tonight 20h CET :  Malian music of Festival au Désert

‘Festival au Désert im EXIL’ with Khaira Arby, Kante und Orchestre Amanar de Kidal in Volksbühne Berlin

streaming link – live NOW:
http://stream.codeone.tv/projekte/2014markrump/index.php?ts=1389279837

organized by:
Operndorf Afrika   &   Partnership with Africa Foundation

photo © Désirée von Trotha

Even though it has been widely reported (again) in the first half of 2013, it still is not common knowledge, that the country Rwanda has successfully banished the use of plastic bags. The law went already in effect in 2008 and was preceded by nationwide cleaning-up activities as the BBC reported in 2006, making Rwanda today the most environment-conscious country in Africa with the “cleanest capital”.

The Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) states on their website only briefly, that “Rwanda with a vision to maintain a clean, healthy and wealthy environment has by law banned the use of non biodegradable plastic bags.” and that these measures serve the goal of sustainable development.
This was the result of year-long efforts of course – particularly by its director general, Dr. Rose Mukankomje. In 2011 she told the Canadian “The Dominion”: “In 2004, the Ministry of the Environment began to conduct studies on the use of plastic bags in Rwanda,” … “At that time people had started to see plastic invading everywhere—black, yellow, red colored bags—causing even visual pollution.”

Understanding the importance of environment friendly policies and  including the population in the efforts certainly have helped to bring the initiative to life. But what else has helped in this success story? A steady and determined government? the widespread wish for healing and productive, positive change after the genocide of 1994?

In February 2013, Tom Carver reasoned in his article “The country without plastic bags“, that it may have also something to do with a general different mind set: “Certainly, Rwanda seems to me to occupy a different psychic space to other African countries, much closer to the German mindset of hard work, self-discipline, orderliness. Perhaps it is no coincidence that both countries have experienced similar depths of genocidal depravity and remarkable economic success subsequently.”

Whatever the reasons, the good news of environment friendly development in a “poor country” deserves more attention. For an even more in-depth analysis watch the news report (12 min video) from April 2013 by France24: “Rwanda´s platic bag-free utopia“. In this short 12min documentary video it is also explained, that using, utilizing or even trafficking plastic bags is now against the law and did already lead to prison sentences for “plastic smugglers”.

#Environment #PlasticBags #Rwanda

more material from that Festival may come online , when the time is right.

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British sitcom Meet the Adebanjos is an example of how, in 2012, a show can get off the ground without a UK commissioner.

Meet the Adebanjoswas made with money raised by a former city trader from Croydon. It started out on

YouTube, went to DVD and has been sold internationally. In the last few weeks, it has become South Africa’s third most popular comedy.

The audience for the sitcom about a Nigerian family living in London doubled to 1.4 million after the first week on South Africa’s SABC2.

Osayemi raised £175,000 to make the first eight episodes through production company MTA Productions, after becoming frustrated with meetings with UK commissioners.

The first three episodes, which were produced by former trader Andrew Osayemi and the show’s creator Debra Odutoyo, were put online as a taster for the eight episodes on DVD. They got over a million views on YouTube.

Meet the Adebanios, which stars stand-up Lateef Lovejoy, has also been bought by Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda. It currently runs on The African Channel in the UK.

The second series will begin filming early next year.

The show has also been adapted as a stage play and will play at London’s Hackney Empire in November.