A popular American online news channel Huliq has reported Saturday that a military coup might be what most people need now in Nigeria since they have lost faith in the corrupt ruling party.
Nigerians have lost faith in their political leaders and may even welcome a military coup if that can salvage the nation from the evils of corrupt political contractors in power.
With over 20 million unemployed in the most populous country in Africa, Nigeria is on the brink of the worst fears of disintegrating before 2015 as predicted by the CIA. But majority of Nigerians blame their political leaders for misplacing priorities and scuttling the great prospects of the innovations developed by the Nigerian intelligentsia of gifted artists, scientists and scholars who have proposed practical solutions to the problems plaguing the nation. The greedy political contractors in power seem to be more confused than the electorate. They are still abusing their positions in government as revealed by the scandalous reports of misappropriations of public funds when last Thursday, Mr. Olabode George, a former chieftain of the corrupt and notorious ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former Chairman of Board of Directors of the Nigeria Ports Authourity (NPA) was convicted for corruption. And he was not alone. Most of the former governors are still facing charges for corrupt practices. But many of them are still dining and wining and living large in their private estates in Lagos and Abuja.
Many banks have crashed and the manufacturing industry cannot function without regular power supply as daily outages have made many industries to collapse or relocate to Ghana where electric power supply is constant and cost of production is affordable.
There are public rallies against the government’s decision to deregulate the downstream sector and remove subsidies, and kidnappings are still common in the eastern states and Niger Delta region.
Millions of Nigerians say that Nigeria was better under military rule and have recalled that even though the country was bad under military tyrants, the corrupt shareholders of the PDP have made things worse.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Technorati: State of the Blogosphere
Technorati's State of the Blogosphere series chronicles the rise and evolution of the Blogosphere as we know it. Since 2004 we've seen explosive growth and maturing of this new arm of the fourth estate.
State of the Blogosphere 2009
State of the Blogosphere 2009
State of the Blogosphere 2008
State of the Blogosphere 2008
State of the Blogosphere 2007
State of the Live Web 2007 on founder Dave Sifry's blog
State of the Blogosphere, October 2006
Complete Report
State of the Blogosphere, August 2006
Complete Report
State of the Blogosphere, April 2006
Part 1, On Blogosphere Growth
Part 2, On Language and Tagging
State of the Blogosphere, February 2006
Part 1, On Blogosphere Growth
Part 2, Beyond Search
State of the Blogosphere, October 2005 (This report was truncated):
Part 1, On Blogosphere Growth
State of the Blogosphere, August 2005:
Part 1, Blog Growth
Part 2, Posting Volume
Part 3, Tags and Tagging
Part 4, Spam and Fake Blogs
Part 5, The A-List and the Long Tail
State of the Blogosphere, March 2005:
Part 1, Growth of Blogs
Part 2, Posting Volume
Part 3, The A-List and the Long Tail
Part 4, The Underlying Data Set
State of the Blogosphere, October 2004:
Part 1, Blogosphere Size
Part 2, Posting Volume
Part 3, Big Media vs. Blogs
Part 4, Corporate Bloggers
Friday, October 30, 2009
Nigeria: The Abyss of Ignorance in the Land of Fools
I stood with the vendors under the flyover at the Obafemi Awolowo Road roundabout in Ikeja, Lagos. I was waiting for Kazeem the Chairman of the vendors to bring copies of a magazine we needed for our advert executives. I loved to watch the rush hours of the morning and evening as commuters hurry to their different destinations. Most of them seemed ill at ease and I did not blame these people who are traumatized by the irony of living in the most populous country in Africa with abundant human and mineral resources but ranked among the poorest of the poor in the world. Nigerians are in the turmoil that would be best dramatized as Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka’s Season of Anomie.
The manufacturing industry has collapsed and many of the leading banks have crashed in the meltdown of the Nigerian Capital market and aptly illustrated by the prolific Nigerian novelist Bisi Daniels as a tower of Babel.. The shocking report that over 20 million Nigerian youths are unemployable and they are even ignorant of this fact and have chosen to wallow in the troubled waters in resignation of their fate in the hands of their brazenly corrupt rulers whose sons and daughters and arse-kissers continue posing and posturing with their false airs and graces in Nigeria, but cannot walk tall among "The real McCoy" in the developed countries. Even the only Nigerian bank that seemed to have escaped my danger list Skye Bank Plc has just admitted that it had swung to a 12.63 billion naira ($85 million) pretax loss in the 12 months to Sept. 30, compared with a pretax profit of 20.42 billion naira in the same period last year.
Inside Lagos city
It was Karl Maier Who saw it all in This House Has Fallen: Midnight in Nigeria, but as I feared, the sick patient refused to accept the diagnosis of his crisis and chose hemorrhaging instead of taking the bitter pills. And millions of her equally ignorant retards prefer to waste their time chasing shadows on Facebook that they are abusing and misusing as a dating site and are really clueless on why Mark Elliot Zuckerberg and his Harvard classmates Dustin Moskovitz, Eduardo Saverin and Chris Hughes created and launched it on February 4, 2004.
Well, what can these millions of the vacuous youths do in a nation sinking in the abyss of ignorance?
I do really feel sorry for them as I see them hanging around and loitering with their cell-phones and sagging pants with their heads in the clouds while their visionless rulers in their stinking corridors of power bury their heads in the sand like ostriches. I wonder how many of the millions of them on Facebook have even attempted to develop applications on the Facebook Platform. How many of them can compare themselves to the First Class scholar Reuben Abati who had his Ph.D at 24 and Ben Okri who won the Booker Prize for his classic novel The Famished Road when he was 32 and many of us who were already authors and editors of national newspapers and magazines when were in our early 20s. I do feel sorry for them, because they are wasting away as they are celebrating their ignorance and mediocrity in their banal Hip-hop songs and pornographic videos, but cannot mention three books they have read since January to date. A generation of Intellectual morons? No. They are the Lotus-eaters of a generation sinking and wasting in the the abyss of ignorance in the land of fools.
Obafemi Awolowo Road, Ikeja, Lagos.
The greedy political contractors in power are misplacing our priorities and scuttling the great prospects of the innovations developed by the Nigerian intelligentsia of gifted artists, scientists and scholars who have proposed practical solutions to the problems plaguing the nation.
Millions of Nigerians say that Nigeria was better under military rule and have recalled that even though the country was bad under military tyrants, the corrupt shareholders of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) have made things worse.
It is unfortunate that the majority of the youths have decided to join in the rat race of the crooks and rogues and careless about nation building.
