And the winners were… Jamaica Blog Awards
In case you are interested, the winners of the Jamaica Blog Awards and links to their blogs are listed below. Do take a browse through, subscribe, comment and support our local blogging community!
And, once again, many thanks to all those who voted for me and who have supported and encouraged me in my writing!
Related articles
- Thank you and congratulations! (petchary.wordpress.com)
- A Great “Dig” for Jamaican Bloggers (petchary.wordpress.com)
- Everyday Courage: Please vote for this post in UNICEF Jamaica’s #HashCon Blogger Advocacy Challenge! (petchary.wordpress.com)
- Jamaican press ignores ground-breaking gay rights video campaign (petchary.wordpress.com)
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (petchary.wordpress.com)
- Jamaica Blog Awards (scriptbucket.wordpress.com)
Would You Mind…?
Dear Reader:
Firstly, warm wishes as the New Year approaches! May 2013 be happy, challenging, successful, and rewarding (yes, we have to have challenges!)
Secondly… I wonder if you would like to nominate me for a Jamaica Blog Award? This is an annual event, organized by a young Jamaican who wants to encourage good writing, sharing and creativity in the social media. Many young bloggers are just starting out; some, like me, have been blogging for a bit longer (over 360 blog posts in my case! How did I get there, I wonder?)
If you would like to nominate me, go to the Jamaica Blog Awards website at http://jamaicablogawards.org/jm/ Click on “nominate” when it comes up near the bottom of the page. There are quite a few categories…most of which my blog doesn’t qualify for. But if you find one that fits, all you need to do is put in your email address and my URL: http://petchary.wordpress.com.
I would be grateful for your support…and for your support for all Jamaican bloggers and writers! I will let you know how we all get on, in January…
DEADLINE: MIDNIGHT (JAMAICAN TIME) ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3o!
THANK YOU!
Love and Peace
Back in my hippie days, this was of course my mantra. A simple expression of what life should be all about. Surround yourself with love and peace and everything will fall into place. And everyone will love you.
Of course, in the real world life wasn’t quite like that. In today’s Jamaica, there are so many barriers and walls and divisions. Love struggles to overcome them; peace flies in and shatters itself on the walls – just like a wild dove did recently (but our dove was only stunned; after a while she recovered, and flew away).
The dove of peace.
A week or two before Christmas, I heard these words repeated again at a seasonal celebration to which I was invited by the non-governmental organization Eve for Life. I have written about this organization before. It is “lickle but tallawah,” in Jamaican parlance - small, but strong. Two women run the organization: Joy Crawford and Patricia Watson, whose capacity for love seems to know no bounds. All-encompassing. Eve for Life provides care and support for young mothers living with HIV/AIDS; and most importantly, empowers these very marginalized young women (many of whom are in their teens) to achieve more than they could ever have dreamed. For example, there is Georgia Green, an Eve Teen Mom, a Top Performer in Food and Nutrition with awards for Outstanding Work in Mathematics, Spanish, Human and Social Biology and Food and Nutrition from the St. Andrew Technical High School in Kingston. And there is Keisha, about whom I wrote a few weeks ago (see “Everyday Courage” - link below), who is now studying Practical Nursing and looks forward to graduating in 2014. At least I can show Georgia’s picture.
This celebration was a Christmas party with a difference. When I arrived, the room was already filled with laughter and loud voices. The ice had been broken (although, as with any party with young people, there were some who were shy and a little awkward). The room was full with men and women – clients of Eve for Life (mostly aged 17-23 years old), and young gay males. Two of the most marginalized groups of young Jamaicans, but there was so much enjoyment and fun in the air, you would never have known. The theme of the Christmas session was “Finding Common Ground.” The participants all introduced themselves and then paired off to reflect on, discuss and present their thoughts on some photographs that were handed out. The photos depicted creatures (cats, dogs etc) living in harmony. There was much humor, but serious comments too. “If all these different species can live together and love, why can’t we?”
“We all have spaces in our hearts for love,” said one young man.
