Back To Apartheid

Of all people, South Africans - especially Blacks - should be the last people to hate a person or be against a person simply because of that person's origins or ethnicity. What a shock and how disturbing it has been to see Black South Africans brutalising and butchering other Africans! And to see some South African police seemingly supportive of that! Shame on all South Africans who in any way have been involved in the violence of the last few days. No reason whatsoever justifies it.

We in other parts of Africa have been most proud of Nelson Mandela; we have always believed in Desmond Tutu's vision of South Africa as being a 'Rainbow Nation'; we have always cheered the Springboks and "Bafana Bafana" and felt great joy whenever they won. We have always hoped that South Africa would be a role model for Africa. And how could the South Africans forget the great support, both moral and material, that they were given all those years during their struggle for independence - by their neighbors and other Africans?

South Africans: you accuse other Africans of 'taking your jobs and housing, and stealing your girlfriends'. And yet: all across Africa, we have warmly welcomed the many South African businesses involved in mining, telecommunications, tourism, transport; and we gladly shop in South African supermarkets. We have never accused South Africans of 'stealing' or 'taking away' from us. If you South Africans can not live in peace with other Africans, then how will you live in peace among yourselves? South Africans: without peace with other Africans and all people, irrespective of their origin or ethnicity - that dream of establishing a true 'Rainbow Nation' will remain just a dream; a distant dream.

Kidepo: Uganda's Hidden Wonder

Very few people visit the Kidepo National Park in Uganda. Even fewer tourists ever visit the rugged, breathtaking Ugandan hidden wonder, tucked away in the triangular North Eastern part of the country, bordering Kenya (in the East) and Sudan (in the North). Most Ugandans outside the district , very rarely visit Karamoja, the district where the Park is or Moroto, the largest town in the district. It is that remote. And pristine.

Of all Ugandan national parks and game reserves, Kidepo is the most remote and has the most unique wilderness and terrain. Karamoja too, is the most dry and the hottest part of Uganda; it has a most unique people too: the Karamojong, whose warriors, tall and black, still walk and graze their cattle while almost totally naked; they seem too, to have a liking for AK47 rifles. The Kalashnikov seems to be the only modern technology that Karamojong men have accepted; unlike in most parts of Uganda where the mobile phone is.

Sadly, semi arid Karamoja, though large and has great potential for development, is the poorest and the most undeveloped district of Uganda. I very much hope that the authorities concerned will do more for Karamoja and its people; and make the remote, isolated magical Kidepo more secure. The whole of Karamoja, which has changed very little through time, has stunning scenery; more so, Kidepo. The spectacular scenery, easily makes one forget the seething heat.

Any one visiting Uganda and has the time and means, should visit enchanting, breathtaking Kidepo and experience not only some of the most spectacular sceneries Uganda and Africa has; but also feast on the abundant unique mix of wildlife that Kidepo boasts.

Above photo from: I-Travel which has more info on Kidepo

Kenya's: '40'

"One minister can have as many as three cars, huge offices, extravagant allowances in a country where the majority of people live below one dollar a day" Wangari Mathai

Kenya's president has announced a new power-sharing cabinet. In a country that has 210 elected Members of Parliament and 12 appointed (nominated) members; forty (42 to be exact)ministers have been named and more than that are now their assistants (52). See the full list of the '40' and their assistants here. As for the key cabinet posts:

Prime Minister: Raila Odinga
Vice-President and Home Affairs: Kalonzo Musyoka
Finance Minister: Amos Kimunya
Deputy PM and Trade: Uhuru Kenyatta
Deputy PM and Local Government: Musalia Mudavadi
Agriculture Minister: William Ruto

Hopefully, inspite of their cars, huge offices and extravagant allowances - the minsiters, their assistants and the politicians can 'put politics aside and get to work.' Hard, serious, team work. They owe it to the thousand plus of Kenyans who have died; the hundreds of thousands who are displaced and the 36 million plus Kenyans who are all waiting to move on. Move on to a better future.

Earth Hour: Turn Off Lights!

Want to make a Difference. Small, but still a difference?

Created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming.

On March 31 2007, for one hour, Sydney made a powerful statement about the greatest contributor to global warming – coal-fired electricity – by turning off its lights. Over 2.2 million Sydney residents and over 2,100 businesses switched off, leading to a 10.2% energy reduction across the city. What began as one city taking a stand against global warming caught the attention of the world.

In 2008, 24 global cities will participate in Earth Hour at 8pm on March 29. Earth Hour is the highlight of a major campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to take the simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis. It is about simple changes that will collectively make a difference – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty, to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby. Earthhour

That Hour is almost upon us! On Saturday (tomorrow), March 29, at 8 p.m. people around the world will be joining together to turn out their lights for Earth Hour, taking a stand against climate change. If you haven't already signed up for Earth Hour, please sign up today! If you are planning on participating but have not yet signed up at earthhour.org, please do so now. By signing up, you are sending a strong message to governments around the world, that WE want to take action on climate change.

Earthrise

The Apollo images of the Earth 'coming up' - rising - over the moon were staggering. We have always been used to the Sun or the Moon rising; but the Earth rising? Till the Apollo expeditions, 30 years ago, gave us those images! And now, the Japanese lunar probe - Kaguya - have given us more spectacular images of the Earth rising over the moon.

The Kaguya or Selene spacecraft, has been orbiting 100 kilometers above the moon since late last year. The image was taken by the spacecraft's high definition camera (HDTV). Another image of the Earth setting over the moon, was also taken. Amazing images!

Kenya Rises

After almost three months of tension and wondering what has happened to Kenya, I can now rest my mind and look forward to the future. Kenyan leaders, with assistance from fellow African leaders - most of all: Kofi Annan - have shown leadership and statesmanship in resolving what was becoming a real nightmare for Kenyans. Kenya can now rise. Magical Kenya, is back!

As the 'Daily Nation' says: LOOKS LIKE THINGS WILL BE moving at a frenetic pace. The two keys Bills supposed to open the way to the realisation of the peace accord could be debated in Parliament today. If everything is as hunky dory as it appears, the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill and the National Accord and Reconciliation Bill will be passed in record time by popular acclamation. And the paper adds: .....events have indeed proceeded at a pace that was surely unimaginable just few weeks when it appeared almost certain that the talks brokered by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan were on the verge of collapse. Instead of the total meltdown we all feared at the time, Kenya is instead on the verge of a great new beginning, but a lot more will have to be done than merely assembling a national unity government or whatever it may be called.

Yes, surely unimaginable just a few weeks ago. But it's happening: Kenya is moving forward. Fast. And hopefully on track. In life, we always realise the value of some thing whenever we are about to lose it or lose it. Peace, like health, is the most valuable thing one can have. Thank God we now have peace back in Kenya.

Photo: Photobucket

Sea Turtles Die In Kenya

I read this very disturbing report this morning:

"The killing of 28 sea turtles in less than month on the Kenyan coast has raised the alarm among conservationists.

Initial investigations portray a catastrophe of international proportions.

The deaths were not only the highest number recorded on the Kenyan coast in less than a month but the biggest set-back to conservation efforts.

According to data compiled by both the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee (Kescom), 22 marine turtles have been killed at Vipingo and two at Kuruwitu both in Kilifi, three at Diani in Kwale and one in Mombasa last month.

The sea turtles are endangered species protected under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (Cites) that prohibits commercial trade in the animal and its parts." Read more from the AllAfrica.com

Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee officials say: '.....human impacts contributed to more than 85 per cent of turtle deaths in the country.' They add that: “Of the seven known species of marine turtles in the world, five are found in Kenya. They are loggerhead, leatherback, olive ridley, hawksbill and green turtle. Three of them, the green, the hawksbill and the olive ridley nest in Kenya while the others only come to forage...” and "...since 1997 more than 2,000 turtle nests have been reported in Kenya resulting in more than 150,000 hatchings. However, research has shown that out of 1,000 hatchings only one turtle reaches maturity."

New Giant Shrew Discovered In Tanzania

It seems there is still much left to be discovered about life on Earth. This, just in:

An elephant among elephant shrews has been found in remote forests in East Africa, scientists announced today.

The previously unknown, squirrel-size species is the world's largest known elephant shrew and the only new species from the group to be discovered in more than a century, wildlife researchers say.

Weighing about 1.5 pounds (700 grams), the gray-faced sengi (Rhynchocyon udzungwensis) is up to 50 percent heavier than the next largest species of elephant shrew, according to the study team that named the long-snouted creature.

The animal was first identified in 2005 by motion-sensing cameras set up in the Udzungwa Mountains of south-central Tanzania by Francesco Rovero of the Trento Museum of Natural Sciences in Italy. National Geographic

Note: in 2005, researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society, working in conjunction with other partners, discovered, in Tanzania too, Africa's first new species of monkey in over 20 years. This new discovery of the Elephant shrew, proves, even more, that there are still many more discoveries to be made in Africa.

Photo: Cnet

Beyond Kenya....

For the last three weeks or so, events in Kenya have taken most of my attention; at times completely overwhelming me. But in between, there have been other happenings that my thoughts have gone to.

In Zimbabwe, as a reflection of how bad the economy has become and how hard life is - a new 10 million Zimbabwean Dollar note has been issued: as part of new currency measures Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) governor Gideon Gono took yesterday to help ease a biting cash shortage! The new note equals to about 330 US$ (officially) but is the equivalent of about 4 US$ at the dominant black market exchange rate. I have been shocked and very disturbed too, on reports regarding the Genocide ideology in schools - in Rwanda. For the last few days, which has seemed like ages to me, events in Kenya brought back thoughts of the horrific events that happened 13 years ago in Rwanda. I very much hope that every thing will be done, not only by Rwandans but by all those who care about Rwanda, Africa and humanity - to move Rwanda forward and completely erase any thoughts, ideology, literature or attitude that has in any way contributed to the very tragic events of 1994 in that country.

It seems: the wealthier and stronger a country or society becomes, the more destructive that country and society is to our World and Environment. I still haven't forgotten at how the American government wrecked the Climate conference in Bali! If it wasn't for the poorer developing countries having it even much harder, I would be happy to see oil becoming even more expensive; the more expensive oil gets, the more attractive alternative — and climate-friendly — fuels become. And then there is the Japanese: when will they stop their pretext and lies? Every one knows that 'Japan's research programme' is a pretext for keeping the whaling industry alive. 'Overexploit, cheat, deplete'. Whatever the Japanese might say; whatever lies they come up with: the bottom line is - whales are dying! They are being systematically slaughtered by a highly illegal operation.

Back to Ground Zero: Kenya! Fingers crossed! Hoping the next few days will see Kenya out of this quagmire! And praying that God allows us overcome this: wisely, constructively and peacefully. Kenya will and Kenya can.

In Memory of The Ultimate Adventurer

Very few people live their lives to the fullest and as whole and adventurous as Sir Edmund Hillary did. Not only did he, and his Sherpa guide, became the first to scale the 29,035-foot summit of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest peak; not only did he once 'dash' across the Antarctic; not only did he explore places where no human being had gone before and captured a world's imagination, but Sir Edmund too - is said to have been a humble, down to Earth man; a man who helped much in making a difference and positively changing lives of many in Nepal.

May God rest his soul in Peace.

Photo: ABC News