AmericAshis 4: Travel blues
Louisville, Kentucky
October 20, 2009
This trip around the USA I am without computer. Obviously all my friends have computers in their houses but it feels as if I need my own little laptop to tap around. So I have been looking around for a computer. The urge for a Mac is huge yet they are way more expensive than PC’s. You will be kept informed.
Today I have made some time to scribble. Not on Facebook and Twitter but on my blog. The last two weeks have been full of meetings with amazing people. I ended my trip in Michigan in Grand Rapids where I was picked up by two dear friends of mine: Jacob Atem (former Lost Boy), a new American citizen and Dorothy Sewe (also American now). Both have lived the refugee life and their stories are a testimony to human strength. The lecture was for a mix of Amnesty International members, students and people interested from outside.
At night I got the pleasure of meeting Dorothy’s 15+ children. I have been adopted as number 16 in the group. Her house is like the United Nations, with Mexican husbands, Slovenian boyfriend, Dutch Indian bumbler and a batch of Kenyan Americans. It is here I got addicted to Lost (with its smoke monster) . I do not have a clue how this series is supposed to work and it is fun.
Jacob was so nice to drop me at Chicago Midway airport on my flight to Minneapolis. A 3.5 hour open space session on how to run a start up NGO/NPO unfolded. His organization is called Southern Sudan Health Care Organization (http://www.sshco.org) . He and his friends are raising money to open a health care clinic in Maar, Southern Sudan. One day I hope to visit this place. His life story and the stories of many of the Lost BOys is amazing. A stamina to survive the worst that humanity brings.
The plane to Minneapolis was a flight to the land of 10,000 lakes (apparently their are more than 20,000) and to where many of my friends live. Lynnea who came to work and will do research in Northern Uganda, Kelly my host and the woman who taught me canning, Evan-Tyler-Nathan who organized several medical talks for me. A workshop on health in a refugee camp setting and a lecture on tropical medicine. I sometimes forget how far out of the curriculum the work I do is. Minneapolis was good to me, I danced to the beats of a polka band in a POlish bar called Neyes, I saw Senator Klobushar talk on the health care reforms in the USA and I got to celebrate the Homecoming of the local football team.
Foremost Minneapolis has tons of squirrels and I got to talk about opportunities to continue by continuous medical education in the form of a PhD or DrPH. And I stepped in snow, earlier than usual but just as white.
Namaskar,
Ashis
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Monday, 5 October 2009
AmercAshis 3: Temple Israel, West Bloomfield
AmericAshis 3: Temple Israel, West Bloomfield
Birmingham, Michigan
October 5th, 2009
Yesterday I met 20 students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Before and after I was looking for squirrels and I am happy to report that Ann Arbor has red, black and grey squirrels plus chip monks. The city itself has a liberal university and a long history of demonstration. As we rode into the city there were about 200 protestors with sign boards against abortion. It is what it is.
My hosts were great young student of STAND that keep the fire burning. It is my second visit to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan. Twenty people showed up to listen and without a projector I told the story of my Zaghawa friends in Oure Cassoni. We discussed how Darfur seems to have left the fore front of attention in activism land and how to make plans to reignite the attention for the region. It is a bit how I have felt since I started touring in 2006. The first year it was in the middle of media land, star child of attention of activist groups, with famous actors speaking out, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Don Cheadle, STAND booming actions all over.
Slowly groups have become less active, as the conflict has become more protracted, less intense; other conflicts have taken over the focus of media and activists. Yet new groups are still formed today (I shall be going to a new group formed in San Antonio this year) and those involved are still as passionate about Darfur as the people of 2006.
Today I ended up having three talks at RT @ PJCHERRIN @ashisbrahma briefs 200 Jewish Detroit teens at ATID @atidhs about #Darfur.http://yfrog.com/1n7bjbj (see twitter) And PJCHERRIN @ashisbrahma briefs youth group at Temple Israel in West Bloomf., MI, about refugee camps in #Darfur.http://yfrog.com/0onrrj
It is always special and powerful to speak in religious places churches, synagogues, mosques or mandirs. For the kids who started school at 8 in the morning it cannot have been easy to listen to a talk at 19.30 in the evening. Yet all 70 and 30 in the two talks (grade 7-8-9 and 10) asked great questions and were pretty well informed about the conflict. One question was about what I think about Omar El Bashir being summoned by the International Criminal Court. Well I think he will have his day in court.
At the end of the day some students were so moved that they contacted the Michigan Darfur Coalition to see how they could cooperate.
Tomorrow I am leaving Birmingham. This is the third time I am staying at the Page’s home. This time I met all grandparents, Jill’s brother, Tim’s sister and nephews and nieces. Birmingham is one of those places in the world I can truly call home. All talks organized were run smoothly and I loved the down time. Guys see you in 7 months and hope to greet you in my home in Uganda.
