| In Africa it seems to be all misery and | | | | waived Malawian laws to allow Madonna and |
| nothing but problems, in the past few months | | | | Ritchie custody because of their celebrity |
| we have had the attempted assassination of | | | | status. Two months ago the pop superstar |
| the Somali President, the invasion of | | | | announced she was to donate three million |
| Northern Somali towns by Ethiopian troops, | | | | dollars (£1.6m) to the country through the |
| continuing ethnic problems is Darfur (Sudan) | | | | Raising Malawi charity. May that have had |
| and more than 20 people have been killed in | | | | something to do with it I ask? |
| political clashes in the DR Congo capital, | | | | |
| Kinshasa, in the latest round of elections. | | | | What ever next from this great continent? |
| | | | |
| To top this off, Madonna has been to Africa | | | | Well.... In Rwanda they are starting to use |
| to adopt a child called David, throwing | | | | the countrys first litter bins in the capital |
| Malawi into the worlds media. A group of | | | | Kigali. They have appeared in the centre of |
| Malawian charities sought a court injunction | | | | the city. |
| to try and block the pop star Madonnas bid to | | | | |
| adopt a baby boy. A group of Malawian | | | | Ivory Coast did exceptionally well in the |
| charities said that pop star Madonnas bid to | | | | 2006 Soccer World Cup and there is an |
| adopt a boy was illegal and sought a court | | | | increasing number of African players in the |
| injunction halting the adoption. | | | | UK Premier League and throughout Europe. |
| | | | |
| The charity obviously didnt have the power | | | | Increasing oil prices are leading to a boom |
| (money, fame?) that Madonna has and the | | | | in certain countries such as Nigeria which is |
| adopted baby arrived in UK recently to start | | | | using some of the funds for education and |
| his new and privileged life. They have | | | | other social programmes (I wont mention |
| secured a temporary 18-month custody order | | | | recent reports that Nigerian leaders stole |
| from the Malawi courts and hope to adopt him | | | | 380 billion dollars of oil money in the past |
| formally. How is adopting individual children | | | | 40 years). |
| from overseas going to help with the bigger | | | | |
| problem of rampant child poverty in Malawi? | | | | Many more African countries are now opening |
| Does it matter? Is this not a case of child | | | | up to attract tourists as the weather is |
| trafficking? | | | | nearly always good and the Safaris and White |
| | | | Water Rafting has to be experienced to |
| Westminster Council, which covers the area | | | | believed! |
| where Madonna lives in the UK has stated that | | | | |
| they regularly received applications from | | | | Bono and Live Aid highlighted the problems |
| residents wishing to adopt from overseas. I | | | | and the beauty of Africa, while showcasing |
| dont understand - Why is this the case when | | | | African talent at a concert in the UK which |
| there are hundreds of child in the UK that | | | | was echoed around the World. |
| need adopting and a home just as much as baby | | | | |
| David. Would baby David not be better off in | | | | African debt is decreasing in those countries |
| his own extended family and community? Louise | | | | that has good governments |
| Richards, from War on Want, added: "Madonna's | | | | |
| step to adopt the baby is a well-meaning, but | | | | Once you add African music, dance, food, |
| misguided act." In the capital Lilongwe, it | | | | crafts and culture you have one amazing |
| was claimed that the courts had improperly | | | | continent!!! |