WBEZ | Uganda

Women in northern Uganda try to create positive change after abuse and child kidnappings

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:52:00 -0500

Northern Uganda is still reeling from a 23-year civil war that internally displaced over 1.6 million people. The Gulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalization (GWEDG) is the region’s first grassroots human rights organization focused on women. It was founded by women whose human rights were violated and mothers whose children were forcibly abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army. GWEDG provides a means to justice, peace-building, psychosocial support and economic empowerment. Worldview talks with Pamela Angwech Judith, co-founder and executive director for GWEDG, about her own journey that led her to found the organization.

Worldview 4.18.12

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:19:59 -0500

Despite calls to cancel due to human rights abuses, Bahrain's monarchy will host the Formula One race this weekend. The move to host the event amid protests signals an effort by the government to appear stable and secure. Worldview talks with Sanjeev Bery, advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International USA, about the decision. Also, the grassroots group, Gulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalization, was founded by women in northern Uganda whose children were forcibly abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army. Worldview speaks with Pamela Angwech Judith, co-founder and executive director of the organization. And, Jerome and Eight Forty-Eight/Radio M host Tony Sarabia discuss India’s heavy metal scene on this week's Global Notes.

Global Activism: Gus Zuehlke works to bring internet access to Uganda and South Sudan

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:26:09 -0500

Battery Operated Systems for Community Outreach (BOSCO) is an all-volunteer not-for-profit group that works to bring internet to isolated rural areas in Northern Uganda and South Sudan. Founder Gus Zuehlke gives Worldview an update on BOSCO's work and how YouTube phenomenon KONY 2012 has affected the the group's work.

Worldview 4.12.12

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:18:46 -0500

The National Security Agency is building one of the most advanced and most secretive data collection centers in the world. With a price-tag of more than $2 billion, the Utah Data Center is slated to open in 2013 and is expected to house everything from cell-phone conversations and grocery receipts to ultra-encrypted messages passed between diplomats.

It aims to give the U.S. government “total information awareness.” Worldview talks with journalist James Bamford, who wrote about the project in Wired magazine, about the NSA’s ambitions and what they mean for Americans’ privacy and security.

Also, as the 2012 Global Activism Expo approaches, Worldview revisits BOSCO, an all-volunteer not-for-profit dedicated to bringing the internet to isolated rural areas in Northern Uganda and South Sudan.

Ugandan gay rights group files lawsuit in U.S. against American evangelist

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:51:00 -0500

In 2009, American evangelist Scott Lively spoke at a conference in Uganda entitled “Seminar on Exposing the Homosexual Agenda.” That same year, an anti-homosexuality bill was introduced in the Ugandan parliament. It became known as the “Kill the Gays Bill” because of its calls for the death penalty for certain homosexual offenses. After an international outcry, the bill has been in limbo but was recently reintroduced in parliament. Last week, a Ugandan gay rights group called Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court against Lively. The suit alleges that for the past ten years, Lively has participated in a conspiracy to deprive LGBT Ugandans of their human rights. Today, Worldview talks with Pam Spees, SMUG's attorney, and Mathew Staver, Lively's attorney.

Worldview 3.21.12

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:57:00 -0500

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir will meet early next month for just the second time since South Sudan’s independence last year. The meeting comes amidst a simmering humanitarian crisis along the border. Worldview gets an update from Sudan expert Douglas Johnson, who was recently in the war-torn country. Also, according to the National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Throwaway Children, some 90 percent of all children and youth trafficked for commercial sex in the United States are U.S. citizens. Kristin Lindsey, CEO of The Global Fund for Children and James Kofi Annan, founder of Challenging Heights, based in Accra, Ghana tell Worldview why these kids are at risk. And, last week a Ugandan gay rights group filed a lawsuit in the U.S. against American evangelist Scott Lively. The lawsuit alleges that Lively conspired to deprive LGBT Ugandans of their human rights through his anti-gay rhetoric and ties with Ugandan leaders. We’ll speak with attorneys for both sides. Pam Spees from the Center for Constitutional Rights represents the plaintiffs. Mathew Staver, dean of Liberty University’s School of Law, represents Scott Lively.

The debate sparked by Invisible Children's viral video 'Kony 2012'

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:55:00 -0600

The head of Uganda's Lord’s Resistance Army, Joseph Kony, has jumped into the spotlight thanks to a 30 minute video by the American advocacy group Invisible Children.

The video’s gone viral, with more than 30 million views in the last two days, and has sparked a debate about the West’s role in Africa. But as people and media outlets celebrate the explosion of activism on the subject, the video's director, Jason Russell, has received questions and criticism about singling out one man, or one country, in the exploitation of children.

Worldview speaks with Kisuule Magala Katende, Ugandan independent journalist and contributor to the newssite Ababaka.com; Nathan Mustain, co- founder of Invisible Conflicts and Dwon Madiki Partnership. And also with us is Worldview Senior Producer, Steve Bynum.

Invisible Children's Kony 2012

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

Worldview 3.9.12

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:42:00 -0600

The head of the Lord’s Resistance Army, Joseph Kony, has jumped into the spotlight thanks to a 30 minute video by the American advocacy group Invisible Children. The video’s gone viral, with more than 30 million views in the last two days, and has sparked a debate about the West’s role in Africa. Worldview discusses the video's implications with Ugandan journalist Kisuule Magala and takes calls from listeners. To join the conversation, call 312-923-9239. Also, Worldview kicks off a new segment called Weekend Passport. Each Friday, global citizen Nari Safavi shares his picks for how to experience another country without leaving the Chicago area.

Surgeons in short supply in Uganda

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:59:00 -0600

Uganda desperately needs surgeons. In a country of 32 million people, there are only about a hundred specialist surgeons. As a result, accident victims with critical injuries must sometimes wait weeks or months for operations.

One reason for the shortage: Ugandan medical students increasingly choose to work in the better paying field of HIV and AIDS care. Bonnie Allen reports.

The piece originally aired on the World Vision Report. We got it from the Public Radio Exchange.

Global Activism: Combatting HIV-AIDS and poverty in Lyantonde, Uganda

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:58:00 -0500

Every Thursday on Global Activism, we hear from a local individual who works to make the world a better place.

Ahabwe Michael is executive director of the ICOD Action Network, based in the Lyantonde district of southwestern Uganda. His organization responds to socioeconomic challenges in his society like HIV/AIDS, high unemployment, insufficient health care, poor sanitation and famine. He says he began his work because he wanted make a difference.

Be sure to download the Global Activism podcast. You can also suggest someone you think we should include in the series.