Wednesday, May 26
Sunday, May 2
Tuesday, April 20
R U I N E D
RUINED By Lynn Nottage
Thu 15 Apr 2010 - Sat 5 Jun 2010, Almeida Theatre, Islington
Ruined at Almeida Theatre
As someone who is interested in raising public awareness of the atrocities in the DRC, especially in relation to violence against women, I found Ruined gripping, real and heart wrenching, a play which could speak to the general public and make them want to get involved in the issues.
Lynn Nottage succeeded in writing a script, which was able to examine the complexities of the conflict in the DRC and its horrific affect on the Congolese people, in particular on women, while still allowing for humour to soften the reality of war. The characters had immense strength and ability to cope in completely traumatic situations, the actors excelled in telling their stories.
Ruined is disturbing at times, but has to be to portray the truth of the war that is continuing in the DRC over metal, money and power. Women's bodies are the battlefields of which this war is fought; this play portrays the stories of these women remarkably.
I would recommend that everyone in London go to see this play.
Sunday, April 18
Chocolate Self-saucing PUDDING!
100gm Butter
1C Sugar
2Tbs Coco powder
1 1/3C Flour
4tsp Baking powder
1/4 tsp Salt
2/3 C Milk
½ tsp vanilla essence
1 C Brown sugar
½ C white sugar
4 Tbs Coco Powder
2 C Boiling water
Turn oven on to 180C Bake.
Melt the butter and mix in the sugar and coco powder.
Add flour, baking powder and salt and mix until just combined.
Mix in milk and vanilla.
Put into a dish (20x25cm) so it comes no more than 1/3 up the side.
Put brown and white sugar, and coco powder on top.
Just before it goes into the oven carefully pour the boiling water over a spoon onto the mixture.
Bake for 40 minutes at 180C.
1C Sugar
2Tbs Coco powder
1 1/3C Flour
4tsp Baking powder
1/4 tsp Salt
2/3 C Milk
½ tsp vanilla essence
1 C Brown sugar
½ C white sugar
4 Tbs Coco Powder
2 C Boiling water
Turn oven on to 180C Bake.
Melt the butter and mix in the sugar and coco powder.
Add flour, baking powder and salt and mix until just combined.
Mix in milk and vanilla.
Put into a dish (20x25cm) so it comes no more than 1/3 up the side.
Put brown and white sugar, and coco powder on top.
Just before it goes into the oven carefully pour the boiling water over a spoon onto the mixture.
Bake for 40 minutes at 180C.
Thursday, April 8
Monday, April 5
Thursday, March 25
AUT and others present AWAKENING THE DREAMER, CHANGING THE DREAM SYMPOSIUM - Working Locally as Global Citizens
The Symposium takes a fresh look at our most critical current concerns - environmental sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment - and explores and exposes what connects them.
"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing." George Bernard Shaw
Date/Time Commences: Saturday, 27 March. 12.30pm – 6pm. Please arrive at 12:15pm for a 12:30pm start.Venue: Room AG127, AUT North Shore Campus, Auckland.
website
"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing." George Bernard Shaw
Date/Time Commences: Saturday, 27 March. 12.30pm – 6pm. Please arrive at 12:15pm for a 12:30pm start.Venue: Room AG127, AUT North Shore Campus, Auckland.
website
Wednesday, March 24
Taxidermy
Almighty animals. Aren't they great? They're dead, they're taxiderm-ified, but that's good, right? So we can take a look, and not be scared of certain death-by-feeding/hugging. I think this bear is a brown bear (or Grizzly Bear - subspecies of Brown Bear), so would not actively kill to eat a woman/man. The leopard might eat us, because leopards in Africa eat mid-sized antelope. Thanks Wikipedia!
Brown Bears have long claws, great for digging up insects. This photo is extremely cute.
www.niwa.co.nz
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
NIWA, research and consultancy company are leaders in water and atmospheric research conducting environmental science to enable the sustainable management of natural resources for New Zealand and the planet. They are doing so much!
Aquaculture & Biotechnology
Aquatic Biodiversity & Biosecurity
Atmosphere
Climate
Coasts
Energy
Fisheries
Freshwater
Natural Hazards
Oceans
and more.....
Monday, March 22
Mental Health
These statistics refer to mental disorders in children and young people
According to the 2001 Census there are about 8, 823, 293 five-sixteen year olds in Great Britain. Of these 4,381, 047 are aged between 5-10 years-old and 4, 442, 246 are aged between 11-16 years-old.
