I must admit to being very disappointed with the level of engagement with my top 5 lists. Surely there must be some wannabe Nick Hornbys somewhere in the audience? So I’m going to plough on with more musical inanities.

As some of you might have read in my email, I’m off to join the international jet set. I don’t want to resort to stereotypes or have to ask “where did you get that blank expression on your face?” but I think I’m going to enjoy myself. Yes, I’m leaving the VSO rat race, London’s concrete jungle and Lilongwe’s ghost town. Some colleagues have asked why and others have said it’s up to you. What I can say for sure though is that it’s going to be too hot and there might be the odd w***** c***** but that doesn’t make it alright – I certainly won’t do nothing.

Yes, this entry is marking two big events – me missing the Specials in London and the end of technicolour spreadsheets as we know it in VSO. I’ve got 2 weeks left here and 2 months until I start in Sri Lanka. In between there’s the small matter of reverse culture shock, reverse climate shock, dumping the contents of my brain before I leave and dumping the contents of my house before I depart (can I interest anyone in an exquisite collection of mid-80s indie vinyl?)

In other news, the fuel shortages continue here with long queues at many filling stations. Apparently it’s all to do with a critical shortage of foreign exchange, which the president blames on foreign elements saving their money outside of the country now that the World Bank has encouraged Malawi to liberalise its banking regulations. The arrival of the president’s new private jet is apparently unconnected to the whole affair. And today’s big news is that the head of the electricity company has been fired for incompetence. The position is going to be advertised internationally so if any of you fancy a little challenge…

In case you are thinking of purchasing the new global version of Amazon’s Kindle for Christmas, be aware that there are still quite a few places that the global version will NOT work.  I was disappointed to find that the new version still will not work in my country.

Apparently the new global version will only work in SOME countries.   I thought it would be helpful to most expats to have a complete list of which countries it will, or will not work in (below).

It’s also interesting to note the PATTERN of groups of countries where the Kindle doesn’t work–some countries probably lack satellite coverage or delivery systems, while others probably don’t WANT readers to be able to download whatever they want by satellite.

STARRED (*) countries marked below indicate that Kindle needs to be ordered from a SPECIAL PAGE on the Amazon site.

The Global Kindle version DOES work in (as of Dec. 2009):

Aland Islands, Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Australia*, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Boznia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liberia, Leichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldovia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozembique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Réunion, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,  Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands – British, Virgin Islands – U.S.,  Wallis and Futuna, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The Global Kindle version does NOT work in (as of Dec. 2009) the following countries:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Antarctica, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Chad, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, French Southern Territories, Gambia, Guinea, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea – Democratic People’s Republic of, Korea – Republic of, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco (including the Western Sahara), New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Pitcairn, Qatar, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands, Sudan, Svalbard and Jan Mayan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tokelau, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uzbekistan,  Yemen.

Nature and Animal Conservation

 

     Preserving species and their habitats is important for ecosystems to self-sustain themselves. Yet, the pressures to destroy habitat for logging, illegal hunting, and other challenges are making conservation a struggle.

Visit : http://www.globalissues.org/article/1…

 What is Biodiversity ?

 

    The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth.

   

    Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to recognize this as being integral to any approach. Almost all cultures have in some way or form recognized the importance that nature, and its biological diversity has had upon them and the need to maintain it. Yet, power, greed and politics have affected the precarious balance.

Does it really matter if there arent so many species?

Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.

For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.

And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife.

Who Cares?

  Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.

And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife.

Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions

It is feared that human activity is causing massive extinctions. From various animal species, forests and the ecosystems that forests support, marine life. The costs associated with deteriorating or vanishing ecosystems will be high. However, sustainable development and consumption would help avert ecological problems.

 

  

November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The white ribbon has become the symbol for the day.

Click on the picture to join the Community

Republic of SIERRA LEONE

stamp: 500 leone

year: 2002

brid: Egyptian Plover - Pluvianus aegyptius

Nigerian airline Arik Air has announced 2 new international routes to the UK and USA. Beginning 26 November 2009, the airline will begin non-stop flights from Abuja to London (Heathrow), with services between Lagos and New York commencing from 29 November 2009.

Abuja-London

Arik Air will fly a 2-class Boeing 737-800 aircraft configured with 20 Premier Class and126 Economy Class seats on the route. Flights will operate 5 times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Flight W3 105 departs Abuja at 1030 hrs, arriving into London at 1605 hrs. The return flight, W3 106, takes off from London (Heathrow) Terminal 4 at 2150 hrs, landing back at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 0520 hrs the next morning.

The flights connect a second Nigerian city to the UK, following the existing Lagos-London flights launched in December 2008. 

Lagos-New York

Arik Air will also launch transatlantic flights from Lagos to New York. The airline is the first Nigerian airline to connect the country with the USA in over a decade.

The airline has scheduled the flights to allow for convenient connections at both ends of the route. Flight W3 107 departs Lagos at 2320 hrs and arrives in New York at 0550 hrs the next morning. The return flight, W3 108, takes off from John F. Kennedy International Airport at 2200 hrs, landing back in Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 1440 hrs.

Arik Air will fly 3 times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays using a 2-class Airbus A340-500 configured with 36 Premier Class seats that convert into full-flat beds and 201 Economy Class seats. Premier Class passengers will also enjoy the use of a private bar and lounge area onboard the aircraft, with all passengers offered personal screens and audio-video on-demand inflight entertainment.

From its hubs at Abuja and Lagos, Arik Air currently flies to 21 airports across Nigeria and internationally to Accra, Banjul, Cotonou, Dakar, Freetown, Johannesburg, Niamey and London with a fleet of 30 aircraft. For more information, visit www.arikair.com.

Amazon's Global Kindle Reader

I heard that Amazon now has a global version of Kindle. I was disappointed to find this morning that the new version still will not work in my country.

Since I’ve wanted one for some time, but have been waiting until they got a version that would work in my country, I checked out their website this morning, only to be disappointed again. Apparently the new global version will only work in SOME countries.

In case you are thinking of purchasing the new Global Kindle for a Christmas gift this year, since the new version will only work in SOME countries, I thought it would be helpful to most expats to have a complete list of which countries it will, or will not work in.

STARRED (*) countries marked below indicate that Kindle needs to be ordered from a SPECIAL PAGE on the Amazon site.

The Global Kindle version DOES work in (as of Dec. 2009):

Aland Islands, Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Australia*, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Boznia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liberia, Leichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldovia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozembique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Réunion, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands – British, Virgin Islands – U.S., Wallis and Futuna, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The Global Kindle version does NOT work in (as of Dec. 2009):

Afghanistan, Algeria, Antarctica, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Chad, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, French Southern Territories, Gambia, Guinea, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea – Democratic People’s Republic of, Korea – Republic of, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco (including the Western Sahara), New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Pitcairn, Qatar, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands, Sudan, Svalbard and Jan Mayan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tokelau, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

The ever reliable World Service informs me that Sierra Leone has set up a volunteering programme. It’s for unemployed yoof to help fight crime in Freetown. I don’t recall mentioning this as an option in my very exciting report but it’s tempting to claim that it’s in some way related. However, I fear that contrary to my hopes, all my good work did indeed end up in the dusty cabinet.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe, 6th Fleet Public Affairs  Story by Chief Petty Officer Jason Morris

10.19.2009 MONROVIA, Liberia — U.S. Navy Seabee equipment came ashore, here, Oct. 17 from amphibious landing craft attached to the Dutch Africa Partnership Station platform HNLMS Johan de Witt (L 801).
A team of 20 Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, stationed in Rota, Spain, will utilize the newly arrived equipment to rebuild portions of a Liberian Coast Guard base that were destroyed by factional groups in the country’s civil war, which ended in 2003.

"At the request of the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, the Seabees were brought in to do several construction projects, to include the reconstruction of the children’s hospital wing at Redemption Clinic and the rebuilding of the Liberian Coast Guard base, which will include the construction of a pier and boat ramp," said U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. Jennifer Ketchum, maritime advisor in the Office of Security Cooperation within the U.S. Embassy in Liberia. "The overall goal is for Liberia

to rebuild its maritime interdiction capability in order for the country to know what is going on in its territorial waters and enforce their laws."
"Maritime domain awareness is currently non-existent in my country," said Chea K. Klogba, Liberia’s Coast Guard planning officer. "Illegal fishing and drug and human trafficking is occurring in our waters, and we can do nothing about it. With the Coast Guard being re-established, now we can fight these illegal activities. This will provide a source of revenue for my country and offer protection of our territorial waters."

