Photo credit: Chris Tse

While many university students spent their summers in minimum wage jobs or fetching coffee, I spent mine interning in Ghana.

In case you need a little geography and history lesson, Ghana is located in west Africa, and shares borders with Cote D’Ivoire, Togo and Burkina Faso. It’s also one of Africa’s leading examples for democracy; it was the first sub-saharan country to gain independence from its colonial power, and since the 1992 constitution was approved there have been five relatively democratic elections.

I traveled to Ghana with the Canadian ngo, Journalists for Human Rights, as one of five university interns. My internship was spent in the newsroom of an English radio station, Kapital Radio, in the country’s second largest city, Kumasi. Four days a week I would head to the station to work on daily news bulletins, go out to cover stories with local journalists, then head back to the station to edit sound clips and write scripts. Every Saturday I would help produce Ghana’s only exclusive human rights talk show, Know Your Rights, hosted by my supervisor, Muftaw Mohammed. Each week we would tackle one of the country’s human rights issues, from the highly controversial homosexuality to land rights under traditional rule.

Though I only worked at the station four days a week, I didn’t exactly get a long weekend. On top of the work I did at Kapital Radio, I had a series of deliverables to be completed for jhr, including weekly video and written blogs and research on Maternal Health. So I got to see a lot of adorable Ghanaian babies.

My summer wasn’t all work though. During our week long vacation, one of my Canadian colleagues and I traveled through six regions –  from Accra to Bawku – in eight days, with many stops along the way. All on buses and tro-tros, which are kind of like a large van. Throughout my 14 weeks in Ghana I went on a walking safari at Mole National Park, trekked through the forest at the Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, watched the national soccer team play and hung out at a popular beach spot at night.

My experience wasn’t your typical going to Africa to do development work and think you’re saving the world experience. I learned more from my time in the country than I’m sure anyone learned from me. I stumbled my way through Twi, the local dialect in Kumasi; learned how to properly eat fufu (a local dish) with my hands and learned about the history of the Ashanti people. The beautiful landscapes and welcoming people are just a few of the reasons I would recommend spending some time in Ghana.

Check out some of my amazing photos from Ghana below:

initiating the gallery...

Well, did you know that there are nearly 33 million people living with HIV on this planet? Or that over 15 million children worldwide have been orphaned by AIDS? Or that AIDS kills 6,000 people every day in Africa?

Yeah, those are some pretty grave statistics.

And it’s not just Africa that is affected by the spread of this horrible disease. There are currently over 1.5 million people living with HIV in the U.S., many of which don’t even know. That means that “usually” practicing safe sex is not enough. Neither is trusting that your partner is clean when he or she tells you they are.

There is only one way to protect yourself against HIV, AIDS and every other STD out there:

Wrap it up.

No glove, no love.

Use a condom. Every time.

We must all do our part to stop the spread of AIDS. You can help by raising money, helping to educate, or simply doing your part and practicing safe sex. Protect yourself.

“U.S. Agency for International Development ordered six African countries to ensure that no U.S.-financed condoms, birth control pills, I.U.D.’s or other contraceptives are furnished to Marie Stopes International, a British-based aid group that operates clinics in poor countries.

The Bush administration says it took this action because Marie Stopes International works with the U.N. Population Fund in China. President Bush has cut all financing for the population fund on the — false — basis that it supports China’s family-planning program.”

Because of this birth control supply ban, Marie Stopes International estimates that “the result will be at least 157,000 additional unwanted pregnancies per year [in Africa], leading to 62,000 additional abortions and 660 women dying in childbirth.”

Whether MSI’s estimates are overestimated or not, the real issue is how the Bush administration, and many pro-life activists, believe that taking away a woman’s right to choose birth control and abortion somehow benefits her.

You take away sex education and a woman’s right to choose when and how to have a baby, you take away her basic freedom as a human being.  Period.

[photo from www.doctorswithoutborders.org]

But even I, as much of a celeb-session that I have, do not think it’s appropriate to showcase your one month old child on the cover of US Weekly, People, In Touch, OK! or others, bartering with various publications for who will pay the most for the first pics of the new bebe.

In an article by Forbes Magazine, the topic of celebrity baby pictures – and the outlandish prices – was addressed. According to reports, JLo and Marc Anthony were paid $6 million from People Magazine for the first shots of the twins. $6 million?! For baby photos?! That’s more than I’ll make in a lifetime – hey, that’s more than everyone I know combined will make in a life time!

While I think it’s ridiculous to pull figures for your children, at least, if you do it, be charitable about it. Take the famous Brangelina couple, who, at the birth of Shiloh in 2006, were paid $4.1 million by People for the pics, all of which they donated entirely to an African charity. Okay so, still not the best idea to pimp out your kid for some dough, but at least, if you’re going to do it (which they all are – can we guess how much Ashlee & Pete will get???), they did it with some class.

An editor from OK! was interviewed for the article and said the price for the pics is absolutely worth it, as they sell magazine’s like hot cakes. (The Shiloh cover sold 2.2 million copies, which is 45% above the average circulation.) Clearly, I get why magazines want the pictures, but why do WE, us average joes, care so much?

I’ll be the first to admit that I still – despite my ranting and raving – pick up those magazines and flip directly to JLo’s twins, or Angie’s baby girl to see the first glimpse of the baby, the nursery and the happy parents. I think we care so much because we revel in the unknown. The fact that JLo and Marc Anthony can spend millions on a baby nursery is something I’ll never be able to do, so looking at their fortunes intrigues me.

While discussing this topic with some friends, we also decided that seeing Angelina beat the crap out of 10 guys at once is one thing, but seeing her arms wrapped around a child makes her seem normal, grounded and real. Also, I think we’re just nosy little people who thrive on finding out every aspect of these individuals lives, when really, there are much bigger fish to fry when it comes to life’s necessities.

I understand you are proud of your children, but marketing your child is not something I will ever advocate for. Yes, the stars can demand their own prices, their own regulations and decisions, but when is enough, enough when it comes to exploiting the gift that you’re supposed to experience in private with your family? It’s one thing to put yourself out there on the movie screen, TV show or magazine covers, but please, spare your children.

Not every star will conform though. My favorite NYC fashionista, Sarah Jessica Parker, reportedly turned down roughly $1 million in 2002 for pictures of her son James. Thatta girl sister. Way to stand alone.

(Photo courtesy of fashiontribes.com)

Oh how very wrong I was. It’s not that sunburn is all that different when you’re black, it’s just way more embarrassing. And way less attractive.

The first time I got burned by my hated enemy the sun was in Hawaii. Proof that you should screen up even on cloudy overcast days. The day albeit warm, was gray — but those wicked rays got me anyway. I didn’t know what it was at first. My shoulders itched and burned. I thought I was having some allergic reaction to something in the Hawaiian air. My mom took one look and said, “Ha! You got sunburned!”

The second time it happened I was in Africa and that was even more unbearable for different reasons. After that I decided that the sun and I just aren’t friends.

The point of this isn’t about my own embarrassing stories or the beginnings of my war with the orb of fire. Just to point out some differences. Although a sunburn is pretty much the same in all races (pain, redness, itching, burning, and peeling) that end part is kinda different. See, when you get to the peeling bit it’s alright because like 75% of the people on the beach are suffering from the same thing. But when you’re black it’s like they’ve never seen that before and people start asking you what’s wrong with your skin.

Or if it’s really bad like my sister is prone to get on her face, then the new skin that comes up isn’t exactly the same color. In fact it’s more pink, less brownish. Very unattractive. And it stays that way. For weeks.

Sunburn can ruin your whole bare shoulder summer, black friends. It really, really can. It’s like our dirty, dirty secret that I’m telling you here.

Black people totally burn.

Deadly protests and rioting over these increasing costs are occurring throughout Africa and Asia.

In Haiti, where 80% of the population survives on less than $2 a day, mass demonstrations turned deadly. Rioting in Les Cayes killed 4 and wounded at least 20. A few days later Haitians attempted to storm the presidential palace in Port-au- Prince shouting “We are hungry!”

In Egypt, where over 33% of the population live on around $2 a day, police took over a textiles plant to prevent a widespread strike over rising food costs. The military has been enlisted to bake bread to curb the growing anger.

In Morocco, 60 demonstrators allegedly died during riots in January.

In normally peaceful Senegal, riot police resorted to tear gas, violence, and intimidation to quell demonstrations last month.

In Thailand, supermarkets closely regulate the amount of rice each shopper may purchase.

