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Spring 2010
Awake and Aware
Current Highlights
Culture & Ideas
Soulful Personalities
Spotlight on Our Members
Conscious Artists
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All Things Are Possible
During the last week of March, I had the opportunity to attend the 2010 Annual Conference of Ministers, organized jointly by the African Union (AU) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Lilongwe, Malawi. The theme of this year’s conference was "Promoting High-Level Sustainable Growth to Reduce Unemployment in Africa". Virtually all African countries, and civil society groups that have strong presence in the continent were represented at the meeting. Attending as observers were donor countries and multilateral institutions.
A number of things impressed me about the conference: the open, lively and real debate that took place among the participants; the progress that is being made in countries across Africa that we do not typically hear about; the strong partnership that exists between Africa’s biggest institutions - the AU, ECA, and AfDB (African Development Bank) and the important work that they do individually as well as collectively; and the resolve among African leaders to chart their own course of development. In his opening speech, the President of Malawi Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika, who is also the current Chair of the African Union said, “African governments now must implement home-grown policies conceptualized, designed and owned by the African people. Such policies must be implemented, monitored, and evaluated by our own experts…”
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Setting the Record Straight
 The African Union (AU) has declared 2010 to be the “Year of Peace and Security” and is promising extra effort in resolving conflicts and in building a robust architecture for peace and security. AU’s efforts will be focused on Sudan, where it has a chance to crystallize political solutions to the crises in that troubled country.
Sudan holds considerable meaning for Africa. It is the largest country on the continent, bordering nine other countries. Sudan was among the last to succumb to colonial invasion—defeating both British and French armies in the course of its struggle—and was one of the first countries to win independence.
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Engineering a Leadership Strategy for the African High-Tech Industry
 “Our engineers will not lead by being repairmen,” said TED Fellow and social entrepreneur Dr. Ndubuisi “ND” Ekekwe. Ekekwe believes that Africa has the potential to be a leading innovator in the next wave of electronics design, in 21st century industries like nanotechnology and robotics. But to do so, Africa must reinvent the way it educates electrical engineers, software developers, and technology professionals across the continent.
Ekekwe knows a thing or two about electrical engineering and education. At age 36, he holds four masters degrees (two from African universities and two from institutions in the US) and two doctorates, the most recent of which he earned from Johns Hopkins University.
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Ideals and Commitment
Ideals and commitment in politics, and in other spheres of life, are considered anachronistic in this cynical era when the public’s view of politicians and politics, or ideals, big or small, is at a very low point. Few are willing to grant that people, especially in public life, are altruistic enough to push for ideals that they sincerely believe would have positive impact on society. This is understandable given that citizens have been cheated, misled, and generally trampled upon by those in positions of power and authority in whom they had placed trust and hope.
This seems to be a universal phenomenon, judging by the number of political and social upheavals, impasses and apathy on display around the globe. Everywhere one looks, political and social gridlock seems to hold sway. Movement in any direction is difficult because the parts that constitute the society can hardly mesh and some view their roles as solely obstructionist.
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Towards a New Enlightenment
The Enlightenment denotes the intellectual trends in 18th century Europe that espoused the use of reason and science as a universal method for obtaining knowledge and solving human problems. The Enlightenment writers argued that the light of reason and science could free humanity from the darkness of ignorance, the burden of false beliefs, and the destructive influence of prejudices and superstition. They believed in liberty, equality, secular society, and democracy, as well as in the potentials of education, science and technology for transforming the human condition by reducing poverty, misery and diseases.
The Enlightenment intellectuals emphasised universal ethical norms that transcend the narrow confines of race, colour, sex, religion, ethnicity, nationality and birth status. The values of the Enlightenment inspired Europe and brought the Western World tremendous progress and advancement.
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Amb. Michael A. Battle: A Friend of Africa
Ambassador Michael Battle is one of those people you meet for the first time and feel like you already know. The moment I walked into his office, located within the U.S. Embassy compound in Addis Ababa, I felt the genuine warmth he exudes that gives the senior diplomat an aura of a Soul Personality.
Michael Anthony Battle was appointed by President Barack Obama as the third United States Ambassador to the African Union. Before taking up his current position in September 2009, Dr. Battle served as the President of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. His engagement in Africa and African issues dates back to mid 1990’s. Between 1994 and 1998, he served as Vice President of the American Committee on Africa, and in 1994 he participated as an Election Observer for the first free election in South Africa.
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The International Fund for Africa
 The International Fund for Africa (IFA) is a Houston-based non-profit organization dedicated to preventing, alleviating, and abolishing suffering of human and non–human beings. Anteneh Roba, M.D. and his cousin, Ms. Seble Nebiyeloul, founded IFA in 2006, in memory of Amsale Gessesse, their beloved mother and aunt, respectively. Although most of their work is focused on Ethiopia, IFA’s vision includes expanding its work to other parts of Africa.
IFA is one of few organizations that promotes the interests of humans and non-human animals equally. This stems from the founders’ deep and abiding belief in biocentricity and the interconnectedness of all life. The organization operates on the principle of Ahimsa - nonviolence and respect for all life.
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