allAfrica.com

Africa: Continent Needs Infrastructure, Integration, Says AU Leader

interview

Washington, DC — Africa has taken "a major hit" from the global economic recession but it can weather the storm, says Erastus Mwencha, deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission. Mwencha visited Washington, DC recently for meetings with United States officials and leaders from international financial institutions. AllAfrica interviewed him on a range of issues, including the continent's regional organizations and piracy off Somalia. Excerpts:

Africa's economic growth has been strong over the past few years but many are worried that the continent is going to be hit by the worldwide recession. How badly will this downturn affect Africa?

Obviously Africa has had a major hit out of the world economic crisis manifesting itself in fostering reduced growth. As you mentioned Africa's performance in the last three to four years was in the range of 5.5 percent, but our current estimates are in the range of 3 percent, which is quite significant...

Africa is therefore very vulnerable and the worst aspects have also manifested themselves in reduced export earnings, reduced remittances, tourism, government budgets and so many others.
 
The recession also figures to affect aid and investment. What kind of help is Africa looking for to keep the economies on the continent growing?

 
We are happy in a way that the G20 process took into account Africa's participation and there is some language in the G20 communique that takes into account least-developed countries, but there are some three aspects that we would like to see clarified in that language.

One is [to see how] the G20 stimulus package would cover the African context. Secondly, in terms of resources that will be available for Africa, we know that there was $1.1 trillion that was earmarked , but we don't know how much of this is really earmarked for Africa and the processes for accessing these resources.

Where is the aid money needed the most right now?

The key sector that Africa needs is infrastructure. When I talk of infrastructure, I'm talking of energy, roads, railways and all that, that will help Africa integrate itself. And then of course integration doesn't require huge investment. What it requires is for countries to be able to address those elements that make it difficult for member countries belonging to various regional economic communities to implement their commitments.

What are the African Union's goals for its relationship with the United States?

In our dialogue here in the U.S. of course one of the things that we have looked at is... the World Trade Organization process [aimed at agreeing a new world trade deal] and the process of stimulus.

It's important that trade is not stifled. We have seen African trade with the U.S. decline sharply from U.S. $8 billion to $3 billion [a year], and that is going to have a significant effect on the ground.

The second aspect is the Millennium Challenge Account. We are encouraging and continue to impress upon the U.S. government that… [we should] have a regional component of it – it will have huge return with a regional perspective.

We are also focusing on how we can work together on matters of peace and security on the continent because it's only when we have a stable environment in Africa that we can have private sector investment.
 
On the subject of integration, we have seen major regional economic integration over the past few years. Do you think the rise of these economic blocks helps or hinders the mission of the AU?

First of all the African Union's main objective is to have integration of the continent and [to have a continent] that is free of conflict… that is prosperous and that is competitive globally. The African Union sees regional economic blocks as building blocks and we have a memorandum of understanding, we have a protocol that brings regional integration groupings to a common dialogue with the African Union to have a common vision.

That vision requires that we monitor, support and assist regional economic communities... There is scope for Africa to trade more with itself and if we are going to talk of this issue it can be done only within the context of regional groupings.

You don't see a risk in the groups hurting cross-regional trade on the continent?

No, because we have already taken steps, first of all to recognize eight regional groupings on the continent. We of course know that uniting the continent is... best done with some more regional groupings and then that's why they've become building blocks. So there's no contradiction between regional economic groupings and African Union.
 
In fact we have seen regional economic communities invite us to assist the process of coming to work together to remove contradictions that could be generated if they worked in isolation. In the last six months we have seen the East African Community, the Common Market for East and Southern Africa and the Southern African Development Community come together to agree to establish one customs union and they have invited us to assist them with that.
 
The chair of the African Union, Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi has considered recognizing the new governments of Mauritania and Madagascar, both of which came to power through coups and extra-legal means. The AU itself has taken a different stance. Is this a problem?
 
I think what is important is what the African Union is saying. All of us can have our individual opinions… I think even if you took any issue in the U.S, you cannot get complete consensus of 100 percent. Individuals will always have their own perspective.
 
I think the AU's stand is very clear... [It is to] suspend that country from the grouping, and of course what we then… do is assist that country to put back the constitutional process. That is what we are doing in Madagascar; that's what we are doing in Mauritania.
 
Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a huge story. What kind of things can the AU do to help fight the piracy and also to help Somalia?

I think it is to strengthen the Somali government... We are working to strengthen AU forces on the ground and also to support the Somali government to put in place a mechanism that they can police that they can be in charge of their own environment.


Copyright © 2009 allAfrica.com. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 130 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

Comments 1 to 2 of 2 Post a comment

  • johangelo
    May 9 2009, 11:54

    In reference to the Continent-Wide integration of Africa, I submit, it can be done in as little as four (4) years. I realized that the regional blocks are playing their parts, but that road, though necessary is just too long a road to take. Regional Cooperation is only one arm for overall African Integration, but it must be under the United Africa Continent (UAC)- the new name for all Country-States in Africa. Making Africa One in name will allow Africans to fight harder to see that the continent is truly united.

    How can Africa be totally united in 4 years:

    1st year - all current heads of states must reliquish power to their deputies after forming and becoming members in the higest body of the New African Government. They will give that new body a name and certify that the official name for Africa is the UAC. With that done, the new body of presidents must select one Supreme justice from each country-state to write the UAC Constitution with their imput. After that is done, a framework of Continental, National and Local political structures must be formed and member states must adopt these structures before the end of the third year. The deputies will now become Prime Ministers and will see to it that the political infrastructure is in place for continent wide elections in the fourth year.

    2nd year - Members of the highest body, will put into place all necessary organs and branches within the limit of the constitution to enhance the productivity of all Africans. This new body, must give way to the Tri-Level Government. Three Presidents: one domestic, one foreign and one general. The general presidentwill be the head of the tri-level government and will determine the course the UAC will go. After bringing the continent together, the highest body, will have two important roles: No war can be started without their approval and the right to remove any president with a 2/3 majority of voters from the regional block that president is from.

    3rd year - Africa must develop a security body with as many different branches as the constitution will allow in accordance with the higest body. There should be a continent army, air force, navy. All other security forces must be a join effort between all the presidents of the UAC. The UAC must develop an unbreakable alliance with the Unite States. Africa must Protect America and America must Protect Africa.

    4th year - The first three months all local elections must take place. The second three months all national elections must take place. The third three months all regional elections must take place. The fourth three months the Continental Goverment must be elected.

    Africa is a continent, it cannot be call the United States of Africa. There is already on USA. However, UAC - United Africa Continent is an appropriate name for Africa. Africa can be united and that can only be done with the current heads of states coming together to accelerate the process and bring needed prosperity to all Africans and the Continent.

  • upliftdarace_144
    May 13 2009, 12:41

    COMPREHENSIVE REPARATIONS - White Europeans need spiritual reparations

    - Black Africans need spiritual & financial reparations

    A. Appendix of Uncle Tom's Cabin Lists Companies who engaged in slavery

    B. NAACP & Black African Newspapers - records & details of lynchings

    1. Post Emancipation Slavery Cases (Convict Labor System Continues) via Modern Slavery Owners –

    2. Prison Stock Wall Street

    3. No Statute of Limitations on Murder ;[ LYNCHINGS ]

    BOOKNOTES FROM THE BOOK (and other sources) “ 100 YEARS OF LYNCHING “ BY RALPH GINZBURG

    [A – H victims ] - THEIR LOCATIONS & DATES

    * Henry Askew – Mississippi City, MS June 10, 1900

    * Walter Allen – Rome, GA Apr 1, 1902

    * Herman Arthur (1892) – Hodge’s Farm - Paris, TX July 6, 1920

    * Irving Arthur (1901) – Hodge’s Farm - Paris, TX July 6, 1920

    * Charles Atkins (1907) – Davisboro , GA May 18, 1922

    * Henry Argo (1911) – Chickasha , OK May 31, 1930

    * George Armwood (1909) – Princess Anne, MD Oct 18, 1933

    * Will Burks (1881) – Greenwood,SC Feb 18, 1900

    * James Bailey – Lake Cormorant, TX July 15, 1914

    * Jeff Brown – Cedar Bluff, MS Apr 1, 1916

    * Cleveland Butler – Dublin, GA July 2, 1919

    * Will Brown – Omaha, NE Oct, 1919

    * William Bowles – Eagle Lake, FL ????????

