Interviewed by Jim Clancy, CNN's inside Africa, the Sierra Leonean born victim of war and author of the book '' The bite of the mango'' Mariatu Kamara, told her horrific ordeal during the ten year long brutal war that maimed thousands of civilians in her country.
Mariatu narrates her story. At 12 fleeing from the activities of the rebels, she finds herself in another village. She felt hungry and decided to go to her village to get some food to eat. On the way, she was captured by the rebels and they amputated both of her wrist. The reason? So that there wouldn't be any hands to vote for the government. But they are wrong ''I still have hands to do whatever I want to do'' Said the corrageous woman.
Asked by Jim Clancy why she named her book ''The bite of the mango'' She explained that after her wrists were cut off , a man came to her aid and offered her a mango to eat. But she felt like a child as being fed. Despite the pains and blood gushing out from her wounds, Mariatu held the mango to eat it herself.
At her book launching in the United States of America, the courageous war victim was awarded ''Voices of Courage Award'' She happily interacted and answered questions of people that want to know her story and spoke of the meaning of the award to her. Her message is ''Never give up in life, no matter the situation. She went on further to say that victims of war and other calamities to keep on pushing until success is achieved.
Mariatu is not only a courageous but a strong woman that has brought to the awareness of the world the suffering of war victims globally.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Monday, April 06, 2009
Britain's Economic Crisis, will they get out of this disaster?
Britain is a country known to adhere to special rules, regulations, principles, to be neutral, conservative and probably to be unique amongst other advanced countries in the world. The official reasons for staying out of the Euro-zone is a good example of what Britain stands for. In the first place Britain should know best. United we stand, divided we fall. There is no way the economy will be successful with its single currency within the Euro currency zones.
From every angle one could clearly see that the "imperial system of political ideas" in that country, has taken its toll on them. In any crisis people instead of finding immediate solution rather want someone to accuse. Britain accused United States for this unprecendented economic set back, failing to realise that the country's economic woes were brewed by internal factors as well. Just imagine how advance in auto technology is constantly shaping and changing this world but Britain is still driving and producing "Right Hand Steering Vehicles" in Europe. The type of vehicles Europeans and Third World Countries don't need. Even if they produce the right form of vehicles to countries that need them, it will still affect them in many ways.
Teenage Pregnancy
Take for example, how could the economy of a country thrives, when teenagers ignore education and chose to be mothers instead? According to statistics, Britain has the highest percentage of teenage pregnacy. Teenage pregnancy has great effect of the economy of every country. A brilliant child that pulls out of school because of pregnancy is waste of human resource. It's very common to see a British teenger speaking English but can't write. How can she write an application letter for a job, when she can't correctly spell his or her language?
Alcholism
Alcohol is another factor which has affected the health system of Britain's economy. The passion for alcohol in Britain is beyond cure. There is nothing that the British goverment can do to prevent or reduce the rate of alcohol consumption in that country, even if the price of drinks is raised. Alcohol and drug abuse are some of the factors linking to teenage pregnancy, therefore the government need to find solution to these problems, else Britain will experience economic depression always no matter how good a politician is.
Discrimination in employment
Employment discrimination, is another factor which has worsened Britain's economic crisis. Discrimination in employment takes place in Britain in many ways, against women, religion, race and colour. Many qualified professional workers are denied jobs in Britain daily, because of the colour of the person, his or her religion or sex. Instead they employ someone unqualified and lazy, because of the slogan "Our People First". Developments in such circumstances are never achieved or slow because of inefficiency of production.
Lazy workers call for sick leave, stay at home for lengthy days without working, claiming benefits and other allowances, affecting the hard workers and tax payers money. Employment discrimination is some how better in London and places with good integration. The worst place is the county of Dorset (Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch) British Blacks and other foreigners are aware of that, that is the reason one can hardly see them in the neighbourhoods.
People actually enjoy Britain on a visit but I'm always sad when ever I'm in that country due to what I see. Almost on every street I see dozens of "pregnant men" Obesity is taking its toll on the health of the people but they simply don't care because food is delicious. When you talk of fashion, I think the worst dressed Europeans are the British. When one visits places like Italy, Germany, France and Belgium, you can see that they dress well than the British.
