Author Archives: Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Matilda Newport (1822) and the civil war

Posted on 1 December 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Today, December 1, I had to think of Matilda Newport, a Liberian heroine. Generations of Liberians of all walks of life and every possible background have grown up with ‘Matilda Newport’. For over a century, December 1 was celebrated as … Continue reading →

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Nine Blogs and Three Books – The True Liberian Spirit

Posted on 20 October 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

The civil war left more than 200,000 peope dead and made many more victims: wounded or disabled people, child-soldiers, orphans, who had to restart their lives, often struggling with a trauma caused by unforgettable cruelties. When President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf … Continue reading →

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Rape of a Nation

Posted on 5 October 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Today, by accident, I stumbled upon the magnificent website of Marcus Bleasdale, a former trader of interest-rate derivatives for the Bank of America, turned photojournalist. In 1998, after having won an award for being a rising young photojournalist, he worked … Continue reading →

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“Did you know that….?” – My favorite facts and trivia on Liberia

Posted on 15 September 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

I love facts. My favorite slogan is “Facts first, opinions later.” I also love factoids and trivia. Many are known ‘facts’, some may surprise. The entire list is a weird collection. Some ‘facts’ are fun-facts or useless knowledge, some ‘facts’ … Continue reading →

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Some thoughts on the 2008/2009 Budget

Posted on 25 August 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

On August 5, 2008 the Liberian Legislature agreed on a National Budget of US $ 298 million for the Fiscal Year 2008/2009. This was nearly ten percent higher than the US $ 277 million Draft Budget submitted by the Director … Continue reading →

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About Liberian Olympians and the Amputee All Stars

Posted on 12 August 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Three Liberians represent Africa’s oldest republic in Beijing. They are decathlete Jangy Addy, who carried the Lone Star flag during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics on August 8, 2008, and the two runners Siraj Williams (men’s … Continue reading →

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The definition of a Failed State

Posted on 19 July 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

During the past week – while enjoying holidays in the quiet and attractive north-western part of Denmark, Jutland – I read the newspapers brought to our Liberia-get-together (see my July 6 posting). I found it both pleasant and frustrating to … Continue reading →

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Who knows Herman Cohen?

Posted on 17 June 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Who knows Herman Cohen? I came across his name when I read the report of his testimony before Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) which recently convened in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. Herman Cohen was a former Assistant Secretary of … Continue reading →

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Population – Part I: The 2008 Population and Housing Census

Posted on 4 June 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

I am on vacation right now and enjoy making daily trips in the surroundings. The diversity of the Netherlands is astonishing and refreshing. It is a small country, one hundred miles from east to west, and at most two hundred … Continue reading →

Posted in Liberia, Liberian Demography | Comments Off on Population – Part I: The 2008 Population and Housing Census

An end to impunity in Africa?

Posted on 26 May 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Charles Taylor is not the only former African head of state who is accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes and is being prosecuted. Today it was announced that Ethiopia’s Supreme Court has sentenced former Ethiopian ruler Mengistu – … Continue reading →

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