WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY - Remembering Wangari Muta Maathai

The theme for 2012 is “Green Economy:

Does it include you?”,

The UN Environment Programme defines the Green Economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.

World Environment Day (WED)

… Is celebrated every year on the 5th June to raise global awareness of the need to take positive environmental action. It is run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) … 

Remembering Wangari Muta Maathai

 

Wangari Muta Maathai 

(1 April 1940 – 25 September 2011) was a Kenyan environmental and political activist. In the 1970s, Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights. 

In 1986, she was awarded the Right Livelihood Award, and in 2004, she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for "her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace."

In 2011, Maathai died of complications from ovarian cancer. More here.

TEACHERS DAY - To Sir With Love

 

To All My Wonderful Teachers – Thank You

To all my kids’ lovely teachers – Thank you

“Al - Fatihah to Cikgu Zaiton”

63rd Primetime Emmy Awards September 18, 2011, WINNERS Downtown Abbeys, Mad Men, Modern Family, Kate Winslet, Julianna Margulies, Margo Martindale, Maggie Smith, Nominees and WINNERS.

September 18, 2011
AWARD

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (the “Television Academy”) tonight (Sunday, September 18, 2011) awarded the 2010-2011 Primetime Emmys® for programs and individual achievements on the “63rd Primetime Emmy Awards” originating on the FOX Television Network from the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

The Television Academy’s Chairman & CEO John Shaffner participated in the awards ceremony. Mark Burnett was Executive Producer of the telecast.

The awards, as tabulated by the independent accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP, were distributed as follows:

Best Miniseries or Movie
 

Downton Abbey, PBS

Mildred Pierce, HBO
The Kennedys, ReelzChannel
Cinema Verite, HBO
Too Big To Fail, HBO
The Pillars of Earth, St arz

 

 

 

Best Actress in a Miniseries of Movie

Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce

Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey
Diane Lane, Cinema Verite
Taraji P. Henson, Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story
Jean Marsh, Upstairs Downstairs

 

   

Best Actor in a Miniseries or Movie

Barry Pepper, The Kennedys

 

Greg Kinnear, The Kennedys
Edgar Ramirez, Carlos
William Hurt, Too Big To Fail
Idris Elba, Luther
Laurence Fishburne, Thurgood

 

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS

IN A MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

MAGGIE SMITH

as Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham PBS

Downton Abbey (Masterpiece)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A

MINISERIES OR A MOVIE

GUY PEARCE

as Monty Beragon HBO Mildred Pierce

 

 

  

Best Drama Series

Mad Men 

Boardwalk Empire
Friday Night Lights
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
Dexter

 

 

 

 

Best Actress in a Drama Series

Julianna Margulies, 

The Good Wife

Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU
Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men
Kathy Bates, Harry's Law

 

 

Best Actor in a Drama Series

Kyle Chandler, 

Friday Night Lights

Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Timothy Olyphant, Justified
Hugh Laurie, House

 

 

Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Margo Martindale, 

Justified

Kelly MacDonald, Boardwalk Empire
Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife
Christine Baranski, The Good Wife
Michelle Forbes, The Killing
Christina Hendricks, Mad Men

 

 

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Peter Dinklage,  

Game of Thrones

Josh Charles, The Good Wife
Alan Cumming, The Good Wife
Walton Goggins, Justified
John Slattery, Mad Men
Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age

 

 

 

Best Comedy Series

Modern Family

30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Parks and Recreation
Glee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Actress in a Comedy Series

Melissa McCarthy,  

Mike & Molly

Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Laura Linney, The Big C
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope

 

 

Best Actor in a Comedy Series

Jim Parsons, 

The Big Bang Theory

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
Louis C.K., Louie
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory

 

 

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Julie Bowen,  

Modern Family

Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Jane Lynch, Glee
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland
Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live
Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock

 

 

Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Ty Burrell,

Modern Family

Chris Colfer, Glee
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Ed O'Neill, Modern Family
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Source and Images Wikipedia and here.

HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI WISHES TO ALL MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD, EID MUBARAK WISHES, Dato Siti Nurhaliza binti Tarudin, Suara Takbir

WISHING YOU 

A VERY HAPPY "HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI"

TO ALL MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD.
TUESDAY 30TH AUGUST 2011 - 1432

SITI NURHALIZA - SUARA TAKBIR

Dato' Siti Nurhaliza

Dato' Siti Nurhaliza binti Tarudin  is a Malaysian singer, songwriter, record producer, television presenter and businesswoman. To date, she has garnered more than 200 local awards as well as international awards.


She rose to fame as a multiple-platinum selling artist, since her winning of Bintang HMI 1995 when she was only 16 where she was given offers in form of singing contract from four different international recording companies. Her first single, Jerat Percintaan from her debut album won the 11th Anugerah Juara Lagu and another two awards for Best Performance and Best Ballad.

