Foundation of the week: V-Day

Beyond Valentine day!!!
"The 'V' in V-Day stands for Victory, Valentine and Vagina."!!


"V-Day is a global activist movement to stop violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sex slavery.....

In Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, V-Day commits ongoing support to build movements and anti-violence networks. Working with local organizations, V-Day provided hard-won funding that helped open the first shelters for women in Egypt and Iraq; sponsored annual workshops and three national campaigns in Afghanistan; convened the "Confronting Violence" conference of South Asian women leaders; and donated satellite-phones to Afghan women to keep lines of communication open and action plans moving forward. V-Day was instrumental in the founding of Karama, a program working in Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon that works to build upon and strengthen efforts to end violence against women by bringing together local women's organizations and other civil society groups in collaboration, analysis and advocacy at national, regional and international levels"

http://www.vday.org/about/more-about

http://drc.vday.org/

John Coltrane - Equinox (Original)

Happy Monday to you all!!!
Here is  John Coltrane - Equinox (Original)!!
Enjoy!

Edouard Glissant- Excerpt from Pays rêvé, pays réel

In homage to the Caribbean poet Edouard Glissant. 
Rest in peace ...

Here a beautiful poem  from  Monde en poésie.

Excerpt from Pays rêvé, pays réel

Si la nuit te dépose au plus haut de la mer

N'offense en toi la mer par échouage des anciens dieux

Seules les fleurs savent comme on gravit l'éternité

Nous t'appelons terre blessée ô combien notre temps

Sera bref, ainsi l'eau dont on ne voit le lit

Chanson d'eau empilée sur l'eau du triste soir

Tu es douce à celui que tu éloignes de ta nuit

Tel un gravier trop lourd enfoui aux grèves de minuit

J'ai mené ma rame entre les îles je t'ai nommée

loin avant que tu m'aies désigné pour asile et souffle

je t'ai nommée Insaisissable et Toute-enfuie

Ton rire a séparé les eaux bleues des eaux inconnues

My humble translation in English

If  the night leaves you above the sea
Do not offend the sea of  grounding's of the ancient gods
Only the flowers know how to climb up the eternity
We  are calling you our wounded earth oh how our time
Will be brief, like the water that we cannot see the bed
Song of water stacked on the water of the sad evening
You are sweet to the one who wanders from your night
Like a  heavy gravel buried at the midnight's strikes
I took my paddle between the islands, I have named you
far before you have chosen me for asylum and breath
I've named you, Elusive and All fled

Your laughter has separated the blue waters from unknown waters

Bridges around us

Yesterday,our son turned 8 years old!!!
He is healthy and happy!! We are blessed!
So here few pictures of bridges as metaphors of this eight years long journey.

Artsy peeks of the week

Niliiroll Nikailike

Enoch Mukiibi

Dr. Rashid Diab

YouTube life in a day-Live from Sundance Jan 27 @ 8PM EST

Life in a Day

“Life in a Day” is a user-generated feature-length documentary film, shot on a single day, July 24, 2010. Supported by YouTube, it enlisted the global community to capture a moment of their lives on camera. “Life in a Day” brings together the most compelling footage into a 90-minute film, crafted by Macdonald, Executive Producer Ridley Scott and their team, to offer a unique experience that shows, in beautiful and, at moments, harrowing honesty, what it is like to be alive on Earth today.

"

July 24 is my birthday!!! No, I did not participate  but I will happily watch!! Voyeurism or curiosity! I will be watching because that is Global community. I am expecting a realistic play in our  virtual theater. I hope that the producers did not craft it too much for this global staging. Nevertheless, this will be a unique experience for our community.  

Social and cultural dilemmas of the snacks and lunches trends.

When I was in first grade my mother, would give me sandwiches which I loved. They were made with warm French baguette. I loved all of my sandwiches. However, I always hid to eat my smashed super ripe banana sandwich. I could not take the mockeries of my wealthy classmate and their fancy “store bought” snacks. Yes…I did hide and eat it as fast as I could with my warm milky tea in my small thermos…(Thank you mom) Some children were joking that I was eating "poop" like food. Of course to them, all my snacks and lunches were weird and smelly. Their food looked ultra fancy and expensive.I could feel my mother love in each meal that was why I did not tell her.  She did figure out !!!

