Saturday, June 18, 2011
Tayo Aderinokun's Closing Shot on Nollywood
In loving memory of Tayo Aderinokun.the MD/CE of the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc who passed on to eternal glory on Tuesday June 14, 2011, in a Hospital in London, U.K.
The Economics of Nigerian Film, Art and Business
~ by Tayo Aderinokun
The world has continued to marvel at how Nigerians "manufacture" and "fabricate" scores of movies in a week. It is reported that but for India, Nigeria produces more movies in quantitative terms than any other country in the world. As joint stakeholders in the development of our motherland, I hope that my presentation today on the "social economics" of the movie industry will provoke processes that could move the industry forward. In the course of this presentation, I will be inviting you to join me as we journey through the past, the present and the future of the Nigerian film industry. There is a saying that today is tomorrow’s yesterday, in other words, where we are today is a reflection of our past and a foreshadow of our future.
The size of our population and the diverse cultures within it combined with the raw talents that abound within Nigeria makes the phenomenal growth of the film industry inevitable.
It is heart-warming though to note that Nigerian movies already dominate TV screens all over West Africa and going even as far as Central and Southern Africa. There is also a Western dimension to this export market. According to the Filmmakers Cooperative of Nigeria, every film in Nigeria has a potential audience of 15 million people within the country and about 5 million outside. These statistics may be somewhat conservative considering that half of West Africa’s 250 million people are Nigerians and according to the World Bank, slightly over 7 million Nigerians are scattered around the world, most of them in the developed economies. There is a school of thought that talks about the rebirth of the film culture in Nigeria. They claim that like in a horror movie, the infant film market was gruesomely butchered at the altar of the oil boom together with other sectors of the economy. The Indigenization Decree of 1972, which sought to transfer ownership of about 300 cinema houses in the country from their foreign proprietors to Nigerians did little to help matters. Though this transfer resulted in the eruption of the latent ingenuity of Nigerian playwrights, screenwriters, poets, and film producers, the gradual dip in the value of the naira, combined with lack of finance, marketing support, quality studio and production equipment as well as inexperience on the part of practitioners, hampered the growth of the local film industry.
At this juncture, I would like to go back a little in history. Film as a medium first arrived on our shores in the form of itinerant peephole hawkers of still
pictures. These were soon replaced with roving cinemas, which began feeding us with doses of American western films.
Edgar Rice Buroughs 1935 film "Sanders of the River" which was partly shot in Nigeria helped in putting Nigeria on the world film map through the participation of late Orlando Martins (1899 – 1985) who acted in the film alongside the American actor Paul Robeson. Orland Martins also featured in "Man from Morocco" and "Black Libel" – his first film, which was never finished but gave him the needed experience. It was however the part of Magole the witch doctor in "Men of Two Worlds" that put him in the public eye. Well before these films, Glover Memorial Hall is on record as having been the first venue to show a film in Nigeria in August 1903. Documentaries on the Queen’s visits to Nigeria, English football matches, Westminster Parliamentary debates, and government-sponsored films on health and education as well as legendary cowboy films soon began dominating our cinemas in the late ‘50s up to independence.
Most of us old enough to remember this era of the Nigeria society refer to it as the good old ‘50s and ‘60s and it was perfect timing for a love affair between Nigerian film and Nigerian music. Sadly, we had neither the technology nor the means to do our own films and had to be satisfied with mostly foreign fare. Soon vast acres of our urban surroundings became flooded with wall posters of alien culture in the form of American, Indian, Chinese, and Japanese films. Our kids caught on to the Kung-fu and Karate culture. Nigerians began to know more about Bruce Lee, James Bond, and the travails of the American Indians than they did about the Wole Soyinka-led Mbari Mbayo cultural group, Hubert Ogunde’s troupe or other socio-cultural history of Nigeria.
Some significant successes were recorded after independence when for about ten years after the Nigeria civil war, Nigerian literature and theatre got introduced to motion picture. Representative of this new wave were the works of Ogunde, a doyen of Nigerian art who understood that film and theatre were vehicles for promoting indigenous language, art and culture. The Nigerian nightlife scene subsequently came alive. Highlife music was the in-thing and the music of the Koola Lobitos, The Oriental Brothers, I. K. Dairo, Rex Jim Lawson, E. T. Mensah, and Victor Olaiya reigned. Ola Balogun’s post civil war flick, "Amadi" took us back to the pre-civil war days when Nigeria was one huge undivided house where Igbo musicians sang Yoruba highlife and Yorubas sang Hausa songs. "Amadi" was an Igbo film made by a Yoruba man and was clearly a glimpse from the future of the film industry in Nigeria. This early example of Nigerian art on celluloid using the best of Western film techniques, was a breath of fresh air even if it was a low technology, low budget experiment unable to impress the market against the dominance of imports which though exotic did little to promote Nigerian art. The film "Bisi – Daughter of the River" was another fair effort on celluloid, which captured Nigerian culture on film. "Dinner with the Devil" was another first generation Nigerian film by the duo of Sanya Dosunmu and Wole Amele. Eddie Ugbomah’s "The Great Attempt" was also another valiant film which was unfortunately censored by the authorities. Several decades later, the late Ogunde featured in Joyce Cary’s "Mister Johnson", a film that did little to elevate the sad perception of Blacks and Africans. Thankfully in the 1980’s, the TV serialization of Chinua Achebe’s "Things Fall Apart" became hugely successful. I also recall the small screen successes of the Adio Family, Village Headmaster, rooster Crow at Dawn, The Masquerade, Mirror in the Sun, Check Mate, Sura The Tailor, Awada Kerikeri and Second Chance on national television and how these productions were indeed instrumental to the revival of the local film industry and hence the birth of the home video culture in Nigeria. Later in time, the austerity measures of the early eighties and the Structural Adjustment Programme that succeeded it, helped in no small measure in increasing the level of poverty in the land. The Entertainment Industry was one of the worst victims and had to move indoors. The few cinema houses existing either had to close shop or were taken over by religious bodies. This accelerated the birth of home video entertainment. Credit must now be given to our second generation film industry pioneers – Amaka Igwe, Tunde Kelani, Zeb and Chico Ejiro, The Amata brothers, Femi Lasode, Olu Jacobs, Joke Jacobs (nee Silva), Liz Benson, Kenneth Nnebue, Richard Mofe Damijo, Zachee Orji, Pete Edochie, Sam Loco Efe, U.S. Galadima, Yinka Quadri, Genevieve Nnaji, Jide Kosoko, Omotola Ekehinde and others – who inherited, without hesitation, the commercial and artistic traditions of Nigerian film and theatre from the likes of Hubert Ogunde, Moses Olaiya, Duro Ladipo, Ola Balogun, Wole Amele, Eddie Ugbomah, just to name a few, and began to tell our stories using the video format. By 1993 when the National Film Festival was held for the first time our film industry score sheet was moderate – about 25 English films, five Hausa films, 50 Yoruba and One Igbo film.
In Western societies, a film’s commercial lifespan would normally begin with a box office or cinema release, then video release, then broadcast on fee-paying television, and finally on public television. Producers and Marketers would then generate the appropriate promotion and publicity to maximize profitability out of each phase. The Nigerian experience with the video culture so far has shown that without piracy, there are huge potentials for making money in the industry. In South Africa, I understand that video distribution usually doubles or triples a movie’s revenues. The video boom is therefore not just a Nigerian phenomenon. Video appears to be the home entertainment mainstay for the world’s developing countries.
From all indications, the future of the Nigerian movie industry is promising. I understand that every day, about three new low budget movies are released into the market. Each film is then replicated into about 200,000 video cassettes and distributed to markets, video clubs and eventually various homes. This process creates jobs and income for the people involved in the production, distribution and marketing of the movies. It is only when we change our paradigm and see film production as big business, that the film industry will take its rightful position in the economy.
