Get ready...
Dear Ayoub,


The wait is almost over. Applications for London 2012 Olympic Games tickets open in just eight days’ time on Tuesday 15 March.

Here are a few of our top tips to make sure you are ready to apply for tickets for the greatest show on earth!

- You will have until 11.59pm on 26 April 2011 to submit your application, so take your time and plan which sessions you want to apply for. There is no advantage to submitting your application on the first day or the last day.

- Make sure you have your account login details ready. If you have forgotten your password you can reset it here.

- Consider your budget when planning your application. There is a wide range of ticket prices available, starting at just £20, with prices to suit every budget and special prices for young people and over-60s.

- You can view the full competition schedule including prices and ticket limits. Look out for the blue flag which indicates which price categories and sessions have special prices available.

- Remember www.tickets.london2012.com and travel and hospitality providers Thomas Cook, Prestige Ticketing and Jet Set Sports are the only official sales channels for the Games. Don't be fooled by bogus websites and organisations claiming to sell tickets.

- If you would like to catch up with any information you might have missed, you can view previous issues of Front row.


- Check that the expiry date on your Visa card (debit, credit or prepaid) is no earlier than August 2011. If you don’t already have a Visa card, please visit the Visa website for more details on how you can obtain a Visa debit, credit, prepaid or virtual card.

No Borders oppose new deportation centre
By Jacob Chamberlain
10 March 2011, 1:00pm
No Borders London and Brighton have begun campaigning against the Home Office's proposed 'pre-departure accommodation' centre for families and children in Pease Pottage, Sussex.
The campaign is calling on 'anyone concerned with the ongoing detention of children' to contact the Mid Sussex District Central Area Planning Committee and/or all fifty-four Mid Sussex district councillors to express their concerns about the plans (a draft is available below). Campaigners maintain that the proposed 'accommodation' is in fact a detention centre and directly contradicts the Liberal Democrats' promise to end the detention of children for immigration purposes.
No Borders commented: 'The Home Office are taking every precaution to see that this proposed facility is sped through the planning process with the minimum fuss and opposition' including a possible 'breach of EU Procurement Directives' as the Home Office has not supplied 'pre-qualification questionnaires' or 'tendering documents'.
The Mid Sussex Council planning meeting set to decide on the 'accommodation' proposal is on 17 March 2011 and concerns about the plans should be expressed as quickly as possible.
The campaign is timely, as of 1 March 2011 the Home Office has implemented a 'radical new process for managing the return of families'. The new four-stage process includes:
the creation of a specialist family case owner within the UK Border Agency;
assisted return;
required returns for families who fail to take up assistance packages;
ensured return as last resort for families who refuse to depart the UK.
All of this will be decided upon by a new Independent Family Returns Panel that will 'provide expert advice ... on the best method of ensuring the return of individual families'. The new process is supposed to ensure a 'more humane removal process ... which puts the welfare of children at centre stage'.
As the Home Office attempts to speed through the development of the new 'accommodation centre' and implement their 'radical new process' for the deportation of families campaigners are preparing for a fight.

Secretary Clinton's Travel to Europe and the Middle East
Press Statement
Philip J. CrowleyAssistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs
Washington, DC
March 10, 2011
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be in Paris from March 14 - 15 to participate in the G8 meetings and meet with foreign government counterparts.
The Secretary also will visit Egypt and Tunisia from March 15 - 17. At each stop, she will consult with government officials and elements of civil society on recent events and the full range of regional and bilateral issues.

The Commonwealth Jubilee Time Capsule: A people’s history of the last 60 years

2012 marks the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - that's 60 years also as Head of the Commonwealth. With your help, we want to build a unique time capsule of this time – we want to hear your story!

Pick a day from the last 60 years and tell us what happened in your family, community or country. You could interview someone, write a poem, do a drawing, take a photograph or make a film. There are 21,915 days in the last 60 years (from 6th February 1952 until 5th February 2012) and we need stories for each of them!

We know the “big” events of history already so we also want to hear from you as to what was going on in your world on each of these 21,915 days. You will be taking part in a rich archive, preserved for eternity online and presented to Her Majesty in 2012.