Increasing maritime safety and security for the continent of Africa through training and other collaborative activities with African partner countries are the main purpose of APS.

While in Monrovia, Johan de Witt will also continue in the training of 46 African maritime professionals from Ghana, Senegal and Sierra Leone who are currently deployed on board the Dutch ship receiving instruction in courses such as maritime law enforcement, small boat operations, boat maintenance and repair, medical procedures, damage control, and computer operations.

Also, a combined team of U.S. and Dutch hydrographers will survey the harbors of and approaches to Monrovia to allow for safer navigation and better access to port facilities.

APS focuses on building cooperative partnerships with regional maritime services in order to achieve common, international goals such as stability and security.
The APS Johan de Witt deployment began in September and will run through November. Port visits encompass stops in Cape Verde, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

Johan De Witt, a Royal Dutch Naval vessel, is the first European-led APS platform and is augmented by staff from Belgium, Portugal and the United States. APS, originally a U.S. Navy initiative, is an international effort aimed at improving maritime safety and security for the continent of Africa through training and other collaborative activities with African partner countries.

Associated Images

Trois leaders du Front Révolutionnaire Uni (RUF) ont été condamnés à une peine allant de 25 à 52 ans de prison pour crime de guerre. Cette annonce a été faite mercredi 7 avril 2009 à Lagos, par le Tribunal spécial pour la Sierra Leone (TSSL).

Le Front Révolutionnaire Uni

Le Font Révolutionnaire Uni, également appelé RUF en anglais, est un ancien groupe rebelle sierra-léonais, devenu célèbre avec le film “Blood Diamond” d’Edward Zwick et pour les atrocités perpétrées lors de la guerre civile de 1991 à 2002.

Fondé par Foday Sankoh, à la fin des années 1980, après son séjour passé dans les camps d’entraînement du colonel Mouammar Kadhafi, en Lybie. Foday Sankoh entre dans la lignée des “idées révolutionnaires du colonnel Kadhafi” et va faire de son parti, un groupe de tueurs et pilleurs.

Tout commence lorsqu’il rencontre Charles Taylor dans les camps libyens. Les deux hommes décident de contrôler les zones diamantifères du pays. Le RUF attaque alors deux villages, le 23 mars 1991 avec une centaine d’hommes pour montrer sa force et ses motivations.

Le RUF mène alors une politique de terreur afin d’empêcher la population de se soulever. Viols, mutilations dites “manches courtes ou manches longues”, pillages, meurtres, ces “soldats” vont faire un carnage à chaque attaque de villes et villages. La Sierra Leone aura vécu dans le chaos onze années durant lesquelles la population a existé dans la terreur et le sang.

Ce qui a le plus touché la communauté internationale est le rap d’enfant. Pratique courante, les enfants étaient les principaux soldats du RUF. Enrôlés, dès l’âge de sept/huit ans, certains étaient amenés à tuer leur parents et connaissances pour ne pas être tentés de retourner “à la maison”. Drogués dès leur embrigadement et contrôlés par une soi-disante “camaraderie”, ces enfants sont aujourd’hui déshumaniser.

Charles Taylor, le cerveau d’un massacre

Lors de son procès, Charles Taylors, instigateur de la guerre civile, qui a tué plus de 120 000 personnes et mutilé des dizaines de personnes, a pris de nombreuses notes et guidé son avocat.

Charles Taylor doit répondre de onze chefs d’accusations de crime de guerre, crime contre l’humanité et particulièrement de meurtre, torture, viol, enrôlement d’enfants soldats et recours au travail forcé.

Premier ex-chef d’Etat africain à comparaître pour crime contre l’humanité devant la justice internationale, Charles Taylor a orchestré la rébellion depuis le Libéra voisin, où il a été président de 1997 à 2003. De nombreux témoins présents à son procès ont pu attester de sa responsabilité durant la guerre.

