Primitive lives that undermine Africa's development

Is this culture, tradition, or illiteracy?

No one gives respect to countries in which citizens don’t have any respect for themselves or their leaders. Slavery, colonialism, apartheid, AIDS, Ebola, or whatever is not possible in the developed world, but is possible in Africa because Africans trust and give respect to the white man, while they hate themselves.

The way Africans, including Ghanaians, hate and treat themselves will always be an opportunity for the developed world to do any evil thing they wish in the African continent, because, after all, they don’t love themselves.

Last year, during a meeting, President Donald Trump referred to African countries, Haiti, and El Salvador as "shithole" nations.  The 55-nation African Union said the remarks were clearly racist, while Botswana's government called Trump's comment reprehensible and racist. Yet, many African countries, including Ghana, continue to insult themselves, followed by derogatory comments.

The question is: Why was the African continent angry with Trump if Ghanaians are calling their leaders’ names worse than the reference to Africa as a ‘shithole nation ’? Recently, I posted an article on the ModernGhana news site entitled “Two Mistakes That Have Given Nana Akufo-Addo International Recognition.” https://bit.ly/2BTjb8A

It was an article based on facts, without any insult to the president, yet there was a comment from someone who said, “This is what you can write about your president? Stupid fool, this is not gonna affect the president, but the entire nation. Destroying the president to the world is like destroying the whole nation.”

I replied to the one by saying, “This is the problem with stupid Ghanaians such as Owoahene; they can't stand the truth. You are stupid, the reason you can't even write your real name. In the first place, your president is the only person who has 110 ministers and copied American leaders’ speeches. What's wrong with my article?

Yet, that Ghanaian who wasn’t happy with what I wrote has no guts or brain to protest or comment against the insults directed at the former Ghanaian leader, John Mahama. Just read the Ghanaian papers, including ModernGhana, and you’ll be shocked to read names, insults, and derogatory comments against the ex-Ghanaian leader, yet Africans often accuse the white man of being racist.

According to history, civilization began in Africa, but sometimes, I doubt if this history carries any truth because Africa is the most backward, heavily demented, superstitious, and illiterate continent, without any progress, yet not ready to change their ways and outrageous characters. Hypocrisy, corruption, nepotism, tribalism, and hatred are what Africa stands for.

When it comes to hypocrisy, I can say with confidence that about 65% of Ghanaians are pure hypocrites. Many don’t read before passing comments. I shared my experience in an article captioned “Why Travelling To Ghana Scares Me To Death,’ after losing 10,000 euros I invested in Ghana due to a fraudulent chief who sold the land for me.

The article didn’t generate many comments on ‘ModernGhana,’ but it got 55 comments on ‘GhanaWeb.’ After going through the comments, I was shocked to read what some Ghanaians wrote. Under some of my articles, some people have used my name—Joel Savage, like the commenter—even though I hardly visit Ghanaweb. Why do many Ghanaians behave in that way?

To find the truth behind AIDS and Ebola as biological weapons, I travelled to see one of Holland’s best scientists, former Professor Johan Van Dongen, and then later went to Germany to see Dr. Wolff Geisler, who has also written books about AIDS, Ebola, and other man-made diseases.

The two in medical professions don’t know each other, yet the documents they gave me all point fingers at the US government for creating the biological weapons AIDS and Ebola to depopulate the rapidly growing population of Africa, destabilize our economy, and take control over Africa’s rich resources.

Yet, when I started publishing the truth behind Aids and Ebola on the ModernGhana news site, many people, including Ghanaians, attacked and insulted me. What kind of hypocrisy is that, and how do Africans expect Africa to grow if they maintain such ugly attitudes?

Foreign diplomats, including Americans, continue to surround Africa, taking pictures with African leaders with beautiful smiles. Do African leaders think foreign powers like them because they are Black or African? It’s because of what they desperately need in Africa, the rich resources; they show that false smile and love to African leaders.

They say Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome originated in Africa. Has any intelligent African leader asked the US government, "Why haven't thousands of African-Americans been to Africa before after slavery?" Therefore, why has the disease AIDS drastically affected both original Africans and African-Americans in the same manner?  

How do we expect Africa to move forward if the continent is under leaders interested in the money the US government gives them to cover up every crime committed, rather than the welfare and health of its citizens? Yesterday was AIDS, today is Ebola, and who knows what comes tomorrow?

The Execution Of Those Accused Of Corruption By Rawlings Is Meaningless

Late Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa and Ignatius Kutu Acheampong


Certain things justify the means or purpose, the moment they are achieved, but after some time, the rebirth of the same situation or when history repeats itself in the worst manner, it reveals the waste of precious time, accompanied by hate. 

This is the case of John Jerry Rawlings. In 1976, Rawlings envisaged that corruption had overflowed its banks in Ghana under successive Ghanaian leaders; therefore, he needed to do something about it to save Ghana and bring happiness to the Ghanaians. 
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 In what he termed a 'House Cleaning Exercise,' as many as eight army officers, including three heads of state, were accused of corruption and when found guilty, they were executed. 

Rawlings suddenly became a hero in the eyes of millions of Ghanaians, but how does he feel now to see Ghana today, worse than the period he accused those Ghanaian leaders of corruption and had them executed? 


