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  JUNE 12 + YOU and I. - Posted By: Aare Kornar !
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Extract from Guardian...
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To be chaired by Chief Anthony Eromosele Enahoro, some of the highlights of the ceremony, would include unveiling the Martyrs of Democracy in Nigeria, recitation of democracy poems, solidarity messages and songs.
He said some of the "Heroes of Democracy" being expected include Chief Abraham Adesanya, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Comrade Frank Kokori, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), Col. Abubakar Umar, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Alhaji Lam Adeshina.
Speakers at the symposium are Prof. Sophie Oluwole, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na'Abba, Chief Harry Akande, Hon. Uche Onyeguocha, Chief Oluremi Adikwu-Bakare, Mrs. Ayo Obe, Mr. Femi Falana, Dr. Usman Bugaje, Mrs. Peace Obiajulu, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, Dr. Reuben Abati, Col. Hameed Ali, Prof. Pat Utomi and Lillian Ekeanyanwu.
Reflecting on how the lessons of June 12 could be made to bear fruit, polity, Chief Guy Ikokwu, a lawyer, member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), G-34 and foundation member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said a level playing ground must be created for the forthcoming polls.
His words: "Before the 2007 polls there is still time for the heated Nigerian polity to be cooled down by a more level playing ground being adopted by the National Assembly by the creation of more states in the federation.
"Apart from the creation of more states to ensure a parity of eight states per zone, that is 48 states in all, there is the need to address some specific anomalies that would help strengthen our democracy.
"For instance some institutional changes are necessary to make for greater transparency and efficiency. The office of the Minister of Justice should be separate from that of the Attorney General of the Federation. In deserving cases, a special prosecutor could be appointed to handle situations independently from the influence of the Executive arm.
"The National Assembly and the Judiciary which are supposed to be separate arms of the nation's administration should be financially independent and self-accounting."
Adegbite who spoke in Abeokuta Ogun State at the weekend also regretted that the Federal Government had not considered it fit to immortalize Chief Abiola, the symbol of June 12 and Nigerian democracy.
Adegbite stated: "Yes we have learnt some lessons about June 12 but such lessons have not gone down deep enough. The mark is not high enough either in the conduct of the 1999 or 2003 elections."
He explained that the uproars that trailed the 1999 and 2003 demonstrated that lessons learnt from June 12 had not been deep enough.
"We should use this particular anniversary to reflect on the significance of June 12, because this preceds the election year, so that we would be able to conduct free and fair election that would be acceptable to all"
Recalling that election, the late Abiola and his running mate, Baba Gana Kingbibe, were both Moslems, he pointed out that they were never the less accepted by all. He also noted that 14 years after, Nigerians are clamouring for ethnic and religious politics.
"Now we seem to be moving away from that ideal as everybody is calling for President from his or her place and this is unfortunate. I think we should quickly correct that," he said.
Anybody should be free to contest for any political office in the country and it is up to Nigerians to accept or reject him or her, Adegbite said.
Asked if in his view, Abiola had been sufficiently immortalized for paying the supreme price for Nigerian's democracy, he said. "I feel uncomfortable about the Federal Government in this regard. It is totally incredible and also unpardonable that the hero of Nigeria's democracy can continuously be ignored by the authorities."
To him, it is June 12 of every year that should be declared Nigeria's Democracy Day and not May 29.
Adegbite insisted that by now, Abiola should have been given a post-humous award of GCFR (Grand Commander of the Fedeal Republic). He for his role in Nigeria polities because he (Abiola) truly deserves it. He hope, the Federal Government would honour Abiola before it leaves power,
Also the Ogun State government, has declared today as a Public holiday in honour of late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, symbol of the June 12 struggle.
Similarly the Ondo State chapter of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) has decried the non-recognition of June 12 as democracy day by the Federal Government, 13 years after the annulled 1993 Presidential elections.
The party, in statement to mark the 13th anniversary of the annulled polls, also decried the attitude of government towards the Late Chief Abiola, whom it described as the symbol of democratic struggle in Nigeria.
