THE IMMORTAL LIFE Of HENRIETTA LACKS

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells, taken without her knowledge in 1951, became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, cloning, gene mapping, and more. 

Henrietta’s cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown, and her family can’t afford health insurance. 

This phenomenal New York Times bestseller tells a riveting story of the collision between ethics, race, and medicine; of scientific discovery and faith healing; and of a daughter consumed with questions about the mother she never knew.

The author

Rebecca Skloot is an award-winning science writer, whose articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine; O, The Oprah Magazine; Discover; and others. She has worked as a correspondent for NPR’s Radiolab and PBS’s NOVA scienceNOW, and is a contributing editor at Popular Science magazine and guest editor of The Best American Science Writing 2011.

She is a former Vice President of the National Book Critics Circle and has taught creative nonfiction and science journalism at The University of Memphis, the University of Pittsburgh, and New York University. 

Her debut book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, took more than ten years to research and write, and became an instant New York Times bestseller.

She has been featured on numerous television shows, including CBS Sunday Morning and The Colbert Report. Her book has received widespread critical acclaim, with reviews appearing in The New Yorker, Washington Post, Science, Entertainment Weekly, People, and many others.

It won the Chicago Tribune Heartland Prize and the Wellcome Trust Book Prize, and was named The Best Book of 2010 by Amazon.com, and a Best Book of the Year by Entertainment Weekly; O, The Oprah Magazine; The New York Times; Washington Post; US News & World Report; and numerous others.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is being translated into more than twenty languages, and adapted into a young adult book and an HBO film produced by Oprah Winfrey and Alan Ball. Skloot lives in Chicago but regularly abandons city life to write in the hills of West Virginia, where she tends to find stray animals and bring them home.

She travels extensively to speak about her book. For more information, visit RebeccaSkloot.com, where you will find book special features, including photos and videos, as well as her book tour schedule, and links to follow her and The Immortal Life on Twitter and Facebook.

http://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Life-Henrietta-Lacks/dp/1400052181

MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND CORRUPT AFRICAN LEADERSHIP

Corruption cartoon in Africa

When a government in Africa is corrupt, there are also some MNCs and their shareholders who stand behind this government and push it to become more corrupt.


Whenever a government becomes autocratic denying its citizens freedoms and rights, there are MNCs behind providing weapons to exact violence against its people.

Whenever there is a corrupt politician in Africa stealing money meant for schools, hospitals, roads, and delivery of safe water and sanitation you have a big MNC bank assisting in the transfer of the money to safe haven destinations.

This cozy relationship between the political and business elite in Africa and MNCs in Europe and North America does not only affect governance but it is one of the main reasons why economic underachievement, poverty, hunger and instability permeate almost all African countries.

The parasites who parade themselves  as leaders of the continent have for over the years colluded and connived with MNC vampires who since the days of slavery have been the main instrument used by western countries to strip Africa of its rich resources and to keep its inhabitants desperately poor.

Global Witness has produced documents that have implicated American, Belgian, British, French, German, Japanese and Chinese firms and business entities. 

The dirty tactics employed by western governments, the MNCs, World Bank, IMF, WTO are responsible for the demise of the African continent. Western countries led by the US, Britain, France and lately by China, continue to sell weapons to horrible dictators to crash democratic forces throughout the continent.

They continued to finance brutal wars  in Africa ( Libya, Somalia, Ivory Coast, DRC) with the aim of keeping Africa destabilized while their corporations steal the natural resources such as  oil, gas, gold and other precious metals complicit with western media.

In a similar vein, Global Financial Integrity has demonstrated how western MNCs working in Africa used fraud accounting, tax evasion and other financial malpractices to cheat Africans of the billions of dollars that could be used to develop the continent.

IMF and World Bank on their part are in cahoots with MNCs and western creditors to sell their toxic economic policies and poisonous, heavily laden conditional loans to African countries that keep them in odious debts that they spend so much of their GDP in servicing them to the neglect of the human security needs of their people.

Switzerland, hiding behind her discredited illegal financial and banking secrecy laws and infrastructure continues to play host to more tan $150 billion that is siphoned off from the continent annually by the political and business leaders.

Read more: http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=57161&dir=2016/january/22

J.N.K. Savage:Tracing The Works Of A Great Journalist Behind Computer Age

Journalist/Documentary film Producer and Director Justin N.K. Savage and wife Nancy-Elizabeth Savage (Nancy-Elizabeth Hudson) You looking at my mother and father.

Justin Nobleman Kodwo Savage was a professional journalist, documentary film producer, and director, born in Cape Coast, in the central region of Ghana in 1932. While in active service, he passed away on January 29, 1976.

At Guinea Press, now ‘The Ghanaian Times’ during the Kwame Nkrumah era, Mr. Savage travelled extensively across the globe, whenever the president leaves the country to participate in world affairs.

At home, Ghanaians were able to receive first-hand information from Mr. Savage, over Nkrumah’s trip overseas, appearing in ‘The Evening News,’ newspaper dominated by party news, CPP, and adulation of Nkrumah.

At Guinea Press, Justin Savage had the opportunity to make further studies in journalism in London, England, but Nkrumah’s interest in communism took him off Ghana soil to many Eastern European countries including Poland, Czechoslovakia, etc, and Russia.

