Oh, Malawi

Where goeth thee?

Perhaps, as other people have suggested, our leaders are too educated for our level; our calibre.

Perhaps, try to elect 'pure villagers' in 2014.

Perhaps, they will understand.

How do you expel your best friend; the one who was there for you when you nearly starved?

The one who loved you; really loved you and peacefully handed over power to the locals in 1964.

And lovingly so.

Would the real Ngwazi (appearing above) Have done this?

This, what the junior Ngwazi has done?

This shame he has committed in our face?

This Ngwazi. Professor Bingu wa Mutharika!

A professor without students!

Professor Without-Students Bingu Webster Thom wa Mutharika!

But we are here; to serve our country from tyranny.

Which tyranny the expelled British envoy talked about.

He was right.

Should you need me, to expel me, for this: find me in Mbayani Township. Gaisi, to be precise.

I tell you, you will not win without scars!

PPM: MALAWI GOVERNMENT MUST APOLOGISE OVER BRITISH ENVOY EXPULSION

MALAWI GOVERNMENT MUST APOLOGISE
We, The Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM), wish to request the DPP led government to unconditionally withdraw and apologise to the British Government for its action against the Bristish High Commissioner Fergus Cochrane-Dyte.
The British government has warned of unspecified consequences if government goes ahead and deports the British High Commissioner. We are sure it is not speculation if we conclude that the unspecified consequences may amount to aid freeze, which will have serious repercussions for the Malawi economy and hence suffering of the common Malawian.
We are all aware of the role Britain has been playing in Malawi in all spheres of our economy. We are therefore deeply concerned that the actions and decisions by this government are bringing fear and uncertainty to all Malawians of good intent, because they are selfish and will work to the detriment of the common Malawians. We are aware of the sovereignty of our country as an independent state but we are sure the country cannot stand the resultant donor aid freeze.
We are therefore unreservedly asking the DPP led Government to apologise not only to the concerned British High Commissioner, but also to the British Government as a whole. If the government does not give a timely apology, we will hold the state president, his cabinet and his party responsible for any consequences.

PEOPLES PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT
MPHAVU KU WANTHU

Let British envoy Fergus Cochrane-Dyet pack up and go. Quickly- Govt. Spokesperson Simon Vuwa-Kaunda

The British envoy to Malawi, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, was given a formal letter of expulsion on Tuesday night, Symon Vuwa-Kaunda, Malawi government's spokesman, has confirmed.

People's Progressive Movement Speaks on Govt Decision to Ban Local Chief from Attending Public Functions

PRESS RELEASE
DPP AT IT AGAIN
The Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM) would like to condemn, in the strongest terms, a statement monitored on Zodiak Broadcasting Station, during the Easter Holiday, that DDP has banned a chief in Balaka from attending all Presidential and government functions due to the chief’s reported association with an opposition party.
This is extremely unfortunate. The chief does not deserve such an insult. Chiefs like all other citizens should enjoy freedom of association and their right to development. Chiefs are entitled to get development from anywhere be it government, opposition parties, donor community, religious organizations or even individual well-wishers, let alone their members of parliament. Contribution to the development of our country is not a monopoly of the ruling party alone. It is the responsibility of every citizen.
PPM would therefore like to appeal to the DPP led government to stop harassing our chiefs because of their association with opposition parties. The DPP must learn to govern in a multiparty democratic environment. In a multiparty democracy people are ruled by tolerance and consensus not by intimidation. Rule by intimidation is a thing of the past, buried and long gone.
Political exploitation of our chiefs compromises their freedom as free citizens of Malawi. It is high time such exploitation stopped.
Politics of hatred and isolation will not take us anywhere. We all need to unite in the service of our country.
We wish to put it on record that the foregoing is one of the ploys by DPP government to re-introduce their tricks of creating enmity between the opposition parties and the electorate. We all recall that in the past parliament (2004 – 2009), the DPP earned a lot of sympathy with the notorious “Azipani zotsutsa akukana budget” slogan when it was not true. Opposition parties never rejected any budget. The opposition were in fact against particular votes being allocated more money than necessary.
When opposition challenged these votes, DPP went all over the country telling the electorate that the opposition was refusing to pass the budget. Fact of the matter is that when even a single vote is queried, the whole budget cannot pass until the queried vote is resolved. The commonly queried votes at the time were OPC, State Residencies, and others where the money allocated does not directly benefit the ordinary people.
At least now people know where their tax money is going, with the current fast tracking of the passing of the national budget in the current parliament.

PEOPLES PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT
MPHAVU KU WANTHU

Foreign Secretary Statement on recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa

House of Commons



Tuesday 26th April 2011



STARTS



Mr Speaker with permission I will update the House on recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa.



Britain has continued to take a leading role in international efforts to protect civilians in Libya and the case for action remains compelling: Qadhafi’s regime persists in attacking its own people, wilfully killing its own civilian population.



Our strategy is to intensify the diplomatic, economic and military pressure on Qadhafi’s regime and since the House last met we have made progress on all those fronts.



On the diplomatic front, I co-chaired the first meeting of the Libya Contact Group in Doha on 13 April. The 21 states and seven international organisations represented demonstrated clear unity with participation from across the Arab world and the African Union in attendance. The Group agreed that Qadhafi’s regime had lost all legitimacy, that the National Transitional Council should be offered further support and that the UN Special Envoy should take forward an inclusive political process. I will attend the next Contact Group meeting in Rome on 5 May.



At the NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Berlin on 14 and 15 April, I joined colleagues in showing our determination to increase the pace of military operations to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1973. The 28 NATO Member States and 6 Arab countries that attended, 16 of which out of the 34 are engaged in military action, agreed a common strategy. That is an important milestone in world affairs, a sign of a growing ability to work across traditional regional divisions and a demonstration of the breadth and unity in the international coalition in support of the Libyan people.



On the economic front, since my statement on 4 April, further Libyan entities have been sanctioned and the regime is now subject to some of the most comprehensive economic sanctions ever agreed by the United Nations.



On military matters, since NATO assumed full control over all military operations on 31 March, more than 3500 sorties and 1500 strike sorties have been conducted. This action has seriously degraded Qadhafi’s military assets and prevented widespread massacres planned by Qadhafi’s forces: they remain unable to enter Benghazi and it is highly likely that without these efforts Misrata would have fallen, with terrible consequences for that city’s brave inhabitants.



Yesterday Italy announced that its aircraft would take part in ground strikes and the United States Government has contributed Predator unmanned aerial vehicles to the coalition forces. My Right Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence is in Washington today to discuss the military situation.



