsequently a target for police and the entire security apparatus brutality.

The media has not been spared either; many newspapers have been banned, and some banned because of a cartoon. Many Journalists have been arrested and even brutally murdered by the police because they write stories that threaten the interest of the rulers

Undoubtedly, this is a primary contradiction that needs to be seriously addressed by us the Africans, and Tanzanians first with the support from Partners and friends like you. We need your help in getting rid of the cancerous tumor CCM-party so we can join the global economic community as equal and not as beggars. We need international community’s support to Tanzania of CCM Pandemic

Given the enormous natural resources it is endowed with, Tanzania cannot permanently remain a beggar that depends on the international community to fund its educational system, while gold from our land is airfreighted to foreign countries. We are not against selling our gold to the rest of the world, we are rather, want Tanzania gold be processed in Tanzania so Tanzanians can have jobs.

Instead of exporting raw coffee, we need coffee processing factories in Tanzania, for us to be able to export finished products. Tanzania need Comparative Economic advantage and subsequently equitable trade and not AID. Tanzania is potentially a self-sufficient country, and also a potential donor than aid receiving country

Tanzania’s economic liberation can only be realized, if we Tanzanians, come up with ballot box revolution strategy that would dislodge the corrupt CCM-regime and its likes across the continent as the only way to realize comparative economic advantage, whereby our people and the country can benefit from their resources,

As the case is today, Tanzania has become a dumping ground of basically all commodities including substandard products from China. Quite embarrassing is the fact that, we are even importing toothpicks simply because we cant make out own, yet exports to them very valuable commodities at a throw away price.

Tanzania ranks third in the world when it comes to the number of cattle; yet we are importing all kinds of shoes. CHADEMA administration will ensure we process our cow hides domestically into brand name shoes, instead of selling our hide cheaply and buy it back as expensive designer leather handbags.

A classical example of resource mismanagement, bad decision-making, and lack of focus. We would like to turn this around in all areas where we have the comparative advantage.

My American brothers and friends

CHADEMA party and its partner political parties of Civic United Front (CUF), NCCR-Mageuzi and NLDP have formed a partnership to rid the country of CCM pandemic.

Through our partnership (UKAWA) we are determined to restore Tanzania’s lost glory. CHADEMA party and its friends are interested in turning Tanzania from being a global charity case, whose head of state is constantly going around the begging than focusing on developing his country’s wealth, to being a sufficient country and global economic player.

As I have always said, CHADEMA has its priorities, and its priority number one is education, priority number two is education, and priority number three being education Critical for Tanzania’s economic development is creation of human resource. Economic Aid is not in CHADEMA interest!

America and the West are boasting economic prosperity due the emphasis your countries put on education. You are boasting advanced agriculture and food security due to your policy maker’s emphasis on education.

America’s technological and industrial revolution resulted from your many years of investment in Education. Without emphasis on education world class Institutions like as Purdue, would be in existence today.

CHADEMA and its partner parties are determined to modernize Tanzania’s education system in order to fuel growth of our economy, by fully utilizing all such areas where we have the comparative advantage. We want to add value to our raw resources whether in mining, or in agriculture

We need a proper application of Comparative advantage principal, which will not only benefit Tanzania, but also our genuine friends and Partners. The more we move into light and medium industry, the more we will raise the purchasing power of our people. This is the only peaceful means of making the world a more peaceful and prosperous

It is time we work together to pull the world out of abject poverty by truly practicing what we preach. We need a very balanced trade between our countries.

It is not in TANZANIA’s interest to be showered with shipments of donated food. It is rather in our interest to receive your support in building our local human capacity; Educational support. We need the transfer of skills. We need partnership between our higher learning institutions. And instead of inventing the wheel, lets share the skills and innovative technology.

To you the younger generation and leaders of tomorrow, I must tell you, that, Pioneers never live to see or enjoy fruits of their labor, they establish new trails so you can all safely pass through.

We are living in a new era. Era of “New World Economic Order” an era whereby where only the strong survive!

Even though my days have numbered, my struggle for equality between stronger and weaker nations will never stop. My struggle for fairness between nations will never stop. My Struggle for comparative Economic Advantage, and social justice will live on.

I may never live to see my beautiful country enjoy its comparative economic advantage, but my children, my grandchildren and millions of young people in my country, fed-up with lifelong corruption, mismanagement and social injustice will. This is what, I m living for. I am living for Economic and social liberation

To you my American friends,

Little did you know, that, after one hundred and forty six years later, in the rural part of Tanzania, in the middle of nowhere, thousands of Miles away from Indiana, would Dr. Purdue’s name and legacy reach.

