Afro European Sisters Network (www.aesn.eu)

Black Genocide.......

2009-12-20T04:41:00.000-08:00

They were stolen from their homes, locked in chains and taken across an ocean. And for more than 200 years, their blood and sweat would help to build the richest and most powerful nation the world has ever known.

But when slavery ended, their welcome was over. America's wealthy elite had decided it was time for them to disappear and they were not particular about how it might be done.

What you are about to see is that the plan these people set in motion 150 years ago is still being carried out today. So don't think that this is history. It is not. It is happening right here, and it's happening right now.

More info:www.maafa21.com/

THIRD ACP CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM ESTABLISHES ACP INFORMATION AND DIALOGUE NETWORK

2009-12-18T05:24:00.000-08:00

By Joyce van Genderen-Naar

On 10 and 11 December 2009 the 3rd ACP Civil Society Forum was held at the ACP House in Brussels. Representatives from Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Civil Society came together to discuss how to move forward after many years of silence and inactivity. In 1997 the Forum was established by ACP Civil Society organizations from the ACP regions in Entebbe, Uganda with the aim to provide a platform for civil society actors in the ACP countries, where they could articulate views and concerns, share information and facilitate dialogue with official ACP-EU institutions in order to support and strengthen the participation of ACP Civil Society in the ACP-EU development cooperation. The follow up was an impressive and unique Conference on the Participation of Civil Society in the implementation of the Cotonou Agreement, organised in July 2001 by the Belgian EU Presidency and the ACP Secretariat in Brussels. For almost a week, from July 2nd – 7th 2001, more than 150 representatives of ACP civil society came together in Brussels to discuss their role in the ACP-EC cooperation and the ACP-EC-Agreement, signed by the EC and the ACP countries a year before in Cotonou on 23 June 2000.

This first ACP Civil Society Forum adopted a Plan of Action.
However, between 2001 and 2006 there was no follow up and no implementation. Only in 2006 the 2nd ACP Civil Society Forum was organised. During a 4-day meeting in April 2006 at the ACP Secretariat in Brussels a Declaration and Plan of Action was adopted, and never implemented during the years to follow.

The participants of the 3rd ACP Civil Society Forum, a two day meeting in Brussels, organised in December 2009, three years later after the second one, concluded that the remaining 10 years should not be wasted, being aware that the Cotonou Agreement will expire in 2020. They decided to create a network for the exchange and sharing of information and dialogue through internet and any other appropriate media, connecting Civil Society organizations and their focal points in 79 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. They agreed upon a coordinator for each of the six ACP regions: four in Africa, one in the Caribbean and one in the Pacific. According to the ACP rotation system the Caribbean chaired the 3rd ACP Civil Society Forum and appointed Mr. Lawman Lynch (Jamaica). In 2006 the Chair of the 2nd ACP Civil Society Forum came from Africa (Cote d’Ivoire) and the next Chair will be from the Pacific.

ACP Secretary-General, Sir John Kaputin, at the opening of the 3rd ACP Civil Society Meeting in Brussels, urged the participants to make the most of this all-ACP platform of stock-taking, policy dialogue and planning. He said that a high priority for Civil Society at the national, regional and all-ACP levels, is the aspiration to be involved in the consultation in the Programming, Implementation of National and Regional Indicative Programmes and all-ACP Programmes, consultation in the Mid-Term Review process of the Country Strategy Papers and the National and Regional Indicative Programmes; consultation in the review of the Cotonou Agreement (which is taking place now); the negotiation and Follow- Up of the Economic Partnership Agreements and the impact of the current Financial Crisis.

He encouraged the participants to exchange views evaluating the types of consultations that target the existing wide range of Non-State Actor Organisations, and to discuss and agree amongst themselves on the most appropriate working mechanisms for future cooperation at the national, regional and all-ACP levels.

As said before the participants of the 3rd ACP Civil Society Forum agreed upon a virtual network as the most appropriate working mechanisms for future cooperation at the national, regional and all-ACP levels. Through internet discussions they will deal with the questions raised by the ACP Secretary General Sir John Kaputin, such as: How satisfied are we with our Governments approach to active policy dialogue with the wide range of Civil Society actors? Has significant progress been made, since our last all-ACP discourse, to greater include Civil Society in the consultation processes on Capacity Building needs? Have Civil Society Capacity Building requirement been addressed to facilitate greater involvement in the policy dialogue on issues highlighted in the thematic areas discussed at the last meeting? Are Civil Society stakeholders present at the negotiating table on Economic Partnership Agreements?

Mrs. Dominique DELICOUR of the EuropeAid cooperation office (AIDCO) of the European Commission made a presentation on the participation of ACP Civil Society in the 9th and 10th European Development Fund (EDF). She gave an overview of the ACP programmes adopted, approved and the budget foreseen (191,6 million Euro for the 10th EDF). She said that there is a strong appeal and push for better and more involvement and engagement of Civil Society and that it is important for Civil Society to seize this momentum and to participate in the regional seminar, planned by AIDCO.F1 in Mali, Africa, in 2010 in the framework of structured dialogue. She also informed the participants about the EC study on Civil Society participation and urged them to read this. The study is available on the site: http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/what/civil-society/index_en.htm

All ACP participants stressed the complexity and bureaucratic procedures of the EC procedures, the problems they experience in dealing with the European Commission, the National and Regional Authorizing Officers. They asked why the EC sees capacity building as the solution of all ACP problems. They even suggested that the EC in its turn needs capacity building too in order to deal with the ACP countries and their population. They made an urgent appeal upon the EC to involve ACP experts, ACP Universities and ACP research institutions for the design, implementation and monitoring of studies, research and capacity building programmes in the ACP countries. The practice followed by the EC to send EU consultants to the ACP countries has not resulted in capacity building nor exchange and transfer of knowledge, in contrary the many reports they wrote are not used and are a waste of time and money.

The second presentation was made by Dr. Stephanie Diakité, International Expert, on the Evidence Based Knowledge Sharing (EBKS) as a tool for Civil Society to influence ACP-EU policy. Once again the ACP participants of the Forum noted that there is enough expertise and experience in ACP countries and that nothing new was placed on the table.

Brussels, December 14, 2009
Joyce van Genderen-Naar, Lawyer/journalist
Email: vangenderen@unicall.be

Winners of the Women of the African Diaspora Website & Social Network 2nd Anniversary Survey

2009-12-06T02:42:00.000-08:00

Sandra Rafaela and Adrianne George are pleased to announce the following winners on the Women of the African Diaspora 2nd Anniversary survey:

- Kim C Johnson (US): Sheabutter Cottage
Sheabutter Cottage Cioccolatina gift box worth £20,
SheabutterCottage gift box worth £15,
Sheabutter Cottage AshantiGirl gift box worth £10

- Taiwo (UK): Sisay
Sisay International's set of Amla 100 gr amla powder,
100 ml amla oil, set of shikakai 100 gr Shikakai powder,
100 ml shikakai oil, set of Neem 100 gr neem powder,
100 ml Neem oil, and 2x heating caps (for a deep conditioning treatment)

-Maatis (US): Northwest Scents Natural Black Hair Care
Gift Certificate from Northwest Scents Natural Black Hair Care for $40

- Portia (UK): Creating Tomorrow
Two sessions of Dispell Disbelief\u2122 Coaching from Creating Tomorrow

- Kathryn (US): Simplicity Mastered
369 (90-Day Business Action Plan) valued at $395 from Simplicity Mastered

-Trina (DE): M.H.A. Menondji
An authographed copy of the novel Beyond Those Hills: An Officer And A Lady by M.H.A. Menondji
If you haven’t had a chance to complete the survey you still can to claim your free custom greeting cards; just in time for the holidays-mailed for you-from Donna Elmore.

Take the survey today:
http://tinyurl.com/womenoftheafricandiaspora

Thank you to all of our sponsors/partners!

SISAY:natural hair and skincare for woman and children of color

All the best from Holland and Sweden!

Sandra & Adrianne

Being Black and Becoming European: Un/Settled Migration and Hidden Histories

2009-12-03T11:47:00.000-08:00

Call for Papers Deadline: 2010-02-28

Being Black and Becoming European:
Un/Settled Migration and Hidden Histories

"Striving to be European and black requires some specific forms of
double consciousness"

Paul Gilroy - The Black Atlantic, 1993

The Editors of African and Black Diaspora: An International Journal(Routledge)announce a Call for Papers on Being Black and Becoming
European:Un/Settled Migration and Hidden Histories to examine the
intersection between Being Black and Becoming European in the context
of a changing Europe.

In the last decade, the presence of African Diaspora populations has
drawn increased attention from scholars and the public at large.
Although the systematic study of the history of what is now generally
referred to as Black Europe has just begun, the history African
Diaspora populations in Europe remains neglected and hidden.

The Editors encourage a range of contributions that critically examine
Being Black and Becoming European amid contestations, negotiations,
and competing identity claims through a range of perspectives that
touch on questions such as: What does it mean to be Black and Becoming
European in a changing Europe? How have processes and dynamics of
racialization and gendering of Black subjects materialized and been
contested? What are the historical legacies of European colonialism on
Being Black and Becoming European? In what ways has Blackness been
constructed and negotiated across Europe? What sort of state
strategies has been deployed to police, regulate and manage Blackness
in Europe? What discursive frameworks are emerging to examine Being
Black and Becoming European?

Contributors are encouraged to explore being Black and Becoming
European: Unsettled Migration and Hidden Histories in Europe through
various disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches such as
literature, history, music, performance and cultural studies,
photography and visual art, and anthropology etc...

