Monday, May 27, 2013

Belgium Day 187: Women's Security is Community Security

Today I met United Nations Representative Ms. Zainab Bangura.  She gave a presentation on sexual violence in conflict.


Her first message was this: DECENT MEN DON'T RAPE. 

Her second message: Bodies of civilians are not battlegrounds for war.

Her third message: Rape is history's greatest silence.

Her fourth message:  You can determine the greatness of a nation by how the government and in particular the national military behaves towards women in times of peace.  If women are second class citizens in rights, respect, safety, and opportunity, conditions only worse during armed conflict.  Militaries must shun rapists.

Her fifth message:  Women are NOT expendable, everyone is valuable and has something to contribute.





She discussed many things, but here is a summary of her primary commentary:

1.  All sexual violence is preventable.  Ensure that perpetrators are consistently prosecuted.
2.  Sexual violence is a serious peace and security issue.  No peace can endure if sexual violence is not appropriately addressed.
3.  Political leaders must be engaged in active accountability.  Hold them accountable for implementation and enforcement.
4.  More research is needed to understand rape as a mechanism of war
5.  Global efforts in the total eradication of rape must be organized and coordinated.
6.  Nations must take ownership of responsibility for crimes occurring within their borders as international courts and tribunals are not accessible for most victims.  


Relevant UN resolutions:

Security Council Resolution 1820- Women, Peace, & Security- created conceptual framework- by Condoleezza Rice  

Security Council Resolution 1888- Protecting Women from Sexual Violence- by Hillary Clinton



The greatest barrier is the culture of silence and denial world-wide.  This includes honor killings, domestic violence, and systemic rape as a weapon of war and torture.  

Who is responsible for removing this barrier?  

Mothers- teach your sons rape is never acceptable under any circumstances.

Fathers- teach your sons to love and respect women by example.

Teachers- educate your students about human rights- theirs and others- and that violence is a crime.

Religious Leaders- teach everyone in your sphere of reach that rape and sexual violence are an abomination before God and are NEVER justifiable.

Politicians-  set an example of zero tolerance, hold criminals accountable, publicly condemn their behavior, set punishments capable of deterring potential perpetrators.  Attacks systems enabling denial.

Militaries-  enforce standards and expectations and hold criminals within the military accountable.

Journalists-  document suspected cases of sexual violence.  Expose them.  Force the issue to get attention.  Don't allow it to be ignored.  

Police-  punish police who commit acts of crime, particularly sexual violence.  Train them and hold them accountable for that training.  

Courts-  do not allow judges to be ignorant of this issue and other systemic human rights violations.  Just because it is systemic, doesn't mean it is ok to turn a blind eye.  

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Belgium Day 179: Climate Change

Texas is hot.  And sunny.  Often.  I tolerate that well.  I do not tolerate rain, sun deprivation, and cloudy weather.  Most people shed skin in the heat and sun.  I do not.  I shed and shed and shed in the grey, humid rain.  


Click here to see my skin in Belgium.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Turkey: MISC mix



Near cistern

Headed in to the Blue Mosque








100 Books


This year I have a goal to read 100 books. 15 down, 85 more to go!

Click on the names to see the book on Amazon.com.

1.  Little Princes by Conor Grennan (highly recommend- about Nepal)
2.  Passage to Istanbul by Joseph Kanon (meh- slow spy novel, not very much culture, do not recommend)
3.  Desert Queen by Janet Wallach (you have to be in the mood)
4.  Tales from the Expat Harem by Anastasia Ashman (highly recommend)
5.  Apples are from Kazakhstan by Christopher Robins (recommend- great explanations of Soviet transitions)
6.  Rebel Land by Christopher de Bellaigue (recommend- historical background via stories of different kinds of people in Turkey including Kurds and Armenians)
8.  SOLD by Zana Muhsen (highly recommend- about Yemen)
9.  My Forbidden Face by Latifa (highly recommend- about Afghanistan)
10.  Princess by Jean Sasson (highly recommend- about Saudi Arabia)
11.  Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls are not for Sale by Rachel Loyd (recommend- about child enslavement in New York)
12.  Leap of Faith by Queen Noor (highly recommend- captures the recent history of the Palestinian peace process and of course Jordan).  
13.  Murder in the Name of Honor by Rana Husseini (highly recommend, about Jordan & the world)
14.  A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park (highly recommend, fast and compelling read about South Sudan)
16.  Survivors by Allan Zullo  (recommend- about Polish Children who survived Jewish camps in WWII).  
18.  Last Night Another Soldier by Andy McNab (fiction- about British troops in Afghanistan)

