European Union Declaration on Cameroon

COUNCIL OF
THE EUROPEAN UNION
EN

Brussels, 27 March 2008
7832/1/08 REV 1 (Presse 84)
P 040/08
(OR. fr)

Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union
on the situation in Cameroon

The European Union is watching closely the discussion concerning the revision of the Constitution, while noting that any changes to the Constitution have to be decided by the people and the institutions of Cameroon.

The European Union recalls that the Constitution adopted in 1996 was the outcome of political dialogue and the democratic expression of the will of the people. It emphasises the importance of the proposals for constitutional revision being subjected to a broad, free and open debate that involves all elements of Cameroonian society.

In this context, the European Union remains convinced that the possibility of a changeover of power, the freedom of the press and the guaranteeing of public freedoms are fundamental to the consolidation of democracy, and draws attention to the urgent need to improve the electoral system and the standard of voter turnout, these being guarantors of the stability that the country needs.


The European Union condemns the violence that occurred at the end of February and the attempts at ethnic manipulation that followed. It reiterates its support for Cameroon's economic and social development, with a particular orientation towards the weakest and most disadvantaged sections of the population.

The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia align themselves with this declaration.

Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/cfsp/99600.pdf

The Easter Diaries (II)

by Louis Egbe Mbua


Living Lights again return to complete their work in Queen's Park on Saturday, 22 March 2008. Now when the question of resurrection was posed to Michael by myself he gave me a convincing look as though to tell me that that was an easy question:

"The answer to that question is quite easy" he said.

"Then please tell us the answer so that we may be satisfied." The Very Important Female interjected.

"Well, the answer to the question originally posed as to the recognition of men in heaven, is both Yes and No." Michael stated with a matter-of-fact deportment. "Yes because the scriptures have told us about poor Lazarus and the Rich Fool; and Christ himself promised the Robber on the cross that they shall meet in Paradise that Good Friday. " "However," continued Michael, "concepts in heaven are not limited by time and space as it is the case here on earth."

"How can you possibly know these things? Surely you haven't been to Paradise or Heaven?" She asked.

"As to your first question, I will put it to the fact that we are all humans with the ability to think and answer hard questions. And No, I have never been to Paradise or Heaven." He answered with confidence and a firm clasp of hands as though to display reverence. "So, if we agree that God lives in heaven; and that God is Eternal, it clearly follows that all who live in Heaven have eternal life. And since eternal life means timelessness, then the following is that time has no effect whatsoever onto celestial beings. Therefore, we can assume that our time dependent concepts on earth is distorted by time-consciousness while at the same time, timelessness in Heaven means that there are no distortions; with the effect that all things appear to heavenly beings at once. In this way, those who enter heaven recognise all people at once. This, therefore, must mean that every body in heaven knows every other person. In which case, there would be no point attempting to remember any person as remembrance has to do with time; and since we agree that there is no time in heaven, it is absolutely clear that you will know every person present in heaven who came from earth; but that this is unnecessary".

Michael was now gasping for breath after his long symposium. Living Lights thought it proper to take a short coffee break before returning to the very important topic. After tea and biscuits were served and every invite satisfied, the debate reconvened in earnest.

"Now, Michael, "you have answered us wisely", I began. " However, there is a question I'd like to ask you so as to get clear answers on the resurrection of Christ and why we have Easter."

"Please do well to pose your question," Michael replied politely.

"Was Christ God Himself? " I asked

"Yes, He was God The Son", the Very Important Female answered imperiously sitting on a luxurious Sofa at the end of the living room.

"Well then!" I exclaimed in judicious anxiety. "If we say God created and controls the Universe; and that without God nothing that has been made was made, then surely the Universe would have ceased to exist at the exact instance that Christ died. Yet, the Universe and its heavenly contents continue their movements and activities 2000 years after Christ died. I tend to see a contradiction in terms here. If Christ is God and yet died, how can one explain this anomaly that the world didn't end that First Good Friday?"

"You are mistaken here, my brother", Michael said, "because Jesus Christ didn't die." Living Lights were visibly shocked by this controversial answer.

"How can that be? There is a large body of evidence that shows that Christ died on the Cross and was buried on Good Friday the year 00. How then can you contradict such monumental truths?"

"Phisically he died but his Spirit never died. He went down to Hades and Paradise to preach the good News to all those who died before he came. Prophets like Abraham also received the Good News of resurrection. So, although Christ's body died, His Spirit never died. Similarly, those who are worthy to enter the Kingdom of God can never die although the body dies; and that those who die in Christ are aware that their spirit is no loger on this earth because their spirit cannot be killed. Now even if we die, our matter remains in the Universe. As long as the Universe continues to exist, our matter remain undestroyed. Matter that has been created has been made and cannot be unmade." Michael ended.

We were all pleased with the Easter discourse with this revelation of the Mystery of Easter. I was then planning my next stop over in London Town the next day, Sunday 23 March 2008.

