Thoughts from the late Ralph Bunche on the Palestine-Israeli struggle

As history watches as Palestinians seek UN recognition this month, remember former UN Under secretary, Ralph Bunche. In fact, in 1936, long before the launch of a distinguished career, Bunche wrote: "And so, class will some day supplant race in world affairs. Race war will then be merely a side-show to the gigantic class war which will be waged in the big tent we call the world." Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize (1950) for his mediation of the Israeli-Arab/Palestinian struggle, Bunche was a political scientist and diplomat who was a central player in the writing of the UN Charter and worked with Eleanor Roosevelt on the UN Declaration of Human Rights. He was one of the most highly ranked American diplomats and, as a person of color, also mediated conflicts in Yemen, Cyprus, and the Congo. In fact the membership of numerous African and Asian states in a  post-war mid-2oth century UN was made possible by Bunche who helped to dismantle the old African and Asian colonial systems as they took their eventual place in the UN as independent states.
Despite a prestigious career, Bunche confronted racism in the U.S. throughout his life.

Remember his words in these perilous times:
"May there be, in our time, at long last, a world at peace in which we, the people, may for once begin to make full use of the great good that is in us."
-Raplh Bunche

"Fly Girls" /Season of Peace campaign, Boston

 Are we remembering that ending violence and creating peace is a 365-day job?
Boston's "Fly Girls" work towards ending the cycles of abuse among young girls and women.

http://www.bostontenpoint.org/programs.php

Clever commentary on Global violence at post 9/11 commemorative time

What has the persistent focus on the 'war on terror' produced? The 'Jihad vs McWorld' position expressed by Barber points to our massive global inequalities in the basic needs of life. We find ourselves in the midst of either affluence or poverty creating entrenched divisions in human societies.

When we speak of poverty reduction, we need to speak simultaneously about 'wealth reduction'. The UN Conference of the 1990's on (over) population and over consumption was expressed in comments by Bisi Ogunkele , then Chief of Women's organizations in Nigeria. She stated: 'If the rich nations of the world are not willing to share their wealth with the poor, the poor will share their poverty with the rich.' So here we are, after several millennia, still preoccupied with a global war industry as our primary means of achieving peace by physical force and violence. Not so clever for such a clever species that claims to be enlightened. Listen to this clever blogger on the subject of the inutility of the 'war on terror' and speak your piece:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/simon-cohen/the-war-on-error_b_956333.html

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!

Human Rights

Reducing men's "Gender Jitters" in Developing Nations!

Fiercely confronting men's "gender jitters" in a 3 hr marathon (1 of many).

If gender equality is to be achieved in Liberia, men at the grass roots level must be willing, informed, and 'welcoming partners' in advancing the principle and practice of the equality of men and women. By the time I finished talking, answering questions, dodging bullets from misanthropes, you better believe these men are taking this subject more seriously. There are a number of earnest supporters already, but this is traditional Africa and our work is cut out for us.

Buchanan City

Arriving in Buchanan City to a family welcome and office! This morning interviewed by Radio UNMIL (UN Military in Liberia) on gender equality broadcast across Liberia. Later interview w. "The New Democrat" newspaper about the critical issues/gender equality. This is all big and controversial news here. In response to journalist, Paul Harry's last question I shard the importance of the world-embracing Teachings of Baha'u'llah and that Baha'is around the world join them in working toward the equality of men and women as a universal goal!

This is election season. Chatter everywhere, newz stories attacking candidates left and right, and gearing up for safe elections as we watch closely the unfolding electoral process in Nigeria. Liberian Prez hosted visiting Malian Prez and announced that, thanks to many interventions, malaria rates have gone down in Liberia. However, other newz coverage on the situation in Cote d'Ivoire across border southern Liberia is not good. Thousands of refugees crossing the border being chased by new regime military in retaliation against dethroned Gbagbo forces; rise in GBV in these refugee camps as many girls/women forced to engage in transactional sex for food. Liberians have run out of goodwill for these border crossers and UNHCR is doing their best to keep up w. the demand for food and shelter in the camps.

Meanwhile, as the world collapses in many of the world's hotspots, we carry on here in Buchanan City so that the new College and Gender Studies Program may one day be a 'city on the hill'. In preparation for my coming these very together men have formed themselves into a group calling themselves "The Honorable Men" to show their willingness to support the uneasy transition toward equality and their support for the women. This completes a self-organizing principle method in community engagement in which community people define their own reality in working toward common cause. Last August when I was here the 'Wise Women' and 'Learning Women' came into being. Bravo for them!!! Keep us in your prayers...and stay tuned.

[D]air Travel- I dare you to travel..

Four airports and on my 3rd plane en route to Monrovia, arriving tonight. Am arriving just dayz after President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has left Buchanan City on her national tour. Am searching for sins of progress since my last trip in August '10. Nuri dispatched me from Boston w. her magic cupcakes from her bizness, "thesweettrooth" (thesweettrooth@gmail.com), and I am attracting every man within inches in all airports across the globe.

The US State Dept. has published its Human Rights Report (2010) on Liberia. There is a great deal of work to be done throughout this country left w. little infrastructure, following the 14-yr war. I return for training, evaluation, and community engagement work with Grand Bassa Community College. This foto portrays an example of one of the few remnants of colonial architecture, once considered palatial. Ask questions, make comments, stay tuned.....

As I depart--Follow my Fulbright work in Africa's oldest Independent nation-Liberia

Once again, I am about to experience  Transportation on Liberia's impassable roads. Follow this blog, ask questions, and view my fotoz. As a Fulbright Specialist, I collaborated with Grand Bassa Community College, establishing the first Gender Studies Program and Women's Resource Centre at a Liberian college. This trip--Interviews, evaluation, and participatory training on how understanding gender assists in development. Stay tuned.....

http://allafrica.com/stories/201104211063.html

Literacy Among Sub-Saharan African Women - Zunia.org

For those of you up for the next exciting travel sequel "Liberia Rebuilding" 2011, revisit this blog daily.
For every challenge, there is an opportunity. So read about the educational challenges and opportunities
as we travel to Grand Bassa Community College in Buchanan City and see thier achievements for yourself.

READ-Literacy Among Sub-Saharan African Women - Zunia.org