ip. The habita

Guaymas, from where he was afterwards sent to California. It has been stated that the corpses were left in the streets for the hogs to eat, but the cure of Caborca assured me that he had a trench dug and gave them Christian interment. I never saw nor conversed with any of the leaders, but a detachment came up th

Fwd: [Africa in Focus Blog!] WACSI Calls for Appointment of Special ECOWAS Envoy on Ebola

fyi

PLEASE SIGN ON TO THIS CAMPAIGN

#Civil #Society Statement on the Current #Ebola Crisis in #West #Africa:

A Call for Appointment of #ECOWAS Special Envoy on #Ebola

In light of the current epidemic of the deadly #Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in #West #Africa, we the undersigned civil society organizations call on #ECOWAS member states to appoint a leading, influential, strong and knowledgeable West African physician or health professional as #ECOWAS Special Envoy on #Ebola.

The current epidemic, which has been characterized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the deadliest Ebola outbreak since this virus was discovered in 1976, has claimed the lives of at least 1,552 people in West Africa including many health officials. We applaud and support the brave work of the health officials who continue to put their lives at risk in the care of victims of #Ebola despite very difficult working environment. We stand in solidarity with our brothers, sisters, families, and communities who are battling for their lives and struggling to care for loved ones.

West African economies are feeling the impact of the world's worst outbreak of Ebola. Travel and trade restrictions are limiting the deployment of medical personnel, equipment and commodities adding to the deadly risk that the EVD already poses to the communities and the economies of the affected countries and the region. This epidemic has exposed the challenges of our public health system and our governance institutions.

The recently-released WHO roadmap predicts that 20,000 people may ultimately be infected in this outbreak. Therefore, the challenge ahead is steep and a lot of work has to be done to stem this dangerous situation.

Cross-border coordination and collaboration necessary to stem the spread of Ebola has been haphazard and chaotic. While closure of borders may provide short term relief, it is also an impediment to cross-border technical support and humanitarian assistance and has given rise to new food security challenges.

The challenge of the current epidemic calls for urgent, unified and concerted efforts by ECOWAS and the international community. The emergency meeting of ECOWAS currently being held in Accra provides an opportunity to work out actionable and effective modalities to address the Ebola crisis. The regional body is uniquely positioned to champion a coordinated response.

For these reasons, we urge the appointment of the ECOWAS Special Envoy on Ebola. Such an envoy will help draw attention to the public health and humanitarian challenges posed by Ebola and become a regional voice and leader for a regional response plan led by African and international contributors. The Envoy could also be the voice calling for effective management and coordination of cross-border transportation and logistics. The challenge we face is extraordinary and ECOWAS needs to create a specialized platform to address this.

We urge all ECOWAS member States to push for this resolution and to develop a concrete plan for operationalizing effective coordination. We call on the international community to provide needed assistance in ensuring that the response to Ebola in the region is effective, humane and sustainable.

We acknowledge that the efforts of ECOWAS and the international community can only yield results if residents of the region do their part. Hence, we also urge the populations and all civil society organizations to show more solidarity and be cautious by observing the preventive measures identified by the WHO.

Kindly sign this statement and share with info@wacsi.org for onward action

source: West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)

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Posted By Blogger to Africa in Focus Blog! at 8/31/2014 03:08:00 PM

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E.K.Bensah Jr, Head of Research & Host -- "Africa in Focus"(Radio XYZ 93.1FM)
www.ekbensah.net | http://www.twitter.com/ekbensah | www.ekbensahdotnet.org
*TEL:+233.268.687.653 / +233.233.311.789 / +233.243.111.789

*Telegram/Whatsapp:+233.311.789

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EKBENSAH DotNet: Regional integration Intelligence| West Africa-ECOWAS | Communications | Civil society 

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AFRICA IN FOCUS >> Coming up on 5 August, 2014: "Africa & Social Media: Blogging; Activism; and the Future"

Africa & Social Media: Blogging; Activism; and the Future

If someone were to be documenting Ghana’s young history of its foray into Social Media, one might refer to the 1 July demonstration, which triggered the hashtag #Occupyflagstaff, as one of the examples of Ghana’s foray into activism. Activism, because many months after the so-called “Arab Spring”, many have questioned when sub-Saharan Africa would have its own Spring.

