EDUCATING LIBERIAN CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS

If you are an extremely hard working person you will feel my excitement! You know the feeling you get when you have spent sleepless nights completing your "side jobs" because daylight wouldn't permit you? YES! The picture on the right hand side of this post explains it all.

It started two years ago when the Good Citizen Project (GCP) was started with my fellow Liberians McAnthony Keah and Dan Brown. I was asked how and what can I contribute? I instantly thought about writing children's books to educate them about human rights. GCP loved the idea and we instantly dubbed the Volume - Human Rights Series. Soon after, I happened to make my first trip to Liberia - 18 years after I left. And though I have no experience with writing children's books, there was no shortage of stories in Liberia. From the Ministry of Education to small villages across the counties, I watched, observed, and wept - not just for my poverty stricken past but that even after some three decades plus children are still in such impoverished situation in Liberia. I keep asking why and what can be done to ameliorate this concern?

I returned to Canada and instantly put pen to paper. Miatta & Kiazulu Wants to Have a School in their Village was the result. Yesterday, I held for the first time, the 21 page colourful glossy print. Published by First Choice Books, it begins with Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights "Everyone has the right to education" and Article 28 of the Convention of the Rights of the Child "...governments should make primary education compulsory and available free to all". This story highlights Miatta and Kiazulu's conversation as they journey to school miles away from their village. 

As this is the first of GCP's Human Rights Series, we look forward to ensuring that every child in Liberia has a copy to the book. It is our long-term goal that through GCP, children in Liberia/Africa will become good citizens, leaders and human rights advocates. Watch this space for more information on how to obtain a copy of Miatta and Kiazulu Wants to Have a School in their Village.

This post will be incomplete without saying thanks to the person behind the beautiful coloring - Frederic Jacques Carrasca, the Illustrator. Merci beaucoup mon ami - nous l'ai fait!
Paix!!!

MY TRIBUTE TO JACK LAYTON

I don't watch TV! So apparently, all of Canada probably already knew Jack Layton had passed before I stood at the news stand on Tuesday, morning August 23rd sobbing like nobody's business. I wept because I knew deep within my bones that Canada had lost one of its greatest. I met the charismatic, passionate, down-to-earth, pleasant and handsome Jack Layton at Afrofest in Toronto, 2009. Seated in the crowd, I spotted him and his beautiful feisty wife from a distance. With excitement and uncontrollable laughter, I rushed towards him with a hug and said, this is a dream come true. I have longed to meet you and will take a picture with you right now. He effortlessly put his arms around me and posed for the perfect shot. 

I knew Jack Layton from afar but I understood his vision and dreams for Canada. Quoting a fellow sympathizer from the NDP website I say, Jack Layton was the best Prime Minister Canada never had. It is so sad to see you go because it would definitely be long before your kind is re-birthed on to this soil. Thank you for sharing your life with us and for teaching us how to effect change with charisma, respect, humility, and love. We will definitely be missed! I will miss you!!! It is my hope that The DIVINE ONE will gird your family with courage and strength as they endure such difficult moment.

With much Love,
Veronica

A letter to Canadians from the Honourable Jack Layton
August 20, 2011 Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,

Jack Layton

THE LIES, THE LIES AND THE REAL CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY

Don't get me wrong. I'm no supporter of human rights abuses neither do I condone any leadership that inflict pain and suffering on its own people. I have no relations to Gaddafi or Libya except that we are all proud Africans. That being said, I do highly respect Gaddafi's proposition to the African Union re:  United States of Africa. Well, for some reason politics always comes in the way of true solidarity and equality for all. At the same token, I HATE this well crafted manipulation by Western media and "super powers" whereby Gaddafi is constantly demonized whiles they simultaneously violate human rights and commit mayhem. What is NATO doing in Libya if not killing innocent people and destroying lives and property? Why isn't NATO in Israel "redeeming" the Palestinians? How convenient! AND where is the African Union? And the UN? How diplomatic! When did violence and force ever proved to be THE way to solve conflicts? AND why charge Gaddafi with war crimes when George W sits in Texas freely? Such a deceptive and unfair world. And the worse part, Africans desperately in need for change do not stop to think how carefully orchestrated these "interventions" are. In the long run, the damage that will be cause becomes irreversible and endemic. 

I must confess, it makes me sick sometimes to be a part of the human race - too evil, unjust, and demonic for my liking! Were I to return to life after death, I'll definitely come back as a Simba - the Lion King. Go figure!
















See my point? This is exactly what I'm talking about - just received this from CDC Public Health Law News letter - even worse than Tuskegee Trials:

“It’s ironic — no, it’s worse than that, it’s appalling — that, at the same time as the United States was prosecuting Nazi doctors for crimes against humanity, the U.S. government was supporting research that placed human subjects at enormous risk.”

