July 8, 2010

DEFENSE & NATIONAL SECURITY

- Building a Better Security Budget: Ask the Expert – John Norris, Center for American Progress, July 1, 2010 – web link: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/07/norris_video.html

- The Counterinsurgency’s Impossible Trilemma by Lorenzo Zambernardi, The Washington Quarterly, July 2010 – web link: http://twq.com/10JULY/index.cfm?id=397

- New START Is No Mistake by Steven Pifer and Strobe Talbott, Brookings Institution, July 7, 2010 – web site: http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2010/0707_start_talbott_pifer.aspx

- Obama’s National Space Policy: Subordinating National Security to Arms Control by Baker Spring, Heritage Foundation, June 6, 2010 – web link: http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2010/07/Obamas-National-Space-Policy-Subordinating-National-Security-to-Arms-Control

- The Political Battle in Iraq by Kenneth Pollack, Brookings Institution, June 30, 2010 – web link: http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2010/0630_iraq_trip_pollack.aspx


EAST ASIA

- China – Pakistan Relations by Jamal Afridi, Council on Foreign Relations Backgrounder, July 6, 2010 – web link: http://www.cfr.org/publication/10070/chinapakistan_relations.html




ECONOMICS & FINANCE

- It Depends on What the Definition of ‘Austerity’ Is by Veronique de Rugy, The American: The Journal of the American Enterprise Institute, July 1, 2010 – web link: http://www.american.com/archive/2010/june-2010/it-depends-on-what-the-definition-of-austerity-is

- The Rising Threat of Deflation by John H. Makin, American Enterprise Institute Outlook Series, July 2010 – web link: http://www.aei.org/outlook/100971

- State of the States 2010: How the Recession Might Change States – The Pew Center on the States, February 2010 – web link: http://tinyurl.com/yax33mz



ENVIRONMENT

- A Chilling Response to the Gulf Oil Spill – interview with Jack Coleman, Council on Foreign Relations, July 2, 2010 – web link: http://www.cfr.org/publication/22573/chilling_response_to_gulf_oil_spill.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2F17%2Fenergyenvironment

- Law of Sea Implications for Gulf Spill – interview with Caitlyn Antrim, Council on Foreign Relations, July 2, 2010 – web link: http://www.cfr.org/publication/22585/law_of_sea_implications_for_gulf_spill.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2F17%2Fenergyenvironment




FOREIGN POLICY

- Diplomacy Derailed: The Consequences of Diplomatic Sanctions by Tara Maller, The Washington Quarterly, July 2010 – web link: http://twq.com/10JULY/index.cfm?id=399


IMMIGRATION

- Brick by Brick: A Half-Decade of Immigration Enforcement and the Need for Comprehensive Immigration Reform by C. Stewart Verdery, Center for American Progress, June 28, 2010 – web link: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/06/brick_by_brick.html

- Obama’s Unclear Path on Immigration Reform by Edward Alden and Bernard Schwartz, Council on Foreign Relations, July 1, 2010 – web link: http://www.cfr.org/publication/22583/obamas_unclear_path_to_immigration_reform.html

- Rethinking Immigration Policy in the U.S. – web chat with Darrel West, Brookings Institution, July 7, 2010 – web link: http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2010/0707_immigration_chat.aspx

- Why Immigration Reform Matters to Metro by Audrey Singer and Jill Wilson, Brookings Institution, July 6, 2010 – web link: http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2010/0706_immigration_singer.aspx


MIDDLE EAST

- ‘Critical’ Moment for Obama, Netanyahu – interview with Robert Danin, Council on Foreign Relations, July 6, 2010 – web link: http://www.cfr.org/publication/22587/critical_moment_for_obama_netanyahu.html

- Fire the Mideast Policy Team! By Leslie H. Gelb, Council on Foreign Relations, July 7, 2010 – web link: http://www.cfr.org/publication/22608/fire_the_mideast_policy_team.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2F

- Impact of Iran Sanctions Legislation: An Energy Perspective by Frank A. Verrastro and Nitzan Goldberger, Center for Strategic & International Studies, June 29, 2010 – web link: http://csis.org/publication/impact-iran-sanctions-legislation

- Nudging Israel Forward by Martin S. Indyk, Brookings Institution, July 7, 2010 – web link: http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2010/0707_obama_netanyahu_indyk.aspx

- The Shifting Sands of State Power in the Middle East by Alastair Crooke, The Washington Quarterly, July 2010 – web link: http://twq.com/10JULY/index.cfm?id=396

- Sustainability is Elusive for Persian Gulf Regional Security System by Brian Katulis, Center for American Progress, June 29, 2010 – web link: http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/print/5918


SOUTH ASIA

- Could the Taliban Take Over Pakistan’s Punjab Province? By Ahmad Majidyar, Middle Eastern American Enterprise Institute Outlook Series, June 2010 – web link: http://www.aei.org/outlook/100967


U.S. POLITICS

- California Dreaming: New Primary System Unlikely to Reduce Partisan Polarization and Gridlock in the Golden State by Alan I. Abramowitz, University of Virginia Center for American Politics, July 1, 2010 – web link: http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball



- Election 2010: Senate Balance of Power – Rasmussen Report, July 7, 2010 – web link: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/election_2010_senate_balance_of_power

- For House Democrats: More Favorable Terrain Than ’94 by Rhodes Cook, University of Virginia Center for American Politics, June 24, 2010 – web link: http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/frc2010062401

- Potential Impact of the Latino Electorate in the 2010 Elections – The Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, June 2010 – web link: http://tinyurl.com/2g6tl7b

- Voting Intentions Even, Turnout Indicators Favor GOP – Pew Research Center, July 1, 2010 – web link: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1650/midterm-election-outlook-voter-turnout-especially-older-voters-favors-gop



Additional Resources:

Foreign Press Center Web Site – www.fpc.state.gov
Congressional Research Service Reports - http://www.fpc.state.gov/c18185.htm
U.S. Government Reports - http://fpc.state.gov/c18184.htm


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Operation Black Vote & the Communities and Local Government’s MP Shadowing Scheme

The Dawn of New Politics

OBV, in partnership with the CLG, launches an MP Shadowing Scheme that will nurture the next generation of Black, Asian and Chinese MPs and community leaders.

