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tv Brexit Secretary Remains Optimistic About EU Trade Deal CSPAN September 1, 2017 5:51pm-6:54pm EDT
votes in thet next will likely happen week. at 3:00te will gavel in eastern. senators will continue a judicial nomination for the district of columbia. you can watch the senate live on c-span2. announcer: next, a conversation on brexit and the u.s.-u.k. relationship with david davis, british secretary of state for exiting the european union. this is a little less than an hour. >> well, what a behaved crowd.
good morning, i am the executive vice president of the u.s. chamber of commerce, in charge of international affairs. on behalf of the u.s. chamber of delighted toare host the u.s. secretary of state for exiting the european union, david davis, give him a round of applause. i know, secretary davis this is your first visit back to washington in some time. it is an interesting time on both sides of the atlantic. here we have our unique set of interesting and complex challenges which will not be discussed at today's discussion. an are coming off interesting round of negotiations with your
counterpart in europe as well. i know there are a lot of business leaders but there are also diplomats from different industries in washington. i want to recognize one diplomat in particular. embassy whohe u.k. has done a great job representing your country in washington dc. now, it is an unusual occurrence, someone said on their way in, this is the first time in 25 years i've worn a tie on a friday before labor day. reflection onh a the importance of the talks going on in europe and the importance of our guest that we beforefull house the day labor day weekend. toward thek ticks
two-year deadline for the united kingdom to exit the european union, we know, secretary davis, you will be talking about the road ahead and how you look for to a more nimble and innovative british society going forward. here in the room we have partners in that endeavor. we have a huge stake in the transatlantic relationship. not just a commercial terms with the united states and europe account for 53% of gdp. we have an overall $5.5 billion trade and investment relationship. the relationship is a lot deeper than numbers. if you think about the history of your and the united states -- history of europe and the united
states fighting world war ii together and spreading the values of democracy and the rule of law around the world, the heart of this special relationship is the one between the united states and the u.k. i could talk about a lot of the physics. statistics. trade andion investment between our two countries counts for millions of jobs. today 42,000 american firms outort to the u.k. and ab 3500 have operations in the u.k. embark on this journey, it is important that the united
states business community and our government closely work hand-in-hand to help you achieve your goals and aspirations. we clearly have a stake in the outcome. that is why the chamber found the u.s.-u.k. business council to work not only to strengthen the relationship between the u.k. and the u.s., but also look at the work of the brexit area. we have three simple objectives. we are very pleased that he is one of the leaders and has become chair of this u.k. council. towant the eu and the u.k. build a foundation for ongoing
cooperation and we want to encourage you to ensure a clear transition period. clarity on the way for in terms of minimizing business disruption and encourage both sides to understand the to.sequences of failure you're a good deal. deal.ure to get a good american companies have a huge anditment to your country we know these will not be easy negotiations between the u.k. and the e.u. there are critics out there talking about the visions and unrealistic approaches. we also know there is another
response to that. that is to get to work and make can the e.u. and the u.k. move forward. we are eager to hear from you about how we can be helpful in our work here in the united states and in europe. we are eager to hear more about how the u.k. will deal with the flow of workers and data across borders. want to hear more about intellectual property rights cooperation. and tradebout customs facilitation, issues i know are very much on your agenda. oure is a paper outlining views on these issues. which we will share with you. the negotiations are going to be tough and had their ups and downs.
see a similarity in what the united states faces in the nafta talks. we have encouraged our administration and our partners in mexico and canada to do no harm. to recognize the tremendous if --benefits of the relationship. the stakes are high but our commitment to you and your government is we are very supportive of the special relationship the two countries have. of me lead to a introduction secretary devos. he was appointed secretary of state for exiting the european union. district ins a northeast england.
he has held an array of government position including science minister and shadow home secretary. before being elected, he worked in the food industry. if you look at the totality of his background, he is a good person to make sure the u.k. interests are well guarded in this negotiation. in his time in the reserves, secretary devos had a few broken fews --secretary dvis had a broken noses on occasion. , welcome to a committee very supportive of the u.s.-u.k. relation.
>> thank you for this generous comments. good morning to you all. fan of the-standing united states. you are the only country to be successfully founded on an idea, the idea of freedom and democracy put together. it is such a privilege to be here. the last time i was in the they -- the last time i gave a major was inin the states texas. now of course facing a devastating natural disaster. the people in the united states and the united kingdom are one
in the same. we have stood side-by-side through tough times, through world wars, through terrorism, through natural disasters area a. as always, britain has remained a friend. our thoughts and prayers are with the american people and all those suffering during the current tragedy. frome just flown in brussels where we have been busy with each other negotiation over our departure from the european union. our goal is to achieve a successful future partnership with the european union. one that delivers a seamless and frictionless trade as much as possible.
i said to my european seeserpart, the optimist opportunity in every difficulty. i am a determined optimist in this. fundamentally, i believe that a good deal is in both the interest of the 19 and the european union and the in -- of the united kingdom and the european union. many want clarity over our approach. you, the businesspeople, you don't start a negotiation knowing the exact conclusion. customs,as diverse as
data, all those things, we have begun to navigate our way towards the and i am confident rwards them. i want to step away from the details for a moment and look beyond the next few years. outside thel be european union. we can tackle the greatest social and economic challenges offace in this era globalization. questions for these is to not become isolationist. the economic problems of the
west cannot be to turn our back on globalization. instantly the world for once again. worlds to lead the forward once again. economies inop our areas where we have a disadvantage. this is the great prize we can win from brexit. we can strike new trade agreements across the globe, including with the european union. is tem in which mperate and logical. fifth largestld's economy.
achieving this will not be easy. need global businesses to global goaleve our s. sitting in this room. pedt invention has hel saved the lives of billions of people. i usually get the answer antibiotics or medical technology, the real answer is free-trade and capitalism. free-trade has delivered an unrivaled increase in prosperity
across the globe. it has raised more people out of poverty been any or all of government initiatives put together. undergoing anis extraordinary period of economic change. new technology is producing new forms of production and disrupting others. it is necessary to make the case for free trade and capitalism. for me here in the united states is the logical place to make that case. the united states is the crucible of the modern technological revolution. it is here in america where we have seen some of the most dramatic advancements in technology. often this is happening in partnership with companies and research centers based in the u.k.