In the sixties, the president of the then Czechoslovakia invited African journalists to his country. Justin Savage heads the African journalists from Ghana, but the Ghanaians presence stole the show, because of the native Kente cloth they put on. Kente exposes the rich tradition and culture of Ghana.

Justin Savage filed his press cuts and combined all his publications which appeared in the newspapers as a magazine, naming it “A Mixture Of Periodicals.” These publications later after his death, became my favorite book, assisting me to gain more writing skills when my interest increased to be a writer.

Darkness fell on Ghana when Nkrumah was overthrown-ed on February 24, 1966, in a coup organized by CIA and local collaborators. Chaos and curfews followed amidst jubilation and sadness. Mr. Savage served Guinea press a year more and he resigned.

He followed a course in technology at the Kumasi Science and Technology, where he studied film production. After his course, he entered into Ghana Broadcasting Corporation as ‘Advisor on film for television.’

He excelled in his profession and had promotions. It wasn’t long when Friedrich Ebert Foundation (West German Television Team) established a television project attached to the Broadcasting House in Ghana.

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is a German political foundation named after Friedrich Ebert, Germany’s first democratically elected president. Headquartered in Bonn and Berlin, the foundation contributes to social democracy by means of:

Political education in order to reinforce its fundamental values, research and scientific analysis of central policy areas, various forms of public dialogue in order to pave the way for it, scholarship programs for students and Ph.D. candidates, development cooperation aimed at global justice and building bridges of international cooperation for worldwide democracy.

For efficient service and to be familiar with new developments in television production, Mr. Savage was at West German for an intensive course. He returned to the Broadcasting House and was appointed ‘Documentary Film Producer and Director.

At the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, he made a number of documentary films, especially during the exhibition of Ghana and other African products at both the first and second ‘Ghana International Trade Fair,’ in Accra.

Kodwo, the name his co-workers loved to call him, did a number of documentary films, including ‘Ghana At A Glance, Cocoa In Ghana, Backyard Industries and ‘Furnace in a Village’, produced in 1972. I had the opportunity to play a role in ‘Backyard Industries.’

I grew up to see some of his friends such as Mr. Kofi Badu, the Managing Director of Daily Graphic and Mr. Willie Donkor, the Editor of Weekly Spectator, still in the media. 

In the early nineties, January, I contacted one of my father’s friends called Mr. Ebo Biney, at the Broadcasting House, requesting if he could telecast one of my father’s films on January 29, for remembrance. 

It came as a shock to me when I learned that all my father’s films got burnt, following a fire that engulfed Ghana Broadcasting Corporation some time ago.

Since then I have been working very hard to see if I can find any of my father’s work online, despite far behind computer age or advanced modern technology. Like winning the lotto, I discovered two.

The first is at the website of Len Pole, a Museum Consultant: “Advisor on a film for television, ‘Furnace in a Village’, produced by Kodwo Savage, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, 1972.” – http://www.lenpole.com/I contacted the museum consultant after the discovery of my father’s work on his website. I was delighted when he told a few years ago ‘Furnace in a village’ was shown at the Cannes Film Festival.

Then I had a new breakthrough  when I discovered another work at Selected Bibliography in Communication – jstor by Graham B. Kerr, under the topic- All African governments are committed to the development and most wish to …Journalism Quarterly [forthcoming]. ….. SAVAGE, J.N.K. “Ghana Jugend begeistert.-. “Ghana inspires youth.”

The selected Bibliography in Communication is a book published by the Canadian Association of African Studies. Justin Savage writes:

“We must bridge the gap between leaders and masses, between government and people. No government tells the people everything, but every government must reach the people so as to tell them what they should be told” – Julius Nyerere

Continue reading: https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/483601.pdf?

The search for my father’s work isn’t yet over. As time goes on when I discover something new, I will keep on updating this article. I hope readers will enjoy reading it and if any reader has any suggestions to improve it, you are always welcome.

The incredible story of this great writer neglected when he was a child is now available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Writer-Died-Joel-Savage-ebook/dp/B013L54A7O

SPEND YOUR MONEY ON BREAD AND WATER NOT SICKNESS

The healthy fruits


The immune system is made up of special cells, proteins, tissues, and organs, which defends people against germs and microorganisms every day. In most cases, the immune system does a great job of keeping people healthy and preventing infections. 

People therefore have the best chance to enjoy a perfectly healthy life, but the creation of man-made diseases, to generate profit through pharmaceutical companies and the constant abuse of the body with dangerous products have taken its toll on the health of humanity and the cost is taking both the wealthy and the poor to the land of pain and poverty.

Abuse and the craving of things unhealthy for the body has put our lives at stake. Large consumption of alcohol can affect one's health, yet people don’t care. Cocaine and other dangerous substances aren’t good for health, but many don’t care. 

It is written on cigarette’s box ‘The surgeon general warns, cigarette smoking is dangerous,’ yet many ignored this warning and become human chimney.

People drink heavily and get kidney problems, while others get cancer for long smoking. This can be prevented. Happiness in life isn’t always being rich or living in luxury because many are rich but suffering because of poor health. If you have good health, you will feel good and happy, even if you are rich.

Someone can drive your car, cook for you, do your laundry and iron your clothes, but no one can bear your sickness or drink medicine on your behalf. 

This is the reason one needs to live clean because life is precious. Spend your money on healthy food, drink and avoid making friends with the drug store. They are happy when they see you coming for medicines because the corrupt medical system made it so.

ESCAPE FROM THE NOTORIOUS PANTANELLA IN ROME

Pantanella, the abandoned ex-pasta factory in Rome

As a child growing up in a strongly religious family, I was thought that everything which is opposite to the teachings of the Holy Bible, including laziness is a sin. I tried my best to live a clean life. 

We were thought to believe that Israel, Jerusalem, and other Biblical countries were all in heaven, without a slight knowledge those countries were on the same earth we are living today.

When I left my family looking for a job, I tried to be sincere and prevented doing anything wrong which could land me in jail. I read that jail changes people’s attitude to be good or worse. But I wasn’t interested to know the positive or negative influences of jail on people. My only interest is never to be there because it’s not the right place for me.

In the year 1990, from Lagos, Nigeria, I made a transit in Rome, on my way to German. In Rome, I was detained at Fiumicino airport. Italian immigration regularly does that to many foreigners, especially Africans. Like a tourist, I walked around the airport lounge without a room to sleep and food for three days. 

On the third, I was really starving, so I approached one of the immigration officials and said to him that I am hungry. He looked at my face and asked me “Am I your father?” Then he walked away.

Without knowing what the officials have in store for me, I handed over an application for asylum as a journalist and it worked, because I have a few publications over my profession on me. 

On the fourth day, from nowhere came one of the immigration officers, he said to me: “Your application has been accepted, today the police will come to take you to Rome.” I was shocked beyond expression.

The good Samaritan didn’t only deliver the unexpected message, but he pulled out from his pocket a number of notes and said to me: “I don’t want my colleagues to see me giving you money, buy some food to eat at the airport.” I didn’t take the money. 

I told him: “This important information you have given to me has taken all the hunger away, thank you.” He walked away with his money.

On the fourth day, the police came, just as the officer told me and took me in a police car to the city, Rome, and left me there to fight for my survival. 

Without anywhere to sleep, I passed all my nights at the Central Train Station. Among other Africans, we watched a big television screen during the day to forget our misery, then in the night, I go to sleep at my hiding place. The police and the workers at the train station never discovered the place I slept.

After some time, I discovered places where I could eat every day without paying for food. I could take my bath and take some clothes. One such places was at ‘Via Dandolo.’ 

Daniela, the head of the Caritas (Charity) at Via Dandolo was a very good woman, but one of her female workers was a very bad woman. A thief. Since we had no address, our letters passed through the Caritas at Via Dandola and this woman took the opportunity to steal money from our letters.

I caught her twice, so I wasn’t surprised when I lost the 10 pounds a friend sent me from England, but I didn’t tell Daniela about it. Through the Caritas, I had my initial lessons and attended classes to learn the Italian. 

I was one of the best immigrants who could write and speak the language fluently, yet my life was miserable because I was still sleeping at the train station.

In Rome, I was robbed, admitted and operated at a hospital, but the nurse refused to touch me, because of my color, thus; every morning when on duty, she calls someone to attend to me, but she had time for every Italian patient at the hospital. 

I was once sitting in the hospital’s garden after the operation, when an Italian old man, one of the patients came close to me, looked at my face and said to me: “Marocchino motaccizoa.” – an insult, after mistakenly taken me as a Moroccan. I didn’t say a word.

Then all of a sudden, as if it was announced on the radio, all the immigrants in Rome, without accommodation, discovered an abandoned Pasta factory called ‘Pantanella.’ Pantanella is notoriously known for all criminal activities, including drug peddling and crime, similar to drug cartel zones of Mexico. 

One needs strength, courage, heart, and braveness to survive at that place. Italians think they are brave, but many of them dare to pass Via Casilina, the street Pantanella is located in the night.

That was the place I lived and worked as a toilet cleaner for thousands of immigrants, using six containers as toilets, to raise money to feed. I was employed by the Muslim head at the place. It’s terrible and frightening to live at Pantenella. 

It wasn’t a prison, but the place, I think was tough like Alcatraz, because of the criminal activities many illegal immigrants engaged in feeding.

The abandoned factory accommodated both soft and hardened criminals from various countries, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Africa etc. I lived in Pantanella for four months, and the Italian government tired of the crimes going on in that abandoned Pasta factory ejected all the foreigners.

But the Italian government did something great for the African immigrants. Something we weren’t expecting. The government paid for two weeks to stay in a hotel for all the Africans, with the ultimatum that before the two weeks expired, we should find a place on our own to live.

Through a very good sympathetic woman called Nana, (she died in Rome a few years ago) I got a job as a houseboy to serve one journalist called Claudio Lavazza, working at television station TG2, belonging to the former Italian Prime Minister, Sylvio Berlusconi. 

