Monday, August 27, 2012

Hurricane Isaac Kills 10 In-and-Around Haiti As It Continues to Move Into the U.S.

Since the storm reached the Caribbean on Saturday, at least eight Haitians have been killed and another two in the Dominican Republic.

Although the scale of impact from the storm was less than anticipated, many Haitians still dug themselves out of the mud with buckets - rising to the waist of an adult male. The island itself sufferred flooding, fallen poles and collapsed tents - where more than 400,000 residents still live in since the 2010 7.0 magnitude earthquake (See Kumarian Press's Tectonic Shifts to learn more about the conditions of Haiti since the earthquake). Dozens of homes were destroyed and over 269 homes damaged.

Those that died included a 51-year-old and a 10-year old. Most left dead due to flooding.

In Haiti, more than 14,000 people evacuated their homes and temporary tents over the weekend. The World Food Program had issued out two days worth of food to over 8300 individuals.

More information about this story can be found through CNN.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Pakistani Girl, 11, Held in Prison on Blasphemy Charges

An 11-year-old girl in Pakistan, named Ramsha, has been arrested on charges of blasphemy, as witnesses noted that she had burned pages of the Mulslim holy text. She used the pages as fuel for cooking. The girl has medical complications including down-syndrome. She stated that she had no idea pages of the Quran were used in the fire.

"Niazi said that 150 people had gathered on Friday where the neighborhood's Christian population lived and threatened to burn down their houses." (CNN Story: Girl held on Pakistan blasphemy charge)

The mob of angry protested wanted to burn the girl to teach her a lesson. Christians in the area fled their homes to aviod backlash. (See KP's Living Our Religions to get a sense of what minority religious followers deal with in other countries)

In Pakistan, it is a crime to insult the Quran, Islam or the Prophet Mohammed and is punishable by death.

Monday, August 13, 2012

What Afghan Girls Risk By Attending School

Seven small villages make up Deh'Subz, where the first all-girls school is located. Though Deh'Subz is not Taliban-controlled, the adminstrators still have trouble keeping the school safely open and away from the inhumane treatment of young girls.

Here, the 14 room Zabuli Education Center teaches kindergarten through eighth grade. This is where 354 girls go to receive a free education, and learn subjects including math, language and science.

However, the price fora free education is significantly high, as these young girls risk poisonous water given to them and acid thrown in their face. The Principle noted that on the first day of school, terrorists threw hand gernades into the school which killed 100 girls. Now, to ensure safety, guards are inside and outside the school. These individuals test the water everyday.

"It is heartbreaking to see the way these terrorists treat ... women," said Founder Razia Jan, 68. "In their eyes, a women is an object that they can control. They are scared that when these girls get an education, they will become aware of their rights as women and as a human being."

The school opened in 2008. Jan said that 12-year-olds would show up on the first day not knowing how to write their own name.

Jan recalls one such visit from a group of men who busted the doors of the school one day to say:  'This is your last chance ... to change this school into a boys' school, because the backbone of Afghanistan is our boys,' " Jan recalled. "I just turned around and I told them, 'Excuse me. The women are the eyesight of Afghanistan, and unfortunately you all are blind. And I really want to give you some sight.' "

Inhumane treatment of women is a global concern. This is much more than men on a power trip treating women as if they are objects. Why are women being opressed to the point that they cannot be escorted outside without a male; or drive; or voice an opinion? Why are the men so afraid of what they can learn from women? Shouldn't we be more globalized and concerned with helping one another to build peace and achieve greatness?

The world is a global example that freedom is never free.

Monday, August 6, 2012

The "Waithood Generation" in Africa Book Will Release This Month

The Time of Youth, a new Kumarian Press publication by Alcinda Honwana, will release at the end of the month.

What is the "Waithood Generation" and how is it defined?

In The Time of Youth, Alcinda Honwana examines the lives of young people in Africa , drawing on in-depth interviews by young men and women in four African countries. In the book, Honwana argues that the "waithood generation” is global, and possesses a tremendous transformative potential, as young people believe the struggle to overcome lack of jobs and postponed adulthood requires radical social and political change. But, what will they do to get out of limbo?

The book can be pre-ordered today for $27.95 through the Kumarian Press website.

For information on reviewing or purchasing this title, please contact Marketing Associate Jennifer Kern at: Jennifer@styluspub.com.