There was no looking back during these discussions. Why look back? The present is much better than the past for most of these young people; and the future looks hopeful, too. If, that is, the young people can hold strong. Joy Crawford gave a presentation on how to have a “Safe and Satisfying Season.” The practical, sensible advice was all looking forward, beyond the fun of Christmas to the New Year. “Identify one wish for Christmas Day 2012,” said Joy, and compare it with the wish you made a year earlier. See where the “gap” is. Did your 2011 wish fall through the cracks? Was it too ambitious, or too timid? Then do better this year. And make plans: plan “one action to make Christmas Day special” - whether it is taking your child to Grand Market downtown, or visiting a relative. A happy memory to enjoy in the coming year.
The message for New Year was about self-affirmation. On December 31, meditate for thirty minutes on the coming year, Joy advised. “Affirm the I Am.“ Resolve your “I Am” for 2013. Whatever your circumstance, no matter how hard, work on that “I Am.” Deep introspection that should lead to action. Light a candle for those whom you loved, who are no longer with you – parents, boyfriends, friends. Eve for Life is a great believer in clients taking responsibility for their lives – going out and doing. Inaction, loneliness can lead to a kind of letting go, losing control, depression, inertia, self-pity. The other all-important aspect of empowering Eve’s young women is sharing with each other, supporting each other. Stay in touch.
The beauty of meditation. “It will calm you,” said Joy.
The party continued. Groups of young men and women sang carols. One group began quietly, then in the later verses gave the song some true Jamaican verve and swing. I have a wonderful photo of their laughing faces and dancing feet, but cannot share it here. One young man sang so beautifully that his voice was almost swamped with whoops and cheers.
So, as 2013 comes into sight, what are the opportunities and challenges for Eve for Life and these courageous young women? (Yes, they are courageous, believe me.) According to Pat Watson, the children need more support. Some are finding challenges at school, and they would like to set up a homework program for them. And most of their mothers are now at school, many of them in HEART training programs learning IT skills. They will emerge well qualified, eager and optimistic for a job; Eve for Life needs to find work for them, or all the hopes these marginalized women have of establishing themselves in a full, productive life will be dashed. Employers, please consider offering work to the disadvantaged – to those who just need a “second chance” in life…. And everyone, please consider supporting Eve for Life, and other organizations who help to hold together the lives of Jamaica’s most vulnerable citizens.
As I left, the party showed no signs of winding down. There were hugs, gifts, smiles, music, the exchange of contact numbers. The children chuckled, cried, chased each other.
This was a Christmas party with a difference. One I would not have missed for the whole world…
Love and Peace.
Georgia Green. The smile on her face says it all. (Photo: Eve for Life)
Respect and Protect…Eve for Life’s World AIDS Day message
Related articles – several bloggers’ thoughts on peace are listed below:
Christmas is a state of mind: On respect, love and understanding (petchary.wordpress.com)
http://petchary.wordpress.com/2012/11/29/everyday-courage/ (Everyday Courage: petchary.wordpress.com – my entry for the UNICEF #HashCon blog contest)
http://www.eveforlife.org/default.html (Eve for Life website)
Peace (apostcardaday.blogspot.com)
Peace Mantra: Preserving Peace Series (bringingspirit.wordpress.com)
Go Into the New Year as if it Were Your Last! (lipstick-chat.com)
The Symptoms of Inner Peace (mindmindful.wordpress.com)
Bloggers For Peace: WE Can Make A Difference (theobamacrat.com)
We Are All One (joejeeber.com)
Peace… (jruthkelly.com)
A Great “Dig” for Jamaican Bloggers
Well, the Jamaica Blog Awards are nearly upon us, and the “hype” is building! (Jamaicans love the word “hype” - it has become a slang word meaning “cool.”)
Jamaican bloggers unite! The happy group poses in the lobby of the Knutsford Court Hotel.
As a blogger with over 350 blog posts under my belt – it’s amazing how they add up – I have recognized the importance of research. Blogging is not about writing off the top of your head – unless you just want to vent. If you are going to write on a topic, for heaven’s sake make sure you get your facts right. Check, and double-check if need be. Make your blog readable and credible. As one radio station declares itself, “consistently credible.”
Now, sometimes it’s not as easy as you expect to find the information you need to enhance the quality of your blog. You Google back and forth, looking for the right information that will support your argument or add meat and substance to your article. You browse websites that are distressingly inadequate, out of date and user-unfriendly. It can be frustrating. But I recently came across one amazing online resource – mainly, but not entirely, for Jamaicans - managed by Deika Morrison under the aegis of the Gleaner. It is called DiGJamaica, and it replaces the print version “Handbook of Jamaica” formerly published by the Gleaner.
Even the mighty Google can lead you into a dead end when searching for Jamaican information. Why not find it all on one website?
Fellow-bloggers, indulge me please. Take my hand, and let us stroll through this marvelous little website: http://digjamaica.com. Right at the top, there is the all-important search box. That’s a good start. Let the discovery begin…
I typed in “children’s homes” in the search box. A page similar to a Google results page came up, with links to DiGJamaica’s directory. Clicking on Mustard Seed Communities, for example, I found all their contact information clearly at the top of the page, followed by a description of the organization and listing of the services they offer. If you click on other buttons below, you will find the name of a contact person there (how useful is that! Having a name), opening hours, and “other useful information” – in this case, a note that Mustard Seed accepts donations and volunteers. Everything you need to know, concisely.
Mustard Seed Communities are one of the amazing non-governmental, faith-based and community-based organizations in Jamaica.
The directories are great, actually. You can search alphabetically for government entities, publicly traded companies, civil society organizations and international organizations in Jamaica. The civil society directory is beautifully laid out, with the logos for each organization. So nice to use. Sample page: http://www.digjamaica.com/directories/view/civil_society/kevoy_community_development_institute.
OK, let me backtrack a little… we should really have started with the Overview tab, which covers the broad categories: Land, People and Culture; Government and Economy; Parish Profiles; and a number of lovely slideshows on various topics. Here is a sample from the Arts and Culture page, a vibrant slideshow with good quality photos: http://digjamaica.com/dance. And here is a beautiful slideshow of Jamaican Herbs: http://digjamaica.com/jamaican_herbs. There is also a lovely slideshow on our formerly-little-known-surprise-100 meters-bronze-medal-winner-in-the-London-Olympics, Warren Weir.
Warren Weir checking out his bronze medal. (Photo: Reuters)
There is a tab for events. You can add your own event using a simple form – whether it’s a fund-raiser, a party or a seminar. If you click on one, all the contact information, a flyer and a map are all there. Very neat indeed. Free advertising. You can just direct persons to the entry for your event, and you can save it on your iCalendar. Take a look at http://www.digjamaica.com/calendar.
Then there is the data section, divided into categories. DiGJamaica is gradually building these sections, but already you can track murders and major crimes per calendar year since 2009; access 30 different charts on budget issues – Gross Domestic Product, inflation rate, remittances and many others; and browse 40 charts showing aspects of government projects and a breakdown of Jamaica’s domestic and external debt; the 2011 Census results broken down into separate charts; and much more useful information. There is a wealth of economic data here to be explored (pardon the pun)… and of course, politics too!
Resources: well, all of this is one huge resource, but this section includes all kinds of useful stuff – lists of emergency services, the Ministry of Education’s approved textbooks, Justices of the Peace in each parish, and so on. There is a “how to” section… apply for a visa, clear a barrel, address a dignitary…
DiGJamaica is a Gleaner project that really fills a great need for reliable and relevant information.
Now to perhaps my favorite section of the website, “Our Past.” As the oldest company in Jamaica, the Gleaner has a reputation for its meticulous archives, chronicling the history of Jamaica pre- and post-Independence. There is “This Day in our Past” across the years, with several entries for today from the sixties, seventies and eighties. Did you know that on December 15, 1975 trading in the Jamaica Telephone Company’s shares was suspended in the Jamaica Stock Exchange? The government was moving towards nationalizing the company. See here: http://digjamaica.com/this_day_in_our_past/december_this_day_in_our_past/december_15. If you don’t have the book or want to look up one of Dr. Rebecca Tortello’s marvelous “Pieces of the Past,” you can find her beautifully detailed historical articles here. These were serialized in the Gleaner in 2003. There is also a fascinating timeline of key events from 1494 to the present.
The Festival Dance Competition, back in the day. (Photo: Pieces of the Past/Gleaner)
And this is just the basic stuff. Click on “New DiGs” and you will find the latest information on HIV in Jamaica, and Transparency International‘s Global Corruption Perception Index. There is an excellent page on Children’s Rights in Jamaica at http://digjamaica.com/childrens_rights. There is a detailed Job Seekers’ Guide with lots of practical advice.
The “Top DiGs” is a very useful little sidebar, which will take you to all kinds of places – an important article on how to protect yourself from identity theft, for example; and – a most invaluable resource for journalists and bloggers alike – a link to various Government papers recently tabled in Parliament, in a flip magazine format. For example, here’s the Public Debt Management Bill tabled on November 30: http://digjamaica.com/public_debt_management_bill.
And hey! DiGJamaica now has a blog. This includes “6 Things You Need to Know Today” – a daily review of the local news. For the season, there are items on “Three Places to buy ‘Made in Jamaica’ Christmas Gifts this Weekend” – see http://digjamaica.com/blog/2012/12/14/3-places-to-buy-made-in-jamaica-christmas-gifts-this-weekend/; and “64 Easy Delicious Jamaican Christmas Recipes.” There is also a new Christmas series, starting with the article “Jonkunnu a Come!” (Do you know all the characters?) There is a new feature, “Five Facts Friday.” The first of the blog’s “Monday Musings” this week was on Human Rights Day and what it means for Jamaica.
Can you identify these scary Jonkunnu characters?
A couple of other nice things: The moving charts are cool. Check them out for yourself. And the DiGTrivia online quiz is fun and not as easy as it looks (embarrassingly, I got the first question I tried wrong, at the “easy” level). How much do you know, or think you know, about Jamaica?
OK, who is this handsome gentleman, for example? (No, I am not going to tell you…)
DiGJamaica is, of course, properly plugged in to social media. You can find it on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and you can subscribe to its email newsletter. And they are open to suggestions. If there is information you would like to see included, just drop DiGJamaica a line on their website.
Like all such websites, DiGJamaica is a work in progress, and a project that requires a high degree of maintenance and very detailed work. I applaud Deika and her team for an astonishingly good product; the design and layout is clear, bright and attractive – not too many visuals on the home page, but plenty when you start to explore. The charts and graphs are well laid out and “at a glance.” I can see all the new improvements and additions, and I can see that it will go far.
So bloggers, students, journalists, information junkies all… take a look at DiGJamaica’s website, and arm yourself with all the right information. It’s there at your fingertips!
We Are Family: on Blog Action Day 2012
I like “we” better than “us.” It is more active; it is strong. In case you are wondering what I am rambling on about, dear reader, I am referring to the theme of today’s Blog Action Day 2012 – an annual event. It is “The Power of ‘We.’” A little corny, I agree, but let’s go with it. If you think about it, “we” is the most significant personal pronoun of all.
I had something else to write about today, but let me put it on one side, temporarily. Let’s talk about “we” (not good grammar but you know what I mean) – or “wi” in Jamaican patois.
The essence of blogging is, or should be, creating a community in which to share ideas, agree, disagree. It is not supposed to be an ego-boosting, self-aggrandizing exercise, as a Guardian blogger suggests in the article below. It should be about “we.” But which “we” are we talking about? How large is the collective “we” – how vague, how amorphous is it? Can we reach out and embrace the “we” and if not, why not?
Our local politicians seem to like the concept of “we” – when it suits them. When fingers are pointed at them to seize the initiative, to lead, to deal with a specific problem, the cry often goes up, “Well, we are all in this together… We can fight crime together… We can generate jobs together…” etc, etc. The Jamaican citizen, staggering under the weight of poverty, growing inequality, joblessness and all the other social ills, hardly feels empowered, one suspects. He/she feels like the “us” in “them and us.” And if he/she does get up and assert him/herself, with fellow citizens, as the collective “we,” the powers that be may not support you whole-heartedly.
One small example: I felt a little sad when I read that a group of rural residents were prevented from continuing a peaceful march of several miles from the birthplace of National Hero Paul Bogle (Stony Gut, St. Thomas) to Morant Bay. It was simply a re-enactment of Bogle’s historic march during the rebellion of 1865 (Bogle was hanged at the end of it). Yesterday was National Heroes Day. The people were also concerned about a number of current social problems afflicting Jamaica – the increased incidence of rape and other crimes, for example. So they had a lot on their minds; but they were peaceful. A van-load of police prevented them from completing their march because they did not have the “necessary permit.” The colonial apparatus of bureaucracy appears to be alive and well (yes, you must get a permit to stage a demonstration, and you cannot stage any kind of demonstration anywhere near to the Prime Minister’s office, the Governor General’s residence or the Houses of Parliament, or you will be arrested).
A policewoman explains that the march re-enacting Paul Bogle’s walk from Stony Gut to Morant Bay must end. Admittedly, she sounded sympathetic. But the little girl in the green dress looks like a real disrupter of the peace…
A sad little episode, and an example of the powerlessness of people who are not the right class and who are not people of influence. Who could be more powerless in Jamaica than the rural poor? Besides, the Governor General (the Queen’s representative) was in the neighborhood on an official assignment, and he must not be disturbed in any way by such a rabble! (No, rabble was certainly not the word for this group…)
Thus, the desire of “we the people” to express themselves peacefully in countries like ours is often thwarted by those in authority. So, where can, and must, the collective “we” assert itself, also peacefully and perhaps more effectively? I can only point to the incredible number of non-governmental, private sector, faith-based and community organizations in Jamaica that somehow manage to engender this feeling of “we.” They hint at the potential the citizenry has to really make changes for the better, if only we were to work together.
I have often mentioned these organizations in my Sunday blog posts, and I am in constant awe of them. I admire their dedication and their sheer determination. Many of them operate on a shoestring budget, sometimes having to fall back on their own personal resources to keep things going. There are so many that I know I will surely miss out many who are doing incredible work across the island, but here are a few examples:
Eve for Life supports women and children living with HIV – young mothers and families – offering counseling, social support, youth support, after-school programs…and a whole lot of love. Pat Watson and Joy Crawford are knowledgeable, sensitive, down-to-earth and caring.
Patricia Watson, Eve for Life
Joy Crawford, Eve for Life
Youth Crime Watch of Jamaica, founded by former U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica Sue Cobb, quietly gets on with the job of empowering inner-city youth in several Kingston communities, nurtured by the Office of Social Entrepreneurship at the University of the West Indies. It is great to see young people such as Edward Dixon and Marlon Moore working so hard with teens who are growing up in highly stressful environments, guiding and encouraging.
A member of the Youth Crime Watch of Jamaica summer camp. Every picture tells a story. One of “we.”
Another guide and supporter of Jamaican youth is Omar Frith, the quiet and effective manager of the Stella Maris Foundation. Omar is young and has “been there, done that.” He knows what the young people are going through – he understands, but makes no excuses for them. He is calm, thoughtful and full of belief. The Foundation offers all kinds of training, and brings hope, through mentorship and support for those who want to help themselves, in the relatively small but often-volatile community of Grants Pen in Kingston.
Young participants in the Trench Town Reading Centre Summer School 2012 discuss a book on Nelson Mandela.
The Trench Town Reading Centre, incorporating a community classroom, is a bright, glowing and energetic little oasis in the heart of Trench Town – just over the road from the “government yard“ where Bob Marley lived as a young man. Children’s eyes light up as they enter. There are books, and more books – for adults and children. There are activities – art and crafts, spelling bees, poetry competitions, you name it. There are activities throughout the long summer days when young children often wander on hot inner-city streets. It is a wonderful place of hope. And learning.
Jamaicans for Justice is high-profile, and so it should be. Founded by Dr. Carolyn Gomes – who gave up her lucrative pediatrician’s practice to lead the lobby group – JFJ fights for the rights of all Jamaicans, young and old, uptown and downtown. It lobbies for improvements to the justice system, which is limping along. It supports democratic ideals and practices – that real “we” in action that we should all support.