MENTAL DISORDERS
The figures below are based on the finding of the ONS’ Child and Adolescent Mental Health Survey, 2004. Any ballpark figures regaqrding the number of children with these disorders are estimates based on the prevalence rates found in this study, and the demographics listed above.
9.6% or nearly 850, 000 children and young people aged between 5-16 years have a mental disorder
7.7% or nearly 340,000 children aged 5-10 years have a mental disorder
11.5% or about 510, 000 young people aged between 11-16 years have a mental disorder
ANXIETY
3.3% or about 290,000 children and young people have an anxiety disorder
2.2% or about 96,000 children have an anxiety disorder
4.4% or about 195,000 young people have an anxiety disorder
DEPRESSION
0.9% or nearly 80, 000 children and young people are seriously depressed
0.2% or about 8,700 aged 5-10 year-olds are seriously depressed.
1.4% or about 62,000 aged 11-16 year-olds are seriously depressed.
CONDUCT DISORDERS
5.8% or just over 510,000 children and young people have a conduct disorder
4.9% or nearly 215,000 children have a conduct disorder
6.6% or just over 290,000 young people have a conduct disorder
HYPERKINETIC DISORDER (SEVER ADHD)
1.5% or just over 132,000 children and young people have severe ADHD
1.6% or about 70,000 children have severe ADHD
1.4% or about 62,000 young people have severe ADHD
References
1 Office for National Statistics (2004). Census 2001: national report for England and Wales. London: Office for National Statistics. See http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/
2 Registrar General for Scotland (2002). Scotland's Census 2001: population report. Edinburgh: General Register Office for Scotland. See http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files/01poprep.pdf
3 Green, H., McGinnity, A., Meltzer, H., et al. (2005). Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain 2004. London: Palgrave. See http://www.statistics.gov.uk/
According to the 2001 Census there are about 8, 823, 293 five-sixteen year olds in Great Britain. Of these 4,381, 047 are aged between 5-10 years-old and 4, 442, 246 are aged between 11-16 years-old.
MENTAL DISORDERS
The figures below are based on the finding of the ONS’ Child and Adolescent Mental Health Survey, 2004. Any ballpark figures regaqrding the number of children with these disorders are estimates based on the prevalence rates found in this study, and the demographics listed above.
9.6% or nearly 850, 000 children and young people aged between 5-16 years have a mental disorder
7.7% or nearly 340,000 children aged 5-10 years have a mental disorder
11.5% or about 510, 000 young people aged between 11-16 years have a mental disorder
ANXIETY
3.3% or about 290,000 children and young people have an anxiety disorder
2.2% or about 96,000 children have an anxiety disorder
4.4% or about 195,000 young people have an anxiety disorder
DEPRESSION
0.9% or nearly 80, 000 children and young people are seriously depressed
0.2% or about 8,700 aged 5-10 year-olds are seriously depressed.
1.4% or about 62,000 aged 11-16 year-olds are seriously depressed.
CONDUCT DISORDERS
5.8% or just over 510,000 children and young people have a conduct disorder
4.9% or nearly 215,000 children have a conduct disorder
6.6% or just over 290,000 young people have a conduct disorder
HYPERKINETIC DISORDER (SEVER ADHD)
1.5% or just over 132,000 children and young people have severe ADHD
1.6% or about 70,000 children have severe ADHD
1.4% or about 62,000 young people have severe ADHD
References
1 Office for National Statistics (2004). Census 2001: national report for England and Wales. London: Office for National Statistics. See http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/
2 Registrar General for Scotland (2002). Scotland's Census 2001: population report. Edinburgh: General Register Office for Scotland. See http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files/01poprep.pdf
3 Green, H., McGinnity, A., Meltzer, H., et al. (2005). Mental health of children and young people in Great Britain 2004. London: Palgrave. See http://www.statistics.gov.uk/
Monday, March 8
One in five women who attend college in the USA will become the victim of a rape or an attempted rape by the time she graduates.
more here..
listen here
more here..
listen here
Friday, March 5
Princess Chelsea - Monkey Eats Bananas
Princess Chelsea will be releasing her first album soon. She lives in Auckland, and is not only a stupendous person, she writes great songs. Talented lady.
Friday, February 26
AB FLEX
Take a look at this ridiculous contraption!!
I was thinking about working out, and working out in the nineties. I remembered that when I was about 13, which was 1996, I some how convinced my Dad to buy an Ab Flex! The infomercial made me think I was going to get a super flat stomach if I used it for - I dunno, seven minutes a day.
Truth be told, when it arrived, we used it for a week or two, then buried it in the cupboard at the back of our TV room, only to drag out on occasion to humour/impress friends.
