Saturday, 11 December 2010

Trapped



In the heat of the early evening in the township Marygold, Tambumika (Tambu for short) and Janet prepare for the evenings activity. Marygold being the oldest orphan yet middle in age was the most experienced and lead the pack. Tambu the youngest at thirteen was naive but with a hunger for survival that spurred her on. Janet the eldest at fifteen and three quarters was world wise, or so she thought; but most certainly the beautiful one of the three.


Marygold's story

At birth it was official, she would die. Not from a childhood disease or from a genetic condition nor from old age. Marygold's mother had been given a gift by her husband the Christmas before Marygold was born. He had given her the HIV virus. As Marygold formed in her mother's womb, she drank from this cup, depending on her mother's blood for growth and survival. In so doing she partook in the death that her father had gifted her mother that night after yet another drunken excursion with Mr Topps at the local watering hole. Marygold was born sickly but she proved herself a survivor and out lived her mother, father and twin baby brothers and found herself an orphan at the hands of her uncles.

Tambu's story


A hot and passionate teen age love affair ending in disaster and despair was the heritage with which Tambu came into this world. She had never kown her father and her five siblings all came with a tailor made father each. This was normal in Tambu's world, as a little girl she had day dreamed of what the fathers of her children would be like. Though she often wondered at how her friends all shared a father with their siblings. She idolised her mother and was closest to her as the first born child. When her mother died her siblings were taken by relatives of their fathers and the family was irrevocably disbanded. As no one knew where to find Tambu's father or his people, and with the rejection she faced from her mother's people, Tambu found herself alone and orphaned at the tender age of ten years old.




Janets story

 Being a very beautiful girl, Janet had been the subject of many a marriage proposal from her fathers friends, all thirty and fourty years her senior. From the tender age of nine years old the propositions began yet with a wise mother she had escaped that form of life sentence as second, third or fourth wife to one of these. Her escape was one that she now viewed as an 'out of the frying pan into the fire' situation. Eventually the proposals stopped as her fathers friends started dying in droves. Eventually her parents followed suit and she found herself orphaned and a burden to her already oversubscribed extended family. Her mother had been keen on Janet getting an education and while she was alive, Janet went to school and did well but with her mother gone, education was no longer an option for her and the stigma of her parents illness left her without prospective suitors.

Their preparation completed  they take one last look in the mirror and then at each other seeking approval before they venture out. As the emerge into the streets they have one goal in mind; finding a way, anyway to earn enough money to pay for the one room they shared before they get evicted. Work was scare in their community and young girls with little  or no education, you either got married, got rescued by a foreign non-governmental organisation (NGO) project or you got a benefactor. Marriage was not something that was readily available for orphan girls with no family supporting them. Marygold had fled from her uncles, tired of the abuse she faced from slave labour to satisfying their friends sexually as payment for favours they rendered. Tambu was too young and again orphaned and Janet, well Janet's prospects were diminished with the loss of her parents. 

The girls were not at school so could not attract the help of an NGO, even those that focused on the girl child as these tended to help girls already in school or recently dropped out of school. There was no project that covered their circumstances, no boarding place for girls out of school, no help from anywhere...they were left to fend for themselves. Their only hope was to attract the eye of wealthy men in the community who may take a liking to them and be willing to help them...for a fee of course. So out they went on the prowl from one beer hole to the next, looking, seeking someone who would find them attractive enough to sponsor them... Marygold let the way. She was always first having experience of a man from when she lived with her uncles. Janet always attracted attention and she quickly learned how to please a man also but they protected Tambu as much as they could. Bringing her along only for educational purposes, just in case something separated them, they wanted her to know how to survive.

Trapped...a short fictional story inspired by real life situations.
By Rudo Nyangulu

Monday, 29 November 2010

The 'Voice of the People' Feature Profile #3: Disabled and destitute

Mr B
This is a sad story of sickness and pain that has led to disability and poverty. Mr B had polio as a child and never fully recovered. He did not have an opportunity to have a good education particularly because he was a sickly child. As he grew up he recovered from polio somewhat and started working  carrying out menial tasks as a farm hand, gardening and anything he could find. Ten years ago he struggled to find work in Malawi so he moved to Zambia to find similar work. He said that he became very ill while in Zambia and his family arranged for him to be returned to Malawi. He never fully recovered from that illness and never walked again. Unable to walk and without an education Mr B became unemployable and has spent the last seven years as a beggar on the streets of Mzuzu, Malawi in his 'chariot' which it a converted bicycle specially made so that he would  be able to mobilise. 

Life is hard for disabled people particularly in developing economies (third world countries) if they come from poor families that rely on the strength of their bodies to earn money or gain food through agriculture. While there is an established extended family network in these cultures, poverty makes it difficult to look after disabled relatives. The is a reliance on these members of society to contribute to the family by begging which in itself can be difficult in that one has to travel to cities to beg which can be far from traditional villages and homesteads where the people live. People like Mr B have to their best to contribute where they can and it was during this effort that I met him and was able to speak with him briefly. He did not want to speak for too long as he was losing opportunities to appeal to passers by for assistance. 

The Art of Being Humane gave Mr B some funding for food to assist him which he was very pleased and grateful for. There is so much that needs to be done for Mr B and people in his position and sharing his story is a small step towards raising awareness to the trouble they face. 

Monday, 1 November 2010

I am Blogger of Note (BON) over at WOW today!!!!!

Hello and welcome! I am Rue, the 'brain' and photographer behind Passion in the Moments, the blog behind E:thos Photographic and the 'heart' and talent behind 'The Art of Being Humane'. I am so incredibly honoured and just tickled pink to be featured as today's BON (Blogger of Note) over at Words of Wisdom (WOW)!
WOW is a place for all bloggers who enjoy reading and writing great content to find each other and share their work, ideas and experiences so If you are reading this as a fellow blogger, do get over to WOW and join us! by following the link here

That said, welcome to anyone new to Passion in the Moments and a special welcome to fellow WOW members and BON's. I am thrilled to have you visit today and hope you will enjoy your time having a look around. Passion in the Moments is a creative and photo blog. Through words and images I share with you all the way I see the world and my experiences as I go through life, meet and interact with people, nature and the built environment. 

I hope you will enjoy looking through this very new project I call 'The Art of Being Humane'. It is the 'information' part of a wider humanitarian project that begins in December 2010. What is 'The Art of Being Humane' about? Find out here and here. 

Key things to note that you should try to see while your'e here are; The people profiles which are articles and pictures  about individuals with stories that give an insight to a different walk of life. The second thing is the various campaigns we support here, namely 'The born HIV Free Campaign, a truly worthy cause to read about and spread around. The final thing is my other blog (which is not actually on this site) called 'Passion in the Moments' which you can access here. This is a creative and photo blog I have started after a long illness to keep my sanity and share my photography with the world.

I really hope you enjoy spending some time in my world today and if you really love the images, stories and the humanitarian project then please do tell all your friends and family! The more the merrier! Also do leave as many comments as you like!!!!

Many thanks

Rue 

The 'Voice of the People' Feature Profile #2: Rwanda's Next Generation


Belle's Story
Through the buzz of the restaurant Belle sighed and looked away. She was contemplating the peculiarity of her hidden heritage... Not Hutu...not Tutsi...but a careful blend of both on the rocks of exile like a modern cocktail drink in and amongst the traditional tribal divides of old. The possessor of a secret, not one held by her but in her...the forbidden love of a Hutu and Tutsi man and woman to that day she did not know which was which, a necessity to ensure her safety even in a foreign land.


Sixteen years earlier Belle,s mother had fled her beloved Rwanda to Congo, heavily pregnant and with a young belle in her arms. Her husband having urged her to flea and protect the or mb n.children had stayed to fight for their freedom with the intention of joining them one day...he never came... She does not remember much about her father, he mainly lived on in the stories her mother would share with her and he brother.


Life in Congo was not easy, particularly with the large population of Rwandan refugees living there. Belle's mother found a way  for her young family to travel to Belgium and left Congo in search of a better life leaving her heart behind in Rwanda with her husband...her lover...her friend...

Belle seemed far away... lost in her thoughts as she recalled her childhood. Patchy as some of her memories seemed there were some really clear distinct scenes she could call upon without effort. Much like a favourite book she had lovingly and diligently devoured and now able to repeat it verbatim. In comparison to Rwanda, life in Belgium was not as easy for a single mother with two children as one would like to think. Belle's family grew incredibly close and her mother worked very hard to provide for her two children. The Rwandan refuges all lived in a similar district, the air thick with tribal tensions of their motherland. Belle spoke of how she had for a long time been ashamed to tell people she was Rwandan for fear that she would be classified based on the strife and genocide that had taken place in her country. She would volunteer Belgium as her place of origin more easily identifying herself as being from Rwanda. 


At eighteen she said she has now become comfortable identifying herself as Rwandan, particularly as the country is moving forward enough from the time of war and genocide. To this day she does not know which of her parents is Hutu and which is Tutsi...All she does know is that the two can live peaceably side by side as her parents had shown her through their union.


See the full history of Rwanda's history  here


Belle's Photo Gallery











Friday, 15 October 2010

What water shortage?

Water feature
Bristol City Centre, United Kingdom

Water shortage?
 Not in the West...
It is not realistic to stop those who have access to an abundance of clean running water to use it as they see fit. An individual, family, group or community in an environment where fresh clean water flows from their taps on demand cannot be expected to consider those they do not see, half way across the world who do not have this luxury like the woman in the charity water picture above with a glass of what comes out of her tap...only her tap is not one that gives even dirty water on demand. It is a hole in the ground to which she has to walk many miles to retrieve this dirty, 'water borne disease' infested water in order to quench her thirst. No I cannot and do not expect people who have never left the comfort of their western  or should I say 'first world' lifestyles to really understand what it it like to be so thirsty that you drink urine in a bid to quench a dryness in one's mouth that vie's for a 'desert' status. No this would be unfair indeed.

It is however not too much to expect this affluent few, (the mark of affluence here being anyone who can call upon fresh clean water at the turn of a tap); having been alerted of this situation to be moved to action...
Image from Charity: Water
What can they do? 
Stop using their water?
Send their water to those without?
Feel guilty for having fresh water when others do not?
NO...this will not do....
But what everyone can do is give...

Charity: Water is an organisation that is dedicated to bringing fresh water to the world's poorest who lack this basic human need. 

You can support their work by donating here...





Saturday, 9 October 2010

Humanity Explored - Issue No.3


 Humanity Explored is a series of articles designed to highlight some of the humanitarian news and issues around the world into bite sizes. It is published here weekly in order to raise awareness of the issues and start a conversation about them. Please feel free to comment with your thoughts and opinions and share the stories you have heard or the activities you are involved in that are helping make our world a better place.

Flash Floods in West Papua, Indonesia 
Google Map of Wasior, West Papua, Indonesia

Global Voices reported flash floods in Indonesia where 80 people died and many more are missing in Wasior. You can find the full report from the Indonesia Environmental Information Centre here.


UN Aid Worker kidnapped in Darfur, Sudan
The Development News Wire reposted this week that a UN Aid worker was kidnapped in Darfur. UNAMID is reported to have said on the 7th October that one of its civilian workers had been 'snatched' by armed men who had the residence of four civilian staff members. UNAMID spokesman Kemal Saiki was quoted by BBC as saying. “They tied up two of them and made away with the other two in a vehicle. One man escaped and the other is still missing.” The nationality of the kidnapped person has not been revealed. The abduction coincided with the visit of a U.N. Security Council delegation to the African nation. The delegation arrived Oct. 7 in Darfur for a four-day mission there. Saiki said the kidnapping was unrelated to the Security Council visit. The civilian aid worker has yet to be found. This story highlights that there is a lot of risk and sacrifice in being humane particularly for those who put themselves forward to go to foreign countries. It is all the more important that we support their work in the small ways that we can, by giving, by sharing information and getting involved in the conversation. 


10/10/10 Global Work party

This weekend is the Global Work Party on 10/10/10. The Global World Party is a day of practical action around the world to cut carbon emissions. It is being called 'A Day to Celebrate Climate Solutions' there is something that everyone can do to get involved! See the website for more details here. 

350 MOVEMENT 2009 Video

Friday, 8 October 2010

HIV / Aids Awareness

There are no obvious signs of HIV... 

Anyone can have it and not even know...

Normal people like you and me...

Don't be a victim, take control of your life before you lose it.

HIV / Aids has not gone away; it is still very much here and real...

And closer to home than you think!

Get tested...Live responsibly...You only get one life.

If you are sexually active you should get tested for STD's / STI's and HIV at least annually - Stay safe...

Sunday, 26 September 2010

Child Hunger

Bird feeding in the United Kingdom...
Whilst children around the world die from malnutrition and hunger
 everyday...




  
Every 5 Seconds a child dies of hunger.


