Worst is not over

By Masaru Yamada
Japan Agricultural Journalists’ Association

Is the worst over?
Everybody asks me. I always reply – “To me, it was apparently over, but one thing I can tell you it is totally depending on where you live.”

After being hit on March 11 2011 by one of the largest earthquakes in history, we Japanese are now – in a way – going back to ‘business as usual’.

In the world famous Akihabara electric town in Tokyo, you don’t see many differences between now and two months ago. You see many pedestrians on the streets on holidays looking for great discounts on PCs or games machines.

Press Freedom Having Voice To Speak

Dear Mamadou,

In the lawless eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, press freedom means having a voice to speak out against horrific violence against women and children. This World Press Freedom Day, the International Center for Journalists has teamed up with Vital Voices to help Congolese radio reporter Chouchou Namegabe, ICFJ's 2009 Knight International Award Winner and Vital Voices' 2009 Fern Holland Award recipient.

African Union Peace and Security Council 274th meeting / Press statement

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, April 26, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 274th meeting held on 25 April 2011, was briefed on the World Development Report (WDR) 2011 – Conflict, Security and Development, by Sarah Cliffe, the Special Representative for the WDR 2011. Council also listened to a statement by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Ramtane Lamamra, regarding the AU’s contribution to the elaboration of the Report, and the prospects for cooperation between the World Bank and the AU on the follow‐up to the Report’s conclusions.

CCG dissociate itself from The Gambia Government on events in Cote d’Ivoire

NEWS BANJUL THE GAMBIA (MB) According to a press release made available to MANSABANKO,  dated 18 April, 2011,  The Coalition for Change – The Gambia (CCG) wishes to dissociate itself from the statements and position of the Gambia Government on events in Cote d’Ivoire.

The most recent inconsequential state televised statement of President Jammeh calling for fresh elections and refusing to recognize President Alassane Ouattara in defiance of the international community, despite findings by virtually all independent observers and monitors that Laurent Gbagbo lost the November election, underscores the pariah character of the Gambian regime. 

GADHOH want sign language interpreters at the TV, others Institutions

NEWS BANJUL THE GAMBIA (MB)- Members of The Gambia Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GADHOH), on Sunday 17 April, 2011 held its annual general meeting in Kanifing, at GADHOD headquarters, members present at the meeting calls on the government of The Gambia for the ratification of the person with disability act in the country, employ sign language interpreters at the national television and other institutions.. Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Abdoukardirr Drammeh, President of GADHOH, told the gathering that the association is doing all its best day and night for the government of The Gambia to sign and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Right of Person with Disabilities (UNCRDP), but was quick to sat that some strides have been made in other areas in the convention citing some parts of the Gambian constitution that gives rights to persons with disabilities in the country.

Cote d'Ivoire- what I' m seeing

Mamadou Edrisa Njie --  Tue, April 12, 2011 2:14:14 PM I haven’t slept much the past few months. Amid the violence and chaos all around me in Côte d’Ivoire, it’s no easy task to deliver food to those who need it. At least one million people have fled their homes, hiding out in the bush or setting out for the border. About an hour south of me in a town called Duékoué, hundreds of people were recently massacred. Families across the country are terrified to leave their homes. They’re running out of food and water and the supermarkets are completely bare.

Cash Most Important ‘Commodity’ but…………..

NEWS BANJUL THE GAMBIA (MB)- Perhaps the most important ‘commodity’ smuggle in West Africa for the purposes of money laundering is cash, according to information contained in the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa better know as GIABA, in its report title “ Threat Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in West Africa.”

  According to the threat assessment, money is the lifeblood of crime, as it is of any business, and so the legitimate of illicit proceeds is essential for organised criminals to return a profit on their nefarious activities, said GIABA report.