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savetopnow · 6 years

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2018-03-08 15 CELEBRITY now

CELEBRITY

Kylie Jenner Reveals the Special Meaning Behind Her New $450 Ring

David Oyelowo Reveals Surprising Secret About ''Foul-Mouthed'' Charlize Theron

Patton Oswalt Praises Late Wife as New Book Debuts as No. 1 New York Times Bestseller

Giuliana Rancic Gets a Message for Her Best Friend and Christina El Moussa Connects With Her Grandma on Hollywood Medium

Imposters' Parker Young Engaged, Expecting Baby With Stephanie Weber

Hollywood Life

Taylor Swift’s Longtime Director Teases Her ‘Delicate’ Music Video — ‘It’s Completely Unexpected’

Michael B. Jordan Fan Thirsted Over His ‘Black Panther’ Scenes So Hard She Broke Her Retainer

‘RHONJ’: 2 New Women Join The Cast Ahead Of Season 9 — 5 Things To Know

Bekah M. Has ‘No Doubt’ Arie Luyendyk Jr. Will Cheat On Fiancee Lauren B.

‘American Crime Story’ Recap: Gianni Urges Donatella To Take Control

Media Take Out

Desiigner Caught Taking A PIZZ On Someone’s House!! (PICS)

Comedian Sinbad Appears To Be SNITCHING On Russell Simmons . . . Says ‘MORE WOMEN’ Are Gonna Come Out With RAPE Claims!!!

Shirley Strawberry From Teh STEVE HARVEY RADIO SHOW . . . Is Being Sued . . . For Being a ‘DEADBEAT’!!

People

Mariah Carey Reveals She Does Not 'Give a Damn' About the Grammy Awards

Princess Eugenie Says Sister Beatrice Encouraged Her to 'Live Fearlessly' Despite Her Scoliosis

Kylie Jenner Wears a Ring with Travis Scott's Initials on That Finger

Salma Hayek's Favorite Moment at the Oscars Was When She Got a Foot Massage

Teen Who Helped Sex Trafficking Victims Allegedly Murdered by Man Who Claims She Was a Prostitute

Perez Hilton

Kitten Performs Mercury LIVE!

Britney Spears & Kevin Federline Aren't The Only Celebs With Baby Momma/Daddy Drama!

Jilted Bachelor Winner Melissa Rycroft SLAMS Arie Luyendyk Jr.!

Kylie Jenner Spotted With Mystery Mark On Her Face Amid Miami Trip

Justin Theroux Loves The Bachelor! Watch Him Do His Own Rose Ceremony AND Learn Whose Team He Was On!

Popsugar

Chrissy Teigen Mourns the Death of Her Dog Puddy: "I Will Love You Forever, My Boy"

Meghan Markle May Not Be Married Yet, but She's Already Got This Whole Royal Thing Down

Prince Harry Makes a Special Trip to the Racetrack He and Diana Visited 24 Years Ago

Lionel Richie's Cooler-Than-Cool Family Beams With Pride at His Hand and Footprint Ceremony

What Will Camilla's Title Be When Prince Charles Takes the Throne?

Reddit Entertainment

Michael B. Jordan Says His Production Company Will Adopt Inclusion Rider On All Projects

Michael B. Jordan To Adopt Inclusion Rider For His Producton Company’s Projects

In Defense Of The 'Ready Player One' Nostalgia Porn Posters

TruTV Renews 'Impractical Jokers,' Orders Feature Film From Funny or Die

What YouTube Pranksters Could Learn From ‘Windy City Heat’

TMZ

Accused Oscar Thief, Terry Bryant, Pleads Not Guilty

Rampage Jackson Surprises Manager with New $100k Range Rover

'America's Got Talent' Hit with Wrongful Death Lawsuit

Paige VanZant Guarantees UFC Return In 6 Months, I'm Still a Contender!