He provided me accommodation and paid me well. Besides, he gave me the new version of Fiat Cinque Cento (500) to drive. It may be likely that I was the first black man in the entire Italy to drive the new Fiat Cinque Cento when it freshly came out. I met other journalist friends of Claudio, including Michele Cucuzza.

http://www.amazon.com/Overseas-Chronicle-Joel-Savage-ebook/dp/B013SLNWFC

After three years, I said goodbye to Rome and returned to Africa. I married and returned to Europe once again but this time choosing Amsterdam. 

‘Overseas Chronicle: The Rome and Amsterdam Experience’ is a book once started you’ll find it hard to put away, because of the shocking intriguing stories in the book. 

Find out more of what happened to me in Rome and later in Holland, which led me to detention in Amsterdam.

YOUR ENEMY GETS MAD, IF HE FAILS TO SEE YOU THE WAY HE WANTS

A Rae Smith quote

No one gives birth to a child and names him or her ‘Enemy,’ thus; I haven’t met anyone yet called ‘Enemy.’ Yet an enemy exists, the reason the dictionary defines it: As a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something.

What causes enmity between people? I watched a program of a man that hates his neighbour. According to him, his neighbour’s stereo was too noisy and many times when he asks him to reduce the volume he refuses to yield to his demand.

I understand him, especially after the week’s hard work, you wish to have a happy and a quiet lovely weekend, reading your favourite books and newspapers, but that neighbour of yours has denied you all those good moments you’re longing for.

At times you might be an enemy or someone might hate you for doing no wrong, just because of your efforts to live a happy life. Do you know that your hard work can sometimes spark jealousy and hatred from an empire of deceitful enemies?

Do you know that even your successful marriage sometimes makes you an enemy, because your neighbour’s marriage is on the rocks? How do you handle such situations when you haven’t done anything wrong but someone madly hates you?

I do hear people often say: The problem was beyond my control, the reason I used food as a means of consolation, became an alcoholic or a drug addict. That’s really a big mistake. When you’re experiencing problems, you don’t live on destructive measures to solve your problems, you need to fight those destructive elements.

Years back when I arrived in Europe, among other foreigners, I came to Italy at a time I don’t know anyone. I slept at the Central Train Station in Rome for many days. (I have revisited Rome to see where I slept in the early nineties) I saw that the hard conditions were taking its toll on some of the homeless Africans.

Some became alcoholics, drug addicts, involved in drug trafficking and some decided to go back to Africa. I encouraged them to stay but many of them returned to Africa. Today, I’m no more an illegal immigrant. 

Above all, I live with my wife and three children in Europe. I wake up every morning at 5 AM and go to work like other workers, enjoying happy union with my family when I come back home.

I know what the enemy wants. I wasn’t ready to be a destitute, alcoholic, drug addict or courier. If I have made it, then you can. Never blame anyone for your failure in life. Don’t let your enemy be happy. Fight those destructive forces to make them mad.

A MAN CAN'T BE PRAISED FOR HIS EVIL DEEDS, UNLESS YOU'RE EVIL

The quote of Martin Luther King Jr

We often hear “I don’t like Obama, I hate CNN, I don’t like George W. Bush, etc. If you try to find out the reason for their hatred and dislike, they will tell you why.

It is very easy to hate than showing or giving love to a person. Thus, probably if someone hates me, there must be a reason for that. But when I haven’t committed any crime, I would like to find out why someone hates me. Is it because of my probing articles?

I am an African writer living in Europe, reading every humiliating and degrading articles European and American journalists write about Africa. Do you expect me to join them when they have many problems to deal with on their shores but pretend everything is fine?

In Brussels, come daily European and other world leaders to talk about problems affecting the world, with the aim of finding solutions to tackle those problems. In the same Brussels stands a statue of Leopold II, the king who killed and maimed over ten million Africans, including women and children.

Belgium didn’t take the crime of this criminal into consideration. Instead, they built a statue to glorify and named streets after him throughout the country, when there is no statue of Adolf Hitler, for killing 6 million Jews. Would you hate me as an African writer, who values life, if I write that the Belgian government should pull down that statue?

The world leaders and journalists converging at Brussels don’t care about any statue, because they are not Africans, moreover the life of an African to them is valueless. But since the Bible I read tells me that ‘God created man in His own image,’ I will write an article against this injustice and ignorance.

There is no one in his right mind who would praise someone who has committed such a heinous crime unless the person is sick himself or evil. Sometimes “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed,” said Martin Luther King Jr. Yes, the sufferer has to scream for the oppressor to know what the oppressed are going through.

Terrorism

The selfishness, greed, hypocrisy and bad policies of European and American leaders have generated scores of hatred for the common citizens. Whatever terrorism has taken place in Europe and America, in the past and today were caused by Europe and America.

In Brussels, they sit behind a heavy security gate and take measures to combat terrorism. After that, they give those measures to the media for publication but the reasons which led to the killing of innocent citizens are never given to the media. Because they don’t want the public to know the truth and again aren’t ready to change their bad policies.

It’s unfortunate that people don’t realize the harm these politicians are causing in society against ordinary citizens. Do we have to depend on such people/politicians for security or protection? They were there when 9/11 occurred. 

