#Ramadan Collection 24

[cyanidedrinkers]

Forgive me father for i have sinned.

A PriceGraves religious guilt fanfic. Tw: Religious guilt, Religious Trauma, Mentions of homophobia, accidental self-harm, Graves has a mental breakdown- Graves loved his Shadow's, They were like family to him and because they were his family he did everything in his power to make them comfortable. One of the major ways he does this is by taking the time to research their religions and adjusting accordingly. During Ramadan Graves tracks who's fasting and makes sure to have the night crew make food for those breaking fast. He keeps Kosher meals on hand at all times and special orders MRE'S for those in the field so they still get fed and don't have to go against their religion. All around base there are rooms for those who need to pray through out the day. He special orders uniforms for those who cant wear what is provided due to their religion, and assigns special roles for those who refuse to handle a gun but still wish to serve. All he asks is that he is informed ahead of time when someone needs to fast, take off for holidays, or pray so he can provide the support they need. If the company ever gets deployed around Saudi Arabia Graves asks around to see who would like to make their journey to the Kaaba. There's a small church area on the base for those to go to throughout the day and designated times for people to go attend service. He even provides custom helmets for those who decide to wear Hijabs or Kippah's and takes feed back on how to make them comfier.

Growing up in the south Graves was raised Catholic, His mother and father were very prominent at the church and so was little Phillip. He went to lent, ash Wednesday, attended church every Sunday, participated in dinner every Wednesday, learned old Latin so he can read the older versions of the bible, went to Catholic schools, he even prayed at every meal and before bed. His religion was sacred to him, It was an important part of his life growing up and so he strives to make others comfortable too. His love for his god tends to backfire though. After his betrayal of the 141 and Los Vaqueros he spent a whole week locked in his room praying and begging for forgiveness. His cross clutched so tightly in his hands that it left bruises and made that spot tender to the touch. Shadow's had stationed themselves outside the door to make sure he was safe but the cries coming from his room were those of pain and terror as he begged for forgiveness and to wash away his sin from his unholy body. It took nearly 3 months for him to get back to normal and when he did he got the worse news possible. "Due to the nature of this mission I'll be assigning 141 to help you. It'll be easier for them to stay on your base so clear out some space." Laswell stated firmly. Less then 24 hours ago Graves was hit with this news, He was scared to say the least. The 141...Staying with the shadows? How would he break it to his boys-, And girls, That the people who killed their teammates, lovers, and friends would be staying with them for god knows how long. Graves ran a hand over his face, His eyes threatening to close and his knees sore from sitting down all day from doing the paperwork for the 141's arrival. What he really wanted was to crack a beer open and watch the afternoon PT be done, He loved watching the new trainees get too cocky with their superior then bicker and moan as they were made to run laps. It brought him back to days were things were easy and he didn't have to worry about anything other then what their NCO was going to do to them. Pushing himself up and out of his chair with a loud groan Graves collected his things and set out to break the news to his shadows. The sun was just setting over the horizon as he took his first step out into the real world. The air smelled like a mixture of sweat, heat, dirt, and....rain? With a quick glance up at the clouds and a curse under his breath Graves made his way to the mess hall. "That stupid weather man said it wouldn't rain for another two days" He whined under his breath as he kicked a rock Infront of him, Repeating this action intel he eventually lost it. "Smells like damn rain to me, The clouds are white as snow but i just know it by the smell" His mumbling and grumbling to himself continued till he made it inside, It caught the eye of some shadows as he passed by them but they shrugged it off as him being hangry or a meeting gone wrong.

Once inside Graves was greeted by the waves and smiling faces of his Shadows, Some ran up to him and started asking how he was and if he was busy today because he didn't make his rounds like he normally does. Graves just smiled and made small talk intel everyone sat down. It was fairly easy to get everyone's attention when he needed it.

He stood and cleared his throat, Graves had prepared to yell over all the noise but the sound of silence washed over the mess hall as he stood and nothing but clattering forks could he heard as the attention was on him.

"Well that was easier than i remember-" He smiles to himself, He's still got it.

"It is with uttermost disappoint that i inform you that the 141 will be staying with us-" Groans and yelling cut him off. His shadows like small children sometimes, They whined and one person let out a very loud "NOOOOOO" which was met by laughter and agreement.

"I know we haven't been the best of friends with them but i expect you all to treat them with respect and to NOT, I repeat, NOT disrespect them in anyway OR steal their stuff." Graves hisses out, He aims that last part at a Shadow not to far away from him who's known for stealing things from people she dislikes.

This gets a unsatisfied groan from her but understanding nods from everyone else, And with that Graves grabs himself some dinner and goes back to his quarters for the night.

Once his meal is done and he finally shuts down his laptop Graves changes into a simple T-shirt and sweats. He removes the cross necklace from around his neck, takes off his socks and gets on his knees at the foot of his bed. His hands, Grasping the cross that lays so perfectly across his hands, and closes his eyes as he bows his head.

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Please, Allow these next few days to go well. Allow sin and hatred to not come in-between our mission and deliver my children back to me safely. Give me strength to push through and give strength to those who will have to see the faces of those who killed their loves, friends, and brothers in arms. Allow nothing but peace between the two companies lord. Amen"

Graves stays there for a few more seconds before standing up and setting his necklace at the bedside table. As he gets into bed and drifts into sleep he can't help but have that same gruff voice pop up in his head, Those calloused hands, the smell of cigars, it all swarms his mind intel he finally falls asleep....

That was part one :) if ya'll liked it let me know and I'll probably continue it- I had to do a lot of research so i apologize if everything isn't correct- I'm Agnostic, Former Christian, and don't know very much but I'm trying.

[iinsawdious]

I'm Myassar Ramadan from south Gaza, I am 33 years old, l have 3 daughter's

Kinan 11.5 years old, Seba 9 years old ,and Mariam 4 months.

I live every day war,with saying this the last day we live according to the amount of destruction and fear, a feeling that can only be described by those who live it.

War is very difficult, as I lost part of my family, my home and my kittens.

I return to study after 12 years and work hard to take high degree to be a dentist .l work in crochet field to collect money for paying fees for my university because it was my goal to continue my education.

After the dream become true ,the war came and I lost everything in a second.

Also, my mother has been suffering from kidney failure for years and needs dialysis 3 times a week.

Because of the war, she suffered from going to the hospital in danger and long distances.

I had many dreams that I wanted to achieve and succeed and become a dentist.

All we wanted was to survive the war. We were forced to be displaced more than 10 times at least.

We suffer a lot from the tent as we lived the summer with its extreme heat as it is made of poor quality nylon

And from insects and diseases

And now winter has come and we are drowning in the tents and the extreme cold

We fear death every day, we love life

Your help by donating even a small amount is able to save my life and my family's from death

Every €15 or €20 will contribute to saving my family

https://gofund.me/8fa0f896

Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is ( #134 )

€606 raised out of 100k! and no donos in the last 24 hours! please send some money over!

[fiercynn]

palestinian poets: yahya hassan

yahya hassan was a poet and political activist, a stateless palestinian with a danish passport. he grew up in an abusive household in gellerup parken, a housing project with a large migrant population on the outskirts of aarhus, the second-largest city in denmark. beginning as a teenager he had multiple run-ins with the danish criminal legal system and state institutions. as such he was passionate about criticizing both denmark and his own palestinian community for failing his generation.

his eponymous first collection of poems, published in in 2013 when he was only eighteen years old, sold over 120,000 copies, and he received wide acclaim and frequently performed his work at public readings. but his anger against the way islam was practiced in his own community also had him receiving backlash. you can read more about his life and the way he and his work was received in this lit hub article by jamal mahjoub.

his second poetry collection, yahya hassan 2, was released a few months before his untimely passing at the age of 24, on april 29th, 2020.

IF YOU READ JUST ONE POEM BY YAHYA HASSAN, MAKE IT THIS ONE

OTHER POEMS ONLINE THAT I LOVE BY YAHYA HASSAN (all translated from danish to english by jordan barger)

RAMADAN at poetry magazine

PLASTIC FLOWER at action books

THE BAG OF SKUNK AND THE GHETTO BAG at poetry magazine

[prodigalsam]

sometimes, i wish there was more i could do to help with palestine. i feel helpless often regarding it, that i am not doing enough, and perhaps i'm not. i am busy, sure, but knowing the fact families and many like mine are suffering as i'm safe makes me sick. laying out my two cents is about as much that's available for me currently.

so remember. keep everyone under oppression and death and suffering in your prayers. hope and believe. they aren't disposable. biden should go screw himself and so should every single politician and person standing by. when will america stop bloodying it's hands? this lent/ramadan, give up leaving current events on the back burner. free palestine, congo, and all those in need. direct our attention to them and them only! inshallah.

information i've coagulated on tiktok; https://www.tiktok.com/@lightprognostic/collection/%F0%9F%87%B5%F0%9F%87%B8-7307577542528174894?_r=1&_d=e80e70lb4gbal1&language=en&u_code=d8mcgk2i870bih&ug_btm=b8727,b0&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAAOa6nM1dh6AwS-2XJcGRz22hf33K8RvLIWEGBO1zrSGkZBftopR1zht9yZSWM0c5w&utm_source=copy&social_share_type=24&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=ios&tt_from=copy&user_id=6749279027628950534&enable_checksum=1&share_link_id=6CD24A23-7248-48FC-9B14-A871C81C1B4C&share_app_id=1233

[somediyprojects]

Holiday motifs designed by Cheryl McKinnon of Tiny Modernist, featured in issue #331/April 2023 of The World of Cross Stitching magazine.

Mark spring festivals worldwide with Cheryl McKinnon's (tinymodernist) collection of 31 inspirational designs. Use the quick and easy motifs to send joyful wishes to friends and family at home and abroad. Charts include Holi, Eid, Passover, Baba Marta, Hanami, Nowruz and more! 

Find this chart collection in issue 331, out in UK stores now, or download the digital edition via our app. Here's a full list of the events covered: 1. Songkran 2. Spring equinox at Stonehenge 3. Baba Marta Day 4. Cinco de Mayo 5. Teotihuacan Spring equinox 6. Nowruz (Persian New Year) 7. Holi 8. Beltane, Ireland 9. Marzanna – Slavic goddess 10. Eid al Fitr 11. St Patrick’s Day - motif 12. Ramadan 13. Angkor Wat spring equinox 14. Carnaval de Cadiz 15. St Patrick’s Day - border 16. Passover 17. Hanami (Cherry Blossom Festival) - border 18. Easter - bookmark 19. Bengali New Year 20. Easter - motif 21. Keukenhof (spring tulips) 22. Las Fallas de Valencia, Spain 23. International women’s day 24. Buddha Purnima 25. Backstitch alphabet 26. Backstitch alphabet 27. Backstitc numbers 28. Mother’s day 29. Walpurgis night (witches night) 30. Semana Santa 31. Shunbun No hi 

[Image ID: six cross stitch motifs celebrating spring occasions around the world including Baba Marta, Shunbun no hi, Holi, St Patrick's Day, Eid and Songkran.]

[crimsonpublishersobesityjourna]

Effect of Ramadan Fasting on Biochemical Parameters, Dietary Intake in Type 2 Diabetes Miletus in the State of Qatar

Background: During Ramadan, type 2 diabetic Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. This long fasting period may cause changes in blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, lipid profile and other biochemical parameters, eating behaviors, and nutrient intake. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Ramadan fasting on nutrient intake, changes in blood sugar, lipid profile and, other biochemical parameters in type 2 diabetic patients who fasted Ramadan in the state of Qatar.

Methods: The study was conducted among 38 Muslim subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus who undertook fasting during Ramadan. All subjects were subjected to a dietary assessment at three stages, i.e., Before Ramadan (BR), During Ramadan (DR), and After Ramadan (AR), by a trained dietician. The 24-hour dietary recall method was the tool for dietary assessment. Energy, macronutrients, sodium, and calcium intake were assessed using a 24-hour recall through a face-to-face interview in each stage. 5ml blood sample was collected to measure FBS, HbA1c, lipid profile, creatinine, BUN, sodium, and calcium were measured before, during and after Ramadan.

Results: Significant decrease in fasting blood sugar (P=0.03), HbA1c level (P=0.04), BUN (P=0.04), and creatinine (P=0.03). While the non-significant increases in lipid profile including total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL‐C and TG were noticed (P>0.05). There is no change was noticed in albumin, hemoglobin, and vitamin D. Daily consumption of energy, carbohydrate, and protein was significantly reduced during Ramadan (p < 0.000) when compared to before Ramadan. While fat, sodium, and calcium intake were significantly increased during Ramadan fasting (p < 0.000).

Conclusion: Ramadan fasting improve fasting blood sugar, HbA1-c, and some of biochemical parameters but has no effect on lipid profile. Reduce total energy and variations in macro and micronutrients intake during Ramadan fasting.

Read more about this article: https://crimsonpublishers.com/iod/fulltext/IOD.000624.php

Read more about our Journal: https://crimsonpublishers.com/iod/

[tripcabinet]

Exploring Shopper’s Paradise: A Guide to Shopping in Singapore

Introduction

Often referred to as the “Lion City”, Singapore is a vibrant metropolis known for its incredible weather, rich cultural diversity, and of course, amazing shopping Whether you are a fashionista, someone enthusiast for technology, or just someone looking to bring home a unique souvenir, Singapore has something for everyone. In this blog, we will take you on a journey to the shopper’s paradise which is Singapore.

1. Tree Garden Road: Shopping Mecca

Ideally, you should start your shopping in Singapore at Orchard Road. This incredible shopping belt stretches for 2.2 kilometers and features an impressive array of supermarkets, boutiques, and department stores. From high fashion to the latest gadgets, you can find everything here. Don’t forget to explore malls such as ION Orchard, Ngee Ann City, and Orchard Central to experience world-class shopping.

2. Haji Lane: Bohemian Chic;

For a unique shopping adventure, head to Haji Lane in the Kampong Glam area. This charming and narrow street is lined with colorful shophouses, each with a unique boutique, vintage shops, and quaint cafes. It’s the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind fashion pieces and indie designs that you won’t find anywhere else.

3. Mustafa Center: 24/7 amazing shopping center

If you are a night owl or just want to shop at odd hours, the Mustafa Center in Little India is the place to go. This 24/7 mega-mall offers an impressive array of products from electronics and jewelery to perfumes and clothing. A true bargain treasure and a unique shopping experience that never sleeps.

4. Chinatown: Cultural souvenirs

Not only is Chinatown a hub for delicious street food, but it is also a great place to pick up souvenirs of Chinese Singaporean culture. Walk Pagoda Street and its surrounding streets and browse a variety of trinkets, silks, and antiques. Don’t forget to spend a little to get the best results.

5. Bugis Street: Fads in budget

If you are looking for trendy fashion at a reasonable price on the wallet, Bugis Street is the place to be. This busy street market offers a wide variety of clothes and shoes. It’s the perfect place to spruce up your wardrobe without breaking the bank.

6. Electronics at Sim Lim Square

Technology enthusiasts, listen up! Sim Lim Square is your electronic paradise. This multi-floor mall is packed with shops selling everything from smartphones and laptops to cameras and gaming consoles. Make sure you do your research and buy the best deals.

7. Shops at Marina Bay Sands: Beautiful shopping views

For a premium shopping experience, head to The Shops at Marina Bay Sands. This upscale boutique is home to luxury fashion boutiques, including brands such as Chanel, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. The impressive architecture and views of Marina Bay Sands Skypark make shopping here a real experience.

8. Geylang Serai: Malay property trade

Immerse yourself in the Malay culture at Geylang Serai. The market comes alive especially during festivals like Ramadan, selling traditional Malay clothing, clothing and Malay delicacies This is a unique opportunity to discover Singapore’s rich Malay heritage.

9. Art and Antiquities at Dempsey Hill

If you have a passion for art and antiques, don’t miss a visit to Dempsey Hill. The enclave is home to several art galleries and antique shops. Explore interesting colonial buildings while searching for unique items and collectibles.

10. Sentosa: Memories and adventures

Singapore’s shopping scene is as diverse as the city itself, catering to every taste and budget. Whether you’re looking for high-end luxury goods or unique local treasures, Singapore’s shopping options are sure to please. So, get your groceries ready and embark on a retail therapy trip to this shopper’s paradise!

And if you’re exploring the wonders of Singapore, why not consider booking a Singapore tour package to make the most of your visit? Many tour operators offer comprehensive packages that include not only a shopping experience but also guided tours of the city’s biggest attractions, fine dining experiences and flexible accommodation options This is the way the perfect way to immerse yourself in Singapore’s culture, cuisine and shopping all in one unforgettable trip. Don’t miss this opportunity to make lasting memories in this amazing city.

[slipperymeteor]

Ohh this anthology just sings to my heart. And I really didn’t expect this, not being an Arab myself. Also I had just read a couple of good books when I picked it up so surely the law of averages would work against it. Plus with virtually any anthology, the level of quality typically varies wildly from one entry to another.

But the first essay was a really strong essay by Mona Eltahawy. “I am writing this almost exactly ten years after I died. The Mona I used to be died on 24 November 2011, on a street called Mohamed Mahmoud, near Tahrir Square, Cairo.” She wrote of coming into an understanding of herself, and much of it resonated with me. “When Y and I had penis-to-vagina sex I stopped reading the Quran. I could not stand reading the word ‘fornicators’ repeated again and again.” She wove her personal experiences with her reading of Adrienne Rich, Ursula Halligan, Bareed Mista3jil—an edited volume of women experiences in Lebanon, and June Jordan. She quoted Jordan, “Bisexuality means I am free.”

