Projects Director Dana Schneider reports:
There will be screenings in February in New York and Washington, DC of the film Death of Two Sons, a documentary by Guinea RPCV Micah Schaffer about the lives and deaths of Jesse Thyne and Amadou Diallo (see www.deathoftwosons.com for a synopsis). A later screening of the film is planned for Atlanta in April. If you will be in town, please plan to attend--the film is receiving wonderful response! See below for the dates.
DEATH OF TWO SONS
Directed by Micah Schaffer
Produced by Alrick Brown
Amadou Diallo Memorial Screening
New York, NY – Friday, Feb. 2nd, 2007 at 7PM
The Riverside Church
91 Claremont Avenue, New York, 10027
TransAfrica Forum
Washington, DC Premiere - Thursday, Feb. 8th, 2007, 6:30PM
The Jack Morton Auditorium at George Washington University (GWU)
805 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20052
The Atlanta screening will take place between April 18 and 22 as part of the Spaghetti Junction Urban Film Festival (www.SJUFF.com) . Exact date and time TBA.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
[PC Guinea news] G13 arrival delayed
A message from Peace Corps Guinea director Steve Peterson:
Labor unions in Guinea have called for nationwide strikes to start on Wednesday, January 10th, with no pre-determined duration indicated. We anticipate disruption of basic services throughout Guinea and feel that providing adequate logistical support to a group of 44 new trainees during this period would be difficult and uncertain. As such, we have decided to postpone the arrival of the next training class (G13) by three to four weeks.
Peace Corps Washington is currently working to reconfirm an itinerary for a new arrival date, tentatively scheduled for February, 3rd (staging tentatively scheduled for January 31st in Philadelphia), but possibly a few days later. We will confirm new dates as soon as possible.
Peace Corps/Guinea appreciates everyone's patience and looks forward to receiving this new group of trainees in early February 2007.
Labor unions in Guinea have called for nationwide strikes to start on Wednesday, January 10th, with no pre-determined duration indicated. We anticipate disruption of basic services throughout Guinea and feel that providing adequate logistical support to a group of 44 new trainees during this period would be difficult and uncertain. As such, we have decided to postpone the arrival of the next training class (G13) by three to four weeks.
Peace Corps Washington is currently working to reconfirm an itinerary for a new arrival date, tentatively scheduled for February, 3rd (staging tentatively scheduled for January 31st in Philadelphia), but possibly a few days later. We will confirm new dates as soon as possible.
Peace Corps/Guinea appreciates everyone's patience and looks forward to receiving this new group of trainees in early February 2007.
Friday, January 05, 2007
[Guinean news] Trade unions to resume general strike, hint at military coup
Guinea's main trade union collective, CNTG-USTG, has announced that it will launch an unlimited national general strike starting on Jaunary 10.
The unions' communiqué (the text is available here in French) cited a number of reasons for their decision, including what it describes as:
-The interference of the head of state into judicial affairs by illegally liberating citizens in conflict with the law, particularly those accused of corruption and graft,
-The inability to the government to stop the continued depreciation of the Guinean franc, which aggravates inflation and hurts the purchasing power of workers,
-The government's violation of Article 18 of the Guinean constitution regarding the independance of labor organizations and
-The indifference of other national institutions (Supreme Court, National Assembly, Economic and Social Council) toward this state of affairs.
The communiqué also the following quixotic reference in explaining its decision to strike...
"Given the that the valliant Guinean army will continue to play its role and defend the hard working people of Guinea in distress..."
A call which some might interpret as an appeal for the military to stage a coup d'État
Update: A high ranking official of the CNTG insists that his union 'will never encourage a military coup d'Etat.'
Note: This entry was reprinted from the blog Black Star Journal, with permission of the author.
The unions' communiqué (the text is available here in French) cited a number of reasons for their decision, including what it describes as:
-The interference of the head of state into judicial affairs by illegally liberating citizens in conflict with the law, particularly those accused of corruption and graft,
-The inability to the government to stop the continued depreciation of the Guinean franc, which aggravates inflation and hurts the purchasing power of workers,
-The government's violation of Article 18 of the Guinean constitution regarding the independance of labor organizations and
-The indifference of other national institutions (Supreme Court, National Assembly, Economic and Social Council) toward this state of affairs.
