The Skateboarding revolution in Afghanistan I've covered a few depressing stories and written some sad articles of late - even my last one was on a fictional TV series dealing with an apocalyptic event... so I thought I'd infuse a bit of beauty and inspiration here. The wave of young skateboarders in Afghanistan. They call themselves Skateistan - I didn't know much about them even after I saw the image above. I saved that image (from theChive.com) because it grabbed me. I'm not much of a Skateboarder myself, I tried when I was 6 yrs old, I fell, a lot, and then my Dad drove over my skateboard in the garage, and even though we fixed it somehow, I took it as a sign that this was not for me... Surfing on the other hand I have also tried - and I like that... although surf boards can be pricy. Anyway, enough about me. these young girls, yes girls, look to be skating in some place that is very dangerous, (because of the height, not the country) but the key above all is quite simply the smiles. I can't imagine living in Afghanistan, but I think its safe to presume there's little to cheer about, so an initiative was started, an NGO project targeting children between the ages of 5 and 15. It is a non-profit and independent initiative that has since expanded from Kabul to Cambodia and includes access to education. The reason for the focus on the girls is simple - Afghanistan is notorious for being one of the worst countries for women to live in. According to their website 40% of students in Skateistan are female, many of them having joined against the wishes of their family, their fathers in particular. The original instructor members are Oliver Percovich (Founder & Executive Director), Max Henninger (Former Deputy Director), Shams Razi (Former Afghan Country Manager) and part time volunteer Sharna Nolan (Former Project Officer) They receive a number of sponsorships as well as backing from several European embassies and at least one Foreign office. The Skateistan project was started by Percovich in 2007 after visiting the country early that year (bringing along his skateboards). The NGO has become something of a global affair since then and continues to grow and inspire. If you're interested to donate to organization, or just want to know more about them, I implore you to visit the website at www.skateistan.org, it's guaranteed to open your eyes. I was privileged enough to see a short documentary on this project... Kids are kids, they want to explore, to play, to learn. Stories like this remind me that there is hope yet for humanity...
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South Africa today: the state of the nation The Daily Maverick online Sometime late last year I wrote a short piece on South Africa and my (shared with countless other citizens) frustrations with the government (whom I did not vote for), bickering politicians and every other ill in this country - (the piece was inspired by the Marakana massacre). I felt compelled to write another piece. As the rape and thence murder of Anene Booysens continues to illicit a varied reaction across SA and the world, the deeper issue of the culture of violence permeating in SA has taken center stage . There are so many problems, so I’ll dive right on top of one of the biggest; though to be honest, no one could really change this in a substantial way – some problems take time to sort out, and some pain will only become manageable with even more time, the scars though, will remain, for a very very long time… I speak of Apartheid of course, and the fact that the nation of the New South Africa was born out of this heinous and evil construct. The nation which emerged was fraught with problems, but equally so, alive with possibility (to use a marketing catch phrase) and boundless potential. With such a fractured and divisive past, our subsequent number one enemy has always been ourselves. We know what we can achieve, and have achieved, but division persists with too many corrupt officials/government members, and an inactive public. However, everything I’m saying, and can and want to say, has already been said, so I’ll throw in some quotes here This is from a recent article on the Daily Maverick online newspaper: “We don’t know to what extent the frustration of young and old males, at their wits end in a society that has discarded them, where they have no jobs and women tend to get things quicker exacerbates the situation. That is not a cause, but could be an underlying issue behind incidence of sexual violence.” Link to full article here. "Cooper" referenced and quoted above is a doctor and psychiatrist. Of all the varied cultures we have in South Africa, the one we’re tending to cultivate and nurture the most in this near twenty year democracy, is violence. Here, where societal inequality is unparalleled (just the other day I watched a magazine program, showing off the a beautiful palatial mansion with sea views, a swimming pool and an entertainment deck – for the kids to entertain their friends with table tennis or snooker etc… meanwhile a few kilometers away, there are people who don’t even have a toilet in their own tiny house), dividing the country into the “have” and “have not’s”. As one local white comedian/ventriloquist put it “I grew up with the ‘we hate apartheid, but we benefited from it’ group”… the current democratically elected government has seemingly just left its people to fend for themselves – “If you want wealth, go get it”. This mentality, of every man for himself, has perpetuated from government down throughout South Africa, where we only seem to galvanize when our national sports team takes the field. There’s a lot of angst, frustration, unresolved anger, hurt and passion brewing beneath the surface, issues that weren’t dealt with in the Truth and reconciliation Commission (which should not have ended so soon) for example. Most uneducated black people (a result of every SA gov.) are too quick to haul out the race card whenever something goes against them, and most white people are too afraid/ashamed to talk about the past, and pain and suffering they know little of. I don’t know what it’s like to be forced from my home under an oppressive government and dangerous security police as I’ve grown up in a sheltered environment, mostly in the new South Africa, but older generations of my family can speak of such experiences – and that’s just one aspect… We’ve come out of an evil regime, and simply tried to live normally, act as we usually would if there was never an apartheid to speak of, but the scar on the nation as a whole is too deep to ignore. Plainly put, there’s very little dialogue between portions of society, a place or moment where one or many can vent their concerns and frustrations. So everyone seems to talk amongst friends, or keep their thoughts to themselves. I finished compiling and writing this article shortly after an introspective stroll down the Sea point promenade. Sitting there on a bench watching ships disappear and emerge from the mist off shore, looking down into the deep blue of the Atlantic, feeling the refreshing breeze which took the sting out of a hot day… What we see is nothing new; pain is pain, the world keeps turning and simple things will always be made to look complicated. Tides will continue to ebb and flow, and we will struggle on, always finding ourselves as our own worst foe.
