Friday, August 10, 2007
[Development news] Does the IMF threaten African public health?
The Center for Global Development has a good analysis of whether the International Monetary Fund harms Africa's public health systems unnecessarily by restraining spending.
[Guinean news] Major uranium reserves discovered near Kissidougou
The Guinean government says that commercially viable reserves of uranium have been discovered in the country.
Information Minister Justin Morel Junior announced that samples of uranium were extracted by a mineral company in Firawa [in the southeastern prefecture of Kissidougou].
A BBC correspondent says Guinea is hoping to cash in on the strong global demand for uranium as a nuclear fuel, which has led prices to boom.
Information Minister Justin Morel Junior announced that samples of uranium were extracted by a mineral company in Firawa [in the southeastern prefecture of Kissidougou].
A BBC correspondent says Guinea is hoping to cash in on the strong global demand for uranium as a nuclear fuel, which has led prices to boom.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
[Guinean news] Hyperdynamics' contract and finances under scrutiny
The site Guineeconakry.info reports that an affiliate of the oil company Hyperdynamics has expressed its willingness to rewrite their controversial contract with the Guinean government for the right to explore and exploit potential offshore oil and gas reserves. The contract was widely criticized in the Guinean press and society for being far too favorable to the Houston-based company.
For its part, Guinéenews claims that the Conkary bank accounts of the Hyperdynamics' affiliate were frozen last week.
The US head of Hyperdynamics has reportedly created a non-governmental organization called American Friends of Guinea, which is not affiliated in any way to Friends of Guinea.
Note: I certainly welcome and encourage debate on this blog entry and all others, provided they are civilized and further the discussion. Ad hominem attacks or comments containing vulgar language will not be published. Personal accusations should be justified or substantiated, particularly when made by anonymous posters. I've already rejected three comments on this entry (two pro-Hyperdynamics and one anti-) based on the afforementioned criteria. Thank you for keeping the discussion above board. -Brian Farenell, FOG Communications Director.
For its part, Guinéenews claims that the Conkary bank accounts of the Hyperdynamics' affiliate were frozen last week.
The US head of Hyperdynamics has reportedly created a non-governmental organization called American Friends of Guinea, which is not affiliated in any way to Friends of Guinea.
Note: I certainly welcome and encourage debate on this blog entry and all others, provided they are civilized and further the discussion. Ad hominem attacks or comments containing vulgar language will not be published. Personal accusations should be justified or substantiated, particularly when made by anonymous posters. I've already rejected three comments on this entry (two pro-Hyperdynamics and one anti-) based on the afforementioned criteria. Thank you for keeping the discussion above board. -Brian Farenell, FOG Communications Director.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
[RPCV news] RPCV seeking microenterprise/handicrafts projects
FOG Secretary Annie Kneedler passes along this message:
Please see message below from KJ Lewis from the company Global Sister Goods. If you have any ideas for handicrafts projects/cooperatives, please contact KJ at info @ globalsistergoods.com
Hi there,
I am an RPCV (Namibia 99-00) who currently owns a fair trade import business that partners with women artisans in several countries. We emphasize women's economic empowerment by telling artisan life stories, and connecting Americans with women's issues in the countries where we have partners. We are seeking new collectives or projects to work with, and wondered if anyone in your group might know of one. We have had much success partnering with current Namibia PCVs on secondary projects focused on microenterprise and handicrafts and have helped with everything from design and development to logistics and marketing. You can learn more about us at:
www.globalsistergoods.com
or give me a call at 503.285.6780.
Many thanks for your time, and hope to hear from you soon.
KJ Lewis
info @ globalsistergoods.com
(503) 285-6780
Please see message below from KJ Lewis from the company Global Sister Goods. If you have any ideas for handicrafts projects/cooperatives, please contact KJ at info @ globalsistergoods.com
Hi there,
I am an RPCV (Namibia 99-00) who currently owns a fair trade import business that partners with women artisans in several countries. We emphasize women's economic empowerment by telling artisan life stories, and connecting Americans with women's issues in the countries where we have partners. We are seeking new collectives or projects to work with, and wondered if anyone in your group might know of one. We have had much success partnering with current Namibia PCVs on secondary projects focused on microenterprise and handicrafts and have helped with everything from design and development to logistics and marketing. You can learn more about us at:
www.globalsistergoods.com
or give me a call at 503.285.6780.
Many thanks for your time, and hope to hear from you soon.
KJ Lewis
info @ globalsistergoods.com
(503) 285-6780
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
[Development news] UN projects target clean drinking water in the Forest
The IRIN news service reports that 14 UN-affiliated agencies and the Guinean government signed an $80 million aid package to improve access to clean drinking water in the country's southeastern Forest region.
The package envisages an increase in the number of people with access to drinking water in the region from 59 to 85 percent by 2011, with the main goal of reducing waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhoea.
“There is a real need right now,” said Idrissa Souare, head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) N'Zérékoré office in the Forest Region. “It’s really very worrying.”
He told IRIN there were 3,067 drinking water points for over two million people in the Forest Region - about half the required number.
Cholera epidemics have affected several hundred in the last two years. The disease is closely linked to poor hygeine and limited access to clean water.
The Forest region bore the ecological brunt of the more than half a million refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia that lived in Guinea in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
According to the 2006 UN Human Development index, half of all Guineans do not have reasonable* access to a clean water source.
(*-defined as 5.3 gallons per day from a source within 0.6 miles)
The package envisages an increase in the number of people with access to drinking water in the region from 59 to 85 percent by 2011, with the main goal of reducing waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhoea.
