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Protecting Life: African Water Activists Resist Corporate Privatisation As World Bank Meets

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water projects - Investors King

At a time when life is more precarious than ever, the necessity to prioritise that which gives life is likewise greater than ever. Water is one of the most fundamental necessities for life, yet giant corporations backed by international financial institutions are exploiting this basic need by trying to privatise water across the African continent, threatening to leave millions of people suffering without water.

The only just path forward is by rejecting privatisation and returning water into the hands of the African people, who together have and will continue to advance public water solutions funded by public dollars. On October 13, 2021 at 9am ET, African water protectors will be speaking about these efforts and making demands for change here.

Private water giants like Veolia and Suez have been capturing Africa’s water systems for decades with the backing of institutions like the World Bank, undermining African governments’ efforts to ensure universal water access for their people. Right now the World Bank, one of the largest drivers of water privatisation in the Global South, is holding its annual meetings. Worse, Veolia and Suez, the two largest private water corporations in the world, are on the cusp of a mega-merger that would consolidate their control and further threaten the African people’s right to water systems that ensure true public health and equity. All this shows that the threat of corporate control of water for generations to come is becoming increasingly dire.

“This mobilization is the convergence of all the resistance struggles against water privatisation by the Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa. “We are sending a clear and unequivocal message to the drivers of privatisation and their allies: Africans from East, West, Central and Southern Africa are united in their position that control of Africa’s water today and in the future must be determined by Africans and Africans alone.”

Frontline communities and workers across the African continent have long held the expertise needed to ensure that everyone has access to water and, by extension, life. In order for their leadership to thrive, movement leaders are demanding African governments listen to water protectors, ignore pressures from the World Bank and other institutions to privatise water, and reject all privatisation schemes from profit-driven behemoths like Veolia and Suez. Organisers say that government leaders must invest in public water systems that include meaningful public participation in water governance, with particular focus on the perspectives of those typically left out of decision-making processes, including but not limited to women, low-income people, and rural communities.

These demands build on the momentum of the water justice movement, which has already achieved over 300 cases of water de-privatisation around the world, including in cities such as Paris, the home of Veolia and Suez.

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa encourages all stakeholders to hear directly from the following African water protectors and allies:

  • Akinbode Oluwafemi from Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa will share highlights from the forthcoming report, Africa Must Rise & Resist Water Privatisation (due to be released October 13) and talk about how civil society and labour are banding together across Africa to reject privatisation.

  • Dr. Everline Aketch from Public Services International will talk about the impacts of water privatisation on workers and the role of labour in the water justice movement.

  • Dr. Melina Abdullah from Black Lives Matter Grassroots will locate the struggle for water justice in Africa within the context of struggles for Black liberation around the globe.

  • Younoussa Abbosouka and Oumar Ba will talk about their experiences fighting water privatisation and injustice in Cameroon and Senegal, as well as the power of organising.

This event will be moderated by Aderonke Ige, Associate Director at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa.

Please join us on October 13, 2021 at 9am ET here.

Speakers and key contacts related to this event are available for additional questions or comments upon request.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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ARISE News Channel Goes Global: Launches in Nine Southern African Countries

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Arise News

ARISE News Channel, a prominent Nigerian cable news network, has reached another significant milestone in its journey to become a global media powerhouse.

The channel has officially gone live in nine Southern African countries, including South Africa, Angola, and Botswana.

This expansion was made possible through a partnership with Multichoice/DSTV, with ARISE News Channel now available on Channel 416.

Alongside South Africa, Angola, and Botswana, the channel is now accessible to viewers in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

In a statement released by the Chief of Staff to Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of ARISE News Channel, Fauziya Ali Mohammed, it was revealed that the channel’s presence now spans 54 African countries.

Mohammed explained that ARISE News Channel is committed to delivering high-quality news coverage across the continent, showcasing various facets of African life, including business, politics, technology, commerce, science, sports, show business, and fashion.

ARISE News Channel, which celebrated its 11th anniversary earlier this year, has earned acclaim for its Emmy-winning programming.

It has become a leading broadcaster in Africa, offering audiences a diverse range of content while projecting the best of Africa’s culture and people to the world.

Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of ARISE News Channel, Nduka Obaigbena, expressed his excitement about the channel’s expansion into Southern Africa, emphasizing its commitment to promoting African narratives globally.

Obaigbena highlighted ARISE News Channel’s dedication to showcasing the continent’s potential and celebrating its achievements on the global stage.

The channel operates around the clock from studios located in Lagos, Abuja, Johannesburg, Cape Town, London, and New York.

Its coverage extends beyond traditional broadcasting platforms, reaching viewers across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and the United States through various channels and streaming services.

With its latest expansion into Southern Africa, ARISE News Channel continues to solidify its position as a leading voice in African media, shaping narratives and fostering dialogue on issues of regional and global significance.

As the channel continues to grow its global footprint, it remains dedicated to providing audiences with insightful and impactful journalism that reflects the dynamism and diversity of the African continent.

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Air Peace Flight Delayed, Passengers Stranded After Failed Promise of Hotel Stay

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Passengers aboard an Air Peace flight from Abuja to Owerri found themselves in a state of disarray and frustration after a series of delays and unmet promises left them stranded without accommodations.

What was supposed to be a routine flight scheduled to depart Abuja at 4:30 PM and arrive in Owerri at 5:30 PM turned into a nightmare as the flight was delayed until 6:18 PM due to a reported lack of a pilot.

However, midway through the journey, passengers were informed that the flight couldn’t proceed to Owerri because the airport there would close by 6:40 PM.

The flight was forced to return to Abuja, where passengers endured further uncertainty as they waited for over 20 minutes to receive any communication from the airline. Eventually, they were informed of plans to provide a bus to transport them to a hotel for accommodation.

However, this promise was not fulfilled, leaving passengers stranded and scattered around the airport.

One passenger, who had already experienced delays with another airline earlier in the day, expressed frustration at the lack of accountability and protection for travelers.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by passengers in Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector and raises questions about the adequacy of regulations to safeguard passengers’ rights.

Attempts to reach Air Peace for comment on the situation were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

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Emirates Halts Check-Ins Amid Severe Weather Disruption

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Emirates Airline

Emirates, the largest international airline, has taken the unprecedented step of halting all passenger check-ins for the day.

The move comes as the emirate grapples with severe weather disturbances, including heavy rainfall and storms, leading to widespread travel chaos in one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.

The airline announced that check-ins for all passengers would be suspended from 8 am local time until midnight, as the adverse weather conditions continue to wreak havoc on travel plans.

Despite the disruption, Emirates assured that transit passengers would still be allowed to proceed to their connecting flights.

Dubai, known for its modern infrastructure and bustling aviation industry, has been brought to a standstill by the relentless rainfall and storms.

The inclement weather has resulted in delayed or diverted flights, leaving travelers stranded and adding to the existing challenges posed by the ongoing global pandemic.

Emirates has pledged to exert all efforts to restore its scheduled operations and provide support to affected customers amidst the chaos.

However, the extent of the disruption caused by the adverse weather conditions underscores the resilience and adaptability required to navigate unforeseen challenges in the aviation sector.

As the situation unfolds, authorities and airline personnel are working tirelessly to mitigate the impact of the severe weather on travel operations and ensure the safety and well-being of passengers.

Despite the temporary setback, Emirates remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of service excellence and operational efficiency, even in the face of unprecedented challenges posed by Mother Nature.

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