The Time Capsule is open to people of any age but special prizes will be given to those under 25.
You will be able to upload your entries from Commonwealth Day, 14th March 2011 but register today and get thinking about your entry in advance!
Download the info pack here

ESQ LEGAL PRACTICE MAGAZINE&ESQ SEMINARS
in partnership with PACEWORKING EVENTS AND CONSULTANCY UKpresentANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND FINANCIAL CRIMES CONFERENCE 2011
Attend this Conference and find out how anti-money laundering and financial crimes policies are changing the face of business worldwide? Improve your compliance strategies and minimise risks by learning about the new UK Bribery Act 2010 and its effect on Business in Africa. You will also receive updates on the new corporate offences and how to avoid liabilty.
Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crimes Conference 2011
Date:
18th March, 2011
Time:
1:30pm - 7pm
Location:
Hamilton House, Mander Hall, NUT Bldg, London, WC1H 9BN
Event type:
Conference
Delegates Fee:
£200
Discounted rate: £150 - for supporting professional groups such as Members of the Law Society’s International Division, British Nigeria Law Forum, Black Law Directory, UK Students and all partnering Diaspora organisations.
A 25% discount is available at this conference for Members of the Law Society’s International Division. Read more here….An application for 4.5 hours CPD is pending with the SRA & BSB. Call for further information if required.
Conference Details
The aim of the Conference is to examine the latest trends and developments in developing effective anti- money laundering controls. It is suitable for Solicitors, Barristers, compliance officers, all professionals working in the financial, banking and insurance sectors and for those with business interests in Africa.
The selection of high profile speakers will share their knowledge and give advice on best practice, covering new legislation such as the UK Bribery Act 2010.
Stakeholders and investors from the UK, Europe and Africa will meet with representatives of financial, legal and other companies. The event will also provide a great platform for networking and promotions.
For Conference programme and other details, please log on to http://international.lawsociety.org.uk/node/10763
Confirmed Speakers
Colin Nicholls QC, 3 Raymond Buildings, Hon. Life President, Commonwealth Lawyers Association
Zia Ullah, Partner - Regulatory, Pannone LLP and former Head of AML Policy andSanctions, Group AML Compliance, Barclays Bank PLC
Phillip Hackett QC, AGENT Chambers, The Chambers of Harendra de Silva QC, London
Hon. Justice Pius Olayiwola Aderemi (CON), a Retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Member of the National Judicial Commission.
Chief Mrs Farida Waziri OFR, Chairman, Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria.
Dr. Chris Chukwu, Director, Financial Policy and Regulations, Central Bank of Nigeria
Mr. Tonye Cole, CEO Sahara Group
Mr. Chris Newson, Chief Executive Officer at Stanbic IBTC Plc, Nigeria
Emma Oettinger, Law Society England and Wales
Aaron Stephens, Senior Associate, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
Daren Allen, Partner, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
Mr Fubara Anga, Partner AELEX, Nigeria
TARGET AUDIENCE
This conference is suitable for Bankers, Investment Advisers, Regulators, Capital Market Operators, Solicitors, Barristers, compliance officers and all professionals working in the financial, banking and insurance sector. It will also be of particular relevance for those with business interests in Africa.
An application for 4.5 hours CPD is pending with the SRA & BSB.
Call for further information if required.
Booking Details
Advance Bookings Only UK Tel Bookings: + 442070332506 Cheque payments: Paceworking PO Box 52809, London SW11 2YS #
NigeriaTel Bookings: +2348035269055 or +2348065171962Nigeria Cheque Payments: Legal Blitz43, Oguntona Crescent, Gbagada Phase 1, Lagos
E-Bookings: http://www.clubtickets.com/gb/2011-03/18/anti-money-laundering-financial-crimes-conference
Kindly complete the Booking form on completion of your registration.
Date:
18th March, 2011
Time:
1:30pm
Location:
Hamilton House, Mander Hall, NUT Bldg, London, WC1H 9BN
Event type:
Conference
Delegates Fee:
£200
Discounted rate: £150 - for supporting professional groups such as Members of the Law Society’s International Division, British Nigeria Law Forum, Black Law Directory and UK Students and all partnering diaspora organisations.
A 25% discount is available at this conference for members of the Law Society’s International Division. Read more here….An application for 4.5 hours CPD is pending with the SRA & BSB. Call for further information if required.
For conference Advertising, Sponsorship and Exhibition enquiries please call +447974435727, +2348035269055
or send email to: http://uk.mc265.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=events@esqlaw.net