A number of women’s organizations understand the “we” and are working towards women of all ages and backgrounds to play their full part in it. The 51% Coalition is a relatively new grouping that seeks to redress the balance in society by strengthening women’s voices in public life. Woman Inc has for many years sought to protect and shelter the victims of domestic violence. Women’s Resource & Outreach Centre is an amazing group that advocates for and supports Jamaican women in the town and in rural areas, and understands their important role in society.
Women discuss how to support each other at the 51% Coalition’s forum on participation on public sector boards.
Last but not least…the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays (J-FLAG) understands fully the concept of “we” - although, in the Jamaican context, there would be good cause for them falling prey to the “them versus us” syndrome. But they don’t. They actually do “get it” - to use a contemporary phrase. Sadly, many of their fellow Jamaicans don’t; they prefer division, hatred and bigotry. It’s so much easier not to try to understand, to judge, to condemn. Yes, those are strong words. But when a local television station decides not to air an ad encouraging Jamaicans to love and understand their gay family members, it is a sad state of affairs. What are we afraid of? I guess we hate those whom we fear. Fear divides and cripples society. It renders us powerless. There is no “Power of We.” But J-FLAG still believes in it.
I am ending this with simply one of my favorite songs about “we.” The original, plaintive version of “Why Can’t We Live Together” by Timmy Thomas – a song that has been covered by Sade and many others. But there is nothing like that austere, crisp long intro. Listen to the words and look at the pictures in this video. They speak for themselves. By the way, I haven’t a clue how to upload videos, but you may find this in my Music Collection on Lockerz.com at http://lockerz.com/u/petchary/collections/4897223/petchary_s_music?ref=petchary or on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhrCMIG53XQ&feature=player_detailpage.
Timmy Thomas: “Why Can’t We Live Together?”
I would also like to point out to you a short, but very important piece published in today’s Jamaica Observer by a young man (of Jamaican heritage, I believe) living in the UK, with the headline “Out of Many, One People.” It sums up the power of “we” - the incredible power of recognizing, supporting, loving each other’s differences.
Here is the link: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Out-of-many–one-people_12732617
Please, please… let us not follow the example of our two political parties, whom our esteemed Gleaner newspaper still describes as the two “gangs.” They bicker at each other and among themselves. They sigh and heckle and shout and grandstand and show every evidence of divisiveness in their daily lives and their work in Parliament (although there is a general feeling that this combativeness disappears when they are at cocktail functions and social events). Instead of cheering them on in their spiteful forays against each other; instead of calling radio talk shows to defend the party we support; instead of accepting their favors, waving flags and abusing our neighbors in their name – let us be the real Jamaican “we.” Our oft-quoted National Motto is “Out of Many One People.”
Let us be that “One People.” For Jamaica, “we” means unity.
The Power of “We” in action: Many organizations came together to demonstrate against child abuse at the Help JA Children Rally in May, 2012 at Kingston’s Emancipation Park.
Related articles:
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/10/15/its-blog-action-day-celebrate-the-power-of-we/ (from Global Voices, an amazing website sharing blog posts from around the world on real issues)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2012/oct/15/blog-action-day-power-of-we?newsfeed=true (Blogging – or the power of we, not me. guardian.co.uk)
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Disrespect_12746018 (Marchers claim disrespect to Bogle’s memory. Jamaica Observer)
http://www.eveforlife.org (Eve for Life website)
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110713/lead/lead4.html (Youth to be agents of change: Youth Crime Watch of Jamaica)
http://www.dogoodjamaica.org/organizations/stella_maris_foundation (Stella Maris Foundation: dogoodjamaica.org)
http://www.marciaforbes.com/content/51-coalition-–-development-empowerment-through-equity (51% Coalition: marciaforbes.org)
http://wrocjamaica.org (Women’s Resource & Outreach Centre website)
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/allwoman/WOMAN-Inc-wants-end-to-domestic-violence_10869491 (Woman Inc wants end to domestic violence: Jamaica Observer)
http://www.trenchtownreadingcentre.com (Trench Town Reading Centre website)
http://www.pri.org/stories/politics-society/a-small-step-forward-for-lgbt-rights-in-jamaica-11667.html (A small step forward for gay rights in Jamaica: pri.org)
http://petchary.wordpress.com/2011/04/09/rights-and-wrongs/ (Rights and Wrongs: petchary.wordpress.com)
http://petchary.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/dark/ (Dark: petchary.wordpress.com)
http://petchary.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/end-patronizing-piecemeal-engagement-of-youth/ (“End patronizing, piecemeal engagement of youth” – op-ed by Jaevion Nelson)
http://petchary.wordpress.com/2012/04/12/op-ed-fighting-injustice-in-jamaica/ (Fighting injustice in Jamaica – op-ed by Jaevion Nelson/Javed Jaghai)
http://petchary.wordpress.com/2012/08/01/we-are-the-51-per-cent/ (We are the 51% – petchary.wordpress.com)
http://petchary.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/madam-director-madam-chair/ (Madam Director, Madam Chair: petchary.wordpress.com)
http://petchary.wordpress.com/2010/11/26/trench-town-postscript/ (Trench Town Postscript: petchary.wordpress.com)
http://petchary.wordpress.com/2010/11/24/trench-town/ (Trench Town: petchary.wordpress.com)
Very Inspirational!
Wow. Well my dear readers, another kind fellow-blogger, the Wanderlust Gene, has nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award! So I am considered both versatile and inspirational, which is very nice. Thanks so much to my friend half-way across the world on another tropical island – Sri Lanka. You can read her blog at https://thewanderlustgene.wordpress.com/. It’s wonderful – the photos and descriptions are stunning.
According to the rules, I am now supposed to list seven deeply fascinating (?) things about myself, so here we are:
- I have long, red (not natural) hair. It’s the first time I have had long hair since I was 20 years old, and I’ve always wanted to be a redhead.
- I have a passion for the Icelandic “post-rock” band Sigur Ros. They don’t know it, but I am their biggest fan.
- I love very tall trees, and have one in my yard in Kingston, Jamaica. In Australia, I fell in love with all the trees.
- I have a brother and a sister, both younger than me. Always hated being the oldest.
- The first reggae song I ever heard was Gregory Isaacs, “Soon Forward.”
- I love dark (bitter) chocolate and strong black coffee.
- I am tired of watering the garden every day during this never-ending drought
Not sure if the last one really counts, but it’s true!
Anyway, I hereby nominate the following for various reasons as the blogs that have inspired me the most recently:
- In Search of a Life Less Ordinary: Adventures in Making a Home Away from Home: http://www.insearchofalifelessordinary.com/. Reflections of a young Englishman living by the sea in Sydney, Australia – a great city which I have visited.
- Mirth and Motivation: Motivate. Elevate. Laugh. Live Positively… http://eof737.wordpress.com/ Elizabeth Obih-Frank’s blog is full of amazing quotes, images and thoughts. She calls herself an international nomad, teacher, trainer, motivator.
- Lady Romp: Truly one of my favorites, this blog explores the lives and achievements of women globally – from Margaret Thatcher to Winnie Mandela, and many others less famous. http://ladyromp.com/
- Time to Be Inspired: A lovely, fresh and optimistic blog with a great design and beautiful photos. http://timetobeinspired.wordpress.com/
- Informed Comment: I have learnt so much from this blog, a daily item of news on the Middle East“with an occasional look home at American politics” by Professor Juan Cole of University of Michigan. http://www.juancole.com/ With a liberal slant.
- Crazy Train to Tinky Town: I adore this blog – the adventures of a single woman living in Turkey. It makes me laugh, and it’s so vivid. http://crazytraintotinkytown.com/
- Alice’s Bucket List: http://alicepyne.blogspot.com/ Alice is a sixteen-year-old girl who has had terminal cancer for the past four years. Her motto is: You only have one life, live it!
Thanks to all. This is a nice idea, and I love my ever-expanding blogging community!
I am a nominee!
Happy Friday, all:
A kind fellow-blogger has nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award. It’s a fun and supportive thing and I truly appreciate it. Many thanks to Crazy Train to Tinky Town – chronicling the thoughts of a single woman living in Turkey; you can find her delightful blog at http://crazytraintotinkytown.com/.
The rules of receiving this award are:
1. Add the award to your blog
2. Thank the blogger who gave it to you and include a link to their blog.
3. Mention 7 random things about yourself.
4. List the rules.
5. Give the award to 15 or more bloggers.
The Seven Random Things about me are:
1. I have a Kindle but still love my hard-cover novels;
2. I love to see mountains on the horizon;
3. I love my husband’s dreadful, corny jokes;
4. I am addicted to Cafe Latte from our neighborhood coffee shop, Cafe Blue in Kingston, Jamaica;
5. I am a complete non-cook – the microwave was the best invention of the 20th century;
6. I am a loyal and devoted fan of Arsenal Football Club – Go Gunners!
7. I am in love with Ryan Gosling (of course, he doesn’t know)
My fifteen nominees, in no particular order, are below. I think these blogs reflect the wonderful diversity of thought, opinion and topics online… and some great Jamaican ones are included, of course!
- A great blog celebrating women around the world and their achievements: inspirational, informative, interesting. http://ladyromp.com/
- Funny, insightful and warm: a blog from Jack Scott – one half of “Jack & Liam Go to Turkey” (yes it is a book, too) from “two openly gay, middle-aged, middle class men…”http://perkingthepansies.com/
- An incredibly informative, comprehensive daily overview of cultural life around the Caribbean written by two young academics, Ivette Romero-Cesareo and Lisa Paravisini-Gebert. http://repeatingislands.com/
- A lovely blog from a woman living abroad with her family – in the Netherlands – with wry observations and a lot of humor. Today’s blog post has a touch of Jamaican, too! http://www.adventuresinexpatland.com/wp/
- This is a weekly blog from the photography editors of Time magazine – if you love good, cutting-edge news photography this is for you. http://lightbox.time.com/
- A very thoughtful blog from an expat living in Canada, with an unusual background. Aisha Isabel Ashraf is a convert to Islam; she is currently writing on “Mindfulness.” http://expatlogue.wordpress.com/
- I am an art lover and this blog fascinates me. A great California-born woman artist with Russian/Tatar origins with a passion for the Vodou religion. Great art. http://erzulieredeyes.wordpress.com/
- Well, I told you already that I am an Arsenal fanatic. Here is a nice blog from another fanatic with good insights on the Gunners. http://arsenalheart.wordpress.com/
- Here is a great, down to earth blog from the vibrant city that is my home: Kingston, Jamaica. The blogger is, in her words, “110% Jamaican.” http://ayooutloud.wordpress.com/
- For techies in the Caribbean, this is a must-read from Jamaican pioneer Ingrid Riley, who also has a great FB page “Caribbean Women in Technology.” http://www.siliconcaribe.com/
- From an important commentator and interpreter of Jamaica (and dear friend) columnist Jean Lowrie-Chin… http://www.lowrie-chin.blogspot.com/ Read her marvelous book of poetry and thoughts, “Soul Dancing.”
- Another great blog from another dynamic Jamaican woman, Dr. Marcia Forbes – Fulbright Scholar, author, businesswoman and social media analyst. http://www.marciaforbes.com/
- Winner of the Jamaican Blogger of the Year 2011 award, with sharp commentary on Jamaican public affairs and politics. http://constructedthoughts.wordpress.com/
- A superb blog by Jamaican broadcaster Dionne Jackson-Miller focuses on current affairs from a journalist’s perspective. Take a look at http://newsandviewsbydjmillerja.wordpress.com/
- Often humorous observations from a fellow Kingstonian (and fellow Arsenal fan!) - “We are more than a beach, we are a country”. http://jamaicantillidie.blogspot.co.uk/
Do take a browse through the above, when you have a chance. You might like to participate in the Versatile Blogger Award, too!
See you later (with one eye on an action-packed opening game for Euro 2012, Greece vs Poland).
