Category Archives: Wanabidii

3 principles for natural resources to become a blessing for development

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

Many of the world’s biggest economic success stories have happened in places with few or no natural resources.

This is clearly visible in Asia. Tiny Singapore, without a single natural resource, has transitioned from one of the poorest countries in the world to one of the richest. Japan and South Korea rebuilt their war-torn countries and became two of the most advanced economies on the planet through hard work, industrialization and education. China, which used to be a poor country and net oil exporter, is now the world’s second-largest economy and top importer of oil, with 600 million people brought out of poverty in the process. There are success stories on all continents.

On the other hand, countries richer in natural resources have ended up much poorer. Mountainous North Korea has access to mineral wealth that more successful neighbor in the south lacks. In West Africa, oil-rich Equatorial Guinea has a higher gross domestic product than Poland, but the life expectancy of its citizens is 20 years lower than that of the average Pole. If natural wealth alone determined development, the list of winners and losers would have been very different.
Link:
<a href=”https://www.devex.com/news/3-principles-for-natural-resources-to-become-a-blessing-for-development-85065?utm_source=twengagement&utm_medium=twtweet&utm_campaign=twdailypost”>https://www.devex.com/news/3-principles-for-natural-resources-to-become-a-blessing-for-development-85065?utm_source=twengagement&utm_medium=twtweet&utm_campaign=twdailypost</A>

Trading Away from Conflict: Using Trade to Increase Resilience in Fragile States

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

While economic growth in developing countries over the last ten years has lifted more people out of poverty than in any previous time, more than one billion people still live in countries affected by violent conflict. Conflict weakens governance, undermines economic development and threatens both national and regional stability. Trade shocks, in particular, can have widely varying impacts on conflict. This report sets out to empirically test these linkages between trade shocks and conflict via cross-country and intra-country analysis. On the basis of the analysis, it offers trade-related policy directions to reduce this risk in fragile economies. The results provide convincing evidence that trade and trade policy have a large impact on the risk and intensity of conflict. This report is composed of three main chapters.
Link:

<a href=”https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/20713/931230PUB0Box30UBLIC009781464803086.pdf?sequence=1″>https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/20713/931230PUB0Box30UBLIC009781464803086.pdf?sequence=1</a>

Hazard assessment of ores and concentrates for marine transport

from: Yona Maro

This guidance document is intended to assist mining and metals companies in meeting the demands of new marine transport regulations including:

• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) – Annex V
• International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC)
• International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG).

In this guidance ICMM sets out the approach that leading mining and metals commodity associations have developed in collaboration with scientific experts from research institutes around the world.

http://www.icmm.com/document/7852

The role of mining in national economies

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

This second edition of The role of mining in national economies provides an update on the contribution of mining activities in each of the world’s 214 national economies. The report extends the analysis of that in the first edition to capture the recent downturn in the mineral prices (2010 – 2012) as well providing a deeper understanding of the role of mining in poverty reduction.

A well-founded understanding of the role of mining and metals in each country’s national economy is critical for sound policy development and societal decision-making. Mining’s role in national economies and society in general is a continued area of focus for ICMM.

http://www.icmm.com/document/7950

Minerals and Metals Management 2020: a chemicals management progress report

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

This report reviews the commitments that ICMM made in 2009 to the United Nations’ Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM); the progress that ICMM and its members have made toward these commitments; how they plan to fulfill them; and where the mining and metals industry stands with regard to chemicals management.

http://www.icmm.com/document/4243

Privacy issues of online marketing techniques in the information society

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

In the digital economy, information plays a key role, as currency that makes the knowledge society further develop. In such world, ensuring privacy of personal data without restricting data flows and the economic and social benefits generated can prove in practice to be quite challenging. In the context of the increasing interest in social responsibility in business approaches, companies should take into account also the responsibility for collecting, processing and usage of consumers’ personal data, while carrying out their core functions. Thus, we analyze and debate on aspects related to direct marketing techniques and privacy issues, in a consumer-oriented approach, focusing on behavior of the Romanian consumer, with taking into consideration the fast development and use of ICT in business and the increasing regulations for ensuring consumer privacy. We raise into discussion aspects related to consumer behavior in function of means used in marketing, focusing more on the online than on the traditional means, from the perspective of ensuring privacy of consumers’ personal data. The analysis is based on data from a survey conducted in Romania in 2011 with regard to the Romanian consumer and direct marketing and also from techniques used in developing websites for gathering and processing user / consumer information, while taking into consideration the existing legal framework. We consider that companies should pay more attention to issues related to consumer privacy online, with ensuring appropriate information and obtaining consumer consent in collecting and using personal data for business development.

<a href=”http://www.csrconferences.org/RePEc/aes/icsrog/2012/2012_1_050.pdf”>http://www.csrconferences.org/RePEc/aes/icsrog/2012/2012_1_050.pdf</a>

Warring S.Sudan leaders accept ‘responsibility’ for civil war

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

SOUTH Sudan President Salva Kiir and his arch-rival rebel chief Riek Machar said Monday they accepted mutual responsibility for a 10-month civil war in which thousands of people have been killed.

<a href=”http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/660925-warring-s-sudan-leaders-accept-responsibility-for-civil-war.html”>http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/660925-warring-s-sudan-leaders-accept-responsibility-for-civil-war.html</a>

Africa: Illicit Financial Flows (ADF Issue Paper) 2014

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

Financing developmental efforts in Africa has proved to be costly in the past, compelling the continent to rely on external sources known as overseas development assistance. This type of assistance is often unevenly distributed, unsustainable, and in some cases, damaging to the national economies in the long run. Lessons learned from the Millennium Development Goals have prompted a fresh wave of thinking towards a post-2015 transformative developmental framework designed to ensure self-reliance for Africa. However, a structural transformation agenda will require an adequate, predictable, sustainable and integrated financing mechanism geared towards financing developmental goals (Abugre and Ndomo, 2014). Also, the continent must embark on reforms to capture currently unexplored or poorly managed resources. This includes curtailing illicit financial flows and rather transforming those funds into a powerful tool for enhancing domestic resource mobilization, as a way of furthering the continent’s development.

[ Download Resource .pdf – 257.23 KB ]
<a href=”http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00090571:1704d563c7722abaaaf773cf13434447.pdf”>http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00090571:1704d563c7722abaaaf773cf13434447.pdf</a>

EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE OUTBREAK: Business Engagement Guide – In-kind Donations and Direct Engagement

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

To contain spreading the Ebola, it is imperative we mobilize all resources and efforts. The upsurge in the response efforts by the private sector is welcome; but we must do more, and we must do it faster. For this reason we are turning also to private sector to engage with the overall Ebola outbreak response. Refer toBusiness Engagement Guide if you are a private sector actor wishing to contribute to these efforts.

pdf – 4.76 MB
<a href=”http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00090501:07cc79a3448cbb3788cc589da1d43101.pdf”>http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00090501:07cc79a3448cbb3788cc589da1d43101.pdf</a>

Water Supply and Sanitation Blue Book 2014

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

Well-run water utilities play an important role in ending poverty and boosting shared prosperity. Consumers need reliable access to high quality and affordable water and sanitation services. To deliver these basic services efficiently and effectively requires high-performing utilities that are able to respond to urban growth, to connect with the poor, and to improve wastewater disposal practices. The IBNET Water Supply and Sanitation Blue Book 2014 summarizes the water sector status from 2006 to 2011. Since 2006, municipal water performance has improved despite accelerated urbanization and the impacts of triple crises (food, fuel, and financial). Overall coverage has increased and piped water and wastewater services became accessible to more people. An increasing number of utilities now actively handle the water billing, collection, and water management through metering. IBNET tools, such as data collection instruments and protocols, the IBNET database, and the IBNET tariff database, enable enhanced sharing of information on close to 4,500 utilities from more than 130 countries and territories.

Link:
<a href”https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/19811/9781464802768.pdf?sequence=5″>https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/19811/9781464802768.pdf?sequence=5</a>

African wealthy individuals invited to invest in the USA and obtain US Green Card

1 Reply

From: Yona Maro

PRESS RELEASE

ArKay Beverages Inc. is Inviting African Wealthy Individuals to Invest in the USA and Obtain their US Green Card

If you are a foreigner investor and eligible, ArKay will help to get your US residence for you and your family

NEW YORK, July 17, 2014/ — ArKay Beverages Inc. (http://shop.arkaybeverages.com), the world’s first maker of alcohol free liquors, is inviting African wealthy individuals to invest in the USA in a new concept of ArKay Non Alcoholic Bar & Lounge that will serve food and non-alcoholic cocktails during the day and transform itself in a fun place at night.

