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Wednesday 27 March 2013

House Wants National Library Named After Achebe



It was the turn of the House of Representatives Tuesday to mourn one of Nigeria's literary icons, Prof. Chinua Achebe, who died last week in the United States. It was a sombre session at the House as lawmakers took turns to pay tributes to a man that used his literary skill to promote African culture.
The House resolved that the federal government should immortalise him by naming the National Library, under construction in Abuja, after him.
It also observed a minute of silence in honour of the deceased novelist and offered prayers for the repose of his soul.
In addition to immortalising Achebe, the House resolved to send a letter of condolence to his family while it will be represented during his burial.
The House resolutions on the late Achebe came following a motion sponsored by Hon. Charles Odedo (ACN/ Anambra). The lawmaker who paid glowing tributes to the late Achebe, said his literary prowess brought honour and pride to Nigeria.
He recalled that Achebe's literary masterpiece, 'Things Fall Apart,' which was written in 1958, has been translated into over 50 languages and has sold over 12 million copies worldwide.
"We are aware that Prof. Achebe has authored over 20 novels and has won many awards and prizes, including the Nigerian National Merit Award, Man Booker International Prize 2007, Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize in 2010. He has also received honorary degrees from more than 30 universities around the world.
"In 1992, he became the first living writer to be represented in the Everyman's Library Collection," he said.
Odedo drew the attention of the House to the fact that one of Achebe's books, "The Trouble with Nigeria," identifies bad governance as the problem with Nigeria.
He explained that Achebe through his literary works, relentlessly fought against corruption, oppression, injustice and bad governance; a fight that is in line with the legislative agenda of the seventh Assembly.
The Senate is to hold a session today in honour of the late Achebe.
The decision followed a motion on matters of urgent national importance raised at plenary yesterday by Senator Chris Ngige (ACN-Anambra).
Ngige, who described Achebe as "his constituent," acknowledged that torrents of tributes had been pouring in since Achebe's death.
He, however, requested the Senate to honour Achebe by holding a session of tributes.
Also yesterday, the House passed through second reading a bill seeking to amend the Nigeria Institute of Animal Science Act No. 26 of 2007 to properly define the institute's regulatory role, enforce its provisions and provide penalties in the event of breaches.
The lawmakers also passed through second reading a bill for an Act to establish a National Post Graduate College of Medical Laboratory Science in Nigeria.

Saturday 23 March 2013

Literary Icon Achebe Dies at 82

151012T.chinua-achebe.jpg - 151012T.chinua-achebe.jpg


Jonathan: He was a nationalist and artist of the very first rank

  President Zuma: Achebe, a colossus of African writing

  Soyinka, Clark: We've lost a brother, colleague and trailblazer


There has been an outpouring of eulogies for renowned novelist and author of the popular novel, Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe, who died on Thursday in a hospital in Boston, United States after a prolonged illness. He was 82.
President Goodluck Jonathan has offered his condolences to the Achebe family, describing the late writer as “a nationalist and artist of the very first rank”.

Achebe was widely seen as the grandfather of modern African literature. He was also a poet, broadcaster, and university teacher
His first novel, Things Fall Apart, published over 50 years ago helped shape an understanding of Africa from an African perspective more than any other author.

Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka and Prof. J.P. Clark, both close associates of Achebe, have also paid glowing tributes to Achebe, describing his death as "intensely personal".

South African President Jacob Zuma expressed sadness at his death and described him as a "colossus of African writing."
Former South African President Nelson Mandela, who read Achebe's work in jail called him “a writer in whose company the prison walls fell down."

"President Jonathan joins Prof. Achebe’s family, his friends, colleagues, past and present students, admirers and all who have learnt indelible lessons of human existence from his award winning works of literature in mourning the legendary author," a statement from the Presidency said yesterday.

The statement added that as the president mourns, he is consoled by the knowledge that Achebe would live forever in the hearts and minds of present and future generations through his great works which brought him enduring international fame and countless honours.

"The President believes that Prof. Achebe’s frank, truthful and fearless interventions in national affairs will be greatly missed at home in Nigeria because while others may have disagreed with his views, most Nigerians never doubted his immense patriotism and sincere commitment to the building of a greater, more united and prosperous nation that all Africans and the entire black race could be proud of.”

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola expressed grief at the passage of the literary icon, describing his death as a great loss not only to the literary world but humanity.