Interview
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateMelanne Verveer
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues International Women of Courage Awardees Eva Abu Haalaweh and Ghulam Sughra

Washington, DC

March 8, 2011


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


QUESTION: So before we talk about the individual stories, I wanted to ask sort of more broadly about what’s happening, because you alluded to this today, in Egypt that there are so many women out in the streets but nobody rewriting the constitution. So what is the U.S. doing to encourage the Egyptian Government to include women, to listen to women?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I think it’s our role to support Egyptian women who are speaking up for themselves. And we certainly try to ensure that their concerns are heard by the new Egyptian Government, because it would be a shame with all of the extraordinary change that’s going on in Egypt if women were somehow not given their opportunity to be part of bringing about the new Egypt.

Women, like men, have the full range of political opinions. I mean, women go from one end of the political spectrum to another, just like men. So we don’t argue for any particular group of Egyptian women; we just want to see that Egyptian women’s voices, especially of their lawyers, their professors, their judges, their business leaders, just so many accomplished women, are part of the decision making.

QUESTION: And do you talk about that, though, when you pick up the phone and talk with the foreign minister or whoever the latest foreign minister is? (Laughter.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: I do, because I – and I think it’s important that we always raise it because we think it will make a better outcome. We don’t want to see Egypt or Tunisia or anyplace eliminate half the population when they think about the future. That would make no sense at all.

QUESTION: One of the things that’s happening, I mean, as you have to sort of rethink strategy in the Middle East is you have groups – political Islam sort of becomes a reality. In Tunisia, they’re worried that women’s rights were very strong under Ben Ali. So how do you recalibrate U.S. foreign policy keeping in mind women’s issues?

SECRETARY CLINTON: I don’t see a contradiction. I think that women are playing a major role in so many countries across the world today that didn’t have a chance to in the past. Pakistan had a woman prime minister, who very tragically was killed, but she was very brave in standing up for women and women’s role in the world. India has had a woman prime minister. Bangladesh currently has a woman prime minister. You go from country to country to country and each country is different, but in the 21st century there’s no doubt in my mind that there should be no excuses about using women’s talents and educating girls and making sure that they have access to the same opportunities as their brothers.

QUESTION: I want to ask about Jordan specifically because that’s a country that you’re coming from. What role are women playing in the transitions there, and do you feel the support from the U.S.?

MS. HALAWEH: In fact, in Jordan, the King is leading the reform. He is the person who started talking about (inaudible) ago. And also (inaudible) also they are working with us to do difference on women’s rights, especially work against discrimination and to protect victims of domestic violence. Now, we did add on, of course, and they (inaudible) in the Jordanian community. And part of this, part of the (inaudible) is talking about (inaudible). It’s also part of the response we want, more women’s participation, more – also a compact (inaudible) all kinds of (inaudible), all kinds of discrimination against women (inaudible).

QUESTION: What was your message to the Secretary about U.S. policy? Because she has to think about the new realities in the Middle East. I mean, you’re – as a woman, as a Jordanian, as a Palestinian.

MS. HALAWEH: In fact, I (inaudible) – I mean, the courage woman in Palestine, they really need her support. We are looking for a change and toward more courage towards the Palestinian issue. We (inaudible) two weeks ago for the – using the veto and for conducting (inaudible) the settlements. But (inaudible) humanitarian sense that (inaudible) watch what’s happening now in Palestine and that (inaudible) will be a change I believe on (inaudible) humanitarian sense.

QUESTION: Okay. Well, I also want to ask you about – because I know we don’t have that much time – about Afghanistan and Pakistan because there was just this report out about the U.S. aid clause that’s been dropped for requirements for gender equality. Why was that dropped, and are you worried about – are you backing off from these demands in Afghanistan?

SECRETARY CLINTON: No, we’re not backing off at all. And Melanne may want to answer that specifically, but what we’re trying to do is be effective. We want to get the results so that it’s not just a rhetorical claim that we can point to, but actual results on the ground. Melanne, you might want to add to that.

