independent skies magazine sixth issue

Oct 1st 2012 | Independent Skies Magazine | 1

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2 | Independent Skies Magazine | Oct 1st 2012

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The Unknown HORIZON

The Unknown Horizon

“How green is green really”?

Propaganda, much???

By Ali Ahmad

By Iskra Duchkovska

By Almustafa M. Khalid

By Mohamed Amine Belarbi

What do we really know about Afri-can’s history?

IF YOU HAD THE MEANS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO MAKE THE WORLD A SAFER AND BETTER PLACE?

By Leo Fotsing


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The Unknown HORIZONBy Ali AhmadOver the past few years, I was blessed with the capability to travel to many countries

where I was taught something important that helped in making me the person who I am now. My aim at the beginning was to brag in front of my friends and schoolmates that I was able to go to such places, but once I actually started traveling around the world, I became

somewhat different. Fortunately, my very first trip was to Paris. As soon as I got out of the airport, I headed direct-

ly to the shanzelize street, known for its unmatched reputation and elegance. The weather that day was beautiful and the strong air current made my body and my soul shiver from

excitement. Afterwards I went to France’s most important landmark, the Eiffel tower and af-ter that the world’s most famous museum the louver. When I finished visiting all of the other

great land marks that Paris is enriched with, I came to find out that I have been doing this for all of the wrong reasons, because something so incredible and so great must be looked at with admiration and respect, especially after finding out the history behind these incred-ible land marks. My trip to Paris helped me find out many interesting historical facts and has aroused my thirst for more knowledge of history. History remains my most favorite studying

subject till this day.

My trip to Sweden on the other hand has affected me in a different way. However, just be-cause I said “different” doesn’t mean that it is a bad thing.

At the beginning, I wasn’t really sure on what to expect out of this trip, because my main reason was to visit my relatives, whom I haven’t seen in a very long time. Luckily for me, one of my cousins there was about as old as I was, so he showed me around and let me hangout with him and his friends. That was my first time to interact with foreigners so casually. That allowed me to learn about their habits and wonderful culture. I went to Sweden for a single aim and that was to visit my relatives, but I got more than I bargained for. That trip was the first of many to Sweden, because it really helped me open up to the world and made me

even more eager to interact with other cultures.

I could go on and on about my other trips to

countries like Turkey and Denmark, but out of all of my travels, these two were my very first trips

and they encouraged me to visit other countries all

around the world.

Some people think that watching Television pro-grams about other coun-tries is a replacement for

actually going there. I was one of those people, but after gaining all of that experience, I found out

that nothing can replace the real deal.


I have been considering writing blog posts for a while now and a week ago I finally made up my mind ,ironed the idea(not really), and decided I have way too many thoughts and opinions galloping through my head every time I read an article that triggers my interest. Therefore, you are reading the first blog post of many to come.First of all, a first blog post wouldn’t be a proper one without a proper introduction. Hence, my name is Iskra, pronounced „ee – s k r ah“ , I’m 17, I make the best chocolate soufflés and I have an undeniable passion for worrying too much. Also, I’m an animal person that hopes to not develop into a cat lady. There, all you need to know.Secondly, I visualized the blog as strictly environmental but knowing myself and how I don’t want to limit things I came to an agreement with myself to not to put a tag on it. Be-ing a person with a wide range of interests didn’t help either. So, I’ll do my best to cover exciting subjects from different types of matters.Still, being part of Econect I felt slightly obligated to start it off environmentally. Therefore, this week’s subject is “How green is green really? “Every day, we are bombarded with advertisements, billboards and leaflets containing the word „green“. Cleaning products that contain dangerous chemicals named „Green Works“, „Go green with (insert product name here)“, „Fly Green with (company name)“ Another lu-dicrously overused word is organic. Nowadays, people feel pressured to be more „green“ so they simply give in and buy a product simply because it says it’s „green“, „organic“ or „eco-friendly“.Personally, until not too long ago I felt good about myself when I bought a shirt that said „100% organic cotton“. But, after reading a few articles with well supported arguments I understood I was a plain victim of greenwashing. *(Disinformation disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image.)See, it is true there are no pesticides used for the shirt, it indeed is organic cotton. But,

“How green is green really”? by Iskra Duchkovska

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“Iskra has a very nice way of writing, and it is something that Indepen-dent Skies proud to publish…. Please visit the link and follow her posts”

- The Independent Skies team

http://www.global-changemakers.net/education/occupation-professional-nonprofes-sional-blogger-since-today-and-how-green-is-green-really%E2%80%9C


cotton needs plenty of water. About 2700 li-ters of water were used for a single t-shirt. In addition, the shirt is colored. To color it, you first need to bleach the cotton material with harmful chemicals such as chlorine or form-aldehyde which might end up as pollutants. Greenwashing. The simple act of promoting one or two good product qualities while hid-ing the rest behind a facade.