Fashola, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, recalled his meeting with Achebe last December at Brown University, Rhodes Island United States, where he had gone to deliver a keynote paper at the 2012 Achebe Colloquium on Africa, saying he was particularly saddened by the fact that there was nothing that indicated that the meeting would be the last.

“I am particularly saddened by the fact that when I met him at Brown University last December, I never realized it will be my last with him. It is, indeed a great loss and given the great contribution he has made in shaping the course of African Literature, he will be sorely missed, especially by the literary world.

The governor, who noted that he read the famous Things Fall Apart, as a literature student in secondary school, added, “I must say, without any reservation, that Professor Achebe’s ingenuity as writer and the power behind his words influenced my generation to no small extent and opened our eyes to the rich culture, tradition and belief of our people.

“And here, perhaps, lies his greatest contribution to the Black Race; for through such world classics as Things Fall Apart, Professor Achebe was able to keep our culture, tradition and belief alive in spite of the onslaught of other cultures.”

Governor of Achebe's home state, Anambra, Mr. Peter Obi, said in a statement that the "world has lost one of her finest minds".
He said: "I woke up early this morning and saw  two missed calls from Prof. China Achebe's son, Dr. Ike Achebe, with whom I have been in regular touch to ascertain his father's well being. I immediately returned the call, and to my greatest shock and disbelief, he informed me that his father has just passed on.

"The world has lost one of her finest minds. Africa and Nigeria have lost one of their greatest global ambassadors. I am in touch with the Achebe family. I will shortly be in the USA for further discussion with them."

In a joint statement, Soyinka and Clark said: "For us, the loss of Chinua Achebe is, above all else, intensely personal. We have lost a brother, a colleague, a trailblazer and a doughty fighter. Of the 'pioneer quartet' of contemporary Nigerian literature, two voices have been silenced – one, of the poet  Christopher Okigbo, and now, the novelist Chinua Achebe.  It is perhaps difficult for outsiders of that intimate circle to appreciate this sense of depletion, but we take consolation in the young generation of writers to whom the baton has been passed, those who have already creatively ensured that there is no break in the continuum of the literary vocation.

"We need to stress this at a critical time of Nigerian history, where the forces of darkness appear to overshadow the illumination of existence that literature represents. These are forces that arrogantly pride themselves implacable and brutal enemies of what Chinua and his pen represented, not merely for the African continent, but for humanity. Indeed, we cannot help wondering if the recent insensate massacre of Chinua’s people in Kano, only a few days ago, hastened the fatal undermining of that resilient will that had sustained him so many years after his crippling accident.

"No matter the reality, after the initial shock, and a sense of abandonment, we confidently assert that Chinua lives.  His works provide their enduring testimony to the domination of the human spirit over the forces of repression, bigotry, and retrogression."
Born at Ogidi, Anambra State on November 16, 1930, Achebe was the son of a Christian evangelist. He went to mission schools and to University College, Ibadan, and taught briefly before joining the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, where he was director of external broadcasting from 1961 to 1966.

After the Nigerian civil war, Achebe returned to Enugu to teach at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
In 1972 he moved to Massachusetts and spent much of his time in the United States, with occasional spells in Nigeria. His last post was at Brown University in Rhode Island.

Although Achebe never won the Nobel Prize for Literature, his works won praise for their vivid portrayal of African realities and their accessibility for all readers.

His contribution was recognized when he won The Man Booker International Prize in 2007.
In 2004, he turned down the title "Commander of the Federal Republic" offered to him by then President Olusegun Obasanjo, noting that he was appalled by the cliques who had turned Nigeria into "a bankrupt and lawless fiefdom".

Undaunted, President Goodluck Jonathan also tried to confer a national honour on him in 2011. He snubbed that one too.
A car accident in 1990 left Achebe paralysed from the waist down and depending on a wheelchair for mobility.

His last book, There Was a Country was a deeply personal account of the horrors of the Nigerian civil war, lifting decades of silence on the loss of friends, family and countrymen that forever shaped his life. But it also stirred a lot controversy and bitter debate that had yet to abate.