The youths must stop fooling themsleves by aping the Joneses and take up the challenges of the 21st century as the visionary youths of the Asian Tigers are doing and they are making great progress in the world.
Our destinies are not in the stars, but in our own hands.
Indian Businessman to Lead Rotary as its 101st President
29 Oct 2009 22:28 Africa/Lagos
Indian Businessman to Lead Rotary as its 101st President
EVANSTON, Illinois, October 29/PRNewswire/ --
- Banerjee will target polio eradication as his top priority
Kalyan Banerjee, a businessman from Gujarat, India, will become president of Rotary International -- one of the largest humanitarian service organizations in the world -- on 1 July 2011. As president, Banerjee will lead a global network of 1.2 million business and professional leaders from more than 200 countries and geographical regions who, through volunteer service, help meet the needs of communities worldwide.
Banerjee, a member of Rotary since 1972, and the international organization's third president from India said, "I am honored to lead Rotary as its 101st president." Banerjee added that Rotary's strengths include its ability to attract leaders from different vocations around the world, as well as its role in promoting peace. "My goal is for Rotary to become the preferred organization for today's generation to join and participate in, to make the world better, safer and happier," he said.
As president, Banerjee will oversee Rotary's top priority of eradicating polio, a crippling and potentially fatal disease that still threatens children in Africa and Asia -- including India. Since 1985, Rotary club members worldwide have contributed more than US$800 million and countless volunteer hours to the effort, and Rotary is now working to raise an additional US$200 million to fulfill its commitment for a US$355 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Great progress has been made, and the incidence of paralytic polio infection has plunged worldwide from 350,000 cases in 1988 to fewer than 2,000 in 2008.
As one of the four remaining polio endemic countries, which also include Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan, India's fight against polio remains strong with the volunteer and financial support of more than US$106 million from Rotary. In addition, Rotary's sustained political, bureaucratic and religious advocacy efforts at national, state and district levels have made a discernible impact on the program in India. As the past chair of the Southeast Asia Regional PolioPlus Committee and member of Rotary's International PolioPlus Committee, Banerjee spearheaded many of Rotary's novel initiatives, which have given a new push to the polio eradication program in India. To learn more about polio eradication, visit www.rotary.org/endpolio or www.polioeradication.org.
Rotary also sponsors the largest privately funded international scholarship program in the world. Since 1947, Rotary has contributed roughly US$500 million to fund a year of study abroad for 38,000 students from 100 countries. These cultural ambassadors use the skills and knowledge they acquire through their time abroad to advance the cause of international understanding, goodwill, and peace. Rotary also sponsors seven Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution at eight leading universities in six different countries.
Banerjee is a director of United Phosphorus Limited, the largest Indian agrochemical manufacturer, and the chair of United Phosphorus (Bangladesh) Limited. He is a member of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Chemical Society, a past president of Vapi Industries Association, and former chair of the Gujarat chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry. He earned a degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Banerjee and his wife, Binota, have two children and four grandchildren.
Source: Rotary International
A. C. Peter (India), +91-98-111-11833, peter.arackal@rediffmail.com, Benjamin Cherian (India) at +91-44-24341079, benjamin@rajimpex.com, both for Rotary International; Howard Chang (U.S.A.) of Rotary International, +1-847-866-3408, howard.chang@rotary.org
Indian Businessman to Lead Rotary as its 101st President
EVANSTON, Illinois, October 29/PRNewswire/ --
- Banerjee will target polio eradication as his top priority
Kalyan Banerjee, a businessman from Gujarat, India, will become president of Rotary International -- one of the largest humanitarian service organizations in the world -- on 1 July 2011. As president, Banerjee will lead a global network of 1.2 million business and professional leaders from more than 200 countries and geographical regions who, through volunteer service, help meet the needs of communities worldwide.
Banerjee, a member of Rotary since 1972, and the international organization's third president from India said, "I am honored to lead Rotary as its 101st president." Banerjee added that Rotary's strengths include its ability to attract leaders from different vocations around the world, as well as its role in promoting peace. "My goal is for Rotary to become the preferred organization for today's generation to join and participate in, to make the world better, safer and happier," he said.
As president, Banerjee will oversee Rotary's top priority of eradicating polio, a crippling and potentially fatal disease that still threatens children in Africa and Asia -- including India. Since 1985, Rotary club members worldwide have contributed more than US$800 million and countless volunteer hours to the effort, and Rotary is now working to raise an additional US$200 million to fulfill its commitment for a US$355 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Great progress has been made, and the incidence of paralytic polio infection has plunged worldwide from 350,000 cases in 1988 to fewer than 2,000 in 2008.
As one of the four remaining polio endemic countries, which also include Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan, India's fight against polio remains strong with the volunteer and financial support of more than US$106 million from Rotary. In addition, Rotary's sustained political, bureaucratic and religious advocacy efforts at national, state and district levels have made a discernible impact on the program in India. As the past chair of the Southeast Asia Regional PolioPlus Committee and member of Rotary's International PolioPlus Committee, Banerjee spearheaded many of Rotary's novel initiatives, which have given a new push to the polio eradication program in India. To learn more about polio eradication, visit www.rotary.org/endpolio or www.polioeradication.org.
Rotary also sponsors the largest privately funded international scholarship program in the world. Since 1947, Rotary has contributed roughly US$500 million to fund a year of study abroad for 38,000 students from 100 countries. These cultural ambassadors use the skills and knowledge they acquire through their time abroad to advance the cause of international understanding, goodwill, and peace. Rotary also sponsors seven Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution at eight leading universities in six different countries.
Banerjee is a director of United Phosphorus Limited, the largest Indian agrochemical manufacturer, and the chair of United Phosphorus (Bangladesh) Limited. He is a member of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Chemical Society, a past president of Vapi Industries Association, and former chair of the Gujarat chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry. He earned a degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Banerjee and his wife, Binota, have two children and four grandchildren.
Source: Rotary International
A. C. Peter (India), +91-98-111-11833, peter.arackal@rediffmail.com, Benjamin Cherian (India) at +91-44-24341079, benjamin@rajimpex.com, both for Rotary International; Howard Chang (U.S.A.) of Rotary International, +1-847-866-3408, howard.chang@rotary.org
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Top 10 Nigerian Websites
1. Nairaland, the Nigerian Forum
nairaland.com
A big, broad discussion forum for Nigerians. Covers dozens of topics including jobs
Main site for product information, support, and news.
2. Vanguard
vanguardngr.com
Online version of a Nigerian daily newspaper covering general national news, politics, business, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories and the Niger Delta region, etc.
