Zim --- changes?
I found this poor guy at the corner of Sandton Drive and William Nicol and convinced him for a pic. He obliged as long as Idid not capture his face.
I think many of us are now holding our breath and hoping that the deal signed today between Mugabe and Tsvingari will bring peace and stability to the once rich country. As many Zimbabweans I have met along the way remind me... "We will go back, if we get peace and you can have your country again"... the problem is the peace and stability. People do not want to live in fear for their and their families lives.
This is hoping that the new signed deal with a Prime Minister and a President and 2 Dep PM's and 2 Dep Pres' will bring the much needed peace to this beautiful conutry.
Technorati Tags: tag, changes, Zimbabwe, peace,
Generated By Technorati Tag Generator
Current Addictions...Tag you It!
So I was surprisingly tagged after ages by Fatima who was absent for a while from the realm. Being Brazen and Prixie started the tag session and I should not complain much as this hasn't happened in a good while.
So the whole thing is on current addictions and this in its self is hard to do…
I mean I still have my past addictions to deal with but here goes:
2. Flings and Cream Soda -- this addiction is technically an old one but it resurfaced just before Ramadan started and only my darling Lulu and Sums would understand the need for flings with cream soda. ;)
3. Gadgets -- anything electronic I can lay my hands on regardless of the make which I know saddens Killa.
4. Books -- sadly unlike Fatima, I read everything and anything I can lay my hands on. Can't wait for Christopher Paollini's final book releasing end of this month.
5. Shoes but mainly new tekkies J
I'm sure there are many more addictions but I have to say many are old ones I can't get rid of J
So who to tag hmmm:
And the rules are:
What you need to do:
*Post at least five current addictions (with some details please).
*Mention the person who started this game of tag and also the person who just tagged you.
*Type your post with the heading "Current addictions".
*Tag at least two people and pass on the above rules.
Technorati Tags: tag, fun, addictions, me,
Generated By Technorati Tag Generator
Akwaaba
The reason for reposting it here is to make sure that my other readers get a chance to share in the debate.
Welcome to the land of the Gold Coast and the slave traders. Yes Akwaaba means welcome and you certainly are as I mentioned previously in my last post. Here again this is just a quick drop in as I sadly have no time for something longer and more to the liking of my choice.
The reason for being in Accra is to attend and produce three newspapers for the Third High Level Forum for Aid Effectiveness. Basically as Muslims and during this month of Ramadan which is not only a month of fasting but also a month of charity giving, the forum should be of great interest to us. And to us also who spring from the developing world and who have great ties with volunteer and aid programmes.
The forum was to discuss how aid given by donors and donor countries can be best used and aligned in partner/recipient countries to help eradicate poverty. That is the main and general aim. I have my doubts on such forums and conferences as I’m a person who rather see it happening then just to hear all the talking going on.
For a full update on what has been going on check out our paper TerraViva online. We also produced a TerraViva surrounding issues raised by civil society organisations.Hopefully that will give some of you a better idea of the situation and conditions that some of us as volunteers don’t really see or have to deal with.
My concern is that will all this talk is it possible to give aid better?
Also can you do it while being neutral in a situation as you should always be?
The reason I ask this is that as Muslims we are also passionate about these topics, but can we look pass this and help everyone regardless of religion or race or political issue?
Can you honestly say that you would help a Jewish woman and child if they need help? Can you help a Taliban or American if they need the help? Can you do what is best for the person to eradicate poverty while looking pass some of the autrocities that government does? (eg. China and human right violations)
So with those questions I urge you as Muslims in this month to think about who you are as a person and how would you react in a situation that calls you to be a Muslim first and foremost.
I see Christian church leaders and organistions here representing and helping with out thought of religion, ethnicity or race but I see only one, yes ONE muslim organisation. Yes I know its not always about being present but it is indeed always about having a say and being heard. Where are our voices?
In terms of the fasting. Alhamdulliah I seem to only be feeling it for the first time today. And I have now met more and more muslims in Accra then when I first arrived. I was also fortunate enough to be pointed towards a Masjid but sadly it was not a prayer time. Inshallah I will be back here soon to see Ghana in a different way and a different light.
Will give more details on certain events that happened while i was here for this blog post.
Akwaaba
Technorati Tags: aid, Muslims, journalists, me, rambles,
Generated By Technorati Tag Generator
Smiles all around
You can find it all anywhere in Accra
Trying to write this in between the hectic schedule I have at the moment in Ghana.
Ghana is definitely not what I expected at all. Neither is Ramadan for me here. I have been so busy working and meeting people that the fact that I am fasting seems to have passed me by. Except the fact that I really really need some sleep.
Other then that it is an amazing experience.
Firstly, we all know that fasting is hard in the first week no matter what we do or say or think. The change in the body obliterates our senses. Hunger pangs, mood swings and the idea that we have to stay at peace with the next person. Sure thing I did not have to fast since I am a traveller, but I chose to and I will live with my decision as being the right choice I made in ages.
Alhamdulillah it has been so far so good and reaching the end of the second day has passed me by. The difficulty though is waking up after only about two to three hours of sleep. Mission is an understatement.
Leaving the airport after two hours waiting for the shuttle to the hotel, I got my first real glimpse of Accra. Accra is what my travelling companion labelled as “typically African”. She insisted that it also had the “African smell which is missing in Cape Town and Johannesburg”. I’m sure she would know more then me as Ghana is only my third African country apart from Madagascar and Egypt (which according to the UN it forms part of the Middle East – if you confused let me know will explain it better).
So Sunday passed by in a whirlwind of work and seeing Accra come to life. And just because its Sunday does not for one minute mean that people are scarce or the roads are quiet. Busy is the way of life here and I love the people. All smiles no matter what. The first thing though that hit me was the poverty. Poverty in the middle of town, outside town just everywhere. Driving into the city we passed areas that would maybe resemble Alexandra township in Johannesburg. (will try and get the pics uploaded soon).
Driving back to the hotel I heard the Azaan. I was a little surprised as it was eminating from the middle of no where – in other words no minarets present for me to identify where the masjid was. This was the call for Esha and the first Taraweeh of the month. I wished right at that moment I could get off the shuttle and hunt the masjid down. But seeing as it was my first night I decided against it.
Instead I got back to the hotel and made sure I ordered food that would be good enough to keep for sehri the next morning. Getting up for sehri is hard in a different country and its harder when you alone with out your room-mates or family but I some how dragged myself out of bed.
Iftar was not that different actually. I sat on the stairs outside the forum hall watched the sunset and waited for my alarm to go off so I knew it was time. Unfortunately where the conference and forums are being held its in central town and no masjid is close by to hear azaan.
So far the days go on…
Will explain more about what I am doing here in the next post hopefully.
Full winded posts soon.
Technorati Tags: emotions, excitement, journalists, me, rambles,
Generated By Technorati Tag Generator