    * Jake Brooks – Oklahoma City, OK Jan 17, 1922

    * Parks Banks – Yazoo City, MS Aug 22, 1922

    * Albert Blades – Osceola, AR June 2, 1926

    * Willie Bryan (1906) – Darien, GA Sept 10, 1930

    * Norris Bendy – Clinton, SC July 5, 1933

    * Richard Coleman (1879) – Maysville, KY Dec 6, 1899

    * Elijah Clark (1880) – Huntsville, AL June 23, 1900

    * Ballie Crutchfield – Nashville, TN March 16, 1901

    * Dusty Crutchfield - Hamilton, GA Jan 23, 1912

    * Eugene Carter – Pierce City, MO Aug 10, 1901

    * Tom Clark – Corinth,MS Sept 28, 1904

    * Luther Colbert & His Wife– Eastland Plantation - Doddsville, MS July 7, 1914

    * William Carr – Planquemines, LA March 17, 1906

    * James Comeaux – Jennings, LA Aug 28, 1913

    * Henry Crosby – Parkinsville, KY Sept 21, 1913

    * Mary Conley – Arlington, GA Oct 4, 1916

    * Lloyd Clay (1895) – Jackson, MS June 4, 1919

    * Eli Cooper – Eastman, GA - Burned Lodges & Churches too Aug 29, 1919

    * Dallas Cooksey – Johnson City, TN Oct 28, 1920

    * “Shap” Curry (1896) – King Ranch - Kirvin, TX May 6, 1922

    * John Cornish (1903) – King Ranch - Kirvin, TX May 6, 1922

    * Samuel Carter (1877) – Bronson, FL - This actual lynching was depicted In the movie “Rosewood “ Jan 4, 1923

    * Lindsay Coleman – Nicholas Plantation - Clarksdale, MS Dec 19, 1928

    * Henry Choate (1909) – Columbia, TN Nov 12, 1927

    * Cord Cheeck (1913) – Columbia, TN Dec 15, 1933

    * John Criggs (ca. 1904) – Newton, TX - Worked At Box Factory June 21, 1934

    * Richard Dickerson – Springfield, OH Feb 7, 1904 ?