“The reason behind ArKay expansion into “the non-alcoholic bar and lounge market” is obvious,
peoples want to have fun without having to drink liquor, with ArKay the party never stops!”, said Sylvie Grattagliano, President of ArKay Beverages.

According to the company, ArKay non-alcoholic bar & lounge will be serving up an assortment of high end coffee, sandwiches, salads, and even, croissant burgers. Not to mention, over 100 non-alcoholic cocktails .

ArKay non-alcohol bar and club will be very successful because ArKay is unique concept in its kind, ArKay anticipate opening hundreds of locations in the USA and overseas where consumers are trying to get away from liquors and still want to have fun.

The typical size of an ArKay N/A Bar and Club will be 250 square meters or 2,800 square feet, the cost to build and equip the unit is approximately one million dollars and the projected ROI should be 8 % yearly.

Investing in ArKay Beverages is an excellent opportunity for foreign investors for the following reasons:

– ArKay will take care of all permits.

– ArKay will take care of finding the best location.

– ArKay will train you and your team.

– ArKay is not a franchise, there is no fee or key money required to open ArKay N/A bar.

– ArKay is the world first alcohol free liquor company.

– ArKay has no competition.

– ArKay is inviting African investors to be part of this project.

If you are a foreigner investor and eligible, ArKay will help to get your US residence for you and your family. A minimum investment of USD 1 million is required. If you are interested in opening your own ArKay N/A bar and club.

This is not an offer to buy company stock or a franchise. All ArKay Non-alcoholic bars and boutique will be independently owned.

Terms and Condition may apply and change at any time.

For more information click on this link: http://shop.arkaybeverages.com/content/40-invest , and/or please contact us: https://shop.arkaybeverages.com/contact-us

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of ArKay Beverages Inc.

Contact:

Sylvie Grattagliano
President
ArKay Beverages Inc.
401 East Las Olas Blvd.
Suite #1400.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 – USA

Tel + 1 954 536 8413

E-mail: Management@arkaybeverages.com

—

Yona Fares Maro

Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

Ukraine-related Sanctions; Publication of Executive Order 13662 Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

7/16/2014

?Today, OFAC is introducing the Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List to identify persons operating in sectors of the Russian economy identified by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to Executive Order 13662. Directives found within the list describe prohibitions on dealings with the persons identified.

Specially Designated Nationals List Update

In addition, the following individuals have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

BESEDA, Sergey (a.k.a. BESEDA, Sergei; a.k.a. BESEDA, Sergei Orestovoch); DOB 1954; Commander of the Fifth Service of the FSB; Commander of the Service for Operational Information and International Communications of the FSB; FSB Colonel General; Colonel-General (individual) [UKRAINE2].

BORODAI, Aleksandr (a.k.a. BORODAI, Alexander); DOB 25 Jul 1972; nationality Russia (individual) [UKRAINE].

NEVEROV, Sergei Ivanovich (a.k.a. NEVEROV, Sergei; a.k.a. NEVEROV, Sergey); DOB 21 Dec 1961; POB Tashtagol, Russia; Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation; Member of the State Duma Committee on Housing Policy and Housing and Communal Services (individual) [UKRAINE2].

SAVELYEV, Oleg Genrikhovich; DOB 27 Oct 1965; POB St. Petersburg, Russia; Minister for Crimean Affairs (individual) [UKRAINE2].

SHCHEGOLEV, Igor (a.k.a. SHCHYOGOLEV, Igor Olegovich); DOB 10 Nov 1965; POB Vinnitsa, Ukraine; alt. POB Vinnytsia, Ukraine; Aide to the President of the Russian Federation (individual) [UKRAINE2].

The following entities have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

DONETSK PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC, Donetsk Region, Ukraine [UKRAINE].

