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IRAN POLL VIOLENCE; WHY WEST NEED REBIRTH OF ARAB DEMOCRATIZATION POLICIES
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

After the disputed polls in Iran and the aftermath, characterized by ugly scenes of violence, anger, frustrations and hatred, there is need to examine the relationship, if any, between the western and Arab democracies. Indeed the government has accused the West of trying to interfere while the opposition is too defiant to give in to calls of cease fire. This article is motivated by the close association the results of Iranian election results have with Kenya’s 2007 disputed polls. The difference only being that president Ahmadinejad ‘won’ massively, the man who visited Kenya two months ago to meet the president before Kenya’s PM flew to Tehran two weeks later. What an irony? But will president Ahmadinejad and Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi share the loaf-half bin half? Back to the topic, different scholars give diverse description of democracy based on the understanding and specific point of reference. Democracy therefore can be defined as ‘a belief in freedom and equality between people, or a system of government based on this belief, in which power is ether held by elected representative or directly by the people themselves’ (Ahmar, pp.1).
Democracy, from the western countries’ point of view is a “government of the people, by the people, for the people" (Anderson, pp.1). As such, the concept has had different applications and interpretations which have seen the movement change in form and system. Consequently there has been emergence of what is called Western Democracy as practiced in the western world and attempts by the west to woo other countries to adopt this system. Ahmar strongly criticizes the Western form of democracy especially in its relationship with the Muslim world stating that the system is not only different from the ancient one but can also be very manipulative as the elected representatives can interfere with the voting process and outcomes as well as the public opinion and debate (Ahmar, pp.2).
The Muslim perspective of democracy on the other hand can be described as a conservative principle in which the sovereignty of the rulers and the people lies with God. This system views democracy as one which incorporates religion into the political system. This is what Anderson refers to as Islamic democracy, ‘a mixture of the rule of people and the supremacy of God’ (Anderson, pp.1). The definition of Muslim democracy therefore is one that support the concept that all are equal before God though the rulers must relate their actions to the teachings of Koran through adoption of a mutual consultative process called Shura as found in Koran 42:38 (Esposito & Voll, pp.1 and Louws, pp.1).
This form of democracy therefore only prevails on a limited scale and it must not be against the Islamic religious teachings. Therefore, the rule of democracy can only be allowed up to a give point as long as it does not go against the Islamic doctrines, a system which according to Anderson has both a democratic and an authoritarian face (Anderson, pp.1). Likewise, Madelbaum asserts that the Islamic faith which dominates the Arab region is not wholly incompatible with democracy since certain countries like Mali, Turkey, and Indonesia have managed to form stable and productive democratic governments, though some imperfections, by carefully balancing religion and politics (Mandelbaum, pp.1).
In contrast the West has attempted to use various means including force (aggressive democracy promotion) against the weak to entrench their democratic systems as the case with Iraq and Afghanistan and currently Iran hence hardening their desire for nuclear weapons (Perkovich, pp.5). Research by United States Institute of Peace earnestly reveals that Arab world has the lowest level of political freedom in comparison to other regions in the world, a trend that ought to be reversed (United States Institute of Peace, pp.1). Controversy therefore arises as scholars’ debate whether or not and to what extent should the Arab world adopt democracy especially with the rise of Muslim radicalisms, violent insurgencies and terrorisms. Regrettably, the major player in Middle East democratization process, the U.S especially during the reign of President George W. Bush, owing to its strong policy stand which associated war on terror with the war against Islam portrayed the religion as non peaceful and undemocratic (Hayajneh, pp.4). Despite the major benefits of democracy, however, research shows that most countries have not fully embraced the idea. According to Cooter, research findings clearly demonstrate that only a small fraction of states in Africa and the Middle East are democratic with most being tentative, fragile and highly against any form of competition and fair play (Cooter, pp.5). the worrying statistical trend analysis indicate that out of 14 middle east countries, only 2 (14 % ) are democratic with the 12 (86 % ) others being non democracies (Cooter, pp.5). Citing Iran as an example, Moin states that such radical groups are responsible for the adoption of 1979 Iranian constitution which refers to the country as ‘Islamic republic’( Moin, pp.1). There has also been use of religious clerics who are taken to be the spiritual leaders though they are above the powers of the constitution. Such leaders in theory can be sacked but they are not accountable to anybody and are viewed as God’s representatives who are above every branch of power and any political arrangement including the formal courts systems, the presidency and the parliament (Moin, pp.1).
Promotion of popular competition and accountability are also reasons why the Middle East needs to adopt democracy. According to Cooter, democracy is a very viable form of governance as it not only promote accountability but also ensure fair competition through open and free elections that makes the elected representatives be responsive to the needs of the electorates just like the case with competitive market structures where the players have to obey the consumers wants to remain in the market (Cooter, pp.6). Further, direct democracy should be promoted in the Middle East as a vehicle through which voters’ preferences can be effectively satisfied. At the same time, the proponents of democracy have resorted to civil pressure to push their leaders to accept certain critical elements of democracy.
A strong relationship between Islam as a religion with democracy has been provided by Sulami who emphasizes that religion and politics can be separable in Islam since democracy is not against religion per see hence attempts to separate the two is ‘not a precondition of democracy’ (Sulami, pp.1). This stipulation gives an indication that even in mature democracies; religion is a power force in the political system since ‘democracy is areligious’ (Sulami, pp.1). It is also true that a democratic and politically stable Middle East would be critical if the peace of the world is to be realized as the region hosts numerous terrorist cells and militant groups.
Such reforms therefore need not to necessarily follow the Western process in instituting democracy but need to be owned by the very citizens of the Arab world who are to be served by the political arrangement. A careful balance must also be created between politics and Islamic religion so as to avoid any problem that may occur like misuse of the democratic space by the Islamic militias and terrorists to take over power through the ballot. The approach could take a model which attempts to bridge the gap between Islamic values and Muslim practices and marry the two into institutionalized democracy as the model used in Mali, Turkey and Indonesia (Smock, pp.1 and Mandelbaum, pp.1). The people also need to be educated on the benefits of such systems as they would have their voices heard and hold their representatives accountable in running of state affairs. Unfortunately if you ask whether internet application especially of face book and twitter as well phones and other multimedia to reach ( voter education)the Iranian youths is responsible for the ‘awakening’ I will neither reply nor talk but remind you to trace Arab politics to Islamic conquests and oil money.