3. The Sun News Online
sunnewsonline.com
A Nigerian newspaper with a penchant for ‘British Tabloid’ styled journalism. The paper and its online version lean strongly towards entertainment, politics and other semi-dramatic local stories.
4. Nigeria Galleria :: Nigeria Information Portal
nigeriagalleria.com
Nigeria information portal. Business directory, jobs and vacancies, news, finance, marketplace, country guide, upcoming events, forums, health and lifestyle, inspiration etc
5. The Guardian
ngrguardiannews.com
Independent daily newspaper published in Nigeria. Site contains articles from the printed version.
6. Nigerian jobs, vacancies, employment, careers community - Naijahotjobs
naijahotjobs.com
naijahotjobs.com
7. ThisDay newspaper
thisdayonline.com
An online version of a Nigerian daily newspaper. Contains news, with an emphasis on politics.
8. 234next.com
9. NIGERIA BEST FORUM . NBF, NIGERIAN FORUMS and SOCIAL NETWORK
nigerianbestforum.com
Visit NBF Nigeria Forum for your Latest Free Job Search, Social Networking, Business Connections, make new friends, Create your own blog, upload photos, upload video and many more...
10. Gtbank.com
gtbank.com
gtbank.com
Hottest Topics
Michael Jackson·
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U.S. Special Envoy Gration to Travel to Turkey, Nigeria, and Sudan
28 Oct 2009 20:55 Africa/Lagos
U.S. Special Envoy Gration to Travel to Turkey, Nigeria, and Sudan
WASHINGTON, October 28, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Office of the Spokesman
U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration will travel to Istanbul, Turkey; Abuja, Nigeria; and Khartoum and Juba, Sudan from October 27 to November 2, 2009.
Special Envoy Gration will travel to Istanbul, Turkey, to attend a meeting of the Elders, an independent group of eminent global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela. Special Envoy Gration will discuss the current situation in Sudan with the Elders and update them on U.S. efforts to support peace and stability in Darfur and fully implement the CPA. The Elders is comprised of Martti Ahtisaari, Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Brundtland, Fernando H Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson, Desmond Tutu, and honorary Elders Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi.
Special Envoy Gration will attend the opening session of the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council in Abuja, Nigeria and will be present for the release of the report of the African Union High-Level Panel on Darfur by former President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. On the margins of the AU meeting, the Special Envoy will also hold bilateral discussions with several of the African heads of state present in Abuja for the AU Peace and Security Council meeting. Special Envoy Gration will additionally participate in a meeting of the E6, comprising the envoys to Sudan from China, the European Union, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Special Envoy Gration will then travel to Khartoum and Juba, Sudan, where he will continue bilateral discussions with the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) on resolving the outstanding issues of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) implementation.
Source: US Department of State
U.S. Special Envoy Gration to Travel to Turkey, Nigeria, and Sudan
WASHINGTON, October 28, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Office of the Spokesman
U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Scott Gration will travel to Istanbul, Turkey; Abuja, Nigeria; and Khartoum and Juba, Sudan from October 27 to November 2, 2009.
Special Envoy Gration will travel to Istanbul, Turkey, to attend a meeting of the Elders, an independent group of eminent global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela. Special Envoy Gration will discuss the current situation in Sudan with the Elders and update them on U.S. efforts to support peace and stability in Darfur and fully implement the CPA. The Elders is comprised of Martti Ahtisaari, Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Brundtland, Fernando H Cardoso, Jimmy Carter, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson, Desmond Tutu, and honorary Elders Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi.
Special Envoy Gration will attend the opening session of the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council in Abuja, Nigeria and will be present for the release of the report of the African Union High-Level Panel on Darfur by former President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa. On the margins of the AU meeting, the Special Envoy will also hold bilateral discussions with several of the African heads of state present in Abuja for the AU Peace and Security Council meeting. Special Envoy Gration will additionally participate in a meeting of the E6, comprising the envoys to Sudan from China, the European Union, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Special Envoy Gration will then travel to Khartoum and Juba, Sudan, where he will continue bilateral discussions with the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) on resolving the outstanding issues of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) implementation.
Source: US Department of State
Gifts to Charity to Honor the 40th Anniversary of the Internet
29 Oct 2009 01:18 Africa/Lagos
Kevin Kimberlin, Chairman of Spencer Trask, will be featured along with Arianna Huffington and Internet creator Leonard Kleinrock at a special celebration marking the 40th year of the Internet. JOIN UCLA's celebration on October 29th online with UCLA's live feed at
http://tinyurl.com/uclaia40
Gifts to Charity to Honor the 40th Anniversary of the Internet
Spencer Trask & Co., the network of private equity investors, teams with Inlieuofagift.com for unique giving opportunity on October 29, 2009
GREENWICH, Conn., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Spencer Trask & Co., the leading private investment firm discovering and developing ideas to shape the 21st century, will join Leonard Kleinrock, the founder of the Internet, to honor the 40th anniversary of the Internet at a day long event at UCLA on October 29th, 2009.Members of the Spencer Trask network have been encouraged to make a financial gift to the charity of their choice in recognition of the impact the Internet has had on our global awareness and collaborative action. Spencer Trask has joined forces with the website Inlieuofagift.com to make a charitable donation in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Internet an easy online experience.Inlieuofagift.com offers electronic invitations with a "donate now" button associated with the charity of the party host's choice. Guests are asked to make a donation in lieu of bringing a gift. There are no fees and all donations are 100% tax deductible. Inlieuofagift.com partners with Guidestar.org and Justgive.org to offer access to 1.8 million charities, and has been featured on the Today Show and Oprah.com. Don Tapscott, the author of the bestseller Wikinomics and internationally renowned authority on the strategic impact of information technology on innovation, announced his gift to Tigweb.org in his Huffington Post entry today, "A Personal Card to the Internet. Happy 40th Birthday!". A member of the Spencer Trask & Co. network, Mr. Tapscott wrote, "I'm hopeful others will send similar presents as well." Kevin Kimberlin, Chairman of Spencer Trask & Co. and the Angel Investor who commercialized the wave division multiplexing technology that opened up the lanes of the data superhighway, will be speaking at a special event at UCLA along with Leonard Kleinrock, the recognized "Father of the Internet." Mr. Kimberlin says, "Even after 40 years, the consequences and impact of the Internet on collaboration and innovation remain limitless. I encourage all those who value the Internet to honor its 40th birthday and its founders by using the event as a reason to donate to the charity of their choice through Inlieuofagift.com."
Source: Spencer Trask & Co.
