Socio Economic Network

2011-08-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

Judy on Tour at Washington DC 2004

2011-08-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

Judy's Photo at Dulles Airport USA Meet the people 2005

Obama, International Community salute Kenya

2010-08-07T05:42:00.000-07:00

Obama, international community salute Kenya
Saturday, 7th August 2010

By Athman Amran and Samuel Otieno

US President Barack Obama was among world leaders who congratulated Kenyans for endorsing a new Constitution.

In a statement, the US President said by holding a peaceful, transparent and credible referendum, the country has made a significant step forward in democracy.
"My Administration has been pleased to support Kenya’s democratic development and the Kenyan people, including through the visit of Vice President Biden earlier this year," the US President said yesterday.

He said by overwhelmingly approving a new Constitution, Kenyans have shown a desire to put the country towards a path of improving governance, greater stability and increased prosperity.
"Kenyans across the political, social, and ethnic spectrum now have a chance to come together to support implementation through an inclusive dialogue," said Obama, adding that reaching out to one another, Kenyans will be able to take advantage of the historic opportunity to move the country forward.

The US President said the implementation of the new law would play a decisive role in achieving these objectives in a way that would benefit all Kenyans.

"As Kenya’s close friend and partner, the United States will work with the international community to support the implementation process, and to stand with the Kenyan people as they reach for a better future," Obama said. Since taking power in 2008, Obama has been constantly critical of Kenya’s sluggish reform process after the 2007 post-election violence.

The Panel of Eminent African Personalities led by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, said it was encouraged by the successful conclusion of the referendum.

Win for all Kenyans

"We very much welcome reports which indicate that Kenyans were able to vote in a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere," the Panel said in a press statement issued from Nairobi.

They said there were no winners or At the same time, Britain, the European Union (EU), Canada and Germany also joined the international community in lauding Kenyans for approving a new Constitution. British Foreign Secretary William Hague said this was a landmark decision that raises hopes for a new era of stability and prosperity in Kenya.

"I hope this result will encourage Kenya’s Government and people to continue to strive for further reform and development," Mr Hague said, promising that the UK will stand by Kenya throughout the reform process.

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said the referendum was a historic event for Kenya and a landmark in the reform agenda.

"The EU trusts that the new Constitution will help to unlock further necessary reforms, such as to its electoral system, police and Judiciary that will enhance Kenya’s future stability and prosperity," Ms Ashton said in a press statement from Brussels. She expressed the EU’s readiness to continue supporting the country in the implementation of the new Constitution and the overall reform agenda.

And the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon said the peaceful referendum demonstrates the Government’s commitment in strengthening governance and accountability and removing inequalities in Kenya.

"Canada supports the Government of Kenya in its efforts to deliver on the reforms both parties in the Coalition Government agreed to in the National Accord of 2008," Cannon said in a press statement from Canada.

German’s federal Minister Guido Westerwelle described the referendum’s outcome as a milestone in the country’s political development.

Congo (Brazza) - Djunny Claude: Ex Loketo - Lobanzo

2010-08-01T16:14:00.000-07:00

Djunny Claude - EMBAMBE

2010-08-01T15:16:00.000-07:00

Kenya - Tony Nyadundo - Dala Gi Mama Nyiri Beyo

2010-08-01T14:48:00.000-07:00

Kama nimekosa

2010-08-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

Mpokee Yesu

2010-08-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

Chini Ya Mwamba

2010-08-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

Moyo wangu

2010-08-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

Nampenda Bwana

2010-08-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

The answer to Africa hunger is in her hands

2010-07-31T14:15:00.000-07:00

Muchiri Karanja NATION Egerton University lecturer and researcher in sweet potatoes Mary Oyunga.

By Muchiri Karanja,

pmuchiri@ke.nationmedia.com

Posted Friday, July 30 2010 at 21:00

Kenyan researcher has made the orange-fleshed sweet potato the work of her life
To her friends, she is know simply as mama Ngwaci, though Mary Anyango Oyunga does not boil and hawk sweet potatoes in the streets.

Instead, this Egerton University-trained food technology graduate’s potato passion is rooted in her life’s work.

Ms Oyunga’s study of indigenous plants resulted in her professional gospel: “God may not give everyone in Africa their daily bread, but there is something much cheaper and more nutritious than bread — the orange-fleshed sweet potato.”

Her research expertise contributed to the development of that breed of sweet potato, and places her among the growing ranks of female African agricultural researchers.

Ms Oyunga’s achievements have been acknowledged by the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development programme, which recently granted her a two-year fellowship.
As one of four Kenyan researchers to receive this honour , Ms Oyunga and fellow women awardees are among just 20 per cent of all agricultural researchers in Kenya. By contrast, women perform nearly 80 per cent of all agricultural work nationwide.

While Ms Oyunga’s work on the sweet potato has fed thousands of Kenyans, it has also fed her career, making her one of the most sought-after indigenous foods researchers in the region, and a member of the prestigious UK-based Nutrition Society.

Her main focus is the breed that she helped create, along with a team of agricultural researchers at Nairobi’s Kenya Agricultural Research Institute. Ms Oyunga believes that the orange-fleshed sweet potato is the answer to Africa’s nutrition woes.

It comes with white, yellow, orange, red or purple skin, and differs from an estimated 214 local varieties of sweet potatoes. That’s because it is not only packed with energising carbohydrates, but also contains as many vital vitamins as mangoes, carrots and green vegetables. Besides improved health, farmers also benefit.

Sweet potatoes need less rain than the country’s staple, maize. The crop yields more produce per acre compared to grains, and unlike grains that can become toxic if stored poorly, the sweet potato does not incur storage costs. The crop can sit in the fields for months unharvested.

To Ms Oyunga, the orange-fleshed sweet potato is much more than a traditional African delicacy — it is a major breakthrough in a country that struggles to feed itself, as thousands grow obese on tonnes of junk food.

She says the orange-fleshed sweet potato might just save millions of lives, more so children.
“Everyday the sweet potato competes with other foods like bread, chapati and cake on the breakfast table; whether it wins or not, I can tell you its more reliable than both,” says Ms Oyunga.

The sweet potato offers an alternative solution to weight-conscious Kenyans due to its low calories.

A 100-gramme serving of boiled orange-fleshed sweet potato contains 85 calories, compared to 220 calories in white bread and 300 in chapati.

Besides, while bread and chapati offer more starch, a serving of orange-fleshed sweet potato offers vitamins A and C similar to a serving of mangoes, carrots or dark green vegetables.
To spread her gospel of the sweet potato, Ms Oyunga has taken her message to the streets of Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, where she is researching on street foods.

Less of chapatis
“So far, my research shows that more Kenyans are relying on street food especially in some urban estates. I want to see more sweet potatoes and less of chapatis on the streets,” she says — and she is not alone.

Kari director Ephraim Mukisira says the tubers hold the solution to Kenya’s food security problems.

An acre of sweet potatoes can provide a hundred times more food than an acre of maize, especially in low rainfall areas, he says, adding: “Our hunger problems began when we started edging out our traditional foods, like the sweet potato.”

Dr Muskisira and Ms Oyunga say the sweet potato was viewed as poor villagers’ food. History indicates the sweet potato featured prominently on the English royal dinner tables during the reign of King Henry VIII.

His first wife, Catherine of Aragon, is said to have introduced it in the queen’s palace as part of her dowry.

The Clock is Ticking Away when The Big Brother and the World are keenly Watching

2010-07-30T18:29:00.001-07:00

All is well That ends Well

We have keenly taken stock of what has failed Kenya all these years. We know who the
enemies of Kenya and Kenyans are, those who are determined to fail Kenya But, we have faith and trust in the two Principles’ Leadership (President Kibaki and PM Raila), we believe they
will deliver the much awaited Reform Agenda through the Referendum in August 4th 2010.
We have faith that the New Constitution will pave ways for a New Era for “The Kenya We all Want” that which we will be proud of.

We also believe majority Kenyans are tired of living a wasted lifestyle. It is time for CHANGE and REFORM in a forward strategy development agenda for progress and prosperity.

It is time Kenya must show the world that "It is Ready for the World" in Economic, Social and Political challenges and competition, that which will provide a balance and make the Universe a better place to live in Unity, Peace and Love, caring and sharing for each other and preserving nature as was purposed by God upon creation.

Big brother and the world are all keenly watching the unfoldings in Kenya as the time keeps ticking.

This will be an opportunity for President Kibaki to offer and deliver a special gift to Kenyans. He will have broken the cord of the Devil which has been holding Kenya backwards and has kept Kenya behind from achieving its development worth, a sorry and truely sad-state-of-affair.

For many years, Kenya has remained sunk into bottomless deeper in oppression, corruption, impunity and in depleting poverty which has caused Kenya to remain behind in their development agenda strategy. This will now remain behind us.

President Kibaki will have in essence delivered true and real "Freedom" to the people of Kenya to mark the dead end of the long, hard and strenuous journey for Kenya’s freedom. Consequently, this move will begin to heal the broken hearted and be able to make history that which will be remembered by all Kenyans for very many years to come. A very memorable record will then be set on the Books of the World History of Fame, that which will have been made in Kenya, following with the rest of Africa in general.

We also noticed President Kibaki has already declared August 4th a holiday for Kenya. Surely this holiday is worth Celebrating in a big-big way. May I take this opportunity to request for a chance on behalf of all Kenyans, sympathizers, friends and foes to provide a moment for “Shake the Leg”? I believe it is prudent? This will suffice for an immediate antidote, a sure way to begin to forget and heal.....Spread the Word people, because, Ni Dawa !.... Let us all CELEBRATE.

We will all value, cherish and celebrate the month of August 4th in a couple of many ways, not
forgetting that, the August 4th is also a Grand Memory Birthday of President Barack Obama,
and for this, President Kibaki will have given Kenyans a privileged opportunity to appreciate and honor the Son of a herdsman from Kogelo "The Pearl of Africa" The President of United States of America in style. Glory to God, what a Blessing!

Seing all women come out to soldier, I am already in a good mood. I must therefore, in advance take this moment of relief and offer appreciation, sending a word of “Thank You” to all from the bottom of my heart. Those who participated in all other ways and means to assist, those who pulled and help put all these activities together to a fruitful end, the push and shove of all kind that brought us this far, with those who stood by me in breathtaking moves, including those who acted in spar of moment upon the sound of the voice of alarm from the wilderness, to all partners and sympathizers, with those who diligently worked on their own volution, doing their own things which they know how that which contributed in part, as a result which has brought us this far, and in the most weird moments in upscale, deserve to be thanked.......and I thank you all.

Most sincerely, I must say, you deserve Kudos President Kibaki! Because of you, we are in a FREEDOM CORNER.

At such times, therefore, when Great Things are about to happen, many are called home to God, BUT, I humbly Pray to God to let me and my family with all those who are in the struggle, have a chance to see and feel the beautiful moment of the end of this Wonderful Story of The long Journey for Struggle, of 50 years to Kenya’s True Independence.

I am looking forward to seeing a situation where the People of Kenya will be in command
to make things happen for purposes of Sustainable Development where in Partnership with the Government, and under the New Constitution will provide Good governance with improved Legal Justice dispensation, where Public will Demand for their needs and provide directions to their legislators for service delivery, while focusing on how they wish to be governed, within the code of Ethics Rules of checks and balances, transparency and accountability, Responsibility and Commitment in a shared Public Services delivery. Or else, lazy leaders will be re-called back for poor performances ............This will in essence be a journey to a success story of True Reform Agenda achieved within time frame ..... proving the fact that, in Faith, “Yes” it can be done People ! ……

Let us not relax, the struggle is not over, we must continue to endeavour in close watch and observation for the best of results.......... Voters must not begin to celebrate until and after election is closed and votes counted.

So Go Vote "YES" on the Referendum Day for a New Beginning.....

Cheers !

Judy Miriga Diaspora Spokesperson Executive Director Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc., USA http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com/

Onyi Papa Jey - Hon. Omondi Anyanga

2010-07-30T17:38:00.000-07:00

john junior. osiepe vcd

2010-07-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

Princess Jully : Tom Jachabera

2010-07-22T17:44:00.000-07:00

Osogo Winyo: Ageng'o

2010-07-22T17:25:00.000-07:00

2010-07-21T14:52:00.001-07:00

Economic history

British court Goldenberg scandal corruption

In his inaugural address, President Barack Obama said: “To the people of poor
nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let
clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.”

To achieve this lofty goal, there will have to be reform in how the United
States addresses the issue of food security. Too often, we see this as charity
for those suffering from natural disaster, war or civil unrest. However,
climate change has entered out consciousness as a major cause of hunger. We now
better understand that what had been considered chronically poor rains is
actually a change in climate to which donors and recipients must adapt.
Lifestyles developed over millennia must change, as will the international
response to the issue of hunger. Furthermore, unless we want to provide food
aid indefinitely to the same people in the same areas of Africa, we need to look
at long-term strategies to enable Africans to meet their own food needs.
Capacity building for farmers and cooperatives, better access to international
markets and enhancing available financing are among some of the recommendations
to help Africans become food sufficient in
the long run.

Audit reveals taxpayers losing millions in anti- poverty projects

Updated 16 hr(s) 53 min(s) ago
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Rural areas to get Sh5 billion to fight poverty

By Robert Nyasato
The taxpayer could be losing millions of shillings in grants through the Njaa Marufuku Kenya (NMK) programme, an initiative of the Government to eradicate poverty.
An audit ordered by the Internal Auditor General says laxity in monitoring disbursement of funds and their use was to blame for the rot.

The report notes most groups fizzled out after they received grants contrary to their proposal, which facilitated the funding.

"The groups might have misinterpreted the word ‘grant’ to mean the money was given out freely by the Government. This compromised accountability and transparency," the audit report states in its findings.

For instance in Nyanza Province, an audit conducted in Nyamira District between November 2 and 10, among 21 self-help groups that received grants from NMP since 2005, shows the taxpayer had lost more funds to individuals. The groups received grants amounting to over Sh2.6 million. And the figures are alarming in other provinces.
The report affirms that supervision from the ministries of Agriculture and Livestock was not adequate after facilitation allowance was exhausted.

Diversion of funds
This is why the diversion of funds has been rampant, notes the report. The affected groups include Morara Self Help Group, Nuru Integrated self-help group and Tusaidiane Youth Group, Kiabokire Youth Group.

The Morara self-help group lost Sh70,000 to a civic aspirant. At the same time an organisation which approved the groups proposal blocked it from meeting the NMK after it approved their proposal and gave them Sh369,000.

"It is evident that supervision by the ministries of Agriculture and Livestock was insufficient after facilitation funds got depleted," the report adds.
The audit recommends that there is need to review the name grant and substitute it with one of transparency and accountability to public.
It further recommends steps to be taken to recover funds from groups that received the same and can’t account for it.

The Nuru Integrated self-help group that had embraced commercial poultry farming disintegrated after receiving Sh120,000 in December 2007. The group shared the grant among its members contrary to their proposal, the audit revealed. It is not clear why it deposited Sh40,000 with a jua kali savings and credit cooperative society embroiled in managerial problems, the report adds.

Sharing the grant
Another group, Tusaidiane Youth Group that received Sh120,000 funds in April, 2006 for poultry keeping shared out the funds among its 10 members then dissolved.
At Monfly SHG, which received Sh120,000 for tomato production in April 4, 2006, its members shared out the grant and disintegrated. Others groups on the audit list of fraudsters are Kiabokire Youth Group (Sh120,000), Egetonto Adventist Choir Women Group (Sh120,000), Mwananchi Banto Women Group(Sh120,000) among others.

When contacted, NMK Nyamira District Chairperson Constrata Rabera denied knowledge of any misappropriation of funds by the groups. "As far as I am concerned the fund has helped alleviate poverty to some level and improved food security," she said in an interview.
In Kisii District the story is the same. Local District Agriculture Officer John Katimbwa says some groups started loaning out money after they were given the grants contrary to their initial proposals.

He said the groups received in excess of Sh2.5 million and an audit of the same was on in the country.

From 1991 to 1993, Kenya had its worst economic performance since independence. Growth in GDP stagnated, and agricultural production shrank at an annual rate of 3.9%. Inflation reached a record 100% in August 1993, and the government's budget deficit was over 10% of GDP. As a result of these combined problems, bilateral and multilateral donors suspended program aid to Kenya in 1991.

After independence, Kenya promoted rapid economic growth through public investment, encouragement of smallholder agricultural production, and incentives for private (often foreign) industrial investment. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annual average of 6.6% from 1963 to 1973. Agricultural production grew by 4.7% annually during the same period, stimulated by redistributing estates, diffusing new crop strains, and opening new areas to cultivation. Between 1974 and 1990, however, Kenya's economic performance declined. Inappropriate agricultural policies, inadequate credit, and poor international terms of trade contributed to the decline in agriculture. Kenya's inward-looking policy of import substitution and rising oil prices made Kenya's manufacturing sector uncompetitive. The government began a massive intrusion in the private sector. Lack of export incentives, tight import controls, and foreign exchange controls made the domestic environment for investment even less attractive.

In 1993, the Government of Kenya began a major program of economic reform and liberalization. A new minister of finance and a new governor of the central bank undertook a series of economic measures with the assistance of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As part of this program, the government eliminated price controls and import licensing, removed foreign exchange controls, privatized a range of publicly owned companies, reduced the number of civil servants, and introduced conservative fiscal and monetary policies. From 1994-96, Kenya's real GDP growth rate averaged just over 4% a year.
In 1997, however, the economy entered a period of slowing or stagnant growth, due in part to adverse weather conditions and reduced economic activity prior to general elections in December 1997. In July 1997, the Government of Kenya refused to meet commitments made earlier to the IMF on governance reforms. As a result, the IMF suspended lending for three years, and the World Bank also put a $90 million structural adjustment credit on hold. Although many economic reforms put in place in 1993-94 remained, Kenya needed further reforms, particularly in governance, in order to increase GDP growth and combat poverty among the majority of its population. Lack of progress in the Goldenberg scandal marked an unwillingness to deal with corruption.

The Government of Kenya took some positive steps on reform, including the 1999 establishment of the Kenyan Anti-Corruption Authority, and measures to improve the transparency of government procurements and reduce the government payroll. In July 2000, the IMF signed a $150 million Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, and the World Bank followed suit shortly after with a $157 million Economic and Public Sector Reform credit. By early 2001, however, the pace of reform appeared to be slowing again, and the IMF and World Bank programs were in abeyance as the government failed to meet its commitments under the programs.
This is a chart of trend of gross domestic product of Kenya at market prices estimated by the International Monetary Fund with figures in millions of Kenyan Shillings.
Year
Gross Domestic Product
US Dollar Exchange
1980
74,940
7.42 Shillings
1985
143,715
16.43 Shillings
1990
278,502
22.86 Shillings
1995
614,267
50.42 Shillings
2000
967,838
78.58 Shillings
2005
1,449,408
75.55 Shillings

Forestry and fishing
Resource degradation has reduced output from forestry. In 2004 roundwood removals came to 22,162,000 cubic meters. Fisheries are of local importance around Lake Victoria and have potential on Lake Turkana. Kenya’s total catch reported in 2004 was 128,000 metric tons. However, output from fishing has been declining because of ecological disruption. Pollution, overfishing, and the use of unauthorized fishing equipment have led to falling catches and have endangered local fish species.[1]

[edit] Mining and minerals
Kenya has no significant mineral endowment. The mining and quarrying sector makes a negligible contribution to the economy, accounting for less than 1 percent of gross domestic product, the majority contributed by the soda ash operation at Lake Magadi in south-central Kenya. Thanks largely to rising soda ash output, Kenya’s mineral production in 2005 reached more than 1 million tons. One of Kenya’s largest foreign-investment projects in recent years is the planned expansion of Magadi Soda. Apart from soda ash, the chief minerals produced are limestone, gold, salt, and fluorspar.[1]
All unextracted minerals are government property, according to the Mining Act. The Department of Mines and Geology, under the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, controls exploration and exploitation of such minerals.[1]

[edit] Industry and manufacturing
Although Kenya is the most industrially developed country in East Africa, manufacturing still accounts for only 14 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). This level of manufacturing GDP represents only a slight increase since independence. Expansion of the sector after independence, initially rapid, has stagnated since the 1980s, hampered by shortages in hydroelectric power, high energy costs, dilapidated transport infrastructure, and the dumping of cheap imports. Industrial activity, concentrated around the three largest urban centers, Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu, is dominated by food-processing industries such as grain milling, beer production, and sugarcane crushing, and the fabrication of consumer goods, e.g., vehicles from kits. Kenya also has an oil refinery that processes imported crude petroleum into petroleum products, mainly for the domestic market. In addition, a substantial and expanding informal sector engages in small-scale manufacturing of household goods, motor-vehicle parts, and farm implements. About half of the investment in the industrial sector is foreign, with the United Kingdom providing half. The United States is the second largest investor.[1]
Kenya’s inclusion among the beneficiaries of the U.S. Government’s African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has given a boost to manufacturing in recent years. Since AGOA took effect in 2000, Kenya’s clothing sales to the United States increased from US$44 million to US$270 million (2006). Other initiatives to strengthen manufacturing have been the new government’s favorable tax measures, including the removal of duty on capital equipment and other raw materials.[1]

[edit] Energy
The largest share of Kenya’s electricity supply comes from hydroelectric stations at dams along the upper Tana River, as well as the Turkwel Gorge Dam in the west. A petroleum-fired plant on the coast, geothermal facilities at Olkaria (near Nairobi), and electricity imported from Uganda make up the rest of the supply. Kenya’s installed capacity stood at 1,142 megawatts a year between 2001 and 2003. The state-owned Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), established in 1997 under the name of Kenya Power Company, handles the generation of electricity, while the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), which is slated for privatization, handles transmission and distribution. Shortfalls of electricity occur periodically, when drought reduces water flow. In 1997 and 2000, for example, drought prompted severe power rationing, with economically damaging 12-hour blackouts. Frequent outages, as well as high cost, remain serious obstacles to economic activity. Tax and other concessions are planned to encourage investment in hydroelectricity and in geothermal energy, in which Kenya is a pioneer. The government plans to open two new power stations in 2008, Sondu Miriu (hydroelectric) and Olkaria IV (geothermal), but power demand growth is strong, and demand is still expected to outpace supply during periods of drought.[1]
Kenya has yet to find hydrocarbon reserves on its territory, despite several decades of intermittent exploration. Although Australia continues the search off Kenya’s shore, Kenya currently imports all crude petroleum requirements. Petroleum accounts for 20 to 25 percent of the national import bill. Kenya Petroleum Refineries—a 50:50 joint venture between the government and several oil majors—operates the country’s sole oil refinery in Mombasa, which currently meets 60 percent of local demand for petroleum products. In 2004 oil consumption was estimated at 55,000 barrels a day. Most of the Mombasa refinery’s production is transported via Kenya’s Mombasa–Nairobi pipeline.[1]
[edit] Services

Tourists on a safari in Kenya
Kenya’s services sector, which contributes about 63 percent of GDP, is dominated by tourism. The tourism sector has exhibited steady growth in most years since independence and by the late 1980s had become the country’s principal source of foreign exchange. In the late 1990s, tourism relinquished this position to tea exports, because of a terrorism-related downturn. The downturn followed the 1998 bombing of the U.S Embassy in Nairobi and later negative travel advisories from Western governments. Tourists, the largest number from Germany and the United Kingdom, are attracted mainly to the coastal beaches and the game parks, notably, the expansive Tsavo National Park (20,808 square kilometers) in the southeast. The government and tourist industry organizations have taken steps to address the security problem and to reverse negative publicity. Such steps include establishing a tourist police and launching marketing campaigns in key tourist origin markets. Tourism has seen a substantial revival over the past several years and is the major contributor to the pick-up in the country’s economic growth.[1]
Tourism is now Kenya's largest foreign exchange earning sector, followed by flowers, tea, and coffee. In 2006 tourism generated US$803 million, up from US$699 million the previous year.

Other elements of Kenya’s services sector face challenges of downsizing, in particular, the financial system. The Kenya banking system is supervised by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). As of late July 2004, the system consisted of 43 commercial banks (down from 48 in 2001), several non-bank financial institutions, including mortgage companies, four savings and loan associations, and several score foreign-exchange bureaus. Two of the four largest banks, the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and the National Bank of Kenya (NBK), are partially government-owned, and the other two are majority foreign-owned (Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered). Most of the many smaller banks are family-owned and -operated.[1]

[edit] Labor
In the early 2000s, agriculture remains the population’s main occupation and source of income. In 2006 Kenya’s labor force was estimated to include about 12 million workers, almost 75 percent in agriculture. The number employed outside small-scale agriculture and pastoralism was about 6 million. In 2004 about 15 percent of the labor force was officially classified as unemployed. Other estimates place Kenya’s unemployment much higher, even up to 40 percent.[1]
[edit] Currency, exchange rate, and inflation
The value of the Kenyan shilling (KSh), Kenya’s unit of currency, declined during President Moi’s last term (1997–2002) from about KSh60 per US$1 in 1998 to KSh78.75 per US$1 in 2002. The exchange rate of the Kenya shilling between 2003 and 2005 averaged about KSh76 to US$1. As of June 1, 2007, the rate was KSh67=US$1.[1]
In 2006 the inflation rate for consumer prices was estimated at 14.5 percent. This rate was a significant rise from the previous year’s 10.3 percent, reflecting higher food prices, which carry a 50 percent weighting in the consumer price index.[1]

[edit] Government budget
The budgets of the Moi era (1978–2002) carried increasingly worrisome deficits, and the Kibaki government’s first budget for fiscal year (FY) 2004 was similarly unbalanced. In 2006 Kenya’s revenues totaled US$4.448 billion, while its estimated expenditures totaled US$5.377 billion. Government budget balance as a percentage of gross domestic product⎯a low –5.5 percent in 2004⎯had improved to –2.1 percent in 2006.[1]

[edit] Foreign economic relations
Since independence, Kenya, a nonaligned but pro-Western country, has seen both substantial foreign investment and significant amounts of development aid, some from the communist bloc, most from the West. Between 60 and 70 percent of industry is still owned from abroad. Development assistance has come from increasingly diverse sources in recent years. The share provided by the United Kingdom has fallen, while that of multilateral agencies, particularly the World Bank and the European Development Fund, has increased. When President Moi left office in December 2002, one of the major concerns of international donors was removed, and they prepared to step up aid. The International Monetary Fund resumed aid after a three-year gap, and others followed suit with pledges of US$4.1 billion from 2004 to 2006 for development and budgetary support. By February 2005, however, relations with donors were again deteriorating, and some promised aid was suspended because of disappointing progress in tackling corruption and in instituting economic reforms, including privatization.[1]

Aside from ties with advanced economies and donors, Kenya is active within regional trade blocs such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC), a partnership of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. The EAC, dissolved in 1977 because of political tensions, was revived in 1997. The ultimate aim of the EAC is to create a common market of the three states modeled on the European Union. Among the early steps toward integration is the customs union of 2004, which eventually will eliminate duties on goods and non-tariff trade barriers among the members. The question of how the EAC will relate to other regional trade blocs, including COMESA and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), is in flux.[1]

Kenyan exports in 2006
Kenya’s chief exports are horticultural products and tea. In 2005 the combined value of these commodities was US$1,150 million, about 10 times the value of Kenya’s third most valuable export, coffee. Kenya’s other significant exports are petroleum products, sold to near neighbors, fish, cement, pyrethrum, and sisal. The leading imports are crude petroleum, chemicals, manufactured goods, machinery, and transportation equipment. Africa is Kenya's largest export market, followed by the European Union. The major destinations for exports are the United Kingdom (UK), Tanzania, Uganda, and the Netherlands. Major suppliers are the UK, United Arab Emirates, Japan, and India. Kenya’s main exports to the United States are garments traded under the terms of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Despite AGOA, Kenya’s apparel industry is struggling to hold its ground against Asian competition and runs a trade deficit with the United States.[1]

Kenya typically has a substantial trade deficit. The trade balance fluctuates widely because Kenya’s main exports are primary commodities subject to the effects of both world prices and weather. In 2005 Kenya’s income from exports was about US$3.2 billion. The payment for imports was about US$5.7 billion, yielding a trade deficit of about US$2.5 billion.[1]
In 2006 Kenya had a current account deficit of US$1.5 billion. This figure was a significant increase over 2005, when the current account had a deficit of US$495 million. In 2006 the current account balance as a percentage of gross domestic product was –4.2.[1]
In 2006 Kenya’s external debt totaled US$6.7 billion. The debt is forecast to be a manageable 30 percent of gross domestic product in 2007.[1]

Kenyan policies on foreign investment generally have been favorable since independence, with occasional tightening of restrictions to promote the “Africanization” of enterprises. Foreign investors have been guaranteed ownership and the right to remit dividends, royalties, and capital. In the 1970s, the government disallowed foreign investment unless there was also some government participation in the ownership of an enterprise. Notwithstanding some restrictions, between 60 and 70 percent of industry is still owned from abroad. The most active investors have been the British.[1]

Agriculture and industry have traditionally been viewed as two separate sectors both in terms of their characteristics and their role in economic growth. Agriculture has been considered the hallmark of the first stage of development, while the degree of industrialization has been taken to be the most relevant indicator of a country’s progress along the development path. Moreover, the proper strategy for growth has often been conceived as one of a more or less gradual shift from agriculture to industry, with the onus on agriculture to finance the shift in the first stage.
This view, however, no longer appears to be appropriate. On the one hand, the role of agriculture in the process of development has been reappraised and revalued from the point of view of its contribution to industrialization and its importance for harmonious development and political and economic stability. On the other hand, agriculture itself has become a form of industry, as technology, vertical integration, marketing and consumer preferences have evolved along lines that closely follow the profile of comparable industrial sectors, often of notable complexity and richness of variety and scope. This has meant that the deployment of resources in agriculture has become increasingly responsive to market forces and increasingly integrated in the network of industrial interdependencies. Agricultural products are shaped by technologies of growing complexity, and they incorporate the results of major research and development efforts as well as increasingly sophisticated individual and collective preferences regarding nutrition, health and the environment. While one can still distinguish the phase of production of raw materials from the processing and transformation phase, often this distinction is blurred by the complexity of technology and the extent of vertical integration: the industrialization of agriculture and development of agroprocessing industries is thus a joint process which is generating an entirely new type of industrial sector.

statistical evidence of its economic importance worldwide

before reviewing how conditions for agro-industrial development are currently changing worldwide as a result of changing trade policies and regimes and the evolution of both technology and food consumption patterns.

the growing internationalization of agroprocessing activities, in particular through the increasing importance of international capital activities, and the role played by multinational corporations in this process.

