#African Growth and Opportunity Act

[touchaheartnews]

Ecobank MySME Growth Series: Proper Packaging and Basic Certification are Critical for SME Exports, Says Expert

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria have great potentials and opportunities to earn foreign exchange (forex) if their products are well branded and packaged to meet international standards. Managing Director/Chief Executive, Export and Sell Limited, Nduka Udeh made this submission in his presentation titled: Earning FX By Exporting to USA and Canada, delivered at the Ecobank MySME…

[sayruq]

A bill has been submitted to the United States congress calling for a full review of the country’s bilateral relationship with South Africa following the International Court of Justice ruling that found it plausible that Israel has committed acts of genocide against Gaza. The bipartisan bill which was introduced by US Republican congressman John James and Democratic Party congressman Jared Moskowitz this week could threaten South Africa’s prospects to benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The bill will still need to be discussed and passed by congress. It states that not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, US President Joe Biden in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, shall certify to the appropriate congressional committees and release publicly an unclassified determination explicitly stating whether South Africa has engaged in activities that undermine United States national security or foreign policy interests.

[collapsedsquid]

97% of firms in India, 96% of firms in Indonesia, and 91% of firms in Mexico have fewer than 10 employees. Of these, most are just a single owner-operator, or perhaps a household enterprise. 55% of employment in developing countries is self-employment, rising to a staggering 77% in sub-Saharan Africa. These individuals operate firms, producing goods or providing services. Indeed they operate most firms. If we want to enable firms to grow, how should we think about these self-employed people? One possibility is that self-employed people are “micro-entrepreneurs.” They would like to grow their enterprises, but don’t have the resources to do so. This is the premise of microfinance, the most popular development intervention of the 2000s. Microfinance is the practice of giving households small loans that they can use to set up or grow a home business. If self-employed people are really microentrepreneurs, then the key to firm growth is giving them more access to capital. However, many different lines of evidence suggest that this view of self-employed people is inaccurate, and that it is more accurate to think of them as workers looking for wage employment than as entrepreneurs.  In developing countries, self-employed people transition to wage employment at similar rates as unemployed people — and earn similar wages when they do. This isn’t what we would expect to see if self-employed people intended to grow their businesses as “microentrepreneurs.” In that case, they would be reluctant to quit their enterprise and take a wage job. This is exactly the behavior we see in rich countries, where self-employed people transition to wage employment much less frequently than unemployed people, and do it for higher wages.  Microfinance studies also reveal that microloans have very little average impact on household or business outcomes. Most businesses run by an individual or a household are just not designed to scale. All of these facts point to self-employed people behaving more like unemployed workers than like entrepreneurs — which is to say, looking for jobs rather than aiming to create them. If self-employed people act more like unemployed workers than business owners, that implies that we should not design policy to bolster the growth of microenterprises. These microenterprises are desperate measures in the absence of wage employment, and will melt away if and when formal-sector firm growth creates more jobs. Formal-sector firm growth is key to making developing countries grow. Another urgent implication of this fact is that there is an unemployment crisis in developing countries that isn’t captured by official statistics. The typical approach to measuring unemployment is to ask whether people want to work but are unable to find any opportunities to do so — including self-employment. By this measure, the official unemployment rate in developing countries is 5% and 6% — around the same as in developed countries. However, if self-employed people are unemployed “in disguise,” this number could be much higher. One study estimated that at least 24% of self-employment during India’s agricultural lean season occurs solely because workers cannot find jobs. If we (loosely!) extrapolate this to a sub-Saharan African country with 77% of workers being self-employed, then the true unemployment rate jumps from 6% to 25%! Even if only 50% of workers are self-employed, then the true unemployment rate is still 18%. That level of unemployment is a catastrophic failure, and a crisis that cuts against both poverty alleviation for individuals and aggregate growth. 

[pinazee]

The Old and the Restless

The first episode to include another Spencer! Now, granted we don’t get much here other than henry doesn’t seem to get along with his dad and maybe doesn’t like the idea of his son being around him. Plus, I don’t think he’s ever mentioned again. I was hoping the introduction to grandpa spencer would give us some kind of reason for why henry is so controlling. We could possibly infer, strictly based on his personality, that grandpa spencer wasnt the most responsible and that henry, as elder brother, took on the brunt of taking care of the family. I mean, you could possibly even go as far as to say grandpa spencer had some run in’s with the law and thats how henry got interested in it- out of spite of his own father and thus leading to the idea that spencer sons resenting their fathers is like a family curse (i think thats actually a thing? I have a vague memory of someone saying it at least). But again, this is all speculation because we never see him again. Grandpas also act differently with their grandkids than their own kids too so who’s to say what it was like for henry growing up. Either way, this flashback really emphasizes how strict henry was, and the more flashbacks i see, the more saddened i get by how downtrodden little shawn is every time he shows up. Liam visibly shrinks when he sits next to him, its heartbreaking. But im glad his grandpa stuck up for him (which is probably why he never saw him again).

The way they pop up here makes me snicker

I love the fast one they played on henry! Shawn knew there was no way he would help unless he thought he could use it as an opportunity to show him up (because his dads a grade A asshole).

I also have no respect for men who call other men girls as an insult, especially when one of those men is his own fucking son. So you gotta imagine shawns heard that kind of bullshit his whole life, so i kind of give him a pass when he makes fun of gus for not being manly enough, though thankfully that seems to dissipate in later seasons so we can call it character growth (though i think it was just the writers, or maybe james, who decided it wasn’t very funny and just hurt the character). Henry has a lot of ground to cover before he can get redeemed in my book. He’s just the worst. im having a much harder time with henry during this rewatch.

Gus is being absolutely adorable here. This episode really made it seem like Gus was henrys kid too, not only because he’s completely comfortable sleeping on his shoulder (I’ve never felt that close to my friends parents at least) but also because he’s giving shit to henry as much as shawn is and i love it! It makes sense too considering how often gus was at his house, henry practically raised him as well.

This is a semi good shawn vs. henry episode. I wish they would have highlighted better how shawn and henry gather their information in different ways but it was more like Henry got some pieces and shawn got pieces but neither had the complete picture so they ended up just working together instead of against. I think i’d have preferred if henry was seeing all the same stuff but shawn actually came to the right conclusion, or that shawn showed kindness to the right person and got the key piece of info that way because ultimately its how he connects with people that separates him from henry (simply because henry is pretty good at seeing the same stuff shawn does a lot of the times is all).

“Just this time im going to teach you a lesson” just this time??? Thats literally all you do henry! Thats like your whole thing!

The way Henry says this makes it seem like he was struggling to call Gus his life partner haha

Shawn and gus both knew of african gambian pouch rats, so i can only assume they watched a nature documentary together haha Sidenote: i randomly looked up african gambian pouch rat to see what they looked like and they’re being used to sniff out tuberculosis apparently?!? Crazy stuff man.

Lassie just wanted to straight up incarcerate a child. Thank god karen became chief over him- could you imagine??? Shawn would definitely have been locked up in the pilot. Gus wouldve been killed next to mira or something, juliet would still be in miami. Buzz wouldve been fired or killed by that serial killer. So many crimes would’ve been unsolved and so many people would’ve been locked up and innocent. So again, thank god for chief vick.

The indian blood bit gets a pass simply because of the line “they were here first” and gus’ response “im not hating on indians im hating on you” I dont think its terribly offensive but it is a dumb stereotypical joke. It just kind of makes me sigh and shake my head.

Why is gus always trying to get shawn to taste blood?? Does that show up later? Is this a consistent thing? Its just kind of weird considering gus is really squeamish around it? I think its Gus’ way of trying to prank him but he’s like really bad at it haha Also i didn’t like gus’ face there. It made it seem vaguely… nevermind. Its just weird lol

I dont like the B story with juliet and lassie. I think i did at one point because juliet put the fear of god in him and inadvertently that same fear in the others which was fun, but this kids a fucking creep so i don’t think theres any combination of words that would cause this character to suddenly become respectful and it might be the most unrealistic thing to happen on psych, which is truly saying something. Its just one of those scenes you can’t overanalyze so I won’t! Its fun! (But like, thats what im doing here so jk). I did enjoy the “scared straight” subversion moment. Prisons great kids. Its like summer camp. Also his friends name is “white slavery” and idk what to do with that information except point at it with my mouth open in amusement.

I just like how lassie does his “strike two” and im doing that from now on.

Overall its not one of my fave episodes but heres some gifs of some of my fave moments

[zvaigzdelasas]

[The East African is Kenyan Private Media]

The United States has officially struck off Uganda and three other African countries as beneficiaries of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), effectively ending Kampala’s ability to export certain commodities to the US duty-free.

In a decree dated December 29, President Joe Biden said he had “determined” that the four countries “do not meet the requirements” necessary to allow them to continue benefiting from the trade deal, effecting his earlier stated plans to delist them.

“Accordingly, I have decided to terminate the designations of the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries for purposes of section 506A of the Trade Act, effective January 1, 2024,” read the statement by the US President.

In an October 2023 letter to the speaker of the US Congress expressing his intention to remove the four countries from the list of Agoa beneficiaries, Mr Biden said Uganda has “engaged in gross violations of internationally recognised human rights.”

This came after President Yoweri Museveni assented to the anti-gay law passed by the Ugandan lawmakers, which introduced serious repercussions, including life imprisonment or death, for same-sex relations in the country.

Uganda’s expulsion from the deal could destroy thousands of jobs, cause a foreign-exchange earnings drought, and low utilisation of raw materials locally, experts have warned.[...]

Over 80 percent of Uganda’s exports under Agoa were from the agricultural sector, which employs about 72 percent of the country’s workforce, indicating that the expulsion could have a significant hit on jobs.[...]

In the region, Uganda now joins South Sudan, Somalia, and Burundi on the list of countries unable to benefit from the preferential trade agreement with the US. Juba was suspended in 2015 due to the rise of ethnic conflicts.

Other countries in sub-Saharan Africa that have been removed from the list are Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Gabon, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Central African Republic, [Niger,] Zimbabwe and Sudan.

2 Jan 24

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

OPEDS

Is it time to go?

By Howard Sackstein

Today, the South African Jewish community numbers but one third of what it did at its peak. Though our numbers have shrunk, the vibrancy of our community has remained intact.

In the 1970s and 1980s they used to joke, “When the Jews go; it’s time to leave, when the Portuguese go; it’s too late.”

The clock ticked, and stopped on 7 October 2023.

The behaviour of the South African government was nothing short of betrayal. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s failure to condemn the 7 October massacre; his failure to reach out to the families of the two South Africans massacred in the Hamas genocide; his failure to act on the two South Africans kidnapped by Hamas; and his smirk blame of Israel for deserving the attack two weeks after the massacre, while wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, will forever be a symbol of his Judas moment.

In American politics, they talk of a “tortoise on a lamppost”. Sometimes, the tortoise mistakenly believes that it got onto the lamppost by itself.

Ramaphosa’s spineless leadership has allowed his jihadist foreign minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, and her mujahidin director general, Zane Dangor, to direct foreign policy without intervention. Pandor mislead Parliament by claiming that there were no beheadings of babies and that Israel had attacked the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital. With no South African diplomats in Israel and Al Jazeera as her only source of information, Pandor meanders in the dark. Her ignorance, however, is self-inflicted. Her department was invited to view the 47-minute video of Hamas-captured atrocities, and declined to attend.

Hamas informs us that Pandor telephoned it to congratulate it on the success of its “Al-Aqsa Flood” attack on Israel. Pandor claimed that she was merely offering humanitarian assistance, but refused to release the “call-out” transcript of the conversation. As a convert to Islam, Pandor uses her own zealotry to pursue a pro-Hamas agenda to the detriment of South Africa.

In December, Hamas visited South Africa, was feted in our Parliament, and celebrated in the African National Congress’ (ANC’s) offices in Johannesburg. When Ramaphosa finally met the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, he sprinted to issue a statement and later, while meeting the Muslim community, stated that they had issued a statement as “we’re concerned there are distortions”. Given that the president’s statement was issued first, this both makes no logical sense and effectively paints the official representative body of Jews in South Africa as liars.

It’s a clash of civilizations. Jews have traditionally ascribed to the values of Western liberal democracy. In the ANC’s hard-left, revolutionary world view, Western interests must be opposed everywhere – in Ukraine, in Morocco, and in Israel. South Africa believes that it must be the vanguard liberation movement celebrating the imagined successes of Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and Russia. Pandor is currently attending the 7th Africa-Cuba Solidarity Conference in White River.

But actions have consequences. The West is becoming increasingly disenchanted by South Africa’s antics. Last year, South Africa’s invitation to the G7 Summit didn’t materialise, and the currency has lost 50% of its value under Ramaphosa. The renewal of the African Growth and Opportunity Act looks increasingly precarious together with the approximately 250 000 jobs it created. South Africa is increasingly isolated from those countries which could help it the most.

Ramaphosa had a choice to turn South Africa into a Singapore or a Sudan. He chose Sudan.

[mariacallous]

This month, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged more than $29 billion in new lending commitments at the triennial Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Washington has once again misunderstood this as a symbol of Chinese economic strength.

Like a deer caught in the headlights, the United States has spent the past few years responding to China’s vast lending programs in Africa and beyond by constructing its own equivalents, mostly lending through institutions such as the International Development Finance Corp. (DFC) and Export-Import Bank with tweaks to their efficiency here and there.

But trying to outmaneuver China by being more like China is a mug’s game. Chinese banks can easily out-lend U.S. equivalents because they are better structured toward this goal. And perhaps more importantly, they need to lend money to whoever will buy Chinese goods and services because China’s economic growth is now precariously dependent on sustaining a positive trade balance.

The best way to offer a real economic alternative to China is for the United States to play to its own strengths. For instance, if the United States is serious about strengthening U.S.-Africa economic relations, it should instead focus on African economic needs and the United States’ own domestic economic drivers. Rather than parroting Chinese lending practices, it could more easily expand popular trade agreements such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) or the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) to benefit both African exporters and American households.

But before U.S. lawmakers can get behind these more positive forms of engagements, they may need to recognize that China’s addiction to credit is not in fact a reflection of strength but rather the symptom of a serious economic problem.

The driving economic reality for China today is that it has very low levels of consumer demand, its domestic investments are oversaturated with debts and falling investments, and its economic growth prospects have become heavily reliant on maintaining a positive trade balance. As a result, China’s export credit agencies are under huge pressure to stoke demand internationally by lending to anyone who will buy China’s exports. This vulnerability is compounded by the trade tariffs imposed on Chinese exports by several high-income countries. In many ways, China is more dependent on the markets it lends to than those markets are on China.

While many authors have focused on the overall decrease of Chinese lending to Africa and Latin America since 2016, China’s Ex-Im Bank has published tallies that show global overseas lending increases from $98 billion in 2016 to more than $134 billion in 2023. Meanwhile, China Ex-Im’s domestic loans to Chinese exporters have increased from roughly $34 billion to $92 billion in that same period. This vast flow of credit for exports is driven by China Ex-Im’s access to a much broader and deeper pool of finance than the DFC or U.S. Ex-Im as well as their greater financial independence.

Just like China Development Bank (CDB), China Ex-Im mostly issues international credits in U.S. dollars that it gets from China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange—a financial powerhouse that is constantly looking to invest or lend the trillions of U.S. dollars that China has amassed in the four decades since it launched its export-led growth model. But China Ex-Im and CDB also borrow dollars on Chinese capital markets by issuing domestic bonds. China’s strict capital controls make it difficult for investors to do much with surplus U.S. dollars, so there is a strong demand for these bond issuances.

By contrast, export credits are a burden for the United States. U.S. export credit agencies (DFC and U.S. Ex-Im) have very little financial independence, and they depend on congressional appropriations of taxpayers’ money. In other words, their financing is approved through political consensus every single year—an unreliable process at the best of times.

More importantly, though, the United States does not need to go toe-to-toe with China on debt when it has a far better economic proposition.

One of the ways in which many African countries earn enough to service their debts is to export masses of raw materials to China. But very few of them export finished goods and services to China, and—due to China’s overdependence on exports—there are strong economic incentives for China to overpower any such possibility. In some cases, there is even concern that African textile exporters are suffering a “premature deindustrialization” due to their trade with China.

Conversely, the United States can afford to sustain trade imbalances precisely because its economy is structured very differently from China’s. In the United States, economic growth is largely driven by consumer demand, with a healthy balance of investment from domestic and international sources. It’s these forces that mean the United States can post 3 percent growth in GDP while sustaining persistent trade deficits.

In practice, this means that unlike Beijing, Washington can offer Africa the export markets it needs to develop its nascent industries of finished goods and create more sustainable trajectories for economic development. More broadly, industrialization means that low-income countries are less dependent on the vicissitudes of commodity markets to service their national debts and make provisions for their people.

To those who fear increasing imports from low-income countries, it is important to remember that U.S. industries still need affordable inputs and U.S. consumers enjoy cheaper goods. Moreover, low-income countries’ nascent industries pose no real threat to U.S. industries that graduated out of low-tech manufacturing some time ago. Indeed, U.S. firms have spent the past 30 years sourcing billions of dollars’ worth of textiles and low-tech goods from China, so there should be no concern about shifting these supply chains to Africa or elsewhere. This would also align with current “friendshoring” initiatives.

But the best part is that the United States already has the infrastructure to make this the cornerstone of its economic engagements with Africa and beyond.

AGOA was created in 2000 at a time when the U.S. focus on Africa was unencumbered by the global war on terrorism or strategic competition. The technical jargon states that AGOA is a nonreciprocal preferential trade agreement, or PTA, but put simply, it is a U.S. trade policy designed to promote African industrialization, African jobs, and preferential access to U.S. consumers.

The agreement’s nonreciprocal nature is also its greatest strength. This means that unlike GSP, a PTA that expired in 2021, it does not place quotas on the sourcing of U.S. inputs or make the tariff exemptions overly complicated.

Expanding and internationalizing AGOA would offer a powerful alternative to China’s lending programs. It could be rebranded to the “International Growth and Opportunity Act” and target other low-income regions such as Latin America and Southeast Asia. It could also incorporate other advanced economies that have a similar economic structure to the United States. For want of a better analogy, it could be Washington’s answer to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

More broadly, the United States could create more diplomatic engagements around PTAs like it. Biennial or triennial forums could be hosted under their umbrella, where more senior political and trade representatives are brought together in order to ensure they are maximizing the agreement’s opportunities. These forums could also be used to announce other engagements such as scholarships and training.

Lastly, a focus on PTAs could also flip the debate on the “race to the bottom” over standards. Whenever the United States has promoted loan-backed business competition with Chinese equivalents, there has often been pushback that Washington should relax its ethical and environmental principles so that U.S. firms can be more competitive. But the appeal of trade agreements for African markets means that U.S. officials can maintain the same standards they would apply within their own markets.

But regardless of all this, perhaps the most important reason that the United States should avoid competing with China for more borrowers is that many low-income countries are now reaching their limits to repay debts. We’ve been here before, when debt for economic growth was lauded as foolproof in the 1960s and ’70s, only to become a punishing burden on the world’s poorest in the 1980s and ’90s. The United States should not be so easily tempted to repeat these mistakes of the past.

Nowadays, Washington seems primarily motivated to lend due to its fear of Beijing’s dominance. But if (as expected) China’s economy eventually rebalances in the medium term—and thereby relies less on maintaining a positive trade balance—then Beijing would likely reduce its export credits, which could leave the United States holding a bunch of debts it may never have issued absent its competition with China.

Granted, some forms of infrastructure such as ports and telecommunications may be considered a security concern, and the United States can leverage its export credit agencies toward those specific competitions. But for most Chinese projects involving sports stadiums, highways, and school buildings, there is no obvious reason to worry. More concretely, the United States needs to have a clear understanding of why it wants to go toe-to-toe with Chinese loan-backed projects. For instance, if the goal is simply to develop stronger diplomatic relations, then deploying poor imitations of Chinese programs is hardly a recipe for success.

This all points to the fact that the United States needs to run its own race and play to its own strengths.

AGOA is coming up for renewal in 2025. This is the best opportunity the United States has had in a long time to redesign and build out a truly meaningful platform for economic engagement with countries in Africa, Latin America, and beyond—and crucially one that plays to U.S. strengths.

It would mean that when Beijing once again says to African leaders, “We’ll lend you money to buy our goods and services,” Washington can say to those same leaders, “We’ll drop tariffs so you can sell us your goods and services.”

But more to the point, it would mean that U.S. economic policy is driven by what works best for the United States and its partners in the long term and not the false hope of what seems to be working for its competitors for now.

[strawberry-soot]

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 🍎EPEL BIRTHDAY SSR FLOWER ANALYSIS* 🍎*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

*Mandatory reminder that I’m no flower specialist, which means these are all very subjective opinions. Take everything with a grain of salt!

Just like Vil, Epel has a plethora of roses, this time white, pink, and purple ones.  White roses stand for innocence and appreciation, as well as youthfulness, purity, and loyalty. They’re used to represent new beginnings and love. Pink roses symbolize gratitude and admiration and make a perfect present to friends and siblings. They’re symbols of elegance, refinement, and sweetness. Other readings of pink roses include that of recognition and appreciation, as well as grace, joy, gratitude, elegance, and sweetness. Lastly, purple roses are the rarest roses to find. They stand for enchantment and carry an air of regality, which gives them a very majestic flair. They’re typically gifted to show the recipient that you think very highly of them, that they’ve caught your attention, or that you find them inspiring.

The tiny white flowers in his bouquet are glysophila or baby’s breath, which symbolize purity, innocence, light, goodness, beginnings, possibility, protection, and understanding. They’re commonly paired with (red) roses since they represent innocence and everlasting love.

Rather than lavenendar which stands for purity, silence, devotion, serenity, grace, and calmness, I think Epel has anise hyssops, which are not commonly given in bouquets, but they represent dedicated sacrifice and the purity of the actions of the recipient. In the language of flowers hyssops act as a charm against evil forces and negative energies and thus carry a meaning of protection and magical enchantment. Additionally, purple hyssops specifically also indicate humility and being down to earth.

Sweet rocket is known for its loveliness and deceitfulness. It has no fragrance of its own during the day, but at night it exhumes a lovely smell, which is why it’s associated deception and pretense – having earned itself the name flower of deceit.

Anemones mostly symbolize anticipation and excitement, but due to their wild nature they're also a reminder to enjoy the moment and to take in opportunities at the right time. They’re protectors against evil and ill wishes, but can also represent a forsaken or forgotten love/affection, or act as a bad omen.

Purple buttercups stand for joy, youth, purity, happiness and friendship, though the color purple carries a meaning of success, grace, and royalty.

The native violet symbolizes innocence, faithfulness, honesty, protection, determination, and the idea of setting goals. It’s often associated with growth, expansion, and peace, and thus a symbol of mental clarity.

Osteospermum, or the African daisy, represents innocence, purity, and loyal love, though it can also mean faith, awareness, inspiration, and passion.

Finally, purple pansies are most commonly known as a symbol of love, but beyond that they symbolize loving thoughts, freedom of thoughts, consideration, and love in idleness.

Naturally, these are only my un-educated guesses, but feel free to let me know if I got anything wrong/what flowers I might’ve missed. As always, I’ll also update my final guesses/thoughts and switch out the low-res pic once I get my hands on a better quality one.

[emmanuelnsutebu]

Chat About Life Changing Lessons from Inspirational Guests| 2023 Episodes

Chat About Life Changing Lessons from Inspirational Guests| 2023 Episodes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=904eOyQV3bw A recap of life changing tips from our special guests in 2023. The conversations were inspiring, thought-provoking and priceless. Discover practical tips and strategies for overcoming obstacles, developing a success mindset, and transforming challenges into opportunities. Learn how resilience and growth can lead to personal and professional excellence. Join us on this journey to unlock your full potential and achieve success in every aspect of life. 🔔Unlock the power of resilience with Emmanuel Nsutebu! Hit subscribe to learn how every struggle can lead to greater success. https://www.youtube.com/@FromStrugglesToSuccess/?sub_confirmation=1 🔗 Stay Connected With Me. 👉Facebook: https://ift.tt/ZbRjucJ 👉Instagram: https://ift.tt/sqRhuYt 👉Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/nsutebu 👉Linkedin: https://ift.tt/m0hS4Rq 👉Tiktok: https://ift.tt/UTty01j ✅ For Business Inquiries: info@strugglestosuccess.com ============================= ✅ Other Videos You Might Be Interested In Watching: 👉 Mr. Zachary Nsutebu's Life Journey: Education, Perseverance, And Success | Emmanuel Nsutebu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUJ-tN24NAI&t=16s 👉 Transform Struggles Into Success: Top-Rated Personal Development Course | Emmanuel Nsutebu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKp5KIO5BI8&t=188s 👉 How Vally Mbawa Overcame Challenges To Succeed In IT: Inspiring Success Story | Emmanuel Nsutebu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EetRR3oBtCU&t=332s 👉 Keeping perspectives struggles success shorts 💪💪💪 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi9ltGIawwc 👉 Overcoming Dyslexia: Turning Struggles Into Success: Professor John Walley’s Personal Growth Journey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnPxKRsZ2pY&t=4s ============================= ✅ About Emmanuel Nsutebu. Hit subscribe and learn to use struggles to become stronger and more successful. We are perpetually either in a crisis, emerging from a crisis, or just about to experience one. That is the reality of life! Your biggest problem or crisis may be your greatest gift. You can either grow through your difficulties or simply get through them. Growth is what great people do! Success is about how you respond to a problem/crisis. 🔗About Dr. Emmanuel. Dr Emmanuel Nsutebu is an award-winning author and consultant physician in infectious diseases. He is President of the African Sepsis Alliance and a member of the Global Sepsis Alliance executive committee and board. He has won numerous local, national, and international awards for turning around problems in healthcare. Dr Emmanuel is a global citizen. He works in the UAE, was born in Cameroon, and has lived in Australia and the UK. He enjoys coaching people to overcome life struggles and turn major problems into success. For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: info@strugglestosuccess.com 🔔 Hit subscribe and transform your problems into power with Dr. Emmanuel! Get deep into the art of growing through life's inevitable crises and transforming into success. https://www.youtube.com/@FromStrugglesToSuccess/?sub_confirmation=1 ================================= ADD HASHTAG HERE ⚠️Disclaimer: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your research. Copyright Notice: This video and my YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of Emmanuel Nsutebu. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to my YouTube channel is provided. © Emmanuel Nsutebu via Emmanuel Nsutebu https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3da9f_4IpuQ8rIUNPFty0Q August 20, 2024 at 10:53PM

[xshingie]

Excerpts from "Vodou in Haiti: Way of Life and Mode of Survival"

by Claudine Michel

[Note: I was doing some more research on Vodou to better understand Annette's framework viewing and describing the world. More specifically, I was curious in better understanding the relationship between the lwa and the practitioner. A quick disclaimer that I'm still very new to my research and journey to learn Haitian Vodou]

Bellegarde-Smith: "Vodun is a coherent and comprehensive system and worldview in which every person and everything is sacred and must be treated accordingly. In Vodun, everything in the world be it plant, animal, or mineral shares basically similar chemical, physical, and/or genetic properties. This unity of all things translates into an overarching belief in the sanctity of life, not so much for the thing as for the spirit of the thing. The cosmological unity in Vodun further translates into a vaunted African humanism in which social institutions are elaborated and in which the living, the dead, and the unborn play equally significant roles in an unbroken historical chain. Thus, all action, speech, and behavior achieve paramount significance for the individual and the community of which the individual is part."

