Change and chase your dreams

All of us experience change in our lives. Change is the one constant in our lives. There are changes that we look forward to and change that we fear. However, one thing is for sure. Things will not stay the same no matter how much we would like them too. When a life change occurs, we have two choices in how to respond. We can despair that a change has come and assume that things will be worse, or we can look with excitement at the new possibilities that the change presents.

Life is filled with Dreams, Dreams which give our life meaning and inspire us to change. We dream about change and improvement, we set goals, seemingly impossible goals, goals which challenge us, and we dream about the future, when we will reach our goals, when our lives will change for the better. Without our dreams, Life and humanity would be hopelessly dull.

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Friendship in Life

The friendship we have is so rare to find,
We hate to see each other in a bind.
We have made each other laugh so hard we've cried,
We feel each other's pain if we are hurt inside.
We always can find the right words to say,
To help us get through any dreadful day.
We have told our darkest secrets, with feeling no shame,
We will tell each other the truth even if we are to blame.
Thinking of you not being here makes me feel so sad,
We will have to look back on our crazy memories to make us glad.
The Miles between us can't keep us apart,
Because we will keep each other close at heart.

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We ourselves are responsible for our own happiness and misery. We create our own Heaven. We create our own Hell. We are the architects of our own fate

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the IEA weighs in How many oil industry authorities does it take to call the top of the market? Three, so far. Ali Naimi, Saudi Arabia’s oil minister, thinks oil at $120 is “unjustified” because supply fears are overdone. Opec says supply constraints are easing. And, weighing in yesterday, the International Energy Agency says that oil market fundamentals are turning as supply moves ahead of demand – though the shift has yet to translate into the price. Of course, one false move from Iran and this emerging consensus is moot. But what if the pundits are right? The oil price hit a peak of $128 a barrel this year, and is up about 13 per cent so far in 2012. That is mainly attributed to worries about Iran’s conduct in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil supplies travel. Others blame quantitative easing – either via economic stimulus or by fuelling demand for speculative assets. The latter is hard to prove, although the oil price has come off recently as talk of further QE has receded. Trouble is, a further retreat may not be the boon many hope for. A high and rising oil price affects economic growth, but not by much. Goldman Sachs estimates that a 10 per cent rise in the price of crude slows gross US domestic product growth by between a quarter and half a percentage point. But with the American economy set to expand by 2-2.5 per cent this year, that is within the margin of error. And a falling oil price is unlikely to do much for economies such as the eurozone, which have even more powerful reasons for lack of growth besides the cost of oil. That said, falling oil prices should technically help stocks and bonds. As well as lower input costs, subdued energy prices help to keep interest rates lower for longer, boosting equity valuations. And if bonds rally, too, then it will be time to take the pundits seriously.

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The Internationalisation of the Crisis

The growth of debt over the last two decades in countries like the USA and UK has been dependent on international flows of capital which in turn have resulted from a significant degree of exchange rate stability compared to the turbulence of the early 1980s. Conversely, a move towards a different pattern of accumulation will inevitably put great strain on global monetary arrangements.

So far the crisis has mainly manifested itself in domestic monetary developments in the largest economies, although countries like Iceland, Ukraine, Hungary and the Baltic States have been driven to seek IMF or EU help. But this is now changing and the crisis is being internationalised in three ways.

The first of these is the effect of current developments on so-called `emerging market economies’. Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman gives the example of Russia where `while the Russian government was accumulating an impressive $560bn hoard of foreign exchange, Russian corporations and banks were running up an almost equally impressive $460bn foreign debt...This truly is the mother of all currency crises and it represents a fresh disaster for the world’s financial system’ [4]. The unwinding of the `carry trade’ (where financiers borrow in markets with low interest rates such as Japan and lend abroad) is beginning to have a devastating effect on such currencies.

Secondly, countries like the UK and USA which have been at the centre of the crisis see their currencies in danger of sliding, both because their governments need to borrow abroad and because of a general lack of confidence. At the time of writing the dollar remains relatively strong simply because of the weakness of other currencies, but sterling has fallen dramatically against both the dollar and the euro.

The third factor is increasing pressure on countries to devalue their currencies in order to boost exports at a time of falling demand. Even the Chinese government is now considering this to American consternation [5].

All of these developments are likely to herald a period of much greater turbulence for exchange rates and capital flows. Yet underlying the immediate changes in currency values is a deeper disagreement about future strategies amongst the international capitalist class.

