Alpha Blondy;799054 wrote: Certainly, there is some truth to your views here. family is key. however families who've stayed the longest time are more successful. its takes time to integrate into a post-industrial society having arrived from a semi-nomadic environs. the most successful somali groups in the UK are not found in the organised chaos that is london but in other cities in the uk like cardiff, manchester and liverpool etc where inter-generational stratification has occurred. there are legacies and a community like the somalis are well known for their strong ties and familial relations. having said that, to achieve social mobility requires pre-conditions such education, family status, local environment, occupation and other factors like length of time in the uk. all these factors combined equate to the person's overall sense of themselves and this reflects on their outward behaviour and actions in the wider mainstream society . as for the community question. they have failed miserably and i'm not in favour of groups using areas where funding streams are most profitable and available to represent me. how can i, as a young somali, for instance, be represented by groups advocating for asylum and refugee groups? surely, i've had a different lived experience, having been in the country for some time and Somalis in the uk require more important priorities like education, training and employment. Hear, hear! I spoke at length with the guardian photographer for this piece. Nice man, i gave him an in depth analysis of the Somali problem. I think Norf has legitimate concerns also. A quick search of the Charities Commission website reveals http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/SearchMatchList.aspx Granted not all 182 charities are still active but that just gives us a glimpse of those organisations with the world 'Somali' in their name, think of the countless others that don't. Search other similar communities like 'Iraqi' 'Afghani' or 'Kurdish' and see how many voices speak for them.

I already have Faarax, i was just hoping for some first hand accounts. I've heard many Somalis work for these two organisations.

I’m doing a bit of research into a side project of mine, and required some input from SOL’ers. Have you worked for the UN or WHO in a capacity where you handled or oversaw the vaccination programmes for Somali children? I am desperately seeking immunisation statistics on Somalia/Puntland/Somaliland and the current work on the myriad number of WHO and UN organisations that are actively running vaccination programmes in Somalia. How are these programmes run? How do they ensure they get to difficult to reach communities? Any operational insight into some of the difficulties encountered will be greatly appreciated. I’m trying to run and create a few modals for transportation and logistics and required input from people who have some kind of first hand experience in this field. Please feel free to overwhelm me with data and information. The more the merrier, personal stories also welcome.

wax aan xishood laheyn weeye Udub leadership. I heard about the disparaging remarks they were conducting about my man behind closed doors. Dirty bloody politics. They should all be ashamed of themselves.

AUN, this is a worrying development lately. Something must be done to protect them.

I was only a wee lad but this was the greatest football show ever to grace the screen. James Richardson the pun master and great commentary by Peter Brackley. Gazetta use to be on Saturday early morning and Sunday lunchtime would be a live game. What happened eh!

Oh Shi.t of-course this was at no 1 for like weeks on end. Drove the world nuts this did. I remember they were Finnish.

Somalia, Aqua were dope. They were much better than this, i truly hate myself for remembering this horrid song. In fact i remember it was number one for a long time.

Somalia;798436 wrote: Archdemos, I listen to that video almost everyday Quality i'm afraid those were the days. NN, i was the original pirate. I got my first Minidisc in 98 before that i used to rock a cassette too. My idol growing up.

Hip hop and rap died in the 90's.

First day of secondary school September 1997, getting on this old thing and then getting robbed for my jacket by one of the older lads on the bus.

Hearing this gets me chocked every time, such good times.

90's were great, great music, great rivalries, better footballers, less money = less crazy world. We were all more naive in a good way. A sense of community that's now gone. Oh i spent a good proportion of my life being entertained by 8 bit and later 16 bit graphics for hours on end without fail.

N.O.R.F;798295 wrote: This is real Archie. Chinese company have been given: * Hargaisa airport runway expansion * New terminal buildings * Installation of security scanners etc The tender process was followed. The administration of the contract will be done by two guys who are part of the Kuwait Fund's internal Procurement and Contracts Dept. In that case its good news. Any renderings of the terminal building?

I'm guessing if someone shouted out loud mwizi it could've been curtains for this fella. All that effort and all for ****** windscreen wipers.

more phantom agreements, surely this is the 4 or even 5th such agreement in the last few years alone. Is this like the Ballore port agreement or the Chinese port extension and pipeline programme. I'm just highlighting a trend Xaaji.

I like the PM, seems very knowledgeable and technocratic. The best thing to come out of this interview is the consigning to history of 4.5. Long may they enjoy a government built on meritocracy.

Thanks Oday, i was hoping there was a somali bookshop somewhere in london so i could swing by this afternoon and pick up a copy, but amazon shall have to suffice for now.

Anyone know of any London book shops that sell Somali grammar books? Any help greatly appreciated.

Traditionally two modes of vocation were available in Somali society that of Waranle (spear bearer) and Wadaad (cleric), this suggests a clear separation of state from religion, as the two were seen as dissimilar but individually highly valued. Traditionally the wadaad was not only an intermediary between man and god, but also between clans in the pursuit for peace and harmony. Nevertheless in the era of the widely available AK-47 rifle, this traditional role of the wadaad has diminished and is in risk of becoming politicised. Moreover Somali society is tribal and clannish in nature, reflected in the Xeer system of governance. So it is this culture of tribalism that is a standard definition point for analysing and explaining the role of violence within Somali society. On this point Kriesberg is noted as saying: “people use their culture as a standard when judging what is fair and just.” Therefore the cultural violence, that which is derived from intra clan warfare legitimises other violence, that which can be linked to survival needs and the need for free will. Nevertheless it is the clan rivalry that is most damaging to Somali society. When clan antagonisms manifest itself in a violent conduct then the effects can be devastating and brutal. The raiding of camel herds in Somali pastoralist society is traditionally seen as a permissible act due to the high value Somali nomads place on the animal. This inevitably breeds unconstructive competition which in turn breeds more violence. However it also reaffirms the theory that might is right in this sanctionable case. Furthermore the traditional system of Xeer has a structure in place that deals with unlawful killings by observing a system of compensation for the bereaved (blood money). However these can escalate into vendettas harboured for many years until a relative takes revenge. The danger of this is that they have a tendency to flare into full blown sub-clan warfare and always has the potential to draw more people in. Therefore the use of adequate force is an authorised act within Somali society, which has wider repercussion for the wider society. The civil war was merely an extension of this idea of the legitmate use of violence. Our culture is one where acts of violence are rewarded.

Abu-Salman;796738 wrote: PS: GSK Somaliland country manager is also the head of Djibouti's chamber of commerce, a local pharmacist who also own a local franchise of G4S (security services): (his video interview). There is a lethal lack of regulation in the pharmaceutical sector. Its quite worrying the amount counterfeit drugs that are in circulation. If a country like Britian and a system like the NHS can be taken in by these unscrupulous businesses http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16760513 then what chance does a country like somaliland have. By the way how does WHO and UN ensure immunization programmes in hard to reach areas.

I suppose the encouraging thing from that study is the way the Somali banana excelled in the blind tests. Its a new world now and the trade should actively target the very profitable Fair Trade segment of the market

I recently read a shocking statistic from the FAO that only 11% of Somalia's arable land is currently cultivated. Surely Somalia should benefit and be eligible for EU–ACP agreements on tariffs and market entry.

Another very interesting report from SOMALI AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL GROUP www.satg.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/.../SATG_Strategy_2011.pdf