Heavy fighting continues around the towns of Brega, Ajdabiya, Yefren and Misrata. The regime’s indiscriminate shelling of residential areas in Misrata shows that it continues to target the civilian population.



Qadhafi has shown that he has no regard for civilian lives. The ICC prosecutor has said that there is evidence of a case against Qadhafi for crimes against humanity. We look forward to the prosecutor’s report to the UN on 4 May.



By his actions it is clear that Qadhafi has no intention of observing the conditions in UNSCR 1973 that I described to the House earlier this month. He has repeatedly ignored the ceasefires that he himself has announced.



Our military action is defined by the UN Security Council Resolutions. We are also clear that Qadhafi should go, and it is impossible to see a viable or peaceful way forward for Libya until he does so.



The Libya Contact Group’s statement made clear that, in contrast to Qadhafi, we and our allies regard the National Transitional Council as a legitimate interlocutor, representing the aspirations of the Libyan people. Our diplomatic mission in Benghazi is working with it. Our Special Envoy, Christopher Prentice, will shortly be succeeded by John Jenkins, currently Her Majesty’s Ambassador in Baghdad.



Last week I announced our decision to expand this mission with a small advisory team of British military officers. Their sole purpose is to support the NTC’s efforts better to protect civilians by advising on military organisational structures, communications and logistics. They are not involved in training or arming the opposition’s forces, nor are they executing or providing operational military advice.



This is fully in line with the UN Resolutions and I reiterate to the House that we will remain wholly in accordance with the UN Resolutions, retaining the moral, legal and international authority that flows from that.



We have supplied vital, non-lethal equipment to assist the NTC in protecting civilian lives. So far this consists of telecommunications equipment and body armour. We are considering with our international partners further requests.



In the coming week, we hope to agree internationally the process for establishing a Temporary Financial Mechanism to provide a transparent structure for international financial support for the financial requirements of the NTC such as public sector pay. Yesterday Kuwait announced around 110 million pounds’ worth of support for the NTC.



I am sure the House will join me in paying tribute to the skill, bravery and professionalism of the men and women of the UK’s and allies’ armed forces. Their actions in the NATO operations have already saved many lives and their efforts are essential to bringing a lasting peace and a better future for the Libyan people who have suffered so much at the hands of this brutal regime. And I also pay tribute to the brave humanitarian workers who put their lives at risk.



The UK is also supporting the other needs of the Libyan people in every way we can. The humanitarian situation in the West of the country is getting worse every day. Many civilians in Misrata lack access to basic necessities, including food, water and electricity. There is a shortage of some crucial medical supplies.



That is why my Rt Hon. Friend the International Development Secretary announced last week that the UK will provide medical and other emergency supplies and undertake evacuations for 5000 migrants stranded at Misrata port in squalid conditions. The UK has so far given over £13 million to meet immediate humanitarian needs, providing funding for medical and food supplies, emergency shelter, and assistance for evacuating poor and vulnerable migrants. In Misrata alone, British support has given 10,000 people food, 2000 families water and hygiene kits and provided essential medical staff. But the regime must guarantee unfettered humanitarian access, not just broken promises which then put the lives of aid workers and volunteers at risk.



The wave of demand for change in the Arab World continues to gain momentum in other nations. As I said earlier today we condemn utterly the violence and killings perpetrated by the Syrian security forces against civilians who are expressing their views in peaceful protests. This violent repression must stop. President Assad should order his authorities to show restraint and to respond to the legitimate demands of his people with immediate and genuine reform, not with brutal repression. The Emergency Law should be lifted in practice and the legitimate aspirations of the people met.



The United Kingdom is working intensively with our international partners to persuade the Syrian authorities to stop the violence and respect basic and universal human rights to freedoms of expression and assembly.



Syria is now at a fork in the road. Its Government can still choose to bring about the radical reform which alone can provide peace and stability in Syria and for the long term, and we urge it do so. Or it can choose ever more violent repression, which can only bring short term security for the authorities there. If it does so we will work with our European partners and others to take measures, including sanctions, that will have an impact on the regime.



Given our concerns for British Nationals in Syria we changed our Travel Advice on Sunday to advise against all travel there and to advise that British Nationals should leave unless there is a pressing need for them to remain.



In Yemen, the United Kingdom welcomes the news this morning that the efforts of the Gulf Co-operation Council countries to resolve the current political deadlock are close to success. I understand that President Saleh and the parliamentary opposition have accepted the GCC’s proposal. This is potentially good news.



Both sides now need to come together to confirm their commitment to the peaceful, inclusive and timely transition process that the GCC has brokered. The UK remains committed to our long-standing support for Yemen in these difficult times.



Although the immediate situation in Bahrain is calmer, there continue to be credible reports of human rights abuses. I urge the Government of Bahrain to meet all its human rights obligations and uphold political freedoms, equal access to justice and the rule of law. Dialogue is the way to fulfil the aspirations of all Bahrainis. And I urge all sides, including opposition groupings, to engage with each other.



In Egypt, which I will visit shortly, we welcome the actions being taken by the authorities to move towards a broad-based, civilian-led government and an open, democratic society.



In Tunisia, with EU partners we are providing support to help the government in Tunisia meet the wishes of the Tunisian people. On 11 April, the Commission responsible for bringing together opposition parties and civil society approved the draft law for the Constituent Assembly elections scheduled for 24 July. This is a step further towards free and fair elections and an open, democratic society.



The European Union has a crucial role to play in the southern Mediterranean. The great changes in the Arab world are truly historic and the response from the nations of the European Union should be bold and ambitious.



The review of the European Neighbourhood Policy is due to be published in a fortnight. We have been making the case that we have the opportunity to use that Policy to help the peoples of the Southern Mediterranean achieve their desire for freer and more prosperous societies. A renewed Neighbourhood Policy should see the EU using its economic magnetism to encourage and support political and economic reform in neighbouring countries. A partnership of equals should reward those who make the necessary political and economic reforms, and – importantly – withdraw benefits from those who do not.



Finally, it remains essential that progress is made in the search for a just and lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is what the majority of Palestinians and Israelis demand of their leaders. The extraordinary changes in the region are an opportunity to be seized, not an excuse for further prevarication leading to more frustration and discontent.



Mr Speaker, in our response to the dramatic events in North Africa and the Middle East we will continue to stand for reform not repression, for the addressing of grievances rather than brutal reprisals. It is a policy in accordance with our own beliefs, in line with our own national interest, and in pursuit of the peace and prosperity of the wider world.