Well, this is what pioneers do!

Equally, come to Tanzania and work with us in finding new paths. Bring us your brilliant minds for the sake of humanity. Come out and fight for a Just world, come and fight for fairness, come and fight for newWorld Economic order. Come out in the field and turn our deserts in cornfields, in order to Keep John Purdue’s legacy alive!

Thank You!

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MAN CONVICTED OF RAPING ONE-DAY-OLD BABY IN EDINBURG, SCOTLAND

Man convicted of raping one-day-old baby

THE INDEPENDENT
THE INDEPENDENT
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 11:39 AM GMT
A man has been convicted of raping a one-day-old baby and two other young children.
Stuart Young, 37, was found guilty of two charges of rape and one of sexual assault at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday.

The details about of his crimes revealed during the week-long trial were so horrific that the jurors have been exempted from serving on another jury for five years.

His crimes took place between November 2008 and December 2013, in attacks which temporary judge Paul Arthurson QC called "truly depraved and despicable".

He began raping the baby boy when he was just one day old, and continued his attacks until he was three months old.

Young, from the Sighthill area of Edinburgh, also raped a girl over a period of years, beginning when she was six months old and continuing until she was five.

In July 2013, Young sexually abused a nine-year old girl in the Stenhouse area of Edinburgh.
Young pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and denied any wrongdoing. He swore as he left the dock after being convicted.

His sentence was deferred by Judge Arthurson to allow the court to obtain reports about his character, with Judge Arthurson saying he should "expect a sentence to reflect your level of criminality."
He will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on 28 May.

Detective Inspector Douglas Moran, of Police Scotland, commended the bravery of two young girls who spoke out about their horrific abuse, bringing Young's crimes to the attention of police.
He added that the victims and their families will receive specialist support to help them cope with their ordeal.

PICHA ADIMU ZA TANU YA TANGANYIKA 1954 - 1961

PICHA ADIMU ZA TANU, JULIUS NYERERE NA WAZALENDO WALIOSAHAULIKA KATIKA HISTORIA YA KUDAI UHURU WA TANGANYIKA 1954 - 1961

Written By Mohamed Said on Saturday, May 2, 2015 | 11:25 AM


Abdulrahman Ali Msham sasa ni mtu mzima na ana umri wa miaka 65. Wakati TANU inaasisiwa Dar es Salaam mwaka 1954 yeye alikuwa mtoto wa miaka minne. Majuma machache yaliyopita alikisikia kipindi kilichorushwa na Radio Kheri 104.10 FM kuhusu safari ya Mwalimu Nyerere UNO mwaka 1955. Kwa kauli yake mwenyewe anasema kipindi kile kilimrudisha  nyuma sana akamkumbuka marehemu baba yake Ali Msham ambae alikuwa moja wa wazalendo waliokuwa mstari wa mbele katika kupambana na ukoloni. Abdulrahman Ali Msham akawa na hamu kubwa ya kukutana na aliyekuwa akieleza safari ile ya kihistoria. Alikuwa na hamu kwa kuwa na yeye alikuwa na machache angependa kueleza nini baba yake Mzee Ali Msham alifanya katika TANU katika ile miaka ya 1950. Abdulrahman alianza kwa kueleza kuwa baba yake alikuja Dar es Salaam kutoka Kilwa katika miaka ya 1950 akiwa fundi seremala na likuwa akifanya shughuli zake za kutengezeza samani Mtaa wa Kariakoo na Congo. TANU ilipoasisiwa mwaka wa 1954 baba yake alijiunga na kuwa mwanachama kwa kukata kadi ya TANU. Makazi yake yalikuwa Mtaa wa Jaribu Magomeni Mapipa ambako alikuwa akiishi kwenye nyumba yake mwenyewe. Katika hamasa zile za kupambana na ukoloni baba yake alitoa chumba kimoja katika nyumba yake akafungua tawi la TANU na yeye mwenyewe akiwa mwenyekiti. Katika harakati zile za kupambana na ukoloni alisikitiswa na hali ya ofisi ya Mwalimu Nyerere pale New Street kwa kuwa hakuwa na samani za maana katika ile ofisi yake. Baba yake alirejea kwenye kiwanda chake pale Mtaa wa Kariakoo na Congo akatengeneza meza ya ofisi ya hadhi ya rais wa TANU pamoja na viti kadhaa. Mzee Ali Msham alimwalika Mwalimu Nyerere kwenye tawi la TANU la Magomeni Mapipa ili makabidhi samani mpya kwa ajili ya ofisi yake. Mwalimu Nyerere alifika pale kwenye tawi la TANU na katika sherehe fupi Mwalimu Nyerere akakabidhiwa samani ile. 
Kumaliza mazungumzo yetu Abdulrahman Msham alikabidhi picha za baba yake za wakati ule wa kupigania uhuru. Picha hizo nami naziweka hapa kwa ajili ya kuhifadhi na kuthamini mchango wa wazee wetu mashujaa waliopigania uhuru wa Tanganyika lakini kwa bahati mbaya michango yao haijathaminiwa. 
Picha hiyo hapo chini inamwonyesha Mwalimu Nyerere akipokea samani hiyo iliyotengezewa na Mzee Ali Msham. Aliyesimama wa kwanza kulia ni Mzee Ali Msham mwenyekiti wa tawi la TANU Magomeni Mapipa wakati TANU inawaunganisha wananchi kupigania uhuru wa Tanganyika.




