Victorin Lurel, homme fort de la gauche en Guadeloupe et M. Outre-mer au PS

PARIS, 16 mai 2012, 19:50:10 (AFP) 

Victorin Lurel, 60 ans, nommé mercredi ministre des Outre-mer du gouvernement Ayrault, est l’homme fort de la gauche en Guadeloupe dont il est député et président de région tout en étant, depuis sept ans, le spécialiste de l’Outre-mer du PS.

M. Lurel, qui avait été le responsable et le porte-parole pour l’Outre-mer de la campagne présidentielle de Ségolène Royal en 2007, a repris cette casquette en 2012 pour François Hollande, pour qui il s’était prononcé dès la primaire. Les scores du candidat PS ont été historiques en Outre-mer, notamment aux Antilles et à la Réunion.

Militant socialiste depuis toujours, M. Lurel est reconnu pour sa maîtrise des dossiers et une grande habileté politique, qui lui a notamment permis d’emporter les régionales en 2004, battant l’inamovible Lucette Michaux-Chevry, la mère de la ministre de l’Outre-mer de Nicolas Sarkozy, Marie-Luce Penchard.

Né le 20 août 1951 à Vieux-Habitants (Guadeloupe), une commune rurale de 7.600 habitants, 3e d’une fratrie de 12 enfants dans une famille pauvre de petits paysans, M. Lurel trouve sa voie dans les études.

Après un bac d’économie passé sur son île natale, il s’envole pour Paris : un DEA d’économie à Paris-II, puis Science-Po où naît son engagement politique.

De retour en Guadeloupe en 1981, administrateur civil, il devient directeur de la Chambre d’agriculture —un domaine qui le passionne toujours—, puis s’investit dans la vie de Vieux-Habitants dont il devient conseiller municipal d’opposition en 1989. Il devient conseiller régional en 1992, conseiller général en 1994.

Sa carrière prend son essor : en 2001, il gagne de justesse la mairie de sa commune. Député constamment réélu depuis 2002, il est vice-président du groupe Socialiste, radical et citoyen à l’Assemblée nationale et a été secrétaire national du PS à l’Outre-mer de 2005 à 2008.

Marié et père d’un fils, cet "hyperactif" se représentera dans la 3e circonscription de la Guadeloupe face à Mme Penchard, même nommé ministre.

Guadeloupe’s Lurel Hails Hollande Win

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Victorin Lurel, the current head of the Regional council of Guadeloupe, is hailing the victory of Francois Hollande in the French presidential election.

Lurel, who ws also the head of the overseas division of Hollande’s campaign, called it an “historic vote of confidence.”

According to a statement by Lurel, five of the 10 best poll showings for the incoming French president came overseas.

“In Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Reunion, St Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna, but also St Martin, voters sent a message of hope,” Lurel said.

The regional council head said Hollande would “be attentive to the concerns of all overseas territories,” including those where Sarkozy came ahead.

Those territories included St Barthelemy, Mayotte, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, according to Lurel.

Lurel has led Guadeloupe’s Regional Council since 2004.

Spain issues formal complaint over Prince Edward Gibraltar visit

The Telegraph

     By Fiona Govan, Madrid

The Spanish Foreign Office expressed its "upset and concern" over the planned visit to the Rock, a British territory that sits at the foot of Spain's southwestern corner, to Giles Paxman, the British Ambassador to Madrid.

The subject was raised during a recent scheduled meeting with the British diplomat and Santiago Cabanas Ansorena, Spain's foreign policy director.

The Royal visit is scheduled for June 11-13 when Prince Edward and his wife will take part in a series of events to mark the Queen's 60 years on the throne.

The complaint follows the usual stance taken by Spanish authorities over such visits. In 2009, similar protests were made over a visit by Princess Anne to the British Overseas Territory.

When the Prince of Wales visited Madrid on an official visit in April last year, the Spanish heir to the throne raised the centuries old dispute and urged for a solution to be found.

Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht but has long argued that it should be returned to Spanish sovereignty.

The Rock, which boasts a Marks and Spencer, traditional English pubs, bobbies on the beat and red telephone boxes, is home to 28,000 Gibraltarians, who in a 2002 referendum overwhelmingly rejected a deal to share sovereignty between the two nations and demanded to remain a part of Britain.

Spain is arguably not so upset about the forthcoming visit that they have asked Queen Sofia to refuse an invitation to lunch with Queen Elizabeth at an event to mark the jubilee at Windsor Castle next week.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia refused to attend the 1981 wedding of the Prince of Wales and Diana in protest that the couple had elected to begin their honeymoon with a visit to Gibraltar.

Sarkozy, Africa and the decision of the French electorate

Black Star News Editorial 
New York

We are very grateful to the people of France for doing the right thing and voting out war monger Nikolas Sarkozy.

Africa is a much safer place without this war monger. Thinking himself the re-incarnation of Napoleon Bonaparte, he advocated a most destructive militarism that has singularly created havoc throughout Africa. The United States Administration allowed this blood-thirsty Frenchman to take the lead in Africa policy, as if France never had a vested interest given its history of colonial rule and its continued exploitation of so-called Francophone African countries; several West African countries whose currency is pegged to the French Franc.

Under the pretense of securing democracy in Africa, the Frenchman might have been, in his mind, actually exacting vengeance because African countries had the temerity to throw out French colonials in the 1960s. Some continue fighting to disentangle their economies from the fading empire's. 

In the Ivory Coast, Bonaparte intervened militarily in an internal election stalemate to install a pro-Western former IMF official, Alasanne Quatarra, after disputed elections. Rather than insist on a recount and verification Sarkozy decided to spill the blood of Ivorian citizens. Laurent Gbagbo, who had also insisted he was the winner of the election was then hijacked and spirited to the International Criminal Court (ICC) which serves as an "enforcer" for Western interests.

Gbagbo is accused of being responsible for war crimes allegedly committed by his armed forces during the mayhem after the stalemate. Yet, in plain daylight, Quatarra's own forces also committed massacres as they marched on and seized the capital city of Abidjan. This was reported even by the Western media as the bodies were left to rot in plain view. So wouldn't it be fair and just that Quatarra also be brought to the Hague to face charges? But he won't because he represents France's interests in the region. It's this sort of ugly "victors' justice" syndrome that has destroyed the credibility of the ICC. 

In the Libyan conflict, the African Union, anchored by South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, drew up a sensible peace proposal: cease fire, relief corridor, compensation for victims, and elections monitored by the International community. Instead, Bonaparte led the charge through NATO, with merciless daily bombings for months, killing countless Libyan civilians, and destroying buildings and infrastructure that clearly Bonaparte thought French companies would get lucrative contracts to repair. 

Although Bonaparte delighted in spitting on (Jacob) Zuma's face and humiliating the African Union, today where is the democracy and the rule of law in Libya that Bonaparte and NATO promised would replace Muammar al-Quathafi's rule? Libya today is like the old Iraq during its wild-wild West days. 

Bonaparte boasted that he would kill Muammar al-Quathafi and he succeeded. His diabolic warmongering prompted a fellow European, Vladimir Putin, to conclude that the attack was akin to a barbarian and medieval call to crusade against Libya and Africa. In a fair world, Bonaparte would also be hauled to the Hague to face war crimes charges.

The desecration of Libya and Africa was cheered by the editorial pages of major newspapers such as The New York Times, whichreferred to the NATO-backed insurrectionsists as "liberators" and "revolutionaries." The newspaper has not used these terms in reference to Libya for many months now. 

The weapons unleashed after the destruction of Libya is now fueling upheavals throughout West Africa. The Western example, that violence is the best means of settling political disputes in Africa, no doubt encouraged those solkdiers who launched the military takeovers in Mali and Guinea. The turmoil will continue for a long time. Thanks to NATO and Bonaparte. 

But now that Bonaparte is out of office, he could face indictment for the numerous alleged crimes of political corruption that's always dogged him in France. 

How ironic that Italy's Silvio Berlusconi and France's Nikolas Bonaparte, a pair of the warmongers, have now fallen from power spectacularly and disgracefully..... 

Francois Hollande will need prayers as he tries to clean up Bonaparte's mess. He can start by renouncing the new French imperialism in Africa.

Ma' ohi Nui/French Polynesia Senator responds to French National Front on the decolonization process for the Collectivity

Communiqué du Tävini Huira’atira

Sénateur Richard Tuheiava

Réponse au Front National

mercredi 9 mai 2012 

par TUNUI

Lors du débat sur la Présidentielle de dimanche soir, M. Minardi, représentant du Front national, a interrogé le sénateur Richard Tuheiava sur la démarche souverainiste du Tavini Huitraatira et de l’UPLD. Hélas, les bavardages des invités autonomistes n’ont pas permis au sénateur Tuheiava de poursuivre.

Notre fenua est une création classique de la colonisation : Protectorat, Annexion, Établissements Français de l’Océanie, Polynésie française.

Tous les pays de la région ont été des colonies, aujourd’hui tous souverains, à l’exception des territoires francophones. Tout le Pacifique océanien, toutes les églises du Pacifique, ont affirmé que cette démarche doit se poursuivre pour les territoires français. Le Tavini Huiraatira est dans cette logique depuis sa création en 1977 : la décolonisation dans la paix et par la voie démocratique.

Aujourd’hui, le mouvement autonomiste voudrait bloquer notre évolution, parle d’aventure, de mère patrie, oubliant les navigateurs intrépides qu’ont été nos ancêtres. Devenir souverain demain sera bien moins aventureux que ce qu’ont accompli nos Tupuna ! Parce que, si nous suivons le modèle de la Kanaky - les morts en moins - les Polynésiens pourront accéder à leur souveraineté avec la participation active et bienveillante de l’État.

La souveraineté débutera donc avec la mise en place d’un contrat de développement établi en fonction des priorités définies par les Polynésiens avec l’État sur une quinzaine d’années au moins. Cet intervalle de temps correspond à 3 mandats présidentiels. Rien ne garantit que le successeur de M. Hollande soit aussi attaché à poursuivre fidèlement le contrat original. C’est la raison pour laquelle le mouvement souverainiste estime nécessaire la garantie de l’ONU. Le Comité des 24 ne fera que suivre la bonne progression et le respect du projet bâti par l’État et le Pays.

Lorsque les Polynésiens estimeront le moment venu, un ou plusieurs référendums d’autodétermination seront organisés comme c’est le cas pour la Nouvelle Calédonie. Dans ce projet où les 2 parties ont été prises en considération, il n’y aura pas d’aventure, de racisme, ou de rejet de la France. L’exemple du Pacifique anglo-saxon est à considérer, il y a bien une poursuite positive des relations avec l’ancien colonisateur. Aujourd’hui, les Français ont voulu le changement incarné par M. François Hollande. C’est le moment pour les Polynésiens de construire leur futur.

À partir d’une centaine d’îles éparpillées sur 5 millions de km2, la France a construit une entité très prometteuse, sans doute l’un des effets les plus positifs de la colonisation, à préserver à tout prix. À nous de bâtir un développement nouveau, construit sur la formation de notre jeunesse, le respect de l’environnement, l’exploitation raisonnée de nos richesses naturelles, des produits de notre Fenua, nos lagons, notre océan et la conquête des fonds marins. Restaurons l’esprit des Tupuna !

Voilà les réponses que l’on peut vous apporter. Ce n’est pas un rêve, c’est un projet réfléchi qui doit nous unir. La France est le partenaire du devenir de la Nouvelle-Calédonie. Elle saura l’être aussi avec nous.

.

Human Rights Council Appoints Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment

Sustainable Development Policy and Practice

News

The 19th regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) concluded with the adoption of 41 texts on promoting and protecting human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, as well as the right to development.  

The session convened in Geneva, Switzerland, from 27 February - 23 March 2012. The adopted resolutions and decisions focused on, inter alia: issues relating to Special Rapporteurs on various human rights obligations; human rights and the environment; and human rights and terrorism.

On human rights and the environment, the HRC adopted a resolution appointing a Special Rapporteur, for a period of three years, on human rights obligations related to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, who would be required to, inter alia, make recommendations for achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), take account of the outcome of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), and contribute to follow-up processes.

The HRC also reviewed urgent human rights situations through debates and presentations of reports on, among other things: the situation of human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Myanmar and Iran; technical assistance and capacity building in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Guinea and Yemen; technical assistance and capacity building in Haiti; the human rights situation in Palestine and other Occupied Arab Territories; the issue of economic, social and cultural rights of women; the right of the child. 

 [OHCHR Press Release] [19th regular session of the HRC][Human Rights and Environment decision]

Former Cook Islands Prime Minister joins the ancestors

Radio New Zealand International 

At 71, Sir Geoffrey passes away at his home on Rarotonga

The Speaker of the Cook Islands Parliament, Sir Geoffrey Henry, has died.

Sir Geoffrey died at his home in Rarotonga surrounded by family members and close friends. He was 71.

Sir Geoffrey, a former prime minister, had been battling cancer and had been a patient at the Rarotonga Hospital until Saturday when he was discharged home.

Plans are being finalized for a state funeral for Sir Geoffrey, whose final resting place will be next to his home in Takuvaine.

Sir Geoffrey, who was born in Aitutaki in 1940 and is from a family of 16, married Louisa Hoff in 1965 and they had six children.

He entered the country’s political scene in 1965 at the age of 24 - the youngest member of the Cook Islands Legislative Assembly - as an independent member for Aitutaki, and was the leader of the Cook Islands Party from the early 1980s until his retirement from politics in 2006.

Sir Geoffrey served as the country’s prime minister for a brief period in 1983, and was again prime minister for a decade from 1989 to 1999.

He became a Knight Commander of the British Empire in 1992, and in February last year became the Speaker of Parliament.

De la décolonisation de la Kanaky à la souveraineté Ma’ohi

Communiqué du Tävini Huira’atira

Dans son projet pour l’outre mer, le candidat préféré des Français s’est bien plus longuement arrêté sur la situation de la Kanaky que sur celle de la Polynésie française. Pourtant le PS a signé une convention de partenariat et de soutien avec le Tavini Huiraatira, ce qui n’est pas le cas de nos voisins francophones du Pacifique. Il est important de s’y arrêter pour une bonne information des électeurs Polynésiens.


La Kanaky, ou Nouvelle Calédonie, revient de loin en effet. Là bas, le racisme avait cours, le mépris des autochtones s’affichait sans complexe. Dans les années 60, l’Etat RPR avait favorisé une campagne d’immigration blanche, des Français incités à se lancer dans une aventure pleine de promesses avec notamment la richesse du nickel qui poussait l’économie du pays.


Chez eux, les Kanaks restaient des exclus, même lorsqu’ils rentraient de métropole avec des diplômes et cela ne pouvait pas durer. Vols de bétails, incendies de petits établissements touristiques appartenant aux colons comme aux nouveaux arrivants se sont multipliés. 


La situation s’est rapidement dégradée avec morts d’hommes par armes à feu. Le pays était entrain de basculer dans une guerre civile de caractère raciste. La gauche au pouvoir a réussi à faire taire les armes et ouvrir le dialogue. Les leaders Jacques Lafleur et Jean Marie Tjibaou ont fait la paix et le Parti Socialiste a lancé les accords de Matignon puis ceux de Nouméa. En une vingtaine d’années ces accords ont permis à la population kanak de rattraper ses retards et de gérer ses affaires. Le super complexe industriel du nickel de la Province Nord géré par les responsables kanaks en partenariat avec un géant canadien est l’un des plus spectaculaires résultats. Cette réussite est celle des Kanaks et des Calédoniens grâce au PS.


C’est cette voie que veut ouvrir le Tavini Huiraatira à travers sa réinscription sur la liste des pays à dé-coloniser. Le suivi par l’ONU des accords de développement sur 15 ans voulus par la Polynésie française et validés par l’Etat est une garantie du bon déroulement du processus quelque soit le président de la République.


La Polynésie française a l’occasion d’offrir à la France une décolonisation réussie, dans la paix et un partenaire loyal dans la région Pacifique, car indépendance ne signifie pas rupture, mais nouveau partenariat dans la dignité. Voilà le vœu le plus cher que le Tavini Huiraatira souhaite voir s’accomplir. Il est à notre portée et n’exclut personne.

Chamorro Patriotism and Perceptions of American Colonialism

Kopbla Amerika #2: Chamorro Patriotism

One issue that every young Chamorro activist has to deal with, is the same issue that so many on Guam struggle with; their relationship to the United States. 

Guam's relationship to the US in general is ambiguous, it may be considered very American one moment, but then barely American the next. People from their may be the epitome of Americanness one moment, and then foreigners the next. 

This is not really an issue of active racism, but just a result of the basic relationship between a territory and its colonizer. Such is the nature of all fundamentally unequal power relationships. 

When one is supposed to be over another, there is a wide gray area where both benevolence and tyranny and be found. If we recall the era of slavery in the US for example, you could treat your slaves like garbage or you could treat them like members of your family. Either way was allowed. 

There was no rule that said you have to be especially cruel or that you have to torture or maim them, but there was also no rule that said you have to be very nice and polite to them and consult them about anything dealing with them. 

Such is the nature of any relationship where one is supposed to be over another. Being nice doesn't change the relationship and neither does being mean. Both of them are possible reactions, and so many times people on Guam make the easy mistake of assuming that because the US is nice to Guam, that means the island can't be a colony. 

Read the full article here.

PRIMERAS JORNADAS EN HONOR A DON RAMÓN EMETERIO BETANCES

Ateneo Puertorriqueño

Comunicado de Prensa

ATENEO PUERTORRIQUEÑO

ANUNCIA SUS PRIMERAS JORNADAS EN HONOR A

DON RAMÓN EMETERIO BETANCES

El Ateneo Puertorriqueño, se honra en invitarle a formar parte de las Jornadas en honor a Don Ramón Emeterio Betances.

El Ateneo Puertorriqueño, es la institución cultural más antigua en Puerto Rico y funge como centro de manifestación cultural e identidad puertorriqueña desde su fundación en 1876. Este propósito no ha variado un ápice, y el mismo se enriquece con el servicio y actividades educativas y culturales que realiza. Desde entonces, el trabajo en favor del Arte y la Literatura se destaca por sobre todas las demás actividades, convirtiendo así a la institución, en la más comprometida sociedad defensora de nuestros valores.

En esta ocasión, nos hemos dado a la tarea de reconocer al Padre de la Identidad Nacional, Don Ramón Emeterio Betances, celebrando así su gran regreso, luego de su último destierro. Nuestro interés es destacar la labor literaria, cultural de esta figura. Con estos fines, se celebran las Jornadas en honor al insigne patriota, en las cuales se representaran piezas teatrales, congresos, foros y grupos de discusión. Como complemento, tendremos la exposición sobre su vida y obra, la producción de los audiolibros de su obra literaria, un documental y develando, como actividad cumbre, la escultura del Dr. Betances, diseñada y esculpida por José Caraveda. Diversas actividades con el propósito de fomentar el conocimiento y conciencia en la comunidad sobre sus logros.

Como parte de la celebración, hemos confeccionado una cantidad limitada de réplicas de la escultura. -siete, sólo quedan tres- Las mismas, de bronce, tienen un tamaño aproximado de dos pies de alto. Sus detalles en el rostro, así como en la pieza en general son un trabajo de alto calibre que merece obtenerse.

Con la venta de dichas estatuas se podrán subvencionar las gastos de dichas Jornadas. Su aportación es muy importante para su ejecución, además de ser una pieza conmemorativa y exclusiva de dichas actividades y réplica de un valuarte del Ateneo Puertorriqueño.

Su colaboración es importante para el desarrollo educativo y cultural del país.

Para más información puede comunicarse con nosotros al 787-721-3877.

Alfonso Arthur Schomburg: El Bibliófilo

Claridad 

El Periódico de la Nación Puertorriqueña

http://www.claridadpuertorico.com

Por: Ada Myriam Felicié Soto

Ada Myriam Felicié Soto/Especial para En Rojo

“Pride of race is the antidote to prejudice."

Alfonso Arthur Schomburg: El Bibliófilo

En su adolescencia, un maestro le dijo que los negros no tenían historia. Esto lo retó a descubrir y documentar la historia de sus antepasados africanos. Cuando se interesó por estudiar Derecho no le fue posible presentar las credenciales escolares oficiales porque las mismas se habían perdido tras un incendio. Y pese a su significativa aportación al quehacer humanista, percibió una actitud de desprecio por parte de la comunidad intelectual negra, a raíz de su origen humilde y carencia de educación formal.

Una de las vergüenzas nacionales de este convulso país es el desconocimiento que se tiene de uno de los puertorriqueños más insignes: Alfonso Arthur Schomburg, quien nació el 10 de enero de 1874 en Cangrejos (Santurce). Pocos en nuestro país saben que esta puertorriqueño es reconocido en Estados Unidos como el Padre de la Historia Negra. Al parecer, quienes desarrollan el currículo escolar tuvieron un ups: olvidaron incluir a Schomburg. No hay que ser muy

suspicaz para intuir que ese olvido esté asociado con el color de su piel y a su ideal independentista.

Afortunadamente, personas como Bernardo Vega, Flor Piñero, Victoria Ortiz, el Lcdo. Ebenecer López Ruyol, Víctor López (Taller Cultural Afroantillano), Sandra Andino, entre otros, han realizado esfuerzos para destacar la aportación de Schomburg. El Concilio Puertorriqueño contra el Racismo, el Museo de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, el Ateneo Puertorriqueño y la Fundación Puertorriqueña para las Humanidades también han contribuido a dar a conocer en Puerto Rico el legado de Schomburg.

Cabe destacar que Jesús Omar Díaz, “El Boricuazo”, ha aportado más al conocimiento de Schomburg en nuestro país que las instituciones responsables, por mandato constitucional, de educar a nuestro pueblo.

A fin de conocer más de la vida fascinante de este hombre, un buen día tomé un avión, un taxi y el metro y, haciéndole honor a mi profesión bibliotecaria y sufriendo el frío de enero, me fui en busca de fuentes primarias al Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, ubicado en pleno corazón del Harlem Negro. No tenía otra opción ante mi indignación por el olvido y desdén de que ha sido objeto este puertorriqueño negro, que vivió una vida con un propósito: evidenciar los logros de la raza negra y su aportación a la humanidad.

Allí descubrí que en la vida de Schomburg ocurrieron tres incidentes claves que, a mi juicio, jugaron un papel determinante en su pasión por los libros y en su valoración de la importancia de la documentación. En su adolescencia, un maestro le dijo que los negros no tenían historia. Esto lo retó a descubrir y documentar la historia de sus antepasados africanos. Cuando se interesó por estudiar Derecho no le fue posible presentar las credenciales escolares oficiales porque las mismas se habían perdido tras un incendio. Por otro lado, pese a su significativa aportación al quehacer humanista, Schomburg percibió una actitud de desprecio por parte de la comunidad intelectual negra, a raíz de su origen humilde y carencia de educación formal.


Schomburg convirtió su crisis en oportunidad. Lejos de lamentarse y sucumbir a la tentación de la tristeza y el encono, desató su energía fundamentando y documentando el legado de la raza negra, dotando así a las generaciones venideras del conocimiento respecto a los logros y la aportación del negro a la cultura. Interesante por demás; quien no tuvo estudios formales ni fue admitido a una universidad, dio al mundo una verdadera lección magistral: su visión de la historia como herramienta para combatir la desigualdad racial y construir un futuro digno. 


The American Negro must remake his past in order to make his future… History must restore what slavery took away., sentenció Arthur Alfonso Schomburg. Existe una dimensión del legado de Schomburg: la Bibliofilia, que es la afición apasionada por los libros, especialmente por los raros y curiosos. El gusto por coleccionar, investigar y hacer bellos libros se inicia en la Antigüedad. 


Desde el siglo XIII, el amor por los libros tuvo sus máximos exponentes en San Luis, Rey de Francia y en el monarca castellano Alfonso X. Desde el Renacimiento, la bibliofilia cobra especial interés por parte de los príncipes, los grandes señores y los humanistas, quienes recorrerán o enviarán emisarios por toda Europa en busca de códices y, posteriormente, de los primeros libros impresos (incunables).

Desde la Edad Moderna hasta nuestros días, la belleza, el interés de su contenido o la rareza de algunos ejemplares han llevado a los amantes del libro a la búsqueda y recuperación de ejemplares únicos o raros, rescatándolos así para la posteridad. Eso fue exactamente lo que convirtió a Schomburg en un bibliófilo, que es la persona aficionada a las ediciones originales, raras y curiosas de libros.

Como bibliófilo, Schomburg tenía su propio Ex Libris (frase en latín que significa de los libros de), que usualmente se imprimía en una placa para evidenciar la procedencia de un libro. La imagen del Ex Libris de Schomburg era un esclavo negro. La afición por los libros de este puertorriqueño ilustre fue evidente desde su niñez. Entre sus libros favoritos figuraban Robinson Crusoe y Los tres mosqueteros. Su héroe fue el libertador haitiano Toussaint L’Ouverture y su gran inspiración fue el patriota y maestro puertorriqueño Rafael Cordero. Sus lecturas inspiradoras fueron las obras de los abolicionistas José Julián Acosta y Salvador Brau. 

Schomburg llega a New York el 17 de abril de 1891 y comparte hospedaje y actividades políticas con Flor Baerga, un coleccionista aficionado de libros que había recopilado muchos documentos de emigrantes cubanos y puertorriqueños en New York. Conoció a José Martí, quien fue otra figura que le inspiró y cuya obra literaria disfrutaba. En un viaje a Nueva Orleáns en 1892 se conmueve profundamente al visitar las comunidades negras y escuchar las canciones religiosas. Se identifica con los afroamericanos.

En 1892 se convierte en masón y se hace parte de la Logia El Sol de Cuba. A raíz de su dominio del español, inglés y el francés, fue nombrado Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Extranjeras y traduce documentos masónicos al español. Organizó y preservó los archivos de la Logia y estableció muchos contactos que le facilitaron su misión de preservar y documentar la historia negra.