Alvin Kamara Trains Insane, Pulls Weights, Weight Rack, AND TRUCK

The Shade Room

Terry Crews’ Sexual Assault Claim Against Adam Venit Declined By L.A. City Attorney

Hundreds Of Atlanta Schools & Businesses Closed Today Amid Water Main Break

Kenya Moore & Hubby Marc Daly Do Their First Interview Together, Marc Says He’s A Real Person

Too Short Provides Text Messages Showing That He & Sexual Battery Accuser’s Relationship Was 100% Consensual

Philly School Offers Cash Reward For Students To Stop Fighting

Us Weekly

‘Catfish’ Finale Recap: Woman Falsely Confesses To Being a Catfish

'Imposters' Star Parker Young Engaged, Expecting Baby Girl With Fiancee: Details

Meghan Markle Baptized at the Chapel Royal at St. James Palace

Katherine Heigl Hits the Beach in a Bikini During Family Vacation

Savannah Guthrie, Jack Sock Took on Roger Federer, Bill Gates in Tennis Match

#celebrity

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lospeakerscorner · 4 years

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All’Anfiteatro campano omaggio a Fellini e Sordi e il Subterranean Homesick Blues Festival

SANTA MARIA CAPUA VETERE (CE) – L’Anfiteatro campano, sito della Direzione regionale Musei Campania, complesso di epoca romana edificato tra la fine del I e gli inizi del II secolo d.C. e secondo per grandezza solo al Colosseo, ospiterà tre serate di grande musica lunedì 14, mercoledì 16 e giovedì 17 settembre.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

L’anfiteatro campano di Santa Maria Capua Vetere è, dopo il Colosseo, il più grande mai realizzato nel mondo romano. Costruito tra la fine del I e gli inizi del II sec. d.C., fu restaurato e decorato con statue e colonne di marmo dall’imperatore Adriano ed inaugurato da Antonino Pio, come riporta un’epigrafe rinvenuta nel ‘700 vicino la porta meridionale, oggi conservata nel Museo campano. Questo straordinario edificio fu protagonista di grandiosi giochi gladiatori che animarono l’antica Capua, sede di una delle più importanti scuole dell’Impero. L’edificio a pianta ellittica, alto 44 metri, misura circa 174 metri nell’asse maggiore e circa 144 in quello minore, originariamente era articolato su quattro piani, i primi tre costituiti ciascuno da una successione di 80 arcate, realizzate in blocchi di calcare del monte Tifata, ad eccezione di quelle poste in corrispondenza dei quattro punti cardinali, coincidenti con gli ingressi principali; il quarto piano era in muratura piena, scandito da lesene e finestre. La decorazione scultorea, di cui oggi poco si conserva, era ricchissima: 80 busti di divinità ornavano il centro di ogni arcata, oggi ancora presenti solo sul lato est della struttura: una di queste raffigura Diana con il diadema sulla fronte e la faretra sulla spalla destra, mentre l’altra Giunone anch’essa con diadema ma con un velo che dalla chioma scende sulle spalle. Tali decorazioni servivano ad orientare gli spettatori verso i vari settori della cavea, sostituendo la numerazione. Numerose dovevano essere anche le sculture, di cui ci sono pervenuti esempi notevoli come la Venere, Psiche e Adone, oggi al MANN. Decorazioni zoomorfe, scene mitologiche e storiche ornavano invece i “vomitoria”, cioè i passaggi che davano accesso alle gradinate. Nonostante le rovinose distruzioni che subì con il saccheggio dei vandali nel 456 d.C., mantenne la funzione di arena per combattimenti con animali almeno fino al 530 d.C. Dopo la distruzione saracena dell’841 d.C. l’Anfiteatro divenne fortezza e fu chiamato Colossum o Virilasci; in età normanno-sveva divenne una enorme cava di materiale da costruzione di chiese, palazzi, edifici pubblici e privati di gran parte della nuova Capua.

L’iniziativa è programmata e finanziata dalla Regione Campania, organizzata e promossa da Scabec Spa, nell’ambito di Campania by Night, con la Direzione regionale Musei Campania diretta da Marta Ragozzino e l’Anfiteatro campano, diretto da Ida Gennarelli.

Lunedì 14 settembre alle ore 21 andrà in scena un concerto in omaggio a Federico Fellini e Alberto Sordiper la doppia ricorrenza dei cento anni dalla nascita: “100 Anni… di magica amicizia, Fellini e Sordi 1920–2020”. Un repertorio di colonne sonore dei film dei due grandi maestri del cinema italiano. Il Maestro Vince Tempera al pianoforte, accompagnato dal quartetto d’archi Alkemia quartet e dall’attrice e cantante Paola Lavini, racconterà la carriera e l’amicizia di Fellini e Sordi, attraverso le colonne sonore dei loro film più famosi sulle note composte da Nino Rota, Bacalov, Piovani e Piccioni.

Mercoledì 16 settembre alleore 20.30 tre concerti del Subterranean Homesick Blues Festival. Doppio live sul palco salirà Bai Kamara Jr. Acoustic Solo, originale voce funky, che mescola influenze soul, blues, roots, swamp, voodoo e jazz. Il suo Blues pieno di poesia trasporterà lo spettatore dalle rive del Mississippi a Chicago senza dimenticare le origini africane. Alle 21. 45 protagonista Gennaro Porcelli Band. Chitarrista di Edoardo Bennato dal 2005 e leader del trio Gennaro Porcelli & the Highway 61, Porcelli è considerato da pubblico e critica uno dei talenti del Blues “made in Italy”. Il suo repertorio spazia dal Chicago style a New Orleans, dallo stile di Austin a quello di Memphis, quasi a ripercorrere idealmente la Highway 61, la nota autostrada americana lungo la quale si sono sviluppati i diversi stili del Blues. In formazione sul palco Gennaro Porcelli, chitarra e voce, Diego Imparato, basso, Raffaele Lopez, tastiere, Claudio Romano, batteria e special guest Mario Insenga alla batteria.

Giovedì 17 settembre alle ore 21chiude il Subterranean Homesick Blues Festival con il concerto di Matthew Lee Band: fenomeno del pianoforte, cantante e straordinario performer appassionato di rock’n’roll con una carriera internazionale iniziata da giovanissimo, è considerato tutt’oggi uno dei principali protagonisti del rilancio delle atmosfere anni ‘50.

Le tre serate saranno precedute da visite guidate all’Anfiteatro e al Museo dei Gladiatori a cura di Le Nuvole: sono previsti tre turni di visita con ingressi contingentati negli orari 17.30 – 18.30 – 19.30. Per ciascuno degli slot orari partiranno in contemporanea due gruppi da 20 persone. Un gruppo inizierà la visita partendo dal Museo dei Gladiatori e l’altro partendo dall’Anfiteatro campano; dopo i primi 20 minuti di visita, si alterneranno. Durata totale della visita: 40 minuti.

Costo biglietto (concerto + visita guidata): intero 5 euro, ridotto 2,50 euro (under 30; over 65; possessori di Campania Artecard), gratuito (prevendita obbligatoria): under 18, disabili.

Per maggiori informazioni www.campaniabynight.it

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Biglietteria:

14 settembre

https://www.azzurroservice.net/biglietti/100-anni-di-magica-amicizia-fellini-e-sordi-19202020/#.X1t-3y2uZ-V

16-17 settembre

https://www.azzurroservice.net/biglietti/subterranean-homesick-blues-festival-blues/#.X1t8dXkzaUk

Fellini, Sordi e tanto Blues All’Anfiteatro campano omaggio a Fellini e Sordi e il Subterranean Homesick Blues Festival SANTA MARIA CAPUA VETERE (CE) - L’

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khalilhumam · 4 years

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The day Liberia shut down freedom of expression amid a mass protest

New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/the-day-liberia-shut-down-freedom-of-expression-amid-a-mass-protest/

The day Liberia shut down freedom of expression amid a mass protest

Liberians recount the June 7 protest that led to a shutdown

Protester poses for a photo under the banner “Save the State,” photo by Mark N. Mengonfia, June 7, 2019, Monrovia, Liberia, used with permission.