Thursday 21 March 2013

L.O.V.E

7 DON'TS AFTER MEAL..


*    Don't smoke-Experiment from experts proves that smoking a cigarette after meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarettes (chances of   cancer is higher).                                                                                        
*    
Don't eat fruits immediately -
Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause stomach to be bloated with air. Therefore take fruit 1-2 hr after meal or 1hr before meal.  
                                     
*    
Don't drink tea -
Because tea leaves contain a high content of acid.This substance will cause the Protein content in the food we consume to be hardened thus difficult to digest.
     

*    
Don't loosen your belt - Loosening the belt after a meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted &blocked.
                                             

*  
 Don't bathe - Bathing will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs & body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease.  This will weaken the digestive system in our stomach.                                                                                                                                              
*    
Don't walk about -
People always say that after a meal walk a hundred steps and you will live till 99. In actual fact this is not true. Walking will cause the digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we intake.                                                                                                                            
*    
Don't sleep immediately - The food we intake will not be able to digest properly. Thus will lead to gastric & infection in our intestine.  


Monday 18 March 2013

Health scare: I’m good, says US rapper Lil Wayne


LOS ANGELES – Grammy-winning rapper Lil Wayne tweeted Friday that he was “good,” as record company executives dismissed a report that the singer had been in critical condition after a string of seizures.
The hip-hop star declared on Twitter: “I’m good everybody. Thx for the prayers and love,” after celebrity news website TMZ reported he was in an induced coma in hospital, and that his family was rushing to his bedside.
Vickie Charles, a spokeswoman for Cash Money/Young Money/Republic Records, pointed out the star’s tweet in an email to AFP, adding: “Wayne is doing well. We appreciate your concern.”
According to TMZ, Lil Wayne, 30, was rushed to Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles on Tuesday after suffering multiple seizures. He left the following day but was re-admitted hours later, and his condition had not stabilized.
Citing “hospital sources” in an update a couple of hours after its initial report, TMZ said the singer was still in critical condition but stabilizing, adding that his prognosis was “uncertain.”
It said his mother was flying to Los Angeles, and that any decisions about his treatment, including on whether to stop life support, would not be made until she arrived.
But Mack Maine, the head of the Young Money record label to which Lil Wayne is signed tweeted: “Dont believe the nonsense about comas and tubes to breathe … that’s false!!”
And Birdman, a rapper and co-founder of Cash Money Records to which Lil Wayne is also signed, tweeted: “My son is in good spirit..feelin much betta…be home soon.”
In October the star, who won four Grammy awards in 2008 including best rap song and best rap album, reportedly suffered a number of seizures while on his private jet.
Last September Lil Wayne celebrated his 30th birthday by overtaking Elvis Presley for the number of times he’s been on Billboard’s Hot 100 pop chart, his 109th time as a featured artist on “Celebration” by West Coast rapper Game.
At the 2008 Grammys he won best rap album for “The Carter III,” best rap song for “Lollipop,” best rap performance “Swagga like us” with Kanye West and Jay Z, and best rap solo performance “A Milli.”
Lil Wayne, who counts President Barack Obama among his fans, has been rapping since the age of eight. He has made 10 studio albums — and served time in a New York jail in 2010 for unlawful possession of a firearm.

Sunday 17 March 2013

I am struggling to build my village house – President Jonathan


President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday said he is struggling to build his house in his Otuoke village, Bayelsa State.
He said he might give out the house before he dies if he found out that his children are not ready to live in the village.
Jonathan spoke in Lagos at a fund-raiser for St. Stephens Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre, Otuoke.
He said, “We are all mortal beings, we are all biological specimen so we will all die but when we die, what will we be remembered for, what will we leave behind?
“I use to tell people that even the house I am struggling to build in the village, these days in this global age, how am I sure that my children will even stay in my  root. They want to go to West Indies, they want to go to Latin America.
“So, I was even joking with people that if I look at the behaviour of my children and if I don’t see any of them that will patronise the village, I will donate my house before I die.”
The President urged wealthy Nigerians to make meaningful contributions to the development of poor communities in the country in order to better the lives of the youth and empower them to make useful contributions towards national development.
He said the project for the St. Stephens Anglican Deanery and Youth Development Centre was dear to him because he wanted to make sure that the younger generation passed through a better system of education different from the one he experienced while growing up.
“I feel the only thing I can do is to make sure that from nursery school to primary and secondary school, there should be a standard educational facility and youth programme, so that it gives opportunity for the younger ones to grow. Even if we die in the next 100 years,  people will remember that those before them have something for them,” he said.
Present at the occasion were Chairman of Visafone, Jim Ovia; Chairman Capital oil, Chief Ifeanyi Uba; Chairman of A-Z Oil, Chika Okafor,  Chairman Arik Air, Joseph Arumemi–Ikhide, Oba Otudeko and Tony Elumelu.
Also present were Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Tunde Lemo, ministers, senators, members of the House of Representatives and prominent indigenes of Otuoke.