She is the only artist in Malaysia who has won;

• 34 Anugerah Industri Muzik awards,
• 22 Anugerah Bintang Popular awards,
• 21 Anugerah Planet Muzik awards,
• 8 Anugerah Juara Lagu awards,
• four MTV Asia Awards and
• the holder of two records in the Malaysia Book of Records.

Backed with 14 studio albums, she is one of the most popular artistes in the Malay Archipelago and Nusantara region and she has been voted ten times in a row for Regional Most Popular Artiste in the Anugerah Planet Muzik since 2001. 


Currently, she has been listed as one of Malaysia's richest, most-influential, most award-winning, most single-produced artists.


In 2005, she was listed second by MTV Asia in Asia's Best Musical Artiste and Channel V's Biggest Asian Artiste. In 2008, she was named as one of Asia's Idol by Asia News Network.

Siti has collaborated with many renowned Asian artists such as Preap Sovath (Cambodia), Agnes Monica, Chrisye, Dewa 19, Gita Gutawa, Harvey Malaiholo, Krisdayanti, Marcell, Melly Goeslow, Padi, Peterpan, Rossa, Sahrul Gunawan and Yana Julio (Indonesia), Hiroshi Takano, The Boom, You Hitoto (Japan), Lay Phyu (Laos), Jolina Magdangal and Kuh Ledesma (Philippines), Francesca Peter, Sun Ho, Taufik Batisah (Singapore), Lee Hom Wang (Taiwan), Palmy (Thailand), Lam Trường (Vietnam).

In addition, Siti had also collaborated with Gareth Gates (UK), during MTV Asia Awards 2004. One of Thailand most sought after singers, Tata Young has also expressed her interest in collaborating with Siti and has praised Siti as "Asia's Mariah Carey" for her outstanding performances.

Source : here

Ramadan, month of reflection, purification and abstinence, Poverty around the world 925million hungry people in 2010, Somalia droughts

Ramadan

month of reflection, purification

and abstinence

Facts on poverty in the world

925 million hungry people in 2010

31 July 2011, Sunday / TODAY'S ZAMAN WITH WIRES, İSTANBUL

Muslims all over the world have embarked on a month of reflection, purification and abstinence from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset. 

The world's 1.2 billion Muslims, around one-fifth of humanity, will begin Monday this year's observance of the Ramadan fasting season, obligatory on all adult and physically fit believers and regarded as one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith.

This holy month is celebrated in the entire world with great enthusiasm and joy, as a great opportunity to remove all cultural and geographical obstacles that stand before the unification of the entire Muslim population around common sacred values.

Source here.

DURING THIS MONTH OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION, I WISH MUSLIMS HERE IN MALAYSIA AND ACROSS THE GLOBE RAMADAN KAREEM.

Latest update:

MERCY MALAYSIA DEPLOYS NEEDS ASSESSMENT TEAM TO SOMALIA KUALA LUMPUR, 25 AUGUST, 2011: MERCY Malaysia has deployed a needs assessment team to Mogadishu, Somalia to ascertain medical aid and healthcare services needed, said its president, Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Ahmad Perdaus.   Dar Al- Shifa Hospital,  Mogadishu (Medical supplies) The team is led by MERCY Malaysia vice-president Assoc Prof Dr Mohamed Ikram Mohamed Salleh while two others members are MERCY Malaysia head of relief operations Hew Cheong Yew and a Somali student, Yasir Mohamed Ahmed-Baffo, 27, who acts as a translator. Medical Supplies arrived from  Malaysia (29th Aug 2011) The MERCY Malaysian team, which left for Bahrain will be succeeded by follow-up teams. Here (updates: photos & videos live coverage of Malaysian team in Somalia)

925 MILLION HUNGRY PEOPLE IN 2010

No one really knows how many people are malnourished. The statistic most frequently cited is that of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, which measures 'undernutrition'. 


The most recent estimate, released in  October 2010 by FAO,  says that 925 million people are undernourished, or almost 1 in 7 people are hungry. 925 million people is 13.6 percent of the estimated world population of 6.8 billion. 

  

MONTH OF REFLECTION

31 July 2011 

Somalia famine: 

Twelve million are at risk of starvation as the drought and 

famine intensifies across the Horn of Africa. 

The African Union has announced it is to hold a summit

meeting to pledge help for the victims of Somalia's drought.

 Source here, here and here.

HORN OF AFRICA DROUGHT: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

.HIS EYES STILL HAUNT ME TO THIS DAY”

"There was drought; We have been walking for 22 days drinking only water," Mrs Haji says. "Since I delivered, I haven't eaten a thing.

One woman said how she left her sick child on the road because he was too weak to make the journey to Kenya.

Burdened by other small children, she left him in the desert.

STARVING CHILDREN IN AJIEP CAMPGROUND
YEAR 2000

INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS’ DAY 23 June 2011 PART 111

INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS’ DAY

23 June 2011

PART 111

 

400 WIDOWS COMMEMORATE

INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS' DAY

Source: Ghanaian Chronicle –

Mon, 27 Jun 2011

About four hundred widows from the Northern, Volta, Upper East and Upper West regions, last Thursday and Friday, converged at Bolgatanga to observe this year's International Widows Day. It was under the theme; 'We can end violence against widows through the recognition of widows' rights.'

The United Nations, this year, changed the International Widows' Day from the 13th of June to 23rd of June. Thus the commemoration of the day will now fall on 23rd June every year.

In the Upper East Region, Widows and Orphans Movement, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with Action Aid Ghana and the Savannah Women Empowerment Group, Ghana, organised the day.


The National Director of Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM), Madam Betty Ayagiba, said according to the United Nations, 245 million widowed women suffer from targeted murder, rape, prostitution, forced-marriage, property theft, eviction, social isolation, and physical and psychological abuse.

She said many widows throughout the world are malnourished, exposed to diseases, and subject to slavery, while over 500 million widows' children face child marriage, illiteracy, loss of schooling, forced labour, human trafficking, malnutrition, homelessness and rape. One million and five hundred thousand of these children die before their fifth birthdays.

Madam Ayagiba regretted that in spite of her organisation's efforts at exposing and reducing all forms of abuses against widows, some individuals and groups were thwarting their efforts with what she described as 'the denial spirit.' She explained that some people were accusing her organisation of exaggerating abuses against widows.

The Director cited an instance, where a man brought a visitor to her office three years ago. After introductions, the visitor saw pictures of some abuses on the wall and asked whether those things still existed, but the man told the visitor that those he saw in the pictures were exaggerations.

She said in less than two weeks after visiting her office, the man who claimed the pictures were exaggerations had an accident and died. At his funeral, his widowed wife was stripped naked as custom demands.

Madam Ayagiba said while her outfit, in collaboration with its partners such as Action Aid Ghana, Amnesty International, Voluntary Service Overseas, Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and some individuals, try to defend the sufferings of widows legally, socially and economically, some unscrupulous individuals and NGOs were also extorting money from people in the name of supporting widows.

She warned such people to desist from the practice, because it could bring curses and even death upon them.

The Director appealed to the government to support WOM and other genuine groups and individuals who are supporting their cause to liberate widows.

Three chiefs, Sapaat-Naab Bilea Namaal-Teng David Dok Dong of Kongo, Naba Koom Kimsi Bunga Moses Ayamzua of Winkogo, and Naba Salifu Atamale Lemyarum of Bongo, were awarded with certificates for defending and supporting widows.

The deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs. Lucy Awuni, noted that though the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees the protection of the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all natural and legal persons in the country, there was violence against women and girls everywhere, the rights of widows are violated, domestic house helps are abused, and children also abused and trafficked.

She described these violations as global problems which are condoned under some cultural practices and religious beliefs.

While urging the United Nations and governments to prioritise the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by women, Mrs. Awuni also entreated women to develop a common and united front to fight gender-based violence in their communities.

Traditional authorities should also transform their customs and traditions to make them conform to the exigencies of the time.

INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS’ DAY 23 June 2011 PART 11

INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS’ DAY

23 June 2011

PART 11

INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS DAY OPENS EYES, HEARTS

Huffington Post: 
Posted: 06/30/11

On Thursday, June 23rd delegates from around the globe congregated at the United Nations building in New York City in recognition of the first annual International Widows Day at the United Nations. Bolstered by the support of Cherie Blair, Executive director of Global Partnerships Forum, Amir Dossal, and First Lady of Gabon, Sylvia Bongo Ondimba. 

International Widows Day is the product of a dream started by Lord Raj Loomba. Loomba built the Loomba foundation in memory of his mother, Shrimati Pushpa Wati who was widowed in India, a country that until disturbingly recently required widows to burn on the funeral pyres of their deceased husbands, at the young age of 37. In 2005 Blair launched International Widows Day at the House of Lords in London, and this important humanitarian conversation has continued to capture the interest of governments worldwide.

Loomba opened his remarks, noting, "As a founding member of the Loomba foundation I have campaigned hard for the recognition of international widows’ day. We observe it today and for generations to come we will continue to observe it until the widows of the world have obtained their rights and dignity." 
 

