Welcome to Arjen Westra’s Blog. Arjen is freelance Africa journalist, travelling the continent and publishing stories in Dutch and Belgium-based newspapers and magazines since 2002. On this place, you can read about his where abouts on the African continent. Arjen Westra Please visit my profile: Facebook LinkedIn Welcome!

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From Johannesburg to Maputo overland… On the way, I had some interesting conversations about Aids, crime, the difference between hunting and shooting and how Aids effects crime rates in South Africa. I will make some postings about that the coming days. And in between I enjoyed one of the joys of travelling: meeting the unexpected in all kinds. Like this beautifull view yesterday arriving in the African city with that mediteranian atmosphere.

Arrived in Johannesburg two days ago. On my East now, before i will travel to Mozambique. Everything is fast here: traffic, service, talking of the people. I will keep you posted. Have a wonderfull day!

Press freedom day today. Amnesty International asks some attention for Rwandese colleagues. Some of them are still in prison under terrible circumstances. Others fled the country. If you want, you can have a voice by printing and signing this letter (download link) and send it to: Pr�sident Paul Kagame, Pr�sidence de la R�publique, BP15, Kigali, Rwanda.

I found this small movie on my friend Dweep’s Blog And I would like to add the deepest apologies to all my German Friends… To everybody: Have a good day…. with the warmest regards from Africa. a.

Click on this picture to know why…. 😉

Round 6 was passed by the Global Fund board an 30 minutes ago. I could imagine Burundians that are getting low cost ACT (Artemisin Combination Treatment) for malaria are happy. Even so the 6700 HIV infected people that are on ARV’s. They would have died if the Global Fund would have decided not to go for a Round 6. Also check this posting on the subject a few days ago:

According to statistics from Kenya’s Ministry of Health 700 abortions are performed every day in the country on girls aged between 15 and 19 who might (financially) not be able to raise a child, did not use a condom and regretted or girls who were offered extra money if they would have sex without a condom by men. On top of that there are hundreds of rape cases and cases of domestic sexual violence each month. This in a country where abortion is illegal. That is why a lot of

… and it was great. Music unites people and can bring messages across that we journalists can’t. But can somebody tell me why the dancefloor at Angelique’s concert was divided (by a guarded fence) in a VIP area and in an area for the common people? I am sure Angelique did not want it halfway the concert she left the stage and came to the audience (picture, under the umbrella), illustrating her message that she believes that: “human beings in the basis are good.” Later on she invited the audience