Presidential Proclamation--50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEACE CORPS
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed an Executive Order establishing the Peace Corps, forever changing the way America sees the world and the world sees us. Today, one of President Kennedy's most enduring legacies can be found in the over 200,000 current and returned Peace Corps Volunteers who have collectively given over a half century of service to the cause of peace. On its 50th anniversary, the United States Peace Corps remains an enduring symbol of our Nation's commitment to encouraging progress, creating opportunity, and fostering mutual respect and understanding throughout the world.
Over the past five decades, Peace Corps Volunteers have served in nearly 140 countries, bringing a wealth of practical assistance to those working to build better lives for themselves and their communities. From the first group of volunteers to arrive in Ghana and Tanzania in August 1961, they have been emissaries of hope and goodwill to the far corners of our world, strengthening the ties of friendship between the people of the United States and those of other countries. Living and working alongside those they serve, volunteers help address changing and complex global needs in education, health and HIV/AIDS, business and information technology, agriculture, environmental protection, and youth development. With each village that now has access to clean water, each young woman who has received an education, and each family empowered to prevent disease because of the service of a Peace Corps Volunteer, President Kennedy's noble vision lives on.
In our increasingly interconnected world, the mission of the Peace Corps is more relevant today than ever. Returned volunteers, enriched by their experiences overseas, bring a deeper understanding of other cultures and traditions back to their home communities in the United States. The lasting accomplishments of the Peace Corps continue to strengthen partnerships with leaders and countries around the world. This year, we also mourn the loss and pay tribute to the extraordinary life of Sargent Shriver, the founding director of the Peace Corps. The impact of his decades of public service will echo forever in countless places across the globe that have been touched by the Peace Corps.
On this anniversary, we honor the men and women from across the country who have carried forward our Nation's finest tradition of service, and we rededicate ourselves to fulfilling the dream and continuing the work of all those who aspire and yearn for peace.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 1, 2011, as the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that honor the Peace Corps and its volunteers, past and present, for their many contributions to the cause of global peace and friendship.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
BARACK OBAMA
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Institutionalizing of First Lady a hot topic
I find this to be most inappropriate! In a country that needs better schools, health care and basic living ammenities - this makes me very sad..
Institutionalizing of First Lady a hot topic
PARAMARIBO, Suriname–A decision last week by President Desi Bouterse to introduce a decree through which his wife Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring receives compensation for her tasks as First Lady, has kicked up quite some dust in Paramaribo.
Even an explanation by the President’s chief of Staff, Jurist Armand van der San, that the compensation was legal and just, didn’t suffice, especially when former President Ronald Venetiaan –revered as integer- resolutely said that his wife would not accept the retroactive payment of moneys that she is now owed by Government under the new decree. “Let’s be clear on that: she will not take the money,” Venetiaan told De West daily newspaper on Saturday.
Under the new resolution, Mrs. Bouterse will receive 8,742 Surinamese dollars SRD (almost US$ 4,000) per month, which is considered controversial and reeking of favouritism, as Bouterse’s wife is the first First Lady to receive such. Van der San explained though that the new decree actually brings structure into a situation that had never been formally arranged. “Former First Lady Mrs. Liesbeth Venetiaan-Vanenburg, a Civil Servant, resorted under the Cabinet of the President, but formally and budget wise her tasks were never set,” Van der San wrote in a press release issued Saturday. Apparantly, Mrs. Venetiaan continued to collect her Civil Servant salary, while working “free of charge” for the Cabinet of the President
“This financial, legal and administrative mistake had went on for ten years. That our decision to now right this chaotic wrong is kicking up so much dust in the community -and in particular the National Assembly- is regrettable,” Van der San said. “A lot of thought has gone into the decree; it is politically justifiable and definitely not unethical. It would have been unethical to only arrange this for the current First Lady,” he said.
He explained that during discussions about the budget of the Cabinet, it proved necessary to shed light on the First Lady’s expenses and institutionalize the position of “First Lady”. Under the new decree the First Lady is formally more than a ribbon cuttopr. She is officially tasked with executing social projects. ”It seems as if you cannot do right,” Van der San commented.
The Opposition Factions in Parliament roared last week when the decree became public. Mrs. Venetiaan-Vanenburg then stated in the press that she would not collect the retroactive payment of close to 100,000 Euros that she is now due for First Lady services during her husband’s ten year tenure.
While GFC News subsequently quoted “political analysts” who said she would have made a better political point if she had donated the payment to needy social institutions, her husband –Former President Venetiaan- publicly backed his wife. “Mi frow no e go teki a moni. A frow no wani a moni,” he said in Surinamese (the woman will not take the money; the woman does not want the money.”
Institutionalizing of First Lady a hot topic
PARAMARIBO, Suriname–A decision last week by President Desi Bouterse to introduce a decree through which his wife Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring receives compensation for her tasks as First Lady, has kicked up quite some dust in Paramaribo.
Even an explanation by the President’s chief of Staff, Jurist Armand van der San, that the compensation was legal and just, didn’t suffice, especially when former President Ronald Venetiaan –revered as integer- resolutely said that his wife would not accept the retroactive payment of moneys that she is now owed by Government under the new decree. “Let’s be clear on that: she will not take the money,” Venetiaan told De West daily newspaper on Saturday.
Under the new resolution, Mrs. Bouterse will receive 8,742 Surinamese dollars SRD (almost US$ 4,000) per month, which is considered controversial and reeking of favouritism, as Bouterse’s wife is the first First Lady to receive such. Van der San explained though that the new decree actually brings structure into a situation that had never been formally arranged. “Former First Lady Mrs. Liesbeth Venetiaan-Vanenburg, a Civil Servant, resorted under the Cabinet of the President, but formally and budget wise her tasks were never set,” Van der San wrote in a press release issued Saturday. Apparantly, Mrs. Venetiaan continued to collect her Civil Servant salary, while working “free of charge” for the Cabinet of the President
“This financial, legal and administrative mistake had went on for ten years. That our decision to now right this chaotic wrong is kicking up so much dust in the community -and in particular the National Assembly- is regrettable,” Van der San said. “A lot of thought has gone into the decree; it is politically justifiable and definitely not unethical. It would have been unethical to only arrange this for the current First Lady,” he said.
He explained that during discussions about the budget of the Cabinet, it proved necessary to shed light on the First Lady’s expenses and institutionalize the position of “First Lady”. Under the new decree the First Lady is formally more than a ribbon cuttopr. She is officially tasked with executing social projects. ”It seems as if you cannot do right,” Van der San commented.
The Opposition Factions in Parliament roared last week when the decree became public. Mrs. Venetiaan-Vanenburg then stated in the press that she would not collect the retroactive payment of close to 100,000 Euros that she is now due for First Lady services during her husband’s ten year tenure.
While GFC News subsequently quoted “political analysts” who said she would have made a better political point if she had donated the payment to needy social institutions, her husband –Former President Venetiaan- publicly backed his wife. “Mi frow no e go teki a moni. A frow no wani a moni,” he said in Surinamese (the woman will not take the money; the woman does not want the money.”
Monday, December 27, 2010
Holidays In the Tropics
Fireworks. Food. Heat. Humidity.
HOLDIAYS IN SURINAME!
This is the third Chirstmas spent in the warmth of Suriname.
This year I moved into a cute little house in the city - luckily still under a huge mango tree. The part of town I live, really is enjoying this time of year. The last few evening have been spend watching firework displays - so close the it sounds like we are under siege!
HOLDIAYS IN SURINAME!
This is the third Chirstmas spent in the warmth of Suriname.
This year I moved into a cute little house in the city - luckily still under a huge mango tree. The part of town I live, really is enjoying this time of year. The last few evening have been spend watching firework displays - so close the it sounds like we are under siege!
Monks the Chirstmas Monkey is now part of the family! I simply adore this little guy, and for the last couple of days we have been getting to know each other. I've discovered his love of cucumbers and cashews!
(he's definitely got personality!)
The Holland crew has made their arrive for the holidays. It's been an exciting last few weeks, full of adventures, laugher and as always - FOOD! Christmas this year included over 30 people seated together at one long table, outside under the canopy of twinkle lights. Everyone brought something to share - and we ate and ate! There was a theme this year 'the Suriname Flag'. Everyone was to dress in the colors of the Suriname Flag (Red, Green, Yellow, White) It was as fun as it sounds! I wore my Suriname belt, flip-flops and white/red tank top. Raoul cooked cow stomach (not kidding) and I contibuted 40 deviled eggs to the party.
Kendila is in town, and has promised to visit and cook with me. I'm looking forward to this! She makes one mean ginger beer! I'm make sure to take some photos of this event!
Wished my friends in Wan Hati Switi Kristneti - they all are doing well! Sa and Corvina are both pregnant!! I'm so looking forward to visiting them and seeing the new babies!
Gabbie's birthday was December 1st - she turned 9 yrs old. I can't even believe it. When I first met that girl she was just 6. Where has the time gone? I miss seeing her and the rest of the crew. It's truly amazing how fast the time goes - looking forward to seeing them again soon!
I do really miss home this season. My family all got together at Nina and Kevin's to celebrate Alex's first Christmas. I wasn't able to call early enough to catch them all together, but talking with Nina, Suzy and Dad, really made me 'hungry' to be home. Next year we will be together.