Rawlings, who claims he wants to eradicate corruption, said, "The executed officers were jumbo-sized armed robbers whose execution left the world smelling sweeter. Is Ghana smelling sweeter now, Mr. Rawlings? 

May I ask Rawlings what name he would give to the present Ghanaian leaders running the state affairs that have plundered Ghana and riddled the state coffers with bullets of corruption more than those he accused of corruption and executed?

You ruled Ghana for almost 20 years. Can you put your hands on the Holy Bible and swear that during your tenure, you never engaged in any sort of corruption? 

If there is going to be another military person in Ghana today, with the same mentality as Rawlings of 1979, I don't think any Ghanaian leader from your time till now will be spared.

This is the reason today, I am telling you that the execution of those people you accused of corruption is meaningless and a spill of precious blood because nothing significant was achieved compared to what we are witnessing in Ghana at the moment.

WHY NIGHT DRIVING IN GHANA IS OFTEN DANGEROUS

All roads and highways in Europe have lights to make night driving very easy

Many drivers believe that it is easier to drive in the night since the density of traffic is very low, enabling one to drive fast and calm but there are a lot of factors which create difficulties during night driving. This is one of the reasons there are many road accidents in Ghana.

Apart from bad roads, many vehicles on Ghanaian roads are not road worthy and the lack of proper road maintenance poses a threat to the lives of thousands of motorists, using Ghanaian roads.

Related topic: How Safe It Is To Ride A Bicycle In Ghana?

https://www.modernghana.com/news/875357/how-safe-it-is-to-ride-a-bicycle-in-ghana.html

In Ghana, the driving license unit in Accra, is the only recognized institution that conducts thorough examination on vehicles, for example, the lights, indicators, headlights and backlights, before the roadworthy certificate is issued but  one of the most important things, which is the adjustment of  headlights to the right level is not an important issue.

Many European drivers fail a vehicle examination or control test because of poor adjustment of headlights. Since the headlights are not adjusted to the right level, it creates difficulties for motorists. Badly adjusted headlight shines directly into the eyes of the oncoming traffic, causing partial blindness which often leads to a number of road accidents in Ghana.

A powerful beam of light blinds the driver, both oncoming and in front of the vehicle. This means that for a while the driver will find difficulty in seeing the road and if the motorist is inexperienced, he can easily drive to the wrong side of the road or can lead to a head-on collision. 

Related topic: Make Ghana Roads Safe With Belgium Road Safety Plan

https://www.modernghana.com/news/873939/make-ghana-roads-safe-with-belgium-road-safety-plan.html

In Africa, including Ghana, since the maintaining of road safety to European or modern standards involves financial matter; no government is willing to invest money into such costly projects. The result is deaths on our roads today in Ghana.

According to ModernGhana news article which appeared in yesterday’s edition, Ghana spends up to $230 million every year treating injuries and traffic fatalities and the situation is worse, since there is fewer than 80 orthopedics in the country, limiting access to emergency treatment.

If that's true then Ghanaian government must consider building safer roads in Ghana.

Lights on highways make night travelling easy and comfortable

Driving in Ghana in the night or travelling in the night is very dangerous due to the fact that one cannot see far and foresee changes in situations. When a vehicle, such a tipper truck or timber trailers break down in the middle of the road in the night it's very difficult to see it. Such situations often cause serious road accidents.

Street projects without lights is a bad job, therefore, the Ghanaian government should take road safety very seriously to reduce the number of road accidents in the night.

Related topic: So You Think You Know How To Drive?

https://www.modernghana.com/news/855726/so-you-think-you-know-how-to-drive.html

THE ROOTS OF POVERTY IN RESOURCES RICH AFRICA

Slavery is a human genocide

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Africa, especially the region located in the south of the Sahara, is the poorest region of the planet. At the end of 1993, 11 African countries were among the 15 poorest countries. Although this can not be said about North Africa because of oil. 

The poverty of the African continent is exacerbated by a population explosion. Since the continent is unstable, many think Africa is unattractive for capital investments. Despite the vast resources, there is poverty in Africa, and the poor are totally dependent on agriculture.

Although there are a lot of modern reasons for such a lag in development, however, the roots of the problem go back to the distant past, when Europeans who believed that they were superior and more civilized, needed people with different skin color to work for them.

From the middle of the 15th century, slave markets and the sale of African slaves began. They were used as domestic servants, and a great percentage was used in agricultural fields. 

After the Europeans destroyed the indigenous population of the New World, slaves from Africa were exported to America. Only a hundred years from the 1680s, through the 1780s, from Angola to the Spanish colonies of the West Indies took about a million people.

During the slave trade, peculiar slave routes arose. From Europe to Africa, merchants carried firearms, cold arms, alcoholic beverages, copper, iron products, dishes, and glass baubles. 

There, they exchanged these cheap things for the lives of African slaves, which were delivered to the American colonies. In turn, in the New World, black slaves were exchanged for colonial goods highly valued in Europe, such as tobacco, sugar, cotton, etc. 

This brought huge profits to European traders, especially the English ones. Many cities, such as Manchester, London, Liverpool, Bristol, Nantes and Rouen, Dutch Amsterdam, and many others, owe their well-being to the slave trade.

It was only after the European powers divided the whole of Africa among themselves that their governments began a determined struggle against the slave trade. The colonialists did not regard black people as humans and treated them worse than animals. 

In Africa itself, the slaves were very cheap, and their influx to the markets of the New World led to the fact that their prices were rather low; therefore, the 'living goods' traders, striving for the highest profits, tried not to spend money on the slaves. 

In shackles, they were carried in a cramped ship, and the only possible way for them to survive was to sit. Swimming from the coast of Africa across the Atlantic took several weeks, so often slaves died on the way. 

According to some scientists, for every black African brought to the American colonies, there were about 8 people killed during the voyage or during the transition to the coast, and roughly in total,

Africa had lost over 100 million people in the slave trade. 

The slave trade hindered the development of the African continent, hindered the development of agriculture, and prevented the creation of African states. 

According to historians, the slave trade was one of the reasons why the majority of the African population still lives in abject poverty. 

Surprisingly, Africa is still not free. Since slavery and colonization are no longer possible, Africa is now being targeted with strange diseases from 'heaven' yet created by man, not God. 

CAN A MAN LOVE ONE WOMAN IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE?

Francisca Savage

Many experts and doctors claim that any man is polygamous by nature. This means that they absolutely cannot remain faithful to one woman but be tempted to love another woman or cheat on their wife because, as human beings, it’s really hard to resist temptation sometimes.

If that’s true, why are there marriages that have lasted from the very first day till death separates them? In fact, there are thousands of faithful men in their entire lives who loved only one woman.

January 1, 2018, marked 24 years of our wedding anniversary. On that day, I promised to go forward without looking back, prepared to face the rigors of marriage and settle as a responsible man.

Before then, finding or choosing the right woman to be my future partner was like a nightmare, taking into consideration the number of people getting a divorce every day after tying the knot.

It’s very common to see hundreds of couples at wedding ceremonies, particularly on Sundays, making vows and promises to love each other and bringing an entire room to tears. 

After the wedding or traditional marriage, they start a big celebration together with family and friends, and the couple is full of hopes and dreams, but like the fading sun, many marriages fail to last.

Marriages are now characterized by many problems, to the extent that many fear marrying. As a matter of fact, marriage is a journey not only full of happiness but also pain, tragedies, misery, sadness, and uncertainty.

Even though there are hundreds of articles online and books on how to be a successful couple to enjoy a happy marriage, many marriages still end up in separation or divorce.

The question is: Why do some marriages last forever and others disintegrate? There are many reasons leading to the break-up of marriages, but most reasons are not spending enough time together with your partner, cheating, allowing bitterness and resentment to overrule the heart, being hard to forgive, and financial issues.

Making vows is very easy, but the results of some bitter separations and divorces could be disastrous. Some breakups of marriages have led partners to mental institutions, and others, after a long time, still find it difficult to come to terms with what had happened to them.

If children are involved, some are badly affected depending on how old they are.  Unfortunately, many couples do not recognize the Holy Bible as one of the best books that could guide marriage to success and happiness.

Gen 49:4, Mal 2:14, Matt 23:30, Deut 24:5, Mark 12:23, etc., all speak about marriages. When I got married on January 1, 1994, I realized that wealth doesn’t guarantee a happy marriage, but faithfulness, respect, fulfilling your commitments, and equally sharing responsibilities do.

I have enjoyed a happy marriage for over two decades, knowing that there is more happiness ahead of me, because I have a good wife who loves and respects me, while I give back the same love and respect to her.

On many occasions when my wife is busy at work and at home, I usually ask her what she would like me to cook. By the time she returns, the food is ready for her and the children.

Mr. and Mrs. Francisca / Joel Savage

Taking such responsibilities strengthens marriage. I have heard many times men saying, “I’m not stupid enough to let my woman know how much I earn.” That’s a very big mistake; one of the strongest foundations of marriage is transparency.

When you are a married man, don’t hide anything from your wife. Your wife is the one who can manage your finances very well if there is trust and mutual understanding.

Many times, I forget that I have even given her money to keep for me until she reminds me. ‘A woman is like a beautiful flower in the middle of the garden, and the man is the fence around her.’ That’s a Ghanaian proverb, I think so.

Be ready to say to your wife, “I am sorry,” any time you make a mistake. If you find it hard to apologize to your wife, there will always be a misunderstanding.

Give your wife the respect, love, and protection she needs, and surely you will also be a happy man. We are blessed with three sons, and from every angle, I can't see what is strong enough to separate us from death.

WHY VISIT JAMAICA IN YOUR LIFE TIME

The lead singer of reggae group Culture, Joseph Hill

Many people call Jamaica a paradise on earth, the diamond in the sea, and heaven in the Caribbean. There is magic in Jamaica, but listening to the great reggae tunes isn’t enough until you visit this great country in the Caribbean, which has attracted millions of tourists worldwide.

The mere mention of Jamaica brings to mind great reggae artists such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Joseph Hill (Culture), Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Maytals, Desmond Decker, and other artists, but there is more in Jamaica that makes it unique than the sweet coconut-water reggae.

Jamaica is part of the Greater Antilles and is the third-largest island located south of Cuba and west of Haiti. The island boasts of beautiful, exotic nature, vibrant, distinctive, magnificent mountains, breathtaking waterfalls, and miles of first-class beaches.

The natural beauty of Jamaica attracts travellers from all over the world. The most visited places of the island include the Blue Mountains, where one of the most popular and top quality coffees in the world comes from, and Dunn's River Waterfalls.

In the northwest of the island, there is a huge resort area of Montego Bay, where half of the best hotels in Jamaica are located, including Half Moon Resort, where Queen Elizabeth II stayed, and Round Hill Hotel and Villas. 

It is understandable why the island boasts of beautiful, exotic natural beaches, places untouched by humans, good infrastructure, and beautiful locations, such as Font Hill Nature Reserve, Cockpit Country, a limestone platform with many caves and valleys. 

Montego Bay is famous for its magnificent beaches, old mansions, and plantations, as well as many attractions of historic and entertaining attractions. Tourists enjoy their visit by rafting along the rivers Marta Brae, Black River, taking a tour of the Blue Mountains, or play golf on the best fields of the island.

Negril is one of the most environmentally friendly resort areas in the world. It is located in the west of the island, revealing its natural beauty of the seven-mile sandy beach of Kaliko Jack, Bladi Bay, 18 reefs and islands in Bubi Bay, Yas waterfall, Joseph caves, Anansi Park, and picturesque fishing villages.

It's intriguing to know that Jamaicans also call inconsistent or untrue stories 'Ananse stories.'

The resort of Ocho Rios in the north of the island is famous for its chic tropical vegetation, as well as the 180-meter-high Dunn River Falls, fruit and coffee plantations, and the viewing platform of Murphy Hill with a height of 670 meters. 

The famous Blue Lagoon, where the filming of the same name (The Blue Lagoon) took place, can be visited in the north-east of the island, in Port Antonio, and in the south-east of the country. It is worth visiting the Spanish town, the former capital and one of the main attractions of the island. 

Diving in Jamaica gives the chance to see the diverse and mysterious underwater world. The waters of Negril have great visibility with a rich variety of fish, turtles, eels, and dolphins. At a depth of 19 m reveals the so-called Throne Room is revealed, a cave filled with yellow sponges. 

On the territory of Jamaica, there are 10 excellent golf courses, because Jamaicans love this sport very much. In Kingston, the capital, you can also enjoy the sight of historic, beautiful buildings, paintings, and products inspired by Rastafarians.

Amazingly, today, Jamaica is no longer known as the reggae kingdom, but also an athletics country, thanks to good athletes, such as Melene Ottey, Asafa Powell Usain Bolt, etc.

Joel Savage's interview with Joseph Hill

 MY FULL INTERVIEW WITH JOSEPH HILL

Joel: I have to call you, Sir Joseph Hill. Let’s rally round Jehovah’s throne. I have a few questions to ask you today.

Joseph: You are welcome. (Then he smiled)

Joel: It was in the seventies, I heard of Culture. Can you please tell what has inspired you to be in this hard music industry for all these years?

Joseph: It’s Jah (referring to God) that gives me the strength. Always feel that there is something to watch out for. For myself, I love to play for the people. They are also part of my inspiration. These are what have inspired me throughout these years.

Joel: You have been singing all your life about corruption, oppression, war, poverty, discrimination, crime, and so on. Were you a victim of such things in any circumstances?

Joseph: There are people I saw in comparison to various countries. Yes! yes!! Yes!!! I have seen people die, and not a word of justice has been said. Think of a person’s life. It is priceless. The last grief I had. There was this woman in Afghanistan, separated from the land. They treated her so badly that she and her child were eating grass.” G R A S S- grass”.(Joseph moved with sorrow, spelling the word grass)

Joel: Your lyrics and beats in every song of Culture touch and move everyone on the road of trials and tribulations. Where do you get such wonderful rhythms and lyrics from?

Joseph: The big man who rules the earth. He is the governor. (He laughed)

Joel: You were in Sierra Leone when the war was at its peak, with the brutal fighting activities of the rebels. Did your visit create any impact or bring a change to the suffering masses?

Joseph: Yes, my visit brought a change. When the people saw me, they didn’t know what to say. They just cried and cried. You know the rebels told the government that “You should be glad that Joseph is here. If he weren’t here this place would be destroyed within 24 hours. Imagine. I just came back from there a few weeks ago.”

Joel: I learned that at the capital, Freetown, at the guest house you lodged, there is a tree nearby, and every morning a bird came to sing, and out of the song of the bird, you composed a song from it.

Joseph: Yes, it's true.

Joel: I ask the same question of any reggae artist I interview. Reggae music is loved by everyone. But why is it that the music is given less attention?

Joseph: Because the truth is God’s friend. But not a lot of people are friends of the truth.

Joel: You have been following the Palestinians and Israeli conflict for a very long time and have even visited the Gaza Strip. Who do you think is the stumbling block to this peace everyone is seeking?

Joseph: Greed, greed, greed. Because there is enough to satisfy every man’s need but never enough to satisfy no man’s greed. So greed is the stumbling block.

Joel: In one of your songs, you played a song against Yasser Arafat, as the stumbling block.

Joseph: He made himself like that. He has to change his ways, and the other man would change his ways. There is something called “Repentance”. When repentance meets their hearts, we shall have a beautiful world.

Joel: You successfully came out last year with the remarkable “world peace” album. What message do you still have in mind for your numerous fans worldwide?

Joseph: You know, people should respect one another. To be used, abused, refused, and our hearts trampled by fea and living in doubt, thinking we are living on top of the world. No, we shouldn’t live that way. We have to seek happiness, love, mutual respect, joy,, and justice of God around us, and peace would find its rightful place.

Joel: Thank you very much for this interview, Sir Joseph Hill.

Joseph: Thanks be to Jah

Read other interviews of Anthony B, Andrew Tosh, U-Roy, Prince Malachi, Alton Ellis, Gregory Isaacs, Junior Murvin, Julian Marley, ASWAD, Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Tutu Puoane, and many others in ‘The Passion of Reggae and African Music. 

 Available at: https://www.amazon.com/Joel-Savage/e/B008SCTYI6/

WHY DOES CHINA BREED BLACK CHICKENS?

China adds black chicken to the menu.

Regarding food, the Chinese are known to eat almost everything edible on earth, including snake, frog, dog, reptiles, fried pupas, etc. However, the Chinese have added another special breed of chicken to their menu, an unusual breed of domestic bird with black bones and even black internal organs.

The breed called Chinese silky has very soft, fluffy feathers, and inside it differs from other chickens in the sense that it has a skin of a bluish-black shade, dark meat, as well as black bones. 

In the West, Chinese silky chickens are bred as a rule for decorative purposes, but in China and some other eastern countries, their meat is considered a delicacy and is not available to everyone.

The breed has been known since the 7th century, and it is believed that eating these chickens, known in China as gu chi, 'chicken with black bones,' has a beneficial effect on human health. 

For example, Chinese women traditionally eat Chinese silky chickens after childbirth to restore energy. In addition, the Chinese say that black chicken dishes have a positive effect on the blood, lungs, and stomach.

As a rule, so that the meat of gu Ji fully manifests its unique properties, it is used to make broth with the addition of ginseng, dried wolfberry, and Chinese dates, and such hens are rarely fried.

In 2011, geneticists discovered that the unusual color of the meat and internal organs of these birds, a phenomenon called fibromelanosis, is associated with the mutation of the endothelin-3 gene, which is responsible for the development of pigment, producing cells, which causes an excessive amount of blackening not only of the skin but also of the bones and internal organs.

However, scientists have confirmed that there are unique healing properties in Chinese silky meat. There is an increased level of carnosine, a peptide, in the chicken, which is sold as a food additive. 

People take carnosine to grow mass muscle, slow aging, diabetes, and even autism, and studies have shown that black chicken meat is one of the richest natural sources of this compound. Would you try it when in China?

Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the oldest treatment systems in the world; its history dates back over three thousand years, and many of the treatment principles used by Chinese medicine recognized as effective are being actively introduced into the practice of Western doctors.

THE THREAT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS IN AFRICA

Access to clean drinking water remains a problem in developing Africa.

Environmental problems are not only caused by improper use of nature’s resources but also by unreasonable exploitation, overpopulation of states, low incomes of the population, and unemployment, as the natural environment experiences degradation.

The state of the natural environment of African countries is reflected in the high rates of population reproduction, which are associated with the expansion of acreage and pastures, the growing number of cities, and the excessive and irrational use of natural resources.

The most acute environmental problems of Africa today are reduced soil fertility, accelerated erosion, deforestation, growing water scarcity, deteriorating surface water and air quality, cutting down evergreen forests, and disappearing plant and animal species.

Other causes of environmental problems are the poverty of states and the neglect of environmental consequences. Dirty industries and pollution affect African countries. Environmental degradation also affects food, farming, and livestock.

A typical example of an environmental problem in Africa is that of the Sahel, a vast natural area 400 km wide south of the Sahara from the Atlantic to Ethiopia. The Sahel is a transitional semi-desert zone from deserts to savannas.

The northern boundary of the Sahel is the isoline of the annual precipitation amount of 100–200 mm, and the southern boundary is 600 mm. The average temperature here is + 27 ... + 29 ° С. The humid summer period does not last long, and 80–90% of the precipitation evaporates.

The dry season lasts 8-10 months. The main type of economic activity over the centuries has been nomadic and semi-nomadic cattle breeding. During the wet season, cattle graze in the north of the Sahel, and in the dry season, it is distilled to the south.

This use of land led to a violation of the ecological balance in the twentieth century, which resulted in an increase in the area and the movement of deserts to the south, up to 10 km per year, desertification, and the transformation of arid lands into desert.

The main consequence of this process is an increase in the number of droughts. Some of them went down in history as the 'Sahel tragedy, from 1968 to 1974, and from 1984 to 1985. Africa has 17% of the world's forests. 

Spontaneous deforestation for firewood, valuable trees leads to a reduction of forests. Africa has lost 90% of its evergreen coastal rainforests. In Madagascar, for example, evergreen forests are preserved only in small areas in the east of the island.

A crucial problem in Africa is the shortage of freshwater. To solve it, scientists have proposed various watering projects, for example, in the Sahara. There are projects of diversion of the Congo River to the Sahara and the creation on the site of the ancient lakes of Chad, the Sahara, and Chad.

The presence of rapids on African rivers creates conditions for the irrigation of drylands through the construction of large reservoirs. Reservoirs Kariba on the Zambezi River, Nasser on the Nile River, are examples of the rational use of African surface water.