The Indian film industry has been projecting India’s culture globally for over 50 years and has remained one of the most important foreign exchange earning sources for that country. Francophone West African films, which get showcased at FESPACO, the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, which holds in the Burkinabe capital every two years has helped in improving the quality and global appeal of Francophone films. As a result, these countries film industries have contributed significantly to their respective economies. The United States of America is the best example of a perfect union between the film and the financial services industries. Do you know that the American movie industry is the second largest export revenue earner for that country, after the aviation industry? Thanks to Hollywood and its spin offs, the state of California, with a gross domestic product of $1.4 trillion, is the fifth largest economy in the world, richer than the combined wealth of all the 54 countries in Africa. Today, underscoring the industry’s contribution to the rest of American society, the current Governor of California is Arnold Shwarzzenegger, an actor. Former President Ronald Reagan was also a Hollywood actor. These American examples show us what the Nigerian movie industry can become in terms of stature and relevance in society.
Let me say that the need for partnership between Nigerian banks and the film industry are obvious. We all now know from the American experience that film is big business. As financial intermediaries in the economy, banks have a key role to play in the development of the industry. Banks are interested in helping to build successful businesses out of ideas and if the film industry should open itself up to the same evaluation and analysis that banks subject all their borrowers to, banks would really want to lend to them. With the support of the financial sector, the film industry will certainly rise to prominence.
Before I conclude I have some questions for CORA. These are questions that banks would like to have answers to before supporting the Nigerian film industry:
• How much is the film industry worth today?
• How much does it cost to produce a good movie?
• What is the annual turnover of an average movie producer?
• Do firms in the movie industry have collateral to pledge for credit?
• Do companies in the film industry have audited accounts?
• Do companies in the film industry have formal structures?
Bankers usually do not start a banking relationship until after conducting due diligence on the institution of their interest. This usually involves an assessment of need and an analysis of the credit risks involved. This is because they want to be able to determine, to a large extent, the viability of the project they finance. So far, our film industry lacks the structure to provide positive answers to my questions. I am therefore suggesting that the Nigerian film industry become better organized, and start to maintain proper records and accounts, engage the services of auditors and have formal organizational structures. When this is done, banks will find the industry more amenable for support. The banks will also be able to:
• Learn about the dynamics of the film industry
• Know the people driving the film industry
• Easily provide credit in the form of loans to the industry
• Provide financial advisory services
• Serve the industry’s domestic and international money transfer need
• Help midwife this booming sector of the economy which has great potentials for growth and foreign exchange denominated earnings.
One should also ask what the movie industry can do for the financial services industry and by extension, for the country.
* Already, beyond being a ready-made pipeline for the discovery of young artistic talent, its potential for generating direct and indirect employment is well known.
* The positive impact of the film industry on the image of Nigeria should also go a long way towards attracting foreign direct investments into the country.
We all know that Nigerian home videos are extremely popular with Africans especially Nigerians abroad. Our films have become ready substitutes for western productions. Through these movies Africans are experiencing a cultural connect worldwide, something which foreign movies cannot provide. Recently, South Africa’s satellite TV company Multichoice DSTV introduced its AfricaMagic channel which shows mostly Nigerian movies to its over 1.5 million subscribers in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. With time, this exposure of our film market can only serve to improve the quality of our movies. It can be said that this is another form of cross border trade, which will lead to positive interest in Nigeria, and all the things associated with our country.
So far, our film industry has evolved naturally, with almost no government involvement or influence. This is a good thing and I want to appeal to you all that it remains so. While Government participation is welcome, it should not be allowed to become a hinderance in any way. Government’s involvement in business enterprises has been known to generally hamper than assist its development.
My belief is that government should actually contribute in the area of fighting piracy which has become a plague afflicting several areas of the creative arts. The recent accord between the Filmmakers Cooperative of Nigeria (FCON) and the Filmmakers Association of Nigeria FAN, USA to bring an end to the piracy of Nigerian films in the United States is laudable and a good example of cross border, private sector led collaboration.
Closing Shot…,
In concluding, let me restate that banks need the film industry just as much as the film industry needs the banks. I believe that the film industry can be viable and has all the elements of being sustainable over the long term. Partnership between both sectors is therefore necessary if the movie industry is to achieve its full potentials. The future of this partnership abounds with several opportunities.
****************
Tayo Aderinokun, Managing Director, Guaranty Trust Bank at the 50th Art Stampede Session Of The Committee For Relevant Art (CORA) held at The National Theatre, Iganmu, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday March 7th, 2004.
Mr. Tayo Aderinokun passed on to eternal glory on Tuesday June 14, 2011. He died in a Hospital in London, U.K. He had been the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc since 2002. He had a first degree in Business Administration from the University of Lagos and an MBA with special concentration on International Business from the Graduate School of Management, University of California, Los Angeles.
His professional education included Credit and Relationship Management training at the Chase Manhattan Bank Institute for International Banking New York, USA (1982-1983). His professional working experience was gained working with several financial institutions beginning with the Central Bank of Nigeria in Calabar, where he did his National Youth Service (1977-1978).
He worked with Chase Merchant Bank Nigeria Ltd (later renamed Continental Merchant Bank) from 1981 to 1988. He was at Prime Merchant Bank Ltd (1988 and 1989) as an Assistant General Manager rising to the position of Head of the financial services division of the Bank. In 1989, he set up a non-bank financial institution, First Marina Trust Ltd., which he ran for a year. In 1990 he co-founded Guaranty Trust Bank Plc where he served as Deputy Managing Director before taking over as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer in August 2002. He was responsible for strategic policy direction as well as day-to-day administration of the Bank.
He was a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) and holds a recipient of the national award - Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
During his time as Managing Director, the Bank witnessed tremendous progress and growth and had emerged over the years as an industry leader, pacesetter of unique and progressive innovations in the banking industry. The Bank is now easily acknowledged and recognized as one of the most profitable and professionally managed corporate institutions in Nigeria and has been the recipient of several awards for exemplary corporate governance practices and excellent customer service.
In addition, Mr. Aderinokun was also the recipient of numerous awards as an acknowledgment of his sterling leadership role in the achievements of the Bank. The awards include ‘Banker of the Year’ at the inaugural ThisDay Awards in 2006, Most Respected CEO by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2008 and ‘African Banker of the Year’ by the “African Banker” magazine in September 2009. He was also a recipient of the National Award of Member of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (MFR) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigeria (FCIB).
May his soul rest in peace.
Friday, June 17, 2011
China must arrest Sudanese President
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir
17 Jun 2011 12:42 Africa/Lagos
China must arrest Sudanese President
LONDON, June 17, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Chinese government should immediately withdraw its invitation to Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, and arrest him if he travels to Beijing, Amnesty International said today.
Omar Al-Bashir is due to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and other high-ranking officials as part of a visit from 27-30 June
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued two arrest warrants for Omar Al-Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. The warrants, issued in 2009 and 2010, charge him with criminal responsibility on 10 counts, including murder, extermination, forcible transfer of population, torture and rape.
“If China welcomes Omar Al-Bashir it will become a safe haven for alleged perpetrators of genocide”, said Catherine Baber, Deputy Asia Pacific Director at Amnesty International. “China should not allow Omar Al-Bashir to enter its territory, and must arrest him if he turns up.”
Although China is not a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, it is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, which decided in 2005 to refer the situation in Darfur – since 1 July 2002 – to the ICC Prosecutor.
The resulting resolution –which China had the power to veto but did not – urges all states to cooperate fully with the ICC.
All states have a shared responsibility to ensure that persons suspected of genocide and crimes against humanity are investigated. Where there is sufficient admissible evidence, suspects must be prosecuted in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.
