ALCOHOLISM AND TEENAGE PREGNANCY MANUFACTURED IN BRITAIN

Britain: When alcohol takes its toll on you, where to sit or sleep doesn't matter.



Britain, no doubt, is a famous tourist country. Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Number 10 Downing Street, etc., are places that make Britain unique in the tourism sector. 


But statistically, Britain is well known and famous too for the country's high percentage of alcohol consumption and the rise of teenage pregnancy.


Teenage pregnancy and alcoholism used to be social problems affecting Third World countries. For example, in Asia, Africa, and some parts of Latin America, poverty has escalated to alcoholism and underage prostitution.

The result is disastrous. Inexperienced mothers carrying babies and young boys fathering children instead of being in the classrooms. As a result of these problems, child delinquency is on the rise.

The question is, "Is Britain also a Third World country?" What is causing these problems? Inadequate sex education? Are most of the drinkers from broken homes? 

On the streets of Britain, it is very common on weekends to see young men and women stumbling through the streets with drinks. They drink without knowing their limit, and some sleep by the roadside and on pavements. Some are even raped and dumb.

The drunkards engage in brawls, violence, and public disorder, while the police toil in vain to maintain order and tend to those who need help. What a sick society Britain is turning into! 

During drinking hours, streets are littered with the refuse of empty bottles and cans. Answering nature's call is done everywhere without a second thought, resulting in the alleys and street corners stinking of urine. This is hazardous to public health.

Over the past years, the price of drinks has been inflated to prevent more alcohol consumption, but this is not working. Health experts say the availability of cheap alcohol at supermarkets is a major factor in this problem. 

Another point is how Britain wants youths to refrain from alcohol when most of their churches have been closed and turned to drink pubs?

According to statistics, the average Briton of 15 and older drinks the equivalent of about 11.2 liters of pure alcohol a year. 

The report said treating alcohol-related conditions cost the state-run health service about £2.7 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, almost double the cost in the year 2001. 

Pubs and supermarkets do not care about these anti-social problems. They are selling for money to pay their workers.

It is the task of the government to come out with good measures that could help to reduce this problem. Average alcohol consumption has fallen in many nations, but Britain remains the same.

Instead of Prime Minister Theresa May putting pressure on African leaders to legalize same-sex marriage, she has more problems in her own country to find solutions.

BOB MARLEY:LEGEND OF A MUSICAL GENIUS

Superstar Bob Marley



Today, May 11, 2010, is exactly 29 years since the great musician Robert Nester Marley, popularly known as Bob, passed away. The man is regarded as one of the greatest musical legends of our time. But who is this little man whose music created a big impact on the music scene internationally?

Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945, in the parish of St Ann's in Nine Miles, Jamaica, to a British Marine officer, Norval Sinclair Marley, and a native Jamaican called Cedella Booker. Like most of the Jamaican great musicians, Bob Marley entered music while very young, coming out with his first song "Judge Not" at the age of 16. The song didn't do well.

He continued pursuing his musical career. In 1965, he formed "The Wailers" with Bunny Livingston (Bunny Wailer) and Peter McIntosh (Peter Tosh) and released "Catch A Fire," an album that propelled him to international stardom. After a short period, "The Wailers" split and Peter, Bunny, and Bob went on separate ways. Surprisingly, all three became successful in music.

However, Bob Marley's passion for music could be seen in the albums he released. "Rastaman Vibration, Natty Dread
Kaya
Confrontation
Survival
Uprising

In 1977, while playing football with his friends, Bob injured his toe. He was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a type of deadly cancer, and amputation was recommended. But on his Rastafarian religious beliefs, Bob didn't agree to that. The Cancer started taking its toll on him, and the result was disastrous. Bob died at the age of 36 on May 11, 1981. By then, he and The Wailers had changed the reggae world.

"Lyrically, he was an expert, and spiritually you should have seen him in concert," Said Macka B, in his song called Bob. A song he played as a tribute to Bob Marley. His passion for music could be felt in his performance as he rocks the stage and the audience to the best of his soul. His philosophy was well expressed in his songs. Many believe that Bob Marley was a prophet who came to the world unnoticed until he passed away.

Bob Marley is not only good at playing revolutionary songs but also loves songs. His numerous love songs influenced his life. Bob had an affair with more than one woman. 

Today, all his children are following their father's steps. All successful professional musicians. 29 years after he departed from the musical planet, Bob Marley is more famous than ever. He sold over 300 million albums.

Bob Marley still casts a spell with his music globally. Everyone knows about Bob Marley. Almost three decades after his death, his music is still relevant to millions of people across the world. 

Celebrations and activities are held each year globally on May 11, as a tribute to Bob. Truly, the work and achievements of Bob Marley in the field of music will be in history forever. I leave you with this part of the lyrics taken from his "Redemption Song."

"Emancipate yourself from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy,  'cause none of them can stop the time

How long shall they kill our prophets? While we sat aside and looked
Some say it's just a part of it; we have to fulfill the book.
Won't you help to sing these songs of freedom?
Is all that ever have, redemption song, songs of freedom"

The fall of Nigeria's Economy: Can Goodluck Jonathan restore its glory?

Goodluck Jonathan: With Nigeria under his administration, he has bitten more than he can chew


The present state of Nigeria, a country once richer than many European countries, shows how corruption could affect a country and ruin it without any immediate remedy. 


In the seventies and late eighties in Nigeria, even though it is an African country, due to its flourishing economy, its local currency, the Naira, has value more than even the Dollar and other foreign currencies. 

Corruption, tribalism, nepotism, and lack of good governance have made a country once worth living to be a nightmare for its ordinary citizens.

Each day, hundreds of people are trying to leave the poverty-stricken country overseas. Most of them, without proper documentation to facilitate the visa application, end up buying fake documents such as certificates of professional jobs, birth, and fake bank attests to the British Embassy. 

The embassy is overwhelmed by the number of fake documents it receives each day.

After the death of the long-ailing Yar'Adua, the president, Goodluck Jonathan, the vice president, was peacefully sworn in on Thursday, 4th May 2010, as president of Nigeria. But the country is set to hold presidential elections next year, and it remains unclear who the top candidates will be. 

In recent times, political instability, religious violence, and militant attacks on energy pipelines have significantly affected the country. The oil-rich Nigeria's economy isn't getting better but worse each day.

Now that Jonathan is in power, the question is, "Does he have a magic wand to save the crippled economy of Nigeria?" And again, who will be named the vice-president to Jonathan? 

At his swearing-in, Jonathan said that he would work to ensure next year's polls were credible. "Our total commitment to good governance, electoral reform, and the fight against corruption would be pursued with greater vigor," Said Mr. Jonathan, according to Reuters.

But Nigerians are tired of hearing this whenever a new president is sworn in, for corruption is an incurable disease not only in Nigeria but entire Africa. After independence, many countries in Africa seemed they can't manage state affairs without corruption.

What is the significance of independence when most African countries were better off under the colonial government? Africa has so many questions to answer. It's our duty to restore our country's dignity. 

Enough is enough; corruption must be kicked out of African politics.

BELGIUM TO BAN FULL-FACE VEIL IN PUBLIC

A Muslim woman in a full-face veil: Where is her comfort?


Belgium would soon be the first country in Western Europe to ban the full-face covering veils by Muslim women. The action explains this as not a discrimination against religion or Muslim women, but for better integration and communication. "We have to know the people we communicate with," they said.


As a matter of fact, the misinterpretation of the Koran has imprisoned many Muslim women who find it extremely difficult to get out of their predicament. 

Thousands of women do not wear the face veil at all, and they could explain the reason why it's not necessary, while others who wear it would also explain its significance. 

In this case, there are divisions already within the Muslim women's community over face covering.

Every country has its own law. People have to respect and obey the law. The old saying still exists, "If you go to Rome, you do what the Romans do." I am imagining in this modern world, traveling to any Arab country with the intention of building a church. I don't think that permission would ever be granted to me. 

The reason is simple and logical. I will be told this is an Arab country, and we don't permit that. Yet in every part of Europe where there is a large concentration of Muslims, permission has been given to them to build Mosques. 

This is because Europe respects religion. Why then are they accusing Belgium of discriminating against women if they want people who want to live in their country to follow and observe their law?

In the Arabic world, there is a dance called "Belly dancing". It is a Western-coined name for a traditional Middle-Eastern dance. Belle dancing takes different forms depending on the country. The most featured part of the dancing is constantly moving with the hips. 

Muslim women perform this dance in restaurants and cabarets, with "naked or nude belly" watched by admirers with applause. 

My question is, if Muslim women can expose their belly nakedly to be watched by hundreds of people at the restaurant and festivals, why is it difficult for them to unveil in public? I leave this question for them to answer.

To make it clear,  I am not encouraging the Belgian government to ban the wearing of a full-face veil. This article is based on my opinion; the fact is that Belgium is their country, and we have to obey and respect their laws. 

If we travel to any Arab country, we have to obey and respect their laws as well. Recently, someone was arrested in an Arab country for kissing his girlfriend in public. 

I have never heard of such a thing before, yet that is prohibited in that country. We also need to respect and obey the law of the Europeans.

THE ANATOMY OF BELGIUM'S POLITICAL CRISIS

Brussels, the capital city of Belgium



"The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly"—Albert Einstein




History has once again repeated itself in Belgium's political history. Belgium has plunged into a new political crisis as the premier-elect, Yves Leterme, hands over his resignation letter to King Albert II after his Flemish Liberal Allies (VLD) quit the five-party coalition earlier on Thursday. 


In a similar crisis, the country was left without a permanent government from July 2007 to March 2008, when Leterme came to power.

Yves Leterme had a lot of responsibilities on his shoulders to tackle when he took his seat barely five months ago. One of the important tasks was to find a lasting solution to a long-running dispute between the Flemish-speaking and their counterpart French-speaking Wallonia.

In his effort to withdraw political boundaries between French and Flemish districts, the Flemish Liberal Party stood against it and split with Leterme. This is really a bad time for such a thing to happen when Belgium takes the seat of the European Union on 1 July 2010.

Even though Belgium is a relatively small country with a population of about 11 million, the country has never enjoyed a smooth or stable government from time to time because of the different opinions of its nationals, especially the Flemish-speaking communities. 

It is a well-known fact that the Flemish authorities actively discriminate against the Wallonians. In a civilized country like Belgium, this shouldn't happen. Tensions between the French and the majority of Dutch-speaking communities have risen in recent years as parties advocate full autonomy for wealthier, flourishing Flanders. 

Over the dispute that led to the resignation of Leterme, the Flemish-run communities on the outskirts of the capital have been trying to dissuade French speakers from moving in, largely by demanding they speak Dutch. 

The question is, does every Dutch person speak French? A language must not be imposed on someone before he or she becomes a recognized citizen of a country.

The French-speaking Belgians' effort or right to live in Flemish districts is considered an "invasion." "We want to preserve the Flemish of this beautiful town," says the mayor of Gooik. "We don't want it to be overwhelmed by people who speak different languages," says Michael Doomst. 

What kind of discriminatory statements are these in a democratic society? These were the kind of statements often heard in the former apartheid South Africa; now they are resurfacing in Belgium.

Until a permanent lasting solution is found for this long-running feud between the Flemish and Wallonia, Belgium will never ever enjoy a smooth running of government. What has happened in the past is just the tip of the iceberg. 

More political chaos would come. There is no peace in any country that does not have respect for its fellow citizens. The Flemish must change their character and approach to certain issues. 

Splitting Belgium is not the answer but unity. Whether French or Flemish, both are hundred percent Belgians.

HELP SAVE MADAGASCAR TWINS CHILDREN

The cursed twins? Madagascar abandons twins because of the superstition that they bring bad luck.


Africa is bound by so many outdated superstitions and other issues considered taboo. Nothing better is seen in these superstitions and traditions they keep on holding from their ancestors than poverty that has engulfed the whole continent.

Madagascar is one of the most superstitious countries off the coast of Africa. They believe that twins bring bad luck to the community and to this day still hold this primitive ideology and philosophy about twins.

According to history, twins are immediately separated, or one is killed or abandoned in the forest after birth. Why? To avoid the harsh punishment from the traditional chief and the community, because families are not allowed to keep twins. 

One of the bad lucks they believe could happen to them if families kept twins is that the whole village would die.

With this kind of superstition, what future do the Madagascar twin children have? This is the beginning of how children are traumatized, all for the sake of outdated, stupid superstitions. However, a media campaign and discussions with local leaders are taking place.

In another development, the country is implementing new ideas designed to change these traditional and superstitious beliefs. Until the harsh treatment of twins in Madagascar is eliminated, world organizations in charge of children's rights must step in to intervene.

The twins' children of Madagascar are like normal children in any part of the world. They need parental care, good health care, and education. The world must fight to end this senseless superstition in Madagascar. 

ERYKAH BADU'S NUDENESS IN PUBLIC FOR VIDEO CLIP

Erykah Badu


Every musician and the public know that sex video clips for music sell. Competition in music these days is so strong that every artist wants to come out and produce something that no one else has ever done in the field of music.


Unfortunately, a respected singer like Erykah Badu, choice to make her video clip to promote or sell her music has rather given her disrespect or hatred in the eyes of the general public.


On the CNN American version, I watched the video clip over and over. The shocking part is how someone who is not insane or having no mental disorder could walk in public, a famous place for tourists where the assassination of President Kennedy took place decades ago, and shed off her clothes to be nude in the eyes of the public, then after a gunshot, she fell like someone playing a role in a film? All this is for a music video clip.

I think there are many ways Erykah should have chosen to make this clip. I don't know what was in her mind before she shot that clip. My question is, "Does she feel sorry for the assassination of President Kennedy, or does she feel good about it That was why she imitated his assassination.

Whatever reason Erykah did this for, I wish she could apologize to the Americans because, in my opinion, that was a total disrespect to the Kennedy family and the whole Americans.

Preventing Street-Child Explosion in Third World Countries

Street children in Africa



Children these days are traditionally the subject of ridicule, humiliation, abuse, and mental torture. Besides South America and Asia, Africa is another continent yet to find a remedy for the number of children without any education.


The problems associated with street children vary. Broken homes, separation or divorce, parents' inability to bring up children, lack of education, and teenage pregnancy. 

How do we assess the institution of marriage today in our society when so many divorces and activities of irresponsible parenting are causing havoc to our children?

Without much or any financial support, single mothers are left to face problems in bringing up children and earning money to give their children a good education. 

The devil always has worked for idle hands. Lack of education forces young girls into prostitution. After giving birth out of hardship and frustration, the teenage mothers abandoned their children.

Later, the children grow up to be juvenile criminals, destitute,  glue sniffers, and junkies. The question is, if a mother can't afford to feed her child, how then can the child get an education? 

This is a burning issue that leaders of Third World Countries must consider as a priority, to create free or lower the cost of education for every child to be in school.

ROBERT MUGABE, THE BLACK ADOLF HITLER?

Robert Mugabe's fist and mustache are identical to Hitler's



Although Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe is a Blackman, he and the late Adolf Hitler of Germany have something in common. The small vertical patch of mustache right under the nose and the thirst for power. 


The power of greed and selfishness that almost destroyed the world and mankind. But with Mugabe, the impact is affecting the Zimbabweans and neighboring South Africa, Zambia, and Mozambique.

Previously known as Rhodesia, after gaining independence in 1980, the country became Zimbabwe under the new leader, Robert Mugabe. 

Then a country once with vast mineral resources and a successful economy gradually started declining to be one of the poorest economies and chaotic political conditions in the world.

From the history of Zimbabwe's politics, Robert Mugabe has been a man who has ruled and is ruling with an iron fist as a dictator. He regards any opposition as a threat and an enemy. 

His adamant heart wouldn't allow him to take any advice on how to save the country. He couldn't stand Joshua Nkomo, until finally sending him to his early grave.

No one actually knows the plan of Mugabe for hanging on to power since 1980. His rule has caused so much unrest among the Zimbabweans, using food as a political weapon against those who do not support his party. 

The country is afflicted by 70 percent unemployment and hard-biting inflation. Every advice from world leaders has fallen on deaf ears. Mugabe's wicked and greedy actions are destroying the country and causing violent clashes between clans.

Who can save Zimbabwe when such a man is in power? Already, the healthcare system has collapsed with the economy. 

The United Nations effectively became responsible for providing the necessary aid to save the emerging health crisis. It is like most of the African leaders are not capable of talking to Mugabe, instead of supporting his criminal regime.

What I have observed so far as an African is, it is nice for any African country to have a leader or head of state to represent his or her country, but the duties of a head of state, that they don't know. Corruption inspires many of them to be in politics, but not to help the poor people. 

Most African leaders are lazy, always expecting miracles from heaven or from the West or America. Instead of wasting taxpayers' money and state funds on attending poverty alleviation conferences, they must stay at home to use the money to alleviate their own poverty.

Libya is an African country, but Gaddafi's successful rule of the country has yielded the best results for the people. They are rich, and the economy is even better than so many European countries. The Libyans have confidence in him. 

The same way that should be in Zimbabwe and other African countries. One day, Mugabe should sit down alone and ask himself these questions: where are Idi Amin, Bokassa, Mobutu, etc? Then, to listen to the voice of the suffering masses of Zimbabweans to step down.

TIGER WOODS IS NOT THE ONLY SINNER IN THIS WORLD

Tiger Woods: His golf ball landed in the wrong place for a woman



When Tiger Woods the great golf player extramarital affair was exposed, the media and the reaction of a section of the public against him were as if none of them had ever done wrong before. They painted Mr. Woods double darker than he is and judged him as the biggest adulterer or fornicator in the universe.


To me, there are thousands of people, including celebrities, musicians, and film stars, having extramarital affairs, yet the media does not know about it. As an African, I always speak in proverbs. One says that "when the air blows, then you see the backside of the chicken." When your cup is full, then secret things are exposed.

From biblical times to our present generation, great men have fallen to their knees because of women. Samson submitted to the Philistines because of Delilah. King Ahab's glory fell to grass by listening to his wife's advice. Jezebel forced him to take possession of Naboth's vineyard. That cost him much.

Mike Tyson, formerly one of the world's strongest boxers, served a jail sentence because of his rape case against Desiree Washington. Bill Clinton, the former American president, had his share of disgrace because of Monica Lewinsky, a white house staff member. 

Kobi Bryan, the NBA star, narrowly escaped prison because of a woman. Jeffery Archer, the British author, failed to be elected as the mayor of London because he slept with a prostitute.

It would be an unending feature if I kept on giving examples of great men floored by women. These problems men are facing keep on surfacing in the papers each and every day, but none serve as a deterrent to anyone, until they are exposed. They say women are the weaker gender, but to me, they are stronger than men.

Tiger Woods is not the only wrongdoer. One thing I don't understand is the woman who openly told the world that they had an affair with Mr. Woods. 

Do they want money or fame? I call this cheap publicity. If one wants to be famous, he or she must try on their own. The media should leave him alone. The man has suffered a great deal psychologically.

BELGIUM INCREASES FINANCIAL AID TO AFRICA

Belgium's aid to Africa


In the past years, Belgium has been among the European countries playing an important role in the development of Africa by granting emergency aid in the form of cash and goods to some African countries. 


Recently, the Belgian government announced its release of 500,000 euros for the purchase of 1,200 tonnes of food to be distributed by the World Food Programme (WFP) to the inhabitants of Kenya. 

The government has also released 750,000 euros to the WFP to purchase 1300 tonnes of food for drought-affected victims in Ethiopia.

The Belgian Cooperation Ministry has announced that the food would be distributed as a priority to young children and mothers of those countries. 

Since the beginning of last year, Belgium has granted food aid to the tune of 2.5 million euros to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Niger, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.

In another development, Belgium's Cooperation and Development Minister Charles Michel told a news briefing in Dakar, Senegal, that Public Development Aid (PDA) to Senegal in 2010 will amount to 55.5 million euros. 

Under the arrangement, Belgium will be dedicating 0.7% of its gross domestic product to the PDA to become one of the nations in Europe. Other European countries affiliated with this pact are Sweden, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, with the highest level of financial aid to developing countries.

The Belgian minister explained that Senegal remains one of the 18 countries where the PDA would be fully implemented within the New Cooperation Indicative Programme. 

The program was signed in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, between Michel and the Senegalese Minister of State in charge of Economy and Finance, Abboulaye Diop. 

Under the agreement, the program would be for a period of four years (from 2010 to 2013, instead of the previous three years).

World Leaders Must Help Africa Not Be Used As Sanctuary For Terrorism

Terrorism in Africa


Islam means patience, love, and togetherness. That's what the Koran says and the definition that is given by many Muslims when asked to give a little explanation of what the religion is about. 


However, that definition is immediately called into question or disagreed with by the new global desire for violence and the desire of Islamic fanatics to kill innocent people to end their lives. 

Islam is rapidly turning into a more violent religion than the unity and love they advocate. Umar Abdulmutallab, a failed suicide bomber, expressed his terrifying vision of a world run by radical Islamic hardliners in a string of online messages. 

Frequently, the African continent is completely disregarded or undervalued. World leaders are cautioned not to undervalue Africans anymore after this 23-year-old terrorist managed to evade security measures and all of their detectors to board the aircraft to bomb Flight 253, which was traveling from Amsterdam to the United States.

Had his murderous plans been successful, Islamic extremists such as al-Qaeda would have boasted about it and plotted additional assaults. 

It is now time for world leaders to concentrate more on Africa to prevent the usage of that continent as a safe haven for terrorists.

I believe that there will be a time when genuine Muslims and true followers of the Prophet Mohammed will openly speak against what their fanatic brothers are doing and try to do their best to end or reduce this unnecessary global violence, especially in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

The second coming of Leterme as Belgium`s premier

Yves Leterme, Belgium's former prime minister, who is now deputy secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)



On Wednesday, 25 November 2009, Belgium named the controversial Dutch-speaking conservative Yves Leterme as its prime minister, succeeding Herman Van Rompuy, who resigned to become the European Union's first president.


The 49-year-old Mr. Leterme, although he is held unpopular by many people in the French-speaking colony, got the job because he is the most popular politician in Belgium's majority party, the Flemish-speaking Christian Democrats.

Although Belgium is a relatively small country with 6 million Dutch speakers, 4 million French speakers, and 70 thousand German speakers, it is a country difficult to be governed because the people are not one. 

This has caused much distress in the country in terms of politics, employment, and distribution of resources.

Leterme, as an intelligent politician, must be aware that a strong economy is not built on sand. His second coming to most Belgians does not mean anything, but what he is coming to do is what matters. 

He has a big responsibility on his shoulders by creating more jobs for the Belgians because Belgium lacks jobs. Even before the severe economic recession hit America and Europe, Belgium was one of the leading Western European countries with few job opportunities. 

However, comparing the country to other European countries, Belgium is one of the best countries to live in Europe in terms of the cost of living. Astonishingly, employers pay very well.

Another crisis that Leterme has to pay particular attention to is resolving internal tensions over how much autonomy to grant to the three regions of Wallonia, Brussels, and Flanders. 

Dutch-speaking Flanders wants to avoid paying taxes that fund the poorer region of French-speaking Wallonia and seeks to expand its administrative powers. 

But it has so far fallen short of demanding full independence, mostly for fear of losing its shared political control of Brussels, a majority French-speaking city located within Flanders.

The Belgians are watching him to tackle what they called (aggressive issues) affecting and dividing the country; else his second coming would be seen as meaningless.

TRADITIONAL VALUES ARE DOING MORE HARM TO AFRICA THAN GOOD

Culture of disgrace in Africa


Some traditional values, such as female circumcision, polygamy, and other outdated customs handed over by ancestors to tribes, are doing more harm to Africa than good. 


Female circumcision has caused more health hazards to females than ever imagined, but this old tradition of female genital mutilation is still widely practiced in many African countries.