Poor waste disposal and pollution in Africa an opportunities to invite strange diseases from the developed world to Africa.

National Parks of African countries are taking steps to save wildlife. For these purposes, specially protected areas are created. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the first national parks appeared in Africa: Albert, Virunga, Serengeti, Rwenzori, etc.

After liberation from colonial oppression, 25 new national parks were created at once, and by the beginning of the XXI century, protected areas accounted for more than 7% of its territory. The first place in the number of national parks is Kenya (15% of the area).

The largest in the area is Tsavo National Park, more than 2 million hectares, where lions, rhinos, giraffes, Kafa buffaloes, and 450 bird species are protected. The park is best known for herding elephants. In South Africa, savannahs and South African fauna are protected.

Timber exports within parentheses in Africa generate large income for many African countries, yet Africa faces threatening challenges, such as deforestation.

Westerners come to the continent for quality wood, so the area of tropical forests has significantly decreased. African leaders must find solutions to save our continent because the continuous cutting down of trees will affect the population and the environment.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION IN ETHIOPIA

Men's activities during the Christmas celebration in Ethiopia

The 

Christmas celebration is based on the country, culture, and tradition. Ethiopia is one of the few countries where Christmas is celebrated in accordance with the traditions of the first Christians. Orthodox Christians celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Christ.

Every year, thousands of tourists come to see how Orthodox residents conduct holiday ceremonies in churches carved out of volcanic rock and in modern temples. 

Many Ethiopians are Christians, and in the Ethiopian calendar, the most important dates are, of course, the New Year, celebrated on September 11, Christmas on January 7, baptism on January 19, while the Feast of the Cross or Meskel takes place on September 27.

During the New Year holidays, Christmas is usually celebrated in northern Ethiopia, in Lalibela, a small town with a population of 30,000 people, where pilgrims and tourists from all over the world flocked.

A very beautiful service in the church begins on the evening of January 6 and ends at dawn on January 7. If one considers himself a believer, one can join the local people, who dress in white clothes, walk around the church three times, with candles in their hands, and then go to the priests for Holy Communion and blessing.

For Christmas, a traditional game resembling field hockey is held in Aksum, while a special coffee ceremony is held. Songs throughout the whole day, and residents dance on the streets from dawn to dusk. 

The people of Ethiopia have a special reverence for the temple. People begin to be baptized a few hundred meters before the temple, some crawling on their knees. “Ganna,” Ethiopian Christmas, begins with the fact that everyone who comes into the church is given candles.

With a lit candle, a person bypasses the church three times and only then stands for the liturgy. On the eve of the holiday, it begins in the evening and often lasts all night. Women and men in the temple pray separately. The women are usually on the right side and the men on the left.

Female activities during the Christmas celebration in Ethiopia

In the morning, all the believers form a bright and elegant procession that goes to a nearby hill. The Divine Liturgy is served there, and then everyone eats one piece of the doro-wot from the hands of another believer.

Ethiopians bake injera, a huge cake made from yeast dough. It serves both as a plate and a napkin to take a piece of chicken. Also, in many homes during Christmas, chicken in peanuts is served as a snack or hot dish. But Dors-Uot, a piece of stewed chicken with spices, is served at a brotherly meal.

Christmas celebration in Ethiopia, indeed, puts one into the early Christian antiquity, revealing the Jewish tradition connection, which is very strong in Ethiopia.

Barack Obama - The Kind Of Man Michelle Obama Married

Michelle and Barack Obama

Michelle Obama, the former first lady, behind Barack Obama, is one of the most respected women in the world. Her love and respect for mankind have no boundary, yet her husband committed the most serious crime during his tenure in the White House in the year 2014.

Both Michelle and Barack Obama originate from Africa, one of the richest continents in the world, whose treasures have been one of the reasons Europe and America have maintained a flexible economy today. Even Africa's artifacts weren't spared; they stole everything.

Unfortunately, Africa doesn’t benefit from its rich resources. Instead, the continent's resources have been a curse, leading to all kinds of cruelty against Africa. There is no continent in the world that has suffered such a great deal as Africa.

It has suffered domination and all kinds of cruelties, ranging from slavery, colonial brutality, Apartheid, the deliberate spread of diseases, and the testing of biological weapons. Thus, it was a hope for many black people around the globe, including Africa, that since Obama is the first black US president, he would lift the image of Africa.

Unfortunately, it was a false hope. Obama, under oath, swears to defend and protect the US Constitution, which involves the clandestine activities of spreading man-made diseases and the testing of biological weapons.

Obama has no choice; he wouldn't like to be called a cowardly American leader, even when it comes to the killing of his own parents in Africa. In the year 2014, the US government under Obama's administration opened the hell gate of Ebola in three West African countries of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia, in support of the US government's biological project for global depopulation.

In one of Michelle Obama’s interviews with NBC television, she said that Barack Obama is a perfect husband and father, but he often wins, playing tennis with his wife. “It's annoying,” said Michelle Obama.

Life Lessons Worth Knowing Before You Decide To Give Up

I joined a similar adventure from the Republic of Guinea to the Gambia in the early eighties

Your life is not between birth and death. No, it is between your inhalation and exhalation. The present, which exists here and now, is the only life that you will ever have. 


