Tree planting in Kenya

http://www.partnershipsinaction.org/content/kenya-students-advance-tree-planting-campaign

"The Butterfly Circus"

http://vimeo.com/17150524

The Ugly Side of Flowers

A week ago was what some call Valentine’s Day, the 14^th of February, or what I sometimes refer to as: Single’s Awareness Day. In any case, it is a day meant to celebrate love between two individuals and acts of love are displayed through gifts such as flowers, chocolate, jewels, all of which come from “dodgy” industries. Since I’m in Kenya, which is the 4^th largest exporter of flowers in the global market, and live very close to some of these flower farms, I’ll share some information about the flower industry that is not apparent in the romantic exchange of flowers. 

In the early 90’s, large scale flower farming was welcomed in Kenya in anticipation that it would help eradicate poverty and provide a large revenue for the government. Unfortunately, the flower industry is a human rights catastrophe and an environmental disaster.

Some of the issues that arise:

-Pesticide vapors that women are subject to in the greenhouses where they work long hours causes them to develop various cancers, skin diseases, neurological diseases, and birth defects

-the lack of transport to and from work makes women vulnerable to rape and frequent muggings,

-The high divorce rate, often because women must work such long hours that they are too tired for their husbands. This is particularly ironic as their line of work is one which other couples use to strengthen their relationships, and it is costing the women theirs,

-Wages are low,

-Sexual harassment is prevalent and promotion occurs if women agree to sexual favors from their bosses,

-Workers lack knowledge of agro-chemical effects and are forced to work in sprayed areas,

-There is poor sanitation on farms, where children are exposed to diseases,

-In one region, water is taken from Lake Naivasha and used for growing flowers and then water along with all the chemical inputs ends up back in the lake, which is where certain groups rely on fishing

These are some of the many problems that exist in Kenya’s flower industry. So who is to blame?

-Employers, no doubt

-Consumers, who knowingly or unknowingly fuel this industry

-the Labor Ministry who should do better and more frequent inspections to make sure that labor laws are being adhered to

-Trade Unions, who are not doing enough to educate workers and sometimes only focus on large scale companies rather than those with 100 or 1000 workers

-The Kenya Flower Council that condones rather than regulates practices

Things you can do:

-Grow your own flowers,

-Support fair trade flower companies

-Put pressure on companies, governments, and pesticide companies

-Educate yourself and others on this human rights and environmental travesty

"He who binds himself to a joy
Does the winged life destroy.
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sun rise."
- William Blake

The True Story of Thanksgiving Re-enacted

http://www.babelgum.com/4012129?action=share&utm_content=nid_&utm_medium=FS&utm_content=nid_&utm_medium=TB

(Not trying to be cynical, but would just like to remember how it really went down)

Myths, modernity, and hot springs

In some countries and places, hot springs evoke such mythical beliefs and stories. In the mountains of Badakshan in Tajikistan, for instance, the Bibi Fatima Chushma hot springs are where women go to bathe to increase fertility or have their prayers answered. A prayer is said, and the spirit of Fatima is meant to be present and will hear the prayers of the pilgrims.

In contrast, in the U.S. there are also beautiful hot springs. And as lovely as they are, they are just that: hot springs. There may have been mythical beliefs to explain their existence but now that wonder has gone and all that remains is the scientific explanation.

Does being western or modern mean we no longer are left to be amazed by the world in a spiritual or superstitious sense? Has science replaced all other forms of reasoning?

In Turkey, Pamukkale was one of these magnificent sites: hot springs, calcium deposit plateaus. I can attempt to give the mythical and scientific explanation for this uniquely beautiful place but I’ll leave you to wonder about it in amazement :)

Ephesus

Walking through the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Ephesus, it was amazing to me how the civilization dating to some millennia B.C. was so sophisticated and yet, how in so many ways, we as humankind have not changed so much at all.

First of all, it was incredible to see the way they built so that their built environment could withstand earthquakes. This knowledge exists and has existed and yet cities like Istanbul, which sit on a major fault line and are highly vulnerable to earthquake damage do not build appropriately to mitigate disastrous earthquake impacts. What was known to a city in antiquity (and is now in the same country as a city like Istanbul) is not being applied today.

Secondly, their drainage and water systems were at a standard that many cities in the world today do not have. Additionally, the amphitheatre really interests me. They built it in such a way to accommodate large crowds and knew how to ensure acoustics carried.

While it was all very fascinating to explore, one cannot romanticize ancient cultures too much. There were clear distinctions between the elite and the rest of society. The elite had their homes decorated with mosaics, shopped in certain areas and had a separate odeon to which they went. In many ways, class disparities persist today in much of the same ways they always have.

The rich also had slaves; babies and women were sold at markets. In a sense, we’ve formally abolished slavery though it still exists largely through many industries.

And finally, an anecdote relayed by the guide concerning men and women and relationships: Men would go to the library, sending their wives to go spend time at the markets. What was later discovered was a secret tunnel that led from the library to what were presumably brothels. The stories relayed could have been any society throughout history. It’s interesting to explore the past and see so much of it still resonates today.