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Anti-porn bill could threaten Indonesian women

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Thursday, November 27, 2008

JAKARTA: Two weeks ago, Indonesia’s parliament passed an "anti-porn" bill, which bans anyone from wearing clothes or promoting material that could incite “sexual desire”. Although regulations regarding pornography are important, there is some concern that there will be other implications, for instance for women’s rights, even down to what is permissible to wear in public. In addition, the law also criminalizes homosexual activities which previously were not illegal in Indonesia. The head of the...

Source: http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=18100

WHATS ON: Frame Africa, “Promoting the movie and entertainment industry in africa”

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:02:52 GMT

Monday, November 24, 2008

Whats on FAME is a project that is aimed at developing and promoting Movie and Entertainment in Africa through a concept that will involve a...

Source: http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/whats-on-frame-africa-promoting-the-movie-and-entertainment-industry-in-africa

KYRGYZSTAN: Draft law to curb formula milk sales, boost breastfeeding

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:49:37 GMT

Saturday, November 22, 2008

BISHKEK Tuesday, August 19, 2008 (IRIN) - A draft law on promoting breastfeeding as a means of tackling health and nutrition problems among infants is being discussed in Kyrgyzstan. “Today many mothers in Kyrgyzstan do not go in for exclusive breastfeeding of babies under six months old. Besides their breast milk, they give cow’s milk, tea with milk, `kefir’ [fermented cow’s milk] or food from the family table to their babies,” Tursun Mamyrbaeva, a child nutrition specialist at the Science...

Source: http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=79878

WHATS ON: Frame Africa, “Promoting the movie and entertainment industry in africa”

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:23:53 GMT

Friday, November 21, 2008

Whats on

FAME is a project that is aimed at developing and promoting Movie and Entertainment in Africa through a concept that will involve a nationwide story/script writing contest with an auditioning to select potential actors/actresses who will feature along side top Nigeria Nollywood Stars in a movie authored and produced in a host country where the project is set.

The project will be organized in four phases beginning with the input of the academia and the general society in a nationwide script/story writing competition to select the best stories that will be auditioned for in the second phase “Be a Movie Star” TV Show and transformed into a movie (Third Phase) that will be premiered in the final Phase “A Film Festival”.

Phase One: Script/Story Writing Contest

• A nationwide script/story writing contest will be instituted to select the best stories that
will form the basis of the “Be a Movie Star” auditioning.
• Participation will cut across all genre of the society with more focus on the education and media sector.
• Interested participants will be expected to submit their stories as a movie script, play or in essay format.

• All entries will be evaluated by professionals and the best ten stories/scripts and the bio-data of their authors will be published and reviewed
in different national newspapers, Fame Africa website and read in different radio stations.
• Public participation will be elicited by informing them to vote for their best of the ten published stories/scripts.
• The story/script with the highest number of votes will be transformed into a movie that wil be shot in the Gambia.

• Authors of all the ten published scripts will be adequately rewarded to encourage them and others that have similar talents.
• The author of the winning script/story will go home with a cash prize and will play a lead role in the movie and also make a special appearance at the movie premiere ( Film Festival).

Phase Two: “Be A Movie Star Auditioning” Reality TV Show

• The “Be a Movie Star auditioning” is a reality TV based show to select potential actors/actresses that will feature in the movie adopted from the winning story of the scriptwriting contest.

• The auditioning will be supervised by a team of professionals selected from the movie and television industry in Nigeria and the Gambia.
• Participation will be open to everyone (children, teens, youths and adults) and roles to be auditioned for will be generated from the scripts/stories received in the writing contest and categorized accordingly.

• Viewers will reserve the rights to choose their best actors/actresses by voting.
• Successful actors/actresses will be on their road to stardom as they will feature alongside top Nollywood (Nigerian Movie Stars) and international in the movie.

Phase Three: “Making (Shooting) of the Movie”

• The production and shooting of the movie will be done in the Gambia.
• The process of the movie making and behind the scenes activities will form part of a television series which will be on DSTV and syndicated to selected TV stations in Africa.

