The Unwillingness of Giant Emitters to strike a deal at COP 17 Durban Talks

From the last two talks i.e is COP 15( Copenhagen) COP 16(Cancun, Mexico) its evident that the giant emitters of the destructive gases are either not convinced or they are displaying utter unwillingness to strike a deal on how to cut the emissions. This is how the world captured the talks

Washington Post

The mandatory targets of the Kyoto Protocol cover less than a third of the world’s carbon output. Major emitters are not bound by it. And, increasingly, the world is relying on a patchwork of measures rather than a universal treaty to lessen the impacts of global warming.

“The formal positions are pretty hard on this,” said Jennifer Morgan, director of the World Resources Institute’s climate and energy program. If negotiators walk away from Durban without forging a clear path forward, she said, “it sends a signal that countries aren’t as serious as they need to be about solving the problem of climate change.”

For more on washington post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/as-un-climate-talks-get-underway-in-south-africa-local-strategies-are-replacing-the-kyoto-global-pact/2011/11/23/gIQAG6Gw2N_story_1.html

New York Times

The United States is not a party to the protocol, having refused to even consider ratifying it because of those asymmetrical obligations. Some major countries, including Canada, Japan and Russia, have said they will not agree to an extension of the protocol next year unless the unbalanced requirements of developing and developed countries are changed. That is similar to the United States’ position, which is that any successor treaty must apply equally to all major economies.

But the European Union, the major developing countries, and most African and Pacific island nations would like to see the Kyoto process extended as a prelude to a binding international agreement after 2020 to reduce emissions so as to keep the average global temperature from ever rising more than 2 degrees Celsius, or about 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, above its current level.

United States emissions are down about 6 percent over the past five years, largely because of the drop in industrial and electricity production caused by the recession.   

For more on new york times

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/28/science/earth/nations-meet-to-address-problems-of-climate-change.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y

The african govts themselves seem not to put enough pressure on these environmental offenders(China, US, India, Brazil) yet its said its the developing that will be worst hit by climate change effects. 

As we continue to raise our environmental consciousness lets take upon ourselves to protect the environment in the our own small ways as we can and pressure our govt to put its feet foward on enviromental issues.

Lets use bio degradable materials and reduce consumption of fuel reduce/reuse  fuel products such as plastics.

Wandai Gitonga

A Tree Hugger

    

War on Al Shaabab Unwarranted

Why this is not our war but its us who will suffer its consequences and its them the Al shaabab and the donor community that will benefit from it. Somebody convince me how this is a Kenya war aiming at protecting our pride and territorial integrity when our officers in the army have been accused of recruiting and training the Al shaabab in various army camps in the country.

Convince me if its about territorial integrity why we are not fighting with Uganda and Ethiopia where our hardworking brothers and sisters are being harassed daily by Ugandan authorities and only when the media exposes such does the government pretend to act. 40 Kenyans on single night 2 or 3 months ago were brutally murdered and many more maimed and injured by an Ethiopian militia. Pleasantries were exchanged by the two government's few days later, guess what the militia is back and still hurting our fellow Kenyans. But there no beaches in turkana, there are no investors in Turkana  so why bother throw resources to a region that has no value to the economic.

The over dependence on AID by most African countries makes them address issues to do with foreigners as opposed to acting on issues to do with Kenyans,there lacks enough income from tax to sustain the bloated government and ballooning salaries of Kenyan MPs. That's why every year the minister of finance reads a budget that is imbalanced with more weight on recurrent budget as opposed to development budget. To enable the goverment to cater for the above said ills the govt seeks 'help' from development partners through grants and loans to fill the deficit( and think i the former they are not supposed to pay back). Now i hope you know why the Kenyan who is in Turkana doesn't count to the authorities soo much, the protection of the international is the priority of the Kenyan govt and may be a distant 100 there comes Todonyang when the outcry from Kenyans is deafening or and most likely they want to play politics.

