Are they really going to bomb Syria?

WAR IS PEACE 

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

                                                        IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Obama has turned out to be a most cunning wolf in sheep's clothing! 

The man sang songs of hope and change and, swept in to office with his dignified criticism of Bush, the war in Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, greed and corruption. I used to meet Americans who said they were finally proud to be Americans abroad. After the fact, I relegated him to a pretty speech boy since nothing much changed. But after Snowden and Manning, after continued torture at Guantanamo, after increased drone attacks in Pakistan, and now with his administration's thinly veiled threats of war, what do we make of Obama now?

Is my generation going to witness yet another war of aggression by the so-called civilised West justifying war by the most blatant propaganda? Is my generation doomed to feelings of helplessness and rage?

Back in Monrovia

We are back in Monrovia after a refreshing and exciting two-week holiday in Sengal and The Gambia!

Left from Banjul Airport yesterday morning at 8 AM and, made 2 stops at Dakar and Freetown before landing at RIA at 1 PM. The stops were on schedule and, all in all, it was a pleasant flight which we mostly slept through. I hope Gambia Bird continues to provide reliable service!

These pictures are of the Banjul Airport facade at 6 AM. As far as airport entrances go, this one is quite striking! Doesn't it look like a manta ray with a lotus flower?

Stay tuned for some posts about the highlights of our trip.

A beautiful sunset always has to be captured

A beautiful sunset always has to be captured. 

Enjoying my first few days in The Gambia with my dear friend  Celeste whom I am reunited with after five years. 

Back at my old high school in Dakar

Enjoying a rainy afternoon in Dakar

Landed in Dakar

We landed in Dakar last night, very much on time, with Gambia Bird, a brand new airlines with excellent service and tasty snacks! We were greeted by a dreamy, cloudy landscape.

View of Broad Street

The rainy season has started in earnest! This is a view of Broad Street, close to our bank, First Afriland, where we went today to get some holiday money! 

A quote from Stephen Ellis

"The fact that the corruption of African governments became fully internationalised at the same time as Africa was decolonising was more than a coincidence, as the two processes were intimately related. The biggest empire the world has ever seen, belonging to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, even as it was disappearing from the political map was able to perpetuate its existence in the financial world, notably by establishing the City of London as an offshore banking centre and inventing the Eurodollar market. City bankers and lawyers discovered the legal possibilities offered by Crown dependencies with archaic jurisdictions, such as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, and by colonies such as the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong. US business interests were already making similar use of the Republic of Liberia, whose sovereign status could be used to avoid various laws and regulations notably through the flag of convenience system for shipping, but also in the field of finance. "

Stephen Ellis, Season of Rains, Africa in the World, p. 52

Stairwell at LU

We were walking down the stairs after a meeting at the Business School at the University of Liberia. I paused to take this photograph since the light filtering through the ornate pattern in the wall made me feel so light. 

I am taking a lot of photographs with my HTC phone these days and, I love how they turn out. 

During the meeting, I had to throw a stapler at Haresh, but that is another story, for another day!

Chucky lives on

This is my favourite business sign board in Monrovia. I've been seeing it and passing by it for years now, chuckling to myself about how counter intuitive it is. As a business, you want to be seen as a friendly and safe place. You want your customers to come in, not be dodging Chucky! 

This is what an advert for Chuck Business Center should say: "A little psychotic doll will follow you around while you shop for videos, DVDs, electronics, cell phones, sports wear, and foot wear....trying to kill you. Happy shopping!"

Anyone want to buy baby crocs?

Liberia Expats Google Group is a noticeboard for folks looking to exchange information, sell/buy stuff, ask interesting questions and, lecture each other. It is a highly entertaining site because people get quite worked up and because you get weird questions like where can I buy sugar. 

This latest baby croc post is a classic and, am re-posting it here. My favourite part is: "Together I'll let then go for $300, $275 last."

Anyone interested in two baby male female crocodiles. Together I'll let then go for $300, $275 last. Attached are pictures if u want to see them. Great if your starting a wild animal project or breeding farm. Feel free to respond or contact the number below...

N'Jarama Matches

These guys really do not know how to make matches. You try to light about 10 before you strike lucky (pun intended!). 

A sad, sad day

Dear friends,

It is with a heavy and mournful heart that I inform you that Naomi is no more. She breathed her last on Friday, 2 August. I have written a small piece on our company blog "Sad Day." Please read it if you have a minute. 

I feel the typical feelings of anger, anguish, despair and helplessness in the face of death but these are exacerbated even more knowing the suffering this young lady went through. Moreover, because she did not have adequate financial resources herself, she was at the mercy of well wishers to help her. And even further, she had to rely on very poor medical care throughout her ordeal when she was in Liberia. 

Naomi's treatment in India gave her a momentary lapse but once she was back, the tumour spread again. We at NATC simply did not have the funds required to send her abroad again for the surgery she needed which might or might not have saved her life since the tumour was at an advanced stage when we found out she was ill to begin with. 

We can seek a little solace in the fact that with your help we briefly extended her life. We seek a little solace in the thought that her suffering has come to an end. May her soul rest in peace. 

If we open our eyes,  death, suffering, poverty and disease are around us. I guess one has to learn how to live with life and death and, accept these as natural cycles. But, is unnecessary suffering also a permanent condition? 

As Haresh always says, may we always have the desire and means to help those less fortunate and less healthy than us. 

Best regards,

Farzana