The communiqué also the following quixotic reference in explaining its decision to strike...
"Given the that the valliant Guinean army will continue to play its role and defend the hard working people of Guinea in distress..."
A call which some might interpret as an appeal for the military to stage a coup d'État
Update: A high ranking official of the CNTG insists that his union 'will never encourage a military coup d'Etat.'
Note: This entry was reprinted from the blog Black Star Journal, with permission of the author.
Monday, January 01, 2007
[Development issues] Africa's infrastructure
National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation dedicated a show entitled 'Giving Africa Infrastructure for Growth.'
NPR's website explains:
The wheels of commerce turn on paved roads, working phones and dependable power. In the United States, we take these things for granted. In parts of Africa, infrastructure is either crumbling or non-existent. Guests explore how some people hope to make Africa work better.
Guests:
Steve Morrison, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.
Thomas Gibian, managing director of the Emerging Markets Partners. He is head of African investments for EMP.
Eloho Otobo, chief of the Policy Analysis and Monitoring Unit in the Office of the Special Advisor for Africa at the United Nations.
You can access the audio of this show by clicking here.
NPR's website explains:
The wheels of commerce turn on paved roads, working phones and dependable power. In the United States, we take these things for granted. In parts of Africa, infrastructure is either crumbling or non-existent. Guests explore how some people hope to make Africa work better.
Guests:
Steve Morrison, director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.
Thomas Gibian, managing director of the Emerging Markets Partners. He is head of African investments for EMP.
Eloho Otobo, chief of the Policy Analysis and Monitoring Unit in the Office of the Special Advisor for Africa at the United Nations.
You can access the audio of this show by clicking here.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
[FOG/PC-Guinea projects news] Other projects of note
FOG Secretary Stephanie Chasteen reports:
Hey, good news, turns out that Bintimodia Library project had already been funded. Thank you to those who attempted to donate.
There are, however, several other projects in Guinea seeking funds. 'Tis the season! We are also still seeking funds for our pet project, the Gender Conferences.
[Other PC-Guinea projects of interest:]
School renovation in Gaoual
$7,226.00
Fencing resources in Gongoret
$383.00
School construction in Koyin
$5,642.00
Water pump installation in Kansan
$13,536.00
You may click on any link above for more info about that project.
Hey, good news, turns out that Bintimodia Library project had already been funded. Thank you to those who attempted to donate.
There are, however, several other projects in Guinea seeking funds. 'Tis the season! We are also still seeking funds for our pet project, the Gender Conferences.
[Other PC-Guinea projects of interest:]
School renovation in Gaoual
$7,226.00
Fencing resources in Gongoret
$383.00
School construction in Koyin
$5,642.00
Water pump installation in Kansan
$13,536.00
You may click on any link above for more info about that project.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
[FOG/PC-Guinea projects news]: Library project in Bintimodia
Friends of Guinea Secretary Stephanie Chasteen reports:
A PCV in Bintimodia is fundraising for a library. He still needs over $1500! You can donate to his project through PCPP at
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.projdetail&projdesc=675-120
The Bintimodia Library and resource center will be opened to the public community to provide written resources, encourage a culture of reading and literacy, and provide a distraction-free environment for studying. Bintimodia will partner with the library in Kamsar -the closest established library- in establishing professional standards and procedures as well as in receiving preliminary training for librarians. To stimulate interest in the community, community events and readings for young children will be held each month and library promotion fliers distributed throughout the surrounding community.
Update: Steph reports that this project has now been funded. However, she also shared info on other PC-Guinea projects of note. That can be found by clicking here.
A PCV in Bintimodia is fundraising for a library. He still needs over $1500! You can donate to his project through PCPP at
http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.projdetail&projdesc=675-120
The Bintimodia Library and resource center will be opened to the public community to provide written resources, encourage a culture of reading and literacy, and provide a distraction-free environment for studying. Bintimodia will partner with the library in Kamsar -the closest established library- in establishing professional standards and procedures as well as in receiving preliminary training for librarians. To stimulate interest in the community, community events and readings for young children will be held each month and library promotion fliers distributed throughout the surrounding community.
