Dr. Sam Cherribi

'A serious blow for the peace process'

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's illness has people all over the world speculating about the political future of a post-Sharon Israel. We asked several Atlantans with close ties to the Middle East for their thoughts on what we might expect in an Israel without the leadership of the last of the "giants of Israel."

Liberian 'Iron Lady' has granddaughters in Cobb | ajc.com

Link: Liberian 'Iron Lady' has granddaughters in Cobb | ajc.com.

Impressive résumé

Johnson-Sirleaf is the former director of the U.N. Development Programme Regional Bureau for Africa, vice president and member of the executive board of Equator Bank, a founding member of the International Institute for Women in Political Leadership and a senior loan officer at the World Bank.

She has twice been imprisoned for her politics, and she was elected president on her second attempt at the country's highest office,

Cherribi said Johnson-Sirleaf faces a formidable task in rebuilding the country after decades of violence in Liberia, which is roughly the size of Tennessee and has a population of 3.5 million, according to the CIA World Factbook. She must work to end corruption, spur investment and economic development and focus on health and education. At the same time, she must work hard to build a consensus among rival parties.

Emory to Train Students on Needs of Poor Countries

Emory University will soon launch an initiative to teach students about the economic, health and social needs of the world’s poorest nations, and international banker, George Vojta, who is helping to fund the new project, would like to see Georgia businesses participate.

“We hope to have Georgia-based businesses deeply involved and supportive of [the initiative], said Mr. Vojta, an international banker for 40 years and an adviser to the World Bank.

Mr. Vojta, who recently conducted an email interview with GlobalAtlanta from his office in New York, has been working with Emory since 2004. He is also the founder and chairman of estandardsForum Inc., a financial services information company that provides information on a country’s potential for sustainable development.

Mr. Vojta began working with Sam Cherribi, director of the new initiative and professor of sociology at Emory, during the 2004-2005 school year, where he helped to teach a class on economic development in Mali, which sparked the development initiative that is to begin by this fall.

Dr. Cherribi told GlobalAtlanta that Emory would welcome collaborating with other Georgia-based universities on development programs in impoverished nations under the new initiative.

Happy 2006!