The Nation Newspaper

Category: Online Special

  • ”I am not a ‘yeye’ Christian”

    ”I am not a ‘yeye’ Christian”

    Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori the Osun State Deputy Governor, doubles as the commissioner for Education. At the recently conducted Seminar with pressmen in the state, she spoke with Abang Mercy; and shed light on the Controversial Education Policy. She explains why the Rauf Aregbesola Administration reclassified the sector and why critics are wrong in branding the governor as a Jihadist for reforming education.
    You double as the Deputy Governor of State of Osun and the Commissioner for Education.  How has it been?

    Quite challenging and exciting because as the deputy governor, I perform my political functions. But as a commissioner for education, it is purely educational, it goes beyond politics. I’m part of the policy makers and I also ensure that our educational policies are effectively implemented.

    You’ve been able to find a way to manage the home front.
    It’s quite interesting, thank God for my age, I don’t have little kids any longer, if I was your age, it might be a greater challenge but because I have grown-up children and I am a grandmother. It is the other way round for me now.

    Tell us about the much talked about Education Policy by the administration led by Governor Rauf Aregbesola?

    Actually when we came into the governance of the state of Osun, what we met on ground was highly discouraging. There was rot in the educational system, and while we were campaigning, we promised to fix the system. Fortunately, we have a governor who is passionate about everything he talks or believes in. When we came in, because he had promised the electorate
    that he will provide functional education, we actually had a manifesto with an integral action plan for our government. We promised our people that we will banish hunger, unemployment, poverty, functional education, restore healthy living and ensure peace in the state. Those were the 6 points we gave our people, and functional education was one of the things we promised
    while we were campaigning. We knew we needed to adopt a holistic approach in tackling the educational problems.

    For instance, students in higher education visited my office yesterday and said, “Mummy, you’ve neglected tertiary education.” And I said “No, it’s not like that; we are having a holistic approach to reforms in education. We want to start from the basic education to the top. We are quite happy with what we’ve done in basic education and the next stage is the tertiary level.

    What is the quality of Education of the teachers as the success of your reforms is hinged on those administering?

    That’s a very good question; you know ironically, we have very brilliant teachers in the state of Osun. They need to be encouraged. When we came, my first impression was that we didn’t have good teachers; I then realized that they’re brilliant teachers. They needed to be motivated; they needed to be cared for and that was the first thing we targeted. Before we came in, graduate teachers in the elementary school could retire only at graduate level 14. We moved them to grade level 16 like their counterparts in the ministry. And for the graduate teachers in the secondary school, we moved them to grade level 17. So that actually made them happy and they’ve
    been performing optimally. Before now, we had just 3 per cent of our students matricul-able but as I’m talking to you now, by the last result, 43 per cent of our pupils are now matricul-able. We are not happy at that mind you, but it is a giant leap.

    On assumption of office, your administration merged Christians/Muslim Schools, reclassified and abolished single-gender statuses of schools. What led to the policy? Was that decision informed by the governor to Islamize the state?

    When we came in, the public schools were in a total state of dilapidation and rot. We do not have mission schools in the state of Osun. In 1975, government then took over schools unlike Lagos where you came from or Abuja. Abuja is an evolving city. When we came in we met our schools in a total state of disrepute and we took a firm resolve to reposition our schools. The schools were taken over by government in 1975, that’s over 39 years ago but some people still have the misconception that they’re mission schools. The schools that you have referred to as mission schools are actually government schools.

    So when we decided to restructure education in the state, and we took a decision to build state of the art schools to provide standard education facilities.  To achieve that, we reclassified the schools in-line with the schools we were building. They were reclassified into three basic segments; elementary school, the middle school and the high school. And this is in line with the federal government policy of 9-3-4. People still have the misconception that Federal
    government runs 6-3-3-4, no.

    The federal government wants every child in Nigeria to have continued 9 years of education. For us to achieve that uninterrupted education in the state of Osun, we have classified our school kids from grade 1-4 so by the time they get to what other states call primary 5, we move them into middle school. For us, we want continued education for our children. If we let them break in primary 6 we will lose some of them. So what we’ve done is to move primary 5 and 6 into the middle school; by the time they’re 10, we’d have prepared them for the secondary school education until they complete the federal government GSS. Those that we perceive could continue into the high school could go into the high school, those that will not be able to go to high school we move them to vocational school.

    For us, we want every child in the state of Osun to be educated. The schools we have built don’t permit the provision of some schools for girls or some schools for boys. Let’s take high school for instance where parents were clamoring that we should have single-sex schools. We are building high school with a capacity of 3000 students, we have 3 schools in 1 for the high school; do you advise us to have 3000 girls in different parts of the location? We want our children to mix freely. Each time I check, I didn’t find any boys university or any girls’ university.

    There was no ulterior motive to the decision; it was a lie from the pit of hell. Governor Aregbesola is such a free minded man. When we were recruiting for O’YES. We did not ask for the religion of the 300,000 we recruited. I’m a Christian and I’m not a ‘yeye’ Christian I take my Christianity very seriously. Just as he takes his own Islamic religion very seriously and he has never invited me to the mosques.

    In fact he sourced for a Christian deputy governor and a female deputy governor. My party got him a male and a Muslim male because the past administration had male/female Christian and deputy governor. So rightfully the Muslims believed that ‘oh this is our own chance’ for a Muslim/Muslim ticket but he said no. There are Christians in this state, let us give the Christians to produce a deputy governor if we are producing the governor and let us give the women a chance to produce a female deputy governor and that’s how I emerged. So it’s a lie. Among his siblings he is the only Muslim and another brother. Two of his siblings from his own mother are Christians; in fact one is a pastor. If he wants to change people to Islamic religion, he will start from his siblings because he is older than all of them. Now we’ve recruited 40,000 youths, we didn’t ask for their religion. In total, Aregbesola has recruited over 80,000 human beings since we came into office, we neither asked for their religion nor their gender.

    Is government talking to those that feel aggrieved as a result of the policy introduced by your administration?  I understand the Baptist Church is one of the parties in the face-off.

    It is a misconception that the school belongs to Baptist. You know what the Baptists did?  Smart, wonderful Christians. When the government took over the schools, they established their own private schools in Oshogbo as I’m talking to you. The Baptist Convention has private elementary school, nursery school and secondary school in this town there are all mixed schools. There is no private single sex school belonging to the Baptist, so we just told them we want our children to have a level playing ground. We are providing the state of arts schools with modern facilities; we don’t want to restrict such schools to some boys or to some girls. Let them mix together; let us prepare them for the world of reality where they will be graduating into after high school. If you have two boys, two girls, will you send the boys to your mother? You rear them together.

    The face-off in schools saw A Principal beaten to a pulp for allegedly rejecting a particular way of dressing in a Christian school; another teacher was machete. What is done to resolve the impasse?

    Unfortunately because we have a governor who gives everybody a level playing ground. My governor allows you to practice your religion; he will never force you to do it. When we came here. The issue of hijab was what led to the different attire by children, they had fun doing that. The issueof hijab predated this administration. The Muslims and the Christians took themselves to court so it became a legal issue and we are sensitive on legal issues; because we are a product of the rule of law. We know what it means and the ruling in court was that status-quo should
    remain until final judgment is given whether students should be allowed to use hijab in school or not. So we refused to come into it but the Christians and the Muslims wanted government to make a pronouncement. The governor had to intervene that status-quo should remain.

    Has Opon Imo been a failure?

    It’s been a fantastic success, especially now that the students are preparing for the school certificate examinations. It’s been a huge success and my governor got prices from all over the world for being an initiator of the tablets.

    On the issue of Osun students sent to Ukraine: with the political crisis ongoing, what are plans to ensure that the students are safe and in an event the crisis escalates? Is the government prepared to move in?

    Well there is no problem, I have been talking to the students and they’ve been communicating with the governor. You know they’re quite happy. In fact they were surprised, they said why are we panicking? Actually what we read on the internet is what they read. The university where they are, they don’t feel any of the crisis going on and they are assured of their safety. We usually remove our citizens away from troubled spots.
    When Boko Haram crisis started in 2011, we were the first to move to Borno to evacuate all Osun indigenes and we even gave other states indigenes free ride.

  • How to improve your diction

    How to improve your diction

    Diction is an act of speaking in a distinctive way, the choice of picking words, pronouncing correctly, and the level of articulation. Speaking in the right diction and pronouncing each word according to its sound helps in improving your diction.

    A diction instructor, Drew Company Concept, Mr. Andrew Bini highlights ways to improving your diction.

    1. Don’t speak local dialect more than English

    There is every tendency that if you speak too much of your local dialect and less of English language, it is necessary that the first language be spoken often and also when pronouncing certain words that are dialect based, if care is not taken, the way we pronounce our dialect based words are the same way we will transfer it to the words that are of English background. So it is necessary we speak less of our dialect and try to change words you are used to pronouncing in your dialect to English.

    2. Focus on what you speak and don’t be distracted

    Most times people tend to make jest of others that pronounce words better than they do or in a different way or sound differently from the normal tradition. So whoever wants to work on his diction should not be bothered about what people say, as they would make jest or laugh at you but if you must attain what you want, you should not consider what they say rather what is right.

    3. Constantly use a pronouncing  dictionary

    It is important to know that when you are conversant with your dictionary, you can always look up words, get the meaning and pronunciation. If you are able to use it frequently or check up words apart from the fact that it will build the level of your lexicon, it will also help to pronounce words correctly with the transcription given against each word.

