Peace Bringers 

I was interested to read about the Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation playing a positive role in Liberia. This concept of teaching peace and then practically applying that knowledge is an excellent example of how to get to the root issue of conflict. Many people who get into a conflict situation have little or no idea of how to mediate or settle disputes. The idea of someone trained to resolve conflict and keep the peace through working in tribal areas to prevent conflict is far reaching.

We seldom have the ability to prevent things happening in Africa and are more often seen dealing with tragedy after the fact. I want to suggest that each high school look to find a way to have a staff member trained in conflict resolution, so that our young people can be taught this skill and grow up understanding how to bring a peaceful conclusion to conflict. This is the way to heal our continent. This will be a big part of his or her education as there is no one of us who has not been affected by violence at some point. Let us go to the root of problems and not sit back like victims. With the right skills each person can be a peacemaker and that is a dream worth pursuing.

Thandeka Mesi, Lesotho

Paying Twice 

Who pays (literally) for the burden of climate change was again brought into question when the World Bank announced that $270 million will be handed to Bangladesh, Niger and Tajikistan in the form of loans to help these countries overcome the effects of what climate change has done.

While it is accepted that the money comes from developed countries, what creates friction is that these are not monies simply given over in the form of grants. They are low interest loans. Now what is wrong with this picture is, as I see it, that the whole point of the Climate Change conferences and the ethos behind the process is that developed nations, considered wealthy, should be financing the cleanup of poorer nations. That is what developing nations have always asked for time and time again whenever there has been any conference on this issue. It is obvious that by offering a loan the poor country on the receiving ends up paying twice – the first time because they suffer the terrible effects of climate change on their agriculture and environment and then they suffer again when they must repay the loans. It is unacceptable to put these countries in this position and I call on all thinking people to campaign against this. It is developed countries in the first place who are responsible for much of the devastation to African countries by exploiting the resources here to make themselves rich, then turning round and making us pay for it again. We are fed up with being victims of exploitation.

Elenor Renga, South Africa

Very Informative 

I want to wish you and your magazine a great New Year and appreciation for giving us so many interesting stories in 2010. I really enjoyed learning about China, especially the culture and how Africans are living in your country. We often forget that at the end of the day, despite our differences, we are just people wanting to get along with each other. I read that there are many Africans who marry Chinese and I think this is a good way to show the ties between us, as the babies from these marriages will be truly products of cooperation! Hope to learn more through your pages in 2011.

John Mabida, South Africa

We Will Judge 

The argument about why China is really in Africa goes round and round in circles. Whether people think it is for altruistic reasons or to feather their own nest or any other reason is beside the point. Chinese are here and that's a fact. The one area Africans do agree on is that China does not preach to us about human rights, something we have had enough of from our former colonial masters. Despite the problems on our continent, and we agree that there are many, we as Africans are sick and tired of being preached to. China leaves infrastructure behind, and there is ample proof of that – we can see that with our own eyes, and it is not some mythical aid going into a pocket we are not aware of. In a roundabout way, leaving behind infrastructure means there is less chance of corruption. Let us be the judge of who want to help us develop our continent.

Amos Sibanda, Zimbabwe