That is "Hallo world" in Arabic. I haven't the foggiest how to learn the language, so I'm sticking with google translate for now. I have listened to it, transcribed it in our Roman alphabet characters on paper, enlarged the Arabic and had a go at copying it down, right to left of course. It is annoying being such a beginner. I don't even know where to start a letter or how to do the little vertical bits, as I go along or added afterwards.
I really want to be able to read Twitter. At the moment the only words I can spot instantly are Allah Akbar, which is a good place to start, and Libya.
The next obvious place to go is YouTube for some video of people writing slowly!
Friday 30 December 2011
Thursday 29 December 2011
Reinterpreting the crib
We have a stable with animals in it, plus an angel and our box of matches on the exterior stairs. The Holy family is outdoors to one side and the 3 kings are on their way to the other side. One king is permanently travelling on one knee. Christmas cards are all around them, including one with camels with tasselled hangings and another with symetrical, seen at dusk against a dark purple sky, palm trees.
To translate this into something T can accept I explained that it could be seen as a homage to the domesticated animals, newborns and travellers of that era and all eras: breathing, coughing, sneezing, chatting, yawning, exactly as we do now and exactly as they would have been doing then. All of them are divine, all special, all individual, all a little bit difficult to live with at times...
Maybe the ritual celebration of the birth of a child was merged with midwinter because both are stressful, yet also times out of time. Everything has to stop, we have to stay in one place and deal with each new thing which happens. When it snows here everything stops dead, we are freed from normal duties and new ones take over. We all chat to each other as we walk carefully in front of our houses and create little snowmen. Oooh, I so want it to snow!
I really want it to snow, yet am very grateful that it hasn't.
To translate this into something T can accept I explained that it could be seen as a homage to the domesticated animals, newborns and travellers of that era and all eras: breathing, coughing, sneezing, chatting, yawning, exactly as we do now and exactly as they would have been doing then. All of them are divine, all special, all individual, all a little bit difficult to live with at times...
Maybe the ritual celebration of the birth of a child was merged with midwinter because both are stressful, yet also times out of time. Everything has to stop, we have to stay in one place and deal with each new thing which happens. When it snows here everything stops dead, we are freed from normal duties and new ones take over. We all chat to each other as we walk carefully in front of our houses and create little snowmen. Oooh, I so want it to snow!
I really want it to snow, yet am very grateful that it hasn't.
Wednesday 28 December 2011
A conundrum
If I buy a box of eggs from Tesco, but will not pay more than £1.20 for half a dozen, who is to blame if the eggs were from hens living in battery farms?
The hen, the farmer's hen keeper, the farmer, the intermediary, Tesco management and shareholders or me? All are to blame, but, without a buyer, nothing in that set of transactions woild have occurred. So I am ultimately to blame and have to alter my actions. Blaming the farmer or Tesco is pointless and will not achieve better conditions. Only a decision to pay £1.90 for a box of well cared for hens's eggs will have the effect I want.
So in a monarchy, who is to blame, the all powerful monarch who commands that x is done, the prime minister, the minister for the issue x, the governor of the prison, the senior guard who is a specialist in special techniques, the junior guard, or the prisoner upside down with his feet being attacked? Without the starting point, nothing else would happen.
So I am equivalent to a monarch with respect to the harsh living conditions of a battery hen. What do you think? Do I have more influence over my world than a monarch?
The hen, the farmer's hen keeper, the farmer, the intermediary, Tesco management and shareholders or me? All are to blame, but, without a buyer, nothing in that set of transactions woild have occurred. So I am ultimately to blame and have to alter my actions. Blaming the farmer or Tesco is pointless and will not achieve better conditions. Only a decision to pay £1.90 for a box of well cared for hens's eggs will have the effect I want.
So in a monarchy, who is to blame, the all powerful monarch who commands that x is done, the prime minister, the minister for the issue x, the governor of the prison, the senior guard who is a specialist in special techniques, the junior guard, or the prisoner upside down with his feet being attacked? Without the starting point, nothing else would happen.
So I am equivalent to a monarch with respect to the harsh living conditions of a battery hen. What do you think? Do I have more influence over my world than a monarch?
Sunday 25 December 2011
Tinsel down my neck
I thought something was a bit itchy...it was the last length of glittery streamer! I love wearing a paper hat and pulling explosive streamer things which make a loud bang.
We have been sitting around the miraculously tidy and beautiful kitchen table; watching the Queen's Speech at my mother in law's; sharing out presents; watching and appreciating the 9 lessons and carols; doing a countdown at 10 seconds to midnight last night then wishing each other Happy Christmas for the first time of the day.
There is a tradition in our family of phoning my parents A and I bang in the middle of the meal to pass on good wishes and any funny stories. So I did that at lunchtime and also in the evening to catch my aunt and uncle E and S. I caught my brother J on the motorway yesterday on his way to be with them.
Yesterday I was quietly looking at the presents under the tree and noticed that the cat from next door had curled up under it. She had not knocked over a single card. Everyone else rushed down to see her there. That was the end of her peaceful nap because we made such a noise and happy fuss about her.
Every so often during the day we come together to do a special event at a time we agree, then we go our separate ways for a break. The degree of wanting our own company is pretty much equal between all 5 of us.
One of my plans for tomorrow is to go into the church and sit by my Amnesty tree for a little while. I have little paper candle and barbed wire logos to hang from the branches. I cut them out from the mailings I get. They each have a loop attached made from black thread. There isn't yet a take away slip with details for how to find the local group, so ideally I will create those too.
We have been sitting around the miraculously tidy and beautiful kitchen table; watching the Queen's Speech at my mother in law's; sharing out presents; watching and appreciating the 9 lessons and carols; doing a countdown at 10 seconds to midnight last night then wishing each other Happy Christmas for the first time of the day.
There is a tradition in our family of phoning my parents A and I bang in the middle of the meal to pass on good wishes and any funny stories. So I did that at lunchtime and also in the evening to catch my aunt and uncle E and S. I caught my brother J on the motorway yesterday on his way to be with them.
Yesterday I was quietly looking at the presents under the tree and noticed that the cat from next door had curled up under it. She had not knocked over a single card. Everyone else rushed down to see her there. That was the end of her peaceful nap because we made such a noise and happy fuss about her.
Every so often during the day we come together to do a special event at a time we agree, then we go our separate ways for a break. The degree of wanting our own company is pretty much equal between all 5 of us.
One of my plans for tomorrow is to go into the church and sit by my Amnesty tree for a little while. I have little paper candle and barbed wire logos to hang from the branches. I cut them out from the mailings I get. They each have a loop attached made from black thread. There isn't yet a take away slip with details for how to find the local group, so ideally I will create those too.
Friday 23 December 2011
Beware of books
As I was clearing space to set out more Christmas cards I opened a biography of Primo Levi. Dear God, those few paragraphs at random made me feel physically sick.
I contemplated my belief that all are held at the end in God's hand, or whatever word one chooses to use. Then I needed to help my body. I decided to make some beautiful food from: apples, honey, water, wheat, salt, yeast, butter (milk), strawberries and sugar. I am worshipping tha natural world which is the basis of our humanity.
