KARUKERA |
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POVERTY IS NOT CREATED BY THE POOR
It is created by the structures of society and the policies pursued by society.
Change the structure as
we are doing in Bangladesh, and you will see that the poor change their
own lives.
Given the support of financial capital, however small, the poor are fully capable of improving their lives.
- Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank, Founder, father of the microloan.
A SYSTEM SPECIFIC TO INDIA TO MEET THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE PARAPLEGICS
SAHAI is committed to prevent young adults from succumbing to spinal injuries and saving their families from any economic deprivation. In the process we hope to contribute towards an equitable society where the physically challenged can really lead a dignified and independent life.
It is estimated that in India there are about 2 million paraplegics. Of these, 40,000 are in states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Most of these paraplegics do not have any chance of survival as they invariably succumb to complications such as bed sores, infection and ultimately a slow miserable death.
Over 90% of paraplegics in India come from the low income or lower middle class income group. Since there is no social security system in India and the Government Medical institutions cannot keep patients with spinal injuries in the hospital for any length of time, they are sent home after the initial treatment.
In the last 9 years SAHAI has treated and rehabilitated 262 paraplegics. SAHAI has had the good fortune of excellent doctors in the field of Neurosurgery, Plastic surgery, Orthopedics, Urology, General surgery and general medicine giving their valued time and effort for treating these patients.
The results, especially in paraplegia of the lower thoracic or lumbar spines, has been phenomenal with the patients becoming mobile and totally independent with calipers.
See CASE STUDIES
Project I: SAHAI Spinal Injuries Hospital, Rehabilitation and Training Centre
Project II: SAHAI Prosthetics and Orthotic Research and Training Institute (SPORTS)
Project III: SAHAI Rehabilitation Work Centre
The annual budget of SAHAI is approximately $27,000 now, excluding surgeries performed free of cost by surgeons associated with SAHAI. See more info HERE
INAUGURATED IN GUADELOUPE, FRENCH WEST INDIES
In Guadeloupe in the French West Indies, 2004 brought a whole year of commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first indentured Indian workers in 1854 to a close with the inauguration of a First Day monument in the business capital, Pointe-a-Pitre, near the sea-side spot where the indentured Indians alighted between 1854 and 1889.
The plaque on the monument carries an eloquent and very pedagogical text, which is necessary considering that almost no mention of the history of the Indians and their contributions have been made so far in the French school text books.
The plaque reads:
"On December 24, 1854, the sailing ship "Aurelie", after a dreadful three-month passage, disembarked on this spot 314 East Indians, requested by the Colony to cope with the loss of labour resulting from the abolition of slavery in 1848.
Thus began a long period of transplantation that brought 42,326 East Indians to Guadeloupe, of which 24,891 were to perish, particularly because of the ill-treatment they received, and 9,460 returned to India.
In memory and homage to the contribution of those from India who founded the multicultural Guadeloupe of yesterday and today, the Regional Council, the General Council, the City of Pointe-a-Pitre, in accord with the Bharat-�-Gua Federation, have erected this First Day monument, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first Indians in Guadeloupe."
The more than 600-kilogram bronze monument by Indrajeet Sahadev, an Indian-born sculptor residing in France, is a combination of symbolic representations of the long Kalapani journey, a boat with Lord Ganesha's figure at the prow, masts with Lord Siva's trident and damaru engraved in gold obliquely sectioned at the top to form a golden OM.
The art piece stands on a circular lotus mandala base, the whole monument resting on a marble yantra. On the four sides of the rectangular base block are figures of a conch, a golden sun with the date 1854 in the middle, and sugar cane shoots - the bitter reason that brought the Indians to the island. The auspicious Indian symbol for water also turns out to be the letter G, representing the Universal Master, the initial of Lord Ganesha, and that of Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe was called Kalaoukera, meaning "island of beautiful waters" by the original, now decimated, Amerindian inhabitants.
As Dr. Henry Bangou, Mayor of Pointe-a-Pitre and a renowned historian, and all the official speakers said, the contributions of the Indians to the evolution of Guadeloupe and its population is incalculable. Today Indians in Guadeloupe are to be found in all sectors of society, from agriculture to politics. Their painful integration, in spite of all the hardships and persecutions, is considered today a success. This is due to their non-violent attitudes and determination in the work place, since the time of the sugarcane fields.