So as a mother, I try my best to give my son healthy tasty snack. But I refuse to completely give in on trends. As for lunch, I always packed him leftovers with fruits and vegetable. And we agreed that he could eat twice a week at the cafeteria to be like “everybody”. I did figure out that he too was not eating his favorite lunches at school because people were staring…He even told me that for African or French food, people always stare or say something. It was annoying however for Chinese, Italian or Mexican food; people are just used to it.  My little padwana explained that he likes his food but it is hard to be different on everything. In his words “Mom you know what: I am taller.I am a lot of stuff they are not. I want to be me but for the snacks I want to be like them because sometimes I cannot take it.” Well, I said pretty much the same thing to my mother many moons ago!!

My mother told me that her grandfather used to come see her at lunch time to bring her something special. He wanted to make sure she was not eating “grilled pigeons ” like the other kids. She wanted to be like “everybody”.  Sometimes our mother would buy those “fancy snacks” to  please us. Of course, I will pack my padwana some “store bought snacks”.  Personally, I am still enjoying my smashed super ripe banana sandwich which I added slivered almonds and honey. On top of it, I am making my own French baguette.  Oh yes, life is good!

The truth is that the social pressure and cultural dilemmas for multicultural and multilingual children will never fade away. And it takes time and patience.  It is not about the quality of the food. It is about fitting in. It is about blending in with trends to avoid cultural stereotypes.  Of course school will always display our socio –economic and cultural differences.  However, we as “family” are growing stronger and closer beyond generation gaps by sharing stories. 

Here a picture of my "all time favorite" store bought snack:

L'amour veritable by Kery James

Here another French rap song  about friendship for my old and new friends.Happy Monday to you all.
Peace...


"L'amitié se passe de paroles, quand tu la vis et que cest un acquis
A qui veut l'entendre, tes amis cest pas ton équipe
L'amitié naît sans raison et avance sans horizon
Mon ami ce texte est en fait une oraison
Une amitié qui se finit en fait navait pas commencé
De vrais liens faits dans le bien, amènent à se réconcilier
Si le cœur y est, lamitié envahit lâme entière..."

All That We Share by Jay Walljasper

Jay Walljasper is a veteran writter for Ode. I picked up an old magazine at the library for 25 cents.It liked the title: Ode for intelligent optimists!!! It was interesting and easy to read.  I like Walljasper's arguments about commonness in our global community.
Once again,the World is not perfect or imperfect. And I am not perfect or imperfect.  I am a monad among monads. I am a dreamer among dreamers. We are different but the same. And we have common dreams under the same moonlight.

Here the article from Ode

In All That We Share, veteran journalist Jay Walljasper, a former editor at Ode, presents the ultimate guide to save ‘the commons,’ which he defines as “everything we inherit or create together and must pass on.”
What is the commons exactly?
“It is, in short, what we share together, in contrast to what we own individually. It includes everything from parks and streets to the environment and the Internet. It covers the world’s most ancient folk tales and the latest dance steps. When you start to think about it, a lot of essential elements of our lives exist outside the realm of private property.”
In your book, you claim the commons is under threat. How did that happen?
“The last 30 years has witnessed an overwhelming trend to privatize valuable things that once belonged to all of us. Big companies, for example, are now taking over control of public water systems, which has sparked huge protests in South America because people suffer higher prices and have no say on how this precious resource is managed. Many things that we share have been neglected to the point of ruin. If something does not make a profit, in the eyes of many politicians and business executives, it is not worth anything. That’s why we are seeing more libraries with their doors locked, parks where the playground equipment is falling apart. A sad symbol of this is public drinking fountains everywhere that do not work. We are all supposed to buy bottled water now.”
Which initiatives to save the commons have inspired you?
“Wow, this could take all day! Among the most compelling mentioned in my book are community gardens; open source software; Creative Commons Licenses (an alternative to copyrights, where creators allow their work to be freely shared for certain purposes); a new public square in downtown Detroit that has brought hope and significant private investment back to a battered city; a Mexican farmer who revived indigenous farming techniques to make severely eroded soil fertile again; and an art group in San Francisco that makes a point about public space by turning parking spaces temporarily into mini-parks.”
What can we do to revitalize the commons?
“The first step is simply to be aware of all the various forms of commons that are important to your life. This includes groups of people working together toward the common good, like Wikipedia and public health agencies. The next step is to strengthen these commons in every way possible as voters, activists, social entrepreneurs, and good neighbors.”

RAISE Hope for Congo

It is an Enough project!!! It is addressing the conflicts over minerals and violence against women!!
"RAISE Hope for Congo seeks to fundamentally change the equation for Congo by using Enough’s robust field research, advocacy, and communications to bolster a broad grassroots movement that promotes lasting solutions. Our initiatives work to educate and empower individuals to be a part of those solutions to the conflict."