Trisha will make her second visit to Suriname on Wendsday! I'm definitely looking forward to seeing her and I'm sure we'll chat the days away! She'll be here for End of Year, and I promise it will be like no other she's experienced!
Here's to a Bright, Happy and Safe New Year! xoxo
Monday, December 20, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Dance and Trance
Suriname is full of different culture and traditions. I have been blessed to have lived in Wan Hati and experience the Maroon culture and tradition. Learning so much about their way of life, and why they hold ceremonies.
I am also lucky to be able to experience some of the culture of the Javanese here in Suriname. I have now experienced Dyaran Kepang twice - and I would go again!
Across the Suriname River from Paramaribo, is the town of Nieuw Amsterdam. On festival days, one can watch and be mesmerized, as the Javanese enact their traditional Dyaran Kepang ceremony--a trance dance where the performers take on the spirit of a horse, monkey, or tiger as they fall under the spell of rhythmic, monotonous gamelan.
The gamelan begins and the men come out riding decorated stick horses. They preform a dance to the ancestors. There is a medicine man that leads them into the trance. He puts water with a sort of perfume on them - there is prayers and the spirits are summoned. He then leads them gently into trance.
When the dancers are in trance there bodies take over their minds and become transformed into another living being. The dancers start with the horse.
They gallop around - sometime turning violent and kicking one another. Each time I've witnessed them they tend to have a lot of rage, and are slightly frightening. The eat sharp and fibrous elephant grass, rose petals and drink out of buckets of water.
If the medicine man sprinkles them again with the water - he can lead them into transformation of monkeys.
The monkey spirit beats on his check and tears a coconut apart with his teeth! They are usual playful - and I enjoy watching them. They will attempt to steal things out of your purse. The last time we watch them - they were transfixed on a balloon, one took his sash and tied it to a coconut in attempt to make his own. They roll around and hop as a monkey would in the wild. They are curious and come right up to you - when you look at them you can tell by their face/eyes that they are completely consumed in the spirit.
I have never witnessed the tiger-spirit but have been told they have been known to tear the heads off of live chickens.
The medicine man uses a sort of powder and chants in their ear to lead them out of trance. This can be hard to watch - sometimes they struggle and yell. They tend to wake up dazed and looking confused as the spirits leave them.
Researchers have investigated the stomach contents of the dancers and mysteriously not found any trace of what they have ingested.
I continue to love and learn and be amazed here in Suriname.
I am also lucky to be able to experience some of the culture of the Javanese here in Suriname. I have now experienced Dyaran Kepang twice - and I would go again!
Across the Suriname River from Paramaribo, is the town of Nieuw Amsterdam. On festival days, one can watch and be mesmerized, as the Javanese enact their traditional Dyaran Kepang ceremony--a trance dance where the performers take on the spirit of a horse, monkey, or tiger as they fall under the spell of rhythmic, monotonous gamelan.
The gamelan begins and the men come out riding decorated stick horses. They preform a dance to the ancestors. There is a medicine man that leads them into the trance. He puts water with a sort of perfume on them - there is prayers and the spirits are summoned. He then leads them gently into trance.
When the dancers are in trance there bodies take over their minds and become transformed into another living being. The dancers start with the horse.
They gallop around - sometime turning violent and kicking one another. Each time I've witnessed them they tend to have a lot of rage, and are slightly frightening. The eat sharp and fibrous elephant grass, rose petals and drink out of buckets of water.
If the medicine man sprinkles them again with the water - he can lead them into transformation of monkeys.
The monkey spirit beats on his check and tears a coconut apart with his teeth! They are usual playful - and I enjoy watching them. They will attempt to steal things out of your purse. The last time we watch them - they were transfixed on a balloon, one took his sash and tied it to a coconut in attempt to make his own. They roll around and hop as a monkey would in the wild. They are curious and come right up to you - when you look at them you can tell by their face/eyes that they are completely consumed in the spirit.
I have never witnessed the tiger-spirit but have been told they have been known to tear the heads off of live chickens.
The medicine man uses a sort of powder and chants in their ear to lead them out of trance. This can be hard to watch - sometimes they struggle and yell. They tend to wake up dazed and looking confused as the spirits leave them.
Researchers have investigated the stomach contents of the dancers and mysteriously not found any trace of what they have ingested.
I continue to love and learn and be amazed here in Suriname.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tough Truck Challenge and HIV/AIDS
That's what my Sunday held in store for me!
Woke up early and headed out to watch Motorsur - very exciting (and very hot!)
Basically what is was - two tracks were dug up in the middle of a pasture area. Big holes, muddy, bumpy - tough. Trucks lined at the start side-by-side and raced each other through the track.
There was a DJ playing really fun, old-school music and Parbo to drink - Ula held our huge umbrella for shade. We had a nice day out!
