tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92021907597532950222024-02-19T00:39:11.241-08:00Our People, Our Culture, Our Story"I dream of the realization of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent.I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself ".-Nelson Mandela-PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-51668374087535852262011-10-07T14:23:00.000-07:002011-10-07T14:28:37.683-07:00WHO RUN THE WORLD??? GIRLS!! 2011 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1ouH84mF0NRay4Hj2W_Kr0NZZ7SaQiTw-e7PLYUUU2ns2lbK5bBLLV09BZgkzXunfCdwj_qMtnJ7c1R_L9HX-De9zSMKZKwIjPtkT-EZ4FJ5HpH051F6jZCl8n-Dbj3di_8__eyyX3U/s1600/313726_10150363536663620_99530388619_8105373_1736405642_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1ouH84mF0NRay4Hj2W_Kr0NZZ7SaQiTw-e7PLYUUU2ns2lbK5bBLLV09BZgkzXunfCdwj_qMtnJ7c1R_L9HX-De9zSMKZKwIjPtkT-EZ4FJ5HpH051F6jZCl8n-Dbj3di_8__eyyX3U/s320/313726_10150363536663620_99530388619_8105373_1736405642_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" data-ft="{"type":3}">Who run the world? Girls! This year’s Nobel Peace Prize will be shared by three women of color, two from Liberia and a third from Yemen, for their roles in bringing about serious change in the world.<br />
The Nobel Peace Prize for 2011 was awarded on Friday to three campaigning women from Africa and the Arab world in acknowledgment of their nonviolent role in promoting peace, democracy and gender equality. The winners were Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — Africa’s first elected female president — her compatriot, peace activist Leymah Gbowee and Tawakul Karman of Yemen, a pro-democracy campaigner. They were the first women to win the prize since Kenya’s Wangari Maathai, who died last month, was named as the laureate in 2004. Most of the recipients in the award’s 110-year history have been men, and the award seemed designed to give impetus to the cause for women’s rights around the </span><br />
<span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" data-ft="{"type":3}">I am extremely excited for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Winners- Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian Activist Leymah Gbowee & Yemini Activist Tawakul Karman. 3 women, all fighting for peace, democracy, and gender equality.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody translationEligibleUserMessage" data-ft="{"type":3}">"We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society,” said the citation read to reporters by Thorbjorn Jagland, a former Norwegian prime minister who heads the Oslo-based Nobel committee that chooses the winner of the $1.5 million prize. In a subsequent interview, he described the prize as “a very important signal to women all over the world.”</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3PUH3XRCT-AOg8imjAoOfuUZHRolu72lUxoiiIVmcstn2w_JdV95OVlS-0U10BfT8Ln2nCNW4EjDM_QKthbPt-BEpCU22rXjN6rlTPSAsbOhzS6iYwVg5pL2Nxkc_2e_UXKPRjrzKX0/s1600/Fall2011CoverLowRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU3PUH3XRCT-AOg8imjAoOfuUZHRolu72lUxoiiIVmcstn2w_JdV95OVlS-0U10BfT8Ln2nCNW4EjDM_QKthbPt-BEpCU22rXjN6rlTPSAsbOhzS6iYwVg5pL2Nxkc_2e_UXKPRjrzKX0/s400/Fall2011CoverLowRes.jpg" width="307" /></a>"This is a victory for women's rights everywhere in the world. What could be better than three women winning the prize? This is the recognition that: 'We hear you, we see you, we acknowledge you" -Lehma Gbowee-</div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-50310444296015748222011-09-27T14:38:00.000-07:002011-09-27T14:51:30.214-07:00CIVIL WAR MADE A FEARLESS LEADER OUT OF LEYMAH GBOWEE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QD4hyGs3IHcGSE1VJWfqKrgy72uFfONxFk4ger5MmZ1hRpj8OsJ08o5oe2VqWUcPN7ryCFaO1yA4pc2RgnOxsqSNBYrbKjCMySsEUoeblwJC-K9yyRpq-etoW8pcvNYIz2q2d-R-_JQ/s1600/091511_LIBRARY_t620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QD4hyGs3IHcGSE1VJWfqKrgy72uFfONxFk4ger5MmZ1hRpj8OsJ08o5oe2VqWUcPN7ryCFaO1yA4pc2RgnOxsqSNBYrbKjCMySsEUoeblwJC-K9yyRpq-etoW8pcvNYIz2q2d-R-_JQ/s320/091511_LIBRARY_t620.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">"I couldn't even scream. I had never seen someone killed before. The dead boy's bloody body lay where it fell, and I was frozen." This searing moment, in the summer of 1990, would come to symbolize for young Leymah Gbowee the end of all she knew and the beginning of Liberia's brutal, 14-year-long civil war. Soon, the plucky and ambitious teenager with dreams of becoming a doctor would learn that one of her professors had been killed, along with his entire family; that a girl she knew had been raped; that another boy in her circle had been shot to death while passing through an Army checkpoint because a soldier coveted his brand-new sneakers.<br />
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"At 17, you're not used to thinking about death, especially your own," she writes in her memoir, Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War, written with journalist Carol Mithers and newly published by Beast Books (an imprint of this company). "But now it was all around, and I was forced to realize that it could come at any time."<br />
<br />
That first terrifying summer of the war, Charles Taylor's rebel band was closing in on Gbowee's hometown, the capital city of Monrovia. (The sitting president, Samuel K. Doe, was ultimately captured and tortured to death by a rival rebel leader, who filmed Doe's execution and sold videos of it on the streets of the city.) Gbowee and her family fled their home for shelter in a compound that belonged to their church, getting by in a world where rice, a staple, was so scarce, people began referring to it as "gold dust."<br />
<br />
"Fear was the first feeling when I opened my eyes every morning," she writes. "Then gratitude: I'm still living. Then fear again. While you're thankful for being alive, you worry about being alive. People said the rebels were merciless. But all around me, the government forces were killing, too."<br />
<br />
Gbowee and her family were among the lucky ones, making an escape by boat to a refugee camp in Ghana. Life there was grueling, and within a year she returned to a devastated Monrovia, struggling to survive, then seeking solace in a relationship with a man who abused her and with whom she eventually had four children. Battling fear and privation, she felt tremendous anger at the suffering of women in civil conflicts but also helplessness.<br />
<br />
And then an extraordinary thing happened. Leymah Gbowee found her voice. In 1999 she was introduced to a fledgling network of women working to bring peace and social justice to West Africa. She quickly discovered a focus for her talents-and a way to fight against the war that threatened to destroy her. In a dream, almost a religious vision, she heard a voice telling her quite clearly to "gather the women to pray for peace." The result was the creation of the country's first Christian-Muslim alliance, which eventually grew into the Liberian Mass Action for Peace, a nonviolent women's protest movement that helped end the dictatorship of Charles Taylor and the war.<br />
<br />
Gbowee has become famous for her role in persuading thousands of ordinary women to dress all in white and demonstrate day after day, month after month, for an end to the fighting. One incident in particular stands out: in the middle of internationally sanctioned peace talks in Ghana in 2003, Gbowee grew enraged at the sight of warlords living in comfort at a luxury hotel while in Monrovia ordinary men and women-and children-starved to death. "General Leymah" decided to hold the powerful thugs and bureaucrats hostage.<br />
<br />
"The world shrank for me into this one moment-I knew what I had to do," she writes. "I was so angry, I was out of my mind." She stood outside the conference chamber, flanked by her battalion of women protesters, and started to take off her clothes. In Africa, it's a curse to see your mother naked, a spiritual emasculation. To stop the war, Gbowee was threatening, in essence, to castrate them all.<br />
<br />
"Madam, please, lead your women out of here," she was urgently instructed. "No!" she shouted defiantly.<br />
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It changed the momentum. The warlords stayed at the table and began the slow work of hammering out a lasting peace.<br />
<br />
Taylor was later put on trial in The Hague for war crimes committed in neighboring Sierra Leone, and a verdict is expected soon. Gbowee believes the trial should have been held in Africa. She writes, "Taylor has yet to be tried for the vicious crimes he committed against those of his own country or be called to account for the vast wealth he stole, the futures he wrecked, the land he destroyed. He has yet to answer to Liberia. To us."<br />
<br />
But Gbowee is moving on, focusing on Liberia's upcoming presidential election, scheduled for fall. If chaos breaks out, it could lead to a return to civil war. To guard against this threat, she has mobilized a team of women from nine West African countries-Liberia, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso-to serve as election monitors for the first time in her country's history. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Gbowee hopes that her memoir will offer inspiration and courage to the millions of others-especially women-working to create peace around the world. People just like her.<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MhtIfwhfWyw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/bi3nvH_Po5E/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bi3nvH_Po5E&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bi3nvH_Po5E&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div align="center"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">HEADLINE: FIREBRAND FOR PEACE; LIBERIA'S BRUTAL CIVIL WAR MADE </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> A FEARLESS LEADER OUT OF LEYMAH GBOWEE<br />
BYLINE: Eliza Griswold<br />
DATE: 26 September 2011<br />
SOURCE: Newsweek</span></span></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-15880556452593212232011-09-04T20:45:00.000-07:002011-09-04T21:31:35.122-07:00A CALL FOR ACTION<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wKgB40rPjzw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="139"><div closure_uid_5gmdvd="120">The educational system in Liberia has been affected tremendously due to the tragic civil war that lasted for about 20 years. A 2003 Liberian Ministry of Education (MOE)/UNICEF study found that 20% of schools had been destroyed, and many of the remainings are in urgent need of repair. In addition, many education managers and teachers left the country during the conflict and have been replaced by teachers without formal qualifications or experience. Currently, an estimated 62% of teachers in Liberia are unqualified. The result has been reduced enrollment; between 2000 and 2002, the gross enrollment ratio for girls declined from over 72% to just above 35% and from 73% to just above 48% for boys. The election of President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson has brought signs of hope; between 2006 and 2007, enrollment rates increased by 24% for girls and 18% for boys -but at a cost to quality, given already strained systems and infrastructure. In addition, there are large numbers of over-age learners in primary school. For example, a recent school census found that 85% of the students in grade G were 8 to 20 years old, with 50% being between 11 and 20 years. <strong>SOURCE</strong> (<a href="http://www.usaid.gov/press/factsheets/2007/fs070924_1.html">http://www.usaid.gov/press/factsheets/2007/fs070924_1.html</a>)</div></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="139"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP9aArnE2H1b9O7-zphvz4ctO8M7XN4znh2kyK48QziXmS5KzQk6HyyZMHoKIGtuukUdZ0nLQfLQRFsu0nR2PFNlFqSohKhoC8eY0V5HNZwiksZ7qHqddL2dpkX8SwCV8vMORQImFvBw/s1600/Beneficiaries-of-the-Ambassadors-Girls-Scholarship-Program-in-Liberia-CREDIT-USAID-Liberia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP9aArnE2H1b9O7-zphvz4ctO8M7XN4znh2kyK48QziXmS5KzQk6HyyZMHoKIGtuukUdZ0nLQfLQRFsu0nR2PFNlFqSohKhoC8eY0V5HNZwiksZ7qHqddL2dpkX8SwCV8vMORQImFvBw/s320/Beneficiaries-of-the-Ambassadors-Girls-Scholarship-Program-in-Liberia-CREDIT-USAID-Liberia.jpg" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="178"><div closure_uid_5gmdvd="121">Majority of the students can only afford to attend the public or government schools or university because of the high tuition fees involved. Most of the schools being operated by the government have poor performance of their students. This is due to the low salaries being paid to their instructors and the lack of good teaching materials. Instructors in most cases pay less attention to their students. Unlike the public or government schools, the private or church mission schools are offering a better quality of education to most of their students. Although there are very few public or government schools that are struggling to do likewise. Some private schools provide books and other materials to help ease the problems of getting a good textbook by the students.</div></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="178"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="178">Liberia's educational system ranks amongst the poorest within the region, according to Unicef.</div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="178"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="193" style="text-align: center;"><strong closure_uid_7d61kh="186"><span closure_uid_7d61kh="196" style="font-size: large;">Paying for grades:</span></strong></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="193"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_7d61kh="240" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNpoa4HI_arDpyKQjtKlp1rFWYUP2G4bWpXRLVyxGaTathwQQv1gdvF6d2YR9fyfC_tJiv29_TWE0sONNSRHzrYx0CfW7t1YcO1_pDTTIRFj9bWkHibKF9ytd7rrLGmzRzrExde9uqRk/s1600/ibc_1_EmmanuelM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNpoa4HI_arDpyKQjtKlp1rFWYUP2G4bWpXRLVyxGaTathwQQv1gdvF6d2YR9fyfC_tJiv29_TWE0sONNSRHzrYx0CfW7t1YcO1_pDTTIRFj9bWkHibKF9ytd7rrLGmzRzrExde9uqRk/s320/ibc_1_EmmanuelM.jpg" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="181"><div closure_uid_y1v8cm="127">Lorinah, a 15-year-old girl from Kakata, Liberia, says that throughout the country, students and teachers often bribe each other for better grades."An even bigger problem," Lorinah says, "is teachers exploiting female students for grades."According to many students she interviewed, both practices are common, and Liberia's Director for Secondary Education admitted as much: "It is true sometimes students buy grades to enable them to be promoted to the next class," she told Lorinah.But poorly-paid teachers who use the bribes to supplement their salaries were to blame as well, Lorinah said.(<a href="http://allafrica.com/">http://allafrica.com/</a>)</div><div closure_uid_y1v8cm="127"><br />
</div></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="242" style="text-align: center;"><strong closure_uid_7d61kh="241"><span style="font-size: large;">Bright mind, dim future</span></strong></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="242" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_7d61kh="273" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPyis6WXYuHr5TMYMi5vAa0DKiPf7QLcWLD-fe0501_VYRBCVAbo0aoidtwozeVZxzBP8a19zvpaeSh9__-6L3fx8oHBrZeGbKWAqIdC__iTDIxUt-uNeSM3J0zx6M64TKXYtK_TdNL4/s1600/ibc_2_emmanuelmminister.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRPyis6WXYuHr5TMYMi5vAa0DKiPf7QLcWLD-fe0501_VYRBCVAbo0aoidtwozeVZxzBP8a19zvpaeSh9__-6L3fx8oHBrZeGbKWAqIdC__iTDIxUt-uNeSM3J0zx6M64TKXYtK_TdNL4/s320/ibc_2_emmanuelmminister.jpg" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="185"><div closure_uid_y1v8cm="130">"I want to be an engineer and be a part of the reconstruction of my country," says Emmanuel, 16, from Monrovia, Liberia.But despite finishing first in his class in high school, Emmanuel will not be attending school next semester. After his one-year scholarship to technical school ended in June, he realized he could not afford to continue."My mother is a classroom teacher and she makes about $100 a month, or $1200 a year," Emmanuel said.By happenstance, that is exactly how much a year of engineering school costs. But his mother needs to pay rent, buy food, and pay school fees for Emmanuel's younger sister."She's doing her best, but it just doesn't seem to be working. It's heartbreaking," Emmanuel said. <strong>SOURCE(<a href="http://allafrica.com/">http://allafrica.com/</a>)</strong></div><div closure_uid_y1v8cm="130"><br />
</div></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="185" style="text-align: center;"><span closure_uid_y1v8cm="129" style="font-size: large;"><strong closure_uid_y1v8cm="128">Reality</strong></span><br />
<span closure_uid_y1v8cm="129" style="font-size: large;"> </span>Liberian families continue to struggle with rising secondary school fees. Only one out of 10 grade school teachers are women. Counseling, life skills and health services are almost non-existent. Girls are forced to trade sex for grades with teachers, or barter sex on the streets for financial support. Statistically, the gender gap in Liberia's elementary schools has narrowed. The most recent school census revealed that girls accounted for 47 percent of students registered at Liberia’s public primary schools, but only 31 percent at public high schools in 2007-2008. Mannah credits free tuition, feeding programs by the World Food Program, and piecemeal scholarships by international donors for uniforms and writing materials. <br />
<div closure_uid_5gmdvd="122">Those numbers are misleading though. The census only measures enrollment at the beginning of the school year and does not consider the high drop out among girls several months later due to family obligations, teenage pregnancy, or poverty. UNICEF maintains that statistics reveal lower enrollment and retention of girls after Grade Three. UNICEF Education Specialist, John Sumo, blames the Liberian Government for abandoning its girls’ education policy. SOURCE ( <a href="http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51596">http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51596</a>)</div></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="185" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="282"><div closure_uid_5gmdvd="123">Nearly 60 percent of Liberian women are illiterate and they suffered numerous setbacks during the country’s civil war. According to recent government health and population surveys, 56 percent of Liberian women never attended school, and though enrollment is growing, the country still has Africa’s lowest net rate of primary school attendance.Other indicators also suggest that women in post-war Liberia are far from gaining parity with men. Female genital cutting is common despite global campaigns to ban it as cruel and a health risk, and more than one-in-three young women report being victims of physical violence.In addition, Liberia’s teenage pregnancy rate is 31 percent, compared to the global average of 11 percent. Teen pregnancies, abuse and abandonment are all cited as reasons why many adolescent girls never make it beyond primary school.(<a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/201009010001.html">http://allafrica.com/stories/201009010001.html</a>)</div></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="282"><br />
