Tag Archives: Africa

U.S. Anti-Crime Aid to Mexico / The Peace Corps is 50 / Russian Imperial Stamps

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The United States is stepping up efforts to help Mexico fight crime. The Peace Corps celebrates its 50th anniversary. An all-women technology delegation of leading U.S. innovators and entrepreneurs heads to Africa to help offer opportunities for women and girls. Some dentists are going green. And more than 14,000 rare Russian stamps were recently uncovered at the Smithsonian.

U.S. Anti-Crime Aid for Mexico
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The United States can accelerate the implementation of its security assistance to Mexico and other countries in the fight against transnational criminal organizations, a senior Obama administration official says. The announcement comes ahead of a meeting between Mexican President Felipe Calderón, left, and President Obama in Washington. 

Peace Corps Marks 50 Years
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On March 1, the Peace Corps celebrated 50 years of service. President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps as a challenge to American college students to give up two years of their lives to help people in countries in the developing world. Over five decades, more than 200,000 volunteers have served 139 host countries.

For African Woman, Tech Opportunities
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The United States sends an all-women technology delegation of leading U.S. innovators and entrepreneurs to Liberia and Sierra Leone to help offer opportunities for women and girls. “While in West Africa, the group will explore how technology can increase opportunities for women and girls,” the State Department says in an announcement.

When Your Dentist Turns Green
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A movement is building to “green” America’s 125,000-plus dental offices. Since Ina and Fred Pockrass founded the Eco-Dentistry Association in 2008, dental offices in 45 states and 13 other countries have pledged to reduce their impact on the environment.

A 1863 Russian stamp

Photo Gallery: Russian Imperial Stamps
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One of the best collections of Russian stamps in the world was recently found in a storage vault at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Postal Museum. The collection, composed of more than 14,000 Russian stamps, is truly exceptional in terms of its quality and rarity. At right, a rare carmine proof stamp, created in 1863, that was never produced. The stamps were ultimately issued in blue for use under the Ottoman Empire by Russian post offices in the Levant. The inscription reads “Dispatch small parcel to the Orient.” The Russian Imperial double-headed eagle is depicted with the orb and scepter in its claws.

Ethics, Innovation among Tunisia’s Entrepreneurial Ambitions

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For months, the world has followed the unrest and protest in North Africa stemming from unemployment throughout Tunisia and Egypt. America.gov asked several Tunisian entrepreneurs to share their stories of business development amid the strife in their region.

Mr. Nazeh Ben Ammar is President of the Tunisian American Chamber of Commerce and multimedia company, Excellencia. He recently spoke on entrepreneurial challenges in the Arab world with Jonathan Ortmans, President of the Public Forum Institute and senior fellow at the Kauffman Foundation. Read about their conversation on the Policy Forum Blog.

A man kissing the Tunisian flag

A man kisses the Tunisian flag during a demonstration in Tunis against high prices and unemployment.

Two major events took place in my mother country, Tunisia, while I was in the US. The first was in 1987, when I was completing my bachelor degree at Purdue University. The second was less than a month ago, and I was in California spending four days heading a delegation of major Tunisian entrepreneurs in the IT sector who were taking inspiration from the Silicon Valley spirit to help Tunisians back home.

I am quite accustomed to this environment as I spent nearly two years at Stanford University. My trip back to Silicon Valley was like a pilgrimage for me, 20 years after graduation. Having written my masters thesis on innovation and entrepreneurship, I felt I had returned to my roots. I have applied my studies during my career by focusing on bringing technology, innovative approaches and the entrepreneurship culture back to Tunisia.

For more than a year and a half now I have presided over the Tunisian American Chamber of Commerce (TACC). The chamber has a major role to play in today’s world in developing the entrepreneurial spirit, increasing investment from within Tunisia and the United States, and increasing trade between the two nations.

As a leader of an NGO, a trade company in electronics, an air conditioning company and a real estate company, I felt a lot of institutional pressure coming from a bureaucratic, police-like administration with the stick on our head coming either from customs or the Tunisian IRS. Our doctrine has been to remain ethical and environmentally friendly, which creates quite a challenge when surrounded by unethical practices.

I am proud to be part of the first revolution of the 21st century. The most challenging part is yet to come, and we Tunisians need to bring back our Phoenician, Carthaginian and Mediterranean character and strength of mind. The world is watching us.

