Neil Young's new Album-Living with War

Through out history, music has been one of the most widespread means of making a dissent to sensitive matters of a country. Musicians have expressed emotions and ideas through sounds and words. They have fused political words with musical tone. During the dark ages people used to express detailed messages through drums and horns .In this age of war and terrorism musicians are sending messages through words. They have seen themselves in the middle of hot topics. The popularity of using music as a means of sending political messages to Bush administration has been met with a public outcry. We’ve seen musicians being sanctioned by the public for being critical of Bush administration. You might think such a style of intimidation was a third world sport, but it is happening right here in America. Today I had the chance of listening to the new album of Neil Young, living with war, off his website (neilyoung.com). I was moved by how human creativity can be used to express anti-war stands. Musicians are in their own right important to the anti-war campaign. America image is withering away at the hands of Bush and his cronies. Although it is important to note that the country is at war right now and that the soldiers need our support, but this should not blurred us from seeing the lies and deceit that lead America to this war. Although there is a universal acceptance of the right to self –defense, the question of why America attacked the wrong people should not be silenced. The president should not be immune to criticism. I will buy Neil Young new album once it comes out to support free speech.

World Bank Failed in Malaria Fight

Today I read in New York Times that an article published in the British Medical journal Lancet, experts accused the World Bank of falsifying the malaria data by claiming success against the disease. The author claims the World Bank approved clinically obsolete treatment. This is a disease that kills one million children in Africa every year. Is it right to approve an obsolete treatment for such a grave disease? An expert once visualized the malaria death by filling seven Boeing 747s with children and then crushing them everyday. The Experts who published this article wants the World Bank to relinquish the money it has to fight the malaria so that the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria can take it over. The expert claim that the World Bank failed to honor its pledges.
If the rich nations would have allowed the poor African nations make free choices about the use of DDT today the malaria spread would have seized in Africa. Remember DDT became emblematic for its toxicity on non-human environment. The rich nations have nothing to fear. They are far well away from the poor nations. It is not that the African countries will be irresponsible in the use of DDT. They will use it safely. This is the only chemical that can eradicate the morbidity and mortality of Malaria without going through the red tape of World Bank
"http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/25/world/africa/25malaria.html"

Happy Earth day, Y'all

The world is getting warmer. There is no second thought about it. Even the most arrogant administration is giving credence to the reality of the rising sea level and the melting of the arctic ice. It isn’t all doom and gloom in the western world, but surely it is in poor African countries. African Farming that is so crucial to weather is threatened like never before by low precipitation level. Africa today is burden by the western overuse of the earth. As we celebrate the earth day today, Africa is re-colonized with atmospheric pollution. Isn’t it unbelievable how the subjugation of the gun has been switched with carbon emission? According to an authoritative studies conducted awhile back, the world temperature will rise between 1.5 and 5.8 degrees Celsius between 1990 and 2100.We are already witnessing the change. Many diseases as you know are sensitive to climate change. Global warming will increase the death of poor African children by spreading preventable disease. This disease burden will be bored by known other than poor Africa countries and other developing nations. I am not romanticizing African poverty gloom. I am just trying to point out the unpalatable truth of global warming on Africa. Do we really live in a fair world? Have a green day!!

Drought In Nothern Kenya

Last night, while watching the ABC evening news, the awareness of East Africa drought busted upon my consciousness. I became emotional while listening to a reporter in the remote part of Kenya covering the ravaging drought that is affecting the Kenyan population. According to the ABC reporter, the Northern part of Kenya is experiencing one of the most tragic drought disasters in twenty years. Since pre-historic time the nomads are known to be resilient and stoic people that faced any adversity with great fortitude. But this drought is really pulling them down to destitute and abject poverty. The rest of the world is largely unaware of this drought. This year, like no any other year, many deaths are expected from this drought-ravaged region. Of greatest concern are the starvation and the malnutrition of children. It is very likely that they will not see any precipitation in the next couple of months or year. More than ever, we as a people in the rest of the world are making choices among competing and compelling demands of non-basic needs while somewhere someplace in this globe some child is dying of thirst. Even as I watched the news anchor reporting about the recent Chinese president visit in Washington, I could not picture how East Africa drought is becoming unnoticed in Bush administration. Poverty is a multidimensional problem with origin to wide array of environmental and international policies. It is really shameful at a time of such abounding prosperity in the world, a child would die due lack of water. If you want to help you can make your donation to charitable organizations website like world Vision which has a donation program for this specific drought.

