Go … Fly a Kite … or 10,000 of them …#WATWB Hmb#4 ...

 

… or Come-Fly-a-Kite with 'me' … another wonderful uplifting story …

Alice Denny showing a kite - from
the Good Chance Theatre site

Master Afghan kite-maker and refugee Sanjar Qiam is celebrating the cultural history of kites by inspiring a festival of kite-flying across the UK and Europe on Saturday 20 August.

Many will gather for story telling, music, poetry and dance from Afghan artists and community groups to highlight the cultural significance of kites in Afghanistan's history …

Qiam Sanjir with his wife,
in their toy shop 'Rocket Science'

Some kites will be tethered to the ground through a single thread but fly free of the borders that define the land …

… and which are the embodiment of freedom and play … looked at collectively, on the stage of the sky, kites represent togetherness, our difference and our shared humanity.

Flying Kites ... 

With the Taliban in power … kites are banned, along with music, free journalism, theatre and dancing – all and any self-expression.

Qiam Sanjar, Master kite-maker, says:

Fly-With-Me is a reminder to the world:

Remember Afghanistan

… while in Afghanistan, kites occupy a unique space between national art form and national sport.

They are a universal symbol of expression, skill and cultural pride.

Sanjar was a successful business man in Kabul … but decided in 2011 to move away … having married a non-Muslim wife … he first went to India and then flew here to the UK … with his 10,000 kites!

This ad for the festival ... says it all ... 

He now has a toy shop in Brighton, along the coast from here, on the south coast … as well as establishing a centre for creative ideas …

… offering craft workshops, story-reading sessions in different languages, 'educative' toys from various countries … France, Australia, Russia, USA, Netherlands, China and of course his homeland … opening the doors to learning while playing …

With the Good Chance Theatre (link below)

The business concept can be rolled out for others to take up the mantle of helping new settlers in our country … combining work, with family time, while broadening their and our knowledge of life in another country …

Perhaps across our South Downs, Sussex

Go Fly A Kite … with friends, contacts and family is already opening so many doors for those looking to expand their horizons …

Funds raised will go to Afghanaid and its By-Her- Side campaign to support women in rural Afghan communities.

We are the World Blogfest

In Darkness, Be Light

BBC - Kabul to Brighton ... video ... 

Independent article - Escaping the Taliban and finding security in the UK ... Kite Flying

Good Chance Organisation had kite making packs for sale, but here they describe how to make a kite - simple details by the look of it ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

We are the World Blogfest - #WATWB Hmb#3 – the Film 'Flee' …

 

Amazing film … our film society put this on for us at our cinema in the Towner art gallery … where 'avant-garde' films are shown …

Poster for the film 'Flee'

Well - I came out and wrote on my crit sheet one word … 'Exceptional' … it is the most extraordinary films I've ever seen …

The animation is fabulous … the story, based on real life … where archival film footage of events in Afghanistan and this refugee journey have been blended into the animated documentary …

A screen capture of 'Amin'

No wonder the film, Flee, has received unanimous acclaim from film festivals and critics …

… it is a wonderful example of the power of art to connect with people on a variety of levels: emotionally, philosophically, historically ...

Another screen capture of the back of a 
truck being closed down ... at the start
of the fleeing journey

I do hope you will all make a plan to see this film – it will have to be one of the most moving stories I have ever seen …

Brought to us by two friends … the refugee, Amin Nawabi, a pseudonym, and the Danish director, Jonas Poher Rasmussen, who creates this emotionally charged film on Amin's escape from Afghanistan …

The director, and Amin's friend in Denmark

Even, the director, Poher Rasmussen is not fully cognisant of 'Amin's' story until the friends sit down in Denmark, where the untelling of the tale occurs and all the nuances appear … 

... which are revealed to Poher Rasmussen, and through the revealing to us, the audience …

We are the World Blogfest

In Darkness, Be Light

This animated documentary: 'Depicts the refugee experience through vivid animation, pushing the boundaries of documentary film-making to present a moving memoir of self-discovery …'

It has to be seen to be believed … please watch!

