Sagamore's Indiana-Africa Connections Project

Senator Richard G. Lugar (R.-Ind.) will speak at the Sagamore Institute on 21 October as part of the Indianapolis-based think tank's unveiling of its Indiana-Africa Connections Project. This database lists more than 250 Indiana individuals and organizations who regularly engage with sub-Saharan Africa. The event will be from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Senator Lugar's experience as Ranking Member and former Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and advocate for improving Africa's economy and health care makes him an ideal partner with Sagamore in showcasing Indiana's role as an important global citizen.

Through leadership on crucial legislation such as the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, PEPFAR, the African Growth and Opportunity Act and Tropical Rain Forest Conservation Act, and a heavy interest in energy and hunger security, Senator Lugar has shown time and again the need for a strong and healthy relationship between the United States and countries throughout the African continent.

Sagamore worked with University of Indianapolis graduate students to compile the database, which includes entries such as the Bryantsville Hunger Relief Project, a farm that sends corn to South African countries, and The Institute for Affordable Transportation, an Indianapolis-based group that manufactures and distributes low-cost utility vehicles to individuals in developing countries. (NOTE: such groups also are listed on the Nationalities Council's international links pages.)

Sagamore Institute is an Indianapolis-based nonpartisan research group that brings policymakers and practitioners together to turn ideas into action.

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Indianapolis Prize Announced

Save the Elephants founder Iain Douglas-Hamilton (center in photo) has been named the 2010 recipient of the Indianapolis Prize, the world’s leading award for animal conservation. In recognition for his
lifetime achievements, Dr. Douglas-Hamilton will receive $100,000 and the Lilly Medal at a gala ceremony 25 September at The Westin Hotel, Indianapolis.

Born in Dorset, England, Douglas-Hamilton grew up in Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa, attended Gordonstoun School in Scotland and received his bachelor’s degree and doctorate from the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. He currently works and resides in Nairobi, Kenya.

In 1993, Douglas-Hamilton founded Save the Elephants (STE) in Northern Kenya, in order to create an effective and flexible nonprofit dedicated specifically to elephants. The organization works to sustain elephant populations and preserve the habitats in which elephants are found, while at the same time fostering a heightened appreciation and visibility for elephants and their often fragile existence.

The biennial $100,000 Indianapolis Prize represents the largest individual monetary award for animal conservation in the world and is given as an unrestricted gift to the chosen honoree. The Indianapolis Prize was initiated by the Indianapolis Zoo as a significant component of its mission to empower people and communities, both local and global, to advance animal conservation. This biennial award brings the world’s attention to the cause of animal conservation and the brave, talented and dedicated men and women who spend their lives saving the Earth’s endangered animal species.

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Connections to Africa

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Purdue's Wood Vehicle Travels to Africa

Purdue University students have designed and built a multipurpose vehicle made primarily from wood, reports the Purdue News Bureau. They will travel to Africa this month to help officials there set up a manufacturing facility for the trucks, which could help to transport everything from produce to people.

The Basic Utility Vehicle, or BUV, is produced from raw materials readily and affordably available in Africa and is designed specifically to meet the needs of villagers. The students will travel to Cameroon, Africa, on Monday (10 May) to aid in setting up a manufacturing facility in a northern village near a forest.

The BUV's body and much of the frame are built of pine, but the design can easily be adapted to African hardwoods like mahogany or eucalyptus. It could be used for many purposes - such as hauling crops, water, building materials, students or the infirm - in areas where no other transportation exists, said Kyle Bazur, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering from Fort Wayne, Ind.

The students won an innovation award for the vehicle during an April competition sponsored by the Indianapolis-based Institute for Affordable Transportation, which is promoting the use of BUVs to help people in poor regions of the world.

The three-wheel BUV is about the size of a 1980s Toyota pickup and incorporates some parts, such as the rear axle, from pickup trucks. Powered by a 10-horsepower diesel engine easily available in Africa, the BUV has a top speed of about 20 mph and achieves about 40 miles per gallon.

The all-terrain vehicle, outfitted with knobby tractor tires, can travel on small roads or cross-country and can carry at least eight passengers and up to 1,200 pounds.

The students worked with the nonprofit African Centre for Renewable Energy & Sustainable Technology, or ACREST, to set design and manufacturing parameters.

"The long-term goal is to help the organization in Cameroon build these multipurpose vehicles in Africa with local resources and materials and sell them to surrounding villages," Bazur said.

The students built the vehicle for about $2,000.

Villagers currently are unable to transport much of their farm produce to markets before it spoils, a problem that could be alleviated by the inexpensive vehicles. The vehicle has a bed that operates like a miniature dump truck, making it easy to unload cargo. Benches on the sides of the cargo bed can be used to carry people, and the sidewalls can be removed, creating a flatbed arrangement for hauling longer items.

The team completed the project in one semester during a senior design course.

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Dance Kaleidoscope: World Carnaval

"Play Mas" from Dance Kaleidoscope will be on stage at the Indiana Repertory Theatre 7-10 January. Billed as "a vibrant up-beat collection of dances inspired by Brazilian and Trinidadian Carnavals featuring large costume sculptures like those in a Carnaval parade, and the return of Food of Love, an exotic blend of international music, sensual dancing and sumptuous costumes," it features music from Argentina, Pakistan, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Africa.

Tickets are available IRTLive.com, and range from $6 (for the "mini-matinee at noon Thursday, 7 January) to $37 for the performance on Friday (8 January) January.

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Osili Named Director of Research at Center on Philanthropy

Dr. Una Okonkwo Osili (pictured) has been named director of research for the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.

Osili has served as interim director of research at the Center since October 2008. She will develop new research initiatives, convene scholars and nonprofit professionals nationally and internationally, direct the Center’s research department, and serve as lead researcher on several research projects.

An associate professor of economics and Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), Osili has served as a consultant for the United Nations Development Program, the United Economics Commission for Africa and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Osili also served on the International Scientific Panel for the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa/MacArthur Foundation Real Economies of Africa program and as a member of the Expert Advisory Panel for the Economic Report on Africa published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

Dr. Osili's recent studies have centered on how cultural diversity affects philanthropy in the United States, using data from the Center on Philanthropy Panel Study to look at charitable behavior of immigrants.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics with honors from Harvard University and a master of arts and a Ph.D. in economics from Northwestern University. The daughter of an American mother and a Nigerian father, she lived in Nigeria until she was 15 years old. She is the wife of architect Vop Osili, who recently announced his candidacy for Indiana Secretary of State.

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African Art at Marian University

African art is on display through 16 October in the Fine Arts Gallery at Marian University, 3200 Cold Springs Road, Indianapolis. to be held in Marian University’s Fine Arts Gallery. The artworks from the private collection of ViAfrika.

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Lotus Festival: World Music & Arts

The Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, set for 24-27 September in Bloomington, has so much going on it's hard to settle on just one aspect.

For example, here are just some of the performers scheduled to appear:

# Rahim AlHaj / Friday
Virtuoso Iraqi oud

# Bajofondo / Saturday
Electrotango from Argentina

# BLK JKS / Saturday
Psychedelic, Afro-futuristic rock from South Africa

# Cara Dillon / Friday, Saturday
Irish traditional song

# Forro in the Dark / Saturday
Northeastern Brazilian party music

# Hanggai / Saturday, Sunday
Folk music from Inner Mongolia & China

# Huun Huur-Tu & Carmen Rizzo / Friday
Electronica meets throat-singing from Tuva

# Kinobe & Soul Beat Africa / Friday, Saturday
Ugandan song, dance, & drumming

# Srinivas Krishnan & Madras Broadcast / Saturday, Sunday
Indian fusion

# Little Cow / Thursday, Friday
Ska/rock/funk/Gypsy fusion from Hungary

# Los de Abajo / Friday, Saturday
Salsa, punk, and rock from Mexico

# The Megitza Quartet / Friday
Roma and East European world fusion

# Occidental Brothers Dance Band International / Friday
Central & West African dance music

# Orchestra of Tetouan / Friday, Saturday
Traditional vocal & instrumental music of Andalusia & North Africa

# Parno Graszt / Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Hungarian Gypsy music

# Salaam / Saturday
Middle Eastern & North African traditional music

# Väsen / Thursday
Contemporary instrumental folk music from Sweden

# Vishtén / Saturday, Sunday
Acadian traditional music, song, and dance

# Watcha Clan/ Friday, Saturday
Global fusion from France

# The Zolfonoon Ensemble of Iran / Saturday
Classical Persian

Did you know that the festival honors Lotus Dickey (1911-1989)? The folk singer, songwriter, and musician from rural Orange County, Indiana, wrote tunes and songs that drew from his family and community, as well as from country singers and fiddlers he heard on the radio. Each year, the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival honors Lotus Dickey's memory with a set of music or an interactive workshop that introduces new audiences to his music and the old-time traditions of the United States.

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Indianapolis Prize Deliberations Begin

Nominations are now closed for the 2010 Indianapolis Prize, so the nominating committee (which narrows the field to six) and the jury (which selects the winner) are set to get to work.

Members of the nominating committee are:

•Devra G. Kleiman, Ph.D., zoologist and consultant on conservation projects worldwide who serves as Adjunct Professor for the Department of Biology at the University of Maryland and as Senior Scientist Emeritus for the Smithsonian Institution.

•Robert Lacy, Ph.D., population geneticist in the Conservation Biology department of the Chicago Zoological Society and faculty member on the Committee on Evolutionary Biology at the University of Chicago.

•Georgina Mace, Ph.D., director of the National Environment Research Council Centre for Population (Imperial College London); Fellow of the Royal Society; and former director of Science at the Zoological Society of London.

•James Murtaugh, program director of The Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation since 1991 and former curator at two of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s facilities - the Central Park Zoo and the Wildlife Survival Center on St. Catherine’s Island, Georgia.

•George Rabb, Ph.D., president emeritus of the Chicago Zoological Society; a spokesman on wildlife conservation issues worldwide; and former director (1976-2003) of the Brookfield Zoo.

•George B. Schaller, Ph.D., senior conservationist of the Wildlife Conservation Society and recipient of the 2008 Indianapolis Prize; a field biologist who studies wildlife throughout Africa, Asia and South America.

•Beth Cate, associate general counsel of Indiana University, where she also serves as adjunct faculty in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and a member of the Indianapolis Zoo Board of Trustees.

•Myrta J. Pulliam, director of special projects for the Indianapolis Star; past president of the Board of Trustees for the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc.; chair of the Indianapolis Prize; writer, reporter and editor, who also serves as a jury member.

•Jan C. Ramer, DVM, associate veterinarian at the Indianapolis Zoo and affiliated with the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Association of Zoo Veterinarians, International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine, Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians, and the Association of Avian Veterinarians.

•Denise L. Solso, active in community affairs, including the Indianapolis Zoo and Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Southwestern Art.

Members of the jury are:

•David Ehrenfeld, M.D., Ph.D., professor of biology at Rutgers Cook College; founding editor of Conservation Biology, and author of a number of books.

•John Flicker, Ph.D., president of the National Audubon Society, who has overseen the addition of more than two dozen Audubon Centers, including 10 in urban areas.

•David W. Macdonald, who heads the wildlife conservation research unit at Oxford University.

•Carter S. Roberts, president of the World Wildlife Fund.

•John W. Terborgh, Ph.D., research professor and co-director of the Center for Tropical Conservation at Duke University.

•Jeff Trandahl, executive director of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

•William W. Chin, M.D., vice president of discovery research and clinical investigation at Eli Lilly and Company; a molecular endocrinologist and author/co-author of more than 270 papers, chapters and books.

•Christel DeHaan, philanthropist, founder of Christel House International and the Christel DeHaan Family Foundation; President and CEO of CD Enterprises, who is also an honorary chair of the 2010 prize.

•Paul Grayson, deputy director and senior vice president of science and conservation programs at the Indianapolis Zoo.

•Myrta J. Pulliam, who also serves as a nominating committee member.

The third biennial $100,000 Indianapolis Prize will be awarded in September 2010. It is the largest individual monetary award for animal conservation in the world. The Indianapolis Prize was initiated by the Indianapolis Zoo as a significant component of its mission to empower people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. It was first awarded in 2006 to Dr. George Archibald, the co-founder of the International Crane Foundation. In 2008, the Indianapolis Prize went to Dr. George Schaller, a field biologist and vice president of science and exploration for the World Conservation Society.

The Eli Lilly and Company Foundation has provided funding for the Indianapolis Prize since 2006.

The Honorary Chairs for the 2010 Indianapolis Prize are:

Cristal DeHaan (who also serves on the prize jury), actor Harrison Ford, writer Carl Hiaasen, Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R.-Ind.), businessman Roger W. Sant and Bren Simon, businesswoman and civic activist.

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West African Luncheon on Tuesday

Africa Night at IUPUI

The Second Annual Africa Night is set for 6-9 p.m. 18 April in Room CE450 of the Campus Center at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.

It's sponsored by the IUPUI African Student Association and will include food, music, a fashion show and speaker.

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Wildlife and Oceans Benefit from Chocolate

Indy-based Endangered Species Chocolate, which donates 10% of its net profits to help support species, habitat and humanity, will partner with African Wildlife Foundation and Ocean Conservancy next year.

A Celebration of the Life of Nelson Mandela

A Celebration of the Life of Nelson Mandela is planned Monday (27 October) at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis.

A film festival runs from noon to 5 p.m. in Taylor Hall 115. At 6:30 p.m., there's a reception (featuring African food) with filmmaker Peter Davis in Herron Auditorium H101, followed at 7 p.m. by Davis' lecture and screening.

Davis, a citizen of the United Kingdom, is a well-known documentarian of the South African Apartheid era and is a personal friend of the Mandela family. His lecture, entitled “Madiba and Me,” will be followed by a showing of his latest film release called “Nelson Mandela: From Prisoner to President.”