Their integration was achieved at great expense - the almost total loss of their original languages from South and North India, replaced by French and Creole, the forced abandonment of their religion to Catholicism, and the transformation of their customs and culture to becoming Europeanized. However, in the crucible of change, they have managed to do much more than just influence the local cuisine, costume and folklore.
Many cultural associations, under the federative banner of Bharat-a-Gua ("From India to Guadeloupe") are reawakening the Indian awareness. Rituals clandestinely kept across time are being revived, scholars are researching and documenting the past. Interestingly enough, people of all cultural heritage, Indian or mixed ethnic backgrounds, are attracted and are participating in these activities.
People of all origins also took part in the year long commemoration events.
Originally scheduled for December 23rd, 2004, the inauguration of the monument took place on January 23rd, 2005, due to an earthquake in Guadeloupe in December 2004. After the official discourses and the unveiling of the monument at the sound of the "tapu" (a flat Indian tambourine drum), flower petals were thrown by Guadeloupeans of mixed ancestral heritage, onto the nearby sea.
This homage was accompanied by moving prayers that the offering may reach ancient ancestors, across the sea of time.
Visitors are kindly requested to leave their comments.
See Photographs accompanying the French version of this text.
De «Trade Winds» à «Right Track»
-
des profs d'anglais soucieux de présenter la Caraïbe.
La revue pédagogique quadri-annuelle d'anglais «Right Tracks» publiée par le Centre Régional de Documentation Pédagogique Midi-Pyrénées (Toulouse) a consacré à la Caraïbe son n° 4 d'Octobre 2005, mené avec brio par Mademe l'Inspectrice de l'Enseignement Technique Francine Doquet avec le concours de plusieurs enseignants anglicistes, dont Madame Laurence Bernard du Lycée La Jetée en Martinique, et M. Jean-S. Sahaï du Lycée d'Hôtellerie & de Tourisme Archipel Guadeloupe.
Pratiquement passée sous silence, cette information est à mettre en première ligne. Il est indéniable que de tels outils outils manquent cruellement. Comme tout parent-pays qui se respecte, le prof d'anglais d'ici-îles ne peut ignorer la nécessité de sensibiliser l'élève à son environnement anglophone et créolophone immédiat — le vaste et divers monde de la Caraïbe, et à son histoire complexe.
Mais le professeur et l'élève sont-ils bien outillés pour ce faire?
Les manuels d'anglais d'en-France s'ouvrent généralement sur des cartes de Grande-Bretagne, Etats-Unis/Canada, Australie et Nouvelle-Zélande. La carte du pays où vit le plus grand nombre d'anglophones au monde, l'Inde, est absente.
Quant à la carte de la Caraïbe, lorqu'il y a en a une, elle est toute rikiki!
Paru il y a des décennies, l'ouvrage «Trade Winds» fut en son temps une petite révolution, dûe à la préoccupation caribéenne des membres de l'Association des Professeurs d'Anglais de Guadeloupe (APAG) - Antooine Toumson, Guillemette Roche, Bernard Banny..., pour en citer quelques-uns. Mais cette pièce de musée est introuvable et, forcément, devenue tant soit peu caduque.
On peut regretter, dans ce «Right Track» n° 4 de 2005 qui décrit aussi la Guadeloupe et la Martinique, et présente le créole, la piètre sinon inexistante allusion aux immigrations indienne ou chinoise.
Notons en passant, le cas singulier des descendants français des Saintes, Désirade, St. Barthélemy, Moule-Matignon, des mondes mulâtre, chaben, béké, syrien, libanais...
Tous bien présents et actifs dans la Caraïbe depuis plusieurs générations, leur absence est encore, hélas, monnaie courante dans les descriptions scolaires. Ces composantes humaines sont trop souvent occultées dans les descriptions de l'ère colo- et post-coloniale, au profit de la seule descendance africaine confrontée au monde blanc, ce qui donne une piètre description du monde antillo-caribéen.
Gêne? Du fait de leur rôle, de leurs apports et de leur spécificité, tous les apports doivent sans conteste trouver leur juste place dans les programmes - avec l'histoire de l'esclavage et de l'engagisme, en toute objectivité historique et sociale.
