Black And Blue

A fragile existence

Black In America

Photos/Illustrations by Betsy Kiel

Floyd, Taylor, Martin, King, and Arbery. These are just a few names in the tragic landscape of police brutality and vigilante justice.

After experiencing an episode of unconscious racial bias in the workplace, a colleague remarked so to voice. “Racism never sleeps.”

As an African American male, my interactions with law enforcement have been fraught with stress and a hint of menace. One night while walking home from work, I came within a hair-trigger of being yet another statistic of police over-reaction —Castile, Gray, and McDonald.

Guns were drawn, as I was mistakenly identified as being one of the usual suspects —Garner, Brown, Scott, and Rice.

I had a visceral reaction to the horrific murder of George Floyd. It was the ultimate grotesque perversion of justice and symbolized the painful systematic institutionalized racism endured by African Americans for over 400 years. In addition, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic deadly disproportionate impact on people of color allied to high unemployment and you had the perfect explosive ingredients for the social upheaval that followed.

The chickens of our nations ‘original sin,’ slavery, are finally coming home to roost. Decades of inequality in the realms of justice, health, education, and economic opportunity have left many bereft of hope and close to the edge.

We are now at a historic inflection point as a multicultural American coalition demands an end to racial injustice. This clarion call for change is now a global phenomenon, it would seem that change is at hand.

Central to this idea of seismic change is the issue of Police reform, which has to happen. Accountability and transparency need to be central tenets of any progressive moves to change the negative image many people have of law enforcement. Police union's intransigence ferocious defense of its members has meant that the successful prosecution of rogue cops is extremely rare, therefore, communities of color literally have a license to kill.

Police cannot be allowed to police themselves, and, for the public to have faith in the system, there must be independent oversight.

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We need a paradigm in our approach to law enforcement in which police are seen less like an occupying army, but a more highly integrated community-based partner.

Last, bloated police budgets have added to the increased militarism of police departments nationwide. This trend was on full display as police dispatched peaceful protesters with brutal efficiency past Floyd’s death. With crumbling infrastructure, homelessness, chronic underinvestment in human capital, and a myriad of other social ills, perhaps it is time to change priorities and reallocate tax dollars.

The warrior psyche of law enforcement needs to evolve. It leads to the notion we are less than human and need to be policed over aggressively. Deadly chokeholds and the lack of transparency over officers' disciplinary records are positive metrics of change that need to be instituted.

The winds of change, are blowing as evidenced by the multicultural hordes who marched for George Floyd. Our shared humanity unites us, and we look forward to the day when black lives are truly valued, and the specter of police violence exiled to the distant past.

Broadsides by Sage

Add Birding to a list of things you cannot do while black.

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Cooper Vs. Cooper

Amy Cooper was walking her dog in Central Park’s Ramble area of New York, a little patch of semi-wilderness in an otherwise manicured park. She allowed her dog off the leash, which is against the rules.

The verbal dispute between Amy Cooper, a white woman, with an unleashed dog, and a black man Birding in Central Park would have gone unnoticed in a city preoccupied with the coronavirus pandemic.

That changed when bird-watcher Christian Cooper (no relation) pulled out his phone and captured Amy Cooper calling police to report she was being threatened by “an African American man.” The Widely Watched Video, posted on Facebook by Christian Cooper and Twitter by his sister, sparked accusations of racism and led to Amy Cooper getting fired.

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It could have been a great inter-racial love-story for a Hollywood motion picture. The Hysterical Dog Owner Meets Stoic Bird-lover.

However, in light of the murder of George Floyd, there is no doubt Ms. Coopers’ antics could have ended tragically.

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Fatal Distraction

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Photo: Win McNamee/Getty

With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections and deaths skyrocketing, Trump has enough blame to assign to everyone else. The hit list is impressive. It includes China and the World Health Organization (WHO) to name, but a few.

The initial slow response, lack of testing, and the absence of a national plan have left us all shaking our heads.

Dr. Kill

I was always worried about trump bullying the medical and scientific community into submission, and it seems he has succeeded. The rush to reopen the country before getting the pandemic under control is scary. Lives will be lost, and essential workers are merely sacrificial pawns in a cynical bid to bolster his reelection.

The Coronavirus Taskforce is now invisible. Hmmm! Maybe I could take that Lysol enema.

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Bronx Bomber

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Andrew Cuomo; New York Governor

Honest, Intellectual, witty, and feisty. If Joe Biden contrives to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in November, my nominee for 2024 has got to be the ‘Bronx Bomber,’ Andrew Cuomo.

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Dark prophet

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Muhammad Ali is a sporting hero not solely to his athletic skills, but also, of his unwavering social activism. In the sixties, his opposition to the Vietnam war led him to be stripped of his title and exiled to sporting wilderness.

In the present day, Colin Kaepernick is the social prophet unappreciated in his era. The NFL quarterback (QB) blackballed for taking a ‘knee’ against racism and police brutality.

Colin, everyone is taking a knee now!

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Newly Available 'Battlezone Domination' White House Edition War Games!

The perfect game for wannabe armchair general

Terrorize peaceful protesting civilians with your own highly trained goon-squad. Flashbang grenades, tear gas, and rubber bullets all at your disposal. Bible photo-op not included.