With a track record second to none, OBV embarks on its most ambitious parliamentary shadowing scheme to date. Over a period of six months 31 individuals will shadow MPs and Peers from all the three main parties, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party.

Participating MPs include Cabinet Minister Rt. Hon Oliver Letwin, CLG Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Andrew Stunell, Party Leaders Caroline Lucas and Elfyn Llwyd and Labour Leadership candidates - David Milliband, Ed Milliband, Andy Burnham and Diane Abbott.

With guidance from their MPs and Peers and intense training in regards to policy, media, and activism, OBV expect the vast majority of participants to hold political or civic positions in the near future.

Others that have been on similar schemes or have been directly assisted by OBV include the First Muslim female cabinet member Sayeeda Warsi, former Cabinet Member Sadiq Khan, and the first female Conservative of African origin Helen Grant who shadowed Oliver Letwin on the last programme.

OBV’s Director Simon Woolley stated: The calibre of this year’s participants is outstanding. Young men and women from varied backgrounds will inspire a generation, help transform their chosen political parties, and become the type of leaders all society will be proud of. I hope this good news story finds its way into our local and national media’.

Entitled, ‘The Dawn of New Politics’, the launch reception will welcome the participants to the ‘corridors of power’ and will be attended by senior Ministers, MPs, Peers and will include keynote speeches by CLG Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Andrew Stunell, Rt. Hon. Sadiq Khan, Simon Hughes MP, Baroness Scott, Andrew Stephenson MP and Lord Herman Ouseley.

‘The Dawn of New Politics’ will take place from 11.00am – 1.00pm on Monday 5th July 2010 in the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, Bridge Street, London SW1A 2JH. (Nearest tube station – Westminster). Lunch will be served.


To attend or to interview a participant, please call 0208 983 5426/ 07725945877.

The Humble traditional Toro wedding of Kassiam and Latoya

The prospective bridegroom, accompanied by a few kinsmen, would pay a formal visit to the girl's home, bringing a gift of a large goat and pots of banana beer. On this visit, the boy's father vaguely announced his intentions, and thereafter promised to pay another visit. On the next visit, he made his point. "If there were many girls, they would be brought in and the boy would point out the one he wanted," said Amooti.
The girl's family would try to learn more about the other family's reputation. When the proposal was accepted, they knelt down and thanked their hosts. Throughout, the bride's group assumed an air of haughty superiority, while the groom's family was humble

Next, they would take beer over which to discuss the bride price, amaarwa g'ekicwa muhendo. When this beer was delivered, the negotiation started. Bride wealth included cows, goats and many pots of beer.
Usually, families married from families of equal social standing.

The engagement
After the payment of the bride wealth, a small strap from the hide of a small animal, engonge, was tied on the arms of the couple as a symbol of engagement, like engagement rings.

The bridegroom's family brought beer (Amaarwa g'ekigambo or 'alcohol for the word') to the girl's family and they were told the date when to take the girl.
When the girl's family was ready to give away their daughter, they sent for amaarwa g'ekimwa isoke, or 'beer for shaving the hair.' The groom's family would deliver this beer. The bride had to be shaven as it was taboo for both the bride and the groom to appear on their wedding day with hair

Effort and time was put into preparing the bride for her wedding. She did not do any chores. Among the cattle keeping communities, she was fed on milk to make her fat, as fat was, and still is, attractive. She was smeared with cow ghee and her body perfumed with special incense. Her body was scrubbed with a type of red soil, which left her skin smooth.
The girl received presents, ensagalizi, from parents and relatives, including straw mats, cow hide carpets, baskets and bark cloth. The bride took with her a bag full of incense made out of dried and smoked papyrus reeds and scented herbs. The bride would take these herbs, known as emigajo to their bedroom, which made the house smell good and also aroused her husband.

The bride was taken at night. The in-laws arrived at her home in the evening. Shortly after their arrival, the bride was taken into a nearby bush and given marriage tips by her paternal aunties, abaisenkati and they sang a special send-off song, ijooje.
The bride sat four times on her father's laps and her mother's laps, which was okubukara, a way of officially bidding her farewell and blessing her marriage.
The in-laws would then sing, engoma nyabahuma, begging to leave. At this point all the women would be crying for their parting member. When the bride was about to leave the house, one of her cousins would lie across the doorway to prevent her from leaving until the bridegroom's party gave him 10 cowrie shells. This cousin would carry her on his back and whenever the party stopped to rest, the bride would sit on the laps of her aunt.

When the bride arrived at the entrance, a senior wife in the household, or a wife of one of her brothers-in-law closed the door using a curtain (made of bark cloth while holding a gourd. This lady said, oginsangiremu, originsigamu, 'you found me in this house, and you will leave me here.' She would then give the gourd to the bride, which meant, 'you are now my co-wife, come in and churn.'

Commonwealth announces Eminent Persons Group

Group will recommend options to sharpen impact, strengthen networks and raise profile of the Commonwealth

Commonwealth Secretary–General Kamalesh Sharma on 7 July announced members of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (EPG).



“This distinguished Group will set out decisive recommendations on how to strengthen the Commonwealth and fulfill its potential in the 21st century,” Mr Sharma said when he made the announcement in London. “The Group’s work will aim to ensure that the Commonwealth remains relevant to its times and makes the best use of its networks and partnerships to do so.”


