IRIN Africa reports that residents of slums have been experiencing rampant crime and destitution as a result of ethnic conflict sparked by the recent elections in Kenya. An article entitled “Arson, riots leave slum dwellers destitute” relates the experience of several slum residents in Nairobi. City neighborhoods with high rates of poverty are particularly vulnerable during political unrest and other crises, a problem that must be addressed in establishing sound urban development initiatives.

Photo of Red Cross workers in Nairobi’s Mathare slums appears on the IRIN website

Quoted from an article in IRIN, titled “Slum-dwellers hit hard by post-election crisis”: The majority of the city’s inhabitants live in its sprawling slums and it is this impoverished population, together with tens of thousands of displaced people in western Kenya, that has borne the brunt of the violence and disruption unleashed in the wake of the 27 December presidential and parliamentary elections.

Flip Flotsam is a very charming documentary about the production, use, and adaptive reuse of flip-flops on the coast of Kenya. It is brief and informative, with excellent cinematography and narration. I was particularly inspired by such creative use of discarded consumer goods.

Here is a link to Flip Flotsam on YouTube.

Quoted from summary of Flip Flotsam on Link TV website: Gathered from across the shores of the Kiwaiyu Island, flip-flops are carved into dolphins, turtles and mobiles, fueling a new cottage industry which provides precious income for many families.

There is a strong connection between civic action, human rights, development, and environmental conservation in Wangari Maathai’s work. She even takes on urban planning issues in protesting the use of public park land for a high rise building. An inspiring and completely engaging memoir.

The Greenbelt Movement International (GBMI) is a non-profit organization founded by Wangari Maathai, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. The Green Belt Movement addresses problems associated with poverty and environmental degradation at the grassroots level. The featured photo can be found at the Photo Slideshows section of the GBMI Web site.