So, try to live every moment of your life to the fullest in kindness, peace, without fear and regret. This is all that can be expected from anyone.

Life is short.

This is your life, and you have to fight for it. Therefore, fight for the truth and what you believe. Fight for what is important to you and for those you love, and never forget to tell them how much they mean to you. 

Understand how lucky you are, after all, for now, you still have a chance to do something or change it. So stop for a moment, think, and if you need to do something, start it today. After all, how many years are left for you to live on this earth?

Today’s difficulties will pay off tomorrow.

When it comes to working hard for something important, whether getting a diploma, creating your own business, or any other personal achievement that requires a lot of time and effort to achieve, you have to ask yourself just one question: “Am I ready to go for it?" Don't look back, go for it, because that's the foundation of your future

Procrastination makes you a slave to yesterday.

When you are ready to take on business without putting it on hold, yesterday becomes a friendly friend for you, always ready to take the burden off your back. So try to do something today, for which you would thank the present from the future. Believe me, tomorrow you'll be glad you did it today.

Any error can be learned from.

The good happens to those who continue to hope, despite all the disappointments, to those who still believe, despite the bitterness of mistakes, to those who continue to love, even when the love hurts. So never regret what happened to you. It will not change anyway, because time travel has not yet been invented. Better to treat this as a valuable lesson and go without stopping further.

You are your own best friend.

Happiness is when you like yourself, and for this reason, you do not need someone else's approval. Before you can create healthy relationships with others, try to make friends with yourself. Before you can confidently look into the eyes of other people and create relationships with them, you must learn to look worthy of love and respect in your own eyes.

Actions speak louder than words.

Walking along the path of life, you will certainly meet very excellent people who speak only the right words. But in the end, don't judge them by their words but by their deeds. They will tell you everything that is needed.

Even a small good deed makes this world a better place.

Smile at people who have had a tough day and be kind to them. Kindness is the only investment that always pays off. And wherever there are people, there is also the opportunity to show kindness. 

Learn to just give away, without any conditions, even if it's only a smile. Not because you have too much of what you can give out, but because there are a lot of people in this world who feel as if they have nothing left at all.

Behind every beauty and pain

You stumble and fall, make mistakes and suffer defeat, but despite everything, you rise and move on, you live, and life teaches you a lesson. You are a man; no one is perfect. After falling, you were only injured, not defeated. Think about how valuable this lesson is to break down obstacles on the way to achieving your goal with love. 

Yes, sometimes it happens that your experience breaks your heart, but isn't it enough price for the precious moments of joy and pleasure? So go ahead, even when you are hurt, because you know, the inner force that brought you to this place can lead you further.

Time and experience heal pain.

I left the shores of Ghana in the year 1980, after the sudden death of my father at the age of 44 in 1976. To fight for survival, I lived in Nigeria, the Gambia, the Republic of Guinea, the Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone before I made it to Europe. In Europe, I lived in Spain, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

I got married at the age of 38. I live with my wife and children in Belgium. Next year, in January 2019, we will have been married for 25 years. I have written eight books available at Amazon.com pertaining to my life and other life experiences.

What else do I need from God? Only good health has He given to me. Next year January 19, 2019, I will be 62. I feel so strong every day. I love myself and my family because time has healed my wounds and crowned my efforts.

https://www.amazon.com/Joel-Savage/e/B008SCTYI6/

WHY AKUFO ADDO IMITATES HOUPHET BOIGNY WHEN GHANA IS IN DIRE STRAITS?

Nana Akufo-Addo imitates Félix Houphouët-Boigny.

Successive Ghanaian governments are often criticized, accompanied by insults, and the criticism has been particularly acute in relation to poor performance and rampant corruption. If the media is not behind you, definitely, you’ll lose favor. This is exactly what happened to the former Ghanaian leader, John Mahama, who lost his second-term presidential race to the NPP.

It is obvious that Nana Akufo-Addo doesn’t want to experience a similar fate and, therefore, would like to impress Ghanaians, starting with developmental projects. However, it is worth asking Nana Akufo-Addo about the significance of constructing a 5000-seat national cathedral in Accra when hospitals have no beds and thousands of Ghanaians are unemployed.

Is it true of what the white man says? According to white people, Africans are lazy and, therefore, always expect miracles from heaven. We can’t ignore such degrading utterances because we have proved them to be true. Because it doesn’t really make sense for a government to just announce that they want to build a 5000-seater cathedral when the cost can be used to create employment. 

Just imagine Ghana's poor sanitation, open sewage, and stinky gutters. Akufo-Addo has ignored all of these problems generating malaria in the country, and is planning to build a cathedral? May God give African leaders some wisdom to rule the suffering masses without building a cathedral.

Nana now dreams big and wants to impress Ghanaians by imitating the late Ivorian president Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Houphouet-Boigny was ruling an impoverished country in dire financial straits, and then, like Nana Akufo-Addo, one day he decided that it would be a good idea to build a second Vatican dome in his poverty-stricken hometown of Yamoussoukro.

In the midst of a high rate of unemployment, illiteracy, and excessive corruption, similar to the present situation in Ghana, an almost replica of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City, completed in 1989, measuring 30,000 square meters, was constructed and named ‘Basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro.’ The whole project cost the government 300 million dollars.