The Towner Cinema's introduction to the film can be found here …

The Wikipedia page about the film …

Flee trailer c/o Sundance 2021 - 1 min 26 secs

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

We are the World Blogfest - #WATWB Hmb#2 - Singapore – a green oasis of calm …

 

This appealed as Singapore is Singapore (believe it or not!) … I've never been – but would love to visit sometime …

Outline of Singapore with its surrounding
islands and waterways

They only became independent in 1965 … and as they were in the 20^th century realised protecting their resources were essential.

The article compares Hong Kong with Singapore … interesting variances as both countries developed … Hong Kong under British colonisation from 1840s …

… while Singapore in the same era as a British Crown Colony, believed after WW2, in the 1960s, that its future lay with Malaysia; ...

1825 Survey Map - showing the free-trade
port on the Singapore River

… but talks broke down, then Malaysia expelled Singapore, when it had no choice but to reluctantly become a newly independent country.

The charismatic prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, is known as the founding father of the nation. He was described as the philosopher king … he also had a nickname “ Chief Gardener” …

Lee Kuan Yew (1923 - 2015)

… so the new government set out to transform the city into a tropical garden city … giving the citizens pride in their new freedom and ...

… it was realised that tiny Singapore needed to be self-sufficient within its own compact footprint … Malaysia was known to consider threatening to turn off the water …

Lee, chose the month of November, as it is when saplings need the least amount of water, to hold the first annual Tree Planting Day to beautify Singapore … in 1974 they had over 150,000 trees, by now they've planted over 1.5 million.

With this in mind as development continued … water cleansing and capturing were essential elements to be integrated into the cityscape …

Lee's first choice of tree
'Cratoxylum Formosum'

… water is captured in mini reservoirs, rooftops, parks, roadways and sidewalks … an elaborate system of channels, tunnels and pumps then moves the water to treatment plants …

Lee also realised that if citizens owned their own homes – they'd be more responsible with their properties. The Housing and Development Board built low-cost housing, which tenants could rent … ultimately purchasing with their pension funds. (Interesting idea, I thought).

The development continues … parks, rivers, ponds co-exist in the urban centres and high-rises … while authorities encourage developers to include plants with a higher leaf-area index.

Vernonia Elliptica - one of many
creepers promoted within the city
(curtain creeper)

There's more … I leave you to read … I found it fascinating … the city's newly planted trees and green walls will help cool buildings, provide shade, and reduce outdoor temperatures … encouraging more exercise – walk to work etc …

I loved the idea that floors and walkways were built with deep planting beds for drainage, absorbing water during times of tropical downpours. Encouraging growth of tropical plants to drape and over time cascade around the building/s …

The book, accompanying the article, 'Supertall: How the World's Tallest Buildings are Reshaping Our Cities and Our Lives' … sounds really interesting …

Stefan Al, one of the authors, is a TED Resident – this is an incubator group for breakthrough ideas … each resident has a talk … see more here … again I found this interesting, as I hadn't heard about this concept.

The article opened my mind to many aspects – about how architects, engineers, hydrologists, planners, designers, and data scientists are all influencing and working together to build more sustainable, resilient and equitable environments within our city scapes.

Panoramic view of the central business district -
the 'funny' skyscrapers - are linked 500 feet in
the air - available for joggers and walkers in a
green oases of calm

It's the sign of our times … as we need to remember planet earth … yes please to green oases within our urban landscapes …

Big Think - the present: SuperTall Singapore ... 

We are the World Blogfest

In Darkness, Be Light

Let's all encourage peace amongst

our human race ...

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

We are the World Blogfest # 57 – Ukraine Surgical Training Courses for War Zones …

 

To preface my post … this is a tribute to Damyanti Biswas, Belinda Witzenhausen, Sylvia McGrath, Lynn Hallbrooks, Simon Falk – who all co-hosted and co-ordinated these positive posts over the last five years …. So like Belinda - I wish you all the very best ... sent with loads of hugs from Positive Letters blog ... 

As they and I say goodbye to the #WATWB monthly posts … I will probably continue in a simpler format – and hope anyone who uses FB will pick up and post across for me – FB and I are not very connected …  

Now my last 'official #WATWB post' … it's a little long, but pertinent to today and events in Ukraine …

Medical Guidance in war-torn Ukraine ... 

David Nott Foundation
(Henry Marsh on left, David looking on)

David Nott – a general and vascular surgeon works mainly in London hospitals, but also volunteers to work in disaster and war zones.