African and Black Diaspora: An International Journal (Routledge) is
devoted to a critical interrogation of the trans/national movement,
locations and intersections of subjectivity within the African
Diaspora in the context of globalization as well as in different
discourses, political, social, historical and cultural contexts. The
journal maps and navigates the theoretical and political forces set in
motion by nation-state and provides a counter-narrative of subject
positions regarding resistance, negotiation and cultural production of
African descendant populations.

The aim of the journal is to advance the analytical and interrogative
discourses that constitute the distinctive interdisciplinary field of
African and Black Diaspora Studies in the production of knowledge
about the deterritorialised and transnational nature of the African
and Black Diaspora. Eschewing essentialist modes of theorizing, the
journal situates the movement of African descended populations
(geographic, cultural, social, political and psychological) in the
context of globalized and transnational spaces by emphasizing the
centrality of African and Black Diaspora as a unit of analysis as well
as the development of diasporic identities across time and space.

Abstracts should be 400-500 words in length. Authors should send their
material with the abstract attached as a Word document. The abstract
should also be included in the body of the message. Please be sure to
include the following information in the e-mail as well: Full name,
university affiliation, and the title of your abstract.

Deadlines: submission of Abstracts, February 28, 2010 and submission
of completed papers, July 30, 2010. Authors of accepted abstracts will
receive e-mail notification no later than March 15, 2010.

Proposals should be sent to:
Fassil Demissie,
DePaul University
fdemissi@depaul.edu

Fassil Demissie, Editor
African and Black Diaspora
Department of Public Policy, Suite 150.1
DePaul University
2352 N. Clifton Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
Email: fdemissi@depaul.edu=

Sandrine Joseph, une femme de tête et d’engagement

2009-12-01T23:46:00.000-08:00

Cadre supérieur, Sandrine Joseph, 37 ans, se nourrit de défis, de convictions et de son engagement au sein de différents réseaux européens.

Il est difficile de résumer le parcours de Sandrine Joseph tant il est riche et varié ! Une chose est sûre : elle s’est toujours donné les moyens de sa réussite et de ses ambitions.

Dès 20 ans, elle commence à travailler pour financer ses études (Maîtrise de finances et DEA de stratégie industrielle à la Sorbonne) et fait ses premières armes au sein de la fonction publique : ministère des finances et l’ENA. Mais plutôt que de tenter d’intégrer un grand corps de l’Etat, Sandrine Joseph préfère se tourner vers un cabinet de conseil en stratégie spécialisé dans Internet, un secteur alors naissant.

Repérée et embauchée par France Télécom – Orange en 1998, elle occupe successivement des postes à dominante marketing, finance et technique. « Ce qui me guide et me motive, c’est l’innovation, l’accompagnement du changement et le relationnel. Je recherche les défis et apprécie d’avoir une vision stratégique des choses ». En 2007, elle devient marketing manager au sein de l’incubateur d’Orange (Orange Labs) où elle travaille sur des projets innovants, utilisant à la fois ses compétences en finances et marketing.

Read the article at the original source:
http://www.maviepro.fr/magazine/vie-pro/sandrine-joseph-une-femme-de-tete-et-d-engagement

Directrice Talent management et développement des cadres chez un opérateur télécom.

Sur quels réseaux sociaux êtes-vous inscrits ? Pourquoi ceux-là ? A quoi cela vous sert-il (vous a-t-il servi / pensez-vous que ça vous servira) ?

Je suis inscrite sur des réseaux professionnels généralistes (Linkedin, Viadeo, Xing) pour développer ma visibilité et trouver rapidement des informations me permettant d'être performante dans le cadre de mes missions, créer des opportunités pour bouger. Ayant mon hobby - RISKANGEL (financement des start-ups), Linkedin me permet de cibler mes invitations, de trouver des angels pour mes porteurs de projets, ainsi que des spécialistes pour faire mûrir des projets. Dans le cadre de la promotion des femmes de couleur en entreprise (Black Women in Europe), je trouve des relais internationaux, tant en capitalisation des bonnes pratiques, qu'en brainstorm sur des problématiques internationales.

Original post:
http://www.courriercadres.com/content/sandrine-joseph

Sandrine Joseph reçoit Outre Mer Network
door outremernetwork

SECOND INTERNATIONAL DECADE OF DECOLONIZATION ENDS UNNOTICED

2009-11-29T10:59:00.001-08:00

By Joyce van Genderen-Naar

The Second International Decade of Decolonization is ending soon in 2010. The main conclusion is that two decades were not enough to resolve all decolonization issues, in contrary the process of self-determination leading to decolonization has become increasingly complex. Third and even more International Decades will be needed before all Non-Self-Governing Territories have attained self-determination. The international mandate for decolonisation is a function of the UN Charter and UN resolutions on decolonisation are supported by all of the nations of the world, with regard to the international obligation to develop self-government and to take due account of the political aspirations of the people of their territories (article 73 of the United Nations Charter). But the implementation is politically sensitive and information has been scarce. Decolonization issues stay unnoticed.

The stocktaking took place during the Caribbean Regional Seminar on Decolonization, organized on 12, 13 and 14 May in St. Kitts and Nevis (Caribbean) by the UN Special Committee of 24 on Decolonization (Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples). Recommendations were made to establish a mechanism for dialogue between local authorities in the Territories, administering Powers and the international community to facilitate the decolonization process. There has to be more interaction and cooperation between the Special Committee and the administering Powers, by creating frameworks for dialogue between the Territories, the administering Powers and the Special Committee. The international community needs to work together and to remain engaged, guided by the political options available to the Non-Self-Governing Territories: free association with other independent States, full integration with political rights, or independence. It is important to focus more on the specific needs of each Territory in terms of their political and economic needs and assistance by the United Nations system. Education and public outreach are crucial for decolonization, to enable the people concerned to make informed decisions regarding their future political status, to promote maturity and movement towards “appropriation of the own destiny”: “You cannot insist on your rights, unless you understand them.” Decisions on self-determination must be based on full information and education.

In a message to the Seminar UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had urged the administering Powers, Non-Self-Governing Territories and the United Nations to continue working together to accelerate the process of eradicating colonialism. He said that progress in this area will require close cooperation between all three actors. He noted that the right to self-determination must be taken into proper account in exploring how to accelerate the decolonization process for the remaining 16 UN listed non self-governing territories, namely the 10 Overseas Countries and Territories of the UK (Anquilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean Sea; Falklands Islands (Malvinas) and St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean; Pitcairn Islands in the Pacific; Gibraltar in Europe); New Caledonia, Overseas Country and Territory of France in the Pacific; 3 territories of the USA: Virgin Island in the Caribbean, American Samoa and Guam in the Pacific; Tokelau, a self-governing dependency of New Zealand in the Pacific; Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco, in Africa.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was counting on the administering Powers in particular to discharge their obligations in a manner that promotes the well-being of the inhabitants of the territories within their responsibility. The interests of the peoples of the Territories have to be at the heart of all efforts. The UN system will continue to assist the Non-Self-Governing Territories, in areas such as economic and social development, environmental sustainability, healthcare and good governance.

Emerging challenges for the Non-Self-Governing Territories on their path towards decolonisation are the impact of climate change, the global economic and financial crisis, the role of regional cooperation, education and public awareness, the role of women, the empowerment of vulnerable people and the capacity for full self-government towards self-determination. Key elements in responding to the challenges of today are political maturity, economic sustainability, enhanced administrative capacity and strengthened regional cooperation.
Regional cooperation and regional arrangements offered important opportunities for many Non-Self-Governing Territories and contributed to the development of a strong regional identity and strengthened concrete functional cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. Important were the role of the United Nations regional commissions, such as the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and bodies like the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), as well as various United Nations specialized agencies. In response to climate change, which had exposed the vulnerability of many Non-Self-Governing Territories, regional cooperation could play a crucial role in the field of disaster preparedness. The global economic crisis had further highlighted the importance of economic sustainability and diversification of the economic base in the Non-Self-Governing Territories through community-based development, the development of small and medium enterprises, promotion of micro-financing and employment-generating activities, and the empowerment of vulnerable groups.

In his closing statement on behalf of the host country, Delano Frank Bart, Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations, characterized the seminar as “the penultimate event” in the course of the Decade. He said that with regard to the energy, food and financial crises, the Territories had been hit as hard as most countries, if not more, but that their concerns were often marginalized. “Our role is to ensure that all needs are met, especially the needs of those of us who are not governing themselves.” Highlighting the impact of climate change, he said that, of the 16 Territories under the Special Committee’s mandate, the majority were islands. Therefore, the concerns of small island developing States within the United Nations system were also the concerns of those Territories. They were among the most vulnerable and needed to be aware of the commitment of the international community to stand by them and “weather the storm together”. Recalling that his country had recently celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary of independence, he said Saint Kitts and Nevis remembered the concerns of the pre-independence period. One needed the goodwill of all parties to resolve such issues, and the participants should, therefore, take away with them a determination to ensure that the day would come in the not-too-distant future, when the Special Committee’s work would bear fruit, and that the solutions found would be in the best interests of all concerned.