    * Jim Durfee – Angleton , TX Oct 14, 1914

    * Frank Dodd – DeWitt, AR Oct 9, 1914

    * George Dorsey (1919) & Wife - Monroe, GA July 27, 1946

    * Charles Evan – Norway, SC July 2, 1903

    * Ruben Elrod – Piedmont, SC July 2, 1903

    * Warren Eton – Monroe, LA Oct 22, 1913

    * Charles Fisher – Marshall, TX April 29, 1914

    * John Foreman + 1 / - Nowata, OK Sept 30, 1916

    * Jim Fox – Louisville, MS June 13, 1927

    * Mark Fox – Louisville , MS June 13, 1927

    * Gulley (whole name unkown) – Pierce City, MO Aug 10, 1901

    * Richard Galloway + 1 / Beaumont, TX June 6, 1913

    * Wilson Gardner – Birmingham, AL Aug 25, 1913

    * Willie Green – Cowards, SC Dec 6, 1914

    * Ernest Glenwood ? – Americus, GA Oct 3, 1919

    * Philip Gathans ? – Rincon, GA June 21, 1920

    * George Gay (1897) – Fairfield, TX Dec 14, 1922

    * George Grant – Darien, GA Sept 10, 1930

    * David Gregory – Beaumont, TX Dec 8, 1933

    * Sam Holt – Newman, GA Apr 23, 1899

    * Belle Hathaway – Hamilton, GA Jan 23, 1912

    * Eugene Hamming – Hamilton, GA Jan 23, 1912

    * Hammet, Jess ? – Vivian, LA Aug 26, 1916

    * George Holden – Monroe, LA May 1, 1919

    * Robert Hicks (1896) – Lake Village, AR Nov 29, 1921

    * Len Hart (1889) – Jacksonville, FL Aug 25, 1913

    * George Hughes (1889) – Sherman, TX May 10, 1930

    * Ellwood Higginbotham – Oxford, MS Sept 18, 1935

    [I – Q victims ] - THEIR LOCATIONS & DATES

    * Ron Jacobs– Tylertown, Mississippi - Nov 10, 1920

    * Henry Jacobs– Tylertown, Mississippi - Nov 23, 1920

    * Richard James – Versailles, KY Mar 13, 1921

    * Moses Jones – King Ranch, Kirvin, TX May 6, 1922

    * Joe Love – Clarksdale, MS June 9, 1934

    * Wesley Johnson – Montgomery, AL June 4, 1937

    * Ray Newsome –H.A. Woods Farm–Pinetta, FL Oct 1, 1921

    * Nash Nelson (1909) –Ringgold, LA Feb 20, 1933

    * Andrew McCloud (1908) – Bastrop, LA July 9, 1934

    * Claude Neal (1911) – Marianna, FL Oct 27, 1934

    * “Bootjack” McDaniels – Duck Hill, MS Apr 14, 1937

    * Wilder McGowan (1914) – Wiggins, MS Nov 22, 1938

    * Roger Malcolm (1919) & His Wife – Monroe, GA July 27, 1916

    Warren ? (1906) – New Dacus, TX June 24, 1922

    An African American - Pilot Point, TX Dec 29, 1922

    Clarence ? – Aiken, SC Oct 8, 1926

    Bertha ? – Aiken, SC Oct 8, 1926

    Demon ? – Aiken, SC Oct 8, 1926

    Willie Kirkland – Magnolia Gardens, GA Sept 25, 1936 ?

    ??? - Ninety-Six, SC Oct 9, 1933

    Wylie McNeely (1902) – Leesburg, TX Oct 11, 1921

    John Peterson – Demark, SC – ca. 1899

    F.D. McLand - Shreveport, LA – June 19, 1901

    John Pennington – Enterprise, AL – August 7, 1901

    Pierce City African Americans –Pierce City, MO –August 20,1901

    Dudley Morgan – Lansing, TX – May 22, 1902

    Ed Johnson – Knoxville, TN – March 19, 1906

    Judge James – Pine Bluff, AR – March 26, 1910

    15–20 Negroes –Slocum-Denisons Springs-Palestine,TX7/31/1910

    Honea Path – Augusta, GA – November 13, 1916 ?