Otherwise how do you explain the govt lack of resources to feed  Kenyans just a few months ago and now it has tonnes of money to go to war we don't know when it will end. The govt has resources to go to war as its citizenry succumb to various cancer ailments due to lack of care and quality treatment in the country. The youths are unemployed because the government has not taken them seriously on issues of job creation and support of innovation through research and business enterprise ventures. The government have unpaid teachers and seriously demotivated civil servants who knock on their door year in year out with minimal success. But when foreigners are abducted note not dead the government is up in arm to defend border sanctity.The border has been constantly been mutilated by the immigration and provicial administration through receiving bribes to allow people who dont qualify to be refugees in the country unvetted. This what you should be fixed not going to war.

Kenyans lets be vigilant lets hold our govt accountable, alot things are going at the moment and this could be another theatrical exercise to divert the attention of Kenyans from what really matters the implementation of the constitution.

They may amend the constitution, they may pass faulty bill that dilute what we voted for overwhelmingly. They may trivialise the irregularities of purchasing 40% of De la rue as they trivialised the sale of Grand regency.

Open your eyes because when they finish eating what is ours they will come for what is yours.  And they have already started through passing all the effects of inflation to the consumer and through this they reward the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Am so smelling something. Lets be vigilant

Wandai

A Thinking Kenyan

Why reaching puberty early may be a disadvantage to many girls: Demystifying menarche as a significant determinant of age at sexual debut (a critical determinant of HIV/AIDS prevalence)

Background

The fight against HIV/AIDs has come a long way and to sustain the positive gains the efforts put must be unrelenting. The war has been fought from different thematic facets which include campaigns against stigma towards the infected and affected, establishment of comprehensive care centers as a one stop shop for the PLWAS where they get all the services needed, campaigns to abstain and be faithful for those already in sexual relationships and championing of responsible sexual behavior through use condoms correctly and consistently.

Studies

Menarcheal age is the age at the onset of the first menstrual period, this event in the life of a girl has been surrounded by myths and misconceptions one of the being considered mature and ready to engage in sexual activity. Over the years studies have shown that the menarcheal age has decreased by at least 1-2 yrs in the last 5 decades from between the ages of 13-14 to 11-12 years. In the U.S. the average age at menarche dropped from 14 years in 1900(Chumlea et al. 2003) to 12.8 years Pinyerd and Zipf 2005). Average age at menarche in Israel has declined from 13 to 11 years (Chodick et al. 2005), from 14 to 12 years in Poland (Hulanicka and Waliszko 1991), in Scotland from 13.2 to 12.7 years (Okasha 2001) and, in Northern Europe, age at menarche is about three years earlier than it was 100 years ago (Parent et al. 2003) as stated by Meghan in study Trends in age at menarche, sexual debut, and oral contraceptive use among Swedish and Swedish Sámi women in 2010. The study show has been caused by climate change, instable status of the modern family, diet etc. In Kenya a study conducted in Nairobi, subjects being primary school girls age range (12-17) years. The mean menarcheal age was 12.5 ± 2.8 years with peak at 12–14 years. A substantial number of girls (10.8%) attained menarche before the age of 11 years, with 2% of them attaining it before 10 years. None attained menarche before nine or after 16 years.

Sexual debut is the initial sexual activity in this case and for purposes of understanding this paper is define as ‘the penis of the male entering the vagina of the female’. The age at sexual debut has been a critical indicator in the fight against HV/AIDS. This has been informed by studies showing the age at sexual debut when delayed could positively impact the on number of partners one engages sexually in their life time, “The age of sexual debut directly impacts the number of sexual partners an individual has over time. Young people who participate in first intercourse before age 14 are significantly more likely to have more lifetime sexual partners. Fifty seven percent of girls who initiate sex before age 14 report six or more lifetime partners, compared to 10 percent of girls who initiate sex at age 17 or older. Likewise, 74 percent of boys who initiate sex before age 14 report six or more lifetime partners compared to 10 percent of boys who initiate sex at age 17 or older”(IYD,1999).

There is minimal or no documented evidence indicating age at menarche as major determinant in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This has relegated the all important indicator to be quoted only in relation and reference to support sexual debut, but this aspect has been studied widely in western world and has helped in the prevention of STIs and use of contraceptives but not HIV/AIDS in specific. The reviewed studies in africa  point to an early age at menarche e.g (9-12)yrs  always leads to an early initial sex activity and consequently increased number of sexual partners and puts girls at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other STIs.