“There is a real need right now,” said Idrissa Souare, head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) N'Zérékoré office in the Forest Region. “It’s really very worrying.”
He told IRIN there were 3,067 drinking water points for over two million people in the Forest Region - about half the required number.
Cholera epidemics have affected several hundred in the last two years. The disease is closely linked to poor hygeine and limited access to clean water.
The Forest region bore the ecological brunt of the more than half a million refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia that lived in Guinea in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
According to the 2006 UN Human Development index, half of all Guineans do not have reasonable* access to a clean water source.
(*-defined as 5.3 gallons per day from a source within 0.6 miles)
Sunday, July 22, 2007
[Guinean news] Conakry airport becomes a gathering place for students
The Associated Press did a story on how the parking lot of the Gbessia International Airport in Conakry has become a hub for students who want to study.
The airport is one of the few places in the capital where the lights don't go out.
The airport is one of the few places in the capital where the lights don't go out.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
[Guinean news] New bac unique debuts
Guinéenews reports that the first single nationwide baccalauréat was recently held for the first time since Gen. Lansana Conté's reign began in 1984. All high school students throughout Guinea took the same exam in the hopes of being awarded a high school diploma.
Education officials seized student cell phones during the course of the exam and returned them at the end.
Nearly 500,000 students took the bac, over 21 percent more than attempted it last year.
The new national education minister called for introducing a new spirit of "professionalism in the Guinean educational system to install a culture of merit, transparency and to give a chance to everyone."
Education officials seized student cell phones during the course of the exam and returned them at the end.
Nearly 500,000 students took the bac, over 21 percent more than attempted it last year.
The new national education minister called for introducing a new spirit of "professionalism in the Guinean educational system to install a culture of merit, transparency and to give a chance to everyone."
Friday, July 20, 2007
[Help needed] Female genital mutilation and forced marriage in Guinea
FOG secretary Annie Kneedler reports:
Michelle Rivero, an immigration attorney in St. Paul, is looking for help with a case. She is representing a victim of FGM [female genital mutiliation]and forced marriage and would like:
"a letter confirming the prevalence of FGM and forced marriage in Guinea and also discussing whether the government can protect victims or prevent family members from forcing their female relatives (children and adults) to engage in these customary practices"
If you would be able to provide assistance to Michelle, or have a recommendation of an NGO or organization that might be able to help her, please get in touch with her at:
Michelle C. Rivero
Rivero Law Office LLC
26 E. Exchange St. Suite 316
St. Paul, MN 55101
ph. 651-291-0054
fax. 651-291-1466
cell 651-214-2759
e-mail: riveromichellecd@qwest.net
Michelle Rivero, an immigration attorney in St. Paul, is looking for help with a case. She is representing a victim of FGM [female genital mutiliation]and forced marriage and would like:
"a letter confirming the prevalence of FGM and forced marriage in Guinea and also discussing whether the government can protect victims or prevent family members from forcing their female relatives (children and adults) to engage in these customary practices"
If you would be able to provide assistance to Michelle, or have a recommendation of an NGO or organization that might be able to help her, please get in touch with her at:
Michelle C. Rivero
Rivero Law Office LLC
26 E. Exchange St. Suite 316
St. Paul, MN 55101
ph. 651-291-0054
fax. 651-291-1466
cell 651-214-2759
e-mail: riveromichellecd@qwest.net
Thursday, July 19, 2007
[PC Guinea news] PCVs to return to Guinea in July
FOG newsletter editor Woody Collahan reports:
Nicole Lewis of Peace Corps' Africa Section has asked me to pass on the following announcement:
"Due to a strike and civil unrest, Peace Corps/Guinea Volunteers went on standfast on January 10, 2007 and were subsequently consolidated in Mali, near Bamako, on January 25, 2007. Due to the ongoing strikes and civil unrest, the U.S. Embassy in Conakry issued an ordered departure from Guinea for U.S. Mission eligible family members on February 12, 2007. Since that time, the Peace Corps/Guinea program has been temporarily suspended.
"The U.S. Embassy in Conakry lifted the ordered departure on April 10, 2007. Peace Corps has determined that the situation in Guinea has stabilized and welcomes the reinstatement of former Peace Corps/Guinea Volunteers at the end of July 2007. In December 2007, Peace Corps/Guinea will further welcome 36 new trainees that will work in the areas of public health, business and natural resource management."
Nicole Lewis of Peace Corps' Africa Section has asked me to pass on the following announcement:
"Due to a strike and civil unrest, Peace Corps/Guinea Volunteers went on standfast on January 10, 2007 and were subsequently consolidated in Mali, near Bamako, on January 25, 2007. Due to the ongoing strikes and civil unrest, the U.S. Embassy in Conakry issued an ordered departure from Guinea for U.S. Mission eligible family members on February 12, 2007. Since that time, the Peace Corps/Guinea program has been temporarily suspended.
"The U.S. Embassy in Conakry lifted the ordered departure on April 10, 2007. Peace Corps has determined that the situation in Guinea has stabilized and welcomes the reinstatement of former Peace Corps/Guinea Volunteers at the end of July 2007. In December 2007, Peace Corps/Guinea will further welcome 36 new trainees that will work in the areas of public health, business and natural resource management."
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
[Guinean media] Live Guinean TV available online
A live feed of the RTG, Guinean state television, is apparently available on line at Telediaspora.net.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)