• Viewers will have the opportunity to follow the procedure of how a movie is produced.
• Movie and entertainment enthusiast will undergo training by during the making of the movie by being attached to the technical production team.

Phase Four: “Fil Festival (Premiere)”

• Theilm Festival will form the culmination of the FAME project and would be a socio-cultural event to celebrate the artistry and heritage of the Gambia.
• With the aim of placing the Gambia in a vantage position in the African movie industry, this film festival will permit movie entries from other countries within the African continent.

• It will be organized along the same concept with the Cannes and Toronto Film Festival, but with a major focus on African Films.
• One of the greatest high-points of the festival will be the premiere of the movie from the winning script of the FAME project and an appearance of all the cast as selected from the “Be a Movie Star auditioning” Reality TV Show.
• The festival will also form a tourism developmental package to open up a panorama and the rich socio-cultural heritage of the Gambia to the world.

BENEFITS OF FAME

• Fame Africa will present an opportunity to develop the Gambian countries Movie, Entertainment industry with an attendant increase in revenue generation for the country.
• The project will also impact positively on the country’s academic sector through a career-inspiring opportunity that will engage the minds of the youth and the general public.

• The project also presents an opportunity to make Gambia the hub of West African movie practice and professionalism.

• It also presents an opportunity for the country to exploit the numerous economic advantages of the entertainment industry.
• The countries media industry will also gain international recognition by leveraging on this project to promote its professionalism.

• The Film Festival will present an opportunity to promote the socio-cultural heritage of the country and expand its tourism potentials.
• The project will create youth development and build capacities for talents that have the potential of bringing worldwide acclaim to his/her country.

Author: by Sherrif Janko

Health Promoting Schools Initiative Launched in URR

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:20:16 GMT

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

The Department of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Regional Education Office in Basse, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF, recently launched a health promoting schools initiative in KobaKundaLowerBasicSchool in the Upper River Region.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, the manager of Health Education Unit at the DOSH, Amadou Sowe, said 13 schools will benefit from the initiative in URR. She added that a health promoting school is a school community that takes action and places priority on creating an environment that will have the best possible impact on the health of students and teachers.

For his part, the deputy governor of URR, Momodou S. Kah, said the government has placed health and education high on their agenda.

Governor Kah said the health promoting schools will really assist the student and teachers

He commended DOSH, WHO and UNICEF for the initiative noting that his region will live up to expectations.

Ms Plaubiana Cole, regional education director, URR stated that the school health promoting initiative will greatly help both the students and teachers in his region.

Other speakers at the occasion included Momodou Gassama of the WHO and Pa Ousman Manneh of UNICEF.

Author: Pa Modou Faal

VP receives Senegalese envoy

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:25:17 GMT

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Friday, August 29, 2008

The vice-president and secretary of state for Women's Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, on Thursday morning, received in her office, a Senegalese envoy, Mr Mame Birane Diouf.

As the Senegalese minister of Culture and Heritage, Mr Diouf told journalists in an interview that he was in The Gambia to convey a special message to the Gambian leader, President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, on a festival to be organised in Senegal.

This festival, according to the Senegalese envoy, is aimed at promoting unity among African countries and "we also want to raise the African flag to higher heights."

Lamenting the status of the continent, Mr Diouf said that looking at the African continent, one could clearly tell that civilisation came from Africa. "Even during the most difficult times in the world (colonial era), Africa was organised," he posited, and he then went on: “We are all one, but it is the languages that divided us”.

The Senegalese envoy told reporters that Vice-President Njie-Saidy underscored the importance of the already existing relations between The Gambia and Senegal during their discussion.

Meanwhile, a group of visiting youth coordinators from the International Baby Food Network (IBFAN) Africa was also received by the vice-president.

The visiting delegation, comprising five young people from the East African countries of Uganda, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Zambia, were led to the Office of the Vice President by Mr Malang Fofana of the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), who is the national coordinator, IBFAN Gambia.