The recommendations of the St. Kitts Seminar have become the most recent chapter of the ever growing legislative authority on the self-determination of the territories. Some of the recommendations were included in the decolonisation resolutions adopted by the UN Fourth Committee in November 2009, and are expected to be approved by the General Assembly in December 2009. Implementation is an entirely separate matter, according to International Advisor on Democratic Governance Dr. Carlyle Corbin

GUAM’s self-determination bill
How important information and education are to the people of the Non-self Governing Territories and how essential to the expression of their political aspirations and self-determination, was shown on November 5, 2009, when the delegate of Guam Hon. Madeleine Z. Bordallo, in the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife Legislative hearing on H.R. 3940, introduced a self-determination bill to support a public education program for the people of Guam regarding various political status options to express their desired political status. Guam is a territory of the USA in the Pacific, that has been under the United States Flag as an unincorporated territory for over 111 years. Guam, like her sister territory Puerto Rico, was ceded to the United States from Spain upon the signing of the Treaty of Paris settling the Spanish-American War in 1898. Guam is listed by the United Nations as a non-self-governing territory. Despites all efforts towards defining a new political relationship between Guam and the United States, the political aspirations of the people of Guam for such status were never realized. A referendum affording the people of Guam an opportunity to express their views on status was authorized by local law but remains unscheduled.

In November the US Congressional Committee approved the self-determination bill and assistance to the territories. Dr. Corbin explained that there are two separate pieces of legislation - one bill for American Samoa, Guam and the US Virgin Islands, and a second different bill for Puerto Rico, which is essentially a referendum bill which had been adopted by the same Committee earlier this year. The Puerto Rico measure does not address public education since they already have a very sophisticated process in place via their political parties. Both bills have been adopted by the substantive committee in one House of the US Congress so far. It still has to be adopted by the full House of Representatives, then by the US Senate and signed by the President. He anticipated that this would happen without too much difficulty since there is no new financial resources associated with either measure.

Dr. Corbin also made clear that the issue is not only between independence or not, but rather to chose one of the three political status option which provides for a full measure of self-government, namely independence, free association and integration. These are so recognised by the UN. Some member states which administer territories, such as the UK, have told its territories that offers neither integration nor free association to them, and the choice is either independence or remaining in a dependency status. This is unlike the Dutch Antilles which had achieved sufficient autonomy to be regarded as fully self-governing. This might change as the dismantling of the five islands will now yield a new less autonomous model for the two islands which have chosen in referendum to become separate countries within the Dutch Kingdom.

Brussels, November 2009
Joyce van Genderen-Naar
Email: vangenderen@unicall.be

The history of the disappearance of the reference to the ACP countries from the Lisbon Treaty

2009-11-23T23:37:00.000-08:00

The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

BANANAS: will the european union confirm that the fight against poverty is no longer a priority in its "global europe" strategy?

COMMUNIQUE

At a time when European leaders are gathering to welcome the dawn of a new era with the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty, this change may well prove to be more extensive than anticipated. The coming days could spell the end of the era when Europe considered the fight against poverty a priority.

In the ongoing discussions on the Banana Dossier, the ACP States have made numerous concessions in an effort towards finding a definitive and balanced solution.

In fact, analysis of the European banana market has shown that the customs tariff of €176/t that has been applied to banana imports from Central and South American countries (MFN countries) since January 2006, has sharply increased their presence on the EU market. There is no risk whatsoever, not now nor in the future, given the limited production capacity of the ACP countries that the European market will be “flooded” with ACP bananas. Just one MFN country, like Ecuador for example, could, single-handedly, if it so desired, supply the entire 27-country EU market which, let us not forget, is the only possible trade opening for ACP products.

As a result, it is difficult, at first glance, to understand what is at stake for the European Union when, to the detriment of its commitments to the ACP banana-producing countries, it has proposed that the MFN countries engage in even more extensive liberalization at a faster rate, and suddenly announced an imminent agreement with them.

The ACP countries have repeatedly demonstrated that they fully understand the current trade policy trend which is liberalization. They are therefore in no doubt whatsoever that the trade preferences they currently enjoy will continue to be eroded until they most likely disappear. However, in highlighting the development programme included in the WTO Doha Round negotiations they have merely called for WTO Members to honour their commitments, stressing the need that for any agreement to be balanced, it must necessarily include a transition period with a moratorium, so as to enable the ACP banana-producing countries to adapt to the new market conditions.

In the same context, they recalled the undertaking of the same WTO Member States whereby those among them who granted longstanding preferences must provide financial and additional capacity-building assistance to help remedy supply-side constraints and promote diversification of existing production in the territories of the preference-recipient Members.

In their most recent submission, a pale reflection of their initial demands, the ACP States:

(a) an initial reduction, as “full and final settlement”, from €176/t to €148/t during 2010;

(b) call for the level of 148/t to be maintained, in the event that no agreement is reached on the agriculture modalities of the Doha Round;

(c) accept, in the event of an agreement on the agriculture modalities of the Doha round, a gradual reduction of the customs tariff over ten (10) years, including a 3-year moratorium following application of the first tariff reduction from €176/t to €148/t;

(d) call for financial aid in the sum of 250 million euros, the minimum amount required to meet the needs of ACP banana-supplying countries for the 2010-2013 period; and

(e) an undertaking on the part of the EC to participate in a joint review mechanism designed to assess the situation of the ACP banana suppliers after 2013, and to provide additional resources, as necessary.

In a letter addressed to the heads of several European institutions, including the President of the European Commission, President of the European Council and the President of the European Parliament, Mrs. Eunice Kazembe, incumbent President of the ACP Council of Ministers and Minister of Industry and Trade of Malawi, recalled the fears aroused by the disappearance of the reference to the ACP countries from the Lisbon Treaty. This marks a departure from the texts currently in force, whereas the ACP Group remains the largest grouping of the poorest countries in the developing world, with a longstanding historical relationship with the European Union.

The President of the ACP Council has clearly indicated that Europe has a unique opportunity to allay these fears or to confirm them, depending on the response that the European Commission will give to the ACP demands. This would demonstrate if Europe is definitively adopting an aggressive trade strategy based on its “Global Europe” policy at the expense of a frontline role in the fight against poverty.

For press details contact: iroga@acp.int

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The history of the disappearance of the reference to the ACP countries from the Lisbon Treaty

Below: An article by Joyce van Genderen-Naar

DRAFT EU-CONSTITUTION LEAVES OUT ACP-EC-COOPERATION
Joyce van Genderen-Naar
Lawyer
Brussels, 16th March 2004.

In the Draft Constitution for Europe, which shall replace the present EC/EU-Treaties, the article on the ACP-EC-Agreement (art. 179. par.3 EC-Treaty) has been left out.
Art. 179 par. 3 EC-treaty decides:
' The provisions of this Article shall not affect cooperation with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the framework of the ACP-EC Convention. '
Art. 179 par. 3 is a part of the current provisions on Development Cooperation in the EC-Treaty (Title XX) and a part of art. 179 :
Article 179
1. Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Treaty, the Council, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251, shall adopt the measures necessary to further the objectives referred to in Article 177. Such measures may take the form of multiannual programmes.
2. The European Investment Bank shall contribute, under the terms laid down in its Statute, to the implementation of the measures referred to in paragraph 1.
3. The provisions of this Article shall not affect cooperation with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the framework of the ACP-EC Convention.

There is no such article in the Draft Constitution. Title V of the Draft deals with the External Policy of the Union; Chapter IV deals with the cooperation with Third Countries and humanitarian aid. Section 1 concerns Development Cooperation and Article III - 219 par. 1 - 3 will replace the current Article 179 EC-Treaty.
Article III - 219 par 2 inserts the current Article 181 EC-Treaty, ends in par. 3 with what is now Article 179 par. 2: 'The European Investment Bank shall contribute, under the terms laid down in its Statute, to the implementation of the measures referred to in paragraph 1.' and leaves out the current Article 179 par. 3 concerning the ACP-EC-cooperation.

Draft EU-Constitution Article III - 219
1. European laws or framework laws shall establish the measures necessary for the implementation of development cooperation policy, which may relate to multiannual cooperation programmes with developing countries or programmes with a thematic approach.

2. The Union may conclude with third countries and competent international organisations any agreement helping to achieve the objectives referred to in Article III - 93. Such agreements shall be negotiated and conluded in accordance with Article III-227.
The first subparagraph shall be without prejudice to Member States' competence to negotiate in international bodies and to conclude international agreements.

3. The European Investment Bank shall contribute, under the terms laid down in its Statute, to the implementation of the measures referred to in paragraph 1.

Article179 par. 3 EC-Treaty ('the provisions of article 179 shall not affect cooperation with the ACP-countries in the framework of the ACP-EC Convention') referes to the special relationship between the EC/EU and the ACP-countries, which is the oldest and largest form of cooperation between Europe and countries from the South (ACP) and stood model for later cooperation with other countries. Historical bounds between Europe and the ACP-countries give Europe a special responsability for these countries, which should not be forgotten and should be a part of the next Constitution for Europe. This responsability stays and is even more urgent, because after 37 years of cooperation 40 of the 79 ACP-countries still belong to the poorest countries in the world. Out of the 48 poorest countries in the world 40 are ACP-countries!! By the Cotonou Agreement signed the 23d of June 2000 the ACP-EC-cooperation has been extended until 2020 with the objectives of poverty eradication, sustainable development and the integration in the world economy of the ACP-countries.

What is the reason for the delete of the current article 179 par.3 EC-Treaty? The following reasons were given by a representative of the European Commission:
Today article 179 par. 3 EC provides for a special form of cooperation with the ACP-countries, which makes it possible to finance the European Development Fund outside the framework of the EU-budget. The EDF is composed by national contributions of the EC-member states. In a first version of the Draft the Presidium of the Convention took over current Article 179 par. 3, but emphasized that the Convention should examine whether this provision should be deleted, because a specific policy or different financing is no longer needed. The final report of the Working Group VII of the Convention, dealing with the external policy of the Union, stated: "there is large support for making EDF part of the general EU-budget, that is why for the EDF the same procedures will be applied as for other areas where financial support wil be given". The final report made also clear that this should mean an improvement of the efficiency and more focus on poverty eradication of the EU-development programmes in general, and in no way should it lead to the reduction of the support of the ACP-countries.

