Friday, May 28, 2010

Yesterday (27th May) was the 2nd anniversary of the death of our good friend and colleague, Trent Keegan. During this week, children from schools in Mukuru slums in Nairobi will remember and say prayers for Trent, the Gentle Giant who visited them in 2008 and made such an impression on their lives with his warmth and friendliness.
Just before his death, Trent was investigating a story about the US (Boston) based Thomson Safaris, who were alleged to have been involved in attacks on local Maasai herdsmen and their families in a quiet rural community of North-Western Tanzania.
According to recent articles published on the case, it now seems that the dispute is escalating, and local police, with the support of government officials, are actively supporting the multi-nationals in their attacks on the local community.

Below are some further links to information on the ongoing dispute and attacks by police:

“Tourism is a curse to us”, by Alex Renton (Observer 06 Sept 2009): http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/06/masai-tribesman-tanzania-tourism

“Hunted Down” by Rosie Martin (New Internationalist, Dec 2009): http://www.newint.org/columns/currents/2009/12/01/tanzania/

http://africanfarmersjournal.blogspot.com/2009/05/trent-keegans-anniversary.html

http://thecitizen.co.tz/news/4-national-news/1378-oxfam-appeals-over-detention-of-its-staff

"No Man's Land" by George Monbiot