ENDS

Wedding card for Prince William & Kate

Gay couples want the right to marry too

Supporters of the Equal Love campaign presented a giant wedding card for Prince William and Kate Middleton outside the gates of Buckingham Palace on Monday, 25 April 2011.

As well as wishing the royal couple "congratulations" and "a happy life together", the campaigners highlighted the ban on gay civil marriage and urged Kate and William to support the right of same-sex couples to marry in a register office. Cupcakes with Equal Love logos were handed out to tourists and passers by. Dozens of people signed the card.

Free photos of the Buckingham Palace presentation here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/outrage/sets/72157626574683662
These photos are free to use, without charge, but please credit: Peter Tatchell Foundation

The card read:
"Congratulations William and Kate on your Wedding Day. We wish you a happy life together. You can get married, gay people can't. We are banned by law. We ask you to support marriage equality. Equal=Love."

"As well as wishing the royal couple happiness, our card highlighted the fact that William and Kate can marry, but same-sex couples cannot. In democratic society, we should all be equal before the law. The ban on gay marriage is discrimination and should be repealed," said coordinator of Monday's 12 noon event, Peter Tatchell of the Equal Love campaign.

Mr Tatchell added:

"The public response was amazingly supportive. Everyone outside the palace expressed support for marriage equality. We didn't get a single negative reaction.

"William and Kate are a modern young couple. They have gay friends. I am sure they would not wish them to suffer discrimination. Denying gay people the right to marry is unjust and unreasonable discrimination.

"Kate and William had a choice. They could get married, or not. They chose to marry. Great. Same-sex couples don't have this choice. We are banned from marriage by law.

"We are urging the royal couple to find a way, within official protocol, to indicate their support for marriage equality. If they did this, they'd be the first royal couple to do so.

"The majority of the British public now support gay civil marriages in register offices:
http://www.populuslimited.com/the-times-the-times-gay-britain-poll-100609.html

"Three of the couples involved in the Equal Love legal campaign were present outside Buckingham Palace today, including Rev Sharon Ferguson and her partner Franka.

"In February, four gay couples and four heterosexual couples filed the Equal Love application in the European Court of Human Rights, seeking to overturn Britain's legal prohibitions on same-sex marriage and opposite-sex civil partnerships.

"Even if people disagree with the monarchy and marriage, the prohibition on gay marriage is homophobic and should be overturned. We must not let the government dictate that lesbian and gay couples cannot get married.

"Equally, we object to the way heterosexual couples are prohibited by law from having a civil partnership. Perhaps William and Kate might have preferred a civil partnership? It is wrong that they were prohibited by law from having this option.

"This event is an affirmation of our opposition to discrimination in marriage law. We want to show our support for the right of everyone to be able to choose whether or not to get married," said Mr Tatchell.

Today's celebration was organised by the Equal Love campaign, which seeks to overturn the twin bans on gay civil marriages and heterosexual civil partnerships: www.equallove.org.uk

It is supported by the LGBTI human rights group OutRage! www.outrage.org.uk and the Peter Tatchell Foundation www.petertatchellfoundation.org

More background info on the issue

Peter Tatchell writes:

"We wish William and Kate every happiness. May they have a joyful marriage and a wonderful married life together.

"The royal couple are lucky. They have the option to get married. Gay couples don't have this option. They are barred by law from marriage.

"We urge Kate and William to support marriage equality: the right of same-sex couples to get married. Their support would mean a lot. They take for granted the right to marry. Marriage is something that many lesbian and gay couples want but cannot have.

"Gay marriage is a simple issue of respect, equality and fairness. In a democracy, we should all be equal before the law. This means an equal right to marry, regardless of sexual orientation.

"Gay couples are allowed civil partnerships. But this is not equality. They cannot get married in a register office like their heterosexual family and friends. This is discrimination and discrimination is wrong.

"There would be uproar if the government banned Jewish people from marriage and offered them civil partnerships instead. We would call it an anti-Semitic law; something we would expect in Nazi Germany not democratic Britain. Well, Jews are not banned from marriage but gay people are.

"The ban on gay civil marriages is opposed by nearly two-thirds of the British people, according to an opinion poll by Populous in June 2009. The poll found that 61% of the public believe that: "Gay couples should have an equal right to get married, not just to have civil partnerships." Only 33% disagreed.
http://www.populuslimited.com/the-times-the-times-gay-britain-poll-100609.html

"A new poll taken today would almost certainly register even more public support for marriage equality - and for the right of heterosexual couples to have a civil partnership, from which they are banned.

"On 2 February this year, eight couples - four gay and four heterosexual - filed a joint legal application to the European Court of Human Rights, to overturn the twin bans on gay civil marriages and heterosexual civil partnerships. Their applications are sponsored by the Equal Love campaign - www.equallove.org.uk - which seeks to end sexual orientation discrimination in both civil marriage and civil partnership law. It is supported by the Peter Tatchell Foundation and the LGBTI campaign group OutRage!," said Mr Tatchell

Malawi is no haven for homosexuals- Govt

Information and Civic Education Minister, Symon Vuwa-Kaunda, says Malawi will not bow down to donor pressure and legalise homosexuality.
Kaunda's sentiments come hardly four days after Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, George Chaponda and Presidential Spokesperson Hetherwick Ntaba, also raised similar sentiments in Malawi's capital, Lilongwe.
"Homosexuality is against our culture; indeed, there is no place for homosexuals in Malawi," Kaunda told Zachimalawi today in a brief interview.
Development partners such as the Federal Republic of Germany, United States of America, Norway, Britain, and the African Development Bank have been on government's neck, imploring it to respect minority rights.
"We will not listen to these donors on this 'evil' topic," said Kaunda.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (PAC) PRESS STATEMENT ON BINGU WA MUTHARIKA