Davis’ presentation will be proceeded by a short introduction by Professor Bessie House-Soremekun on fighting Apartheid abroad and at home.

The afternoon's film festival includes Davis' films on South Africa, including “Generations of Resistance,” “The White Laager,” “Winnie Mandela,” “In Darkest Hollywood,” and others. The film festival also will feature posters developed by Davis in his long fight against Apartheid.

All events are open to the public at no charge. For more information, contact Ian McIntosh, 317:274-3776.

International Distillers Grains Conference & Trade Show

The International Distillers Grains Conference and Trade Show is set for 19-21 October in the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.

It's sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council, which develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and related products. Founded in 1960, the Council is a private, non-profit corporation with nine international offices and programs in more than 50 countries.

Inside INdiana Business reports that Hoosier growers and the international buyers of their products will meet face-to-face this month, thanks to a series of tours and farm visits organized through regional cooperative Co-Alliance LLP.

The three-day tour event welcomes dozens of grain buyers, company representatives and government officials from Korea, Taiwan and several North African nations, and provides them with a closer look at American agriculture. The group will already be in Indiana to attend the U.S. Grains Council’s International DDG Conference in Indianapolis. (DDG = U.S. corn and distiller’s dried grains)

For a look at a recent U.S. Grains Council Global Update, click here.

Museums in Africa and the United States

Dr. Boureima Diamitani, executive director of the West African Museum Programme, will join Dr. Maxwell L. Anderson for a conversation about colonial collections and post-colonial communities, conserving cultural and art history, and the impact of civil wars on cultural heritage preservation.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow (9 October) in the Deer Zink Events Pavilion of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, 4000 Michigan Road, Indianapolis. It's open to the public at no charge as part of the Conversation Series: Museums in a Global Context (in honor of the 125th anniversary of the IMA).

Bracelet Project Aids West African Education

Lydia Fischer and Lyndsay McBride (pictured), students at the University of Indianapolis, created Inches International after a service trip to Liberia last year.

Fischer, McBride and several other UIndy students, staff and faculty members raised money and spent three weeks in Liberia in May 2007 working alongside residents of a rural village – without running water or power tools – to build a six-classroom schoolhouse. Fischer and McBride couldn’t shake the idea that they should somehow continue the mission, the school reported.

The two students, both graphic design majors, designed the bracelets, a logo, a brochure and a Web site to publicize the project. Available in nine colors, the bracelets bear ruler marks and the phrase "by inches". The students contracted with a sheet metal company to produce the items at a cost of about a dollar each, which means the vast majority of the $5 purchase price is funneled to a United Methodist-affiliated charity, Operation Classroom, to fund schooling for children in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

They've already sold more than 1,000 bracelets -- for every 20 bracelets sold, an impoverished African child can attend a year of school.

Presentation on African Chimpanzees at UIndy

An anthropologist who is making headlines with her pioneering studies of African primates will speak on 28 March at the University of Indianapolis.

Jill Pruetz (right) shattered preconceptions about animal intelligence by documenting a group of chimpanzees in Senegal that use deliberately sharpened sticks to spear small mammals hiding in tree hollows, according to UIndy. Before she and a colleague published their observations last year, the use of tools to hunt vertebrate animals was thought to be an exclusively human ability.

An associate professor of anthropology at Iowa State University, Pruetz will discuss her work in a free public presentation at 7 p.m. 28 March in UIndy’s Ransburg Auditorium, 1400 East Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis.

Hats from Africa on Display at IMA

More than 50 traditional head coverings representing 30 ethnic groups from across Africa show the great cultural diversity of the continent. The exhibit, Hats of Africa: From Asante to Zulu, includes hats made for a variety of purposes and composed of a variety of materials, including cloth, leather, feathers, shells and hair. Take a virtual tour of the exhibit here.

"Invisible Children"

This Sunday evening (20 May) head over to the International School of Indianapolis for a free dinner and a showing of a remarkable film, "Invisible Children."

You can learn a lot more about why this interesting evening has the potential to be truly important here.

When: Sunday, 20 May, 6-9 p.m.
Where: Blackbox Theatre at the International School of Indianapolis, 4330 North Michigan Road, Indianapolis
Event is free.

Questions? Ask Catarina Campbell or 317:652-9880.

Middle East and North Africa Seminar

Learn more about doing business in the Middle East and North Africa at a seminar sponsored by the United States Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The half-day seminar begins with a continental breakfast and registration at 8:30 a.m. Friday (4 May) in Rawls Hall Room 1011, Purdue University, West Lafayette, and ending at noon.

Also included is a market overview on doing business with the United Arab Emirates.

Cost is $65.00 per person to attend. Register online. Information, Mark Cooper, 317:582-2300.

See event flyer for more.