lundi 30 juillet 2012

Haïti - Social : Lancement de la Cafétéria «Tèt Kale» à la 4ème Avenue Bolosse


Haïti - Social : Lancement de la Cafétéria «Tèt Kale» à la 4ème Avenue Bolosse
29/07/2012 13:24:51

Haïti - Social : Lancement de la Cafétéria «Tèt Kale» à la 4ème 
Avenue Bolosse
Dans le cadre de son rapprochement avec la population et l’amélioration de ses conditions de vie, le Président Michel Martelly, accompagné, entre autres, de Ronsard Saint-Cyr, Ministre des Affaires sociales et du Travail a procédé vendredi 27 Juillet, à Carrefour, au lancement officiel de la Cafétéria « Tèt Kale » [cantine populaire], à la 4ème Avenue Bolosse.

Au cours de cette visite, le Président de la République a distribué des plats chauds et des ballons de football à des centaines d'enfants. Cette cafétéria populaire, qui dessert environ 500 bénéficiaires par jour, est après celles de Péguy-Ville et de Bel-Air, la troisième mise en place, à l’initiative de la Présidence dans la région métropolitaine.

Le cap sera mis bientôt sur Cité Soleil.

HL/ HaïtiLibre

Haïti - Football U20 : Nos jeunes Grenadiers sont qualifiés !


Haïti - Football U20 : Nos jeunes Grenadiers sont qualifiés !
30/07/2012 11:03:44
Haïti - Football U20 : Nos jeunes Grenadiers sont qualifiés !
Dimanche 29 juillet 2012 au stade « Bayamón Soccer Complex Stadium » (Porto-Rico), devant plus de 2,000 spectateurs, la sélection nationale haïtienne U20, Groupe C, qui affrontait l’équipe portoricaine, dans le dernier match de la première phase des éliminatoires de la Coupe du Monde des U-20 de la FIFA 2013, s’est qualifiée sur un match nul (0-0), pour le second tour après ses deux victoires successives [Haïti - Bermudes : 3-0 et Haïti - Barbade : 2-0].

Pour ce dernier match, l’équipe haïtienne a été privée de son Capitaine Samuel Mardochée Pompée, en raison de fautes accumulées, remplacé par Horat Luckner Junior de l’Aigle noir. L’équipe des Grenadiers sur le terrain : Amincy Esso Frandelin - Augusma Wilberne - Charles Alexandre - Horat Luckner Junior - Jean Ismaël Voltaire - Johnley Chéry - Jude Saint-Louis - Marc Donald Mervil - Rinaldi Alphonse - Robenson Louis et Saturné Eltino Cadjy. Notez que Fédé Dumy, n’a pas joué pour cause de blessure.

En première période, nos jeunes Grenadiers ont pris possession du jeu, principalement dans le milieu de terrain, tandis que le pays hôte, semblaient avoir des difficultés à mettre en place des attaques précises. 

Mi-temps Haïti 0 - Port-Rico 0

Au retour des vestiaires, nos jeunes Grenadiers sont revenus sur le terrain avec l’intention évidente de prendre le contrôle du jeu, créant de nombreuses occasion de marquer, mais sans succès. À l’approche de la 90e minutes, dans un jeu rude, la tension et la nervosité était à son comble chez les Portoricains, qui on connu leur meilleure chance de marquer contre Haïti sur un corner, dont le tir a été arrêté de façon spectaculaire par Marc Donald, le gardien de notre sélection nationale. 

Score final 0-0

Ce match nul, permet au Grenadiers (U20) de prendre la première place du groupe C, avec 7 points, ex-aequo avec Porto-Rico, également qualifié pour le second tour.

Rappelons que le Championnat U-20 de la CONCACAF aura lieu au Mexique du 18 février au 2 mars 2013 et fera office de tournoi de qualification pour la Coupe du Monde. Les quatre premiers, seront directement qualifiés pour la Coupe du Monde U-20 de la FIFA 2013 en Turquie.