High Transportation cost
The cost of public transport in Britain is higher if compared with its European counterparts. Within the city of London, a short trip by bus costs £2. The ticket expires as one alights from the bus. In most of the European countries, for example in Belgium, a city trip by tram or bus costs one euro twenty cents (from the ticket machine) and one euro fifty cents (from the bus or tram chauffeur) The ticket has an hour validity, in this case one can join more than for four of five trams, depending on the length of the journey, until the ticket expires.
Despite all the harsh taxation system, property tax, congestion tax and other means of money collection, Britain is a restless country to live in Europe. This is an indication that capitalism has failed in Britain. The lazy man wants to live like the rich man and have the same thing like the rich man, crime is therefore soaring in Britain. God help the Scotland Yard. Until Britain's economy will come back to the right track, politicians in that country must be serious to find solutions to the afore-mentioned problems.
From every angle one could clearly see that the "imperial system of political ideas" in that country, has taken its toll on them. In any crisis people instead of finding immediate solution rather want someone to accuse. Britain accused United States for this unprecendented economic set back, failing to realise that the country's economic woes were brewed by internal factors as well. Just imagine how advance in auto technology is constantly shaping and changing this world but Britain is still driving and producing "Right Hand Steering Vehicles" in Europe. The type of vehicles Europeans and Third World Countries don't need. Even if they produce the right form of vehicles to countries that need them, it will still affect them in many ways.
Teenage Pregnancy
Take for example, how could the economy of a country thrives, when teenagers ignore education and chose to be mothers instead? According to statistics, Britain has the highest percentage of teenage pregnacy. Teenage pregnancy has great effect of the economy of every country. A brilliant child that pulls out of school because of pregnancy is waste of human resource. It's very common to see a British teenger speaking English but can't write. How can she write an application letter for a job, when she can't correctly spell his or her language?
Alcholism
Alcohol is another factor which has affected the health system of Britain's economy. The passion for alcohol in Britain is beyond cure. There is nothing that the British goverment can do to prevent or reduce the rate of alcohol consumption in that country, even if the price of drinks is raised. Alcohol and drug abuse are some of the factors linking to teenage pregnancy, therefore the government need to find solution to these problems, else Britain will experience economic depression always no matter how good a politician is.
Discrimination in employment
Employment discrimination, is another factor which has worsened Britain's economic crisis. Discrimination in employment takes place in Britain in many ways, against women, religion, race and colour. Many qualified professional workers are denied jobs in Britain daily, because of the colour of the person, his or her religion or sex. Instead they employ someone unqualified and lazy, because of the slogan "Our People First". Developments in such circumstances are never achieved or slow because of inefficiency of production.
Lazy workers call for sick leave, stay at home for lengthy days without working, claiming benefits and other allowances, affecting the hard workers and tax payers money. Employment discrimination is some how better in London and places with good integration. The worst place is the county of Dorset (Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch) British Blacks and other foreigners are aware of that, that is the reason one can hardly see them in the neighbourhoods.
People actually enjoy Britain on a visit but I'm always sad when ever I'm in that country due to what I see. Almost on every street I see dozens of "pregnant men" Obesity is taking its toll on the health of the people but they simply don't care because food is delicious. When you talk of fashion, I think the worst dressed Europeans are the British. When one visits places like Italy, Germany, France and Belgium, you can see that they dress well than the British.
High Transportation cost
The cost of public transport in Britain is higher if compared with its European counterparts. Within the city of London, a short trip by bus costs £2. The ticket expires as one alights from the bus. In most of the European countries, for example in Belgium, a city trip by tram or bus costs one euro twenty cents (from the ticket machine) and one euro fifty cents (from the bus or tram chauffeur) The ticket has an hour validity, in this case one can join more than for four of five trams, depending on the length of the journey, until the ticket expires.
