Alfred Ghosh commented on "Fall––Transition from Summer to Winter By Nuzhat Shahzadi"
6 hours ago
Thanks for sharing the post reminiscing your younger days, which reminded me of our younger days Burma. (Those were the days). And again the seasons changing in the US reminded me of my New York days. Enjoy the wintery coolness !!!!
Luis Oliveros commented on "In The Land of Baobab and Flame Trees by Nuzhat Shahzadi"
15 hours ago
Wonderful article!
Luis Oliveros commented on "Ruins (and a Bunker) by Horst Cerni"
15 hours ago
I liked very much both the article and photos, thank you. I also intend to go to Hamburg . Maybe this winter
Jim Mayrides commented on "Two Reunions 20 years apart - and a ditty: Fouad Kronfol"
16 hours ago
Brings back memories with Habib who showed me the ropes in Programme Division when I joined UNICEF in 9/73; with Shahida in the Africa Desk at HQ when Fouad put us all in the famous "open space" concept; when Manou Assadi supported my work with Dickson Nkembo also in the Africa Section and later when I was DRD in Nairobi and Manou phoned me at 2:00 AM Kenya time to advise me of my promotion as Rep in Bolivia following my request to have HQ not wake me in the wee hours unless the call was 1) to fire me; 2) that I had died and was being told my death benefits or 3) I was being promoted.
Sree Gururaja commented on "Questions upon Questions: Detlef Palm"
16 hours ago
It’s not so much looking for the lost glove as how many of us get the opportunity to return to our project or the start- up initiative to witness the impact ? At best, we read the reports if we still have access to the Country/ district data. Thanks Detlef and Ken for stirring our thoughts ! Let us believe its not as dismal as losing either the left or right glove for we can also buy another pair of gloves!! Sree
22 hours ago
Fuad, while I may be wrong, I got the impression that what Detlef asked was if events such as Band-Aid did more harm than good. We may all have been engrossed in our careers, but perhaps we should try to think back and reflect on our experiences. Judging from the interviews and opinions of many Africans, Band-Aid-type events do longer-term harm even if they may provide short-term relief. Having worked in several emergency interventions in Africa I can but agree. The fact that the international community, WFP and UNICEF are only phone calls away does not encourage countries, with many other priorities such as defence and internal security, to build any emergency preparedness. Anyone with experience in humanitarian aid knows this to be true.
In Response to a comment by Fouad Kronfol
22 hours ago
Wow! Lovely to see Shahida––she has remained evergreen!
22 hours ago
Many thanks, Fouad. Your story is so inspiring!
In our agency, I have come across mainly two kinds of people (there may be more kinds pardon my ignorance): some who go with the flow, do not question, try to be content . . . they are liked, they're the good ones. And then there are those who challenge the status quo, with steadfast stubbornness try different methods for better results . . . our agency terms them as troublemakers . .. but they get things done in essence.
In our agency, I have come across mainly two kinds of people (there may be more kinds pardon my ignorance): some who go with the flow, do not question, try to be content . . . they are liked, they're the good ones. And then there are those who challenge the status quo, with steadfast stubbornness try different methods for better results . . . our agency terms them as troublemakers . .. but they get things done in essence.
Ken Gibbs commented on "Questions upon Questions: Detlef Palm"
Yesterday
The $ 64,000 question remains - about our interest in whether our efforts in development aid have been effective. I, too, have opinions in the matter but few people seem interested.
Ken Gibbs commented on "Questions upon Questions: Detlef Palm"
Yesterday
The removed comment was because of display problems. It is reformatted, below
Ken Gibbs commented on "Questions upon Questions: Detlef Palm"
Yesterday
Now, this is a piece to get the motor neurons going, early in the morning.