AMBASSADOR VERVEER: Well, the specific issue that was raised was in a USAID program that was directed at land rights, and there were some changes made as that program was being implemented. But I think the real misunderstanding that came out of that was a sense that the United States was reevaluating its (inaudible) policy in Afghanistan vis-à-vis Afghan women. And that couldn’t be farther from the truth. It is very much central to our stabilization program there. We’ve got extraordinary investments in education, in health, particularly ameliorating and decreasing maternal mortality, which is the second worst problem in the world in Afghanistan; strong investments in women’s economic participation; and the Secretary has been an extraordinary leader on women’s political participation. Obviously, there are many more women in the parliament, but the big issue today is so-called reintegration and reconciliation and whither goest the women in the peace process.

And in that situation, from their participation in the peace jirga to very strong statements and leadership that she has underscored repeatedly about the red line in all of this, which is that any reintegration take place by renouncing violence, renouncing al-Qaida, and strongly supporting the Afghan constitution, which has women’s rights chiseled into it. And that means the right to go to school. It means the right to work.

So women’s participation, as has so often been articulated by the Secretary in particular and others as we engage in Afghanistan, is that any potential for peace – and women want an end to the conflict more than anybody, but any potential for peace will be subverted if women’s voices are marginalized or silenced. And (inaudible) our effort is very central to what we’re doing there because the prospect for peace won’t succeed without it.

QUESTION: And you’ve talked recently about a diplomatic surge. So there’s that --

SECRETARY CLINTON: Right, right.

QUESTION: I mean, is that something that --

SECRETARY CLINTON: That’s exactly what we are doing. We’ve had certainly a surge in military activity and forces. We’ve had a surge in civilian personnel. But what I’m focused on now is what I call the third surge, which is the diplomatic and political, searching for ways that we can end the conflict in Afghanistan, work with Pakistan to help stabilize Pakistan against the threat it faces from extremists.

So there’s a lot that we have to work on, but I want to reinforce the message from Melanne, and that is I personally – this Administration is absolutely committed to doing everything we can to support the women of Afghanistan and Pakistan, because we believe that you will have greater stability and greater security if women are included. If women are educated, if women have a chance to have their voices heard, if they are respected, that will eventually result in a much more stable society.

QUESTION: The U.S. pours a lot of aid into Pakistan, so are there those sorts of requirements in U.S. aid?

SECRETARY CLINTON: We do everything we can to try to work to focus on women and girls. It’s not the only thing that we do. We do a lot of security aid which goes primarily to the military or to the police force or to other elements of the security structure in both countries. But when it comes to our civilian aid, we believe that improving education, improving healthcare, improving agriculture, improving governance and the rule of law, is all about improving the lives of girls and women.

QUESTION: So I wanted to ask you then if you feel that support, because the relationship with Pakistan is so complex, there’s so many different issues, whether you feel that support from the United States.

MS. SUGHRA: I told already I can’t do anything in Pakistan without support and help, so we are working for women issues (inaudible) little bit, not much more. And Pakistan many issues by the women, they don’t get education, there is no facility for help, there is no facility in the village and the desert areas. The women is like (inaudible). So there is male-dominated society in Pakistan. Males dominate and their violence on the woman and different violence in the home.

So I want the support from the State Department and the popular ladies, so I want that support. And I am very happy I work in Pakistan but give me respect (inaudible) in USA. So there is many problem for me, why you go to the village, why you empower the women, why you work in – for the women? So here is very support and very kind people, and I am very happy. I want the support in Pakistan from USA.

SECRETARY CLINTON: I think that’s a really important point, because the work that she does or the other women do is often very lonely work, very isolating work. Sometimes your family doesn’t understand, the people that you grew up with, live with, don’t understand. They keep asking why aren’t you happy the way things are? Why do you want to try to change things?

And it can be a very unhappy experience trying to change things to help people. And I think part of what we’ve tried to do over the last two years, and then for many years before that, is to make it very clear that the United States, either through our government or through individuals or through our charities, we will try to help those who are standing up for human rights and women’s rights against great odds.

To start a school in her village in Pakistan was an act of such enormous bravery, because most of the people didn’t see any reason why girls should go to school. And it seems like in some respects an obvious sort of thing – of course girls should go to school – but she has to fight for that every single day. And so we want to help her.

