June 2004 - Breaking News
Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Breaking News: Peace Corps News: 2004: June 2004 - Breaking News
By Admin1 (admin) (pool-141-157-22-73.balt.east.verizon.net - 141.157.22.73) on Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 5:23 am: Edit Post



This Week's Top Stories

The week's top Peace Corps news stories posted here every Sunday.

Top Stories - June, 2004

RPCV reviews American Taboo
Ethiopia RPCV Richard Lipez reviews American Taboo 27 June 2004


RPCV studied native dances in Thailand
Amy Andrews joined the Peace Corps in 1991, extended her tour to four years, and worked in northeastern Thailand. Amy began ballet training at age 4 and studied native dances while in Thailand 27 June 2004


RPCV indicted under Sex Tourism law
A federal grand jury indicted Timothy Ronald Obert, 36, on a charge of having sex with a 14-year-old boy while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer last year in Costa Rica 25 June 2004


Peace Corps to appoint Poirier investigator
Peace Corps will appoint an investigator to look into the disappearance of the son of Leominster Chief Assessor Walter R. Poirier 25 June 2004


Celeste led private delegation to India
Richard Celeste led a private delegation to India in January for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Its report, India at the Crossroads, called for the administration to pick India as the 15th country. "The president's program aims to change the course of this epidemic. It cannot do so by ignoring the big challenges.'' 25 June 2004


RPCV to head Iraq Commercial Section
Burundi RPCV Greg Wong will be first secretary - second in command - in the embassy's commercial section in Iraq 25 June 2004


RPCV teaches benefits of manure
When Henry Homeye returned to Cameroon in 1999 to visit his Peace Corps village, he learned that farmers there understood that some plants provide the benefits of manure 25 June 2004


PC chose volunteer with 4-H on resume
The U.S. Peace Corps assigned Thalia Johnson to teach high school agriculture in Malaysia after seeing 4-H on her resume 24 June 2004


PCVs learned to love zucchini in Turkey
Ann and Chris Smith got accustomed to zucchini during their four years with Peace Corps in Turkey 24 June 2004


RPCV has lived car free for 14 years
Todd Boulanger has lived car-free since a two-year Peace Corps stint in the Philippines 14 years ago 24 June 2004


Liberia RPCV writes Maine Tour Guide
Liberia RPCV Kathleen Brandes writes best-selling Moon Handbooks Maine and Moon Handbooks Coastal Maine 24 June 2004


California School named for RPCV
A new school in Paramount, CA has been named after the late Peru RPCV Leona Jackson in recognition of her lifelong dedication to helping students 24 June 2004


NPCA presents Safety Survey Results
NPCA presents Survey Results on Safety/Security Legislation Shared During Senate Hearing 24 June 2004


RPCV to be Ambassador to Gabon
Nominee for Ambassador to Gabon Barrie Walkley was Peace Corps Volunteer in Somalia 24 June 2004


Poland RPCV writes book about Holocaust
RPCV Constance Cappel Reveals the Dirty Little Secret of a Holocaust Ghetto in Lodz, Poland 23 June 2004


Marshall Islands asks PC to return
Marshall Island President asks for restoration of the Peace Corps program 23 June 2004


Charlie Peters urged Rockefeller to WV
It was his Peace Corps friend Charlie Peters, a Charleston native, who urged Jay Rockefeller to go West Virginia 23 June 2004


RPCV writes Brooking Peace Corps Study
India RPCV Lex Rieffel says the basic choice is between preserving the Peace Corps as a boutique agency with a popular mission or redefining the mission in a way that will attract more interest among host countries and appeal to a broader spectrum of talented Americans 23 June 2004


Report from Peace Corps Safety Hearings
Report from the Senate's Peace Corps Safety Hearings 22 June 2004


NPCA President testifies at Hearings
NPCA President Kevin Quigley's Testimony at Senate Peace Corps Safety Hearings 22 June 2004


RPCV's interest in corn grew in Nepal
Anne Desjardins' interest in corn's Asian beginnings while working in Nepalese villages as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1972 21 June 2004


RPCV Stroke Victim sails the world
A stroke turned Les Bisell's life around. Now the Samoa RPCV is sailing the world to spread the word 21 June 2004


Classes dedicated to late RPCV
Classes dedicated their efforts to the late Carrie Dulin who was a Peace Corps and World Vision volunteer in Armenia for five years and died in a car crash in Uzbekistan on Aug. 2, 2003, on her way to an assignment in Nigeria. 21 June 2004


Critical Flaw in Proposed PC Legislation
A Critical Flaw in the Proposed Peace Corps Safety and Security Bill 21 June 2004


RPCV teaches school to sing to raise funds
Rebecca Channer, a US Peace Corps Volunteer at the school told New Era the school at first did not have an idea how it was going to pay the bill 21 June 2004


Senate Releases PC Witness list
Senate releases witness list for Peace Corps Safety Hearings 20 June 2004


RPCV designs and builds skateboard parks
RPCV Stephanie Mohler designs and builds skateboard parks 20 June 2004


RPCV promotes sister city with Afghanistan
When Thomas Gouttierre, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, came to Scottsbluff in February 2002 to speak at Western Nebraska Community College, the little group began to feel a kinship with those distant people 20 June 2004


Malaysia RPCV plans new newspaper
Malaysia RPCV Bruce Anderson plans new paper in Eugene Oregon 19 June 2004


Senate schedules Peace Corps hearings
Committee schedules Peace Corps hearing 18 June 2004


Tanzania RPCV directs "Save Our Youth"
Tanzania RPCV Trevor Murphy is director of Save Our Youth, an after-school program in Los Angeles that offers recreational, social, academic and health and fitness activities for 11- to 17-year-olds 18 June 2004


Ghana RPCV helps Black Heritage Museum
Ghana RPCV Patricia Skrtic donates African outfits, jewelry, wood carvings to Black Heritage Museum 17 June 2004


Senate to hold PC Safety hearings June 22
Senate to hold hearings on Peace Corps Safety on June 22 17 June 2004


Listen to author of 'American Taboo"
Listen to Philip Weiss, author of 'American Taboo: A Murder in the Peace Corps' on NPR 17 June 2004


RPCV saw land grabs in Namibia
Sue Telingator says a former Peace Corps volunteer teacher in Namibia, she experienced firsthand the devastating effects of family land grabs on widows and their children after the husbands' deaths 17 June 2004


RPCV says signs of danger from Belarus
Azerbaijan RPCV Mark Lenzi says Continuing signs of danger from Belarus, Europe's last Stalinist state 16 June 2004


John Bridgeland starts Civic Enterprises
John Bridgeland's Civic Enterprises 16 June 2004


RPCV teaches english to Hispanics
Hispanics are participating in the English as a second language in-home program created by a 73-year-old Florence Phillips who learned Spanish in her 50s and Swahili in her late 60s as a Peace Corps volunteer 16 June 2004


Mark Gearan on "a fresh set of eyes"
”The advantage could be … a fresh set of eyes,” said Mark Gearan, president of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, who was hired in 1999 from the directorship of the Peace Corps 16 June 2004


Guatemala RPCV remembers Reagan years
As a returned Peace Corps volunteer involved in Guatemala in the '80s, I observed Reagan's era. During his terms, hundreds of thousands of Guatemalan Mayan indigenous people were slaughtered, backed by the American government, all in the name of "communism paranoia." 16 June 2004


Schneider says Karzai picture too rosy
Former Peace Corps Director Mark Schneider, senior vice president at the International Crisis Group in Washington, a nonprofit organization that studies wars and works to resolve conflicts, said Karzai had painted a somewhat rosy picture of gains in his country. It's not clear that elections will take place as scheduled, Schneider said, and this year's opium harvest is expected to be the country's largest. 16 June 2004


The Fight of Our Lives by Bill Moyers
The Fight of Our Lives by Bill Moyers 16 June 2004


DR RPCV works in Legal Assistance
Dominican Republic RPCV Michael Blank works in California Rural Legal Assistance: "I am a free lawyer for poor people." 16 June 2004


Case against Priven seemed like slam dunk
The case against Dennis Priven seemed like a slam dunk. As 23-year-old Peace Corps volunteer Deb Gardner lay bleeding to death from stab wounds, she whispered a name: "Dennis," a fellow volunteer. 15 June 2004


Peace Corps to recognize RPCVs
Peace Corps invites First Nominations for RPCV Recognition Program 15 June 2004


Shriver introduced Schwarzenegger to cigars
Father-in-law Sargent Shriver introduced him to cigars, Schwarzenegger claims 15 June 2004


Venezuela RPCV shares love of Spanish
Venezuela RPCV James K. Gavin shares love of Spanish words 13 June 2004


Kinky Friedman runs for Texas Governor
"Why am I running for governor of Texas in 2006?" by Malaysia RPCV Kinky Friedman 13 June 2004


New Book by Kyrgyzstan RPCV
This is Not Civilization by Kyrgyzstan RPCV Robert Rosenberg 13 June 2004


RPCV defends CT Governor in court
Colombia RPCV William F. Dow III defends Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland 13 June 2004


Carol Bellamy warns of western Sudan
UN children's fund UNICEF has warned that half a million children are in danger in Darfur, as its director Carol Bellamy prepares to visit the war-ravaged region of western Sudan 13 June 2004


Coverage of RPCV an 'affront'
Lack of coverage of RPCV Shaun McNally an 'affront' 13 June 2004


Jim Doyle says Kerry can win
Democrats should brace themselves for a tough fight, but they can win with Kerry on the ticket, Tunisia RPCV Gov. Jim Doyle told delegates Saturday. "John Kerry has been in tougher fights than this and no Republican smear campaign can save George Bush from his own record," Doyle said. "The road to the White House leads through Wisconsin." 13 June 2004


Jay Heiler says Bill Moyers wrote '64 ad
Jay Heiler says "Bill Moyers' famous commercial featured a beautiful little tow-headed girl playing in a field of daisies, rudely overborne by a booming voice speaking a countdown, "Ten! Nine! Eight! and so on, until zero, when the child looked up. At that moment the viewer saw reflected in her innocent eye the mushroom cloud of an atomic bomb" 13 June 2004


Ohio Gov Bob Taft remembers Reagan
Outside the cathedral, Tanzania RPCV Ohio Gov. Bob Taft recalled the Aug. 20, 1984, rally on Fountain Square where he first met Reagan. "It was probably the most powerful political event I ever attended," Taft said, still marveling at Reagan's ability to connect with ordinary Americans. 12 June 2004


Elaine Chao remembers Reagan
Elaine Chao, said the late president Ronald Reagan inspired her to become involved in public service. 12 June 2004


Ted Sorenson praises PC idealism
Theodore Sorensen, JFK's special counsel and gold-standard speechwriter, says America needs to live in a world that admires "not only the bravery of our Marine Corps but the idealism of our Peace Corps" 11 June 2004


Vasquez attends Reagan funeral
At Reagan funeral, George Tenet, the lame duck CIA chief, sat unassumingly between the head of the Peace Corps and a cable TV co-host 11 June 2004


Reagan was an idealist says McPherson
Reagan was an idealist without being ultimately ideological says Peter McPherson 11 June 2004


RPCV says World is wondering about US
Philippines RPCV Allan M. Winkler says the World is wondering what we're doing 11 June 2004


Sierra Leone RPCV killed in Liberia
Memorial Servive for Sierra Leone RPCV John Andrew Auffrey, killed in Liberia. Auffrey worked for the Department of Defense helping clear land mines as part of a U.S. aid effort. He was a member of a delegation sent to war-torn Liberia to help set up peace efforts by the United States, establishing the security and structures for the U.S. to go in and help 11 June 2004


John Bridgeland founds Civic Enterprises
John Bridgeland's company, Civic Enterprises, will work for cities, companies and nonprofit groups to figure out the best ways to tackle issues like high crime or child hunger 10 June 2004


RPCV Astronaut begins training
Joseph Acaba begins training this summer for a future trip into space 10 June 2004


Peace Corps Director Visits Panama
Peace Corps Director Visits Panama 10 June 2004


Director Vasquez in Peru
Peace Corps Director Visits Peru, Participates in Swearing-in Ceremony 10 June 2004


PCVs arrive in Moldova
Forty-one new volunteers from the U.S. Peace Corps have arrived in Moldova 10 June 2004


Mark Schneider testifies on Afghanistan
Mark Schneider is the Afghanistan expert for the International Crisis Group, where he’s also senior vice-president. Mr Schneider has recently testified before the US Senate on the situation in Afghanistan 10 June 2004


McPherson promotes nation-building
Peru RPCV Peter McPherson on bipartisan commission that gives priority to promoting development and nation-building 9 June 2004


Bridgeland to advise on policy issues
Former USA Freedom Corps head John Bridgeland creates Civic Enterprises to advise corporate, nonprofit and public-sector clients on policy issues 9 June 2004


RPCV to head trading program at IIT
Malawi RPCV Michael Gorham to head trading program at IIT's Stuart Graduate School of Business 8 June 2004


New PCVs in Cameroon
Cameroon receives 25 new U.S Peace Corps Volunteers 8 June 2004


Peter McPherson remembers Reagan
RPCV Peter McPherson recalls years under Reagan 7 June 2004


Congressman Honda performs civic duty
El Salvador RPCV Congressman Honda performs his civic duty 7 June 2004


RPCV new Director at Women's Center
Afghanistan RPCV Jennet Robinson Alterman is Executive Director of Charleston Center for Women 7 June 2004