FEDERAL STATE UNITARY ENTERPRISE STATE RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION ENTERPRISE BAZALT (a.k.a. FEDERAL STATE UNITARY ENTERPRISE, STATE RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION ENTERPRISE BAZALT; a.k.a. FSUE SRPE BAZALT; a.k.a. STATE RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION ENTERPRISE BAZALT), 32 Velyaminovskaya, Moscow 105318, Russia; Website www.bazalt.ru; Email Address moscow@bazalt.ru [UKRAINE2].

FEODOSIYA ENTERPRISE (a.k.a. FEODOSIA OIL PRODUCTS SUPPLY CO.; a.k.a. FEODOSIYA ENTERPRISE ON PROVIDING OIL PRODUCTS; a.k.a. FEODOSIYSKE COMPANY FOR THE OIL; a.k.a. THEODOSIYA OIL TERMINAL), Feodosiya, Geologicheskaya str. 2, Crimea 98107, Ukraine; Feodosia, Str. Geological 2, Crimea 98107, Ukraine [UKRAINE].

JOINT STOCK COMPANY CONCERN RADIO-ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES (a.k.a. CONCERN RADIO-ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGIES; a.k.a. ‘KRET’), 20/1 Korp. 1 ul. Goncharnaya, Moscow 109240, Russia; Website http://www.kret.com; Registration ID 1097746084666 [UKRAINE2].

JOINT STOCK COMPANY CONCERN SOZVEZDIE (a.k.a. JSC CONCERN SOZVEZDIE), 14 Plekhanovskaya Street, Voronezh, Russia; 14 ul. Plekhanovskaya, Voronezh, Voronezhskaya obl. 394018, Russia; Registration ID 1053600445337 [UKRAINE2].

JOINT STOCK COMPANY MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION NPO MASHINOSTROYENIA (a.k.a. JOINT STOCK COMPANY MILITARY INDUSTRIAL CONSORTIUM NPO MASHINOSTROYENIA; a.k.a. JSC MIC NPO MASHINOSTROYENIA; a.k.a. MIC NPO MASHINOSTROYENIA JSC; a.k.a. MIC NPO MASHINOSTROYENIYA JSC; a.k.a. MILITARY INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION NPO MASHINOSTROENIA OAO; a.k.a. OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY MILITARY INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION SCIENTIFIC AND PRODUCTION MACHINE BUILDING ASSOCIATION; a.k.a. VOENNO-PROMYSHLENNAYA KORPORATSIYA NAUCHNO-PROIZVODSTVENNOE OBEDINENIE MASHINOSTROENIYA OAO; a.k.a. VPK NPO MASHINOSTROENIYA), 33, Gagarina St., Reutov-town, Moscow Region 143966, Russia; 33 Gagarin Street, Reutov, Moscow Region 143966, Russia; 33 Gagarina ul., Reutov, Moskovskaya obl 143966, Russia; Website www.npomash.ru; Email Address export@npomash.ru; alt. Email Address vpk@npomash.ru; Registration ID 1075012001492 (Russia); Tax ID No. 5012039795 (Russia); Government Gazette Number 07501739 (Russia) [UKRAINE2].

JOINT-STOCK COMPANY CONCERN ALMAZ-ANTEY (a.k.a. ALMAZ-ANTEY CORP; a.k.a. ALMAZ-ANTEY DEFENSE CORPORATION; a.k.a. ALMAZ-ANTEY JSC; f.k.a. OTKRYTOE AKTSIONERNOE OBSHCHESTVO KONTSERN PVO ALMAZ ANTEI), 41 ul.Vereiskaya, Moscow 121471, Russia; Website almaz-antey.ru; Email Address antey@almaz-antey.ru [UKRAINE2].

KALASHNIKOV CONCERN (a.k.a. CONCERN KALASHNIKOV; a.k.a. IZHEVSKIY MASHINOSTROITEL’NYI ZAVOD OAO; f.k.a. IZHMASH R&D CENTER; f.k.a. JSC NPO IZHMASH; f.k.a. NPO IZHMASH OAO; a.k.a. OJSC CONCERN KALASHNIKOV; f.k.a. OJSC IZHMASH; f.k.a. SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION IZHMASH JOINT STOCK COMPANY), 3, Derjabin Pr., Izhevsk, Udmurt Republic 426006, Russia; Registration ID 1111832003018 [UKRAINE2].

