Homeless and the City

A Note:
This has been borrowed from   http://mrkevork.blogspot.com/
Thank you

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The Homeless in our Affluent Cities..

Homeless in LA

It is a sad situation...But everyday, walking through the streets of large metropolises...one will encounter homeless people sleeping on the street and living on the sidewalks...

Whenever I was in Los Angeles  I told myself that here the weather is quite permissive for the homeless compared to the freezing sidewalks of Toronto or New York or Paris and London...

I always wonder...How come these affluent cities have homeless that they cannot care...?

• I had heard that restaurants owners and their wealthy patrons have complaint about these eye sores in New York  and the rest of the bigger and wealthy cities...
• I have heard that some homeless wait for the restaurants to be closed at night so as they will scavenge their garbage - left over...
• I realize that it is not a good sight ... But none the less it exists and that is a stab in our collective consciousness...
• I realize that it is not healthy...In fact it is dirty and germs abide near the sidewalks...where the homeless are...
• But these homeless people are hungry, need a bath, clean cloths and above all need their own living space...Not the hostels and shelters so as they will be supervised and pushed around ... These are older people, they are mature enough to look after themselves ...They do not need policing around ... They need our compassion and understanding.

Of course we want to help ... Of course we want to do something about it ... and election after farcical election we talk about this and similar issues... and nothing is done... and now the city of London in England ... where the princes and princesses; kings and queens; sirs and ladies live, has come up with the novel idea....

Metal studs installed in London to deter rough sleepers...and read the news below...

9 June 2014 Last updated at 11:33 BST

Metal studs have been installed to deter homeless people from sleeping outside a block of flats in Southwark in London.

Homeless charities have condemned the move. Southwark Council has said it will investigate any health and safety concerns.

.....and look at the shiny studs

Metal studs on the side walks.... in order to deter the homeless...what a novel idea....!

....Take another look at it....

...and if you do not believe....take a closer look...They are shiny steel and they poke and pierce...

They even polled the people and look at the result....32% and 36% want them to stay... 

That is huge number...!

Another homeless...They have the brain and they can look after themselves...Only they need our help and compassion 

...And the Church blesses the homeless...

Should not the Church do more than just blessing...? Should not the opulence of Vatican and all the Churches be open to the people...?

I have checked and I know that Mosques, synagogues, temples, churches...all lock their doors after the Church Services...VERY SIMILAR TO MALLS AN BOUTIQUES....!

What are they afraid of...? THE PEOPLE...?

I am puzzled...and I am unable to comprehend the logic and reasoning of these people in the service of God...

Suggestion

Our students in the metropolises are bored, they say, during the weekends and Summer vacations...They do not have much to do...and they get drunk and rowdy and "hang around" and even kill each other and experiment with drugs and guns...

Boredom and ennui  devastate the students and society too...

I suggest that the government legislates and the students are organized in squads and they perform social work...

• Clean the streets and the brooks and the parks...
• Clean and hose the sidewalks where the homeless and other denizens have left refuse...garbage...
• Look after the shelters and make them more inviting...
• Look after the welfare of the schools and universities...
• Be active...and you will be happier...and get out of your boredom help others...

We should not act like our governments...and place our heads in the sand...We as society CAN DO much better...

What a farcical sight...Election after impotent election...They PROMISE and then they RENEGE ...

Can we do more...? Of course we can...

Check the wonders below...

In Dead Sea...These structure will collect the evaporating water and reduce the evaporation...

These are structures that have hydrogen producing algae in them and make the structures float and also purify the waters and air...

If we can come up with new wonders like these...We definitely can look after the less fortunate...ONLY WE LACK THE INSIGHT AND WILL...

You can change all these...You should change all these...for the better...

...and God and Allah and Buddha and all the prophets and all the saints have given you the right and the brain to come up with solutions... 

You can and you should...DO IT...CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER...and GOD BLESS YOU...

Football - The Beautiful Game

Football - The Beautiful Game

       

I received the following, from Kamil - a young friend, as a thoughtful initiation of a debate about the staging of the World Cup in Brazil...

Kamil is an aspiring teacher and I suggested to him that as such, he should be concerned about social and world issues. After all, teaching is not dumping facts into the empty bags, but rather teaching kids how to think and provide them the ability to put thoughts together and be independent thinkers...

There are issues surrounding the World Cup...

1. There are corruption allegations against FIFA rulers...

2. The Brazilian government spent 11-12 billion dollars to prepare for the World Cup, but the poor in Brazil are disgusted for this extravagant reception while they have no abode and their children are hungry...

3. Of course there is the environment and the Amazon rainforests and their destruction...

Read below and applaud the wonderful insight of my young friend and the aspiring teacher....

***

This is what Kamil sent...

With so many problems with infrastructure and economy in Brazil, was it the right decision to invite the world over and host the World Cup?