Agroprocessing industry thus means transforming products originating from agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Indeed, a very large part of agricultural production undergoes some degree of transformation between harvesting and final use. The industries that use agricultural, fishery and forest products as raw materials comprise a very varied group.
A further specification is related to the nature of the production process which, in many cases, can range from craft to industrial organization.

This implies that agro-industry today continues to process simple agricultural goods while also transforming highly sophisticated industrial inputs that are often the result of considerable investments in research, technology and innovation. Corresponding to this growing complexity of inputs is an increasing range of transformation processes, characterized by physical and chemical alteration and aimed at improving the marketability of raw materials according to the final end use.

The potential for agro-industrial development in the developing countries is largely linked to the relative abundance of agricultural raw materials and low-cost labour in most of them. The most suitable industries in such conditions are indeed those that make relatively intensive use of these abundant raw materials and unskilled labour and relatively less intensive use of presumably scarce capital and skilled labour.

Many of the industries using agricultural raw materials have in fact those characteristics that make them particularly suitable for the circumstances of many developing countries. Where the raw material represents a large proportion of total costs, its ready availability at a reasonable cost can often offset such disadvantages as a lack of infrastructure or skilled labour. Furthermore, for many agro-industries, a small plant may be economically efficient, which is another important factor in developing countries where the domestic market is limited by low purchasing power and sometimes by the small size of the market itself.

As for the cost structure, raw materials and utilities (water and power) account for well over half the total cost of production in food processing (column 3). In most countries the cost of these inputs represents between 60 and 90 percent of the gross value of production. The proportion tends to fall as productivity rises.

It is important that policies applied at all levels of the food production and processing system are compatible and work towards the achievement of the same goal. Whether in the form of a tax, subsidy, support or tariff, policy interventions must generate net benefits for society. In other words, the loss in fiscal revenue from a reduction in taxes must be more than offset by the increase in jobs and benefits associated with the industry; the cost of a subsidy must be more than offset by gains for the direct and indirect recipients of such a subsidy; relatively high prices must ensure the required increase in production and expansion of the industry concerned, with benefits in terms of employment and income; and the subsidy to final consumers must have net benefits in terms of nutrition and productivity.

Food distribution systems, in particular, have relied on forced procurement and import subsidies, thus lowering simultaneously the supply of local produce and prices of processed food products. Incentives to develop local manufactures for a variety of food products have thus been artificially depressed, especially in sectors such as dairy products, packed meat and wheat derivatives. On the other hand, in several developing countries the rise of a domestic fruit and vegetable processing industry has been indirectly encouraged by the punitive policies adopted against the production of basic food items.

The transition process has changed the economic environment by removing or substantially reducing food subsidies, by privatizing agriculture and industry and by deregulating local markets. In the absence of a comprehensive liberalization programme, however, new disequilibria have been created. Higher retail prices for food are often not transmitted to farmers because the processing industry is free to use market power to appropriate monopolistic rents. At the same time local producers are faced with strong competition from imports of higher-quality, Western processed food.

The current trend towards liberalization and increased market-orientation of agricultural policies opens a series of interesting perspectives for agricultural and agro-industrial producers. In an international macroeconomic framework characterized by low inflation and low interest rates in the industrialized countries, international trade should receive a significant impulse, especially in liberalizing agricultural markets. Growth prospects appear favourable, particularly because of the increasing diversity of food consumption, the switch to high income-elasticity goods and the increasing importance of marketing and processing. These phenomena could result in a massive reallocation of agricultural products along new lines of comparative advantage, following both the new market perspectives and the possibilities disclosed by technology and the evolution of tastes.

BENEFITS OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
a question which has been the object of strong debate between supporters and critics of this type of investment.
Although technological means of improving the environmental performance of many industrial activities already exist, their mere existence does not guarantee that they will be adopted, especially by small firms. One effective way to influence small firms is through extension and advisory services for industries. For example, the Pollution Control Cell of the National Productivity Council in India’s Ministry of Labour works to devise solutions that both reduce pollution and improve profits.
Generally, building pollution prevention into new agrifood investments is cheaper than adding it on later. Hence the importance of undertaking environmental impact assessments for proposed new large-scale investments. Developing countries with open markets will be able to gain from importing clean technologies already in use in industrial countries.
Protecting the consumer

A New Vision for Agriculture
Deepening public-private collaboration to accelerate growth in sustainable agriculture
The IssueIn the past year, food security and economic crises have highlighted both the urgent need and the potential for developing sustainable agri-food systems. Over one billion people, or one out of six globally, do not have access to adequate food and nutrition today. By 2050, the global population will grow to a projected 9.2 billion people, and demand for agricultural products is expected to double. In the intervening years, the agri-food system will face increasing constraints and volatility driven by resource scarcity and climate change, raising the risk of production shortfalls. While substantial gains can be realized through improved technologies, policies, infrastructure and investment, it will require an exceptional level of collaboration among stakeholders in the agricultural value chain including, individual farmers, consumers and entrepreneurs; governments and companies; civil society and multilateral organizations. And while many initiatives and processes are underway, few effectively tap both public and private-sector insights and capacities. Alignment around shared priorities and large-scale initiatives is therefore key to success on both global and regional levels.

A New Vision for Agriculture The World Economic Forum’s Consumer Industries Community is championing an initiative through multi-stakeholder engagement in developing a shared agenda for action to meet food security, economic development and environmental sustainability goals through agriculture. The New Vision for Agriculture initiative engages high-level leaders of industry, government and international institutions and civil society– with support from leading experts – to define joint priorities, recommendations and opportunities for collaboration. Issues to be addressed will vary according to the region and forum, but may include:

Leveraging public and private-sector investment for agricultural growth Boosting good stewardship practices of natural resources and preservation of biodiversity Developing agricultural markets through improved infrastructure and policies Driving economic growth through agriculture, including opportunities for small-scale farmers

Through a series of structured dialogues, engaging key public and private-sector actors, the initiative will provide opportunities to develop shared insights and priorities; provide advisory input and recommendations for focus and action by key stakeholders; and identify and support existing initiatives which offer promising opportunities for collaboration and scaling.

Who Is Involved?This project creates a neutral platform for engagement of a broad array of stakeholders including industry, governments, multilateral organizations, and civil society. The initiative is led by a Project Board comprised of select Consumer Industry Partners of the World Economic Forum. The Project Board provides strategic leadership and oversight to the project, as well as direct championship of its activities.

The New Vision for Agriculture Initiative also receives advisory support from the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Food Security. As a multi-stakeholder group of high-level leaders in the food security arena, the Council works to identify and leverage support for priority actions to improve global food security. The Council will play a key role in the New Vision for Agriculture Initiative through advising and leveraging support for the project’s recommendations.

For more information on this project, please contact:• Helena Leurent, Director, Agriculture, Food & Beverage Community, at http://us.mc573.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=helena.leurent@weforum.org • Lisa Dreier, Director, Food Security and Development Initiatives at http://us.mc573.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=lisa.dreier@weforum.org • Jennifer Baarn, Project Manager, New Vision for Agriculture Project, at http://us.mc573.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jennifer.baarn@weforum.org

Boosting agricultural production
Various policy responses have been proposed to reverse the slide in agriculture and help boost production and enhance food security. One of the major responses is the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which was endorsed by African governments in late 2002 in the context of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). The CAADP has three immediate "pillars" and one long-term pillar which together can help tackle Africa’s agricultural crisis. The mutually reinforcing pillars on which to base the immediate improvement of agriculture, food security and trade balance are:

Extending the area under sustainable land management and reliable water control systems. Building up soil fertility and the moisture-holding capacity of agricultural soils, and rapidly increasing the area under irrigation, especially small-scale irrigation, will not only provide farmers with opportunities to raise output on a sustainable basis, but will also contribute to the reliability of food supplies.

Improving rural infrastructure and trade-related capacities for market access. Roads, storage, markets, packaging and handling systems, and input supply networks should be improved to raise the competitiveness of local production vis-à-vis imports and export markets.
Increasing food supply and reducing hunger. Several factors including the limited use of irrigation and other inputs undercut crop and livestock yields. There is a need to improve access to technology by small farmers. These can play a major role in increasing food availability close to where it is most needed, raising rural incomes, and expanding employment opportunities and contributing to growth in exports. Food storage and its protection from mildew and pests are of critical importance. It is also important to respond to the growing frequency and severity of disasters and emergencies which impact on food security. In addition, conflict and war also disrupt food production. As a result, more aid is being diverted to emergency relief than to necessary long-term development.

Agricultural research, technology dissemination and adoption is the long-term pillar to achieve accelerated gains in productivity and requires:

Irrigation. Large-scale farming in south-western Burkina Faso.(Source: D. Tiveau/CIFOR)
Smallholder farming using furrow irrigation, Burkina Faso.(Source: Y. Katerere)
enhanced rate of adoption of the most promising available technologies by linking, more efficiently, research and extension systems to producers;
technology delivery systems that quickly bring innovations to farmers and agribusinesses through appropriate use of new information and communication technologies;
renewing the ability of agricultural research systems to efficiently and effectively generate and adapt to Africa’s new knowledge and technologies, including biotechnology; and
mechanisms that reduce the costs and risks of adopting new technologies.

It was estimated that a budget of US$251,000 million for the period 2002-2015 was needed to successfully implement these four pillars. If Africa were to invest in agriculture the total of about US$22,000 million it spends annually on food imports and food aid, it would take the region less than a decade to implement the four proposed agricultural pillars highlighted in the CAADP. The CAADP budget is slightly less than Africa’s total debt of over US$292,000 million for the period 2000-2002. Africa’s debt burden has been described as a major obstacle to the region’s economic growth and poverty reduction, threatening efforts to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly that of halving poverty by 2015.

Further Reading
ECA, 2004a. Achieving Sustainable Development: Building Partnerships. Economic Commission for Africa. Africa Investment Forum, 14 September 2004, Johannesburg.
ECA, 2004c. Land Tenure Systems and their Impacts on Food Security and Sustainable Development in Africa. Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa.
FAO, 2002a. Besieged mountain ecosystems start to turn off the tap: reduced water flow threatens agriculture and food security around the globe. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
FAO, 2002c. World Agriculture: Towards 2015/2030 - Summary Report. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.
FAOSTAT, 2004. FAOSTAT – FAO Statistical Databases. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
ILRI, 2004. Raising Livestock Production in Africa: summary note. Proceedings of the Assuring Food and Nutrition Security in Africa by 2020: Prioritizing Action, Strengthening Actors, and Facilitating Partnerships Conference. Kampala, Uganda. 1-3 April. International Livestock Research Institute.
NEPAD, 2003. Action Plan for the Environment Initiative. New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Midrand.
UNCTAD, 2004. Economic Development in Africa - Debt Sustainability: Oasis or Mirage? United Nations, New York and Geneva.
UNEP, 2006. Africa Environment Outlook 2
UNEP, 2006. Africa Environment Outlook 2, Annexes
World Bank (undated). AIDS Regional Update: Africa. World Bank, Washington, D.C.

The New Constitution

2010-07-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

There are some people who want to imagine Reform Agenda is dead, or corruption will not be done with, just because African corrupt leaders even after they have pinpointed and asked to step down for investigations are stuck in the government and will not oblige. These leaders have stolen so much from their citizens and have stored the stolen money and public utilities in foreign countries……But, with determination of the Civil Society and all people of Africa, things can change extremely dramatically and drastically when we hold firm, enough is enough……and as reformists, we believe, we will achieve our goals just when we stay the course and remain focused. In solidarity we must remain committed to improve living standards and achieve development in Africa…..this means we are looking for “Good Governance free from corruption” with valuable sustainable developmental growth for each and everyone. Please note this quote from UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon, when he said………"Corruption is not some vast impersonal force. It is the result of personal decisions, most often motivated by greed." We must deal with this decisively and without mercy.

Even with the best Constitution put in place, if policy instruments to meet challenges and competition are not sequential, the importance to appropriate role of the government in facilitating it becomes non-effective, a window best created for corruption. It is important that African Country Governments in their varying Political structure, engage in gainful Institutional settings to include Civil Societies, Professionals, Scholars or Academicians, Non-Governmental Organizations with other private organizations (Not hand-picked) to build Developmental Vision in a clear high standard challenging and competitive set goals, with Institutionalized Country-Specifics and Capacity-Specifics specified laid down principles for achieving developmental set goals. We must therefore, expose any element local or foreign who we think is an obstruction to our development success or those who we think are giving cushion cover or back-up support to those who are the machinery for corruption, who are nailing us into poverty den. We must all stand up and challenge bad leadership and bad governance.

We have also noticed some people issuing threats, those who have been paid to perform disruptive measures or speak on behalf of these corrupt leaders so they can stage technical resistance to have status quo of thieving and loopholes of the same to remain the way they are……We have seen like in Kenya the corrupt leaders send their Agents to speak on their behalf, to clear their names from wrong doings and like PNU demanding for a weaker Constitution a reason to cause delaying tactics so that they can continue stealing from public. This must not be allowed and must be at all cost condemned in the strongest term possible.
Corruption is the cause of Africa’s poverty, Ethnic hate and dis-Unity. It is the reason Africa has remain backwards in development, it is the reason Africa is heavily in debt……..who is going to pay all these accrued debt if we do not develop stiff strategy measure to stop this behavior and reclaim our stolen money and resources that have either been banked overseas or been transferred to personal accounts locally or internationally and into their private business investments and international partnership? This is why they are having cushion support from individual personnel in the UN and the International Finance Institutions, the reason why, as Citizens of Africa, it becomes extremely difficult for us to penetrate and stop this chronic menace of corruption.

It is a conspiracy people…..we must fight it all round, locally and internationally. We must collaborate to organize the return of our stolen assets that are and have become the proceeds of corruption by African Leaders. We must be careful, the same corrupt group of people will take this advantage to send ahead of time their own people to be seen to be Agents playing that role of public asset returns, we must remain on top of the game and know who is who so we do not get blackmailed. Therefore, Public Asset Recovery and Return MUST be PEOPLE DEMAND DRIVEN, not Country-led because we will never get to catch these politically connected thieves who steal huge sums of money and facilities under the International conspiracy. This is a high powered network from both within the corrupt Government machinery personnel system led by the Politicians within the UN and the Senior Personnel of International Finance Organizations who provide technicalities for safety-net with the legal framework for exercising safe Corruption Enterprise.

We therefore need concerted help and commitment from the United Nations including the Foreign Government Leadership, the Civil Society, NGOs and Private Organizations to help with the Restrictive Regulation formulation to stamp-out Corruption in African Government all-round system so to achieve sane political landscaping for sustainable development.

Cheers ! !

Judy Miriga

Diaspora Spokesperson

Executive Director

Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc., USA

G8 : Playing neatly into the hands of corrupt leaders ...
who have shackled Africa in the chains of misrule
Tuesday 8 July 2008

In the runup to the Group of Eight meeting in Japan last week, activists of all stripes were working hard to ensure that their issue would be on the agenda. While the agenda changes from year to year, one item has become a mainstay: debt relief. The fact that this issue repeatedly resurfaces calls into question the effectiveness of a well-intentioned development tool.

By Franklin Cudjoe

Instead of promoting debt relief year after year, the time has come to pursue more sensible, sustainable solutions. The G8 finance ministers have established several laudable and impressive goals that commit them to facilitating economic growth and development in African countries and affirming the importance of "good financial governance, including long-term fiscal discipline for resource-rich countries."
If African economies are to sustain their growth and lift millions of citizens out of poverty, as India and China have done, better fiscal discipline and financial governance are essential.
For too long, ordinary Africans have struggled to get ahead because of poor governance, corruption and a general lack of economic freedom; the G8 would only perpetuate these policies with its well-intentioned, yet ill-practiced policies on debt forgiveness. More than 90 percent of external debt of heavily indebted poor countries arises from official loans from creditors such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Much of this debt has already been forgiven and paid for by Western taxpayers.
Yet, despite hundreds of billions of dollars in debt cancellation and donor aid, Africa’s leaders and their rock-star champions still demand greater donor assistance to provide even the most basic services. In 2005 the G8 championed debt forgiveness and promised to increase foreign aid spending dramatically.

Debts of past corrupt gov’ts

There does exist some cases in which debt should be forgiven. For example, debt accumulated by rogue leaders, such as the former-Zaire President Joseph Mobutu, should not shackle the current population of what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Much debt accumulated under the economic misrule of Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda has been forgiven, and under the World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s HIPC program, funds released from debt payments are being used to pay for health programs, among other things. Still, great caution must be exercised in forgiving debt so that it doesn’t reward corrupt leaders and perpetuate failed economic policies.
The G8 goes beyond debt forgiveness by seeking an end to "aggressive litigation" against heavily indebted poor countries. This litigation often arises when investors who have abandoned hope of recovering their debts sell their debt at discounted rates on secondary markets. The secondary market investors then use the judicial system to recover from sovereign states what is owed to them. Disparagingly known as "vulture funds" these investors play an important role in international finance.

Astonishingly corrupt Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Take the case of the Republic of Congo, a country with vast resources that is ruled by the astonishingly corrupt Denis Sassou-Nguesso. Every year the Republic of Congo (distinct from its neighbor the Democratic Republic of Congo) earns almost $6 billion from oil reserves, but little of this is used to improve the lot of ordinary Congolese. According to the United Nations Development Program, Congo’s Human Development Index, which accounts for a range of factors such as life expectancy, health care and education, ranks the country at 139 out of 177.
Over the past 20 years, as the quality of life for most people around the world, particularly in South Asia, has rapidly increased, it has gradually decreased in Congo. The profligate corruption of the ruling elite is part of the problem. Credit-card receipts prove that Denis Christel Sassou-Nguesso, son of Congo’s ruler, charged over $200,000 on luxury items on shopping sprees in Paris and elsewhere. When his president-father’s entourage visited New York for a U.N. summit, they racked up a hotel bill of more than $300,000, paid mostly in cash. Yet Sassou-Nguesso pleaded poverty and refused to pay the country’s debts when they were taken over by hedge fund managers Elliot Associates.
After years of investigating Congo’s actions, Elliot Associates exposed rampant corruption and maladministration in Congo and finally arrived at a settlement.

Accountability

Yet, the G8 and some U.S. congressmen want to outlaw such practices, playing neatly into the hands of corrupt and venal leaders that have shackled Africa in the chains of their misrule for too long. If the G8 really wants to help Africa, it should work to build sound financial systems and ensure that the ruling elite are held responsible for the debts they incur. To expect less accountability and responsibility from African leaders than the G8 expects from itself is to sell Africa short.

Furthermore, it betrays those Africans, like myself, who are trying to build better societies and economies based on the rule of law, individual responsibility and rights, free trade and private enterprise. Unless the G8 holds governments and the ruling elite accountable for their bad decisions, there will never be any incentive to improve policies and make good financial decisions.

Without such reforms and improved accountability from the real vultures — the ruling elites — ordinary Africans will be kept poor and isolated from the global economy and the hope of a better future.

Franklin Cudjoe is editor of African Liberty and executive director of IMANI Center for Policy and Education, a think tank in Accra, Ghana.

Lake Victoria Kenya/Uganda/Tanzania

2010-05-23T16:31:00.000-07:00

Lake Victoria -- also known as Victoria Nyanza, Ukerewe, and Nalubaale -- rakes in the superlatives: it is the largest lake on the African continent, the largest tropical lake in the world, and the second largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. Joined by five others, Lake Victoria is one of the Great Lakes of Africa, extending into three countries: Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania (6, 45, and 49 percent, respectively).

Lake Victoria provides drinking water, hydroelectric power, water transportation, and economic development to the area. The lake supports industries such as commercial fishing, agriculture, trade, tourism, and wildlife preservation.

Though Lake Victoria has been around for more than 400,000 years, the first accounts of human arrival come from Arab traders in the 1100's, who arrived in search of gold, ivory, and slaves. Europeans later arrived in 1858, when British explorers John Hanning Speke and Richard Francis Burton arrived on a central Africa exploration expedition. Believing the lake to be the mouth of the Nile, Speke named it after Queen Victoria of England. Debate ensued on whether the lake actually held title as Mouth of the Nile, and many explorers arrived to either prove or refute Speke's claim. Eventually, the American Explorer Henry Morton Stanley discovered the lake's outflow at Ripon Falls, thus validating Speke's original statement: Lake Victoria forms the headwaters of the great Nile River.

Ripon Falls in Uganda was the only natural outlet for Lake Victoria. With construction of the Owen Falls Dam and Nalubaale Power Station in 1954, the original Falls were submerged. An agreement between Uganda and Egypt dictated that water releases through the dam would correspond with the natural outflow before damming. The Uganda Electricity Board (UEB) operates the power station, which supplies electricity to Uganda and neighboring Kenya. Uganda completed a second hydroelectric powerhouse, the Kiira station, in 2003, and a third power station at the Bujugali Falls has been planned. However, due to prolonged drought and hydropower generation, Lake Victoria water levels have fallen to their lowest levels since 1951, with serious negative impact on fishing, transportation, electricity, and tourism. The three countries bordering Lake Victoria have prepared National Environmental Action Plans, acknowledging that cooperation is necessary to address the challenges of water pollution, biodiversity loss, land and wetlands degradation, and deforestation.

Though Lake Victoria extends into Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, international water travel is not possible. Visitors to the area must choose their country, and the offerings are many. One of the most common ways to reach Lake Victoria is by safari, allowing you to visit the lake, its islands, and several neighboring national parks.

Kenya offers rich natural and cultural offerings, and a visit to the Kenyan shores of Lake Victoria will give you insight into the people and animals that make their home here. Western Kenya is largely unexplored, and absent are the mass of safari vans that so often dot the African landscape. Instead of mass tourism, here you'll participate in cultural immersion and get even deeper insight to African life by overnighting in a home stay. You'll soon find that community-based tourism is a central part of life here, educating visitors and helping local communities sustain themselves.

A Kenya-based Lake Victoria safari usually starts in Nairobi to Ndere Island National Park. Located in the Winam Gulf of Lake Victoria, the island has been uninhabited since 1986. Ndere means "meeting place" in Dholou, and here you will first meet the lake's waters, flora, and fauna. If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of African fish eagles, hippopotamuses, swifts, and Nile crocodiles that are known to make their home here. Later, travel to Homa Bay, a town and bay on the southern shore of Winam Gulf. Gaze at the vast Mount Homa, investigate Ruma National Park, and keep your eyes peeled for giraffes, roan antelope, and hartebeestes. Next stop is usually Rusinga Island, which includes a history museum, native Luo people, and growing sustainable tourism options. Several safaris will also take you to the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where you will meet the native Maasai and explore the landscape before heading back to your home base. Terms of Use

A visit to Lake Victoria's Tanzania coast will likely bring you to one spot: Rubondo Island National Park. The only national park in the country, the 93 square mile island is a mass of green trees, sparkling blue waters, and varied wildlife. Nature lovers will enjoy seeing giraffe, elephants, crocodiles, hippos, monkeys, otters, suni antelope, and marsh mongoose, though bird watchers will be those most satisfied by a visit to Rubondo Island National Park. Home to almost 400 bird species, the island is a avian paradise of cormorants, kingfishers, hornbills, ibises, storks, flycatchers, herons, and many birds of pray, including the world's highest density of fish eagles. There are several tours available on-island, and lodging options are also available, allowing visitors to make the most of their time on Tanzania's Lake Victoria coast.
Uganda, which Winston Churchill called the "pearl of Africa," offers Lake Victoria visitors incredible scenery, vast wildlife populations, and volcanic ranges, all with a background of beautiful snow-capped mountain peaks. Rare mountain gorillas live in the mountains, and among Uganda's tourist offerings are a Gorilla Safari and Chimpanzee treks, offering you scenic vistas and shoreline explorations.

Your days visiting Lake Victoria will be filled with wildlife watching, birdwatching, and appreciation of the varied African landscape around you. Depending on your time constraints and trip goals, choose your country wisely, and you will glimpse the Lake Victoria that Arab traders and European explorers first discovered.

Natural Resources of Africa

2010-05-23T16:19:00.000-07:00

Natural resources of Africa

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Africa has a large quantity of natural resources including oil, diamonds, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver, petroleum, but also woods and tropical fruits. It has lots of its natural resources undiscovered or barely tapped. Having a low human density, for a long period of time Africa has been colonized by more dynamic groups, exploiting African resources. Some economists have talked about the 'scurge of raw materials', large quantities of rare raw materials putting Africa under heavy pressures and tensions, leading to wars and slow development.

Contents[hide]
1 African agriculture
2 African Woods
3 African Animals
4 African Minerals
5 African Oil
6 Fresh Water
7 Ocean
8 See also
9 References
10 Sources

[edit] African agriculture
African agricultures have for long been western-oriented. Thus, focusing on cocoa, coffee, banana, orange, yams, pineapples, and many non-native fruits (non native as in Asia,Europe,America, Australia) etc.

[edit] African Woods
Exotic woods in Africa have been exploited for centuries, especially Ebene and many hardwoods. Both Congos are currently large wood exporters.

[edit] African Animals
Africa is made up of many different types of land, providing it access to many different types of animals. Some of these animals are the African elephant, the zebra, and the giraffe.also they have thirty-eight species of wild animals

[edit] African Minerals
Main article: Mineral industry of Africa
Africa, the 2nd largest continent, has large reserves of minerals, being the leading area for diamonds, cobalt, uranium, and many other rare minerals.

[edit] African Oil
African oil takes growing importance, mainly after the 2003 oil crisis and recent oil reserves discoveries. Sudan and Nigeria are two of the main oil producers. China owns 40% of Sudanese ones. Oil is both provided by continental and offshore productions.
Five countries dominate Africa's upstream oil production. Together they account for 85% of the continent's oil production and are, in order of decreasing output, Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, Egypt and Angola. Other oil producing countries are Gabon, Congo, Cameroon, Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Cote d'Ivoire. Exploration is taking place in a number of other countries that aim to increase their output or become first time producers. Included in this list are Chad, Sudan, Namibia, South Africa and Madagascar while Mozambique and Tanzania are potential gas producers.[1]

[edit] Fresh Water
Africa contains many of lakes and rivers, allowing in some small fishing industry. The deep rivers of Africa have significant hydroelectric value. Lake Victoria is Africa's biggest lake. Lake Volta in Ghana is the world's largest artificial lake.

[edit] Ocean
Atlantic and Indian allow some further production, from fishing, to mining and offshore oil productions. Its coastlines are teeming with fish and other seafood.