At their 2009 meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Commonwealth leaders called for the “creation of an Eminent Persons Group to undertake an examination of options for reform in order to bring the Commonwealth’s many institutions into a stronger and more effective framework of co-operation and partnership.”



The Group is also tasked with looking at the format, frequency, and content of Commonwealth ministerial meetings.



The EPG will have its first meeting in London from 19 to 20 July 2010. The Group will present its recommendations to Commonwealth leaders at their next meeting in Perth, Australia, in October 2011. The Group is also expected to consult extensively with governments, civil society groups and professional associations, and individuals within the Commonwealth, as well as those beyond the membership with an interest in the Group’s work.



“All members of the Group have strong connections with the Commonwealth, have seen the Commonwealth in action, and also have wider knowledge and experience to contribute. They will be able to speak with authority about the Commonwealth’s challenges, how the association can be strengthened, as well as bringing a wealth of other experiences to bear on their deliberations,” Mr Sharma said.



The Group’s members are representative of the diversity of the Commonwealth. They will participate in their individual capacities and will not represent the views of any member government.



The members are as follows:

· Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Malaysia, Chairperson)

· Ms Patricia Francis (Jamaica)

· Dr Asma Jahangir (Pakistan)

· Mr Samuel Kavuma (Uganda) – (Commonwealth Youth Caucus)

· The Hon Michael Kirby (Australia)

· Dr Graca Machel (Mozambique)

· Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind (UK)

· Sir Ronald Sanders (Guyana)

· Senator Hugh Segal (Canada)

· Sir Ieremia Tabai (Kiribati)



Biographies



Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Malaysia) - Chair of the Eminent Person Group - is a former Prime Minister of Malaysia. Previously he served as minister of education, defence, foreign affairs, home affairs, finance and deputy prime minister. In 2003 he succeeded Mahathir Mohamad as Prime Minister of Malaysia, building a progressive and modern multi-racial society as well promoting wide-range reform. During his career, he attended Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings and Commonwealth Foreign Ministers' meetings. He was a member of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group and earlier an architect of the Commonwealth Youth Programme.



Ms. Patricia R. Francis (Jamaica), an award-winning leader and business facilitator, joined the International Trade Centre as Executive Director in June 2006. ITC is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization that enables small business export success in developing countries. During her tenure at ITC she has implemented a change management strategy to build common values and strengthen key management functions. ITC has defined and restructured itself around five new business lines, and extensive consultation has led to a stronger Strategic Framework. The UN Millennium Development Goals have been mainstreamed within the organization, with new strategies and work around trade development related to gender, environment and poverty. New integrated country and regional programmes have been developed, and partnerships have been strengthened through active participation in the One UN initiative and greater coherence with many international and regional trade related organizations. ITC’s communications have been improved with the launching of a new brand and stronger common messaging, aligned with a refined mission, vision and brand values for the organization. Ms Francis comes to ITC from Jamaica Trade and Invest, where she served as President since 1995. She was also a member of Jamaica’s Cabinet Committee for Development. During her tenure Jamaica attracted more than US$ 5 billion in foreign direct investment. She served twice as President of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies. She has chaired Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development’s Caribbean Rim Investment Initiative as well as the China-Caribbean Business Council. She has received awards from the Washington D.C. based Caribbean-Central American Action Council and from the King of Spain for her leadership and support for investment and business advocacy.



Dr. Asma Jilani Jahangir (Pakistan) is a leading human rights lawyer, and Chair of Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission. She is known for her work in Pakistan and internationally to prevent the persecution of religious minorities, women, and exploitation of children. She is the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, at the UN Human Rights Council. Previously, she served as the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary and Summary Executions. She is co-author of “Democracy in the Commonwealth” (Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit & ERIS report) and a Board member of the International Crisis Group. In 1980, Dr. Jahangir and fellow activists and lawyers formed the first law firm established by women in Pakistan. In the same year they also helped form the Women’s Action Forum (WAF), a pressure group campaigning against discriminatory legislation. Dr. Jahangir was house arrested and later imprisoned for participating in the movement for the restoration of political and fundamental rights during the military regime in 1983 and 2007. She was one of the leading figures in the campaign waged by the women activists against the promulgation of the controversial Hadood Ordinances and draft law on evidence. Dr. Jahangir has gained international recognition for her achievements. In 1995, she received the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders as well as the Ramon Magsaysay Award for "greatness of spirit shown in service of the people" She has also been awarded the Hilal-i-Imtiaz, the second highest civilian award of Pakistan, for her services to human rights.



Mr. Samuel Kavuma (Uganda) is the interim Chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Caucus. Mr. Kavuma has been a student leader in Uganda since 1997 at the institution, district and national level. In 2004, Mr Kavuma was elected to the National Youth Council of Uganda and in 2007 he was elected to be the Regional Youth Caucus representative. During this time, he was elected by other country youth representatives to be the Regional Coordinator/Chairperson for the Commonwealth African Region Youth Caucus, and more recently, as the interim Chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Caucus. Mr Kavuma has also worked as a youth worker with Students Partnership Worldwide, Youth and Women Initiative of Uganda, and the Africa Youth Trust; he has also served as the Director of Uganda Youth Action for Development. Mr. Kavuma has spearheaded a number of youth advocacy initiatives and campaigns in Uganda and has helped pioneer the establishment of the one-stop youth centre by UN-Habitat. Mr. Kavuma completed his formal education in Uganda. He holds a Diploma in Computer Science and is currently a student of Bsc IT. In addition to this, he has participated in training schemes by the Ugandan National Youth Council on leadership skills, reproductive health and human rights. He has also studied leadership, project management, MDGS and Africa Development programmes at Coady International Institute.