Change Required; the western countries must critically analyze with a view to understand the nature of the problem in each specific country and also include all the influential people and institutions in the Middle East in the reform policies for the region. This change of attitude and tactical approach is needed now more than ever since US policy makers have been noted to ignore moderate Islamic voices for reform despite the fact that such groupings have strong and massive political and religious following in the region (United States Institute of Peace, pp.1).



References:
Ahmar, F. Muslim Political Thought; Secularism and Democracy: Meanings and Views.
(2006). Retrieved June 22, 2009, from http://www.hoggar.org/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=132&Itemid=28
Anderson, J.W. Islamic Democracy's Power Politics (2001). Retrieved June 22, 2009,
from http://www.britannica.com/news/washingtonpost/article?article_id=224338
Moin, B. Theocracy vs. Democracy. (2001). Retrieved June 22, 2009, from
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1373693.stm.
Cooter, R. Median V. Bargain Democracy. (2002). University of California; Berkeley.
Retrieved June 22, 2009, from http://repositories.cdlib.org/berkeley law econ/fall2002/7
from http://www.neh.gov/news/humanities/2001-11/islam.html
Mandelbaum, M. Arab Democracy and American Policy. (2009). Retrieved June 22, 2009,
Mier, B. A. Promoting Democracy in The Arab And Muslim World. (2007). Foreign
Service Journal. Washington DC.
Sulami, M. Democracy in the Arab World: The Islamic Foundation. (2005). Retrieved
June 22, 2009, from http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-opening/islam_2990.jsp
United States Institute of Peace. Promoting Middle East Democracy II: Arab Initiatives.
(2005). Retrieved June 22, 2009, from http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr

June 22, 2009 | 6:04 AM Comments  0 comments
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2009 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day: Protecting Children in Cyberspace
Related to this project: MODEL-ITU YOUTH ORGANIZATION
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic


The 2009 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day themed ‘Protecting children in cyberspace’ is not only a valuable thought by the ITU Council but also a major step in protecting the very young minds from erosion by malicious internet users and child exploiters and abusers.

Though internet, with ‘over 1.5 billion users’ today (ITU, 2009), is a very vital resource in every day live of the human beings, it has be come a necessary evil that is both used and misused by the very specie that invented it-the MAN.

ITU (2009) further reveal that ‘over 60 per cent of children and teenagers talk in chat rooms on a daily basis. Three in four children online are willing to share personal information about themselves and their family in exchange for goods and services. And one in five children will be targeted by a predator or paedophile each year’.

The ‘predator’ issue presents a major challenge today, a situation prompted formation of Child Online Protection (COP) Initiative in line with the Tunis World Summit on Information Society.

According to ITU (http://www.itu.int/wtisd/2009/theme.html), the 2009 theme “aims at ensuring that children cane safely access the internet and its voluble resources without fear of falling prey to unscrupulous predators in the cyberspace”, the predators of course are neither hyenas nor crocodiles but men and women-the society.

The central issue therefore is how safe are children online, given that ITU , Governments, UNICEF and even lobbyists like MODEL-ITU Youth Organization recognize the fact that it is their inalienable right to use the cyberspace? Factually, the vital space is a center for learning, enterteiment, interaction and opportunities that EVERY CHILD should access always.


Today, we at the MODEL-ITU Youth Organization (http://projects.tigweb.org/model-itu), a follow up project of the 2008 ITU Youth Forum, join the entire world in advocating for the protection of children from these monsters; ‘PREDATORS’.

In fact, our PILLAR THREE: Media, Internet Safety and Security among Young People clearly demonstrate how seriously we take the 2009 theme. According to MODEL-ITU’s official statement, ‘The pillar is aimed at spreading awareness about internet safety and security issues in schools, social places and gatherings, and workshops to promote responsible and safe use, and safeguarding of internet with special attention to the knock-on effects of the 2009 arrival of fiber optic cables in Kenya’.

Sadly, in Kenya as other places in the world scrawny or non existents child protection laws coupled with poor/ negligent parenting have ensure that the children go to the internet ‘unattended to/ unguided’.

Further, our observations show that many primary school age children browse at cyber cafes where they cases pornographic and other ‘predator like sites’ without any restrictions or reprimand from the ‘money hungry café owners-predators’, with Githurai estate being most notorious in Nairobi.


Model-ITU therefore proposes;

A comprehensive public campaign and education on internet safety

Education of parents on cyber safety and guidance of children

Installation of filters and blocking of unwanted sites for families with internet access

Enactment of child protection laws and punishment of café owners who violate the law

Collaboration between ISP, Parents associations, religious organizations, private and public sectors

In our view, ‘Protecting children in cyberspace’ is not ITU’s only concern but it is a multifaceted issue that the society must face head on. This is why May 17 is referred to as, World Telecommunication and Information SOCIETY DAY.

