So many of us are discouraged and that is not good. Nobody can solve Africa's problems but Africans themselves.
Perhaps, a new approach is what is needed. Which one? That is something the Diaspora needs to seriously think about.
Venting our frustration by insulting each other when we disagree has not changed anything. We should therefore, seriously engage in a concrete paradigm shift about Africa.
First, let's start by agreeing to disagree without insulting someone when we don't like what the other person is saying. If need be, we communicate via Skype to clear any miss-understanding.
Let's remember that communication via email can easily be miss-interpreted therefore, one should always seek clarification before "jumping the gun" and hitting the other person.
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones.
BintaSent via BlackBerry from T-MobileFrom: "Otitigbe Obadiah Oghoerore Alegbe \(The Okatakyie Otitigbe of Africa\)"<otitigbe@oviri.com.ar>Sender: africanworldforum@googlegroups.comDate: Tue, 24 Dec 2013 23:11:04 -0300To: <africanworldforum@googlegroups.com>ReplyTo: africanworldforum@googlegroups.comSubject: Re: [africanworldforum] Fwd: Africa: Africa in 2014: African voices in the development debate -- MDG for Africa or Consultants?Binta.Many of us had offered many solutions. I myself projected solution to energy, drinking water, even up to the kind of nuclear technology that Africa needs and how tog et it. The truth if Africans in the place of decision accept only what a white man present. I remember a French young man who told me in Buenos Aires to give him one of my Project for France to present it. I told him that if my people do not believe me, let them remain so.I told the Former Foreign Minister during his visit to Buenos Aires some years ago that "when you sit in a buka and NEPA takes light, remember me. The way Nigeria goes about energy, there will be no electricity in Nigeria for 500 years. The tragedy is that Nigerians do not even know the quantity of energy needed nor how to come by the solution". We have debated it in this forum many times and all i received was insults. Many Diasporas remain silent because they cannot stand insult. So i began distance education for the youths in my Ethnic nation free of charge and in the due course I will chip in how they can on local bases provide solution based on their local idiosyncrasy. You can see one of my web pages www.oviri.com.ar , there is a sector called African Project where based on my experience at home and in Liberian jungle, I profess activating the economy of the villagers through micro-industries. The copy of the project was presented to the Nigerian Embassy in Buenos Aires. Yet the Senate energy committee many time came to Argentina in one case invited by a woman who posed as expert in Energy, they visited the white people in Argentina and Chile and they went home after spending on tourism. No people who do not trust their own can ever achieve progress.Otitigbe.From:Binta TerrierSent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 4:40 PMSubject: [africanworldforum] Fwd: Africa: Africa in 2014: African voices in the development debate -- MDG for Africa or Consultants?--In case you missed this one. Worth looking into. Billions of US$ are often raised in the name of Africa but to what usage? This time around, with all the highly educated diaspora around the world, we should be able to do something? No?Binta---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: MELVIN FOOTE
Date: Tue, Dec 24, 2013 at 1:16 PM
Subject: Africa: Africa in 2014: African voices in the development debate -- MDG for Africa or Consultants?
To: Amina Salum AliFYIWhat was the outcome of the MDG?" ..One of the chief criticisms of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – the United Nations (UN) anti-poverty targets that include reducing child mortality by two-thirds and halving the proportion of people living on less than $1.25 per day by 2015 – was that they were drawn up without consulting African countries."How about involving the Diaspora? There are many competent Africans in the diaspora who could help/advise on the feasibility of some of the "experts" recommendations and the budget. Else, all the funds will again be spent on recruiting/financing consultants, and in more meetings and more reports.BintaAfrica in 2014: African voices in the development debate
One of the chief criticisms of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – the United Nations (UN) anti-poverty targets that include reducing child mortality by two-thirds and halving the proportion of people living on less than $1.25 per day by 2015 – was that they were drawn up without consulting African countries.Maternal and child mortality are two targets of the MDGs. Photo©Jan GRARUP/LAIF-REA
As the 2015 deadline fast approaches and discussions have turned to the post-MDG agenda, African countries are working hard to ensure their voices are heard this time.
The January 2014 African Union (AU) summit should allow leaders to reach an agreement on a common position, which will determine the stance African countries will take in the final post-MDG negotiations due to begin in earnest at the UN in early 2015.