Davis: "…a complex mystical world view, a system of beliefs concerning the relationship between man, nature, and the supernatural forces of the universe. Vodoun cannot be abstracted from the day to day life of the believers. In Haiti, as in Africa, there is no separation between the sacred and the secular, between the holy and the profane, between material and the spiritual. Every dance, every song, every action is but a particle of the whole… Vodoun not only embodies a set of spiritual concepts, it prescribes a way of life, a philosophy, and a code of ethics that regulate social behavior."

The followers of the ancestral cult refer to their religious beliefs and practices by the phrase sévi lwa yo which can be best translated as "serving the spirits." An adept of Vodou simply says, "I serve the spirits ," which in itself is a revealing statement about the nature of the religion, the importance of withdrawing the self and serving others, and about the spiritual connections existing between living human beings, their ancestors, and their Gods.

Vodou permeates the land, and, in a sense, it springs from the land. It is not a system imposed from above, but one which pushes out from below. It is a thing of the family, a rich and complex inheritance from a man's own ancestors. It is not the priests of Vodoun who control and direct its course. They, like the lowest peasant simply move about within it and make use of its resources.

In Vodou, a person is meant to derive energy from interactions with others, therefore, all encounters with nature, with fellow humans and with spirits create opportunities for understanding, for growth and healing. Considering that everything has a soul, from the smallest grain of sand to the Cosmic Breing, the dynamic force infused in the teaching and learning of all tasks and ideas, material and spiritationl, becomes a learning experience in itself. In Vodou, every dance, every song, every word and every act becomes a lesson. In order orders, one learns everywhere and all times.

Personal Commentary:

(and how it relates to Castlevania Nocturne)

In reading this, this puts Cecile's lesson with Annette into perspective on a deeper level that I didn't appreciate before:

You were shaped, Annette. Everything about you, by being born a slave. Of course you were It's the source of your fury, but it's not the source of your power.

The petty devils. it serves them if we believe it. But humanity didn't enter this world dragging armies of slaves. That came later. And your ancestor. Of course I mean your mother, who loved you. And your father, who was dragged from her by men with whips. And your grandmother, who watched the ships sail, weeping and pulling her hair. But they go back. Beyond them and beyond them. Back to the source. To the Iwa of Ogun. And a world without slaves or masters. Learn to hear your ancestor. There is light in this darkness.

I really appreciated how it so candidly and openly acknowledged how both things are true: that yes, you are the product of the painful intergenerational and personal trauma forced upon you; but behind everything there is also a story of love, connectedness in community, and resilience. To see this so openly brought to the forefront and focus in an animation like this so resonated me in a way I've been looking for more stories with female leads like Annette and nothing is hitting me so far and I'm just sad.

It wasn't until I started reading more about Haitian Vodou, to better understand the relationship between the practitioner and the lwa (or spirits), that I realized that Cecile is hitting on the Vodou tenets of wisdom, teachings, and philosophy. I've mentioned this before, but Castlevania Nocturne is one of the rare instances where in the past, Vodou has been primarily portrayed as stereotypical voodoo, but in Nocturne, it's presented as a enduring thread of interconnectness, and survival. More specifically, it portrayed how Vodou was shaped and developed by primarily being passed through oral tradition (which is why I find it difficult to do research on).

To paraphase, in Vodou everything is interlinked -- everything is imbibed with spirit, soul, and energy -- and by extension, the [love and wisdom] of your ancestors that paved your path that you walk now is also imbibed within you.

Cecile is basically trying to teach Annette the deeper foundational philosophy and way of life of Vodou 🥹 And that's something I didn't realize that Nocturne had done until I started doing research on Haitian Vodou, which I've only grown a more deeper appreciation for.

Sauce:

Michel, Claudine. “Vodou in Haiti: Way of Life and Mode of Survival.” Journal of Haitian Studies, vol. 8, no. 1, 2002, pp. 98–109. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41715120.

[voskhozhdeniye]

A bill has been submitted to the United States congress calling for a full review of the country’s bilateral relationship with South Africa following the International Court of Justice ruling that found it plausible that Israel has committed acts of genocide against Gaza.

The bipartisan bill which was introduced by US Republican congressman John James and Democratic Party congressman Jared Moskowitz this week could threaten South Africa’s prospects to benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). 

The bill will still need to be discussed and passed by congress.

It states that not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, US President Joe Biden in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, shall certify to the appropriate congressional committees and release publicly an unclassified determination explicitly stating whether South Africa has engaged in activities that undermine United States national security or foreign policy interests.

It further states that the US government must provide an unclassified report submitted to the appropriate congressional committees justifying the determination upon its certificate.

US Embassy mission spokesperson David Feldmann declined to comment. The ANC and the government’s response will be added when received.

The bill accuses the ANC of acting inconsistent with its publicly stated policy of nonalignment in international affairs.

It states that the South African Government has a history of siding with malign actors, including Hamas and the Russian Federation.

The US congress bill argues that the South African government’s support of Hamas dates back to 1994, when the ANC first came into power, taking a hardline stance of consistently accusing Israel of practising apartheid.

The ANC and the South African government have however been known to have ties with the Palestine Liberation Organisation dating back to former president Nelson Mandela’s term in office.

“Following Hamas’ unprovoked and unprecedented horrendous attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, where Hamas terrorists killed and kidnapped hundreds of Israelis, members of the South African Government and leaders of the ANC have delivered a variety of anti-semitic and anti-Israel-related statements and actions,” it reads. 

The US congress states that some of the anti-semitic remarks include President Cyril Ramaphosa’s statements accusing Israel of genocide. 

It said that the anti-semitic statements also include International Relations and Cooperations Minister Naledi Pandor’s statement expressing concern about escalating violence, urging Israel’s restraint in response.

