Two Nigerian Women Scientists Win the Elsevier Foundation TWOWS Awards

Two Nigerian Women Scientists Win the Elsevier Foundation TWOWS Awards


Dr. Uchechi Ekwenye, a biologist at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture in Abia state and Dr. N.A. Ezejiofor of the Dept. of Pharmacology at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital lead the only three women from Africa among the 12 winners of the 2010 Elsevier Foundation TWOWS Awards.

The 12 winners are outstanding young women biologists, chemists, physicists and mathematicians recognized across the developing world.

The following is the news release from the Elsevier Foundation.


27 Jun 2010 09:00 Africa/Lagos


Twelve Women Scientists Announced as Winners of Elsevier Foundation TWOWS Awards

BEIJING, June 27, 2010/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

The Elsevier Foundation, TWAS and TWOWS announced today that they are recognizing twelve talented women scientists from Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean for their research excellence. The announcement was made at the Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) 4th General Assembly and International Conference, Women Scientists in a Changing World, hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing from 27-30 June 2010. Each winner will receive a cash prize of US$5,000.


Through a grant from the Elsevier Foundation ( http://www.elsevierfoundation.org/) , the TWOWS Awards for Young Women Scientists were expanded to cover three disciplines in each region - Biology, Chemistry, and Physics/Maths. The grant was made as part of The Elsevier Foundation New Scholar's program, which supports programs for women scholars during the early stages of demanding careers in science and technology. After a rigorous review by the four regional TWOWS committees, shortlisted candidates in each discipline were nominated and subsequently ranked by the regional vice presidents and Kaiser Jamil, the current TWOWS president. The twelve winners include:


Region Subject Nominee Country Institution

Asia.
Biology: ZENG, Fanyi China Shanghai Institute of Medical Genetics.

Chemistry. ORHAN, Ilkay Turkey Dept. of Pharmacognosy, Gazi University.

Phys/Maths. MAHADEVAN, P. India S,N. Bose National Centre for Basic.

Sciences

Africa
Biology: EKWENYE, Uchechi Nigeria Michael Okpara University of Agriculture.

Chemistry: EZEJIOFOR, N.A. Nigeria Dept. of Pharmacology, Abia State University Teaching Hospital.

Phys/Maths: STEENKAMP, C.M. S. Africa University of Stellenbosch.

Arab R.
Biology: ABDEL-SALAM, Ghada Egypt National Research Centre
Chemistry ALSAKA, Lilyan Iraq Environmental & Pollution Control
Research Centre.

Phys/Maths: ALI, Sakina F.A. Yemen Dept. of Physics, Sana'a University.

LAC
Biology: AMEZCUA-ALLIERI, Mexico Mexican Institute of M.A. Petroleum.

Chemistry: RIVERA, Aramis Cuba Institute of Science and Technology of Materials, University of Havana.

Phys/Maths: PELAIZ-BARRANCO, Cuba Physics Faculty, Aime University of Havana.

"It gives us great pleasure to announce the twelve recipients of the TWOWS Awards for Young Women Scientists," says Kaiser Jamil, President TWOWS. "The recognition that this provides will undoubtedly provide an invaluable boost to the promising careers of these young women scientists. TWOWS extends a warm thanks to the Elsevier Foundation for making this possible."


"The Elsevier Foundation is honored to be able to recognize and reward talented young women scientists from around the world," noted David Ruth, the Executive Director of the Elsevier Foundation. "Encouraging the work of promising scientists in the developing world helps to promote wider participation and excellence in science, a key objective of the Elsevier Foundation's New Scholars program."


About TWOWS


The Third World Organization for Women in Science (TWOWS) is an international sister organization of TWAS, The academy of sciences for the developing world. TWOWS is headed by eminent women scientists from the south, consisting of more than 3,000 members. The central role is to promote women's access to science and technology, enhancing their greater involvement in the decision-making processes for the development of their countries and in the international scientific community. Created in 1989, TWOWS' overall goal is to work towards bridging the gender gap in science and technology. TWOWS uses its forum for intellectual discussions to assist in the development of national capabilities to evolve, explore and improve strategies for increasing female participation in science.


