ERNESTO GUEVARA DE LASERNA aka EL CHE 1928-1967

Ernesto Guevara 14 June 1928-9 October 1967

Ernesto Guevara was Argentine -born, Marxist revolutionary, political figure, leader of cuban and international guerrillas, hero and turned to be a fashion icon.

As a young man he studied medicine, and travelled all over South America bringing him into direct contact with impoverished conditions in which many people lived. His experiences and obs ervation through these trips led him to the conclusion that region's socio-economic innequalities cuold only be remedied by socialism through revolution, prompting him to intensify his study of marxism and travelled to Guatemala to learn the implemented reform there by the President Jacobo Arbenz Guzman.

In 1956 he joined Fidel Castro's revolutionary 26th of July movement which saw the end of dictator Fulgencio Batista's regime of Cuba in 1959, after a succesful revolution ha was appointed as"supreme prosecuter"overseeing the trials and executions of hundreds of suspects of war criminals in previous regime. After serving in various important posts in the new government,Guevara left Cuba in 1965 with intention of fomenting revolution in various sub saharan African nations first in Congo-Kinshasa,Algeria,Mozambique and Tanzania, he met the likes of Patrice Lumumba,Ahmed Ben Bella,Samaora Machel and Julius Nyerere, In 1967 Guevara left Dar es salaam for Bolivia he went to serve revolution there,where he was captured in a military operation supported by the CIA and U.S army special forces, Guevara was executed by Bolivian army in the town of La Higuera near Vallegrande on October 9 1967

The body of Che Guevara assessed by Bolivian Army personnel

After his death Guevara became an icon of socialist revolution movements and a cultural icon worldwide. The Alberto Korda's photo has received wide distribution and modification, appearing on t-shirt protest banners and in many other formats, The Maryland Institute College of Art called Alberto Korda's picture the most famous photo in the world and a symbol of 20th century

On the 9th of October 2007 people worldwide marked 40 years since his death, In London it was in Old Street and Walthamstow.

Hasta la victoria siempre

It is a day to remember the great Arnesto Che Guevara, and I for one will not pass this opportunity to give a tribute to a man who likes not oppression of his people and the world!!

(Che by sigmund freuid)

"We cannot be sure of having something to live for unless we are willing to die for it.- Ernesto Che Guevara"
"Words that do not match deeds are unimportant. - Ernesto Che Guevara"
"Cruel leaders are replaced only to have new leaders turn cruel! - Ernesto Che Guevara"

"Our every action is a battle cry against imperialism, and a battle hymn for the people's unity against the great enemy of mankind: the United States of America. Wherever death may surprise us, let it be welcome, provided that this, our battle cry, may have reached some receptive ear, that another hand may be extended to wield our weapons, and that other men be ready to intone our funeral dirge with the staccato singing of the machine guns and new battle cries of war and victory. - Ernesto Che Guevara"
"I am not interested in dry economic socialism. We are fighting against misery, but we are also fighting against alienation. One of the fundamental objectives of Marxism is to remove interest, the factor of individual interest, and gain, from people's psychological motivations. Marx was preoccupied both with economic factors and with their repercussions on the spirit. If communism isn't interested in this too, it may be a method of distributing goods, but it will never be a revolutionary way of life. - Ernesto Che Guevara "

(Andy Warhol the greatest pop up artist representing Che the Guerilla)
"I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves. - Ernesto Che Guevara"
"There is no other definition of socialism valid for us than that of the abolition of the exploitation of man by man. - Ernesto Che Guevara"
"Each time a country is freed, we say, it is a defeat for the world imperialist system, but we must agree that real liberation or breaking away from the imperialist system is not achieved by the mere act of proclaiming independence or winning an armed victory in a revolution. Freedom is achieved when imperialist economic domination over a people is brought to an end. - Ernesto Che Guevara "

(Until victory always -- Struggle until victory forever!)
The great will always be great (June 14, 1928 – October 9, 1967

Change is coming our way

There's so many things to say right now
I got so much on my mind
Look at what is going down
How much higher can we climb
The system that we're living in
Depends on poverty and greed
But people don't need charity
It's justice that we need

There's disrepair
It's surrounding you
And it's worse than it's ever been
We'll overcome
Overcome the things they do
We're halfway there
Cause we know the truth
But living is another thing
We'll overcome
Overcome the things they do
Lift your voice and sing

A change is coming our way
Step by step and day by day
We'll live by all that we say
Step by step now come what may

There's war all around the world
In the name of democracy
Can't tell the rouge from the just
When they bring hypocrisy
I see my sisters on the move
Making sure we all contend
Must've lost something on the way
We reduced ourselves again

