The IB curriculum under closer examination as a means of questioning the UN Charter

Here is an interesting document illustrating through questions raised for the purpose of education curriculum development how the factor of human error in the conception and role of the UN, if greatly magnified by actions of anyone or any group that wants to use it for self-serving ends, could lead to the sorts of disasters we face today. 

While the point of departure of this paper appears to be posited upon the holiness and perfectness of the USA, and therefore begets several questions from the point of view of non-North American values, specifically African values (as an example in our case), there are questions about how we should be raising our children in this part of the world that could and should be raised towards the effect of preventing the sorts of calamities we are facing today, with our heads all turned towards capitalism and the west for our unconvincing sense of wholeness in life.

http://truthaboutib.com/images/IB_Unraveled_3.28.10_Niwa.pdf

Bashar al-Assad gives a sparkling interview to Izvestiya (a Russian Daily)

President Bashar al-Assad's Interview with Izvestiaya

http://sana.sy/eng/21/2013/08/26/499187.htm


Seems it was carefully  interpreted by a very competent linguist or are these his own words, in English?  It is not clear.

It comes across of itself not only as a view he has meticulously and throroughly analysed, but as someone quite qualified to rule, eloquent, erudite and astute.  Even gifted.

With rare clarity in this riveting interview Assad isolates the evidence and expresses truths that are self-evident.  The voices that attempt to drown out the narrative appear to belong to a confounded, defeated antagonist, alluded to in subtle terms and unveiled in sophisticated language.  Frankly, I did not know that he was that good!

Here is Assad on youtube:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m6z3lhQ9fu0&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dm6z3lhQ9fu0

(link courtesy my friend AQN)

Religion can't deliver even a cold pizza: A brief response to condeming religion

One of my close friends, Richard - a brother - wrote this recently:

Religion promises people eternal life when they actually just steal your money and cant even deliver you a cold pizza.

To which I had to reply and which reply I have fleshed out a bit thus:

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Reply to Richard on Religion

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by  Mohamed Jiwa​

There is a position that religion takes on the question of material things which is, in the West, too often left as the provenance of politics.

Politics promises and delivers classist comforts by stealing land and resources from their rightful custodians and enjoying them to the hilt:  

​The ulterior motive of such a survivalist approach to life is lined by the thought, "​

Damn the consequences!

​"​

Religion, if studied with care, promises the same consequences for the same acts and omissions, except that the logic is a Superhuman one that can be analysed and cut into digestible morsels

​, given several conditions are fulfilled - worth it only to people who are very serious about the value of the planet we live on and the creatures who belong to it and are supposed to inherit it​.

  

Give me religion any day, every day, in the knowledge that when I negotiate the challenges it poses with a consciousness (which, by the way, even scientists have referred to as a miracle), an intellect and faith as a practice, I'll ultimately have every reason to tell myself calmly, "I'll have acted conscientiously to the hilt and when I die I'll have every reason to tell myself, "I couldn't give a Damn what happens now!"

Adherence to religion is thus a more intelligent response to the questions of humanity and environment than all other philosophies, which amount to a hybrid of self-centredness, over-confidence  and  complacency - with whatever level of conviction anyone tells oneself that s/he is addressing them as a daily practice.   

Politicising religion, on the other hand, is a figment of yet another story!

Contribute to Hands Off Our Elephants campaign here

This was tweeted by Paula Kahumbu 15h ago

Friends pls support HANDS OFF OUR ELEPHANTS campaign, MPESA PayBill Number 917856 account 0

A day made of glass by Corning - is it a threat to computer manufacturers?

Thanks to Farida Giga for sending me this link:

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A Day Made of Glass... Made possible by Corning. (2011) Of course I'll probably be in a more interesting place by the time our children have this but I can't wait to show it around - all kids have to see it, too!