Jenkins Macedo
Professor Eskandari
GE 410-E1 (ST: Middle East Changing Environment)
Chapter 1:
Tricontinental Junction: An Introduction
The textbook “Middle East Patterns: Places, Peoples, and Politics was written by Colbert C. Held a Retired Diplomat-in-Residence at the Baylor University in Waco, Texas. His book presented details analysis of the people, places and geopolitics of the countries in the Middle East in an effort to serve as an educational instrument in the process of learning about the region; that is, the Middle East. It is also his ambition that this piece of academic and scholastic work will serve as a mean to bridge the gap created as a result of the negative materials printed about the Middle East and also what we see on the News Media.
The book is divided into nineteen chapters that contain diverse sub-headings under two broad titles. The first eight chapters of the book is centered around the issue of the Physical and Cultural Geography of the region; whereas, the last eleven chapters talks about the “Regional Geography” of the region detailing significant geographic peculiarities of each nation within the area.
Chapter 1 serves as an introductory chapter of the book firstly stating an overview of the region by describing the location of the Middle East and how that has local, national, regional and global significance to other areas of development such as economy, transportation, natural resources, and global trade. However, the author mentioned in the second opening paragraph that the “Middle East has been prominently featured in the news almost everyday since 1947” (Held, 2006). Most of these news carried negative undertone of the region forgetting to mention the rich cultural diversities of the region, the landscapes, natural resources and the people that live there. Notwithstanding, fewer news media agencies do provide objective in-depth analyses of the region’s “complex underlying regional patterns, peoples, cultures, politics, and aspirations” (Held, 2006). These cultures according to my current understanding of global politics and development issues also spread throughout the world mostly industrialized nations. The socio-economic, political and cultural development of most developed and developing countries are all interconnected with issues in the Middle East. These interconnections range from the exportation or importation of fuel oil, cedar, religious believes and rich cultural diversities.
The very geographic location of the Middle East on the world map has significant impacts on the global economy. The region is situated right in the middle of three very important continents Africa, Asia and Europe. Nevertheless, over the years the region has been frequently associated with “petroleum or terrorism or Islamic resurgence or Israeli security or regime change or other single issues which obscures the breadth and complexity of the region” (Held, 2006).
By definition of the region the author presented diverse scholars’ definitions of what constitute the Meddle East. The region is situated within the center of three continents with Europe to the North and Africa in the West, Asia on the East and the Indian Ocean in the South. The Middle East or “Fertile Crescent” as it was formerly known “constitutes the land mass between Northeast Africa to South Asia” (Held, 2006).
The nomenclature of the region is subject to Western perceptions and ideologies of the region based on historical developments as they unfold. Some of the names that have been ascribed to the region include the Fertile Crescent, East, Orient, Levant, Near East or Nearer East, and the Middle East. In 1902, Captain Alfred T. Mahan employed the name “Middle East for an indefinite area around the Gulf” (Held, 2006). However, it was not until the 1930s when the “potential applicability of the designated name was reinforced by the British government when they applied the “Middle East Command” to military forces in the area” (Held, 2006).
Monday, October 25, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sustainable Agricultural Program for Liberia (SAP-Liberia)
Sustainable Agricultural Program for Liberia (SAP-Liberia)
By: Jenkins Divo Macedo, IDSC 2012
The Sustainable Agricultural Program for Liberia (SAP-Liberia) is non-profit, non-political community based organization that was established in February of 2002 by Jenkins Divo Macedo to engage in social change in the rebuilding process of post-war Liberia by engaging Returnees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in programs in enhance their livelihoods in the areas of education, community rehabilitation and reconstruction, sustainable agriculture and environment conservation. In 2002, the Government of Liberia accredited the organization with the Certificate of Accreditation number: MPEA/NGO/CA# 346. The organization has its regional office in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County located in the Southeastern part of Liberia with on-going projects in surrounding villages and towns working on participatory projects geared towards community development, planning and social change. The organization was establish to address the on going needs of communities in the City of Zwedru and its surroundings towns caused as a result of the 14 years civil war in Liberia.
Through it’s International Coordinator Mr. Jenkins Divo Macedo graduate student at Clark University (IDSC 2012), the organization is gathering resources in the process of building and equipping a community resource center in the City of Zwedru to serve as a hub for local students, teachers, religious leaders and workers of both the public and private sectors to access educational resources. Mr. Macedo has up to date collected about 6,000 used textbooks and other educational materials to be shipped to Liberia for the resource center. In light of also encouraging international cooperation for globalization, SAP-Liberia is also willing to accept students from accredited US educational institutions who are seeking to engage in active participatory action projects in Liberia geared towards community development, social change and empowerment.
The organization is currently developing a website and can be accessed at: http://www.wix.com/sapliberia/sap-liberia. We also hosted a facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1423224869.
By: Jenkins Divo Macedo, IDSC 2012
The Sustainable Agricultural Program for Liberia (SAP-Liberia) is non-profit, non-political community based organization that was established in February of 2002 by Jenkins Divo Macedo to engage in social change in the rebuilding process of post-war Liberia by engaging Returnees and Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in programs in enhance their livelihoods in the areas of education, community rehabilitation and reconstruction, sustainable agriculture and environment conservation. In 2002, the Government of Liberia accredited the organization with the Certificate of Accreditation number: MPEA/NGO/CA# 346. The organization has its regional office in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County located in the Southeastern part of Liberia with on-going projects in surrounding villages and towns working on participatory projects geared towards community development, planning and social change. The organization was establish to address the on going needs of communities in the City of Zwedru and its surroundings towns caused as a result of the 14 years civil war in Liberia.
Through it’s International Coordinator Mr. Jenkins Divo Macedo graduate student at Clark University (IDSC 2012), the organization is gathering resources in the process of building and equipping a community resource center in the City of Zwedru to serve as a hub for local students, teachers, religious leaders and workers of both the public and private sectors to access educational resources. Mr. Macedo has up to date collected about 6,000 used textbooks and other educational materials to be shipped to Liberia for the resource center. In light of also encouraging international cooperation for globalization, SAP-Liberia is also willing to accept students from accredited US educational institutions who are seeking to engage in active participatory action projects in Liberia geared towards community development, social change and empowerment.
The organization is currently developing a website and can be accessed at: http://www.wix.com/sapliberia/sap-liberia. We also hosted a facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1423224869.
Monday, August 31, 2009
TRC Liberia's only Hope to Bring to Justice Those Criminals That Destroyed Our Country.
Dear Brothers , Sisters, fellow citizens and countrymen and women it is great pleasure that I write this letter from Boston, Massachusetts to respond to current issues in Liberia most especially the recent report of the TRC.
Liberians worldwide have been waiting to see if we can follow the footsteps of great nations like Ghana, South Africa and the like in promoting peace, stability, justice and unity. It is only through the legal process that those responsible for these acts can be brought to the rule of Law to face the consequences of their selfish acts which are perpetuated by their love for power, money and wealth. Those who promoted, facilitated and provided leadership in all its kind in the process of creating the 14 years civil upheavals that left about 300,000 people dead are now called upon by the Liberian people to resign from their current leadership function in the government and face justice.
I know this is going to be a very difficult task to accomplish, because most of these former warlords and their alleged promoters are power-center and they concern about themselves and no one else.
Let it be known to those who names were mentioned few months ago in the TRC’s final report that they wouldn’t go free until they are legally found not guilty for the crime(s) that was or were alleged against them. We are all Liberians and we have to make this system work together for the betterment of your country.
Let it also be known that no one can stand and threaten our legal system from running its course of legal activities. Not even a former warlord has that audacity to threaten the constitution of the Republic of Liberia. The legal system as time permits will be carried out its function to bring to light all those that assisted in any form in making the Liberia people suffered throughout the 14 years that we were at war.
Liberia will never experience total peace when we leave those responsible for committing crimes against humanity and world crimes go free. Each individual most face the consequences of his or her actions.
I understand that most of us feel that letting bygone be bygone will leave the country at peace. If we keep stuffing hatred, wickedness and injustices in our bag what will come later in our country’s history will be worst than what we experienced these past years. We should remember that Liberia does not belong to a single individual, family, tribe, organization or political enterprise. If everyone in Liberia pass out today, Liberia will still survive. Likewise, the earth doesn’t rely on people to survive. The earth lives without people.
Liberians must take care of the land they have, because we are stewards to those lands. So, bringing to justice people who mismanages or promoted atrocities on the land is a natural and biblical process. The current leadership of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf needs to follow in the direction of former President Charles Taylor. He was president and yet had to resign even though it was a difficult decision to consider. However, he did and is now on trial for his involvement in supporting the Sierra Leone civil war. Current government officials of Liberia are no excuse to this process.
They too need to put their “big hearts” under their feet and submit to the constitution of the Republic of Liberia. We are all equal in front of the Law and before the law we all have equal representation. They are accountable for their support and involvement during the civil war. They now need to stand up and promote justice, peace, unity and transparency, because only through this means can Liberia truly be at peace.
President Sirleaf, women all over the world are watching the decision you will take in the midst of all these allegations. It will do you more good than harm to bring yourself to justice as oppose to staying in power and prolong the process for justice to take her course. If you continue to stay in power without respecting the rule of law which you also preach will portray a negative image of Africans leaderships to the world and also the leaderships and roles of African women. It is unconstitutional to remain in public office when you previously supported a rebellion that left 300,000 Liberians killed and thousands more spread throughout the world in refugee camps.
Your support and verbal authorization of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) under the military leadership of Mr. Charles G.T. Taylor and other rebel factions after you denounced him cannot be underestimated in the process of cultivating national unity, peace and stability. I am so sorry that you have to go, but every true Christian, traditionalist, and Islamist know this fact.
Liberia can become a better nation without you. If you resist stepping down from your current leadership function remember that you are only showing to the world how wicked and evil you are. Because from the dawn of time your egocentric plight to become president of Liberia cannot be overlook as well. You have played your cards well, but it is also time that you go down.
Liberians worldwide have been waiting to see if we can follow the footsteps of great nations like Ghana, South Africa and the like in promoting peace, stability, justice and unity. It is only through the legal process that those responsible for these acts can be brought to the rule of Law to face the consequences of their selfish acts which are perpetuated by their love for power, money and wealth. Those who promoted, facilitated and provided leadership in all its kind in the process of creating the 14 years civil upheavals that left about 300,000 people dead are now called upon by the Liberian people to resign from their current leadership function in the government and face justice.
I know this is going to be a very difficult task to accomplish, because most of these former warlords and their alleged promoters are power-center and they concern about themselves and no one else.
Let it be known to those who names were mentioned few months ago in the TRC’s final report that they wouldn’t go free until they are legally found not guilty for the crime(s) that was or were alleged against them. We are all Liberians and we have to make this system work together for the betterment of your country.
Let it also be known that no one can stand and threaten our legal system from running its course of legal activities. Not even a former warlord has that audacity to threaten the constitution of the Republic of Liberia. The legal system as time permits will be carried out its function to bring to light all those that assisted in any form in making the Liberia people suffered throughout the 14 years that we were at war.
Liberia will never experience total peace when we leave those responsible for committing crimes against humanity and world crimes go free. Each individual most face the consequences of his or her actions.
I understand that most of us feel that letting bygone be bygone will leave the country at peace. If we keep stuffing hatred, wickedness and injustices in our bag what will come later in our country’s history will be worst than what we experienced these past years. We should remember that Liberia does not belong to a single individual, family, tribe, organization or political enterprise. If everyone in Liberia pass out today, Liberia will still survive. Likewise, the earth doesn’t rely on people to survive. The earth lives without people.
Liberians must take care of the land they have, because we are stewards to those lands. So, bringing to justice people who mismanages or promoted atrocities on the land is a natural and biblical process. The current leadership of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf needs to follow in the direction of former President Charles Taylor. He was president and yet had to resign even though it was a difficult decision to consider. However, he did and is now on trial for his involvement in supporting the Sierra Leone civil war. Current government officials of Liberia are no excuse to this process.
They too need to put their “big hearts” under their feet and submit to the constitution of the Republic of Liberia. We are all equal in front of the Law and before the law we all have equal representation. They are accountable for their support and involvement during the civil war. They now need to stand up and promote justice, peace, unity and transparency, because only through this means can Liberia truly be at peace.
President Sirleaf, women all over the world are watching the decision you will take in the midst of all these allegations. It will do you more good than harm to bring yourself to justice as oppose to staying in power and prolong the process for justice to take her course. If you continue to stay in power without respecting the rule of law which you also preach will portray a negative image of Africans leaderships to the world and also the leaderships and roles of African women. It is unconstitutional to remain in public office when you previously supported a rebellion that left 300,000 Liberians killed and thousands more spread throughout the world in refugee camps.
Your support and verbal authorization of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) under the military leadership of Mr. Charles G.T. Taylor and other rebel factions after you denounced him cannot be underestimated in the process of cultivating national unity, peace and stability. I am so sorry that you have to go, but every true Christian, traditionalist, and Islamist know this fact.
Liberia can become a better nation without you. If you resist stepping down from your current leadership function remember that you are only showing to the world how wicked and evil you are. Because from the dawn of time your egocentric plight to become president of Liberia cannot be overlook as well. You have played your cards well, but it is also time that you go down.
A Response to Menker Casey article: Liberians Should Be Their Own Problems Solver
Dear Menker,
Thanks for the exposition concerning your perception about how issues are currently been run in Liberia specifically looking at the current government political trends and leadership as well as some political parties that are still operating in the name of "Democracy" on lines of ethnicity, tribalism and nepotism. To be able to better reflect on your article, please permit me to past post your article within quote here:
"The secret thing I discovered about Math class is, when a teacher is teaching applying short cut formulas or easier way to arrive at the answers, students think it's very easy to do math, but when ask to solve the problem it takes from sun rise to sun set. The above scenario is very common amount our educated people in Liberia.
Some time when you read a profile for presidential nominee, you come to a conclusion that yes, every thing would go perfectly. Because he/she had been working in America or Europe in the very good system of governments or private firms, but most of the times it did not work that way. I guess being independent still had long way to go to proving our people lives. In present government, there are best qualified people to move Liberia forward, but progress is very slow indeed.
The social issues had not been addressed, there are still more political parties on tribal lines, there are more untrained drug dealers out there and no body seems to care. Let us be our own problems solvers instead of always taking instructions from outsiders how best we should serve our people or improve their standards of living."
Mr. Casey, I do appreciate how you approach the issues of our country and what needs to be done in addressing those important issues in the country which is "reconciliation" that the government and her implementing partners have lost scope off.
I admire your position that Liberians should be their own problem solvers. It is a good idea that you are suggesting and want that is nationalistic and patriotic in nature. Notwithstanding, I also hold a slight difference when it comes to development, social justice, good governance, democracy, globalization and the fight to over come the global problems of climate change.
Why it is true that it is now time for Liberia in particular needs to free itself from dominate western influence and domination, it is also true that the system of interdependence lies in human nature. That we all need each other to foster a culture of peace, stability, transparency, good governance and sustainable development. What are current government must understand is that we Liberians have nothing to prove out there in the global science. We need to stop all these formal diplomatic baggers attitudes and use our hands to work what we have destroyed. Why it is true that education is a key to success, it is also expedient that the same education can be used as a mass weapon of destruction against ones own people. We did experience this over the period of our civil upheavals and this is the same mistake that we continue to foster in our national heritage; that is, prioritizing the educated folks over the less educated, under educated and uneducated people. One thing we should also remembered is that just as leaders are made, they can also be born. Leaderships is a skills that can be developed as well as inherited. There are some people who are born a leader. So, if an individual has the zeal and potential as a
leader why stop him or her from leadership position?
Casey, you also raise a good issue concerning some of our current and past politicians who one way or the other may have been educated here in the US, Europe, Canada, Asia or even Australia. We should be very careful, because being educated in a country that has a different political philosophy can some how influence the individual that is educated in the country. Imagine been educated in Russia and another person been educated in Iraq and another educated in the US. The political systems in these areas will somehow influence the political
aspiration of that individual when him or her is given leadership responsibilities. We should be proud of our own, those educated in our educational systems nurtured in our political systems and grounded in the ideas of the land that he generated from. Graduating for Oxford University nor Princeton nor Yale does not make an individual a leader and those not necessarily make an individual superior over the person who got his or her degree out of the University of Liberia or one that is voiced in the traditional ethic and principles of the land.
Unfortunately, with the spread of global trade, sports (exportation of players) to other countries, the expansion of the American Empire through commence, militaristic campaign against terrorism, the global fight against poverty, extreme hunger, HIV/AIDS and Malaria and other diseases and the current campaign in reducing the emission of the greenhouse gases which is attributing the rapid changes in climate and the current fight against corruption and bad government practices makes the idea for detaching ourselves from the West rarely impossible, if not unachievable. Look at the G-8 meetings, the UN political systems (Liberia for an example) with interdependence we can do nothing together. We need each other and Liberians can not solve her problems along. We are 100 years back in technology to Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, a million years back to the United States and Japan in terms of technological advancement. We will still remain secondary users of their products, because it will take us years to get to where they are currently. Infrastructure wise we are nowhere to Ghana, Nigeria, Cote D'Ivoire, DR Congo and Kenya not forgetting South Africa. I am not trying to be cruel on Liberia current status, but what I am trying to portray here is that we need others in the process. Our leaders need to learn from our past and forge the future for the better.
I do agree with you the current government of Liberia is losing her perspective in terms of what the country need immediately. Every development agenda must satisfy two basic human needs and those are our real needs and our felt needs. The current present is looking at the felt needs of the people and the country and underestimating the real needs. I think what Liberians need right now is National Unity, reconciliation, peace, stability before canceling government deaths. While it is true that no country will give money to Liberia for her massive deaths that she owns, it is also true that before concrete projects are implemented, the mentality of the people needs to be re-cultivated in true nationalism, love for their country no matter what and how it looks and their willingness to work together. If Liberians are willing to agree in uniformity and build their country, others outside there will be motivated to work and help in any way possible. But this is not the case, everybody in the government are corrupt.
They all want to seek their own interest, because they who are considered the leaders are still not detraumatized, how can they think more positively about the welfare of others. People become anti-to each other because of preconceived ideologies and perceptions. That is wrong and that is what the government needs to de-escalate before concentrating on those travels she is doing? Who told you that people out there are blind and that they can not read or see what is happening in Liberia They do see, hear and feel it and what they expect us to do now is first transform ourselves first before concentrating on physical transformation.
Our leaders need to learn, because the need exist for them and this is purely manifested in their priorities.
Thanks,
Jenkins Macedo,
jmacedo1@worcester.edu
Thanks for the exposition concerning your perception about how issues are currently been run in Liberia specifically looking at the current government political trends and leadership as well as some political parties that are still operating in the name of "Democracy" on lines of ethnicity, tribalism and nepotism. To be able to better reflect on your article, please permit me to past post your article within quote here:
"The secret thing I discovered about Math class is, when a teacher is teaching applying short cut formulas or easier way to arrive at the answers, students think it's very easy to do math, but when ask to solve the problem it takes from sun rise to sun set. The above scenario is very common amount our educated people in Liberia.
Some time when you read a profile for presidential nominee, you come to a conclusion that yes, every thing would go perfectly. Because he/she had been working in America or Europe in the very good system of governments or private firms, but most of the times it did not work that way. I guess being independent still had long way to go to proving our people lives. In present government, there are best qualified people to move Liberia forward, but progress is very slow indeed.
The social issues had not been addressed, there are still more political parties on tribal lines, there are more untrained drug dealers out there and no body seems to care. Let us be our own problems solvers instead of always taking instructions from outsiders how best we should serve our people or improve their standards of living."
Mr. Casey, I do appreciate how you approach the issues of our country and what needs to be done in addressing those important issues in the country which is "reconciliation" that the government and her implementing partners have lost scope off.
I admire your position that Liberians should be their own problem solvers. It is a good idea that you are suggesting and want that is nationalistic and patriotic in nature. Notwithstanding, I also hold a slight difference when it comes to development, social justice, good governance, democracy, globalization and the fight to over come the global problems of climate change.
Why it is true that it is now time for Liberia in particular needs to free itself from dominate western influence and domination, it is also true that the system of interdependence lies in human nature. That we all need each other to foster a culture of peace, stability, transparency, good governance and sustainable development. What are current government must understand is that we Liberians have nothing to prove out there in the global science. We need to stop all these formal diplomatic baggers attitudes and use our hands to work what we have destroyed. Why it is true that education is a key to success, it is also expedient that the same education can be used as a mass weapon of destruction against ones own people. We did experience this over the period of our civil upheavals and this is the same mistake that we continue to foster in our national heritage; that is, prioritizing the educated folks over the less educated, under educated and uneducated people. One thing we should also remembered is that just as leaders are made, they can also be born. Leaderships is a skills that can be developed as well as inherited. There are some people who are born a leader. So, if an individual has the zeal and potential as a
leader why stop him or her from leadership position?
Casey, you also raise a good issue concerning some of our current and past politicians who one way or the other may have been educated here in the US, Europe, Canada, Asia or even Australia. We should be very careful, because being educated in a country that has a different political philosophy can some how influence the individual that is educated in the country. Imagine been educated in Russia and another person been educated in Iraq and another educated in the US. The political systems in these areas will somehow influence the political
aspiration of that individual when him or her is given leadership responsibilities. We should be proud of our own, those educated in our educational systems nurtured in our political systems and grounded in the ideas of the land that he generated from. Graduating for Oxford University nor Princeton nor Yale does not make an individual a leader and those not necessarily make an individual superior over the person who got his or her degree out of the University of Liberia or one that is voiced in the traditional ethic and principles of the land.
Unfortunately, with the spread of global trade, sports (exportation of players) to other countries, the expansion of the American Empire through commence, militaristic campaign against terrorism, the global fight against poverty, extreme hunger, HIV/AIDS and Malaria and other diseases and the current campaign in reducing the emission of the greenhouse gases which is attributing the rapid changes in climate and the current fight against corruption and bad government practices makes the idea for detaching ourselves from the West rarely impossible, if not unachievable. Look at the G-8 meetings, the UN political systems (Liberia for an example) with interdependence we can do nothing together. We need each other and Liberians can not solve her problems along. We are 100 years back in technology to Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa, a million years back to the United States and Japan in terms of technological advancement. We will still remain secondary users of their products, because it will take us years to get to where they are currently. Infrastructure wise we are nowhere to Ghana, Nigeria, Cote D'Ivoire, DR Congo and Kenya not forgetting South Africa. I am not trying to be cruel on Liberia current status, but what I am trying to portray here is that we need others in the process. Our leaders need to learn from our past and forge the future for the better.
I do agree with you the current government of Liberia is losing her perspective in terms of what the country need immediately. Every development agenda must satisfy two basic human needs and those are our real needs and our felt needs. The current present is looking at the felt needs of the people and the country and underestimating the real needs. I think what Liberians need right now is National Unity, reconciliation, peace, stability before canceling government deaths. While it is true that no country will give money to Liberia for her massive deaths that she owns, it is also true that before concrete projects are implemented, the mentality of the people needs to be re-cultivated in true nationalism, love for their country no matter what and how it looks and their willingness to work together. If Liberians are willing to agree in uniformity and build their country, others outside there will be motivated to work and help in any way possible. But this is not the case, everybody in the government are corrupt.