I have to admit having a personal interest – my eldest brother, now departed - lived for many years in Leigh (pronounced ‘lye’ or ‘ligh’ or ‘lie’), just outside Tonbridge because it was commuter-belt for London. The train to and from London to Tonbridge passes through Leigh, so he was to be found of a morning, reading the daily paper, en route to his office. I can’t remember his ever having said anything about lost gloves on the train. One of the only good things about him was that he refused to wear a bowler hat probably because it wouldn’t have matched the dreadful scarlet trousers he wore much of the time. He was not what might be termed a ‘philosopher’ as his keenest interest was ‘huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ so you are doubly spared having two from my family, debating the conundrum of the ‘Lost Glove Tree’. That said, he might have thought it possible to use the lost gloves instead of clay pigeons.
I was wondering if any of the lost gloves were occupied? If they are/were, that would put them as hand-in-glove, wouldn’t it?
I wonder if a statistical analysis has been done to show how many ‘left gloves’ are on the tree compared to ‘right gloves’ ? If there are more left gloves, I would expect that most of the losers were right-handed because they would have taken the left glove off first; been interrupted by a jolt on the train (or similar on the bus); dropped the left glove and in the melee of getting off the train/bus, might have abandoned the missing glove.
As to the type of tree, the photo isn’t helpful (too few ‘digits’ in its resolution?), but the debate being stimulated by Detlef, inclines me to wondering if it isn’t a palm tree?
You refer to the past owners of the lost gloves as ‘losers’. Now this is a term sometimes allocated to less than active UNICEF staff. The Oxford Dictionary that I use notes that the informal word ‘loser’ implies one who fails frequently. Might this be because they, too, lose gloves more often than ordinary people?
I wonder if Banksy (that wonderful, upmarket graffiti artist) might be interested in producing one of his pieces about lost gloves?
Thanks again for stirring the embers of an aging memory bank.
I have to admit having a personal interest – my eldest brother, now departed - lived for many years in Leigh (pronounced ‘lye’ or ‘ligh’ or ‘lie’), just outside Tonbridge because it was commuter-belt for London. The train to and from London to Tonbridge passes through Leigh, so he was to be found of a morning, reading the daily paper, en route to his office. I can’t remember his ever having said anything about lost gloves on the train. One of the only good things about him was that he refused to wear a bowler hat probably because it wouldn’t have matched the dreadful scarlet trousers he wore much of the time. He was not what might be termed a ‘philosopher’ as his keenest interest was ‘huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ so you are doubly spared having two from my family, debating the conundrum of the ‘Lost Glove Tree’. That said, he might have thought it possible to use the lost gloves instead of clay pigeons.
I was wondering if any of the lost gloves were occupied? If they are/were, that would put them as hand-in-glove, wouldn’t it?
I wonder if a statistical analysis has been done to show how many ‘left gloves’ are on the tree compared to ‘right gloves’ ? If there are more left gloves, I would expect that most of the losers were right-handed because they would have taken the left glove off first; been interrupted by a jolt on the train (or similar on the bus); dropped the left glove and in the melee of getting off the train/bus, might have abandoned the missing glove.
As to the type of tree, the photo isn’t helpful (too few ‘digits’ in its resolution?), but the debate being stimulated by Detlef, inclines me to wondering if it isn’t a palm tree?
You refer to the past owners of the lost gloves as ‘losers’. Now this is a term sometimes allocated to less than active UNICEF staff. The Oxford Dictionary that I use notes that the informal word ‘loser’ implies one who fails frequently. Might this be because they, too, lose gloves more often than ordinary people?
I wonder if Banksy (that wonderful, upmarket graffiti artist) might be interested in producing one of his pieces about lost gloves?
Thanks again for stirring the embers of an aging memory bank.
Ken Gibbs commented on "Questions upon Questions: Detlef Palm"
Yesterday
This comment has been removed by the author.
Moustapha Niang commented on "De l’autre côté, des défis et des lumières ! Georges Gonzales"
Yesterday
Merci pour ce beau texte mettant en exergue des sujets relatifs aux droits de l’enfant. Même après la retraite, nous protons ce noble idéal de la promotion des droits de l’enfant. Moustapha Niang
Yesterday
A pointless statement.
2 days ago
Humanitarian aid saves lives. No doubt about this.