KONSTRUKTORSKOE BYURO PRIBOROSTROENIYA OTKRYTOE AKTSIONERNOE OBSHCHESTVO (a.k.a. INSTRUMENT DESIGN BUREAU; a.k.a. JSC KBP INSTRUMENT DESIGN BUREAU; a.k.a. KBP INSTRUMENT DESIGN BUREAU; a.k.a. KBP INSTRUMENT DESIGN BUREAU JOINT STOCK COMPANY; a.k.a. ‘KBP OAO’), 59 Shcheglovskaya Zaseka ul., Tula 300001, Russia; Website www.kbptula.ru; Email Address kbkedr@tula.net; Registration ID 1117154036911 (Russia); Government Gazette Number 07515747 (Russia) [UKRAINE2].

LUHANSK PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC (a.k.a. LUGANSK PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC; a.k.a. PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF LUHANSK), Luhansk Region, Ukraine [UKRAINE].

URALVAGONZAVOD (a.k.a. NAUCHNO-PROIZVODSTVENNAYA KORPORATSIYA URALVAGONZAVOD OAO; a.k.a. NPK URALVAGONZAVOD; a.k.a. NPK URALVAGONZAVOD OAO; a.k.a. OJSC RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION CORPORATION URALVAGONZAVOD; a.k.a. RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION CORPORATION URALVAGONZAVOD; a.k.a. RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION CORPORATION URALVAGONZAVOD OAO; a.k.a. URALVAGONZAVOD CORPORATION; a.k.a. ‘UVZ’), 28, Vostochnoye shosse, Nizhni Tagil, Sverdlovsk region 622007, Russia; 28 Vostochnoe shosse, Nizhni Tagil, Sverdlovskaya oblast 622007, Russia; 40, Bolshaya Yakimanka Street, Moscow 119049, Russia; Vistochnoye Shosse, 28, Nizhny Tagil 622007, Russia; Website http://www.uvz.ru/; alt. Website http://uralvagonzavod.com/; Email Address web@uvz.ru [UKRAINE2].

Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List Update

The following entities have been added to OFAC’s Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List:

GAZPROMBANK OAO (a.k.a. GAZPROMBANK GAS INDUSTRY OJSC; a.k.a. GAZPROMBANK OJSC; a.k.a. GAZPROMBANK OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY; a.k.a. GAZPROMBANK OTKRYTOE AKTSIONERNOE OBSHCHESTVO; a.k.a. GPB, OAO; a.k.a. GPB, OJSC), 16, Building 1, Nametkina St., Moscow 117420, Russia; 63, Novocheremushkinskaya St., Moscow 117418, Russia; SWIFT/BIC GAZPRUMM; Website www.gazprombank.ru; Email Address mailbox@gazprombank.ru; Registration ID 1027700167110; Tax ID No. 7744001497; Government Gazette Number 09807684 [UKRAINE-EO13662].

OAO NOVATEK (a.k.a. FINANSOVO-INVESTITSIONNAYA KOMPANIYA NOVAFININVEST OAO; a.k.a. NOVATEK), 2, Udaltsova Street, Moscow 119415, Russia; 22 A, Pobedy Street, Tarko-Sale, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District 629580, Russia; 22a Pobedy ul., Tarko-Sale, Purovski raion, Tyumenskaya Oblast 629850, Russia; Email Address novatek@novatek.ru; Registration ID 1026303117642 (Russia); Government Gazette Number 33556474 (Russia) [UKRAINE-EO13662].

OPEN JOINT-STOCK COMPANY ROSNEFT OIL COMPANY (a.k.a. OAO ROSNEFT OIL COMPANY; a.k.a. OIL COMPANY ROSNEFT; a.k.a. OJSC ROSNEFT OIL COMPANY; a.k.a. ROSNEFT; a.k.a. ROSNEFT OIL COMPANY), 26/1 Sofiyskaya Embankment, Moscow 115035, Russia; Website www.rosneft.com; alt. Website www.rosneft.ru; Email Address postman@rosneft.ru; Registration ID 1027700043502 (Russia); Tax ID No. 7706107510 (Russia); Government Gazette Number 00044428 (Russia) [UKRAINE-EO13662].