For purposes of this review or essay age 9-12 is defined as early menarche and ages 14-15 is later age at menarche.

The lack attention required for girls at menarcheal age may have a direct relationship with disparity in the male and female HIV/AIDS prevalence biological reasons not withstanding. This disparity in male and female HIV/AIDs prevalence is a further indication that the female population requires extra attention in the fight against the scourge. Currently prevalence among young women 15 to 19 years of age (2.7 percent) is nearly four times higher than prevalence among young men of the same age (0.7 percent); prevalence in 20- to 24-year­old women (6.4 percent) shows a similar fourfold increase compared to that of their male counterparts (1.5 percent), though the national stands prevalence rates for HIV stand at 7.8% (KDHS, 2008—2009)

Increased self efficacy and intention to abstain from sex have been noted as to two important determinants of delayed sexual debut, but an equally important determinant that has been missing is age at menarche commonly “seen as a sign of maturity and readiness to engage in sex” (Glynn et al, 2010). The understanding of the interplay between menarcheal age and sexual debut would be a step towards continuous gradual decrease in HIV/AIDS infections. The empowerment of the girl at the onset of the menstruation period will be helpful. This empowerment will come in what I want to refer as the “Chill Freedom package” for the vulnerable girls (the urban poor, the rural poor, those in displacement camps) at this age. The basic care package will have brochures on abstinence, self esteem topics, two pants, and sanitary pads. This will ensure that positive behavior is maintained and delayed sexual debut will be achieved and ultimately the fight against HIV/AIDS will be enhanced. This can be supported by the Malawian study that shows “early menarche could lead to early sexual debut via school drop-out, or more directly, in response to individual and societal pressures” (Glynn et al, 2010). It goes further to support this claim indicating more than half the girls with menarche before 14 fail to finish primary school, have sex before they are 16 and are married before 17, whereas 70% of girls with menarche at age 16 or older finish primary school, many going on to secondary education, start sex after the age of 18 and marry after the age of 19. The schooling level reached by girls with late menarche is similar to that of boys in the community. That reached by girls with earlier menarche falls far short of this (Glynn et al, 2010).”

Conclusion

The provision of the care package will reduce the chances of the girl either from dropping out of school or to the said individual and societal pressures, the conclusion of the study states and I quote “Women with early menarche start sex and marry early, leading to school drop-out. It is important to find ways to support those who reach menarche early to access the same opportunities as other young women” (Glynn et al, 2010).

The media campaigns and other tailor made interventions should be enhanced with messages targeting the parents, mentors, icons and policy makers. Efforts already in place should be reinforced by those involved targeting family as unit and specific messages developed targeted at the girl aged 10-17 years on self efficacy and menstrual period management as well as delayed sexual debut. Reason being the sex sick society we have become, coupled with a case of broken social support system has been an impediment towards a clear shot victory against the HIV plague. Earlier age of menarche was found to be associated with adverse childhood experiences and earlier sexual activity. Negative family behaviors which include family abandonment by either parents lead girls to earlier menarche and sexual activity and less stable relationships.

For the war to be won we must win the battle first and this new battle front should not be ignored. An integration of sort between efforts on delayed sexual debut and those to delay and manage the age at menarche should be reinforced. The government and those in with interest in the girl child and the community as whole should join hands and fight as one.

References

http://www.ejhs.org/volume10/sexual_debut_ages.htm

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajmg.b.20114/abstract

http://www.academia.edu/Papers/in/Sami_Women

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0015334

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096880800190014X

Kenya Census Bureau UNAIDS ***KDHS 2008—2009

WHO/UNAIDS/UNICEF Towards Universal Access report, 2008 recent national surveys, including the 2007

Lets be Vigilant: know Your Constitution

The constitution will be my constant north those were the words of the new chief justice Willy Mutunga in one of the grilling sessions preceding his appointment. Four days after assuming office the respected human rights champion hosted two of reckoned artists gado the cartoonist and kelvin the sculptor, mission- to present a Wanjiku look like one meter in height fibre glass and bronze sculpture. As one commentary put it unlike the copy of the constitution that President Kibaki signed together with one of the pens he used are in key and lock in the office as wanjiku's eyes with her imposing figure is overlook the office space in freedom. It should be a celebratory moment for Kenyans as Wanjiku takes her rightful place in the senior most judicial office in the land as she represents a face identifiable with most Kenyans. Wanjiku mostly seen donning a basket this time appeared in the office of the president of supreme court with her usual patched up skirt this time her basket containing a copy  of the promulgated constitution.