On the eve of the first game of the world cup 2014 hosted by Brazil, many still wonder if the proceedings will go “smoothly”. If we take a look back to Euro 2012 where Russian and Polish hooligans fought in the streets of Warsaw during a rally we can notice that all the planning and preparation are not enough to prevent outbreaks of emotions and opinions. In this case Russian fans were marching in the streets of Warsaw for a Russian Holiday when the fighting broke out. I am not sure who provoked who but from my point of view, Polish soccer hooligans probably felt disrespected by the Russian fans marching on their streets and started attacking them.

With the people in Brazil constantly marching, striking and sometimes rioting against the government or in order to influence the government to help fix the various problems with housing, health care, education and unemployment it is easy to expect that something will happen during the World Cup as happened in Poland for Euro 2012.

The government in Brazil spent large amounts of money (somewhere around 11 BILLION $ US) in order to make a show for the World to enjoy. WHY? With that sort of money the government could have invested in their country so that it can provide for its people and not the world… Brazil is known for football, they have plenty of stadiums where the games could have been played. Why did they need to construct new stadiums, shiny stadiums when there are so many families living in shacks, favelas or on the streets?

“Following a year of protests over the roughly 11 billion US $ ... Brazil is spending to host the World Cup, Rousseff (the president of Brazil) said in a televised address on Tuesday that investments in stadiums, airport terminals and other infrastructure would provide long-term benefits for the country.”


REALLY? I bet that if they asked the people they would tell the government to help the unemployment, healthcare and housing instead of the road or the airport… Why are these politicians so obsessed with bending the truth and showing the World that all is well in Brazil when it is actually not? The middle class is practically non existent, you’re either rich or your poor and there are very few in between. It would make sense to provide their own citizens with the help they need but instead the politicians in Brazil are putting on a very expensive show for the world…

As a diehard football fan I will watch the World Cup for the football but in the back of my mind I will continue to think about when something is going to happen whether it may be a protest, a riot or worse. I leave you with how people in the Brazil feel about the world cup, and keep in mind that the people we will watch in stadiums will be tourists staying in nice hotels supporting their own countries, meanwhile the Brazilian supporters will cheer their hearts out for their players and their team but as soon as the games are over they will go back to making themselves heard about the situation they find themselves in.

***

Thank you Kamil,
That is a good introduction to World issues...
As I posted the insights of another young friend few days ago...I am indeed happy that the blog is bringing together few of us who aspire for the better and for change...I am sure many are reading and musing new ways of doing things...I wish they will join our debate...and write for the blog...
As Kamil stated...I love the GAME too...I cannot wait for the opening game...It will be a good game and I think Brazil and Croatia will make football win... Both are great teams with different styles...But I am sure we are going to be treated to a spectacular game...Lots of talent and lots of team work...
Let us celebrate the beauty in the "beautiful game"... 
No violence and no force...no slashing or jumping over each other in a human pile...no punching...no kicking...just celebrating human talent....

Two of the great...Messi an Ronaldo...

Celebrate the human spirit and enjoy human achievement...The beautiful game belongs to all of us... ENJOY!

But you do not have to do "funny" and outrageous things to enjoy....to the ball head below....

Afghanistan and Pakistan - After the West vacates the premises

Afghanistan and Pakistan

Now that the West has decided to leave the country...

What next...?

Malala Yousafzai was born on July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Pakistan. As a child, she became an advocate for girls' education, which resulted in the Taliban issuing a death threat against her. On October 9, 2012, a gunman shot Malala when she was traveling home from school. She survived, and has continued to speak out on the importance of education. She was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2013, and again in 2014.

***

Afghan girls walk home from school...Despite progress in recent tears, girls face threats from the Taliban and other Islamist extremists and at times from their families too.

  In Afghanistan, girls are required by law to go to school. However, many of them never do.Death threats, acid attacks and bombings by Taliban militants and other extremists lead many parents who support female education to keep their daughters at home.Sometimes, it's the families themselves who stand in the way.                          School officials in conservative communities say relatives are often more interested in marrying off their daughters or sisters than in helping them get an education.        

•  When girls are married families are paid and also "one less mouth to feed" for the family...
• Because of money girls are married when they are 12-14...
• Because of money education is luxury..

Attackers in Afghanistan have sprayed acid in the faces of at least 15 girls near a school in Kandahar, police say.

Soraya Paksat of Voice of Afghan Women    holds a knife that was confiscated from a woman who came to visit a young relative in one of the  group's shelters. The woman intended to kill the girl for fleeing an abusive father.

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Brief Biography of Aryana Sayeed

• Born in Afghanistan
• At Age of 8 leaves Afghanistan for Switzerland
• Joins Church choir at age 12 and develops her passion for singing
• Studies "travel and business management" due to financial pressures and pressure from family
• Settles in the UK,with her family,  7 years ago and starts all over to pursue her passion and singing ambition
• She had several successful tours and visited Toronto too 
• She sings about love and all the rest, but also about women and the oppression of mothers and daughters in Afghan culture  

                             

Aryana Sayeed

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   Pictures Are Worth Thousands...of Words...

• Check the before and after...and derive your own conclusion...
• I myself am surprised and find the photos of "Before-After" depressing...
• How we define "progress"...is amazing and varies...
• Granted that different cultures define progress differently... but these photos are mind boggling...
• Now that the West is leaving...Now that the U.S. will depart...What NEXT...? 

In 1978...Before the West went to Afghanistan to Introduce democracy...

In 2013 - After the West introduced "democracy"...

In 1982 - Before the West went to Afghanistan to "help"...

In 2012 - After the West "Helped"...

In 1981 - Before the West decided to "Help"...

In 2001 - After the West "helped"...

In 1955 - Before the West

In 2002 - After the West...

In 1962 - Before

In 2001 - After

In 2010 - After the West Helped... 

First Afghans were living by themselves in their own way...

Then there came the Soviets...

The West was not happy...

They armed the Taliban to fight the Soviets...

.......................

The Taliban was out of line and to extreme...

The West did not like them...They were dubbed terrorist... 

and then,

The West went into Afghanistan to introduce Western style "democracy"...

Many died...much happend...and now the West will leave...at the end of the year...

What next...? 

There are many heroin addicts in the West... and some Afghan citizens are asking... 

Why the West could not, did not destroy the Poppy Fields that produce heroin...? With all the might of Western armies...Why they did not destroy the heroin culture...? 

After the West leaves...The Poppy culture will still flourish in Afghanistan and the addicts in the West will pay for it...

And the question remains....What next...for Afghanistan...Did we establish "democracy" there...?

China-The New Dawn

Student Demonstrations in Tiananmen Square

June 3-4, 1989

A single man against the might of bureaucracy...

Events as they happened

• In April 1989 the Communist  Party Chairman - Hu Yaobang died. 
• A massive demonstration begun in China.
• Student led demonstration was centered at Tiananmen Square. 
• The demonstrators demanded more democratic rights and freedoms.
• The workers joined the students...
• Martial law was declared on May 20.
• The Chinese government tolerated the demonstration till after the funeral of the Chairman.

But,

On June 3-4 a brutal repression began....

Thousands were killed...

This photo impressed me very much at the time...
After 25 years it still has a powerful message...

Even a single man can stop the brutality and halt the traffic of oppression...

Tiananmen Square is a large public square in Beijing on the southern edge of the Inner or Tatar City.

...And the students and workers gathered to demand more freedoms...in April of 1989...

People power was impressive...and the students were eloquent and very patriotic...

The square, named for its Gate of Heavenly Peace (Tiananmen), contains the monument of the heroes of the revolution, the Great Hall of the People, the museum of history and revolution, and the Mao Zedong Memorial Hall. Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic in the square on October 1, 1949, an anniversary still observed there.

 But now, it will be observed for the massacre of the democracy demonstrators too...

And, as always, the bureaucratic apparatus is brutal and oppressive...

They have the means...But NOT the people...

***

What occurred was an attempt for democratic revolution.

• The Chinese economy had created a new middle class...and the economic wealth was trickling down to the people...
• The economy had initiated a more equitable distribution of the wealth.
• The new emerging middle class was asking more share in the political governance...of China.
• That could be achieved only through more democratic dialogue...
• The people and the bureaucratic authorities were at opposite ends...
• The peoples demands were crushed by the brutal power of the state and ruling bureaucracy... 

Now and the future...

• Since then the Chinese economy soared...Soon it will be the biggest economy and will surpass the economic might of the U.S.
• The flourishing economy will put more pressure on the Chinese bureaucracy for democratization and freedoms...

As always throughout history, this process will not be peaceful...

• As the economy flourishes, it will create larger and larger middle class in China...
• The emerging new class will demand more and more political freedoms and democracy...
• And history is the witness, these demands will meet brutal force and suppression...

Thousands remember in Hong Kong 

But the people will continue the pressure...and as always the people will triumph...The people will be victorious...and we will witness a new era in human history...

The era of China will dawn on us...

May 20,1989, teachers from Beijing Normal University arrive at Tiananmen Square by the truckload to support their students after martial law was declared

Teachers arrive at Tiananmen Square to support their Students... 

I hope teachers in North America support their students too...

So the youth...has to be prepared...

Learn Chinese at home, in high schools and in the universities...

Be prepared...for the New Dawn...

They claim..."July 4 25 Years After"...

Hong Kong Vigil and Demonstration

The New Dawn is near...

But the New Dawn will not come easy...The birth will be bloody...

...And history is the witness...The people will triumph eventually...

Eventually ALL Power will belong to the people....