ID :
181771
Thu, 05/12/2011 - 13:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/181771
The shortlink copeid
US Civil Rights Activist Lauds Qatar's Global Aid Initiatives
Doha, May 11 (QNA) - America's leading civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson has praised Qatar's contribution to international humanitarian aid work as well as hosting the Doha Forum on Democracy conference at a time when the world is facing multiple crises.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Jesse Jackson said, "Qatar hosted this global conference at a time of global crisis, whether it's Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan or the Persian Gulf. The leaders should be commended for allowing people from all over the world to gather at such a forum where experts can speak freely."
America's leading civil rights voice lauded Qatar's international aid and humanitarian relief work and the country's leader HH The Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani for his initiatives.
"I appreciate Qatar's humanitarian work," said Jackson. "Whether it is helping victims of Hurricane Katrina, the people of Haiti, victims in Darfur (Sudan) or Libya, Qatar has been at the forefront of global humanitarian work."
One of the speakers at the three-day conference which concluded here yesterday at the Doha Sheraton Hotel, Jackson, 70, called for global economic justice, dignity, human rights, employment and empowerment of youth like some other speakers urged.
Around 600 delegates from over 80 countries participated in the conference and workshops addressed by eminent economists, current and past ministers, special envoys, former Members of Parliament, academia, top corporate, media executives and sports officials from the GCC.
On the recent youth-led uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East, Jackson, founder President of Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, told QNA the movements started against "oppressive governments" and demanded "dignity, equal protection under the law, security".
"Throughout the Middle East what one sees is a vast body of unemployed educated youth who demands were for justice and jobs. They want governments that they are part of that are transparent and not corrupt. And they are using the social media to get their message out".
"These three things raised up a perfect storm. Their (youth) focus is on reforms then on violence. People want governmental reforms in which they can participate in their own destiny," said the activist who was a candidate for the US Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997.
Jackson, a Baptist minister, who marched with prominent African American civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr in the mid-1960s,said the uprising took place because "too many people had too little, while too few people had much".
Asked whether the African American civil rights movement of the 1960s could be compared with the one in the Middle East, he replied yes and said, "To the extent that African Americans were denied dignity, equal rights and opportunities just as the people here (countries where the uprisings took place) are pressing for jobs and equal participation."
Stressing that war and violence is not solution to problems, Jackson said, "The key to peace is a fair distribution of resources, rather than weapons." He regretted that some considered peace is naive and war is the remedy. "Thus some choose conquest over co-existence".
He said oppression and suffering produces leaders and gave the example of India's M K Gandhi who led the independence struggle against British rule through non-violence movement. In the US segregation brought forth Martin Luther King Jr and in South Africa Nelson Mandela led the struggle against apartheid.
Hailing the recent Egyptian uprising, which used non-violence and non-cooperation as protests against oppression, as "one of the most phenomenal revolutions of our time. It tells us that there is an alternative to violence that non violence works."
Jackson who has "no further political ambitions" called for leadership "that has strength, character, courage and is transparent" and gave the example of how US President Barack Obama moves ahead despite criticism.
"President Obama has these basic characteristics and yet he is facing criticism," said Rev Jackson. "He is attacked at every level; his trust and religion, his birthplace, his academic credentials, his motives and ideology is challenged."
He urged, in his address to the Doha Forum on Democracy conference that people should refuse to submit to corruption, yearn for democracy and the will to fight for it.
"Deep within our souls, we all share this yearning for democracy. On all continents, in all languages and cultures, we share this yearning for freedom and dignity. So we must go forward by hope and not backward by fear," he siad and closed by reiterating Qatar's efforts saying, "A small country is doing big things while big countries are doing small things." (END)
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Jesse Jackson said, "Qatar hosted this global conference at a time of global crisis, whether it's Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan or the Persian Gulf. The leaders should be commended for allowing people from all over the world to gather at such a forum where experts can speak freely."
America's leading civil rights voice lauded Qatar's international aid and humanitarian relief work and the country's leader HH The Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani for his initiatives.
"I appreciate Qatar's humanitarian work," said Jackson. "Whether it is helping victims of Hurricane Katrina, the people of Haiti, victims in Darfur (Sudan) or Libya, Qatar has been at the forefront of global humanitarian work."
One of the speakers at the three-day conference which concluded here yesterday at the Doha Sheraton Hotel, Jackson, 70, called for global economic justice, dignity, human rights, employment and empowerment of youth like some other speakers urged.
Around 600 delegates from over 80 countries participated in the conference and workshops addressed by eminent economists, current and past ministers, special envoys, former Members of Parliament, academia, top corporate, media executives and sports officials from the GCC.
On the recent youth-led uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East, Jackson, founder President of Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, told QNA the movements started against "oppressive governments" and demanded "dignity, equal protection under the law, security".
"Throughout the Middle East what one sees is a vast body of unemployed educated youth who demands were for justice and jobs. They want governments that they are part of that are transparent and not corrupt. And they are using the social media to get their message out".
"These three things raised up a perfect storm. Their (youth) focus is on reforms then on violence. People want governmental reforms in which they can participate in their own destiny," said the activist who was a candidate for the US Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997.
Jackson, a Baptist minister, who marched with prominent African American civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King Jr in the mid-1960s,said the uprising took place because "too many people had too little, while too few people had much".
Asked whether the African American civil rights movement of the 1960s could be compared with the one in the Middle East, he replied yes and said, "To the extent that African Americans were denied dignity, equal rights and opportunities just as the people here (countries where the uprisings took place) are pressing for jobs and equal participation."
Stressing that war and violence is not solution to problems, Jackson said, "The key to peace is a fair distribution of resources, rather than weapons." He regretted that some considered peace is naive and war is the remedy. "Thus some choose conquest over co-existence".
He said oppression and suffering produces leaders and gave the example of India's M K Gandhi who led the independence struggle against British rule through non-violence movement. In the US segregation brought forth Martin Luther King Jr and in South Africa Nelson Mandela led the struggle against apartheid.
Hailing the recent Egyptian uprising, which used non-violence and non-cooperation as protests against oppression, as "one of the most phenomenal revolutions of our time. It tells us that there is an alternative to violence that non violence works."
Jackson who has "no further political ambitions" called for leadership "that has strength, character, courage and is transparent" and gave the example of how US President Barack Obama moves ahead despite criticism.
"President Obama has these basic characteristics and yet he is facing criticism," said Rev Jackson. "He is attacked at every level; his trust and religion, his birthplace, his academic credentials, his motives and ideology is challenged."
He urged, in his address to the Doha Forum on Democracy conference that people should refuse to submit to corruption, yearn for democracy and the will to fight for it.
"Deep within our souls, we all share this yearning for democracy. On all continents, in all languages and cultures, we share this yearning for freedom and dignity. So we must go forward by hope and not backward by fear," he siad and closed by reiterating Qatar's efforts saying, "A small country is doing big things while big countries are doing small things." (END)