I contemplated my belief that all are held at the end in God's hand, or whatever word one chooses to use. Then I needed to help my body. I decided to make some beautiful food from: apples, honey, water, wheat, salt, yeast, butter (milk), strawberries and sugar. I am worshipping tha natural world which is the basis of our humanity.
Thursday 22 December 2011
British Museum
I have a great book from the library on the workings of the British Museum in London.
The photos and personal essays by individual workers at the Museum are so varied and interesting.
I have learnt about the oldest board game in the world: the Royal Game of Ur. Apparently the board was found in Southern Iraq with pieces and dice in the 1920's. It dates back to 2600 BC.
Irving Finkel, curator of the Assyrian Collections, was rootling through the cupboards in the 1980's, found something interesting, read the cuneiform and realized that the text was related to the rules for a game. Not the rules themselves, it assumed you knew those, but comments on how to bet etc. It was replaced by backgammon in the Middle East, but seems to be still played in parts of India today.
Can you imagine the complexity of recreating Monopoly several thousand years in the future? or Cluedo? How to explain the hilarity of x did it in the Library with an Iron Bar?
The other thing which I am amazed by is that carbon dating (goes back 50,000 years) and identifying pollen are not the only methods for dating items. Voles' teeth are used too because the evolution of voles is relatively quick due to their short lifespan. Their teeth happen to display changes which can date a site. Beetles are evidence of a particular temperature range at that time and snails provide evidence too.
A site is over 350,000 years old if teeth from the European pine vole are present, because they disappeared from Britain at that point.
This is a BBC book. Why don't people make more of a fuss about how good their books are?
The photos and personal essays by individual workers at the Museum are so varied and interesting.
I have learnt about the oldest board game in the world: the Royal Game of Ur. Apparently the board was found in Southern Iraq with pieces and dice in the 1920's. It dates back to 2600 BC.
Irving Finkel, curator of the Assyrian Collections, was rootling through the cupboards in the 1980's, found something interesting, read the cuneiform and realized that the text was related to the rules for a game. Not the rules themselves, it assumed you knew those, but comments on how to bet etc. It was replaced by backgammon in the Middle East, but seems to be still played in parts of India today.
Can you imagine the complexity of recreating Monopoly several thousand years in the future? or Cluedo? How to explain the hilarity of x did it in the Library with an Iron Bar?
The other thing which I am amazed by is that carbon dating (goes back 50,000 years) and identifying pollen are not the only methods for dating items. Voles' teeth are used too because the evolution of voles is relatively quick due to their short lifespan. Their teeth happen to display changes which can date a site. Beetles are evidence of a particular temperature range at that time and snails provide evidence too.
A site is over 350,000 years old if teeth from the European pine vole are present, because they disappeared from Britain at that point.
This is a BBC book. Why don't people make more of a fuss about how good their books are?
Tuesday 20 December 2011
Knitting and knots
Taking out my knitting is a real ice breaker in a waiting room. The couple sitting opposite us asked about it, I showed what happened at the end of each row, we chatted about using YouTube to find out how to cast off.
Then we chatted about knots, sailing ones, how they are of two sorts: the type which get tighter when the line is pulled and the type which are easy to loosen quickly.
Then we chatted about knots, sailing ones, how they are of two sorts: the type which get tighter when the line is pulled and the type which are easy to loosen quickly.
Sunday 18 December 2011
Finally...
it has taken me nearly a month to get round to it. The page was open on my iPad, so each time I went onto the internet I'd be reminded that I still hadn't done the page justice. Anyway, now I have and I am so glad to have been able to read the speech Professor M Cherif Bassiouni gave on 23rd November when he presented the BICI report to the King and court.
Pleas read it too, bearing in mind that there were people with nimble fingers tweeting phrases from the very room as he was making this speech. It caused a sensation, as such a forthright description of the faults of those in power in the same room is humbling for any government.
23 11 2011
Prof M. Cherif Bassiouni’s Speech on 23rd November
Your Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,
Your Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister,
Your Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
May peace, mercy and the blessings of Allah The Almighty be upon you and upon the gracious people of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
It is an honor to submit to Your Majesty, on behalf of the members of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, which I had the honor of chairing, the report of the Commission. In doing so, I pray that The Almighty reward our work.
I have the pleasure of witnessing, in the presence of this distinguished gathering, an event of great legal and political importance. This occasion represents a unique precedent in the region, in light of the fact that the state took the initiative, shortly after the events, to establish an international commission of inquiry without waiting for regional or international pressures to be exercised. The members of the Commission were selected with great objectivity, not only to benefit from their knowledge, experience, and legacies, but also in light of their neutrality, objectivity, dedication to the cause of humanity, and their commitment to the protection of human rights against any infringement, which is the sole means to guaranteeing human welfare.
This is a unique historic and social event because, also for the first time, a government, that is still in power, agrees to open all its files, subject itself to criticism, and to facilitate the work of those who seek to evaluate its performance and to identify its faults. This is despite the sensitivity of the situation in the country in which an atmosphere of mutual mistrust and social unrest prevails, and despite the consequences that could arise out of this inquiry.
It is also my honor to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the citizens of this gracious nation who entrusted us with a great task. I also express my appreciation to the political societies, human rights and civil society organizations, religious institutions, governmental, and private entities of Bahrain, all of which trusted this Commission, and were eager to communicate with it, and played an important role in revealing the facts. Without their cooperation, this large task would not have been fulfilled in such a short period of time.
Your Majesty,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) was mandated to prepare a report about the events that occurred in Bahrain during the months of February and March 2011 in addition to the subsequent related events. The Commission was also charged to make whatever recommendations it deemed appropriate for holding accountable those who had violated the rights and freedoms of individuals, and for preventing the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
As a result, the BICI has compiled a report composed of twelve chapters. The report commences with an introduction to the Commission and its methods of work, followed by a background on the modern history and system of government of Bahrain. Then the report describes the applicable legal framework during the events under investigation, and identifies the relevant law enforcement agencies in Bahrain. A detailed narrative of the events is then presented that covers the period from the beginning of February to 31 March 2011, with a special focus on the events that occurred at the Salmaniya Medical Complex. The report then examines the human rights violations alleged to have been perpetrated by governmental agencies against individuals. These include the deaths that occurred during the events under investigation, the use of force by governmental agencies, the manner in which arrest warrants were executed, the treatment of detainees, and cases of forced disappearances. The report also tackles the demolition of religious structures, dismissals of public and private sector employees, and the expulsion of students and the suspensions of scholarships. The report then examines human rights violations perpetrated by individuals, in particular attacks against expatriates, and Sunni citizens. The report also examines the allegations of foreign involvement in the events that occurred in Bahrain, and discusses the matter of harassment by the media. Subsequently, the report reviews the measures and remedies undertaken by the Government of Bahrain to address some of the human rights violations that took place, as well as to address deficiencies in some domestic legislation.
Your Majesty,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Commission’s work was not easy. We began our work in an atmosphere fraught with tension and were under immense pressure from the public, which was eager to have the testimonies of the many victims and witnesses heard. The Commission had to collect all the evidence, examine the documents and reports submitted to it, and conduct field visits, all of which were arduous tasks. The Commission also ensured the protection of witnesses that it heard and the confidentiality of information it received, which further complicated its work. In addition, the Commissioners and investigators worked to meet the expectations of Bahraini citizens to decisively intervene to prevent human rights violations regardless of the type of that violation or the perpetrator. Overall, the Commission received nearly 9,000 complaints, statements and testimonies and conducted dozens of on-site investigations throughout the country. The Commission also sought to resolve other problems including the dismissal and suspension of university students, employees, healthcare workers, and attempted to mitigate the negative effects of criminal prosecution.
The Commission created a database containing all the information that it gathered during its investigations. This information was divided into categories reflecting the different types of human rights violations committed during the period under investigation. This database contributed greatly to the Commission’s work and in the preparation of its final report.
Following the categorization of the information in the database, the Commissioners analysed the available evidence in a manner that was objective and inclusive of all testimonies and statements. The Commission was assisted by its investigators as well as legal, medical, engineering and media experts.
The Commission worked to maintain the highest level of professionalism, transparency and independence in all aspects of its work. This included investigating all human rights violations committed, beginning with deaths and allegations of torture, and ending with labour dismissals and student suspensions. In fulfilling these tasks, the Commission maintained the confidentiality of the testimonies and evidence collected.
Your Majesty,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to summarise the general observations and recommendations of the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry:
1. The forceful confrontation of demonstrators involving the use of lethal force led to the death of civilians. This caused an increase in public anger, increased the number of persons participating in protests, and led to a palpable escalation in their demands. As protests continued into mid-March 2011, the general state of security in Bahrain deteriorated considerably. Sectarian clashes were reported in a number of areas, attacks on expatriates took place, violent clashes occurred between students at the University of Bahrain and other educational institutions, and major thoroughfares were blocked by protesters. This situation led the government to declare a State of National Safety on 15 March 2011.
2. HM King Hamad approved that HRH the Crown Prince engage in negotiations with various political parties with a view to reaching a peaceful resolution to the unfolding situation in Bahrain.
Notwithstanding the best efforts of HRH the Crown Prince, negotiations to reach a political solution were not successful. The Commission is of the view that if the initiative and proposals of HRH the Crown Prince had been accepted at the time it could have paved the way for significant constitutional, political and socio-economic reforms and precluded the ensuing negative consequences.
3. The Commission’s investigations revealed that during a substantial number of the arrests carried out by law enforcement agencies arrest warrants were not presented to arrested individuals and arrested individuals were not informed of the reasons for their arrest. In many cases, government security forces resorted to the use of unnecessary and excessive force, and in a manner that sought to terrorise
individuals, and to cause unnecessary damage to property.
4. The Commission’s investigations revealed that many detainees were subjected to torture and other forms of physical and psychological abuse while in custody, which indicated patterns of behaviour by certain government agencies, especially with regard to certain categories of detainees. The extent of this physical and psychological mistreatment is evidence of a deliberate practice, which in some cases was
aimed at extracting confessions and statements under duress, while in other cases was intended for the purpose of retribution and punishment. The most common techniques for mistreatment used on detainees included the following: blindfolding; handcuffing; enforced standing for prolonged periods; beating; punching; hitting the detainee with rubber hoses (including on the soles of feet), cables, whips, metal, wooden planks or other objects; electrocution; sleep-deprivation; exposure to extreme temperatures; verbal abuse; threats of rape; and insulting the detainee‘s religious sect (Shia). Generally, these measures fall within the meaning of torture as defined in the Convention Against Torture (CAT), to which Bahrain is a State Party. They also constitute violations of the Bahrain Criminal Code. These forced confessions have been used in criminal proceedings, either in the special courts established pursuant to the National Safety Decree or, in some cases, in the ordinary criminal courts.
5. The Commission is of the view that the lack of accountability of officials within the security system in Bahrain has led to a culture of impunity, whereby security officials have few incentives to avoid mistreatment of prisoners or to take action to prevent mistreatment by other officials.
6. It was evident to the Commission that government security forces, especially the Public Security Forces (PSF), violated the principles of necessity and proportionality while engaging with demonstrators, which are the generally applicable legal principles.
7. A large number of individuals were prosecuted before the National Safety Courts and imprisoned for violating articles 165, 168, 169, 179 and 180 of the Bahrain Penal Code. The text and application of these provisions raises questions about their conformity with international human rights law and the Constitution of Bahrain.
7. Numerous violations of due process rights were recorded by the Commission during proceedings before the National Safety Courts, which were composed of a presiding military judge and two civilian judges.
8. The manner in which the security and judicial agencies of the government of Bahrain interpreted the National Safety Decree opened the door for the perpetration of grave violations of human rights, including the arbitrary deprivation of life, torture and arbitrary detention. Detainees were kept for questioning for periods that, in some cases, extended to over two months during which they were neither brought before a judicial body or presented with any charges. The lack of judicial supervision, oversight or inspection of detention facilities operated by these security agencies allowed for the perpetration of human rights violations.
9. Thirty-five deaths occurred between 14 February and 15 April 2011, which are linked to the events of February/March 2011. Thirty of the thirty-five deaths were civilians, while five were security personnel. Investigations were opened by the different security and military agencies concerned, but the Commission has reservations with regard to the effectiveness of some investigations which only included statements by security personnel.
10. Between 21 March and 15 April 2011, security forces systematically raided homes in order to arrest individuals, and in so doing, terrorised the occupants of these homes. These arrests were carried out by masked individuals during night and pre-dawn raids. These individuals intentionally broke down doors and forcibly entered homes. These practices were often accompanied by sectarian insults and verbal
abuse, and in some cases women were also exposed to such insults by security personnel.
Overall, the total number of persons arrested pursuant to Royal Decree No.18 of 2011 following the declaration of the State of National Safety was 2,929. Of those, 2,178 were released without any charges brought against them. The most prevalent charges made against persons brought before the National Safety Courts included: incitement of hate against the regime, illegal assembly, rioting, possession of anti-government leaflets, possession of material calling for the overthrow of the regime, inciting others to violence, threatening a civil servant, use of violence against a government official, premeditated murder, kidnapping, attempted murder, aggravated assault, membership in an illegally established society, and spreading rumours that undermine public interest. The majority of these charges involved the
exercise of freedoms of opinion and expression that are guaranteed by the Bahrain Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
11. Many places of worship were demolished in the aftermath of the events of February/March 2011. Out of 30 places of worship inspected by the Commission, only five had complied with the requisite legal and administrative conditions. Nevertheless, the Commission notes with some concern the timing and method of these demolitions. The government should have realised that under the circumstances, and particularly the timing and manner of the demolitions, that these would be perceived as collective punishment and would therefore inflame existing tensions between the government and the Shiite population.
12. In the aftermath of the February/March 2011 events, over two thousand public sector employees and over 2400 private sector employees were dismissed for their participation in, or support of, the protest movement, and on the grounds that these protests were unrelated to labour issues. The Commission, however, sees that the workers’ protests that occurred were within the permissible bounds of the law.
13. A large number of university students were expelled or suspended in connection with their role in the events of February and March. The Commission finds that the universities applied arbitrary and unclear standards for issuing determinations and taking disciplinary action. The Commission welcomes, however, the move by the Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the University of Bahrain and Bahrain Polytechnic, to reverse the vast majority of disciplinary action taken against students.
14. The Commission received sufficient evidence to support the finding that Sunnis were targeted by some demonstrators, either because they professed loyalty to the regime or on the basis of their sectarian identity. Sunnis were subjected to verbal abuse, physical attacks and attacks on their private property as well as harassment.
15. The Commission finds sufficient evidence to establish that some expatriates, particularly South Asian workers, were exposed to attacks during the February/March events. Pakistanis, in particular, were targeted. Because of the atmosphere of fear which prevailed, some foreign nationals were afraid to return to their work and commercial activities. The Commission found that four expatriates were killed and many were injured by mobs as a result of these attacks.
16. The evidence presented to the Commission in relation to the involvement of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the internal affairs of Bahrain did not reveal a discernible link between specific incidents that occurred in Bahrain during February/March 2011 and Iran. In addition, the Commission has not found any evidence of human rights violations committed by the GCC-JSF units deployed in Bahrain, from 14 March 2011.
17. The Commission concluded that much of the material shown on national television contained derogatory language and inflammatory coverage of events, and some may have been defamatory. However, the Commission did not find evidence of media coverage that constituted hate speech. The Commission also identified numerous examples of defamation, harassment and, in some cases, incitement through social media websites. Both pro- and anti-government journalists were targeted through social media channels.
Your Majesty,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Commission’s report is not limited to outlining, compiling, and analysing the human rights violations that occurred in Bahrain during the period under investigation. Rather, the Commission also submitted the following recommendations to the Government of Bahrain:
1. To establish an independent and impartial national committee that consists of personalities of high standing representing the government, opposition political societies, and civil society to follow up monitor and implement the recommendations of the Commission. This committee should re-examine the laws and procedures that were applied in the aftermath of the events of February and March 2011 in order to make recommendations to the legislature for the appropriate amendments to existing laws and to develop new legislation, in line with the recommendations of this Commission.
2. To establish a national independent and impartial mechanism to hold accountable those in government who have committed unlawful or negligent acts resulting in the deaths, torture and mistreatment of civilians with a view to bringing legal and disciplinary action against such individuals, including those in positions of command, whether civilian or military, in accordance with the principle of superior responsibility.
3. To consider the Office of the Inspector General in the Ministry of Interior as a separate entity, independent of the Ministry‘s hierarchical control. The tasks of this office should include receiving complaints, and should protect the safety and privacy of complainants.
4. To amend the decree establishing the National Security Agency (NSA) in order to keep the organisation as an intelligence gathering agency without law enforcement or arrest authorities. Legislation should also be adopted to provide that the detention of individuals shall be governed by the Code of Criminal Procedure even during the application of a State of National Safety.
5. To adopt legislative measures requiring the Attorney General to investigate claims of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
6. To allow for the review of all convictions rendered by the National Security Courts where fundamental principles of a fair trial were not respected.
7. To conduct effective investigations in all cases of deaths attributed to security forces and identify those responsible for these deaths. Likewise, all allegations of torture and similar treatment should be investigated by an independent and impartial body. In addition, a standing independent body to investigate all complaints of tortureor ill-treatment, excessive use of force or other abuses at the hands of the
authorities should be established. The burden of proof to demonstrate that treatment complies with the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment should be on the state.
8. To implement an extensive program of public order training for the public security forces, the National Security Agency and the Bahrain Defence Force, including their private security companies, in accordance with UN best practices in order to ensure future compliance with the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials.
9. To avoid detention without prompt access to lawyers and without access to the outside world, and, all cases of detention should be subject to effective monitoring by an independent body.
10. The Commission recommends that the government urgently establish, and implement vigorously, a programme for the integration into the security forces of personnel from all the communities in Bahrain.
11. To train the judiciary and prosecutorial personnel on the need to ensure that their activities contribute to the prevention and eradication of torture and ill-treatment.
12. To annul or mitigate convictions of persons charged with offences involving political expression that does not involve the incitement to violence, and to commute the death sentence for cases of murder arising out of the events of February/March 2011.
13. To compensate the families of the deceased victims in a manner that is commensurate with the gravity of their loss, and to compensate all victims of torture, ill-treatment, or prolonged incommunicado detention. In this respect, the Commission welcomes Royal Decree no. 30 of 2011 on the establishment of a compensation fund for victims, which was issued on 22 September 2011.
14. To ensure that the remaining dismissed employees have not been dismissed on the basis of their right to exercise freedom of expression, opinion, association or assembly.
15. To consider relaxing censorship on mass media and to allow the opposition greater access to television broadcasts, radio broadcasts and print media.
16. To undertake appropriate measures including legislative measures to prevent incitement to violence, hatred, sectarianism and other forms of incitement, which lead to the violation of internationally protected human rights.
17. To develop educational programmes at the primary, secondary, and high school levels and at the university level to promote religious, political and other forms of tolerance, as well as the promotion of human rights and the rule of law. In general, the Commission also recommends that the Government of Bahrain develop a national reconciliation program that addresses the grievances of groups which are, or perceive themselves, to be deprived of equal political, social and economic rights and benefits across all segments of Bahrain‘s population.
Your Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In conclusion, I must express my gratitude to all those who have worked at the Commission, including experts, investigators, assistants and administrators, who have left their homes and laboured for long hours for a full five months under the supervision of the Commissioners in order to prepare this report, which I consider to be a truly unprecedented accomplishment. This report was not limited to describing the events or their context and identifying those accountable for them, but also, in fulfilment of its mandate, analysed the constitutional, legal and administrative structures of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
I hope, Your Majesty, that the government will begin to place, without delay, a timetable for the implementation and follow up of the recommendations of this report.
Finally, Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
“And say, Work, and Allah will surely see your work and also His Messenger and the believers”.
(Surat Al-Thawba, 9:105)
May Allah the Almighty protect the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people, and honour the dignity and prosperity of its people.
Pleas read it too, bearing in mind that there were people with nimble fingers tweeting phrases from the very room as he was making this speech. It caused a sensation, as such a forthright description of the faults of those in power in the same room is humbling for any government.
23 11 2011
Prof M. Cherif Bassiouni’s Speech on 23rd November
Your Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,
Your Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister,
Your Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
May peace, mercy and the blessings of Allah The Almighty be upon you and upon the gracious people of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
It is an honor to submit to Your Majesty, on behalf of the members of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, which I had the honor of chairing, the report of the Commission. In doing so, I pray that The Almighty reward our work.
