Quella utopia chiamata Africa
Decine di esperti delle Nazioni Unite, African Union, docenti universitari, rappresentanti di governi africani tra i quali il presidente del Malawi, osservatori dell’amministrazione americana si sono dati appuntamento a Washington per un convegno sul futuro del continente nero. Titolo: Africa: 53 Countries One Union. L’evento è stato organizzato dalla Foundation for World Wide Cooperation, presieduta dal professor Romano Prodi. Aprendo i lavori di questa due giorni, Prodi ha detto che in un momento come l’attuale caratterizzato da ribellioni, secessioni e guerre civili, potrebbe sembrare utopico parlare di integrazione africana. Ma con il supporto delle Nazioni Unite a favore dell’Unione Africana e con una chiara visione di questo obiettivo da parte delle nazioni industrializzate si deve continuare a lavorare per raggiungere una sostanziale integrazione tra le nazioni africane nell’interesse di tutti. L’università di Bologna, grazie alla Fondazione di Prodi, ha creato dieci borse di studio destinate a giovani africani che dovranno occupare posizioni di vertice nei propri stati.
FATHER’S DAY
Good morning,
I grew up without a father around. I was lucky enough to be raised by a wonderful mother who, like so many heroic single mothers, never allowed my father’s absence to be an excuse for me to slack off or not always do my best. But I often wonder what it would have been like if my father had a greater presence in my life.
So as a father of two young girls, I’ve tried hard to be a good dad. I haven’t always been perfect – there have been times when work kept me away from my family too often, and most of the parenting duties fell to Michelle.
I know many other fathers face similar challenges. Whether you’re a military dad returning from deployment or a father doing his best to make ends meet for his family in a tough economy, being a parent isn’t easy.
That’s why my Administration is kicking off the Year of Strong Fathers, Strong Families. We’re joining with dads across the country to do something about father absence. And we’re taking steps to offer men who want to be good fathers but are facing challenges in their lives a little extra support, while partnering with businesses to offer fun opportunities for fathers to spend time with their kids. For example, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Major League Baseball and the WNBA are offering discounts for fathers and their kids, and companies like Groupon and LivingSocial will be featuring special offers for activities fathers can do with their children.
We know that every father has a personal responsibility to do right by their kids – to encourage them to turn off the video games and pick up a book; to teach them the difference between right and wrong; to show them through our own example the value in treating one another as we wish to be treated. And most of all, to play an active and engaged role in their lives.
But all of us have a stake in forging stronger bonds between fathers and their children. All of us can support those who are willing to step up and be father figures to those children growing up without a dad. And that’s what the Year of Strong Fathers, Strong Families is all about.
So I hope the dads out there will take advantage of some of the opportunities Strong Fathers, Strong Families will offer. It’s one way of saying thank you to those who are doing the most important job of all: playing a part in our children’s lives.
Happy Father’s Day.
Sincerely,
President Barack Obama
P.S. Earlier this week, I did a TV interview and wrote an op-ed on this topic. You can see both on WhiteHouse.gov.
This email was sent to oscarb1@rcn.com.
The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111
Oscar Bartoli
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