Tutu Alicante, June 8 2010


COLUMBUS, OHIO – In a better world, my nieces and nephews in Equatorial Guinea would respect our country’s president for overseeing the careful management of revenues pouring in
from oil, and for using these funds for development. In a better world,
my nieces and nephews would honor the United Nations’ main cultural
institution, UNESCO, for insisting on improving the education and health
of Africa’s children.


But in the world as we know it, relatively few people love and respect President Teodoro Obiang. His biggest fans might include the high-living members of his family, along with selected business
executives in the United States and Europe, where he spends quite a bit
of his money. Or certain members of the UN Human Rights Council: during a
session in March, some states had the gall to congratulate Equatorial
Guinea for its “unequivocal commitment” to human rights.


Board members of UNESCO also seem to love and respect Obiang. They have accepted $3 million from him for a prize named in his honor. The prize is supposed to recognize the work of individuals and institutions,
including non-governmental organizations, for scientific research in
the life sciences that improves the quality of human life. Perhaps the
recipients will love Obiang, too.


It is easy to see where Obiang – who seized power in Equatorial Guinea after killing his predecessor – gets the money that he tosses around. Since the mid-1990’s, Equatorial Guinea has become a large oil
exporter.


While Obiang and his family and cronies jet around the world living the high life, my nieces and nephews number among the vast majority of the country’s people who remain mired in poverty. Child mortality is
high. Free and fair elections do not exist. Arbitrary detention and
torture are widespread. The government allows almost no independent news
and information.


In 2009, the UN found that Equatorial Guinea had the world’s largest disparity between its per capita GDP ranking, which was on a par with Italy and Spain, and its level of human development – close to Haiti’s.
My nieces and nephews have a life expectancy of 52 years.


According to the president’s son and heir-apparent, Teodorin Obiang, in Equatorial Guinea it is not illegal for a government minister to own a company and to submit bids for government contracts to the ministry
that he or she controls. Such brazen corruption would be laughable if
its effects were not so debilitating to the country.


Among its avowed priorities, UNESCO lists gender equality, universal education, sustainable development, and ethics. My nieces and nephews in Equatorial Guinea still go to school on an empty stomach. They return
home by mid-day to help supplement the household income by selling
doughnuts in the streets – at a time when they are supposed to be
completing homework. Surviving on less than a dollar a day, as most of
my countrymen do, means living without running water, sanitation, or
electricity.


Given the mountain of evidence of corruption and money-laundering by Obiang, his family, and his associates, as well as the deplorable living conditions that people in Equatorial Guinea endure, how is it possible
that UNESCO agreed to accept Obiang’s money and name a prize in life
sciences after him? What due diligence was conducted to ensure that the
money it received to fund the prize was not actually stolen from the
very Africans whose interests UNESCO claims to champion?


As far as the people of Equatorial Guinea are concerned, by offering this prize, UNESCO lends credibility to Obiang and his regime, and becomes complicit in its abuses. UNESCO – not alone among UN entities –
seems more inclined to bend over backwards to avoid taking any action
that might offend “African sensibilities” on its board. One European
ambassador was quoted as saying that African countries were all in favor
of the prize, and they had enough supporters to take it forward.


The Obiang Prize is a mockery of everything UNESCO publicly stands for. UNESCO remains unabashed. It has signaled no willingness to withdraw the award or investigate the origins of Obiang’s gift.


Wouldn’t it be nice if UNESCO and its executive board – particularly the board’s African members – actually stood up for African people?


Or maybe they love Obiang’s money more than they love my nieces and nephews.


You might also like to read more from Tutu
Alicante

Views: 46

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Burbia commented on tjdavis's video
Thumbnail

Charlie Kirk: Grief And Outrage From Turning Point USA in Phoenix

"Early reports said a.second shooter was there. Talk of Dischord chats. Peyton Gendron was coerced…"
6 hours ago
tjdavis posted a video

America In Crisis: Illegals and Drug Smugglers Have Us Beat

An inside look at how bad the situation is at the Arizona/Mexico border. This exclusive tour with retired Arizona Sheriff Mark Lamb reveals just how bad thin...
11 hours ago
Burbia posted a video

Sam Hyde Show: This is You

support the show: https://www.mde.tv/▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬🔥 BUY EXTREME PEACE on MDE.TV 🔥https://www.mde.tv/series/extreme-peace▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬...
11 hours ago
Burbia commented on Sandy's photo
13 hours ago
Burbia commented on Sandy's photo
13 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post

“Night of Horror” Finland WWII 1939 and a Russian Massacre

It is November of 1939 and Stalin decides that the resources in the smaller nation of Finland…See More
19 hours ago
Sandy posted a photo
23 hours ago
tjdavis posted a video

Charlie Kirk: Grief And Outrage From Turning Point USA in Phoenix

We went to Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix to talk with people who were there to pay their respects.►Join my community to get exclus...
yesterday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
yesterday
Burbia commented on Doc Vega's blog post This Memorable Anthem Given by Nick Freitas Hit the Nail on the Head Please Listen!
Saturday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Friday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post A Few More Rats in Your Skull Concerning Charlie and the Rampaging Left
"cheeki kea, Yes that was released on to book sites 19 hours before the tragic event and also there…"
Friday
Burbia commented on Sandy's video
Friday
Sandy posted a video

Charlie Kirk Was Terrified Of Israel

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
Friday
Sandy posted a photo
Friday
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post A Few More Rats in Your Skull Concerning Charlie and the Rampaging Left
"The internet is fractioned that's for sure but it never sleeps and the big question of the day…"
Friday
Burbia commented on Doc Vega's blog post A Few More Rats in Your Skull Concerning Charlie and the Rampaging Left
"It seems America has many meanings to many people. The internet has fractioned everybody. I had…"
Thursday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"Cheeki kea I'm glad that the giant Moa downsized to this turkey looking land walker.!"
Thursday
Burbia commented on Burbia's blog post Charlie Kirk Assaination
"I don't know what difference if any that he was also a member of Council for National Policy.…"
Thursday
Doc Vega commented on Burbia's blog post Charlie Kirk Assaination
"I remember when they found out that the united Council of Churches worldwide had been funding…"
Thursday

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted