I just signed the pledge to end hunger and a generous Bread for the World member donated $1 in my name to help fight hunger. For every person who signs the pledge, an additional $1 will be donated to Bread for the World. Will you join me? Your voice can make a difference in the lives of hungry kids.
Washington, DC, September 22, 2010
President Barack Obama today will announce a new directive on global development, according to senior administration officials.
The presidential policy directive will provide a rational and more coherent policy that will work to reduce global poverty and ensure economic growth in poor countries.
“President Obama’s new development policy is a well-thought-out directive that will help make foreign aid more effective and provide assistance to people who desperately need it,” said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. “This is a victory for Bread for the World members who have been working hard to reform U.S. foreign aid.”
Under the new policy, the U.S. government intends to elevate development as a priority and strengthen the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
The administration's strategy places stronger emphasis on support for inclusive, sustained economic growth; innovation and technology; more country selectivity; working with partners, including both corporations and nongovernmental organizations; and strong support for multilateral agencies like the United Nations.
Related White House Resources:
• Remarks of President Barack Obama
• U.S. Global Development Policy
Under the new directive, the State Department and USAID will work together, but each will have its own distinct functions and competencies.
“Implementation of this directive will require a lot of change, and details of the relationship between the State Department and USAID still need to be worked out,” added Beckmann. “It’s also important that the administration works with Congress to pass legislation needed to give these reforms the force of law.”
President Obama will announce the new policy during a speech to the United Nations today.
Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.
Media Contact:
Kristen Youngblood, 202.464.8123
Racine Tucker-Hamilton, 202.464.8196
Have you wondered how the trapped Chilean miners are managing to survive down there? With the help of a 3" bore hole. Everything they need has to be able to pass through that hole. How's that for an engineering project?
via flowingdata.com
When your economy is in the toilet, I guess there's only one thing to do. These folks would appreciate you find some other course of action, though. Before the decision to remove the currency, inflation meant a loaf of bread cost $1 million Zimbabwean Dollars. That's a lot of bills!
So, I have decided to indulge in the nirvana of nerdiness and I put a page in the Research & Rescue Amazon Store, called Thinkers - Global Issues. As I discover new books (or books that have been around but I hadn't noticed them), I'll add them in. Some of these are ones I've read; others are wish list items (if you're a personal friend, there's a hint). This is the first of a series of store pages in the Books for Thinkers category but I haven't quite decided what the others will be. Since I have a background in AI, perhaps the next shelf will be technology books with a bent toward philosophy and cognitive science.
Not to worry, I don't make a fortune of of Amazon Associates fees. In fact, I make pretty much nothing. You're welcome to change that, of course! In the meantime, think of this as just another venture into internet curation :-)
Happy reading!
In just the past seven days, residents of Guatemala and parts of neighboring Honduras and El Salvador have had to cope with a volcanic eruption and ash fall, a powerful tropical storm, the resulting floods and landslides, and a frightening sinkhole in Guatemala City that swallowed up a small building and an intersection. Pacaya volcano started erupting lava and rocks on May 27th, blanketing Guatemala City with ash, closing the airport, and killing one television reporter who was near the eruption. Two days later, as Guatemalans worked to clear the ash, Tropical Storm Agatha made landfall bringing heavy rains that washed away bridges, filled some villages with mud, and somehow triggered the giant sinkhole - the exact cause is still being studied. (34 photos total)
More pictures at www.boston.com
This story is pretty amazing, I think. I could be wrong but I don't think you can do this so quickly in the US.
KIGALI, RWANDA - An Online business registration service has been officially launched in Rwanda reducing time it takes to register a company from a day to just one hour.
The online business registration service went live on Rwanda Development Board (RDB) website http://org.rdb.rw last week.
This means one can register a company in the comfort of their homes or at any internet café without necessarily going to RDB offices in Kigali.
Some RDB officials think the development will help many investors formalise businesses and create more wealth in Rwanda.
via www.busiweek.com