Raise hope for congo

Remember Patrice Lumumba Speech:

Considered so dangerous to imperialist powers that he was imprisoned after his election and ultimately assassinated, Patrice Lumumba was confident that we who love freedom would fight on, saying: "We are not alone. Africa, Asia, and free and liberated people from every corner of the world will always be found at the side of the Congolese."

"We are going to show the world what the Black man can do when he works in freedom, and we are going to make of the Congo the center of the sun’s radiance for all of Africa."

Make Your Dreams Come True Day is Jan 13th

Oh yes!!! There is a  holiday for dreams!! I did not find the origin of this one. In my opinion, it must be about "the 13th" day of the year. Well, bizarre holiday or not, just do it! 
In a previous post, I did quote Paulo Coelho "when you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true". I do believe that we prepare our fate everyday in every actions. Let's not forget that we all are children of the universe and that our dreams are not negotiable.
We should not let our dreams just be dreams...

• If one advances confidently in the direction of their dreams, And endeavors to lead a life which they have imagined, They will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.Henry David Thoreau 
• Dreams are . . . illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you.Marsha Norman 
• If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for it is not to dream less but to dream more, to dream all the time. Marcel Proust

In memory of Haiti earthquake

All my respects to Children of Haiti !!!

Same Moonlight for our Dreams...

A beautiful retro Zouk song, in homage of Haiti!

“Yon ti GESTE pou YO. Yon chapo pou yo.!!!! Nou gen lontan nap tann solèy leve. Bon DIEU tanpri, yon ti di yon parol pou yo!"

Cassava Leaves in my mind

Yesterday, I explored three Asian stores for frozen Cassava leaves!!! Tomorrow, I will try stores specialized in Filipino products. It has been years since my last plate of cassava leaves. In Comoros, it is called Mataba, home it is also called Sombe, and commonly known as Saka saka or Pondu.  I did call my mother for the recipe!! It seems that a lot of people around here might be craving those leaves. Seriously three stores were out! Nevertheless, I did find grated cassava. It is perfect for a gluten free recipes:“Cassava Bibingka” a Filipino cake, or Bâton de Manioc steamed  in banana leaves, a sort of central African bread.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaves contained a high level of protein. That is why they are so popular. They have a high content of protein, minerals and vitamins. In Humanity Development Library, it is said that "Eating 50 grams of cassava leaves-the equivalent of a large salad-or a mere three grams of red palm oil per day could prevent a child from going blind. Yet half a million children are destined to blindness, and two-thirds of them to die, for lack of a daily supply of the crucial amounts of vitamin A contained in such common tropical foods". According to studies, consumption of 400g cassava leaves is equivalent to protein intake of 45 to 50 grams. It is a smart addition to any vegetarian meals.  According to Wikipedia, the leaves are used to treat hypertension, headache, irritable bowel syndrome and pain. Personally, they are a taste of home loaded with protein and a souvenir of my childhood.

In pursue of Cassava leaves ...

Artsy Peeks of the week

Anastasia Sarantinou

Ashley Cecil

Ryan Hewitt

Crépuscule-Twilight by Kunline

This one is for my brothers and sisters.

I did find this poem of mine behind an old magazine. It is three years old!!! I try to translate in English!!

Crépuscule

Une  fluide  monotonie apaise les hurlements de l'incertain,

face à l'incertitude de la nuit naissante.

Doucement la nature murmure avec tendresse dans sa voluptueuse harmonie.

Au coeur de cette puissance invisible,

mon âme s'evade vers  d'autres horizons.

Au-delà du visible, nous sommes tous libres.

Nos yeux  tournés vers le ciel dans la lumière ou l'obscurité,

comme des arbres majestueux affrontant chaque instant avec ténacité du crépiscule à l'aube. Je suis!

Twilight

A smooth monotony soothes the howling of the uncertain,

facing the uncertainty of the nascent night.

Nature whispers tenderly in her voluptuous harmony.

At the heart of this invisible power,

my soul escaped to other horizons.

Beyond the visible, we are all free.

Our eyes turned skyward in the light or the darkness,

as  majestic trees affronting each moment with the tenacity from twilight to dawn.I am!

Kunline

Mamadou Gomis

 

The number Seven

Lucky or not, seven is my favorite number.

Here a great link about  seven in this seventh day of 2011.

My ultimate  favorite  is the visible spectrum defined by Issac Newton's 7 colors of the rainbow.

Happy Friday!!!

"Seven A mystic or sacred number. It is composed of four and three, which, among the Pythagoreans, were, and from time immemorial have been, accounted lucky numbers. Among the Babylonians, Egyptians, and other ancient peoples, there were seven sacred planets. The Hebrew verb for "to swear" means literally to come under the influence of seven things; thus, seven ewe lambs figure in the oath between Abraham and Abimelech at Beersheba (Gen. 21:28); and Herodotus describes an Arabian oath in which seven stones are smeared with blood. There are seven days in Creation, seven days in the week, seven graces, seven deadly sins, seven divisions in the Lord's Prayer, and seven ages in the life of man; climacteric years are seven and nine with their multiples by odd numbers; and the seventh son of a seventh son was held noble. Among the Hebrews, every seventh year was sabbatical, and seven times seven years was the jubilee. The three great Jewish feasts lasted seven days; and between the first and second were seven weeks. Levitical purifications lasted seven days; Balaam would have seven alters, and sacrificed on them seven bullocks and seven rams; Naaman was commanded to dip seven times in Jordan; Elijah sent his servant seven times to look out for rain; ten times seven Israelites went to Egypt, the exile lasted the same number of years, and there were ten times seven elders. Pharaoh in his dream saw seven years for each of his wives; seven priests with seven trumpets marched round Jericho once every day, but seven times on the seventh day. Samson's wedding feast lasted seven days; on the seventh he told his bride the riddle, he was bound with seven withes [sic], and seven locks of his hair were cut off. Nebuchadnezzar was a beast for seven years. In the Apocalypse, there are seven churches of Asia, seven candlesticks, seven stars, seven trumpets, seven spirits before the throne of God, seven horns, seven vials, seven plagues, a seven-headed monster, and the Lamb with seven eyes. The old astrologers and alchemists recognized seven so-called planets. According to the Muslims, there are seven heavens. Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia (Siepmann, 1987)"

One Mic by Nas

One of my favorite of Nas.  A perfect balance of flow, poetry,melody and wisdom whispers. This song  talks to the ghetto child within...
" We need more warriors soon Sip from the star Sun and the Moon...Diamonds are blinding, I never make the same mistakes Moving with a change of pace, lighter load, see now the king is straight."

Check out: Potholes in my blog for an amazing Nas mixtape of remixes  titled “No Idea’s Original”.
"No idea's original, there's nothing new under the sun
It's never what you do, but how it's done"
 Enjoy!!!

Finding the flow

According to Wikipedia, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi once said "Repression is not the way to virtue. When people restrain themselves out of fear, their lives are by necessity diminished. Only through freely chosen discipline can life be enjoyed and still kept within the bounds of reason.” This is probably a reason why many New Year’s resolutions never come true. It is easy said than done.

However, I am in love Csikszentmihalyi’s notion of flow.  It is defined as “a state of concentration or complete absorption with the activity at hand and the situation. The idea of flow is identical to the feeling of being in the zone or in the groove. This is a feeling everyone has at times, characterized by a feeling of great absorption, engagement, fulfillment, and skill—and during which temporal concerns (time, food, ego-self, etc.) are typically ignored. According to Csíkszentmihályi, flow is completely focused motivation…It is a single-minded immersion and represents perhaps the ultimate in harnessing the emotions in the service of performing and learning. In flow the emotions are not just contained and channeled, but positive, energized, and aligned with the task at hand. To be caught in the ennui of depression or the agitation of anxiety is to be barred from flow. The hallmark of flow is a feeling of spontaneous joy, even rapture, while performing a task. ”

This sense of complete peace of mind in our everyday lives is challenging. However, once you get the feeling it is amazing. Sports used to give me that “in the zone” feeling. As a teen, drawing and writing “dark poetry” defined pure flow. Mathematics also was all about the flow. You must completely concentrate and be motivated to get it. Hobbies lead to the “in the zone” bliss. Of course, spirituality and meditation offer the flow state.  

Such flow is beyond blissful contentment or fulfillment. It cannot be programmed, forced or given. It just happens anytime and anywhere. Today, I am navigating through life adjusting my pace. My flow is within my soul. And I can feel it. I guess that the flow state is a gift of being in the present. The flow state is to live alive. It requires confidence, focus and balance. Even our global community is in flow of Oneness, one family, one Earth.

Let’s feel the flow. My last Happy 2011 to you!!!

Foundation of the week: Solar Cookers International

In the spirit of 2011 international year of forests, I would like to promote solar cooking.Trees are friends!!! When we can spare them, we should try. I did buy a solar cooking kit years ago.  To be honest, I always forget about it. In 2011, I will use my solar cooking kit in camping, and post pictures of super green “sunshine cooking”!! The Solar cookers international is nonprofit organization with offices in California and Kenya. They are introducing solar cooking to those in need around the world since 1987!