She admitted to a man in a queer club in Bosnia in 2016 that she too, is a bisexual. This after in 2013 her not using any label and did not explore her attraction to women, and in 2015 email exchange not ready to say that she is not only polyamorous but also bisexual. I felt triumphant reading her progression and my heart warmed so much.

This was followed by Salem Haddad, writing about his return to Beirut. When he learned of the explosion he was at the gym in Lisbon. “I stood in the center of the gym for a long time, examining the photos and sending messages to friends. Around me, the world continued as normal. The gym attendant scolded me for not wiping the kettlebell after I used it. It was impossible to grieve from afar.” When he got to Beirut, he hooked up with a lover. “I am reminded of why I have spent eighteen months pining for him, why I wrote and published an entire story inspired by him: because something about him — his eyes, his smile, his calves — reminds me of home, my childhood, Mediterranean beaches and hot, humid summers.”

“In this moment though I feel estranged from so many things, I feel at home in my desire; it is a return of sorts, to live in the moment, to bring the encounter to the light, devoid of shame. It is a sort of homecoming, a return to oneself.”

I can go on for nearly each and every essay. Dima Mikhayel Marta’s story of his father (‘promises to cumin are not kept’), Amrou Al-Kadhi’ clash with their mother.

Danny Ramadan’s essay paved the path for what is the most resonant essay in the collection for me: Anbara Salam’s Unheld Conversations. Ramadan: “There is a tendency among the audiences of marginalized authors to assume that every piece of writing is a reflection of real-life events that the author went through.”

Salam: “just before my second novel, Belladonna, was published, I have each of my parents an advance proof copy. They had both read my first book. But unlike my first novel, Belladonna is written in the first person, and the narrator is a queer Arab woman.

And so, as I handed over the soon-to-be-published book to my parents, it was with a certain anticipation, maybe trepidation. I left them to read the novel and waited for the conversation about my sexuality that we had always avoided. Both of my parents read the book. We never had a conversation. The special flavour of disappointment I felt is hard to express. Yes, the terror of facing this confrontation had been removed, but I’d prepared, I was ready. The fight music was playing but the match was called off, and I had to walk away.”

I’ve now used Salam’s essay as a crutch to understand and interpret my own experiences coming out to others and a public coming out of a sort that were followed with its own Unheld Conversations, which brings its identical disappointment.

This was an amazing collection, well worth the read. Maybe I needn’t be surprised that the essays were really really good, most of the contributors are themselves writers with accolades aplenty. 5/5 stars, instant recommendations.

[hardynwa]

Tribal leaders counsel Atiku, Obi, urges them never to go on exile

A group of tribal leaders drawn from across the country’s various ethnic nationalities has charged aggrieved presidential candidates in the 2023 general election not to go on exile because they lost out in a keenly contested exercise. The leaders specifically called out the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Labour Party, LP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr Peter Obi, respectively. They urged Atiku and Obi to remain as statesmen and contribute to national development. The group, which staged an advocacy work on Wednesday in Abuja on the platform of “The Natives”, however urged them to call their wards to order and kicked against calls for an Interim National Government, ING. Supreme Leader of ‘The Natives’, Olalekan Edwards, who led the protest, also declared support for actions taken by Nigeria’s defence, security and intelligence personnel to rein in sponsors of the ING plot. He said: “In the spirit of the commencement of the healing process and rebuilding the nation, as a patriotic appeal from the President-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu, we call on Nigerians to give peace a chance.” They also called on “Christians, in the spirit of resurrection, to pray for the Nation and calling on Muslims to use the last 10 days of Ramadan to seek for God’s favour and mercy for our great nation. “We call on INEC to conduct and conclude the remaining supplementary elections without fear or favour in our joint bid to collectively move the nation forward progressively. “We are hearing rumours that some presidential candidates of various parties have started leaving the country. “This is a trademark of any politician who is just an opportunist. “We, however, call on our respected Labour Party candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi to please stay in the country because his talents, abilities and his contributions are needed in this country. “As a patriot, he does not need to go on exile. “We are also hearing that the PDP candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar will soon be on his way back to Dubai. “Whether he has gone or about to leave, we appeal to him to stay back because his valuable contributions are needed in this country. “We encourage all of them to stay back like President Muhammadu Buhari stayed back because this is the process of contributing to development of our democracy and Nigeria. “For Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his party has lost elections twice but this one he won through proper collaboration and we are asking all to work together for the growth of our beloved Nigeria and its democracy.” On the conduct of security personnel during and after the elections, the protesters said: “Today is April 12. We assert as follows: “Nigerian Military and the intelligence community deserve global applause. Our country has been awake to the emergence of political saboteurs reminiscent of June 12, 1993, roaming the nation in search of collaborators to truncate our 24 years of uninterrupted democracy. “These saboteurs by their open and sinister moves have been busted by the vigilance and verity of the Department of State Security. “We must at this juncture openly commend profusely the swift response of the DSS under their Director General, the Defense Headquarters, and the entire Intelligence community for their professionalism and commitment to their democratic obligation by alerting, and distancing the establishment from any complicity and readiness to frustrate any mischievous effort to truncate our much-cherished democracy.” Read the full article

[whattheabcxyz]

2023-04-06

Singapore

40-storey condo named J'Den to be built on ex-JCube site - why the hell would you name a residential apartment after Will Smith’s son?!

Man who tried to extort $200K in chips from MBS gets jail - of all the stupid things to do, this takes the cake

Big jump in HDB resale flats that sold for $800-999K during pandemic

Upsurge in interest from Taiwan’s ultra-rich to set up family offices here

Youth who raped drunken teen gets nearly 10 years’ jail & caning - in Singapore, the price of not controlling your sexual urges is extremely high

HDB resale prices picked up last month with 24% more flats sold

Solar panels to be installed at 1,075 HDB blocks in largest tender under green push

Shopping

Singapore: Over 2m visitors to Ramadan bazaar so far - set to be largest attendance on record

Chanel brings its 1932 High Jewelry collection to Southeast Asia for the 1st time

Health

Singapore: 712 GP clinics have joined Healthier SG so far

People

Lance Reddick’s lawyer disputes his cause of death - if he took the clot shot, that would explain it tho’

Art

^ The romanticisation of suicide in art

Politics

China vows “resolute response” after McCarthy-Tsai meeting in California - *yawn*

Gossip

Brad Pitt let elderly neighbour live on his $40m former LA estate rent-free till the day he died - probably didn’t expect him to live till 105 tho’!

[wisdomrays]

TAFAKKUR: Part 430

RIGHT TO FOOD

MORE THAN A BILLION HUMAN BEINGS ON THIS PLANET ARE CHRONICALLY HUNGRY: EVERY 24 HOURS SOME 40,000 DIE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM LACK OF FOOD; A CHILD STARVES TO DEATH EVERY 2.5 SECONDS. IN SHORT, MORE PEOPLE DIE EVERY TWO YEARS FROM HUNGER THAN WERE KILLED IN THE FIRST AND SECOND WORLD WARS.

Yet, never before has the world produced more food per head of population. While there are places where huge numbers die because they have no crops or no money, there are other places (notably in the West) where the granaries are overflowing with all kinds of foods. While food is stockpiled in some areas, then dumped or wasted in huge quantities in order to maintain price levels, elsewhere, helpless mothers, starving and unable to produce milk, watch their babies die in their arms. Uneven distribution mocks the theoretical sufficiency of global food supply: there should be no world hunger problem but there is (UNO, 1989, p.3).

The ‘world food order’ is a scandal crying out for remedy. It arises within the context of the prevailing economic and political ideologies which are rooted in a crude laissez-faire mentality. According to this mentality, individuals are entitled to absolute ownership over whatever they have acquired lawfully, that is, they have the right to use, to transfer and even to destroy their property (Article 1 of the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966) without being held legally accountable.

It is this mentality, entrenched in law, which prevents the right to food from becoming one of the binding principles of international human rights. Yet, without a right to food, all other human rights are of little value. Once starvation afflicts a people, the very human life for whose sake all human rights are proposed wastes (Alston, 1984, p.4).

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 provides that “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food…”. Since then, many international documents and most of other normative instruments aiming to secure the right to food of peoples have been agreed upon (Tomasevski, 1987, p.19; see also the 1974 Universal Declaration on the Eradication of Hunger and Malnutrition, and the 1986 Food Aid Convention). However, in spite of the enthusiasm and unanimity with which the right to food is endorsed, the amorality of the economic order encourages its constant, continual violation. Measures against world hunger are temporary palliatives in the form of ‘charity’ from governments politically embarrassed by crises (Alston, 1984, p.90).

The impotence of the present world order to eradicate hunger and starvation contrasts sharply with the Islamic world order which enshrines the right to food not only in its ethos but also in its positive laws. To begin with, the Qur’an teaches that all resources are put at the disposal of all human beings by God, the Sustainer. Human beings have no right of absolute ownership, but have right as just trustees (2.30). As God’s vicegerent (khalifah), man is enjoined to deal justly with everyone (not every Muslim) (5.8). To act with justice in the use and management of one’s resources requires the satisfaction of at least the subsistence needs of everyone in society: nothing is more closely connected with the concept of justice than “human rights” (Ahmad, 1991, p.15).

Once the close relationship between justice and human rights is recognized as a fundamental principle, it is a natural next step to base the right to food on the socio-economic teachings of Islam. The aim of the concept of trusteeship (khilafat) is to establish ‘global justice’ in the use of the earth’s natural resources. No discrimination is made between Muslims and non-Muslims, as humanity is a single creation of God, and all have equal right to sustenance from God’s bounty (ni’ma). If one group of the human brotherhood is unable to provide sufficient food to sustain life, for whatever reason, they have a right (haqq) to provision from the wealth of others (Ahmad, 1991, p.17).

The ‘right’ of the hungry is not merely a moral claim; it has a positive, specific counterpart in the corresponding legal obligation to satisfy that right. The authority for this legal obligation is the Qur’an itself whose precepts are binding upon all Muslims (Ahmad, 1991, p.15). The refusal to feed the hungry and to urge the feeding of the hungry is equated with a refusal of religion: Have you observed him who denies religion? That is he who rebuffs the orphan and urges not the feeding of the needy (107.1-3).

In other verses, (e.g. 2.29), the Qur’an specifies that resources be used equitably for the benefit of all mankind (see Chapra, 1992, p207). No people have the right to dump or waste the resources at their disposal in order to manipulate prices (Qur’an 2.205).

The concept of a right to food is explicitly embodied in the teaching and practice of the Prophet, upon him be peace. The civilization of Islam is dated to the Hijrah, the migration to Madina. One of the first measures instituted by the Prophet was to ‘spread peace and distribute food’ (Hamid, 1989, p.l56). He explained that poverty can lead to kufr (ingratitude and rejection of God), and emphasised the link between Muslim solidarity and the right to food: ‘He is not a (true) believer who eats his fill while his neighbour goes hungry’. In another hadith, duty to provide food encompasses animals as well as humans: ‘Whoever brings dead land to life, for him there is a reward in that, and whatever creature seeking food eats of it, shall be considered as charity from him.’ (For other ahadith which clarify the duty to feed and the accountability for failure in it, see Nadvi, 1969 and Ishaque, 1969). The importance of land cultivation in Islamic Law may be gauged from the right of the legitimate authorities to sequester land which is being left idle and apportion it to those who are willing and able to cultivate it: absolute ownership of land is not recognized by the Law.

The right to food is so important in Islamic practice that it is not denied to enemies even in time of siege and war. During the lifetime of the Prophet, upon him be peace, some of his companions blocked the supply of food to Makka, intending to maintain the blockade until Makka surrendered. However, when the hunger of the Quraish was reported to the Prophet he ordered the blockade to be lifted. Following that example, Abu Bakr, the first Caliph, sent Yazid ibn Abu Sufyan on a campaign with the specific instruction that he should not destroy the crops and livestock of the enemy. The same principle is seen in action when the Ottoman army, for example, besieged Vienna, and the city’s poor and sick came to its outskirts to get food from the besieging forces. (What a contrast with the Serbian and Croat militias who are at this time attacking and preventing relief supplies from reaching the Muslims in Bosnia-Herzegovina with the explicit intention of starving them to death.)

Islamic Law provides for each individual’s basic rights to life and food through zakah and usr, two compulsory annual levies on, respectively the general wealth and the crops and livestock of the better off. Zakah is fixed at one-fortieth and usr at one-tenth of disposable wealth. In the event of the state being unable to meet its commitment to the needy from this revenue, it may compel the rich to give more. The Prophet, upon him be peace, said: ‘God makes it an obligation for the rich of a country to provide for the needs of their poor. Authority must compel them when the resources from zakah are insufficient’. Ibn Hazm and other Muslim savants, on the basis of this hadith, declared that if a person dies of hunger the individual’s neighbourhood is responsible and must pay the bloodwit (diya) by way of atonement (Belkacem, 1979, p.144). (One is bound to reflect how near Somalia is to oil-rich Saudi Arabia.)

Refusal to pay the obligatory levies is equivalent to denying the rights of the needy and a reversion to the values of paganism. Abu Bakr was prepared to go to war in precisely this issue.

Sadaqat al-fitr, a charitable donation made either in money or in kind, at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, is a further instance, in this case voluntary, of collectively meeting the sustenance needs of the poor.

There is a world of difference between the anthropocentric and egocentric philosophy which has taken such a firm root in the Western mind since the secularization of human rights in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the theocentric ethos of Islam. The latter sees the right to food as a duty, even a debt, owed by those who have a surplus to those who do not have the bare minimum. Further, Islam seeks to establish a social order which recognizes the essential community of all human beings. Without a feeling for that essential community, and a commitment to it in economic transactions, it is hard to see how solidarity can be realized even at a national, let alone an international level. Presenting human beings as objects of ‘charity’ cannot begin to address the problem-for, very soon, the rich become ‘fatigued’ by the demands made upon their compassion and their resources. For people to be dying of famine in a world of plenty, even of excess, is an intolerable scandal and shames us all (Bedjaoui, 1982, p.465). A new ‘world food order’ must be sought as a matter of urgency: if not, the threat of rumbling empty stomachs in Africa and Asia will disturb international peace in the post Cold War era rather more than the threat of nuclear war disturbed it during the Cold War.

[theexistentialistdancer]

A Eulogy for Roxie

I remember when I first saw Roxie as a puppy, outside the gates of the Mena House golf course. I thought she was a boy dog since she didn’t have anything distinctively girly about her. Her nose was long and narrow, and she was born with no tail and was very small. I couldn’t catch her and so I tried to remember I can’t save every dog. She disappeared for awhile and then when I brought the floof to the shop, she resurfaced and I discovered she was a girl and she was super smart and friendly. She would play with the floof and they had a blast together, and I kinda tried to keep my distance because at that point I already had collected the floof to re-home and I was overwhelmed at having two dogs. As a dog-lover, this is the hardest thing in the world to do, since my instinct is to save all the dogs I see on the streets, but I have serious limitations. I didn’t have the space or the funds or the living environment to have a dog, and that is why the floof was up for adoption. She was older than the floof and was scrappy and a bit of a short stack - definitely fun sized. She never did get very large, but was stocky and developed an elegant beauty about her. Even as a puppy, she had a mind of her own. I would tether the floof to a chain outside the shop, and Roxie was so smart. She knew how to lift the end of the leash off the anchor and free the floof to play with him, and when they would play together on the golf course, she would try to take his leash off of him. She acted like he needed to be freed because he had a harness on, and she LOVED to be independent and run. I nicknamed her “the floof’s girlfriend” and felt so sad I couldn’t take both of them home with me every day. I prayed her sassy attitude and street smarts would keep her safe, since a puppy surviving past nursing is impressive in the pyramids area. 

After the floof left (he was adopted in Boston and is now named Malik), I still hung out with Roxie, who did not have a name yet. I was hesitant to name her because my heart had been so broken by all the other dogs that I had tried to save and failed, but she was street-wise, sweet, and quickly became my shop buddy. I fed her every day and looked for her, but she truly became mine when she had an emergency. Her back left foot had been run over by a car and her bones and muscles were exposed. I found out that it had been like that for about 12 hours. I scooped her up with Kokee and took her to the vet, and she was an absolute dream in the car. She acted like she had been preparing for that moment her whole life, as she had seen the floof leave in the car many times. She looked out the window and made herself right at home. She took many car rides after that, and she was the queen: always looking out the window and challenging the dogs we passed as if to tell them she had arrived.

 We got to the vet and bandaged and cleaned her foot; it was not as bad as it seemed. Her toenail never did grow right again, but she eventually regained almost total use of her foot. She sat at the vet and let him work on her injury like she couldn’t even be bothered to look at it. That was her personality exactly; whenever something uncomfortable happened, she was perfectly aloof until it passed. She was the perfect family dog: tolerant, patient, smart, and independent. We had to change her bandages every 24 hours and clean and put glycerin on her wound. I know it hurt her a lot, but she was so quiet and calm and let us help her every day.

 While at the vet, we discovered she needed to be spayed as soon as possible as she was older than I thought, so we scheduled her surgery. She was super happy staying in boarding, since she got to eat lots of fancy food. The vet laughed at this shaabi baladi dog staying in the same kennels as fancy breeds, but by that time I was already known as the crazy foreigner who brought baladi dogs to get help. We got her all her injections and she had a fancy “pet passport” issued to her. Not long after she was finished with her surgery, Velma arrived.

Velma was a tiny puppy with floppy ears, lanky legs, and velvety fur, and like Roxie, she had no mother to be found. She latched onto Roxie immediately, Roxie was the street-wise, gang boss to Velma’s mushiness, and they perfectly balanced each other. I declared them sisters and finally gave them their official names: Roxie, after Roxie Hart in Chicago (a name that had just stuck with me for her from the beginning), and Velma as her sidekick.

 And so there we were, at our shop by the pyramids: me, Roxie, and Velma. All day, I sat with my dog family and played with them, laughed while they sneaked into the shop to nap, fed them chicken, and trained them to sit. I scratched their ears and sat on the ground with them against all the norms of Egypt, and we had beautiful days. I laughed at how they would steal sandwiches from the cafe next to the shop, and could push the door open to sleep in the air conditioning. Velma loved water so she would go find a nasty puddle to splash around in, and she showed Roxie how to do the same. Velma sat like a baby seal and had to be touching Roxie at all times, and Roxie grumbled in return but tolerated tiny Velma’s love. Roxie was not an overly affectionate dog, but she was loving when she wanted to be. She would give nibbles with her front teeth and liked to sleep up against your back, or with her head pressed up against your leg. I wanted to take them home with me, but I live in a shared house with people who do not like dogs inside and the shop always had people to look out for them, so I had to believe they were as safe as could be arranged in my situation. They were like farm dogs: independent and self-sufficient, and intent on going and visiting anyone they wanted. Roxie had a air of royalty about her, and I declared her the queen of the Haram Street Hooligans, an original gangster. But then one day, animal control came through the area and tried to collect dogs. Roxie hid, but Velma was scooped up until Mimo, Kokee’s dad, saved her. After that, we put them up on the shop roof at night to keep them safe when there was no one around.  

 Thus began the battle of the roof versus street for my two dogs. For Roxie and Velma to stay on the roof, they needed daily water and food, which was sometimes difficult with timing. But they were not allowed to come to my house, so the roof would have to be the best solution. I went every day and made sure they had fresh water and food. People would also let them down to the street during the day, but wouldn’t put them up again at night, not understanding what the big deal was for me to keep them safe. Once, the upstairs door wasn’t secured and they came down to the shop and chewed up some papyrus before taking a nap. Sometimes I had shows so I wouldn’t be back by the shop until late, and then I would discover they had not been put up. I tried to find a home for them, but because they are considered “common” dogs, I was unsuccessful because baladi dogs are everywhere in Giza, and I did not want to split them up. I was their caretaker, the end. With regular poisonings and morning dog sweeps by animal control and the medical research teams, I was beyond paranoid, but I tried to find a balance with what was within my control. The roof wasn’t perfect either; Roxie had decided to climb ALLLL the way to the top and make it her lookout. 

Then two things happened at once:

The roof of the shop was taken by another company, and the pandemic happened. I started fighting to bring both Roxie and Velma home; I was not going to tolerate them being out in the street 24/7. Roxie was smart though, and she snuck into the shops and napped on the couch, staying the night inside. Everyone told me that they were street-savvy and knew their way around, and I should not be so worried. It was not good enough for me, and finally I succeeded in bringing both of my dogs to my house. We anchored a metal hook into the ground for long tethers, and watched them carefully to see where they would go on their own. Our street has a few large households and there were constantly people outside looking after them, including the owners of the same neighboring shops from their original area. After one month, it was clear that they refused to be tethered and would stay on our quiet street, venturing out onto the main road only if someone was with them. We also have a large speed bump on the main street as well, so I was relatively confident that they were safe from cars. Roxie and Velma were, after all, street dogs, and they knew their way around the roads from being free in the pyramids area. 

For a month, everything was perfect. I made them delicious food every day of chicken and rice and eggs, and at first I put potatoes and carrots until I saw that they picked them out and left them in a pile. I cooked their rice with chicken broth that I snuck from the regular food for extra flavor, and was happy that I got to give them yummy things to eat. Roxie buried her food in an old blanket she “borrowed” from who-knows-where, and then panicked when she saw me shake it out and chicken pieces went flying. We decorated our house for Ramadan, and Roxie was perplexed at the speaker. They “helped” hang the streamers and investigated new visitors. They napped in a sand pile at the neighbor’s houses, and stole flip-flops and pranced around like they were the winners. I found a pair of ram horns they had collected and brought home to me. They said hi to the new foal on our street and played with the children. I put their fancy collars from the USA on them, purple for Roxie and pink for Velma (I later had to take them off because some people were planning to steal the collars). It was joyful and I felt like I had finally succeeded in saving them, finally making my house feel like home. I was wrong.

On April 21, 2020, tragedy struck. At 3AM, I argued with Kokee and went downstairs to visit my dogs. Roxie snuggled me, and gave me sweet love nibbles which had a way of bruising afterwards. I laughed that her paws smelled like corn chips, and I searched her body for stray ticks. She had none, as usual - Roxie was very clean somehow. I stroked her short, stiff hair and kissed her long nose, and rubbed her belly, which was dark-colored because under her hair, she had black skin. Her pointed, too-big ears were my favorite to play with, and I scratched them as she rolled off the steps. I pulled her back up, and she flopped right off again. Around 3:30AM, I went back upstairs and went to sleep, comforted by her silly scrappy way of loving. Velma was nearby, but for once she was too interested in sleeping to bother to snuggle me, so I got all of Roxie’s sweetness.

At 8:30AM, I took our Airbnb guest to 6 October to shop. I felt emotional, but I thought it was due to not sleeping well. The car was parked in the back so I looked down the front street to see the dogs on the way out and saw Velma. I assumed Roxie was next to her and just blended into the sand, as she had dug out a nice little crevice to sleep inside. We went to the store and came back around 11. I parked the car and showed my guest the stolen ram horns. I didn’t see either dog (later my memory would trick me about this), but they normally slept behind the house in the shade during the middle of the day so I carried my groceries upstairs and didn’t worry. I knew they were not out on the main street because I would have seen them on my way back.

A few hours later, I went up onto the roof with Mimo. I looked over the side of the roof and again saw Velma. Roxie was no where to be seen but she was so independent that this was not unusual. I went downstairs to clean the kitchen and help with dinner, and Kokee called saying he had food to give the dogs for dinner. Great, I said, but he took a long time to come back. I was heading downstairs to feed the dogs anything I could pull together since Kokee was late, but then he stopped me on the way and said he had something to tell me. Roxie had been hit by a microbus and killed, and it had happened at 6/7AM that morning, not long before I had left to take my client to the store. The supermarket had seen it happen, but they didn’t bother to tell anyone until Kokee had returned. The Egyptian Animal Control had taken her body to somewhere undisclosed (we have yet to find out where they take animals), and the supermarket guy said Velma had sat with Roxie for awhile after she had died, and then came home on her own.

I screamed in anguish. My sweet, mafia-boss Roxie, had been killed and no one told me?! Everyone knew she was my dog. How could she have been killed by a microbus, when they are so slow? I even tried to run away from Kokee in a microbus once in the midst of a silly fight, and later laughed that I took the slowest vehicle in all of Egypt. Donkey carts move faster than a microbus. We have a speed bump. How could no one tell me what happened??? How could I have truly not noticed she wasn’t around for a full day? How was no one on my entire street aware?? We have two uncles, numerous cousins, many friends, and in our own house, eight people. Not a single person was told? There were cameras outside all the stores, but no one was able to produce footage of what happened. She was hit right outside our street, not even in the actual street. I demanded we find her body, and so we went around the normal areas that animals that die are placed for pickup in Nazlet El Semman and searched all the dumpsters to find nothing. Kokee called every contact he had to try to find out where the city takes animals that have been hit by cars, and no one could tell him. Although Velma had been able to say goodbye, I was beyond devastated that I would not be able to bury her, stroke her fur one last time, or apologize for not doing better to save her. I had tried my best, and yet I still failed; she was only 1.5 years old. I had dreamed of when I would have my own place and be able to bring her and Velma inside, to live happy, comfortable couch-napping lives. I thought for sure I had at least a few more years, and I had thought about how I would send them both to the USA to stay with my mom. Roxie’s foot had been healed for 9 months, and it was almost completely normal aside from the occasional toenail flareup.

The other question that was immediate was how Velma would survive without her big sister? Velma relied on Roxie for everything. Roxie took care of her, showed her how to be a street dog, and taught her the mafia life. Without Roxie, Velma turned into a puddle of mush, and they were bonded. Whenever I would be at the shop and I didn’t see one of them, I could ask the one I did see to find her sister. Once, Velma ate half her food, then went and found Roxie and brought her back to share with her. All I had to say was, “where’s Roxie?,” or “where’s Velma?” and the other would find their sister.