our countries are great collaborators, pushing the boundaries of research. ofhave the greatest number in ourrize winners country than any other nations. englandhe northeast of that drove the industrial revolution. it was free-trade as much as the technological change they created the way for globalization. free trade helps spread that technology beyond europe. it's a written from being a economyd largely rural at the end of the 18th century to a largely industrial one at the end of the 19th century. ofthis country, the era
carnegie and j.p. morgan. trade across the globe allowed food thatus on the were the most successful court manufacture -- for manufacture. percent of people work in agriculture. makeup of the social our countries. society that is unequivocally better off. we as seen a shift in production, of manufactured goods from west to east. in 1990, less than 3% of the world manufacturing was made in
china. now it is just under 25%. change may feel like a threat and there are good reasons to believe globalization is not working for everyone. sluggish productivity growth has left wages falling for many in the u.k. and the u.s. the u.k. and the u.s. has for a long time spent more than we saved, meaning we have to borrow from abroad to cover the shortfall. the response of the international community has been to reduce rather than intensify cooperation and trade. reported ahe
rise in protectionism. we have seen examples of countries failing to play by the rules, intern providing risk for global systems. risk forn providing global systems. to remove excess has not been done. us the dangerwed of protectionism. it damages global trade. barriers inhibit global and domestic growth. it is through free-trade that we can deliver stable growth to our economy. way toy sustainable deliver better public services
is by boosting productivity. this means more trade, not less. for britain, it means maintaining our strong trade links with european mo arkets and seeking out new opportunities for trade and investment with a new and old friends alike. secretaryy our trade with here in july. tradench the u.s.-u.k. working group. at home, britain will remain opento the town, ideas -- ideas, we willnd create an economy that works for all. anwill open markets
open tradethe system. part of that will be the liberation of the service sector. gives us the potential to revitalize productivity and growth. we must work together to convince other countries of the benefits. has an important role to play in finding solutions that help share the benefits of globalization. at the same time, delivering a global economy that works better for all citizens.
are outside the european union, we will push harder by spearheading the movement to open up trade and boost productivity. opening service markets also brings another benefit. as the governor of the bank of england said, liberalization of services is one of the reasons for our trade deficit with the rest of the world. history has taught us that large, access to trade imbalances can be damaging for the entire global economy. these imbalances or a contributor to the financial crisis of 2007. surplus countries save vast amounts of money and this surplus came to the west.
thingsws people to buy they cannot afford. excess balances still exist. i want to visit commitment to create a international byporation to be met international cooperation on standards. outcompete emerging economies with cheap labor. there is no future in trying to be cheaper than china or other emerging economies who had enormous low-wage cost advantages. tocannot do very much regulate this advantage with less regulation. after we leave the european
union, we will not be engaging in a regulatory rate to the bottom. to the latory race bottom. an independent britain after brexit gives us a chance to race to the top for quality and standards across the globe. focusing on high-quality, high innovation, where the developed world can compete. we can compete to the benefits of workers. build trust between different companies in different countries. they can help develop better products. industry, ane industry where the safety of the consumer is paramount.
the european union has developed a standard for all new cars being registered in north america, europe and many other countries globally. standards to protect the environment. international civil aviation organization was to agree on regulations on aviation. in 2020, there will be a new global benchmark for aerospace technology. innovation,p drive promote the upside of new technology and energy. they can benefit our technology. they can help spread the new technology such as autonomous vehicles, electric cars and smart technologies. we are going to have to create a
whole new level of standard where both our economies do minate. towe are going to try prevent people from creating their own standard of barrier. the u.k. has an outstanding record for promoting standards internationally. driving up standards around the globe, helping out workers and companies to compete in the new aonomy and help us to build country ready to compete in the modern world. of international cooperation where countries like the u.s. and the u.k. provide
leadership. britain cooperating with our friends and allies to drop of standards around the world. standards around the world. britain is liberal and international. thank you very much. [applause] i will take questions and please do not restrict yourself to brexit. know you i can, you whaot walk around telling t you are going to do. questions, i could not
you on thewith importance of services in the global economy. have you had any success with talking to this administration which focuses on goods? the foundationnk will be laid in your relations with the eu so we can think about the timing of serious negotiations on that? need working hard on the to get the services as they should. theoretically, we share a common language, it should be easy. he has been working on it. -- i a natural and politic
n politics to ignore the obvious. we are working on that. u.s.-u.k., i suspect at the end of the day, the limiting .actor will be when we conclude a piece ofd by european law called a duty of sincere cooperation. cannoteans what we do undermine anything european union is doing. restricted in are the extent that we can negotiate. the restriction reduces
influence. one aspect here, which is what appens if we end up with we would notase, have a implementation of force because that would be building a loophole in the european external tariff barrier. withis not out of line what would be the timetable anyway. between us we are big complex economies. you would expect the deal we do to be quite long. sit?there, -- sir? >> thank you, thank you for your
great presentation. two questions related to current european politics. you served a government that was form at to be able to new government. how long will the current government last and are you certain prime minister may will be able to write the final chapter in brexit? another great lady of europe will be in the news soon, chancellor merkel is heading for a big election in germany. how will her reelection presumably enhance the brexit negotiations? gizzy, chief political
correspondent with newsmax. >> my expectation is the government will last the five years, we have changed our structures. used to the the prime minister would call the election whenever they would like. in terms of the brexit hastiation, your profession great fun on the politics of brexit. the real issue on brexit is practical, what kind of deal do we need? is the the driver and it same driver in the parliamentary arithmetic. it will get done in time. merkel, we are very
careful, government ministers, on commenting on other politics while abroad. the primary effects of the german election on the brexit process is timing. inis going to happen september but normally after a 1-3an election it takes coalition.orm a new it is a new government. europe,he politics of germany is important. is the biggest country in economic terms, and population terms, it is hard to overestimate the influence. the outcome of the german election, i'm not going to get
what it will be. guessm not going to publicly what it is going to be. the effect of the german election will be to accelerate the process once it happens. here andyou for being for your noteworthy remarks on trade. thank you for your leadership on this issue. equalse that trade better lives for more people. trade, hundreds of millions of containers go between the channel carrying goods, fresh fruit, produce, fast-moving consumer goods, the change, standards would
which would create additional cost, not just for the countries in this room and the u.k. and the eu but mom and dad in communities. i know you have not had the pleasure to get into the weeds that deep but i would welcome your thoughts on the mechanics. thehose not familiar witht arcane era of sanitary standards, it is one of the major issues in border trade post departure. context, looking at trade with the european union, you would trade into britain outside the tariff area.
of containers are cleared in 5 seconds. am going toeeting i the canadian border. fructose sell high syrup across the border. the sanitation. we have to do a great deal of not to make sure there is a parallel but identical standard area the way we are approaching andnegotiation parliamentary terms, we are assuring that in leslie deliver we choose not to, every standard will bey exists, it
standards of british pro ducts the day after we leave. parliament,back to we will look at the great repeal bill which is the great continuity bill. we had a unique aspect of this trade deal with the european union. we start with our standard as exactly the same place as everybody else. there is no need to spend several years getting the standards in line. we know exactly what they are and we know them well. we are acutely conscious of it. area is going to be the most complex.
which will bee manageable. i will probably i am required, i'm afraid, to take them from the press as well. wit --r: ralph kercher ralph carter with fedex. following with the question on customs, i read one of the witht papers you mentioned the vision for the longer term of customs relations. i think you made two proposals. one would establish customs regime controls between the u.k. and eight that you -- and the eu.
the second proposal was trying to track and trace goods that came from the u.k. under other customs regimes. could you talk about that second proposal and how it would work? sec. davis: you just asked a question that is subject for a whole new speech. what the gentleman has asked is that we published a paper about the possible customs regimes. we put out one proposal, which is a very practical proposal. it is all about facilitating, using automatic number plate recognition on vehicles crossing the border. it is about using authorized economic operators or trusted traders. those sorts of things, to practically make the burden of crossing the border between the it cand the eu as low as
possibly be. that will be doable if we have struck a three trade agreement, which is essentially nontariff, because then you really have to stop at the borders for regulatory inspections and rural espport and expections -- rul of origin inspections. the other approach is a blue sky approach. like a customs union, but we virtually control everything coming in. if you sell it to britain, you get your tariff zeroed or getting back to you, whatever. but if you are going to export it to britain for onward sale in the european union, you pay a next will tariff when you come in -- a next little terror of when you come in.
tarriffal when you come in. it does happen minister of burden -- have an administrative burden. you have to attract the product and know where it is going. that is how it works. .t was a blue sky idea i think what is most likely is the first one, not a second. my minister spent time tearing his hair out, following the various practical changes. that's how wide we are going in terms of imaginative options. it is not just true for customs. it is true for a whole series of other areas. let me take a last one from the room before we go to the media. davis.k you, secretary
i am the ambassador of iceland. seriously you how have thought about using the european free trade association and the economic area agreement as a mechanism, in other words, where you have to work out all the details, completely leaving the internal market? sec. davis: we have thought about it. -- of the great arguments none of you would have followed it in the detail i have -- but one of the arguments taking place is how much transition will be have. how will we avoid a cliff? this transition. then, people tend to think single -- this transition p
eriod, people tend to think single things. it is different if you are in a bank than if you are reducing agri products or if you are working in a regime which is heavily regulated, maybe cars or whatever. or maybe you've got cross-border traffic going backwards and forwards. the first thing to say is that the nature of the implementation. then, or the transition period, is not as clear-cut as people say, or people think in the beginning. using --of the idea of
the countries of norway and switzerland have different relationships through an arrangement. it has its own negotiating issue take it over. get over. over -- to this is probably the most complicated negotiation in history, and our enemy, in a way, is time. we will conclude the negotiations in two years, and the reason for the transition is to give us more time for practicalities, to allow us to build a regulatory regime, to allow businesses to change their way of doing business to cope with the outcome, and so on. those are the sorts of reasons, and it's not, at this stage, clear enough to know what the transition would look like. but adding another phase of negotiation would not necessarily help that.
we have thought about it. i promised to take questions from journalists. i am trying to see which table they are at. there we are. reporter: bbc news. couldary, i wonder if you address the issue of the current impasse, the forced settlement. -- on the divorce settlement. for what is the chance of the government paying money in the transition. , in order to -- the transition pope know, in order to unblock the talks? is that something you would consider? welcomedo you feel more in this town then you ever would in brussels? [laughter] sec. davis: i will answer the second one first.
it is more fun. this is not the first time i have negotiated in brussels. you would have no reason to know, but basically, in kurdish political terms, my second name is lazarus -- british political terms, my second name is lazarus. before, i was europe minister. at the end of a long negotiation, the british press tried to get all the other players in the negotiation to say something to splicing about me. they found they cannot get it, because actually i take the view that there is no reason not to be friends. eventually, they did get one of my fellow negotiators to comment on me, to give a comment on me.
the financial times got him to say something. they said, well, david is a master of constructive obstruction. he is a charming bastard. [laughter] sec. davis: the headline was "charming bastard." i was proud of it, because i have to be both charming and sometimes difficult. there will be tough times. the trick of this is to remember the end of it. when we want an outcome which is in everybody's interest, this is not a zero-sum game. the world know that outside thinks negotiation is all about the kids know -- much machismo. --
we are the biggest military power in europe. we are the biggest in terms of spending on national development. we are very important in counterterrorism. we are the biggest intelligence power in europe. we are a cyber superpower like you. there are lots of things. we want to stay friends. that is the first thing to guarantee. to your second question, i will not do the negotiation from the lectern, but what is going on is we have gotten to the point today where there has been some pressure in the last couple re over theessu question of if we pay a divorce bill, and if so, what it is. around.e stories flying i can't comment because we have not started that negotiation, but let me say this. complexa very
negotiation on transition alone, and when we come to that, we will have questions to deal with in financial terms, i'm sure, as well. but it is an idea that is being floated around. that has been is that the european negotiators are trying to say, well, we should settle the financials first and trade and other things later. is goat we would be doing through it line by line. we've got very good lawyers. , but itting a bit tense is in the early stages.
nothing in, nothing out. reporter: hello. sky news. in the interest of being friends, which you just highlighted, do you think blackmail is an appropriate word to describe the eu's approach to brexit negotiations? sec. davis: i know what you are doing. i never comment on our views on these things. look, we are in a difficult and negotiation.cated i have sent from the beginning it will be turbulent. what we are having at the beginning is the first ripple, and there will be many more along the way, at least the first half of my financial times description, the charming bit. who is that from "politico? " sorry, i don't know. reporter: katie o'donnell.
two questions. it was made pretty clear that the u.k. won't be able to cherry pick advantages of being in the eu without being a member. how will you sell that to u.k. voters, that they will have to lose benefits? in terms of special relationship , you talked about how the u.k. anti-e.u. will team up -- the u.k. and the eu will team up, but isn't the u.k. kind of less useful to the u.s. now that it does not have a seat at the table in brussels? sec. davis: first thing, in negotiations we have pejorative terms. i could give you a list of things the european union is doing and say that is cherry picking, but i have sort of told the british parliament they are going to be astonished by my politeness in the next two years, because there is no point tit-for-tatnto a exchange.
it is not the way to do it. in terms of the outcome at the end, what they want to see is a free trade agreement. people say, how can you do that in two years? i go back to the point i made to the gentleman over here, which is that we are already at a point where our standards are identical to the ones of the european union. we helped set some of them. that is straightforward in terms of free trade agreement. matt remind you remind you of the other way around, not just the british population. we sell -- the last numbers we have, the last audited numbers for trade in the european union, we sell 230 billion euros, big dollars, to them. they sell 290 billion to us. who's got the interest in the free trade agreement in this? us, or them? the answer is, of course, both,
and there are parts of europe which are very concerned about containing a free trade agreement. it could have a big impact on all the people in the north sea -- france, belgium, holland, denmark. rotterdam, one of the biggest container ports in the world, is going to be very concerned if we have a decent free trade agreement. it's not about cherry picking. it's about doing what's best for brussels. the u.s. special relationship, people talking it out and talk it down over the years. , as ithing, we start with said when i started the speech, i am proud to be here because this country is a country based on a fabulous idea. your founding fathers were incredibly judicious geniuses in designing a constitution for a country.