Update: Steph reports that this project has now been funded. However, she also shared info on other PC-Guinea projects of note. That can be found by clicking here.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
[FOG/PC-Guinea commentary]: Praise for the work of the gender conferences
Becky and Rick Thyne shared the following thoughts (reposted here with permission) upon hearing that the gender conferences would continue.
Dear friends of Guinea and the Peace Corps programs there:
Our son Jesse Thyne and his Peace Corps Volunteer friend and colleague Justin Bhansali were killed in a highway accident near Pita nearly seven years ago, on January 7th, 2000. They were returning from a holiday in Ghana, each heading back to the kind of important work all of you are so deeply involved in.
What prompts this note is the announcement about the gender conferences. Jesse was deeply commited to the women and girls of Diountou, the village an hour from Labe where he worked. After he died, several of our friends donated money to a fund in his memory, which we used in conjunction with the people of his village and Jesse's Guinean friend and patron, Mamodou Korka Diallo, to build a Center for Women and Girls in the village.
We're pleased to know that all of you are still making such an heroic effort to draw attention to gender inequality and to lift up women and girls so that they share in the benefits of education and dignity to which all of you are so dedicated.
We're also reminded that many of you will be on the road during these holidays and we're eager for you to be very careful and prudent as you travel.
We send you our continuing gratitude for your bravery and deligence as you continue in "the hardest job you'll ever love," and we send you our warmenst holiday greetings
Becky and Rick Thyne
Dear friends of Guinea and the Peace Corps programs there:
Our son Jesse Thyne and his Peace Corps Volunteer friend and colleague Justin Bhansali were killed in a highway accident near Pita nearly seven years ago, on January 7th, 2000. They were returning from a holiday in Ghana, each heading back to the kind of important work all of you are so deeply involved in.
What prompts this note is the announcement about the gender conferences. Jesse was deeply commited to the women and girls of Diountou, the village an hour from Labe where he worked. After he died, several of our friends donated money to a fund in his memory, which we used in conjunction with the people of his village and Jesse's Guinean friend and patron, Mamodou Korka Diallo, to build a Center for Women and Girls in the village.
We're pleased to know that all of you are still making such an heroic effort to draw attention to gender inequality and to lift up women and girls so that they share in the benefits of education and dignity to which all of you are so dedicated.
We're also reminded that many of you will be on the road during these holidays and we're eager for you to be very careful and prudent as you travel.
We send you our continuing gratitude for your bravery and deligence as you continue in "the hardest job you'll ever love," and we send you our warmenst holiday greetings
Becky and Rick Thyne
Monday, December 18, 2006
[FOG/PC-Guinea news]: Gender conferences a go!
Friends of Guinea Secretary Stephanie Chasteen passed along the following information from PCV Brian Buehler. He reports that Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP) has agreed to allow funding for the gender conferences. These conferences, run by Peace Corps volunteers in the field, have been one of the most successful projects ever sponsored by FOG. Thanks to everyone who wrote to PC and PCPP in support of the conferences! Brian B's letter is below:
Friends of Guinea,
We received confirmation last week that OPSI will again permit camps – which includes the Gender Conferences – as viable projects under the Peace Corps Partnership Proposal (PCPP) guidelines. This is exciting news, as it will truly facilitate the funding of the Conferences. It was clear that your communication had a fundamental influence on their thought process as they made this decision. Thank you for continuing to work hard for the people and volunteers of Guinea. You are having a great effect here, even from so far away!
We have been working hard on the Girls’ Conferences, and they promise to be excellent this year. With the move last year of the Fouta Conference, we will be well integrated into the community of Mamou and can take full advantage of all its resources. Basse Cote Volunteers will also participate in Mamou, where they should find the facilities at ENATEF excellent as always and the burden of travel a bit lighter. Planning for the Haute Guinée Conference is in full swing as well, with the usual generous community contributions and volunteer enthusiasm. We also look forward to incorporating two local organizations into the fold as planning partners for the Conferences. This will aid the volunteer organizers in their preparation and ease the transition from one generation of volunteers to the next.
We will be submitting the PCPP Proposal for the Girls Conferences shortly. Thanks very much for your help over the past few months, as we could not have done it without you.