PRESS STATEMENT
Issued : 20 April, 2011

The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) would like to condemn the government for its tactics bent on intimidating the international community for expressing its views on Malawi’s political terrain . The recent development of the intended expulsion of the British High Commissioner confirms PAC’s position that the current leadership is not ready to yield to divergent views on issues affecting Malawi.
Given that the government’s tone is uncompromising on political governance , PAC wishes to re-iterate its position that the current regime has lost its direction . Therefore, what the international community has been observing is reflective of the realities on the ground. We are deeply shocked that after all constructive criticisms levelled at government, authorities continue to display undemocratic actions towards various institutions in this country. We find these developments unfortunate and unacceptable as we strive to consolidate our democratic institutions. We call upon Civil Society Organisations to remain united in the promotion and protection of human rights - for our work is for the benefit of the common good. As we pursue our goals, let us refrain from receiving hand-outs which may divert our attentions from real issues.
The arrogance from our authorities remain a cause of concern. Lack of strong alternative voices from other political parties seem to be a contributing factor . We appeal to opposition political parties to organise themselves so that in 2014 Malawians should have better options. PAC is of the view that Malawians should not be bull-dozed to the tune of one particular individual as if change was brought by few individuals. Many Malawians suffered in the process of realising freedoms and rights during the transition. Now, it is surprising that authorities behave as if rights and freedoms are charitable gifts from their hands. PAC would like to remind those in power that the positions they occupy today were also assumed by other intelligent politicians a few years back - but none of the politician has ever owned such positions. It is the will of the people that dictates the agenda of every politician in every democratic dispensation.
We challenge the government’s actions of intimidating civil society and international community as counter – productive and based on false belief that it can manipulate Malawians . We believe that the present generation will not yield to threats which are designed to stifle our democratic tenets . We therefore appeal to the government to desist from acts of intimidation and oppression .
As a faith-based organisation, we believe Malawi is a God fearing country and all Malawians reflect the image of God. Therefore, the acts of oppression and intimidation we observe today directly inflict on the image of God.
We call upon all Malawians to live together peacefully irrespective of their divergent views.

May God Bless Us all.



Rev Mc Donald Kadawati
ACTING CHAIRPERSON, PAC

Debate Continues Over Malawi's Decision to Deport British Envoy

So far, the Malawi Government has drawn angry responses from NGOs, Civil Siciety Organisations, among others.
They describe the decision to 'chase' the British top envoy away as 'catastrophic'.
Britain is a key contributor to Malawi's economy, and contributes towards civil servants pay, national budget (40% of which is financed by donors), among other areas.

FCO SPOKESPERSON STATEMENT ON MALAWI

Press Release: TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2011

FCO SPOKESPERSON STATEMENT ON MALAWI





“The Acting Permanent Under Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Adams, summoned the Charge d’Affaires of Malawi to the Foreign Office this morning. He conveyed to her the Foreign Secretary’s strong concern at suggestions that the Government of Malawi is considering declaring the British High Commissioner, Mr Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, “persona non grata”.



“Sir Geoffrey made clear to the Charge d’Affaires that such an action would be unacceptable. Mr Cochrane-Dyet is an able and effective High Commissioner, who retains the full confidence of the British Government.



“Sir Geoffrey added that if the Government of Malawi pursued such action there were likely to be consequences affecting the full range of issues in the bilateral relationship. He urged the Malawian authorities, through the Charge d’Affaires, not to proceed down such a road.”



Kind regards,

Newsdesk

Press Office l Foreign and Commonwealth Office



All the latest news is available on our website at: www.fco.gov.uk/news

Follow the FCO on twitter for the latest news @foreignoffice and travel advice @fcotravel



Lewis

Lewis Kulisewa | Political Affairs Officer

British High Commission, Off Convention Road, PO Box 30042, Lilongwe 3, MALAWI.

( Phone: +265 1 772400 | (FTN: 8396 2226 | È Mobile: +265 999 960235

ÊFax: +265 1 772657 | * E-mail: lewis.kulisewa@fco.gov.uk

: www.ukinmalawi.fco.gov.uk | www.fco.gov.uk

California May Require Teaching of Gay History

LOS ANGELES — In California public schools, students are required to
learn about black history and women’s history. And if a bill approved
by the State Senate this week becomes law, the state will become the
first in the country to mandate that schools also teach gay history.

While the bill does not set specific requirements about what should be
taught to students, it does say that contributions of gays and
lesbians in the state and country must be included in social science
instruction. So Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected
officials in the state, and Bayard Rustin, a civil rights activist,
may take a prominent place in the state’s history books.

Advocates say that teaching about gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people in schools would prevent bullying and shatter
stereotypes that some students may harbor. They point to several
students who have committed suicide after being taunted by peers for
being gay. But the bill has drawn vociferous criticism from opponents
who argue that when and how to talk about same-sex relationships
should be left to parents.

A similar bill was approved by the Democratic-controlled Legislature
in 2006, but vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said that
school curriculum should be left up to local schools. But there is a
new governor now. And both supporters and opponents of the bill expect
it will sail through the heavily Democratic Assembly and be signed
into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat who has been supportive of
gay rights.

“It is very basic to me that people dislike and fear that with which
we are less familiar,” said Mark Leno, who sponsored the bill and is
one of the first openly gay men elected to the State Senate. Students
who come to view their fellow classmates as regular members of
society, rather than misfits, will find that “their behavior changes
for the better,” Mr. Leno said.

Some school districts, including San Francisco and Los Angeles, have
already put in place such a curriculum. But even in those more liberal
areas, Mr. Leno said, students may not realize how recently gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals have been given more
rights. For example, he said, many teenagers would be shocked to learn
that it was just more than a decade ago when the state legally
prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The increasing acceptance of gays and lesbians is precisely what
bothers some of the opponents of the legislation. Craig De Luz, a
conservative activist and school board member from Sacramento, said
that in many communities “the issue of homosexuality is far from
settled.”

“There is still a big cultural discussion of: Is it something that one
chooses, or is it something that someone is born with,” Mr. De Luz
said. “It is all part of the same agenda, which is largely about
social acceptance. Now this is a way of endorsing a lifestyle that
many people are morally opposed to.”

Bob Huff, a Republican from San Bernardino, said he worried that the
bill would water down the state curriculum and distract students from
learning the basics.

“To have something this nebulous just opens it up to problems,” Mr.
Huff said. “At what age do you start doing this instruction? What is
age appropriate and what is appropriate at all is really a question we
haven’t answered.”

Carolyn Laub, the director of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, who
lobbied for the legislation, cited the experience of an Orange County
student as an example of how the law might work. When the student
learned that the civil rights protests of the 1960s would be discussed
in history class, he asked the teacher to talk about the Stonewall
riots.

“Suddenly students see he is part of a broader community, and they
have a much better understanding of that community in the context of
the rest of the world,” Ms. Laub said. “It has absolutely nothing to
do with sex; it’s about entire communities that are left out.”- SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES

CNN MULTICHOICE AFRICAN JOURNALIST 2011 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

For release: 19 April 2011



CNN MULTICHOICE AFRICAN JOURNALIST 2011 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED




Finalists in the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2011 Competition were announced today by Joel Kibazo, Chair of the independent judging panel.

