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| Monica Mucheru |
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| Monica Mucheru discusses various forms of violence and social issues in Kenya |
SNairobi-based physician and International Physicians
for Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) peace advocate, Monica Mucheru,
talked to Peace Boat participants about 'the other side of Kenya'-the
side that doesn't make mention of safaris and wildlife. Monica explained
the various forms of violence and terrorism in Kenya, and used her
experience as a doctor to illustrate the consequent health and social
issues that arise. For instance, beside the recent cases of international
terrorism including the 2002 anti-Israeli terrorist bombing at the
Mombasa Paradise Hotel and the 1998 Nairobi bomb blast of the US Embassy,
Monica highlighted the ongoing incidents of violence such as cattle-rustling,
gang violence, election violence and domestic violence. Endemic problems
of poverty, corruption and the subjugation of women, among other things,
are closely related to the emergence and existence of such violence.
Many Kenyan people struggle to make ends meet, and so the cost of
treating a victim of assault, even in the public health care system,
is unfeasible without assistance. The impact of Monica's lecture was
considerable, and left some people who perhaps were hearing such information
for the first time, somewhat astonished. It also helped participants
better understand the practical realities of living in a society without
a functional social welfare system, but with systemic problems of
social violence. |
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| Quiz game - Rod Harbinson |
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| A food production slide from Rod Harbinson's Food and Farming Quiz game |
An interactive quiz game, called 'Do you really know what you're eating?' organised by our international environmental connoisseur, Rod, drew a room full of Peace Boat participants. Questions included
"How many kilograms of vegetable protein does it take to grow 1kg of beef?" (8kg)
"What crop is the fastest increasing in land area today? (soya) and what is it actually used for?" (animal feed).
"What vegetable was thought to be poisonous 100 years ago but is now the world number one best seller?" (tomato)
The highest scorer from the participants, who won a basket of fruit, was one individual who claimed that through his own illness, he had become very interested in food and food production. On the whole, it is fair to say that most of us don't really think twice before feeding our faces however, Rod's nourishing lecture was highly informative and provided much food for thought!
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| African dancing - John Orwa and Peter Nzense |
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| Peter Orwa and his Jambo Dancers in full flight |
Sweating it out under the beating sun on the rear deck is a tribe of animated dancers. Half-warrior, half-entertainer, their numbers grow as each day passes. Led by their fearless leader Peter from Kenya, and looked over by tribal elder John, the clan of men and women jump and shake, shout and chant as they thrust their imaginary spears into the air and pull menacing faces. The rhythm of Africa reverberates as Peter pounds his drum and cries out in Swahili. It doesn't matter that the tribe is actually wearing denim shorts or floral dresses, or that they don't exactly know the meaning of what they're singing. You see, it's all about having fun and learning something different. The hours of practising culminates in the New Year's Eve performance by the vibrant 'Jambo Dancers'. It is a spectacle of body-paint and warrior-esque costumes, replete with cardboard shields, bare feet and loincloths. The audience are taken aback-literally-by the mock-fierce expressions of the warrior troupe as they jump to the beat. It is yet to be seen whether these impressive moves will be replicated on the dance floors of Tokyo clubs in 2003 once Peace Boat returns to Japan, but get your imaginary spear ready!
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| Peace Boat's
40th Voyage index |
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PEACE BOAT is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. |
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