Eddie Burke

African Women and the Changing Global Outlook

On Friday May 8, The British Embassy will host the second Women's Empowerment in Africa conference in partnership with the National Geographic Society at their headquarters in Washington. The conference will examine how the global economic downturn impacts women's empowerment in Africa.

There's no question that the economic downturn will have a significant impact on women. For example, in some African countries there has been a fall in foreign direct investment, remittances, commodity prices and a continuing rise in food prices.

Panelists at this Friday's conference will try to anticipate what affect this economic hardship will have on the Millennium Development Goals. The MDGs represent a fresh desire to provide education and career opportunities to women in impoverished countries.

Unfortunately, education and jobs - which are normally at a premium for women in many parts of the world - are even more restricted given the current economic environment.

Conference participants include Baroness Amos, Former Leader of the House of Lords, Melanne Verveer, Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues, State Department, Mr. Dominick Chilcott Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy, Washington, Ms. Sheila Johnson, CARE Ambassador and Philanthropist and Ambassador Amina Salum Ali, African Union Ambassador to Washington. The sold out conference has received an overwhelming level of support from a range of sponsors including, the National Geographic Society, VOA, The Diaspora report, AllAfrica.com, Council on Foreign Relations, League of Black Women, Africare, The Washington Informer, TransAfrica Forum, Georgetown University, Howard University and Vibrant design group.

I am personally looking forward to hearing some great dialogue and debate between such a varied group of panelists. You can follow the conference no matter where you are in the world by checking out the Embassy's Twitter feed on Friday.

Posted at 10:51 05 May 2009 by Eddie Burke  |  Comments[0]

What is Africa's challenge? Ask Wangari Maathi.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Wangari Maathi yesterday in the lobby of the Marriott hotel in downtown Washington. Believe me, this is rare given her busy schedule!

For those not familiar, Dr. Maathi is the founder of the Green Belt Movement, an environmentalist, a civil society and women's rights activist, and a parliamentarian. I should add that she was the first woman in Sub Saharan Africa to gain A PhD.

Since winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maathai has become a spokesperson for a number of important initiatives. Her organisation the Green Belt Movement began by addressing a serious problem with simple solution: getting communities to plant trees as a symbol of their commitment. Since 1977 she has overseen the planting of around 10 million trees on the continent of Africa.

We talked in depth about the Congo Basin project. Dr Maathi told me she was full of praise for Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the British Government for their support of the Congo Basin Project and for recognising the important contribution gained from forests especially the Congo forest. The Prime Minister (then Chancellor of the Exchequer) In 2005 gave a $100 million contribution for a new fund to support conservation of the Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem. This initiative will help to protect the Congo Basin Forest ecosystem spanning ten countries in central Africa.

The Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem in central Africa plays an important role in absorbing CO2, a main greenhouse gas, and provide the world with oxygen.

"The Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem must be protected, because without them not only will the global climate not be stabilised, but the world will suffer, in particular the region of Africa which has few options"

Of course I took this opportunity to tell Dr. Maathi about the British Embassy's work on climate change and the upcoming Women's Empowerment conference at the National Geographic Society which will focus on "Women and the Global Outlook."

Posted at 10:04 17 April 2009 by Eddie Burke  |  Comments[0]

International Women's Day 2009

Today we mark International Women's Day 2009.

Women are the key to the Millennium Development Goals becoming a reality. The world won’t achieve the MDGs in 2015 without bringing about gender equality and the empowerment of women.

As Gordon Brown quite rightly pointed out in his speech to the UN in September 2007: "The alleviation of poverty and hunger demand global recognition (of) women’s leadership and organizing capacities. Women’s work in agriculture and export promotion are key to sustainable development. The road to sustainable development begins with inclusive policy-making."

Most of the poorest people in the world are women and part of what makes them poor is borne solely out of their gender.

Did you know that in rural Africa it's women, not trucks, who carry two-third of all goods? Many women there are forced to stay at home to work during the day - of course, they sacrifice an education and career do be able to do so.

The MDGs represent a fresh desire to provide education and career opportunities to these women. Some women are not allowed to work at all, however. There are also women afflicted with serious health issues who don't have access to proper treatment. So MDGs not only create opportunities, but also work to promote the equal and fair status of women at home, in education, health, politics and work.

Progress for women not only changes their lives but will better the lives of future generations of women. Women must have equal rights to end poverty. Until then, it won’t happen.

Posted at 13:03 09 March 2009 by Eddie Burke  |  Comments[2]

A lasting legacy, inspiration and hope - From Dr. King to President-elect Obama

On August 2, 1983, the U.S. House of Representatives approved law to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday on the third Monday in January. The U.S. Senate approved the bill, and on November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed it into law. The first observance of Dr. King's birthday as a legal national holiday was on January 20, 1986.

As we celebrate the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today, we are also on the eve of an unprecedented 4 million people descending into Washington, DC from all parts of the world to witness what many describe as the fulfillment of his dream.

