Names of places; Ever wonder why there are similarities?

Imagine a Bethlehem in Israel, USA, South Africa and in Uganda? or Nazareth in Israel, USA and Uganda too? Bunya in Australia or Bunya in Uganda? Kampala Uganda or Kampala Zambia?

In the pictures, take time to tell the difference between Bunya in Uganda and Bunya in Australia. Enjoy!

You guessed right. The first five are depicting the National Park at Bunya Australia.

The next six depict Bunya of Uganda.

NB. All pictures are courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Alamy and Google Images.

Human expansion continues to occur, Mars is the next destination or Pluto you never know!

As far as immigration goes, you have the right to demand or engage in the socio political aspects of a host country where you hope to build a newer life. Take it from me, people move and have moved from their supposedly home countries of bases for so many reasons. The two questions to ask should be why we move and what we intend to do to improve our lives and that of the community hosting us.

Oh by the way, we should have more lessons and opportunities in  practical tolerance and regard. In practicing tolerance, we allow many others to express their happy selves. Tolerance is the basis of being proud in the patriotic sense. Even saints can be proud of their citizenship and however humble they should be at least it is not wrong to say one is happy about a given citizenship. Look at the example of Apostle Paul or Peter. They enjoyed being Roman citizens of Jewish birth. The world has many examples it is showing us but we simply are refusing to adopt. Archeology has named entire  proto populations that moved out of Africa as either Homo erectus, H. heidelbergensis or Homo sapiens. Today, our citizenship is granted by formal bodies or countries of origin and destination if one fulfills the set eligibility or residence requirements. There are social cultural lessons that arise from this. Host communities should embrace the idea that they are hosts, there should be mechanisms to make the immigrants a part of the fabric of the community and the immigrants should also learn to live side by side with the hosts. Many examples come to mind: Americans, Canadians, Australians, Greeks, Syrians, Turks, Dutch, Danes, Austrians, Italians, Germans, Britons, Indians, Israelis, Indonesians, Malaysians, Chinese, Koreans and Arabs in parts of Africa. Where they are now having thriving communities. Much as they are now Africans, they too should embrace the fact that Nigerians, Congolese, Zimbabweans and Malawians who chose to emigrate to their countries can expect to thrive too. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

There are so many stories and experiences behind why people move from say, their countries of birth or origin and decide to settle elsewhere either permanently or temporarily. At a first glance one may see the world as being structured in such a way that movement is restricted either by personal means or state laws and regulations or insecurity ranging from xenophobia, racism and terrorism.  At a deeper analysis, you the immigrant need to be more proactive. Make a cheat list. For every 'demand' for a service, also make a 'contribution' commitment to the community in which you live. Yes, this idea of expecting without your input should be discouraged. How many times have you gone out and I do not mean to bars and engaged in a community activity like cleaning that shoreline or cleaning the city as part of the community clean up campaign? Are you aware that you can build networks through meeting people like this? It even helps you hone your English or whatever language it is in your host community. You may even meet the CEO where you placed an application for a job. Do embrace the consequences of immigration.

In the interest of past stories, you should know that the movement of people have occurred in the past. People moved from Africa so many years ago contributed to present day races in the world. Xenophobia or racism and terrorism is not what led, 1.75 million years ago, earlier Human species (Homo erectus) to move out of Africa to populate the world. It did not prompt the next generation Human species (Homo sapiens) to move out of Africa around 70,000 years ago. In other words, there are different phases and reasons why people move either in small or large numbers. According to archeology, early human migrations and expansions of humans across continents began 2 million years ago with the migration out of Africa of Homo erectus. This was followed by the migrations of other pre-modern humans including H. heidelbergensis, the likely ancestor of both modern humans and Neanderthals. Finally, Homo sapiens ventured out of Africa around 100,000 years ago, spread across Asia around 60,000 years ago and arrived on new continents and islands since then.

If you do not demand to be listened to, if you do not make your voice heard or if you do not engage in activities that make you productively visible you will be no different from the person you were before you came to USA. Stop being comfortable with the idea that "white" people have the advantages or privileges and that you black, African, Atlantic or Indian Ocean Islander Immigrant in USA are destined to fail. You too can have a stable and productive livelihood in USA. Engage in activities that improve your experience of close links with your social environment.

Various forms of formally normalized mass movement or movement that eventually gains a character of mass movement can be discerned from literature. Also reading between the lines one can discern that pull-push effect of mass movement has significant social services issues it raises. Social service industry is a fast growing industry. If you do not seek to benefit from it now, you may miss so many opportunities. Remember, make demands but also contribute. The two questions to ask should be why we move and what we intend to do to improve our lives and that of the community hosting us.

Meanwhile watch these links:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36500635.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36317066.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36042463.

The Sum of All Fears

Smoking and The Black Person in USA;Taking a Self-Check and 5 things we can do about it

Smoking, African-Americans, Homicides........... Are you ready?