Il est donc grand temps qu'émergent d'autres compléments didactiques équilibrés sur le thème caribéen, en format papier ou informatique, aux livres de langues conçus pour l'élève hexagonien.
En attendant, chaque prof d'anglais des Antilles - et les plus ouverts de ceux de pôle-métro - se doivent de sauter sur ce «Right Tracks» Special Caribbean riche et bien conduit.
A commander en ligne, ou solliciter au CRDP de Guadeloupe qu'on vous en fasse venir un'n. Une enseignante de Martinique qui l'a commandé via le CRDP foyalais en novembre... l'a reçu en... mars!
Voir également, par Michelle Henry, professeur d'anglais à Nancy, une page web interactive à l'intention des enseignants désirant enseigner The Caribbean, the West Indies.
BLOC INFO CRDP TOULOUSE
La revue 'Right Tracks' du CRDP Midi-Pyrénées (Toulouse) consacre son n° 4 d'Octobre 2005 aux Antilles.
A partir d'une réflexion sur l'image cliché ou reflet de la réalité, ce numéro propose plusieurs axes de découverte des Antilles et de la Caraïbe; l'exploration maritime, l'esclavage, le climat, les festivals, la musique, la publicité sont le support des pratiques pédagogiques que viennent compléter l'étude de films, les pistes de lecture et d'autres ressources.
ISBN : 2-86565-040-5 - 12 (doux) euros.
DIVERSIFICATION OF BANANA INDUSTRY
Guadeloupean Researcher Nathalie Minatchy creates Banana Juice.
See her site.
See Nathalie's site.
Almost perfect fruit!Dr. Audia BARNETT speaks up.
"I THINK banana is almost a perfect fruit. It is quite nutritious in terms of the profile of nutrients in banana and so at Scientific Research Council (SRC) we are fortunate to have played a role and still continue to play a role both at the primary level and at the value added level...
"The market for neutraceuticals is a booming one, worldwide. Just the fruit (of the) banana is considered a nutraceutical.
Nutraceutical just means that you can eat that fruit whole and, in addition to getting the regular nutritional value in terms of your bodily functions, you get some added health value...
We have looked at
banana flour, which may seem to not really have a place, but this flour
can be used in baked products.
There are several persons or a percentage of the population which is allergic to gluten, for example, so they cannot have wheat flour; banana flour can be used as a replacement. It can also be used in other value added components from the flour.
We also have done banana figs, not just the regular figs but exotic figs coated with toffees, you name it. We have done sauces, like barbecue sauce using banana as the base.
We have done a clarified banana juice which I think has exciting prospects because a lot of persons don't like the heaviness that banana has when they are using it as a component in their punches.
So we have the clarified banana juice which there is a special procedure for that and you know the usual chips and jams..."
Read full article on The Jamaica Gleaner
A banana a day keeps the doctor away!
After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again!
Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber.
A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.
No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana.
This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS
Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US FDA has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating abanana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips.
Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs.
The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control
Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes
According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.
So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say,
A banana a day keeps the doctor away!
South India Nature Temple, jan. 2006. ©J.S. 06.
Efforts are being made to set up a St.Vincent and the Grenadines Indian Heritage Foundation.
In August 2005, a group of Indian descendants met and discussed the possibility of establishing a foundation to disseminate and share information about the Indian Heritage of St.Vincent and the Grenadines.
By the end of this month, the foundation should be registered as a legal entity.
An official launching is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 1.
June this year will mark the 145th anniversary since the first group of Indian Indentured Labourers arrived in St.Vincent and the Grenadines.
Through the foundation a series of activities will be staged leading up to the 150th anniversary of the Indians’ arrival in 2010.
The foundation will also establish a website.
INFO SOURCE : Searchlight.
South India, near Chennai. ©J.S. 2006.
Dessin de François Gabourg, Martinique. ©2006, avec aimable permission de l'artiste.
Règloman 1: lo non lantant.
La mèt dobout, selon la loi promié Zilié 1901, in lantant i apèl: “ Lofis la lang kréol La Rényon”/ “Lofis la lang kréol rényoné”.
Il est créé, conformément à la loi du 1er juillet 1901, une association appelée “Office de la Langue Créole de La Réunion”.
In the Nilgiri Mountains, South India. ©J.S. 2006.
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