The Blind Spot Publication The Route to Food Initiative, a program component of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, has launched a special edition of the Chakula Magazine, a graphic novel entitled “The Blind Spot.”
Imports and Exports | Banned But Sold Anyway Article Many pesticides are banned in the European Union. It is illegal to use them in EU Member States, yet it is allowed to produce and export them to third countries – where they pose great risks to people and their environment.
Beneficial insects | Small creatures with big impacts Article Beneficial insects provide enormous ecosystem services to Africa. However, to continue benefitting from these natural processes, sustainable farming and environmental management practices need to be promoted.
How much more do we have to do? Article The consequences of patriarchy ripple through all levels and corners of society. We are aware of the consequences and unaware of others. Patriarchy is defined as a social or political system that has chosen to identify men as superior to women. This enables an unjust system that promotes violence against the latter gender in all spaces, be it at home, the workplace, streets, online or even inside religions. Patriarchy serves men with toxic entitlement towards women.
The Black Ribbon Article Social justice is getting more complex as injustices keep emerging and the world develops. This is in comparison to the 19th century, during the civil revolution where social justice only aimed to create more egalitarian societies and capitalised exploitation of human labour.
The Perception of Kenyans on Genetically Modified Foods Article The Route to Food Initiative (RTFI) sought to assess the current situation in regard to the perception of Kenyans about GMOs. RTFI, contracted a research firm, Infotrak Research and Consulting to undertake the research. Over 8000 respondents from all counties in Kenya were contacted for this survey. Quantitative data was collected through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI), targeting the Kenyan adult population across all the regions. The data was then systematically analysed. Key issues of focus included level of awareness, willingness to consume and grow GMOs, and access to information on GMOs. These variables were analysed against various demographic aspects of the respondents.
Too close for comfort? Uncovering the odious roots of ‘normalised’ dehumanisation of domestic workers Article Domestic workers enter the sphere of private lives of others, where they perform essential care work in conditions that are mostly unregulated and hidden from public view. In the process, they tend to face inhumane treatment. The disturbing part is that this abuse is normalised and accepted by a society that sympathises with the ‘discomfort of wealthy and middle-class people who experience ‘intruding witnesses’ in their homes.
The long war against plastic carrier bags Article The 2017 ban on plastic bags, which won Kenya international applause, did not come out of the blue. It came after a decade of sustained pressure from citizens and lobby groups who had had enough of the devastating effects of the plastics.
Remorseless killer on land and in the sea Article Ubiquitous plastics are wreaking havoc everywhere; they are causing flooding and killing animals and humans on land and sucking air and life out of aquatic animals.
Pesticide Use in Kenya | A Toxic Business Article Most of the pesticides used in Kenya are highly hazardous. Toxic products are cheaper for farmers despite their negative consequences and are mostly used on maize, wheat, coffee, potatoes, and tomatoes.