The Easter Diaries(I)

Queen's Park Underground Station, London. From Wikepedia, the free Encyclopedia

By Louis Egbe Mbua

The Easter Season is almost over; with many returning to their various sojourn. As for Living Lights they were following the strict protocol of the Season. Good Friday was a day of rest, meditation , prayer on the meaning of the season; and the rituals that come with it. The day Christ died is considered amongst Christians as the day man's long promised eternal life began to be realised; and therefore Good Friday is usually maintained Holy.

On Saturday, however, Living Lights decided to explore the environs of London Town and to catch up with friends. The first stop over was at Queen's Park to visit the Very Important Female. There, Living Lights were treated as when we were kings. All kinds of gourmet was put in front of us. Living Lights enjoyed just enough as it is a matter of principle to maintain their timeless youth so as to achieve "eternal" life, at least before we finally complete our journey from this earth.

It was now time for lively discourses that we normally engage after dinner. An African brother, Michael, of mine also came to dinner; and he turned out to be a superb and intelligent debater. Having observed him keenly, and knowing that he possesses tons of talent to think logically and correctly, I decided to pose some of the most difficult questions that have been keeping my mind in turmoil since I arrived this planet on my first day:

"Now tell me, Michael, why did God create billions and billions of stars and planets and galaxies when there is absolutely no living thing in exactly all of them, well, as far as we know?"

Michael at first looked at me with bewilderment and visible perspiration. But he quickly gathered his composure and thoughts and answered with alacrity:

"Well, you have already answered the question by asking the question."

"What exactly do you mean? Can you explain further for I do not understand?" I protested.

"You see, there is no reason to create an infinite number of heavenly bodies if we can see no reason. The only reason God created the universe was for man. Consequently, everything in the Heavens and on earth was created for humans", he explained.

"If that were the case then, man owns the Universe since God created it for humans?" I asked

Micheal gave us a confidently sweeping glance and with a pixie smile answered:

"Not really. That the Universe was made for man does not equate to the statement that the Universe was made by man. These are completely different aspects. God made the Universe for man to live. At the same time, living in a house does not mean one owns it. You can only own the house if you built it with your own hands or buy it from the original builder. As a result, humans do not own one grain of sand or soil in the universe but they are free to live there. The only reason God created these countless objects was to reveal his power to humans so that they may look at them with wonder and understand the meaning of good, love, power and beauty."

"Well, if that were the case why then are they so far away? Surely there is not much point in placing all these beautiful objects beyond the reach and naked vision of the human physicality and eye respectively. As a result, I am not in full agreement with your last exposition", I said tentatively.

Michael gave a mischievous smile as if to indicate his triumph of reason over faith; and to heap emotional praise and self-congratulation on himself and replied:

"I thought you understand all things?"

"No, Not quite. Surely only God has infinite knowledge and wisdom." I answered

"Now", he continued," there are scientific reasons involved in this matter. God created the earth from wisdom and scientific principles so that the physical and natural world will co-exist in harmony; and that living things and beings would live the most comfortable life possible -- enough heat, cold, light, darkness, food, rain and sunshine. If we agree on these fundamental principles and elements, we must then reach the logical conclusion that one of the reasons God created the stars and heavenly bodies is to control these factors. Since we know that cold and heat, rain and sun, planting and harvest are controlled by the sun, which is a star, it follows that the entire stars in the Universe affect the sun's movements. The effect of the sun's movements on the earth which revolves around the sun; and the consequent effect of the stars on the movement of the sun provide us with the seasons. If these effects fail, it is almost certainly clear that we will be doomed. As a result, all matter in the Universe is important for the survival of man on this planet. We may therefore conclude, finally, that there are two reasons for the universe in relation to humans: life and beauty."

Living Lights were stunned by this near celestial answer from Michael. We didn't know what to say for no words were left in our mouth. But we had one trick up our sleeves. I therefore demanded:

"It is true that Jesus Christ resurrected; and that all Christians will follow the same route at the last day. Agreed?" Michael gave a gentle nod.

"Now, I continued, suppose everyone who knew every other one were to find themselves in heaven, would people recognise themselves as having lived on earth before?"

I will return to Michael to receive that answer in the next series.

The Dance of Mrs Beautiful

Flowers from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

By Louis Egbe Mbua

So youthful and beautiful

And cheeks so bountiful

As an Angel the innocent face

That glows in a golden place

Where Angels do dwell

And always live as well;

In heavenly realm they stay;

In true Divine love display.

And in Divine love we say;

That all beings will be;

As sweet nectar of bee.

In beauty was Mrs Beautiful borne

With face too beautiful to behold;

And majestic movement to behold

To dance the timeless music of old

So that we may all enjoy

And to live healthily well

And in perfect joy.

With hands so rounded in design

To reveal the very good sign;

And the perfect gene so Divine.