CONTACT: Mary Thigpen, Spencer Trask & Co., +1-212-326-9200,
mthigpen@spencertraskco.com, www.spencertrask.com; Jennifer Falvey, Managing
Director, Inlieuofagift.com, +1-203-966-0444, www.inlieuofagift.com
Web Site: http://www.spencertrask.com/
WIN A TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY FOR A SHOPPING SPREE!
Monday, October 26, 2009
South Africa Tops Prosperity Rankings in Africa
26 Oct 2009 14:00 Africa/Lagos
South Africa Tops Prosperity Rankings in Africa, While Zimbabwe and Sudan Rank Bottom in the World, Finds the Legatum Prosperity Index
LONDON, October 26/PRNewswire/ --
- Strong Communities, Personal Freedom and Democratic Institutions are the Recipe for Success in South Africa and Botswana; Poor Governance, Dire Health Conditions and Low Levels of Internal Security Drag Down the Rest
The third edition of the Legatum Prosperity Index, published today, ranks 104 countries (covering 90% of the world's population), based on a definition of prosperity that combines economic growth together with measures of happiness and quality of life. Thanks to strong communities and democratic institutions, South Africa is the highest ranked sub-Saharan African nation, placed 51st, closely followed by Botswana at 56th. The majority of African countries rank in the bottom 15 with the Central African Republic, Sudan and Zimbabwe ranked dead last at 101st, 103rd, and 104th respectively.
"The Legatum Prosperity Index is the world's only global assessment of wealth and wellbeing," said Dr. William Inboden, Senior Vice President of the Legatum Institute. "The lowest ranking African countries show a clear link between a lack of effective government structures, high levels of internal conflict, and a lack of personal freedom, all of which contribute towards low levels of prosperity," he continued. "However, for African countries pursuing greater prosperity, there are clear and positive signals in success stories such as South Africa and Botswana which demonstrated considerable economic growth over the last few years as well as improved governmental structure, and the promotion of civil liberties - the building blocks for prosperity." concluded Dr. Inboden.
Key Findings from the 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index
- Finland tops the Index, followed by Switzerland, Sweden, and
Denmark; the United States is 9th and the United Kingdom is 12th.
- The low rankings of Sub-Saharan African countries such as Kenya,
Nigeria and Zimbabwe can be linked to a combination of poor
governance, dire health conditions and low levels of internal security.
- In Botswana, improved governmental structure and the promotion of
civil liberties are key to the countries good ranking, with 84%
of citizens confident in the fairness of the judicial system, and 91%
believing that the country's political elections are honest. However,
the very low health rank, attributed to the deep impact of the AIDS
epidemic on the country, pulls it down.
- Zimbabwe ranked inside the bottom three in five separate areas:
Economic Fundamentals, Health, Safety and Security, Governance, and
Personal Freedom.
- Mali and Nigeria rank within the top 16 countries globally
for social capital. In fact, most Sub-Saharan African countries rank
inside the top third globally in this area thanks to the high degree
of religiosity in Africa, where African countries take six of the
top 10 places.
- All but two Sub-Saharan African countries rank within the
bottom 25% of the rankings for entrepreneurship and innovation.
- Mozambique ranks lowest globally for education.
- The Central African Republic ranks lowest globally for both
entrepreneurship and innovation and health.
- Zimbabwe ranks lowest globally for economic fundamentals and
governance.
- Both Botswana and Ghana are in the top third globally for
levels of personal freedom.
- Mali is the most safe and secure Sub-Saharan African country ranking
43rd in this area while Sudan is the least secure Sub-Saharan African
country ranking 103rd globally.
- Six of the 11 lowest ranking countries for safety and
security are Sub-Saharan African.
The Index identified nine key factors that drive economic growth and personal wellbeing, which are foundations of prosperity. Each of these nine factors is represented in a sub-index and a country's final Prosperity Index ranking is generated by averaging its scores across all nine sub-indexes, equally weighted. More information on the Prosperity Index, including full country rankings, background on data and methodology, and profiles of each country can be found at http://www.prosperity.com.
Notes to Editors:
About the Legatum Prosperity Index
The 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index is based on statistical analysis of more than 40 years of data for more than 100 countries worldwide, produced and supervised by the Legatum Institute, with input from the research consultancy Oxford Analytica and a panel of respected academic advisors in the fields of economics, history, development, sociology, and political science.
2009 Legatum Prosperity Index Rankings
TOP TWENTY COUNTRIES AFRICA
1. Finland 51. South Africa
2. Switzerland 55. Botswana
3. Sweden 64. Mali
4. Denmark 67. Namibia
5. Norway 71. Tunisia
6. Australia 83. Ghana
7. Canada 84. Senegal
8. Netherlands 85. Morocco
9. United States 88. Egypt
10. New Zealand 89. Mozambique
11. Ireland 92. Zambia
12. United Kingdom 96. Algeria
13. Belgium 97. Kenya
14. Germany 98. Tanzania
15. Austria 99. Nigeria
16. Japan 100. Cameroon
17. France 101. Central African Republic
18. Hong Kong 103. Sudan
19. Spain 104. Zimbabwe
20. Slovenia
BOTTOM TEN COUNTRIES
95. Kenya
96. Algeria
97. Tanzania
98. Nigeria
99. Pakistan
100. Cameroon
101. Central African Republic
102. Yemen
103. Sudan
104. Zimbabwe
How the Index is constructed
The Prosperity Index accounts for 90 percent of the world's population, using a combination of objective data and subjective responses to surveys. This data comprises 79 different variables, and each is then distilled into one of the nine different sub-indexes identified as a foundation of prosperity. A country's performance in each sub-index is given a score, and the overall Prosperity Index rankings are produced by averaging the equally-weighted scores of the 9 sub-indexes for each country. Those countries that perform well across each sub-index score highest in the overall rankings.
The nine foundations of prosperity that define successful nations include:
- Economic Fundamentals - a growing, sound economy that
provides opportunities for wealth creation
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation - an environment friendly to new
enterprises and the commercialisation of new ideas
- Education - an accessible, high-quality educational system that
fosters human development
- Democratic Institutions - transparent and accountable governing
institutions that promote economic growth
- Governance - an honest and effective government that preserves
order and encourages productive citizenship
- Health - the physical well-being of the populace
- Personal Freedom - the degree to which individuals can choose the
course of their lives
- Security - a safe environment in which people can pursue opportunity
- Social Capital - trustworthiness in relationships and strong
communities
About the Legatum Institute
The Legatum Institute is an independent policy, advocacy and advisory organisation. The Institute's mission is to research and promote the principles that drive the creation of global prosperity and the expansion of human liberty and wellbeing.
For more information about the Legatum Institute, please visit http://www.li.com.
