Meeting Friday the 8th 2pm
Thursday, April 7, 2005, 08:58 AM
;)
We will be meeting at Don Carmelo's on 35th and Farnam Friday, April 8th at 2pm.
The meeting will have many topics to cover including :
1. Questions for our speakers at the April 29th town hall meeting on US-UN Relations.
2. Providing clear understanding of Officer duties.
3. Discussion of Saturday's Peace Expo
4. Participants in the April 14th teleconference.
Last but certainly not least we will be looking for a Publicity Chairperson. This person will have the responsibilities of :
- Providing information to all upcoming events to the proper sources
- Go personally to classes and speak or schedule a speaker for classes
- Oversee the creation of Flyers
- Be the media liason for AID Omaha (i.e. Radio, Television, Newspapers)
If you know anyone or if you are interested in this position please contact one of the officers or bring them to a meeting.
See you Friday-Craig
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( 3 / 257 )Peace & Justice Expo - Saturday April 9th
Wednesday, March 30, 2005, 12:34 PM
Omaha Americans for Informed Democracy along with 56 other organizations will take part in the 2nd annual Omaha Peace & Justice Expo. The event takes place from 1:00 - 6:00 pm on April 9th at the Lewis & Clark Middle School - 6901 Burt St, in Omaha (map). Admission is free with a suggested $5 donation. All EXPO Information is available on ProgressiveOmaha.Com.
The keynote speaker will be, AMY GOODMAN - the award-winning journalist, host of "Democracy Now!", and author of "The Exception to the Rulers". The keynote address will begin at 1:00 pm entitled "Independent Media in a Time of War" -- SEE and LISTEN to the Online Presentation!!!
Other UNO organizations include: Amnesty International, Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, and the UNO School of Social Work.
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( 3 / 283 )Officer Elections Friday April 1
Monday, March 28, 2005, 01:20 PM
We will have our first officer elections this Friday April 1st from 2:00pm in the State Room of MBSC. If you'd like to run for office, please see the responsibilities outlined in the constitution which is available in several formats.[ 2 comments ] ( 74 views ) | permalink |
( 3 / 277 )Dialogue with Sudanese for Solutions
Saturday, March 26, 2005, 06:02 AM
Thanks to Peter Muon for forwarding to me the following event announcement:
Dr. Dorian Crosby (Black Studies, Political Science, and Women's Studies) has organized a community-oriented dialogue with and for Sudanese people in Omaha. It is entitled Omaha and the Sudanese: A Dialogue towards Solutions and will take place April 2 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Educare Building, 2123 Paul Street in Omaha, Nebraska. More information in the press release, official poster, or by calling 554-2412.
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( 3 / 269 )Meeting Friday March 25th, Videocon March 30th
Wednesday, March 23, 2005, 01:08 PM
We will meet in the Council Room on Friday March 25th @ 1:00pm to discuss potential speakers for our upcoming town hall meeting, and also prepare for our video conference on March 30th.
Our first international videoconference will take place on Wednesday March 30th @ 8:00-10:00am in Allwine Hall room 308. We should have at LEAST 10-15 students for this discussion and I would like to find someone willing to give a 3-5 minute opening presentation on the topic of "International Prosperity & Global Development." Any volunteers or suggestions for a local moderator?
The discussion will focus particularly on the recent UN Millennium Report and ask the questions: "What are rich countries obligations in promoting global development? Are they currently meeting these obligations?"
Suggested Reading in addition to UN Millennium Report:
• Jeffrey Sachs Op-Ed on an "Accountable Approach to Aid" and "If the United States Won't, Germany Must"
• Jeffery Sachs How to End Poverty from Time Magazine
• Center for Global Development brief on Rich & Poor Country Relations
Update:
• Jeffery Sachs on NPR - March 30th!!! Talking about his book "The End of Poverty". Listen to the radio interview! (Thanks Jenn)
• Monterrey Convention of 2002 - UN Financing for Development
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( 3 / 268 )Upcoming Town Hall on U.S. and U.N. Relations
Wednesday, March 23, 2005, 12:44 PM
We are now planning for our 2nd Town Hall meeting to focus on The Future of U.S. and U.N. Relations on Friday April 29th. This current town hall series is part of the nationwide Red, White, and Blue Coming Together initiative which seeks to unite Americans for a common vision of the U.S. role in the world. Whereas our first meeting on Development in Africa revealed the common desire we all share to lend assistance to those in need, this discussion will help us find new common ground on a very opinionated topic. This discussion will examine the recent U.N. Reform Recommendations initiated by General-Secretary Kofi Annan and revealed on March 21st to address development, security, and human rights.
News and Information references:
• Kofi Annan is seeking support in Arab states among other reform news
• PBS News Hour with background coverage on the reform
• The Economist reports the story in America and the United Nations
• UN chart of organizations
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( 3 / 268 )Experience Norway March 20-21
Sunday, March 13, 2005, 04:55 AM
The Omaha Elveby Lodge of the national Sons of Norway organization would like to invite you to experience Norway on both Sunday March 20th and Monday March 21st. On Sunday at 2:30pm Norwegian Folk Music and Danse will be performed by Vestafor. This will include the sounds of fiddles, and the famous Hardanger fidle as heard in the Lord of the Rings and is suitable for all ages. Tickets are $5 students, $7 adults, and $3 under age 16. Contact Jim Solheim at 393-6108 for details - and see the VESTAFOR flyer for sharing the details.
On Monday at 6:30pm, the Elveby lodge will hold their monthly (see Elveby calendar) social meeting and potluck dinner. This is a great opportunity to meet with the diversity and character of people in the Omaha Sons of Norway. UNO Student Brian Wiese will give his presentation on Studying Abroad in Norway from Fall 2004.
Both events take place at the Scandanivian American Society building at 7575 Crown Point Road in Omaha (just North on 72nd from Dodge street, 1 intersection before Sorensen parkway). See also this announcement in pdf(70k) form which is more suitable for distribution.
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( 2.9 / 278 )First Town Hall Success, Looking Forward
Saturday, March 5, 2005, 06:12 PM
We can label our first town hall meeting as a success by the extraordinary discussions our presentors gave as well as our strong turnout of approximately 30 people for a Friday evening! There is still much more to be done though, as many who would have liked to attend could not -- so we are now pushing to get the media attention this event deserves. A transcript of comments will be written up shortly and all are encouraged to spread the word of what we all learned. Read news stories of other town halls that took place nation wide.
Update: Next meeting is Friday March 25th @ 1pm in Council Room, MBSC
We have several key things to look forward to now in our next meeting. In chronological order they are:
• Search out new speakers for the next town hall meeting
• Elect officers - perhaps next Friday the 11th or 18th
• Possible video conference March 30th with Benin, Ivory Coast, and the Netherlands to discuss again the Millennium Development Goals
• Future of U.N.-U.S. Relations with support from local high school students in the Model UN group at UNO scheduled for late April.
• Note for HS students: Global Scholar.
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( 3 / 267 )Tonight: U.S. and Africa Relations on Development
Friday, March 4, 2005, 05:57 AM
Update Photos: are now available online
Announcing:
UNO AID's first townhall meeting to discuss issues of global importance takes place tonight on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus! Please join us for a discussion on The Future of U.S. Relations with Africa: The Millennium Development Goals.
Friday March 4th @ 6:00pm
Dodge Room, Milo Bail Student Center
University of Nebraska at Omaha campus, 6001 Dodge St. Omaha, NE
Refreshments will be provided
See the map and directions for information on how to get here.
Please distribute either our 1 page flyer or one of our 2-per-page flyers geared toward promotional and providing a list of speakers. To prepare for the discussion, please also read the background primer.
Distinguished Panelists:
Dr. David Chand - UNO - International Studies and Political Science
Dr. Ngwarsungu Chiwengo - Creighton - World and African Literature
Dr. Robert Hitchcock - UNL - Human Ecology and Applied/Developmental Anthropology
Dr. Sue Stein - Computers for Africa - Creighton Prep. High School
Dr. Paul Allen Williams - UNO -Associate Editor, International Third World Studies Journal and Review, and Assistant Professor, Religious Studies Program. Dr. Williams will also serve as the moderator for our discussion.
Dr. Manfred Wogugu - UNO - Dept. of Black Studies
The main MDGs are to: 1) Eradicate poverty and extreme hunger, 2) Achieve universal primary education, 3) Promote gender equity and empower women, 4) Reduce child mortality, 5) Improve maternal health, 6) Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, 7) Ensure environmental sustainability, 8) Develop global partnership for development.
Local responses to this issue include:
• Information Technology for Development at the University of Nebraska at Omaha
• International Third World Studies Journal and Review at the University of Nebraska at Omaha
• Computers for Africa non-profit organization in Omaha
Read more of the background information about the Millennium Development goals provided online and see a map of Africa online or in pdf.
Americans for Informed Democracy (AID) is a non-partisan student organization on more than 175 university campuses that promotes global understanding by coordinating town hall meetings on America’s role in the world and by publishing opinion pieces and reports on issues of global importance. Through these efforts, AID seeks to inspire a more collaborative U.S. foreign policy and a new generation of internationalist leaders who can lead America in an increasingly interdependent world.