The central long-run task for capital is to develop a strategy of accumulation which does not depend on the build-up of unsustainable debt (Martin Wolf’s article in the Financial Times of November 5 entitled `Why agreeing a new Bretton Woods is vital and so hard’ is in many ways a manifesto for this process). This process involves a wide range of different potential conflicts but one issue in particular is seen as increasingly central. This is the rebalancing of world economic growth away from the USA (and UK) towards the surplus economies of Asia and elsewhere, especially China.

The more far-seeing representatives of capital, such as Wolf, are very clear that if the current pattern of global imbalances persists, so will recurrent financial crises of the kind we have seen recently. Large flows of funds into the US and UK will result in risky lending whatever the regulatory structures created. The only way this can be avoided is through a shift towards domestic consumption in countries like China and a move away from consumption towards investment and, especially, exports in the US.

This kind of strategy is extremely difficult to implement in practice because the unplanned, spontaneous nature of capitalism makes this kind of rebalancing very destabilising and risky. This was shown in the mid-1980s when the decision to co-ordinate a rise in the value of the yen and shift the Japanese economy towards domestic demand and away from exports triggered a speculative frenzy of lending resulting in a slump lasting almost two decades.

Yet, an even more serious problem today is that there is no clear agreement on the way forward between the representatives of different national capitals. That has been shown within Europe with regard to the arguments between the German and British governments over the degree to which government spending and fiscal deficits are an appropriate response to the crisis. More serious, however, are the underlying tensions between the US and Asian governments [6]. These tensions reflect not just economic concerns, but also shifts in the balance of power within international capitalism.

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Oil price: the IEA weighs in

How many oil industry authorities does it take to call the top of the market? Three, so far. Ali Naimi, Saudi Arabia’s oil minister, thinks oil at $120 is “unjustified” because supply fears are overdone. Opec says supply constraints are easing. And, weighing in yesterday, the International Energy Agency says that oil market fundamentals are turning as supply moves ahead of demand – though the shift has yet to translate into the price. Of course, one false move from Iran and this emerging consensus is moot. But what if the pundits are right? The oil price hit a peak of $128 a barrel this year, and is up about 13 per cent so far in 2012. That is mainly attributed to worries about Iran’s conduct in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil supplies travel. Others blame quantitative easing – either via economic stimulus or by fuelling demand for speculative assets. The latter is hard to prove, although the oil price has come off recently as talk of further QE has receded. Trouble is, a further retreat may not be the boon many hope for. A high and rising oil price affects economic growth, but not by much. Goldman Sachs estimates that a 10 per cent rise in the price of crude slows gross US domestic product growth by between a quarter and half a percentage point. But with the American economy set to expand by 2-2.5 per cent this year, that is within the margin of error. And a falling oil price is unlikely to do much for economies such as the eurozone, which have even more powerful reasons for lack of growth besides the cost of oil. That said, falling oil prices should technically help stocks and bonds. As well as lower input costs, subdued energy prices help to keep interest rates lower for longer, boosting equity valuations. And if bonds rally, too, then it will be time to take the pundits seriously.

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DON'T LET CONFLICT KEEP YOU FROM SUCCESS

Anytime you are making ground and moving toward success, there will inevitably be the opportunity for conflict. That is just a fact of life. You put two people or more in a group and there is potential for conflict – and conflict, improperly handled, can destroy your ability to continue on and achieve your goals.

This is true in many areas of life, from the boardroom to the schoolroom. It can happen in marriage and it can happen between friends and business associates. And when conflict goes bad, success doesn't happen. The good news is that conflict can be healthy and can actually move you closer to success. Success is based on relationships and relationships offer the chance of conflict, so to get success, you must master conflict. So with that in mind, here are some ideas for handling conflict.

When you are the one who is confronting the problem with someone else:

Don't assume.

Don't assume the worst. Don't assume that they meant what you think they did. Don't assume they know any better. Don't assume they did it on purpose. The fact is that most of the time our assumptions are incorrect and all our assumptions do is cause us to get out of a deeper hole.

Ask questions.
Since you can't assume anything, you must begin your confrontation by finding out   the facts as that person sees them. Here are some questions to ask: What was your  intention in saying or doing that (Maybe they had good but misguided intentions)?  What were the thoughts behind those words or actions (Maybe they actually have a   well thought out position that you hadn't thought of)? Are you aware of how that might have been perceived (Maybe they just missed how that would be seen. Everybody is entitled to blow it)?