As we usher in this new judicial dispensation, our optimism as well as our excitement are at unprecedented high. Our celebrations should not be without purpose but should coupled with caution against complacency. Although the CJ indicated Wanjiku's presence in his office will be a constant reminder of what justice should be about, we must never relent in holding our institutions accountable including the judiciary lest history will repeat itself.

Again as i always there is soo much to talk about other that sex and sexuality

Wandai

Author: the sexist society we have become

Insights from kayole: Stories of shock, faith and hope: 3

This is the final series of 'insights from kayole' it will be more reflective compared to the narrative nature of the first two. When i think of where we have come to find our selves as country in general and communities in specific i cant stop but ask myself when did the rain start beating us. When did we become so cruel that we cannot take care of our children. When did we become so inhumane that we can abandon our children on the road side without emotions. When did our values change that we became so selfish and greedy that we cannot take care for our destitute with dignity.

The situation is alarming that for a city council that is collecting billions of shilling in land rates, licence fee and parking fee among others as sources of income cannot support its own institutions like Kayole children's home. People like Davie who given their lives into the service of children are pushed to the wall and are forced to choose between the homes provisions such as food and other necessities over their salaries.

Recently  we adopted the new constitution, which is a major step towards achieving more positives as a country. But the citizenry must be vigilant otherwise this constitution will turn into a white elephant . The gains we have made can dissipate and the gains we expect especially in accountability and participatory planning may soon be out of sight. I therefore urge each of us to take responsibility, build the Kenya you want to see and live in. You may ask the damage is already done but i will tell you a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Its funny how we want others to change but not us,  Do your part and  i do mine and be the change you want to see. We feel insecure in town because of the street families yet we as people of Kenya we are championing irresponsible sexual behavior, our families are no longer a moral inspiration, the media displays sex as cool and the society has disowned its young ones. I believe each one of us is unique in his/her own way, lets our diversity be our strength and stand on the shoulders of our  forefathers who selflessly defended this beautiful land of Kenya we now takee for granted.

As a country let us be honest with ourselves, lets restore our values, and contribute to sustainable future for us and posterity.

Wandai

the author: the sexist society we have become.

Insights from kayole: Stories of shock, faith and hope: 2

Davie didn't stop with the sodomy story and he gave another shocker, the story of how street women are bundled in trucks from town into the rehab center because they cannot be taken to court since there is no law in place to cater for this issue. Davie has a nyahunyo (whip) in his office used to discipline these women when they become unruly and abusive which some is very extreme and offensive. These women are 'married' or cohabiting with street men(read men who grew in the streets as children). Once their women are taken away by city council askaris to Davie's rehab the men are informed and they take up arms including real and fake rivals commonly known as 'bonokos' to rescues their women. they very vulgar and sometimes they use unorthodox methods like stripping off their clothes to free themselves from Davie's compound. But Davie has come to adopt to this life and to supplement the nyahunyo Davie is well built and once in a while in the line duty is forced to punch some sense into these men and women. in one such a case the men came to rescue these women and Davie was kidnapped and almost killed him but he was able to convince the driver of one the vehicles they were  using that they were being tracked and will just be a matter of minutes before  they were rounded up.

Anyway Davie was finally rescued and he is safe and sound and if there is someone who deserves jeff's capital talk  bench is Davie.

But the issue leading to his capture still remains and as  such we need to speak them out we need to pressure the city council of Nairobi to act and clean up the streets using the money we pay as license fee for safe business environment though its unsafe as ever, we must pressure the council put more rehabs for elderly members of the street families, with the parking fee which can not even guarantee the security of your vehicle. And finally clean up the garbage that is both an eyesore cum employment creator for these families.

The street families do the council work of separating the recyclables and nons yet they cant assimilate them in formal employment and give them a decent livelihood. All their lives they have known taka as a resource its what feeds them. The council should support their efforts by setting up recycling plants that will buy the recycling material at fair price and employ some of them in these plants.