The competition is now in its 16th year.



This year the competition received entries from 42 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.



There are 27 finalists from 13 countries:



· Kofi Akpabli, Freelance for the Daily Graphic, Ghana

· Claudine Efoa Atohoun, ORTB, Benin

· Rabin Bhujun, L’Express Dimanche, Mauritius

· José Bouças de Oliveira, Televisão Santomense, São Tomé

· Sylvia Chebet, Citizen TV, Kenya

· DispatchOnline Team, Daily Dispatch, South Africa

· Kimani Githae, Citizen TV, Kenya

· Lamia Hassan, Business Today, Egypt

· Virgil Augustin Pascal Houesson, L’événement Précis, Benin

· Mahamud Abdi Jama, Waaheen, Somalia

· Norman Katende, Freelance for The New Vision, Uganda

· Farouk Kayondo, UBC, Uganda

· Mark Klusener, eNews Africa, South Africa

· Selma Marivate, Record, Mozambique

· Melini Moses, SABC, South Africa

· Lindile Mpanza, e.tv, South Africa

· Kamau Mutunga, DN2 Magazine, Daily Nation, Kenya

· Nigel M. Nassar, The New Vision, Uganda

· Fatuma Noor, The Star, Kenya

· Oluwatoyos Ogunseye, Sunday Punch, Nigeria

· Nnamdi Okosieme, Next Newspaper, Nigeria

· Benon Herbert Oluka, Sunday Life Magazine, Sunday Monitor, Uganda

· Beryl Ooro, K24 TV, Kenya

· Sonny Serite, Freelance for The Sunday Standard, Botswana

· Portia Solomon, TV3 News, Ghana

· Kipchumba Some, The Standard, Kenya

· Nkula Zau, Televisão Pública de Angola





This year the recipient of the Free Press Africa Award is Mahamud Abdi Jama, Editor of Waaheen, an independent private newspaper published in Somaliland. Waaheen, part of the Waaheen Media Group, is known for its critical coverage of the Government.



Mahamud was sentenced to three years in prison and fined in connection with a story alleging public corruption. After pressure on the Government Mahamud was granted a Presidential pardon and released after spending over a month in prison.



He is awarded this prize for working under stressful conditions, and in the face of opposition and providing the public with important information, regardless of the consequences to himself.



The winners of the competition will be announced at an Award Ceremony and Gala Evening in Johannesburg, South Africa on Saturday 25 June 2011.



The hosts for the evening will be Isha Sesay, presenter of CNN International’s weekly programme ‘Inside Africa’ and Robert Marawa, the face of one of DStv’s SuperSports channel and regular host of Metro FM’s Discovery Sports Centre.



Announcing the finalists, Joel Kibazo said: “African journalists are becoming noticeably more challenging, showing greater courage and strength which would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Entries this year have demonstrated this – bolder, more determined on their home patch, and with a new found zeal to cover countries beyond their own borders."




The independent judging panel, chaired by Joel Kibazo, journalist and media consultant, includes: Ikechukwu Amaechi, Editor, Daily Independent, Nigeria; Jean-Paul Gérouard, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, France 3 TV; Ferial Haffajee, Editor-in-Chief, City Press, South Africa; Arlindo Lopes, former Secretary General, Southern African Broadcasting Association; Zipporah Musau, Managing Editor, Magazines, The Standard Group Ltd, Kenya; Kim Norgaard, CNN Bureau Chief, South Africa and this year CNN’s sports anchor Pedro Pinto joined the panel to assist in the judging of the Portuguese General News Category.



Freelance journalist Paul McNally assisted the judging panel and carried out the first round of pre-selection, removing the entries that didn’t meet the required journalistic standards to be put forward to the judging panel for the next stage of judging. Paul was the winner of the Health and Medical Category at the 2009 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards, and a runner-up in the HIV / AIDS Reporting category of the same year.



This year has seen communications company, Ericsson, join a loyal list of sponsors who continue to lend their valuable support to the awards: Coca-Cola Africa; Ecobank; IPP Media, Tanzania; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD); Research In Motion (RIM), the company behind the BlackBerry solution; Sandton Sun Hotel and A24 Media.



The Sandton Sun is the delegate hotel for the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2011. Situated in the heart of Sandton’s business and entertainment centre, it provides the perfect location for finalists, judges, attending media and guests from across the continent to explore this vibrant district of northern Johannesburg. An all expenses paid five day programme of workshops, media forums, networking has been set up for the finalists during the run up to the award ceremony on 25 June 2011.



Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International said: “The passion which African journalists display for telling compelling and top class stories knows no bounds. Once more, CNN proudly continues its commitment to encouraging inspired journalistic excellence with these awards.”



Collins Khumalo, President MultiChoice Africa said “We remain committed to the development of media in Africa and to giving recognition to outstanding journalists for their tireless effort and work in telling the African story. Our wish is to inspire all the finalists to use this opportunity to not only strive to become the best in Africa but to become the best in the world.”



Note to Editors: Competition Criteria
To enter the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2011 competition the journalist must have been an African national and have worked on the continent for African owned, or headquartered, media organisations that produced a printed publication or broadcast through an electronic medium (television broadcaster, radio station or website) primarily targeted at and received by an African audience.





**Criteria change 2011**



This year, it was decided to reduce the number of entries submitted by an individual journalist to two stories across all categories, ensuring that journalists carefully reviewed their stories of 2010 and focussed on their best one or two stories of the year.







Entries were published or broadcast in 2010 for the following awards:



Arts & Culture: Digital Journalism Award; Economics and Business: Environment: Free Press Africa; HIV/AIDS Reporting; MSD Health & Medical: Mohamed Amin Photographic; Print General News; Radio General News; Sport; Television Features; Television News Bulletin; Tourism; Francophone General News Awards (Print and Electronic Media); Portuguese Language General News



Website: www.cnn.com/africanawards



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/CNNMultichoiceAfricanJournalistOfTheYearAwards



Twitter: @africanjourno



Issued: 19 April 2011



For further information please contact:



CNN International: Joel Brown + 44 20 7693 0967 joel.brown@turner.com



MultiChoice Africa: Odette Bagley +2711 289 3400 obagley@multichoice@multichoice.co.za



MultiChoice South Africa: Marietjie Groenewald + 27 11 289 3067 Marietjie.Groenewald@multichoice.co.za

FCO SPOKESPERSON STATEMENT ON MALAWI

Press Release: TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2011

FCO SPOKESPERSON STATEMENT ON MALAWI





“The Acting Permanent Under Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Adams, summoned the Charge d’Affaires of Malawi to the Foreign Office this morning. He conveyed to her the Foreign Secretary’s strong concern at suggestions that the Government of Malawi is considering declaring the British High Commissioner, Mr Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, “persona non grata”.