This article is part of UPROAR, a Small Media initiative that is urging governments to address digital rights challenges at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

An internet shutdown last year on the day of a major protest in Monrovia, Liberia, continues to generate tension between citizens and the government over the right to freedom of expression online.

On June 7, 2019, a group of predominantly young people gathered in the capital Monrovia, under the slogan, “Save the State,” to protest against poor governance and make demands of President George Weah’s government to account for some missing $16 billion Liberian dollars — about $80,282,272 United States dollars.

Throughout the day of the much-publicized protest, the Liberian government disrupted access to social media services for hours.

Social media has taken over traditional forms of communication in Liberia since the late 2000s, and Facebook, in particular, has been an eye-opener to the world. A 2018 social media statistics in Liberia report showed that 10 percent of the country’s estimated 3.5 million citizens use social media, specifically Facebook, with men accounting for about 60 percent of users and women, about 40 percent. Youth between 25-34 years old accounted for 184,000 of these users.

These new opportunities for free expression across a wide range of online platforms have pushed the government to adopt measures to restrict users’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information. According to critics, the Liberian government resorted to disrupting social media access on June 7, to prevent live protest coverage and the mobilization of protesters.

Fidel Saydee, a Liberian journalist and former manager of Roots FM, told Global Voices that the disruption prevented his radio from effectively covering the protests:

The action, which was condemned by a cross-section of the Liberian society, made it impossible for the services on our website, my tuner and other outlets to be broadcast.

At the time, Saydee was the co-host of the “Costa Show,” an online platform operated by Henry P. Costa, a strong critic of the Weah government and lead organizer of the June 7 protest. Saydee told Global Voices that their “listeners could not have a feel of the events.” He continued:

Onsite reporters could not file in live reports through our social media platform for onward transmission on air. On-air personalities were left to wander in oblivion as to what was happening outside of the studio.

Boakai Amara Kamara, who also works for Costa, described the action by the Liberian government as saddening, saying that it was “an act against freedom of speech.’’

The “Costa Show” was a provocative radio talk show that also streamed online via Facebook. The show — and the radio itself — have been known for their criticism of poor governance by administrations of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and her predecessor, current President George Manneh Weah.

Saydee said their live social media broadcast was disrupted many times whenever he and Costa started to speak on perceived ills in Liberian society. Saydee did not specify how many times their broadcast was disrupted. However, Roots FM was shut down by the government last year due to alleged licensing issues. The move was slammed by press freedom groups.

Others also decried the disruption of social media during the June 7 protest.

Some citizens told Global Voices they could not communicate with their relatives abroad via Facebook Messenger and other messaging and VoIP apps. Many also viewed the government’s decision as a total violation of their right to freedom of expression and information in keeping with international human rights instruments, as well as Article 15 (a) (b) and (c) of the 1986 constitution of Liberia, which speaks to freedom of speech, information and expressions.

Diana Teah, a resident of the Township of Johnsonville and a student of the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), told Global Voices that the June 7 protest was very historic:

The government of Liberia, which is supposed to uphold freedom of speech, took on a very bad trend on that fateful day.

She described the disruption as an “embarrassment to the people of Liberia” and other nationals living in the West African nation:

Not only for us but the international observers, those who were present here that day, [they] were all embarrassed, maintaining that social media is one of the important places where we receive and give out information! I advise that the government of Liberia pays attention to the growth and development of our country that is dying rather than focusing on shutting down Facebook.

Other Liberians, however, defended the government’s decision to disrupt internet access, holding the view that it is the government’s prerogative to provide security. Alicemae Kwapo, a Liberian who currently resides in the United States, said the ‘’government was right, they performed their responsibility.’’

