RAHA International

I just wanted to raise awareness of a non-profit organisation based in Kenya called RAHA International. This organisation is as grassroots as you can get and I'm hoping that people who read this post, take some time to visit RAHA's website and look at the case studies.

Background
RAHA was set up by three sisters Daksha, Nimi and Joshna Hirani a few years ago, but was officially registered in 2008. Nimi says that she was tired of seeing money being wasted by some charities and others providing aid in return for adherence to a particular faith; 'God for aid' she calls it. Instead, the Hirani sisters wanted RAHA to be simple, provide the basics,give people dignity and let people work it out themselves.

RAHA's main aim is to provide and facilitate access to education for young people who otherwise would not have been able to. Nimi who has a background in social medicine, drug, alcohol and HIV work says she benefited from the opportunities and choices having an education has given her. RAHA is raising funds not only for current students but what those who may come to them in the future for assistance.


Jeremiah's success
Jermiah Kangele will be an aeronautical Engineer in July. He was breaking stone at building sites when RAHA came accross him. RAHA helped his mum find a job and got him started on his course. He is a clever man who just needed a little support. He will feed his entire family once he finds employment.

For such a 'young' charity, RAHA is doing pretty amazing work and Nimi is adamant that administration costs will be kept to a minimum so that funds can go directly to those who most need the help.

For more information or to make a donation please contact info@rahainternational.com

Human Rights

Last week I went to a seminar on PR, Diversity and Public Engagement. Attending as speakers were people like Sue Caro, Senior Diversity Manager at the BBC and Afua Hirsch, The Guardian's legal affairs correspondent.

I didn't get to ask Sue my questions relating to the BBC's committment to diversity. It was pretty ironic that on her powerpoint she had the logo for BBC Asian Network, a radio station that is currently facing the axe. It's funny how anything 'ethnic' loses funding as soon as financial cuts are announced. I wanted to ask whether BBC Asian Network wasn't doing a good enough job and that was why it was going to go...

I also wanted to ask her why, on her diversity showreel, every single muslim person shown was talking about religion. Is that all muslim people do? Talk mosques, religion, ramadan and of course terrorism? (The Eastenders gay plot is just a blip in the system) My message to the beeb is "think out of the box because you're spending my money and not doing a good enough job of it"

I didn't get to ask my questions because there were loads of other people who had comments to make around media culture being white male dominated. Apparently it used to be a lot worse in the 80s...doh! really...that's not really an answer I want to hear as a yard stick for how things have improved. Is that what I should tell young black kids..."well you know back in the 50s black Americans had to sit at the back of a bus and used to get lynched in Alabama..look how lucky you have it now!"

Afua Hirsch spoke eloquently about the Human Rights Act and why it is there for us all. She highlighted how tabloids have misquoted and misrepresented the act and how it has sometimes been enforced incorrectly which have all led to it being perceived as protecting criminals and immigrants and all things 'other'. If you have a quick look on the link you'll find it hard pressed to disagree with what it covers.

Afua's presentation reaffirmed my committment to try and think past the headlines in both the tabloid and broadsheet press. Human rights are not just about moral relativism, or about protecting criminals; it is about having a base line for everyone regardless of who (this encompasses everything about a person's identity) they are.

Every now and then I come across people who challenge my beliefs, my thoughts and my opinions and the speakers at the seminar did plenty of that.

HUMANITY?

Update
It looks like most of the peace activists held since Monday are now being released either back to Turkey or to their own countries.

However, some activists are still being held by the Israelis. It is still not sure if they are all Arab-Israelis.

Abid Mahi - A British film maker is also amongst the activists in the flotilla. He has not yet arrived back in Britain.


A full list of those who were killed has not yet been confirmed but it is thought that most were of Turkish nationality.


Reports today are saying that 10 PEACE activists were killed (read murdered), by Israeli commandos on the peace flotilla that was heading towards Gaza. This is a despicable act of state terror towards civilians. Israel is already operating an apartheid system in Palestine and has no qualms in murdering innocent men, women and children in the name of security.

Israel seems to get away with everything it does without any real condemnation or action from the International community including 'Muslim' countries in the Middle East.

For us ordinary people, apart from writing to our MPs and raising awareness of what is going on in Palestine, we can try to boycott any Israeli goods that we come across in protest.

Attack in Pakistan
Last week, two Ahmadiya mosques in Lahore were targetted by terrorists leaving 70 worshippers dead. It leaves me asking what did this achieve? It leaves me asking what makes us human?

Drawings of a prophet?

Reuters

May 20th was 'Everybody Draw Muhammed Day', contrary to belief, this was not a campaign led by Molly Norris. Instead it was the 'brainchild' of a pathetic idiot who thought it would some how symbolise the war against censorship.

In reaction to the facebook page, the Pakistani authorities put a temporary ban on facebook and a number of other facebook pages were started calling for the boycott of facebook by muslims.

