U.S. Judge's Decision A 'Slap in the Face' to Ecuadorians Fighting to Hold Chevron Accountable For Eco-Disaster in Amazon Rainforest
PR Newswire
WASHINGTON, March 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Below is a statement by Karen Hinton, spokesperson for the Ecuadorians who recently won a $9.5 billion judgment against Chevron for oil contamination, about today's Southern District Court of New York decision on the preliminary injunction.
"This decision is a slap in the face to the democratic nation of Ecuador and the thousands of Ecuadorian citizens who have courageously fought for 18 years to hold Chevron accountable for committing the world's worst environmental disaster. The trampling of due process in the court's refusal to consider key evidence or hold a hearing to determine the facts is an inappropriate exercise of judicial power that will harm the United States' relationship with Latin America and other parts of the world. It disregards the scholarly and comprehensive 188-page opinion of Ecuadorian Judge Nicolas Zambrano, a well-respected member of Ecuador's judiciary. It also ignores key evidence that Chevron has committed a series of frauds in Ecuador to cover up its unlawful misconduct.
"We want to emphasize that after appeals in Ecuador the Ecuadorian plaintiffs retain their full right to lawfully enforce the judgment of their own country's courts in any of the dozens of nations around the world where Chevron has assets. In the meantime, we will appeal the decision on multiple grounds."
Contact: Karen Hinton at 703-798-3109 or Karen@hintoncommunications.com
SOURCE Amazon Defense Coalition
CONTACT: Karen Hinton, +1-703-798-3109, Karen@hintoncommunications.com
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
All the Winners of the 22nd edition of FESPACO
All the Winners of the 22nd edition of Pan African Film Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO).
- Golden Stallion of Yennenga: “Pegasus” Mouftakir Mohamed (Morocco), a value of ten million CFA francs more a standard.
- Silver Stallion of Yennenga: “A Screaming Man”" by Mahamat Saleh Haroun (Chad), a value of five million CFA francs plus a standard
- Bronze Stallion of Yennenga: “The Ideal Guy” Owell Brown (Ivory Coast), worth 2.5 million francs more a standard.
- Prize of the European Union: “Our foreign” Sarah Bouyain (Burkina Faso), a value of eight million francs CFA.
- Best documentary film school: “Oh whites” of Fatima Ouattara (Burkina Faso), worth two million CFA francs more than a diploma.
- Best Fiction Film School: “White gold” Adama Room (Morocco), worth two million CFA francs.
- Award for Best Actress: “Journey to Algiers by Abdelkrim Bahloul (Algeria), worth one million CFA francs plus a trophy.
Click here for the rest
The High Level Panel for the Resolution of the Crisis in Côte d'Ivoire
7 Mar 2011 15:37 Africa/Lagos
The High Level Panel for the Resolution of the Crisis in Côte d'Ivoire concludes its 3rd meeting in Nouakchott / The High Level Panel invites the Ivorian parties to its next meeting
NOUAKCHOTT, March 7, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The High Level Panel for the Resolution of the Crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, established pursuant to the communiqué of the 259th meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), held in Addis Ababa, on 28 January 2011, held its 3rd meeting in Nouakchott, on 4 March 2011. All members of the Panel participated in the meeting.
The Panel made an in‐depth assessment of the situation in Côte d'Ivoire on the basis of the interactions it had notably with Their Excellencies Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Dramane Ouattara, during its visit in Abidjan on 21 and 22 February 2011, as well as the developments that have taken place since that date.
The Panel noted with deep concern the tragic evolution of the situation in Côte d'Ivoire, in particular the increasing number of losses of human lives, as well as the escalation of the spirit of confrontation. The Panel reiterated AU's urgent appeal to the Ivorian parties to show utmost restraint, refrain from acts and steps likely to undermine the ongoing efforts, including the media campaigns inciting hatred and violence. The Panel also called for an immediate end to killings and abuses that led to the loss of human lives, as well as demonstrations, marches and other activities likely to degenerate into disturbances and violence. It urged the parties to cease all forms of hostilities, and to lift the blockade of the Golf Hotel.