“Sir Geoffrey made clear to the Charge d’Affaires that such an action would be unacceptable. Mr Cochrane-Dyet is an able and effective High Commissioner, who retains the full confidence of the British Government.



“Sir Geoffrey added that if the Government of Malawi pursued such action there were likely to be consequences affecting the full range of issues in the bilateral relationship. He urged the Malawian authorities, through the Charge d’Affaires, not to proceed down such a road.”



Kind regards,

Newsdesk

Press Office l Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Malawi Has No Moral Grounds for Severing Ties With Libya

It is sad that Malawi has severed her relations with Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's Libya, barely days after Botswana cut her ties with the North African country.
Sad because Malawi's leaders have recently come under a spate of criticism for violating human rights, muzzling intellectual discourse, showing signs of dictatorship-hangover by insinuating (President Bingu wa Mutharika, that is) that demonstrators pay collateral damage fees, among others gaffes.
Now, for the country to follow in the foot-steps of Botswana, a country whose opposition parties ganged up aganist Mutharika when he visited the country less than 18 days ago; that is hypocricy.
Why didn't our leaders listen to the voice of Botswana's reason? Why should it be now, that it is Libya, that the country should 'pretend' to listen?
This is all wrong.
Has it to do with the abandoned Colonel Muammar Gaddafi hospital at Kameza in Blantyre; that Malawi feels it is time to avenge?
Some decisions don't make sense. Malawi has no fuel reserves.
Simply put, neither do we have reserves of morality- if recent steps towards tyranny are anything to go by.

Well, Ghana is just so good a country

This much I know

Bulletin of Christian Persecution March 22 - April 14, 2011

March 22, 2011
Pakistan
Two Christians were gunned down and two others are in a serious condition with bullet wounds after Muslim youths attacked them outside a church building in Hyderabad.

March 24, 2011
Ethopia (Hat tip to InfidelsAreCool)
Where there was once religious tolerance between Christians and Muslims, now there are attacks against Christians by Muslims chanting "Allahu Akbar."

March 26, 2011
Egypt
A group of Muslims attacked Ayman Anwar Mitri, a 45 year old Christian Coptic man, cutting off his ear. The Muslims claimed they were applying Sharia law because Mr. Mitri allegedly had an illicit affair with a Muslim woman.

March 27, 2011
Lebanon (Hat tip to InfidelBloggersAlliance)
A bomb exploded overnight at the entrance of a church in the eastern Lebanese city of Zahle, causing no injuries, a church official said Sunday. The bomb, which consisted of about 4.4 pounds of TNT, was placed at the side entrance of St. Mary's Church, a Syriac Orthodox church.

March 28, 2011
Pakistan (Hat tip to JihadWatch)
In Hyderabad and Lahore, a mob of Islamic fundamentalists targeted Christian places of worship. Two Christians were killed and churches were burned. They desecrated several copies of the Bible and promised more violence if Washington [U.S. government] does not condemn pastor Jones to death for burning a Koran. Update HERE.

March 28, 2011
Saudi Arabia
Friends and family of two Indian Christians arrested after a prayer meeting in Saudi Arabia in January have tried in vain to secure their release. The two Christians were incarcerated for attending the prayer meeting with other Indian nationals and accused of converting Muslims to Christianity, though the government has not produced formal charges, sources said.

March 31, 2011
Malaysia
Malay language Bibles still under lock and key, because the government wants to limit to Muslims the use of the word "Allah" for God. A ruling rejects their decision, but in Kuala Lumpur pushes ahead with a policy of progressive restriction of religious freedom. The Malaysian Christians argue that there should be no "restrictions, prohibitions and proscriptions" in the use of the sacred books. The government wants to impose an inscription on the Bible, printed in Indonesia, to reduce the risk of Muslims converting. Update HERE.

Bangladesh
A judge this week exonerated a Christian sentenced to one year in prison for selling and distributing Christian literature near a major Muslim gathering north of this capital city, his lawyer said. After reviewing an appeal of the case of 25-year-old Biplob Marandi, the magistrate in Gazipur district court cleared the tribal Christian of the charge against him and ordered him to be released

April 1, 2011
Indonesia
A month that saw the Bogor city mayor defying a Supreme Court decision granting a building permit for a church in Bogor, West Java culminated in police turning away those seeking to worship - and church leaders today filing a police complaint on the mayor with National Police.

April 2, 2011
Ivory Coast (Hat tip to AtlasShrugs)
Troops loyal to Alassane Ouattara, the Muslim opposition leader, slaughtered 1,000 civilians in Duekoue last week. The victims were mostly men who were shot as they fled the city. More HERE and HERE.

Iran
Iranian security forces have stormed a house church and arrested 10 members. Mohabat News said while there has been no explanation offered by the Iranian Government's security sources, it is likely that these 10 house church members were arrested because of their Christian beliefs and participation in church gatherings. That, the news agency commented, is in line with the recent wave of repressive actions taken by the government against Iranian Christians.

April 3, 2011
Nigeria (Hat tip to JihadWatch)
Youths in Iraqi area of Sokoto metropolis yesterday sparked a violent protest over an alleged defilement on the Holy Qur'an. It was not immediately clear whether the attacks early Saturday were linked to elections or who was behind the violence in an area of the state repeatedly hit by clashes between Christian and Muslim ethnic groups.

Italy (Hat tip to InfidelsAreCool)
Muslim refugees from Tunisia have set on fire a church at Lampedusa Island, Italy. No details of this incident have yet been revealed. For some days, the situation on the island has been very tense. The church was set on fire after the priest had accommodated 36 teenage refugees in the parish.

April 4, 2011
Egypt
Liberals and minorities are worried as the Muslim Brotherhood advocates a "modesty" police force. Nagib Gibrail, a Coptic attorney and head of the Egyptian Union of Human Rights, said the Egyptian revolution had been kidnapped by Islamist radicals. "There are areas in Egypt where Christian girls can't walk outside after eight o'clock in the evening for fear of being kidnapped."

Saudi Arabia (Hat tip to JihadWatch)
An Eritrean Christian is facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia after being arrested for sharing his faith with Muslims.

