Tuesday, April 3, 2012

African Cinema Explodes on the Web


Ousmane Sembène (January 1, 1923 — June 9, 2007)

The Father of African Cinema, Ousmane Sembene was assuredly one of the most prominent figures in African film and literature. One of Sembène's goals had always been to touch the widest possible audience and at age 40 he decided to become a film maker producing his first film, a short called ‘Borom Sarret’ (1963). During the following year (1964), he made another short film entitled ‘Niaye’. In 1966 he produced his first feature film ‘Black Girl’, the first feature film ever released by a sub-Saharan African director. This French-language film won the Prix Jean Vigo, bringing international attention to both African films generally and Sembène specifically.


3 Apr 2012 13:05 Africa/Lagos

African Cinema Explodes on the Web

As Africa Dominates the Headlines, South Africa's M-Net Launches the African Film Library, a Video on Demand (VOD) Service
Centerpiece of Award-Winning African Film Collection Is the Work of Ousmane Sembene, the "Father of African Cinema"

NEW YORK, April 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As the democratic process in Africa grows momentum and the people express their will, news from the Continent continues to dominate the headlines. The people are increasingly challenging the status quo, their efforts recalling the works and philosophy of the late author and director Ousmane Sembene, known as the "Father of African Cinema." Sembene's life work was designed to get Africans to reject deeply embedded colonial views of themselves and to recognize their collective power to solve Africa's problems. Now his films, and those of other award-winning directors, will be available for rental through digital download as Electronic Media Network (M-Net), the South African-based corporate broadcaster, producer and distributor, launches the largest-ever collection of award-winning African cinema content, the African Film Library. The Video On Demand (VOD) collection at www.africanfilmlibrary.com will provide film lovers around the world with easy and affordable access through digital download to 110 films from some of the most creative minds in the industry, while providing African filmmakers a much-needed global distribution platform.

The African Film Library's premiere will be marked by the online release of 14 films by or about Sembene. A native of the West African nation of Senegal, Sembene was first a celebrated novelist; the Los Angeles Times called him one of Africa's greatest authors. At 40, yearning to inspire social change and to reach a wider audience in Africa, he directed the first film by a sub-Saharan African, the 1963 short Borom Sarret (The Wagoner). The auteur went on to direct many feature films, cinematic works meant to help Africans liberate themselves from mental yolks that lingered long after independence from colonial rule and to urge collective action in overcoming societal ills. "Africa must get beyond deriving everything from the European view. Africa must consider itself, recognize its problems, and attempt to resolve them," said Sembene.

One of the oldest film industries in the world, African cinema—which began with Ain el Ghezel (The Girl of Carthage), the 1924 Tunisian film by Chemama Chikly—has long been overlooked by those outside the continent as being limited to educational, documentary-style productions. The programming available through the African Film Library, however, dispels this myth with a melange of short and feature films spanning the genres of comedy, drama, musical and sci-fi, both narrative and documentary.

M-Net has negotiated the rights to around 700 works. The launch is the culmination of a project which began more than three years ago and has seen the digitization and restoration of the continent's finest cinematic titles.

Film rentals are $5.00 per movie and can be accessed by registering and purchasing credits at www.africanfilmlibrary.com. Users are then able to watch the film multiple times within a 36-hour period.



SOURCE Electronic Media Network (M-Net)


CONTACT: Cheryl Duncan & Company, Inc.: Cheryl Duncan, +1-201-332-8338, cheryl@cherylduncanpr.com

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



2012 Travelers' Choice Hotels for Families


TripAdvisor’s 2012 Travelers’ Choice Hotels for Families reveals Treasure Island Resort & Holiday Park in Biggera Waters, Australia is the #1 world large hotel for families.

