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Education Accomplishments in Iraq
Assistance has helped Iraq move away from rote learning methodology in decrepit, unsanitary classrooms to interactive learning in rehabilitated buildings. Since 2003, nearly 3,000 schools have been rehabilitated . Over 20 million new textbooks have been supplied. By 2006, more than 133,000 primary school teachers – a third of Iraq’s educators – will have received training and technical assistance. Already, the most recent primary school enrollment numbers show a 19 percent increase from pre-war levels.
• Through September 2005, over 2,800 schools have been rehabilitated, and 45 constructed.
• Internet access and computers have been installed at the Ministry of Education and in all 21 Directorates of Education. To improve planning and resource management, official baseline data has been gathered and an Education Management Information System (EMIS) is being developed.
• Over 47,500 secondary school teachers and administrators nationwide have received training.
• More than 80 primary and secondary schools are being established to serve as model schools. At these “centers of excellence,” teachers will receive up to five weeks of training, and schools will be equipped with computer and science laboratories.
• Hundreds of thousands of desks and chalkboards have been distributed countrywide.
• USAID edited, printed, and distributed 8.7 million Iraqi math and science textbooks.
• More than 550 out-of-school youths completed a pilot accelerated learning program. An expanded program, targeting more than 11,000 youths, is being implemented during the 2005–06 school year.
• School supplies have been distributed to one million primary school children and two million secondary; sports equipment has been distributed to every school.
• An early childhood learning television series is currently being developed.
• Through university partnerships, more than 1,500 Iraqi faculty and students at 10 Iraqi universities have participated in workshops, trainings, conferences, and courses in Iraq, the greater Middle East, Europe, and the United States.
• At 10 Iraqi universities, 23 specialist libraries, 23 computer laboratories, 20 specialist science labs, and 17 auditoriums or classrooms have been rehabilitated and equipped. These efforts have benefited approximately 50,000 university students in colleges of law, engineering, medicine, archeology, and agriculture. In addition, books and electronic resources have been provided to university libraries.
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Health Accomplishments in Iraq
• 2005 emergency campaigns supported the immunization of 98 percent of children 1-3 years (3.62 million children) against measles, mumps, and rubella. As a result, there has been a 90 percent reduction in laboratory confirmed cases of measles between 2004 and 2005.
• 97 percent of children under five (4.56 million) immunized against polio during the 2004-05 national polio immunization campaign, enabling Iraq to maintain its polio-free status.
• Vaccinated 3.2 million children under five and 700,000 pregnant women, with UNICEF and WHO.
• Provided supplementary doses of vitamin A for more than 1.5 million nursing mothers and 600,000 children under two, and iron folate supplements for over 1.6 million women of childbearing age.
• Trained 11,400 staff at over 2,000 community child care units to screen for malnutrition and to provide monthly rations of high protein biscuits to malnourished children and pregnant mothers.
• Renovated 110 facilities and equipped 600 centers with basic clinical and lab equipment.
• Trained over 2,500 primary health care workers, improving access to essential primary health care.
• Provided skills training to 3,200 primary care providers and physicians, improving service delivery.
• Trained 2,000 health educators, teachers, religious leaders, and youths to assist in mobilizing communities on hygiene, diarrhea, breastfeeding, nutrition, and immunization issues.
• Established training and education centers in five governorates to support local health care training.
• Vaccines and cold chain equipment provided to selected remote health centers along with training of staff and social mobilization has increased routine immunization coverage from 60 to 74 percent.
• Minimized epidemics by re-establishing Iraq’s disease surveillance and response system. Addressed urgent water and sanitation service needs to prevent disease outbreaks: Other USAID programs, particularly in water and sanitation, have immensely contributed to improvements in Iraqi health. USAID partners have repaired 1,700 breaks in Baghdad’s water distribution network. Key supplies have been procured to service water treatment facilities in Baghdad and other cities. Water treatment facilities across four governorates have been rehabilitated. Over 100 sewage pumping stations, rainwater stations, and collapsed sewer lines have been repaired countrywide.
