VOA News: Africa: ICC Wants Kadhafi Son Seif al-Islam Handed Over

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

ICC Wants Kadhafi Son Seif al-Islam Handed Over Apr 6th 2012, 06:20 A human rights lawyer says Libyan authorities are obligated to turn Seif al-Islam, the son of slain Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi over to the International Criminal Court for prosecution. The ICC wants to try Seif al-Islam in The Hague for crimes against humanity for his role in the uprising that toppled his father last year. But Libyan authorities want to try him at home. The request to turn Seif al-Islam over to the ICC followed allegations by an ICC lawyer that he had been attacked in prison, and that he had been denied access to family members. Richard Dicker, director of the international justice program at the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch, said Libyan authorities risk breaching a U.N. Security Council resolution if they fail to turn Seif al-Islam over to the ICC. "The Libyans are obligated by the unanimous Security Council resolution adopted on February 26, 2011 to cooperate with the ICC, including surrendering for trial to the court ICC suspects," he said. Dicker said refusing to surrender Seif al-Islam to the ICC would not be a farsighted thing to do by the Libyan authorities. Libya had previously said it wanted to try Seif al-Islam at home. "The authorities have said publicly as soon as a new detention facility is completed they will transfer him there, and begin a trial against him," Dicker said. Libya can appeal the ICC order, said Dicker. "They have the right to go to the judges and say we want to try him here, and we are willing and able to do so. At the end of the day, that's a decision the judges at the ICC make based on the evidence and information the Libyan authorities have provided." But he said there are concerns that the former leader's son would not receive a fair trial in Tripoli. For one thing, Dicker said, Seif al-Islam has not even been formally charged in Libya. He remains in the custody of the Zintan militia. Furthermore, Dicker said the prisoner has so far "been held incommunicado without access to attorneys." He continued, "It is hardly reasonable to expect a defendant to be able to defend himself vigorously if he hasn't had the benefit of an attorney to represent him and prepare his case." Media files: PNN_Saif-al-Islam-captured_1.jpg (image/jpeg, 0 MB) AP111122121481_TEASE_Libya_Saif-el_Islam_22NOV11.jpg butty-libya-detained-kadhafi-son-denied-rights-06april12.mp3 (audio/mpeg)

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VOA News: USA: Russian Arms Trafficker Viktor Bout Gets 25 Years in US Prison

VOA News: USA USA Voice of America

Russian Arms Trafficker Viktor Bout Gets 25 Years in US Prison Apr 6th 2012, 01:24 A federal judge in New York Thursday sentenced Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout to 25 years in prison for conspiring to sell weapons to a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist group based in Colombia. U.S. District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin could have sentenced Bout to three life terms for his conviction on four counts of conspiracy to kill Americans, to sell anti-aircraft missiles, and to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. She chose instead to depart from sentencing guidelines, imposing 15-year terms on three counts and a required 25-year-minimum for a fourth, all to serve concurrently.  The judge also ordered Bout to forfeit $15 million dollars, an amount equivalent to the value of the arms he had offered to sell U.S. informants posing as rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. The judge said she was imposing the lighter sentences because Bout was arrested in a U.S. sting operation in 2008 and had never before expressed any interest in harming Americans. Before the Drug Enforcement Administration went after Bout, she said, there was no evidence that Bout had broken U.S. laws or those of any other country - although he had violated international laws in his past arms dealing, she said, and was a dangerous man. The judge said it was not clear if Bout was even still in the arms trade for several years before he traveled to Thailand to meet with DEA confidential informants posing as FARC rebels who had offered to pay him millions for arms. Before the sentencing, Bout addressed the judge, repeating his claims of innocence, and turned to wag his finger at the DEA agent in charge of the case, saying, "Let God forgive you and you will answer to him, not to me." Kathi Lynn Austin, an arms control advocate, said that the trial did not address Bout's past dealing arms in conflict regions in Africa -- or his air cargo contracts with the U.S. government during the Iraq war, even after United Nations sanctions against him in 2004. "The most disappointing aspect of the trial is that it doesn't set any precedent for what we need to do to go after criminal arms traffickers in the future.  The prosecution's decision to hide the past of what activities had been committed on U.S. soil, possibly hiding previous U.S. government collusion with Viktor Bout, actually worked against them," Austin said. Bout's attorney, Albert Dayan, said that Bout would appeal his conviction.  An official for Russia's consulate in New York refused to comment after the sentencing, although Russia's government has urged Bout's release. Media files: bout 48.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) bout 23.jpg