Despite all the harsh taxation system, property tax, congestion tax and other means of money collection, Britain is a restless country to live in Europe. This is an indication that capitalism has failed in Britain. The lazy man wants to live like the rich man and have the same thing like the rich man, crime is therefore soaring in Britain. God help the Scotland Yard. Until Britain's economy will come back to the right track, politicians in that country must be serious to find solutions to the afore-mentioned problems.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
A BELGIAN MURDERS HIS AFRICAN WIFE
What provoked a Belgian, to the extent of killing his Black wife? This was the question on the lips of the African community in Antwerp. The shocking murder of Evelyn Amarim-Vanacker, a 31 year old mother of two, led to a peaceful demonstration recently.
Avelyn, a native of Anioma local government in the Delta State of Nigeria, was reported to have been strangled to death by her husband at their home on 2nd of March 2009. According to sources, the murder took place while the children of the deceased aged 4 and 1 respectively; were sleeping in one of the rooms upstairs.
After the savage murder, the husband took the lifeless body of his wife into the boot of his car and drove 100 kilometers to dump the body in an open field by the border between France and Belgium, where the French police discovered the body the next day.
After committing the brutal crime, the Mr. Vanacker reported to the Belgian police that his wife was missing. After heavy interrogation that followed, he broke down and confessed to the killing of his wife. The motive behind the murder is not clear but according to sources there wasn't any more happiness in the marriage after five years. Constant quarrels and exchange of words were bringing the marriage almost to its knees when this occoured.
The question is how would the Belgian police handle this case? Especially in Antwerp, where such cases are not seriously dealt with. This has given licence to many Belgians to treat foreigners, especially Africans they way they like.
Many Africans are angry with the African ambassodors sent overseas. "They don't do anything to protect us, all what the care about is corruption and greed. Europeans know that they are weak, so they take the advantage of this to kill us" Said one Nigerian who spoke to me about the killing of Evelyn.
Avelyn, a native of Anioma local government in the Delta State of Nigeria, was reported to have been strangled to death by her husband at their home on 2nd of March 2009. According to sources, the murder took place while the children of the deceased aged 4 and 1 respectively; were sleeping in one of the rooms upstairs.
After the savage murder, the husband took the lifeless body of his wife into the boot of his car and drove 100 kilometers to dump the body in an open field by the border between France and Belgium, where the French police discovered the body the next day.
After committing the brutal crime, the Mr. Vanacker reported to the Belgian police that his wife was missing. After heavy interrogation that followed, he broke down and confessed to the killing of his wife. The motive behind the murder is not clear but according to sources there wasn't any more happiness in the marriage after five years. Constant quarrels and exchange of words were bringing the marriage almost to its knees when this occoured.
The question is how would the Belgian police handle this case? Especially in Antwerp, where such cases are not seriously dealt with. This has given licence to many Belgians to treat foreigners, especially Africans they way they like.
Many Africans are angry with the African ambassodors sent overseas. "They don't do anything to protect us, all what the care about is corruption and greed. Europeans know that they are weak, so they take the advantage of this to kill us" Said one Nigerian who spoke to me about the killing of Evelyn.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
VLAAMS BELANG NOT INVITED TO OBAMA'S INAUGURATION
Belgium has been a center of controvesy many times, in regard to issues pertaining foreigners, especially in Antwerp, which has the "Vlaams Belang", a political party known to have extreme views against foreigners. They preach hatred against foreigners to solicit for votes during politcal campaigns, yet they find it unacceptable when the American Embassy in Brussels, excluded them from attending Obama's inauguration.
According to the "Vlaams Belang" weeks before the inuaguration of the 44th president of the USA, Barak Obama, at the Brussels residence of the American Ambassador, all Belgian senators of the committee of Foreign Affairs received an invitation. However, on the morning of the inauguration day (January 20th) the US embassy made a phone call to them(Vlaams Belang) claiming the invitation was a mistake and that Vlaams Belang was not welcome.
The "Vlaams Belang" thinks the behaviour of the America Embassy is inappropriate as the world's largest democratic country. They went on further to say that "It isn't the task of an embassy to become actively involved in internal politics of another nation.
I don't understand the "Vlaams Belang" getting bitter over this non-invitation issue when they know what USA stands for. Americans are people that had learnt a lot of past issues in regard to racial problems, just like former Apartheid South Africa. Now they don't want to repeat those mistakes they made.Changing of constitutions, laws and other things have brought peace and unified all Americans under one democratic umbrella. This is what the world should emulate.