their job is made slightly that theythe fact picked off parts of our constitution to do that. we have similar arrangements. we have a convoy -- a common way of looking at things. we have spectacular cooperation on military matters, on intelligence matters, and we are huge trading partners to each other, and we are the two biggest powers in global financial services together. if the french ambassador is in the room, i apologize, but financial services internationally is essentially an english-speaking trade. why? because of new york and london. we have fantastic things to hold us together and draws together, and continue to draws together. 20 years ago, you might have thought that the reasons for holding us together have gone away. that is not true anymore.
we know that we still have natural disasters. we know these things are all massively important, and we are better at dealing with them together than we are separately. so it does not matter what people say. we've got the best bond between two countries that any two countries in the modern world have got. ,e are allies, we are friends we are people with a common two majorem, we are upholders of our view of how a civilized country should operate . for that reason alone, i am proud to be here today. thank you very much. [applause] >> i think that was a very fitting way to end an intriguing
session. that the u.k. has, for us, always had a very special role in pulling the rest of europe forward when it came to market globalization to setting the right rules and standards, with the united states on counterterrorism, on security issues. , in this want transition, to lose that role the u.k. as with the united states. you are a vision about the future role that the u.k. will stake out in developing open markets and fighting against protectionism and supporting trade flows and encouraging greater globalization of services and supporting innovation, and in many other areas, it is encouraging for all of us. as you can see, the questions, which could have gone for
another couple of hours, it is all in the details. while we support your broadvision, we also want to be partners with you to make sure that our interests are well represented in those details. expect that the u.s.-u.k. business council will continue to knock on your door. we have lots of papers and lots of member interests, and recognize behind that u.k. council is not just the u.s. chamber of commerce, the largest is this organization in this country, but the business members that are invested in doing is miss in your country -- doing business in your country, and will be there in the aftermath of this two-year period. good luck with your implementation, and remember the secretary fox chose u.s. chamber for his first visit in washington. you chose your first visit. secretary fox came back, therefore you must come back and
keep us updated on your progress . congratulations. thank you very much. [applause] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2017] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. visit ncicap.org] announcer: tonight, a look at the impact of digital technology on education in the u.s., including google's chief education of alan -- evangelist in the present of arizona state university. >> this is the first generation that does not know what the world look like before google. they did not know what the world looks like before the internet. they are going to have a of whatt expectation the world looks like, but more importantly what they can do with technology. born before 2000 is a homo sapien.
everyone born after that is a homo sapien,net. what that means is they are carrying supercomputers in their pocket with access to everything . we have no idea what this means. you could if you were a self visible in person, basically educate yourself at the moment. more on the impact of digital technology on education tonight. we will also hear from a former school superintendent who gave every student in the nation in -- every student in one of the nation's poorest school districts and ipad. c-span cities tour is in spokane, washington, with our comcast cable partners, as we explore that history's rich history and literary scene. saturday, book tv features the economic development of c-span.
built basically from the money from the mining district. they had the gold rush in 1883, strike. led to a silver it was one of the largest producing silver areas in the united states. a lot of the mansions and the buildings are all from the money. of oneer: and the life of the nation's most significant environmental leaders and father of the national park system, as local author james hunt talks about his book "restless buyers." ir was probably one of the most significant environmental leaders and thinkers. at 2:00r: on sunday p.m. eastern, american history tv features the story of expo
74, 1 of the first environmentally themed world fairs. >> spoke again is the small -- spokane is the smallest city in the world to ever host a world fair, but it was the first fair to use the environment as a wase, and i believe 1972 the very first earth day, and it was a great consciousness around environmentalism , and it became the theme and obsession of expo 74. announcer: we will also visit the childhood home of being crosby. c-span cities tour in spokane, washington. the c-span cities tour, working with our cable affiliates and visiting cities across the country. for the next hour, an american history tv
<div class="tv-ttl">Brexit Secretary Remains Optimistic About EU Trade Deal<div>CSPAN September 1, 2017 5:51pm-6:54pm EDT</div></div>
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted a discussion with David Davis, British Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, on Brexit and U.S.-U.K. trade relations. Secretary Davis spoke about the importance of the U.S.-U.K. relationship, how the U.K. will seek new free trade agreements, and why globalism, not protectionism, will guide the British trade philosophy following Brexit.
People: Myron Brilliant; David Davis
Sponsor: U.S. Chamber of Commerce | U.S.-U.K. Business Council
Europe 13, U.s. 12, United States 9, Britain 7, European Union 7, Us 6, Sec 6, Brussels 5, Washington 5, Eu 5, Spokane 3, Davis 3, United Kingdom 3, David Davis 2, Devos 2, Expo 2, China 2, Lazarus 2, Holland 1, Ure 1
Virtual Ch. 24


I'm sharing a few meals we've enjoyed lately that were easily thrown together in a pinch with a little prep done on the weekend or the night before. Most of these were the result of avoiding a grocery trip so I looked to pantry staples and things buried in my freezer. Hopefully these can serve as some inspiration for you and your family during this busy season of life, which I myself am always looking for. Enjoy!
Shredded and seared brussel sprouts with chopped pecans, Parmesan, a generous amount of olive oil, salt and pepper, served with this (no cook!) gemelli pasta.
Curry chicken salad made on the weekend with a store bought rotisserie chicken, leftover celery, random raisins, this ginger spread and pistachios. Served with blood oranges (a strange concept for two toddlers!) and some damn good cheese from Wine Authorities purchased on a Friday night out.
A pot of beans cooked low and slow (we pretty much only cook Camellia brand!) with cornbread muffins that served as breakfast and snack supplements the rest of the week.
Charcuterie and fromage. Zero effort or cooking and always a crowd pleaser.
Sweet potato hummus made from leftover roasted sweet potatoes, two cans of garbanzo beans, the juice of an orange, cinnamon, cumin, garlic, tahini and olive oil. A wonderful, healthy and flavorful snack or spread for sandwiches for throughout the week.
Also a few helpful posts you may have missed-meal planning tips and a chicken trick that will save you time and money.
P.S. My favorite spots to eat, play and shop in Raleigh right here.


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Tanenbaum Peacemaker Father Sava Travels to the U.S.