Namaskar,
Ashis
Birmingham, Michigan
October 5th, 2009
Yesterday I met 20 students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Before and after I was looking for squirrels and I am happy to report that Ann Arbor has red, black and grey squirrels plus chip monks. The city itself has a liberal university and a long history of demonstration. As we rode into the city there were about 200 protestors with sign boards against abortion. It is what it is.
My hosts were great young student of STAND that keep the fire burning. It is my second visit to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan. Twenty people showed up to listen and without a projector I told the story of my Zaghawa friends in Oure Cassoni. We discussed how Darfur seems to have left the fore front of attention in activism land and how to make plans to reignite the attention for the region. It is a bit how I have felt since I started touring in 2006. The first year it was in the middle of media land, star child of attention of activist groups, with famous actors speaking out, George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Don Cheadle, STAND booming actions all over.
Slowly groups have become less active, as the conflict has become more protracted, less intense; other conflicts have taken over the focus of media and activists. Yet new groups are still formed today (I shall be going to a new group formed in San Antonio this year) and those involved are still as passionate about Darfur as the people of 2006.
Today I ended up having three talks at RT @ PJCHERRIN @ashisbrahma briefs 200 Jewish Detroit teens at ATID @atidhs about #Darfur.http://yfrog.com/1n7bjbj (see twitter) And PJCHERRIN @ashisbrahma briefs youth group at Temple Israel in West Bloomf., MI, about refugee camps in #Darfur.http://yfrog.com/0onrrj
It is always special and powerful to speak in religious places churches, synagogues, mosques or mandirs. For the kids who started school at 8 in the morning it cannot have been easy to listen to a talk at 19.30 in the evening. Yet all 70 and 30 in the two talks (grade 7-8-9 and 10) asked great questions and were pretty well informed about the conflict. One question was about what I think about Omar El Bashir being summoned by the International Criminal Court. Well I think he will have his day in court.
At the end of the day some students were so moved that they contacted the Michigan Darfur Coalition to see how they could cooperate.
Tomorrow I am leaving Birmingham. This is the third time I am staying at the Page’s home. This time I met all grandparents, Jill’s brother, Tim’s sister and nephews and nieces. Birmingham is one of those places in the world I can truly call home. All talks organized were run smoothly and I loved the down time. Guys see you in 7 months and hope to greet you in my home in Uganda.
Namaskar,
Ashis
Saturday, 3 October 2009
AmericAshis 2; the Roeper School and Jacob Atem
AmericAshis 2; the Roeper School and Jacob Atem
Birmingham, Michigan
October 4, 2009
Today was a very special day. The theme was stamping out hunger and the event was organized in a school founded in 1941, the Roeper school. The school has a strong community sense and has a lot of emphasis on art and strong relationships between the members of the school. What happened was a hundreds of parents and children coming together to package food that will be transported to Africa and especially to refugee camps. It was fun to see and such a positive atmosphere.
There were 4 guest speakers; Dr Tim Page, Dr Mary Ann from MSF USA, Jacob Atem and myself. It is about Jacob I would like to tell you a little more. My first meeting with him was in an Ethiopian restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was a 23 year old student with a very special life story. As he grew up in Southern Sudan one day his life was radically changed. He went to herd his cows when he was about 5 and when he returned his sister had been kidnapped and some of his relatives had been killed. From that day he was on the run. Fleeing janjaweed, crocodiles, lions, hunger, thirst, malaria, whooping cough, Antonovs, despair. For months he walked until finally he and a group of several ten thousands of young boys (the Lost Boys) reached Ethiopia. There the Government of Sudan could no longer chase them.
For some years he and his friends lived in relative peace in the camp and then one horrible day the regime changed in Ethiopia and all the young boys were forced to leave Ethiopia back into the war zone called Southern Sudan. As they crossed the border river several thousand boys drowned, got eaten by crocodiles or got shot either by Ethiopian, either by Sudanese troops. This time their trip led to Kenya. For once a good thing happened in the camp, several thousand of them were invited to come to the USA as refugees starting in 1998.
Over the last few years many of the Lost Boys have become friends. In the evening Jacob, who is an American citizen since some months to percussion show at Oakland University. In fact the event was called Rhythm and Race & Percussion Stories. Jacob came up the stage at one point to tell his story and how his sister today is still living in slavery in Northern Sudan. His dream is to free her again. Besides this ambition he has also raised 90000 dollar to set up a health care center in his home village called Maar. I am sure to visit this health clinic once it has been set up. Today we spent discussing which drugs are essential drugs, where to purchase these drugs and who can prescribe them. If you want to read more about Jacob and his great vision look at: http://www.sshco.org.