The Institute is part of the Legatum Group, a private global investment organization focused on investing in the international capital markets and the promotion of sustainable development.
For more information about the Legatum Group, please visit http://www.Legatum.com.
Media Enquiries
London
William Inboden, Legatum Institute
Telephone: +44-20-7148-5400
william.inboden@legatum.com
Nick Wood, Media Intelligence Partners
Telephone +44-20-3008-8146
Email: nickwood@nickwood.demon.co.uk
Dubai, UAE
Hamish Banks, Legatum
Telephone: +971-4-317-5800
Email: hamish.banks@legatum.com
Nicole Anwer, Legatum
Telephone: +971-4-317-5800
Email: nicole.anwer@legatum.com
New York
Michael Iacovella, Edelman
Telephone +1-212-704-8254
Email: michael.iacovella@edelman.com
Mumbai
Arwa Husain, Adfactors PR
Telephone +91-22-2281-3565
Email: arwa.husain@adfactorspr.com
Source: Legatum
Media Enquiries: London: William Inboden, Legatum Institute, Telephone: +44-20-7148-5400, william.inboden@legatum.com; Nick Wood, Media Intelligence Partners, Telephone +44-20-3008-8146, Email: nickwood@nickwood.demon.co.uk; Dubai, UAE: Hamish Banks, Legatum, Telephone: +971-4-317-5800, Email: hamish.banks@legatum.com; Nicole Anwer, Legatum, Telephone: +971-4-317-5800, Email: nicole.anwer@legatum.com; New York: Michael Iacovella, Edelman, Telephone +1-212-704-8254, Email: michael.iacovella@edelman.com; Mumbai: Arwa Husain, Adfactors PR, Telephone +91-22-2281-3565, Email: arwa.husain@adfactorspr.com
WIN A TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY FOR A SHOPPING SPREE!
South Africa Tops Prosperity Rankings in Africa, While Zimbabwe and Sudan Rank Bottom in the World, Finds the Legatum Prosperity Index
LONDON, October 26/PRNewswire/ --
- Strong Communities, Personal Freedom and Democratic Institutions are the Recipe for Success in South Africa and Botswana; Poor Governance, Dire Health Conditions and Low Levels of Internal Security Drag Down the Rest
The third edition of the Legatum Prosperity Index, published today, ranks 104 countries (covering 90% of the world's population), based on a definition of prosperity that combines economic growth together with measures of happiness and quality of life. Thanks to strong communities and democratic institutions, South Africa is the highest ranked sub-Saharan African nation, placed 51st, closely followed by Botswana at 56th. The majority of African countries rank in the bottom 15 with the Central African Republic, Sudan and Zimbabwe ranked dead last at 101st, 103rd, and 104th respectively.
"The Legatum Prosperity Index is the world's only global assessment of wealth and wellbeing," said Dr. William Inboden, Senior Vice President of the Legatum Institute. "The lowest ranking African countries show a clear link between a lack of effective government structures, high levels of internal conflict, and a lack of personal freedom, all of which contribute towards low levels of prosperity," he continued. "However, for African countries pursuing greater prosperity, there are clear and positive signals in success stories such as South Africa and Botswana which demonstrated considerable economic growth over the last few years as well as improved governmental structure, and the promotion of civil liberties - the building blocks for prosperity." concluded Dr. Inboden.
Key Findings from the 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index
- Finland tops the Index, followed by Switzerland, Sweden, and
Denmark; the United States is 9th and the United Kingdom is 12th.
- The low rankings of Sub-Saharan African countries such as Kenya,
Nigeria and Zimbabwe can be linked to a combination of poor
governance, dire health conditions and low levels of internal security.
- In Botswana, improved governmental structure and the promotion of
civil liberties are key to the countries good ranking, with 84%
of citizens confident in the fairness of the judicial system, and 91%
believing that the country's political elections are honest. However,
the very low health rank, attributed to the deep impact of the AIDS
epidemic on the country, pulls it down.
- Zimbabwe ranked inside the bottom three in five separate areas:
Economic Fundamentals, Health, Safety and Security, Governance, and
Personal Freedom.
- Mali and Nigeria rank within the top 16 countries globally
for social capital. In fact, most Sub-Saharan African countries rank
inside the top third globally in this area thanks to the high degree
of religiosity in Africa, where African countries take six of the
top 10 places.
- All but two Sub-Saharan African countries rank within the
bottom 25% of the rankings for entrepreneurship and innovation.
- Mozambique ranks lowest globally for education.
- The Central African Republic ranks lowest globally for both
entrepreneurship and innovation and health.
- Zimbabwe ranks lowest globally for economic fundamentals and
governance.
- Both Botswana and Ghana are in the top third globally for
levels of personal freedom.
- Mali is the most safe and secure Sub-Saharan African country ranking
43rd in this area while Sudan is the least secure Sub-Saharan African
country ranking 103rd globally.
- Six of the 11 lowest ranking countries for safety and
security are Sub-Saharan African.
The Index identified nine key factors that drive economic growth and personal wellbeing, which are foundations of prosperity. Each of these nine factors is represented in a sub-index and a country's final Prosperity Index ranking is generated by averaging its scores across all nine sub-indexes, equally weighted. More information on the Prosperity Index, including full country rankings, background on data and methodology, and profiles of each country can be found at http://www.prosperity.com.
Notes to Editors:
About the Legatum Prosperity Index
The 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index is based on statistical analysis of more than 40 years of data for more than 100 countries worldwide, produced and supervised by the Legatum Institute, with input from the research consultancy Oxford Analytica and a panel of respected academic advisors in the fields of economics, history, development, sociology, and political science.
2009 Legatum Prosperity Index Rankings
TOP TWENTY COUNTRIES AFRICA
1. Finland 51. South Africa
2. Switzerland 55. Botswana
3. Sweden 64. Mali
4. Denmark 67. Namibia
5. Norway 71. Tunisia
6. Australia 83. Ghana
7. Canada 84. Senegal
8. Netherlands 85. Morocco
9. United States 88. Egypt
10. New Zealand 89. Mozambique
11. Ireland 92. Zambia
12. United Kingdom 96. Algeria
13. Belgium 97. Kenya
14. Germany 98. Tanzania
15. Austria 99. Nigeria
16. Japan 100. Cameroon
17. France 101. Central African Republic
18. Hong Kong 103. Sudan
19. Spain 104. Zimbabwe
20. Slovenia
BOTTOM TEN COUNTRIES
95. Kenya
96. Algeria
97. Tanzania
98. Nigeria
99. Pakistan
100. Cameroon
101. Central African Republic
102. Yemen
103. Sudan
104. Zimbabwe
How the Index is constructed
The Prosperity Index accounts for 90 percent of the world's population, using a combination of objective data and subjective responses to surveys. This data comprises 79 different variables, and each is then distilled into one of the nine different sub-indexes identified as a foundation of prosperity. A country's performance in each sub-index is given a score, and the overall Prosperity Index rankings are produced by averaging the equally-weighted scores of the 9 sub-indexes for each country. Those countries that perform well across each sub-index score highest in the overall rankings.
