Africas first elected female president lifts Liberia

Fractured by a 14-year civil war, Liberia is trying to pick up the pieces, facing staggering unemployment and lackluster infrastructure.

Halfway into her first term, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — an economist educated at Harvard University who won the presidency at age 67 — is leading that recovery.

As Africas first elected female head of state, she has taken on corruption, gotten some of Liberias debt canceled and rebuilt the army with the help of the U.S.

Worldfocus correspondent Lynn Sherr and producer Megan Thompson report on one extraordinary woman trying to remake life in war-torn Liberia. Watch for Worldfocus signature series out of Liberia in the coming weeks.

To watch an extended interview with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf visit http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/03/31/africas-first-elected-female-president-...

Worldfocus video podcast: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/worldfocus

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
• Liberia
• Lynn Sherr
• Megan Thompson
• Signature Story
• women in power
• news
• Worldfocus
• World Focus
• Africa

[suirvale]

you tube seems to be great place for insults and bad language,.,.

[zinnahblatee80]

glad 2 know u got sense of humor, but ur comprehension is clouded. all u do is make urself feel better by thinkin u r so smart but in reality u r foolish. u need 2 follow these 4 words shut ur ass up cuz everytime u write 8 sounds like ur speakin out of 8.

[djbenzo]

@zinnahblatee80 Pekin I can't even talk to you because you are no on my level. Public office requires critical thinking. You don't have to be the most educated to address issues but what exactly have you addressed? Scavenge da big word for you? LOL! Did you go look it up? Too funny. Go pump tire pekin.

[zinnahblatee80]

@djbenzo da age of mentusula has nothin 2 do with solomon wisdom. u claim 2 b educated but frm ur respon 8 seem like u hav comprehension issues. may dont mean im not a high sch grad. but let me get 2 da root of our back n forth. i dont hav 2 b da most educated 2 address issues concernin our country n i hav da mental capacity 2 speak on economic issues. public offece dont require critical thinkin. usin words (scavenge) dat is unrelated 2 our exchange proof my point dat u may b self proclaim.

[djbenzo]

@zinnahblatee80 Where do I start? How old are you anyways? I feel like I'm talking to a child. Self proclaimed educated punk- Yes I am educated and have the paperwork to prove it. Silly me for going to school. You haven't even graduated high school? That explains a lot. The application and economics DO require critical thinking. I already earn a six figure salary my friend. No need to scavenge off the back of the Liberian people. That's a concept too foreign to you. Go back to school

[zinnahblatee80]

@JIMTHERE1 funny description man; ur joke got a real punch line. have u consider comedy as ur second job lol.

[zinnahblatee80]

@djbenzo u jus mad cuz im smart enough 2 pickup details off ur criminal mom interview. u struck me as a self proclaim educated punk. i may not b a high school r harvard grad but political science n economics dont require critical thinkin which may b ur career path (so sad) cuz u wil not earn a 6 figure job in da US but rather hope 2 get 1 sum day in lib so u can rob da ppl economically like da rest of dese heartless sons n daughters of bitches. education without morals is useless. nice 2 meet u

[djbenzo]

@zinnahblatee80 Well from the way you write your illiterate ass is obviously not a high school graduate much less Harvard. You shouldn't speak of things which you lack the mental capacity to understand. If this was a topic on shoe shining or talking out of your ass then you could say something since you would be a subject matter expert. Until then follow these four words: Shut-the-fuck-up.

[zinnahblatee80]

I taught dis lady was smart harvard graduate? r u ppl listinin 2 dis bull shit shes sayin in dis interview. she acttually said she wakesup thinkin which community road or water need 2 b restore. dat means shes actin as she goes along n dat means no PLAN. she has been tryin 2 b pres 4 da pass 30yrs she couldnt put a plan 2gether. God save us from these criminals. all she got is da good english of a con woman.

[fran21ish]

@vaimende i strongly Disagree. this is what we always do and it naver helps..you should not forget the past, people should be put where they belong for doing us so wrong all because of greed..we pay these people after every war they bring with power do you think thats gonna stop it from repeating itself, you thing thats gonna improve liberia..get real we need to be more active..oh and almost every country on earth, they just put their country and its people first..