“If China provides a safe haven for Al-Bashir thousands of victims in Africa will perceive China as an accomplice to crimes under international law”, Catherine Baber said.
Read More
Malaysia: Arrest Sudanese President wanted for war crimes (Public statement, 13 June 2011)
Djibouti refuses to arrest Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir (Public statement, 9 May 2011)
Central African Republic must arrest Omar al-Bashir during visit (Public statement, 1 December 2010)
Kenya refuses to arrest Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir (Public statement, 27 August 2010)
Source: Amnesty International
CLICK TO SEE DETAILS OF CHINA'S DARFUR POLICY.
Top News
12:42 China must arrest Sudanese President
12:42 Sexual Violence in Libya, the Middle East and North Africa
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. Increases
Employers Deeply Distressed by Many Aspects of Health Reform Law, Lockton Survey Shows
U.S. Mayors Announce Call to End Afghanistan War & Invest in Job Creation
U.S. and Russian CEOs Meet with President Medvedev to Support Russia's WTO Accession
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Microsoft Survey Reveals Extent of Emerging Internet Phone Scam
Photo Credit: IT PVOIP BLOG
16 Jun 2011 08:01 Africa/Lagos
Microsoft Survey Reveals Extent of Emerging Internet Phone Scam
Criminals targeting English-language markets, expected to go global.
PR Newswire
LONDON, June 16, 2011
Bill Mullins Files
LONDON, June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. today released findings of a survey* into an emerging form of Internet scam that targets English-language markets and costs victims on average $875 (U.S.).
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)
The scam works by criminals posing as computer security engineers and calling people at home to tell them they are at risk of a computer security threat. The scammers tell their victims they are providing free security checks and add authenticity by claiming to represent legitimate companies and using telephone directories to refer to their victims by name.
Once they have tricked their victims into believing they have a problem and that the caller can help, the scammers are believed to run through a range of deception techniques designed to steal money.
To establish the extent of this emerging form of Internet fraud, Microsoft surveyed 7,000 computer users in the U.K., Ireland, U.S. and Canada. The survey showed that across all four countries, 15 percent of people had received a call from scammers. In Ireland this rose to 26 percent.
Of those who received a call, 22 percent, or 3 percent of the total survey sample, were deceived into following the scammers' instructions, which ranged from permitting remote access to their computer and downloading software code provided by the criminals to providing credit card information and making a purchase.
The vast majority (79 percent) of people deceived in this way suffered some sort of financial loss. Seventeen percent said they had money taken from their accounts, 19 percent reported compromised passwords and 17 percent were victims of identity fraud. More than half (53 percent) said they suffered subsequent computer problems.
Across all four countries surveyed, the average amount of money stolen was $875 (U.S.), ranging from $82 (U.S.) in Ireland up to $1,560 (U.S.) in Canada. The average cost of repairing damage caused to computers by the scammers was $1,730 — rising to $4,800 in the U.S.
"The security of software is improving all the time, but at the same time we are seeing cybercriminals increasingly turn to tactics of deception to trick people in order to steal from them," said Richard Saunders, director of International Public and Analyst Relations at Microsoft. "Criminals have proved once again that their ability to innovate new scams is matched by their ruthless pursuit of our money."
While Microsoft's research shows the huge scale of the phone scam issue, at this stage it is believed to only affect countries where the main language is English. However, according to Saunders, it's only a question of time before the scammers acquire skills in other languages and look to expand their operation. "Fake lottery scams and other forms of Internet scams have followed this pattern," Saunders said.
Because phone scammers rely on deceiving, Microsoft believes the most effective protection lies in consumer education to prevent people from becoming victims in the first place.
The following is Microsoft's advice:
* Be suspicious of unsolicited calls related to a security problem, even if they claim to represent a respected company.
* Never provide personal information, such as credit card or bank details, to an unsolicited caller.
* Do not go to a website, type anything into a computer, install software or follow any other instruction from someone who calls out of the blue.
* Take the caller's information down and pass it to the authorities.
* Use up-to-date versions of Windows and application software.
* Make sure security updates are installed regularly.
* Use a strong password and change it regularly.
* Make sure the firewall is turned on and that antivirus software is installed and up to date.
* Microsoft Security Essentials is a free antivirus product and is available at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials/default.aspx.
The Microsoft survey showed that 67 percent of people who lost money were able to recover, on average, 42 percent of it. Microsoft advises anyone who thinks they may already have been a victim of a phone scam to do the following:
* Change their computer's password, change the password on their main email account and change the password for any financial accounts, especially bank and credit cards.
* Scan their computer with the Microsoft Safety Scanner to find out if they have malware installed on their computer.
* Contact their bank and credit card companies.
Further guidance is available at http://www.microsoft.com/security .
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
* Independent research commissioned by Microsoft Trustworthy Computing and conducted by Dynamic Markets Ltd. in April 2011.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
CONTACT: Rapid Response Team of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, +1-503-443-7070, rrt@waggeneredstrom.com, for Microsoft Corp.
Web Site: http://www.microsoft.com
Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Reverse Course
Report Shows Rise in Food Prices and in Malnutrition and Hunger in Poor Countries
Germans Voted "Least Funny" Nationality; Americans "Funniest"; Poles Not Very Funny
Allstate Announces May Catastrophe Loss Estimate
CFOs Reveal Top Concerns in New Robert Half Report
Microsoft Survey Reveals Extent of Emerging Internet Phone Scam
Free Speech TV to Broadcast Exclusive Live Coverage of Netroots Nation 2011
Free Speech TV to Broadcast Exclusive Live Coverage of Netroots Nation 2011
PR Newswire
DENVER, June 15, 2011
Thom Hartmann & Laura Flanders to Host Live from FSTV's e-Studio in Minneapolis, MN
DENVER, June 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Free Speech TV (FSTV) announced today that Thom Hartmann and Laura Flanders will host Free Speech TV's exclusive live coverage of the Netroots Nation in Minneapolis, Minnesota beginning Thursday, June 16 through Saturday, June 18, 2011.
The event is expected to draw thousands of online activists, community organizers, bloggers, elected officials and union workers from all over the country to participate in more than 100 panels, training sessions and keynotes that will help shape the dialog for progressives in the coming months. Speakers for this sixth annual conference include Russ Feingold, Al Franken, Howard Dean, Van Jones, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Keith Ellison, Donna Edwards, Jared Polis, Dan Pfeiffer, Luis Gutierrez, Ben Cardin, Sheldon Whitehouse, Raul Grijalva, Amy Klobuchar, Jerrold Nadler, Tim Walz, Jan Schakowsky, John Garamendi, Bruce Braley, Brad Miller, Judy Chu and many more.
"We're thrilled that Free Speech TV is providing head-to-toe coverage of our biggest conference yet, allowing us to expand the reach of our content to tens of thousands of progressives around the country," said Netroots Nation Communications Director Mary Rickles. "Our attendance of 2,000-plus smart, passionate activists aligns perfectly with Free Speech TV's savvy viewership."
Netroots Nation, the country's largest progressive gathering, is a time for progressives of all stars and stripes to come together and build a stronger, more united movement.
"Free Speech TV is proud to provide a national platform for Netroots Nation, an annual groundbreaking and interactive gathering that aligns with the direction that our own network is fast adopting. Free Speech TV utilizes online tools as an extension to our broadcasting arm, to empower our audiences to take action and share information. We are honored to provide this exclusive live coverage to over 35 million U.S. homes," said Free Speech TV's Executive Director, Don Rojas.
The live television broadcast will include keynote speeches and exclusive interviews with online activists, politicians and analysts. It will air nationally on DISH Network channel 9415, DIRECTV channel 348 and numerous cable stations across the country.