Via a Facebook Messenger interview, Kwapo indicated that shutting down social media services “on that day actually had far less impact on the people than the demonstration did. …The general public did not know the risk and reason for which the Liberian government acted the way it did during the protest day,’’ she added.

While the government did not provide a reason for the shutdown, intentional internet disruptions are considered a violation of international human rights standards.

Liberia, a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), should refrain from ordering such disruptions and take steps to ensure the rights of users to freely express themselves and access information online.

Written by Mark Neywon Mengonfia · comments (0) Donate · Share this: twitter facebook reddit

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flrgrsd · 4 years

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Digital Brief - Research Task

Fashion Stylist - Historic

Edward Enninful - Enninful is the editor-in-chief of British Vogue and has helped t shape a new vision for fashion media. Enninful has placed “diversity of perspective” into the industries core. His vision for Vogue is “about being inclusive. It’s not just about the colour of your skin but the diversity of perspective”. I love this idea and that diversity in the industry takes many forms and not just in peoples physical attributes but also intrinsically and the perspective you have. Enninful began his career as a fashion director of i-D magazine. Enninful’s digital prowess and drive to push Vogue to a new coverage areas has seen the publication reach new, younger audiences across social media, online and video. Digital traffic of the magazine grew by 7.8% to 14.8 million monthly users in 2018. Ghanian born Enninful moved to London at a young age and was scouted to be a model at 16 for Arena ad i-D magazine to then go on and assist Simon Foxton and Beth Summers in fashion shoots.

Diana Vreeland- Vreeland is even more vital and relevant today than at the time of her death in 1989. While her reputation in the fashion world is well known, the actual breadth of her career and extent of her reach is most definitely immeasurable. The true gold standard of fashion and style credibility, Vreeland is responsible for launching many iconic careers, establishing countless trends that have stood the test of time, and bringing an unprecedented and incontrovertible perspective to the fashion world that has scarcely been seen since. Long before her death in 1989, Vreeland was already a cultural legend at Harpers Bazaar and Vogue.

Judy Blame- Blame began his career as a stylist and accessory designer. Blame began his career in the 1980s as a member of the late photographer Ray Petri’s working group, Buffalo Boys. He later went on to contribute to i-D magazine as well as working as an image-consultant for Neneh Cherry, Björk and Boy George. Blame's punk aesthetic was influential for magazines including The Face and i-D.Blame collaborated with designers including Richard Nicoll, Gareth Pugh, John Galliano for Christian Dior, where he acted as creative consultant, and with Rei Kawakubo at Comme des Garçons, where he designed men's accessories.

Fashion Stylist - Contemporary

Alize Demange - Alizé is one of the most in-demand stylists in London right now, with her roster of figures dominating the music, television and fashion industries.When Alizé isn’t collaborating with artists and designers she is developing another side to her career – curation and consultancy. Further to this, she paves the way for young creatives in her city through working on a number of workshops and panels.Last year saw Alizé found self-development lifestyle brand and creative network ‘NOTE TO SELF’ a space dedicated to young women in creative businesses. Additionally, she launched her first fashion brand ‘1991BABESTORE’, an upcycled nightwear collection for the London girl. She has worked with the likes of WSTRN, Maya Jama, Aitch and Young T & Bugsey. I find her work, talent, and motivation really inspiring and has pushed me to even consider a career in styling.

Akeem Smith- Akeem Smith is the Jamaican-born, NYC-based stylist and creative director who’s spent the past few years defining fashion’s underground. Whether it’s styling shoots starring muscle cows or recreating bedroom scenes inspired by Caribbean households, Smith’s cross-cultural references have seen him style Yeezy Season 2, work magic with Claire Barrow, create stunning imagery with photographer Eloise Parry and help smash gender and beauty ideals with Hood By Air, where his vital styling and casting contributions helped cement the brand’s striking visual identity.In fact, it’s Smith’s very specific references, drawn from a childhood spent observing his grandmother’s dancehall atelier in Jamaica, that’s given him an eye for the visually spectacular.