Saturday 16 March 2013

Africa: Plenty of Work Ahead for New Pope in Africa


The new pope is the first ever not to come from Europe, and he may have a better sense of the problems facing the rest of world, including Africa. Although the church there is growing, the challenges are huge.
If statistics are anything to go by, then the Catholic Church in Africa does not have much to worry about. In 2011 the number of Catholics across the continent grew by more than 6 million to almost 18 million. Seminars that provide training for the next generation of priests are packed to capacity, and in crisis-torn countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo or South Sudan, the local parish priests often enjoy more authority then government representatives.
In the face of shrinking numbers of clerics in Europe, the African church has even started to export some of its priests. "The face of the global Catholic Church will soon be an African one", Pete Henriot, a Jesuit priest who has worked in Africa for close to 25 years, told DW.
"Quality is needed"
But beyond the numbers, Africa's churches face a myriad of challenges. Plenty of work is waiting for the new man in Rome. "Growth is always exciting but what's really important is quality, not quantity," Pete Henriot says.
Christians are suffering persecution in many parts of Africa
Benedict XVI acknowledged that when he called for an "African synod" and invited 197 African bishops to Rome in 2009 to discuss the church's role on the continent. It was the second such meeting in the church's history, the first was presided over by his predecessor, John Paul II.
In an apostolic letter after the meeting, Benedict noted that the church had a special role to play in addressing the continent's challenges, ranging from poverty and civil war to totalitarian regimes. However he failed to offer solutions. Instead, he saw the church in an educative role. According to him, one of the tasks of the church is to "form upright consciences receptive to the demands of justice."
Speaking out
These words offered little comfort to Catholics across the continent, who are under enormous pressure from local leaders. In the absence of strong opposition parties or a functioning civil society, church leaders are often the only ones who take their governments to task over corruption, human rights abuses or manipulated elections.

