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File Photo:US President Barack Obama taking his Oath of Office - 2009 January 20

Just one year ago- today, Barack Obama was inaugurated as the President of the United States. Today is the first anniversary of the inauguration of President Obama. The night Obama was elected; relief was felt around the world. He inaugurated presidency not only as a new face on the same government’s body but also the victory of hope over fear. He is the most charismatic politician on earth and very famous in making speeches. Hopes were high but the things are going to get a lot harder. So what went wrong? I believe his biggest failure is not addressing the biggest issue everyone cares and hoped about- Climate Change. What do you think? Share your perspectives on Obama’s one year in the White House.

(Background: The inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44^th President of the United States took place on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. The inauguration, which set a record attendance for any event held in Washington, D.C.,  marked the commencement of the four-year term of Barack Obama as President and Joseph Biden as Vice President. Based on combined attendance numbers, television viewership and Internet traffic, it was among the most observed events ever by the global audience).

This also marks a new beginning at the start of a new decade for Nepal, so that it can move forward to a more stable, peaceful future.

A group of young Nepali men and women will leave their military lives behind and return to civilian life after a discharge ceremony in the main Maoist army cantonment in Sindhuli in the central region of the country today.

This is the first group of young people disqualified from the Maoist army as children or late recruits who will now be discharged.

“Today marks the first step in the return to civilian life for thousands of Nepalis who have been living in cantonments since 2006. This ceremony is an important milestone in the ongoing peace process and will, we hope, speed up other steps laid out in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,” said United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Robert Piper.

These young people are among 4,008 individuals – including some 500 below 18 years old — due to be released over the next 40 days The rehabilitation process will now give these young people the opportunity to gain new skills – returning to school or learning a trade – provided by the Government of Nepal with the support of the United Nations.

The discharge, which is scheduled to be completed in seven cantonments across the country by mid February 2010, is part of an Action Plan signed in December 2009 by the Government of Nepal, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal – Maoist (UCPN-M) and the United Nations. When it is verified that the UCPN-M has fully complied with the plan, the party can be considered for removal from the list of parties that recruit and use children, which is included in the annual UN Secretary-General’s report on Children and Armed Conflict.

Before Thursday’s ceremony at the cantonment these young people completed a discharge process carried out by various United Nations agencies. They were briefed about rehabilitation options given civilian clothing and identity cards. In the coming months, a United Nations team will contact those discharged to monitor and assess how they are adjusting to civilian life. Nearly 3,000 of those disqualified were minors on 25 May 2006 at the time of the ceasefire. Today, about one dozen are under 16 years of age and roughly 500 are under 18. About a third are female.

“The release of these young people sends out a symbolic message for the New Year,” said UNICEF Nepal Representative Gillian Mellsop. “Not only can these young people now finally get on with their lives, but this also marks a new beginning at the start of a new decade for Nepal, so that it can move forward to a more stable, peaceful future.”

January is a special month, not just because of the Gaza crisis, but also because this is the month when Barrack Hussein Obama is swearing in as the President of America. This month we are going to post articles related to Obama.

-By Mathew Bruce

On Tuesday 4th November 2008, there was the moment when the fates of two men would be decided, with long excruciating campaigns, the two presidential candidates were tired and worn out. But they knew the extent of their work would be decided by the American public, would it be the republican candidate John McCain, or the much favourite Democratic candidate Barack Obama?

It would only take 270 Electoral College votes for one candidate to win, with 64% estimated turnout, Obama would go on to win over 349 of the college votes; with the votes so bias towards Obama, it was obvious the Americans were looking for change.

Since announcing the choice to run as President, Obama has gained much media attention and also the attention of the public, not just in America but in the world. People were surprised he would go for the post because of his ethnic race, being African American and the first Black President, which proved to be irrelevant when it came to voting with 43% of white people voting for Obama. But people were gripped by his speeches; he would speak of the troops in Iraq, the need for universal healthcare and the energy independence.

Obama used his strengths to his advantage, his compassion for America, the world and for his people. The charisma is his speech. But people thought it would all be talk and he would not know what to do in situations, people would question his views on climate change and since becoming the President -Elect, he has already started the ball rolling. With new policies already set in place, saying that America should be the leaders in Climate Change. In his policies he states that by 2012, 10% of America’s electricity should come from renewable sources, rising to 25% by 2025.

Another is providing short term relief for American Families facing pain at the pump, Obama is looking to help families on low income, so that they can live a sustainable life. But the question is what will Obama do for the world? In four years he plans to come up with a verifiable global plan, to stop the production of all nuclear weapons, as well as securing all loose Nuclear Material from terrorists. In the main interest of the people, Obama wants to renew the Diplomacy, willing to rebuild alliances, meeting nations, friends or foes in order to advance American interests.

People think Obama is just a pretty face, but in truth he is ready and willing for whatever task he is faced with, he will show us what he can do when he takes the presidency in January. Starting by tackling the economy, in order to help not just America, but all other countries in economic turmoil.

So here are the questions: Will he be able to keep up to the promise he has made during the campaign?Will he really bring ‘Change’ to the lives of people all over the world?Will he be able to lead the world as the 21st century Leader?