April 5, 2011
Pakistan (Hat tip to JihadWatch)
"Convert or die". Masih Gill, a Christian from the city of Mardan (Northern Pakistan) was threatened with these words by a group of Muslims with whom he had been speaking, after the recent episode of the burning of the Koran in the US. This event caused violent reactions in Pakistan (three churches attacked in a week) by Muslim extremists. Nearly one dozen UN guards were killed on April 1, while two were beheaded.

April 7, 2011
Pakistan
Asia Bibi is sick, in solitary confinement, and there are growing concerns for her life. The Christian sentenced to death for blasphemy on false evidence is sick with chicken pox, because of the appallingly unhygienic conditions she is being kept in.

April 8, 2011
Pakistan
The United States said Friday that Pakistan's security forces enjoyed a "culture of impunity" on human rights and voiced concern at religious intolerance in the frontline US war partner. An annual State Department survey on human rights reported widespread concerns in Pakistan, including violence against women, child labor, corruption, prison abuses and discrimination against religious minorities. Presenting the global report, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced concern about Pakistan's blasphemy law which allows for the death penalty. Critics say it has been frequently abused against minorities.

April 9, 2011
Egypt
In the last two weeks three attacks on churches were undertaken by Salafis or Islamic Fundamentalists in Egypt. The Salafis demanded churches move to locations outside communities and be forbidden from making repairs, "even if they are so dilapidated that the roofs will collapse over the heads of the congregation," says Father Estephanos Shehata of Samalut Coptic Diocese. The latest of these incidents took place in the village of Kamadeer, in Samalout, Minya province on April 5, which escalated to the point where it was feared the church would be torched and demolished, as was done in the case of St. George and St. Mina Church in village of Soul, Atfif, on March 5.

Turkey
Non-Muslim intellectual in Turkey, including Christians, support government plans to replace the current Constitution with a new and civilian one, saying they would like to be protected under a new constitution, rather than relying on the Treaty of Lausanne. Erol Dora, a lawyer representing the Syriac Christian community of Turkey, said that Turkey’s political will should settle the problems of non-Muslim minorities in order to restore social peace and allow a democratic mindset to dominate the country, but not simply because Europe requires such conditions for full membership in the European Union.

April 10, 2011
Iran
Some detainees from the recent wave of persecution on Christians have been released on bail, and they are waiting for their next trial. The Iranian authorities are charging 60 Christian detainees with apostasy.

April 11, 2011
Egypt (Hat tip to InfidelsAreCool)
A Coptic mother was kidnapped taking her daughter to school. The Police have been reluctant to take action and the family is devastated. There are hundreds of cases of Coptic Christian women being coerced into Islam and in some cases actually forcibly being taken away. The State Security apparatus usually collaborate with local extremists groups and rarely do they undertake their investigations appropriately.

April 12, 2011
Nigeria (Hat tip to JihadWatch)
Armed with machetes and guns, 1,000 militants attacked the village of Bar Arewa in north Nigeria. Almost every home in the village was destroyed, and some elderly people were reported to have been burnt to death in their homes. The group is part of a larger band of 2,000 militants that has been attacking non-Muslim villages.

April 13, 2011
Iran
The blasphemy trial of members of the Church of Iran, which was adjourned on 5 April to give the prosecution more time to gather evidence, has been adjourned once more, in order to allow prosecutors to seek the assistance of Iran’s traditional churches in determining their guilt.

April 14, 2011
Egypt
A growing number of Egypt's 8-10 million Coptic Christians are looking for a way to get out of the country as Islamists increasingly take advantage of the nationalist revolution that toppled long-standing dictator Hosni Mubarak in February.

Pakistan
In Pakistan forced conversions to Islam, rapes and forced marriages are on the rise. The victims are mostly Hindu and Christian girls, belonging to religious minorities.

Latest on Dr. Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula

I saw Dr. Jessie Kabwila-Kapasula on Monday, as she bought bus tickets at Axa Bus and Coach Headquarters in Blantyre.
It's good to see people like her; people who have shown selflessness by standing by the truth.
Which truth has made them enemies in the eyes of people who don't understand.
Let clarity shine our way, that we may love people who want to put things in the right frame.
Keep up the good work, Dr. Kabwila-Kapasula.
Fear not; justice is a stout companion. Faithful, too.
Until all this is over.

Burundi: Seeking justice for wrongly charged journalist

New York, April 12, 2011—Burundi, the only Sub-Saharan country jailing a journalist on treason charges, must halt a flawed prosecution of an online journalist imprisoned following his criticism of security forces, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.



In a public letter issued ahead of a hearing on Wednesday, CPJ called on Burundi’s justice minister to intervene and stop the use of a charge reserved exclusively for wartime offenses under Burundi’s penal code. In the letter, CPJ argues for the release of the journalist, Jean Claude Kavumbagu, jailed in July 2010 and charged with treason for publishing an article criticizing the Burundi’s security forces’ preparedness to prevent a terrorist attack. If convicted of treason, Kavumbagu could face life imprisonment.



It is imperative that Burundi’s justice minister urge the state prosecutor to drop the charge against Kavumbagu, who edits the news website NetPress, and release him immediately. Not only is the charge flawed, but so is the government’s basis for keeping Kavumbagu in pre-trial detention—preventive detention only applies if the defendant has a history of violating bail conditions.



A CPJ delegation visited Kavumbagu at Bujumbura’s Mpimba prison in December 2010 and pressed for his release in meetings with Burundi’s First Vice President and Information Minister.



See the public letter in English and French at:

http://cpj.org/2011/04/burundi-must-free-kavumbagu-halt-flawed-prosecutio.php

Swaziland security forces target journalists covering protests

New York, April 12, 2011—Authorities in the kingdom of Swaziland should allow the news media to report freely on anti-government protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today after security forces harassed at least 10 local and international journalists covering a mass demonstration demanding political and economic reform after more than two decades of rule by King Mswati III.



Police stopped reporter Niren Tolsi and photographer Lisa Skinner of the South African daily Mail & Guardian, confiscated their notebooks and Swazi contact books, and threatened to deport them if the journalists reported anything negative about the country or the king, Africa’s last absolute monarch, Nic Dawes, the paper’s editor-in-chief, told CPJ. Tolsi and Skinner were released but detained a second time when officers seized their photographs and footage, Dawes said.



Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted Swazi police spokeswoman Wendy Hleta as saying that journalists were being detained only to check their accreditation. “Journalists were taken in to check for their accreditation,” she said. “If they have the right papers they are released, if not they are helped to apply for one.” However, Dawes told CPJ that at no point during the detention did police mention or request accreditation.