The Tunisian American Chamber of Commerce will delegate in Washington, DC March 6-10, 2011.

10 in 2010: A Year of Notable Obama Moments

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From the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to a surprise trip to Afghanistan, to getting injured during a friendly game of basketball, President Barack Obama has certainly had a busy year.  Here, in order of occurrence, are Obama Today’s picks for 10 notable Obama moments of 2010:

1.       Signs the Affordable Care Act into Law

During the presidential campaign, Obama listed making health care affordable and accessible to all Americans as one of his main priorities.  After a long and hard battle in Congress, and in the court of public opinion, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law on March 23.   Speaking about the momentous occasion, the president said, “Today, after almost a century of trying; today, after over a year of debate; today, after all the votes have been tallied, health insurance reform becomes law in the United States of America.”
Read the original post: http://bit.ly/hBdcSA

2.       Visits the Oil Spill in the Gulf of MexicoThe country and the world watched as millions of gallons of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, the result of a BP oil rig that exploded.  The accident killed 11 men and untold numbers of wildlife.  It has also affected the livelihoods of Americans who live along the Gulf Coast.  President Obama visited the devastation in May and said, “More than anything else, this economic and environmental tragedy – and it’s a tragedy – underscores the urgent need for this nation to develop clean, renewable sources of energy.”
Read the original post: http://bit.ly/g4LVgx

3.       Hosts Young African Leaders ForumIn August President Obama hosted the President’s Forum with Young African Leaders, aimed at giving African youth delegates and U.S. officials the opportunity to discuss the future of the African continent.  During a town hall meeting with the African delegates the president told them, “Today, you represent a different vision, a vision of Africa on the move…An Africa that’s ending old conflicts… an Africa that’s pursuing a broadband revolution that could transform the daily lives of future generations.”
Read the original post: http://bit.ly/eRN8Pa

4.       Declares  End of U.S. Combat Mission in IraqRealizing yet another campaign promise, in September President Obama declared the U.S. would end its seven-and-a-half-year military operation in Iraq and shift to a civilian-led mission to build a partnership with the country in an effort to strengthen its government, industry and people.  Speaking to the American people from the Oval Office the president said, “Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility.  Now, it’s time to turn the page.”
Read the original post: http://bit.ly/hRtCHZ

5.       Michelle Obama Helps Harvest the White House GardenWe can’t talk about President Obama without mentioning the first lady.  Michelle Obama has had a busy year in her own right, working with military families, accompanying her husband during important events, and leading her Let’s Move! initiative to end childhood obesity.  As part of that initiative the Obamas planted a garden on the White House grounds, and Mrs. Obama uses the garden to teach kids about the benefits of eating healthy, fresh foods, most notably vegetables.  In late October she invited elementary school students and world famous chefs to the White House for the First Lady’s Fall 2010 Kitchen Garden Harvest.
Read the original post: http://bit.ly/erDiPg

6.       Delivers a Post-Midterm Election Press ConferenceThe midterm elections were a tough time for President Obama’s party.  The Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives, and lost a handful of seats of the Senate even while managing to retain the majority there.  After the elections the president gave a press conference in which he made note of the defeats and signaled he was willing to work with Republicans to move the country forward. 
Read the original post: http://bit.ly/fiVzZq

7.       Takes a Trip to AsiaDuring a major international trip in November the president visited India, Indonesia, Japan, and South Korea.   He met with foreign leaders, students and young people, and attended the G20 in Seoul.  Mrs. Obama took the opportunity to meet with women and girls to discuss empowerment and to play a game of hopscotch. 
Read the original post: http://bit.ly/fz0Txh

8.       Gets Injured During a Basketball GamePresident Obama played basketball in his youth, and has been an ardent fan of the sport ever since.  During one of his regular games with friends and White House staff, a fellow player accidentally struck the president in the mouth, busting his lip and requiring him to get 12 stitches.  Ouch!
Read the original post: http://bit.ly/fMJpMr

9.       Makes a Surprise Visit to AfghanistanIt was a quick, unannounced trip that garnered lots of media attention.  President Obama landed in Afghanistan on December 3 to meet with U.S. troops and U.S. officials on the ground.   He told a gathering of 4,000 troops at Bagram air base, “I know it’s not easy for all you to be away from home, especially during the holiday. We are here to say thank you for everything you do.”
Read the original post: http://bit.ly/fYKj6x

10.   Named Most Admired Man in AmericaFor the third year in a row a USA Today- Gallup poll found that Barack Obama is the man Americans most admire.  Garnering 22 percent of the votes, he beat out such world figures as former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the Dalai Lama, and Nelson Mandela.  Read the original post: http://bit.ly/eATRI6

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.”

