At last!

At long last, the US will have healthcare reforms to provide cover to 32m more Americans.

Speaking after the bill passed with 219 votes, US president Barack Obama said it showed "America's workers, and America's families and America's small businesses deserve the security of knowing that... neither illness nor accident should endanger the dreams they have worked a lifetime to achieve."

"It isn't radical reform, but it is major reform ... it moves us decisively in the right direction."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8579354.stm

"Pilgrimage" to Toussaint Louverture's Death Cell: Edition 2009

Hiya

On the day of Barack Obama's inauguration in the United States of (North) America, everyone is really excited. His journey to Washington, DC, has been perceived as something akin to a pilgrimage, certainly as a journey of healing. And healing is what this world needs very badly.

It just so happens that today I have also received the following invitation to embark on another journey of healing and commemoration. Read for yourself:

****

Dear friends

Like every year, people from all over the world, but above all of Haitian origin, will travel to the Fort de Joux situated in the Haut Doubs Département in order to honour Toussaint Louverture on the day of his death.

[Source of illustration]

There will also be a group from Switzerland, which will travel to Pontarlier via Zurich-Neuchâtel on Monday, 6th April, will spend the night there and will participate in the ceremonies on the Fort and in the Town Hall of Pontarlier. Would you like to participate?
Let me know by sending [a comment to this site; it will be forwarded to me but will not be published here]!
I will then inform you on the details.

Best wishes

Hans Fässler*)

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*) Hans Fässler is the author of a book about slavery and Swiss industrialists, Reise in Schwarz-Weiss.

Congratulations, America!

Hooooorrrayyy!

Yesss! America has voted, the United States of America has voted, millions and millions of old and new, old and young voters all across the US of A have cast their vote and decided it was time for a big change.

Here's wishing the President-Elect and his team the strength, perseverance and wisdom to make the choices and difficult decisions they will need to make to steer their country in the right direction.

For the video giving Barack Obama's full victory speech, go to
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7710079.stm

Today the world feels just a little bit better than it did twenty-four hours ago.

Cheerioh! Slàinte! and Peace!