The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG (Australia) served as a Justice of the High Court of Australia between 1996 and 2009. When he retired from the Bench, he was Australia's longest serving judge. He also served as President of the Court of Appeal of the Solomon Islands 1995-6. He has held many international posts, including as President of the International Commission of Jurists 1995-8; UN Special Representative for Human Rights in Cambodia 1993-6; and member of the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee 1996-2005. He took part in the Commonwealth Secretariat Conferences 1988-95 that established the Bangalore Principles on domestic application of international human rights law; was independent co-chairman of the Malawi Constitutional Conference 1994; and member of the ILO mission to South Africa 1991-2. He is on the board of advisors for The Law Reports of the Commonwealth and regularly contributes to the Commonwealth Law Bulletin. Recent appointments include to the UNAIDS reference group on HIV and human rights and to the UNDP Global Commission on HIV and the Law. In 2010, he was named co-winner of the Gruber Justice Prize.



Mrs. Graça Machel (Mozambique) is a renowned international advocate for women and children's rights and has been a social and political activist over many decades. As Minister of Education and Culture in Mozambique (1975-1989) she was responsible for overseeing an increase in primary school enrolment from 40 per cent of children in 1975 to over 90 per cent of boys and 75 per cent of girls by 1989. Graça Machel is President of the Foundation for Community Development, a not for profit organisation she founded in 1994. FDC makes grants to civil society organisations to strengthen communities, facilitate social and economic justice and assist in the reconstruction and development of post war Mozambique. In 1994, the Secretary General of the United Nations appointed her as an independent expert to carry out an assessment of the impact of armed conflict on children. Her groundbreaking report was presented in 1996 and established a new and innovative agenda for the comprehensive protection of children caught up in war, changing the policy and practice of governments, UN agencies, and international and national civil society. Graça Machel has served on the boards of numerous international organisations, including the UN Foundation, the Forum of African Women Educationalists, the African Leadership Forum and the International Crisis Group. Amongst her many current commitments, she is a Board Member of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization Fund (GAVI Fund), Chancellor of the University of Cape Town (South Africa), Panel Member of the Africa Progress Panel, Member of The Elders and Member of the High Level Task Force on Innovative International Finance for Health Systems.



Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG QC MP (UK) is a British Conservative party politician. He was educated at George Watson's College and Edinburgh University where he studied law before taking a postgraduate degree in political science. From 1967-69, he lived in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and taught at the local University. On return to Britain he was called to the Bar and practised as an Advocate until 1979. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1985. In 1970 he fought his first Parliamentary campaign and from 1970-74 he was a local councillor in Edinburgh. In 1974 he was elected as MP for Pentlands and represented that constituency until 1997 In 1979, when the Conservatives were returned to power under Margaret Thatcher, he was appointed a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, at first in the Scottish Office and then, at the time of the Falklands War, he was transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, being promoted to Minister of State in 1983. He became a member of the Cabinet in 1986 as Secretary of State for Scotland. In 1990 he became Secretary of State for Transport and in 1992 Secretary of State for Defence. From 1995-97 he was Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. He was one of only four ministers to serve throughout the whole Prime Ministerships of both Margaret Thatcher and John Major. In 1997 he was knighted in recognition of his public service. Sir Malcolm was re-elected as a Member of Parliament in 2005.



Sir Ronald Sanders KCMG (Guyana) is an International Consultant, Writer, and former Caribbean senior diplomat. He has served in the private sector on the Board of Directors of media, telecommunications, banking and sustainable forestry companies in Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Barbados and Guyana. In the public sector, he was High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda to the United Kingdom (1984-87 and 1996-2004) and Ambassador to the World Trade Organization (1997-2004). He also served on the Board of the International Programme for the Development of Communications at UNESCO (1983-1985) and as an elected member of the Executive Board of UNESCO (1985-1987). He was one of three Commonwealth High Commissioners elected in 1985 to liaise with the UN Committee on countering Apartheid propaganda; Member of the Commonwealth Advisory Group on Advancing the Small States Agenda, 2001; Member of the Advisory Board to World Bank/Commonwealth Secretariat Task Force on Small States (2000-2003); Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force against Drug Trafficking and money laundering (2002-2004). He is the author of several works on the Commonwealth including in The Round Table: Journal of Commonwealth Studies (London): Is Britain Indispensable to the Commonwealth, July 1987; The Commonwealth Must Not Wake-up Feeling Terrible, July 1996; The Growing Vulnerability of Small Sates, July 1997; Commonwealth Edinburgh Summit: A Beneficial Encounter for Small States, January 1998: The Commonwealth After Edinburgh, April 1998; and The Commonwealth as the Champion of Small States in The Contemporary Commonwealth: An Assessment 1965-2009, (Routledge, London, 2009).



Senator Hugh Segal CM (Canada) joined the Canadian Senate in 2005, after four decades of public service which included Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Canada, Associate Cabinet Secretary (Ontario) for Federal-Provincial Affairs and Policies and Priorities, Legislative Assistant to the Leader of the Opposition (Ottawa), President of the independent Institute for Research on Public Policy. Chair of the Special Senate Committee on Anti-Terrorism, he is a former Chair and present member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. He headed a NATO parliamentary delegation to Washington and is a former Chair (Calgary 2004) of the annual Canada-UK Colloquium. A University of Ottawa graduate in history, he is a Senior Fellow at the Queen’s Schools of Policy Studies and Business, the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute and a member of the Working Group on National Security at Cranfield University’s Centre for Security Sector Management. He chaired the Canadian Institute for Strategic Studies and was the founding Vice-Chair (Research) of the Canadian International Council. He sits on the Council of the International Institute for Democratic and Electoral Assistance (Stockholm) and sat on the Council of the International Institute of Strategic Studies (London) He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2003 and holds honorary doctorates from his alma mater and the Royal Military College of Canada



