ion of the News from AEFJN is now online. It contains news on UN Climate Summit in Durban (big business control the negotiations, REDD+ market mechanism is criticised), on protection of biodiversity and report on land rush, on Small Arms Flows and Communities in Kenya, on the Ethno-Religious Conflict in Nigeria, on Benin’s Universal Health Insurance Plan, efavirenz and AZT regimens for HIV treatment, on Africa lying naked to Euro-American Military Offensive and on Malawi urban poor hit by slew of price increases.
The national election campaign officially started the 28th October in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), exactly one month ahead of historic presidential and legislative elections, scheduled for November 28 2011. 41 humanitarian and human rights organizations, among them AEFJN, have expressed concern about the high political tension and deteriorating security situation. They have called upon all Congolese and international actors involved to take urgent measures to prevent electoral violence, better protect civilians and ensure credible, free and fair elections.
A simple booklet for workers in health centers in Africa, with guidelines on how to ensure the quality of purchased drugs. How can we assure the quality of the medicines we are buying? What do we need to know? What precautions should we take?
To encourage the commitment of AEFJN members in Africa, towards the fight against the proliferation of small arms in the continent, AEFJN has published a booklet with the organizations working for greater control of arms in Africa. 
MALAWI: Press Review January - February 2010
22.03.2010 16:44 by Begoña Iñarra (comments: 0)
News clippings with analysis from the Major newspapers in Malawi
SUMMARY
Members of Parliament in Malawi are never short of controversies. It all started with their proposal to have their allocation of fuel revised upwards. The Legislators would want to have 500 litres of fuel per month for each one of them. There are 193 members of the National Assembly. Their wish is somehow strange. According to some writers who made calculations 500 litres of fuel is just too much for the legislators.
Some observers have noted that the fuel allocation increase will be like another salary raise for the MPs because they get money equivalent to the litres of fuel. If government approves their proposal it means each of the MPs will be going home with the cash and not the actual fuel. Only God knows if all this money is going to be used for its intended purpose.
Already there have been reports of some legislators who desert their constituencies after winning their parliamentary seat. These members are seen in cities and have no time to visit the people who put them into power. One wonders why such MPs are making demands for more fuel allocations when they do not make trips to their constituencies. Of what use is the extra fuel they are demanding?
The same MPs have also had their sitting allowance raised from K15,000 to K20,000. MPs have at times used their positions to have their allowances and other benefits increased, when they are failing to discuss other more important issues that would benefit many poor Malawians. It is like they first of all care about their own welfare and care less about the voters. Not so long ago some MPs failed to make it back to parliament because of this same care free attitude.
We also agree with political analyst Dr Augustin Magolowondo who noted that 193 constituencies are just too many and therefore too much for a country like Malawi. Still being a poor small country with very minimal resources the number of constituencies is too much. Just like they (MPs) wanted to trim the number of councilors it would not be of any harm if the number of legislators was also chopped.
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