In a pre-dawn raid in food-starved Zimbabwe, police enforcing a coronavirus lockdown confiscated and destroyed 3 tons of fresh fruit and vegetables by setting fire to it. Wielding batons, they scattered a group of rural farmers who had traveled overnight, breaking restrictions on movement to bring the precious produce to one of the country’s busiest markets. The food burned as the farmers went home empty-handed, a stupefying moment for a country and a continent where food is in critically short supply. It was an extreme example of how lockdowns to slow the spread of the coronavirus may be choking Africa’s already-vulnerable food supply. Lockdowns in at least 33 of Africa’s 54 countries have blocked farmers from getting food to markets and threatened deliveries of food assistance to rural populations. Many informal markets where millions buy their food are shut. About one in every five people in Africa, nearly 250 million, already didn’t have enough food before the virus outbreak, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. A quarter of the population in sub-Saharan Africa is undernourished.
KEEPING SPIRITS HIGH
“…culture is sustaining many of us as we stay home and try to ward off anxiety and dread” Jillian Steinhauer, New York Times
This week I received an email from Janet Goldner, a New York based artist and friend who has exhibited in Ethiopia previously. She was reaching out about an ongoing online exhibition entitled How Can We Think of Art at a Time Like This? curated by Barbara Pollack and Anne Verhallen. According to New York Times Jillian Steinhauer, “I’ve been asking myself the last few weeks. A pandemic rages; people are dying — who cares about virtual viewing rooms? And yet, culture is sustaining many of us as we stay home and try to ward off anxiety and dread. It offers comfort and distraction, and can help us feel less alone. What I like about “How Can We Think of Art at a Time Like This?” is that it’s less of a definitive statement about this challenging time and more of an open-ended platform.” It’s kind of refreshing to have a space were you’re not being told what to do and you can feel free to enjoy and/or unpack the plethora of art work from artists around the world; in the absence of the gallery or museum experience.
The concept of the online exhibit is simple. It is not an open call. Instead curators Pollack and Verhallen select and invite specific artists to submit three to five images or videos of their work which may or may not be related to COVID19 as an “…exchange of ideas at this time of crisis. We invited artists who are considered thought leaders, artists who struggle with futuristic pessimism, political outrage and psychic melt-downs. The invited artists have responded with unbridled enthusiasm and we will be posting new artists every day for the foreseeable future.” The website will be on ongoing space that also invites viewers to post responses, encouraging “open a dialogue at a time of social distancing…art offers solace or has instigated resistance and rebellion…” states the site.
The exhibit features art work of leading artists such as Dred Scott and Jenny Polak. Dred Scott is an African American artist who focuses on the Black experience in America while Jenny’s work expresses the intersection between politics, immigration, and other serious social concerns. Both are New York City based. Also on the roster is Chines artist and activist, Ai Wei Wei. An open critic of the Chinese government’s position on human rights, the contemporary artist himself suffered under his home country’s policies and was even arrested and detained for 81 days at Beijing Airport, without charges. He is known as the architect of Chinese modernism with works displayed worldwide. Prince Merid Tafesse has also been selected by the curators and invited to exhibit on the site that attracts thousands of viewers. This is the most daring and diverse collection of work I have seen in a while curated in one space seamlessly. Prince Merid has been channeling the events around us and masks have been a prominent part of his new charcoal works. Printed, transparent, futuristic and all manners of face coverings speak to the current state of affairs. Merid says, “When we go out of the other side of this tunnel, which is inevitable, the whole structure of our human community and society will be changed and we will never be the same again. On the other hand, seeing how nature has responded to our minimized travelled followed by less carbon emission and other forms of pollution, it is incredibly and hauntingly unraveling the harm we have imposed on our planet. So I take this as a wake up call for all humanity in appreciation for every breath we take, without a mask.” You can check out artatatimelikethis.com to view the ever-changing exhibit.
It is a difficult time for every one however we must try hard to see the silver lining around the cloud as expressed in art, a good book or just even the ability to spend time with family at home. And if your world is darker than you care to disclose because you are a parent holding it together for the family, or worker who has just been laid off and don’t know where the next meal will come from or if you are afraid for tomorrow as there is no promise and little hope, find the light, find that one who will listen. Find your way in the dark with the hope and plan to face tomorrow. We are in trying times but we will not be forever and worrying won’t help. So take advice from Bob Marley who sings,
“Don’t worry about a thing,
Cuz every little thing’s gonna be alright.