They all want to seek their own interest, because they who are considered the leaders are still not detraumatized, how can they think more positively about the welfare of others. People become anti-to each other because of preconceived ideologies and perceptions. That is wrong and that is what the government needs to de-escalate before concentrating on those travels she is doing? Who told you that people out there are blind and that they can not read or see what is happening in Liberia They do see, hear and feel it and what they expect us to do now is first transform ourselves first before concentrating on physical transformation.
Our leaders need to learn, because the need exist for them and this is purely manifested in their priorities.
Thanks,
Jenkins Macedo,
jmacedo1@worcester.edu
Liberia is Backyard of Slow Thinkers: A fate of Refugees in Ghana
The Editor,
How can our leadership think so slow and not follow the pattern that the current leadership of J.A. Kofour and the military of Ghana have set in handling refugee issues. This is not the first time when the military invaded the camp. If you have been a refugee you will certainly know what it takes to be repatriated to a country that is totally devastated by civil war for about 14 years of which you have been out for almost two decades with property destroyed, parents killed or missing, and so on.
On February 23, 2003 the government of Ghana through its leadership order the military and police to invade the Buduburam refugee camp on the ground the refugees are rebels and therefore have arms and were also training rebels to destabilize the government of Ghana. After about 12 hour search on the camp with all the men assembled on the soccer field that today the women held their peaceful and non-violent protest, and surrounded by armed soldiers with AK-47, German machine guns, and so on. There were no arms discovered and no training base found of which rebels were been training to stage a rebellion in Ghana an allegation that was assume few weeks before the general elections in Ghana which put J.A.K to power.
This is call to the attention of the administration of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, that this is not a time to play games with issues that has to do with the dignity and integrity of the Liberian people. Those refugees did not naked themselves. Have the government of Ghana provided an physical evidence of people being naked during the protest? How can we continue to be so naive about this issues. If we do not know the facts, open your eyes and see.
This is a test to you leadership as the international community and refugees worldwide will see how you will react to this issue.
Thanks
Jenkins Macedo, jmacedo1@worcester.edu
How can our leadership think so slow and not follow the pattern that the current leadership of J.A. Kofour and the military of Ghana have set in handling refugee issues. This is not the first time when the military invaded the camp. If you have been a refugee you will certainly know what it takes to be repatriated to a country that is totally devastated by civil war for about 14 years of which you have been out for almost two decades with property destroyed, parents killed or missing, and so on.
On February 23, 2003 the government of Ghana through its leadership order the military and police to invade the Buduburam refugee camp on the ground the refugees are rebels and therefore have arms and were also training rebels to destabilize the government of Ghana. After about 12 hour search on the camp with all the men assembled on the soccer field that today the women held their peaceful and non-violent protest, and surrounded by armed soldiers with AK-47, German machine guns, and so on. There were no arms discovered and no training base found of which rebels were been training to stage a rebellion in Ghana an allegation that was assume few weeks before the general elections in Ghana which put J.A.K to power.
This is call to the attention of the administration of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, that this is not a time to play games with issues that has to do with the dignity and integrity of the Liberian people. Those refugees did not naked themselves. Have the government of Ghana provided an physical evidence of people being naked during the protest? How can we continue to be so naive about this issues. If we do not know the facts, open your eyes and see.
This is a test to you leadership as the international community and refugees worldwide will see how you will react to this issue.
Thanks
Jenkins Macedo, jmacedo1@worcester.edu
Letter of the Day: Arrest of Liberians in Ghana a Test of Democracy, Inefficiency
The Editor,
Please let me take this opportunity to present a clear scenario of the factors associated with the current attitudes of the Ghanaian authorities in the .arrest of vulnerable, helpless and powerless women of the Buduburam Liberian Refugee camp which is located at about 45 minutes drive from Accra. First of all, let me take this time to correct Mr.Gbassay Golee and co-worker who previously wrote about the incident about the Buduburam refugee camp.
The camp was established in October, 1990 when the first influx of refugees arrived in Ghana after the killing of President Samuel K. Doe in Monrovia. The killing of President Samuel K. Doe was an act that was master minded by the than leadership of ECOMOG under the directives of the Ghanaian peace-keeping force. So, the hatred that we are seeing today by arresting these peaceful women is something that is back dated from the very onset of the Ghanaian peace-keeping mission in Liberia.
Notwithstanding, if an individual is under consistent pressure and attacks, they might not always remember what is conscious taking place at the time. So, many Liberians despite of the Ghanaian military involvement in handling Former President Samuel Doe over to Prince Johnson of the INPFL to be killed with the intend to bring peace in the country, did not realize how most Ghanaian because of extreme nationalism, nepotism, hatred and extreme wickedness always hated Liberian refugees staying, schooling and living in their country. The camp did not start in 1996. The camp was established back in 1990.
I first became a resident of the Buduburam refugee camp back in June, 1995 when me along with my sisters and brother sort greener pasture from previous political, military and social upheavals in Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Unlike all the other three countries mention here, most Liberians considered Ghana as a safe haven. To them Ghanaian were considered generous people. In part this generalization is true, because under the leadership of Former President Jerry John Rawlings,refugees had the fullest support of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership. Never a day during President Rawlings leadership where Liberians requested to leave the country forcefully or threaten by his administration. Most of the threats at the time came from
The opposition party of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) which was under then lead by John A. Kofour who is current the Ghanaian president. The NPP during most of her political platform use the threat of sending refugees back to their country, because the refugees were brought in the country by Rawlings. These threats were also enforced by local Ghanaian residents around the camp through kidnapping children to be used for ritual purposes, rapes, arm robberies and claiming land from some refugees after they paid X amount of money to their local Ghanaian neighbors to build their home.
The economy of Ghana in some way is flourishing because of the foreign exchange the refugees are importing in the country daily. Most refugees at the Buduburam refugee camp get their financial assistance from family and friends who live overseas. The refugees at the camp have no job even if they are qualify to work. If they are qualify to work, they have to option a work permit from the government a process that most refugees can not afford, because they don't have the money to undergo those frustrating processes.During my 11 years stay at the camp, I usually generated money from growing local vegetable crops which are sold in the local Liberian refugee markets. Refugee women and men who had some money to initiate a micro-business can not be allowed to sell their goods into the Ghanaian market place, but rather do their selling on the camp.
Over the years during my stay in Ghana, refugees have experience malpractices both from the Ghanaian local residence and the government under the presidency of J.A.Koffour through the Military. In February 2003, at about 4:00am about 200 well armed Ghanaian military and Police force surrounded the Buduburam Refugee Camp with the mission that refugees are rebels and as such kept arm in their homes and were also training rebels to destabilize the country. From 4:00am to 6:00pm on February 23, 2003, all the men of the camp were commanded to assemble at the soccer field where the women held their peaceful protest few weeks ago. After thorough search by both the armed soldiers and police, no arms were found neither did they find a site that was supposedly to be used for training rebels to escalate the country into civil unrest. The accusing of Liberian refugees are trouble makers, violent, prostitutes, robbers and thieves are all conclusion held on grounds that the government of the NPP party and it supporters have negative stereotypical behaviors against refugees a factor that one can conclude today to be the variables which is underlying their arrest of our mothers, sisters, daughters and children.
Over the past 17 years in Ghana, Liberian refugees have been law abiding, peaceful, humble and never violated any local or state laws of the Republic of Ghana. Most of the cases of violent activities on the camp came as a result of either the UNHCR not playing her role as refugee agency or the government using some clandestine acts of invasion violating the basic human rights of powerless, harmless and vulnerable people.I am not saying here that some refugees were not obedient in some way or the other, but most refugees at the camp are people who respect law and order.
The current situation happening at the camp at this point was something that was premeditated and planned by the government years before. In 2005 when I was still at the camp, rumors amongst local Ghanaian citizens was such that now that the camp was about to be closed, " you refugees will go back home whether you like it or not and if you dare not go, you will what will make a you to leave....." these were some of the statements by local Ghanaian citizens living around the camp. These people come of the camp regularly with the intend to visit and just look at the infrastructures that refugees built during these years of exile and they envy them. Refugees were able to built huge churches, schools, houses, recreational centers, and so on and these people create hatred that these things are built for refugees. Why should they be so naive? Does
being a refugee means that you should not be entitle to those basic things? In fact, who provided these things for the refugees? Is it the government of Ghana or UNHCR and her implementing partners? None of these infrastructures were built for refugees except for few school buildings that were constructed by UNHCR and one was later seized by the local Ghanaian chief and the hospital which was just reconstructed and few facilities added in 2005.
The government arrest of these women shows how evil hearted the current government is in relations to refugee issues. This hurt me personally, because some of us have develop friends with some Ghanaians and their government's behavior is about to spoil that relationships. Refugees over the past years, have been denied basic needs such as education or scholarships, proper health care,sanitation problems, food and proper nutrition, safe and clean drinking water and employment opportunities for those who are qualified to work. Very few Liberians have the opportunity to work in Ghana.
Both Decontee Tarlue and Tenneh Kamara where both women that I have worked with in Ghana at the Buduburam refugee camp. They are both hard working, committed to creating awareness of refugee issues as well as engaging in community based initiatives to foster self-help and sustainability. The women's protest that generally categorized by a peaceful move that never involve nakedness in any kind. Some media reported that these women were naked a statement that was publicized by the Spokesperson of the Ghanaian National Police Force. These statements are false as I have been in close contact with students of the Buduburam Student Movement, Network of NGOs and local concern individuals. It is clear to note here that the current action of the police and military was a clear indication of the government anti-refugee sentiments that has so engulfed their minds in dehumanizing refugees and taking their rights from them.
The issue here is not reintegration. Liberians were not a part of the country. We can only be reintegrated in Liberia, but not Ghana. We can only be integrated. Integration in Ghana is not a choice that can be forced on an individual. It is a matter of choice not force. How can Liberians be integrated in a society that rarely accept them and consider them humans?
Most Ghanaian consider Liberians to be robbers, thieves, liars, rebels and prostitute. Being a refugee is not something anybody want to be. It is a life associated with internal pain, isolation, extreme poverty and a warehouse of stereotypes. In Ghana, when you identify yourself as a refugee, the community consider as an outcast and lawless person which is not true. I have some friends who are national of Ghana and they become surprise when they come and see how refugees are living...peacefully.
The government of Liberia and the international community as well as UNHCR need to take immediate step to handle this disgrace on our continent. Why should a people who call themselves civilize behave in such a way that is characterized by wickedness and lost of human dignity. Is this the freedom and justice we are proclaiming daily in our national heritage? I stand to defend any position taken in this article. If the United Nations through its refugee agency is planning her role, this incident shouldn't have happened.
Thanks,
Jenkins MacedoWorcester State College jmacedo1@worcester.edu
Please let me take this opportunity to present a clear scenario of the factors associated with the current attitudes of the Ghanaian authorities in the .arrest of vulnerable, helpless and powerless women of the Buduburam Liberian Refugee camp which is located at about 45 minutes drive from Accra. First of all, let me take this time to correct Mr.Gbassay Golee and co-worker who previously wrote about the incident about the Buduburam refugee camp.
The camp was established in October, 1990 when the first influx of refugees arrived in Ghana after the killing of President Samuel K. Doe in Monrovia. The killing of President Samuel K. Doe was an act that was master minded by the than leadership of ECOMOG under the directives of the Ghanaian peace-keeping force. So, the hatred that we are seeing today by arresting these peaceful women is something that is back dated from the very onset of the Ghanaian peace-keeping mission in Liberia.
Notwithstanding, if an individual is under consistent pressure and attacks, they might not always remember what is conscious taking place at the time. So, many Liberians despite of the Ghanaian military involvement in handling Former President Samuel Doe over to Prince Johnson of the INPFL to be killed with the intend to bring peace in the country, did not realize how most Ghanaian because of extreme nationalism, nepotism, hatred and extreme wickedness always hated Liberian refugees staying, schooling and living in their country. The camp did not start in 1996. The camp was established back in 1990.
