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Gregory Marshall's Page
Gregory Marshall's discussions
Children's Education Exchange Programs in Conflict Areas
Started Jan 21
Profile
- What motivated you to become involved in peace and conflict resolution?
- I desired to escape the fear and horror of living under the threat of nuclear annihilation during the Cold War.
In 2001 my daughter was a victim of the anthrax attack in Washington, DC, and I began to intensify my efforts.
- Please feel free to provide a short bio about yourself (no more than 3 paragraphs)
- I am a minister of the United Church of Christ living in the U.S.
I have organized numerous projects creating connections between Americans and Russians.
I am the author of a play about Samantha Smith, an American school girl who visited the USSR during the Cold War period and had great impact. I am very interested in the ways that drama and poetry affect conflict.
- Please list the countries and/or regions in which you have direct and significant expertise
- Russia with partricular interest in the north Caucases
- What is your current country of residence?
- USA
- What is your current job (and organization) and/or where and what field are you studying?
- United Church of Christ
- What is one of your favorite websites in the field? (please provide one answer per box)
- http://www.samanthasstars.com
- Which are your primary sectoral areas of expertise?
- Peacebuilding, Youth, Education
- Which are your primary skills areas?
- Training, Program Design
- What are some of your current areas of research (if any)?
- Use of drama/poetry to reduce conflict
- If appropriate feel free to list several of your publications
- You are welcome to review my current project at www.samanthasstars.com
Events
-
3rd International Youth Media Summit
August 20, 2008 at 9am to August 27, 2008 at 9pm – Belgrade -
2008 Summer Professional Development Workshop
August 22, 2008 at 9am to August 27, 2008 at 5pm – Claremont Graduate University, CA -
Transitions Online announces the launch of Reporting EU Integration
August 25, 2008 at 9pm – Bosnia,-Herzegovina, Serbia, Moldova -
Systemic Peacebuilding - Executive Leadership Programme
August 26, 2008 at 9am to August 28, 2008 at 6pm – London
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Situated on the equator on Africa's east coast, Kenya has been described as "the cradle of humanity".
In the Great Rift Valley palaeontologists have discovered some of the earliest evidence of man's ancestors.
In the present day, Kenya's ethnic diversity has produced a vibrant culture but is also a source of conflict.
After independence from Britain in 1963, politics was dominated by the charismatic Jomo Kenyatta. He was succeeded in 1978 by Daniel arap Moi, who remained in power for 24 years. The ruling Kenya African National Union, Kanu, was the only legal political party for much of the 1980s.
AT-A-GLANCE
Politics: President Kibaki claimed victory after controversial elections in December 2007 and was sworn in for a second term in office, triggering a wave of unrest
Economy: The economy has been recovering over recent years
International: Kenya has mediated in conflicts in Somalia and Sudan
Timeline
Violent unrest - and international pressure - led to the restoration of multi-party politics in the early 1990s. But it was to be another decade before opposition candidate Mwai Kibaki ended nearly 40 years of Kanu rule with his landslide victory in 2002's general election.
Despite President Kibaki's pledge to tackle corruption, some donors estimated that up to $1bn had been lost to graft between 2002 and 2005.
Other pressing challenges include high unemployment, crime and poverty; most Kenyans live below the poverty level of $1 a day. Droughts frequently put millions of people at risk.
One of Africa's more politically-stable countries, Kenya has been a leading light in the Somali and Sudanese peace processes.
With its scenic beauty and abundant wildlife, Kenya is one of Africa's major safari destinations.
The lucrative tourist industry has bounced back following the slump that followed bomb attacks in Nairobi in 1998 and Mombasa in 2002. And in 2006 tourism was the country's best hard currency earner, ahead of horticulture and tea.
FACTS
Full name: The Republic of Kenya
Population: 34.3 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Nairobi
Area: 582,646 sq km (224,961 sq miles)
Major languages: Swahili, English
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 48 years (men), 46 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Kenya shilling = 100 cents
Main exports: Tea, coffee, horticultural products, petroleum products
GNI per capita: US $540 (World Bank, 2005)
Internet domain: .ke
International dialling code: +254
LEADERS
President: Mwai Kibaki
Political veteran Mwai Kibaki claimed victory in controversial presidential elections in December 2007. His swearing-in for a second term in office prompted a wave of unrest across the country.
Mwai Kibaki
His rival for the post of president, opposition candidate Raila Odinga, rejected Kibaki's victory and accused the government of rigging the result. International observers also expressed doubts about the poll, and called for an independent enquiry.
Kibaki subsequently said he was ready to form a government of national unity, a proposal which has received a lukewarm response from Raila Odinga. In the meantime, the UN says 250,000 people have been displaced by the unrest, which is also affecting the economies of neighbouring Uganda and Rwanda.
Mr Kibaki first came to power when he won a landslide election victory in December 2002, promising to fight endemic corruption and to address Kenya's economic woes.
His election victory marked the end of almost 40 years of Kanu party rule, and it was third time lucky for Mr Kibaki, who lost two elections in the 1990s. The constitution barred his predecessor, Daniel arap Moi, from standing. Mr Kibaki's National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) won a parliamentary majority.
Economic recovery has accompanied Mr Kibaki's leadership. Economic growth in 2006 was 6.1%, compared with 0.6% when he took over.
But despite the tough talk about graft, his government has become mired in a major corruption scandal. Former and current ministers have been implicated in an alleged scam involving shadowy deals and large sums of public money.
The president was thwarted over another key policy when voters rejected a proposed new constitution in 2005. Mr Kibaki had portrayed it as modernising measure; critics said the charter left too much power in his hands.
A respected economist, Mwai Kibaki served as finance minister and vice president in the 1970s and 1980s. He left Kanu in 1991 and founded the Democratic Party.
Mwai Kibaki was born in 1931 and hails from Kenya's largest tribe, the Kikuyu. He studied in Uganda and Britain before joining the push for Kenya's independence in the 1960s. He became an MP in 1963.
Kenya enjoys a more diverse media scene than many other African countries, with a large middle class providing a base for substantial advertising revenue. The Kibaki government came to power promising further media liberalisation, but some incidents since then have alarmed observers.
In 2003 there was a crackdown on unregistered newspapers. Months later, a court criticised the information minister for harassing popular private radio station Kiss FM. Then in March 2006 armed police, acting on government orders, stormed the offices and presses of the Standard media group.
Kenya has one of Africa's liveliest media landscapes
2008: Kenya's vibrant and critical media
2007: Kenya's media in gagged protest
Amid the violence that followed disputed elections in late 2007, the authorities imposed a ban some live broadcast output.
There is a tradition of a relatively independent press, although newspapers often had to practise self-censorship during the era of Presidents Kenyatta and Moi. The print media is dominated by two major publishing houses, the Nation and Standard, both of which also have substantial broadcasting operations.
Most Kenyans rely on the broadcast media, particularly radio, for news. Until recently the liberalisation of broadcasting had a limited impact outside Nairobi but some private radio and TV networks now have wide coverage of much of the country. TV viewing is substantial, but few Kenyans are regular internet users, owing to cost and access problems.
I think you and I need to set up a peace project in Kenya.What do you think?
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Paul