The growing violence and desperation prompted UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to call upon the international community “to take urgent and concerted action in order to avoid the larger political and security implications of this growing crisis.”

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) projects that it needs an additional $755 million to continue its existing operations.

President Bush responded by releasing $200 million in emergency aid from the Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust to help those nations in crisis.

At the same time, French President Sarkozy pledged to double France’s contribution to food aid.

The World Bank has said that it will double it’s agricultural lending within Africa—from $400 million to $800 million.

Time is running out—especially for small children.

The New York Times recounts a heart-wrenching spectacle in Haiti, where Placide Simone, a 29-year-old mother of five stopped a passing stranger in her desperation to save her starving children. Motioning to them she said, “Take one. You pick. Just feed them.”

Worldwide, five million children under five die each year as a result of malnutrition. The current food crisis can only increase that number.

You can help!

Click to Give on the hunger site—they send 100% ad money generated through users’ “clicks” to charity food programs. Turn your aimless browsing time into ‘clicks to give’.

Support the UN’s World Food Program—the “frontline agency in the fight against global hunger”

Volunteer with Doctors Without Borders—a group dedicated to saving lives in poverty-stricken regions.

There are still no results from Zimbabwe’s March 29th presidential elections. In my first blog I talked about the growing apprehension of the populace during the initial post-election week. My second blog discussed the legal fights and growing danger faced by Zimbabwe opposition party members. This time we’ll be checking out the amazing diplomatic stalling techniques of South African President Mbeki during this crisis.

In her ever-so diplomatic approach, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said this past week that, “It’s time for Africa to step up” and deal with this crisis. (nice job of passing the buck Condi)

South Africa has the largest economy within Africa—giving it major bargaining power with states such as Zimbabwe.

Enter South African President Thabo Mbeki.

He traveled Zimbabwe on Saturday April 12th to meet with Mugabe. Following these talks, he declared that there was “no crisis” in Zimbabwe.

Hmmm…

Did I mention that only the day before Mugabe had banned all political rallies amid reports of escalating violence throughout the country?

So let’s recap:

1. Violence and intimidation are rampant in Zimbabwe over blatantly flawed election

2. Yet the Present of South Africa assures us that there is no crisis and says the diplomats must “engage” with both sides.

And now we come to the best part of all: The Chinese angle—yes apparently the Sudanese government aren’t the only ones touting Chinese armaments.

Meet the An Yue Jiang, a Chinese ship allegedly bearing three million rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 1,500 rocket-propelled grenades and 2,500 mortar rounds en route to Zimbabwe.

When the ship docked in Durban, South Africa this past week, human rights organizations called on Mbeki and the South African government to do something to halt the further transit of the weapons.

The South African government replied that,

“If the buyer is the Zimbabwean sovereign government and the seller is the Chinese sovereign government, South Africa has nothing to do with that,”

Fortunately, dockworkers and cops thought differently. The dockworkers’ union refused to unload its cargo. The police officers union voiced their solidarity with this position—warning the government that it would not be able to use cops as scabs. The ship left Durban on Saturday fully loaded in search of a more welcoming (read: dictator controlled) port.

South Africa is the strongest “democratic” government in Africa. The one to whom Secretary Rice obviously referred when she called upon Africa to “step up”.

But, if these events are any indicator, South African president Mbeki cannot be trusted to take any action to prevent massive casualties in Zimbabwe.

It’s time to stop passing the buck on Zimbabwe and similar crises. If we truly care about human rights and loss of African lives we must pressure our governments to create an international African crisis response team.

In fact, simply the threat of such intervention on the continent would most likely move Mbeki to stop f**king around and use his economic power to bring Mugabe to the negotiating table.

To find out more and get involved, check out Kubatana.net.

I have been sooooo busy; I totally haven’t been able to write to you until now! Like I’ve even been too busy for Benji and I totally love him. Not like I love you or Tink or myself. Or all of my mirrors. And my car. And my reflection in store windows. But I love him. Screw all of those other guys. This is for real. You know how I know it’s for real?

Because I get to go on tour with his band. He knows that music is my life. I bet he’ll want me to sing with them soon and then they’d be even more famouser! He totally gets me.