But what we would really like is to see changes in attitude in Pakistan so that the people in Pakistan would help her do what she’s trying to do to make Pakistan better.

QUESTION: Okay, I’ve been told I’m out of time, but if you could just real briefly – she brought up the question of doing something on Palestine. I mean, should we be expecting any big new surge on this front?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, we hope so because we believe strongly that the Palestinian people deserve their own state and they deserve a state that can provide economic opportunity and security and democracy. And I am very supportive of what is going on in the Palestinian authority because they’re proving that they can build a state. And now I want to see the political changes that are necessary so that there can be two states living side by side. And I’m not saying anything that I haven’t said to the Israelis and the Palestinians many times. It is now more than ever the opportunity to resolve this conflict, because people deserve, if you’re in Israel, to live in security, and if you’re a Palestinian, to live in your own state. And the only way that will happen is if there is an agreement between the two. And we are pushing every single day for that.

QUESTION: Is Netanyahu coming here with a plan?

SECRETARY CLINTON: We are looking for a lot of action on the part of the leadership in both – on both sides.

QUESTION: Thank you very much for your time.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you.




PRN: 2011/358

Open The Gate proudly invite you to



The Private View of the exhibition

In Light, In Shadow

Photographs by Namvula Rennie

With a performance by Brazilian master percussionist and composer Adriano Adewale



Thursday 10th March from 6.30pm



at Open The Gate,

33-35 Stoke Newington Rd , London N16 8BJ







The exhibition will run from Thursday 10th March to Wednesday 6th April.









In Light In Shadow

This exhibition is a selection of evocative photographs from Namvula Rennie’s collection, capturing every-day moments of courage, joy and beauty. It features work from Zambia and Sierra Leone , as well as from her travels around the world.



“Namvula Rennie has an eye for the Planet Hollywood T-shirt in a crowded bar. She sees the courage of the one-legged amputee who throws down his crutches in the sand, and the inventiveness of a child rolling a bicycle tyre across a deserted football pitch. These photographs convey quick joys and slow suffering. They are sometimes witty, often laced with unexpected charm, but always without affectation. There is a candour and steadfastness in these images ... Namvula's work allows no false optimism but is staunchly intolerant of despair”

Mark Ashurst, Journalist



About The Artist

Namvula Rennie has worked as a freelance photographer since 2005, when she lived in Sierra Leone for a year, working for Associated Press. Her photography concentrates largely on social documentary and portraiture. Her work has been published by various magazines and news outlets including Songlines world music magazine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, BBC, and Le Monde. Her most recent project focused on African migrant experiences in China , and was published in the Africa Report and the Journal of African Media Studies. She has exhibited in London and the United States .



www.namvularennie.com (photography)

http://soundcloud.com/namvula (music)



About Adriano Adewale

Humorous, passionate and thought-provoking, Brazilian percussionist and composer Adriano Adewale's mesmerising performances always surprise and move. Adriano Adewale has collaborated and shared the stage with many of the world's leading artists, including Bobby McFerrin, Seu Jorge, Salif Keita, Netsayi, and Joanna MacGregor and the Britten Sinfonia.







LISTING INFO:

Exhibition Dates: 10th March - 6th April

Opening Hours: Open Daily 12pm to 12am

Venue Address: Open The Gate, 33-35 Stoke Newington Rd , Dalston London N16 8BJ

Admission: Free - ALL Public

Info / Public Enquiry: Sandrine Herbert 0207 503 6099 or contact@openthegate.org.uk

Website: www.namvularennie.com (photography) // www.openthegate.org.uk (venue)

PRESS RELEASE from the ALL AFRICAN WOMEN’S GROUP

WHY WE ARE MARCHING AS MOTHERS
on Saturday 12 March
For Everyone’s SURVIVAL & WELFARE - End Cuts, Poverty & Discrimination
Invest in caring not killing

MOTHERS MARCH – 12 March 2011 – 12 noon at Trafalgar Square; 2pm SOAS
For interviews & information: Marie Kassaga 0207 482 2496

What one asylum seeker lives on
“I fled from DRC in 2004 after being raped and tortured. My case was closed and I became homeless because my lawyer didn’t challenge the Home Office claim that it would be safe for me to go back. I am not allowed to work. While appealing the HO decision I stayed on friend’s floors or slept on night buses. My psychiatrist wrote a letter of support and I got housed by Social Services. I get Tesco vouchers of £30 a week for all my food, clothes and toiletries. It’s very hard to find enough to eat on so little money and I don’t feel well a lot of the time. Church agencies help with things like towels and sheets which social services don’t provide. Unless I can exchange some vouchers with a friend I can’t pay for fares or anything else. I’m often stuck in my flat, which is very lonely. Having to live like this makes me feel useless.”