VNESHECONOMBANK (a.k.a. BANK FOR DEVELOPMENT AND FOREIGN ECONOMIC AFFAIRS (VNESHECONOMBANK) STATE CORPORATION; a.k.a. BANK RAZVITIYA I VNESHNEEKONOMICHESKOI DEYATELNOSTI (VNESHEKONOMBANK) GOSUDARSTVENNAYA KORPORATSIYA; a.k.a. ‘VEB’), 9 Akademika Sakharova prospekt, Moscow 107996, Russia; SWIFT/BIC BFEA RU MM; Website http://www.veb.ru; Email Address info@veb.ru; BIK (RU) 044525060 [UKRAINE-EO13662].

—

Yona Fares Maro

Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

Unlocking Economic Growth and Development through Travel Facilitation

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

The 21st-century traveller has high expectations when it comes to efficiency and a low tolerance for barriers to global mobility. Unfortunately, travel infrastructure and bureaucracy are decidedly 20th century, something that is particularly noticeable at airports and in the visa application process. Indeed, in 2013, destinations worldwide required on average two-thirds of the world’s population to obtain a visa prior to departure. A “smart travel” model, one that includes smart visas, smart borders, smart security processes and smart infrastructure, could revolutionize the travel and tourism sector the way the smartphone has transformed the telecommunications and media industries. As such, it represents one of the most effective near-term measures available to policy-makers seeking to create jobs and boost growth.

http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00081851:b9eacbf4f78b362164c32be502dd9a8f.pdf

—
Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

Hearing: Human Rights Vetting: Nigeria and Beyond

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

Prepared Statement of COL Peter W Aubrey USA (ret) President, Strategic Opportunities International Before the The Houe Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organization Hearing: Human Rights Vetting: Nigeria and Beyond 10 July 2014

http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00081990:72030b020550272e1c909554b32d0a92.pdf

—
Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

An appeal to the Quartet on the Middle East to sack Tony Blair

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

This Friday, 27 June, will mark the seven-year anniversary of Tony Blair’s appointment as the Quartet representative to the Middle East. We, the undersigned, urge you to remove him with immediate effect as a result of his poor performance in the role, and his legacy in the region as a whole.

We, like many, are appalled by Iraq’s descent into a sectarian conflictthat threatens its very existence as a nation, as well as the security of its neighbours. We are also dismayed, however, at Tony Blair’s recent attempts to absolve himself of any responsibility for the current crisis byisolating it from the legacy of the Iraq war.

In reality, the invasion and occupation of Iraq had been a disaster long before the recent gains made by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The sectarian conflict responsible for much of the war’s reprehensible human cost was caused in part by the occupying forces’ division of the country’s political system along sectarian lines.

In order to justify the invasion, Tony Blair misled the British people by claiming that Saddam Hussein had links to al-Qaida. In the wake of recent events it is a cruel irony for the people of Iraq that perhaps the invasion’s most enduring legacy has been the rise of fundamentalist terrorism in a land where none existed previously.

We believe that Mr Blair, as a vociferous advocate of the invasion, must accept a degree of responsibility for its consequences.

The occupied Palestinian territories represent another tragic failure of western engagement in the Middle East.

It is our view that, after seven years, Mr Blair’s achievements as envoy are negligible, even within his narrow mandate of promoting Palestinian economic development. Furthermore, the impression of activity created by his high-profile appointment has hindered genuine progress towards a lasting peace.

Seven years on there are still over 500 checkpoints and roadblocks in the West Bank. The Gaza Strip, severely damaged by Israel’s 2009 bombing, remains in a humanitarian crisis, with 80% of its population reliant on foreign aid for survival. Israel continues to build settlements that are illegal under international law. According to the Palestinian Authority’s former chief negotiator, Nabil Shaath, Tony Blair has “achieved so very little because of his gross efforts to please the Israelis.”

It is also our view that Tony Blair’s conduct in his private pursuits also calls into question his suitability for the role. Mr Blair has been widely criticised for a lack of transparency in the way he organises his business dealings and personal finances, and for blurring the lines between his public position as envoy and his private roles at Tony Blair Associates and the investment bank JPMorgan Chase.