About TWAS


TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world is an autonomous international organization, based in Trieste, Italy, that promotes scientific excellence for sustainable development in the South. Originally named "Third World Academy of Sciences", it was founded in 1983 by a distinguished group of scientists from the South under the leadership of the late Nobel laureate Abdus Salam of Pakistan. The Academy's strength resides in the quality and diversity of its membership - internationally renowned scientists elected by their peers. TWAS currently has more than 900 members from 90 countries, 73 of which are developing countries. It is administered by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and financially supported by the Italian government.


About The Elsevier Foundation


The Elsevier Foundation (http://www.elsevierfoundation.org/) provides grants to institutions around the world, with a focus on support for the world's libraries and for scholars in the early stages of their careers. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than 60 grants worth millions of dollars to non-profit organizations working in these fields. In January 2010, $600,000 in grants was awarded to 12 organizations selected for their innovation and potential for impact in the developing world and academic workplace. Through gift-matching, the Foundation also supports the efforts of Elsevier employees to play a positive role in their local and global communities. The Elsevier Foundation is funded by Elsevier (http://www.elsevier.com), a leading global publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services.


About Elsevier


Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet (http://www.thelancet.com) and Cell (http://www.cell.com), and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com), Scopus (http://www.scopus.com), Reaxys (http://www.reaxys.com), MD Consult (http://www.mdconsult.com) and Nursing Consult (http://www.nursingconsult.com), which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite (http://www.scival.com ) and MEDai's Pinpoint Review (http://www.medai.com), which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.


A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier ( http://www.elsevier.com) employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC (http://www.reedelsevier.com), a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).



Media Contacts:

TWOWS
Daniel Schaffer, Information Officer
Tel: +39-040-2240 571
Email: schaffer@twas.org

Web: http://www.twows.org

Tasia Asakawa
Tel: +39-040-2240-516
Email: asakawa@twas.org

Elsevier Foundation
Ylann Schemm
Corporate Relations Manager
Tel: +31-20-485-2025
newsroom@elsevier.com
Elsevier@kaizo.net




Source: The Elsevier Foundation

TWOWS, Daniel Schaffer, Information Officer, Tel: +39-040-2240 571, Email: schaffer@twas.org; Tasia Asakawa, Tel: +39-040-2240-516, Email: asakawa@twas.org, Elsevier Foundation, Ylann Schemm, Corporate Relations Manager, Tel: +31-20-485-2025, newsroom@elsevier.com, Elsevier@kaizo.net


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DBN TV and Supple Communications Sign MoU on Eko International Film Festival

DBN TV AND SUPPLE COMMUNICATIONS SIGN MOU ON EKO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The first private TV station in Nigeria Degue Broadcasting Network (DBN) Television has signed a four-year MOU with Supple Communications Limited as a major project partner for the organization of Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF).
The inaugural Eko International Film Festival comes up in the city of Lagos from July 7-12, 2010.

Award winning filmmakers from Germany, UK, Spain, France, Albania, Kenya and Nigeria are participating in the film fiesta with over 25 films including the thrilling Glamrock City and the King of Palma.

Osa Sonny Adun

Mr. Osa Sonny Adun, the Chairman/CEO of DBN TV and Vice-Chairman of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) believes that the Eko International Film festival is a very ambitious project that will increase the global mileage and patronage of the Nigerian film industry and the multiplier spinoffs will boost the economy.

Hope Obioma Opara


Mr. Hope Obioma Opara, the President/Co-founder of Eko International Film Festival commends the foresight of DBN TV to partner with Supple Communications Limited to bring the film world to the shores of Nigeria.

President Obama at Lowest Job Performance Ratings Since Taking Office

25 Jun 2010 10:05 Africa/Lagos

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President Obama at Lowest Job Performance Ratings Since Taking Office

39% of Americans give him positive ratings; 34% think country heading in right direction

NEW YORK, June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As most Americans think about summer vacations, barbecues and the beach, President Obama has other things on his mind, including the oil spill in the Gulf, a shift of military leaders in Afghanistan, the economic summit in Canada and, as since taking office, jobs and the economy. And perhaps, because of all this, the President is now at his worst job ratings with only 39% of Americans giving him positive ratings on the overall job he is doing and 61% giving him negative marks. This is down from May when 42% gave him positive ratings and 58% negative ones.


(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100517/NY06256LOGO )
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100517/NY06256LOGO )


These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,227 adults surveyed online between June 14 and 21, 2010 by Harris Interactive.


