Robert L. Strauss, an RPCV and former Peace Corps recruiter and country director, wrote an interesting op-ed in Wednesday's New York Times.
Strauss opines that the present demographics of the Peace Corps prevents it from being an effective development organization. Most PCVs are recent college graduates.
In the Peace Corps' early days, enthusiastic young Americans offered something that many newly independent nations counted in double and even single digits: college graduates. But today, those same nations have millions of well-educated citizens of their own desperately in need of work. So it’s much less clear what inexperienced Americans have to offer.
According to Strauss: What the agency should begin doing is recruiting only the best of recent graduates — as the top professional schools do — and only those older people whose skills and personal characteristics are a solid fit for the needs of the host country... but that the organization is not doing so because it would cause the number of volunteers to plummet.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
[Guinean news] General strike threat suspended until March 31
Agence France Presse reports that Guinean unions have suspended the anticipated general strike until March 31.
With public support for another strike waning, unions and the government agreed to a proposal whereby a committee would be set up a committee to monitor the implementation of last year's power-sharing agreement, noted Reuters.
With public support for another strike waning, unions and the government agreed to a proposal whereby a committee would be set up a committee to monitor the implementation of last year's power-sharing agreement, noted Reuters.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
[Guinean news] More pre-strike news
Guinean Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté has asked unions to call off the general strike, scheduled to re-start on January 10. Unions said they would respond once they had a chance to hold consultations.
Guinean employers are confident another strike will be averted, according to Reuters.
And while concerns remain about stalled reform, IRIN reports that civil society support for another strike appears to be waning.
Guinean employers are confident another strike will be averted, according to Reuters.
And while concerns remain about stalled reform, IRIN reports that civil society support for another strike appears to be waning.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
[Guinean news] Calm returns to Guinea in advance of anticipated general strike
Voice of America reports that calm has returned to Guinea after anti-government protests following the controversial sacking by the head of state of the communications minister.
Youths in suburbs of Conakry burned tires, built barricades and threw stones.
One man was killed as he stepped out of a taxi and was hit by a thrown rock.
Unions have called for a nationwide general strike, suspended last February, to resume on January 10. Embattled Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté, named to the post with union agreement following last year's strike, has engaged in talks with the syndicates to avert another work stoppage.
"Efforts are being made to defuse the crisis, besides all the efforts made by state institutions, religious leaders and union leaders," Kouyate told a private radio station in Conakry, notes Reuters.
Kouyaté also had what he termed a "very conciliatory exchange" with head of state Gen. Lansana Conté but offered no concrete details.
Youths in suburbs of Conakry burned tires, built barricades and threw stones.
One man was killed as he stepped out of a taxi and was hit by a thrown rock.
Unions have called for a nationwide general strike, suspended last February, to resume on January 10. Embattled Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté, named to the post with union agreement following last year's strike, has engaged in talks with the syndicates to avert another work stoppage.
"Efforts are being made to defuse the crisis, besides all the efforts made by state institutions, religious leaders and union leaders," Kouyate told a private radio station in Conakry, notes Reuters.
Kouyaté also had what he termed a "very conciliatory exchange" with head of state Gen. Lansana Conté but offered no concrete details.
Friday, January 04, 2008
[Guinean news] General strike to resume on January 10
There has been rioting in Guinea after the head of state Gen. Lansana Conté fired Communications Minister Justin Morel Jr.
Voice of America reported that Conté's New Years Day message attacked the government of Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté, calling it a "disappointment."
However an analyst for the International Crisis group disagreed, saying that "[t]here has been some clear improvement in social services, water, electricity, and all these issues were really the core reason of the general strike and the massive demonstrations last year.".
Morel responded by telling state television that the words attributed to Conté were penned by extremists "nostalgic for a past that no longer exists."
Kouyaté and his cabinet were appointed after an agreement struck last year between Conté and labor unions in order to end a debilitating general strike.
Many inside Guinea are outraged by Morel's sacking by presidential decree, arguing that he was named minister via consensus and could only be sacked via the same method.
This is seen as only the latest move by the presidency to undermine Prime Minister Kouyaté's authority.
Last month, Conte signed a decree giving more control within the government to one of his closest allies, the presidency secretary-general, Sam Mamadi Soumah.
Guinéenews reported that Kouyaté's government threatened to resign if Conté's decree was not reversed.
Outraged by what it sees as Conté's betrayal of last year's deal and undermining of Kouyaté's authority, unions have called for a resumption of the nationwide general strike, starting on January 10.