The first night without Roxie, we put Velma on my balcony. I had tried to put them both there before, but it had turned into a huge fight. Roxie was very vocal, and she refused to be told what to do. She wanted to either be RIGHT NEXT TO ME or completely free. People complained about her barking. However, with this tragedy, the fight was over - there was no way in hell I was going to leave Velma alone. I had to carry her up two flights of stairs, and I brought her blanket that she stole and her ram horns with her.

The next night, Velma decided to look for Roxie. She sat at the end of my street and watched for her sister, wagging her tail every few seconds in anticipation. Velma is a full-body dog, and every emotion radiates throughout her being. If she is looking for someone, you know it. She laid down and waited, then asked me to go with her outside to the main street by grabbing me with her paw and walking out. We went out to the scene of Roxie’s death, and Velma sat there, looking around, and then sighed and went back home. My heart shattered into even smaller pieces, and I cried more tears than I thought was possible.

The entire house mourned her, although some more than others. We called Zayn, one of our regular shop workers, and told him and he was very upset. Zayn is a very kind, religious man from Upper Egypt, but despite being religious, he loved both dogs and regularly played with them. Unlike many religious people, he had no qualms about petting dogs. Kokee’s mom cried, and his dad was also sad. Roxie was our mascot at the shop, and Mimo knew I loved her deeply. Of course, Kokee was equally as heartbroken as me, as she was just as much his dog as she was mine. He cared for her constantly, gave her food, changed her foot dressings alongside me, took her to the vet while I was traveling, and laughed at her antics. She was a strong part of our family.

Kokee dedicated two Ramadan food bags to Roxie, which is a Muslim way to offer extra help for her soul to go to heaven. All dogs go to heaven, but maybe the food bags earned her the place of mal3ma in heaven too. She was the true queen of Haram Street.

I keep thinking I will see her saunter up my street, coming home. Her ghost haunts me, even though just hours before she died, I gave her so much love and belly scratches. I wish I would have stayed longer and kissed her nose one more time, and scratched her wiry, short hair and booped her ears. I didn’t get to bury her, but at the same time, I know she was buried with other street dogs, so they have each other for comfort. I just wanted a little more time with her before she left me…

I’m grateful I know exactly what happened to Roxie, and that she didn’t just disappear without any record. I’m grateful for the love nibbles she gave me, the snuggles, the comfort, and the laughs. She was silly in the most baladi way possible, with the funniest humor. She definitely gave me some fleas, and she entertained me with chasing moths, sneaking into the shop, and she had a way of communicating that was so clever. She always made it clear what she needed. I’m grateful for all the times I saw her nubbin of a tail wag when I said “I love you Roxie,” and all the side-eye she gave me when I woke her up from a nap. She was the perfect companion, and was so patient and tolerant of everything. and I’m unbelievably grateful that I had the honor to know such a wonderful dog and to borrow her from heaven for awhile. One day, we will nap together on the couch again, and I’ll squish her face and look at her beautiful eyes and kiss her on the nose, and never let her go again.

Rest in peace, ya Roxie. I hope you found other friends from the pyramids over the Rainbow Bridge, and you are all laying in a beautiful pile of soft sand in the sunshine. You are missed every single day by your Earth family, and you were the best dog anyone could possibly hope for. 

In Roxie’s honor, I hope to spay/neuter some dogs in the pyramids area. When the pandemic is under control, I will share details of the plan. 

[newstfionline]

Headlines

Lines stretch across America (NYT) Millions of people across the country are risking their health to wait in tense, sometimes desperate, new lines for basic needs as the economic toll of the virus grips the country. In cars and on foot, they are snapping on masks and waiting for hours to stock up on groceries, file for unemployment assistance, cast their ballots and pick up boxes of donated food. The lines stretch around blocks and clog two-lane highways. In western Pennsylvania, cars stacked up for miles on Monday as hundreds of people waited to collect a week’s worth of groceries from the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Outside Miami, some of the 16 million Americans who have lost their jobs over the past few weeks snaked around a library on Tuesday, waiting to pick up a paper application for unemployment benefits. “It was people, people, people,” one person waiting in line said.

Health or wealth? Nations pressured to loosen virus rules (AP) As the coronavirus pandemic throws millions out of work and devastates economies worldwide, governments are struggling with the dilemma between keeping people safe from a highly contagious virus and making sure they can still make a living. Workers in some nonessential industries were returning to their jobs Monday in Spain, one of the hardest hit countries in the coronavirus pandemic, while in South Korea, officials were warning that hard-earned progress fighting the virus could be eroded by new infections as restrictions ease. The decisions are more complicated because each nation is on its own coronavirus arc, with places like Britain, Japan and parts of the United States still seeing increasing deaths or infections; France and New York hoping they are stabilizing at a high plateau of deaths; and hard-hit nations like Italy and Spain seeing declines in the rates of new deaths and infections.

Virus-era decisions: Way too many (AP) Should you wash your hands? Are you going out to get the mail? Should you touch the mailbox? Should you touch the mail? Should you clean the mail? Should you take a walk? Should you wear a mask? What about gloves? What about neighbors--stay six feet away? Ten? Will they approach? What will you do? Will you be standoffish, or laugh it off? Should you go to the supermarket? Should you wipe down the groceries? What if you run out of wipes? Should you stop to get gas? Should you wear gloves at the pump? Should you douse your credit card in sanitizer after sticking it in the slot? Should you remove the gloves before you handle your steering wheel? Should you throw the gloves on the car floor or use the gas station trash can? Are you overreacting? Are you under-reacting? Should you wash your hands again? Not only do tiny decisions matter more, but they must be repeated--contemplated again and again--and they are changing daily. It can be exhausting.

Millions of public school students will suffer from school closures, education leaders have concluded (Washington Post) Only weeks after the coronavirus pandemic forced American schools online, education leaders across the country have concluded that millions of children’s learning will be severely stunted, and are planning unprecedented steps to help them catch up. In Miami, school will extend into the summer and start earlier in the fall, at least for some students. In Cleveland, schools may shrink the curriculum to cover only core subjects. In Columbia, Mo., this year’s lessons will be woven into next year’s. Some experts suggest holding back more kids, a controversial idea, while others propose a half-grade step-up for some students, an unconventional one. A national teachers union is proposing a massive national summer school program. “We have to have a recovery plan for education,” said Eric Gordon, chief executive for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. “I’m really worried that people think schools and colleges just flipped to digital and everything’s fine and we can just return to normal. That’s simply not the case.”

Violent storms, tornadoes shift to East Coast after leaving at least 21 dead, 1.3 million without power (Washington Post) At least 21 people were killed and dozens were injured after a swarm of destructive tornadoes and damaging winds tore across the South on Easter Sunday. Violent storms brought more than 400 reports of severe weather, including 360 reports of wind damage and dozens of tornadoes associated with a powerful storm system barreling across the country. Power was knocked out to 1.3 million customers between Texas and Pennsylvania. The workweek began with yet another day of dangerous weather, a continuous line of strong to severe storms stretching more than 700 miles from the Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic on Monday morning. The Northeast was bracing for widespread damaging winds on Monday afternoon and evening.

Mexico President Faces Threats of Tax Revolts in Some States (Bloomberg) Mexico’s president is facing threats from some state business chambers to withhold taxes to protest the government’s refusal to provide aid to offset the impact of the lockdown, Reforma reported on Sunday. The protests by business groups follow complaints by governors from the states of Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Coahuila and Jalisco, who claim their states’ economic activity accounts for a bigger share of federal tax revenue than they get back from government transfers. Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro threatened to pull out of an agreement to provide tax revenue if the concerns of businesses were not heeded. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has refused to promise fiscal aid to companies affected by shutdowns as a result of the pandemic and has focused his economic response on using existing cash aid programs to the poor, as well as providing 2 million $1,000 loans to small businesses. Data on Sunday showed Mexico has lost more than 130,500 jobs in March and some economists see the country sinking into an even deeper recession than a devastating crisis in the mid-1990s.

Promising ‘better days,’ Macron extends France’s lockdown until May 11 (Reuters) French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced he was extending a virtual lockdown to curb the coronavirus outbreak until May 11, adding that progress had been made but the battle not yet won.

In India, Coronavirus Fans Religious Hatred (NYT) After India’s health ministry repeatedly blamed an Islamic seminary for spreading the coronavirus--and governing party officials spoke of “human bombs” and “corona jihad”--a spree of anti-Muslim attacks has broken out across the country. Young Muslim men who were passing out food to the poor were assaulted with cricket bats. Other Muslims have been beaten up, nearly lynched, run out of their neighborhoods or attacked in mosques, branded as virus spreaders. In Punjab State, loudspeakers at Sikh temples broadcast messages telling people not to buy milk from Muslim dairy farmers because it was infected with coronavirus. Here in India, no other group has been demonized more than the country’s 200 million Muslims, minorities in a Hindu-dominated land of 1.3 billion people.