Let’s us try!
Same  Moonlight for our Dreams

Happy 2011, the International Year of Forests

 
"The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests"

Happy 2011 to you all...
According to Flag Counter, 85 countries visited!
Thank you!!
Same Moonlight for our Dreams!!!                                                 

12 seeds for the New Year

Last spring, my urban patio garden did inspire me to grow more plants. My bell pepper is  still producing despite the cold weather!!! In the name of biodiversity, I pledge to buy and store 12 different seeds every New Year. I do not have green thumbs. I have "purple" thumbs because I have a great ability to grow  "edible" plants only!!  I can keep cute plants around. However I take care of my edible friends! Gardening is therapeutic. I believe in a gardening revolution. Save seeds..Organic or not. Buy and store seeds. I got 12 kind under 12 dollars plus shipping for 275 seeds total.

Let's nurture nature...

Here a quote of J.Sterling Norton from here

"The generations of flesh pass away; and plants and trees, by root and leaf, take the substance of the dead forms into their being rebuilding again the vegetable kingdom whence they were ravaged for the sustenance of animals. In this earthly round of being ages come and go, as shadows and sorrows come and go over each individual human life...The animal kingdom of today was the vegetable kingdom of an age that has been; and the physical man - all the animals - will be the plants, flowers, fruits and forests of the years yet to be. So proceed the cycles of transmutation - inevitable as death, and wonderful and the mystery involved in eternity: change unceasing, but loss never, for frugal nature permits no waste, and, though her forms disintegrate and disappear, substance, mental and material, lives forever, defying decay with the smile of conscious and ineffable immortality"

• Purple Cauliflower 40 Seeds -LOW CARB!- Veggie

Few of my seeds for the New Year at Hirts Gardens

AMAZING Egg Tree 15 Seeds-Grow Indoors/Out-Edible Fruit Romanesco Broccoli 50 Seeds-Heirloom-Best Taste Veggie Japanese Black Trifele (Russian Truffel) Tomato 20 Seed

Foundation of the week- Coexist Foundation

"Coexist has been involved in a range of inspiring, exciting and transformational projects that promote better understanding between faith communities through education, dialogue and research.

• Coexist drives and supports educational programmes and initiatives we hope will capture the public imagination
• Coexist promotes dialogue and reconciliation between groups in conflict with one another
• Coexist encourages research into programmes which further relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims, and between these faiths and others."

 Image from here

Quote from Oogway in Kun Fu Panda

This is the movie of our winter break.  Funny as always and we love the message.
The secret is there is no secret!!! Priceless wisdom!!  Enjoy our present!

"Quit, don't quit? Noodles, don't noodles? You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present." Oogway

Coexistence of religions and celebrations.

I grew up as a catholic in an Islamic country. On Friday, I would happily go to the mosque with my friend. Many of my  friends were attending, and afterward I was always invited to share their delicious meals. On Saturday, some Danish protestant nuns were offering succulent baked goodies. Of course, I went to visit them when I could. On Sunday, it was Sunday school before the service.  At the end of which, we were always rewarded with some fancy European goodies.

At six years old, I was chosen to be Mary in the nativity play at church. I was so happy to be “the virgin Mary”. Oh yeah, I was “the” Madonna. The day of rehearsal, the priest gave me a doll to be “baby Jesus”. It was a cute blond and blue eyes doll. I ask if I could have a “black Jesus” instead. The priest said no my child. I asked again. He said no. I asked again. He finally said, no my child Jesus was not Black. I answered that The Madonna was not black but I was. I told with that the Holly spirit would have taken my color in consideration. The priest did laugh very hard. I was upset... Later at home, my Dad told me that Mary and Joseph were Jewish. So they were more likely tan with dark hair. And it did not matter anyway. I should let it go. Obviously, I did not completely let go…However, I went with the baby Jesus chosen by the priest. I was also graciously bribed with dates by my mother to comply with the original play. My stomach and I were always open to dialogues.  I was a calm child but outspoken, often bribed for silence with food.

As for the celebrations, we celebrated all the Islamic holy days and catholic one. The first Christmas I do remember was amazingly creative and funny. My mother managed to create a fake pine tree with a tropical plant. We did decorate with tons of homemade crafts. The final touch was shaving cream for snow under our tropical heat. It was a fabulous tree!!! I never believed in Santa Claus.  I always loved the family spirit during the holidays. It is at the end of the year, you are grateful to be healthy and loved.