They were there when runners taking part in a marathon were murdered by unscrupulous terrorists. They were there when terrorist struck France and they were there when Africa was intentionally plagued with Aids, Ebola, Lassa fever and other diseases.

When they see victims of terrorism bodies scattered, before you’ll soldiers and the police with guns at every point of the street, disrupting public activities. These politicians have no protection for us today or tomorrow. In fact, they have left us sitting on a time bomb, without knowing when the next terrorist act will strike.

Honestly, the public can take good care of themselves more than what politicians can do, if each becomes his brother’s keeper, giving love, doing away with racism, discrimination and living in peace and harmony. Love truly conquers everything.

THE EMBRACE OF ILLITERACY AS TRADITIONAL VALUE IN AFRICA

The festival of virgins

Africa is a vast continent filled with varieties of customs, traditions, cultures, and languages. Some of these outdated traditions and customs are seen as senseless, useless, valueless, illiteracy, and complete ignorance.

Female Circumcision: It is estimated that about 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the disastrous effects of female circumcision. Horrific procedures have severely traumatized and psychologically affected thousands of women. Female circumcision is practiced in 26 countries across Africa.

In the Republic of Sierra Leone, an ethnic group called “The Bondo Society” still carries this outdated tradition. Gambia launched a three-year program aimed to abolish Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Female circumcision is the number one on my list as illiteracy taken as traditional or custom.

Horrible tribal marks in Nigeria: In the olden days, tribal marks were used as identification, especially in Yoruba lands, such as Ogun, Oyo, Ondo states, and Benin. 

Should in case something happens to you, your tribal marks would help to identify the tribe you originate or where you come from. The illiteracy behind this barbarous act has disfigured the face of thousands of Nigerians.

Some of the marks are so horrible that they attract people and gossip. Some women have to live with it for the rest of their lives without husbands.  

Time changes as we step into the world of technology and development. Disfiguring of the face as tribal marks are gradually fading away or completely stopped in many places thought out the country.

In South Africa, is a relatively landlocked country called Swaziland. The king of the country, Mswati III has 14 wives. This illiteracy which had been in existence for years is followed as a tradition.

The 46-year old monarch has ruled over Swaziland, which is on the brink of economic disaster for 28 years. He can’t even solve the problems of 40 percent of Swazis that are unemployed, the country’s highest HIV infection rate per capita in the world, and the life expectancy of 46 years among the world’s lowest.

 Yet at every annual reed dance, the king takes the opportunity to take a new wife. Is this king ignorant, serious, or a joker?

Horrible tribal marks of a Yoruba woman

He recently married a girl of fifteen. Apart from the continued abuse of young girls, the king’s  wealth includes  expensive cars (fleets of top-of-the-range Mercedes and BMW cars, at least one Rolls-Royce and a $500,000 Daimler Chrysler flagship Maybach 62) and the private jet ($17 million), while the citizens wallow in poverty. 

This money can be invested in education and health care to develop his country. Have you seen how stupid and ignorant some of these African leaders are?

When Asia is making headlines around the world, it’s about business, but in the case of Africa, it’s about poverty, corruption, war, conflicts and such stupid traditions and customs, draining Africa’s coffers and under-developing Africa. 

I have said this and I will repeat once again “If African leaders want the Advanced World to respect them, they should show a little intelligence and maturity because they underestimate and laugh at Africa.

THE WONDERS OF AVOCADO PEAR FOR THE HEALTH

Sliced Avocado pear

You’ve probably seen avocados being touted as a heart-healthy super-food in recent years. Realistically, the truth isn't too far off from the hype. The next time you're grabbing that burrito or turkey sandwich, you might want to consider adding a healthy dollop of guacamole. 

Here are four reasons that you should consider eating a little bit of avocado each day.

1. You may reduce your risk of heart disease.

Heart disease is the number 1 killer in the United States, affecting nearly 27 million adults, so it only makes sense that we would want to protect ourselves by being more health-conscious in our dietary choices. 

Avocados have been shown to positively benefit our cardiovascular system in a number of ways due to its low saturated fat and high unsaturated fat content (predominantly the monounsaturated fat (MUFA) variety). Consuming excess saturated fat (>10% of total calories) may raise your LDL and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. 

On the contrary, consuming adequate unsaturated fat in your diet may help lower LDL-cholesterol (bad cholesterol), maintain HDL-cholesterol (good cholesterol) and potentially improve your insulin sensitivity.

In addition its nutritious fat content, avocados also contain a potent mix of nutrients (e.g., potassium and lutein), including plenty of antioxidants such as carotenoids, called xanthophylls, and phenols. These compounds can help prevent inflammation and oxidative stress in the blood vessels while facilitating improved blood flow.

2. You may have an easier time maintaining your weight

Eating fat to lose fat; who would have thought? Avocados can help with weight-loss and maintaining a healthy BMI by promoting a feeling of satiety. 

A recent study showed that including avocado in meals helped extend feelings of fullness and reduced the desire to overindulge. The belly-filling properties of avocados are aided by their high fiber content, about 14g per fruit on average. 

In addition, higher avocado consumption has been associated with smaller waistlines and lower BMIs in observational studies. Lastly, some research has even shown that weight-loss diets higher in MUFA, like the kind avocados, are packed with, may prove healthier for your heart than low-fat weight-loss diets.