Con sus escasos ingresos como supervisor de la Sección de Correspondencia del Banker’s Trust, Schomburg acopió una gran colección de libros, documentos valiosos y artefactos en su casa. Era visitado por los estudiantes e intelectuales que investigaban la historia negra. Participaba activamente en todos los eventos sociales, culturales y políticos asociados con la comunidad negra. Contribuyó a desarrollar

orgullo por la raza negra, proveyendo recursos bibliográficos, orientación e interpretación de los logros de la humanidad negra. Publicó una gran cantidad de artículos en torno a la aportación del negro. Prestaba sus libros y permitía que las personas visitaran su hogar para realizar sus investigaciones.


¿Cómo desarrolló Schomburg su colección de libros y documentos? Le pedía a sus amigos que viajaban que adquirieran libros y documentos. Viajaba para buscar materiales para documentar sus investigaciones. Realizaba bibliografías sobre literatura afroamericana. Mantenía correspondencia con personas de todo el mundo.

Compraba libros raros en París, Londres, La Habana, Madrid, Hamburgo y Estados Unidos. Hacía colectas entre sus amigos y conocidos para adquirir obras valiosas. Su activa participación en la Sociedad Negra para la Investigación Histórica le permitió establecer contactos para fortalecer su colección, la cual ya para el 1925 contaba con más de 3,000 volúmenes, 1,100 folletos, estampas, manuscritos, conferencias, invitaciones a actividades sociales, cívicas y religiosas, programas de teatro, anuncios de conciertos, estampas, folletos, etc.


Era consultado por intelectuales, historiadores, escritores, y artistas negros. Mantenía correspondencia e intercambiaba documentos con importantes líderes negros, coleccionistas de libros, vendedores de antigüedades, bibliófilos, escritores e historiadores de muchas partes del mundo. Era un gran negociador, pues tenía un sentido muy agudo para identificar documentos valiosos.


Schomburg establece el fundamento intelectual para el movimiento denominado El Renacimiento de Harlem o el Renacimiento Negro, en el cual Harlem se convirtió en el centro cultural del negro. Durante ese período se fortaleció su lucha por el reconocimiento de la historia y herencia negra. La New York Public Library en Harlem era el centro de acción de Schomburg, quien donó parte de sus libros cuando su esposa le dijo que se iban los libros de la casa o se iba ella… Organizó la División de Literatura, Historia y Estampas del Negro. En 1926 la Carnegie Foundation dona $10,000 para comprar su valiosa colección para la New York Public Library. Con esa suma de dinero, Schomburg viaja a Europa y a Cuba para adquirir más recursos bibliográficos para la Biblioteca. En 1932 lo nombran conservador de la Sala de Investigación del Schomburg Center.

Mantuvo su pasión por la bibliofilia hasta su muerte, acaecida el 10 de junio de 1938, a los 64 años como consecuencia de las complicaciones de una infección dental. Puerto Rico y la clase profesional bibliotecaria con Alfonso Schomburg, quien puso en alto, como pocos, el nombre de nuestro país y realizó una aportación extraordinaria a la biblioteca pública más reconocida del mundo. Nunca es tarde para reinvindicarnos y rescatar del olvido a este insigne afro-borinqueño, como a veces él se hacía llamar. Prometemos seguir trabajando en ello. Muy pronto el mundo será testigo del nacimiento de una obra sublime, valiosa y digna que honrará la memoria de este humanista puertorriqueño.

Sugerencia: La próxima vez que dé un viajecito a Nueva York, además de visitar el Rockefeller Center, la Estatua de la Libertad y el Parque Central, dese una vueltecita por la 135 y Lenox. Tan pronto se baje de la estación del tren, verá de frente la New York Public Library, un edificio de ladrillos con un rótulo que lee: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Tengo la certeza de que su corazón va a latir aceleradamente y va a sentir un profundo orgullo que le hará exclamar:


“Ése es boricua, pa’ que tú lo sepas!


La doctora nos anuncia una 2da parte de este trabajo.


La autora es doctora en bibliotecología y trabaja en el Sistema de Bibliotecas de la Universidad de Puerto Rico en Río Piedras.

University of Guam, Scripps Institution of Oceanography sign agreement

Marianas Variety

The University of Guam and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography entered into a memorandum of understanding yesterday, which will create a working relationship involving exchanges in resources, research and student education for the two institutions.

UOG President Dr. Robert Underwood and Dr. Doug Bartlett, deep sea microbiologist and deputy director of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, signed the MOU yesterday afternoon in the President’s Conference Room at the UOG campus.

Also present during the signing was Dr. Helen Whippy, UOG senior vice president for Academic and Student Affairs, and Scripps engineer Kevin Hardy, designer of the unmanned lander vehicles used in the Challenger Deep expedition.

Both Barlett and Hardy were part of the Challenger Deep science team that accompanied acclaimed filmmaker James Cameron on his recent expedition to the Mariana Trench.

As outlined in the MOU, the two institutions will cooperate to further the development of basic scientific and applied research with goals of advancing research in ocean science, gaining a more fundamental understanding of the oceans, and benefiting society at large.

Exchange

At the core of the MOU is the exchange of academic and scientific knowledge, UOG indicated in a press release. That entails the exchanging of researchers, scientists, faculty members and graduate students; scientific information in fields of mutual interest; exchanging scholars for lectures, talks, conferences, colloquia, symposia and sharing of experiences; implementing cooperative research programs; and making facilities and equipment (including research vessels) of one party available to researchers from the other party, among a number of activities.

“The value of any MOU of this kind depends on more than just the goodwill, but the active involvement of both parties to look for opportunities in the future,” said Barlett, highlighting some ideas that went beyond the research into the Deepsea Challenge expedition.