Free Speech TV's coverage will also be streamed live at www.freespeech.org , as well as on the sites of partnering organizations like DailyKos, The Nation, Mother Jones, Yes magazine, Huffington Post, and many more. The television coverage will also be carried live by LINK TV.
The conference, in its sixth year, is June 16-19 in Minneapolis. For more information, visit www.netrootsnation.org.
About Free Speech TV
Launched in 1995, Free Speech TV is an independent, publicly-supported, non-profit TV multi-platform digital media pioneer. Using both television and the Internet, Free Speech TV inspires viewers to become civically engaged to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable society. Free Speech TV is owned and operated by Public Communicators, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization, founded in 1974. Free Speech TV reaches 35 million U.S. homes, broadcasting full-time on DISH Network channel 9415, DIRECTV channel 348, part-time on 200 US community cable affiliate stations, and online at www.freespeech.org.
SOURCE Free Speech TV
CONTACT: Giselle Diaz Campagna, Development and Marketing Director, +1-303 720-9947, giselle@freespeech.org
Web Site: http://www.freespeech.org
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Lara Lee and other top filmmakers set for 2nd Eko International Film Festival
Korean-Brazilian filmmaker Iara Lee [Photo: Michael (Yeong-ung) Yang, The Korea Central Daily News]
International award winning Korean Brazilian film producer and director Lara Lee is among the leading filmmakers who have already submitted films for the 2nd Eko International Film Festival coming up from Saturday July 9 to Thursday July 14, at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos, Nigeria. The popular filmmaker who is based in New York City celebrated as the director of the documentaries Synthetic Pleasures and Modulations, as well as for her involvement with the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla", in which at least nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed by Israeli naval forces.
She is the founder of the Caipirinha Foundation and a member of the Council of Advisors to the National Geographic Society.
Lee was the producer of the São Paulo International Film Festival.
"Synthetic Pleasures", which deals with the impact of high technology on mass culture was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, and won the Jury Award for Best Documentary at the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival.
In 1998, she released the multimedia project "Modulations", which traces the evolution of electronic music. Her most recent film was "Beneath the Borqa", a 2000 short documentary film about the lives of women and children under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Her Cultures of Resistance, which celebrates creative acts of political struggle is a special selection of the Eko International Film Festival.
Other notable filmmakers are Gugu Michaels, a Nigerian American director who is an accomplished filmmaker who has worked as a director and producer on a number of commercial and independent projects including the feature films "Thugz", "Repentance" and "Dangerous County". He has also helmed a number of campaigns for retailers like Cadillac, Lamborghini and Porche. Prior to co-founding New Era Pictures, Michaels served as president of Dallas based Redrumm Records and worked with such artists as hip hop giants UGK; Alix François Meier from Essen / Germany. An editor for documentaries at SPIEGEL TV, and since 1992, a director for documentaries and commissioned producer for public television and private broadcaster. He has a natural fondness for France and Spain: from the culinary bon-vivant image down to the catacombs in Paris, the half-Frenchman loves anything and everything to do with the two countries. But he particularly likes widening his horizons. This is what has already taken him half way round the world to meet protagonists in unusual situations and get them to tell their story. Meier's "The King of Palma – Life according to Bruno“ is one of the top documentaries to be screened at the festival; and another notable filmmaker is the international award winning Nigerian director Chike Ibekwe, whose feature "Eternal" shared the Golden Screen best film award with “An Unusual Woman” by Burkinabe director Abdoulaye Dao.at the 14th annual “Ecrans noirs” Film Festival in Yaounde (Cameroon) in 2010.
Another special selection is the award winning short documentary Dream for Nigeria produced by McNally Temple Associates, Inc. It is based on the challenges and achievements of seven female members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, and the role they play in their country’s political, social and economic development.
The final list of the selected films will be announced on June 25, 2011.
~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
Ex-Im Bank Chairman Joins President Obama In Raleigh For Jobs
June 13, 2011
Ex-Im Bank Chairman Joins President Obama In Raleigh For Jobs Council Meeting
Fred P. Hochberg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2011
Ex-Im Bank Chairman Joins President Obama In Raleigh For Jobs Council Meeting
Media Contact: Jamie Radice (Ex-Im Bank): 202-565-3200
Raleigh, North Carolina -- Today, the Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), Fred P. Hochberg, joined President Obama and other senior government and corporate officials in Raleigh, North Carolina to meet with members of the Council on Jobs and Competitiveness (Jobs Council). Hochberg participated in the Council's Manufacturing, Listening, and Action session.
"I was honored to be with the President in Raleigh today to talk about the important economic issues facing our country," said Chairman Hochberg. "Exports create and sustain American jobs, and are a vital component of our economic recovery. President Obama has made the National Export Initiative a top priority, and because of that emphasis we are on track to double U.S. exports by 2015."
Administration officials who attended the Jobs Council forum included Senior White House Advisor Valerie Jarrett, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, White House Domestic Policy Advisor Melody Barnes, and Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors Austan Goolsbee. Participants in the Manufacturing, Listening, and Action session were Ex-Im Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg, Small Business Administrator Karen Mills, DuPont Chair and CEO Ellen Kullman, Intel Corporation President Paul Otellini, and BNSF Chairman and CEO Matt Rose.
The President's Jobs Council was created to provide non-partisan advice to the President on how best to strengthen the nation's economy and look for additional ways to create jobs, opportunity, and prosperity for the American people.
Chairman Hochberg was in Raleigh earlier this month, where he hosted a Global Access for Small Business forum with Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC). At the event, North Carolina small business owners learned how to gain a competitive edge in today's global marketplace when selling their goods and services overseas. Ex-Im Bank has hosted more than a dozen Global Access events across the country this year.
Small business owners who are interested in learning more about how they can successfully export their products can call 1-800-565-EXIM (3946). Ex-Im Bank also offers information specifically designed to assist small business exporters on its website at http://www.exim.gov/smallbusiness/.
About Ex-Im Bank:
Ex-Im Bank is an independent federal agency that helps create and maintain U.S. jobs by filling gaps in private export financing at no cost to American taxpayers. The Bank provides a variety of financing mechanisms, including working capital guarantees, export-credit insurance, and financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services. In the first seven months of fiscal year 2011, Ex-Im Bank approved $14.8 billion in total financing authorizations, supporting $17.8 billion in U.S. export sales. These sales will support more than 129,000 American jobs in communities across the country. This seven-month authorizations figure is the highest in the Bank's history.
For more information, visit Ex-Im Bank's Web site at www.exim.gov.
Media Contact: Jamie Radice (Ex-Im Bank): 202-565-3200
Top Headlines
Economic Reports
US Oil and Gas Reserve Growth Reaches Five-Year High
Eighth-Graders Make Progress in U.S. History
President Obama Making Historic Trip to Puerto Rico
Las Vegas Celebrates Summer With New Line Up of World-Class Entertainment and Activities
FDA Announces Changes to Better Inform Consumers About Sunscreen
J. C. Penney Company Names Ron Johnson as Its Next Chief Executive Officer, Effective November 1
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at African Union, June 13, 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
14 Jun 2011 14:15 Africa/Lagos
Remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at African Union, June 13, 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
WASHINGTON, June 14, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Remarks by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at African Union, June 13, 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
SECRETARY CLINTON: Good afternoon. It is a great honor to join you here in Addis Ababa and to address the African Union. I want to thank Chairperson Ping, members of the African Union Commission, ambassadors to the AU, representatives of United Nations agencies, and, most of all, representatives of the nations and people of Africa. Thank you for the opportunity to be here with you. It is good to be back in Africa, and it is a singular honor to address this body.
During the past few days, I have traveled to Zambia, Tanzania, and now Ethiopia, meeting with leaders and citizens who are rising to meet challenges of all kinds with creativity, courage, and skill. And I am pleased to come to the African Union today as the first United States Secretary of State to address you, because I believe that in the 21st century, solving our greatest challenges cannot be the work only of individuals or individual nations. These challenges require communities of nations and peoples working together in alliances, partnerships, and institutions like the African Union.