Did I tell you that he takes me to all of these made-up places? South Africa – you never heard of it either, right? Like West Africa is a real country, but South? Also, he can wear my hats. That means that when I play dress up with my doggies he’ll fit right in. It’s so totally perfect.

Also, I didn’t go with Benji, but you know what’s also not a made up place? Turkey. No, really, it’s like a country. And I didn’t eat any turkey the whole time I was there which is so stupid, but whatever. Every time I asked somebody about it, they answered me in some weird language and I was like, “Don’t you speak English?” What’s wrong with people today, Blackberry?

So I went there to judge this pageant. There weren’t any turkeys THERE either, by the way, so I had to judge people. But it was hard to be a judger because they told me what to look for but I was soooo itchy in my underwear that I didn’t hear anything. That’s what happens when you wear something new, I guess. Well, I’m never making that mistake again!

Anyway, I have to go because the spray tanners are coming to my house and I really want some turkey for dinner so I’m going to see if I can find anyone in LA who’ll speak enough English to understand that…

Love you!!

Paris

Now imagine knowing that if you lived anywhere other than Africa, you could probably be cured.

Imagine being 14 years old and knowing this.

Meet Felix Yeboah, a Ghanaian teenager with chronic kidney failure.

On Sunday, March 3, in a life-saving emergency operation, Felix received his father’s kidney at the University Hospital in Birmingham, UK, care of Transplant Links, an organization of experienced kidney transplant doctors who volunteer their time and abilities in countries like Ghana.

According to an article in a Ghanian newspaper from August 2006, kidney failure in Ghana forms 35% of medical admissions. Out of the 5000-8000 patients in Ghana, only 35 received haemodialysis (a nessary procedure to prevent total kidney failure) per year! As of the time of that article, there were 17 haemodialysis machines in the entire country.

According to the Transplant Links website, in some African countries, HIV/AIDS is more treatable than Kidney Failure.

This past November, Felix addressed the crowd at the first meeting of the Kidney Transplant Foundation. In the crowd was surgeon Andrew Ready of the Transplant Links organization. He was deeply moved by Felix:

“Felix emerged from the crowd and came up to the podium to speak. He was so small he had to be held up to be seen […] There are ethical issues around selecting people to help in these circumstances but we were so taken by Felix’s speech that we thought we must try to do something. It was as if he had found us rather than we had found him.”

What will Felix Yeboah do now?

“ I want this operation so I can play football again and go to school so I can train to become a doctor and help other people.”

His is a tale of being in the right place at the right time. Unfortunately, this is not the case for millions of suffers from chronic kidney failure in Africa.

Kidney disease is an awful experience but with modern day medicine it can be survived and overcome.

The story of Felix demonstrates the importance of organizations such as Transplant Links. Yearly checkups, vaccinations, and treatments, all things you and I probably take for granted, can save lives in countries such as Ghana.

To learn more about organizations like Transplant Links and volunteer opportunities check out these links:

Check out the official website of Transplant Links.

Spread the word about the importance of treating Kidney Disease:

World Kidney Day is March 13th

Use your medical experience to make an impact with Doctors Without Borders

Not Pre-Med? No problem! Join the Global Health Corps and volunteer overseas in the area of Public Health

The New York Daily News reports that in recent weeks, several allegations made by students at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls claim that school matrons fondled and beat the female students.One incident claims a matron allegedly grabbed a girl by the throat and tossed her into a wall.

Uhhhhh…OK. Look Oprah, when you said you were going to bring western education philosophies to the African continent, I guess we should have asked – which education philosophies? I think we all thought you would leave out the inner city public school philosophy of beating and molesting students out.

My bad…we’ll ask next time.

The allegations came to light after a student ran away from the school’s dorms, reportedly because the abuse had become overwhelming.

“I’ve disappointed you. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” Winfrey told families in an emergency meeting on Sunday at the South African school. The school’s principal and two matrons were placed on leave following the allegations.

Over the past few weeks, Winfrey has flown to South Africa twice to deal with the scandal.

Winfrey, who built and opened the school in January 2007, initially gave the students her telephone number and mailing address when the school opened, so that they could contact her directly. Upon opening the $46 million school, Winfrey proclaimed the day as “the proudest, greatest day of my life and a dream come true.”

$46 MILLION! You mean to tell me that with that much money, you can’t find administrators who don’t like to lay the smackdown and gropedown?!