I have the pleasure of witnessing, in the presence of this distinguished gathering, an event of great legal and political importance. This occasion represents a unique precedent in the region, in light of the fact that the state took the initiative, shortly after the events, to establish an international commission of inquiry without waiting for regional or international pressures to be exercised. The members of the Commission were selected with great objectivity, not only to benefit from their knowledge, experience, and legacies, but also in light of their neutrality, objectivity, dedication to the cause of humanity, and their commitment to the protection of human rights against any infringement, which is the sole means to guaranteeing human welfare.
This is a unique historic and social event because, also for the first time, a government, that is still in power, agrees to open all its files, subject itself to criticism, and to facilitate the work of those who seek to evaluate its performance and to identify its faults. This is despite the sensitivity of the situation in the country in which an atmosphere of mutual mistrust and social unrest prevails, and despite the consequences that could arise out of this inquiry.
It is also my honor to express my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the citizens of this gracious nation who entrusted us with a great task. I also express my appreciation to the political societies, human rights and civil society organizations, religious institutions, governmental, and private entities of Bahrain, all of which trusted this Commission, and were eager to communicate with it, and played an important role in revealing the facts. Without their cooperation, this large task would not have been fulfilled in such a short period of time.
Your Majesty,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) was mandated to prepare a report about the events that occurred in Bahrain during the months of February and March 2011 in addition to the subsequent related events. The Commission was also charged to make whatever recommendations it deemed appropriate for holding accountable those who had violated the rights and freedoms of individuals, and for preventing the recurrence of such incidents in the future.
As a result, the BICI has compiled a report composed of twelve chapters. The report commences with an introduction to the Commission and its methods of work, followed by a background on the modern history and system of government of Bahrain. Then the report describes the applicable legal framework during the events under investigation, and identifies the relevant law enforcement agencies in Bahrain. A detailed narrative of the events is then presented that covers the period from the beginning of February to 31 March 2011, with a special focus on the events that occurred at the Salmaniya Medical Complex. The report then examines the human rights violations alleged to have been perpetrated by governmental agencies against individuals. These include the deaths that occurred during the events under investigation, the use of force by governmental agencies, the manner in which arrest warrants were executed, the treatment of detainees, and cases of forced disappearances. The report also tackles the demolition of religious structures, dismissals of public and private sector employees, and the expulsion of students and the suspensions of scholarships. The report then examines human rights violations perpetrated by individuals, in particular attacks against expatriates, and Sunni citizens. The report also examines the allegations of foreign involvement in the events that occurred in Bahrain, and discusses the matter of harassment by the media. Subsequently, the report reviews the measures and remedies undertaken by the Government of Bahrain to address some of the human rights violations that took place, as well as to address deficiencies in some domestic legislation.
Your Majesty,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Commission’s work was not easy. We began our work in an atmosphere fraught with tension and were under immense pressure from the public, which was eager to have the testimonies of the many victims and witnesses heard. The Commission had to collect all the evidence, examine the documents and reports submitted to it, and conduct field visits, all of which were arduous tasks. The Commission also ensured the protection of witnesses that it heard and the confidentiality of information it received, which further complicated its work. In addition, the Commissioners and investigators worked to meet the expectations of Bahraini citizens to decisively intervene to prevent human rights violations regardless of the type of that violation or the perpetrator. Overall, the Commission received nearly 9,000 complaints, statements and testimonies and conducted dozens of on-site investigations throughout the country. The Commission also sought to resolve other problems including the dismissal and suspension of university students, employees, healthcare workers, and attempted to mitigate the negative effects of criminal prosecution.
The Commission created a database containing all the information that it gathered during its investigations. This information was divided into categories reflecting the different types of human rights violations committed during the period under investigation. This database contributed greatly to the Commission’s work and in the preparation of its final report.
Following the categorization of the information in the database, the Commissioners analysed the available evidence in a manner that was objective and inclusive of all testimonies and statements. The Commission was assisted by its investigators as well as legal, medical, engineering and media experts.
The Commission worked to maintain the highest level of professionalism, transparency and independence in all aspects of its work. This included investigating all human rights violations committed, beginning with deaths and allegations of torture, and ending with labour dismissals and student suspensions. In fulfilling these tasks, the Commission maintained the confidentiality of the testimonies and evidence collected.
Your Majesty,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to summarise the general observations and recommendations of the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry:
1. The forceful confrontation of demonstrators involving the use of lethal force led to the death of civilians. This caused an increase in public anger, increased the number of persons participating in protests, and led to a palpable escalation in their demands. As protests continued into mid-March 2011, the general state of security in Bahrain deteriorated considerably. Sectarian clashes were reported in a number of areas, attacks on expatriates took place, violent clashes occurred between students at the University of Bahrain and other educational institutions, and major thoroughfares were blocked by protesters. This situation led the government to declare a State of National Safety on 15 March 2011.
2. HM King Hamad approved that HRH the Crown Prince engage in negotiations with various political parties with a view to reaching a peaceful resolution to the unfolding situation in Bahrain.
Notwithstanding the best efforts of HRH the Crown Prince, negotiations to reach a political solution were not successful. The Commission is of the view that if the initiative and proposals of HRH the Crown Prince had been accepted at the time it could have paved the way for significant constitutional, political and socio-economic reforms and precluded the ensuing negative consequences.
3. The Commission’s investigations revealed that during a substantial number of the arrests carried out by law enforcement agencies arrest warrants were not presented to arrested individuals and arrested individuals were not informed of the reasons for their arrest. In many cases, government security forces resorted to the use of unnecessary and excessive force, and in a manner that sought to terrorise
individuals, and to cause unnecessary damage to property.
4. The Commission’s investigations revealed that many detainees were subjected to torture and other forms of physical and psychological abuse while in custody, which indicated patterns of behaviour by certain government agencies, especially with regard to certain categories of detainees. The extent of this physical and psychological mistreatment is evidence of a deliberate practice, which in some cases was
aimed at extracting confessions and statements under duress, while in other cases was intended for the purpose of retribution and punishment. The most common techniques for mistreatment used on detainees included the following: blindfolding; handcuffing; enforced standing for prolonged periods; beating; punching; hitting the detainee with rubber hoses (including on the soles of feet), cables, whips, metal, wooden planks or other objects; electrocution; sleep-deprivation; exposure to extreme temperatures; verbal abuse; threats of rape; and insulting the detainee‘s religious sect (Shia). Generally, these measures fall within the meaning of torture as defined in the Convention Against Torture (CAT), to which Bahrain is a State Party. They also constitute violations of the Bahrain Criminal Code. These forced confessions have been used in criminal proceedings, either in the special courts established pursuant to the National Safety Decree or, in some cases, in the ordinary criminal courts.
5. The Commission is of the view that the lack of accountability of officials within the security system in Bahrain has led to a culture of impunity, whereby security officials have few incentives to avoid mistreatment of prisoners or to take action to prevent mistreatment by other officials.
6. It was evident to the Commission that government security forces, especially the Public Security Forces (PSF), violated the principles of necessity and proportionality while engaging with demonstrators, which are the generally applicable legal principles.
7. A large number of individuals were prosecuted before the National Safety Courts and imprisoned for violating articles 165, 168, 169, 179 and 180 of the Bahrain Penal Code. The text and application of these provisions raises questions about their conformity with international human rights law and the Constitution of Bahrain.
7. Numerous violations of due process rights were recorded by the Commission during proceedings before the National Safety Courts, which were composed of a presiding military judge and two civilian judges.
8. The manner in which the security and judicial agencies of the government of Bahrain interpreted the National Safety Decree opened the door for the perpetration of grave violations of human rights, including the arbitrary deprivation of life, torture and arbitrary detention. Detainees were kept for questioning for periods that, in some cases, extended to over two months during which they were neither brought before a judicial body or presented with any charges. The lack of judicial supervision, oversight or inspection of detention facilities operated by these security agencies allowed for the perpetration of human rights violations.
9. Thirty-five deaths occurred between 14 February and 15 April 2011, which are linked to the events of February/March 2011. Thirty of the thirty-five deaths were civilians, while five were security personnel. Investigations were opened by the different security and military agencies concerned, but the Commission has reservations with regard to the effectiveness of some investigations which only included statements by security personnel.
10. Between 21 March and 15 April 2011, security forces systematically raided homes in order to arrest individuals, and in so doing, terrorised the occupants of these homes. These arrests were carried out by masked individuals during night and pre-dawn raids. These individuals intentionally broke down doors and forcibly entered homes. These practices were often accompanied by sectarian insults and verbal
abuse, and in some cases women were also exposed to such insults by security personnel.
Overall, the total number of persons arrested pursuant to Royal Decree No.18 of 2011 following the declaration of the State of National Safety was 2,929. Of those, 2,178 were released without any charges brought against them. The most prevalent charges made against persons brought before the National Safety Courts included: incitement of hate against the regime, illegal assembly, rioting, possession of anti-government leaflets, possession of material calling for the overthrow of the regime, inciting others to violence, threatening a civil servant, use of violence against a government official, premeditated murder, kidnapping, attempted murder, aggravated assault, membership in an illegally established society, and spreading rumours that undermine public interest. The majority of these charges involved the
exercise of freedoms of opinion and expression that are guaranteed by the Bahrain Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
11. Many places of worship were demolished in the aftermath of the events of February/March 2011. Out of 30 places of worship inspected by the Commission, only five had complied with the requisite legal and administrative conditions. Nevertheless, the Commission notes with some concern the timing and method of these demolitions. The government should have realised that under the circumstances, and particularly the timing and manner of the demolitions, that these would be perceived as collective punishment and would therefore inflame existing tensions between the government and the Shiite population.
12. In the aftermath of the February/March 2011 events, over two thousand public sector employees and over 2400 private sector employees were dismissed for their participation in, or support of, the protest movement, and on the grounds that these protests were unrelated to labour issues. The Commission, however, sees that the workers’ protests that occurred were within the permissible bounds of the law.
13. A large number of university students were expelled or suspended in connection with their role in the events of February and March. The Commission finds that the universities applied arbitrary and unclear standards for issuing determinations and taking disciplinary action. The Commission welcomes, however, the move by the Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the University of Bahrain and Bahrain Polytechnic, to reverse the vast majority of disciplinary action taken against students.
14. The Commission received sufficient evidence to support the finding that Sunnis were targeted by some demonstrators, either because they professed loyalty to the regime or on the basis of their sectarian identity. Sunnis were subjected to verbal abuse, physical attacks and attacks on their private property as well as harassment.
15. The Commission finds sufficient evidence to establish that some expatriates, particularly South Asian workers, were exposed to attacks during the February/March events. Pakistanis, in particular, were targeted. Because of the atmosphere of fear which prevailed, some foreign nationals were afraid to return to their work and commercial activities. The Commission found that four expatriates were killed and many were injured by mobs as a result of these attacks.
16. The evidence presented to the Commission in relation to the involvement of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the internal affairs of Bahrain did not reveal a discernible link between specific incidents that occurred in Bahrain during February/March 2011 and Iran. In addition, the Commission has not found any evidence of human rights violations committed by the GCC-JSF units deployed in Bahrain, from 14 March 2011.
17. The Commission concluded that much of the material shown on national television contained derogatory language and inflammatory coverage of events, and some may have been defamatory. However, the Commission did not find evidence of media coverage that constituted hate speech. The Commission also identified numerous examples of defamation, harassment and, in some cases, incitement through social media websites. Both pro- and anti-government journalists were targeted through social media channels.
Your Majesty,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Commission’s report is not limited to outlining, compiling, and analysing the human rights violations that occurred in Bahrain during the period under investigation. Rather, the Commission also submitted the following recommendations to the Government of Bahrain:
1. To establish an independent and impartial national committee that consists of personalities of high standing representing the government, opposition political societies, and civil society to follow up monitor and implement the recommendations of the Commission. This committee should re-examine the laws and procedures that were applied in the aftermath of the events of February and March 2011 in order to make recommendations to the legislature for the appropriate amendments to existing laws and to develop new legislation, in line with the recommendations of this Commission.
2. To establish a national independent and impartial mechanism to hold accountable those in government who have committed unlawful or negligent acts resulting in the deaths, torture and mistreatment of civilians with a view to bringing legal and disciplinary action against such individuals, including those in positions of command, whether civilian or military, in accordance with the principle of superior responsibility.
3. To consider the Office of the Inspector General in the Ministry of Interior as a separate entity, independent of the Ministry‘s hierarchical control. The tasks of this office should include receiving complaints, and should protect the safety and privacy of complainants.
4. To amend the decree establishing the National Security Agency (NSA) in order to keep the organisation as an intelligence gathering agency without law enforcement or arrest authorities. Legislation should also be adopted to provide that the detention of individuals shall be governed by the Code of Criminal Procedure even during the application of a State of National Safety.
5. To adopt legislative measures requiring the Attorney General to investigate claims of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
6. To allow for the review of all convictions rendered by the National Security Courts where fundamental principles of a fair trial were not respected.
7. To conduct effective investigations in all cases of deaths attributed to security forces and identify those responsible for these deaths. Likewise, all allegations of torture and similar treatment should be investigated by an independent and impartial body. In addition, a standing independent body to investigate all complaints of tortureor ill-treatment, excessive use of force or other abuses at the hands of the
authorities should be established. The burden of proof to demonstrate that treatment complies with the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment should be on the state.
8. To implement an extensive program of public order training for the public security forces, the National Security Agency and the Bahrain Defence Force, including their private security companies, in accordance with UN best practices in order to ensure future compliance with the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials.
9. To avoid detention without prompt access to lawyers and without access to the outside world, and, all cases of detention should be subject to effective monitoring by an independent body.
10. The Commission recommends that the government urgently establish, and implement vigorously, a programme for the integration into the security forces of personnel from all the communities in Bahrain.
11. To train the judiciary and prosecutorial personnel on the need to ensure that their activities contribute to the prevention and eradication of torture and ill-treatment.
12. To annul or mitigate convictions of persons charged with offences involving political expression that does not involve the incitement to violence, and to commute the death sentence for cases of murder arising out of the events of February/March 2011.
13. To compensate the families of the deceased victims in a manner that is commensurate with the gravity of their loss, and to compensate all victims of torture, ill-treatment, or prolonged incommunicado detention. In this respect, the Commission welcomes Royal Decree no. 30 of 2011 on the establishment of a compensation fund for victims, which was issued on 22 September 2011.
14. To ensure that the remaining dismissed employees have not been dismissed on the basis of their right to exercise freedom of expression, opinion, association or assembly.
15. To consider relaxing censorship on mass media and to allow the opposition greater access to television broadcasts, radio broadcasts and print media.
16. To undertake appropriate measures including legislative measures to prevent incitement to violence, hatred, sectarianism and other forms of incitement, which lead to the violation of internationally protected human rights.
17. To develop educational programmes at the primary, secondary, and high school levels and at the university level to promote religious, political and other forms of tolerance, as well as the promotion of human rights and the rule of law. In general, the Commission also recommends that the Government of Bahrain develop a national reconciliation program that addresses the grievances of groups which are, or perceive themselves, to be deprived of equal political, social and economic rights and benefits across all segments of Bahrain‘s population.
Your Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa,
Your Highnesses and Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In conclusion, I must express my gratitude to all those who have worked at the Commission, including experts, investigators, assistants and administrators, who have left their homes and laboured for long hours for a full five months under the supervision of the Commissioners in order to prepare this report, which I consider to be a truly unprecedented accomplishment. This report was not limited to describing the events or their context and identifying those accountable for them, but also, in fulfilment of its mandate, analysed the constitutional, legal and administrative structures of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
I hope, Your Majesty, that the government will begin to place, without delay, a timetable for the implementation and follow up of the recommendations of this report.
Finally, Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
“And say, Work, and Allah will surely see your work and also His Messenger and the believers”.
(Surat Al-Thawba, 9:105)
May Allah the Almighty protect the Kingdom of Bahrain and its people, and honour the dignity and prosperity of its people.
Saturday 17 December 2011
Google sleuthing
I am finally starting on the Amnesty International USA's Write-a-thon. Do I get a prize for tracking down the full name and address of the DPRK's ambassador to the UK? It was pretty well hidden.
For the record it is:
His Excellency Mr Cha So'ng-nam, Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Kingdom, 73 Gunnersbury Avenue, London, W5 4LP.
I also needed to do some work to get all the details for the North Korean Ambassador to the UN, the details for are:
His Excellency Mr So-se Pyong, Ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, United Nations, Palais des Nations, CH-1211, Geneve, Switzerland.
I now have a sore arm from using a biro to write long letters. I may give feedback to AI USA that they keep the paragraphs short.
I do feel a lot better knowing I have made one small gesture for the people in the grim prison camps. The person who was the subject of this letter has been held since before I was married. That is a very long time ago, dark ages even....sorry, the worse the situation, the blacker the humour.
Anyway, I always enjoy a google challenge and tend to find what I want.
For the record it is:
His Excellency Mr Cha So'ng-nam, Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Kingdom, 73 Gunnersbury Avenue, London, W5 4LP.
I also needed to do some work to get all the details for the North Korean Ambassador to the UN, the details for are:
His Excellency Mr So-se Pyong, Ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, United Nations, Palais des Nations, CH-1211, Geneve, Switzerland.
I now have a sore arm from using a biro to write long letters. I may give feedback to AI USA that they keep the paragraphs short.
I do feel a lot better knowing I have made one small gesture for the people in the grim prison camps. The person who was the subject of this letter has been held since before I was married. That is a very long time ago, dark ages even....sorry, the worse the situation, the blacker the humour.
Anyway, I always enjoy a google challenge and tend to find what I want.
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Polar bear on my desk
I brought home a mother and a baby polar bear a couple of weeks ago. They were instantly adopted by T and H. The big one has been sitting at the table with us and just now is taking up all the space on my desk in the kitchen.
It is nearly time for me to start really creating mid winter chaos. I will shift my piles of paperwork and "stuff" to make way for my parents' visit tomorrow. Then more stuff will be shifted out of the way to allow for the cards to be displayed. All the laundry needs to be hidden too. My parents are shocked at clothes drying in our kitchen, so I hide it all.
H would like the drawing room to be a Christmas room and I like the idea of us each having our own tree to decorate.
It feels as if it might snow, the sky was an eerie grey and there was just-about-sleet on the car windscreen earlier. My hands are about to get all dry and my hair will be full of static. Time to feed the birds and put water out for them.
We have just moved the bear back to his place at the head of the table. He needed a coat so T and I put his furry arms in the arm holes and did up the zip. Very cute!
S has some books for his team, so it looks as if he is starting his own book group!
It is nearly time for me to start really creating mid winter chaos. I will shift my piles of paperwork and "stuff" to make way for my parents' visit tomorrow. Then more stuff will be shifted out of the way to allow for the cards to be displayed. All the laundry needs to be hidden too. My parents are shocked at clothes drying in our kitchen, so I hide it all.
H would like the drawing room to be a Christmas room and I like the idea of us each having our own tree to decorate.
It feels as if it might snow, the sky was an eerie grey and there was just-about-sleet on the car windscreen earlier. My hands are about to get all dry and my hair will be full of static. Time to feed the birds and put water out for them.
We have just moved the bear back to his place at the head of the table. He needed a coat so T and I put his furry arms in the arm holes and did up the zip. Very cute!
S has some books for his team, so it looks as if he is starting his own book group!
Sunday 11 December 2011
Back to Autumn
I have just been for a walk. It was drizzling nicely. Only people who love drizzle will understand! It was warmer than earlier on, more like autumn than mid-December.
The weather here almost never matches with the billing, hence all the discussion and amazement when it actually is a wintry day....in winter, or roasting hot in summer.
In the middle of the village there is a field for hens and 3 sheep. They avoid the big fallen apples, so on a night like this there is a rich smell of fermenting and composting as I go past the fence. Yum. Those apple trees are so prolific.
There is another path which goes past a paddock for horses, I can anticipate the smell there too.
The weather here almost never matches with the billing, hence all the discussion and amazement when it actually is a wintry day....in winter, or roasting hot in summer.
In the middle of the village there is a field for hens and 3 sheep. They avoid the big fallen apples, so on a night like this there is a rich smell of fermenting and composting as I go past the fence. Yum. Those apple trees are so prolific.
There is another path which goes past a paddock for horses, I can anticipate the smell there too.
Saturday 10 December 2011
Busy crashing
I finally settled down to do some research for the Amnesty Christmas Tree I am decorating for the Tree Festival at our village church.
There is a certain irony in this. Were I not trying to do a PR job via a tree, I would be doing some actual letter writing. I have already promised 5 letters for the Amnesty USA Write-a-thon happening right now. There are 3 new actions for Bahrain too. I am half way through reading the BICI report, but had to take a break when I found it too dense. So that is on hold too.
Last night I was so exhausted I lay on the sofa for 6 hours. I spoke and moved my hands a bit as gestures to go with the speech, but that was it. No eye opening or laundry, washing up, cooking, tidying or general organizing and communicating with others operations.
The lesson I draw from this is that it is a good thing different people are full of energy at different times. Overall it will balance out. If sofa time is needed then so be it.
I did manage to light a log fire though....and collect a pillow and duvet.
There is a certain irony in this. Were I not trying to do a PR job via a tree, I would be doing some actual letter writing. I have already promised 5 letters for the Amnesty USA Write-a-thon happening right now. There are 3 new actions for Bahrain too. I am half way through reading the BICI report, but had to take a break when I found it too dense. So that is on hold too.
Last night I was so exhausted I lay on the sofa for 6 hours. I spoke and moved my hands a bit as gestures to go with the speech, but that was it. No eye opening or laundry, washing up, cooking, tidying or general organizing and communicating with others operations.
The lesson I draw from this is that it is a good thing different people are full of energy at different times. Overall it will balance out. If sofa time is needed then so be it.
I did manage to light a log fire though....and collect a pillow and duvet.
Tuesday 6 December 2011
Gasp
S came back from his travels with a tiny, beautiful box tied with ribbon. We decided to wait til after supper to open it and have a delicious chocolate each. He opened it and we saw two little orange packages, rather like fireworks.
The disappointment and the gasps as we realised that it was a box of special luxury toiletries!! No round truffles tonight, or cherry liqueurs....
The disappointment and the gasps as we realised that it was a box of special luxury toiletries!! No round truffles tonight, or cherry liqueurs....
Monday 5 December 2011
Squares
I have started on a knitting plan. Brown, red and golden squares will make up one blanket and blue, green and purple ones will make up my second blanket.
I am on my 3rd square so far. Apparently it is normal to feel tense when knitting. I had expected to feel all at one with the universe, but got a pain in my back. I shall experiment until it is no longer a problem.
The needles are quite pointy so I have sore first fingers. To relieve this I am knitting as loosely as possible. Mind you, if my hands are dry and slippery the needles slip away entirely onto my lap. Learning is a stop/start business round here.
I am on my 3rd square so far. Apparently it is normal to feel tense when knitting. I had expected to feel all at one with the universe, but got a pain in my back. I shall experiment until it is no longer a problem.
The needles are quite pointy so I have sore first fingers. To relieve this I am knitting as loosely as possible. Mind you, if my hands are dry and slippery the needles slip away entirely onto my lap. Learning is a stop/start business round here.
Sunday 4 December 2011
Ouch, transition time
Changes upset our household, or myself at any rate. S is off to the Gulf for a few days. We are all irritable and in each other's way, or is it just me?
I am in the laundry room and someone comes in more quickly than I like and expects me to move out of the way so they can do what they planned to do. I walk out in an annoyed mood, it is my laundry room and I like to do my work in there in peace....grump, grump. If I am a housewife then I do expect to be able to actually do housewifely activities from time to time.
So I am now sulking in my lovely drawing room and may set up a soothing log fire to burn away my cobwebs. Being here on my blog is a good thing, I feel better already.
I have promised to cook something for my children so I'll head off and do that. First I will lay the fire, then cook and do some knitting in the kitchen, what a life of drama and incident!
I am in the laundry room and someone comes in more quickly than I like and expects me to move out of the way so they can do what they planned to do. I walk out in an annoyed mood, it is my laundry room and I like to do my work in there in peace....grump, grump. If I am a housewife then I do expect to be able to actually do housewifely activities from time to time.
So I am now sulking in my lovely drawing room and may set up a soothing log fire to burn away my cobwebs. Being here on my blog is a good thing, I feel better already.
I have promised to cook something for my children so I'll head off and do that. First I will lay the fire, then cook and do some knitting in the kitchen, what a life of drama and incident!
Saturday 3 December 2011
Lego corner
We had an Advent craft afternoon at our village church today. My contribution was a rug and a big box of Lego. I found a spot between a pew and an altar rail well away from where small children might be roaming.
I sat in a corner with it all in a heap while 2 boys in particular sat and played. They said "Awesome" each time they found a piece they recognised from a set.
I declared the corner shut while a story was read out and then a treasure hunt happened. It is a strong convention that children are to take part in what the others are doing. I reopened the corner after the hunt had finished.
It was so lovely so hear the chatter as they peacefully made their plans, tried this and that, showed things to each other and had the odd disagreement. I think Lego plus time is a soothing combination. I am happiest being around children who are working things out for themselves.
I sat in a corner with it all in a heap while 2 boys in particular sat and played. They said "Awesome" each time they found a piece they recognised from a set.
I declared the corner shut while a story was read out and then a treasure hunt happened. It is a strong convention that children are to take part in what the others are doing. I reopened the corner after the hunt had finished.
It was so lovely so hear the chatter as they peacefully made their plans, tried this and that, showed things to each other and had the odd disagreement. I think Lego plus time is a soothing combination. I am happiest being around children who are working things out for themselves.
Friday 2 December 2011
Deep sleep
For some reason I was washed out, exhausted, tired beyond tired, just like when I was pregnant. I lay right down on the sofa and still felt as if I needed to lie down. The cat who visits us helped me to drop off to sleep, her head and arms resting on my shoulder.
Oh my, I now see from Twitter that Troy Davis' sister Martina died yesterday. I have added a blog to my list written by a photographer who was in Georgia with her the night of 21st September this year. It is called Scott Langley Photography. Please see his tribute to Martina.
I have also found these wonderful words of strength said by Martina after Troy Davis died by execution:
"I want people to know that we didn't fail. As long as we keep hammering away at this thing, as long as we refuse to give up, we haven't failed. We'll be doing what Troy would have wanted us to do."
Oh my, I now see from Twitter that Troy Davis' sister Martina died yesterday. I have added a blog to my list written by a photographer who was in Georgia with her the night of 21st September this year. It is called Scott Langley Photography. Please see his tribute to Martina.
I have also found these wonderful words of strength said by Martina after Troy Davis died by execution:
"I want people to know that we didn't fail. As long as we keep hammering away at this thing, as long as we refuse to give up, we haven't failed. We'll be doing what Troy would have wanted us to do."
Thursday 1 December 2011
BICI Report
I have been reading the BICI report published in English and Arabic last Wednesday, 23rd November.
The Arabic version has been withdrawn due to discrepancies between the versions, so I am assuming errors in translation of some sort.
I have read up to page 259 out of 501. I have brain indigestion when I read it. It is so dense but all the words matter. It is time for a break, so I am being kind to myself and taking some days off.
The Arabic version has been withdrawn due to discrepancies between the versions, so I am assuming errors in translation of some sort.
I have read up to page 259 out of 501. I have brain indigestion when I read it. It is so dense but all the words matter. It is time for a break, so I am being kind to myself and taking some days off.
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