Newsline 23 October 2009: Shell offers to set up business workshops for former Nigerian rebels, a new human rights watchdog launched by ASEAN is criticised as “toothless”, Oxfam says a radical change is needed in the approach to food aid, and a musical opens in Amsterdam telling Nelson Mandela’s life story.

Listen to the programe

Shell offers training for former Nigerian rebels
Shell, the Anglo- Dutch oil giant, is offering to provide training and funding for Nigerian rebels who have accepted the government amnesty.

Rebel groups in the Niger Delta took up arms to gain what they see as a fair share of the region's oil wealth for local people. Most have now handed in their weapons under an amnesty scheme.

Shell aren't prepared to comment on the details, but confirm that chief executive Peter Voser held a private meeting with Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua. A spokesman for the president says Shell is proposing to offer workshops to former militants who want to set up their own businesses.

Michael Blass spoke to Sunny Ofehe, founder of the Dutch-based Hope for Niger Delta Campaign, and asked if he welcomed a contribution from Shell to help reintegrate former rebels.

ASEAN launches “toothless” human rights watchdog
Southeast Asian leaders have launched a new human rights watchdog - just hours after banning five out of 10 activists scheduled for rare face-to-face talks at a summit in Thailand.

Thailand's Prime minister opened the meeting of The Association of Southeast Nations - ASEAN - by defending the new body, which has been widely criticised as "toothless." It has a start-up budget of just 200 thousand US dollars and is expected to cover a region of more than 600 million people which includes military-ruled Myanmar and communist Vietnam and Laos.

ASEAN has often been accused of being soft on human rights abuses, and Debbie Stothard, head of the independent ASEAN People's Forum doesn't believe the new watchdog body will change that.

Oxfam calls for aid change beyond Band Aid
International aid agency Oxfam is calling for a radical change to the way that international donors approach food aid in Ethiopia.

It's 25 years since the famine in Ethiopia that killed around one million people. In a report entitled "Band Aid and Beyond" the organisation says drought remains a constant mortal threat, costing more than one billion US dollars a year.

Oxfam believes that aid money could be better spent by helping communities anticipate and prepare for drought. Humanitarian policy advisor at Oxfam, Nick Martleew cited the United States as one donor country that needs to change its aid policy.

Dutch musical tells Mandela story
Singer Simphiwe Hobhoshe is one voice in the South African chorus for a new musical which has its premiere tomorrow in Amsterdam.

Amandla Mandela tells the story of Nelson Mandela's life using song and dance and was developed by a group of Dutch theatre makers with input from South African musicians. It's not a traditional "feel-good"musical according to those involved, but a serious attempt to translate to the stage the power of Nelson Mandela's life to inspire people around the world.

Simphiwe Hobhoshe told us what the former South African president and freedom fighter means to him.

Hear Simphiwe Hobhoshe sing a song from the musical, and look out for a video featuring some of the performers in the show on our website on Monday 26 October.