Thanks For Visit God Bless you

My Hope Is Jesus Hillsong United

2010-07-30T05:43:00.000-07:00

Lyric

Some hope in chariots
Some hope in wealth
My hope is Jesus and nothing else
Oh such love such love and grace
Lead me to seek my Saviour's face

Some hope in armies and the strength of men
My hope is Jesus who calls me friend
He bears me up if I should fall
My everything my all in all

What love is this that knows no bounds to faithfulness
What help will He not give
The Son of God through whom I live

Some hope in fortune
Some hope in fame
My hope is Jesus salvation's name
For there He hung and bore my sin
That I might live and bear His name

What love is this the Saviour's blood my righteousness
His wound to make me whole
He sacrificed to save my soul
What love is this that knows no pride or selfishness
Poured out upon my need
Lord's work is done and I am free

My hope is Jesus
My hope is Jesus
My hope is Jesus.

Gospel

2010-07-30T05:02:00.001-07:00

Letras de Musicas

Jesus é O Caminho. Heloisa Rosa

2010-07-29T00:17:00.000-07:00

lYRIC
Não se turbe o vosso coração
Crede em Deus e também em mim
Na casa de meu Pai há muitas moradas

Se não fosse assim eu não teria dito
Vou preparar-vos um lugar
Eu virei e vos levarei para mim mesmo
Vos conheceis o caminho
Para aonde eu vou
Eu sou o caminho a verdade e a vida
Ninguém vem ao Pai à não ser por mim
Em verdade eu vos digo
Porque eu vou para o Pai
Mais aquele que crer em mim
Obras maiores fará

Se me amares verdadeiramente
Guardareis os meus mandamentos
Eu rogarei ao Pai
Ele vos dará o Consolador
E Espírito da verdade
Que o mundo não pode receber
Mais ele habita em vos
E estará em vós pra sempre

Aquele que tem os meus mandamentos
E os guardar
Este é o que me ama
E se alguém me amar
Será amado do meu Pai
Eu também o amarei
E me manifestarei a ele
À ele

Quero te amar mais, Senhor
Quero te amar mais, Senhor

Lá, lá, lá, lá
Lá, lá, lá, lá

Quero Colo Leonardo

2010-07-28T23:47:00.000-07:00

lYric
Quem é que garante
Que não vou chorar
Se eu ficar sozinho
Não vou segurar
Lágrimas que rolam
Não Voltam pra trás
Um amor que vai
É uma mágoa a mais
Já perdi um grande amor
E não quero a mesma dor
O meu peito já chorou
Tudo que eu tinha pra chorar
Eu preciso é de um beijo
Quero colo
Quero tanto esse teu cheiro
Quero colo

Sheryl Crow / Summer Day

2010-07-28T23:20:00.000-07:00

Lyric

Every little thing that I felt that day
Never will forget, there was love in the air
I wasn't looking for love to come my way
Ooh baby baby but then I saw you there

That summer day that I recall
You came into my life
And you gave me hope and love
I just want to be what you want me to
That summer day that changed it all
You came into my life
And you let me fall in love
My baby I just want to be with you

I just want to let it shine
I just want to let it shine
I just want to let it shine

Did you ever think you knew everything?
Did you ever think you had it all figured out?
Ooh baby baby
You know things can change
But someone loves you with no doubt

That summer day that I recall
You came into my life
And you gave me hope and love
I just want to be what you want me to
That summer day that changed it all
You came into my life
And you let me fall in love
My baby I just want to be with you

Can you hear me, baby?
When I say I'm for you
I knew we could make it
The moment you came into my life
Don't you know that you keep me shining

That summer day that I recall
You came into my life
And you gave me hope and love
I just want to be what you want me to
That summer day that changed it all
You came into my life
And you let me fall in love
My baby I just want to be with you

And I'm gonna let it shine
Yeah, I'm gonna let it shine
Yes, I'm gonna let it shine

I just want to let it shine
I just want to let it shine

Bloomberg TV Online

2010-07-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

2010-07-28T00:15:00.001-07:00

In considering socialism as a scheme for social reconstruction, a number of difficulties suggest themselves. Prominent among these is (1) the probable numbing effect of the system upon individual initiative and energy. What motive to activity can take the place of the desire for individual and family advancement through the accumulation of private property? Another very grave difficulty lies in (2) the introduction of the requisite unity in the organization and management of industry. In some industries where the work is of a routine nature, the problem of organization may not be impossible of solution. But what shall we say of such industries as agriculture, which has hitherto resisted all efforts at centralization? In the third place, (3) the socialist state would have the herculean task of apportioning work of all conceivable degrees of difficulty and disagreeableness among the workers. How could this be accomplished without engendering a universal discontent that would be fatal to the plan at its very inception ?

Again (4) the danger to personal freedom under the proposed system seems a very real one. Up to a certain point, it is true, government seems to improve as its functions increase in number and importance. But would this hold true indefinitely? We may even grant, for argument's sake, that as our very livelihood would depend on the efficiency of government, all the force and energy that are now expended in private service would be diverted into public channels. But what would happen if, in spite of all precautions, some unscrupulous combination should secure control of government ? Would there remain, inside or outside of the government, standing ground for effective, yet peaceful, opposition ? It is to be feared that there would not. Dissatisfaction would exist, for human nature is such that man cannot be thoroughly satisfied with his surroundings. The danger is that without proper means for its expression, this dissatisfaction would grow and spread beneath the surface of society until, having no other vent, it would at last break out in revolution.

Finally, we may lay it down as a general rule that (5) the domination of a single industrial principle is dangerous to civilization. Many writers have pointed out that it was the domination of a single social principle that led to the downfall of older civilizations; and a distinguished American the Hon. Andrew D. White, in an excellent address entitled "The Message of the Nineteenth Century to the Twentieth " has expressed the fear that the private business principle, with the " mercantilism " that naturally attends it, seriously threatens American civilization. What is needed is a coordination of the two principles, the principle of private and of public business. It is desirable that some should serve the public in an official capacitysome men are specially adapted to that work; but it is equally desirable that an ample field should be left for those who prefer private initiative and activity. Our present system, much as it may need reform, offers opportunity for the coordination of the two principles ; socialism would not do so.

But it is as difficult to predict the ways in which socialism would fail as it is for the socialist to say definitely just how it would work, and this suggests their real weakness: they venture to predict the course of economic evolution too far in advance. Certainly we must have ideals and look to the future, but we are unable to say very far in advance what will be the best means for attaining them. The hope that a juster distribution of wealth will prevail and that income will more and more represent social service, is cherished by many who do not call themselves socialists, and who believe it wise to concentrate their efforts on practicable social reform.

Our Debt to Socialists. Socialists have rendered society a real service by calling attention to pressing social problems ; by forcing us to reflect upon the condition of the less fortunate classes; by quickening our consciences; by helping us to form the habit, not yet generally acquired, of looking at all questions from the standpoint of public welfare and not merely from that of individual gain; and finally, by calling our attention to the industrial functions of government, thus leading us and aiding us to separate rationally the sphere of private industry from that of public business.

Socialism not Anarchism.Socialism has been described as industrial democracy established and controlled by government. It is evident, therefore, that the socialist would give to government the greatest possible power. At the opposite extreme stands a proposed system which is strangely enough often confused by the ignorant with socialism. Anarchism would do away with government entirely, leaving all activity to individuals acting volunta--rily: socialism, as we have seen, would lessen the sphere of individual initiative, leaving the greater part of industrial activity in the hands of government. In the main, therefore, anarchism and socialism are antithetical. Yet there are some anarchists who believe that were government abolished, individuals would freely and of their own accord form cooperative groups which, federated, would manage all production. Anarchy is, in the minds of most thinking people, repulsive and inconceivable. Events of recent years have given a certain morbid interest to the cult which it is not well to encourage.

Communism and Socialism. Communism is a term not much used in recent writings. In the past it was employed to designate an extreme kind of socialism. Communism called for equality of possessions and income, without much regard to the matter of the regulation of production. Some writers have used the word "communism " to designate violent schemes of radical social reform in distinction from more peaceful and conservative plans of reconstruction, which they designate by the name socialism. Yet all the communistic societies in the United States are composed of peace men, who do not believe in war, and even preach non-resistance to aggression. It is as well, perhaps, to abandon the attempt to make a distinction between communism and socialism, by simply dropping the word " communism."

Other Names for Socialism. Collectivism is a name which many socialists of recent years have favored to designate their programme. They have sometimes chosen the name in order to escape the odium which the ignorance of past years has laid upon the older word. Other names used to describe socialists in one or another of their groups are : Fabian Socialists, the name applied to a group of English socialists and their followers who have as their rule of action "Make haste slowly"; Christian Socialists, the name applied to those who base their argument and their hope upon the Christian gospel; Scientific Socialists, the name applied to the followers of Karl Marx, who in his great work, Capital, aimed to show that socialism is destined to come in its time, whether we will or no, through the evolution of great underlying forces in industrial society.

Perhaps the greater part of political socialists in Europe and America socialists who have a political programme and regularly support their socialist candidates for office are Marxists. But the name under which the political movement has made the greatest progress in Europe, and especially in Germany and Belgium, is Social Democracy, the partisans being known as Social Democrats.

WHY IS JESUS SO GREAT?

2010-07-28T00:04:00.000-07:00

Oh man, This is an easy one :) JESUS IS AWESOME. Ok I know your looking for more so here is why I know Christ is so awesome.

1. JESUS Christ is the son of the one living GOD!
2. JESUS Loves YOU and ME Unconditionally!
3. If you accept JESUS as your Savior you WILL Have eternal life with love and Peace forever!
4. JESUS Died for you!!! That's right, he gave his very own LIFE FOR YOU. He gave him self as a sacrifice so that once and for all anyone who calls on him and accepts him as lord will receive TOTAL absolution from all past sins freeing you from your debt!
5. JESUS is our direct link to God. Through him we have total access to the awesome grace of GOD the FATHER of all man kind and the Creator of the Universe!
6. JESUS Was & is the greatest teacher of LOVE and TRUTH that EVER walked the face of the earth!

BOTTOM LINE...

OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD
ACCEPT HIM AND BEGIN THE GREAT ADVENTURE TODAY!

Okay I have a little more to add. I accepted Jesus around 1993. Since then life has been a non stop adventure. First God intervened in my life and gave me freedom from my many vices and my love of drink. My way of viewing the world changed and my joy grew. I learned that when you give up anger and learn to look at people as brothers and sisters even when they are being rude you find true peace. The changes were not only in my behavior but in much more. Soon after accepting Jesus the Lord inspired me to go our and start my own business. With prayer and a lot of hard work it worked our wonderfully! I promise you one thing, If you make this decision for Christ you will never regret it! Accepting Jesus into your heart is not a dull, never get to do anything life style, in fact, it's a wild intense ride. You never know where the lord will lead you, so let today be day One of your GREAT ADVENTURE, JESUS IS CALLING YOU NOW! :)

10 Ways You Can Help Street Children Without Giving Money

2010-07-23T05:03:00.000-07:00

How can travelers help when money is clearly not the answer? Here’s 10 alternative ideas for helping street children.

A traveler walks down the red-light district of Indonesia, Philippines or everywhereelse. Carrying a backpack, a distressed expression and a pack of eager street children at his heels, he is left at a crossroads — to give or not to give?
Some yield to the desperate pleas, guilt ridden for the clean beds they know are waiting for them; others stare into space, hoping that their polite dismissal really is for the best.
This is not an uncommon sight in countries such as the Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil and India, wherein the divide between the “haves” and the “have-nots” is extreme. Though poverty is a global issue, the evidence of such despair is most blatantly displayed in developing nations.
There is no avoiding a child’s eyes looking up at you, an amputee holding out an empty McDonald’s cup or a mother and infant sitting in the blazing heat hoping to look “pathetic” enough to warrant the charity of a few coins.
It is an anxiety-ridden dilemma.
Knowing that these kids have not only been damaged by their homeless state, but also by the constant sexual, physical and emotional abuse, makes saying “no” a tortuous task. However, handing out a few coins results in sense of helplessness as this donation often goes to their “beggar masters,” drugs or to parents who often spend it on alcohol or illegal substances.
Therefore, how can travelers help when money is clearly not the answer? Here’s 10 things you can do:

1. Volunteer

There is no avoiding a child’s eyes looking up at you, an amputee holding out an empty McDonald’s cup.

Even if you’re not part of the Peace Corps or United Planet Quest, does not mean that you can’t reach out.
Aside from volunteer vacation programs such as Global Volunteers, you can do your part, even for just a day, with a legitimate agency. There are several directories of international outreach opportunities online, such as Idealist.org, Eyesong.org and Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree forum on volunteerism.
If you are interested in a more direct method, then head over to the local church, mosque, temple and ask if they need any help or know any local programs or schools where you can take part.
You can also peruse the internet and search for community organizations such as Hands on Manila in the Philippines, Asha.org in India or Streetfriends.org in Cambodia.

2. Give A Moment

The simplest and the most valuable thing you can give to a child is time. Rather than brushing them off to make your way to the next tourist site, spend some time to ask them their names, what they like to do, or their favorite games.
Traveler, writer and co-founder of the Ethical Traveler, Jeff Greenwald stated in an interview with the Globe and Mail that “Generosity doesn’t have to mean giving away things. Sharing a bit of yourself, opening a window into your own world, is a good place to begin.”

3. Eat Together

If you’ve made a connection with a particular child, dining together is a great way to spend time with someone whilst letting them enjoy a warm meal. Try to eat together in one of the local eateries rather than a fast food chain.
Not only will it be healthier but it will also let the child feel more secure knowing that you are interested in his or her country and culture. However, remain cautious when extending the invitiation, as one may end up meaning that you’re taking the entire community out for a treat.

4. Share Your World

Giving things such as pens, candies or clothes may seem like a great alternative, but it often leads to a whole slew of problems.
Not only does it breed materialism, it also promotes unhealthy competition and makes them view begging as a “fun” possibility. Rather than learning anything from travelers, children come to view foreigners as gift dispensers.
Author and vagabonder Jeff Greenwald states in Straight.com that it becomes like “trick-or-treating” for the kids. Louis, a traveler from Ottawa says on the Journeywoman.com board that handing out pens and balloons often causes fights, pollution and “gets children used to systematically ask for things.”
In Jeff Greenwald’s article “A Fistful of Rupees: Coping with Begging on Third World Trails” he recounts an experience with some kids from Delhi and the power of an inflatable globe:

“Cornered by a troupe of 10-year-old beggars in Delhi, I pulled out a small, inflatable world globe. What started as a feeding frenzy quickly became a geography lesson. The kids immediately began matching bits of news they’d heard on the radio – about Russia, Japan and the U.S. – to the appropriate countries, and argued heatedly about why India was pink and Pakistan blue.”

5. Play With Pictures

Another great tool is your digital camera. Kids love to ham it up and in my experience, they will often burst into excited shrieks and start making funny faces, flashing “peace signs” or doing group photo ops. If you can, show them the results, and guaranteed you’ll have a ton of kids squealing with excitement and eager to do another round of wacky poses.

6. Feel the Music

If you’re musically inclined (or in denial of being tone-deaf), try singing a few lines of a global pop song like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” More often than not, you’ll have kid’s belting out the lyrics with an accompanying “moonwalk.”

7. Create a Picture

If you want to leave a part of yourself behind, then how about a postcard of your hometown or a drawing of cities you’ve visited? Not only will you be sharing a part of where you’re from or where you’ve been, but it also provides a great image of the world beyond the slums. You can make it even more personal by writing a few words or do a group drawing session on the postcard.

8. Teach Each Other

Even if you’re not the artistic type, getting the kids involved in a spontaneous ‘arts and crafts’ session is a great way to get their creative juices flowing.
Small projects such as showing them some cool Origami techniques (or paper airplanes) or making simple bracelets with some string will be a mutually inspiring activity. If you’d like to do something more in-depth, you can also check out an charity organizations that specialize in this field.

9. Learn Local Slang

Have the children teach you some of the local lingo. In turn, share some funny phrases in your language. This method beats any phrase book you can buy, as you’ll be learning the key phrases to getting around the city. In turn you’ll gain a few friends and make them feel like they’ve done something special.