[edit] See also
Economy of Africa
Mineral industry of Africa
[edit] References
^ http://www.mbendi.com/indy/oilg/af/p0005.htm
[edit] Sources
Google scholar: African natural resources
Google scholar: African oil
Google scholar: African wood
[1]

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International Year of Thanksgiving

2010-05-23T13:55:00.000-07:00

International year of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a communal gesture celebrated all over the world.

The significance of thanksgiving day stems from the need to display gratitude through prayer, hymns and gift giving.

UN DeclarationThough thanksgiving originated in America, but it has spread its wings to other continents of the world as well. In November 1997, as a communal effort to reunite people all over the world, the millennium year 2000 was proclaimed as the 'International year of Thanksgiving' by the United Nations. This was first time ever that the general assembly voted unanimously in favour of a spiritual idea. The responsibility to take lead was given to Center for world Thanksgiving situated at Thanks-Giving Square. The idea behind the declaration was to spread peace, harmony and brotherhood.

United Nations decided the year 2000 as the 'International thanksgiving year' in order to celebrate the gift of life as the noblest expression of the human spirit.The activities undertaken by Center of World Thanksgiving included surveying the members countries of United nations and study their harvest related festivals. The survey laid emphasis on the importance of thanksgiving as an expression of gratitude in history, in arts, in philosophy and in religion. The declaration also served the purpose of fostering cultural relations among different countries.Lastly, the declaration intended to promote friendly relations among nations.

When is Thanksgiving Day?

Date of Thanksgiving Day varies every year and several countries celebrate it in different time of the year. Given here is information on Thanksgiving Day date in US and Canada for the past, present and coming years.

When is Thanksgiving Day in US?

Thanksgiving Day finds its roots in America. It is celebrated with lot of fervor and euphoria on the fourth Thursday in the month of November. For the people in US Thanksgiving is a time for merrymaking, shopping, family reunion, feasts and family dinners. People also take time to thank God for his constant grace and for all the material possessions man enjoys. For many Thanksgiving is also the time to thank near and dear ones and being grateful for their kindness.

Thanksgiving Day in 2010 - November 25

Thanksgiving Day in 2009 - November 26

Thanksgiving Day in 2008 - November 27

Thanksgiving Day in 2007 - November 22

Thanksgiving Day in 2006 - November 23

When is Thanksgiving Day in Canada?

Thanksgiving Day in Canada is, however, celebrated on the second Monday in the month of October every year. Canada celebrates Thanksgiving Day a month earlier because autumn season starts early in Canada than in America.

Thanksgiving Day in 2010- October 11

Thanksgiving Day in 2009 - October 12

Thanksgiving Day in 2008 - October 13

Thanksgiving Day in 2007 - October 8

Thanksgiving Day in 2006 - October 9

A New Paradigm for African Leadership

2010-05-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

U.S.-Africa Policy Under the Obama Administration
Johnnie CarsonAssistant Secretary,

Bureau of African Affairs Reimagine, Redefine, Reinvent: A New Paradigm for African Leadership

Harvard University Africa Focus Program

Washington, DC

April 5, 2010

[As Prepared]

It is a real pleasure for me to join you today to launch the second annual Africa Focus at Harvard University. Thank you Dr. Elkins for that kind introduction, and thank you to the organizers of this year’s Africa Focus for inviting me to speak about a topic that I have devoted much of my professional life to – strengthening the United States relationship with Africa.
As many of you know, I have spent much of my career working in and on Africa. I started my career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania and joined the Foreign Service right after that. I have had the privilege of serving as U.S. Ambassador in Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Uganda and I am honored to be serving as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in this administration.

President Obama has a strong interest in Africa and has prioritized Africa among our top foreign policy concerns. This has been evident throughout his first year in office.
The President’s visit to Ghana last July, the earliest visit made by a U.S. president to the continent, underscores Africa’s importance to the U.S. Last September, at the UN General Assembly, the President hosted a lunch with 26 African heads of state. He has also met in the oval office with President Kikwete of Tanzania, President Khama of Botswana, and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangarai. And the President invited dozens of people to the White House to see him give a Zimbabwean women’s group the Robert H. Kennedy Prize for Political Courage.
All of the President’s senior foreign policy advisors have followed his lead—many of them traveling to Africa as well.

The U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations -- my former boss and close colleague Ambassador Susan Rice -- visited five African countries last June, including Liberia and Rwanda. Deputy Secretary of State Jack Lew traveled to Ethiopia and Tanzania in June 2009.

Last August, Secretary Clinton and I embarked on an 11-day, seven-country trip across the continent. And in January Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero headed the U.S. delegation to the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, where she met with dozens of leaders and discussed a range of issues including democracy and governance, climate change, and food security.

President Obama has said that the United States views Africa as our partner and as a partner of the international community. While Africa has very serious and well-known challenges to confront, the President and Secretary Clinton are confident that Africa and Africans will rise to meet and overcome these challenges.

Last June when the President was in Ghana, he said, “We believe in Africa's potential and promise. We remain committed to Africa's future. We will be strong partners with the African people.” Africa is essential to our interconnected world, and our alliance with one another must be rooted in mutual respect and accountability.
I echo the President’s sentiment that U.S. policy must start from the simple premise that Africa’s future is up to Africans.

The Obama Administration is committed to a positive and forward looking policy in Africa.
It is committed to substantial increases in foreign assistance for Africa, but we know that additional assistance will not automatically produce success across the continent. Instead, success will be defined by how well we work together as partners to build Africa’s capacity for long-term change and ultimately the elimination of the continued need for such assistance. As Africa’s partner, the United States is ready to contribute to Africa’s growth and stabilization, but ultimately, African leaders and countries must take control of their futures.
Just like the United States is important to Africa, Africa is important to the United States. The history and heritage of this country is directly linked to Africa; President Obama’s direct family ties to the continent are a testimony to this.

But the significance and relevance of Africa reaches far beyond ethnicity and national origin. It is based on our fundamental interests in promoting democratic institutions and good governance, peace and stability, and sustained economic growth across Sub Saharan Africa. We think these issues are also fundamental to Africa’s future progress and success. Therefore, as we advance our interests, our policy will be based on five overarching principles.

FIRST: Strengthening African Governments

We will work with African governments, the international community, and civil society to strengthen democratic institutions and protect the democratic gains made in recent years in many African countries.

A key element in Africa’s transformation is sustained commitment to democracy, rule of law, and constitutional norms. Africa has made significant progress in this area. Botswana, Ghana, Tanzania, Mauritius, and South Africa are a few examples of countries showing that commitment. But progress in this area must be more widespread across Africa.
Some scholars and political analysts are saying that democracy in Africa has reached a plateau, and that we may be witnessing the beginning of a democratic recession. They point to flawed presidential elections in places like Kenya, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe; the attempts by leaders in Niger, Uganda, and Cameroon to extend their terms of office; and the re-emergence of military interventionism in Guinea-Conakry, Madagascar, and just last week in Niger.
Moreover, democracy remains fragile or tenuous in large states like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and arguably Africa’s most important country, Nigeria.

Nigeria continues to experience political tensions caused by the prolonged illness of President Yar’Adua. The United States welcomes President Yar’Adua’s recent return to Nigeria. However, we remain concerned that there may be some in Nigeria who are putting their personal ambitions above the health of the President and more importantly ahead of the political stability and political health of the country.

Nigeria is simply too important to Africa and too important to the U.S. and the international community for us not to be concerned and engaged. Widespread instability in Nigeria could have a tsunami-like ripple effect across West Africa and the global community.
During my recent visit to Nigeria, I was encouraged by the steps Nigeria’s elected officials at the national and state level to elevate Goodluck Jonathan to Acting President. Although political progress has been made, Nigeria still faces significant political challenges and uncertainty in the run-up to the next presidential and national assembly elections in 2011.

It is important that Nigeria improve its electoral system, reinvigorate its economy resolve the conflicts in the Niger Delta and end communal violence and impunity in Plateau State. It is also critically important that all of Nigeria’s leaders act responsibly and reaffirm their commitment to good governance, stability and democracy by choosing constitutional rule.

Nigeria and other African countries need civilian governments that deliver services to their people, independent judiciaries that respect and enforce the rule of law, professional security forces that respect human rights, strong and effective legislative institutions, a free and responsible press, and a dynamic civil society. All of these things are needed for a stable and prosperous Africa. All of these things are needed to secure Africa’s future.
The U.S. will continue to work with Africans, as partners, to build stronger democratic institutions and to advance democracy in Africa. It is a major priority.

SECOND: Economic Progress

Africa’s future success and global importance are dependent on its continued economic progress. Working alongside African countries to promote and advance sustained economic development and growth is another Obama administration priority. Africa has made measurable inroads to increase prosperity. Countries like Mauritius, Ghana, Rwanda, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, and Cape Verde have made significant economic strides. Yet Africa remains the poorest and most vulnerable continent on the globe.

To help turn this situation around, we must work to revitalize Africa’s agricultural sector, which employs more than 70 percent of Africans directly or indirectly.
The U.S. is committed to supporting a new Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative, focusing predominantly on reducing hunger, poverty and under-nutrition.

This $3.5 billion Food Security Initiative will also supply new methods and technologies to African farmers. The initiative was developed to help enhance Africa’s ability to meet its food needs and reduce its reliance on imported food commodities. It will also enable African states to further develop their agricultural industries, and by doing so it can spur economic growth across the continent.

Now is the time for a Green Revolution in African agriculture.
Through innovative approaches and nontraditional technology, we can improve the lives of millions of people across the continent.

Malawi was elected to the African Union chairmanship in January. It has made great progress in the field of agriculture and has indicated that it plans to use its chairmanship of the AU to advance agriculture in Africa. Countries that can feed themselves are stronger, more stable, and better able to weather economic downturns.

The U.S. also wants to strengthen its trading relationship with Africa. We already have strong ties in energy, textiles, and transportation equipment. But we can and should do more. The Obama Administration is committed to working with our African partners to maximize the opportunities created by our trade preference programs like AGOA. And we hope more African nations will take advantage of AGOA.

We also continue to explore ways to promote African private sector growth and investment, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.
In the midst of these efforts, we cannot forget the critical role African women play as producers and agricultural traders – they must take part in this economic growth. We must ensure that African women are an equal part of Africa’s economic future and success.

THIRD: Health-Related Issues

Historically the United States has focused on public health and health-related issues in Africa. We are committed to continuing that focus. We will work side-by-side with African governments and civil society to ensure that quality treatment, prevention, and care are easily accessible to communities throughout Africa.

From HIV/AIDS to malaria, Africans endure and suffer a multitude of health pandemics that weaken countries on many fronts. Sick men and women cannot work and contribute to the economy. They cannot serve in the armed forces or police and they cannot provide for the security of their counties.

To help solve the health crisis that is occurring throughout the entire continent, Africans as well as the international community must invest in public health systems, in training more medical professionals, and must ensure that there are good jobs and well-paying opportunities in their own countries for doctors and nurses once they are trained. We must also focus on maternal and infant health care, which are closely related to several Millennium Development Goals.
The Obama Administration will continue the PEPFAR Program and the Bush administration’s fight against HIV/AIDS. In addition to combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB, and polio, the Obama Administration has pledged $63 billion to meet public health challenges throughout Africa.

FOURTH: Preventing, Resolving Conflicts

The U.S. is committed to working with African states and the international community to prevent, mitigate, and resolve conflicts and disputes. Conflict destabilizes states and borders, stifles economic growth and investment, and robs young Africans of the opportunity for an education and a better life. Conflict sets back nations for a generation. Throughout Africa, there has been a notable reduction in the number of conflicts over the past decade.
The brutal conflicts in Sierra Leone and Liberia have come to an end, and we have seen Liberia transform itself into a democracy through the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female head of state. These examples of what can be accomplished in a short period of time should make us proud and hopeful for solving the problems of seemingly intractable conflicts elsewhere.

However, areas of turmoil and political unrest such as Guinea, Somalia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and Madagascar create both internal and regional instability. Furthermore, we must not forget the extreme harm inflicted by gender-based violence and the recruitment of child soldiers. The Obama Administration is working to end these conflicts so that peace and economic progress can replace instability and uncertainty.

President Obama has demonstrated his commitment to work with African leaders to help resolve these conflicts through the appointment of the Special Presidential Envoy for Sudan, General Scott Gration, whose mandate is to ensure the full implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The Special Advisor for the Great Lakes former Congressman Howard Wolpe is also working to bring peace and stability to the Eastern Congo.
We will also continue our cooperation with regional leaders to look for ways to end Somalia’s protracted political and humanitarian crisis. We continue to call for well-meaning actors in the region to support the Djibouti Peace process of inclusion and reconciliation, and to reject those extremists and their supporters that seek to exploit the suffering of the Somali people.
Additionally, the United States is proactive in working with African leaders, civil society organizations, and the international community to prevent new conflicts. We are cooperating with African leaders to defuse possible disagreements before they become sources of open hostility. As we pursue these avenues of promoting stability and peace in Somalia, we are also shouldering the lion’s share of humanitarian assistance to the people of Somalia.
The United States consistently has been the largest single country donor of humanitarian assistance to Somalia, providing more than $150 million in humanitarian assistance in 2009.

FIFTH: Transnational Challenges

We will seek to deepen our cooperation with African states to address both old and new transnational challenges. The 21st century ushered in new transnational challenges for Africa and the world.
Africa’s poverty puts it at a distinct disadvantage in dealing with major global and transnational problems like climate change, narco-trafficking, trafficking in persons and arms, and the illegal exploitation of Africa’s minerals and maritime resources.
Meeting the climate and clean energy challenge is a top priority for the United States and the Obama Administration.

Climate change affects the entire globe; its potential impact on water supplies and food security can be disastrous. As President Obama said in Ghana, “while Africa gives off less greenhouse gasses than any other part of the world, it will be the most threatened by climate change.” Often those who have contributed the least to the problem are the ones who are affected the most by it, and the United States is committed to working with Africans to find viable solutions to adapt to the severe consequences of climate change.

The effects of climate change are clear: the snow cap of Mount Kilimanjaro is melting and Lake Chad is a fraction of the size it was 35 years ago. With our international partners, the United States is working to build a sustainable, clean energy global economy which can drive investment and job creation around the world, including bringing energy services to the African continent.
There is no time like the present to face this issue as it carries tremendous consequences for future generations and our planet.

Narco-trafficking is a major challenge for Africa and the world. If we do not address it, African countries will be vulnerable to the destabilizing force of narcotics trafficking in the years ahead. As Africa faces the impact of these new transnational problems, the United States will actively work with leaders and governments across the continent to confront all issues that are global in nature.

I would now like to turn to our new programs and initiatives, which work to implement our policies to move our partnership with Africa forward. We are establishing in-depth, high level dialogues with South Africa, Angola, Nigeria, and with the African Union.
We are increasing our cooperation with other countries interested in Africa such as Canada, the UK, France, China, Japan, and multilateral bodies like the EU.

We also hope that increased funding for projects and programs in Africa, as requested in the 2011 budget, will be approved by Congress. With enhanced resources we can further strengthen our partnership with Africa.

Finally, one of my personal goals is to expand our diplomatic presence in Africa. I am working with the Administration and Congress to increase resources – both funding and people – at our embassies and consulates. I want more American diplomats living and working in Africa. An increased diplomatic presence is important for our mutual progress on all of these pressing issues. It is my sincere desire to open more consulates in Africa, which will enable us to reach your citizens beyond the capital cities.

We must be in Mombasa as well as Nairobi, we must be in Goma as well as Kinshasa, and we will be in Kano as well as Abuja.

We must also do a better job of using our diplomatic presence on the continent to listen to the people of Africa and learn from them how we can better work together on the challenges they face.

The Obama Administration believes in and is committed to Africa’s future. I am excited about the level of interest you, the next generation of African and American leaders, have shown to take the future of Africa into your hands as President Obama called for in Ghana. I appreciate your commitment to this shared vision and your willingness to work together toward a future that brings better governance, expanded democracy, and greater prosperity to Africa’s people. I hope that many of you in this room will choose careers in public service, either in the Peace Corps and the Foreign Service, like I did. I also anticipate that some of you will return to your countries and serve there as the next generation of leaders who can help make progress on some of the challenges facing Africa, which I have mentioned tonight. For those of you who enter the business world, recall what I have said about the vast economic opportunities that remain untapped in Africa. Africa’s challenges demand the kind of energy and creativity that I know is present in this room.

Thank you very much for your time, thank you for this invitation, and now I turn it over to you for questions.

AGOA The African Growth and Opportunity Act

2010-05-16T05:21:00.000-07:00

Posted by Judy Miriga

TEXT OF THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (PDF)
PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION ON DUTY-FREE PRODUCTS
(PDF files require the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to get it.)

BACKGROUND

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was signed into law on May 18, 2000 as Title 1 of The Trade and Development Act of 2000. The Act offers tangible incentives for African countries to continue their efforts to open their economies and build free markets. President Bush signed amendments to AGOA, also known as AGOA II, into law on August 6, 2002 as Sec. 3108 of the Trade Act of 2002. AGOA II substantially expands preferential access for imports from beneficiary Sub-Saharan African countries.

By modifying certain provisions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the AGOA Acceleration Act of 2004 (AGOA III, signed by President Bush on July 12, 2004) extends preferential access for imports from beneficiary Sub Saharan African countries until September 30, 2015; extends third country fabric provision for three years, from September 2004 until September 2007; and provides additional Congressional guidance to the Administration on how to administer the textile provisions of the bill.

The Africa Investment Incentive Act of 2006 (signed by President Bush on December 20, 2006) further amends portions of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and is referred to as "AGOA IV". The legislation extends the third country fabric provision for an additional five years, from September 2007 until September 2012; adds an abundant supply provision; designates certain denim articles as being in abundant supply; and allows lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries export certain textile articles under AGOA. AGOA provides reforming African countries with the most liberal access to the U.S. market available to any country or region with which the United States does not have a Free Trade Agreement. It supports U.S. business by encouraging reform of Africa’s economic and commercial regimes, which will build stronger markets and more effective partners for U.S. firms.

AGOA expands the list of products which eligible Sub-Saharan African countries may export to the United States subject to zero import duty under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). While general GSP covers approximately 4,600 items, AGOA GSP applies to more than 6,400 items. AGOA GSP provisions are in effect until September 30, 2015.AGOA can change the course of trade relations between Africa and the United States for the long term, while helping millions of African families find opportunities to build prosperity:

By reinforcing African reform efforts;

By providing improved access to U.S. technical expertise, credit, and markets; and

By establishing a high-level dialogue on trade and investment.

Since its implementation, AGOA has encouraged substantial new investments, trade, and job creation in Africa. It has helped to promote Sub-Saharan Africa's integration into the multilateral trading system and a more active role in global trade negotiations. It has also contributed to economic and commercial reforms which make African countries more attractive commercial partners for U.S. companies.

IMPLEMENTATION

An AGOA Implementation Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) was established to implement AGOA. Among the most important implementation issues are the following:

Determination of country eligibility;

Determination of the products eligible for zero tariff under expansion of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP);

Determinations of compliance with the conditions for apparel benefits;

Establishment of the U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Forum; and
Provisions for technical assistance to help countries qualify for benefits.

COUNTRY ELIGIBILITY

The U.S. Government intends that the largest possible number of Sub-Saharan African countries are able to take advantage of AGOA. President Clinton issued a proclamation on October 2, 2000 designating 34 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa as eligible for the trade benefits of AGOA. The proclamation was the result of a public comment period and extensive interagency deliberations of each country’s performance against the eligibility criteria established in the Act. On January 18, 2001, Swaziland was designated as the 35th AGOA eligible country and on May 16, 2002 Côte d'Ivoire was designated as the 36th AGOA eligible country. On January 1, 2003 The Gambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo were designated as the 37th and 38th AGOA eligible countries. On January 1, 2004, Angola was designated as AGOA eligibile. Effective January 1, 2004, however, the President removed the Central African Republic and Eritrea from the list of eligible countries. On December 10, 2004, the President designated Burkina Faso as AGOA eligible. Effective January 1, 2005, the President removed Côte d'Ivoire from the list of eligible countries. Effective January 1, 2006, the President designated Burundi as AGOA eligible and removed Mauritania from the list of eligible countries. Effective December 29, 2006, the President designated Liberia as AGOA eligible. Effective June 28, 2007, the President again designated Mauritania as AGOA eligible. Effective April 17, 2008, the President designated Togo as AGOA eligible. Effective June 30, 2008, the President designated Comoros as AGOA eligible. Effective January 1, 2009, the President again removed Mauritania from the list of AGOA eligible countries. The U.S. Government will work with eligible countries to sustain their efforts to institute policy reforms, and with the remaining nine Sub-Saharan African countries to help them achieve eligibility.The Act authorizes the President to designate countries as eligible to receive the benefits of AGOA if they are determined to have established, or are making continual progress toward establishing the following: market-based economies; the rule of law and political pluralism; elimination of barriers to U.S. trade and investment; protection of intellectual property; efforts to combat corruption; policies to reduce poverty, increasing availability of health care and educational opportunities; protection of human rights and worker rights; and elimination of certain child labor practices. These criteria have been embraced overwhelmingly by the vast majority of African nations, which are striving to achieve the objectives although none is expected to have fully implemented the entire list. The eligibility criteria for GSP and AGOA substantially overlap, and countries must be GSP eligible in order to receive AGOA’s trade benefits including both expanded GSP and the apparel provisions. Although GSP eligibility does not imply AGOA eligibility, 47 of the 48 Sub-Saharan African countries are currently GSP eligible.

GSP PRODUCT ELIGIBILITY

AGOA authorizes the President to provide duty-free treatment under GSP for any article, after the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) have determined that the article is not import sensitive when imported from African countries. On December 21, 2000, the President extended dutyfree treatment under GSP to AGOA eligible countries for more than 1,800 tariff line items in addition to the standard GSP list of approximately 4,600 items available to non-AGOA GSP beneficiary countries. The additional GSP line items which include such previously excluded items as footwear, luggage, handbags, watches, and flatware were implemented after an extensive process of public comment and review. AGOA extends GSP for eligible Sub-Saharan African beneficiaries until September 30, 2015. Sub-Saharan African beneficiary countries are also exempted from competitive need limitations which cap the GSP benefits available to beneficiaries in other regions.

APPAREL PROVISIONS

AGOA provides duty-free and quota-free treatment for eligible apparel articles made in qualifying sub-Saharan African countries through 2015. Qualifying articles include: apparel made of U.S. yarns and fabrics; apparel made of sub-Saharan African (regional) yarns and fabrics until 2015, subject to a cap; apparel made in a designated lesser-developed country of third-country yarns and fabrics until 2012, subject to a cap; apparel made of yarns and fabrics not produced in commercial quantities in the United States; textile or textile articles originating entirely in one or more lesser-developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries; certain cashmere and merino wool sweaters; and eligible handloomed, handmade, or folklore articles, and ethnic printed fabrics.

Under a Special Rule for lesser-developed beneficiary countries, those countries with a per capita GNP under $1,500 in 1998, will enjoy an additional preference in the form of duty-free/quota-free access for apparel made from fabric originating anywhere in the world. The Special Rule is in effect until September 30, 2012 and is subject to a cap. AGOA IV continues the designation of Botswana and Namibia as lesser-developed beneficiary countries, qualifying both countries for the Special Rule.

AGOA IV

provides for special rules for fabrics or yarns produced in commercial quantities (or "abundant supply") in any designated sub-Saharan African country for use in qualifying apparel articles. Upon receiving a petition from any interested party, the International Trade Commission will determine the quantity of such fabrics or yarns that must be sourced from the region before applying the third country fabric provision. It also provides for 30 million square meter equivalents (SMEs) of denim to be determined to be in abundant supply beginning October 1, 2006. The U.S. International Trade Commission will provide further guidance on how it will implement this provision.

Preferential treatment for apparel took effect on October 1, 2000, but beneficiary countries must first establish effective visa systems to prevent illegal transshipment and use of counterfeit documentation, and that they have instituted required enforcement and verification procedures. Specific requirements of the visa systems and verification procedures were promulgated to African governments via U.S. embassies on September 21, 2000. The Secretary of Commerce is directed to monitor apparel imports on a monthly basis to guard against surges. If increased imports are causing or threatening serious damage to the U.S. apparel industry, the President is to suspend duty-free treatment for the article(s) in question. The U.S. Government is now reviewing applications for approval of the required visa and enforcement mechanisms from AGOA eligible countries.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Growth_and_Opportunity_Act)

(click here for further details on apparel eligibility provisions)

OTHER PROVISIONS

The Act directs the President to organize a U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Forum, to be hosted by the Secretaries of State, Commerce, Treasury, and the U.S. Trade Representative. The Forum is to serve as the vehicle for regular dialogue between the United States and African countries on issues of economics, trade, and investment. The Act also calls for annual reports to Congress through 2008 on U.S. trade and investment policy in Africa and implementation of the Act.

"Trade Is Key to Africa’s Economic Growth"

2010-05-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

Ambassador Ron Kirk (USTR)

As United States Trade Representative (USTR), Ambassador Kirk is a member of President Obama's Cabinet and serves as the President's principal trade advisor, negotiator and spokesperson on trade issues.
Ambassador Kirk was nominated to be United States Trade Representative by President Barack Obama and was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 18, 2009. During his tenure at USTR, Ambassador Kirk has led the office in developing trade policies that are proactive, responsible, and more responsive to American families' interests - recognizing that trade can be a job-creating pillar of economic recovery in the United States and around the world. Highlights have included a new focus on trade policy that assists America's small- and medium-sized businesses, increased enforcement efforts to bring home the benefits of existing trade agreements, and changes to move forward the Doha Round of world trade negotiations.
Ambassador Kirk draws upon more than 25 years of diverse legislative and economic experience on local, state and federal levels. As the first African American mayor of Dallas from 1995 - 2001, Ambassador Kirk expanded Dallas' reach to the world through a range of trade programs, including numerous trade missions. Previously, he served as Texas Secretary of State under Governor Ann Richards; as a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.) and as chair of Texas' General Service Commission. Ambassador Kirk also served as a City of Dallas assistant city attorney.
Prior to joining USTR, Ambassador Kirk was a partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP. He was named one of "The 50 Most Influential Minority Lawyers in America" by The National Law Journal in 2008, and one of the nation's top government relations lawyers by The Best Lawyers in America from 2007-2009.
Ambassador Kirk was born and raised in Austin, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and sociology from Austin College in Sherman, Texas. He received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1979. He is married to Matrice Ellis-Kirk. He and his wife have two daughters, Elizabeth Alexandra and Catherine Victoria.

USTR's Office of African Affairs develops and coordinates U.S. trade and investment policy for the 48 countries of sub-Saharan Africa. It leads the negotiation and implementation of U.S. trade agreements and initiatives that further the Administration's economic and development policies in the region.
The Africa Office seeks to open sub-Saharan African markets to U.S. goods, services, and investment, while at the same time helping African countries to use trade to advance their economic development. It oversees implementation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program and works closely with other U.S. agencies, such as USAID, to help eligible African countries make the most of AGOA's trade benefits.
The Africa Office leads U.S. Government interagency engagement with sub-Saharan African partners on trade and investment issues, including under our eleven trade and investment framework agreements (TIFAs) with sub-Saharan African countries and regional economic organizations. The United States also has a Trade, Investment, and Development Cooperative Agreement with the five countries of the Southern African Customs Union and bilateral investment treaties with six sub-Saharan African partners.
The Africa Office maintains an ongoing dialogue with sub-Saharan African countries on issues related to the WTO Doha negotiations. It also works closely with other Africa trade policy stakeholders, including Members of Congress (testimony on U.S.-Africa Relations), the African and American private sectors, and civil society in the United States and sub-Saharan Africa.

Recently, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for African Affairs Florie Liser sat down with America.gov writer Charles Corey to talk about how trade is helping countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Read the article below.

Trade is the key to long-term, sustainable economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa, says Florizelle Liser, assistant U.S. trade representative for Africa.

Because trade is vital to sub-Saharan Africa's economic future and to improving lives and livelihoods, the 8th Annual African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum, to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, August 4-6, is an important venue for cultivation of trade opportunities, Liser said in a July 21 interview with America.gov.