Select Travelers' Choice Hotels for Families Award Winners:

Top 10 World Large Hotels and Resorts:

  1. Treasure Island Resort & Holiday Park, Biggera Waters, Australia
  2. KeyLime Cove Resort and Water Park, Gurnee, Illinois
  3. Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, Highland, New York
  4. Hope Lake Lodge & Conference Center, Cortland, New York
  5. Protur Bonaire Aparthotel, Cala Bona, Spain
  6. Holiday Village Rhodes, Kolimbia, Greece
  7. Beaches Turks & Caicos, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
  8. Aparthotel Playa Mar, Port de Pollenca, Spain
  9. Alfagar II Aparthotel, Albufeira, Portugal
  10. Aquafantasy Aquapark Hotel & Spa, Selcuk, Turkey

Top 10 U.S. Large Hotels and Resorts:

  1. KeyLime Cove Resort and Water Park, Gurnee, Illinois
  2. Rocking Horse Ranch Resort, Highland, New York
  3. Hope Lake Lodge & Conference Center, Cortland, New York
  4. Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Orlando, Florida
  5. WorldQuest Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida
  6. Woodloch Pines Resort, Hawley, Pennsylvania
  7. Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa, Orlando, Florida
  8. Marriott's Harbour Lake, Orlando, Florida
  9. Floridays Resort Orlando, Orlando, Florida
  10. Homewood Suites by Hilton Anaheim-Main Gate Area, Garden Grove, California

Top 10 U.S. Small Hotels and Motels:

  1. Pollace's Family Vacation Resort, Catskill, New York
  2. Starlight Motel & Luxury Suites, Ortley Beach, New Jersey
  3. Lampliter Oceanside Resorts, Wildwood Crest, New Jersey
  4. VIP Motel, Wildwood Crest, New Jersey
  5. Echo Motel & Oceanfront Cottages, Old Orchard Beach, Maine
  6. Sierra Sands Family Lodge, Mears, Michigan
  7. Park Vue Inn, Anaheim, California
  8. Country Inn & Suites Hershey at the Park, Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
  9. The Suites at Hershey, Hershey, Pennsylvania
  10. Sun Viking Lodge, Daytona Beach, Florida

For the complete list of the 2012 Travelers' Choice Hotels for Families, go to http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Family





Jobs and Job Interviews in Nigeria



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2 Apr 2012 15:00 Africa/Lagos

Online Labor Demand Rises 246,300 in March, The Conference Board Reports

-- Labor demand up 473,100 over the last 4 months
-- 1.8 million gain in labor demand since the official end of the recession (June 2009)
-- Sales and Related occupations see a large increase in March

NEW YORK, April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Online advertised vacancies rose 246,300 in March to 4,669,600, according to The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine® (HWOL) Data Series released today. The March rise is the fourth consecutive monthly rise. The Supply/Demand rate stands at 2.9 unemployed for every vacancy; however, nationally there are still 8.4 million more unemployed than advertised vacancies.

"The March sharp rise in labor demand continued to narrow the gap between the unemployed and available job opportunities," said June Shelp, Vice President at The Conference Board. Nationally advertised vacancies are 60 percent above their levels in June 2009, the official end of the great recession. However, that increase has varied greatly among the States with some Midwestern States exceeding the national average, including Minnesota (+ 121%); Ohio (+ 102%); Wisconsin (+ 95%); Indiana (+ 92%); and Michigan (+86%). Some states where the housing market tank — including Nevada (+ 21%) and New Mexico (+ 24%) — remain well below the national average while other States like Florida (+50%), where the housing market was also an issue, showed more resiliency.


REGIONAL AND STATE HIGHLIGHTS


In March all of the largest States except Pennsylvania post gains
12 of the 20 largest States are on an upward trend in job demand

In March the South gained 74,700 advertised vacancies, with gains in all six of its largest States. Texas was up 19,000, reflecting increases of 11%+ over the last four months for labor demand in the metro areas of Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Virginia gained 9,200 for a combined three-month gain of 14,300. North Carolina rose 6,700 bringing its two-month increase to 8,500. Maryland gained 5,800 for a combined two-month gain of 9,600. Georgia was up 4,800 in March. Florida rose 2,400. Among the less populous States in the South, Tennessee rose 7,800, South Carolina increased by 1,600, Louisiana gained 1,200, and Arkansas gained 900.

The West gained 61,700 advertised vacancies, reflecting gains in all four of its largest States. California had by far the largest increase, 23,300. Over the past four months, labor demand in California was up 80,200 with gains in all of its larger metro areas, led by notable increases of 21.7 percent in San Diego and 20.6 percent in Sacramento. Washington State gained 9,600. Colorado rose 4,400 while Arizona gained a mere 500. Among the less populous States in the region, Oregon rose 4,300; Nevada gained 2,600; and Utah rose 1,500.