Sir Ieremia Tabai (Kiribati) is currently a sitting member for the island of Nonouti in the national Parliament of the Republic of Kiribati. He was born in December 1949 and first entered Parliament in 1974. Apart from the six years he spent as head of the Forum Secretariat, a regional organization based in Suva Fiji, he has been in Parliament for a period of about thirty years. On Independence Day 12th July 1979 Sir Ieremia became the first President of the country. He stepped down in 1991 from that position as required by law after serving the maximum of three terms or twelve years as Head of Government. Sir Ieremia was educated in both Kiribati and New Zealand. He spent three years at St Andrews College in Christchurch before going to Victoria University in Wellington where he did a degree in commerce. On returning to Kiribati at the end of 1972 he joined the public service the following year before joining politics in 1974. Sir Ieremia is married to Meleangi Kalofia from Tuvalu and has three children, one boy and two girls. They now live in the village on the island of Nonouti which he represents in Parliament. His favorite topics for public discussion in the village Maneabas (village meeting house) are agriculture and family planning; the two areas that are critical to the development of Kiribati.

PAY PAL representaive at the Nigeria High commission, putting her case for Fraud control to the Nigeria Immigration service officials -Audit department

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Racial violence: the buried issue
Research published by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) today, reveals dangerously high levels of racial violence in the UK - a violence which is spreading into new areas.
As mainstream parties compete as to which can reduce immigration fastest - ostensibly to defuse community fears - no one asks who actually bears the immediate fall-out of such tensions - Black and Minority Ethnic, asylum-seeker/refugee and migrant communities.

As far as the authorities are concerned the Macpherson inquiry (set up in the wake of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993) has dealt with racial violence. It no longer exists, it is no longer a problem issue. But the IRR's report, Racial violence: the buried issue, reveals that, on average, five people a year in the UK have lost their lives to racial violence since Stephen's death - a total of eight-nine victims in seventeen years.

And analysis of 660 racial attacks in 2009 reveals that certain groups of people are particularly at risk: 'dispersed' asylum seekers, newly-arrived migrant workers, those who look Muslim and/or work in isolating trades such as taxi-cabbing, food take-aways, small shops and eateries.

The map of violence has changed quite dramatically since studies were first done a generation ago, when primarily areas like Southall, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham witnessed the most racial attacks and racist murders. Such areas are now, in part through struggles against racism, more 'at ease' with their diversity. Today racial violence is on the rise in towns, cities and villages which are only now beginning to change demographically - with the arrival of asylum seekers, migrant workers, overseas students, and the natural movement of settled BME families from the larger conurbations.

According to the report's authors: 'The governments' line that community tension is based solely on new immigration to the UK is partial and opportunistic. The UK is now witnessing an ever-expanding mosaic of different racisms based on different local conditions. And politicians themselves are responsible, through their neglect of poor disadvantaged areas, policies including the demonisation of certain groups and rhetoric around the war on terror, for creating, particularly in areas where competition over scarce resources is keenest, a climate in which racial violence will flourish. The drastic economic cuts of the new government can only make things worse.'

Key statistics
■89 people have lost their lives in attacks with a racial element since the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993.
■Victims of attacks are overwhelmingly Asian (45%); Black (18%); Migrant workers (10%). Men are usually the victims of attacks (80%).
■Attacks take place on the street (37.6%); in the home (12%), taxi/taxi offices (10%), takeaways, restaurants, pubs and bars (8.6%); shops (8%); religious institutions/people in their vicinity (4.3%).
■34% of attacks took place at the weekend when perpetrators are often under the influence of drink and drugs.
Download the IRR's Briefing Paper: Racial violence: the buried issue here (pdf file, 300kb).

Safety first: Stop prosecution of sex worker

who reported serious attack

On Wednesday 23 June, Hanna Morris is to be charged with managing a brothel or controlling prostitution for gain after she reported a serious attack. She faces up to seven years in prison.

Write or call Portia Ragnauth, Chief Prosecutor Surrey CPS. Ask why women’s safety is being endangered in this way.

Ms Morris is available to be interviewed. Contact: English Collective of Prostitutes Tel: 020 7482 2496 Email: ecp@allwomencount.net

Last September, without hesitating, Ms Morris dialed 999 to report a serious attack into a flat used by her escort agency. Two identifiable men, one with a sawn-off shotgun up his sleeve, barged in, threw petrol about threatening to torch the premises and to hold the woman there against her will.

Ms Morris did all she could to help the police on the understanding that the information she gave would be used in the pursuit of the assailants. The attack was initially taken so seriously that helicopters and sniffer dogs were brought in, and the next door shopping precinct cordoned off. But within hours Ms Morris and her partner had been arrested; another colleague was subsequently arrested.

Nine months later, not only are Ms Morris and her colleagues being prosecuted, but the case against the violent assailants has been dropped. Ms Morris comments:

“It used to be rare that I would hear about robberies in the area, we worked as part of a close community and were always looking out for one another. Now there isn’t a month that goes by when I’m not hearing that a place has been robbed or a girl attacked, it’s becoming more and more common, and everyone is too scared to report it. There have been six robberies in the last two months, none of which were reported, and that’s just those that I have heard about. It’s really quite frightening.”

We have told the CPS that by prosecuting sex workers who report attacks instead of their attackers, police and Crown Prosecution Service are making women more vulnerable. The Bradford and Ipswich murders took place after police crackdowns drove sex workers further underground and into more danger. Women didn’t report attacks for fear of arrest and violent men knew they could act with impunity. Surrey has shockingly low conviction rates for reported rape – nearly half the already disgraceful national average rate of 6.5%.