The nine foundations of prosperity that define successful nations include:
- Economic Fundamentals - a growing, sound economy that
provides opportunities for wealth creation
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation - an environment friendly to new
enterprises and the commercialisation of new ideas
- Education - an accessible, high-quality educational system that
fosters human development
- Democratic Institutions - transparent and accountable governing
institutions that promote economic growth
- Governance - an honest and effective government that preserves
order and encourages productive citizenship
- Health - the physical well-being of the populace
- Personal Freedom - the degree to which individuals can choose the
course of their lives
- Security - a safe environment in which people can pursue opportunity
- Social Capital - trustworthiness in relationships and strong
communities
About the Legatum Institute
The Legatum Institute is an independent policy, advocacy and advisory organisation. The Institute's mission is to research and promote the principles that drive the creation of global prosperity and the expansion of human liberty and wellbeing.
For more information about the Legatum Institute, please visit http://www.li.com.
The Institute is part of the Legatum Group, a private global investment organization focused on investing in the international capital markets and the promotion of sustainable development.
For more information about the Legatum Group, please visit http://www.Legatum.com.
Media Enquiries
London
William Inboden, Legatum Institute
Telephone: +44-20-7148-5400
william.inboden@legatum.com
Nick Wood, Media Intelligence Partners
Telephone +44-20-3008-8146
Email: nickwood@nickwood.demon.co.uk
Dubai, UAE
Hamish Banks, Legatum
Telephone: +971-4-317-5800
Email: hamish.banks@legatum.com
Nicole Anwer, Legatum
Telephone: +971-4-317-5800
Email: nicole.anwer@legatum.com
New York
Michael Iacovella, Edelman
Telephone +1-212-704-8254
Email: michael.iacovella@edelman.com
Mumbai
Arwa Husain, Adfactors PR
Telephone +91-22-2281-3565
Email: arwa.husain@adfactorspr.com
Source: Legatum
Media Enquiries: London: William Inboden, Legatum Institute, Telephone: +44-20-7148-5400, william.inboden@legatum.com; Nick Wood, Media Intelligence Partners, Telephone +44-20-3008-8146, Email: nickwood@nickwood.demon.co.uk; Dubai, UAE: Hamish Banks, Legatum, Telephone: +971-4-317-5800, Email: hamish.banks@legatum.com; Nicole Anwer, Legatum, Telephone: +971-4-317-5800, Email: nicole.anwer@legatum.com; New York: Michael Iacovella, Edelman, Telephone +1-212-704-8254, Email: michael.iacovella@edelman.com; Mumbai: Arwa Husain, Adfactors PR, Telephone +91-22-2281-3565, Email: arwa.husain@adfactorspr.com
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Sunday, October 25, 2009
Nigerian Government Must Arrest Sudanese President During Visit
Amnesty International has called on Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua to arrest the Sudanese President Omar al Bashir during his visit to Nigeria since he has been wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan.
The full report is contained in a press release Amnesty International issued on Friday October 23, 2004.
23 Oct 2009 13:17 Africa/Lagos
Nigeria / Government must arrest Sudanese President during visit
ABUJA, October 23, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Amnesty International today revealed that Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has issued an invitation to Sudanese President Omar al Bashir to visit Nigeria even though President al Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The invitation is for President Omar al Bashir to attend an African Union Peace and Security Council meeting in Abuja, scheduled to begin on Thursday, 29 October 2009.
Amnesty International said that it learned about the still-secret invitation from several reliable sources.
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is expected to present a report on the situation in Darfur at the meeting.
President Umaru Yar'Adua has apparently given assurances that President Omar al Bashir will not be arrested if he comes to Nigeria.
“He is an international fugitive from justice, charged with responsibility for crimes against humanity and war crimes against Africans. It would be shameful of Nigeria to offer him safe haven,” said Kolawole Olaniyan, Amnesty International's Africa Legal Adviser.
“The Nigerian government has an unconditional legal obligation to arrest President Omar al Bashir and hand him over to the ICC should he enter Nigerian territory. Any failure to do this is a failure to fulfil obligations under international law and may amount to obstruction of justice.”
An arrest warrant for President Omar al Bashir was issued by the ICC on 4 March 2009.
“The Nigerian government must act for the sake of thousands of victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur,” said Kolawole Olaniyan.
Nigeria is a party to the treaty establishing the ICC and is obliged without exception to cooperate with the ICC and arrest and surrender anyone named in an arrest warrant to the ICC. If it fails to do so, the ICC can refer this clear violation of Nigeria's obligations to the Security Council under Article 87 (7) of that treaty.
Notes to editors:
- President Omar al Bashir was invited by UgandanPresident Yoweri Museveni to this week's African Union summit on refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in Kampala. Following protests by NGOs, including Amnesty International, President Omar al Bashir did not attend the meeting.
- Since the ICC issued the arrest warrant on 4 March 2009, President al Bashir has visited seven states (Eritrea, Egypt, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe), none of which are parties to the ICC treaty.
- Although the African Union has urged states not to cooperate with the ICC in enforcing this arrest warrant, several states parties to the ICC treaty, including Botswana, Brazil and South Africa, have indicated that they would fulfil their legal obligations and arrest him if were to enter their countries.
- Nigeria has a contingent of armed forces serving in the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).
- Article 86 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court requires states parties to “cooperate fully with the Court in its investigation and prosecution of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.”
- Article 87 (7) of the Rome Statute provides: “Where a State Party fails to comply with a request to cooperate by the Court contrary to the provisions of this Statute, thereby preventing the Court from exercising its functions and powers under this Statute, the Court may make a finding to that effect and…,where the Security Council referred the matter to the Court, to the Security Council.”
- Many African civil society groups have supported the call for Pres. al Bashir to be arrested and surrendered to the ICC.
Source: Amnesty International
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Nigeria / Government must arrest Sudanese President during visit
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The full report is contained in a press release Amnesty International issued on Friday October 23, 2004.
