The Boko Haram problem

I was at a fascinating meeting on The Situation in Kenya and the surrounding states. When you think about the girls that were kidnapped in Nigeria back 2 years ago, can it really be that long!
The other gentleman was from Nigeria and his brother was killed by the followers of Boko Haram and was there to support Alan who was the main speaker. He was here at the meeting with Alan Channer and about to go out to Kenya later in the week! We hear nothing in the press about what is going on in Northern Kenya and North Eastern Nigeria because those who are interested are not in touch with global media! The gentleman who was with him was Dr Aliyu Musa from Coventry University. The audience was horrified with what was happening and unfortunately one of  the things they needed was money. For flights to get over there and in hospitals to take of those wounded in battle.
When you think of all the money used to buy footballers or athletes, men or women. In fact there is a film out about Bill Gates who donates some of his income, to deserving causes.
You look a television and you see the families trying to make a new beginning, and your heart bleeds! 

What is happening in Sudan?

I was watching an interview with Patricia Parker who instigated KidsforKids, in Sudan, in this interview she said that in the time it had taken to watch the interview a child would have died of malnutrition. In many parts of Sudan there was no running water and kids would have to walk miles to get water. The other difficulty is the fact that the disease malaria, which is easily treated in the west takes it's toll over there,
Again, FGM this abhorrent practice, which my be banned world wide, should be explained to the people who promote it what it does to those girls. It is no use that those in the west make a stand without explaining why they have done this, So the major issue is dialogue between the two. We need to lobby the Governments of Sudan & UK & US to listen to the people. 

Women under pressure as rape continues to be a weapon of war

Women in War are thought of as a commodity and are used as a financial lever to create more money. ISIS are holding women and children, as we see that the final outcome is the ultimate penalty of rape, which has long-lasting effects upon the victim and the family.
On Tuesday 8th Sept Vladimir Putin Headlined in the "Evening Standard" when he said that Islamic State must be destroyed at all costs.
Boko Haram was talked about on the news last night and where had the girls gone? There must be a number of parents who have not given up hope, feeling one day they would hear of them. The concern is we do not have this story reported. Why not? Maybe the refugees story is so huge, and rightly these lesser stories get swamped.
Has Putin helped the World, or will it take dialogue with Islamic State?

Then there is the difficulty of nurses in the UK - will Cameron help the doctors? I had  an MRI yesterday, and feel that it is a miracle that by loading you into a canister and playing discordant sounds at you somehow you have an image of yourself.
Being a teacher it concerns me that in UK in the National Curriculum they are phasing out Physics, despite the miracle of the MRI and all those intricate well thought out theories.

Is it Goodbye to the Generals!

Unfortunately Aung San Suu Kyi has a massive task in front of her should she win the elections. People think that will resolve a lot of problems very quickly and lives will get better. But as she says it takes time.
They have been fifty years waiting, Peter Popham wrote in "The Independent" on Weds 17th June.
Suu says that "Our country is like a poor family in which parents and children must work together to improve family life. Our country lags behind other countries. We will have to try hard.
Everybody wants money and a comfortable life including me" says Suu Kyi,
Her husband and children were able to visit her in September and the she won the Nobel Peace Prize which one of her sons joined in to accept as her husband was too weak, fighting cancer she was unable to get to see him at the end. If anyone has seen the movie"That Lady" they will know the horrors that befell her and her bravery in which she placed her family second for the love of her country. We all hope we can be assured hat this Lady is the next  leader!!

Organophosphates

I went to Parliament on Wednesday June 10th for an Amendment debate given by Jessica Morden from Newport South on organophosphates. This was instigated by a constituent that had been affected by the age of 17 having sheep-dipped.
I was working on our farm in South Wales and dipping sheep and I believe that the sheep dip was instrumental in the M S I now suffer from, I was a teacher and a dancer and my ability for balance and my cognitive ability have been effected. A friend asked if doctors have any medical evidence for this, but I believe all over the country there is evidence by sheer numbers that there is. I feel that the warnings given by the manufacturers were not adequate.
The reason governments or pharmaceuticals won't admit to this there would be many writs for compensation. I just want someone to say that organophosphates have caused untold damage.

Cruel Britain

Shree was an intern here for three years, working with my husband on the Middle East and was so proficient with the computer helping set up a web-site.She was able to travel with my husband to the Tory conference. Unfortunately she travelled from Singapore having been here for many years with her University and Masters here. She made many friends in the UK, but when she went to visit Singapore and her home, she broke her leg and overstayed her time there, because she wasn't able to travel by herself and her leg was so painful, and the Home Office said that she should come straight back.
Will and I went to her hearing at a Court in London and the Lawyer was very supportive, but the Home Office objected, this was costing such a lot of money, which was funded by her mother, but it was getting so expensive her mother felt that she was unable to go on as did Shree.
So this is why we are devastated that this true friend of the family is about to be deported, when you think of all the tax-dodgers that manage to cheat the system and stay here!
Whilst she was over here  she has been a great support to me, I suffer from MS and she has been a great support to me (physically) and in all other ways, and I do feel the Home Office should look into hearts, as we believe they have made a terrible mistake, She flies back on June 1st her Mother will be pleased, but there will be many here who will be heart broken.
Veronica Morris.

World's Richest Terror Army

I watched on TV on Wednesday 22nd April, the program called World's Richest Terror Army, which was quite mind boggling, In one particular scene was the Group had put explosive charges right round the temple and raised it to the ground, it was totally destroyed.

The money seems to be gained from sale of artifacts, to the travelling tourists. The Pyramids have been looted by these gangs destroying some of the antiquities in the process. This was obviously ISIS which everybody thinks where do they get their money from? From the sale of these antiquities and the ransoms that are paid.

Peter Tayler presented the workings of ISIS. He was even able to get an interview with David Petraeus to admit one of his centres became a Terroist training university, subseqently picked up by those in the US as information that he had given his wife was in fact confidential.

The biggest coup was his interview with Abu Hagir who used to run the group's finances in Iraq.
A meeting in London the question that faced us "Where do we go from here" a difficult and depressing question. What is the answer?

Sheep Dip and Oganophosphates.

I had a farm in Wales from 2001 to 2015 and the government was saying that we had to dip the sheep once a year in this noxious sheep dip which one was told was the only thing that would prevent Sheep Scab, an irritant for the poor sheep. This I believe was the start of my symptoms of MS. Complete loss of balance and being a dancer this wasn't a help!
A lovely life but so much has been suffered, by those just trying to earn a living. I was invited to the Houses of Parliament by Andy Burnham who was campaigning for Farmers to make the Government recognise that by insisting on using this toxic mixture that many lives are ruined. Time is going by and there is an election looming people are thinking who are they going to vote for. There was a lady who was going to support Andy in his bid to have this "Dip" made illegal. This all started decades ago, farmers have suffered with this with no acknowledgement!

Click on the following titles for articles on official recognition of damage to health done by organophosphates and incriminating sheep dip poisoning HSE report - officially destroyed revealed.

Organophosphates putting the farmers at risk and now the Army gets similar treatment!

In the Independent on Thursday 16th April the headline was that the Army was being injected with the MOD's anti-malarial drug. Jonathan Owen reports that it is having adverse effects, very similar to the sheep dip. The suicidal tendencies are the same as those dipping sheep experience.
Major General Alistair Duncan is now in a secure psychiatric unit. This Major General was given Lariam, 17,000 suffers from having been given this drug and have shown symptoms of depression. Unfortunately this drug was cheaper than those previously given, but the effects are very concerning. Defense ministries in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Canada have banned Larium or use it as a last resort. I think together, with the organophosphates, this drug is a problem. Shouldn't both be banned by the UK?

Where have the Kidnapped girls from Gwoza gone?

Will Ross reports that after all the furore that occurred a year ago, when 300 school girls had been abducted by the group Boko Haram, they had been seen three weeks ago in Gwoza town. The US, China and other powers announced they would help find the girls. But that was over a year ago! A lady had seen the girls and had managed to talk to them saying "Are you the Chibok girls?" they said they were. The leader of the group is Abubakar Shekau who felt that the girls should be treated as slaves and would marry the leaders of the group. Why with all these nations pledging support this appalling situation continues. Seemingly the girls have disappeared in to the Sambisa Forest in the North West of the country. They had to convert Islam although they were Christian and were used as booty and Mr Shekau has pledged allegiance to the Islamic state. They are notorious for abductions in Iraq and Syria. What can be done?  

Chad & Niger helping to remove Boko Haram from their stronghold.

This happened on Tuesday 31st. of March, despite tales of how this group kidnapped girls and used them with women to be a protective shield against the guns of those pursuing them.
Madjhara Nako reported that Soldiers from Chad, Niger, drew Boko Haram Islamists to the border,
UN human rights chief Zeid Raad also said there are also persistent credible reports of serious violations of human rights and the use of children as cannon fodder according to Nigerian and other Security forces responding to Boko Haram. He calls for a thorough fully transparent investigation.
We all hope that his murderous group will be curtailed.  

Has Boko Haram been destoyed?

A year ago 300 school girls were kidnapped from a very prestigious private school! There was an outcry and the parents marched saying Free our girls! There were rumours that the girls had been sold to the fighters. Rumours that bodies had been found and that they had been incinerated There was great activity yesterday in Northern Nigeria as the stronghold of  Boko Haram had been overrun by the Government troops, as John Hall reported in the Online Mail.

Is this true or just another rumour there again? The talk is that Boko Haram have linked up with ISIS to become a vast Muslim Caliphate. We wait to hear the results of the elections in Nigeria. Will we inherit more problems worldwide!? 

Afghanistan a peaceful protest.

On Sunday 22nd March,there was an altercation between a lady called Fathunda and a male "Soothsayer" outside the temple charging visitors for these remedies. There seemed to be an argument between these two individuals and trouble ensued, the lady was chased behind the temple and others were encouraged by the men in the group to stone and jump on the face of the lady until she was dead. A horrific thing to happen just behind a temple where you would think this should be an area of peace and tranquility.   

The Expansion of Boko Haram's land.

Has the area that Boko Haram occupies expanded? Farouk Chokia quotes from the Koranic Verse "Anyone who is not governed by what Allah has perfected is among the transgressions."

They are fighting the government. Patrick Cockburn cites that ISIS can train and arm thousands of fighters in Northern Kenya. I heard on the radio this morning that there were many kidnapped women and that a mass grave had been discovered in that area. What is extremely concerning is that Boko Haram has teamed up with ISIS to make up one immense Muslim state. Meanwhile the difficulties our allies are having in the battle for Tikrit illustrates one of the great strengths of ISIS that may concern us all.

Veronica Morris.

What is Boko Haram up to?

What is Boko Haram up to?
We may not have seen anything about this organisation for some time! But in Nigeria Mike Smith has written a book called "Inside Nigeria's Unholy War".
Reviewing the book, David Blair traces the development of Boko Haram over the last decade from a marginal sect to a vicious insurgency. Writing for the Daily Telegraph he sites the rise of this insurgency. 200 girls were kidnapped from a prestigious boarding school in Chibok Northern Nigeria, by Boko Haram under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau. This terrifying, figure  released a video message stating that they would be sold into slavery. There are rumours that bodies had been found in a nearby area linked to the kidnapping.Who does one trust? What is this the reason for these rumours? Egypt got rid of the journalist who was desperate to hear the whole story, his name was Peter Greste. Similarly Kenji Goto was killed in Syria by terrorists. This man just wanted to know the truth behind these stories, which I think is a very brave thing to do, as I am sure most of the western world would like to know.

Boko Haram girls. where are they?

Is there a "Religious Divide" between the Muslims in the North and the Christians in the South of Nigeria. This has been going on for such a long time ago. It was on the night of April 14/15 last year that young girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram urging them to marry some of their men under pain of death. Some young girls have even been made to become suicide bombers by Boko Haram. The father of one of the suicide bombers Zeharau who said that she wanted to visit Paradise , but after she was threatened with being " buried alive" she refused to detonate her vest. Can you believe it ! Most of the girls were Christian and so very young!

Organophosphates and MS

Is there any correlation between multiple sclerosis and the use of organophosphates in sheep dip? Up until 2002 all sheep dips used in the UK had to contain organophosphates by law. These chemicals were similar to Agent Orange used in the Vietnam War. Can the use of these chemicals have lasting effects upon its users? Years ago I kept sheep in Wales and I have always wondered whether the organophosphates I was exposed to when we used sheep dip triggered my MS. I was invited to Parliament to discuss this and it was incredible that a dozen or so of the people there had the symptoms that I have. There is no way that the government can admit that there is a connection between the two otherwise they would be liable to a massive compensation payments. I only found out about this meeting with Andy Burnham MP through a friend  who alerted me to it. Friends said afterwards they would have loved to have gone! Is this a conspiracy by the government to keep us in the dark? It is not that so much, as an admittance that this was the case would give some sort of closure. Farmers have committed suicide because their livelihood had been destroyed before their eyes. Indeed the consequences were damage to their eyes too; they had been affected as had their hearing. They had developed continual headaches - and so it goes on! 

Paris shooting

I am extremely saddened by the killing of the satirists in Paris yesterday. I found as a student in Exeter all those years ago, that satire was the easiest way of making a joke about something and though you debunked it, people didn't take it so seriously. But I have found that senses of humour are very different and can upset some people. But I believe that it wasn't supposed to be taken on face value! Sadly there is no discussion,

Where did those Mexican Students disappear to?

A long time ago back on Friday 5th December there appeared a story that 43 student teachers had been kidnapped by Police in the southern Mexican city of Iguala. Six weeks ago they were probably massacred. Parts of their bodies were discovered in a rubbish dump! People started demonstrating to retrieve their bodies and find out what happened to them. The parents of the student teachers got together and demonstrated. This was effective and seemed to indicate that the government were more interested in the advertisement for the country as the result of the enquiry! Jon Tuckerman from Mexico City wrote an article explaining that, as they disappeared in the  Southern city of Iguala they were handed to a drugs gang called Guerreras Ihides. It seems that the parents still have no idea what happened to their children! Unfortunately we know!   I am afraid this may sound very heartless but it is the truth. Mexico needs to smarten up its actions against its criminal gangs.