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THE KURDS PRACTICE DEMOCRACY AND SHOW RESPECT
By John Sprague There is a saying among the Kurds: “No friends but the mountains.” Conqueror after conqueror have driven these people deep within their mountains. They have preserved their culture, language and way of life. Saddam did great harm to the Kurds. He hurt them but thankfully they survived. I was fortunate to have lived amongst them. In this place,
known as
Kurdistan
,
the natives live a happy liberated life now. Tracing their history, it may have been the location of The Garden of Eden, that this resilient ancient people left their mark on history. A visit to the land of the Kurds is a trip through Biblical history. The prophets: Nahum, Jonah, Habakkuk, and Daniel are all buried within the vast borders of this land. I was fortunate to have visited the burial grounds of Noah, the
Lost
Village
and waterfalls there.
After centuries, the people fell to the forces of Alexander, and later became traders along the
Silk Road
. The Mongols would make them prisoners, the Ottomans who would then make them princes. At the end of WW I, the Kurds were finally promised independence. Instead, Kurdistan was parceled out among
Turkey
,
Syria
,
Iran
and
Iraq
. They are neither Arabs, nor Turks, and certainly not Persians. They are majority Sunni Muslims, but are a different nation indeed. Kurds are a different ethnic group because of that background and because of the suffering they have seen. They have a completely different outlook. They are accustomed to living with people of many different religions and cultures. As in the days of old, you will find in the hearts of the people, ethnic and religious tolerance. They are not unkind to others like some in Iraq. In
Kurdistan
,
you see churches beside mosques. There are Christians, Armenians, Yezidies, Muslims, and Jews. They are welcomed as neighbors and friends. They have been living together for ages and this shows how understanding the Kurdish people are. I'd let them rule the rest of Iraq and help to instill good will to all people the way God intended.-John.http://www.theotheriraq.com/ and http://www.travel.nytimes.com/2007/06/27/world/middleeast/27kurds.html
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MLM Success - Looking In All The Wrong Places
By Philip Bourdon You want to be successful in your network marketing (MLM) business. What will be the critical component in accomplishing this? The typical answers are: -The quality of your company’s products -The strength of your upline -An excellent compensation plan -The strength of your downline -Your marketing strategy Each one can be a significant factor. However, you must never forget that it is your business, which reveals the most critical component - YOU! No company or product can make you successful; no sophisticated marketing or affiliate program can either. None of these can make you into a success; you must make yourself. Napolean Hill interviewed scores of successful and famous people almost 100 years ago. In Think and Grow Rich, Hill observed that at the core of these people’s achievements was a definite and dominating desire to reach their dreams and goals. Their genius was not found in their intelligence, but in their commitment and desire. Many, if not most in MLM are hoping that some company, program or strategy will rescue them from mediocrity. Searching for solutions outside of yourself is looking in the wrong place. Solutions in success are always found inside. The development of YOU is your most important program and business. The following are ways to accomplish this: -Create an image of who you want to be; make it your dominating desire -Develop an educational program toward it -Find a mentor to guide you toward it You will only be as successful as your knowledge and character allow. You can’t hide behind any quick fixes or “hot” programs. Your business will go only as far as you do. Make yourself into the network marketing leader that you would want to follow yourself. It’ll mean long and hard work. The results? Your most critical resource and your best tool will be YOU! Philip Bourdon developed his love for writing and communication during almost 20 years serving as a Pastor. His desire is to equip network marketers in reaching their dreams. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Business URL: http://www.DownlineMarketingSuccess.com This is an excellent article! JS
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By John Sprague. Iraq's most famous archeological site was perhaps the earliest city in the world. It was only a five mile journey from Cedar, Iraq. Ur flourished under the Sumerians between 3500 BC and 4000 BC. Ur has been identified with the birthplace of the biblical patriarch Abraham. In the early decades of the 20th century, excavations uncovered a royal cemetery in which members of the ruling elite were buried with their servants and beautifully-made possessions. Ur's dominant feature is the remains of a ramped ziggurat. God’s request to Abraham to migrate from Ur was no small request. Abraham’s leaving Ur would be like a person today leaving a city which was prosperous, was filled with opportunity, and provided safety and security. Tilil Air Base is today right next to the remains of the city of Ur, the birthplace of Abraham. I saw the oldest archway supposedly ever invented and first used. The life of the Ziggurat is closely tied with the city of Ur itself. The city is considered a cradle of civilization, playing a key role in defining urban culture and serving as an example for future city designs. Several thousand years ago, the path of the Euphrates River flowed very close to the city’s walls. Because of its location, Ur became a hub for the development of commerce and the seat of political influence for the entire area. The city’s early history was marked by three separate dynasties in a single millennia, with the first occurring before 3,000 B.C. and the last ending around 2,000 B.C. While the original inhabitants of Ur have faded into history, the Ziggurat of Ur stands a remarkable window into humanity’s past culture. Actually, the Ziggurat today was the foundation of what is left of it. The Temple had been up on top of it at one time. I thought that I had better give a short history lesson on the area that was so close by. Next, I'll write about my first R & R when I finally got to leave Iraq. Unfortunately, when my time to leave Iraq came, all roads and convoys were shutdown. The highway had gone Red! Luckily, I got to fly out of there on my first C-130 Transport plane that was operated by The West Virginia Air National Guard.