Barlett expressed his optimism that the partnership would provide productive interactions in the form of proposals, funded grants, and exchanges involving research and student education.

“It’d be wonderful to have some students from Guam taking some of our classes and some of our students coming here,” he added.

Anguilla Chief Ministers speaks on sustainable development

CM's Speech notes at Anguilla Renewable Energy Integration Stakeholder Workshop

Speech by Anguilla's Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, 

Mr. Hubert Hughes

Anguilla News

I adopt the protocol already established.

Firstly, let me extend a warm welcome, once again, to our visitors Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), the sponsor of this project and CASTALIA Strategic Advisors, the contracted consultant , , who have come, on their second visit now, to assist us in this very important endeavour. 

I also acknowledge the important roles that the Anguilla Renewable Energy Office, ANGLEC, the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Ministry of Infrastructure and other stakeholders are all playing to make this project a success. I give particular mention to HMG, who, through DFID, is providing funding for this project.

As Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism I have a vested interest in electricity not only in this project but in the entire electricity sector of Anguilla as a whole. Thus, it is with esteemed pleasure that I address you this morning on such an important and topical subject as Renewable Energy (RE).

The woes caused by the world’s financial and economic downturn coupled with the extremely high prices we have to pay for electricity in Anguilla have dealt a crippling blow to both our commercial and residential consumers alike. The situation has now reached untenable proportions and may be even described as approaching crisis levels when we consider the amount of businesses that are closing and households that are off the grid because they cannot afford to meet their obligations including paying their electricity bills.

My Government hear the cry of the people and is responding to that cry. We are pushing ahead as fast and as responsible as we can with this project which will put in place the legislative and regulatory framework to allow the integration of RE into our energy system, both at the utility and distributed levels. 

This should bring relief on two fronts as the utility would now be able to freely procure renewable energy plant and thus we should see a reduction in electricity prices as they switch to RE; and on the other hand, the small house-holder would now be able to procure RE plant and feed into the grid thus allowing him/her to reduce his/her electricity bill and at the same time sell excess generation back to Anglec. 

This will only be the beginning. It is a deliberate top priority policy decision of my Government to develop RE, as fast as we can, so as to provide further relief to electricity consumers in Anguilla. At present my Government is working on other initiatives whereby we are seeking Technical Assistance from the United Kingdom for the reform of the entire energy sector in Anguilla. 

At the same time we are also encouraging Anglec to forge ahead with the procurement of renewable energy plant, perhaps a 2 or 3 MW plant in the first instance and continued RE procurement thereafter.

Some of these initiatives will begin to bear fruit in the immediate term and as we put more initiatives in place we will see further benefits being realized by the use of renewables in Anguilla and hence a corresponding reduction in the cost of electricity; which the Minister for Energy will speak to in greater detail. Let me hasten to add that we must temper our expectations because, like everything else, these initiatives do take time to implement.

A policy priority of Government during this project is Improving Environmental Sustainability. This will seek to protect the local environment and this is vital since the environment is essential to our bread basket, the tourism industry, and thus the economy of Anguilla. As Minister with responsibility for Tourism this is of particular interest to me.

Anguilla’s impact on the global environment by its emission of greenhouse gases through the use of fossil fuel is minimal. However, it will suffer disproportionally more than large emitters from the effects of climate change since it is a small, low lying island, in the Caribbean. It can become exposed to increased intensity and frequency of hurricanes due to increase climate variability. It would be more equitable for the largest polluters to pay to mitigate global greenhouse gas emissions, and help the developing countries become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

RE Integration can help reduce both local and global environmental impacts by lowering greenhouse emissions. However, there is a trade-off to make regarding how much RE to integrate to protect the environment, and the costs of integration. Investing in economically viable RE technologies can both mitigate impacts and lower costs. Once all of the viable RE investments have been made, achieving larger reductions in emissions will require the integration of additional RE projects that are more expensive at this time than conventional generation. This would lead to increased electricity costs that would be passed on to the end consumer in the form of higher electricity prices. Thus, for global environmental sustainability, Anguilla’s objective will be to pursue greenhouse gas abatement options as long as they are least cost, that is, they reduce the cost of electricity to the country as a whole. 

This then becomes the threshold at which Anguilla will have to leverage the larger countries and foundations for help with climate change mitigation.

Once again I extend a warm welcome to all and look forward to a very successful Renewable Energy Stakeholder Workshop.

Economic inequality of U.S. dependencies evident as federal health care funding opposed in U.S. Congressional committee

"The impending decrease in funding is indicative of the political and economic deficiencies inherent in the U.S. territorial status where American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not have the same political or economic rights as the integrated 50 U.S. states"  -  a territorial expert.

U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate's amendment to restore Medicaid funding fails

Virgin Islands Daily News

V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen's amendment to a U.S. House committee's recommendation regarding the Affordable Care Act was voted down by the committee's Republican majority on Wednesday.

Christensen's amendment sought to restore Medicaid funding to the U.S. territories that would be cut from the federal budget under legislation that would repeal portions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. The cuts would result in a decrease of 65 percent of Medicaid funding for the territories during the next 10 years, according to a statement Christensen released Wednesday.

Christensen's amendment seeking to counter the Medicaid cuts was voted down 30-21 on a roll call vote along party lines.