Calendrier et résultats des matches :

Mercredi 25 juillet 2012 :

Haïti - Bermudes : 3-0
Porto-Rico - Barbade : 3-0 

Vendredi 27 juillet 2012 :
3h00 pm : Haïti - Barbade : 2-0
7h00 pm : Porto-Rico - Bermudes : 2-0

Dimanche 29 juillet 2012 :
3h00 pm : Bermudes – Barbade : 2-0
7h00 pm : Porto-Rico – Haïti : 0-0

Classement :
Haïti : 7 points
Porto-Rico : 7 points
Barbade : 0
Bermudes : 3 points

Lire aussi :
http://www.haitilibre.com/article-6234-haiti-football-u20-victoire-de-la-selection-nationale-3-0.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/article-6246-haiti-football-u20-les-grenadiers-dominent-la-barbade-2-0.html
http://www.haitilibre.com/article-6098-haiti-football-u17-nos-jeunes-grenadiers-selectionnes-pour-le-second-tour.html

BF/ HaïtiLibre

Le peuple a fait du "Président compas" le "Président d'Haiti", il n'est pas étonné que le secteur du loisir et des festivités soit dynamisé. Que les intellos et politiciens haïtiens cessent de prendre leurs opinions pour celles du peuple.

Face aux savants déclarés des forums, je réponds : Je ne suis pas un savant. Je ne fais qu'analyser les situations sans démagogie … poser des questions, pour mieux saisir la réalité:

Quand un homme proche du secteur des armements ou du Pétrol arrive à la Maison Blanche, on observe une augmentation du Budget du Pentagone ou une intensification de la diplomatie américaine au Moyen Orient. L'Amérique vient de vivre cette situation avec George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolkowitch. L'économie de ce secteur est ainsi dynamisée. Et c'est normal que les autres secteurs critiquent les guerres, les programmes d'armement, la politique étrangère des Etats-Unis en faveur de l'Arabie Saoudite, car la nouvelle politique leur prive des fonds du trésor public, le Département d'Etat néglige des certaines régions du monde pour se concentrer plus sur le moyen orient.

Si Madame Manigat était Présidente d'Haiti, on aurait observé une augmentation des activités  dans le secteur de l'Education et de l'enseignement.

Le peuple a fait du "Président compas" le "Président d'Haiti", il n'est pas étonné que le secteur du loisir et des festivités soit dynamisé. 

Les intellos peuvent continuer à critiquer et à croire que seules des dépenses en faveur de leur secteur sont justifiées. Mais, les petits marchands, les charpentiers, ébénistes, les musiciens, les artisans, les responsables d'Hôtel, les chômeurs de taxi et de taptap … tous ceux du secteur loisir et divertissement qui participent directement et indirectement au Carnaval des Fleurs ne seront pas du cet avis.

Que les intellos et les politiciens haïtiens cessent de prendre leurs opinions pour celles du peuple. Il faut cesser cette approche sectariste de la réalité sociopolitique haïtienne.

Cyrus Sibert, Cap-Haitien, Haiti
 
____________________
RESEAU CITADELLE : LE COURAGE DE COMBATTRE LES DEMAGOGUES QUI ONT CAUSE LA PERTE D"HAITI

"La vraie reconstruction d'Haïti passe par des réformes en profondeur des structures de l'État pour restaurer la confiance, encourager les investisseurs et mettre le peuple au travail. Il faut finir avec cette approche d'un État paternaliste qui tout en refusant de créer le cadre approprié pour le développement des entreprises mendie des millions sur la scène internationale en exhibant la misère du peuple." Cyrus Sibert
Reconstruction d'Haïti : A quand les Réformes structurelles?
Haïti : La continuité du système colonial d'exploitation  prend la forme de monopole au 21e Siècle.
WITHOUT REFORM, NO RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN HAITI (U.S. Senate report.)

dimanche 29 juillet 2012

Branchez sur martelly.tv à partir de 6:00 pm pour vivre en direct le carnaval des fleurs 2012. Martelly.tv vous souhaite deja un joyeux carnaval des fleurs. Haïti se la pou'w la


Branchez sur martelly.tv à partir de 6:00 pm pour vivre en direct le carnaval des fleurs 2012. Martelly.tv vous souhaite deja un joyeux carnaval des fleurs. Haïti se la pou'w la
____________________
"La vraie reconstruction d'Haïti passe par des réformes en profondeur des structures de l'État pour restaurer la confiance, encourager les investisseurs et mettre le peuple au travail. Il faut finir avec cette approche d'un État paternaliste qui tout en refusant de créer le cadre approprié pour le développement des entreprises mendie des millions sur la scène internationale en exhibant la misère du peuple." Cyrus Sibert
Reconstruction d'Haïti : A quand les Réformes structurelles?
Haïti : La continuité du système colonial d'exploitation  prend la forme de monopole au 21e Siècle.
WITHOUT REFORM, NO RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN HAITI (U.S. Senate report.)