A majority of the Convention has supported this approach and Article 179 par. 3 EC was left out of the Draft European Constitution.

Other arguments were: the integration of Cotonou in the normal communautarian framework makes it possible to adjust the support in a better way to the real needs, performance and receive capacity of the ACP-countries, while the process of multiannual programmes will stay in tact. It also helps the European Parliament to fully fulfill its budget tasks conform the general line of the Convention. Further details should be provided for in the institutional agreement concerning the financial perspectives post-2006.

My advice to the ACP is to make an official request to the European Commission and Members of the Convention (representatives of the European Parliament and Member States) to insert a provision concerning the ACP-EC-Cooperation in the Draft/New Constitution in view of the special relationship between the EU and the ACP, historical bounds, responsabilities and mutual interest, as agreed by EC and ACP in Article 55 of the Cotonou Agreement: The objectives of development finance cooperation shall be, through the provision of adequate financial resources and appropriate technical assistance, to support and promote the efforts of the ACP States to achieve the objectives set out in this Agreement on the basis of mutual interest and in a spirit of interdependence".

In principle it is possible that the IGC still decide to insert article 179 par. 3 EC in the future European Constitution. As long as the Constitution is not formal accepted it is legally possible. In contrast with the future Convention in the current IGC only the Governments of the Member States have the power to decide. So they have to be approached in order to save article 179 par. 3 EC. However with regard to the political point of view it will not be easy to insert article 179 par. 3 EC in the New Constitution, because almost every delegation in the IGC has stated that they wish to maintain the draft text of the Constitution with as less as possible adjustments, especially for non-institutional issues. Nor in the IGC at political level nor in the group of legal experts of the IGC the proposition has been made to integrate the ACP-EC-cooperation in the European Constitution. EU-Commisisoner Nielson said during an intervention of the Working Group VII on the External EU-Policy that the cooperation modalities between the EC and the ACP-countries should be revised.

The Convention probably did not consult the ACP. Consultation between the EC and the ACP-states should take place according to Article 12 of the ACP-EC-Agreement in view of the Coherence of Community policies and their impact on the inplementation of the Agreement. Article 12 decides that where the Community intends, in the exercise of its powers, to take a measure which might affect the interests of the ACP states, as fas ar this Agreement's objectives are concerned, it shall inform in good time the said States of its intentions. Towards this end, the Commission shall communicate simultaneously to the Secretariat of the ACP states its proposal for such measures. Where necessary, a request for information may also take place on the initiative of the ACP states. At their request, consultations shall be held promptly so that account may be taken of their concerns as to the impact of those measures before any final decision is made.

EC-TREATY
TITLE XX
DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

Article 177

1. Community policy in the sphere of development cooperation, which shall be complementary to the policies pursued by the Member States, shall foster:
-
The sustainable economic and social development of the developing countries, and more particularly the most disadvantaged among them,

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The smooth and gradual integration of the developing countries into the world economy,

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The campaign against poverty in the developing countries.
2. Community policy in this area shall contribute to the general objective of developing and consolidating democracy and the rule of law, and to that of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
3. The Community and the Member States shall comply with the commitments and take account of the objectives they have approved in the context of the United Nations and other competent international organisations.

Article 178

The Community shall take account of the objectives referred to in Article 177 in the policies that it implements which are likely to affect developing countries.

Article 179

1. Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Treaty, the Council, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251, shall adopt the measures necessary to further the objectives referred to in Article 177. Such measures may take the form of multiannual programmes.
2. The European Investment Bank shall contribute, under the terms laid down in its Statute, to the implementation of the measures referred to in paragraph 1.
3. The provisions of this Article shall not affect cooperation with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in the framework of the ACP-EC Convention.

Article 181

Within their respective spheres of competence, the Community and the Member States shall cooperate with third countries and with the competent international organisations. The arrangements for Community cooperation may be the subject of agreements between the Community and the third parties concerned, which shall be negotiated and concluded in accordance with Article 300.
The previous paragraph shall be without prejudice to Member States' competence to negotiate in international bodies and to conclude international agreements.

DRAFT EU-CONSTITUTION
Chapter IV: Cooperation with Third Countries and Humanitarian Aid.
Section 1: Development Cooperation.

Article III - 219
1. European laws or framework laws shall establish the measures necessary for the implementation of development cooperation policy, which may relate to multiannual cooperation programmes with developing countries or programmes with a thematic approach.

2. The Union may conclude with third countries and competent international organisations any agreement helping to achieve the objectives referred to in Article III - 93. Such agreements shall be negotiated and conluded in accordance with Article 111 - 227.
The first subparagraph shall be without prejudice to Member States' competence to negotiate in international bodies and to conclude international agreements.

3. The European Investment Bank shall contribute, under the terms laid down in its Statute, to the implementation of the measures referred to in paragraph 1.

Joyce van Genderen-Naar
Lawyer Brussels Bar
Email: vangenderen@unicall.be

3rd Annual European Union Equality Summitt

2009-11-16T01:41:00.000-08:00

The third Equality Summit will be held in Stockholm on 16–17 November.

This is an annual event for ministers, chairs of national equality bodies, chairs of NGOs at EU level, EU social partners and representatives of international organisations. The purpose is to share knowledge and experience so as to develop stronger and more effective ways of working against all forms of discrimination, and to promote equal rights and opportunities for all in the EU.

Get full details, get the program and external resources form the summit website.
<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=9c727ec937" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;3rd European Union Equality Summit&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

If there is a problem viewing the live blog here you can click here instead.

For Videos and Updates See:
www.womenoftheafricandiaspora.com/2009/11/16/3rd-annual-european-union-equality-summitt/

European Partnership Agreement with African, Caribbean and Pacific States

2009-11-09T09:59:00.000-08:00

Elaine M. Campbell

Renegotiate EPA: a very optimistic approach

To be clear, EPA is not called Economic Partnership Agreement for nothing. It is a not a Development Aid package but rather a trade agreement, one of many, such as its predecessor the Cotonou Agreement signed in 2000. EPA seeks to realign the business/trade relationships which were granted to ACP countries under a preferential agreement, reached at time of the signing of the entry of the UK to the European Union in 1972. In time, there has been a gradual change of these preferential trade relations between the Caribbean, African and Pacific regions and the EU. This is evident, amongst others, from the downturn in the regions’ sugar and banana industries.

The concerns voiced by the academics is typical of a “reactive approach” taken by peoples of our region. The academics claimed that representatives have made the deal of EPA with their eyes wide shut. The truth is, it is not for the representatives to make deals. They are channels of information. It is for the elected Caribbean leaders to make sensible decisions on our behalf. At this point, leaders are aware, or at least should have been aware, of the consequences of the UK’s membership of the EU. There was time enough, more than 30 years, in which our leaders should have created a strategic plan in which Jamaica, after almost 46 years of independence, would have been able to step up to the challenges of playing ball on an unlevel international field.

I do not wish to call the lobbying efforts by the academics, in order to “renegotiate the trade deal”, a useless attempt. But I do think that this would cause our representatives in Brussels to become beggars without a cause. Our region has no cohesive plan of getting us out of a peripheral position of merely surviving as “Third World countries”. The effort put in by the Caribbean representatives is ineffective at changing the underlying economical intentions of the EU. EPA has been discussed in all the regions of ACP. The African (French and English-speaking) and Pacific regions are nowhere near signing any documents relating to EPA.

It has been hinted that, under EPA, it will be easier for professionals from the Caribbean region entering the European Union. To me, this is saying that our governments ought to be aware of the next great brain drain from the region. What is our contingency plan? Most of our teachers, doctors, and much-needed personnel have already migrated to the UK, US and Canada. The EU needs workers and is seeking a way of finding people to shore up its economy so as to keep its stronghold on the international stage. Therefore, is this really a negotiation victory we get from EPA?

It is my greatest wish to see our people wake up from the colonial slumber and take a “proactive approach” in the building of our country and regions. One concrete plan would be to see the representatives bodies, such as CRNM, become fully staffed. Brussels, like Washington, is the centre of world politics, and it is highly unprofessional to see the few good civil servants being ostracised when they do what they can when attending meetings on our behalf.

In our region we need a proactive civil society which simulates discussions on international issues affecting our daily lives. Also, we should take a more proactive, pre-emptive approach in countering the moves of the EU or any other country for that matter. Let the truth be known, decisions in Brussels are the outcome of long, internal EU debates and discussions involving local and national stakeholders right from the formative stages. To think that we could renegotiate EPA at this stage is very optimistic. We are simply not prepared.

Elaine Campbell is a legal researcher in The Netherlands.
emcampbell11@hotmail.com

Crossing Borders and Frontiers

2009-11-06T03:30:00.001-08:00

Joyce van Genderen-Naar

The landscape of international development cooperation is coloured by many actors and organisations. Among them are doctors, engineers, architects, lawyers, economists, sociologist, and journalists, crossing borders and frontiers all over the world. They established international non-governmental organisations on the basis of their profession to work in countries which are at war or in conflict situations. Their work brings along risks, dangers and although characterised by impartiality, neutrality and independence, it is sometimes controversial and criticised as partial and interfering in state affairs. One of the reasons could be the lack of information and understanding about their objectives and their working-method as well as the cooperation and communication with national governments and local experts.