In the US, tobacco use is the number one killer of African-Americans (or black persons). Each year, there are 47,300 tobacco related deaths among African-Americans.

There are things we can do to help stem the tide:

1. Turn all the researched literature on smoking among Black People/African Americas into action against smoking. There are examples of resources such as:

https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0006.pdf.

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/facts_issues/fact_sheets/toll/populations/african_americans/.

2. Make known the dangers of smoking among African Americans and Black Persons. Use such tools like:

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/groups/african-american.html.

3. Initiate and establish no smoke campaigns in communities where African Americans/Black Persons reside. Tobacco use, is related to heart disease, cancer, and stroke. These are the three leading causes of premature death among African Americans and Black persons in USA.

http://www.no-smoke.org/learnmore.php?id=465.

4. Do make statistics your friend and use them to promote information which in turn helps influence the decisions to cease or quit smoking.

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/1998/highlights/african_americans/.

5. Talk or write about dangers of smoking.

Smoking is not cool at all. Tell all African Americans and Black People that. Source: Google Images

Source: Google Images

Source: Google Images

Source: Google Images

Source: Google images

Substitute smoke for fruits

Say no to programs that make it normal for African Americans/Black Persons to smoke

Ain't nothing cool about smoking. Source; Google Images

35th anniversary of AIDS this Sunday, June 5th 2016

In advance of the 35th anniversary this Sunday, June 5, of the first reported cases of what would become known as AIDS in the United States,  your community should know the reflections on this milestone.

For more: https://blog.aids.gov/2016/06/35th-anniversary-of-aids-federal-leaders-reflect.html

Meaningful Involvement of People Living with HIV in all HIV-related interventions; The ambitious call

I would  envision People living with HIV being part of the leadership of this community organizing effort. The UNAIDS developed an organogram in which all stakeholders were identified if we were to have effective and meaningful involvement of people living with HIV in aspects affecting them. The organogram lists the following levels: decision-making; experts; implementers; speakers; contributors; target audiences. These are the key community members, gatekeepers, or stakeholders I would particularly include.

A friend asked me to point out crucial relations between the language we use as we provide effective healthcare services in particular for People living with HIV. I suggested it was no less a language thing as much as it is mobilizing beneficiaries and providers around ensuring delivery of services that promote healthy outcomes. These can be the beginnings of a policy change itself. Social marketing, media advocacy and community organizing can be used to promote meaningful involvement of people living with HIV (PLHIV). It can be made an effective empowerment mechanism in giving feedback on how PLHIV are impacted by services they require e.g., health care, medication, housing, communication and modernization of policy. In using the three approaches, there are inbuilt advantages including cultural competency (Bentacourt J.R. 2005), tackling stigma and improving the quality of life for those living with HIV. 

Through social marketing it is possible to influence practices at different levels e.g., decision-making; experts; implementers; speakers; contributors; target audiences (who are almost always not realized to be the subject matter (illnesses) experts).  Social marketing, provides opportunities to implement practices by: accepting a new behavior, e.g., health facilities coming up with say, support meetings and regularized events for people living with HIV; reject a potential undesirable behavior, e.g., adopt language that is not stigmatizing of PLHIV; modify a current practice or behavior, e.g., encourage input in planning and managing of services by PLHIV; abandon an old undesirable behavior, e.g., using preferred language to reduce stigmatization of PLHIV such as adopting the use of terms like mixed status couple/serodifferent and not serodiscordant or use a people first language that emphasizes the person and not their diagnosis (Lynn V. 2016).  Social marketing analyses neighborhoods or key populations and provides appropriate interventions (Farr, M., 2008).  Social marketing promotes participation of consumers in designing mechanisms for airing out their own needs. It is also a mechanism for soliciting solutions from consumers. It sets the stage for healthy outcomes for all population groups and operationalizes policy for well being in society. Social marketing applies principles and techniques to create, communicate and deliver value to influence target audience practices or behaviors that benefit society and target audience (Correil, J., 2010) . For it to be effective, it employs the 4 P’s marketing mix strategies. By 4 P’s  is meant: product; price; place; and promotion. It integrates the 4 P’s in any behavior change, maintenance or adoption strategy. Social marketing is employed in the following areas: 

1. Health promotion-related issues such as: housing, fruit and vegetable intake, heavy binge/drinking, safety in cars, drinking and driving, storage of dangerous materials in homes, tobacco use, breastfeeding, obesity, teen pregnancy, STI’s prevention, oral health, immunization, diabetes, eating disorders and blood pressure.

2. Injury-prevention related behavioral issues such as: syringe exchange sites, decriminalization, safety in cars, drinking and driving, storage of dangerous materials in homes, avoiding falls in buildings, gun storage, domestic violence, injuries, drowning and suicides.