In the statement signed by Lola Fagbemi, the party's Secretary, the AD stated that it "considers the celebration of May 29 as Democracy Day instead of June 12 as a deliberate policy of the PDP-led government to consign the import of that landmark election in the restoration of the present democratic dispensation into the dustbin of history.
"The point has been made and will continue to be made without any risk of being bored that June12 is Nigerians' Democracy Day, a day they freely gave their mandate to the Late M.K.O. Abiola in a free and fair election.
Therefore the party strongly condemns this new form of annulment of June 12 embarked upon by the PDP government at all levels. June 12 will remain indelible in the minds of Nigerians".
The AD also condemned the one-week celebration of Democracy Day, which was celebrated by the Olusegun Agagu Administration with a grand finale on May 29, saying it was a "mere political jamboree and a waste of public resources".
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...welll, i was there to witness the charade. To an extent, it mummyfied the whole essence of the day. Some spoke within the focal concept while others spoke out of order. Some even distributed anti-national leaflets, which nullified the whole essence of The Man and the DAY.
I was amused by the rush for drinks, the jarre for office and the sound of "vote me", rather than "seek unity". What June 12 stood for was the Unity of a diversified ethnical Nation that stood still to point its' finger in one direction and state,"this is our mandate". Can it re-occur again. While PDP battles for Unity, will we not bear its burden if it does not remain divided to create room for sane representatives capable or been responsible to thier constituency ?
A host of questions swim in the sea of this condemnation of a polity that we should have seek to play a part in its' formation. Now, my words years back that all is political in the sight of the living, with the need to play sincerity with a conscience is coming to fore.
The program did not see a youth leader address it. It did not call a youth leader or mention NANS has having layed a role in the drama of annulment. It was silent...and Nigerian Students were also silent. Can i blame them ?
Oure future lies in constant orientation of the people. We need to keep talking and performing. OBASANJO IS HUMAN...a mere creation of another. We may not have put him in power, but we could teach him. If he fails to learn, he will fail to stay in office. If he goes, who is next ? Who will change things ? Are we ready for the Change ? Are we ready to face the truth and stay in our Country to make itr better ?
When i look at the colonial era which took fourty-six years (46) and the Nigerian Leadership which used another fourty-six years (46), Nigeria in the hands of the British was brutish and fair to the economy. Ours is enslavement in our own polity...selfish and sustainable. Corruption is systematic in nature. Age and ideas forms the cabal. Reasearch is nothing to our class of Leadership. Comaparism, a crime.
Today, learnt a new thing. THAT THE NET COULD NOT PRODUCE A WORD OF INFORMATION ON JUNE 12. I was suprised. We need not immortalise June 12...it is a processs that can enshrine Democracy in the mind of the Individual an give us a better Nigeria. A stronger growing and developed country with a role to play in World Peace and Unity. Try singing the secound (2nd) stanza of the National Anthem. Try it.
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Statement: - Posted By: Aare Kornar !
First draft of the Political Declaration for the UNGASS
Review Meeting (II)
26 April 2006
**************
[Mods note: Please find below, the first draft of Political
Declaration, which has been submitted to the UN Member States by the co-chairs of
the UNGASS Review Meeting. The negotiations among the Member States
will then take place to finalise the final Political Declaration before
the 31 May 2006.]
Despite the list of civil society recommendations for the Political
Declaration (put together by ICASO) that was sent to the co-chairs for
consideration to be reflected in the first official draft, a number of
key issues were not included in this draft. The Civil Society
Coalition, among other key UNGASS Review lobbying groups, is encouraging civil
society organisations to work with their governments to ensure that the
final Political Declaration reflects the civil society
recommendations.
Members can find the civil sociey recommendations posting at
http://www.healthdev.org/eforums/cms/showMessage.asp?msgid=11243 in the
forum archives.]
