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Africa

Malawi. Mount Mulanje: ‘The island in the sky’.

In southern Malawi, on the border with Mozambique, an imposing granite massif with sheer walls, Mount Mulanje, captures the humidity of the winds coming from the Indian Ocean, creating mists and rains that nourish lush forests and green tea plantations. With an altitude of 3,002 meters, Mount Mulanje is the highest mountain in southern Africa.…

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African ecological spirituality. Drinking from the wells of tradition.

In Africa, there is no separation between the sacred and the profane. According to common African spirituality, all life is sacred, and the entire creation is sacred, as it is an expression of divine force. African spirituality is rooted in the belief in a mutual interdependence – indeed, a oneness – of all creation, in…

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Herbs & Plants. Ageratum conyzoides. A remedy for myriads of disease conditions.

It is an erect, branching, soft, slightly aromatic, annual herb with shallow fibrous roots. The plant has a goat-like smell and hence the common name “goat weed”. The genus name Ageratum is derived from the Greek words ‘a geras’, meaning non-aging, referring to the longevity of the whole plant. Ageratum conyzoides (Family Asteraceae) is a…

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Senegal. Goldmines for the Jihadists.

In the regions bordering between Senegal and Mali, the gold rush has created hundreds of artisanal or semi-artisanal mines. A real danger is that the extraction of the precious metal may be used as a source of financing for terrorist groups. In the Senegalese region of Kédougou, the gold rush begins at first light, when…

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The Jacaranda. Floral Magic

When southern spring blooms, the streets of Harare and Pretoria are tinged with purple and lilac. In Zimbabwe and South Africa, during the spring season, which in the southern hemisphere begins in September, the large cities are coloured by the flowering of thousands of jacaranda trees (imported from South America at the end of the…

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The importance of African Names.

In many African cultures, one cannot call directly the name of a person whose rank is higher than one’s own. Father, mother, uncle, aunt, sister and brother… is all you will hear in some families. Moreover, in Africa, names are not given casually. They are given solemnly in a naming ceremony. There are sometimes cases…

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Kenya. Turkana. Land, Lake and People

To cope with increasingly recurring droughts and animal deaths, the northern ethnic group, equipped with a solid culture, is changing its habits. Agriculture takes the place of pastoralism, due also to targeted initiatives by the missionaries of Saint Paul. From the rocky hill, the view of the semi-arid plain is of a beauty that is…

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Niger. Jihadists aiming for Niamey.

The most serious threat is that the extremists will expand south and close the access routes to the capital. The military actions of the military junta have so far brought little results. Civilian casualties have increased. After the latest coup in Niger, all the countries in the central Sahel region are governed by military juntas…

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DR. Congo. Apple accused of buying conflict minerals by Kinshasa.

The DRC government accuses Apple of buying conflict minerals and funding armed groups in the east of the country. However, boycotts of these minerals and sanctions have so far proved ineffective in curbing the violence. On 25 April, lawyers hired by the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accused American tech giant Apple…

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South Africa. Durban. Missed opportunities to divert ships to avoid Houthi attacks.

As Africa’s largest port, Durban faces many challenges that are hampering its development. These include congestion, lack of reform and competition from other regional ports. Managed in a landlord capacity by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), the port of Durban is the largest in Africa. It has strong maritime connections with the rest of…

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Advocacy

Semia Gharbi. Fighting against eco-mafias.

She played a key role in a campaign that challenged a corrupt waste trafficking scheme between Italy and Tunisia, resulting in the return of 6,000…

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Baobab

The swallow brings the summer.

The Black and white swallow flew high up in the clear, blue sky, wheeling and diving, his fast, pointed wings carrying him at a great speed. Swallow…

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Youth & Mission

Pope Leo and the Youth.

Welcoming, listening and guiding. Some characteristics of Pope Leo with the youth During the years when Father Robert Francis Prevost was pastor of the church of Our…

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