I first became a resident of the Buduburam refugee camp back in June, 1995 when me along with my sisters and brother sort greener pasture from previous political, military and social upheavals in Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast. Unlike all the other three countries mention here, most Liberians considered Ghana as a safe haven. To them Ghanaian were considered generous people. In part this generalization is true, because under the leadership of Former President Jerry John Rawlings,refugees had the fullest support of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership. Never a day during President Rawlings leadership where Liberians requested to leave the country forcefully or threaten by his administration. Most of the threats at the time came from
The opposition party of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) which was under then lead by John A. Kofour who is current the Ghanaian president. The NPP during most of her political platform use the threat of sending refugees back to their country, because the refugees were brought in the country by Rawlings. These threats were also enforced by local Ghanaian residents around the camp through kidnapping children to be used for ritual purposes, rapes, arm robberies and claiming land from some refugees after they paid X amount of money to their local Ghanaian neighbors to build their home.
The economy of Ghana in some way is flourishing because of the foreign exchange the refugees are importing in the country daily. Most refugees at the Buduburam refugee camp get their financial assistance from family and friends who live overseas. The refugees at the camp have no job even if they are qualify to work. If they are qualify to work, they have to option a work permit from the government a process that most refugees can not afford, because they don't have the money to undergo those frustrating processes.During my 11 years stay at the camp, I usually generated money from growing local vegetable crops which are sold in the local Liberian refugee markets. Refugee women and men who had some money to initiate a micro-business can not be allowed to sell their goods into the Ghanaian market place, but rather do their selling on the camp.
Over the years during my stay in Ghana, refugees have experience malpractices both from the Ghanaian local residence and the government under the presidency of J.A.Koffour through the Military. In February 2003, at about 4:00am about 200 well armed Ghanaian military and Police force surrounded the Buduburam Refugee Camp with the mission that refugees are rebels and as such kept arm in their homes and were also training rebels to destabilize the country. From 4:00am to 6:00pm on February 23, 2003, all the men of the camp were commanded to assemble at the soccer field where the women held their peaceful protest few weeks ago. After thorough search by both the armed soldiers and police, no arms were found neither did they find a site that was supposedly to be used for training rebels to escalate the country into civil unrest. The accusing of Liberian refugees are trouble makers, violent, prostitutes, robbers and thieves are all conclusion held on grounds that the government of the NPP party and it supporters have negative stereotypical behaviors against refugees a factor that one can conclude today to be the variables which is underlying their arrest of our mothers, sisters, daughters and children.
Over the past 17 years in Ghana, Liberian refugees have been law abiding, peaceful, humble and never violated any local or state laws of the Republic of Ghana. Most of the cases of violent activities on the camp came as a result of either the UNHCR not playing her role as refugee agency or the government using some clandestine acts of invasion violating the basic human rights of powerless, harmless and vulnerable people.I am not saying here that some refugees were not obedient in some way or the other, but most refugees at the camp are people who respect law and order.
The current situation happening at the camp at this point was something that was premeditated and planned by the government years before. In 2005 when I was still at the camp, rumors amongst local Ghanaian citizens was such that now that the camp was about to be closed, " you refugees will go back home whether you like it or not and if you dare not go, you will what will make a you to leave....." these were some of the statements by local Ghanaian citizens living around the camp. These people come of the camp regularly with the intend to visit and just look at the infrastructures that refugees built during these years of exile and they envy them. Refugees were able to built huge churches, schools, houses, recreational centers, and so on and these people create hatred that these things are built for refugees. Why should they be so naive? Does
being a refugee means that you should not be entitle to those basic things? In fact, who provided these things for the refugees? Is it the government of Ghana or UNHCR and her implementing partners? None of these infrastructures were built for refugees except for few school buildings that were constructed by UNHCR and one was later seized by the local Ghanaian chief and the hospital which was just reconstructed and few facilities added in 2005.
The government arrest of these women shows how evil hearted the current government is in relations to refugee issues. This hurt me personally, because some of us have develop friends with some Ghanaians and their government's behavior is about to spoil that relationships. Refugees over the past years, have been denied basic needs such as education or scholarships, proper health care,sanitation problems, food and proper nutrition, safe and clean drinking water and employment opportunities for those who are qualified to work. Very few Liberians have the opportunity to work in Ghana.
Both Decontee Tarlue and Tenneh Kamara where both women that I have worked with in Ghana at the Buduburam refugee camp. They are both hard working, committed to creating awareness of refugee issues as well as engaging in community based initiatives to foster self-help and sustainability. The women's protest that generally categorized by a peaceful move that never involve nakedness in any kind. Some media reported that these women were naked a statement that was publicized by the Spokesperson of the Ghanaian National Police Force. These statements are false as I have been in close contact with students of the Buduburam Student Movement, Network of NGOs and local concern individuals. It is clear to note here that the current action of the police and military was a clear indication of the government anti-refugee sentiments that has so engulfed their minds in dehumanizing refugees and taking their rights from them.
The issue here is not reintegration. Liberians were not a part of the country. We can only be reintegrated in Liberia, but not Ghana. We can only be integrated. Integration in Ghana is not a choice that can be forced on an individual. It is a matter of choice not force. How can Liberians be integrated in a society that rarely accept them and consider them humans?
Most Ghanaian consider Liberians to be robbers, thieves, liars, rebels and prostitute. Being a refugee is not something anybody want to be. It is a life associated with internal pain, isolation, extreme poverty and a warehouse of stereotypes. In Ghana, when you identify yourself as a refugee, the community consider as an outcast and lawless person which is not true. I have some friends who are national of Ghana and they become surprise when they come and see how refugees are living...peacefully.
The government of Liberia and the international community as well as UNHCR need to take immediate step to handle this disgrace on our continent. Why should a people who call themselves civilize behave in such a way that is characterized by wickedness and lost of human dignity. Is this the freedom and justice we are proclaiming daily in our national heritage? I stand to defend any position taken in this article. If the United Nations through its refugee agency is planning her role, this incident shouldn't have happened.
Thanks,
Jenkins MacedoWorcester State College jmacedo1@worcester.edu
Letter of the Day: TRC, Liberians Need the Truth to be Unveiled!
The Editor,
Thanks for your usual support to the Liberian people and international community at large for always making the voices of the voiceless to be heard about issues that is affecting our country, Liberia.
Are we only concern with the confessions of only those killed during the 14 years civil war in a bid to gather the facts of what their roles were? Do we also need to bring to justice all those who supported the civil war by providing logistics, finance, moral and psychological support to the rebel factions during those period of civil unrest? It is true that Mr. Charles Taylor is currently facing trail in the Hague for war crimes committed in Sierra Leone.
What about those who stood behind Mr. Taylor's large destruction of our youth by staging the civil war. I do believe that the person who supports a crime is as guilty as the one who committed crime. All should be brought to justice.If that is done, we will be finished with the matter and all will go to rest. We all need to taste the piece of the pie, because we all facilitated the various processes in the establishment of that pie. What do I mean? The civil war that
brought the country to moral, economic, social, global and traditional disgrace was staged by people behind the scenes, in the scene and in front of the scene.
I do believe that the most dangerous of all those scenes are those particularly who claim innocent, but provided their finances and contacts to support the killings and destruction of thousands of innocent people. We all need to eat
the consequences of the cake we have all prepared for ourselves. There should be no exclusion for people to be presented before the commission.
In Ghana, before President Jerry John Rawlings office could end, the Reconciliation Commission called upon the president of Ghana for allegations that were staged against him about his involvement in the country's crisis. He
honored the invitation and was provided the opportunity to answer questions posed by the commission. Today in Ghana, the president is free to move around and also most people at least feel satisfy that he could answer their
questions. This should also be practiced in Liberia. The TRC need to not only investigate warlords, but also those known-secret supporters of the Liberian civil wars, most especially the NPFL, INPFL, UNIMO-K, UNIMO-J, LURD, AFL, MODEL,LPC, LDF and many other factions that participated in our country's senseless and brutal civil war.
If Butt Naked's UNIMO-J, Prince Johnson-INPFL, General Zoo Quiah-NPFL, George Boley, President Sirleaf and collaborators, Charles Taylor and his group, etc were involved, the TRC needs to get to the root of the Liberian civil war issues and not only devote their attention to those only who implemented what others plan in the higher ups.
We all listened to radio reports mostly BBC, CNN, VOA, Radio Afrique and Radio France during the period of the civil war in Liberia. People made statements on those media about staging perfect destruction on the capital, if the then president (Samuel Doe) will not step down. Others made statements why in the dense forest to fight until Charles Taylor steps down. All those people need to be questioned and brought in front of the TRC for questioning and thoroughly investigated, because their influences, financial, moral and leadership support serve as a stepping of motivation for those people to kill.
I am recommending that it is now time for us to not only investigate those who killed and committed other crimes, but also those who consciously financed the civil war.
Liberia needs a free leadership and not one that will be excusing others because of their pre-meditated ideas about others. We need someone who was free in all sense of the word - directly connected with the civil war. If and only if
we need to remain where we are and continue in peace, we need to be truthful to the Liberian people about our involvement in the civil war. Because, it is only by doing that alone will there be extreme peace, trust, unity, love and true friendship.
Thanks,
Jenkins Macedo
Worcester, Massachusetts
Thanks for your usual support to the Liberian people and international community at large for always making the voices of the voiceless to be heard about issues that is affecting our country, Liberia.
Are we only concern with the confessions of only those killed during the 14 years civil war in a bid to gather the facts of what their roles were? Do we also need to bring to justice all those who supported the civil war by providing logistics, finance, moral and psychological support to the rebel factions during those period of civil unrest? It is true that Mr. Charles Taylor is currently facing trail in the Hague for war crimes committed in Sierra Leone.
What about those who stood behind Mr. Taylor's large destruction of our youth by staging the civil war. I do believe that the person who supports a crime is as guilty as the one who committed crime. All should be brought to justice.If that is done, we will be finished with the matter and all will go to rest. We all need to taste the piece of the pie, because we all facilitated the various processes in the establishment of that pie. What do I mean? The civil war that
brought the country to moral, economic, social, global and traditional disgrace was staged by people behind the scenes, in the scene and in front of the scene.
I do believe that the most dangerous of all those scenes are those particularly who claim innocent, but provided their finances and contacts to support the killings and destruction of thousands of innocent people. We all need to eat
the consequences of the cake we have all prepared for ourselves. There should be no exclusion for people to be presented before the commission.
In Ghana, before President Jerry John Rawlings office could end, the Reconciliation Commission called upon the president of Ghana for allegations that were staged against him about his involvement in the country's crisis. He
honored the invitation and was provided the opportunity to answer questions posed by the commission. Today in Ghana, the president is free to move around and also most people at least feel satisfy that he could answer their
questions. This should also be practiced in Liberia. The TRC need to not only investigate warlords, but also those known-secret supporters of the Liberian civil wars, most especially the NPFL, INPFL, UNIMO-K, UNIMO-J, LURD, AFL, MODEL,LPC, LDF and many other factions that participated in our country's senseless and brutal civil war.
If Butt Naked's UNIMO-J, Prince Johnson-INPFL, General Zoo Quiah-NPFL, George Boley, President Sirleaf and collaborators, Charles Taylor and his group, etc were involved, the TRC needs to get to the root of the Liberian civil war issues and not only devote their attention to those only who implemented what others plan in the higher ups.
We all listened to radio reports mostly BBC, CNN, VOA, Radio Afrique and Radio France during the period of the civil war in Liberia. People made statements on those media about staging perfect destruction on the capital, if the then president (Samuel Doe) will not step down. Others made statements why in the dense forest to fight until Charles Taylor steps down. All those people need to be questioned and brought in front of the TRC for questioning and thoroughly investigated, because their influences, financial, moral and leadership support serve as a stepping of motivation for those people to kill.