The current controversy about the newly recorded Christmas song, 40 years after his first release, should not leave us unconcerned. According to other musicians, “Do They Know It's Christmas” helps to perpetuate damaging stereotypes that stifle Africa's economic growth, tourism and investment, ultimately costing the continent trillions and destroying its dignity, pride and identity. The US National Public Radio (NPR) asked Kenyans to weigh in. Click here for their report (without paywall). Nigerian writer Dipo Faloyin issued a scathing critic of this and other campaigns in his book “Africa is not a country” – because it did not just bring in money but also perpetuates the white saviour syndrome.
Moreover, we need to be careful in equating humanitarian aid and development aid. Most critics of ‘foreign aid’ continue to support disaster relief (though it could be slow or inefficient), but are critical of the significant larger amounts of ‘development aid’, which often do little to nothing to address the basic causes of poverty and underdevelopment.
We may, of course, celebrate some moments of our career. But who, if not we as insiders, can best reflect on what went well and what didn't?
The current controversy about the newly recorded Christmas song, 40 years after his first release, should not leave us unconcerned. According to other musicians, “Do They Know It's Christmas” helps to perpetuate damaging stereotypes that stifle Africa's economic growth, tourism and investment, ultimately costing the continent trillions and destroying its dignity, pride and identity. The US National Public Radio (NPR) asked Kenyans to weigh in. Click here for their report (without paywall). Nigerian writer Dipo Faloyin issued a scathing critic of this and other campaigns in his book “Africa is not a country” – because it did not just bring in money but also perpetuates the white saviour syndrome.
Moreover, we need to be careful in equating humanitarian aid and development aid. Most critics of ‘foreign aid’ continue to support disaster relief (though it could be slow or inefficient), but are critical of the significant larger amounts of ‘development aid’, which often do little to nothing to address the basic causes of poverty and underdevelopment.
We may, of course, celebrate some moments of our career. But who, if not we as insiders, can best reflect on what went well and what didn't?
2 days ago
Having spent one third of my career in HQ and two-thirds in the field I very much appreciated your tribulations with minor bureaucratic kerfunkles between offices . One small example; I was asked to open the first country office in Khartoum in 1973/74, but there was no budget to work with ! We ended making do with small re-allocations and transfers from the Area Office in Cairo to operate until the next biennial admin budget came into effect and the new country office became fully operational.
2 days ago
Thanks Alan for re-igniting a multitude of personal feelings and memories of that very special period in UNICEF's and my own personal histories. Jim Grant wanted me to go to Addis as the Rep, after leaving Hanoi in mid-1983. I did visit for a week and had discussions with Padmini who was O-I-C. As it turned out I opted to go to NY to head the Africa Section while she was confirmed as the Rep. It was, therefore, on our respective watches that many exciting things were happening in Ethiopia and in Africa. Other than BandAid, we had the Run for Africa and the visits of Audrey Hepburn as highlights of UNUCEF advocacy and substantial aid to Ethiopia and to Africa in general. Truly monumental times they were.
2 days ago
What a lovely humane story ! Thank you Viviane for sharing. It speaks loudly for the neglected potential of under-privilaged young people in many parts of the Global South. These youngsters certainly hit the jackpot with their fashion show and its ingenuity of using discarded clothing. The emphasis on bright red was simply ECLATANT !
2 days ago
I agree with Kul, Peter's address is one for the records, a historical event that should be required reading for all current ...and former...UNICEF staff. I remember the speech as I was then winding down my UNICEF career, helping direct the Booz-Allen management review, but had also been accepted for an emigrant landing in Canada upon retirement. Our dear friend and colleague Wah Wong was the President of the Canadian NatCom while Harry Black was the executive Director. Wah had asked me if I would serve on the NatCom Board in charge of the programme section which I was looking forward to as soon as we moved in fall 1995. I felt very proud of the work of the Nat Com and Peter's speech only strengthened my enthusiasm.
Unknown commented on "Missing You - Ms. Doris Salah, RIP (Sister of Rima Salah)"
Nov 27, 2024
Dear Rima, sending you and yours condolences on the loss of your dear sister. God bless. Jim Mayrides
Nov 26, 2024
Dear Rima,
I am saddened at this news. Doris is on her way to her desired destination, I know in my heart. May she rest in peace.