View on Nyanzale Refugees Camp (North Kivu, DRC).© Cédric Gerbehaye/Agence VU (www.etat-critique.org)
Well known are the Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international medical humanitarian organisation created in 1971 by doctors and journalists in France. MSF provides aid/medical care in nearly 60 countries to people in crisis regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation, on the basis of need and independent access to victims of conflict as required under international humanitarian law. Medical teams conduct evaluations on the ground to determine the medical needs and care for people who suffer from violence, neglect, or catastrophe, due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care or natural disasters. MSF says that the key to act independently in response to a crisis is its independent funding. Eighty-nine percent of MSF's overall funding comes from private sources, not governments. Website: www.msf.org

Engineers Without Borders (EWB) are formed by several non-governmental organisations in several countries, focused on engineering and construction in international development work and strongly linked to academia and students. Engineers without Borders/Ingénieurs sans frontières (ISF)-France was founded in the 1980s, followed by ISF-Spain and ISF-Italy in the 1990s and EWB-Canada, one of the largest of the EWB organisations, in the late 1990s and many other EWB/ISF groups around the world. Website: www.ewb-international.org

Architects Without Borders is a non-governmental not-for-profit volunteer humanitarian relief organisation, providing technical assistance and support for recovery and reconstruction programs in countries that suffer from economic crisis, human conflict and natural disaster, such as the Tsunami in Asia. Website: www.awb.iohome.net

Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) was founded in 1992 in Belgium, sending lawyers without borders, lawyers for lawyers, abroad to take part in sensitive trials and to assist or represent human rights lawyers and human rights activists persecuted for exercising their profession. Lawyers without borders defended the accused and represented the victims in Rwandan courts and between 1995 and 1998 lawyers were trained in Arusha, Tanzania, for appearance before the International Court (ICC) in Rwanda. Website: www.asf.be/index.php?module=home&lang=en

International Lawyers and Economists against Poverty (ILEAP)/Juristes et Economistes Internationaux contre la Pauvrete (JEICP), is an independent non-profit organisation, launched in Nairobi in May 2002 and established as a non-profit organisation in Canada. The work of ILEAP is focused on increasing the capacity and participation of development countries in international negotiations. African and Caribbean experts are trained by ILEAP for the negotiations of the economic partnership agreements (EPA) with the European Community. Capacity building is provided by trade professionals from several countries. Website:www.ileap-jeicp.org/

Association Studies Without Borders/Études sans frontières is a more recent nonprofit association, founded in Paris in March 2003 by young French citizens with the support of international personalities, such as Vaclav Havel, former president of Czechoslovakia, who considers education as a guarantee for peace promotion, solidarity and sustainable development. Through Studies Without Borders young people, who are not able to study in their own country due to crisis, can continue and resume their studies in Europe and North America, and go back to their country when the situation permits. A total of 190 students from Chechnya, Congo, Rwanda and Western Sahara benefited from the programs of Studies Without Borders. Website:www.etudessansfrontieres.org

Reporters without Borders/Reporters sans frontières (RSF), is a Paris-based international non-governmental organisation, founded in 1985, to advocate freedom of the press, the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas regardless of frontiers, in accordance with Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights. RWB compiles and publishes an annual ranking of countries based upon the organisation’s assessment of their press freedom records. The impartiality of Reporters Without Borders is not universally accepted. Criticisms concern RWB’s funding (a significant amount of funding, 19% of total, comes from certain western governments and organisations), its anti-Castro and anti-Chavez reporting, its methodology in ranking press freedom and the lack of direct understanding of existing laws in ranked countries. Website: www.rsf.org

Sociologists Without Borders was founded in Spain in 2001, as a non-governmental organisation, and has established chapters in Madrid, Catalonia, Valencia, USA, Brazil, and Italy, and others are in formation. Sociologists Without Borders became visible as first professional group that made a critical statement against the United States government unilateral intervention in Iraq. In 2004 and 2005, young sociologists joined the Kibera project, an international effort in support of the welfare and development of a poor slum quarter of Nairobi. Sociologists Without Borders work together with journalists to collect and analyse relevant information for the public. Website: www.sociologistswithoutborders.org

Women of the African Diaspora Website and Social Network Celebrates Second Anniversary

2009-11-03T10:32:00.000-08:00

Women of the African Diaspora Website and Social Network Celebrates Second Anniversary

Social Network Boasts Over 600 Members Around the World.

Rotterdam, NL/Stockholm, SWE November 3, 2009 – Women of the African Diaspora website (http://www.womenoftheafricandiaspora.com/) and social network (http://www.blackwomenunite.ning.com/) is having a birthday complete with gifts for its readers and members. The website and social network, which celebrates Black women, has visitors and members from across the globe.

"Women of the African Diaspora website and social network continue to grow," says Sandra Rafaela, Women of the African Diaspora’s co-founder and co-editor. "We are constantly working very hard to improve our website to provide information, inspiration and more for Black women around the world." Women of the African Diaspora website leverages the global reach of the Internet, social media and widgets to share relevant news, event notices and showcase a wide range of talented Black women including authors, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and others. And with Black women living on virtually every continent, it certainly has a large and influential market.

"Women of the African Diaspora’s website content strives to be very compelling and shine a positive spotlight on Black women that main stream media far too often ignores," says Adrianne George, Women of the African Diaspora‘s co-founder and co-editor. "The number of visitors to the site continues to increase each month, and social networks like Facebook give us a platform to network we didn’t have when starting out. We continue to be the perfect choice for advertisers who want to reach the important market of Black women consumers."

The year has again been marked with highlights for the Women of the African Diaspora co-editors, with Ms. George’s Black Women in Europe blog (http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com/) being a finalist for a 2009 Black Weblog Award for Best International blog as well as being a featured blog on Ebonyjet.com. "We've come so far in just two years," explains George. "Our social network has over 600 members in North America, Europe, Africa and beyond. Rafaela explains, “We really enjoy meeting accomplished and positive Black women while providing them with a unique platform for exposure. We're ready to take on year three."

Let Adrianne and Sandra know what the Women of the African Diaspora and Social network mean to you to get prizes from their sponsors: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewformformkey=dGhSaFZQOFNRYjUwSERtUDBqTEFLckE6MA
Anniversary gifts are provided by Sheabutter Cottage, Greatness By Design™, Sisay International, Author M.H.A. Menondji, Northwest Scents Natural Black Hair Care, Creating Tomorrow, Simplicity Mastered™, and Donna Elmore's Send Out Cards. Businesses with products or services for Black women can participate in the anniversary celebrations by purchasing an advertising package for the website and social network at a 20% savings. More information is available at http://womenoftheafricandiaspora.com/.
Contact:
Sandra Rafaela sandra@womenoftheafricandiaspora.com
Adrianne George adrianne@womenoftheafricandiaspora.com

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (one of the award winners Benedicta Attoh)

2009-10-24T23:57:00.000-07:00

Benedicta Attoh
Women in Leadership Network

Throughout the world, regardless of geography, the lack of women in political leadership positions is a common theme. In Ireland, the percentage of women elected into Dáil Eireann in 2007 was just 13% and the percentage of women elected into local councils in 2009 stands at around 17%. Ireland ranks only 23rd out of the 27 EU countries for the percentage of women in parliament.
Read More: Click Here

"There is no true democracy unless women are given the opportunity to take responsibility for their own lives.”

What Gender Means In Practice

2009-10-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

By Joyce van Genderen-Naar

On 23, 24 and 25 September 2009 a Thematic Workshop on Gender, Peace, Security and Development ‘, What Can the EU do?, was organised by EuropeAid cooperation office (AIDCO) in cooperation with DG Development and DG External relations in Brussels.

The training was attended by participants from the EU, Kenya, Angola, Botswana, DR of Congo, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Colombia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Kosovo and Ukraine.

The main issues discussed were: understanding the impact of conflict on gender roles and relations, understanding the different ways men and women experience and influence conflict dynamics and peace building, the EU Legal framework and Comprehensive Approach, the United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1325 and 1820 on Women, Peace and Security , EU policies and instruments on women, peace, security and development, EU guidelines on violence against women and girls and combating all forms of discrimination against them, gender dimensions of conflict, Gender and DDR (Demilitarisation, Demobilisation and Reintegration with Liberia as good example), Security Sector Reform (SSR), Justice Sector, Crisis Management and Gender Based Violence.

Violence against women, gender-based violence, is a global problem. At least 1 out of every 3 women in the world has been beaten, raped, abused etc.

The participants shared and acquired relevant knowledge and skills on gender policies and practices with the aim to incorporate in their work what they learned, linking theory to practice. They discussed the obstacles they encounter working with gender issues. The name and notion of ‘gender’ is an obstacle itself, not understood or wrongly interpreted by many men and women. Gender has to do with equality and equal representation of men and women at all kinds of level in politics, economics, in work and life. Because women are underrepresented at all levels, most attention in gender is given to women, especially to defend women’s rights when they are at stake, in war and conflict situations. The UN Security Resolutions are so important because for the first time in history it is legally recognized that violence against women in war (rape, torture and killing) is a war crime, to be prosecuted in court. That was not possible before.

One of the important recommendations of the Workshop in Brussels was to involve more men in Gender issues to bring about changes, because “Men listen more to men”.

Gender is a cross cutting issues, that means that in every project and programme of the EC the equal representation has to be addressed. In practice, sanctions stay out, when not addressed.

What Gender means in practice was explained during the Workshop by the following true story: Gender perspective on building a bridge.
“A group of men were to be sent to Sri Lanka in order to build a bridge. During one of the Swedish Rescue Service Agency’s pre-operations briefings, gender equality was on the agenda. However, the operation officer did not think that was necessary: “Our task is to build a bridge, we do not need to worry about gender issues”, he said.
The instructor then started to ask questions: “Who is going to use this bridge? “Well, the locals,” the officer answered. “You mean men, women and children?”, the instructor asked. “Well, yes.”
“OK, how do they travel?” “By car mostly”, the officer answered.
“The women too?,” the instructor asked
“No they’ll probably walk,” the officer answered.
“Then maybe you want to consider building a pedestrian zone on the bridge?” the instructor asked. The operation officer could only agree.
“Now, gentlemen, we have just used a gender perspective on building a bridge,” the instructor added.