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Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

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How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change

Barack Obama

Latest

Photo by Xena Goldman

Barack Obama: How to Make this Moment the Turning Point for Real Change.

A statement about the protests throughout the United States about police brutality and George Floyd's murder. The lack of police accountability. He offered valuable resources on how to use this moment.

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As millions of people across the country take to the streets and raise their voices in response to the killing of George Floyd and the ongoing problem of unequal justice, many people have reached out asking how we can sustain momentum to bring about real change.

Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times. But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering.

First, the waves of protests across the country represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and the broader criminal justice system in the United States. The overwhelming majority of participants have been peaceful, courageous, responsible, and inspiring. They deserve our respect and support, not condemnation — something that police in cities like Camden and Flint have commendably understood.

The article first published from Medium | Equality. To read the rest of the article, click here.

Watchdog Says Ghana’s Fisheries On Brink Of Collapse

As Chinese trawlers arrive

By Benson Afful

Although a moratorium on new fishing vessels by the Fisheries Commission, three new trawlers have arrived in Ghana from China and have been registered to the Ghanaian flag, the Environmental Justice Foundation, said.

The new vessels Yu Feng 1, 3, and 4, according to the Environmental Justice Foundation­ were built in China in 2016 and flying the Chinese flag before arriving in Ghana. They are now docked at Tema, registered under the Ghanaian flag, and awaiting licensing by the Fisheries Commission.

Per the government’s Fisheries Management Plan, the country’s fishery can sustain 48 trawlers, yet, 76 trawlers licensed at the end of 2019.

To protect Ghana’s food security and local livelihoods, especially in these worrying times of COVID-19, the government must ensure that the industrial fleet is a sustainable size. Ghana’s National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC) has since written to the Fisheries Commission opposing any decision to grant the vessel licenses to fish in Ghana’s waters.

The country is already confronting major challenges controlling vessels with existing licenses in Ghana.

Ghana continues to see large quantities of fish landed by Saiko canoes at Elmina Fishing Harbor, even after the government and the fishing industry committed to ending the practice last November, the GNCFC said.

The Saiko trade – where trawlers illegally target the main catch of canoe fishers, transfer it at sea to specially adapted boats, and sell the stolen fish back to local communities ­– took an estimated 100,000 tons of fish in 2017.

Meaning only 40 percent of catches were caught legally and reported to the government that year. An issue requires urgent scientific re-assessment! Ghana’s fish populations are already in dire straits. Landings of ‘Sardinella have crashed by around 80% over the past twenty years.

As well as targeting the staple catch of the canoe fishers, small pelagic fish that include Sardinella, EJF revealed that the vast majority of fish traded through Saiko are juveniles. The watchdog said, this extremely worrying. The young fish are crucial to population recovery.

In Ghana, over 90 percent of industrial trawl vessels are linked to Chinese ownership, despite a prohibition on foreign ownership in Ghana’s industrial trawl sector, set out in Section 47 of the 2002 Fisheries Act, Act 625.

According to EJF’s Executive Director Steve Trent, over-capacity in the fishing fleet in Ghana is driving a crisis that will decimate livelihoods and food security in coastal communities. Ensuring all fishing is legal, ethical, and sustainable is more important as the world reels from the impact of COVID-19. Communities will need these resources more than ever. “The Fisheries Commission has the chance to do the right thing: heed scientific advice, refuse these trawlers a license and protect Ghana’s fisheries and its people,” he added.

Actions The U.S. Took To Address FGM/C In Its Foreign Policy

FGM: The Hot Button Topic

By J Reynold Weeks: Credit Source:

In 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a unanimous resolution condemning FGM/C as a human rights violation. The resolution condemning FGM/C was co-sponsored by 28 members of Congress and calls for “coordinated efforts to eliminate the harmful practice.”

Two reports by the U.S. GAO from 2016 found the U.S. efforts to end the practice lacking and in need of significant improvement both in the U.S. and abroad. Despite the clear recommendations outlined in those reports, very little has changed since they were issued. The United States presently has only one program explicitly dedicated to ending FGM/C through foreign assistance. A three-year program in Kenya due to expire in 2021. US$5 million for the U.N. joint international program focused on eliminating FGM/C. Supports 17 countries, and led to national laws banning the practice in 13 of those countries, and 12 have appropriated funds from their respective national budgets to specifically address FGM/C through investigation, prosecution, intervention, prevention, and care services.

The United States government has issued several policy statements and recommendations.

• In 2017, the USAID guidance on Female GENITAL Mutilation/Cutting was released

• In 2016, the State Department launched the US Global Strategy to Empower Adolescent Girls, which included specific goals and objectives to ensure adolescent girls were able to reduce their risks and vulnerability

• The State Department’s Office of Global Women’s Issues has worked closely with high prevalence countries such as the Gambia and Egypt on partnerships with local leaders and community outreach to combat the practice via legal reforms, public education and awareness campaigns

• The 2016 US Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally defined FGM/C as a form of gender-based violence but did not recommend specific actions to address the practice

• Although the State Department includes information on FGM/C in their annual Human Rights Country Reports, under the Trump Administration, reporting on women’s rights issues has been curtailed in countries that generate asylum petitions, and have the greatest levels of gender inequality. As a result, reporting on FGM/C appears to be less robust since 2018, the first year for which the Trump administration was responsible for country reports

While the U.S. has a federal law prohibiting transporting minors abroad for FGM/C in a practice already described as “vacation cutting,” a 2016 GAO report noted that existing efforts to raise awareness on this issue need improvement. Currently, there are very few investigations and prosecution of FGM/C, in part due to the confusion over reporting requirements.