    The pronouncing dictionary is a type of dictionary that helps the user pronounce given words. So, the English pronouncing dictionary is one that helps the way you pronounce words correctly with the correct stress pattern. Certain words in Nigeria are not pronounced correctly but with a pronouncing dictionary you will be able to tell where the stress is placed.

    4. Work on your rise and fall intonation

    The intonation is also another part that helps you to correctly say words the way they should be. A question should fall at the beginning and rise at the end. For instance:

    Are you going?
    Fall         rise
    Working on your intonation doesn’t only help you to be a better speaker but helps to also convey your message correctly.

    5. Working on your /ei/ sounds

    This has to do with working with words usually called ‘a’ as Nigerians when it should be /ei/. Getting good intonation starts from working on your basic /ei/ sounds. The sound is paramount because that is one of the easiest ways a person will know if your diction is improved or not. For starters, pronounce words that end with ‘ay’ with the /ei/ sound. Play /pleI/, Stay /steI/, Day /deI/ e.t.c.

    6. Never copy others

    Never copy others in word pronunciation; sometimes individuals may have difficulty in pronunciations. Other people ignorantly pronounce the ‘ph’ in the word ‘shepherd’,  as /f/ instead of /p/. That an individual speaks with a foreign diction or pronounces words in a different way does not necessarily mean that the person is correct. You may not need to copy others and if need be, then, you need to confirm from your dictionary first to be sure you are copying the right pronunciation.

    7. Practice what you’ve learnt

    This is very important. Note that if you learn something and don’t use it, there is every tendency of forgetting or not even knowing it anymore. Whatever you’ve learnt put it into practice. When you do, it will stick or become a part of your sub-conscious mind that even when you are woken up at the middle of the night, you would always speak correctly. Continuous practice they say makes perfect.

    8. Attend trainings and seminars

    This is a necessity as it enables you know the basics and fundamentals of speaking good English and becoming a good speaker. From the greetings, letters of the alphabet, the vowel and consonant sounds, place and manner of articulation for each sound, training helps in providing the foundation for diction. At the training, participants have the opportunity to record whatever the speaker says so as to enhance good learning.

  • A boost for BJP India from Nigeria

    A boost for BJP India from Nigeria

    At the Geeta Mandir Hall, located at 18 Cappa Avenue, Palm Groove, Lagos, South-West Nigeria, about 500 Non-Resident Indians (NRI) gathered to give boost to Bhartiya Janta Party of India (BJP) under the auspices of Overseas Friends of Bhartiya Janta Party (OFBJP)

    It was with a grand NaMo Tea Party outside the country of India for an interactive online session aimed at promoting Narendra Modi as the Indian Prime Minister candidate on its forth coming elections.

    The event was facilitated by eminent NRI Industrialist, Entrepreneurs, Professionals, Doctors and students. The event was marked with the high participation of women professionals, homemakers and students.

    Senior BJP leaders from Delhi Headquarters with Press and media also joined in the online discussions through video conferencing and shared their views on national and international issues over tea.

    The speakers lauded the efforts of the NRI’s for their contribution towards welfare, development and well-being of both Nigeria and India and urged them to keep contributing towards enriching and enhancing the cordial relations between both countries.

    Shri Vijay Jolly, senior BJP leader and global convenor of OFBJP addressed the Nigeria gathering and seeks support for the party’s mission of 272 seats in the next Lok Sabha Polls and to make Narendra Modi the next prime minister of India.

    Vijay took time to parley questions from Mr. Om Prakash (Pune), Mr Chirag Gandhi (Gujarat), Mrs. Shweta Srivastava (UP), Mr Nand Kumar (Kerala Samaj), Ms. AditiJani ( LLB Student) and Mrs. Savita Singhal (Teacher in Lagos), bothering on Vision document; Selection process; Women representation; Education system; Safety concern while going back to India and the frequent harassment by Indian Customs and Medical officer upon arrival despite having valid documents.

    Shri Sanjay Shrivastava, OFBJP Nigeria Convener, appealed to all NRIs to support Modi for Prime Minister and spread social media campaign and other events and must make calls and emails to request family and friends in India to vote for Modi.

    Vinay Singh, Vikas Kane, Suneet, Pravin, Ramesh Muriki, Dhiran Mishra, Naresh Lalawani, Kiran S Parab, OP Singh, Abhishek, Tanmoy, all executives of BJPOFNigeria were commended by Shri Rakesh Srivastava Ji for their contribution and execution of the NaMo party as he noted that BJPofNigeria has also ran awareness programme on social media campaign to connect as much as 4000 families in Nigeria out of 200, 00 NRIs in Nigeria.

  • ‘Why Africans should not bleach’

    ‘Why Africans should not bleach’

    Forbes top 30 most promising young African Entrepreneur Christian Ngan, who made fortune with his bio-cosmetic company Madlyn Cazalis, speaks with Adetorera Idowu on his foray into the beauty industry from a background as an investment banker and how he is tackling the issue of skin bleaching among Africans.