Liberia: Pray the Devil Back to HellMost impressing was the presentation of Dr. Ruth Caesar from Liberia, who spoke about the role of the Liberian women during and after the war in Liberia, showed by the Film ‘Pray the Devil Back to Hell’ 2008. From 1989 to 1996 one of Africa's bloodiest civil wars took place in Liberia, claiming the lives of more than 200,000 Liberians and displacing a million others into refugee camps in neighboring countries. Christian and Muslim women in Liberia united to end the war and to bring peace in their country, fed up with 15 years of war and bloodshed. They engaged themselves in the peace negotiations, which resulted in democratic elections and the democratic election of the first female President of Liberia and of Africa: Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. They also engaged in rebuilding of the country through the Demilitarisation, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programme in Liberia and the applying of the UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 in a comprehensive way.

Dr. Ruth Caesar is the Deputy Executive Director of this programme in Liberia. She was one of the courageous Liberian women who united to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country. Thousands of women, ordinary mothers, grandmothers, aunts and daughters, Christians and Muslims, came together every day during many years to pray for peace and then staged a silent protest outside of the Presidential Palace. Armed only with white T-shirts and courage, they demanded a resolution to the country’s civil war. Determined to bring dignity and peace back to their country they stood up to Charles Taylor and the warlords. Their actions were a critical element in bringing about a agreement during the stalled peace talks.

Their story is a true story of sacrifice, unity and transcendence, so impressing, touching and inspiring, that it has been filmed with the help of these courageous women. The film/documentary, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, has won an award and it is an honour for the strength and perseverance of the women of Liberia. Inspiring, uplifting, and most of all motivating, it is a compelling testimony of how grassroots activism can alter the history of nations (Fork Films email: info@praythedevilbacktohell.com; website www.PrayTheDevilBackToHell.com )

In order to maintain stability through the post-conflict period, Liberia's security sector reform efforts have led to the disarmament of more than 100,000 ex-combatants, reconstruction of the Armed Forces of Liberia, and a UN-led effort to overhaul the Liberian National Police. The mandate of UNMIL was extended to September 2009, and a gradual drawdown for several years starting 2008. During this period the Government of Liberia and its development partners will focus on creating jobs, attracting investment, and providing education and other essential services to Liberia's communities. The Government of Liberia won substantial donor support for its new Poverty Reduction Strategy at the June 2008 Liberia Poverty Reduction Forum in Berlin, Germany. At the Workshop in Brussels Dr. Ruth Caesar made clear that genderbased violence has increased in Liberia the last 10 years. So the work goes on to educate men and women.

The Special Court for Sierra Leone was established on January 16, 2002, under an agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Sierra Leone. It was established to try “those who bear the greatest responsibility” for war crimes, crimes against humanity, other serious violations of international humanitarian law and Sierra Leonean law committed in the territory of Sierra Leone since November 30, 1996. The Special Court for Sierra Leone is trying Charles Taylor. The trial is taking place on the premises of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, The Netherlands.

Charles Taylor is charged with 11 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in Sierra Leone from November 30, 1996, to January 18, 2002. The Prosecutor alleges that Mr. Taylor is responsible for crimes which include murdering and mutilating civilians, including cutting off their limbs; using women and girls as sex slaves; and abducting children adults and forcing them to perform forced labor or become fighters during the conflict in Sierra Leone.

Brussels, October 2009
Joyce van Genderen-Naar
vangenderen@unicall.be

2010 Conference About Women and Control (Curaçao)

2009-10-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

What does control mean for women?
Who controls you?
What controls you?
When does control happen?
Can you handle any form of control?
Where does control fit in the lives of female professionals?
What keeps you from controlling your own life?
Why control or be controlled?

A conference on control in the lives of women and how women are programmed to deal with control. This conference aims to help women to focus on different aspects of control in their lives. A team of speakers will provide viewpoints on Women and Control. Each participant will have the opportunity to draw upon the expertise of the speakers through their presentations, question and answer sessions and personal contact.

Keynote speaker on Friday March 5, 2010 - 19.30 - 22.30
Continuing on Saturday March 6, 2010 - 09.00 - 17.00
After Conference Event Sunday March 7, 2010 - 16.00 - 18.00 in Bright World Park, Curaçao

There will as always be informal opportunities to connect with the diversity of experiences of the presenters and participants.

Conference advisor: Norma Angel MM
More info: www.aboutwomenconference.com

Natural haircare with Ayurveda herbs and oil

2009-10-12T10:22:00.001-07:00

Sisay International introduces ayurveda herbs and oils for haircare

For 5 years Sisay Internationals have been active in the natural haircare business. Hair treatments with herbs, oils and clays for healthy strong growing hair. In March of this year Sisay Internationals introduces the concept of "Hairwellness" a concept in which everything that could be damaging for the hair is seen as a taboe.

`I have experienced how treating your hair with natural products and products on natural basis can benefit the health of your hair" says Janine van Throo, founder and owner of Sisay International natural. In the Sisay Wellness Boutique opened earlier this year, woman of color have finally found a place where they can get unique hair treatments with pure, natural herbs, clays and oils.

The clientel of Sisay International is constantly expanding, according to Janine, this is because the wellness boutique offers services that a lot of people have been looking and waiting for. A place where they can be treated with natural products and a place where people have knowledge of natural / black hair that has not been chemically altered. In the Range of the herbs Sisay carries the recently added ayurvedic herbs and oils such as Amla, Shikakai, Hibiscus, rose and Neem. Ayurveda oils and herbs are being used for centuries now for treating and preventing hair issues such as hairloss, alopeicia, gray hair. But these herbs are also absolutely suitable for one who wants to get healthy strong growing hair.

According to Janine people are getting aware of the damage chemicals can do, so they search for natural alternatives. With these treatments Janine knows for sure she offers something unique that people truly need. She also hopes that this is something more hairdressers would want to offer to their clients. Although we are specialists on treating natural black hair, we do treat other types of hair since the herbs are suitable for all hairtypes, says Janine.

Sisay International – Almere
Janine van Throo
Sisay wellness Boutique
Reguliersdwarsstraat 49-2
1017 BK Amsterdam- Netherlands
Tel:+31 6 29384659
info@sisay.eu
www.sisay.eu

Black Austrian, Beatrice Achaleke receives the famous World Diversity Innovation Award 2009

2009-10-08T04:02:00.000-07:00

Beatrice Achaleke (39), Chairwoman of the Black European Women’s Council, BEWC, and Initiator of the Vienna International Center for Black Women’s Perspectives, AFRA, was recognized on September 17, 2009 with the „Global Diversity Innovation Award“ at the World Diversity Leadership-Summit in Washington for her engagement for black women in Europe. She succeeds last year’s winner, Vaclav Havel.

Award for diversity and equal opportunity

Beatrice Achaleke, the „black Austrian from Cameroon“, as she calls herself, has since many years stood up fought for the equality for black women in the European society. Last week on September 17, her engagement was honored with the „Global Diversity Innovation Award“. The prize, which is yearly awarded from the „World Diversity Leadership Council“ initiative, in the scope of the similar named congress in Washington, recognizes personalities for their daily positive contact with diversity. „The honour is not only an incrediable appreciation, but also as a contract of the World Diversity Council, to support diversity as a society’s potential and not as a problem. „I take this contract very seriously and I will even stronger pursue for diversity and integration in Austria and Europe“, says Beatrice Achaleke, who is already back to Austria to work on her next projects.

Chance: Diversity

In her function as chairwoman for the Vienna Organisation AFRA, International Center for Black Women’s Perspectives, the socialogy graduate organised in 2007, the European year of the Chance Equality, the first Black Women’s Congress in Vienna. For the coming year, the European Variant of the World Diversity Leadership Summits, which has succcessfully been held in the USA for the last six years, is planned in Austria. Goal of the conference, to which renowned international diversity experts are expected, is to discuss future strategies and perspectives for the positive dealing with cultural diversity. „Diversity provides chance, not hinderances“, Achaleke is convinced. Two years ago, the commited powerwoman, founded to the Black European Women’s Council, BEWC, a network from black women’s establishments from twelve EU-Member States and Switzerland. „I want to pull out black women and visible minorities from their victim positions and encourage them to appear more confident“, says Achaleke.

Multiple Prize holder

As founder of AFRA, BEWC and the association „Black Women’s Community“ and publisher of the book „Voices of Black European Women“ Beatrice Achaleke was already in 2008 awarded with theMiA-Award for women with migration background and in spring 2009 with the States Honor for Intercultural Activities, as well as the „Myriam Makebe African Diva“-honorprize from Radio Afrika. Besides Intercultural Mentoring, Adult education and her work in the society’s politics and migration, the new-Austrian manages with equal engagement her four-head family.

Phototext: „Global Diversity Innovation“-Prize holder Beatrice Achaleke

Photo credit: AFRA – Imprint fee free
Press inquiry tipp:

comm:unications, Agent for PR, Events & Marketing, Mag. Sabine Siegert

Tel. 01/ 315 14 11-44, sabine.siegert@communications.co.at, http://www.communications.co.at/

AFRA - International Center for Black Women’s Perspectives, Beatrice Achaleke

Tel. 01/ 966 04 25, office@blackwomencenter.org , http://www.blackwomencenter.org/

Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story

2009-10-07T12:50:00.000-07:00

Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.