</div><div align="center" closure_uid_7d61kh="282"><strong>CONCERN'S APPROACH TO LIBERIA EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM</strong></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="185" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_7d61kh="285" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/SSy_5qaoUS8/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SSy_5qaoUS8&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SSy_5qaoUS8&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="185" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_7d61kh="185" style="text-align: center;"><div closure_uid_y1v8cm="132"><div closure_uid_5gmdvd="130">In my opinion the lack of well skilled teachers and decent educational facilities are the vital causes for the current fail in the educational system in Liberia. It is a call for action, and a call for attention. The literacy rate is tremendously low and the lack of financial means for a parent to send their child to a decent school in the country (Private School) just keeps getting larger. Something has to be done. It's been made clearly that corruption and education in Liberia just cant be separated. Teachers abusing their rights and trading sex for grades from their students is unbelievable and yet a reality.As a young liberian i greatly understand the importance of education, it has been the core reasons for global development, social change and political empowerment for many nations around the world. I believe that to educate the youth of Liberia is to empancipate them from mental slavery and other oppressions.Educational stimulation of the mind is the key to success. The Government has to step up and A call for action is needed and it's needed NOW!!</div></div>(<em>This blog post was provided by various articles and sources on the internet targeting the Liberian Educational System</em>).</div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-12569197761768201042011-08-15T01:58:00.000-07:002011-08-15T02:04:08.123-07:00LIBERIA'S FOOD CRISIS!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_io97ye="169"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_io97ye="209" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGC5K80rC0TEO62MDN-70EGjSqfCisunU4W2M_4jfJ4zD7b6OK1KFn8cQ7vel-uJkYYiVbG_snL6iYPF2M7WT2Mgqma-DVa_n9fUQBDPaPg-eWQFQ13ZMflwzBDShv0kD50tpJYl_nm4/s1600/liberia-nutrition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGC5K80rC0TEO62MDN-70EGjSqfCisunU4W2M_4jfJ4zD7b6OK1KFn8cQ7vel-uJkYYiVbG_snL6iYPF2M7WT2Mgqma-DVa_n9fUQBDPaPg-eWQFQ13ZMflwzBDShv0kD50tpJYl_nm4/s320/liberia-nutrition.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Humanitarian organization <strong>Action Against Hunger | ACF-USA </strong>has published a report about the effects of rising food prices on people living in Monrovia, Liberia. Action Against Hunger is now raising the alarm about the seriousness of the situation. Urgent intervention is needed to prevent the situation from deteriorating any further. However, the international community is yet to turn empty declarations of intention into firm and decisive action. <br />
The global food crisis, primarily caused by an increase in the price of food and fuel, has been widely reported in recent months, with all parties asserting the importance of facing up to the problem. A recent report by Action Against Hunger based on studies in Monrovia has revealed the extreme vulnerability of the Liberian population in the face of this crisis. The report analyses the humanitarian and economic situation in the country and highlights that the population's food security is severely compromised (despite measures taken by the government). It suggests a practical plan of action to attempt to limit the dramatic consequences of the crisis. Judging by the development of the global market, the agricultural season and food stocks, this crisis has yet to reach its peak in Liberia and the situation can only get worse in the months to come. However, to date, action has been inadequate in the face of a crisis that is severely affecting an already fragile population. <br />
<div closure_uid_io97ye="133">Action Against Hunger has recorded an increase of 40% in admissions to its feeding centers in Monrovia between January and June 2008, which serves to illustrate the risks that threaten the most vulnerable. Although Action Against Hunger has been able to increase the capacities of these feeding centers, its teams are having trouble finding donors to fund a canteen Program for the 26,000 children under three years of age who are at risk of malnutrition in some of Monrovia's shanty towns. </div><div closure_uid_io97ye="133"><br />
</div>Liberia, whose economy and agricultural industry has been ravished by 14 years of civil war (which ended in 2003), is particularly vulnerable to instability in the international market. Its economy is largely based on the production of goods to be exported (rubber makes up 92% of all exported goods), and on importing raw materials (oil and food represented 25% and 24% respectively of the country's imports in 2007). Any variation in the prices of these commodities on the international markets has immediate repercussions on the country's purchasing power, with dramatic consequences on the poorest people. <br />
Some 92% of the rice consumed in Monrovia is imported (rice is the staple food of the population). The government has put a system in place to regulate the selling price of a 50 kg bag (31 US dollars). An average family consumes one and a half bags of rice per month, but the most vulnerable households can't afford to buy a whole bag at once, so they buy it by the cup. Yet, the price per cup is not regulated and is 20% more expensive (39 US$ for 50 kg in May last year). It is therefore the most vulnerable who pay the most for their rice. It must be remembered that an estimated 29% of the urban population live in extreme poverty in Liberia (people living on less than 1 US dollar per day).This situation is becoming untenable for people living in Monrovia, and has gotten worse since the beginning of the rainy season (June – October). This season brings its own health risks, transportation problems and an increase in local food prices (during the hunger gap season). This leads to a reduction in sources of income, with day-to-day work becoming increasingly rare for men, and people, especially women, encountering major problems with running small businesses. <br />
<div closure_uid_io97ye="133">The direct consequences of this reduction in income and the increase in the price of commodities are a change in diet, with people eating less proteins (meat and fish), which could have long- and short-term consequences on their health; an increase in the number of children helping to support families financially, and a significant increase in crime in the capital. </div><div closure_uid_io97ye="133"><br />
</div><h2 closure_uid_io97ye="227" style="text-align: center;">A need for actions rather than words </h2><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5fDujvXYP5c?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>The national budget of the Republic of Liberia is around 200 million dollars. Even if some measures have been taken to try to control the rise in prices of commodities on a national level, they remain, to date, extremely limited: Liberia must rely on the international community to come through this crisis. <br />
Action Against Hunger's teams, present in Liberia since 1990, have compiled a list of recommendations and an action plan for the short- and medium-term. To be able to help the thousands of children and their families affected by this crisis, we must increase the capacity for treatment for acute malnutrition to 3,600 children (in progress), set up canteens in the most vulnerable areas of Monrovia for 26,000 children to ensure that they get at least one meal per day, distribute food to pregnant and breast-feeding women and put in place measures to stop the resale of commodities for profit to increase the purchasing power of the most vulnerable people. In addition, more long-term actions are suggested, in particular to help restart local agriculture in rural as well as urban areas. <br />
<div closure_uid_io97ye="133">For the last month Action Against Hunger has been trying to bring this alarming situation to the attention of the international parties involved with Liberia, including financial donors, but, to date, hardly any action has been taken. The UN's World Food Program is about to publish a study detailing similar conclusions. </div>Whilst many have made statements on the importance of dealing with this crisis and on how they would attempt to finance interventions in case a country was hit hard, the worrying example of Liberia has shown that these mean nothing. Do we have to wait until children die before a crisis is declared? <br />
<div closure_uid_io97ye="144">Liberia, which is rightly considered as a country under reconstruction, must now face up to a humanitarian emergency, which has been monitored on a daily basis by Action Against Hunger's teams and other actors in the country. This imminent crisis and the medium-term challenges which it presents risk jeopardizing a large part of reconstructive efforts which have been carried out in the country since the end of the war five years ago. Why are we waiting to act? </div><div closure_uid_io97ye="144"><div closure_uid_ee9x6t="111"><strong>STORY BY ACTION AGAINST HUNGER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION</strong></div><div closure_uid_ee9x6t="111"><br />
</div></div><div closure_uid_io97ye="144"><span class="messageBody" closure_uid_81cyi9="113" data-ft="{"type":3}"><strong>Highlights of the World Bank's Food Crisis Relief Program in Liberia</strong></span></div><div closure_uid_81cyi9="112" closure_uid_io97ye="144" style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/I8VwX3QalRE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-29749160400584622412011-08-03T01:00:00.000-07:002011-08-03T02:22:28.151-07:00Severe Famine Strikes the Horn of Africa<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" closure_uid_xt0rfi="164" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSNlSSMbXXeUuqiqcVlaDVofGyao7tdpminPwy-k3Vd4ElbUxzWyGDHBQY1Ywj2ZIm9Yo-1IdizmovdVlD6nVHKbOx8aKYGpjGJ9sQSbpe8YOofii0bKzWz7tJewmLi6SNNPIDrJYFSA/s1600/254767_880868545354_14306024_41898845_3646280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSNlSSMbXXeUuqiqcVlaDVofGyao7tdpminPwy-k3Vd4ElbUxzWyGDHBQY1Ywj2ZIm9Yo-1IdizmovdVlD6nVHKbOx8aKYGpjGJ9sQSbpe8YOofii0bKzWz7tJewmLi6SNNPIDrJYFSA/s320/254767_880868545354_14306024_41898845_3646280_n.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_xt0rfi="402" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnDM6Vnh4eUc6oKv0XXvx6M2Zo0cJIrkZ23WnRTU6BCUpDRynZduNoiSh1U460lJSXSQR2O4fMcL17vJZRFvqrUrFaM0MzPlB4ORgDO5KqgiYSFD58fF3Uxm8TJTjCy2Pbnp-cYbhth4/s1600/283950_881309721234_14306024_41905300_6325182_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglnDM6Vnh4eUc6oKv0XXvx6M2Zo0cJIrkZ23WnRTU6BCUpDRynZduNoiSh1U460lJSXSQR2O4fMcL17vJZRFvqrUrFaM0MzPlB4ORgDO5KqgiYSFD58fF3Uxm8TJTjCy2Pbnp-cYbhth4/s320/283950_881309721234_14306024_41905300_6325182_n.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_xt0rfi="206" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_xt0rfi="164" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="i1" closure_uid_xt0rfi="393" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="9"><div closure_uid_wzpavn="142"><div closure_uid_ibq5kv="148">The Horn of Africa is in the grips of the <span about="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43977639/ns/world_news-africa/t/somali-refugees-no-food-break-ramadan-fast/?ns=world_news-africa" class="inline external " itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="10"><span class="story" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="12"></span><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43977639/ns/world_news-africa/t/somali-refugees-no-food-break-ramadan-fast/?ns=world_news-africa" itxtbad="1" itxtnodeid="11" jquery1510003412600899788343="5" property="dc:title"><span closure_uid_xt0rfi="394" style="color: #336699;"><span closure_uid_xt0rfi="403" style="color: black;">worst drought and famine in decades</span> </span></a></span>. The U.N. says more than 11 million people in the region are in need of food aid. Refugees from Somalia are walking for weeks to reach refugee camps in Kenya to get food and medical aid (NBC). Famine is spreading in the Horn of Africa and may soon engulf as many as six more regions of Somalia, according to the UN humanitarian aid (BBC News). As severe drought continues to sweep across the Horn of Africa, some 3.5 million people in Kenya are expected to need food aid by next month. </div></div><div closure_uid_wzpavn="142"><br />