    You were recently listed on Forbes as one of the 30 most promising young African Entrepreneurs’. What would you say you did differently in business that got you on the list?

    After staying ten years in France, working in the investment banking industry and private equity industry, I decided to go back to Cameroon to start a business. I think it is my courage that got me on that list. The courage to leave a well paying job and come back to Africa to start with only $3000 of my savings. Only two years later, I have made it to the Forbes list.

    You said you work as an analyst what informed your decision to go into the beauty industry from finance?

    I saw a lot of women who keep bleaching their skin and I wanted to provide them good product, good African made product that could be an alternative to bleaching and that was why I decided to start a cosmetic theory.

    Was there someone that influenced this career path?

    My mother is a pharmacist and Works in a chemist store. I remember ten years ago she said to me that she does not want to end her life in a chemist store and I promised that one day I will launch a cosmetic brand. Through her, I had the opportunity to watch her working with clients and advise them on the skin problems, so she was my inspiration to go into the industry.

    What are the specific skills you acquired as an investment banker that helped you in your new business?

    I acquired skills like financial modeling skills, and with the knowledge I gained from EMYLON, I was able to think as an investor and to study the industry. Also EMYLON has a very large network and it was easy for me to find opportunities to talk with professors in this industry.

    What will you say is Madlyn Cazalis’ selling point?

    We are a bio cosmetic company so we provide natural products. We are the only relevant brand in central Africa that provide natural cosmetic product so there is a market. We also listen to our customers. Some companies do mass production, they sell it and turn their backs, but that’s not what we do.
    We are pharmacists, and we have excellent customer service. When they come, we discuss with them and if there is a problem they tell us and we can change the product. We have good customer service and good customer experience. Not all companies do that. We also provide services and listen to our customers. We don’t only sell product and let them go.

    What are some challenges you faced introducing it to the market?

    The main challenge is the environment. It is not easy for young entrepreneurs because the government does not encourage entrepreneurship. I believe you have to start small if you want to succeed and I want to do things step by step. I want to be a significant company and experience has shown that if you want to be a significant brand you have to take your time.

    What are your plans on retailing your product around Africa?

    The main goal is to be a Pan- African brand. We just started in Cameroon because I’m from Cameroon.  I have received calls from all over Africa like Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe and Gabon, but we want to structure ourselves and I think we will want to develop the company through partnerships and grow our brand in other countries in West Africa like Nigeria which is a big market. We are also looking at East Africa which is booming at the time but we need investors in these countries because our main goal is to have a Pan-African brand.

    What is different about your brand?

    There are not enough natural cosmetic brands for dark skin. If you go to Europe or to the U.S, You will find a lot of bio cosmetic brands, but we don’t have a lot of bio-cosmetic brands for dark skin dark and milk skin especially central Africa. I think there is a place for us.

    What will your products do for the average African?

    It can repair your skin. Our best selling anti spot lotion called the green lotion repairs spots naturally and people really like it. Our products are 80 to 100 percent natural we can repair your skin and make you proud of your skin. We are out to make African women proud of who they are so you can have a very good skin with our products naturally.

    Many companies have made a fortune selling bleaching products to African consumers, how is your cosmetic company dealing with this issue?

    We are doing in-house prevention, telling people to stop bleaching their skin through conferences and events. I have also had the opportunity to talk to women and men who bleach their skin. In our adverts we also get this message across.  I would say that we are activists.
    I think it’s the better way to provide a good image and do something good for Africa.

    Africans believe that international cosmetic brands are superior. How can African made cosmetics beat the current growing market for international brands.

    We are doing education as I said and we want people to stop thinking that products from Europe and the U.S are the only good products. We want them to be proud of their own products and to buy their own products. I think it’s only through education we can do this.
    I think Africa is moving forward and a lot of countries are conscious of the fact that they can be part of the international trade. Because of the crisis in Europe, many African businesses are thriving and more people are buying and using African products. Thanks to sites and brands like Jumia who are helping market African made products. This new trend and we want to be part of this trend.
    Eventually this mindset will change. We want people to be proud to buy Africa. A lot of customers are proud to buy our products not just because it works because they don’t want to buy European products and because it works. This is why the company is successful.

    Would you say your Job is challenging?
    The challenges I face every day is meeting people from different fields, to imagine, create and to plan. The future is very important and I have the motivation everyday which is very important.

    Whats the future for Madlyn Cazalis?

    The future is to develop the company in other countries and internationally and also in different areas and segments because we don’t only want to do cosmetics but create accessories, hair care, makeup. I think that through partnerships we could do that.

  • Social media watch: Twitter toasts for Ex-minister’s hubby @ 60

    Social media watch: Twitter toasts for Ex-minister’s hubby @ 60

    Twitter toasts for Ex-Minister’s hubby @ 60 Tweet and Retweets by Former Education Minister, Dr Oby Ezekwesili on her husband’s   (Chinedu Ezekwesili) 60th birthday on March 13, 2014

    An extravagant worshipper @neduezeks 🙂 Happy birthday ….. May He say “Well done” to you at the end of time!

    nze esele ‏@nzeesele  

    @obyezeks BEHIND A GREAT WOMAN THERE IS A GREAT MAN…Happy birthday Sir!! Many blessed years ahead.

    The Lord will forever be your strength.

    Mama @obyezeks u r proof dt a woman can have it all. We celebrate with u the man who is solidly behind U @neduezeks!

    tannietolu! ‏@tannietoluwa

    It is rare to see a woman excel in the home front, career, ministry and among her pple..@obyezeks does all this effortlessly

    A DEPENDABLE GENERAL ‏@mightyblaze4you

    @obyezeks Bcos u stand out to be a voice to d helples d Good Lord wil make evrytin perfect for u and ur family, hapi birthday to ur husband

    Aidee Amaunam ‏@AAmaunam

    @neduezeks @obyezeks A polished “HBD” to the husband of my only female mentor. Never knew he’s a pastor. More wisdom and grace for you Sir

    El-Talib ‏@eltaliba007

    @obyezeks Behind every successful leader is her partner. God bless your Husband as he marks another year today. Amin

    Al Thani Opara ‏@alvin_clein

    Happy birthday to the wonderful husband of a wonderful and industrious woman @obyezeks. Wishing him many more prosperous years ahead.

    Alimi Adeola ‏@Adeola2005

    @obyezeks Quality lady deserves a quality guy for both to become “quality” parents. Happy birthday to @neduezeks

    Bode Ogundiran ‏@Olubuddy

    @obyezeks @neduezeks “Her husband is known in d gates, he seats among d elders of d land” HBD Sir, may d beauty of ur hope never fade!

    Apostle Eri’Oluwa ‏@ApostleEriOluwa

    @obyezeks only few women can boast of having it all together with their home intact.I celebrate ya husband;God’s grace won’t depart 4rm him

    James Ö Mulero ‏@mulerojames

    @neduezeks a dad, father, pastor & mentor with charisma. Full of youthful strength & energy. A man after God’s heart.

    Eddie Jimete ‏@EddieJimete

    Takes a man wt a kind and loving heart and wisdom to manage a successful woman like @obyezeks; @neduezeks has done well…I salute!!!

    Mike Benny ‏@ojalimike

    @obyezeks Happy birthday to a man that has helped you in fulfilling your dreams more of good years to come.

    @obyezeks I salute this man, on this day, he melts the heart of a woman feared by evil men and admired by all lovers of truth. Shalom!

    “@fickky: @obyezeks HBD to the husband of an honest and thoroughbred wife! @neduezeks, you must have been her life coach! I salute you sir.”

    Wole Aderinkomi ‏@WAderinkomi

    @obyezeks God knows how to bless a great man with a great woman. Your lives reflect Who you believed. Happy birthday sir. Many more years.

    Tochi ‏@tochygreg

    @neduezeks @obyezeks Happy birthday 2 d most understanding man in d whole universe. Many would nt have let their wives. Many more years sir.

    The Queen Herself ‏@Topsyken

    It’s only a great man that allows his wife be who God has created her to be. Mummy @obyezeks ,u r blessed with one in Pst @neduezeks

  • ‘War on emotions is driving us insane’

    ‘War on emotions is driving us insane’

    Have you ever been provoked by someone into fear, anger or pain, and then blamed, punished or humiliated for feeling and expressing these feelings? This is a form of psychological torture which has very serious consequences.

    Here are three stories that demonstrate how commonly this form of torture occurs in human society.

    Imagine that you are an Arab living in occupied Palestine. Everyday your work, study, family relationships and/or friendships require you to travel locally, but even distances that should take minutes may take hours because of the internationally illegal checkpoints guarded by Israeli
    soldiers who deliberately hold up and humiliate the civilians passing (agonisingly) slowly through.

    The soldiers find this work boring and take out their frustrations on the civilians in many ways. Your very existence in this land, where you and your ancestors were born, is already being treated as a threat by the soldiers: the ideological paranoia with which they have been brought up, and their mostly suppressed feelings of powerlessness, sadness and rage about relatively infrequent and small scale retaliatory violence by Palestinians, lead them to hate and fear the Christian and Muslim Arab population as a whole.

    In this situation, any expression of anger (even in the form of nonviolent resistance) by you at the outrageous, unjust and irrational behaviour of the soldiers will be treated as a heightened threat: their response will likely be violent. Any expression of distress will be treated with a lack of empathy or outright disgust. Some soldiers will develop an addiction to controlling and humiliating people, feeling that this gives them ‘power’, although it is not power over anything that genuinely improves their lives.