I knew that my parents could not buy fancy toys. I always asked for cheeses and sweets. Anything that travel several miles in boat was pretty fancy to me.  My stomach and I were happy!!

At twenty years old, I converted to Islam. Today, I am still celebrating Islamic and Catholic holy days. And our son is celebrating all of them also. I think he knows about Santa. However, he loves the magic and the toys so much that Santa is real.

Religions are messages. Spirituality is within our soul. I know that my spiritual journey is the reflection of who I am. By the way, I do  believed in Zen. I was a good catholic and  I am muslim. My mother told me once: " I do not know if you are praying but regardless the language or the style, you must pray. And you must meditate quietly 15 minutes a day". Thank you Maman!

At the end it is the same moonlight for our dreams, and God is orchestrating the pre-established harmony. No matter what kind of religion or philosophy  we are  following, we are playing the same melody. And we have common dreams under the same moonlight.We must coexist...

Peace to you all

A Prophet -Un prophète by Jacques Audiard.

It is about the journey of a young North African prisoner in France. He is sentenced to six years in jail. I was expecting stereotypes and a lot of clichés. I was agreeably surprised. It is a fiction about  our fantasy “hero”, a Tony Montana like personage that makes it out alive.

In this pure fiction, I like how the racial tensions are portrayed.  The main character managed to stay alive. He went from the invisible “slave-maid” to the “ultimate gangster”. It is perfectly done because it already takes place in prison. It does take away the glamour of “wannabe Mafioso”.  

Seriously, it is a must watch. The movie is in French, Arabic, and Corsica with subtitles. It is nice to have movies about Arabs in France. It is sadly so familiar but the message coming out from some of  silent scenes is outstanding. One of the best films I have seen!!!

Verdict: Excellent !!

 Enjoy!

The uncomfortable Truth-Nneka

She is very talented and soulful.

Let us make a change why can’t we turn the page
Lord make us able
Without u we are totally unstable 

Soulful Vagabonds

Worldwide governments and citizens are struggling with “immigration”. In this global recession, immigration is treated like an epidemic requiring several forms of quarantine.  As immigration rate increase, deportations are skyrocketing. In this global unfair monopoly game, people are following the money. They are scavenging for resources. We are all doing it!!! The big difference is our locations on the monopoly board. It is the survival of the fittest. Immigration is a part of globalization.  This global community is without borders for people that have the right passports, visas, and wallets. It is also without frontiers for people that have hope and dreams!!The fortunate vagabonds are tourists or volunteers.

In my opinion, immigrants are soulful vagabonds that are tolerated in good times, and despised in hard times.Until the day, we are able to move to the Moon or Mars: Immigration will remain a problem on Earth!

To all  the aliens, citizens of the world and soulful vagabonds...

Same Moonlight for our dreams.

Quote from Whitney M.Young, Jr

• “It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”

   

Filosofia by Bau

Bau is from Cape Verde. This is a beautiful melody. "Filosofia" is the perfect title for this instrumental melodic prose.In my opinion, this is a great tune to relax, think or focus.Enjoy!
Keep on composing your symphony regardless of the leitmotif...
Same Moonlight for our Dreams

Arsty Peeks: Allan Bean

Allan Bean was the fourth man to walk on the Moon. He is an Astronaut-Artist. He incorporates small amount of Moon dust in his paintings!!! He is using color to express what he felt. My fascination to the Moon is obvious!!Allan Bean lived the dream. He is  sharing the bliss.Thank you!

Enjoy…

Astrobiology and Space Exploration by Lynn Rothschild

I got this link about Astrobiology from the Loom on Discover. 

It is a Free winter 2010 course from Stanford!!! 

A free access to 14 lectures about Astrobiology and Space Exploration by Lynn Rothschild!!Thank you to Lynn Rothschild! 

Let us explore…

Same Moonlight for our Dreams

"Lynn Rothschild is an evolutionary biologist-astrobiologist at NASA's Ames Research Center and a consulting professor at Stanford and Brown Universities where she teaches Astrobiology and Space Exploration. Dr. Rothchild's research has focused on how life, particularly microbes, has evolved in the context of the physical environment on Earth and potentially elsewhere in the solar system and universe."

Here

Learn from your DNA with 23andme

I was reading the article " One diabetes gene to explain it all". The author did talk about 23and me. And you know what, they are having a holiday sale!!! Yes you can have your DNA tested for health or ancestry at $99 instead of $499.Until December 25. There is a tiny asterisk about an extra $5 for 12 months subscription. So it is really  $159 total. To be honesty, the idea of knowing is so tempting...Seriously your DNA unveiled...
I had to share!