        Tell them how you perceive things, or how you feel, rather than what they did

         It is never good to start out with telling somebody, "You did this!" Instead, you      
         can    say something like, "I feel like your action may have been better if you would          have…" Or, "I think that the way that came across may have been…"

Deal with one issue at a time.

If they battle back a bit, you may be tempted to say, "Well, that isn't all! As a matter of fact, a number of us here think that you also need to work on…" If there is another issue, then deal with it at a separate time. Too many conflicts go around and around and don't end up solving the original issue. Stick to one point and see it through to understanding.

When someone is confronting you:

          Don't take it personally.

            Worst-case scenario, you blew it. But that doesn't make you a bad person. So don't
          act like they have accused your character (unless they have, in which case you
          should try to get the conversation back to the facts). When we take things
          personally we become even more protective and we tend to become defensive and
          in the end escalate the conflict even more.

Don't counterattack.

This gets back to dealing with one issue at a time. Don't try to justify or hide from the conflict the person has with you by showing him or her their problems. If they have a problem, great, talk about it later. Don't muddy the waters with debate about who is better, or as the case may be, less guilty. As hard as it may be, let the conversation run its course until it is solved.

Ask for some time to give it objective reflection.

One way to stop conflict from escalating is simply to ask for time to consider it. Most of the time when people confront us, we had no idea it was coming. Our natural tendency is to fight out of reaction. If we go and think about it, we can be objective and approach the situation objectively, or at least more so.

Set a time to get back with them and discuss the issue.

Let the person know that you take their concern seriously and that you want to deal with it in a timely manner. Set a time, no more than three days away, to get back together. You will keep from reacting, and they may even find that they had confronted too soon themselves.

Either way:

Keep your eye on the big picture.

Is this the hill you want to die on? Determine how important this issue really is. Most things simply aren't worth getting too upset about, or so upset that the relationship breaks down. Is a productive business relationship worth sacrificing over the fact that you partner wears too much cologne or their spouse talks loudly at parties? Of course not, but some people go to war over those things. Is your husband worth giving up on because he leaves his underwear on the floor? Now, for the sake of argument, the reverse is true: The other person could wear less cologne or pick up their underwear, because that is an easy way to make the other person happy. Ask yourself if this is really a big deal. If it is, proceed.

Always respect the other person as a person.

No matter what they have done, they are a person of value and deserve to be treated that way. They are not summed up and defined by their mistake. They have hopes and dreams, fears and worries, strengths and weaknesses. Take some time to picture them outside the office, playing with their kids or doing something fun. This will personalize your issue and keep you from going overboard.

Be solution oriented.

Whatever you do, don't focus on the problem. Ask yourself and the other person to approach the issue with the idea that you are both working for a solution that will be mutually beneficial. Rather than ask, "Why in the world did you do that stupid thing? What were you thinking?" Ask, "Okay, what is done is done – what can we do to fix this again?" That is much more productive. The goal is to get things going again, not continually punish the other person.

Conflict doesn't have to end in a bad way. In fact, it can cause you to develop a deeper and more trusting relationship with the person you have had conflict with. So the next time you have to confront, or you are being confronted, follow the advice above and you will be much further along toward getting through your conflict in a positive way.

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As I sit here all alone admiring the view of an early sunrise
I tilt my head back and close my eyes.
A soft gentle breeze crosses my face
I look around and enjoy the quietness of God's peace and the soft gentle pace
The trees are in full bloom, the leaves ready to fall
God's beauty of earth, I admire it all.
As the sun comes up and begins a new day
I sit here quietly and begin to pray.
Dear God, I begin to say, please watch over my life and keep me safe
Give me hope and show me faith.
Guide my path and let me know you are near.
Allow me to be strong and filled with love, for love conquers all fear.
A gentle breeze crosses my path, and gives me a slight chill
God answers and says: I am with you still.
I've never left you alone, or threw you aside, I am in your heart, I will be your guide.
I will show you the way to master life's difficulties, and trust your heart,
For I am with you now and forever, I shall never part.
A gentle breeze I feel again, I know my prayers are answered, God has heard my plea.
He has pointed this out for me to see.
Life has many surprises each and every day. We cannot live on regrets and sorrow.
Once again I feel a gentle breeze which means God is saying:
My child there is a tomorrow:
The sun will shine once again, the birds will continue to sing.
Memories will last forever, and enjoy life a new today, and all that it may bring.

 I will always protect you with My Love….