Consider what it takes to solve global challenges, like climate change or terrorism, or regional ones, like the African Union's work in Sudan and Somalia. Your efforts to end the brutal campaign of the Lord's Resistance Army, your push to create a green revolution for Africa that drives down hunger and poverty, the challenge of helping refugees displaced by conflict, the fight against transnational crimes like piracy and trafficking: These are diplomatic and development challenges of enormous complexity. But institutions like this make it easier for us to address them, by helping nations turn common interests into common actions, by encouraging coalition building and effective compromising, by integrating emerging nations into a global community with clear obligations and expectations.
That is why, as Secretary of State, I have emphasized the work of regional institutions throughout the world, in Latin America, in Asia, in Europe, and in Africa. Now, regional institutions, of course, may differ, but increasingly they are called upon to be problem solvers and to deliver concrete results that produce positive change in people's lives.
To solve the problems confronting Africa and the world, we need the African Union. We also need Africa's sub-regional institutions, all of whom must help lead the way. Because the results you will achieve will shape the future, first and foremost, of course, for the people of Africa, but also for the people of my country, and indeed for people everywhere because what happens in Africa has global impact. Economic growth here spurs economic growth elsewhere. Breakthroughs in health research here can save and improve lives in other lands. And peace established here makes the world more secure.
So the United States seeks new and dynamic partnerships with African peoples, nations, and institutions. We want to help you accelerate the advances that are underway in many places and collaborate with you to reverse the dangerous trends and encourage political, economic, and social progress.
Today, I'd like briefly to discuss three areas, which are areas of emphasis for you and for us and where I think we can make particular progress through regional institutions like the AU. They are democracy, economic growth, and peace and security. These are, of course, the core areas of focus for the African Union, and that's for a reason. All three are critical for a thriving region. All three must be the work both of individual nations and communities of nations. And all three present challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities we must address together.
First, democracy. Let me begin by saying this is an exciting time for African democracy. More than half the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have embraced democratic, constitutional, multi-party rule. Now, some, like Botswana, Ghana, and Tanzania, have spent decades building strong institutions and a tradition of peaceful, democratic transitions. (Interruption to audio.) When things like this happen, you just keep going. (Laughter.) (Applause.) Now, those countries that I mentioned are models, not only for their neighbors, but increasingly for countries everywhere.
Other African nations have been also making important advances. In Nigeria, President Jonathan was inaugurated 15 days ago after what many have called the fairest election in Nigeria's recent history. Benin and Malawi both held successful elections this spring, building on previous successful multiparty contests. Kenya's democracy got a boost from last year's referendum on its new constitution. The vote took place without violence, and the constitution, which includes a bill of rights and limits on executive power, passed by a large margin. Niger and Guinea, both of which endured recent military coups, held successful elections in the past year. And in Cote d'Ivoire, the crisis that followed the 2010 elections was finally resolved two months ago with the help of the AU, and the elected winner is now serving as president.
These are just a few examples of Africa's recent democratic gains. A complete list would fill all the time we have today. In several nations, the institutions of democracy are becoming stronger. There are freer medias, justice systems that administer justice equally, and impartially, honest legislatures, vibrant civil societies.
Now, much of the credit for these hard-won achievements rightly belongs to the people and leaders of these countries who have passionately and persistently, sometimes at great risk to themselves, demanded that their leaders protect the rule of law, honor election results, uphold rights and freedoms. But credit is also due to the African Union, which has prohibited new leaders who have come to power through military rule and coups from being seated in the organization. The AU and Africa's other regional institutions have also played a pivotal role in ending crises and creating the conditions for successful, democratic transitions, with the AU's work to monitor elections being an especially important contribution.
But, even as we celebrate this progress, we do know that too many people in Africa still live under longstanding rulers, men who care too much about the longevity of their reign, and too little about the legacy that should be built for their country's future. Some even claim to believe in democracy – democracy defined as one election, one time. (Laughter.) (Applause.)
Now, this approach to governing is being rejected by countries on this continent and beyond. Consider the changes that have recently swept through North Africa and the Middle East. After years of living under dictatorships, people have demanded new leadership; in places where their voices have long been silenced, they are exercising their right to speak, often at the top of their lungs. In places where jobs are scarce and a tiny elite prospers while most of the population struggles, people – especially young people – are channeling their frustration into social, economic, and political change.
Their message is clear to us all: The status quo is broken; the old ways of governing are no longer acceptable; it is time for leaders to lead with accountability, treat their people with dignity, respect their rights, and deliver economic opportunity. And if they will not, then it is time for them to go.
Every country in the world stands to learn from these democracy movements, but this wave of activism, which came to be known as the Arab Spring, has particular significance for leaders in Africa and elsewhere who hold on to power at all costs, who suppress dissent, who enrich themselves and their supporters at the expense of their own people. To those leaders our message must be clear: Rise to this historic occasion; show leadership by embracing a true path that honors your people's aspirations; create a future that your young people will believe in, defend, and help build. Because, if you do not – if you believe that the freedoms and opportunities that we speak about as universal should not be shared by your own people, men and women equally, or if you do not desire to help your own people work and live with dignity, you are on the wrong side of history, and time will prove that.
The United States pledges its support for those African nations that are committed to doing the difficult but rewarding work of building a free, peaceful, and prosperous future. And we look to institutions like the African Union, that are dedicated to democracy and good governance, to continue to encourage countries to walk that path or risk isolating themselves further.
Now, of course, creating the conditions that allow people and communities to flourish in a democracy cannot simply be a matter of holding elections; they are a necessary but not sufficient condition. Good governance requires free, fair, and transparent elections, a free media, independent judiciaries, and the protection of minorities. And democracy must also deliver results for people by providing economic opportunity, jobs, and a rising standard of living.
Now, here, again, the map of Africa is lit up with success stories. Six of the world's 10 fastest growing economies in the last decade are in Sub-Saharan Africa, and that percentage is expected to grow in the next five years. At a time when investors everywhere are hunting for promising new markets and worthy new ventures, Africa is attracting attention from all corners.
But a prosperous future is not guaranteed. Several of Africa's highest performing economies are dependent on a single industry or a single export, often a commodity, which we know can have both good and bad consequences. It can discourage the rise of new industries and the jobs that come with them, and it can concentrate a nation's wealth among a privileged few. Meanwhile, even while growth rates skyrocket in some countries, in others they are rising too slowly and it can take too long for growth on paper to translate into jobs that are spread across a country. But it is this desire that is especially urgent among the youth of Africa that cannot be ignored.
When we saw the uprisings first in Tunisia and then in Egypt, they were about both political change and economic change. Too many young people said they had studied, they had worked hard. The tragic story of the young vegetable vendor who finally, in great frustration – because no matter how hard he tried, a corrupt regime would not give him the chance to have the sweat of his brow translated into economic benefits for himself and his family. More than 40 percent of the people living in Africa are under the age of 15. It rises to nearly two thirds if we look at under the age of 30. These young people are all coming of age at once and they are all connected. There are no more secrets because of social media, because that incredible technology can inform a young person in a rural area, where there are no roads, but there are cell phones, what is going on in his capital or in neighboring countries.
Creating jobs and opportunity for these young people is an enormous challenge, and one that I know the African Union is committed to addressing. Your summit later this month is focused on youth empowerment for sustainable development. You are right that young people must be brought into this work themselves, otherwise your hardest working, your best and your brightest, will either be frustrated and act out against the leaders of their country or they will leave to find opportunities in other lands. After all, the people who are speaking out most passionately across Africa are doing so with an eloquence and an advocacy that should, as the older generations, make us proud. These are young people who want to make something of themselves. All they need is the chance to do so.