I am recommending that it is now time for us to not only investigate those who killed and committed other crimes, but also those who consciously financed the civil war.
Liberia needs a free leadership and not one that will be excusing others because of their pre-meditated ideas about others. We need someone who was free in all sense of the word - directly connected with the civil war. If and only if
we need to remain where we are and continue in peace, we need to be truthful to the Liberian people about our involvement in the civil war. Because, it is only by doing that alone will there be extreme peace, trust, unity, love and true friendship.
Thanks,
Jenkins Macedo
Worcester, Massachusetts
Joshua Blayee: Stop the Lies! Liberians Need Peace-makers not Story Tellers
The Editor
Thanks for the opportunity to be able to once more air my position in respect to issues happening in Liberia most especially to the recent so-called "confession" made by Butt Naked who arrived in the country from the Buduburam
Liberian Refugee Camp located at about 45 miles away from Accra, the capital of Ghana. I once lived on that camp for about 11 years ranging from 1995 to 2006 before finally coming to the United States in later part of December, 2006.
Before I analytically criticize Mr. Blayee's so-called confessions before and during the 14 years civil war that we LIBERIANS went through, I must also be very frank to recognize his plight to settle the issues with his fellow Liberians regarding his involvement in the killings and senseless destructions that were carried out at the expense of the innocent people, because of greed, corruption, wickedness, extreme evil, hatred, greed for power and the so-called black magic which has so blinded him and his followers.
I must also appreciate the fact that he now claims to be a Christian by professing that Christ is his personal savior. Without the position to judge his true confession as a convert to Christianity, it is also expedient that GOD knows and understands the hearts, thoughts and mind of man. He lone is the perfect and accurate judge of us all.
On this note, I would also like to inform him and all those who stood and listen to his confession made on the 16th of January, 2006 that they are filled with blind spots which continue to show the way that there are inconsistencies to his story.
Before arriving in Monrovia to appear before the TRC to state his group's involvement in the civil war, I bought a Documentary from Providence, Rhode Island from a Liberian owned market about the Liberian civil war to see what
the authors of this hour plus documentary had to cover on the civil war. I also want to thank the producers of the film the documentary (Gerald K. Barclay and his executive producer John Kweku Eshun) for coming up with this documentary.
It is a great product. The title of the documentary is: Liberia: The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here! You can also access this by visiting the website: www.THELOVEOFLIBERTY.COM.
In this documentary the producers were able to visit both in Ghana and Liberia, visit peace conferences in Ghana as well as interview General Butt Naked about his personal involvement in the civil war.
From what Butt Naked said on this documentary about his involvement before and during the civil crisis pictured to be inconsistent with the facts? The questions raised by Sgt. Johnnie Gayechuway about the confession made by Butt
Naked needs to be answered adequately, because the facts are covered with dark blankets of lies and erroneous confessions.
If Mr. Blayee started killing before December 24, 1989 when the 14 years civil war that is now under investigation by the TRC, how many of the 20,000 people he and his group killed were actually killed during the civil wars under question. If he and his group killed those amount of people during the events of the civil war under review, how did that happened, where did those killings take place and when and by whom?
If Mr. Blayee is actually seeking peace and reconciliation with the people of Liberia, he should be able to state the facts more in detail, with specifics and stop concealing the details. We want to know his involvement. What he did as a person. What were his specific roles in the killings?
Also, I would like to look at the issues of warlords taking the issues of religion (Christianity) to serve as a safe haven to plea for forgiveness. The first person to do that was the former General Prince Johnson who claimed that he has been converted and as such started to minister to others, forgetting to know that the same bible says "the soul that sin shall died, the son will not bear the iniquity of father neither will the father bear the iniquity of the son." Ezekiel 4:18-20.
The soul that sin shall die. I am not stating here that any of those persons shall die, but we should remember what the late Bob Marley said - what goes around must come around. If Blayee and other warlords needs forgiveness, they should stop using Christianity as a scapegoat society's decision their involvement during the war.
It is frustrating to note that until we stop the lies, we can not frankly be forgiven.
When I watched the documentary, Butt Naked mentioned that he was the chief priest of the Krahn people. When did that happened? How did he become chief priest? He also mentioned in the documentary and also I do believe that he might have mentioned it during his confession that he personally met with the "devil" isn't that blasphemous? His description of the devil in his confession on the tape does not represent the scriptural description of the Bible. Who do I now believe? His wickedness carried out during the civil war along with his followers were acts carried out by extreme hatred and wickedness.
Liberians are now tire of all those lies. If and only if, we are able to confess our sins with more meekness, gentleness, sincerity, truthfulness and love, I do believe those who love ones, friends, families and relatives were killed during the war will be able to sit side-by-side, and once more live together. We should stop the lies.
Thanks,
Jenkins Macedo,
jmacedo1@worcester.edu
Worcester, Massachusetts
U.S.A
Thanks for the opportunity to be able to once more air my position in respect to issues happening in Liberia most especially to the recent so-called "confession" made by Butt Naked who arrived in the country from the Buduburam
Liberian Refugee Camp located at about 45 miles away from Accra, the capital of Ghana. I once lived on that camp for about 11 years ranging from 1995 to 2006 before finally coming to the United States in later part of December, 2006.
Before I analytically criticize Mr. Blayee's so-called confessions before and during the 14 years civil war that we LIBERIANS went through, I must also be very frank to recognize his plight to settle the issues with his fellow Liberians regarding his involvement in the killings and senseless destructions that were carried out at the expense of the innocent people, because of greed, corruption, wickedness, extreme evil, hatred, greed for power and the so-called black magic which has so blinded him and his followers.
I must also appreciate the fact that he now claims to be a Christian by professing that Christ is his personal savior. Without the position to judge his true confession as a convert to Christianity, it is also expedient that GOD knows and understands the hearts, thoughts and mind of man. He lone is the perfect and accurate judge of us all.
On this note, I would also like to inform him and all those who stood and listen to his confession made on the 16th of January, 2006 that they are filled with blind spots which continue to show the way that there are inconsistencies to his story.
Before arriving in Monrovia to appear before the TRC to state his group's involvement in the civil war, I bought a Documentary from Providence, Rhode Island from a Liberian owned market about the Liberian civil war to see what
the authors of this hour plus documentary had to cover on the civil war. I also want to thank the producers of the film the documentary (Gerald K. Barclay and his executive producer John Kweku Eshun) for coming up with this documentary.
It is a great product. The title of the documentary is: Liberia: The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here! You can also access this by visiting the website: www.THELOVEOFLIBERTY.COM.
In this documentary the producers were able to visit both in Ghana and Liberia, visit peace conferences in Ghana as well as interview General Butt Naked about his personal involvement in the civil war.
From what Butt Naked said on this documentary about his involvement before and during the civil crisis pictured to be inconsistent with the facts? The questions raised by Sgt. Johnnie Gayechuway about the confession made by Butt
Naked needs to be answered adequately, because the facts are covered with dark blankets of lies and erroneous confessions.
If Mr. Blayee started killing before December 24, 1989 when the 14 years civil war that is now under investigation by the TRC, how many of the 20,000 people he and his group killed were actually killed during the civil wars under question. If he and his group killed those amount of people during the events of the civil war under review, how did that happened, where did those killings take place and when and by whom?
If Mr. Blayee is actually seeking peace and reconciliation with the people of Liberia, he should be able to state the facts more in detail, with specifics and stop concealing the details. We want to know his involvement. What he did as a person. What were his specific roles in the killings?
Also, I would like to look at the issues of warlords taking the issues of religion (Christianity) to serve as a safe haven to plea for forgiveness. The first person to do that was the former General Prince Johnson who claimed that he has been converted and as such started to minister to others, forgetting to know that the same bible says "the soul that sin shall died, the son will not bear the iniquity of father neither will the father bear the iniquity of the son." Ezekiel 4:18-20.
The soul that sin shall die. I am not stating here that any of those persons shall die, but we should remember what the late Bob Marley said - what goes around must come around. If Blayee and other warlords needs forgiveness, they should stop using Christianity as a scapegoat society's decision their involvement during the war.
It is frustrating to note that until we stop the lies, we can not frankly be forgiven.
When I watched the documentary, Butt Naked mentioned that he was the chief priest of the Krahn people. When did that happened? How did he become chief priest? He also mentioned in the documentary and also I do believe that he might have mentioned it during his confession that he personally met with the "devil" isn't that blasphemous? His description of the devil in his confession on the tape does not represent the scriptural description of the Bible. Who do I now believe? His wickedness carried out during the civil war along with his followers were acts carried out by extreme hatred and wickedness.
Liberians are now tire of all those lies. If and only if, we are able to confess our sins with more meekness, gentleness, sincerity, truthfulness and love, I do believe those who love ones, friends, families and relatives were killed during the war will be able to sit side-by-side, and once more live together. We should stop the lies.
Thanks,
Jenkins Macedo,
jmacedo1@worcester.edu
Worcester, Massachusetts
U.S.A
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Alcoholism and the Addictive Paradigm: Etiological and Epidemiological Perspectives
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| Theatrical Release Poster |
This paper examines, summarizes, and reflects on the connection between the addictive paradigm, alcoholism, and “alcoholic” family dynamics. These processes essentially feed into each other, addictive thinking is what allows alcoholism to develop, and alcoholism reinforces and strengthens the addictive thinking. An “alcoholic” family functions in a similar way, as each family member plays a role which he or she contributes to the sustenance of the dysfunctional dynamics and thereby the maintenance of the addiction illness. Key concepts in the addiction field, such as the addictive paradigm, and addictive system are defined and framed. The paper also describes the elements of an addictive family system.
A paradigm is the social lens through which we view the world. It is compose of our belief systems, thoughts, and worldviews which subsequently shape our attitudes and behaviors. The addictive paradigm or “addictive thinking” is the lens through which an addict looks at the world which consist of addictive thoughts, behaviors, and habits. The addictive paradigm fuels the addiction and shapes the addict’s perception of reality. His perception of reality is blinded by addictive thoughts. Through the addictive paradigm the addict sees himself to be shameful and not guilty of his or her acts (Twerski, 1990). By not feeling guilt, the addict’s thoughts of reality along with their ethnical reasoning are distorted and he or she continues to pursue their addiction. “Denial, rationalization and projection are core characteristics of addictive thinking” (Twerski, 1990).
LEAVING LAS VEGAS - Trailer ( 1995 )
Trailer for Mike Figgis's film
Further, their denial that the addiction exists, also forms a part of the addictive paradigm, keeps the addict out of touch with reality, and distanced from their true feelings. Addicts depend on chemical substances, whether it be alcohol or other drugs, to feel “normal”, in order to numb their feelings. This may be because their emotions may be too intense or they may doubt their ability to manage their emotions effectively (Twerski, 1990). One theory is that those who are addicts are hypersensitive to emotions; they feel everything at a heightened intensity as compared to non-addicts (Twerski, 1990). This theory indeed explains the addict’s need to distance themselves from reality and from their emotions. Addicts may also use projection to prevent dealing with uncomfortable feelings such as fear, anger, and jealousy. They accuse other people of having these emotions, as a way to avoid admitting to have these feelings themselves. These aforementioned elements of the addictive paradigm not only contribute to the development of an addiction, but prevent the addict from moving towards the process of recovery.
A system can be defined as an entity that consists of both content, including ideas, roles, and definitions, and processes. A system must also be complete in itself (Schaef & Fassel, 1990). Although a system is made up of many parts, it functions independently from the individuals within the system. For example, a corporation can be thought of as a system, because it has certain rules and norms that exist apart from the current employees of the corporation and that persist over time. Systems can be characterized as either open or closed systems (Schaef & Fassel, 1990). Closed systems do not allow or recognize information that does not fit with existing paradigms, while open systems are more flexible and are open to new information as a means to beginning the process of change. Change exists in open systems. However, all systems reinforce behaviors and processes from those individuals within the system which are consistent with the system, although this may occur subtly and not explicitly (Schaef & Fassel, 1990).
An addictive system can be described as a closed system, as it leaves very little room for change. The addictive system in our society only calls for addictive behaviors and does not allow individuals within the addictive system to have alternative roles and behaviors. It solely promotes addictive thinking and processes and due to the fact that we live in this addictive system, we possess many of the characteristics of the addictive system. The addictive system possesses many of the elements that individual addicts often exhibit, including denial, confusion, self-centeredness, dishonesty, perfectionism, illusion of control, rationalization, projection, and ethical deterioration (Schaef & Fassel, 1990).
The element of denial contributes a great deal to the closed aspect of the addictive system, as it causes individuals within the system to simply ignore what is happening before their very eyes by simply claiming that it does not exist (Schaef & Fassel, 1990). Another characteristic, confusion, keeps us trying to figure out what is going on, and thus makes us powerless and ignorant (Schaef & Fassel, 1990). Self-centeredness causes the addict to define every event in their lives as either “for” or “against” the self (Schaef & Fassel, 1990). This is not mere selfishness, but also a perception that the self is the center of the universe and that nothing else matters. Dishonesty is also a key element of the addictive system, as addicts are often described as “master liars.” There are three levels to an addict’s dishonesty: they lie to themselves, lie to those people around them, and lie to the world at large by putting up a façade of who they really are (Schaef & Fassel, 1990).
Perfectionism is another characteristic of an addictive system. The addictive system falsely assumes that it is possible to be perfect, and thus expects individuals within the system (addicts) to know all the answers and never make mistakes (Schaef & Fassel, 1990). This explains why addicts perceive themselves as failures and are quick to cover up any mistakes rather than constructively learning from those mistakes. The addictive system and addicts also possess an illusion of control, as the addictive system promotes the belief that it is possible to control everything. Addicts often believe that they can use substances to control their feelings, but are often out of touch with their true feelings; this is called “frozen feelings” (Schaef & Fassel, 1990). The sum of all the elements of the additive system can only lead to ethical deterioration (Schaef & Fassel, 1990), addicts have no sense of what is wrong and right, and are consumed in lies, attempts to control everything, and selfishness.
In the 1980s the field of alcoholism began to give increasing attention to the influence of alcoholism on the family, and alcoholism began to be referred to as a “family illness” (Kinney, 2006). Prior to this, alcoholism was mainly studied with regard to its physiological effects. With regard to work in the family therapy field, increasingly a systemic perspective has been taken, which proposes that changes in any one family member affect all the others (Kinny, 2006). Research on addictive family systems suggests that there are 3 roles that family members may take, keeping out of the way of the addict, caregiving, counseling and controlling, or withdrawing and putting up a façade (Kinney, 2006). Usually the spouse of the addict will take on the role of the caretaker and becomes almost like a single parent in the family, although this often only occurs when the addict is the husband (Treadway, 1987). The addict will increasingly feel isolated from the family as a result of their drinking (Treadway, 1987) which will further reinforce their dependence on alcohol as an outlet. The children in the addictive family system will learn how to ignore the chaos within the family and become self-sufficient (Treadway, 1987). Although the non-addict parent serves to hold the family together, they also support the behavior of the addict and thus contribute to the confusion of the children.
The children in the family take on one of 3 roles in the addictive family system, the hero, scapegoat, or the lost child (Treadway, 1987). The “hero” is often the oldest child, and acts like an assistant parent in the family, and defines his or her identity in terms of his or her ability to serve as a caretaker of the younger siblings (Treadway, 1987). It is not surprising that the “heroes” often end up with addict spouses themselves and continue their role as caretakers as adults. The “scapegoat” child acts out and takes the blames for the family problems, and thereby diverts attention from the addict parent. They are also often the first family member brought in for treatment, but when not helped develop a high risk of being alcoholics or drug dependent as adults (Treadway, 1987). Finally, the “lost child” who is often the youngest child, tries to remain uninvolved with the family and seeks out other adults and families as surrogate caretakers, these children will likely find it difficult to develop close relationships as adults (Treadway, 1987). It is clear that the different roles taken on by the children as well as the spouse serve to maintain the addictive family system and prevent it from changing. By failing to hold the addict accountable for their actions, the family reinforces their addiction. However, it is interesting that these roles that are taken on by the family members also serve as coping mechanisms, as a way to deal with the addict’s behavior and its negative influence on the family. It must be very difficult to break out of those roles, as the addictive system is a closed system and prevents change from any individual within the system.
Works Cited
Schaef, A.W., and Fassel, D. (1990). The Addictive Organization: Why we overwork, cover up, pick up the pieces, please the boss, and perpetuate sick organizations. New York, NY: Harper & Row.
Twerski, A. (1990). Addictive Thinking: Understanding Self-Deception. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
Kinney, J. (2006). Loosening the Grip: A Handbook of Alcohol Information. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
Treadway, D. (1987). The Ties That Bind: Both Alcoholics and Their Families are Bound to the Bottle. Boston, MA: Networker.
Friday, July 31, 2009
TRC: Liberia's only Hope to Bring to Justice Those Criminals That Destroyed Our Country.
Dear Brothers , Sisters, fellow citizens and countrymen and women it is great pleasure that I write this letter from Boston, Massachusetts to respond to current issues in Liberia most especially the recent report of the TRC. Liberians worldwide have been waiting to see if we can follow the footsteps of great nations like Ghana, South Africa and the like in promoting peace, stability, justice and unity. It is only through the legal process that those responsible for these acts can be brought to the rule of Law to face the consequences of their selfish acts which are perpetuated by their love for power, money and wealth. Those who promoted, facilitated and provided leadership in all its kind in the process of creating the 14 years civil upheavals that left about 300,000 people dead are now called upon by the Liberian people to resign from their current leadership function in the government and face justice.
I know this is going to be a very difficult task to accomplish, because most of these former warlords and their alleged promoters are power-center and they concern about themselves and no one else.
I know this is going to be a very difficult task to accomplish, because most of these former warlords and their alleged promoters are power-center and they concern about themselves and no one else.
Let it be known to those who names were mentioned few months ago in the TRC’s final report that they wouldn’t go free until they are legally found not guilty for the crime(s) that was or were alleged against them. We are all Liberians and we have to make this system work together for the betterment of our country.
Let it also be known that no one can stand and threaten our legal system from running its course of legal activities. Not even a former warlord has that audacity to threaten the constitution of the Republic of Liberia. The legal system as time permits will be carried out its function to bring to light all those that assisted in any form in making the Liberia people suffered throughout the 14 years that we were at war.
Liberia will never experience total peace when we leave those responsible for committing crimes against humanity and world crimes go free. Each individual most face the consequences of his or her actions.
I understand that most of us feel that letting bygone be bygone will leave the country at peace. If we keep stuffing hatred, wickedness and injustices in our bag what will come later in our country’s history will be worst than what we experienced these past years. We should remember that Liberia does not belong to a single individual, family, tribe, organization or political enterprise. If everyone in Liberia pass out today, Liberia will still survive. Likewise, the earth doesn’t rely on people to survive. The earth lives without people. Liberians must take care of the land they have, because we are stewards to those lands. So, bringing to justice people who mismanages or promoted atrocities on the land is a natural and biblical process.
The current leadership of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf needs to follow in the direction of former President Charles Taylor. He was president and yet had to resign even though it was a difficult decision to consider. However, he did and is now on trial for his involvement in supporting the Sierra Leone civil war. Current government officials of Liberia are no excuse to this process. They too need to put their “big hearts” under their feet and submit to the constitution of the Republic of Liberia. We are all equal in front of the Law and before the law we all have equal representation. They are accountable for their support and involvement during the civil war. They now need to stand up and promote justice, peace, unity and transparency, because only through this means can Liberia truly be at peace.
President Sirleaf, women all over the world are watching the decision you will take in the midst of all these allegations. It will do you more good than harm to bring yourself to justice as oppose to staying in power and prolong the process for justice to take her course. If you continue to stay in power without respecting the rule of law which you also preach will portray a negative image of Africans leaderships to the world and also the leaderships and roles of African women. It is unconstitutional to remain in public office when you previously supported a rebellion that left 300,000 Liberians killed and thousands more spread throughout the world in refugee camps. Your support and verbal authorization of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) under the military leadership of Mr. Charles G.T. Taylor and other rebel factions after you denounced him cannot be underestimated in the process of cultivating national unity, peace and stability. I am so sorry that you have to go, but every true Christian, traditionalist, and Islamist know this fact. Liberia can become a better nation without you.
If you resist stepping down from your current leadership function remember that you are only showing to the world how wicked and evil you are. Because from the dawn of time your egocentric plight to become president of Liberia cannot be overlook as well. You have played your cards well, but it is also time that you go down.
Thanks,
Jenkins Macedo
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa
Jenkins Macedo
Prof. Osama Abdelgadir
Framingham State University
Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa (GEOG 255 COA)
24 June 2009
Prof. Osama Abdelgadir
Framingham State University
Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa (GEOG 255 COA)
24 June 2009
Write a short essay (2-3 pages) to compare and contrast cultural value systems in the West with those in Sub-Saharan Africa. Focus on family ties, marriage and polygamy, fertility, and the role of women.
Sub-Saharan Africa is a region that is diversely significant in the world of geography. “Understanding the cultural geography of Sub-Saharan Africa is, thus, fundamental to understanding the geography of the region which include its political situation, its medical geography, its population dilemma, and the current development crisis” (Aryeeteh-Attoh et al, 2003). We cannot fully discuss the cultural value systems which include the family organizational patterns, the institution of marriage and fertility as well as the role of women without briefly discussing the effects of colonialism and western influences in the region.Also, this paper shall seek to address the similarities and differences between cultural value systems in Sub-Saharan Africa as well as cultural values systems in the West precisely Europe and North America. This paper shall also seek to compare and contrast cultures in the West and Sub-Saharan Africa in relations to family ties, marriage and polygamy.
The colonization of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa helped in the process of shaping the region politically, socially, culturally, educationally, economically and religiously. The colonization period disintegrated the social, cultural, political, religious and educational landscape of the region shaping it to what we have today. Poverty, diseases, hunger, ethnic tensions and political upheavals are widespread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, partly because of the negative influences and ideologies that Western powers instituted in the region. These ideologies were rooted in extreme hatred and evil the fundamental cause of Africa’s problems today. Now, let us compare and contrast cultural value systems in Sub-Saharan Africa to that of the West (Europe and North America).Studying the culture of Sub-Saharan Africa is not only limited to the geographic landscape of the region in which people interact, but it is also “studying the culture of a group of people which involves evaluating their way of life-how they live; what clothes they wear; what food they eat; their customary habits, belief systems, speech patterns, and value systems” (Aryeeteh-Attoh et al, 2003).
The family is an important aspect of the culture in most African countries. In Sub-Saharan Africa, people practice the extended family system in which the family is composed of the father, mother, children plus other relatives. Unlike to western countries, family ties are limited to the nuclear family system in which the immediate family is center on the father, mother and children. There are social reasons why family ties in each of these regions vary. The culture, economy, education, and social value systems of these regions play an important role in shaping how their family is composed. For example, the United States and most West European nations where the nuclear family system is widely practice are more developed economically. As a result, people tend to have smaller families as possible. Generally, children in more developed or industrialized nations are considered as liabilities as oppose to Sub-Saharan Africa where children are consider assets. Even though some Christian denominations do promote polygamy in the United States and elsewhere in Europe (Mormonism), monogamy is widely practiced. Europeans and North Americans tend to have fewer children (2.5 TFR) than those in Sub-Saharan Africa where the Total Fertility Rate is higher (TFR 5+). However, this varies on country to country bases in the region which is highly rooted in culture, belief systems, and economy.
