official name	Lagos
nickname	lag city, Lasgidi, Gidi
image seal	Lagos_Seal.png
pushpin map	Nigeria
pushpin mapsize	300
pushpin map caption	Lagos shown within Nigeria
coordinates region	NG
subdivision type	Country
subdivision name
subdivision type1	State
subdivision name1	Lagos State
subdivision type2	LGA
subdivision name2	Lagos IslandLagos Mainland
leader party	ACN
leader title	Governor
leader name	Babatunde Fashola
area footnotes
area urban km2	999.6
population as of	2006 census, preliminary
population total	7,937,932
population density km2	7,941
population density sq mi	20,170
blank name sec1	HDI
blank info sec1	0.720 (high)
blank1 name sec1	HDI rank
blank1 info sec1	1st (2011)
Gini	53.7
Gini category	high
timezone	WAT (UTC+1)
utc offset	+1
coordinates display	title
website	lagosstate.gov.ng
footnotes	}}

Lagos ( ) is a port city and the most populous city in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, and is estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa (7th fastest in the world). Lagos was originally inhabited by the Awori subgroup of the Yoruba people. Under the leadership of their Olofin, the Awori moved to an island now called Iddo and then to the larger Lagos Island. In the 15th century, the Awori settlement was attacked by the Benin Empire following a quarrel, and the island became a Benin war-camp called "Eko" under Oba Orhogba, the Oba of Benin at the time.

Lagos is a huge metropolis which originated on islands separated by creeks, such as Lagos Island, fringing the southwest mouth of Lagos Lagoon whilst protected from the Atlantic Ocean by long sand spits such as Bar Beach, which stretch up to 100 km east and west of the mouth. From the beginning, Lagos has expanded on the mainland west of the lagoon and the conurbation, including Ikeja and Agege, now reaches more than 40 km north-west of Lagos Island. Some suburbs include Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry, and more local councils have recently been created, bringing the total number of local governments in Lagos to 57.

History

Lagos was a war camp for members of the Benin Empire, who referred to it as ''Eko''. The Yoruba still use the name Eko to refer to Lagos. ''Lagos'', which means "lakes", was a name given to the settlement by the Portuguese. The present day Lagos state has a high percentage of Awori, who migrated to the area from Isheri along the Ogun river. Throughout history, it was home to a number of warring ethnic groups who had settled in the area. During its early settlement, it also saw periods of rule by the Benin Kingdom.

Portuguese explorer Rui de Sequeira visited the area in 1472, naming the area around the city ''Lago de Curamo''; indeed the present name is Portuguese for "lakes". Another explanation is that Lagos was named for Lagos, Portugal - a maritime town which, at the time, was the main centre of Portuguese expeditions down the African coast, and whose own name is derived from the Latin word ''Lacobriga''.

Lagos was formally annexed as the British Lagos Colony in 1861. This had the dual effect of crushing the slave trade and establishing British control over palm and other trades. The remainder of modern-day Nigeria was seized in 1887, and when the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria was established in 1914, Lagos was declared its capital, continuing as such after the country's independence from Britain in 1960. Along with migrants from all over Nigeria and other West African nations were the returnee ex-slaves known as Creoles, who came from Freetown, Sierra Leone, Brazil and the West Indies to Lagos. The Creoles contributed to Lagos' modernisation and their knowledge of Portuguese architecture can still be seen from the architecture on Lagos Island.

Lagos experienced rapid growth throughout the 1960s and 1970s as a result of Nigeria's economic boom prior to the Nigerian Civil War otherwise called the Biafran War. Lagos was the capital of Nigeria from 1914 up to 1991. The city was stripped of its status when the Federal Capital Territory was established at the purpose-built city of Abuja. On November 14, 1991, the Presidency and other federal government functions were finally relocated to the new capital city of Abuja.

Geography

Lagos Mainland

Most of the population live on the mainland, and most industries are located there too. Lagos is known for its music and night life, which used to be located in areas around Yaba and Surulere In recent years more night clubs have sprung on the island, making the island, particularly Victoria Island, the main nightlife attraction. Lagos Mainland districts include Ebute-Meta, Surulere, Yaba (location of the University of Lagos) and Ikeja, site of Murtala Muhammed International Airport and capital of Lagos State.

Greater Lagos includes Mushin, Maryland, Somolu, Oshodi, Oworonsoki, Isolo, Ikotun, Agege,Iju Ishaga, Egbeda, Ketu, Bariga, Ipaja, Ajah and Ejigbo.

The city of Lagos is the main city of the southwestern part of Nigeria. Some rivers, like Badagry Creek, flow parallel to the coast for some distance before exiting through the sand bars to the sea. The two major urban islands of Lagos in Lagos Lagoon are Lagos Island and Victoria Island. These islands are separated from the mainland by the main channel draining the lagoon into the Atlantic Ocean, which forms Lagos Harbour. The islands are separated from each other by creeks of varying sizes and are connected to Lagos Island by bridges. The smaller sections of some creeks have been sand filled and built over, however.

Islands of Lagos

Lagos Island

Lagos Island contains a central business district. This district is characterized by high-rise buildings. The island also contains many of the city's largest wholesale marketplaces (such as the popular Idumota and Balogun markets). It also has the National Museum of Nigeria, the Central Mosque, the Glover Memorial Hall, Christ's Cathedral (CMS), and the Oba Palace. Though formerly in a derelict condition, Lagos Island's Tinubu Square is a site of historical importance; it was here that the Amalgamation Ceremony that unified the North and South protectorate to form Nigeria took place in 1914.

Ikoyi

Ikoyi is situated on the eastern half of Lagos Island and joined to it by a landfill. Ikoyi is also connected to Victoria Island by a bridge carrying a main road over a Five Cowrie creek. Ikoyi housed the headquarter of the federal government of Nigeria and other buildings owned by the government -including the old federal secretariat complex. The complex today is on reestablishment. In Ikoyi there are military and police barracks, a top-security prison and a federal high court of Nigeria. Ikoyi also has a number of hotels, night clubs, a recreational park and one of Africa's largest golf courses. Originally a middle class neighbourhood, in recent years, it has become a fashionable residential enclave for the upper middle class to the upper class. There are also commercial activities in Ikoyi which is spotted in increasing number of offices, banks and shopping complexes. The commercial sections is concentrated in the South-West,SW.

Victoria Island

Victoria Island with its annex is situated to the south of Lagos Island. It has expensive real estate properties and for that reason, many new luxury condos and apartments are blooming up everywhere. Along with Ikoyi, Victoria Island occupies a major area in the suburbs of Lagos which boasts of several sizable shopping districts. On its sea shore along the Atlantic front, there is environmentally reconstructed Bar Beach.

Iddo

Across the main channel of the lagoon from Lagos Island, there is a smaller settlement called Iddo. Iddo is also a railroad terminus and it is situated on the mainland. It is now connected to the mainland like a peninsula.

Three major bridges join the island to the mainland. They are the Carter Bridge which start from Iddo, the Eko Bridge(formerly called the Second Mainland Bridge) and the Third Mainland Bridge -which passes through densely populated mainland suburbs through Lagos lagoon.

Climate

Lagos has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) that is similar to that of the rest of southern Nigeria. There are two rainy seasons, with the heaviest rains falling from April to July and a weaker rainy season in October and November. There is a brief relatively dry spell in August and September and a longer dry season from December to March. Monthly rainfall between May and July averages over , while in August and September it is down to and in December as low as . The main dry season is accompanied by harmattan winds from the Sahara Desert, which between December and early February can be quite strong.

Administration and demographics

In terms of administration, Lagos is not a municipality and has therefore no overall city administration. The Municipality of Lagos, which covered Lagos Island, Ikoyi and Victoria Island as well as some mainland territory, was managed by the Lagos City Council (LCC), but it was disbanded in 1976 and divided into several Local Government Areas (most notably Lagos Island LGA, Lagos Mainland LGA and Eti-Osa LGA). The mainland beyond the Municipality of Lagos, on the other hand, comprised several separate towns and settlements such as Mushin, Ikeja and Agege. In the wake of the 1970s Nigerian oil boom, Lagos experienced a population explosion, untamed economic growth, and unmitigated rural migration. This caused the outlying towns and settlements to develop rapidly, thus forming the ''Greater Lagos metropolis'' seen today. The history of Lagos is still evidenced in the layout of the LGAs which display the unique identities of the cultures that created them.

style="width:21%; text-align:center; background:#ccf;" 11.2 12.3 185.2 134.6 26.7 192.3 26.6 46.2 81.4 8.7 19.5 17,5 158.2 44.8 11.6 23.0 999.6

+ style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em"	The 16 LGAs of Metropolitan Lagos
style="width:37%; text-align:center; background:#ccf;"	Land area(in km²) ||	Population(2006 Census)	Density(inh. per km²)
Agege	|	459,939	41,071
Ajeromi-Ifelodun	|	684,105	55,474
Alimosho	|	1,277,714	6,899
Amuwo-Odofin	|	318,166	2,364
Apapa(home of the main port of Lagos)	|	217,362	8,153
Eti-Osa(home of one of Lagos's largest business centres and of the upscale communities of Victoria Island (Nigeria)	Victoria Island and Ikoyi, formerly the residence of the Nigerian federal government)	|	287,785	1,496
Ifako-Ijaiye	|	427,878	16,078
Ikeja	|	313,196	6,785
Kosofe	|	665,393	8,174
Lagos Island(the historical centre and commercial core of the Lagos agglomeration)	|	209,437	24,182
Lagos Mainland	|	317,720	16,322
Mushin, Nigeria	Mushin	|	633,009	36,213
Ojo, Nigeria	Ojo	|	598,071	3,781
Oshodi-Isolo	|	621,509	13,886
Somolu	|	402,673	34,862
Surulere	|	503,975	21,912
Metropolitan Lagos	|	7,937,932	7,941

Today, the word ''Lagos'' most often refers to the urban area, called "Metropolitan Lagos" in Nigeria, which includes both the islands of the former municipality of Lagos and the mainland suburbs. Lagos State government is responsible for some of the utilities including roads and transportation, power, water, health, and education. Metropolitan Lagos (a statistical division, and not an administrative unit) extends over 16 of the 20 LGAs of Lagos State, and contains 88% of the population of Lagos State, and includes semi-rural areas. Lagos City has a considerable amount of high rise buildings which makes up its skyline. Most of the tall buildings are located in around the downtown Central Business District.

Lagos was the former capital city of Nigeria but it has since been replaced by Abuja. Abuja officially gained its status as the capital of Nigeria on 12 December 1991, although the decision to move the federal capital had been made in now Act no. 6 of 1976. Lagos is also home to the High Court of the Lagos State Judiciary, housed in an old colonial building on Lagos Island.

Eko Atlantic City

Eko Atlantic City is a planned 21st-century city, intended to be built on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean. Already, most of the land has been reclaimed. The proposed development is targeting 400,000 residents and 250,000 commuters flowing daily to the island. The project is planned to return the coast to its position in the 1950s and 1960s, reversing damage done by erosion.

Census data for Lagos

Although the 2006 National Population Census of Nigeria credited the metropolitan area with a population figure of 7,937,932, the figure is at variance with some projections by the UN and other population agencies and groups worldwide. The population figure of Lagos State given by the Lagos State Government is 17,553,924. It was based on conducted enumeration for social planning by the Lagos State Government and it believes that since the inhabitants of the metropolitan area of Lagos constitute 88% of the Lagos State population, the population of metropolitan Lagos is about 15.5 million. A rejoinder to Lagos State Government views concluded that "Lagos State concealed the fact that the population projection, for Lagos Urban Agglomeration by the UN agencies had been revised downwards substantially as early as 2003. It failed to interpret the two most important and fairly representative and reliable secondary data sets already in public domain, the National Identity Card Scheme and the 2003 Voters Registration figures from INEC. The recently released figures for 2007 Voters Registration by INEC were an act subsequent to the release of the provisional census results and comprehensively corroborate, vindicate and validate the population figures in no uncertain terms. According to the official results of the 2006 census, there are 8,048,430 inhabitants in Metropolitan Lagos. This figure is lower than what had been anticipated and has created a controversy in Nigeria. Lagos Island, the central Local Government Area and historic centre of Metropolitan Lagos, had a population of 212,700 as of the 2006 Census.

Authorities of Lagos State have attacked the results of the 2006 census, accusing the Nigerian National Population Commission of having undercounted the population of the state. This accusation is denied by the National Population Commission.

Lagos is, by most estimates, one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. Lagos is currently experiencing a population increase of about 275,000 persons per annum. In 1999 the United Nations predicted that the city's metropolitan area, which had only about 290,000 inhabitants in 1950, would exceed 20 million by 2010 and thus become one of the ten most populated cities in the world.

There is a huge spectrum of wealth distribution among the people that reside in Lagos. It ranges from the very wealthy to the very poor. Lagos has attracted many young people and families seeking a better life from all parts of Nigeria and beyond.

Economy

Lagos is Nigeria's most prosperous city, and much of the nation's wealth and economic activity are concentrated here. Most commercial and financial business is carried out in the central business district situated on the island. This is also where most of the country's commercial banks and financial institutions and major corporations are headquartered. Lagos has one of the highest standards of living as compared to other cities in Nigeria as well as in Africa.

The Port of Lagos is Nigeria's leading port and one of the largest and busiest in Africa. It is administered by the Nigerian Ports Authority and it is split into three main sections: Lagos port, in the main channel next to Lagos Island, Apapa Port (site of the container terminal) and Tin Can Port, both located in Badagry Creek, which flows into Lagos Harbour from the west. The port features a railhead.

The port has seen growing amounts of crude oil exported, with export figures rising between 1997 and 2000. Oil and petroleum products provide 14% of GDP and 90% of foreign exchange earnings in Nigeria as a whole.

Transport

Highways

Lagos has one of the largest and most extensive road networks in West Africa. It also has suburban trains and some ferry services. Highways are usually congested in peak hours, due in part to the geography of the city, as well as to its explosive population growth. Lagos is also linked by many highways and bridges. A new rail system which is supposed to span the length of the Badagry expressway is also currently under construction.

The Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway are the major controlled-access highways in the north of the city and serve as inter-state highways to Oyo State and Ogun State respectively. To the west the congested Lagos–Badagry Expressway serves outlying towns such as ''Festival Town'', which was the location for the 1977 Festival of Black Arts and Culture 77.

Lagos's importance as a commercial centre and port and its strategic location have led to it being the end-point of three Trans-African Highway routes using Nigeria's national roads: The Trans–West African Coastal Highwayleaves the city as the Badagry Expressway to Benin and beyond as far as Dakar and Nouakchott; The Trans-Sahara Highway to Algiers, which is close to completion, leaves the city as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Lagos State recently implemented a bus rapid transit (BRT) system; the first phase was completed in February 2008. It is expected to operate along eight routes using specially designated bus rapid transit lanes running through the city, with the aim of expanding to other routes in the future. The first phase of the Lagos BRT runs 12 miles through Ikorodu Road and Funsho Williams Avenue up to CMS. After weeks of test runs, operations started on March 17, 2008, six months earlier than planned.

It has been estimated that the system will transport about 10,000 passengers in each direction per hour during peak travel times. The LAMATA bus rapid transit corridor covers a distance of about 22 kilometres in length. The system is run by two operators, NURTW Cooperative (Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers) and Lagbus, a Lagos State Government owned Asset Management Company which contributes about 180 high capacity buses for the implementation of the first phase Mile 12 to CMS BRT Lite system.

Rail

A planned extensive urban rail system running through the Lagos metropolis.

Ferries

Lagos State Ferry Services Corporation runs a few regular routes, for example between Lagos Island and the mainland, modern ferries and wharves. Private boats run irregular passenger services on the lagoon and on some creeks.

Air

Lagos is served by Murtala Muhammed International Airport, one of the largest airports in Africa and a top international air passenger gateway to Nigeria. The airport is located in the northern suburb of Ikeja and has Domestic and International Terminals. With 5.1 million passengers in 2008, the airport accounts for almost fifty percent of all air traffic in Nigeria. Outbound international travel from Murtala Mohammed Airport accounts for the majority of all air passengers traveling to and from Nigeria. The airport has recently undergone upgrades along with the addition of a new terminal.

Culture

Music and film industry

Lagos is famous throughout Africa for its music scene. Lagos has given birth to a variety of styles such as Nigerian hip hop, highlife, juju, fuji, and Afrobeat.

Lagos is the center of the Nigerian movie industry, often referred to as 'Nollywood.' Idumota market on Lagos Island is the primary distribution center. Many films are shot in the Festac area of Lagos.

The cinemas are gradually losing their supporters to the movie industry. Yoruba language films happen to be the most watched in the cinemas, followed by Indian films. Films are not premiered for a long period of time in the western sense, especially with Yoruba language films. Films in English are controlled mainly by the Igbos are the most popular and move directly from the studios to the market.

Iganmu is home to the primary centre for the performing arts and artistes in Nigeria: the National Arts Theatre .

Paul McCartney also recorded his third post-beatle album, Band On The Run in an EMI studio in Lagos in August to September 1973.

Sport

As in other major cities of the world, football is Lagos' most popular sport. Prominent Lagos football clubs include Julius Berger FC, First Bank and Stationery Stores.

The Nigeria national football team, also known as the Super Eagles, used to play almost all of their home games in Lagos at the National Stadium in Surulere; however, games are now mostly played at the larger and newer Abuja National Stadium in Abuja, which is the default home of the Super Eagles.

Tourism

Lagos, subsequently to the re-modernization project achieved by the current administration of Governor Raji Babatunde Fashola, is gradually becoming a major tourist destination, being one of the largest cities in Africa and in the world. Lagos is currently taking steps to become a global city. The 2009 Eyo carnival (a yearly festival originated from Iperu Remo, Ogun State) which took place on April 25, was a step toward world city status. Currently, Lagos is primarily known as a business-oriented and a fast paced community. Lagos has a number of sandy beaches by the Atlantic Ocean a few are Badagry beach, Eleko beach, Elegushi, Alpha beach. Two of the popular beaches include Bar Beach and Lekki Beach. Lagos has a variety of hotels ranging from three star to five star hotels. Other places of interest include The Tafawa Balewa Square, Festac town, Lekki Conservation Centre, The Remembrance Arcade and the Slave Jetty in Badagry

Some of the popular hotels include Welcome Centre Hotels, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Federal Palace Hotel, Stop Over Motels, Ikoyi Hotel, Sofitel Lagos Moorhouse Ikoyi, Eko Hotels And Suites, and The Palmview Manor. Visitors are mostly attracted to Nigeria's rich culture, entertainment scenes and vitality which Lagos city offers. Tourist attractions include Oba's Palace, the Nigerian National Museum, Shrine of Fela, the beach resorts.

Education

The Lagos State Government operates state schools. The education system is the 6-3-3-4 system, which is practised throughout the country (as well as by many other members of the Economic Community of West African States). The levels are Primary, Junior Secondary School (JSS), Senior Secondary School (SSS), and university. All children are offered basic education, with special focus now on the first nine years.

Lagos is home to various postsecondary schools, universities and other vocational institutions that are either operated by the government or private entities.

Polytechnics

Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) : founded in 1934, the college is Nigeria's first higher educational institution and third in Africa. The college is a center of culture and heritage. Currently it has student enrollment of over 16,000.

Lagos State Polytechnic is a polytechnic comprising more than six schools including private polytechnics and was founded 25 years ago. Its main campus resides at Ikorodu, along Shagamu road.

Lagos City Polytechnic, located at 6/8, Bashiru Oweh Street, Off Simbiat Abiola Road (formerly Medical Road),Ikeja - This is the first private Polytechnic in Nigeria. It was established in 1990 by Engr. Babatunde Odufuwa. Engr. Odufuwa hails from Oke-Aye in Ijebu North East Local Government Area (I.N.E.L.G) of Ogun State.

Grace Polytechnic

Wolex Polytechnic

Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology is a monotechnic that offers courses in fisheries technology, general science, marine engineering and nautical science.

Federal College of Education (tech) Akoka

Universities

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) is a large institution dating from 1962, with over 35,000 students. It comprises 13 faculties, run by over 4,000 staff.

Lagos State University (LASU) is a multi-campus university established in 1984 and owned by the Lagos State government. The main campus is located at Ojo, along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

The Pan-African University, Lagos is primarily a business school, offering two MBA programmes. Founded in 1996 and awarded University status in 2002, it consists of the Lagos Business School and of Enterprise Development Services. The University also places some emphasis on the study of art, running the Virtual Museum of Modern Nigerian Art.

National Open University of Nigeria National Open University is the first open university in Nigeria, it is located on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos

Lagos State College of Health Technology(LASCOHET)Yaba- A mini institution that run health courses such as Health information Management, Pharmacist Technician, Medical Laboratary Technician,Community health extension worker and Environmental Health Technology, it is located in Yaba

Lagos State University College of Medicine, (LASUCOM), Ikeja

Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba-Mushin, Lagos.

Caleb University, Imota Ikorodu, Lagos.

Notable people

Hakeem Olajuwon

Herbert Macauley

Henry Rawlingson Carr

Mobolaji Johnson

Bola Tinubu

Babatunde Fashola

Fela Kuti

David Davis Ordman

Dayo Okeniyi

See also

2006 Abule Egba pipeline explosion

2006 Atlas Creek pipeline explosion

Lagos Island

Lagos State

Large Cities Climate Leadership Group

Treaty of Lagos

Notes and references

External links

;Government

Lagos State Government Official Site

Lagos State Judiciary Board

Lagos Nigeria The Ups and downs

More Pictures of Lagos

;News

The Punch daily newspaper

The Guardian daily newspaper

This Day daily newspaper

Vanguard daily newspaper

MyNaijaNews Online News Service Based in Lagos

Lagos State Online Lagos Community Website

;Other

Street map of Lagos street level map of lagos

http://www.pressplay360.com- online destination for Nigerian Entertainment Jist

Category:Populated places in Lagos State Category:Populated coastal places in Nigeria Category:Port cities and towns in Nigeria Category:Former national capitals

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Name	State Radio
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Sherborn, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genre	Alternative rock, Reggae
Years active	2002–present
Label	Fenway, Nettwerk, Ruff Shod
Associated acts	Dispatch, Barefoot Truth, Dukes of Funk
Website	stateradio.com
Current members	Chad Stokes UrmstonChuck FayMike Najarian
Past members	Brian SayersPete HalbyMatt ShardlowNikki Glaspie }}

State Radio is an alternative rock band from Sherborn, Massachusetts, consisting of Chad Urmston (lead vocals, guitar), Chuck Fay (bass) and Mike Najarian (drums). The band's first full-length album, ''Us Against the Crown'', was released in December 2005, their second, ''Year of the Crow'' in September 2007, and ''Let it Go'', in September 2009. They have plans to release a fourth full-length album later in 2012.

Biography

A Boston based trio band led by singer and primary songwriter Chad Urmston (a former member of Vermont jamsters Dispatch), State Radio largely managed to avoid the usual post-Phish clichés, injecting a punk-influenced sound and politically charged viewpoint while staying true to the tenets of the band's chosen style, which infuses a blend of Roots-Reggae, Ska, Punk and Rock.

Urmston, who disbanded Dispatch at the height of its popularity in 2002, formed State Radio later the same year. Focusing exclusively on guitar and vocals instead of the instrument switching he was previously known for, he brought in second guitarist Pete Halby, bassist Chuck Fay, and drummer Mike Greenfield to round out the lineup. After the exploratory debut EP Flag of the Shiners was released by Fenway Recordings in late 2002, State Radio went on a temporary hiatus throughout 2003 as Urmston recovered from throat surgery. Returning to active duty in 2004 as a slimmed-down trio with new drummer Brian Sayers, State Radio followed a second EP, Simmer Kane, with the release of 2005's Us Against the Crown. Another personnel change occurred before State Radio toured in support of the album, with drummer Mike Najarian replacing Sayers.

The sophomore effort Year of the Crow followed in fall 2007, bringing with it an emphasis on louder guitars and sociopolitical themes. State Radio reinforced such themes by launching service projects in each city the band visited, and Urmston briefly reconvened Dispatch for a three-night charity performance at Madison Square Garden, with funds going toward Zimbabwe relief. State Radio maintained such political awareness on 2009's Let It Go.

Official recording sessions for their third album began on November 3, 2008 in North Brookfield, Massachusetts at Long View Farm Studios. The album, entitled ''Let It Go'', was released on September 29, 2009.

Following the release of "Let It Go" State Radio launched their winter tour. The winter 2010 tour was titled "Lefty Rides Again" and visited many cities across the United States. State Radio also completed a small European tour during the last two weeks of March.

At the beginning of Summer 2010, State Radio embarked on a huge cross-country tour opening for John Butler Trio during their April Uprising North American Tour. This tour featured sold-out shows at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater, Central Park Summerstage, and Boston's own Bank of America Pavilion. The latter 2 were co-headlining shows, while State Radio closed the last set in their hometown. At the end of the summer, the band returned to Germany for several more festival dates.

Discography

Studio albums

''Us Against the Crown'' (2006)

''Year of the Crow'' (2007)

''Let It Go'' (2009) U.S. #96

TBA (2012)

Live Albums/EPs

''Live at the Sync'' (2005)

''State of Georgia EP'' (2009)

''Live At the Brattle Theater'' (2009)

''Live At the Boston Pavilion'' (2011)

EPs

''Flag of the Shiners EP'' (2002)

''Simmer Kane EP'' (2004)

''Peace Between Nations EP'' (2005)

''Wicker Plane EP'' (2007)

''Calling All Crows EP'' (2009)

Singles

"Gang of Thieves" (2007)

"Knights of Bostonia" (2009)

Compilation appearances

John Brown (Bob Dylan song) on Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International (2012)

In the media

The band's song "Keepsake" was featured in the season three finale of Showtime's dark comedy ''Weeds''. "Keepsake" was also featured at the end of the episode "Bullet" of Cold Case, and at the end of the 7th episode of the 2010 version of Hawaii Five-0.

State Radio opened for Dave Matthews Band on May 30–31, 2008 in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, and on June 3–4, 2008 in Camden, New Jersey.

State Radio played at a concert near the 2008 Democratic National Convention alongside Rage Against the Machine and other politically active bands as an act of protest.

More Recently, Kayem Foods, based in Chelsea, Mass.,has used their songs "Right Me Up" and "Sybil I" in a series of hot dog commercials.

In one of the most recent episodes of Eureka, Zoe Carter, Harvard student and daughter of the main character, had State Radio banners in her dorm room, which is an accurate reference to the band's popularity in the Boston area.

Winner 9th Annual Independent Music Awards: Social Action Album "Calling All Crows".

"Knights of Bostonia" off the album "Let it Go" was featured in the beginning of surf cinematographer Taylor Steele's latest film, "Innersections." The song was played during the opening section, in memory of Andy Irons.

Activism

In 2008, State Radio started an activist group called Calling All Crows to "inspire public service" and "promote human rights." Currently, they are working with Oxfam America's Stoves for Sudan Project. Calling All Crows is hoping to raise money for 5,000 stoves for 5,000 different women in Sudan through fan activism before concerts.

References

External links

State Radio's website

State Radio collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive

Full-length video live at Paradiso (28-09-2006)

Category:American rock music groups Category:Independent Music Awards winners

de:State Radio nl:State Radio

{{infobox president | name	Ricardo Lagos
order	33rd President of Chile
term start	March 11, 2000
term end	March 11, 2006
predecessor	Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
successor	Michelle Bachelet
birth date	March 02, 1938
birth place	Santiago, Chile
order2	Minister of Public Works
term start2	March 11, 1994
term end2	August 1, 1998
order3	Minister of Education
term start3	March 11, 1990
term end3	September 28, 1992
dead	alive
occupation	LawyerEconomist
spouse	Luisa Durán
party	Socialist and Party for Democracy
religion	Agnosticism
signature	Firma Ricardo Lagos Escobar.png }}

Ricardo Froilán Lagos Escobar (born March 2, 1938) is a lawyer, economist and social democrat politician, who served as president of Chile from 2000 to 2006. He won the 1999-2000 presidential election by a narrow margin in a runoff over Independent Democrat Union (UDI) candidate Joaquín Lavín. Lagos was the third president from the center-left Coalition of Parties for Democracy to have ruled Chile since 1990. He was succeeded on March 11, 2006 by Socialist Michelle Bachelet, from the same coalition. Since May 2007 he has served as a Special Envoy on Climate Change for the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

He teaches political and economic development at Brown University in the United States.

He is also the former president of the Club de Madrid Club of Madrid.

Early years

Lagos was born in Santiago, Chile. He was the only child of Froilán Lagos Sepúlveda (a farmer who died when his son was eight years old) and Emma Escobar Morales (who died in April 2005 at age 108). He attended primary school at Liceo Manuel de Salas and high school at the prestigious Instituto Nacional.

Lagos became a lawyer and married Carmen Weber, with whom he had two children, Ricardo and Ximena. After obtaining his Ph.D. at the prestigious Duke University in the U.S., he had his marriage annulled. (Divorce was not legal in Chile until 2004.)

In 1969, he met Luisa Durán, and they married in 1971. The couple shared the parenting of the children of Lagos' first marriage, the children of Durán's first marriage, Hernán and Alejandro, and their only child together, Francisca.

Academic and diplomatic career

Lagos earned a Ph.D. from Duke University, where he studied from 1960 to 1962. He then became a visiting professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the political science department until 1965. After his time in North Carolina, he kept ties with both universities. On his return to Chile, he was employed at the Institute of Economy of the University of Chile, directed by Carlos Massad. In 1967, he was named Director of the School of Political and Administrative Sciences, a position he held until 1973, when he became Secretary General of the University of Chile. Lagos subsequently began work as a professor of economics in the School of Law of the University, and between 1971 and 1972 he was Director of the Institute of Economy. He was later named Director of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences.

During the 1970s, Lagos declared himself an "independent of the left" and abandoned the Radical Party of Chile, which he had joined in 1961, when this party supported Jorge Alessandri's government. Although he did not possess great diplomatic experience, he worked with Hernán Santa Cruz as an ambassador to the United Nations, where he presented an outstanding speech on the international financial crisis. During the speech, he strongly criticized the decision of U.S. President Richard Nixon on the nonconvertibility of the U.S. dollar into gold, a measurement that would end in the rounding up the Asian crisis. In 1972, President Salvador Allende appointed Lagos as the Chilean Ambassador to the Soviet Union in Moscow, but the appointment was never ratified by Congress. As a Regional Director of the training program of post graduate studies in social sciences, he was later put in charge of Project UNESCO, of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Buenos Aires. As a public servant he also served Chile as a United Nations delegate with rank of ambassador at the 26th United Nations General Assembly. In addition, he was a delegate to the UN's 3rd Conference of Commerce and Development (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development).

Soon after the 1973 coup d'état, he and his family were sent into exile in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he took the position of Secretary General of the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO). He moved for a year to the United States, where he became visiting professor of the William R. Kenan chair for Latin American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1975, he worked as a consultant for the United Nations Development Programme.

Lagos returned to Chile in 1978, and worked for the Regional Program of Employment of the United Nations, PREALC. During the implementation of policies imposed by the International Monetary Fund his mission was to advise all the governments in the South American continent on the matter of employment.

Political career

During the 1980s, Lagos assumed a fundamental role in the fight for the recovery of democracy. In addition to being one of the leaders of the Socialist Party of Chile, he became President of the Democratic Alliance, a force that grouped the majority of the democratic parties opposing the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. In 1983, he decided to leave his position as international civil employee in the United Nations. In December of that year, he became president of the Democratic Alliance. In 1987, as the president of the Committee of the Left for Free Elections, he called on all citizens and parties to enroll in the electoral registries to vote "no" in a 1988 national plebiscite on whether Pinochet should be allowed to remain president of Chile.

Lagos became the undisputed leader of Pinochet's opponents after appearing in Canal 13's first political debate show since the 1973 coup d'état, ''De cara al país'' (towards the country), where he stated; ''"With the triumph of "No", the country will prevent General Pinochet from being 25 years in power."'' Lagos then looked directly into the camera and accusingly raised his index finger to say directly to all viewers:

To this day, in Chile the phrase "Lagos' finger" refers to this memorable event; on that night, many people were convinced that the man would not survive to see the next day.

After the triumph of the ''No'' alternative and the subsequent resignation of Pinochet, Lagos declined to be a candidate for the presidency in spite of being the main leader of the opposition. Instead, he supported Patricio Aylwin's candidacy and ran for a seat in the Senate for the Santiago-West district. On December 11, 1989, the day of the elections, he obtained the district's second majority. Nevertheless, he did not win a seat because his alliance's list did not double the vote of the second most voted list; this being a requisite in the Chilean electoral system created by Pinochet.

In 1990, Lagos was named Minister of Education by President Patricio Aylwin. In this position, he initiated reform aimed at increasing equality in access and improving education levels. In June 1993, he pushed for the notion of using primary elections in order to select the Concertación coalition's candidate for the following presidential election. He lost this primary to Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, who went on to become President of Chile. In 1994, Frei himself named Lagos Minister of Public Works. In this role, he developed an innovating system of road concessions, integrated the private sector in the construction of works and its later operation. During the Frei administration, he continued to be a leader of opinion and was a sure option for the following presidential election. His status was later ratified by his appointment as one of the members of the ''Committee of Twelve Distinguished Members'' of the Socialist International, which he shared with such personalities as Felipe González and Gro Harlem Brundtland. This committee was set up to process proposals for the renovation of the social democratic thought for the 21st century.

In 1999, Lagos resigned as minister in order to begin his presidential campaign. In the primaries, he defeated senator Andrés Zaldívar, of the Christian Democratic Party to become the Concertación's sole presidential candidate. In the first round of the presidential election in December of the same year, he defeated right-wing candidate Joaquín Lavín, by only 30,000 votes. Since he failed to obtain an absolute majority, as is required to be elected President, a presidential runoff was subsequently held in January 2000 for the first time ever in Chile. Winning 51.3 percent of the vote, Lagos became the new President of Chile.

Presidency

Internal issues

During the first year of his term in office, Lagos had to confront a high level of unemployment, generated by the political instability of the region, in a process that began to revert during the end of 2003 . In spite of this, Lagos enjoyed great popular support, bordering on 55%, and ending around 60-70% during the last six months of his term. The policy of proximity with people was pronounced in the opening of the doors of the Palacio de La Moneda, that had remained closed since the 1973 coup d'état.

Beginning in 2002, his government had to face suspicions of political corruption due to the prosecution of one of his ministers, Carlos Cruz, and of other civil employees of the Public Works Ministry, in the denominated MOP-GATE case. Gloria Ana Chevesich, the judge in charge of this case, discovered that ministers, undersecretaries and other officials of exclusive confidence of the President, received additional payments to their regular remuneration: the so-called "extra payments". This irregularity was acknowledged by Lagos, who specified that the practice had also developed during the governments of Frei Ruiz-Tagle and Aylwin. The official position of the government consisted of not acknowledging the criminal nature of these practices and establishing a legal reform that increased the pay of ministers and undersecretaries of the government, a matter that was approved in its legislative proceeding.

Foreign relations

During 2004, Lagos faced a series of tensions in his relation with other South American countries, caused by recurring Bolivian aspirations for access to the sea. This situation was linked with the power crisis taking place in Argentina, an important supplier of natural gas to Chile. In bilateral meetings between Bolivian President Carlos Mesa and Argentine President Néstor Kirchner, the former agreed to the sale of Bolivian gas to Argentina under the condition that "not a single gas molecule be sold to Chile". Additionally, the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez, has supported in various instances the Bolivian sea claim, causing a diplomatic impassé between Chile and Venezuela. The tension between both governments had dissipated during July 2004.

Lagos is also a member of the Club of Madrid.

Legacy

During Lagos' presidency, Free Trade Agreements were signed with the European Community, the United States, South Korea, the People's Republic of China and New Zealand, Singapore and Brunei (though some of his supporters in the center-left Coalition of Parties for Democracy consider that these agreements may have negative effects on the country); the incidence of extreme poverty was significantly reduced; the legal workweek was reduced from 48 to 45 hours; improvements were made in infrastructure and transport; an unemployment insurance scheme was created; as well as the AUGE health program guaranteeing coverage for a number of medical conditions; the ''Chile Barrio'' housing program; the ''Chile Solidario'' program; compulsory schooling was extended to 12 years; the first divorce law in Chile was approved; monetary compensation to victims of torture under the Pinochet regime identified in the Valech Report was authorized; and, recently, a recast constitution was signed. He finished his six-year term with historic approval ratings above 70%.

Cabinet

Office !! Name/Term
Ministry of the Interior (Chile)	Minister of the Interior	José Miguel Insulza (March 11, 2000–2005)Francisco Vidal Salinas (2005-March 11, 2006)
	Soledad Alvear (March 11, 2000-October 1, 2004)Ignacio Walker Prieto (October 1, 2004-March 11, 2006)
Ministry of National Defense (Chile)	Minister of National Defense	Mario Fernández Baeza (March 11, 2000-January 7, 2002)Michelle Bachelet (January 7, 2002-October 1, 2004)Jaime Ravinet de la Fuente (October 1, 2004-March 11, 2006)
Ministry of Finance (Chile)	Minister of Finance	Nicolás Eyzaguirre (March 11, 2000-March 11, 2006)
Minister Secretary General of the Presidency	Álvaro García Hurtado (March 11, 2000–2002)Mario Fernández Baeza (2002–2003)Francisco Huenchumilla Jaramillo (2003–2004)Eduardo Dockendorff Vallejos (2004-March 11, 2006)
Ministry General Secretariat of Government (Chile)	Minister Secretary General of Government	Claudio Huepe (March 11, 2000–2002)Heraldo Muñoz (2002–2003)Francisco Vidal Salinas (2003–2005)Osvaldo Puccio Huidobro (2005-March 11, 2006)
Minister of Economy & Energy	José de Gregorio (March 11, 2000–2001)Jorge Rodríguez Grossi (2001-March 11, 2006)
Minister of Planning & Cooperation	Alejandra Krauss Valle (March 11, 2000–2002)Cecilia Pérez Díaz (2002–2003)Andrés Palma Irarrázaval (2003–2004)Yasna Provoste (2004-March 11, 2006)
Minister of Education	Mariana Aylwin Oyarzún (March 11, 2000–2003)Sergio Bitar Chacra (2003–2005)Marigen Hornkohl Venegas (2005-March 11, 2006)
Minister of Justice	José Antonio Gómez Urrutia (March 11, 2000-March 3, 2003)Luis Bates Hidalgo (March 3, 2003-March 11, 2006)
Minister of Labor & Social Security	Ricardo Solari Saavedra (March 11, 2000–2005)Yerko Ljubetic Godoy (2005-March 11, 2006)
Ministry of Public Works (Chile)	Minister of Public Works, Transports & Telecommunications	Carlos Cruz Lorenzen (March 11, 2000–2002)Javier Etcheverry Celhay (2002–2004)Jaime Estévez Valencia (2004-March 11, 2006)
Minister of Health	Michelle Bachelet (March 11, 2000–2002)Osvaldo Artaza Barrios (2002–2003)Pedro García Aspillaga (2003-March 11, 2006)
Minister of Housing, Urbanism, & Public Lands	Claudio Orrego Larraín (March 11, 2000–2001)Jaime Ravinet de la Fuente (2001–2004)Sonia Tschorne Berestesky (2004-March 11, 2006)
Minister of Agriculture	Jaime Campos Quiroga (March 11, 2000-March 11, 2006)
Minister of Mining	Alfonso Dulanto Rencoret (2002-March 11, 2006)
Minister Director of National Women's Service	Adriana Delpiano (March 11, 2000–2003)Cecilia Pérez Díaz (2003-March 11, 2006)
National Council of Culture & the Arts	José Weinstein Cayuela (2003-March 11, 2006) ''(gained ministerial rank under this government)''

Post-presidential career

Political

On March 24, 2006 Lagos inaugurated his own foundation called ''Democracia y Desarrollo'' ("Democracy and Development") in Santiago. Three days later he began a two-year term as President of the Club of Madrid— an exclusive organization of former presidents created by a Spanish philanthropist to promote democracy across the world. He also assumed co-chairmanship of the Inter-American Dialogue's Board of Directors.

On May 2, 2007, Lagos, along with Gro Harlem Brundtland and Han Seung-soo, was named by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as a Special Envoy on Climate Change. His appointment was and still is very controversial among Chilean environmental groups who questioned his track record on the matter, claiming that he 'showed an utter lack of consideration for the environment, promoted policies against environmental sustainability and favored the interests of big economic groups, even defending crimes against nature internationally', favouring large corporations every single time there was a clash between local communities, environmental concerns and perceived economic benefits.

Publishing

In early 2007, Lagos became a member of the editorial board of ''Americas Quarterly'', a policy publication focused on relations and development in the Western Hemisphere. Lagos contributes regularly.

Academic

After abandoning power, Lagos taught a one-month special seminar at UC Berkeley's Center for Latin American Studies, called "Democracy and Development in Latin America."

On May 2007, Brown University announced that Lagos would take a teaching position at the Watson Institute for International Studies for a period of five years, starting on July 1, 2007.

Honours and awards

Knight Grand Cross decorated with Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (March 3, 2000)

: Grand Cross (or 1st Class) of the Order of the White Double Cross (2001)

Knight Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav ("For outstanding contribution to the promotion of friendship and development co-operation between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Chile", February 6, 2004

See also

Politics of Chile

Notes

External links

Democracy and Development Foundation Extended biography by the CIDOB Foundation

BBC Profile: Ricardo Lagos (January 2000)

Lagos's undergraduate thesis: "The Concentration of Economic Power"

The Lagos Legacy and Chile's Upcoming Elections The Council on Hemispheric Affairs

Americas Quarterly

Category:1938 births Category:Living people Category:Presidents of Chile Category:Chilean Ministers of Public Works Category:Chilean Ministers of Education Category:Chilean democracy activists Category:Chilean lawyers Category:Chilean economists Category:Duke University alumni Category:Duke University faculty Category:Chilean agnostics Category:Recipients of the Star of Romania Order Category:Knights Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the White Double Cross Category:Grand Order of King Tomislav recipients Category:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill faculty Category:University of Chile alumni Category:Socialist Party of Chile politicians Category:Party for Democracy politicians Category:Instituto Nacional alumni

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