Ali Msham aliyekaa katikati katika moja ya mikutano ya ndani ya TANU aliyokuwa akifanya uani nyumbani kwake Mtaa wa Jaribu, Magomeni Mapipa
Kushoto Wakwanza Ali Msham


Ali Msham (kushoto aliyesimama) akiwahutubia wanachama wa TANU uani nyumbani kwake katika mkutano wa ndani

Tawi hili la TANU Magomeni Mapipa lilikuwa na nguvu na viongozi mashuhuri wa TANU walifika mara nyingi kuzungumza na wanachama na viongozi wao. Picha ya chini wanaonekana Zuberi Mtemvu (aliyeshika tama) aliyekuwa Katibu Mwenezi wa TANU akiwa na Sheikh Suleiman Takadir Mwenyekiti wa Baraza la Wazee wa TANU na kushoto yake Mzee John Rupia Makamu wa Rais wa TANU wakiwa katika moja ya hafla za TANU katika tawi hilo. Rais wa TANU Mwalimu Nyerere haonekani amezibwa na John Rupia lakini mlinzi wake katika vijana wa BANTU Group anaoenakana amesimamakaribu yake amevaa lubega.

Kushoto: John Rupia, Julius Nyerere, Zuberi Mtemvu
Waliosimama nyuma yao ni BANTU Group Vijana Walinzi wa Viongozi wa TANU
Ofisi ya TANU Mtaa wa Jaribu Magomeni Mapipa kama ilivyokuwa ikionekana katika miaka ya 1950 ikiwa imezungikwa na wanachama wake.


TANZANIA PARLIAMENTARY TEAM SAYS N0 T0 $350 MILLION DEAL ON AIRTIME !!!


Bunge team says No to $350m deal on airtime
By the Citizen,  Tanzania.
By
Parliamentary Committee for Economic Affairs, Industry and Trade chairman Luhaga Mpina speaks at Bunge Offices in Dar es Salaam at a past event. PHOTO | FILE 
By The Citizen Reporter

Posted  Sunday, May 3  2015 at  13:08
In Summary
  • Kigoma South MP David Kafulila (NCCR-Mageuzi) said it appeared TRA was trying to cover up details of the contract between Vodacom and Shivacom. He told TRA to ensure all details were available to clear the air since the matter was of public interest
Dar es Salaam. The $350 million scandal involving Vodacom Tanzania and one of its super dealers, Shivacom, turned even more sour yesterday when the Parliamentary Committee on Industry and Trade rejected an official explanation from the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). The committee asked the tax collector to prepare a comprehensive report after rejecting a two-page document that TRA gave the committee on the grounds that there were no specific details.

The committee, chaired by Kisesa Member of Parliament Luhaga Mpina (CCM), said it needed more information as plenty of money was involved. It asked the TRA officials to deliver a comprehensive report before 15 May, 2015 .

According to Mr. Mpina, the TRA report should cover the trade volume during their five-year pact, actual figures on the loss arising from fake airtime vouchers and tax paid on the vouchers.

A statement TRA tabled yesterday indicates that there have indeed been complaints about the bogus vouchers, but the amount quoted in the media does not match the complaints from swindled customers. TRA officials told the committee: “We admit that there has been duplication of airtime vouchers in the market. The figures that we have currently amount to TSh74.3 million. That amount came from the number of claims from customers.”

