Pan Africa & World Review, 3Q2010, MKamil

Pan Africa & World Review
Third Quarter 2010
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The Art of Universality

Second Quarter 2010
ISBN# 978-33666-1-0
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Africa, the World and You

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Pan Africa & World Review is a picturesque book of quarterly articles commenting on and condensing issues in the news. It is sectionalized by continent and also by feature sections which include arts, automobiles, education, entertainment, environment, fashions, health, information media, science & technology and sports. The International section contains commodity and financial market data, in addition to global political economy, personalities and multinational corporation events and issues for the quarter Subscribers can write the publisher specifying particular events or issues they would like to be featured.
Africa the World and You

he mission of Spheres Pan Africa & World Review is to present a balanced, fair and constructive perspective of Africa and world history in the making, particularly for Africas professional elite and students. Our vision is that Pan Africa & World Review with its cosmopolitan perspective become an integral part of African political and intellectual culture, both on the continent and in the Diaspora; and that through our academia and library subscribers people other than Africans have an opportunity to share in Spheres Pan Africa & World Review outreach. Our goal, common to the mainstream African elite, is to advance Africas political and social culture of appreciative engagement with the world at large. For advertisers of products and services of interest to our target audiences this is a unique opportunity, as Pan African & World Review is not simply a periodical, but a hard cover reference book for homes, businesses and institutions, which means in effect that each advert has indefinite long term exposure. This opportunity is equally valuable for those marketing capital and high-tech goods and services, such as mineral extraction products, satellites, banking, insurance and consultancy, as for consumer offerings such as travel & tourism, sports equipment, fashion, automobiles and real estate. Muhammed Kamil, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
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From the Publishers Desk
Toast to the Host
The Art of Universality
ever mind the plethora of skepticism amidst, the odds were staked in South Africas favor that its hosting World Cup 2010 would be successful. The rainbow nation had quite successfully hosted the Rugby World Cup in 1995, the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, the United Nations Summit on Racism in 2001, the UN Earth Summit in 2003 and also in 2003 the Cricket World Cup, as well as the 2007 World Twenty20 Championship and the Indian Premier League Cricket Championships in 2009. Doubting was sheer Afrocynicism. World Cup 2010 came off marvelously, as expected of this seasoned and popular tourism nation. Over 300,000 people flocked to South Africa for the World Cup which was held in 11 different locations distributed throughout the 471,442 square mile (1,221,037 sq. km) country at the bottom of the inhabited Southern Hemisphere, where biting cold and snow turned out to be the most harrowing occurrences during the 35 day June-July tournament. They spent on the average of R11, 800 (about $1,545, or $464,566,929 in total). According to Good News South Africa, 92% of World Cup visitors said they would recommend South Africa to friends and family. Tourism for September was up 12.9% over September 2009. While critics rubbed in the view that the money laid out for the World Cup could have been better spent on poverty alleviation, from a brand promotion perspective U.S. President Barack Obama, whose country provided about a tenth of World Cup 2010 spectators, told the Africa Youth Leaders Forum in Washington during August that while there were two European teams in the FIFA World Cup final, ultimately Africa was the real winner. FIFA President Sepp Blatter awarded South Africa a grade 9 out of 10 for excellently hosting the World Cup. A survey conduced by South Africas tourism ministry had two thirds of the World Cup visitors rating the country an extremely good host and the rest rating the hosting good.
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Pan Africa & World Review 3rd Quarter 2010

In 1993 tourism contributed only 4.6% of South Africas Gross Domestic Product, well below the 10.5% that tourism contributed to the global economy; but since then tourism value growth has outpaced the national economy. By 2008 tourism contributed 10.5% to GDP (2.7% direct; 7.8% indirect, for tourism largely consumes the products of other industries); the number of tourists increased from 3.9 million in 1994, the last year of apartheid, to 9 million in 2007. Tourism now directly employs roughly 1 million South Africans, the sectors contribution to employment increasing from 5% in 1994 to 7.4% in 2008. A study Pan Africa Research & Investment Services study published in March 2010 estimated that when foreign tourists expenditures in South Africa increased by 1%, fixed capital formation by average increased by 0.04% and employment increases by 0.07%. Major tourism countries, including the United States and France, enjoy tourism contributions to GDP between 10% and 15%. South Africa has now climbed up to 29th place in the global tourism market which peaked at in income at $944 billion in 2008. In the tourism competition context South Africa hosting World Cup 2010 was a brand promotion investment that quickly produced short term gains; but considering the amount of international advertising to promote South Africa as a tourism hosting the World Cup fits into a longer term strategy and is expected to give an irreversible boost to the countrys tourism profile. South Africa cannot elude national brand consciousness; the country has a $700 billion plus stock market, is an arms and technology exporter, has Kruger National Park one of the world most famous game reserves, great restaurants and nightlife, beautiful beaches and Cape Town is rated among the worlds 10 most beautiful cities. Ever threatening is the apartheid legacy, a ticking sociopolitical time bomb that needs a sustained 10% plus GDP growth rate to defuse. Although the specifics vary from country to country, the entire African continent needs to be no less brand conscious than South Africa, yet inward looking is too often defensive and reactive rather than critical, introspective and proactive. There is a mass of incidences involving individual countries that we could single out, like airports that are so far removed from world class management standards that they turn visitors off at the very entrance of the country and rampant violence against civilians with impunity; but I think the African Union in which we have invested the continents political future should be principally faulted
Real Madrid and Portugal National Team striker Christiano Ronoldo, the worlds highest paid footballer poses with the father of the South African nation Nelson Mandela his home in Houghton on June 9, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter greets Nelson Mandela and wife Gracia at Soccer City World Cup final, marking the end of the 147th international sports event successfully hosted by South Africa since 1995

for not providing the quality of leadership that the challenges facing Africa demand. Indeed the African Union has raised Africas profile in the world, has given us a much stronger presence on the world stage than we could have hoped for without it; and the working relationship forged with Europe by the AU Commissions maiden chairperson, former Mali President Alpha Omar Konar, not only generated international recognition for the continental union as the foremost representative of Africa it raised Africas prospects for a good future. I dont think berating the African Union is realistic; the point is that as a supranational polity representing a continent that at once faces the globes steepest development challenges and claims as its sons and daughters some of the most outstanding personalities of our times, in various fields, the African Union needs to move up several notches in performance quality. Africa Union is now a continental brand no less than the European Union, the standard bearer of a continent where we see the worst and best of humanity struggling for prevalence; and we deserve, we need a commitment to the latter prevailing, for the alternative is too gruesome to contemplate. First of all, the AU must be realistic and clear about its future. One doesnt have to be a professor of political science to see that Libyan Leader Muammar Qaddafis persistent push for a continental federation is nonsense; to begin with because Qaddafi is an erratic dictator who during his 41 year rule has sponsored the worst atrocities this continent has experienced, which attended the insurgencies of Charles Taylor in Liberia and the late Foday Sankor in Sierra Leone. Is Qaddafi going to become a democrat and step down from power for the sake of a United States of Africa? Are Libyans in the least inclined to turn him over to an African Court of Justice, which is prescribed in the AU Constitutive Act, to face trial for his role in the human devastation inflicted on Liberia and Sierra Leone? Talking about brand consciousness, it is flagrant shame on Africa to hear our leaders lambast the International Criminal Court as an imperialist institution head hunting in Africa when all it takes to terminate ICC indictment of Africans is for the African Court of Justice to be established and deal with war criminals and genocide culprits. However, if this led to indictments of Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir and Libyas Qaddafi, a split in the African Union along its Sub-Saharan Africa - Arab Africa fault line might likely follow. The failings of the African Union are often complicated matters.
Mandela with South African artists during World Cup 2010
School children in Cape Town, South Africa, earning the Diski Dance, the official dance of World Cup 2010
Americas Black Eye Peas perform with Alicia Keyes during World Cup 2010 concert 8

In the branding context, while each African country is distinct and has its own brand identity, collective branding, which may mean more in the global market than the realities on the ground merit, is distinctive along the so-called Black AfricaArab Africa fault line. It remains to be seen whether in the coming years Libya, Sudan and Egypt will join Algeria, evidently the most democratically advanced of Africas Arab states, in the vanguard for democratic development in Africa or incline to religion flavored fascism, or continue using their power and influence within the continent to retard political development. For now while Sub-Saharan and North Africa have separate brand images, the Africa Unions respect for Libya and Sudan and their notorious leaders reflects badly on the whole continent. As the curtain closed on the colonial era Kwame Nkrumah, the principal advocate of African Union, promoted Africa as the new frontier for social, political and economic development where mistakes made in Europe and North America could be learned from in building a fresh social model. Selling Pan Africanism as geo-political (embracing the entire continent) rather than racial distinguished Nkrumahs Pan Africanism from Afrocentrism and Black Nationalism; and in this Nkrumah had the backing of other great Africans, including Nelson Mandela, Julius Nyerere and Ahmed Skou Tour. The African Union, which Nkrumah as president of Ghana unsuccessfully proposed to his colleagues in Accra in 1963, fortunately came to fruition at the dawn of the new century and millennium covering continental Africa, while advocacy for a so-called Black Africa union excluding the Arabs remained a fringe phenomenon. Nevertheless, the AU has treaded softly in dealing with Sudan where violent conflicts between indigenous Africans and Arab Africans have persisted since the 1950s, largely owing to solidarity with the Al Bashir regime maintained by Egypt, despite Khartoum being implicated in an armed assault on President Hosni Mubarak in his limousine at the June 1995 summit of the defunct Organization of African Unity in Addis Ababa, and also Qaddafis collaboration with Egypt in standing up for Al Bashir. This is one of the main reasons why we must acknowledge a fault line between Sub-Saharan and Arab Africa, for it sustains a situation whereby if the African Court of Justice were to be established with a mandate that would make ICC intervention in Africa superfluous, taking over the Al Bashir case from the ICC and indicting Qaddafi to go on trial along with Charles Taylor, the AUs survival prospects as a continental
Palace of the Lost City Hotel, Sun City South Africa
Downtown Cape Town, South Africa
Africas first high speed train, the Gautrain 160km per hour went into service a few days before World Cup 2010 opened, carrying visitors from O.R. Tambo International Airport to Johannesburgs city center The Gautrain project cost about $3.2 billion and is intended to reduce automobile traffic congestion in Gauteng Provinces busiest metropolitan areas, which include both South Africas commercial capital Johannesburg and administrative capital Pretoria. Gautrain runs on South Africas coal generated electricity and has been assessed environmentally neutral. 9

authority would tumble. Yet, to sustain credibility the African Union must remain faithful to popular African aspirations for decentralization, democracy and appreciation of human value and rights, as well as economies of scale and institutionalized political unity. As long as Al Bashir and Qaddafi are in power, or even alive, this dilemma will continue facing the African Union and tarnishing its image, as well as that of prominent AU member states; most notably Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria for joining in the imposition of brand enhancing policies on the AU. Egypt which is Africas leading tourist destination and has invested massively in tourism is in its own dilemma. Two of its neighbors, Israel and Sudan, are led by brutally oppressive racialist, religiosity regimes, while Libya, Egypts western border neighbor, under Qaddafi is at least a persistent nuisance. Cairos tolerance of Israel provokes bitterness in the Arab states to its east, as well as amongst its own citizens, while its uncompromising position on sharing of Nile waters with Ethiopia and other East African Nile Basin countries, in tandem with its standing up for Al Bashirs regime sour African sentiments towards Egypt. Vision deficient time buying politics lead eventually to expired luck in the face of a dramatically new situation evolved over time by provoking circumstances. How long Egypt can continue provoking resentment from both Africa and the Arab World at large before its brand is bankrupted by the spiraling fortunes of visionary Gulf States like Qatar and United Emirates remains to be seen; while its tourism crown is ironically most at risk of being knocked off by Sudan if it ever stabilizes. Sudans Upper Nile Valley, the land of ancient Kush has over 220 pyramids among its archaeological treasures compared to Egypts 3 and recent archaeological discoveries suggest that Kush was between 10,000 B.C. and 8,000 B.C. the population fountain for the rest of the African continent. Currently, Sudan is a country unfocused on, though not oblivious to, brand image and value. Khartoum annually spends several million dollars on public relations in Europe and North America, but there is no coherency between the Al Bashir regimes behavior and public relations expenditure goals. Sudans recklessness has a spill over affect to the African Union, keeping it bogged down in an expensive, casualty prone peacekeeping operation while compelling indulgence of a member state regime that is out of sync with the AUs mainstream aspirations and vision for ascendancy in the global liberal democratic mainstream. Significantly, South
English fans at South Africa O.R. Tambo International Airport, which is reliably hitch and bribe free, smooth moving from arrival to the arrivals reception area where you take your car
Table Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Mariners Wharf seafood restaurant, Cape Town
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Africa, the continents richest and most powerful country has, in salient contrast to Sudan, perhaps the most ambitious constitutional and socio-political vision in the world. That South Africa has attracted so many major international events culminating in World Cup 2010 attests to the goodwill it has invoked. Goodwill is so important for your brand that companies carry goodwill, which is theoretically intangible, on their balance sheets as an asset. Goodwill consists of credibility and confidence and is informed by your track record and convincing evidence that you will not disappoint in the future. South Africa is one of only two countries on our continent that have Africa in its official name, the other being the Central African Republic, which by contrast to the Rainbow Nation is among the continents poorest and politically troubled countries. However, it is not South Africas wealth that is gradually making it an outstanding world class brand, particularly because it has controversially been branded the world most unequal society. Standing to South Africas credit as it strives to transcend the remnants of apartheid is first of all the unyielding commitment of the governing African National Congress to build the modern worlds first non-racial society against a historical background wherein the non-white 90% of the population were until 1994 the most inhumanely, brutally oppressed lot of the 20th century. This is a pride to all Africans and should be a light to the entire world. Among South Africas batch of achievements since 1994 perhaps nothing is more remarkable than the polite and dignified way in which President Thabo Mbeki stepped down simply because an appeals court ruled that there was political interference in a corruption case against Jacob Zuma; especially when compared to the way former U.S. President Richard Nixon hung on defiantly in the infamous Watergate burglary case until he was forced to resign in disgrace and former President Bill Clinton shamelessly clinging to power in the face of numerous sex scandals and the Whitewater property scandal in the midst of which one implicated old friend and white aid committed suicide. South Africa still has a long way to go and verily leads a precarious existence, with the ANC Youth League asserting racial bitterness and the pangs of poverty emotionally distracting many people from the lofty national ideals. President Zumas remark in London earlier this year that building a non-racial society is South Africas pride and an inspiration for the rest of the world assures us that the noble idealism ANC adopted in 1916 and held fast to in the moment of truth when Nelson Mandela became president in 1995, after
Dutch fan dancing to African drum beats at World Cup 2010
French fans at World Cup 2010
Child in South Africa sweater waving Spanish flags 11

spending 27 years imprisoned for that idealism, is still alive. South Africas success is ultimately mankinds success, because for the most racially polarized country of our time to succeed in building a society in which race no longer matters would be an unprecedented achievement; and this is the most beautiful aspect of brand South Africa. Coming back to the African Union, which for better or worse is our continents other most prominent brand I have said before and have seen no reason not to continue maintaining that continental confederation is at this time the most realistic proposition for enhancing African unity. There are a number of federations already on the continent and quite frankly Qaddafis idea that Nigerias 36 states should each become separate countries in a United States of Africa is absurd and untenable. What about Sudan and its 25 states, is it to become a unitary state in our U.S.A or also dissolved as a federation? The broader more reasonable consensus is that the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) should be rationalized so that there is no longer overlapping, like some countries belonging at once to the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for East & Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC); then engaging the RECs as principal component parts of a continental confederation. That would involve Confederation institutions, Regional institutions, national governments, provincial or state governments as the case might be, and local or municipal governments. Brand consciousness at every level from the municipalities and localities up to the Confederal could conceivably by 2025, when the African Economic Community (ACE) was originally (before the September 1999 Organization of African Unity Summit decision to establish the African Union) scheduled to come fully on stream, bring Africa with its 1.2 billion people to a level of development and GDP at least commensurate with where China is today. Presently Africa in population and GDP is about where China was in 1999 1.2 billion population and trillion dollar nominal GDP. The question is can brand Africa quicken its growth pace by a few percentage points over the next 15 years? If Nigeria brings efficiency and reliability to its electric power system and South Africa synchronizes its educational system with job market demands and Research & Development goals, brand Africa Union could quadruple its GDP in 15 years after all, brand China quintupled its economy in 10 years. Muhammed Kamil, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
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South African girls perform dance during World Cup 2010 opening ceremony
South African dancers and drummer perform at World Cup 2010s opening ceremony in Soweto, June 11, 2010.
Third Quarter 2010

Table of Contents
International
Millennium Development Goals Summit United Nations 65th General Assembly Position Paper of China at the 65th UN General Assembly Publishers Analysis of Chinas UN Position Paper XVIII International AIDS Conference 17 39 45 57 64
Africa
XV African Union Summit, Kampala Africa Youth Forum, Kampala Green Revolution Plan Agreed at Ghana Meeting Grants to ECOWAS Non-State Actors African Human Rights Commission Reprimands Botswana Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb Murders French Hostage, Takes 7 More Kenyans Approve New Constitution Liberian President Address to UN General Assembly Nigeria Stock Exchange Nigeria President Appoints New Army Command Officers South African Blacks Own 18% of Countrys 100 Top Companies South Africa Sustains Push for UN Reform South African Workers Strike Mandela, Graca Child Rights Heroes South Africa: Zuma Banks on 7% Growth with China Boost 80 86 87 88 89 90 92 94 98 99 100 101 103 109 110
Asia
China Passes Japan as 2nd Largest Economy 116
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North America
African Youth Leaders at White House
Table of Contents
Third Quarter 2010
120 123
Newsweek Cover Story on Rev. Al Sharpton
Arts
Top 25 African Writers 128
Automobiles
Pininfarina Rolls Royce Cabriolet Chrysler 300 Range Rover Evoque BMW Coupe & Cabriolet Maserati MG Resurfaces in China 132 136 139 141 144 148
Education
University of South Africa (UNISA) 150
Entertainment
Queens of the Egyptian Screen 152
Fashion
World Cup Styles Cairo Styles 156 167
Health
Healthiest Foods on Earth 177
Information Media
The Beauty of Oprah Gail
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180
Pan Africa & World Review 2nd Quarter 2010

Sports
Baseballs 81st All Star Game U.S.A Worlds Basketball Champs Lingerie Football Spain Conquers the World Nadal, Serena Claim Wimbledon
Table of Contents
Third Quarter 2010

183 185 186 188 190 195 198 204 205
Nadal Wins US Open, Completes Career Grand Slams Allyson Felix Tops Diamond League Rudisha, the Best Ever Caster is Back
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United Nations Millennium Goals Summit was held in New York from September from 20 through 22 September, 2010, preceding the 65th United Nations General Assembly opening on September 23, which was attended by heads of state and government from around the world. The photo above is from the session on Advancing Millennium Development Goals In Africa chaired by UN Undersecretary and Chairman of the Economic Commission for Africa Abdoulie Janneh. L-R: Patrice Robineau, Senior Advisor to the Economic Commission for Europe; Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa; UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro; Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; Bader Omar Al Dafa, Executive Secretary, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia; and Antonio Prado, Deputy Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
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International/United Nations Millennium Development Goals Summit
Summary of MDG Summit 20-22 September 2010

he High-level Plenary Meeting of the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) or MDG Summit took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York from 20-22 September 2010, under the theme We can end poverty by 2015. The main aim of the Summit L-R: Helen Clark, Administrator of UNDP; Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General; Juan Manuel was to accelerate pro- Santos Caldern, President of Columbia; and Choummaly Sayasone, President of Peoples Regress on halving ex- public of Laos, during the event on Turning Evidence into Practice. treme poverty, and which calls for increased efforts at all levels to atdrastically reducing hunger, disease, maternal and tain the MDGs, and includes an action agenda for child deaths and other ills, addressed in the MDGs achieving the goals by 2015. Additionally, the targets. Preceding the UN General Assemblys Global Strategy on Womens and Childrens 65th session (beginning on Thursday, 23 SeptemHealth, was launched and received over US$40 ber), the MDG Summit and related events were billion in pledges thus far. Major themes of the attended by heads of state and other dignitaries, Summit included: intense interest in ensuring sucas well as members of civil society, academia and cess at the upcoming 10th Conference of the Parthe private sector. ties of the UN Convention on Biodiversity in NaThe three-day event saw daily morning and goya, Japan; mainstreaming the MDGs into naafternoon plenary sessions held concurrently with tional and international policy; the interconnectround-table sessions on the following six themes: edness of all MDGs; the need for improved acaddressing the challenge of poverty, hunger and countability and delivery on commitments; and gender equality; meeting the goals of health and the critical importance of women in achieving the education; promoting sustainable development; MDGs. addressing emerging issues and evolving approaches; addressing the special needs of the most vulnerable; and widening and strengthening partnerships. In addition, several dozen side events and other related partnership events took place. On Wednesday, a high-level event on biodiversity convened. The main outcome of the Summit was a document entitled Keeping the promise: united to achieve the Millennium Development Goals,
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A Brief History of the Millennium Development Goals

At the Millennium Summit in September 2000, UN member states unanimously adopted the Millennium Declaration (A/RES/55/2). At its 56th session in 2001, the SecretaryGeneral presented his report entitled Road map towards the implementation of the UN Millen-

nium Declaration (56/326). An annex of the report contains eight development goals with 18 targets and 48 indicators, commonly known as the MDGs. The first seven goals are focused on: eradicating poverty in all its forms; halving extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education and gender equity; reducing the mortality of children under five by two-thirds and maternal mortality by three-quarters; reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS; halving the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water; and ensuring environmental sustainability. The final goal outlines measures for building a global partnership for development. These goals, targets and indicators were developed following consultations held among members of the UN Secretariat and representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank in order to harmonize reporting on the development goals in the Millennium Declaration and other international development goals. In resolution 56/95 on the Follow-up to the Millennium Summit, the UN General Assembly took note of the Secretary-Generals report and recommended that a road map be considered as a useful guide in implementing the Millennium Declaration by the UN system. It invited member states, as well as the Bretton Woods Institutions, the World Trade Organization and other interested parties to consider the road map when formulating plans for implementing goals related to the Declaration. WORLD SUMMIT 2005: The first comprehensive review of the MDGs was conducted in 2005 at the World Summit, a high-level plenary session of the General Assembly, which reviewed progress and considered further efforts required to achieve the goals. In Outcome Document A/RES/60/1, world leaders underscored the need for the international community to strengthen development cooperation, including by mobilizing internal and external financial resources and facilitating approval of such programmes by the multilateral financial institutions, as well as implementing comprehensive national development strategies to achieve the internationally agreed development goals and objectives. In addition, over US$50 billion per year were promised by 2010 to fight poverty, and agreement was reached to provide immediate support for quick impact initiatives to support anti -malaria efforts, education, and healthcare.
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UN Undersecretary General, Executive Secretary Economic Commission for Africa, Abdoulie Janneh
HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS ON AFRICAS DEVELOPMENT NEEDS AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: Two High-Level meetings and over 50 partnership events took place on 22-25 September 2008, at UN Headquarters in New York, during the general debate of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly. The High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Africas Development Needs took place on 22 September under the theme Africas development needs: state of implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward, and resulted in a UN General Assembly resolution with a political declaration on Africas development needs was adopted during the closing plenary. On 25 September 2008, the UN SecretaryGeneral and the President of the General Assembly convened a High-Level Event on the MDGs, which evaluated progress towards achieving the goals at the halfway point towards the 2015 target. The event generated an estimated US$16 billion in funding, including over US$4.4 billion for education and approximately US$1.6 billion to enhance food security. Among the initiatives launched at the event were: a global campaign to reduce malaria deaths to near zero by 2015, with initial commitments of over US$3 billion; and a task force on maternal mortality, focused on innovative financing to strengthen health care systems and pay for health care workers. Significant new political and financial commitments were made on all other MDGs as well.
Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Democratic Governance Practice Leader, UNDP
Liberias President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf at session on addressing conflict, fragility and armed violence
The MDG Summit opened Monday morning, 20 September 2010, with thousands of participants streaming into dozens of size events and partnership events. Nearly 140 Heads of State and Government simultaneously attended day-long plenary sessions in the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters and high-level roundtables on: health and education; and poverty, hunger, and gender equality. IISD-RS reported on eight side and partnership events, including on: African parliamentarians and MDGs; MDGs and conflict; local action on MDGs; domestic resource mobilization; and improving development partnerships. A more detailed summary of Mondays sessions is available at: http://www.iisd.ca/ymb/mdg/ summit2010/html/ymbvol153num7e.html THE AFRICAN NETWORK OF PARLIAMENTARIANS ON MDGS: Tunji Ganiyu Olukolu, House of Representatives, Nigeria, reviewed the role of the Network of African Parliamentarians on MDGs in encouraging more accountable activity on the MDGs. Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, UN Development Programme (UNDP), introduced the UNDP report Parliamentary Engagement with the Millennium Development Goals, which discusses improved: integration of the MDGs into legal processes; government transparency; budgetary practices; and citizen engagement. Hajiya Amina Az-Zubair, Senior Special Assistant on MDGs to the President of Nigeria, described challenges in creating a partnership within the national legislature. Stating that MDG committees now exist in multiple levels of parliament, she praised their achievements, including the near eradication of polio and significant increases in healthcare provision.
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ACHIEVING THE MDGS: ADDRESSING CONFLICT, FRAGILITY AND ARMED VIOLENCE: This event highlighted challenges posed by conflict, fragility and armed violence in achieving the MDGs, and discussed possibilities to address these challenges in the development framework and raise the required support. Jos Ramos-Horta, President, Timor-Leste, lamented that there is very little reference to conflict, peace building and state building in discussions on MDGs, emphasizing their importance in meeting the MDGs, as well as to the overall development of countries affected by violence and conflicts. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia, underscored the need to focus particularly on those MDGs that countries are most likely to achieve by 2015. Surin Pitsuwan, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, stressed that regional efforts strengthen and add value to development policy and goals. He emphasized the need to mainstream efforts with international support to, inter alia, reduce inequalities between nations and aid conflict prevention by improving access to justice. LOCALIZING THE MDGS: This session was chaired by Inga Klevby, UN-HABITAT, and David Morrison, UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). Karma Tshiteem, Gross National Happiness Commission, Bhutan, noted instances where MDG targets and local priorities do not align, emphasizing the need for sufficient financial, human and technical resources. Leonardo Romeo, New York University (NYU), noted the importance of enabling conditions for local communities. Leonardo MartinezDiaz, United States Agency for International Devel-

opment, highlighted that under conditions where the division of responsibilities between the national government and local authorities is unclear, development policy implementation may be ineffective. Jerry Hultin, NYU, stressed that microfinance is important for effective implementation of local plans. Relinda Sosa, CONOMOVIDI, outlined her organizations work in educating and assisting women in improving their living conditions. Macharia Kamau, Kenya, stressed the importance of proper infrastructure for governments to achieve MDG targets and deliver on promises for basic services. DOMESTIC RESOURCE MOBILIZATION: Andris Piebalgs, European Commission, highlighted that the loss of capital from developing countries is on average seven times greater than development aid going into them. Donald Kaberuka, African Development Bank (AfDB), underscored that in addition to providing direct budgetary support, there is a need to empower countries to collect their own African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping addressing sesrevenues. sion on Domestic Resource Mobilization noted low foreign inAngel Gurra, Secretary-General, Organisation vestment levels and low trade levels between African countries for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), urged a focus on low simple taxes with flat tax rates and few exemptions. Jean Ping, Chairman, African Union Commission Chairman, underscored the low levels of foreign direct investment, as well as the lack of trade, among African nations due to insufficient infrastructure. Helen Clark, Administrator of UNDP, stressed the need to expand fiscal space, i.e. relaxing debt stress, and emphasized that efficiency can be increased by improving the quality of public spending. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Bank, suggested providing incentives to formalize activities of informal sector actors, including through timelimited tax breaks. Gay Mitchell, European Parliament, linked World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala promoting enterprise development and ensuring suggested formalizing informal sector actors social justice, to building tax systems. Highlighting the overall African trend of increasing tax revenues, Daniel Sowa Ablorh-Quarcoo, African Tax Administration Forum, stressed the need to incorporate all actors into the tax net and to build a compliance culture in Africa. Stating that illicit financial flows represent the most significant economic challenge facing the worlds poor, which subsequently prevents the attainment of the MDGs, Raymond Baker, Global Participants having breakfast Financial Integrity, questioned why developed countries are not able to curtail intake of these
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L-R: Abdoulie Janneh, UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECE); ngel Gurra, OECD; Cheick Sidi Diarra, UnderSecretary-General, Special Adviser on Africa and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States; and Margaret Novicki, UN Department of Public Information
funds. Krister Andersson, Business Europe, explained that investors often consider transparency and stability more important than the tax rate applied. The ensuing discussion focused on: transparency initiatives around extractive industry taxation; the significant contrast between the mild tone expected from the MDG Summit outcome document on this issue, and the strong presentations heard; the role of civil society in holding governments to account on revenue spending; and the need for an African equivalent of the European Union to drive regional integration. LAUNCHING OF TWO REPORTS ON AID IN AFRICA: Cheick Sidi Diarra, UN Office of the Special Advisor for Africa, presented the report Africas Cooperation with New and Emerging Development Partners. He said successes of South-South partnerships in China and India can be replicated in Africa. Diarra gave examples of positive development impacts from emerging partnerships in Africa, including: lower prices of consumer goods; provision of generic medicines; cheap antiretroviral drugs and insecticide-dipped mosquito nets; and enhanced infrastructure and telecommunications. In the ensuing discussion, participants debated, inter alia: the importance of maintaining integrity of African culture and preventing debt from partnerships and aid; means of ensuring that Africans benefit equitably from partnerships; negotiating as a bloc rather than as individual states; addressing problems of poor governance and corruption; and triangular cooperation linking NorthSouth to South-South cooperation. Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Africa, introduced the second report, 2010 Mutual Review of Develop21
ment Effectiveness in Africa. He remarked that general progress has been made in improved governance and political conditions for investments, increased enrollment in primary schools and curbing infectious diseases. Angel Gurra, OECD, emphasized that lack of donor commitments constrain efforts to achieve the MDGs, noting that some developed states use the financial crisis as an excuse to pull out of, or default on, aid commitments. In the ensuing discussion, participants discussed, inter alia: the role of foreign banks in preventing illicit flows; investment in human capacity development; enabling investment through partnership with the African diaspora; and the need to empower women to achieve the MDGs. THE MDGS: A DECADE OF ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL: This event brought together UN Regional Commissions to discuss regional challenges and successes in achieving the MDGs. UN Deputy SecretaryGeneral Asha-Rose Migiro highlighted that many challenges span national borders, necessitating regional approaches. Noting that each region faces unique challenges, she said maternal and child mortality, hunger, and sanitation are common to them all. Abdoulie Janneh, Economic Commission for Africa, said progress on increasing enrollment in primary education on the continent must not come at the expense of quality. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, said the region is making impressive gains in reducing poverty despite significant population growth, but that 14 Least Developed Countries are making slow, or no, progress on most MDG indicators.
Participants during the session on Addressing Conflict, Fragility and Armed violence
Bader Omar Al Dafa, Executive Secretary, Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, highlighted that although the region is likely to halve the number of people living on less than US$1.25 daily, this statistic masks the proportion of vulnerable people living just above this line. Antonio Prado, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, said inequality has decreased for the first time in his regions history. Similar to the Asia-Pacific region, he noted that hunger remains a problem despite his region producing 40% more food than it consumes. Patrice Robineau, Economic Commission for Europe, noted that women in his region are overrepresented in low-paying and vulnerable jobs. Ministers from Spain, Niger, Thailand, Brazil, Chile, Indonesia and Kazakhstan added national perspectives, including that: gender equality is a means to achieving multiple MDGs; agricultural policy development is critical for poverty alleviation; the UN can facilitate intra- and inter-regional knowledge sharing; achieving the MDGs requires economic growth; and that poverty is multidimensional and dynamic in its causes and effects. SMARTER PARTNERSHIPS FOR MDG ACHIEVEMENT (MDG 8 ON A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT): This event included two panels and an interactive discussion.
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Looking Back High Effective Partnerships and their Contribution to the MDGs: Navanethem Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, noted the importance of a human rights based approach to the MDGs for enabling, inter alia: equitable participation and representation of developing countries; empowerment of aid recipients to provide quality services; and donor accountability through monitoring of aid flows. Talaat Abdel-Malek, Working Party on Aid Effectiveness, Egypt, discussed progress made by the OECD on: encouraging stronger partner representation and engagement; focusing on delivery of results; and provision of tools for cooperation and capacity development. Francesco Pisano, United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Operational Satellite Applications Programme, showed how partnerships formed with international organizations, local governments, local field assistants and the private sector enabled rapid analysis of earthquake damage in Haiti to improve aid assistance through accurate localization of affected regions. Emilia Pires, Minister of Finance, Timor Leste, reported that the Fragile g7+ countries require support in peace and state building in order to achieve the MDGs. In the ensuing discussion, participants noted: the need for active civil societies

to monitor government accountancy; the need to define the role of the private sector in tracking aid funds to delivery points; and the utility of aid information systems in transparency and accountability. Looking Forward: High Potential New Partnerships for MDG Achievement: Stephen Groff, OECD, underlined the importance of partnerships, but reiterated the primary role for government. Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, UNDP, discussed the role of information communication technology in achieving all the MDG targets, saying mobile phones are a tool in the hands of billions of people. Leonard Ferrari, Naval Postgraduate School, Talaat Abdel-Malek, Co-Chair of the Working Party on Aid Efnoted the importance of partnerships between fectiveness, Egypt research institutions, the private sector and diplomatic agencies. Angel Gurra, OECD, said a new paradigm for aid is necessary for smarter partnerships, and will be a cornerstone for achieving the MDGs by 2015. During the discussion, participants debated gender inequality, the importance of political relationships, and the need for innovative platforms for discussion. BIODIVERSITY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND ACHIEVING THE MDGS: CELEBRATING LOCAL SUCCESSES, MAKING GLOBAL COMMITMENTS: Policy Forum Event: Andrew Revkin, Reporter and Author, facilitated the session and highlighted the importance of modifying the trajectory of current developEmilia Pires, Minister of Finance, East Timor ment and instead fostering a sustainable relationship with the planet. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity, stressed that climate change cannot be combated without taking account of biodiversity or desertification and said all approaches should be holistic. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, noted that, if climate change is left unchecked, it threatens to undermine thirty years of advances in development. ngel Gurra, said OECDs Development Assistance Committee (DAC) has mandated that development aid cannot be administered effectively without mainstreaming green. L-R: Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary, Convention on BiodiLeonardo Rosario, Trowel Development Foun- versity and Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary UN Framedation, representing the Equator Prize 2010 win- work Convention on Climate Change ning communities, emphasized the qualitative efwater security, Pavan Sukhdev, Director, The Ecofects of ecosystem restoration projects including nomics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, stressed increased income, increased awareness of the enthis public wealth is essential for securing livelivironment and contributions to lifestyle changes. hoods. Erik Solheim, Minister of the Environment Noting that replanting ecosystems will have nuand International Development, Norway, under merous benefits including fuel wood, fisheries and
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scored the importance of involving indigenous groups in policy and stressed the need to follow the concepts of free, prior and informed consent. Leonardo Rosario, Trowel Development Foundation, representing the Equator Prize 2010 winning communities, emphasized the qualitative effects of ecosystem restoration projects including increased income, increased awareness of the environment and contributions to lifestyle changes. Noting that replanting ecosystems will have numerous benefits including fuel wood, fisheries and water security, Pavan Sukhdev, Director, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, stressed this public wealth is essential for securing livelihoods. Erik Solheim, Minister of the Environment and International Development, Norway, underscored the importance of involving indigenous groups in policy and stressed the need to follow the concepts of free, prior and informed consent. Evening Programme: At the evening reception, Ted Turner, Chairman of the United Nations Foundation and Gisele Bndchen, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, welcomed participants to the event noting the importance of local community initiatives in addressing biodiversity loss, ecosystem and climate change, which is important for attaining the MDG targets. Delivering the keynote address during the evenings dinner event, Helen Clark, Administrator, UNDP, highlighted the importance of environmental goods and services, as well as the need for the active engagement of local communities. She urged delegates to work towards virtuous as opposed to vicious cycles. Timothy Wirth, President, United Nations Foundation, stressed the MDGs are not attainable without biodiversity and energy. He also announced the establishment of the Global Partnership for Community-Based Adaptation, which he said aims to develop templates for community-based programmes that can be scaled-up. During the Equator Prize 2010 Ceremony, awards were given to 25 winning community initiatives, including five special recognition awards: for Africa, Association ADIDY Maitso, Madagascar; for Asia and the Pacific, Monks Community Forest, Cambodia; for Latin America and the Caribbean, Kapawi Ecotourism Complex, Ecuador; for Applied Indigenous Knowledge, Tsimane Mosetene Regional Council - Pilon Lajas, Bolivia; and for Ecosystem-Based Adaption to Climate Change, Local Federation of GIE of Niodior (FELOGIE), Senegal. Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP, said
Ted Turner, CNN founder and Chairman of the United Nations Foundation noted the importance of local community initiatives in addressing biodiversity
UNDP Administrator Helen Clark stressed the need to relax debt stress and expand fiscal space, in tandem with improving quality of public spending
Participants posing with Gisele Bndchen (Brazil), UNEP Goodwill Ambassador for Environment. Photo credit Ryan McCune of PatrickMcMullan
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leaders seeking examples of how to green their economies can look to the 2010 Equator Initiative projects as a range of practical blue-prints for sustainability. On behalf of the 25 community leaders gathered to receive the Equator Prize 2010, three representatives from Africa, Asia and Latin America, emphasized that drawing upon the indigenous community experience is essential for meeting the Millennium Development Goals. TUESDAYS EVENTS On Tuesday, the MDG Summit continued with two plenary sessions and two high-level roundtables on promoting sustainable development and emerging MDG issues, as well as dozens of side and partnership events. IISD-RS was there to report on 12 of these events, including on infrastructure in Africa, corruption, climate vulnerability, LDCs, innovative financing, and the role of trade unions, the highlights of which are presented below. A more detailed summary of Tuesdays sessions is available at: http://www.iisd.ca/ymb/mdg/ summit2010/html/ymbvol153num8e.html MDGS AND ANTI-CORRUPTION: Huguette Labelle, Transparency International, chaired a panel discussion on the costs of corruption. Geraldine FraserMoleketi, UNDP, challenged participants to contribute to anti-corruption activities. Stressing that, like poverty, corruption is multi-dimensional, Selim Jahan, UNDP, drew links between corruption and lack of access to essential services for the poor. Explaining that governments spend on average 15-20% of GDP on procurement, Richard Boucher, Deputy Secretary-General, OECD, said this was a key area in which to address corruption. Tom Cardamone, Global Financial Integrity, said the most significant form of corruption is mispriced trade, or transfer mispricing, and said illicit flows are increasing by 18% annually. Highlighting that corruption is a two-way street, Sipho Moyo, Africa Director of One International, provided an example of a British company over-charging the Tanzanian Government for technology. In the ensuing discussion, participants considered: the grey zone between pure corruption and weak institutions; the impact of late disbursements on corruption; the need to adequately remunerate the public service to avoid corruption; and the potential of the G20 working group on corruption. Minar Pimple, UN Millennium Campaign, chaired a panel discussion on how fighting corruption benefits the MDGs. John Rwangombwa, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Rwanda,
L-R: Catarina Furtado (Portugal), UN Population Fund Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal Health; Paul Tergat (Kenya), UN World Food Programme Goodwill Ambassador Against Hunger; Gisele Bndchen (Brazil), UNEP Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment; Edward Norton (US), UN Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity; and Anggun (Indonesia), UN Food and Agriculture Organization Goodwill Ambassador and MDG Champion. Photo Credit - Ryan McCune of PatrickMcMullan.com.
Bob Geldof, MDG Advocate and Advisor to the ONE Campaign .
discussed the need to institute adequate legal frameworks, install capable judiciaries and establish clear plans for addressing corruption and the development of strong monitoring frameworks. Providing examples of non-transparent donor activities, Gregory Adams, Director, Oxfam America, stressed that development success is built on the idea of effective governments and active citizens. Galina Mikhlin-Oliver, World Bank, explained that policies are important, but systems and institutions responsible for implementation are equally important. Emmanuel Nnadozie, UN
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Economic Commission for Africa, discussed the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the African Peer Review Mechanism. In the ensuing discussion, participants considered the need for empowering citizens to effectively participate in the accountability process, and role donor conditionalities have on exacerbating corruption. HIGH-LEVEL SIDE EVENT ON LDCS AND MDGS: Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister, Bangladesh chaired the session, which included statements by a dozen high-level speakers. Joseph Deiss, UN General Assembly President, underlined that supporting least developed countries (LDCs) is a necessary to successfully achieve the MDGs. Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, reported that current global crises strain LDCs, and praised LDCs for managing, with limited safety nets, the added challenge that more than half of their populations live below the poverty line. In closing, he said investing in LDCs is a test of global solidarity and that doing so can help promote global economic recovery. Bhim Bahadur Rawal, Minister for Home Affairs, Nepal, on behalf of the prime minister of Nepal, called for bridging the gap between commitments and action. Abdullah Gl, President of Turkey, announced that Istanbul would host the 4th UN Conference on LDCs in 2011, to which Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium, pledged 400,000 Euros on behalf of Belgium. Leterme emphasized his hope that the conference would focus on aid allocation effectiveness, and said Belgium strongly advocates an international currency transaction levy, which at five cents per US$1,000 could raise US$20-35 billion per year for LDCs. Arjun Karki, President, LDC Watch, lamented that many financial commitments to LDCs have not been honored and called for increased development aid effectiveness and the establishment of member state LDC campaigns. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister, Peoples Democratic Republic of Laos, said MDG targets should be an integral part of the 4th UN LDC Conference outcome. Kevin Rudd, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Australia, calling LDCs a quarter of our UN family, announced that Australia will double its overseas development assistance for 2012-2015.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at the MDG Summit
Bangladeshs Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chairing session on LDCs & MDGs
SCALING UP AFRICAS INFRASTRUCTURE TO REACH THE MDGS: Jeffrey Sachs, Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on the MDGs, moderated this event. Elham Ibrahim, African Union (AU) Commissioner on Infrastructure and Energy, elaborated on the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, which develops coherent, integrated policies for infrastructure expansion on the continent.
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Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal, lamented the lack of discussion in international fora on infrastructure for development. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Vice President for Africa, World Bank, stressed that without infrastructure, many efforts to decrease poverty will not have lasting effects, highlighting that regional integration can help bridge the infrastructure deficit. Donald Kaberuka, African Development Bank, stressed the need for innovative financing for infrastructure. Gu Yang, China Development Bank, said that the large-scale infrastructure projects China wishes to invest in can only be achieved with political commitments to regional integration. Sindiso Ngwenya, Secretary General, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, noted that work is underway to encourage capacity in research and development in the communications sector. Participants also discussed: increasing bankable projects to ensure private sector involvement in African infrastructure; establishing and refining regulatory and tariff frameworks to benefit private investors and impoverished consumers; and the importance of power sector reform to encourage private sector investment. CLIMATE VULNERABILITY AND ITS IMPACT ON MDGS: Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, chaired the session. Helen Clark, UNDP, stressed the need to minimize climate vulnerability through investments in disaster risk reduction. Bhim Bahadur Rawal, Minister for Home Affairs, Nepal, called for transparency and predictability in resource allocation. Outlining his countrys energy intensity commitments, Jairam Ramesh, Indian Minister of Environment and Forests, underscored that these commitments were not contingent upon international finance and technology support. W.D.J. Seneviratne, Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs, Sri Lanka, said his government was developing national climate change policy and adaptation strategies. Daw Penjo, Foreign Secretary, Bhutan, announced that in 2011 his country will host the Eastern Himalaya Summit on Climate Change. Patricia Espinosa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mexico, and chair of UNFCCC COP 16, to be held in Cancn, Mexco in December 2010, urged governments to advance the climate negotiations in order to agree to an architecture for a post-Kyoto agreement at COP 16. Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development, UK, an-
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, applauds a speech at the MDG Summit
Members of the Swaziland delegation listen to an address Photograph: Eric Thayer/Reuters
Rwandas President Paul Kagame addressing MDG Summit 27

nounced an advocacy fund to support low-income country participation in international negotiations. INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNIONS - DECENT WORK AND THE MDGS: KEEPING THE PROMISE: Jane Stewart, Director, International Labour Organization, commended language in the MDG Summit draft outcome document stating that increased social protection and forward-looking macroeconomic policies to increase productive employment can help achieve the MDGs. Sharan Burrow, Secretary General, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), emphasized the ITUCs commitment to civil society partnerships. Mira Said, Global Network, lamented that most official development assistance for social security programmes in Palestine provide aid rather than sustainable economic programmes. Georgina Opoku Amankwah, ITUCAfrica Womens Committee, described how Ghanas Trade Union Congress amended its constitution to allow affiliation of informal-sector workers to increase access to social security systems. Yonnec Polet, Global Progressive Forum, stressed the role of the Global Job Pact in promoting growth of quality jobs. Participants discussed, inter alia, decent work in relation to ageing, migration, the green economy and community involvement. MDG ACHIEVEMENT FUND: Helen Clark, UNDP, declared that social justice is an important measure of MDG success. She lauded the MDG Achievement Fund for its project in Ethiopia, Leave No Woman Behind, focused on womens adult education and reproductive health. Soraya Rodriguez, Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Spain, remarked that hunger and poverty are not fundamentally due to a lack of resources, but a deprivation of human rights. Presenting on the challenge of addressing intersecting inequalities through MDGs, Naila Kabeer, Institute of Development Studies, remarked that despite the MDGs being based on values such as freedom, equality, solidarity and tolerance, social exclusion undermines the realization of their targets. During panel discussions, Mara Fernanda Espinosa, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations, discussed how Ecuadors Ministry of Heritage is resolving historically social inequalities. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, National Planning Commission, Nepal, reported that Nepal has addressed social injustices through employment generation, investment for growth, inflation
Bolivia's president, Evo Morales, addresses MDG Summit
Leonard Ferrari, Provost and Executive Vice President, Naval Postgraduate School
Moderator Stephen Groff, OECD
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Participants in a session
containment and improving transparency in governance. Rebeca Grynspan, UNDP, stressed that the next five years of MDGs should focus on breaking barriers of inequality through the promotion of social cohesion and provision of information for political advocacy. Charles Abugre, UN Millennium Campaign, noted that multinational corporations worsen poverty among the poorest people through profit-making mechanisms that do not relate to productive investment. Ashok Bharti, National Conference of Dalit Organisations, India, challenged UN agencies to take up the agenda on social exclusion by creating resources, increasing its representation in MDG efforts and providing leadership capacity. In ensuing discussions, participants noted the exclusion of people living with disabilities and persons infected by HIV/AIDS in MDG initiatives, and debated how to ensure that other alreadymarginalized groups are not ignored by MDG activities. HIGH LEVEL SIDE EVENT ON INNOVATIVE FINANCING FOR THE MDGS: This side event was hosted by select members of the Leading Group on Innovative Financing for Development, an international partnership of 60 member countries, international organizations and civil society representatives. Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Jordan, introduced the report of the Writing Committee to the Leading Groups Task Force on Innovative Financing for Education 2+3=8: Innovating in Financing Education. She said committing innovative financing to achieving MDGs 2 and 3 on education and gender equality can help to attain all eight MDGs. A panel provided examples of how innovative financing and innovative delivery thereof have funded health initiatives in developing countries.
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Successes highlighted included the solidarity tax on airline tickets in participating countries that have enabled UNITAID to raise US$1.5 billion since 2007. A second panel introduced the Report of the Committee of Experts to the Leading Groups Task Force on International Financial Transactions and Development Globalizing Solidarity: The Case for Financial Levies, which finds that a global currency transaction tax is the most appropriate financing mechanism for global public goods. A final panel, which highlighted new sectors that require innovative financing, emphasized the urgency of investing in education. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UN Food and Agriculture Organization were announced as new members of the Leading Group. FOCUS GROUP ON MDGS IN ASIA: The session focused on the experiences of MDG attainment in Asia and the role of partnerships in achieving the MDG targets. Helen Clark, UNDP, stressed the importance of supporting country-led development strategies and focusing on inclusive models of economic growth. Haruhiko Kuroda, President, Asian Development Bank, highlighted the challenges that disasters and floods impose in attaining the MDGs. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary, ESCAP, noted special needs of LDCs and the role of South-South cooperation in achieving the MDGs. Nila Moeloek, Special Envoy to the President of Indonesia for MDGs, reiterated the importance of regional efforts and expertise in supporting capacity building relevant to the MDGs. Shin Kak-soo, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of Korea, highlighted his countrys commitment to increase its aid volume to 0.25% of gross national income by 2015.

