-------------------FYI----------------- Judy Miriga Diaspora Spokesperson Executive Director Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc., USA http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com WHITE HOUSE NOTEBOOK: Tutu welcomes Obama 'home' NEDRA PICKLER 2 hours ago  CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Retired archbishop Desmond Tutu locked eyes with President Barack Obama on Sunday in an emotional moment between two men who have been pioneers for racial progress a world apart. Tutu greeted Obama with a "welcome home" to the continent where his father was born, and pleaded with the U.S. president to be a leader for peace, especially in the Middle East, who can make all Africans proud. Obama was visiting the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation Youth Centre, an after-school program in a community where many young people are infected with the virus that causes AIDS. Obama praised Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who helped bring an end to South Africa's racist apartheid rule, as "an unrelenting champion of justice and human dignity." Tutu then spoke of Obama's re-election last fall as America's first African-American president. "You don't know what you did for our psyche," Tutu said. "You won, and we won." "Your success is our success. Your failure, whether you like it or not, is our failure," Tutu said, reaching out to touch Obama's arm. Obama chuckled and threw up his arms as if acknowledging his fate.  "We want you to be known as having brought peace to the world, especially to have brought an end to the anguish of all in the Middle East," Tutu said. "We pray that you will be known as having brought peace in all of these places where there is strife. You have brought peace and no need for the Guantanamo Bay detention center" in Cuba, where the U.S. has detained dozens of suspected terrorists. In a diplomatic tour full of scripted formality, the 81-year-old archbishop spoke so slowly and passionately that many in the room who work at the center or the White House were moved to tears. "We are proud of you. You belong to us," Tutu concluded. Obama also may have appreciated such affirming words at a time when he seems to be under constant criticism at home. Obama rose and helped Tutu to his feet, and the two heartily embraced, with the click of media cameras the only sound in the room. ___ Obama gave lessons in stage performance to an aspiring teenage rapper after meeting 15-year-old Aviwe Mtongana, who was making music on a Tutu center computer.  The boy identified himself as a rapper and Obama urged the boy, also known as Katmeister, to "give me a little sample." Mtongana initially demurred, then pushed back his chair and stood up. A grinning Obama said Mtongana must need to "loosen up," and the president demonstrated stretching out his arms like a boxer preparing for a fight. Mtongana let loose a brief rhyme. "Hell on Earth, what you gonna do? Watching TV, you watching Scooby-Doo. Saying the punch line, he's not cool," he began. "Heading to the goal with something failing, now you face the hardest living," Mtongana continued. "Getting out there is not pimping, the real way is through rapping." Obama declared the performance "outstanding," but offered a word of advice.  "You've got to drop the mic," he said, holding his arm out to the side and opening his fist as though he were dropping a microphone on the ground. ___ Obama prematurely aged his daughter Malia by a few days. He said in a speech at the University of Cape Town that she is "now 15." But the fact of the matter is Malia doesn't turn 15 until Thursday. She was born on the Fourth of July. Malia might have appreciated the premature aging, since most teens cannot wait to grow up.  ___ Before the speech, Obama and his family toured the Robben Island prison where Nelson Mandela spent nearly 20 years as a political prisoner before he was released and elected South Africa's first black president. Obama spent more than 20 minutes inside the tiny cell that housed Mandela for 18 years. After his family left, Obama remained alone inside the cell that now is a monument to Mandela, a man Obama says is a "personal hero." The president gazed out of a large window with thick white bars. He picked up and examined a small, metal bowl that sat on a small, wooden table before turning his attention to a thin mat with pillows and a brown blanket, on which Mandela would have slept. Obama visited Robben Island in 2006, when he was a U.S. senator, but the tour was a first for his wife, Michelle, and daughters, Malia and Sasha.  "There was something different about bringing my children," Obama said, opening his speech at the university. He said they now appreciate more the sacrifices that Mandela and others had made for freedom. "I knew this was an experience they would never forget," Obama said. ___ Before leaving the island, Obama signed the prison's guest book with a message likely to be seen by the countless visitors who will follow him. The large book sat open on a simple wooden desk, in a courtyard rimmed by a high concrete wall topped with barbed wire. U.S. Secret Service agents made use of an old guard tower, staffing it with sharpshooters who scanned the horizon with binoculars. The prison was closed to the public for Obama's visit. Obama, casually dressed in a blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves and khaki slacks, leaned over the desk and wrote for several minutes with first lady Michelle Obama at his side. She signed her name, too.  "On behalf of our family, we're deeply humbled to stand where men of such courage faced down injustice and refused to yield," the president wrote. "The world is grateful for the heroes of Robben Island, who remind us that no shackles or cells can match the strength of the human spirit." Obama copied his message from a piece of typewritten paper an aide had set down on the book before the president came into the courtyard. He wrote slowly in cursive, apparently not wanting to make a mistake. He left behind the black marker he used to write the message, as well as the note he worked from. Obama Visits Mandela's Robben Island Cell RETRANSMISSION TO CORRECT SPELLING OF PRESIDENT'S FIRST NAME - U.S. President Barack Obama walks from Section B, prison cell No. 5, on Robben Island, South Africa, Sunday, June 30, 2013. This was former South African president Nelson Mandela's cell, where he spent 18-years of his 27-year prison term on the island locked up by the former apartheid government. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) CAPE TOWN, South Africa - With the world's eyes on the ailing Nelson Mandela, President Obama today walked in the footsteps of the man he's called his personal hero. Touring the prison on Robben Island, Obama stood alone in the stark "7B" cell where Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of his 27 years in captivity and stared out at the blue sky through the barred window. Obama visited the island before, in 2006 when he was a senator, but today he returned for the first time as president and brought along his family. "For me to be able to bring my daughters there and teach them the history of that place and this country, and help them to understand not only how those lessons apply to their own lives but also to their responsibilities in the future as citizens of the world, that's a great privilege and a great honor," Obama said Saturday. The first family viewed the quarry where Mandela and his fellow prisoners were forced to do grueling labor, endlessly breaking large stones into smaller ones, and the courtyard provided for their recreation. They walked through the tiny, barren cells, which were barely wide enough for the prisoners to lie down. The president, first lady, daughters Sasha and Malia, first grandmother Marian Robinson and the president's niece Leslie Robinson were guided through the prison by a former inmate. Like Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada was imprisoned for 18 years for his anti-apartheid activities. The president was overheard chiming in with his own history lessons. "One thing you guys might not be aware of is that the idea of political nonviolence first took root here in South Africa because Mahatma Gandhi was a lawyer here in South Africa. Here is where he did his first political [activism]. When he went back to India the principles ultimately led to Indian independence, and what Gandhi did inspired Martin Luther King," he told his family. Before departing, the president and first lady signed the visitors log. "On behalf of our family we're deeply humbled to stand where men of such courage faced down injustice and refused to yield. The world is grateful for the heroes of Robben Island, who remind us that no shackles or cells can match the strength of the human spirit," the president wrote. Barack Obama - Visited Robben Island and spoke at the UCT today Published on Jun 30, 2013 US President Barack Obama, on his three nation African Tour, has kicked off the second leg of his visit to South Africa. Published on Jun 30, 2013 US President Barack Obama and his family tour the Robben Island prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27-year prison sentence. Obamas tour Mandela's island jail Published on Jun 30, 2013 US President Barack Obama and his family tour the Robben Island prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27-year prison sentence. US President Barack Obama warned Sunday that Africa could only fulfil its rising potential with leaders who serve their people, not tyrants who enrich themselves. In a strident call for democratic change and good governance, Obama used the political legacy of ailing Nelson Mandela and South Africa's emergence from grim years of apartheid as proof that freedom will ultimately prevail. "In too many countries, the actions of thugs and warlords and human traffickers hold back the promise of Africa," Obama said at a speech at Cape Town University. "America cannot put a stop to these tragedies alone, and you don't expect us to. That is a job for Africans. But we can help you and we will help you," he said, announcing major new US programs to boost electricity and health care. "History shows us that progress is only possible where governments exist to serve their people and not the other way around," said Obama, in a line that drew loud and prolonged cheers from his audience of more than 1,000 people. The speech was delivered from the same spot where American political icon Robert Kennedy delivered his famous "ripple of hope" speech in 1966, which called on students to decry the "racial inequality of apartheid". Obama's goal was to inspire a new generation of Africans with the belief that they could ignite political change and the potential of their continent. He slammed leaders who "steal or kill or disenfranchise voters," saying that the ultimate lesson of South Africa was that such brutal tactics will not work. "So long as parts of Africa continue to be ravaged by war and mayhem, opportunity and democracy cannot take root," said Obama. "Across the continent, there are places where still, fear often prevails," Obama said, warning of "senseless terrorism" from Mali to Mogadishu. "From Congo to Sudan, conflicts fester," Obama said, hitting out at those who argue that American calls for democracy and freedom are "intrusive" or "meddling". He also condemned the rule of Robert Mugabe in neighbouring Zimbabwe, where he said the "promise of liberation gave way to the corruption of power and the collapse of the economy". Like the rest of Obama's trip to South Africa, the speech was rich in emotion when he mentioned his hero Mandela, who lies critically ill in a Pretoria hospital. "You have shown us how a prisoner can become president," Obama said. South Africa has made massive strides in delivering electricity, housing and water since the fall of apartheid in 1994. But the progress has failed to dent anger over rampant poverty and joblessness, with one in four workers unemployed. Judging by the rousing reception, Obama's words spoke to the frustrations felt by many in the room. "I think all South Africans are fed up with individuals abusing state resources, putting money into their pockets, instead of serving the people," said Yibanathi Jezile who is in his final year of high school. President Jacob Zuma's administration is under increasing fire for its largesse -- from an expensive security upgrade to his private home to irregularities in the granting of deals to do business with the state. "For a lot of us, I think that was just a bit of an amen moment. It's about time now that our government serves us as a democratic state," said Al Postman, 25. With poverty and unemployment still a problem, "it has to mean that money is going elsewhere", he said. "Where is the money going to? That's the big question." The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release June 30, 2013 FACT SHEET: Power AfricaToday the President announced Power Africa, a new initiative to double access to power in sub-Saharan Africa. More than two-thirds of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is without electricity, and more than 85 percent of those living in rural areas lack access. Power Africa will build on Africa's enormous power potential, including new discoveries of vast reserves of oil and gas, and the potential to develop clean geothermal, hydro, wind and solar energy. It will help countries develop newly-discovered resources responsibly, build out power generation and transmission, and expand the reach of mini-grid and off-grid solutions. According to the International Energy Agency, sub-Saharan Africa will require more than $300 billion in investment to achieve universal electricity access by 2030. Only with greater private sector investment can the promise of Power Africa be realized. With an initial set of six partner countries in its first phase, Power Africa will add more than 10,000 megawatts of cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity. It will increase electricity access by at least 20 million new households and commercial entities with on-grid, mini-grid, and off-grid solutions. And it will enhance energy resource management capabilities, allowing partner countries to meet their critical energy needs and achieve greater energy security.
