Monday 17th of October 2008
I have to apologize for not adding any new contributions for a long time now. The latest three weeks I have been very busy. I name this one for “Loco times in Kurdistan”, though I really do not mean it entirely. We are leaving Kurdistan on Thursday night to Friday, and have to admit that I am not that glad for it. We all have obligations in our lives, and as H. says; “there is a difference between need and want. There are things that need to be done, and they may differ from what we want to do”.
Our coordinators from Norway came for two weeks ago and stayed here for some days. Before ending their trip, after visiting some organizations, we all came to reach the same conclusions; this country has a long way to go though it has developed substantially the latest years. Somehow no matter how tall the buildings become, and how beautiful the city develops, it does not really matter. The difficulties lie in the programming and building of the most important institutions like proper health and school system. This year about 21 000 high school graduates were not admitted to any higher education or any other educational institutions; this means that we have about 21 000 youth hanging around in the Kurdistan area without anything important to do, without any mission of the year. I wonder how many of them will try to flee the country? This is caused by many reasons. When there was peace in south Iraq, lots of students were admitted to the universities in there; now the total pressure is on the Kurdistan area. Secondly, lack of universities (buildings, classrooms, lecture halls etc.) compared to the ratio of students is another one. The student/teacher ratio is third reason. And these are just a few among many.
Last week for the first time in my life I a met a person who had tried to commit suicide by putting herself on fire. During the interview, one of the bobbles (damage caused by the fire), burst and body fluids run from her fingertips. She was shivering and did her very best to focus and concentrate to be able to answer our questions. And I will never forget her eyes; wide open eagle eyes. I hope she will be alright throughout her life.
I also went to the “mazat xanai sarawa” (for those of you who know where that is). The human rights monitoring group found several children who all had quit school to provide income for their families by selling pornographic DVDs.
And now for the finali; we experienced an explosion in Suleimanya today. It was close to the main street, Salim Street (jadai swholaka) near by the buildings of the political party, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. The news said that it was caused by gas explosions in the underground sewage system; one man injured, 4 cars destroyed and the street was divided into two parts for about 200 meters. I was standing about 150 meters away from the place of “accident”; It felt like an earth quick. People gathered to help, hundreds of police men, security police and fire trucks arrived. It was chaotic.
My final comments are that I do not believe in that the explosion was caused by gas. Why then close to the buildings of one of the main political parties? Without making a final decision rather it was or not a planned terrorist attack, still my assumption is that it was planned by terrorists.
The last contribution to this blog will be given from Norway.
LOCO C...
onsdag 19. november 2008
mandag 17. november 2008
søndag 26. oktober 2008
Invalid space for women
A contributon to H`s ------HARD TIMES
As I entered Cwar Cra Hotel in Hewler (Erbil), I couldn’t stop receiving a vibe of staring eyes towards my friend and I. Two unmarried girls, entering this Hotel, 8 pm local Kurdistani time, was an unknown phenomena for the staff and the other man guests in the lobby. Miss, do you want to eat? No, kaka, we are here just because of work. We are expecting someone to arrive. Those whom I was expecting informed me that because of some difficulties in Koye they would be approximately an hour late. The receptionist couldn’t stop staring, and somehow, I understood that he was putting a question mark on our appearance in the lobby. Why are these girls sitting here alone? Why are they not being accompanied by a male guest, or any other form of leading role? At the end, he couldn’t help himself any longer, he pointed at me, ordering me to approach the desk. Every single person in the lobby followed my steps towards him. What is going on?
To chi akai lera? What are you doing here? Why are you here? Who are you expecting? Who are you? ETC....
At the end of a long and difficult conversation, I asked him if he was finished with the investigation and if I would help him any further. No, thanks, go and sit. We know the owner of the Hotel, and we spoke with him. He was begging for forgiveness, and was deeply apologizing. As if it could ever heal my bleeding heart. Is he apologizing of behalf of most of the men sitting in the lobby staring at us too? Is he apologizing on behalf of most of the staff? Is he apologizing on behalf of the way we (some of us- not to generalize) bring up our children to believe that the fittest space for women to act in is the private one?
Invalid space for independent women who are trying to work (and not the kind of work he was aiming at), but an honest job for the contribution and the purpose of developing Kurdistan. I am just glad that one of the staff members at the Hotel came to us after this receptionist had this very nerve breaking investigation with me. Why do you girls look so sad? Because of that mister in the desk. Miss, I saw what he did. He had no right to. He did not ask any of the other guests why they were there. It is not his right to ask about such things. You should complain to the owner, it is your right. ...........
I remember from previous contributions that I put empasis on the importance of breaking cultural codes or at least pushing some of the limits, so people can get used to other point of views. In this moment, it just seemd useless. The other staff memeber was the light in my darknes.. I thank ypu!
Invalid C...
As I entered Cwar Cra Hotel in Hewler (Erbil), I couldn’t stop receiving a vibe of staring eyes towards my friend and I. Two unmarried girls, entering this Hotel, 8 pm local Kurdistani time, was an unknown phenomena for the staff and the other man guests in the lobby. Miss, do you want to eat? No, kaka, we are here just because of work. We are expecting someone to arrive. Those whom I was expecting informed me that because of some difficulties in Koye they would be approximately an hour late. The receptionist couldn’t stop staring, and somehow, I understood that he was putting a question mark on our appearance in the lobby. Why are these girls sitting here alone? Why are they not being accompanied by a male guest, or any other form of leading role? At the end, he couldn’t help himself any longer, he pointed at me, ordering me to approach the desk. Every single person in the lobby followed my steps towards him. What is going on?
To chi akai lera? What are you doing here? Why are you here? Who are you expecting? Who are you? ETC....
At the end of a long and difficult conversation, I asked him if he was finished with the investigation and if I would help him any further. No, thanks, go and sit. We know the owner of the Hotel, and we spoke with him. He was begging for forgiveness, and was deeply apologizing. As if it could ever heal my bleeding heart. Is he apologizing of behalf of most of the men sitting in the lobby staring at us too? Is he apologizing on behalf of most of the staff? Is he apologizing on behalf of the way we (some of us- not to generalize) bring up our children to believe that the fittest space for women to act in is the private one?
Invalid space for independent women who are trying to work (and not the kind of work he was aiming at), but an honest job for the contribution and the purpose of developing Kurdistan. I am just glad that one of the staff members at the Hotel came to us after this receptionist had this very nerve breaking investigation with me. Why do you girls look so sad? Because of that mister in the desk. Miss, I saw what he did. He had no right to. He did not ask any of the other guests why they were there. It is not his right to ask about such things. You should complain to the owner, it is your right. ...........
I remember from previous contributions that I put empasis on the importance of breaking cultural codes or at least pushing some of the limits, so people can get used to other point of views. In this moment, it just seemd useless. The other staff memeber was the light in my darknes.. I thank ypu!
Invalid C...
mandag 20. oktober 2008
Hard times
Last week was definetly one of the hardest weeks in Kurdistan. It's not the lack of electricity, lack of water or anything material. I could survive in a tent! (Yes I can,I've found that out)
It's the things you don't think about when you've grown up in Europe. The fact that you can pack up and go for a long walk,and no one would care. The fact that you can be a single woman and sit in a cafe with your laptop, and the waiter wouldn't approach you as if you were a prostitute. These are all things I cherish about "The West"!
The week in Duhok showed me just how hostile some people are to change. It's not the new generation, they thrive when being informed and taught about democracy and human rights.
It's the few parasites that still want to control the situation and wipe out any form of development. These voices were heard throughout our trip last week.
At a workshop where our participants were university students a few unwelcome guests made their views about "us westerners" quite heard. It's too complicated to fully go into,but it's a lose lose situation when it comes to reaching out to some here in Kurdistan.
When having nothing left to criticize, one of these "elders" attacked me for not speaking too good in Kurdish. The students (who the workshop was really for) corrected this man and told him that my Kurdish was flawless! Take that,you mean mean man!
If you try to show them that the West also has miscalculated things,and that looking up to them is sometimes dangerous, they criticize you for not knowing enough about Kurdistan. If you then tell them that some issues from the Western thinking should be implemented you are accused of being an orientalist.
Well well, I guess this was a wake up call.
/H
søndag 19. oktober 2008
Wedensday Oct. 9th
Workshop for the WCDI (Women can do it), a project designed to encourage women to participate in local politics and politics in general.
The week long course consisted of lectures in economy, politics and women's rights.
The last day of the course C and I were invited to hold a 4 hour workshop for them. I had a little presentation about the philosophical views of the 18th century Europe and countered them with a little bit of de Beauvoir.
Then we had a few games, just to see how they viewed women in the public sphere. All in all it was a good day. Needless to say, the participants were all women.
/H
mandag 6. oktober 2008
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