The priorities for 2011 remains basically the same as those of 2010. According to Pew Research Center, the "Economy dominates public's agenda, dims hope for the future" subtitle: Less Optimism about America's Long-term prospects.

What this means is that the public sector should find the right thing to do; the private sector has a crucial role to play. There may be a crisis of confidence in that the private sector does not 'trust' the public sector to do the right thing in terms of public policies. President Obama has taken initiative to get the two sides to join in the efforts to raise the economy and create jobs, which is easier said than done. Meanwhile, applying economic and financial criteria, it makes more sense for businesses to invest in China and India (this creating jobs over there). Adequate attention has not been given to enabling the medium and small businesses, which are here in the mainland, to grow and prosper and thus create jobs! Many of them still have difficulties to obtain needed loans to grow! It is hard to blame the banks to apply the criteria they are supposed to! Dilemma to solve.

http://people-press.org/report/696/

http://people-press.org/report/584/policy-priorities-2010 (Pew Research Center)

Renewed efforts are being made to address the job situation as a national priority: as the analysis of Prof. Wind shows (see below) the situation is complex and therefore requires a more comprehensive approach. Such an approach has been put forward by the President in his State of the Union address, 2010 and the Job Bill is under consideration in Congress

Update on the job situation http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

The job situation warrants our utmost attention. IISRT is pleased to offer an analysis by Prof. Serge Wind which brings more light on that complex subject: IISRT is now (as of December 4, 2009) pleased that the matter is receiving the attention that it deserves; two job summits are underway mobilizing the best minds to find solutions. Also, The Christian Science Monitor inter alia offered several specific ideas on the matter. Whereas empiricism pointed out the unfolding of the worse case scenario (as shown below), pragmatism is the way to go in the search for solutions (hence the summits and ongoing brainstorming for specific action plan) and results can be expected.

The October 2009 Employment Situation and its Implications for the Economy

Serge L. Wind, Ph.D.

 The October 2009 unemployment rate on a seasonally-adjusted basis was released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on November 4.  The jobless rate was 10.2%, the highest unemployment rate in 26 years, as depicted in Chart 1.  While the peak of the recession seems to have passed, and economists in a half year may declare the recession is over now, employment always lags other indicators, like growth in real gross domestic product (GDP). The unemployment rates are 15.7% for African-Americans, 9.5% among white Americans, and 13.1% for Hispanics.  The jobless situation has been particularly harsh for young workers, with unemployment rates of 19.1% for workers 16 to 24 years old, and 30% for young African-Americans.

Educational attainment is inversely related to unemployment rates.  The jobless rate for people without a high school diploma is currently 15.5%; those with bachelor’s degrees or higher are experiencing a 4.7% unemployment rate. (continuation)

Prof. Wind welcomes your thoughts, suggestions and questions; kindly email him at swind2@nyc.rr.com

Revisiting the job creation process: food for thought or agenda for action

Note: The ADP National Employment Report is available at  http://www.adpemploymentreport.com

Specifics of job creation process

Strategic action on key issues facing the US

New Era in International Relations: there are important development in international relations: the renewal of US-Russia dialogue is indeed a crucial step; earlier on the US renewed its relations with Europe via Biden; US renewed its relations with the Muslim World via Obama; the Middle East is back on  the path to peace; much-needed multilateralism has been revived; unilateralism does not work in a world which is heavily interdependent! Constructive engagement with Iran and North Korea should be explored; we should demonstrate that these nations stand to win more by being part of the international community than being out of it (economic prosperity and social progress to which the younger generation aspires today; that generation wants to be part of the modern world with access to you-tube and twitter).

Special tribute: I wish to pay a special tribute to Clarel Owarish Radicella who has been working hard to promote understanding of suffering and to take needed action to alleviate it in various contexts. Now she is gone ... too soon. We are going to build her legacy and provide an incentive for others to keep on helping those in need both in the US and other parts of the world. This is a tremendous loss; it should provide us inspiration to do more. (Frank Owarish)

Constructive dynamism

Cure for AVM, NeuroSurgery News, Winter 2011, Vol. 12, No. 1, p.3

Organ donation: making it possible for somebody to live, giving sight to another person (she hoped it would be Bocelli): tribute in AM-new york, July 22-24.2011, page 20

On her way to heaven: credit youtube, pinapiucc

Keeping track of world news

International news via the UN: www.un.org/news  and   www.un.org/webcast

More sources of international news: www.voanews.com/english

Afghanistan: food for thought and revised agenda for action; is it time to rethink the Afghanistan strategy? Canadian Prime Minister's Observation on CNN warrants our utmost attention. If logical thinking is not giving result, why not try lateral thinking: negotiation with the moderate Taliban, why not? Perhaps it is worth remembering who created the Taliban and what was the original purpose. Afghanistan=quagmire (history lesson)

On the importance of not eroding international law

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The IISRT concept is about making a difference in the lives of people, turning setbacks into opportunities, maximizing opportunities, ingeniously and generously. Here are key methodological guidance:

Persistence: often complex tasks require persistence i.e. sustained effort; persistence may mean trying not just one way but several ways in order to get the needed results. A related concept is perseverance i.e. to keep on trying and not giving up. Worthwhile ventures always need persistence and perseverance.    

  Knowledge is crucial to human progress; here is a foundation that is making a big difference in society through its knowledge center

Tribute to the 'unsung' builders (note: many of these builders may have been recognized elsewhere; the tribute is also personal and based upon my unofficial recollection: Frank Owarish)

I was fortunate to be part of a team led by Joe Kariuki and consisting of Laurencine, Leconte, Ben Bachir, Bendib, el Hadi etc., at times joined by Jim Bukhala, Abel Nyamu. For workshops on training/education policies in francophone African countries, we were at times joined by Miriam Koivukari (a national of Finland who devoted her career to helping out in the field, where unfortunately she contracted disease from which she died early in her life; she deserves an additional special tribute). We made significant contributions geared to the improvement of managerial capacities (aimed at both the public and private sectors) in most African countries through advisory services, training and research, publications as well as institution building; there were conferences as well; these were often supported by leading professors from France, the UK, Germany, The Netherlands and the US. The project was fully supported by the African countries, several international organizations including the UN, UNDP and UNESCO and several bilateral partners including France, the UK and the US. The project was evaluated on a regular basis and showed that significant contributions were made.

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In addition IISRT fosters e-learning in critical subject areas aimed at helping to build the fabrics of society and fostering international understanding and cooperation.

The Centers of e-Learning includes:

IISRT will foster sharing and giving