Breaking Tweets » Africa

Ethiopia home to potential ocean

Steph — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:09:14 +0000

A giant 35-mile long crack on Africa’s surface opened in 2005 across the desert of Ethiopia.

A recent study of this rift show that these volcanic boundaries are nearly identical to what occurs at the bottom of oceans, according to Geophysical Research Letters.

Fear did not seem evident in Twitterers around the globe:

judiemiller (Oregon) Wow! Is Moses doing his magic again? RT @current_green: Giant crack in Africa will create a new ocean: http://su.pr/7jAe1k 03 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

BadZen (Unknown) Giant Crack in Africa Will Become New Ocean. Keep it away from Bobby and Whitney. www.flne.ws/21031544 on Fluent News 03 Nov 2009 from web

BizzOnWeb (Unknown) Wow. And we might still see it all. RT @mireyamayor: Giant Crack in Africa Will Create a New Ocean http://bit.ly/1xbESK rt @playjt 03 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

MizzyB (Colorado) New beachfront property?? RT @RayBeckerman: RT @mireyamayor Giant Crack in Africa Will Create a New Ocean http://bit.ly/1xbESK rt @playjt 03 Nov 2009 from TweetDeck

maribethdunn (Boston) A new sea? Both fascinating + scary: Giant Crack in Africa Will Create a New Ocean http://tinyurl.com/y8pgndu 03 Nov 2009 from web

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Somali pirates demand $7 million ransom for British couple

Nicole Hernandez — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:15:06 +0000

Radio Netherlands reports, Somali pirates are demanding seven million U.S. dollars in ransom for a British couple kidnapped over a week ago as they were crossing the Indian Ocean in a yacht.

The couple was sailing from the Seychelles to Tanzania and the UK Foreign Office says the British government is not accepting the Somali pirates’ offer, per Radio Netherlands.

Twitter users are very upset:

jmsbond007 (Undisclosed) Why can’t someone just BLOW up those Somali PIRATES and teach em a lesson ? 31 Oct 2009 from Tweetie

kill_ross (London) wow with the somali pirates again. seriously we need to drop a bomb on the entire somali coast and be done with them for good. 31 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

player112345 (Undisclosed) What’s brown, nasty and floats on water? Somali Pirates……. 31 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

Earthgirl42 (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) @TomMcLaughlin76 oh yes..me likes me pirates..not that fond of the somali ones tho.. 31 Oct 2009 from Brizzly in reply to TomMcLaughlin76

Other Twitter users said are disappointed about the British government’s decision:

DavidGoliath09 (Undisclosed) Poor Brits snatched by Somali pirates; no one can/will pay the 7 mill dollars set. Why doesn’t UN act on the piracy plague in Indian Ocean? 31 Oct 2009 from web

profitoffdoom ( South Africa) THE Government will NOT pay a $7MILLION ransom demanded by Somali pirates for the safe release of Paul and Rachel Chandler. Bunch of cunts 31 Oct 2009 from web

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“Ardi” disproves missing link theory

Lindsey Drakert — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:11:59 +0000

Science have released their report on the discovery of a fossil that can clear up some evolution questions.

Ardipithecus ramidus (”Ardi”) is a 4.4 million year old skeleton found in Aramis, Ethiopia in 1994. The multinational team has studied her for 15 years to thoroughly analyze her implications.

Older than the famous 1974 discovery of “Lucy,” Ardi’s existence takes reasoning away from the idea that humans evolved from chimps.

Twitterers quickly responded to the report that they might have a new ancestor:

luluinnyc (Brooklyn, New York) Whoa – fossil from Africa predates Lucy!! (via NY Times) http://bit.ly/16rTQB 01 Oct 2009 from bit.ly

MattBors (Portland, Oregon) BREAKING: God tests our faith within another cleverly planted fossil of our ancestors. #iaintcomefromnoape! 01 Oct 2009 from web

Rhyacotriton (Ellendburg, Washington) and of course Ardi must be a transitional fossil fake or it provides evidences for………oh no!! human evolution 01 Oct 2009 from web

qliv (Doha, Qatar) fossil moves story of man back one million yr http://f1a.me/q2O0f The seven stone, four-foot tall female roamed forests 4.4 millio… #qatar 01 Oct 2009 from API

artsyhipster (Undisclosed) Apparently, Ardi is the oldest known hominid fossil found in Ethiopia. She is the missing link. I feel special now. 01 Oct 2009 from Tweetie

MonikaKrach (New York) Woa, most exciting news since the election! Ardi-Ardipithecus ramidus fossil skeleton that predates Lucy! http://bit.ly/Wt5zH 01 Oct 2009 from web

Tomla (Cambridge, Massachusetts) Interesting fossil find….17yrs ago! thoroughly examined before announcing to world! http://bit.ly/r3uoG 01 Oct 2009 from TweetDeck

MontyPrime (Louisville, Kentucky) Hmm. A newly found fossil skeleton indicates that chimp and human evolution split earlier than we though. Innnnteresting… 01 Oct 2009 from Seesmic

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Investigation finds gorilla poaching to be major issue in Congo

Britni Day — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:29:14 +0000

BBC News is reporting that an undercover investigation conducted by Endangered Species International (ESI) has revealed the full extent of gorilla poaching in Kouilou, an area in the Republic of Congo.