One problem for President Obama is that he is losing support from his base. Three in ten Democrats (29%) and Liberals (30%) give him negative ratings for the overall job he is doing. While it is not surprising that large numbers of Republicans (92%) and Conservatives (86%) give him negative ratings, two-thirds of Independents (68%) and almost three in five Moderates (58%) do so, as well.


There are also regional differences in how Americans view President Obama's job performance. Those in the East and West are more likely to give him positive ratings (43% and 41% respectively) while those in the South are more likely to give the president negative ratings (65%). The more education one has, the more likely they are to think President Obama is doing a good job. Just three in ten of those with a high school degree or less (31%) give the president positive ratings compared to 47% of college graduates and over half of those with a post-graduate education (53%).


Going hand in hand with the president's job numbers is how people think the country overall is doing. Just one-third of Americans (34%) believe the country is heading in the right direction while 66% say it is going off on the wrong track. This is down from last month when 36% said the country was heading in the right direction and 64% believed it was off on the right track.


In looking at the most important issues for the government to address, it is not surprising that economic issues rise to the top as almost three in ten Americans each say the most important issue for the government to address is the economy (28%) and employment/jobs (28%). Even though a reform bill has been signed into law, almost one-quarter (23%) say health care should be addressed. And, new to the list one in five Americans (20%) say the oil spill in the Gulf needs to be addressed.


So What?


It is a tough situation for any president to deal with, when faced with so many competing problems and being pulled in so many directions at once. For this president, one of the issues is that even when it appears he has a win, such as with health care reform, the battle was so costly that the win falls hollow. Now he and the White House are faced with congressional elections in just a few months, an angry electorate, and dwindling support among his own partisans. If the summer does not go well for President Obama and this continues to trickle down to Democrats across the country, there very well may be a new party in control of Congress in January.

Read more.

So, Are You One of Them?

Nigeria is the way she is today in terrible mess, because majority of Nigerians think from their loins and not from their brains.
Nigeria is what Nigerians are.

Where people do not read, there will be more morons in the land.

Majority of Nigerians in Nigeria think and bahave like dogs, monkeys and pigs.
So, Nigeria is ruled by humans who behave like domesticated animals following their animal instinct and the few people of great intellect are now hostages of the brutes on rampage in the country.

The brutes are posing and posturing to be civilized, but by their brutish actions, they cannot pretend for long before they are exposed in public.

As Jesus Christ our Messiah said, by their fruits you shall know them. So they are manifesting their clannish and fiendish characters.

Their conceit and deceit are being exposed daily on the pages of our newspapers, magazines, books and other meda online and offline.

So, are you one of them?
Where do you belong?
Those who think and act with their brains or the beasts among us who think and act from their loins.

We must separate the sheep from the goats lest you would be mistaken as one of them.
Show me your works and I will tell you who you are.
Facts do not lie.

Nigeria to Lead Africa in Telecom Growth Through 2014, Pyramid Finds

23 Jun 2010 17:00 Africa/Lagos


Nigeria to Lead Africa in Telecom Growth Through 2014, Pyramid Finds

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Nigeria will reign as Africa's fastest-growing telecom market over the next five years, fueled by several new entrants, the launch of mobile value-added and broadband services, and most recently by the introduction of mobile number portability and mobile termination rate cuts that will drive even more market competition, according to a new report from Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com).


Globacom is the leading mobile telecom company in Nigeria


Nigeria: Regulatory Reform Spurs Competition and Keeps Operators Busy delivers a full accounting of Nigeria's telecom sector, including a full breakout of network operator revenues and market share by network service type (fixed services, mobile services, and pay TV). The 28-page report provides a five-year demand forecast for telecom services in Nigeria, broken out by seven different service types, as well as a five-year forecast of mobile service uptake by technology type. It includes a detailed analysis of Nigeria's regulatory and economic environment and offers action points for network operators, vendors, and investors. Download a report excerpt here: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=18&sc=PRN062310_CIRNIG. Purchase the report online here: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/store/CIRNIGERIA.htm?sc=PRN062310_CIRNIG.


"Telecom industry liberalization has pushed market penetration of telecom services in Nigeria from just 1.2% in 2002 to an estimated 48.9% at the end of 2009, thanks to the entry of new operators, the expansion of CDMA operators into mobile services, the provision of low-cost services, and the expansion of coverage to underserved areas," says Badii Kechiche, Senior Analyst at Pyramid Research and author of this report. "2010 will see the introduction of mobile number portability and mobile termination rate cuts, which we expect to improve competitiveness despite the short-term impact on interconnect revenue and subscription growth," says Kechiche.