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VOA News: USA: Pentagon's Electromagnetic Gun Awaits Use

VOA News: USA USA Voice of America

Pentagon's Electromagnetic Gun Awaits Use Apr 6th 2012, 00:10 <!--AV--> The U.S. military has recently reintroduced an electromagnetic beam to its arsenal of non-lethal weapons designed to break up riots like those recently directed at U.S. troops in Afghanistan.  It has been cleared for use on the battlefront for several years but to this day remains unused.  Our reporter was among a group of journalists invited by the U.S. military to see a demonstration of the device at the Quantico Marine Corps Base near Washington. Marines stage a scene that has become more frequent for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The mock protesters are harmlessly dispersed with a high-tech device. It is called the Active Denial System.  Using an electromagnetic beam that travels hundreds of meters, it heats people's skin enough to trigger their instincts to flee.   In development for over a decade, the device is not new.  But it remains shrouded in mystery. Colonel Tracy Tafolla heads the U.S. Marines' Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate. "Unlike conventional munitions or conventional weapons where you can hold the munition, there's a bang, there's something to see," said Colonel Tafolla. "That's not true here. You can't see it, you can't hear it. You can't smell it." Developers say 11,000 tests show it is safe, with no known lasting effects.  It causes a quick sensation of a hot blast - like opening the door of a hot oven. Officials in Los Angeles considered a smaller device two years ago, as a way to break up jail fights.  Bob Osborne, a commander at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, says it was never used. "I don't know if it was because of public pressure, or something with the Department of Justice, we were never privy as to why the program was stopped," said Osborne. Four years after it was introduced, the military has not used it either. Researchers say fear of the unknown is a big factor.  Stephanie Miller is one of its developers and has tested it on herself many times. "Understanding it very well, I say it's not exotic, but people who don't understand about it feel that it's kind of mysterious. I think we've not embraced it because it's new," said Miller. Recent riots in Afghanistan have brought the device to the forefront again. Joseph Trevithick is a defense analyst. Especially with the recent Quran burning incident we see the need for dispersing crowds outside of U.S. facilities or facilities where U.S. personnel are operating," he said. "These kinds of non-lethal systems provide that capability." By inviting journalists to watch, the military hopes to remove any mystery surrounding the Active Denial System.    "Is there an apprehension of employing this kind of technology?  I would say probably. It's something that's not well understood," said Colonel Tafolla. With millions of dollars spent on developing the technology and budget cuts expected soon, the pressure is on for U.S. forces to use the gun or perhaps end the program. Media files: Marines_Electromagnetic_Gun_-_web_version_4x301.jpg Marines_Electromagnetic_Gun_-_web_version_4x3-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHQFull__236182.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: Middle East: White House Defends Meetings with Muslim Brotherhood

VOA News: Middle East Middle East Voice of America

White House Defends Meetings with Muslim Brotherhood Apr 5th 2012, 23:34 The Obama administration is defending its Thursday meetings with members of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political party. Officials say the United States is engaging with a variety of Egypt's emerging political actors. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney says representatives of the Muslim Brotherhood met with mid-level officials from the U.S. National Security Agency. On Wednesday, he described the agency officials in the meeting as "low-level." Carney told reporters on Thursday that it is important for the administration to meet with many Egyptian political groups, as the country's political situation evolves after last year's overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak. "In the aftermath of Egypt's revolution, we have broadened our engagement to include new and emerging political parties and actors.  Because it is a fact that Egypt's political landscape has changed and the actors have become more diverse, and our engagement reflects that," Carney said. Carney said he did not have information on the substance of the meetings.  He also had no word on whether further meetings would be scheduled, but said he expected the dialogue to continue. The president's spokesman gave assurances that great emphasis was placed on democracy and human rights. "The Muslim Brotherhood will be a major player, and we are engaging because that is the appropriate and right thing to do.  And we will judge all of the political actors in Egypt by their actions, by their commitment to democracy and democratic processes and protection of civil rights," Carney said. The Muslim Brotherhood is one of five Middle Eastern Islamist political parties taking part in meetings with U.S. officials in Washington as well as a conference organized by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Marina Ottaway, a Middle East expert at the Endowment, who helped to organize the conference, says U.S. officials are trying to learn more about the Brotherhood. "Until the overthrow of Mubarak, the United States had an expressed policy of not talking to the Muslim Brotherhood because the Egyptian government was opposed to talking to the Muslim Brotherhood.  So it is only in the last few months, essentially, that the United States has started talking to the Muslim Brothers," she said. Shibley Telhami is the Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland.  He says the Muslim Brotherhood is trying to reassure officials in Washington that it shares their commitment to democracy, civil rights and stability. "There is a recognition across the board in the U.S., and this really is across the Republican-Democrat [U.S. political] divide, and that is that Egypt is very important for the U.S.  It has been an anchor of American foreign policy in the Middle East.  The stability of the Egyptian-Israeli peace agreement is so important," Telhami said. Telhami says that another reason U.S. officials have decided to talk to the Muslim Brotherhood is the rise of Egypt's more conservative Islamist groups. "To everyone's surprise, the threat to the Muslim Brotherhood ended up being less from the liberals and more from the more conservative Salafis, including their presidential candidate, who is doing far better than anyone would have expected a few weeks ago.  And so, in that sense, the Muslim Brotherhood looks a little bit more moderate, I think," Telhami said. Meanwhile, Egypt's presidential election commission has disqualified one Islamist candidate because his mother was an American citizen.  Hazem Abu Ismail, a lawyer and preacher, was disqualified under a law that says candidates, their spouses and parents must hold only Egyptian citizenship.   Ismail used anti-U.S. rhetoric in his campaign speeches, and his departure from the race is expected to benefit the Muslim Brotherhood. Media files: AP120123032035_TEASE_US_Carney_30JAN12.jpg

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VOA News: Africa: Uganda Political Pressure Group Vows to Defy Government Ban

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

Uganda Political Pressure Group Vows to Defy Government Ban Apr 5th 2012, 23:39 A Ugandan lawmaker has condemned as "illegitimate and autocratic" a government ban on political pressure group, the Activists for Change (A4C). Mathias Mpuga, leader of the A4C, said his supporters plan to defy the ban. He said his group, which consists mainly of opposition political parties, civil society and human rights groups, also plans to mount a legal challenge. Attorney General, Peter Nyombi, this week declared the pressure group "an unlawful society." "In exercise of the powers conferred on the Attorney General by section 56(2) (C) of the Penal Code Act, Cap. 120. This order may be cited as the Penal Code (Declaration of unlawful societies) Order, 2012. Any society specified in the schedule to this order is declared to be a society dangerous to peace and order in Uganda," said Nyombi. Constitutional analysts say the government's declaration effectively criminalizes all of A4C's activities, including demonstrations and its walk-to-work campaigns. But group leader Mpuga said the administration erred in its decision. "This is a political reaction…and we have agreed that we are going to take on the regime on two fronts," continued Mpuga. "On the political front by defying the ban, because we believe it has no legal basis in a free and fair society. And then two, we go on to challenge the ban in the constitutional court because we believe we have adequate legal outlets to challenge it and we shall defeat it in the courts of Uganda." A4C-organized demonstrations and protests have often turned violent, as supporters clash with police, especially in the capital, Kampala. Organizers insist their actions are aimed at pressuring the government to address soaring food and fuel prices, which they say puts harsh financial constraints on citizens. But senior administration officials have said the group aims to force a regime change by creating chaos and making the country ungovernable. Mpuga said the administration's accusations are unfounded. "The concerns are not legitimate because very many activists or members of our group have been arrested and land before court, but I can assure you, not a single court has convicted any of our members," said Mpuga. "The implication here is that the basis for the government to claim that our activities are unlawful has no legal basis." Mpuga said the A4C will not relent in its pressure on the government until the country's challenges are resolved. "I can assure you that the regime in Kampala has no resort to anything but to succumb or to accept to negotiate with the opposition or wait to actually crumble like most other despots have crumbled in Africa," said Mpuga. Media files: clottey-uganda-group_s-ban-react-mpuga-06april2012.mp3 (audio/mpeg)

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VOA News: Africa: African Migrants Report Torture on Journey to Israel

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

African Migrants Report Torture on Journey to Israel Apr 5th 2012, 23:26 <!--AV--> For years, African migrants and refugees found decent wages and relative security in Israel. Many continue to make the trek, but as Rebecca Collard in Tel Aviv reports, an increasing number of them are suffering abuse and assaults by smugglers on their journey through the Sinai. When 19-year-old Yudit arrived pregnant in Israel three-months-ago, she told an increasingly common story of abuse, torture and extortion at the hands of Bedouin smugglers on the Egypt-Israel border. Yudit says the smugglers called her father in Eritrea and demanded that he wire them money. When she could not get the thousands of dollars they demanded, she says, she was beaten with sticks and sexually assaulted. Yudit says she was held for four months before being released. She made her way to a shelter run by the African Refugee Development Center in Tel Aviv. Yudit shares a room with her newborn baby and seven other women and children.  A pregnant woman cooks on a hot plate in the next room and children run around the shelter. Sarah Moesch, a psychology student from Germany, works with the women. "We help the women become independent here in Israel because most of the women come from Africa, past the border and experience terrible traumas on the way, and come here with almost nothing," she said. "They are not actually women; they are kids - most of them are 18, 19-years-old." The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees says that since 2007 an estimated 50,000 people have made the journey from Africa, through Egypt and across the Sinai Desert into Israel.  But recently, says William Tall of the U.N. refugee agency, this precarious journey has become even more perilous. "Reports started coming to our attention of serial and systemic sexual abuse of women and what started to emerge at that time was extortion of asylum seekers," he said. "These people are reporting paying between $30,000 and $40,000 to come to Israel.  And the modus operandi is they pay a few thousand dollars, they are taken to Sinai and they'll be held there until such time as their family can gather the resources to have them released, suffering ill treatment and sometimes torture." The group Physicians for Human Rights in Tel Aviv has interviewed hundreds of African migrants and refugees who say they have been victimized. Sister Azezet Kidane, a nun from the Comboni Sisters, volunteers with the clinic.  She describes what she calls torture. "When I say torture, it's the burning with fire, with electricity, the beatings - sometimes they die under the beatings," said Sister Kidane. Sister Azezet says those who make it to Israel are not finding a land of promise. "They paid a lot of money and passed through a lot of hardship and torture, and when they come here they find themselves in the parks and living with 10 or 15 people and do not find a job," she said. "People who want to come to Israel need to know it is not to find heaven." Despite this, more than 1,000 Africans are thought to enter Israel each month.  Israel has given temporary protection to thousands, but allows few to claim refugee status. The government is also building a fence to stem the influx, but human rights workers say that it will not likely stop the exodus. Media files: Tales_of_Torture_from_Sinai_-_web_version_4x301.jpg Tales_of_Torture_from_Sinai_-_web_version_4x3-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHQFull__264120.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: Asia: Burma's Minorities Caution Against Embracing Military Government

VOA News: Asia Asia Voice of America

Burma's Minorities Caution Against Embracing Military Government Apr 5th 2012, 22:56 As the United States prepares to relax sanctions on Burma in the wake of parliamentary by-elections, ethnic minorities say the military-led government continues to commit atrocities in the east of the country. Activists from Kachin and Karen minorities are urging Western countries to be more cautious in their moves to end Burma's isolation. Kachin state in eastern Burma is home to a people still at war with the military government. The fighting has forced 60,000 people into refugee camps. Hton Wun, a 33-year-old mother of two, is among them. "We were really afraid of soldiers coming inside the village," she said. "We couldn't sleep at night, we were afraid of what would happen when we were asleep." <!--AV--> Minorities stress human rights issues Burma's ethnic minorities have long accused the government of repression and brutality. The government stays largely silent on the allegations of human rights abuses, but it is negotiating a ceasefire with the Kachin. The Karen, another minority in the south and east, signed a cease-fire with the government in January after six decades of fighting. Zoya Phan grew up in refugee camps in the midst of the conflict. Her father was general secretary of the Karen National Union; he was assassinated in Thailand in 2008. Her mother was a fighter in the Karen armed wing. She now lives in London under political asylum. "We were attacked with air bombs and airstrikes. Each time the bombs dropped on the ground, the ground would shake and we were just so horrified," said Phan. Phan now works at the Burma Campaign UK, raising awareness of the plight of the country's ethnic minorities. "In Kachin state, the Burmese army has broken three cease-fire agreements in the past years. And the army continues attacking civilians.  Women are being raped and men are also used as forced labor," she said. Intent on spreading reforms The jungles of eastern Burma are a long way from the street celebrations that have swept through Rangoon this week following the parliamentary by-elections. Official results show Aung Sung Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party took 43 of 45 seats. The apparent pace of change under current President Thein Sein has this week prompted the United States to ease financial and travel sanctions against the government. "We are prepared to take steps towards, first, seeking agreement for a fully accredited ambassador in Rangoon in the coming days," said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Activist Zoya Phan said the U.S. and its allies should be more cautious. "It is very important for the West to maintain most of the key sanctions to encourage more positive reforms in Burma. At the moment, if the West lifted all key sanctions, it would be a mistake," she said. Rapid changes are sweeping through parts of Burma; for the first time, citizens could get access to credit cards. Beyond the big cities, Burma's minorities say they are yet to see the benefits of the West's re-engagement with the military rulers. Media files: reuters_burma_saipo_knu_480_05april2012.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) reuters_burma_saipo_knu_230_05april2012.jpg Burma_Minorities_-_web_version_4X3-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHQFull__882004.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: USA: Susan Stockdale's Books on Animals and Their Habitats Have Won Awards

VOA News: USA USA Voice of America

Susan Stockdale's Books on Animals and Their Habitats Have Won Awards Apr 5th 2012, 23:01 <!--AV--> Of all the books we read, perhaps the most important are those we read and color in our early years. They remain in our hearts and minds forever.  Susan Stockdale - an award-winning children's book writer and illustrator - has used her craft to introduce children to animals and the natural world.  Our reporter visited the author in her studio in the Washington DC suburbs. Ava Coggin is being homeschooled. She loves when her mother reads to her  - especially  Bring on the Birds It's an award winning picutre book about animals, written and illustrated by Susan Stockdale. "What I love doing is showcasing animals in all their glory and all their diversity to kids and saying take a look at this, this is pretty incredible," said Susan Stockdale. At her studio near Washington DC, Stockdale says she feels like an environmentalist, encouraging children to focus on the beauty of nature. She spends a lot of time on her books' drawings and  its rhymes. "Just the sound of the words: round fish, clown fish, fish that like to hide.  Stripe fish, spite fish, fish that lip and glide. So that makes it fun," she said. Stockdale says she's influenced by the lush vegetation and animal life in Florida, where she grew up. But it was one of her children who gave her the idea for her first book. "This is my first book, Some Sleep Standing Up And this was inspired by a flamingo, which is in the book, that was standing on one leg when my children and I went to the zoo," she said. Stockdale's work has earned a place on bookshelves at libraries and schools. Kathy Isaacs chaired the American Library Association committee that honored Bring On The Birds last year.   "The text is rhyme but it is natural rhyme. It flows nicely and is rhythmic," said Isaacs. "It's notable because of its pictures, these acrylic paintings that she did which are quite accurate and specific but also shows the birds in their context." Now, Stockdale's books also come as coloring books and puzzles. Ava's mother, Megan Coggin, has read most of them. "Love the books," said Coggin. "I loved that the illustrations are accurate but very kid friendly." Stockdale's next picture book will be called Stripes Of All Types. It's about animals around the world and their unique stripes. "This is going to be the painting for scouting a reef," she said. "When I did the research for this, I had to make sure that all of these fishes would co-habit with one another."   With a careful approach to her work, Susan Stockdale continues to give children an exciting glimpse of the natural world that she clearly loves. Media files: HD_for_WEB_Environmental_Childrens_Books_-_Computer01.jpg HD_for_WEB_Environmental_Childrens_Books_-_Computer-standardQT-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHDFull__096881.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: Africa: Porsche Luxury Cars Parks First Dealership in Nigeria

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

Porsche Luxury Cars Parks First Dealership in Nigeria Apr 5th 2012, 21:02 Ultra-luxury cars gleam through walls of glass at Porsche's new dealership, in Lagos, Nigeria. This is only the second dealership in West Africa for the high-end brand, which sells some models for around $200,000. Michael Wagner, brand manager for the Lagos branch, says Porsche is a good fit for one of the world's fastest growing economies. "Nigeria, as the biggest country in Africa with a population of 150 million and the sixth largest oil producing country, certainly has the earning potential to support - and has an affinity for - luxury brands," said Wagner. Protests rocked Nigeria in January after the government announced it was ending a fuel subsidy that kept gas prices under 40 cents a gallon – one of the only ways poor Nigerians benefit from the nation's vast oil wealth. The demonstrations grew into a movement also focused on the ever-widening gap between Nigeria's rich and poor. But the showroom, which opened in mid-March, has gotten a good reception from the public, Wagner said. "I think if you look at the brands that are driven, Nigeria appreciates top quality brands, considering Nigeria's one of the largest consumers of the most expensive Champagne and really have a taste for these finer goods, we're really catering for the market that is already there," said Wagner. According to the United Nations, despite Nigeria's fast-growing economy, 71 percent of the population still live on less than a dollar a day. The new dealership employs 13 people, though not all of them are Nigerian. Wagner said the Nigerian nationals they have hired are offered an extensive training program and earn salaries that are competitive with what other local companies pay. "Obviously the history of Nigeria and the unions dictate salary, which is a national issue and is not particular to any particular company," he added. Wagner said the dealership's customers come mostly from the private sector. "The type of people and customers we're dealing with are all mainly in private enterprise. They all have their own companies," he said. "So I think that's very much different to … some countries where politicians are assumed to be driving expensive motor cars." January's fuel subsidy protests eventually ended after President Goodluck Jonathan agreed to reinstate the subsidy, though at a lower level. Media files: porsche_teaser.jpg 04-06-2012-DBA-NIGERIA-PORSCHE-SHRYOCK-WAGNER.Mp3 (audio/mpeg)