Mr Mpina wondered why TRA issued such a short statement when it had been asked for a detailed report as far back as February. He went on: “There are serious allegations here involving a lot of money and we need a deep explanation on it. What are you hiding? These are the issues that create tension.”

TRA and the Ministry of Finance were asked to follow-up the matter closely and come up with details about the contract between Vodacom and Shivacom.

Kigoma South MP David Kafulila (NCCR-Mageuzi) said it appeared TRA was trying to cover up details of the contract between Vodacom and Shivacom. The MP, who first spoke on the matter in Parliament some months ago, said TRA should ensure all details were available to clear the air since the matter was of public interest.

“Let’s not take this issue lightly,” he added. “Those involved should be named and and face legal action.”  When TRA comes before the committee on May 15, 2015, he expects the team to be fully prepared to answer all questions the committee and the general public want answered. In the meantime, the committee will also be seeking more information from stakeholders. 

Earlier in the week, Vodacom broke its silence on the alleged $350 million (Sh700 billion) fraud, saying in a carefully-worded statement that it has terminated a lucrative tender with Shivacom over “duplicate airtime vouchers” circulating on the market.

Vodacom denied that the vouchers were worth about TSh700 billion. It said the sum was grossly inflated but admitted that there was a problem.

According to Vodacom Tanzania’s chief officer responsible for Corporate Affairs, Ms. Georgia Mutagahywa, there was no multi-million dollar loss in t

An MP, who has keenly followed the scandal and claims to be an interested party, told The Citizen that Vodacom’s admission could lead to litigation by those who bought the fake airtime.

Speaking on condition that he was not named, he added: “I think the regulator (Tanzania Telecommunications Regulatory Authority) needs to investigate what really transpired because thousands of customers were affected."

Sunday, May 3, 2015

ZINGATIA YAFUATAYO UWAPO MIKONONI MWA POLISI

(1.)Askari akikuweka chini ya ulinzi muulize kitambulisho ni haki yako.

(2.)Askari akikukamata akuoneshe kitambulisho chenye muhuri wa mahakama kama anasema ametumwa na mahakama kukumata, ni haki yako.

(3.)Askari akikukamata akwambie kwanini anakukamata na anakupeleka kituo gani, ni haki yako.
(4.)Unaruhusiwa na sheria kukataa kukamatwa hata kutumia nguvu kama hukuambiwa sababu ya kukamatwa.


(5.) Askari anapokiuka taratibu za ukamataji anageuka na kuwa mhalifu ni haki yako kujikinga naye.
(6.)Askari haruhusiwi kukuvuta shati, kukukaba koo, kukushika suruali kama hujakataa kutii amri halali.


(7.)Askari haruhusiwi kuondoka na mtu mwingine baada ya kumkosa mtuhumiwa halisi.
(8.) Askari haruhusiwi kupekua nyumba ya mtu bila kibali cha kupekua.


(9.)Askari lazima akuoneshe kibali cha kupekua na ukisome.


(10.)Kibali kieleze jina la aliyekitoa, kituo kilipotolewa,jina la mtu au sehemu ya upekuzi, au uchanganuzi wa mtu au sehemu.


(11.)Hairuhusiwi kupekuliwa usiku kuanzia saa 1 jioni mpaka saa 12 asubuhi.


(12.)Ni haki yako kumpekua askari kabla hajakupekua ili asipandikize kitu.


(13.)Usipekuliwa nyumbani bila kuwapo kiongozi wa mtaa.


(14.)Kila kitakachochukuliwa katika upekuzi lazima kiandikwe na askari aweke sahihi.
(15.) Mali iliyochukuliwa katika upekuzi lazima ibaki salama.


(16.)Mwanaume haruhisiwi kumpekua mwanamke na mwamke haruhisiwi kwa mwanaume.


(17.)Unaruhusiwa kukataa kupekuliwa iwapo taratibu hizi hazikufuatwa.
(18.)Askari haruhusiwi kukutukana wala kukupiga.


(19.) Unaruhusiwa kutozungumza lolote mpaka unayemuamini afike uwapo chini ya ulinzi, ni haki yako.
(20.)Usilazimishwe kuongea au kuandika ambacho hutaki, ni haki yako.


(21.)Usitoe maelezo bila uhakika yatatumika mahakamani yatakuletea shida.


(22.)Unaruhusiwa kukaa kimya na usizungumze kitu uwapo chini ya ulinzi.


HIZI ZOTE NI HAKI ZAKO, ZILAZIMISHE USIBEMBELEZE WALA USIZIOMBE
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GENETICALLY MODIFIED CONTROVERSY EXPLAINED !!!