"Trade is critically important to economic development. Right now, Africa has about 2 percent of all world trade, which is hard to believe when you think about all of the tremendous resources that they have - oil, diamonds, gold ... not to mention all the agricultural products such as coffee, tea, cocoa - and to think that Africa still only has 2 percent of world trade is really incredible. But the power of trade is that if the Africans were able to increase their share of world trade from 2 to 3 percent, that 1 percentage increase would actually generate about $70 billion of additional income annually for Africa," or about three times the total development assistance Africa gets from the entire world, Liser said.

Many countries in Asia and Latin America, she said, "don't have even one smidgen of Africa's natural resources - a country like South Korea, for example - yet they are huge players in the global trading system. This is why having AGOA as one initiative aimed at expanding the U.S. aspect of our economic relationship with the Africans" is so important.

Liser said the United States needs to work with the countries of sub-Saharan Africa in many areas so they can take full advantage of both AGOA and worldwide trading opportunities and send exports to emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil.

And Africans must begin trading more with each other. "Africans trade the least with each other than all the other continents. It is improving. We are seeing a greater increase in intra-African trade, but," she emphasized, "the reason that that is important is that you are unlikely to be competitive globally if you are not competitive regionally. So until they open their borders with each other and trade with each other, you are not going to get the level of competition that will allow them to be major providers of any product globally."

For that reason, the United States strongly encourages all African countries to develop an "AGOA strategy" based on export promotion and competiveness, she said.

"You look at the products you have, and you determine the three or four particular products or sectors [where] you have a comparative advantage,"
she explained. "Then you look carefully at what are the challenges that face those three or four products or sectors and what would the country have to do to make them more competitive." Some countries are employing this strategy and bringing together their trade, finance, transport and energy ministers and investment promotion experts. "You sit all of these people around the table and you have them ... determine, step by step, what they have to do to advance the competitiveness of those three or four products or sectors."

Recently, Liser talked to the Tanzanians about the AGOA strategy they are developing. Tanzania produces the cotton for the Venus Williams line of tennis shirts, which also is manufactured at a plant in Tanzania. "I challenged them. I said you only have one plant. You have all this cotton. You have cotton farmers who would benefit if you could create more of these factories," which in turn could employ many more people. "The problem is that, as is true with most of the AGOA countries, you have huge potential but you don't have the investment and the focus on how to take that and duplicate and multiply that." The apparel industry, she added, is a "gateway to industrialization."

Africa's share of the U.S. import apparel market is less than 2 percent. By comparison, she said, depending on the product, Bangladesh exports to the United States three to five times the amount of apparel that is exported to the United States by all sub-Saharan African countries combined. "That shows you that they [the Africans] have huge potential but somehow that is not being advanced." U.S. imports under AGOA in 2008 totaled $66.3 billion, with $5.1 billion in nonoil trade, a sector that Liser says the United States wants to further expand.

Another issue, she said, is the need for much more domestic and foreign investment on the continent: "Without that investment, these factories that we are talking about building simply will not be built." She added that "it is not just about foreign direct investment, but also about domestic investment and government investment in the infrastructure that supports trade."

Acknowledging that there is confusion, Liser said it is important to understand what AGOA really is.

"AGOA is essentially a trade preference program which adds about 1,800 products to the list of about 4,600 products that are already eligible to enter the United States duty free under the Generalized System of Preferences. The purpose of AGOA in adding those 1,800 products was to give the Africans a competitive advantage in the U.S. market for additional value-added products. ... So AGOA is important because it is one of the major ways that we have to help encourage greater value addition to Africa's production of agricultural and manufactured products."

Often, she added, people think AGOA is just about textiles and apparel. It is not. "So ... the first thing we need to understand is what it does, and that it is working. We are getting a greater number of value-added nontraditional products entering the U.S. under AGOA. But again," she acknowledged, Africa is "starting from a very small base. So even though we have seen growth, we have not gotten anywhere near the potential."

Ask the Ambassador: African Growth and Opportunity Act

03/29/2010 - 12:19pm

We recently received a question about the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Frank from Texas asks:

"Ambassador Kirk, I just found out the AGOA benefits will be over starting January 1, 2010. Why? This has been a great benefit for countries such as Madagascar. Are there any plans in the future to reverse this? Has this been implemented already?"

Ambassador Kirk responds:

"Thank you for the question, Frank. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) will not expire until 2015. However, AGOA requires the President to annually designate countries as eligible to receive the benefits of the Act, if they meet the Act's eligibility criteria. These criteria include, among other things, progress on rule of law and political pluralism. The March 2009 undemocratic transfer of power in Madagascar, and the subsequent failure to establish concrete steps toward re-establishing a constitutional democratic government and rule of law led to the termination of Madagascar's AGOA benefits in January 2010. The United States joined the international community, including the African Union and the southern African Development Community in condemning the March 2009 coup. According to the AGOA legislation, all nations will once again be up for review at the end of 2010.

For the 38 countries that meet the eligibility criteria, the combination of most favored nation rates (MFN), Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), and AGOA means that almost all their goods enter the United States duty-free. Africa accounts for only two percent of global trade and it is an initiative like AGOA that can bolster Africa's capacity to trade internationally, while also opening new business opportunities for American workers and firms. Two-way trade between the United States and AGOA nations has more than doubled since the AGOA legislation was signed in 2000. AGOA increases trade opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic, like the molded fiber-glass home manufacturer from Mississippi shipping their low-maintenance and energy-efficient structures to Nigeria and other AGOA members. AGOA has also played an important part in generating dialogue and brokering partnerships between American and African entrepreneurs- expanding opportunities for both trade and investment. We look forward to a year of growth and recovery with our African trading partners, as American businesses expand into new markets, and bring the benefits of trade back home to our workers and families."

United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk Celebrates 10th Anniversary of AGOA with Members of Congress

Trade Preference Program for African Countries Continues to Boost U.S.-African Trade

Washington, D.C. –

United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk presided at a ceremony on Capitol Hill today heralding the 10th Anniversary of the enactment of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program. Ambassador Kirk was joined by several past and present Members of Congress – both Democrats and Republicans – who played key roles in the drafting, passage and implementation of AGOA, including Congressman Sander Levin, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Charles Rangel, Congressman Dave Camp, Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Kevin Brady, Congressman Jim McDermott, Congressman Al Green, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick, Congresswoman Gwen Moore Congressman Donald Payne, Congressman Ed Royce, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez and Former Chairman Bill Thomas, Ways and Means Committee. Others participating in the event included members of the African Diplomatic Corps and representatives of the private sector and civil society organizations.
“By opening the American market to almost all goods from beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, AGOA has helped Africans use trade to fight poverty and grow their economies – and AGOA is also good for U.S. business,” said Ambassador Kirk. “By promoting an improved business environment in many African countries, AGOA has opened up new opportunities for U.S. exports. The result is a substantial increase in two-way U.S.-Africa trade since 2000, with African countries now exporting to the United States a more diverse range of value-added products. The success of AGOA is a powerful demonstration of the linkage between trade and economic development – and more can be done to help African countries make the most of the opportunities AGOA provides.”
Background on AGOA:
Congress passed the AGOA legislation in early 2000 with strong bipartisan support. President Clinton signed the AGOA bill into law on May 18, 2000. Since then, three successive administrations, including the Obama Administration, have actively implemented AGOA, working closely with African partners and other stakeholders to help them make the most of the program.
AGOA builds on the existing Generalized System of Preferences program to allow eligible sub-Saharan African countries to export almost any product to the United States duty-free (nearly 6,500 tariff lines), with a special focus on value-added and non-traditional products such as apparel, footwear, and processed agricultural goods. Since AGOA’s enactment, U.S. non-oil imports from sub-Saharan Africa under AGOA have more than doubled, reaching $3.4 billion in 2009. Among the sectors that have experienced sizable increases under AGOA are apparel, footwear, vehicles, fruits and nuts, prepared vegetables, leather products, cut flowers, prepared seafood, and essential oils.
Several countries have witnessed noteworthy increases in exports under AGOA:
-- South Africa exports the widest range of AGOA products, including vehicles, citrus, wine, and footwear;
-- Lesotho has become the leading sub-Saharan African exporter of apparel to the United States;
-- Kenya’s AGOA exports include fresh cut roses, sport fishing supplies, nuts, plastic products, jewelry, and essential oils, as well as apparel;
-- Ghana’s value-added exports under AGOA include chocolates, jewelry, baskets, and preserved pineapple.
AGOA requires the President to determine annually whether sub-Saharan African countries are eligible for benefits under AGOA based on their progress in meeting certain criteria set out in the Act, including progress toward implementing economic reforms, establishing the rule of law, reducing poverty, and strengthening labor and human rights. There are currently 38 sub-Saharan African countries eligible for AGOA.[1]
The United States has provided substantial trade capacity building assistance to African governments and firms to help them utilize AGOA trade preferences. Much of this assistance is carried out by experts at four regional competitiveness hubs, managed by USAID, that work with African governments and businesses to identify and develop AGOA trade opportunities. The United States provided over
$1 billion dollars for trade capacity building activities in sub-Saharan Africa in 2008, including trade-related assistance provided under Millennium Challenge Corporation compacts with African countries.
AGOA also established an annual, high-level dialogue between officials of the United States and AGOA beneficiary countries: the AGOA Forum. The next AGOA Forum, to be held in Washington, DC on August 2-3, 2010, will bring together Cabinet-level officials from the United States and AGOA beneficiary countries, along with representatives of the African and American private sector and non-governmental organizations, to discuss issues related to U.S.-sub-Saharan African trade and economic cooperation.
# # #
[1] Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.

Energy & Environment

2010-04-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 31, 2010
Remarks by The President on Energy Security at Andrews Air Force Base, 3/31/2010
11:18 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, everybody. Thank you so much. (Applause.) Please have a seat. I've got a few introductions that I want to make very quickly before I start my remarks. First of all, I think that by the end of his tenure we're going to know that Ken Salazar is one of the finest Secretaries of Interior we've ever had. So please give him a big round of applause. (Applause.)

Other members of what we call our green team are here: Steven Chu, our Secretary of Energy; Martha Johnson, the Administrator of the GSA; Nancy Sutley, the CEQ Chair. We've got Carol Browner, who’s the White House Energy and Climate Change Director. Please give them a big round of applause. They put in a lot of work. (Applause.)

Governor Martin O’Malley is here, governor of Maryland. (Applause.) Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy, is here. (Applause.) Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations, is here, and we appreciate his outstanding service. Thank you, Gar. (Applause.)

I want to thank Steven Shepro, the base commander here at Andrews, and the leadership that's present from the Air Force, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard.

Ken and I were colleagues in the Senate, and I appointed him because I knew that he would be a faithful and pragmatic steward of our natural resources. And as Secretary, he is changing the way that the Interior Department does business so that we’re responsibly developing traditional sources of energy and renewable sources of energy, from the wind on the high plains to the suns in the desert to the waves off our coasts. And so I'm very grateful to the work that he’s done in culminating in one of the announcements that we’re making today.

It’s also good to see so many members of our Armed Forces here today. Andrews is the home of Air Force One, and I appreciate everything that you do for me and my family. I should point out that you’ve got a 100-percent on-time departure record. (Laughter.) You don’t charge for luggage -- (laughter) -- so it’s a pretty good deal. And I want to thank you not only for the support that you provide me, but also for the service that you perform to keep our country safe each and every day. So I'm very grateful to all of you.

We’re here to talk about America’s energy security, an issue that’s been a priority for my administration since the day I took office. Already, we’ve made the largest investment in clean energy in our nation’s history. It’s an investment that’s expected to create or save more than 700,000 jobs across America -- jobs manufacturing advanced batteries for more efficient vehicles; upgrading the power grid so that it’s smarter and it’s stronger; doubling our nation’s capacity to generate renewable electricity from sources like the wind and the sun.

And just a few months after taking office, I also gathered the leaders of the world’s largest automakers, the heads of labor unions, environmental advocates, and public officials from California and across the country to reach a historic agreement to raise fuel economy standards in cars and trucks. And tomorrow, after decades in which we have done little to increase auto efficiency, those new standards will be finalized, which will reduce our dependence on oil while helping folks spend a little less at the pump.

So my administration is upholding its end of the deal, and we expect all parties to do the same. And I’d also point out this rule that we’re going to be announcing about increased mileage standards will save 1.8 billion -- billion barrels of oil overall -- 1.8 billion barrels of oil. And that’s like taking 58 million cars off the road for an entire year.

Today, we’re also going to go one step further. In order to save energy and taxpayer dollars, my administration -- led by Secretary Chu at Energy, as well as Administrator Johnson at GSA -- is doubling the number of hybrid vehicles in the federal fleet, even as we seek to reduce the number of cars and trucks used by our government overall. So we’re going to lead by example and practice what we preach: cutting waste, saving energy, and reducing our reliance on foreign oil.

But we have to do more. We need to make continued investments in clean coal technologies and advanced biofuels. A few weeks ago, I announced loan guarantees to break ground on America’s first new nuclear facility in three decades, a project that will create thousands of jobs. And in the short term, as we transition to cleaner energy sources, we’ve still got to make some tough decisions about opening new offshore areas for oil and gas development in ways that protect communities and protect coastlines.

This is not a decision that I’ve made lightly. It’s one that Ken and I -- as well as Carol Browner, my energy advisor, and others in my administration -- looked at closely for more than a year. But the bottom line is this: Given our energy needs, in order to sustain economic growth and produce jobs, and keep our businesses competitive, we are going to need to harness traditional sources of fuel even as we ramp up production of new sources of renewable, homegrown energy.

So today we’re announcing the expansion of offshore oil and gas exploration, but in ways that balance the need to harness domestic energy resources and the need to protect America’s natural resources. Under the leadership of Secretary Salazar, we’ll employ new technologies that reduce the impact of oil exploration. We’ll protect areas that are vital to tourism, the environment, and our national security. And we’ll be guided not by political ideology, but by scientific evidence.

That's why my administration will consider potential areas for development in the mid and south Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, while studying and protecting sensitive areas in the Arctic. That’s why we’ll continue to support development of leased areas off the North Slope of Alaska, while protecting Alaska’s Bristol Bay.

There will be those who strongly disagree with this decision, including those who say we should not open any new areas to drilling. But what I want to emphasize is that this announcement is part of a broader strategy that will move us from an economy that runs on fossil fuels and foreign oil to one that relies more on homegrown fuels and clean energy. And the only way this transition will succeed is if it strengthens our economy in the short term and the long run. To fail to recognize this reality would be a mistake.

On the other side, there are going to be some who argue that we don’t go nearly far enough; who suggest we should open all our waters to energy exploration without any restriction or regard for the broader environmental and economic impact. And to those folks I’ve got to say this: We have less than 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves; we consume more than 20 percent of the world’s oil. And what that means is that drilling alone can’t come close to meeting our long-term energy needs. And for the sake of our planet and our energy independence, we need to begin the transition to cleaner fuels now.

So the answer is not drilling everywhere all the time. But the answer is not, also, for us to ignore the fact that we are going to need vital energy sources to maintain our economic growth and our security. Ultimately, we need to move beyond the tired debates of the left and the right, between business leaders and environmentalists, between those who would claim drilling is a cure all and those who would claim it has no place. Because this issue is just too important to allow our progress to languish while we fight the same old battles over and over again.

For decades we’ve talked about how our dependence on foreign oil threatens our economy -– yet our will to act rises and falls with the price of a barrel of oil. When gas gets expensive at the pump, suddenly everybody is an energy expert. And when it goes back down, everybody is back to their old habits.

For decades we’ve talked about the threat to future generations posed by our current system of energy –- even as we can see the mounting evidence of climate change from the Arctic Circle to the Gulf Coast. And this is particularly relevant to all of you who are serving in uniform: For decades, we’ve talked about the risks to our security created by dependence on foreign oil, but that dependence has actually grown year after year after year after year.

And while our politics has remained entrenched along these worn divides, the ground has shifted beneath our feet. Around the world, countries are seeking an edge in the global marketplace by investing in new ways of producing and saving energy. From China to Germany, these nations recognize that the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the country that leads the global economy. And meanwhile, here at home, as politicians in Washington debate endlessly about whether to act, our own military has determined that we can no longer afford not to.

Some of the press may be wondering why we are announcing offshore drilling in a hangar at Andrews Air Force Base. Well, if there’s any doubt about the leadership that our military is showing, you just need to look at this F-18 fighter and the light-armored vehicle behind me. The Army and Marine Corps have been testing this vehicle on a mixture of biofuels. And this Navy fighter jet -- appropriately called the Green Hornet -- will be flown for the first time in just a few days, on Earth Day. If tests go as planned, it will be the first plane ever to fly faster than the speed of sound on a fuel mix that is half biomass. The Air Force is also testing jet engines using biofuels and had the first successful biofuel-powered test flight just last week. I don’t want to drum up any kind of rivalry here, but -- (laughter.)

Now, the Pentagon isn’t seeking these alternative fuels just to protect our environment; they’re pursuing these homegrown energy sources to protect our national security. Our military leaders recognize the security imperative of increasing the use of alternative fuels, decreasing energy use, reducing our reliance on imported oil, making ourselves more energy-efficient. That’s why the Navy, led by Secretary Mabus, who’s here today, has set a goal of using 50-percent alternative fuels in all planes, vehicles, and ships in the next 10 years. That’s why the Defense Department has invested $2.7 billion this year alone to improve energy efficiency.

So moving towards clean energy is about our security. It’s also about our economy. And it’s about the future of our planet. And what I hope is, is the policies that we’ve laid out -- from hybrid fleets to offshore drilling, from nuclear energy to wind energy -- underscores the seriousness with which my administration takes this challenge. It’s a challenge that requires us to break out of the old ways of thinking, to think and act anew. And it requires each of us, regardless of whether we’re in the private sector or the public sector, whether we’re in the military or in the civilian side of government, to think about how could we be doing things better, how could we be doing things smarter -- so that we are no longer tethered to the whims of what happens somewhere in the Middle East or with other major oil-producing nations.

So I’m open to proposals from my Democratic friends and my Republican friends. I think that we can break out of the broken politics of the past when it comes to our energy policy. I know that we can come together to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation that’s going to foster new energy -- new industries, create millions of new jobs, protect our planet, and help us become more energy independent. That’s what we can do. That is what we must do. And I’m confident that is what we will do.

So thank you very much. And thanks, again, to all of you who are serving in our Armed Services. You are making an enormous contribution, and this is just one example of the leadership that you’re showing.

Thank you very much. (Applause.)

END
11:33 A.M. EDT

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 31, 2010
Obama Administration Announces Comprehensive Strategy for Energy Security
Decisions expand domestic production, promote efficiency

Washington D.C. --- As part of the Administration’s comprehensive energy strategy President Barack Obama and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced more details of the Obama Administration’s efforts to strengthen our energy security. President Obama and Secretary Salazar announced that the Administration will expand oil and gas development and exploration on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) to enhance our nation’s energy independence while protecting fisheries, tourism, and places off U.S. coasts that are not appropriate for development. Also included in the announcement are landmark car and truck fuel standards, key efforts being carried out by the Department of Defense to enhance energy security, and an effort to green the federal vehicle fleet. Details are below.

“I want to emphasize that this announcement is part of a broader strategy that will move us from an economy that runs on fossil fuels and foreign oil to one that relies on homegrown fuels and clean energy. And the only way this transition will succeed is if it strengthens our economy in the short term and the long term. To fail to recognize this reality would be a mistake,” said President Obama.

Over the last year, under the leadership of Secretary Salazar, the Administration has worked to reevaluate previous decisions in an effort to set oil and gas drilling policies on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) that will help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs, and take environmental risks and responsibilities into account.

“By responsibly expanding conventional energy development and exploration here at home we can strengthen our energy security, create jobs, and help rebuild our economy,” said Salazar. “Our strategy calls for developing new areas offshore, exploring frontier areas, and protecting places that are too special to drill. By providing order and certainty to offshore exploration and development and ensuring we are drilling in the right ways and the right places, we are opening a new chapter for balanced and responsible oil and gas development here at home.”

The President will highlight today additional key measures that will boost domestic energy production, diversify America’s energy portfolio and promote clean energy innovation.

Background on Today’s Announcements:
More Domestic Production – Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing: The Administration’s strategy calls for developing oil and gas resources in new areas, such as the Eastern Gulf of Mexico; increasing oil and gas exploration in frontier areas, such as parts of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans; and protecting ocean areas that are simply too special to drill, such as Alaska’s Bristol Bay. The strategy will guide the current 2007-2012 offshore oil and gas leasing program, as well as the new 2012-2017 program that this administration will propose. More specific details on this plan are available at www.doi.gov.

Landmark Car and Truck Fuel Standards – Finalized EPA/DOT CAFE and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards: On April 1st, EPA and DOT will sign a joint final rule establishing greenhouse gas emission standards and corporate average fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles for model years 2012-2016. Announced last May, the rule is a product of a historic deal between the Obama Administration, the State of California, and automakers to bring regulatory certainty to the automotive market while increasing fuel efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, and ensuring consumer choice and savings. This measure is expected to save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program.

Leading by Example – Greening the Federal Fleet: Last year, President Obama issued Executive Order 13514 asking Federal agencies to lead by example towards a clean energy economy. GSA and DOE are doing just that. As a result of their combined efforts we have doubled the Federal hybrid vehicle fleet and before the end of the year we’ll purchase the first 100 plug-in electric vehicles to roll off American assembly lines. Additionally, agencies are: Purchasing hybrid instead of conventional cars and trucks that use more fuel; Downsizing vehicle fleets overall; and requiring plug-in electric charging stations for all new facilities and for major retrofits.

Department of Defense Energy Security Strategic Emphasis: The recently released Quadrennial Defense Review makes clear that crafting a strategic approach to energy and climate change is a high priority for the Department of Defense (DoD). This reflects mission considerations above all. The Department’s own analysis confirms what outside experts have long warned: our military’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels creates significant risks and costs at a tactical as well as a strategic level. The DoD is actively pursuing strategic initiatives to enhance energy security and independence and reduce harmful emissions, including encouraging the development and use of domestically produced advanced biofuels. You can learn more about DoD’s energy initiatives here.

*****************

The White House Blog

Clean Energy Economy Powering Recovery

Posted by Heather Zichal on April 02, 2010 at 01:20 PM EDT

Today, President Obama visited workers at Charlotte, North Carolina-based Celgard, Inc. and delivered remarks on jobs and the economy. Celgard is a global leader in the development and production of components for state-of-the-art batteries - batteries that will help fuel a clean energy economy and create jobs. (Watch a personal testimonial by Celgard’s workers on the role the Recovery Act played in their employment).

It is American innovative companies like this that are developing the technologies and industries that will power the global economy in the 21st Century. With the help of a $50 million American Recovery and Reinvest Act grant under the Department of Energy’s Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative, Celgard is not only adding nearly 300 jobs – and more than a thousand jobs for contractors and suppliers – but it is also helping America build the batteries that will power cleaner and more efficient cars and trucks. Before the Recovery Act, we had the capacity to make less than 2 percent of the world’s lithium ion batteries. In the next 5 years, we’ll be able to make 40 percent of these advanced batteries right here in the United States, so we are not just talking about creating jobs in the near-term, but also sustained growth and opportunity in the long run.

Celgard is just one of dozens of electric drive vehicle battery and component manufacturers benefiting from Recovery Act investments and contributing to the reduction in the use of oil and greenhouse gas emissions. Advanced batteries, capable of meeting standards for durability, performance, and weight, are a key technology for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles capable of getting up to 100 miles per gallon.

As the President said in his energy security remarks on Wednesday, the Administration’s efforts are all part of a comprehensive energy plan. A plan that reduces dependence on foreign oil, increases domestic energy production, improves energy efficiency…all while developing the new technologies and industries that will drive the global clean energy economy and create millions of new jobs here in America.

Heather Zichal is Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change

Energy & Environment

"So we have a choice to make. We can remain one of the world's leading importers of foreign oil, or we can make the investments that would allow us to become the world's leading exporter of renewable energy. We can let climate change continue to go unchecked, or we can help stop it. We can let the jobs of tomorrow be created abroad, or we can create those jobs right here in America and lay the foundation for lasting prosperity."

-President Obama, March 19, 2009

Progress

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included more than $80 billion in clean energy investments that will jump-start our economy and build the clean energy jobs of tomorrow:
$11 billion for a bigger, better, and smarter grid that will move renewable energy from the rural places it is produced to the cities where it is mostly used, as well as for 40 million smart meters to be deployed in American homes.
$5 billion for low-income home weatherization projects.
$4.5 billion to green federal buildings and cut our energy bill, saving taxpayers billions of dollars.

$6.3 billion for state and local renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts.
$600 million in green job training programs – $100 million to expand line worker training programs and $500 million for green workforce training.
$2 billion in competitive grants to develop the next generation of batteries to store energy.

Increasing, for the first time in more than a decade, the fuel economy standards for Model Year 2011 for cars and trucks so they will get better mileage, saving drivers money and spurring companies to develop more innovative products.
The President issued a memorandum to the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances, like dishwashers and refrigerators. Through this step, over the next three decades, we’ll save twice the amount of energy produced by all the coal-fired power plants in America in any given year.

Supporting the first steps of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide.

On Earth Day 2009, the President unveiled a program to develop the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. These regulations will enable, for the first time ever, the nation to tap into our ocean’s vast sustainable resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner.

Guiding Principles

To take this country in a new direction, the President is working with Congress to pass comprehensive legislation to protect our nation from the serious economic and strategic risks associated with our reliance on foreign oil and the destabilizing effects of a changing climate. Policies to advance energy and climate security should promote economic recovery efforts, accelerate job creation, and drive clean energy manufacturing by:

Investing in the Clean Energy Jobs of the Future
President Obama does not accept a future in which the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders. It is time for the United States to lead again. Under President Obama, we will lead again, by developing an American clean energy industry, a 21st century economy that flourishes within our borders.

Creating new Jobs in the Clean Energy Economy. Drive the development of new, green jobs that pay well and cannot be outsourced.
Investing in the Next Generation of Energy Technologies. Invest $150 billion over ten years in energy research and development to transition to a clean energy economy.

Securing our Energy Future

Our reliance on oil poses a threat to our economic security. Over the last few decades, we have watched our economy rise and fall along with the price of a barrel of oil. We must commit ourselves to an economic future in which the strength of our economy is not tied to the unpredictability of oil markets. We must make the investments in clean energy sources that will curb our dependence on fossil fuels and make America energy independent.

Breaking Dependence on Oil. Promote the next generation of cars and trucks and the fuels they run on.

Producing More Energy at Home. Enhance U.S. energy supplies through responsible development of domestic renewable energy, fossil fuels, advanced biofuels and nuclear energy.

Promoting Energy Efficiency. Promote investments in the transportation, electricity, industrial, building and agricultural sectors that reduce energy bills.

Closing the Carbon Loophole and Cracking Down on Polluters

We must take immediate action to reduce the carbon pollution that threatens our climate and sustains our dependence on fossil fuels. We have had limits in place on pollutants like sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and other harmful emissions for some time. After decades of inaction, we will finally close the carbon pollution loophole by limiting the amount of carbon polluters are allowed to pump into the atmosphere.

Closing the Carbon Loophole. By stemming carbon pollution through a market-based cap, we can address in a systematic way all the energy challenges that we face: curbing our dependence on foreign oil, reducing our use of fossil fuels, and promoting new industries right here in America.
Protecting American Consumers. Revenues generated by closing the carbon loophole will be returned to the people, especially vulnerable families, communities, and businesses.

Promoting U.S. Competitiveness. Ensure a level playing field for domestic manufacturing and secure significant actions to combat climate change by our trading partners.

Join President Zuma of South Africa at J.W. Marriot

2010-03-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

You have been invited by The Sullivan Foundation!

We are pleased to invite you to attend a very special event in honor of H.E. President Jacob Zuma, newly elected President of South Africa. President Zuma's visit to the US is a significant step towards US/South Africa relations. Please join us for a Birthday Celebration for President Zuma, as well as a thought-provoking dialog on South Africa and US relations. April 13, 2010 in Washington DC. Reception, The Dialog, Dinner, and Dancing! Hope to see you there! The Sullivan Foundation

Will you be attending?

Elected in 2009 by the Parlaiment of the Republic of South Africa, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, and our featured speaker and dinner guest on April 13, 2010, at a special event to be held at the J.W. Marriot Hotel in Washington, DC. His birthday is April 12, so this is also a celebration of his life. Join us!!!