But long before there was even any talk of a “Spring” africaine, Ghana had begun making moves around Social Media. First it was Penplusbytes, or the ICT Institute of Journalism in 2001. Seven years later came BloggingGhana – considered the largest association of bloggers writing about Ghana. With the advent of New Media has come opportunities for training and education on New Media, which the latter two organizations have been involved in.

That said, one could be forgiven for thinking that without being associated with these two organizations, survival in New Media is impossible. Far from it, as there remain many individuals blogging, and fully-engaged in New Media through many different initiatives they undertake.

Then there is the case of our media houses, which are taking the New Media bull by the horns and running with it. Back in 2009, the host of “Africa in Focus” was called to national duty for the 14th GJA Media Awards. Word had it that his blogging activism was what led him to that calling.  Sitting on that committee as a judge for online journalism was indeed a priviledge, but he was disheartened by the fact that subsequent GJA Media awards did not deem Blogging and New Media an important component of Ghana’s media.

Fortunately, New Media has managed to move beyond relying on the Ghana Journalist Association. The establishment of organizations like BloggingGhana and Penplusbytes can verily attest to this fact. But even with their respective successes, what have other countries been able to do around New Media and Blogging?

In this edition of AIF, we talk to Kenya’s erstwhile “King of Facebook”, and Brand Ambassador of Safaricomm to find out how that East African country has been able to revolutionise New Media. We also talk to the former Knowledge Management Officer of the UNECA who played an active role in ensuring that the rather-prosaic policy of Africa’s integration and development is translated into the more exciting and vivacious New Media channel in Facebook.

Even more importantly, we will be using the show to explore the extent to which New Media, especially blogging, is still a good idea, and does it have validity in a space where twitter seems to be king? What does Kenya’s King of Facebook think about other forms of New Media, and does his commercial success lend weight to the fact that his template is one that can be replicated elsewhere in Africa?

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Edward Tagoe, BloggingGhana

Ø  Ato Ulzen-Appiah, Rancard Solutions/ex-Google Ghana

Ø  Kwami Ahiabenu, Penplusbytes New Media Hub/African Elections Project

On the line:

Ø  Golda Addo, Renewable Energy advocate; Activist   @ 13h40

Ø  Stephen Musyoka, TrInc Media/ former Kenyan “King of Facebook”/City Council of Nairobi @ 13h55

Ø  Mawuli Tsikata, CITI fm, @14h10

Ø  Mkhu Ncube, Young Zimbabwe Business Platform/ex-UNECA @ 14h25

Tune in at 13h10 GMT (1:00pm Ghana Time). We’re also streaming live  www.radioxyzonline.com.

Contact us Facebook on:

http://www.facebook.com/africainfocusonradioxyz and radio XYZ 93.1FM. Tweet us @africainfocus14 and @ekbensah. Listen to us on #MultiTVChannel29. Thanks!

HOW TO CONTACT "AFRICA IN FOCUS"

1. Google plus BUSINESS PAGE: http://gplus.to/contactafricainfocusxyz
2. Google plus COMMUNITY: http://gplus.to/africaonradioxyz
3. Google plus Profile:  http://gplus.to/africainfocusongoogleplus

*Email:  africainfocusonradioxyz AT gmail.com
*FACEBOOK:  http://www.facebook.com/africainfocusonradioxyz
*Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14, using #AfricainFocus #radioxyz

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Posted By Blogger to Africa in Focus Blog! at 8/04/2014 11:31:00 AM

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_____________________________________________________________________
E.K.Bensah Jr, Head of Research & Host -- "Africa in Focus"(Radio XYZ 93.1FM)
www.ekbensah.net | http://www.twitter.com/ekbensah | www.ekbensahdotnet.org
*TEL:+233.268.687.653 / +233.233.311.789 / +233.243.111.789

*Telegram/Whatsapp:+233.311.789

________________________________________________________________________________

EKBENSAH DotNet: Regional integration Intelligence| West Africa-ECOWAS | Communications | Civil society 

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Fwd: [Africa in Focus Blog!] Countdown to the Maiden Edition of "Africa in Focus" on 6 May: Research & Communications Team Meet

It was with with more-than-bated breath that the Research & Communications Unit/Business Desk of Radio XYZ's "Africa in Focus" show met 2 May, 2014 at Eastgate Hotel to make final preparations for the very-first edition of the show on 6 May.

With sponsors in West Africa Civil Society Institute(WACSI) officially on board to take the programme to even greater heights, the Unit was happy to have interacted with key WACSI staff who paved the way on the future of the partnership. 

There was general reporting of activities, and a lot of exciting information-exchange on developments during the past week, including on the just-ended Pan-African Conference on Inequalities that was held here in Accra.

The Research & Comms Unit meets every week at Eastgate Hotel with the Business Desk to monitor and evaluate previous editions of AIF show; progress on the direction of the research component of the "Africa in Focus" show; the state of communication instruments (facebook; twitter; google plus community); how far weekly activities are contributing to enriching the Unit's monitoring of African integration dynamics of ECOWAS; the AU; and Africa's engagement with members of the Global South. 

Finally, the meetings seek to undertake innovative strategies to further-educate the public on Africa's development.

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Posted By Blogger to Africa in Focus Blog! at 5/03/2014 07:58:00 AM

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_____________________________________________________________________
E.K.Bensah Jr, Head of Research & Host -- "Africa in Focus"(Radio XYZ 93.1FM)
www.ekbensah.net | http://www.twitter.com/ekbensah | www.ekbensahdotnet.org
*TEL:+233.268.687.653 / +233.233.311.789 / +233.243.111.789

*Telegram/Whatsapp:+233.311.789

________________________________________________________________________________

EKBENSAH DotNet: Regional integration Intelligence| West Africa-ECOWAS | Communications | Civil society 

_______________________________________________________________

A Happy World Consumer Right's Day?

*HAPPY WORLD **#CONSUMER** RIGHTS DAY*>>

15 March is a day to remind consumers of their right to complain for more effective and efficient public services. Are YOU aware of YOUR rights? #15March

On Thursday, I had the priviledge of attending a policy roundtable on consumer rights, which was organised by CUTS--a consumer protection NGO working in areas of consumer protection, trade and development, competition policy and law, economic regulation and good governance.

Present were regulatory agencies of Public Utilities Regulatory Commission; Food and Drugs Authority; National Communications Authority, and other civil society organisations. They offered frank views on the role of the regulator in protecting the consumer.

I believe there will be important follow-ups from this meeting, with CUTS playing an important role in sustaining the platform.

Arterial Network launches the African Creative Economy website

from: http://www.africancreativeeconomy.org/about-ace-2012/

Arterial Network launches the African Creative Economy website

Published: 16 October 2012

Arterial Network has launched www.africancreativeeconomy.org, the African Creative Economy website.

There are just 30 days to go before the opening of the 2012 ACE Conference by Youssou N'Dour in Dakar, Senegal. The conference is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, 14 to Friday, 16 November at Hotel Ngor, Diarama in Dakar. The website will provide general information about the 2012 ACE Conference, practical information about Senegal and real time updates of the event proceedings. 

The African Creative Economy Conference is the second to be hosted by Arterial Network, a dynamic network of individuals, organisations, donors, companies and institutions engaged in the African cultural sector. The Pan African Network, currently active in 40 African countries was formed in 2007 to support the effectiveness and growth of the African arts and culture civil society and to enhance the sustainability of creative industries in Africa. 