With the current impasse in negotiations, it is time to rethink international engagement on the Israel-Palestine question. Alongside our call for you to remove Tony Blair as the Quartet special envoy, we are urging members of the public who feel the same way to sign the petition via the campaign website, sackblair.org.

Signed:

Mamdouh Aker, Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights
Mourid Barghouti, Palestinian writer and poet
Crispin Blunt MP, Conservative party
Professor Noam Chomsky, professor emeritus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sir Richard Dalton, former UK ambassador to Libya and Iran
Professor Hani Faris, University of British Columbia
George Galloway MP, Respect party
Jeff Halper, director, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions
Ken Livingstone, former mayor of London
Christopher Long, former UK ambassador to Egypt
Caroline Lucas MP, former leader of the Green party
Michael Mansfield QC, barrister
John McDonnell MP, Labour party
Sir Oliver Miles, former UK ambassador to Libya
Peter Oborne, writer and journalist
Professor Ilan Pappé, Israeli historian, University of Exeter
Rt Hon Clare Short, former secretary of state for International Development
Baroness Tonge, independent Liberal Democrat peer
Tom Watson MP, former defence minister, Labour party

Tony Blair’s office has responded as follows:

“These are all people viscerally opposed to Tony Blair with absolutely no credibility in relation to him whatsoever. Their attack is neither surprising nor newsworthy. They include the alliance of hard right and hard left views which he has fought against all his political life. Of course he completely disagrees with them over the Middle East. He believes passionately in the two-state solution, but also believes that can only be achieved by a negotiation with Israel.

“The truth, and anybody who knows anything about the situation in respect of Palestine knows this, is that transformational change is impossible unless it goes hand in hand with a political process. There was hope that this could progress with the recent US-led talks which were underpinned by a hugely ambitious economic plan spearheaded by Mr Blair.

“Mr Blair has done no work for JPMorgan in the Middle East – he is the chair of their International Advisory Council – where he provides advice on global political issues.”

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/24/appeal-to-quartet-on-middle-east-sack-tony-blair?CMP=fb_gu
—

Yona Fares Maro

Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

—

Energy Access and Security in Eastern Africa – Status and Enhancement Pathways

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

A report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), which assesses the state of energy access and security in 14 States of the Eastern Africa Region by employing energy access and security assessment methodologies was launched on 10th June in Kigali, Rwanda.

The report entitled “Energy Access and Security in Eastern Africa – Status and Enhancement Pathways” investigates on issues of energy technology, energy resources governance, energy and the environment, energy trade and the impact of energy on the macro-economy. It also reviews, in depth, the issues of energy access and security based on regional analysis, and case studies of Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Sudan and Uganda. It suggests pertinent recommendations on enhancing the state of energy access and security in the sub-region.

The share of the population with access to electricity in Eastern Africa is among the lowest globally. The report cites for example, that in South Sudan, a mere 1 percent of the population has access; in Burundi 2 percent; in DR Congo 9 percent; and in Uganda 12 percent. The regional access level of 27% is also below the level for middle-income countries (a policy aspiration of member States) of 82%. “Structural transformation aspiration of member States will need to overcome the energy access bottleneck impairing the pace of industrial development,” the report says.

The report further notes that due to limited progress in transition from traditional biomass as a main source of energy, since 1990 there has been a forest stock decline of 20% in Ethiopia, Somalia and Tanzania, nearly 40% in Uganda and Burundi and between 4-8% in DR Congo, Eritrea, Kenya and Madagascar, leading to household energy challenges.

Reflecting on energy security in the petroleum sub-sector, the report highlights that the region nearly exclusively relies on imported refined petroleum, with declining regional refining capacity and increasing consumption levels (increased by 63% in the last decade). Oil import is now taking a large share of GDP in member States, diverting financial resources from development. The needs for a regional and country framework on energy security management are discussed.

Yohannes Hailu, the Economic Affairs Officer in Charge of Energy at UNECA. “Energy trade with neighboring countries and regionally is an untapped opportunity in Eastern Africa” “Countries in the region which have the capacity to generate more power, given their energy resource potential, should increasingly look at regional energy trade opportunities that would mutually benefit all the economies of the region.” he added.