23 Oct 2009 13:17 Africa/Lagos
Nigeria / Government must arrest Sudanese President during visit
ABUJA, October 23, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Amnesty International today revealed that Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has issued an invitation to Sudanese President Omar al Bashir to visit Nigeria even though President al Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The invitation is for President Omar al Bashir to attend an African Union Peace and Security Council meeting in Abuja, scheduled to begin on Thursday, 29 October 2009.
Amnesty International said that it learned about the still-secret invitation from several reliable sources.
Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is expected to present a report on the situation in Darfur at the meeting.
President Umaru Yar'Adua has apparently given assurances that President Omar al Bashir will not be arrested if he comes to Nigeria.
“He is an international fugitive from justice, charged with responsibility for crimes against humanity and war crimes against Africans. It would be shameful of Nigeria to offer him safe haven,” said Kolawole Olaniyan, Amnesty International's Africa Legal Adviser.
“The Nigerian government has an unconditional legal obligation to arrest President Omar al Bashir and hand him over to the ICC should he enter Nigerian territory. Any failure to do this is a failure to fulfil obligations under international law and may amount to obstruction of justice.”
An arrest warrant for President Omar al Bashir was issued by the ICC on 4 March 2009.
“The Nigerian government must act for the sake of thousands of victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur,” said Kolawole Olaniyan.
Nigeria is a party to the treaty establishing the ICC and is obliged without exception to cooperate with the ICC and arrest and surrender anyone named in an arrest warrant to the ICC. If it fails to do so, the ICC can refer this clear violation of Nigeria's obligations to the Security Council under Article 87 (7) of that treaty.
Notes to editors:
- President Omar al Bashir was invited by UgandanPresident Yoweri Museveni to this week's African Union summit on refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in Kampala. Following protests by NGOs, including Amnesty International, President Omar al Bashir did not attend the meeting.
- Since the ICC issued the arrest warrant on 4 March 2009, President al Bashir has visited seven states (Eritrea, Egypt, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe), none of which are parties to the ICC treaty.
- Although the African Union has urged states not to cooperate with the ICC in enforcing this arrest warrant, several states parties to the ICC treaty, including Botswana, Brazil and South Africa, have indicated that they would fulfil their legal obligations and arrest him if were to enter their countries.
- Nigeria has a contingent of armed forces serving in the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).
- Article 86 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court requires states parties to “cooperate fully with the Court in its investigation and prosecution of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.”
- Article 87 (7) of the Rome Statute provides: “Where a State Party fails to comply with a request to cooperate by the Court contrary to the provisions of this Statute, thereby preventing the Court from exercising its functions and powers under this Statute, the Court may make a finding to that effect and…,where the Security Council referred the matter to the Court, to the Security Council.”
- Many African civil society groups have supported the call for Pres. al Bashir to be arrested and surrendered to the ICC.
Source: Amnesty International
Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
23 Oct 2009
21:06
AllianceBernstein Global High Income Fund Releases Monthly Portfolio Update
17:28
World Polio Day: Rotary Nears Halfway Mark in US$200 Million Challenge
13:17
Nigeria / Government must arrest Sudanese President during visit
12:00
AMCOL International Corporation (NYSE: ACO) Reports Third Quarter Results
Hot Topics
Quarterly Earnings Reports
Swine Flu
America's Premiere High School Science Competition Announces The Class Of 2009
Economic Crime, Cybersecurity, ID Theft Prove to Be Hot Topics
Viacom Statement on FCC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Report: Same-Sex Couples Face Significant Disadvantages in Retirement
October 2009 Mayo Clinic Health Letter Highlights Iron Overload, Radiation Risk and Better Health with Yoga and Tai Chi
Photos: TripAdvisor Launches World Heritage Campaign; Calls on the World's Largest Travel Community to Help Protect the World's Most Important Places
WIN A TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY FOR A SHOPPING SPREE!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Volkswagen Becomes First Auto Manufacturer To Launch a Car Exclusively on a Mobile Device
All-new Volkswagen 2010 GTI Launches Through Real Racing GTI App (PRNewsFoto/Volkswagen of America, Inc.) HERNDON, VA UNITED STATES 20091021T00:00:00-04:00 0-04:00
Six U.S. Players of the Real Racing GTI App Can Compete to Win One of Six Limited-Edition, Fully-Customized 2010 GTIs. (PRNewsFoto/Volkswagen of America, Inc.) HERNDON, VA UNITED STATES 20091021T00:00:00-04:00 0-04:00
22 Oct 2009 13:00 Africa/Lagos
Volkswagen Becomes First Auto Manufacturer To Launch a Car Exclusively on a Mobile Device
Free Real Racing GTI Game Brings Volkswagen All-New 2010 GTI to iPhone(R) and iPod touch(R) Six U.S. Players Will Each Win One of Six Customized Limited-Edition GTI MkVI Vehicles Through December 2
HERNDON, Va., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced the launch of the all-new 2010 GTI via the App Store by making available a free version of the popular Firemint Real Racing game that exclusively features the all-new 2010 GTI. This is the first time an automotive manufacturer has used the App Store to launch a new vehicle. Additionally, users of the Real Racing GTI App in the U.S. can compete for the chance to win one of six, limited-edition 2010 GTIs that are fully-customized inside and out.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091022/DE96311-a )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091022/DE96311-b )
The free Real Racing GTI App is available worldwide and spares no detail, allowing players to experience every thrilling aspect of the all-new 2010 GTI right in the palms of their hands on iPhone and iPod touch. From the redesigned exterior with more aggressive headlights and the famous red-striped grille, to the sporty interior with a race-inspired steering wheel, the all-new 2010 GTI races its way to life on the screen for a thrilling gaming experience.
"With the personalization of media and the challenges inherent with reaching constantly connected consumers, we tasked ourselves to rethink the way we launch vehicles in order to engage our consumers in a meaningful way," said Tim Ellis, Vice President of Marketing, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "The GTI customer is a tech-savvy consumer who enjoys social networking, playing games and spending time on mobile devices - most often an iPhone. Launching the all-new 2010 GTI via the Real Racing GTI App allows us to connect with this savvy GTI consumer within his or her everyday life in a way that no 30-second spot ever could."
U.S.-registered players enjoying the action of the Real Racing GTI App will be challenged to put their skills to the test for a chance to win one of six limited-edition 2010 GTI models. The more they play, the more chances they have to win. Each week for six consecutive weeks beginning today, one player will be chosen to win the ultimate racing prize: the exclusive GTI MkVI, an individually-numbered, specially-tuned version of the legendary hatchback. Each model includes the GTI's 2.0T 200hp four-cylinder engine, a performance tuned suspension finished with black, Volkswagen motorsport 18-inch all-new wheels, and special interior touches, including carbon fiber-look trim, a numbered dash plaque, and unique stitching in the front headrests. For more information on the competition please visit: www.vw.com/RealRacingGTI.