The Panel agreed to convene its next meeting, as soon as possible, at a date and venue to be announced shortly, in order to conclude the mandate entrusted to it by the Peace and Security Council. The Panel invites Their Excellencies Alassane Dramane Ouattara and Laurent Gbagbo, as well as the Chairman of the Constitutional Council of Côte d'Ivoire to participate in that meeting.
The High Level Panel is in contact with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chairperson of the PSC for the month of March 2011, for this organ to convene, immediately after its fourth meeting, at a summit level, on the occasion of which it will submit a report on its activities and the results achieved.
Source: African Union Commission (AUC)
The High Level Panel for the Resolution of the Crisis in Côte d'Ivoire concludes its 3rd meeting in Nouakchott / The High Level Panel invites the Ivorian parties to its next meeting
NOUAKCHOTT, March 7, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The High Level Panel for the Resolution of the Crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, established pursuant to the communiqué of the 259th meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), held in Addis Ababa, on 28 January 2011, held its 3rd meeting in Nouakchott, on 4 March 2011. All members of the Panel participated in the meeting.
The Panel made an in‐depth assessment of the situation in Côte d'Ivoire on the basis of the interactions it had notably with Their Excellencies Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Dramane Ouattara, during its visit in Abidjan on 21 and 22 February 2011, as well as the developments that have taken place since that date.
The Panel noted with deep concern the tragic evolution of the situation in Côte d'Ivoire, in particular the increasing number of losses of human lives, as well as the escalation of the spirit of confrontation. The Panel reiterated AU's urgent appeal to the Ivorian parties to show utmost restraint, refrain from acts and steps likely to undermine the ongoing efforts, including the media campaigns inciting hatred and violence. The Panel also called for an immediate end to killings and abuses that led to the loss of human lives, as well as demonstrations, marches and other activities likely to degenerate into disturbances and violence. It urged the parties to cease all forms of hostilities, and to lift the blockade of the Golf Hotel.
The Panel agreed to convene its next meeting, as soon as possible, at a date and venue to be announced shortly, in order to conclude the mandate entrusted to it by the Peace and Security Council. The Panel invites Their Excellencies Alassane Dramane Ouattara and Laurent Gbagbo, as well as the Chairman of the Constitutional Council of Côte d'Ivoire to participate in that meeting.
The High Level Panel is in contact with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chairperson of the PSC for the month of March 2011, for this organ to convene, immediately after its fourth meeting, at a summit level, on the occasion of which it will submit a report on its activities and the results achieved.
Source: African Union Commission (AUC)
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Sex Scandal of Engineer Peter Otubu and student Judith Okosun
Engineer Peter Otubu and student Judith Okosun in July, 2010
Vice Chancellor Sam Uniamikogbo, Reconsider Sanctions on Student Judith
Okosun of the Ambrose Alli University
Clearly the frenzy triggered by Engineer Peter Otubu and student Judith Okosun in July, 2010 which not long ago rocked the institution just before the very recent students ‘protest certainly warranted a very strong administrative action to serve as a huge deterrence, and you have done so, fully.
As you may know, I also called for some type of crisis management in my previous writing, by recommending some form of crisis counseling which I hope was considered.
Sir, the recent news of Engr. Peter Otubu’s dismissal from the institution is greatly welcomed as it demonstrates a leadership style that is helpful in aggressively bringing professionalism and quality assurance back to university governance. Mr. Otubu’s action was a clear sign of miscarriage of academic integrity.
Sir, Judith Okosun, the 400-level Mechanical Engineering student reportedly got a suspension of six semesters, and all reasonable minds will agree that the student certainly needed to be sanctioned as your administration has noted in regards to the reality that Judith “was aware of the university’s rules and regulations and once any student violates any of the rules, that student will be disciplined.’’
Any reasonable person will certainly agree with you.
But here is the problem; this is not the first time that a lecturer had demanded sex from students for grades, as the now former engineering lecturer once helped the university authorities to stop a lecturer who was in a hotel to prepare his grade book using the mode of sexual molestation of students as a guide.
For those of us with experience in academic leadership and who see the world through the prism of human psychology, it is generally accepted that a professor at all times must avoid lapses in judgment or shun lack of control when involved in any type of student situation.
Sir, you will agree that a university instructor is far more powerful within the halls of any school; he or she is way more matured, and less socially awkward than any student. And in his or her relationship with students the spirit of legal and moral responsibilities must be his or her guide in order to protect a student, no matter how troubled is the student.
Sir, even when you consider the fact that there are students that are more socially sophisticated, physically advanced or romantically as well as sexually experienced than an instructor, it is a serious ethical breach for a lecturer not to act as a lecturer!
Sir, my point is simple, in any teacher/student connection the student by history and the law, is the vulnerable partner.
This entire issue, however , is poisoned by societal challenges in a country like Nigeria where the powerful prey on the weak due to an ingrained spirit of bribery, mistrust, exploitation, poor policing, and weak legal penalties, as a consequence, leaving institutions like the universities closed-in, trapped in, stuck in the middle and helpless.
The Peter Otubu and Judith Okosun sexual saga is a latent, or even a direct symptom of limited funds, lack of ethical teachers, deficient classrooms, and poor learning resources as these factors add up to adversely affect the institutional health and educational environment of higher institutions in a very challenging nation like Nigeria.
Many universities lack the resources to focus on professional development and training of lecturers, as this is the main way to strengthen an educational community like yours.
Sir, as an academic yourself, you will agree that to adequately modify expectations and attitudes of both students and instructors as it relates to the current case especially, constant training and brush-up are required to steadily enhance faculty/staff quality. It is important that all instructors become certified through mandated completion of trainings in the areas of sexual harassment prevention, and student education privacy.
Sir you will agree that the almost lifeless infrastructures that currently exist in schools like yours have certainly contributed the chronicity of stressors like the Otubu and Okosun mischief.
To enhance institutional effectiveness, especially for the students, efficient water flow, stable electrical power and video monitors are needed to ensure safety and security for all.
To the disadvantage of the university community, the institutional environment lacks functional basic medical and mental health care services that are required to help provide stress counseling and physical examinations. Also, lacking are recreational facilities within the universities and students’ activity centers that meet
international standards. As such, some students and even some instructors find themselves responding to various stressors by turning to prostitution, kidnapping and cultism as coping methods.
Sir, I humbly as that the school authorities provide Judith Okosun a rehabilitation plan that meets her counseling needs as it relates to her problems thereby helping to address her character weakness, and not just the punishment aspects of this case.
Sir, using your discretion, she should be asked to immediately write a letter of apology to the entire school, a hand written 2000 words while in therapy and the reported suspension of six semesters should be reduced to two semesters.
Thank you or “Obulu” for all you are doing in the area of academic
leadership.
~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., DABPS; FACFE; is a Licensed
Clinical/Forensic Psychologist; Diplomate of American Board of
Psychological Specialties; Fellow of American College of Forensic
Examiners (For Psy); Former Interim Associate Dean and an Assistant
Professor of Psychology, Broward College - North Campus, Florida.
joshodi@broward.edu
Moroccan filmmaker wins the Golden Stallion of Yennenga at 22nd FESPACO
“The prize is a pride, it’s recognition. It’s encouraging,” said Mouftakir.
“Pegase” by Mohamed Mouftakir from Morocco late Saturday won the Golden Stallion of Yennenga, the grand prize of the Pan African Film Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in Burkina Faso.
President Blaise Compaore gave out the awards at the closing ceremony of the 22nd FESPACO witnessed by over 22,000 people, including the participants and invited dignitaries at the Stade du 4-Août Stadium in Ouagadougou.
