Miracle in the Desert: An African Judgment with Global Impact

[Richard D]

Miracle in the Desert: An African Judgment with Global Impact
Kim Langbecker
Huffingtonpost 1/2/07

I'm constantly amazed at how the Universe works. Just when you start to lose faith, or question whether there is any justice, a miracle happens. On Wednesday December 13, 2006, one such miracle occurred. By a 2 to 1 margin, the Botswana High Court brought an end to the longest running, most expensive court case in their history, brought by the "poorest" and least "educated" indigenous group, the San or as they are commonly referred to, Bushmen.
The San contend they were forcibly evicted from their ancestral land, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) by the government and moved to resettlement camps outside the reserve where they were not only dependent on the government for everything from water to medical care, but were exposed to alcohol, AIDS, TB and among other maladies. Sadly, this story is all too common when governments choose to provide "development" to indigenous cultures - whether they like it, or whether or not they ask for it.

This is a story of the oldest culture on the planet. They are considered to be somewhere between 20,000 and 70,000 years old, a society where there is no gender bias and their main source of survival is their highly regarded hunting and gathering skills. This culture knows no warrior mentality and generally does not have tribal chiefs or stratified leadership. This is a culture built on mutual respect and community. Their healing tradition of trance dance is well known throughout southern Africa, where they number somewhere around 100,000, mostly living in poverty.

More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-langbecker/miracle-in-the-desert-an_b_37596.html

[dipsydoodle]

1. This was always about diamonds

The situation could've resulted in the diamonds from that area being re-categorized as blood diamonds thus making them efectivly unsaleable. As a result of the court ruling, the San will get the land back, the diamonds will continue to be mined and the diamond companies will have a vested interest in looking after the San.

Perhaps the USA, in a New year gesture, will now relinguish their lease on Diego Garcia and allow the Chagos islanders to return to their homeland.:sarcasm:

[NorthernSpy]

4. Diego Garcia is a sore spot with me...

I can scarcely even talk about it. What the goddamn UK did makes my blood boil.

[dipsydoodle]

7. Ditto

x(

[malaise]

6. Bingo n/t

[applegrove]

2. What a terrible shame.

[Warpy]

3. The San are likely to be our relatives

who didn't leave Africa 50,000-70,000 years ago due to climate change, island hopping all over the world and eventually settling the interiors of all the continents.

Our cultures developed the way they have as a result of needing to adapt to new places and new food sources, plus the methods needed to secure both. It's obvious the most experienced hunters and gatherers became the first tribal leaders, and things deteriorated steadily from there to the dictatorships we have now.

It's a pity they had to adapt to us and all our problems instead of the reverse.

I'd certainly prefer living in a warriorless society.

[NorthernSpy]

5. this rocks!

I hope this year brings MANY more such victories to the San and other indigenous peoples!

:)