    John Moore – Hamilton, GA – January 23, 1912

    Tom Miles – Shreveport, LA – April 9, 1912

    A/A Man – Jackson, GA – May 4, 1912

    Willis Perkins – Sheffield, AL – Sept, 1912

    Walter Johnston – Princeton, WVA – September 7, 1912

    ???? Perrys – Marshall, TX – February 27, 1913

    Joe & John Perry – Henderson, NC – March 12, 1913

    Richard Puckett – Laurens, SC – August 12, 1913

    Lige Lane – Clinton County, GA – 1913

    Charley Jones – Groveton, GA – May 8, 1914

    Watson Lewis – Sylvester, GA? – December 13, 1914

    Felix Lake – Sylvester, GA - January 22, 1916

    Frank Lake – Sylvester, GA - January 22, 1916

    Dewer Lake – Sylvester, GA - January 22, 1916

    Major Lake – Sylvester, GA - January 22, 1916

    Oscar Martin – Idabel, OK – April 4, 1916

    Two A/As – Paducah, KY – October 16, 1916

    Will Powell – Montgomery, AL – July 25, 1917

    Jesse Powell – Montgomery, AL – July 25, 1917

    Ell Persons – Memphis, TN – May 18, 1917

    Jim McIlherron – Estill Springs, TN – February 13, 1918

    William Little – Blakely, GA – April 4, 1919

    [R – Z (victims ] - THEIR LOCATIONS & DATES

    Wells, George – Weir City, KS – October 30, 1899

    Rice, Louis – Ripley, TN – March 24, 1900

    Russ, Ed – Mississippi City, MS – June 10, 110

    Sanders, John + (1?) – Sneads, FL – June, 1900

    Reid, George – Rome, GA – January 4, 1900

    Ward, George – Terre Haute, IN – February 27, 1900

    Smith, Frank “Prophet”- Shreveport, LA – June 19, 1901

    Wyatt, David S, - Belleville, IL – June 8, 1900

    White, George F. – Wilmington, DE – June 20, 1903

    Steers, Jennie – Beard Plantation/Shreveport, LA- July 27, 1903

    A/A Residents – Whitesboro , TX – August 12, 1904

    Winters, John – Eastland Plantation/Doddsville, MS –Feb 7, 1904

    A/A Residents – Springfield, OH – February 9, 1904

    Nine (9) A/As – St. Charles , AR – March 25, 1904

    Richardson, Grant – Braehead, AL – October 13, 1910

    Verge , Sam – Demopolis, AL – August 4, 1911

    Qualken, Zachariah – Coatesville, PA – August 14, 1911

    Rufficant , ? – Wetumpka, AL – November 11, 1912

    Ricker, David (1883) –Houston, TX – February 8, 1913

    Williams, Andrew – Houston, TX – February, 1913

    Tyson, Charles (secret lynching) – Shreveport, LA – 2/16/1913

    Redding , William (4 wounded) –Americus, GA – June 21, 1913

    Swanson, Virgil – Greenville , GA – August 27, 1913

    Scott, Marie – Muskogee, OK – March 13, 1914

    Sullivan, Fred & Wife – Byhalia, MS – November 25, 1914

    Reed, Young – Cedar Keys, FL – February 26, 1915

    Sheffield , Caesar – Lake Park, GA – April 17, 1915

    Wilton, Mallie? – Dresden, TN – September 8, 1915

    Stevenson, Cordelia – Columbus, MS – December 18, 1915

    Wasshington, Jesse – Waco, TX - May 15, 1916

    Smith, Bert – Goose Creek, TX - October 12, 1917

    Washington, Berry – Eastman, GA – May, 1919

    Scott, Henry – Atlantic Coastline R/R , FL – May 8, 1920

    Roach, Edward (1896) – Durham, NC – July 8, 1920

    Roland, Jim – Camillia, GA – February 13, 1921

    Slater, Phil (1871) – Monticelle, AR – March 17, 1921

    Smith, Leroy (1907) – McGhee, AR – May 27, 1921

    Williams, John Henry – Moultrie, GA – June 20, 1921

    Winn, Alexander – Coolidge, TX – August 16, 1921

    Wothfield, Jerome – Winstron, NC – August 18, 1921

    Turner, Will – Helena, AR – November 19, 1921

    Rouse, Fred – Armour Packing – Ft. Worth, TX – Dec 12, 1921

    Thomas , Jesse + 1 - Waco, TX – May 27, 1922

    West, John – Hope, AR – July 28, 1922

    Wright, Charles – Perry, FL – September 14, 1922

    Young, Albert – Perry, FL – September 14, 1922

    Scott, James T. – Columbia, MO – April 29, 1923

    Warner, Lloyd – St. Joseph, MO – November 29, 1933

    Thomas, Isaac – Clarksdale, MS – June 9, 1934

    Sanders, James (1909) – Bolton, MS – July 16, 1934

    Young, Ab – Slayden, MS – March 12, 1935

    Tyrone, R.J. – Hattiesburg, MS – April 24, 1935

    Shaw, Lint (1891) – Colbert, GA – April 28, 1934

    Townes, Roosevelt – Duck Hill, MS – October 14, 1934

    Williams, A.C. – Quincy, FL – 1934?

    VICTIMS , THEIR LOCATIONS & DATES

    * UNKNOWN AFRICAN AMERICANS LYNCHED *

    - 1 Person - Eastman, GA Sept 11, 1903

    - 3 Persons – Doddsville, MS Feb 7, 1904

    - 4 Persons – Dady, FL (Also many A/As left town) Aug 4, 1910

    - 2 Persons – Hartwell, GA (1 beaten) Jan 3, 1916

    - 6 Persons - Blakely, GA (Also Lodge & Church Burned) Jan 3, 1916

    * An African-American R/R Porter – Atlantic Coastline R/R (FL) May 8, 1920

    [As pay got better for R/R workers, many A/As Were terrorized or killed – Hence we now have mostly White Railroad Workers]

