Posts
It is hard to read what I am reading on the news. Michael Jackson is dead.
I was alive when Lennon, Elvis and Diana died yet I can not even recall anything equaling the shock of disbelief about this. For those in their 20's or 30' growing up you could not just escape Michael Jackson. No matter if it were a love of his artistic genius or his personal controversy Michael Jackson was someone who could not be ignored.
I remember my first experience of Jakson was when my cousin Samantha babysat for my sister and I the same night that the video of Thriller was shown on TV. I was never so scared in my entire life! But I also became hooked as a fan. I saved my 50p a week pocket money until I was rich enough to purchase "Thriller". Not only was the album the greatest selling album in music history but I played it so much it was scratched to death.in 1988 I purchased "Bad", it was the album that totally defined my generation, songs such as Dirty Diana,Bad and the dancing genius that was Smooth Criminal was an album that, to me, even topped Thriller.
Following Bad the albums were not in the same mould to match them yet in all my musical experiences, covering any genre, I do feel there was not a more all rounded artist better than Jackson. My eighteen year old niece is of a generation where his personal life overshadowed his artistic genius. But with any talent, there is always controversy. Too much has been said over the years about that so I want to concentrate on his music.
His dancing was something that paved the way for many artists today. Timberlake, Akon et all have copied or been influenced my Jackson. Just mark my words that the tributes will come flooding in. He was the self proclaimed "King of Pop", I have no arguments there.
It is hard to sum up Michael Jackson in such few words. I just hope that his musical talent will be his lasting legacy. It is difficult to ever imagine someone that will be as influential, talented and as popular again. I will leave you with my favourite Michael Jackson song ever. His prayers are with my family.
RIP Michael Jackson - The True King Of Pop.
The case of Rizana Nafeek – a teenage Sri Lankan housemaid sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia after inadequate legal proceedings – has made a sensation in the island nation. This article is about her from a circulating e-mail in Sri Lanka.
Background
Rizana was born on 4 February 1988 in Muttur, a war-torn and impoverished Muslim majority village in eastern Sri Lanka which was also affected by the recent Tsunami. She was still a schoolgirl when she was compelled by poverty to go to Saudi Arabia as a maid in May 2005. Though she was only 17 years old at that time, her passport, obtained by an irresponsible employment agent under false pretenses, gave her date of birth as 2 February 1982.
A few days after her arrival in Riyadh , Rizana was transferred by her sponsor to work in his family household in Dawadami, about 390 km west of Riyadh . She was sent to the house of Mr. Naif Jiziyan Khklafal Otaibi, whose wife had a baby boy who was then four months old. Soon after she started working for this family she was assigned to bottle feed the baby – she was left alone when doing this task. Rizana Nafeek had no experience of any sort in caring for such a young infant, as she was only a child herself.
The Incident
On 22 May 2005, while Rizana was feeding the child, he started choking. Panicking, she tried to soothe the child by rubbing his chest, neck and face, while shouting for help. Hearing her shouts the mother came running, but by that time the baby was either unconscious or dead. The family handed Rizana over to the police, accusing her of strangling the baby. At the police station there was no translator so she did not understand the charges brought against her. Rizana was made to sign a confession and later charges were filed in court of murder by strangulation.
The Case
On her first appearance in court she was told by the police to repeat her confession, which she did. Later, when she was finally able to talk to an interpreter, sent by the Sri Lankan embassy, she explained in her own language what actually happened. This version was also stated in court thereafter. According to reports, the judges who heard the case requested the father of the child to use his prerogative to pardon the young girl. But, the father refused to grant such pardon. On that basis the court sentenced her to death by beheading. This sentence was made on June 16, 2007.
The last date of appeal was July 16. The total cost of the appeal is 40,000 US dollars or 150,000 Saudi Riyals. 13,333 US dollars has been given to the lawyers by the Asian Human Rights Commission as the Sri Lanka government has not given money for the appeal. A Sri Lankan government delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Bhaila is hoping to travel to Saudi Arabia to press for Rizana’s release.
The question is what can be done for someone who has not received proper legal representation, and from all accounts, appears to have been wrongly convicted. There are a number of human rights organizations working on the issue, including Amnesty and the Asian Human Rights Centre. Please do visit the AHRC site as it includes a call for ordinary people to take action on this issue. The site also goes in to more detail about the background of Rizana’s situation.