More about Chimamanda Adichie: Click Here

Women of the African Diaspora (WAD) Website and Social Network 2nd Anniversary Opportunity

2009-10-05T06:38:00.000-07:00

The Afro European Sisters Network and award winning Black Women in Europe™ Blog joined forces in November 2007 to form the Women of the African Diaspora website and social network. The Women of the African Diaspora website is a source of information, inspiration and more for black women around the world. We would like to celebrate our 2nd anniversary by giving gifts to our website visitors and social network members.

Call for sponsors

Adrianne George and Sandra Rafaela, founders of the Women of the African Diaspora website and social network are requesting businesses and individuals who provide products or services of interest to black women to sponsor our 2nd anniversary.
http://www.womenoftheafricandiaspora.com
http://blackwomenunite.ning.com

Benefits to sponsors

During the period 3 September 2008 to 3 October 2009 the WAD website had over 6,000 unique visitors from the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, Italy, South Africa, Ireland, Nigeria, India, Australia, Switzerland, Austria, the Philippines, Netherlands Antilles, Norway, China, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Portugal, Greece, Ghana, Brazil, Slovenia, Denmark, Japan, Poland, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Finland, Russia, Romania, Jamaica, Ivory Coast, Suriname, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Sudan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Israel, U.S. Virgin Islands, Malaysia, Lebanon, Senegal, Egypt, Bermuda, Barbados, Uganda, Hungary, New Zealand, Luxembourg, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Mexico, Benin, Guadeloupe, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Iran, Bahamas, Colombia, Morocco, the Czech Republic, Bahrain, Vietnam, Oman, French Guiana, Rwanda, Kuwait, Chile, Singapore, Cameroon, Saint Lucia, Ukraine, Mozambique, Venezuela, Argentina, Malta, Peru, Qatar, the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Togo, Antigua and Barbuda, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Croatia, Tunisia, Ecuador, Martinique, Algeria, Malawi, Guyana, Tanzania, Myanmar [Burma], Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Latvia, Nepal, Georgia, Bangladesh, Mayotte, Angola, Jordan, Serbia, Sri Lanka, São Tomé and Príncipe, Zambia, Aruba, Jersey, Cyprus, Cape Verde, Haiti, Sierra Leone, Réunion, Iceland, Uruguay, Gambia, Dominican Republic, Niger, Slovakia and Liberia.

Your business will be advertised in the press release announcing our anniversary, on the WAD website and social network and listed on our partners’ page http://womenoftheafricandiaspora.com/partners/ with your logo linking to your website. As a WAD partner you are encouraged to periodically share information with us to be included on our website.

Deadline and contact information
Please contact us by 2 November 2009 to secure your sponsorship. Email Sandra with any questions and your offer on sandra@womenoftheafricandiaspora.com. Include your logo and website address.

From Newspaper to Elegance (Gala Lewis Martinus)

2009-10-04T00:13:00.000-07:00

‘From Newspaper to Elegance’ is the title of a beautiful dolls exposition made by Curaçao artist Gala Lewis Martinus.

The exposition was opened on Friday October 2, 2009 at the Kas di Kultura (Culture House) in Curaçao by Reyna Joe who spoke about the family influence that shaped Gala Lewis Martinus into the artist that she is. Gala is number 6 in a family of 11 children and her parents stimulated her to continue on her artistic path.

This exposition of dolls made from newspapers is the result of Gala Lewis Martinus’ effort to show what can be done with trash. ‘From Newspaper to Elegance’ is her third art exposition. Her first exposition was in 2005 and named ‘Family Connection’. This was an exposition where she and her siblings presented the result of their artistic skills.

In 2008 she and her brother, painter Rudsel held an exposition at the Curaçao Museum with different pieces of themselves and of their students. This third exposition shows a collection of elegant dolls made completely from old newspapers and (to hold them up) seed sticks of the Royal Poinciana.

Gala Lewis Martinus also paints, is specialized in ceramic pieces and prefers to work with recycled materials.
Contact Gala Lewis Martinus at: galamartinus@hotmail.com

Surinam meets Ghana in Amsterdam The Netherlands

2009-09-13T03:26:00.000-07:00

Event: Dance with the Kings

The Kings and Queens from Ghana visited the Surinam community in Amsterdam The Netherlands. Surinam is a former colony of the Netherlands. Since 1975 Surinam is independent.

Roots of former Surinam slaves can be found in Ghana.

Black Identity in the French Republic

2009-08-31T10:24:00.000-07:00

Host:

Solidarité Africaine de France

Moderator:

Sandrine Joseph

Price:

12€

Date:

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Time:

12:00pm – 6:30pm

Location:

Belushi’s Paris
Street: 159 Rue de crimée Metro CRIMÉ ligne 7
City/Town: Paris, France

Email:

soafric@hotmail.fr

Website:

http://www.s-af.org/

Au nom de l’association Solidarité Africaine de France , nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à une rencontre excepptionnelle, dont le thème sera: Identité noire dans la République Française ( la place des noirs dans le paysage républicain).

La rencontre se déroulera le dimanche 06 Septembre de 12h à 18h selon le programme ci-après 12h à 13h présentation des participants, de 13h à 14h déjeuner, et de 14 h à 18 débat au restaurant le Belushi’s Paris 159 rue de crimée( en face du canal ).

J’attire particulièrement votre attention sur le fait que notre intervenant, l’historien,écrivain,éditeur Dieudonné GNAMMANKOU, est un des plus grands professeurs d’histoire(enseignant d’histoire Africaine à la Sorbonne), il est aussi l’auteur de nombreux livres et articles.

Vous avez des idées des propositions d’actions favorisant la diversité et des envies de partager pour agir alors, chaque participant aura la parole entre 5 et-10 minutes pour exposer son idée.

Un modérateur sera présent pour assurer le cadre du débat et reformuler les propositions.

Un repas d’un prix de 12€ à la charge de chaque participant est à payer sur place au restaurant. Toute participation confirmée engage auprès du restaurant le paiement du repas.

Pour de plus amples informations vous pouvez joindre Arsène Olivier NIOMBELA au 06 09 24 81 63 ( responsable de la communication SAF) or Guy Samuel Nyoumsi au 06 98 97 43 61 ( Président de SAF).

African American Women in Europe are invited to submit a letter to 1st Lady Obama for a new book

2009-08-20T03:31:00.000-07:00

African American women living in Europe are invited to submit a letter to United States First Lady Michelle Obama for an upcoming book entitled Go, Tell Michelle, African American Women in Europe Write to the New First Lady. This is a follow up to the book Go, Tell Michelle, African American Women Write to the New First Lady (GTMsisterhoodnetwork.blogspot.com).

For more information and to participate contact Peggy Brooks-Bertrain on pbertram(at)gmail.com.

Germany: Racism not just a right-wing phenomenon

2009-07-05T01:22:00.000-07:00

1 July 2009 – Germany needs to change its view of racism from one associated only with right-wing extremists to a broader definition that realizes that racism occurs in everyday life, particularly towards migrants, a United Nations independent human rights expert said today.

Githu Muigai, the UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, wrapped up a 10-day visit to Germany by praising the country for the progress it has made in recent year in combating racism.

Yet, in a statement issued in Berlin, he said that more needed to be done, especially in ensuring that migrants are better integrated into German society.

“In view of the new challenges facing Germany in the 21st century, there is a need to shift from a more circumscribed view of racism as associated to right-wing extremism to a broader understanding of the problem that takes into account the difficult challenges of integration and the recognition that racism occurs regularly in everyday life,” he said.

Mr. Muigai said that he was therefore encouraged by the open acknowledgement by authorities that Germany is a country of migrants and that migrants make a positive contribution to society.

He also warned that despite the high awareness in Germany of the threat posed by right-wing extremism, groups based on this ideology have demonstrated enduring resilience and thus need constant vigilance.

But Mr. Muigai welcomed the establishment of a federal anti-discrimination agency and the adoption of equal treatment laws, and called for the anti-discrimination framework to be more made more active.

He also called for more resources to be devoted to the agency so that it can be more independent and robust.

“The legal and institutional frameworks play a key role in the fight against racism, not only by providing victims with the possibility of seeking remedies, but also by demonstrating to society that racism and discrimination are unlawful and will bring swift consequences.

The Special Rapporteur, who serves in an unpaid and personal capacity and reports to the Human Rights Council, also welcomed local anti-racism initiatives he saw in action in cities such as Stuttgart, Nuremberg and Leipzig, and he called for them to be replicated across the country.

UN News Centre

THE DUTCH OVERSEAS COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES (OCTs).

2009-06-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

Article by Joyce van Genderen-Naar

ACP-EU Courier, N.11 – May June 2009 www.acp-eucourier.info

HOW DUTCH ARE THEY?

The Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) consist of six islands, located in the Caribbean Sea, also known as the Dutch Caribbean. These six islands are: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius.

Five of these islands are the Netherlands Antilles, divided into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern) group (Bonaire and Curaçao). The island of Sint Maarten / Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin in the north and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten in the south. Aruba was part of the Netherlands Antilles until 1986 when it gained its Status Aparte.

The six islands belong to the Netherlands since 1634, when the Dutch captured them from Spain. Curaçao became a slave trading post and the center of the Caribbean slave trade until the abolition of slavery in 1863. The Dutch West-Indian Trading Company transported the captive Africans from the West-African Coast to Curaçao. Here they remained in camps for some years and were sold to the continent or put to work in the fields or as house slaves. When oil was discovered off the shores of Venezuela in the early 20th century a refinery was built in Curaçao to process the Venezuelan oil. Curaçao and Aruba prospered and an offshore financial sector was created in Curaçao for Dutch business interests. The islands stayed Dutch colonies until 1954, when they received a certain kind of autonomy and together with Suriname became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Only in internal affairs full autonomy was granted. The Dutch Government remained responsible for defense and foreign affairs of their overseas Caribbean countries.

Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the main pillars of the economy of the Netherlands Antilles. Natural resources are beaches and offshore diving sites.

The islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. The nominal GDP is $3.3 billion and the GDP per capita $17,800. Tourism/services count for 84% of GDP. The real growth rate is 1.2%. Industry is 15% of GDP (petroleum refining in Curaçao, petroleum transshipment facilities in Curaçao and Bonaire, light manufacturing in Curaçao). Agriculture is 1% of GDP with aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, and tropical fruit as products.
Trade: Exports $3.4 billion, concerning petroleum products. Major markets are U.S. 24%, Venezuela 15%, Guatemala 10%, and Singapore 6%.
Imports $3.5 billion, concerning machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil (for refining and re-export), chemicals, foodstuffs; major suppliers are Venezuela 59.8%, U.S. 12.55%.
Most of the oil that the Netherlands Antilles import for its refineries comes from Venezuela. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported. The USA, Italy and Mexico are the major suppliers. The Netherlands provide financial aid.
The population of the islands speaks Papiamentu, an official language with Spanish, Portuguese and Creole roots. It is the language used at schools, at home, on TV, in the newspapers, in the Courts, for music, poetry, literature etc.

The dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles

The Netherlands Antilles and the Dutch government agreed upon the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles in January 2010. Curaçao and St. Maarten will receive more autonomous status within the Dutch Kingdom, comparable to the status aparte that Aruba has since 1986. The other three Dutch OCT-islands, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will become a “gemeente” of the Netherlands that is a small Dutch municipality with a Dutch mayor. Which raises the question why in the 21^st Century islands want to become more dependent instead of less dependent. An explanation is that they are too small, the population of Bonaire being 11,537, Saba 1,491, St. Eustatius 2,699. Until now the central government of the Netherlands Antilles in Curaçao has taken the decisions for these small islands.

While Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will become a Dutch Gemeente, Curaçao and St. Maarten will become autonomous countries of the Dutch Kingdom. This was agreed with Holland but only under very severe financial conditions. The central government of the Dutch Kingdom in The Hague, the Netherlands, wants to keep financial control and financial supervision of Curaçao. The population of Curaçao gave its opinion on the final agreement to get an independent status in the Dutch Kingdom during the Referendum that took place on 15 May 2009: 52% voted YES and 48% voted NO.

‘Dushi Kòrsou’: Land of the Sweet (‘Dushi’) Land of the Heart (‘corazon; coraçao’)

Curaçao is the largest island of the Netherlands Antilles. 140.000 people, 40 nationalities, are living together on a surface area of 44 km2, a multi-cultural population with their roots in many countries. Due to the island’s slightly heart-shaped bays, Curaçao received the Spanish name corazon (heart) or Portuguese coraçao. Another explanation is that it is derived from the Spanish or Portuguese word for healing: curación or cura, because of the curative effects of the many tropical fruits. In Papiamentu Curaçao is Kòrsou and well known as ‘Dushi Kòrsou’, which means ‘Sweet Curaçao’.

Curaçao has a geographical favorable position in the Caribbean, just above Latin America (Venezuela), with its many natural harbors, excellent geo-political location, good connections by air and by sea and modern infrastructure. A quite unique spectacle is the huge cruise and cargo ships that daily enter the large natural harbor of Willemstad in the town centre. Curaçao is officially outside the hurricane belt and suffer fewer damages as other Caribbean islands in the hurricane seasons

Tourism and financial services are an important source of income for Curaçao. Average 5 cruise ships each week come to Curaçao, with tourists from the USA and the Caribbean. Tourism from the Netherlands is very high and KLM re-introduced its Boeing 747 to meet the increasing demand from the Netherlands, Germany and Scandinavia. The economy of Curaçao performs well. Main contributors to the recent economic expansion are: tourism (stay-over tourism grew by 28 percent in 2007 and 30 percent in 2008, cruise tourism triggered a wave of construction of new hotels and expansion of existing ones), the logistics industry including the airport and harbor, the oil industry (increases in refining, storage and transshipment in 2007; in 2008 economic activities in the oil refinery slowed down), financial services sector (expansion in 2007, a deceleration in 2008 due to the international financial turbulence; international financial services develop well due to Curaçaos’ favorable fiscal environment, and the presence of large number of international banks, trust companies, accounting and law firms, international audit firms, international corporate and tax advisors); re-exports by the e-zone companies (decline in 2006 and 2007, reflecting Venezuela’s currency trading restrictions, recovery in 2008). E-commerce contributed to the economic development, using Information and Communication technology (ICT) as a major source of production. Special regulations and laws enable Curaçao to offer special grants to attract investors in e-commerce and to facilitate e-commerce development, local banks offering e-services and financial offshore companies hosting international e-companies.

Regional cooperation and integration

Curaçao has always been an island of trade and an open economy, with commerce and business relations with Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the United States of America and Asia. There is a strong bond with Venezuela, which is by plane only 35 minutes away. Tourists and business people from Venezuela are daily visiting Curaçao. In November, December 2008 and January 2009 Curaçao experienced a ‘golden period’ with all the dollars spent and all the goods bought by visitors from Venezuela. The so-called credit card tourism from Venezuela is a flourishing business in Curaçao, where they buy a lot and withdraw cash money that will be exchanged in the profitable illegal money market in the Venezuelan streets. Well known are also the small boats with fruits and vegetables that sail daily from Venezuela to Curaçao’s floating market in Punda, the other part of Willemstad.

There is also cooperation with the United States of America, especially in the field to combat narco-trafficking.

A longstanding historic cooperation/relationship exists with Suriname, ACP-Caribbean on the North coast of South-America that was part of the Dutch Kingdom as well until 1975. Since 1930 people from Suriname come to work and to live in Curaçao. Each week there are 4 direct flights from Curaçao to Suriname vice versa. In Curaçao rice, fish and other products are imported from Suriname. Famous was the rice-OCT route: rice from Suriname went from Curaçao to the EU-market duty free. In March 2009 members of parliament from Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles met in St. Maarten and decided to extend the trade and other relations between their countries.

The commercial contact between Curaçao and Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago has become significant during the last 5 years. Trinidad established two major companies, RBTT Bank and Guardian Insurance, in the Netherlands Antilles. Barbados has some investments on the islands and a Memorandum of Understanding between Curaçao and Barbados will be signed soon, covering cooperation in the area of Investment Promotion and Export, Regional Integration, Curaçao's membership of Caricom, Economic Development Harmonization, Alternative Energy (Solar energy, Wind energy), Innovation in Agriculture, Fair Competition Policy and Consumer Protection, Tourism.

The Netherlands Antilles are an associate member of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Curaçao is also planning to become a member or associated member of CARICOM (Caribbean Common Market) and is studying what opportunities the Cariforum-EC-EPA could offer Curaçao. A Cariforum-EC-EPA seminar will be organized in Curaçao to deal with these issues. In May 2008 the Chamber of Commerce of Curaçao organized an EPA Fact Finding Trade Mission to Trinidad and Barbados with the participation of public and private sector stakeholders in order to identify Cariforum-EC-EPA business opportunities.

Author: Joyce van Genderen-Naar, Journalist/Lawyer, Brussels, May 2009.

Scent-sational You

2009-06-27T06:52:00.000-07:00

Nina Curtis Founder The Nile Institute

We created a custom perfume to turn us into super vixens.

Poison. Opium. Chanel No. 5. Shalimar. Lovely perfumes, but not unique.

Enter The Perfume Studio, a UK-based company that will help you blend your signature fragrance. Its west coast debut is at The Nile Institute.

We asked Nile owner Nina Curtis and fragrance expert Sue G. Phillips to help us blend a perfume that makes us irresistible. Some secrets behind our scent, "Vital Vixen":

- Vanilla. "It's comfortable and approachable," says Phillips--so it draws in suitors.
- Sweet grasses. "Men like a hint of sweetness because it hearkens back to familiarity and comfort," reveals Phillips.
- Sandalwood and musk. "These are both incredibly sensual," says Phillips. (The musk is synthetic, since producing genuine musk harms animals.)
- The scent no one recognizes. "Aldehyde [reminiscent of alcohol] is a molecular compound that's hard to pinpoint, which makes it surprising and alluring," says Phillips (no wonder Coco used it in Chanel No. 5).

You can take the class and create your own unique blend to take home ($85), or call The Nile Institute and request "Vital Vixen."

Scent-illating.

The Nile Institute is dedicated to offering exceptional client care and the finest in professional, personal care treatments and products. As ‘A Source Vital’ we are committed to offering you an escape from the stress of every day life.We customize each service offering to enhance your health, wellness and beauty. Our services provide the latest in innovation and performance enhanced therapies.Let our experts develop a wholistic skin care and beauty program that promises to deliver lasting results and visible differences.

As Managing Director of the Nile Institute, Nina Curtis orchestrates the symphony of the Nile. With over 25 years of experience in the personal care industry, Ms. Curtis is recognized as an innovative business woman, therapist, lecturer and consultant. Known to many as the ‘esthetician’s esthetician’ and the ‘skin care coach’, Ms. Curtis travels internationally staying abreast of the leading trends and industry advancements that she incorporates in the service offerings at the Nile Institute.

The Nile Institute, 9053 Nemo St.,
West Hollywood, (310) 275-6453
Contact Nina Curtis: curtiscomm@earthlink.net