It adds that Pandor implicitly blamed Israel for provoking the attack through “continued illegal occupation of Palestine land, continued settlement expansion, desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque and Christian holy sites, and ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people. 

It accused the ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri of anti-semitic remarks after stating that the decision by Palestinians to respond to the brutality of the settler Israeli apartheid regime is unsurprising. 

“On December 29, 2023, South Africa filed a politically motivated suit in the International Court of Justice wrongfully accusing Israel of committing genocide. The South African Government has pursued increasingly close relations with the Russian Federation, which has been accused of perpetrating war crimes in Ukraine and indiscriminately undermines human rights. South Africa’s robust relationship with Russia spans the military and political space, including allowing a United States-sanctioned Russian cargo ship, the Lady R, to dock and transfer arms at a South African naval base in December 2022,” the bill stated. 

It also cites that South Africa dispatched multiple high-level official delegations to Russia to further political, intelligence, and military cooperation.

The congress bill states that South Africa and the ANC’s relationship with the Chinese government and its ruling Chinese Communist Party(CCP) – which is committing gross violations of human rights in the Xinjiang province and implementing economically coercive tactics around the globe – undermine South Africa’s democratic constitutional system of governance. 

These acts include what it says are ongoing ANC and CCP inter-party cooperation; recruitment of former United States and NATO fighter pilots to train Chinese People’s Liberation Army pilots at the Test Flying Academy of South Africa; South Africa’s hosting of 6 Chinese government-backed and CCP-linked Confucius Institutes; South Africa’s participation in a political training school in Tanzania funded by the Chinese Communist Party, cooperation with the Chinese global Belt and Road Initiative; and the widespread presence in South Africa’s media and technology sectors of PRC state linked firms. 

“The ANC-led South African Government has a history of substantially mismanaging a range of state resources and has often proven incapable of effectively delivering public services, threatening the South African people and the South African economy,” the bill stated. 

The bill accuses Ramaphosa of having declared the national state of disaster over the worsening energy crisis, “the worsening, multi-year power crisis caused by the ANC’s chronic mismanagement of the state owned power company Eskom, resulting from endemic, high-level corruption”. 

It states that the persistence of Transnet’s insufficient capacity, an on-going outbreak of cholera, a failure to provide clean water to households and rampant state capture are part of ANC governments mismanagement of the state.

^Link to the bill.

[julia-pek]

Michael Shvartsman: Bridging Tech and Philanthropy to Combat Racism

In the vibrant landscape of tech entrepreneurship and philanthropy, Michael Shvartsman, a seasoned expert in global payments and information technology, stands out as a thought leader committed to making a meaningful impact. Based in Miami, Shvartsman has not only excelled in the world of technology but has also become a passionate advocate for social justice, particularly in the fight against racial hate.

A former tech entrepreneur turned philanthropist, Shvartsman brings a thoughtful approach to charitable giving. He emphasizes, "Giving money is not just about the act of charity; it's about strategically investing in initiatives that address systemic issues and pave the way for a more equitable future."

Shvartsman's expertise in global payments and IT has afforded him unique insights into the intersection of technology and social justice. He believes that leveraging technology for philanthropic endeavors is crucial in creating sustainable solutions to deeply rooted problems. His philanthropic efforts are characterized by a nuanced understanding of how targeted interventions can drive positive change.

In the realm of social justice, Michael Shvartsman is particularly focused on combating racial hate. He notes, "Racism is not just a social issue; it impedes economic development and hampers the growth of communities. Addressing racism is an essential component of fostering an environment where everyone has equal opportunities."

Shvartsman is passionate about raising awareness of the historical injustices faced by the African American population. He emphasizes, "To remedy the suffering that has been endured, it's crucial for individuals and organizations to acknowledge the historical context and actively work towards creating a more inclusive ecosystem."

Quoting Michael Shvartsman, he articulates, "Remedying the historical suffering of marginalized communities is not just an act of charity; it's a strategic investment in the overall development of the ecosystem. When everyone has equal access to opportunities, it catalyzes economic growth and innovation."

In his commitment to philanthropy, Shvartsman believes that fighting racism is one of the most important objectives for humankind. He asserts, "Beyond economic considerations, combating racism is a moral imperative. It's about creating a world where every individual is treated with dignity and respect, irrespective of their background."

The intricate intersection of tech entrepreneurship and philanthropy in Shvartsman's journey reflects a comprehensive understanding of how advancements in technology can be harnessed for social good. He envisions a future where technology plays a pivotal role in dismantling barriers, fostering inclusivity, and combating the root causes of racial hate.

In conclusion, Michael Shvartsman's story is one of entrepreneurship, expertise, and a profound commitment to philanthropy with a focus on combating racial injustice. As he navigates the realms of global payments and information technology, his advocacy against racial hate serves as an inspiration, demonstrating how strategic philanthropy can contribute to a more just and equitable world.

[maddielivinginternationally]

Week 2: Palo Alto's Unique Blend; Suburban Characteristics and Complex Challenges

This week's readings prompted me to ponder my California trip, especially our visit to Palo Alto, where we explored the city and Stanford University, examining the distinctions and links among urban, suburban, and edge city areas.

Palo Alto, California, located in the San Francisco Bay Area and is part of Santa Clara County, looked like a residential neighborhood when I visited. It featured tree-lined streets, relatively low population density, and a mix of single-family homes and low-rise apartment buildings. When viewed in light of our textbook readings and class discussions, I can see why it is generally considered a suburban area, although it's more accurately described as a city with suburban characteristics. It is not as rural or isolated as some traditional suburbs and has a thriving job market and cultural amenities. I observed a rich diversity in racial and ethnic backgrounds, encompassing white, Asian, Hispanic, African American, and more. Palo Alto's multiculturalism is fostered by the presence of Stanford University and the tech industry, attracting a global population. This trend aligns with Palen's findings that highly educated Asian immigrants tend to settle in suburban neighborhoods with strong employment and educational prospects for their children. Similarly, Latino suburban growth thrives in regions offering significant economic opportunities, challenging the notion of exclusively "lily-white" suburbs (p. 129).