I had been struggling with writing a project plan for our hiv/aids awareness - TTC program. I made myself sit and finish most of the plan. It's been hard to get into that kind of groove of writing. I feel like I need a constant spell and grammar checker and wordsmith with me! I'm doing the best I can, and learning constantly!
Sunday night we went over to another PCV's house for a potluck. He's got the most adorable puppy - the puppy is going to America soon (his girlfriend is visiting and the dog is going home with her) so he had a going away party for the dog. I of course loved this!
Oliva called me today - I miss her and her family! I hope to see them before I leave to visit home!
17 days!!!
Woke up early and headed out to watch Motorsur - very exciting (and very hot!)
Basically what is was - two tracks were dug up in the middle of a pasture area. Big holes, muddy, bumpy - tough. Trucks lined at the start side-by-side and raced each other through the track.
There was a DJ playing really fun, old-school music and Parbo to drink - Ula held our huge umbrella for shade. We had a nice day out!
I had been struggling with writing a project plan for our hiv/aids awareness - TTC program. I made myself sit and finish most of the plan. It's been hard to get into that kind of groove of writing. I feel like I need a constant spell and grammar checker and wordsmith with me! I'm doing the best I can, and learning constantly!
Sunday night we went over to another PCV's house for a potluck. He's got the most adorable puppy - the puppy is going to America soon (his girlfriend is visiting and the dog is going home with her) so he had a going away party for the dog. I of course loved this!
Oliva called me today - I miss her and her family! I hope to see them before I leave to visit home!
17 days!!!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Lazy Saturday - much enjoyed!
Being back at the 5-day a week work grind has been hard on me -- but when things start to come together, it feels really good!
I have been working on a really cool program that we hope to launch soon in targeted areas of Suriname. Yesterday I presented this information to the Sur 15s at their Mid-Service Conference.
WHAT IS TEXT TO CHANGE?
Text to Change (TTC) is a non-profit organization, founded in 2007. It uses state of the art mobile phone technology to collect and disseminate health information. TTC has been one of the pioneers in using mobile phones for health monitoring and advocacy in Uganda reaching out to the general public at a large scale. TTC work is demand driven and sets up complete programs with local and international partners. The aim of TTC is to make life saving knowledge easily available to the general public and to community and family level caregivers. TTC is specialized in interactive and incentive based SMS programs addressing a wide range of health issues such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Reproductive Health. The website for TTC is http://www.texttochange.org/
TEXT TO CHANGE AND UNICEF SURINAME:
UNICEF and TTC are working to launch an HIV/AIDS awareness quiz for youth age range of 14- 30 in Suriname. This program will run for four months – beginning in September and ending in December, in alignment with World AIDS Day (December 1st). Each month participates will receive a number of multiple choice questions via text message. They then respond back via text. Correct answers are rewarded with a top-off. If a participate responds with an incorrect answer, they will receive the correct answer back via text message. Participates that complete the 4 month long program will be rewarded with free airtime. All text messaging is free to the participants.
As this moves along - I'll be sure to updated you all on the progess.
Today was hot, so I napped and then around 5 (when it cooled off) went off to fly my new kite! Enjoyed a nice easy day. xoxo
I have been working on a really cool program that we hope to launch soon in targeted areas of Suriname. Yesterday I presented this information to the Sur 15s at their Mid-Service Conference.
WHAT IS TEXT TO CHANGE?
Text to Change (TTC) is a non-profit organization, founded in 2007. It uses state of the art mobile phone technology to collect and disseminate health information. TTC has been one of the pioneers in using mobile phones for health monitoring and advocacy in Uganda reaching out to the general public at a large scale. TTC work is demand driven and sets up complete programs with local and international partners. The aim of TTC is to make life saving knowledge easily available to the general public and to community and family level caregivers. TTC is specialized in interactive and incentive based SMS programs addressing a wide range of health issues such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Reproductive Health. The website for TTC is http://www.texttochange.org/
TEXT TO CHANGE AND UNICEF SURINAME:
UNICEF and TTC are working to launch an HIV/AIDS awareness quiz for youth age range of 14- 30 in Suriname. This program will run for four months – beginning in September and ending in December, in alignment with World AIDS Day (December 1st). Each month participates will receive a number of multiple choice questions via text message. They then respond back via text. Correct answers are rewarded with a top-off. If a participate responds with an incorrect answer, they will receive the correct answer back via text message. Participates that complete the 4 month long program will be rewarded with free airtime. All text messaging is free to the participants.
As this moves along - I'll be sure to updated you all on the progess.
Today was hot, so I napped and then around 5 (when it cooled off) went off to fly my new kite! Enjoyed a nice easy day. xoxo
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