2011: A Review

     Well, it's not likely to be a year anyone will forget. All around the world events, whether natural or man-made have affected the lives of millions. In fact, billions is probably more accurate as in 2011 the world population hit 7,000,000,000 that's BILLION.

       Let's go back to the beginning shall we. 2011 started with a bomb attack on 2 churches in Alexandria during New Year services, shocking Egyptians and laying the groundwork for what was to begin a mere 24 days later. The desperate actions of a single man in a small city in Tunisia became the spark that was needed to make millions in the Arab world shake off decades of apathy and stand up to their leaders. How this will all pan out is yet to be seen, but I'm so glad that I'm here to see it instead of reading about it in a history book. For better or worse I can tell my children and grandchildren (presuming I ever have any) all about it. 

      The economic crisis focused on Europe and spread. The Occupy movement started with Occupy Wall Street and expanded to include cities and economic landmarks around the world.

       The UK in general and London in particular made international headlines twice in 2011, the first time in April for the Royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton (now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and then again in August because of the riots which swept from London to include several major UK cities. The riots surprised and horrified some, while others seemed surprised that they hadn't happened before. Either way, everyone agreed that the grief of one man certainly helped bring them to an end. Tariq Jahan lost his son Haroon during the riots in Birmingham, Haroon and two others (brothers) were killed in a hit and run in what appeared to be an anti-Muslim crime by members of an Afro-Caribbean gang. Jahan had tried desperately to revive his son himself. This is what he had to say; "I lost my son. Blacks, Asians, Whites - we all live in the same community. Why do we have to kill one another? Why are we doing this? Step forward if you want to lose your sons. Otherwise, calm down and go home - please."

   Osama Bin Laden was killed a decade after the 9/11 attacks. US forces pulled out of Iraq.

    Natural disasters included earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan. The Japanese earthquake in March was followed by a devastating tsunami. The most dangerous and worrying effect of which was the meltdown it caused at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The area is still contaminated and people have yet to be allowed to return after they were evacuated.

    There were floods in Asia and droughts in Africa. Again.

     2011 started with several dictators in place: Ben Ali (Tunisia), Mubarak (Egypt), Gaddafi (Libya), Saleh (Yemen), Kim Jung Il (N.Korea) and Mugabe (Zimbabwe). With 2 days till 2012, Mugabe is the only one left in power.

     On a personal note, I finished my Masters degree in education (woohoo me!) and started teaching full time and I voted in my first ever elections. My love life has remained uneventful, which considering everything that's been going on, is a relief. There was no time for romance during a revolution!

      What does 2012 have in store for us? The Olympics in London, Presidential elections in Egypt and the USA and if the Mayans are to be believed; the end of the world. Whatever's coming, it will be memorable!

Ramadan and The Horn of Africa.

    Today marks the first day of Ramadan, the holiest month of the Islamic calender and celebrated by Muslims the world over. Muslims abstain from food and drink (as well as things like smoking) from dawn till dusk everyday during this lunar month. The purpose of the month-long fast is to make people count their blessings and  empathize with those less fortunate by experiencing-if only for a few hours- how they feel everyday without food and water.

     This year, perhaps more than others, this should resound with us more. There is-as you no doubt know- a famine in the horn of Africa. Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia are suffering through a drought which has destroyed crops and wiped out entire herds of animals that people rely on for their livelihood and as a source of food and as such has killed thousands so far and will doubtless claim thousands more before the worst is over. Some Somalis have walked for days -some up to a month- in a bid to leave their war-torn country where aid agencies can not operate and reach the refugee camps in neighbouring Kenya. Many don't make it.

    We're without food and water for a few hours, safe in the knowledge that once the sun goes down we can eat and drink as much as we like and that it's only for a certain number of days. They don't know if they'll ever get a meal again.

      So please, whether you're fasting or not please, please take the time to click on this link Donate to Oxfam and give anything you can to help. You could actually help save a life and you can do it without leaving your house.