The below news release from 1997, states that the infomercials and advertisements for such exercise equipment made exaggerated weight loss claims, which is certainly obvious, if you remember the abs they used.
I still feel the fact that I got my Dad to order one was a great feat, as Dad's never usually buy into this crap!
FTC Puts Exercise Device Weight-Loss Claims on a Diet
I was thinking about working out, and working out in the nineties. I remembered that when I was about 13, which was 1996, I some how convinced my Dad to buy an Ab Flex! The infomercial made me think I was going to get a super flat stomach if I used it for - I dunno, seven minutes a day.
Truth be told, when it arrived, we used it for a week or two, then buried it in the cupboard at the back of our TV room, only to drag out on occasion to humour/impress friends.
The below news release from 1997, states that the infomercials and advertisements for such exercise equipment made exaggerated weight loss claims, which is certainly obvious, if you remember the abs they used.
I still feel the fact that I got my Dad to order one was a great feat, as Dad's never usually buy into this crap!
FTC Puts Exercise Device Weight-Loss Claims on a Diet
Thursday, February 25
Sunday, February 21
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BENJAMIN JACK TINDALL
Ben, Happy 20th
You are truly wonderful, talented and fun
Love you
Kenya scandal splits political elite
As a bitter power struggle rumbles on among Kenya's elite after the suspension of two ministers amid corruption scandals, the BBC's Will Ross in Nairobi assesses the impact of the graft on the country's young.
Donors are worried funds are being looted from Kenyan schools
In a primary school in a Nairobi slum more than 80 students are squeezed into one classroom.
As the teacher tests their science knowledge, the wide-eyed children raise their hands in unison. There is a real hunger to learn here.
But these students and others across the country are the victims of just one of the high-level corruption scams eating away at the public coffers.
"In Kenya of course corruption is pervasive and has been for a long, long time ever since independence but it doesn't get much worse than taking money from a child I think," US ambassador Michael Ranneberger told the BBC.
In solidarity with other donors the US withheld $7 million intended for a programme in the Ministry of Education.
Britain held back £10 million ($15 million).
This action was taken after an audit showed that roughly $1m had disappeared from the Education Ministry in just one month.
to read more
click here
Donors are worried funds are being looted from Kenyan schools
In a primary school in a Nairobi slum more than 80 students are squeezed into one classroom.
As the teacher tests their science knowledge, the wide-eyed children raise their hands in unison. There is a real hunger to learn here.
But these students and others across the country are the victims of just one of the high-level corruption scams eating away at the public coffers.
"In Kenya of course corruption is pervasive and has been for a long, long time ever since independence but it doesn't get much worse than taking money from a child I think," US ambassador Michael Ranneberger told the BBC.
In solidarity with other donors the US withheld $7 million intended for a programme in the Ministry of Education.
Britain held back £10 million ($15 million).
This action was taken after an audit showed that roughly $1m had disappeared from the Education Ministry in just one month.
to read more
click here
Thursday, February 18
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES FRIDAY 19 FEB, LONDON
The Vagina Monoglogues is performed around the world in February and March each year to raise awareness and funds for local Women's organisations, which all work to end violence against women. If you can go to a Vagina Monologues near you, you should.
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, 7PM £6
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL UK
The Human Rights Action Centre
17-25 New Inn Yard
London EC2A 3EA
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, 7PM £6
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL UK
The Human Rights Action Centre
17-25 New Inn Yard
London EC2A 3EA
Monday, February 15
Friday, February 12
V-Day's Five City 'Turning Pain to Power' Brings International Attention to the Women and Girls of the DRC
V-Day's 'Turning Pain To Power Tour' took place during the month of February, 2009 making stops in NYC, LA, the San Francisco Bay Area, Atlanta and Washington, DC.
The tour featured Dr. Denis Mukwege, winner of the 2008 UN Human Rights Prize and Founder of the ground breaking Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, in conversation with Eve Ensler, reaching thousands of women and men throughout North America and bringing attention to the violence against women in the Congo, and V-Day's joint campaign with UNICEF.
Interview with Dr. Denis Mukwege
The tour featured Dr. Denis Mukwege, winner of the 2008 UN Human Rights Prize and Founder of the ground breaking Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, in conversation with Eve Ensler, reaching thousands of women and men throughout North America and bringing attention to the violence against women in the Congo, and V-Day's joint campaign with UNICEF.