The David Nott Foundation came to my notice in the Syrian conflict … however David Nott has been working in war zones since 1993 … Sarajevo, and alphabetically: Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chad, Darfur, Gaza, Haiti, Iraq, Libya, Sierra Leone, and opposition-held areas of Syria.

He had established front line “Hostile Environment Surgical Training” courses that last four days … focussing on a wide range of skills, including treatment of gun shot wounds and vascular surgery …

Henry Marsh visiting Ternopil
University in 2016

… now the course needed to be condensed, and to ensure that Ukrainian healthcare professionals are best prepared for complex war injuries, the course included triage, damage control, burns, cardiothoracic, orthopaedic, paediatric, and plastic surgery sessions.

In response to this Ukrainian crisis David Nott, and former Consultant Surgeon at St George's Hospital, Henry Marsh, joined forces to deliver a 12-hour surgical training course to over 570 healthcare professionals in early March.

Neurosurgeon, Henry Marsh had established roots in Ukraine as far back as 1992, as a pioneer of neurosurgical advances in Ukraine …

Ternopil National Medical
University in west Ukraine
their logo

Henry Marsh comments: “I hope and pray that my Ukrainian friends and colleagues will not need to apply all that they learn from the David Nott Foundation webinar. 

But we must do what we can to prepare them for the possible horrors ahead as Russia continues with its evil and murderous invasion.”

Links:

David Nott – Wikipedia

David Nott Foundation – Ukraine …

Henry Marsh - Neurosurgeon – Wikipedia

Ternopil National Medical University, west Ukraine - their Wikipedia site ... 

Revolution of Dignity – also known as the Maidan Revolution … took place in Ukraine 2014 – ousting ex-president Yanukovych, after he failed to sign a political association and free trade agreement with the European Union, instead choosing closer ties to Russia …

Blogfest Community in FB …

Belinda Witzenhuizen - A Hug and a Goodbye from the #WATWB community ... 

Thank you all participants - bloggers, commenters, readers ... of our #WATWB posts ... sad that 'time is called' ...  

We are the World Blogfest

In Darkness, Be Light

Peace and Compassion for Ukraine

and a happier world for us all in the years ahead

Hilary Melton-Butcher 

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

We are the World Blogfest # 56 – Compassion, Peace and Ukraine …

 

We have to hope for the future of Ukraine, especially that peace can come very soon and with it compassion from all sides …

St Sofia's Cathedral, Kiev

I have been wondering what to post for a week now – but need to do a penultimate #WATWB post … the regular postings will discontinue after March, but I may well carry on in some format …

I'm posting on positive aspects of Ukraine – its literature, music and art, culinary traditions … to give an overview of parts of their culture – encouraging you to look further.

Years ago I first came across “A Short History of Tractors in Ukraine” - the hilarious and award winning debut novel by Marina Lewycka …

I love the cover image where the title is set out using depictions of gear wheels, nuts, bolts, spanners, etc … my first, and so far, only Ukrainian novel.

A friend mentioned Mussorgsky's “Great Gate of Kiev” … a wonderful resonating composition inspired by folklore – an amazing listen.

Hartmann's design for the entrance to
the Ukrainian city of Kiev

Mussorgsky was inspired to compose his suite 'Pictures at an Exhibition' after touring the exhibition of 400 works by the artist Victor Hartmann. Hartmann's early death at 39 shocked Mussorgsky along with others in Russia's art world.

Cossack Mamay,
playing a kobza

Cossack Mamay is encountered in legends, folk stories and proverbs … and is today one of the most enduring characters in Ukrainian folk painting.

As you might expect I have to include culinary arts … I heard an interview with the London-based Ukrainian chef, food writer and food stylist, Olia Hercules … which sent me to find out more.

She had commented that Kiev was a beautiful bustling European city full of young inspirational and energetic peoples … and if she'd been there at the weekend … she'd have been going to Kanapa restaurant where they serve modern Ukrainian-European dishes … she mentioned one: Bortscht made with smoked pears from the Poltava region in central Ukraine.