Rise up this mornin’, Smiled with the rising sun,
Three little birds outside my doorstep
Singin’ Sweet songs
Of Melodies pure and true
This is my message to you-ou-ou.”
Dr. Desta Meghoo is a Jamaican born
Creative Consultant, Curator and cultural promoter based in Ethiopia since 2005. She also serves as Liaison to the AU for the Ghana based, Diaspora African Forum.
Rahel Getachew
Name: Rahel Getachew
Education: Diploma in hotel management
Company name: ARDS handmade toys
Title: Owner
Founded in: 2018
What it does: make different kinds of handmade toys
HQ: Addis Ababa
Number of employees: 1
Startup Capital: 5,000 birr
Current capital: Growing
Reasons for starting the business: My interest in designing
Biggest perk of ownership: Commitment
Biggest strength: I am committed to do my job
Biggest challenging: Finding raw material
Plan: To open up new branches
First career: Secretary
Most interested in meeting: PM Abiy Ahmed
Most admired person: Miheret Debebe (PhD)
Stress reducer: Taking long shower
Favorite past time: Working
Favorite book: Bible
Favorite destination: Israel
Favorite automobile: Toyota AVANZA
The Covid-19 crisis is a human rights issue, one of the most global and urgent we have ever seen
“The inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family” are among the opening words of the Universal Declaration of human rights, adopted just over 70 years ago. These are now the principles that drive the efforts of governments, international bodies, communities, families and individuals all around the world. Most of all, they motivate the work of health-care and frontline staff, who are putting themselves at risk, every day, to save the rest of us.
Never before has the entire population of the world shared such a need to work together in the common interest of all. Our dependence on each other as a human family has never been so clear. Rarely, if ever, has international cooperation and solidarity been so important. International co-operation is no longer what governments and official bodies should do; it is now belongs to the people. We are all now joined in a common enterprise, beyond borders and across continents, because this deadly virus respects no boundaries or distinctions. Our best chance for survival and recovery is to fight the coronavirus together.
Protecting and preserving life is the primary purpose of this struggle. Without the right to life, it is impossible to exercise other rights. To protect life, we must vindicate the right to health. The right to health, in turn depends not only on access to health care, but on rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, on adequate nutrition and on a safe and healthy environment. It also requires access to information, so that people are empowered to protect their own health and those of others. And in this health crisis, which requires a collective response, and the co-operation of people everywhere, respect for civil society is more important than ever. All human rights are interdependent and indivisible and must inform our response to the crisis. Human rights are at the core of the battle against COVID-19.
That is why the European Union is working closely with the United Nations, with other international organisations and with countries throughout the world, in the great global effort to overcome the virus and its consequences. On 7 April, the European Commission and High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell announced a robust and targeted EU response of more than €15.6 billion from existing external action resources to support partner countries’ efforts in tacking the pandemic. This ‘Team Europe’ package combines resources from the EU, its Member States and financial institutions, in particular the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The current pandemic is a grave and immense threat to the health and life of humanity. The health of the whole world is only as strong as the weakest health system.
We recognise that there are many people for whom this crisis, and sometimes the measures taken to address it, will add even greater risks to their already fragile existence: refugees; the displaced; the homeless; minorities who are already victims of discrimination; children who are being abused or maltreated; women subjected to sexual or domestic violence; marginalised indigenous peoples; persons with disabilities, older people and the poor who are at greatest risk from the economic consequences. No one should be left behind, and no human right ignored.
The EU has expressed to support for, and taken action on the UN High Commissioner Bachelet’s call for special measures regarding prisoners and others in places of detention and closed facilities. We strongly support the UN Secretary General’s call for a ceasefire by all armed actors in the world today and for a co-ordinated humanitarian response. We will continue to play our part in the global effort.
We recognise that many governments have already taken steps, and introduced emergency measures, in response to the crisis. We believe that these measures should apply for this crisis only, be time-bound and be proportionate to what is absolutely necessary. This crisis should not become an excuse for the power-hungry to increase repressive measures, to weaken democratic checks and balances or to dilute the rule of law. Neither should fears over COVID-19 be exploited to spread disinformation or racist and xenophobic reactions.
This is a time for solidarity and for human rights to be at the centre of our endeavours. Since this crisis began we have seen millions of small acts of kindness, and stirring solidarity across the world. The indomitable spirit of humanity is displaying its great generosity. Our global human family will come through these frightful days. The changed world to which we will emerge, will be all the better for the care and compassion we show each other now. Let us not squander that future, give in to fear or our lowest inclinations. Let us not forget that human rights define our very humanity.
Eamon Gilmore is the European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights
