Sharla Musabih – United Arab Emirates

Linked with the City of Hope, and with Women living under Muslim laws.

She is an American married to a UAE national, and her fight has focused on an altogether darker and more hidden aspect of UAE society: domestic abuse.

She says: « My friends and I discovered that domestic violence was stepping up and so I started taking women into my home … We have rape victims. We have rape victims who are pregnant. And sometimes after the pregnancy, we have had to do DNA tests to prove the identity of the child’s father » … « The development of the UAE is really amazing. But what I saw happening (at the beginning) was the development of a lot of social problems, which, as a result of the sudden influx of over 100 different nationalities, were being overlooked ».

The City of Hope – an organization founded in 2001 by Sharla and two other women, Lena Mustapha and Margaret Greeney – has served as a refuge for hundreds of abused women and children. Its establishment, says Sharla, was in direct response to a growing need that has been neglected during the UAE’s stunning infrastructural and cultural transformation … The police and other social agencies, says Sharla, found it hard to cope with the sudden rush of an incoming multinational population. Their systems – designed with the customs of the UAE in mind – began to crack. (full text).

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Sharla Musabih – United Arab Emirates

She works for the City of Hope.

… for a Muslim cleric who sees the shelter going against the conservative culture of the society, Musabih is a « suspect foreigner who is inciting women against their husbands. » « There are courts and law in this country. A woman being beaten by her husband can file a lawsuit and the judge would divorce her, » Iraqi Sheikh Ahmad al-Qubaisi said. The U.A.E.-based cleric said people are very wary of the role of the shelter, claiming that some see it as a stop to traffic women into prostitution.

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Hadizatou Issa Iyayi – Niger

Linked with Alleviating Poverty in Nigeria.

She is one of the 1000 women proposed for the Nobel Peace Price 2005.

She is also one of the political heroes as Human rights defender.

She says: « A widow is not needy just because she holds a special place in society. She also has her part to play in her country’s economic development ».

Read: WILDAF-Newsletter.

Read: disarming our mindset.

Read: Commission Européenne, rapport final in french: le Niger (by scrolling down);

Read: Post-conflict Reconstruction in Africa: A Gender Perspective, Document distributed by: The African Centre for Gender & Development, A Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

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Hadizatou Issa Iyayi – Niger

She works for the Association of Widows and Victims of the Rebellion of Niger AWVRN (has no own website, but is mentionned on others, see below under ‘links’).

Born in Diffa in 1957, Hadizatou Issa Iyayi is known in her country for her courage and her consistency in fighting against injustice and the relegation of women to second place in Niger. Supporters of the AWVRN lost people dear to them – husbands, parents and others during the internal conflicts provoked by the Touareg rebels. This situation occurred amid poverty and total confusion. At the end of rebellion, these women were afraid and forgotten by everyone, including Nigerian authorities.

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Judge C. G. Weeramantry – Sri Lanka

Linked with Weeramantry International Centre For Peace Education and Research, with Arms Control Today, and with Arms Control Association.

He says: ”The Universal Declaration (of Human Rights) is only a starting point and its principles have kept developing over the years. International declarations like the International Covenants have developed its principles further but it is now for domestic legal systems to translate them into actual practice till they become ingrained in the legal system of each country. They must also be ingrained in the consciousness of the people and in the consciousness of the legal profession ». (full text).

Listen to his 3 minutes video on YouTube.

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Judge C. G. Weeramantry – Sri Lanka

Links to Judge Weeramantry’s Decisions While he was a Member of the International Court of Justice.

He says also: Excerpt:  » … When the Universal Declaration (of Human Rights) was being drafted, there was a school of thought to the effect that it would be impossible for the Committee that was working on it, chaired by Mrs. Roosevelt, to achieve agreement on what they were striving to achieve – namely a declaration across the cultures on certain fundamentals that all traditions and cultures would accept. All the pundits of the time said that this would end in failure because it was just impossible to achieve such consensus having regard to the differences between cultures and traditions. However, Mrs. Roosevelt and her committee pressed ahead with commendable zeal.

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Jean Plantureux, called PLANTU – France

Jean Plantureux, who goes by the professional name Plantu, is a cartoonist specializing in political satire. His work has frequently appeared in the French newspaper Le Monde since 1972.

He says: “This trip to the U.S. will give me the opportunity to meet American cartoonists and learn how they work. Wherever I go, I have a habit of probing my colleagues in order to better understand how much room for expression and creativity their respective countries allow them. In the U.S., I will try to figure out the line that cannot be crossed”. (full text).

Read in french /lire en français les 756 pdf-pages (if you are courageous /si vous etes courageux), de: ‘La Signification Politique des Dessins de PLANTU‘, (1972-2000).

Read: Profile of Plantu, French Cartoonist.

Read: Plantu and cartoonists for peace in the Middle East.

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Jean Plantureux, called PLANTU – France

For most readers of the French newspaper Le Monde, Plantu is an institution. His cartoons hit the front page of the paper almost daily and they usually set the tone for the news of the day. In that respect, he is also an exception. In the French news media, images have become overwhelming and cartoons are often, if not always, relegated to the editorial pages … (full text Febr. 19, 2007).