May 12, 2015 /in Conflict Resolution, Religion /by Nicole Margaretten
Father Sava Janjic, a Tanenbaum Peacemaker in Action who has been tirelessly pursuing peace and reconciliation in Kosovo for decades, concluded his recent trip to the U.S. last week in Boston, where he presented at the Colloquium on Orthodox Christianity and Humanitarianism: Ideas and Action in the Contemporary World. The Colloquium was sponsored by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America's Office of Inter-Orthodoxy, Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations. Father Sava and Joyce Dubensky, Tanenbaum CEO, both had the privilege of sitting on the Colloquium's "Experiences from the Frontline of Crisis Response and Delivery (Around the World)" panel on Friday, May 8, 2015.
Prior to his trip to Boston, Father Sava traveled throughout California with His Grace Bishop Maxim of the Western Diocese before spending a few days in Washington DC and New York. While in New York, Father Sava spoke to an intimate gathering at the Serbian Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Sava on Tuesday, May 5, about life in Kosovo and the plight of Kosovo Serbians.
Tanenbaum CEO Joyce Dubensky with Peacemaker Father Sava Janjic
During his talk at St. Sava, Father Sava touched on a number of topics. He lamented the "second class" treatment of Kosovo's Serbs; expressed concern over ethnic and religious extremism; and described how his monastery, Decani Monastery, was vandalized late last year with graffiti by ISIS sympathizers. While the Serbian Orthodox Church does not get involved in politics, Father Sava told the audience that the church promotes the equal treatment of all citizens, engaging in interfaith dialogue to help foster communal bonds among Kosovo's differing sects.
Despite difficult challenges and numerous setbacks for Kosovo, Father Sava believes it's critical to maintain hope and to continue to strive towards peace and a better world. He refuses to give up on his people.
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Tanenbaum Peacemakers Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye Prepare Nigerians for Upcoming Elections
February 25, 2015 /in Conflict Resolution /by Nicole Margaretten
On February 7, 2015, exactly one week before Nigerians were set to head to the polls, Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission postponed the Presidential and legislative elections for seven weeks (until March 28th). Concerned that Boko Haram's violent insurgency in the North would jeopardize the safety of voters around the country, the Commission's Chairman, Attahiru Jega, heeded the advice of national security officials – delaying the election and announcing a "major" multinational military operation against the terrorist organization. This decision has been widely criticized both in Nigeria and abroad; some worry the postponement will delegitimize the elections and others fear an increased likelihood of election-related violence.
Despite the danger posed by Boko Haram and the challenges posed by this politically charged environment, Tanenbaum's Peacemakers – Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, Co-Executive Directors of the Interfaith Mediation Center – remain undeterred in their work. Much like their efforts prior to the 2011 elections, these Nigerian Peacemakers are tirelessly preparing Nigerian communities around the country for the election and for conducting it in a peaceful manner.
Interviewed before the elections were postponed, Pastor James discussed the unique challenges posed by Boko Haram, as well as by national ethnic tensions.
Rather than targeting Christians and pitting Muslims against Christians, Boko Haram targets "everyone," not a specific religious group. Also, many Nigerians are unwillingly being "conscripted, and some are abducted from their families" to become members of the group. As a result, Pastor James believes the insurgents have actually mitigated religious tensions in the country.
Pastor James says that if the opportunity arises he would sit down and talk with the insurgents about their demands. He noted that, prior to the recent offensive, the government's response to Boko Haram included "soft diplomacy," which involved an effort "to reintegrate the young men and women who are involved in this insurgency."
As the elections approach, Pastor James is also concerned about ethnic tensions. Nigeria's population of more than 149 million people is made up of over 250 ethnic groups. He and Imam Ashafa are urging their fellow Nigerians to respect the election results and refrain from violence as a means of voicing any displeasure. They are focused on the role of religious leaders in the country and believe it will be critical – and, indeed, many of them have been "calling on the populace not to make provocative statements and to play by the rules of the game."
Pastor James is proud of his homeland and remains hopeful for its future. Yet he understands the challenges that lie ahead and the great need for Nigeria's "religious leaders to come together as they have before."
https://tanenbaum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Ashafa-and-Wuye-cropped-for-Profile1.jpg 370 350 Nicole Margaretten https://tanenbaum.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/TanenbaumLogos_CMYK-Long-Red-Copy-300x39.png Nicole Margaretten2015-02-25 14:11:382015-02-25 14:56:44Tanenbaum Peacemakers Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye Prepare Nigerians for Upcoming Elections
Photos from Defying Extremism – 2014 Conference
December 5, 2014 /in /by igor solaja
Photo Credit: Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice
Defying Extremism conference at the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice
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Defying Extremism: Gendered Responses to Religious Violence
Reflecting on the 2014 WomenPeacemakers Conference, Defying Extremism: Gendered Responses to Religious Violence, hosted by the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice
(November 19-21, 2014)
The Defying Extremism: Gendered Responses to Religious Violence Conference was a whirlwind. The three full days consisted of narratives, tools, ideas, questions, and some collaborative problem solving.
Situated overlooking San Diego's sparkling waters, both the bay and the ocean, the Kroc School bustled with conference activities. The picturesque landscape would prove a stark contrast to the gritty realities of the conference content. However, the serious nature of the conference did not leave a gloomy shadow over the days or personal interactions of conference participants, including 49 speakers from over 27 countries.
Instead, the conference topic and subsequent testimonials, panels, and working sessions, all genuinely invigorated the participants. Testimonials, like that of Margaret Arach Orech, Vicky Ibrahim, Arno Michaelis, Maxensia Nakibuuka, and Mubin Shaikh set the scene each day for why we all gathered: to pick up broken pieces and re-build a society or life that was riddled with hate manifested through violent religious extremism. They did not only move forward from traumatic experiences, but had the incredible courage to look back in attempts to fix what is broken in society and garner lessons to share with others. Each testimonial shone as a beacon of hope for the day, as well as genuine and thoughtful reminders that participants had some serious work and thinking to do and share on how to effectively combat religious extremism.
Panels allowed various organizations and individuals to share valuable insights into issues such as "building effective policies," "gender initiatives," "analysis of realities behind the headlines," and talking with extremists. Resounding messages included the integral need for gendered responses: the involvement of women's voices at all levels of defying extremism, including at the policy level, organizational level, national, regional, and local levels, grassroots levels, etc. One panelist spoke of a humbling reminder: women are often the first targets of extremist violence, and should be, seemingly obviously, included in discussions and policies that counteract extremist violence. Additionally, women often see the first signs of extremist behavior, at home or stirring in society. Women are on the frontlines and have unique access and insight that should be heeded in order to defy extremism.
Another resounding message included social media. Over and over again, participants heard examples of religious extremists, particularly ISIS and Boko Haram, using social media to recruit for the respective "causes." Potential recruits are lured in by multiple factors, one of which is money, which feeds into the next message, the need for economic opportunities and sources of income for people in conflict situations. Youth and the unemployed populations may join ISIS or Boko Haram for a source of income.