Friday 15 March 2013

Will You Accept This Show? A Message to Those Who Love to Hate the The Bachelor


I love The Bachelor. I watch it as if I'm earning my master's degree on the subject. I am a proud member of a Bachelor fantasy league. My team name is, "Love is Blonde." This season I finished in 11th place. Apart from my children and husband and stuff, The Bachelor brings me the most happiness in my life. As a faithful follower of this franchise, I take a lot of heat from Bachelor haters. These Cynical Cynthias wonder how I can be so invested in a show that allows one man to search for his soul mate by dating many women simultaneously. They hurl such disgusting accusations as: "It's all fake!" or "You can't find love in six weeks!" or "They're all actors!" or most painfully, "Chris Harrison does not want to be friends with you!" To that I say, "I get it." I started out watching this show ironically. Every year I would catch the season finale just to laugh at the spectacle. But in a typical romantic fashion, we (The Bachelor and I) connected on a deeper level. I let down my walls and have found something really special. I will defend my favorite show until the end of time. Or until it is cancelled, which I'm hoping doesn't happen in this century.
If the show is "fake," I'm completely okay with it. The cat­fights, the broken hearts, the backstabbing, the bus­throwing­undering; all possibly staged elements that build to a perfect Bachelor season, are no faker than ideas presented on critically acclaimed scripted television like The Walking Dead orSex and the City. Could zombies really threaten the human population? Could a sex columnist really afford a truckload of designer shoes? Who cares if the editors have fun with stretching out a tense moment or decide to only show the terrible moments of a certain character? We need the drama. We need the villains. The idea that this show is 100 percent real is not what makes it so entertaining.
For those who doubt the possibility of finding love in such a short span of time, I understand where you're coming from. In most cases, it takes longer than six weeks to find everlasting love. But try telling that to married Bachelor franchise couples: Ashley and JP, Trista and Ryan or even the controversial pairing of Jason and Molly. The Bachelor is in its 17th season (not to mention countless seasons of sister series, The Bachelorette, and slutty cousin series, Bachelor Pad.) We have watched the show long enough to know that most relationships formed on the show fail. The 20­-odd on camera proposals have resulted in three marriages (the ones listed above). There is less than a 15 percent chance that you will marry the person you pick at the end of the show! And yet, we fans are still invested. I believe it's because this show, like life, is about the journey not the destination. We, audience members, care more about the chase. We want to see multiple relationships bloom at the same time. We have adult onset ADD. We can't be following up with these couples for the rest of our lives! We just want to live in the now!
The characters on The Bachelor are so wonderful. If they are actors, I salute them. They are very good actors and I would like to nominate them all for an Emmy. (I'm looking at you, Tierra). Call me naive, but I enjoy believing that these are real people. Real people who have left their lives behind to search for true love. On television. They've packed their best outfits, jewelry and unnecessary scarves, in the hopes of attracting the love of their life. When it doesn't work out, they are truly heartbroken. It's that real life drama that keeps me coming back for more. When the rejected return to the recap special with a fresh spray-­tan and a slightly different hair color. I applaud them. I've been lucky enough to meet a few of these cast members in real life, and I can't say that I was able to keep my composure.
Speaking of cast run-­ins, I honestly believe that if "host with the most" Chris Harrison and I met, he would be down for friendship with me. We obviously wouldn't be hardcore bros, but we'd probably exchange emails and send "Look at this funny thing I saw online" type messages. Maybe we'd invite each other to a Christmas party. Maybe we'd work our way up to him allowing me to set him up on dates. These are all possibilities, but I'm definitely not gonna force anything!
On this week's stunning season finale of The Bachelor, "beefy" Sean Lowe got down on one knee and proposed to the woman of his dreams, Seattle based vegan, Catherine. In a poetic final image, the newly engaged couple mounted an elephant and rode off into a perfect Thailand sunset, ready to live the perfect life that will surely be theirs. Upon seeing this magic moment, I found myself softly weeping and breaking out into an emotional sweat. Because, even though I know that Sean and Catherine's relationship is most likely doomed, this has been an incredible journey and I feel so very much a part of it. So next season, I invite you to let down your walls and join me as a devoted fan. The journey of a thousand Bachelor episodes begins with a single viewing.
If you are still hesitant, I invite you to check out Burning Love on E!, a loving parody of The Bachelor. Apparently Jennifer Aniston makes a cameo, and it's produced by Ben Stiller so it's probably worth checking out! Also I wrote it. Good luck with whatever romantic journeys await you on television!
 

Follow Erica Oyama on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ericaoyama

The Appointment of Pope Francis





Newly elected Pope Francis I.
The African National Congress welcomes the appointment of Pope Francis (Bergoglio) of Argentina as the 266th Pontiff of the Catholic church who succeeds Pope Benedict XVI. The ANC believe that Catholic church as the biggest church in the world has enormous responsibility in the development of society as it applies to all churches and religious formations.
We believe that the new Pope like his predecessors will endeavor to promote societal peace and morality within the context of accepted norms by the peoples of the world. We congratulate the South African catholic community for being part of this process which resulted in a successful papal conclave.
Issue by:
Jackson Mthembu
National Spokesperson
African National Congress

Friday 8 March 2013

PHOTO: Are you feeling Annie Idibia’s traditional wedding dress?



Say Cheese! Annie Idibia (R) and guest Ope Kahrym smile for the camera. Photo: Ope Kahrym
She’s been waiting for this moment for a very long time and after so many years, Annie Idibia is finally having her dream wedding, staging a glorious traditional wedding in her home town, Eket Community, Akwa Ibom.
Photos of the actress-model are already trending and we know why – Annie’s dress!
Annie looks dolled up in a lace dress which shows a huge part of her bosom – daring and daunting. ‘The Bride looks beyond stunning‘, a comment on social network Twitter read.
Kate Henshaw and Annie Idibia
2face and Annie Idibia Wedding (1)