Your waste could save their lives...

Saturday, 25 September 2010

Humanity Explored - Issue No.2


 Humanity Explored is a series of articles designed to highlight some of the humanitarian news and issues around the world into bite sizes. It is published here weekly in order to raise awareness of the issues and start a conversation about them. Please feel free to comment with your thoughts and opinions and share the stories you have heard or the activities you are involved in that are helping make our world a better place.

 Millennium Development Rights
I recently read an article entitled 'We need millennium development RIGHTS, not just goals' and I was intrigued. To understand where the author is coming form it is important to know what the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goals (MDG) are. The UN MDG's are eight international development goals that all 192 UN member states (countires) and at least 23 international organisations have agreed to achieve by 2015 covering everything from reducing child mortality rate and fighting disease to  eradicating extreme poverty and promoting gender equality (read more here).The article calling for millennium development rights therefore is reviewing the progress (or lack there of) in achieving the MDG's since 2000 when they were first set. Considering the countries that are failing to perform and carry out the much needed changes that this radical program calls for and whilst so doing leaving many, particularly women and children is a state of abject poverty, hunger and destitution. I agree that in order to make these noble goals a reality in practice, there needs to be a means of enforcing the change by the UN rather than the current system operated on good faith and promises to act / change from member states and corporations; promises that for many 'lie broken'


'When rights are violated, someone, or some government or some corporation, 
can be held accountable.' 

The Millennium Development Goals (video)
                                       

 African Union vision...'another Africa' the advent of afro-optimism.
Dr Bingu wa Mutharika address
The UN General Assembly
During the United Nations General Assembly opening this week the African Union president and president of Malawi, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika talked of a 'new Africa', one which takes control of its own destiny and becomes its own champion in relation to changing its political and economic climate and creating an environment where its people are free from hunger, poverty, discrimination and corruption. President Mutharika said that he is“fully aware that the Africa that the world hears about is that of insensate calamities and natural disasters,” yet there is little reported of the growth and changes being made in many African nations. He went on to say that he had 'come to inform this world body that Africa has decided to shift from ‘Afro-pessimism’ to ‘Afro-optimism.' This bold statement if realised in practice could be just the change Africa needs. The reason for its stagnation and seemingly systemic failure to break free from corruption and poverty that lead to many of the other endemic issues that have and continue to  plague the continent is due to the perspective of the nations and their leaders. A paradigm shift is precisely what is needed to turn Africa around...we can only watch this space and optimistically hope that action follows.

Kuluka Project

Kuluka means"to weave" in Chichewa (a Malawian language). It  is a non-profit development organisation which focuses on the developing community healthcare and welfare in Malawi. Giving blood is so important and yet something that we do not often think about or consider to be a life saving act. There are so many people who die because they have lost too much blood and yet the blood banks are nearly empty and there is no way to access any. Giving blood where ever you are in the world is a life saving act and something that everyone can do. See here the life changing work this organisation is doing by encouraging blood donation in Malawi...Remember, you can be the DIFFERENCE.


Friday, 24 September 2010

The 'Voice of the People' Feature Profile #1: Project Peter

Peter
Peter's Story
I met Peter, man from Trinidad on the streets of Reading in the United Kingdom in the summer of 2009. What first caught my eye about Peter was his brilliant white beard as I passed him on the street. His clothes looked old and in need of repair or replacement. With a bottle in one hand and a roll up cigarette in the other at about midday simply going for a walk. He seemed cheerful as he walked along the street humming to himself and I just knew that he had a story I had to tell. I went back and stopped him and asked him if I could ask him a few questions and take his picture, a little risky admittedly as he could have been drunk or high on drugs. Fortunately Peter was sober enough to hold a conversation and agreed. As I started taking his picture, he told of how he had come over in the late 50s as part of a drive by the UK government to fill jobs that had shortages post war. He had come over to be a bus driver, had settled, married and had children and lived out his adulthood in England. However at some point in his life here, his marriage had broken down and he became estranged from his children. Consequently he now sleeps rough or in a homeless shelter. When I enquired of his homeland and why he did not return rather than live on the streets, Peter talked of how he wanted to return to Trinidad but with no living family there or money for relocation the life he now lives he felt was his only option.


