UN News Service (New York)

Africa: Science Can Shield Continent From Economic Crisis, Spur Growth, UN Official Says

African governments must strongly support the development of new technologies to spur sustainable development and shield the continent from the global economic crisis, a senior United Nations official said today.

"As a coping mechanism and a shield against the global financial crisis, many countries are responding by investing in science and technology," Josué Dioné, Director of the Food Security and Sustainable Development Division of the Economic Commission for African (ECA).

Mr. Dioné cited India and China as examples, as he addressed over 600 scientists from the world over at the opening in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia of the First Session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology (CODIST-1).

The theme of the three-day meeting, "Scientific Development, Innovation and the Knowledge Economy" had been chosen to underscore the key role of science, technology and innovation in helping Africa countries to cope with the global financial and economic crisis, as well as the food, energy and climate change challenges that they face, he said.

A central event on the conference agenda is the Technology in Government Award, an initiative of ECA and the Canada Fund for Africa that recognizes the work of African governments in the effective use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for public services delivery, ECA said.

Over 30 applications were short-listed from Angola, Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, The Gambia, Tunisia and Zambia.

Twelve innovative projects selected from these country submissions will receive awards on the 30th of April at a Gala Dinner at the Sheraton Addis.

In addition, several book launch ceremonies are planned for this evening, all concerning works which demonstrate innovative application of technology in the provision of government services.

The CODIST-1 conference is organized by ECA in collaboration with The International Organization for Francophony, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and a host of other partners, ECA said.


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  • upliftdarace_144
    May 1 2009, 18:42

    Read the following book on the GMO game they are playing on us. If we eat GMO , we might as well eat plastic fruit; RIDICULOUS !!!!

    SEEDS OF DECEPTION BY JEFFREY SMITH

    “ A must read for truthseekers. “ [www.seedsofdeception.com]

    PARABLE OF THE GMO GAME AND ITS ORIGINATOR (Satan aka D-Evil )

    And Jesus said another parable to them, saying,

    “ The kingdom of heaven is like a man which planted good seed in his field:

    But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares (GMO / FAKE) among the wheat (NATURAL), and went his way.

    But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

    So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in thy field ?

    Where did these weeds (GMO/ FAKE) come from ?

    The Householder said to them, An enemy (D-Evil) has done this.

    The servants said to him, Do you want us to pull up the weeds ?

    The Householder said, No ; we don’t want to hurt the NATURAL plants by accident.

    Let the GMO /FAKE & NATURAL grow together until the harvest.

    And in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather together first the tares (GMO/ FAKE) , and bind them in bundles to burn them (In The Lake Of Fire & Brimstone).

    Then gather the wheat into my barn. (PARADISE) “ [Matthew 13:24 -30 - Paraphrased]

    ROACH GENES IN CORN [http://ixquick.com/do/metasearch.pl?query=Roach+genes+in+corn&cat=web&pl=f f&language=english]

    AIDS VIRUS IN CORN [http://ixquick.com/do/metasearch.pl]

    [This inspiring poem was featuring in the movie “Coach Carter ”]

    Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.

    We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?

    Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.

    Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.

    There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.

    We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.

    We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.

    It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.

    And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.

    And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others

    - Marianne Williamson -

    [NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]

    (Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )

    God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .

    God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.

    From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.

    Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.

    [Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]

    WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

    - Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]

  • upliftdarace_144
    May 4 2009, 03:40

    WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY DRINKING ? MANY SO-CALLED DIET SODAS CONTAIN ASPARTAME ?

    WHAT IS ASPARTAME ? [http://ixquick.com/do/metasearch.pl?query=aspartame&cat=web&pl=ff&language =english]

    [This inspiring poem was featuring in the movie “Coach Carter ”]

    Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.

    We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?

    Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.

    Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.

    There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.

    We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.

    We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.

    It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.

    And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.

    And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others

    - Marianne Williamson -

    [NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]

    (Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )

    God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .

    God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.

    From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.

    Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.

    [Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]

    WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

    - Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]