Borrowed from this post: 45 most powerful images of 2012 off Buzzfeed. Some of them really really moved me. Ok, I cried a little. Whatever. Others are just pure awesome. Serious props to the photographers. Boy being evicted from his home in Kathmandu, Nepal by Stringer/Reuters Two women from Maryland getting engaged on election night by Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Palestiniane girl vs
I write to you while breakfastin' in the shadows of the Himalayas. Basically, you know, winning hard. I am at a month long training course on gender, human rights, sustainable livelihoods etc. and learning tons in the process, thanks to some very interesting resource persons and participants. I wish I had time to pen down all my reflections, but we work basically from 6am to 10pm so there's
All it took was one conversation over one bottle of wine; two hours with two people I hadn't realised how much I missed, to know that there is nothing left for me here. The balance has shifted; there is now here. I have one year to put in the work until I can start the next chapter, and for the first time in a long time, I am looking forward to the future. 2014. I await you.
Today I cried. A woman lies cold in a hospital bed, her body torn apart by crazed men; a woman who just wanted to live. Today we cried because one of us has died. And we cry for the thousands who die everyday, alone, in fear, in agony, at the hands of men who place little value on life, love, the beauty of a smile, the sanctity of a woman's body. ...
The primary reason for this post are the photographs below, taken at a vegetable stall in Attidiya, but I'll tie it into other veggie related thoughts in a minute. Aren't they gorgeous? Everything about the colour and presentation made me go a little bit nuts, right down to the old school wattiya that you select your veggies in to. Colombo supermarkets could learn a thing or two from these
Your chilling quote for the day: I have heard… that people may become dependent on us for food. I know this is not supposed to be good news. To me that was good news, because before people can do anything they have got to eat. And if you are looking for a way to get people to lean on you and to be dependent on you, in terms of their cooperation with you, it seems to me that food
The last one of the year folks! Details above, line up below: Kei Dave Shaafo Dilini Sankha Thushini Roshan Kavya Cynosure Team Melo Entrance by donation, as always, but also bring a book to donate to Needy Readers. RSVP here, see you there.
If I get nothing else out of these few weeks in Nepal, it would still have been worth it, to have been in the company of these wonderful and inspiring ladies who are doing so much to make the world a better place for women. L-R Rukmini Rao, Anis Haroon, Mona Sherpa, Sunila Abeysekera, Kamla Bhasin, Khushi Kabir, Anuradha Kapoor, Shahbano Aliani, Suneeta Dhar
Annasi and Kadalagotu Poetry P'lau is happening again this Saturday at Hansa café, 2-6pm. I attended the last one held in June, and was pleasantly surprised at the turnout and calibre of poetry presented. The location is not ideal for a crowd larger than maybe 15, and the setup is such that late comers feel very very awkward, walking into the midst of a poetry circle, but there are enough
via Writing about Lance Armstrong's doping scandal while the Australian Open radio stream is playing in my ear is particularly ironic. It was a warm winter day in sunny Palo Alto 5 years ago that I first began watching tennis. The match: Djokovic vs Federer; the tournement: why, the Australian Open. I watched that semifinal with a close friend who is a die hard Federer fan and, to be
See you there. And if you can't join us in Sri Lanka, find an event near you. If you know of any other events that are happening for OBR, email them in to obrsrilanka[at]gmail[dot]com
My good friend and partner in feminist crimes Sachini Perera is having a photography exhibition of her work at live music gigs. Go check it out; it promises to be a stunner. More information on her facebook page and events page.
The OBR- Sri Lanka campaign will be launching on Sunday, the 25th of November at Galle Face, preceded by a walk organised by Women in Need. Visit the facebook page for more details. Catch the last day of the Vintage Posters of Ceylon exhibit at Barefoot (end Nov. 24th). A truly fabulous collection of art. Spotted this poster via twitter. Looks interesting and worth a visit.
The cinematography and visuals are amazing (footage taken from here) and what struck me was the sheer, breathtaking beauty of this place we call home. The call to save it is really a call to save ourselves. The Earth will live on, evolve, adapt, thrive.. but look at everything we are destroying and what we are leaving behind. Is this our legacy?
Where to begin, where to end? It's been a hard year, and I'm glad it's over. Of course there's no guarantee that the next year will be better than the last, but well, hope springs eternal. Looking back on the year through my writing, there is so much that I've left unsaid; so many travels I couldn't write about, so many photographs I couldn't upload, ...
Team Melo released this awesome video to show their support for One Billion Rising Sri Lanka. Join them for an evening of mellow acoustic music and show your support for the cause! 16th February, 6.30pm, Warehouse Project And a really great line up to entertain you! - Julius - Ravin - Trisha - Ganga - Dan - Gehan - Bo - Thushini - Kei - Kavya - Asela - CC - N.A.M.B Check
I suppose it's a happy coincidence that Blog Action Day coincided with me preparing to write about One Billion Rising, the global campaign started by V-day. That the theme of BAD was the Power of We seems just a little too perfect, but I'm rolling with it. One in Three Women on the Planet will be Raped or Beaten in her Lifetime. This is the global statistic. But let's talk closer to home.
I have 1,137 photographs to sort through and a hectic week before I disappear to bootcamp in Nepal, so the chances of me getting around to writing an epic India adventures post are slim to none. So, here are highlights and short notes, coupled with cellphone photos, with false promises of a comprehensive photo-post to follow in the near future. ** I've been wanting to go to India