Currently underway:
7.  Crescent & Star by Stephen Kinzer (not a narrative- just historic information- dry)
15.  The Woman Who Fell From The Sky by Jennifer Steil (about Yemen)
17.  Friendly Fire by Alaa al Aswany (recommend- fiction collect of short stories about Egypt)

Up next:
19.  Red Dust Road by Jackie Kay
20.  A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kasghar by   Suzanne Joinson
22.  Finding Fish by Antwone Fisher
24.  Knickers in a Twist by Jonathan Bernstein
25.  Britannia in Brief by Banker & Mullins


Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Belgium Day 167: It's all Greek to Me






Happy Happy Birthday to a very lovely person!











Monday, May 6, 2013

Belgium Day 166: Iterations of Ink

Inkwell is a puppy of legendary cuteness.  

Ink has three main talents: leaping, protecting, and shaking her babies (toys).  She works on these talents tirelessly and without complaint.  

Ink has many interests. 


Ambassador Ink
ESL Instructor Ink

Mattress Quality Tester Ink


Inkblot, or Psychological Ink

Airborne Ink

Airborne Ink
Meteorologist Ink
Center of Attention Ink
Picture Perfect Ink

Snuggie Ink
Spoiled Ink
Drowned Rat Ink

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Belgium Day 165: Inky & The Moos

Two days ago, the cows were returned to the field behind our yard.  

With two sunny afternoons this week, many flowers popped up.  

Inky summons the Moos.  

She yells at them.  They appear to try to understand her. 
She tries again.  

They run away.  She is very pleased with herself.  I praise her and tell we are going inside.  We both walk back to the house and then I tell her, go say goodbye to the Moos.  She bounds back to the fence and barks out several times and then runs back to me inside the house.  

100 Books


This year I have a goal to read 100 books. 14 down, 86 more to go!

1. Little Princes by Conor Grennan (highly recommend- about Nepal)
2. Passage to Istanbul by Joseph Kanon (meh- slow spy novel, not very much culture, do not recommend)
3. Desert Queen by Janet Wallach (you have to be in the mood)
4. Tales from the Expat Harem by Anastasia Ashman (highly recommend)
5. Apples are from Kazakhstan by Christopher Robins (recommend- great explanations of Soviet transitions)
6.  Rebel Land by Christopher de Bellaigue (recommend- historical background via stories of different kinds of people in Turkey including Kurds and Armenians)
8. SOLD by Zana Muhsen (highly recommend- about Yemen)
9. My Forbidden Face by Latifa (highly recommend- about Afghanistan)
10.  Princess by Jean Sasson (highly recommend- about Saudi Arabia)
11. Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls are not for Sale by Rachel Loyd (recommend- about child enslavement in New York)
12.  Leap of Faith by Queen Noor (highly recommend- captures the recent history of the Palestinian peace process and of course Jordan).  
13.  Murder in the Name of Honor by Rana Husseini (highly recommend, about Jordan & the world)
14. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park (highly recommend, fast and compelling read about South Sudan)
16. Survivors by Allan Zullo  (recommend- about Polish Children who survived Jewish camps in WWII).  

Currently underway:
7.  Crescent & Star by Stephen Kinzer (not a narrative- just historic information- dry)
15. The Woman Who Fell From The Sky by Jennifer Steil (about Yemen)
17. Friendly Fire by Alaa al Aswany (fiction novel about Egypt)
18.  Last Night Another Soldier by Andy McNab

Up next:
19.  Red Dust Road by Jackie Kay
20.  A Lady Cyclist's Guide to Kasghar by   Suzanne Joinson


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Belgium Day 160: A Day Off

May 1st, is labor day in many nations, including Belgium.  Since I was not teaching and it was decent weather, some friends and I went for a walk around a lake in Mons.
Mom, can you please hurry up?  I'm ready to go see my friends now.  

April showers bring May flowers.















Of course, after all that walking it was time for some hot chocolate.