Power Africa is Rooted in Partnership The United States and its partners will work with an initial set of Power Africa partner countries, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Tanzania. These countries have set ambitious goals in electric power generation and are making the utility and energy sector reforms to pave the way for investment and growth. Power Africa will also partner with Uganda and Mozambique on responsible oil and gas resources management. Power Africa will bring to bear a wide range of U.S. government tools to support investment in Africa's energy sector. From policy and regulatory best practices, to pre-feasibility support and capacity building, to long-term financing, insurance, guarantees, credit enhancements and technical assistance Power Africa will provide coordinated support to help African partners expand their generation capacity and access. The United States will commit more than $7 billion in financial support over the next five years to this effort, including:
Power Africa will also leverage private sector investments, beginning with more than $9 billion in initial commitments from private sector partners to support the development of more than 8,000 megawatts of new electricity generation in sub-Saharan Africa. Examples of commitments to-date include:
Power Africa Will Help Attract Investment in Africa's Energy Sector Power Africa directly addresses constraints to investment in order to accelerate progress. Instead of taking years or even decades to create an enabling environment for energy sector investment, Power Africa takes a transaction-centered approach that provides incentives to host governments, the private sector, and donors. These incentives galvanize collaboration, producing near-term results and driving forward systemic reforms that pave the way to future investment. To achieve these ambitions, Power Africa includes:
Power Africa Will Build Capacity for Project Delivery and Energy Sector Reform Building host-government capacity to develop, approve, finance and ultimately bring power projects on line is critical to the success of the initiative. To support this need, Power Africa will work with host governments to launch or further develop "delivery units" charged with driving progress on specific projects. These delivery units will help increase technical skills and accelerate energy sector regulatory, market structure and enabling environment reforms. In Tanzania for example, Power Africa will support the "Big Results Now!" program, which is establishing new delivery units within government ministries. In Nigeria, Power Africa will provide staffing support, capacity building and technical assistance to an existing delivery unit. Establishment of a delivery unit in Ghana will be closely coordinated with the MCC's Compact slated for signature in 2014.
Transparent Natural Resource Management The recent discoveries of oil and gas in sub-Saharan Africa will play a critical role in defining the region's prospects for economic growth and stability, as well as contributing to broader near-term global energy security. Yet existing infrastructure in the region is inadequate to ensure that both on- and off-shore resources provide on-shore benefits and can be accessed to meet the region's electricity generation needs. Although many countries have legal and regulatory structures in place governing the use of natural resources, these are often inadequate. They fail to comply with international standards of good governance, or do not provide for the transparent and responsible financial management of these resources. Power Africa will work in collaboration with partner countries to ensure the path forward on oil and gas development maximizes the benefits to the people of Africa, while also ensuring that development proceeds in a timely, financially sound, inclusive, transparent and environmentally sustainable manner. By Mark Felsenthal JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will challenge Africans to renew efforts to expand economic growth and democratic government in a speech Sunday, invoking the legacies of Nelson Mandela and the U.S. civil rights movement in overcoming obstacles to achieve change. "There's been progress that nobody could have imagined in terms of a freer, more equal democratic society here in South Africa, and in many parts of the continent," deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters travelling with the president. But despite those changes, millions still live in extreme poverty, some African governments suppress democratic rights, and there are still children dying of preventable diseases, Rhodes said. "It's not as if the work was completed here in South Africa or anywhere else in the world simply with the current status quo," he said. The president is setting the stage for the key address of his eight-day Africa trip by travelling to Robben Island, where Mandela was jailed for 18 of his 27 years in prison, and by delivering the speech at the University of Cape Town, where Robert F. Kennedy gave the anti-apartheid movement heart with his 1966 "Day of Affirmation" speech. Obama has sought to make his visit, which many Africans felt was long overdue, an extended showcase for U.S-African trade and commercial ties. But those themes have been to some extent overshadowed by concerns over the fast failing health of the 94-year old Mandela. The U.S. president, who has been greeted by cheering crowds, but also by protesters in some places, has talked about the importance of stable institutions and Africa's economic potential at every stop. Even so, much of the focus on his visit to South Africa has centred on whether he would encounter Mandela, who is in critical condition in hospital due to a lung infection. Obama observed the wishes of Mandela's family on Saturday, visiting with them but not Mandela himself. He offered the family words of comfort and praised the retired statesman as one of history's greatest figures. Mandela was elected president of a multiracial South Africa in 1994, four years after being released from prison. Kennedy's 1966 speech called on young people to continue to press for freedom from oppression, whether it came from apartheid or the denial of civil rights to U.S. blacks, and said each person who stood up against injustice sent forth "a tiny ripple of hope." Obama is to say that despite the huge changes that ensued since Kennedy gave that speech and over Mandela's lifetime, Africa has big challenges ahead. He talk to his young audience of their responsibility as a new generation to improve economic growth, democratic institutions, and social stability, Rhodes said. The president winds up his Africa journey with a stop in Tanzania on Monday and Tuesday. (Editing by Eric Walsh) |
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