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Female Genital Mutilation

FGM: The Hot Button Topic

By J Reynold Weeks: Credit Source:

Acknowledgments: Dr. Nina Smart, the United Nations, recognized Ambassador and Representative, FGM/C. Policymakers and researchers.

Growing up in West Africa, it did not seem to be of importance to me when young girls mostly in their teens with distinguished colorings on their faces and other parts of their bodies were paraded bare-breasted if there were any to be bared, in the streets of my village.

As I grew older, I became curious. Was it to satisfy the social norms that seek to suppress the girls’ sexual desires or expressions? Was it a religious ritual, or was it a cultural practice in my country alone?

Every year, there are about 3 million girls forced to undergo a procedure to remove or modify their genitalia to fulfill social norms which look to suppress women’s sexual desire and expression. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) as: 'all procedures involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injuries to the female organs.' The practice has no known health benefits. Moreover, it most frequently occurs to girls from infancy to age 15. Adult women are also at risk.

Approximately 200 million girls and women alive today have survived FGM/C, and an estimated 3 million girls are at risk of FGM/C each year according to the group Equality Now.

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Although 43 countries globally have banned the practice, it still occurs at a very high rate in at least 30 countries where it is measured. Mainly in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. While now considered to be both child abuse and a violation of girls’ and women’s human rights, FGM/C is a deeply entrenched practice with roots in inequitable gender norms.

Despite my youthful misconceptions to the contrary, FGM/C not rooted in any religious or theological tradition. This practice is not limited to any one country, region, religion, or culture.

Frequently FGM/C is tied to cultural traditions and norms related to perceived purity and family honor around virginity and girls’ sexuality. Since these beliefs are rooted in cultural norms, immediate change is difficult even in countries where strong laws and or policies exist.

Infection, obstetric fistula, excessive bleeding, difficulties related to menstruation, sexual problems, infertility, cysts, scarring, increased risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth in some cases death, believed to be negative health consequences. Many survivors of FGM/C experience physical trauma, pain, and complications, which can lead to psychological harm such as post-traumatic stress, flashbacks, fear, anxiety, and depression. Research also suggests that in countries or communities where FGM/C is prevalent, individual girls who do not undergo the process are at risk for trauma and isolation as a result of social stigmas stemming from their non-conformity.

As such, it is clear that programs that seek to outlaw FGM/C or change individual behavior without addressing the root causes and social norms may do more harm than good.

"Actions The U.S. Took To address FGMC/C in its Foreign Policy," will be the next publication.

Broadsides by Sage

Inside Baseball - The Cheaters

The adage goes 'Cheaters never win, and winners never cheat.' Doesn't seem to apply to Major League Baseball (MLB), and World Series champs, the Houston Astros. In the wake of the sign-stealing scandal, the Astros widely seen as champs with an asterisk. During preseason their players were subjected to abuse from fans and fellow professionals. The Astros slide into infamy only been halted by the delayed start to the season due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

A few officials lost jobs, and half-hearted apologies offered. The Astros did not forfeit their title, winning bonuses, and no substantial fines against the club. Indeed, perhaps, MLB needs to follow the example of the International Olympic Committee, which came down hard on Russian drug cheats. In the soccer world English giants, Manchester City banned from the Champions League after violating financial rules. Cheaters should never prosper, and only the fear of strict censure will root them out.

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Russian Roulette

There are billionaires I love and respect not only for their business acumen but also because of their humanitarian efforts. For example, Bill Gates, through his foundation, has impacted lives globally. Especially in the realms of health and education. In contrast, Mark Zuckerberg is all about the money. Despite the 2016 debacle in which we were trolled by bad actors through social media, Zuckerberg seems willing to take cash from anyone without any moral qualms. What Price Democracy?

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Wall Street Hustle

Shocking revelation, politicians look out for their own personal as well as political interests. Three senior senatorial figures so far have been named in a stock dumping after secret coronavirus briefing. All three sat on key committees that had inside knowledge of the looming crisis. Be ready for a few investigations.

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Crimes And Punishment

No tears for Harvey Weinstein. It took years to bring this vicious predator justice. Hope he embraces "Rikers' style hospitality." Kudos and love to the brave women who put this monster down.

Much respect!

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European Union Invests Over €18 Million

On agricultural activities

By Sylvester Samba

To boost strategic agricultural investments for job creation through the inclusion of the private sector in agriculture, the European Union (EU), with the Government of Sierra Leone, has launched 15 Grants contracts worth over 18 million Euros (€18). The project expected to benefit about 8000 farmers. Increase the quality and quantity of Cocoa, Coffee, Cashew production, processing, marketing, and trading as part of the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and the European Union Boosting Agriculture for Food Security Project (BAFS). Also, a total of 2,205 farmers are to improve food farming techniques adaptable to climate change, increased market access, and local entrepreneurship.

The ceremony took place on Thursday 20th February 2020, at the Miatta Conference car park, in Freetown. In attendance, the country's Vice President, Dr.Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.

The grants will enable the beneficiaries to implement activities that will promote innovative and integrated farming techniques that will enhance market linkages for smallholder farmers and build their capacities to improve on their incomes as well as food and nutrition.

It would also support women and youth employment through small and medium-sized enterprise development activities.

The initiative fits into the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry national agricultural transformation plan, which has four key priorities; rice self-sufficiency, life stock development, crop diversification, and sustainable forest and biodiversity.

Increased Production and Productivity

Permanent Secretary attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mrs. Fatmata Mustapha, encouraged the recipients to take full advantage of the need to use the grants to further capacity in the increasing production and productivity along value chains.

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Vice-President, Juldeh Jalloh expressed gratitude to the EU for facilitating the project; noting, that it was important for the Government’s drive for economic diversification. He said that President Julius Maada Bio, has over the years, continued to reiterate that agriculture was a priority in food-sufficiency that supports various value chains and encourages the growth of small-scale industries creating over 24,000 employment for women and youth.

The Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, noted the numerous challenges facing the agriculture sector ranging from low productivity, use of rudimentary technology, low-level infrastructure for marketing, among others.

These challenges recognized and addressed in the Medium Term National Development Plan (2019-2023) in cluster 2.1: Improving the productivity and commercialization of the agricultural sector.

In his statement, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dennis Vandi said the Ministry would provide the requisite enabling environment for the private sector, and development that would seek to improve the agriculture sector.

Tom Vens, the EU Ambassador, was convinced the new approach could unlock private investment and exploit significant opportunities in the agricultural sector with a specific focus on jobs for the youths. What was witnessed was the result of a highly competitive process in which a total of 67 applications and 15 projects emerged.

The EU support to BAFS recipients covers export cash crops and sustainable agriculture, diversification (Crops and Livestock). Support short value chains include non-formal micro-enterprises produced with artisanal methods, and a limited number of intermediaries between smallholder farmers, and the market. And support to large-scale value chains integrating formal and already well-established SMEs in the agribusiness sector.

Broadsides by Sage

Donkey Derby

It has just begun, and yet I’m exhausted already! The Democratic primary is driving me nuts. Yang wants to give me cash, bickering Bernie, and slick Mayor Pete all add to the air of a reality TV show. Uncle Joe looks jaded and Elizabeth has a plan for everything. Pick someone already! I will vote for Daffy Duck if it looks like he could beat Trump.

Hero Takes a Fall

I was gutted by the untimely and tragic death of Kobe Bryant. There is no doubt in my mind he was the GOAT; however, his contributions were not just limited to basketball. Bryant’s charitable deeds often understated and were lauded as a loving family man. Unfortunately, no book about Kobe would be incomplete without a chapter on the alleged rape charges against him. That being said, with Kobe and other victims lying dead in still smoldering wreckage, I was stunned by reporters fixated on the allegations. There are a time and place for everything, please note Miss King. RIP Kobe.

Gone Hollywood

The Oscars thankfully drew the curtain on an overblown award season. I’m not sure what annoys me more, Hollywood’s lack of diversity or a stunning absence of originality. Thank god for Netflix, 'Parasite,' and Tarantino. I can count the number of times I went to the movies last year with fingers to spare. Two movie tickets, cokes, and popcorn are no longer a cheap date! Hollywood’s endless caravan of retreads, sequels, and over-hyped comic-book fantasies, kept me out of the theaters. In my opinion movie execs naked pursuit of megabucks has diminished ‘Tinsel town magic. Finally!

The Corona Madness

As the scary Corona Virus turns into a pandemic, the ugly face of racism and prejudice has come to the fore. Sino phobia is real. Asian stereotypes are back in vogue with an extra side dish of fear and suspicion thrown in for good measure.

In California, since the onset of the outbreak in China; anxiety, and misinformation related to the coronavirus have fuelled anti-Asian prejudice. Fake flyers telling diners to avoid Asian-American restaurants because of the coronavirus. People signed petitions urging school closures over the virus in some areas.

Many may be quick to assume just because someone is Asian or from China that somehow they are more likely to be carriers of the virus.

An empathy shortage here and amid this crisis let’s hope we do not lose our humanity.

Stay woke, your friend Sage.

'TFS' Twenty-twenty Vision

Ubiquitously long pall over the nation

By Anonymous

I have been sick, and I had to take an extended mental health break during the holiday season. I believe the doctor diagnosed my malady as TFS, more commonly known as Trump Fatigue Syndrome. The symptoms include bleary-eyed, exasperation, rising blood pressure, and irritability. I had to stop the insanity and ban myself from watching the news and political shows.

For better, but mainly worse, the Trump presidency casts a ubiquitously long pall over the nation. The man will not give us a well-earned break. The threat of war with Iran spoiled my revelry on the eve of a new year. Furthermore, he was still virtue active across all TV and social media platforms. He whined incessantly about the unfairness of the impeachment hoax and the usual cavalcade of lies and hyperbole.