Kerry touts Peace Corps to students
Kerry called on students to perform public service, touting the Peace Corps in particular. He hailed the US forces who stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, and then called Reagan "one of our greatest optimists" who similarly fought for US interests in the Cold War 7 June 2004


Ambassador swears in Georgia PCVs
Ambassador Miles Swears In New Peace Corps Volunteers in Georgia 7 June 2004


Sam Farr on the Death of Ronald Reagan
Statement of Colombia RPCV Congressman Sam Farr on the Death of Ronald Reagan 7 June 2004


Tom Petri on passing of President Reagan
Somalia Congressman Tom Petri offers the following comment on the passing of President Reagan 7 June 2004


RPCV says Reagan was 'extraordinary'
Peru RPCV Peter McPherson remembers Reagan as 'extraordinary' 6 June 2004


NPCA Chair says races were contested
NPCA Chair Pat Reilly says previous elections have had contested races 6 June 2004


Matthews calls Reagan warrior and hero
RPCV Chris Matthews says Ronald Reagan was a political warrior and hero 6 June 2004


RPCV Barbara Ferris runs for Congress
Morocco RPCV Barbara Anne Ferris runs for Congress in Ohio's 10th District 6 June 2004


Bush courts Orange County Hispanics
Bush, who in 2001 held the first-ever Cinco de. Mayo festival at the White House, has appointed prominent Orange County Hispanics to high-profile positions within his administration like Former County Supervisor Gaddi Vasquez who was named Peace Corps director in 2001. Although the GOP points to such nominations as evidence of its good faith, California Democrats call them merely window dressing. 5 June 2004


RPCV says Toledo will survive
Peru RPCV David Scott Palmer, director of the Latin American Studies Program at Boston University says Toledo continues to lurch from political crisis to political crisis. However, the main opposition parties, while calling for Cabinet changes, have stopped short of a formal request for Toledo's resignation. 5 June 2004


Bob Taft praises Ronald Reagan
RPCV Governor Bob Taft today ordered flags at half-staff in honor of the passing of Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States of America 5 June 2004


Chris Dodd on Death of Ronald Reagan
Statement of Dominican Republic RPCV Senator Chris Dodd on the Death of Ronald Reagan 5 June 2004


Mark Schneider cautions on Venezuela
"If the referendum process isn't handled in a way the Venezuelan people regard as legitimate, there is a danger civil strife could erupt," said former Peace Corps Director Mark Schneider, senior vice president of the International Crisis Group 4 June 2004


RPCV defends Iranian against Patriot Act
Jamaica RPCV David Berger defends Iranian Pete Seda against Patriot Act 4 June 2004


RPCV writes on Future of China's Values
Zimbabwe RPCV Matthew Rusling writes on the Future of China's Values 4 June 2004


Congressman says Peace Corps is strong
Congressman Roger F. Wicker says the Peace Corps is strong 3 June 2004


Military looks into side effects of Lariam
Military looks into side effects of Lariam given to troops 3 June 2004


Bridgeland on Bush volunteer actions
Former USA Freedom Corps head John Bridgeland say Bush critics overlook volunteer accomplishments 3 June 2004


Morocco Welcomes New PCVs
Morocco Welcomes New Peace Corps Volunteers to Work in Health and Environment 3 June 2004


Hotmire is Assistant at Freedom Corps
Eric Hotmire is Special Assistant to the President and Communications Director of USA Freedom Corps 3 June 2004


PCV helps 8-year-old amputee
After 8-year-old David Ananias Vásquez Fuentes had a grenade explode in his hand in February, local doctors had little hope that he would ever be able to see again or use his arm. That was before Fuentes met Peace Corps volunteer Jordan Gantz. 2 June 2004


Xavier University joins Fellows Program
Xavier University of Louisiana to Become First Historically Black University to Partner with Fellows/USA Program 2 June 2004


Shriver: The ‘Good Kennedy’ stands apart
Shriver: The ‘Good Kennedy’ stands apart 1 June 2004


Kennedy Biographer Manchester dies at 82
Historian and Kennedy Biographer William Manchester dies at 82 1 June 2004


House OKs bill to boost Peace Corps safety
House OKs bill to boost Peace Corps safety 1 June 2004


House passes bill to regulate Peace Corps
Congress passes bill to regulate Peace Corps 1 June 2004


RPCV writes "Study Abroad"
Wendy Williamson, who has helped thousands of students travel overseas, completed two assignments with the Peace Corps in Ecuador and Cameroon from 1994 to 1998. 1 June 2004