Nigeria is one of the most competitive markets in Africa, with more than double the average number of operators than any other African country, Kechiche notes. "Operators have been investing in and upgrading their networks to meet demand, since they realize that their success will be based on a differentiated service quality, attractive services, and a good value proposition," he adds.


Nigeria: Regulatory Reform Spurs Competition and Keeps Operators Busy is part of Pyramid Research's Africa/Middle East Country Intelligence Report Series. Download an excerpt here: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/downloads.htm?id=18&sc=PRN062310_CIRNIG. This report can be purchased online here: http://www.pyramidresearch.com/store/CIRNIGERIA.htm?sc=PRN062310_CIRNIG or by emailing us at info@pyr.com.


Press Contact:
Jennifer Baker
+1-617-871-1910
jbaker@pyr.com


Source: Pyramid Research

CONTACT: Jennifer Baker of Pyramid Research, +1-617-871-1910,
jbaker@pyr.com


Web Site: http://www.pyr.com/


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Want to Ban Vuvuzelas at World Cup? There's an App for That!

22 Jun 2010 11:02 Africa/Lagos


Want to Ban Vuvuzelas at World Cup? There's an App for That!

LONDON, June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The millions of soccer fans worldwide calling for an end to those annoying vuvuzela horns at the World Cup should take the do-it-yourself approach and banish these pesky horns in the virtual world.


Fans who think the vuvuzelas give South Africa an undue competitive edge, or who just can't stand the noise, have a great way to vent their anger and disappointment by playing a newly-released game on an iPhone app called Vuvuzaga - the 'parody'.


Vuvuzaga takes players on a ride through a soccer stadium to banish the long, noisy vuvuzela horns that South African fans love to blow during a football game. And the best news is that soccer fans can vent their anger, frustration and disappointment for only 99 cents by downloading Vuvuzaga at www.vuvuzaga.com


"The game takes frustrated soccer fans out of their misery in a humorous way by using such characters as the Fat Banker, a WAG or a chav," says Chuck Edward of London, developer of this fun and whacky iPhone game. "While the vuvuzela will be present at the World Cup games, livid soccer fans at least can get the satisfaction of blotting out the horns in the virtual world."


The sound of the vuvuzela, which is louder than a chainsaw, has been compared to the drone of a thousand bees. Public health officials have warned that the playing of thousands of vuvuzelas in the World Cup 95,000 seat Soccer City stadium is louder than a referee's whistle at 121.8 decibels.


Vuvuzelas are creating a worldwide stir on internet discussion boards, Facebook and Twitter, even Jay Leno weighed in. Now soccer fans can vote to ban or keep Vuvuzelas at www.Vuvuzaga.com where a whopping 87% of the visitors want em banned.


Nevertheless, World Cup officials respond that vuvuzelas are "ingrained in the history of South Africa" and will not be banned.


"Vuvuzaga is definitely something that is fun to play when there's a break in the game," says Jerad Hill, host of the Daily App Show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpB57szmCTM "The game, suitable for all ages, is simple to use."


Source: Vuvuzaga

CONTACT: Media, Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications,
+1-734-667-2090, scottlorenz@westwindcos.com, iPhone App Marketing
(http://www.westwindcos.com/releases/52_Ways_to_Promote_Your_iPhone_App.htm),
http://www.westwindcos.com/

Web Site: http://www.vuvuzaga.com/

Scientists Announce Discovery of 3.6 Million-Year-Old Relative of 'Lucy'

21 Jun 2010 20:00 Africa/Lagos

Scientists Announce Discovery of 3.6 Million-Year-Old Relative of 'Lucy'
Early Hominid Skeleton Confirms Human-Like Walking is Ancient


CLEVELAND, June 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Meet "Lucy's" great-grandfather. Scientists from The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Kent State University, Case Western Reserve University, Addis Ababa University and Berkeley Geochronology Center were part of an international team that discovered and analyzed a 3.6 million-year-old partial skeleton found in Ethiopia. The early hominid is 400,000 years older than the famous "Lucy" skeleton. Research on this new specimen indicates that advanced human-like, upright walking occurred much earlier than previously thought.