White House Christmas / Kennedy Center Honors / Art Behind Bars

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Have a very Merry Christmas and see how the White House is celebrating the holiday this year. The Kennedy Center Honors celebrate those who “the power to inspire.” Young African business people are learning through a chamber of commerce exchange program. America has its first Bangladeshi-American member of the Congress. And, finally, creativity can still thrive behind bars.

Christmas at the White House
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Merry Christmas from America.gov! Explore the White House’s “Holidays at the White House” page, where you can tour the decorations, send “Season’s Greetings” messages to troops abroad, and watch behind-the-scenes videos. Each year a theme is selected for Christmas at the White House, a tradition started by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961. This year’s theme is Simple Gifts, a celebration of friends and family, hearth and home, and the simple things that bring joy at Christmas time.

“The Power to Inspire”
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A Kennedy Center Honor recognizes lifetime accomplishment by American performing artists and those from other nations who have achieved prominence in the United States. “The arts have always had the power to challenge and the power to inspire — to help us celebrate in times of joy and find hope in times of trouble,” says President Obama. The Kennedy Center Honors will be aired on CBS Television on December 28.

Africa’s “Rising Stars”
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Upendo Minja of Tanzania and Patricia Kafoe of Sierra Leone were exposed to new ideas on business and community development that they hope to implement in their African organizations during Chamber of Commerce board meetings in the United States. The two participated in a five week program designed to provide young “rising star” employees of chambers of commerce and business associations overseas with leadership skills and professional development in the United States.

Mr. Clarke Goes to Washington
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Hansen Hashem Clarke of Michigan will become the first Bangladeshi-American member of the U.S. Congress when the new congressional session begins in January. Clarke’s road to Capitol Hill mirrors the complex ethnic and social diversity of the United States in the 21st century.

Art Behind Bars
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The nonprofit Prison Creative Arts Project, founded by William Alexander in 1990, fosters the creation of original artwork in Michigan prisons and juvenile facilities. This creative expression is helping prisoners and at-risk youth examine and sometimes transform their lives. According to Alexander, all people have the capacity to create art — and to benefit from it. Left, a painting by incarcerated artist Maurice Scott which evokes the prison experience.

The Late Richard Holbrooke / Hope on Human Rights / AIDS and Disabilities

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Diplomat Richard Holbrooke is remembered as a giant of foreign policy. A top U.S. State Department official says there is hope for human rights gains. The U.S. is partnering with South Africa to fight AIDS and with Canada and Mexico to help Haiti tackle an “almost overwhelming” set of challenges. And finally, activists are working to help the disabled deal with HIV/AIDS.

Remembering Richard Holbrooke
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Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, who died December 13 in Washington, is remembered as a consummate diplomat, statesman and troubleshooter for the United States for nearly 50 years. He served in many diplomatic posts over the years, but will likely be best remembered for his role in negotiating the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.


Hope on Human Rights
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As 2010 comes to a close and much of the free world concludes commemorations of the 62nd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Michael Posner, assistant secretary for the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, shares his views in an interview with America.gov regarding current conditions for human rights.

Partnering Against AIDS
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton signs a five-year joint strategic plan with her South African counterpart on bilateral cooperation under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. In remarks with Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane at the State Department, Clinton says the United States wants to be “a good partner” with South Africa as it confronts HIV/AIDS.

Clinton Seeks Help for Haiti
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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joins her Canadian and Mexican counterparts in calling for international cooperation to help Haiti tackle an “almost overwhelming” set of challenges. Clinton said the country’s disputed parliamentary election in November has added to the difficulties Haiti faces in recovering from a devastating earthquake and an ongoing cholera epidemic.

HIV/AIDS and Disabilities
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Rosangela Berman Bieler is a Brazilian journalist and one of a growing number of health activists trying to give persons with disabilities better access to HIV/AIDS services. Her group, the Inter-American Institute on Disability and Inclusive Development, works with governments in Latin America, the Caribbean and Portuguese-speaking Africa. Bieler, right, with Agnes Atim of Uganda, both of whom spoke at a State Department conference.