Hailu further noted that regional opportunities for energy sector development would have to be supplemented by greater efforts at the country level to develop indigenous energy resources, along with a national strategy and framework for energy security management.

http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00081815:4acc122bed60e46f11b73cd6bbff3b1a.pdf

Corruption: The Unrecognized Threat to International Security

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

Corruption is typically seen as a pathology, a fraying at the edges of a system or, at worst, a sign of system failure. Consequently, much of the work to devise remedies is entrusted to aid agencies and local civil society actors, whose hard-fought efforts strive for small-scale, concrete successes. These interventions tend to be focused on remedying technical deficiencies or building capacity.

But in a range of countries around the globe, corruption is the system. Governments have been repurposed to serve an objective that has little to do with public administration: the personal enrichment of ruling networks. And they achieve this aim quite effectively. Capacity deficits and other weaknesses may be part of the way the system functions, rather than reflecting a breakdown.

This structural dynamic—together with the strong correlation between acute corruption and breaches of international security—suggests that corruption may be a higher-stakes problem than has been commonly thought. Foreign and defense policymakers, as well as multinational corporations, need to mainstream consideration of corruption into their decisionmaking processes.

But currently, Western governments and key business actors are not well set up to respond in this holistic way. Information on the organization, manning, and practices of kleptocratic networks in key countries is not systematically gathered. Corruption is not on the agenda for high-level bilateral exchanges. Experts and specialized departments working on the issue are rarely at the table when critical decisions are made. They are insufficiently resourced even to carry out the relatively marginal tasks they are assigned. And relationships or cooperation models come in too few varieties, precluding subtle or creative ways of furthering anticorruption priorities so an all-or-nothing approach prevails.
http://m.ceip.org/publications/?fa=55791
—

Yona Fares Maro

Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

Unholy alliances: Organized crime in Southern Africa

1 Reply

From: Yona Maro

The growth of illicit networks and organized crime in Africa are interwoven into the narrative of independence and statehood on the African Continent. In Africa, as with the world as a whole, criminal activity has integrated itself into the legitimate economy, and the line between legitimate and illegitimate behaviours is increasingly blurred.

[ . . . ]
The objective of the meeting was to serve as a platform to better understand and assess the way that organized crime is engaging with governance, democracy, statehood, human security and development. By bringing together policymakers, practitioners and analysts dealing with these challenges, the Global Initiative hopes to develop a working network among relevant actors and share information that, in turn, can translate into more effective strategies to combat transnational organized crime in the region, or potentially more broadly. While the experiences, trajectories and contexts of each country, and the prevalent organized crime flows and structures with which it is grappling are different, a number of key themes emerged over the course of the meeting:
[ . . . ]

read rest of article at …
http://www.globalinitiative.net/unholy-alliances-organized-crime-in-southern-africa/

Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

Don’t let internet companies hoard the wealth of big data

Leave a reply

From: Yona Maro

WHAT is a tweet worth? Not a lot, but it stacks up. Twitter, which has yet to turn a profit, was valued at an eye-watering $18.1 billion when it made its stock market debut last week – far more than many tried and tested companies.

What underpins this value? As Twitter users were quick to point out, it is their contributions. An online gizmo allowing tweeters to estimate how much they had personally generated went viral: New Scientist staff reported credits from a measly $1 to a handy $847.
That was mostly a joke. But it highlights the gulf between the value people place on their own information – and the value that others do. Most individual bits of data are worthless; it’s only in the aggregate that they become valuable. And we get valuable online services in exchange for handing over our data.

But this transaction is starting to feel more myopic than pragmatic. Twitter’s investors may be betting on advertising revenue, but the company’s trove of data can be used to analyse everything from the stock market (including, perhaps, its own share price) to food safety. That may, in the long run, prove more lucrative.

So far, much of this data has been relatively accessible. But it may not stay that way. Internet companies have started giving users greater control over their personal data. But they may start to restrict access as it grows more valuable: after all, they have their sky-high valuations to defend.
Link:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22029431.400-dont-let-internet-companies-hoard-the-wealth-of-big-data.html#.UpRZe7RJiJQ
—

Yona Fares Maro

Institut d’études de sécurité – SA