Idris Elba Arrived In His Father´s Native Sierra Leone For The First Time
Idris Elba arrived in Sierra Leone on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, for the first time 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.
Elba’s visit to Sierra Leone had been long-awaited
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
Source: This post is from aljazeera: By Summer Eldemire
Jamaicans have transformed a history of pain into delicious food, but what if you are allergic to your national dish?
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.
School Daze
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. But the journey to help these young souls is drastically different than it was when I was a young student or a novice teacher.
By Jose` Manuel Guzman
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
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.
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.
A Plea From Planet Earth
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.
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.
On fire
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.
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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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 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.”
By Jose` Manuel Guzman
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
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.
By Angela Brooks
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
UNDERSTANDING FACTORS, POLICIES AND PRACTICES IN A SOUTH BALTIMORE SCHOOL
This qualitative research study examined the suspensions of African American students at a south Baltimore k-8 school. The research delved into the perceptions of African American students, school and district administrators to determine what factors, policies and practices influenced the suspension rates among African American students who were the minority-majority at the school. It also sought to delineate the implications of reducing suspensions among African American students, and finally provided recommendations from study participants on how to reduce the suspension rates of African American students.
By Theodosia M. Edwards; M.Ed., M.P.A., Ed.D.
EDLD Dissertation
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
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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.
Power and Industrialization Drive
President Akufo-Addo’s administration has set an ambitious district industrialization agenda, known as the One district One factory policy, which his government intends to achieve to move Ghana from one that exports raw materials to a value-added industrialized economy.
One district One factory policy
Akufo-Addo - President, The Republic of Ghana
The Nana Akufo-Addo’s government has given assurance to industry and manufacturers its determination in stabilizing electricity supply as the government continues to implement proactive measures to solve the current crisis.
President Akufo-Addo’s administration has set an ambitious district industrialization agenda, known as the One district One factory policy, which his government intends to achieve to move Ghana from one that exports raw materials to a value-added industrialized economy.
Key areas need critical attention if the government could meet this target bringing factories to all 216 districts across the country’s 16 administrative regions is a cheaper and reliable energy source.
The government has already released GH¢465 million for the commencement of the project. It has also released GH¢256 million for the revamping of 100 private commercially viable and distressed companies throughout the country. Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta during the 2019 Budget Presentation in Parliament stated government has so far disbursed GH¢227 million as a stimulus package to support various distressed companies, and that additional funds will be disbursed to support other distressed companies next year. 79 factories in 9 regions of the country should be at various stages of construction or operation under the '1D1F' scheme is expected.
Industrialization agenda
Ghana has not had it easy when it comes to the cost industry pay for a power outage. The Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) which conducted a study on the impact of the four-year power crisis that hit Ghana revealed that 885 small and medium-sized manufacturing firms in Accra, Tema, Kumasi, and Sekondi-Takoradi lost GH¢250 million within the period. The productivity of these firms fell as many were using generators as an alternative source of power.
Additionally, the power outages, to a large extent, led to a 10 percent fall in monthly productivity of those firms, with as many as 55 of such businesses folding up in the four locations of the country.
Ghana’s economy, like any other economy in the world, depends on local production and export goods and services, thus industrialization. For many industries in the West African country, energy supply is a major challenge. Players in the sector have been complaining about the intermittent power outage they sometimes experience. A situation that in the past cost many job layoffs.
The Nana Akufo Addo’s government has given assurance to industry and manufacturers its determination in stabilizing electricity supply as the government continues to implement proactive measures to solve the current situation.
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in a communiqué after its National Council Retreat this year said they are resolved to continue making input into the electricity tariff negotiations with the country’s utility regulator, Public Utility Regulatory Commission, and appropriate agencies to ensure competitive tariffs for Industry.
The industry is expecting reliability and efficiency in service delivery and competitive tariffs from the new company—Power Distribution Service (PDS) taken operations in the distribution network in southern Ghana. AGI recognizes the need for a tariff structured in a manner the service providers can recover cost to remain viable.
Ghana is in the category of countries with high energy cost in the sub-region and for the industry to remain competitive industry sector players have called on the government to review the electricity tariff.
It is therefore right to say that a high cost of energy leads to a high cost of production; and will subsequently make Ghana unattractive for the setting up of factories thus generating a consistent increase in imports. This explains why locally-produced goods more expensive than the same imported goods in spite of the high duty charges at our various ports of entry.
UNIDO to boost industrial development
The government, in terms of urgency, must explore other cost-effective forms of energy like solar, bio-energy, nuclear, and wind energy to enhance Ghana’s business destination for West Africa.
Ghana’s total installed generator capacity at the end of 2016 was 3,795 MW with proportions as follows; 57.8 percent thermal, 41.6 percent hydro and 0.6 percent renewable.
Most thermal facilities run on natural gas (a cheaper fuel source compared to liquid fuels) as the primary fuel source, with the exception CENIT Power Plant and the Karpowership power plant, which depend solely on liquid fuels (LCO/DFO and HFO respectively). Makes natural gas supply very crucial for the effective operation of Ghana’s electricity sector. The West African Gas Pipeline transporting natural gas from Nigeria, is the major supplier of natural gas for generating electricity until the commissioning of the Atuabo gas processing facility, owner of the Ghana Gas Company in 2015. Gas supply has not been reliable with the Nigerians citing non-payment of debt as the major reason.
The Atuabo gas processing facility is capable of supplying up to 150 Mscf per day to the western power generation enclave at the Aboadze thermal facility with supplies from the Jubilee oil fields. Plans are underway to process natural gas from the Tweneboa, Enyenra, Ntomme (TEN) oil fields to augment supplies from the Jubilee fields and make Ghana self-sufficient. However, the Tema thermal power enclave still depends on natural gas supply through the WAGP.
The Atuabo gas processing facility is capable of supplying up to 150 Mscf/d (abbreviation for a thousand standard cubic feet per day, a common measure for volume of gas) to the western power generation enclave at the Aboadze thermal facility with supplies from the Jubilee oil fields. Plans are underway to process natural gas from the Tweneboa, Enyenra, Ntomme (TEN) oil fields to augment supplies from the Jubilee fields and make Ghana self-sufficient. However, the Tema thermal power enclave still depends on natural gas supply through the WAGP.
Huge investment to increase the power-generation capacity of the country. More power plants have also been constructed to increase the supply of power in the country. These include Takoradi Thermal Power Plant, Takoradi T3 Plant, Tema T1 Power Plant, Mines Reserve Plant, Tema T2 Plant, and the Kpone Thermal Plant. Notwithstanding the efforts made by successive governments to expand power generation capacity, the country is still far from becoming power sufficient.
The government of Ghana is still pursuing policies to improve the shortcomings in the power sector.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCA) plans to invest a maximum of US$498 million in total to help transform the power sector of Ghana and also stimulate private investment over the next five years. The objective is to create a power sector, which is financially viable, and be able to meet the current needs as well as the future needs for both businesses and households.
Banking, Real Estate & Technology, Headquartered in Rwanda
Mara’s technology ventures capitalizes on the rapidly growing smartphone and internet markets creating a suite of platforms that are tailored locally.
Why Africa? “The Lion Awakes: Adventures in Africa’s Economic Miracle” by Ashish J. Thakkar is the true story of today’s Africa, one often overshadowed by the dire headlines. Traveling from his ancestral home in Uganda, East Africa, to the booming economy and (if chaotic) new democracies of West Africa, and down to the “Silicon Savannahs” of Kenya and Rwanda, Ashish J. Thakkar shows us an Africa that few Westerners are aware exists.
Mara Group & Mara Foundation
Africa Reach – An African company with investments and operations in 25 countries across the continent
Established in 1996, Mara has grown from a small computer hardware trading firm in East Africa to a multi-sector group with investments and operations spanning 25 African countries and 3 continents.
Why Africa? “The Lion Awakes: Adventures in Africa’s Economic Miracle” by Ashish J. Thakkar is the true story of today’s Africa, one often overshadowed by the dire headlines. Traveling from his ancestral home in Uganda, East Africa, to the booming economy and (if chaotic) new democracies of West Africa, and down to the “Silicon Savannahs” of Kenya and Rwanda, Ashish J. Thakkar shows us an Africa that few Westerners are aware exists.
Mara’s technology ventures capitalize on the rapidly growing smartphone and internet markets creating a suite of platforms that are tailored locally.
“The rise of the African Middle Class is expected to fuel consumption growth. This will provide a considerable opportunity to invest and meet the burgeoning demand. McKinsey projects that, by the year 2030, the top 18 cities in sub-Saharan Africa will have a combined spending power of $1.3 trillion. Africa’s retail banking sector is projected to grow 40 percent by 2020” ~The Realities of Africa. Learn More.
The CBD and Cannabis Gold-rush
Cannabis! How times have changed. Once the province of tokers, back-alleys, and street hustlers gone mainstream. Fmr. Speaker of the House John Boehner is an industry lobbyist. Even domestic maven Martha Stewart has joined the fray.
By Shola Fredricks
Marijuana legalization has crumbled across the US
Fmr. Speaker, John Boehner, an industry lobbyist
Visitors to the 2018 Home Garden Flower Show in Fryeburg learn about CBD oils from a vendor. (MARGARET MCKENZIE PHOTO)
Societal resistance to marijuana legalization has crumbled across the US. Cannabis! How times have changed. Once the province of tokers, back-alleys, and street hustlers gone mainstream. Fmr. Speaker of the House John Boehner is an industry lobbyist. Even domestic maven Martha Stewart has joined the fray.
For many cancer patients and others who suffer from a variety of maladies, medical marijuana is the only thing that mitigates pain and suffering.
CBD oil is the new wonder drug in the pain management fight. Touted as a cure-all for chronic pain the CBD industry has experienced phenomenal growth in recent years. Fancy designer boutiques offering a myriad of products are springing up everywhere. Despite skepticism from the healthcare professionals the CBD industry continues to boom. Viva Las Vegas!
Undoubtedly as one of the nation’s most popular vacation spots. Legalization of marijuana added strong economy with stores opening on and off “The Strip.” Gamble, watch a show and shop your favorite pot sundries with convenience.
With no expectations, I set out to find some CBD lotion for an arthritic aunt. I landed at “Planet Thirteen,” dubbed the “cannabis superstore.” I entered a slick and gleaming edifice replete with a state of the art sound system pumping out a droning techno beat. Well-heeled suited men and women and more casually dressed counterparts milled around sparkling glass displays cases. Astute sales reps patiently explained the pros and cons of a staggering array of products. Pot-infused beverages, candy, cakes, and coffees, etc. A sales rep told me construction had started on a dining area in anticipation of Nevada changing its laws. To serve pot-infused meals.
The experience was edifying and changed some of my preconceived notions about the industry.
The “S” Word and the Myth Of the Meritocracy
Stagnant wages, rising healthcare, and college costs have squeezed the middle class severely. Consequently, the “American Dream“ has become a nightmare. Inequality is baked into the system at all levels.
By Angela Brooks
To my surprise people are actually shocked at the scope of the college admissions scandal
To twist a quote from Gordon Gekko
Too many who do not enjoy the lifestyle of the rich and famous, are basking in the glow of a brighter sun, the “American Nightmare." Inequality is baked into the system at all levels. Stagnant wages, rising healthcare, and college costs have squeezed the middle class severely. Consequently, the “American Dream“ has become a nightmare. In contrast, Wall Street, corporate America, highly paid CEO’s rake in record profits. Corporation like Amazon gets a hefty tax cut. Meanwhile "Joe Six-pack” is looking at reduced tax refunds.
With 2020 looming President Trump seeks to label Democrats as extremists and socialism a dirty word. Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are proud proponents of democratic socialism are any of their ideas worth merit “Medicare for all,” a “Green New Deal” to save the planet and create jobs. Free college tuition and making corporations pay their fair share so we can solve social issues and repairing our decaying infrastructure. Shocking!
To twist a quote from Gordon Gekko. “Greed is not good.” Surely we can strike a balance between unfettered capitalism and giving people a fair shot at a better life. The admissions scandal reminds us that life is not always fair and too many socialism may not sound like a bad idea after all.