Countries such as Zambia, Mali, Ghana, and Rwanda have had strong successes with their approaches to development. They have diversified their economies and created jobs across many sectors, which has helped to decrease poverty. They have continuously reinvested in the foundations of their economies, building roads and power plants and expanding access to financial services so more people can start or grow businesses. Based on lessons we've learned from our work around the world, the United States wants to deepen our partnerships with countries that take a broad-based, inclusive, sustainable approach to growth.
Now, I will be the first to admit that too much of our development work in the past provided only temporary aid and not the foundation for lasting change that helps people permanently improve their lives and communities. But the Obama Administration is taking a different approach. Our goal is to help countries' economies grow over time so they can meet their own needs. Ultimately, we believe that the most effective development programs are the ones that put themselves out of business because they spark economic activity, they help create strong institutions, they nourish a private sector that, unleashed, will create more jobs.
And at the same time, we are asking our partners to do their part. How? Increased transparency, strengthen tax systems, fight corruption. Every bribe paid to a customs official or a government employee represents a hidden tax on the cost of doing business and a drag on economic growth. We are making this a priority in our diplomatic engagement, and we look to our partners to take concrete actions to stop corruption. One of the possible benefits of technology is doing what's called electronic government, e-government, putting government services online so you don't have to go through so many hands to get that permit to start a business. And we are encouraging and will work with countries interested in pursuing that kind of opportunity.
We're also putting a new emphasis on trade. I spoke about this a few days ago at the AGOA Forum in Lusaka. During the past decade, Africa's non-oil exports to the United States quadrupled, and we've only begun to tap the potential. We can and we will trade much more with each other. In fact, we are establishing, with a $120 million commitment over the next four years, trade hubs to help businesses write business plans; to learn how to market their products; to get the kind of technical advice that would not be affordable for a small or medium-sized business.
Trade should not only, however, increase across the ocean or the sea to Europe and the United States. Trade has to increase across this continent. There is less trade among the countries within Sub-Saharan Africa than within any other region in the world, and yet there are consumers and there are producers, but there are barriers – tariff barriers, non-tariff barriers, longstanding suspicions that have to be overcome in order to take advantage of the economic engine that Sub-Saharan Africa can be.
I commend those countries and institutions working to accelerate economic integration, such as the East African Community. And last year, the United States became the first country to nominate an ambassador to the EAC, and we are pursuing a partnership to help build a customs union and a common market. And we applaud the efforts that began with the meeting in South Africa, last week, to discuss a tripartite free trade agreement that will lower trade barriers across dozens of countries.
And the vision of an African common market is worth pursuing. This approach is reflected in our Millennium Challenge Compacts, which form partnerships with developing countries devoted to good governance, economic freedom, and investing in one's citizens. You can see it in our Partnerships for Growth Program: We picked four countries in the world that we thought could put all the pieces together, and two of them are in Africa, Tanzania and Ghana. These nations have made strong commitments to democracy, to their own development progress, and we're stepping up our economic relations with these top performers.
Another example of our new approach is our Feed the Future food security initiative. We're investing $3.5 billion in 20 focus countries, including 12 in Africa, to revitalize agricultural sectors so you can increase food production and availability, raise your farmers' incomes, decrease hunger and under-nutrition. And through the Feed the Future, we are supporting the AU's Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program, which, we think, has laid the foundation for more effective agricultural policies across the continent. By investing in agriculture and strengthening nations' food security, we will see economies grow and stability increase.
There's another important element of sustainable economic development, and that is improvements in health. Right now, several African countries are making great strides in bringing life-saving health interventions to more of their people. Zambia has significantly reduced mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Nigeria has made great progress in fighting polio through renewed vaccination efforts. And Ethiopia has mobilized an army of 30,000 health workers to bring a basic package of care to remote regions. We are backing these kinds of improvements through our Global Health Initiative, which supports country-led programs and helps countries unite separate health programs into one sustainable health system.
So we are combining our efforts through PEPFAR, through AID, through CDC, and other U.S. Government approaches, because we think health is a critical element of a nation's security. When epidemics are prevented from occurring or ended or controlled quickly, when people can get life-saving care when they need it and return to their jobs and their lives, families are stronger, communities are stronger, and nations are stronger.
And finally, when it comes to economic opportunity and development, we must empower the continent's women. The women of Africa are the hardest working women in the world. And so often – (applause) – so often what they do is not included in the formal economy, it is not measured in the GDP. And yet, if all the women in Africa, from Cairo to Cape Town, decided they would stop working for a week, the economies of Africa would collapse. (Applause.)
So let's include half the population. Let's treat them with dignity. Let's give them the right and responsibility to make a contribution to the 21st century of African growth and progress. And the United States will be your partner, because we have seen what a difference it makes when women are educated, when they have access to health care, when they can start businesses, when they can get credit, when they can help support their families. So let us make sure that that remains front and center in the work we do together.
And finally, let me address peace and security. In recent years, a quiet storyline has emerged out of the security challenges that have developed on the continent. More and more, the African Union and Africa's sub-regional organizations and African states, working alone or in concert, are taking the lead in solving Africa's crises. In Somalia, AMISOM, the African Union's peacekeeping mission, thanks to heroic efforts by Ugandan and Burundian soldiers, has helped the Transitional Federal Government make remarkable security gains in Mogadishu over the past couple of months. Al-Shabaab, an affiliate of al-Qaida, is finally on the defensive, and we see that because they are increasingly resorting to suicide bombers and the targeting of civilians, a sign of desperation.
Now, we expect Somalia's Transitional Federal Government to create political and economic progress to match AMISOM's security progress. It cannot continue operating the way it has in the past. We look to the TFG to resolve their internal divisions and improve the lives of the millions of Somalis who continue to suffer, and we know that the AU will be their partner in doing so.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we remain concerned about the continued violence against women and girls and the activities of armed groups in the eastern region of the country. Every effort by the AU and UN will be necessary to help the DRC respond to these continuing security crises.
And then there is the situation in Sudan: South Sudan is less than one month away from becoming the world's newest state. And the governments of Sudan and South Sudan have made laudable progress in implementing certain provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. But recent developments along the border, particularly in the Abyei region, are deeply troubling. The parties must resolve the remaining CPA issues peacefully through negotiations, not violence. And again, the African Union has played a critical role in facilitating negotiations in Sudan. And I also want to thank the prime minister of Ethiopia, our host country, for everything he has done and is doing as we speak today.
I will have the opportunity later this evening to meet with representatives from both the North and South to add my voice and that of President Obama and my government to the chorus of voices saying the same thing: Resolve your differences, settle the problem in Darfur. And we got some good news out of Doha today that we hope will translate into real progress. But come together and make it possible for both of these countries to have peaceful, prosperous futures.
And there is, of course, another country whose security matters to all of us, and that is Libya. Libya has been the subject of many of our discussions during the past few months. And I believe there is much on which we can agree. There is little question that the kind of activities that, unfortunately, have affected the Libyan people for more than 40 years run against the tide of history. And there is little question that despite having the highest nominal GDP in Africa, thanks to oil, Libya's wealth was too concentrated within Qadhafi's circle.
But of course, all the countries here are not in agreement about the steps that the international community, under the United Nations Security Council, have taken in Libya up to this point. Having looked at the information available, the Security Council, including the three African members, supported a UN mandate to protect civilians, prevent slaughter, and create conditions for a transition to a better future for the Libyan people themselves.
Now, I know there are some who still believe that the actions of the UN and NATO were not called for. And I know it's true that over many years Mr. Qadhafi played a major role in providing financial support for many African nations and institutions, including the African Union. But it has become clearer by the day that he has lost his legitimacy to rule, and we are long past time when he can or should remain in power.