L’un des avocats de Taylor a demandé aux juges l’acquittement pour faute de preuves, mercredi 16 avril. Mais la réponse n’a pas encore été donnée par les magistrats. Si la réponse s’avère être négative, la défense devra trouver une autre stratégie que les mensonges des témoins.

Mais, la mort de Foday Sankoh dit “le sanguinaire” en 2003, laisse un goût amer dans la bouche, car il allait comparaître devant le Tribunal pénal international (TPI) pour ses crimes. Principal responsable des exactions du RUF et de la guerre civile de Sierra Leone, il aurait été condamné mais pas jugé.

Les trois leaders en prison

Les trois anciens dirigeants du RUF, Issa Sesay, Morris Kallon et Augustine Gbao ont été reconnus coupables, en février 2009, de crime de guerre et de crime contre l’humanité pendant la guerre civile. A cela s’ajoutent le meurtre, le viol et l’enrôlement d’enfants soldats.

A l’écoute de leur condamnation, les trois hommes sont apparus abasourdis, d’après les constatations du journaliste de l’AFP à Freetown. Ils avaient tous plaidé non coupable face aux accusations.

Issa Sesay a été condamné à 693 années d’emprisonnement cumulées pour les 16 chefs d’inculpation à son encontre, il passera au maximum 52 ans en prison. Son acolyte, Morris Kallon, âgé de 45 ans est l’ancien commandant des RUF et “acteur clef du régime” selon les juges, restera 40 ans en prison. Et Augustine Gbao, condamné à 25 ans de prison, a été présenté aux juges comme l’idéologue du mouvement.

Jeremy Wayser, porte-parole du procureur du tribunal spécial pour la Sierra Léone a déclaré “La décision du juge honore les victimes et les milliers de femmes, d’hommes et d’enfants de Sierra Leone qui ont souffert en raison des actes et des décisions de ces individus”.

A savoir:

• Tribunal Spécial de Sierra Leone, site officiel
• Statut du Tribunal Spécial pour la Sierra Leon, 16 janvier 2002 publié sur le site du Comité International de la Croix Rouge
• Les noms des inculpés du Tribunal Spécial de Sierra Leone, depuis sa création en 2002 par le Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies (source Wikipedia):

Charles Taylor, en exil au Nigeria de juin 2003 à mars 2006, il est extradé le 29 mars en Sierra Léone
Moinina Fofana
Samuel Hinga Norman, mort en prison le 22 février 2007
Alieu Kondewa
Sam Bockarie, déclaré mort le 6 mai 2003
Augustine Gbao
Morris Kallon
Foday Sankoh, mort le 30 juillet 2003
Issa Sesay
Alex Brima
Brima Kamara
Santigie Borbor Kanu
Johnny Paul Koroma, déclaré mort le 1er juin 2003

The Streets of Sierra Leone, Africa

One of the most amazing luxuries we have in this day and age is the ability to catapult ourselves into totally different worlds in a matter of days. I just arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the capital city fighting it’s way back after a devastating 11 year civil war. This is not my average random adventure… but rather from the heart. I’m here to help shoot a documentary for Hands for Africa, a non-profit organization who’s trying to bring attention to their home country. Our goal here is to try to give aid to the thousands of residents who were victims of gruesome rebels. Their trademark during the war was to cut people’s arms and legs off for no other reason than to terrorize. No that’s not all they did, they raped, pillaged, burned, bombed and almost brought down the entire country. Thankfully the UN stepped in and managed to bring about peace. It’s been 8 years since the end of that war and the people here still need a helping hand – I’m hoping we can be part of the desperately needed solution.

The Crew

I’m here with Alton (the founder) his brother Siaka and friend and videographer Hamjat. For us, our journey here was a long one. Damn it’s been a while since I took that long of a flight. We left LAX on a Thursday afternoon, arrived in London for a 5 hour layover, then hopped another 6 hour flight to the capital city arriving somewhere around 11pm Friday night. Oh no, not done yet. Then we had to actually get from the airport into downtown, no easy feat. There are 3 choices to get across the bay: Ferry.. which could take all night because they won’t leave unless it is full, water taxi – which is a wet ride or helicopter. Fortunately we had already set up a helicopter ride, although that means nothing. Absolute chaos met us when we landed. People everywhere, everyone trying to make deals and get to the city as soon as possible. My biggest job was to make sure to keep my eyes on my luggage to make sure they didn’t accidentally disappear. Alton and Siaka’s grandfather used to be president of the country so they are extremely well connected. Still – we found ourselves waiting  and waiting for a ride. Patience is absolutely necessary here I’m realizing. Once on the chopper it was a very quick and easy ride across the bay, almost comical for the amount of time we waited.

Midnight helicopter ride anyone?

We finally got to Alton’s friends place around 1 or 2 in the morning. Man did I want a shower and some air conditioning. Unfortunately we were told the air was on the fritz and something was wrong with the water pressure. You have to be ready for let downs when traveling in a 3rd world country, but it still doesn’t make it any easier. We ran some quick errands trying to get SIM cards to work in our phones. I say quick with sarcasm. You see the roads here are absolutely horrible – and traffic is horrific even at 2 in the morning. It is all compounded by the numerous military checkpoints. Apparently they’ve had a problem with armed robbery over the past few months. The police and military have teamed up to keep it under control. Thankfully I never felt scared because my 3 teammates all speak the national language of Creo, sort of a pigeon talk which even with focus can be extremely hard to understand. Our driver also knows what he is doing. This is the team you want to be with while in Sierra Leone.

The boys all went out to a club with our host. I chose to stay home and try to take a “jungle bath” with a tub of water – it was the relief I needed. Now it was time to make a hard decision – to suffer through the hot room and try to sleep, or open the windows and tempt fate with possibly malaria ridden mosquitos. Now I normally don’t take any type of prescription medicine and absolutely hate vaccinations of any sort.. but just couldn’t chance this one, knowing we are going to be out in villages during our stay – so yep, I’m on the drug malarone which should keep me from contracting the nasty disease. I’m not sure why I even picked up the remote control to the air conditioner… but I did, only to realize it was out of batteries. Being the good prepared adventure girl I am, I happened to have an extra set of triple A’s with me. To my surprise, the damn think worked. I thanked my guardian angel over and over for the cool air.. which led to a deep sleep.Today we slept in till who knows when. I managed to get some yoga in, downed a bunch of bottled water and unfortunately had to kill two gigantic spiders who wouldn’t allow me to sit down on my toilet. This afternoon we met with the head

Alajid Jusu Jarka - President of the Amputee Association

of the National Amputee Association and two members of the Amputee Sports Club to map out our plan for the week. Now, if you are going to have a meeting, you have to have it at the beach in Sierra Leone. For as much tragedy as the people here have experienced, they are blessed with a country filled with beautiful scenery and stunning natural resources. The beaches here are clean, untouched and similar to what you would find on a remote Hawaii Island. Who knew? These men were absolutely amazing. Jusu had both of his arms chopped off by rebels. He was one of the lucky ones who received prosthetics from an American almost 10 years ago. It made me smile to see how well he had adapted to the new way of life, just a regular guy – using his cell phone, eating and celebrating life. It reassured me that we are here to hopefully raise money so that others can do the same. It was a great meeting and a good meal although I’m finding it hard to be a vegetarian here but I’m doing my best – and this is in the capital. Everyone tells me I have no hope when we go to the Provinces – sure glad I packed a whole bunch of packaged raw snacks

It’s now 2 in the morning and I’m still up – you gotta hate jet lag. The men are out again. I guess I’m getting old because I chose to stay home, watching some mindless tv and catch up on computer work – I’m also a fan of no hang overs and good sleep – I have to be in front of the camera after all. I guess I’ve learned something in my old age and hundreds of miles of travel! Tomorrow we go into the downtown area and meet with 4 amputees to hear their story. Monday we leave for the provinces or villages. Our first stop is Makenie, 2 1/2 hours north of Freetown. I’ve been warned the roads are rough and slow going.. and the visuals may be hard to take. The rebels left deep rooted scars everywhere you look. I’m here to give love, compassion and hope… and I’m filled with it at the moment… ready.

From the World Vision Report (World Vision’s radio program):  Agnes Kanu is a 12-year-old living in the village of Kamoria in Sierra Leone. She gathers and sells sticks with the other women to help provide for her family, but she doesn’t plan on doing this forever. Agnes has great dreams — dreams of being a doctor.