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As I search for your Saving grace,
I know one day I'll see your face.
Waiting is the hardest thing for me,
I know with you I will be so free.
You take me up and lay me back down,
I know with you I am and will be found.
I seek you each day and seek your name,
I am nothing without you or your Fame.
Waking with you, you give me power,
To make it another day and another hour.
Learning your word is oh so smart,
I love you Lord with all my heart.
You gave up for me all your life,
We could not stop all the strife.
Everyday I will always say,
I long to return to you one day.
Love me Lord and keep me strong,
Without you I can never get alone.
So hear my prayers as bring me peace,
My sins Oh Lord will slowly cease.
My heart is heavy and I am weak,
You love is strong as you speak.
Keep me safe at comforts arms,
Give me grace without any harm.
Give me eternity and take me home,
That day I will never be alone.

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Live Life With Dignity

Life’s hard to live and still people make it harder to live. Just living for right takes so much, that I wonder how people have time to do wrong, foolish things, to make life more complicated. Everyday is a duty, one hundred things to do and think of, you have your family, your friends, your work, your home, your God, all to tend to in twenty four hours. You oversee cooking, cleaning, clothing. You have your daily prayer schedule or temple to go to, you have the needs of father, Mother, Brother, Sister, Children to tend to. No one day is like the other, many of the surprises are unwelcome. We live each day working hard not knowing what tomorrow will bring. We have a life to live and to live it righteously takes a lot, each day. Morning to night is gone in no time. There is money to manage and just when you have managed to save the rare bit something unexpected comes along and you have to give it away. You pay for your health, eat right, live right, spend to be healthy and then unexpectedly something small, something stupid comes up and big money goes, your days go. your whole schedule goes.

Life is so unexpected. You just about have time to be with the ones you love and you live in that fragile stage because you never know when the ones you love will go. We are busy living hard lives and we don’t have choice but to live it. And so far I have just dealt with the external requirements our Life demands. There are more important ones – the internal needs. We have so much to deal with everyday. Life by the time you are thirty is packed. Disappointments, sad memories, regrets, past issues, people who went away, something is always on your mind. something is always tugging at our heart strings. We have to clear our old deeds of another life-time and we have to make sure we succeed in this because it is the main reason of our lives, we have to undo all the wrong we have done in this lifetime because then we never knew better, we have to come to terms with certain things of our life, let go of other things, we have to make peace with the war, we have to end wars and we have to live with us, the us that no one knows.

Life can be so difficult, it is for almost all. Yet we are blessed to able to go on for without the Blessing of God and His kingdom could we manage any of this? We have no control over our lives yet we live it., we have no weapons against diseases yet we go on not thinking about it, we have the old to take care of, the ill to look after, the additional difficult new twists and turns to manage our daily life. suddenly there can be a major change, suddenly there can be a major illness, suddenly there can be a death and it has happened to many. But we continue to live on. For, to live on righteously is all we are called to do. Which is why I wonder how those who are not like us manage to live the reckless and careless lives? yes Life is struggle , hardship, sweat, work, and everything you don’t want to hear. this is Life and sooner we accept it, the better. Life is difficult, our loved ones do fall ill, they will die someday, money is a hassle, everyday living does make demands, anything happens anytime, we don’t know anything. And the unnecessary trouble human add to our journey: deceptions, greed, backbiting, manipulations, hurt. What can we do?? Nothing, move away from what we can move away from and continue no matter what the distractions and disturbances to live righteously the way we have committed to. It is a tough road but it id our road. We don’t want it easy, we only want goodness, honor, decency, the ability to fulfill our duties, claim our soul’s belongings, love who we love, live small, live well, live honestly. We have many like us on this path, they’ve made it, we will too. We have a duty towards Life and never mind the millions who make it easy by taking the unrighteous path, we will live here. In my book of Life, really no matter what the difficulty, there is no other way to live Life than to live it with dignity and duty, Because that’s what then makes

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Communication Diffrences

Background on communication styles can help us understand the issues and learn how to alter our approach to eventually make life a little easier for both parties.

The Basics

Every time we speak, we choose and use one of four basic communication styles: assertive, aggressive, passive and passive-aggressive.

Assertive Communication:

The most effective and healthiest form of communication is the assertive style. It's how we naturally express ourselves when our self-esteem is intact, giving us the confidence to communicate without games and manipulation.

When we are being assertive, we work hard to create mutually satisfying solutions. We communicate our needs clearly and forthrightly. We care about the relationship and strive for a win/win situation. We know our limits and refuse to be pushed beyond them just because someone else wants or needs something from us. Surprisingly, assertive is the style most people use least.

