Tag Archives: Obama

Obama on Mideast Unrest / Clinton on Internet Freedom / African American Visionaries

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President Obama urges Middle East governments to respect the aspirations of their people. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton returns to the subject of Internet freedom. The United States and Ukraine agree on human trafficking and other issues. Finally, explore a photo gallery of some African American “visionaries.”

Obama Urges Mideast Reform
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The political unrest that has spread from Tunisia to Egypt and elsewhere in the region comes as young people are seeking greater opportunities and ways of improving their lives, President Obama says. Obama urges governments in the region to “get out ahead of change,” and respond to their peoples’ aspirations in a manner that doesn’t lead to violence. “You can’t maintain power through coercion. At some level in any society, there has to be consent,” he says.

 
 
Secretary Clinton on Internet Freedom
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An open, secure Internet that is accessible to all is crucial to economic prosperity, says Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in a speech at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The struggle for Internet freedom is a struggle for human rights, human freedom and human dignity, says Clinton.

Wide Ranging U.S.-Ukraine Talks
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko sign a new cooperative plan to combat human trafficking in the Ukraine, and a plan to strengthen the East European nation’s energy security. Also discussed during their meeting: cooperation on nuclear proliferation, Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its democracy, food security, HIV/AIDS, and ways for Ukraine to develop domestic energy resources and attract greater private investment.

Dorothy HeightVisionaries: African Americans Tell Their Stories
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For nearly a decade, the nonprofit National Visionary Leadership Project collected the oral histories of extraordinary African-Americans who helped shape America’s culture and history. This photo gallery takes a look at some of them. At left, the late civil rights activist Dorothy Height.

Calls for Calm in Egypt / Obama’s Agenda / When Trust is a Must

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The U.S. calls for calm in unrest-torn Egypt and urges governments in the Middle East and North Africa to engage with protesters. Obama’s newly minted agenda for 2011 America will require the backing of Congress. Financial companies need the public’s trust.

Close-up of Secretary Clinton

Democracy in Egypt
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urges an orderly and peaceful transition to democratic and economic reforms in Egypt, but also acknowledges that it will take considerable time. In a series of television news interviews, Clinton, above, said that violence, looting or criminal acts will not move the political process forward in a productive way that will be satisfying for the Egyptian people.

U.S. Calls for Calm in Egypt
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The Obama administration calls on the Egyptian government to restrain its security personnel and on anti-government protesters to express themselves peacefully as it continues to monitor the country through its fourth consecutive day of political unrest. “These protests underscore that there are deep grievances within Egyptian society, and the Egyptian government needs to understand that violence will not make these grievances go away,” says Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

U.S. Urges Engagement with Mideast Protesters
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The Obama administration urges governments in the Middle East and North Africa to “actively respond” to the concerns of younger populations who are voicing their protests in the streets. 

Obama’s Agenda Need Support on Capitol Hill
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In his State of the Union President Obama called for new investments in education, infrastructure and technology, among other items, but his plans will go nowhere without backing on Capitol Hill. Spending and other economic issues will likely dominate the first few months of the new Congress, two former representatives tell participants in a U.S. Department of State digital video conference.

Companies Bank on Trust
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Reports of excessive executive compensations, greed, irresponsible risk-taking and a lack of transparency have amounted to the greatest challenge to financial companies’ credibility in years. It has also been a wake-up call to companies in all sectors.

Chinese President Hu’s State Visit / Remembering Sargent Shriver / New York Arabic Music

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Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with President Obama and other U.S. officials during a one day state visit. R. Sargent Shriver dies at 95. The vote in Southern Sudan represents an “historic milestone.” The U.S. brings street lights and new security to Kabul, Afghanistan. And finally, meet Arab-American Singer Gaida and her New York Arabic music.

President Hu’s State Visit
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President Obama welcomes China’s President Hu Jintao to the White House calling for greater cooperation in security and economic relations, and also calling for greater respect for universal human rights. “We have an enormous stake in each other’s success,” Obama says at the formal White House arrival ceremony on the south lawn. It is the eighth time the two world leaders have met face-to-face in two years.

Sudan’s “Historic Milestone”
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Southern Sudan’s referendum on self-determination marks “a historic milestone” for the Sudanese, says Ambassador Princeton Lyman, head of the U.S. State Department’s Sudan Negotiation Support Unit. Lyman testified before the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Foreign Affairs January 18.