Tuesday 5 March 2013

Breaking News: Venezuelan president Chavez dead



CARACAS (AFP) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lost his battle with cancer Tuesday, silencing the leading voice of the Latin American left and plunging his divided oil-rich nation into an uncertain future.
“We have received the toughest and tragic information that… comandante President Hugo Chavez died today at 4:25 pm,” a tearful Vice President Nicolas Maduro announced on television, directly from a Caracas military hospital.
“Long live Chavez,” the officials surrounding him shouted.
Chavez, who was 58, had been checked into the hospital on February 18 to continue chemotherapy after two months in Cuba, where in December he had undergone his fourth round of cancer surgery since June 2011.
After 14 years under the charismatic former paratrooper, Venezuelans now face the prospect of snap elections, with Maduro hand-picked to succeed him.
The once ubiquitous symbol of Latin America’s “anti-imperialist” left had disappeared from public view after flown to Cuba on December 10, an unusual absence that fueled rumors about his health.
He was only been seen in a few photos released last month, which showed him in his Havana hospital bed, smiling with his two daughters at his side.
The government had sent mixed signals about the president’s health for weeks, warning one day that he was battling for his life, yet insisting as recently as last weekend that Chavez was still in charge and giving orders.
But the opposition repeatedly accused the government of lying about the president’s condition.
Chavez will be mourned by many of the country’s poor, who revered the self-styled revolutionary for using the country’s oil riches to fund popular housing, health, food and education programs.
And like-minded Latin American leaders like Cuba’s Raul Castro, Ecuador’s Rafael Correa and Bolivia’s Evo Morales have lost a close friend who used his diplomatic muscle and cheap oil to shore up their rule.
Chavez died five months after winning an October election, overcoming a resurgent opposition and public frustration over a rising murder rate, regular blackouts and soaring inflation.
He missed his swearing-in for a new six-year term on January 10, but the Supreme Court approved an indefinite delay. Under Venezuela’s constitution an election must be held within 30 days of the president’s death.
A new election could offer another shot at the presidency to Henrique Capriles, the opposition leader who lost to Chavez in October.
Until picking Maduro, 50, as his political heir, Chavez had never allowed other leaders to emerge within his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
He used the ballot box to consolidate his power and push through policies that drove a wedge into Venezuelan society, alienating the wealthy with expropriations while wooing the poor with social handouts.
Chavez won re-election in October vowing to make his self-styled 21st century revolution “irreversible.”
The opposition had accused Chavez of misusing public funds for his campaign and dominating the airwaves while forcing government workers to attend rallies through intimidation.
His death will particularly affect Cuba’s communist regime, whose moribund state-run economy has relied heavily on Chavez’s oil generosity.
Chavez received much of his treatment in secretive Cuba, away from prying Venezuelan media, and had a cancerous tumor removed from his pelvic area in June 2011. The exact nature and location of his cancer was never revealed.
Under Fidel Castro’s mentoring, Chavez became the face of the radical left in Latin America, with regular diatribes against US “imperialism” and the forging of ties with regimes at odds with Washington in Syria, Libya and Iran.
But despite tense relations with the United States, Chavez continued to export one million barrels of oil per day up north.
Before cancer slowed him down, Chavez was known for rousing speeches peppered with religious references, songs and quotes from South American independence hero Simon Bolivar.
The then lieutenant colonel gate-crashed the political scene in 1992 when he led a failed coup against president Carlos Andres Perez.
After two years in prison, he decided to take power through democratic elections, winning in 1998 to become Venezuela’s youngest president at age 44.
After reforming the constitution to increase presidential terms to six years and reducing the powers of Congress, he easily won the 2000 election.
Chavez survived a short-lived coup in 2002 that lasted just 47 hours after popular protests restored him to power. A 2004 attempt by the opposition to oust him in a recall referendum was defeated.
His presidency was marked by growing economic interventionism, with a wave of nationalizations in strategic sectors such as cement, steel, food, electricity, telecommunications and banking.
With the slogan, “oil now belongs to all,” Chavez used proceeds from the state-run PDVSA oil giant to fund his revolution. Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves.
Elected to a second six-year term in 2006, Chavez then won a 2009 referendum that abolished the two-term limit and enabled him to run indefinitely.
Now, for the first time in 14 years, Venezuelans will not see his name on the next election’s ballot.