What a mother and her daughter had to live on

“Before I got my refugee status, I lived on NASS support for almost five years. My daughter and I had to move five times because they kept changing housing providers – no sooner had we got used to somewhere, we had to move again. The places were supposed to be furnished, but often big things were missing, like a washing machine, which is hard when you have a young child. And they give you cups and plates but only two of each, so if anyone comes you have no plate to give them! I got help from church charities. We had to live on £70 a week and eat the cheapest food which isn’t nutritious. I only bought charity shop clothes. If my daughter wanted a toy even for Christmas, I had to say no. The only time we got away was through a church befriending scheme and we spent two days by the seaside. It was such a treat for both of us! It’s hard to believe we managed for so long on so little – it was tough.”



We are marching to represent the countries we come from and to tell the world what Western governments and corporations did and are still doing to our countries which has brought us to flee.

Coming here was not a choice but a desperate measure caused by wars often funded and promoted by Western governments. They sell arms to our governments which are then used to kill us and take whatever we have; all our natural resources. Arms are traded for oil, gold and other precious minerals. British arms sales to Africa have risen to record levels over the last four years and have now reached £1 billion annually. 10% of all Shell’s oil comes from Nigeria yet over 50% of the population live in absolute poverty. UK arms sales to Nigeria are up tenfold since 2000 to £53m, including armoured vehicles and other weapons used to put down people’s protests.


When we arrive here we are not treated fairly. When we claim asylum as survivors of massacres and rape that everyone knows took place, we are not believed, and are called liars, bogus asylum seekers, economic migrants who only come looking for benefits. When we escaped, we have often had to leave our children behind, but when we claim asylum we are not treated as mothers and our children are not allowed to join us. Both children and mothers are traumatized by being separated from each other. We don’t know if our children are alive, eating, going to school. We live in anguish for their wellbeing.

Mothers fighting to be reunited with their children

“I left my three precious children in Rwanda after soldiers killed my husband and tortured me. I knew they would be safer without me, so I fled alone. After nine years, I won the right to stay here. Now I’m fighting for my children, now 15, 18, and 20, to join me, but so far we’ve been refused. Separation from our children causes untold grief and suffering to them and therefore to us. For all our sakes, we are determined to put an end to it, and win the justice we're owed. ” “Mothers should be a priority and are not. The caring work we do is not a priority, our children’s suffering because they have no-one to love and protect them is not a priority, our pain at being separated from them is not a priority. We are dismissed because we are mothers, because we are women, because we are Black women . . . and as if that’s not enough because we are asylum seekers. We are fighting to change this. Some women have been reunited with their children. Others have found children that were lost. Most of us are still fighting.”
What we face in the UK
We face racism and discrimination at every turn, sometimes even from other Black people who have been here longer or are in positions of authority, such as doctors, school heads or when we try to get housing or other resources we are entitled to.

While waiting for our right to asylum, most of us are destitute. We are prevented from taking any job at the same time that we are denied money to live. We are forced to depend on handouts, sometimes living on the street with our children. We are being pushed into more destitution with all the government cuts. More children, not only ours, will die of malnourishment and disease as mothers struggle to make a decent meal for them. Or they will be taken by social services with the excuse that we are too poor to look after them. Legal aid cuts will take away any legal representation. This will increase illegal deportation, detention, and domestic violence and rape against women dependent on men for survival. We want the government to put a stop to benefit cuts and also to recognize children’s right to food, clothing, housing and their mothers’ care.

Videos

Ms Y – “Mothers are suffering in this country, especially asylum seekers…but without a mother there is no nation. Who will suffer most from the cuts? Mothers.”