So I hope and believe that while we may disagree about some of what has brought us to this place, we can reach agreement about what must happen now. For as long as Mr. Qadhafi remains in Libya, the people of Libya will be in danger, refugee flows by the thousands will continue out of Libya, regional instability will likely increase, and Libya's neighbors will bear more and more of the consequences. None of this is acceptable, and Qadhafi must leave power.
I urge all African states to call for a genuine ceasefire and to call for Qadhafi to step aside. I also urge you to suspend the operations of Qadhafi's embassies in your countries, to expel pro-Qadhafi diplomats, and to increase contact and support for the Transitional National Council. Your words and your actions could make the difference in bringing this situation to finally close and allowing the people of Libya, on an inclusive basis, in a unified Libya, to get to work writing a constitution and rebuilding their country. The world needs the African Union to lead. The African Union can help guide Libya through the transition you described in your organization's own statements, a transition to a new government based on democracy, economic opportunity, and security.
As we look to the future, we want to work with the African Union not only to react to conflicts and crises but to get ahead of them, to work together on a positive agenda that will stop crises before they start. And I think we can find many areas for collaboration.
On youth engagement, which is a priority for both the AU and President Obama, we seek to pursue a specific work plan with you. On democracy and good governance we already work together to monitor elections across Africa. Now we need to do more to help countries strengthen democratic institutions. On economic growth and trade the AU plays a major role in building Africa's sub-regional architecture, and we stand ready to support you.
So I want to commend Africa's institutions for what you have already accomplished, and in some cases, just a few years after your creation. And I will pledge my country's support as you continue this work. Whether you seek to deepen the integration among your members, improve coordination, or reform your operations, we will be with you.
A good example that the chairman mentioned is what we can offer in the work we are doing to help reform the UN's support for the African Union here in Addis Ababa. The UN and the African Union asked the United States to identify ways their work together could become more effective and strategic. We said yes, and now there are people at the State Department focused on this issue working closely with many of you in this room.
And as has already been announced, we are rejoining the UN Economic Commission for Africa, another sign of our commitment to engaging with Africa's regional institutions. (Applause.)
On this trip to Africa, I am reminded every hour that for every challenge now facing Africa, a solution can be found somewhere in Africa. (Applause.) You do not have to look far afield to see political, economic, and social success.
Earlier I mentioned the Arab Spring, a name that suggests the blossoming of something new. And what is now blooming across the Arab states has already taken root in many African nations, commitment to democracy, recognition of human rights, investment in economic health and education programs, and an emphasis on meeting the needs of our young people.
Across this continent the work is underway, but there is a long season ahead. So I urge you not to be impatient; do not grow weary while doing good. Keep showing leadership. Keep building a path to a future worthy of the talents and aspirations of the young men and women of Africa. The United States believes deeply in these values. We believe passionately in the promise and potential of pluralistic democracies, of free markets. We welcome to our shores immigrants from every country represented here, and we can see the success stories that so many of them have built in the United States. But I have never met an immigrant from Africa who has not said he or she wished they could have done the very same in their own country, among their own people, close to their family, eating the food, smelling the flowers, seeing the sights that are in their blood. I want to see that for Africa, where people are coming home to Africa because this is where opportunity for the future resides.
Thank you and God bless you. (Applause.)
Source: US Department of State
Releases displayed in Africa/Lagos time
U.S. SEX CENSUS Finds Sexual Diversity and Satisfaction on Rise
Trojan U.S. SEX CENSUS Finds Sexual Diversity and Satisfaction on Rise more info... Source: Trojan Condoms (Church & Dwight). (PRNewsFoto/TROJAN(R) Brand Condoms)
Trojan U.S. SEX CENSUS Finds Sexual Diversity and Satisfaction on Rise
Midwest and Northeast come out on top in sexual satisfaction and frequency, with South trailing the pack
PR Newswire
PRINCETON, N.J., June 14, 2011
PRINCETON, N.J., June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Household relationships, gender preferences and population penetration aren't exclusive to the U.S. Census – new findings released today as part of the Trojan® U.S. SEX CENSUS uncovers that the sexual habits of our nation are just as multiplied and diverse as the population. On a national level, the survey finds that the average American (18 and over) has sex 120 times a year (2.3 times per week), and reports very high levels of sexual satisfaction (76 percent satisfied). Despite the high findings, sixty-three percent of respondents still wish they were having sex more frequently.
The geography of American sexuality points to a decidedly northeasterly trend in sexual frequency. Indeed people in the Northeast report having more sex than any other U.S. region, averaging 130 times per year (2.5 times per week), compared to the Midwest (125 times per year / 2.4 times per week), West (120 times per year / 2.3 times per week) and South (114 times per year / 2.1 times per week). When it comes to practicing safe sex, Northeasterners (43 percent) are more likely to report using a condom during sexual activity.
"As we saw with the Indiana University's National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, there is enormous variability that exists in the sexual repertoires of U.S. adults," said Michael Reece, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University. "The Sex Census adds to our understanding of sexual behavior across different parts of the country, having probed deep into the sexual landscape, reinforcing that Americans demonstrate a high comfort level in exploring with and learning from their partners."
The Geography of American Sexuality
Researchers find residents of metropolitan centers like Los Angeles and Houston are having the most sex per year, 135 times and 125 times respectively, while residents of Philadelphia and Dallas have the least, 99 and 104 times each. Despite low levels of sexual frequency, Philadelphians report very high rates of sexual satisfaction (82 percent satisfied), followed by New York (81 percent satisfied) and Atlanta (80 percent satisfied). San Francisco (70 percent satisfied), Boston (73 percent satisfied), Los Angeles (75 percent satisfied) and Chicago (75 percent satisfied) reported the lowest levels of satisfaction.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110614/NY18963 )
Satisfaction on the Rise
While overall sexual satisfaction in America remains high, researchers found a great deal of variability in satisfaction based on relationship status. In fact, married couples reported much higher satisfaction rates (82 percent married, 71 percent single) while singles reported higher sexual frequency (130 times per year single, 109 times per year among married couples).
Meanwhile, national data on sexual exploration and preferences indicated overall high levels of sexual satisfaction, with seventy-six percent of Americans stating to be satisfied by their sex lives and eighty-five percent having experienced an orgasm.
Population Shake-Up
From sexual fantasies to vibrators, seventy-four percent of Americans are experimenting with sex and embracing ways to enhance the sexual experience for themselves and their partners.
* Across the four U.S. Census regions, the most sexually exciting place Americans have had sex is in a car (48 percent), followed by sex in someone else's bed (33 percent)
* When asked where they would like to have sex but have not yet tried, thirty-three percent of men said sex on a plane and twenty-six percent of women said sex on a beach/sea
He Said, She Said
The makers of Trojan condoms take pride in tracking and documenting the complex and diverse preferences of men and women when it comes to sex, ultimately influencing product innovation. The survey shows that men (83 percent) are certainly more willing to experiment as compared to women (65 percent), which may explain why men are more likely to describe themselves as sexually liberal (31 percent) versus women (16 percent).
* Men are more likely to report they enjoy both oral and penetrative sex equally (50 percent) compared to thirty-two percent of females
* Seventy-one percent of men want more sex compared to fifty-five percent of females
* The majority (85 percent) of men indicated that they had purchased a condom compared to only about one-half (51 percent) of women.
* Men's favorite sex positions are missionary (27 percent), followed by doggy style (24 percent); Females report missionary (45 percent) and reverse missionary (13 percent) as their top sex position
* Men are more likely to discuss their sex life on Facebook or Twitter (15 percent) compared to women (6 percent)
* More than seventy percent of Americans believe hooking up is having sex with someone outside of a relationship, with forty percent of women saying they were against hooking up compared to only about one-quarter (22 percent) of men
Sex Talk in America
From downloading with friends to uploading on Facebook, Americans are open to talking about sex both on- and off-line.
