Archive for January, 2008

Cadbury sweetens lives of cocoa farmers

(January 30th, 2008)

Ghana’s cocoa farmers are suffering from a poverty cycle, with the global price of cocoa struggling and production waning. But Cadbury wants to put money towards teaching farmers to yield more crops. Gretchen Wilson reports.

(Full story)

agriculture   audio   children   economy   food   Ghana   human rights   Marketplace   stories   trade

Gold mines shut down, prices go up

(January 28th, 2008)

Power outages in South Africa are causing gold mine shutdowns nationwide, which is raising gold’s cost. Each day without steady power is costing the country’s mining industry $27 million. Gretchen Wilson reports.

(Full story)

audio   economy   Johannesburg   Marketplace   mining   South Africa   stories   trade

LESOTHO: Anti-Chinese resentment flares

(January 24th, 2008)

Anti-Chinese sentiment is on the rise in Lesotho, making it the latest site of such ethnic hostilities in Africa. A growing number of Basotho blame Chinese immigrants for the ongoing poverty of the small landlocked country, which has few natural resources and depends heavily on remittances from workers in its giant neighbour, South Africa.

(Full story)

China   economy   IRIN   Lesotho   small business   stories   trade

South Africa pulls the plug

(January 21st, 2008)

South Africa’s been in the grip of a serious power shortage lately, thanks to local demand exceeding supply. Gretchen Wilson reports the country is cutting supply for some other countries sucking power to keep up.

(Full story)

audio   economy   Johannesburg   Marketplace   small business   South Africa   stories   trade

Fighting inflation with mega-currency

(January 17th, 2008)

Because of runaway inflation, it takes thousands of bills to buy even the most basic items in Zimbabwe. The government is now circulating notes up to 10 million. Scott Jagow talks with correspondent Gretchen Wilson.

(Full story)

audio   economy   food   Marketplace   small business   stories   trade   unemployment   Zimbabwe

Anti-Chinese Sentiment on Rise in Lesotho

(January 15th, 2008)

A growing class of Chinese entrepreneurs is running small businesses in Africa. And Lesotho, one of the poorest countries in the world, has become a flash point for new tensions between local Africans and Chinese businesspeople. Gretchen Wilson reports.

(Full story)

audio   China   economy   Lesotho   Marketplace   small business   stories   trade

The dark side of chocolate

(January 11th, 2008)

Some 200,000 children work in cocoa plantations in the Ivory Coast. Gretchen Wilson reports on a group of U.S. lawmakers visiting that country to find ways to wean the industry off child labor.

(Full story)

agriculture   audio   children   economy   education   food   human rights   Ivory Coast   Marketplace   trade

China, South Africa align interests

(January 9th, 2008)

China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs is visiting South Africa this week, and peacekeeping is one of the main issues at hand. Gretchen Wilson reports what else is on the agenda for South Africa’s biggest trading partner.

(Full story)

audio   China   Darfur   economy   Johannesburg   Marketplace   South Africa   stories   Sudan   trade

Kenyans seek food, shelter in crisis

(January 7th, 2008)

The violence in Kenya has uprooted a quarter of a million people, and the U.N. is rushing provisions to the country to combat hunger and malaria. Gretchen Wilson reports Kenyans also face an identity crisis.

(Full story)

agriculture   audio   economy   elections   food   Kenya   Marketplace   refugees   stories   trade   water

Kenya turmoil’s impact felt across region

(January 4th, 2008)

The turmoil in Kenya has subsided but it is still sending economic ripples across East Africa. Correspondent Gretchen Wilson is monitoring the situation. She spoke with host Bob Moon.

(Full story)

audio   economy   elections   food   Kenya   Marketplace   oil   refugees   small business   stories   trade