    In essence, the soldiers will not allow you to communicate with them sensibly, via your feelings of anger and distress, about the real and unjust consequences of their actions. They do not ‘care’.
    Imagine you are a child as young as six years old being electro shocked by psychiatrists and psych nurses- You scream and cry and make it abundantly clear that they are harming you physically and causing you intense fear but they hold you down and proceed regardless.

    They repeat the process over many days and weeks, damaging your brain and gradually eradicating parts of your memory, and demanding that you show signs of being ‘happy’. Any sensible emotional response to this physical torture is seen as a sign that there is something wrong with you that requires further electrocution. The psychiatrists and nurses will not allow you to sensibly communicate with them, via your feelings of terror and misery, about the real and destructive consequences of their actions. They do not ‘care’.

    Imagine you are Christina Schumacher who was recently ‘involuntarily treated’ (i.e. incarcerated against her will and expected to take medications that would drug her into insensibility) when she was suffering extreme grief having just learned that her son had been strangled to death
    by her estranged husband, who then killed himself. Her therapist and that person’s seniors had decided to lock her up prior to even interviewing her, they were so terrified of allowing her to feel her natural emotional reactions to the trauma. So she suffered without emotional support for
    five and a half weeks, in the company of severely psychotic people who were also failing to receive treatment that helped them.

    She eventually received legal support that helped her secure her release. Her fury about
    how she had been treated was but will the psychiatrists and family members who abused her hear her anger as a reasonable communication about their violent and unnecessary behaviour? Or will they see this anger as ‘threatening’ because all anger scares them, regardless of whether or not it is justified? Will they have the capacity to ‘care’?

    Is there any child who has not frequently had their feelings of fear, anger, pain and sadness ignored, trivialised, criminalised or pathologised by the adults around them? Is there any child who has not learned to be afraid of these feelings (and many others) as a result? If you are wondering why the soldiers and psychiatric personnel in my above examples lack empathy how is it that they can be so cruel and uncaring? The answer is clear. They have been frightened out of feeling their own emotions, and trusting and valuing these emotions, first as children, then
    further as part of their ‘professional’ training. How can anyone empathise with another person’s feelings if they are terrified to feel their own? If they are too afraid to feel the fear that lets them know when they are genuinely under threat, and the anger that would help them stand up
    against the people who have lied to and abused them (generally their parents, teachers, politicians and superiors), how could they value another person’s fear and anger as valid communication?

    What can we do if abusers will not (or, more accurately, cannot) listen to us, because they are too afraid? They may have the physical power to make us suffer, but it is crucial that we do not internalise their abuse of us, and that we act to reverse any internalisation that has already taken
    place.

    Healing and a return to selfhood happen when a person listens to their own feelings, including the fear that they should not listen to and trust their own feelings. If you can find someone who is not afraid to allow you to feel who can sit with you, paying quiet attention while you feel this will help to reassure you and reverse the lesson of emotional suppression you have been taught. If there is no-one available to listen calmly and quietly, then find an undisturbed
    space and listen to yourself. Your feelings care about you and are trying to communicate the truth about who and how you really are.

    Feeling emotions is not always fun, and takes considerable physical energy, but your emotions are your power to be your real self, and allow you to be an active and resilient player in your own life, rather than a powerless victim of circumstance.

    A person who does not trust or value their own feelings is no longer truly alive:  they have a delusional, socially constructed identity that stands in for their real self and that steadfastly refuses (out of fear) to communicate with the real world. Such a person becomes obsessed with and addicted to controlling things that trigger their emotions: most often, these ‘things’ are other people’s emotions and behaviours.

    To break the cycle of emotional suppression, and the insane destructive behaviours that are caused by this, we have to find the courage to care about and listen to our own feelings.

    McKone is a nonviolent activist and independent psych researcher from Australia. She works with her life-partner and co-activist/researcher Robert J. Burrowes. Her articles on psychological, philosophical and political nonviolence can be found at: http://anitamckone.wordpress.com. Her email address is     flametree@riseup.ne

  • Lifestyle key to prevent kidney disease

    Lifestyle key to prevent kidney disease

    World Kidney Day, which was celebrated on 13 March, highlighted the importance of healthy kidneys and how prevention efforts could curb millions of premature deaths associated with kidney disease.

    Reports indicate that between 8 to 10 per cent of the adult population have some form of kidney damage but fewer than 1 in 10 are aware of the importance of regular kidney check ups. Of those affected, only 1 in 5 people with kidney failure are ever referred to a specialist.

    Most people experience no symptoms until chronic kidney disease is advanced and the prognosis bleak. It is estimated that one can lose up to 90 per cent of their kidney function before experiencing any symptoms.

    The most common causes of chronic kidney disease are associated with the skyrocketing rates of noncommunicable diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Kidney disease eventually leads to kidney failure and the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.

    Tips for healthy kidneys

    Keep fit and active. It’s important to keep one’s weight in check through a healthy diet and regular exercise regimen. Both of these are known to prevent diabetes, heart disease and other conditions associated with chronic kidney disease.

