10 places where child labor is most prevalent

A new report by risk analysis firm Maplecroft, which ranks 197 countries, identifies Eritrea, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Yemen as the 10 places where child labor is most prevalent.

Countries with high poverty rates fare badly in the index due to the need for children to supplement their family income, the report said, but economically important countries like China, India, Russia and Brazil were also found to have extreme risks because child labor laws are often poorly enforced.

Ref: world/child-labor-index-2014

"I felt trapped, scared, used and frustrated", testified Mickey Rooney

 Many seniors around the world are being abused: harmed in some substantial way often by people who are directly responsible for their care.

At her son's request, an older woman sold her property, gave her son the profits, and moved into a 'granny annex' attached to his house. After a year though, the son said they could no longer afford the house and moved to a smaller one with no space for his mother, so she ended up living in their dining room. Eight months later, the son said the house was too crowded and contacted social services to discuss putting her into a residential home.

The woman contacted the Citizens Advice Bureau for advice. As a result, a solicitor wrote to the son about the situation. The son then agreed to give his mother a lump sum which meant that she was able to move out of his home and into sheltered housing.

In another case, a carer was hired to provide 24-hour care for an older man. A concerned neighbour called on the man and found him thin and dirty and without any food in the house. He told the neighbour that the carer had a full-time job elsewhere. Social services was contacted and a full adult protection investigation was undertaken

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-375581/Elder-abuse-case-

Self-neglect, which occurs when the elderly fail to follow medical advice or otherwise care of themselves, is a leader in  elder abuse. Financial abuse, when younger family members misuse the elderly person's assets, follows closely.

And abuse has consequences that reach beyond an assault on the quality of life of the elderly: Studies suggest that older people who have been abused tend to die earlier than those who have not been, even in the absence of chronic or life-threatening illness, according to the American Psychological Association.

Even Mickey Rooney, now 94, was a victim of alleged elder abuse.  "I felt trapped, scared, used and frustrated," testified Rooney, who also said he and his (ninth) wife Jan were made to go hungry, he had medicine withheld from him and that his Oscar was even sold off. "But above all, when a man feels helpless, it's terrible," said the screen legend.  Read more at "I felt trapped, scared, used and frustrated," testified Rooney

Home is where the heart is

His part time activity

Since about 16 years old Farouk  had made many advertisements for the tv and print media.  This is the latest and also the only one I had managed to  get a picture of.

A first post from my phone

First time I post from the phone.

Children in slavery!

Despite the fact that many people believe that slavery no longer exists, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that there are some 8.4 million children in slavery or practices similar to slavery (ILO,2002).

They are all in child slavery, as defined by the 1956 UN Supplementary Slavery Convention.  In these cases, as well as being in a hazardous situation, there is an intention to exploit these children for someone else’s gain. This group of children includes:

• Children who are used by others who profit from them, often through violence, abuse and threats, in prostitution or pornography , illicit activities, such as forced begging, petty theft, and the drug trade;
• Forced child labour, for example in agriculture, factories, construction, brick kilns, mines, bars, restaurants or tourists environment
• Children who are forced to take part in armed conflict. They don't only include child soldiers but also porters or girls taken as “wives” for soldiers and militia members. There are about 300,000 child soldiers involved in over 30 areas of conflict worldwide, some even younger than 10 years old. Children involved in conflict are severely affected by their experiences and can suffer from long-term trauma.
• Child domestic workers, many of whom are forced to work long hours, in hazardous and often abusive environments, for little or no pay, and often far from home

Source: child_labour

A Story part 5 - I now release you!

...continued from,
a-story-part-4-the truth
a-story-part-3-tall-and-white-apparition
A story-part-2-the forgiveness
a-story-part-1-the shock

It was nearly morning but still dark.  She took a bath, changed her clothes, waiting for what was to come next.  At that point of time she was still thinking of saving the marriage.  She decided to appeal to him to put the children’s interests first.   Yes, that’s what she will do and surely he would put the children’s interests above all else, she reasoned to herself. 

She decided to talk to him before the children woke up.  So she called him up an invited him to go downstairs with her.  By then, it was about 6 am.

She asked him whether he intended to marry Dr J and whether that was the real reason why he wrote the 10-page letter to her.  His reply was, "Dr J?  What has she to do with this? What are you talking about?  Who told you this lie?  I just want a divorce because I don't think you can really forgive me after my confessions of infidelity in my letter".

At this point, she took out the letter Dr J wrote to him and the photo of both of them together.  He snatched the letter from her.  She then took out the Koran that she had got ready and asked him to swear on the Koran.  Then, at last, he confessed.  "Yes, I want to marry Dr J.  All my love for you has been transferred to her.  I now release you".

Let's wait and see how A Story (Part 6) goes, when I get the inspiration again...

For 2014, I have some new Year Resolutions!

1. Follow my religious obligations - I had not always stayed on top of that last year, but I’m resolving to do so this year.

2. Exercise, maintain a healthy weight, get in better health - I had joined a gym a year ago but had not been regular.  I am resolving to do so this year.

3. Work on my domestic skills - In the past year I often had trouble staying organized and on top of housework.  I am resolving to do better this year.

4.  Give my children meaningful support - in the past year I feel I had not been giving effective support to my children.  I know this will be my hardest resolution.  I have to seriously think of how I can do much better. 

I took this selfy to mark the new year before I started on my regular morning walk this morning. 



Happy New Year to all!