10. Donate To Local Orgs

Just because the jingling coins in your pocket are rendered useless on the street, remember that there are still ways to shell out those pennies without the guilt.
You can head over to the local schools or organizations and donate books, coloring materials and other learning paraphernalia.
Do some internet sleuthing and find out how you can help out when you return home. A great read is Emma Jacobs article on helping the locals you leave behind.
Though there aren’t any clear cut answers, recognizing that poverty is a global issue and that children all over the world deserve a future is the first step in the right direction. As Dr. Loretta Scott famously said: “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”

Do you have advice on helping street children? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Source :
http://www.bravenewtraveler.com

Revising Timor-Leste's Immigration and Asylum Law

2010-07-19T01:15:00.001-07:00

During 2003, Timor-Leste enacted Law No. 9/2003 on Immigration and Asylum (also Portuguese). Before it was passed, NGOs and others criticized the proposed law as violating legal and constitutional rights. Although the Court of Appeals ruled that parts of the law were unconstitutional it was enacted anyway The most egregious articles were never enforced. In 2006, discussions began on revising the law.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in conjunction with the Secretary of State for Security, is currently holding a consultation on a draft revision of the Immigration and Asylum Law of Timor-Leste. According to the IOM, "The Immigration and Asylum Law provides the basis for the policies that govern the entry and stay of visitors, students, workers, investors and residents in Timor-Leste. Effective immigration policies and procedures contribute to the social, economic and security objectives of the country. The existing law has been found to be deficient in addressing a number of these areas."

A review process was initiated by the government in 2006, and since 2007 a working group has been developing a draft revision of the law, with recent input from the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). It is being circulated for public comment. La'o Hamutuk is posting this web page, with IOM's permission, to enable more people and organizations to review and comment on the draft. This IOM summary document (also Tetum or Portuguese) highlights the policy issues and significant proposed changes. The draft law and summary document are not final documents and do not reflect current government policy, but are intended to encourage discussion before revised drafts are submitted to the Council of Ministers and eventually to Parliament for enactment.

IOM welcomes written comments and submissions, which they hope will focus on policy issues rather than small details. Responses should be provided to diliconsultations@iom.int or delivered to the IOM office in Palapaso, Dili. Please provide your input as early as possible, but no later than Wednesday, 21 April. If your comments are written into the draft law files, please use the "track changes" facility.

La'o Hamutuk has heard that the Asylum section of the draft (chapter IX) is likely to be significantly revised, so that it is not necessary to comment on the details of this part. We also encourage submitters to mention which parts of the draft law they think are good, not only when they think should be changed.

La'o Hamutuk (The Timor-Leste Institute for Development Monitoring and Analysis)
P.O. Box 340, Dili, Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Telephone: +670-3325013 or +670-734-0965 mobile
email: cscheiner@igc.org website: http://www.laohamutuk.org

African child; myth vs reality

2010-07-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

Ten-year-old Joy Nakiboneka is a P.3 pupil at Kalule Church of Uganda Primary School in Luwero District. She is light skinned, her eyes glow and she looks healthy. She dons a school uniform complete with black shoes and white socks. She is playful and happy; like every child should be. After our brief interview, she makes it clear that she would rather return to the issue at hand: her class mates are presenting the Amagunju dance from Buganda. This was during celebrations marking the Day of the African Child at Kalule Church of Uganda grounds, June 16. The organizers were Happy Kibira Children’s Foundation (HKCF), an NGO that hopes to improve the plight of the rural children’s basic human rights. HKCF Programme Director, Allan Mawubania, explained that they are concerned with orphans, hence the sub theme, ‘A meal at school enhances school retention’. The major theme for this year’s Day of the African Child was: ‘Planning and budgeting for the wellbeing of the child: a collective responsibility for all’. For every Nakiboneka though, I could see three other children with no shoes or proper uniform. These walked around sullen and chances were they left home without breakfast. Besides, their parents cannot afford the small fee required for break time porridge at school. Twelve-year-old William Bwagu is one of these. He sits oblivious to the ongoing celebrations. When I approach him, he is a little startled, for I am disturbing the inconspicuousness that he has grown so accustomed to. I get to learn that his mother is a housewife, while his father sells table clothes in town. This is how they sustain him and his seven siblings. I ask Bwagu what he knows about the day of the African Child and children’s rights. He admits he does not quite comprehend what is taking place, although he has a vague awareness that it is a special day. He, however, has been told that he has a right to food and clothing. Posters around the school scream out these basics. So, how does he feel about the fact that he does not have shoes and a uniform? “My mother has not yet got the money. When she does, I will get shorts and shoes,” he says. It’s clear that for the Bwagus of this world, human rights are more of a myth than a reality. The biting and gnawing hunger in their empty bellies, the stones piercing their little bare feet and the sun scotching their ringworm infested hair is all they know. John Bosco Sseluwoza, the Probation Officer Luwero District, says while the situation is far from ideal, they are better off than their counterparts in other districts. The numerous child rights NGOs, the private sector and public administration all work together to ensure the welfare of the child, he says. There exists active courts of law, police, probation officers and local leaders, he adds. Government has instituted a strategic plan to transform the children’s lives. The district has its own Orphans and Vulnerable Children Coordination Committee to ensure that the plan is relevant to the child and that their rights are respected. Sensitization campaigns have been held, and teachers trained in children’s rights. All that notwithstanding, the dire situation of the children is plain to see. One of the guests at the function, a reverend who flew in from UK asked: “How many of these children do you think will make it to university?” With the retention rates at primary school alone estimated at a paltry 47%, the sad answer is not many. SEPARATE STANDARDS? Citing a separate mode of operation, Sseluwoza says that issues like compulsory health insurance for children at risk and decent clothing (in this case school uniform) for every child should be seen from a different lens for the child in Luwero from that in, say, Kampala and other parts of the world. Sseluwoza mirrors the cultural relativist argument when he says that the caretakers and other stakeholders in different areas cannot be held to the same standards. But like Issa Shivji, in his book The Concept of Human Rights in Africa argues, looking at human rights differently for different societies is what is responsible for many of the atrocities in Africa. He sees this as a lukewarm approach that has been used for decades to justify unbridled human rights violations on the continent and ignore the universal nature of human rights. According to Shivji, it is wrong to deny children like these in Luwero the most basic of necessities like food, clothing, education and health care. Ironically, as the pupils and students craned their necks to see the speakers talking about the importance of children’s rights, amidst them lurked a cane wielding teacher beating their pale legs into order. Their parents, guest and government officials sat comfortably under a shed.
Written by PATIENCE AKUMU
Monday, 05 July 2010 06:56