    Experts agree that monitoring one’s blood sugar is also important in managing chronic kidney disease. About 50 per cent of people who have diabetes develop progressive kidney damage over time.

    Blood pressure-induced kidney disease is another silent condition that can develop for decades with very few noticeable symptoms. One should monitor blood pressure regularly and maintain a healthy diet that is low in salt and unhealthy saturated fats.

    Salt-induced high blood pressure is well known but salt intake is also directly linked to kidney disease and eventual failure. Salt intake is similar to other cumulative risk factors such as obesity, tobacco and alcohol use – the longer you abuse it, the greater your risk.

    The World Health Organization’s overall goal is to reduce salt intake to no more than 5g per day. This can be achieved by reducing the amount of salt in processed foods items as well as salt added during cooking and at the table. However, most people who eat too much salt don’t realize that as much as 75 per cent of the salt that they eat is already in the food that they buy.

    Do not take over-the-counter pills on a regular basis. This may come as a surprise but common drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are known to put excessive stress on the kidneys that can cause eventual kidney failure.

    Stay well hydrated. Drinking enough clean water can help maintain optimal kidney function. However, experts have not reached an agreement on a set quantity of water per day as requirements change with many different factors such as one’s overall health status, physical activity levels, and body height and weight.

    Do not smoke. Tobacco is known to diminish blood flow to the kidneys – an important indicator of one’s overall kidney health. Research indicates that smoking can also increase the risk of developing kidney cancer by about 50 per cent.

    World Kidney Day is a joint initiative between the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations. For additional information, please visit: www.worldkidneyday.org

     

    Dr Couillard is an international health columnist that works in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s goals of disease prevention and control.

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  • The need to cut sugar intake

    The need to cut sugar intake

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the first ever public consultation on the recommended levels of sugar intake. When finalized, the new WHO guidelines will provide countries with recommendations to reduce major public health problems – especially in high-risk developing regions.

    The new sugar recommendations come in a dire time with the escalating rates of lifestyle-induced noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs – mainly cardiovascular diseases, cancers, obesity and chronic respiratory diseases – are now the world’s biggest killers.

    The proposed guidelines appear to have a two-tiered recommendation that one’s sugar intake should not exceed 10% of total energy intake per day, with 5% the target. It works out to be about 50g a day for a normal weight adult, said the WHO.

    “A recommendation like this one can be used to develop food-based dietary guidelines, can be used to develop nutrient profiling of food, can also be used as a basis to have policies to provide healthier food in public institutions, to restrict marketing of several products,” describes Dr Francesco Branca, the director of WHO’s Department for Nutrition for Health and Development.

    The vast majority of the sugar consumed is ‘hidden’ in processed and convenience food items. For example, sugar can be found in catsup, snack foods and sodas. The average serving of soda contains up to 35g of sugar with few healthy nutrients.

    To understand the recommendation, one must know the difference between free and intrinsic sugars. WHO’s recommendation does not apply to intrinsic sugars that are found in fruits and vegetables. Eating fruits and vegetables lower rates of NCDs.

    Free sugars “…are added to the food by the manufacturers, by the cook, by the consumer or are naturally present in honey, in fruit syrups, fruit concentrates,” Dr Branca adds.

    Free sugars are commonly listed under other names such as sucrose, glucose, fructose and maltose on the food label. These are the chemical names of the different forms of sugar and they all apply to the new sugar recommendation.

    The new sugar guidelines could prove instrumental in halting the sharp rise of type 2 diabetes and obesity as described in WHO’s Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013-2020.

    Obesity plays a significant role in the high rates of maternal and infant mortality rates. For both, reducing one’s sugar intake to the new recommended levels would prove essential in achieving the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

    While deaths from noncommunicable diseases mainly occur in adulthood, exposure to risk factors usually begins in childhood and builds up throughout life – underpinning the importance of cross-cutting legislative and regulatory measures.

    Overweight and obese children are likely to stay obese into adulthood and more likely to develop noncommunicable diseases at a younger age. Overweight and obesity, as well as their related diseases, are largely preventable and reversible.

    The prevention of childhood obesity therefore needs to be a high priority. For all countries, the cost of inaction significantly outweighs the cost of taking action against noncommunicable diseases.

    Public consultation is open until 31st March 2014. Interested people will have to submit a declaration of interest through the WHO website and submit their comments, which will be thoroughly analysed by the WHO Secretariat.

     

    Dr Couillard is an international health columnist that works in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s goals of disease prevention and control. Views do not necessarily reflect endorsement.

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  • Sierra Leone: From ashes of war to seed of peace

    Sierra Leone: From ashes of war to seed of peace

    What was once the biggest United Nations peacekeeping operation in the world winds down this month, and the most extraordinary part of this historic development is that international troops are not the only ones departing the country – nationals from the once war-ravaged nation are donning blue helmets as they deploy to serve with the UN in other troubled parts of the world.