3. Environmental protection- related behavioral issues such as: waste reduction, wild life habitat protection, forest destruction, toxic fertilizers and pesticides, water conservation, air pollution, litter, avoiding unintentional fires and energy conservation.

4. Community mobilization-related behavioral issues such as: safe drinking water campaigns, mosquito net use, decriminalization of HIV, blood donation, literacy, voting, animal adoption, increase utilization of public health services, combat chronic diseases and promote healthy living.

Media Advocacy, is when different communication means are utilized to deliver a message/s that promote/s healthy outcomes (Pérez, L., & Martinez, J. 2008). The communication means can be such as: news broadcast, social media, instant messaging, advertising, skits, information bulletins, public relations, social events, public meetings, exhibitions, sponsorships and use of platforms to continue with a given conversation on healthy outcomes.

Community organizing, is when communities are mobilized to address certain issues. This is effectively done when pretesting/piloting, monitoring and evaluation are integrated in strategies or initiatives (Pulliam, R. 2009). Community organizing is influenced by the social, cultural and regulatory environments prevailing to maximize effectiveness. The events around which organizing occurs may range from: modernizing laws, immunizations to treating Hepatitis. Community organizing is done to yield behavior change or maintain a positive practice (Galer-Unti, R. A., Tappe, M. K., & Lachenmayr, S. 2004).  For meaningful involvement of people living with HIV, organizing is done around: core practice; actual practice; and augmented practice. The core practice in this case is: providing empowerment for PLWHIV to articulate correctly issues pertaining to them in an intervention planning event. The actual practice will be: creating space at the table for PLWHIV to bring their expertise. The augmented practice in this case can be: hearing first hand accounts that can be used to inform planning and policy.

References:

Betancourt, J. R., Green, A. R., Carrillo, J. E., & Park, E. R. (2005). Cultural competence and health care disparities: Key perspectives and trends. Health Affairs, 24(2). 

Coreil, J. (Ed.). (2010). Social and behavioral foundations of public health (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Farr, M., Wardlaw, J., & Jones, C. (2008). Tackling health inequalities using geodemographics: A social marketing approach. International Journal of Market Research, 50(4), 449–467. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Galer-Unti, R. A., Tappe, M. K., & Lachenmayr, S. (2004). Advocacy 101: Getting started in health education advocacy. Health Promotion Practice, 5(3), 280–288. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Pérez, L., & Martinez, J. (2008). Community health workers: Social justice and policy advocates for community health and well-being. American Journal of Public Health, 98(1), 11–14. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Pulliam, R. (2009). Developing your advocacy plan. Health Education Monograph Series, 26(1), 17–23. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Vickie Lynn, Valerie Wojciechowicz. 2016. HIV Communication: Using Preferred Language to Reduce Stigma.

Love (well....) so much missed; Interrogating my masculinity

                           Nicole met me at the Bernal Heights Park in San Francisco CA and we instantly synched. She asked me out but I first declined, politely. After all, where I come from it is a man, who asks a woman out. But, then again, I consider myself a liberal. We continued meeting, we started having pecks and touches (simply hand holding. Don't get silly ideas. This is America. Loose hands may be mistaken for assault and around here women are powerful litigants). Ask me about Nicole. A white girl who is from Edgartown MA but came to do her University in San Francisco. She is fluent in Italian, Spanish, French and German as well as English. She plays the guitar and she wears high strapping leather boots with those very minimal shorts. One day, I remarked if she was chased out of her house by a fire. "Duh!" Was the best reply I got out of her. Fast forward, we smooched, hugged, romped and said sweet goodbyes to each other. She went to Europe for the summer, their families are spread all over. A distant great aunt in UK; a distant great uncle in France; a cousin in Italy; and sisters and brothers to great granny in Germany or something like that. But, she went to Europe as far as i'm concerned and when she came back we were platonic. We still talk about so many things, especially Massachusetts since I spent two years there and travelled extensively around that part of New England.

I love women. Women rock!

                                She then offloaded me over to LaDiamond (Ladee). They are both buddies from Junior High and to them it was normal to share me between them. Hahahahahahaha! So, Ladee proposed that we should change positions. Positions. I hadn't got the meaning until....... Anyway, fast forward. We disagreed on so many things and most especially, on the subject of my 'people selling her people to the white slave massa.' She is a History and Communication major with a minor in literature. I used to present my best arguments basing my premise on the prevailing global forces of the time. As well as positing the fact that the Industrial Revolution had a gargantuan juggernaut so thirsty that Africa alone could quench it. The spears and skin shields were no match to the Matchlocks, killing machines and subsequent subjugation of Africa. She never expected this diatribe. All the while, I spent with her she had figured me as a simpleton. I once told her that in my culture we had a saying: 'the slackness of a chain is its strength.' She still believes that 'rumble, rumble, rumble is show of strength.' We still see each other but, I never switched positions to this day! Oh, I miss a kind of loving!