As the massive flag of the newly independent Republic of South Sudan was raised, the crowd of thousands exploded into cheers. People shed tears of joy and others tears of sorrow for loved ones lost during the war. Everyone hugged their neighbours and said, “Mabruk! Congratulations! We did it!”
A seasoned campaigner writes about the importance of our Tea time for Change lobby of Parliament on 9 June.
‘Tis the season for New Year’s resolutions my friends’ and colleagues’ intentions for 2011 made me realise that I hadn’t even considered mine. Lots of us know we should eat less and do more, but instead we dream of ‘miracle diets’ and ‘celebrity fitness regimes’ when we know they won’t work, and aren’t good for us. Ignoring the problem and hoping for a quick-fix is what we do – and this ostrich-with-head-in-sand approach is favoured the world over, not just by individuals, but governments too…
By my own count, I was a child witch on at least four counts – five when I was a teenager and thought myself hideous.
I’d like to invite my readers to try these tests on themselves or their own children. It may be of interest to try and find someone who isn’t a witch. There can’t be many of us left.
The train journey from Delhi to Jaipur was quite different from British rail – it left on time, tea and biscuits were served followed by breakfast.
We all lugged our cases up and down stairs refusing help from the porters and then discovered that for 40 ruppees (60p) we could have had porter service – such Scottish thrift.
Today, we are in Mumbai – by the way, Indians still call it Bombay, its only the English and officials who use its new name. Had a short flight from Jaipur to here early in the morning, and after a quick catnap and lunch, we were off once more.
As part of our series of BackRoom Briefings, Patrick Watt addresses Millenium Development Goals 4 & 5, and proposes how we can get back on track with world leaders’ promises to reduce the awful levels of child mortality and maternal health before 2015.
It’s monsoon and, during these rainy days, my mind wanders to thoughts of ten-year-old Tariq. I remember his family cowering under their small shack in Koyra of southwestern Bangladesh.
Most of all I remember his tranquil big brown eyes cloud over with fear when he spoke about Cyclone Aila.
There is much to do. With maternal and newborn health a key priority for us in countries where there is a high HIV prevalence, we must rise to the challenge of preventing mother to child transmission of HIV, which is a cost-effective and proven intervention that can save the lives of hundreds of thousands.
Yesterday the Commonwealth Health Ministers had their meeting before the start of the World Health Assembly. The Commonwealth is a strange beast, a range of English-speaking countries, many of them former British colonies, that still hold together as a group.