People; TFS is real, and with the just-completed Senate hearings, I'm experiencing a relapse. We are waiting in vain for common sense, and truth to prevail; however, I fear we are heading for a constitutional train wreck. With Mitch McConnell pulling the strings of this craven caucus our wait for profiles, in courage and patriotism will be a long one.

Gun rights activists and white supremacists march in harmony in Richmond, Virginia, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day no less a word from our President.

Environmental laws that safeguard our air, water, and wetlands are being gutted.

Trump is the Pied Piper of climate change skepticism, blithely leading us into the abyss as Australia burns and Koalas run for their lives.

So depressing. My friends, the only cure for TFS is going to be at the ballot box in November. The road may be long. People may have to overcome foreign intervention, voter suppression, and perhaps even intimidation. The burden of preserving should not be taken lightly, defy TFS, and fight to end our long national nightmare.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Bio’s Government Wins Back IMF Confidence

By Sylvester Samba

A delegation from the IMF led by First Deputy Managing Director, Dr. David Lipton, had meetings with the President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio, where the IMF Chief confirmed the Fund is pleased in support of the country. The two met at State House, in the capital Freetown, on Tuesday 28th January 2020. The visit served as a renewed partnership with the IMF.

Addressing the Director and his delegation, President Bio said his government worked very hard to restore a strong relationship with the IMF. The government had worked extremely hard to fight corruption, which was one of the main obstacles to development.

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President Julius Maada Bio, First Deputy Managing Director, Dr. David Lipton, and delegates

The main thrust of our economic management has been fiscal consolidation. Mobilize enough revenue and also manage our expenditure. President Bio noted that his government had chosen Human Capital Development, which included providing free quality education, health service, and agriculture, as the thrust of its development process.

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President Julius Maada Bio, and Dr. David Lipton

In response, Dr. Lipton expressed appreciation to the government for the hospitality accorded him and his delegation, adding that they had a shared perspective with the government on the situation in the country. He said that his meetings with school pupils in the country showed their eagerness to learn, saying that that was an indication of Sierra Leone`s tremendous potentials. Dr. Lipton indicated, his delegation was in the country to help offer advice and guidance and to also help the government in its fiscal consolidation as part of their partnership with the government. Adding that they were impressed with the government`s focus on human capacity building.

Dr. David Lipton assumed the position of First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on September 1st, 2011. On March 28th, 2016, Dr. Lipton was reappointed for a second five-year term, beginning September 1st, 2016. Before coming to the IMF, Dr. Lipton was a Special Assistant to President Clinton and served as Senior Director, International Economic Affairs at the National Economic Council and National Security Council at the White House.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Jacob Jusu Saffa has regarded the recent visit by the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dr. David Lipton as a manifestation that Sierra Leone is on track on its economic transformation trajectory. There are over 50 countries in Africa and to decide on which country to visit, always raises big debates in the IMF. So for a country to be selected, it could mean two things; one, you are doing very well, two, you are on track, and they want you to stay on track.

Highlighting the challenges they are facing as a government, he said, 30-35 percent of government revenues are used to settle government debt or arrears, noting that the depth of the problems they inherited is enormous.

Sierra Leone Makes Remarkable Progress In Global Corruption Ranking

Tansparency International Corruption Perception Index (TI-CPI) reveals

By Sylvester Samba

The country's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has assured Sierra Leoneans of its relentless determination to ensure the country continues to perform favorably in national, sub-regional, regional, and global anti-corruption governance indices. The recent assurance made after Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (TI-CPI) reveals for the first time, in more than five years, Sierra Leone ranked under 120.

The Corruption Perception Index (CPI), released on Thursday 23rd January 2020, is a clear indication that the thirty-three (33) points scored is the highest the country ever achieved since its inclusion in the TI index. Sierra Leone now leads sixty-one (61) countries in the global campaign against corruption. More than 28 African countries; Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Togo, Kenya, among others.

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Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq, and His Excellency, Brig. (Rtd.) Julius Maada Bio

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Diaspora National Development Award 2019

The country Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) disclosed that Sierra Leone moved ten (10) places upwards in Transparency International’s Global Corruption Ranking...129 in the year 2018 to 119 out of 180 countries surveyed in the 2019 TI-CPI. The country also increased its score from a stagnant thirty (30) points in 2016, 2017, and 2018, to thirty-three (33) in 2019, mark a three (3) points gain scoring above the sub-Saharan average of 32, the Commission noted.

This year’s report reveals that “Sub-Saharan Africa’s performance paints a bleak picture of inaction against corruption.

A staggering number of countries are showing little or no improvement in tackling corruption. The report also suggests that more than two-thirds of countries – along with many of the world’s most advanced economies – are stagnating or showing signs of backsliding in their anti-corruption efforts. Nonetheless, Sierra Leone performed better than the average score in Sub-Saharan Africa, said the ACC.

The CPI is an annual survey indicator used by TI, the global civil society organization leading the fight against corruption, to assess perceived levels of public sector corruption across the world.