3. You might reduce your risk of cancer

Avocados provide us with numerous phytochemicals that may help prevent cancer, including the previously discussed xanthophylls and phenols. 

A protein compound called glutathione, along with the xanthophyll lutein (both found in avocados), has been associated with decreased rates of oral cancer. Preliminary data also show promising results for avocados' potential role in reducing the risk of both breast and prostate cancers. 

Additionally, preliminary studies demonstrate that a specific type of fav derived from avocados is able to exert anti-cancer effects on acute myeloid leukemia cells. Together, these studies show that further research needs to be conducted to draw more conclusive results.

4. You will protect your skin and eyes well into old age

As it turns out, avocado carotenoids do quite a number of things for our body. Both lutein and another compound found in avocados called zeaxanthin can slow age-related ocular decline and prevent vision dysfunction. 

In addition, these same two nutrients also act as buffers against oxidative UV damage, keeping our skin smooth and healthy. The bio-availability (ease of absorption by our body) of carotenoids from avocados compared to many other fruits and vegetables makes eating avocados every day a sensible choice.

Certain Mails Can Give You Tears Of Joy

A quote about writing


I’m sure every writer, once or many times in his or her lifetime may receive a mail from someone interested in his work or articles. I have received hundreds of mails of admiration over my writings. One of the mails I received recently touched me after reading. I decided to publish it…

As a writer, there are certain things you need to keep in mind. You can’t please everyone. Many would like you and others will hate you, but don’t let those little impediments distract your attention or hurt your feelings.

Many writers or bloggers avoid getting into conflict with readers or try to write articles not to offend others, but at times your article will spark controversy, arguments, and hatred, when you aren’t expecting it.

I had a big problem on LinkedIn’s platform when I wrote an article entitled ‘Why many Africans are allergic to reading? The aim of the article is to encourage reading, but it turned out to be an article which nearly caused my crucifixion or lynching by some Africans that find the article unsavory.

When you find yourself in such a situation, don’t lose your temper, remain calm and try to explain the significance of the article. You may receive negative comments, yet still, be positive. You may lose some followers, but don’t let that bother you, because those that aren’t ready to learn, aren’t also ready to accept any explanation.

This one of my favorite mails last week.

Hi Joel

Just extending my appreciation of your work.  I have read some articles of yours and your interview with Magda Cristina Butucea.  It was poignant!  To know that we still have those who believe in the truth among the profession is consolatory.  I am what you will call a misdirected man (turning 50 soon).

I spent time chasing something I never believed in but thought it was the means to an end – the empowerment of Africans in Europe.  It was a delusion and spent time in prison through malicious prosecutions.  

Like you, I loved writing since I was in my primary school years.  I helped write letters for those who could not read to their families who were far away from their places of work.

I neglected this part of me.  I have decided to spend time doing it now and set up a publishing company with a focus on selling African literature and the creation of educational projects in the form of publications to help spread the truth about our history.  Once again, I am inspired and honored to read about you.

Best Regards Chez Winakabs

NB. I give thanks to Chez Winakabs. I wish this article will encourage other bloggers or writers to experience many obstacles to continue writing without ceasing. 

Dandara: A Great Black Woman That Made History

Dandara


It’s our responsibility to dig out great stories of black history. Many are racists because of your color black, but during the First and Second World Wars, White soldiers painted their faces black to avoid detection by enemies. 

Many blacks survived because enemies hardly had a glimpse at them. This is a short story of one of the greatest black women fighters in black history.

Dandara was an Afro-Brazilian Woman, Warrior who lived in the 1600s. She was a co-founder of Palmares, a run-away slave community (quilombo) that thrived for almost a century.

Bravely she fought alongside Zumbi and others defending the freedom of her people and her community. Palmares was eventually overthrown by Dutch and Portuguese colonizers, but rather than return to slavery, Dandara took her own life as an act of resistance.

Why Many Africans Call Me The White Negro

Micro-Surgeon and Scientist Johan Van Dongen

Micro-Surgeon and scientist, Johan Van Dongen, is a Dutchman, born in Rotterdam. Like most scientists, he has enjoyed a very good life in his laboratory professional duties and also as a former lecturer in the university. 

His love for mankind is exceptional since he believes every the living thing on earth which has breath, needs to properly care for, instead of destruction.

 His priority is engagement,  commitment, and love for Africans and Africa in general, the fact that the continent of Africa, has suffered a great deal in the hands of the Europeans and Americans.  

Africans are mocked, abused, raped, mutilated, forced to move homes, used as slaves and guinea pigs for drug tests, by the criminal pharmaceutical, medical, political and military establishments.

                           

“Thousands of Africans are killed by foreign countries and corrupt African regimes. I think now it is time to pay back the ordinary African people, what we took from them." 

"The reason it’s has been one of my responsibilities to expose in my books, which were published in Dutch, that Aids and Ebola were indeed medical crimes committed against Africa,” says Professor Johan Van Dongen.

                         

 “There is absolutely no place for egos or what so ever and I think especially Africans within the diaspora, should help Africans without delay and with all the engagement they have."