samedi 28 juillet 2012

Le chef de l'Etat a reçu les reines


Le chef de l'Etat a reçu les reines
Le Nouvelliste | Publié le : vendredi 27 juillet 2012
 Valéry Daudier
Comme le veut la tradition, le chef de l'Etat a reçu vendredi soir, au palais national, les reines qui vont défiler au carnaval des Fleurs, les 29, 30 et 31 juillet au Champ de Mars.
Le président Michel Martelly, des membres du gouvernement et du comité du carnaval, posant avec les reines qui vont défiler au cours des festivités
Le président Michel Martelly, des membres du gouvernement et du comité du carnaval, posant avec les reines qui vont défiler au cours des festivités
Jean MArc Herve Abelard
Dans une salle vibrant au rythme d’un ancien succès de « Sweet Micky au carnaval», le président de la République Michel Martelly, accompagné des membres du gouvernement, de la mairesse de Port-au-Prince,  entre autres, pour la plupart avec des fleurs autour du cou, s’est entretenu, vendredi, avec les membres du comité chargé d’organiser et de réaliser le carnaval des Fleurs à Port-au-Prince.
Tout de suite après, le chef de l’Etat, vêtu d’une chemise rose-œuvre artisanale haïtienne-a reçu les reines, soit 11 au total (deux d’entre elles étaient en retard), qui vont défiler durant les trois jours du carnaval des Fleurs qui s’annoncent chauds au Champ de Mars, lequel hébergeait encore plusieurs milliers de sans-abri il y a quelques semaines.
« Je suis particulièrement impressionné par le choix des reines. Elles sont toutes belles et élégantes », a déclaré le président.
Pour Michel Martelly, qui n’arrêtait pas de fredonner et de danser au cours de la cérémonie, ce carnaval que plus d’un ne voit pas d’un bon œil permettra d’attirer beaucoup de visiteurs en Haïti, et différentes couches de la société (marchands, charpentiers, artisans, artistes, industriels…) en bénéficieront. « Ce n’est pas du gaspillage », a fulminé le président.
 Cet événement, toujours selon le chef de l’Etat, est également une grande occasion de projeter une image souriante vers l’international, outre les images de misère que l’on montre très souvent. D’un air taquin, le président a estimé que c’est pour faire de la politique que certaines personnalités critiquent l’initiative d’organiser ce carnaval ayant pour slogan « Se la pouw la ».
 La nation donc est invitée à chanter son espoir au cours de cette fête populaire dont la finalité, selon les responsables, est d’agiter un vent de gaieté et de fraîcheur aux festivités de l’été. C'est l’occasion également, selon les autorités, de mettre en valeur les potentialités artistiques et culturelles du pays.
Ces festivités coûteront à l’Etat haïtien 65 millions de gourdes.
Valéry Daudier

Le camp de Delmas 2 se vide de ses occupants. --- « Mes cinq enfants et moi sommes très contents de pouvoir quitter le camp après deux ans et demi. La vie que nous y menions n’était pas digne de nous », se réjouit Mme Louis-Charles

Le camp de Delmas 2 se vide de ses occupants
Le Nouvelliste | Publié le : mardi 24 juillet 2012

