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/ 30 January 2006
At a time when concerns about global warming and the need for renewable energy sources are grabbing headlines the world over, it seems particularly regrettable that communities would be afflicted by the theft of solar panels. Yet, this is precisely what is happening in rural areas of Senegal, in West Africa.
Odds are that a few weeks ago, most Senegalese would have looked blank if asked to comment on persistent organic pollutants”. Now, they’re only too aware of the dangers posed by these chemicals also known as POPs. This follows the publication of a study which showed that dioxins had been found in eggs laid by free-range chickens in Dakar.
Senegal is a role model in the fight against HIV/Aids. Along with Uganda and Thailand, the United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids says the West African country has succeeded in reducing the spread of the virus. But in spite of a concerted media campaign about the gravity of Aids and the likelihood of high-risk sexual partners transmitting the virus, the use of condoms in Senegal remains low.