Namaskar,
Ashis Brahma
Birmingham, Michigan
October 4, 2009
Today was a very special day. The theme was stamping out hunger and the event was organized in a school founded in 1941, the Roeper school. The school has a strong community sense and has a lot of emphasis on art and strong relationships between the members of the school. What happened was a hundreds of parents and children coming together to package food that will be transported to Africa and especially to refugee camps. It was fun to see and such a positive atmosphere.
There were 4 guest speakers; Dr Tim Page, Dr Mary Ann from MSF USA, Jacob Atem and myself. It is about Jacob I would like to tell you a little more. My first meeting with him was in an Ethiopian restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was a 23 year old student with a very special life story. As he grew up in Southern Sudan one day his life was radically changed. He went to herd his cows when he was about 5 and when he returned his sister had been kidnapped and some of his relatives had been killed. From that day he was on the run. Fleeing janjaweed, crocodiles, lions, hunger, thirst, malaria, whooping cough, Antonovs, despair. For months he walked until finally he and a group of several ten thousands of young boys (the Lost Boys) reached Ethiopia. There the Government of Sudan could no longer chase them.
For some years he and his friends lived in relative peace in the camp and then one horrible day the regime changed in Ethiopia and all the young boys were forced to leave Ethiopia back into the war zone called Southern Sudan. As they crossed the border river several thousand boys drowned, got eaten by crocodiles or got shot either by Ethiopian, either by Sudanese troops. This time their trip led to Kenya. For once a good thing happened in the camp, several thousand of them were invited to come to the USA as refugees starting in 1998.
Over the last few years many of the Lost Boys have become friends. In the evening Jacob, who is an American citizen since some months to percussion show at Oakland University. In fact the event was called Rhythm and Race & Percussion Stories. Jacob came up the stage at one point to tell his story and how his sister today is still living in slavery in Northern Sudan. His dream is to free her again. Besides this ambition he has also raised 90000 dollar to set up a health care center in his home village called Maar. I am sure to visit this health clinic once it has been set up. Today we spent discussing which drugs are essential drugs, where to purchase these drugs and who can prescribe them. If you want to read more about Jacob and his great vision look at: http://www.sshco.org.
Namaskar,
Ashis Brahma
Friday, 2 October 2009
AmericAshis 1 Birmingham, Michigan.
AmericAshis 1 Birmingham, Michigan.
Birmingham, Michigan.
October 3, 2009
It is a pleasure to visit the USA again. For me it is as a break from Africa, enjoying a fast Internet connection, meeting friends and family, talking about Darfur and looking for opportunities for work in the future. This tour of the USA started in the state of Michigan. It is clear that the recession has hit hard in this automobile factory land. New factories (Volkswagen) opened shop in Tennessee while local factories closed shop. The power of the trade unions makes this state less competitive in many ways. It does not help either when the previous mayor of Detroit pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and agreed to serve three months in jail for attempting, as part of an $8.4 million lawsuit settlement, to cover up an extramarital affair with his chief of staff.
Right now the mayor of Detroit is a former basket ball player, Mr Bing with no experience of political office. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/us/06detroit.html . Motown proper had 1,849,568 inhabitants in 1950 and that number has dropped to 912,062 by 2008. Even if the Detroit Metro area has grown in the same period from 3,219,256 to 4,425,110 it is likely the only city in the USA to have grown above one million and then fallen back below.
If you like art the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Institute_of_Arts is an amazing museum to visit and I adore the painting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit_Industry by Don Diego Rivera. There is enough to see and enjoy.
Over the last days I have rested and today I hit the path of talks on Darfur. The first talk of this tour was in a catholic primary school called Holy Name in Birmingham. About 300 5-12 year olds were present at a duo presentation by Dr Tim Page, one of the founding members of the Michigan Save Darfur Coalition and a good friend of mine. He had just returned from Kenya where his skills as an ophthalmologist were tried. In 4 days his team of 5 doctors saw about 1100 patients and did surgery on many of them. The presentation lasted about 45 minutes and they kept their attention 100% all the time. Also the questions they asked were spot on.
Tonight I joined a humanistic Jewish Temple for Shabbat celebration. About 50 people came and I enjoyed a very fine celebration. At one point the rabbi’s daughter was dancing on the stage. Native American songs and prayers were spoken and lighting of candles was done. For me celebrating life and looking at other religions shows openness of the heart. Most people were well informed about Darfur and after the talk we shared lots of sweet tea and food. Also the stories of the people themselves were amazing. It seems when tragedy hits a group of people some crash and burn but there are also people that soar and give hope to humanity. Hope that you can laugh, live and excel after a disaster that genocide is.
Namaskar,
Ashis
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