A Crumbling Neighbourhood
>> Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Boy standing at the rubble of what's left of his home from a collapsed building of apartment blocks in Old Cairo.
Building collapses are a common occurrence in the many areas in Cairo inhabited by masses of Egyptians on lower incomes. They are typically the result of unregulated constructions with poor materials and corner-cutting contractors. One of the most significant infrastructure problems in these areas is the practice of adding on more stories than a foundation can bear. Here, the foundations are built by just putting bricks together and buildings are placed next to each other to balance them. Time and extreme dry conditions also takes its toll with deterioration of these buildings.
Below the collapsed building of apartment blocks(see above pic) is a gritty and overcrowded home to Old Cairo’s street vendors, taxi drivers and doormen. In the cramped, unhygienic rooms live families of up to ten members in each apartment consisting of just one room, measuring 20 by 100 foot. Paint is used on the walls to cover and fill in cracks to make their homes look aesthetically pleasing.
The families within these households are at risk from diseases, particularly due to airborne pollution, unsafe food handling practices, exposure to household’s garbage, and the overcrowded housing which are all characteristics of urban slum environments.
In the Crowd: President Obama's Inauguration
>> Thursday, 29 January 2009
Crowds were thick, boisterous and friendly, with an estimated two million struggling to peer through the many heads at a Jumbrotron out of twenty that were placed there. I remember when we all laughed when the presenter told us to be seated, as there were no seats for miles on end, for nearly all of us. Emotions were running high, from booing George W. Bush and Dick Cheney as they entered the scene, to cheers when Barack Obama arrived and even when Bush left!
Only one voice could be heard for miles when Obama began his first speech as the first African-American President, touching the hearts of those who strained to hear him. There were spontaneous cheers during his speech and once it was over, many were wiping away tears, hugging and even dancing.
The photographs of the people I encountered were chosen to match the energy, excitement and hope of what this moment meant for all. As for me, I was happy to get a glimpse of heaven, even if it was for one day, where everyone stood together as one. Race, skin colour, disability, religion were dead for a day.
George Galloway
>> Monday, 5 January 2009
I made a politician laugh.
That's one resolution I can tick off for new years. Only twenty more to go, for the years I failed to make one.
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