They are also acting against public opinion, which has time and time again prioritised safety. The acquittal of Ms Claire Finch on 29 April is a clear example of that. Ms Finch was prosecuted because she worked together with other women, even though they were all consenting adults and no force or coercion was used. But the jury agreed that it was safer to work collectively and found her not guilty.

Why is Ms Morris being prosecuted? Is it proceeds of crime?

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 made brothel keeping a “lifestyle offence”, prosecutable under Proceeds of Crime legislation. Raids and prosecutions have become profitable: the police keep 50% of any assets confiscated both during raids and 25% from subsequent prosecutions, with the Crown Prosecution Service keeping another 25% and the Inland Revenue the rest. Ms Morris’s and her partner’s home and assets have all been frozen. A substantial amount of cash put on one side to pay for income tax was taken in one of the police raids. No receipt was given.

The CPS is supposed to bear in mind the following considerations when prosecuting.

· To prevent people leading or forcing others into prostitution. But all women were working consensually independently. There was no force, coercion, violence or trafficking.

· The age of the prostitute and the position of those living off the earnings will clearly be relevant. All women who worked with Ms Morris were over 20 years of age. She was widely known to be good to work with, placing women’s health and safety foremost. That she reported the attack on one of the women is testimony of that.

· To penalise those who organise prostitutes and make a living from their earnings. Like millions of others, Ms Morris ran a small private business, not a big exploitative company. Both she and her partner are now destroyed. The family, which includes small children, is facing having to rely on state benefits.

· Generally, the more serious the incident the more likely that a prosecution will be required. The serious incident was AGAINST Ms Morris, not BY her. So why is she being prosecuted?

The laws which criminalise sex workers must be abolished. Safety comes first.

NIGERIA : GOLDEN JUBILEE SUMMIT LONDON 2010

Dear Colleagues,

Please note that COMESA Secretariat is receiving applications for the following vacant positions:-

1. Chief Executive Officer, COMESA Infrastructure Fund (CIF) - P5

2. Democratisation Officer P3

3. Internal Auditor - P2

PS: Share and circulate widely.

Thanks.

Willis .W. Osemo

Webmaster
COMESA

This message (including any attachments) is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is non-public, proprietary, privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law or may constitute as attorney work product. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, notify us immediately by telephone and (i) destroy this message if a facsimile or (ii) delete this message immediately if this is an electronic communication. Thank you.

Life on the streets of Addia Ababa

PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER ENGAGES INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DELEGATES AT THE G-8 AND G-20 SUMMITS

TORONTO – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today welcomed MY SUMMIT 2010 youth delegates to the G-20 Summit in Toronto and spoke to them about key economic issues that leaders will address. Yesterday, he met with G-8 youth delegates in Huntsville who presented the Prime Minister and other leaders with a final communiqué they had drafted.

“It is exciting to see bright young people engaging on international issues and contributing to the future of their countries and the world,” said Prime Minister Harper. “MY SUMMIT 2010 is about giving youth a voice on G-8 and G-20 issues and providing them with a valuable learning experience.”

MY SUMMIT 2010 is the official international youth summit being held concurrently with the G-8 and the G-20 summits. Canada is co-hosting MY SUMMIT 2010 with Global Vision, a not-for-profit organization with expertise in youth leadership training.

The G-8 portion of MY SUMMIT 2010 took place in Muskoka , Ontario , from June 23 to 25. During the G-20 portion of MY SUMMIT 2010, which is taking place from June 26 to 27 in Toronto , youth delegates will observe parts of the G-20 Leaders’ Summit , and will discuss international economic issues.

There are 13 Canadian youth delegates participating in MY SUMMIT 2010. Prime Minister Harper also invited his G-8/G-20 counterparts to send youth delegations comprised of seven university students to the youth summit.

- 30 -

Hon. Sebtuu Mohammed Nasser Tanzania member of the east africa legislative Assembly and the speaker of the East Africa Legislative Assemblt Hon A. abdi

The media team at the ECA

Ayoub mzee with Dr E.kaale of muhimbili university of health and Allied sciences

Ayoub mzee with Engr. Umar Bindir ,CEO nATIONAL OFFICE FOR TECHNOLOGY ACQUISITION AND PROMOTION -NIGERIA in Adiss Ababa


Ayoub mzee at te science with Africa conference at the UN in Addis ababa

The theme of the second Science with Africa Conference is “Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship”. Participants will address strategies for enhancing the transformation of research and development (R&D) outputs and technology into economic and social value.

G-8 Summit Documents
Prime Minister Stephen Harper concluded the Muskoka 2010 G-8 Summit with the Chair’s Press Conference on June 26, 2010. Read the final documents below to find out the outcome of the Summit.
G8 Muskoka Declaration Recovery and New Beginnings
G-8 Leaders’ Statement on Countering Terrorism
Report on the G-8 Global Partnership

