ASC all, What Does Human Rights Mean to You? Today marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Share with the world your thoughts on what Human Rights mean to you. What are your personal expressions, opinions, stories and experiences of what human rights are or should be in your views in Somalia. Respect for human rights and human dignity "is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world", says the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in English (to be found here http://www.amnestyusa.org/human-rights/universal-d eclaration-of-human-rights/page.do?id=1031003) or for the Somali version here http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/som.htm Please take a moment to study these documents as an honour to mark this important day and lets share opinions... Thanks,S

lol @ Originally posted by NGONGE: Like a teenage boy let loose on his first bra. :confused:

Can one follow this course from Somalia(Puntland) do they have sub-offices there...or maybe Online?

wow so lovely, i was there...well nearly there...almost....close..

I actually wanted to respond to the "Islamist thugs beat up Somali women in Oslo" story about Kadra Yusuf, posted by Peacenow beginning with "A brave Somali woman was beaten....", but decided to post it here instead. I am furious. I am so sick and tired of readin :mad: g the lies and lunacy of twisted stories depicting Somali women as brainless victims "escaping Islam" or oppressive Somali culture who must be rescued, such as, for example, the current Basra Mohamed story headlines on Hiiraan (http://www.hiiraan.com/news2/2007/dec/enterprising_somali_woman_overcomes_cultural_hurdles.aspx) and "Engulfed in Mayhem" (http://www.voices-unabridged.org/article.php?id_article=178&numero=8). The last article disturbingly argues that "In Somalia, when a husband takes a second wife....the first "woman" is thrown out into the street". I am shocked to read this false story. Unlike some African cultures, where upon the death of the husband the wife looses possession of her children and property, In the Somali culture throwing a woman-especially a wife- out into the streets is not only taboo but also unheard of. If questioned though, both authors-Caroline Simon and Alayna Demartini- would argue that these stories were told to them by the concerned women they interviewed. But how much was told and how much was twisted in order to create sensation? It is very disconcerting that are some sick-minded fame and fortune-seeking Somali women, who by victimising themselves, think that the best way to get attention is to choose to target and ungroundedly intimidate Muslims and Islam. I have been closely studying these Somali women- half a dozen or so- throughout the world . These women have a common denominator; they all have: twisted histories of limited self-esteem and preconceived ideas of others based on prejudice and stereotypes; frustration-driven personal plans seeking sympathy and quick fame; some serious identity crises as they always take the victim-role ("i was put into an arranged marriage", "i was circumcised", "Islam is harmful to me and to women", "women are not EQUAL to men in Islam"). These ignorant Somali women's arguments are often based on outdated Western Feminist models that focus on EQUALITY between men and women INSTEAD of EQUITY. If men and women are EQUAL then a woman can do anything a man can do and vice versa. But we all know that that is not true!! Men and women have biological and psychological differences. For many years now equality campaigns blindly aimed at replacing the COMPLEMENTARY relationship between men and women with a competitive one; women should strife or should i say compete to be men! EQUITY, on the other hand, is about equal opportunity, fairness and having equality of access and taking steps to addressing them. It is about recognising and changing CULTURE and other structures to ensure fairplay and justice. And that is the number one mistake these women are making!! Western feminist ideology can not and will not work for Islam nor for Somalia where women are proud to be women. Somali women embrace womanhood and motherhood! Somali women don't want to be men's equals!

Does anybody here have any experience with the software Mindjet MindManager please? I hear one can downlaod it for free on the net too, but couldnt trace it... know anything?

...hmm are we suppose to laugh? dee!

Khalaf, great aspirations! I myself have wriiten 2 books. I am busy with my third one!! I was inspired by Maya Angelou, Chinua Achebe, Nuriddin Farah and other African writers/Philosophers too. Some tips: *Stay goal(story)focused; ENVISION your end-product, personalise and own it knowing you will take it to full completion. *Dont give up hope when your mind goes blanco.. and u stare at the computer... and computer is staring at you. *Dont always type, write it down sometimes with a pen, its alot easier and by so doing you get to structurally and creatively DRAW your story which can be very helpful. Also, always have a pen and paper with you; you may get a good story-idea while on the bus! *Create an enabling environment for yourself, surround yourself with books/tools that inspire you and ignite the fire and desire to write. I have some tools that may help you. It may also be helpful to write your story at significant places that cultivate ingenuity and you relate/associate with your story. *When you start to write, dont mind correcting/adjusting/rearranging sentences/spellings even chapters, work on the CONTENTS in chapter form. What helped me most was getting the main ACTIVITIES of each chapter in a sequence/flow. *its good to have high ambitions: wanting to produce a bestseller, but dont get too excited as this may frustrate you or distort the (long)PROCESS of writing. You have to enjoy writing your story every bit. Eliminate all potential for discouragement/negativity. *Get writing! *Keep us informed! *Good luck! Shumey

looooooool this is so true!! Stare back i'd say! Or ask him what u lookin at fella?!!

This moved me

You for sure will get Nomads talking abou this after posting it so many times. It is really sad what has happened to this man, regardless of his religion. I have never heard this story before, so can you provide us with some sources?

lool, this is funny

sad for the kids

H to ask me to marry him and have his babies

Dear Nehanda, Ghanima, J.a.c.a.y.l.b.a.r.o, Thanks alot for your advice and encouraging words!! I appreciate it highly! I will be working with an NGO in Puntland for 6-12 months. I will be assisting several women's organisations there with developing methodologies, organizational development, capacity building and program/project cycle- from planning to evaluation. I am a Development/Humanitarian worker with a specialisation on Gender, Development and Governance. I have never been to Somalia but the task in Puntland is really one i look forward to, hope to embrace fully and take to full completion. J.a.c.a.y.l.b.a., no, I have to take care of my own safety and accomodation. Is it possible for one to rent a fully furnished flat or house in Bosaso or Qhardo at all? I just need one room flat. Does anybody know who i contact about this there? I wouldnt want to stay in a hotel for all those months. Thank you so much!! Shumey

ASC walaalayaal, I am going to be working in Puntland (Qardho and Bosaso) as of 2008. I am looking for information and advice from those of you who have been to the region. I am specifically looking for information regarding the; -Safety and security situation Qardho and Bosaso -Climate; how hot/cold in january-august? -Electricity system and plugs -Flights to/ from the region and costs; what is the safest way to travel and from where? -Visas -Accomodation; hotels/guest houses -Cost of living; daily expenes -Transport and telecommunications Other suggestions from people with first-hand experience on what to expect. I am from the region myself but havent been there before, so i am excited to be going home. Thank you walaalayaal. Shumey

lol Crystal_Clear, we love u too!

this is violence against women.

In comparison to others before her, Prof. & Special Rapporteur Ertuk is doing a good job on VAW. Her recent research on 'the role and influence of culture' in VAW is worthy of an award. Indeed, as ICR says the EU has a fundamental role to play in "making women's lives better". But EU migrant policy also has caused ( and is still causing) much violence and misery to migrant, 'illegal' and refugee women. So the question arises which women? which lives? and what violence? Police are kicking doors of innocent families (including pregnant women and children) at midnight and secretly deporting them to camps throughout Europe...esp The NLs. Sometimes the children need medical attention 24/7. But who will pay for this once they become deportees? The EU has a very discriminatroy policy. ICRH (created by Prof. Dr. Marleen Temmerman, thanks to her) has evidence on this; http://www.icrh.org/news/new-publications-on-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights

lool jacaylbaro... I am sending my application form tonight for the KELSA Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)Consultancy one. I have never been to Somalia...!!! pray for me!!! Shu

See the vacancies here: http://www.hornrelief.org/volunteer.htm Horn Relief (HR) is an African-led international organization that is dedicated to supporting sustainable peace and development in Somalia through grassroots capacity building, youth development, promotion of human rights and women's leadership, and protection of the environment. Horn Relief was established in 1991 to work with pastoralist communities in Somalia in support of their economic and social needs. Pastoralists have traditionally been a highly productive sector of Somali society, driving the livestock trade and other areas of economic growth and that have supported the country as a whole. The civil war and the resulting social and economic upheaval led to widespread suffering, one aspect of which was the threat to the very survival of pastoralism. The natural environment on which pastoralism is based has also been under assault, as the impact of civil war has led to the breakdown of natural resource management systems that enabled pastoral communities to prosper became unpredictable and resulting in harsh environmental conditions. Horn Relief has been recognized internationally for its environmental work. In 2002, Horn Relief's co-founder and Executive Director, Fatima Jibrell, was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for Africa for her leadership in creating a social and environmental movement in Somalia, particularly around her efforts to halt the environmentally devastating charcoal trade. Horn Relief continues to support pastoral communities in their efforts to preserve the natural environment and other components of social life that are essential for their survival and self-reliance.

Lool faarax-Brawn.....cat, cockroach or dog it dont matter...just aim right...loool. What is "Shuuushkiiiiii" though??? Keyf.....what part dont u get? hehehe

lool, that was funny deee!!!!!!!

A mother comes to visit her son Abdirashid for dinner who lives with a girl roommate Ifrah. During the course of the meal, his mother couldn't help but notice how pretty Abdirashid's roommate was. She had long been suspicious of a relationship between the two, and this had only made her more curious. Over the course of the evening, while watching the two interact, she started to wonder if there was more between Abdirashid and his roommate than met the eye. Reading his mom's thoughts, Abdirashid volunteered, "Hooyo, I know what you must be thinking, but I assure you, Ifrah and I are just roommates." About a week later, Ifrah came to Abdirashid saying, "Ever since your mother came to dinner, I've been unable to find the silver uunsii jar. You don't suppose she took it, do you?" "Well, I doubt it, but I'll email her, just to be sure." So he sat down and wrote: Dear Hooyo, I'm not saying that you "did" take the uunsii jar from my house, I'm not saying that you "did not" take the uunsii jar. But the fact remains that it has been missing ever since you were here for dinner. Love, Abdirashid. Several days later, Abdirashid received an email from his Mother which read: Waryee Abdirashidow, War heedhe I'm not saying that you "do" sleep with Ifrah, and I'm not saying that you "do not" sleep with Ifrah. But the fact remains that if she was sleeping in her OWN bed, she would have found the uunsii jar by now. Love, Hooyo. :eek:

lool, this is so funny deee