There are many foreign nationals who live in situations of destitution and squalor at times particularly in the United Kingdom where they have no access to public social services to assist them when they encounter life issues. Like Peter, many become homeless, either sleeping on a relatives sofa, or in a hostel or shelter, the latter often run by religious groups rather than government initiatives. Many turn to drugs and alcohol as a means of escape and others choose to take their own lives, unable to cope with the pressures of life where they are and unable to return to their home countries. In the article 'Homeless Briton' it is shown that ethnic minorities like Peter, who are often foreign nationals are three times more likely to become homeless as a result of various social issues primarily relationship breakdown or loss of employment. A growing issue as the population of foreign nationals grows due to immigration which is largely tackled by many charities and religious groups, which needs more attention and due consideration from a social services perspective in the UK.

Peter's Photo Gallery






Monday, 20 September 2010

LRBT Appeal for Flood Relief in Pakistan

Images and Information from the Graham Layton Trust.


A really good friend of my brought the work of the Graham Layton Trust to my attention recently and shared with me the serious post flood conditions that the people of Pakistan are living in. This article is therefore an appeal for your support for the LRBT Flood Relief Pakistan project that is being run by the Graham Layton Trust to help the people of Pakistan. The following is some key information about the current situation in Pakistan, there is a great deal more information and an opportunity to donate and get involved in this cause on the Graham Layton Trust website.


Those affected by the flood are in dire need of clean water, medical treatment, shelter, food (and cooking utensils), clothing and fodder for their surviving livestock as a starting point in the short term. In the long term they will need assistance to rebuild their communities and re-establish business, agricultural activities and restore infrastructure. If you have any of the skills necessary to help with this effort please do consider offering your time as a volunteer with a relevant agency to 'be the difference' for the people of Pakistan. Contact the Graham Layton Trust for information about how you can volunteer and get involved.
People stranded due to the floods
'We need your help to support LRBT’s mobile teams operating in the flood-devastated areas of Pakistan.' 
LRBT's seven medical teams are treating victims of the floods at free Medical Relief Camps within the catchment area of LRBT hospitals throughout Pakistan. LRBT’s teams consist of locals who know the area, speak the language and are familiar with the customs. LRBT is fortunate in enjoying goodwill resulting from its work over the past quarter of a century; we do not foresee any security problems in the areas of operation. 

LRBT is treating the following diseases: Diarrhoea, Gastroenteritis, Cholera, Malaria, Vomiting, Skin infection, Cough, fever and Eye infections.

You can support their work by giving a donation that will buy more medical supplies, food and essential personal hygiene items that these people are in desperate need of. 
Please support this cause and help with the crucial work that  the LRBT Flood Relief Program is doing.

Friday, 17 September 2010

Humanity Explored - Issue No.1 by Rudo Nyangulu


Hello my name is Rudo and I would like to welcome you to Humanity Explored. This is a series of articles designed to condense the humanitarian news around the blog into bite sizes each week in order to raise awareness of the issues and start a conversation about them. Please feel free to comment with your thoughts and opinions and share the stories you have heard or the activities you are involved in that are helping make our world a better place. I would love to hear from you!






 HIV Born Free Campaign
This is an extremely important campaign that promotes an HIV free next generation by providing the medical care / treatment and education required for women who are HIV positive and pregnant or desire to have children. The international campaign is being funded through the Global fund and there are many celebrities that are lending their name and voice to the campaign including Gwyneth Paltrow and Carla Bruni - Sarkozy. See more about the campaign here. 


 World Humanitarian Day Project 2010 Video
I came across this video project on World Humanitarian Day and thought it was incredibly informative and worth a viewing. Read more about being a humanitarian here.



United Nations (UN) Women
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced Ms. Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile, as the Head of UN Women this week. This is a significant appointment as Ms Bachelet has had extensive experience as a world leader on the global stage with a proven track record. Lending her persona and voice to the fight for gender equality and human rights for women will take UN Women to a new dimension. It is definitely a space worth watching and Humanity Explored will most certainly be watching and keeping you updated.


HIV / Aids Treatment Programs in India lacking
A woman living with AIDS in a hospital in India.
Photo by: John Isaac / World Bank


Many Aids patients in India do not receive much needed life preserving treatment on time according to the Global Fund executive director Michael Kazatchkine. This is particularly worrying as India is one of the top three countries in the world with the highest rate of infection and Aids related deaths in the world. There is need for the Indian governments spending commitments to be directed more towards health which unfortunately is not the case at present. 
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