Defying violent religious extremism is multifaceted and multilayered and requires equally complex and individual responses. Overall, there is a need to understand the different dynamics involved in extremism and not place blame solely on one group or factor.
The panels were rich in content and context and sought to provide innovative ways of addressing violent religious extremism and how to robustly incorporate women's voices into the common narrative of defying extremism. Workshops provided a unique opportunity to deeply discuss pointed issues and topics. Since participants came from diverse perspectives, a purposeful decision made by the Institute for Peace and Justice conference coordinators, workshop presentations and discussions for problem solving, or further nuance, brought varied approaches that allowed respectful debate and further probing of topics like LGBT and Gender Inequality: Developing Gay-Straight Alliances to Counter Extremism, Development of the Network of Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, and Fostering Synergies for Advancing Women's Rights in Post-Conflict Islamic States.
Equally important were the conversations at breakfast, between conference sessions, and after the day. On the last morning of the conference, I shared breakfast with Maxensia from Uganda, Angeline from Jamaica, Margaret from Uganda, and a few other women. They work in different issues, different areas, and at varying levels of society. But, their shared outlook on always having hope truly humbled me. These three women working at different levels are peacemakers and embody all that I learn about in the classroom, including all of the horrifying realities, but they assured all of us at the table that if they wake up in the morning, there is always hope.
And, perhaps that was a takeaway from the conference: building networks of not just like-minded people doing similar work, but networks of diverse voices facing extremism, all of whom vigorously believe in and truly embody HOPE. And, amid all of the work that needs to be done to defy religious extremism, courageous men and women come together to thoughtfully and intensely work to find answers.
-Janie Dumbleton, Master's Candidate in Peace and Justice Studies at the University of San Diego's Joan B. Kroc School for Peace Studies
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Tanenbaum Peacemaker Receives International Peace Prize
September 25, 2014 /in /by igor solaja
A Tanenbaum Peacemaker in Action is back in the news! Ricardo Esquivia's organization, Sembrandopaz, which is based in the town of Sincelejo, in Sucre, Colombia, was just awarded the 2014 World Vision International Peace Prize.
The award is given out annually by World Vision International to acknowledge courageous "individuals or organizations that excel in peacebuilding or peacemaking". There were six finalists from India, Pakistan, Yemen, Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Colombia vying for this year's award. In the end, it was Ricardo's organization that was selected for their "dedication to an inclusive, holistic and just peace," becoming the first Latin American foundation to receive the World Vision International Peace Prize.
Ricardo is known for his fearless work in building national and regional dialogues with legal and illegal armed groups. Sembrandopaz supports sustainable development initiatives in Colombia's Caribbean region. Additionally, Sembrandopaz works with grassroots organizations to improve their capacity for facilitating peace at the community level.
Based on the traditions of the Mennonite Church, Sembrandopaz is devoted to the transformation of communities and their peaceful and sustainable development.
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Gaza and Israel: Which Side is Tanenbaum on?
August 1, 2014 /in /by igor solaja
As the Israel-Gaza violence escalates, I get more and more inquires about the organization I lead, asking where Tanenbaum stands and calling on us to speak out. In a number of ways, albeit not always directly, we have tried to say that we are torn apart by the violence on both sides. But that is not enough. It is time to try to clarify, though I know that many will not be satisfied because they want Tanenbaum and me to take a side.
We do take a side – it is the side of life. And the pursuit of a more peaceful world where differences – including religious differences – can thrive.
That means that Tanenbaum unequivocally condemns the use and abuse of religion in the furtherance of violence and geo-political aims.
It means that we denounce the extremists on both sides, who fuel war, horrific violence and hate.
It means that we oppose the verbal violence and rhetoric, the stereotypes and the "othering" that makes the human beings on both sides seem less human.
It means that Tanenbaum abhors war and violence, and that our hearts ache for the victims on both sides.
We are watching a human catastrophe for which words fail. Real people live in Israel and Gaza– people like you and me, who simply want to live their lives. Instead, they are being brutalized.
We see the Palestinian mother who watched her child die from a bomb. And the Palestinian father who is unable to keep his family safe. They are real, and I cannot imagine their agony. So too, is the Israeli mother who buries her son. And the Jewish child in Israel, who knows that she is alive today, only because Hitler did not finish what he started. And who also knows that the constant rockets mean that some of her neighbors are dedicated to making sure Hitler's plan for her is finally realized.
These men, women and children – the real victims on both sides – are why Tanenbaum works to combat the abuse of religion and the violence. They are why we recommit ourselves to the pursuit of peace for all.
This is where we stand. On the side of life. The death and devastation must stop.
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Free Islamic Peace Education Report
July 30, 2014 /in /by igor solaja
On July 28, many Muslims in the United States and across the globe will be celebrating the conclusion of Ramadan, the holiday of Eid-al-Fitr.
The Eid-al-Fitr is the festival and/or feast of the breaking of the fast, a time of mutual acknowledgement for Muslims who have been fasting throughout the country and around the world (depending on their time zone).
To mark the Eid, we would like to share one of our blessings with you: what we learned when we convened four Islamic peace educators from vastly different backgrounds for a day-long exchange on their work in Islamic peace education.
The peace educators shared how they incorporate the topic of peace into their teaching. They shared their stories
and some of their Islamic peace education initiatives.
We – and they – learned from each other's triumphs and challenges.
Participants included:
Jamila Afghani (Peacemaker in Action, 2008) from Kabul, Afghanistan;
Azhar (Azi) Hussain (Peacemaker in Action, 2006) from Dubai, UAE and Pakistan;
Sarrah Buker from Holmdel, New Jersey; and
Rabia Terri Harris from Stony Point, New York.
Today, we are excited to announce the release of Tanenbaum's Islamic Peace Education report. The report traces each participant's method and experience in advancing peaceful education from an Islamic perspective, often in the face of suspicion or adversity.
Download the report to learn more about this innovative information exchange.
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Who's watching the spiral of hate?
For those of us who care about acknowledging the humanity in each person- these are dark days.
The Middle East is in flames. Religious practices across Asia and Southeast Asia are being snuffed out – from Christians and Falun Gong practitioners in China to Rohingya Muslims in Buddhist majority Myanmar. Christians are desperately fleeing their homes in northern Iraq. We object to this senseless hatred wherever it is found. And now, we see virulent anti-Semitism in Europe that horrifies us.
If you're watching, you can see the anti-Semitic anger cutting across Europe as protestors respond to the conflict in Israel and Gaza. While we would always support the right to peacefully protest and express one's views on the tragedy that is the Middle East, we still have to ask – Why are so many of the current protests devolving into hate, violence and, specifically, targeting hatred toward Jewish people?