</div></div><div class="i1" closure_uid_xt0rfi="393" itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="9"><div closure_uid_wzpavn="143">With the worst drought in 60 years hitting the <a href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/SIG=18b9lqgdc/EXP=1313567430/**http%3A//cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT%3Fid=smartlink%26url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.bread.org%252Fhunger%252Fglobal%252Feastern-africa-drought%252F%26esheet=6816844%26lan=en-US%26anchor=Horn%2Bof%2BAfrica%26index=1%26md5=20a08348cbdf079e4867bf6951bd539e">Horn of Africa</a>, Bread for the World urges U.S. lawmakers to protect—not cut—international food aid in the ongoing budget debates. The United States must also increase its emergency response to the region and ensure that resources to invest in long-term development are protected. “The current humanitarian response is inadequate to meet emergency needs,” said Faustine Wabwire, foreign assistance policy analyst for Bread for the World Institute. </div><div closure_uid_wzpavn="143"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_wzpavn="143"><div closure_uid_wercpr="162">“Tens of thousands of lives could be saved, but the window of opportunity to do so is extremely limited. A massive, strategic response is critical to prevent death, total loss of livelihood, and social collapse.” About 11.5 million people in the <a href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/SIG=18bu5g1pv/EXP=1313567430/**http%3A//cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT%3Fid=smartlink%26url=http%253A%252F%252Fwww.bread.org%252Fhunger%252Fglobal%252Feastern-africa-drought%252F%26esheet=6816844%26lan=en-US%26anchor=Horn%2Bof%2BAfrica%26index=2%26md5=62cb3c6534ddf875a9b91f17edac8e21">Horn of Africa</a> face a humanitarian emergency—the most serious food insecurity situation in the world today. Currently, U.S. foreign assistance, including emergency food aid, accounts for less than 1 percent of the federal budget. TO READ FULL STORY VISIT: <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Bread-for-the-World-Urges">http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Bread-for-the-World-Urges</a> PLEASE GUYS REMEMBER TO KEEP THE HORN OF AFRICA IN YOUR PRAYERS, & DO WHAT EVER YOU CAN TO HELP!!!</div><div closure_uid_wercpr="162"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a closure_uid_bo40v8="132" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-5bnP0bfsNG0p4-nqMta7T8hq0YpRyDPCgaVEJRrbp4bpaRR2TabdyWS23H_VJBHn1LgQnF85nuYWd8yk6NmrXDtfEhUGZWdI7nz6RYHccO8y5WoXo-2nA6onra-f09KwPIurofqveE/s1600/untitled152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-5bnP0bfsNG0p4-nqMta7T8hq0YpRyDPCgaVEJRrbp4bpaRR2TabdyWS23H_VJBHn1LgQnF85nuYWd8yk6NmrXDtfEhUGZWdI7nz6RYHccO8y5WoXo-2nA6onra-f09KwPIurofqveE/s320/untitled152.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCTkzwpxuoNbgiG7p8adoUCVGKRw7gjiHHLSWZhp_y4PoLY2xLonRkQZ33mAwxM07JjB008NZBU9L-T3JoNt9b9ucdxCpJ5754ahQrUMxCttiywTnO8QGx5Al8zQD9s6W7AjfDbpjhJM/s1600/hungry-child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCTkzwpxuoNbgiG7p8adoUCVGKRw7gjiHHLSWZhp_y4PoLY2xLonRkQZ33mAwxM07JjB008NZBU9L-T3JoNt9b9ucdxCpJ5754ahQrUMxCttiywTnO8QGx5Al8zQD9s6W7AjfDbpjhJM/s320/hungry-child.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUecSklVkDNG9QcMe1DvfRWcyZTfnzDuSdw2-CdQrGKoJH5AYaiPn24IdXRafy2ANtV2FbhU8AhJVpRwV2o1js3zC1UgpR0GpUdDTCiMr14ucWB3zUd0IaHRhyhO-ydg5EmN2PCvCMls/s320/children_plate.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div closure_uid_xt0rfi="128"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5fDKAnES1S8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div closure_uid_xt0rfi="128" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-63087507890056073902011-07-28T00:35:00.000-07:002011-07-28T02:48:22.228-07:00*Rich Culture, Rich Nation*<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/hqHoa0OfSX4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div closure_uid_4kckwu="141"><div closure_uid_u0vgll="123">When i think about Liberian Arts, i think about the great meaning and story line that comes with it. Theres a purpose for each art work, very intrigate details and all handmade. Our Art works varies from tribes to location and history. Some of Liberian Arts & Craft works consist of weaving, Native Cloth (also known as lappa) folk stories, paintings, pottery, culture dancing (one of my fav) wooden figures etc. I found a video on youtube showing different types of Liberian Artwork. Hope you guys enjoy it.</div></div><div closure_uid_4kckwu="141"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_4kckwu="192" closure_uid_u0vgll="124" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjRsfqoDVm9PweEn1itNCEt9QOHBm4s9B9IwgO3hY6fC-ShA7h2jpiZ9bA8f5sb4E2cDTBk2Ow8WSsBuEBx8fAgl8JSSgFdndiga5C8CZr_DXYj_cawovUveIv1igYq4sBd-te5egPLA/s1600/Liberian_Cultural_Night_4-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhjRsfqoDVm9PweEn1itNCEt9QOHBm4s9B9IwgO3hY6fC-ShA7h2jpiZ9bA8f5sb4E2cDTBk2Ow8WSsBuEBx8fAgl8JSSgFdndiga5C8CZr_DXYj_cawovUveIv1igYq4sBd-te5egPLA/s320/Liberian_Cultural_Night_4-small.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a>Cultural dances/performances are amongst Liberia's popular art forms. Each culture dance tells a story with the drums, the folk songs, Costume, and performers. Each dance comes from a particular tribe in Liberia and they tell stories of love, celebration, war, hunger, poverty, marriage, ancestery, fashion etc. I LOVe Liberian Culture dancing, its a passion of mine even though im not great at it lol . My mother is a Liberian Cultural dancer, she's been dancing her whole life, and watching her on stage is amazing!! words can not describe it!! since i was a little girl i use to watch her perform, My mother is amazing!:) Love her very much!! </div><div class="separator" closure_uid_4kckwu="293" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" closure_uid_4kckwu="141"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_2rp4y9="112" closure_uid_4kckwu="400" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I Love everything about Liberian Arts=D<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/B6zcK-GdiXU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-31139934302730028272011-07-23T00:44:00.000-07:002011-07-27T23:29:46.679-07:00*WHERE LITTLE ONES CRY*<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" closure_uid_g2lyjm="285" closure_uid_w0a83j="159" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzrX27-TwjIAQsQntmU4HqsnUYwRehFWD9kD4oWC04Dfk49JuT6j0lvivwfbgyuJoSUcwsFgYTaf8z0NrBofpDINYY-_kmwrLgVuV854KERYe-ETFmYxsbSsiQib9yCSf7s_XsiMQy9w/s320/41F6ZYXUzYL__SL500_AA300_.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /> This magnificent book by author Harvey Yoder tells the story of a war torn country {Liberia}, and the children who endured the pain and terror that the war brought.Their journey are captured in this book.Some of these children gained happy endings by surviving a brutal war, but sad trails led them there." The purpose of this book is not to entertain but to create awareness of the pain and spiritual darkness that abound in much of Africa in general and in Liberia in particular" (Yoder). I encourage everyone to read this book, it is a story of triumph, perserverance, tragedy, terror, and it will leave you with a heart full of compassion!!</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_g2lyjm="598" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: right;"><a closure_uid_g2lyjm="685" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHlobTOdmI7QIzRZBzLZ9sTmNexbtXku5TIkkYtqfR2_TfFWAd9MwhxiCWJeNi7tXdJxpyljAhAyARAD_JsCwdGcaSqqWSLlmL3VG361MREENC_CLBTIqI8mdka-U68a5LcKuHtgX-5s/s1600/Liberia1976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 212px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 293px;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHlobTOdmI7QIzRZBzLZ9sTmNexbtXku5TIkkYtqfR2_TfFWAd9MwhxiCWJeNi7tXdJxpyljAhAyARAD_JsCwdGcaSqqWSLlmL3VG361MREENC_CLBTIqI8mdka-U68a5LcKuHtgX-5s/s320/Liberia1976.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div closure_uid_g2lyjm="285" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bDbWBLzixSc-bPo80wLZ4wlVMflJZ2nC1_4EIFQPAGBkTGTECLsPhAZLSHhq4wILqVcG7vpDIU7z4ozHg4FtCp3y9TJm1c7bt8H-9pjhe9Mti7Wfq2iyOrz5Lr4ASg9bBtWX7txnnFc/s1600/l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bDbWBLzixSc-bPo80wLZ4wlVMflJZ2nC1_4EIFQPAGBkTGTECLsPhAZLSHhq4wILqVcG7vpDIU7z4ozHg4FtCp3y9TJm1c7bt8H-9pjhe9Mti7Wfq2iyOrz5Lr4ASg9bBtWX7txnnFc/s320/l.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div closure_uid_g2lyjm="285" closure_uid_noguvg="98" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div closure_uid_noguvg="97">If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children. -Mohandas Gandhi-</div></div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-22552808313030299422011-07-04T11:38:00.000-07:002011-07-29T03:10:32.443-07:00HOME SWEET HOME!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="body">This is a beautiful story of a Liberian boy named Alfred Lomax who, at the height of Liberia’s civil war, stole a boogie board from a food container as he fled for safety. He returned home to a war-torn country and discovered a love of riding waves and sharing them with his loved ones. Since his return and a surf session with Californian surfer Nicholai Lidow, Alfred has gained more passion and love for surfing and even upgraded his equipment to a surfboard. He has become an inspiration of some sorts in the still recuperating country of Liberia.