Aggressive Communication:

Aggressive communication always involves manipulation. We may attempt to make people do what we want by inducing guilt (hurt) or by using intimidation and control tactics (anger). Covert or overt, we simply want our needs met - and right now! Although there are a few are aggressive behavior is called for (i.e., sports or war), it will never work in a relationship. Ironically, the more aggressive sports rely heavily on team members and rational coaching strategies.

Passive Communication:

Passive communication is based on compliance and hopes to avoid confrontation at all costs. In this mode we don't talk much, question even less, and actually do very little. We just don't want to rock the boat. Passives have learned that it is safer not to react and better to disappear than to stand up and be noticed.

Passive-Aggressive Communication:

A combination of styles, passive-aggressive avoids direct confrontation (passive), but attempts to get even through manipulation (aggressive). If you've ever thought about making that certain someone who needs to be "taught a thing or two" suffer (even just a teeny bit), you've stepped pretty close to (if not on into) the devious and sneaky world of the passive-aggressive.

What to do?

Clearly, for many reasons, the only healthy communication style is assertive communication. Surely you can identify many people in your own life that favor each of the four styles. Most of us use a combination of these four styles, depending on the person or situation. The styles we choose generally depend on what our past experiences have taught us will work best to get our needs met in each specific situation. If you take a really good look at yourself, you've probably used each throughout your lifetime.

Understanding the four basic types of communication will help you learn how to react most effectively when confronted with a difficult person. It will also help you recognize when you are using manipulative behavior to get your own needs met. Remember, you always have a choice as to which communication style you use. If you're serious about taking control of your life, practice being more assertive. It will help you diffuse anger, reduce guilt and build relationships - both personally and professionally.

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My treasure Friend

Treasured friend, I’m glad I found you;

Our friendship is a gift we share.
I can be myself around you,
Safe in your love and care.

I miss you when you’re out of sight;
Our friendship bond was meant to be.
I think of you with great delight;
You’re almost part of me.

Through fun and fears, play and tears,
We help each other heal and grow.
I prize our time--the days, the years,
More than you can know.

Just harmony for me and you,
The two of us--a perfect blend.
I’ll cherish you my whole life through,
My dear and treasured friend.

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ASIA AFRICA FOUNDATION YOUTH AND MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

ASIA AFRICA FOUNDATION YOUTH AND MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. Poverty affects youth’s current and future live .Poverty hinder youth by limiting options for youth to choose their future paths and marginalize youth in the development. Poverty affects their quality of health, education, environment, security. In the contrary, youth must be seen and taken into account as a development partner in any policy-making process at global, national, and sub-national levels that affect the future risks of the youth.

2. Achieve universal primary education. Education empowers youth, both boys and girls, to break“ vicious cycle” of poverty. Attaining higher education enables youth to have more options to improve their livelihood, actively contributing to the social and economic development of our nations, participating and reaping the benefit of globalization, strengthening global and national peace, sovereignty, governance, and human rights, and protecting our environment and natural resources sustainably for next generations. Education is an investment in youth that any governments are obliged to protect its commitment.

3. Promote gender equality and empower women. Gender inequalities in employment, property rights, as well as gender inequalities in accesses to education, health services, safe and cleaned water and sanitation hamper women from their full and productive participation in development. Any development policy planning and review must take into account gender analysis. Youth organizations can help to accelerate gender equalities and women empowerment by actively engage in policy and implementation change advocacies including through youth monitoring.

4. Reduce child mortality. Child mortality especially from preventable causes is intolerable. We call our elected leaders to take serious measures to address the causes and protect the livelihood of our brothers and sisters. Youth will give special attention to advocate and monitor the reduction of child mortality, and we are committed to assume our active responsibilities including but not limited to providing information and services to communities.

5. Improve maternal health. Maternal mortality is also intolerable. A woman should not die giving birth. We call our elected leaders to apply available technologies, knowledge, resources and measures, to address causes of maternal mortality. Youth will not accept anymore government’s ignorance or inabilities that could jeopardize our future. Youth are committed to assume our responsibilities to play our roles in advocating and monitoring improvement of maternal health as well as our active responsibilities that can help improve the livelihood of mothers.

6. Combat HIV/AIDS,  malaria and other diseases. Youth is one of vulnerable groups of these communicable causes. We call government’s attention to actively engage youth organizations to prevent and to reduce the spread of these deathly causes. Youth organizations are committed to actively do preventive campaign, strengthen peer-to-peer counseling and promote the fulfillment

of the rights of the people infected with HIV/AIDS.