    Sierra Leone used to be synonymous with brutality. The savage, decade-long war there was marked by appalling atrocities against civilians.

    Shocked into action, the world responded by backing a series of United Nations peacekeeping and peace operations. In the process, the international community paved the way for breakthroughs that will resonate far beyond Sierra Leone for years to come.

    We must give full credit where it is due: the peace I witnessed at the closing ceremony in Freetown this month is first and foremost an accomplishment of the Sierra Leonean people, who showed tremendous resolve to heal and rebuild. The UN is proud to have supported them – and we thank them for proving our value.

    Sierra Leone saw many UN “firsts”, hosting the UN’s first multi-dimensional peacekeeping operation with political, security, humanitarian and national recovery mandates. The UN Peacebuilding Commission made it’s first-ever visit to Sierra Leone. Our final mission there was led by the first senior UN official heading a unified political and development presence.

    The United Nations was proud to help set up the Special Court for Sierra Leone – making it the first country in Africa to establish, with UN participation, a tribunal on its own territory to address the most serious international crimes.

    When the Special Court closed last year, it was the first of the UN and UN-backed tribunals to successfully complete its mandate. The Special Court’s sentencing of former Liberian President Charles Taylor was the first conviction of a former Head of State since Nuremberg – sending a stern warning that even top leaders must pay for their crimes. Other trials saw first-ever convictions for attacks against UN peacekeepers, forced marriage as a crime against humanity, and the use of child soldiers.

    These breakthrough accomplishments added to a solid record of achievements. UN blue helmets disarmed more than 75,000 ex-fighters, including hundreds of child soldiers, and destroyed more than 42,000 weapons and 1.2 million rounds of ammunition. The UN assisted more than half a million Sierra Leonean refugees and internally displaced persons to return home and supported training for thousands of local police. The UN helped the Government to combat illicit diamond mining that fuelled the conflict, and to establish control over the affected areas. With the UN’s help, Sierra Leone’s citizens voted in successive free and fair elections for the first time in their history.

    The UN Integrated Peace building Office helped Sierra Leone to consolidate progress, addressing tensions that could have caused a relapse into conflict while strengthening institutions and promoting human rights. It helped the Government to bolster the political process, emphasizing dialogue and tolerance, and further strengthened the national police, even supporting the establishment of the first Transnational Organized Crime Unit in West Africa.

    Our final mission is departing Sierra Leone but a United Nations country team will remain until long-term development takes root, supporting good governance, quality education, health services and other essential conditions for progress.

    Other countries now mired in fighting, divided by hatred and wounded by atrocities, can draw hope from Sierra Leone. Its resilient people have given peacekeeping their greatest possible vote of confidence by sending troops to serve where the UN flag flies today. They understand that national goodwill backed by international support can enable even the most devastated areas to enjoy lasting peace.

     

    Ban Ki-moon is the Secretary-General of the United Nations

     

  • Why women should work closer to their homes

    Why women should work closer to their homes

    A truly equal world would be one where women ran half our countries and companies and men ran half our homes,” writes Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg in her book, Lean In.

    Latest research by Regus, the flexible workspace provider, confirms that mind-sets are rapidly changing as 80 per cent of African firms believe companies that will not employ women returning from maternity leave are missing out.

    Far from returning with an obsolete address book and a rusty memory, working mums bring valuable skills and expertise; say 68 per cent of African businesses. These are the key findings of the latest research by Regus that canvassed the opinions of more than 19,000 business owners and senior managers in 98 countries.

    Respondents reported that flexible hours, working closer to home and the option to video conference instead of travelling at least some of the time are among the top strategies to get more mothers back into the workforce.

    Other interesting figures show that:

    • 63% of African respondents think more women are demanding to work remotely when they return to the workforce
    • 40% say working closer to home is a key incentive
    • 15% report that the option to video conference instead of travelling would help returning mothers

    Commenting on the results, Joanne Bushell, VP Africa at Regus says: “Reports highlight that the non-participation of women in the economy is costing as much as 27% per capita GDP in some countries. When combined with the fact that companies with a higher percentage of women on the board are more profitable, it is clear that businesses need to adapt protocols to better suit working mothers.

    “When women return to work after maternity leave, they often find that juggling professional and personal duties can be very demanding, if not impossible. It is not surprising, therefore, that more and more mums seek flexibility. Whether that’s through flexi-time, the opportunity to work closer to home at least some of the time, or the option to choose video conferencing over business travel, these incentives are increasingly key to encouraging more women back into employment and driving the workplace into the future.”

    Regus customer, Zandra Persson, a web based masters student in Kigali says: “For businesswomen that are on the move and who want to cut expenses this is an attractive concept. I have a small son at home and need to work somewhere quieter and not too expensive so the business lounge in Kigali is great.”