Date: April 13th, 2010, 6:30pm - 10pm

Location: JW Marriot Hotel

Address: Grand Ballroom 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC

Contact: Ms. Wonder Lockridge at 202 736 2239
email:wsullivanfoundation.org

In Recognizing The International Women's Day 2010

2010-03-11T08:45:00.000-08:00

2010 IS A YEAR WOMEN FROM AFRICA SHOULD NOT BE LEFT BEHIND

IN CELEBRATING AND RECOGNIZING THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, I CANT HELP STOP THINKING ABOUT THE PAIN OF ESCALATING POVERTY IN AFRICA. LOOKING AT THE CAUSES OF AFRICA’S ECONOMIC CRISIS … AND HOW BEST TO FIND SOLUTION BY IMPROVING THE SITUATION …. AND AS WELL AS LAYING GROUND FOR SUSTAINABILITY BY SPEARHEADING FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN AGRICULTURAL TRADING OPPORTUNITIES IS THE MOST SURE WAY TO GO

As a voice of reason and for special appeal I speak on behalf of many in both Diaspora and in Africa to sound our voices for urgent need to save life and for urgent speedy consideration to undertake trading activity for Economic Recovery from Economic Global Collapse, women are the answer.

People of Africa have been condemned to poverty by selfish Politicians who take political mileage of corruption to benefit themselves at the expense of security and peace of its Citizen ..….There are risks that should be urgently addressed and cases prioritized in the Continent of Africa by African Governments and how Africa can shape up to be part of the solution to the Global Crisis when women’s participation in development agenda are given 100% opportunity to embark on Social Entrepreneurship and in Global Trading Partnership where women have been noted for their skillfulness in meeting fundamental domestic needs and challenges for Development.

Food is number one fundamental necessity in the world today. Agriculture is a crucial economic activity, requiring and providing employment and livelihoods for many and serving as the basis for many industry creation or expansion. About 203 million people, or 56.6 percent of the total labor force, were engaged in agricultural labor in 2002. In most African countries, agriculture supports the survival and well-being of up to 70 percent of the population. Thus, for many, their livelihoods are directly affected by environmental changes, both sudden and gradual, which impact on agricultural productivity.

In recognizing The International Women’s Day, I appeal to all leaders of the World to make 2010 a year of Economic Achievement, and as Citizens of the Global Community having one common purpose of protecting and safeguarding the Climatic Environmental Condition in order to preserve “Nature” for life, Leaders of the World should capitalize on the talents of women in all sectors of economic development prospects for development prosperity, and more or so, recognizing Africa’s grassroots Agricultural Production Potential growth to benefit household food sufficiency and for social entrepreneurship trading. I suggest, 2010 be earmarked for Women’s Development booster towards development achievements emerging from the edge of catastrophic economic collapse and abyss of poverty stigma.

Development Goals for Women of the World is achievable because women have skills but are lacking financial resources to gain trading momentum. People of Africa are lacking Good Governance, infrastructure and financial empowerment and political goodwill to be able to meet world challenges and competitive edge for economic development.

I take this opportunity to send an appeal to the Presidents and all other leaders of the World, in recognizing the International Women’s Day, to give women a gift, so to join forces to pull and provide a jumpstart opportunity for women to access Financial Grants and Funds all over the world so women can start New Business Opportunity notably for Agricultural and Food Production and for security so they are able to participate effectively in engaging on Climatic Environmental Change and Bio-Energy Action from accessing Financing for Development in Social Trading Competitiveness sustainability and capacity growth for expansion.

I however, send an appeal request to the First Lady Michelle Obama and the Queen of England to spearhead to initiate a 2010 Summit by inviting substantive Representatives of Women from all over the world, at the White House, to prepare a Global Platform of action to Flag Off the Promotion and Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship so that women can contribute in the solving of speedy Global Economic Crisis as well as other domestic and Social problems that face the World in an innovative and effective manner.

There are looming serious Global Economic Crisis compounded by job loses, rapid price increase on food with other basic day to day needs, when on other angle there are wastages. Africa is the backbone for rapid Economic Growth for increase of World Food Production. We need to develop appropriate structures to provide subsistence for peasant farmers who are the small land holders to access necessary inputs in order to increase production and achieve our objective for Agricultural Development and food security. In Africa, effective Agriculture production have been neglected where there are ample potentials for land for investment in Agriculture but lacking networking to coordinate the same….Women are the majority in Africa who make 70% income earners in the domestic and social welfare. We need voice of reason to empower these energetic skillful sector to revamp Global Economy for a comprehensive Trade balance in both Supply Vs. Demand a basic component to improving the economy and an added means to create job opportunities…..

When Government gets Society and the Community involved along with Civil Society with the women for inputs and logistics, the needed infrastructures are put in place……this is how to get small local farmers achieve their worth and are able to grow more food that finds its way to the market quick and easily without wastages....With this kind of planning, there could emerge a provision to create Budget Funding Allocation for Regional safety-net budget account that can easily be accessible within the community under a Micro-Economic finance budget distress available to local community farmers in the future.

Most grassroots women farmers rely to some extent on sale of agricultural products to educate their children and provide the basic domestic needs. Thus, access to markets, finance and supporting infrastructure are crucial. An opportunity which is yet to be fully exploited is irrigated agriculture for bumper production.

Agriculture provides the opportunities to address extreme poverty in Africa, where the proportion of people living below the poverty line, of less than US$1 a day, increased from 47.6 percent in 1985 to 59 percent in 2000. As a result, more and more people in Africa have limited access to food and other basic amenities such as potable water, minimum health care and education, effectively limiting the opportunities available to them. Poverty and nutritional status are closely linked. About 26 percent of the people in Africa – more than 200 million people, particularly women and children – are undernourished; this is a reflection of poverty. It deepens other aspects of poverty such as incapacity to work and resistance to disease. It also affects children’s mental development and educational achievements.

Horticulture, which includes vegetables, fruits and cut flowers, has become a major activity. It has grown to be the single largest category in world agricultural trade, accounting for over 20 percent of such trade in recent years. While in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), horticultural exports now exceed US$2,000 million, this is only 4 percent of the global total. Significant opportunities for expansion, therefore, exist in Africa to boost employment as well as foreign currency earnings. The challenges would be to adequately deal with environmental problems, which include pollution from chemicals.

Africa’s development obstacles have previously been politically motivated…..but with the emerging New Order coupled with the knowledge landscaping, there are noticeable changes surfacing for good leadership with enabling environment for investments, which will provide for quick policy options incentives with improved logistics to access the market for the Agricultural produce. Give Africa an opportunity to trade in Agriculture Produce for global food security and remove barriers that are the causes of poverty through partnership approach.

We are living in a Global World, and so our Economic Crisis require Global Approach to solve the problem and therefore, the World should look at the Economic and Climatic Environmental Crisis as a Global concern for global partnership solution. We will therefore, be able to solve in addition our common problems which include Energy Power with preservation of a secured nature.

We must save lives by acting locally while we are thinking globally….majority of Politicians have bad behaviors but together we can join hands to improve our destiny the beginning of Global Peace and Security. Women of the World are still in Liberation Struggle......it is time to stand-up.......

I await for consultation, coordination, networking and facilitation of the above request for Way-Forward.......

God Bless you all.

Written by: Judy Miriga

http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/honor-international-women-s-day

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
March 08, 2010

Remarks by the President and the First Lady at International Women's Day Reception
East Room
4:52 P.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you so much. So I get to speak first while he stands and watches. I love this. (Laughter.) Look at me adoringly. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: I can do that.

MRS. OBAMA: With sincerity. (Laughter.) Anyway.
I’m thrilled to see everybody here. Welcome, welcome. This is a wonderful event as we celebrate Women’s History Month at the White House. It’s so exciting. (Applause.)
And let me start by recognizing all of the amazing leaders who have taken time out of their very busy days and schedules to be here with us today. We have our Cabinet Secretaries, congresswomen and other leaders who are serving as such powerful role models for the next generation.

But we have some of the members of the next generation here, as well, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge some of them, as well. We’ve got young people here from the Girl Scouts, from Mount Vernon. (Applause.) From Mount Vernon and Hayfield Secondary in Virginia. (Applause.) From High Point High School in Maryland. (Applause.) From Eastern High School. (Applause.) And Georgetown Visitation here in D.C. (Applause.) All of you stand. Everybody stand. (Applause.)

I had a chance to meet with each and every one of them, to get a hug and a picture, and we talked. They are beautiful, they are inquisitive -- yes, it was a hug, it was a good hug. (Laughter.) And what I told them is that they should make sure they take advantage of this evening by making sure that they take time out to meet all of you extraordinary women, right; that they come up and introduce themselves with confidence; and that you make sure you have a little fun, right? So you’re going to make that promise.

Make sure you get to meet everyone here today, because today all of you are joining the long line of incredible women who have graced these halls both as visitors and as residents, from admirals and actresses to civil rights pioneers -- my good friend, Dorothy Height, is here. (Applause.) Nobel Prize Winners -- you name it, this house has hosted some of the most accomplished women and some of the most accomplished Americans in the history of this country.

But we’re here today not just to pay tribute to leaders and icons and household names. During Women’s History Month we’re also here to honor the quiet heroes who’ve shaped this country from the very beginning. We honor the women who traveled those lonely roads to be the first ones in those courtrooms, to be the first ones in those boardrooms, to be the first ones on those playing fields, and to be the first ones on those battlefields.

We honor women who refused to listen to those who would say that you couldn’t or shouldn’t pursue your dreams. And we honor women who may not have had many opportunities in their own lives, and we all know women like that: Women who poured everything they had into making sure that their daughters and their granddaughters could pursue their dreams; women who, as the poet Alice Walker once wrote, “knew what we must know without knowing it themselves.”

All of us are here today because of women like these who came before us. And during this Women’s History Month, may we recommit ourselves to carrying on their work for our own daughters and granddaughters, and also for our sons and our grandsons too.
Now, speaking of sons, it is my pleasure to introduce one of the few men in the room -- (laughter and applause) -- my husband, and the President of the United States, Barack Obama. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: That would be me. Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Please, have a seat. Let me begin by just thanking some of the people who are participating here today. Michelle mentioned my outstanding Cabinet members, the extraordinary members of Congress and people who are in our senior White House team. I also want to thank Ms. Kerry Washington for emceeing today. Give Kerry a big round of applause. Where is she? There she is. (Applause.)

Ms. Katharine McPhee, who’s going to be performing a song in the program. Where’s Katharine? She’s around -- she’s practicing. (Applause.) She’s here, I just saw her.
Secretary Madeline Albright is here today. (Applause.) and Ms. Mozhdah Jamalzadah is also going to be here performing a song in the program, so we want to thank her, give her a big round of applause. (Applause.)

And then there’s this lady here. (Laughter.) FLOTUS, that’s what we call her -- FLOTUS. (Laughter.) She is -- I’m biased, I acknowledge; but I think she’s a pretty good First Lady. (Applause.) Don’t you think? She’s pretty good. (Applause.) And I’m very sincere when I look at you adoringly. (Laughter.)

The story of America over the past 200 years -- past 233 years is one of laws becoming more just, of a people becoming more equal, of a union being perfected. It’s a story of captives being set free and a movement to fulfill the promise of that freedom. It’s a story of waves of weary travelers reconsecrating America as a nation of immigrants. It’s a story of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters making the most of that most American of demands –- to be treated the same as everybody else. And it’s a story of women, from those on the Mayflower to the one I’m blessed to call my wife, who looked across the dinner table, and thought, I’m smarter than that guy. (Laughter.)

The story of America’s women, like the story of America itself, has had its peaks and valleys. But as one of our great American educators once said, if you drew a line through all the valleys and all the peaks, that line would be drawn with an upward curve. That upward curve –- what we call progress –- didn’t happen by accident.

It came about because of daring, indomitable women. Women like Abigail Adams, who brought on the ridicule of her husband John by advising him to “remember the ladies” in our founding documents. Women like the pioneers and settlers who, in the words of one, said, “I thought where he could go, I could go.” Women like Dorothy Height and Sylvia Mendez and Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem and Sandra Day O’Connor and Madeline Albright, upending assumptions and changing laws and tearing down barriers. Women like Hillary Rodham Clinton, who, throughout her career, has put millions of cracks in America’s glass ceiling. (Applause.) It’s because of them –- and so many others, many who aren’t recorded in the history books –- that the story of America is, ultimately, one of hope and one of progress, of an upward journey.
But even as we reflect on the hope of our history, we must also face squarely the reality of the present -– a reality marked by unfairness, marked by hardship for too many women in America. The statistics of inequality are all too familiar to us -- how women just earn 77 cents for every dollar men make; how one in four women is the victim of domestic violence at some point in her life; how women are more than half the population, but make up only 17 percent of the seats in Congress, and less than 3 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs.

These, and any number of other facts and figures, reflect the fundamental truth that in 2010, full gender equality has not yet been achieved; that the task of perfecting America goes on; and that all of us, men and women, have a part to play in bending the arc in America’s story upward in the 21st century.

I’m proud of the extraordinary women -- and the extraordinary Americans -- I’ve appointed to help take up this task. In addition to our outstanding Secretary of State, we’ve got Hilda Solis serving where the first female Cabinet Secretary, Frances Perkins, once served, at the Labor Department. (Applause.) We’ve got Kathleen Sebelius leading our Health and Human Services Department; Janet Napolitano running the Department of Homeland Security. Susan Rice is our ambassador to the United Nations. The chair of my Council of Economic Advisors is Christy Romer. We got Lisa Jackson, who’s doing great work at the EPA.

We have just extraordinary talent all across this administration. And from health insurance reform, to climate and energy, to matters of domestic policy, I’m seeking the counsel of brilliant women. And that list doesn’t include, by the way, the Justice I appointed to the Supreme Court –- Ms. Sonia Sotomayor. (Applause.)

So, yes, I’m very proud to have appointed so many brilliant women to so many essential posts in our government. But I’m even prouder of what each of them is doing –- and what all of us are doing –- to make life better in America and around the world, because lifting up the prospects of our daughters will require all of us doing our part. And that’s why we’ve established a new White House Council on Women and Girls, chaired by my friend and senior advisor, Valerie Jarrett, that will help make sure that every part of our government is working to address the challenges faced by women and girls.

At a time when women are on the verge of making up the majority of America’s workforce, the very first bill I signed into law -– a bill named after Lilly Ledbetter -– was designed to help keep America’s promise: If you do the same work as a man, you ought to be paid the same wage as a man. (Applause.) To help parents balance work and family, we’re offering states more support for quality, affordable child care and paid family leave.
At a time when we are waging two wars and fighting a global network of hatred and violence, we need the service of all those patriotic Americans who are willing to do their part. And that’s why Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen and top Navy officers decided to end an old barrier against women, so our skilled and brave Navy women, as well as men, can serve on submarines.

At a time when it’s still legal for health insurance companies to discriminate against the victims of domestic violence in eight states plus the District of Columbia, we’re seeking health insurance reforms that would finally rein in the worst practices of the insurance industry. And I’m also proud to note that I’ve appointed the first White House Advisor on Violence against Women, Lynn Rosenthal. (Applause.)

At a time when the jobs of tomorrow will go to workers with the knowledge and skills to do them, we’re ramping up efforts to educate our young people in science and technology, engineering and math, and we’re making a special effort to recruit women to those fields -– because I want to see more teenage astronomers like Caroline Moore. In fact, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has launched a new partnership with Spelman College to train women engineers and help put them to work rebuilding our highways and our infrastructure.

And since today happens to be International Women’s Day, it’s also worth mentioning what Secretary Clinton, and Ambassador Rice, and this administration are doing on behalf of women around the globe. We lifted what’s called the global gag rule that restricted women’s access to family planning services abroad. (Applause.)

We’re pursuing a global health strategy that makes important investments in child and maternal health. We sponsored a U.N. resolution to increase protection for women and girls in conflict-torn countries –- to help make it possible for more women like Mozhdah, who traveled from Afghanistan to join us here today -- to reach for their dreams. We created the first Office of Global Women’s Issues at the State Department, and appointed Ambassador Melanne Verveer to run it. (Applause.) We’re investing $18 million -- we’re investing $18 million to combat the unconscionable cruelties being committed against girls and women in the Democratic Republic of Congo. And next month, I’ll host an entrepreneurship summit to help fulfill a commitment I made in Cairo; a summit that will focus, in part, on the challenges facing women entrepreneurs in Muslim communities around the world.

We’re doing all of this not only because promoting women’s empowerment is one of the best ways to promote economic development and economic success. We are doing it because it’s the right thing to do. I say that not only as a President, but also as the father of two daughters, as a son and a grandson, and as a husband.

Growing up, I saw my mother dedicate most of her life to promoting the rights and well-being of women overseas; to empowering them to take more control over their economic lives and be able to empower their families as well. I saw my grandmother work her way up to become vice president at a bank in Hawaii, starting as a secretary, never had more than a high school education. But I also saw how she hit a glass ceiling, and had to watch as men, no more qualified than she was, rise up the corporate ladder.

Before we got to the White House, where we are grateful for the extraordinary support that we receive from the White House staff, I’d see the challenges Michelle faced as a working mom. And as usual, she handled it with grace and skill, but she’d be the first one to tell you it wasn’t always easy balancing the responsibilities of being a hospital executive with those of being a mother, and sometimes worrying about the girls when she was at work, and sometimes worrying about work when she was with the girls.

And today, as I see Sasha and Malia getting older, I think about the world that they -– and all of America’s daughters -– will inherit. And I think about all of the opportunities that are still beyond reach for too many young women and too many of our brothers and sisters -- too many of our sisters and mothers and aunts -- all of the glass ceilings that have yet to be shattered.
We have so much more work to do, and that’s why we’re here today. I think about this because it reminds me of why I’m here. I didn’t run for President so that the dreams of our daughters could be deferred or denied. I didn’t run for President to see inequality and injustice persist in our time. I ran for President to put the same rights, the same opportunities, the same dreams within the reach for our daughters and our sons alike. I ran for President to put the American Dream within the reach of all of our people, no matter what their gender, or race, or faith, or station.

If we can stay true to that cause, if we can stay true to our founding ideals, then I’m absolutely confident that the line that runs through America’s story will, in the future, as it has in the past, be drawn with an upward curve. And I’m especially pleased that these young ladies are here today because they’re the ones who are going to help bend that curve towards justice and equality.

Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)

*************************************

(CNN).....World marks International Women's Day

March 9, 2010 3:04 a.m. EST

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/03/08/world.womens.day/index.html

Zahra Rahnavard, wife of Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi, meets with women's rights activist in Tehran.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The day was marked for the first time in the early 1900s
Across the world women demanded right to vote and hold public office
U.N.: International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history
Women for Women International is sponsoring peace demos on bridges in 70 locations

(CNN) -- The world marks International Women's Day on Monday, an annual celebration that highlights their economic, political and social achievements.
"International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men," the United Nations says.
The day was marked for the first time in the early 1900s. More than 1 million women and men attended rallies in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland in 1911, according to the United Nations. They demanded that women be given the right to vote and to hold public office, and an end to job discrimination.
"It is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of women's rights," the United Nations said.
Women for Women International is sponsoring peace demonstrations on bridges in 70 locations. The event will "honor the resilience of millions of women survivors of war around the world" and push for peace instead of armed conflict, the group said.
On a bridge between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo -- countries marred by internal violence -- thousands of women will gather in support of peace and development, the group said.

Video: UK celebrates Intl. Women's Day

United Nations
While a celebration of progress, International Women's Day is also a time to acknowledge the struggles women still grapple with around the globe.
Sarah Brown, wife of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, joined thousands of demonstrators on London's Millennium Bridge on Monday in a stand against obstacles faced by women.
"There are still too many women suffering in pregnancy, childbirth, no access to good health care, suffering from violence, suffering in all kinds of ways," Brown told CNN. "I think women all around the world feel a greater sense of solidarity for campaigning for better human rights."
Hundreds of white balloons were released to signal the marchers' desire for peace and equality.
A push for equality in India prompted angry protests, which disrupted the Parliament several times Monday in a bid to thwart a landmark bill that would reserve one-third of the seats in federal and state legislatures for women. While the president is a woman -- Pratibha Devisingh Patil is India's first female president -- women make up just 11 percent of the members of the lower house of the Indian Parliament.
On Saturday, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh vowed to work for greater female representation in the country's democratic process, citing Women's Day as a time to "reaffirm our government's commitment to all-round social, economic and political empowerment of our women."
Half of India's female population cannot read or write, authorities say.
In Iran, female activists were honored Sunday by Zahra Rahnavard, wife of Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi, in celebration of International Women's Day.
About 30 of Iran's most prominent women's rights activists and their supporters held a private gathering in Tehran. Rahnavard declared that the opposition movement was still alive. She said the movement would not forget the sacrifices by women who were jailed, beaten or died in the post-election protests last year. Women, treated as second-class citizens under Iranian law, were noticeably front and center at the massive demonstrations after the disputed election in June.
"This year these women are now much more visible," said Nadya Khalife, a gender equality researcher for Human Rights Watch in Beirut, Lebanon. "But Iranian women are not only battling gender discrimination, they are also battling heightened political tensions."
Gender Equality for Iran, an activist organization, launched a renewed campaign for women's rights to mark International Women's Day, the group said.
The campaign, Call for Solidarity: Freedom and Gender Equality in Iran, is calling for the release of all political prisoners and an end to government-sponsored repression, the group said.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has made women's rights a key aspect of her international agenda, said Monday that women still have a long way to go in obtaining full rights.
"Women are still the majority of the world's poor, unhealthy, underfed, and uneducated," Clinton said in a video message posted on the State Department Web site. "They rarely cause violent conflicts but too often bear their consequences. Women are absent from negotiations about peace and security to end those conflicts. Their voices simply are not being heard."
She repeated her words from a speech she made at the 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing: "Human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights."

2010-02-11T14:12:00.000-08:00

Mandela Celebrates 20 Years of Freedom
South Africa marks 20 years since Mandela walked to freedom

Photo by AP Association Press

PAARL (South Africa) - PROMINENT South Africans gathered at a prison outside Cape Town on Thursday to fete the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's release from jail, which hastened the demise of apartheid.
At a breakfast organised by the ruling party's former anti-apartheid activists, tycoon and veteran activist Cyril Ramaphosa said Mandela was serene as he prepared to walk out free. 'Here is a man who's about to be released out of prison after 27 years. He was as cool as a cucumber and younger people would say he's a cool cat,' said Mr Ramaphosa, who was part of the team that welcomed Mr Mandela on Feb 11, 1990 as he left the jail.
Mr Ramaphosa told anti-apartheid veterans and government ministers who had gathered at the prison grounds: 'We are celebrating a life that has been lived in service of our people. He knew he needed to continue living for the people that were outside. Without the struggle of our people Madiba would have never been released,' he said, using Mr Mandela's clan name.
Veteran anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada, released four months before Mr Mandela, told journalists he knew Mr Mandela would be freed soon after him. 'It was an emotional moment. When we were released, that was exhilaration, happiness but at the same time sadness that we are released, we came to prison together, and we are leaving him behind,' the 80-year-old said. 'But we knew that once we released that the day is not too far when he is going to join us.'
Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu exhorted South Africans to use the day to remember the long road the country had travelled since. 'The day Nelson Mandela walked free from Victor Verster Prison our collective spirit soared. It was a day that promised the beginning of the end of indignity.'
But Archbishop Tutu, widely hailed as the nation's conscience keeper, said though a lot had been achieved, there was still more to be done. 'If we really want to make a difference we must recapture the spirit of that day of Nelson Mandela's release ... We must not forget the past,' he said. -- AFP

Play Video AFP – Mandela, S.Africa's icon of freedom and forgiveness
Play Video Video:S.Africans remember Mandela's monumental release AFP

Winnie and Nelson Mandela divorced in 1996, after 38 years of marriage

By Wendell Roelf Wendell Roelf – 2 hrs 11 mins ago
GROOT DRAKENSTEIN, South Africa (Reuters) – Chanting "Viva, Nelson Mandela, Viva," thousands of South Africans marked 20 years on Thursday since the anti-apartheid icon walked to freedom after 27 years as a political prisoner.
Now a frail 91-year-old, Mandela did not attend the celebrations at the Drakenstein Prison near Cape Town, although a huge bronze statue of him marching from jail, fist pumping the air, towered over the crowd much as Mandela's image towers over South African politics and society to this day.
Among the predominantly black crowd of well-wishers waving the black, green and gold flags of Mandela's African National Congress (ANC) were fellow "struggle" heroes present on that momentous Sunday two decades ago.
"It was all a bit chaotic and I must tell you we were unprepared," said millionaire businessman Cyril Ramaphosa -- then a senior mining union and ANC official -- recalling the chaotic scenes that followed Mandela's release.
Unbanned only nine days previously, ANC leaders were given just 24 hours notice to prepare for the release of Mandela, who four years later would become the first black president of a country dominated by a white minority for 300 years.
Ramaphosa and his associates had to fly to Cape Town in specially chartered aircraft, while security outside the prison in the heart of South Africa's winelands was organized by a Catholic priest who knew "nothing about guns."
Rank-and-file ANC members were asked to don suits and look tough to provide a vague semblance of security but minutes after images of a free Mandela were beamed around the world, he was swamped in the melee.
"We lost him along the way," Ramaphosa said with a grin.
Only after a tip-off from a traffic policeman did frantic ANC leaders find Mandela where he was drinking tea with his shoes and socks off at the suburban home of an ANC supporter.
Organizers then escorted him to a podium to deliver his first public words in nearly three decades in front of tens of thousands of people on Cape Town's Grand Parade.
"We finally hoisted him up and he made his speech," Ramaphosa said.
EUPHORIA GIVES WAY TO REALITY
Mandela's push for reconciliation during his 1994-1999 presidency is credited with unifying the racially divided nation and laying the foundations of the democracy that oversees the continent's biggest economy.
"He means a lot to the country, from his release, even still today," said conservationist Elizabeth Davids, 42.
"He freed us all from apartheid. Before we never mixed with each other, coloreds, whites and blacks were separate but now we all mix together and are like one nation."
However, since the euphoria of 1990 and multi-party elections four years later, the reality of dismantling four decades of official -- and many more of unofficial -- apartheid has hit home.
Despite 17 years of economic growth before 2009, unemployment has remained above 20 percent and millions of blacks continue to live in shanty towns with little access to running water, electricity or healthcare.
South Africa's HIV-AIDS infection rate is among the highest in the world.
In power since 1994, the ANC has made some headway in reducing levels of inequality among the highest in the world, and this year's hosting of the soccer World Cup is a symbol of the "new" South Africa growing self-confidence.
But with every passing year, its "liberation struggle" credentials wear thinner as poor black voters -- more and more of whom do not remember apartheid -- demand clean streets and clean politicians.
"I will say thanks to Mandela," said 25-year-old student electrician Richard Ndogeni. "The politicians of today are just eating the money. They are not doing their jobs. They only care about cars and houses, not the people."
(Writing by Ed Cropley, Editing by Marius Bosch and Giles Elgood)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8421444.stm

More on Africa
South Africa hails Mandela on anniversary of release AFP
South Africa: Mandela marks 20 years of freedom AP
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8421444.stm
De Klerk Announced Release of Mandela Two Decades Ago
South Africans Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Nelson Mandela's Prison Release

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s57igv8iU0
Mandela fets anniversary of Liberation with former jail guard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KAsEy9pU_g
Mandela, S.Africa's icon of freedom and forgiveness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s8xkjG8bx4
Nelson Mandela Released 1990

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPBmCoOJxjM
Groundation-Mandela

20-Year Anniversary of Mandela's Release From Prison
Delia Robertson Johannesburg 10 February 2010

20 years after Mandela's release, social divide endures Business Report
2010-02-08

Mandela's dream still long way off

Submit your comment Nelson Mandela's release from prison 20 years ago Thursday ushered in South Africa's democracy, but an intractable social divide has dimmed the sparkle of the nation's "rainbow miracle". Mandela's African National Congress (ANC) steered the country from the brink of civil war to prospering democracy, in a transformation that will be showcased during the football World Cup this year. But two decades after Mandela walked free, hope and joy at South Africa's emergence from white-minority rule have given way to scrutiny and cynicism as the government has struggled to...

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release from prison of Nelson Mandela, former members of the national reception committee were brought in together in Johannesburg, 04 Feb 2010, by Winnie and Zindzi to reminisce about the event of 11 February 1990, in a round of conversations about that day

South Africans are observing the twenty year anniversary since the country's elder statesman Nelson Mandela walked free from an apartheid prison. The anniversary is being marked with a symbolic march from the prison, speeches, and exhibits at museums.It was a day few South Africans expected to see, Nelson Mandela walking down the road a free man and hand-in-hand with his then wife, Winnie Mandela. He emerged to a rapturous crowd outside the Victor Verster prison not far from Cape Town, with millions across the country and the globe watching the event live on television.