"We are going to stage an unlimited general strike to force the government to respect these agreements," the secretary-general of the National Confederation of Guinean Workers (CNTG), Rabiatou Serah Diallo, told a news conference.
Earlier a union leader told Reuters: "This is a serious violation of the agreement which ended last year's crisis."
Officially, union leaders did not end last year's general strike following the power-sharing deal, but only suspended it.
Voice of America reported that Conté's New Years Day message attacked the government of Prime Minister Lansana Kouyaté, calling it a "disappointment."
However an analyst for the International Crisis group disagreed, saying that "[t]here has been some clear improvement in social services, water, electricity, and all these issues were really the core reason of the general strike and the massive demonstrations last year.".
Morel responded by telling state television that the words attributed to Conté were penned by extremists "nostalgic for a past that no longer exists."
Kouyaté and his cabinet were appointed after an agreement struck last year between Conté and labor unions in order to end a debilitating general strike.
Many inside Guinea are outraged by Morel's sacking by presidential decree, arguing that he was named minister via consensus and could only be sacked via the same method.
This is seen as only the latest move by the presidency to undermine Prime Minister Kouyaté's authority.
Last month, Conte signed a decree giving more control within the government to one of his closest allies, the presidency secretary-general, Sam Mamadi Soumah.
Guinéenews reported that Kouyaté's government threatened to resign if Conté's decree was not reversed.
Outraged by what it sees as Conté's betrayal of last year's deal and undermining of Kouyaté's authority, unions have called for a resumption of the nationwide general strike, starting on January 10.
"We are going to stage an unlimited general strike to force the government to respect these agreements," the secretary-general of the National Confederation of Guinean Workers (CNTG), Rabiatou Serah Diallo, told a news conference.
Earlier a union leader told Reuters: "This is a serious violation of the agreement which ended last year's crisis."
Officially, union leaders did not end last year's general strike following the power-sharing deal, but only suspended it.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
[Guinean news] Crackdown on academic corruption
The IRIN news service reports on an unprecedented crackdown on academic corruption in Guinea.
It notes that for the first time in the country's history, professors have been suspended on charges of corruption and students have been fined or jailed for cheating in exams.
Higher Education Minister Ousmane Souaré, who was once part of a teachers' union, told IRIN, "Up to now these practices have been accepted. It was a system of utter disarray and carelessness and this had to be stopped."
During exams this year the common practices of buying crib sheets, accessing tips by mobile phone or having a friend take a test did not work: Many students wrote frantic notes to the education minister on their exam papers, or simply left them blank.
The minister instituted new procedures, such as banning cell phones and allowing only test takers to be on campus during exams.
It notes that for the first time in the country's history, professors have been suspended on charges of corruption and students have been fined or jailed for cheating in exams.
Higher Education Minister Ousmane Souaré, who was once part of a teachers' union, told IRIN, "Up to now these practices have been accepted. It was a system of utter disarray and carelessness and this had to be stopped."
During exams this year the common practices of buying crib sheets, accessing tips by mobile phone or having a friend take a test did not work: Many students wrote frantic notes to the education minister on their exam papers, or simply left them blank.
The minister instituted new procedures, such as banning cell phones and allowing only test takers to be on campus during exams.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
[African news] How Guinea-Bissau is becoming a narco-state
The BBC World Service has a troubling documentary explaining how Guinea-Bissau has become the central transit point for South American drugs traffickers ferrying cocaine to Europe.
The Council on Foreign Relations has information on it as well.
While this may not affect Guinea directly right now, the prospect of having a failed state run by drugs smugglers on Guinea's northwestern border is not a tantalizing one. Given the failed or barely recovering states on Guinea's southern and eastern borders and given the increasingly dysfunctional nature of Guinea's own institutions, Guinea could do without this further destabilizing influence.
The Council on Foreign Relations has information on it as well.
While this may not affect Guinea directly right now, the prospect of having a failed state run by drugs smugglers on Guinea's northwestern border is not a tantalizing one. Given the failed or barely recovering states on Guinea's southern and eastern borders and given the increasingly dysfunctional nature of Guinea's own institutions, Guinea could do without this further destabilizing influence.
Monday, December 03, 2007
[RPCV news] Documentary produced by Guinea RPCV on Liberia's government to be shown in NYC this week
Director and Guinea RPCV Micah Schaffer reports the following:
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
This week there will be three New York screenings of
“Iron Ladies of Liberia,” a PBS/BBC documentary that I
co-produced.