Listen to the story.

Thank you for visiting our site. Please enjoy browsing through the pictures and reading the comments about this incredible trip!

EMN News Online
Nigeria

“Sierra Leone has unveiled a radical new scheme to tackle its spiraling health crisis by offering free health care to pregnant women and children”

At the Sierra Leone Investment and Donor Conference in London, President Ernest Bai Koroma asked for help from the international community to help fund his new health plan—a plan to offer free health care to pregnant women and children.

The article describes Sierra Leone as ranking “among the lowest in the world on the Human Development Index, second only to war torn Afghanistan, with the highest maternal mortality rate in the world and one in five children dying before their first birthday. Poverty is extreme, with six out of 10 people unable to afford one meal a day, and medical fees are prohibitively expensive, with patients facing the equivalent of 25 days income for a simple doctors consultation.”

The article goes on to quote Beverley Collin, a health-policy adviser at Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), as saying, “It is hugely encouraging and quite brave that the president has taken this step because the country is just pulling itself out of quite horrific circumstances.”

“We are hoping donors will pledge new money top help support this idea’, she said

Author: Gail Pruszkowski
Source: ezinearticles.com

The Secret Keeper is an incredibly powerful debut novel by journalist Paul Harris, who has been the US Correspondent for the British weekly newspaper The Observer since 2003. Before that he reported from Africa for the Daily Telegraph, the Associated Press and Reuters. The Secret Keeper was inspired by the conflicts he covered in Sierra Leone in 2000.

Reading The Secret Keeper is an intense experience, every page contains a vivid description, an extraordinary observation or a baffling choice. Baffling to those of us who find it hard to understand, Email Search
, what makes a journalist go to a war torn country and put his life in danger. Harris brings life to a period of time the rest of us only know from newspaper accounts, Email Search
, or TV. It would make a marvelous movie.

Danny Kellerman, a British journalist, receives an unexpected letter from an old girlfriend and it, Email Search
, turns his life upside down. Maria Tirado, a children’s relief worker, was his lover when he was on assignment in Sierra Leone. But that was four years ago and he hasn’t heard from her since. The note, Email Search
, says that she is in trouble and needs his help; it’s too dangerous to call or email.

Danny does a Google search, Email Search
, and is devastated to discover that Maria was murdered before her note reached him. Authorities in Africa are calling it a roadside robbery but Danny has his doubts. He also has a girlfriend and a new life in London but he’s determined to find out, Email Search
, what really happened, Email Search
, to, Email Search
, Maria. He convinces his editor to send him back and he will get him a story. Danny returns to Africa where corruption is rampant; he can trust no one and the secrets that he uncovers will change everything.

The canvas is large, Harris effortlessly transports readers between 2000 and 2004, London and West Africa. His ability to keep things moving and portray the atmosphere in two different locations adds a lot of depth to the book. The descriptions are quite graphic, some horrifically so. I learned quite a bit about, Email Search
, the civil war and post-war deception in Sierra Leone.

Harris demonstrates his creative talents with an intriguing storyline, realistic dialogue and a sympathetic, Email Search
, protagonist. His characters are not stereotypes; they’re carefully drawn paradigms of their countries.

This is a book that succeeds on multiple levels, a complex tale of political intrigue, a story of moral dilemmas, bittersweet romance and the, Email Search
, journey of a man, Email Search
, who must, Email Search
, come to terms with the truth. It’s a tough, Email Search
, read emotionally but well worth the time, a story that will linger in your mind long after you turn the last page.

Publisher: Dutton (April 2, 2009)
ISBN: 978-0525951025
Pages: 336
Price: $29.95

Gail Pruszkowski reviews for “Romantic Times BOOKreviews” magazine and her work has been published in the “Cup of Comfort” Anthologies.

http://mysite.verizon.net/bookworm.gp
http://write-juncture.blogspot.com

Le projet WOMEN a pour objectif de souligner leur rôle central et de mettre en valeur leur dignité en photographiant leur portrait à l’aide d’un objectif 28 millimètres, puis en collant ces portraits sur les murs de leur pays.

For more information, go directly on this web site.

See more picture of this fabulous exhibition right here :

This last one is gorgeous.