It's quite amazing to think how far the US has come in terms of race relations since the days of the civil rights struggle led by Dr. King. Just think, in August 1963 an interracial crowd of more than 250,000 people attended the March on Washington, during which Dr. King made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Monument. On January 20, 2009, on the opposite end of the National Mall, on the steps of the Capitol, President-elect Obama will be sworn in as the first African American president in US history.

There are many who see Barack Obama's achievements as the fulfillment and legacy of  Dr. King's dream. His delivery in his speeches quite prophetic and reminiscent of King himself. It has been recognised globally that President-elect Obama is being judged solely on the content of his character, his wisdom and his brilliance and not on the color of his skin. Could anything be more representative of the fulfillment of Dr. King's dream than that? If Dr. King was here today, he would looking down proud of the fact his dream has been fulfilled - in less than a generation no doubt.

Happy birthday Dr. King.

Posted at 09:51 19 January 2009 by Eddie Burke  |  Comments[0]

Discussing aid effectiveness in London

I'm in London accompanied by several delegates from Capitol Hill in Washington for a series of meetings with key UK policy makers to discuss the effectiveness of aid. The US and UK are major contributors of foreign aid. As such, it's important that we regularly sit down and examine how successful our contributions have been and how to better our assistance.

The delegates and I will also attend the International Development and Aid Effectiveness Conference hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The broad aim of the conference is to challenge parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth and the world to hold their respective executives to account for development funds given, received and allocated. Given the current financial climate, I imagine this year's conference will focus mostly on ensuring that allocated aid is actually given.

It's also anticipated that Prime Minister Gordon Brown will attend and give remarks at the opening reception. That's the rumour anyway!

Either way, it should be a very interesting week. I will update you on what comes of it.

Posted at 08:15 19 November 2008 by Eddie Burke  |  Comments[0]

The personal side to MDGs in Africa

As part of Blog Action Day 2008, I want to share a personal encounter I had with poverty earlier this year.
 
In April, I had a rather unique opportunity to visit Africa for the first time at the the invitation of Africare, one of the most respected NGOs in the US. The trip gave me a chance to see how a major US operation works on the African continent as globally we look to stay on course to meet the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. Moreover, the trip drove home the magnitude of the task ahead of us to eradicate poverty in Africa.
 
It's one thing to be engaged in public diplomacy on development in Africa sitting at your desk in Washington, DC, but quite another to see poverty in person. It really grabbed my heart to see such destitution up close. I remember picking up one little boy and smelling the urine on him. It was his normality. How can that be right?

No one thing sticks in my mind more than seeing young kids so disenfranchised from their childhood because of circumstance. To see a young child carrying heavy water containers along the roadside (in most cases with no shoes on) first thing in the morning is tough to see as a father knowing my own child back in the US safely tucked into bed with not a decision to make in his day. How does the rest of the world really view the continent of Africa, or any developing country for that matter? Maybe we all need to see this reality up close to fully appreciate the need to help.

There is plenty we can do to change to what I've described. But I don't think it's all about donating articles of clothing (yes, it is needed) or money (again needed). It has to be about sustainability and maintenance of appropriate infrastructures left behind by business, NGOs and other organisations. Many corporations build foundations such as roads, however it's the continued maintenance of those motorways that is most needed for economic development.

I do see hope though (it's not all grim, I promise). For example, the $16 billion in country commitments made at the UN General Assembly in New York in September keeps the world on track to meet MDGs in 2015. After my trip, I have a new understanding of why that is so important.

Posted at 13:07 15 October 2008 by Eddie Burke  |  Comments[4]

Seeing rising food prices at your local grocery store

Next time you're in your local Giant or Safeway keep this thought in mind:

The rise in prices is not only having an adverse affect on your pocket but also a negative one in achieving the MDGs.

People are getting less nutrition as food prices increase and placing pressure on the budgets of poor households, thereby undermining progress in attempts to half the population who suffer from hunger and extreme poverty. I'm not saying to you have to stop eating to make a difference, but it's worth thinking about how the rise in food prices is affecting others around the world.

Posted at 10:38 24 September 2008 by Eddie Burke  |  Comments[1]

Time to recommit

Prime Minister Gordon Brown strongly believes that the global community must work together to make 2008 a turning point in the fight against poverty, and in particular build global momentum. This Thursday he'll be joined in New York by other world leaders including Tanzania's President Kikwete, France's President Sarkozy as well as other notables from around the globe.

The purpose of this high-level event -- called by the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN General Assembly -- is to focus world commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and to set out clear plans and practical steps for real action. Issues such as malaria, education, maternal health and food security will be covered in depth.

For those who aren't familiar, the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG's) were agreed at the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000. Nearly 190 countries have subsequently signed up to them.

The goal remains quite simple: To eradicate poverty by 2015. Easily said right? The calendar says we are halfway from 2000 to 2015. But the reality is that we're a long way from success. This week is an opportunity to get moving in the right direction once again.

Posted at 12:23 19 September 2008 by Eddie Burke  |  Comments[1]