The government of Sudan and its largest rebel opposition, the Justice & Equality Movement (JEM), signed a ceasfire yesterday. The agreement included a framework for power-sharing at all levels and $1billion commitment from neighboring Qatar to help rebuild the war-torn nation.
While there is still a long way to go, and several other smaller rebel groups that need to be factored in as well, this is definitely a big step toward in an area that could really use it.
Japanese Foreign Minister, Katsuya Okada, offered a sincere apology today for Japan’s colonial rule over Korea from 1910-1945. said he believes “what happened 100 years ago deprived Koreans of their country and national pride,” and that the victims of that era must never be forgotten.
Leaders of both Japan and Korea believe today’s apology is a starting point to better relations between the two nations in the years to come.
Congratulations to Laura Chinchilla who, earlier today was elected President of Costa Rica, making her the first female to hold the position.
A protege of former President, and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Oscar Arias, Chinchilla says she plans to carry on many of her precedssors policies while also aiming to improve education and stop drug traffickers from using Costa Rica as a transit route.
“East Germans are free to travel where they like. With immediate effect.” -East German politburo, November 9th, 1989
20 years ago today the Berlin Wall, which had long stood as a symbol of oppression and division was officially opened. Thousands of East and West Germans gathered to celebrate, and days later the wall itself was torn down reuniting loved ones and laying the foundation for the fall of Communism across the entire Soviet empire.
“What belongs together is now growing together.” -former West German Chancellor Willy Brandt
After more than 90 years of animosity (here’s some history on the dispute) Turkey and Armenia reached a peace agreement, over the weekend, that will establish diplomatic relations and open their shared border.
The agreement still must pass through both parliaments, and there are still some important details to be worked out, but overall, its definitely a step in the right direction, and one that can hopefully lead to eased tensions in other areas of Eastern Europe as well.
The UN recently established the first Monday in October (which is October 5th this year) as “World Habitat Day”. Led by one of our favorite organizations, Habitat For Humanity, the goal of the day is to advocate for adequate and affordable housing for all people both locally and globally.
Sticking with the kid theme for today (see previous post) we are happy to share that, now famous Florida 5th Grader, Damon Weaver finally landed his much-sought after interview with President Obama.
During the Inauguration, Weaver gained much publicity from his YouTube requests to interview the new Commander-in-Chief; although the closest he got was Vice-President Biden. Since then he has built quite a resume for himself appearing on several TV shows and interviewing quite a list of celebrities until he finally landed the big one.
Birmingham, AL Mayor Larry Langford issued a blanket pardon, yesterday, for all citizens arrested in nonviolent protests during the Civil Rights era.
While the pardon does offer to remove the arrests from individual’s legal records, it is even more powerful as a symbol of honor the thousands of citizens (many of whom were children when they were arrested) who were willing to sacrifice their freedom for equality.
In conjunction with today’s Juneteenth holiday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution, yesterday, apologizing for slavery and the subsequent Jim Crow laws that continually furthered racial discrimination. Several individual states have passed similar legislation, but this is the first official apology from the federal government.
While some criticize these types of resolutions because they don’t provide any tangible change, apologies are still very important as they often serve as a great starting point for improvement in the future.
It was a historic scene, last week, in India’s Parliament house when 64-year-old Meira Kumar was elected Speaker. Not only is she the first woman to hold that position, but as a Dalit, she comes from the lowest rung of the Hindu caste system; a community which has been discriminated against for centuries.
Kumar has been a member of Parliament for five terms, but the new position makes her the leader of the influential Lower House; not to mention an inspiration to other Dalits and women who have big dreams for the future.
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