Excluded Headlines: Media boycotts CELAC, radioactive French mine in Niger, Philippines, Somalia...
Stay up to date on the global news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlooks, with journalist and author, Tamara Pearson.
While the media gave extensive space to the recent World Economic Forum of elites, and to the OAS last year, it practically boycotted the Latin-American wide forum on Tuesday, CELAC.
CELAC: Latin American and Caribbean leaders reach 100-point program agreement - Held in Buenos Aires, the CELAC meeting on Tuesday saw the region come together to agree on defending natural resources, demanding an end to the US’s blockade against Cuba, having dialogue with Venezuela, advancing in the region’s integration, and against intervention in the area. The day before in Buenos Aires, 300 movement and union leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean came together for a Social Summit. Source, source, source.
Brazil, Argentina: New currency proposed - The two largest countries in Latin America are proposing a new currency for the region, called the sur (meaning south), in order to end the dominance of the US dollar and boost regional trade. The currency plans were brought to the CELAC meeting this week, but it could take years to develop. Source.
Niger: French uranium mine leaves 20 million tons of radioactive waste behind – French company Orano mined uranium in Arlit, Niger, for 47 years, then shut down in March 2021. Now, hundreds of thousands of locals have to live next to the radioactive waste on the mine’s site and consume contaminated water. The waste is producing radioactive gas, which people are breathing in, while the soil and water tables have also been affected. Source, source.
Burkino Faso kicks out French military - On the weekend, the government gave French troops a month to leave the country. This comes just months after France also withdrew from Mali. The move was announced by a coup government, which took the place of a previous coup government. Anti-French sentiment was part of the coups. France got involved in the region as part of NATO’s war in Libya. This news was covered by the media but not as much as it should have been. Source, source.
Guatemala: 9-month long university occupation continues – Students and activists have occupied the only public university in Guatemala, the USAC, which they say has been co-opted by mafia. The university head was chosen by elite academics, and those elections were the last straw. The students have faced some repression, with police using rubber bullets and tear gas. Source.
Somalia: Country wants to vaccinate one million against cholera – With the support of UNICEF and the WHO, Somalia wants to vaccinate children in the regions most affected by drought. In 2012, almost 260,000 people died from cholera and measles outbreaks there. Source.
Philippines: Activists targeted – Indigenous leaders and activists who oppose the government’s mining and other similar projects are being targeted with red tagging. This means they are labelled as communists or terrorists, typically along with other types of harassment, including being charged with fabricated crimes. Source.
Nigeria: Bomb kills 40 herders – According to the country’s authorities, a bomb exploded in Rukubi, central Nigeria and killed herders and their cattle. The herders’ umbrella organisation said the bomb came from a military strike, but there are also water and land disputes in the area. Source, source.