ADDRESS BY HER EXCELLENCY MADAM ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF

ADDRESS BY HER EXCELLENCY MADAM ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
TO THE 67TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2012

Mr. President;
Mr. Secretary-General;
Excellencies, Heads of State and Government, Heads of Delegations;
Distinguished Delegates;
Ladies and Gentlemen:

I congratulate you, Mr. President, and the people of Serbia, on your election as President of the 67th Session of the General Assembly. I assure you of Liberia's fullest cooperation and support as you carry out the responsibilities entrusted to you in steering the affairs of this Session.
I wish also to pay tribute to your eminent predecessor, His Excellency Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser of the State of Qatar, for his capable stewardship of the affairs of the 66th Session and the many bold initiatives undertaken in the interest of world peace during his tenure.

My highest commendation goes to the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, who continues to demonstrate sound leadership in the face of new and complicated challenges.  He has begun his second term with renewed vigor and a clear articulation of the priorities which encapsulate the major concerns of the international community.

Mr. President:

The selection of the theme for this Session, which calls for the "Settlement of disputes by peaceful means," could not have been more appropriate.  When we review the state of the world, we see an international landscape checkered by armed conflict, economic crises and environmental degradation. For those who have had the painful experience of conflict, including my own country, Liberia, this year's theme becomes very pertinent.

The cost of conflict in lives and infrastructural destruction makes us doubly appreciative of the value of preventive action to avert conflict.  The need for conflict prevention takes on added urgency, because most conflicts are internal, engendered by marginalization, inequity and injustice.  It becomes imperative, therefore, to identify and remove those triggers of conflict before they explode.
Our Government's efforts to achieve the twin objectives of conflict prevention and peace consolidation are being reinforced through our engagement with the peace-keeping and peace-building architecture of the United Nations.  In an environment of peace, we have prioritized actions aimed at re-establishing the rule of law by building the capacity of our institutions and processes for delivery of justice and security.  We have formulated a roadmap for national reconciliation to ensure that peace is sustainable.

Our development partners, including the UN and its Specialized Agencies, have remained faithful to our national agenda.  They have supported our priority programs for women’s empowerment, increased agricultural productivity and food security, roads and infrastructure and jobs creation.  All of the UN Agencies must be capacitated to provide the support to government programs in these areas. It is particularly critical for the new gender entity, UN Women, which is the youngest among them and whose viability must be assured.

We have made strong strides in gender equality, but much more must be done for girls' education and women’s empowerment.  Tremendous progress has been made in health care delivery.  We are particularly pleased by the recent UNICEF report showing a sharp reduction in the level of child mortality.  However, there are still many challenges to overcome before we can assure universal access to health care.

Mr. President:

Many developing countries, like Liberia, have structured their economies around the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). While some countries have made considerable progress in reaching some of these Goals, many others will be unable to achieve them by 2015.  There is an emerging consensus that efforts must be accelerated to achieve maximum progress in the achievement of the MDGs over the next three years.

I am honored, and humbled, to have been selected by the Secretary-General as one of the co-Chairs of his High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.  We are mindful of the difficulty of this responsibility, which requires us to propose a framework that builds upon, but goes beyond, the MDGs in the establishment of goals that are ambitious, but achievable.  We know that the results of our work must reflect a broad political consensus of the public and private sectors and civil society as well. We know that defined goals should enable all people in all countries to be freed from the shackles of poverty through development that is sustainable.

Liberia remains fully committed to the ideals and purposes of the United Nations, and believes that the Organization should continue to occupy the center of global governance, by leading efforts to meet our collective challenges to peace, security and development. To meet this objective, the inter-governmental negotiations on Security Council reform need to come to an early and logical conclusion. My Government is encouraged that an increasing number of Member States support the enlargement of the Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, which would ensure a fairer and more equitable participation reflective of the world’s demography. In this regard, Liberia supports the African Common Position, based upon the “Ezulwini Consensus” as adopted by the African Union. [Applauds]

In the same vein, we must ensure that the General Assembly is revitalized to fully assume all the responsibilities entrusted to it in the Charter.  After all, it remains the most representative body of the United Nations. 

Mr. President;
Distinguished Delegates:

The high-level Diplomatic Conference on International Trade in Conventional Weapons, which ended recently in New York, sought to develop the highest possible international standards for trade in conventional weapons. However, strong national positions on this sensitive global issue prevented an agreement on a binding Arms Trade Treaty. Yet, nations of good will and nations which have experienced devastation from illicit trading and diversions of conventional weapons must continue strong advocacy, taking into account the full range of differences and disagreements. We would thereby encourage bilateral consensus-building ahead of new rounds of negotiations. At the same time, we are convinced that the final draft Arms Trade Treaty text, though imperfect and inconclusive, contains essential ingredients upon which future negotiations can succeed.
Mr. President:

We express our deep condolence for the death of the U. S. Ambassador and staff, as well as Libyan nationals, in the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. All nations should be concerned about the spreading of violence in reaction to a film which demonstrates an unacceptable insensitivity to an Islamic faith.  Even in such circumstances, we must all be mindful that democracy requires freedom – freedom of ideas, freedom of association, freedom of religion and, more importantly, freedom of expression. This often results in statements and actions that may offend.  Tolerance, and not violence, is an appropriate response to prevent further violence. Liberia is a clear example that, were it not for our tolerance to the new-found freedom of expression, our country would be back in chaos.
While the majority of our countries are consolidating economic and social gains underpinned by democratic processes, regrettably some parts of our sub-region are still dogged by serious challenges that risk undermining the peace and progress of the entire region.  We in Liberia, like many other countries in the region and the world at large, were particularly appalled by the unconstitutional unraveling, of democratic governments in Mali and Guinea Bissau in the early part of this year; and unequivocally condemned these attempts to seize power through unconstitutional means. Accordingly, Liberia endorses the decisions of ECOWAS aimed at the full restoration of constitutional order in both countries in the shortest possible time.  Liberia enjoins the world community, particularly the Security Council, to buttress efforts of ECOWAS in restoring peace in our region, most especially in Mali.

As Chair of the four-nation Mano River Union comprising Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and La Cote D'Ivoire, Liberia has committed itself never to allow an inch of its territory to be used to destabilize its neighbors.  It is in this context that we categorically condemn all attempts to undermine the peace and democratic gains in La Cote D'Ivoire and are working closely with the Ivorian authorities and UN peacekeeping outfits in both Liberia and La Cote D'Ivoire to protect and consolidate the peace in our two countries. We call on all countries in our region to work in concert so that individuals intent on destabilizing some parts of our region are treated as enemies in all parts of our region.

Mr. President:

We are all part of a rapidly changing world in which the forces of globalization cannot be reversed. Our farming systems have to adjust to unusual weather conditions, our habitats have to relocate from traditional safe areas, our societies have to find responses to the distractions of the demonstration effect. Developing countries, like my own, must make globalization work if we are to achieve our growth targets and lift our people out of poverty.  This means more commitment and effort on our part to create an environment that ensures economic growth based on mutuality of benefits and responsibilities.

Liberia, from its founding, is a complex nation, and the cleavages that led to decades of war still run deep. Our experience clearly shows that success has its pitfalls. Displaced citizens returning from refugee camps in the sub-region, and deportees from around the world swell the ranks of the desperate unemployed, thereby intensifying our vulnerability. Communities long deprived of basic services demand instant attention to their individual needs, thereby straining our capacity. Civil servants lacking a decent living wage for two decades rightfully clamor for more, thereby undermining the budgetary processes.

As Liberia moves forward into its tenth year of sustained peace, we can state with conviction that our country has turned the corner.  Liberia is no longer a place of conflict, war and deprivation. We are no longer the country our citizens fled, our international partners pitied and our neighbors feared.  Our stabilization efforts, over the past six years, have resulted in average annual growth of over 6 percent.
Revenue has more than quintupled; direct foreign investment of over US$16 billion mobilized; an expanded fiscal space through unprecedented debt cancellation, infrastructure reconstruction and institutional rebuilding. More importantly, we have earned our rightful place as a country of hope and opportunity.  The processes of change which have started will continue and will not stop until the country is placed on an irreversible path of sustained peace, growth and development.  Our Vision 2030, resulting from a robust nationwide consultation, is a long-term program for transformation which prioritizes youth development, infrastructure, reconciliation and capacity development.
Yet our Government is keenly aware of the challenges to be faced over the next three years. United Nations peacekeeping forces are gradually being withdrawn from Liberia. In our discussions with various UN teams coming to Liberia – the Technical Assessment Mission in March, and the Security Council delegation in May – we have emphasized the need for a responsible transition, through a gradual process, occurring over a period of 3-5 years. We also seek the alignment of transitional activities with our budget cycle, reflecting Government priorities.

We wish to express appreciation to the United Nations, which has been a very committed and effective partner.  We owe the Organization much gratitude for preserving an enabling environment for peace-building and state-building.

In closing, Mr. President, I wish to note that today, for the first time in two generations, Liberia has a second successive democratic government elected by the will of the people. Despite the distractions, local and external, our people are determined to take their destiny into their own hands, determined that our ambitious goal of making Liberia a middle-income country by the year 2030 will be achieved.

I thank you.

Still here!

Yes I'm still here. I have been very busy. I will have more to say soon. :-)

New Year's Message by H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf To the Liberian People

My Fellow Liberians:

Let us give praise and thanks to Almighty God for his manifold blessings upon us as a people and upon our beloved Liberia, now in its ninth year of peace and stability.

2011 was a momentous year for our country. Yet we proved to the world, more importantly we proved to ourselves, that we had reached the level of political maturity to hold democratic, free, fair and transparent elections in our once fractured land.

As I speak to you, my Fellow Citizens, 2012 is upon us - a New Year, a new beginning, a new Administration. The coming of a New Year is a time for reflection, of looking back on accomplishments and of things unfinished. The New Year is also a time for resolutions and looking to the future.

We are proud of the significant progress we made over the past six years: in peace and security, economic revitalization, governance and the rule of law, and in rebuilding infrastructure and providing basic services -the four pillars of our Poverty Reduction Strategy.

We endeavored, in the first term, to address issues that required our immediate attention: to restore growth, mobilize investment, repair broken infrastructure, and to put into place the necessary laws, policies, strategies and systems. We accept that we didn't do all that we wanted; we simply underestimated the scale of the tasks.

Yet, if our people will look around, and remember from whence we started, they will agree that, indeed, we've come a long way. The benefits from the work we've done in the first six years are starting to show. Our pledge is to continue along this path. Having put the fundamentals into place, we are moving forward with the socio-economic reconstruction, development and advancement of our country.

The Liberian people renewed their confidence in our team by re-electing us to a second term. We proudly accept the challenge to work harder to complete what we started but could not finish. It is a welcome responsibility that makes us more focused and strengthens our commitment and resolve to get the work done.

The first priority on our 2012 agenda will be to address the situation of our young, unemployed and uneducated youths. We are emphasizing vocational and technical training as an imperative! Our youths need jobs, but they also need to develop the skills for the jobs that are coming in our mining, agriculture and forestry and, God willing, petroleum sectors. We are confident that the benefits of our natural resources will show results by improving the lives of our people.

At the heart of our national agenda for peace is national reconciliation, which is critical for socio-economic development and progress, as well as for peace, security and stability. National reconciliation will be the catalyst for energizing our people into collective actions for the greater common good and national cohesion.

However, we want to remind every Liberian that we have a constitutional duty to protect the lives and safety of all of our people, and that no one has the right to undermine the peace and stability of the nation.

We appeal to every Liberian to be law abiding, upholding and embracing all that we have worked to achieve. We encourage our people, especially the youth, to look to the future with renewed hope and zeal.

We call upon every Liberian to co-exist in peace and security, in a spirit of reconciliation and national unity. It will require the collective effort of all Liberians to continue rebuilding our country and to ensure that peace, stability and democracy continue to prevail. It is our fervent hope that 2012 will be a year of true patriotism and reconciliation that will accentuate the positive things that unite us.

We will, over the next six years, continue to implement our long-term vision and development agenda; conclude the processes for constitutional reform; expand infrastructure to a larger number of the population; strengthen our natural resources management; and ensure that we retain an open society based upon transparency and accountability.

As a New Year dawns, we pray God's guidance in leading our nation in the direction of peace, reconciliation and development. Let me seize this opportunity to wish Liberians - at home and in the Diaspora - and residents within our borders, a joyous holiday season and a very happy and prosperous New Year.

Remarks by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at 164th Celebration of National Flag Day

Monrovia City Hall, Wednesday, August 24, 2011

As I look at all the young faces here, it puts me back into the time
I was in your place, when I was going to high school like you. Let me tell you what a day, what one day in my life, at your age, was like.

Got up in the morning about 5:30; first thing you do, you make up your bed. You’re lucky if you got mattress, because plenty time you got the straw one, you have to stir that straw to make sure it was smooth. After that, you go down and you have prayers. Your mother and father made sure you had prayers in the morning. Then you do your share of the cleaning up. You got to do some sweeping; some people have to pull water, whatever it is; then you get dressed for school.

By 7:00, I see the people from CWA; that’s where I was going. 7:00, that first bell rings. 7:15, the second bell rings. If you finish your chores at home, then you start on that walk to be able to get to school. And if you go, and your Ma finds your bed not made up, she sends you back to go and make it up.

7:15, that second bell rings; 7:25, they had what they called the hand bell, and if you still walking to school, you start to run, because by 7:30, that door is closed and if you not there, you go back home. And when you go back home, you going get your beating, because you didn’t finish up to get to school on time.

And so, then, when you go to class, the first thing you do is to go inside the auditorium. You go into the auditorium, again there’s a small prayer and your pledge allegiance to the flag. You had to do that before you got into the classroom.

Then you go into the classroom, of course, one class to the other. Discipline, paying attention! I remember one time I had chewing gum in my mouth, chewing, chewing, chewing. The teacher stood there and looked there and said, who chewing gum
in here? Of course, you try to hold it under your tongue so nobody can see it. And so what he said was, “a gum‐chewing girl and a cud‐chewing cow, seems to me there’s a difference somehow: it’s the intelligent look on the face of the cow.” Wow! I don’t eat chewing gum anymore, because every time I want to take chewing gum, I think about the cow going like this….

Midday, you go and break; you go to the cafeteria. In the afternoon, you do some volleyball; you do some physical education and all of that. Then you get back home to have your lunch, and in the afternoon you’re going either to music class, or to typing class, or to some kind of class to make sure that the whole body, the character, is made. That’s what the old people did to us; that’s what got us where we are today.

There were no video shops, there were no hatai shops. Those are the modern things that you enjoy, and they have their own values – the opportunity to sit and talk. But some of those old‐fashioned values, we need to bring them back.

You know, if you made noise in class, they sent you to the office and you go sit in the office. Sometimes, you got to pump tire. You know what they call pump tire? I don’t know if I’m able to do it self, but you put your fingers like this, and you go down and come up. Or they said pick pin; that one, you had to stand on one foot and put one finger on the ground. But those things made us strong, they really did.

The other day, many of you know, the President of Botswana visited us and he and I were talking and talking about discipline in the schools. He said, “Well, in Botswana, we still use the cane. We still cane students.” I said wow! Today, in today’s world, you still canning students? He said, “Yes.” I said, but how about the
human rights people, they don’t jump down on you? He said, “The medical people told us not to cane anymore on the back because, you know, you could harm the child. But we still cane on the buttocks and today, the very human rights people you’re talking about, they call Botswana the most exemplary State in Africa.”

I didn’t say we will do it, oh. I didn’t tell them anything; I’m just talking about discipline. He also told me, “You know, we still got death sentence on the books.” I say, we too, but the human rights people in all the Scandinavian countries are after us. We must make sure we abolish capital punishment. He said, “Well, in
Botswana, you take a life, we stand to take yours.” Oh! That one, they don’t like that one! We’re on the books, but we are very judicious about it, we don’t believe in that too. But it just to show you that the best performing country in Africa, by any measurement, is a country that instills discipline, and that we ask when there’s an infraction of the laws of the rules of the land.

To you: for your own progress, for your own future, for your own professionalism, some of those old standing habits, like respect for others, like preparing your lessons, by making sure you go to school on time, and in school you apply yourself with discipline. Those are the things that build character. Those are the things that set you up in a place where you will achieve what you want to in this world.

Those are the things that will make you successful where you can compete, not only in Liberia, but anywhere in the world, and you can be what you want to be.

God bless you!

I wanted to repost this speech by H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia.

http://www.emansion.gov.lr/doc/20110824_President_Flag_Day_Remarks.pdf

I just buried my loved one in garbage and human waste!!!

People spend so much time complaining that the cemeteries in Liberia, especially in the Monrovia area, are unfit for burials, yet we the Liberian people keep burying there. Why, what is the problem, what is wrong with Liberians my people....we complain that Liberia is the oldest country in Africa and is still at the bottom of most African countries, yet we do nothing to help build it into a new Liberia. So many are still just thinking about themselves and the close family member or should I say just the ones they care about.

Now could a Liberian tell me why they could consider burying their loved one on Duport Road or Caldwell or some other cemetery or place to bury in the Monrovia area instead of KAISER MEMORIAL LAWN CEMETERY....please help me understand why..because it is not the price because just about anyone or let me say anyone can afford to bury at this modern well kept clean cemetery. There are very affordable basic burial packages all the way up to deluxe packages. Oh, maybe they need all the extra money for the repast. That's the most important thing about burying loved ones in Liberia you know. Some do not even go to the funeral, just show up at the repast for a good time with negativity about the food's taste, what the family wore, whether they cried or looked sad enough and who the caterer is. Wow, huh. Don't you think the most important thing should be giving the dead a secure burial forever in a clean well kept peaceful cemetery?

And funeral homes who are not referring deceased loved ones to Kaiser Memorial Lawn cemetery, what's the problem? Someone tell me what is going on in Liberia with Liberians thinking that Liberians can do nothing right. Liberians are just like all others from every country in the world. Good, bad, smart, stupid, jealous, trouble makers and those who just will not lift their finger to help a good thing if they think nothing is in it for them.

All those who have buried their loved ones at Kaiser...thank you so much for your donation for contributing to the new Liberia as it is being built.

And this thing about burying on the family farm or a piece of land that some member of the family owns is so not thinking of the growth of Liberia and especially that dead loved one. My people, as Liberia grows all of those farms and backyard graves will be destroyed. Liberia will rise again and it has already started. Stop burying your loved one just anywhere because you think nothing is in Kaiser Memorial Lawn Cemetery for you. Something is there for every Liberian and friends of Liberians because it helps make Liberia look good and clean and having much respect for the dead to the entire world.

KAISER MEMORIAL LAWN CEMETERY IS FOR ALL LIBERIANS AND NOT JUST THE OWNERS. It took a lot of courage and hard work for it to be where it is today in Liberia. And by you burying your loved one there, you too own a part of it. Oh wait a minute. It is owned by Liberians and Liberians do not do anything for long. My people, stop the jealousy, evilness and negativity and do your part for Liberia in any way you can.

Help beautify Liberia by burying at KAISER MEMORIAL LAWN CEMETERY in Brewerville. Oh I forgot you own a piece of land somewhere...you too will open up your own cemetery. Oh well Liberian.