7. Ensure environmental sustainability. Environmental destructions either natural and man-made calamities, affect youth’s future by causing new and chronic poverty, paralyzing education, health

Asia Africa Youth Forum 2010: Youth Declaration

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Life is a very special gift

Life is a very special gift,
given from one greater than ones-self.
You only get it once,
because once is all you need.
You can't replace it,
but at any time anything can take it.
So many times souls abuse it,
but when in need no-one will refuse it.
You live Life in such a short time,
so live it long and don't be blind.
For Life is a special gift,
so live it to the fullest,
for you have such little time.
Use your life to things that are useful
Useful to you, your family, your country and your religion
make yourself more meaningful..!!

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Friends Forever

The friendship we have is so rare to find,

We hate to see each other in a bind.
We have made each other laugh so hard we've cried,
We feel each other's pain if we are hurt inside.
We always can find the right words to say,
To help us get through any dreadful day.
We have told our darkest secrets, with feeling no shame,
We will tell each other the truth even if we are to blame.
Thinking of you not being here makes me feel so sad,
We will have to look back on our crazy memories to make us glad.
The Miles between us can't keep us apart,
Because we will keep each other close at heart.

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Building Our Character

1. The Right Motivation:  As a leader, we called to be an example-setter of high character to the people to whom we responsible—whether they are our peers, children, employees and/or constituents. No matter if it seems inefficient, inconvenient or ineffective, we will build character because it is the right thing to do.
2. Accurate Mindset: our character flaws undermine our leadership, but are correctable. Character is who we are; competency is what we do. we will no longer confuse the two. Character is not only attractive to me, but is irresistible.
3. possess the Freedom to Choose: we are 100% in control of our character and our response to others. we choose to be a leader of character. we regret my past character-poor choices. we do all within my power to change. we will become more like the mentors and models I most admire.
4. possess a Teachable Spirit: we designed to be a life-long learner. We are teachable and have a strong bias to apply what we learn, to who we are and what we do.
5. possess an Optimistic Vision: A few might remember my competence, but virtually all will remember our legacy of character, good or poor. Many will exceed us in various competencies, but we will set my sight on building a reputation of uncommon character.
6.  possess a Clear Target: we know the "bulls-eye" of high character. we know exactly what character-ethics are…and the corresponding behaviors we desire, even though we may struggle to achieve them consistently.
7. possess the Right Tools: we have taken the time to assess and acquire the correct resources to support my character-building journey, including a list of defined character-ethics and a support system of like-minded leaders.
8. possess a Sensitive Conscience: we may not always act on its every conviction, but we have a conscience that consistently generates a sense of great personal peace when we act in high character and appropriate guilt when we don’t.
9. possess the Ability to Find a Caring Mentor: our mentor(s) know us personally and we have agreed on a transparent, accountable, encouraging relationship as it relates to building character. our mentor(s) help us to create and maintain the conditions and principles necessary to build my character. Our respective roles and expectations are defined and mutually understood.
10. possess an Integrating Perspective: Our goal is to operate out of one, unifying and aligning character identity. we will tirelessly work to reconcile all of my various relationships to conform to this single identity.
11. possess a High View of Relationships: we value relationships, but we are not perfect. we want to forgive those who make errors and be forgiven as well when we commit them. While this does not eliminate the consequences of committing wrongs (or omitting rights), it assures others that we earnestly value them.
12. have Counted the Cost: If we start, there is no going back. we will be painfully exposed for what we are if we attempt to champion a double standard or refuse to confront chronically poor character of those in my charge and/or completely abandon my own pursuit of character.

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Close your eyes, open your heart
concentrate hard, get ready to start.
It is almost time to lift off and fly.
Believe in yourself and you'll fly very high.
Open your wings, spread them out
This is what flying is all about.
I know you can make it through this test.
Come on now. Do your best.
Now that you can fly and soar,
you can enter that successful door.
You've spread your wings and lifted your voice.
It's now time for others to make the right choice.

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Asia-Africa Cooperation to Accelerate the Achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 23-27 AUGUST 2010 BANDUNG, WEST JAVA

This Declaration is an outcome of the Asia Africa Youth Forum 2010 drafted and finalized by participants of the Asia Africa Youth Forum 2010. Asia Africa Youth Forum 2010: Youth Declaration ASIA AFRICA YOUTH FORUM 2010 Reviving Asia-Africa Cooperation to Accelerate

the Achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 23-27 AUGUST 2010 BANDUNG, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

1. We, Youth Representatives from 26 countries in Asia and Africa gathered at the Asia Africa Youth Forum on 23-27 August 2010 in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.