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VOA News: Africa: Civil Society Group Opposes US Aid Waiver for Egypt

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

Civil Society Group Opposes US Aid Waiver for Egypt Apr 5th 2012, 20:04 The United States is sending more than $1 billion in military and economic aid to Egypt -- despite Cairo's prosecution of civil society groups and its indictment of several American aid workers.  One of the U.S. groups expelled from Egypt says the aid waiver weakens Washington's ability to press for meaningful change in Cairo. <!--AV--> Secretary of State Hillary Clinton approved the aid based on national security interests, but says that in no way affects Washington's resolve to watch closely how Egyptian leaders treat civil society. "We are going to watch their commitment to the rights and dignity of every Egyptian," said Clinton.  "We want to see Egypt move forward in a democratic transition, and what that means is you do not and cannot discriminate against religious minorities, women, political opponents." The aid controversy grew from Egyptian authorities accusing U.S. pro-democracy groups of backing anti-government protests.  Some of those Americans indicted in Cairo sought refuge in the U.S. embassy before finally being allowed to leave the country. Freedom House Middle East director Charles Dunne is accused of using foreign funds to create instability in Egypt. "What troubles me about the decision to waive is that it was taken without having first cut a deal with the Egyptians to end the NGO crisis.  Which means we all are still under indictment," said Dunne. Dunne says continuing to fund Egypt's military makes it harder for Washington to press for protections for civil society. "Once you've told the Egyptians, as they have in effect, that this aid relationship will continue with no consequences, even if you are continuing to prosecute and repress NGOs, it makes it very difficult for the administration to come back and say wait, we've changed our minds," Dunne noted. But many U.S. lawmakers say Washington's decades-long relationship with Egypt is more important than the civil society dispute.  Middle East analyst Steve Heydemann agrees. "If we are talking about opportunities to preserve American influence and the chance to put the U.S./Egyptian relationship on a solid foundation in the long term, I think it's very important at this very delicate stage of Egypt's transition not to take decisions because of very short term, transient kinds of differences of opinion between the two government," Heydemann said. U.S. officials say they are focused on working with Egypt's new leaders to protect the rights of international and local civil society groups in a country where there has been more progress in the last 15 months than there has been in decades. Media files: US_Egypt_Aid_FOR_WEB_SD13Tease.jpg US_Egypt_Aid_FOR_WEB_SD-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHQFull__936580.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: Economy: From Autos to Apparel: Michigan Broadens its Economic Base