"It will not cost Africans in the Diaspora to work on a documentary film, to bring to the understanding of the common man that Aids and Ebola were medical crimes against Africa." 

"Such a project would bring respect for the Africans in the Diaspora, to lift the image of Africa, after all, that’s where their descendants were stolen from,” stressed Dongen.

                             

“I am very fortunate that several Africans call me a white negro because I work unselfishly and because of my whistleblowing work, by revealing that Aids and Ebola were medical crimes against humanity, I lost almost everything."

"There is no one other to blame for my bitter experience, than myself, because I knew what I’m going to pass through in a country like Holland. But I chose the path of integrity than mixing with white-collar liars, butchers, killers and ruthless people.”

                             

“I am not looking for money or fame. What I am looking for are people with a heart for Africa in the first place and I have found one in Joel Savage. He has that kind of heart and that is why he is a friend for life…As for African leaders,  I feel very sorry for them, because many have disappointed Africans miserably.

THE COST OF TERROR IN BRUSSELS

Brussels

Article originally published in Global Risks Insight: Know Your World

Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union is experiencing some immediate economic effects resulting from recent terror threats in 2015. This city’s experience may prove to be a blueprint for other cities in 2016.

Following the deadly terrorist attacks that shocked France and the world on November 13^th, 2015, the global attention turned to Brussels as the majority of the Islamist militants that took part in the French massacre had links to the European capital.

In addition, in late November Belgian authorities temporarily raised the terrorist threat level to its highest tier given the presence of a reportedly imminent terrorist threat.

This led to substantial disruptions in the capital in what came to be defined as “Brussels Lockdown”. The terrorist threat again came as an obstacle to the normal life of Brussels’ residents when authorities banned all public New Year’s Eve festivities on December 31^st because of a reported plan to carry out an attack in the capital.

This prolonged state of insecurity has had a negative impact on the economic and social life of the capital. Since November 2015, Brussels, along with other European capitals, has been experiencing first-hand the cost of terror. 

The most overt statistics pertaining to touristic activities, social outings and public gatherings show a general change in the perception of the city and overall evolution in the local mood.

Throughout the duration of the “Brussels Lockdown”, thousands of travelers planning to reach the capital canceled their flights. At the highest point of this trend, more than 2,000 flight cancellations were recorded on November 25^th. 

While this push to avoid Brussels slowly stopped after the terrorist threat level was lowered, there were on average 6,000 flights per day to Brussels in early December 2015, approximately 1,500 less than in the same period of 2014.

A similar trend has been verified for the overall occupation rate of hotels in the capital. In early December, approximately 55% of Brussels’ hotel rooms were occupied against more than 73% during the same period of 2014.

Ubiquitous precautions

This situation had a direct impact on the economic and social life of the European capital throughout the Christmas and New Year’s festivities. The annual Christmas market organized and held in the historical center of Brussels has experienced a drop in attendance of more than 30%. 

In addition, New Year’s Eve saw a major drop in demand for restaurant bookings and, as such, at least one out of every two restaurants in the capital closed their doors on the last night of 2015.

The aforementioned statistics are only an initial effect of the impact that the emergence of a new terror threat is having on western European economies. 

The Belgian example is noteworthy as local security and intelligence agencies have so far been successful in countering the threat posed by Islamist militants, and no major mass-casualty attack has occurred in the country.

However, the enhanced presence of military personnel in the streets of Brussels, as well as the ongoing discourse over the current will of

terrorist organizations to target the capital, led to a mood change among the local population. 

The fear of potential attacks is playing as a long-term obstacle to private expenditures, tourism and the participation in major public social events.

As such, beyond the immediate security concerns raised by the risk of terrorist attacks, public officials face the need to adapt the ongoing counter-terrorism strategy in order not to hinder the socio-economic life of western European countries.

DR. JEFF BRADSTREET WAS MURDERED FOR OPPOSING AUTISM VACCINE

Dr. Jeffery Bradstreet

Not everyone is interested in lies, hypocrisy, and crime, this is one of the reasons my blog has been one of the successful blogs, attracting readers worldwide from over 185 countries.

With the Dutch Micro-Surgeon and scientist, Johan Van Dongen, we shall continue to profit from the weakness and incompetence of the foreign media, (Europe and America) to give the general public hungry for the truth over Aids and Ebola.

We are putting on the Armour of truth, just like last year, without changing our identities and style of writing. T

hose so-called super powers, World Health Organization and Center for Diseases Control fighting hard to cover up those medical crimes in Africa, should bow their heads in shame and ask God for forgiveness, if African leaders are weak, scared and failed to deal with the issue.

There are so many organizations worldwide, fighting to alleviate poverty. Poverty-stricken countries appreciate their efforts and will continue to give them every necessary support they deserve, yet it needs to be said, that effort is like going to the riverside with a basket to fetch some water. It’s a total waste of time and energy.

Poverty alleviation is a dream of illusion. It’s only a poor man’s hope. The so-called superpowers wouldn’t let it happen. How can the corrupt Europe and America pharmaceutical companies profit from man-made diseases plagued on Africans to sustain their economies?

If Africa becomes like any of those advanced continents, where would America and Europe turn to, when ready to find people to use as Guinea pigs, to test those manufactured contaminated and diseased drugs?