At Tanenbaum, we condemn the violence that we see all around us – in the Middle East, in Africa and Asia. And that includes the violence that is threatening European communities, leaving many Jews fearing for their future. Frighteningly, what we are seeing in France and Germany is the tip of an iceberg. Data shows that anti-Semitism is a worldwide illness that has risen over the last 25 years.
As we watch the news unfold, we must pay attention to the violence being perpetrated in the name of religion and as a form of hatred for individuals of particular traditions. In addition to headlines that make us all so sorrowful, we must also make it a point to witness the harm that is not reaching the headlines. And that includes attacks toward Jews just walking on the street to synagogues being set aflame.
As we watch the spiral of hate seemingly spin out of control, we at Tanenbaum recommit ourselves to promoting and practicing respect – for all people. It's time to end the spiral of violence. And we all have to be part of the solution.
In Friendship,
Joyce S. Dubensky
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South-South Exchange: Peacemaking in South Africa & Honduras
Transcending Cultural & Geographic Boundaries
Honduras is one of the poorest countries in the Americas, and in 2013, had the highest murder rate in the world. In 2011, as a response to extreme poverty and weak democratic institutions, an organization led by Hondurans began to grow. Known as the National Popular Resistance Front (FNRP), they were determined to eradicate the perpetual fear that plagued their daily lives.
Tanenbaum's Peacemaker in Action Chencho Alas recognized the power of this growing movement and its potential to build democracy within Honduras. As an established community leader and nonviolent activist, Chencho was selected by FNRP to present his own peacebuilding techniques and approaches to their organization.
Chencho knew that the newly formed FNRP would benefit from a unique opportunity: a Network Intervention. He sought assistance from fellow Tanenbaum Peacemaker in Action Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge who had intimate familiarity with nonviolent resistance, reconciliation and peacebuilding. Chencho knew that Nozizwe's personal experience and struggle as a Quaker leader during South African apartheid would ignite hope for Hondurans. Together, they worked to develop a plan for a mutual partnership.
In 2011 and 2013, Chencho and Nozizwe conducted trainings and facilitated a South-South exchange of knowledge and capacity building for peaceful reconciliation. In 2011, they led training sessions with over 50 Honduran leaders that focused on methods of peacemaking and nonviolent resistance. In 2013, Chencho and Juan Barahona, the leader of the FNRP coalition, traveled to visit Nozizwe and other South African leaders. Chencho and Juan participated in meetings throughout South Africa to learn about the South African process and model of reconciliation. Additionally, workshops included strategy sessions for participatory planning and network building. Chencho absorbed this knowledge with the intention of adapting and replicating their peacebuilding models in Honduras. He understood the potential for integrating non-violent resistance along with the South African reconciliation process.
Nozizwe's experience with post-conflict peacebuilding in South Africa proved powerful and inspiring for grassroots activists during the intervention in Honduras. Her struggle to overcome prejudice and her imprisonment in South Africa was a powerful example for Hondurans, helping to ignite their hope and dedication towards their own peacebuilding initiatives.
During the intervention in Honduras, Chencho presented his own approach to peacemaking that focuses on positive assessment of assets and abilities, rather than problems and needs. Nozizwe learned from this method and looks forward to incorporating this approach in South Africa.
Common challenges and situations faced by both Hondurans and South Africans helped Chencho and Nozizwe to quickly understand how South-South partnerships promote the exchange of best practices in ways that combat entrenched challenges including poverty and violence.
Following the successful interventions, the FNRP used tools enhanced by both Chencho and Nozizwe to form the LIBRE political party in Honduras. During the November 2013 elections, the LIBRE party held early leads in the polls and displayed great progress in becoming a political party that unifies Honduran society.
Network Interventions highlight the importance of the collaborative work in ways that propel substantive peacebuilding and information sharing within the Network. The South-South exchange initiated by Chencho and Nozizwe illuminates the importance of the positive relationships built through the Network and its power to transcend cultural and physical geographic boundaries.
Click here to download the complete Honduras and South Africa Interventions report.
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We Are All Human Beings
Despite the rockets and the airstrikes wreaking havoc in Israel and Gaza, Peacemaker in Action Yehezkel Landau's organization Open House held its annual Summer Peace Camp. Seventy Arab and Jewish children gathered at the peace education center in Ramle, Israel did what all children should do during the summer – they had fun together.
While the latest war in Gaza further complicates hope for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, a twelve-year-old camper relays her belief that there can one day be peace – by reminding us of what we too often forget in times of conflict:
"We are all human beings."
To read more about this lesson in perseverance, click here for Open House's July 2014 newsletter, Summer Peace Camp in the Midst of War.
Summer Peace Camp in the mixed Jewish-Arab village of Neve Shalom/Wahat as-Salaam.
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Beloved Tanenbaum Community, a Formula for Justice – Thank you Dr. King
No More Surprises
Building Respect in 2021
Check out our 2020 Year in Review!
Conscience Objections: New online learning modules!

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text:
Africa should be better prepared for Europe's security funding shift
By The Standard | Apr. 21, 2022
The EU didn't discuss the EPF's provisions with the AU because the new facility is a global strategy, with Africa being one of many "beneficiaries". For its part, the AU Peace and Security Council didn't broach the issue before the February AU–EU summit, despite having almost a year to formulate a response.
BY Shewit Woldemichael The African Union (AU) has missed a vital opportunity to discuss a change in European funding for peace and security. The European Union (EU) announced the move in 2021 as part of its new defence package. Under the new arrangement, the European Peace Facility (EPF) replaces the African Peace Facility (APF), which for 17 years channelled EU security funding via the AU.
A lack of preparation and consensus ahead of the February AU–EU summit meant there was no common African position on the issue, so it wasn't raised at the meeting.
The change means less money for African peace missions and less AU say over how the funds are spent. But it could also signal increasing European militarism and interventionism.
The shift in Europe's foreign and security policy enabled the EU to provide military support to Ukraine after the Russian invasion on 24 February. The EPF meant that the EU could, for the first time, supply lethal weapons to a third country.
Europe's military support to Ukraine has raised concerns in Africa about whether similar interventions could take place on the continent. Research by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has shown that some experts worry the EU's new strategy may not benefit Africa as a whole and could even have serious negative consequences.
Although the new facility promises to build the capacity of EU partners and provide predictable funding, it could threaten multilateral engagement between the two continents and collective African decision-making on security.
The APF was founded in 2004 and has contributed €2,68 billion mainly to finance 16 African-led peace support operations in 19 countries. Direct member State contributions made the EU the biggest funder of African-led peace missions.