Wednesday, February 10
FROM CONGO WITH LOVE
Rankin's photographs, in collaboration with Oxfam will feature in a huge exhibition 'From Congo with Love' at the National Theatre, London for a month: 12 February - 11 April. The images focus on the love and solidarity found in the midst of the DRC, one of the world’s worst conflict zones. There are images and stories exploring romantic love, love lost, mother's love and the kindness of strangers, as well as photos taken by Congolese villagers with Rankin's guidance, providing an extraordinary insight into their everyday life.
Rankin's photographs, in collaboration with Oxfam will feature in a huge exhibition 'From Congo with Love' at the National Theatre, London for a month: 12 February - 11 April. The images focus on the love and solidarity found in the midst of the DRC, one of the world’s worst conflict zones. There are images and stories exploring romantic love, love lost, mother's love and the kindness of strangers, as well as photos taken by Congolese villagers with Rankin's guidance, providing an extraordinary insight into their everyday life.
Sunday, February 7
New View Campaign
The New View Campaign was formed in 2000 as a grassroots network to challenge the distorted and oversimplified messages about sexuality that the pharmaceutical industry relies on to sell its new drugs.
The pharmaceutical industry wants people to think that sexual problems are simple medical matters, and it offers drugs as expensive magic fixes. But sexual problems are complicated, sexuality is diverse, and no drug is without side effects.
The goal of the New View Campaign is to expose biased research and promotional methods that serve corporate profit rather than people's pleasure and satisfaction. The Campaign challenges all views that reduce sexual experience to genital biology and thereby ignore the many dimensions of real life.
Saturday, February 6
E V E E N S L E R
Eve Ensler: writer, activist, founder of the V Day movement to end Violence against Women. This woman is inspiring, a kind of most extraordinarily excellent human and role model.
Eve Ensler Interview
Friday, February 5
Are we listening to each other?
Tonight, while waiting outside to meet two friends I heard people talking as they passed by.
It seemed the listeners weren't listening to the other, the speakers not noticing the listeners not listening,
while they kept gabbing.
Perplexing.
It seemed the listeners weren't listening to the other, the speakers not noticing the listeners not listening,
while they kept gabbing.
Perplexing.
Wednesday, February 3
C l e m e n t i n e
Lovely Clementine,
You are a precious, exotic creature.
Happy Birthday from the depths of my heart.
I love you,
Kate
Monday, February 1
Many Lost Everything
Special report: The rise of 'the African Taliban'
More than 500,000 displaced people live along the 20-mile Afgoye Corridor, west of Mogadishu. Many have lost everything, including their families, in their flight from the Shabaab – Somalia's terrifying Islamist militia
More than 500,000 displaced people live along the 20-mile Afgoye Corridor, west of Mogadishu. Many have lost everything, including their families, in their flight from the Shabaab – Somalia's terrifying Islamist militia
Sunday, January 31
A Serious Man, Coen Brothers
I like this film. I like the way that it looks. I like the characters, and the sense I felt of what it might have been like to be within the Jewish community in 1967 in Minnesota, suburb of St. Louis. I did not feel uneasy, but amused whist watching. I particularly liked Larry, the protagonist. He does everything right yet unexpected and troublesome things happen upon him, and it seems there is no reason.
Friday, January 29
Good Grief
Interesting article on grief
Clementine showed me this article written for "The New Yorker" by Meghan O’Rourke on grief. Part of it talks about the work of this lady, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a Swiss-born psychiatrist. She wrote "On Death and Dying" and then "On Grief and Grieving" ..anyway she stated that there were five stages of the dying: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance... and the same for the grieving. At the end of her life, she knew that grief can't really be boxed into categorical stages..'Other research suggests that grief and mourning don’t follow a checklist; they’re complicated and untidy processes, less like a progression of stages and more like an ongoing process'.
The article also discusses resilience of the bereaved, the way in which non-grieving others may retract from the bereaved, or think that after a certain amount of time they should be finished with grieving, and how death is dealt with in different cultures and points in history.
Clementine showed me this article written for "The New Yorker" by Meghan O’Rourke on grief. Part of it talks about the work of this lady, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a Swiss-born psychiatrist. She wrote "On Death and Dying" and then "On Grief and Grieving" ..anyway she stated that there were five stages of the dying: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance... and the same for the grieving. At the end of her life, she knew that grief can't really be boxed into categorical stages..'Other research suggests that grief and mourning don’t follow a checklist; they’re complicated and untidy processes, less like a progression of stages and more like an ongoing process'.
The article also discusses resilience of the bereaved, the way in which non-grieving others may retract from the bereaved, or think that after a certain amount of time they should be finished with grieving, and how death is dealt with in different cultures and points in history.
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