Good Reason to Learn France

2010-07-09T04:33:00.001-07:00

1. A world language
More than 200 million people speak French on the five continents. The Francophonie,
the international organisation of French-speaking countries, comprises 68 states and governments. French is the second most widely learned foreign language after English, and the ninth most widely spoken language in the world.
French is also the only language, alongside English, that is taught in every country in the world. France operates the biggest international network of cultural institutes, which run French-language courses for more than 750,000 learners.

2. A language for the job market
An ability to speak French and English is an advantage on the international job market. A knowledge of French opens the doors of French companies in France and other French-speaking parts of the world (Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and North and sub-Saharan Africa). As the world’s fifth biggest economy and number-three destination for foreign investment, France is a key economic partner.

3. The language of culture
French is the international language of cooking, fashion, theatre, the visual arts, dance and architecture. A knowledge of French offers access to great works of literature, as well as films and songs, in the original French. French is the language of Victor Hugo, Molière, Léopold Sendar Senghor, Edith Piaf, Jean-Paul Sartre, Alain Delon and Zinedine Zidane.

4. A language for travel
France is the world’s number-one tourist destination and attracts more than 70 million visitors
a year. A little French makes it so much more enjoyable to visit Paris and all the regions of France (from the mild climes of the Cote d’Azur to the snow-capped peaks of the Alps via the rugged coastline of Brittany) and offers insights into French culture, mentality and way of life. French also comes in handy when travelling to Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Monaco, the Seychelles and other places.

5. A language for higher education
Speaking French opens up study opportunities at renowned French universities and business schools, ranked among the top higher education institutions in Europe and the world. Students with a good level of French are eligible for French government scholarships to enrol in postgraduate courses in France in any discipline and qualify for internationally recognised French degrees.

6. The other language of international relations
French is both a working language and an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and international courts. French is the language of the three cities where the EU institutions are headquartered: Strasbourg, Brussels and Luxembourg.

7. A language that opens up the world
After English and German, French is the third most used language on the Internet, ahead of Spanish. An ability to understand French offers an alternative view of the world through communication with French speakers from all the continents and news from the leading French-language international media (TV5, France 24 and Radio France Internationale).

8. A language that is fun to learn
French is an easy language to learn. There are many methods on the market that make learning French enjoyable for children and adults alike. It does not take long to reach a level where
you can communicate in French.

9. A language for learning other languages
French is a good base for learning other languages, especially Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian) as well as English, since fifty per cent of current English vocabulary is derived from French
.
10. The language of love and reason
First and foremost, learning French is the pleasure of learning a beautiful, rich, melodious language, often called the language of love. French is also an analytical language that structures thought and develops critical thinking, which is a valuable skill for discussions and negotiations.

The history of martin luther king, Jr.

2010-07-05T00:58:00.000-07:00

MARTIN LUTHER KING,jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Georgia in 1929. He was a good
student, and went to college to become a preacher. He went on to
become a great speaker and a famous American leader.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the main leaders of the civil
rights movement. “Civil rights” are rights that should belong to all of
the citizens of the country. The civil rights movement in the 1960s
focused mainly on equal rights for African-Americans. Dr. King
worked to make things equal for people regardless of their race, or
color of their skin.
Dr. King was a minister. He made many speeches and he gave
sermons in his church about what was and was not fair. His speeches
helped many people to understand these issues.
Dr. King believed that it was important to fight for what was right
without using violence. The nonviolent protests that Dr. King
organized and in which he participated, including marches and sit-ins
(where people would sit in an area where something bad had
happened, and they wouldn’t do anything, but they wouldn’t leave),
persuaded many Americans that the civil rights movement was right.
Although Dr. King was a powerful leader and had many followers, not
everybody liked him. Some people even hated him or thought he was
dangerous. He was assassinated, or murdered, in Tennessee in
1968. He is buried at the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Martin Luther King is remembered for his famous speeches, for his
strong principles, and for his tireless work for equality and peace. He
is honored in the United States every year in January. A national
holiday, called Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, is celebrated on the third
Monday in January.

ceasefire/cessar-fogo

2010-06-25T22:13:00.000-07:00

Ceasefire

Literally a ceasefire means a time when gunfire stops.

This is Newswords, from the BBC. In this series we look at the meaning of words you might often hear in the news. We’ve asked BBC journalist Clare Arthurs to help us explain each word, and give us some examples of how it might be used.

Today’s word is ‘ceasefire’.
Ceasefire is made up of two words. To cease means to stop. Fire in this context means the firing of guns. So literally a ceasefire means a time when gunfire stops. However, when you hear the word used in the news it may imply something much more complicated and formal.
Listen out for the following words in the report, we’ll look at their meaning later, negotiation, conditions, a ploy.
Newswords from the BBC, Clare Arthurs looks at ‘ceasefire’.
With so much reporting in the news on wars and fighting, it's inevitable that you'll also hear words for when the fighting stops. Here are some you may know. Treaty or truce, negotiation, conflict prevention, warring parties.
When the guns become silent or the firing of guns stops, you'll hear about a ceasefire. It's an imperative, an order to stop or cease fighting. But in the news, we also use it as a noun, a ceasefire agreement or just simply, a ceasefire.