GMO controversy explained

By Kaye Foley
GMOs — or genetically modified organisms — were in the spotlight again this past week following controversy at “The Dr. Oz Show” over, among other things, the television host and doctor’s stance on GMOs. It sparked a media firestorm and had people picking sides.

But why all the hoopla over what we harvest?

GMOs are organisms that have had their DNA modified through genetic engineering. This is often done by taking a gene from one organism and putting it into another one to alter it in a desirable way. For example, when genetic engineers want to create a corn crop that is resistant to pests, they seek out the trait in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) soil bacteria that naturally acts as a pesticide. From there, engineers isolate the gene responsible for that trait and directly insert it into the corn’s DNA. This corn is then bred with other corn until it’s ready to be produced for consumption.

Scientists adopted this process for altering food for a variety of reasons, but most commonly to create crops, like the corn, that can naturally keep pests away, as well as crops that are resistant to herbicides and can tolerate various climates for more sustainable agriculture. And this manipulation has proven to be a very divisive issue.

On one side a majority of the scientific community argues that genetically modified, or GM, food is safe and even beneficial. According to a recent Pew Research Center poll, 88 percent of scientists from the American Association for the Advancement of Science believe eating GMOs is “generally safe.” For thousands of years, humans have been changing and improving crops through selective breeding. That process alters genes as well. But genetically modifying in a laboratory is a faster, more direct method.

On the other side of the debate are advocacy groups and concerned citizens worried about potential risks of food manipulation. The same Pew Research poll shows that 57 percent of U.S. adults think eating GMOs is “generally unsafe.” Opponents have raised concerns over health safety, like the possibility of an increase in allergies or worse, unforeseen impacts down the road.

Many also have environmental concerns. They worry that the plants that are made resistant to herbicides — meaning the crop won’t be damaged when sprayed with weed-killer — will lead to the development of “superweeds.” And then, farmers will need to use more and more chemical herbicides.

A minority of the scientific community still believes that more research on the safety of GMOs should be done. Over a thousand studies have concluded that GM food is safe, but critics point out that the companies that make genetically modified products have funded many of those studies. A significant number have been conducted through independent research as well, though.

A handful of commercial crops are genetically modified, including corn, soybeans, cotton, sugar beets and canola. Right now, over 90 percent of the corn and soy grown in the United States has been genetically modified. Most of that goes into animal feed, ethanol, and processed products, such as corn oil.
Consumer pressure to know what is in our food has led to a debate over whether or not food with GMOs should be labeled. Opponents argue that labels would unfairly stigmatize GMOs. In the U.S. more than half of the states have brought forward labeling legislation, but only three states have passed it. And for two of those — Maine and Connecticut — the law won’t go into effect unless legislation passes in surrounding states. Vermont also passed GMO labeling legislation and plans to start in July 2016, although the law has already faced legal challenges by opponents.

Still, a handful of brands have taken it upon themselves to proactively respond to concerns over GMOs in their products. Whole Foods has said that by 2018 all products containing GMOs will be labeled. Cheerios has removed GMO ingredients from its original cereal. And Chipotle announced this week that no GMOs will be used in its food. One caveat is that Chipotle will continue to sell drinks containing GMO ingredients, like corn syrup, most of which comes from GM crops.

So, while this food fight rages on, whether you think that GMOs are spoiling our fruits and veggies or a fresh approach to produce, at least after watching this video you can say, “Now I get it.”

Friday, May 1, 2015

WHY YOUTH JOIN TERROR GROUPS

Why youth join terror groups


By Frank Aman 12th April 2015 Email Print 

Local politicians, clergy and academicians have expressed mixed opinions over major motives behind worldwide terrorism and the ongoing trend of the local youth recruitment in terror groups, not completely ruling out religious doctrine as source of the emerged evil phenomenon in the past two decades.


Speaking in separate occasions this week, they cited the world order, poverty, ignorance and unemployment as major factors that have led to creation of terror groups and drove youngsters into joining them, watering down the widespread notion of the mainstream faith-based recruitment.


Dr Bashiru Ally from the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration said religious illiteracy on its own exacerbated by rampant poverty has been used as a loophole in luring youngsters into joining terror groups using religious doctrine to justify their cause.


He cited Somali-based Al Shabaab responsible for series of attacks in East Africa including the latest that found 148 students killed at Garissa University in Kenya as typical of the terrorist organisations that use religious illiteracy and poverty rampant among the youth in the region into becoming deadly foot soldiers and suicide bombers.