Ms X – “The government should give mothers the right to join with their children here”


All African Women’s Group www.allwomencount.net
Crossroads Women’s Centre, 230A Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2AB

Fourth Anniversary of Robert Levinson's Disappearance


Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of StateWashington, DC

March 3, 2011


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




As we approach the fourth anniversary of Bob Levinson’s disappearance, we have received recent indications that Bob is being held somewhere in southwest Asia. As the Government of Iran has previously offered its assistance in this matter, we respectfully request the Iranian government to undertake humanitarian efforts to safely return and reunite Bob with his family. We would appreciate the Iranian government’s efforts in this matter.

AYOUB MZEE na wanaharakati wa kiarabu

Watu 24 wamethibitika kufa katika ajali ya milipuko ya mabomu iliyotokea katika kambi ya Jeshi la Wananchi Tanzania kikosi cha 511, Gongo la Mboto Dar es Salaam tarehe 16/02/2011.


Taarifa ya Serikali imeeleza kwamba marehemu wote 24 walitambuliwa na Serikali kugharamia mazishi yao kama ilivyoahidi. Baadhi ya marehemu walisafirishwa kwenda kuzikwa makwao katika Mikoa ya Kagera, Mara, Tanga, Kilimanjaro, Pwani, Lindi, Mbeya, Mtwara na Dar es Salaam.


Hata hivyo maiti moja ya kichanga cha miezi minane mpaka sasa haijathibitika kuwa kifo chake kilitokana na milipuko ya mabomu, kutokana na taarifa zake za awali kutopatikana katika orodha ya majeruhi waliopokelewa katika dispensari ya Kitunda, Hospitali ya Amana na Hospitali ya Taifa ya Muhimbili.


Taarifa ya awali kutoka chumba cha kuhifadhia maiti cha Hospital ya Muhimbili ilimworodhesha Bwana Abdallah Magadi kuwa ni miongoni mwa marehemu wa milipuko hiyo, wakati yeyé ndiye aliyepeleka mwili wa marehemu Itato Madafu ambaye kifo chake kilitokana na ajali ya gari tarehe 29/1/2011 maeneo ya Chalinze Wilaya ya Bagamoyo.
Katika milipuko hiyo ya mabomu zaidi ya watu 512 walijeruhiwa, ambapo Hospitali ya Amana iliwapokea majeruhi 256, Temeke 139, Muhimbili 87, na Zahanati ya Chanika 30.
Katika tukio hilo hadi sasa nyumba 75 zimethibitika kubomolewa, nyumba hizo zilikuwa na kaya 115 zenye watu 539.


Aidha, hadi taarifa hii inaandaliwa jumla ya watoto 140 hawajulikani mahali walipo na hivyo Serikali inatoa wito kwa wananchi pindi wawaonapo watoto ambao wanasadikiwa kupotea kufuatia tukio ya milipuko hiyo kutoa taarifa katika vituo vya Polisi, Ofisi za Serikali za Mitaa na katika vyombo vya habari ili kurahisisha utambuzi wao.
Hadi hivi sasa Serikali kupitia Ofisi ya Waziri Mkuu imetoa fedha taslim shs.


500,000,000/= kwa ajili ya kulipia huduma za awali zikiwemo gharama za mazishi, rambirambi na kununua vyakula kwa ajili ya waathirika. Pamoja na fedha hizo ofisi hiyo imetoa vifaa vifuatavyo mahema (101), magodoro (538), vyombo vya kupikia makasha (80), seti ya vifaa vya usafi wa mwili (100) Blanketi za wakubwa (400) na Blanketi za watoto (200).


Wakati huo huo Ofisi ya Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Dar es Salaam inayoratibu shughuli za maafa ya milipuko ya mabomu ya Gongo la Mboto imepokea misaada mbalimbali fedha na vifaa ikiwemo magodoro, blanketi, shuka, mito, vyandarua, nguo mchanganyiko sabuni, dawa mbalimbali, vyakula kwa ajili ya kuvigawa kwa waathirika.


Serikali kwa namna ya pekee inatoa shukrani za dhati kwa wale wote waliotoa misaada ya hali na mali kusaidia waathirika wa janga hili.


Aidha, Serikali inawahakikishia kuwa kazi ya ukusanyaji mabomu inaendelea na inawaomba wananchi kutoa taarifa pindi wayaonapo katika maeneo yao.