Core Issues in the Middle East / Obamas Light Christmas Tree / Iran’s “Students Day”

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the Middle East peace process needs to focus on the conflict’s core issues. President Obama and the First Family light the National Christmas Tree. The 1975 Biological Weapons Convention is being used to prevent bioterrorism and to expand information-sharing. The United States is building a strong U.S.-Africa partnership. The third annual Bali Democracy Forum presents an opportunity to learn from other countries. A bright future is in store for the U.S. solar market. And finally, a former Iranian student activist talks about his time in prison.

Focusing on Core Issues in Middle East
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The United States believes it is time for the Middle East peace process to focus on the core issues of the conflict: borders and security, settlements, refugees and Jerusalem, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says. “It is no secret that the parties have a long way to go and that they have not yet made the difficult decisions that peace requires,” Clinton, right, says.

The Obamas Light America’s Christmas Tree
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President Obama and the First Family lit the National Christmas Tree in front of the White House last night. Addressing the crowd at the tree-lighting ceremony Obama said: “On behalf of Malia, Sasha, Michelle, Marian — who’s our grandmother-in-chief — and Bo — don’t forget Bo — I wish all of you a merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season.”

Bio-Weapons Convention at 35
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The 1975 Biological Weapons Convention is being used today to prevent bioterrorism and to expand information-sharing and communication that can be used to combat any pandemic, spread deliberately or otherwise. It originally was designed to ban the development, production, and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons by nation states.

U.S.-Africa Priorities
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The United States government is very much focused and engaged on a wide array of issues across the African continent with an overall goal of building a strong U.S.-Africa partnership, says Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson. Carson says top priorities in Africa remain the same: strengthening democracy, good governance and adherence to the rule of law.

The Bali Democracy Forum
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Praising the opportunity to “listen and learn from the experiences of other countries,” Under Secretary of State Judith McHale expressed U.S. support for the third annual Bali Democracy Forum.

A Bright Future For Solar
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The U.S. solar market could grow eightfold to $8 billion by 2015, says a recent study by GTM Research, a market analysis company focusing on renewable energy industries. Driving growth are state policies that require power companies to generate a certain portion of their electricity from renewable sources, the report says.

Iran’s Students Day
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Abolfazl Jahandar, a former Iranian student activist and political prisoner, spoke at Virginia’s George Mason University on what Iran marks as Students Day, the anniversary of the slaying of three student demonstrators by Iranian police in 1953. Jahandar, left, spent three years in prison, including 400 days in solitary confinement, for his activism.

U.S. Support for Liu / The Côte d’Ivoire Vote / Seeds of Peace

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Days before he is to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, the United States is supporting jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. The U.S. calls for a smooth transition of power after elections in Côte d’Ivoire. In the past couple of weeks, the U.S. has participated in five European summits. Mobile phones are giving people access to financial systems in Africa for the first time. An American educator will be speaking about higher education in Africa. And, an unlikely friendship grows from Seeds of Peace.

U.S. Backs Jailed Nobel Winner
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Barry White, the U.S. ambassador to Norway, will attend the December 10 Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in a show of support for jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. The U.S. House of Representatives has also passed a resolution honoring the Peace Prize winner for promoting democratic reform in China and calling for his immediate release from prison. At right, a banner picturing Liu is installed at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo.

The Côte d’Ivoire Vote
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The U.S. urges President Laurent Gbagbo to hand over power and authority to Alassane Ouattara, who won the second round of Côte d’Ivoire’s presidential election. If that does not happen, the U.S. will take further steps such as travel bans or sanctions directed against President Gbagbo, his family and associates, says U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson.

For U.S., Five European Summits
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The United States participated in five summits over the past couple of weeks, engaging with nations from Europe, Central Asia and North America. These summits presented “an unprecedented opportunity for engagement with our partners in Europe and Eurasia,” says Philip Gordon, the assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs.

Mobilizing African Banking
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In African countries such as Tanzania and Malawi, mobile telephones are taking a first step into the formal financial system. Almost 1 million active customers in Tanzania use mobile-phone payments to transfer funds to relatives, buy supplies, pay doctors and save money for future emergencies.

A Moroccan Higher Ed Conference
Barbara Brittingham, president of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges’ Commission on Institutions of Higher Education, will be a featured speaker alongside leading Moroccan and international experts and officials at the Moroccan Fulbright Alumni Association’s annual conference.