Within the past two years, Sierra Leone has increased its score in the ‘Control of Corruption’ Indicator in the Millennium Challenge Corporation Scorecard, from forty-nine percent (49%) in 2017, to seventy-nine (79%) percent in 2019, making thirty percent (30%) upwards. By that report, Sierra Leone is among the top ten performers in our income category.

Similarly, Sierra Leone has also scored high in other global and regional anti-corruption rankings. In the Global Corruption Barometer of 2018, the country is ranked 3rd out of thirty-five (35) African Countries surveyed on “Government’s Effectiveness in the Fight against Corruption.” In the Afro-Barometer 2018, fifty-four (54%) of Sierra Leoneans agreed that the government is performing “very well” in the fight against corruption.

Idris Elba Arrived In His Father´s Native Sierra Leone For The First Time

Elba’s visit to Sierra Leone had been long-awaited

By Theo Edwards

A native of Sierra Leone, Idris Elba, arrived in Freetown for the first time. Elba was born and raised in London; his mother, Eve, is from Ghana and his father, Winston, from Sierra Leone, where he has expressed interest in investing in eco-tourism.

Idris Elba arrived in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, where he is due to receive Sierra Leone citizenship and celebrate Christmas with the President, Julius Maada Bio, according to government sources.  Elba planned to visit Sherbro Island renowned for its pristine tropical beaches. The country hopes to revitalize its tourism industry. And, with Mr. Idris Elba as the country's Brand Ambassador, he brings with it new life and vitality.

A native of Sierra Leone, Idris Elba, arrived in Freetown for the first time. Elba was born and raised in London; his mother, Eve, is from Ghana and his father, Winston, from Sierra Leone, where he has expressed interest in investing in eco-tourism. Mr. Elba’s visit to Sierra Leone had been long-awaited.

During a meeting at the State Lodge on Hill Station, President Bio said that Mr. Elba’s visit to Sierra Leone had been long-awaited, saying that he could feel his burning desire to come back home to be welcomed by his country people. He said that the country had gone through a lot with a scarred image, which needed a conscientious effort from everyone to change that perception and create a new narrative.

Idrissa Akuna Elba OBE is an actor, writer, producer, musician, DJ, rapper, and singer. Nickname DJ Big Driis (Idris) was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2016 New Year Honors for his services to drama. He is best known for his roles in Marvel franchise films such as "Thor" and "The Avengers." Others include Stringer Bell in the HBO series The Wire, DCI John Luther in the BBC One series Luther, and Nelson Mandela in the biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. In 2018 was named People magazine sexiest man alive.

Friday 20 December 2019, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio issued the British Hollywood actor, and musician, Idris Elba, with a Sierra Leonean Diplomatic Passport and pronounced him a Brand Ambassador for the small resource-rich West African nation.

Friday 20 December 2019, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio issued the British Hollywood actor, and musician, Idris Elba, with a Sierra Leonean Diplomatic Passport and pronounced him a Brand Ambassador for the small resource-rich West African nation.

Receiving the passport, Idris Elba said that he was honored and thankful for the opportunity to become a citizen of his father’s country, noting that it was an honor for his family. He said he always wanted to come to Sierra Leone, adding, his career afforded him and his family the ability to rebrand the country.

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Last Updated June 19, 2023

Idris Elba passionately appeals for young Sierra Leoneans to exercise 'None Violence' during the presidential and parliamentary election slated for June 24, 2023.

Idris Elba passionately appeals for young Sierra Leoneans to exercise 'None Violence' during the general election for president and parliament that will take place on Saturday, June 24, 2023.

Idris Elba has called for a peaceful general election in Sierra Leone, which will take place on Saturday, June 24, 2023. 

"This election, please let it be peaceful," he said in a message in Pidgin English - 'other African nations and the world will be watching us.' On the same day, the Commonwealth Observer Group in Sierra Leone, led by former Nigerian Vice-President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, called for peaceful elections to reflect; the will of the people.

Elba reminded young Sierra Leoneans that they have the 'power' in this vote and that if the country is destroyed due to violence, it will be down to us Sierra Leoneans to have to build it back up again.

The votes on Saturday will be the country's sixth presidential vote since a military takeover in 1992. It will see the incumbent, President Julius Madaa Bio of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), go up against Dr. Samura Kamara of the All People's Congress (APC) _the main opposition party. 

There have been arrests of critical opposition voices in the run-up to the general election.

Ackee and Saltfish: A Jamaican navigates the taste of home

Jamaicans have transformed a history of pain into delicious food, but what if you are allergic to your national dish?

Source: This post is from aljazeera: By Summer Eldemire

"Oh my goodness, that banana is green, how can you eat that?" asks my uncle.

It is 7am and the banana I am about to put into my smoothie is not technically green. But it's also not so ripe that it's brown, the way we Jamaicans usually eat them. After 10 years living away from my home, I have gotten used to eating the barely ripe tasteless bananas that grace the shelves of Key Foods in Brooklyn, New York, where I live for most of the year.

Each time I return home for vacation, my family and friends giggle at all the "foreign" habits I have picked up. Green banana? A runny egg? Almond milk? My cousins shake their heads as I make myself breakfast.