Jinty Jackson, a stringer with AFP, told CPJ she had gotten official accreditation from the Swazi government. But she said that did not stop plainclothes security agents from arresting her and her photographer, Stephane de Sakutin, as they witnessed riot police chasing protesters outside the offices of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers. The two journalists were taken to a police station where Jackson reported being slapped on the chest, AFP reported.

Several other international journalists, mostly from South Africa-based media outlets, were also detained.

Police detained André le Roux, Africa editor of media publishing group Media24, and ordered him not to take any photos of the protests, reported South African daily City Press. Also detained was assistant editor Reggy Moalusi of the private Daily Sun, according to the same source.

Police also arrested reporters Nastasya Tay and Tshepo Lesole of Radio 702 as they were reporting on the lead up to the demonstration, both journalists later told CPJ. Tay and Lesole were interrogated for two hours and forced to return to the capital Mbabane, Katy Katopodis, the network’s editor-in-chief, told CPJ. The station also reported that a live phone interview between Radio 702 presenter Chris Gibbons and one of the demonstration’s leaders, activist Mary da Silva, was abruptly interrupted when da Silva was taken away by security.



A freelance Dutch journalist, Rob Hartgers, reported on his Twitter account that he was detained twice today by police.

Security forces targeted local journalists as well.



Police detained Manqoba Nxumalo, a reporter with the leading independent Times of Swaziland and a columnist with the South African news site The Daily Maverick, for half an hour while interrogating him about his identity and place of residence, he later told CPJ. Another Times of Swaziland reporter, Linda Jele, was also briefly detained, Mbongeni Mbingo, the paper’s managing editor told CPJ.

“We condemn these attempts to prevent coverage of political protests in Swaziland,” said CPJ Africa Advocacy Coordinator Mohamed Keita. “The government should live up to its claim of respecting democracy by ceasing this crude censorship.”



In a press conference on Monday, Police Commissioner Isaac Magagula warned the public, including journalists, not to attend the demonstration, which he called illegal, the leading independent paper Times of Swaziland reported. “In a scenario or circumstance where the security interests of the country are at stake, it does not benefit the wider citizenry to engage in a philosophical war of words and exhibit defiant dispositions,” the paper quoted him as saying.



In response to today’s demonstration, riot police, plainclothes security and paramilitary troops deployed in the commercial capital Manzini used tear gas and water cannons to disperse more than a thousand workers and detained scores of people, including trade union leaders, activists and journalists, according to news reports.

On UK's 10 year gay blood ban

.A change of policy to include the HIV virus test alongside the antibody test would be safer, smarter and free up more much-needed blood.

New Statesman online - London, UK - 12 April 2011
http://tiny.cc/4qxm1

According to the Sunday Times, the government is planning to lift the blanket, lifetime ban on blood donations from men who've had oral or anal sex with men. This ban was introduced at the height of AIDS panic in the 1980s, on the grounds that gay and bisexual men are at greater risk of HIV. The public health minister Anne Milton is reportedly planning to modify the ban. Men who have had sex with men will be no longer be barred for life, but only for 10 years after the last time they had oral or anal sex. This ban will apply even if they always use a condom and even if they test HIV-negative.

A 10 year ban is too long. So is five years or even one year. These are needlessly cautious exclusion periods. Protecting the blood supply is the number one priority but ensuring blood safety does not require such lengthy time-spans during which gay and bisexual men should not donate blood.

The blood service could replace the blanket lifetime ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men with a much shorter exclusion period. It should focus on excluding donors who have engaged in risky behaviour and those whose HIV status cannot be accurately determined because of the delay between the date of infection and the date when the HIV virus and HIV antibodies manifest and become detectable in an infected person's blood.

HIV antibodies normally take a maximum of one to three months to become identifiable in lab tests. The HIV virus can take two weeks to be detected. The blood service currently tests all donated blood for HIV antibodies but not for the HIV virus. To be safe, perhaps it should do both tests on potentially risky blood donations?

Reducing the exclusion period for blood donations from gay and bisexual men should go hand-in-hand with a "Safe Blood" education campaign targeted at the gay community, to ensure that no one donates blood if they are at risk of HIV and other blood-borne infections due to unsafe sexual behaviour.

Moreover, the questionnaire that would-be blood donors have to answer should be made more detailed for men who've had sex with men, in order to more accurately identify the degree of risk, if any, that their blood may pose.

There is, in addition, a strong case for only excluding men who've had risky sex without a condom. At the moment the blood service makes no distinction between sex with a condom and sex without one. All oral or anal sex between men - even with a rubber - is grounds for refusing a donor under the current rules. This strikes me as odd. If a condom is used correctly, it is absolute protection against the transmission and contraction of HIV. Those who use condoms every time and without breakages should not be barred from donating blood.

In contrast to the suggested 10 year ban for gay and bisexual blood donors, a six month exclusion period would be sufficient. This would exclude male donors who have had oral or anal sex with a man without a condom in the previous six months. All men who last had unprotected sex with men more than six months ago would have their blood tested for HIV antibodies, as is the current practice. Although the six month exclusion period is more than twice as long as it takes HIV antibodies to appear in the blood of an infected person, this is may be justified to err on the side of caution and to reassure the public.

The exclusion period could, however, be much shorter than six months, with certain provisos. The blood service could decide to ban only donations from men who've had unsafe condomless oral or anal sex with a man in the last month. For men who've had unprotected oral or anal sex with a man in the preceding one to six months, the blood service could be extra safe and do both a HIV antibody test and a HIV virus test on their blood. Since the HIV virus shows up in blood tests within two weeks of the date of infection, the one month total exclusion period offers a double-length margin of safety. This would guarantee that the donated blood posed no risk to its recipients.

A change of policy along either of the afore-mentioned lines would not endanger the blood supply. With the specified safeguards, the blood donated would be safe.

The call for change is growing worldwide. The American Red Cross, the American Association of Blood Banks and America's Blood Centres favour ending the lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood.

According to Dr Arthur Caplan, former Chair of the US Government Advisory Panel on Blood Donation: "Letting gay men give blood could help bolster the supply. At one time, long ago, the gay-blood ban may have made sense. But it no longer does."

The truth is that most gay and bisexual men do not have HIV and will never have HIV. Both the lifetime and 10 year bans are driven by homophobic, stereotypical assumptions, not by scientific facts and medical evidence. For the vast majority of men who have sex with men, their blood is safe to donate. Far from threatening patient's lives, they can and should help save lives by becoming donors.