People & Society | Peter "Just Loves Flying"

Romney adamantly rejects same-sex marriage | Irish Examiner

May 15, 2012

Peter Singhatey Politics People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Romney adamantly rejects same-sex marriage | Irish Examiner.

Republican White House challenger Mitt Romney, wooing social conservatives, has adamantly rejected same-sex marriage and trumpeted his belief in Christian values and the family.

Days after Barack Obama became the first US president to back gay and lesbian marriage, Mr Romney told university graduates the “pre-eminence of the family” remains at the heart of the principles that underpin the nation

allAfrica.com: Senegal: Greenpeace Welcomes Cancellation of Fishing Authorizations

May 4, 2012

Peter Singhatey Articles on Africa Africa, Gambia, People & Society, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, West Africa Leave a comment

allAfrica.com: Senegal: Greenpeace Welcomes Cancellation of Fishing Authorizations.

Greenpeace welcomes the decision of the Senegalese government to cancel licenses of pelagic fishing vessels issued to 29 foreign trawlers from Russia, Comoros, Lithuania, Saint Vincent Grenadine and Belize.

“These kinds of licenses are a direct threat to employment and food security for millions of Senegalese who have been dependent on fishing for centuries,” says Raoul Monsembula, Oceans Campaigner, Greenpeace.

Most Irish believe overseas aid remains vital

May 3, 2012

Peter Singhatey World News Africa, Gambia, People & Society, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey Leave a comment

Most Irish believe overseas aid remains vital.

A MAJORITY of Irish people believe overseas aid remains important despite the State’s economic crisis, a new survey suggests.

The poll from Ipsos MRBI, commissioned by Dóchas, an umbrella group of more than 40 development organisations, found that 85 per cent of respondents rated overseas aid as “important” or “very important”. The findings mirror a similar survey conducted by Eurobarometer last year, which also found less than half of Irish people believe the Government should increase its overseas aid budget.

Document Details | Towards a Parliamentary Strategy for African Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

May 1, 2012

Peter Singhatey Articles on Africa Africa, Gambia, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Document Details | Towards a Parliamentary Strategy for African Women’s Rights and Gender Equality.

While it is a recognised universal fact that eliminating gender inequality and achieving women’s empowerment are paramount to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, progress with implementation of the MDGs is the slowest in those areas that depend most heavily on improving the status of women and girls.

Fear and Loathing in the Ivory Coast | Think Africa Press

April 26, 2012

Peter Singhatey Articles on Africa Africa, Gambia, People & Society, peter singhateh, Peter Singhatey, West Africa Leave a comment

Fear and Loathing in the Ivory Coast | Think Africa Press.

The word in Abidjan is that no-one leaves town after dark, that the road to the north becomes a bandits’ nest after 10pm.

The same story circulates in the central city of Bouaké. “Everyone distrusts everybody else”, one inhabitant told Think Africa Press. A graphic picture in the government newspaper Fraternité Matin shows a minibus that has veered off the road; the torso of the lifeless driver has slumped off the front seat and hangs suspended at an angle. “Killed just like that,” reads part of the caption…

Credit unions that thrive vital for all via @independent_ie

April 19, 2012

Peter Singhatey Irish News credit unions, microfinance, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Credit unions that thrive vital for all via @independent_ie.

Credit unions enjoy exceptional popularity in Ireland. People love their friendliness and informality. Even in these cash-strapped times, their total deposits still amount to €12bn.

But like so many other Irish institutions, our 400-plus credit unions are in severe difficulties. Many of them have insufficient capital. Some are in serious danger. The figure for loans in arrears has been estimated at €1bn.

Restructuring credit unions via @independent_ie

April 19, 2012

Peter Singhatey Irish News credit unions, microfinance, People & Society, peter singhateh Leave a comment

Restructuring credit unions via @independent_ie.

The final report of the Commission on Credit Unions, which was published yesterday, is likely to usher in major changes to the credit union movement. The future is likely to be one of fewer, larger credit unions offering a wider range of services to their members.

In common with other financial institutions, the economic downturn and the resulting bad debts has hit the credit union movement hard. With 51 of the country’s 403 credit unions failing to meet the requirement that their reserves exceed 10pc of their assets, of which 25 are seriously under-capitalised, the need for reform is clear.