United States Celebrates Its 233rd Birthday July 4

July 4th has been recognized as Independence Day in the United States ever since the country’s Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Americans celebrate with parades, fireworks, concerts and other festive activities.

U.S. Embassy to Close on July 3- Independence Day

The U.S. Embassy in Kingston will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day, which is a public holiday in the United States.
The Consular Section, Information Resource Center, USAID, U.S. Peace Corps offices, the U.S. Consular Agency in Montego Bay and the U.S. Consular Agency in the Cayman Islands will also be closed on that day.

The embassy and its affiliated offices will reopen for business as usual on Monday,
July 6, 2009.

 

Citizen and Immigration Services (CIS) Section at U.S. Embassy to be closed

The Citizen and Immigration Services (CIS) Section of the Department of Homeland Security headquartered at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston will be closed to the public on
Monday, July 6, and Thursday, July 9, 2009.  The section will also be closed on Monday, July 13 and Thursday, July 16.

CIS’s public window service hours will resume on Monday, July 20.

The usual hours at CIS are between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. on Mondays and Thursday.

 

 

Trafficking in Persons Report 2009

"The ninth annual Trafficking in Persons Report sheds light on the faces of modern-day slavery and on new facets of this global problem. The human trafficking phenomenon affects virtually every country, including the United States. In acknowledging America’s own struggle with modern-day slavery and slavery-related practices, we offer partnership. We call on every government to join us in working to build consensus and leverage resources to eliminate all forms of human trafficking.....To some, human trafficking may seem like a problem limited to other parts of the world. In fact, it occurs in every country, including the United States, and we have a responsibility to fight it just as others do. The destructive effects of trafficking have an impact on all of us. Trafficking weakens legitimate economies, breaks up families, fuels violence, threatens public health and safety, and shreds the social fabric that is necessary for progress. It undermines our long-term efforts to promote peace and prosperity worldwide. And it is an affront to our values and our commitment to human rights...." Secretary Clinton, June 16, 2009

E-Journal: Indigenous People Today

Whether they are called tribal, Native, or Aboriginal peoples — First Nations, Adivasis, or American Indians — indigenous peoples are ethnic groups who have inhabited particular regions from ancient times. Another common term for these groups is “original inhabitants,” because their residence in a place predates modern history.

As the authors in this issue of eJournal USA make clear, indigenous people worldwide have endured a long history of conquest and colonialism. Native peoples in many lands were decimated or wiped out by war and disease, relocated against their will, their children taken to boarding schools to inculcate “civilized” values. European settlers, for the most part, did not understand or recognize the very different value systems and worldviews of indigenous people in colonized lands. In recent decades a number of governments have acknowledged the damage done over centuries to their Native peoples and sought to redress past wrongs. (more)