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg099VEBPALrdWEHwtZNV8w8aDUKzGzNHrbGqlCpo7HT6Fc_H2GSBN6fuWrIlWX8q2TslGKjlrv0AgSzKL4zbGrokdl7Zv9adWjX37C3lhKkgKazamLVvZl682-Exm2hfNR4pu_VFkLla8/s1600/264971_229110490452701_202128216484262_751796_1210790_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg099VEBPALrdWEHwtZNV8w8aDUKzGzNHrbGqlCpo7HT6Fc_H2GSBN6fuWrIlWX8q2TslGKjlrv0AgSzKL4zbGrokdl7Zv9adWjX37C3lhKkgKazamLVvZl682-Exm2hfNR4pu_VFkLla8/s320/264971_229110490452701_202128216484262_751796_1210790_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For me, our beaches have always been a source of personal inspiration!</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_cipkih="141" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-26180531506819752982011-06-18T12:00:00.000-07:002011-07-27T23:37:34.806-07:00The Battle for Freedom!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dPIWGOwyKadx1YCQVnLOfLggWtxXJDcsut132A6C48MLG5G0Lgx5dpyHsgo4ZbrLcsKz4GeysCEobC8YwltYjNkq_-q6f-Y1IRU8jqRELXSdBiKLilid3NJmdPyeqzPV5zNynd3REPo/s1600/neclogo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dPIWGOwyKadx1YCQVnLOfLggWtxXJDcsut132A6C48MLG5G0Lgx5dpyHsgo4ZbrLcsKz4GeysCEobC8YwltYjNkq_-q6f-Y1IRU8jqRELXSdBiKLilid3NJmdPyeqzPV5zNynd3REPo/s200/neclogo2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The 2011 Liberian Elections!!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2011 Liberian general election</span> will be held on October 11, 2011, with the resulting runoff elections held on November 8, 2011. The <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Liberia" title="President of Liberia"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">presidency</span></a>,</span> and all seats in the <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Representatives_of_Liberia" title="House of Representatives of Liberia"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">House of Representatives</span></a> and half of the seats in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senate_of_Liberia" title="Senate of Liberia"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Senate</span></a>, will be up for election. The election will be monitor by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Election_Commission_(Liberia)" title="National Election Commission (Liberia)"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Liberian National Elections Commission</span></a> (NEC)</span>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The country of Liberia has had its share of sorrow and tragedy. A 20 years civil war forced more than a million people from their homes. Tens of thousands of Liberians sought refuge in neighboring countries and refugee camps. Many today are still living in terrible conditions and terrify to return back home because of the scars and wounds that the war left on them. The deafening silence on the part of the international community regarding war crimes and crimes against humanity in Liberia has given a cause for concern. The 2011 Presidential election will be a very important election for Liberia. Not only does it represent the fight for democracy for the country but it also represents the struggle for human rights in a war torn country.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2011 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CANDIDATES!!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ScSh37gO15_4nq0tASOUF-D4YRTRIPwbJO201H9zPk3_k9RwqpBXQMv4id9Bfs8KhflN2oe9pBuEkdwpSCUZAXUAyGOFzzINA_VW2LymorKqz_OWyJNhYYUy5lDEf1DMkYU_pgHKRK4/s1600/vote_ballot_paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ScSh37gO15_4nq0tASOUF-D4YRTRIPwbJO201H9zPk3_k9RwqpBXQMv4id9Bfs8KhflN2oe9pBuEkdwpSCUZAXUAyGOFzzINA_VW2LymorKqz_OWyJNhYYUy5lDEf1DMkYU_pgHKRK4/s320/vote_ballot_paper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 2010, the Harvard trained economists, and current Liberian President, (The Iron Lady of Liberia) Madam Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, announced that she would indeed be running for a second term in office. Sirleaf was re-nominated by her party (The Unity Party) as their presidential candidate for 2011. Her current vice president Joseph Boakai was also nominated and confirmed by delegates to be the Unity Party’s vice presidential candidate for 2011.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On May 1, 2011 The CDC Party nominated Winston Tubman, the nephew of former Liberian President William Tubman, who is a Harvard trained lawyer. </span><span class="fbphotocaptiontext"><span style="color: black;">He has degrees from the London School of Economics, Cambridge University and Harvard University. A member of the bar, he founded his own law firm in 1968 and served as legal adviser to the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs during his uncle's administration. A legal expert, he has extensive United Nations experience. His running mate and Vice-Presidential candidate will be George Weah who is well known for his amazing soccer abilities. Weah is a formal Liberian and worldwide footballer. He left his mark on the game with his amazing footwork on the field. Mr. Weah has been given the nickname “King George” by his teammates because of his athletic abilities and the recognitions he received from the football world.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Party_(Liberia)" title="Liberty Party (Liberia)"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Liberty Party</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> leader, <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Brumskine" title="Charles Brumskine"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Charles Brumskine</span></a>,</span> also announced his plans to run for president in 2011. His running mate and Vice-Presidential candidate will be Senator <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Siakor" title="Franklin Siakor"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Franklin Siakor.</span></a> The most scandalous candidate by far Prince Johnson, the former war lord leader during the first Liberian Civil War and also the senator from Nimba County has also announced his candidacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nathaniel Barnes, leader of the Liberian Destiny Party and Liberian Ambassador to the United Nations have also confirmed that he will be running for the presidency office. </span></span><span class="fbphotocaptiontext"><span style="color: black;">Newly added to the list is Reverend Kennedy Sanders. Well known in Liberia and the United States where he lives. Rev. Sanders announced in the U.S that he is going to indeed challenge President Sirleaf in the presidential elections.</span></span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="fbphotocaptiontext"><span style="color: black;">This election will be a crucial one for the Liberian people. </span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Liberian writer T.Q Harris Jr, said that it will be “an all-out battle between the forces of good and evil! It’s a fight for the heart and soul of the nation! This is a defining moment! Therefore no true son or daughter of the soil can afford to stand idly by and watch. I must agree with his statement. We can’t stand idly by and allow our country to fall into the hands of the wrong leader. Mohandas Ghandi India ideological leader once said “A country’s culture lies in the soul of its people”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time for change, a new visionary thinking, the old ideologies of corrupt leaders has to be thrown outside the window and we must give change a chance to lead our country to progression. It’s time to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery and free ourselves from corruption. We must stand together as one to make this change happen for our country and children children’s!! Only we can liberate ourselves. MAY THE BEST CANDIDATE WIN! </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"></div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-46313977694675842802011-06-13T13:29:00.000-07:002011-07-27T23:43:32.788-07:00AFRICA IS RICHER THAN YOU THINK!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-S9G3ef7qkn-xtWZXJgqFyVtdq0oJgeFPfcTZWZAYsHjcqGTRl83RNMeKxMsC3lnNdyhd7xlFUU3UTwYuziFoZ5eBDTdPtcgDWkDAhMgMjg6RaoSXxv0kPMSJfJzEA3jDtYPyZh_ovM/s1600/hj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw-S9G3ef7qkn-xtWZXJgqFyVtdq0oJgeFPfcTZWZAYsHjcqGTRl83RNMeKxMsC3lnNdyhd7xlFUU3UTwYuziFoZ5eBDTdPtcgDWkDAhMgMjg6RaoSXxv0kPMSJfJzEA3jDtYPyZh_ovM/s320/hj.jpg" t8="true" width="216" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">One of my absolute favorite book. Finally someone has taken the focus from the usual social ills in AFrica and has shined light on the booming Economic opportunities in AFrica.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BOOK REVIEW</span></div><div class="highlight">A valiant attempt to identify the opportunities in Africa’s huge and diverse consumer markets, Vijay Mahajan’s Africa Rising: How 900 million African consumers offer more than you think, is a revealing primer for businesses hoping to gain a foothold on the continent.</div><div class="highlight"><br />
</div>Part travelogue, part textbook, part who’s who of global businesses operating on the continent, Africa Rising is at its strongest when exploring the relationship between the formal and informal sectors of the economy, providing an insight into the relationships between individuals and brands in markets complicated by political, economic and social factors that are alien to western marketers. The constant thread throughout the text – that the greatest opportunities in Africa could be in organising markets that remain fragmented and choosing brands that demonstrate cultural resonance – mirrors the prevailing thinking in the investment community and, crucially, presents it in an accessible format for a wider audience.<br />
<div align="left"><a href="http://www.thisisafricaonline.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/28/Review_-_Africa_Rising_By_Vijay_Mahajan.html">http://www.thisisafricaonline.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/28/Review_-_Africa_Rising_By_Vijay_Mahajan.html</a></div><div align="left"><br />
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</div>"Africa has some of the poorest nations in the world, but it is wealthier across the continent than India," Mahajan says.<br />