May 17, 2009 | 3:08 PM Comments  0 comments
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African Youth Volunteers Corps (AUYVC)
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

There is a viable opportunity for those who are wiling to join African UNION Youth Corps.
These are volunteers who would give some time, now or in future for service to humanity across Africa.
Currently, the data base of the volunteers is being developed in Ethiopia. The application process for the 2nd round ends on 15th until 2010 (3rd round) so you can squeeze time and fill the form
It takes very few minutes, about 10. Though CV is not mandatory, I suggest that an applicant uploads the CV and emphasize his/her involvement in volunteer work.
African UNION Youth Corps is a initiative of African youths that has been designed mainly through online debates before adoption by the Youth's department.
Kindly inform others
Below is excerpt of the ad.
Dear African Youth

2nd CALL TO SUBMIT BIO-DATA AND PERSONAL HISTORY FOR THE
DATABASE OF YOUTH EXPERTS IN AFRICA
SHORTLISTING WILL BEGIN AT 4.00PM GMT ON FRIDAY 15 MAY 2009
www.foayc.org/join

The Africa Union is updating the Database and Compendium of Youth Experts in Africa. Initial efforts began in January 2009 towards the development of the African Union Development Youth Corps (AUDYC).

This 2nd announcement is based on the recommendations of the participants at the Youth Strategy Review Workshop held in Addis Ababa March 2009. They reviewed the utilization of the data collected and responding to the issues of language and accessibility; Country quota’s and linkages of the database to other existing ones by the UNECA and IOM, amongst others.

In sequel, this is a 2nd call on any one between the ages of 18-35, of African descent, living in or outside of Africa, wiling to be a member of the Volunteer Corp and able to provide skilled based, motivational driven, talent channeled- (not exhaustive) services to development and public sector organizations, projects and communities within the Africa region physically or through online interface.
In this respect, we will be very grateful if you would kindly complete the personal history form online and submit or download the MS word version, fill and return same to us at your earliest convenience.

Please endeavor to provide all the information requested as this will assist in having detailed information about you and ensure the equity-based appraisal of your profile during shortlist of applicants to be internationally employed in the last quarter of 2009 as African Union Youth Volunteers.

Based on the number of submissions received; a country quota system for the number of shortlisted applicants to be interviewed for orientation an training will be decided by the Candidate Review Committee.
Once again;
To submit your information online go to www.foayc.org/join

The make sure you join the face book AUYVC portal at http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1151932755174#/group.php?sid=e6ffb5dd6f19bf1a27ab5149e527c5f4&gid=65302746763&ref=search
MICHAEL ASUDI

May 14, 2009 | 2:26 AM Comments  0 comments
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MODEL ITU YOUTH ORGANIZATION HOLDS PEACE CAMP II
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

The MODEL ITU YOUTH ORGANISTION held a successful children’s peace camp on February 28,2009, Kenyatta University, Arch Bishop Ndingi Nzeki Hall
The 2009 children’s peace camp like the previous one was themed ' Promoting Peace and National Cohesion; Catch It Young' , and sponsored by the KU Catholic Church Chaplaincy. It was organised by MODEL ITU in collaboration with the KUTT, the KU VIDES, and the religious communities within the university. Its aim was to use drama, music, plays, games and competitions to inculcate the culture of peace building, discipline, tolerance, cross cultural dialogues and respect at early ages.
The camp attracted 61 children aged between 4 and 13 years.

In total, there were 61 children, 11 MODEL ITU members, 3 KUTT members, 8 VIDES-KU members, 2 Sunday School Teachers 2 associates and a member from the community chapel. There were also 3 invited guests; Mr. Clement, Sunday teacher at KU Protestants chaplaincy, Mr. Mania of KUCC Sunday SCHOOL and VIDES and Mr. K’Olale, a teacher , former Secretary General of KUTT and winner 2007 Africa’s interuniversity leadership essay competition.

The peace camp, just like the previous one sought to educate the children values of a good citizen and develop proactive Kenyans who’re active agents of peace.

Short-term objectives.
• To use drama, lecture and ICT as educative mediums in enlightening children on need to values cross cultural dialogue, respect and appreciation.
• To challenge all children, especially at young age, to be committed to peace building and tolerance.
• To create a platform for children to freely share their experiences and opinions through art, drama, songs and discussions regarding the topics of the day.