The Midwest region gained 48,800 vacancies in March. Ohio experienced the largest gain — 8,700 — and, at 181,900 advertised vacancies, reached its highest level since the HWOL series began in May 2005. Minnesota rose 6,700. Missouri rose 5,600 for a combined two-month gain of 8,200. Michigan gained 5,200 for a two-month gain of 6,500. Wisconsin rose 4,700. Illinois gained 1,600. Among the less populous States in the Midwest, Indiana gained 5,100, Kansas rose 1,800, South Dakota gained 1,300, and North Dakota rose 600.

Labor demand in March in the Northeast rose 23,100, which included a rise of 9,300 in New York. New York is up 17,700 over the last four months with the New York metro area up 14.8 percent and Rochester up 12.2 percent. New Jersey rose 7,100 while Massachusetts gained 4,900 for a combined four-month gain of 11,500. Pennsylvania was down 1,700 in March. Among the smaller States in the Northeast, the number of advertised vacancies in Connecticut fell by 300. Maine rose 1,000 in March while New Hampshire gained 1,400 and Rhode Island gained 300.

The Supply/Demand rate for the U.S. in February (the latest month for which the national unemployment number is available) stood at 2.90, indicating that there are just under 3 unemployed workers for every online advertised vacancy. Nationally, there are 8.4 million more unemployed workers than advertised vacancies.

The Supply/Demand rates for the states are for February 2012, the latest month available for unemployment data. The number of advertised vacancies exceeded the number of unemployed only in North Dakota, where the Supply/Demand rate was 0.88. States with the next lowest rates included South Dakota (1.23), Nebraska (1.28), Vermont (1.41), Alaska (1.56), Minnesota (1.60), and New Hampshire (1.68). The State with the highest Supply/Demand rate is Mississippi (5.97), where there are nearly 6 unemployed workers for every online advertised vacancy. Other States where there were more than 4 unemployed workers for every advertised vacancy included Nevada (4.42) and Kentucky (4.13).

It should be noted that the Supply/Demand rate only provides a measure of relative tightness of the individual State labor markets and does not suggest that the occupations of the unemployed directly align with the occupations of the advertised vacancies.

METRO AREA HIGHLIGHTS

19 of the 20 largest metro areas posted gains in labor demand in March
San Francisco up 7 percent in March.

In March, 19 of the 20 large MSAs posted increases in the number of online advertised vacancies. Overall 47 of the 52 metropolitan areas for which data are reported separately also showed increases in March.

A number of the largest metro areas have shown real strength since the official end of the recession in June 2009. Four have posted increases of over 100 percent since then: Cleveland, up 142%; Minneapolis-St. Paul, up 124%; Detroit, up 116%; and San Jose, up 112%.

Six MSAs had Supply/Demand rates in January 2012 (the latest available data for unemployment) below 2, indicating there fewer than two unemployed for every advertised vacancy. Washington, DC continues to have the most favorable Supply/Demand rate (1.21) with about one advertised vacancy for every unemployed worker. Minneapolis-St. Paul (1.36), Boston (1.54), Oklahoma City (1.63), and Salt Lake City (1.67) were metropolitan locations with the next lowest Supply/Demand rates.

Metro areas where the number of unemployed is substantially above the number of online advertised vacancies include Riverside, CA — with over 8 unemployed workers for every advertised vacancy (8.23) — Sacramento (4.56), Miami (4.53), Las Vegas (4.47), Los Angeles (4.19), and Memphis (4.04). Supply/Demand rate data are for January 2012, the latest month for which unemployment data for local areas are available.

OCCUPATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Supply/Demand rates range widely for the 22 major occupational categories
Labor demand for retail sales help rises in March
Demand for Healthcare practitioners dipped in March but job opportunities continue to outnumber unemployed looking for jobs

Changes for the Month of March

In March, nineteen of the 22 Standard Occupational Classifications (SOC codes) that are reported separately posted gains and three declined.

Among the top 10 occupation groups with the largest numbers of online advertised vacancies, demand for Sales and Related workers rose 35,900 to 596,500 and was led by an increase in demand for Retail Salespeople and First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Retail Sales Workers. The number of unemployed in this occupational category continues to outnumber the number of advertised vacancies by over 2 to 1 (S/D of 2.30) but is substantially below the slightly over four unemployed for every available advertised vacancy in April and May 2009.