John Sprague is a resident of Bellingham, Massachusetts who is presently working in Iraq as a contractor. He is a graduate of U of MA, Boston, he likes to write and builds websites as a hobby.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Sprague
http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping
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WHAT IS AN AUTO RESPONDER, ANYWAY?
By John Sprague
Basically, an Auto Responder is really an e-mail version of a fax on demand that automatically stores a person's email data and sends back a series of messages that are pre-written and stored in the Autoresponder system you are using. These messages can be set to go out at whatever time intervals you might select. Keep in mind, when someone sends an email to your autoresponder address or they enter a name into the system subscribe box, there are about four things that will then happen: 1. Your first message will be sent. 2. You will receive a notice that someone sent a message to your autoresponder. 3. The person's name and email address are captured and added to your Opt-in list which is a part of your autoresponder system. 4. Your subscribers is usually sent to a Welcome or Thank-You page at your site. They will also need to verify their email address. Most marketers use a double opt-in process to protect themselves from getting spam complaints. the setup for a autoresponder will take some work, especially writing the series of follow-up messages that you will be then sending to your site visitors or sales prospects. Placing the subscribe box code on all your pages will take some time if you are using a simple template. The best part about autoresponders is that after you set them up, you can then forget it and the system does all the work and it is fast. Autoresponders will do all the follow-up work for you. These systems will then work 24/7, drawing in and building a very valuable targeted list of your contacts. Most marketers would be lost without their trusty autoresponders. There are several reliable systems that you can choose from. You can also place your own AutoResponder on your server, however, because it only takes one spam compliant to shut down your site; most savvy marketers use a 'Third Party' Source for their AR systems. Now it is essential to do this since the introduction of the New Spam laws and it is risky to host your own system . If your sites are bringing in considerable cash, it is not good to be held up at any given time or hurt your good name. Some well known Autoresponder Systems are: http://www.AWeber.comMy thought is that you should try the free ones first and do not spend any more money than you need to. Good Luck, John.
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By John Sprague
Put your wheels in motion. There are opportunities waiting for you and only you. You are the perfect person to get the job done and you know it. You are going to have to pull yourself up by the bootstraps and meet your destiny as a successful Multi Level Marketing Affiliate online. Once you get started, it is going to take time and effort. Tomorrow is here now. There are millions of customers waiting to buy your product or products and they won’t wait forever. You know you’re going to need additional earnings to enjoy life to its fullest and meet the needs of you and your family. One day you will retire and your efforts today will further benefit you then.
Now that you are focused, get your website if you haven’t done that yet. This is the next vital step. Make sure your website is hosted and you have your own Domain name. Will it be in your own name or should you create a business name? Make that decision. Either way, it will work, provided that you set it up correctly. You need to promote your chosen product or products to sell online. There are some good Affiliate programs available to choose from.
Ensure that the company has been operating its business for five or more years and it has a clean record. It is always best to do research on any organization before you sign up in their program. Before you signup, make sure you have read the terms and conditions. Play it safe with some extra caution as you make your selections. Remember, you want this to be a long term agreement that will be in your best interest.
