'Is Democracy Working?' was the challenging title of the 20th World Congress of the International Political Science Association (IPSA), that took place in Fukuoka, Japan, 9-13 July 2006.

Issues addressed included those of the crisis and capacity of democracy, the reasons why young people’s vote is declining, the functioning of political parties and its impact on democracy, gender quotas and electoral democracy.

Fundamental changes and developments in political relations at all levels and in all parts of the world have sparked a vigorous reassessment of democracy. IPSA World Congress – which brought together over a thousand political scientists and researchers from universities around the world – addressed aspects such as the effectiveness of contemporary electoral systems, campaign practices, and political parties.

Democracy needs to be sustainable, because democracy is a long-term, difficult, political process.

"Democracy is inherently local", "It must be home-grown, and its delivery should depend on the commitment of domestic actors. While recognising the universal validity of the broad principles underpinning democracy, it will inevitably take different institutional forms in different regions, countries and localities to resonate with local conditions".

IPSA was founded in 1949 under UNESCO sponsorship and is composed of national political science associations. The IPSA World Congress, which is held every three years, has developed into a major international political science event.

On the journey to establish a Peace Day, a day of ceasefire and non-violence, with a fixed calendar date of 21 September, Jeremy Gilley spoke with young people from all around the world. He wanted to find out what they would think of a day of peace. Since 1999 he has spoken to 30,000 young people and their teachers, recording hours of their thoughts. It was clear when showing short films of his journey so far, that young people wanted to become involved on 21 September. Teachers encouraged Jeremy to provide a resource pack that would support young people to become the driving force behind the vision of a united world.

The pack focuses on practical issues of peace and non-violence, and provides guidelines for extended Peace Day projects. The pack contains a multi-region DVD containing both a 32-minute classroom version and the feature-length version of the award-winning documentary Peace One Day, plus extras.

Although this resource pack has been created specifically for the UK National Curriculum, teachers from overseas will certainly find it useful. The long-term vision is to create a generic global resource to be made available in 2007/8.
Visit:

http://www.peaceoneday.org/

I am that African youth that live for Africa and will not relent in my struggle for a greater Africa in future!

Talking about Africa, talk people that are customed and cultured

Help save a child in the save the Child project of CYLWHAFT and be happy!

Marcus Garvey, a great black philosopher once posited that a race that has no power is doomed as it will pepertually depend on the whims and caprices of those that posses power. such a race, he said will constantly be forced to do things against the will of its people by the race rewilding power and authority.

Also though provoking is Marcus Garvey's assertion that the leading nations and races succeeded because they adopted the policy of disorganising others while organising themselves.

These weighty philosphical statements by Marcus Garvey were in the face of great segregation, marginalization, intimidation, slavery, perpetrated against the black race by the white race.

It is unfortunate that Nigeria the most populous black nation in the world has over the years, in many ways, shown or symbolised the fate of two people of the pictures as painted by Marcus Garvey - one powerless and the other powerful.

Today, there are ethnic groups that who for reasons best known to them seemingly are determined to dominate other ethnic groups have adopted the policy of disorganising others to achieve their aim particularly since after the Nigerian civil war.

For instance, Ndigbo who produced great leaders including Dr. Nmamdi Azikiwe that were flag bearers in securing Nigeria's Independence from our Colonial masters are still today struggling to occupy the highest office of the land. This is in spite of their population and material resources and they constitute one of the three major ethnic groups in the country.

Since after the civil war and the federal government's pronouncement of the policy of no victor no vanguished with the subseqent implementation of reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation programme, keen observers and analysts have noted systematic disorganization of Ndigbo while some other ethnic groups have been well positioned and groomed to hold some other ethnic groups to ransom. The marginalization policy of disorganisation has been pursued through non-sitting of strategic industries and government institutions in Igbo homeland, lopsided creation of States and local governments in the country against Igbo interest, inequality in the appointment of Ndigbo into strategic positions in the armed forces, neglect of federal infrastructure in Igbo homeland, reneging in power shifting arrangements when it is to favour Ndigbo and adopting the policy of dividing our political leaders to work against each other and the collective interest of Ndigbo each time national elections are around the corner and selective justice. Selection of known people for appointments at the national level.

These policies have obviously made many Igbo leaders to doubt their potentials in becoming major actors in the nation's political arena particularly the number one position in Nigeria. Infact, since after the civil war, Igbo home land has become a veritable arena for other ethnic groups presidential candiates to shop for their vice presidents or other lower positions but refusing to throw their weight behind the bid of Ndigbo to produce the president, their unequalled contributions to national development notwithstanding.

It was against this backdrop that the State action governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu during his first tenure while addressing Ohanaeze gathering in 2001 in Enugu made a wake up call for Ndigbo to arise and shine by shaking off all the intimidation, marginalization and segregational policies unleashed against them by the powers that be after the civil war.

Recalling the wake up call in his State wide TV and radio broadcast to mark this year's democracy day, governor Orji Uzor Kalu noted that those who want Ndigbo to remain subservient in the nation's political equation have started unleashing problems against him.

In the words of Governor Kalu nonetheless, quote - I am not bothered about what I had lost or stand to lose for speaking out against the injustices done our people, I know that posterity will vindicate me. unquote. Governor Orji Uzor Kalu deserve to be encouraged for remaining resolute and focused in mobilizing Ndigbo and building bridges of understanding across ethnic divides to enable Ndigbo have a bite at the Presidency in 2007. Very refreshing also is Governor Uzor Kalu's declaration in the democracy broadcast quote "I am ready to contest for the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2007. I have whatever it will take to win the presidency. Those working against my by destroying all what I had built over the years will not stop me. I am determined to fight on until the battle is won. Let nobody deceive you, I am in the race to win and by His grace, I will make it", unquote.

For political pundits who have studied the marginalization of Ndigbo over the years, Governor Kalu's wake up call, to Ndigbo has put him in high standard to win the 2007 presidential election, under a free and fair atmosphere.

The time for Igbo leaders to unite and support Governor Kalu's presidential bid is now.