Sargent Shriver: 1915-2011
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R. Sargent Shriver, founder of the Peace Corps, the Special Olympics and programs to combat poverty in the United States, dies at age 95 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Lighting the way in Kabul
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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has spent $160,000 to install 28 streetlights along a busy commercial street in the Afghan capital of Kabul and another 170 or so will go up in coming months. The project is funded by the Army Corps’ Commander Emergency Response Program, which targets projects that directly benefit a local community.

Meet the Songstress Gaida
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Arab-American Singer Gaida was born in Germany, raised in Syria and is currently a New Yorker. Since her professional debut in 2006, Gaida has won rave reviews and her work has appeared in several movies. “I call my music New York Arabic music,” Gaida, above, says. “It is like me: I am an Arab New Yorker.”

A Chorus of Condemnation / TechWomen in Africa, Mideast / In Haiti, the Rebuilding Continues

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American Muslim groups join President Obama in condemning terror attacks in Egypt and Nigeria. Russian museum curators meet their American counterparts. Volunteering has never been easier, thanks to the Internet. Applications are being accepted for the TechWomen mentoring program. A year after devastation struck, the U.S.-Haiti partnership continues.

U.S. Muslims Condemn Attacks
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American Muslim groups join in denouncing the New Year’s terror attacks in Egypt and Nigeria as “barbaric” and “heinous” while offering prayers to the victims and their families. “The attacks in Egypt and Nigeria are unacceptable,” says Imam Mohamed Magid, president of the Islamic Society of North America, right.

Obama: Terrorists “Must be Brought to Justice”
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President Obama and other U.S. government officials condemn the deadly terrorist bombings. “The perpetrators of this attack were clearly targeting Christian worshipers, and have no respect for human life and dignity,” Obama says. ”They must be brought to justice.”

U.S., Russian Curators Find Common Ground
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Eight Russian museum curators and historic heritage site managers find they have a lot in common with their American colleagues during a three-week visit to the United States.

Work Locally, Help Globally
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The U.N. Volunteers program allows anyone with a computer to volunteer in any of 130 countries around the world without leaving home. Online volunteers completed 14,313 assignments in 2009, doubling the previous year’s record.

TechWomen
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Bringing the power of global business, technology and education together, the TechWomen Program will pair women in Silicon Valley with 38 of their counterparts in the Middle East and North Africa for a five-week professional mentorship program at leading technology companies beginning in the summer of 2011. Online applications must be submitted by February 1, 2011. For more information, visit the TechWomen Fact Sheet.

Photo Gallery: One Year After the Earthquake Shook Haiti
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One year after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti, the United States continues its commitment to help the Haitian people build back better. The partnership has led to the construction of transitional shelters, the removal of rubble, and improvements in agriculture, sanitation, health care and infrastructure. At right, a young boy peeks in at his mother in their newly constructed transitional shelter in Carrefour, Haiti.

The Obamas in Hawaii / A New Breed of Crops / Art Behind Bars

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President Obama and his family are in Hawaii for the holidays, and so are dozens of White House staff and journalists. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency will put in place new rules to regulate greenhouse gases. For undernourished people who live in remote areas, a new approach called biofortification may bring healthier diets. Some of the wealthiest people in America are pledging to give away most of their fortunes to charity. And finally, explore a photo gallery of art created by prison inmates.

The Obamas in Hawaii
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The Obamas are vacationing in Hawaii this week, and they’re not alone. Dozens of White House staff and journalists who cover the president have also traveled to the island state. A president is never truly on vacation. There are always reports to read, public appearances to be made, and unexpected issues to address. At right, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama travel by motorcade on Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

New Emissions Rules
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The U.S. government continues to use federal regulatory powers to rein in greenhouse gas emissions, most recently focusing on power plants and oil refineries, which produce nearly 40 percent of emissions in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will put in place new permit requirements for all heavily polluting industry, followed by specific greenhouse gas standards for power plants and oil refineries.

A New Breed of Crops
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Crop breeders are developing new varieties of seven staple food crops, each with high levels of essential micronutrients and each with potential for rewarding farmers who grow them with higher yields. This approach is called biofortification, and the goal is to bring healthier diets to people who rely on food staples for most of the calories they consume.

A Billionaires’ Pledge
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The two richest men in the United States, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, launched The Giving Pledge in June 2010, encouraging other billionaires, in the United States and abroad, to give away the bulk of their fortunes to philanthropic causes. As of December 2010, 57 billionaires have joined their campaign.

