There has been some great press coverage of Haiti in recent days and weeks.
Jon Snow has been blogging on the “toughest, most harrowing assignment ever” – Haiti. Well worth reading.
A timely and important article by the late Nuala O’Faolain on the effectiveness of overseas development aid.
An interesting piece on how Haiti’s environmental situation impacts on its happiness and susceptibility to tragedy. I read somewhere that an earthquake measuring 7 in the Richter scale killed 63 in the USA, the same quake killed more than 150,000 in Haiti. Poverty kills.
SIX-YEAR-OLD Faimi Lamy’s screams pierce the morning air as a Cuban nun, a trained nurse, draws needle and thread through the raw meat that is the stub of the little girl’s left arm.
“Aiee, aiee. Give me water so it will stop hurting. Stop, stop,” Faimi cries.
Sr Lazal Guevara cleans and sutures the infected wound without anaesthetic, and the pain is more than the child can bear.
Let’s start with a great piece by Ann Marie Hourihane on why women rarely die. No, that’s not right, why women really make it onto the obituaries page.
An interesting piece on the role of journalists in Northern Ireland – not as protectors of a fragile peace process, but as independent observers. This made me think.
“The painful complexity of moral choices” An interesting piece on abortion rates among mothers carring babies with Down’s Syndrome. 91% chose to abortion. Again, this made me think but not change my view.
And lastly, it’s true: money doesn’t make you happy. But, experiences might. The novelty value of a material object eventually dies, no matter how much you once wanted it but new experiences (particularly ones tha bring you closer to friends/family) can make you happy.
Via The Tallyman, I just love this American Version of the world map.
Again, a picture’s worth 1000 words. Reminds me of the episode of The West Wing, where CJ is being lobbied to change the maps that are used in teaching. Great episode. I’ve a Peterson’s Projection map over my desk. Love it. It makes me feel appropriately small in a big world, every morning.
Over the Christmas period, I’ve been reading more than ever. Here are a few bits you may have missed over the festive period.
Noel Whelan writes on the appalling Stephen’s Day story on Brian Lenihan’s health. Matt Cooper also has a lovely piece on what Lenihan should do now.
Stephen Kinsella writes on what Ireland will be like in 2050. I’ll be 63. Yikes.
An interesting article on how individuals need to take responsibility for the state that the world is in, by John Bruton. Worth a read.
Another great article on the challenge of the decade, which isn’t terrorism, Swine Flu or even financial doom, but Climate Change.
Glad to see that Dermot Ahern has noticed the lack of women on State Boards and in politics generally. The rest of us have noticed for a long time, but welcome to the party Dermot. What are you gonna do about it?
Just a quick word of thanks for reading, sunscribing, visiting, commenting, emailing me or in some way, making contact with me over the past 12 months. It’s been a pleasure.
I think I’ve gotten more into the blogging in the last few months, following a long hiatus due to work commitments and having far too many balls in the air for one person. I’m also conscious though, that my blogging tends to be image, link or quote-based, so I hope to expand to more opinion-style pieces. If not though, that’s fine, I’m sure there will be a good reason. I’m also toying with writing more personal pieces, although I don’t think I’m that brave just yet.
Thank you for your loyalty and engagement – I do appreciate it.
To my fellow bloggers, thank you for your commitment. I know it eats time and it’s hard to measure the impact of your work, but thanks for doing it all the same.
“I will this day try to live a simple, sincere and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety and discouragement, impurity and self-seeking, cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity and the habit of holy silence, exercising economy in expenditure, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust and a child-like trust in God.”
Why did TV3 have to go and release the news of Brian Lenihan’s cancer diagnosis? What possible difference does it make if we’re told on Stephen’s day, or in the new year? And, the manner in which TV3 did it was in pretty poor taste. Ursula Hannigan standing outside Government buildings for an OB – There’s no-one INSIDE govt buildings, but sure let’s stand out in the cold there anyway. Plus, it has the added bonus of making Ursula look like she’s cracked the story there herself while the rest of us were up to our ears in Turkey leftovers.
To talk about political ramifications, to self-congradulate on their restraint in holding off on the news from Christmas Eve to St Stephen’s Day (might that also have had something to do with the fact that no-one watches the news on Christmas Eve?), and the dispicable performance of John Crown in talking about the Minister’s prospects.
The whole thing was a display of our absent media ethics, and TV3 should be ashamed of themselves. Wishing the Minister the best, and hoping that the media will leave them in peace.
“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”
Deaglán de Bréadún writes a wonderful review of Cowen’s difficult autumn in power. He said recently that it was one of the most challenging periods in his political life, and reading this, you can see why.
This is, perhaps, the most profound, most heartfelt and most important voice of the Church Abuse scandal. A must read.
Here’s an interesting look at the spending records of candidates in the Dublin Central byelection earlier in the year. Eventual winner Maureen O’Sullivan spent just €11,516. On the other hand, Fine Gael Senator Paschal Donohoe’s spent €33,348, Ivana Bacik spent €31,160 and Maurice Ahern spent €29,134. Guess money can’t by you love or elections… (And, what a WASTE of money!)
“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any map of the world. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world.”