Kevin Rudd, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australia, described a partnership with Indonesia to rebuild schools for over 300,000 students. Cao Viet Sinh, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Viet Nam, attributed Viet Nams MDG successes to policy changes that mainstreamed the Goals into national initiatives and to increasing bilateral and multilateral partnerships. ENDING ENERGY POVERTY: TOWARDS UNIVERSAL ACCESS: Timothy Wirth, United Nations Foundation, moderated the event. Kandeh Yumkella, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), stressed that energy access is imperative to combating poverty, and highlighted the Secretary-Generals Advisory Group On Energy And Climate Changes goal for universal energy access by 2030. UN Secretary-General, Ban Kimoon, stressed that the real barrier to universal access is the lack of broad-based political commitment to attaining it. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, noted that many developing countries could take advantage of greenfield projects for increasing energy generation without concomitant emissions. Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal, said opportunities offered by solar energy should be seized, especially with current European interest in buying African solar power. Heinz Fischer, President of Austria, stressed that attaining universal energy access would ease political tensions over food security, poverty and climate change. Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director, International Energy Agency, called for energy issues to be included in the MDGs or their successors. Noting that energy access for the poor is imperative, Olav Kjrven, UNDP, highlighted the establishment of the energy access facility to mainstream energy access considerations into development plans. Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP, noted that despite promises, partners offering financial assistance have not come forward. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, underscored the importance of social and cultural dimensions when designing and implementing electrification programmes. Gro Harlem Brundtland, UN Secretary Generals Special Envoy on Climate Change, called for practical solutions to achieving universal energy access. Mary Robinson, Founder, Realizing Rights: the Ethical Globalization Initiative, stressed the importance of involving women in energy access initiatives.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro
Kemoko Tour, Director General of the Chamber of Mines, Guinea
Margaret Novicki, UN Department of Public Information
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WEDNESDAYS EVENTS On Wednesday, participants convened for the final day of the MDG Summit. Participants knuckled down to address the high-level panel of biodiversity, and attend the events launching the Global Strategy for Womens and Childrens Health, and Inclusive Growth and Employment, all of which garnered significant attention. Numerous side events convened in the UN buildings and around New York, of which IISD-RS attended 11, including on: AIDS and the MDGs; turning evidence into practice; water and sanitation; and accountability and transparency. BRIDGING THE MALARIA GAP: SAVING CHILDREN SUPPORTING WOMEN: Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary, African Leaders Malaria Alliance, emphasized that the time to act on malaria is now. Mizengo Pinda, Prime Minister, Tanzania, lamented the lack of media focus on malaria. Andrew Mitchell, International Development Secretary, UK, stressed that household income and national GDP is severely affected by the disease. Ray Chambers, UN Special Envoy for Malaria, noted the virtuous cycle created by actions so far, including decreased mortality, increased work force, and increased school enrollment rates. Margaret Chan, WHO, noted that malaria is the dead weight holding Africa back. Bill Gates, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, highlighted the need for scientists to continue to develop new diagnostics and insecticides. Robert Zoellick, World Bank, stressed the need to ensure that treatments reach vulnerable populations. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Minister of Health, Ethiopia, said Ethiopia has started to produce DDT and bed nets locally. Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director, The Global Fund, said although demand for funding has decreased, there are proportionately more proposals for malaria programmes being submitted. Tim Ziemer, Presidents Malaria Initiative, US, stated that the Initiative places special emphasis on women and young children since they bear the burden of the disease. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia, said her country has embarked on a door-to-door campaign to ensure universal coverage of at least three bed nets per household. Richard Sezibera, Minister for Health, Rwanda, said the integrated government strategy for malaria has significantly reduced infant mortality. Philippe Douste-Blazy, Chairman, UNITAID, said 30% of its funding is earmarked for malaria. Rajat Gupta, Chairman, International Chamber of Com31
World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan
merce, stated that combating malaria will increase private capital flows in the coming years. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, Minister of Information and Communications, Sierra Leone, said the goal to remove taxes and tariffs on malaria treatments has yet to be attained. Yvonne Chaka Chaka, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, appealed to everyone to walk the talk on malaria. 1.8 BILLION STRONG: YOUNG PEOPLE DRIVING THE MDGS: Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, UN Population Fund, stressed the need to incorporate youth in all sectoral planning and in national poverty reduction strategies. Samuel Kissi, Curious Minds, said studies show that development efforts are more farreaching, sustainable and effective when youth are involved. He highlighted training programmes to enable youth participation in Ghanas poverty reduction strategy. Gill Greer, Director-General, International Planned Parenthood Federation, informed participants that 11% of world births are from girls aged 15-19. She called for fact-based reproductive and sexual health programming. Michael Cashman, European Parliament, argued that organized religion in politics is a major

barrier to adopting legislation around reproductive and sexual health. Priscilla Vera Hernndez, Director-General, Mexican Institute of Youth, expressed hope that the UN General Assembly would adopt recommendations from the Guanajuato Declaration that emerged from the 2010 World Youth Conference. Participants stressed the importance of addressing human rights of youth, including marginalized youth. SAVING 16 MILLION LIVES: THE GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR WOMENS AND CHILDRENS HEALTH: This side event preceded the official launch at the UN General Assembly of the Global Strategy for Womens and Childrens Health, which aims to save the lives of 16 million women and children by 2015. Tamara Kreinin, UN Foundation, announced that the UN Foundation and partners are committing US$400 million to make motherhood safer, educate and empower adolescent girls and protect children from preventable diseases. Purnima Mane, UN Foundation, said the UN Foundation has coordinated processes to ensure that governments understand what the Strategy is and how to implement it. She highlighted that 26 developing countries would make concrete commitments related to the Strategy at the UN General Assembly. Babalwa Mbono, mothers2mothers, South Africa, described how this organization, which provides education and support to pregnant women and new mothers living with HIV/AIDS, enabled her to raise her children HIV-free. Dorothy Shaw, University of British Columbia, Canada, elaborated key causes of mother and child death and emphasized that family planning repays on every dollar spent. Abhay Bang, Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health, described how his organization reduced infant mortality rates in communities where it provided training for local women to provide homebased neonatal care education services. Noting the existence of 5 billion mobile phones globally, Patricia Mechael, Columbia University, offered examples of how mobile technology can help to achieve health-related MDGs, including the monitoring of chronic diseases. Sue Mbaya, World Vision International, stressed that communities must be at the center of health planning and delivery. Elizabeth Mason, World Health Organization, described the Countdown to 2015 Initiative, which tracks coverage levels for health interventions proven to reduce maternal, new-
Navanethem Pillay, UN Human Rights High Commissioner
born and child mortality. Participants then watched live coverage of the official launch of the Strategy, hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Governments, philanthropists and private groups pledged US$40 billion dollars to support the Strategy. THE FORGOTTEN BILLION: MDG ACHIEVEMENT IN THE DRYLANDS: Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary, UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), noted that five of the 10 countries that rank lowest on the human development index are dryland countries and that poor soils result in poor people. Olav Kjrven, UNDP, said the dryland agenda has traditionally targeted specialized issues rather than linking to the broader development agenda, but that drylands must be addressed holistically rather than by sector or issue. He then announced a forthcoming report, Achievement of MDGs in the Drylands, and described UNDP pilot projects identifying policy bottlenecks and mainstreaming programmes, such as building mobile schools in Kenya. Nicholas Middleton, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, reported that drylands are home to two billion people dependent on highly variable resources. He said it is impossible to halve world poverty without addressing these forgotten billions. He added that adult female literacy is a particularly intriguing challenge because data show that it declines with increasing levels of aridity. He noted that policy successes include: improved pastoral tenure rights; expanded seed varieties; and index-based livestock insurance protection. He called for drylands to be mainstreamed into global development.
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Barack Obama shakes hands with UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon before addressing the Millennium Development Goals Summit at the United Nations headquarters in New York City Photograph: Getty Images
In the discussions, participants debated local, national and global dryland policy needs, particularly highlighting potential areas of work for UNDP to include in their upcoming report. On local and national policy, participants emphasized: integrating the MDGs into a sustainable development framework; the relevance of land rights and governance; the underlying security issues related to drylands; and the role of gender. They called for improved salinity and solar technology, and increases in agricultural research. One participant highlighted policy concerns with the cost and sustainability of highly populated and artificially irrigated arid regions, such as in the southwest United States. On global policy, participants suggested: establishing dryland ministries to improve institutional capacity and budget allocations for drylands; forming an alliance on food security; addressing migration due to water scarcity; and improving integration of the UNCCD with the CBD and UNFCCC. INVESTMENT PROMOTION: PAVING THE WAY TOWARDS POVERTY ERADICATION: Heraldo Muoz, UNDP, said foreign direct investment (FDI)
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and corporate social responsibility contribute to employment and poverty reduction (MDG1). Samuel Santos, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicaragua, said that Nicaraguan renewable energy production has been revolutionized due to FDI. Javier Chamorro Rubiales, PRONicaragua and World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, said Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) attract investment flows for areas with high poverty, high emigration and low FDI. IPAs exist in every Central American country he said, and have yielded USD$189 in FDI for every $1 spent on IPAs in Nicaragua. Damien Shiels, World Bank, said IPAs resulted in USD$1.95 billion and 95,000 job increases in the Central American region. Paul Oquist, Minister, United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration, said FDI increases employment, which drives progress on MDGs. He recommended collaborative opportunities, for example a regional rail network, to stimulate foreign investment. In contrast to popular development discourse, Amir Dossal, United Nations Office for Partnerships, said FDI should be prioritized over increases in investment in HIV/AIDS prevention or

child health. Additionally, he recommended bringing this concept to the attention of the General Assembly and adopting these priorities for Africa. Luis Felipe Lpez Calva, UNDP, said it is vital that: IPAs collaborate; policies are coordinated; and links to academic institutions are created to enhance skills, otherwise IPAs create an island of investment in the economy. lvaro Baltodano, Nicaragua Presidential Delegate for Investment, emphasized the need for coordination between investment agencies. HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON BIODIVERSITY: Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, co-chaired the session, with Danilo Trk, President of Slovenia. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister, Bangladesh, highlighted the need to send a clear message to the upcoming CBD meeting. David Choquehuanca Cspedes, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bolivia, promoted establishing an international environmental and climate court. Jim Prentice, Minister of Environment, Canada, outlined Canadas focus on strong and effective enforcement of environmental laws. Stefania Prestigiacomo, Minister of Environment, Italy, said full reform of international environmental governance may be required. Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, India, Veysel Erolu, Minister of Environment and Forestry, Turkey, and Teresa Ribera, Secretary of State for Climate Change, Spain, urged completion of the protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). Also on ABS, Homero Bibiloni, Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development, Argentina, underscored the need to balance proposals and reality. Sakihito Ozawa, Minister of the Environment, Japan, said his country would propose the Satoyama Initiative, a social-ecological production landscape initiative aiming to realize societies where both biodiversity and human well-being are maintained, at CBD COP 10 in Nagoya, Japan. Caroline Spelman, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK, highlighted that the UK will meet the 0.7% of GDP ODA by 2013. Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mexico, urged countries to identify synergies between climate change and biodiversity at UNFCCC COP 16 in Cancn. Maanee Lee, Minister of Environment, Re
Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director UN Population Fund
public of Korea, said strengthening the sciencepolicy interface provides the opportunity to advance green growth. Phandu Skelemani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Botswana, said efforts to implement his countrys biodiversity action plan have been limited by low technical capacity and lack of stable financing. sa-Britt Karlsson, State Secretary, Ministry of the Environment, Sweden, stressed the need to facilitate engagement of the private sector. Humberto Rosa, Secretary of State for the Environment, Portugal, highlighted the need for further marine protected areas and no-take zones. Joke Schauvliege, Minister for Environment, Nature and Culture, Belgium, said the high level General Assembly meeting represented a unique opportunity to facilitate the integration of biodiversity throughout the UN system. Danilo Trk, President, Slovenia, stressed that reaffirmation of commitments is necessary. Armida Alisjahbana, Minister for National Planning and Development, Indonesia underscored the importance of measurable and achievable targets for the CBDs upcoming COP10 in Nagoya, Japan. Karen Ellemann, Minister of Environment, Denmark, stressed the importance of agreeing on a strategic plan. Chantal Jouanno, Minister for Ecology, France, stressed the need to value biodiversity as an asset. Antonio Brack, Minister of Environment for Peru, proposed the identification of synergies between CBD, CCD and Climate Change regimes. Lszl Borbly, Minister for Environment and Forests, Roma34

nia, highlighted the need for indicators to measure progress. Izabella Teixeira, Minister of Environment, Brazil, speaking on behalf of the Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries, stressed the need for a new strategy for resource implementation. Mara Ignacia Bentez, Minister of Environment, Chile, urged accelerated efforts to protect biodiversity. Rufin Pacme Ondzounga, Minister of Habitat and Environment, Gabon, emphasized the significance of the Libreville Declaration on Health and Environment in Africa. Kerri-Ann Jones, Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, US, said the US invests more than US$300 million annually on biodiversity protection. Jane Smart, International Union for Conservation of Nature, reiterated that innovative financing mechanisms are necessary. Erik Solheim, Minister of Environment and International Development, Norway, co-chaired the afternoon panel session, together with Mara Fernada Espinosa, Minister of Heritage, Ecuador. TuilaEpa Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister, Samoa, underscored the need to make the economic case for biodiversity. Roodal Moonilal, Minister of Housing and the Environment, Trinidad and Tobago, urged delegates to learn from the failure to meet the 2010 biodiversity target. Alberto Rmulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines, emphasized addressing the invisible biodiversity costs. Kairat Umarov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kazakhstan, introduced the Green Bridge Initiative on increasing Eurasian integration on green growth. Peter Shanel Agovaka, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Solomon Islands, called for an urgent economic solution to logging. Bernard Blaszczyk, Under-Secretary of State, Poland, underscored the need for making CBDs strategic plan comprehensive. Bruno Oberle, State Secretary, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland underscored the need for increased synergies across the biodiversity conventions. Janez Potonik, EC Commission for the Environment, EU, stressed that without a successful meeting in Nagoya, meeting development goals would not be possible. Haroldo Rodas Melgar, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Guatemala, underscored the value of indigenous knowledge. Carlos Castao, Vice-Minister of Environment, Colombia, expressed frustration at the lack of agreement on a biodiversity target for the post2010 period. Denis Lowe, Minister of Environment,
Momad Piaraly Jutha, Ministry of Planning & Development, Mozambique
Water Resources and Drainage, Barbados, called on CBD parties to enhance support to Small Island Developing States. Tarja Reponen, Ambassador for Sustainable Development, Finland, called for concerted action on biodiversity over the next decade. Anita Wouters, Director-General, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Netherlands, underscored the need to join forces with the private sector. Australia supported extending the International Year of Biodiversity to the International Decade of Biodiversity. New Zealand promoted Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic and Timely (SMART) goals to address biodiversity. Morocco stressed that CBD COP10 should make important decisions to address the biodiversity loss. ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY TO REACH THE MDGS: KEY MECHANISMS AND INITIATIVES: Martin Dahinden, Director-General, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, stressed the importance of accountability and transparency and the centrality of the UN to address these issues. Beverely Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, Canada, stressed the need for: an alignment of the development and accountability agenda; donor countries and organizations to fulfill pledges and aid disbursements in a predictable and timely manner; and base data for comparison purposes. Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development, UK, stressed that arguments for corruption and accountability are weakened in the wake of non-fulfillment of aid pledges. Amara Konneh, Minister of Planning and Eco35

nomic Affairs, Liberia, underscored the need for: alignment of aid to country systems; synchronization of aid assistance with national policies and plans; and provision of donor support in a timely manner. Momad Piaraly Jutha, Ministry of Planning and Development, Mozambique, reiterated that mutual accountability lies at the center of aid effectiveness and true accountability occurs when the performance of donors is given equal status as recipient governments. Bob Geldof, MDG Advocate, highlighted serious operational challenges in MDG achievement, including that progress on commitments on MDGs is nearly immeasurable given the lack of adequate data sets, particularly for African countries, and that additional aid commitments made by donors at the Gleneagles Summit are difficult to measure. ADDRESSING THE GLOBAL AND SANITATION CHALLENGE: THE KEY TO THE MDGS: Jan Eliasson, WaterAid, Sweden, said the water and sanitation agenda is a catalyst for all other MDGs. Prince Willem-Alexander, the Netherlands, appealed to governments to prioritize the water and sanitation agenda in spite of competing priorities. Maria Otero, Under-Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, US, remarked that there is no human security without water security, and Emomali Rahmon, President, Tajikistan, proposed that 2012 be declared the International Year for Water Diplomacy. Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development, UK, remarked that the water and sanitation goal is the second most off track of all MDGs. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that supply of clean water and sanitation would free time for mothers to provide for their children and that public health, sanitation and infrastructure policies must change. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President, Liberia, reported that 26 out of 56 African countries are on track to meet water supply targets, but that only six will meet the sanitation target, noting that this lack of adequate progress undermines other MDGs. Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister, the Netherlands, said investing in sanitation provides an eight-fold return on investments via improved health and productivity. Buyelwa Sonjica, Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, South Africa, said the African Ministerial Council on Water had estimated a US$8.8 billion per annum deficit in water supply and called for developed countries to
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World Bank President Robert Zoellick
help Africa help itself. Hans-Jgen Beerfeltz, State Secretary, Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany, stressed that access to water and sanitation are preconditions for survival and human dignity. Madicke Nyang, Foreign Affairs Minister, Senegal, said the private sector has been instrumental in provision of water and sanitation services and has so far invested US$500 million. In closing, Anthony Lake, Executive Director, UNICEF said to ensure success investments must be made in effective innovations to help those most affected by sanitation issues. TURNING EVIDENCE INTO PRACTICE - LEARNING FROM WHAT WORKS TO ACCELERATE MDG PROGRESS: Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General, lauded Helen Clark, UNDP, for her commitment to the MDGs, adding that the introduction of the MDG Acceleration Framework shows real potential to improve livelihoods. Choummaly Sayasone, President, Peoples Democratic Republic of Laos, said his countrys progress on MDGs include: sustained annual economic growth rate of 7 percent; a decline in poverty from 48% to 26%; increased primary school enrolment, maternal and child health; and gender equality with 25% representation in parliament. Juan Manuel Santos Caldern, President, Colombia, highlighted examples in which MDG successes can be attributed to efforts to bring the goals to the local-level through programmes such as Families in Action, which has benefited over 2.5 million families by bringing cash assistance to mothers with school-attending children. Olubanke King-Akerele, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liberia, thanked Denmark for its support in awarding Libe-

ria the MDG 3 award for outstanding leadership, commitment and progress toward the achievement of MDG 3 on gender equality and the empowerment of women. During discussions, Sheikha Hassa Al Thani, Qatar, said the World Bank provides incentives for countries that include the disability agenda in their development campaigns. Gilbert Houngbo, Prime Minister, Togo, reported that his country is focusing on agricultural development; Amira Al-fadil Mohamed Al-fadil, Minister of Welfare and Social Security, Sudan, urged the UN to build human capacity and incorporate national positions and needs into reports. Ib Petersen, State Secretary for Development Policy, Denmark, said Denmark would continue to support the advancement of women and economic growth in developing countries. INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND EMPLOYMENT IN AFRICA ACCELERATING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE MDGS: This side event was moderated by Helen Clark, UNDP. Lars Lkke Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark, emphasized that private sectorled growth is the best way to ensure increased job creation and called for the creation of enabling environments to encourage international investment and support domestic enterprises. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, stressed that for Liberia, inclusive growth must become a reality for the country to achieve the MDG targets. She noted that they were especially vulnerable to external shocks due to their emergence from a civil war, and that in their reform agenda they have focused on inclusive growth. Mizengo Pinda, Prime Minister of Tanzania, highlighting collaboration as key to achieving the MDGs, noted that Tanzanias best opportunity for inclusive growth is from the agricultural sector. Mo Ibrahim, The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, lauded the outcomes of the African Commission for focusing largely at the local level. Calling for the integration of markets, Donald Kaberuka, AfDB, underscored the energy potential of the continent for future economic growth. Maria Oteno, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, US, lamented the financial crisis, which has affected industrial development. Clark stressed that macro-economic policies need to support long-term growth with job creation and enabling environments. Andrew Mitchell, Secretary of State for International Development, UK, highlighted the imperative of property rights. In the ensuing discussion, participants deliberated
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Sheikha Hassa Al Thani, Qatar
on: the effects of climate change on inclusive propoor growth; practical skills training for workers; labor intensive programmes to support economic growth; and the inclusion of minority groups, including women, the disabled and youth. AIDS+MDGS DELIVERING RESULTS TOWARDS OUR SHARED COMMITMENTS: This event was moderated by Michel Sidib, Executive Director, UNAIDS. Asha-Rose Migiro, UN Deputy SecretaryGeneral, said that national HIV/AIDS programmes strengthen national health systems and help reduce the vulnerability of the poor. Wen Jiabao, Premier, China, outlined his countrys actions in combating the disease, including: providing free antiretroviral drugs; mid- and long-term strategies; free schooling for AIDS orphans; and medical and financial support for those families affected by HIV/AIDs. Tayler Abuba Silva, a Nigerian schoolgirl, noted that her mother was HIV-positive (HIV+), and had prevented mother-child transmission through the use of antiretrovirals. She urged those present to ensure that no child is born HIV positive. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister, Ethiopia, outlined his countrys HIV/AIDS strategy, noting that it is based on three pillars, namely, integrated approaches to rolling out programmes, ensuring the

primary healthcare system is cheap and effective, and social mobilization to promote healthy livelihoods. Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health, South Africa, noted that the mainstay of the South African AIDS strategy is prevention and highlighted the launch of a testing campaign. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Nigerian Minister for Health, on behalf of his President, Goodluck Jonathan, noted his countrys HIV/AIDS strategy bridges human resource gaps and strengthens and encourages public involvement.
UPCOMING MEETINGS SEVENTH AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FORUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT: The overall objective of this Forum is to raise awareness and mobilize effective commitments and actions on the part of stakeholders and partners at all levels to mainstream climate change concerns into development policies, strategies, programmes and practices in Africa. dates: 10-15 October 2010 location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia contact: Isatou Gaye phone: +25111 544 3089 fax: +251-11 551 4416 e-mail: igaye@uneca.org www: http://www.uneca.org/ adfvii/ TENTH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CBD: The tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is expected to assess achievement of the 2010 target to reduce significantly the rate of biodiversity loss, adopt an international regime on access and benefit-sharing and celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity 2010. dates: 18-29 October 2010 location: Nagoya (Aichi), Japan contact: CBD Secretariat phone: 1-514-288-2220 fax: 1-514-288-6588 e-mail: secretariat@cbd.int www: http://www.cbd.int/meetings/ INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY: Convening under the theme From Poverty to Decent Work: Bridging the Gap, this day presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty and a chance for them to make their concerns heard. date: 18 October 2010 location: UN Headquarters, New York, US contact: Jomo Kwame Sundaram fax: +1 212 963 3062 www: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/social/ intldays/IntlDay/2010.html FIFTH MEETING OF THE AFRICAN LEARNING GROUP ON POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGIES AND THE MDGS: The main objective of the meeting is to contribute to the strengthening of social protection schemes in Africa through peerlearning and knowledge exchange. dates: 20-22 October 2010 location: Abuja, Nigeria contact: Kasirim Nwuke phone: +251 11 544 3375 fax: +251 11 551 2785 e-mail:
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knwuke@uneca.org www: http://www.uneca.org/ e c a _ p r o g r a m m e m e s / trade_and_regional_integration/events/LG5/ index.html GLOBAL CONFERENCE ON AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE: This meeting aims to provide concrete actions to link the implementation of agriculture-related investments, policies and measures with long-term carbon emission reductions and adaptation benefits. dates: 31 October 5 November 2010 location: The Hague, the Netherlands phone: +31 70 306 6366 fax: +31 70 306 6443 e-mail: agriculture2010@minlnv.nl www: http://www.afcconference.com/ HARNESSING KNOWLEDGE TO ACHIEVE THE MDGS IN AFRICA: The purpose of the meeting is to explore how best African countries can strategically harness knowledge to advance their development in general and to achieve the targets of the MDGs. dates: 3-5 November 2010 location: Dakar, Senegal contact: Kasirim Nwuke phone: +251 11 544 3375 fax: +251 11 551 2785 e-mail: knwuke@uneca.org www: http://www.uneca.org/eca_programmemes/ trade_and_regional_integration/events/Harnessing/ Index.html NOVEMBER G-20 SUMMIT: The Republic of Korea is chairing the G-20 in 2010. dates: 11-13 November 2010 location: Seoul, Republic of Korea contact: Presidential Committee for G-20 Summit email: G20KOR@korea.krwww: http://www.g20.org SIXTEENTH CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE UNFCCC AND SIXTH MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL: The 33rd meetings of the SBI and SBSTA will also take place concurrently. dates: 29 November 10 December 2010 location: Cancn, Mexico contact: UNFCCC Secretariat phone: +49-228-815-1000 fax: +49-228-815-1999 email: secretariat@unfccc.int www: http://unfccc.int/ FOURTH UN CONFERENCE ON THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES: This conference aims to assess the results of the 10 year action plan adopted at the third UN Conference on LDCs and adopt new measures and strategies for their sustainable development. dates: 30 May 3 June 2011 location: Istanbul, Turkey contact: Ricardo Dunn phone: +1 917 367 6006 e-mail: dunn@un.org www: http:// www.un.org/wcm/content/site/ldc/home
International/United Nations 65th General Assembly
United Nations 65th General Assembly
Report
ber, resuming in January and no doubt, as usual, attending to unfinished business up until the beginning of the subsequent session. During the annual September Summit leaders of member states deliver their messages to the new General Assembly. Sometimes these messages are not so friendly, like when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the September 2009 Summit lambasted the United Nations and especially the General Assembly for its litany of resolutions that run contrary to Zionist pursuits. The United Nations is not appreciated by everyone in our world but most leaders can be expected to bring constructive advice and criticism with a view to the UN becoming more democratic, even handed and effective; and also more respected. Nigerian President and Economic Community of West African States Chairman Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, speaking on Friday, September 24, at the Security Council Summit, called for a new security model to maintain global peace and security. In a speech entitled Ensuring the Security Councils Effective Role in Maintaining International Peace and Security, the Nigerian president maintained, Our current security architecture is not the best model to address todays multiple security challenges. The vulnerable and marginalized and the oppressed are calling upon the United Nations for leadership to end the torrents of conflicts, President Jonathan declared in calling on the Security Council to reposition itself to deal with the changing international environment. Indonesias Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa, addressing the theme Reaffirming the central role of the United Nations in global governance, stated that to be effective, especially in maintaining international peace and security,
Chairman of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Jonathan addressing the United Nations Security Council Summit on September 24, 2010
ince the first General Assembly of the United Nations convened on January 10, 1946 at Londons Westminster Central Hall to opening of the week long 65th General Assembly Summit n New York City on September 22, 2010 the number of nations represented in the world body increased from 51 to 192, with South Sudan, under whatever name the anticipated new republic finally chooses, likely to next year become the 193rd member. The 65th General Assembly, in accordance with its mandate, will run from September until Decem39

Development Goals (MDGs), human rights, peace and security, development in Myanmar and partnerships between the ASEAN Secretariat and the UN Headquarters. Also on the issue of United Nations structural reform South Africas Foreign Minister Ms M. Nkoana-Mashabane said with regard the theme of the 65th session of the General Assembly , reaffirming the central role of the United Nations in global governance that it resonated with what our global citizen, Nelson Mandela, said about this body on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, that (and I quote): The United Nations has to reassess its role, redefine its profile and reshape its structures. It should truly reflect the diversity of our universe and ensure equity among the nations in the exercise of power within the system of international relations in general, and the Security Council, in particular. (Close quote). Venezuela in the 65th General Assembly General Debate bluntly called for suspension of veto rights of the 5 Permanent Security Council members, arguing that it is incompatible with the principle of sovereign equality of states. Pointing to the futility of resolutions concerning the Cuban embargo and Palestinian crisis Venezuela maintained, "The United Nations has exhausted its mode; and it is not simply a matter of proceeding with reform, the twenty-first century demands deep changes that are only possible with a rebuilding of this organization." Brazils Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, representing President Luz Incia Lula da Silva who was in Brazil ahead of the elections that would be taken place a few days later, spoke of his countrys efforts at poverty alleviation during the 8 years of Lula da Silvas presidency, saying that over 20 million people rose out of poverty, many others out of extreme poverty and some 30 million joined the middle class. He said that Brazil was proud to have already achieved most of the Millennium Development Goals and was on the way to achieving all of them by target year 2015. He however added that promoting development is a collective global responsibility and that the failure of any country to achieve the MDGs was failure of the entire international community. Brazil, he said, had been working with other countries to help them to replicate his countrys successful experience. Celso revealed that IBSA Dialogue forum [comprising India, Brazil and South Africa] had created a poverty alleviation fund that is financing projects in
Indonesias Foreign Minister Dr. Marty M. Natalegawa represented his country at the 65th General Assembly Summit
the United Nations must equally serve the interests of all nations, developed and developing, large and small. On the issue of Palestine Foreign Minister Marty deplored Israels decision not to extend the moratorium on settlement building in the occupied territories that are supposed to be part of the future Palestinian state and said his country would continue contributing to capacity building in Palestine, to prepare Palestinians for the day when they finally exercise national sovereignty. Foreign Minister Marty affirmed that his country was on track to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test- Ban Treaty. Dr. Marty and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers met with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the 65th President of the UN General Assembly, Joseph Deiss, on the sidelines of the Summit. Mr. Ban noted that ASEAN and the UN are close working partners and have shared agendas to work on. He recommended five priority areas on which ASEAN and UN can cooperate to address regional and multilateral issues: the Millennium
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Haiti, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Burundi, Cambodia, Palestine and Laos. Pointing out that Africa holds a very special place in Brazilian diplomacy Foreign Minister Celso Amorim noted that since taking office President Lula da Silna had travelled to Africa eleven times, visiting more than 20 countries. Brazil has set up an agricultural research farm in Ghana, a model cotton farm in Mali, a manufacturing plant for antiretroviral drugs in Mozambique and professional training centers in five other African countries. Through trade and investment, Celso said, Brazil is helping Africa overcome its foreign aid dependency. Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd in calling the UN ineffective to deal with the challenges of the moment cited political will paucity inhibiting UN structures and institutions from optimal performance. Identifying three areas in which the UN is failing Millennium Development Goals, Climate Change and disarmament, Rudd said that there continues to be a gap between what the world recognizes is necessary to be done and what is actually done. Addressing General Assembly President Mr. Joseph Deiss, a former foreign minister of Switzerland, Mr. Rudd said, Mr. President, the United Nations has most of the essential structures in place. But for the structures to work, we must harness the political will necessary to make them work. In other words we must enable the institutions we have created to do the job for which they were created. Put even more starkly, we must do that which we say. Millennium Development Goals, Climate Change and disarmament are the main ongoing issues on the UN agenda, all three related to a host of other issues. Liberias President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf commended the role of the UN peacekeeping mission in her country, noting that the security situation had now stabilized, with people moving around freely, after instability dating back to 1990. On international peace and security she urged settlement of the Middle East crisis and called for Chapter VII intervention in Somalia, noting the rampant piracy, extremist and terrorist elements rampaging in the absence of an effective state. She pledged Liberias support to the African Union efforts to secure an effective government in Somalia and rid the country of elements threatening Africa and international peace and security. Significantly, the Liberian president said, While we acknowledge the rights of States to self
Australia and Brazil were represented at the 65th UN General Assembly Summit by their foreign ministers, Kevin Rudd (left) and Celso Amorim (right), respectively
defense and the promotion of programs in support of national interests, we call on them to do so responsibly with respect for international public opinion, protocols and conventions surrounding such developments. The Liberian president also took the opportunity to commend South Africa for its successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup, saying that this achievement was a pride for all Africa. Parallel to the UN General Assembly and Millennium Development Goal Summits, the Clinton Global Initiative, founded in 2005 by former U.S. President Bill Clinton had three full days of meetings to "analyze pressing global challenges, discuss the most effective solutions and build lasting partnerships that enable them to create positive social change." Those who participated in the CGI meetings included philanthropist Melinda Gates, news anchor Katie Couric, New York Times columnist Nicolas Kristof and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
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Frances president Nicolas Sarkozy addressing 65th United Nations General Assembly in Session in the photo above
rench President Sarkozy raised the question in his speech to the MDGs whether the lingering 2009 global economic crisis should result in drawback on efforts and commitments to alleviate global poverty, saying that France which at 10 billion annually is the worlds second largest donor nation, had decided to mobilize resources to not only sustain its commitment but with a view to increasing its contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by 20%. While the crisis is severe in the wealthy countries, where its creating deficits, its consequences are much harsher in the poor countries. So we do not have the right to do less. And with regard to our decision, we hope that all the developed countries will decide to do more and, naturally, to help Africa on a priority basis, said the French President., adding Malaria kills a million children in Africa each year. To put it bluntly, before the end of my speech, 30 children in Africa will have died of malaria. We do not have the right to hide behind the economic crisis as an excuse to do less. Continuing President Sarkozy reminded the Summit, In Copenhagen, we all made commitments. $30 billion per year for Fast Start, $100
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billion for development, cautioning, We will not meet our deadlines if we dont move forward on innovative financing. President Sarkozy vowed, As future president of the G20 and the G8, we will fight to develop this idea. It is essential and our credibility is at state.. To conclude, let me add once again that we need to keep our commitments to finance development, conceive of innovative financing and give Africa its rightful place, notably in new global governance, he said, driving his pint home, vowing furthermore, I will reiterate that tirelessly from this podium. This is the 21st century; we cannot continue with the governance of the 20th century. One wonders how long this widely felt sense of purpose that the 21st century must be an age of humanism, in contrast to the Social Darwinism that dominated the 20th century, will last as the years go by. However, it appears that the new more enlightened view of the world is not simply a matter of being inspired by dates on the calendar but also very much a product of the conscience of the generations born in this high-tech, enhanced performance capacity age.
Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, London, where the first UN General Assembly was held in 1946
UN Outliving the League of Nations Jinx

fficially the League of Nations lasted 26 years from 1920 to 1946 but it was a troubled life during which membership peaked on 28 September 1934 at 58 nation states and began declining on 23 February 1935, less than 5 months later. During the League of Nations 26 year existence 63 different Nations belonged at one time or another but only 28 remained in the League from its founding until it was superseded by the United Nations in 1946. The League of Nations idea had been floating in political and diplomatic circles for some years before United States President Woodrow Wilson included it among the Fourteen Points constituting Allied Powers aims in World War I. Its formulating agreement was called the Covenant of the League of Nations which was incorporated into the Treaty of Versailles that formally marked the end of World
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War I. Although U.S. President Wilson spearheaded the League of Nations his country never officially became a member because the United States Senate did not come up with the two thirds majority support to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, largely owing to objections to the provision requiring joint military action in event of aggression against any member of the alliance and power opposition to the United States committing itself to permanent involvement in European affairs. Wilson had opposed the humiliating and punitive terms of peace Britain and France insisted imposing on Germany, which included confiscation of its colonies and dividing them among other European powers and punitive taxes on the ruined German economy. Germanys war leader Kaiser

Wilhelm and his Chancellor Prince Max of Baden had resigned on November 9, 1918 amidst an uprising led by Communists and Social Democrats, whereupon Social Democrat leader Philip Scheideman took the reins of government and declared an armistice on November 11. The antimilitarist Social Democrats had opposed the pugnacious policies of Chancellor Otto Von Bismark and when they won a large number of parliamentary seats in the elections of 1890 Bismark sought to abolish the constitution in the course of intensifying his campaign to suppress them. Kaiser Wilhelm , an ambitious 31 year old monarch thereupon seized the opportunity to remove Bismark, the very man who united Germany and crowned his father his emperor. Whereas Bisrmaks militarism appeared primarily aimed at maintaining the status quo power balance with Germany at a cautious advantage, Kaiser Wilhelm, all the time opposed by the Social Democrats, plunged more aggressively into a provocative imperialist rivalry with Britain and France. While U.S. President Woodrow Wilson wanted the longstanding opposition of the newly empowered Social Democrats to German militarism taken duly into consideration in the Treaty of Versailles, Britain and France by ignoring the political significance of the Social Democrats having replaced imperialists at the helm in Germany and forcing harsh terms of peace on the Germans fueled the despair and mood that Adolph Hitler and his Nazi Party exploited to rise to power. Although France had occupied the Ruhr and Italy Corfu (Krkira) in defiance of the League of Nations Covenant prohibiting conquest by aggression, It was Hitlers megalomaniacal scheme to conquer the entire world, with Italy ruling the Mediterranean and Japan the Pacific, leaving the rest of the world under Germany, that defeated the League of Nations principal purpose of preventing another world war. Germany which had joined the League of Nations in 1926 withdrew its membership in 1933 under the fascist regime of Adolph Hitlers Nazi Party. Nazi Germanys ally Japan also withdrew in member in 1933 after the LN condemned its attacks on China. Also, the LN failed to prevent Italy from conquest of Ethiopia. The Soviet Union which joined the League in 1934 was expelled in 1939 for attacking Finland. Ultimately the League of Nations was powerless to prevent the series of aggressions that led to World War II. By 1940 the Secretariat of the League of Nations was reduced to a skeleton staff and several
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small units were moved from the Geneva headquarters to Canada and the United States. When the League of Nation officially dissolved upon establishment of the United Nations, inherited what remained of its assets and institutions, including the International Court of Justice, commonly known as the World Court, and the international Labor Organization (ILO). The United Nations Security Council with a select handful of powerful nations, each empowered to block resolutions, was essentially a carryover from the League of Nations Council that at one point included Britain, France, Italy, Germany and the Soviet Union. Compared to the League of Nations short life of 26 years the United Nations is now in its 65th year and going strong. The UN has survived antagonisms of the Republican Party which has in held the presidency of its largest donor, the United States for 40 of its 65 year existence. United States ambassador to the UN during 1975 and 76 Daniel Patrick Moynihan who though a Democrat served under Republican president Gerald Ford admitted, The Department of State desired that the United Nations prove utterly ineffective in whatever measures it undertook. This task was given to me, and I carried it forward with no inconsiderable success." Moynihan is perhaps most infamous for calling the UN General Assembly the ghetto of the world and inviting the UN to pack out of America to somewhere else, adding that Americans would happily bid the world body good riddance. The UN has survived the Korean War, Vietnam War, the Soviet invasions of Hungary and Czechoslovakia, the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and blockage of its funding by the U.S. Congress, as well as U.S. and British withdrawal from UNESCO during the 1970s. More recently it has been often defied by Arab/Islamist Sudan over its treatment of marginalized indigenous Africans. The UN has outlived the League of Nations no doubt primarily because it has become such an integral part of the global mainstream that the radicals who oppose its existence are in the global context too few on the margins to assert their agenda against it, even if they are from time to time a powerful force in the U.S. Congress and presidential administration. Significantly, Libyas Leader Muammar Ghaddafi speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the African Union at last years 64th General Assembly Summit called for the UN headquarters to be moved out of the U.S.
Position Paper of the People's Republic of China At the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
US President Barack Obama (right) speaks to the press alongside Chinas Premier Wen Jiabao at the UN in New York
I. The Role of the United Nations (UN) The international situation continues to undergo profound and complex changes. Multi-polarity and economic globalization are deepening. Peace, development and cooperation represent both the more powerful trend of the times and the stronger aspiration of the countries of the world. World economy witnesses a slow, unbalanced and multi-speed recovery. Global issues such as climate change, energy security and public health are still prominent with imbalances in development becoming even worse. Regional hotspot issues keep emerging and local disturbances crop up from time to time, making the security situation more complex and diverse. There are multiple destabilizing factors and uncertainties in the world, posing a host of new difficulties and challenges to world peace and development.
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The UN, as the most universal, representative and authoritative inter-governmental organization, is the most important platform to practice multilateralism. Since its founding, the UN has played a significant and irreplaceable role in upholding world peace, promoting common development and facilitating international cooperation. China always values the status and role of the UN and upholds the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. China supports the UN, under the current circumstances, in further harnessing its advantages and taking effective actions to coordinate international efforts in response to global threats and challenges and continuing to play a central role in international affairs.

III. Security Sector 1. UN Peacekeeping Operations UN peacekeeping operations are an important and effective means in maintaining international peace and security. The peacekeeping operations, with an ever expanding scale and broader mandate, are facing more and more challenges. China is a strong supporter of and active participant in the UN peacekeeping operations. China supports reasonable and innovative reform of peacekeeping operations on the basis of the three principles put forward by the former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold. Such reform should prioritize strategic designing, enhance communication and coordination with the host countries, improve logistics mechanisms, optimize resource allocation and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of peacekeeping operations and the level of their deployment, planning and management. At the same time, the parties concerned should place greater emphasis on better coordination between peacekeeping, peacemaking and peace building. China calls upon the UN to continue to enhance, as a priority, cooperation with regional organizations in peacekeeping, focusing on, in particular, the needs of African countries. 2. Peace-building Peace-building involves the entire UN system. The Peace-building Commission (PBC), an important outcome of the UN reforms, is the first agency within the UN system entrusted with coordinating post-conflict rebuilding and has a unique status and an important role to play. China supports as always UN's leading role in post-conflict rebuilding and the efforts of the PBC and the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). Going forward, the PBC should further improve its institution-building, strengthen coordination with other UN agencies, enhance partnership with the countries involved and make better use of the PBF. The General Assembly, Security Council and ECOSOC should all make good use of their respective advantages to support the work of PBC. 3. Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict China is deeply concerned about the life and property of civilians affected and threatened by armed conflicts and urges the parties concerned to abide by the international humanitarian law and the relevant Security Council resolutions in good faith and give full protection to civilians caught up in armed conflicts.
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China Position Paper
The responsibility to protect civilians rests first with the government of the country involved under the Charter of the United Nations and the international humanitarian law. When providing assistance, the international community and external organizations should adhere to the principles of impartiality, neutrality and objectiveness, seek the consent of the recipient countries, fully respect their sovereignty and territorial integrity and refrain from interfering in local political disputes or impeding the peace process. The protection of civilians should be incorporated into the political process aimed at peaceful solution to conflict. It should also be given priority in post-conflict peace-rebuilding. Relevant UN agencies should strengthen coordination and forge synergy for this purpose. 4. Counter-Terrorism China supports combating terrorism in all its manifestations. The international community should, when fighting against terrorism, act on the Charter of the United Nations, the international law and other universally recognized norms governing international relations and give full play to the leading and coordinating role of the UN and its Security Council. China supports the active role of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee and the General Assembly Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force in coordinating counterterrorism efforts among countries. China endorses and takes an active part in the drafting of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, and hopes all parties will continue consultation in a constructive and cooperative spirit and reach consensus at an early date. China stands for a holistic approach which addresses both the symptoms and root causes of terrorism. By making full use of its advantages, the UN can play an active role in eliminating poverty and other root causes of terrorism, promote dialogues between civilizations and assist developing countries in counter-terrorism capacity building. China opposes the linkage of terrorism to certain countries, ethnic groups, religions or civilizations and is against double standards. China, as a long-time, active participant in international cooperation against terrorism, stands
United Nations Headquarters, New York
ready to enhance exchanges and cooperation with various parties and work for new progress in international counter-terrorism cooperation with a view to maintaining regional and international peace and stability. 5. Situation on the Korean Peninsula The current situation on the Korean Peninsula remains complex and sensitive. A Korean Peninsula that enjoys peace, stability, progress and prosperity serves the common interests of countries in the region, China included, and the rest of the international community. China hopes that the parties concerned will adopt a long-term perspective, solve relevant issues through dialogue and consultation, continue to push forward the Six-Party Talks, and work together for peace and stability on the Peninsula and lasting peace and tranquility in the region. 6. The Myanmar Issue China hopes to see stability in Myanmar and national reconciliation through consultation between the parties in the country and a successful general election for realization of democracy and development. The Myanmar issue is, in essence, a country's internal affair. The international community should provide constructive assistance to Myanmar to create an enabling environment for a successful nationwide general election as well as
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gradual progress in political reconciliation, democracy and development. Imposing sanctions and exerting pressure will not help solve the issue. China supports the efforts of the good offices of the UN Secretary-General and his Special Adviser. 7. The Afghan Issue The situation in Afghanistan concerns peace and stability in the region and beyond as well as the smooth progress of the international counterterrorism efforts. Despite positive progress, the reconstruction process in Afghanistan still faces numerous challenges. To succeed, it requires, first and foremost, the determined efforts of the Afghan government. It also calls for strong support from the international community. China has consistently supported and actively participated in Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction. China applauds the formulation of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy, supports the priority programs it has identified, supports further implementation of the Afghanistan Compact and the Kabul Process, and respects the leading role of the Afghan government and people in advancing this process. We call on the international community to continue to devote attention to and make inputs in Afghanistan and intensify coordination and cooperation. China supports the UN in continuing to play a leading role in resolving the Afghan issue.

8. The Iranian Nuclear Issue China supports upholding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East. China is of the view that Iran, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is entitled to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and at the same time obliged to fulfill relevant international obligations. China stands for negotiated settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue. The parties concerned should step up diplomatic efforts to facilitate an early resumption of talks and work together to push for positive progress in the talks with a flexible and pragmatic attitude. China has long been committed to encouraging dialogue for peace and will continue to play a constructive role in pushing for the peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue. 9. The Middle East Issue China has always supported the Middle East peace process. It is China's long-held position that the parties concerned in the Middle East issue properly solve their disputes through negotiation on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, the principle of "land for peace", the Arab Peace Initiative and the Middle East Roadmap for Peace with the ultimate goal of establishing an independent Palestinian state and achieving normalization of relations between Israel and all Arab countries. Peaceful negotiation is the only right way leading to a solution to the Middle East issue. We hope Palestine and Israel will remain committed to negotiation and advance the peace talks in an earnest and responsible manner. The processes between Syria and Israel and between Lebanon and Israel are important components of the Middle East peace process and deserve equal attention and commitment. China will work together with the international community for a just, comprehensive and enduring settlement of the Middle East issue. 10. The Issue of Sudan China supports the North-South peace process in Sudan and stands for proper settlement of disputes through dialogue and consultation on the basis of mutual understanding and accommodation and comprehensive implementation of the
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North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). China notes that CPA stresses the importance of making unification attractive and no prejudging of Southern Sudan referendum results by any party. The international community should fully respect Sudan's sovereignty as well as the will and choice of the Sudanese people and ensure overall peace and stability in Sudan and the region as a whole. China supports the political settlement of the Darfur issue and maintains that the role of the UN-AU -Sudan tripartite mechanism should be brought into full play as the main channel and the "double -track" strategy should be advanced to promote balanced progress in peacekeeping deployment and political negotiation. What is particularly important is to encourage major factions in Darfur to join the political negotiation process at an early date. At the same time, it is imperative to help Sudan improve the humanitarian and security situation and realize peace, stability and development in Darfur as soon as possible. China takes the issue of "impunity" seriously. However, we are gravely concerned about the move by the International Criminal Court against Sudanese President Bashir. We call on the international community to value and respect the position reiterated by the African Union Summit in July 2010. We believe the measures taken on the Darfur issue should facilitate stability in Sudan and proper settlement of the Darfur issue. China has made efforts to facilitate the settlement of the issue of Sudan. In Southern Sudan, China has provided 66 million RMB yuan in gratis assistance, helped with human resources training and contributed to local development. China has provided Darfur with 180 million RMB yuan worth of humanitarian and development assistance and contributed US$2.3 million and US$1 million to the AU and UN trust funds respectively. China has also actively participated in the UN Mission in the Sudan and the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur. China will continue to work for the proper settlement of the issue of Sudan. 11. The Issue of Somalia China is concerned about the situation in Somalia and hopes that the parties concerned in Somalia will put the interests of the country and its people above everything else and solve their disputes

through dialogue and consultation so as to bring about peace and stability at an early date. China supports the efforts of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government to seek national reconciliation and those of the African Union and other regional organizations to advance the peace process in Somalia. China calls on the international community to render greater support to the Transitional Federal Government and AU's peacekeeping operations in Somalia. In recent years, China has on many occasions provided assistance to the Transitional Federal Government and AU's peacekeeping operations in Somalia. We will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role in moving forward the peace process in Somalia. Despite recent progress in international cooperation on the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia, the threat of pirate attacks is far from being eliminated and stronger coordination and cooperation are needed. China supports antipiracy efforts off the coast of Somalia in accordance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions and has engaged in international cooperation to safeguard shipping order and safety in the Somali waters. At the same time, the international community should lay stress on removing the root causes of piracy, help Somalia achieve peace and stability at an early date and help strengthen capacity building in Somalia and other littoral countries. 12. The Kosovo Issue It is the common objective of the international community to properly resolve the Kosovo issue and build a Kosovo where diverse ethnic groups live together in harmony. The best way to resolve the issue of Kosovo's status is for the Serbian government and the Kosovo authorities to reach a mutually acceptable solution through negotiation within the framework of relevant Security Council resolutions. This is also what the international community should continue to work for. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is a fundamental principle of the contemporary international legal regime and constitutes the basis for the contemporary international legal order. China respects Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and takes note of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Kosovo issue. We believe that the advisory opinion is no
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obstacle to a proper settlement to the issue through negotiation between the parties concerned on the basis of relevant Security Council resolutions. IV. Development Issues 1. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) The UN MDGs serve as the framework for international development cooperation. The international community has made some progress in implementing the MDGs over the past decade. But it remains a long and uphill journey worldwide to meet the goals on schedule by 2015. The UN will hold a High-level Event in September to discuss ways to realize the MDGs before 2015 and formulate action strategies accordingly. The international community should see this as a good opportunity to consolidate political consensus so as to achieve positive results that are operable and deliverable. To this end, the international community should encourage and support countries in taking development paths that suit their national realities and exploring growth patterns that will achieve development and reduce poverty. They should also strive to build a global development partnership of equality, mutual benefit and win-win progress. Strengthening and improving the UN MDGs working mechanisms calls for better coordination and progress assessment of the various goals as well as monitoring the implementation of international development aid. The international community needs to show determination to act decisively, and take pragmatic and effective measures, to create favorable external environment for developing countries, and help them, especially African countries to realize the MDGs at an early date. 2. Africa's Development Development is a pressing and arduous task facing Africa. The international community, developed countries in particular, should continue to offer more support and help to Africa, effectively honor their commitments of aid for Africa, and enhance African countries' capacity for selfdevelopment through opening markets, transferring technologies and increasing investment and other measures. They should assist Africa in upholding and consolidating peace and stability, respect African countries' independent choice of development patterns and provide support for African countries' development. They should push

for a just and equitable new international political and economic order so as to create favorable external conditions for Africa's development. They should encourage South-South cooperation as a useful supplement to North-South cooperation. China is always committed to peace and development in Africa. In the past few years, although seriously impacted by the international financial crisis, China has earnestly implemented various aid and cooperation measures, increased assistance to Africa by a large margin, reduced or canceled debts owed by the heavily indebted poor countries and the least developed countries in Africa, and maintained trade and investment levels. At the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation last November, the Chinese government announced a host of policy measures in support of African development. China is earnestly delivering on those commitments to make sure African countries and people benefit from them at an early date. China is ready to work with African countries and the international community to continue its contribution to the development of Africa. 3. Food Security Food security is the foundation of economic growth and social stability and an important prerequisite for the independence of a country and peace in the world. Food security is in essence a development issue; therefore, the international community should approach and deal with food security from the perspective of the survival and common development of mankind, and make concerted efforts to safeguard global food security. In this connection, China proposes the following: Increase input in agriculture and improve grain production in order to safeguard food supply and maintain an overall balance between grain supply and demand. Advance institutional reform and improve the governance system. The establishment of a global food security governance mechanism and security system that is equitable, practical, balanced and durable should be encouraged, and the global grain production, reserve and distribution should become more equitable and sustainable.
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Chinese electric car While China is perennially reluctant to sign on to carbon emission caps it is a world leader in renewable energy source development and implementation. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman in his September 25, 2010 article Their Moon Shot not Ours wrote that China has just named its dream team of 16 state owned enterprises to move China off oil and into the next industrial growth engine: electric cars.
Bear in mind the long-term and overall interests, push for positive results at the Doha Round agricultural negotiation, and foster an enabling international environment for developing countries in trade, finance, intellectual property rights and other fields related to agricultural products. Take a holistic view and achieve all-round and balanced development. Food security is closely related to economic growth, social progress, climate change and energy security. The international community should take a comprehensive approach to ensure sustainable food security. 4. Energy Security Energy security bears closely on the growth of the world economy and the well-being of people around the world. In the aftermath of the international financial crisis, upholding global energy security is of special significance to the global efforts to effectively tackle the crisis and push for the full recovery and long-term development of the world economy. To this end, the international community should work to stabilize energy price and prevent excessive speculation to meet the energy demand of countries, developing countries in particular. We should improve energy mix, promote the development of new energy and renewable energy and related cooperation, build up an R&D and dissemination system for advanced energy technologies and

strengthen technology transfer and financial support to developing countries. We should coordinate international cooperation in energy and development and assist developing countries in growing their economies and improving people's livelihood through poverty alleviation programs based on energy development. tries, developing countries in particular. We should improve energy mix, promote the development of new energy and renewable energy and related cooperation, build up an R&D and dissemination system for advanced energy technologies and strengthen technology transfer and financial support to developing countries. We should coordinate international cooperation in energy and development and assist developing countries in growing their economies and improving people's livelihood through poverty alleviation programs based on energy development. To push for positive outcome at the UN climate change conference scheduled for the end of the year in Cancun, Mexico, parties concerned should build on the achievements of the Copenhagen Conference and move in the right direction as mandated by the Bali Roadmap, fully respect the developing countries' development stages and rights, and translate the related provisions of the UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol into reality. We hope the developed countries will fully demonstrate political sincerity, fulfill their obligations and honor their commitments in good faith, and make positive contribution to the international cooperation on tackling climate change. The Chinese government values the positive role of the UN in promoting international cooperation on climate change. China is ready to take an active and constructive attitude and engage other parties in thorough and candid exchanges of views on major issues so as to breathe new life into the international cooperation on climate change. 6. South-South Cooperation For developing countries, South-South cooperation is an important channel to draw on the strength of each other and realize common development, as well as an important means to help each other to address development challenges. In recent years, South-South cooperation has achieved positive progress, generating active
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trade and investment among the developing countries. Some new mechanisms and initiatives have been launched among developing countries, injecting new vitality into South-South cooperation. China believes that there should be vigorous consultation and coordination on major international issues between the developing countries, where they could coordinate their actions to uphold their legitimate rights and interests. They should, in the spirit of equality and mutual benefit, continue to explore new channels, content and models of cooperation in the light of their own needs and the evolving situation. They should also enhance coordination and make full use of multilateral mechanisms. Due to the impact of the international financial crisis, the development environment the developing countries find themselves in is hardly optimistic. In such circumstances, it is even more imperative for developing countries to strengthen South-South cooperation to meet challenges and achieve the sound and sustained development of their economies. 7. Financing for Development The inadequate financing for development has always been a major impediment to international development. This issue becomes more prominent against the serious impact of the global financial crisis on low-income countries. The pressing task is to establish a sound global development partnership featuring equality, mutual benefit and win-win results, implement the Monterrey Consensus, and ensure that the MDGs are met on schedule. China calls for efforts in the following five key areas. First, increase the resources and strengthen the institutions of development. Second, developed countries should deliver on their commitments to 0.7% of the gross national income for official development assistance (ODA) and further reduce or cancel debts owed by the developing countries and open markets to them. Third, endeavor to reduce the damage of the financial crisis on the developing countries, particularly the least developed countries, and take concrete actions to help them maintain financial stability and economic growth. Fourth, curb trade protectionism and push the Doha Round negotiations to achieve the development objectives at an early date. Fifth, create favorable external development environment for developing countries, and oppose implementing economic, commercial, and financial blockade measures against developing countries arbitrarily.

8. Doha Round Negotiations Success in the Doha Round negotiations will be in the interests of all parties concerned, as it will help increase the level of openness in international trade, curb trade protectionism, and promote world economic recovery and sustainable development. China has always committed itself to building a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory multilateral trading regime and taken a constructive and positive approach to the Doha Round negotiations. We stand for an early resolution of the outstanding issues follow the principle of "consistent with its mandate, locking in the progress already made and basing the negotiations on the existing texts", and work for a comprehensive and balanced conclusion to the Doha Round. Doha Round is the development round and should fully accommodate the interests and concerns of developing countries, particularly the least developed countries and truly reflect the special and differential treatment for them. 9. Reform of the International Financial System The international financial crisis fully exposed the deficiencies and inadequacies of the existing global economic governance system. It is in the interest of the international community to strengthen global economic governance and build an institutional framework conducive to the long-term, healthy and stable development of the world economy. The consensus is to make necessary reforms to the existing international financial system and establish a fair, equitable, inclusive and well-managed international financial system. China has the following proposals. Improve the international financial governance system, accelerate the process of the reform of the international financial institutions, increase the representation and voice of emerging markets and developing countries, and ensure that the quantitative target of IMF quota reform is met before the G20 Summit in Seoul. Improve the international financial supervisory and regulatory system, strengthen surveillance on the developed economies having important financial centers and their macro-economic policies, strengthen regulation and oversight over
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financial institutions of systemic importance and credit rating agencies, strengthen supervision over the capital flows across borders and formulate globally consistent accounting codes. Improve the international monetary system, improve the reserve currency issuing regulatory regime and maintain relative stability of exchange rates of major reserve currencies. V. Arms Control, Disarmament and Nonproliferation China has consistently attached importance to and supported international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation efforts and stood for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) including nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. China is firmly opposed to the proliferation of WMDs and their means of delivery, and earnestly and strictly fulfills its international obligations and commitments. To attain the goal of nonproliferation, countries should commit themselves to fostering an international and regional security environment featuring mutual trust and cooperation, eliminate the motives and causes of proliferation of WMDs, stick to political and diplomatic settlement of non-proliferation issues, earnestly maintain and strengthen the international non-proliferation regime, strike a balance between non-proliferation and peaceful use of science and technology, and discard double standards. China has consistently stood for and actively advocated the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of nuclear weapons. China firmly adheres to a defensive nuclear strategy and upholds its commitment that it will not be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances and that it will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against nonnuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones under any condition. China has persistently exercised the utmost restraint with regard to the scale and development of its nuclear weapons. China does not deploy any nuclear weapons in other countries, does not join any form of nuclear arms race, and will continue to keep its nuclear force at the minimal level required for national security needs.
Chinese Peoples Air Force J11/Su-27 fighter jets
China firmly supports the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and is actively promoting its early entry into force. China supports the Conference on Disarmament in concluding a comprehensive and balanced program of work as soon as possible, launching negotiations on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty at an early date, and beginning substantive discussions on the prevention of an arms race in outer space, security assurances to non-nuclear-weapon states, and other agenda items. China always maintains that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. China welcomes the positive outcome of the 2010 NPT Review Conference and hopes that all parties can make joint efforts to implement earnestly the Final Document of the Conference. Under the current circumstances, the parties should continue to uphold and strengthen the universality, authority and effectiveness of the NPT so that it will play a greater role in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons and promoting nuclear disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. China attaches importance to the issue of nuclear security, opposes nuclear terrorism, supports closer international cooperation and welcomes the progress made in this regard at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, DC. China supports the purposes and objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological Weapons Convention, fully and strictly fulfilling the obligations under the two Conventions and backing the enhancement of their universality. Meanwhile, China calls on countries in
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possession of chemical weapons or having abandoned chemical weapons on the territories of other countries to intensify efforts to speed up the destruction of chemical weapons. China has consistently stood for the peaceful use of outer space and opposed weaponization of and an arms race in outer space. Formulating relevant international legal instruments through negotiation is the best way to safeguard enduring peace and security in outer space. China attaches importance to the issue of information security and supports the UN in playing a leading role in this regard, having participated in the work of the successive UN Groups of Governmental Experts constructively. China welcomes the conclusion of the Final Report by the UN Group of Governmental Experts on the issue of information security for the first time and believes that it is conducive to the international efforts to jointly respond to the threats and challenges in the field of information security. China attaches importance to military transparency and has been committed to enhancing mutual trust in the military field with other countries. In 2007, China joined the UN Standardized Instrument for Reporting Military Expenditures and returned to the UN Register of Conventional Arms. China supports and will actively participate in the work of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on the Standardized Instrument for Reporting Military Expenditures. China attaches importance to the humanitarian issues in the field of arms control and actively commits itself to enhancing the universality and

effectiveness of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Protocols. China ratified in April 2010 the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War annexed to CCW, and has participated in the negotiation of the CCW Group of Governmental Experts on cluster munitions constructively. China has actively engaged in international demining assistance and assisted relevant countries in getting rid of landmines. China supports the international efforts on combating illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and earnestly implements the United Nations Program of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects and the International Instrument to Enable States to Identify and Trace, in a Timely and Reliable Manner, Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons. VI. Human Rights Governments of all countries in the world are dutybound to promote and protect human rights in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and relevant provisions of the international instruments on human rights, taking into account their respective national conditions. The international community should recognize that all human rights are indivisible and attach equal importance to the realization of the economic, social and cultural rights, the civil and political rights, as well as the right to development. Due to different national conditions, countries have taken different approaches and adopted different models on human rights. It is undesirable to impose one uniform model in the promotion and protection of human rights. The Chinese government is an active advocate of international cooperation in the field of human rights. We stand for dialogue and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect to address differences on the issue of human rights and enhancing mutual understanding and learning for common development. We oppose politicizing human rights issues and adopting double standards. China takes part in the work of the UN Human Rights Council with a constructive attitude and is ready to work with other parties to ensure that the Council seizes the opportunity of its review to increase efficiency and address human rights issues in a fair, objective and non-selective manner.
VII Social Issues 1. Transnational Crimes Rampant transnational crimes like production and trafficking of illicit drugs, trafficking in persons, money laundering and corruption, often connected with terrorist activities, pose serious threats to economic development and public order in various countries and present challenges to regional stability and even world peace. Strengthening international cooperation to prevent and combat transnational organized crimes is not only the common need of the international community for maintaining peace and security but also a shared, unshirkable responsibility of all countries. The United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime is an important document in the fight against transnational crimes. The international community should, in accordance with the purposes and spirit of the Convention, earnestly fulfill their obligations under the Convention, show mutual respect and conduct cooperation on an equal footing. Developed countries should take the concerns of developing countries seriously and avoid becoming safe havens for the corrupt. 2. HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS is a serious human health hazard and an impediment to the economic and social development of all countries. To prevent and control HIV/ AIDS is an urgent task of the international community and an important aspect in achieving the MDGs. The international community, especially the developed countries, should do more to help the developing countries strengthen their capacity of HIV/AIDS prevention and control. The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and other international institutions should increase coordination and play an even greater role in helping developing countries fight HIV/AIDS. The Chinese government has taken a host of measures to prevent and control HIV/AIDS and worked hard to increase the level of rights protection of those living with HIV/AIDS and strengthen the awareness of the whole of society to care for HIVinfected people and AIDS patients. China takes an active part in international cooperation on HIV/AIDS and is ready to continue to work with the international community to reduce the harm of HIV/AIDS.
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3. Public Health Security Public health security bears on the health and safety of people of all countries. To ensure global public health security is a shared responsibility of the international community. Governments of all countries should continue to enhance public health capacity building in order to provide a strong guarantee for human health and promote coordinated and sustainable economic and social development. The Chinese government puts the people first, attaches great importance to public health and is now deepening the reform of the medical and healthcare system. China is ready to make joint efforts with all parties and relevant international organizations to strengthen exchanges and sharing of information, experience and technology and deepen cooperation to better tackle global public health challenges and enhance people's physical and mental health. 4. Anti-Corruption Corruption affects the economic and social development of every country and is a common concern of the international community. To strengthen international cooperation against corruption and encourage countries to exchange anti-corruption experience are conducive to the anti-corruption efforts of all countries and regions. The United Nations Convention Against Corruption, the first international legal instrument on fighting corruption worldwide, sets the legal principles and rules applicable to all countries in their joint efforts to deal with and prevent corruption. All countries should earnestly strengthen international cooperation against corruption on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty, equality and mutual benefit. The implementation mechanism should focus on playing a constructive role, assisting and promoting the implementation of the Convention and facilitating international cooperation between State Parties. State Parties should strengthen the political will to participate in international cooperation against corruption and reduce the limitations on extradition and asset recovery under domestic laws and procedures. Technical assistance should be provided to developing countries without any political strings attached to help them build the capacity for implementing the Convention.
Chinas new Hunan Province Peoples Hospital opened in April 2006 offering to perform 20 organ transplant operations for needy patients free of charge and indeed provided kidneys and livers that brought happiness to a few long suffering residents of Human. The World Organization to Investigate Persecution of the Falun Gong (WOIPFG) upon learning of the offer which was published in local newspapers raised suspicions that the organs had been harvested from Falun Gong held in Chinese labor camps. Falun Gong is an occult movement with a swastika laden logo and claiming to stand for moral virtue founded in China during 1992 but banned in 1999 as a heretical organization
VIII. UN Financing The smooth operation of the UN requires a stable financial foundation. All member states of the UN should, in accordance with the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations and the principle of "capacity to pay" set out in UNGA resolutions, continue to earnestly fulfill their financial obligations to the UN by paying assessments for both regular budget and peacekeeping operations on time and in full, and without conditions, to ensure a solid and stable financial footing for the UN. The efficiency of the use of UN resources should be further enhanced through integration of resources and programs with full consideration and accommodation given to the legitimate concerns and demands of developing countries. Member states should step up coordination and communication to improve work efficiency and give more guidance to the Secretariat in program coordination, finance and budget.
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IX. Rule of Law 1. The Rule of Law at the National and International Levels It is a shared goal of all countries to achieve the rule of law at the national and international levels. Countries are entitled to independently choose the models of rule of law that are suitable for their national conditions and can learn from each other's model for common development. To strengthen international rule of law, it is necessary to uphold the authority of the Charter of the United Nations, strictly abide by the well-established principles and rules of international law, adhere to the consistent application of international law, avoid double standards, improve international law-making process and promote democracy in international relations. 2. Combating Impunity China condemns all forms of crime, supports the efforts of all countries and encourages international cooperation to eliminate impunity. The international efforts to eliminate impunity in conflict areas should be in line with the goal of protecting the well-being of all people in the conflict areas. They should not disrupt the ongoing peace process in those areas or hamper the efforts in those areas to promote national reconciliation and build enduring peace. The issue of impunity can only be better addressed with relaxation of tension and political stability in related regions. 3. The International Court of Justice China supports an enhanced role of the International Court of Justice in the peaceful settlement of international disputes and supports the Court in improving its way of work. China hopes that the Court will play a positive role in safeguarding a stable international order and upholding justice. The right of each country to freely choose the method of peaceful settlement of disputes should be respected. 4. The International Criminal Court China supports the establishment of an independent, impartial, effective and universally recognized international criminal institution to punish the most serious international crimes. The work of the International Criminal Court should serve the purpose of promoting international peace and security and safeguarding the well-being of mankind, and it should be pursued in coordination and cooperation with other international mechanisms and in a way that does not impede or jeopardize the relevant
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peace processes. China will continue to pay close attention to the work of the International Criminal Court. 5. Oceans and the Law of the Sea Maritime harmony is part and parcel of building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity. To establish and maintain a harmonious international order on the sea, we advocate the following: First, strike a balance between rational utilization and scientific conservation of the sea. With a view to achieving harmony between man and the sea, while utilizing the sea in a sustainable manner for the benefit of mankind, we should also strengthen conservation. Second, make an equitable distribution of maritime interests and share the responsibility of conservation. The particularity and concerns of developing countries, especially of the least developed countries and small island states, should be given special attention. Third, strike a balance between the rights of coastal states and the overall interests of the international community. The outer limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles should be delineated in a scientific and reasonable manner. While ensuring the rights that coastal states are entitled to under the international law, we should also protect the international seabed area which is the common heritage of mankind. Fourth, uphold the legal order of the sea with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the foundation. The Convention is an important basis for addressing new issues and challenges in the maritime field and a legal foundation for the modern maritime order. The international community should make sure that the integrity and authority of the Convention are safeguarded.
International/UN 65th General Assembly
China Position Paper Analysis
Analysis of Chinas Position Paper on International Issues Presented to the 65th UN General Assembly Summit
By Muhammed Kamil
s a permanent, veto power wielding member of the United Nations Security Council and an emerging superpower, ostensibly posed to become the worlds richest and most powerful country before mid century, China is of interest to all of us, but is of particular interest to Africa having become our principal development partner. Not only do I see Africa having passed the stage where we can be said to reside in anyones camp, but envisage the next generation of African elite and leaders asserting their nations and our continent, employing the African Union and regional supranational entities, to project an African personality [as Nkrumah defined our presence] on the global stage; the values essence of which will be humanism, democracy, freedom, liberality, creativity, knowledge, diligence and ambition. China too has been rapidly changing in character and hopefully trough what Prof. Al Mazrui calls creative synthesis China and Africa will eclectically engage each other to the end that we will grow increasingly compatible to our and the worlds mutual benefit. For now, it is important for the younger generations of Africans to know that China is a long time liberation and development support partner of Africans and has of late invested in Africas future to a greater extent than any other country; though obviously Africas democratic aspirations and growing political sophistication are taking an independent and progres- Author Muhammed Kamil with grandson Sefi at Johannesburg Zoo sive course that is finding consensus in our rewont to draw comparisons between the new sugional supranational authorities and the African per power from the Orient and the Occidental Union, including the Pan African Parliament powers, led by the United States of America and which is bound to play a more prominent role in European Union. However, it is no doubt most the continents political evolution as the 21st useful to compare on the issues and world view century adds years. At this point a number of Africas middle powers, Nigeria and South Africa, African countries appear ahead of China in deand also the African Union and regional supranamocratic development, but there are also many tional authorities with China. Others no doubt that lag far behind China as well as our contiwill have more and different things to say than I nents pace setters. but China as a persistent advocate of dialogue is In analyzing Chinas world view as exexpected to listen to and engage Africans. pressed in its position paper to the 65th United The Chinese revolution that triumphed on Nations General Assembly, we are inevitably
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Human Rights in China; Newly built residential community in Shanghai
October 1, 1949 was ideologically driven; today China is oriented to model building. Consistent with its Communist ideological underpinnings, China maintains that it attaches equal importance to the realization of the economic, social and cultural rights, and the right to development as to political and civil rights. Western human rights have evolved from the principle of liberty and are basically behavioral rights: freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, etc. While maintaining in its position paper that all human rights are equally important we can see in practice that China, apparently in deference to the Marxist perspective that history is a product of economic interests and natural conditions, conscientiously subordinates these freedoms to socioeconomic development, social welfare and national potential realization. Furthermore, in its foreign policy China unapologetically places a premium on its economic interests and filling its natural resources deficit. This too contrasts with the Western habit of campaigning for human rights against a historical background of brutal imperialism that the Europeans have only in the past two decades significantly moderated and attenuated, while America entered the 21st century with such ruthless hegemonic ambitions that Germanys Jus58
tice Minister Herta Dubler-Gmelin lost her job for likening President George W. Bushs foreign policy to that of Adolph Hitler. China like many in the Group of 77+China repeatedly raises objection to double standards, while not harassing the United States for its atrocities in Iraq, at Guantanamo and its secret Black Jails. The presumed essentiality of freedom to creativity is not negated by Chinas Neo-Communists but they are aware of the social and political distractions occasioned by intellectual, creative and moral anarchy. The Western economies with little to no inhibition market such anarchy, while in China behavior or creativity seen as grossly counterproductive in the quest for optimal national potential realization is censured and prohibited. This policy is typically seen by the West as curtailment of individual liberty but even in the policies of Chinas Communist Party influences of Chinas most renown philosopher prior to the Maoist era, Confucius (551 B.C. -479 B.C.), can been detected; such as ordered society, moral merit based ascendency to leadership and correctness of social relationships. China does not mention religion in its September 2010 position paper on world affairs but as Communism is philosophically atheist it is not surprising that religion has been in certain instances
A modern style Buddhist Temple (Tian Wang Dian/Hall of Heavenly King) in Qibao, China
treated by the Communist Party of China as a counterproductive distraction, but this attitude is changing to one of accommodating religion as an inevitable human inclination. age 16 consider themselves religious. In the absence of up to date census data on religious adherence a recent study by Shanghai University has been accepted by the CPC government as authoritative. The survey indicates that 31.4%, some 300 million Chinese, above age 16 consider themselves religious. Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity and Islam were found to be the major religions, in addition to local tribal beliefs. While religious adherents to Buddhism was determined by the Shanghai University survey to be about 200 million, some academics maintain the cultural reach of Buddhism extends to over 600 million Chinese, with another 300 to 400 million under either the religious or cultural influence of Shenism and Taoism. The Shanghai University survey estimated Christians in China to be about 40 million. The Muslim population is estimated to be between 1.5% and 2%, or between 18 to 30 million. The most significant indication of recent surveys on religious
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adherence in China is contradiction of the assumption that more than half of Chinas population is either agnostic or atheists, with a 2010 survey conducted by Chinese sociologist Fenggang Yang (specialized in the study of religion in Chinese societies) and Purdue Universitys Center on Religion and Chinese Society indicating only 15% of the people in China are non-religious. There appears to have been a shift from the 1993 survey by Phil Zuckerman that indicated 59% of Chinese were irreligious, confirming the commonly held perception at the time that more than half the population was either agnostic or atheist. The dramatic increase in the proportion of religion adherents mainly reflects the fast growing return to Buddhism and Taoism, which are now considered by Chinas government integral features of Chinese culture and allowed to freely spread. There are now some 13,000 Buddhist temples across China. Buddhism was founded in India in the 6th century B.C. but gained its greatest influence in East Asia. Taoism was founded in China in the 6th century.

Chinas religious scene is quite different from Africas, where, according to a 2010 released study of the Pew Research Forum on Religion and Public Life, over 90% of the population identifies with either the Christian or Muslim religion. Africas population of about 1.1 billion is more or less evenly divided between Christians and Muslims, but in SubSahara Africa Christians predominate two thirds to one third. Chinas tightest African friend Sudan where religiosity is normative and has been a major factor in the countrys historical instability has avoided the issue of religion in its relationship with China, which doesnt require much moral effort since Chinas Muslims, mainly comprised of the countrys ethnic Turk minority, practice their religion freely. Turkey objected to the treatment of Chinas ethnic Turks, during their 2009 ethnic clashes with the dominant Han. Much of the internationalized controversy concerning freedom of religion in China has been in connection with newly introduced religions, most of which identify as Christian and originated outside China. Christianity having been introduced into China in the course of imposing Western imperialism in the 18th and 19 centuries has not helped its fortunes under the Communist Party of China, unlike in Africa where the grudge against Christianity as an accomplice of colonialism was marginal and has at this point in time attenuated into insignificance. Up to the present the interest the West, particular the United States, takes in Christian affairs in China tends to provoke suspicion of the religion being a device of Western subterfuge in China. In this circumstance, religion might be less subject to government suppression if the outside world stayed out of the religious sphere in China. African Christians too take exception to persecution of Christians anywhere in the world and it is probably just a matter of time before Africas Christian organizations and politicians engage Chinas political establishment on the matter of Christians in their country. However, it seems unlikely that the Communist Party of China will ever warm up to evangelical Christianity; nor does it seem likely that any of Chinas major African business partners will at the government level allow religion to become an issue in relations with Beijing. Of the countries pertinent in this context, Sudan is predominately Muslim, Angolas ruling MPLA has a Marxist background, South Africas ANC also historically had considerable Marxist influences and is strictly secular, and Nigerias more or less balanced Muslim-Christian dichotomy compels the Federal Government to strictly
The influence of the 6th to 5th century B.C. Chinese philosopher Confucius still flourishes in contemporary China, especially among intellectuals; and despite Mao Zedongs criticisms of Confucianism the legendary classical philosophers influence can be detected in the policies of Chinas Communist Party. A moralist, humanist philosophy that stresses quest for knowledge and harmony with nature Confucianism could prove to be Chinas principal philosophical guide in the coming decades.
stick to secular politics. In the political sphere, as long as China maintains its system of term limitations for top leadership it is improbable that even African countries with multiparty democracies would formally take Beijing to task over its political system, considering that there are still members of the African Unions Assembly of Heads of State & Government who staged military coups decades ago and are still clinging to power, aside from those old men who have ruled their countries since independence several decades ago. In fact, for the time being there is no major issue of political contention between China and the Africa Union. Although countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Mali and Benin have progressed remarkably in political development since the 1990s, considering the African Union in its entirety Chinas political system is considerably more credible than that in most African countries.
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Chinas $150 million AU headquarters gift to Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, scheduled for completion December 2011
We should not expect Africas journalists, writers, academics and other intellectuals to be politically in tune with China as officialdom; but as long as China lives up to expectations in Africa, particularly investment and labor policies, acceptance of the partnership will pertain and invariably exchanges between Africas non-governmental opinion leaders, as well as artists, and their Chinese counterparts will grow. Diaspora friendship associations engaging Africans and Chinese are another likely eventuality. Despite its wealth and power China still considers itself a developing country and this holds out good prospects for China and Africa constructively sharing ideas, experiences and visions. In international affairs neither Africas most prominent leaders nor our non-governmental opinion and thought leaders want to see China at odds with South Korea and Japan while cuddling Pyongyang. Personally, I think the most constructive approach to the Korean Peninsula crisis is for the world to work with serious commitment for Korean unification. It would greatly improve Chinas image internationally and raise its leadership profile in the Asia Pacific region commensurate with its economic and military power if Beijing took the initiative of spearheading Korean unification as it strives for unification with Taiwan. For Africa Korea is another
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potentially important development partner. The cost to the South of unification with the North could preoccupy Seoul for a decade or more, but in the long term I see a united and strong Korea being one of Africas principal development partners. Chinas position on some international issues is contradictory and at best rhetorical. Beijing deploring impunity and supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC), for instance while objecting to indictment of Sudans President Omar Al Bashir for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide is illogical. Furthermore, the argument that Al Bashir is essential to pursuit of peace in Darfur is sheer nonsense in the light of the persistent uncompromising position of the Khartoum regime, not to mention Al Bashirs history of avoiding as much as he possibly can implementation of peace agreements. Meanwhile, China has built a fabulous presidential estate with palace in Khartoums military barracks. The AU will not take Beijing to task on this self serving indulgence of the 26 year old Khartoum regime but many African intellectuals, both on the continent and in the Diaspora know that it is not right. Above all the bereaved, oppressed and dispossessed indigenous Africans in Darfur feel the pain of Khartoums atrocities and the African Union, China, the Arab League and Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) backing Al Bashir.
Chinas Tianjin Eco-City expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by 2020
On the other hand, Chinas unprecedented gift to Africa of a fabulous new $150 million African Union headquarters and conference center on an 11.3 hectares spread of land in Addis Ababa when it opens in December 2011 will become the emblem and seal of permanency on the partnership between Africa and China. Negative collaboration between the AU and China reflects the structural dilemma of the former and the political convenience as well as economic interests of the latter. The AU is still top heavy with unchallengeable authority wielded by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, while the Pan African Parliament is still merely an advisory body that can be ignored, as was the horribly the case when its three months on site observational report detailing the atrocities of ZANU-PF leading up, during and after Zimbabwes 2008 elections was glossed over by the AUs apex organ. Also the African Court of Justice, which should obviate the ICCs involvement in Africa, has not been empowered. This leaves us with a situation
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where cronyism in the Assembly, where many leaders are autocrats, precludes a properly democratic political culture permeating the AU. The other structural handicap the AU faces in dealing with Sudans genocide and other atrocities against its indigenous African population is having 9 Arab League states that represent the bulk of the Arab Worlds population among its members. When the African Union showed willingness to have its monitoring mission in Darfur give way to United Nations peacekeepers Egypt joined Sudan in threatening to withdraw from the AU, following which Arab support galvanized behind the Al Bashir regime, putting the AU in a position of having either to compromise with Arab demands or fall into a disintegration crisis. Historically, Nkrumahs vision of geopolitical African unity, embracing the entire continent, as opposed to a racialized unity involving only Sub-Sahara Africa has for very practical reasons, that we shall not attempt explaining here, held sway and been the composition basis of both the defunct Organization of

African Unity (OAU) and the African Union that superseded it. China in this context by defending Al Bashir and standing up for Sudan in the UN Security Council is supporting the AU position while serving its economic and ancillary diplomatic interests in Sudan. Acknowledgement of this reality is not an apology; rather it is recognition of the complexities of AU politics, which we are saddled with even if many of us wish things were somehow otherwise, and the self-serving geostrategic policy inclination of Beijing, irrespective of its professed support for UN ideals. In contrast to Beijings contradictory positions on impunity and the ICC, its offbeat, Communist perspective on human rights and disappointing indulgence of rouge states North Korea and Myanmar, Chinas ongoing green energy progress demonstrates a much greater determination to reduce carbon omissions than indicated by its leaders refusal to sign onto a global capping treaty. Here China sees its self interest and the global concern to curb carbon emissions and develop renewable energy sources converge. China with its population of 1.2 billion and economy growing on average in the vicinity of 10% annually does not want to remain dependent on petroleum and coal any longer than it can possibly avoid. This self interests serving, replete with prudent geostrategic plotting, appears the dominant characteristic of Chinese foreign policy. The United States is an unapologetic self-serving superpower, also given to contradictions and a notorious perpetrator of self serving double standards, especially when it comes the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. China does not always stand up for what is rationally or morally right but for Africa it has become a partner in a more intimate way than we would ever expect of the United States, even with a president whose paternal brothers, sisters and grandmother are native Kenyans. China has not only been implicated at the UN level for violating the ban on arms supplies to Sudan, Chinese have been reported carrying and shooting guns in Sudan internal conflicts. This is a very serious matter and going forward China should be prudent in staying clear of situations where such charges are apt to be leveled. While Africans may appreciate China in its position paper being an advocate for Africas development, in tandem with its constructive
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economic involvement in Africa, China can expect to be monitored and when necessary criticized Africas media, academics, authors and legislatures. Beijing should be mindful of this and also be aware that any attempt to subvert voices in defense of Africans rights and democratic aspirations will have a souring effect on SinoAfrican relations. Intellectual and artistic exchanges between Africa and China no doubt hold the key to compatible evolution of the two spheres. There is no reversing the growing intimacy of Sino-African relations and it is ostensibly in our mutual interest to grow that intimacy especially in academia and among our intelligentsias and artists. Artists and intellectuals have played a central role in the development of Western civilization; they have been a driving force in Chinese civilization historically but still deserve much greater influence in Africa. This proposition, aside from what China has said in its UN position paper, is consistent with the quest for enhanced intellectual and cultural enlightenment in which artists and intellectuals all over the world are involved. African student experiences in China are varied; some pleasing, others aggravating, which confronts us with the steep of the challenges facing us as we would endeavor to grow SinoChinese social, intellectual, artistic and cultural relations. Lethola Mafisa, 30, from Lesotho earned a Masters degree in Public Administration from Chinas prestigious Tsinghua University and said of his academic experience, The professors are very much into knowledge and skill generation; the curriculum is good and value adding.the knowledge is deeper and the standards are high, concluding, I admire that. Peguy Banakissan of Congo after 5 years studying Chinese languages in China found Chinese horribly abusive in their attitudes towards Africans, complaining that feiguo, the term commonly used in referring to Africans has connotations of someone from a country that is destitute, disease ridden and possessed by hatred. Zena acknowledges that there are ignorant bigots in China but also very open minded Chinese. That is fairly well the story of todays world, societies possessed with ignorant or shrewdly sophisticated racist, like the Fox News agitators, and open minded people facing the future of mankind in positive light and intent.
Vienna, Austria July 18-23, 2010
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Vienna
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XVIII International AIDS Conference
Introduction
The International AIDS Society (IAS), organizers of the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, is an independent association of HIV/ AIDS researchers, professionals, and policymakers that promote dialogue and advocate for continued discussion and progress in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The organization hosts the International AIDS Conference every two years as an opportunity for those working in the field of HIV to assess, evaluate, educate, and learn about the AIDS pandemic. At the 2010 conference in Vienna, Austria, the Foundation published dozens of educational posters, conducted a journalist training, and hosted several satellite sessions and a skillsbuilding workshop. Foundation President and CEO Charles Lyons also moderated a special session with Bill Gates on HIV prevention. HIV/AIDS is a Global Public Health issue with some 33.4 millions people Living; and with HIV and 2.7 millions new infections in 2008 HIV/ AIDs epidemic continues to be a major challenge for Global Health. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most infected and affected region accounting for two thirds of all Global HIV/ AIDs infections. At the United Nations 2005 General Assembly, High level Meeting on AIDs countries committed to work towards achieving the goal of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by year 2010. In recent years in countries practicing democracy and respect for human rights have been increasingly able to maintain peace and political stability; and accompanied by high level political commitment at the national, regional, and international levels, the result has been intensified financial support offered to allow expansion in access to prevention, treatment, care and support (ie enough finance to HIV/AIDs programme). Challenges remain nonetheless, particularly in the context of the current global financial crisis. Yet there was a strong message for national governments to increase their annual Health Sector budgets for focusing (HIV/AIDs) programs to address the population at high risk of HIV infection; including sex workers, injecting drugs users, street children and prisoners. At particularly high risk are young girls and women in areas of violent conflict and full scale war. The previous theme in Mexico had been about commitment and promises to turn words into actions; this years theme is Rights Here, Right Now, stressing not only action on the ground but also urgency. The Response to HIV/ADIS must be based on the full respect for all human right, including the right not to be subjected to stigma and discrimination. Full respect for all rights human rights, civil rights, political as well as economic, social and cultural rights is fundamental in an effective response to HIV/AIDs. Implementation of international human rights standards affects both the spread of HIV and peoples access to prevention, treatment, care and support.
Human Rights and National Response: Plenary Cessation

Paula Akugazbwe of (South Africa) AIDs and Rights Alliance of Southern Africa, noted that the greatest barriers in achieving Universal Access to treatment, care and support are social, economic and political challenges. In stressing that accelerated progress towards universal access, and sustaining universal access, required an environment in which concrete human rights principles prevail, she identified key steps, include ending laws and polices that criminalize HIV transmission among marginalized people living with HIV/ AIDs, such as sex workers, prisoners, injection drug users, street children and young girls and women who are at increasing risk areas of violent war and conflict. International AIDS Society president Julio Montaner, who also chaired the AIDS 2010 conference, faulted East European governments for not demonstrating more concern about the problem of intravenous narcotics users suffering from HIV/AIDS in their countries, and called their absence
Plenary Session
Former US President Bill Clintons and IT czar/ philanthropist Bill Gates both spoke in the plenary session on day two of the conference. Bill Gates, after greeting delegates,
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talked about the challenges we all face, affirming that his presence at the Vienna Conference is motivated by his optimism, which is justified by the progress in fighting HIV/AIDS over the past ten years, whereby over 5 millions people are now receiving antiretroviral treatment, while the rate of new infections has fallen 17% since 2001. Mr. Gates accordingly commended those present who have persisted in working for the attained progress and noted the achievements of scientists who have made progress on new tools to fight the disease. He also commended the Global Funds role, describing it as a fantastic vehicle for making sure funding helps the people who have the greatest need for it. Bill Clinton, former U.S. president, now head of the William J. Clinton Foundation, after greeting delegates, UN Agencies, scientists, practitioners and advocates from around the ward , the Vienna Conference must make a united call for Global leaders to commit at least $20 billion to the Global Fund to fight AIDs, tuberculosis and malaria at its up coming replenishment meeting in October 2010, pointing out that the level of replenishment committed at the meeting will determine the Global Funds grant level from 2011 through 2013. The meeting was widely viewed as the critical current step towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
Austrian President Heinz Fischer attended the conference
Opening Ceremony
At the Opening of XVIII International AIDS Conference, the scientific community and political leaders applaud recent progress toward Universal Access and urged continued momentum to Finish What Weve Started. Protection of Human Rights, widespread use of evidencebased interventions and sustained financing were highlighted as the Three Pillars of Success. 18 July 2010 [Vienna, Austria]Encouraged by recent progress but wary of signs of possible retrenchment, an estimated 20,000 participants from more than 185 countries have assembled in Vienna for the start of the XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 201 0) today. Under the theme of Rights Here, Right Now, experts described the state of the epidemic, noting the central role of human rights protection to success, and outlined the critical choices facing world leaders in the year ahead.
For the first time since the development of lifesaving treatments for HIV there is evidence of game- changing scenarios, demonstrating that sustained and widespread access to antiretroviral treatment can save lives and help reverse the epidemic, said Dr. Julio Montaner, AIDS 201 0 Chair, President of the International AIDS Society and Director of the D.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in Vancouver, Canada. At this promising moment, we must stay the course. Vienna was chosen as the host city for AIDS 2010 in part due to its proximity to Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), a region with a growing epidemic fueled primarily by injecting drug use. Conference delegates will examine the epidemic in EECA, as well as in all other regions. Home to two- thirds of all people living with HIV and AIDS, Southern Africa remains the most heavily affected region globally. In a strong show of local support, Austrian President Heinz Fischer and Minister of Health Alois Stoegar welcomed delegates. Other speakers included: South African Deputy President
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Kgalema Motlanthe; European Union Commissioner of Health and Consumer Policy John Dalli; and community representatives Vladimir Zhovtyak and Alexandra (Sasha) Volgina, from Ukraine and Russia, respectively. Youth activist Rachel Arinii Judhistari from Indonesia, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidib and singer/ songwriter/activist and UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador Annie Lennox also addressed delegates. While at AIDS 201 0, Ms. Lennox will headline a march and rally on human rights on Tuesday, 20 July: www.hivhumanrightsnow.org). In the past five years, the coverage of HIV treatment in low-and middle-income countries has increased tenfold to now reach five million people, said Dr. Brigitte Schmied, AIDS 2010 Local Co-Chair and President of the Austrian AIDS Society. Just ten years after AIDS 2000 Conference in Durban, South Africa, we have shown the sceptics that universal access is achievable; that this is a goal we can and must reach, she said. Holding ourselves and our political leaders accountable for this goal, especially as the next Global Fund replenishment approaches, is our continued challenge in the months ahead.
Viennas famous Sconbrunn Palace Orchestra
Schenbrunn Palace Orchestra

The opening ceremony began with Viennas Schenbrunn Palace Orchestra performing Greetings from Vienna, featuring Johann Strauss and others and conducted by Guido Mancusi. Music was followed by presentation of the Red Ribbon Award Nominees and the UNDP Red Ribbon Award Secretariat. Schenbrunn Palace Orchestra then played Welcome to Vienna.
(L to r) Michel Sidib, UNAIDS Executive Director and HRH Princess Mette Marit of Norway an UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador having a tea to discuss Youth and HIV. Vienna, Austria, 17 July 2010 credit: UNAIDS/ Heimo Aga
Vienna Declaration: Leading with Science, not Ideology

The launch of the Vienna Declaration in the lead up to the conference emphasizes the importance of responding to AIDS with evidence-based policies and programmes. The official conference declaration calls for the reorientation of drug policy from the War on Drugs approach to an evidence-based approach that recognizes the human rights and medical needs of those who
use illicit drugs. The current approach has impeded efforts to prevent HIV through the use of interventions such as needle and syringe programmes and opiate substitution therapy. Access to these interventions is limited despite evidence demonstrating their effectiveness. Nobel Laureates and world leaders in science, medicine, economics, and from civil society have already endorsed the declaration, as have hundreds of organizations and the former Presidents of Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico. Individual and organizational endorsements may be made online at: www.viennadeclaration.com. Evidence also makes clear that the success of HIV scale-up demands that strong human rights protections be in place for those most vulnerable to HIV, including women and girls, displaced populations, men who have sex with men, sex workers and youth.
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United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Video Message to the
XVIII International AIDS Conference, Vienna, July 18, 2010
South Africas Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe (l) and UNAIDS Executive Director Michelle Sidibe attended the Vienna conference
Todays Opening Session included three presentations on the state of the epidemic: HIV Epidemiology Progress, Challenges and Human Rights Implications. Examining the existing knowledge on the course of the epidemic as it links to human rights concerns, Dr. Yves Souteyrand (France) of the World Health Organization stated that addressing human rights violations among vulnerable populations is essential for the future success of the global response. The HIV epidemic has stabilized globally, with annual numbers of deaths declining from 2.2 million in 2004 to 2 million in 2008, mostly due to impressive scale up of HIV treatment. However, HIV is still not under control, leading to around 2.7 million new infections each year. New infections are particularly high in some key populations all over the world, such as migrants, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs. Social marginalization, discrimination and even criminalization suffered by these groups have prevented production of robust epidemiological knowledge. Often, even when the knowledge exists, decision-makers continually fail to act.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
Ladies and Gentlemen, I send my very best wishes to the International AIDS Conference. Let me pay tribute in particular to those among you who are living with HIV. Your courage has given strength to people around the world. You have helped people suffering as a result of stigma and discrimination to emerge from the shadows and to seek not only treatment, but their fundamental human rights. We have made significant progress in the global response. New infections have declined. Access to treatment has expanded. Decades-old travel restrictions are being lifted.
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But too many obstacles remain. Some Governments are cutting back on their response to AIDS. This should be a cause for great concern to us all. We must ensure that our recent gains are not reversed. We must raise additional resources for other areas that have been neglected for far too long maternal health in particular. We must also recognize the intrinsic links between AIDS and our work to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) especially womens and childrens health. The MDGs are indivisible and should never be pitted against each other. So let us say again: No new HIV infections. No more discrimination. No more AIDS-related deaths. Health and development for all. And as this Conference proclaims: rights here, right now. This is a bold vision. To realize it, universal access must remain our beacon access to life-saving drugs, access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. Next year marks a milestone. Ten years since the UN Declaration of Commitment. Five years since our Political Declaration. It will also be a year in which the General Assembly convenes for a crucially important meeting aimed at strengthening the global response further still. I look forward to your contributions. I look forward to working with you to conquer this disease once and for all. Thank You
Paula Akugizibwe
Human Rights and the Response

In her presentation on the state of human rights in the epidemic, Paula Akugizibwe (South Africa) of AIDS and Rights Alliance of Southern Africa noted that the greatest barriers to achieving universal access are social, economic and political challenges. In order to accelerate progress and achieve sustained success, there is an urgent need for the HIV response to be based on concrete human rights principles. Key steps include ending laws that criminalize HIV transmission and marginalize people living with HIV, sexual minorities and sex workers. Such laws entrench stigma and preclude access to much-needed HIV interventions. Current funding threats, which are beginning to have a destructive impact on health systems in low income countries, have important human rights implications. The recent backtracking by donors on funding commitments to universal access and the failure of many low-income countries to demonstrate commitment to domestic financing of HIV treatment, highlight the volatility of health responses driven by political and financial expediency rather than respect for the right to health. The ongoing failure to mount a rightsbased scale-up will not only violate the right to health and life of millions, but will destabilize health and socio-economic systems, requiring a belated response at a much greater cost.
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XVIII International AIDS Conference Dr. Sharon Lewin
Human Rights Protections Essential in Drive for Universal Access

Release of important new research that could empower women to lower risk of HIV infection highlights the intersection of science and human rights
20 July 2010 [Vienna, Austria]The call for human rights as a fundamental component of efforts to prevent new infections and provide treatment for people living with HIV pervaded the XVIII International AIDS Conference today as delegates and local residents prepared for the HIV and Human Rights March through the streets of Vienna this evening. Conference participants are giving voice to the conference theme of Rights Here, Right Now through a number of plenary presentations, sessions, Global Village programmes and Youth Programme activities. The examination of the rights of women in the context of HIV took on a powerful new dimension with the release Monday evening of the CAPRISA 004 microbicide trial results. The study provides the first data demonstrating the effectiveness of an antiretroviral-based vaginal microbicide in reducing a womans risk of sexually transmitted infection with HIV and genital herpes. The trial tested the safety and effectiveness of a 1% tenofovir gel among nearly 900 women at two sites in South Africa. As todays plenary speaker Everjoice Win noted, women have a greater likelihood of being on the receiving end of violent or coercive sexual intercourse and these results are a significant step toward a tool that puts the power of HIV prevention in womens hands. The CAPRISA trial results were be presented at 13:00 in Session Room 7. We welcome news of progress on a prevention tool that would give women greater control over their health and their lives, said Dr. Julio Montaner, AIDS 2010 Chair, President of the International AIDS Society (lAS) and Director of the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS in Vancouver, Canada. Empowering women in this way as part of a broader agenda to ensure human rights brings us one step closer to the goal of universal access.
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Strategies for a Cure

Dr. Sharon Lewin (Australia) of the Alfred Hospital, Monash University and Burnet Institute outlined the multiple barriers to curing HIV, and examined potential avenues for achieving either a functional cure (long-term control of HIV in the absence of combination antiretroviral therapy) or a sterilizing cure (elimination of all HIVinfected cells). The major challenges include residual viral replication in patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (HART) and HIVs ability to sequester itself in anatomical reservoirs. The most significant barrier, however, is the establishment of a latent or silent infection in resting CD4+ T-cells. According to Lewin, recent advances in understanding which cells are latently infected and how latency is established and maintained may one day lead to interventions that could potentially reverse latent infection. Studies of patients who can naturally control HIV have demonstrated that a functional cure may be possible with the most consistent finding among these patients being a potent immune response to HIV. One potential approach to achieving a sterilizing cure includes the very early initiation of HART in combination with agents that can reverse latent infection. Drugs such as histone deacetylase inhibitors, currently used and licensed for the treatment of some cancers, and cytokines such as IL-7 or prostratin, show very promising results in vitro. She emphasized the urgent need for clinical trials for some of these more promising agents.
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Among the many human rightsfocused activities at AIDS 2010 are a Youth Programme agenda dedicated to human rights, harm reduction and health resources, and Global Village Networking Zones dedicated to accessibility, human rights, harm reduction, people living with HIV, sex workers, women, the LGBT community, men who have sex with men, and the black Diaspora. We are reminded today of the strong link between scientific advancement and human rights protections, said Dr. Brigitte Schmied, AIDS 2010 Local Co-Chair and President of the Austrian AIDS Society. Science is now poised to give us another important new tool to help women protect themselves from HIV and save lives.
New Concepts in HIV/AIDS Pathogenesis: Implications for Interventions

In his plenary remarks, Dr. Anthony Fauci (United States) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases focused on the early and complex pathogenic events that occur within the first hours to days of sexual exposure to HIV. These early events, which include the spread of virus to lymphoid tissue and the establishment of viral reservoirs, determine the subsequent course of HIV infection and represent a period of vulnerability for the virus that provides a window of opportunity for intervention. Fauci discussed how growing understanding of these events is informing the development of HIV vaccines, other new prevention interventions, early treatment of HIV infection and potentially a cure in certain individuals. Among other topics, Fauci discussed recent data from his laboratory on the role of a receptor for the HIV envelope on the surface of CD4+ T cells called a4137 that, in certain forms, defines a subset of CD4+ T cells that are highly susceptible to productive F-IlV infection. a4137 is a cellular protein that guides immune system cells to the gut. In HIV infection, the gut is rapidly depleted of CD4+ T cells, the main target of HIV, triggering the process that ultimately leads to AIDS. Fauci suggests that an HIV envelope conformation that allows initial binding to a4137 on mucosal CD4+ T cells should be seriously considered as a target for HIV vaccine development.
Dr. Brigitte Schmied informs journalists about HIV/AIDS in Austria
South African Minister of Health Aaron

Motsoaledi discussed efforts to achieve universal access to HIV treatment and prevention on the eve of the deadline world leaders first set in 2005. A medical practitioner by training, Dr. Motsoaledi has a long history of public service focusing on strategies to address poverty, unemployment and access to services. South Africa continues to be the country most heavily affected by HIV and has experienced a dramatic revitalization of its response to the epidemic in the past year.
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XVIII International AIDS Conference Everjoice Win
Violence Against Women and Girls

Everjoice Win (Zimbabwe) of ActionAid International described the magnitude of violence perpetrated against women and girls around the world and drew the strong links between this violence and HIV. She noted that both are rooted in gender inequality and described the violence as both a cause and a consequence of HIV. She cited as examples the greater likelihood of a woman being on the receiving end of violent or coercive sexual intercourse and of an HIV-positive woman being the target of domestic violence from partners or family members who blame or stigmatize them. The international community has recognized violence against women as a violation of human rights and human rights treaties establish the responsibility of states for preventing violations, punishing perpetrators and ending impunity. Win declared that states should not use culture, religion, or tradition as excuses for not addressing violations of womens human rights. In outlining strategies for action, Win called for the recognition and prioritization of violence against women in the AIDS response, and vice versa. She urged donors to address the intersection between HIV and violence and called for the investment in more research to build an evidence base on how they are a cause and consequence of each other. She also urged stronger and well-enforced anti-violence laws that take HIV into account.
Human Rights March, Rally and Live Performance by Annie Lennox

Beginning at 18:30, conference delegates and the public were invited to congregate at Schottentor. The march, which was part of the Human Rights and HIV/AIDS Now More Than Ever campaign begin around 20:00 and ended at Heldenplatz, where a rally with government leaders, advocates and people affected by HIV was held. Singer/songwriter/activist an UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Annie Lennox will gave a live performance and a special presentation of her SING Campaign. For more information, visit www. HlVHumanRiphtsNow. org.
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than they did two years ago." Clinton said in order to have the "moral standing" to ask for more funding, organizations should prove to governments that "we're doing our job faster, better and cheaper." Offering his own thoughts on Barack Obamas criticized funding plan against Aids, Clinton defended the presidents decision, pinning the blame on the US congress for the perceived financial cut backs. He defended President Barack Obama's efforts on AIDS, Mr. Clinton saying, "You can demonstrate and call the president names or we can go get some more votes in Congress to get some more money," Clinton said. "My experience is that the second choice is the better one." At the opening of the conference on Sunday, protesters chanted "Obama lies -- people die," accusing the president of backtracking on a campaign promise to spend some 50 billion dollars on Aids by 2013.
Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria Executive Director Michel Kazatchkin told the Conference: In 2010, donors decide if the world will meet the Millennium Development Goals. If adequate resources are provided, major successes are within reach. However, if the donors commitment wavers, there is a serious risk that the gains achieved in recent years will be reversed. AIDS, as well as tuberculosis and malaria, will gain force again.
Bill Clinton speaking at Vienna Conference
Addressing 20,000 AIDS scientists, health workers and activists at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna, former U.S. President Bill Clinton echoed Microsoft founder Bill Gates is maintaining that efficiency savings were vital in delivering HIV/AIDS prevention services and treatment to the countries hardest hit and at highest risk. The former American president railed against spending too much money on reports that just sit on shelves and urged that funds directly target AIDS sufferers. Clinton said many countries are misspending foreign aid. As a remedy he advocated for funding to go directly to local organizations, because developing countries can deliver health services at a lower cost and less overhead than established organizations. "In too many countries too much money goes to pay for too many people to go to too many meetings, get on too many airplanes," Clinton said. "Keep in mind that every dollar we waste today puts a life at risk." Clinton also called on aid groups to remember that the world was "awash in trouble" due to the impact of the financial crisis. Alluding to the protest on the streets of Vienna against Obama administration cutbacks in HIV/AIDS funding, Mr. Clinton who represented his William Jefferson Clinton Foundation, told the audience, "It is easy to rail at a government and say why doesn't the government give us more money if they're giving somebody else money," adding, "But the government gets its money ... from taxpayers who have lower incomes today
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as men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, and sex workers. We also need innovations in basic science, diagnostics, computer modeling, and our understanding of the virus itself. This would make it possible to create new weapons for our fight against AIDS, prevent even more infections, and save even more lives. Vaccines, new diagnostics, and antiretroviral-based prevention (pills, injections and gels) are some of the new tools Im really excited about. If we scale up existing interventions and add new tools in the hardest-hit countries, it would change the face of AIDS. New cases would plunge. Millions more could be treated. The control of HIV would stand alongside the eradication of smallpox as one of the great public health victories in history. This is the opportunity we have. We can keep doing things the old way, and keep getting the same result. Or we can push ourselves to make the most of every dollar of funding and every ounce of effort: to identify the most effective ways to save lives, and to share what we learn as widely as possible. If we do that, we will have matched our compassion with the growing capacities of science, and we will start to write the story of the end of AIDS.
Bill Gates with African youths
Bill Gates A Roadmap for HIV Prevention

Im honored to speak at the XVIII International AIDS Conference in Vienna today. This conference marks an important turning point in the fight against AIDS. There are good reasons to be hopeful we have seen amazing progress. The number of people getting treatment for AIDS has increased twelve-fold since 2003. The people at this conference and major partners such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and PEPFAR have helped make this possible. At the same time, we have to recognize that these are tough times for those of us who are passionate about fighting HIV. Economic turbulence has driven up government deficits, and some countries have responded by reducing their investments in global health. These are the challenges we all face, but they dont have to define our time. And that is why, even as we are hopeful, we have to be honest with ourselves: We dont have the money to treat our way out of this epidemic. Even as we continue to advocate for more funding, we need to make sure were getting the most benefit from each dollar of funding and every ounce of effort. If we push for a new focus on efficiency, especially in prevention, we can, over the next two decades, drive down the number of new infections dramatically. Heres how we can do that: We need to scale up existing tools like male circumcision and preventing mother-to-child transmission. We need to focus prevention efforts on the communities where transmission is the highest such
L to R) Ms Nyaradzai Gubonzvanda, General Secretary of YWCA and Ms. Jan Beagle, Deputy Executive Director Management and External Relations of UNAIDS addressing the multi-faith pre-conference, Vienna, Austria, 17 July 2010 Credit: UNAIDS/ Anna Rauschenber
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United States Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State Washington, DC July 26, 2010 Secretary Clinton: Greetings and thank you for your efforts in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. Together, we have mounted one of the greatest public health responses in history. Through your tireless efforts, we have begun to halt and reverse the epidemic, and millions of lives have been saved. The United States, working through PEPFAR and the Global Fund, is the largest contributor to global AIDS programs. And we are committed to leading the fight against HIV/AIDS as we seek a sustainable, effective, and broad response to the global burden of disease. PEPFAR is the cornerstone of our Global Health Initiative and offers support to countries in meeting the broad health needs of their people. We are focused on reducing the impact on families and communities when the virus claims women of reproductive age, passes from mother to child, or is spread through gender-based violence.
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And we believe access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care should be a universal, shared responsibility, because health is a human right. As we push to expand access to these resources, the United States will continue to work with our partner countries and with civil society to help empower citizens to lead the charge in their own countries. We look forward to hosting you at the 2012 conference in Washington, D.C. Together, we will continue this important work. Thank you very much.
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The GHI has set clear goals to get this done. Were going to double the number of babies born HIV-free, and work to prevent more than 12 million new infections. Well provide direct support to more than 4 million people on treatment. And well help more than 12 million people including 5 million children and orphans get the care they need. Im also committed to ending the HIV epidemic here in the United States. More than 56,000 Americans become infected with HIV every year. A large percentage of those cases are concentrated in a few communities, including gay and bisexual men, African Americans, Latinos and substance abusers. Thats why my Administration released a National HIV/AIDS Strategy that increases our focus on reducing the number of new infections in these high-risk groups and making our entire nation healthier. Our strategy also involves increasing access to care, reducing HIV-related health disparities and improving coordination across the government and the private sector. Ending this pandemic wont be easy, and it wont happen overnight. But thanks to you, weve come a long way and the United States is committed to continuing that progress. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. And I look forward to welcoming all of you to Washington, DC in July 2012.
United States President Barack Obama
Remarks of U.S. President Barack Obama Video Message for the XVIII International AIDS Conference July 23, 2010
Hello everybody, and greetings to all of you who are taking part in the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna. As President, Ive directed my Administration to redouble our efforts to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS both here in America and around the world. Thats why, even in a tough fiscal environment, I have asked for increases to PEPFAR in both my budgets 2011 being the largest PEPFAR budget to date. Weve also embedded it in a comprehensive Global Health Initiative to help other countries improve health care, save lives and increase life expectancy.
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Closing Ceremony
Remarks by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidib
Dear friends, Today is the last day of the XVIII International AIDS Conference. I hope you have enjoyed following UNAIDS first blog, which, over the past 11 days, has provided daily updates on what we have been learning. As the selection of posts and the media coverage coming out of Vienna demonstrate AIDS 2010 has harnessed the momentum that has been building around HIV prevention, including for young people who are leading the prevention revolution. One of the highlights has been the encouraging news surrounding the CAPRISA proof of concept study that added to the growing HIV prevention results reported at the conference. The potential of having a woman-initiated and controlled prevention option boosted visibility for all HIV prevention options. On treatment, voices were concerted and loud. The progress we have witnessed in the past several years of now having 5.2 million people on these lifesaving drugs was noted, but it was clear at several events, from sessions to press conferences and protests, that we have to do more to ensure the 10 million people in need of treatment have access to it. UNAIDS made the case for Treatment 2.0 outlining what will be required to radically simplify the treatment platform to make it more affordable and accessible. The conference theme of Rights Here, Right Now acted as a unifying element for delegates. Our vision of reaching zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths can not be reached until we can restore dignity to people and ensure their rights to health are respected. I spoke with many people working on the AIDS response in their own countries who are concerned about the lack of progress for most-atrisk populations. Being in the gateway city to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, I am troubled by the news that there is increasing HIV prevalence and
decreasing programmes in this region. And in all parts of the world, we know that HIV services do not always reach people who need them the most: Women, injecting drug users, children and young people, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and transgender people. The ongoing global financial crisis permeated most discussions. As we move from an era of abundance to austerity, my message throughout the conference has been that we need to ensure investments reach more people. For the first time, we have seen reductions in investments. Of particular concern is that many European countries have not met their commitmentsthey have given USD $600 million less than they did in 2008. Its clear that we should not stop investments when we are showing results for people. The Global Fund needs to be fully funded. Donors must meet the 0.7% target for international aid, and the Abuja target of 15% for health must not be buried. As this was my first International AIDS Conference as Executive Director of UNAIDS, I was especially movedand humbledby the support from the people I have had the honour to meet. Thank you for sharing your stories, your challenges, and your optimism. Together, we have much work to do between now and AIDS 2012 in Washington, DC. Expectations have been set, and it is my hope that will show even more results on what has been a defining moment in the AIDS response. Michel
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Ugandas capital Kampala, host city of the 15th Summit of the African Union viewed from one of its green hilltops
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Africa/African Union
Decisions of the XV African Union Summit
From left: AU Commission Chairman Jean Ping, host President Yoweri Museveni and Assembly of Heads of State & Government Chairman President Bingu Wa Mutharika of Malawi
(AUC)-- The 15th AU summit held in Kampala, Uganda, from 19 to 27 July has adopted the following decisions: On the Theme of the Summit: Maternal, infant and child Health and Development in Africa adopted actions to be undertaken in various Member State, in particular the actions aimed at attaining the MDGs 4, 5 and 6, including the launching of CARMMA, mobilisation of adequate resources for integrated health programmes up to 15% of national budgets, the sharing of best practices within regions, regular evaluation and reporting of progress achieved by Member States; On the five (5)-year review of the Abuja call for accelerated action towards universal access to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis AND Malaria (ATM) services in Africa, the Assembly, decided to extend the Abuja Call for Accelerated Action Towards Universal Access to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Services in Africa (the Abuja Call) to 2015 to coincide with the MDGs. The Assembly urged Member States to accelerate the implementation of the Abuja Call through the strengthening of health systems, financing of
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health research, partnerships with relevant stakeholders; and a multi-sectoral and integrated approach to disease control. On the state of Peace and Security in Africa, the Assembly welcomed the efforts deployed by the AU and the Regional Economic Communities / Regional Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution (RECs/RMs), with the support of the international community, towards the full operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture, in particular the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) and the African Standby Force (ASF). The Assembly reiterates its concern at the continued impasse in the process aimed at restoring constitutional order in Madagascar, due mainly to the refusal of the de facto authorities to cooperate with the AU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) towards the implementation of the Maputo Agreements of 6 August 2009 and the Addis Ababa Additional Act of 6 November 2009. The Assembly encourages the SADC Mediator, former Presi-

with the other stakeholders, to expeditiously address the outstanding issues in the CPA implementation, particularly the resolution of the issue of Abyei, the modalities for the organization of popular consultations in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states, and the completion of the demarcation of the North-South border; The Assembly expressed concern at the recent degradation of the security situation in Darfur, and called on all parties to demonstrate restraint and refrain from actions likely to further complicate the situation. The Assembly encouraged the parties to the Doha process, led by the AU-UN Joint Chief Mediator, with the support of the Government of Qatar, to intensify their efforts towards achieving further progress, and urged the Movements that are not participating in the Doha talks to join the process without any further delay. The Assembly welcomed the work being done by the AUHIP since its establishment in October 2009, in particular the support to the implementation of the CPA, the negotiations on the post-referendum issues and arrangements and the search for an inclusive and comprehensive solution to the conflict in Darfur. The Assembly commended Chad and Sudan for the steps taken in this respect, as well as the two Heads of State for their vision and leadership. The Assembly noted with concern the delays in the implementation of the calendar of elections in the Central African Republic (CAR) and in the execution of the DDR program. It expressed concern. The Assembly further expressed its concern at the continued activities of the Lords Resistance Army in CAR. The Assembly called on the Central African parties to work towards the holding of elections at the newly agreed dates (October and December 2010).
dent Joachim Chissano, to pursue and intensify his consultations with the Malagasy parties, with a view to facilitating an early and consensual return to legality, in accordance with the AU relevant instruments and decisions. The Assembly urged the Comorian parties to work in good faith for the strict implementation of this Agreement, including the organization, within the scheduled timeframe, of the harmonized elections of the President of the Union and the Governors of the Autonomous Islands and the handing over of power between the President-elect and the outgoing one, and urged the international community to provide the financial and technical support necessary for the success of the process; The Assembly reaffirmed its full support to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, and strongly condemned the attacks and other acts of violence perpetrated by Al Shabab and other terrorist groups against the TFG, the Somali people and the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The Assembly mandated the Commission to initiate the planning for the new phases of the deployment of AMISOM, supported by the African Standby Force (ASF), once operationalized. The Assembly requested the Chairperson of the Commission to appoint a High Level Personality, to galvanize international support and attention for Somalia, and the engagement of the population in governance processes, in order to enhance the legitimacy of the TFG. The Assembly also reiterated its call to the larger international community and the United Nations Security Council, in particular, to play their rightful role, including the transformation of AMISOM into a United Nations Peace Mission, and to mobilize resources commensurate with the magnitude of the challenges facing Somalia and the region; The Assembly reiterated its concern at the continued impasse in the peace process between Ethiopia and Eritrea and reaffirmed AUs readiness to assist the two countries to overcome the current deadlock through dialogue, and normalize their relations; On Sudan, the Assembly stressed the critical importance of the partnership between the NCP and the SPLM and urged them, in consultation
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On the implementation of the Year of Peace and Security in Africa, the Assembly, urged Member States to fully take ownership of this initiative, including by signing and ratifying relevant AU instruments, including the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and effectively implementing the commitments contained therein, as well as by intensifying their efforts for peace. The Assembly also stressed the critical importance of the United Nations (UN) proclaimed International Day of Peace, on 21st September, as a way to provide a single rallying point for the continent to show that peace is possible the need to mobilize increased resources from within the continent to ensure real ownership and leadership in the quest for peace. The Assembly endorsed the objectives being pursued and the activities planned, for which occasion namely: i) Cessation of hostilities in all conflict areas which are still experiencing varying levels of violence; ii) Distribution of humanitarian supplies, materials and services to communities in conflict areas, as well as in non-conflict areas in critical need of these. iii) one minute of silence for peace across Africa at 10.00am GMT; on which day iv) Relevant developmental work and community support in all AU Member States to be carried out by members of the armed and security forces; v) One Day One Goal football games; and vi) Make Peace Happen Lesson Plan to be taught in all schools on Peace Day or during other relevant occasions. On the establishment of the Pan-African University, the Assembly decided the allocation of the
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The Assembly urged the Ivorian parties to do their utmost, with the help of the Facilitator, President Blaise Compaor of Burkina Faso, to scrupulously implement the provisions of the Ouagadougou Political Agreement and its Supplementary Agreements, in order to create an enabling environment for the speedy holding of the elections, which should conclude the process for a way out of the crisis. The Assembly took note of the transition and the process for the return to constitutional order as defined by the de facto authorities in Niger in consultation with the Niger parties, and requested all the stakeholders in Niger to ensure strict compliance. The Assembly welcomed the holding on 27 June 2010, of the first round of the presidential election in Guinea and underscored the imperative need for the speedy organization of the second round of the presidential elections, to be followed by the legislative elections. The Assembly urged the Mauritanian parties to promote political dialogue in good faith, in accordance with the Dakar Framework Agreement; The Assembly expressed deep concern at the developments which took place in Guinea Bissau on 1st April 2010, undermining constitutional order, and condemned the continued interference of the Army in the functioning of the democratic institutions. The Assembly reiterated its deep concern over the persistence and spread of maritime piracy, which is an international crime pursuant to relevant international instruments, including resolution 1918 (2010 The Assembly expressed satisfaction at the level attained in the operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture and requested the Commission to continue and intensify its activities for the diligent and full implementation of the Tripoli Declaration and Plan of Action, including aspects relating to the objectives of the Year of Peace and Security in Africa.

form the ICC accordingly. On the Hissene Habr Case, the Assembly requested the Government of Senegal, the Commission and Partners, particularly the European Union to continue consultations with the view to the holding of the Donors Round Table. The Assembly invited all partner countries, institutions and well wishers to attend the Donors Round Table that will be organized in this regard in Dakar, Senegal in November 2010. On the transformation of the African Union Commission into the African Union Authority, the Assembly reiterated its commitment to the vision of gradually transforming the African Union Commission into the African Union Authority in order to strengthen the institutional building processes of the African Union and to accelerate the integration of the continent. On the African Maritime Transport Charter, the Assembly, endorsed the Charter and urged the Member States to speed up signature and ratification of the African Maritime Transport Charter in order to ensure its speedy entry into force to facilitate accelerated development of maritime transport in the Continent. On the Staff Regulations and Rules, the Assembly adopted the Staff Regulations and Rules of the African Union; On the third Africa-European Union Summit, the Assembly, requested the Commission in collaboration with Member States to engage the EU side to discuss the possibility of adopting economic growth, job creation and investment as the overarching theme of the Summit. On the Second Afro-Arab Summit, the Assembly, endorsed 10 October 2010 as the proposed date for the Second Afro-Arab Summit and urged Member States to actively participate in the Summit and Pre-Summit meetings as well as activities at the highest possible level.
thematic areas to the following regions and countries, while the Southern and Northern Regions were to finalize their consultations to designate the two host countries for space sciences and water and energy respectively: i) West Africa: Nigeria for Life and Earth Sciences; ii) East Africa: Kenya for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation; iii) Central Africa: Cameroon for Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences. On the abuse of the principle of universal jurisdiction, the Assembly reiterated its commitment to fight impunity in conformity with the provisions of Article 4(h) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union. It called on all concerned States to respect International Law and particularly the immunity of state officials when applying the principle of universal jurisdiction. The Assembly urged the European Union (EU) and its Member States to extend the necessary cooperation to the African Union to facilitate the search for a durable solution to the abuse of the Principle of Universal Jurisdiction and requested. It also requested the African Group in New York to follow-up on the implementation of this Decision in collaboration with the Commission and to ensure that the concerns raised by the African Union and its Member States regarding the Abuse of the principle of universal jurisdiction by some non African States are properly addressed at the Level of the United Nations with a view to finding a durable solution and to submit a report thereon to the Assembly through the Executive Council on actions taken. On the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Assembly, reiterated its commitment to fight impunity in conformity with the provisions of Article 4(h) of the Constitutive Act of the African Union and reiterated its decision that AU Member States shall not cooperate with the ICC in the arrest and surrender of President El-Bashir of The Sudan. The Assembly decided to reject for now the request by ICC to open a Liaison Officer to the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and requested the Commission to in83

(SKA) Project on the African Continent, the Assembly, endorsed the African bid to host the SKA on the African continent, thereby providing the world with the unique instrument for frontier research and discovery, cementing Africas commitment to contribute to global scientific excellence and enterprise. On the integration of the African regional organization for standardization, the Assembly, requested the Commission to work in collaboration with the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) and its relevant Sub-Committees, and the Republic of Kenya in compiling a report on ARSO including the structural and financial implications of ARSOs integration into the AU structures for consideration by the Assembly through the Executive Council; On the commemoration of Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security, the Assembly decided that an Africa Food and Nutrition Security Day (AFND) will be commemorated on 30 October every year. On the promotion of cooperation, dialogue and respect for diversity in the field of human rights, the Assembly decided to support the UN Human Rights Council as a global forum for dialogue on human rights issues based on the principles of mutual respect, cooperation, objectivity and non-selectivity. On the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards, the Assembly decided to name the African Union Scientific Awards as African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards. On the establishment and operationalization of the African Petroleum Fund, the Assembly decided on the establishment of the African Petroleum Fund, the financing of which will be on a voluntary basis. On Climate Change negotiations, the Assembly endorsed the recommendations of CAHOSCC on the streamlined single negotiation structure at
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On the theme, date and venue of the Sixteenth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, the Assembly, decided that the dates of the Sixteenth Ordinary Session of the Assembly which will hold in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia under the Theme devoted to Shared Values with an emphasis on the putting in place of a PanAfrican Governance Architecture, shall be the following: i. Twenty-first Ordinary Session of the Permanent Representatives Committee: 24-25 January 2011; ii. Eighteenth Ordinary Session of the Executive Council: 27-28 January 2011; iii. Sixteenth Ordinary Session of the Assembly: 30th January to 31st January 2011. On the theme of the July 2011 AU Summit, the Assembly, decided that the theme for the Summit in July 2011 will be Accelerating Youth empowerment for sustainable development. On the date and venue of the twenty-third Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, the Assembly welcomed the offer by the government of the Republic of Gabon to host the twenty-third ordinary session of assembly of the African union scheduled for July 2014 in Libreville, Gabon. The Assembly accepted the offer and requested the Commission in consultation with the host country to propose in due course, dates for the holding of the meetings of the Libreville Summit. On strengthening of the cooperation among the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa to address the Development Challenges OF Africa, the Assembly encouraged Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the AU Commission; Mr. Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank; and Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa to pursue their ongoing joint efforts to deepen the relationship among the three Pan-African institutions. On the support the Square Kilometre Array

the following personalities as members of the Panel of the Wise, at the expiration of their terms on 17 December 2010: i) President Ahmed Ben Bella (North Africa), ii) Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim (East Africa); The Assembly further decided in line with article 11 of the PSC Protocol, to appoint, for a mandate of three years, starting from 18 December 2010, the following personalities as new members of the Panel of the Wise: i) President Kenneth Kaunda (Southern Africa); ii) Mrs. Marie Madeleine Kalala-Ngoy (Central Africa); iii) Mrs. Mary Chinery Hesse (West Africa). On the prevention and combating of terrorism, the Assembly requested all African States to work closely together, directly and through the relevant organs of the AU, to implement enhanced measures for cooperation, mutual legal assistance and coordination between the security services, in order to boost Africas collective action against terrorism. It also requested the Commission to carry out all the consultations required and initiate appropriate measures to mobilize wide support and effective contribution of the international community towards combating terrorism in Africa, including cutting off its financing sources and ending the payment of ransom. The Assembly requested further the Commission to submit regular reports on the status of the fight and cooperation against terrorism in Africa. On the alternative sources of financing, the Assembly mandated the African Union Commission, through the Ministers of economy and Finance, to expeditiously finalize the current work on this matter for its consideration and final adoption in January February 2011.
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the Ministerial and Experts levels, with a view to ensuring effective coordination of the negotiation on climate change towards the 16th Conference of Parties (COP 16) and COP 17 in Cancun, Mexico and in South Africa in 2010 and 2011, respectively, as follows: Algeria to serve as Coordinator at the Ministerial level with Mali in its capacity as current Chairperson of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment to serve as CoCoordinator; The Democratic Republic of Congo to serve as Coordinator at the Experts level together with Nigeria as Co-Coordinator; The African Group of Technical Negotiators to establish a Bureau. The Assembly also endorsed the recommendations of CAHOSCC for the continuation of the membership of the Republic of South Africa, the host of COP 17, within CAHOSCC, as well as the inclusion of the Democratic Republic of Congo in its capacity as the Chairperson of the African Group of the Technical Negotiators It further endorsed the Decision of CAHOSCC to hold a meeting before COP 16 scheduled in Cancun, Mexico in December 2010. On the reform of the United Nations Security Council, the Assembly reaffirmed the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council containing the African Common Position, called for its intensive promotion and stressed the need for Africa to continue to speak with one voice on this question. The Assembly directed that the African Permanent Representatives to the United Nations of the Committee of Ten continue to work closely with other African Permanent Representatives to the UN as well as with other Interest Groups in the context of the ongoing inter-governmental Negotiations on the Security Council Reform Process; On the appointment of the members of the Panel of the Wise, the Assembly decided in line with the provisions of article 11 of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU, to re-appoint, for a further and final mandate of three years,
Uganda, July 2010: Africa Youth Forum precedes AU Summit

On appointment of a Member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, the Assembly decided to appoint the following person as a member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, as elected by the 17th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council held in Kampala, Uganda: Mrs. Lucy ASUAGBOR of Cameroun for a 3 year term Report compliments of AU Monitor
. About AU Monitor
This site has been established by Fahamu to enable African CSOs to engage constructively with the African Union (AU) and its organs in the interests of promoting justice, equity and accountability through the provision of highquality and timely information. The logo is taken from the Adinkra symbol Hwe Mu Dua, or measuring stick, the symbol of examination and quality control.
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A young (pictured above) woman sings at the closing ceremony of the African Youth Forum (AYF) in the city of Entebbe, near Kampala, the capital. From 15 to 17 July 2010, more than 120 delegates from across the continent, joined by President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and other participants, attended the African Youth Forum (AYF) in the city of Entebbe, near Kampala, the capital. The Forum is the first-ever official gathering of young people in conjunction with the 15th African Union Summit, taking place 2527 July in Kampala. The Youth Forum focused on the theme Maternal, Infant and Child Health: African Youth Call for Action. Additional topics included HIV/AIDS, youth rights, climate change and access to a quality education for all. The Forums call for action was then presented to Heads of State/Government attending the AU Summit. The Forum was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with the Government of Uganda and other partners.
Africa/Agriculture
SciDev.Net (London)
10 September 2010
Green Revolution Plan Agreed at Ghana Meeting

By Naomi Antony
A private sector-led drive to contribute to a 'Green Revolution' in Africa took a step forward last week with the agreement of a "very clear action plan" to draw the continent out of its food crises. The plan was drawn up at the first meeting of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF), in Accra, Ghana, which claims that, by including detailed mechanisms for monitoring and review, it will avoid the fate of other plans that have not achieved what they hoped for in Africa. "This is the first time we have laid out a very clear action plan on what needs to accelerate the pace of the Green Revolution in terms of technologies, policies, finance and infrastructure investments," Akin Adesina, vice president of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and executive co -producer of the AGRF, told SciDev.Net. "This was not a conference, it was not a workshop, it was a 'doing-shop'." He added: "You cannot have a [green] revolution if you don't have a larger constituency supporting the move. What we were able to achieve in Accra was to have a huge group of stakeholders saying yes, Africa can and should end its food crisis." The forum, which met last week (2-4 September), is an outcome of former UN secretary general Kofi Annan's challenge to the private and public sectors to contribute to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Adesina said that the forum will hold a series of in-country workshops with all relevant partners to review the tasks they have committed to. It has already set up a subcommittee to produce indicators for measuring progress. And the forum will also work with the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) to monitor the extent to which the areas being worked on at country level are feeding into the roundtable processes of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme - a NEPAD initiative that
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa Chairman Dr. Kofi Annan The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a major benefactor of AGRA
deals with agricultural policy and capacitybuilding issues, and is aiming for a six per cent growth rate in African agriculture by 2015. "We will not relent on making sure we push all the people that need to be pushed to ensure that they deliver on what they say they have committed to," said Adesina. He urged African countries to keep their promise, made in the 2003 African Union Maputo Declaration, of allocating ten per cent of national expenditure to agriculture. Other sources of finance will be the private sector and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa. Yvonne Pinto, director of the Agriculture Learning and Impact Network at the UK-based Institute of Development Studies, told SciDev.Net: "The good thing about the forum is [it shows] Africa is beginning to drive its own agenda. There's an appetite on the part of African governments to put money into [agriculture]." But she questioned the extent to which the various stakeholders have committed to the enterprise. "The buy in to the statements - the kinds of which I have seen many times before - is lower than AGRA or AGRF may think. "Monitoring and evaluation and open publication of this data will be key - the main challenge here is turning the rhetoric into reality," she added.
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Africa/Economic Community of West African States
1,000,000 for ECOWAS Non-State Actors

27 August 2010
Abuja - Nigeria Twelve regional Non-State Actors (NSAs) in ECOWAS Member States are to be presented grants totaling one million Euros by ECOWAS and the European Union at a ceremony scheduled to take place in Abuja on Wednesday, 1st September, 2010. The grant is part of the efforts of the two Commissions to broaden the support and the participation of NSAs and NSAs networks in the regional integration process in West Africa by leveraging comparative advantages of national and regional NSA groups via call for proposals. Known as the 9th EDF ROC 15, ROC 10 Projects, the programmes will among others, strengthen the capacity of NSAs to enable them play effective and relevant roles in the integration process, react to issues and participate in the formulation of regional policies, strategies and programmes. It will also facilitate the creation of NSA network within the region on regional issues pertaining to the vulnerable populations including women, children, youth, workers, farmers, elderly, disabled as well as faith based organizations. The 12 awardees include five of the 62 private sector organizations that responded to a previous call for proposals from the NSA's issued by the two ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions in 2008. The Regional Non-State Actors are Non Governmental actors from the fifteen ECOWAS Member States who are advancing development, promoting change and helping in building sustainable development in the region. As members of the civil society, they focus on the defence of the interest of social groups
COWAS promotes Civil Society Organizations as a platform to provide a structured interface between its Commission and the citizenry throughout West Africa. However, the Commission recognized that the CSOs needed financial strengthening to play the envisaged role. While addressing the grants awards programme which didnt take place until September 25, rather than September 1st as originally scheduled, Commission Vice President Mr Jean De Gien-Sondr, the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, stressed that the synergy between the Commission and the non-state actors required continuous funding to guarantee a successful execution of projects in the sub-region. Actually 1.2 million were granted the CSOs on September 25 in Abuja, Nigeria where the ECOWAS Commission is headquartered. The money was divided in amounts ranging from 32,000 to 100,000 among 17 organizations. EU Representative Mr. Kazimierz Romanski noted at the grant awarding ceremony that in consideration of the visible progress made in the ECOWAS zone 258 million has been set aside for grants to its non-state actors over the next 5 years. West African analysts have slammed ECOWAS continued inability to fund its own projects, arguing that most of the donor funded projects are designed to satisfy their interests, as He who pays the piper dictates the tune. Dr. Adrienne Diop, ECOWAS Commissioner of Human, Gender and Child Development acknowledged the critics have a valid point, but explained, "We must not fail to realize that the region comprises some of the poorest nations of the world. We cannot, therefore, ask member countries to go a step further to fund projects, apart from paying their annual contributions. "The ECOWAS has exhibited financial resilience, financial prudence and accountability over time; it is, therefore, incorrect to say that we solely depend on foreign donors for our projects execution.
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Africa/Human Rights
Franny Rabkin 12 August 2010
Botswana Reprimanded for Denying Critic Access to Court

Johannesburg IN A scathing rebuke of Botswana's immigration laws, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights has found that national security is not a legitimate justification for infringing on the right of access to courts. The landmark decision was emphatic in asserting the importance of judicial oversight of executive decisions and is likely to influence the reasoning of domestic courts in Africa, including SA. The commission's decision was released recently after a five-year legal battle by Australian academic Kenneth Good, who was declared "a prohibited immigrant" in terms of the Botswana Immigration Act and deported after he co-authored an article critical of the president. The act permits the president of Botswana to expel a noncitizen "in consequence of information received from any source deemed by the president to be reliable" - with no right to challenge the decision in court and no duty on the president to give reasons for his decision. Mr Good first tried to find out why he was deported through the Botswana courts, to no avail. He ultimately turned to the commission - assisted by international nongovernmental organisation Interights and two South African counsel, Anton Katz SC and Max du Plessis. He said the act violated a number of his rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, including the right "to have his cause heard". Botswana argued that the act's ousting of the courts' jurisdiction to review the president's decision was justified in the public interest. But the commission rejected this outright. "Can a victim's right to have his cause heard be limited ... for the public interest? The answer to this is no." The commission also found that denying Mr Good reasons for his deportation inBotswanas Foreign Minister Phandu Skelemani dismissed the African Commission on Human & Peoples Rights ruling as inconsequential. Mr. Skelemani is a Member of the Pan African Parliament from Botswana.
Spheres
fringed on his right to receive information. National security and the public interest were "recognized as justifiable grounds to limit freedom of expression" under the charter, the commission said. However, in Mr Good's case, and "especially in a trial for the vindication of a right", information could not be withheld for any reason. Botswana's Daily News quoted Foreign Affairs Minister Phandu Skelemani, as saying: "We are not going to follow on the recommendation made by the commission; it does not give orders, and it is not a court. We are not going to listen to them."
Established by the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights which came into force on 21 October 1986 after its adoption in Nairobi (Kenya) in 1981 by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU.), the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights is charged with ensuring the promotion and protection of Human and Peoples' Rights throughout the African Continent. The Commission has its headquarters in Banjul, The Gambia. In is mandated to promote and protect human rights, as well as interpret the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, in addition to any other task that may be assigned to it by the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government. 89
Africa/Security
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb murders French hostage, takes 7 more

Report
combat the threat from AQIM. Doha, Qatar based Al Jazeera television sent a crew in to locate the hostages and filmed them still alive around the end of September. Despite AQIM warning and the French military chiefs statement that there were no immediate plans for a rescue attempt, France deployed 80 special forces to Niamey, the Niger capital. One of the hostages, according to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, worked for the French nuclear energy company Areva that has 2 uranium mines in Niger, and was abducted along with his wife. The other five hostages work for Sogea-Satom, a French construction company contracted by Areva. A spokesman for Nigers government, Laouali Dan Dah, said the workers were kidnapped by a group of 7 to 30 people who spoke Arabic and Tamashek, the language spoken by the regions Tuareg tribes. Historically the Tuareg have been marauders and in recent years have waged low intensity insurgencies against the governments of Mali and Niger, with Libyan leader Muammar Qhaddafi and Arab supporters enlisted by him backing them up with threats to carve out a Tuareg state from the territory of Mali and Niger. In a 2008 conference in Timbuktu, Mali, to which he invited Arab militants from Iraq, Sudan and other Arab countries, Qhaddafi claimed the Sahel, including Timbuktu, as historically the land of the Taureg and demanded abolition of the border between Niger and Mali that restricted Taureg movement, with the treat that Arab forces from the countries represented would join forces to take the Sahel region from Mali and Niger and establish a Taureg state. All the speeches and proceedings of this conference were subsequently published [in English and Arabic] and distributed by the Libyan Libya. Also in 2008, Areva, which has been mining uranium in Niger for more than 40 years, reinforced security after Taureg rebels kidnapped four French citizens. Fortunately they were released a few days later unharmed.
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Michel Germaneau, 78 year old aid development aid worker was murdered by Al Qaeda after a futile rescue attempt by French and Mauritanian forces operating in Mali.
rmy chiefs from Algeria, Mali, Niger and Mauritania met in the Southern Algeria city of Tamanrasset in late September to discuss the deteriorating security situation caused by Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Their focus was on developing a strategy to deal with the rising tide of terrorism in the region. At the time it was not known whether the seven hostages, taken by the terrorist group, part of Osama bin Ladens global network, were still alive or not. Five of the hostages were French nationals; one is from Togo and one from Madagascar. However, on September 23 French Military Chief of Staff Admiral Edouard Guillaud said the lives of the hostages were not in immediate danger and there were no immediate plans of military action to rescue them. AQIM spokesman Salah Abi Mohammed warned France against any sort of stupidity, presumably referring to a rescue attempt. Analyst Georg Joffey said at the time, "Almost certainly they were seized not only to make a point against the French presence in Africa but also to hold them against ransom payments as a demonstration of the power of the groups in the Sahara to affect policies of Western states." Joffey noted that attempts to coordinate military cooperation in the Sahel had been going on for several months and it was still not possible for France to assess the willingness of the governments in the countries to
Africa/Security
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
On July 25, AQIM announced that it had killed the French hostage Michel Germaneau abducted in Niger during April this year. Germaneau, a 78 year old retired engineer working with the Enmilal aid agency to improve health services and schools, was kidnapped near the Niger town of Tiguidan Tessoun along with his Algerian driver, but the driver was reported later released in Algeria. According to French authorities, Germaneau was kidnapped a red zone on the southern rim of the Sahara desert that tourists are strongly advised to avoid. On July 22 Mauritanian troops backed by French forces had attacked a camp some 200km inside Mali, killing 6 AQIM fighters but did not find Germaneau as expected. The following day Mauritanian television broadcasts images of the dead AQIM fighters in their destroyed desert camp along with captured four wheel drive vehicles. Malis government, and also that of Spain, had been informed of the operation beforehand. Two Spanish aid workers abducted in Mauritania last year and were still missing. According to press reports, AQIM mutilated Germaneau on July 24 in retaliation for the 6 fighters killed during the July 22nd operation. Meanwhile, worries intensified in Spain about the fate of its two kidnapped aid workers. A local official in Northern Mali reported, "The Frenchman was decapitated before the eyes" of the head of the radical AQIM group that was holding him, Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, who last year executed a British hostage, Edwin Dyer, after holding him for six months. French President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed retaliation for Michel Germaneaus murder, saying to his nation, "Dear compatriots, this crime committed against Michel Germaneau will not go unpunished." He labeled it an act of barbarity. "I condemn this barbarous act, this odious act, which has just left dead an innocent victim man who was there to help the local population," Sarkozy said in a televised appearance. AQIMs nefarious activities started in Algeria along the Mediterranean coast but intensity of the crackdown by Algerian security forces drove them southwards where they recruited and aligned with criminal gangs in Mali, Mauritania and Niger. They are also present in Southern Tunisia. The U.S. and other Western countries have warned that unless countries in the region collaborate to put an end to AQIM they could create a terrorist safe haven in the Sahel from which to launch terrorist attacks around the world.
Osama Bin Laden ally Abdelhamid Abou Zeid (top), an Algerian in his late 40s, has moved into the Sahel region recruiting Tuaregs and Mauritanians and aligning with criminal groups to destabilize Niger and Mali. According to reports, U.S. intelligence personnel are operating from the Algerian military base in Tamanrasset to assist the Algerians in efforts to monitor and capture him. The bottom photo is from a late September video clip to confirm that the French hostages were still alive. Abdelhamid Abou Zeid is squatting in the center. On the extreme right is one of the hostages. A communiqu from AQIM referred to Abdelhamid Abou Zeid and his band as the 100 lions, suggesting that the number of fighters operating under his immediate command is not very large. Another AQIM unit is said to be commanded by one Mokhtar Belmokhtar. Belmokhtar, an Algerian who lost an eye fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan, is believed by European anti-terrorism specialists to be often focused on raising cash by protecting cigarette and cocaine smuggling that has traditionally flourished in the area.
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Africa/Kenya/Constitution
Kenyans approve new constitution

new Kenyan constitution was promulgated on August 27, 2010, replacing the 1963 independence constitution. Drafted by a Committee of Experts largely composed of constitutional scholars, the new constitution won approval by a substantial 67% to 43% margin. The public had been given 30 days to scrutinize the draft and forward proposed amendments to their constituencies Members of Parliament, after which the Parliamentary Select Committee revised the draft and sent it back to Committee of Experts for final drafting. The Committee of Experts published the final draft constitution on February 23, 2010 and submitted it to Parliament. Parliament made substantial deletions and unanimously approved a final version for submission to the Attorney General for legal scrutiny on April 1, 2010. On May 6 the proposed new constitution was published ahead of the referendum scheduled for August 4th. Some of the provisions of the new constitution are yet to take effect. Parliament is to enact legislation within five years to support its full implementation. Meanwhile, certain sections of the former constitution will continue in force until Kenya conducts its first general elections under the new constitution. The devolved governments, the Senate, and the Supreme Court are structural institutions yet to be created. The First chapter affirms the sovereign power of Kenyans in a democratic polity with the constitution as supreme law. In the second chapter Kenya is confirmed a multiparty democracy with two tiers of government: national and county. It also confirms Kiswahili as Kenyas national language, as well as Kiswahili and English as the official languages. The country is divided into 47 counties, each composed of wards. County governments are comprised of a County Legislature, in which each ward is represented, and County Executive, headed by the popular suffrage elected Governor and Deputy Governor. The Governor appoints principal administrative officers of the county executive with approval of the County Legislature. County governments are in charge of agriculture, health services, public amenities, county trade development and regulations, and county planning and development among other services.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga supported voting in favor of the new constitution which eliminates the office of Prime Minister, a provision that takes affect with the next general elections
Chapter 3 allows Kenyans to hold dual citizenship, opening the way for Kenyan born athletes who have acquired other nationalities to still enjoy citizenship in their land of birth. Herein provision is also made for acquiring Kenyan citizenship. Under the provisions of this chapter it should be possible for U.S. President Barack Obama, whose paternal relatives are natural born Kenyans, to become a Kenyan citizen if he so chooses after leaving office. Chapters 8, 9, 10 and 11 establish Kenya governmental structure to take effect in tandem with the next general elections, consisting of the Legislature, Executive, Judiciary and Devolved Governments. The Legislature is now comprised of a National Assembly and Senate. The National Assembly controls national expenditure and revenue allocation between the national and county levels of government. The National Assembly also reviews the conduct of the President and other state officers, and when deemed necessary initiates the process of removing them from office. Each County Assembly will elect one woman MP, thus the number of MPs will exceed the number of constituencies by 47 which is the number of counties Kenya is to be divided into. Counties under the new constitution supersede the existing districts. The new constitution provides a provision for con92
Africa/Kenya
stituencies to recall legislators. The new constitution omits the post of Prime Minister, authorizing a President, Deputy President and cabinet. The President is the chief executive and head of state, as well as Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces. The 35 year minimum age for being president has been removed and the office can now be contested for by any Kenyan adult. The Senate, comprised an elected representative, dubbed Senator, from each of the 47 counties, serves the interests of counties and the county governments by debating and approving bills concerning the counties. This is expected to compel equitable distribution of financial resources between the counties and National Government. The Senate also determines the outcome of any resolution of the National Assembly to impeach the President or the Deputy President. The apex judicial institution, the Supreme Court is to be comprised of a Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice and 4 other judges. It will handle appeals from the Appeals and Constitutional Courts. The new constitution provides for an Independent Ethics Commission authorized to monitor the compliance of public officials with the Constitutions integrity chapter, conduct investigations and make recommendations to the Attorney General who is appointed by the president and limited to a 6 year term of office. A Human Rights & Equality Commission will be empowered to investigate and summon people, including government officials, involved in human rights abuses. Kenyas last constitutional referendum in November 2005 ended in rejection of the constitution proposed by President Mwai Kibaki and his Justice Minister by a 57% majority with then Works Minister Raila Odinga leading the campaign against it, maintaining that it concentrated too much power in the president. Although the position of Prime Minister, now held by Mr. Odinga under an interim arrangement following disputed elections in 2007, is omitted from the new constitution, strengthening of the judiciary, creation of a Senate as an upper House of Parliament representing the countries and strengthening of the county governments apparently satisfied Mr. Odinga that the 2010 proposed constitution sufficiently balanced power. However, Education Minister William Ruto, Information Minister Samuel Poghisio and former president Daniel arap Moi led the campaign against the 2010 constitution, insisting that too
Kenyans approve new constitution
Electoral officials sort out ballots before counting votes at a polling centre in Eldoret town, 300km west of Kenya's capital Nairobi. Photograph: Reuters/Thomas Mukoya
much power was ultimately concentrated in the hands of the president. Christian Churches joined the opposition to the 2010 constitution, objecting to the provision allowing abortion under circumstances of endangered maternal health and also its giving constitutional legitimacy to the Islamic civil law courts (Khadi), which have long existed. However, Saidimu Ole ngais (The truth behind land issues in draft Constitution, Diaspora Kenyan, July 4, 2010) maintained that the Islamic civil courts was used as a pretext by those whose real motive for opposing the 2010 constitution was its provisions concerning land. According to Saidimu Ministry of Land records show that there are 200,000 fraudulent land deeds in possession of Kenyans, covering some 2 million acres and that reassessment of land usage and distribution of idle land to squatters and the landless would involve investigations by a Land Commission that expose and subject to confiscation those who claim ownership of land they are not legally entitled to. Also the new constitution abolishes 999 year land leases. In accord with Saidimu George Nyongesa writing on the Kenyan Constitution 2010 argues, What we must never hide from is that the land question is the bedrock and cauldron of most of the social crises this country has faced and continues to face, including post election violence and its aftermath, noting that elements opposing the new constitution have contended that it would make Kenyas land ownership regime socialist instead of capitalist.
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Africa/Liberia/Presidential Diplomacy
65th UN General Assembly Summit
Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf being escorted to address the Summit
Address by Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf President of the Republic of Liberia To the 65TH Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly New York, September 24, 2010
Mr. President; Mr. Secretary-General; Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government and Heads of Delegations; Distinguished Delegates; Ladies and Gentlemen: I am honored to address this 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of the people of Liberia. I congratulate you on your election, Mr. President, as President of this august Assembly. We are assured that you will bring to the office your wealth of experience as a former President and Foreign Minister of the Swiss Confederation. Let me express appreciation to your predecessor, H.E. Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, for the capable manner in which he conducted the affairs of the 64th Assembly.
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Allow me also to extend highest commendation to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for his unwavering commitment to the Organization and his efficient management of its affairs. I wish to congratulate President Jacob Zuma, the Government and people of South Africa for successfully hosting the 2010 World Cup for the first time on our African continent. You made Africa proud, and we, in turn, are proud of you. Some four years ago, I stood at this podium and told the story of a country exhibiting the symptoms of two decades of self-destruction: a criminalized and collapsed economy; a suffocating external debt overhang; dysfunctional institutions; destroyed infrastructure; a pariah nation in a state of decay; a people in a state of despair. All of this translated into hundreds of thousands in refugee camps, equal numbers of the talented in the Diaspora, thousands of
women, youth and children struggling for
survival.

in which freedom, equity and equality are exercised as the best guarantee for peace, security and stability, we can boast of being counted among the governments that have demonstrated the commitment to good governance and proven respect for human rights. Regionally, Liberia continues to demonstrate its commitment to good neighborliness, peaceful co-existence and respect for the sovereign integrity of other nations. We actively participate in sub-regional and regional affairs through the African Union, ECOWAS, CEN-SAD, and the Mano River Union. The Mano River Union is currently under Liberias chairmanship, and this has allowed us to stay engaged with our members, Guinea and Cte dIvoire, as they embark upon their political transitions. Mr. President: We hail the recent breakthrough by President Barack Obama in bringing the Palestinians and Israelis back to the negotiating table, and holding their leaders to their words to fulfill their promise to remain engaged and conduct direct talks aimed at ending this long-running crisis. Because we live in a global village, continued crisis in any Member State or region should warrant our concern. Moreover, an unending crisis contradicts the cardinal objective of the United Nations, which is the promotion of international peace and security. In this regard, we suggest that the situation in Somalia warrants a Chapter VII intervention. Having gone many years without a stable constitutional government, the presence of pirates, extremists and other terrorist elements in that country should sound the alarm. The world needs to act promptly, as we cannot afford to see Somalia remain a haven of anarchists and extremists. This is why our government supports the role of African Union troops in Somalia. We call for more troop deployment from other countries, and strongly support action in putting an end to the Somali quagmire. We also call on the Somalis themselves to accept dialogue and to go to the negotiating table to thrash out their differences and restore their country to rightful peace and dignity.
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Today, I stand at the podium to report on the progress that can be made from the collective effort of a resilient people, a responsive partnership, and effective leadership. We have come to report to you, with confidence, that Liberia is well on the way to recovery. In less than five years, our economy has experienced average annual growth rate of 6.5 percent, despite the drag on the two-digit potential occasioned by the 2009 global economic crisis. I can say to you, with pride, that having successfully carried out the reforms required under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, on September 17, at the Paris Club, the final segment of Liberias $4.9 billion external debt was written off the books. I can report to you that we have opened the economy to put the private sector at the center of our development effort and thereby have attracted some US$16 billion in private investment in the reactivation of our mining, agriculture and forestry sectors. A new potential lies recently in oil exploration. Mr. President: The results of reform in our security sector, enhanced by the continued deployment of the United Nations peacekeeping force, has stabilized the security situation in the country, with people moving freely around. The experience in this regard shows that peacekeeping and peace building can and should take place concurrently, and we are pleased that Liberia is now formally placed on the agenda of the Peace Building Commission to enable us to chart the way for a smooth transition for peacekeeping and peacebuilding to recovery. Moreover, we have encouraged a vibrant environment in which people have exercised their inalienable rights to free expression, association, religion and access to the press without hindrance. Nobody has been molested on account of views expressed. Liberia has no prisoners of conscience in detention, nor does anyone have cause to flee in fear for their life or safety on account of their political belief or association. Thus, in promoting a liberal environment
While we acknowledge the rights of States to self-defense and the promotion of programs in support of national interests, we call on them to do so responsibly with respect for international public opinion, protocols and conventions surrounding such developments. Mr. President: At this weeks Millennium Development Goals Summit, we reaffirmed Liberias commitment to continue to work for the achievement of all eight Goals, although we are implementing those Goals under a more challenging context. Our national development agenda and programs on ensuring national reconciliation, good governance and the rule of law, national security, food security, and implementation of our Poverty Reduction Strategy are consistent with the objectives of the MDGs. Our progress bears the fruits of this commitment. We are pleased to note the progress the world has made in the advancement of women. Today, there is greater representation of women in government, in political life, business and in civil society. Liberias own effort was recognized on Sunday when we received an award for our progress on MDG 3, the empowerment of women. We also commend the SecretaryGeneral for establishing U.N. Women, and we applaud the appointment of Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile, to take on this assignment as Executive Director. We have five years left to do so. For us, it is not the target date that matters; rather, it is the commitment to achieving the Goals that is important to us. We therefore call upon our partner countries to support the realization of the Goals through strong global partnership as recommended by MDG 8. We believe in the partnership that we have enjoyed from bilateral and multilateral institutions that have made our progress possible. We call upon all in this room to secure the strength of this partnership that benefits all of our countries by supporting the replenishment of the resources of the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

Mr. President, Excellencies: Liberias progress is not without challenges. The satisfactory security environment of which I speak is still fragile, and made more so by the political uncertainties in our sub-region. We also continue to face the tensions associated with the thousands of our youths who, lacking skills, are still unemployed. Moreover, we continue to manage the raised expectations in the demand from villages and communities across the country for essential infrastructure such as roads, schools and clinics. Perhaps the greatest challenge we face is to go beyond the measures we have taken in formulating a public service Code of Conduct, in introducing new procurement and financial management systems in establishing and strengthening the pillars of integrity, all aimed at addressing long-standing corruption. Reform of the judicial system and efforts to change an inherited value system are additional measures that are under way. Another challenge is Liberias vulnerability to organized cross-border crimes, including drug trafficking and human trafficking, as a result of porous borders and limited law enforcement capacity with weak national security organizations. Against this background, we recently signed the Freetown Commitment on Combating Illicit Trafficking of Drugs and Transnational Organized Crime in West Africa. This should assist in promoting capacity building in the region to combat transnational crime. The root cause of civil crisis in Liberia has been the consistent failure of democratic transitions which would usher in governments elected by the people. With the support of the United Nations, multi-party democratic elections were held in 2005 following the end of the civil crisis. In keeping with our Constitution, once again the Liberian people will exercise the right of choice as we are to hold elections in 2011. The 2011 elections will mark a groundbreaking turning point. It will complete Liberias transition to full constitutional rule and participatory democracy. This will be the true test of Liberias progress on the road to development and its defining moment, which, if successful, will
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serve as proof that we can truly stay on an irreversible course towards peace and development. It is absolutely essential that everything is done to ensure a peaceful, legitimate and transparent process. I wish to state categorically that my government is completely and fully committed to this objective, and we call on the international community to stay with Liberia on this last stretch. Already, the process leading to the holding of elections in 2011 has begun with the release of the elections timetable. As a Founding Member of this Organization, Liberia remains inspired by the noble objectives of the United Nations in meeting the enormous global challenges. We believe in the ability of the United Nations to formulate and implement programs particularly aimed at raising the standard of living of people, forging global cooperation and solidarity, and encouraging dialogue to reduce tension and conflicts. Mr. President, Excellencies: In closing, we say again that Liberia is on the way to recovery. We have thrown off the label of a pariah state. We have restored hope to our people, credibility and honor to our national integrity, and won international creditworthiness and respect. Our confidence in the future of our country is firm. Our new vision of a Rising Liberia seeks to move us to a middleincome country by the year 2030. This is an aggressive goal but we are determined, and through efficiency in the allocation and use of our natural resources, we will succeed. We thank you, Mr. President and all the Members of this noble institution, for the support which has brought Liberia to this point of progress.

Africa, the World and You
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Africa/Nigeria/Economy
Nigeria Stock Exchange
Nigeria Stock Exchange

Market Data as of September 30,2010
All Shares Index

23,050.59
Naira Capitalization
N5.65 trillion
$U.S. Capitalization
@N0.00646 = $36.499 billion
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Africa/Nigeria/Military
Jonathan Appoints New Army Command Officers
Report
Nigeria Air Force jet bombers
resident Goodluck Jonathan on September 24th, while in New York attending the United Nations Summit and related events, replaced all the General Officers Commanding (GOCs) for the various units of the Nigerian Army. According to a statement from the Nigerian Army signed by Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, The posting which affected principal staff officers, formation and corps commanders as well as commandants of training institutions and some staff officers at Defence and Army Headquarters led to a reshuffle whereby Major General J.O. Shoboiki becomes the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Brigadier General M.D. Abubakar GOC 2 Division, Major General SO Idoko GOC 3 Division, Brigadier General K.T.J. Minimah GOC 81 Division, Major General S.Y. Bello GOC 82 Division, Brigadier General M.A. Nasamu Commander Army Headquarters Garrison and Colonel EJ Atewe Commander Brigade of Guards. Similarly, Major General CO Onwuamaegbu
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is now commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy as Major General MA Yerima moves to the Defence Headquarters as Chief of Training and Operations. Major General CO Omoregie is the new Commander of the Joint Task Force. New principal staff officers at the Army Headquarters include Major General O. Akinyemi, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Major General L.P. Ngubane Chief of Training and Operations, Major General B.S. Usara Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation, Major General B.C. Azunrunwa Chief of Logistics, Major General A.B. Maitama Chief of Administration. Other positions affected by the posting are a few staff appointments at the Defence and Army Headquarters. The posting was carried out to cater for deployments in the force following recent retirements and appointments in the Nigerian Army. Affected officers are expected to resume at their new posts immediately.
Africa/South Africa/Economy & Business
Black South Africans own 18% of countrys top 100 companies
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 26: Trevor Manuel Minister of the Presidency South Africa (L) and Cyril Ramaphosa Founder Shandouka Group attend the TIME/FORTUNE/CNN Global Forum at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on June 26, 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa. Ramaphosa, an apartheid era union leader and lawyer, emerged as one of the first generation of high profile Black South African investors in the 1990s.
International Business Times September 1, 2010 lack South African investors currently own 18 percent of the available share capital of the top 100 companies listed on the JSE, said the stock markets CEO, Russell Loubser. Loubser said these statistics offer South Africans a better idea of how the country was transforming. The analysis was in response to an ongoing debate on the percentage of black ownership on the JSE. "There has been much debate about black ownership on the JSE. Various and quite divergent numbers have been mentioned. With the JSE's unparalleled access to share data, we wanted to
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enrich the debate through presenting the facts in an impartial manner," comments Russell Loubser, CEO of the JSE. The available capital has been calculated according to requirements as set out by the Department of Trade and Industry (dti). Loubser said that the JSE's top 100 companies by market capitalisation were taken as the study universe. This represents 85% of the total market capitalisation of the exchange. The analysis - which took 5 months to complete - was conducted by independent research house Trevor Chandler & Associates using actual shareholder data obtained from the share registers of listed companies.
Africa/South Africa/International Relations
South Africa sustains push for UN reform

Statement by H .E. Ms M. Nkoana-Mashabane Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa at the General Debate of the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, 25 September 2010 Your Excellency, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Dr. Joseph Deiss; Your Excellency, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon; Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen My delegation joins previous speakers in expressing our congratulations to His Excellency Dr. Joseph Deiss on his election as the President of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly. We assure you of our full cooperation and wish you a very successful and rewarding term. I take this opportunity to thank His Excellency Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki for the excellent work he did in steering this organisation during his tenure as the President of the 64th session of the General Assembly. Mr. President, The theme of the 65th session of the General Assembly on reaffirming the central role of the United Nations in global governance resonates with what our global citizen, Nelson Mandela, said about this body on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, that (and I quote): The United Nations has to reassess its role, redefine its profile and reshape its structures. It should truly reflect the diversity of our universe and ensure equity among the nations in the exercise of power within the system of international relations in general, and the Security Council, in particular. (Close quote) My delegation supports the choice of this theme and we wish to reiterate our belief in the centrality of the United Nations and the system of multilateralism. Despite the challenges that face humanity in the 21st century, the relevance of the United Nations as a multilateral mechanism through which a myriad of complex world affairs can be administered and resolved cannot be over-emphasized. These challenges compel us more than ever before to
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South African Minister of International Relations & Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
strengthen the United Nations. South Africa is committed to working with other member states to achieve the full potential of the United Nations in addressing the urgent challenges facing the international community in making it more relevant, more responsive to the diversity of humanity, and more representative. Mr. President, The creation of the United Nations was one of the notable successes of the 20th century, and thanks to its existence the world has been spared another war on the scale and magnitude of the First and Second World wars. The exponential growth in the membership of this organization over the years from 51 members in 1945 to 192 today, clearly demonstrates the confidence that peoples of the world have placed in this organization and the ideals contained in its Charter. The universal membership of the United Nations gives it the legitimacy to be at the centre of efforts to address global challenges. But the question, however, is whether the United Nations has leveraged this diversity of its membership as a source of strength, and acted decisively against any tendency that runs contrary to its fundamental values and founding principles.

The answer to this is a Yes, because the United Nations has in the past played an invaluable role in the world-wide process of decolonization, transforming the political landscape of the world, and bringing the much cherished freedom and independence to the peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America. This organization was instrumental in bringing about the demise of the universally despised apartheid system in our own country, South Africa. Mr. President, When this organisation recognised the right to development as a human right, it gave voice and hope to those who know the face of poverty. When this organisation sent its troops to far-flung places to keep peace among neighbours who should be living together, it again underscored the reason for which it was established. Yes, amidst all the challenges, the United Nations has been relevant and responsive to our diversity of interests. Five years ago at the World Summit Meeting, we agreed that in order for this organisation to continue to play its central role effectively in global governance there is a need to strengthen and reposition it to deal with the challenges of the 21st century. We believe that the revitalization of the General Assembly remains one of the cornerstones of the United Nations reform agenda. The General Assembly is the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations, and plays a critical role in the process of standard-setting and the codification of international law. Its decisions are taken by a collective and among equals, for the common good. We will support measures that are aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the General Assembly, especially regarding its role in the maintenance of international peace and security. We have indeed witnessed with satisfaction that the General Assembly has on several occasions promptly acted where the Security Council was unwilling or unable to respond to grave developments in the aftermath of the conflict in Gaza in 2009. Indeed, no transformation of the United Nations can be complete without the fundamental reform of the UN Security Council. South Africa believes that the objective of the reform should be that of creating a Security Council which is truly representative of the
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South Africa sustains UN reform push

membership and effectively responsive to international crises as mandated by the Charter of the UN. It remains indeed a travesty of justice that Africa, which constitutes a large portion of the work of the Council, is not represented in the permanent category. This world, Excellencies, should be free of weapons of mass destruction in accordance with our undertakings on total disarmament. In this regard South Africa welcomes the recently agreed program of work of the Conference on Disarmament. Mr. President, While the right to development and freedom from want are central to the work of the United Nations, we have just come out of a meeting to review our performance in achieving the MDGs and agreed that more needs to be done to act on commitments already made by the international community in this regard. The people of Haiti have a story to tell about how best the international community can respond in unison, and effectively, to a nation in distress. The speedy and satisfactory conclusion of the Doha development round at the World Trade Organisation, which promised so much for the developing South, unfortunately remains a dream yet to be fulfilled. At the same time, the global economic crisis has reiterated the point that many of us have always been making about the need to work for an international financial architecture that is sensitive to the developmental needs of the South. The contribution of the G20 is a welcome development in this regard, and we believe that this group should compliment and reinforce the good work of the United Nations and not act as an alternative. The G20, in its composition, will also need to mirror the rich diversity of humanity by making sure that all regions of the world, Africa in particular, are well represented. We look forward to the full implementation of undertakings made for the transformation of the international financial architecture, including the reform of the Bretton Woods Institutions, as a step towards building a world system founded on equity and social justice. G20, in its composition, will also need to mirror the rich diversity of humanity by making sure that all regions of the world, Africa in particular, are well repre-

sented. We look forward to the full implementation of undertakings made for the transformation of the international financial architecture, including the reform of the Bretton Woods Institutions, as a step towards building a world system founded on equity and social justice. Environmental issues, including climate change, have also moved high on the priorities of the international agenda. South Africa is fully committed to a multilateral outcome on the basis of the Balli Action Plan with a two track negotiated and legally binding outcome. We are convinced that the Copenhagen Accord provides political guidance for future. We should accordingly work together to ensure that the forthcoming meeting in Mexico of CoP16 takes bold and concrete steps to address climate change and its effects. On our part, South Africa will have the opportunity to host COP17 in December 2011 on the eve of the end of the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Excellencies, Peace and stability is one of the preconditions for bringing about an Africa of the new beginning that the Chairperson of the Union HE President Mutharika spoke about on the first day of this debate. The United Nations has been an important partner to Africa, working together with us, through our regional body, the African Union be it in Somalia, the Sudan or the Democratic Republic of Congo. South Africa is encouraged by the commitment shown by the international community in trying to assist both the government of Sudan and Southern Sudan as they prepare for the upcoming referendum in January 2011. The people of Zimbabwe also need our helping hand of the international community in their implementation of the Global Political Agreement. The African Union and the SADC speak for us too in calling for the lifting of sanctions against Zimbabwe. We will continue to work with the peoples of Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Burundi (among others) in their effort to build and consolidate peace and democracy in their respective countries. In the case of the Western Sahara, South Africa remains concerned with the continuing impasse which stands in the way of a solution that will result in the people of Western Sahara exercising their inalienable right to self-determination.
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South Africa sustains UN reform push

We count on the United Nations, especially the Security Council, to continue to take decisions that enable us to decisively deal with the challenges of peace and security on our continent. The United Nations should see Africa as a partner in the maintenance of international peace and the management of conflicts and accordingly do more to strengthen the working relationship between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. In this respect, South Africa will continue to support all international efforts to help the people of Palestine and Israel in their endeavour to find a lasting peace, leading to the establishment of a viable Palestinian state, on the basis of 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its Capital, existing side by side in peace and security with Israel. We are at one with the call made by several delegations for the lifting of the embargo on the Republic of Cuba. We have been converging here, year after year, to make strong statements on Palestine, the embargo on Cuba, and the independence of the Western Sahara. The ultimate test for the relevance of the United Nations will therefore be in bringing closure to all these long standing issues in a manner that is consistent with our decisions and the collective will of nations represented in this organisation. In conclusion, Mr. President We were also privileged recently to be the stage, and Africa the theatre, of the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament. Our people spoke for us during that soccer event in how they embraced each other, in their diversity of many nations, consistent with the spirit of Ubuntu - that I am because you are! They gave us hope and confirmed the faith we have in our belief that a better world is possible. The role of sport in development and in advancing peace can never be underestimated. As states, we can best respond to this message from our people by making sure that the United Nations, in playing its central role in the global system, is more relevant, more inclusive, and more representative. Looking ahead, South Africa is honoured to have been endorsed by the African Union as a candidate for the Security Council non-permanent membership for the period 2011 to 2012. We stand ready to continue to contribute to the achievement of peace and security in the world. I thank you!!
Africa/South Africa/Labour
Workers need more money
Some 1.3 million public service workers have been on strike Wednesday, September 12, to demand an 8.6% salary hike and R1,000 a month housing allowance. Members of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) take to the streets in Inanda township near Durban. (Rajesh Jantilal, AFP)
erhaps the most disturbing fact about poverty in Africa is the sub-middle class living standards of those who are employed in our industrial sectors and civil services. The material difficulty these employees have educating their children, attaining decent residential environments and healthy nutrition, and in many instances meeting medical expenses, no doubt weighs against attainment of optimal job performance potential and renders them vulnerable to stressed induced ailments. Aside from earning less than the basic cost of living, many African employees have large households and extended family obligations. Thus those employed typically bear burdens of the unemployed. Worst of all, the frustrations and difficulties of trying to attain a stable, hopeful life often drive working Africans into despair and reckless habits that disorganizes and debilitates them. Prof. Isidore Obot of Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A., in his study Alcohol, Public Health and Social Welfare in South Africa (2007) affirmed .
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the socio-economic and health consequences of alcohol abuse in South Africa. Rampant HIV/AIDS is one of the consequences of reckless habits and it has taken its toll on Africas workforce, disproportionately so in Southern Africa where there is a socio-economic legacy of apartheid and racialist suppression with yet to be transcended social psychology dimensions. In Zimbabwe AIDS tragically depleted the heath care workforce, throwing the sector into manpower crisis in the midst of spiraling service and personnel demands. The limitations impact of poverty on females education opportunities and life management skills development is a major factor in the HIV/AIDS epidemic equation
Perspective Pan Africa & World Review 3rd Quarter 2010
South Africa is often referred to as Africas economic powerhouse because it has the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the highest per capita income of African countries with populations exceeding five million, but it also has an estimated 30% plus unemployment rate; although this does not include subsistence informal sector services such as domestic work, petty trading, home based piece work and prostitution (J.A. Gibbons, 1996). Aspects of the structural anomaly inherited from apartheid include a deficient skills pool, inadequate annual economic growth to at once invest in the prerequisites of poverty alleviation, such as education, vocational training, health and habitat development, and provide high business operating returns that attract massive new investment. South African Reserve Bank data tells us private sector capital investment declined by as much as 14.5% quarter-on-quarter (q/q) in the third quarter of 2009 and 9.4% in the quarter before that. The contraction levelled off in the last three months of 2009, when private investment slid by 2.3% q/q. Government capital formation decreased by 10% q/q in the fourth quarter of 2009 from -6.9% in the third trimester of last year. Being more extensively linked to the international financial, commodity and investments markets than any other African country, South Africa proved particularly vulnerable to the global economic recession. In Standard Banks analysis, domestic and exports demand, in tandem with confidence are short and long term considerations of investors; however, one does not have to be a professional economist to see that massive unemployment and poverty lingering from apartheid artificially suppresses demand in this country of 50 million with purchasing power parity per capita (PPP) income around $10,000. Gershwin Wanneburg, writing on the Structural Shortcomings Hampering the South African Economy (May 27, 2010) observes that South African industry has become relatively inefficient and uncompetitive on the global stage noting that the surging growth prior to the jolting recession was mainly consumer credit spending that has left many households horribly in debt; whereas what was needed, like the Chinese model, was increased spending on production development. Wanneburg in this context notes South African Reserve Bank Governor Gill Macus cautioning on the perils of double digit wage increase demands by South African workers. Hence, the fundamental dilemma of gap between peoples needs and
Striking hospital workers
A non-striking doctor pleads with striking medical staff to return home at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg. (AFP) The Gauteng provincial government was granted an interdict by the labour court to stop striking public servants from intimidating other health workers, on Friday. (Werner Beukes, Sapa)
Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi visit soldiers helping out at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto as public service workers continue to strike. (Werner Beukes, Sapa) 105
The September exam hung in the balance as the countrywide civil servants strike continued Wayne Coetzee, Beeld)
wealth generating capacity is crisis igniting but cannot be solved overnight. The 2010 United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Human Development Report ranks South Africa in Human Development Index (HDI) 110 out of 169 countries, placing it in the group of 42 medium human development [developing] countries, with an HDI of 0.597 on a scale of 1.000 topped by Norway and Australia with ratings of 0.937 and 0.937 respectively. Libya ranks first among African countries, placed 53 worldwide, categorized in the 43 nation high human development [developing] countries with an HDI of 0.755, while Gabon ranked highest among Sub-Sahara African countries, placed 93 worldwide, categorized along with South Africa in the medium human development countries with an HDI of 0.648. Four Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries are in this category: Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland in that order. Zimbabwe, South Africas northern neighbour that suffered brutal racist oppression under British settler colonialism until liberation in 1980 and has since had severely declining economic fortunes increasingly aggravated by political crisis, ranks 169, last in the world. An employment report released in early July by Mike Schssler in conjunction with the United
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Association of South Africa Labour Unions contained statistics indicating that South Africa had the lowest adult employment rate in Africa, at 41.4%, compared to, for example, 83% in Uganda, 80% in Rwanda and 78% in Tanzania. According to the report employment growth in South Africa had grown by only 4.5% in the past decade, while the population grew by 12.7%. Last year alone the global recession clipped 900,000 jobs in South Africa. Mr. Schusslers report stated the number of people receiving public welfare income at 13.8 million, compared to 5.5 million tax payers; adding that the number of people choosing not to participate in the economy had grown by 25% over the past decade. However, Schssler contention that the major cause for unemployment is too many welfare recipients hints political motives are behind his report. Most other analysis of South Africas massive unemployment cite the gap between qualifications needed for jobs on offer and skills available in the labour market as a major problem. For example, Econometrix economist Tony Twine cites the skills gap as the major cause of unemployment, noting that while the South African economy is the most sophisticated in Africa, the skills dearth has a plethora of people unqualified for jobs on the market.
Sophisticated economic perspective in South Africa precludes informal sector occupations from employment statistics. Handicrafts production and trade and other cottage industries that are widely promoted throughout Africa as gainful grassroots activities are not included in South African employment statistics. While some people may withdraw from the economy in despair over lack of opportunity, there is a growing trend in Africa of people who manage to earn a reasonable living self employed in the informal sector no longer having interest in being an employee. Why should a man who repairs bicycles, motorcycles or cars in front of his house and has more customers than he can service on time seek a job in a factory or sales and service outlet? He would be more interested in setting up his own workshop if the cost of entry and taxation rate were low enough for it to be advantageous to him. The optional turnover [rather than profits] based parallel taxation scale introduced in South Africa in 2009 allows a small business operator to have an annual turnover up to R100,000 (about $14,200) without paying taxes and earn as much as R300,000 (about $43,000) paying only 1% tax on turnover. These new opportunities are incentive for informal operators to strive to build their little doings up to officially recognized small scale businesses, though there are other factors to consider such as cost of shop space and continuity of encouraging policies. Objective studies by African American sociologists have refuted the claims of white American conservatives that welfare makes people lazy, showing that the unemployed and destitute want jobs, want skills, want to live dignified productive lives but dont find the opportunities. People dont, as Mr. Schssler insinuates, drop out of the economy because they are content to remain on welfare; people lose hope when there is no hope in sight, but many seek niches in the informal sector and come to prefer that to working for someone else. Invariably informal sectors produce some rags to riches stories. Many South Africans support the government when it argues that the priority is to create more jobs not just to increase the salaries of those who are already working. Yet, those who are working, especially in skilled jobs, naturally want to see their living standard improve with the years they put into work.
Workers need more money South Africa Median Salary by Job

Personal Assistant.R117,572 (about $16,000)* Office Administrator..R93,364 (about $12,700) General/Operations Manager..R340,247 ($46,300) Financial Manager.R377,879 ($51,4000 Graphic Artist / Designer..R96,973 ($13,200) Chartered Accountant..R374,258 ($50,900) Operations Manager..R262,488 ($35,700) National Salary Data: All compensation data shown is the national median (50th percentile). Pay can vary greatly by location. To view local data, take the PayScale survey.
*US Dollar approximations are based an exchange rate of R7.35 = US$1. South African Purchasing Power Parity to the United States was as of April 2010 1.764
Ten years a surgical nurse, Lodick Mashile, 35, earns R9,000 monthly (about $1,285 or $15,420 annually) plus a R500 (about $70/$840) housing allowance. This is extraordinarily high for Africa, yet he complains that he is always in debt, noting that 5 relatives plus 3 primary school children depend on his salary. With his wife and himself that numbers 10 people, meaning their annual nominal per capita income is only $1,626, less than a third of South Africa nominal per capita GDP of $5,798. He wants to own his own house but banks have told him that his after tax income is too low to qualify for a home loan, yet he earns too much to be eligible for government programmes to house the poor. Machile with an annual income of R114,000 is in the 27% personal income tax bracket, reducing his disposable income by more than a quarter from what he earns. This rate is quite high. Im in the middle, Lodick Mashile points out, [but] if Im in the middle class, I have to afford a house, at least. A car, its a luxury. Given his very modest standard of living ambition would it be reasonable to blame him for wanting an 8.6% salary increase? Africas middle classes have historically not only been vulnerable but seismically affected by economic crises and policy shifts, the most unsettling incidence of this being the impact of the IMFs Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP) adopted throughout the continent in the 1980s; but South Africas industrial and technological capacity and potential puts a customer relationship factor of real possibilities between the middle class and domestic production sectors.
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In a country that produces over 30 brands of automobiles, the automotive industry accounting for over 10% of manufacturing output and 7.5% of GDP, a skilled worker unable to afford an automobile after ten years working is an economic growth stunting factor. About 45% of the 650,000 automobiles South Africa produced in 2008 were exported, with Japan buying 29% of the countrys auto industry exports, Australia 20%, U.K. 12% and U.S.A. 11%. If, as Gershwin Wanneburgs study Structural Shortcomings Hampering the South African Economy (May 27, 2010) maintains, South Africas industry is no longer globally competitive, this apparently does not apply to the automotive industry. However, targeting production of 1.2 million vehicles annually by 2020 seems too modest and suggestive of only marginal increase in local consumption as a percentage of total sales. Major companies, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes -Benz, Toyota and Volkswagen have expanded production since 1997 when the number of vehicles exported was below 20,000, but as exports increase policies, including incentives, need to be in place to accelerate domestic auto consumption growth. Incidentally, South Africas auto workers union in August after a 12 day strike signed a three year contract awarding them a 10% wages increase this year, more than twice the inflation rate, and 9% in each of the next two years. The deal covered workers at BMW, Daimler-Benz, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. In recent years South Africas taxation regime has been adjusted in response to investor reactions to rates and policies, indicating that there is a culture of flexibility and proactive policy initiatives. With the automotive industry, described by South Africa.info as global and turbo charged, playing such a substantial role in South Africas economy, it should along with other major modern industries, such as energy, building materials, electronics and information technology (both hardware and software) be a major component of a comprehensive national plan to accelerate domestic consumption of living standard improvement personal and household assets. This is the challenge China is now taking on, while North Korea has dramatically raised average domestic living standards over the past 15 years. If governments prioritization of creating more jobs over increasing earnings of those
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Toyota assembly plant in South Africa
with jobs were to be successful to the extent of removing the burden of the 5 relatives surgical nurse Lodick Mashile supports the per capita income in his 5 person nuclear household would double, but in the meantime he needs considerably more money just to keep his head above water. Lodicks situation is not an isolated one; in extended family structured societies unemployment invariably pulls down the living standard of those employed. The economic management challenge of South Africa essentially involves uplifting the skills level and living standards of the deprived mass of the population while increasingly energizing the historically dynamic manufacturing, services and technology sectors and boosting middle class incomes, all of which implies expansion of the domestic market and enhanced competiveness globally. Communicating strategies, goals and the relationship of policies to them must be clear and consistent if the nation is to be mobilized in a common strategic path. In a free democratic society like South Africa being proactive is very important to sustained mobilization towards vision realization. This years costly automotive industry strike, the civil servants strike and the transport workers strike that threatened to embarrass the country during the World Cup could all have been avoided if the simple fact that workers need more money had been in the fore of everyones mind; not only would this have meant that new contracts were negotiated and signed before the old ones expired but also that income expansion plans were in place to accommodate pay increases.
Africa/South Africa/Personalities
Mandela, Graca Child Rights Heroes

10-50 years to their fight for children, often in difficult circumstances. Machel is being honored for her long struggle for the rights of vulnerable children, primarily in Mozambique, and for her work for girls rights in particular. Mandela is being honored for his long fight for equal rights for all the children of South Africa, which cost him 27 years in jail, and for his constant work to defend the rights of the child. Mandela once said: The Children of Africa are the most valuable Treasure that Africa will ever posGraca Machel (C), the wife of former South African President Nelson Mandela, ac- sess. cepts the Decade Child Rights Heroes award on behalf of herself and her husband In their joint statement on at a ceremony in Stockholm City Hall September 1, 2010. being honored by the children Madam Machel and Mr. Mandela elson Mandel and wife Graca Marchel have say: We are extremely honored to have been been awarded the SEK500,000 Childs voted as the Decade Child Rights Heroes. Rights Heroes Award sponsored by Swedens There is nothing more precious and pure than Queen Silvia. Among the more than 7.1 million being loved and appreciated by children. For both children who voted for the legendary freedom of us this award is very, very special given the fighter and former South Africa president and his place children occupy in our hearts and lives. wife Graca to receive the Childs Right Hero of the As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Decade Award were under 18 villagers in MyanConvention on the Rights of the Child, we also mar. Press conferences were held by children all celebrate the significant achievement by mankind over the world to announce the result of the votin child protection. ing they participated in to select the Child Rights However, being recognized and honored by Heroes for the second decade of the United Nachildren comes with great responsibility. Too many tions Convention on Childrens Rights. children still suffer from hunger, no education, The Worlds Childrens Prize for the Rights of preventable diseases, abuse and neglect. While we the Child, which is owned by over 23 million chilthank you and accept this award, we also renew dren in 53 000 schools in 101 countries, is open our commitment and call on each and every indito all schools. The children learn about the rights vidual, whether in public or private life, to do even of the child and democracy. They gain faith in the more to provide children with a future worth havfuture, organise the annual Global Vote, elect ing. their prize laureates and role models, and help In is in our reach. There is no reason why we some of the worlds most disadvantaged children, cannot make it happen. through the prize money. To all the children, wherever you are, we want you More than 50 000 teachers and around 500 to know that we love you whole-heartedly. organizations, departments of education and media projects make the Worlds Childrens Prize possible. This year, the children have studied 13 candidates work for the rights of the child. All the candidates have devoted a large part of their lives
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Africa/South Africa/Presidential Diplomacy
Zuma banking on 7% growth with China boost
South Africas President Jacob Zuma and Chinas President Hu Jintao upon signing the Beijing Declaration, a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between Africas largest economy and the worlds second largest.. Standing behind them, applauding is South Africas International Relations & Cooperation Minister Ms Maite Nkoane Mashabane
f President Jacob Zuma had been anywhere else while South Africas civil servants were on the streets demonstrating, paralyzing public services over a salaries and amenities dispute with his government, he would no doubt have arrived back home a badly, if not terminally, wounded buffalo; but as he was away (from August 23rd to 27th) courting China with 17 cabinet ministers and 300 South African business executives, those in the know were holding their breaths to see what he would return to Pretoria with. Indeed, union leaders blasted the President for going abroad in the midst of inconclusive negotiations, but the Mr. Zuma insisted he would not negotiate until he returned from the trip he described as crucial. Shortly after his return the unions were induced to suspend their strike. Ali Khan Satchu, blogging for Americas Christian Science Monitor, put it pointedly: Mr. Zuma was sensibly visiting his newest and most deep pocket banker. The
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Wall Street Journal credited Chinese demand for South African raw materials with keeping strong the rand, which closed the third quarter at R7.37 to the U.S. dollar, slightly stronger than the R7.40 it closed at on October 31, 2009. According to Satchu, Mr. Zumas wish list included a $30 billion Chinese financed railway and a nuclear reactor built by China National Nuclear Corp., rationalized to strengthen South Africas infrastructure so that the country boosts its commodity processing capacity.
Report
The President led South African delegation in session with host President Hu Jintao and other high ranking Chinese officials
Apparently, the Chinese are happy to play ball; the South Africans came home with a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, dubbed the Beijing Declaration that included 38 areas of bilateral cooperation, and upon arrival modestly made a new offer to striking civil servants that reduced the demand-proposal gap by about a third. Chinas ambassador to South Africa, Zhong Jianhua following the visit described ChinaSouth Africa relations as based on a sound foundation, noting their mutual support during the liberation struggles of the last century but more importantly for the future, he talked of the high complementarity of the South African and Chinese economies, in which each side has advantages in certain sectors that affords synergistic collaboration. An example of what he was referring to is the collaboration between South African petrochemical company Sasol, which opened its China office in 2007, and Chinese state-owned mining and energy group Shenhua to build a 80,000 barrel-perday coal-to-liquids facility in Chinas Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Apparently, the Chinese are happy to play ball; the South Africans came home with a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, dubbed the Beijing Declaration that included 38 areas of bilateral cooperation, and upon arrival modestly made a new offer to striking civil ser111
vants that reduced the demand-proposal gap by about a third. Chinas ambassador to South Africa, Zhong Jianhua following the visit described ChinaSouth Africa relations as based on a sound foundation, noting their mutual support during the liberation struggles of the last century but more importantly for the future, he talked of the high complementarity of the South African and Chinese economies, in which each side has advantages in certain sectors that affords synergistic collaboration. An example of what he was referring to is the collaboration between South African petrochemical company Sasol, which opened its China office in 2007, and Chinese state-owned mining and energy group Shenhua to build a 80,000 barrel-perday coal-to-liquids facility in Chinas Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Ambassador Jianhua noted that trade between South Africa and China has increased almost ten fold since diplomatic relations was established in 1998, peaking at $16.06 billion in 2009, and that China is now South Africas largest trading partner, as well as the major market for South African exports, which last year amounted to $8.69 billion, compared to Chinas $7.37 billion in exports to South Africa. The two sides are working together to rectify the discrepancy in their statistics, but in any event South Africa would like to increase its value added exports to China, which
President Zuma and Chinas Premier Wen Jiabo discuss in Beijing
will invariably depend on competitiveness. President Zuma in affirming that South Africa is open to business in a big way, elaborated on his governments new economic policy of beneficiation, which essentially means adding value in lieu of primary product export and substituting imports with manufactured goods locally produced by jointly owned, South African and foreign investors companies. South Africas Trade Minister Dr. Rob Davies explained at a press conference on arrival in Beijing, In South Africa's export market to China there is preponderance of primary products and in our imports from China there is a preponderance of value-added goods. South Africas wants Chinese manufacturers of power equipment, railway cars, solar water heaters and vehicles to consider setting up factories in South Africa. Acknowledging that South Africa is important to China because it is the pillar of the broader Southern African economy and that the relationship between the worlds second largest economy and the largest in Africa holds promise, Jennifer Cooke, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington thinks the relationship probably matters more for South Africa than for China, noting, But China has been making big strides in trying to win commercial partners, political partners and strengthen cultural ties with a number of states in Africa.
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With China facing criticism from various quarters, including African civil society, for backing pariah regimes like those of Mugabes ZANU-PF in Zimbabwe and ICC wanted war criminal Omar Al Bashir in Sudan, making South Africa its principal partner in Africa has evident image advantages. Moreover, bringing South Africa into its cooperation forum with Brazil, India, Russia and China would expand Beijings political association with emerging democracies. Above all, supporting South Africa in its quest to overcome the apartheid wealth gap legacy would prove a great historic milestone for China. As much as China has the potential to be the leading global economic superpower by mid century, should South Africa succeed in its non-racial society building ambitions, eradicating poverty along the way, it could emerge as the worlds most influential political force by or before 2050. Significantly, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and Africa continentally are identified in the Beijing Declaration in reference to mutual market access. The Beijing Declaration includes agreements on political dialogue and joint efforts at the UN and Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, as well as agreements on trade, investment, mineral exploration and agriculture. Political cooperation in the Beijing Declaration specifically identifies political and regional affairs, establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership based on equality, mutual benefit and common development.
President Zuma and Vice President of China Xi Jinping, widely expected to succeed Hu Jintao in 2012
A business seminar was held in Beijing which brought the 300 business executives accompanying President Zuma into a session with Chinese executives. While in China President Zuma assessed the trade and investment plans being developed with China to enable South Africa sustain 7% growth in the coming years. To that end South Africa signed with China six memoranda of understanding as appendixes to the Strategic Partnership Agreement, covering minerals, transport and the environment. "The comprehensive strategic partnership declaration will guide South Africa's overall interaction with China over the next ten to fifteen years," said the Presidency upon return to Pretoria. President Zuma raised the issue with President Hu Jintao of South Africas wish to move from IBSA (the India, Brazil, South Africa Dialogue Forum) up to BRIC (the cooperation and coordination forum including Brazil, India, Russia and China), which would have it renamed BRICSA and redundant IBSA. "We have been in discussion with all members of the BRIC, individually, and expressed a desire to join the group. Now we are in the end of BRIC to take the decision. We believe they will .
take a favorable decision. Partly because we think that BRIC plays a very important [role as a] group in the changing world today, and Africa is part of that," Mr. Zuma told CNTN in Beijing. According to the South African Government website: President Zuma's visit to China came within the context of South Africa's priority to consolidate South-South relations and strengthening political, economic and trade relations with the Peoples Republic of China. On the eve of President Zumas departure for China, South Africa dot Info in a press release said, The visit forms part of a worldwide tour to expand ties with fast-growing emerging economies. President Zuma concluded his 3 day state visit to China at the Shanghai Expo on August 26, where he visited his countrys pavilion. While in China President Zuma also gave a public lecture at Beijings Renmin University where he highlighted the importance of global governance. Chinas investment portfolio in South Africa had been building up prior to President Zumas state visit. In October 2007 China's largest bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), paid $5.5 billion cash for a 20% stake in Standard Bank, South Africa's largest bank by as113

sets and earnings, representing the largest single foreign direct investment in the country to date. Standard Bank subsequently had access to the Chinese capital market, taking a $1 billion, 5 year, loan facility with four Chinese banksIndustrial and Commercial Bank of China (Macau), Bank of China, China Development Bank, and China CITIC Bank in September 2009. The full $1 billion is scheduled to be paid in one tranche upon maturity. Standard Bank Group CEO Jacko Maree, looking at the global prospects, said at the time, "This deal will serve as a platform for future cooperation between Standard Bank and these banks across a range of different banking products and geographies to support Chinese companies going global into emerging markets." This is yet another instance of the complementarity underlying South Africa-China relations that Ambassador Zhong Jianhua spoke of. Last October South Africa and China signed an agreement to build a R45 million ($6.106 million) fish hatchery at Gariep Dam in Free State Province by 2011, which would contribute to rural aquaculture development and provide 105 jobs to South Africans, as well as 12 in the medium term for Chinese. China is the largest contributor to global aquaculture production. In May this year South Africa's Women Investment Portfolio Holdings ((Wiphold's))and limestone miner Continental Cement announced a joint venture with the China-Africa Development Fund and Jidong Development Group to build a R1.65-billion ($223.9 million) cement manufacturing plant in Limpopo province. The investment "will significantly increase South Africa's cement production capacity, while also contributing to economic activity and job creation in Limpopo," Women Investment Portfolio Holdings' Gloria Serobe said in a statement announcing the deal. She added that the project had significant black economic empowerment (BEE) spinoffs through Continental Cement's existing BEE shareholders and Wiphold's broad base of BEE beneficiaries. Jidong, a leading developer of cement plants and the largest cement producer in Northern China, and the China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund) are the majority shareholder in the joint venture, holding 51%. Wiphold holds 23.9% in the joint venture, with the remaining 25.1% stake held by Continental Cement. Generally, Chinas trade with Africa is growing rapidly and has now reached $100 billion, moving China ahead of the United States as the continents biggest trading partner. Chinas Iron ore imports from Africa which were valued at $297 million for
South African Ambassador to China, Mr Ntshinga, leads President Jacob Zuma to his vehicle as he arrives in Beijing ahead of the state visit. Picture: Unati Ngamntwini
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane briefs the Media on the outcomes of the China State Visit and other International Issues, Cape Town, South Africa, 2 September 2010. Picture by: Jacoline Prinsloo
July 2009 had rose to $569 million in July 2010. Chinese Vice-Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng says Africa has become his countrys number 1 source of iron, copper, manganese, chrome and diamonds. China has given low interest (1.25 to 1.75%) resource backed loans to Nigeria, Angola and Congo for oil and Ghana for cocoa beans. Angola received three oil -backed loans to fund the construction of roads, railways, hospitals, schools and water systems. Nigeria took from China two oil-backed loans to finance projects to convert natural gas to electricity; Congo an oil-backed loan for a Chinese-built hydropower plant, as well as a projected $3 billion copper-backed loan and Ghana an infrastructure loan to be repaid in cacao beans exports to China.
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Not only has China become globally recognized for having pushed ahead of Japan and become the worlds second largest economy, Chinese Development Bank, situated between China Merchant Bank and Shanghai Stock Exchange in the photo above now rivals the World Bank in volume of loans given to developing countries
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Asia/China/Economy
China passes Japan as 2nd largest economy
Shanghais Lujiazui Financial District
SHANGHAI After three decades of spectacular growth, China passed Japan in the second quarter to become the worlds second-largest economy behind the United States, according to government figures released early Monday. The milestone, though anticipated for some time, is the most striking evidence yet that Chinas ascendance is for real and that the rest of the world will have to reckon with a new economic superpower. The recognition came early Monday, when Tokyo said that Japans economy was valued at about $1.28 trillion in the second quarter, slightly below Chinas $1.33 trillion. Japans economy grew 0.4 percent in the quarter, Tokyo said, substantially less than forecast. That weakness suggests that Chinas economy will race past Japans for the full year. Experts say unseating Japan and in recent years passing Germany, France and Great Britain underscores Chinas growing clout
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and bolsters forecasts that China will pass the United States as the worlds biggest economy as early as 2030. Americas gross domestic product was about $14 trillion in 2009. This has enormous significance, said Nicholas R. Lardy, an economist at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. It reconfirms whats been happening for the better part of a decade: China has been eclipsing Japan economically. For everyone in Chinas region, theyre now the biggest trading partner rather than the U.S. or Japan. For Japan, whose economy has been stagnating for more than a decade, the figures reflect a decline in economic and political power. Japan has had the worlds second-largest economy for much of the last four decades, according to the World Bank. And during the 1980s, there was even talk about Japans economy some day overtaking that of the United States. But while Japans economy is mature and
Asia/China/Economy
its population quickly aging, China is in the throes of urbanization and is far from developed, analysts say, meaning it has a much lower standard of living, as well as a lot more room to grow. Just five years ago, Chinas gross domestic product was about $2.3 trillion, about half of Japans. This country has roughly the same land mass as the United States, but it is burdened with a fifth of the worlds population and insufficient resources. Its per capita income is more on a par with those of impoverished nations like Algeria, El Salvador and Albania which, along with China, are close to $3,600 than that of the United States, where it is about $46,000. Yet there is little disputing that under the direction of the Communist Party, China has begun to reshape the way the global economy functions by virtue of its growing dominance of trade, its huge hoard of foreign exchange reserves and United States government debt and its voracious appetite for oil, coal, iron ore and other natural resources. China is already a major driver of global growth. The countrys leaders have grown more confident on the international stage and have begun to assert greater influence in Asia, Africa and Latin America, with things like special trade agreements and multibillion dollar resource deals. Theyre exerting a lot of influence on the global economy and becoming dominant in Asia, said Eswar S. Prasad, a professor of trade policy at Cornell and former head of the International Monetary Funds China division. A lot of other economies in the region are essentially riding on Chinas coat tails, and this is remarkable for an economy with a low per capita income. In Japan, the mood was one of resignation. Though increasingly eclipsed by Beijing on the world stage, Japan has benefited from a booming China, initially by businesses moving production there to take advantage of lower wages and, as local incomes have risen, by tapping a large and increasingly lucrative market for Japanese goods. Beijing is also beginning to shape global dialogues on a range of issues, analysts said; for instance, last year it asserted that the dollar must be phased out as the worlds primary reserve currency.

And while the United States and the European Union are struggling to grow in the wake of the worst economic crisis in decades, China has continued to climb up the economic league tables by investing heavily in infrastructure and backing a $586 billion stimulus plan. This year, although growth has begun to moderate a bit, Chinas economy is forecast to expand about 10 percent continuing a remarkable three-decade streak of double-digit growth. This is just the beginning, said Wang Tao, an economist at UBS in Beijing. China is still a developing country. So it has a lot of room to grow. And China has the biggest impact on commodity prices in Russia, India, Australia and Latin America. There are huge challenges ahead, though. Economists say that Chinas economy is too heavily dependent on exports and investment and that it needs to encourage greater domestic consumption something China has struggled to do. The countrys largely state-run banks have recently been criticized for lending far too aggressively in the last year while shifting some loans off their balance sheet to disguise lending and evade rules meant to curtail lending growth. China is also locked in a fierce debate over its currency policy, with the United States, European Union and others accusing Beijing of keeping the Chinese currency, the renminbi, artificially low to bolster exports leading to huge trade surpluses for China but major bilateral trade deficits for the United States and the European Union. China says that its currency is not substantially undervalued and that it is moving ahead with currency reform. Regardless, Chinas rapid growth suggests that it will continue to compete fiercely with the United States and Europe for natural resources but also offer big opportunities for companies eager to tap its market. Although its economy is still only one-third the size of the American economy, China passed the United States last year to become the worlds largest market for passenger vehicles. China also passed Germany last year to become the worlds biggest exporter. Global companies like Caterpillar, General Electric, General Motors and Siemens as well as scores of others are making a more ag117
Asia/China/Economy
gressive push into China, in some cases moving research and development centers here. And while the United States and the European Union are struggling to grow in the wake of the worst economic crisis in decades, China has continued to climb up the economic league tables by investing heavily in infrastructure and backing a $586 billion stimulus plan. This year, although growth has begun to moderate a bit, Chinas economy is forecast to expand about 10 percent continuing a remarkable three-decade streak of double-digit growth. This is just the beginning, said Wang Tao, an economist at UBS in Beijing. China is still a developing country. So it has a lot of room to grow. And China has the biggest impact on commodity prices in Russia, India, Australia and Latin America. There are huge challenges ahead, though. Economists say that Chinas economy is too heavily dependent on exports and investment and that it needs to encourage greater domestic consumption something China has struggled to do. The countrys largely state-run banks have recently been criticized for lending far too aggressively in the last year while shifting some loans off their balance sheet to disguise lending and evade rules meant to curtail lending growth. China is also locked in a fierce debate over its currency policy, with the United States, European Union and others accusing Beijing of keeping the Chinese currency, the renminbi, artificially low to bolster exports leading to huge trade surpluses for China but major bilateral trade deficits for the United States and the European Union. China says that its currency is not substantially undervalued and that it is moving ahead with currency reform. Regardless, Chinas rapid growth suggests that it will continue to compete fiercely with the United States and Europe for natural resources but also offer big opportunities for companies eager to tap its market. Although its economy is still only one-third the size of the American economy, China passed the United States last year to become the worlds largest market for passenger vehicles. China also passed Germany last year to become the worlds biggest exporter. Global companies like Caterpillar, General
Although China is criticized as the worlds largest emitter of green house gases its strides in implementing environmentally friendly energy projects are rapid and increasingly keeping better pace with economic expansion, whereby the country is among the world leaders in both wind and solar energy production.
Electric, General Motors and Siemens as well as scores of others are making a more aggressive push into China, in some cases moving research and development centers here. Some analysts, though, say that while China is eager to assert itself as a financial and economic power and to push its state companies to go global it is reluctant to play a greater role in the debate over climate change or how to slow the growth of greenhouse gases. China passed the United States in 2006 to become the worlds largest emitter of greenhouse gases, which scientists link to global warming. But China also has an ambitious program to cut the energy it uses for each unit of economic output by 20 percent by the end of 2010, compared to 2006. Assessing what Chinas newfound clout means, though, is complicated. While the country is still relatively poor per capita, it has an authoritarian government that is capable of taking decisive action to stimulate the economy, build new projects and invest in specific industries. That, Mr. Lardy at the Peterson Institute said, gives the country unusual power. China is already the primary determiner of the price of virtually every major commodity, he said. And the Chinese government can be much more decisive in allocating resources in a way that other governments of this level of per capita income cannot.
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(AFP-OUT) US President Barack Obama (C) signs the Fair Sentencing Act in the Oval Office of the White House, on August 3, 2010 in Washington, DC. The law will aim to correct the disparities between crack and powder cocaine sentencing. Also in the picture (L to R); Attorney General Eric Holder, Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Democratic Representative Bobby Scott of Virginia, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah and Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas. Previously, people in possession of powder cocaine could carry up to one hundred times more grams than crack offenders and receive the same sentence. (August 2, 20102010-08-02 16:00:00 - Photo by Michael Reynolds/Getty Images North America). Crack cocaine is most prevalent in African American communities.
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North America/United States/U.S.- Africa Relations
African Youth Leaders at the White House

Perspective
Young African leaders listen as U.S. President Barack Obama answers questions n the East Room of the White House during a town hall meeting August 3, 2010 in Washington, DC. During the town hall meeting, Obama took questions on economic issues, health issues and foreign relations between the United States and African nations. All Photos in this article by Win McNamee/Getty Images North America)
resident Barack Obama hosted African youth leaders for an interactive meeting in the White House East Room on August 2nd as part of a three day Presidents Forum for 115 youth leaders from the 47 sub-Sahara African countries, during which they had an opportunity to establish networking links with young American civil society leaders, as well as with resource organizations. All the participants were in the 35 and under age range. The meeting was part of the U.S. Presidents celebrating with 17 African countries their 50th anniversary of independence from European colonial rule. In announcing the celebratory activities, Benjamin Chang, spokesman for the National Security Council, told AllAfrica on July 1st, "In honor of Africa's significant gains since 1960, its increasingly important voice on the world stage and in anticipation of the next 50 years of progress toward peace and prosperity, the United States will host a series of events focusing on the Future of Africa in Washington, D.C., in early August."
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President Obamas discussions with the African youth leaders at the White House, in what is described in the U.S. as a town hall format, focused on how a U.S.-Africa partnership can help prepare Africas youth to face the challenges of the coming decade and covered issues of economics, good governance, health and relations between Washington and African nations. It was held against the backdrop of May 2010 Gallop Poll figures showing that the Obama administration enjoys a higher level of approval from Sub-Sahara Africa than any other part of the world. Commenting on why he took this unprecedented initiative to invite African youth to the White House for a meeting, the U.S. president remarked to his audience of young Africans at the White House, If all you are doing is talking to old men like me, then you are not reaching the people who are going to be providing the energy, the new initiatives, the new ideas, adding, And so we thought that it would be very important for us to bring the next generation of leaders together.
North America/United States-Africa Relations Obama hosts African Youth Leaders

Ugandas Daily Monitor blogger Peter Nyanzi, in commending President Obamas initiative, said of his outreach to Africas youth, Mr. Obamas call to stand up for democracy, transparent government and freedom of the press can only make sense to young minds that have come to appreciate the value of the information age. Prominent young Africans in attendance were abundant. Many were from the media, including Bai Best, marketing manager for Liberias Daily Observer newspaper, Shamina Muslim, host Good Morning Ghana and presenter Flagship News Magazine Program and also from Ghana Anas Aremeyaw Anas, Crusading Guide Newspaper editor. Journalist Aminata Kan from Cte dIvoire, who is also a Muslim womens rights activist, participated, as did Malawis HIV/AIDS activist Tamara KapichiraBanda. Representing South Africa were film maker Palesa Shongwe and Lesego Sekano, international relations officer of the National Union of Mineworkers, along with Frederick Swaniker, founder and chief executive of the African Leadership Academy. Climate change activist Mahlet Eyassu Melkie, author Meron Getnet Hailegiorgis, art dealer Salsawit Tsega Ketema, who founded Sel Art Gallery, and Pan African Youth Movement vice president Yohannes Mezgebe Abay were the four representatives from Ethiopia. Obama took the opportunity to commend South Africas successful hosting of World Cup 2010, remarking that while there were two European teams in the final Africa was the real winner. I think that this metaphor of the success of the World Cup, and the bombing [in Uganda], shows that each of you are going to be confronted with two paths. There is going to be a path that takes us into a direction of more conflict, more bloodshed, less economic development, continued poverty, even as the rest of the world races ahead; or there is a vision in which people come together for the betterment and development of their own country," he added. The American president was however critical of Robert Mugabe, accusing him of being unfair to the opposition in which he is involved in a power sharing pact and treating his people terribly. Succinctly putting the message to be carried back home, President Obama said, And so when you go back and you talk to your friends
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North America/United States-Africa Relations Obama hosts African Youth Leaders

and you say, what the main message the President had was we are rooting for your success, and we want to work with you to achieve that success, but ultimately success is going to be in your hands. And being a partner means that we can be there by your side, but we cant do it for you. Other U.S. officials participating in the African Youth Forum were Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Attorney General Eric Holder, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah. Madam Clinton described Africa as a continent brimming with potential, a place that has so much just waiting to be grasped, pointing out that 60% of the continents population is under 25. Madam Clinton who toured Africa as First Lady with her daughter Chelsea, interacting with African women in their communities, spoke of the challenges facing this youthful Africa, saying, And that means that theres a lot of work to be done to make sure that those young people are educated, are healthy, are motivated, are given the tools of opportunity. But it also means that Africa has not just the potential, but the promise of becoming a leader in innovation, in design, in creativity of all that you, your families, communities, and countries can become. While addressing the American Growth & Opportunity Act (Ogoa) Forum Secretary of State Clinton said that under President Obamas leadership the US is taking a new approach in Africa rooted in partnership, not patronage, explaining, That means we are looking for sustainable strategies that help nations build capacity and take responsibility, that give people the tools they need to help themselves and their communities. Blogger Peter Nyanzi observed in conclusion, Indeed, it is the hope of every young person everywhere that the US will stand with the young people and support them in every way so as to exploit their God-given potential. The continents old men have let their people down through personal accumulation of wealth at the expense of the poor and myopic leadership. May the Obama era usher in a new proyouth paradigm shift that will offer a sure platform for success, progress, prosperity and political stability on the continent.
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Newsweek reprint
The Reinvention of the Reverend Al

Why the indefatigable Al Sharpton still has work to do. And what his evolution tells us about race and politics in Obama's America.
f the Rev. Al Sharpton didn't exist, he would have had to be invented. In fact, the novelist Tom Wolfe has claimed he did invent him, in the character of the Reverend Bacon, a supporting figure in The Bonfire of the Vanities. Each generation of black America gives birth to its own incarnation of the charismatic preacher-activist who confronts the white power structure in the streets and talks circles around it on Meet the Press. Just a few months after the fictional Bacon made his appearance in 1987, the real Sharpton burst onto the national stage as the fiery advocate for Tawana Brawley, a New York teenager who claimed to have been raped by a gang of white men, including a policeman. In that incarnation he still haunts the popular imagination: a bulky, bullhorn-toting figure in a neon-hued tracksuit, topped by a preposterously high, wavy pompadour. About all that remains today is a bare suggestion of the pompadour and roughly two thirds of the 300-pound 1980s-vintage Sharpton himself, now typically clad in an impeccable custom-tailored suit. His erstwhile ally, rival, and adversary, former New York City mayor David Dinkins, maintains that of course Sharpton has "grown up and matured, as most people do if they live long enough." But the interesting question is whether his role is still needed in an era when the man atop the national power structure himself is black, and Sharpton now regularly meets with him-issuing not just demands but advice. If you asked Sharpton himself, he'd undoubtedly reply, are you serious? Blacks still have twice the unemployment rate of Americans overall, and young black men are still being shot by cops under circumstances that range from tragic to suspicious. The election of Barack Obama has provoked an almost hysterical reaction from the far-right media, which last week claimed as its latest victim an obscure African-American official in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Relaxing with a thick Ashton Churchill in a plush midtown cigar lounge, the once-and-still Reverend Al scoffs at the idea that there is, or ever has been, a new Sharpton. "My mission, my
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message, and everything else about me is the same as always," he says. "The country may have changed, but I haven't." So, taking him at his word, Sharpton--at 55, a half-generation younger than Jesse Jackson and seven years older than Obama--can serve as a marker against which to gauge the shifting river of American race relations. Contacted in May by the family of a 7-year-old girl accidentally killed by Detroit police, Sharpton called no angry press conference and declined to get himself arrested. Instead, he preached an impassioned, but hardly inflammatory, sermon whose message--"we are all responsible for our children's safety"--could have offended no one except Mike Cox, a Republican candidate for governor of Michigan, who pronounced himself "disgusted" that Sharpton would come to his
Newsweek reprint
state to preach at a child's funeral. What has changed, though, is the center of gravity of political anger in America. Sharpton's next big project is a march on Washington planned for Aug. 28, the anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Sharpton's "Reclaim the Dream" rally will coincide with a speech by Glenn Beck near the Lincoln Memorial. Sharpton is especially cutting about Beck's "Take Back America" tour with Sarah Palin earlier this year. "The nerve and gall," he expostulates. "Who are they taking America back from, and who are they giving it to?" Reclaim the Dream versus Take Back America. And if Sharpton's "mission" and "message" haven't changed, his approach surely has. From last week's fast-moving events in Washington-which found Sharpton in Hawaii, delivering a speech to a convention of dentists--the lesson he drew was about the danger of leaping to conclusions, as both the NAACP and the administration did in disowning Shirley Sherrod, Georgia's director of rural development for the USDA, after a right-wing Web site and Fox News denounced her as a racist based on an excerpt from a months-old speech. So outrageous was this charge--in context, her point was clearly about her successful struggle to overcome prejudice--that even Beck came to her defense. But Sharpton knows all too well the temptation to seize the news cycle at its peak and check the facts later; thinking back 25 years, and with the circumstances reversed, it's easy to picture him grabbing a bullhorn and leading a march on the USDA. He regards that sort of thing now as not just irre-sponsible but counterproductive. "Shirley Sherrod is an example of what happens when we play the right wing's game: they win. We have to choose our battles wisely." And Sharpton also symbolizes what hasn't changed in America, the ways in which the respective histories of black and white give rise to unsettlingly divergent world views. To this day he refuses to repudiate Brawley--long after a grand jury concluded that she had invented the rape charge, and after a local prosecutor whose name was dragged into the case won a defamation suit against Sharpton. Sharpton has been right much more often than wrong in his choice of causes, dating back at least to the 1989 murder of Yusuf Hawkins, a black teenager who paidwith his life for the mistake of walking down the wrong block in Brooklyn. Many Afri-
The Reinvention of the Reverend

can-Americans will be forever grateful to Sharpton for taking on the thankless task of defending the victims of Bernhard Goetz, who opened fire on four unarmed black teenagers in the subway. But he has also made some grave missteps. In 1991, during a tense confrontation between blacks and Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn, he notably failed to calm tensions with a remark about "the diamond merchants in Crown Heights." In 1995 his reference to "white interlopers," at a protest against the eviction of a popular Harlem music store, was followed by a fatal arson attack on the white-owned business that held the lease. It is his refusal to apologize over Brawley--or to pay the defamation judgment, which was eventually settled by donations from wealthy friends--that still haunts his reputation among white Americans of a certain age. Tempting as it must be to put the matter behind him, Sharpton still answers questions the same way, without apology, but artfully framing the issue in the way most favorable to him. "I listened to the child, and I believed her," he says. "When I hear that people are still mad at me about this case, I want to ask them, 'Have you ever been asked to help a child that's been hurt?' I don't apologize for anything I did to help her. Judge me the way you will." Although Sharpton can give the impression he sprang fully formed from the teeming streets of Brooklyn, he spent his early years in a middle -class neighborhood, the son of a prosperous contractor who deserted the family when Sharpton was 10. Overnight, Sharpton moved with his mother, Ada, and older sister, Cheryl, onto welfare and into a housing project. There he was sustained by his memory of life on the other side of the tracks. His first experience of advocacy was in agitating to improve the dismal conditions prevailing in public housing in minority neighborhoods. "I was the only kid who'd lived somewhere else," he says. "I knew the trash was supposed to be picked up. I had to explain to my friends that this was not the way other people lived." His other sustenance was preaching; he was a mesmerizing speaker from the age of 4, when he gave his first sermon. (He rehearsed before his sister's dolls, gowned in one of his mother's housedresses.) By 7, he was touring with gospel singer Mahalia Jackson; by 10, he'd been ordained in the Pentecostal Church. (He now identifies as a Baptist.) This gave him a unique perspective on outsiderness:
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preaching the Gospel wasn't exactly a route to peer acceptance for a black teenager in the 1960s. But it brought him to the attention of some powerful figures, including Jesse Jackson, who was so impressed by the 15-year-old Sharpton that he named him New York City youth director for his -economic-development program, Operation Breadbasket. Another friend he made in those years was Teddy Brown, the eldest son of soul singer James Brown. In 1973 Teddy died in a car crash, and the young Sharpton became a kind of substitute son (and, eventually, personal aide and road manager) to the singer. Sharpton took away two things from that experience: his hairstyle, copied from James Brown, which the singer made him promise never to change until after Brown's death, a promise he kept despite the inconvenience of being a prominent black leader with straightened hair; and a wife, Kathy Jordan, a backup singer in Brown's entourage. They had two daughters, Dominique and Ashley. It isn't easy being Al Sharpton's kid, says Dominique, 29: "I see him on television sometimes and I just hold my breath," waiting to see if he will say something brash that can be "twisted around" and used against him. Sharpton and his wife amicably separated in 2004. Sharpton has weathered some minor embarrassments over finances and taxes in his career, but he is one preacher who has managed to negotiate the temptations of fame untouched by sexual scandal. Sharpton brought remarkable gifts to his career. Jackson in his prime undoubtedly could deliver a more effective set speech, but in debate no one has a quicker mind or tongue than Sharpton. His political instincts are unmatched, and his personal charisma has been undimmed since high school, when he had to pull off the trick of charming dates whose mothers had seen him preach in church. These have not, though, translated into success as a political candidate. He has run for the U.S. Senate three times, once for mayor, and, memorably, for president, in 2004--never coming very close but occasionally rising above footnote status. He is untroubled by this record of futility because, he insists, it was never his intention to win: "I ran for office to change the debate and raise questions about social justice, and I did that." There has been a longstanding media fascination with Sharpton's income. He has lived an

upper-middle-class, although hardly opulent, life in New Jersey and Brooklyn, sending his daughters to private schools (at the suggestion of their godmother Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X's widow, who worried about their safety in a public school). But at one point in his complicated history with the IRS he claimed to be entirely without assets. Today he supports himself on income from his radio talk show, Keeping It Real With Al Sharpton, and from "love offerings" at the sermons he preaches almost every Sunday in churches all around the country. His enemies sometimes charge, bizarrely, that he has chosen a career as a peripatetic community activist for the money. "It's amazing when people call me an opportunist," he says. "Do you know how much money I could have made with a megachurch like T. D. Jakes or Eddie Long? Don't you think I could have done that?" By the same token, he is too honest to pretend indifference to the ego rewards of fame: "What I do is my passion, but it's also constant work, and if my reward is getting on television, it seems fair to me." There are places where he draws the line on publicity, though, and one is Dancing With the Stars, whose invitation he declined in 2008. "There are enough black people dancing on TV without me," he jokes. Perhaps inevitably, his career has led him away from his friendship with Jackson. Although no longer close, they speak of each other respectfully, and "they work with each other really well," says Charles Ogletree, a Harvard Law School professor. "There isn't just one black leader. Reverend Sharpton is at the forefront right now, but there are many other names working for equality." While Jackson takes a broad, programmatic view of the civil-rights struggle, Sharpton most often focuses on individual instances of injustice. "It's simple," says Clayborne Carson, director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Institute at Stanford, and a friend of Sharpton's. "If you want policies put forth, you call Obama or [Newark, N.J., Mayor] Cory Booker. But if you get beat up by the police, you'd better call Al Sharpton." The two leaders are working toward the same end, Sharpton says, but "I'm a lot younger than Jesse. I didn't have the experience of sitting in the back of the bus, so we faced different realities, and we see some things differently. Unfortunately, at a certain point that can become a competition."
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One area in which the competition played out was the 2008 presidential election. Both Jackson and Sharpton backed Obama for the Democratic nomination, but Jackson's endorsement had a distinctly pro forma air. Sharpton, of course, stands on the same side of the generational line as Obama. And he was not troubled as some other black leaders were that Obama had no personal or family experience of the civil-rights struggle. Sharpton is descended from a South Carolina slave family, but he has been shaped by his experience in New York, whose black population, compared with those of manyother American cities, has a large proportion of Caribbean and African immigrants. Two of Sharpton's highest-profile campaigns in recent years have been on behalf of Amadou Diallo (an African peddler shot to death by police) and Abner Louima (a Haitian immigrant violently assaulted in a police station). "Obama was a community activist for many years, so our paths had crossed," says Sharpton. "I think I had a better grasp of who he was and what he was doing than some of my peers back then. Unfortunately, there was some resentment towards him by many in leadership positions, and there still is." The two hit it off, but Sharpton shrewdly underplayed his hand, avoiding public appearances with the candidate. Obama's opponents "were looking for anything to discredit him, and I would have been just the ticket," Sharpton says. Since the inauguration, though, Sharpton has been to the White House at least eight times. Obama's embrace of Sharpton has not been without criticism--but mostly from the left. Commentator Tavis Smiley and Princeton professor Cornel West are among those who believe Obama has failed to deliver on his promises to black Americans, and would prefer to see more agitation from the country's most prominent agitator. Todd Boyd, a professor of African-American studies at USC, sees a cynical ploy by Obama to use Sharpton as a foil to Jackson, embracing, as he puts it, "the lesser of two evils." For his part, Sharpton is quick to point out his disagreements with Obama, notably on the war in Afghanistan. "But," Sharpton adds, "[Bill] Clinton passed laws like welfare reform that really hurt us, and all these people were willing to give him a pass. We get the first black president and we're ready to knock him down before he's in there 14 months. What has he
done to hurt us?" Even Sharpton's most recent campaign, a protest against Arizona's stringent immigration law, has generated controversy. "I think Latino activists who have been fighting this type of thing for years are not happy that Reverend Al is stealing their thunder," says Boyd. "But this is what he tends to do, no matter the issue." Still, Lillian Rodrguez Lpez, president of the Hispanic Federation, is happy to have Sharpton's help: "He went into Arizona with a solid plan to protest without incident or violence, so how can we complain about that?" Sharpton views the march he led in May as a logical extension of his civil-rights work. "I just can't imagine this happening now," he says. "Where does it end? Do they next start stopping all black people to see if we're Haitians here illegally?" It is, of course, the fate of people like Sharpton to be misunderstood, and his own tendency to get carried away while addressing a crowd has contributed to it at times. He says, accurately, that the innumerable marches he has held over the years have been almost entirely free of violence, except for the time an enraged onlooker stabbed him in the chest. He is also, he believes, partly a victim of history: Jackson and, before him, Martin Luther King Jr. had much more radical black figures to their left, Louis Farrakhan and Malcolm X, who made them seem moderate by comparison. There has been no one in Sharpton's time to play that role for him. He is out there all alone, still standing on the same principle he first enunciated in his housing project in Brooklyn: poor people have the same rights as rich ones, to justice in the streets and in the courts. If he didn't exist, we might, in fact, need to invent him.
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African student at Shanghai Expo
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Art/Literature
The Top 25 African Writers

Mwenda Micheni September 27, 2010
Chimamanda Adichie, Nigeria
Brian Chikwava, Zimbabwe
Nairobi The pace of modern African literature is faster, tone and style sexier and more defiant than the great generation of Independence writers. Hitherto taboo subjects are explored. The African basket that was the only source of idiom and metaphor still provides, but the new writers are not afraid of going farther afield for literary fodder. These are exciting literary times for Africa. Ironically, most of the new African stories are by writers "discovered" by Western literary prizes for African writing -- the Caine Prize, the Penguin Prize and the Commonwealth Prize, among others. Non-African publishers are increasingly picking up African stories. This has spawned a generation of free spirited new writers telling a story of an Africa un-glimpsed by the white writers of yesteryear.
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New directions We have several factors to thank for this renaissance. Over the past decade, Africa's growth rates have attracted global attention, as has the growing competition between China and the West for its markets and resources. It is only natural; if your mobile phone is going to be made from coltan from the Democratic Republic of Congo, if your bling is coming from Zimbabwe's mines, and if your car is soon going to be running on African fossil fuel, then you need to comprehend Africa -- its ways and peoples. With little visual documentation to watch and poor archives, books seem to provide the information. From the writers' end, there have been credible attempts to push their works beyond the Africana sections of the bookshelves. To speak the language of a global audience, the imagery in several of the new African writers' books is heavily laced with McDonald's and
Art/Literature
Starbucks imagery. There is almost a template in some cases. Some fall in the growing genre that attempts to sanitise Africa and present the socalled other side of the continent's story. Instead of bruised fighters and malnourished children, you are presented with a continent of fast highways; a place that derives pleasure in making love, not war (like everyone else in the world); a continent teaching the world lessons even in new technology. In other words, the narrative has been stretched a bit. We end up with the popular stuff as opposed to the stiffer, didactic line that earlier writers took, in the name of committed literature. Writers like Nigeria's Chimamanda Adichie, winner of the Orange Prize, will occasionally borrow from history, spice it up with traditional wisdom and still present a very contemporary story.
All time greats

The beginning of the African novel was marked by icons such as Peter Abrahams, Camara Laye, Amos Tutuola of the memorable Palm Wine Drinkard, and Chinua Achebe. Kenya's Ngugi wa Thiong'o and West African writer Mariama Ba with her So Long a Letter were in that class too, as was Senegal's Sembene Ousmane before he chose the camera as his new medium. Today, a different reality has emerged. So we have celebrated names like Chimamanda Adichie, Ugandan Doreen Baingana of the cheeky Tropical Fish: Stories out of Entebbe and Petina Gappah of Zimbabwe who, living in Geneva, still manages to recreate the African world. On that list too are Brian Chikwava who ladles madness with a fair measure of thoughtfulness; and Nigerian Father Uwen Akpan who seems to think with his fingers. When Fr. Uwen tells you to Say You're One of Them, he has convincing reasons. The hypnotic stories in this collection take you through Kenya's urban squalor and its ugly consequences; Rwanda's disturbing memory of a war that left millions orphaned, and Nigeria's extravagance and eye-popping cultural practices. Ngugi wa Thiong'o is a chip off the old block but does his pen, like those of Wole Soyinka, Ben Okri and Chinua Achebe, still tell an engaging story? Dreams in a Time of War, the writer's latest memoir, depicts the processes that have shaped Ngugi's consistent reasoning around memory and independence of the mind.
Kenyan born Ngg wa Thiongoo, 72, exiled from Kenya, was jailed in his homeland in 1977 for writing and staging the politically loaded play, I Will Marry When I Want. Ngg simultaneously thrived and invoked political persecution with his creative expressions of opposition to dictatorship and neo-colonialism. A critique on politics in Kenya published in the East Africa Standard , September 8, 2002, entitled Kenya; It is Politics or Myth?, said of him, "The reason why Ngugi is the greatest writer to have come from East and Central Africa is because, like Peter Abrahams in South Africa and Chinua Achebe in West Africa, he writes about big subjects.. The three writers are for literature what Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta and Nelson Mandela are for politics." Founder and editor of the Kikuyu-language journal, Mutiiri, Ngg now writes primarily in Kikuyu and Swahili. Ngg has taught in the U.S.A. at Yale University and New York University; presently he holds a dual professorship at the University of California Irvine in Comparative Literature and Performance Studies. His works include novels, short stories, plays, essays and scholarship. He says he prefers writing about politics and history in fiction because it allows him explore the multiple dimensions (material, spiritual, psychological, etc.) that come into play in political behavior.
Down South are two writers whose pens sing to me. Zakes Mda -- once accused of plagiarism -- and Zukiswa Wanner refresh with the colour of their words. Zakes, in The Heart of Redness, moves back and fourth. Intertwining fates, the writer explores Africa's generation gap, with rare honesty and depth. On the other hand, the sassy Zukiswa goes
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Art/Literature

into the tensions of a post-apartheid South Africa, bringing out the softer issues of men and women, sex and love. Her books include Men of the South, The Madams, and Behind Every Successful Man. These refreshing African writers are rebellious in the way they tell their story and the issues they explore and will not shy away from talking about the work of their imagination -whether on radio, online and in newspapers. This is the new breed of African writers that the old literary traditions have birthed.
My top 25
It is a difficult task, I have my list of the best of African writers today. Picking 25 names out of Chinua Achebes 1958 novel Things Fall Apart is the most widely hundreds of possibilities was challenging. I stuck read book in modern African literature. Born in 1930, in Nigerias to some parameters. Three in fact: One, for a Igboland, Achebe is currently a professor at Brown University, writer to be on my list, they must be visible both Rhode Island, U.S.A. in their home country and across the continent. That kicked out some of my best writers Poet, playwright, scenarist, novelist, essayist, powho are still struggling to step outside their borlitical commentator and ders. Ability to engage imagination and offer a university don, Professor refreshing narrative was another parameter. It Wole Soyinka, born 1934 could be the same old story, differently told. in Nigerias Yorubaland, in Third, I did not list writers, however power1986 became the first ful, who have not released a novel or a collection African to win the Nobel of short stories. With the language barriers that Prize for Literature. the continent has retained, it has been very diffiIn 1994 he was designated a UNESCO Goodwill cult, unless there are translations, for books to circulate freely around Africa. ambassador for the promotion of African Culture, This will be evident from my list, as will be human rights, freedom of the fact that I haven't exhaustively read all the expression, media and books that the continent has released. communication. . Below then are my top 25 African writers, old and new, in no particular order. 1. Brian Chikwava (Zimbabwe)2. Tsitsi DangaremMy name is Zukiswa Wanbga Zimbabwean 3. Chimamanda Adichiener and I am a South Afri(Nigeria/US)4. Chris Abani (Nigeria) 5. Ngugi wa can Writer. I have contribThiong'o (Kenya/US) 6. Helon Habila (Nigeria/US) uted material to newspa7. Uwen Akpan (Nigeria) 8. Nuruddin Farah pers and magazines that (Somalia/South Africa) 9. Doreen Baingana include the Sunday Inde(Uganda/Kenya) 10. JM Coetzee (South Africa) pendent, Oprah, Elle, Juice 11. Niq Mhlongo (South Africa) 12. Zukiswa Wanand Afropolitan. My debut ner (South Africa)13. Petina Gappah (Zimbabwe/ novel, The Madams (Oshun Switzerland)14. Segun Afolabi (Nigeria)15. Wole Books, 2006), explores race relations while my second Soyinka (Nigeria)16. Chinua Achebe (Nigeria)17. novel, Behind Every SucUnity Dow (Botswana)18. Zakes Mda (South Afcessful Man (Kwela Books, rica)19. Aher Arop Bol (Sudan)20. Leila Abouzeid 2008), looks at what hap(Morocco)21. Buchi Emecheta (Nigeria/Britain) pens when husband and 22. M.G. Vassanji (Kenya/Canada/Tanzania)23. wife roles are reversed. Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali (South Africa)24. Both novels are set in postAthol Fugard (South Africa)25. Ben Okri (Nigeria) apartheid South Africa.
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Pininfarina Rolls Royce Hyperion

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Pininfarina Rolls-Royce Hyperion
ininfarina presents the Hyperion, a one-off custom-built car derived from the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe which made its world debut at the Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach, America's most important competition for historical classic and one-off cars and a prestigious annual event. The car is named after Hyperion, one of the Titans of Greek mythology, to underline its architectural and figurative power. Andrea Pininfarina: "The car as an artistic expression" "It is not the first time that the Pininfarina Special Projects Division has designed a unique car from a standard production model," said Andrea Pininfarina, Chairman and CEO of Pininfarina SpA. "In the recent past we have reinterpreted Ferrari engineering, as in the case of the Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5 of collector Jim Glickenhaus,
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Ferrari engineering, as in the case of the Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5 of collector Jim Glickenhaus, or Peter Kalikow's Scaglietti "K". In the case of the Pininfarina Rolls-Royce Hyperion, Roland Hall, a collector and the owner of a Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe, asked us to create a custombuilt car that would evoke the appeal of the sumptuous cars of the 1930s. It might seem paradoxical, but today more than ever before, there is a desire on the part of a very elite clientele to return to the idea of the car as an artistic expression. As it was in the 1950s. With the Pininfarina Rolls-Royce Hyperion, our team of designers and engineers was able to express its creative skills and to apply Pininfarina expertise without limits, save that of coming as close as possible to the type of car that our customer had in mind. The result was a custom-built unit that is firmly rooted in the values of the Pininfarina and Rolls-Royce brands, with lines and
Pininfarina Rolls Royce
dimensions that are hard to find in a 21st century model. The Pininfarina Rolls-Royce Hyperion takes up the legacy of other Rolls-Royces designed by Pininfarina, the Silver Dawn saloon of 1951, for example, or the Camargue coupe of 1975." The concept in brief The history of Pininfarina offers plenty of examples of special cars built on "noble" bases. Which is why the company naturally welcomed Roland Hall's proposal to work on a Rolls-Royce floorpan. For the new Pininfarina one-off, however, the Special Projects Division wanted a new idea, something absolutely unique, which only an individual in love with the car as an abstract, and not merely utilitarian, concept could appreciate. And so the Pininfarina Rolls-Royce Hyperion project was born, in the Autumn of 2007. In terms of the styling, the first brainwave came when thinking of some of the cars of the 1930s, with their majestic, regal bonnets, and a body that surrounded the driver and a single passenger. Distinctive features of a car which, thanks to its strength and elegance, does not need to move to draw attention to itself.
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Like all the cars designed by Pininfarina, the secret of the Pininfarina Rolls-Royce Hyperion lies in its absolute harmony between masses and volumes, and the perfect balance of every proportion. Structurally, we moved the driving position further back (400 mm) and took out the rear seats. We designed a new hood, which folds behind the seats under a wood-lined cover. In front of the windscreen we created two compartments for small items or for sports equipment, such as Mr. Hall's hunting rifles. The bodywork is made of carbon fibre, while the details are applied using a technology adopted in boat building. The doors were made of solid wood by craftsmen who specialise in creating components for luxury boats. This is another aspect of the programme of Pininfarina special cars: offering customers unique stylistic and technical solutions that are not possible on mass produced cars. Some of the best international firms contributed to the realisation of the project: Re Fraschini for the carbon, Isoclima for the glazed surfaces, Proxi engineering for the drawings of the car, Triom for the lights and headlights, Fondmetal for the wheel rims, and Materialise for
components created using fast prototyping. The styling decisions Romantic and noble. These two words sum up the styling of the Pininfarina Rolls-Royce Hyperion. The archetype of the special car, an opulent two-seater roadster that conveys the luxury of the Rolls-Royce Drophead Coupe, from which it derives, at the highest figurative and architectural levels. At the same time, it harks back to the past, and the cars of the pre-war period that now populate the world's most prestigious concours d'elegance. To repeat the proportions of those unforgettable cars (a short tail end and majestic bonnet that "surges" forward), we had to extend the roof and shorten the rear end. To balance the volumes, the Pininfarina designers tried to achieve soft, fluidly flowing surfaces. The front sports the classic Rolls-Royce grille, which has been slightly inclined. A trapezoid plane creates a more aerodynamic dashboard, while the recessed Bixenon headlights and LED technology convey sportiness and elegance. The spectacular bonnet is underlined by the muscular, taut
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wings, while the line that embraces the front wheels is drawn back until it disappears into the hood cover, giving a sense of movement even when the car is stationary. This feature is counterbalanced by a small tooth under the door that runs towards the rear wheel. The shape of the rear end recalls Pininfarina's legendary sports "berlinettas" of the Fifties and Sixties, with their cut-off tails, strongly inclined downwards, with a flat closure borrowed from boat-building. The interiors were practically unchanged, maintaining the perfect sense of high luxury in the passenger compartment that distinguished the original car. One precious detail of the instrumentation underlines the unique environment: the watch designed specifically for the Pininfarina Rolls-Royce Hyperion by Girard-Perregaux, which can be removed from the dash and attached to a bracelet to be worn on the wrist. Pininfarina and Girard-Perregaux: the emotion of excellence Combining the excellence of a watch and a car that are out of the ordinary. This was the goal of the collaboration between Pininfarina and lux-
ury Swiss watchmakers Girard-Perregaux. The meeting of two prestigious names that embody artisan tradition and cutting edge technology has created a refined timepiece with a sophisticated mechanism. Girard-Perregaux have personalised one of their sophisticated watches, the Vintage 1945 Tourbillion with gold bridge, for the Pininfarina Rolls-Royce Hyperion. Thanks to an ingenious anchorage system, this timepiece can be mounted on the car's dashboard, or removed from its mount to slip on to its owner's wrist. The pure lines of the white gold case, inspired by a model of 1945, contain a gold bridge tourbillon. This mechanism, which is faithful to the original design created by Constant GirardPerregaux in the 19th century, stands out for its complexity: only an expert watchmaker could assemble the cage that weighs just 0.3 grams, carrying no fewer than 72 elements. The automatic movement was painstakingly built by the company. The Vintage 1945 Tourbillion with gold bridge blends perfectly with the Pininfarina RollsRoyce Hyperion, starting from the colours of the face which match those of the bodywork. A sophisticated "spring-ball" system allows it to be extracted from the leather bracelet so that it can be mounted on the dashboard in a support in the shape of a whirlwind, or tourbillon, the hallmark of the Girard-Perregaux brand. This unique piece suggests the link between the worlds of prestige cars and outstanding watchmaking. Cult objects that transcend their function to arouse emotions that are constantly renewed. Pininfarina and Girard-Perregaux: outstanding watches and cars share numerous com
mon denominators: the notion of time, a fundamental factor of motor racing; increasingly refined techniques; and ever-present passion. In these two worlds, admiration for historical models goes hand in hand with the appeal of the most recent performances; the classic design shares the stage with daring concepts; cuttingedge technologies and noble materials are the key words of every successful innovation. High standards of quality, beauty, power and perfection even in the smallest detail, are essential components. Girard-Perregaux bases its relationship with Pininfarina on a common conceptual approach, underpinned by a striving for excellence, emotions and beauty. And when passion encounters technical capabilities, the dream takes shape, producing the most refined mechanical structures.
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NetCarShow.com
Chrysler 300
ith its iconic rear-wheel drive proportions, elegantly sculptured body-side, worldclass craftsmanship and refinement, the all-new 2011 Chrysler 300 series proudly delivers the distinction, innovation and premium large sedan features at a legendary value, while setting a new course for the American brand. With more than 55 years of elegant proportions and head-turning style, the all-new 2011 Chrysler 300 delivers contemporary styling with design details unexpected in the segment. At the front, an all-new grille features seven deeply sculpted horizontal blades that express precision. The liquid-chrome finish of the blades and the new Chrysler wing badge provide a unique contrast against the beautifully drawn bright chrome grille surround. Illuminating the road ahead are signature "key slot" headlamps with a scalloped lower edge. Inside, bi-functional projector head
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lamps are nestled next to LED-illuminated daytime running lamps, which together form a "C" shape for unmistakable on-road presence. The profile of the all-new Chrysler 300 features the distinctive proportions of its predecessor with added design refinement for a more tailored appearance. Dramatic front-fender forms rise above the sculpted hood and are echoed by rear-quarter forms which rise above the deck lid and travel down the vertical tail-lamps for an unmistakably bold signature silhouette. For improved aerodynamics and visibility, the all-new Chrysler luxury flagship's windshield has been raked back 3 inches, while rolled-framed doors with thinner pillars improve outward visibility by 15 percent. To take in the sky above, a new dualpane panoramic sunroof provides Chrysler 300 passengers with twice the outward visibility of a standard sunroof. For a more contemporary ap-
Chrysler 300
pearance, the 2011 Chrysler 300 features a clean body-side with a distinct windswept A-line that emphasizes the sedan's long wheelbase and spacious cabin. Delivering a touch of world-class sophistication, the all-new Chrysler 300 is highlighted by chrome daylight openings, chrome front- and rear-fascia accents and available 20inch polished-aluminum wheels. Elevating the all-new Chrysler 300's presence from the rear, the deck lid now incorporates a lip spoiler while the new Chrysler wing badge is proudly centered below. Jeweled-like rear taillamps feature harmonious LED illumination, while signature "light pipes" illuminate for an alluring nighttime appearance. Straddling the vertical lamps, Chrysler 300's rear fascia integrates a chrome appliqu that seamlessly connects the tail -lamp elements while emphasizing the roadholding stature of the flagship sedan. Standard fascia-mounted 3.5-inch oval dual exhaust tips complete the sedan's appearance. Combining world-class accommodations with American style, the all-new Chrysler 300's interior delivers expressive style, authentic materials, passenger comfort features and precise fit and finish.
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Substantial interior upgrades on the all-new Chrysler 300 consist of soft touch materials, premium interior trim, available heated and ventilated Nappa leather seats, and real wood appliques on the instrument panel, doors, center console and steering wheel. Designed to exude a luxurious environment, the 2011 Chrysler 300 sedans feature cast-skin instrument and door panels with threedimensional dual gloss graining for a premium appearance and suppleness. Bright chrome contrasted with liquid chrome accents give the Chrysler flagship sedan the appearance of milled aluminum. For added detail, a new instrument cluster features two large gauge faces with sapphire blue illumination and chrome ring accents. Providing a premium and contemporary environment is an all -new sapphire blue LED-illuminated ambient interior lighting. With its massive 8.4-inch Uconnect Touch infotainment center, the all-new Chrysler 300 sedans feature the segment's largest standard touchscreen display, integrating world-class infotainment and convenience technologies to keep passengers connected, comfortable and secure. From
Chrysler 300
touch-screen navigation to dual-zone climate controls, to the ability to check fuel prices and personalize convenience features, Uconnect Touch makes life in the all-new Chrysler flagship sedan an excellent experience for the driver and passengers. Built at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ont. (Canada), the 2011 Chrysler 300 arrives in showrooms in the first quarter of 2011.
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Range Rover Evoque
NetCarShow.com
Range Rover Evoque
he 2011 Range Rover Evoque due to go on sale next summer is the LRX concept car turned into a production model. Starting at 30,000 the Evoque is priced at thirds the tag on Range Rover Sport, which starts at 45,000. Offering CO2 emissions of less than 130g/ km and claimed fuel economy of around 58mpg, the British-built Evoque will be the lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever. This is down to lightweight construction methods and the availability of a front-wheel drive variant while new state-of-the-art petrol and diesel engines will come with direct injection and stop-start. The Range Rover Evoque also adopts low CO2 systems such as Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) and is built to maximise end of life recyclability. The Evoque's turbocharged powertrain lineup offers smooth and responsive performance, blending four-cylinder efficiency with six-cylinder refinement and power. There are two advanced
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2.2-litre turbodiesel derivatives, with either 190bhp or 150bhp and the front-wheel drive model with the 150bhp 2.2-litre engine achieves a claimed 58mpg and sub 130g/km CO2 emissions. The four-wheel-drive 2.2-litre 150bhp has a claimed 50mpg and less than 145g/km of CO2. A new 240bhp, 2.0-litre Si4 petrol engine combines direct fuel injection, turbocharging and twin variable valve timing for exceptional driveability and fuel efficiency with a 0-60mph time of 7.1 seconds. Despite it being the cheapest Range Rover model, the firm is promising the Evoque will deliver "premium levels of craftsmanship, luxury, performance and renowned Land Rover allterrain capability in a shrink-wrapped more compact package." From the pictures the cabin certainly looks as good as the larger Range Rover models, if not better thanks to features such as a full-sized glass panoramic roof that floods the interior with natural light.
Range Rover Evoque
Contemporary and sporty cabin style Inside, the contemporary, spacious architecture is combined with premium luxury design and materials. The dramatic slope of the centre console and the pure, elegant horizontal lines of the instrument panel draw from classic Range Rover models. While the quality and craftsmanship of materials is highlighted by the clean feel of the interior surfaces. Subtle ambient lighting, using the latest LED technology, can be colour-adjusted to match your mood. To enhance the sense of space and freedom, you have the option of a dramatic, full glass panoramic roof. Advanced lightweight, sustainable materials To reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency, Range Rover Evoque uses the most advanced lightweight materials. Aluminium, magnesium and titanium components contribute towards its carbon-efficient footprint. Carefully designed to maximise the use of more sustainable manufacturing materials, each vehicle uses 16kg of recycled plastic and 21kg of natural and renewable materials.
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NetCarShow.com
BMW 3 Series Coupe & Cabriolet
BMW 335i Cabriolet with hard top in place
umors of an all-new car coming soon haven't stopped BMW from cooking up some updates for the 2011 3 Series Coupe and Convertible, which will hit dealers later this spring. The first order of business in updating the two models was to address the drivetrain. While the 328i Coupe and Convertible both retain their naturally-aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six, good for 230 hp and 200 lb-ft, the 335i Coupe and Convertible both upgrade to BMW's latest turbocharged six, good for 300 hp and 300 lb-ft. Those keeping score will note that the new engine's power numbers haven't changed at all from the outgoing mill. What has changed is how it achieves those numbers, with the new engine reducing complexity by using a single twin-scroll turbocharger instead of the old engine's twin turbos. Matched with direct fuel injection and BMW's Valvetronic throttle-less intake system, the new engine makes the same power using less gas and offers better response. With the new engine onboard, both the 335i Coupe and Convertible will jet to 60 mph in well under six seconds. For the Coupe, 60 mph
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comes in just 5.3 sec with the six-speed manual transmission and 5.5 sec with the optional sixspeed automatic. The convertible isn't far behind, hitting 60 mph in 5.5 sec with the manual and 5.7 sec with the automatic. Equip the Coupe with BMW's ground-hugging xDrive AWD system and you can drop your 0 to 60 time even further, doing it in 5.2 sec with the manual and 5.3 sec with the auto, according to BMW. Enthusiasts who live in congested cities will also be happy to learn that BMW has revised the automatic's shift paddles to pull-types only -- left for down, right for up -- rather than the push/pull types found on current models. Complementing the updates to the 3 Series Coupe and Convertible's power source is a light freshening of the exterior. In front, a slightly revised hood rests on top of BMW's iconic twinkidney grilles which have been enlarged and stretched slightly for the new model year. Flanking them are revised headlights featuring LED-lit coronas and "eyebrows" and standard Xenon adaptive headlights. Below them, the lower fascia has been revised to deemphasize the vertical
strakes breaking up the air intake and instead emphasize two new horizontal strakes that take the place of the wire mesh grilles on the 2010 cars. Moving around the car, one might notice a new set of rearview mirrors and a lengthened character line in the door sills that gives the rocker panels a bit more pop. Moving to the rear, another character line has cropped up just above the twin tail pipes -- giving the rear bumper a bit more pizzazz. More noticeable, though, are the updated LED taillights with twin Lshaped accents. For the 328i prices start at $38,000 for the coupe and $42, 000 for the convertible. For the 335i coupe prices start at $45,875; 335i convertible prices start at $52,075.
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Automobiles/Spheres Auto Industry History
Maserati
The worlds longest surviving luxury sports car legend

ne of three famous Italian sports cars for the very rich, Maserati, like the other two, Ferrari and Lambourghini, builds cars that are fast, stylish, luxurious, extraordinarily expensive and exclusive. Maserati, the oldest of the three, established in 1914, was taken over by Italian automobile conglomerate Fiat in 1993, where it is now part of the Alpha Romeo sports car group. Ferrari, established in 1947 by race car driver Enzo Ferrari is now also owned by Fiat and was instrumental in reviving Maserati at the point where it was on the verge of becoming yet another of historys extinct sports car legends. Both Ferrari and Maserati are almost exclusively designed by the great Italian design house Pininfarina, though the design master didnt get involved with Maserati until the 1990s. Maserati is today not only the worlds oldest surviving luxury sports car marque but also one of the oldest surviving automobile brands. The Maserati brothers, Alfieri, Bindo, Carlo, Ettore, and Ernesto were all involved with automobiles from the beginning of the 20th century. Alfieri had initially built racing cars for Diatto, founded in 1905 and latter absorbed by Citroen, but after winning the 1926 Grand Prix for Diatto he joined his brothers at Maserati. In 1937 the
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Maserati brothers sold the company to Adolfi Orsi family which moved the factory location from Bologna to Modena where it remains until today. Like many other brands, Maserati ceased building automobiles during World War II to concentrate on military hardware, but came back strong after the war, making a name in motor racing. Maserati didnt start focusing primarily on road cars until the late 1950s when the aluminum body 3500 2+2 coupe, a body type otherwise known as Gran Turismo or GT, was introduced, as well as a small volume 5000 model with V8 engine. In those days super luxury cars cost in the range of $8,000 to 15,000. The first 4 door Maserati, Quattroporte, designed by Pietro Frua was built in 1963. Frua also designed the Maserati Mistral which the marques main entry in the luxury sports car market during the early 1960s. In 1968 Maserati was bought by French automobile producer Citroen. Its headquarters remained at Modena and out of the relationship grew the unique Citroen-SM 4 passenger luxury sports coupe. As part of the Citroen stable Maserati was produced in greater numbers than it had previously been. While Citroen benefitted

From top to bottom: 1959 Maserati 5000 GT; Maserati 3500 Sebring; Maserati Ghibi; and Maserati Kyalami ,
Maserati
from Maserati engine and drive train technology Maserati incorporated Citroens unique hydraulics. The first mass produced mid engine Maserati, the Bora, was introduced in 1971. Soon afterwards came the Maserati Marek and the Bertone designed Maserati Khamsin GT (430 cares built), forerunner of the current Pininfarina designed Maserati Gran Turismo. However, the most outstanding Maserati of that era was the 2 seat Ghibi with a 4.9 litre 355hp V8 that carried it to a top speed of 154mph. Coming in three models, a coupe, convertible and Super Sport, 1,299 Ghibi were built. Maserati was in 1975 taken over by Argentine race car driver Alessandro de Tomaso, principal shareholder in the Benelli motorcycle company. Under De Tomasos direction Maserati came out with the Kyalami GT and the Quattroporte III, both designed by Pietro Frua. These models set the trend for the 1980s during which the Gran Turismo and sedan continued as main offerings, although a two seat sports car, Maserati Karif (221 cars built) was also par of the lineup. Kyalami GT production ran from 1976 to 1983, during which between 155 and 210 care were built. Maserati Shamal, which had a top speed of 168mph, driven by a 6 speed manual transmission, was the marques GT models flagship from 1989 to 1995, during which time 369 units were built. A second generation Ghibi II was made from 1992 to 1997. Ghibi II had a smaller engine than its predecessor but was engineered, using two turbochargers to run 154mph with 4 passengers. It had at the time the highest ever per litre horsepower output of any legal street car. Fiat bought Maserati in 1993 and made considerable investment in the marque. The 3500 GT model was re-engineered to produce 370hp and attain a top speed of 177mph in 1998. Fiat sister company Ferrari, which had since entering the market in the late 1940s been Maseratis arch rival, bought a 50% share in Maserati in 1997, though both companies were part of the Fiat group. Ferrari built a new Maserati factory and focused on the marques fortunes as a luxury Gran Turismo. Indeed, Maserati fortunes soared in the Ferrari stable, relying on two Pininfarina designed models, the Gran Turismo and Quattro145

porte. Ferrari built a new high tech factory at Modena. However, in 2005 Maserati was moved by Fiat from Ferrari and merged with Alfa Romeo under Fiat Auto. Maserati sold 2,006 cars in the United States in 2005, 2,108 in
Maserati
2006, and 2,540 in 2007. In the second quarter of 2007 Maserati made profit for the first time in 17 years under Fiat Group ownership. In 2009 revenues for the brand that was on the brink of bankruptcy in 1997 peaked at 448 million.
$150,000 433hp 183mph
$126,250 6 speed automatic transmission 4.7 litre V8 engine 430hp, 174mph

Current models: Pininfarina designed Maserati Gran Cabriolet (top) and Maserati Quattroporte (bottom)
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Maserati
Maserati Gran Turismo interior
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Pan Africa & World Review 2nd Quarter 2010 Pan Africa & World Review 3rd Quarter 2010
Automobiles/Spheres Auto Industry Report
MG Resurfaces in China
The new MG 550 Luxury Sports Saloon
he MG brand has been tossed around like a basketball when theres no basket, but so far has refused dying. Originally produced by MG Motors from 1924 to 1952 and later by British Motor Corporation (BMC), the MG brand is now the property of Chinas Shanghai Automotive Industry which acquired British carmaker MG Rover in 2005. One of the most aesthetically refined cars to come out of China, the MG 550 luxury sports saloon selling for about $25,000, excluding local customs duties, seems to be an emerging star on Africas automobile scene. I first saw the MG 550 in Khartoum and before seeing the badge of the hood was wondering what new elegance on four wheels suggesting brute power was this. Actually it was designed in Britain but wholly built in China the MG 550 has been getting good reviews as a bargain. Inside and out it looks like twice its price or more.
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The new MG 750 is the former Rowe model renamed. It looks like the last Rover saloon to come out of Europe and is bigger, as well as not so stylish as the smaller 550 model. Also the 750s lavish interior (pictured below) is not as tasteful as that of the 550.
Located in Pretoria, University of South Africa (UNISA) with more than 200,000 distance learning students is one of the worlds mega universities
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Education/African Universities
University of South Africa

he University of South Africa, commonly referred to as UNISA, is an open distance learning higher education institution located in South Africas administrative capital, Pretoria. It currently has over 200,000 students enrolled and is one of the largest distance learning universities in the world. Its administrative and academic staff number about 4,000. Founded in 1873 as the University of the Cape of Good Hope and given a British Royal Charter in 1877, UNISA spent of its early history as an examining institution for Oxford and Cambridge Universities and as a catalyst for establishment of other South African universities. It became a distance learning institution in 1946. UNISA is composed of 5 colleges: (1) College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences (2) College of Economics & Management Sciences (3) College of Human Sciences (4) College of Law (5) College of Science, Engineering & Technology. Six classes of qualifications are offered: Bachelors degree, Bachelor of Technology degree, National diplomas, Non-degree purposes (NDP), Master's degrees and Doctoral degrees As a South African public owned university UNISA requires applicants for bachelor degree programs to have a National Senior Certificate with university entry level scores, or a Senior Certificate with matriculation or university admission endorsement (exemption). Other acceptable qualifications are A certificate of full or conditional exemption issued by the Matriculation Board of Higher Education South Africa (HESA) and a National Certificate (vocational) at level 4 with entry level. UNISA also offers access courses to those who have completed secondary school but without being accepted into any university. If initially successful in their UNISA courses these students can continue studying for a degree. Students pass through a 5 stage process referred to as the UNISA walk. First those interested in joining the distance learning program at UNISA acquire information about the institution and how it works. Secondly, one applies to regis-
University of South Africa campus at the Johannesburg road entrance to Pretoria
ter at UNISA. If the application is approved you enter the crucial third stage, becoming registered as a UNISA student. The fourth stage is your years of study, during which you receive study materials, do and submit assignments. Stage 5 is your graduation and becoming a UNISA alumnus. In 2010 Webometrics ranked UNISA 8th best among South Africas 21 universities and 1290th in the world. UNISAs alumni association includes former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Queen LaMbikiza of Swaziland, former South African President Nelson Mandela, World Cup 2010 organizer Danny Jordaan, former COSATU leader turned business tycoon Cyril Ramaphosa, Bishop Desmond Tutu and former World Bank Managing Director Dr. Mamphela Ramphele. The UNISA Foundation was established in 1966 and now has approximately 280 active donors. Based at UNISA's main campus in Muckleneuck, Pretoria, the Foundation has Fundraising and Development Divisions in Gauteng, the Western Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal. The Fundraising and Development Divisions support the smooth running of projects being undertaken in their regions and raise additional funding for local community projects.
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Popular Egyptian film and TV drama stars (left to right) Elham Shaheen, Mostopha Fahmy, Rania Farid Chawky and Ragaa Al Gidawy
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Entertainment/Cinema & Television
Queens of the Egyptian Screen
Cover Girls: Egyptian screen queens Elham Shaheen (left) and Nadia El Guindi (right) featured Layla Taher (left) as Princess Shewikar has her hand kissed by Nadia El Guindi who in Al Raghba magazine starred as Queen Nazek in the celebrated new historical TV drama series Queen in Exile
ashionable and seductive women have long been an essential part of the Egyptian film and there have been many queens of the Egyptian screen from era to era. Nadia Guindi, born in 1940, said to be the most successful actress in the Arab world in terms of career earnings, proved this year that she is at 70 still the queen of queens staring in the highly acclaimed television series Queen in Exile, based on the life story of King Farouks mother Queen Nazik. Fashionable, tall, stunningly built and strong of character Nadia Guindi and the rest of the cast put on perhaps the best performance in Egyptian television for the year. The weak spot, unfortunately, was that in the many films made about King Farouk Egypts last monarch he was perhaps worst portrayed in Queen in Exile. Layla Taher, two years younger than Nadia Guindi, played the role of Princess Shewikar, King Fouads first wife who was set aside in favor of the commoner Nazik because she failed to deliver a male heir. Currently, Ghada Abdel Razek, 40, is the most popular TV drama star and her 2010 series Zorha, the woman with 5 husbands rivaled Queen and Exile for popularity, though the depth of the story and quality of acting, excluding Ghadas ever enchanting performance, were not up to the standard of the historical drama that covered Queen
Naziks life from youth to death. Ghada specializes in the art of seduction, a walking fashion show, good dancer, tall and shapely. Also quite versatile she has played pious roles as well as the ultimate seductress. She was one of the four wives of Alhaji Makwali in the enduring fame TV drama staring Noura Sheriff.
New generation screen queens Dalia Al Behairy (left) and Madleen Taber (right) 152
Belly-dancer, comedy and serious drama actress Youssra is one of the most popular queens of the Arab screen
Elham Shaeen (above), a Cairo born graduate of Drama Arts, after which she made her professional debut in 1982, at the age of 22 in in the play Houriya Min Al Marikh (A Nymph from Mars).
Youssra, 55, who projected the belly dancing tradition into contemporary Egyptian cinema, has been in the limelight since appearing in the 1980 film Athkiya' Laken Aghbiya (Smart yet Stupid) has played comedy, drama and dancing roles. In 2002 she released her first vocals video. Another queen of the contemporary Egyptian screen is Laila Eloui, 49, who has been acting since she was a teenager. Also fashionable and shapely she has long been an acclaimed beauty, but usually plays complex emotionally explosive characters, unlike the cold blooded seductiveness for which Ghada Abdel Razek has distinguished herself and the luscious glamour of Nadia Guindi. Elham Shaheen, 50, is another Egyptian screen queen, who has grown more glamorous, voluptuous and enticing with age. A graduate of theater arts, Elham has starred both on the big screen and in TV drama series. Someyya Al Khashab sings, dances, acts and is another fashionable and gorgeous one. She also was one of Alhaji Mokwalis four wives, along with Ghada Abdul Razak. She currently features in a popular music video in which she sings and dances and played the double role of twins, one a doctor and the other a singer in a 2010 TV drama series. Dalia Al Behairy is a new generation star with a strong personality that makes it difficult to get a suitable male character to hold on to her in her
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Ghada Abdel Razek
best roles. Egyptian cinema is more than a hundred years old and throughout the 20th century to date Egypt has produced over 4,000 films, accounting for three quarters of Arab world production. The 1940s and 1950s were considered the golden age of Egyptian cinema but decline set in upon the nationalization of the countrys film industry by the Gamel Abdel Nasser regime in 1961. However, following Nassers death in 1970 the stars that were to shine brightest in Arab cinema until the present began emerging. Comedy was often mixed with romance, music and dance, for which the Egyptian audience also has an insatiable appetite. The now legendary Adel Imam reigned as the dominant male character in this genre, appearing in over 100 films and 10 stage plays; though not singer he is a natural master of deadpan romance comedy, has a flair for music and prides himself as a romantic ballroom dancer. Though Adel Imam could not be considered one of Egypts handsomest actors, his strong masculine character and penchant for fashion, combined with his other talents, gave rise to the three film romance comedy suite Bekheet and Adeela, in which the leading female role was played by Shireen. Youssra also teamed up with Adel Imam to do three romance comedies: Al Mansi (The Forgotten), Al Irhab Wal Kabab (Terrorism and Kebab), and Toyour Al Zalam (Birds of Darkness). In The name Leila Elouoi has become synonymous with all three movies comedy was used to deliver an fabulous in the Arab world to the extent that even exunderlying political message to great critical and traordinary automobiles are dubbed a Leila Eloui. public acclaim. Historical films have also been popular and have not been without romance, music and dance. In addition to Queen in Exile, several drama series have been produced on the rule of Egypts last Ottoman monarch King Farouq. Legendary Egyptian vocalist Um Kathum and her contemporary Leila Morad have also been subjects of historical drama series. With satellite television drama series began attracting much of the best talent, though leading comedy film stars like Adel Imam, Mohammed Henedy and Haini Ramsey have continued relying on cinema for work. While Ramsey has thrived on political themed comedy, Mohammed Henedy has thrived on the fantastic and outrageous, like being thrown falling from a roof only to be seen Adel Imam, 70, (center) regarded by many as the greatest Egypwalking around again, like we commonly see in tian actor of the 20th century with new generation screen queen cartoons. He is also known to play two characters Dalia Al Behairy (right) in a single film.
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Styles at World Cup 2010 in South Africa
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World Cup 2010 Styles
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World Cup 2010 Style
Clockwise: Mexico, Portugal, Brazil and Serbia
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Spheres Fashion Shows
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Cairo Styles
Popular Egyptian actress Ghada Abdel Razek
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Cairo Styles
Ghada Abdel Razek
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Cairo Styles
Ghada Abdel Razek
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Ghada Abdel Razek
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Egyptian actress Leila Al Bahairy and fashion designer Hani Behairy
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Cairo Styles
Leila Al Bahairy
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Cairo Styles
Egyptian actress Elham Shaheen
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Cairo Styles
Egyptian actress Leila Eloui
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World Health Organization headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland
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Health & Medicine
Healthiest Foods on Earth