"This cut targets the territories, is irresponsible, unprincipled, unjustified and unnecessary, and if implemented would deal the territories a crippling blow," Christensen said in introducing the amendment.

Christensen's amendment was supported in statements by ranking committee member Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Rep. Charles Gonzales, D-Texas.

Christensen said the Affordable Care Act addressed, but did not correct traditional discriminatory treatment to the territories regarding Medicaid.

"The federal government pays at least 50 percent of the Medicaid program's cost in each of the states and around 80 percent in the poorest states," she said. "By contrast, federal law imposes an annual cap on funding in the territories. Historically, the territories' caps were shockingly low."

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U.S. House Votes To Cut Medicaid for Guam and CNMI

By Haidee V. Eugenio
Saipan Tribune

 http://www.saipantribune.com

A unified voice from U.S. territorial governors and delegates failed to block Republicans from reducing Medicaid funding for the territories, including the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI).

Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP) said yesterday that Republicans on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to take away some $100 million in Medicaid funding from the CNMI and increase the CNMI's local match by 11 percent.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial joined on Tuesday Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo, U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. John P. de Jongh Jr., Puerto Rico Gov. Luis G. Fortuno, and American Samoa Gov. Togiola Tulafono in asking the Energy and Commerce Committee "to vote 'no' on de-funding the territories."

"As governors serving the over 4.5 million Americans who live in the Territories of the United States, we are writing in strong opposition to the proposed elimination of the funding provided to the Territories under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," Fitial and the other governors said.

But the five territorial governors' plea fell on deaf ears as Republicans voted to de-fund the territories.

The bill repeals a provision of the Affordable Care Act that provided for $6.3 billion in additional funding for Medicaid in the territories from Fiscal Year 2011 through 2019, and increased the territories' Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) from 50 percent to 55 percent.

Sablan, in a statement yesterday, said the Republican legislation strips Medicaid funding from all the U.S. territories that they won in health care reform-Obamacare-when Democrats led Congress in 2010.

"With the Commonwealth Health Center in serious jeopardy, with little kids getting turned away from the dentist, there could not be a worse time for Republicans to steal away our Medicaid money. But once again, it is the poor and the weak who take the hit," said Sablan, who has been running as independent but aligns himself with Democrats.

Medicaid is the federal health care program for those with low income.

Some 14,700 people in the Marianas, who cannot afford care, are eligible for hospital care, outpatient services, and prescription drugs through Medicaid.

CNMI officials expressed disappointment with the loss of millions of funding for healthcare.

Sen. Ralph Torres (R-Saipan), chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, said providing healthcare would become more difficult as a result of Medicaid funding cuts.

"Even now, we are experiencing very difficult time to give proper health service," he told Saipan Tribune.

Sablan said territorial delegates worked together to block the legislation.

But he said Republicans killed an amendment offered by Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands), who is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, on a straight party line vote.

Sablan said 30 Republicans voted to slash Medicaid for the territories by 65 percent over the coming decade.

He said the 21 Committee Democrats voted to protect the territorial Medicaid money and maintain the current 55-45 federal-local match.

"As with last week's vote in the Agriculture Committee to cut food stamps funding our poor families rely on, Republicans in Congress are choosing to balance the budget on the backs of those who can least afford it," Sablan said.

Governors and delegates said Medicaid for the territories has long lagged behind funding for the states, and health in the territories has suffered as a result.

"Instead of working to close the gap between the territories and the rest of the U.S.-as we did in the Democratic-led Congress, the Republican plan is to make the gap wider between those who have adequate medical care and those who have not. How can anyone justify that?" Sablan asked.

The legislation Republicans passed yesterday is part of their effort to repeal Obamacare.

Section 1204 of the health care reform act worked to close the gap in care for the over 4 million Americans in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the CNMI by providing $6.3 billion in increased Medicaid funding and increasing the federal share of Medicaid from 50 percent to 55 percent.

Sablan said the new funds became available on July 1, 2011 and the CNMI immediately drew down $8.1 million.

That was on top of $6.4 million already received for fiscal 2011. For fiscal year 2012, the CNMI submitted a budget for another $18.2 million in federal medical aid grants, including $17 million for Medicaid, he said.

Over the next eight years, the CNMI will receive $140 million in Medicaid - three times more than before the President signed the health care reform law in 2010.

"That huge increase for the islands passed Congress without a single Republican vote; and now Republicans want to take that money away," Sablan added.

Guam Delegate Madeleine Bordallo also issued a statement yesterday, saying that the Republican attempt to eliminate critical Medicaid funding for the territories shifts the funding problem back to the territories.

"Rather than working with us to remove the cap by decreasing the local match, the Republicans have reduced our funding. This funding has helped to provide critical services for residents in the territories who depend on Medicaid for health coverage, and the loss of these additional funds would negate important progress made toward reducing health disparities among the territories," she said.

Republicans crafted the bill to meet spending targets stipulated in the recently-passed Ryan budget resolution, which requires the Energy and Commerce Committee to reduce the deficit by $96.76 billion over the next decade.

The bill was considered by the full Energy and Commerce Committee yesterday, and is expected to be considered on the House floor in the coming weeks.

Bordallo joined her colleagues from the territories in sending a letter to the Committee chairman to request that he "reconsider" his proposal, which, if enacted, would have many adverse impacts for people residing in the territories.

"We will work to block this bill in the Senate," she added.

Saipan Tribune http://www.saipantribune.com