When it's announced, or declared, it will be described as a formal or full ceasefire.
Listen to this example:
Since a temporary ceasefire ended last month, the rebels have increased their attacks against villages and army positions.
A temporary ceasefire, not a full one. If it applies to just a region or a zone, or some of the warring parties but not all, it will be a partial ceasefire or unilateral; meaning, one party.
A truce, or agreement to stop fighting, follows talks or negotiations.
When a party to the agreement or ceasefire breaks that agreement, it's described as a breach.

Listen to this:
Peace monitors in Sri Lanka say a three-year ceasefire between the government and rebels is under pressure, due to a recent wave of killings.
Here's an example where the ceasefire is part of a wider agreement.
Israel has dismissed the ceasefire as a ploy for the militants to regroup and plan more attacks. It is almost certain to reject the long list of conditions attached to the ceasefire.
A ceasefire is sometimes followed by disarmament, when rebels agree to give up their weapons, they are handed-in or decommissioned.

So a ceasefire basically means an agreement between two warring sides to stop fighting, either temporarily or permanently. Other words which mean more or less the same thing are treaty and truce.
Let’s look now at some of the other words we heard in the report. Firstly, negotiation. Negotiation is a process in which two warring sides discuss how they may be able to come to an agreement to stop fighting. This may involve both sides having to agree to do something the other side wants. Negotiations may also involve a neutral third party, such as United Nations representatives.
Conditions is a word which in this context means what one or both sides wants to happen before they will agree to a ceasefire. Often these are thought to be too unreasonable, and the other side will not agree.
We heard in one example that one side saw a ceasefire as a ploy on the part of the other side. A ploy means a trick, in this case, a way to stop the fighting temporarily, only in order to give them some time to plan more attacks and further fighting.

Breach : When a party to the agreement or ceasefire breaks that agreement, it's described as a breach.
Negotiation : Negotiation is a process in which two warring sides discuss how they may be able to come to an agreement to stop fighting.

Source :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/indonesia/bahasa_inggris/2010/06/100625_ebyr_newswords07.shtml

2010-06-24T22:11:00.001-07:00

Xanana Gusmão

Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão (born José Alexandre Gusmão, on 20 June 1946) is a former militant who was the first Presiden of East Timor, serving from May 2002 to May 2007. He later became the fourth and current Prime Minister of East Timor on 8 August 2007

Early life and career

Gusmão was born to mestiço school teacher parents (of mixed Portuguese-Timorese ancestry) in Manatuto in what was then Portuguese Timor, and attended a Jesuit high school just outside of Dili. After leaving high-school for financial reasons at the age of fifteen, he held a variety of unskilled jobs, while continuing his education at night school. In 1965, at the age of 19, he met Emilia Batista, who was later to become his wife. His nickname, "Xanana", was taken from the musical lyric, "Sha-na-na".

In 1966, Gusmão obtained a position with the public service, which allowed him to continue his education. This was interrupted in 1968 when Gusmão was recruited by the Portuguese Army for national service. He served for three years, rising to the rank of corporal. During this time he married Emilia Batista, by whom he had two children, his son Eugenio, and daughter Zenilda. He has since divorced Emilia, and in 2000 he married Australian Kirsty Sword, having sons Alexandre, Kay Olok and Daniel. In 1971, Gusmão completed his national service, his son was born, and he became involved with a nationalist organization headed by José Ramos-Horta. For the next three years he was actively involved in peaceful protests directed at the colonial system.

It was in 1974 that a coup in Portugal resulted in the beginning of decolonization for Portuguese Timor, and shortly afterwards the Governor Mário Lemos Pires announced plans to grant the colony independence. Plans were drawn up to hold general elections with a view to independence in 1978. During most of 1975 a bitter internal struggle occurred between two rival factions in Portuguese Timor. Gusmão became deeply involved with the FRETILIN faction, and as a result he was arrested and imprisoned by the rival faction the Timorese Democratic Union (UDT) in mid-1975. Taking advantage of the internal disorder, and with an eye to absorbing the colony, Indonesia immediately began a campaign of destabilization, and frequent raids into Portuguese Timor were staged from Indonesian West Timor. By late 1975 the Fretilin faction had gained control of Portuguese Timor and Gusmão was released from prison. He was given the position of Press Secretary within the FRETILIN organization. On 28 November 1975, Fretilin declared the independence of Portuguese Timor as "The Democratic Republic of East Timor", and Gusmão was responsible for filming the ceremony. Nine days later, Indonesia invaded East Timor. At the time Gusmão was visiting friends outside of Dili and he witnessed the invasion from the hills. For the next few days he searched for his family.
Indonesian occupation

After the appointment of the "Provisional Government of East Timor" by Indonesia, Gusmão became heavily involved in resistance activities. Gusmão was largely responsible for the level of organization that evolved in the resistance, which ultimately led to its success. The early days featured Gusmão walking from village to village to obtain support and recruits. But after FRETILIN suffered some major setbacks in the early 1980s Gusmão left FRETILIN and supported various centrist coalitions, eventually becoming a leading opponent of FRETILIN. By the mid-1980s, he was a major leader. During the early 1990s, Gusmão became deeply involved in diplomacy and media management, and was instrumental in alerting the world to the massacre in Dili that occurred in Santa Cruz on 12 November 1991. Gusmão was interviewed by many major media channels and obtained worldwide attention.

As a result of his high profile, Gusmão became a prime target of the Indonesian government. A campaign for his capture was finally successful in November 1992. In May 1993, Gusmão was tried, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Indonesian government. He was found guilty under Article 108 of the Indonesian Penal Code (rebellion), Law no. 12 of 1951 (illegal possession of firearms) and Article 106 (attempting to separate part of the territory of Indonesia). He spoke in his own defense and he was appointed with a defense lawyers before the commencement of his trial. The sentence was commuted to 20 years by Indonesian President Suharto in August 1993. Although not released until late 1999, Gusmão successfully led the resistance from within prison. By the time of his release, he was regularly visited by United Nations representatives, and dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela.

