Safari Notes

Do you love penguins? Most of us do. And can there be a better way to express that love and support than helping in saving these very adorable creatures?  Right now there is an opportunity to protect these amazing animals by helping establish the world’s two largest sanctuaries at sea around Antarctica. Adding your voice will help protect countless penguins, whales, seals and nearly 10,000 other incredible species. *Despite the best efforts of the Happy Feet penguins, the Southern Ocean is not yet protected. That’s why Greenpeace is working with the  Antarctic Oceans Alliance , and lobbying governments to come together to protect areas like   the Ross Sea , which are vital for many penguins. You can help Greepeace, and the penguins, by  j oining their call for ocean sanctuaries around Antarctica , and by spreading the word about World Penguin Day.  Learn more  |  Sign the petition + Facts About Penguins: Defenders , World Wildlife Fund , W...

Not In My Country   Of all places, no where else is corruption as abhorrent as when it happens in institutions of learning and education. Any one who knows the workings of East African secondary and high schools, colleges and universities - would most likely know, too, how corrupt those working in them can be. Headmasters, principals and heads of colleges and universities are known to take bribes or ask for other forms of favours which can be: financial, material or even sexual. Many know how some one was admitted in a certain educational institution because he/she gave bribes or provided some form of favour  Many, too, know of favors being given to teachers or instructors or lecturers for the benefit of a student. I recall, years ago, while in a boys' boarding school of hundreds of students - there was this fat matron who used certain of us sexually for her to give us some favour or extra stuff. She would either aggres...

So far, most, if not all of those wanted, indicted and punished by the International Criminal Court have been from Africa. It makes one wonder: is this international court for Africans only? Is the ' Peace Through Justice ' and its ' years of fighting impunity ' only meant for, and supposed to be enforced on, Africans? Even in Africa, the court seems to be selective: any leader who strongly opposes or chastises Western countries, the US in particular, will most likely end up on the ICC list. Mr. Robert Mugabe, maybe due to his age or his being very knowledgeable about the West, has been lucky; so far.  African leaders who have been friendly profitable to the West, however brutal and cruel they are, have been spared by the ICC. Case in point is the Equatorial Guinea's leader: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who is the longest serving African leader (he has been in power for 34 years now); he is one of the most cruel and one of the most wealthy heads of state in...

In Indonesia, behind the scenes, major international brands are conducting business with suppliers such as PT Gistex, helping to sponsor toxic water pollution and murky business practices. One of these brands is Gap - which has been linked to toxic water scandals before, and whose clothing items tested positive for hazardous chemicals in a previous investigation . How many more scandals need to break before Gap work with their suppliers in Indonesia and around the world to Detox their production processes and products, and help Detox our water? Around the world, over half a million fashionistas, activists, designers and bloggers have joined together, united by a belief that beautiful fashion needn't cost the earth. Join the movement and send a clear message to major brands and suppliers linked to this environmental destruction that we want clothes with a story we can be proud of. Take action: SIGN THE DETOX FASHION MANIFESTO + Polluting Paradise