Somali gunmen release 2 aid workers

The Toronto Star
April 22, 2009

Two European aid workers were released by gunmen who held them captive for nearly 10 days in southwestern Somalia. Rab Dhure District Commissioner Sheik Mohamed Kheyr told the press that elders and an extremist Islamic group assisted the release of the Belgian and Dutch "Doctors without Borders" employees. The 49 year-old Dutch aid worker with Doctors Without Borders said that he and his 40-year-old Belgian partner were given food and water by the people after their harsh experience in captivity. The two gunmen had kidnapped the aid workers on April 19 as they travelled through Rab Dhure, in Somalia. District Commissionser Kheyr said that elders and area residents had pressed for their release, protesting that the two aid workers were helping the people of Southwestern Somalia. Sheik Aden Yare, an influential clan leader, was one of the main figures who negotiated with the captors, asking for the release of the aid workers. Keus and Stassijns, the two aid workers, said that they were being transported to another town where they were to board a plane at the time of their captivity, declining to discuss their captivity in detail until they are out of Somalia. There were 25 masked gunmen who took the aid workers hostage during their journey through Somalia. The men were armed and had cloth wrapped around their lower faces. They were said to be vicious and violent with the aid workers. Although the two aid workers were released, sixteen workers still remain in captivity in Somalia, according to the UN. The capture of aid workers has long been a common problem in Somalia, often with demands for ransom.

I believe that this kidnapping is a disappointing reminder of how desperate men can become when fighting for the righteousness of their own religious or political values. In such desperation, men turn to desperate means for survival with no consideration for their fellow man. The two captured Officials of the Belgian chapter of Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins sans frontières, say the group has operated medical aid projects in Somalia since 1991, but has never had problems with its staff's safety. The group "Doctors Without Borders" has a long tradition of selfless humanitarian service around the world, and has even won accolades such as the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. (http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1999/press.html) Their most recent work in Somalia comes in the form of tuberculosis and malnutrition aid projects. The Somalian campaign is but one of many humanitarian campaigns on the continent of Africa. I believe that the capture of these aid workers is completely unnecessary and does not truly aid the cause of these rebels. The workers are simply trying to help the people in Somalia, and trying to assist the underprivileged and sick citizens of the country. There is absolutely no reason for the gunmen to kidnap these foreign aid workers, as it simply worsens the plight of the Somalian citizens and turns the world against the rebel's cause. These rebels, however, have lost all self-respect or respect for international law, and will do anything to bring their cause to the attention of the world. This incident, however, in my opinion, will certainly not aid them in their ultimate struggles, but will mark them as petty criminals who choose to victimize the most noble and selfless of organizations - MSF. This situation is one that has been repeated throughout history during times of great political and economic unrest. If we look back on the history of such nations as Nigeria, we see the armed conflict based on race, religion, money and power that divided so many and resulted in untold deaths. It is truly the desperation of the common man that leads him to acts such as hostage taking to inform the world of their desperate situation. This can also relate to the recent conflicts in Sri Lanka, where a terrorist organization, the LTTE, have resorted to desperate measures in order to gain their own state in a country where they feel oppressed and discriminated against. The world seems to repeatedly make this same mistake and one can only hope that the power of nonviolent protest as exemplified by Gandhi's movement in India, prior to independence, can once again rise as an example for us all.

Stephen Hawking Rushed to Hospital

The Toronto Star
April 20, 2009

Mathematician Stephen Hawking was rushed to a hospital today and is seriously ill, reports Cambridge University. Hawking has been fighting a chest infection for many weeks now, and has been treatted by Addenbrooke's Hospital in the university city of Cambridge, England. The university's head of communications, Gregory Hayman, said that Hawking is very ill and has been unwell for a couple of weeks. He is now undergoing tests. At the age of 21, Hawking was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a degenerative and incurable disease. He is now 67, and is famed for his work on black holes. Hawking has been paralyzed for many years now, communicating through a voice synthesizer controlled by his fingers. Hawking had canceled an appearance at Arizona State University on April 6 because of his illness. Last year, Hawking announced that he would step down as Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the end of the academic year. However, Hawking intended to continue working as Emeritus Lucasian Professor of Mathematics after he stepped down from the above title.

This story reflects the true vulnerability of life, in particular the life of one of the greatest minds of our time, Stephen Hawking. Although Hawking is paralyzed and has motor neuron disease, he is one of the world's greatest minds. His work is unforgettable, and his research has given so much to the scientific world. His major works include theorums regarding singularities in the framework of general relativity , and the theoretical prediction that black holes should emit radiation. His theorems have revolutionized the way scientists approach the theory of relativity and changed the way we view astronomy forever.While his mind is infallable and brilliant, his motor neuron disease has made his body weak and susceptible to repeated chest infections. If Hawking were to die from this illness, it would truly be a devastating loss to the world of science and mathematics. According to CBC news, Prof. Peter Haynes, head of Cambridge University's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, commented on the respect and admiration he and the other faculty have for Hawking and stated, "Professor Hawking is a remarkable colleague. We all hope he will be amongst us again soon". (http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/04/20/hawking-stephen-ill.html) We can only hope that Stephen Hawking recovers from his severe condition, to continue his fine work as a scientist and mathemetician. Stephen Hawking truly represents the dicotomy between mind and body. His physical state is weak and not a true reflection of his intellect. This also relates back to the material we have studied this year, regarding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Disability Rights are rights we all must observe without prejudice. Many around the world assume that if your body is feeble, you have nothing to offer society. However, disability activists have shown us the truth: that physical state is no reflection on what an individual can contribute to society. We must be consciouss of how we prejudge those around us based on appearance and rise above this remembering the example of Stephen Hawking.

Back to School for Children Left Homeless by Earthquake

The Toronto Star
April 16, 2009

Today, some of the youngest victims of Italy's recent earthquake went back to school, in small tent cities, symbolizing a return to normalcy. Schools reopened in Poggio Picenza today, a few kilometers from the hardest-hit city of L'Aquila. Today marks the official restart of school after the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that killed 294 people and destroyed the city on April 6,2009. Many of the children were happy to go back to school as they had missed their peers and teachers. Many had feared for their loved ones' safety. Middle school teacher Liberata Marchi spoke to the media, stressing the need for classes to continue, saying that allowing the children to be together and return to normalcy is vital to their recovery from this ordeal. Education Minister Mariastella Gelmini also spoke to the media, saying that the school opening was a "small but important sign that normalcy was returning" and that it would take the children's mind off of the true horror that the city is experiencing. The mayor of Poggio Picenza, Nicola Menna, is also residing in a tent right now, and reported that two of the village's students were not at the school reopening that day. They were among five Poggio Picenza citizens killed in the troubling quake. Many residents left to stay with family or in hotels on the coast, troubled by the dire situation. Of the 55,000 people displaced by the quake, approximately 33,000 are living in tent cities in and around the 26 towns and village affected by the earthquake. Approximately 22,000 people won't be able to return to their damaged homes because of the severity of the damage. Speaking on RAI state television, Menna said the remainder are believed to be living in tents or hotels because they are afraid of returning home while aftershocks continue, even though their homes are habitable. Italy's interior minister estimated that rebuilding the damaged city will cost at least 12 billion euros (about $16 billion U.S.).

In my opinion, this incident is a tragic reflection on the sad reality of the situation in Poggio Picenza, Italy. I believe that this situation shows us how the earthquake has affected each and every citizen in this small area of Italy and how courageous school administrators and students have risen above the tragedy in returning to school in tent classrooms. The children of the community are going through a very difficult time in that they do not fully understand the situation due to their young age, and should not have to face such hardships and tragedy in their young lives. In my opinion, it is vital for the children to be able to go back to school. This step was imperative for the return to normalcy of this city. In the words of Middle school teacher Liberata Marchi, "Being together, playing with other children, letting them have fun, this is important". (http://www.newstin.com/rel/us/en-010-013147558) It will take many months for the city to truly return to normal, but I believe that this was the first step in recovering from this devastating event. On a greater scale, this story represents the power that play and laughter have in healing one's wounds. Play therapy has been used to treat traumatized children in our society and indeed throughout the world from warzones to hospital cancer wards. It is the power of playfullness and laughter that can truly heal the deepest wounds and bring back the inner child in each of us. There is, in fact, an international organization called Right to Play that provides children around the world, whether it be in warzones or refugee camps, with the equipment and programs to play and be children, regardless of the trauma they are experiencing. We must all recognize this group's efforts and the power that this admirable association has to change childrens' lives.