Polygamy in royal households in Africa is another factor draining some of the African countries' financial resources. A couple of months ago, King Mswati III of Swaziland caused public outrage by sending his favorite wives on a globe-trotting shopping spree. 

The royal ruler, despite the poverty of his people, used 7 million dollars of state money to send five of his thirteen wives and dozens of their aides to France, Italy, Dubai, and Taiwan on a secret shopping trip.

The Swaziland people are suffering, but they are smiling, even though it is a criminal offense to criticize the king's private life in their country. Campaigners have reacted angrily against the British government, which gives aid totaling 65 million pounds to the African country. Swaziland also receives about 235 million dollars from the US.

The king of Swaziland has a personal fortune of $240 million and also receives money from the national budget for the upkeep of his family, yet more than two-thirds of the country's 1.2 million population survives on less than fifty cents per day, and more than a quarter of the adult population suffers from HIV.

In a country like Swaziland, where education and health should be priorities, he spent $5 million on 20 armored Mercedes-Benz cars. A journalist from the Swaziland Solidarity Network told the British Times newspaper. 

"They shout about Zimbabwe, but they keep quiet about what is happening in Swaziland, even though they are one of its biggest aid donors. They are wasting British taxpayers' money on this tyrant."

Men and women, which of them are the most faithful and sincere?

A cheating man caught red-handed


I write about many interesting issues, but I have never thought of writing about gender faithfulness or unfaithfulness to each other, when one day, someone asked me, "Why do most men die and leave behind their wives?" 

I couldn`t find an answer to her question, then, without a thought, I said, "Because most men are unfaithful to their partners." I was surprised she was satisfied with my answer.

But is it very true that men fall short when it comes to dishonesty? Well, many men lie and cheat on their partners, but also women. 

Most men cheat on their wives and girlfriends for several reasons, including lack of sexual satisfaction, biological problems that the woman is not aware of, but of which the man cannot speak. But with women? I keep on asking myself, "Why do they often cheat on their men?"

Are they also looking for sexual satisfaction or money? On Monday, 28 September 2009, whilst waiting at London`s Victoria Coach Station to join my bus to Dorset, a sad story caught my attention in an entertainment newspaper called "London Lite." 

The story was about a woman who was allegedly strangled by her own husband after discovering that she was having an affair with another man.

The husband, after having enough evidence, including a secret taping of 127 hours of his wife's conversations with her lover, confronted his wife, who asked for a divorce. To me, that was a very good wife. 

She did not deny her unfaithfulness but quickly asked for a divorce of which her man should have accepted the request and given her freedom.

Instead, he did the most stupid thing a man could do. Fearing the loss of his home, two children, and fortune, the jealous husband chose to kill his wife, pretending he did not know of her death. 

The court heard of his wife`s previous adulterous adventures. Marriage always turns to a different angle of diverse problems when there isn`t any transparency, honesty, and faithfulness.

Even though I know that most men die leaving their partners, I can`t really say it is because of their unfaithfulness to their partners, since women also cheat on their husbands. But it is a fact that a greater percentage of men cheat on their wives than women.

Bijlmer is beautiful but is it a dangerous place to live in Amsterdam?

The Bijlmer in the South-East of Amsterdam


In the southeast of Amsterdam lies a nice, lively neighborhood called Bijlmer. Bijlmer is always in the news, firstly due to the big firms and industries that have created thousands of jobs for the Dutch people and secondly due to the wave of crime that has soured the image of its inhabitants, mainly foreigners. 


Bijlmer has also situated the magnificent modern Ajax stadium, which has hosted thousands of international matches, conferences, and concerts.

The influx of immigrants, both legal and illegal, has made Bijlmer a dangerous place to live in Amsterdam. With diverse immigrants, mainly from Surinam, Antillean, and Curacao, former colonies of the Dutch and West African immigrants, Bijlmer is now a commercial center for drug trafficking and harbors the most hardened criminals.

How do we call this? Holland dream or Dutch dream? Like the American dream, inviting many Latin Americans and Mexicans into the country, Suriname came in their numbers to the Netherlands. 

Without any basic education, the majority of Suriname is stagnant, without any future. Feeling dejected and frustrated, the only means to survive the material world of Bijlmer is to resort to drug trafficking, crime, and violence.

With the desire to study the background of Africans living in the Bijlmer, I have never seen merciless, hostile, and aggressive people like Suriname before. 

They even think the police fear them and they would not like to come their way. But what makes these people so aggressive and violent? 

My opinion is that the free smoking of marijuana is. In public, the metros running Gaasperplas and Gein, from the Central Station and the lifts of apartments, are always choked with heavy smoke and the odor of marijuana.

Some of the drugs they smoke and use have taken their toll on them. Junkies are a common sight in the Bijlmer. The effects of drugs on users are disastrous. Horrible creatures like people acting in horror movies. 

An investigation conducted recently by two Dutch journalists, Jan-Willem Navis and Joris Polman, in the neighborhood of Bijlmer revealed that for between two and three hundred euros, someone could own a gun, and they fear that, within a short period, guns would overflow in the neighborhood of Bijlmer. Young boys move around everywhere with knives hidden on them.

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Is the crime wave in Bijlmer too much for the police to handle, or bring the situation under control? Over the years, the police force has demonstrated how good they could be by catching many criminals, and those who wanted to resist arrest jumped to their deaths. 

They have tried everything to make Bijlmer a safe place to live, but from every angle, it seems the police are losing the battle.

Obama's historical visit to Ghana

Obama in Ghana


U.S President Barack Obama, like many heads of state, has Africa in his mind or on his agenda to work with. Africa, many times, is like a continent totally neglected, but the fact is, there is no head of state that could push the continent aside because of its vast mineral resources, which the developed and developing countries depend on.

Obama chose Ghana as his first country in Africa because of the country's peaceful political events on the path to democracy. Ghana, formerly called "Gold Coast," gained independence in 1957, and recently had its fifth successive civilian government elected since 1992.

It is Ghana's political success of peaceful democracy that caught the attention of Obama to choose the country as his first country to visit after his inauguration as the president of the United States of America, a couple of months ago. 

The American president was welcomed at the airport by President John Evans Atta Mills, also a newly elected president under the umbrella of the National Democratic Congress(NDC), amidst drumming and dancing at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, the capital.

"Akwaaba," welcome, says the Ghanaian president to Obama. Here, I can't explain in detail the happiness and the delight that accompanied the family of Obama family as they stepped on the Ghanaian soil for the first time.

In a speech at a fully packed convention center, Obama said, " I have come to Ghana for a simple reason. The 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but what happens in Accra as well."

Obama hit hard on corruption, which has been the only tool that has crippled and is still crippling the economy of Africa in general. He reminds African leaders of the task on their shoulders as heads of state, by taking the masses that brought them into power into consideration. 

He called on the Africans to build democracy, create employment, fight corruption, and end the conflicts in Africa, which he called 'a millstone around Africa's neck.'

After touring many interesting places, the president and his family were emotionally moved when they visited the slave dungeon at the Cape Coast Castle. The slave trade was long abolished, but the grim terror was still fresh in the minds of African-Americans who came on a visit to Cape Coast Castle. 

The shackles and the chains used to bind the slaves over three hundred years ago are still there to be seen. After his emotional tour, Obama described the slave trade as one of the evils committed against humanity.

He commended Ghana for preserving the castle and those who contributed to the abolition of slavery. He said the essence of the tour was to learn about the oppression that African Americans went through and to interact ancestral lineage. 

"As somebody whose father comes from Africa, I'm pleased this visit has been particularly meaningful for me." He concluded.

THE BITE OF THE MANGO - Mariatu Kamara's Book

Mariatu Kamara, author of 'The Bite Of The Mango'

Interviewed by Jim Clancy, CNN's Inside Africa, the Sierra Leonean-born victim of war and author of the book '' The Bite of the Mango,'' Mariatu Kamara, told her horrific ordeal during the ten-year-long brutal war that maimed thousands of civilians in her country.

Mariatu narrates her story. At 12, fleeing from the activities of the rebels, she finds herself in another village. She felt hungry and decided to go to her village to get some food to eat. On the way, she was captured by the rebels, and they amputated both of her wrists. 

For what reason? So that there wouldn't be any hands to vote for the government. But they were wrong ''I still have hands to do whatever I want to do said the courageous woman.

Asked by Jim Clancy why she named her book ''The bite of the mango,'' she explained that after her wrists were cut off, a man came to her aid and offered her a mango to eat. But she felt like a child being fed. Despite the pains and blood gushing out from her wounds, Mariatu held the mango to eat it herself.

At her book launch in the United States of America, the courageous war victim was awarded the ''Voices of Courage Award." She happily interacted and answered questions of people who wanted to know her story and spoke of the meaning of the award to her. 

Her message is ''Never give up in life, no matter the situation. She went on further to say that victims of war and other calamities to keep on pushing until success is achieved.

Mariatu is not only a courageous but strong woman who has brought to the awareness of the world the suffering of war victims globally.

Book available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Bite-Mango-Mariatu-Kamara/dp/1554511585/

Britain's Economic Crisis, will they get out of this disaster?

Beautiful London

Eurozone
Britain is a country known to adhere to special rules, regulations, and principles, to be neutral, conservative, and probably to be unique amongst other advanced countries in the world. The official reasons for staying out of the Eurozone are a good example of what Britain stands for. 

In the first place, Britain should know best, united we stand, divided we fall. There is no way the economy will be successful with its single currency within the Euro currency zones.

From every angle, one could clearly see that the "imperial system of political ideas" in that country has taken its toll on them. In any crisis, people, instead of finding an immediate solution, would rather want someone to blame. 