Greenwashing is just a tool for companies to get more profit. Buying entirely eco-friendly products is merely an illusion at the present time. So are we doing something good for the environment while buying these products?Yes and no. You are choosing the „lesser evil“. The products we buy are probably greener, but not entirely green. However, simply by putting the words out there, there is more room for rising environmental awareness. Maybe if people hear the word „green“, „eco“ or „organic“ more often, they will re-think tak-ing a plastic or paper bag at the supermarket instead of a reusable canvas bag (I really like those, they can be quite fancy).In conclusion, (even though I could write a few pages) we live in an era where profit is more important than well-being, hence being in-formed is always a plus. We have to admit to ourselves that we cannot be entirely green, At least not for now. We may accept the illusion the marketing companies try so hard to create, or we can sim-ply acknowledge we are doing our best to be greener and be it. Instead of trying to spend money being green, maybe we could try sav-ing money being green. Turn off the lights. Bike (instead of buying a car that „needs less fuel and is *cough* green“). Did you now you can polish furniture without chemicals? (1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar and a few drops of olive oil) Start gardening (might be fun too, I’ve been thinking about gardening). Unplug appliances when you’re not using them. Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buy-ing bottled water. And so on.It’s almost impossible to cover as much ground as I would like (because I remember start-ing a blog post and not a book). However, I hope this triggered your interest and might “Google” something on the subject. To wrap things up, one last question. How present is “Greenwashing” around you? Do tell!

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PROPAGANDA, MUCH???

by Almustafa M. Khalid

(This is a little story I have written about an Iraqi-British rapper….. He is called Lowkey and he is finding it really hard to be as famous as others…. You can check him out on the link below)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=givhD3cKL3k

(The producer calls Lowkey for an urgent meeting to tell him about something important. The action takes place in the producer’s office while he sits behind the desk and Lowkey with his friend sit on the other side of the desk facing the producer.The producer just found out that Justin Bieber’s music video on Youtube hit 700 million views.)

Producer: (obvious frustration but calm) Justin Bieber just reached several hundred million views on Youtube with his new hit single “Baby”. I’m just saying, but maybe you should be singing about that stuff. The label has been talking; you haven’t been making enough money with your songs.

Lowkey: Bro, I can’t stand tha’ kind of music. It’s a bit terrible tha’ everyone can listen to some 17 year old singin’ abou’ nothin’ important, innit? I mean, I try to sing abou’ stuff people SHOULD care abou’. I aint tha’ kinda bloke. I wan’ to change the world bro.

Producer: (blows but stays calm) It’s just not what sells, Lowkey... People don’t want to listen to the world’s problems these days. The stuff you sing about brushes people the wrong way. Music is, es-sentially, an escape.... You have the beats, you have the potential... But you’re going to have to start sing-

ing about something else if you want another album deal. You have to reach a wider audience, for our mutual benefit.

Lowkey: (raises his voice) Are you sayin’ you wan’ me to join your bandwagon? To keep the people in a loop, innit?

Producer: Well, the record label can’t justify spend-ing---Lowkey: (Angry) In my opinion, music today is hor-rible. Anyone can repeat the words “baby”, while flickin’ their hair... But it aint wha’ music is meant to be abou’. It’s practically what’s narrowin’ people’s minds. There’s actually music popular just for bein’ bad! Take a look at “Friday” by Rebecca Black! Would you like me to sing “Monday”? Monday, Monday, gotta get outta bed on MONDAY? Tha’ would in-crease my audience!

Lowkey’s Friend: You’re right, bro. TOO RIGHT! Peo-ple these days don’t know nothin’ abou’ music. Producer: (to Lowkey’s friend) Well.... right now.... The people making the money, selling out con-cert halls... They aren’t the ones singing music like Lowkey...(to Lowkey) You’re a talented musician, I appreciate working with you, but we can’t afford to give you the coverage if you’re not willing to sing popular music. You’re a star, Lowkey. Don’t let your stubbornness prevent you from shining.


Lowkey’s Friend: Don’t you tell Lowkey wha’ to do! Lowkey is the KING. It’s not his fault people don’ know what’s good for ‘em!

Lowkey: Look at the dixie chicks, I don’t like their music. But they were pretty popular and well liked until they started singin’ about stuff that mattered, and politics or whatever. The quality of the music doesn’t mean nothin’ anymore. Media is a tool for people like meself to use it in a positive way and not brainwash people with things tha’ don’t mat-ter. Look man, media now is corrupt and its all abou’ the quid nothin’ else; I wan’ to change tha’.

Producer: We’re willing to put the money in to ad-vertising your music, into MAKING you popular.... But you have to be willing to help us out by singing music that’s easier for people to listen to. You need to increase your audience.

Lowkey: The otha day I was readin’ a newspaper and it was talkin’ abou’ how media keeps repeatin’ so people get brainwashed faster, it had a term for it, somthin’ like argumentum ad whateva’. Not you or anybody else can brainwash me mate.

Producer: But if you want to be successful, that’s the price. It’s not like you’re signing away your soul. This is what’s best for you. Sing about breakups, your exes... and we’ll do the rest. It’s that easy. All you have to do is decide that you WANT to be pop-ular.

Lowkey: You’re making it sound like that movie ‘The Secret’, innit? Man jus’ listen to yoself, do you actu-ally think tha’ wha’ is happenin’ in media is good? It ain’t no reliable. Purpose behind it to make people think less and jus’ believe wha’ they’re told. And we will always live in conflict. Tha’ is because people like you wan’ to make more money and people won’t ask ‘emselves any questions.

Producer: Listen I know you had other plans, but I really think you should just listen to us. We want you to be successful. It’s not that hard. We can help...

Lowkey: I know I will find someone to produce for me if you aint willin’ to do it. You too are brain-washed bro.(Lowkey leaves the office with his friend)

8 | Independent Skies Magazine | Oct 1st 2012WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW

ABOUT AFRI-CAN’S HISTORY?

By Leo Fotsing

Oct 1st 2012 | Independent Skies Magazine | 9Africa is a continent full of won-ders that one might have not yet discovered. It has a bright and painful story, a story that the world might have built ste-reotypes out of. It is a pretty diverse continent. The African continent has been studied by many historians. Basil Davison is one of them.

Basil Davison, in the film ‘Africa different but equal’; described Africa as a whole. He reveals the African historical beauties and its visualization by foreigners. This description is narrower on the Africa of 18th and 19th cen-tury.

Africa, which is more known by its extraordinary history, an in-estimable value and a history founded on a successful sys-tem that is unknown by many around the globe. The history of Africa that many ignore showed that the acceptance of equality between blacks was shared by all. Each community was built on a system that emanated respect for authority and the whole. The respect of tradition playing a key role in each community has a predominant role.

Changes had occurred and they have tremendously affected Af-rica’s future generation. Basil Da-vidson undergoes a catastroph-ic situation after the intrusion of the occident. Many black males, fathers and children have been taken away from their family and their beloved homeland. That was the beginning of an Africa of misery and pain, where most of those taken away were used as slaves or soldiers for war.

After the slavery era, the genie of the western world history was not stopped. Africa was still perceived as a land of primi-tive and uncivilized people, and then it was directed, controlled and governed by the west.

Over the years after western world domination, historians have discovered that Africa has an incredible, invaluable, im-mortal and irreplaceable histo-ry, its own story. Several studies done during the 20th century prove that a piece of the bright African history are still apparent in the mountains of Zimbabwe, a land inhabited by the Moto-pos, squares sacred are always presented. One can see from

those drawings and symbols of Africa full of wealth and with so-cietal structure.

Furthermore, in his study of the inhabitants of Egypt, Professor Anta Diop reveals, 12000 years before Jesus Christ, the original people from Egypt were black, they came from the southern part of Africa to make fertile lands of the River Nile; Through his studies, Professor Anta Diop demonstrates how Africa was prosperous, all this justified by the palaces and monuments in southern Egypt.

In Conclusion, African history has its negativities from losing its men to losing its natural re-sources. But despite all the pain and suffering from coloniza-tion, African history still claims its pride. Pride that no one can destroy; pride that will always be remembered and respected. That symbolizes its beauty.

But the question that will always remain unanswered is: how Af-rica perceives its own persecu-tion, killing and domination of the West?

WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW

ABOUT AFRI-CAN’S HISTORY?


Looking back at what shapes todays’ politics, global dynamics and human interactions; one can easily notice the presence of socio-economic variables as core pillars in determining world events. Whether it is terrorism, hunger, corruption or social injustice, it all comes back to the circumstances rather to the individuals to set the pace of what we either enjoy or suffer. If I had the means, I would tackle world issues at their youth instead of their maturity, and thus will make as a top priority em-powering the generation Y as a mean to establish a prosperous world for the coming generations.

When Nelson Mandela stated that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”, he knew well that any solution which envisions a future profit should start as an early investment, and what better investment than in the coming generations? What leads the ter-rorist to opt for violence isn’t necessarily a profound theological philosophy, it is far and foremost a lack of sound education, an accumulation of humiliation and ignorance and a lack in future horizons. Terrorism sources in unprivileged socio-economic settings where extremism can niche and prosper, yet offer education to these same “terrorists”, teach them that they can succeed and that even finan-cially unfortunate, they can still achieve immensely if they learn how to engage the outside world and you’ll see wonders sourcing in previously darkened minds.

Same goes for corruption and social injustice, and the greatest example of the power of education and social awareness is the latest Arab spring, a fervent revolution led and guided by the minds and hearts of young educated activists who are fully aware of their political rights and can envision a bright future outside totalitarian rule and regimes.

IF YOU HAD THE MEANS,

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO MAKE THE WORLD A

SAFER AND BETTER PLACE? by

Moh

amed

Am

ine

Bela

rbi


World hunger is a similar story, especially when we realize that most countries were such phe-nomenon proliferates, resources are equally as abundant, raising interrogations as to what pushes entire populace to remain oblivious to their wealth and potential capital if intelligently exploited and invested?

These aspects of world affairs are intricately linked to the role of education in preparing the youth of today to become the leaders of tomor-row, yet not any kind of education is appropriate to address world insecurity and inequality. The model of education I advocate for, and which I would empower if given the means, is a model strongly fueled by human interactions, self-for-mation and entrepreneurship. Most people are

oblivious to the fact that what are demanded are social projects, ventures and grassroots move-ments instead of multi-billion packages in aid and foreign interventions. What will benefit the afghan population are not foreign troops in their soil, but rather schools and small businesses that can be profitable and easily implemented. What is needed in Zimbabwe are not missionary chari-ties investing millions in building churches but international students implementing schools and exchange programs with national students who wouldn’t know about the outside world otherwise.

The globalized world offers us an outstanding breakthrough in education, and education not solely based on institutions, but on human capital, an education not constrained to industrial prac-ticality but to human implementation, an educa-tion not based on professional teachers but on informal learning from peers and fellow humans, and education which material are not only math and physics, but intercultural understanding and interfaith appreciation. Far from being a dream, this ideal and utopian educational system is an envisioned plan that can see light at any time. Exploiting the available resources offered by the social media and internet, one can easily hold virtual discussions with people in remote areas updating them on what the Egyptian street has accomplished, or through the recording of video messages, lectures and presentations to be deliv-ered to young children throughout the world by fellow young people, asserting thus that knowl-edge and compassion has no boundaries, and that brotherhood is not chained to geography but to the blood that circulates in everyone’s veins.

The school of life: a school where people help each other not because it is fashionable, but be-cause it is necessary to uphold a safer and bright-er future for everyone. The unprivileged student of yesterday can easily become the terrorist of tomorrow, thus we have to make sure as global citizens that we are offering skills, knowledge, mentorship and guidance to our fellow peers throughout the globe because today’s education is not constricted to classrooms only, it extends beyond boundaries and thus it allows us all to be teachers and learners, a combination of which makes the next generation more interconnected, knowledgeable, enlightened and prosperous.


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