Labor demand for Computer and Mathematical Science workers rose 25,800 to 620,700. Over the past four months, labor demand has increased by 77,100. The higher demand included increases for Computer Systems Analysts and Applications Computer Software Engineers. The number of advertised vacancies in this occupational category continues to outnumber job-seekers by over 3 to 1 (0.28 S/D based on February data, the latest unemployment data available).

Demand for Management occupations rose 25,700 to 461,200 for a combined four-month increase of 56,600. Responsible for the rise was higher demand for Marketing Managers and General and Operations Managers. The number of unemployed in these occupations was just over one (1.39) unemployed for every advertised vacancy in March and significantly below the almost three (2.9) unemployed for every advertised vacancy at the HWOL series high in October 2009.

Labor demand for Office and Administrative Support occupations rose 22,700 to 476,900 for a gain of 50,100 since January, but the March level is still slightly below the level of demand in late 2011. Largely responsible for the March increase was higher demand for Customer Service Representatives and Executive Secretaries and Administrative Assistants. The number of unemployed in these occupations remains above the number of advertised vacancies with close to 3.6 unemployed for every advertised vacancy.

Business and Financial Operations positions increased by 17,100 to 268,100 advertised vacancies in March. Accountants, Training and Development Specialists, and Financial Analysts were among the advertised vacancies that showed increases. In this field there are 1.56 unemployed workers for every advertised vacancy.

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical occupations fell 18,800 in March to 578,100. Largely responsible for the drop were decreased advertised vacancies for Registered Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech Pathologists, and Physical Therapists. The number of advertised vacancies in this occupational category continues to be quite favorable and outnumbers job-seekers by 2.4 to 1 (0.41 S/D).

The Trend in Production Occupations

In March the demand for production workers reached a series high of 148,000 — 6,000 above last month's number and 10,000 above the previous series high of 138,000 in December 2005. Production jobs, or the jobs typically associated with manufacturing, declined sharply from early 2007 and bottomed in May 2009 at 56,000. "Labor demand for production workers, which was not consistently strong in 2011, has risen over the last few months and hopefully will remain strong throughout 2012," said Shelp.

There were still over six unemployed workers for every advertised vacancy in production jobs, but it is significantly improved form the situation in June 2009, when there were over 25 unemployed for every vacancy.

Nationally the production jobs in highest demand included First-Line Supervisors and Managers, Machinists, and Helpers. Line Supervisors and Managers were in high demand in several states including California, Ohio, and Texas. In California, in addition to supervisors, online advertised jobs included Testers, Sorters, Samplers and Weighers, and Machinists. In Ohio the openings are in First-Line Supervisors / Managers of Production and Operating Workers, Helpers – Production Workers, and Machinists. High-demand opening in Texas include First-Line Supervisors / Managers of Production and Operating Workers, Welders, Cutters, and Welder Fitters, and Machinists.


PROGRAM NOTES


The Conference Board Help Wanted OnLine ® Data Series (HWOL) measures the number of new, first-time online jobs and jobs reposted from the previous month on more than 1,000 major Internet job sites and smaller job sites that serve niche markets and smaller geographic areas.

Like The Conference Board's long-running Help Wanted Advertising Index of print ads (which was published for over 55 years and discontinued in February 2008) the online series is not a direct measure of job vacancies. The level of ads in print and online can change for reasons not related to overall job demand.

The HWOL data series began in May 2005. With the September, 2008 release, HWOL began providing seasonally adjusted data for the U.S., the nine Census regions and the 50 States. Seasonally adjusted data for occupations were provided beginning with the May 2009 release and seasonally adjusted data for the 52 largest metropolitan areas began with the March 2012 release. .

People using this data are urged to review the information on the database and methodology available on The Conference Board website and contact us with questions and comments. Background information and technical notes and discussion of revisions to the series are available at: http://www.conference-board.org/data/helpwantedonline.cfm.

The underlying online job listings data for this series is provided by WANTED Technologies Corporation. Additional information on the Bureau of Labor Statistics data used in this release can be found on the BLS website, www.bls.gov.