If Africa were a single country, it would have had $978 billion in total gross nation income in 2006. This places it ahead of Brazil, Russia and India—and 12 countries in Africa are wealthier than China in per capita income, he says.<br />
The African diaspora and the informal economy also enrich the continent in many ways that aren't recognized, Mahajan says. The total dispersed African population around the world is estimated at about 100 million people. Unlike past generations that might have left the continent altogether and never looked back, today's diaspora remains engaged. They are instrumental in the African economy, sending money home to families, making investments and contributing to charitable causes.<br />
<a href="http://www.utexas.edu/features/2009/03/30/africa/">http://www.utexas.edu/features/2009/03/30/africa/</a></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-2684145034538333422011-05-13T14:59:00.000-07:002011-07-29T03:16:39.424-07:00♥Little Angels♥<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" closure_uid_13sqmm="151" closure_uid_yc9m4a="172" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxS6WULdLCCjFC-JoCFJ3mRsgjwOJPq0cRIwnimwMsqGM_WcyDzoCDeiePyyQYEudbll2PEL8tGtI8Bch07GAKMoaAnxBz8UcpyQGmscMR1WqvNx7MNtTY6nHBfY_3AQzhE9XbOuJ1rA/s1600/image_preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxS6WULdLCCjFC-JoCFJ3mRsgjwOJPq0cRIwnimwMsqGM_WcyDzoCDeiePyyQYEudbll2PEL8tGtI8Bch07GAKMoaAnxBz8UcpyQGmscMR1WqvNx7MNtTY6nHBfY_3AQzhE9XbOuJ1rA/s320/image_preview.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_13sqmm="205" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiim-cYXbJVZK0hFVFlE6rw_cwdfSs1qsOKBgU2Wh7eG2orgP2ASDC_fiQo42nvpbRo53__7CezqbzgjChEmkmn_vxvhHXWQyvgoR2VlNPsZDMIzOA_TVi9_VUtlPeIZqQDRIhrzP_w6B4/s1600/Child-behind-Bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiim-cYXbJVZK0hFVFlE6rw_cwdfSs1qsOKBgU2Wh7eG2orgP2ASDC_fiQo42nvpbRo53__7CezqbzgjChEmkmn_vxvhHXWQyvgoR2VlNPsZDMIzOA_TVi9_VUtlPeIZqQDRIhrzP_w6B4/s1600/Child-behind-Bars.jpg" t$="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_13sqmm="149" closure_uid_yc9m4a="172" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear."</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_13sqmm="149" closure_uid_yc9m4a="172" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">-Nelson Mandela-</div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-51459198491657223672011-04-21T11:38:00.000-07:002011-07-27T23:43:07.434-07:00SpotLight: Johnny Mad Dog!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dj16Kfd8xZk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Past is the Key to the Future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-f4DUKxKFvZMEtay4HQETvZzG1j5K_Ld2WhQ0nW-KKegmHnPRflNuUl7IZ6bH2GxbrzCxS8G-ZjhLXSXDYolFdI9HoHEZFSv9-mdRNerBah4NQbNERTRf7Q0oVDNT6hXPCtEVHZ3XtY/s1600/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-f4DUKxKFvZMEtay4HQETvZzG1j5K_Ld2WhQ0nW-KKegmHnPRflNuUl7IZ6bH2GxbrzCxS8G-ZjhLXSXDYolFdI9HoHEZFSv9-mdRNerBah4NQbNERTRf7Q0oVDNT6hXPCtEVHZ3XtY/s400/thumbnail.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="214"><b itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="215">Director:</b> Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire tells the story of vicious child soldiers in Liberia armed with weapons of death and willing to use them at the slightest provocation serves as the focal point for this drama highlighting the need for greater humanity in a country ravaged by absurd wars. Johnny is a fifteen year old soldier with a small commando unit, and together this team robs, pillages, and kills everyone and everything in their path. Laokolé is a sixteen year old girl who spirits her disabled father around on a ramshackle wheelbarrow and looks after her eight year old brother Fofo while dreaming of ways to leave the city and build a better future. As Johnny advances and Laokolé falls back, miniature warlords leading diminutive armies kill each other over such trivialities as misplaced words or television sets. What will it take to ensure that no more childhoods are cut tragically short? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi ~</div><div itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="214"><br />
</div><div itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="214">I strongly believe that the past is the answer to the future. When we are able to solve the mysteries of the past we are able to prevent history from repeating itself into the future. No doubt in my mind that the Liberian Civil war was brutal and one of the longest civil war in West Africa but if we are willing and able to learn from our past mistakes and if we are able to recognize where we went wrong and if we are able to recognize humanities needs then we will be able to have a better future. Liberia will Rise Again!!!</div><div itxtharvested="0" itxtnodeid="214"><br />
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</div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-61215795254333956362011-04-15T10:53:00.000-07:002011-09-04T21:19:43.413-07:00The University of Liberia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">First Graduates of UL</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center"></div>The University of Liberia is a <a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Public_university" title="Public university"><span style="color: black;">publicly funded</span></a><span style="color: black;"> institution of higher learning located in </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Monrovia"><span style="color: black;">Monrovia</span></a><span style="color: black;">, </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Liberia"><span style="color: black;">Liberia</span></a><span style="color: black;">. Authorized by the national government in 1851, the school opened in 1863 as <b>Liberia College</b> and became a university in 1951.The school is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in <a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/West_Africa"><span style="color: black;">West Africa</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and is accredited by the Liberian Commission on Higher Education. </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Civil_war" title="Civil war"><span style="color: black;">Civil wars</span></a></span><span style="color: black;"> have disrupted and damaged the school over the last three decades.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The New University of Liberia</span><br />
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</tbody></table> UL has managed to reconstruct itself after two decades of Civil war. Now the University of Liberia has six colleges, three professional schools including a <a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Law_school"><span style="color: black;">law school</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Medical_school"><span style="color: black;">medical school</span></a><span style="color: black;">, and three graduate programs with a total of 18,000 students at its three campuses in and around the country's capital city. UL also has a five institutes for study in areas such as the Chinese language and population research. The law school is the only law school in Liberia. Graduates of the school have gone on to leadership roles in </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/wiki/Politics_of_Liberia" title="Politics of Liberia"><span style="color: black;">Liberian politics</span></a><span style="color: black;"> and other major defining careers. KUDOS UL!</span></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-2972892677692347952011-04-11T01:49:00.000-07:002011-07-27T23:42:24.380-07:00China boost Liberia's Aid.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q0MtAYmimS0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RqhmKzwJY1gpN9rh5TRs-TRd-hUMmkO3Ml8cRjGQDUnHPlYptZ0SXjpZxrk97jhDhVGMDEtlNKMU7noTCHbpOb8Vzwwllg29jGAp0L-mVUbxuIzaLEUh60vMNeoR-IjkKE0w83CcorM/s1600/Hu%252520Jintao%252520welcomes%252520Liberian%252520President%252520Ellen%252520Johnson%252520Sirleaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RqhmKzwJY1gpN9rh5TRs-TRd-hUMmkO3Ml8cRjGQDUnHPlYptZ0SXjpZxrk97jhDhVGMDEtlNKMU7noTCHbpOb8Vzwwllg29jGAp0L-mVUbxuIzaLEUh60vMNeoR-IjkKE0w83CcorM/s320/Hu%252520Jintao%252520welcomes%252520Liberian%252520President%252520Ellen%252520Johnson%252520Sirleaf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>According to BBC NEWS </strong><strong>Chinese President Hu Jintao has signed a number of agreements with Liberia in Monrovia, pledging more aid and investment to the West African nation.</strong> </span><br />
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The deals included the cancellation of $10m (£5m) of Liberia's debt to China and waiving duties on Liberian exports. Mr Hu also promised to help Liberia - which is still recovering from a long civil war - tackle malaria and assist in education and agriculture. Mr Hu and his Liberian counterpart, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, signed a memorandum of understanding during their talks in Monrovia. <br />
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It included the formal signing away of $10m debt owed to Beijing. <br />
Also China has decided to give to Liberia within two years... $25m (£13m)," Liberian Information Minister Lawrence Bropleh said. The money will be spent on projects to help rebuilt Liberia, following the 1989-2003 civil war that ravaged the country. <br />
On his part, President Hu was seeking to help his country access Liberia's raw materials, including iron ore, for the rapidly-expanding Chinese economy. <br />
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6319457.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6319457.stm</a><br />
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Fast Forward to 2011 The Government of the People's Republic of China has revealed that its investment in Liberia has reached a total of US$9.9 billion dollars.<br />