Before we go forth
We gotta take 'em back, back
So we can know what we did
Cause if we never know what happened in de past
Then we can never know, that's what it is
If we don't do it for us
We gotta do it for our kids, kids
So they don't gotta relive
See, there's so much happening, it ain't gonna get fix
With singing and rapping and we gotta take action
And turn that preach into practising
Cause what happen back then, will be right back again
But each one teach one, cause we only as fast
As the last one straggling, so help 'em out

Step by step day by day
Said it won't be long, it won't be long
Step by step come what may
I feel it coming on strong
Step by step day by day
We gonna overcome
Step by step come what may
As long as we are one

Can't tell the rogue from the just

Make Change, Bring Change

(The Ambassador)

Keep a Child Alive stays in the forefront of the AIDS movement by creating important and moving ad campaigns. Each year a new campaign is launched at our annual event, the Black Ball. Last year’s “Spirit of a Child” campaign photographed by Marc Baptiste featured such celebrities as Lorraine Bracco, Cynthia Nixon, Nas, Josh Groban and others.
Coming in the fall, will be the I AM AFRICAN campaign photographed by Michael Thompson, featuring such legends as Iman, David Bowie, Sting, and including celebrities as Liv Tyler, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
(Iman, Global Ambassador)
Each and every one of us contains DNA that can be traced back to our African ancestors.

Keep A Child Alive is dedicated to providing life-saving anti-retroviral treatment to children and their families with HIV/AIDS in Africa and the developing world by directly engaging the global public in the fight against AIDS.

"They say that time changes things, but actually you have to change them yourself" - Andy Warhol

Unseen Aid: Africa

African nations that bore the brunt of the continent’s worst floods in three decades face a new epidemic threat and on Friday stepped up appeals for international help.
At least 300 people in 20 countries have died in floods over the past two months, according to figures from governments, hospitals and humanitarian sources compiled by AFP. As the extent of the damage begins to emerge epidemic warnings are growing. In Rwanda, where at least 15 people died this month in flash floods, two cholera cases have been reported in flood districts, said Innocent Nyaruhirira, minister in charge of epidemics. Cholera outbreaks have already caused 68 deaths in Sudan, one of the countries worst hit by the flooding. The United Nations said up to 625,000 people could be in need of emergency aid in Sudan.
Neighbouring Uganda has also been heavily affected by the floods, with at least 400,000 people in need of assistance in eastern regions. The European Union has decided to donate some two million euros (2.8 million dollars) to Togo, Ghana and Burkina Faso, EU officials said. Besides paying for supplies, the money is also to be used to help prevent the spread of malaria. The Togo government on Friday made its own urgent appeal for food and medical aid. Twenty three people have been reported dead in the West African nation and Cooperation Minister Gilbert Bawara told AFP: “We are launching an appeal for solidarity and international aid to relieve the people hit by the floods.”
“We need food, medicines and the means to rebuild infrastructure,” Bawara said. The flooding of key roads has paralysed the delivery of aid. Ugandan Minister of State for Refugees and Disaster Preparedness Musa Ecweru said the floods had affected cross-border traffic into southern Sudan and hundreds of trucks have been forced to take a longer route to the stricken region.
The non-government organisation ActionAid has criticised the relief effort in Uganda, where close to 20 people have died since the floods began and a massive food shortage looms. “There is still very slow response on the ground especially from government, though a lot has been promised since the floods in northern and eastern Uganda have now been declared a national disaster,” it said in a statement.

The organisation warned that the crisis had caused the prices of fuel and basic food supplies to soar.
Nigeria's Red Cross announced Thursday that 64 people had died in the country in the floods and that 22,000 people have been displaced in 10 northern states in Africa's most populous nation, as well as in the Lagos area in the southwest.
Burkina Faso, one of Africa's poorest nations, has reported 33 deaths and nearly 7,500 homes destroyed.
Countries as far north as Algeria were also affected. Algerian officials said Thursday there had been 21 million euros (30 million dollars) of damage in floods last weekend alone.
And there have been warnings about the future.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said the number of floods in Africa where the movement has provided relief aid had jumped from five in 2004 to 32 in 2006, which was a "worrying" eightfold increase.
By mid-September, the number of floods on the continent that mobilised Red Cross aid so far this year stood at 42.

HIV (Virus) AIDs (Disease), when it gets you there is no difference

we've come from far
every day is diferent from yesterday...
we live every day like the last
and you would do the things that only u knew
many times the end of the world has passed
so we live everyday like our last because we've come from far
when the times get hard we say "worst than our history, doesnt exist"
and when winter comes we simply say that the heat will return 2 us..

HIV AND AIDS HAS INCREASED TO 30% THIS YEAR ALONE AND GUESS WHAT, THE YEAR IS NOT OVER YET. YOU CAN IGNORE THIS, IT'S YOUR CHOICE OR YOU CAN READ AND PROTECT YOURSELF. PLEASE UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO TELL YOU THEY HAVE HIV OR AIDS.

It maybe helpful or not

Im gonna share with you rules that we must keep especially if we want to interact well with others and succeed especially at work:

1. Take risks that are calculated not crazy
At times opportunity a rise and the fear that resides in you holds you back to taking that risk and take the opportunity. Ofcourse, there's only so much you can push to but don't let an opportunity go to waiste

2. The worst case scenario is rarely as bad as you think
You know when you feel like a change in place for example and you get scared again to take risk because of fear of the word 'new,' change is only change for a minute then you get used to it. Every risk is an experience well learned...ofcourse do remember rule one.

3. Don't personalise things that aren't personal
As human beings we tend to take things personal very easily. I have to admit, I did this at work just last week and sometimes, it's not an intention to say something that hurts you so try not to take things personal. (I am learning this myself, especially with taking criticism)

4. It's best in the long run to make your life a grudge free zone
Trust me, you'll live a much better and happier life

5. Be generous with praise- and careful with criticism
this means exactly what it says

6. Know the rules so you know which ones to break
Make sure in breaking that rule, it will benefit not hurt someone or your business

7. It's easy to ask forgivenes than it is to get permission
This relates to rule number 6.

Hope you've had a good weekend and I welcome your advice, challenge, discussion at anytime.

Breast Cancer Awareness

There's one quote that resides in my mind when I think of life, it's by John Lennon and it goes a little something like this, "Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans." It sometimes feels like life is spanning out of control, and most of us do not realise it until something happens to us.


When it comes to improving the quality of life, some think about sitting down with an excellent shrink , it might mean taking a trip to the self help clinic, or taking time out by your self to just think on improvements you could make. Have you ever thought, one of those improvements could be checking for breast cancer?? I guess not, most of us don't think it could ever happen, like AIDs.


The 'C,' word is never an easy thing to hear. For a moment it takes your breath away. Your heart begins to beat like a drum as your mind struggles to comprehend the reality. You don't choose breast cancer, it choses you. A lot of people die every single day from cancer, so don't ignore it. Make it one of your regular check ups. To help Breast Cancer awareness this October why not buy something that could help someone survive today:


a tshirt from M & S or Privacy wear for those in America

Jeans


A hooded top


This is from M & S



Or just a classy pin or a ribbon to represent.

United we cure!!

In UN Speech, Zimbabwe's Mugabe Lashes Into US, Britain

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday delivered a particularly bitter denunciation of Western critics in the United Nations General Assembly, lashing out at U.S. President George Bush for what he called "hypocrisy" in describing his Harare government as "tyrannical," and denouncing U.S. policy in Iraq and elsewhere.
Mr. Mugabe accused the United States and Britain of seeking to maintain neo-colonial control over Zimbabwe and of attempting to engineer "regime change" there. "I am termed (a) dictator because I have rejected this supremacist view and frustrated the neo-colonialists in their endeavor to keep us as slaves in our own country."
Mr. Mugabe took exception to President Bush's reference to his government as a "tyrannical regime" in a speech Tuesday to the General Assembly.
President Bush said Mr. Mugabe's "tyrannical regime" was "an assault on its people and an affront to the principles of the (U.N.) Universal Declaration" of Human Rights.
Mr. Mugabe responded that Mr. Bush "has much to atone for and little to lecture us on (regarding) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. His hands drip with blood of many innocent nationalities, and today with the blood of the Iraqis."
Mr. Mugabe dwelt on the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for terror suspects. "At that concentration camp, international law does not apply...laws of the United States of America do not apply. Only Bush's law applies."
He accused Britain and the United States of pursuing "a relentless campaign of destabilizing and vilifying my country." He said the two nations "sponsored surrogate forces to challenge lawful authority in my country," this a reiteration of the charge, often lodged by Harare, that the opposition is Western-sponsored.
"They seek regime change," he said. "They seek regime change - not my people."
Mr. Mugabe said Zimbabwe "will not allow a regime change offered by outsiders. Mr. Bush and Mr. Brown have no role to play in our own national affairs. They are outsiders and mischievous outsiders and should therefore keep out."
Mr. Mugabe expressed "gratitude" toward South African President Thabo Mbeki for his mediation of talks between the ruling ZANU-PF party and opposition Movement for Democratic Change which in recent days has yielded a compromise constitutional amendment which President Mugabe said "paved the way" for 2008 elections.
"Consequently, we will be holding multiple democratic elections in March" next year, Mr. Mugabe told the General Assembly. "Indeed, we have always had timeous general and presidential elections since our independence."
Zimbabwean elections since 2000 have been marred by allegations of ballot-rigging and official intimidation of voters. Sanctions targeting Mr. Mugabe's inner circle were imposed by Western countries after the contested 2002 presidential election.
The Southern African Development Community asked Mr. Mbeki to mediate crisis talks between the ruling ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in late March after Mr. Mugabe's government launched a crackdown on opponents in which an opposition activist was shot to death March 11.
Photographs of the badly beaten opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai emerging from police custody galvanized world opinion and led Southern African leaders to convene an extraordinary summit at which Mr. Mbeki was handed his mediation brief.
Earlier Wednesday, Mr. Mugabe met with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in an encounter sources said was less than cordial. Mr. Mugabe was said to have refused to accept U.N. humanitarian assistance offered by Ban, and to have expressed himself “forcefully” when humanitarian issues, democracy and human rights came up.



What do you all think of what Mugabe said!!

Quote of the day

".....we are poor because they are rich, to us foreing aid is a matter of right, not of charity...."

parce qu'on vient de loin

The woman I am
The links of courage
Made a chain
That cannot be broken
That hands that made
Each golden link
Left me a price less token

My Heritage has been the shield
That kept me strong and free
The woman that I am today
Now walks victoriously


Alors on vit chaque jour comme le dernier

Update on Part of my life burning down to ashes...

Here is an update on another tragedy that has come to turn my mama's dreams and sweat into ashes...

Sea Cliff Before and below are pictures showing how burnt it is now!!

Ashes to ashes

Melting hearts

What used to be a swimming pool

burning hunger

Lost jobs

Lost hope

Once used to be abar and chill out place

My mama's dream was on the far left, once nominated top Salon in Tanzania, with professional hairdressers from South Africa and every year an opportunity to get styled by a celebrity hairdresser from abroad. She studied hard...but her dreams will not die..cuz we will rise!!

Still, I rise by Miss Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops.

Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don’t you take it awful hard

‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines

Diggin’ in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I’ve got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame

I riseUp from a past that’s rooted in pain

I riseI’m a black ocean,

leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

Quote of the day

"The challenges of change are always hard. It is important that we begin to unpack those challenges that confront this nation and realize that we each have a role that requires us to change and become more responsible for shaping our own future. "

Breaking News

I just received a call from my mama...that has made me sad.
Sea Cliff is Burning, the restaurant side and now it is going to our beauty palour which my mama's heart is in!!God Bless us...This is the second palour that has been affected by fire!First one was in Oysterbay Shopping centre!!Mourn for my heart and soul...May God give us courage to stand up and be number 1 again!!

The things people do for money

My favourite place in london for spending the day, detoxing, guaranteed to leave with a fresh mind and full of inspiration is Covent Garden. I am always mesmorized when I see what people do for money. I love the creativity in people that allows them to think...uuunhha...why don't I stand like a statue for the whole day and see people will pay for it...!!

Still

Pay me and I do a trick...like this

And this..thank you ladies and gentlemen

A dog anyone...This man was fascinating...seriously what do y'all think about this!!

Giving isn't a burden

"Giving ain't taking without the need. Giving is trying to be in the position to let others have what U created, and definately is realizing Ur position that distinguish U from others.Giving is if U are in the better position to let others get from Ur extra drops and bundles, and yet again, U part with some extra more." Simon (frequent visitor of this blog)

So remember when I posted and asked what is giving to you? Well as seen above one of my favourite Youth Vibes visitor wrote as stated. I said I would explore this a little more!! I found this on the net...

"a virtue, means to bestow, especially officially, confer; to accord or tender to another, to entrust to another. This is the Law of all creation: Give and you shall receive. "Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." "Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Lights. ..."