What We Can Do
- Inform world-wide of the case and get them to relay pressure on the governments of the countries they live in to intervene. People in Europe and Australia could be very effective.
- Approach the British High Commission in Riyadh that a Commonwealth citizen needs assistance.
- Contact the Foreign Commonwealth Office and inform them a Commonwealth citizen needs assistance in Riyadh .
- Encourage the media, especially the international media, to give publicity to this case.
- Fax or email the Special Reporter on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions to take action.
- Ask ‘civil society’ groups such as Centre for Policy Alternatives what they are doing about the case.
I sincerely pray and hope that Sri Lanka’s efforts to save Rizana bear fruits when the deputy foreign minister meets the victim’s father.
The world community can do lot of things to help save the life of this girl. There are many petitions being filed. You can find some petitions at
YOUSHOUT
AMNESTY
SAVE RIZANA
URGENT APPEALS
SUPPORT RIZANA
Please take a moment to sign these petitions in order to help her to get a pardon.
May the world unite to save this innocent girls life.
The Plight of Rizana in the News
Sri Lanka in bid to save teen facing death penalty in Saudi Arabia (Kyodo via Yahoo! Asia News)
Sri Lanka ’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hussain Bhaila will fly to Saudi Arabia this week in a bid to save a Sri Lankan teenage girl who was sentenced to death, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
Death Sentence Draws Near as Maid Waits for Appeal (Arab News)
JEDDAH, 9 July 2007 — Time is clearly running out to file an appeal in the case of Rizana Nazik, the 19-year-old Sri Lankan maid who — without legal representation — was found guilty by a Saudi court for the strangulation death of a four-month-old Saudi boy in May 2005.
Maid’s Family Petitions Victim’s Father for Clemency (Arab News)
RIYADH , 7 July 2007 — the father of a Sri Lankan maid facing the death penalty in the Kingdom has appealed to the victim’s father for clemency in a sensational case that has made headlines in the island’s newspapers.
Today I read the Queen's Birthday honours list. Among those who have been awarded MBE's and Knighthoods were actor Christopher Lee (Knighthood), Golfer Nick Faldo (Knighthood), and Chef Delia Smith (CBE). In a world full of z-list celebrities I have no argument with the awards given for their talents, however I do feel that time and time again there are certain people who are overlooked, those who fought in both the first and second world wars.
Take Henry Allingham and Harry Patch both 113 and 110 years old. These men are the final two British survivors from World War One. Both men I have followed greatly over the last few years, humble, honest, sincere and above all proud to have served their country in what will always be the most horrific War the world will ever see.
In a world where knife crime and street violence is at it's highest ever the youth of today just do not have the honour or courage to endure what these two brave men went through. When I read that three London teenagers who murdered Ben Kinsella described the act as "courageous", I am led to think how would the youth of today like to be placed in a trench, a trench full of shit, rats, disease and death, quite literally a pit of decay and despair. To stay in that trench for four years watching 15 million people die, would they have that level of courage? No.
These two men, alongside thousands since, have died defending their country deserve a lot more recognition than they do but these two especially should have their life's honoured by The Queen. Not just because of the bravery as that was shared by millions but purely because they are a shining example of how to live a life and leave behind a legacy or respect.
To act, hit a golf ball or bake a cake is not too difficult, yet to live to the age of 113, survive two World Wars and to retain ones dignity and pride deserves the highest award possible. Come on your Majesty. Do the right thing.
On this special day we are gathered to embrace a love so true
The joining of two special hearts, a toast from us all to you
On a rainy day three years ago Helen and Paul they became one
A love so special and beautiful, as precious as the sun
Your journey into married life begins this very day
Helen and Paul you have our love each step of the way
The vows you shared this sunny day represents an eternity of bliss
Sealed this special Cypriot afternoon with an eternal kiss
Life can often pass us by and move on sometimes fast
Destiny has brought you to each other a love that's meant to last
On the basis of equality let your happiness blossom and now bloom
Now let’s raise a toast to Helen and Paul, the happy Bride and Groom