"23andMe, Inc. is a leading personal genetics company dedicated to helping individuals understand their own genetic information through DNA analysis technologies and web-based interactive tools. The company's Personal Genome Service™ enables individuals to gain deeper insights into their ancestry and inherited traits. The vision for 23andMe is to personalize healthcare by making and supporting meaningful discoveries through genetic research. 23andMe, Inc., was founded in 2006, and the company is advised by a group of renowned experts in the fields of human genetics, bioinformatics and computer science."

The global increase of heart disease and cancer

In the “A Global Call to Action on Cancer and Heart Disease”, Christine Gorman explains that the increase of heart diseases and cancers is linked to the adoption of Western-style diet and lifestyles.  She also points out that cancer is a side effect of success. Longer life implies aging populations, so cancer and heart diseases are the new trend. However the lack of available treatments, resources, and infrastructures is accentuating this disease trend.Beyond the side effect of longer life spam, adopting a Western-style diet is the worst.

The exodus from rural are to urban area is destroying the global health. In developing countries, many farmers are forced to move to urban zones. They are giving up their lifestyles and cultures to mimic a new one, a western lifestyle symbolizing social ascension. So the rice and beans meal is becoming bread and canned something.  With the loss of traditional farming, native cereals are replaced by white rice. In an article, I found out  that we are eating more rice than we are producing!!! “Rice is the staple food for around 2.5 billion people, or more than one-third of the global population. The global price of rice has been increasing for much of the current decade. According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a non-profit research and education center, this is because the world is consuming more rice than it is producing, and global stocks are becoming rapidly depleted”

Low income populations are working more and more to make nothing. They are incorporating fast food feeding to the detriment of traditional meals. As a child I rarely had processed food. Our food staple was rice, beans, tons of vegetables, fruits, fish and meat.  At eighteen years old, I left home for the first time. Far from my mother, I westernized my diet so much that I gained weight. I also got sick. My anemia was at the worst. I understood that the spinach, lentils, chicken livers, chick peas, and beans were necessary to my well being.  I went back to what I was used to. Mom was right!!  To this day, I eat all my veggies.Sometimes I am craving plantains, yucca roots, and other cereals!And I am thankful for Asian stores...

The globalization of resources should not be associated this new trend of “consumption colonization.” Supermarkets have their place in emerging economies as long as Local Farmers Markets are promoted and protected because only a tiny minority can afford decent food in those supermarkets. Supermarkets should buy and sell local products as well. I believed that we inherent our parents diet. With heritable epigenetics, our diet influence the genes of our children and grandchildren. The inequality, the imbalance of resources and climate changes are causing majors change in disease trends. The solution would be reasonable access to medication, protection of local economies, and of course the increase of  local farming!

We are what we eat...

Same Moonlight for our Dreams

Foundation of the week:For the love of chocolate

Really for the love of chocolate!!!

"For the Love of Chocolate Foundation provides scholarships for qualified students in the specialized training of the pastry arts. The foundation awards scholarships to students in the full-time programs taught by The French Pastry School for the City Colleges of Chicago. For the Love of Chocolate Foundation promotes commitment in pastry arts education for individuals looking to change careers, as well as individuals who have shown potential in the culinary field but who have no formal pastry education." 

Running to free my mind

These past weeks, I perfected a delicious pie crust, a healthy oatmeal bran bread, a great Pho Bo broth and the ultimate Belgian-German waffles. I love cooking and eating. I love food!!! Last week after too many buttery goodies, I could not resist the title of the runner’s world magazine “Special inspiration issue”. Yes I did purchase it for the first time. I felt so inspired by the title.

And you know what, I am running… It is addicting as always but this time I am ready to keep my motivation running.  I was enjoying the magazine until I started reading about “The confession of Eddy Hellebuyck” Seriously!! I purchased this at $4.99 for the inspiration and secrets of lasting motivation... In the midst of it, I get a super long messy confession on EPO doping and redemption. I respect his confession. It takes courage to come clean. I do get that there are heroes only in presence of villains…I am sorry for all the people that lost the races because he won. I wonder if he has to pay back the prizes. But this confession is a little too much too late…Well RW magazine did boost my motivation however I am not buying another issue...

I will keep on running because it does free my mind. There is some kind of raw honesty about running. It is a personal multitasking effort that asks inner motivation. Your lungs, heart, and muscles let you know the truth, as well as the extra jiggles…aka "extra love"...

My confession:

I will keep on running to stay in shape, to compete with my dear self. I also will keep on running to eat healthy, cheesy, creamy and buttery. And for the love of chocolate...

Economics of Happiness: content or fulfill?

With the current economy, there is a shift from pursuing to creating happiness.For the longest time the ultimate goal was to be fulfilled in order to be content.  However we can all remember that someone told us to be content to reach happiness. Happiness has no price but it is becoming a new economical field. Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness renewed discussion about the concept of happiness economics. According to Wikipedia: “The statistical relationship demonstrated is between happiness and the logarithm of absolute income, suggesting that above a certain point, happiness increases more slowly than income, but no "saturation point" is ever reached.” The evidence is that happiness is determined by relative and absolute income.

Coming from immigration, the most important lesson I received is that everything is relative. You may not have a private pool but you have access to a pristine beach. You may not have cupcakes but you have one mango tree. You may not have fancy but you have enough. The crucial silent message is that sacrifices made for better future and financial stability should not alter the fact that happiness is about being content. Being content is what makes people happy. For example children in refugee camps and war zones still find ways to be happy because material is relative. 

 In my opinion happiness is based on the ability to adapt and accept that the norms are relatives. For all children issued of immigration, the concept of happiness can be a cultural and an emotional conundrum. You love your heritage but you have to incorporate your environment to create your own happiness. At the end it is all about experiencing, appreciating, sharing and staying true. And if you are blessed, you have the opportunity to travel and learn from others. And remember that we are all different but the same. And under the same moonlight we have common dreams of happiness

Underwater Sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor

Jason deCaires Taylor is an artist, a diving instructor, an underwater naturalist, a photographer and the creator of the underwater sculpture park in Grenada. Just amazing!

"Let's be realists, let's dream the impossible."Che Guevara ...

"Let's be realists, let's dream the impossible." 

Che Guevara ...

 

Magdalenha by Sergio Mendes

Sergio Mendes is a Brazilian artist. I am loving this song.
Let us dance for freedom!
Enjoy!!
Email me if you did not dance!!!:)


Cool link on origin of samba here

Using Clone troopers to explain slavery

Few months ago, my seven years old asked if all blacks were slave in ancient time!!!I was surprised. I did manage to explain the concept of servitude and greed, using "Star wars". He loves clone troopers. So I took the clones for example. Clone troopers are used as slaves, because their only purpose is to fight to death for someone else. I told him that slavery always existed among humans, from Europe to Asia, Africa,and to America. The clones were created by Palpatine. He was greedy and immoral. He wanted power at any cost. Clones are humans not machines. Slavery is what happened when people pretend that the others are machines not humans.

All humans desire freedom regardless of  skin color. I pointed out that he loves Captain Rex, and Commander Cody because they think freely. They are free even if they are serving the republic.By thinking freely and having the respect of the Jedi, Rex and Cody are not slaves. However, they are still in servitude.The Jedi do not like the situation of the clone Army. The Jedi hope that by winning the war.The clones will be free.

Today, we also have clone troopers, Jedi and Sith. Some people are still treated like slaves or servants. Blacks were slaves as well as other races. And he should not worry because they are Jedi in every race!!So everybody will win. My young padawan did listen. He was relieved that all blacks were not slaves!

Here

Here a quote from a slavery Timeline.

 "Before 1400: Slavery had existed in Europe from Classical times and did not disappear with the collapse of the Roman Empire. Slaves remained common in Europe throughout the early medieval period. However, slavery of the Classical type became increasingly uncommon in Northern Europe and, by the 11th and 12th centuries, had been effectively abolished in the North. Nevertheless, forms of unfree labour, such as villeinage and serfdom, persisted in the north well into the early modern period. In Southern and Eastern Europe, Classical-style slavery remained a normal part of the society and economy and trade across the Mediterranean and the Atlantic seaboard meant that African slaves began to appear in Italy, Spain, Southern France, and Portugal well before the discovery of the New World in 1492. From about the 8th century onwards, an Arab-run slave trade also flourished, with much of this activity taking place in East Africa, Arabia, and the Indian Ocean. In addition, many African societies themselves had forms of slavery, although these differed considerably, both from each other and from the European and Arabic forms. Although various forms of unfree labour were prevalent in Europe throughout its history, historians refer to 'Chattel Slavery', in which slaves are commodities to be bought and sold, rather than domestic servants or agricultural worker."

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2 December

"The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, recalls the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (resolution 317(IV)of 2 December 1949)." 

http://www.antislavery.org/english/