Independence of East Timor

Transition to independence

On 30 August 1999, a referendum was held in East Timor and an overwhelming majority voted for independence. The Indonesian military commenced a campaign of terror as a result, with terrible consequences. Although the Indonesian government denied ordering this offensive, they were widely condemned for failing to prevent it. As a result of overwhelming diplomatic pressure from the United Nations, promoted by Portugal since the late 1970s and also by the United States and Australia in the 1990s, a UN-sanctioned, Australian-led international peace-keeping force (INTERFET) entered East Timor, and Gusmão was finally released. Upon his return to Dili, he began a campaign of reconciliation and rebuilding.

Gusmão was appointed to a senior role in the UN administration that governed East Timor until 20 May 2002. During this time he continually campaigned for unity and peace within East Timor, and was generally regarded as the de facto leader of the emerging nation. Elections were held in late 2001 and Gusmão, endorsed by nine parties but not by Fretilin, ran as an independent and was comfortably elected leader. As a result he became the first President of East Timor when it became formally independent on 20 May 2002.

Gusmão has published an autobiography with selected writings entitled To Resist Is to Win. He is the main narrator of the film "A Hero's Journey / Where the Sun Rises",[5] a 2006 documentary about him and East Timor. According to director Grace Phan, it's an "intimate insight into the personal transformation" of the man who helped shape and liberate East Timor.

He is now married to Kirsty Sword, an Australian whom he met in prison in Jakarta. He has three children with her: Alexandre, Kay Olok, and Daniel.
2006 political crisis

On 21 June 2006, Gusmão called for Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri to resign or else he would, as allegations that Alkatiri had ordered a hit squad to threaten and kill his political opponents led to a large backlash. Senior members of the Fretilin party met on 25 June to discuss Alkatiri's future as the Prime Minister, amidst a protest involving thousands of people calling for Alkatiri to resign instead of Gusmão.[7] Despite receiving a vote of confidence from his party, Alkatiri resigned on 26 June 2006 to end the uncertainty. In announcing this he said, "I declare I am ready to resign my position as prime minister of the government...so as to avoid the resignation of His Excellency the President of the Republic [Xanana Gusmão]

2007 political developments

Gusmão declined to run for another term in the April 2007 presidential election. In March 2007 he said that he would lead the new National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) into the parliamentary election planned to be held later in the year, and said that he would be willing to become prime minister if his party won the election.

Gusmão was succeeded as President by Jose Ramos Horta on 20 May 2007.

The CNRT placed second in the June 2007 parliamentary election, behind FRETILIN, taking 24.10% of the vote and 18 seats. He won a seat in parliament as the first name on the CNRT's candidate list. The CNRT allied with other parties to form a coalition that would hold a majority of seats in parliament. After weeks of dispute between this coalition and FRETILIN over who should form the government, Ramos-Horta announced on August 6 that the CNRT-led coalition would form the government and that Gusmão would become Prime Minister on August 8. Gusmão was sworn in at the presidential palace in Dili on August 8.
2008 assassination attempt
Main article: 2008 East Timorese assassination attempts

On 11 February 2008 national television reported that the motorcade of Gusmão had come under gunfire one hour after President José Ramos-Horta was shot in the stomach; according to the Associated Press, the two incidents raised the possibility of a coup attempt.
Awards and prizes

In 1999, Gusmão was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

In 2000, he was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize for being "Courageous and principled leader for the independence of the East Timorese people".

In 2002, he was awarded the North-South Prize by the Council of Europe.

Mr Gusmão is an Eminent Member of the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation.

Source : Wikipedia, The free Encyclopedia.

2010-06-24T06:15:00.000-07:00

Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

High government expenditure, largely funded by revenue from petroleum production, supported moderate
but slower growth in 2009. The economy is forecast to pick up in 2010, again driven by government
spending. Inflation is likely to rise from last year’s low levels. The government plans to borrow, for the
first time, to accelerate investment in infrastructure. Sound investment of borrowed funds and prudent
management of national savings are central to the achievement of sustainable economic growth.

ECONOMIC PERFOMANCE

Momentum from a buildup in government spending over recent years
underpinned economic growth in 2009. GDP, excluding offshore
petroleum production, expanded by 5.0% . That was around
half the 10.5% average expansion in the preceding 2 years because the rate
of increase in government expenditure slowed.
Government spending dominates this economy, with its ratio to
nonpetroleum GDP close to 168% . A large portion of
the buildup in public outlays has been in public sector wages, minor
capital works, and cash transfers to the elderly, internally displaced
persons, ex-combatants, and others. Such expenditure has fed quickly
into the economy and generated multiplier effects that have further lifted
aggregate demand. Poverty, however, remains widespread.
Up-to-date economic data are limited, though the uptrend in various
indicators of demand suggests a significant rise in private consumption in
recent years. For example, there was one cell phone subscriber for every
9.3 adults in mid-2007; by end-2009, there was one for every 1.7 adults.
Over 11,000 new motor vehicles were registered in 2009, more than
double the number in 2008. Private electricity consumption is also on a
rising trend .
While aggregate demand rose on average in 2009 relative to 2008, it
softened during the year, as illustrated by a trending down in imports
. By December 2009, their real value was down by 38.1%
from the prior-year period. The value of merchandise exports, mainly
coffee and excluding petroleum, fell by around a third, as the volume
of coffee exports fell sharply. Exports are less than 3% of the value of
merchandise imports, leaving a huge trade deficit.
The government allocated $681 million of its own funds for budget
spending in 2009, up 23% from its own-funded spending in 2008. But
continuing problems in carrying out budget projects meant that actual
spending, of about $500 million, fell short of the allocation. Including
donor-funded activities, total government expenditure is estimated to
have declined slightly in 2009 from 2008.