But he also said both terrorist groups and the recruited youth are a result of the prevailing imperialistic-oriented world order in which the rich and powerful countries of the North dominate the poor and the weak South mainly Africa and the Middle-East.


He said the rich North otherwise known as Western countries have been systematically exhausting African resources leaving the youth disparate of jobs and education, a vacuum the capitalists need to infiltrate filth to meet their ends.


The local organisers of terrorist groups were themselves not immune to this trend, he said.


He said it is not a coincidence that the previous two decades have seen the rising wave of terror attacks as opposed to nearly 45 years of the Cold War era that ended in 1991.


He said during the Cold War era the Soviet system that formed the Eastern bloc could equally counter the Western influence in the Third World, barring over exploitation and monopoly dominance, but following the split of the Soviet Union, Africa and the Third World have been left to fight the imperial influence single-handedly.


Against the background of the reality that one super power is attempting to rule the world, said the doctor, there emerged rebellious groups, refusing to be ruled in Southern countries who fight back in self-styled manner branded terrorism by the very masterminds of the new system. 


 “So we should not consider religious differences or radical preaching as the only source of terrorism but we should look into an obvious source, which is imperialism, capitalism at its maturity trying to dominate the world and the desperate resistance by groups who believe they are undermined,” he said.


He downplayed Islam as a faith with some connection with terrorism, saying those who fuel wars mainly in Africa and the Middle East are not Muslims and that they have nothing to do with any faith but motivated by their wealth-driven lust to exploit the natural resource-rich regions.


Citing the Roman Imperial motto of “divide and rule,” the doctor said; “imperialists have steered hatred among the societies and Western countries are using the loophole by dividing Christians and Muslims, typical of Apartheid South Africa where race was used as criteria.”


Former lecturer of the University of Dar es Salaam, Dept of Linguistics Dr Azaveli Lwaitama attributed terrorism to shortsightedness in life experienced by the youth, saying ignorance was also to blame in adopting a kid with no ambitions in life.


He said such youth were susceptible to extremist ideas, apparently easy recruits of crimes for the sake of money and wealth.


“When a youngster puts much value on material gains he becomes an easy prey to religious teachings that persuade him along those lines,” he said, citing poverty and illiteracy as motives behind radicalisation of youngsters. 


However, he echoed Dr Ally’s assertion that the youth would join terrorist organisations for financial gains rather than ideological alignment. 


“Of course a desperate poor youngster will accept money from an Al-Shabaab guy who wants him to do the killing that he would have done any way given right circumstances,” said Dr Lwaitama. 


In an interview with The Guardian’s sister paper Nipashe, Minister for Information, Youth and Sports Dr Fenella Mukangara also backed the academicians’ version of argument, saying Tanzanian youth had been lured into terror groups because of financial rewards.


But she said accepting such rewards were typical of a youngster who is ignorant and short of sound moral upbringing.


She was echoed by Auxiliary Bishop of Bukoba Diocese Methodius Kilaini who attributed the trend to poor parental care saying, “if a child lacks love and tolerance at home he’s likely to commit offense and harm others on the streets.”


He advised the clergy and the government to provide “right” education to children especially those aged between four and 12, a time during which a child’s behaviour is founded.


Though he did not rule out “illicit religious teachings” as a motive behind recruiting the youth in terror groups, he said: “In a desire to be wealthy, many youngsters who do not see the future in their life as they live in vulnerable conditions, join the groups to overcome the challenge.”


Mufti of Tanzania Alhaj Shaabani Issa bin Simba also attributed terrorism to poverty and ignorance in a self-styled manner saying a lust for easy money and lack of skills amongst the youth have driven youngsters into joining terrorist groups.


“It is very possible for young people to join these groups because of money. This is due to the reality that many African young men are jobless because they do not want to acquire skills for self employment,” he said.


Citing a verse from the Qur’an that says; “killing one man is tantamount to killing the whole world, and saving one man’s life is tantamount to saving the whole world,” the Mufti vehemently rejected the notion that terrorism has any backing from the Islamic Scriptures.


He also refuted allegations that mosques have been involved in giving youth martial arts training, saying “mosques are holy sites giving no room to anything else, but Word of God.”


He was responding to widespread speculations that mosques were used for training future terrorists.


He called upon the Muslim and Christian clergies to train young boys and girls on the importance of love, adherence to commands of God and help build their capacity in facing challenges of the modern world. SOURCE: GUARDIAN ON