Seeds of Peace Take Root
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Seeds of Peace is an organization that brings teens from conflict areas around the world to a summer camp in Maine, U.S.A., where they foster trust, understanding and communication. For Joseph Katona, left, a Jewish kid from Los Angeles, and Omar Dreidi, a Palestinian kid from Ramallah, it meant a lasting friendship.

Iranian Talks / The U.S. at COP-16 / A U.N. Video Challenge

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The U.S. hopes that talks in Geneva start “a serious process” to address Iran’s nuclear activity. There’s a new place for cultural exchange in Indonesia. U.S. officials are in Mexico for the COP-16 climate meeting. In Africa, momentum is growing for business and investment. The U.N. is accepting video submissions about the biggest challenges facing the younger generation. And, we’ve got two reports on journalists from around the world visiting the U.S. under a State Department-backed program.

U.S. Hopes for Serious Talks With Iran
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The Obama administration hopes that meetings in Geneva between representatives of Iran and China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany, collectively known as the P5+1, mark the beginning of “a serious process” to address the global concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities. The talks will continue in late January 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey.

In Indonesia, @america
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In Indonesia, Under Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy Judith McHale recently attended the opening of the new U.S. cultural center — @america. The center aims to expand engagement between young Indonesians and young Americans through interactive games and live events. McHale described @america as “what we hope will be the first of a new generation of American cultural centers.”

U.S. Officials at COP-16
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With a record $90 billion in renewable energy investments under way, the United states is pushing hard to reduce its dependency on fossil fuel, Energy Secretary Steven Chu tells a gathering at the COP-16 climate change meeting in Cancún, Mexico.

Africa’s Business Momentum
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Business momentum is building across Africa and the rest of the world is starting to notice, says Murray B. Low, a professor at Columbia University’s Business School.

Voices of a New Generation U.N. Challenge
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Until December 14, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations is accepting videos and written submissions from young people around the world who respond to question: “What is the most vital challenge to international peace and security facing your generation? Tell the UN Security Council what issue you believe deserves more attention, and explain why it is important.” Selected submissions will be incorporated into the agenda of the Security Council event on December 21.

Asian Journalists Visit America
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A dozen journalists from South and Central Asia spent three weeks in the United States as part of the Edward R. Murrow Program. Krita Raut, left, a reporter at The Himalayan Times, says the experience was particularly valuable for her because the restoration of democracy and press freedom in Nepal are so recent that the media have had little chance to cover an election.



Democracy and the Free Press
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Thirteen working journalists from 11 Western Hemisphere nations also got a firsthand look at the important role a free press plays in a democratic society during their time in the United States as participants in the program.

Biden on Iraq / African Stocks / Modifying Crops

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In an op-ed, Vice President Joe Biden discusses what America must do for Iraq. North Korea issues provocative claims about its nuclear program. Visiting Arab journalists share their impressions of America. Africa is getting increased attention at the stock exchanges. And finally, advances in modified crops could help avert a global food crisis.

Biden on Iraq
In an op-ed by Vice President Joe Biden in The New York Times, he discusses “what we must do for Iraq now.” Biden, right, says, “The United States must also continue to do its part to reinforce Iraq’s progress. That is why we are not disengaging from Iraq — rather, the nature of our engagement is changing from a military to a civilian lead.”

North Korea’s Nuclear Claims
North Korea’s claims that it has centrifuges for the production of enriched uranium reinforce longstanding international concerns over its nuclear activities, U.S. officials say. White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says North Korea needs to “be serious about living up to their obligations” to the international community.

Arab Journalists Visit U.S.
150 emerging media leaders from around the world recently traveled to the United States through the State Department’s Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists. The journalists visited grass-roots programs, educational institutions, radio and television stations and newspapers.

African Stocks Heat Up
The NYSE Euronext – the home of the New York Stock Exchange – has seen a threefold increase in the trading of African stocks on its exchanges over the past five years.

The Need for Modified Crops
Advances in genetically modified crops could help avert a food crisis of massive proportions, agriculture experts say. Between now and 2050, food production must increase 70 percent to feed a rapidly growing population. This will require a dramatic overhaul of farming practices along with a new generation of superefficient and “climate-ready” crops. At right, farmers planting rice in the Philippines.