World Refugee Day 2012: Refugees have no choice. You do.

Sometimes I forget that I live in a world where genocide, refugee camps, and poverty are commonplace and that many people glide through life never hearing a testimony of torture endured or never watching a perfect stranger break down in tears while recounting the day they watched their family massacred.  This daily reminder of what type of world much of this planet's population lives in is wearing at times and I admit that I am just as guilty as the next development worker at dropping acronyms, acting shocked when people haven't heard of the latest genocide brewing in Kazwhatistan, and going on holidays to the first world feeling jaded and unable to fit back into the society that raised me.  While sometimes I'd like to live in oblivion to the atrocities taking place throughout the globe (and I actually am quite oblivious on details of what's going on in really anywhere other than sub-Saharan Africa, don't even ask me about northern Africa for that matter), I have chosen the field I am in because it's fulfilling and even a small glimmer of hope is sometimes enough for survival.

Arusha Weekend Away

So as I mentioned in my previous post, I went to Arusha this past weekend to visit my friend Jana.  And in the interest of turning over a new leaf and actually staying on top of the blogging for all you peeps at home reading this here are some pictures.  The day after I get back!  Don't tell me, I know, I know, I'm awesome. 

NGO Showcase: Inherit Your Rights

My friends are awesome; they are amazing, brilliant people doing incredible work all over the world.  Unfortunately, for those of you who don't live in their corner of the world or know them personally, most people won't get to hear their stories.  My goal is to change this.  I am going to start a quasi-regular (you know how I am about posting regularly) series showcasing amazing women doing their small part to change lives.  Of course I will mostly highlight friends and acquaintances but if you know of someone doing amazing work somewhere let me know! 

www.inherityourrights.org

This past weekend I went to Arusha, Tanzania to visit one of my good pals, Jana Hardy.  I met Jana in Kenya 2 years ago when she volunteered for a small NGO in Nairobi before she was scheduled to start an internship at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).  When we met I was writing and researching my final papers for my MLS, one evaluating the causes of the Rwandan genocide and the other examining the effectiveness of international justice systems in cases of genocide.  Clearly, we were destined to be friends.  After 2 months in Nairobi she moved to Arusha where she spent some time before heading back to finish her law degree at Stanford.  (Did I mention my friends are smarty pants!)  In January 2011 she and her friend Katie founded Inherit Your Rights (IYR), an NGO aimed at bringing justice for Tanzanian widows who have been robbed of their land rights.

My Love Affair with the UK: The Liverpool Edition

While in the UK visiting my friend Meg, her hubby Cheerio, and their new addition baby midget last week we decided to hit up Liverpool, home of the Beatles and the International Slavery Museum.  It was the latter that got me all excited for the trip.  (I'm not crazy; I totally like the Beatles, but if you know me or have ever read my blog prior to today, you know my obsession with human rights drives me to do weird things like go on holiday to genocide sites and read about human rights abuses in my spare time.)

While I didn't get to visit the International Slavery Museum, (I blame the Queen) I did learn more about the history of slavery at the Museum of Liverpool.  Pretty much Liverpool was part of the triangle of shame where the Brits sent goods to West Africa in return for slaves who were then sent to the States where the ships returned to Liverpool with goods produced by the slave labor.  And they totally supported the South during the Civil War just to keep their source of cotton and tobacco flowing.  (I still love you, UK, and your fascinating history, despite the atrocities you've committed throughout the modern world.  We'll work through it.)

In other news, here are some pictures from the day:

Uganda Captures LRA's Caesar Acellam

Ok so obviously I am against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in general and Joseph Kony specifically; he is a wanted ICC criminal after all, however, I am still not for Invisible Children's Kony 2012 publicity stunt (for many reasons that I won't detail here as it is off topic) or the most recent act of Ugandan troops "hiding in ambush at strategic crossings for two weeks [to capture]; Acellam...as he entered the Central African Republic."  While I agree with the general idea behind Enough Project's article, Making the Most of the Capture of  the LRA's Caesar Acellam that we should look at the arrest of a high level LRA commander and decide how best to move forward from this point; I do not agree with commending the feat.  Let's look at this from another perspective:

Practicing Positivity

I love reading blogs; it's my version of reality television.  Many of these blogs happen to be expat blogs because I like to hear about other places people live, why they moved there, and how they adjust to life in those places.  One of my best friends writes such a blog which I love to read.  It's about her life after moving to Manchester, England.  I think she does a great job of giving her opinion without negativity.  It's not always in favor of the UK but it doesn't ever make me feel like I'm reading a ventfest about how terrible things are there.

This Is How I Roll

Just a few photos to catch you up on my goings on since I've been a slacker about updating the blog:

4.29.12 Relaxing at Lake Bunyoni

4.12.12 Straddling the Equator

4.1.12- Blankets and Wine

3.18.12 Lake Turkana

St. Patty's Day 3.17.12- Beers and friends on a water tower in Kakuma

3.3.12- Weekend at Raha Mstarehe- View of the Ngong Hills

2.11.12 Crusing the Congo River

I Still Have All My Vital Organs

A week in my life:  bed bugs, pharmacy hospitals, and IV drips.  Aren't you jealous? 

During my terribly exciting life of fanciful trips to exotic locales I recently got a terrible case of bed bugs or something that attacked my entire body and caused it to itch and swell up.  I'm a sexy beast.

Kakuma Ice Maker

About 40k from the South Sudan border in the suffocating heat of Kakuma a bag of ice is all one needs sometimes to brighten ones day. Especially when it's 35-40C degrees. 

If you have ever survived the heat of far north Kenya or visited Texas in August then you will understand the joy of discovering an "ice shop" in Kakuma. Since there is only spotty electricity and most of the shops are run by generator they had a very inventive way of creating ice here:

Ice machine in Kakuma

The bags are stored in salt water to keep them frozen.

Who knew a 30ksh bag of ice could bring me so much happiness in life? #it'sthelittlethings

Happiness in a Red Bottle

I am currently drinking my very last Big Red soda lovingly imported from the States during my mother's visit to Kenya last June.  Thank goodness soda doesn't go bad.  Or does it?  Anyhow, over the months I have stared longingly at this delectable delicacy and finally decided that tonight was the night to indulge in my 6th and final Big Red.  Not quite sure why tonight was the night, but it was worth it.