The 2012 conference will create a platform, unprecedented for the coming together of upcoming, established and pioneering arts practitioners, intellectuals, policy makers and patrons in powerful debate and energetic collaboration. 

Commenting on the launch of the website, communications and marketing manager of Arterial Network, Nancy Onyango, said, "We are extremely excited about the launch of the ACE Conference website which I hope will give artists, cultural entrepreneurs, researchers, arts practitioners, journalists and conference delegates the opportunity to follow us every step of the way by either getting program and logistics updates during the preparation of the event or real time updates of the conference proceedings. We have made the provision of interactivity on the website and relaying live updates via Twitter #ace2012dakar and on Facebook. Finally, launching of the website would not be possible without the incredible support of Nelam Services based in Senegal. We look forward to a successful event.'' 

The first conference on the African Creative Economy (ACE) was held at AACC Conference Centre in Nairobi, Kenya in December 2011. Over 120 delegates from 35 Africa countries and internationally attended the forum in East Africa. The 2011 conference assessed and shared some of the research done on the African creative economy. It also developed advocacy strategies in support of the African creative sector with a view to rigorously interrogate the available research and the relationship between the African creative economy and development, cultural diversity and other contemporary cultural themes. 

One of the key challenges identified at the founding conference of Arterial Network on Goree Island, Senegal in 2007 was the simple need of information on the African creative sector. In response to this need, the network has for the past five years compiled and distributed a regular monthly e-newsletter to its primary constituents – artists, cultural NGOs, creative enterprises and cultural institutions. Arterial Network also established a website www.artsinafrica.com that provides a comprehensive information on the arts, cultural heritage of each African country and published an Art and Culture information directory: an alternative to constituents who cannot access the online directory due to limited internet access owing to digital divide or poverty. 

For more information about Arterial Network, visit www.arterialnetwork.org.

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Emmanuel.K.Bensah Jr.
Communications Officer (Web Journalist)
COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
Third World Network-- Africa |9, Ollenu Street East Legon |P.O.Box AN 19452 Accra-Ghana
Tel:+233-302-511.189 // +233-302-503669| Fax:+233-302-511.188 |Mobile:+233-243-111.789 // +233-268 891.841
Web: www.twnafrica.org  |  Eml: ekbensah@twnafrica.org
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"Students of Social Media", or an article reminding us New Media is here to stay, and a necessary evil!

from: http://www.mndaily.com/2012/10/17/students-social-media

Students of social media

College should prepare us for an increasingly virtual world.

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Still waiting for Superman

Time to refocus

By

• Daily Editorial Board

October 17, 2012

Being a college student means different things to different generations. Many of our parents have shared stories about the trauma of writing term papers on typewriters and using real, tangible paper; whiteout is not the savior it once was in the days before Microsoft Word. For us, life at school without access to a computer would be equally traumatic. In a social world filled with statuses, tweets, blog posts, Yelp-ing, foursquare-ing and being linked in, it's a wonder our minds haven't yet exploded.

However, the skills we acquire as social media aficionados are important and valuable in today's job market. According to an article published online by CNN, job postings seeking social media skills rose 87 percent from last year. It's only fitting that our education keeps up with the skills necessary for us to remain competitive job candidates in the "real world" — even if that world is increasingly virtual.

Social media classes should become a standard requirement in higher education; although navigating Facebook and Twitter is already second nature for most of us, there is a relatively new yet vast market of field-specific applications, networking websites and other useful online tools unknown to many students. Fluency in these tools and websites, now regularly sought out by employers, would be a boon to our networking capabilities and future career opportunities.

The concept of social media has become so much more than a trend — it's now an intrinsic part of our culture and the way we communicate. As such, it deserves an anthropomorphic and qualitative examination in the classroom. Social media is here to stay, and our education needs to prepare us with the necessary skills for an increasingly social world.

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