Blogs

ROBBEN ISLAND

Thu, 01/25/2007 - 18:57

Few places in the world symbolise the struggle for freedom against oppression of basic human rights, as Robben Island does. Many of the leading members of South African political parties and business sector were incarcerated there from 1964 to 1991, including Nelson Mandela. To go to this Island is still an experience of immense power. It is a cold, damp, and lonely island. No source of fresh water and barely any trees or plants. Very little communication could be achieved between the outside world and the inhabitants of Robben Island. The waters surrounding were famous for its stormy and icy conditions where many Great White sharks swam. The stormy weather conditions characteristic to the southern tip of Africa became known as the Cape Of Storms.  Today, former gaurds are our tour guides, taking us through the prison and its grounds, walking us through the history of apartheid.

Feathers of Peace

Sat, 01/13/2007 - 04:07


The symbol of Parihaka, where I am now, is three white feathers - albatross feathers. During the time of the peace village here, back in the 1800s, an albatross landed, which they never do (they are deep sea birds) in the middle of the village, then flew away, leaving behind three feathers. The prophet of the people here, Tawhiti, decided it was a powerful omen, like the dove in noah's ark that went out to find land - a symbol of hope.

 

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The feathers of peace

 

World Social Forum - Arriving in Nairobi

Wed, 01/10/2007 - 21:14
If this is Monday we must be in Africa. You can tell immediately by the good humoured customs officers. The man in front of us is asking for a six months visa, claiming to be a tourist.

"Six months, as a tourist? In Kenya? C'mon - a tourist only stays for two weeks." The man behind the desks chuckles and stamps the Visa, "oh well, come on in..."

Africa! The much maligned, misunderstood, mis-represented land. I look forward to having the one-dimensional image of a starving child covered in flies as the everything of Africa demolished. I know there's more - much much more.

After hours of odd diversions and seemingly unnecessary complications that involve about seven different people, we finally end up at our "homestay", a large two story concrete house with a friendly family that welcomes us in. It turns out we're just a short walk from the Sports Complex where the World Social Forum will be held.

 

Village of Peace

Wed, 01/10/2007 - 00:12
We arrive at the airport in Aeroteroa (New Zealand), exhausted from two days in a plane, traveling from Canada, via Hong Kong. No doubt we look as bad as we feel. Waiting for us at the airport is the Maori healer, Mahinekura Reinfelds, a stocky woman in her fifties, with grey hair pulled back in a bun, chin and lips adorned with an elaborate Moku - a blue tinted tattoo of swirling patterns.

In her hair are three white albatross feathers, the symbol of Parihaka, the village of peace to which she belongs. Mahinekura greets us with warm hugs, and we follow her back to her healing center, where we are greeted with an honouring ritual of song and speeches.

In the Maori tradition, speech making is always followed by a song, and so, after our speech of respect and appreciation for the welcome we are given, we do our best to sing a song, no match for the beautiful voices of the Maori. We pick a Starhawk chant - ‘Air my breath and fire my spirit, earth my body, water my blood.' Afterwards, they treat our tired bodies to a healing massage.

Mahinekura takes us back to her house, an hours drive down the coast. On the way we stop on the tribal boundaries, and walk to the ocean where she performs another blessing ceremony for us, singing in her beautiful voice as we walk bare footed to the ocean, to splash some water on our faces. We have truly arrived.

After a few hours sleep, we awake to a barbecue, with a number of the elders of the community. We are being gifted with the full Maori welcome, a sacred tradition that is well maintained.

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