Updated: Speaker Bios:
Dr. David Chand, Associate Professor, University of Nebraska at Omaha - Dr. Chand is currently teaching at the University of Nebraska at Omaha as an Associate Professor of Political Science. Prior to that, he served as the Executive Director of the South Sudan Institute of Peace and Development (SSIPD) in South Sudan (1999-2001) and was the Ambassador and Director of Peace and Human Rights Department for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Khartoum (1997-99). Dr. Chand is a founding member of South Sudan Independence Movement/Army (SSIM/A), a member of the National Liberation Council (NLC) (1994) and Member of the UDSF Central Committee (1998). He was the Spokesman and Director of External Affairs of SSIM/A (now UDSF) from 1995-98 and served as the Representative of SSIM/A (formerly SPLA-United) to the United Nations and the Americas from 1991-94. As a member of SSIM, Dr. Chand took part in the Inter-Governmental Authority (IGAD) I, II, and II & IV Peace Talks and participated in the South-South Dialogue on peace and Unity of Purpose held in Nairobi, Kenya in December 2000.
Dr. Mandred Wogugu worked for over 20 years as a United Nations Expert teaching and advising on population and development issues in Africa. Between 1989 and 1999 Dr. Wogugu served as the International Labor Organization’s Population and Development Advisor to the Govenments of Uganda and Botswana respectively. Prior to this period, he has taught Demography at the United Nations Regional Institute For Population Studies, at the University of Ghana, Legon. Dr. Wogugu has also participated and led some UN-sponsored technical advisory missions to South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leon, The Gambia and Mozambique.
Dr. Sue Stein is Chair of the English Department at Creighton Preparatory High School and a board member of Computers for Africa, a non-profit organization based in Omaha. CFA’s mission is to reduce social disparities in Africa by helping bridge the digital divide. The overall goal is to mobilize North America’s surplus technology to equip organizations that serve the underprivileged of Africa. The first shipment of CFA computers was sent in 1999. Last summer Dr. Stein took students to Uganda to visit technology centers using CFA equipment; she is returning in May with more students. Currently two other board members of CFA are living in Uganda. An East Africa office opened in 2004. Dr. Stein received her Ph.D. in English from UNL.
Dr. Chiwengo is an Associate Professor of English and director of the World Literature Program at Creighton University. Her research is primarily centered on African and African American literature. She was the Katanga Federal President of the Democrat and Social Christian Party (PDSC) of the Congo and is currently its US representative.
Dr. Hitchcock comes to us drawing on the experience of over 30 years in 12 African countries, working for the World Bank, the US Government, various African governments, and non-government organizations, including ones involved with development and human rights. Dr. Hitchcock can broadly address the Millennium Development Goals from both a multilateral approach (UN, World Bank) and bilateral (US-individual African country) perspectives.
Dr. Paul Allen Williams was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and raised in Texas, and now conducts research in the history of religions in North America and Central Africa (African Traditional Religions, Christianity, and Islam) and also teaches courses on religion in those areas. In addition to his work as Associate Editor of the International Third World Studies Journal and Review, he also serves as Editor of the Journal of Religion and Film. In connection with this panel, he is particularly concerned about “the failure of humanity” during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and its consequences for the subsequent history of Congo (Kinshasa). This latter concern raises profound foreign policy and ethical considerations related to the discussion of human rights.
Brought to you in association with: American Democracy Project, Goodrich Student Organization, UNO College Democrats
Brian Wiese
Campus Coordinator, Americans for Informed Democracy
http://www.unomaha.edu/aid :: aidomaha-at-gmail.com
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( 3 / 269 )UN Millennium Development Background and Flyers
Saturday, February 26, 2005, 09:26 AM
In preparation for the upcoming town hall on the U.S. Role in Africa with respect to the United Nations Millennium Development goals, please see the background primer. The main goals are to: 1) Eradicate poverty and extreme hunger, 2) Achieve universal primary education, 3) Promote gender equity and empower women, 4) Reduce child mortality, 5) Improve maternal health, 6) Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases, 7) Ensure environmental sustainability, 8) Develop global partnership for development.
The following links also provide useful background information:
• UN Millennium Summit in 2000 and Development Goals, with photos
• MDG Background documents from worldvolunteerweb.org
• Millennium Development Statistics
• UN Millennium Project
• President Bush's announcement of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) creating the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and Bread.org on MCA
• USAID in Africa
• Development reports from developing and developed countries
• World Health Organization on MDGs
• Millennium Campaign Voices Against Poverty
• MDGs FAQ from UN Development Program
• Inter Press Service News on Development Deadline
Advertising :: To help promote the upcoming town hall, we have several flyers available: 1 page poster (pdf:doc), a 2-per-page promotional flyer (pdf:doc) and a 2-per-page list of speakers flyer (pdf:doc).
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