The Conference Board

The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest. Our mission is unique: To provide the world's leading organizations with the practical knowledge they need to improve their performance and better serve society. The Conference Board is a non-advocacy, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States.

WANTED Technologies Corporation.

WANTED is a leading supplier of real-time sales and business intelligence solutions for the media classified and recruitment industries. Using its proprietary On-Demand data mining, lead generation and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) integrated technologies, WANTED aggregates real-time data from thousands of online job sites and newspaper sites, as well as corporate websites on a daily basis. WANTED's data is used to optimize sales and to implement marketing strategies within the classified ad departments of major media organizations, as well as by staffing firms, advertising agencies and human resources specialists. For more information, please visit: http://www.wantedtech.com.

The release schedule, national historic table and technical notes to this series are available on The Conference Board website, http://www.conference-board.org/data/helpwantedonline.cfm. The underlying data for The Conference Board HWOL are provided by Wanted Technologies Corporation.

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SOURCE The Conference Board

CONTACT: Peter Tulupman, +1-212-339-0231, peter.tulupman@conference-board.org; Jonathan Liu, +1-212-339-0257, jonathan.liu@conference-board.org

Web Site: http://www.conference-board.org



Monday, April 2, 2012

The Smartest Kid In The Bronx



Latin Heritage Foundation Publisher Announces The New Book, 'The Smartest Kid In The Bronx'

Gualdo Hidalgo, Latin Heritage Foundation Publisher, is proud to announce the release of the alluring book, 'The Smartest Kid in the Bronx,' featuring talented writers from India, Canada, England, Nigeria, Philippines, China, Romania, China, USA, Germany and other countries.

WASHINGTON, N.J., April 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- New anthology, 'The Smartest Kid in the Bronx,' contains both fictional and non fictional stories such as the compelling account of friendship of two high school boys whose lives takes surprising paths and dreadful destinies; the knotty immigrants' experiences; One People, One Love: random thoughts and aspirations; the descriptive feeling of sitting in a world above the Earth with an option of being immortal; about the grief weighing heavy upon the hearts of soldiers; the recount of the ones chosen to leave our homes; the battle for relevance in life; about not having fears, and more fascinating short stories.

The non-fictional section comprises stories about finding culture in Barcelona; whispers of change; the mundane condition; the million time rejections; the have and the have-nots; some children are lucky and how to attract women.

The authors produce real art that comes to the deeper intricacies of the soul of every human being. Their stories come from places geographically and culturally diversified but each story shows a serenade of love and universal feelings, expressing the most important values as are the constant questioning of man's relationship to life and the vicissitudes that it offers.

Reading and enjoyment of this work allows a better understanding of the World. According to Mariela Hidalgo, the editor, the release of this anthology is the best example of Latin Heritage Foundation interest to promote the rich values of universal culture.

Deeply linked to the vicissitudes of history, the stories express both everyday reality and the mythic roots of its inhabitants. This is, without doubt, the form of creative writing more rooted in the World oral tradition.

The authors have earned a place in this book because they venture and penetrate the interior of the magic kingdom of literature and all the subtle range of feelings, motivations and commitments that such engagement involves.

The book is available at Amazon and Latin Heritage Foundation website's Web Store page, http://www.latinhf.com/apps/webstore/

SOURCE Latin Heritage Foundation

CONTACT: Mariela B. Bonachea of Latin Heritage Foundation, +1-908-935-1045, http://www.latinhf.com/, literaryagent@latinhf.com

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





Geographic Information, A Key to Economic Development in Africa



Geographic information, a key to economic development in Africa / Regional Seminar - April 3, 2012 - Ouagadougou

OUAGADOUGOU, April 2 2012/African Press Organization (APO) / - IGN France International and the IGN (National Geographic Information and forestry - http://www.ignfi.fr), in close cooperation with the Geographic Institute of Burkina Faso (IGB), the Economic Commission for Africa, and ESRI, organized on April 3 in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) a regional seminar on the theme: "National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI): what value added for emerging countries? ".


Logo: http://www.apo-mail.org/ignfi.jpg


Program: http://www.apo-mail.org/ignfi_fr.pdf


This seminar comes as more and more aware that geomatics is one of the keys to economic development, many African countries enter into discussions or undertake the implementation of infrastructure projects of national geographic data. Several countries such as Mali, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Nigeria are the forerunners although progress is needed in Africa to raise awareness of the importance of geographic information. Valued, it can indeed improve the competitiveness of state agencies and the private sector, facilitates decision making at the highest level, and optimizes public expenditure in general, reinforces good governance.


