The African Passport Introduction!
By Tahirah Wiley
The African Union is considering launching a passport that will grant visa-free access to all 54 member states. The union aims to distribute them to all African citizens by 2018-2020. One of the passports issued by the African Union for officials and people who travel a lot on business, and the other by individual countries for everyone else. Many hope that the e-passports are the first steps to mobility for Africans on the continent. It is also hoped to boost trade economic growth opportunities.
The first batches of passports, which are electronic, were unveiled at the AU summit in Kigali, Rwanda. They were issued to heads of state and senior officials at that time. The first recipients were chairperson of the African Union Idris Deby and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. “We’ve been overwhelmed by requests and enquiries of other ministers, officials, and African citizens to share in this privilege of holding an African passport,” Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, chairperson of the African Union Commission says, according to The New Times.
The question still remains whether this will make it easier for travel among Africans. Many countries have more flights to London or Paris than with other countries on the continent. For example, there are very few flights between Abuja and Dakar - two major West African capitals - and passengers sometimes have to travel via Nairobi or Addis Ababa in East Africa, or even Europe. Also, millions of Africans are undocumented, and simply won’t be able to get a passport. This is a result of many issues in the countries themselves, including civil unrest, and nomadic lives.
There are strict visa requirements and high-priced airfare still remain as obstacles for the African Union to realize its vision for “a strong, prosperous and integrated Africa,” though countries such as Seychelles, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Ghana have taken lead in easing their visa requirements. Only 13 African states are currently open to all African citizens.
Relief for Flint,Michigan
Photo Credit- Ken Lund via Visual Hunt
Flint, Michigan can be considered an oppressed part of the US due to the occurring unprecedented water crisis. If we shed light on the water history of Flint, just for the sake of bringing improvements in the economy, certain progress yet harming measures were taken by the government.
Those measures were entirely linked with the concept of reducing the quality of water by adding certain harmful chemicals into it. Soon after, Flint was faced with adverse conditions and everything turned upside down. Now Flints' community is looking for a way out and below stated are certain steps, which can facilitate us in helping them.
Flint drinking water pipes which show iron corrosion and rust
Photo Credit Min Tang & Kelsey Pieper
Helping Researchers Carrying out their Research:
Researchers play a significant role in making people informed about what’s happening around the world. The one research organization, which is highly known for its services, is the Flint Water study that is putting immense efforts for bringing change in the society. You can help them out by simply supporting their cause or even donating to it through their official website.
Donate Cash and Clean Water Directly to Flint people:
You can help the people of Flint by directly donating money to them as well. If you are unable to donate money then, what could be better than donating clean water to them? Clean water and money would help people in getting basic necessities of life.
Can’t Donate Money? Help Government in Identifying people:
If you know people who are living in Flint and would need your help inform the government about them and help the government in identifying them so that they can get adequate help at the right time.
There is certainly no doubt in the fact that Flint needs our help because they are struggling with their survival.