Photo Gallery: Art Behind Bars
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The Prison Creative Arts Project, founded in 1990 by University of Michigan professor William “Buzz” Alexander, helps prison inmates develop their creativity. The program encourages them to examine and even transform their lives. Explore a photo gallery of their work. At left, James Wilt’s self-portrait Yet Free, which identifies him by inmate number. The small cross in the upper left-hand corner is a symbol of his Christian faith.

Obama, Clinton Most Admired / Water, From the Makers of Coke / The Muslim World’s Diversity

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President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton are the most admired man and woman, a new poll shows. In America, billionaires are giving away the bulk of their fortunes. The world’s largest soda maker is working on water projects in Africa. And an American photographer captures diversity in the Muslim world.

Obama, Clinton Most Admired
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For the third year in a row, a USA Today – Gallup poll has found that Barack Obama is the most admired male public figure. The most admired woman is Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has held the title 15 times since 1992. The survey was conducted between December 10-12, and is based on telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,019 adults. Participants were asked to name the man and woman living anywhere in the world they most admired.

A Billionaires’ Pledge 
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The two richest men in the United States, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, launched The Giving Pledge in June 2010, encouraging other billionaires, in the United States and abroad, to give away the bulk of their fortunes to philanthropic causes. As of December 2010, 57 billionaires have joined their campaign.

Coca-Cola’s Water Projects
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Cola-Cola Company, the world’s largest beverage maker, has formed a partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.N. Development Programme to launch or expand water projects in eight African countries. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.1 billion people—including more than 300 million Africans—do not have access to clean water.

Photo Gallery: The Diversity of the Muslim World
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American photographer Derek Brown, whose work has been featured in The Economist and other major publications, traveled to 28 countries for more than 18 months to photograph the diversity of the Muslim world. An exhibit of his work at the cafe Busboys and Poets in Washington drew raves. Andy Shallal, an Iraqi American and the owner of Busboys and Poets noted, “It makes people realize the Muslim world is beyond the Middle East — it’s far beyond that.”

Progress in Afghanistan / Lifting Sanctions on Iraq / Carbon Capture Challenges

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The United States is making progress toward its strategic goals in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Sanctions on Iraq are lifted. The United States urges action against child labor. Trade talks between the United States and China are yielding progress. Obama denounces a terrorist attack in Iran. And it’s going to take more than cap-and-trade to reduce greenhouse gases.

Progress in Afghanistan, Pakistan
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The United States is making progress toward its core goal of disrupting, dismantling and defeating violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan, President Obama says. The annual review of administration policy shows more Afghans are reclaiming their communities from the Taliban, says Obama, center at right, with Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Iraq Sanctions Lifted
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In a meeting chaired by Vice President Joe Biden, the U.N. Security Council voted to lift three key international sanctions on Iraq to acknowledge the “significant steps Iraq has taken” toward fulfilling its international obligations.

Eradicating Child Labor
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Governments around the world should take urgent and effective steps to eradicate child labor practices in their countries, U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis says.

U.S.-China Make Trade Progress
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The just-concluded 21st session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade makes progress on intellectual property rights, open markets and government procurement restrictions.

Obama Denounces Iran Attack
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President Obama denounces a bombing attack targeting Iranian civilians in Chabahar as “disgraceful and cowardly” and says those who carried out the attack “must be held accountable.”

The Challenge of Carbon Capture
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Cap-and-trade and renewable energy alone likely won’t be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, governments and companies are increasingly looking for new and unconventional solutions to the climate problem. Ten major demonstration projects are underway, along with more than 50 smaller projects, with the goal to bring between five and 10 commercial projects online by 2016.

Mideast Peace Talks, Muslim Chaplains, "Harvard Cookie Girl"

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The leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority head to Washington for the historic resumption of Midddle East peace talks. Across America, Muslim chaplains are becoming more and more common on college campuses. The U.S. central bank will do whatever it can to sustain the economic recovery. And, finally, the story of an Iranian-American woman’s sweet success.

 
Mideast Peace Talks Relaunched
The United States will host Israeli-Palestinian direct negotiations on September 2 in Washington, with the intent that all final-status issues will be resolved within one year. At right, clockwise from upper left, President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Muslim Chaplains on U.S. Campuses
Since the 1999 appointment of Imam Yahya Hendi at Georgetown University as the first Muslim chaplain on an American college campus, more institutions have been looking to fill the void. Yale University’s Muslim chaplain, Omer Bajwa Bajwa says the number of Muslim Chaplains is growing to meet the needs of an expanding population of American Muslim students.