Her voice sings sweet sounding melody

That clothes the air with sweet dye

And make the scene a pure delight;

When Mrs Beautiful speaks we rejoice

For the short time she lives with light;

To show the meaning of truth and life

And show the good ways of a true wife.

How beautiful and bountiful Mrs Beautiful;

To capture a good measure of handful.

To do procreate,

The perfect children that God creates;

And do her will and wish

To make them nice and wise

So they go to the best school;

And have an purely effective tool

To make all hard ends meet;

But not spoiled with too much meat;

And to do all that is right

With all their feeble might.

Mrs Beautiful was so beautiful;

With neighbours always playful;

And always so present and helpful

To give an honest helping hand

So she can do her upright stand;

To do her gift of skin and hair;

More beautiful than an heiress

And in perfect peace she rests.

Biofuels are the New Black Gold (I)

Suitable Biofuels crop: Palms Nursery in Southern Cameroons (Courtesy of the Cameroon Development Corporation Inc)

By Louis Egbe Mbua

The two hundred year match from the barely primitive to economic susperstardom by human is grudgingly screeching to a humiliating halt if energy figures are to be believed. What made this industrial miracle happened is, ambivalently, what will bring down man's civilisation. Ironically, Fossil fuels, that have powered this industrial miracle have the double edged; and unenviable position of putting a stopper on the overheating economic race to space.

China, India and what is today called the Asian economic Tigers are now demanding what they consider their fair share of energy so as to power their way into the Premier League of nations; and all the privileges that come with it -- high standards of living, prestigious Space exploration and Space Tourism; the fanciful, and perhaps misguided expectation to be given a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. But the trouble is that fossil fuels will run out; and there is a large body of evidence strongly suggesting that they will not be present in any discernibly viable quantities, in half a century's time span, to sustain these massive economic appetites and conspicuous consumption that will ensue.

Fossil fuels in the form of crude oil, gas and coal are at an exhausting point. That they are non-renewable adds another equation into this grave and intractable crisis; further precipitating the problem with oil now reaching $100 per barrel. In addition, two hundred years of rapacious utilisation of this primary commodity to advance society was done at a great price to the environment; and more devastatingly, at the expense of the warming of the earth as a result of the green house effect from accumulations of excess carbon oxides under the protective earth shield. This has given rise to the Global Warming Phenomenon that has caused now caused the Climate Change terror.

Climate Change itself, although discovered in the 1800s, is a new phenomenon to the modern world. Its effects are now felt but its long term social and climatic impacts on the earth have been predicted to fall under the category of the encapsulating cataclysmic. On the other hand, humans need fuel to advance and live; while at the same time, this acceptable act appears to have become unacceptable in light of environmental concerns and Climate Change. This has caused scientists and policy makers to suggest and research on alternative, renewable and sustainable source of energy that eliminates or minimises environmental damage and Climate change. Alternatives have included wind power, Hydro-electric technology, nuclear power, Hydrogen conversion from water, tidal wave power and geothermal energy utilisation. However, these energy technologies are not sustainable nor are they safe and reliable enough to compete with the enormous energy released be harnessed from Fossils when they are burned.

Biofuels are turning out to be powerful and sustainable competitors to fossil fuels because they are extracted and produced from normally grown crops. Two kinds of Biofuels exist: Biodiesel which is a blend of fuel from oil rich crops such as palm, soy, rape and groundnuts; Bioethanol acts for petrol and is made from high yielding starchy and carbohydrate crops such as sugar cane, bananas, wheat, maize, millet and cassavas. Thus a local farmer and a shrewd investor can be overnight transformed from subsistence worker into a Biofuel millionaire. The Biofuels are the New Black Gold.

The next publication on this subject will look at: how Biofuels are produced locally and at an industrial scale; their potential as a fuel to rival crude oil; which countries stand to benefit; and the environmental, political, social and economic implications on these massive shifts of paradigm.

The Victory of the Moral Genuflector

by Louis Egbe Mbua

Living Lights say:

The moral genuflector
Is fit
Not with fists for fights;
Yet respect he earns not
For the bigger prize comes to naught.

The eternal genuflector
Fights
Not for his rights but harbours fits
Of anger that comes to naught;
While the strong emerges stronger
To terrorise worshipers of the strong;
Who knows no cruel limits bestow
On them that dance with their souls;
For crumbs that evade them all.

Arise,
Moral Genuflector,
And Reflect
On the reasons
For eternal genuflection,
All seasons

Begin,
Moral Man
To plan your standing,
And the need in planning
Your release from prison
To receive your ransom

Unite,
The moral man;
And the moral woman.
Two better than one,
Three advantage over one;
For The necessity
Of life no single man determines.

In Vain,
The moral man toils;
and his brothers toil.
In unity;
They prevail over trials

Rejoice,
Moral man;
Deflect
The anguish and pain
Endured with no rain.
Fifty years of no sun,
Twenty-five to genuflect;
Twenty-five to reflect;
Twenty-five to rise;
Forever rejoice.