The Boko Haram girls

The families of those girls kidnapped by Boko Haram two years ago were so distraught, and there was a huge outcry in protest although nothing was done about it. What can be done? The girls must be married now or spoken for with members of the gang,
One leader of Boko Haram who had survived in a splinter group named Ansaru, was called Khalid Al Barnawi. It seems that he was a transnational terrorist and the backbone of Al Qaeda and affiliated with the splinter groups - he is very influential.
He is only one part of a desperate organisation. But he has been arrested. His arrest is a milestone for all the different parties The At Oim and those further afield. It seems that this arrest will unify the move against Boko Haram.

Standing for Election

We are in Cornwall at the moment. William is standing for Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon & Cornwall the Isles of Scilly and I really believe that he will do an excellent job. He is from Cornwall and spent some of his School days in North Devon! I was a student at Exeter University and have a number of friends there,
We have a meeting in Exeter on Tuesday seeing the other candidates and being briefed by the Chief Constable and his staff.

See William's website on www.williammorris.org and watch one of his videos:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiZ-i3ioolB9h7jf9MAbzPA

I did my run !

Me with One Show presenters Matt Baker and Alex Jones at the start of the race

I managed to struggle round and with my husband Will and a great friend Penelope to do the "Sport Relief" mile. Penelope asked if I had done my exercises, and I gave "a little white lie" and said "Of course I did." Well that backfired on me because that one thinks one doesn't change that physically from year to year, but unfortunately, that is not true, and for my Valiant helpers I have started doing my exercises already.
I usually do Pilates three times a week, but these classes are under threat, it seems amazing as the powers that be want us "Golden Oldies" to take care of ourselves not to get all these diseases that are about. I think the younger generation will die of stress before they got to middle age, I feel for them!
I do believe that we can push ourselves further than we think we can. I am lucky I am able to try at these things!
I really want to thank all those wonderful people who sponsored me for SportRelief and the MS society. Thank you. Veronica. 

What happened to those girls?

A week ago on the World Service Ludovica Laccino from The International Business Times wrote that the Nigerian president would take a fresh look at the kidnapping of those 219 girls from that evening class in Chibok in April 2014. There had been a demonstration in Abuja by the parents who said Bring Back our Girls! Boko Haram have been reduced to an area around Lake Chad; he now says that securing these girls will be his priority!
We wait with bated breath to see what happens!
Now we see new developments as a single girl was found from that same group, she had just had a baby. Why did Boko Haram release this girl for what purpose? The other parents must have hope that their own daughters will be found.
Again we wait with bated breath.
Veronica Morris.

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.