   He continued, "I started my foundation because of the inspiration I got from my mother, I was only ten and a half years old when my father passed away. He died of tuberculosis. It wasn't my mother's fault that he died, but it was my mother who suffered for the rest of her life, exactly 37 years as a victim of widowhood." 

Loomba fortified his position with an anecdote recounting the difficulties and shame that had been heaped upon his mother for a "crime" that she could not control committing. "I remember," he began, "when I got married the priest asked my mother to move away because as a widow she could bring bad luck to the married couple. I was very angry and felt helpless in the moment. I could not understand how a mother who had taken care of me, brought me up, raised me could bring me bad luck, that is where this all started."

  Dossal's brief talk focused on the concrete issues and numbers that contribute to and surround the global plight of widows. He explained, "If we look at the issue, its not 245 million widows we're talking about, but also the impact of children in this process, so we're actually talking about almost 1 billion people (15% of the population)" Dossal was sure to add, "his is not just an issue of developing countries, it is an issue in developed countries as well." 

Lyric Thompson, senior policy analyst for Women for Women International tempered Dossal's facts with the harsh reality that, "We don't have the kinds of statistics on widowhood that we need to make a case to policy makers and donors," citing the Loomba Foundation's website as the premiere resource for statistics and information on the widowhood problem.

Additional, legal factors beyond social stigma are equally detrimental to the livelihood of widows across the globe. For instance, in countries such as Yemen women are not able to own or inherit property and as such widows who lack the support of an extended family can find themselves left with nothing in the wake of tragedy. 

The instances of child brides, however, make the issue of widowhood all the more complex. Often times children are married to men more than twenty years their senior and while they may be freed by widowhood on the one hand they are left without the tools, resources, and education necessary to lift themselves from their impoverished and disenfranchised predicament. 

Heather Ibrahim-Leathers, founder of Windows for Widows concludes, "The incident of widowhood initiates the vicious cycle of poverty"

Thompson, however, is not without hope. She cites the work of her own organization in improving the lot of widows world-wide, sharing, ""Women for women is working with a variety of partners from governments to multilateral organizations as well as the private sector to open opportunities for women including widows who've survived war to get back on their feet again." 

She continued, "Our partnership with Kate Spade New York allows us to employ women in a variety of roles to allow them to create accessories for the 5th Ave shopping market from the comfort and safety of their own homes.," adding, "A widow said she's able to make more income working part time for Kate Spade from her home than her son can working full time in a factory."

Of course, humans are not the only people able to make a difference in the lives of widows. Therapy animals have been used to rehabilitate bereaved widows with great success. Psychiatrist, Dr. Ramsay considers his dog to be a part of his trade. "I think," he said, "about my dog in the way a cowboy thinks of his horse - he's part of the job." 

Professor Rebecca Johnson of the University of Michigan provides a scientific spin on pet therapy asserting that "It's chemical, not magical" in reference to animals' ability to read human emotions and react accordingly. One deject and unresponsive widow has even been seen to bounce back to her former brilliance through the hard work and puppy love provided by a service animal. Dr. Dawn A. Marcus of the University of Pittsburgh concurs, explaining; "Investigating the work that has been done evaluating therapy dog interactions from a scientific angle convinced me that this work is very important to the health and well-being of many individuals."

Ultimately, the delegates and representatives of philanthropic causes agreed that education and partnership were paramount in addressing the plight of the world's widows. Dossal calls for an inspired community movement, citing the support and services given to American widows in the wake of the 9-11 catastrophe. "We need a 9-11 effort for the widows around the world" said Dossal. 

He continued to place the onus for education on the husbands who statistically are more likely to leave their wives widows than the other way around, noting, "Men need to be educated that they need to prepare their spouses for widowhood if that might occur. We actually need to provide them financial acumen, and estate planning because women are CEO's of the house and they need to understand how to become CEO's outside."

Thompson asserts, "If we think creatively and work in partnership there are opportunities to address a widows needs while still speaking to the economic bottom line." She is supported by Loomba's optimism, which beams, "We need to develop partnerships world wide we need to join hands with between the have's and haves-not's, the rich and poor, men and women, but more importantly the governments of the world. 

Together we can consign bad practices to dust bins." Thompson, however is not content to reflect on the hardship the widows face and attempted to rally the gathered forces with her concluding statement, "We need international widows day as a day of action as well as reflection!"

International Widows Day is an ambitious undertaking with a heartwarming message. The Women around the world and throughout history have faced strife in its countless guises and it is high time that the world has turned its attention towards those women who are most in need of love, compassion, and a global commitment. 

Loomba concluded the day with his closing, motivating remarks. "People have heard our voice," he said, "they have cared and they have reunited us with dignity and respect. To the audience at this conference I say you are today witnessing a great social revolution. You now have the tools. Go back to your country and take the work forward!"