Britain accused the United States of America of this unprecedented economic setback, failing to realize that the country's economic woes were brewed by internal factors as well. 

Just imagine how advanced auto technology is constantly shaping and changing this world, but Britain is still driving and producing "right-hand steering Vehicles" in Europe. 

The type of vehicles Europeans and Third World Countries don't need. Even if they produce the right form of vehicles for countries that need them, it will still affect them in many ways because countries driving right are more than those driving left.

Teenage Pregnancy

Take, for example, how the economy of a country thrives when teenagers ignore education and choose to be mothers instead? According to statistics, Britain has the highest percentage of teenage pregnancies. Teenage pregnancy has a great effect on the economy of every country. 

A brilliant child who pulls out of school because of pregnancy is a waste of human resources. It's very common to see  British teenagers speaking English but can't write. How can she write an application letter for a job, when she can't correctly spell words his or her own language?

Alcoholism

Alcohol is another factor that has affected the health system of Britain's economy. The passion for alcohol in Britain is beyond cure. There is nothing that the British government can do to prevent or reduce the rate of alcohol consumption in that country, even if the price of drinks is raised. 

Alcohol and drug abuse are some of the factors linked to teenage pregnancy; therefore, the government needs to find solutions to these problems, or else Britain will experience economic depression always no matter how good a politician is.

Discrimination in employment

Employment discrimination is another factor that has worsened Britain's economic crisis. Discrimination in employment takes place in Britain in many ways, against women, religion, race, and color. 

Many qualified professional workers are denied jobs in Britain daily, because of the color of their skin, his or her religion, or their sex. Instead, they employ someone unqualified and lazy, because of the slogan "Our People First." Developments in such circumstances are never achieved or slow because of the inefficiency of production.

Lazy workers call for sick leave, stay at home for long days without working, claiming benefits and other allowances, affecting the hard workers and taxpayers' money. Employment discrimination is somewhat better in London and places with good integration. 

The worst place in the county of Dorset (Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch), British Blacks and other foreigners are aware of that, which is the reason one can hardly see them in the neighborhoods.

People actually enjoy Britain on a visit, but I'm always sad whenever I'm in that country due to what I see. Almost on every street, I see dozens of "pregnant men." Obesity is taking its toll on the health of the people, but they simply don't care because food is delicious. 

When you talk about fashion, I think the worst-dressed Europeans are the British. When one visits places like Italy, Germany, France, and Belgium, one can see that they dress better than in Britain.

High Transportation cost

The cost of public transport in Britain is higher if compared with its European counterparts. Within the city of London, a short trip by bus costs £2. 

The ticket expires as one alights from the bus. In most of the European countries, for example, in Belgium, a city trip by tram or bus costs one euro twenty cents (from the ticket machine) and one euro fifty cents (from the bus or tram chauffeur). 

The ticket has an hour validity; in this case, one can join more than for four of five teams, depending on the length of the journey, until the ticket expires.

Despite all the harsh taxation systems, property tax, congestion tax and other means of money collection, Britain is a restless country to live in Europe. This is an indication that capitalism has failed in Britain. 

The lazy man wants to live like a rich man and have the same things as the rich man. The crime rate is increasing rapidly in Britain. God help the Scotland Yard. 

Until Britain's economy comes back on the right track, politicians in that country must be serious about finding solutions to the aforementioned problems.

A BELGIAN MURDERS HIS AFRICAN WIFE

Problems in relationships or marriages are very common.



What provoked a Belgian to the extent of killing his Black wife? This was the question on the lips of the African community in Antwerp. The shocking murder of Evelyn Amarim-Vanacker, a 31-year-old mother of two, led to a peaceful demonstration recently.


Evelyn, a native of the Anioma local government in the Delta State of Nigeria, was reported to have been strangled to death by her husband at their home on the 2nd of March 2009. According to sources, the murder took place while the children of the deceased, aged 4 and 1, respectively, were sleeping in one of the rooms upstairs.

After the brutal murder, the husband took the lifeless body of his wife into the boot of his car and drove 100 kilometers to dump the body in an open field by the border between France and Belgium, where the French police discovered the body the next day.

After committing the brutal crime, Mr. Vanacker reported to the Belgian police that his wife was missing. After a heavy interrogation that followed, he broke down and confessed to the killing of his wife. 

The motive behind the murder is not clear, but according to sources, there was no more happiness in the marriage after five years. Constant quarrels and exchanges of words were bringing the marriage almost to its knees when this occurred.

The question is, how would the Belgian police handle this case? Especially in Antwerp, where such cases are not seriously dealt with. This has given license to many Belgians to treat foreigners, especially Africans, the way they like.

Many Africans are angry with the African ambassadors sent overseas. "They don't do anything to protect us; all they care about is corruption and greed. Europeans know that they are weak, so they take advantage of this to kill us," said one Nigerian who spoke to me about the killing of Avelyn.