 Gladimy Ibraïme gibraime@lenouvelliste.com Twitter : @GladimyIbraime


Les quelques tentes restantes au centre d'hébergement à Delmas 2

Les quelques tentes restantes au centre d'hébergement à Delmas 2

Mercidieu Moranvil


14

Le camp de sinistrés de Delmas 2 (la place et le parc la paix ainsi que l'asile communal), l'un des plus grands camps du pays, est en train de se vider de ses occupants. La place et le terrain commencent à changer de visage, puisque baucoup d'abris de fortune sont déjà  démolis.
Des 2 680 familles qui y prenaient refuge depuis janvier 2010,  1 990 ont déjà été relogées, selon Clément Bélizaire, responsable du projet 16/6.
Faisant partie du programme 16/6 du gouvernement haïtien, ce relogement trouve l'appui de Concern Worldwide, des mairies de Port-au-Prince et de Delmas, à en croire Johny Prospère, responsable de communication du comité de gestion du camp et coordonnateur de CP professionnel Concern. Les bénéficiaires ont tous reçu 20 000 gourdes pour  louer un logement, 10 000 gourdes pour ouvrir un petit commerce et 6 000 gourdes pour soutenir la scolarité de leurs enfants, indique-t-il.
 « Comme pour les sites maintenant vides, les bénéficiaires ont eux-mêmes choisi leurs demeures », souligne Prospère. Ce qui est intéressant dans le cas de ces derniers, certains ont décidé de se rendre en province, fait-il remarquer.
« Mes cinq enfants et moi sommes très contents de pouvoir quitter le camp après deux ans et demi. La vie que nous y menions n'était pas digne de nous », se réjouit Mme Louis-Charles, remerciant les initiateurs du projet 16/6 et la Concern Worldwide.
  « A cause des problèmes d'insécurité, on a dû faire un retrait d'environ trois semaines. Ce qui a beaucoup retardé le processus », regrette Johny Prospère. « Conscient de la situation des déplacés, et à la suite de leurs protestations, on a décidé de continuer le processus », ajoute-t-il avant de donner la garantie que le camp sera libéré d'ici à la fin du mois d'août.   Ainsi, les habitants de la rue Saint-Martin, de Delmas 2,  du Bel-Air et des zones avoisinantes auront droit à leur lieu de récréation, de détente ainsi qu'à leur parc sportif.   

Gladimy Ibraïme gibraime@lenouvelliste.com Twitter : @GladimyIbraime


















































____________________
RESEAU CITADELLE : LE COURAGE DE COMBATTRE LES DEMAGOGUES QUI ONT CAUSE LA PERTE D"HAITI
"La vraie reconstruction d'Haïti passe par des réformes en profondeur des structures de l'État pour restaurer la confiance, encourager les investisseurs et mettre le peuple au travail. Il faut finir avec cette approche d'un État paternaliste qui tout en refusant de créer le cadre approprié pour le développement des entreprises mendie des millions sur la scène internationale en exhibant la misère du peuple." Cyrus Sibert
Reconstruction d'Haïti : A quand les Réformes structurelles?
Haïti : La continuité du système colonial d'exploitation  prend la forme de monopole au 21e Siècle.
WITHOUT REFORM, NO RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN HAITI (U.S. Senate report.)

LE PRESIDENT MICHEL MARTELLY, A L'ECOUTE DES ENFANTS!!!


Mezanmi gade koman SALAMI fèt nan izi'n dominiken. Vyiann, poupou, plim bèt, tout bagay melanje. Lavalas detri tout uzine peyi Dayiti ak anbago epi violyans chimè, lague nou nan men Dominiken. Jodi-a Martelly ak Lamothe guen rezon mande kontwole komès sou frontyè a. Gouvènman an entèdi yo konsome kidonk vann SALAMI an Ayiti. --- Fabricante de salami

ETAZINI PAGUEN MOUN NEGATIF POU KRITIKE SA

Obama is picked up by U.S. Olympic wrestler Elena Pirozhkova during a greet with Team USA Olympic athletes competing in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, at the U.S. Olympic Training Facility at the University of East London in London, England, July 27, 2012.

Avec le Président de la FIFA Joseph S Blatter, notre Ministre de la Jeunesse, des Sports et de l'Action Civique, Jean Roosevelt René et le Président du Comité Olympique Haïtien Mr Jean-Edouard BAKER