Shortly after their audience with the vice-president, Mr Fofana told reporters that their audience with Dr Njie-Saidy offered them the opportunity to discuss infant and young child feeding, as well as issues that affect youths in general.

He disclosed that the youth representatives were in the country to exchange ideas with their Gambian counterparts on the youth programmes, in a bid to involve young people in promotion of infant feeding in The Gambia.

IBFAN Africa, Mr Fofana said, has in the past few years been engaged in capacity building projects, aimed at improving the networks in developing countries, as well as sharing experiences of best practices. He said that they chose The Gambia this time round because of the efficiency and organised nature of its youth networks.

The visiting youths, who are coordinators of the various youth bodies in their respective countries, are in The Gambian “to familiarise themselves with the way youths in The Gambia are doing things”.

Author: by Kemo Cham

ADR Secretariat commissioned

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:52:52 GMT

Friday, July 25, 2008

The vice-president and secretary of state for Women’s Affairs, Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, on Wednesday, officially opened the new Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Secretariat at the OAU Boulevard, Banjul, on behalf of President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh.

The ADR system, adopted in The Gambia in 2003 with the promulgation of an ADR Law, is an important mechanism for dealing with matters of dispute outside the usual conventional modern-type justice delivery and judicial system.

The new secretariat is expected to provide critical backstopping to ADR initiatives, as well as provide strategic guidance towards deepening the impact of such initiatives.

Commissioning the secretariat, Vice President Njie-Saidy described the office as another landmark development in The Gambia, as it deepens the process of institutionalizing the ADR system in the country.

She added that the establishment of an ADR Secretariat is not only timely, but also represents a clear and glaring testimony of government’s resolve to maximise justice delivery in The Gambia, by promoting access to justice for every Gambian and non-Gambian residents alike.

She further observed that the ADR is not a new phenomenon, particularly in The Gambia, where conflicts and disputes involving families, communities, and even organisations are often subject to close-door mediation and settlement by third parties.

“In Africa, alternative means to conflict resolution have been part and parcel of our traditional justice delivery system for generations. So too in Asia, particularly China and Japan that are known to have made tremendous strides and achievements in providing alternative means of solving disputes in varied cultural and traditional contexts. These include commercial disputes, and disputes over property inheritance by families and communities. Consequently, the ADR is firmly rooted in cultures and traditions,” the vice-president elaborated.

According to her, the ADR endears itself distinctively as a system that can be administered to deliver justice and judgement without parties going through costly and lengthy litigation proceedings, often associated with the conventional system of justice delivery.

“The system also endears itself by being inherently flexible in its approach and dealings, an attribute that not only makes it a unique, fast, easy-to-administer, and cost-effective system, but also, an important tool for promoting understanding and tolerance between and among parties in disputes. The system is founded on the principles of mediation, conciliation, reconciliation and arbitration,” she highlighted.

She further observed that the ADR mechanism also provides an important complement to the more formal justice delivery system, which is plagued by numerous cases whose handling take longer than normal and at great cost to litigants. As a result, the vice-president hoped that the system will contribute meaningfully to reducing caseloads and turnaround time for judgement in the conventional courts.

She then revealed that no country can achieve and maintain peace and stability without a sound, fair, and responsive judicial and justice system. “In the absence of such a system, not only would the environment become violent and unsafe, and lives and properties at serious risks, but also it serves as a total disincentive for foreign investment that is so vitally important for sustainable economic growth and development,” she added.

Vice President Njie-Saidy then urged all and sundry to collaborate and give maximal support to facilitate the work of the secretariat. She disclosed that the government would do everything possible to support the office, including meeting its training and manpower development in the areas of arbitration, reconciliation and mediation. Notwithstanding, the vice-president added that government would also build the capacity of the formal judicial system, since both systems are crucial.

She observed that the ADR should not be mistaken as a stand-alone substitute system, but simply an added option made available to help people and institutions to choose between two delivery systems to seek justice.

She thanked DFID and the World Bank for providing strategic support and urged the referral of matters such as commercial, land, family, industrial and employment related cases to the ADR Secretariat, for settlement as required under the ADR Act.

For her part, Mrs Marie Saine-Firdaus, the attorney general and secretary of state for Justice, described the event as a significant milestone in transforming The Gambia, since there can be no development without settling disputes.

She noted that the establishment of the ADR Secretariat has ever been her priority since her assumption of office. She lauded the tremendous support gained from President Jammeh and the secretary of state for Finance and Economic Affairs to meet the goals.

SoS Saine-Firdaus stated that the ADR is mandated to handle all types of cases of civil nature and encouraged the conventional courts to forward cases, such as those involving land disputes, to the secretariat to facilitate the resolution of the matters.

She also urged the staff of the secretariat to enhance quick dispensation of justice by making best use of the ADR, assuring them that the Office of the Attorney General will provide the maximum support in the discharge of such a constitutional requirement.

Abdou Karim Savage, the chief justice, thanked President Jammeh for yet another milestone in the development of the country. He also thanked the Office of the Attorney General for accomplishing such a positive initiative, noting that the ADR will greatly help to ensure win-win situations in cases to ensure a peaceful society, rather than the litigation system, which takes people apart.

Chief Justice Savage then expressed his office’s support and called for the proper sensitisation of the public about the ADR.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Dr Ebrima Lowe, the chief executive secretary of the ADR, who gave an overview of the establishment of the ADR, Alhagie Sawaneh of the CBEMP, Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs and Mrs Penda Gibril, who gave the vote of thanks.

In attendance were the speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, secretaries of state, and members of
the Judiciary, among other personalities.

Author: by Alhagie Jobe

Pacesetting move

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:32:30 GMT

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Pacesetters often do not wait for others. In fact, they always tend to display manifestations of Samaritanism.

In essence, the idea is to do it and let others follow the trend. By and large, this description accurately suits The Gambia as a nation. It is manifested at all levels, and more so at the upper levels of the country’s leadership hierarchy.

Last weekend’s magnanimous gesture by President Yahya Jammeh clearly demonstrates this assertion. It even goes beyond that, as it also illustrates our level of maturity within this giant community of a region endowed with abundant wealth.

President Jammeh’s donation of four and a half million Dalasis, plus a vehicle, to the West African Insurance Institute (WAII), will go a long way in minimizing whatever constraints the authorities of the institute might have been facing. WAII is one of the foremost symbols of the much fancied regional integration process. And as such, spending on it means spending on the ongoing efforts of integration. This portrays The Gambia’s stance in promoting regional cooperation.

Having been relocated to The Gambia in the early 90s, as a result of unrest in its former host country, Liberia, the institute has evidently found a peaceful and conducive environment. For The Gambia, the decision of hosting such a well meaning institution is a humbling challenge; a challenge we are set to meet for the benefit of the entire West African community.

Being a host is quite an uphill task. There are times when you are caught between principle and reality, when only true judgement will be the way out. In such a situation one would need only God’s salvation for a prudent direction. But by all indications, small Gambia has been serving its role well.

Take, for instance, the provision of a conducive environment for the institute’s operational needs. By ploughing in that solid amount of money, through its leadership, the country has demonstrated once again that it is ever ready to fulfill its commitment, and at all times.

Author: DO

Taiwan's UN bid will be flexible: diplomatic official

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:13:15 GMT

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Taiwan's new administration will be more pragmatic and flexible in pushing forward with the nation's bid to join the United Nations, a senior diplomatic official said Sunday.

According to reports monitored by the Daily Observer, a official, who was in charge of affairs relating to international organisations for over 10 years, was responding to President Ma Ying-jeou's recent remarks that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is studying a new approach to promoting Taiwan's UN bid in line with the changing situation.

Ma said two referendums on the country's entry into the global body under the name Taiwan and the national title Republic of China -- held alongside the March 22 presidential election -- failed because neither of them attracted enough votes to make the outcomes binding, so his administration will adopt a new tack to promote the country's U.N. bid.

According to the official, the cross-Taiwan Strait situation experienced a change after the inauguration of the Ma administration, and in the face of the "completely different atmosphere, " it is necessary for the country to adjust the ways in which it promotes its accession to various international organizations such as the U.N. and the World Health Organization.

Asked whether the nation will apply for U.N. membership under the name Republic of China, Chinese Taipei or other, more flexible names, the official said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is soliciting opinions from experts and academics and exchanging views with other relevant government agencies on the issue.

After an internal consensus on a new approach is reached, the government will consult with diplomatic allies as well as the United States, Japan and the European Union on its feasibility, the official went on.

However, the official added that it is unlikely the new administration will file an application for U.N. membership under the name Taiwan this year.

Due to Beijing's obstruction, the nation has failed every year for more than a decade to regain its U.N. membership, which it lost in 1971.

Author: by Ebrima Jaw Manneh

Manufacturers’ concern

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 05:16:00 GMT

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Recently, the issue of the high cost of living, precisely food, has persistently dictated the direction of global discourse.

All along the ordinary people had been chitchatting, at least for as far as we know here in The Gambia. Little did some of us know that businessmen themselves have constraints! The recent call on the office of the President by members of the Manufacturers Association of the Gambia, suggests how intricate the situation is. Nonetheless, the formation of such a fraternity was in fact a giant step towards confronting inevitable problems in the business community. The members highlighted salient issues, among them: affordability of electricity and land accessibility.

We should say lucky them, because this is The Gambia. There has never been an iota of doubt as to the APRC government’s commitment towards empowering the private sector in The Gambia. But, as the president said, the plight of consumers, who make up the majority, comes first. Surely the assembled businessmen themselves are aware of that.

The atmosphere for business in this country, especially Gambian-owned businesses, has been the must conducive in the sub-region. This is attested to by the smooth sprouting of businesses; both local and foreign-owned; while some are establishing it for the first time, others are forced to relocate to peaceful Gambia for reasons connected to instability and other factors, in their previous locations.

Promoting Gambian businesses would be in the best interests of the country and its people. Like President Jammeh said, the benefit of the many trade quotas we have unexploited can only be utilized by our business people. The idea of expatriate tax is also well placed in terms of safeguarding the employment prospects of Gambians. This is what any other government that has the interest of its citizens would do.

But the problems with our businessmen go beyond issues like electricity or land availability. Basically, it seems, we are all responsible for our present predicament. Anywhere you go in the world, locally produced products are logically supposed to be more affordable than imported goods, by virtue of the fact of the cost involved in importing from abroad. This is not to disregard the fact that there are other factors that can influence the cost of producing at home as well. Our problem in this regard is psychological. Simple!

It is worthwhile to note that it is at our best interest that we protect locally produced goods. Whatever is gotten from it is bound to remain here at home. The other point is that having been prepared at home, be they food stuff or any other products, they are items we are always familiar with, which we are more likely to relate to. In the case of food stuffs, rapid increase in mysterious health complications have constantly triggered suspicion, warranting us to question the role of some foods choices we have come to cherish so much at the expense of what we, ourselves, produce.

It is often argued that all our forefathers had known or eaten were what they produced, yet they had had an enviable life expectancy, with healthy living.

The problem, in a more general term, lies entirely in the mindset; the absurd feeling of superiority of imported goods over locally produced ones. This, among various other factors, is responsible to a great extent for the low level of business prospects in the country. If we are to stem this trend, it is imperative that we look into ways of reshaping the mindset of the people. Sensitization will certainly do a great deal of difference.

The fact that members of the manufacture’s association are themselves aware of their problems brings to mind the common adage that knowing about a constraint is a step closer to solving it.

If we, at our level, are to make any appeal, we can only remind Gambians of their moral responsibilities to support local industries. Of course, it is important to note also that our economy being a liberal one; we have a limit as to when to say no to import, and on which goods. But we are at liberty to prevail over the thinking of Gambians.

Author: DO