After a public debate, followed by an incredibly close three rounds of voting, Dexter was elected to the prestigious position of Leader of Parliament for the legislative sessions to be held on Monday and Tuesday.
The debate began with 3-minute opening speeches from each candidate followed by a question and answer session with their fellow students in the audience. Each candidate presented a unique philosophy on how they planned to run the parliamentary sessions to take place on Monday and Tuesday. Read More »
Impressions from today’s teleconference between the Climate Change group (CPA) and a State Department Expert on the area, Drew Nelson.
Today the Founders were sitting right across the table and a just a wide-screen away from a great source of knowledge and getting the chance to ask away.
To he who was listening and watching the scene, it really was spectacular to see,
how one student who asks a question, lowers his bucket into a well of knowledge,
and hereafter the whole room enjoys the fruits of the answer.
In one sense it is a traditional and very simple way of acquiring information. Not very different than just asking your granddad about the old times (just with twenty of your buddies sitting by, listening). Read More »
The Founders have shared an incredible number of their pictures with everyone over the last few days. I’ve posted images taken by Angela, Damjan, Patricia, Anna, Vildana, Monika and Nasser, so be sure to look at the study trip albums as well as those from earlier in the initiative. I love looking at everyone’s pictures and hope everyone else does too! Enjoy, and keep sending me photos!
Today the students started on their final project of the program: the formation of a mock government of the great nation of Petrounia. The Founders broke up into six groups, five of which represented political parties represented in the parliament. The final group represented the press corps. Each political party is focused on drafting legislation on an individual topic area, ranging from climate change to China policy. The fellows began establishing a party platform today, setting up blogs to publish press releases for the media.
The students were especially enthusiastic about the element of compromise involved in the political process of Petrounia. Liaisons from each went around to other parties to discuss the potential avenues of cooperation in the legislative process. The press corps was especially busy today, working hard to get updates on all of the basic party platforms that were formed. Tomorrow the fellows will hold press conferences, officially establishing party positions on their individual topic areas.
Round two of the Founder Trivia has now begun. Patricia has the lead, who will challenge her by guessing this next mystery Founder? This time you only get one clue:
- What Founder plays for his school’s ice hockey team?
Post your guess as a comment.
The Founders are having a great time with their home stay families, getting a true taste of life in Winston-Salem. A few of the fellows shared what they liked best about their families with me today.
Haroula, of Greece, is having a great time hanging out with her two new little sisters from the Smith family. She’s had fun bowling and mini-golfing with the family. “I even managed to win once,” she said.
Iskandar, of Tajikistan, has said he’s had a blast playing basketball and watching movies with the O’Rourke family . “We’ve watched everything from The Patriot to Big Daddy with Adam Sandler. I enjoying being able to eat nice food and play basketball,” he said. Read More »
4 days ago, In Independence hall, while Founders were staring at the carved sun on George Washington’s chair, a knowledgable ranger cited Benjamin Franklin speaking about the future of the union:
“I have often … in the course of the session … looked at that sun behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now at length I have the happiness to know it is a rising and not a setting sun.”
3 hours ago Dr. Sylvain H. Boko spoke to the Founders about the challenges the African economies are facing.
It made me wonder weather the merciless sun shining on the continent of Africa is rising or setting…
Read More »
The Founders spent the late morning listening to a presentation on potential follow on projects. They then broke into groups to brainstorm and come up with some ideas. Several of them talked with me about their ideas and I must say that they are excellent ideas that need to be pursued once they return home. I expect that we will receive a large number of grant applications from this class of BFTF Fellows.
As promised, here is the link to three presentations that were done in 2005 by the SEEYLI group. They may generate several additional ideas.
Follow on #1
Follow on #2
Follow on #3
Help your neighbor’s boat across, and lo! your own has reached the shore - Hindu proverb
Imagine, if you will, that your country has been involved in conflict, strife, and several civil wars. Resources are unevenly divided between various sections of your country; some are rich, some are poor, some have good roads, some have none, some have natural resources, others have none. Many sections of your country have been destroyed, including most of the infrastructure. However, at present, there is no fighting; in fact a peace agreement between all factions have been signed. But, there are accusations by both sides of violations of the agreement. In addition, there is outside pressure from international donors for democratic elections and structural economic reforms. What do you do? What does your country do to consolidate the newly found, yet fragile, peace to avoid further fighting? What challenges does your country face, both internally and internationally? Read More »
After a public debate, followed by an incredibly close three rounds of voting, Dexter was elected to the prestigious position of Leader of Parliament for the legislative sessions to be held on Monday and Tuesday.