Catch up

We have a new Con/Lib coalition in place and the country is thus far, still functioning as normal. David Cameron and Nick Clegg, or Davnick as I will now call them are positively in love with each other right now. Gone are the lovers' tiffs on television or during parliamentary question times; the election marriage and now subsequent honeymoon period have cemented (for now) the (doomed?) relationship. (Read into brackets what you will)...so what have Davnick got in store for us? Well apparently this is a new era in politics...I suppose it's the first time we've seen a co-alition like this so to an extent the statement rings true. However, I'm not sure how liberal policies can easily sit next to tory ones. Sure, they both agree on not having a third runway...hurrah...or I.D cards...again hurrah, but what about the real issues of transport and the real issues on civil liberties? Can this new era of politics deliver? Only time will tell...and what of the broken 'New Labour'...pff!!! Gordon has gone into hibernation (not difficult in the current climate) and now Ed and David are having their playground tiffs in front of the nation. Are we to expect a Blair/Brown type agreement? Will Ed Balls scupper their plans? Will John Mcdonnell rally his comrades and the unions to fight his corner? Exciting times ahead and difficult decisions to be made. I for one am back in 'lovish' with politics. It's a dirty game but as with that other game that is always in the news for being dirty (ask John Terry, Ashley Cole, Ribery etc), you don't have to play the whole 90 minutes, there are opportunities for spectacular own goals, extra time often yields surprises and it's all down to your skill and stamina...Let's see who lasts the distance.

Election 2010

I've resisted writing about the Election till now...and trust me, my fingers were itching to get typing; but resist I did until today. The eve of a new dawn...ok that's a bit over dramatic but for me anyway, this is the first time since the 1997 election which swept New Labour in, that I have actually felt like it matters. Yes, this election matters because a lot has changed since 1997, and a lot has changed since 2001 and 2005.

Now I'm not advocating a particular party because to tell you the truth, I'm still sitting on the fence. For the first time however I'm taking part in a local election which has both a bnp and National Front candidate. How sick? How horrific? what has happened to multi cultural Britain? How has this happened? I ask myself.

So yes, this election matters, because I will not sit by and let fascism creep in through the back door of disaffection. Politics is a dirty game if you want to play dirty. The expenses scandal is testimony to this. Unpopular wars have made foreign policy a hugely contentious issue alongside the dreaded subject of Immigration. A

Apparently, people are voting BNP because they feel like they're being ignored and it's all about the recession and housing. No it's not. It's because they're stupid and don't realise who and what they're letting in. So if you want to remain stupid and vote in nasty, violent fascists who pretend to be otherwise, then use your democratic right. But please don't say it's a 'protest' vote..if you want to protest, vote Green.

And for all those Muslims out there who say it's haraam to vote, well, the next time your road has pot holes, and the planning permission for your mosque is rejected, or funding for your local group/organisation gets cut, then blame yourself for not voting for a person you thought would represent you.

Live Earth hypocrisy

Update
This is an email I sent to DOW. I'm awaiting a response and will post it here when it comes along.

Dear Sir/Madam,
I recently came across the Live Earth, Run for water campaign. I applaud your involvement in this campaign but am wondering what you are doing to help ensure that the people of Bhopal, India are also being given the chance to access clean water and live free from the effects of the union carbide gas leak in 1984. I understand that DOW took over Union Carbide back in 1999 and yet the people of Bhopal are still suffering from the after effects of the pollution caused by the leak.
I would appreciate your response.
Thank you

I'm just back from Pakistan and Dubai and had lots to write about. Then I came across this story about Live Earth and it made me really mad. I know it's hard to always stand by your principles...I know I've boycotted Starbucks for ages but have now caved in a few times...but charities have an obligation to make sure they have robust policies in place when dealing with any partnerships.

If you go onto www.liveearth.org 'Run for water' campaign page, you will see a link to its event partners including DoW. The blurb for DoW is as follows:
"With sales of $58 billion in 2008 and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element” to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in approximately 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008 and 15,000 employees worldwide"

Pretty impressive, especially the bit about 'human progress'. Tell that to the thousands of people in Bhopal, India, affected by the Union Carbide chemical leak in 1984. Dow owns Union Carbide, albeit the acquisition was after the disaster. When you buy a company you take on the good and the bad. Take a look at www.bhopal.org if you want to see how 'bad' it is.

What makes this partnership even more disgusting is that Live Earth's campaign is about access to clean water for people.
This is the blurb from their website:
"The Dow Live Earth Run for Water – to take place April 18, 2010 – will consist of a series of 6 km run/walks (the average distance many women and children walk every day to secure water) taking place over the course of 24 hours in countries around the world, featuring concerts and water education activities aimed at igniting a tipping point to help solve the water crisis"

I wonder whether they're going to have an event in Bhopal???