Given the ever-increasing prominence of social networking in the lives of the games' target consumers, Real Racing GTI includes several features designed to foster social connectivity. These include the ability of players to send messages to their competitors via Twitter and to capture and upload videos of their best laps to the game's YouTube channel for international bragging rights. Additionally, GTI MkVI buyers will also be able to configure their vehicles, modeled after the six prize cars, at participating Volkswagen dealerships throughout the U.S.
The Real Racing GTI App is available for free from the App Store on the iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/. No purchase is necessary to enter the contest, which officially ends on December 2 at 11:59PM.
For more about the 2010 Volkswagen GTI, the Real Racing GTI game, and an in-depth look at the six GTI prize editions that are waiting to hit the streets, please visit www.media.vw.com.
About Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Through its Volkswagen division, VWGoA sells the Golf, GTI, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Eos, Passat, Passat Wagon, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. All 2010 Volkswagen models come standard-equipped with Electronic Stabilization Program. This is important because the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called ESC the most effective new vehicle safety technology since the safety belt. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or www.media.vw.com to learn more.
About Firemint
Firemint creates fun, addictive games. The studio has worked with the industry's leading publishers developing over 30 titles from notable franchises as well as originals. Firemint's first self-published iPhone game Flight Control has been a world-wide #1 App Store hit. Firemint's second self-published iPhone game, the high-end 3D pro racing title Real Racing, has been critically acclaimed as a triumph for the platform. Founded in 1999 by CEO Robert Murray, Firemint is located in Melbourne, Australia's games development hub, and employs 35 people. For more information about Firemint, please visit www.firemint.com.
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091022/DE96311-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091022/DE96311-b
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2 3
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
CONTACT: Mya Walters of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.,
+1-703-364-7692, mya.walters@vw.com
Web Site: http://www.vw.com/
WIN A TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY FOR A SHOPPING SPREE!
Six U.S. Players of the Real Racing GTI App Can Compete to Win One of Six Limited-Edition, Fully-Customized 2010 GTIs. (PRNewsFoto/Volkswagen of America, Inc.) HERNDON, VA UNITED STATES 20091021T00:00:00-04:00 0-04:00
22 Oct 2009 13:00 Africa/Lagos
Volkswagen Becomes First Auto Manufacturer To Launch a Car Exclusively on a Mobile Device
Free Real Racing GTI Game Brings Volkswagen All-New 2010 GTI to iPhone(R) and iPod touch(R) Six U.S. Players Will Each Win One of Six Customized Limited-Edition GTI MkVI Vehicles Through December 2
HERNDON, Va., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced the launch of the all-new 2010 GTI via the App Store by making available a free version of the popular Firemint Real Racing game that exclusively features the all-new 2010 GTI. This is the first time an automotive manufacturer has used the App Store to launch a new vehicle. Additionally, users of the Real Racing GTI App in the U.S. can compete for the chance to win one of six, limited-edition 2010 GTIs that are fully-customized inside and out.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091022/DE96311-a )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091022/DE96311-b )
The free Real Racing GTI App is available worldwide and spares no detail, allowing players to experience every thrilling aspect of the all-new 2010 GTI right in the palms of their hands on iPhone and iPod touch. From the redesigned exterior with more aggressive headlights and the famous red-striped grille, to the sporty interior with a race-inspired steering wheel, the all-new 2010 GTI races its way to life on the screen for a thrilling gaming experience.
"With the personalization of media and the challenges inherent with reaching constantly connected consumers, we tasked ourselves to rethink the way we launch vehicles in order to engage our consumers in a meaningful way," said Tim Ellis, Vice President of Marketing, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "The GTI customer is a tech-savvy consumer who enjoys social networking, playing games and spending time on mobile devices - most often an iPhone. Launching the all-new 2010 GTI via the Real Racing GTI App allows us to connect with this savvy GTI consumer within his or her everyday life in a way that no 30-second spot ever could."
U.S.-registered players enjoying the action of the Real Racing GTI App will be challenged to put their skills to the test for a chance to win one of six limited-edition 2010 GTI models. The more they play, the more chances they have to win. Each week for six consecutive weeks beginning today, one player will be chosen to win the ultimate racing prize: the exclusive GTI MkVI, an individually-numbered, specially-tuned version of the legendary hatchback. Each model includes the GTI's 2.0T 200hp four-cylinder engine, a performance tuned suspension finished with black, Volkswagen motorsport 18-inch all-new wheels, and special interior touches, including carbon fiber-look trim, a numbered dash plaque, and unique stitching in the front headrests. For more information on the competition please visit: www.vw.com/RealRacingGTI.
Given the ever-increasing prominence of social networking in the lives of the games' target consumers, Real Racing GTI includes several features designed to foster social connectivity. These include the ability of players to send messages to their competitors via Twitter and to capture and upload videos of their best laps to the game's YouTube channel for international bragging rights. Additionally, GTI MkVI buyers will also be able to configure their vehicles, modeled after the six prize cars, at participating Volkswagen dealerships throughout the U.S.
The Real Racing GTI App is available for free from the App Store on the iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/. No purchase is necessary to enter the contest, which officially ends on December 2 at 11:59PM.
For more about the 2010 Volkswagen GTI, the Real Racing GTI game, and an in-depth look at the six GTI prize editions that are waiting to hit the streets, please visit www.media.vw.com.
About Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Through its Volkswagen division, VWGoA sells the Golf, GTI, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Eos, Passat, Passat Wagon, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. All 2010 Volkswagen models come standard-equipped with Electronic Stabilization Program. This is important because the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has called ESC the most effective new vehicle safety technology since the safety belt. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or www.media.vw.com to learn more.
About Firemint
Firemint creates fun, addictive games. The studio has worked with the industry's leading publishers developing over 30 titles from notable franchises as well as originals. Firemint's first self-published iPhone game Flight Control has been a world-wide #1 App Store hit. Firemint's second self-published iPhone game, the high-end 3D pro racing title Real Racing, has been critically acclaimed as a triumph for the platform. Founded in 1999 by CEO Robert Murray, Firemint is located in Melbourne, Australia's games development hub, and employs 35 people. For more information about Firemint, please visit www.firemint.com.
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091022/DE96311-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091022/DE96311-b
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2 3
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
CONTACT: Mya Walters of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.,
+1-703-364-7692, mya.walters@vw.com
Web Site: http://www.vw.com/
WIN A TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY FOR A SHOPPING SPREE!
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