Festival UK 2010@ Lee Valley Leisure Complex Centre Edmonton N9 OA

Thus, "Festival" in the Eritrean context has a deep historical meaning.
During the long and bitter struggle years, Eritreans from all over the world gathered every summer in the city of Bologna, Italy for a weeklong celebration which included seminars, folklore events, exhibitions and sports activities. Today, this tradition continues even after Liberation both inside and outside Eritrea.
Eritrean festivals should be well organized both in content and style, it was imperative to have well defined goals and a committee which could shoulder the responsibility to motivate and engage all Eritreans in the region. The Eritrean People Campaign Committee EPCC will host a three-day Festival from 2-4 July, 2010 at the beautiful Lee Valley Leisure Centre in Edmonton.
A Guest of Honor (high level delegate from the government of Eritrea) and H.E. Tesfamicael Gerahtu, Ambassador of the State of Eritrea to the United Kingdom and Ireland, will preside over the official opening of the Festival. The annual Eritrean Festival offers a wonderful and unique opportunity to introduce Eritrean cultures and traditions, and meet and share with Eritreans from all over the United Kingdom. It provides participants with a fun and creative environment for networking and discovery.
The audience will get a glimpse into Eritrean culture through colorful cultural performances, music and dance, arts and crafts, exhibitions, educational seminars, discussion forums, as well as fun activities for the children & youth. The UK Eritrean Festival 2010 takes place at a time of great historical and cultural significance to Eritreans. It will depict the socio-economic and traditional values of the people of Eritrea, and promises to be an unforgettable must-see event for all.
The Festival will remain open to the public from Friday 2 July 2010 until Sunday 4 July 2010.
For more Information contact us;-Festival Media Centre info@eritreacompass.com
Festival Program Coordinator festival.eritrea@yahoo.co.uk

H.E NKOYO TOYO THE NIGERIAN AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REP AT THE AU IN ADDIS ABABA- ETHIOPIA


The nigeria diplomatic team in Addis ababa

The speaker of the Eat Africa Parliament Hon A Abdi at the ECA - science for africa Event in Addis ababa

The secon Africa with Science conerence in Addis Ababa

The conference addressed innovative policy tools and measures to build the necessary human capital, STI infrastructure, financial instruments, strategies targeting under represented groups and international collaboration. The event focused on the following themes: Science, technology and innovation policies Energy, water, transport and infrastructure Agriculture, health and life science Climate change in Africa Intellectual property rights ant technology transfer Information and communication technologies Innovation and entrepreneurial capacities STI capacity building.


STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today made the following remarks at the Opening Plenary session of the G-20 Summit in Toronto :

“Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Canada and to the magnificent city of Toronto, which is our country’s largest city, and I would like to say, home of the most solid financial sector in the world. We are very pleased and proud to be holding the G-20 Summit.

“In welcoming you, I’d like to make a few observations about what we must achieve here. At Pittsburgh last year, the G-20 officially declared itself the world’s premier forum for international economic cooperation. Now with such a claim and with the global recovery that remains fragile, it is incumbent upon us to act with the same unity of purpose, the same sense of urgency and the same commitment to the enlightened exercise of our national sovereignty, as we did in the depths of the crisis in order to begin to develop a framework for strong, sustainable and balanced growth that we promised the world in Pittsburgh.

“The coordinated actions taken to date by the G-20 are producing positive results that are benefiting the entire world. However, the recovery remains fragile. To be frank, private sector demand is not yet where it should be in some of the G-20 countries.

“Since we last met, new risks have unearthed in the global economy. To cite a couple to which the IMF drew attention recently, fiscal deficits, debt level, debt levels in advanced countries, as well as the premature end to stimulus. I would add to these the need to follow through on regulatory reforms in the financial sector, and of course, the silence on protectionism. The recent skittishness of markets is telling us that they are awaiting our actions, actions that must be decisive, but also coordinated and balanced. Here is the tightrope that we must walk to sustain recovery. It is imperative we follow through on existing stimulus plans, those to which we committed ourselves last year, but at the same time, advanced countries must send a clear message that as our stimulus plans expire, we will focus on getting our fiscal houses in order.

“Financial consolidation plans must be credible. They must lay out easily understood objectives, and member countries must be accountable for achieving these objectives.

“Specifically, we should agree the deficits will be halved by 2013. We should also agree that government debt to GDP ratios should be stabilized by 2016 at the least, or put on a downward path.

“Since some of us will meet these objectives earlier, we should agree to consider them as minimum fiscal targets.

“Yet this fiscal consolidation will only succeed if we take concerted action across the G-20 to support global demand to tackle structural rigidities and unacceptably high rates of unemployment and reduced global poverty.

“The whole world is watching us, because the fate of millions of people depends on our actions.

“So what does success look like? According to my rough estimate, global output could be boosted by a cumulative 6.5 per cent over the next five years if we act in a coordinated manner and avoid pitfalls. This could raise global output rates by $4 trillion, the creation of 52 million new jobs and 90 million people lifted out of poverty.

“But if we fail to take decisive, coordinated and balanced actions, a bleak scenario might emerge where millions of people could lose their jobs. This is the responsibility we have, not only toward our constituents, but also toward all the citizens of the world. We must go on to lay the foundation for strong, sustainable and harmonious growth.

“Ladies and gentlemen, now as before, we must work and act together. Once again, welcome, and I hope all of our discussions will be productive.

“Thanks.”

Life in Addis
Young lads in addis
A beggar
Taking a Taxi
Arriving at Addis ababa

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Director of Communications, along with senior governmental officials, will hold a press briefing for national and international media on Sunday, June 27, 2010, on the G-20 summit.Only media accredited for the International Media Centre will have access to the briefing room.The briefing will be broadcast via the host broadcaster in the International Media Centre and the Alternative Media Centre.Media representatives accredited to the G-20 and not able to attend should call the teleconference system at 613-960-7526 or 1-877-413-4814 (passcode 3536688).The press briefing is for attribution and cameras are allowed. The briefing will be webcast live from the G-20 website <http://g20.gc.ca/home/> .Event: Press briefing (open to media only)Briefers: Dimitri Soudas, Director of Communications, Prime Minister’s Office; Len Edwards, G-8 and G-20 Sherpa; Tiff Macklem, Associate Deputy Minister, Department of Finance CanadaDate: Sunday, June 27, 2010 Time: 7:30 a.m. ET Location: International Briefing Theatre, International Media Centre, Direct Energy Centre, 100 Princes’ Blvd., Toronto, Ontario.For more information, please contact:G-20 Toronto Summit media inquiries: 1-877-661-2353 (Canada and the United States); 416-607-2370 (all other locations)PMO Press Office: 613-957-5555Dimitri Soudas Communications DirectorDirecteur des Communications PMO/CPM