And for you, I pray for courage. I understand your pain– I have also tasted loss. Time doesn't heal––the heart carries the grief and continues . . . but at some point one learns to manage and live with it. One day, it will happen. Please take care of yourself. Sending you warm hugs.
I am saddened at this news. Doris is on her way to her desired destination, I know in my heart. May she rest in peace.
And for you, I pray for courage. I understand your pain– I have also tasted loss. Time doesn't heal––the heart carries the grief and continues . . . but at some point one learns to manage and live with it. One day, it will happen. Please take care of yourself. Sending you warm hugs.
Unknown commented on "Missing You - Ms. Doris Salah, RIP (Sister of Rima Salah)"
Nov 26, 2024
A sister is such a blessing……She was devoted to our work for human rights and social justice. An inspiration to us all. She will be fondly remembered and deeply missed.
Kimberly
Kimberly
Rohini De Silva commented on "Missing You - Ms. Doris Salah, RIP (Sister of Rima Salah)"
Nov 26, 2024
Dear Rima, so sorry to hear of Doris passing. She was such a kind person and I loved listening to her stories of her work. She hosted us when we visited on your behalf with tea and cookies till you arrived back from your meetings. She will be with the angels. Our sympathies to you and family. Much love Rohini and Luke
Nov 26, 2024
Sincere condolences dear Rima! Arms around you!
Nov 26, 2024
Dear Rima,
I am so very sorry to learn the sad news about Doris. She was a wonderful person and a committed humanitarian who left a very positive mark on the world. Please accept my deepest condolences to you and your family.
With warm regards,
Cheryl
I am so very sorry to learn the sad news about Doris. She was a wonderful person and a committed humanitarian who left a very positive mark on the world. Please accept my deepest condolences to you and your family.
With warm regards,
Cheryl
Saad and Hoda Houry commented on "Missing You - Ms. Doris Salah, RIP (Sister of Rima Salah)"
Nov 26, 2024
Dearest Rima,
We don't know what to say. We had just finished our thanksgiving message to you and Doris when we read that Doris had left us. We cannot imagine the depth of your sorrow and wish we had words to comfort you. Doris was your sister and, through you, she became ours too. As they say in French, she was "a force tranquille". A sweet but ferocious fighter of injustice.
She will be very much missed. May her soul rest in eternal peace. You, Gisèle and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerest condolences, Saad and Hoda
We don't know what to say. We had just finished our thanksgiving message to you and Doris when we read that Doris had left us. We cannot imagine the depth of your sorrow and wish we had words to comfort you. Doris was your sister and, through you, she became ours too. As they say in French, she was "a force tranquille". A sweet but ferocious fighter of injustice.
She will be very much missed. May her soul rest in eternal peace. You, Gisèle and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Sincerest condolences, Saad and Hoda
Fritz Lherisson commented on "Missing You - Ms. Doris Salah, RIP (Sister of Rima Salah)"
Nov 25, 2024
Chere Rima
C'est avec tristesse que j'ai appris la mort de ta soeur Doris. Certes ce depart represente une lourde perte pour toi. Neanmoins penses que Doris a eu une belle vie personnelle et professionnelle. En temoigne cet hommage de la YWCA. Certainement cette realite qu'elle n'est plus est assez cruelle. Mais il ne faut pas ceder. Il faut faire preuve de foi et de courage avec cette pensee qu'elle nous a precedes car un jour nous partirons aussi. Que son ame repose en paix!
Fritz Lherisson
C'est avec tristesse que j'ai appris la mort de ta soeur Doris. Certes ce depart represente une lourde perte pour toi. Neanmoins penses que Doris a eu une belle vie personnelle et professionnelle. En temoigne cet hommage de la YWCA. Certainement cette realite qu'elle n'est plus est assez cruelle. Mais il ne faut pas ceder. Il faut faire preuve de foi et de courage avec cette pensee qu'elle nous a precedes car un jour nous partirons aussi. Que son ame repose en paix!
Fritz Lherisson
Nov 25, 2024
My heartfelt condolences on the passing away of your sister Doris. Although I haven't met her but heard a lot about her. My sister in law worked as her secretary in Jerusalem in early seventies and spoke very highly of her. May her dear soul rest in eternal peace.
Mary Sidawi
Mary Sidawi
Unknown commented on "Missing You - Ms. Doris Salah, RIP (Sister of Rima Salah)"
Nov 25, 2024
Dear Rima. It is so sad to learn of the passing of Doris. A very pleasant person with skill and resilience dedicated to the service of others in Palestine under the most difficult conditions of occupation. The memory of her good works lives on. May she rest in peace in God's loving care. Thinking of you at this difficult time and recalling pleasant times with you and Doris. Hanan and Nassib join me in sending you and the family our deep condolences. Habib Hammam
In Response to a comment by Karin Sham Poo
Unknown commented on "Ruins (and a Bunker) by Horst Cerni"
Nov 25, 2024
You still have a gift, Horst. Hope you and Isabel are well.
David Wood
David Wood
In Response to a comment by Horst Max Cerni
Karin Sham Poo commented on "Missing You - Ms. Doris Salah, RIP (Sister of Rima Salah)"
Nov 25, 2024
So saddened to hear this. Stanley and I had the pleasure of meeting Doris on several occasions .Our heartfelt condolences.
Nov 25, 2024
Dear Rima, a big hug! Viva Palestina!
Unknown commented on "Missing You - Ms. Doris Salah, RIP (Sister of Rima Salah)"
Nov 25, 2024
Dear Rima Salah,
Our sincere sympathies for you and your family ‘s irreparable loss. We can imagine that it closes an era of glorious chapter of love and friendship between sisters . We have the fond memories of your and sister’s hospitality at your NY apartment and had a genuine glimpse of sister’s love that beats in unison. May God grant you sabr and fortitude to cope with grief.
Naseem ur Rehman & Tazeen
Our sincere sympathies for you and your family ‘s irreparable loss. We can imagine that it closes an era of glorious chapter of love and friendship between sisters . We have the fond memories of your and sister’s hospitality at your NY apartment and had a genuine glimpse of sister’s love that beats in unison. May God grant you sabr and fortitude to cope with grief.
Naseem ur Rehman & Tazeen
Horst Max Cerni commented on "Ruins (and a Bunker) by Horst Cerni"
Nov 24, 2024
Thank you all for your kind comments. I was hoping my story would be of interest, because for me it was like travelling back in time. No, I haven't been back recently and the Green Bunker was only inaugurated this past June 2024. I am delighted that Bill wants to visit St.Nikolai. It is an amazingly moving place, plus an interesting neighborhood. And Fouad's experience with the Beatles is priceless. The bunker, by the way, is in St.Pauli. Yes, Hamburg is worth a visit.
Nov 24, 2024
Soit ! Comme la plus part de nos 1000 + membres ne vous connaiissent pas, un petit Bio serait un bon debut.eg. carriere a UNICEF, postes , pays, dates clefs etc. On a hate de vous lire !
Fouad Kronfol commented on "Early onset amnesia - Ken Gibbs"
Nov 24, 2024
The "simpler" the technical innovations get, the more complicated become the producers' instruction manuals whether written or on-line. It is clear that those who write them already know how to use the gizmos, but their language is other-wordly for the average Shmo !
Unknown commented on "Missing You - Ms. Doris Salah, RIP (Sister of Rima Salah)"
Nov 24, 2024
May your dear sister Rest in Power anong the stars, Dear Rima. Sorry for your loss. A big hug to you.
Gulbadan
Gulbadan
Unknown commented on "Ruins (and a Bunker) by Horst Cerni"
Nov 24, 2024
Amazing photography! Thank you for sharing them and thank you for your educational description. With gratitude. Gulbadan
Nov 24, 2024
World Children's Day came and went,
Meanwhile every humanitarian law is being bent,
Children's lives seem not worth a cent.
All civil society's pleas dont make a dent.
But we must celebrate this special event,
Cause our collective support has lent
Weight to lofty principles and meant,
A strong message is being sent
To global leaders, "more effort should be spent
On helping children as our foremost intent".