* 19 percent of Americans have engaged in sexting and 19 percent have had online sex
* 18 percent have had sex with someone they met over the internet
* 10 percent have discussed sex on Facebook and/or Twitter
* Americans are open to talking to their friends about sex, with 47 percent talking about sex with friends of the same gender and 28 percent talking to friends of the opposite gender
Researchers say the data all adds up, painting a picture of American sexuality as diverse and satisfactory.
"With the Trojan® SEX CENSUS, we took the 2010 U.S. Census a step beyond the demographic landscape. It's clear that Americans are sexually diverse and strive to achieve full satisfaction in the bedroom," said Bruce Tetreault, group product manager of Trojan sexual health products. "With Trojan sexual health products, we pride ourselves on providing many options to meet those needs and increase the pleasure factor in the bedroom. From vibrations to a wide variety of condoms, there's an option for everyone."
From pleasure-enhancing condoms to new stimulating vibrators, TROJAN Brand Condoms provides Americans with a variety of products that cater to every American's sexual behavior. To find the product that is perfect for you, go to www.trojancondoms.com.
About The Survey
The Sex Census presented by Trojan® condoms is based on two studies conducted by StrategyOne from March 15-21, 2011. The first, a national sample of 1,000 10-minute surveys were conducted online among U.S. Adults 18+. The results are nationally representative based on the U.S. Census indicators. With 95% confidence, the margin of error is +/- 3.1%. The data was weighted to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the actual U.S. population according to U.S. Census figures.
The second is a study conducted online in ten major U.S. cities among Adults 18+. The cities are: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Washington D.C. Atlanta, and Houston. A total of 2,000 10-minute surveys were conducted. Sample size of 200 per city. With 95% confidence, the margins of error within each individual city is +/- 2.2%.
About Trojan®
TROJAN® Brand Condoms are America's #1 condom and have been trusted for over 90 years. TROJAN® Brand Latex Condoms are made from premium quality latex to help reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Every condom is electronically tested to help ensure reliability. There are over 29 varieties of TROJAN® Brand Condoms. More Americans trust the TROJAN® brand than any other condom. For more information, visit www.trojancondoms.com.
About StrategyOne
StrategyOne, a Daniel J. Edelman company, employs custom public opinion research and secondary research methodologies to deliver strategic counsel to corporate, organizational and governmental clients globally. With offices in Atlanta, Chicago, London, New York, Paris, San Mateo, Washington, D.C., and Abu Dhabi StrategyOne provides global clients with evidence based stakeholder insights, analysis and measurement. Visit www.strategyone.com for more information.
Contact :
Bjorn Trowery
Eli Sevin
Edelman
Edelman
212-704-4556
212-642-7794
Bjorn.Trowery@edelman.com
Eli.Sevin@edelman.com
SOURCE TROJAN(R) Brand Condoms
Web Site: http://www.trojancondoms.com
FDA Announces Changes to Better Inform Consumers About Sunscreen
U.S. News Media Group Announces Rankings of the Best U.S. Hotels
TD Economics' Quarterly Economic Forecast: U.S. Economy Is Down, But Not Out
Consumer Reports Index: Consumers Feel the Pain of Stalling Job Growth and Stumbling Economy Talk
Scholars Ask Appellate Court to Dissolve Order of Judge Lewis A. Kaplan
Scholars Ask Appellate Court to Dissolve Order of Judge Lewis A. Kaplan
New York, New York (June 13, 2011) – A group of 16 international law scholars have asked a federal appeals court in New York to overturn what they say is a U.S. trial court’s “futile” and unlawful injunction that purports to prohibit foreign citizens from Ecuador from collecting an $18 billion judgment against Chevron in courts around the world.
The scholars described the injunction, issued by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, as a “futile act” that “is much more likely to antagonize the courts of other states” than be treated as persuasive authority, as Kaplan has claimed. They also described the injunction as “breathtaking in its attempts to arrogate a world-wide and exclusive jurisdiction in this case” to a U.S. court without any legal authority to back it up.
The scholars filed an amicus brief with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals (http://chevrontoxico.com/assets/docs/2011-amicus-16-legal-experts.pdf) asserting that Kaplan’s injunction “constitutes an internationally unlawful attempt to intervene in the domestic legal affairs of Ecuador.” The scholars asked the Second Circuit -- which is expediting an appeal of Kaplan’s order -- to dissolve the injunction.
“The preliminary injunction directly intrudes into the external administration of Ecuadorian justice because recognition and enforcement of Ecuadorian judgments are issues each state is permitted to decide freely,” argued the law scholars, who are led by Donald K. Anton of the Australian National University College of Law in Canberra.
Those signing include public international scholars from South Africa, Spain, Finland, Italy and the United States. All made it clear they were not taking a position on the merits of underlying case.
The law scholars wrote that Kaplan’s injunction violates international law, interferes in the foreign relations of the U.S., would potentially expose the U.S. to legal claims from Ecuador, and would be impossible to enforce.
The scholars also argued that neither Kaplan nor Chevron “has cited any statute, rule, case or treaty” that would authorize the injunction.
Besides Anton of the Australian National University College of Law, the brief was signed by Professor Werner Scholtz of South Africa; Professor Belen Olmos Giupponi of Spain; Professor Timo Koivurova of Finland; Professor Laura Westra of the University of Milan; and several U.S. scholars, including Professor James D. Wilets, Chair of the Inter-American Center for Human Rights at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale.
The Ecuadorians, members of 80 indigenous and farmer communities, recently won the judgment after an eight-year trial in Ecuador. They originally filed the case in U.S. federal court in 1993, but in 2002 a judge granted Chevron’s request to shift the case to Ecuador after the oil giant praised that country’s courts as fair and transparent.
The Ecuador trial court in February found Chevron liable for dumping billions of gallons of toxic waste into the waterways of the Amazon, poisoning an area the size of Rhode Island and decimating indigenous groups with oil-related diseases such as cancer. The company operated in Ecuador from 1964 to 1992.
Chevron began to attack Ecuador’s courts in 2004 after the scientific evidence in the trial pointed to its culpability. As a judgment in Ecuador was imminent, Chevron convinced Kaplan to issue the injunction without conducting an evidentiary hearing and after rejecting attempts by the Ecuadorians and their counsel to submit evidence.
While presiding over the case, Kaplan seemed to mock the Ecuadorian indigenous groups in his comments from the bench. He speculated that the lawsuit was part of a “game” brought about by “the imagination of American lawyers” trying to solve the balance of payments deficit of the U.S.
Kaplan also seemed to question the existence of the plaintiffs by using the modifier “so-called” when writing about them in his decisions. The Ecuadorians have requested that the appellate court order Kaplan off the case because of his “deep-seated antagonism” toward their lawsuit (http://chevrontoxico.com/assets/docs/2011-petition-writ-mandamus.pdf).
The Ecuadorians have rejected Kaplan’s jurisdiction and say they will seek lawful enforcement of their judgment in countries where Chevron has assets, said Karen Hinton, the spokesperson for the Ecuadorian plaintiffs.
A three-judge panel in New York is expected to hear argument on Kaplan’s injunction in late July or early August. An Ecuador appellate panel is also reviewing the Ecuador trial judge’s decision, which was challenged by both parties.
The international law scholars submitted one of five amicus briefs asking the appellate court to dissolve Kaplan’s injunction. Others were submitted by the government of Ecuador; Professor Bert Neuborne of New York University School of Law; Earth Rights International; and the Environmental Defender Law Center.
#
Contact
Amazon Defense Coalition
13 June 2011 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karen Hinton at 703-798-3109 or Karen@hintoncommunications.com