    * Joe “Pop” – Omaha, NE Oct 10, 1891

    * Ed _____ - Black River Section Of Williamsburg County Jan 13, 1927

    * [Unknown] – Columbus, MS July 22, 1933

    * [Unknown] – Franklinton, LA Jan 11, 1933

    * [Unknown ] – Savannah, GA – March 30, 1902

    Unknown – Wetumpka, AL – November 11, 1912

    A/A Woman – Wagner, OK – April, 1914

    Sea????, ____- Sylvester, GA – January 22, 1916

    One(1) A/A - Stuttgart, AR – Late August , 1916

    A/A Brakeman Yazoo & MS Valley R/R - March 17, 1921

    _____, Albert - Perry, FL – September 14, 1922

    Unknown – Streetman, TX – December 11, 1922 Swa???, Henry – Palm Beach , FL – Circa 1923

    MOBS OUT OF CONTROL

    Places ,Dates & Estimates of the total crowd(s)

    STATE CITY/COUNTY DATE CROWD

    ALABAMA Huntsville 7/23/1900 1,500 Montgomery 5/22/? 1,500

    ARKANSAS Nodema 1/27/1921 500 Texarkana 7/28/1922 100

    DELEWARE Wilmington 6/22/1903 2,000

    FLORIDA Marianna 10/27/1934 7,000

    GEORGIA Newman 4/23/1899 2,000 Rome 1/3/1901 150 Rome 4/1/1902 4,000 Hamilton 1/23/1912 100 Eastman 7/14/1901 50 Americus 6/21/1913 500 Rincon 6/21/1920 5,000 Davisboro 5/18/1922 200 Royston 4/28/1936 100

    KENTUCKY Maysville 12/7/1899 2,000 Versailles 3/13/1921 50

    LOUISIANA Shreveport 6/19/1901 200 Shreveport 8/26/1916 1,000 Sylvester 12/12/1914 200 Bastrop 7/9/1934 3,000 Ringgold 3/1/1933 1,500

    MARYLAND Princess Anne 10/18/1933 3,000 Salisbury 11/28/1933 500

    MOBS OUT OF CONTROL

    Places ,Dates & Estimates of the total crowd(s) STATE CITY/COUNTY DATE CROWD

    MISSISSIPPI Biloxi 6/10/1900 100 Clarksdale 6/9/1934 150 Doddsville 2/7/1904 1,000 Vicksburg 5/15/1919 1,000 Winon 4/13/1937 100

    MISSOURI Columbia 4/29/1923 500 Maryville 1/31/1931 3,000 St. Joseph 11/29/1933 10,000

    NEBRASKA Omaha 10/10/1891 10,000

    NORTH CAROLINA Roxboro 7/8/1920 200 Winston 8/18/1921 2,000

    OHIO Lima 8/31/1916 3,000

    OKLAHOMA Chickasha 5/31/1930 1,000

    SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia 2/18/1900 250

    TENNESSEE Estill Springs 2/12/1918 2,000

    TEXAS Corsicana 3/13/1901 5,000 El Campo ??? 300 Ft. Worth (Armour Packing) 12/17/1921 30 Goose Creek 10/12/1917 800 Houston 2/8/1913 1,000 Houston 6/24/1922 300 Kirvin 5/6/1922 500 Lansing 5/22/1902 4,000 Newton 6/21/1934 200 Palestine 7/31/1910 300 Paris 1/6/1920 3,000 Streetman 12/14/1922 1,500 Waco 5/15/1916 15,000

    MISCELLANEOUS

    1 Mass Exodus Of African Americans – resulting in major losses of properties. a) Yazoo City, MS – August 10, 1923

    2) African Americans Homes and/or Churches Burned a) Sherman , TX – May 10, 1930 b) Winnsboro, SC – June 14, 1932

    HEROES , THEIR LOCATIONS & DATES

    NAME (S) LOCATION DATE

    Sheriff Ely Lima, OH 8/31/1916

    14 Year Old Sheriff’s Daughter Columbia,SC Jan, 1917

    Grover C. Fain (Police Captain) Atlanta,GA 9/10/1930

    Sheriff Hood & 6 Deputies Winnsboro,SC ??

    Police Whitesboro,TX 8/13/1903

    Dr. James W. Reid Lowell, NC 3/26/1933

    Mayor Edward P. Smith Omaha,NE 9/29/1919

    Governor Stanley Murray, KY Jan, 1917

    Sheriff R.J. White Spartanburg,SC 8/18/1913

    [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]

    [http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] / [http://alexjonesringtones.net/]

    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 ]