In the eighties, some people, including famous celebrities were diagnosed with HIV. Many are still living today, while millions of HIV patients from 1980 have perished and continue perishing. 

This is enough evidence that the drugs sent to Africa for HIV/AIDS patients are either fake or contaminated to increase the plight of Africans.

Another evidence is that the corrupt Europe and America pharmaceutical companies established this plan to make a profit out of Africa’s misery. It will be recalled that last year Micro-Surgeon Johan Van Dongen published an article entitled

“Any African HIV Patient That Swallows AZT Tablet, Is A Lunatic” as a warning to African leaders.

Both the European and American governments are secretly at war with anyone who tries to ruin the profit-oriented pharmaceutical companies since it’s the lifeblood sustaining the economies. 

This is the reason Dr. Jeff Bradstreet was killed, just a few days after publishing research-based on the claim that vaccines caused autism.

Just like always, the European and American media covered up the crime relating to his death and published that he was found in an apparent suicide, and died of what seems to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest when there wasn’t evidence that Dr. Bradstreet had any suicidal tendencies.

Living in such a world that cares about money than the welfare and health of people is very dangerous. Poverty is indeed a tool used to sustain crime. 

Some of the police and judges are paid from crime and cheap labor rendered to the government institutions, from criminals thrown into jail. Do you expect this to end poverty? Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

She Has No Wings But Wants To Fly

A bitter relationship is like a toothache in the middle of the night, the experience is sleepless nights

“None of my boyfriends stayed with me for longer than a year. I have already dated five men, but all of them are gone and still, I’m single at  thirty-five.” That’s the statement that pretty lady said to her friend. 

Her friend listens to her with emotions, because she could clearly see how the destructive love life of Tamma, has taken its toll on her best friend. Yes! Tamma has been Paulina’s best friend for over a decade but both have problems they weren’t ready to give up. Pride!

There is no gentleman ready to date a lady full of pride and arrogance. Many don’t know how pride can be destructive. Even though men like to date beautiful ladies, they pray to meet someone humble and submissive.

That doesn’t mean that they want someone weak to dominate. Men can’t stand women that are not ready to accept the mistakes they do. Men are not perfect too and ready to accept mistakes, but many times women are not prepared to accept mistakes because of pride.

It’s a big mistake if you think the dress you wear makes you a lady. Humbleness, respect, smile and good character, are some of the qualities men looking for in women.

Believe me, if you are a woman and don’t have any of these qualities, you are bound to face many obstacles in your relationship. Don’t let your beauty deceive you. You will surely get the man you are looking for today, but you’ll find yourself alone in bed tomorrow.

No matter how beautiful and intelligent you are, don’t let pride overtakes you. Without wings, you may feel like a bird flying high, but at the end of the day, you’ll find yourself at the same place you started. Do away with pride and arrogance and enjoy a better relationship.

Tourism, Step Into The Paradise Taste Of Tropical Fruits In Ghana

Home sweet home: Joel Savage enjoys the sweet juicy coconut water

The axiom, “All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy” might have originally been conceived by a domestic idealist, who knows the truth. Working hard without a break can affect your health. The impact can take its toll on you.

This is the reason I decided to visit my mother at the age of 80, in Ghana, after five years. Seeing her grey hair, but strong and healthy, boosted my happiness. In my daily prayers, I always ask God to give her a long life, to enjoy her fruits of labor, and it seems He has answered my prayers.

My mother after losing her husband at the age of 44, in 1976, without any support, took the responsibility alone to make sure that we were fed, clothed, accommodated, and educated.

In Ghana, I visited many places including the Cape Coast castle, in the central region of Ghana and some villages, such as ‘Akatechiwa’ which has an intriguing story leading to the village’s name. I will be sharing all the interesting articles pertaining to my visit with you very soon on social media.

Apart from my adventure and exploration, I enjoyed the fresh tropical fruits, such as coconut, mango, sweet apple, etc. Many in foreign countries, such as Europeans and Americans may have the experience of tasting juicy canned tropical fruits, but nothing compares to the original fresh taste of tropical fruits taken moments from the trees in Ghana or Africa generally.

Many Europeans and Americans yearly make a trip to Ghana to explore its ancient castles and forts and some have settled finally in the country, saying goodbye to Europe and America. Don’t let the foreign media deceive you. Be part of those visiting Ghana.

The Coconut tree: I know that there are thousands of readers interested in the non-fiction genre of books, thus; one of my goals is to share my non-fiction books through the diversity of culture. My utterly and compelling collections are destined to capture the reader’s attention and interest, to learn about other people’s culture and heritage.

My books are in the categories of travel, immigration, health, and entertainment. The personal account of the stories reflect on the places I visited in Africa, such as Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin, and Gambia. And in Europe, it’s about life in Barcelona, Spain, Aarhus, Denmark, England, Amsterdam, Holland, Rome, Italy, and Antwerp, Belgium.

The African stories act like a guide to European and Americans tourists. The books will teach you how to avoid being a victim to thieves, armed robbers and immigration crooks, that prey on nationals and foreigners, while the Europeans stories teach Africans how to survive in Europe, without papers and crime.