The discovery and results from this initial analysis will be published this week in the online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The partial skeleton belongs to "Lucy's" species, Australopithecus afarensis. It was found in the Woranso-Mille area of Ethiopia's Afar region by a team led by first author Dr. Yohannes Haile-Selassie, Curator and Head of physical anthropology at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. The partial skeleton was excavated over five years after the discovery of a fragment of the lower arm bone in 2005. The excavation recovered the most complete clavicle and one of the most complete shoulder blades ever found in the human fossil record.

The specimen was nicknamed "Kadanuumuu" (kah-dah-nuu-muu) by the authors. "Kadanuumuu" means "big man" in the Afar language and reflects its large size. The male hominid stood between 5 to 5 1/2 feet tall, while "Lucy" stood at about 3 1/2 feet.

"This individual was fully bipedal and had the ability to walk almost like modern humans," said Haile-Selassie. "As a result of this discovery, we can now confidently say that 'Lucy' and her relatives were almost as proficient as we are walking on two legs, and that the elongation of our legs came earlier in our evolution than previously thought."


Co-author Dr. C. Owen Lovejoy, Kent State University professor of anthropology, explained, "The new specimen tells us much more about the pelvis, thorax, and limb proportions than 'Lucy' was able to alone."

Authors of the research include Dr. Bruce Latimer, director of the Center for Human Origins at Case Western Reserve University; and Dr. Beverly Saylor, associate professor of geological sciences at Case Western Reserve University.
View the press backgrounder and images at www.cmnh.org/site/Kadanuumuu.aspx.

Source: Cleveland Museum of Natural History

CONTACT: Glenda Bogar, +1-216-231-2071, gbogar@cmnh.org, or Marie Graf,
+1-216-231-2070, both of Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Web Site: http://www.cmnh.org/

World Finance Banking Awards 2010

21 Jun 2010 11:41 Africa/Lagos


World Finance Banking Awards 2010

LONDON, June 21, 2010/PRNewswire/ -- The crisis had its reverberations on developed and developing economies. However, not all banks experienced the kinds of losses that even revered financial institutions of the other countries have faced.


World Finance has conducted in-depth investigations into the banking sector. Continuing the magazine's awards for 2010, emerging markets in particular have produced remarkable results, for we which we are pleased to reward. Congratulations to the winners.



Best Commercial Bank, Angola
BAI

Best Banking Group, Angola
Banco Espirito Santo Angola

Best Investment Bank, Angola
BAI

Best Banking Group, Baltics
AB Bank SNORAS

Best Commercial Bank, Bolivia
Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz

Best Banking Group, Bolivia
Banco Sol S.A.

Best Investment Bank, Bolivia
Nacional Financiera Boliviana Sociedad de Titularizacion S.A.

Best Commercial Bank, Brazil
Banco Pine S.A.

Best Banking Group, Brazil
Banco BMG

Best Banking Group, Brunei
Baiduri Bank

Best Banking Group, Costa Rica
Corporacion BCT

Best Financial Group, Egypt
Arab African International Bank

Most Innovative Bank, Jamaica
National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited

Best Banking Group, Jordan
Jordan Islamic Bank

Best Banking Group, Korea
Kb Financial Group

Best Private Bank, Luxembourg
KBL European Private Bankers S.A.

Best Banking Group, Malta
Banif Bank (Malta) plc, member of the Banif Financial Group