We Jamaicans are an exclusive set of people - citizenship is not something that is automatically renewed, it is a relationship you must fight for. You earn it by keeping up with the latest dances, the new slang, and displaying your loyalty by hunting down Jamaican food wherever you are and loudly despising all other cuisines. Take your eyes off the culture for a second and you will find yourself left behind.

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School Daze

Miss Jeffries was my first crush

By Jose` Manuel Guzman

As I grow older, I look back with increasing fondness during my formative years in school. I owe a debt I can’t possibly repay to the teachers who inspired my curiosity, creativity, and fire to succeed. Indeed, Miss Jeffries was my first crush. This statuesque beauty lit the fuse of enlightenment within me by opening my eyes to literature, culture, and faraway exotic places. She inspired me to become an educator and spread the gift of knowledge she so graciously bestowed upon me.

Today, the mission remains the same to inspire young minds to reach for their goals. For some, that will mean a college degree, and for others, it may mean a job that will hopefully provide enough security on which to live. But the journey to help these young souls is drastically different than it was when I was a young student or a novice teacher. Educators today are under increasing pressure. Teachers are still working in an underpaid and underappreciated profession.

Most teachers hold advanced degrees, yet still, are not compensated with the starting salary comparable to their education. As a result, the teaching profession isn’t as attractive as it used to be as an older generation of teachers retires.

The need for a new generation of teachers to carry on the torch will be significant. But, even as a veteran teacher, I have difficulty suggesting the profession that I love and appreciate those pursuing education as a career goal.

The idea of summers off (without pay) and paid holidays is no longer the carrot. The realities of the stress of politicians, businessmen, and school administrators trying to climb up the ladder to “get out of the classroom” make the profession less desirable. This quite troubling with dire consequences especially for those children trapped in disadvantaged communities.

Teachers do not get the respect they truly deserve. For many teachers, dispensing wisdom is only a fraction of their extensive portfolio. Dedicated teachers are also social workers, therapists, and even sacrifice financially to aid needy students or school districts with limited funds. The reward for such efforts has been layoffs, larger class sizes, and a minuscule increase in salary. The teacher’s strikes in Chicago and Los Angeles highlighted these issues as educators strive to attain fair resources and wages.

On campus, the pressures are no less acute. Standardized testing and its increased demands for accountability have added to the pain for as we know not all school districts are financially equitable. Add to the equation feckless bureaucrats with limited classroom experience and the litigious and indifferent parents, the morale of educators has plummeted. Additionally, the increasing spectre of school violence and the inability to be allowed to discipline unruly students are all factors that have led to teacher malaise and burnout.

I love my job despite the drawbacks. Teaching remains one of the noblest of all professions. God knows the majority of us are not in it for the money. We get intrinsic joy from our student’s successes. I get a fantastic feeling when I run into old students who share tales of academic and professional triumphs and remember me fondly. As well, those have fallen upon hard times and reflect on the advice that I gave earlier about the importance of earning an education. The rewards are not immediate, but we do make a difference.

Our nation needs to reinvest in our kids and educational infrastructure. The future depends on a highly skilled and educated workforce to meet the challenges of a global economy. We need your support, together, we will claim the future one graduate at a time.

6 Skills Needed for All Jobs Regardless of Field

And your young adult needs each one of them to thrive in the workforce

This post is from NBC Parent Toolkit.

You have likely heard about “soft skills” before. But what are they? Sometimes referred to as “21st-century skills,” “interpersonal skills,” or “applied skills,” they are the skills that are non-technical or specific to a certain job. They are the skills that help you think, communicate with people, and reflect on your experiences. Basically, your young adult needs them to thrive in the workforce. Career coach Jane Horowitz says the basis of her coaching practice is “hire for attitude, train for skills,” and she sees will and drive as being the greatest determinants of young adults getting hired.

“We hear it time and time again, it’s the soft skills,” says Terri Tchorzynski, 2017 National School Counselor of the Year. “That’s what allows you to keep the job. Employers can hire our students and train them, but if they don't have the soft skills, it's really hard for them to stay employed."

According to the Harvard University “Pathways to Prosperity Project” study in 2011, U.S. employers are increasingly seeing students graduate from college unequipped to survive in the 21st century workforce. Specifically, they are “deficient” in skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and communication. Bruce Tulgan, founder and CEO of Rainmaker Thinking and expert and author on young people in the workplace, has been tracking the generational change in the workplace since 1993. According to Tulgan (and many other experts and employers), there is a gap in soft skills from previous generations to the generation entering the workforce today.

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A Plea From Planet Earth

On fire

By Ola George & Theo Edwards

It is the very nature of entropy to lead to an eventual state of decay. I have survived the millennia and the ravages of time. Dinosaurs, empires, and false Gods have long turned to dust. I have provided life and relief for entire species yet; mankind you are doing your best to destroy me and therefore yourselves.

My Amazon is a blazing inferno–its opulent forest exploited for insatiable desire for wealth. Polar Bears are growling as the ice caps melt and the glaciers vanish. Sea levels are rising, putting your coastal cities in jeopardy. Hurricanes like Dorian, Katrina will be remembered in time as mere Childs play.