The Fed’s “Unconventional” Options
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says the U.S. central bank will do everything it can to support the economic recovery and prevent the U.S. economy from spiraling into a period of deflation. In a speech at a U.S. central bankers’ gathering, Bernanke said the Federal Reserve has a limited range of “unconventional” options left to support the economy.

Harvard Cookie Girl
Bibi Kasrai, 43, grew up in Tehran, fled Iran for Russia, and studied at Harvard Business School.  This is the story of how she began teaching children about nutritious and tasty food as Harvard Cookie Girl. At right she works with daughter Ava, who at age 9 is the self-appointed mascot of Harvard Cookie Girl.

Nations Make Nuclear Security Agreements at President's Summit

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Representatives from 46 countries attended President Obama’s Nuclear Security Summit April 12-13 in Washington, D.C.

“We have the opportunity, as individual nations, to take specific and concrete actions to secure the nuclear materials in our countries and to prevent illicit trafficking and smuggling,” Obama said.

The goal of the talks between the nations was to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists. Media reported it as the largest gathering of world leaders called by an American president since President Franklin Roosevelt hosted a 1945 meeting that began the United Nations.

For Obama, the summit followed his April 8 nuclear nonproliferation treaty with Russia, where both countries have agreed to decrease nuclear arms by 30 percent.

Among those in attendance were Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chinese Jordanian President Hu Jintao, King Abdullah, Malaysian Prime Minister Mohamed Najib Abdul Razak and Armenian President Serzh Sargsian.

The White House reported that several nations have come to agreements that include:

Chile has shipped its highly enriched uranium to the United States; Ukraine has agreed to ship its highly enriched uranium out of the country within two years; and Canada has agreed to ship its used highly enriched uranium to the United States.

And the United States and Russia have both agreed to eliminate enough plutonium for approximately 17,000 nuclear weapons.

South Korea has agreed to host the next Nuclear Security Summit in 2012.

Obama Praises Iraq Elections

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Iraq Parliamentary Elections took place March 7. As determined by Iraq, 16 countries held Out-of-Country voting centers, including the United States.

As an Iraqi-American, I was eligible to vote under Iraq’s requirements and cast my ballot this weekend in Virginia, one of only five states with polling centers for the Diaspora community who fled Iraq under former President Saddam Hussein.

This is Iraq’s second-ever parliamentary elections. The first one was held in 2005, electing Iraq’s first 275 members of parliament, who then appointed the prime minister.

“Today’s voting makes it clear that the future of Iraq belongs to the people of Iraq,” President Barack Obama said March 7. “Overall, the level of security and the prevention of destabilizing attacks speaks to the growing capability and professionalism of Iraqi Security Forces, which took the lead in providing protection at the polls.”

Your blogger, with her finger dyed in purple ink, a measure to keep voters from voting more than once.

Your blogger, with her finger dyed in purple ink, a measure to keep people from voting more than once.

Similar to the 2005 elections, violence was kept to a minimum with the help of a nationwide curfew and other security measures implemented by American troops.

“I also want to express my admiration for the thousands of Americans on the ground in Iraq — for our civilians and our men and women in uniform who continue to support our Iraqi partners,” Obama said. “This election is also a tribute to all who have served and sacrificed in Iraq over the last seven years, including many who have given their lives.”

The ballots from all 16 participating countries – Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Syria, Turkey, Germany, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, Austria, Iran, Egypt and the United States – in tamper-evident clear bins will be shipped overseas for the final tabulations.

“In this process, the United States does not support particular candidates or coalitions,” Obama said. “We support the right of the Iraqi people to choose their own leaders.”

Proof of Iraqi origin was a requirement in all the countries, as declared by Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission, which organized the 2010 vote.

“We are mindful, however, that today’s voting is the beginning and not the end of a long electoral and constitutional process,” Obama said. “The ballots must be counted. Complaints must be heard, and Iraq — with the support of the United Nations — has a process in place to investigate and adjudicate any allegations of fraud. A parliament must be seated, leaders must be chosen, and a new government must be formed. All of these important steps will take time — not weeks, but months.”

Polls closed worldwide today and in-country tabulations have already begun.

“I congratulate the people of Iraq for casting their ballots in this important parliamentary election,” Obama said. “I have great respect for the millions of Iraqis who refused to be deterred by acts of violence, and who exercised their right to vote today. Their participation demonstrates that the Iraqi people have chosen to shape their future through the political process.”