One Human Race

The United Nations celebrates the World Humanitarian day every 19^th of August, but when I reflect on the activities of the world in the last couple of years, I question man’s humanity. Questions such as; Are we still humans?  Do we still have any humanity left in us? What exactly apart from our physical and biological features differentiates us from animals? These thoughts, which are constantly tossed around in my head do not come as a surprise to me. They are the brain’s interpretation of what my eyes see every day around me and on television, what my ears hear from people’s testimonies. The world we live in is gradually losing its essence.

The concept of humanitarianism is a moral of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended to all human beings. However, I am afraid this concept is lost in this generation where the death toll keeps rising. These deaths do not arise from the spread of infectious diseases or natural causes but from man taking up arms against a fellow man. From people who wake up and decide that a particular day is meant for taking lives to people who decide to engage in actions of suicide bombing. How else can we explain the killings in Nigeria by the Boko haram sect, or the killings in Syria? Then I hear they are fighting for a cause, what cause exactly? A cause that leads to the displacement of thousands from their homes, a cause that leaves children orphaned and impoverished. That is no cause!!! It is a manifestation of our loss of humanity. Deep inside we all have one cause, happiness! How can harming another person be the source of happiness to one? 

The examples above may seem distant from those who haven’t experienced armed conflict or street cross fires but again there are other ways we have lost touch with humanity in our little comfort boxes. The UN estimates that a total of 130 million people are living in crisis and are faced with impossible decisions every day, what steps are we taking to alleviate their situation. You don’t have to join the UNV (but if you can please do), you can start by finding a solution to the source of conflict in your neighbourhood, by going an extra mile to ensure you support the activities of humanitarian organisations, by ensuring that child abuse is eradicated, by lending a hand to your neighbour, by showing love to the aged, the list is endless but take your pick and start somewhere. This should be done out of empathy and not in a bid to get recognition, this is not a political game! Do not be like people that respect their own  but scream and intimidate people of other races, making them feel like they are weevils in beans, humans are better than that. The human race has managed to survive for many years because of organisation and working together. We’re not dinosaurs!! We’re humans and that’s what we should show in our actions.  

In any case I would sign off by reflecting on the actions of the great Nigerian doctor- Late Dr Ameyo Adadevoh, whose humanitarian acts prevented the wide spread of Ebola in Nigeria.  I am inspired by her actions, which were truly humanitarian because it cost her life. She showed us that she still believes in this world, that there is still hope for humanity. This human race is still worth fighting for, #takeactiontoday.

Hush Hush!!! No One Can Help You…

This being my first post and all, I was initially considering a political satire but I guess that will have to come later. This post was inspired by an experience some days back and I thought to myself a number of ladies must be faced with the same problems every day.  My experience was in a public transport means to be precise a long distance travelling “matatu”. Being a woman of colour in an Arab country already distinguished me, I so happened to be the only young lady in the taxi seated at the extreme end with two other male travellers. To cut the long story short, I discovered that when I texted or looked at my phone the guy next to me kept looking at me and peeping at my phone screen. He began infringing on my personal space, coupled with the use of sexually explicit language! I had to use my stuffed laptop bag to create some space between us. After sending signals to declare the interaction was unwanted he decided to swap seats. At a point I felt helpless because I could not communicate and describe what was transpiring between the male traveller and I to others and the driver. It took constant territorial bounds declaration on my part to get him to stay clear, but I could tell the message wasn’t fully understood. I kept at it until my ride ended, and of course I didn’t have a joyful ride! 

During my trip it occurred to me that I probably wasn’t the only one faced with such a challenge, but the voices are being suppressed. Have you ever walked down the streets and felt unwelcome? Rather than have a peaceful stroll in the neighbourhood you are greeted constantly with comments on how hot your body looks and how enticing you are. These inciting remarks and more of such challenges like catcalling are what women all over the world hear and are faced with while trying to get around the hustles and bustles of life.

Street Harassment can be described as unwanted interactions in public spaces between strangers that are motivated by a person’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, or gender expression and make the harassed feel annoyed, angry, humiliated, or scared. What makes it even more dangerous is that unlike other forms of harassment it is between strangers, hence there is little or no legal recourse. We are left to defend ourselves, how do you sue the guy on the street for screaming about your shape and embarrassing you or for stalking you to the extent that you are almost hit by a bus. Who do you go to? how do you communicate these little drops of water filling the mighty ocean that is slowly drowning you? To think that some cultures still see women as the lesser sex is strong enough foundation for such a hostile environment.

According to a survey conducted in USA by Stop Street Harassment (SSH) approximately 65% of women had experienced some form of street harassment. 23% of the women had been sexually touched, 20% had been followed. In another survey of 811 women, an alarming 99% had experienced street harassment including leering, honking, whistling, sexist comments, vulgar gestures, sexually explicit comments and kissing noises. These stats only give a tip of the iceberg, the street sexual harassment is deep rooted in most societies and this is because it is treated as a non-issue. It has been allowed to grow into a multi-headed hydra.

Some victims of such verbal abuse tend to fend it off as mere annoying remarks while others who are exposed to such hostility and abuse daily, without strong social structures or the ability to handle the situation could fall into depression. Why in the first place should you have to deal with these? Why are there no local channels of expressing such verbal abuses? It is time to take a stand to stop street harassment we need to create the awareness!!! LEND YOUR VOICE, SHARE YOUR STORY AND SPREAD THE WORD.