The United States plans assistance for Japan in the wake of a devastating earthquake. President Obama welcomes Arab League backing for Libyan no-fly zone. President Obama plans a major speech on Latin America during his upcoming visit to the region. Arab-Americans see themselves as a “bridge” to their homelands and want to help ease unrest and build democracy. Ceramic water filters are saving lives. The Yemen American Benevolent Association offers support for Yemeni Americans. Two sixth-grade students from Burkina Faso visit the U.S.
U.S. Mobilizes Japan Aid
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The United States is mobilizing military and civilian assistance for relief efforts throughout Japan, U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos says. “The Japan Self-Defense Forces are among the most prepared and capable in the world in dealing with a disaster-response situation, and the U.S. military is prepared to augment their efforts with all available assets and equipment upon request,” Roos says.
Obama Cheers Arab League Action
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The Obama administration welcomes a decision by the 22-member Arab League to support a no-fly zone over Libya because the move strengthens international pressure on Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi, White House press secretary Jay Carney says.
Chile to Host Obama Latin America Speech
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President Obama will deliver a major address while in Santiago, Chile, to explain the importance of Latin America to the United States. The address coincides with the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s 1961 announcement of the Alliance for Progress that established economic cooperation between the United States and Latin America nations.
The Arab-American View
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Arab-American civic activists say they are excited to see political protest across the Arab world and are ready to help build democracy in their homelands — if asked. “I think that we can play a very important bridge role when it is needed,” says Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, which is dedicated to the political and civic empowerment of Americans of Arab heritage.
A Low-Tech Clean Water Solution
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Low-tech ceramic water filters have been saving lives and making people healthier in Ghana and Cambodia. According to the World Health Organization, diseases associated with unsafe water claim the lives of about 2 million people worldwide every year, most of them children under the age of 5.
Support for Yemeni Americans
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The Yemen American Benevolent Association, founded by a few Yemeni immigrants in 1969, has become a well-organized, vital resource for thousands in the larger Arab-American community and other residents of Dearborn, Michigan.
Burkina Faso Students in U.S.
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The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) welcomes two sixth-grade students from Burkina Faso to celebrate International Women’s Day in Washington and have a chance to see the inner workings of the United States government. At left, First Lady Michelle Obama thanks Aissatou Diallo for her introduction at the White House’s International Women’s Day reception.