Notwithstanding, in some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, having more children is a symbolic representation of wealth, power and socioeconomic status. Children assist their parents with farm work and get involved in activities that bring about wealth. Children in Sub-Saharan Africa serves as the labor force in the means of production; whereas, in the US and Europe children are widely considered liability to their parents and the economy until they turn eighteen years old when they can legally live by themselves (18 yrs).In Africa, children tend to take care of their parents when they are older, because that is what their culture requires of them; whereas, in the United States and some Europe countries there is a separation between parents and children. Parents in their old ages tend to rely on the government’s social service programs such as their Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to replace the protection and care they should have gotten from their children. This can lead to wider gaps in family cohesiveness and love. In Africa, people feel cooperative and together because they always see each other. In the West precisely the United States and other European countries, people are more individualistic and competitive and this account for the high rate of suicide cases and crimes.
Education is also a factor that account for both the role of women in the family as well as at the national levels. Over the past fifty-nine years (59), when most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa became independent the role of women were limited to household work, farming, gathering firewood, fetching water as well as preparing food for the family. Women were not encouraged to seek education as the men were pursuing. As a result, the illiteracy rate amongst women and girls became higher. On the other hand, in the United States and European countries women sought education just as men did and became to work on jobs that men did. The roles of women were not limited to parenting as in the case of women in Africa. This was highly due to their culture, government policies, and active civil rights organizations that protested for gender equality and social justice. Today, Africa and precisely Sub-Saharan Africa is also undergoing drastic transformation on the issue of women role on local, national and global matters.To conclude, Sub-Saharan Africa is doing her best in transitioning from an agrarian economic system to an industrial system; however, this is going to take centuries for most countries in the region to attain.
The development of international partnerships, effective government policies and programs to meet the needs of the common people, good governance and reduce corruption, widespread education and empowerment initiatives for women and girl and an effective health care programs and policies, the region will experience widespread geographic transformation in its total fertility rate and the role of women.
Work Cited
Aryeeteh-Attoh, S. et al, (2003), “Geography of Sub-Saharan Africa.” 3rd Ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003.
A Classical Theory Paper on The Movie "Brazil" by Jenkins Macedo
The Criterion Edition of the 1985 movie known as ‘Brazil’ detailed significant classical theoretical concepts of Max Weber. The paper discussed how specific scenes and dialogues in the movie are related to Weber’s view of the world from a theoretical perspective.
Source:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wh2b1eZFUM
Weber (1864-1920) was a pessimistic classical theorist unlike Karl Marx (1818-1883) who was more optimistic about events occurring in society. He believes that society will gradually become difficult and there is nothing that we can do to fix it. His theory was based on two ultimate themes which are reflected in his entire theoretical thesis: firstly, “the emergence of capitalism as the dominant form of organization in the West and secondly, the relationship between ideas and actions” (McQuaid, summer 1 Lecture, 09). These two components of Weber’s theoretical works were reflective in various scenes and dialogue in Brazil. Also, the idea of McDonaldization that Weber proposed would continue and subsequently lead to the “Iron Cage” of rationality was also highly visible throughout the movie.
Television was an influential component of the society. It serves as a central part of the daily lives of the people as well as an instrument of entertainment, social status and a medium of social cohesion. However, the use of television at the Ministry of Information where Sam Lieway was initially working served a significant barrier to the efficiencies of the division of labor in that department, because occasionally government employees turned on their television sets to watch movies. This attitude placed a huge burden on the department and also led to waste of resources in the form of money, time, electricity and human labor.
Technological advancement was also a key element in the movie. What was significant about technology was how it was used to systematically replace human labor. An example of this was how the key character’s Sam home was organized. His air conditioning system, telephone network as well as bathroom and kitchen were all automated to respond to specific instructions based on time. Weber considered this as ‘McDonaldization’. According to Weber, rationalization is a significant aspect of McDonaldization which is an “on-going process in which social organizations and institutions are increasingly governed by methodical rules and procedures” (McQuaid, Summer 1 Lecture). As a result, scientific advancement leads to the extension of rationalization.
Bureaucracy is one of those “social structures which are the hardest to destroy” (Weber, 1920). It is “the means of carrying community actions over into rationally ordered societal action” (Weber, 1920). It is an instrument for those in power to control the bureaucratic system.
The rule of bureaucracy which is an aspect of modern capitalistic societies was also a central part in various scenes and dialogue in the movie. From his work as an agent with the Ministry of Information (MOI) under Kurtzmann as his immediate manager, to his unprofessional, mothered influenced and oriented promotion as an agent of Information Retrieval known as (DZ-015) was all played and planned according to the rule of modern bureaucratic processes.
In a bureaucracy, there is a formal set of “hierarchical order, a strict sense of division of labor, management systems are based on written documents known as the filing system, and positions require formal training which is based on merit as well as each job is governed by rules which are stable, exhaustive and can be learned” (McQuaid, Summer 1 Lecture). Sam was brainwashed by the bureaucratic system and he failed to play by the rules. He failed to separate his personal or private interest from the public affairs of the job. Weber stated in his article about ‘Bureaucracy’, that “the modern organization of the civil service separates the bureau from the private domicile of the official, and, in general, bureaucracy segregates official activity as something distinct from the sphere of private life” (Weber, 1920). Public monies and equipments are to be used for the intended purpose only. In the movie, Sam used the agency’s materials to accomplish his own interest and that led to his downfall in the system. We are expected to divorce our personal interests from the public interests. In the bureaucratic system, the executives are constantly monitoring the activities of their subordinates to make sure that they are doing their job rightfully. This was the situation with Sam and his former boss Kurtzmann and this led to him being tortured by the system.
According to Weber’s article on bureaucracy, it is stated that “when the office is fully developed, official activity demands the full working capacity of the official, irrespective of the fact that his obligatory time in the bureau may be firmly delimited” (Weber, 1920). However, in the case of Sam as agent of Information Retrieval in “Brazil,” he used his official time and resources to do his personal business and as a result official issues became a secondary factor of his job.
Huffman, Sam’s boss at the Information Retrieval during his visit in the prison told him that “rules of the game are set and everyone is expected to play by it” (Brazil, 1985). Sam used his position to mismanage the agency’s resources and time and also leaked classified information out to unintended recipients.
Some important aspects of the bureaucratic system that is worth considering in this paper are the disadvantages associated with the system as mentioned by Weber. The management of time and resources in bureaucracy is wasteful. In the movie, Jill wanted to file a report concerning an arrest that she considered ‘incorrect,’ because she wasn’t guilty of those charges. She went to Information Retrieval to file the necessary papers, but just to be told that her initial application had to be stamped by the Department of Information Adjustment.
However, getting the appropriate authorities to stamp and file the paperwork (27B-6) as it was commonly known became a problem for her and she had to walk from departments to departments without getting the right person to solve her problem. The system also dehumanized people by allowing robots and specialized computers to do human’s work, thus reducing interaction between public officials and citizens. The rules and regulations governing the system also serve as hindrances for implementing programs or projects.
The inaccurate calculations or mistakes of one person in the system can lead to detrimental effects in the lives of others. An example of this scenario was the issue surrounding the arrest of Mr. Buttle by the Information Retrieval (IR) for not paying his bills. He was arrested like a criminal in front of his wife and son on the eve of Christmas. It was later noted by the Ministry of Information (MOI) that Mr. Buttle was over charged by IR and that his money needed to be refunded. However, Information Retrieval had already executed Mr. Buttle for crimes against the state. The government realizing their mistakes at this time can never do any good for Mrs. Buttle, because her husband had already been killed by the system.
While Karl Marx sociological theory encouraged us that society will gradually become better; Weber on the other hand discouraged us that society will eventually become difficult and everything that is promoted by scientific thoughts as oppose to traditional thoughts will become meaningless, because science is dynamic; that is, scientific thoughts are changing every day. Marx proposed that in order to create social change an individual must be able to understand the economy of a particular region, because to him the economy shapes the way the people think and act. It is through conducting social research that conflicts in society are meant to be addressed. Notwithstanding, this idea was rejected by Weber who suggested that the “essence of sociological thoughts or social sciences is to be able to perceive the world in the own eyes of others. According to Weber, an individual must take a holistic approach in achieving the end results are not meant to create social change, because society will gradually become difficult. In the movie this view of Weber was to perceive the world from a broader perspective was mentioned by Jill when she and Sam went to pick up a cargo (house) from her workplace. On one occasion, she did ask Sam if he had ever met a terrorist in his life before. She did ask him this question because of his suspicion that she had linkage with the terrorist moments. This is because our world view shapes our perception and our perception shapes our behavior and subsequently our behaviors shape our character.
In the movie, people consumed lot of products and services ranging from food, body care, parties, surgery, military, et cetera. In an economic rationalist society we are always in the process of demanding more at the expense of others. In the movie, the government and industries were always refining products and services as a result they produce quality products.
Everyone working with government was able to demonstrate to some degree the relationship between idea and action. The employees at the Information Adjustment, Information Retrieval and Central Services were able to put their ideas to work. In several parts of the movie, people became disconnected with each other because of their commitment to their job and the consequences.
To conclude, Brazil is an excellent movie that needs to be watched, because it provides information as to how bureaucracy works and how disadvantage it is to employees making their lives miserable and discouraging.
Writing a Book About My Plight to Refuge and My Experiences as a Refugee
I am Jenkins Macedo a senior student at Worcester State College with double major in Sociology and Geography with concentration in Environmental Studies. I am a Liberian refugee seeking refuge in the US as a result of the 14 years civil wars in Liberia. Throughout the war and my experiences seeking refuge throughout Western Africa I experienced hardships of every kind leading from discrimination, stereotypes, denial of basic human rights, etc.
I would love to write a book about my plight to the US as well as how my country's history shapes the way to the 14 years civil wars.
I love Professor's Zinn approach in writing the history of the United States that most historians don't consider. Looking at the past, present and future in the eyes of the victims. I would like to write my story using this prospective and wish if anyone can direct me along the way. I am open to discussions, suggestions, and recommendations as to what to do to get started.
Thanks,
Jenkins Macedo
I would love to write a book about my plight to the US as well as how my country's history shapes the way to the 14 years civil wars.
I love Professor's Zinn approach in writing the history of the United States that most historians don't consider. Looking at the past, present and future in the eyes of the victims. I would like to write my story using this prospective and wish if anyone can direct me along the way. I am open to discussions, suggestions, and recommendations as to what to do to get started.
Thanks,
Jenkins Macedo
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Books Drive For Africa
Civil wars throughout Africa have left countless number of children without education. From the Western to the Eastern Coast, from the North Coast to the South children are the primary victims of civil upheavals and political ambitions that are dominated by few people in power. How can we "Africans" in developed countries assist those of our brothers and sisters are who are left in these situations?
One way we can help is by sending assistance in the form of educational supplies and funds to help those children attain the proper education which is their "legal right."
The Book Drive For Africa" is an initiative organized by Jenkins Macedo-a senior student of Worcester State College to help address the educational gaps for students in Liberia and other parts of Africa. Over the year (2008-2009), I have been able to collect used books, textbooks and other educational materials to be shipped to rural areas in Liberia. I have collected about 7 barrels of books. The barrels contain books from Primary, middle and high school textbooks as well as books for college students. It my vision to set up a community resource center in a rural area in Liberia that will benefit from these educational supplies. If funding is not available to set up a community resource center, the materials will be donated to a local community-base organization that will use the materials to benefit the local community members.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Creating Cultural Forms
I created this mask as a fusion of both artistic works done by Ghanaian, Liberian and Ivorien artists for my creating Cultural Forms Class. Special credit goes to Mr. Robert Nortey of Ghana.
The Impact of Global Warming and Acid Rain on Forest Covers
Scientists throughout the world now confirmed that global warming is taking place, this warming is responsible for the immense changes in the earth’s climate systems as well as the formation of acid rain. These changes had tremendous impact on global forest covers. About half of the earth’s forests have been lost by being burned, cleared or cut down by humans over many centuries. Just one-fifth of the earth’s original forest cover remains today (World Resources Institute, 1997).