There had been some debate among his ANC handlers that day about where he should make his first address, with many believing it should be in his home town of Soweto. Jay Naidoo, then general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, tells VOA that Mandela chose otherwise."And at the end of all of this debate which he listened very closely to he said, I have been in Cape Town for 27 years, this is the place which has been my home for that 27 years, I will make my first address to the nation here. And that was the end of the debate," he said.And so in the fading light of February 11, 1990, Mr. Mandela came on to the balcony of Cape Town's city hall, and addressed the excited, massed crowd.

He reminded them of his words from the dock in the 1964 trial for sabotage in which he was sentenced to life behind bars."I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die," said Mr. Mandela.
The manner of arriving at the decision that day seems to typify Mr. Mandela's style of leadership. He listens to all sides of a discussion, but then makes up his own mind. But Cyril Ramaphosa, then chairman of the Nelson Mandela Reception Committee, says the former South African president easily brings others around to his point of view.

VOA Photo - D. RobertsonCyril Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa tells VOA that he was part of a delegation that was permitted to meet the jailed leader a few months before his release. Mr. Mandela had begun talks with government leaders and this made leaders of the African National Congress and black trade unions very uncomfortable."We knew that he had started talking to the enemy, and we were going there to tell him to stop this talking to the enemy business, and no sooner had we been in his presence than our resolve melted, it just disappeared because we were in awe, literally in awe of him," said Ramaphosa.Mac Maharaj, currently President Jacob Zuma's special envoy, spent twelve years behind bars with Mr. Mandela. He tells VOA of an incident in prison on Robben Island which he says illustrates another aspect of Mr. Mandela's leadership.The political prisoners were being marched, in rows of four, to work in the limestone quarry, and the guards shouted that they should run. Maharaj says Mr. Mandela told his fellow prisoners to slow right down and quietly moved to the front to set the pace and ensure they did so, despite their fear of a violent reprisal.

"Mandela has a very awkward walk, but I think that day it was the slowest walk of his life," he said. "That demonstrated to me, the epitome of his leadership, he is always ready to take the risk that he asks any of his comrades to take. He is always ready to assess a situation, and understand what it demands, and bend his conduct both his word and his behavior, to suit those needs."

VOA Photo - D. RobertsonAt exhibit at the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg to illustrate the size and layout of Nelson Mandela's prison cell on Robben Island
The three decades he had been behind bars, his image and voice outlawed by the apartheid government, had forged Mr. Mandela into a myth for most. But Ramaphosa, Mr. Mandela's chief negotiator in the country's democracy talks and the principal architect of South Africa's widely acclaimed constitution, says that on meeting him, myth quickly merged into man."His stature, his mere presence, and that is when I thought that myth and man merged, to be the Nelson Mandela that we finally saw in our presence.

A man of unbelievable resolve; resolve that you picked up as you shook his hand, as you looked straight in his eyes, and as he talked to you," he said.In 1994 after his African National Congress party won an overwhelming victory in the country's first democratic elections, Mr. Mandela became South Africa's first black president. Many promises were made by him and his party to right the wrongs of the past, to give black South Africans equal opportunity, equal education, equal health care, decent homes and jobs - millions of jobs.There has been remarkable progress in some areas, but there have also been real failures, particularly in the past ten years.

A significant black middle class has emerged, and a number of black South Africans are now counted among the country's most wealthy. Blacks are making a significant impact, not only in government posts, but in all sectors of the economy.But while most children now go to school, many schools are failing to give them a good education; many clinics were built in rural areas, but often they are not staffed or not equipped, and the country is reeling under the burden of the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world.South Africans also live under a burden of a very high crime rate, with some 50 reported murders each day and equally high numbers of other violent crimes such as rape and assault.

There are daily reports of corruption at all levels of government. And perceptions of a government beset by corruption were not helped by a seven year corruption investigation against President Jacob Zuma, which was abandoned shortly before the election which brought him to power last year.But perhaps most importantly the economy, which grew well up until the global economic collapse in 2008, has failed to deliver the number of jobs needed to make a significant impact on the levels of poverty. The official jobless rate is 24-percent, and a recent study revealed the country has the widest gap between rich and poor in the world.Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu, who remains one of the country's moral lodestars, says it is time for South Africans to recapture the spirit that prevailed when Mr. Mandela was released and to start making a difference in bringing the fruits of democracy to all South Africans.

Presidential Proclamation - National African American History Month

2010-02-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 01, 2010

The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 01, 2010
Presidential Proclamation -- National African American History Month
A PROCLAMATION
In the centuries since African Americans first arrived on our shores, they have known the bitterness of slavery and oppression, the hope of progress, and the triumph of the American Dream. African American history is an essential thread of the American narrative that traces our Nation's enduring struggle to perfect itself. Each February, we recognize African American History Month as a moment to reflect upon how far we have come as a Nation, and what challenges remain. This year's theme, "The History of Black Economic Empowerment," calls upon us to honor the African Americans who overcame injustice and inequality to achieve financial independence and the security of self empowerment that comes with it.
Nearly 100 years after the Civil War, African Americans still faced daunting challenges and indignities. Widespread racial prejudice inhibited their opportunities, and institutional discrimination such as black codes and Jim Crow laws denied them full citizenship rights. Despite these seemingly impossible barriers, pioneering African Americans blazed trails for themselves and their children. They became skilled workers and professionals. They purchased land, and a new generation of black entrepreneurs founded banks, educational institutions, newspapers, hospitals, and businesses of all kinds.
This month, we recognize the courage and tenacity of so many hard-working Americans whose legacies are woven into the fabric of our Nation. We are heirs to their extraordinary progress. Racial prejudice is no longer the steepest barrier to opportunity for most African Americans, yet substantial obstacles remain in the remnants of past discrimination. Structural inequalities -- from disparities in education and health care to the vicious cycle of poverty -- still pose enormous hurdles for black communities across America.
Overcoming today's challenges will require the same dedication and sense of urgency that enabled past generations of African Americans to rise above the injustices of their time. That is why my Administration is laying a new foundation for long-term economic growth that helps more than just a privileged few. We are working hard to give small businesses much-needed credit, to slash tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, and to give those same breaks to companies that create jobs here at home. We are also reinvesting in our schools and making college more affordable, because a world class education is our country's best roadmap to prosperity.
These initiatives will expand opportunities for African Americans, and for all Americans, but parents and community leaders must also be partners in this effort. We must push our children to reach for the full measure of their potential, just as the innovators who succeeded in previous generations pushed their children to achieve something greater. In the volumes of black history, much remains unwritten. Let us add our own chapter, full of progress and ambition, so that our children's children will know that we, too, did our part to erase an unjust past and build a brighter future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2010 as National African American History Month. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMAA PROCLAMATION
In the centuries since African Americans first arrived on our shores, they have known the bitterness of slavery and oppression, the hope of progress, and the triumph of the American Dream. African American history is an essential thread of the American narrative that traces our Nation's enduring struggle to perfect itself. Each February, we recognize African American History Month as a moment to reflect upon how far we have come as a Nation, and what challenges remain. This year's theme, "The History of Black Economic Empowerment," calls upon us to honor the African Americans who overcame injustice and inequality to achieve financial independence and the security of self empowerment that comes with it.
Nearly 100 years after the Civil War, African Americans still faced daunting challenges and indignities. Widespread racial prejudice inhibited their opportunities, and institutional discrimination such as black codes and Jim Crow laws denied them full citizenship rights. Despite these seemingly impossible barriers, pioneering African Americans blazed trails for themselves and their children. They became skilled workers and professionals. They purchased land, and a new generation of black entrepreneurs founded banks, educational institutions, newspapers, hospitals, and businesses of all kinds.
This month, we recognize the courage and tenacity of so many hard-working Americans whose legacies are woven into the fabric of our Nation. We are heirs to their extraordinary progress. Racial prejudice is no longer the steepest barrier to opportunity for most African Americans, yet substantial obstacles remain in the remnants of past discrimination. Structural inequalities -- from disparities in education and health care to the vicious cycle of poverty -- still pose enormous hurdles for black communities across America.
Overcoming today's challenges will require the same dedication and sense of urgency that enabled past generations of African Americans to rise above the injustices of their time. That is why my Administration is laying a new foundation for long-term economic growth that helps more than just a privileged few. We are working hard to give small businesses much-needed credit, to slash tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, and to give those same breaks to companies that create jobs here at home. We are also reinvesting in our schools and making college more affordable, because a world class education is our country's best roadmap to prosperity.
These initiatives will expand opportunities for African Americans, and for all Americans, but parents and community leaders must also be partners in this effort. We must push our children to reach for the full measure of their potential, just as the innovators who succeeded in previous generations pushed their children to achieve something greater. In the volumes of black history, much remains unwritten. Let us add our own chapter, full of progress and ambition, so that our children's children will know that we, too, did our part to erase an unjust past and build a brighter future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2010 as National African American History Month. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA

4th International Congress of Black Women

2010-02-05T15:31:00.000-08:00

AFRICA FEMMES PERFORMANTES, Inc.
International Women�s Day: Preparation for the 4th International congress of Black Women
March, 8-9-10, 2010 in Washington DC
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CONTEXT:
Following the 3rd international congress of Black women held in December 2009, under the high patronage of the first Lady of the DRC, a decision was taken with the agreement of the First lady of the Republic of Zambia, to designate Zambia as the host country for the 4th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF BLACK WOMEN. This congress is scheduled to take place in November 2010.
As part of the preparation for the congress, the Workshop sessions would be held on March 8-9-10, 2010 in Washington DC. We expect 300 participants, 50% from the African Diaspora in America, with the rest drawn from civil society and African Diaspora associations from Europe and Africa.
The theme of the 2010 Congress is: �Marketing Africa: Bringing together professionals to accomplish work that can have an important impact on society�
PROGRAM
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DAY 1: MONDAY, March 08 2010
08h45 � 09h15: Arrival of Delegates at the Conference Venue 09h30: Official Opening and Welcome Remarks10h30: Order of Proceedings, Preparation for the 4th International Congress of Black Women.10h40: Discussion to ensure clarification.
11h00: Panel Discussion1: involvement of the African Diaspora for the promotion of Africa.Guidelines: The panel should discuss the practical actions of the Diasporas in promoting the continent. In this regard, the plenary session should focus on: � Main areas of action to promote Africa� Mechanisms to carry out programs of action between the Diaspora and the countries hosting the International Congress of Black Women.� Coordination and selection of strategies to be implemented.
11h40 �12h15: Questions and Answers Session
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12H30-14H00 LUNCH
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14h00-17h00 Working Group Sessions Commission 1: African Renaissance, history and ChallengesGuidelines: Setting up Procedures for African Renaissance, in priority areas such as education, Patriotism, responsibility, involvement of the Diaspora to the challenges facing the continent, promoting cultural diversity. Building coalitions for women's empowerment, economic empowerment, promoting the role of women in the structures of civil society, maximizing and using women's skills: "The Right Women at the right position"Discussion
Commission 2: Strengthening bridges between Diaspora and Africa: Industrial Development � exploitation of Tourism resources.Guidelines: Objectives: Promoting Tourism and infrastructure in Africa. Fight against the scarcity of skills in African economies: Programs to promote skills in the fields of industry, cooperation in business: interactive marketplace, enhancing of knowledge, partnerships. To boost exchange programs between Universities in the Continent. Technology transfer, promoting research and innovation.Discussion
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Commission 3: creating a Fund to support business and women activities Guidelines: brainstorming, strategies for the creation of a real bank of women. Support determined women willing to achieve their professional ideal.
Discussion
17h00 Conclusion of proceedings for the day
Free evening
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DAY 2: Tuesday, 09 March 2010
09h00: Welcome Remarks09H10: Panel Discussion
THEME: Unity of women to deal with challenges and to seize opportunities in 2010.
Guidelines: Women have the gift to lead with heart and head. Both are added value used in doing things differently. How to overcome obstacles such as self belief, cultural, discrimination, poverty, domestic violence, ignorance, limitation of resources.
09H40: Questions and Answers Session

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11H00-11H30 BREAK � COFFEE - REFRESHMENTS
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11h30: Report Back
Facilitator, in conjunction with the rapporteur of each panel discussion/commission to present a summary of discussions and the proposals detailing the way forward
11h30: Panel Discussion 1 Facilitator and Rapporteur Discussion, Scribes to note amendments
11h50: Commission 1: Facilitator and Rapporteur Discussion, Scribes to note amendments
12h10: Commission 2: Facilitator and Rapporteur Discussion Scribes to note amendments
12h30: Commission 3: Facilitator and Rapporteur Discussion, Scribes to note amendments
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13H00-14H30 BREAK � COFFEE - REFRESHMENTS
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14h30: The Way Forward
15h20: Closing Remarks
16h00: Conference concludes
Free evening

============================================================

DAY 3: Wednesday, 10 March 2010
� ONLY FOR AFRICA FEMMES PERFORMANTES MEMBERS �

09H00: Welcome Remarks

09H30: Session on Africa Femmes Performantes vision and representatives worldwide.

10h30 Dialogues: focusing on businesses or projects of members

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12H30-14H30 INTERACTIVE LUNCH
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14H30: One on one discussion matching with projects and cooperation across continents.Meet our US partners.
15H30: Delivery of Membership Certificate

16h30 End of the meeting
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REGISTRATION FORM
Please complete all fields, print and email or fax this form to our Executive Secretary: Annie Landu, annie@femmesperformantes.com fax : + 1 301 434 2728
Communication-Press : Deborah Kipene Lubula, Executive Manager deborah@femmesperformantes.com
Any enquiry concerning commissions, panels, speakers, facilitators, presentations, rapporteurs, please email Patricia Faraut : congres@femmesperformantes.com or congres.international@gmail.com
Tel: +1 240 701 3972 /Tel: + 1 571 606 5215 / Fax: 301 434 2728
http://www.femmesperformantes.com
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Conference Registration
You must be registered to one working group session. The plenary session and panel discussions are opened to the public.
Workshops (tick the appropriate workshops)
� Commission 1: African Renaissance, historical and challenges.
� Commission 2: Strengthening the bridges between Diaspora and Africa Industrial Development � exploitation of Tourism resources.
� Creating a fund to support Business and Women activities.
Registration Fees
� Member 75 $
� Regular 125 $
� lunch per day 55 $ � Lunch for 2 days 110 $ � Lunch for the 3 days 165 $
Total Amount:

Payment
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� Western Union or Cash

Africa's Financial Guideline for 2010 By: Judy Miriga

2010-01-16T07:48:00.000-08:00

Africa’s Financial Guideline for 2010.

Money is all around us people of Africa continent, it is flying in the air closely around us, but they seem so far yet so near....... we must force CHANGE and minimize the BEGGING BOWL our leaders go around the world BEGING FOR MONEY for Africa survival. We need to develop responsible and valuable strategy for Partnership Development. We must develop critical thinking and share strategy with the rest of Civil Society of Africa, where a larger popular participation involvement are able to change our destiny for better.

This 2010, should be a year of Transformation for Africa. Without looking back, we are faced with challenges from China and other Asia communities who have taken Economic Lead in World Recovery using Africa as their platform through underworld of rip-off. A good example is of Kenya and other Africa Countries where these Chinese, Libya, Egypt and Russia ship away unprocessed raw Natural Resources such as Gold, Cobalt, Copper, Titanium, Uranium etc., As Africans we must begin to dream big and stop looking for Manna from Heaven. We must begin to look for ways and means to boost Africa Economic Growth and create job opportunities from our own Natural Resources and Minerals we have in Africa. This is how the Global Countries will respect us and develop confidence in our ability to deliver in a competitive world for prosperity?

2010 is going to be a tough year. If 2009 was the year of the unexpected, 2010 may turn out to be a year of the unwanted ghosts (the double standard criminal terrorizing leaders) where people lived in fear from intimidation of loosing dear lives and fear of no jobs or hope for the future. The ghosts in the Leadership that developed to a monster which consumed our valuables and reduced African to valueless dummies, where our dignity has been undermined and our worth, value and virtue stolen from us, must now be a thing of the past. We have been reduced to beggars and not development concious participants, out of fear, we did not have voices to protect our resources or speak on behalf of our National financial stability or have a say on our economy, or speak up when we are sit on legally or under Civil Marginalization. The monster pushed us to the edge and reduced us to worthless International Beggars, the remaining straw as the final nail on a coffin box, is to drain us poor African to extinct.

2010 is our hope to get out of the mud of dictatorship control, we must design Way Forward, protect our Nationhood and together struggle to improve our destiny. This is a year of being optimistic for a better future. 2009 put us in a combative spirit, but as we end 2009, and after our concerted struggle, it is leaving behind a feeling of accomplishment and exhilaration. We have accomplished, through our determination, ways and means we are able to improve our dignity, value and virtue and have triumphed to have our voices heard. It did not come easy. We are still in solidarity and our Civil Society Groups continue to dare devil with facts and with the truth, so we can gain ground to move forward. We will continue to brake loose the yoke of the demon monster which is pulling Africa down. We believe this is the way to go and eventually we will gain improved hope to face challenges in 2010. In 2010, we must take Control of our Financial Destiny, and this is how:

1) Domestic Consumption:

Domestic Consumption is our priority and it must remain to be our common burden within a six months period. Government projects to be sanctioned within budges of 2010 – 11 on infrastructure budget 70% must go to Civil Society and private business sector and that brings together Civil Society business community lobby group dialogue with the Coalition Government as incentive to development structure involving partnership with the Government.

2) Geo-Politics:

Competing political temperature in Kenya where we see wrangling for power has become a theatre in every funerals fundraisings and homecoming, I must say, this is very unhealthy presently. The idea is to create confusion and cover-up our eyes so they get into underworld dirty tricks of engaging neighboring countries like Uganda and Somalia to invade Kenya and provokingly own one such island of Migingo where they threw Kenyans fishermen of Migingo into serious confusion with loss of lives and destroying community survival and income. We have seen how the Government behave like they have no idea what’s cooking at Migingo. On the other hand, pirating at the Mombasa coastal become a terrorizing menace. Such leaders thrive where there is confusion. This is impunity which the International Court must take up and give a protection and just rule. These are the leaders we do not want in our midst. They will import more problem and pain than good in our Development National Agenda.

This is cheap politics and their strategy is the divide and rule, and they thrive and prosper when they create conducive environment to unscrupulous investors who gain profitably at a time we are busy wrangling. This may arraign global opinions across dogmatic lines and distract leaders from economic issues. Kenya and Uganda have had peaceful co-existence and co-operation for many years, which is now being driven to a waste by President Museveni of Uganda and where our social economic and political cooperation is extremely important for Africa's survival where together, we are able to provide for competitive contribution to global growth. Our neighbors are our brothers we must develop harmony for our existence……fake politicians must begin to pack off and leave mainstream politics. They have no business staying in power.

3) Emerging Economies:

We must engage in export orient and take care and watch Domestic Institution of learning including our economic market and share in forum discussions for improvement factors. We will base our success upon supportive regulatory discipline within our Policy framework for prosperity. We must move to increase volumes in secondary market as we will deploy the same. We must close open ended debt incurred by our leaders, reduce manufacture and production of AID BEGGING BOWL, but utilize AID more responsibly and effectively involving the community in planning and disbursement, so we know we are paying for what we consumed. We will go for aid only when we will profit from it as a Nation not for a few where it offer access money to politicians for their pockets. We will built trust and create sustainable bonds for long run development focus.

4) Infrastructure Development Program:

The construction of roads and Titanium, Gold and other mine diggers, as we see in Africa and specifically in Kenya, must not be done by Chinese prisoners, imported from China as expatriate manpower an opportunity that should be derived from the Public Nationals who are in huge percentage are jobless. The importation of Chinese prisoners is a slap on the face…..it is undermining the intelligence of people of Africa and is an abuse of Social ethics and community peaceful existence. It demoralizes the spirit of Country’s Republic dignity, pride and value of Citizen and ownership. Chinese prisoners are everywhere in Kenya, Tanzania, Congo and Southern Sudan…….we demand help from International Court, to help African Republic Nationals to put these African Leaders who allow such intimidation, marginalization and dictatorial rule where Citizens are exposed to dangerous criminals in their communities.

Consider Commonwealth games and meeting hosting as major opportunities for Citizens to participate in service, culture, and art as well as physical participation in small business competitive delivery as a showcase of Africa’s potential and value to the world.

5) Emergence of Green Technology:

What we can do together in a united spirit as people of Africa to save mankind from perishing and protect the environment from pollution or damage should be our goal. We must search for technologies that will preserve our African environment to a point we can have a win-win bargain for our green technology options. We must avoid toxic gases and incorporate natural fertilizer for our agriculture for example. We must be ready to plan and restore afordable and adoptable strategy to preserve a healthy generation even in the future…..this can be achieved when Civil Society Organization work in harmony with the Government to plan and discharge safe methods not arrangements that are done under-table.

Kenya and other African Leaders have done greater damage amounting to felony to the Republic of Africa. This is a serious abuse and crime against humanity through the acts of corruption, felony and impunity. These cases cannot be taken lightly or left to fate, they must be addressed thoroughly and must be concluded. We demand that the International Treaty be observed and the International Court step in for fair justice and compensation. This is because lives have been terminated, and human lives are exposed to health hazard with no remedy or precautions taken. The environmental pollution condition is also not observed. The Digo people and Kamba are prone to extinction from environmental pollution from mineral and mine digging. I must elaborate that Mine digging is done secretively and privately and public are not aware their poor health is as a result, aggravated to harsh conditions attributed to mine digging. The unfortunate part is that those leaders in the Government are ready to silence anyone who could open their mouth. So people are living in fear and have no where to go to lodge complain.

In this situation as we know it. The land was initially fenced, taken and owned by former President Jomo Kenyatta who unlawfully grabbed it from the poor inhabitants of Mijikenda Digos and Kambas who are the indigenous of the area. Kenyatta unlawfully gave some bigger portion to the Kikuyu’s to occupy those minerals producing areas at no cost. The former Member of Parliament Jembe Mwakalu suffered irrepairable loss and he finally died from frustrations of trying to complain about the grabbed land.

There is a disconnect between the people public and the Government and there is no link for dialogue or forum between the people/public including Civil Society Agency that can be applied for people DEMANDS to be heard unless the International Jurists under Human Rights steps in to fairly represent the people of Kenya and Africa against their leadership advancement of terrorism and felony over innocent people they represent. We demand that we involve International Jurist to help take this matter on behalf of the poor public land owners of Kwale & Msambweni, and the Human Rights Agency to get involved in the health welfare of people living in this areas. The Chinese are sneakily digging this area without health precaution of people living in this areas. Mining must stop in this area immediately until all health care precautions are considered and observed and until proper law governing dispensation of land is complied including resolving growing complaints by Kenyans from Land grabbing are resolved.

We have been informed from reliable sources that, there are some coincidence of shared corrupt interest which is the reason why “Birds of the Same Feathers Flock Together” why KKK, Uhuru, Kalonzo and Ruto have a common bond to continue to corrupt and lead Kenyans in three-some corruption galore. They both want to accomplish their mission of “Fuata Nyayo”. Robert Ouko was first the Minister for Foreign affairs then came Biwott, Kalonzo and Tuju is still holding the same position so they seem to enjoy fun of dealing in corruption in Foreign and Finance Ministry. We therefore request authorities of Kenya Government and the International Intelligence for Human Rights, to prove this heartache story we have been told, that Ms. Joyce Misoi was the second last Secretary of Robert Ouko and in 1988 was sponsored to Toronto in Canada for study with all her expenses paid for her by the Government of Kenya. She stayed in Toronto Canada until 2008 where between 2006 and 2008 she paraded between Kenya and Toronto to seal the deal in a corrupt manner through Michuki and others in the corrupt circle and she spend over 2 billion trying to get license for the business where finally she confidently negotiated for a Canadian Company to undertake Titanium business in Kenya. She left for Kwale sometimes on 2008 to manage the Titanium business in Kwale, earning a whooping salary of US$ 200 per year for both the Canadian and Chinese Partnership so to protect these Company’s interest because of her connection with Michuki and Moi. Canadian Company holding is 49% while Chinese took 51%. Government of Kenya and the Republic People of Kenya got nothing. The indigenous were swindled and were not part of the negotiating deal. The deal for titanium was made at 15 billion dollars for 15 years commencing from 2008. Strangely enough, all these years she was in Toronto Canada, her salary was going to bank directly. Upon arriving to Kenya in 2006, she went through the Foreign Ministry and found her salary was still being paid to her account while at the same time, the Government was paying all her needs, pocket money and her upkeep in Toronto Canada. Upon going to the bank, she found all her money withdrawn.

If true, these are some of the corruption we DEMAND should be investigated urgently – how public money is being squandered. We DEMAND to know how much Kenya Government officially gained from this Titanium business in Kwale, why the Local Community were not involved in its negotiation (there are evidence that Maitha was advocating to his constituents not to agree to be paid lip service, they must resist). Why the DEMANDS of the Local Community was never considered? Why TIOMIN KENYA should not stop business until matters are officially resolved by a competent jurists of the International Court? Kenyan Public and Civil Society treat this deal as NULL and VOID UNTIL THE MATTER IS RESOLVED in Court. This is a half-backed-deal where people were killed and human lives is at risk, taking into account that negotiation was done under dubious circumstances – The Community has a Right to be fully Compensated for health hazard with loses incurred.

From now on, we will never ever sit back and watch while our leaders act with impunity and without consulting our experts in the Social, Economy and scholars in higher learning, Lawyers and the Civil Society Network Agency Organizations on behalf of Kenyans in Kenya. Our economy is being plundered in exchange for Chinese Prisoners some of who have committed serious criminal offence are having pathway in Kenya, Congo, Tanzania and South Sudan. Is there some dots we need to connect? What business had Ruto gone to do in Uganda with Museveni......why the coincidence with Chinese visitor to Kenya?

As Civil Society in collaboration and dialogue with Association Network of the world for Africa security, we will stay focused in collaboration with International Human Rights where we DEMAND for African Government cooperation with their Electorates, the people/public without being in a sneaky hide and seek drama from the public. We DEMAND the Governments of African Nationals be transparent and be open in their foreign undertakings which involve PUBLIC MATTERS and PUBLIC RESOURCES.

As we move forward with activities of repairing and fixing the broken pieces of the African Face through information & sensitization, Education, Agriculture booster as well as promoting Local Tourism to match the expectations of International Business Trading, we must sharpen and perfect human skillful service, talents, culture and Art, through polishing performance. We must stand in SOLIDARITY to motivate our Youth and Women to work as a team and put in committed hard work and time management to meet competition and challenges of the Social Community Welfare and by putting their DEMANDS known through their Civil Society Community Agencies including the Ministry of Social Welfare arm of the Government. So both are in harmony to improving life of Kenyans, as we try to come out of the mad.

Barack Obama's Address to Ghanaian Parliament

2009-07-12T03:15:00.000-07:00

The White House (Washington, DC)

11 July 2009

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accra — The following are the remarks by the President of the United States to the Ghanaian Parliament at the Accra International Conference Center as delivered and released by the White House.

12:40 P.M. GMT

THE PRESIDENT: (Trumpet plays.) I like this. Thank you. Thank you. I think Congress needs one of those horns. (Laughter.) That sounds pretty good. Sounds like Louis Armstrong back there. (Laughter.)

Good afternoon, everybody. It is a great honor for me to be in Accra and to speak to the representatives of the people of Ghana. (Applause.) I am deeply grateful for the welcome that I've received, as are Michelle and Malia and Sasha Obama. Ghana's history is rich, the ties between our two countries are strong, and I am proud that this is my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the United States of America. (Applause.)

I want to thank Madam Speaker and all the members of the House of Representatives for hosting us today. I want to thank President Mills for his outstanding leadership. To the former Presidents -- Jerry Rawlings, former President Kufuor -- Vice President, Chief Justice -- thanks to all of you for your extraordinary hospitality and the wonderful institutions that you've built here in Ghana.
I'm speaking to you at the end of a long trip. I began in Russia for a summit between two great powers. I traveled to Italy for a meeting of the world's leading economies. And I've come here to Ghana for a simple reason: The 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Accra, as well. (Applause.)

This is the simple truth of a time when the boundaries between people are overwhelmed by our connections. Your prosperity can expand America's prosperity. Your health and security can contribute to the world's health and security. And the strength of your democracy can help advance human rights for people everywhere.

