The Intersection of Gender, Culture and Education: Jamaica: The Next 50 Years!

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”- United Nations, Charter, 1945 What do you know about the United Nations (UN)?   Over the years the United Nations has been rocked by numerous scandals.   The latest scandal to have gutted the image of the United Nations is that of a video clip which clearly shows a man and a woman in the back seat of a marked UN vehicle engaging in sexual intercourse. The incident purportedly took place in Tel Aviv, Israel.   Prior to this, United Nations peacekeepers went to Haiti after the 2010 devastating earthquake. The United Nations coordinated efforts regarding relief and logistics operations in this impoverished Caribbean island.   Many of the UN peacekeepers have exploited their positions and have taken sexual advantage of a number of poor Haitian girls and women.   In December, a report claimed peacekeepers at the UN

“Struggles in life make you stronger.”- Fitzroy Campbell My dad, Fitzroy is in his eighty sixth year. Yes, sometimes I cannot believe it myself. As an octogenarian my dad is alert and sharp minded.   Dad was born in Top Pen in the parish of St. Mary to Zephaniah and Louise. Dad grew up in a Baptist family. His father, Zephaniah Adolfus Campbell and his mother, Louise Maud Taylor- Campbell produced nine (9) children in the marriage.   ‘Mama Lou’ as grandmother was affectionately called came from Davis Town, Chalky Hill district in the parish of St. Ann.   I wanted to do something different this Father’s Day.   I decided to listen and write a bit of my dad’s story. I sat down with my dad in our living room and asked him to share aspects of his early life and he was delighted to do so. At times I had to remind him to slow it down given I was writing the information. His beginnings were humble and this was true of most Jamaicans especially those of African descent. “The house was made fro

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” -   Martin Luther King Jr. Recently, we have seen an upsurge in racial confrontations in the United States of America. Minority groups led primarily by African Americans have been lending their voices to demonstrations all across the United States of America. The call for justice has become louder in recent days as advocacy groups continue their march for justice on behalf of those black men and women who have been shot and killed by white police officers. This Black Lives Matter movement has taken on an international flair as thousands of people in almost every country have taken to the streets with banners such as I Can’t Breathe to highlight the injustices being meted out to blacks. The demonstrations have become a nightly activity as organizers are adamant that changes must be had to dismantle the systemic and entrenched layers of racism which are seen in law enforcement, criminal justice system, publ

Blood donation is a life saving gift, however not many of us have ever given blood. Yes, we have all heard the appeals for us to give blood but it is not until a family member or friend requires this life saving donation that we realize how important it is for us to donate to the blood bank.   Over the years the Ministry of Health and Wellness has been encouraging and continues to encourage Jamaicans to donate blood. In recent times we have seen an increase in celebrities having blood drives in order to persuade Jamaicans to donate and increase the supply of blood in the bank. There are many reasons why someone may require blood; this range from being in an accident or for surgery. On 14 June 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) and all countries will celebrate World Blood Donor Day.   The need for safe blood is universal. Safe blood is critical both for treatments and urgent interventions.   Blood donation can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer

“Women don’t need to find their voices, they need to be empowered to use it and people need to be urged to listen.”- Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex A few weeks ago there was a horrific attack on a hospital in Afghanistan by militants believed to be Taliban.   For many of us Afghanistan was not on our news radar until after 9/11 when President George W. Bush launched an attack on the country in response to the attacks on the United States of America. The reprehensible news which emerged from the attack on the maternity ward of the hospital was dwarfed by the ongoing pandemic and the attention the global community has been paying to this ongoing crisis. Regrettably, not much was said by the United Nations in response to the actions of these militants who continue to kill innocent women and children.   A BBC investigation last year found that, on average, 74 men, women and children were killed every day throughout the month of August. Sadly, it is not uncommon to hear of suicide bo