https://dailytrust.com/the-north-and-its-failed-political-industry
An important read!
https://dailytrust.com/the-north-and-its-failed-political-industry
An important read!
TLC defined
TLC = Tender Loving Care =
Slow soft touches
gentle all over
until one sinks slowly
into liberating relaxation
complete unwinding follows breathing changes
slow inhaling
and exhaling
deep and slow
deep and shallow
rapid and brief
brief and rapid
soon muscles, body
and tone relax,
and ree-laaaa-laxxxxx
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110820.cfm
Today’s first reading on Wisdom struck a deep chord in me. It was not so much in its listing of the benefits of Wisdom or in its presentation of Wisdom as a woman as in the fact that the readings challenged one to reflect deeper on the true meaning and indicators of Wisdom.
What then is wisdom? Is it knowledge? Is it accumulated knowledge? Is it applied knowledge used for problem solving purposes? Is it intelligence, good sense, proper discernment, ability to navigate moral and social dilemmas, pragmatism, context dependent decision making, love of God born from fatalism, accommodation of neighbour driven by instrumental transactional considerations?
What then is this wisdom? Is it cognitive intelligence with a strong lacing of emotional intelligence? How would Igbo, my mother tongue help in getting me to the conceptual clarity that I seek? The Igbos have the following words that relate in some way or the other to the word WISDOM. They are Ako, Uche, Izu, Amamihe, Mmuta, Nwota, Echiche oma….. Which of these best translates wisdom? Or is wisdom nothing else but the breath of God’s spirit blowing in us and showing us the way to true and enduring values and choices?
I do not have answer but I can identify the absence of Wisdom whenever I come across it. The absence of Wisdom manifests itself by its lack of humility, by the presence of hubris caused by hamartia, by arrogance, by pride, by gross insensitivity, insolence, absence of empathy and emotional intelligence and excessive self focus. These vices were part of Donald Trump’s undoing – a reality which reminds us that victory is always in the long run with those who possess wisdom and who seek after her. Theirs shall be the fruits promised in Galatians 5: 22-23.
Noel
The geography of food shows the peculiarities and patterns of food production and consumption across the world or in particular territories. It tells a tapestry of stories of the individuals or communities where they are found and consumed. Food is a key component and marker of any culture.
Peculiar food types are found in particular places and are promoted by persons embedded in such places. The geography of food is largely determined by the type of plants and animal species prevalent in particular areas. The spread of plants and animals across the world is largely dispersed according to the climatic realities of various territories. Available food sources determine our cuisine, support our health needs and impact economic, socio-cultural and religious activities.
Plants-based foods begin their journeys to our plates as seeds. Considering that seeds are essentially whole plants or animals covered by a seed coat, it is correct to say…
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We have entered the era of Nature-based colonialism. Call it the Green Colonialism. The gloves are coming off. The climate crisis in the world is being approached as a mere unfolding change, as business opportunities and not as an emergency that requires drastic action. Nations are comfortable to spend decades on talks and pretend they have ample time to procrastinate or deflect actions. However, this is not a time for propping up fictional ideas and carbon mathematics as though the cycles of Mother Earth are ordered according to some calculus or algorithms.
The climate COP25 held in Madrid is drawing to a close as this is being penned. Not much progress has happened at the negotiations. Indeed, the technocrats who are saddled with actually negotiating the various clauses of the Paris Agreement’s rule book could not conclude work on a number of articles and pushed them over to be…
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Let us begin by saying that colonialism is not yet history in Africa, or in the world. The global trade architecture has been in place for centuries and has been engineered by transnational corporations and international financial institutions as the chief guardians of neocolonialism and institutionalised thievery. Their interests are assured through the preservation of these mechanisms.
Transnational Corporations (TNCs) grew out of deep colonial roots. They are products of imperial geopolitics whose levers they hold, manipulate and tilt to suit their profit-making propensities. They have succeeded thus far because of careful modes of manipulation, erasure and replacement of imaginations as well as histories. The strength of neocolonialism lies in the perpetuation of coloniality.
Coloniality, for those not familiar with the concept, has been described as “the living legacy of colonialism in contemporary societies in the form of social discrimination that outlived formal colonialism and became integrated in succeeding social…
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God was not in the thunder, he was not in the noise, nor in all the razmataz…..no, He was in the calm whisper of the gentle breeze! Message? Our God is around us and if we find Him not, it is because we are because we are looking for Him in the wrong places and looking for wrong signs of His presence.
He is to beheld in and with and through faith. Peter did and walked on water. When he allowed his faith to desert him, he started to sink.
May genuine faith that finds expression in simple acts and in moments of reflective silence be ours today and always.
BY
NOEL IHEBUZOR AND BILKISU KAMADI
OUTLINE:
u WHAT IS ADVOCACY u WHY DO WE ASK?
u WHAT DO WE ASK FOR?
u TEN PRINCIPLES OF ADVOCACY/ACTION LETTER u ADVOCACY TOOLS WE CAN USE
u SAMPLE LETTER OF ADVOCACY u HOW DO WE ASK
WHAT IS ADVOCACY?
uWhat is advocacy? Key features of Advocacy
A series of political actions, conducted by interested citizens and stakeholders
to transform power relations.
Purpose is to achieve specific changes that benefit a defined population Advocacy is targeted at decision makers
and is a deliberate targeted process for influencing decision making and policy changes
WHAT IS ADVOCACY?
u What is advocacy? For example,
a set of organised activities designed to influence |
Save the children, a children focused organization defines advocacy thus – Advocacy is
ü the i policies rand actionsi of iothers lto achieve positive
in all its forms seeks to ensure that people, particularly those who are most vulnerable in society, are able to:Have their voice heard
WHAT IS ADVOCACY?
uWhat is the purpose of advocacy?
u Advocacy in all its forms seeks to ensure that people, particularly those who are most vulnerable in society, are able to:
Ø Have their voice heard on issues that are important to them. Ø Defend and safeguard their rights.
Ø Have their views and wishes genuinely considered when decisions are being made about their lives.
WHAT IS ADVOCACY?
u What is so distinct about advocacy? Eg, how is advocacy different from….? u Lobbying?
u Public relations? u Sensitization?
u Community mobilization? u Social marketing?
u Awareness creation? u Fund raising
Use Group work and discussion approach
WHAT IS ADVOCACY?
u What is so distinct about advocacy? Eg, how is advocacy different from….? The following questions can help us in finding what is distinct about advocacy
u What is the target audience of Public relations campaigns? of Sensitization exercises ? of Community mobilization? of Social marketing? of awareness creation? of Fund raising campaigns
u What are the goals and what activities are carried out for each of these u What power relations are involved
Again, use Group work and discussion approach
WHAT IS ADVOCACY?
uAdvocacy? ??? Three Questions uWhat do we want to change ? uWho can change it?
uHow can it be changed – what action is needed?
These three questions are central to all advocacy efforts
What change do we want? What is going wrong?
uProvide strong, unambiguous evidence
What must change?
uBe very clear about what must stop, what must change
or what alternative solution should be adopted
You can do it!
Who can make that change? Who has the power to make the change?
uBe clear that they can actually make the change
Who are our allies and opponents?
uBe clear about who we work with and who we have to convince
You can do it!
How can we make them change? How are we going to win?
uPick the most effective tactics for your target uProduce a clear and effective plan of action
How will you know if the change has happened?
uProduce a clear plan for advocacy monitoring and evaluation
You can do it!
WHY DO WE ASK?
u For social change u To get committed u To galvanize action
u To move policy change u In our case, girl child
What do we ask for?
u Girl child enrollment u More kids in school
u Complete fee abolition
u Engagement of more female teachers u Better school infrastructure
u More inclusive school architecture
ADVOCACY TOOLS
ACTION LETTER and Policy briefs
uLetters and
upolicy Briefs
are the most frequently used advocacy tools
STEPS TO WRITING AN ADVOCACY/ACTION LETTER
u Identify yourself as a constituent. Politicians are only compelled to respond to constituent mail u Use evidence that is live and relevant
u Be brief and simple. Try to keep the letter to one page or two at the most
u State and report your position. Always state your position in your opening paragraph and again in the closing paragraph u Personalize your letter. If using a form letter make changes to it and make it your own.
u Personalized letters carry much more weight
u Be polite and avoid ultimatums and rudeness. Everyone responds better to praise then criticism. Rudeness does little to create change
u Do not enclose additional material. These are rarely read.
If you have an excellent resource you wish to share, mention it in your letter and offer to send a copy if desired
STEPS TO WRITING AN ADVOCACY/ACTION LETTER
uDo not exaggerate or lie. Stick to facts and personal experiences. Fabrications could ruin your credibility uMake sure your message is timely.
uFOCUS
uMonitoring and tracking
uWho monitors must be ( objective, impartial, accurate and informed uSend a copy of your letter to your local policy makers/CEOs/managers uAcknowledge any response
SAMPLE LETTER
u Your name and address u Date
u Name u Title
u Address
u Salutation (Dear ______ )
u 1st Paragraph: Let the reader know what your concern is.
u 2nd Paragraph: You need to let the reader know the importance of your concerns and any impact the concern may have on the community.
u 3rd Paragraph: Thank your reader for taking the time to read your letter and make sure you re-state your concern. Provide a way for him to respond to you letter. Always add that you look forward to hearing their response on the issue. Now they know you expect an answer.
u Sincerely, u Your Name
u Your Address u Phone number u Email address
HOW DO WE ASK?
· Be brief
· Bold but politely · Be Confident
· With evidence
· With best practices example
TIPS
· Use some ego massaging · Build rapport
· Arouse interest
· Appeal to enlightened self interest · Build empathy
Use emotional intelligence