So I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart; I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world -- (applause) -- as partners with America on behalf of the future we want for all of our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility and mutual respect. And that is what I want to speak with you about today.
We must start from the simple premise that Africa's future is up to Africans.

I say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometimes haunted this part of the world. After all, I have the blood of Africa within me, and my family's -- (applause) -- my family's own story encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the larger African story.

Some of you know my grandfather was a cook for the British in Kenya, and though he was a respected elder in his village, his employers called him "boy" for much of his life. He was on the periphery of Kenya's liberation struggles, but he was still imprisoned briefly during repressive times. In his life, colonialism wasn't simply the creation of unnatural borders or unfair terms of trade -- it was something experienced personally, day after day, year after year.

My father grew up herding goats in a tiny village, an impossible distance away from the American universities where he would come to get an education. He came of age at a moment of extraordinary promise for Africa. The struggles of his own father's generation were giving birth to new nations, beginning right here in Ghana. (Applause.) Africans were educating and asserting themselves in new ways, and history was on the move.

But despite the progress that has been made -- and there has been considerable progress in many parts of Africa -- we also know that much of that promise has yet to be fulfilled. Countries like Kenya had a per capita economy larger than South Korea's when I was born. They have badly been outpaced. Disease and conflict have ravaged parts of the African continent.

In many places, the hope of my father's generation gave way to cynicism, even despair. Now, it's easy to point fingers and to pin the blame of these problems on others. Yes, a colonial map that made little sense helped to breed conflict. The West has often approached Africa as a patron or a source of resources rather than a partner. But the West is not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants. In my father's life, it was partly tribalism and patronage and nepotism in an independent Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his career, and we know that this kind of corruption is still a daily fact of life for far too many.

Now, we know that's also not the whole story. Here in Ghana, you show us a face of Africa that is too often overlooked by a world that sees only tragedy or a need for charity. The people of Ghana have worked hard to put democracy on a firmer footing, with repeated peaceful transfers of power even in the wake of closely contested elections. (Applause.) And by the way, can I say that for that the minority deserves as much credit as the majority. (Applause.) And with improved governance and an emerging civil society, Ghana's economy has shown impressive rates of growth. (Applause.)

This progress may lack the drama of 20th century liberation struggles, but make no mistake: It will ultimately be more significant. For just as it is important to emerge from the control of other nations, it is even more important to build one's own nation.

So I believe that this moment is just as promising for Ghana and for Africa as the moment when my father came of age and new nations were being born. This is a new moment of great promise. Only this time, we've learned that it will not be giants like Nkrumah and Kenyatta who will determine Africa's future. Instead, it will be you -- the men and women in Ghana's parliament -- (applause) -- the people you represent. It will be the young people brimming with talent and energy and hope who can claim the future that so many in previous generations never realized.

Now, to realize that promise, we must first recognize the fundamental truth that you have given life to in Ghana: Development depends on good governance. (Applause.) That is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places, for far too long. That's the change that can unlock Africa's potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans.

As for America and the West, our commitment must be measured by more than just the dollars we spend. I've pledged substantial increases in our foreign assistance, which is in Africa's interests and America's interests. But the true sign of success is not whether we are a source of perpetual aid that helps people scrape by -- it's whether we are partners in building the capacity for transformational change. (Applause.)

This mutual responsibility must be the foundation of our partnership. And today, I'll focus on four areas that are critical to the future of Africa and the entire developing world: democracy, opportunity, health, and the peaceful resolution of conflict.

First, we must support strong and sustainable democratic governments. (Applause.)
As I said in Cairo, each nation gives life to democracy in its own way, and in line with its own traditions. But history offers a clear verdict: Governments that respect the will of their own people, that govern by consent and not coercion, are more prosperous, they are more stable, and more successful than governments that do not.

This is about more than just holding elections. It's also about what happens between elections. (Applause.) Repression can take many forms, and too many nations, even those that have elections, are plagued by problems that condemn their people to poverty. No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves -- (applause) -- or if police -- if police can be bought off by drug traffickers. (Applause.) No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top -- (applause) -- or the head of the Port Authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. (Applause.) That is not democracy, that is tyranny, even if occasionally you sprinkle an election in there. And now is the time for that style of governance to end. (Applause.)

In the 21st century, capable, reliable, and transparent institutions are the key to success -- strong parliaments; honest police forces; independent judges -- (applause); an independent press; a vibrant private sector; a civil society. (Applause.) Those are the things that give life to democracy, because that is what matters in people's everyday lives.

Now, time and again, Ghanaians have chosen constitutional rule over autocracy, and shown a democratic spirit that allows the energy of your people to break through. (Applause.) We see that in leaders who accept defeat graciously -- the fact that President Mills' opponents were standing beside him last night to greet me when I came off the plane spoke volumes about Ghana -- (applause); victors who resist calls to wield power against the opposition in unfair ways. We see that spirit in courageous journalists like Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who risked his life to report the truth. We see it in police like Patience Quaye, who helped prosecute the first human trafficker in Ghana. (Applause.) We see it in the young people who are speaking up against patronage, and participating in the political process.

Across Africa, we've seen countless examples of people taking control of their destiny, and making change from the bottom up. We saw it in Kenya, where civil society and business came together to help stop post-election violence. We saw it in South Africa, where over three-quarters of the country voted in the recent election -- the fourth since the end of Apartheid. We saw it in Zimbabwe, where the Election Support Network braved brutal repression to stand up for the principle that a person's vote is their sacred right.

Now, make no mistake: History is on the side of these brave Africans, not with those who use coups or change constitutions to stay in power. (Applause.) Africa doesn't need strongmen, it needs strong institutions. (Applause.)

Now, America will not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation. The essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own destiny. But what America will do is increase assistance for responsible individuals and responsible institutions, with a focus on supporting good governance -- on parliaments, which check abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard -- (applause); on the rule of law, which ensures the equal administration of justice; on civic participation, so that young people get involved; and on concrete solutions to corruption like forensic accounting and automating services -- (applause) -- strengthening hotlines, protecting whistle-blowers to advance transparency and accountability.

And we provide this support. I have directed my administration to give greater attention to corruption in our human rights reports. People everywhere should have the right to start a business or get an education without paying a bribe. (Applause.) We have a responsibility to support those who act responsibly and to isolate those who don't, and that is exactly what America will do.

Now, this leads directly to our second area of partnership: supporting development that provides opportunity for more people.

With better governance, I have no doubt that Africa holds the promise of a broader base of prosperity. Witness the extraordinary success of Africans in my country, America. They're doing very well. So they've got the talent, they've got the entrepreneurial spirit. The question is, how do we make sure that they're succeeding here in their home countries? The continent is rich in natural resources. And from cell phone entrepreneurs to small farmers, Africans have shown the capacity and commitment to create their own opportunities. But old habits must also be broken. Dependence on commodities -- or a single export -- has a tendency to concentrate wealth in the hands of the few, and leaves people too vulnerable to downturns.
So in Ghana, for instance, oil brings great opportunities, and you have been very responsible in preparing for new revenue. But as so many Ghanaians know, oil cannot simply become the new cocoa. From South Korea to Singapore, history shows that countries thrive when they invest in their people and in their infrastructure -- (applause); when they promote multiple export industries, develop a skilled workforce, and create space for small and medium-sized businesses that create jobs.

As Africans reach for this promise, America will be more responsible in extending our hand. By cutting costs that go to Western consultants and administration, we want to put more resources in the hands of those who need it, while training people to do more for themselves. (Applause.) That's why our $3.5 billion food security initiative is focused on new methods and technologies for farmers -- not simply sending American producers or goods to Africa. Aid is not an end in itself. The purpose of foreign assistance must be creating the conditions where it's no longer needed. I want to see Ghanaians not only self-sufficient in food, I want to see you exporting food to other countries and earning money. You can do that. (Applause.)

Now, America can also do more to promote trade and investment. Wealthy nations must open our doors to goods and services from Africa in a meaningful way. That will be a commitment of my administration. And where there is good governance, we can broaden prosperity through public-private partnerships that invest in better roads and electricity; capacity-building that trains people to grow a business; financial services that reach not just the cities but also the poor and rural areas. This is also in our own interests -- for if people are lifted out of poverty and wealth is created in Africa, guess what? New markets will open up for our own goods. So it's good for both.

One area that holds out both undeniable peril and extraordinary promise is energy. Africa gives off less greenhouse gas than any other part of the world, but it is the most threatened by climate change. A warming planet will spread disease, shrink water resources, and deplete crops, creating conditions that produce more famine and more conflict. All of us -- particularly the developed world -- have a responsibility to slow these trends -- through mitigation, and by changing the way that we use energy. But we can also work with Africans to turn this crisis into opportunity.

Together, we can partner on behalf of our planet and prosperity, and help countries increase access to power while skipping -- leapfrogging the dirtier phase of development. Think about it: Across Africa, there is bountiful wind and solar power; geothermal energy and biofuels. From the Rift Valley to the North African deserts; from the Western coasts to South Africa's crops -- Africa's boundless natural gifts can generate its own power, while exporting profitable, clean energy abroad.

These steps are about more than growth numbers on a balance sheet. They're about whether a young person with an education can get a job that supports a family; a farmer can transfer their goods to market; an entrepreneur with a good idea can start a business. It's about the dignity of work; it's about the opportunity that must exist for Africans in the 21st century.

Just as governance is vital to opportunity, it's also critical to the third area I want to talk about: strengthening public health.

In recent years, enormous progress has been made in parts of Africa. Far more people are living productively with HIV/AIDS, and getting the drugs they need. I just saw a wonderful clinic and hospital that is focused particularly on maternal health. But too many still die from diseases that shouldn't kill them. When children are being killed because of a mosquito bite, and mothers are dying in childbirth, then we know that more progress must be made.

Yet because of incentives -- often provided by donor nations -- many African doctors and nurses go overseas, or work for programs that focus on a single disease. And this creates gaps in primary care and basic prevention. Meanwhile, individual Africans also have to make responsible choices that prevent the spread of disease, while promoting public health in their communities and countries.

So across Africa, we see examples of people tackling these problems. In Nigeria, an Interfaith effort of Christians and Muslims has set an example of cooperation to confront malaria. Here in Ghana and across Africa, we see innovative ideas for filling gaps in care -- for instance, through E-Health initiatives that allow doctors in big cities to support those in small towns.

America will support these efforts through a comprehensive, global health strategy, because in the 21st century, we are called to act by our conscience but also by our common interest, because when a child dies of a preventable disease in Accra, that diminishes us everywhere. And when disease goes unchecked in any corner of the world, we know that it can spread across oceans and continents.

And that's why my administration has committed $63 billion to meet these challenges -- $63 billion. (Applause.) Building on the strong efforts of President Bush, we will carry forward the fight against HIV/AIDS. We will pursue the goal of ending deaths from malaria and tuberculosis, and we will work to eradicate polio. (Applause.) We will fight -- we will fight neglected tropical disease. And we won't confront illnesses in isolation -- we will invest in public health systems that promote wellness and focus on the health of mothers and children. (Applause.)

Now, as we partner on behalf of a healthier future, we must also stop the destruction that comes not from illness, but from human beings -- and so the final area that I will address is conflict. Let me be clear: Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at perpetual war.

But if we are honest, for far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun. There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes.

These conflicts are a millstone around Africa's neck. Now, we all have many identities -- of tribe and ethnicity; of religion and nationality. But defining oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe, or who worships a different prophet, has no place in the 21st century. (Applause.) Africa's diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division. We are all God's children. We all share common aspirations -- to live in peace and security; to access education and opportunity; to love our families and our communities and our faith. That is our common humanity.

That is why we must stand up to inhumanity in our midst. It is never justified -- never justifiable to target innocents in the name of ideology. (Applause.) It is the death sentence of a society to force children to kill in wars. It is the ultimate mark of criminality and cowardice to condemn women to relentless and systemic rape. We must bear witness to the value of every child in Darfur and the dignity of every woman in the Congo. No faith or culture should condone the outrages against them. And all of us must strive for the peace and security necessary for progress.

Africans are standing up for this future. Here, too, in Ghana we are seeing you help point the way forward. Ghanaians should take pride in your contributions to peacekeeping from Congo to Liberia to Lebanon -- (applause) -- and your efforts to resist the scourge of the drug trade. (Applause.) We welcome the steps that are being taken by organizations like the African Union and ECOWAS to better resolve conflicts, to keep the peace, and support those in need. And we encourage the vision of a strong, regional security architecture that can bring effective, transnational forces to bear when needed.

America has a responsibility to work with you as a partner to advance this vision, not just with words, but with support that strengthens African capacity. When there's a genocide in Darfur or terrorists in Somalia, these are not simply African problems -- they are global security challenges, and they demand a global response.

And that's why we stand ready to partner through diplomacy and technical assistance and logistical support, and we will stand behind efforts to hold war criminals accountable. And let me be clear: Our Africa Command is focused not on establishing a foothold in the continent, but on confronting these common challenges to advance the security of America, Africa, and the world. (Applause.)

In Moscow, I spoke of the need for an international system where the universal rights of human beings are respected, and violations of those rights are opposed. And that must include a commitment to support those who resolve conflicts peacefully, to sanction and stop those who don't, and to help those who have suffered. But ultimately, it will be vibrant democracies like Botswana and Ghana which roll back the causes of conflict and advance the frontiers of peace and prosperity.

As I said earlier, Africa's future is up to Africans. The people of Africa are ready to claim that future. And in my country, African Americans -- including so many recent immigrants -- have thrived in every sector of society. We've done so despite a difficult past, and we've drawn strength from our African heritage. With strong institutions and a strong will, I know that Africans can live their dreams in Nairobi and Lagos, Kigali, Kinshasa, Harare, and right here in Accra. (Applause.)

You know, 52 years ago, the eyes of the world were on Ghana. And a young preacher named Martin Luther King traveled here, to Accra, to watch the Union Jack come down and the Ghanaian flag go up. This was before the march on Washington or the success of the civil rights movement in my country. Dr. King was asked how he felt while watching the birth of a nation. And he said: "It renews my conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice."

Now that triumph must be won once more, and it must be won by you. (Applause.) And I am particularly speaking to the young people all across Africa and right here in Ghana. In places like Ghana, young people make up over half of the population.

And here is what you must know: The world will be what you make of it. You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities, and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can conquer disease, and end conflicts, and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes you can -- (applause) -- because in this moment, history is on the move.

But these things can only be done if all of you take responsibility for your future. And it won't be easy. It will take time and effort. There will be suffering and setbacks. But I can promise you this: America will be with you every step of the way -- as a partner, as a friend. (Applause.) Opportunity won't come from any other place, though. It must come from the decisions that all of you make, the things that you do, the hope that you hold in your heart.

Ghana, freedom is your inheritance. Now, it is your responsibility to build upon freedom's foundation. And if you do, we will look back years from now to places like Accra and say this was the time when the promise was realized; this was the moment when prosperity was forged, when pain was overcome, and a new era of progress began. This can be the time when we witness the triumph of justice once more. Yes we can. Thank you very much. God bless you. Thank you. (Applause.)

END - 1:10 P.M. GMT

The Constituency for Africa Having Conversation with Ambassador Jonnie Carson

2009-06-28T12:27:00.000-07:00

US Official Sheds Light on Possible Upcoming Obama Africa Policy

By James Butty
24 June 2009

The new U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs said the Obama administration plans to invest substantial amounts of money over the coming years in agricultural development to promote food security in Africa.

Ambassador Johnnnie Carson spoke Monday in Washington to a constituency of Africa advocacy groups.

He outlined what is likely to be the Obama administration's Africa policies for the next four years.

Carson told the African American Unity Caucus that over the next four years the Obama administration will focus on four key issues as part of its Africa policy.

These, he said, include promoting and strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law, preventing and resolving conflicts, encouraging sustained growth and working with African countries to address what he called the new and old global challenges.

Ambassador Carson praised Africa for the progress the continent has made over the last 15 years in strengthening democratic institutions. He referenced recent successful elections in Ghana, South Africa and Malawi.

But he said challenges still remain as evident by recent electoral problems in Zimbabwe and Kenya. He said Washington will do all it can to help strengthen democratic institutions.

"We constantly have to encourage those in civil society to be the voice and conscience of their countries, and we have to promote constitutional democratic governments, strong court systems, strong legislatures, regular elections, free media, and religious tolerance," he said.

Carson praised the African Union for the role it played in resolving the conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Angola.

He said challenges also remain as evident by the continued conflicts in Somalia, eastern Congo, and Sudan.

"We have to do as much as we possibly can to help resolve those conflicts," Carson said.

Carson said President Obama has taken a keen interest in resolving the conflict by his appointment of General Scott Gration as special envoy on Sudan.

He said the Obama administration plans to focus on food security and agricultural development in Africa.

"The administration plans over a number of years to put a substantial amount of money into agricultural development to do two things. One is to lift people out of poverty and the other one is to help grow…agriculture," Carson said.

On what he called the new and old global challenges, Ambassador Carson said the Obama administration plans to work with African countries to address the issues of climate change and illicit drug trafficking

Carson said President Obama will elaborate on some of these topics when the president visits Ghana on July this year, the earliest visit to Africa by a sitting American president.

US Arrests Anglo Leasing Suspect

2009-03-26T09:45:00.001-07:00

US arrests Anglo Leasing suspect

By BENJAMIN MUINDIPosted Wednesday, March 25 2009 at 22:08
The United States has arrested a key suspect in the Anglo-Leasing scandal in which Kenya lost billons of taxpayers’ money through fraudulent transactions.
A 43-year-old American, Bradley Birkenfeld may be a key lead to the controversial dealings in which the Kenyan government paid some Sh56 billion in promissory notes to bogus companies. Mr Birkenfeld, a banker and a financial advisor, has been working for UBS bank and is indicted with crafting tax-evasion schemes.
The Neue Zurcher Zeitung, a leading Swiss newspaper, has revealed that Mr Birkenfeld is intimately connected with Anglo Leasing and the Deepak Kamani brothers, alleged architects of the scam.
He signed one of the 18 fraudulent Anglo Leasing contracts on behalf of Info Talent Limited and his private residence, 20 Cours de Rive in Geneva, was listed in a second credit contract as the offices of Midland Finance & Securities Limited.
“This is a man the Kenyan government should be dying to interview to get information on Anglo Leasing,” said Mars Group director Mwalimu Mati, who broke the news on Mr Birkenfeld.
Midlands Finance has since sued the government for repayments of the never-received credit and even succeeded in blocking the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission from using a report by Price WaterHouse Coopers to prove the fraud.
“Why it was signed by the permanent secretary on the authority of the then Finance minister David Mwiraria is the enduring mystery of Anglo Leasing, and Bradley Birkenfeld may have the answer,” said Mr Mati.
Bogus financier
In November 2003, another bogus financier, Info Talent obtained 58.688 million Euros in promissory notes from the Treasury. In 2004, the company mysteriously refunded Sh509 million after Anglo Leasing was exposed by Mr Maoka Maore in Parliament in April of the same year.
That Info Talent fraud was proved by the Parliamentary Accounts Committee investigation of 2006, headed by current minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta.
Mr Birkenfeld has pledged to enter a plea bargain where he will volunteer information in return for his release.
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TaxesBanker Charged With Helping Billionaire Dodge TaxesJanet Novack, 05.13.08, 6:02 PM ET

More Business In The Beltway Columns
Business In The Beltway";
A federal judge in Southern Florida today unsealed an indictment charging two foreign bankers, one a former private banker for UBS AG, with defrauding the U.S. by helping billionaire Orange County, Calf., real estate developer Igor M. Olenicoff evade U.S. taxes on $200 million hidden in Swiss and Liechtenstein bank accounts.
One of the those indicted, Bradley Birkenfeld, is a 43-year-old U.S. citizen who, the indictment says, worked from 2001 to 2006 in the private banking division of a Swiss bank, which "also owns and operates banks, investment banks and stock brokerage businesses throughout the United States." Federal election records show a Bradley Birkenfeld contributed to candidates during that period, listing his employer as UBS (nyse: UBS - news - people ) and his address as Geneva, Switzerland.
UBS disclosed recently that the U.S. Department of Justice was investigating whether it had helped wealthy Americans evade U.S. taxes on offshore accounts. In addition, earlier this month a senior UBS employee was briefly detained by U.S. authorities as a witness in that investigation.
In a statement today, UBS said it is "continuing to cooperate with this investigation" and that "in light of the pending investigation, it is not appropriate to comment on charges brought against a former UBS employee."
Separately, UBS is also being investigated by U.S. prosecutors for its past involvement in the U.S. tax shelter industry.
Birkenfeld was arraigned this morning in Fort Lauderdale and entered a plea of not guilty. He was released on a $100,000 secured bond, and a $2 million personal surety bond, surrendered his passport and is subject to electronic monitoring. The other defendant, Mario Staggl, 43, a Liechtenstein citizen and resident, remains at large, the government said.
In the indictment, brought by the U.S. Attorney for Southern Florida, Olenicoff, who Forbes estimates is worth $1.6 billion, is named as an "unindicted co-conspirator" and referred to as IO. Olenicoff settled with the government in December, by pleading guilty to one felony count of filing a false 2002 individual income tax return; paying $52 million in back taxes, interest and civil fraud penalties; and agreeing to bring all the money in his foreign accounts back to the U.S. On April 14, he was sentenced to two years probation. Olenicoff's use of offshore accounts, which was described in a story in Forbes in 2006 (see: " The Billionaire With The Empty Pockets"), dates back to the early 1990s.
Olenicoff's attorney, Edward M. Robbins Jr., declined comment, but the indictment left no doubt as to who the unnamed billionaire was, including among other things, details about the ownership of his 147-foot yacht.
The indictment notes that in 2001, Birkenfeld's employer entered into a Qualified Intermediary agreement with the U.S. That agreement required UBS to identify any customers who received U.S. source income that was reportable to the Internal Revenue Service and to report that income. As part of the process, UBS agreed to have customers fill out IRS form W-8BEN, which requires foreign beneficial owners of bank accounts to be identified---a departure from historical Swiss bank secrecy laws.
But Birkenfeld and Staggl, the indictment alleges, defrauded the IRS by falsifying Swiss bank documents and W-8BENs, and by setting up "nominee entities" to hide the true ownership of assets. Staggl, according to the indictment, was the owner of New Haven Trust Company Ltd., a Liechtenstein trustee of accounts used to hide Olenicoff's ownership of assets.
The indictment indicates Olenicoff wasn't Birkenfeld and Staggl's only wealthy client. According to the indictment, the men marketed to U.S. taxpayers the advantages of Swiss and Liechtenstein banks for attempting to evade U.S. income taxes, "claiming that Swiss and Liechtenstein bank secrecy was impenetrable.''
Wesley Snipes' Jailhouse Role
High-Tech Tax Help

US Arrests Anglo Leasing Suspect

2009-03-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

Kofi Annan named President of the OMCT Foundation

2009-03-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

Kofi Annan named President of the Foundation...
Kofi Annan named President of the Foundation supporting the World Organization against Torture (OMCT)
Geneva, October 10, 2007: On October 4, 2007, Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations, became the new President of the Foundation supporting the World Organization against Torture (OMCT). Kofi Annan has always demonstrated a strong commitment to human rights and has stated his total opposition to torture. In accepting to become the new President of the Foundation supporting OMCT, he expressed his wish to be actively involved in initiatives defending human rights.
Since its creation in 1986, OMCT has been engaged in fighting against torture, summary executions and all other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, through actions geared to prevention, information, denunciation and rehabilitation. To give a voice to victims, OMCT works with the SOS-Torture network, the largest international coalition of non-governmental organizations active in the protection of human rights, with 282 affiliated members in 92 countries. Thanks to this unique network, OMCT maintains permanent contact with the field and is immediately informed of any human rights violations. It then makes public the facts and denounces the perpetrators via its urgent interventions, disseminated to a large audience worldwide.
Each and every case is indeed unique and of crucial importance. As Kofi Annan emphasizes, “we must not forget that it always starts with mistreatment of one person, torture of one person, lack of respect of the rights of one individual”. These individual violations open the door to the escalation of abuses, which may lead to the unthinkable such as genocides and other large scale human rights violations.
Unfortunately this is even more relevant today, since we are facing what Kofi Annan calls “the erosion of respect for human rights and the norms that we all treasure”. He explains that, “An increasing number of governments tend to believe that there is a tradeoff between effective action against terrorism and security on the one hand, and human rights and individual civil liberties on the other. But no such tradeoff can be allowed”. Kofi Annan underlines the importance of “the power of people who are becoming increasingly aware of their rights, and this is one of the biggest weapons we have. Transparency, openness and debate about rights, and the social shifts brought about by technology and open communication are very powerful tools – and leaders are being forced to be responsive to them.”
It is in order to promote this movement, to contribute to the growth of public awareness and to encourage OMCT’s work in the fight against torture and other human rights abuses that Kofi Annan has accepted to become President of the Foundation supporting OMCT. He emphasizes that he wishes his role to be an active one. In particular, he will engage in raising the profile of OMCT and in fundraising to increase the Foundation’s capital with a view to enhancing OMCT’s capacity to protect and promote human rights around the world.

For additional information, please contact:Isabelle Vila, Tel: +4122 809 52 40, Email: iv@omct.orgVisit our website at http://www.omct.org/

OMCT International Secretariat
PO Box 218, rue du Vieux-BillardCH-1211
Geneva 8Switzerland
Phone: + 41 22 809 4939Fax: + 41 22 809 4929
omct@omct.org

http://www.omct.org/index.php?menuId=87&lang=eng&PHPSESSID=b824d6cd90736c9ae9de30b3c78f0712

JIENJOY - WITH AFRICAN LUO BENGA BEAT

2009-03-13T04:59:00.000-07:00

Africa: AfDB to Increase Lending to U.S.$11 Billion

2009-03-13T04:50:00.000-07:00

Africa: AfDB to Increase Lending to U.S. $11 Billion
Constance Ikokwu
13 March 2009

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Washington, DC — As discussions continue on ways to tackle the impact of the global financial crisis in Africa, the African Development Bank (AFDB) has decided to increase its annual lending to $11 billion to help countries in dire need.

President of the AFDB, Mr. Donald Kaberuka, made the Bank's position known at the two-day conference organised by the government of Tanzania and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Dar es Salaam.
Kaberuka told the conference participants titled: 'Changes: Creating Successful Partnerships for Africa's Growth' that the bank had also unveiled an Emergency Liquidity Facility of $1.5 billion, a Trade Finance Initiative of $1 billion, and a Framework for Accelerated Resource Transfer of African Development Fund (ADF) Resources to help member states.
"The bank currently has enough risk capital to deliver on its normal lending programme consistent with its medium term strategy," said Kaberuka.
"We currently estimate that this lending program will consume about 90 percent of its risk capital by 2012. However, the new demand created by the crisis to which the bank is responding implies that the bank's risk capital will need to be boosted by the end of 2011," he added.
Kaberuka observed that it is important that development institutions have enough resources to support member countries in a critical period such as this.
The conference addressed key policy questions, with the common goal of forging renewed African partnerships for growth in Africa in the 21st century. Key questions that were addressed include:
What do Africa's successes tell us about the main bottlenecks and risks to sustained growth and poverty reduction? How best can countries tap into the potential of the private sector and the financial sector to advance these goals?
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How can countries reduce the risks posed by exogenous shocks and a turbulent global economy and avoid the "resource curse"?
How does the model for financing development need to adapt? What should be the direction of Africa 's already evolving partnerships, including with the IMF?
The conference was hosted by the IMF Managing Director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and opened by the Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete. Delegates to the conference included former United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan.

News Topical Headlines

2009-03-13T04:20:00.001-07:00

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Bail-Out fund set up to aid African Banks

2009-03-13T04:11:00.000-07:00

‘Bail-out’ fund set up to aid African banks

By Barney Jopson in Dar es Salaam
Published: March 12 2009 02:21 Last updated: March 12 2009 02:21
African commercial lenders and central banks will be able to access an emergency $1.5bn “bail-out” facility set up by the African Development Bank in a drastic move to prevent trade and investment from seizing up, the AfDB’s chief has said.
Donald Kaberuka, president of the AfDB, said the trade finance facility was a “radical departure” for the bank – whose mandate is to provide development finance – but one made necessary by the grave impact of the credit crunch on Africa.