**************
We, the representatives of Governments participating in the
comprehensive review of the progress achieved in realizing the targets
set out in the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS on 31 May and 1
June 2006 and the High- Level Meeting on 2 June 2006,
1. Reaffirm our commitment to implement fully the Declaration of
Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted at the twenty-sixth special session of the
General Assembly in 2001 and to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 6
to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015, and also to implement the
2005 World Summit Outcome that calls for the full
implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and to
developing and implementing a package for HIV prevention, treatment
and care with the aim of coming as close as possible to the goal of
universal access to treatment by 2010 for all those who need it;
2. Acknowledge that national and international efforts have resulted in
important progress being made since 2001 in the areas of funding,
expanding access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and in mitigating
the impact of AIDS, and in reducing HIV prevalence in a small but
growing number of countries, but remain deeply concerned by the overall
expansion and feminization of the epidemic as well as the increasing number
of children affected and orphaned by HIV/AIDS;
3. Recognize that HIV/AIDS, with its inter-generational and borderless
nature, poses an exceptional challenge to development, progress, and
stability of our respective societies and the world at large;
4. Further recognize that a quarter of century into the epidemic, the
global AIDS response stands at a crossroads and that, with our renewed
political will and sustained commitment and concerted efforts from all
stakeholders at all levels, and with sufficient resources, we would be
able to bring about the beginning of the end of the epidemic;
5. Acknowledge the centrality of HIV/AIDS in achieving the Millennium
Development Goals and, therefore, emphasize the need to strengthen
policy and programme linkages and coordination between HIV/AIDS and
national development strategies, including poverty reductions
strategies;
6. Undertake, where appropriate, to include the impacts of HIV/AIDS in
the core indicators for measuring progress in implementing national
development and poverty reduction plans;
7. Commit ourselves to undertake a national-driven, comprehensive,
sustainable and full-scale response, linking together prevention,
treatment, care and impact mitigation, and with full participation of people
living with HIV, most affected communities, civil society and the private
sector;
8. Commit ourselves to scale up and refine efforts to alleviate the
impacts of HIV/AIDS, to address the spiralling costs for HIV treatment and
intensify prevention efforts to ensure an HIV-free future
generation;
9. Commit ourselves to remove, where needed, legal, regulatory or other
barriers that block access to effective HIV prevention interventions,
commodities and services such as condoms, harm
reduction and other prevention measures;
10. Agree to promote at all levels access to HIV/AIDS education,
voluntary testing, counselling and related services, in a social and legal
environment that is supportive of and safe for confidential testing and
voluntary disclosure of HIV status;
11. Also agree to increase substantially our efforts in providing
antiretroviral treatment coverage and prevention services to HIV- infected
pregnant women in order to more effectively decrease the
rates of mother-to-child transmission;
12. Commit ourselves to intensify our efforts towards the development
of new prevention technologies, particularly vaccines and
microbicides, that will enable sustainability of commitment to
universal access for prevention, treatment and care;
13. Undertake to expand greatly our capacity to deliver comprehensive
HIV/AIDS programmes in ways that strengthen existing national health
and social systems, including by integrating AIDS intervention into
programmes for primary health care, mother and child health, sexual and
reproductive health, tuberculosis, nutrition, orphans and vulnerable
children, as well as formal and informal education;
14. Also undertake to adopt national plans and strategies or
large-scale measures to strengthen human resources to provide HIV prevention,
care, treatment and support, and to enable health,
education and social systems to mount an effective HIV/AIDS response;
15. Commit ourselves and call on the Global Fund to fight AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Bank and other international donors to
provide needed resources required to implement measures, in particular
those in low- income countries highly affected by AIDS, that aims at
strengthening human resources for health systems, including alternatives and
simplified service delivery models and the expansion of community-
level provisions of health and social services;
16. Emphasize the need to strengthen policy and programme linkages and
coordination between HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health and
their inclusion in national development plans;
17. Pledge to provide the highest-level commitment to ensure that
credible and evidence-based national HIV/AIDS plan should be fully funded
without the imposition of conditionalities, and that it shall be
implemented with full transparency and effectiveness;
18. Commit ourselves to reduce the global HIV/AIDS resource gap through