So, while Palo Alto has a suburban feel in many parts of the city, it also has urban and academic elements that make it a unique and vibrant community within the larger Silicon Valley region. I was thus left to wonder why a city like Palo Alto did not become an edge city like Tysons in Virginia or Plano in Texas. Suburbia is increasingly diverse, with some older suburbs maintaining their status due to zoning restrictions and the attraction of high-status residents (Palen p130). Despite Palo Alto's thriving tech industry and evolution since the late 19th century, its development differs from more commercially focused and high-rise-intensive edge cities. It adheres to suburban traits with low-density development, strict zoning, green space preservation, and limited high-rise buildings. Like many U.S. suburbs, it relies heavily on automobile transportation, with residential neighborhoods and shopping areas being less walkable.

I was then curious to know which concerns arose from this low-density development, considering that Silicon Valley will keep on growing as a dominant and dynamic hub. Indeed, Palo Alto faces a delicate balancing act in accommodating the growth of its thriving tech industry while preserving the well-being of its residents. The increasing demand for office and commercial space necessitates careful management to maintain environmental sustainability and the overall quality of life. Additionally, the city grapples with a housing affordability crisis driven by strict zoning, height limitations, and an emphasis on single-family homes. These factors have restricted new housing construction, leading to soaring property values and rents. This affordability gap poses difficulties for lower- and middle-income individuals and families seeking housing in the city, heightening concerns about socioeconomic diversity. While I didn't observe demographic homogeneity, I did note a lack of diversity in terms of residents' socioeconomic backgrounds.

[tuulikki]

Also, bringing it back to the African continent again, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) gives sub-Saharan African countries duty-free trade rights with the USA (while not requiring African countries to grant the USA any reciprocal rights). That’s a good goddam deal.

Hopefully Trump forgets Africa exists because some African countries could get hit hard if Mr. I <3 Tariffs turns his beady little eyes on this arrangement.

how does us politics affect places outside the us? you guys are obsessed with us

i think if you cracked open your skull there would just be a bunch of cotton wool in there

[powernsunn]

Solar Panels in South Africa: A Comprehensive Guide

South Africa’s sunny climate provides an incredible opportunity to harness solar energy, making solar panels a key component of the nation’s renewable energy efforts. Whether for homes, businesses, or large-scale projects, solar energy offers a reliable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional power sources. The Need for Solar Panels in South Africa

Frequent Power Interruptions Persistent power outages and load shedding have created a demand for consistent and independent energy solutions. Solar panels offer a practical and sustainable answer.

Abundant Sunshine With over 2,500 hours of sunshine annually, South Africa has one of the highest solar radiation levels globally, making solar power an effective and sustainable energy source.

Long-Term Savings Although the initial installation of solar systems can be an investment, the reduction in energy bills and minimal maintenance costs lead to significant savings over time.

Environmental Conservation Solar energy contributes to lowering carbon emissions, helping South Africa meet its climate action goals and promoting a cleaner, greener environment.

Types of Solar Panels Commonly Used

Monocrystalline Panels

High efficiency and sleek design.

Suitable for areas with space constraints, making them ideal for residential use.

Polycrystalline Panels

More affordable and widely available.

A good choice for larger installations where space is not an issue.

Thin-Film Panels

Lightweight and flexible in application.

Often used in commercial settings or where unconventional panel shapes are required.

Top Solar Panel Brands in South Africa

JA Solar Renowned for its reliable and high-performance panels, JA Solar is popular for residential and commercial installations. It is also best solar panels in South Africa.

Canadian Solar Known for producing durable modules that perform well under various environmental conditions.

Suntech A trusted name offering efficient and cost-effective solutions tailored for South African users.

Solar Incentives and Policies in South AfricaTo promote the adoption of solar energy, the government has introduced several initiatives:

Tax Benefits Businesses installing renewable energy systems can benefit from tax deductions under Section 12B of the Income Tax Act.

Net Metering Programs that allow users to sell surplus solar power back to the grid, helping to offset their initial investment.

Subsidies for Residential Systems Some municipalities offer financial assistance to homeowners who install solar panels, making it more accessible.

Addressing Adoption Challenges

Initial Investment While solar panels can be costly upfront, financing options and incentives are making them more affordable.

Awareness Gaps Educating the public about the benefits of solar energy is essential to increasing adoption rates.

Infrastructure Compatibility Upgrading and integrating solar systems with existing power grids can be complex but is necessary for widespread use.

Choosing the Right Solar Panels

Understand Your Energy Needs Analyze your daily energy usage to select a solar system that aligns with your requirements.

Focus on Quality Invest in reputable brands to ensure long-lasting and efficient performance.

Professional Installation Work with certified professionals for installation to avoid future complications and to comply with local regulations.

The Future of Solar Energy in South AfricaSouth Africa’s solar energy market is on a growth trajectory, driven by rising energy demands and technological advancements. Solar panels are not just an energy solution—they’re paving the way for a sustainable and energy-independent nation.

Solar panels offer a promising path to energy security and environmental sustainability in South Africa. By embracing solar energy, individuals and businesses alike can reduce costs, improve reliability, and contribute to a greener future. Ready to switch to solar? Explore tailored solutions that fit your energy needs today!