Governed by the 2018 AU–EU memorandum of understanding, the AU had primary responsibility for planning, authorising, co-ordinating and disbursing EU funds to African-led peace operations. However, under the new facility, the AU is no longer the channel for European financing of military missions and operations in Africa.
The EU may now finance direct military intervention by a member State, such as deploying a taskforce in support of France's Operation Barkhane in Mali. Europe will also provide strategic direction and political backing to such missions, which could hamper AU leadership of peace operations.
The move away from the APF towards direct engagement with stakeholders will also significantly reduce EU funding to the AU, especially peace missions such as in Somalia.
According to the EU, one factor driving the change was a 2018 European Court of Auditors report. It said the AU hadn't taken sufficient ownership of financing its peace and security mechanisms, forcing the EU to cover operational costs rather than capacity building as was intended.
The report also cited lack of coherence of AU financing instruments, paucity of information on results, and inadequate monitoring and evaluation.
Another factor is the change in Europe's global stance on defence issues. The EU's 2021 defence package includes the European Defence Fund, which allocated around €8 billion to enhance Europe's defence industrial base and increase its military autonomy from the United States.
This indicates Europe's ambition to influence and intervene in peace and security outcomes, including in Africa. European countries are motivated by the effects of terrorism and violent extremism in Africa, and undocumented migrants entering their continent.
ISS research found that several AU member States worry that the EPF represents a policy shift from political engagement to a militarised and interventionist approach. Although they acknowledge challenges in the AU's use of the APF, African officials believe the EPF's primary role is to control how Europe's money is used in Africa and elsewhere.
The concern is that military intervention will make the EU a direct actor in African conflicts, which could bring more foreign forces to the continent, with or without African States' consent. Bilateral or regional interventions may not align with AU priorities or have AU approval, sources told the ISS. Experts also think the new arrangement could lead to arms proliferation across the continent.
The lack of a comprehensive list of EU partners complicates the situation. Although the AU, regional economic communities and AU member States are named as partners, the definition is vague. African diplomats worry the list could include armed opposition groups fighting governments the EU opposes. A similar scenario unfolded in Libya in 2011 when EU member States provided direct military support to armed groups fighting President Muammar Gaddafi.
According to AU sources, the EU hadn't formally informed it of the EPF's establishment or the termination of the APF.
Support for the EPF in West Africa and the Sahel has divided Africa's position on the new facility. Countries in these regions believe it helps eliminate bureaucratic delays and overhead costs incurred by AU financial oversight. They also argue that the EPF will give African military missions more funds, modern technology, capacity building and infrastructure.
So while Europe has agreed on how to approach African peace and security issues, African countries don't share common priorities and concerns regarding the EU's foreign and security policy. The AU, particularly its Peace and Security Council, should discuss the implications of the EPF for Africa.
Although AU–EU technical meetings are ongoing, the AU needs to formulate a policy position on Europe's potential supply of lethal weapons to Africa. The EU's support for military operations that are neither led nor endorsed by the AU must also be discussed.
The AU needs a plan to compensate for the financial shortfalls expected from Europe's change in strategy under the EPF. A good place to start is to allocate money sitting in the AU Peace Fund and access United Nations-assessed contributions for African peace missions.
Shewit Woldemichael is researcher in Africa peace and security governance at the Institute for Security Studies.
International Day Of Parliamentary
Ukrainian militants complain about the quality of weapons supplied by NATO
Quality of the Javelin anti-tank missile systems (ATGMs) supplied by the United States and the Swedish–British portable NLAW anti-tank guided missiles was recently reported by a prisoner.
By Own Correspondent
By Own Correspondent Oct. 13, 2022


In Healing Waters—the first study in the new Faith and Fiction Bible study series—popular Christian fiction author Melody Carlson draws upon her novels in The Inn at Shining Waters trilogy to invite women on an exciting journey toward healing. Using the stories, themes, and characters of the novels as a backdrop, this eight-week study explores the need for forgiveness and mercy in one's life and the role that second chances and new beginnings play in healing women's spirits and relationships.
The Participant Book is an all-inclusive guide providing summaries of the three novels—River's Song, River's Call, and River's End—character sketches of the main characters, excerpts from the novels, and five daily Bible study readings for each week. Each day's reading includes reflection questions with space for recording responses, a short prayer, and an "As You Go" idea or suggestion. Although reading the novels is not required to participate in the study, women may choose to read the novels in tandem with the study to enrich the overall experience.
Ever wonder what Jesus might say to you if you met him on the street? Chances are his message to you wouldn't be all that different from what it was two thousand years ago, even though you live in a totally different world. You can discover what he said—and what it means for you every day—by reading his words found in the Bible.
If you want to grow in your faith and understand who Jesus really is, Devotions for Real Life can help. Each short daily devotion from bestselling author Melody Carlson helps you read Jesus's words for yourself. Then Melody unpacks and applies his words to all of your life—school, family, relationships, and more.
Devotions for Real Life gives you words you can depend on through all the ups and downs and runarounds of your world.
Raising a teen daughter can be like trying to chart a course underwater. You can drown in an ocean of one-word answers, defensive conversations, and unpredictable outbursts..and never get anywhere.
This book helps you cut through murky, deep, uncharted and seemingly unsafe waters so you can hear what your daughter is really trying to tell you.
Instead of focusing on outward behaviors, Dear Mom captures your daughter's heart and soul. You can know her hopes and fears, her doubts and dreams about her identity, guys, friendships and even you. And you can connect with your daughter on a deeper, more intimate level that will carry both of you through the stormy seas of life.
Melody Carson, Heather Kopp, and Linda Clare. For mothers who refuse to give up on their sons–and those afraid they already have.
It seems like just yesterday your son was a precious little boy who loved to give you kisses. Today, he often ignores your advice, brushes away hugs, and sees you as the enemy. Though you hate to admit it, he seems to have lost his spiritual and moral compass. And the more "lost" he becomes, the more lost you feel.
From spiritual solace to practical wisdom, Lost Boys and the Moms Who Love Them offers a broad range of welcome insights from women who understand your heartache as only mothers of troubled sons can.
"This book touched my heart and I am not even a mother! The stories are compelling, encouraging, and hope instilling. If you are a mother with a son who is causing problems for himself, you, or your family, you will want to read this book. It is easy to read with many short stories that can be read in the few precious moments that a mother has every once and a while."
In this fast-paced world of hustle and bustle, the small, simple pleasures of life are often drowned in a sea of expectations and responsibilities. Often we miss the brief reminders all around us of God's love and faithfulness to us, not because we do not need them but because we don't take time to look. I've written this book to encourage the reader to "take time" to breathe deeply, touch a baby's cheek, listen to an elderly person, forgive an old hurt, or hug someone spontaneously. A simple message coupled with a beautiful design reflecting the comforting truth we often do not take time to notice.