The "Vlaams Belang" are selfish and unrealistic party that doesn't care of bloodshed but preach hatred against foreigners because they are power conscious. They shouldn't forget that there are also Americans living in Belgium and what ever they say against foreigners, also affect other foreign nationals living in Belgium. To me the America Embassy has done the right thing by not giving them an invitation.
The world is tired of hearing things like "An immigrant murdered in Antwerp", "I bought a gun to kill people of foreign origin" Every investigation made in Antwerp over such cases links up with something from the "Vlaams Belang". If the world want peace then they musn't let such political parties survive in any part of the world. They must exclude them from taking part in any international conference. Antwerp can keep them we don't care.
According to the "Vlaams Belang" weeks before the inuaguration of the 44th president of the USA, Barak Obama, at the Brussels residence of the American Ambassador, all Belgian senators of the committee of Foreign Affairs received an invitation. However, on the morning of the inauguration day (January 20th) the US embassy made a phone call to them(Vlaams Belang) claiming the invitation was a mistake and that Vlaams Belang was not welcome.
The "Vlaams Belang" thinks the behaviour of the America Embassy is inappropriate as the world's largest democratic country. They went on further to say that "It isn't the task of an embassy to become actively involved in internal politics of another nation.
I don't understand the "Vlaams Belang" getting bitter over this non-invitation issue when they know what USA stands for. Americans are people that had learnt a lot of past issues in regard to racial problems, just like former Apartheid South Africa. Now they don't want to repeat those mistakes they made.Changing of constitutions, laws and other things have brought peace and unified all Americans under one democratic umbrella. This is what the world should emulate.
The "Vlaams Belang" are selfish and unrealistic party that doesn't care of bloodshed but preach hatred against foreigners because they are power conscious. They shouldn't forget that there are also Americans living in Belgium and what ever they say against foreigners, also affect other foreign nationals living in Belgium. To me the America Embassy has done the right thing by not giving them an invitation.
The world is tired of hearing things like "An immigrant murdered in Antwerp", "I bought a gun to kill people of foreign origin" Every investigation made in Antwerp over such cases links up with something from the "Vlaams Belang". If the world want peace then they musn't let such political parties survive in any part of the world. They must exclude them from taking part in any international conference. Antwerp can keep them we don't care.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Murdered Immigrant in Antwerp, family gets no compensation
| The family of Oulematou Niangadou, the Malian babysitter, shot and killed by Hans Van Temsche in Antwerp, Belgium, will not be compensated. The commission of financial aids for victims of criminal acts announced in an official statement given to the press that the Belgian Justice Ministry has not to handover the 71,500 euros, the court had decided to the family of the victim, owing to the fact that the victim was illegally staying in Belgium. The victim came in with a visa which has since expired. It will be recalled that in 2007, racist student Temsche, bought a rifle at 500 euros from a shop in Antwerp, with the aim of killing people of foreign origin. Unfortunately his gun didn't take away the Malian immigrant but a poor innocent Belgian child, the victim was babysitting. His bullet also striked a Turkish woman sitting on a bench near by but she survived. The fool story about this ruthless and senseless killing can be read in my book called "An African in Antwerp" In the book I accused both the Mayor of Antwerp Mr Janssens and the Police as responsible for the killing of this poor immigrant. You need to live in Antwerp as a foreigner before you will know or understand what I'm talking about How could they like foreigners when they don't even like themselves? When you are speaking French at some Flemish institutions you can be confronted and questioned of why you speaking French instead of Flemish. Unbelievable. What is wrong with it when one speaks a different language spoken by its own nationals? That is Antwerp. Kris Luyckx, the advocate for the victim's family hopes that the rules on compensation will be amended and points to previous changes brought in to allow victims of human trafficking to get compensation from the commission. |
Saturday, January 24, 2009
PENSIONER LOSTS HER FUNERAL MONEY
| Life is like a journey full of load. If you are able to carry this load through out your life time with discipline, endurance, sacrifice and truthfulness, one can succeed in life. If one's life goes the opposite way, then things might never be better for the one in his or her life time. Most people while living think of the death ahead of them and save money towards that to have a befitting burial after death. A pensioner living in England, who has carefully saved £1000, to pay for the funerals of her and her 85 year old disabled husband accidentaly lost the money, leaving her unable to sleep with high blood pressure. According to her she left her home at the Watford end of Wimborne, around 11.30 am, on Monday 12 January 2009, and walked to town with the money at the bottom of her shopping bag. However; when she got to the Nationwide Building Society to pay the money into her account, she discovered that the money had gone missing. The sixty-nine year old woman who want to remain anonymous said "I was absolutely gutted. My husband had been saving the money for some time, so that we could pay our funerals in time" She said. She has no clue to the disappearance of the money. " I have been hoping that someone would find it and hand it over to the police, but no one has. We have had to work hard for every penny we have so to lose it this way was heartbreaking". she said. I wonder why she was expecting a miracle to get her money back in a country like England, where youths have no regard for the elders. They rob, beat up and steal from the old, without any second thought that one day they will be old as well and the same thing could happen to them. What ever the case, old woman don't be distraught , give thanks to God you are still alive. |
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
WHY DO PEOPLE BLAME GOD FOR TODAY'S VIOLENCE?