China new cases rise to highest since beginning of March (Foreign Policy) China recorded its biggest rise in coronavirus infections in the past six weeks, as 108 new cases were reported yesterday. China’s Health Commission said that 98 of those cases involved someone entering China from another country. Just last week, China began reopening the city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began.

As Ramadan approaches, coronavirus continues to unsettle the Middle East (Washington Post) The number of coronavirus cases and fatalities rose Monday across the Middle East as health ministries in the region went through the now near-daily ritual of announcing their latest death tolls. In Iran, the hardest-hit country, authorities said that the number of fatalities had risen to 4,585, with 111 new deaths and 1,617 new cases identified in the last 24 hours. Oman announced 128 new cases, and Morocco 85, with 2 fatalities. Curfews or near-total lockdowns have been imposed across much of the region. For many governments, a key question now is what to do about Ramadan, the Islamic holy month due to start in late April that would normally see group gatherings each night inside houses and out on city streets.

Nigerians shake off coronavirus lockdown boredom with group exercise (Reuters) The bored and the brave have taken over the six-lane highways of Nigeria’s capital, now on coronavirus lockdown. Vehicles in Abuja are mostly gone. In their place: hundreds of people doing group workouts with little concern for a disease that has so far killed 10 and infected 300 in Nigeria. “Since the lockdown, we are just at home doing nothing, no work, no food, nothing, nothing, so we decided to come and exercise our body instead of us sitting at home and just getting fat,” said Akinyemi Busayo, a trader, who was doing aerobics and other exercises in a group. Behind Busayo, dozens of people lined a footbridge spanning one of Abuja’s massive highways, doing sit-ups as a stream of runners jogged between them.

[borisbubbles]

Eurovision  2010s: 25 - 20

25. Francesca Michelin - “No degree of separation” Italy 2016

Man, we’re deep into the endgame and at this point every elimination starts to mentally hurt. 

“Nessun grado di separazione” is a fantastic song. it is a moody, melodic, genuinely touching showcase of palpable social anxiety, brightened up by frivolous jiggles and Animal Crossing-inspired staging. 😍 Its lyrics tackle the subject of “falling in love” with disarming accuracy and poetic justice. When you fall in love with somebody, it really is a question of resistance, of trying to stay level-headed and rational, of trying to not speak from the mind, not the heart, and then flare of emotion lights up from the inside, carving a path in your chest, until

THERE IS NO DEGREE OF SEPARATION

THERE IS NO DEGREE OF HESITATION

THERE IS NO DEGREE OF SPACE BETWEEN US

WE ARE STARS ALIGNED TOGETHER

DANCING THROUGH THE SKY, WE ARE SHININ’

Hands down my favourite language shift ever. Each time Francesca delivers it, time stands still, as you take in the expanse of the universe, the beauty of love and the profoundness of life. 

Naturalmente, Francesca is also a fantastic performer for me. It really pains me that she was less good in the Grand Final, because her SF performance was genuinely worthy of a top five spot on this ranking. Yet, at the same time, Francesca is clearly upset at herself that she was worse and god my overthinking, underachieving perfectionist-with-a-crippingly-fear-of-not-being-good-enough self can RELATE SO HARD to that. 😭

*YOU* ARE PRECIOUS, Francesca. Grazie.

Easily the best entry Italy have ever brought at Eurovision...

________________________________________________________________

24. Mahmood - “Soldi” Italy 2019

...until “Soldi”. Alessandro is mah MOOD

What a delight “Soldi” was. Shame on me though. Between, all the madness of Hatari’s assholery, Serhat’s qualification, ZalaGasper’s interview gold, Bilal’s revamp, Michela & Miki’s staging miracles, Sergey’s struggles to keep his homosexuality under wraps, Duncan’s staging disaster, Jurij’s bedroom eyes and 2019: A Kate Oddyssey, I had completely forgotten about Mahmood.

Which made the rediscovery of “Soldi” all the greater. 😍 THIS 👏 SONG 👏 FUCKING 👏 SLAPS. 👏 even the B-material things such as the snappy camerawork, the arabic middle-eight and rhyming “Ramadan” with “Jackie Chan” are mindblowingly awesome. 

It hard to pick a favourite aspect though. The backdrop, the beat, the dancing, Mahmood’s vocals and miming all come together in a song that is supereffective in getting the pain across while also simultaneously remaining fun, addictive and highly energetic. Mahmood completely DISMANTLES bad parenting while also clowning the xenophobic pieces of shit that tried to bully him off Eurovision. It’s that combination of genuine emotional pulling, righteous ownage and let’s face it, a fucking amazing song that makes coming back to Mahmood for another listen the easiest decision ever. *CLAP*CLAP*, motherfuckers. 👏

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23. Lea Sirk - “Hvala, ne!” Slovenia 2018

[2018 Review here] (shared with ZiBBZ)

HVALA SLAY SLAY

Best moment of 2018: Lea Sirk becomes the best shock qualifier of ALL TIMES. Honestly, a trash fairy with a trap song that she wrote in under two hours has NO BUSINESS being this good, but it is. 😍

 Remember the Israeli’s that cheered for Hatari? “Hvale, ne!” is the jury equivalent to that. It’s a song that righteously calls out the FAKENESS of the music industry <3 THAT WAS ALSO LIKED BY THE JURIES <333332456 😍😍😍

Besides this “Hvala, ne!” is a wild ride taking us to lands of cotton candy braids and trashbag couture with an impeccable, show-stopping choreography, an earworm of a beat and just general kick ass energy. Lea operates on a near-inhuman level of pure CONTENT. Every second she delivers something of value, be it choreography or a snarky note or a hilarious facial expression “Hvala ne!” is riddled with little nuggets like that, which are hard to list in text, so here are a  couple of gifs:

and yes, of course, the “break”. 😍

Being able to pull that off not ONCE, but TWICE and STILL making it look fresh and novel <3 “Hvala, ne!” is effortlessly sleek, unapolegetically non-conformist, shamelessly gimmicky and 100% pure awesomeness. Slovenia may be a tiny country geographically but they burst with raw TALENT. Obrigado sim! 

ps: Slovenia reportedly hating Lea now because she was trashtalking ZalaGasper’s victory over RAIVEN <3  lmfao Lea <3 ANGELS <3

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22. Who See - “Igranka” Montenegro 2013

💃 Vodim te na IGRANKU 💃 💃 Na na na na  IGRANKU 💃 💃 Ku ku ku ku IGRANKU 💃 💃 Vodim te na IGRANKU 💃

I should not get ahead of myself, but jesus fuck, what a TRIP. 

So anyway, are Who See dressed like austronauts to signal that “Igranka” isn’t of this fucking planet, or? “Igranka” a fun party song, in which Who See tramp about dressed like Armstrong and Lightyear, flanked by 2013′s ubiquitous dubstep. Good? Sure.🤔 Funny? Certainly. 😁 However, nothing superexciting so far.

Until... 

Who See go from a weird heteronormative rap effort that is lowkey fun to an utterly unhinged acid trip the SECOND Nina Zizic is lifted onto the stage by a dumbwaiter and then proceeds to collect every scalp in the gaylaxy. Remember how I said 2013 had EPIC female entrances? This is a top five entrance probably in the history of live performances. SLAIN, DECEASED, EVAPORATED every single time. 

Europe’s cyborg seraph.

and I mean, you’d think this one-time gimmick would get stale over time, but “Ingranka” actually gets better with every listen. I’m at the point where I can NO LONGER resist the ululating siren call to don a visor and a pair of pvc wings, and make overdramatic shouty entrances everywhere just like Nina the few times I choose to leave my mother’s basement. VODIM TE NA IGRANKU. 

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21. Cleo - “My Slowianie”  Poland 2014

CLEO... Donatan?

Is this Donatan shade for not being there? GOOD! We at BorisBubbles (so basically, I) believe in gender equality and since the wymyn do all of the work here, I’ve decided to not credit him. 🤭

Anyway, let’s just JUMP right in because dammit “My Slowianie” is such a RIDE. It’s entire objective appears to be... to convince everyone that ~Slavic Women~ are better, at everything than non-slavic women and, well, being slavic myself this message speaks to me. Not to mention that Cleo teaches us this paramount interculteral lesson in the most hilariously blunt fashion ever. 