<a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/201004280378.html">http://allafrica.com/stories/201004280378.html</a></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-74007035702987951642011-04-07T18:04:00.000-07:002011-07-27T23:41:46.068-07:00Charles Taylor Trial Comes to An End!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV36v87q8irMxJ-F6sF4Z6WYnAuU2ZuOmFNsSdMnNkwzXmSxKGx3xzqPQp19hIEjpvrh24kkD53-770HqeCGT42i5jfYEvt24Ilpyy7OExklfUAiXDBFnAhEUwLGYY0FdMEo9v6rePPZU/s1600/ap_charles_taylor_on_trial_lawyer_100421_ssh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV36v87q8irMxJ-F6sF4Z6WYnAuU2ZuOmFNsSdMnNkwzXmSxKGx3xzqPQp19hIEjpvrh24kkD53-770HqeCGT42i5jfYEvt24Ilpyy7OExklfUAiXDBFnAhEUwLGYY0FdMEo9v6rePPZU/s320/ap_charles_taylor_on_trial_lawyer_100421_ssh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor ended Friday with judges expected to take months to reach a verdict on whether he can be tied to murders during Sierra Leone's civil war. <br />
In their final remarks, prosecutors warned the judges against being taken in by Taylor, "an intelligent and charismatic man" who portrayed himself during the three-year trial as a statesman and peacemaker rather than a warlord who used a surrogate army to pillage a nation.<br />
The defense concluded by denying prosecution claims that Taylor was part of a criminal conspiracy with rebel leaders seizing power in neighboring Sierra Leone, providing them with weapons and support in exchange for diamonds illegally mined by slave labor.<br />
A verdict is expected in five or six months, Taylor's attorney said. Taylor, the first African head of state to be tried by an international court, faces a maximum life sentence if convicted.<br />
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I personally think that it is time that African dictators and rebel leaders face trial and convictions for their cruel actions against civilians and their countries. African leaders have been getting away for a very long time with atrocities, they should start paying. Keeping my fingers cross that he does indeed get convicted and JUSTICE BE SERVE.</div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-15881536139671542212011-04-07T17:50:00.000-07:002011-07-29T02:05:51.177-07:00The United Nations Pleas to the World to Help Liberia Host Ivorian Refugees<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" closure_uid_7hnsc="172" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG48dz_krY_B6jIKod9aazNsPrWXcDNW9Voa4AgHGCtgcg-45jSIE4EyNcANmflT5aVZjx0SlYLxtE4__ZQEdH9R3XMZTlx-8IkQO4796_Ue2Xn1GfKgBaBbXwrH7ljO1D18XHybIGHZ0/s1600/ivorycoast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG48dz_krY_B6jIKod9aazNsPrWXcDNW9Voa4AgHGCtgcg-45jSIE4EyNcANmflT5aVZjx0SlYLxtE4__ZQEdH9R3XMZTlx-8IkQO4796_Ue2Xn1GfKgBaBbXwrH7ljO1D18XHybIGHZ0/s320/ivorycoast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">Due to the recent conflicts that Ivory Coast is facing, many of dislocated Ivorians are seeking refuge in neighboring country of Liberia. Liberia has seen it's share of tragedy and turmoil and in recent years have tried to gain stability. Liberia is still recovering from a 20 years Civil War and is still unsecure. Valerie Amos, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs visited Liberia to plead to the rest of the world to aid liberia efforts in hosting Ivorian refugees in the country. An estimated 120,000 Ivoirians have fled Côte d'Ivoire since December last year following the disputed presidential election, and more than 110,000 of the refugees have sought shelter in eastern Liberia, the majority of them among host communities.Ms. Amos traveled to Toe town in Grand Gedeh County bordering Côte d'Ivoire where she talked with Ivorian refugees who gave her their accounts of their difficult trek into Liberia and their current living conditions.The Liberian Government, UN agencies, as well as national a nd international NGOs have been providing help, including the protection of civilians, food, education, health and sanitation. Liberian families, some of whom were themselves refugees not long ago, have been hosting some of the refugees, sharing with them their meagre resources.Ms. Amos appealed to donor countries to contribute to Liberia's emergency action plan, which has requested USD 146.5 million, but has so far received USD 35 million or 23 per cent of what is needed. <br />
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To read full story visit <a href="http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-182220.html">http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-182220.html</a></div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-35589145581580339312011-03-28T14:29:00.000-07:002011-07-29T03:29:36.602-07:00BEAUTIFUL FACES<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div closure_uid_axtjyf="125"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_9820iz="112" closure_uid_axtjyf="112" closure_uid_v4x4dw="112" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQx7cPQEyljLC_UAlg9rPa6512Pw94CAtC0ize8_XflZOlpPgaRWT0Ck8I2QXawaE71QwOIGbjJunAHgi901gmsg1iwDyYKXo3tZ4kuFQ8Bdtqh2ZOXqJ9Dqb22VFwgm3HXbWpoFjt6E/s1600/2677770281_96778de025-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQx7cPQEyljLC_UAlg9rPa6512Pw94CAtC0ize8_XflZOlpPgaRWT0Ck8I2QXawaE71QwOIGbjJunAHgi901gmsg1iwDyYKXo3tZ4kuFQ8Bdtqh2ZOXqJ9Dqb22VFwgm3HXbWpoFjt6E/s320/2677770281_96778de025-1.jpg" width="320" /></a>I decided to compose a post of Beautiful faces. To see the Love that people back home have for eachother is really amazing. Even in Poverty stricken times people are willing to put aside their problems and lend a helping hand to one another. THERE'S DEFINITELY LOVE IN LIBERIA♥. "In the course of history, there comes a time when humanity is called to shift to a new level of consciousness, to reach a higher moral ground"-Wangari Maathai-</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_eie729="182" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEequDxItfmrQq54uUkwPI09ze-IQ8-G_xCzJof9MJq6NcKUYp6o-IuLiMCNRDUMoSjgBPTK7B0seRNwb6TqlcSXbc2ZEle3EV-51jFPsQzdWkVsGDpoDipzG3C6F2_nYcokCscNmN7GE/s1600/16-henri-dennis-school-west-africa-education-is-the-hope-of-our-people-bishop-arthur-kulah-liberia-g_358-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEequDxItfmrQq54uUkwPI09ze-IQ8-G_xCzJof9MJq6NcKUYp6o-IuLiMCNRDUMoSjgBPTK7B0seRNwb6TqlcSXbc2ZEle3EV-51jFPsQzdWkVsGDpoDipzG3C6F2_nYcokCscNmN7GE/s320/16-henri-dennis-school-west-africa-education-is-the-hope-of-our-people-bishop-arthur-kulah-liberia-g_358-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-77989925301653887852011-03-24T00:25:00.000-07:002011-07-29T02:02:41.719-07:00That was then! & This is Now!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Liberia is slowly but surely regaining its place in the West African Society. Although there is still a lot of work and reconstruction left to be done, we are beginning to see many improvements. This puts a huge smile on my face to know that INDEED LIBERIA WILL RISE AGAIN!. The civil war lasted for about 20 years which means it will take the country about 40 more years to rebuild itself. I completely have faith in my country! THE LONE STAR FOREVER!!!</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fvLEWJGFs0Gu74iq6TCCJ5uuP2m4qGSms8xXdFd3-DN_57CoVMe3Soa6g7WpCXHFg_FZfD8xDK9ktYJQAGABKTVcWFqmr8f8H-TKqCtizoDBeTuDIq1ZEyWZ8z177j8Xwf5Ii-I9vcI/s1600/liberia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fvLEWJGFs0Gu74iq6TCCJ5uuP2m4qGSms8xXdFd3-DN_57CoVMe3Soa6g7WpCXHFg_FZfD8xDK9ktYJQAGABKTVcWFqmr8f8H-TKqCtizoDBeTuDIq1ZEyWZ8z177j8Xwf5Ii-I9vcI/s320/liberia.jpg" width="320" /></a> SNAP SHOTS ON SOME OF THE RECONSTRUCTION</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLcYoz6YSq1xwi9GPwbtBdR_dNhLjGPYBWPlUVZeZZVJyv9fFe5tpmAC2WbAihd8FLJng-hoHEB1uNay-BmUzuR_Gqd87bmKuAcFWJUd6XEM_2CyJxtGx0uFpMnwHb1V7o9F4_hsKsxQ/s1600/airline-129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLcYoz6YSq1xwi9GPwbtBdR_dNhLjGPYBWPlUVZeZZVJyv9fFe5tpmAC2WbAihd8FLJng-hoHEB1uNay-BmUzuR_Gqd87bmKuAcFWJUd6XEM_2CyJxtGx0uFpMnwHb1V7o9F4_hsKsxQ/s320/airline-129.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifd0LijH4wq2aSZMVadDpRHY0phFHVaRJ0NRQcmZsHaQZk52WgltPiPFNXYu8QhsATKTcIcBIbY55-qw1b5oiUO6QQn_zIVxCXrdrYtpTrJ8YqDLdHmouh7UKeTvecjaHoOvW8pL9_AIE/s1600/africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifd0LijH4wq2aSZMVadDpRHY0phFHVaRJ0NRQcmZsHaQZk52WgltPiPFNXYu8QhsATKTcIcBIbY55-qw1b5oiUO6QQn_zIVxCXrdrYtpTrJ8YqDLdHmouh7UKeTvecjaHoOvW8pL9_AIE/s320/africa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtq10p9fTbMCBR-I2LJlxRvRdVR1Ow7hgmvm8ZtNuJI4Hchbsg5Cx5jvvfVGcfUZwJQjyvsRsOYUy-hpJCv3aH019KXo2nSMJnR-Lc4iHtNVD95z1wuilZd1a0IT_LfyRd-uzQmm8XHo/s1600/hilton+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtq10p9fTbMCBR-I2LJlxRvRdVR1Ow7hgmvm8ZtNuJI4Hchbsg5Cx5jvvfVGcfUZwJQjyvsRsOYUy-hpJCv3aH019KXo2nSMJnR-Lc4iHtNVD95z1wuilZd1a0IT_LfyRd-uzQmm8XHo/s320/hilton+garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_8HrBFhzclb1WAMx6CgBzzDheobevU0mE5iEtjz4hFFq5_wub5dt-kC_4AX17k09V9hpWHAd2pr10f_OrtCOCS5bWxKJ8XdaBlx4P8NkHGR_QSiRztSZdbHbUJ6qEyL7P54mgQqpvCE/s1600/79e709d6ea62f6442ef8a8e23a7c_grande.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_8HrBFhzclb1WAMx6CgBzzDheobevU0mE5iEtjz4hFFq5_wub5dt-kC_4AX17k09V9hpWHAd2pr10f_OrtCOCS5bWxKJ8XdaBlx4P8NkHGR_QSiRztSZdbHbUJ6qEyL7P54mgQqpvCE/s320/79e709d6ea62f6442ef8a8e23a7c_grande.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" closure_uid_eohcky="239" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkChxc34SL1lKIPCl7ChcLPTcBzcwNOYwM754-jDTr65s8TW7wZkwOaG2_AnvVlOJaFDMRlPZC5QccNCMHyKiczKEpJXMWA8WHWH0JVFQPNXKwP-kkw9z1yVOo0ci9i7mkZRs9pCdmXs/s1600/beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkChxc34SL1lKIPCl7ChcLPTcBzcwNOYwM754-jDTr65s8TW7wZkwOaG2_AnvVlOJaFDMRlPZC5QccNCMHyKiczKEpJXMWA8WHWH0JVFQPNXKwP-kkw9z1yVOo0ci9i7mkZRs9pCdmXs/s320/beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="212" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH664uWI4hyphenhyphen6F08pTSQznqd7Q3uETox-5A4ENUCcxV4VNmKrSfsA6j3rG42JWXbRKuRaHoT99Alh2scECA2PU22BXIv9zfB_uIlx5qX_a5D3MK-mYWvztIRef-GA3ecZimxKjj_C8owx4/s320/LiberiaMonrovia4.jpg" width="320" /></div><div closure_uid_eohcky="194"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div> </div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-20067266111816076732011-03-23T22:54:00.000-07:002011-07-27T23:35:15.956-07:00The Iron Lady of Liberia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lmPWyJboIXVzoPT0pE6j5mJgf-x2oiv1nuqPGkUPg9KoFDuemd3osqbyUNjeDi_yF1CVeZ8mcIGkLEYrM4RX9a1hGasazm37Ev3QbR8uuCHcjEhn-sY0k6D0Uu02wrZDKupCB9-ZQdc/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lmPWyJboIXVzoPT0pE6j5mJgf-x2oiv1nuqPGkUPg9KoFDuemd3osqbyUNjeDi_yF1CVeZ8mcIGkLEYrM4RX9a1hGasazm37Ev3QbR8uuCHcjEhn-sY0k6D0Uu02wrZDKupCB9-ZQdc/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Born in 1938, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is a widowed mother-of-four</span>.