Christianity found its way to Africa through the white missionaries who went to the continent years ago. But is like Africans have embraced the Christian faith than the white themselves. It is very common to see Africans worshipping God in churches on Sundays, while on the same Sunday you see Whites at the drinking pubs enjoying glasses of wine and beer. In Britain some few churches had been converted to drinking pubs, yet the government is fighting hard against alcoholism, teenage pregnancy, hooliganism and crime without success.
Many simply have no time at all to think of God, let alone to attend church service on Sundays to worship the creator. Once I visited a church at a small town in Rome-Italy called "Sacrofano". The beautiful designed ancient church attracted me into it with the desire of fellowshipping with them that Sunday. I was shocked to see that the pastor was preaching to only two people in this big church. I joined them and the number increased to three. In Antwerp, Belgium, most of the time I see people at the church when only someone is dead. It is like the church was built to pay last respect to the dead not the living.
The world today is full of turmoil, war, tribal conflicts, racism, discrimination etc. All these problems are caused by man. It is the decision of man to cause pain, havoc and unrest to people and our societies but not God. Why then do people ignorantly ask, if there is God, why must all these problems occour? People drink and lose their mind to kill, stab, beat their wives and children yet many prefare to drink than reading the Holy Bible, a book that heals our spiritual and physical problems.
Hebrews chapter 12:26-27, predicts that "Everything that can be shaken will be shaken.....so that only those things that can not be shaken will remain." This means that our jobs, retirement, pensions, children, health etc; can be shaken at times. At the same time the Bible says, "Everything shall pass but the word of God shall be there forever." Man must therefore begin to find solace in God, by reading the Holy Bible. Alcohol, crime and all the evil things men commit will lead us to a place we have never dreamt of going. Hell and Jail.
Many simply have no time at all to think of God, let alone to attend church service on Sundays to worship the creator. Once I visited a church at a small town in Rome-Italy called "Sacrofano". The beautiful designed ancient church attracted me into it with the desire of fellowshipping with them that Sunday. I was shocked to see that the pastor was preaching to only two people in this big church. I joined them and the number increased to three. In Antwerp, Belgium, most of the time I see people at the church when only someone is dead. It is like the church was built to pay last respect to the dead not the living.
The world today is full of turmoil, war, tribal conflicts, racism, discrimination etc. All these problems are caused by man. It is the decision of man to cause pain, havoc and unrest to people and our societies but not God. Why then do people ignorantly ask, if there is God, why must all these problems occour? People drink and lose their mind to kill, stab, beat their wives and children yet many prefare to drink than reading the Holy Bible, a book that heals our spiritual and physical problems.
Hebrews chapter 12:26-27, predicts that "Everything that can be shaken will be shaken.....so that only those things that can not be shaken will remain." This means that our jobs, retirement, pensions, children, health etc; can be shaken at times. At the same time the Bible says, "Everything shall pass but the word of God shall be there forever." Man must therefore begin to find solace in God, by reading the Holy Bible. Alcohol, crime and all the evil things men commit will lead us to a place we have never dreamt of going. Hell and Jail.
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