Second Science with Africa Conference to promote “Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship”

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), and other partners are bringing together industrial leaders, research and policy makers from 22 to 25 June 2010 to discuss innovative ways of improving the efficiency of technology development, transfer and commercialization in Africa. Discussions is taking place in Addis Ababa, within the framework of the second Science with Africa Conference.
The theme of the second Science with Africa Conference is “Science, Innovation and Entrepreneurship”. Participants will address strategies for enhancing the transformation of research and development (R&D) outputs and technology into economic and social value

Hi thought I'd flag up this in case of interest to you guys? ''Young, Drifting and Black' conference is happening this Thursday 24th June - discussing hard

hitting issues about young black men (details below). The Mayor is speaking at 2pm - list of speakers / workshops below. Let me know if you want to pop along?

Event starts at 9.30am and the organisers are happy for media to attend. Event info is below,
thanks
Rachelle
Mayor's Press Office 7983 4599

http://www.youngdriftingandblack.org/
This timely one-day conference is aimed at professionals across sectors working with black youth. The disproportionate number of black males involved in gangs and serious youth violence is an issue that is worrying and perplexing in equal measure. Collective insight into the roots of this trend reveal a complex inter-relationship between a number of different factors. Knowledge about solutions that work is growing and this conference is a platform for practitioners achieving results on both sides of the Atlantic.

Young, Drifting & Black will examine the different ways in which defiant behaviour in the classroom and community can be prevented and will provide powerful insights to enable a shift from reaction to prevention.

Participants will discover how to shape resistance into a resource and explore how behaviour is affected by gender differences and cultural pressures.

AIMS OF THIS CONFERENCE

o Look at examples of best practice and what really works in reducing oppositional defiant behaviour
o Explore the unique role schools play in the prevention agenda
o Insights into effective engagement with boys, turning resistance into a resource
o Examine the drivers of oppositional defiant behaviour and its connections with anti-social behaviour 'on the streets'
o Identify the levers of change that enable a shift from reactive to preventative interventions, with special reference to an interdisciplinary approach involving schools
o Explore how city wide prevention can be practically achieved by looking at examples of where this has worked
o Highlight the unique contributions made by the voluntary sector in disrupting the formation and consolidation of gang culture

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London
9.00am Registration
9.35am SESSION ONE
Welcome from the Chair
Opening address
Ray Lewis
Director, Eastside Young Leaders' Academy
10.05am SESSION TWO
How to help boys learn self-control
Dr Abigail Norfleet James
Developmental and Educational Psychologist,
University of Virginia, USA
Questions
Refreshments
The special learning needs of black boys
Prof Gus John
Honorary Fellow, Institute of Education,
University of London
Lessons for a preventative approach from Baltimore, USA
Prof Philip Leaf
Senior Associate Director,
Urban Health Institute,
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
Questions and discussion
Lunch
2pm Address by Mayor Boris Johnson
2.30pm SESSION THREE
Best practice seminars

Video link to Police Commissioner in Baltimore
(followed by plenary and discussion)
Chaired by Fitzroy Andrew
Chief Diversity Adviser,
London Borough of Havering
and Trustee, Eastside Young Leaders' Academy
5.00pm Conference ends
Press release:
YOUNG, DRIFTING AND BLACK

The growing disaffection of black boys and their increased involvement in gangs and use of knives and guns, which in recent times all too often results in murder and has become an increasingly serious problem for the country as a whole and something the new Government must take action to help resolve.

In order to produce a new focus how to best stem this tide a one day conference that will examine how to achieve effective prevention rather than simply reacting to current trends is being organised by a new organisation Capital Men on 24th June 2010 at The London Muslim Centre 89-92 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JQ.

Alarming statistics from the London Serious Youth Violence Board shows that between 2007 and 2009, 85 per cent of homicide victims aged 10 to 19 was from the black and minority ethnic communities. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London will provide the keynote speech and restate his ongoing commitment to address violent youth crime in London.

Despite its seriousness, few seem willing or able to address the matter head-on or to say why disproportionate numbers of Black boys are involved. Also, real solutions remain elusive. Policy makers, practitioners and academics fail to agree on what can be practically done to deal with the disproportionate involvement of black male youth. Huge investment in recent years, especially in urban areas, have largely failed to halt the breakdown of social cohesion, eliminate unequal opportunity or break the persistent cycle of social dysfunction and exclusion. On the back of new research - “Living On A Knife Edge” - that will be launched on the day, the conference will offer new perspectives on the root causes of the problem and what can practically be done to prevent it.

Leading experts from both sides of the Atlantic will provide insight the most current approaches to tackling the problem. These include from the US Dr Abigail Norfleet James, Prof Philip Lea and from the UK Prof Gus John and Ray Lewis. Special focus will be given to the crucial role of schools in forging a preventative approach, the components of smart interventions will be examined as well as how schools can begin working more closely with the community and voluntary sectors to implement robust, grassroots solutions.

Kit Malthouse, Deputy Mayor for Policing said: "We welcome any initiatives to help address this long term problem. I hope this conference will help to stimulate the kind of long-term, comprehensive approaches that we need to tackle this issue'.

Ends

Capital Men is a specialist mentoring and mediation service for black boys at risk of exclusion. If you would like further help, support, advice or training please
contact us at:
Tel: +44 (0)20 8519 0118
Email: info@youngdriftingandblack.org

Back England’s bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup and London as a Candidate Host City. Visit www.england2018bid.com or Text ‘England’ to 62018

WAJUE VIONGOZI WAKO TA TANZANIA ASSOCIATION TAIFAS KWA SURA