The violence which has become common place in SA, and which for so many abroad is synonymous with us, is perhaps the civil war we should have had but didn’t. It was a miracle that we averted war – a poster for peace and reconciliation – but the same tools we carried in anticipation for conflict and survival, we now use on ourselves, frothing up in various forms, from drug and alcohol abuse to violence against our fellow men and women, compounded further by corruption, poverty, AIDS, all forms of crime, a lack of education, and thence morals and ethics - it's a different, passive kind of civil war. It's always amazing to me, just a few days ago my family played host to some friends from Switzerland, and their impression, along with countless others who've visited our shores, was that South African's are a warm and loving people, always ready to accommodate... so, when we put our best foot forward we can be example's for the world, but at the same time, our internal conflict can be the shame of the world - or at least one example of it... During the last days of apartheid, so many people prayed for a peaceful end, the country was a nervous hive of tension and prayer,as most sought God's guidance in our most trying time... how many though continued, and are still praying for the wellbeing of the nation? Too much Chocolate Is there such a thing? Ever had an Italian hot chocolate? There’s a restaurant/Deli here in SA/Cape Town called Limno’s who serve this drink. Be aware though to specify, because if you don’t and just ask for “hot chocolate”, you’ll probably get an ordinary milk and chocolate powder concoction – not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it is some way short of the real thing… The Italian hot chocolate I speak of is simply a ‘bowl’ – a large cup (I had the “large” size) – with melted chocolate that will ooze down your throat in a warm sensual embrace. I’m not sure if this actually originated in Italy, but that’s of little import. Things tend to get out of hand if you decide to have a slice of chocolate mousse cake directly after lining your insides with the dark delight. You probably feel a little bit sick, bloated and maybe even dizzy, in desperate need of a timeout, much akin (I imagine) to an alcoholic hangover, only this time you’ll remember every sweet lick of it. Today I stared contemplatively at several slabs of chocolate, a chocolate energy bar (already devoured by the time I wrote this), a jar of Nutella chocolate spread and a fresh batch of chocolate cupcakes – leftovers from a friend’s birthday party… is this chocolate overload? Oh yeah, did I mention the vanilla, caramel and chocolate flavored Ice cream (a bowl of which I also devoured by the time this went to press) in the freezer? Why do I bring all this up; I hear you ask. Simple: INDULGENCE and above all, DISTRACTION. We all need a bit of it every now and then. As we enter spring, thawing from our wrapped up winter days (Southern Hemisphere of course), it is imperative that we indulge in some of life’s little pleasure’s. Timing though needs to be just right so that the guilt you will inevitably feel, will be outweighed because you’ve saved yourself, elevating yourself to a new level – you are now worthy! So in the current international climate (politics, crime, global warming, wars et al.), make sure you preserve yourself by nourishing your soul with some sweet dark chocolate love, and have a quiet smile to yourself… -- Okay so technically I wasn't referring specifically to Dark chocolate, but this part is still relevant! -->
Heart Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate: Dark chocolate is good for your heart. A small bar of it everyday can help keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well. Two heart health benefits of dark chocolate are:
Other Benefits of Dark Chocolate: Chocolate also holds benefits apart from protecting your heart:
[*** To aunty June on her sixtieth... I just thought I'd share this message which was read to her, as it should be to all women. God Bless ***]
"God's Message To Women When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils. But you, woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you. Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity. From one bone I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man's life. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone I shaped you. I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully. Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart. Support man as the rib cage supports the body. You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be held close to his side. You are my perfect angel. You are my beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart. Your eyes - don't change them. Your lips how lovely when they part in prayer. Your nose, so perfect in form, your hands so gentle to touch. I've caressed your face in your deepest sleep; I've held your heart close to mine. Of all that lives and breathes, you are the most like me. Adam walked with me in the cool of the day and yet he was lonely. He could not see me or touch me. He could only feel me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with me, I fashioned in you: my holiness, my strength, my purity, my love, my protection and support. You are special because you are the extension of me. Man represents my image - woman, my emotions. Together, you represent the totality of God. So man - treat woman well. Love her, respect her, for she is fragile. In hurting her, you hurt me. What you do to her, you do to me. In crushing her, you only damage your own heart, the heart of your Father, and the heart of her Father. Woman, support man. In humility, show him the power of emotion I have given you. In gentle quietness show your strength. In love, show him that you are the rib that protects his inner self." |
[Banner illustration by Joel Kanar]
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