Meanwhile every humanitarian law is being bent,
Children's lives seem not worth a cent.
All civil society's pleas dont make a dent.
But we must celebrate this special event,
Cause our collective support has lent
Weight to lofty principles and meant,
A strong message is being sent
To global leaders, "more effort should be spent
On helping children as our foremost intent".
Unknown commented on "Missing You - Ms. Doris Salah, RIP (Sister of Rima Salah)"
Nov 24, 2024
رحم الله دوريس. اصدق العزاء عزيزتي ريما
يوسف عبد الجليل
يوسف عبد الجليل
Nov 24, 2024
We actually celebrated a number of events; the coming together of Toronto and Montreal of XUNICEF colleagues; the 20th being Universal Children's Day; the fact that we ate at a restaurant appropriately called "Enfants Terribles"; and last but not least, the fact that Fritz and I had 60 years of professional and personal friendship, having first met in Beirut in 1964.
Nov 24, 2024
Dear Rima, Allah Yerhamha ! She was really an outstanding personage and Nadia and I vividly remember the very pleasant evening we spent with both of you at your Dag Hammarsjkold apartment. We also cannot forget the delicious Palestinian cooking that she was famous for, of which we partook and enjoyed. Her pleasant and open personality endeared her to us even if it was that one time.
May She Rest in Peace.
May She Rest in Peace.
Fouad Kronfol commented on "Ruins (and a Bunker) by Horst Cerni"
Nov 24, 2024
Agree with all the laudable remarks on this article. But my own experience with Hamburg took another track. In 1960 on my first solo trip to Europe I spent a few days in Hamburg. There I teamed up with a nice German who wanted to show me the town. Our foray took us to St. Pauli or the Raperbaun for some bar-hopping. One place that looked like a cheap dive attracted us and we returned to it a couple of times. The reason was a group from the UK who were making a new kind of "sound" that was delightful. They were four mop-headed young guys from Liverpool. When I continued to London later I kept reading the British tabloids about the extraordinary success of the foursome called the Beatles...It was then that I learned who it was I had enjoyed in Hamburg those unforgetable nights. I keep telling friends that it is I who discovered the Beatles !!
Tom McDermott commented on "Ruins (and a Bunker) by Horst Cerni"
Nov 24, 2024
Incredibly powerful message! Thanks for posting.
In Response to a comment by Detlef Palm
Detlef Palm commented on "Ruins (and a Bunker) by Horst Cerni"
Nov 24, 2024
There is new music video, by UNICEF Germany and sung by children in English, of an old (1981) song by German Rockstar Udo Lindenberg What is War For. In the video, the “Green Bunker” and footage from Gaza and elsewhere is shown.
Unknown commented on "Missing You - Ms. Doris Salah, RIP (Sister of Rima Salah)"
Nov 24, 2024
Rest in Peace Doris
Franziska von Vietinghoff commented on "Ruins (and a Bunker) by Horst Cerni"
Nov 24, 2024
Dear Horst, your sensitive text on Hamburg moved me deeply. Memories of other texts surfaced, like related ones penned by my father (1900-1971, of Baltic-Latvian origin) on Lübeck, Berlin, and Dresden (we lived close-by). Thank you again. Franziska
Nov 24, 2024
Excellent analysis. Depressing though
Unknown commented on "Ruins (and a Bunker) by Horst Cerni"
Nov 24, 2024
Horst, What a wonderful collection of photos. I found your comments about living in Hamburg, quite moving. What a terrible experience for a young person.
Now I would like to travel to Hamburg to see the green bunker. Fascinating.
B Hetzer
Now I would like to travel to Hamburg to see the green bunker. Fascinating.
B Hetzer
Sree gururaja commented on "Ruins (and a Bunker) by Horst Cerni"
Nov 24, 2024
Thank you Horst-
The pictures and the story are most illuminating and sad that such memorials do not stop wars . Sree
The pictures and the story are most illuminating and sad that such memorials do not stop wars . Sree
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Dear Rima Saddened to hear about your sister, may her soul rest in eternal peace.
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