Africa and Global Warming

Government policies are no longer dependant on scientific information’s. They accede to what interest groups dictates. Government has become the mouthpiece of these interest groups. You might think Science was supposed to be about facts, but lately science has become part of politics. All the hot button topics from global warming to the use off DDT have lately been politicized. A rising group of interest groups are opposing the existence of obvious things like global warming. Today the places that have contributed the least (Africa) to global warming are the most vulnerable to the drought and diseases that comes with global warming. Many African countries are already witnessing (or will in the future) the negative impact of global warming on the health and agriculture of the continent. Remember many of these African countries depend on either farming or livestock rearing for their food security. Global warming is a threat to Africa food security. This is a global ethical challenge that the western world needs to tackle in a humane manner. Global warming is really disrupting the lifestyle of these poor countries.

Rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is associated with the global warming. My own home state, Georgia, is the second largest contributor of carbon dioxide emission from power plants. According to one researcher “Africa seems to be consistently among the regions, with high to very projected damage” (Hare 2005). Disease like Malaria and diarrhea is highly correlated with increase in temperature. I think it is the right time the western world should support value judgment in their decision-making process.

A diseases Hidden Agony

This morning I happen to come across this article from New York Times that talks about Lymphatic Filariasis.It all starts with a bite from an infected mosquitoes that deposits larvae on the skin (Check attached sketch).The larvae migrates to the lymphatic system where they grow, nest and mate.This leads to swelling and blockage of the blood system . The cycle of transmition continues as the infected person is bitten by a mosquito. I honestly think that all this could be stopped with the use of DDT.This kind of preventable diseases is what is keeping Africa and poor Caribbean countries behind.






Picture credits: New york Times

Picture Credits: New York Times

Picture Credits: New York times


Picture Credits: www.nytimes.com/2006/04/09/world/americas

The Use of DDT in Africa

The African countries are fighting for the right to use DDT to eliminate mosquitoes. It seems that the European Union wants to impose sanction on any country that dare to use DDT. This is a slap in the face of African countries that are dying of malaria. DDT is one of the most important insecticides ever to appear in the market, but also one of the most controversial pesticides in the history. I do believe that the use of pesticide should ideally be based on the knowledge of what they accomplish and what effect they might have in the ecosystem.

Malaria was once a serious problem in America, but today it is practically non-existent, largely because of the use of DDT after the World War II. If the insect vector can be eliminated, malaria will today cease out in Africa. The only promising insecticide today is the DDT. According to the EPA website DDT is probable cancer causer. There is no one scientific study that has directly connected DDT to cancer! DDT does cause a thinning of the eggshell of birds, but there is little evidence that DDT residue is toxic or has major effect on human.

Trade, science, and capitalism shape modern pest control. Commercialization is creating a strong influence on what insecticide can be sold in the market. Rich companies in the west largely shape the market. Pesticides sells are chosen to fit the economic gain of these companies. Think about this for a minute, If DDT were to be used by the African countries today, who is going to buy all those medicines from these companies? They have to sell their products , right?

There is a double standard here. I wonder if the west will ever be willing to return to the middle ages where transmission of a preventable disease were constant ticket to the hospital beds? I think it is time that the western world should stop listening to the interest groups and pay attention to the millions of African children dying of malaria. If science is what provides tentative information about risk then we should pay attention to the numerous studies that have failed to determine the harmfulness of DDT.If you want to read more about the European Union sanctions go to www.fightingmalaria.org

Was I a gentleman?

The cell phone rings in my pocket. It was my distant cousin calling me. We chatted for few minutes when he finally dropped the bomb on me. Last weekend he happened to meet my ex-girlfriend at her work place. She works at a public place, which I will not mention here for privacy protection. I have never visited her work place. I hate the idea of meeting people at their work place. Some may view it as a sexy thing to do, but I don’t. My cousin wanted to know if this girl has still a place in my heart. He took a liking on the girl. To avoid a headlock with me he wanted to know if I could give him the blessing to pursue the girl as if I am her dad or next of kin. Even though I respected his feelings the conversation was a little awkward on my side. It felt like my blood was roaring on my ears. Once I confessed to him that there was nothing between me and that woman, he asked for opinion about her character .He told me all the nice things he heard about her. I could tell he was not faking it because I knew what a respectful woman she was. His lighthearted inquiry was so disarming that I gave him my honest description of her, but with a heavy heart. I explained it to him were it not of my situation at the moment I would have tied the knot with her long time. I am looking into a graduate school and a destitute life of living on a stipend. It takes a great and understanding woman to sacrifice her life for a broke student. He understood my situation. Was I wrong for telling another man to go and talk to a woman that has stolen my heart? I felt guilty for “ selling” her good personality to him. I was only honest. I could not lie to him or destruct his plans. He is a man on mission but on the wrong trek. He even justified his mission by claiming a close tribal affiliation she has with his mom. I am not related to this woman. I cannot even claim any clan affiliation.Isn't it funny how people can claim a close relation when they want to be close? Whenever I thought of the idea of him strolling in the park with her I consoled myself with a Somali adage that says, “Hundred men will try to talk to a woman, but only one will marry”. What if he becomes the man that will walk her down the Isle? Will I ever be wilting with guilt for letting this woman slip off my hands? I am still a good friend of her. She calls me anytime she wants.She trusts me. I am not sure if she adores me as I do. I wanted to ask her few weeks ago when she hosted a birthday treat for me at an upscale restaurant, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. For how long will I wait for her to notice me? Oh God, don't let this woman get away!