The government’s income from offshore petroleum production in
2009 was $1.65 billion. That amount lifted savings held in the nation’s
Petroleum Fund to almost $5.4 billion by year-end, equivalent to about
nine times annual GDP (excluding petroleum production). The annual
sustainable drawdown is estimated at about $500 million, which is
enough to fund 80% of the government’s own contribution to the budget.
Still, the authorities budgeted to draw down more than the sustainable
income in 2009. The estimate of sustainable income was revised up later
in the year as higher energy prices were factored in, to levels close to the
2009 drawdown rate.
Owing to the large inflows of petroleum income, the budget surplus
was about 145% of nonpetroleum GDP in 2009, and the external current
account recorded a very large surplus equivalent to nearly 300% of GDP.
Lower global oil and food prices suppressed inflation to just 0.1% on
average last year, as it decelerated from about 8% in 2008. The consumer
price index fell on a year-on-year basis from May through November.
The direction of inflation has generally followed that of Indonesia,
Timor-Leste’s primary trading partner, in the past 2 years .
Large deposits by international agencies and rising incomes continued
to inject liquidity into the banking system. Broad money supply expanded
by about 30% in 2009. Bank lending, however, was sluggish and the
ratio of nonperforming loans remained high at about 28% of total loans.
(Banks hold adequate provisions against nonperforming loans.)
The climate for development of the private sector remains very difficult.
Timor-Leste is one of the weakest performers in the World Bank’s Doing
Business 2010 report, with a rank of 164 out of 183 countries in 2010 (a slight
improvement from 170 in 2009). Issues concerning land, credit, contracts,
and setting up a business are paramount concerns. In one area, tax reform,
considerable progress has been made. A reduction in taxes on business
boosted the ranking in this indicator from 79 in 2009 to 19 in 2010.

ECONOMIC PROSPECT

The economic outlook remains highly dependent on the budget. In
this context, a budgeted increase of 27.3% in own-funded government
expenditure (all funding excluding donor support) in 2010 over actual
spending last year (Figure 3.34.6) is expected to more than offset a
decline in donor funding, leaving a small overall increase in budgeted
expenditure.
As in earlier years, the own-funded part of the budget is unlikely
to be fully spent. But the higher level of funding, coupled with gradual
improvements in implementation capacity, will likely lead to an increase
in spending in 2010. This is forecast to lift economic growth slightly to
about 7.0% this year. Capital expenditure by the government is expected
to gather momentum in 2011, helping to maintain growth at about 7.0%.
The presence of international police and security forces in
Timor-Leste under the auspices of the United Nations has been extended
until at least early 2011. This will help safeguard security, and spending
by the United Nations forces will support aggregate demand. Next year,
though, their presence is scheduled to decline, with a reduction in the
number of police personnel from 1,608 to 1,280 by midyear.

Higher prices of imported commodities are forecast to contribute to a
step up in inflation to 3.2% in 2010 and to 3.8% in 2011. Inflows of petroleum
income will produce another large current account surplus in 2010.
Savings in the Petroleum Fund are projected to rise steadily to about
$9 billion by 2013 (Figure 3.34.7), providing substantial funding for the
budget in the years ahead. Initial steps were taken last year to increase the
return from the Fund by diversifying a small part of its investments from
US government bonds into other governments’ bonds and into various
other currencies.

DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES

The main challenge is to use revenue generated from petroleum
production to develop the human and physical capital needed to
generate private sector–led growth, which should expand employment
and reduce poverty. At the same time, substantial national saving of
petroleum revenue need to be preserved for future generations. A national
strategic plan being prepared will provide for an integrated approach
to development, and will be central to guiding decisions on the use of
petroleum revenue.
The latest national poverty survey shows that the share of the
population living below the poverty line increased to about 50% in 2007,
from 36% in 2001. Most of the population relies on agriculture, but low
output, high postharvest losses, and limited alternative sources of income
have resulted in rising numbers of poor people in rural areas. High
population growth rates of over 3% annually, rapid urbanization, and a
small formal sector have resulted in slow rates of job creation in urban
areas and have also pushed up poverty rates there.
In an effort to bring forward public investment and accelerate the rate
of development, the government has initiated plans to secure concessional
loans. In September 2009, Parliament approved legislative amendments
that enable the government to borrow, for the first time. (Assets in the
Petroleum Fund cannot be used as security, however.)
Also in September, the government agreed to a credit line from
the Government of Portugal. The 5-year line will, with parliamentary
approval, enable concessional borrowing of up to €100 million a year. The
funds will be used for construction and rehabilitation of health care and
education facilities and for infrastructure. The 2010 budget foreshadows
total borrowing of as much as $3 billion over the medium to long term.
Projections of petroleum revenue suggest that future budgets will
have the capacity to service a prudent level of concessional borrowing. To
ensure that the fiscal and debt positions are sustainable, borrowed funds
must be used efficiently to raise the productive capacity of the economy,
and not for consumption purposes.
Achieving this outcome will require a sound process for selecting
high returning investment projects; an emphasis on investment in human
capital and productive physical capital; and efforts that investments pay
for themselves through user charges, as much as feasible. The formulation
of the national strategic plan provides an opportunity to lock in these
three elements of a successful fiscal and debt strategy.

source : ADB (Asian Development Bank).