But while eager to carry out these projects, most countries face difficulties in mobilizing the necessary resources, whether financial, technical or human. Necessarily the role to be played by motor highest political reluctance or difficulties encountered are often underestimated.


This regional event which will bring together leading decision makers in fifteen African countries and representatives of major donors on this issue, will focus on different aspects to consider in these very ambitious projects that engage successfully . Testimony from several African countries will enhance trade.


By valuing the experience of those who have already undertaken a proactive approach in the field, the seminar will therefore encourage the sharing of experiences. It will also take stock of the road map to follow and the different phases that mark these essential projects, from design to implementation and finally, we will look towards Europe, which he initiated Several years ago this same discussion with the implementation of the INSPIRE Directive.


In addition to the Burkinabe policy makers, delegations from several African countries including Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Guinea, Uganda ..., will travel. Please note the participation of Minister of Infrastructure and the opening of Burkina Faso, Mr. Ouedraogo, the Ambassador of France and Head of Delegation of the European Union in Burkina Faso.


Distributed by the African Press Organization for IGN France International.


Contact

Aude Areste LAMENDOUR

alamendour@ignfi.fr - + 226 72 06 30 65


IGN France International (http://www.ignfi.fr) since 1986 is the international subsidiary of IGN. It is an indispensable interlocutor in its two areas: geographic information (acquisition, processing, modeling) and geographic information systems (installation and integration). It works on all types of projects in the following sectors: land, land use, environmental risks, agriculture ....


Find projects by IGN France International by visiting http://www.ignfi.com


Source: IGN France International



How To Reduce Inmates in Nigerian Prisons



National Assembly, how to reduce prison congestion caused by Awaiting-Trial Inmates in Nigeria.

~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D.

Over the years much have been said about decongesting prison population in Nigeria, yet the ever-growing population of people awaiting trials continues persistently.
It is believed that 36,217 or so out of a population of about 74, 000 inmates, are suffering at various prisons without undergoing trial for years. This is certainly no fault of the prison management.

The legislative arm of the government have had hearings on this national challenge, yet the Nigeria prison authorities remain helpless as their prisons remain dumping grounds for all sort of cases from the police and the courts. The current troubles of the entire criminal justice system of Nigeria which is a direct result of decades of out dated governmental and administrative policies keeps the police, prisons and the judicial continuously in a state of dislocation and lack of proper linkages in terms of functional roles and workable connections.

Consequently, the prisons have become overwhelmed with the pressures of overpopulation, congestion and destabilization.

The effects of congestion and of having overpopulated number of awaiting inmates as well as institutionalizing them along with convicted inmates make the Nigerian prisons grounds for developing psychological or mental health as well as physical ailments.

Our courts remain overburdened with no clear system of modern resolution-based placement systems as in incarceration, probation, community control, community supervision, home supervision, and other diversion or controlled alternative methods. As a result, our prison system is left in a state of chronic congestion, crowdedness and security risk.

It is a fact that the increasing number of mentally ill persons has continued to contribute to congestion of the courts and consequently the prisons. Yet the federal government continues to have no clear system of removing the severely mentally ill inmates from our overburdened prisons.

One common sense way to seek solution to the increasing prison congestion is to create policies that will assist in differentiating the meaning of a jail and its use as against the role of a prison.

There is a place for holding offenders awaiting trials for various crimes, they are called jails. The Nigeria correctional Service with adequate technical assistance, expert help, and special financial resources could open separate jails.
As it stands now there is currently a lack of unified jail/prison effectiveness with regard to utilization systems.

The jail in every rational and contemporary society operates on a short term basis, while the prison is all about long-term punishment.

By designation, jails are locally operated by municipalities or local councils, or even by private corporations in advanced countries but in the case of Nigeria the federal government could set up, manage or operate jails in various towns as it is currently the practice with prisons.

Jails are used to hold individuals waiting for trial, or in the middle of legal proceedings, and certainly, and they are not located within the prison environment.
Jails, in many cases, serve as settings for serving a short term sentence, such as 364 days or less than a year.