Saturday 2 March 2013

Kenya: Elections Must Be Free of Sexual Violence, UN Official Stresses Ahead of Polls


As Kenya prepares to go to the polls on Monday, a senior United Nations official has called on authorities to ensure the protection of civilians, especially women and girls, recalling that thousands of cases of rape and other forms of sexual assault were documented during the violence that followed the 2007 elections.
"I urge the authorities in Kenya to ensure that civilians of all ethnic and political backgrounds can exercise their right to vote in safety and security, and to guarantee that in the post-election period we do not witness the rise in politically-motivated rape which occurred in the wake of the last elections," the Secretary-General's Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura, said in a statement.
Monday's election will be the first presidential polls since the December 2007 vote, which was followed by post-election violence in which more than 1,100 people were killed, 3,500 injured and up to 600,000 forcibly displaced.
As Kenya goes to the polls, national and international observers and human rights actors have warned of the risk of election violence, including the deliberate targeting of civilians due to political or ethnic affiliations, Ms. Bangura noted, adding that thousands of cases of rape and other forms of sexual assault were documented after the last elections.
"I call on all candidates to speak out against election violence, and for the Kenyan authorities to take the necessary steps to avert the risk of increased sexual violence and ensure the protection of civilians, especially women and girls," she stated.
"Above all, the Kenyan authorities must remain alert to the warning signs and send the signal that such crimes will not be tolerated.
Also today, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it is deploying a four-person team to monitor the human rights situation during the electoral period and to support the Kenyan National Commission of Human Rights as well as civil society groups.
Earlier this week, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced the hope that all Kenyans will work together to ensure that the 4 March election will be peaceful and credible, and said he trusted that efforts made at many levels to prevent a repeat of past violence will be redoubled during the remainder of the campaign.

Friday 1 March 2013

Posers as Catholics appoint new Pope


What was supposed to be a graceful exit may be mired in endless enquiries and controversies of what will be the future of the Church after Pope Benedict XV1’s resignation.
For the 1.2 billion faithful of Catholic C hurch, the resignation of the Pope Emeritus came as a surprise and shock as it was the first time a Pope is resigning in over 600 years. C.
Archbishop of Freiburg, Robert Zollitsch waves incense during a mass service to mark the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI at the St. Hedwig's Cathedral in Berlin on February 28, 2013. The mass coincides with the final hour of Benedict XVI papacy as his powers formally expire at 19:00 GMT. AFP PHOTO
Archbishop of Freiburg, Robert Zollitsch waves incense during a mass service to mark the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI at the St. Hedwig’s Cathedral in Berlin on February 28, 2013. The mass coincides with the final hour of Benedict XVI papacy as his powers formally expire at 19:00 GMT. AFP PHOTO
His resignation took effect on Thursday, 28 February, 2013, while Wednesday 27 February was his final day as Pope, bidding farewell to the faithful with over 150,000 people from all parts of the world at St. Peter’s Square, Rome.
Outgoing Pope Benedict XVI came in to the Square in his popemobile clad in a cream suit and moved  around in a sombre atmosphere waving, greeting the multitude who had gathered virtually from all natioins in the universe; men, women, old and young, children, some on the shoulders of their parents to catch a last glimpse of the pontiff. The pilgrims responded with emotional excitement, but no clapping, no chanting, all quiet; waving flags in response.
Meeting the general audience at the Square was something usually done inside the Vatican at winter but on this last day, it was done in the open for all.  The following day which was 28th February, was the private farewell restricted only to Cardinals, although about 55 cardinals, bishops, Nuns were present at the general audience.
After the tour around the Square, he gave an emotional farewell address and  returned to the Vatican, packed  his luggages, sorted out documents and  personal papers and moved to his summer residence. His papacy ended at 8pm Wednesday.
The event was historic because the world had been used to Popes who died, then mourning, followed by a funeral high mass with world leaders – Presidents, Prime Ministers and powerful political personalities in attendance. This was not like that. This Pope stepped aside.