GOOD NEWS UPDATE FOR GUATAMALA (January 20, 2012)

U.S. pledges $1.8 million in response to unethical Guatemalan medical studies

 

U.S. Apologizes for Syphilis Tests in Guatemala

OH BOY! CALL IT RIOT OR REVOLUTION - VIOLENCE IS HUMAN NATURE

There's been a wave of violence circulating mother earth in the last 6 months or so. From Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Cote d'Ivoire, Syria etc protest and revolution reigned as civilians fought to protect their human rights. Barely two months ago, a new event unfolded. This time it is called "Vancouver Riot". Interesting, the reason my fellow Vancouverites took to burning police cars and looting businesses in the Downtown core. Well, that was nothing compare to what is happening in England now - no one saw the waves progressing - London, Bristol, Birmingham, Liverpool and Nottingham - the very city I studied in couple of years back. Well, who said violence is endemic to Africa? For whatever reasons, let us stop creating historical illusions that race, skin color, education, or social status will determine whether a person will burst out his/her violent urge. Times have changed, knowledge is free so has my ability to THINK!!!! So should you!!!!!!

     

It's been busy...but critical thinking

I'm sorry for the long pause. Every now and then, silence or "going under" is necessary.

Well, for the first time in almost 11 months, I'm beginning to feel Veronica again (if you know what I mean). I was saying to a friend last week - that when life stings us, all we see is the pain, trauma and hurt. But it is after those moments of sorrow (if you do survive it) that you begin to realize the importance of being "grounded'. You know, I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't want a "flat" life where there is no conflict, misunderstanding, sadness or ups and down.

Earnestly, as a morally sound human being who strives for perfection, I am always grateful having reflected on my trying experiences. Grateful for struggles? -some would ask? Yes, even more appreciative because you know what? I am a survivor, and struggles make me stronger a person. They make me respect the value of life and laud the fact that my roots are SIMPLE, HUMBLE and DOWN-TO-EARTH. They make me HIGH ACHIEVER and BIG DREAMER. In essence, these challenges bring out the CORE Me - the RESILIENT FIGHTER. Amidst these, I never forget to say thanks to those who avail themselves to be the "vectors" of pain and hurt to others. Seldom do they know that they are being used - I'm sure in the end they feel disgusted and ashamed. But me, those experiences help me realize that allowing oneself to be a negative force to another - is certainly not a good place to be at. I refuse to be a negative influence in anyone's life less I become equated to THE MINUS SIGN.

It may sound like a sand-byte, but I know there are many out there who go through trying times and say to themselves - geezzz - what is all this for? I say, after you've "cocooned" - sit back and gradually peel off the layers, then you would begin to see the purpose for which it was targeted at you. It is all just for a season and believe me, life is far more interesting and worth living when you are able to surmount one terrible situation after another. No kidding - this is life and for some of us, it's continuous trek to the steep hilltop.

What more can I ask the giver of life for? NADA - SERENITY, PEACE, HAPPINESS, LOVE, COMFORT and more are swirling Veronica's virtual space. I'm back to doing my usual 10K run 4x per week, biking, hiking, "workaholicking" (as usual), and enjoying the finest things life has to offer - breathe! For I know not, when Mr. & Mrs. Trying Times may come tumbling over again.

Well, don't forget to put a smile on your face each day - life is too short, live it to the maximum whenever you feel your lung expand and contract!

Peace n love

PEANUT BRAINS...SAY NO MORE, PUHLEESE

Earnestly, for the very first time, I'm beginning to think that Dr. James Watson's baseless argument is true except that we simply need to replace "Africans" with Peanut Brains. For many months, I have absorbed some of the STUPIDEST (if that's a word) arguments come out of a country that claims to be the pinnacle of modern civilization only because they have a black president. For the first time in 8 years they are beginning to see a distinct leadership flaunt with genuineness, passion, intelligence etc. They will never have a president like Barack Hussein Obama. I'll say no more because others have translated some of my thoughts...

       

      

Obama Pokes Fun at Birth Row

Obama on Oprah: Birth Certificate Issue

Bill Cosby Slams Trump

Whoopi Goldberg, 'The View' Trash 'Racist' Trump

Tukutu! A Tribute of Love!

If he finds out I'm writing this about him, I bet he would get mad at me! Because, like Mama, I still see him and all my younger siblings (especially those I helped Mama babysit) as my babes - even though they've all grown up. Tuku, please forgive me, I just can't help myself:-).

I love my family (PERIOD)! Life is too short. By the time we are done chasing "the paper" it's too late and then we suddenly realize that we haven't made time to appreciate our loved ones. As I get older and wiser (hopefully), I tend to take few moments amidst my crazy-busy life to appreciate my mom and siblings.

He was born not so long ago as he is the 7th out of 8 children. I still remember him being called affectionately by Mama (Tukutu). His eyes were so distinctly dark and white when he peered into your face - with innocence and frailty. He was a lavished babe as Daddy returned from the US just after he was born. He got the best of baby toys any of us ever owned in our baby lives. His favorite was a green suit with the number "88" written on the back - that our favorite neighbour "Gibbo" called him "88 pekin". Many of my days with him was spent carrying him on my back (poepoeing), playing with him, rocking him to sleep (etc) whilst Mama go about preparing food or so. As refugees in Ghana, we spent some unfriendly times together as I scolded him many days when he didn't do well in his lessons.

Today, I've never been so proud of my not-so-li'l one! He's grown into a handsome prince charming. As he works assiduously toward stardom, I patiently lie in wait for his glory-day. I adore him and I love him very much. And I wanted to let the WWW witness the depth of my love for him. He's no other than Abraham Fynn (AKA F1). Join me in promoting his talent: TUKUTU!!! I'll always love you - MWAH