Author Archives: thomasramos

Meet the fish leather pioneers

Steinunn Gunnsteinsdóttir admits that it took her family more than a few attempts to be able to make leather from fish skins. “The first 200 times we just made smelly fish soups,” she says. Ms Gunnsteinsdóttir is the sales manager of Icelandic company Atlantic Leather, which owns the only fish tannery in Europe. Overlooking a fjord on Iceland’s remote north… Read more »

‘No sex without fighting’ – tackling toxic masculinity in DR Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo has some of highest rates of sexual violence in the world. But a new approach is trying to tackle this by encouraging men to confront and question their toxic masculinity. Moises Bagwiza is one of the men who now reflects with regret on his past, and his recollections of how he treated and raped his… Read more »

DR Congo Ebola deaths set to pass 1,000 mark

The World Health Organization says it expects the number of deaths from the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo to pass the 1,000 mark today. WHO Deputy Director General Dr Michael Ryan says all efforts to control the spread of the disease are being hampered by continuing violence in the region. Numerous rebel groups are active in eastern… Read more »

South Sudan mourns press freedom champion

Celebrations to mark World Press Freedom day in South Sudan were postponed for the funeral of former BBC reporter Alfred Taban, who died last weekend in Uganda aged 62. Taban was also the founder and former editor-in-chief of the Khartoum Monitor. It was Sudan’s first independent English-language paper – launched in September 2000 and renamed the Juba Monitor after South… Read more »

Simulation Reflection

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During the simulation I didn’t speak up much during the moderated caucuses as we had one group member essentially acting as the speaker. Therefore, my role in the simulation was to go to other groups and gather information. During each unmoderated caucus, I would meet with the various groups formed and try to understand their goals and find what they… Read more »

Congo and Uganda Analysis

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In the Democratic Republic of the Congo there has been a recent ebola outbreak. This outbreak is the second largest one in the Congo’s history, with 1,206 people being infected, and 764 of those being killed due to this disease. According to BBC, efforts to contain and help those infected have been slowed due to conflict and rebel attacks. Apparently,… Read more »

Cuban doctors kidnap: Gunmen seize medics in north-east Kenya

Gunmen in the far north-east of Kenya have kidnapped two Cuban doctors and killed an armed policeman travelling with them. They are believed to have been taken to neighbouring Somalia, reports say. The police suspect the attackers were members of the Somalia-based Islamist militant group al-Shabab, a security source told the AFP news agency. Last year, more than 100 Cuban… Read more »

US tourist and safari guide freed after kidnap in Uganda

A US tourist and her guide have been rescued after they were kidnapped at gunpoint while on safari in Uganda. Kimberly Endicott, 35, and Jean-Paul Mirenge were set upon as they drove through the Queen Elizabeth National Park on the evening of 2 April. Ugandan Police said then that kidnappers used one of their phones to demand a ransom of… Read more »

Ebola outbreak ‘not global emergency yet’

The Ebola outbreak is the second biggest in history – infecting 1,206 people and killing 764. It shows no sign of being contained soon. Efforts by healthcare workers have been hampered by conflict and rebel attacks. And experts have warned it will be “very difficult to bring it under control”. But Prof Robert Steffen, chairman of the WHO’s emergency committee… Read more »

Gorillas pose for selfie with DR Congo anti-poaching unit

Two gorillas have been photographed posing for a relaxed selfie with the rangers who rescued them as babies. The image was taken at a gorilla orphanage in Virunga National Park, DR Congo, where the animals were raised after poachers killed their parents. The park’s deputy director told BBC Newsday that they had learned to imitate their carers, who have looked… Read more »