BBC says in Kouilou undercover investigators found that up to two endangered gorillas were being killed by poachers each week and sold in bigger city markets for their meat and hands. ESI Investigators told the BBC they believe there are only 200 gorillas left in the region. ESI also fears that hundreds of gorillas are being poached outside of the region and while there are laws in place to protect the gorillas, there is no real enforcement of them.

The Twitterverse was outraged by the findings:

dsfanblog (location undisclosed) Heartbreaking. And revolting. RT @BBCwildlife: Scale of gorilla poaching exposed http://bit.ly/19HxAw 15 Sep 2009 from HootSuite

maxxmonkey (United Kingdom) RT @Thandax: Congo gorilla poaching exposed http://bit.ly/18GDUI ~ Max says ‘leave the big lugs alone’ |:o 15 Sep 2009 from dabr

sgmax (Philadelphia, PA) In any *civilized* country, this would be a national scandal. Scale of #Congo gorilla poaching exposed. http://bit.ly/YYgIH 15 Sep 2009 from TwitterFox

TobyMonk (Nacogdoches,Texas) @stephenfry This makes me want to kick heads RT @PBSNature Scale of gorilla poaching exposed: http://ow.ly/pvCq [BBC] 15 Sep 2009 from web in reply to stephenfry

EvilMammoth (Chicago Suburbs, IL) This is really terrible. RT @PBSNature: Scale of gorilla poaching exposed: http://ow.ly/pvKj [BBC] 15 Sep 2009 from HootSuite

Starfleetmom (Escondido, CA) Make me SICK!RT @PBSNature: Scale of gorilla poaching exposed: http://ow.ly/pvCq [BBC] 15 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck

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Swine flu confirmed in Ghana

K Mensah — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:50:08 +0000

Per AfricaNews: Health services in Ghana have switched on their surveillance systems as the West African country records its first H1N1 (swine flu) case since its outbreak. The Ghana Health Service confirmed two cases on Thursday. One is in the capital Accra and the other in the Western region bordering Ivory Coast.

Twitterers in the country are expressing their shock and doubts about the health authorities’ ability to handle the cases:

konkrumah (Accra, Ghana): wondering how Ghana’s authorities can really battle swine flu….its finally here and we dont know how many people we dont know who have it.

lionelnuno (West Africa, Ghana): Did u hear Swine Flu is in Ghana……are we we well equipped to handle an outbreak?? Scarryy…

MamaHot13 (Accra, Ghana): Swine flu in Ghana? Holly Molly!! I so love pork! What I go do now??????????

MamaHot13 (Accra, Ghana): Cover ya mouth when you cough or sneeze.

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Protests erupt in South Africa

K Mensah — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 02:50:10 +0000

Per Reuters, Protesters hurled stones at police, who responded with teargas and rubber bullets, after thousands marched through South Africa’s Thokoza township on Wednesday over poor services and unemployment. The violent protests piled pressure on President Jacob Zuma to deliver on government promises of help for the poor three months after elections.

However, this situation has received insignificant attention on Twitter. Instead, the majority of Twitterers in and around South Africa busily tweeting about their lifestyle and vacation:

W_H_Swagspeare Violence in South Africa’s towns has spread as residents protest about what they say is a lack of basic services, such as water and housing. 22 Jul 2009 from web

gamemasterng On my way to South Africa!!! http://myloc.me/cHZg 22 Jul 2009 from UberTwitter

davethegr8 Just secured a safe house in Johannesburg, South Africa. #spymaster http://bit.ly/playspy 22 Jul 2009 from Spymaster

megareed looking forward to going to south africa! 22 Jul 2009 from mobile web

mikegechter_rss Violent protests of a lack of basic services in South Africa: Riots are breaking out in South Africa as proteste.. http://bit.ly/10qIeo 22 Jul 2009 from twitterfeed

sparkiepark @thepitts When are you coming to sunny South Africa again? 22 Jul 2009 from web in reply to thepitts

roblith SAT3 doubles capacity to South Africa 22 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

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Featured TwitPic: Sheep in the road in Kenya

Craig Kanalley — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 01:51:35 +0000

David McKenzie (@McKenzieCNN), a CNN correspondent based in Nairobi, Kenya, has been posting some TwitPics in recent days. Today he posted this TwitPic with the caption, “Sheep in one direction and an export flower truck in the other-trade moving in Kenya…”

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Foreign aid workers captured in Kenya, brought to Somalia

Craig Kanalley — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:35:07 +0000

Three foreign aid workers have been seized by armed Somali men on a Kenyan border town, Al-Jazeera reports. The workers were then apparently brought to Somalia, according to witnesses. The article adds that kidnappings are common in that region and victims are usually released without harm after ransom is paid.