Imetolewa Na:
IDARA YA HABARI (MAELEZO)
24 Februari, 2011Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Google Buzz

David Cameron explains why he's voting No to AV

Suspension of United States Embassy Operations in Libya


Press Statement
Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public AffairsWashington, DC

February 25, 2011


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Given current security conditions in Libya, coupled with our inability to guarantee fully the safety and security of our diplomatic personnel in the country, the Department of State has temporarily withdrawn Embassy personnel from Tripoli and suspended all embassy operations effective February 25, 2011. The safety of the American community remains paramount to the Department and we will continue to provide assistance to the greatest extent possible through other missions.

Ayoub mzee with the Ghana High commissioner in the UK Professor Kwaku Boafo

LIBYA leader Col Gadhafi

William Hague -UK foreign secretary

Foreign Secretary on Libya
23 February 2011

Foreign Secretary William Hague said that the UK is "taking every action to get the remaining British nationals in Libya out of harm's way".
In a statement the Foreign Secretary said that the safety of British nationals in Libya remains "our top priority":

"The safety of British nationals in Libya remains our top priority. As we announced earlier, a charter flight is this afternoon leaving Gatwick airport for Tripoli to bring British nationals home from Libya. Another such flight is planned to depart later this evening. A third flight will leave early tomorrow morning if it is needed. We will send as many planes as are necessary to bring home British nationals. In addition, HMS Cumberland will arrive off Libyan waters tonight.

Over the past week hundreds of British nationals have been able to leave Libya on scheduled flights, many of them assisted by the Foreign Office. However, there are we think at least 300 remaining in the Tripoli area, and some expected scheduled flights have not materialised. So we decided to send these charter flights as rapidly as possible.
We are one of very few countries to have sent rapid deployment teams, three in total to Libya, so that we have a robust specialist presence on the ground which will be strengthened further tonight. We also have deployed staff to Libya’s border with Tunisia to assist those who have made their way to the border. We have a team of at least 50 dedicated staff at the Foreign Office working night and day taking calls from British citizens and implementing our emergency plans.

Our preference clearly is for people to be able to leave either on commercial flights as they have been doing, or on our specially arranged charter flights as they will now be able to do, rather than to send in military flights without permission which is obviously riskier to the safety of all those involved. Although we don’t by any means rule out doing that.

No one can fail to be deeply concerned about the plight of as many as 170 British nationals in the desert, the vast majority of who work for oil companies in desert camps alongside the nationals of many other countries. These camps are remote and isolated they are scattered over a large distance, and are dependent for food and water on supplies from Libyan cities that have been severely disrupted by the violence and unrest. Some we know have been subjected to attacks and looting.

They are in a perilous and frightening situation. We are working intensively on a range of options to secure their safe passage from Libya, working with other countries whose nationals are in the same position. We have made every effort to contact them and their employers to provide what advice and assistance we can. Such efforts have been hampered by extensive disruption to Libyan telecommunications systems since over the last few days.

This is an important message for the those individuals : if you have not yet made contact with us you must try to do so. You should contact us on the Foreign Office hotline. That number is 020 7008 0000.

Any companies employing British nationals in Libya who have not yet made contact with us should do so, on the same number.

Every country we have spoken to with nationals in these desert camps is in a similar situation. All of us are exploring every avenue to assist our nationals. All of us are conscious that the situation in Libya is very different from that we faced in Tunisia or Egypt over the last few weeks. In those countries there were large protests chiefly in urban areas. In Libya what is happening is civil strife: a country split geographically in two, split between Government and people, and with widespread breakdown of law and order.

So we are taking every action to get the remaining British nationals in Libya out of harm’s way.

We are greatly concerned about the loss of life in Libya and their government’s failure to protect its own people. Indeed their behaviour of government launching attacks on own people.

We succeeded yesterday in securing a statement of the UN Security Council, and in achieving a special meeting of the UN Human Rights Council this Friday.

We believe that those who commit or sanction crimes or human rights abuses in Libya should be held to account. That is our clear message and warning to them in the future.

To those in Libya who may be guilty of such acts, that Britain and our partners around the world will be doing everything to hold them to account in future. This will be a major focus of Britain’s diplomacy in the coming days."





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Libya travel advice
British Embassy, Tripoli
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