By Fr. Rocco Puopolo, You’ve heard of the Department of Defense, the Department of State, Department of the Treasury, and others – what about a Department of Development? There is a buzz in the Beltway. Many NGO’s and policymakers are emphasizing Development within...
Once again Ghana set the bar higher for the future of the democratic process in Africa. Much has been written about the past, present and the future of democracy in Africa and most of the literature and political analysis point to the many ills that hinder African...
Over the past several months, AFJN has been working with the Connect U.S. Fund to develop a concrete set of foreign policy priorities for the next Administration. Through a series of consultations, meetings, and draft letters, the letter has finally been released and...
19 November 2008, by Louis Ncamiso Ndlovu, Bishop of the Diocese of Manzini Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Master reprove your disciples,’ but he answered, ‘I tell you, if these keep silence, the stones will cry out.’(Luke 19: 39-40) 1. The Roman Catholic...
When President Bush said he was attending the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games despite China’s misdeeds in the international arena, he said it is because the Olympics are about sports, not politics. Did anyone buy that? We like to think that the...
In recent years, important strides have been made in awareness and action on the issue of climate change, as the undeniable risks are coming more and more into focus. Yet, while communities around the world are already bearing the burden of a warmer world,...
When we’re told that U.S. attempts at development in the global south do not work, we respond, ‘it’s because true development has never been tried.’ For decades the U.S. has shipped money and supplies overseas only to see the levels of poverty and devastation remain...
What’s happening in Liberia? Is the war over ? Is it safe to travel there? These are the most common questions I’ve been asked regarding the situation in the West African country of Liberia. My three weeks on the ground in post-conflict Liberia...
On August 6th, the first democratically elected president of Mauritania, Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, was overthrown in a military coup lead by the head of his presidential guard, General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz. This happened after 48 lawmakers from the ruling...
This year, Hokkaido Toyako, Japan, is hosting heads of state of some of the world’s most developed nations, the Group of 8, in their 34th annual summit to discuss, debate, and potentially reach consensus on addressing the challenges that face our world today. The G8...