SPECIAL THINGS WE HAVE IN OUR GENES

MAKES US PROUD OF OUR NATURAL SHAPES

CREAM AND BUTTER TASTE SO GOOD

WE PREPARED FOR YOU DELICIOUS FOOD

OUR BEAUTY’S FAMOUS ALL OVER THE WORLD

YOU GOTTA SEE FOR YOURSELF AND THEN YOU WILL KNOW 😉

and dammit Cleo doesn’t underdeliver, doesn’t she? Three minutes of loud in your face SUPERIORITY. 😍 One could argue that “My slowianie” is SOCIALLY REPRESSING WOMEN, like many terfs did but like... get over you -- Sophie Ellis-Bextor, BorisBubbles. I don’t think any of us have the right to tell (other) women what they can or can’t do because of their breasts and oestrogen. These ladies agreed to do this song/act and are completely facetious while doing it. It’s a spoof. Laugh. or don’t laugh, I don’t care, really. Be a humourless non-slavic frump if you must. As far as I am concerned, “My slowianie” is a thing of CHARMING BEAUTY :shakes what his momma gave him:/ :claps his hands to this music:

and in this update we say goodbye to Italy, Montenegro and Poland. Read my thoughts on them below:

ITALY

Italy before their return is one of the biggest snoozefests in Eurovision and now look at that chart. They were near impeccable in this decade and hopefully can win a third time soon (honestly the fact that they came so close to winning four times in this decade and still didn’t is one of the biggest mysteries of 2010s Eurovision imo.)

MONTENEGRO

Montenegro are the Georgia of the Balkans: they often go for experimental shit, just cuz they can. Unfortunately, their shit often is just that: shit. 

POLAND

Poland at Eurovision is a big ball of meh, mostly because they can’t, at all, select songs or entrants that sound good. Cleo and Michal are forever though, so it’s not completely without merit. 

[masterge77]

A brief list of atrocities committed by China in recent years

You hear about the Hong Kong Protests, you’ve most likely heard of the Tienanmen Square massacre, and you probably know of the Uyghur genocide, but it goes FAR beyond just that: This was taken from a comment made by Ender12123 on this YouTube video, credit to him for compiling this list: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ebMI2xDtn4

Hundreds of human rights lawyers (not even dissidents, just the LAWYERS who defended people) were snatched by gestapo all over China in what is known as the 709 Crackdown [1].

One of those lawyers, Wang Quanzhang was sentenced to 4.5 years for "subversion of state power" [2]. But that's not enough. China actually went after Wang's 6-year-old son, forcing him out of his school and banning any other school from taking him in [3].

A dissident, known as Wang Bingzhang was kidnapped by Chinese agents in Vietnam and sentenced to life in prison after a closed trial that lasted 1 day. [4]

A man wore a t-shirt with the word "Xitler" on it and was disappeared [5]. Eventually he was tried for "subversion of state power" while barred from meeting with lawyers. [6]

Another man, Wang Meiyu hold up a placard calling for Xi’s resignation & democracy. He was arrested for "picking quarrels”. He ended up dead in custody. [7]

A woman live-streamed herself splashing ink on a Xi poster. She was disappeared [8]. Her last social media update: "Right now there are a group of people wearing uniforms outside my door. I’ll go out after I change my clothes. I did not commit a crime. The people and groups that hurt me are the ones who are guilty" [9]. Later on, there was report of her being sent to a psychiatric hospital [10]. After the ink-splash woman's disappearance her father made a series of broadcast to call attention to her plight. He ended up getting taken away by the police in the middle of a live stream. [11]

5 people associated with a Hong Kong bookstore that sold titles such as "Xi Jinping and His Six Women" were disappeared. Only one managed to escape back to HK. He held a press briefing to tell the world about his kidnapping by China. He's now in exile in Taiwan. The other 4 are still somewhere in China. [12]

And, of course 1.5 million - 3 millions Uyghurs rounded up in concentration camps [13], including leaked footage of a large number of blindfolded Uyghurs shackled together. [14]

A Canadian journalist wanted to debunk reports of Chinese anti-Muslim repression so he went on a stage-managed show tour put on by China. That means he only saw a fake Potemkin village that China actually thought was acceptable by Western standard. But the brutality of even this fake Potemkin village stunned him. Now imagine what's really happening in the real concentration camps where millions of Uyghurs are being held. Imagine how bad the true situation is. [15]

Using minorities & political prisoners as free organ farms [16]. A doctor's eye witness account: 'The prisoner was brought in, tied hand and foot, but very much alive. The army doctor in charge sliced him open from chest to belly button and exposed his two kidneys. Then the doctor ordered Zheng to remove the man’s eyeballs. Hearing that, the dying prisoner gave him a look of sheer terror, and Zheng froze. “I can’t do it,” he told the doctor, who then quickly scooped out the man’s eyeballs himself.' [17]

Call for retraction of 400 Chinese scientific papers amid fears organs came from Chinese prisoners. [18]

15 Chinese studies retracted due to fears they used Chinese prisoners' organs Cultural genocide (and organ harvests, of course). [19]

A uyghur's testimony: "First, children were stopped from learning about the Quran, then from going to mosques. It was followed by bans on ramadan, growing beards, giving Islamic names to your baby, etc. Then our language was attacked – we didn’t get jobs if we didn’t know Mandarin. Our passports were collected, we were told to spy on each other, innocent Uyghur prisoners were killed for organ harvesting" [20]

And now China is moving beyond Uyghur and cracking down on its model minority Hui Muslim. 'Afraid We Will Become The Next Xinjiang': China's Hui Muslims Face Crackdown: "The same restrictions that preceded the Xinjiang crackdown on Uighur Muslims are now appearing in Hui-dominated regions. Hui mosques have been forcibly renovated or shuttered, schools demolished, and religious community leaders imprisoned. Hui who have traveled internationally are increasingly detained or sent to reeducation facilities in Xinjiang." [21]

Along with the Uyghur and Hui Muslims, Christian churches are being closed down throughout the country, with some churches being forced to replace the Ten Commandments with quotes by Xi Jinping, and portraits of Mao Zedong as a means of forcing people to adhere to the party at all times. [22]

One church had it’s cross torn down [23], and throughout the country, Christians have been being hunted down [24].

Just like the Nazis, the Chinese are now burning books that don’t comply with the party’s stringent and intolerant ideology, most especially religious texts. [5]

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. What is occurring in China is horrible and appaling, and big corporations continue to prop up this inhumane government, and nobody's doing anything about it, the corporations are blinded by greed that they don't see the atrocities in China.

Sources: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/709_crackdown 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/28/wang-quanzhang-china-sentences-human-rights-lawyer-to-four-years-in-prison 

https://chinachange.org/2019/09/06/imprisoned-lawyer-wang-quanzhangs-six-year-old-son-once-again-forced-out-of-school/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wang_Bingzhang_(dissident) 

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/11/03/young-chinese-activist-missing-after-sharing-plan-to-wear-xitler-t-shirt-on-cpc-anniversary-report/ 

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2017/02/15/chinese-xitler-activist-trial-subversion-lawyers-barred-seeing/ 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/27/death-of-chinese-activist-in-police-custody-prompts-calls-for-investigation-into-torture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9sF34fJwh0 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-woman-dong-yaoqiong-disappears-spraying-ink-xi-jinping-a8455166.html 

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/07/23/chinese-protester-splashed-ink-xi-jinping-poster-sent-psychiatric-hospital-report/ 

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/07/14/police-interrupt-youtube-live-stream-father-missing-chinese-woman-splashed-ink-xi-jinping-photo/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causeway_Bay_Books_disappearances 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/04/us-accuses-china-of-using-concentration-camps-uighur-muslim-minority

 https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/d722aw/chinas_detention_of_uighurs_video_of_blindfolded/ 

https://nationalpost.com/news/canadian-went-to-china-to-debunk-reports-of-anti-muslim-repression-but-was-shocked-by-treatment-of-uyghurs 

https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/c1my5j/china_is_harvesting_organs_from_detainees_uk/

https://nypost.com/2019/06/01/chinese-dissidents-are-being-executed-for-their-organs-former-hospital-worker-says/ 

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/feb/06/call-for-retraction-of-400-scientific-papers-amid-fears-organs-came-from-chinese-prisoners 

https://www.newscientist.com/article/15-15-studies-retracted-due-to-fears-they-used-chinese-prisoners-organs/ 

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/china-uyghur-muslim-rules-laws-treatment-chinese-human-rights-religion-a8534161.html 

https://www.npr.org/2019/09/26/763356996/afraid-we-will-become-the-next-xinjiang-chinas-hui-muslims-face-crackdown

https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/china-ten-commandments-church-crackdown

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1031890/christian-persecution-christianity-china-news

https://www.ibtimes.sg/video-after-uyghur-muslims-christians-are-being-hunted-china-bible-banned-36046

https://www.ibtimes.sg/china-just-like-nazi-germany-1930s-burning-books-35711