VOA News: Economy Economy Voice of America

From Autos to Apparel: Michigan Broadens its Economic Base Apr 5th 2012, 20:02 <!--AV--> TD Industrial Coverings in Sterling Heights, Michigan, uses industrial sewing equipment to make nylon coverings for the robots used in auto assembly plants. But when the three major American auto makers nearly went bankrupt in 2008, President Mark D'Andreta had to lay off more than 75 per cent of his workers. "After that experience I never want to go through that again," said D'Andreta. "So we decided to take what it is we do really well and try to map it outside of the automotive industry which, as a cut and sew shop, led us to apparel."   With help from a business partner, D'Andreta retooled his factory floor and launched Motor City Denim, a clothing line of jeans and other urban apparel that styles itself as "industrial couture." He is among a small but growing number of Michigan business people venturing into the garment trade as a way to diversify beyond the auto sector. Today, D'Andreta divides his factory floor space to create a distinction between his automotive and apparel production lines. "We actually move sewers in and out depending on work load and how much volume we've got," he said. "It's that balancing of the resources that is allowing us to really get a diversification effort [and] to get into the apparel business." Yelena Gaziyan was one of the lucky few who kept her job at TD Industrial during the auto industry downturn. These days she is interviewing applicants for seamstress jobs but says the company is having trouble finding skilled workers. Gaziyan says she has more job security today because the company has work in more than one sector. "It's an opportunity to have more customers," said Gaziyan. "More jobs, more workers, so it's better for us." And better for Michigan, says Eleanor Fuchs, an economic development planner who helped launch the Michigan Garment Industry Council in 2011. The Council helps small garment operations across the state connect with each other to develop their business. Fuchs says auto workers who were laid off in Michigan's auto industry downturn are now being retrained for the state's growing garment sector. But she adds the garment industry needs to be one of many sectors that eventually lead to the diversification of Michigan's economy. "Those that are involved are incredibly committed to the revitalization of Michigan," said Fuchs. "They want to see this succeed. They can see that it's not the answer but that it's part of the answer for the state as a whole." Michigan's native clothing designers agree. Bonnie Foley is founder of Christian LaRue, an upscale fashion label based in the affluent town of Birmingham north of Detroit. She concedes that Michigan's garment industry doesn't employ many workers today but believes apparel manufacturing could one day provide more jobs in the state than many other non-automotive industries. "We have the music industry, Motown. But that doesn't really bring any jobs to anyone. So the only viable industry right now that I see growing all around me is the garment industry,"said Foley. It's unclear how many jobs have been created by Michigan's burgeoning garment sector. The industry includes family owned sheep farms and textile mills in the more industrial northern part of the state, as well as pattern makers, cut and sew operations, and fashion designers based around Detroit. Eleanor Fuchs says apparel manufacturing accounts for less than $5 million of Michigan's economy. But she says the state wants to rebrand itself, eventually, as a manufacturing center for clothing made in the United States, and it plans to get there one stitch at a time. Media files: Michigan_Garment_WEB01.jpg Michigan_Garment_WEB-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHQFull__966771.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: Asia: South Korea Researches Vertical Farming for Food Security

VOA News: Asia Asia Voice of America

South Korea Researches Vertical Farming for Food Security Apr 5th 2012, 20:09 The World Health Organization warns that overpopulation and a lack of arable land contribute to global food insecurity. So scientists are developing new farming technology to offset potential food shortages. Researchers in South Korea are experimenting with vertical farms; gardens that go straight up, instead of spreading out. Agriculture in high-rise buildings is the dream of some scientists and architects around the globe. But it soon could be reality. Just outside of Suwon, a city 30-kilometers south of the capital Seoul, the South Korean government is experimenting with urban agriculture. The Rural Development Administration has built a prototype of a vertical farm. <!--AV--> So far, their experiment is only three-stories high. But they hope that in the near future, the technology will expand and be capable of feeding the entire nation. Their work is inspired by Dickson Despommier, the scientist credited with inventing the idea of vertical farming. Despommier says tower-like hydroponic farms could someday stand alongside skyscrapers as a key food source for billions of city dwellers. He sees them as a key solution for growing populations with limited arable land. "Here's my vision of what a vertical farm might look like. My gold standard for this is the Apple Store in New York City on 5th Avenue," said Despommier. "If you took that building and made it into a five-story building. Now in the building you have multiple floors, of course, and inside each floor you have multiple layers of crops." Back in the Suwon lab, agrarian scientist Choi Kyu-hong is still sorting some basic challenges. "The plant factory requires a lot of energy, the light energy and the heating and cooling energy. So we provide the heating or cooling energy using geothermal systems. We adopted the solar-cell system to provide light source energies, but we are still [only] providing 15 percent of the total energy," said Choi. Choi said there are other challenges to overcome before the farms become a viable alternative food source. Scientists are determining the optimum light wavelength for growing each kind of plant. Team member Lee Hye-Jin said they need more time. "It might take at least five more years of research to make progress on these obstacles. Then vertical farms might be ready for commercial use," she said. The South Korean scientists say that once these problems are resolved, vertical farms won't just have to stop at three-stories. The sky is the limit. Media files: korea_vertical_farms_prototype_480_april2012.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) korea_vertical_farms_prototype_230_april2012.jpg Korea_Vertical_Farms_WEB_16x9-standardQT-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHDFull__864820.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: USA: From Autos to Apparel: Michigan Broadens its Economic Base

VOA News: USA USA Voice of America

From Autos to Apparel: Michigan Broadens its Economic Base Apr 5th 2012, 20:02 <!--AV--> TD Industrial Coverings in Sterling Heights, Michigan, uses industrial sewing equipment to make nylon coverings for the robots used in auto assembly plants. But when the three major American auto makers nearly went bankrupt in 2008, President Mark D'Andreta had to lay off more than 75 per cent of his workers. "After that experience I never want to go through that again," said D'Andreta. "So we decided to take what it is we do really well and try to map it outside of the automotive industry which, as a cut and sew shop, led us to apparel."   With help from a business partner, D'Andreta retooled his factory floor and launched Motor City Denim, a clothing line of jeans and other urban apparel that styles itself as "industrial couture." He is among a small but growing number of Michigan business people venturing into the garment trade as a way to diversify beyond the auto sector. Today, D'Andreta divides his factory floor space to create a distinction between his automotive and apparel production lines. "We actually move sewers in and out depending on work load and how much volume we've got," he said. "It's that balancing of the resources that is allowing us to really get a diversification effort [and] to get into the apparel business." Yelena Gaziyan was one of the lucky few who kept her job at TD Industrial during the auto industry downturn. These days she is interviewing applicants for seamstress jobs but says the company is having trouble finding skilled workers. Gaziyan says she has more job security today because the company has work in more than one sector. "It's an opportunity to have more customers," said Gaziyan. "More jobs, more workers, so it's better for us." And better for Michigan, says Eleanor Fuchs, an economic development planner who helped launch the Michigan Garment Industry Council in 2011. The Council helps small garment operations across the state connect with each other to develop their business. Fuchs says auto workers who were laid off in Michigan's auto industry downturn are now being retrained for the state's growing garment sector. But she adds the garment industry needs to be one of many sectors that eventually lead to the diversification of Michigan's economy. "Those that are involved are incredibly committed to the revitalization of Michigan," said Fuchs. "They want to see this succeed. They can see that it's not the answer but that it's part of the answer for the state as a whole." Michigan's native clothing designers agree. Bonnie Foley is founder of Christian LaRue, an upscale fashion label based in the affluent town of Birmingham north of Detroit. She concedes that Michigan's garment industry doesn't employ many workers today but believes apparel manufacturing could one day provide more jobs in the state than many other non-automotive industries. "We have the music industry, Motown. But that doesn't really bring any jobs to anyone. So the only viable industry right now that I see growing all around me is the garment industry,"said Foley. It's unclear how many jobs have been created by Michigan's burgeoning garment sector. The industry includes family owned sheep farms and textile mills in the more industrial northern part of the state, as well as pattern makers, cut and sew operations, and fashion designers based around Detroit. Eleanor Fuchs says apparel manufacturing accounts for less than $5 million of Michigan's economy. But she says the state wants to rebrand itself, eventually, as a manufacturing center for clothing made in the United States, and it plans to get there one stitch at a time. Media files: Michigan_Garment_WEB01.jpg Michigan_Garment_WEB-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHQFull__966771.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: Africa: French Foreign Minister Pushes Regional Solution to Mali Crisis

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

French Foreign Minister Pushes Regional Solution to Mali Crisis Apr 5th 2012, 19:17 French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe says West African mediation efforts to solve Mali's crisis are making progress, urging a regional solution to the problem.  He separately announced France will push the European Union to relax sanctions against Burma.  Speaking to reporters, Foreign Minister Juppe said it was up to West African countries to resolve the crisis in Mali, where a military coup and a Tuareg rebellion backed by radical Islamists are deeply worrying the international community. But Juppe said he believed West African mediation efforts led by Burkina Faso's president, Blaise Compaore, were achieving results.  The regional Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, has imposed sanctions on Mali and placed its troops on standby as it tries to get the military junta there to restore constitutional rule. Juppe added that former colonial power France could provide logistical support.  But he stressed that it was important that regional governments take the lead in restoring order in Mali. The french foreign minister also addressed the situation in Syria, where thousands have been killed in a yearlong uprising against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.  Juppe said he did not believe the Syrian leader was committed to ending his violent crackdown on dissent. Juppe said he was not optimistic about the prospects of a peace plan by international mediator Kofi Annan. He suggested the Syrian president was fooling the international community by saying he will abide by it.  If it goes into force, Juppe said, the Syrian government must be closely monitored to ensure it follows through. Juppe did offer some upbeat comments about international developments, hailing the recent elections in Senegal, where Macky Sall defeated inclument President Abdoulaye Wade, reinforcing the country's reputation as a stable democracy. He praised developments in Burma, where democracy leader and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi won her first seat in parliament.   Washington has announced it will ease sanctions against Burma and Juppe said France will push the European Union to do the same. Media files: reuters_france_alain_juppe_22Mar12-resizedpx480q100dpi96shp8.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.2 MB) reuters_france_alain_juppe_230_22Mar12.jpg

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