19 ·  · 

BON A SAVOIR --- 2012 Global Diaspora Forum Confirmation

 2012 Global Diaspora Forum Confirmation


Chere Kathleen,

Ca ete une experience enrichissante pour toute la delegation haitienne. On etait probablement une quizaine de compatriotes...fiers que l' un des notres en ta personne ait fait l' objet d' une mention speciale de la part de la Secretaire d'Etat pour son dynamisme et le developpement de projets vraiment innovateurs. Deux indiennes rencontrees ont ete specialement heureuses de me dire "VOus etes haitien?... c' est l' un des premiers pays a avoir un ministere de la diaspora"...On nous prend comme modeles en dehors du pays...alors que chez nous ce dossier n' est jusqu' a present pas bien compris.
La secretaire d' Etat Clinton dans ses propos a aussi mentionne sa recontre avec le PM haitien en allusion a la necessite de faciliter le retour des cadres de la diaspora. Elle a souligne que le chef de gouvernement est clair la dessus. IL faut dire qu' un projet etait en cours avec le PNUD. On avait commence avant mon depart du MHAVE le recrutement de quelques membres de la diaspora. C' est un programme qui devrait etre urgemment relance. D' autre part, je me rappelle que le GRHAN avait obtenu d' etre recu sous Preval-Bellerive par un conseil de gouvernement elargi avec les directeurs generaux, pourquoi ne pas penser a une activite similaire en coordination avec le Groupe de Travail sur le MHAVE et notre ministere afin de convaincre les principaux decideurs sur l' urgence de restructurer cet organe de l' Etat lui permettant de jouer de facon optimale son role de mobilisateur de la diaspora en integrant ces nouvelles et interessantes approches de l' International Diaspora Engagement Alliance (IDEA) avec le support du departement d'Etat et de l' USAID?
BWK a tous
Edwin
TRANSCRIPTION DES PROPOS DE Mme CLINTON
MR. BALDERSTON: Thank you, everyone. I always take it as a point of personal privilege to be able to say a few words about my boss of 12 years, Secretary Clinton. And I've worked with her for over a decade and I've learned many lessons from her, too plentiful to list here. But one is very relevant here today. It's the way she subtly and sometimes directly asks in any decision-making process whether we've reached out to the people who'll be affected by the problem or the issue. Have we reached out and sought their opinion? Have we sparked their creativity? Have we tapped their networks? I pretty quickly learned that I did not want to enter a meeting without having affirmative answers to all of those questions. It always, always made the product or decision better, and quite frankly it made the process more interesting.
This is the inspiration behind the State Department's Global Diaspora Initiative. This is the Department's way of getting advice and counsel in an effective and in an efficient manner from the diversity that is America. We are honored to have the Secretary today because it's rare to have her in this building. (Laughter.) She's just returned from an around-the-globe trip addressing many of the issues that face the world. And in every single case, she is looking to better the lives of the diasporans that you all care about.
Ladies and gentlemen, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Applause.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you, Kris. Thank you. Well, it truly is a great pleasure for me to have this opportunity to address you and to thank you. I want to start by thanking Kris. He's worked very hard along with his extremely able staff to make this Global Diaspora Forum a reality. And as he said, he and I have been working together for a long time to try to maximize the potential impact of everything we do to improve the lives of people and to enable everyone everywhere to at least have the chance to live up to his or her God-given potential.
I also want to thank our colleagues from USAID. They are co-sponsoring this conference with the State Department. And I am particularly delighted to welcome our friends from Canada, because working together on diaspora issues makes perfect sense, since both of our countries have been blessed by having so many people from all over the world add to our diversity and our efforts. And so for me, having Canadian involvement in this just makes good sense.

Thanks also to the Migration Policy Institute, The HAND Foundation, Western Union, the OneVietnam Network, and Boom Financial for being such supportive partners. And let me say a special hello to everyone joining us remotely from the Twin Cities in Minnesota and also watching from Massachusetts to Missouri and around the world.

Now, why is this room packed and we have such interest on Twitter and through other means of connectivity? Well, it's because we all believe that diaspora communities have enormous potential to help solve problems and create opportunities in their countries of origin, because we believe that, as the title of this conference says, we can move forward by giving back. By tapping into the experiences, the energy, the expertise of diaspora communities, we can reverse the so-called "brain drain" that slows progress in so many countries around the world, and instead offer the benefits of the "brain gain."

Now, in terms of international development and our work to reduce poverty and improve lives, this can be a game-changing effort. But that is not all. It is also a recipe for spurring greater economic growth in the United States as well. And it holds the promise of advancing strategic interests like rebuilding societies after conflicts or disasters and improving relations with key countries.

Now, I saw this myself just two weeks ago when I visited Hanoi with a delegation of American businesses. This is a priority for us, because as I emphasized throughout my trip across Asia, economic growth and political reform are linked and we are supporting both. The business leaders were all buzzing about the opportunities they are discovering in Vietnam's burgeoning market. But a few savvy entrepreneurs were clearly way ahead of the curve. One was Jonathan Hanh Nguyen. He had left Vietnam as a young man, lived in the Philippines, and then studied in the United States, and when relations between America and Vietnam opened up in the 1990s, he was one of the first to see the economic potential. And he built a thriving business bringing well-known American brands into the Vietnamese marketplace, from designer clothing to fast food pizza, creating in the process thousands of jobs and bringing our countries closer together.

Now, that's one way the diaspora has and continues to make a difference, but it's certainly not the only way. One of the founding partners of the International Diaspora Engagement Alliance is the nonprofit OneVietnam Network, which uses the power of social networking to connect thousands of people in Vietnam – thousands of people of Vietnamese origin – in 30 countries, with health and development projects on the ground in Vietnam, like a cleft lip and palette clinic in Hanoi or dental missions in rural villages, that makes it easier for members of the diaspora to contribute directly to projects they care about and to see the impact of their donations.

So whether it's a profitable business venture or an innovative nonprofit, we can see just from the example of one diaspora, namely the Vietnamese diaspora, how you can help bring progress and prosperity to a once closed country.

Now, this story can be and is being replicated in country after country. For instance, we have Katleen Felix here today. She helped launch a new microfinance organization to connect members of the Haitian diaspora with access to capital to businesses and development projects on the ground in Haiti that would not qualify for traditional bank loans. So far, they've raised more than $1 million, created more than 760 jobs, and helped fund everything from clean water filters to halt the spread of cholera, to a new hen house in northeast Haiti that is earning income for 100 women.

We created the International Diaspora Engagement Alliance to support exactly these kinds of efforts. And I am so pleased that in its very first year the Alliance has already expanded into new and exciting endeavors. The Caribbean Idea Marketplace, for example, is a business competition sponsored by the governments of Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the Inter-American Development Bank, Scotiabank, Digicel, and other partners. It is offering up to a million dollars in matching funds to finance innovative entrepreneurial proposals from the Caribbean diaspora to create jobs and economic growth back in the region. The African diaspora marketplace is a similar effort that is already starting, supporting startups like EcoPower Liberia, which distributes an affordable electrical generator that runs on plentiful and cheap agricultural waste, and Promo Tunisia, which is promoting tourism and investment in Tunisia.

And today I'm pleased to announce that we are officially launching a new business competition for Latin America. This is the result of a partnership between the United States Government, Univision, the Inter-American Development Bank, Accion, WellSpace, and Boom Financial. We're going to find the best ideas and help them grow into successful businesses that create value and jobs throughout the hemisphere.

Now, we have other projects getting off the ground as well – a diaspora volunteer corps that will deploy highly skilled professionals on short-to-medium-term development assignments in the countries of origin; a new mentoring and networking web platform specifically for diaspora members trying to get involved and give back; an online portal created in partnership with the nonprofit Global Giving that will serve as a fundraising clearinghouse for diaspora organizations and initiatives.

We're working on all these fronts so we can try to help you harness the amazing energy out there to help people around the world lift themselves out of poverty and create new economic opportunities and bring together more partners to take on big, global challenges.

Now, one of those challenges that is front and center right now is the crisis in Syria, where the Assad regime continues to wage war on the Syrian people. We have a number of Syrian Americans here with us today, and I want to recognize the work of Syrian diaspora organizations to shine a light on what is happening in Syria and to carry the concerns of the Syrian people not only onto the pages of American newspapers, but also into the halls of Congress. They're helping to collect funds and humanitarian assistance for Syrians who are suffering because of this terrible violence, and they're trying to help those who've had to flee their homes and communities – some of them crossing over borders into neighboring countries. They're serving as a link between the international community and opposition activists on the ground.

We are obviously hoping to work to further a transition that will be bringing the people of Syria together to help form a new government, helping to rebuild the country, helping to avoid sectarian conflict. These are all extremely difficult challenges, but I think our efforts are enhanced by having the members of the Syrian diaspora, the Syrian Americans and others, being able to advise us.

The fact is that the United States has always benefited from the influx of talent and dynamism that diasporas of all kinds bring to our shores. And if you pick up The Washington Post today, you see that Baltimore, among other countries, is actually finally recognizing the importance that immigrants can play in revitalizing cities. And so they are reaching out and inviting – opening the doors of that venerable American city to immigrants from everywhere. Because in fact, we are well aware that our diversity is one of our greatest assets in the 21stcentury.

I met yesterday with the Prime Minister from – yes, the Prime Minister from Haiti, and he was very clear that they need more support from the Haitian diaspora. We saw that when the earthquake devastated Haiti, communities from New York to Miami and elsewhere in the world sprang into action. And Haiti has the unfortunate standing of losing more of their college graduates per capita than any country in the world. So reversing that, finding ways for people to help and even to move back, is one of the priorities.