Long-Term Objectives.
• To develop peace loving citizens who promote national, religious and cross-cultural tolerance.
• To nature and inculcate culture of peace, conflict management and resolution through dialogue and negotiation.
• To create capacity building and value-based leadership with a view to develop future national leaders.





The Camp Activities
Upon arrival and registration, the children had their faces painted with the national colours to reflect the theme of the day. This was followed by exciting warm up by the KUTT that also acted as an interactive bonding session. There were different play categories like the Question and Answer session, sack race, dancing chairs, dances, singing and potato race that involved not only the children but also the adults present.
In overall, the activities produced winners in different categories who receive different prizes.
The prize categories included;
• The best group
• The best in each play category (boy and girl-5-7 years & 8-12 years)
• The most active child (boy and girl-5-7 years & 8-12 years)
• The most outstanding child (boy and girl-5-7 years & 8-12 years)
• Surprise gift/ Adjudicator’s award
The award ceremony was interactive, educative, and informative and child based addresses successfully delivered by the three invited guest. The event then closed with refreshments and snacks served by the hospitality committee to everyone present.
The children's peace camp was evaluated to determine how well the plan was achieved compared to the set targets. At the end of the games, just before the speeches, the Master of ceremony asked the children to state their views regarding the activities. All the children gave positive responses and admitted to have learnt a lot with reference to playing together, self discipline, respect and social interaction.
In conclusion, the MODEL ITU convincingly concludes that the days objectives were successfully met judging by the participants' responses and large turn out and the facilitators' positive comments.
Challenges Encountered
• Late arrival of the children, most of them attend Saturday tuition.
• Getting the message out.
Recommendations on Challenges in getting the massage out
Since our aim is to ensure maximum impact of the initiative, we have come up with other suitable means and methods of reporting our outcomes, which however constraints may limit, including;
• Using a website
• Use of print and/or print newsletters
• Sensitization campaigns and multiple and sustained means of communication
• Presentation before workshops and seminars
We sincerely thank the Christ the Teacher Catholic Church Parish priest, Fr. Lance for the material and moral support and advice he accorded us. We also thank the various religious leaders in the university, PPC Executive for the approval of the peace camp, slotting it into the church calendar and enhancing publicity, guests, KUTT, the organisers and the observers.
We therefore make impartial recommendation of more of such activities that may also involve more students as we strive to heal our country that is just coming out of a political violence.
The 2008 Children’s peace camp photos and video can be viewed at www.projects.tigweb.org/model-itu and the face book.

March 9, 2009 | 8:44 AM Comments  0 comments
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Untitled
Related to this project: MODEL-ITU YOUTH ORGANIZATION
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

MODEL ITU HOSTS 2ND ICT TRAINING

TOPIC: THE KENYA’S ICT SECTOR.

TRAINER: Mr. Jonnah OWITTI

Profile :The current chairman ISACA (Kenyan Chapter);In charge of Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM )Certifications. Also Chief Information Systems Auditor of Chevron (East and South African Region).

In line with MODEL-ITU Pillar one (youth empowerment and entrepreneurship) and pillar four (bridge the digital divide) an interactive training themed: THE KENYA’S ICT SECTOR will be carried out on February 12, 2009 at 7.00 pm, AVU Board Room.

This will be the second training after the ICT FOR ENTREPREUSHIP training held in November 2008.
The training is to explore the various ICT enable opportunities in Kenya and the relevant skills that are necessary to reap the maximally reap these benefits. The training will be based on such areas as: Professional orientation of the ICT Sector
Industrial expectations

Recommended professional certifications
The students , after the free training are expected to apply the knowledge in exploiting the IT enabled services like Business Process Outsourcing and Knowledge Process Outsourcing in entrepreneurial initiatives.

Date: February 12, 2009

Venue: Kenyatta University, African Virtual
University Board Room

February 10, 2009 | 6:16 PM Comments  0 comments
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