Michelle Wallace's UBUNTU bloghop. An excerpt from Malala Yousafzai's address to the UN on her 16th birthday.

Hello my friends!

Today I'm participating in The Ubuntu Bloghop.

What's that you ask?

Read the description from host, Michelle Wallace from Writer in Transit. Let's help Michelle celebrate 3 years of blogging by joining her in this fascinating bloghop. Hop around and read as many entries as you can -I'm sure you will be inspired.

THE UBUNTU BLOGHOP 

What is ubuntu? "In Africa, there is a concept known as UBUNTU – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others." – Nelson Mandela.

So in the spirit of ubuntu, I invite you to join me in celebrating my 3rd blogoversary!

Date – 18th to 21st February. I've allowed 4 days to make it easier for you guys, since some people only post once a week… save the date that coincides with your blogging schedule!

What can you contribute?

Any form of creativity that captures the spirit of ubuntu is welcome!

~ You can write a poem.

~ Or design some artwork – an illustration, drawing, a photo (or even a series of pictures that tell a story)

~ Write flash fiction.

~ Or non-fiction (a personal story or one that you've seen on TV/in a newspaper/magazine)

~ A short inspirational piece/quote (if you're pressed for time, but REALLY want to participate…)

~ Or simply your thoughts/reflections/hopes with regards to an ubuntu-filled existence…

Here is my entry...

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl shot by the Taliban, has told the UN that books and pens scare extremists, as she urged education for all. Malala has been credited with bringing the issue of women's education to global attention. A quarter of young women around the world have not completed primary school. As a teacher, this resonates with me. Education is power.

Here is an excerpt from Malala's speech to the UN...(addressing the UN at sixteen years of age - what an achievement!)

"The terrorists thought that they would change my aims and stop my ambitions," she said, "but nothing changed in my life, except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born."

She continued: "I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists."

"The extremists were, and they are, afraid of books and pens," added Malala, who was wearing a pink shawl that belonged to assassinated Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto. "They are afraid of women."

She called on politicians to take urgent action to ensure every child has the right to go to school.

"Let us pick up our books and pens," Malala summed up. "They are our most powerful weapons.

"One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world. Education is the only solution. Education first."

Another point of view regarding Pakistan is found in the novel, The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid. (I'm currently studying this novel with a student.) I have linked to the read free online version. Some of you may have seen the film.

Thanks for coming by today. I hope you, also, are inspired by Malala.

Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani schoolgirl is my current hero. WHO'S YOUR HERO? blogfest to announce J L Campbell's novel, Saving Sam.

Congratulations Joy!

The release of the novel Saving Sam by J.L. Campbell has been timed to coincide with National Heroes’ Day celebrations in Jamaica. Sam, the protagonist finds a hero—or heroine if you like—in his aunt and the mission of this blogfest is to write a maximum of 300 words about someone who has been a source of inspiration. So, Who’s Your Hero?

WHO'S MY HERO?

Malala Yousafzai

Malala, the sixteen-year old Pakistani girl shot by the Taliban for insisting on the right for girls to attend school, is my current hero. I've been transfixed by her story. Imagine setting in motion such a sequence of events, accepting what has happened to her at the hands of the Taliban: "I was just one target for their violence", and continuing the fight for girls and education globally once she'd undergone medical treatment in Britain. 

Education is something most of us take for granted, but literacy rates for girls (and boys, too) in countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan are woeful, and who better to begin a campaign for "a world where everyone can go to school", than a young girl directly affected by the recently negative ruling which banned girls from attending school in Pakistan. (When the Taliban controlled Afghanistan, girls were forbidden to attend school, and teachers were executed for clandestine teaching activities.)

Malala has already been awarded the 2013 International Children's Peace Prize and some expected her to win this year's Nobel Peace Prize. She didn't, but I predict in the future she will if the Taliban don't make good their threats to kill her next time. 

She has met President Obama and the Queen of England, but not eveyone thinks Malala is a hero -- In Pakistan reaction has been mixed, with many hailing her as a national heroine while others have criticised her for promoting a "Western" agenda. Hmm. Go Malala! I'm with you all the way!

read more...

Now to the blurb from Joy's latest:

J.L. Campbell is a proud Jamaican and an award-winning writer, who is always on the lookout for story-making material.
She writes romantic suspense, women's fiction and young adult novels. She is the author of Contraband, Christine's Odyssey, Dissolution, Distraction, Don't Get Mad...Get Even, Giving up the Dream, Kicked to the Kerb, Retribution and Hardware (written under the pen name Jayda McTyson).

She blogs at http://www.joylcampbell.com Feel free to connect with her on Facebook or Twitter or visit her Amazon author page.

Now visit some more posts heralding Joy's new book.
There's still some time to sign up if you want to tell us about your hero.