2. We have gathered here to commemorate the Asia Africa Conference and its Declaration of 1955. Fifty five years ago the Declaration had offered political support to colonized states within the regions for its independence and crafted a new ethos to govern the relationship between nations which we called the ’Bandung Spirit’ also known as the 10 principles of the Asian African Conference 1955 and had set a milestone for future southsouth cooperation.

3. We acknowledged that Asian African Leaders during the 2005 Summit in Jakarta had reaffirmed their commitment to reinvigorate the Bandung Spirit, to strengthen and enhance Cooperation by establishing the ‘New Asian African Strategic Partnership’.

4. We, youth representatives from Asia and Africa, recognize that the Declaration is very much still relevant today. We firmly believe that youth should play significant roles in development through partnerships with various stakeholders and set forth progressive agenda of cooperation using the South-South framework.

5. Reiterating the Bandung Spirit, we appreciate the commitment made by 189 heads of states and nations toward the Millennium Declaration, Asia Africa Youth Forum 2010: Youth Declaration which is an unprecedented commitment. The Millennium Declaration was translated into 8 Millennium Development Goals with targets and indicators to be achieved by 2015. The Goals provide an overall, yet simple framework to which all countries are committed and development of any country can be tracked by assessing progress made toward achieving the MDGs.

6. We recognize progresses have been made by the regions in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

7. But we recognize as well that progresses have not been even among and within both regions. Some sub-regions, countries, states, and sub-national areas have not yet made any significant progress while some are facing threats of regressing. Both regions might not achieve its target in solving hunger and malnutrition if they continue their current trends without any breakthrough plan. HIV/AIDS is still a major communicable threat to population in both regions. Inequalities, social exclusion, and gender discrimination still persist in many countries.

8. We acknowledge as well that the financial, energy and food crises as well as climate change, have given pressures to government’s efforts to improve the livelihood of the poor, including young people, and have impeded the progress, and in many cases, have regressed the countries from achieving the MDGs by 2015.

9. We note with great concern that research on developing vaccine to prevent HIV/AIDS continue to receive minimum funding. In this light, we welcome the High Level Plenary Meeting on MDGs Review in September 2010.

10.We intend to use this Asia Africa Youth Forum to express our commitment to encourage our leaders to take a serious and comprehensive and honest review of the progress made, the challenges ahead and outline concerted actions to accelerate the achievement of MDGs especially in Asia and Africa regions. Asia Africa Youth Forum 2010: Youth Declaration

11.The Declaration agreed upon at this Forum signifies hopes, dreams, concerns and reflections of many voiceless youth and the poorest, who reside in Asia Africa than our collective voices who have gathered here.

12.We appreciate the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/64/134 proclaiming the year commencing on 12 August 2010 as the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding. We reaffirm and call upon the governments, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to develop strong partnerships to scale up investments in youth and to encourage youth-lead contributions towards achieving the MDGs.

To this end we declare that:

13.The commitment to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals as a fair and equal global development and poverty reduction platform must be reinvigorated. Asian and African countries must make all efforts to achieve the Goals by 2015 by improving their policies and programmes, strengthening good governance and institutional arrangements, promoting peace, sustainable development and fulfillment of human rights, as well as ensuring wide public participation.

14.We call upon our governments to utilize the existing resources and mobilize domestic resources to improve the progress toward achieving MDGs and we urge developing countries to fulfill their commitment of at least 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) per year as Overseas Development Assistance.

15.Notwithstanding the importance of aids, Asian and African countries demand a more open and fair access to the developed market. Asia Africa Youth Forum 2010: Youth Declaration

16.Developed countries, bilateral and multilateral development agencies must address the special needs of Asian African countries that include but not limited to sustainable debt relief and/or debt swaps for MDGs arrangements.

17.Developed countries, and bilateral and multilateral development agencies should not set disguised, unfair or impossible conditions toward developing countries to help them meet the MDG targets.