Thus, forests can be considered one of our most vulnerable natural resources, particularly vulnerable to our earth’s changing climate as a result of global warming and acid rain. There are significant evidences that suggest that the earth’s climate is changing at a rapid pace, mostly due to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. One statistic estimates that by 2100, global average temperature will increase from 1.8 to 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit (Environmental Defense Fund, 1997). Along with this immense warming of the planet, the burning of fossil fuels by humans has also created the problem of acid rain which also has significant impact on wildlife and forests globally. To present one example of the extent to which acid rain has the capacity to destroy entire forests, half of Germany’s forests had already been damaged by acid rain as of 1992 (Benjamin, WSC Spring 2008). It is the focus of this paper to explore how these two factors, global warming and acid rain, affect the state of the world’s forest.
Although the direct impact that humans have on the world’s forests is apparent through logging, mining, industrialized agriculture, mostly monocultures, and other reasons for deforestation, it is important to also consider how human contributions to global warming led to rapid increases in climate and production of acid rain which has indirectly and negatively impacts on the world’s forests. Furthermore, this paper will also emphasize the importance of forests to our earth’s ecosystems, and how their destruction in turn is further contributing to global warming and immense changes in the earth’s climate systems.
The definition of what constitutes a forest varies it is continually evolving as we learn more about this precious resource which contains diverse plants and animal species. However, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines “forest” “both by the presence of trees and by the absence of other land uses regardless of the legal status of the land” (FAO, 2000). The organization also defines forests as having at least 10% canopy cover, which was an international definition set in 2000 (FAO, 2000).
Climate change is occurring largely because of anthropogenic factors. Although greenhouse gases (GHGs), mainly carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, exist naturally in our atmosphere and help to stabilize the temperature of the earth, the increased concentrations of these gases is largely due to anthropogenic causes. Human emissions of GHGs have been on the rise since pre-industrial times, but in the period from 1970 to 2004 alone, human GHG emissions increased by 70% (IPCC, 2007). The most common known cause of these emissions is transportation; passenger vehicles emit 300 tons of carbon dioxide per year in the U.S. alone (HSUS, 2007). However, agricultural activities and land use systems also contribute significantly to increasing GHGs in our atmosphere. The increase in farm animal productions is driving deforestation and wooded areas are being transformed into grazing land and cropland for growing feed for animals. For instance, there has been a rapid rise in exportation of beef from Brazil, resulting in accelerated destruction of the Amazon rainforest. In just ten years between 1990 and 2000, an area twice the size of Portugal was lost to grazing land for cattle (HSUS, 2007). What is problematic about this in terms of global warming and climate change is that forests are the “carbon sinks” of our planet, keeping carbon dioxide levels stabilized by absorbing and storing much of this gas from the atmosphere. Forests are thus a precious resource that should be appreciated, protected and considered part of the solution to climate change.
One medium through which climate change is negatively impacting world forests is by creating conditions favorable to pests and pathogen outbreaks. For instance, Alaska has experienced die-off of many acres of its spruce trees, as the climate becoming warmer and drier has created the conditions for an invasion by spruce bark beetles (NPCA, 2007). This same effect is occurring in the Appalachian region, where rare and ancient forests are threatened by increasing insect pests (NPCA, 2007). A more expansive example of the drastic effects that insects and pests can have on forests is the outbreak of mountain pine beetle in British Columbia over the past decade, which is unprecedented in its scale and magnitude. The outbreak has been tied to the expansion of the habitat that is climatically suitable for the mountain pine beetle, due to reduced minimum winter temperature, increased summer temperatures and reduced summer precipitation (Kurz et. al 2008). Outbreaks such as these contribute to a vicious cycle of climate change, as dying trees emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. With fewer trees, less carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere. As one author notes, “Insect outbreaks such as this represent an important mechanism by which climate change may undermine the ability of northern forests to take up and store atmospheric carbon” (Kurz et. al 2008, pg. 1).
Harsh or extreme weather as a result of climate change also drastically impacts the world’s forests. Although the connection between extreme weather events and climate change is not yet clear, there is mounting evidence that the two are related. As Dr. Richard Moss, the World Wildlife Foundation’s vice president for climate change stated, “While no single storm can be directly attributed to climate change, the scientific evidence clearly shows that as the climate warms, extreme weather events will become more intense and more frequent” (Pouliot, 2008). For instance, episodes of sugar maple tree declines in southeastern Quebec in the 1980s have been tied to winters with periods of loss of snow-cover, followed by extreme cold, followed by summer drought. Snow-cover provides protection to tree roots from extreme cold; however, in the northern hemisphere snow-cover has been on the decline since 1988 (Environmental Defense Fund, 1997). Hurricanes and severe storms which cause high winds can also be deleterious to forests. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita resulted in the loss of 2 million hectares of forest in the gulf coast states of the U.S. (Beach et. al, 2008). One explanation for such destruction is that the weakening of trees by the increase in pest and pathogen outbreaks may be further increasing forests’ vulnerability to extreme weather events, which they could otherwise withstand.
Along with the effects of global warming and climate change on forests, acid rain also has a significant impact on the state of forests. Acid rain, also referred to as acid deposition or acid precipitation, is caused by the burning of fossil fuels by power plants, factories, and automobiles, thereby releasing sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides into the air. These chemicals are eventually flushed from the atmosphere by precipitation and resulting rainfall is much higher than normal in acidity (Benjamin, WSC Spring 2008). Acidic compounds can also fall to the earth in dry form, such as gases, aerosols and particles (NAPAP, 2005). The reach of acid deposition can be widespread due to blowing of particles by the wind; thereby the source of the pollution causing the deposition is not always clear. This disruption of the pH balance in precipitation can have widespread effects, not only on forests but also on the acidity of oceans and degrades the habitat of many ocean species who cannot survive once acidity reaches a certain point. Furthermore, acid deposition is also detrimental for public health, including increased rates of respiratory conditions such as asthma.
One way in which acid deposition can harmfully affect forests is by changing the composition of the soil in these forests. Data collected in the White Mountains of New Hampshire suggests that acid rain leads to the loss of large amounts of calcium and magnesium from the soil, nutrients essential for plant growth and development. The loss of calcium may also lead to release of aluminum in soils, which is toxic to tree roots in high concentrations (Environmental Defense Fund, 1997). Trees leeched of their nutrients are left weak and with little resistance to natural threats to their survival, including pest outbreaks, drought and extreme weather events, all of which are thought to be occurring more frequently due to climate change.
Additionally, forests are negatively affected by ground-level ozone which is formed when nitrous oxide emissions interact with volatile organic carbons (VOCs) (NAPAP, 2005). Ozone has acute toxic effects on plant leaves and chronic toxic effects (NAPAP, 2005). Several forests in the U.S. are showing signs of nitrogen saturation, whereby the inputs of nitrogen exceed the forests’ needs. This excess nitrogen is leached into surrounding waterways (NAPAP, 2005). Thus, the entire interconnected forest ecosystem is affected by acid rain, not just the trees and plants in the forests. A significant program in the U.S. to combat acid deposition instituted in 1990 is called Title IV of the Clean Air Act Amendments. This legislation requires significant reduction in the emission of sulfur oxides and nitrous oxides, the pollutants causing acid rain (NAPAP, 2005), and has resulted in significant reductions of industrial sources of these emissions.
However, no forests in the U.S. have yet showed recovery in terms of reversal of soil acidification (NAPAP, 2005). Reduced emissions may be slow to impact forest recovery, as compared to aquatic ecosystems; forests may only show improvement in the long-term because of the complex processes of nutrient cycling which must occur before changes in soil composition are seen. The assessment methods of forest health under Title IV have also been limited as compared to the assessment of other ecosystems’ recovery from acid deposition. This may be due to a combination of the complexity of the nutrient cycling process in forests as well as difficulty in quantifying which proportion of the acid deposition in forests is occurring due to anthropogenic emissions versus natural factors.
In light of the stark reality facing our forests today and in the near future, including increased vulnerability to pests and extreme weather, and acidification of soils due to acid deposition, we must consider how the forest ecosystem as a whole as well as how other ecosystem will be affected by this damage. The degradation of forests will likely result in the loss of biodiversity as many species are dependent on forests for their habitat. For instance, one of the threatened forests, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Appalachian region, is home to one of the few remaining strips of eastern old forest as well as a host of species of trees and this one park has more tree species than all of Europe (NPCA, 2007).
Degradation of forests will also impact our river, streams, and other waterways. “Stream narrowing” has been evidenced as occurring in streams without forest cover. This can have serious ecological consequences, resulting in 54% less surface area to provide habitat for aquatic organisms. Also, forest cover helps to shade the stream from solar radiation and thereby cools the stream. Ecosystems in streams without forested cover have shown reduced productivity and diversity (Schueler, 2000). These examples are just some of the many means through which forests are necessary for our earth’s ecosystems to function.
In conclusion, this paper’s assessment of the impacts of global warming and acid rain on forests covers and in turn forest ecosystems and other ecosystem suggest that forests are particularly vulnerable to these environmental factors। Pollutants being pumped into our atmosphere now will likely have lingering effects into the future for forests. Significant changes must be made in how we as humans and as consumers interact with our environment, as our very survival is dependent on forests and other natural resources also being negatively affected by climate change. Although individuals can make small changes in their consumption patterns, by using renewable sources of energy and decreasing our reliance on fossil fuels, governments and international organization such as the United Nations (UN) and the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) must continue to make policies to reduce the impacts of climate change and global warming on forest covers, it’s ecosystems, and also to strictly enforce these policies on both the local and global levels with serious consequences if any nation fails to follow these policies. Protecting, conserving and sustaining the earth and its forests should be our primary responsibilities as individuals, communities and nations if our continual existence on earth is significant, because without forests the earth will be a “living hell” for humans.
Works Cited
The Human Society of the United States. (2007). An HSUS report: The impact of animal agriculture of global warming and climate change. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from http://www.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/farm/animal-agriculture-and-climate.pdf
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2007). Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/assessments-reports.htm
World Resources Institute. (1997). The last frontier forests: ecosystems and economies on the edge. Retrieved March 24, 2009, from http://www.wri.org/publications/ecosystems?page=1
Environmental Defense Fund. (1997). Seasons of change: global warming and New England’s White Mountains. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=825&template=1359
Benjamin, P. (WSC Spring, 2008). Global Environmental Change [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from Worcester State College Blackboard site: http://blackboard.worcester.edu
National Parks Conservation Association. (2007, July). Unnatural Disaster: global warming and our national parks. Retrieved March 11, 2009, from http://www.npca.org/media_center/reports/
Kurz, W.A., Dymond, C.C., Stinson, G., Rampley, G.J., Neilson, E.T., Carroll, A.L., et al. (2008). Mountain pine beetle and forest carbon feedback to climate change. Nature, 452, 982-990.
Pouliot, J. (2008, June 19). Climate Change Fueling Extreme Weather Events, Government Study Finds. [Press Release]. Washington: World Wildlife Fund.
Beach, R.H., Sills, E.O., Liu, T., Pattanayak, S.K. (2008). Severe Weather and Forest Impacts. In Forest Encyclopedia Network. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from http://www.forestencyclopedia.net/p/p2993/view
National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program. (2005). National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program report to Congress: An integrated assessment. Retrieved March 25, 2009, from http://www.ny.cf.er.usgs.gov/napap/Information/NAPAP%20Report%208-22-05.pdf
Schueler, T. (2000). Impact of riparian forest cover on mid-Atlantic stream ecosystems. In T. Schueler and H. Holland (Eds.), The Practice of Watershed Protection (p. 19). Ellicott City, MD: Center for Watershed Protection.
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