Condividiamo
Tensions between USAID, the Department of State, the White House and the international development community are brewing. There seem to be two main points points of departure for the tensions. The first, that USAID is still missing a leader. The Clinton Department of State came up against barriers in the vetting process for USAID leadership,and some say that likely candidates are nervous about the future of the agency. Paul Farmer, well know in the development community, is said to be high in the runnings for the job.
The second departure point for tensions revolves around a central question of whether USAID will continue to be absorbed by the Department of State. Some within USAID say that is a bad idea while some at State believe a deeper mixing of aid and diplomacy would be beneficial. There’s probably truth in both worries.
*UPDATE* Interesting “Open Letter to Paul Farmer” regarding employment at USAID
A festival of gelato in Cefalù. Any takers?
Mark Mardell covered the EU on a blog put on by the BBC for 4 years. He’s moving on. This is his final post. A good read.
The photo to the left is me and some graduate school friends enjoying a bit of EU quality wine after a grand opening of our palazzo. I post this to make a comment on the EU’s newest stab at CAP reform. While I wholeheartedly applaud CAP reform I’m not so sure that the intentions of this move would have not been accomplished on their own. Seriously. This picture (taken before this reform took full effect) indicates:
My point: none really. I wanted to share this joyous photo.
A @centromatic art show? I really want to be there. I might have to send some $$$ to my brother and sister-in-law in the big D so that they can get me something.
See the latest Centro-matic post (their website is almost is good as their music).