Monday, December 3rd at 6pm at Teachers College,
Columbia University located at 525 West 120th St.
Tuesday, December 4th at 6:30pm at Anthology Film
Archives located at 32 Second Ave. and 2nd and
Thursday, December 6th at 1:50pm at Clearview 62nd
Street at 62nd Street & Broadway St. in Manhattan.
“Iron Ladies of Liberia” follows the first year in
office of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa’s first female
president.
Hailed as the most positive story to come out of
Africa since the end of apartheid, Ellen and her
powerful team of female ministers give a glimpse of
what can happen when women lead.
Our production team gained an unprecedented degree of
access to this remarkable woman at a remarkable period
in history.
Tickets at the door or go to:
http://www.nyadff.org/tickets.html
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
This week there will be three New York screenings of
“Iron Ladies of Liberia,” a PBS/BBC documentary that I
co-produced.
Monday, December 3rd at 6pm at Teachers College,
Columbia University located at 525 West 120th St.
Tuesday, December 4th at 6:30pm at Anthology Film
Archives located at 32 Second Ave. and 2nd and
Thursday, December 6th at 1:50pm at Clearview 62nd
Street at 62nd Street & Broadway St. in Manhattan.
“Iron Ladies of Liberia” follows the first year in
office of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa’s first female
president.
Hailed as the most positive story to come out of
Africa since the end of apartheid, Ellen and her
powerful team of female ministers give a glimpse of
what can happen when women lead.
Our production team gained an unprecedented degree of
access to this remarkable woman at a remarkable period
in history.
Tickets at the door or go to:
http://www.nyadff.org/tickets.html
Friday, November 02, 2007
[Guinean news] Book on Camp Boiro published
Controversial former interior minister Alseny René Gomez has recently published a book on his eight years spent in Camp Boiro in Conakry. The jail for political prisoners was one of the most infamous features of Sékou Touré's 1958-84 regime.
In his book entitled 'Camp Boiro: parler ou périr' ('Talk or perish'), Gomez writes, "Rats got better treatment than humans. Those that saw death coming would write on the walls of their cells in blood or feces."
Gomez, then interior minister, was a key figure in the February 1996 army mutiny that turned into an attempt coup against Gen. Lansana Conté's regime.
In his book entitled 'Camp Boiro: parler ou périr' ('Talk or perish'), Gomez writes, "Rats got better treatment than humans. Those that saw death coming would write on the walls of their cells in blood or feces."
Gomez, then interior minister, was a key figure in the February 1996 army mutiny that turned into an attempt coup against Gen. Lansana Conté's regime.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
[Guinean news] Youths in Labé protest power cuts
The UN's IRIN news service reports on protests against erratic electricity in the central Guinean city of Labé.
Some 1000 youths marched on the town’s state electricity office earlier this month, chased out the staff and barricaded the doors.
The youths then marched to the governor’s office and handed him the keys, appealing to him to find a solution to Labé’s electricity problem.
IRIN noted that the youths did not use violence but added that [s]ince the protest, there has been no electricity anywhere.
The news service reported that public protests have increased since a mass movement paralyzed the country earlier this year.
Then, Guinea saw unprecedented citizen demonstrations, as thousands of people poured into the streets denouncing poor living conditions. The protests, in which security forces cracked down on civilians, paralysed the country for weeks.
Guineans and outside observers alike say the nationwide strikes transformed Guineans, giving them a taste of the power of taking to the streets.
According to the UN Development Program, only 8 percent of people in the country known as the 'water tower of West Africa' have access to electricity... and most who do find power cuts a regular fact of life.
Some 1000 youths marched on the town’s state electricity office earlier this month, chased out the staff and barricaded the doors.
The youths then marched to the governor’s office and handed him the keys, appealing to him to find a solution to Labé’s electricity problem.
IRIN noted that the youths did not use violence but added that [s]ince the protest, there has been no electricity anywhere.
The news service reported that public protests have increased since a mass movement paralyzed the country earlier this year.
Then, Guinea saw unprecedented citizen demonstrations, as thousands of people poured into the streets denouncing poor living conditions. The protests, in which security forces cracked down on civilians, paralysed the country for weeks.
Guineans and outside observers alike say the nationwide strikes transformed Guineans, giving them a taste of the power of taking to the streets.
According to the UN Development Program, only 8 percent of people in the country known as the 'water tower of West Africa' have access to electricity... and most who do find power cuts a regular fact of life.
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