After the 30 acres of marble were delivered by an Italian firm and the glass was also brought in from France, Houphouet-Boigny was asked how he was going to finance the church since his government was in financial straits. He replied, “A deal with God has been done, and all the 7000 seats are also individually air-conditioned.”

Three years after the Vatican replica was completed, Houphouet-Boigny dedicated it to the Pope, who consecrated the church in 1990. Did Houphouet-Boigny ever regret such a religious investment in a country where more than two-thirds of its people aren’t even Christian? Why are African leaders wasting our resources in search of self-recognition?

Frankly speaking, regarding the current economic turmoil in Ghana, such a cathedral isn’t necessary at all. It would not serve any purpose, just like how Houphouet-Boigny’s African Vatican didn’t serve any purpose. Who is Nana Akufo-Addo undertaking this project for, Ghanaians or himself?

If he is building it for Ghanaians, then I will remind him that Ghanaians need jobs and the sick need hospital beds; however, if the building is to immortalize himself and his presidency, then that philosophy will lose its significance and be short-lived.

AN OPEN INTERVIEW WITH THE GHANAIAN LEADER NANA AKUFO ADDO

The Ghanaian president, Nana Akufo-Addo

Nana Akufo-Addo, you are currently a Ghanaian leader under the platform of the New Patriotic Party. Apart from your educational and professional career, it’s likely that you inherited your political ambition from your father, Edward Akufo-Addo, who was a member of the ‘Big Six,’ one of the founding fathers of Ghana who fought for the country's independence.

As a Ghanaian and journalist, I wish to ask you a few questions, Mr. President. This interview wouldn't be quick enough for publication if I needed to follow the right procedure to grant me an interview. Thus, this is the reason I made it open for my fellow Ghanaians to read also.

Nana Akufo-Addo, I will be very glad if these questions are answered. Above all, it will be very good for both Ghanaians and you if all the questions are answered.

• Mr. President, many Ghanaians are facing a very tough political climate in the country, while many are unemployed; therefore, how do you plan on dealing with issues such as unemployment?

• In every country, the health of an individual is very important. But in Ghana, when one is sick and has no money to treat themselves at the hospital, they may surely die. How are you going to make life worth of sick patients in Ghana? 

• At the same time, it's all over the media that some hospitals in Ghana lack beds and ambulances, the reason many patients either sleeping on the floor or being refused admission. Mr. President, when will such ugly scenes come to an end in Ghana?

• Mr. President, law, and order are two important tools that promote peace and security in a country, but at the moment, many Ghanaians are living in fear because of armed robbers. What assurance will you give Ghanaians to live a normal life without fear?

• You defeated the Mahama's NDC with promises. Have you fulfilled any of your promises, and where do you see yourself within your first four years from now?

•  What is your response to the increasing number of articles from American, Dutch, and German medical writers about Aids and Ebola medical crimes to depopulate Africa, while the US government, the World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control keep deceiving the world that Ebola is being spread by bats?

• How can you convince Ghanaians that you are fighting against corruption when some of your own NPP politicians are in corruption scandals?

• What role can political leaders play for the majority of Ghanaians who have no hope of having confidence in them?

• Prices of agricultural products feeding Ghanaians are not easy to afford because some of the roads to transport the foodstuffs to the nearest markets are extremely bad. Mr. President, what plans do you have to repair or construct roads for the accessible markets? 

ARCHIVE OF RACIAL TENSION IN AMERICA

Her crime was being black in a white-dominated educational institution.

In the deep sea, the big fish has no sympathy for the helpless small fish. They intimidate the small ones and always try to eat them up. That was once the hostile situation in America years back, in every sector, including the educational sector, against African Americans. 

It’s very embarrassing to see such images in America, a country that believes in democracy, above all, they say: In God We Trust.

The more disturbing factor is, America provided a “haven” in the United States for Nazis criminals and their collaborators after World War II, yet subjected African-Americans to abuse, discrimination, lynching, experimentation, and slavery.

The abolition of slavery is a fact recorded in history, but the reality is, it still exists in many places around the globe, including America today, because we live in a violent and corrupt society.

How many years now has America been fighting against the illegal drug entering its sovereignty? Because of corruption, the country is plagued by cocaine and other dangerous drugs, drastically taking its toll on many citizens.

There was a time when, if you were an honest hard worker with distinguished achievements in society, you would be awarded, but now those who commit serious crimes against humanity are those who receive those awards, including the Nobel Prize. 

Among the ring of liars, if you want to remain different and live in truth, you will eventually become an enemy.

Do you feel this world is okay? Are you happy about the turmoil and the path of doom the world has taken? Why are politicians fighting for power when they don’t have any means to save this world? Nothing in this world seems to be going better or doing well. Everything has taken the wrong path.

Whether Africans were used as Guinea pigs in testing drugs, whether Aids, Ebola, Lassa, and other deadly diseases were bio-weapons against Africans to depopulate the continent, or whether African-Americans were used for experimentation, the Black man has survived today. That power wasn’t strong enough to wipe out the black race.

Black history is a sad song and a rough road. Even though it’s like an image hanging on the wall, the Black man should change that sad song to a happy song and straighten up that rough road ahead of him. We should let go of hatred, jealousy, racism, racial discrimination, and hypocrisy to embrace love in our community.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” — 1 Corinthians 13:4-8