Brian Buehler
Third-year Agency Initiatives Volunteer
Peace Corps Guinea
Friends of Guinea,
We received confirmation last week that OPSI will again permit camps – which includes the Gender Conferences – as viable projects under the Peace Corps Partnership Proposal (PCPP) guidelines. This is exciting news, as it will truly facilitate the funding of the Conferences. It was clear that your communication had a fundamental influence on their thought process as they made this decision. Thank you for continuing to work hard for the people and volunteers of Guinea. You are having a great effect here, even from so far away!
We have been working hard on the Girls’ Conferences, and they promise to be excellent this year. With the move last year of the Fouta Conference, we will be well integrated into the community of Mamou and can take full advantage of all its resources. Basse Cote Volunteers will also participate in Mamou, where they should find the facilities at ENATEF excellent as always and the burden of travel a bit lighter. Planning for the Haute Guinée Conference is in full swing as well, with the usual generous community contributions and volunteer enthusiasm. We also look forward to incorporating two local organizations into the fold as planning partners for the Conferences. This will aid the volunteer organizers in their preparation and ease the transition from one generation of volunteers to the next.
We will be submitting the PCPP Proposal for the Girls Conferences shortly. Thanks very much for your help over the past few months, as we could not have done it without you.
Brian Buehler
Third-year Agency Initiatives Volunteer
Peace Corps Guinea
Sunday, December 10, 2006
[FOG/PC Guinea news] Progress on Gender Conference funding snafu
Earlier, Friends of Guinea reported on threats to the Gender Conferences by some recent Peace Corps administrative changes. Peace Corps Guinea Country Director Steve Petersen reports the following update:
FOG members:
We received guidance that indicates OPSI [Office of Projects and Special Initiatives] will fund 'camps', but the guidance didn't specifically address the issue of funding transportation and lodging. Though a large part of any 'camp' cost, this cannot be assumed (and, the guidance was based on the liability issues involved with 'camps', not the lodging and transportation issue), so I asked for clarification.
Today I received word from PC/W [Peace Corps headquarters in Washington] that lodging and transportation can be funded, and we are now actively working on getting the proposals (for both the girls and boys conferences) ready to send to OPSI. We'll let you know when they have been reviewed and posted.
I am also working on getting the excess funds returned from the conferences last year applied to the the events planned for this year; something OPSI told us they would do, and now that the lodging and transportation issue has been resolved, I believe it is something we can make happen.
Best to all of you, and thank you for your continued support.
FOG members:
We received guidance that indicates OPSI [Office of Projects and Special Initiatives] will fund 'camps', but the guidance didn't specifically address the issue of funding transportation and lodging. Though a large part of any 'camp' cost, this cannot be assumed (and, the guidance was based on the liability issues involved with 'camps', not the lodging and transportation issue), so I asked for clarification.
Today I received word from PC/W [Peace Corps headquarters in Washington] that lodging and transportation can be funded, and we are now actively working on getting the proposals (for both the girls and boys conferences) ready to send to OPSI. We'll let you know when they have been reviewed and posted.
I am also working on getting the excess funds returned from the conferences last year applied to the the events planned for this year; something OPSI told us they would do, and now that the lodging and transportation issue has been resolved, I believe it is something we can make happen.
Best to all of you, and thank you for your continued support.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
[Health news] Malaria worsens AIDS risk?
According to a BBC report, scientists working in Kenya believe that there may be a link between malaria and the spread of AIDS across the African continent.
The study, published in the journal Science, says the way the two diseases interact can help them spread faster.
When people with Aids contract malaria, it causes a surge of HIV virus in their blood, making them more likely to infect a partner, the research says.
Meanwhile people weakened by HIV are more likely to catch malaria.
AIDS and malaria are the two biggest natural killers in Africa.
Note: the abstract of the Science article can be found here.
The study, published in the journal Science, says the way the two diseases interact can help them spread faster.
When people with Aids contract malaria, it causes a surge of HIV virus in their blood, making them more likely to infect a partner, the research says.
Meanwhile people weakened by HIV are more likely to catch malaria.
AIDS and malaria are the two biggest natural killers in Africa.
Note: the abstract of the Science article can be found here.
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