Now, when countries across North Africa and the Middle East threw off autocrats and dictators and cried out for skilled professionals to help them build modern economic systems, modern political systems, Americans of Arab descent have been answering that call. And each year, Americans send billions of dollars in remittances throughout the world. In fact, remittances are the largest form of inflows into many, many countries. And what we're trying to do is figure out how to harness those remittances to do even more than what they are currently doing in supporting individuals and families.

So through the International Diaspora Engagement Alliance, through this forum, we're asking you for your ideas. We're asking you to help us. Give us the benefit of your experience and insight. We see so many places around the world being torn apart by ethnic, religious, racial, sectarian divides of all kinds. When I walk down the street, as I love to do in New York, and I see people living together and working together whose relatives back in the countries from where they came hate each other, kill each other, it just – it makes me so grateful for our country, but it also makes me so heartbroken that other countries don't have that opportunity, don't see beyond moving beyond the past. And I think Americans, like all of you, have such an opportunity to talk with, to support these kinds of changes in minds and hearts. Because democracy is not just an election; democracy is changing the way people relate to one another, work with one another, listen to one another. And there's no place that has more experience, since we are now the longest-lasting democracy, than we do. And there are no people with more credibility than all of you.

And that's why we have focused in on the importance of our own diaspora to our efforts here at the State Department. But we can't do this without your constructive criticism, your ideas, your support. And I hope that out of this forum we will get many, many more ideas. And all the ones that I've mentioned today you will learn about and come up with your own, because we have to send a clear, unmistakable call to action to people everywhere. They really can have a better life; they really can see their children do better than they have done; they really can live in peace, one with the other.

I know we have friends from the American Irish diaspora, and I remember meeting with a group of women in Belfast, Ireland about 15 or so, 16 or so years ago from both communities. Now Northern Ireland, as many of you, has been divided not on racial grounds, not on tribal grounds, not on any grounds other than two different branches of Christianity – Protestants and Catholics. And they have been at each other for a long, long time. And then they made a lot of tough decisions to try to figure out how to live with each other.

But in those early days, they really didn't see each other as fellow human beings. They were different creatures, one to the other. And I remember going to Northern Ireland for the first time and getting together a group of women from the two communities who had never been in the same room with each other. They lived in different neighborhoods; their children went to different schools; they avoided each other every way they possibly could. Each thought the other was illegitimate.

And we started the discussion, and nobody really wanted to say anything. And finally, I just called on a woman. I said, "What are you afraid of?" And she said, "I'm afraid that when my husband goes to work in the morning, he won't come back alive." And then I pointed to another woman and I said, "What are you afraid of?" She said, "I'm afraid when my son goes out at night, he won't come back alive." I said, "It sounds like you're afraid of the same things. So there's got to be a way to reach across the divide of history and begin to talk about what together you can do to ensure that your husbands and your sons, your daughters and your friends, and everyone else has a chance to have a better life."

When I travel around the world that is what I see as our biggest problem. I see people in one sect of the same religion intimidating, harassing, and even approving of the killing of somebody in the same religion but in a different sect. I see people in different tribal backgrounds convinced that they are going to kill or be killed. What a waste of the great gift God has given us to live our lives in peace, to pursue our own dreams. Are we so insecure about our own beliefs that we have to marginalize and even kill those who don't share them? I mean, ultimately we'll all found out who was right, but we're not going to find out on this earth. (Laughter.) And frankly, I think it's a pretty big tent up there, where people will be judged individually more than by sect or religion or faith or ethnicity.

So these are big issues. And as part of our diaspora, you have lived in a place, with all of our problems and challenges, that has given more opportunity to more people over a longer period of time than anywhere in human history to live out your own dreams and your own hopes. And one of the great challenges we face in the world today is to convey that to others.

Now, many of the reasons many of you are here is because you did not want to stay where you were from, or your parents didn't, or your grandparents didn't, which was my case. They left seeking better economic opportunity, a better future. Some come seeking religious freedom, freedom of conscience, a chance to stretch your own ambition. And it is part of America's ongoing mission to try to help more people everywhere to have that same chance.

So I thank you for taking time out of what I know are very busy schedules for every one of you to come and trade ideas about how to alleviate poverty and suffering, how to open up doors and minds, and to be part of this ongoing mission of giving every person in the world the chance that you and I have had because of the blessings in this country that I never, ever want us to take for granted.
So I'm looking forward to seeing the results of your work. Thank you all very much.
________________________________________________________________

Hello Katleen,
I was there also and I saw and heard the Secretary of State mentioned your name.
Good job!
Franz N. Stuppard
Advisor on Haiti
Trees for the Future
  /Pye Bwa pou Demen
Silver Spring, MD  20910


Sorry for the self promotion but this is just too cool to keep for myself
I am at the Global Diaspora Forum in DC.
here is what Hillary Clinton had to say about me and our work with Zafen:
"Now, this story can be and is being replicated in country after country. For instance, we have Katleen Felix here today. She helped launch a new microfinance organization to connect members of the Haitian diaspora with access to capital to businesses and development projects on the ground in Haiti that would not qualify for traditional bank loans. So far, they've raised more than $1 million, created more than 760 jobs, and helped fund everything from clean water filters to halt the spread of cholera, to a new hen house in northeast Haiti that is earning income for 100 women."
You can watch the video
http://diasporaalliance.org/hillary-clintons-remarks-at-the-second-annual-global-diaspora-forum/
Et sur le site de Fonkoze depuis hier:
Je vais faire traduire en Francais et en Creole pour la semaine prochaine.

Pour votre information


-----Original Message-----
From: Diaspora@State <Diaspora@state.gov>
Sent: Mon, Jul 23, 2012 9:53 am
Subject: 2012 Global Diaspora Forum Confirmation


Dear Friends,


On behalf of the U.S. Secretary of State, we are excited to welcome you to the second annual Global Diaspora Forum. The Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development are pleased to host this dynamic event powered by the International diaspora Engagement Alliance (IdEA) and its partners.


Attached you will find background materials and directions to the 22nd and C Street entrance of the U.S. Department of State and to the U.S. Agency for International Development.  * Please remember to bring a government issued ID.* 
Additionally, there are several DIASPORAS@ events that are being hosted around the world as well as a few receptions around town to recognize diaspora leaders and bring together various communities for evening gatherings.   Please RSVP to these events as instructed in the attached document. 
Finally, please help us amplify this important event on your social media platforms.  We hope that you will consider re-tweeting, liking, promoting, or otherwise supporting the event yourself.  Below are some suggested avenues for doing so. 
We look forward to seeing you all next week!

Warm Regards,
Kris Balderston and Maura O'Neill
At approximately 10:30 a.m. on July 25, 2012, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will deliver remarks. The speech will be live-streamed at 10:30 a.m. EDT on www.state.gov.
Social media amplification will also take place on Twitter and Facebook; partners can draw from resources listed below:
1)      Live Tweeting: The Secretary's speech will be "live" tweeted from the State Department's official English-language Twitter feed (@DiasporaatState), the Global Partnership Initiative's Office Feed (@GPIatState) USAID's feed (@USAID) and the IdEA feed (@diasporaIdEA).
2)      Hashtag(s):  #2012GDF, #diaspora, #SecClinton, #diasporaIdEA, #LaIdEA, #CIM, #ADM, #partnerships
3)      Sample Tweets: These can be used in the lead-up to the speech –
-          Join #SecClinton as she ushers in a new era of #diaspora engagement at #2012GDF. Watch remarks live July 25, 10:30: http://www.state.gov/
-          #SecClinton celebrates #diaspora communities w/ new commitments to partnership at #2012GDF. Watch remarks live July 25, 10:30: http://www.state.gov/
-          #SecClinton highlights the importance of #diaspora to dev & diplomacy at the 2nd Global Diaspora Forum #2012GDF
-          #Partnership w/ #diaspora key to modern diplomacy.  #SecClinton discusses new opps for collaboration July 25, 10:30: http://www.state.gov/
4)      Facebook: Highlight Secretary Clinton's remarks on your Facebook pages:
·         On July 25, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton discusses importance of partnership w/ diaspora communities to modern development and diplomacy. Watch a live webcast on http://www.state.gov/  at 10:30 a.m. EDT.
5)      Blog entries: Follow blog entries about the Global Diaspora Forum, including the announcement of new commitments and a review of the progress made in diaspora engagement since last year's Global Diaspora Forum, on http://www.diasporaidea.org/. @gpiatstate, @diasporaatstate, @diasporaIdEA will tweet a link to this entry, and you can share it on your Twitter followers, Facebook page or other social media platforms as you see fit.

The primary POC in Washington for social media initiatives supporting this speech is the Global Partnership Initiatives. Contact Kavanaugh-ulkulm@state.gov with questions/requests.

--
Katleen Felix, M.Sc