WHY I DON'T LIKE PENALTIES

THE African Cup of Nations has brought a lot of excitement among ardent football fans on the continent more than any other game. In Angola, we have seen how big names in African football are faring with others on the pitch.

Just imagine during the opening match the host put up with a spirited fight against the Malians, but the West Africans came from behind to cancel the four goals deficit. Then came Malawi, they shattered history after beating Algeria three goals to nothing. Gabon also shocked Cameroonians fans after beating Cameroon in their opening game.

If you were expecting the match between Zambia and Nigeria to be easy, you might have been mistaken. What I don't like is penalty kicks to decide the fate of a match, sometimes the best players are likely to miss their chances, thereby taking all the blame unnecessarily. Just imagine how ''Nyirenda'' dumped his country out of the tournament.

'Jesus' wants a child from Haiti

Jesus Hector Betancourt, (pictured on the left side) a Mexican cultural promoter cum development journalist is considering ways and means of adopting a child from Haiti. Like many people who are new to the system Jesus wants legal advise from you.

Even for the authorities in Port au Prince, the exact number of deaths is largely unknown because some buildings that were badly hit by the quake are still difficult to access. Thank God, miracles will come when you need them, imagine how a woman in her seventies was rescued a week after the quake. I agree with the writer Napolean Hill on the issue of death and the will to live. I know that old as the woman is, she was quite convinced that she will live to narrate the story to someone else, trapped in the rubble, that woman did not allow death to come like that, so she clung to life until luck came and help her.

Now Jesus Hector Betancourt from Mexico is planning to adopt a child from Haiti, what advise do you have for him and his dear wife?

NOT AS EXPECTED...

The beginning of the new year has been a moment of joy for some, but not everyone.

A farmer in a tiny sleeping village in The Gambia was heard complaining about the way he managed to stay away from trouble in the begining of the month, his third son who until recently was responsible for the cattle in their compound- decided that he has to sell everything and come to the city and settle down. The poor father who has never seen the tar road wondered whether his son was doing the right thing, leaving the village and settling down in a place he has no idea whether it is safe.

Again, the month of January brought untold sufferings and hardships to thousands of Haitians and non Haitians alike when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake shook the country on the 12th of January, so as when heard the story of the Gambian cattle rearer in the village, I could not help but analyse the numerous complaints I receive from people concerning the pressing problems or challenges they encountered this month.

So this begs the question whether it is the same else where, No I don't think so.

OF PAIN AND DESPAIR

Seven days after the earthquake in Haiti, aid workers are still struggling deliver the food to those who need it.'No one can blame people who are starving and without water or shelter taking things into their own hands but does it always have to be by violent means? writes Barbara from the United Kingdom.'

I, like millions of people around the world, have been watching closely the news that is unfolding about the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake. Day by day there are stories of horror but also awe inspiring feats of hope and courage. What is so depressing to watch however, are the awful images of the looting and lawlessness. Why is it that disasters like this bring out the best and worst in humankind? This is not just something that is only happening in Haiti. Even in other more developed, and therefore less poverty stricken countries, when a catastrophe occurs there are always those that seek to take advantage of the situation by fair means or foul. No one can blame people who are starving and without water or shelter taking things into their own hands but does it always have to be by violent means? What also strikes me is that it often seems to be the young, healthy men who are seen to be weilding knives and other weapons. The women, who afterall may have children to fend for and no man to help them, are the ones waiting patiently for the supplies to arrive. It was so poignant to see the very young children accepting the aid, which amounted to little more than a bottle of water in some cases, with such gratitude and politeness.

I have seen this, to a lesser extent, in my own country, England. During the past few weeks as I have written about recently, we have been suffering extreme weather conditions. This also brought out the good and bad in people. There were lots of stories of courage and fortitude but also dispiriting stories of people having to abandon their cars only to return later to find that they had been broken into and radios, stereos, anything removable, had been stolen. Or cases of elderly people being left to die in their homes through lack of care. We are on the whole a selfish society so we can't sit back and watch the TV coverage of Haiti and condemn the people for their behaviour when, should the same thing happen here, we could also be witnessing such scenes. Once again, the perpetrators would more than likely be young men who our Government do-gooders call 'disaffected youths'. This is psycho speak for lawless yobs! 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone' is as relevant today as it was when it was written thousands of years ago.

Event of the week

THIS blog does not usually write about certain events or places, but like most of us trying to adjust to the challenges or tidings of the new year, we hope to be reporting to you in the coming months some of the big news unfolding at our readers gate. This is precisely the beginning of what we call 'caught on sight' The aim is naturally meant for you the network of readers to know more about the people who are as well following the blog. This week's event of the week is: Momodou Mballow.

After being a cadet inspector for a little more than a year, Momodou Mballow age 30 has been confirmed as an Inspector. He joined the Gambia Police Force in 1999 and in the subsequent years his interest in law took to the Gambia Technical Training where he armed himself a National Diploma in Law. This development, undoubtedly took him to the Police Prosecutions department where he continues to perform dilligently. Unlike many other officers looking forward to Peace Keeping Operations abroad, Mballow was one of the few lucky few officers who went to Darfur in 2007. He's married with children and enjoys reading and writing during his leisure moments. He's also a founding member of the Fulabantang Youth Development Association - as a native of Fulabantang village Mballow's at times divide his time finding out what is happening in the village.




We would also like to congratulate our dear friend from Tanzania Chaby Wyclef Barasa for leaving print journalism for a a PR job at one of Tanzania's vibrant telecoms companies. Barasa, like Mballow has been encouraging us to blog despite the challenges that goes with the task, I can distinctly remember at the time he departed the IIMC campus in Delhi, we told me to keep blogging.
So we are!.

'GOING TO HAITI'

TOWARDS THE LAST REMAINING days of 2009, most of us were locked up in prayers for long life and prosperity as we usher in the new year, we want our lives to change; so that we can live up to expectations and continue to execute the assignments we have been tasked to do in our respective fields of specialisation. We want the new year for example to bring us closer to the things we have been yearning for all this time - to succeed. But am not talking about 50 Cent's opinions on survival - 'Get rich or die trying'

Well in Haiti, Wednesday's event to be precise on the 12th January reminded us once again how we are vulnerable to natural disasters and the unfortunate thing is that the ordinary people hardly come close to anything pertaining to weather patterns. It was therefore sad as people fell on the ground and on top of that their own houses were falling on them, vehicles and everything turned upside down, such is the tremor of earthquakes that usually [prevail] in that part of the world.

JOURNALISTS can hardly participate in rescue operations but their role during such incidence is noticeable, when the quake first stroke barely thirty minutes after; Tv channels like AlJazeera and CNN were one of the first international stations to break the news. Yet the news was the same except that each time a reporter or an expert talk, the individual will not forget to mention how poor Haiti is, and the need to for the international community to do something and help the quake victims.

Going to Haiti is not bad at all so let the aid workers go, imagine the country and try to figure out the number of black people who call this [place] their home and imagine if this was not just an extension of Africa, probably thats why we are trying to sympathise with Haitians during these difficult times.

'Don't come now?'

SNOWED IN!
Our contributor from London tells us that anyone coming to the United Kingdom should read her piece before taking the next available flight 'if you are lucky to get one'

Anyone visiting our shores at the moment might think they had caught the wrong plane (if they were lucky enough to get on one!) and had landed in the North Pole. For over two weeks now the UK has be experiencing the coldest and snowiest winter for over 30 years. Some areas are affected more than others but since last Wednesday (6th January) the whole of the British Isles is blanketed in snow. As you can imagine it has been wreaking havoc with the road and rail systems, not to mention the airports. Many roads are impassable in the Scottish Highlands and Northern England with people being stranded and having to abandon their cars. The temperatures have plummeted to -20 degrees in some parts which is colder than the South Pole! I am sure you are all well aware that the British like nothing better than to talk about, or rather complain about, the weather. Well we sure have something to talk about now!

Unlike some other European countries we are always unprepared for such extreme conditions. To be fair it is quite rare for such widespread bad weather to occur so it takes awhile for the reality to set in. Once we get over the shock I think, as a nation, we cope very well. You have heard of the famous British 'stiff upper lip' I am sure. It is now very evident albeit that it is mainly stiff with the cold. We have witnessed some real ingenuity regarding means of transport. Some people search out their skis which have previously only been used on visits to the Swiss Alps. Others don their mountain boots and risk the icey pavements to walk to work. There was even someone on the television the other day who is using huskies and a sledge!!

In the rural areas especially, anyone with a tractor or 4x4 suddenly becomes the most popular person in the village. There are many sad stories too. Some people take chances on frozen lakes and rivers only to find the ice is much thinner than they thought and pay the price with their lives and the lives of others who go to their rescue. Also our NHS is put under so much pressure because of accidents occuring on the slippery pathways and pavements. Many young people out and about in the evening enjoying the nightlife have ended up in the A&E departments of hospitals after falling over. It has to be said that they are usually the 'authors of their own misfortune', to coin a legal phrase, i.e. DRUNK! We have a term used to describe someone who has had too much to drink. We say that they are 'legless'. A very apt description if they are encased in plaster from thigh to ankle.

So, whilst you are seeking shelter from the mid-day sun and shielding your eyes from its glare, spare a thought for us poor Brits who, although enjoying beautiful scenes which take your breath away if you live like me in the country, are getting slightly fed up with the white stuff and all the havoc and inconvenience that it brings. There is a very old song which has a line in it that goes: "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow". I would like to change that to "Let it go, let it go, let it go"!

Barbara