Call Kaiser Memorial lawn cemetery at 06800404/077150500 and ask them any question or concern you have instead of spreading head say from pepper mouths who I assure you do not know anything about the owners of this cemetery other than they did not think of it first and they think it's about making money. I assure you the ownership of Kaiser Memorial Lawn is not about making money, rather dong it's part for Liberia. It has been a very tough road with many criticisms rather than help. Bury your loved one there or sign a contract for your own future burial and stop the lies and misinformation about a place that you too could call your eternal resting resting place forever. Visit the Kaisermemorial Lawn website at Kaisermemoriallawn.com or email us at information@kaisermemoriallawn.com.

LIBERIA WILL RISE AGAIN. You just wait and see.

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said she will not run for a second term!!!

President Johnson-Sirleaf did say that she will not run for the second turn. But does she have the right to change her mind? Is there anyone who can do a better job than what she has done? Well, run against her and win. Prove yourself instead of saying she said she will not run for a second turn. President Sirleaf has all legal rights to run for a second turn under Liberia's constitution.

It is very transparent what this lady has done in her very short six years as President of Liberia. Those who say they do not see what she has done do see it, but may not be educated enough to understand that what they see if it is not dropping out of the sky, rather than someone is behind the negotiation. Who got all of the loans that other countries gave to Liberia renegotiated? Do you think that America, England, Germany, etc, etc and the World Bank just decided to wave Liberia's loans if they did not think the present president was doing a good job and had built a good reliable relationship with other countries?

My people, even the great United States has some form of corruption. Liberia has a long way to go...but my people Liberians did themselves the biggest favor when they voted her into office.

These people who do not see what this lady is doing for Liberia...just do not want to say that they do see it or just do not have Liberia at the heart. They just want quick money. Do what you can for your country, not what your country can do for you. All Liberians need to stop being so selfish and jealous. Do your part.

Liberia will rise again and when it does....you, your children and grandchildren will benefit from it.

Stop all of the complaining and do your part. It may look the same, but anything in the interest of Liberia, no matter how small it is may be very important for the growth of the land.

Do something for your country my people, stop looking for negativity. Look for the positive and help it move in a greater direction.

You too can make a difference my people. You too. Say "thank you" to Ellen for what she has done, rather trying to create negativity and mistrust to the Liberian society.

I say to all Liberians, no matter where you live, Liberia is your home. Help develop it, not just take from it.

Education, education, education.

Heartwarming story about saving a whale

What a wonderful story that is. And what a magnificent creature that whale is. It is just unbelievable to me that mankind is still killing whales.

The good old days of Liberia!!!

The good old days of Liberia. Do you remember the Tubman and Tolbert eras? Liberia was on it's way to much greater things. Those two presidents believed that all were equal. They integrated with tribal people and even had children by them. All of this segregation thing is so made up. Liberians are talkers, but they always knew that Liberians are Liberians whether Bassa, Kru, Kpelle etc. or so-called Congo people. That's the real funny part. Everybody has a native side in Liberia, be it that they can speak the dialect or not. The mother, father, grand parents etc. have some form of native Liberian background. Liberians are so mixed they all could be related.

This upcoming election is going to make history in Liberia. I am sure that all Liberians will get out there and vote for what they believe is best for the country and not for who they know will help them if they win. Let all Liberians do the right thing my people. Aren't Liberians tired of being at the poopoo end of the world?
Not trying to tell anyone whom to vote for, but look around my people, there is some form of peace in the land. Of course some officials need to go, but this administration has done wonders for Liberia.

Imagine if the Tubman and Tolbert era was followed by the many great things they did, where Liberia would have been today. Lets all Liberians work together for once my people. Those of you in top offices, knowing that you are scared to say the truth, step down and let someone with balls help grow the economy of this land.

Liberia will rise again, but all Liberians and friends of Liberia needs to stop the corruption and develop this very beautiful rain forest country.

Liberia is on it's way to be where it should be. Congratulations to all Liberians for all they do. Even the negativity is positive in some ways.

My people we all love this land. Lets not destroy it again. Blessings to all Liberians and friends.

The Late Mrs. Antoinette Louise Tubman

Mrs. Tubman was buried in plot # 1051. Click here to visit the Kaiser Memorial Lawn website.