Giving to me is when you help those who haven't the ability to help themselves build up their lives, courage, strength, growth, with food, shelter, a shoulder to cry on or just to listen. You do not need to be wealthy to give, if you have strength give your strength, if you have wisdom give your wisdom. Like for example, I might be starting my PHD soon (I know what you are thinking 23 and burrying yourself in books, ooh well, just wanna be called a doctor really :P) On a serious note, I have been told by many why not become a teacher in rural areas? If I had the ability or the passion I definitely would. There is a company called CSV which allows you to give. I remember last year they wanted people to volunteer their services to go to Guatemala to build a village, why not if you can (I couldn't go as I went home for christmas). At times they need volunteers to just help paint someone's house in London because the person maybe disabled or in bad circumastances that do not allow them to do as they please. And they do this for all in need if they can reach you.

I always look at it like this, as young people volunteering gives you a nice CV. I remember when I was 16, me and my best friends then, decided we would volunteer at a disability charity every saturday. All we had to do was show up, and there would be planned activities, such as singing, dancing, learning, puzzles etcetera... We enjoyed it so much but we never realised that we were actually making our C.V. look good as well. Until recently, when I applied for a marketing assistant job in Computer Aid International, that's when I realised it would help later. At the time I felt good about giving and still feel good about it, at times sad because of the illnesses I saw that made me thank God for what he has given me.

If you have time, give
If you have money, you can give
If you have clothes that are wearable or new that you don't even wear, give
Giving is an option not an obligation but it does give you a guarantee of a fresh heart.
And remember te Phrase "Giving is receiving."

Quote of the day

"Sometimes it is upon generation to be great, and you can be that generation."

This is the time for us to be that great generation!!

The question of national identity

During my Masters studies last year, one of the topics I picked was, "Does Britain have a national identity?" Many people would find it easy to just say yes but when you think about it does national Identity really exist in this world today?

First, what is national identity?National identity is built on a foundation of fact and fiction that together form an account/story of origins. Myth, tradition and invented tradition are systematically employed towards the making of a common ancestry, the basis for shared belongings and a distinctive identity vis-à-vis the identity of other nation-states. In an ordinary sense, it can be taken to mean that quality or sense of belonging that makes a person quintessentially Vietnamese, Cambodian or any other nationality, i.e. that sense of belonging nurtured by a commonly shared history, cultural continuity and belief in a national destiny.

It is what binds all citizens to have a sense of belonging. Remember the days when England was for the English, Scotland for the Scottish, south Africa for black south Africans, and India for Indians. In my opinion this does not exist anymore, because there's been so much migration, colonization, globalization, cultural imperialism to appoint that there isn't such as a sense of belong.

You may ask what brought this discussion, well there recently came up in my home country a controversy brought by the chosen Miss Tanzania who has Indian Ancestry. so imagine if the country you were born and raised doesn't recognise you as belonging to that national identity? Well this is the same all around the world really, in London where I have been raised since the age of 13 (10 years ago) there are British Indians, Black British (which could be for example Jamaicans born in Britain etcetera etcetera) so does being born in that specific country make you apart of their national identity? Well to tell you the truth, most countries do not agree with it even though they may allow you to have the passport and call yourself British, American, or African but as long as you, your parents, do not look from that country you are not originally from that country despite all being born in that country.

I was born in Tanzania, I have arab ancestry as well as either kenyan or Rwandeese ancestry (can't remember) but we are all Tanzanians and do not recognise the other parts anymore, I know my tribes (in Tanzania) but have no idea how to even say hello in the languages but ofcourse I speak the national language which I was brought up speaking, swahili that is. If you look at me, with my dark brown features, long black African hair, if I tell you I am Tanzanian, you wouldn't have anything that could make you think otherwise. Richa Adhia (pictures), was crowned Miss Tanzania 2007 as well as Miss Earth 2006. The controversy came when she was crowned to represent Tanzania while she obviously looked , talked and was raised as an Indian. I trully understand my country's fear of loosing it's national identity if they send an Indian-Tanzanian to represent as a pure Tanzanian. This is apparent with so many countries that it does not surprise me. It even sounds a bit racist but I don't think it's about racism, I merely think that the fact that when you think of an African, you think black but this has changed and it cannot be avoided.

So we either agree with it, or continue to disagree with it, I don't know what you think. But do you agree with me that National Identity does not exist even in Africa anymore?

they took her daughters and sold her strongest sons

Do you think by any chance if Mother Africa's daughters weren't taken, Africa would be more developed today??

Do you think if it's strongest sons weren't sold they would have been able to build Africa more than it's built now??

To tell you the truth, I don't know how different our mother Africa would have been without the colonization and slavery,

All I know is globalisation and interaction has helped as well as ruined africa,

How?

Through globalisation we learn what will help develop and through interaction we learn of differen't cultures, languages, trades, and more...

I feel sad for mother Africa's struggle for I would like to ask would Africa be like this today??