Usually, the prison, by designation, operates as a federal penal system where convicted felons (not misdemeanor convicts) are kept for at least a year or more.
Both jails and prisons are supposed to have up-to-date classification, therapeutic and mental health systems to help in the areas of general placement, re-entry of the mentally ill into the society and in the discharge of inmates.

On the other hand, the prison setting has minimum, medium and maximum custody levels for felons. Some convicts, who are almost completing their sentences in prison, could be placed in what are known as prison-operated halfway houses, community-based restitution programs and work release centers.

Also, it is essential to treat rather than punish the mentally disordered, terminally ill offenders and drug addicts in highly supervised mental health/home-based centers. There is no reason why the Federal Ministry of Interior cannot create jails, as extension of the police and courts to hold criminal violators awaiting trial, to house persons revoked of their probation status, or serve those under short term sentences.

Yes, there are going to be challenges in a society with a dysfunctional system of telecommunication, poorly codified street/home address and poorly-lit roads, adequate house arrest and probation systems. But we can try.

However, these alternatives to lock-up remain essential as they will make the correctional system function better financially, cost-wise and organizationally. These alternatives also help reduce the pattern of making prisons dumping ground or dumpsites, especially for those with little means or nuisance to families or society.
Note that if there are no improvements in our courts in terms of providing adequate system of court administration or record management, we will remain disorganized as such system helps to account fully for the status of a case, or to track a case up to the penal system.

The unbearable prison backlog for persons in the middle of legal proceedings will continue if the entire criminal justice system, the correctional system especially does not get the modern help it deserves from the legislature. No reasonable mind or government wants our prison system to remain an unsafe or inadequate place for managing inmates or convicts.



~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., is a Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association (NPA), Abuja. E-mail: Jos5930458@aol.com. Tel: 08126909839.




Sunday, April 1, 2012

14th Ceremony for the L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards For Women in Science


The 2012 Laureates and International Fellows gathered on stage after a week dedicated to exciting scientific exchanges.

14th Ceremony for the L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards For Women in Science:


Laureate for Africa and the Arab States, Jill Farrant (South Africa) is Professor of molecular and cell biology at the University of Cape Town. She has been recognised for discovering how plants survive under dry conditions.

L’Oréal and UNESCO renew their support for science



Laureate for Latin America, Susana López (Mexico) is a Professor of Genetics and Molecular Physiology at the National University of Mexico. She has been recognised for her studies on rotaviruses that cause the death of 600,000 children each year.

PARIS 30 March/PRNewswire/ – The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards Ceremony, presided by Professor Günter Blobel, Nobel Prize in Medicine 1999, took place last night at UNESCO headquarters. Five exceptional women scientists who contribute to resolving major global challenges were distinguished by the awards, presented by Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO and Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, Chairman of the L’Oréal Corporate Foundation.



Laureate for Asia-Pacific, Ingrid Scheffer (Australia) is a paediatric neurologist and Professor at the University of Melbourne. She has been awarded for identifying genes involved in some forms of epilepsy.



Laureate for Europe, Frances Ashcroft (United Kingdom) is a Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics Professor at the Oxford University. She was honored for advancing our understanding of insulin secretion and of neonatal diabetes.

Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, commented, “In order to meet the challenges of the future, we must encourage science and women’s potential.”
Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, Chairman of the L’Oréal Corporate Foundation reaffirmed, “This award has changed the lives of numerous scientific women. In becoming emblematic of the ethical commitment of our company, this program has inspired and motivated us all.”

For more information, visit : www.fwis2012.com

Press contacts:

L’Oréal
Catherine Rose / +33 1 47 56 85 42 / catherine.rose@loreal.com
Laura Lovasik / +33 1 47 56 76 77 / laura.lovasik@loreal.com

Publicis Consultants
Florence Marin / +33 1 44 82 45 17 / florence.marin@consultants.publicis.fr
Colette Genin / +33 1 44 82 45 31 / colette.genin@consultants.publicis.fr

UNESCO Press Office
Sue Williams / +33 1 45 68 17 06 / s.williams@unesco.org
http://www.unesco.org


About the L’Oréal Foundation


The L’Oréal Foundation, created in 2007, pursues the goal of making the world a better place each day. It draws on the Group’s values and business to strengthen and perpetuate the Group’s commitment to social responsibility. As the second-largest corporate foundation in France, the L’Oréal Foundation is committed to three types of action: promoting scientific research in the fundamental and human sciences, supporting education and helping individuals made vulnerable by alternations to their appearance to reclaim their rightful place in society.