1. Berries All berries are low in sugar and high in fiber. Blueberries have been shown to increase memory in lab studies, and raspberries and strawberries are loaded with ellagic acid, a powerful antioxidant that seems to have some anti-cancer properties, according to the American Cancer Society. 2. Beans Beans are extremely high in fiber, which helps to control weight, prevent or manage diabetes or blood sugar, and may help prevent colon cancer and protect against heart disease. The American National Institute of Medicine recommends 25 to 38 grams pr day. Nuts Some of the largest and most important longterm studies of diet and health have shown that eating nuts several time a week is consistent with a risk of heart attack and hearth disease that is 30%-50% lower than the general population. Just one ounce of nuts almonds, macadamia, Brazil, walnuts, pecans three times a week seems to be a magic number. Wild Salmon Fish is thee ultimate anti-aging food. Cold water fatty fish like wild salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring contain omega-3 fats that protect the brain and heart, improve mood and lower blood pressure and triglycerides. Raw Milk Raw organic milk nearly always comes from grass fed cows and contains high levels of cancer fighting CLA (conjugated linolenic acid) as well as a rich assortment of vitamins, minerals and beneficial bacteria (like Lactobacillius acidolphilus). Grass Fed Meat Meat from grass fed cows has a much different fat profile than ordinary supermarket meat: high in omega-3s, low in potentially harmful omega-6s and loaded with CLA, a kind of fat known for its anti-cancer activity. A superb source of protein and vitamin B12, its also missing the antibiotics, steroids and hormones found in meat that comes from feedlot farms.
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Health & Medicine
Countering Counterfeit Medicine
Healthiest Foods on Earth

Eggs Considered by ,many to be natures perfect food, the egg is high in protein and relatively low in calories. The yoke contains choline, one of the most important nutrients for the brain, as well as lutein and xeazanthin, two critical nutrients in eye health. Brassica Vegetables Babbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale all contain plant compounds called indoles that help reduce the risk of cancer. In addition to a stunning range of vitamins and minerals they also contain sulforaphane, an important plant chemical that helps the body detoxify health damaging chemicals. Apples Not only do they keep the doctor away, they also appear to do the same for lung cancer, diabetes and asthma. An apples contains 5 grams of fiber and a rich blend of nutrients including the bone building vitamin K and anti-inflammatory nutrient quercetin. And there is no better way to control your appetite than an apple eaten before a big meal. Onions and Garlic In an impressive number of published studies, the consumption of onions and garlic has demonstrated protective effects against stomach, prostrate and esophageal cancer. Along with broccoli, tea and apples, onions and garlic are among a select group of foods found to reduce mortality from heart disease by 20%. Pomegranate Juice Called a Natural Viagra by researchers at Tel Aviv University, pomegranate juice is loaded with anti-oxidants. Studies show it can reduce blood pressure and plaque in the arteries. New research shows it also slows the progression of tumors. Four to eight ounces a day is highly recommended. Green Tea Although all teas are great for you, green tea has a unique profile of chemicals that have anticancer activity. Its now fairly established that green tea may help prevent the following types of cancer in humans: bladder, colon, esophagus, rectum and stomach. If thats not enough, it also appears to help weight control.
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Information Media/ Media Personality
The Beauty of Oprah Gail

By Muhammed Kamil Perspective
assassination was being concealed. Then I saw a program in which she explored discrimination against people with blonde hair and blue eyes. I cant imagine that she was the first one to ever treat this subject but an empathetic African American woman highlighting hair and eye color prejudices among whites disseminated to the world a philosophical message to embrace humanism. Before seeing her programs Oprah to me, from her photos, was simply an attractive, voluptuous sister; but from the first Oprah Winfrey Show I saw I was amazed at her intellectual craftsmanship, her tour de force approach to honest messaging, of which her extraordinarily personality balance, her warmth and compassion were integral parts. As I found more time for television I began to realize what was the secret to Oprah getting 14 million viewers in 132 countries to tune into her daily. Her reliable does of boundless creative goodwill are addictive. Her mainstream liberality, open mindedness, empathy and the sense of human brotherhood/sisterhood that Oprah transmits have made her television host for the human family, beyond simply being a talk show host. Oprah revolutionized the way revolution is made. In defining her as the direct revolutionary heir of Malcolm X, I see the essential connection between the two being that Malcolm evolved to realize in the last year of his life that bitter truth from the soul, with goodwill towards all, was the most potent catalyst for change; while Oprah, who was only 11 when assassins felled Malcolm is an information age mass communication guru, reaching out to all humanity from the perspective of one whose forebears were among the most abused people in world history and still face the challenge of overcoming their historical disadvan180
prah Gail Winfrey once again emerged at the top of Forbes Magazines list of the worlds most powerful celebrities, but what lies behind that power? Shes empathetic, exhilarated, endearing, fashionable, shapely, good intentioned, brilliant, insightful and intuitive, as well as impeccably articulate; in summary, shes fabulously beautiful. Does she consciously exude power? Naturally shes aware of the power in her message as a personality and a brand; achieving that was her intention from the outset. Oprah started out with confidence in her ability to constructively communicate to the world and she knew she was going into a business where she could become rich, famous and powerfully influential doing it. In the first Oprah Winfrey show I ever saw she had assembled people connected in one way or another to events following the November 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. There was a widely prevailing suspicion that Kennedy had been set up by subterranean forces from the American right and I recall Oprah saying in her typical exhilarated manner, after those appearing had made a convincing case for a 5th columnist conspiracy, that from the time she was a school girl when it happened she had always suspected that the ultimate truth behind Kennedys
Information Media/ Media Personality

tage. She logically built on Malcolms acquired insight and his, and Rev. Martin Luther Kings, understanding of prospects for human solidarity. Yet I hadnt grasped the fullness and depth of Oprah Gails beauty until I sat down one holiday morning, after receiving the African American Lives DVDs from my son Malik, and watched her not only talk about herself to Prof. Henry Louis Gates but upon Gates initiative discover her ancestral roots going back to slavery and genetically connecting her with the Kpelle ethnic community prominent in western Liberia and Guineas northeast forest region. Yes, I saw it; she had the African aesthetic physique typical of Kpelle women and their enchanting mocha complexion; and that easy going nature. During the interviews conducted by Prof. Gates she articulated her commitment to overcoming, something she had been into since her teenage years under her loving and caring fathers discipline. There is so much to overcome, as Black People, as human beings, individually and collectively, and Oprah I could see as she spoke to Prof. Gates was both aware of and in championship condition to face the challenges. The beauty of Oprah Gail Winfrey is a triumph chapter in world history. Against the odds of socio-economic bruises systematically inflicted on African Americans she rose to become a universal mentor. Oprah Winfrey is consummate beauty, her faults, which I am sure like every one of us she has, notwithstanding. Invariably power is commanding and impressive; but we are, inspired by humane progress since World War II ended, in search of a world in which power is profoundly beautiful. Evidentially that is not impossible and much, much more than a Ferrari or Maserati Oprah is part of that evidence.
(Below Left) Oprah with Oprah Radio host Gayle King during a program in which Oprah talked about having no regrets for ending the Oprah Winfrey Show at the end of 2010. She will be operating her own television station starting 2011. (Above) Michelle and Barack Obama with major supporter Oprah (Below) Oprah embraces Christine King Farris, sister of the late Dr. Martin Luther King at the musical tribute for the late Coretta Scott King at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, February 6, 2006, ahead of Madam Corettas funeral. Visible behind them is Dexter Scott King, a son of the late Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King.
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World Cup 2010 ended at Johannesburgs Soccer City with Spain winning for its first time
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Sports/Baseball
Major League Baseballs 81st All Star Game

nated Hitter, while the NL team manager selects his teams designated hitter. Ballots are distributed at Major League team stadiums but since 2009 voting has also been done via Internet. Another 16 players, including 8 pitchers are selected from the outcome of voting by players, coaches and managers. The remaining 9 players are selected by the two team managers in consultation with other managers in the same league and the Commissioners Office. The two managers are usually those who faced each other in the previous years World Series. The New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was the most seasoned All Star of 2010, appearing in his 11th Midsummer Classic, followed by outfielder Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners who made his 10th All Star appearance, both for the American League. The St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols was the senior All Star veteran on the National League side making his 9th appearance. The Al Star game was televised by Fox Sports with the networks regular sportscaster Joe Buck and former Major League Baseball player (1959-1980) Tim McCarver in the broadcast booth. A short memorial honoring George Steinbrenner, the owner of the New York Yankees who died early that morning, was held prior to the game.
Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann hit the bases loaded that gave the National League the 3 runs that assured its victory and earned him the All Star Games Most Valuable Player Award
he National League All Star team on July 13th at Angel Stadium of Anaheim (California) beat its American League counterparts 3-1, celebrating its first victory since the 1996 contest. The game was scoreless for the first 5 innings. With 45,408 people looking on at Angel Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Angels, the American League All Stars broke the ice scoring 1 run in their half of the 5th. The National League stars scored all their runs in the 7th inning on a bases-loaded double by substitute catcher Brian McCann that sent home the last three runs of the game. McCann won the games Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award. Matt Capps of the Washington Nationals was the winning pitcher. A starting lineup of each team and the team managers are elected by fans, 8 for the National League team and 9 for the American League which has the added position of Desig-
Yankees shortstop appearing in his 11th All Star Game 183
Sports/Baseball
MLBs 81st All Star Game
For baseball greats Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals and Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners its was their 9th and 10th All Star Games, respectively
81st All Star Game winning pitcher Matt Capp of the Washington Nationals 184
Sports/Basketball
U.S.A. World Basketball Champs
ational basketball teams from 24 countries met in Turkey from August 28 to September 12 for the FIBA World Basketball Championships. Host Turkey went undefeated until the final game which it lost to U.S.A. 81 to 64. Africas three entries, Angola, Cote dIvoire and Tunisia were eliminated early in the completion. Angola lost 4 of its 6 games, Cote dIvoire lost 4 of its 5 games and Tunisia lost all 5 games played.
Rank
Luis Scola of Argentina led scores averaging 27.1 points over the 9 games, followed by New Zealands Kirk Penney 24.7 and the winning U.S.A.s Kevin Duran 22.8. Argentinas Carlos Delfino 20.6 points placed fourth and Chinas Jianlian Yi averaged 20.2pts. However, Kevin Durant emerged Most Valuable Player. It was the 4th World Basketball Championship title for the U.S.A.
Games Played Won Lost
Team
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
U.S.A Turkey Lithuania Serbia Argentina Spain Russia Slovenia Brazil Australia Greece New Zealand France Croatia Angola China Germany Puerto Rico Iran Lebanon Cote dIvoire Canada Jordan Tunisia
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9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
9 8 8 6 7 5 6 5 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0
0 1 1 3 2 4 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 5 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5
Sports/Lingerie Football
Lingerie Football
Seattle Mist in black helmets take on San Diego Seduction in white helmets
he 10 team Lingerie Football League kicked off its third 20 week season in September. MTV2 will broadcast 20 of the regular season games plus 2 conference playoff games. The VIII Lingerie Bowl will be played during halftime of the Super Bowl game on Sunday, February 6, 2011. The Lingerie Bowl had been played during half time of the Super Bowl, broadcast in over 85 countries, since 2003 but the Hollywood, California headquartered Lingerie Football League didnt go into action until 2009. The ten teams, divided into an Eastern Conference and a Western Conference sport such seductive names as Chicago Bliss, Los Angeles Temptation, San Diego Seduction, Dallas Desire, Philadelphia Passion, Miami Caliente (Spanish for warm) and Denver Dream. Then there are sassy brands like New York Majesty, Tampa Breeze, and Seattle Mist. The ladies in lingerie playing rough tackle football attract millions of viewers around the world. Games are
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divided into two 17 minute halves, with each team fielding 7 players. In event of a tie an 8 minute sudden death overtime id added. The field is 50 yards between end zones and 30 yards wide. Games can be played in indoor stadiums as well as outdoors. The offensive formation consists of a quarterback, a center, 2 running backs and 3 wide receivers. Defensive formation is comprised of 2 defensive line-girls, 2 linebackers, 2 cornerbacks and 1 safety. Since only 14 of a teams players are active in a single game there are usually 3 or 4 players capable of playing both offense and defense. Players range in age from teenagers to over 35 and have typically been involved other sports before joining the Lingerie Football League
Sports/Lingerie Football
Lingerie Football League
San Diego Seduction in a huddle
Seattle Mist practice session, May 2010 187
Sports/Soccer
Spain Conquers the World
FIFA President Sepp Blatter and South Africas President Jacob Zuma join Spanish national team in celebrating their 10 victory over The Netherlands in the World Cup 2010 final match, 11 July at Soccer City, Johannesburg
espite losing its first game to Switzerland 10, Spains World Cup 2010 team managed to endure through the quadrennial competition of 32 finalists in South Africa to meet Netherlands in the deciding match. Netherlands had not been beaten in 25 games and determined not to go down played Spain to a 0-0 stalemate through the 90 minute final. It was 4 minutes before the end of extra time that Spains Andrs Iniesta blasted a pass from substitute Cesc Fbregas into the net to give the Spanish their first World Cup championship. Spain which had never before reached a World Cup final went into World Cup 2010 as reigning European champions. After being shutout by Switzerland Spains 2-0 win against Honduras at Johannesburgs Ellis Park on June 21 kept alive the Spanish quest. Next Spain beat Chile 2-1 on June 25 in Pretoria, qualifying for the Round of 16. In the last Round of 16 Match held at Cape Towns Green Point Stadium on June 29, Spain managed a 1-0 conquest of Ibe188
rian Peninsula neighbor Portugal. The pervious day Brazil which hadnt yet lost a tournament game battered Chile 3-0 at Johannesburgs Ellis Park, alighting expectations of an unprecedented 6th World Cup title. However, Netherlands was all along determined to beat the world, having started play June 14 shutting out Denmark 2-0 at Soccer City, then silencing Japan 1-0 at Durbans Moses Mabhida Stadium on Jun 19 and clinching a spot in the Round of 16 beating Cameroun 2-1 at Cape Towns Green Point Stadium. Netherlands passed through the Round of 16 with a 28 June 2-1 victory over Slovakia in Durban.
Report
Sports/Soccer
World Cup 2010 South Africa
Spains Andrs Iniesta scoring the only goal of the World Cup 2010 final in the 116th minute of play
Netherlands then eliminated Brazil in the maiden quarter final match on 2 July at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth. Spain the following day blanked Paraguay 1-0. Ghana the first African team to enter a World Cup quarter final played Uruguay to a 1-1 draw but a 5-5 penalty shoot out ended the contest in a 4-2 Uruguay triumph. Germany, the tournaments highest scorer with 16 goals flogged the Diego Maradona coached Argentine squad 4-0 in Cape Town. Spain prevailed against Uruguay 1-0. In the maiden semifinals contest Netherlands bested Paraguay 3-2 while Spain which had only scored 7 goals at that point in the tournament hushed Germany 1-0, setting up the showdown with Netherlands. In the third place match Germany edged out Paraguay 3-2 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth on July 10th. The final was meanly contested and after several warnings for foul play Hollands John Heitinga was in the 109th minute red carded by English referee Howard Webb, leaving the Dutch with a 10 man squad to continue extra time dueling. Holland had seven yellow cards before Heitinga was ruled out of the game; Spain had 5 in a ruffians contest between the two European national teams described by Guardian reporter Kevin McCarra as mayhem and nasty.
Explaining how Spain won the World Cup scoring half the number of goals landed by third place finisher Germany and only two thirds the number scored by Netherlands, McCarra wrote in the Guardian of July 11, 2010: Vicente del Bosque's sidehave developed a highly individual style founded on exceptional technique that exhausts and demoralizes opponents as a midfield of supreme artistry confiscates the ball. For Netherlands which has yet to win a World Cup it was the third time losing in the final match. Earlier final match defeats were in 1974 and 1978.
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Sports/Tennis
Nadal, Serena claim Wimbledon

Report
World number 1 ranked Serena Williams walks away from Wimbledon with the womens singles crown for the second year in secession
orld number one ranked Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams affirmed their status at 124th Wimbledon Championships in London, which ended on Sunday, July 4, 2010. Reigning womens champ Serena Williams of the U.S.A. defended her title with a straight sets defeat of Russias number 3 ranked Vera Zvonareva in the final match, while Nadal did a straight sets job on 12th ranked Czech Tom Berdych in capturing the mens title. Berdych had eliminated defending champion and word number two ranked Roger Federer in the quarter finals. It was Nadals second Wimbledon title; the first in 2008. Amidst media hyperbole that Scotlands world number 4 ranked Any Murray might be the first United Kingdom citizen to win a Wimbledon title since 1977 Queen Elizabeth II visited Wimbledon for the first time in 33 years but Murray was knocked out of the tournament in the semifinals by Nadal in straight sets. At Wimbledons 1977 finals the Queen watched British woman Virginia Wade capture the singles title.
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The minor consolation for the United Kingdom was the victory of the countrys boys doubles team, comprising Liam Body and Tom Farquharson over their compatriots Lewis Burton and George Morgan in the last match of the two weeks tournament. Apart from the top seed matches, the exciting event of the tournament was the record setting first round match that spanned three days between 23rd seed Americas 25 year old John Isner and 28 year old qualifier Frenchman Nicolas Mahut. The first match between the two was suspended due to darkness on its second day after a total of 9 hours and 58 minutes. During the match Isner scored a record 98 aces but Mahut was not far behind with 94 aces. The seconds day ply alone was 7 hours and 8 minutes, making it the longest session of singles tennis ever played on a single day. The match entered a third day in which it stretched to a total time of 11 hours and 5 minutes before Isner ultimately prevailed 64, 36, 6 7(7), 76(3), 7068.
Sports/Tennis
Wimbledon
Spains Rafael Nadal swatting in final Wimbledon match against Czech Tom Berdych SI.com photos
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Wimbledon
Rafael Nadal celebrating triumph at Wimbledon 2010 (top); Going home with trophy (bottom) SI.com photos 192
Sports/Tennis
Wimbledon
Serena Williams serving in the final match against Vera Zvonareva SI.com photos
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Wimbledon
Serena battling Vera in the final match
SI.com photos
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Sports/Tennis
Nadal wins US Open, completes career Grand Slams

September 13, 2010 By Erin Bruehl court, covering his face and then turned face down, trembling with excitement. In a great act of sportsmanship, Djokovic then came across the net to embrace and congratulate Nadal, who was overjoyed to win his first title in Flushing Meadows. His victory is also likely to silence his final critics about his ability to win on hard-courts. "It was amazing feeling. I think win against Novak is always very, very difficult, and the results say that lots of times, I lost against him," Nadal said of winning and his record against Djokovic. "So I think for the first time in my career I played a very, very good match in this tournament. I played my best match in the US Open at the most important moment, so I am very, very happy for that. "It's a dream, have the career Grand Slam, but this is more dream have the US Open," he added. "I worked a lot all my life, in all difficult
A delighted Rafael Nadal bites U.S. Open Trophy
t took two days and waiting out a nearly twohour rain delay, but Rafael Nadal finally won his first US Open title. He was tested for the first time against No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic, as he was broken more times in the match than he had been in all his previous matches combined and lost his first set in the tournament. However, Nadal prevailed, 6-4, 57, 6-4, 6-2, to win his ninth career Grand Slam tournament title and become the seventh man in history to complete the career Grand Slam. At 24, Nadal is the third-youngest player ever to complete the career Slam and the youngest in the Open Era. He has now won three consecutive majors, having captured the titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon earlier this year. With the win, he also snapped his hard-court losing streak to Djokovic, who had won their three previous meetings and whom he had not beaten on a surface besides clay since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Both players brought their best tennis, and in a high-quality match, Djokovic fought to the last point, but Nadal was just better on this day and continued to be aggressive throughout the match, winning the title when Djokovic missed a shot wide. As Djokovic's shot sailed out, Nadal fell to the
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moments to be here, but I never imagined have the four Grand Slams." Nadal entered the match the fresher of the two players after a straight-sets victory over Mikhail Youzhny in the semifinals on Saturday, whereas Djokovic had to battle Roger Federer for five sets before he advanced to his second career US Open final. It seemed he was given a huge reprieve and an extra day of rest, when rain postponed the men's final from Sunday to Monday, but it turned out Nadal, the world No. 1, was still too much. Djokovic also credited Nadal's outstanding play and deemed him a worthy winner. "He has the capabilities already now to become the best player ever. I think he's playing the best tennis that I ever seen him play on hardcourts. He has improved his serve drastically. The speed, the accuracy, and of course his baseline is as good as ever," Djokovic, also the 2007 US Open runner-up, said of Nadal. "I was feeling good on the court tonight from a physical perspective and just running all over the court and getting a lot of balls back," he added of his condition. "It was just a pleasure performing in front of the people who enjoy tennis so much and support the players."
Sports/Tennis
Nadal played his best tennis throughout the tournament and displayed a much faster serve that saw him broken just twice in 91 games leading into the final against Djokovic. Against Djokovic, the world No. 3, he was tested the most he had been in the fortnight, as he was broken three times and lost his first set in seven matches, but he recovered each time. His first serve reached 132 mph Monday. "I think the hardcourt always was the most difficult surface to play good for me, especially with the serve, because I have to play almost every point, and probably the serve make the big difference in this tournament," Nadal said. "For me, the most important thing (going forward) is try to keep serving like I did during this tournament. If I can do it, this most of the times gonna be a big change for me and my tennis career because if I have that free points that I had during all this tournament gonna be different for me. I can play more aggressive. I can play with more calm when I am returning." As formidable as Nadal had been in Flushing Meadows, it made getting off to a fast start key for Djokovic. Instead, he came out and lost his opening service game, as Nadal hit a winner down the line to win the game, as he seemed to have the higher intensity and concentration to start the match. But then he did something that was very rare in this tournament - broke Nadal - to bring the set to 2-all, when Nadal made two consecutive errors. He then fought off five break points from Nadal in his next service game, featuring more long rallies, before Nadal finally closed it out with a winner to the right side. Upset at himself, Djokovic then smashed his racquet on the ground multiple times in anger, for which he received a code violation. Nadal and Djokovic then traded holds to make it 4-3, but the Serb was still trailing a break, from which he was unable to recover. However, in the second set, the tide started to turn in Djokovic's favor. Starting on serve, Nadal took the ball to serve at 2-1 and quickly went down on two errors and then double faulted for the first time in the match to give Djokovic triple break point. The Serb then converted the break on the next point, when Nadal hit a shot long after a long rally for the 3-1 lead. In the next game, Djokovic's game continued to rise to its top level, as he held at love and then won 11 straight points and grabbed the momentum as well as control of most of the points.
Rafael Nadal serving against third ranked Novak Djokovoc
Leading 4-2, Djokovic took the ball to serve, and Nadal quickly started fighting back. The game progressed to deuce, and Nadal then gained the advantage, when Djokovic hit a shot into the net. The Serb saved that break point and then another, but Nadal finally evened the set with a deep shot down the left line that Djokovic hit into the net to make it 4-3. He then held to level the set at 4-all. In the next game, on Djokovic's serve and at 30-all, rain started to fall in Arthur Ashe Stadium, suspending play in the match, and the players immediately left the court after an hour and 40 minutes of play. The rain delay lasted just under two hours, and Djokovic responded with a hold in the first game back, and the delay appeared to have no negative effect on him. At 6-5 on Nadal's serve, the Spaniard was up 30-15 on an ace, but he missed a volley into the net, and then on a deep groundstroke from Djokovic, Nadal hit a shot wide
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Sports/Tennis
to give him a break point. Djokovic then earned the break and the second set - with a giant fist pump - when Nadal hit a shot into the net. As a whole, Djokovic handled Nadal's muchimproved serve extremely well and was able to capitalize on chances when he had them, converting on three of four break-point opportunities. However, throughout the match, he frequently was on the defensive on his serve, which he did well, as Nadal was only able to convert on six of 26 break-point chances. But the world No. 1 was not down for long. Nadal grabbed the early lead in the third after Djokovic saved two break points but handed Nadal the break for a 2-1 lead when he missed a forehand wide. He went for the double break lead against Djokovic in his next service game at 3-2 but could not capitalize on three break-point chances in the game. "For me, in order to win against (Nadal) tonight, I had to be on the top of my game," Djokovic said. "I was playing really well for most of the match, but then there were some moments in, let's say, third and fourth set where I dropped my focus a little bit. I dropped my level of game and just a little bit on service games. It went for me. He took it away, and he never gave me a chance to go back." Djokovic then saved five more break-point opportunities in his next service game to stay in the set and keep himself down one break. As a whole throughout the match, Djokovic continued to play great defense and dig deep when needed to keep himself in the set. But Nadal was giving nothing away on his serve in the third, closing out the third set with a few great serves, including an ace and then one Djokovic could just manage to get his racquet on to give Nadal the set at 6-4 and a two-sets-to-one lead. "I had this 15-30 chance in 5-4 third set, and then he served, I mean, three amazing serves," Djokovic said. "So I think that's one of the key factors today in his win, except an amazing baseline game, of course, and great coverage of the court. The serve was fantastic the whole tournament." In the fourth set, Nadal then grabbed the lead early, as he put pressure on Djokovic at 1-all, earning the break and the lead, when Djokovic hit a shot that clipped the net and then landed past the baseline. He seemed to take control from there, as he had an easy hold to go to 3-1 and then earned the two-break lead in the next game, when Djok197
Rafa in the quarter-f9onals of the French Open
ovic hit a shot into the net to dig himself a deep 41 hole, from which Nadal never allowed him to recover. It completed a remarkable turnaround in the past year for Nadal, who competed in the 2009 US Open with an abdominal tear and after missing several months on the tour as he dealt with knee tendinitis and also the separation of his parents. Now healthy, there might be no limit to what he can do. "Ten months ago seems like I never gonna be another time the same," Nadal said. "Now seems I gonna be one of the greatest. Last year I had a difficult year. Well, I had a great year because when you win a Grand Slam (the Australian Open) and three Masters 1000, you have a great year, but is true the second half of the year was very difficult for me, have some personal problems, home, and after, I have a lot of injuries, here the abdominal, before, the knees. "My goal is all the time and all my life was the same, is keep improving and feel myself better player next year than what I felt this year," he added.
Sports/Track & Field
Diamond League
U.S.A.s Allyson Felix tops Diamond League

series due to injury. Americas Walter Dix won the 200 meters dash 4 times, but his name did not appear in the overall results list; instead his compatriot Wallace Spearman whose only win was the last 200 meters at Zurich with a time of 19.79 took the title. The fastest 200 meters of the series, 19.72, was run by Tyson Gay in Monaco. World record holder and Diamond League Ambassador Usain Bolt who missed most of the season with injuries only once won the 200 meters, clocking 19.76 in Shanghai. His sole victory in the 100 meters was a 9.84 performance in Paris. The U.S.A.s Athens Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner won 6 of the 7 400 meters races, running under 45 seconds 5 times, clocking fastest in the final competition at Zurich, 44.13. Jamaicas Jermaine Gonzales won the 400 meters at Monaco in Wariners absence clocking 44.40 which was the second fastest lap sprint of the series. He finished second to Wariner in Paris, London and Zurich.
Allyson Felix competing in both 200 and 400 meters accumulated the most points in the Diamond League series
he $6.63 million purse Diamond League that opened on May 27th in Doha, Qatar ended August 27th in Brussels, Belgium and although no world record was broken it was the International Association of Athletics Federations biggest promotional effort so far. Americas 24 year old Allyson Felix was the most successful athlete of the series, accumulating 42 points from 4 victories and 1 second place in the 200 meters dash, in addition to 4 victories at 400 meters. She was followed by Croatias Blanka Vlasic who accumulated 32 points winning all 7 female high jump competitions. Each event in the 14 meet League was included in the program 7 times. Exceptions were the 100 meters dash and 1500 run, both included in 9 meets. Norways javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen accumulated the most points among male competitors, 30, winning 6 out of 7 meets competed in. Americas Tyson Gay was the overall 100 meters champion, winning 4 times (Gateshead, Stockholm, London and Brussels). Gay joined the competition after the 100 meters had been won 5 times by other sprinters, but he won the last 4 races. Jamaicas Ashafa Powell who won the first three 100 meters competitions at Doha, Oslo and Rome ran the fastest sprint of the season, clocking 9.72 at Oslo. Like compatriot Bolt he dropped out of the
Croatias female high jumper Blanka Vlasic was the only athlete to compete in her event all 7 times without a defeat 198

Top: Mens 400 meters Diamond League winner Jeremy Wariner won the event in the 2004 Athens Olympics; Bottom: Kenyas Nancy Jabet Langat who won 5 of the womens 1500 meters Diamond League races leading the field
Diamond League
Kenyas world 800 meter record holder David Rudisha claimed the season title in his event, winning for the 4th time in Brussels. Sudans Abubaker Kaki who won the 800 meters in Paris finished second to Rudisha in Oslo and Brussels. Rudishas two world record breaking runs were outside the Diamond League series. South Africans 19 year old world champion Caster Semenya finished 3rd in the womens 800 meters at the Brussels finals, clocking 1:59.65, behind Russias Maria Savinovas 1:59.49 and winner Janeth jepkosgei of Kenyas 1:58.82. Kenyas Asbel Kiprop won 4 of the 9 1500 meters races in the series, including the final at Brussels where he clinched the overall title. However, the fastest 1500 meters of the series was run by Kenyas Silas Kiplagat in Monaco where he clocked 3:29.27. The series mens 5000 meters title was won by Ethiopias Imane Merga who along with compatriot Tariku Beke was the only runner to win the race twice during the series but Imane outdid Tariku in points 16 to 14. The fastest 5000 meters race of the series was run by Kenyas Eliud Kipchoge who won in 12.51.22 in Doha. The series 3000 meters steeplechase title went to Kenyas Paul Kipsiele, but the fastest race of the series was run by Kenyas Brimin Kipruto, 8:01.62 in winning at Lausanne. The U.S.A.s Bershawn Jackson dominated the mens 400 meters hurdles over the course of the series, despite losing twice to compatriot Kerron Clement. Jacksons 47.62 hurdles lap at Lausanne, Switzerland, was fastest of the series. Cubas world record holder and Beijing Olympics 110 meters hurdles champion Byron Robles was able to win only once, in Rome, while U.S.A.s David Oliver won the other 6 races, which earned him the series title.
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Sports/Track & Field/World Record
Rudisha, the best ever
ugust 22, Berlin, the ISTF IAAF World Challenge Meet, Wilson Kipketers 13 year old world 800 meters record was lowered by two tenths of a second as Kenyas 21 year old African 800 meters record holder David Rudisha ran the last 400 meters unchallenged, lengthening the distance between and the next runner. Rudisha said afterwards it was his first real attempt at breaking the record and he could run the two lap race even faster. It was no idle boast, a week later, August 29, at the Rieti Grand Prix in Italy the quarter mile sprinter turned half miler shaved 0.08 seconds off his own new mark, clocking 1:41.01; 2 seconds ahead of fellow Kenyan Boaz Kiplagat Lalang. In between the two races Rudisha claimed the IAAF Diamond League title on August 27th in Brussels, coasting to victory in 1:43.51. When the 63, 163lbs (1.89m/74kg) long, powerful striding, front running Massi ran 1:41.51 on July 10th in Heusden, Belgium, at the KBC Night of Athletics placing him second in the history of
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fast 800 meters, notice was served that Kepeters enduring record could fall this season. Only three others had ever run 800 meters under 1:42: Kenyan born Danish citizen Wilson Kipketer (1:41.1), Britains Sebastian (1:41.73) Coe and Brazils Joaquim Cruz (1:41.77). Besides breaking the world record twice, Rudisha has now joined Kepketer as the only man to run under 1:42 more than once. Kepketer did it four times; so far Rudisha has done it thrice. Having now run the two fastest and fifth fastest 800 meters of all time, David Rudisha stands out in the record book as the best ever. When he and Sudans Abubaker Kaki both broke Sebastian Coes 31 year old meet record at Oslos Bislett Stadium on June 4th, Coe who was present said he was curious to see if one of these two young East African runners could cover the two laps in less than 100 seconds. To break 1:40 was once inconceivable. When New Zealands Peter Snell, who won the 800 and 1500 gold in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, after winning 800 meters gold at Rome in 1960, became the first man to break 1:45 it seemed incredible that anyone could average 52.5 seconds over two 400 meters laps. Rudisha ran his first 400 meters in Reiti in about 48.5, and the second lap in 52.5 seconds, now the challenge is to run both laps under 50. Rudisha ran 400 meters in 45.50 in Sydney, Australia last March. With his strong 400 meters capability if he follows the theory of Peter Snells coach Arthur Lydiard that middle distance runners should train to develop a tireless state, Rudisha should be able to break 1:40 next year. Dr. Snell, now an exercise physiology specialist at the University of Texas, still holds to Lydiards theory that a 800 meter runner with a slower 200 meters speed than the other championship finalists, which was often the case with him, can outsprint them all in the last 200 meters if he has a higher oxygen uptake level. According to Snell, this enables the champion to run optimally over the first 600 meters without incurring an oxygen deficit and have enough stamina left to pour on more speed in the final 200 meters. To attain that tireless state, Lydiard had Snell run 100 miles a week, including one day running 22 miles over a hilly course. Prof. Snell from both his experience as the worlds premiere middle distance runner in the first half of the 1960s and exercise physiology research concludes that continuous exercise actually stimulates speed.
Caster is Back
suspicions of IAAF officials and they ordered Caster to be tested for both performance enhancing drugs and gender. She went into the August 2009 World Championships confidentially under investigation but when she sped through the two laps at Berlin in 1:55.45, leaving the field well behind and coming within 2.47 seconds of the world record set by Czechoslovakias Jamila Kratochivilov back in 1983, the controversy broke into the open, becoming headline news. Retired American 200 and 400 meters Olympic Champion Michael Johnson, who is presently an athletes agent in the IAAF system, joined South Africans in criticizing the IAAF for the way it handled Caster. Many South Africans went on record bluntly charging the IAAF with racism. Eleven months later, as IAAF said, its all over now.
outh Africas teenage womens World Champion 800 meters runner Caster Semenya is back in action after nearly a years suspension while International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) authorities investigated suspicions about her gender. Widespread allegations that she was too masculine to be a woman spread following the then 18 year old South Africas stunning 1:55.45 victory in the 2009 World Athletic Championships at Berlin. No sooner had she been told of her IAAF clearance on July 6th, following test results, she announced the end of her 11 month layoff and said she would immediately begin training. As for speculation that she had undergone medical procedures during her suspension, the IAAF simply said she was cleared to compete as a woman, the case was closed and no further details would be released. There was national indignation in South Africa over the incident, with her mother in the media ridiculing the notion that her daughter was anything but a girl. Caster had won both the World Junior Championships and Commonwealth Youth womens 800 meters in 2008 and in 2009 she won the African Junior Championships 800 and 1500 meters races, timing 1:56.72 and 4:08.01 respectively. Not only was her 800 meter time a national and championship record, it was a 7 second improvement in 9 months and 4 seconds faster than her previous best time. Her unusually rapid improvement aroused
Caster Semanya after winning the womens 800 meter race in Milan, September 10, 2010 AFP/Getty Images
Perspective
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Caster won here first race upon returning with a 2:04.22 victory in Lappeenranta, Finland on July 15, nine days after her clearance was announced. She was happy with her time, considering her long layoff. "To come and run a 2:04 is not easy, especially after what happened," Semenya said. "I was a little bit nervous because it has been a long time not competing," adding, "It's a new beginning." Caster, now 19, pulled away in the home stretch beating runner up Mari Jarvenpaa by half a second. A few days later at the Savo Games in Lapinlahti, Finland, she won again, clocking 2:02.41. Competing in the Brussels Diamond League 800 meters in late August she ran the first sub-two minute race of her comeback, clocking 1:59.66, but finishing third. In Berlin on August 22nd, where Kenyas David Rudisha broke the mens world 800 record, she won the 800 meters clocking 1:59.90, trailing far behind in the first lap, not taking over the lead until the last 40 meters. Her terribly poor performance on September 1 in Rovereto, Italy, amidst complaints from her competitors in the womens filed that despite her being cleared by IAAF they still dont believe shes a proper woman raises the question of whether Caster is being psychologically affected by what is being said about her by opponents. She lagged behind from the beginning of the race, positioned third from last after the first lap and never attempted to catch the front runners. Caster finished ninth in Rovereto, running a dismal 2:07.16. Victor, Italys Elisa Cusma Piccione won in 2:00.37 and despite Caster gracefully shaking her hand and congratulating her after the race she persisted in complaining about the South African teenagers presence in the womens field. Avoiding an apology for having called Caster a man after losing to her in the 2009 World Championships, Piccione said "Maybe I used words that were a bit crude, but I wasn't the only one to use those words if you look at what's being said now," adding, But if she didn't compete for nearly a year, maybe there was something to that." Ross Tucker and Jonathan Dugas, two South Africans operating Science & Sport website suspect there is truth in the rumors that Casters clearance to resume competition was delayed for so long because she was undergoing treatment for an intersex condition. According to them:
"That alleged treatment...holds the key to why this has taken so long. The IAAF, you'll recall us discussing before, find themselves in a difficult situation of having to avoid dis206
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crimination against ANY athlete (not only Semenya, as the SA sports fraternity wanted to believe). So their obligation was to ensure equality of competition without discrimination. And there are a range of issues about this, from social to cultural, even religious, all of which have been had in various forms over the last 10 months. "However, from a sporting point of view (and my bias here is sporting performance), the requirement is to manage the case to ensure that all athletes receive fair competition. Therefore, treatment, to lower the testosterone levels and attempt to reduce any advantage as a result of high testosterone, would have had to take place, and that may be the reason this has taken so long to resolve. "Because make no mistake, actually diagnosing the condition is a relatively simple procedure. Knowing what to do about it not as simple. "So over the last 8 or 9 months, the issue has probably been how to treat (if at all) to ensure competition. The legal teams on both sides would have had their requirements. I've no doubt at all that the IAAF would have been pushing for surgical removal of testes, where Semenya's camp would probably have resisted this. The IAAF will probably have pushed for surgery as a key requirement for Semenya to continue her career in athletics - I'm not sure of the legal issues around this, but that is likely to have been their desire. Semenya's team may have argued against this as an infringement on her right to decide on her medical treatment, and also to compete without that surgery. "The eventual compromise may have been medical/hormonal treatment, and the process of the treatment and monitoring the response to that treatment would take time to track. Hence the delay."
From the flow of comments and announcements by South Africas sports officials and IAAF on Casters gender controversy it appears her clinical situation was actually rather complex and the scenario of Tucker and Dugas about what probably happened during the 11 month suspension is not implausible. South Africas Sports & Recreation Minister Makenkesi Stofile on September 11, 2009, briefing the media after it was widely reported that a leaked IAAF gender test result classified Caster a hermaphrodite, said, "They indicate that she is a hermaphrodite. For me that means nothing. The

issue here is not whether she is a hermaphrodite or not; and then questioning, Where is the science that says they [hermaphrodites] have an advantage?" By then Stofile no doubt knew the results of the gender test already performed on Caster in South Africa under instructions from South Africa Sports (SAS) without her knowing for what she was being tested. Significantly, Sports Minister Stofile also said at that press briefing, "No one doubts her gender anymore. Now the issue of the percentages of her gender; this is unethical and disgusting." Stofile was not merely blowing African nationalist politics. Affirming that she is a female and that the percentage of her gender has been made the issue was a ruling out of sexual identity confusion. Furthermore, labeling people hermaphrodites has been superseded by description of the condition as intersex, which casts a shadow on the intention of the reported IAAF test results leak. While the IAAF was saying in September 2009 the results of Casters gender tests had to be studied by a team of experts before discussing them with her, a Sydney, Australia, newspaper had already reported that medical reports on 18-year-old Caster Semenya indicate she has no ovaries, but rather has internal male testes, which are producing large amounts of testosterone [that apart from being a steroid is the principal male sex hormone]. Casters father Jacob angrily retorted that those saying such things about his daughter are sick and crazy. All this adds to the plausibility of the scenario suggested by Science & Sport website. There was a problem but IAAF recognized the need to try and give the story a happy ending that as much as possible pleased all stakeholders. Tucker and Dugas may have more first hand information about what actually happened than they are admitting, but considering Casters long term social prospects, one would think that if she really had male testes her family and the South African officials should want to have them surgically removed. Last year Caster was our teenage girl; now a University of Pretoria sports science student, for next year we are looking forward to her being our young sports celebrity lady, perhaps no less in the limelight than Usain Bolt and Serena Williams. This writer wholly shared Stofiles perspective when he said last year, "I don't think she's a woman. She's just a child. I think she is just a child who's enjoying growing up." President Zuma similarly referred to Caster, saying, "We have a girl who has performed and won. Competing in the Diamond League and other IAAF circuit events Caster
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must now also become a business woman, while at the same time she is studying for her future professional career as a coach and perhaps eventually an official. In a letter to Associated Press (AP) in the midst of the 2009 leak about Casters gender test results IAAF spokesperson Davies wrote, "Our legal advice is that, if she proves to have an advantage because of the male hormones, then it will be extremely difficult to strip the medal off her, since she has not cheated, adding, "She was naturally made that way, and she was entered in Berlin by her team and accepted by the IAAF. It stands to reason that IAAF would have a long term interest in Caster Semenya. We must remember that this is no longer the amateur era when in such a case we could imagine Caster likely being banned without so much attention. Track & Field today is a struggling sports business trying to get more media attention and revenues, larger stadium crowds and produce as many competing celebrities as it possibly can; and those managing it like IAAF would not normally have any material interest in banning a money-making or potentially profitable athlete. Fellow South African Oscar Pistorious, who had faced opposition within the IAAF to running against able-bodied athletes with his two prosthetic legs, which some claimed gave him an unfair advantage, empathized with Caster. "I can understand her frustration," 400 meter competitor Pistorius said of his compatriot, noting "She's younger than I was when I went through what I went through. Rooting for Caster, Pistorious observed, I think she's a stronger person for going through it and there's lots of good things to come from her in the future." Athens 100 meters Olympic champion Justin Gatlin, who made his debut placing second in the 100 meters in Rovereto after a four year doping ban, was also supportive of Caster. "There are rules out there and I think the rules need to be defined better," Gatlin said referring to Semenya's case. "She's a competitor like everyone else and if they say she can run in the gender that she's running then so be it. I'd tell her, 'Don't be scared. If you're a champion be a champion.'" Caster bounced back from her dismal performance in Rovereto, Italy to win in her best time of the season, 1:58.16 on September 10th in Milan Notturno di Mailano. It was the third fastest time of her career. Afterwards she told journalists, What I need to do now is concentrate on my next race and not worry about what is written about me.
June 11 to July 11, 2010
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Pan Africa & World Review is a picturesque book of quarterly articles commenting on and condensing issues in the news. It is sectionalized by continent and also by feature sections which include arts, automobiles, entertainment, environment, fashions, health, information media, science & technology and sports. The International section contains commodity and financial market data, in addition to global political economy, personalities and multinational corporation events and issues for the quarter Subscribers can write the publisher specifying particular events or issues they would like to be featured.
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