Paradise Now

Settlers who took your land and claim to the world being the innocent surround you. They intensely take control of your life, but they also try to take control of your mind too. You have lost your dad as a collaborator of the enemy. You have nothing to live for other than to blow yourself up! You want to regain the dignity and fame your father failed to achieve. You have no idea how long it’s going to take before your people can gain the universal dignity that they deserve. The occupation has possessed and controlled your thinking capacity.It only takes 90 seconds to blow yourself up before you can die as a martyr. OK, this is not a scene from the latest Spike Lee movie, The Inside Man. This is a movie directed by Hany Abu –Assad. Paradise Now is the best foreign movie I have watched in a long time. It’s a movie about the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Two would be suicide bombers take a calculated risk to carry out a suicide mission in Tel-Aviv. This movie will make you understand how the suicide bombers are recruited. If you are native Arab speaking person you will enjoy more than I did. I had hard time catching up with the subtitles.

The Pain

Last night I lay on my bed, but I could not sleep. I can hardly explain to you the kind of pain I was feeling. It felt like someone was stabbing a dagger on my back. My heart beat fast; this was a night of agonizing pain. All of my readings assignments were detoured by this pain. I could no longer leaf through pages. I retired to bed earlier than my usual time. I started shifting and turning on my bed without being constant for one moment. It was with this considerable difficulty and pain I remembered all about death. I was shaken by the fact that I was going to die. I started thinking of the sympathy and condolences that may be poured to my family by strangers, friends, relatives, and acquaintances. As this image of death became more distinct, I grew thoughtful. May be it is true that my time is up!
The night before, I decided to go to the gym after being away from the gym for almost three months. I well knew that if I wanted to stay in shape I must exercise. I am a 200 pound, six feet creature. I think of my self as a skinny Somalian, but many of my friends disagree with me. Nothing is more painful to the human mind than being told that you are overweight. It was nearly five minute past nine when I arrived at the school’s gym. This is the same gym where the 1996 Olympics swimming events was held (when Nigeria defeated Argentina in 1996, they played in my school’s stadium-just a few meters from this gym). I wandered in the gym trying to figure it out what machine to use for my chest work out. I directed my step towards a group of well built people doing some dumb-bells lifting. One of the heavy guys fixed his eyes upon me. I wondered what he was looking at? Is it because I am the little man in this crowd? I was neither perplexed nor bewildered by his actions. I promised myself to show him that I can do whatever they were doing. Everyone was facing the big mirror while they lifted the dumbbells. I picked a 30 pound dumbbell as my warm up! I was moved to notice that they were all lifting above 50 pounds. I trembled with passion to compete with these guys. Few minutes after my arrival I have upgraded my weight to 50 pounds. Never has any train of reflection occurred to me about what I was doing. I never cared if I got hurt. I was only reflecting on how I should walk out through that door as the little iron man. I wish I knew the pain I was going to experience the night after.

Khian Sea

The year is 1986.I was a young kid breathing the fresh air of Africa. This is the same year the words of Nigeria president Ibrahim Babaginda were heard all over the world declaring affirmatively that “No government no matter the financial inducement has the right to mortgage the destiny of future generation of African children”. Under the dictates of the world super powers like the United State countries in Africa and the Caribbean became the target of one of the world’s most shameful blunder-the Khian Sea waste.


In 1986 Philadelphia-the city of brotherly love- was faced with a problem of garbage disposal.The city relied heavily on a nearby landfills in New-Jersey.Unfortunately this same year many of the American landfills have been closed due to “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) outcry by the public.The city contracted with waste handler by the name Joseph Paolino and sons. The contarctor with unsuccessful attempts tried to dump the waste in states like Ohio where the public outcry overpowered them.It was a drama that kept many Americans alert and glued to their televisions. This outcry has led to investigation by the EPA to test the toxicity level of this waste.To the surprise of most it was found out that the waste contained deadly traces of Dioxin, Lead and chromium.The contracted company tried to buy the right of disposal from governments like Panama, Hiati(which unfortunately the company dumped some illegally) and the African countries.By 1988 the ship suddenly appeared in Singapore without its cargo.It is believed that the toxic waste was dumped somewhere in the Indian Ocean. It is still mystery today.No one knows where the waste has been dumped.


This morning while I was having my cup of coffee the Khian Sea incident flashed in my coffee. How wrong can I be if I assumed that the Khian Sea was dumped in the waters of Somalia?