tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230030598152104539.post5520890943827023200..comments2009-07-26T22:25:45.161+02:00Comments on Adriaan-on-tour: Botswana and my thinkingAdriaan-on-tourhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16904272345730987702noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230030598152104539.post-29892597866690146282009-06-03T08:37:36.139+02:002009-06-03T08:37:36.139+02:00Considering the short time you spent here, you'...Considering the short time you spent here, you've learnt a lot. Many people who have lived in other parts of Africa before coming to settle in Botswana usually say that Botswana is not representative of Africa as a whole. <br /><br />Maybe in terms of quality of life Botswana is ahead of several others but I think in terms of socio cultural struggles, it's not that different. <br /><br />Patriarchy abounds both at home and the wider society despite laudable pronunciations that equality is here for all; <br />child laws may exist but children are still treated like 4th class citizens - always put last;<br />religion is king;<br />superstition and "muti" is the reason for everything bad;<br />change is a western evil. <br /><br />One thing is interesting though, even though condoms are not marketed for all the benefits they can bring, a surprising number of condoms are distributed freely every year. Just in this region over 1 million were distributed last year. The net result is that a wide section of the public relies on this free distribution so when it's out don't see the need to purchase any for themselves. There have been many campaigns held in the rural areas in an effort to advertise the benefits of condom use and at such events many condoms are distributed. <br /><br />The problem is, without sustained provision of these condoms people return to old habits because unfortunately, they don't see the benefit of actually buying it themselves. Even if they did, you not gonna get condoms in most villages, especially the really remote ones. <br /><br />So, the problem persists, but I believe if we keep trying we'll get there.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15579954919037512268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230030598152104539.post-7338169269602375112009-05-10T23:51:00.000+02:002009-05-10T23:51:00.000+02:00Adriaan, in our meditations we are taught to ask '...Adriaan, in our meditations we are taught to ask 'What is mine to do? And that is, I believe, where the answers come to us - when we set our intention to be of service in a particular area of life, and ask, we are shown the way to do so. And the way is different for each of us. <br /><br />Your anger, your passion for this situation echo that of Stephen Lewis as enunciated in his Massey Lectures titled 'Race Against Time' published in a book by the same name. The HIV/AIDS problem in Africa is so huge. <br /><br />My response has been to join the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign to raise money to support the Stephen Lewis Foundation's work to support those grandmothers in Africa who are grieving the deaths of their children - the missing generations - and raising their grandchildren, usually in conditions of appalling poverty. The description of the Grandmothers groups includes grandmothers and grandothers - in other words, anyone who is interested is welcome to join. Because Stephen was the UN Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa for 5 years, he has on-the-spot contacts to make sure the funds actually get to the people who can make the best use of them. Go to the SLF website for more information because that is only one program the SLF is involved in. The Grandmothers campaign grew spontaneously and organically from the 2006 HIV/AIDS conference held in Toronto, when Canadian grandmothers were so touched by the African grandmothers brought to the conference. There are now more than 220 grandmothers groups in Canada and if I remember correctly we have raised over $6 million so far. My fabric artist friend, Valerie Hearder, in Nova Scotia, has set up a small company called African Threads to import, using fair trade practices, embroidery tapestries from African women to sell in North America. She contributes 15% of her profit to the SLF, in addition to the direct support she gives to the women's fabric art cooperatives that produce the art. Each of us can help in so many creative ways.<br /><br />I hadn't intended to get on a hobby horse in response to your expression, but there it is. When some of us suffer, all of us suffer is a message that more and more people are getting. That is the message of the book 'Blessed Unrest' as well, and I think there is a world wide move afoot towards sharing of information and resources that can only bode well for us all.<br /><br />As each of us does what is ours to do, we all move forward toward life more abundant.<br /><br />Namaste<br /><br />MeliaMeliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09608441278656837762noreply@blogger.com