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Driven by hubris, and corruption, many of you deny the evidence of your own eyes

Mankind, you poison my oceans with toxic chemicals and mountains of plastic, whales beach themselves to die unable to live in their natural environment. Air and land are contaminated. Poisons seep into soil and water supplies. Record high temperatures across the globe portend serious issues ahead as portions of your world become uninhabitable. Therefore the consequences will be disruption and mass migration as resources become scarce.

Mankind the time to act is now, put your collective hearts and minds on this task of saving us all.

You can be heroes for this generation and countless others that follow. Or, be known as an "indolent" species who did nothing while their planet died.

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RELATED

Teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg on Monday opened the United Nations Climate Action Summit with an angry condemnation of world leaders for failing to take strong measures to combat climate change. Thunberg, visibly emotional, said in shaky but stern remarks at the opening of the summit that the generations that have polluted the most have burdened her and her generation with the extreme impacts of climate change.

The Edge Of Darkness

We have seen mass carnage in California, Texas, and Ohio roared xenophobic hatred

By Jose` Manuel Guzman

One of the proudest days of my life was the day I became an American citizen. I pledged allegiance to my newly adopted homeland, and, with a multitude of others, I basked in the shared reflective glory of that beautiful day. In my mind's eye, that memory would remain forever untarnished.

Enter Donald J. Trump.

We have a President who is entirely too comfortable trotting out racist tropes while pandering to a white nationalist agenda. People of color have become the designated villains. Immigrants, legal or not, is now the ‘Other,” not American. Baltimore and other racially diverse cities have derisively labeled, “infested.”

Four congressional women of color have been the target of Trump's race-baiting venom. The reference of America; Love it or leave it and “Send her back,” about one of the congresswomen who were not US-born. Minories and refugees dehumanized as evidenced by their often brutally harsh treatment at the southern border.

Immigrants are the lifeblood of America, as we are stronger because of diversity. The day I became a US citizen, I was keenly aware of the collective joy in the room, and, the prospect of new opportunities.

Trump has betrayed the idealism that is truly exceptional. The racist vitriol being injected in American body politics has real consequences. Minorities and people of color are uneasy as hate crimes increase. Kids and adult is being told, “to go back to your country.”

In her memoir, ”Becoming” former First Lady Michelle Obama is unforgiving in the fact that TRUMPS WILD “Birther” rhetoric placed the lives of her family in mortal danger. The unvarnished bigotry of Trump is a clarion call to those who would commit acts of violence in his name.

Racism and fear cynically being exploited for political gain. However, in this scenario, the soul of the nation becomes collateral damage. Unbridled hate will unravel the unique American mosaic, for most of us, 2020 can’t come soon enough. Shame on the political toadies, and societal leaders, who complicit in Trump's racism by nature of their deafening silence. America will survive this current maelstrom with renewed hope for all its people.

In the past weeks, we have seen mass carnage in California, Texas, and Ohio roared xenophobic hatred. Trump has to know his words have consequences, but in a strange twist of fate, he might very well unite the country he sought to rip apart.

Women In The Crosshairs

Reproductive rights

By Angela Brooks

Women's rights as an issue will be an integral part of next years presidential campaign. Roe v Wade has been a matter of settled jurisprudence for generations of women. However, in recent times the debate has been resurrected as a cultural wedge issue.

The deadly game of attacking our reproductive rights and impacting access to healthcare has become political food for conservative Republicans in red states. Alabama and Georgia are just the latest states to institute draconian anti-abortion laws currently being challenged in the courts.

Alabama Judicial System

Georgia Supreme Court

The health of women should never be politicized. A life and death decisions about one's health are as deeply personal as it gets. Restricting access to safe and legal abortion would lead us into a time warp of back street practitioners and assorted quacks.

For the longest time, conservative ideologues have waged war on women's health with scant regard for real-life consequences. Minority women suffer high mortality rates. Groups such as Planned Parenthood offer a myriad of services other than abortions. Preventive cancer screenings and so much more often in underserved communities.

Women have vested interest in next year’s election. If Trump wins, he continues to pack the Supreme Court. And women's rights truly will be eroded.

A Closer Look At The Suspensions of African American Students

EDLD Dissertation

Dr. Theodosia M. Edwards

University of Maryland Eastern Shore Education Leadership Program

April 2018

The researcher concluded that while the suspension rates of students increased at the school and for African American students between 2012-2014, the trend since 2014 has been a continuing decline in the suspension of all students and African American students. The researcher also found that factors such as school and community culture, the lack of student interventions, and a coherent restorative practices model, among other factors, have all influenced the suspension rates of African American students.

Dr. Theodosia M. Edwards

Research Study: A Closer Look At The Suspensions of African American Students

“UNDERSTANDING FACTORS, POLICIES AND, PRACTICES IN A SOUTH BALTIMORE SCHOOL: A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SUSPENSIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS
”

— Dr. Theodosia M. Edwards

A focus on providing resources through mental and counseling supports, and ongoing professional development for staff, students, teachers, and community members would help all stakeholders to take ownership of student behaviors and would help to increase the outcomes of African American students while reducing the need for out of school suspensions.