About UNESCO


Since its creation in 1945, UNESCO has pursued its mission of promoting science at the service of sustainable development and peace. It focuses on policy development and building capacities in science, technology and innovation and promoting and strengthening science education and engineering. UNESCO fosters the sustainable management of freshwater, oceans and terrestrial resources, the protection of biodiversity, and using the power of science to cope with climate change and natural hazards. The Organization also works to eliminate all forms of discrimination and to promote equality between men and women, especially in scientific research.



President Obama, View Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Through Your Own Lens


Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

President Obama, View Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Through Your Own Lens

~ By John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D.

Mr. President, throughout your life you have always believed that ‘may the best win’ and with this philosophy the world believed in you, and today as the President of the free world, you remain the pride of America, Africa and the entire globe.

In the same vein, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria who is currently a nominee for President of the World Bank ought to be viewed by you through your own lens.

Through the possibilities of individual achievement, personal merit, adept background, and celebrated expertise in public and private works you became America’s first African-American President.

This American historic presidency happened amidst backgrounds like racist attacks, ethnic animosity and social antagonism toward you in terms of your cultural and ancestral history.


President Barack Obama and Dr. Jim Yong Kim.

Sir, you will agree that what could not be questioned successfully were your impeccable credentials as a candidate for the presidency.
Along these lines of reasoning the extremely public picture you are pushing against Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala compare to your candidate, Dr. Jim Yong Kim is far from who you are in terms of both words and deeds.

In the last few days there is an unbelievable display of unfairness against the psychology of merit, expertness and measured experience in favor of undue power and influence—the America might.

President Obama, if the World Bank is an international financial institution which provides aids and finances to developing countries for capital programs, how does a man with proficiency in infectious diseases, anthropology and university administration occupy and take on such financial headship?

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as you are truly aware of is a woman with a far reaching wealth of experience in world economy, in emerging economies, in economics, in finance and in government.

Yet, you Sir appear to be trying to impose an American public-health professor on the affairs of the World Bank and could this be unconsciously or consciously due to the reality that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is from black Africa, from a purported notorious society, and of a female background?

Sir, some of these characterizations is what you successfully fought against in terms of your being black and different in racist America.

Sir, sure it is civically proper that you support an American and one of your citizens for any global position. But here is the reality.

This World Bank position is about who has more qualifications and experience. While Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala comes from a nakedly driven culture of corruption—Nigeria, she presents as a woman within the black Africa community who has struggled individually and pulled herself up by her own bootstraps and now wants to use her skills and efforts as well as her knowledge about the world stage to help emerging nations.

Sir, there is certainly nothing wrong with this type of course especially when you have always fought for persons that have pulled themselves up through their own bootstraps.

Sir, you must not allow a well-educated, a well experienced and a solution driven authority like this woman to back down for a questionable and unsuitable American nominee like Dr. Jim Yong Kim, at least by the standards of the widely known reputable London-based weekly publication, The Economist.

Sir, you have always demanded of America and the world in general; that fairness and clearness must always be respected. So if the World Bank presidency position is contested under the air of freedom, fairness and transparency your long distance sister will win the presidential race for the World Bank.

~ John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D., is the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Psychological Association (NPA), Abuja. E-mail: Jos5930458@aol.com. Tel: 08126909839.



Friday, March 30, 2012

The Future of Facebook and the Business of Journalism



Tom Miale and Thomas Hynes recap their fourth day at SXSW Interactive 2012. Hear them discuss branding opportunities, the future of Facebook, the business of journalism and everything else they saw, learned and heard.



RIM To Give Away 2000 BlackBerry 10 Phones at BlackBerry Jam in May


Research in Motion (RIM) To Give Away 2000 BlackBerry 10 Phones at BlackBerry Jam in May.


BB spectrum of beauty and technology.

Research in Motion has decided to go for broke by giving away 2, 000 handsets of the new BlackBerry 10 according to reports from the troubled Canadian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario.
But the 2, 000 phones are not for every Tom, Dick and Harry.