Twitterers in Africa and elsewhere around the world were quick to note the news, with many expressing their feelings about it.

pmeilhan (Atlanta, Ga.) Islamist gunmen from Somalia kidnapped three foreign aid workers from the Kenyan border town of Mandera late Friday, eyewitnesses said. 18 Jul 2009 from web

kachwanya (Nairobi, Kenya) Somalis kidnap Kenya aid workers.. now this is getting overboard…http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8157110.stm 18 Jul 2009 from web

thelastressort (Sydney, Australia) [expletive] RT @Sirenland: RT @somaliawire: Three aid workers kidnapped on Kenya/Somalia border – http://bit.ly/VyWgu 18 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

Foxmuldar (Pennsylvania) @Somali gunmen kidnapped three foreign aid workers on July 18 during a raid on Mandera, a Kenyan border town. Send Obama back to free them. 18 Jul 2009 from web

timercer (Indianapolis/Kenya/Canada) Not good RT@SusanneUre 3 aid workers from Action Against Hunger kidnapped in Kenya and taken into Somalia. http://twurl.nl/coxudc 18 Jul 2009 from Tweetie

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Obama pledges $63 billion to fight diseases in Africa

K Mensah — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:16:15 +0000

Per AfricaNews: United States President Barack Obama has pledged $63 billion to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and polio on the African continent. Speaking during his weekend visit to Ghana in West Africa, he said: “We will fight neglected tropical diseases. And we won’t confront illnesses in isolation.”

Per BBC: Meanwhile, the US President has said Africa must take charge of its own destiny in the world. He said that good governance was vital for development.

Twitterers around the world are scrutinizing his speech:

tkriii (Undisclosed) finally watched Obama’s speech in Ghana. personally, i love it…now let’s hope, overall, we are on the path to a peaceful future with ALL. 12 Jul 2009 from web

mensah (Accra, Ghana) Just finished reading the entire speech of Barack Obama in Ghana. http://is.gd/1w7fa I watched it too live on TV 12 Jul 2009 from web

ghanamixtapes (Toronto, Canada) @CERTIFIEDKING #obama was so emotional in #ghana #slavecastle he cldnt even address the people of #capecoast. 12 Jul 2009 from TwitterSpy

FredBardy (Asaba, Nigeria) RT Obama’s Speech In Ghana: Notes For Nigeria – Reuben Abati http://bit.ly/1astUr 12 Jul 2009 from twitterfeed

Pjmezz (Undisclosed) Ghana: Bloggers React to Obama’s Speech in Ghana http://u.mavrev.com/lml6 12 Jul 2009 from twitterfeed

omaripili (Undisclosed) @cnnbrk Ghana is the gateway to Africa, if the US wants to make an alliance they might be in for a corporate fight with the EU. 12 Jul 2009 from TwitterFon in reply to cnnbrk

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Obama lands in Ghana

K Mensah — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:08:26 +0000

Per AfricaNews: “Ghanaians are proud to be the first people in Sub-Sahara Africa to host revered US President Barack Obama. He lands on the shores of the former Gold Coast on Friday evening.”

Accra, the capital is awash with giant billboards of smiling Obama and a lot of paraphernalia ranging from T-shirts, umbrellas, wrist bands, cloths and caps selling along the street. Ghanaians are planning a mammoth and thunderous welcome for the US president right from the Kotoka International Airport to the principal streets, per the article.

Twitterers in and around Ghana are happily talking about the long awaited visit:

NalejBonz And Obama is in Ghana this weekend. *double fist pump* lol. I know Accra must be INSANE right now. Love it. 10 Jul 2009 from UberTwitter

DynamicDiva42 Watching The Today Show. Segment is on a hotel called Hotel Obama in Ghana. I love it! 10 Jul 2009 from UberTwitter

Lauratu Whoo hooo!!! Obama’s in Ghana 10 Jul 2009 from UberTwitter

ScienceLifeNY Obama is going to hear the best music in Ghana 10 Jul 2009 from TwitterFon

princessattia This weekend Barack Obama will be in GHANA ! 10 Jul 2009 from web

sacredbird RT @todayshow: Hotel Obama opens in Ghana. Video: http://tr.im/rJq2 10 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

nas009 Bemused at Obama mania in Ghana. Read my thoughts at www.africanwomensdevelopmentfund.blogspot.com 10 Jul 2009 from web

Here’s a video I made capturing the mood in the capital:

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