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“Liquidity is drying up faster than we thought as Europe deleverages. This will be a revolving facility to keep trade and investment moving,” Mr Kaberuka told the Financial Times. “The central banks will have liquidity to sell to commercial banks and commercial banks will have liquidity to sell to each other.”
Before the global crisis intensified last year most credit in the African financial system originated from European banks such as Barclays and Standard Chartered. The new AfDB facility should feed through to African companies struggling to finance imports or complete investment projects, Mr Kaberuka said. It was set up with funds from the AfDB’s own capital base.
Mr Kaberuka was speaking at a conference of policymakers organised by the International Monetary Fund in Tanzania that has highlighted how the crisis is hitting the poorest continent. The IMF has forecast that growth in sub-Saharan Africa will halve from the average of the past decade, to just over 3 per cent.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009

Luo Cultural and African Music

2009-03-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdQv9-ShnmE

2009-03-12T19:53:00.000-07:00

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIQvOywpW4Q

End Violence Against Women

2009-03-12T17:33:00.000-07:00

Change in socialisation process to end violence

oday marks a very important day for women all over the world. It is the International Women’s Day — a day that is marked worldwide by women across all continents to look back to a tradition that represents a struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

This is 34th year since the United Nations in 1975 found it necessary to pay homage to women and give the world a chance to look at how women were faring. Today we can look back and see the fruits of this struggle. We can see women sitting on thrones as queens and presidents. We can see women attending school, qualifying as doctors and engineers. We can see women giving orders as CEOs and flying big jumbo jets and jet fighters across the skies as pilots. We can see women carrying voter’s card and Identity cards as well as passports.

With these successes there are still many gaps that remain to be filled. One area remains with a big gaping hole that has taken too long to fill as many still trip and fall into it. This is the area of violence. Violence against women goes on in the inside of our homes to the outside at places of work. It takes all forms and shapes.

That is why this year the world wants an end to violence against women. The theme is "Men and women working together to end violence against women".

Women alone cannot end the violence and neither can the men alone. We must all together — men and women — join hands and bring to an end this act that often leaves its victim dead, if not maimed.

Violence against women is an obstacle to the achievement of the objectives of equality, development and peace.

Fundamental freedoms

Violence against women both violates and impairs the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. That by subjecting a woman to whatever form of violence you are in effect affecting her status as a mother, wife or sister.

A prominent saying among my people goes something like: "There are no spare parts shops for body parts". What this in effect means is that when one part of your body is damaged there will be no replacement for it as there is no shop where you can go and order a replacement Men have been known to beat their partners for the flimsiest reason. To these men, there is no difference between their female partners and children. Yet the women are supposed to be equal partners in the relationship.

We need to change our socialisation process by bringing up our sons to appreciate their sisters and mothers. By doing this, they will grow up respecting the women in their lives and these include the women they will marry.

Our daughters must also be brought up to appreciate themselves as women and that they are equal partners in any relationship. By working together as men and women we can then bring to an end violence against women.

Read on as we look at why violence must end, achievements and challenges that women face and why the world must be a levelled platform for both sexes to achieve equality peace and development.

Case Review.....
By Kwamboka Oyaro
His immaculate suit, matching shirt and tie do not give away his pastime. It is no secret that he beats his wife, who often goes to work with a black eye or limps, depending on the kind of beating she received the previous night. He is a rich, powerful man who believes battering his wife enhances his control of the household. Doesn’t he feel anything bad about beating an adult?
After a long silence, he says: "I feel nothing. I’m just doing what I saw my father do and it is what my grandfather did... Women have to be beaten, otherwise they grow horns."
Such a habit, from an educated and prominent man in the 21st Century when media and human rights activists have brought the barbarity of violence against women to the fore, is not understandable.
Will his three sons also beat their wives? "Of course they will. It is the only way to ensure they are at the helm of their family," he says, somehow irritated that I have asked him a question with an obvious answer.
With such men resolutely determined to pass down a primitive culture through generations, can women escape this web of suffering?
Regional co-ordinator of Men for Gender Now, Ken Otina, has walked down the violence path. He beat his girlfriends at the slightest provocation. "If you didn’t beat her up, you became the odd one out. My peers and I believed it was our duty to ‘teach’ our girlfriends a lesson once in a while," says Otina, 34, who is now actively taking the anti-violence message to men.
Before he stopped battering women nearly 10 years ago, Otina didn’t see anything wrong with his actions.
"Generally, we grow up knowing that the person inflicting the pain (usually the father) is the powerful one in the family. We carry the knowledge that to show your power, you must batter your girlfriend or wife and make everyone cry. That is power. That earns you respect." This attitude is embedded in other cultures. Otina and his colleagues treated women like trash.
"To us, women weren’t valuable. In fact, when my then girlfriend conceived, I told her that unless she got a son, she had no business looking for me after giving birth."
The girlfriend got a daughter. Somehow, Otina visited the child, and the visit was his turning point.
"I looked at the newborn. She was so soft and innocent.
I asked myself: "If I, the child’s father, rejects her, how will the world receive her?" I named my daughter after my only sister and married my girlfriend. We now have another daughter and a son."
In his campaign against violence, Otina has discovered many perpetrators do not know that what they do is wrong. No one told them that hitting a woman is wrong and since violence against women is inculcated from childhood, explains Otina, boys learn that that is the way of life.
This attitude, just like an inheritance, informs their future lives and the decisions they make regarding women.
Mary Kamau, a guidance and counselling teacher, says most children who violate others do so because they witnessed it at home.
"Children copy what adults do. Normally, they admire their fathers and what he does is always held in awe — even beating up their mother," explains Mrs Kamau.
Domestic violence studies show that children raised in abusive homes learn that violence can be used to resolve conflicts and problems. And boys who witness their mothers being battered are more likely to batter their female partners later in life than those raised in homes without violence.
But there is hope, assures Otina. "When I talk to men about the side effects of violence, they stop their arguments for wife battering and listen. Many are shocked at the effects. Once they start listening, we are on the right path to stumping out girlfriend and wife battering."
Apart from sharing his knowledge about the ignominy of violence against women, Otina is motivated by his daughters.
"The happiness of my daughter depends on changed men, men who honour and respect women," he says.
If all men thought this way, the cycle of violence would be broken sooner than later.
—Kwamboka Oyaro is Editor, Sunday Magazine

Obama Signing Executive Order for White House Council on Women and Girls

2009-03-11T19:22:00.000-07:00

President Barack Obama signs an Executive Order creating the White House Council on Women and Girls, Wednesday, March 11, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. From left are House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. and White House Public Liasion Tina Tchehttp://msnbc.msn.com/id/29640309/displaymode/1176/rstry/29640901/from/ET/

Obama's position to Domestic Violence

2009-03-11T18:09:00.000-07:00

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Question: What is Barack Obama's position on domestic violence?
Answer: Barack Obama was the chief sponsor of the Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act (VESSA), designed to help domestic violence victims keep their jobs. The bill enables an employee who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence, or who has a family member who is a victim of domestic or sexual violence, to take time off from work to seek medical attention or obtain health or legal services. VESSA was signed into law in August 2003.

Obama co-sponsored and helped reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) which provides funding and support to communities, nonprofit organizations, and police to combat domestic violence, Teen Pregnancy[/link]sexual assault, and stalking. The bill establishes a sexual assault services program and provides education grants to prevent domestic violence. VAWA was signed into law in January 2006.

How did Women's History Month begin in the US?

Answer: The first organization within the US to successfully promote the idea of a "Women's History Week" was the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County, California Commission on the Status of Women. In 1978, the group selected the week of March 8 for Women's History Week in order to coincide with International Women's Day which is celebrated on March 8th.

Area schools eagerly adopted the idea of Women's History Week, and within a few years the Sonoma County town of Santa Rosa became the epicenter of the celebration with an annual parade and programs observing the event.

1n 1979 at the Women's History Institutes at Sarah Lawrence College - a gathering of national leaders of organizations for women and girls - Sonoma County's Women's History Week idea was embraced by participants. They agreed to introduce the annual celebration to groups and school districts in their respective regions and support an effort to obtain national recognition of the weeklong observance.

In 1981, the first Joint Congressional Resolution declaring a National Women's History Week was co-sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Rep. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).

A group founded by five women in Santa Rosa in 1980 - the National Women's History Project (NWHP) - led a coalition to urge that the nationally-recognized celebration be expanded, and that the entire month of March be designated as Women's History Month.

In 1987, the NWHP petitioned Congress and the National Women's History Month Resolution was approved with bipartisan support in the House and Senate.

Source:
"History of National Women's History Month." National Women's History Project nwhp.org, retrieved 28 February 2009.

For a more detailed account of the history of Women's History Month, see the About.com Women's History article "Women's History Month" by Jone Johnson Lewis.

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Poor Countries Need U.S.$25 Billion Up-Front - IMF

2009-03-05T04:47:00.000-08:00

Africa: Poor Countries Need U.S.$25 Billion Up Front - IMF
Mariam Isa
4 March 2009

Johannesburg — POOR countries urgently needed at least $25bn in low-cost finance this year to help their economies ride out the global financial crisis, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said yesterday.
IMF MD Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned that there was a real risk the world economy would contract this year. He said this would be reflected in the IMF's updated growth forecasts next month.
News and data had worsened since the IMF predicted the global economy would grow 0,5%, he told reporters in a video conference link between Washington and Johannesburg.
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This meant "the probability of our next global forecast being lower than that is very high".
The risk of a forecast below zero was a serious risk, he said.
If the global downturn worsened, the number of the most vulnerable economies could almost double from 20 now, while their funding needs could rise to $140bn, the Washington-based lender said.
Most of those countries were in sub-Saharan Africa, expected to grow just more than 3% this year, compared with 4% for low-income countries overall, the IMF said in a report.
"I believe we have to scale up the support we supply to Africa. We are urging donor countries not to reduce aid flows," Strauss-Kahn said. This was necessary despite the fact that advanced economies were grappling with what is set to be the worst global financial crisis for 80 years.
The report said, "At a time when the advanced economies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on fiscal stimulus and financial sector restructuring, we must find room to help low-income countries."
Strauss-Kahn said there were also plans to help Zimbabwe.
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel had contacted him on how to "resume normal relations" with Zimbabwe, and they would discuss this further at an IMF conference in Tanzania next week. "No decisions have been made," he said.
Antoinette Sayeh, head of the IMF's Africa department, said the IMF was preparing to send a mission to Zimbabwe.
"The international community will have a significant challenge with Zimbabwe's arrears. They will have to be cleared before we can engage with Zimbabwe," she said.
"We have a mission going to Zimbabwe to discuss with the authorities their policy ambitions and reform agenda, to assess whether the international community can support in a way which is significant," Sayeh said. IMF officials said Zimbabwe's arrears with the IMF stood at about $130m, but the country would also have to clear much larger amounts owed to the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
It has been about two years since the institution last sent a mission to the country.
Southern African Development Community ministers decided last week to push for donor aid for Zimbabwe but deferred a decision on a rescue package to a regional summit.
The international community is sceptical about whether the unity government of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu (PF) and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change will last.
Sayeh said the IMF was also looking at its growth forecasts for SA, which the government predicts will reach 1,2% this year. But analysts are increasingly revising their growth forecasts for SA below 1%, with some now predicting the country faces recession. "SA has done reasonably well on the financial sector, and it's not very dependent on international funding ... but as the domestic economy slows, concerns over the quality of bank assets rise," Sayeh said.
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Uganda: NGO Fights to Keep Girls In School
Angola: Education of Women Boosts Economic Development
Poor countries were being hit by falling demand for their exports, the commodities prices slump and drying up of investment and aid.
The IMF report said lower growth would have serious implications for poverty and political stability so social safety net programmes should be ramped up. The $25bn needed by the most vulnerable countries amounted to 80% of yearly aid to all low-income countries in recent years, it said.

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius For HHS Secretary

2009-02-28T15:24:00.000-08:00

Obama taps Sebelius for HHS secretary

By CHARLES BABINGTON,
Associated Press Writer Charles Babington,
Associated Press Writer – 11 mins ago
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AP – In this Feb. 9, 2009 file photo, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius greets visitors to her office in Topeka, …
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WASHINGTON – Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is President Barack Obama's choice for secretary of health and human services, a White House source said Saturday.
The source, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said Obama will formally announce the nomination on Monday.
Sebelius, 60, was an early Obama supporter. She picked his presidential campaign over that of Hillary Rodham Clinton, now the secretary of state. Sebelius worked tirelessly for Obama's bid and was a top surrogate to women's groups.
Obama's first choice for HHS, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, withdrew after disclosing he had failed to pay $140,000 in taxes and interest.
Sebelius drew praise for the consumer watchdog role she played as Kansas insurance commissioner for eight years before she became governor.
Her name had been floated for several Cabinet posts. She said in December that she had removed herself from consideration from a Cabinet job, citing Kansas' budget problems that needed her attention.
Sebelius is in the middle of her second term as governor and is legally barred from seeking a third term next year. Many Democrats had hoped she would finish her term and run for the U.S. Senate seat that Republican Sam Brownback is giving up in 2010.
Kansas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, and Sebelius was seen as the best chance for breaking that string. She comes from a strong political family. Her father, John Gilligan, was the governor of Ohio in the early 1970s.
Abortion foes strongly oppose Sebelius because she once had a reception attended by a late-term abortion provider who now faces criminal charges. Democrats say there was never any doubt that Obama would appoint an HHS secretary who supports abortion rights.
Sebelius will be subject to confirmation by the Democratic-controlled Senate.

President Obama Address to Congress

2009-02-25T16:54:00.000-08:00

My address to Congress

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 4:14 PM

From: "President Barack Obama" View contact details
To: "Judy Miriga" jbatec@yahoo.com

Judy --

Last night, I addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time.To confront the serious economic challenges our nation faces, I called for a new era of responsibility and cooperation. We need to look beyond short term political calculations and make vital investments in health care, energy, and education that will make America stronger and more prosperous well into the future.Watch a few highlights from my address and share it with your friends now:
A little more than a month into my administration, we've already taken bold steps to address our urgent economic problems.Through the Recovery Act, the Stability Plan, and the Housing Plan, we're taking the immediate necessary measures to halt our economic downturn and provide much-needed assistance to working people and their families.But to set our country on a new course of stability and prosperity, we must reject the old ways of doing business in Washington. We can no longer tolerate fiscal deficits and runaway spending while deferring the consequences to future generations.That's why I pledged last night to cut our deficit in half by the end of my term. Achieving that goal will require making sacrifices and hard decisions, as well as an honest budgeting process that is straight with taxpayers about where their dollars are going.Watch some key moments from my address now:http://my.barackobama.com/page/m2/55c13e28/504654ae/3e32ba7d/11884c7a/846658389/VEsF/Central to this plan will be a renewed commitment to honesty and transparency in government. Restoring our country's economic health will only happen when ordinary citizens are given the opportunity to hold their representatives fully accountable for the decisions they make.

I look forward to continuing to work with you as we bring about the change you made possible.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

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Obama Delivers Hopeful Yet Realistic State of the Union Address

2009-02-25T08:39:00.000-08:00

Obama Delivers Hopeful Yet Realistic
State of the Union
Kaitlynn Riely
Posted: Feb 24th 2009 10:40PM
Filed under: Politics, News, The Economy, Notre Dame

The hope is not gone, people.
If you thought a collapsing economy, rampant unemployment, a huge deficit and two wars was going to get Obama down after a little more than a month in office, you were wrong. In his State of the Union Tuesday night, delivered before a joint session of Congress, President Obama was just as hopeful as he was before he became the chief executive, though he was bluntly realistic about the challenges. Obama said he recognized that the economy was the one issue that Americans were thinking about now above all others. The challenges the country faces are severe, but he had faith that America would emerge successfully. "We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before," he said. The way to do this: jumpstart job creation and pass a budget that invests in energy, health care and education. And there has to be accountability. Obama said Vice President Joe Biden would be in charge of oversight, to make sure money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the stimulus plan) is spent responsibly. "Nobody messes with Joe," Obama said. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi loved that line. She quickly jumped up to give Biden a standing ovation. Another key part of the recovery plan is ensuring the flow of credit, Obama said. At this point, President Obama became Professor Obama, explaining who needs credit, why they need it and how to free up credit.He's not going to let Wall Street bankers use taxpayer dollars to pad their paychecks any longer, Obama said, resuming his role as Commander-in-Chief and bringing out the tough talk:"Those days are over." Obama made it clear who his constituents were"It's not about helping banks. It's about helping people." He repeated the line twice, over applause. Obama said his plan for America's recovery is directly tied to his budget proposal, which focuses on energy, healthcare and education, three areas Obama believes are vital. He wants to see clean energy, more efficient cars and trucks and higher standards for the automobile industry. He then turned into America's personal trainer:"This is America. We don't do what's easy. We do what's necessary to move this nation forward." He called for healthcare reform. CBS's cameras zoomed in on Hillary Clinton's standing O. I heard echoes of Josiah Bartlett when he called for a cure for cancer "in our time." It's not exactly John F. Kennedy's challenge to land a man on the moon by the end of the decade, but at least it's being discussed. (Since I am now a Twitter user, I can report that Lance Armstrong was very happy about the cancer line.)The most interesting parts of Obama's speech, I thought, were about education. A good education has become a "prerequisite to opportunity," he said. He asked all Americans to commit to one year or more of college or career training. By 2020, he wants America to have the highest proportion of college graduates. The line that made me most proud? "I can stand here tonight and say without exception or equivocation that the United States does not torture," Obama said. Obama had Republicans and Democrats alike on their feet applauding at many points in the speech. He even got them laughing. Can we figure out some way to bottle up his optimism and pour it into the stock market?

U.S. Must Decide What Role To Play With Banks

2009-02-24T16:40:00.000-08:00

U.S. Must Decide What Role To Play With Banks
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All Things Considered,

February 24, 2009 ·

Talks between the Treasury Department and Citigroup about changes that would boost the government's stake in the troubled bank to up to 40 percent have many people wondering if banks are on a path to being nationalized.
Testifying before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke tried to assure lawmakers the government's plan is not to take over banks; Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) sounded less than convinced.
"That to me is nationalization," he said after listening to Bernanke. "I'd like for you to give me a term to use as I leave here as to what we would call that."
"A public-private partnership," Bernanke replied. "It's not nationalization because the banks would not be wholly owned or probably not even majority owned by the government."
What Type Of Shareholder?
Greg Ip, the U.S. economics editor of the Economist, says the type of nationalization being discussed in the U.S. is when the government buys common shares in a bank until it controls at least 50 percent.
"That's kind of the question that's being discussed now because in order to keep the banks from failing, the government may find itself forced to purchase substantial amounts of common equity in these banks," Ip tells NPR's Michele Norris.
It is unclear what the government will do if it acquires a 50 percent plus 1 stake in the banks. When Henry Paulson was Treasury secretary, he said the government would be a passive shareholder.
"Now the question is: Should the government remain a passive shareholder or should it actively vote those shares and therefore take a much more hands-on approach to deciding what the banks will do," Ip says.
Active Involvement
Ip says though the government is trying to stick to its stated philosophy of keeping the banks in private hands, it must soon decide what type of role it will play. He says there is a good case to be made that once it owns more than 50 percent of a bank's common shares, the government should decide on the composition of the bank's board of directors, its management team, and to whom it lends and by how much.
He says the government and Congress are urging the banks to lend more to businesses and homeowners. Banks, however, are reluctant.
"If the government were the shareholder of the banks and forced to confront the pluses and minuses of those types of decisions, they'd have to, in some sense, behave like the mutual funds and active investors of the world behave, which is deciding whether or not those decisions are wise in the long run for the health of the bank," Ip says.

Car Firm CEO Waves 'goodbye'

2009-02-23T17:42:00.000-08:00

Honda (HMC): Another car firm CEO waves 'goodbye'

Posted Feb 23rd 2009 8:00AM
by Douglas McIntyreFiled under: Toyota Motor Corp. (TM)

The Japanese appear more willing to replace car companies CEOs as profits fall due to the troubled auto market. In the U.S., none of The Big Three has replaced its chief executive since the industry crisis began.
According to The Wall Street Journal, "Honda Motor Co (NYSE: HMC) said Monday that it appointed Takanobu Ito, a senior managing director, as new president and chief executive to replace Takeo Fukui." The departing CEO will get to stay on the board of directors. Just three weeks ago, Toyota (NYSE: TM) replaced its chief executive.
The moves by the Japanese car companies may seem drastic. Both are doing well, at least compared to their U.S. counterparts. While their revenue and profits may be falling, they do not have debt or labor agreements that could drag them into bankruptcies. It is hard to blame management for the global recession.
The news has to make investors in the U.S. car companies wonder why the CEOs have hung on so long. It appears that the Japanese are ready to hold management accountable for poor results, even those not entirely under their control. Their boards may want to send the message that CEO job security is based on results, regardless of the origin of those results.
At The Big Three the people who pay the price for poor performance are the blue collar and white collar workers who are being fired by the tens of thousands. It is an odd system that punishes those who did not cause the problems and lets those who did keep their jobs.
Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 24/7 Wall St.

Kenya will suffer deforestation

2009-02-23T13:49:00.000-08:00

Kenya will suffer because of deforestation,
says don

Updated on: Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Story by: Meeme Joshua and Grany Otieno

University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor George Magoha has warned of serious climatic effects emanating from depletion of forest cover as more Kenyans turn to firewood for energy. Magoha said land under forest cover has continued to decrease drastically and today stands at 1.1 percent against the required international standards of 10 percent. “It is the time to sensitize people to plant more trees, increase area under forest cover and embrace other renewable sources of energy,” said Magoha.
Magoha, who spoke after presiding over the first graduation ceremony for students who completed a certificate course in Renewable Energy at the Institute of Nuclear Science, said renewable energy technologies are necessary due to unsustainable manner in the conventional supply of energy and its harmful effect on the environment.“The integration of renewable energy systems into the electricity supply networks together with the development of autonomous renewable energy systems for electricity supply poses new challenges to a developing country such as Kenya,” said Magoha.
He said the country should focus on renewable energy through training of experts, adding that the university was setting pace for change of attitude and lifestyles for those living in rural areas. “Rivers are drying up due to the continued felling of trees and unless the trend is reversed the country will not achieve development goals,” he said. He challenged the graduands to move into rural areas and teach people on new ways of generating energy.

UNEP Warns of Acute Food Crisis

2009-02-23T13:44:00.000-08:00

UNEP warns of acute food crisis
Updated on: Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Story by: george kebasso

UNLESS more intelligent and creative management is brought to the world’s agricultural systems- Kenya included, the 2008 food crisis, may foreshadow an even bigger crisis in the years to come, warns a rapid assessment report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).The report released by a task force established by the UNEP to assess the environment’s role in averting future food crises during the weeklong 25th Session of the Global Environment Ministers’ Forum in Nairobi called on governments to adopt a seven point plan seeking to reduce the risk of hunger or even loose the fight against rising food insecurity.
The seven point plan consists of short, medium and long term recommendations that the UNEP has proposed to contain the escalating food prices across the world. According to the report, the first short term measure, challenges governments to enforce strict price controls in order to curb unnecessary increase of food prices that are currently beyond the common man’s reach.
In the report UNEP also wants the removal of subsidies on agricultural commodities and inputs that are exacerbating the developing food crisis as a short term measure. The report on the current food crisis in the country warns that food prices will continue to rise. Titled; ‘The Environmental Food Crisis: TheEnvironment’s role in averting future food crises’, the report indicates that the current food crisis in the country and the world in general will continue because of poor environmental management methods.
The report links the current crisis which includes high prices and soaring demand for food; to combined effects of; speculation in food stocks, extreme weather events, low cereal stocks, growth in biofuels competing with cropland and high oil prices. Climate Change for example, emerges as one of the key factors that may undermine the chances of feeding a population expected to rise to over 9 billion people by 2050.The report says that food losses in the field between planting and harvesting could be as high as 20-40 per cent of the potential harvest in developing countries due to pests and pathogens.
Members of the task force argue that unless more sustainable and intelligent management of production and consumption is undertaken, food prices would still become more volatile and expensive in Kenya as the population is rising steadily and expected to hit over a 40 m mark by next year. And as a result of an escalating environmental degradation in the world, the experts led by Dr. Christian Nelleman, UNEP’s head of the rapid response team, also propose the reduction of the use of cereals and food fish in animal feed and develop alternatives. “This can be done in a green economy by increasing food energy, efficiency using discards, capture and recycle of post harvest losses and waste,” added UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner during a press conference to unveil the report.

Global Climate Change Could Lead to World Wars

2009-02-23T05:10:00.000-08:00

Could Climate Change Lead to World Wars?

By CHARLES J. HANLEY,

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (Feb. 22) – If we don't deal with climate change decisively, "what we're talking about then is extended world war," the eminent economist said.
His audience Saturday, small and elite, had been stranded here by bad weather and were talking climate. They couldn't do much about the one, but the other was squarely in their hands. And so, Lord Nicholas Stern was telling them, was the potential for mass migrations setting off mass conflict.

Skip over this content The Effects of Global Warming

A prominent British economist and author of a major report on the cost global warming said that if climate change isn't dealt with decisively, it could cause "extended world war." Lord Nicholas Stern said as weather patterns change, it could create mass migrations which would, in turn, set off mass conflict.
caption:['A massive crack in Petermann Glacier in Northern Greenland has at least one scientist predicting that a big part of the Northern Hemisphere's largest floating glacier will be gone within a year. Some experts said it's too soon to pin the blame on global warming. Click through for examples of global warming.'],

"Somehow we have to explain to people just how worrying that is," the British economic thinker said.
Stern, author of a major British government report detailing the cost of climate change, was one of a select group of two dozen — environment ministers, climate negotiators and experts from 16 nations — scheduled to fly to Antarctica to learn firsthand how global warming might melt its ice into the sea, raising ocean levels worldwide.
Their midnight flight was scrubbed on Friday and Saturday because of high winds on the southernmost continent, 3,000 miles from here. While waiting at their Cape Town hotel for the gusts to ease down south, chief sponsor Erik Solheim, Norway's environment minister, improvised with group exchanges over coffee and wine about the future of the planet.
"International diplomacy is all about personal relations," Solheim said. "The more people know each other, the less likely there will be misunderstandings."
Understandings will be vital in this "year of climate," as the world's nations and their negotiators count down toward a U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen in December, target date for concluding a grand new deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol — the 1997 agreement, expiring in 2012, to reduce carbon dioxide and other global-warming emissions by industrial nations.
Solheim drew together key players for the planned brief visit to Norway's Troll Research Station in East Antarctica.

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Trying on polar outfits for size on Friday were China's chief climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua, veteran U.S. climate envoy Dan Reifsnyder, and environment ministers Hilary Benn of Britain and Carlos Minc Baumfeld of Brazil.
Later, at dinner, the heavyweights heard from smaller or poorer nations about the trials they face as warming disrupts climate, turns some regions drier, threatens food production in poor African nations.
Jose Endundo, environment minister of Congo, said he recently visited huge Lake Victoria in nearby Uganda, at 80,000 square kilometers (31,000 square miles) a vital source for the Nile River, and learned the lake level had dropped 3 meters (10 feet) in the past six years — a loss blamed in part on warmer temperatures and diminishing rains.
In the face of such threats, "the rich countries have to give us a helping hand," the African minister said.
But it was Stern, former chief World Bank economist, who on Saturday laid out a case to his stranded companions in sobering PowerPoint detail.
If the world's nations act responsibly, Stern said, they will achieve "zero-carbon" electricity production and zero-carbon road transport by 2050 — by replacing coal power plants with wind, solar or other energy sources that emit no carbon dioxide, and fossil fuel-burning vehicles with cars running on electric or other "clean" energy.
Then warming could be contained to a 2-degree-Celsius (3.4-degree-Fahrenheit) rise this century, he said.
But if negotiators falter, if emissions reductions are not made soon and deep, the severe climate shifts and sea-level rises projected by scientists would be "disastrous."
It would "transform where people can live," Stern said. "People would move on a massive scale. Hundreds of millions, probably billions of people would have to move if you talk about 4-, 5-, 6-degree increases" — 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. And that would mean extended global conflict, "because there's no way the world can handle that kind of population move in the time period in which it would take place."
Melting ice, rising seas, dwindling lakes and war — the stranded ministers had a lot to consider. But many worried, too, that the current global economic crisis will keep governments from transforming carbon-dependent economies just now. For them, Stern offered a vision of working today on energy-efficient economies that would be more "sustainable" in the future.
"The unemployed builders of Europe should be insulating all the houses of Europe," he said.
After he spoke, Norwegian organizers announced that the forecast looked good for Stern and the rest to fly south on Sunday to further ponder the future while meeting with scientists in the forbidding vastness of Antarctica.