Ukrainian Bortscht

She was so concerned saying that the people suffering were just regular people: like us …

The humanitarian needs are enormous … the bordering countries have immediately set up way-stations for food and water on arrival, tents, then warehouses providing essentials … ranging from medical assistance, care packages, day-to- day items … even to offering jobs, accommodation, car transport …

The Kind Angel of Peace,
Ukraine, located in 
Donetsk

… even a midwife and psychologist have made themselves available …

The cities in Ukraine are taking a battering – poor, poor people … I cannot imagine what their lives must be like.

Their President and government are being extraordinarily thoughtful and inspirational – an example for many.

One of their symbols ... great
fields of them grow in their
central region

The Ukrainians do not deserve this – their normal outlook of happiness, optimism, honesty, desiring peace is being sorely tried …

I just wanted this post to have some positivity in it – and now I want to find out more about the country, which I'm doing and will continue to do …

However, I thought posting a copy of this image was appropriate for today's post …

The Reconciliation

Josefina De Vasconcellos said:

"The sculpture was originally conceived in the aftermath of the War. Europe was in shock, people were stunned. I read in a newspaper about a woman who crossed Europe on foot to find her husband, and I was so moved that I made the sculpture. Then I thought that it wasn't only about the reunion of two people but hopefully a reunion of nations which had been fighting."

We are the World Blogfest

In Darkness, Be Light

Peace and Compassion for Ukraine

Links:  The Great Gate of Kiev - magnificent to hear (6 mins)

Pictures at an Exhibition (36 minutes)

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

We are the World Blogfest # 55 – Someone who doesn't want their eyesight back …

I find it extraordinary how people who lose one of their senses, or are injured, seem to manage to cope by learning a new skill, which also requires many new sub-skills to be learnt.

Chris at work

Here Chris Fisher, who was an auto technician, woke up one day with blurry eyesight, then within weeks was blind. Very frightening.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease, which, it is estimated, has infected half of the world's population – and is caught from animal faeces or infected meat … but in adults usually causes no obvious symptoms – sadly Chris was not one of them.

Chris with a piece of his art

He really needed help to adjust and took bereavement counselling with the Royal Institute of Blind People – who have a very supportive network of volunteers helping those who suffer sight impairment.

He, understandably was very distressed, as he wasn't able to see his loved ones, he couldn't work anymore, nor pursue his hobbies – motor-cycling, learning to fly, while had a huge love of horror films – thus had a good imagination and creative mind.

Chris with one of his autistic students

This originality led him to woodturning where he is now the only totally blind, fully professional, accredited wood turner …

He creates art from sourced wood as a coping mechanism for his anxiety, yet while at the lathe he has to live in the moment … he cannot be complacent for one second …

Incredibly he taught himself by listening to YouTube for over 600 hours (about 25 days worth!) …

Wood Turning in Indonesia

It's a gift to be able to help others … He loves sharing his story and inspiring others … now he is working with a special needs charity helping children with autism … helping them and giving them confidence in the world they habit …

How appropriate our #WATWB tag lines are for Chris and fellow sufferers ...

We are the World Blogfest

In Darkness, Be Light

Here's the BBC video where I picked this inspiring story from ...

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

We are the World Blogfest # 54 - Power for the Neighbours ... and where are we going in 2022 …

It's amazing in this day and age – how people go out of their way to help their communities …

Here in Murang'a County, south central Kenya – one man got VERY TIRED OF WAITING – so took 'things into his own hands' …

… he found some bicycle parts, scrap metal, built a home made generator – subsequently bringing electricity to his neighbourhood …

Murang'a County

John Magiro expanded his electric operation – thus bringing affordable electricity to 750 local people ...

John Magiro outside his office

… he transformed so many lives – now they don't have to use hand-held kerosene lamps … the kids can study, people can safely move around … and all those benefits those of us have in our day to day lives, they now have ... 

Here's to more John Magiro's – People Fixing the World … giving Power to the People …

BBC How to make electricity for your Neighbours (video 2.43)

Magiro Mini Hydro Power - their website ... 

At the end of 2021 – what will 2022 hold? …

more peace,

more understanding,

more compassion,

more thought for others, before one's self …

George Cruikshank - see my
previous post ... His view
to the opera - taken by me
as 'our view' to 2022 ...

So with this last post of 2021 – I wish you an easier New Year – here's to 2022 …

We are the World Blogfest

In Darkness, Be Light

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories