25th May: Africa Day
25th May is Africa Day, commemorating the date when the Organization of African Unity was set up in 1963. In July 2002, this organization was replaced by the African Union. 44 years on, what is the significance of Africa Day? Is it just another day, just another cause for the rich and powerful who use Africa to feather their own nests to make another pretty buck or has something actually been achieved?
Venezuela giving Danny Glover $18m to direct film on Toussaint Louverture led slave revolt
· Chávez hopes venture will aid anti-imperialist fight
· Actor wants to educate US on Toussaint Louverture
Venezuela is to give the American actor Danny Glover almost $18m (£9m) to make a film about a slave uprising in Haiti, with President Hugo Chávez hoping the historical epic will sprinkle Hollywood stardust on his effort to mobilise world public opinion against imperialism and western oppression.
The Venezuelan congress said it would use the proceeds from a recent bond sale with Argentina to finance Glover’s biopic of Toussaint Louverture, an iconic figure in the Caribbean who led an 18th-century revolt in Haiti.
The Wise Teachings of Marcus Garvey
Edited by Jahdey
On Inspiration
• What you do to-day that is worthwhile, inspires others to act at some future time.
On National Pride
• There is nothing in the world common to man, that man cannot do.
• Be as proud of your race today as our fathers were in days of yore. We have beautiful history, and we shall create another in the future that will astonish the world.
Nigerian Satellite launched by China
Afro-Chinese Cooperation
The official Xinhua news agency says it is the first time that a foreign buyer has purchased both a Chinese satellite and its launching service.
The Nigerian Communication Satellite NIGCOMSAT-1 is expected to offer broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband internet services for Africa.
China beat 21 other bidders for the $311m contract to launch the satellite in 2004, Xinhua says.
The satellite, launched by a Long March 3-B rocket, is expected to reach its final position later this year and to remain in operation for 15 years.
The Black Stone, the Black Tribe of Koreysh, Black Prophet Mohammed
The Kaaba - the Black Stone
The Kaaba was a pagan shrine of great antiquity which housed the black stone, a meteorite that was probably brought by the Kushitic Black Arabs from Kushitic Ethiopia where such worship was routine. Pagan rites were routinely performed at the Kaaba in Mecca.
Richard King stated in his book, “Melanin: A Key to freedom” on the issue of the Kaaba stone:
Cannabis Vapourizer and Benefits:
Users of marijuana (also called cannabis) who vaporize the drug have fewer lung symptoms than those who smoke it, researchers report.
Based on his research, Dr. Mitch Earleywine said: “The argument that the medical use of cannabis is inappropriate because of its potential to create (lung) problems is now clearly invalid. Regular users of joints, blunts, pipes, and water pipes might decrease respiratory symptoms by switching to a vaporizer.”
Earleywine, of the State University of New York, Albany and colleagues note that marijuana smoking can lead to respiratory trouble. However, vaporizers heat cannabis to release the psychoactive ingredients, but remain cool enough to avoid the smoke and toxins associated with combustion.
Cannabis Depression and Pyschosis
According to Diodorus Siculus (the Sicilian Greek historian who lived from 90 to 21 BC) Egyptian (Khemitic) women used cannabis “as a medicine to relieve sorrow and bad humour.”
In the 20th century courtesy of US law enforcement propaganda, cannabis was unjustifiably associated around the world with the causes of psychosis. This baseless belief still surreptitiously finds its way into current social and scientific discourse.
A new study has just demonstrated that one of the chemical compounds in cannabis - cannabidiol (CBD) - has the potential to cure psychotic symptoms, and could form the basis of new treatments.
Starbucks strikes Ethiopia deal
Starbucks and the Ethiopian government have reached an agreement which could help end a dispute over trademarks.
The two sides agreed in principle to sign a licensing and marketing deal which recognises the importance of Ethiopia’s speciality coffee beans.
Cultivation of the coffee bean first began in Ethiopia, and the country has been seeking to trademark its best-known coffee beans.
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‘Positive change’
Ethiopia hopes to substantially lift the income of its coffee farmers through the trademarking plan.
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Oxfam welcomed news of the licensing agreement between Ethiopia and Starbucks, adding it could add momentum to the country’s trademarking project.