[kictanet] Obama's Speech @ Ghana

Sat Jul 11 20:04:55 EAT 2009

deadly speech - as usual. Picked some highlights from: 
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iXHQkTrA9IUUQBC9WHPK3ZMK_ukAD99CBFM80

@on Kenya
But despite the progress that has been made — and there has been considerable progress in many parts of Africa — we also know that much of that promise has yet to be fulfilled. Countries like Kenya had a per capita economy larger than South Korea's when I was born. They have badly been outpaced. Disease and conflict have ravaged parts of the African continent.

In many places, the hope of my father's generation gave way to cynicism, even despair. Now, it's easy to point fingers and to pin the blame of these problems on others. Yes, a colonial map that made little sense helped to breed conflict. The West has often approached Africa as a patron or a source of resources rather than a partner. But the West is not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants. In my father's life, it was partly tribalism and patronage and nepotism in an independent Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his career, and we know that this kind of corruption is still a daily fact of life for far too many.

@ on Democracy:
This is about more than just holding elections. It's also about what happens between elections. Repression can take many forms, and too many nations, even those that have elections, are plagued by problems that condemn their people to poverty. No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves ... or if police — if police can be bought off by drug traffickers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top ... or the head of the port authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, even if occasionally you sprinkle an election in there. And now is the time for that style of governance to end.

@ on Civil Society.
Across Africa, we've seen countless examples of people taking control of their destiny and making change from the bottom up. We saw it in Kenya, where civil society and business came together to help stop postelection violence. We saw it in South Africa, where over three-quarters of the country voted in the recent election — the fourth since the end of apartheid. We saw it in Zimbabwe, where the Election Support Network braved brutal repression to stand up for the principle that a person's vote is their sacred right.
As I said earlier, Africa's future is up to Africans.

@ on African Capacity/Spirit.

The people of Africa are ready to claim that future. And in my country, African Americans — including so many recent immigrants — have thrived in every sector of society. We've done so despite a difficult past, and we've drawn strength from our African heritage. With strong institutions and a strong will, I know that Africans can live their dreams in Nairobi and Lagos, Kigali, Kinshasa, Harare, and right here in Accra.

walu.
--- On Tue, 7/7/09, Eric M.K Osiakwan <emko at internetresearch.com.gh> wrote:

From: Eric M.K Osiakwan <emko at internetresearch.com.gh>
Subject: Re: [kictanet] President Obama's upcoming trip - media resources for your involvement
To: jwalu at yahoo.com
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009, 6:40 PM

Walu, 
Am sorry but i did not mean it in that sense, except to give information for participation. You know am as African as a Kenyan, Ghana happens to be my locus for coming into time.
On a much lighter note, African tradition demands that if your son in visiting me, i need to inform you - we need to keep our Africaness intact....:-)
Eric here

On 7 Jul 2009, at 09:02, Walubengo J wrote:
Eric @ Ghana,

dont rub it in. He maybe visiting Ghana but he is still our son of "K'ogelo". :-)

walu @ Kenya.

--- On Tue, 7/7/09, Eric M.K Osiakwan <emko at internetresearch.com.gh> wrote:

From: Eric M.K Osiakwan <emko at internetresearch.com.gh>
Subject: [kictanet] President Obama's upcoming trip - media resources for your involvement
To: jwalu at yahoo.com
Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009, 12:36 PM

Dear All,
Hope your morning is well.
Below are some outlets for getting involved in President Obama's visit - http://www.whitehouse.gov/mediaresources/ 
SMS. We’ve launched an SMS platform to allow citizens to submit questions, comments and words of welcome (in English and in French) .  Using a local SMS short code in Ghana (1731) , Nigeria (32969) , South Africa (31958)and Kenya (5683), as well as a long code across the rest of the world*, Africans and citizens worldwide will be encouraged to text their messages to the President. SMS participants will also be able to subscribe to speech highlights in English and French. Long numbers for mobile registration pan-Africa: 61418601934 and 45609910343. This SMS platform is not available in the US.  We’d love to get a bunch of people signed up and submitting questions via SMS today.   Radio.  A  live audio stream of the  President's speech will be pushed to national and local radio stations during the speech. After the speech, a taped audio recording of the President’s answers to the SMS messages received will be made available to
 radio stations and websites. The President hopes to answer a variety of questions and comments by topic and region. The audio recording will also be made available for download on www.whitehouse.gov and iTunes.  Online chat. We will host a live web chat around the speech on Facebook.  The White House will also create a Facebook “event” around the speech wherein participants from around the world can engage with one another.  A Twitter hashtag (i.e. #obamaghana) has been promoted to consolidate input and reaction around the event.  WhiteHouse.gov/Ghana -  On the day of the speech, we will launch www.whitehouse.gov/ghana with links to all of the relevant programs and content (including  transcript, video, etc.) for both domestic and foreign audiences.  
NB: Sorry for crossposting.
 Eric M.K OsiakwanDirector Internet Researchwww.internetresearch.com.ghemko at internetresearch.com.gh42 Ring Road Central, Accra-NorthTel: +233.21.258800 ext 7031Fax: +233.21.258811Cell: +233.24.4386792

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 Eric M.K OsiakwanDirector Internet Researchwww.internetresearch.com.ghemko at internetresearch.com.gh42 Ring Road Central, Accra-NorthTel: +233.21.258800 ext 7031Fax: +233.21.258811Cell: +233.24.4386792

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