Wednesday, July 29, 2009

TJRC - NO, NOT NOW!

A message from the Solidarity Network Of Kenya:

"The formation of the TJRC at this particular juncture, when it has been in the offing for over a year, is clearly a red herring. It has been dropped into the public arena to distract us from the debate raging over the Hague v Local Tribunal option. The powers-that-be might even be hoping that we will dump the Hague/Tribunal and settle for the TJRC – this is more than possible as Kenyans are noted for the brevity of their attention-span. Then we shall be kept busy and occupied with endless arguments, protests and debates over a non-functioning, highly manipulated and deceptive TJRC. The process is conveniently set to take 3 years – just in time for the 2012 election when all will be forgiven for the villains to renew their money-guzzling and murderous activities.


And of course the long suffering Kenyans will be expected to feel good, if not actually thankful.

Kenya badly needs the TJRC and that we should take control of it and use it to our advantage. But can we? Is there a single mission or commission that we have taken control of for our advantage? I think not, however, that doesn’t mean we should not try. BUT THIS IS NOT THE TIME. First let us settle the Hague/Tribunal issue – let us do our utmost to ensure that we put in place a tribunal here in Kenya (apart from all else we want to SEE justice being done) with all the necessary safeguards for a just and transparent trial. If we can do that then we move to the next step – setting up a credible TJRC where we have a say in the appointment of commissioners and in the process. If we cannot, believe me the TJRC will just pull the wool over our eyes. Let us stay focussed and not get waylaid.

It is 99% agreed that the TJRC chair is unacceptable! But are we going to fritter away our energy, time and resources to evict this one person. He is not the only problem. I say let us demand: ‘No TJRC for now – We want a Local Tribunal first’ and then let us start organising for the kind of tribunal we want. Annan, Ocampo, Waki, the EU and many many others nationally and internationally are all with us on this. It couldn’t be a better time and a better opportunity for us to build solidarity, plan strategy and organise non-violent forms of resistance. If we can do that then we shall have learnt how to achieve our aims and we will ensure we get a TJRC that truly brings the justice and reconciliation that Kenyans have died for."

Zarina Patel
Solidarity Network Kenya
P O Box 32843 - 00600
Nairobi, Kenya
Email: solidaritynetkenya@gmail.com

SNK is environmentally responsible. It recycles, reduces and reuses all its material

Ongoing Campaigns:

Justice for the Mau Mau Freedom Fighters Now!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/www-khrc-or-ke

"Save Lake Turkana - Stop the damming of the Omo River"
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-lake-turkana---stop-the-damming-of-the-omo-river

Free the Cuban Five Now!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/www-freethefive-org

The Phirilongwe Elephants Need Your Help Now!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/the-phirilongwe-elephants-need-your-help-now

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Get your XYZ Show Fill

Spotted on Mount Kenya blog:

"Yesterday - the day that the PM answered questions about our water crisis I cycled past a prominent ex MP’s house not far from the PM’s residence. Water was being pumped straight from the river through huge hose to clean his driveway in volumes used, or so I thought, only by firemen...." (Read full post HERE)

We are indeed a country on the brink and nothing more to do but laugh at how stupid we all are. We have done it to ourselves and the only solace I find is the images of myself on the xyz show...


If you can't get enough of yourself, then read the blog, download the previews and purchase the wallpaper because this is MY KENYA!


Friday, July 17, 2009

African Revolutionary Leaders Exhibition

African Revolutionary Leaders exhibition
Nairobi National Museum - Small Exhibition Hall
July 9th to 19th


This exhibition contains the testimonies of great fighters for the dignity of the African people through the work of Venezuelan artist Jorge Cruz.

The itinerary exhibition "Revolutionary Leaders of Africa" is a project that was initiated in March 2008, and is run by the Ministry of People's Power for Foreign Affairs through the Office of the Vice Minister for Africa and the Free Chair for Africa for the furtherance is the People's Diplomacy.

It was conceived with the idea that the Venezuelans know more about the African thought and take a journey at what has been the political history of Africa.

It is also a place for Venezuelans to recognize; the freedom and self-determination of the African people as originating from the same source that allows deepening of historical ties, cultural and ethnic backgrounds that unite the two continents.

With this exhibition, which will be exhibited in all the 18 embassies of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Africa, we seek to approach the struggles of men and women of the African continent, where millions of human beings were uprooted and made slaves. It also shows the policy of solidarity of the Bolivarian Government of African descendants must understand its importance. Finally, it also wishes to pay tribute to the African diaspora, to the scattered blackness that is still struggling and fighting for a better world.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

18th July - It's Our Turn To Eat: Readings in Kisumu

This Saturday July 18, 2009 11am to 4pm International PEN Kenya Chapter, takes the READING of Michela's 'Its Our Turn To Eat,' to Kisumu. The VENUE: Aga Khan Sports Centre.

'Every age,' said Oscar Wilde, 'is fought using its own weapons.' Ours is the information age. Let Kenyans be told something about their government and individuals who waste their resources and time, trying to project themselves as leaders. No, they are not, and this we do not need to belabour. Its WHY the ASIAN TIGERS are ahead of us today.

Kenya needs recalibration. That calls for a good sense of history.


Michela Wrong gathers together pieces of a fragmented nightmarish narrative, and delivers it to the victim, a community afflicted by capricious gods undieted on Olympian foods. Put differently, they are not invincible. Whatever the community does with the message is not for the messenger to decide.

Khainga O'Okwemba, poet/literary critic &
Treasurer, International PEN Kenya Chapter

Monday, July 13, 2009

Putting Lipstick on a Pig...

Latest Partnership for Change publication is out and a must read and share...the horror has not stopped...

Click on the image below to download full publication of visit the Partnership for Change website HERE

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Tactical Tech: The Quick ‘n Easy Guide to Online Advocacy


"The Internet has opened up many possibilities for rights advocates. In order to make the best use of the online world for their campaigns, however, advocates need to know what services are available, how they can be used in an advocacy campaign, who owns them and their hidden dangers."

"The Quick 'n Easy Guide to Online Advocacy developed by Tactical Tech, aims to expose advocates to online services that are quick to use and easy to understand. The guide provides descriptions of online services including social networking sites, image and video hosting services, and services that enhance an organizations web presence. The guide also offers advice on where and when to use these services. Case studies, security concerns as well as the advantages and disadvantages of various web services are discussed, with the aim of improving advocates ability to conduct online advocacy campaigns."

The internet service
s listed in the guide covers four main areas in which advocates operate: informing and communicating; documenting and visualising; mobilising and coordinating; and bypassing and accessing.

http://onlineadvocacy.tacticaltech.org

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Usinibore



The first single from Just A Band's upcoming second album - 82.
http://www.just-a-band.com

Friday, July 3, 2009

Wajibu Magazine is out: Digitizing Kenya

Now Available in all major bookstores in Nairobi.

Content:

  • Digitizing Kenya: some cracks in the digital divide
  • Preventing collective amnesia: The challenge of preserving digital materials in the age of the internet
  • Tourism and the Internet: what prospects for the small operator?
  • Blogging About Kenya: National Discourse in a Transnational Space
  • Digitally Networked Technology in Kenya's 2007-2008 Post-Election Crisis
Features:

  • Making a difference: Africa Yoga Project – Journey into Power with Baron Baptiste
  • Youth Speaks: Daring to live anew / Rose Njeri Ng’anga /
  • Book review: It’s our turn to eat / Michaela Wrong /
  • Poetry by Philo Ikonya
For more information email: gwakuraya (at) gmail (dot) com

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