The children should be rescued early enough from the streets to save them from a definite trauma and harsh living conditions the government should put in place policy on the homeless.

The reason whys i called these series of faith and hope, the faces of the children who have willingly decided to change gives this story an otherwise dull a positive at twist. Children always have a face that makes everything look easy and simple. Their faces don't complain they just grow and they are open to opportunities, advice, wise counsel they need your help to see their dreams come true. So if you find deep down in yourself you have the heart to help, you don't  have necessarily to come to kayole there are other needy children in children homes scattered across town pass by, it may be a word of counsel,encouragement, or material,'or even help in home work. You will have left a mark in that child's life and in due time you will be rewarded by the one who sees even in secret. 

Tomorrow will look at why previous noble intervention did work as remedy to get rid of the street families off the streets  

Insights from kayole: Stories of shock, faith and hope

Sometimes i feel philanthropic enough with my time and as such this weekend i decided to visit a children's home in one of Nairobi's mushrooming satellite towns i.e kayola. Kayole a neighborhood known more for its negatives than positives lie on the far east side of the city in the sun.Into kayole and along the way the most conspicuous things other than dumped plastics bags is  pentecostal churches dotting the route to Kayole 1 estate e.g holy Ground church, Shedah Gospel church etc., as sign of religion being the opium of the poor. After 30 minutes ride from city center we at kayole rehabilitation center. A home for street girls. the home hold about 200 young girls. We are met by some of the girls at the bus stop who are eager to assist in carrying some the foodstuffs that we have brought. I became an instant friend with carol, a tall young and shy looking, beautiful girl.

Carol has quick strides and am the first one in the compound, carol takes me straight to the in charge of the center his name is David commonly referred by peers, colleagues and even the girls as 'Davie' . He is very welcoming and after we gather around in a space of what can be termed as assembly ground Davie introduces us to the children and gives us a quick tour round the rehab compound. But as they say the devil is in the details inside, the issues that boil down in this home are not evident until the eloquent Davie tell us about his time in this home. the home is run by the city council of Nairobi known for ineffectiveness and the warring councillors am surprised there is something that can come out of it. The home receives support the Kenya corporates and well wishers like me. But in contrast to the well groomed classrooms, the doms and environment in general, the inside story from Davie narrations that open to the ugly side of this rehab story. Sodomy its so rampant among the former street boys and cannot do with out it. The dormitory once with double decker beds are are now halved to discourage the vice. The situation was so bad that the boys at one time would give up their meal of githeri in exchange for the act. In a series of a few posts i will delve more in this. as i always say there is more to do and discuss about our society than sex this, society is sick , its ill and its crying for diagnosis and treatment.

Wandai.
The sexist society we have become 

Wandai: Sexist Society we have become

Wandai: Sexist Society we have become

Sexist Society we have become

Statistic show that people in social network are likely to comment on an issue with sexual connotations as opposed to issues concerning the hungry or hunger itself, collapsed buildings or the people trapped in them, cost of living or actual living and others matters of more importance than sex.

 Am actually concerned because the worst affected and have no chances of changing this kind of behavior is the young adults of ages between  25 and above-into the late 30s. We got our values all wrong. i dont know where we have picked the behaviors from that s a topic for anothe day.  I wonna be the voice of reason in jungle and the rough terrain of this sexist society. i didn't say it will be easy but life especially when your past has been dotted with the same.

the kind of responses one receives when they post a sexual related post on their wall or pages are fast, varied and 

Young people on facebook will not discuss community service or the community itself, the will not discuss the stock market or markets themselves, they will not discuss marriage or what ails this institution . but they will fill your wall with the new joint for strippers, the new terms in the sex world, the will discuss sex and sex styles in detail, they will discuss sexy dresses and the wearers.

But this is the real world and this is the reality check, if you are in this business and you call yourself a christian stop adulterating this term. Sex is good and great  only in an environment of trust, respect, consent and of course religious obligations. Soliciting sex from a minor either through coercive behavior, intimidation,enticement under the disguise of free will is evil and crude .

Wandai Gitonga