greater domestic and international funding, including through the
meeting by developed countries of the target of 0.7% of GNP as ODA to
developing countries, to enable countries to have access to predictable and
sustainable financial resources and to ensure that
international funding align with national HIV/AIDS plans and
strategies;
19. Further commit to securing sufficient resources, estimated to be
between 18 billion and 20 billion US dollars by 2008 from domestic and
international sources, to finance rapidly scaled up HIV prevention,
treatment and care programmes;
20. Further commit to support and strengthen existing financial
mechanisms, especially the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria, including through provision of funds in a sustained and predictable
manner, whilst generating additional funds through innovative
approaches;
21. Agree to remove major barriers – in pricing, tariffs and trade,
regulatory policy, and research and development, to intensify access to
affordable quality HIV prevention commodities, medicines and
diagnostics;
22. Commit ourselves to encourage bilateral, regional and international
efforts in promoting bulk procurement, price negotiations, and
voluntary licensing to lower prices for HIV prevention and treatment
commodities;
23. Agree to employ the flexibility in the World Trade Organization's
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights to
increase further affordability of commodities that are available and that
will be developed in the future, including production of generic
anti-retroviral drugs, microbicides, vaccines, diagnostics and drugs for
AIDS-related infections in ways that strengthen health care delivery;
24. Pledge to eliminate, through legislation, policies, education and
national and international public awareness campaigns, HIV/AIDS
associated stigma and discrimination, and to protect and promote the HIV/AIDS
related human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, women and children
and people in vulnerable groups, and ensure that they are centrally
involved in all aspects of HIV/AIDS responses;
25. Agree to increase capacities of women and adolescent girls to
protect themselves from the risk of HIV infection, principally through the
provision of health care and services, including reproductive
health programmes, and through prevention education that promote gender
equality;
26. Commit ourselves to take all necessary measures to create an
enabling environment for the empowerment of women and to strengthen
their economic independence and to protect and promote their full
enjoyment of all human rights and fundament al freedoms in order to enable
them to protect themselves form HIV infection;
27. Also commit ourselves to undertake in an inclusive manner to set in
2006 national targets reflecting the urgent need to scale up
significantly HIV prevention, care, treatment and support in order to come as
close as possible to universal access by 2010;
28. Call on the UN system, especially the Joint United Nations
Programme on AIDS, to work with the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria, donors and other stakeholders in supporting national efforts
to achieve the targets above;
29. Encourage Governments, international donors, United Nations
agencies, civil society, communities most affected by HIV/AIDS and other
stakeholders to work closely together to ensure mutual
accountability at all levels through participatory review of AIDS
responses;
30. Request the Secretary-General of the United Nations, through the
UNAIDS, to include in his annual report to the General Assembly on the
status of implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS
in accordance with resolution S-20/2 of 27 June 2001, the progress
made towards universal access;
31. Commit to reviewing, at the General Assembly, in 2008 and 2011,
progress of the AIDS response, with particular reference to the
Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the movement towards universal access
to HIV prevention, care, treatment and support.
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Program Director, The Junior Statesmen Foundation (san mateo) - Posted By: Aare Kornar !
Program Director, The Junior Statesmen Foundation (san mateo)
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Reply to: job-137549738@craigslist.org
Date: 2006-02-27, 3:38PM PST
The Junior Statesmen Foundation, a nonpartisan, non-profit, political education organization for high school student leaders, has an excellent professional career opportunity. We are seeking a new Program Director for our San Mateo, California headquarters to direct civic education programs in across the country and a summer program at an elite university.
The Foundation prepares students for responsible leadership in a democratic society. Founded in California in 1934, the organization has spread across the country in recent years. During the school year, The Junior Statesmen Foundation and the Junior State of America hold fifty major regional and state-wide conventions on politics, current events, debate and leadership. Some of these conventions attract over 1,000 students and teachers. During the summer, The Junior Statesmen Foundation sponsors week-long Symposia on state government and conducts six sessions of the Junior Statesmen Summer School. Each summer, 1,500 students study government and speech for one month at sessions of the Summer School at Stanford, Yale, Princeton, Northwestern and Georgetown Universities.