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Cyd Ho Sau-lan – Hong Kong, China

Linked with Cyd Ho Sau-lan’s letter to Hong-Kong, and with the Centre for Comparative and Public Law.

Cyd Ho Sau Lan, born 1954, was a full-time legislative councillor of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council LegCo, elected from the geographical constituency of New Territories East from 1998 to 2000 and Hong Kong Island from 2000 to 2004. She is a founding member of The Frontier, a local pro-democracy political group. She is well-known for promoting universal suffrage, rule of law, human rights, and equal opportunity, as well as advancement in the interests of women, homosexuals and other minority groups. (full text).

She says: « It’s a long way to democracy. More hurdles of interpretation might be ahead of us. The trio from the NPC surprised us with meeting the democrats, gentle words and crack of joke. However, political gestures, no matter how sophisticated to sweeten, cannot heal the wound after damage is done. The skillful lobbying is meaningful only before the interpretation when amendment to or withdrawal of the resolution is possible with interactive dialogue. The hard fact left behind the trio is, the interpretation lifted the threshold to democratization. The positive change comes only in form but unfortunately not in substance ». (full text).

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Cyd Ho Sau-lan – Hong Kong, China

She works as chairperson for the Human Rights Monitor in Hong Kong and she is the co-convener of the Project Civil Referendum.

Listen to her speach on YouTube.
Listen to her audio or/and video on South China Morning Post.

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Nina Simone / Eunice Kathleen Waymon – USA (1933 – 2003)

The Diva, born February 21, 1933 in Tryon (North Carolina/USA) – † April 21, 2003 in Carry-le-Rouet, France).who was as well an Honorary Doctor in Music and Humanities, has an unrivalled legendary status as one of the very last ‘griots ». She is and will forever be the ultimate songstress and storyteller of our times.

Listen to many of her songs on YouTube of 1962, as for example:

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Nina Simone / Eunice Kathleen Waymon (02-21.33 – 04-21-03)

Read on BBC: Jazz legend Simone dies.

Bio, by Roger Nupie, President « International Dr. Nina Simone Fan Club« : Excerpts: … Eunice Waymon was born in Tryon, North Carolina as the sixth of seven children in a poor family. The child prodigy played piano at the age of four. With the help of her music teacher, who set up the « Eunice Waymon Fund », she could continue her general and musical education. She studied at the Julliard School of Music in New York. To support her family financially, she started working as an accompanist. In the summer of 1954 she took a job in an Irish bar in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The bar owner told her she had to sing as well. Without having time to realize what was happening, Eunice Waymon, who was trained to become a classical pianist, stepped into show business. She changed her name into Nina (« little one ») Simone (« from the French actress Simone Signoret ») …

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Marilyn Waring – New Zealand

Linked with DEV NET – AOTEAROA New Zealand.

She is one of the 1000 women proposed for the Nobel Peace Price 2005.

Upcoming LecturesMarilyn Waring: ‘Money, Gender and Equity’, Wednesday, April 25, 2007, 07:30 PM – Marilyn Waring will change your perceptions of justice, economics and the worth of your own work forever. David Suzuki has said that she penetrates to the heart of the global, ecological and social crisis that afflicts the world … Lecture is held at 7:30pm in the First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park Ave., Portland. Doors open at 6:30pm. (full text).

Marilyn challenges the assumption that international business systems are adequately meeting the needs of both local and global communities. Using plain language laced with ironic humour, she makes it clear that classic economics work to benefit one particular group, while the rest of us – the vast majority – pay the price … Marilyn was one of 40 « visionaries » chosen by the BBC World Service from throughout the English-speaking world for their series of hour-long millennium interviews, and one of the 1000 Women nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. She has worked as a multi lateral development consultant in Asia, Africa and the South Pacific, and conducted the Ministerial Review of NZAID in 2005. (full text).

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Marilyn Waring – New Zealand

She works for the Massey University.

She says: « One of the joys of getting older is being able to see the victories: nuclear-free New Zealand, the collapse of the Berlin wall, Mandela, hopefully soon a Palestinian nation state ».

She says also: « What keeps me going and gives me strength? The amazing stories every day of people defying the odds. I can get a buzz out of thousands of people in the Ukraine protesting on the streets in the middle of winter, people picketing Mac Donalds, when Wangaari wins the Nobel Prize or when one US Congress woman refuses to go to war against Iraq. At the same time I can go to staggering pieces of theatre like David Hare’s Via Dolorosa; I have never forgotten Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party. You just feed off all of that, just the extraordinary creative network of defiance ».

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Zakari Tata Askira – Nigeria

Linked with European banks and Africa’s wealth, with Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons FRCS, and with LIMITING DOCTORS AND LAWYERS – WRONG ANSWER.

He is a doctor, MD, but also thinks and writes about poverty, behavior of banks, education and development for Africa.

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Sorry, I can not find any photo of Zakari Tata Askira, Nigeria in the internet, but some good texts.

He writes: ”The gap between the poor and rich countries of the world today is extreme. Living standards in Africa can greatly be increased if European Banks stop facilitating African corruption. Africans should realize that they have only themselves to blame for underdevelopment. We cannot look to Europe to develop us, and the moral obligation for African development is ours. We must individually face up to our responsibilities. An underdeveloped Africa means persistent poverty and dependency with attendant lack of social, economic and physical security. The battles for independence have become ancient battle cries with no substance as we still live in dependency. Our wealth is sitting in European banks for free while our continent languishes » … (Found this article on 3 other websites: First on News from Africa, 15 September 2006, by Zakari Tata Askira -Source: Global Afrikan Congress /Homepage-, and slightly different on Nigeria World, July 2006, also by Zakari Tata Askira, on AfricaFiles, but also an excerpt on our Economy and Society-Blog).

Read: MINERAL WEALTH, VENEZUELA and THE HONDA CIVIC, LESSONS FOR NIGERIA, March 7, 2003 – one;

Read: MINERAL WEALTH, VENEZUELA AND THE HONDA CIVIC, LESSONS FOR NIGERIA, March 7, 2003 – two;

Read: MINERAL WEALTH, VENEZUELA, AND THE HONDA CIVIC, LESSONS FOR NIGERIA, October 15, 2003 – three;

Read: AREWA’S LOSS, by Zakari T Askira – January 10, 2007.

He writes: … Northern Nigeria has always lagged behind in western style education that is relevant in today’s world. The only way that the North can develop is for Northerners to look beyond selfish interests and join its great minds together for purposes of growth. The other regions of Nigeria that were more advanced educationally at time of independence today have developed their banking and finance structures. The North would do well to learn from them as to how they developed these structures even when they did not wield presidential power. The North has enough wealth and manpower to develop into a World class economy. We are blessed with a simple common language and a culture that does not split us into small clan groups. We are more unified as a people than most but for reasons best known to us we have been unable to use this great asset for growth. What we need today is for Northerners to start a non political dialogue with a view to developing the North. There should be a group that can give advice on rationalizing the resources that we have. We have to stop duplicating structures in the various Northern states that only serve to dilute our limited Human Capital. Advice should be obtained from professionals in other parts of the country where significant strides have been achieved. A poorly developed Northern Nigeria is not good for Nigeria. As we strive to recapture Sardauna’s essence, there has to be a meeting of minds that is selfless. The creation of states has only further served to stagnate Northern development for there is really no difference in the aspirations of a man from Sokoto versus one from Bauchi. We should take an honest assessment of the situation. There should be no place for blame or name calling. The goal should be progress. Every single Northerner with ability should take responsibility for our current state of affairs. We cannot blame the leaders for they are a reflection of us. The time is ripe to forget and rebuild.There should be no competition with other parts of the country. Rather, the goal should be mutual coexistence and sharing of developmental resources. If National development is the goal, we cannot fail. (full text).

mail.

TERRAVIVA.

Paul Beersmans – Belgium

Linked with Association for Solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir BASJAK, with JAMMU AND KASHMIR, A SMOULDERING CONFLICT, and with again Kashmir. Added later: linked also with Conclusions, with BASJAK’s report on Jammu and Kashmir, and with Meetings.

He says: (Excerpt):  » … Our Association urges the Governments of India and Pakistan to respect conscientiously the mutual commitments and to continue bilateral and meaningful negotiations over Jammu and Kashmir. India and Pakistan will not achieve real security until they find a way to resolve their tensions. We appeal to all parties concerned, including the Kashmir leadership, to respond to the desire of the common man for peace and a chance to earn his livelihood to restart his life. Responsibility must take the place for jingoism. The most compelling need of the hour is the protection of life in the homes and on the streets of Kashmir. The Kashmiris have the right to enjoy all their Human Rights, including economic, social and cultural rights …  » (full text: statement at Commission on Human Rights, 57th SESSION, GENEVA, 25 JULY – 12 AUGUST 2005).

Remark also the New Updated Photo Gallery, scroll down and click on one of the many links.

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Paul Beersmans – Belgium

He works with the Belgian Association for Solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir BASJAK.

Bio:

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Irina Mutsuovna Khakamada (Hakamada) – Russian Federation

She is one of the 1000 women proposed for the Nobel Peace Price 2005.

She says: « My idea is to transform Russia into a new country of freedom and social justice, in which human life is the primary concern and the supreme value ».

Irina Mutsuovna Hakamada (Ири́на Муцу́овна Хакама́да) (born April 13, 1955) is a Russian politician who ran in the Russian presidential election, 2004. Irina Hakamada was an elected representative in Russian Duma from 1993 to 2003. She is commonly regarded as a democratic politician who is in a moderate opposition to the Russian government. (full text).

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Irina Mutsuovna Khakamada (Hakamada) – Russian Federation

She works for Nash Vybor (in russian), a new political movement (english text).

She says also: « The tragedy of the Chechen people, and of the Russian people as a whole, results from the fact that after the military operation in Chechnya [during the second campaign], a profoundly erroneous path of peace settlement was chosen. The following mistakes were made:

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