</span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">US-educated economist and former finance minister Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf won the second round of presidential elections in November 2005 and in January 2006 she was inaugurated as Africa's first elected woman head of state. The poll was intended to draw a line under Liberia's war. </span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Her rival, the footballer and political novice George Weah, alleged fraud. International observers said the vote had been broadly free and fair. </span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Known in Liberia as the "Iron Lady", Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf drew much of her support from women voters, and from Liberia's small educated elite. She faces the twin challenges of trying to rebuild the country and of fostering reconciliation. One of her priorities is to reintegrate into society former child soldiers. She has declared a "zero tolerance" of corruption. </span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The president served as finance minister under President William Tolbert in the late 1970s and fled the country after the Tolbert government was overthrown. She has worked for the UN and the World Bank. </span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Some of the opposition to Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf stems from her one-time association with former Liberian leader Charles Taylor. She briefly supported the then warlord in his quest to overthrow military leader Samuel Doe. </span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Speaking at Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission in February 2009, she admitted to her initial support for Mr Taylor, saying he had misled her into believing the war was necessary for change to happen. (BBC NEWS)</span></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/vpo4oyIJQs8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">From my Personal opinion, i believe that she is the best candidate for this job and she seems to be moving the country into the right direction.It is up to the Liberian people as a whole to rebuild our country!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">LIBERIA WILL RISE AGAIN!!!</div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-79542873730712530132011-03-23T22:15:00.000-07:002011-07-27T23:34:38.151-07:00We want Peace! No More War!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEYuA51p72LxWRT39V_lTskUPQ70DH54hORxPAKCqj6ZnA04v-SvqqfNmYaZiuyhy1uy2TmG06B-IT8wg73P1SVZVrAz-smQq_5LLYMc-WCGqzJO6mq2-Z9y01yc50pAjc_rSAFq8Aro/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEYuA51p72LxWRT39V_lTskUPQ70DH54hORxPAKCqj6ZnA04v-SvqqfNmYaZiuyhy1uy2TmG06B-IT8wg73P1SVZVrAz-smQq_5LLYMc-WCGqzJO6mq2-Z9y01yc50pAjc_rSAFq8Aro/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSSNErFtHXhVvv5dWzBAszmR_TCtf5nrhzMx1O6xeEa5Fhu27GoLVB9PebqrA1q9DiMM3ctrzRgn_aRQJ3JAm3qMhJW_1FFWRec5XGXcdJNMqA-KiS3XnvQhRaUAMn4B0c95_vYG9XOo/s320/aj1c.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Forced End to The Tragic Civil War</div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Liberian Civil War sometimes refers to as "Uncivil War" lasted for about 20 years. The first Civil war began in 1989 and lasted to 1996 and the Second civil War began in 1999 and ended in 2003. Liberia is Africa's oldest republic, but it became better known in the 1990s for its long-running, ruinous civil war</span>.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">NPFL) militia overran much of the countryside, entering the capital in 1990. Mr Doe was executed. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Fighting intensified as the rebels splintered and battled each other,</span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The West African nation was relatively calm until 1980 when William Tolbert was overthrown by Sergeant Samuel Doe after food price riots. The coup marked the end of dominance by the minority Americo-Liberians, who had ruled since independence, but heralded a period of instability. </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By the late 1980s, arbitrary rule and economic collapse culminated in civil war when Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia</span> the Liberian army and West African peacekeepers. In 1995 a peace agreement was signed, leading to the election of Mr Taylor as president. </span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The respite was brief, with anti-government fighting breaking out in the north in 1999. Mr Taylor accused Guinea of supporting the rebellion. Meanwhile Ghana, Nigeria and others accused Mr Taylor of backing rebels in Sierra Leone. </span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Matters came to a head in 2003 when Mr Taylor - under international pressure to quit and hemmed in by rebels - stepped down and went into exile in Nigeria. A transitional government steered the country towards elections in 2005. </span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Around 250,000 people were killed in Liberia's civil war and many thousands more fled the fighting. The conflict left the country in economic ruin and overrun with weapons. The capital remains without mains electricity and running water. Corruption is rife and unemployment and illiteracy are endemic. </span></span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "Verdana", "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The UN maintains some 15,000 soldiers in Liberia. It is one of the organisation's most expensive peacekeeping operations.</span> (BBC News).<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1043500.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1043500.stm</a></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="facts"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9202190759753295022.post-51381724458131679362011-03-23T14:06:00.000-07:002011-07-29T02:00:59.831-07:00The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLHadem2dnnscasrHXEox24DT0fCcZIndQ98mD5gNw6Dcg4h2h4fXvLvylu4Mk8HfrGQ24mfWvrPlZn32wVnKAQCJWCIkFsgx3ch0ZWxe3TxrOjEm-97tm-VE7XVDG-aoHpV4Cha4Odg/s1600/ctc_03_img0633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLHadem2dnnscasrHXEox24DT0fCcZIndQ98mD5gNw6Dcg4h2h4fXvLvylu4Mk8HfrGQ24mfWvrPlZn32wVnKAQCJWCIkFsgx3ch0ZWxe3TxrOjEm-97tm-VE7XVDG-aoHpV4Cha4Odg/s320/ctc_03_img0633.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Liberia A Brief History</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">After the abolishment of slavery, the struggle for freedom for African American rose tremendously in the United States. The back to Africa Movement became the core decision to solve the inequality problem that many free slaves were experiencing. This decision made it possible for the free slave to return back to Africa to establish their own home. The land that is now Liberia was the country of choice and the back to Africa movement began.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">· </span></span>1822- The first free black settlers arrived in the land that is now called Liberia.</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">· </span></span>1847- On July 26, The Liberian Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed.</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">· </span></span>1848- The Liberian Constitution was ratified and first presidential election was held</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">· </span></span>1851- First college was established in the country</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">Liberia first president was a free slave by the name of Joseph Jenkins Roberts. Liberia consisted of indigenous Liberians and Ameri-Co Liberians who were the free slaves from the U.S. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liberia became known as the Republic of Liberia. The capital is Monrovia named after U.S president James Monroe, It is also nicknamed the “Lone Star country”, and The Liberian pledge of allegiance is similar to the U.S pledge of Allegiance. Liberia has had 20 presidents from 1847 to present time. The Liberian government consist of the legislative branch, executive branch and judicial branch very similar to the U.S governmental structure.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" closure_uid_2ddud3="132" closure_uid_xq8l4f="133" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><div closure_uid_kc09ab="170" style="text-align: center;"><div closure_uid_q9vx9c="133"><strong><span closure_uid_kc09ab="161" style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><u closure_uid_q9vx9c="132">LIBERIA FACTS</u></span></strong></div></div><div closure_uid_kc09ab="170" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Full name: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Republic of Liberia</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Population: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.1 million (UN, 2010)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Capital: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Monrovia </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Area: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">99,067 sq km (38,250 sq miles) </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Languages: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">English, 29 African languages belonging to the Mande, Kwa or Mel linguistic groups</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Major religions: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christianity, Islam, indigenous belief</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life expectancy:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> 59 years (men), 61 years (women) (UN)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Monetary unit: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Main exports: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Diamonds, iron ore, rubber, timber, coffee, cocoa</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">GNI per capita: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times", "serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">US $160 (World Bank, 2009) </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div></div>PATIENCEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765868950468059007noreply@blogger.com2