18.We call for the advancement of Asia Africa partnership between bilateral governments, multilateral and regional associations or arrangements including private sectors. We believe that can

enhance equitable and sustainable growth, strengthen institutional capacity and good governance, which at the end promote improvement of livelihood among the poorest and marginalized groups.We, youth representatives, declare that: MDGs as Common Platform

19.Youth representatives attending this Forum work on different thematic areas or target groups such as community empowerment, advocacy , healthcare for the poor, education for girls and women, human rights, climate change, adolescent reproductive health, youth employment, etc. We reaffirm that all of these different areas and types of work are integral part of concerted efforts towards the achievement of the MDGs, and that only when those youth-led initiatives are synergized, youth can make a lot of difference.

20.We understand that we share common understanding and platform: we want better life for ourselves, for others and for the next generations to come. Our dream is that the MDGs are achieved in our generation. Asia Africa Youth Forum 2010: Youth Declaration

21.To achieve that, we reiterate our commitment to raise public awareness of our governments’ commitment toward the MDGs, by engaging youth and organizations dealing with youth affairs at

various levels.

22.We also reiterate our commitment to contribute and expand our active and robust involvements in political, economic and social development through any youth-led initiatives that use the MDGs as our common platform. Promote Accountability and Youth Mainstreaming

23.We will continue to spare no efforts to influence youth mainstreaming in all levels of development planning, legislation, budget allocation and monitoring.

24.We will spare no efforts for our elected leaders at global, regional, national and sub-national levels, to acknowledge and address the needs of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized groups, as well as socially excluded groups including caste, disabled, gender, race and sexual orientation.

25.We express our determination that youth should play an active and leading role in keeping the government accountable for meeting the MDGs by 2015. We are committed to gear up our efforts in monitoring the government policies and program, including service delivery at the community level in particular, to ensure accelerated achievement of the MDGs. Youth Network

26.Upholding the spirit of the Asia Africa Youth Forum, youth organizations in Asia and Africa regions are committed to develop and invigorate a cross-continent youth network for mutual support, information and knowledge sharing. Such a network is Asia Africa Youth Forum 2010: Youth Declaration deemed essential for bringing in innovative and adaptable youthled initiatives on MDGs.

27.We support all initiatives that can strengthen youth organizations in Asia-Africa to share information and knowledge as well as develop our capacity to accelerate the achievement of MDGs by 2015.

28.We are determined to develop an institutional process of the Asia- Africa Youth Forum through a regular annual meeting and support the initiative to establish Asia Africa Youth Forum Secretariat. Partnership

29.We are also committed to collaborate and make synergies with all partners including civil society organizations, parliamentarians, media, universities, private sector, faith-based organizations, UN agencies including UN Millennium Campaign and other potential partners, that can strengthen and expand youth-led MDG initiatives, especially for promoting youth monitoring on public services to hold the government and elected leaders accountable. Media and Technology

30.We are committed to exploit to the fullest the latest information technology such as websites, blogs, videos, mailing list, short message services, etc to serve our main purposes as youth representatives committed to the achievement of MDGs in the light of Bandung Spirit.

25 August 2010

Bandung, West Java, Indonesia

Asia Africa Youth Forum 2010: Youth Declaration

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Poem About Life

Sometimes all you can give is love
Sometimes all you have is not enough

Sometimes life is like a dream
Sometimes dreams aren’t what they seem

Sometimes laughter can heal your heart
Sometimes it’s laughter that breaks it apart

Sometimes the world goes faster than you can go
Sometimes even fast is still too slow

Sometimes going home is the only thing on your mind
Sometimes home is the only place you can’t find

Sometimes you are too tired to sleep
Sometimes you are too sad to weep

Sometimes freedom holds you back
Sometimes a wedding dress is black

Sometimes loneliness is what you need
Sometimes there’s a harvest without a seed

Sometimes darkness can be too bright
Sometimes rain gives you delight

Sometimes you think you understand
Sometimes you know you really can’t

Sometimes what sets you free are restrictions
Sometimes what makes most sense are contradictions

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Life is given as a gift

Life is given as a gift,
So wonderful and new,
We need to live it day to day,
Being careful as we do,
True treasure is not found in pirate ships,
in chest of silver and gold,
... treasure isn't ruby rings,
and jewels from long ago.

My treasure is you, my Dear Lord…!!
Because you gave me a better life, when the old one fought to come back.
Because I am nothing without you, nothing but a hopeless being.
Because only You could tear down my wall of pride,
instead build it back up with love and humbleness.
Because of all this, I give you my life, my soul and my heart, Lord….
I will put all my fears and failures in Your hands, my worries that consume me,
my pain that destroys me.
You were always there, and guide me..
Because of all You are, my life, oh God, is yours.
Happy Easter All my friends…!!

With Love
Prince Archos Savelle

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