The adoption of the common position will be the culmination of more than two years of consultations led by the AU, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Development Bank and the UN Development Programme.
Discussions are now centred around five priority areas: structural economic transformation and inclusive growth; science, technology and innovation; people-centred development; environmental sustainability and natural disaster management; and financing and partnerships.
The AU appointed Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as head of a 10-member committee to oversee the process.
It must whittle down the list to one or two key issues before presenting its decision to leaders in January.
Johnson Sirleaf has suggested that peace and security should take precedence.
Carlos Lopes, the executive secretary of UNECA, argues there can be no development without economic transformation.
Employment creation and social protection are essential, according to Lazarous Kapambwe, special adviser to the chair of the AU Commission.
"There are no-brainers which are common to every country," says Aida Opoku-Mensah, Lopes's special adviser on the post-2015 agenda.
"But when it comes to certain areas like economic transformation, for instance, there is a mindset: those countries that are doing well, that have experienced economic growth, are bolder. Those that aren't really doing so well are the ones that are holding back."
However, Opoku-Mensah insists negotiators are building a consensus around the importance of inclusive economic growth.
This is mirrored at the international level, according to Arancha González, executive director of the International Trade Centre.
She says two issues need further discussion: the role of trade – in particular value addition – and the role of small and medium-sized enterprises.
"We have to make sure that the [economic] growth dimension doesn't come as an afterthought," she says.
There is concern that the 2012 Rio+20 conference's list of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has complicated the post-2015 debate.
Gunilla Carlsson, a member of UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon's high-level post-2015 panel, tells The Africa Report that there is a danger that the two tracks – the SDGs and the post-2015 development agenda – could harm each other.
"We have to have an integrated agenda," she stresses.
BintaFounder, Executive Director of PLADIRS 501(c) (3) Registered EIN: 45-4524929
--BintaFounder, Executive Director of PLAD
IRS 501(c) (3) Registered EIN: 45-4524929
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AfricanWorldForum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to africanworldforum+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to africanworldforum@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/africanworldforum.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/africanworldforum/CANgKup39Gg0T1fq2%2BhE-NCU26onupPhFbzZwd_wq5M2%2B0ngtbQ%40mail.gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AfricanWorldForum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to africanworldforum+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to africanworldforum@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/africanworldforum.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/africanworldforum/F63B40DCE47041AD9B7303DFA22C9C5A%40OKORODUDU.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AfricanWorldForum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to africanworldforum+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to africanworldforum@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/africanworldforum.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/africanworldforum/2098223301-1388067767-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-46119998-%40b16.c15.bise6.blackberry.
For more options, visit https://
Hello Binta and all:
I believe the African community in the Diaspora has more going than has been formally documented and sensitized. The vacuum in indigenous organizational leadership is being addressed judging from the successful, interactive programs we have organized with diverse representation from African groups.
The approach of engaging Africans as subjects/targets of their own development is new and working. In this case, the old paradigm of an agenda developed by "external source" is less likely to be embraced by indigenous African groups. Some of the external creations are structurally irrelevant and devoid of contextual realities. However, partnership is fine if the partners recognize that ultimately, Africa has to do for self by avoiding crippling dependencies.
Sure, an appreciable number of Continental Africans and groups are AFRO-OPTIMISTS with records of accomplishments that surpass foreign aid. This fact has been acknowledged by the World bank, African Union, European Union and other global institutions.
Other organizations can put together events that promote empowering change given the multi-faceted need. Just asking....we don't have any African company that can drill oil?
Back to it, based on encouraging feedback, to kick off Vision 2014, save the date: January 18th, 2014 from 5pm to 9pm.
SHOWCASE OF THE POWER OF AFRICA DIASPORA
AFRICA DIASPORA's CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE AFRICAN RENNAISSANCE.
The innovative program, with groups modeling their accomplishments, will address the African Union's outreach by educating /informing African governments on the role of the African emigre community. Members of the US House Subcommittee on Africa, USAID, etc. may also learn valuable lessons indigenous capacities. Ditto for all interested in Africa.
Have a wonderful Holiday Season Everyone
MsJoe
In a message dated 12/26/2013 9:23:07 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, binta@allafr.org writes:
