Just to add to the post a couple of days ago, the BBC has posted some photos on the Philippines. An interesting photo collage on poverty in the Philippines.
On another note, on Monday the Philippine Ambassador to the UK is coming to Bradford and together with some of the other Filipinos here we will be hosting him with a roundtable discussion on peace and sustainable development on the Philippines. Don't have a clue what that means but we'll see what we come up with by Monday.
February 23, 2006
February 21, 2006
no survivors
There are between 1000 to 2500 feared dead. 84 confirmed dead. Mass graves and a school buried in the mud. The mudslide in Guinsaugon last Friday is another tragedy hitting the Philippines. Rescuers have confirmed that there are no survivors from the school that is buried.
The news reports give many reasons for the landslides, including a small earthquake, rains and of course deforestation and illegal logging (!!!!). At this time I would like to extend my prayers and thoughts to the displaced families and those who have lost loved ones.
I'm sure some of the bigger humanitarian organisations have come to the aid (at least briefly) of the Philippines. If you are interested in finding out or donating, you could flip through some of their websites. A quick search led me to this.
The news reports give many reasons for the landslides, including a small earthquake, rains and of course deforestation and illegal logging (!!!!). At this time I would like to extend my prayers and thoughts to the displaced families and those who have lost loved ones.
I'm sure some of the bigger humanitarian organisations have come to the aid (at least briefly) of the Philippines. If you are interested in finding out or donating, you could flip through some of their websites. A quick search led me to this.
February 04, 2006
still around...
It's been over a month since I last blogged, which is a shame on me. So, happy new year everyone and happy valentine's as well...Thanks for consistently checking in.
I had a great three weeks in Vancouver over the Christmas and New Year holidays. I returned to Bradford sometime mid-January and have not left the library since. Okay, so that's a little bit dramatic but I've been buried in books and papers. My lack of motivation to work in Vancouver (although the break was fantastic) meant I had about four weeks of work to do in a week, which is why I have neglected everything else but sitting in the cold University of Bradford library for the past three weeks. I have a week and a half left to do the rest of my work. And it's looking a little tight but I'll be happy when the crunch time is over and the new crunch time begins (it already has actually, I'm just behind as usual).
Anyway, enough of my uneventful life in the library (although if you sit in the library long enough, you realise what an absolutely strange place it is, with strange people and a strange 'in the library culture').
The new year is an interesting thing. It's a month into 2006 and in the few minutes I have to think of something other than ethnic conflict, landmines and guerillas, I realise that this is quite a significant year for me. Every year is significant but this year is when I am finally going to embark on a potentially life long career of [insert career] in [insert place]. Of course the blanks reflect the ambiguity of the year, and I am quite aware that life constantly changes so 'life long' is may not be reflective of what comes up in September. Still, the openness is both exciting and daunting. A small voice asks me every now and then if I could find something in September and the pressure of finishing my programme, being in student debt and the expanse of the field can be intimidating. But the excitement of finishing a programme I was anticipating to do for a few years, the options available and the places and people I see and meet are overwhelming. I am curious how things will turn out. Of course it's only February. You might note a hint of panic towards July-August, so stay tuned.
I am also keenly aware of my uncertainty about going back to Vancouver. It was a sad moment stepping on the plane in Vancouver going to London and realising that I was unsure when my next trip home would be. It is home and I love being there, but it's not my current home. Again, I might be saying something different in a few months. Lots of decisions to make in the next few months.
It's back to the books for now. I will update. I was quite reluctant to update because I'm tunnel-visioned right now. I can't see past the next article I have to read and that's no fun to blog about, or read about. But perhaps the boredom and tediousness of school work might force me to tap into Angela's alter-reality and I might blog about that for interest's sake.
I had a great three weeks in Vancouver over the Christmas and New Year holidays. I returned to Bradford sometime mid-January and have not left the library since. Okay, so that's a little bit dramatic but I've been buried in books and papers. My lack of motivation to work in Vancouver (although the break was fantastic) meant I had about four weeks of work to do in a week, which is why I have neglected everything else but sitting in the cold University of Bradford library for the past three weeks. I have a week and a half left to do the rest of my work. And it's looking a little tight but I'll be happy when the crunch time is over and the new crunch time begins (it already has actually, I'm just behind as usual).
Anyway, enough of my uneventful life in the library (although if you sit in the library long enough, you realise what an absolutely strange place it is, with strange people and a strange 'in the library culture').
The new year is an interesting thing. It's a month into 2006 and in the few minutes I have to think of something other than ethnic conflict, landmines and guerillas, I realise that this is quite a significant year for me. Every year is significant but this year is when I am finally going to embark on a potentially life long career of [insert career] in [insert place]. Of course the blanks reflect the ambiguity of the year, and I am quite aware that life constantly changes so 'life long' is may not be reflective of what comes up in September. Still, the openness is both exciting and daunting. A small voice asks me every now and then if I could find something in September and the pressure of finishing my programme, being in student debt and the expanse of the field can be intimidating. But the excitement of finishing a programme I was anticipating to do for a few years, the options available and the places and people I see and meet are overwhelming. I am curious how things will turn out. Of course it's only February. You might note a hint of panic towards July-August, so stay tuned.
I am also keenly aware of my uncertainty about going back to Vancouver. It was a sad moment stepping on the plane in Vancouver going to London and realising that I was unsure when my next trip home would be. It is home and I love being there, but it's not my current home. Again, I might be saying something different in a few months. Lots of decisions to make in the next few months.
It's back to the books for now. I will update. I was quite reluctant to update because I'm tunnel-visioned right now. I can't see past the next article I have to read and that's no fun to blog about, or read about. But perhaps the boredom and tediousness of school work might force me to tap into Angela's alter-reality and I might blog about that for interest's sake.
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