Remedies (Spoken Word)

Farmageddon Trailer

In Gaza, poverty forces children to choose between survival and school

RSA Animate - Changing Education Paradigms

Time-lapse, collaborative speed painting

A world without art? I don't think so! Check out this  video as students at 'Artists for Humanity' (Boston), demonstrate the power of art, the  impact of unity. One of the instructors-"Problak" featured here and at the end of the video.
http://youtu.be/q2xYZ5xhxbM

Signs of the moral and spiritual degradation of society?

 Today's revelations on financial scandals at Oxfam in both Haiti and Pakistan confirm our worst fears that trust has eroded across the planet. The people of Haiti and the people of Pakistan, both poor and disaster-ridden sites, deserve better--a better kind of human being! Trustworthiness, honesty, and a shared vision are some of the qualities we need in every nation. What's your view?

http://www.devex.com/en/blogs/the-development-newswire/twin-scandals-at-oxfam-haiti-mission-chief-resigns-pakistani-flood-aid-embezzled

2011 Elections Test Peace in Liberia

Tunisian Election Law Gives Women Equal Chance | Womens eNews

Turbulent change or peaceful transition---either way, all benefit from equality-women, men, and nations.
Time will tell which nations of the world will move on the path of peace which leads to prosperity.


Tunisian Election Law Gives Women Equal Chance | Womens eNews

'Made' in America? or "We" too )still) sing America?

 http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/08/11/movies/100000000992277/on-race-and-hollywood.html

What happened to america's sense of destiny, a progressive society? The late Langston Hughes poem "I Too Sing America" foretells that 'nobody' will tell me to eat in the kitchen..and 'they'll see how beautiful I am...and be ashamed. Sorry, little has changed as George suggests in this clip from "The Maid". Successive ethnic immigrant groups from low-income classes still have to 'eat in the kitchen', are not seen as 'beautiful', and few people are ashamed at the living/working conditions of newly arrived immigrant groups, more specifically communities of color. I am not comforted by the fact that not everyone has a 'sense of shame' because it is often the sense of shame that triggers the conscience to be more aware, more open, more ethical, and therefore, more conscientious about issues of equality. Thus, a society and an entertainment industry that still, even with a brilliant, highly educated , and influential African American First Lady, still continues to reward women of color  when they are subservient. Is the film trying to 'humanize' white women or Black women? Or is this still the troubled and scary conversation between White women and women of color that everybody's avoiding? What do you think?


As a member of a future-oriented, pragmatic religion-The Baha'i Faith- founded on eliminating all forms of prejudice as the cultural work we need to do in this era, here's the deal. There are three(3) and four(4) sets of behaviors that have to change in ourselves, respectively as 'black' (non-dominant) and 'white'(dominant) individuals for a racism-free society. Governments exist to control the outward expressions of intolerance, nothing more. If you're 'Black', the transformation tasks are to 'show the warmth of your response, your readiness to forget the past, and your ability to wipe out every trace of suspicion that may linger in your heart.' If you're 'White', the transformational agenda is to 'abandon usually inherent and at times subconscious sense of superiority, correct a tendency to reveal  a patronizing attitude toward members of the other race, the need to persuade (the other race) through intimate, spontaneous, and informal association them of the genuineness of their friendship and the sincerity of their intentions, and to master their impatience with any lack of responsiveness on the part of a people who have received for so long a period such grievous and slow-healing wounds.' (Shoghi Effendi," The Advent of Divine Justice").
Ok, Hollywood and you moviegoers! Hattie McDaniel already got the Oscar for playing a maid decades ago. No more games. Let's get with the spiritual program and change our world.

SADC Gender Protocol 2011 Barometer

SADC Gender Protocol 2011 Barometer

How do we measure wealth and poverty?

Pushing forward the 'welcoming partnership'-the equality of men and women is not for 'the foolish or faint of heart'.In
many countries we take our rights for granted. One of the surest means for monitoring progress on equity and equality is 'bean-counting' because data forces citizens and elected officials alike to face the scope of inequality and its cause squarely. But numbers only tell part of the story-the quantitative. Different indicators used measure different results.
SADC scores second only to Nordic countries in the representation of women in Parliament-a critical achievement towards recognition of women's intelligence, nobility, and greater powers of leadership during times of crisis, compared
to men. Yet those of us committed to equality for all realize the hard road ahead. Improving the quality of life for everyone, with a special focus on the most vulnerable groups-women, children, elders, the disabled-is a 'no-brainer' if we believe in and work for global peace and security.
SADC (Southern African)countries are making headway despite competitive disadvantages that include age-old patriarchal systems (male-dominated regimes of power),customary laws, and despite comparatively lower poverty levels
and greater public health challenges. They score second only to So what do they have that described their progress?
SADC uses both the SGDI + the CSC (Citizen score card). Between the two tools for measuring progress toward gender equality the report offers a few insights:
" Across the board, citizens score their governments more harshly than the SGDI. For example Seychelles gets 79% in the SGDI but 61% in the citizen scoring exercise."
In this case, countries that have NAPS(National Action Plans) that include other indicators (e.g., GBV(gender-based violence) show up differently and, according to SADC, here is why:
" Nine SADC constitutions provide for the promotion of women and seven have other provisions that relate to gender equality. But contradictions between customary law and statutory law abound where these are outlawed by the Constitution."
In my work in Liberia, a West African country, I am proud to say their President and Parliament have pushed forward a National Action Plan. This plan directly addresses gender inequality and GBV through citizen education, law, and policy.




Weigh in on your thoughts and experiences with the worlds' most important goal-the equality of men and women.

Zara Solar Ltd, Tanzania, Affordable rural solar pv energy - Ashden Awar...

Innovations in solar technology for rural citizens may mean that even if the lights go out in the west, people in rural areas may still have sustainable access to electricity. This Israeli innovator is making inroads into affordable universal access and allowing rural citizens to own their own inexpensive natural technology. The sun is the way to go!