July 14, 2012

Anywhere in the world, the sound that binds us is the laughter of children playing.

We, as a species of human beings, need to figure out how to extend the grace and the optimism of a child – the ability to retain a melody in our minds and make it harmonize with the melody of our counterparts.

I am watching four children play a game in Malabo on a warm Saturday evening in

July.  They play enthusiastically, as children will, under the light provided by just the moon and the setting sun.  They are playing a game of “catch” with a rag filled with sand tied and knotted closed with a piece of string.  The player who drops the prize the least gets to wear the “medal” – the sign of victory.  The “medal” in this game of catch is an aged white robe with a pattern of red roses, which glistens like rare silk under the light of the moon.

And now, the sun has finally set and just my memories of so many Saturday nights in

Mount Airy, the neighborhood where I grew up in Philadelphia, somebody’s mother has rustled the kids home and under one roof with family – away from the complications that nightfall brings.

I don’t know what the drill is once the little ones get inside, but I would bet that the roles that we each took in my childhood home, and that of my friends, are the same in theirs.

Even without walls, once the mother declares the day is done; the day is done. Even without indoor plumbing, a bath is had. Even without electricity, there is a time when Mother says, “that’s enough…go to bed…”

Even without a doorbell or a phone, there is a time when playtime is over and your friends go home; no more calls, no more visits to the door requesting “playtime”.  Get in the bed… Now…

The family of Man, a species of too many tribes and dialects, operates the same, regardless of how we adorn our lives.

I have experienced love for people who speak a language I cannot understand. But what I have learned from my complete lack of knowing what they are saying to me is that joy is joy, laughter is laughter, love is love, and family is family.

The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation Applauds President Barack Obama for his extraordinary new partnership challenging the pandemic of chronic hunger in Africa

President Obama, USAID Administrator Dr. Raj Shah, The Chairman of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Daniel Yohannes, along with the Chairman of the African Union, President Yayi Boni of Benin, President Mills of Ghana, President Kikwete of Tanzania, and Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia made a bold stride to make food security a priority for the tens of thousands of children dying from the agony of starvation, the incalculable loss of life that continues to mount despite the fact that Africa holds most of the worlds unused arable land.

Citing the fact that just 50 years ago Africa was an exporter of food, Obama stressed that today, and Africa is importing food to feed the people of the Continent, a reality that is both unreasonable and irrational.

Obama announced a new alliance for food security and nutrition to bring together the world community to bring an international focus on developing the agricultural potential of Africa.

Further, Obama stressed that transformation in even the most challenging environments in Africa is possible by making tough reforms and attracting new investments.  The donor community, Obama stressed, must focus on the future plans for reform of the nations of Africa – a forward looking articulation of US-African policy which urges the private sector, from small to large multinationals to small African cooperatives, NGOs, and civil society groups to agree to make concrete and continuing commitments to align theses sectors with the forward growth of African economies.

As the single largest donor of aid in the Horn of Africa, President Obama also referenced the importance of focusing development efforts on providing trade and investment in countries where people lack dignity and self sufficiency, clearly declaring the moral authority of permitting the principles of human rights and corporate social responsibility in our efforts to lift people out of poverty – not by providing a hand out – but providing a hand up.

Obama stated,” when tens of thousands of children die from the agony of starvation… that sends us a message that we still have a lot of work to do.  It’s unacceptable.  It’s an outrage.  It’s an affront to who owe are.”

The Ninth Leon H. Sullivan Summit, a Summit of world leaders will gather this August 20 – 24, 2012 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea under the theme “Africa Rising”.  The overriding theme of the Summit, which is chaired by 2012 World Food Prize Honoree, former President of Ghana, John A. Kufuor, will be human rights in an increasingly global society.

The Upcoming Sullivan Summit is expected to be attended by upwards of 4000 delegates from across the US and Africa. Summit host President Obiang has indicated he is inviting all 54 African Presidents to attend the Sullivan Summit in the fully equipped and tourist ready new city of Malabo in Equatorial Guinea which was built to create a state of the art platform for the Summits of the African Union, the continent wide organization of African leaders.   In recent years, President Obiang has made significant reforms in his country and the Central African region stressing the importance of democratic ideals and creating an enabling environment for new investment and sustainable development.

President Obiang stepped down several months ago as Chairman of the African Union and passed his leadership post to President Yayi Boni of Benin.