Best Commercial Bank, Mexico
Banco Inbursa

Best Private Bank, Mexico
Banca Mifel

Best Banking Group, Nigeria
First Bank of Nigeria Plc

Best Investment Bank, Oman
Oman Arab Bank SAOC

Best Banking Group, Paraguay
Sudameris Bank

Best Banking Group, Philippines
Bank of the Philippines Islands

Best Private Bank, Philippines
Banco De Oro

Best Banking Group, Portugal
Finibanco

Excellence in Structured Finance, Portugal
Banif Banco de Investimento

Best Investment Bank, Russia
Promsvyazbank

Best Banking Group, Saudi Arabia
Bank Albilad

Best Banking Group, Singapore
Citibank Singapore Ltd

Best Banking Group, Spain
Caja De Ahorros Del Mediterraneo

Best Private Bank, Spain
Banca March

Best Banking Group, Sub-Saharan Africa
Banco Espirito Santo Angola

Best Commercial Bank, Taiwan
Taipei Fubon Commercial Bank

Best Banking Group, Taiwan
China Trust Commercial Bank

Best Commercial Bank, Thailand
Siam Commercial Bank

Best Banking Group, Thailand
Krung Thai Bank

Best Banking Group, Turkey
Yapi Kredi

Best Private Bank, Turkey
Yapi Kredi

Best Investment Bank, Turkey
IS Investment

Best Investment Bank, UAE
Abu Dhabi Investment House

Best Commercial Bank, Uruguay
Banco Comercial

Best Banking Group, Uruguay
Banco De La Republica Oriental Del Uruguay

Best Commercial Bank, Vietnam
Asia Commercial Bank

Best Banking Group, Vietnam
Petrovietnam Finance Corporation­




Notes for editors:


For further information, go to http://www.worldfinance.com, for the latest economic and financial commentary from around the globe. Also, see our videos, at http://www.worldfinance.tv, where some of the latest opinion videos are showcased. World Finance is published by World News Media.


World News Media is a leading publisher of quality financial and business magazines, enjoying a global distribution network that includes subscriber lists of the most prominent and senior decision-makers around the world, as well as comprehensive airport, hotel and conference site distribution.


Source: World Finance

For further media information contact: World Finance, Michael McCaw, Production Editor, +44(0)20-7014-0370, michael@worldfinance.com



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Kaita Definition‏

Kaita Definition‏
From: Oladipo, Tolu S

KAITA (Kai-ta) verb
v. Kai*ta, Kai*tas, kai*ta'ed, kai*ta'ing

1. To single-handedly dash all hopes and aspirations in the full glare of everyone
2. To karate-kick your way out of success
3. To destroy/zap/siphon the energies of team mates through unexplainable stupidity
4. To act foolishly, unintelligently or irrationally and IMMEDIATELY regret the action by falling on your knees


Usage:

"Please, please, do not KAITA what we have been building for 50 years o! Oloshi!"

"I don't care what people say, I will KAITA the multi-billion dollar plan!"

"That man, you know, the hopeless, useless, visionless, KAITAing guy!"

"I was KAITAing until I met Jesus!"


Synonyms:

1. Shege Banza!
2. Incapacitate
3. Destroy/Demobilize
4. Jeopardize
5. Impair
6. Implode
7. Sabotage

Hillary Clinton Speaks on World Refugee Day

"The plight of the world's refugees is an issue that transcends not just geography and ethnicity, but politics and partisanship as well." --Secretary Clinton.




Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Ben Franklin Room

Washington, DC

June 18, 2010

Good morning, and welcome to the Benjamin Franklin Room here on the eighth floor of the State Department. And we’re delighted to be joined via video link from Syria by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Gutierrez. Welcome, Antonio. And we’re delighted that either by video or audio link, we’ll have a chance to hear from UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, who is at a refugee camp in Ecuador. And we’ll hear also from refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo.


I want to thank Eric for the work that he and the bureau are doing on the issue of refugees, and especially making refugees a symbol of all of the challenges that we face. As he said at the very end, there is no humanitarian answer to a lot of the refugee problems. It’s a question of better governance, more accountable governance, of political and diplomatic efforts, of reconciliation and peace, of the growth of democracies and economies. But that doesn't in any way undermine the importance of meeting the day-to-day needs of those who have been displaced by conflict, by terrorism, by natural disaster. And Eric, as all of you know, is so committed to doing his part and representing the United States and the Obama Administration.


I’m also delighted that we are joined by George Rupp, president of the International Rescue Committee and himself a tremendous leader on behalf of those who are in need – refugees across the globe; and Scott Pelley, thank you for serving as the emcee and for shining a bright light on a lot of these situations; and my friend and former colleague, Congresswoman Diane Watson from California; and all of you who represent the leaders and partners from NGOs, Capitol Hill, the media, other countries, the diplomatic corps.


This marks the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Refugee Act, and I want to thank each and every one of you who have been instrumental over these past 30 years, because the plight of the world’s refugees is an issue that transcends not just geography and ethnicity, but politics and partisanship as well. It reminds us that we are all vulnerable, no matter how comfortable our lives may appear to be, but we, too, around the world – those of us who enjoy the benefits of the life that we have built or inherited, we, too, are vulnerable to war and conflict, droughts and floods, environmental disasters, as we’ve seen even in our own country.


Helping refugees is a transnational challenge, but I want to speak for just a minute about what this issue means for Americans and the United States. The United States is the largest single source of support for assistance to refugees and victims of conflict. It’s true financially, where we’ve provided more than $1.7 billion to refugees and conflict victims last year, including $640 million in support for UNHCR. And it’s true diplomatically. We spend a lot of time and a lot of political capital on these issues.


Now, for the United States this has been an enduring commitment, but our work on behalf of refugees is not the result of some grand strategic calculus. We don’t help because it bolsters our ability to play power politics or advance our economic interests, although in the long run I believe it does make our nation stronger and allow us to promote reconciliation and stability in areas of desperation and despair. We help because it is the right thing to do. We happen to believe it’s also the smart thing to do, but even in cases where it doesn't appear all that smart, it’s still often right. And therefore, we proceed.


It goes to the core of who we are as a people and a country, because the United States is not only a nation of immigrants, we are also a nation of refugees. We know from our collective experience that most people want the same basic things in life: safe communities, food, water, lives free of political and religious and other persecution. And when these basic needs go unmet and families are forced to flee their homes in desperation, we should all be there with a helping hand.


Whenever possible, we work to return refugees to their homes in safety and dignity. In cooperation with our many partners from the NGO community, we promote the resolution of conflicts and provide assistance to communities recovering from disasters. And we’re seeing progress in places such as Liberia or South Sudan or Burundi and Nepal.


But when returning home is not an option, we are committed to helping resettle refugees who face the most difficult circumstances. Americans have done that time and time again, welcoming more than 2.5 million refugees into our communities since the Refugee Act became law. And two of the families that have come to the United States are here with us today. The Aradoms from Eritrea face severe persecution as a result of their religious beliefs. Some of their family members are still in prison and they came to the United States after spending years living as refugees in Ethiopia and Egypt. The Gautam family is from Bhutan. Raj spent 17 years living in refugee camps before coming to the United States in 2008. Now, along with his son and daughter, he’s been joined by six of his brothers.


These are just two of what could be countless examples, and the contributions that these refugees have made to our own country are really remarkable. I was very proud that in representing New York I saw the results of the resettlement of refugees throughout New York State and the quick adaptation that refugees from Bosnia or Kosovo or Burma or other places made. So our country has opened its arms to refugees. In fact, two of my predecessors, Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger, came to the United States as refugees. And a few steps from the front door of this building, there is a very large statue of another refugee, Albert Einstein.


Now, some of you may remember I wasn’t here last year at the event at National Geographic because I had broken my elbow, and I certainly don’t want any of us dislocating our shoulders from patting ourselves on the back about what we’ve done, but helping vulnerable people is a key element of our foreign policy and Americans should be proud of our country’s work on this issue. But we can’t rest on our laurels. We have to continue working as hard as we know to work to get results, not just to provide quick fixes or maintain an unacceptable status quo.


Last year, I visited a refugee camp in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and I met and talked with the women and men who had been forced to flee their homes in the face of marauders, rebels, uncontrolled army soldiers – a mix, a witches’ brew of barbarism and horror. And like tens of thousands of people elsewhere, these men and women had lived through a nightmare, particularly the women. And the United States pledged $17 million to help combat sexual violence in Eastern DRC, and I appreciate greatly those working with UNHCR along with many other NGOs and international organizations who are doing extraordinary work at great personal risk. So long as the women of the DRC are threatened by just the most terrible kinds of violations, as long as the men of the DRC cannot raise their families and their crops in peace, then we cannot rest.


Today, I am pleased to announce the United States will be providing $60 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees. This contribution will provide critical services such as healthcare and improve life for 4.7 million Palestinians. But again, that is not an answer either. We have to continue working for peace, security, and reconciliation in the Middle East.


So let me thank all of you – the NGOs, the journalists, the development workers, the diplomats and activists – who are working to help the world’s refugees. I hope we can use this day to honor the courage and resilience of the millions of refugees around the world who push forward each and every day with the hope that tomorrow might bring a return home or the hope of a better life. I certainly intend to remain committed to making that hope a reality and I look forward to working with Eric and all of you in doing so.


Thank you very much. (Applause.)


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PRN: 2010/819