Click here for the details of all the winners and the trailer of "Pegase".
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Happy Birthday to Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Sir.Victor Uwaifo
We rejoice with two great Nigerians who turned 70 in the first week of March. One is a great man of God and General Overseer of the largest Pentecostal church in Africa and the other is one of the greatest musicians in Africa.
Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye
We say Happy Birthday to Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) as he celebrates his birthday and the beginning of another victorious new year in his life with all the glory to God who has made him a blessing to Nigeria and the rest of the world.
Prof. Sir. Victor Uwaifo
We also say Happy Birthday to Prof. Sir. Victor Uwaifo and give thanks to the Almighty God as he celebrates his 70th Birthday on Sunday, 6th of March 2011 in Benin City, Edo state.
Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye
We say Happy Birthday to Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) as he celebrates his birthday and the beginning of another victorious new year in his life with all the glory to God who has made him a blessing to Nigeria and the rest of the world.
Prof. Sir. Victor Uwaifo
We also say Happy Birthday to Prof. Sir. Victor Uwaifo and give thanks to the Almighty God as he celebrates his 70th Birthday on Sunday, 6th of March 2011 in Benin City, Edo state.
Omar al-Bashir remains a fugitive from justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2011
CONTACT:
Ann Brown, abrown@annbrowncommunications.com, 301-633-4193
On Second Anniversary Of International Criminal Court Indictment Of Sudan’s Al-Bashir, GI-NET/SDC Calls For More Robust Pursuit Of Justice
President Omar al-Bashir
(Washington, DC) – Two years ago today, the International Criminal Court issued charges against Sudan’s president Omar al-Bashir for war crimes and crimes against humanity related to his actions in Darfur. In July 2010, the court added charges of genocide against Bashir. On this anniversary, Mark Hanis, President of Genocide Intervention Network / Save Darfur Coalition, issued the following statement:
“Omar al-Bashir remains a fugitive from justice, not only defying the ICC arrest warrant but still perpetrating attacks against innocent civilians in Darfur. The many victims of Bashir’s heinous crimes deserve to see him held accountable and brought to justice.
“By allowing Bashir to go unpunished, the world is sending a message to other would-be perpetrators that crimes against humanity can be committed with impunity. We urge the United States as part of the UN Security Council which referred the situation in Darfur to the ICC, and all world leaders to provide necessary support to the ICC to fulfill its responsibility to hold Bashir and other perpetrators responsible for their actions.”
###
The Save Darfur Coalition and Genocide Intervention Network merged on November 1, 2010 to create a more powerful voice dedicated to preventing and stopping large-scale, deliberate atrocities against civilians. The organization remains committed to its work to end the crisis in Darfur and bring peace to all of Sudan as well as to end violence in other areas of mass atrocities such as Congo and Burma. The merger creates the world’s largest anti-genocide organization, with a membership base of hundreds of thousands of committed activists globally, an unparalleled nationwide student movement, more than 190 faith-based, advocacy and human rights partner organizations, and a network of institutional investors with over $700 billion in assets under management.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Nigeria: Don’t vote for any corrupt political party
The controversies and disputes trailing the various primaries of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Opposition, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) have shown the electorate that the difference between the corrupt PDP and the hypocritical ACN can be compared to wolves in the wild and the wolves in sheep clothing in the ranch.
The only political parties we can give the benefit of the doubt are significantly the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) of the indefatigable presidential candidate Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), the financially challenged Labour Party and other political parties led by notable Nigerian patriots from the academia and industry of the intelligentsia.
President Goodluck Jonathan is a puppet of his Machiavellian master, former president Olusegun Obasanjo. Mr. Jonathan has been doing his best to impress his master, thus exposing his shortcomings and showing that he is not worthy of the mandate of the electorate, because the appalling state of insecurity and the brazen impunity of the corrupt public officials in his administration have exposed his double standards and many no longer trust him and he cannot convince them that he is different from the typical desperate Nigerian politician who is corrupt, incompetent and an opportunist without dignity, integrity or nobility just like his unrepentant master, “the Ebora of Owu”, who believes the ends justify the means. And Mr. Jonathan cannot deny his rake-off from the ill-gotten wealth of the kleptomaniacs controlling the corrupt ruling party.
For decades now, Nigerians have been bedeviled by the bad leadership of rogues in military and civilian masquerades. These kleptomaniacs in power constitute the leadership of the corrupt ruling class at all levels and things have become worse since the ruling People’s Democratic Party is a political party took over political power in 1999 to date .The only solution is to reject the notorious ruling party at the forthcoming polls. Don’t vote for any corrupt political party.
Presently, the CPC seems to be the only prepared and ready to rule political party with a determined and tested patriot who can lead the people in the nation building of a New Nigeria in the leadership of Africa among other nations in the 21st century.
Major-General Muhammadu Buhari was a revolutionary military dictator like Jerry Rawlings of Ghana. But the iron hand of dictatorship cannot be wielded in a democratic state where he would be guided by the checks and balances of a democratically elected legislature and where he cannot usurp the statutory duties of the Judiciary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), the indefatigable presidential candidate of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
Since his retirement from the military, Buhari has proved to be an incorruptible and resolute public official during his laudable management of the Petroleum Task Fund, and what is more, his choice of the outspoken Pentecostal minister Pastor Tunde Bakare as his running mate debunked the mischievous rumour of his political detractors and ignorant others that he is an Islamic fundamentalist who does not tolerate the beliefs of non-Muslims.
Both Buhari and Bakare share a common belief to produce an incorruptible leadership for the democratic governance of Nigeria for the common good of the citizens. Therefore I believe that the CPC is the beacon of a new era for the reformation and transformation of Nigeria.
I hereby appeal to all well-meaning citizens of Nigeria and the true friends of the nation to rally round the CPC and all the eligible voters should make it a patriotic obligation to vote en masse for the election of Muhammadu Buhari as the next President of Nigeria.
~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, Friday March 4, 2011.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Mirror Boy: Are you ready for the journey?
The latest sensational Nollywood rave of the moment is Obi Emelonye’s The Mirror Boy, that was seen by a mammoth crowd at the world premiere at The Empire in Leicester Square, Central London last Thursday February 24, 2011.
The best eye witness account of the event was the report of Lady C on the UK Zambians site and the best photo album of the grand occasion is on Bella Naija
The story:
“The Mirror Boy” is an enthralling journey through the picturesque terrains of The Gambia, as seen through the eyes of a London-born 12 year old boy, TIJANI.
On the 13th of June and wholly out of character, TIJANI gets involved in a street fight in which a boy is hurt. Convinced that TIJANI needs discipline, TEEMA, his mum decides to take him to the Gambia to live with her sister.
On their arrival in Banjul, TIJANI encounters what he considers to be a simple apparition- a boy smiling at him in a mirror and vanishing afterwards.
However, seeing the same boy in a crowded street market the next day sets in motion a chain of events that culminates in him getting lost.
While the panic-stricken TEEMA struggles with the Police Force to find her son in an intriguing game of survival brinkmanship, TIJANI is left alone in the company of the enigmatic MIRROR BOY who is only visible to him.
As a bruising spiritual rite of passage, the MIRROR BOY takes TIJANI on a magical journey through the dark belly of the forest.
After a series of edge-of-the-seat adventures in the forest, TIJANI emerges the next day, a bewildered boy; for whom the lines between reality and fantasy; between the physical and the spiritual have been forever blurred.
His arrival at a time of mourning for a small kingdom upsets the evil machinations of a desperate Queen who; threatened by his innocent presence; is not afraid wield her mysterious powers.
A cathartic climax helps TIJANI to unravel the mystery of the MIRROR BOY. It also provides him with a rather mystical explanation for the way his life has cascaded from the 13th of June towards this inter-twined fate with a father he has never met.
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