Pope Benedict XVI (POPE EMERITUS)
Pope Benedict XVI (POPE EMERITUS)
His resignation was unprecedented, moreso at this season of Lent which calls for penance and spiritual reflection, fasting and prayer.
In retirement, he will be called Pontiff Emeritus. His papal seal will be destroyed and he will now wear simple white cassock, won’t wear red shoes any longer but brown shoes given to him in Mexico, will wear new ring, according to authoritative Vatican source.
Some scandals that plagued the Vatican may have facilitated the decision to resign. There was a report prepared by three top cardinals at the instance of the Pope on conflict and corruption in the Vatican, also including what was termed as inappropriate influence of a gay lobby within the papacy. Vatican officials were believed to be taking kick-backs on contracts and involved in money laundering. Benedict was overwhelmed, frustrated, tired and afraid with a fragile church he can’t control any longer.
The Italian press had reported that Benedict XVI asked three cardinals named as Julian Herranz, Josef Tomko and Salvatore De Giorgi to conduct an internal enquiry after the so-called Vatileaks scandal. The 300-page report was submitted to him in December 2012 which seemed like a wake-up call for his resignation. It was alleged that there was an underground gay network among the top hierarchy of the Catholic Clergy in Vatican and elsewhere. It was believed, he would hand over the report to his successor for action.
The church was struggling to cope with cases of widespread child and sex abuse by priests and staff of religious institutions. There was no adequate measures to properly investigate such cases and prosecute them. It was like a cover-up taking place and so there was bottled up subtle anger and need to open church files for prosecution of the offending clerics.
Even with Pope Benedict XVI apologising for the abuse and meeting victims personally in several countries to pacify them,  the abuse still persisted.
Before his election as Pope in 2005, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as he was called, was the head of Vatican’s Doctrinal Department for many years.
So observers claimed he knew about these abuses and other terrible sex scandals rocking the church. However, he lacked administrative will to deal with the problem.
In a church hiding almost everything, he understood what the problems were but lacked the courage to ask the bishops to open the archives and the impending cases. For example, in his own parish in a city in Germany, it was discovered there were 300 cases of sex crimes. If this is replicated in parishes and archdioces across the world, one would be amazed at the number of sex cases being hidden.
Even in the Vatican itself, a reliable source hinted that a Monsignor had love affairs, but was hidden.
Homosexuality is rife in the church, but there is a massive cover-up amongst the clergy.
Said a Jesuit priest: “To deny this is to deny the fact and reality, but most priests respect their vows.”
About five days ago, a top Catholic cleric in Britain, Bishop of Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien resigned in the wake of allegation by some priests against him for inappropriate behaviour some years ago. O’Brien said he is not coming to the conclave while the Vatican has accepted his resignation.
It was damaging to the church.
His response was thus:
“I will respond to the will of God for me and the Catholic church.”
The British Cardinal denied the allegation. He participated in the last conclave which elected Pope Benedict XVI.
US Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for many years shielded some priests accused of sexual abuse, posting them out to avoid interrogation. Cardinal Mahony said he will be coming to the conclave although he had been publicly rebuked in USA and told not to participate in the election of the next Pope.
According to a former Catholic Friar, Mark Dawd, the issue of gay priests in the church was described as “ticking time bomb”, alleging that 50% of those coming into the prieshood are gay themselves and that homosexuality is massively represented in the Catholic Church, which is manifestly at variance with the teaching of the church.
A writer, Mary Elizabeth Williams, speaking on CNN, acknowledged that the church is passing through extreme crisis as never before, and so something has to change. She wants more pressure to be kept on the church for change.
“It’s about forward looking, love, simplicity, compassion, forgiveness. No matter what, I still remain catholic. I believe in the virtues of simplicity, forgiveness, elimination of injustice.”
On who is to be next Pope, she said he could be conservative or progressive, but change is necessary.
Whether women can be priest?
“Unless by chance. It is still long way. There are girls as altar servers. The posture of Vatican had been dogmatic, backward looking.”
This is rough time for the Catholic church.
While Rev Fr. Albert Cutie acknowledged that Pope Benedict XVI was sick, frail, he said that was not 100% reason for his resignation.
“What had been happening in the Vatican are more than what meet the eyes. Strange that the Pope just walked away. There had been financial mismanagement.”
An Emeritus Archbishop, US-born Cardinal Theodara Mc Carrick, has said in a TV interview that celibacy was important in the life of the priest, nature of giving ourselves (priests) fully to God.
“I accept there is crisis in the church. Also in a world where there are persecution of Christians. There are mistakes by leaders everywhere, so too are mistakes by the clergy in the church.”
A seasoned cleric who had participated in conclaves with an insight on how voting is done, Cardinal Mc Carrick said the key moment is when the ballot is given to you to cast your vote. A voting carinal will say:
“I call on Jesus Christ to guide me rightly. I think this is the man God wants to lead the church. Let me pick the right man.” According to him, the election of a new Pope could go to any of the cardinals and no continent is more favoured. There are many bishops and cardinals from developing world who can become Pope.