My chat with the President of Ireland

Do you care about human rights? Do you care about issues in Africa such as AIDS and Darfur? Yeah me too. That's why I am waiting anxiously for the official announcement that Rep. Donald Payne will become chairman of the Africa/Human Rights House Committee. I am convinced that Congressman Payne is up to the task and ready to make human rights a real priority in the new Congress. And so does former Irish president (and head of the UN Human Rights Commission) Mary Robinson.

I got a chance to chat with President Robinson on an NPR call in show this morning. I was curious to hear her thoughts about the Democratic takeover of Congress and whether the new majority will signal a shift in priorities towards Africa. Click here for the mp3 of our little chat. It goes on about 2 minutes.

It's a lucky coincidence that my very last post here on the blog was about Irish pride, as celebrated each new year in Philly-style at the mummer's parade. Accordingly, speaking to the former Irish president was a real treat.