Make a budget and stay with it. Don’t overspend. It may be a while before your efforts are fruitful so allow some time. Sign up for auto-responder service so you can build an opt-in list of targeted customers. There are a couple of free systems available that I know of, so you will want to have an opt-in request for name, email and phone number at the bottom of each page of your website. Another nice tool to have on your first page to introduce yourself and your product is an audio generator. This can be easily obtained online and your customers get to meet you and know your product and how to get your item too.
Anything that you can do to make it easy for your customers is a great idea. In addition to your products, you can add articles, pictures and free tools that you can find using your computer. Information is the number one thing that you can use to attract potential customers to your pages. If you have good information on those pages, you will get return traffic. You need to also optimize your search engines but this is something you will probably do gradually as you critique your website content as you go and learn. You will also be constantly reading eBooks and webzines and asking questions as you build up your home enterprise. Those answers can be obtained from forums and mentors who will be happy to help you. This is one of the beauties of online marketing; there are a lot of fine people in this business willing to help you succeed. It is a win win situation.
John Sprague is a resident of Bellingham, MA and is presently doing contractual work in Northern Iraq. He enjoys computer work and writing in his free time. He has a website at http://johnsprague.ws/ with pictures of Iraq and articles pertaining to marketing and ecommerce.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Sprague
If you want your own website, John
suggests you go to http://websites.ws/yankee12gen
Time to make your move.
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By Jason Osborn
Networking is a term that is often heard but many times not understood. Networking can be one of the most powerful tools that you can use to reach the success that you want in life. When you network you are basically meeting people to exchange information that both parties can use to their benefit at a future time. Here are 3 keys to help you network your way to success.
1. Talk to strangers.
I know, your mother told you not to talk to strangers but this is exactly what networking is. You can be at a meeting, conference, seminar, grocery store, or even church and meet loads of people that you can network with. The key here is that you have to be the one that approaches them. You can’t expect strangers to walk up to you and start to talk. You never know what might come from a brief interdiction to stranger.
2. Leave a good impression.
Saying hi, introducing yourself, and exchanging information are good but you have to realize that the other person probably meets a lot of people every week. By leaving a good impression you have a better chance of them remembering you when they need what you have to offer. If you don’t know how to leave a good impression buy a book that helps you in this area.
3. Do what you say.
Many times when you meet someone you will tell people that you will do something for them. This could be sending an information pack, calling in a favor, or just sending a follow up email. If you tell someone that you are going to do something, be sure to do what you say. This will show them that you can be trusted and will help reinforce the good impression that you left with them.
Is there greatness on the inside of you but you don't know how to achieve it? Jason has just completed his brand new 7 part e-course, 'Find Your Greatness'
Get it free here: Find Your Greatness
Do you want to learn how to create successful habits and goals? Download Jason’s new FREE ebook here: Goal Setting
Jason Osborn has dedicated himself to changing thousands of lives by helping people find their greatness and true potential through his Find Your Greatness Newsletter.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Osborn
Jason knows what he is talking about! I like this article very much. If you are in need of a website to get started, go to http://websites.ws/yankee12gen Thanks, John.
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HOT DOG HISTORY
DO YOU KNOW THE HOT DOG STORY?
Success in Business involves focus, determination and drive. My advice here is mainly pertaining to a "Bricks and Mortar" operation but some of the same traits and principles can be applied to online business. You can do it if you set goals, are determined and then don't give up on your dreams.
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TRY THESE HOMEMADE DESSERT RECIPES
LIKE GRANDMA USED TO MAKE
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HEY WEBMASTERS, IS IT TIME FOR A TUNEUP?
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TAKE ME BACK TO IRAQ PHOTOS
GO TO NEXT PAGE-Williams, Smith and Hall Family PAGE
http://johnsprague.ws/page6.html
TAKE ME TO THE MAYFLOWER PAGE
GO TO THE SPRAGUE,CUSHING & JONES FAMILY PAGES
"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort"-Herm Albright
"If you don't like something change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."-Maya Angelou
"Good nature is more agreeable in conversation than wit and gives a certain air to the countenance which is more amiable than beauty."-Joseph Addison
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow."-Helen Keller
"Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who know me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow."-Abraham Lincoln
"Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out."-Art Linkletter
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