The Program Director will work out of our headquarters in San Mateo, California. The Foundation directs school-year programs in Washington, California, Texas, Florida, the Midwest, and the Northeast. The Program Director will be responsible for one or more of these regions. Significant travel, approximately 70 days per year, is required. Program Directors work with the student leaders of the Junior State of America during the school year conducting educational conventions and conferences and aggressively expanding the program by helping to start Junior State of America clubs or “chapters” on high school campuses throughout the area.
During the summer, Program Directors direct a month-long residential Summer School and a week-long Symposia and serves as our top representative responsible for the success of all aspects of these programs. Responsibilities range from reviewing student applications and making admissions and scholarship award decisions to leading and supporting faculty members (university professors from around the country) and managing a staff of college-aged Resident Assistants. The ability to maintain and cultivate relationships with parents, politicians, and institutions will be essential.
The top candidates for the position will have a good working knowledge of national, state, and local politics and a curiosity and thirst for knowledge about politics and government. We are seeking a self-motivated and energetic individual who can be an educational leader, organization builder and inspirational mentor. Other important qualities include experience with directing youth programs, event planning, strong writing skills, strong public speaking skills, good computer word processing and data processing skills, and good general organizational skills. Graphic design and web design skills are helpful.
Salary is $50,000 - $70,000, based on experience, and the Foundation offers an excellent benefits package. This is a full time, permanent, professional career opportunity. Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and three work related references.
QUALIFICATIONS:
B.A. in the social sciences required, M.A. or Ph.D. preferred.
Substantial knowledge of American politics, government and current issues required, as well as the ability to communicate the excitement of politics to students. Knowledge of national politics, state and local politics is essential. Knowledge of state and local politics in other states is a plus. Ability to conduct a high level speakers program. Public affairs experience would be helpful.
Professional experience in the fields of education, politics, and/or public/government affairs.
A personal commitment to non-partisan civics education.
Substantial management experience organizing conferences, conventions, other large scale events and/or speakers programs. Ability to negotiate hotel and other contracts is important.
Ability to work independently, while taking close direction when appropriate.
Experience supervising high school youth.
Excellent persuasive communication skills, both written and oral. The ability to analyze public policy issues is important. Experience in debate is an asset.
Willingness to travel and serve as the on-site residential Director of a session of the Junior Statesmen Summer School and a Symposium.
A take-charge person with the capacity for hard work, an entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to achieve results in a demanding work environment.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Work with Junior State of America leaders to conduct student-run programs of the highest educational quality; promote the growth of the program and expand the Junior State; work with teachers and students to identify, recruit and train student leaders.
Serve as the Director of one of the sessions of the Junior Statesmen Summer School and the Symposia on State Politics and Government.
Work with officials from high schools, universities, political and civic organizations, and political leaders, as well as with hotel staff.
Oversee and process some registration for conventions and admissions for summer programs.
More details on the organization are available on our website: www.jsa.org.
If interested, please mail, fax, or email a cover letter, resume, and salary history to:
Matthew Randazzo
The Junior Statesmen Foundation
400 South El Camino Real, Suite 300
San Mateo, CA 94402
650/347-7200 Fax
employment@jsa.org
**All applications MUST include a cover letter and salary history.**
Compensation: $50,000 - $70,000 based on experience and salary history
This is at a non-profit organization.
no -- Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
no -- Please, no phone calls about this job!
no -- Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.
no -- Reposting this message elsewhere is NOT OK.
137549738
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Host Organization
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World Youth Peace Summit- Asia Pacific
MISSION AND GOALS
To build a forum for young leaders from all regions, cultures, religions, and genders whereby they can unite and pledge a commitment to work collectively toward the achievement of world peace;
To create a global network of young people committed to peace-building;
To focus...
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