Ibrahim Kamara- Ibrahim Kamara is a British stylist who challenges conventional notions of menswear and masculinity with his distinctive styling and art direction through his work for the likes of Stella McCartney , Burberry and Dior. In June 2018, Kamara joined i-D as fashion editor at large, before being promoted to senior fashion editor at large in July 2019.Born in Sierra Leone, Kamara grew up in the Gambia before moving to London aged 11. He attended Central Saint Martins, where he worked on a project entitled “2026,” which explored what black masculinity could look like 10 years in the future, and was exhibited at Somerset House as part of the show “Utopian Voices Here and Now.” For the exhibition, he dumpster-dived in areas of Johannesburg with photographer and long-time collaborator Kristin-Lee Moolman, searching for discarded outfits and refashioning them into new clothes.

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adriartts · 7 days

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redraw at the cliffside

#original #oc #Diana Kamara #Julian Dae #diana my beloved. i am thinking of her and thinking of her and thinking of her and th

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myfrogtee · 4 years

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Brees Jordan Kamara Ingram Squad Goals shirt

On the night of the Met Gala Brees Jordan Kamara Ingram Squad Goals shirt. Pose star Billy Porter shut down the red carpet with one of the most fabulous entrances of all time. Carried in on a litter supported by six shirtless men, he nodded to ancient Egypt with a custom “Sun God” look, inspired by Diana Ross’s character in the campy film Mahogany. It was a custom creation by The Blonds, complete…

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oswald-hanciles-posts · 5 years

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THE OSWALD HANCLIES COLUMN (July 22nd 2019 edition)

‘Ernest’ Warns Investors… Need for ‘Mass Tourism Education’ in Salone

http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/?p=55746

April 13, 2013.

On the 3rd of April, 2013, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, H.E. Ernest Bai Koroma, issued a stern warning to ‘investors’ that would be granted land leases by government to spawn some marketable investment – from tourism to mining – but, would fail to utilize such lands for legally agreed purposes; he said that government reserves the right to repossess such lands, because it is obvious those who have not developed these lands lack the “technical and financial capacity to do so”. This was during the launching of Sweet Salone’s The Place luxury resort on the idyllic Tokeh beachfront in the Freetown peninsular. President Koroma praised Sweet Salone for being “the first serious investor in tourism” from 2007 – during his first term in office – to the present. The President’s blend of praise and tough talk was ‘fallamakata-ed’ (emulated) by his land/environment minister, Musa Tarawally. The latter said that Sierra Leone is determined to give every encouragement to foreign investors; and issued a caustic warning to not only questionable foreign investors, but, also citizens who are like cancerous cells on the environment - “land grabbers and squatters”. Minister Tarawaly said that government would ensure “healthy and proper use of land”, so that “meaningful investment …won’t be strangled”.

Construction of Mansions above the ‘Green Line’ – with Impunity!!

Last week, I went to one of my paternal villages, Gloucester (my father, Ethelbert Hanciles. was born in Bonthe; but, my grandfather, V. Hanciles, was born and bred in Gloucester, and went to work in Bonthe in the early 20th Century, where he died and was buried). Gloucester is one of the first mountain villages where slaves freed in the Americas, bundled to Britain, repatriated to ‘Freetown’, settled in… at the end of the Protracted Holocaust of the Atlantic Slave Trade in the late 18th Century. My nephew resident in Gloucester, Frederick Hanciles, guided me as I directed video recording with a Freetown-based film company, Studio J (owned by French Jew, Charles Ostrov). Environmental degradation in Gloucester is chilling, and criminal. There is an ‘environmental law’ in Sierra Leone which forbids any development – for building or farming – on the mountains above the ‘green line’. (That is just about the middle of the mountain from the bottom). But, in Goderich, on nearly all the mountain ranges, developers and farmers have gone way above the ‘green line’ – in some areas, right to the peak of these mountains, wantonly destroying the rich tropical forests, exposing the bare rocks underneath them.

What these land grabbers are doing in Creole villages like Gloucester (and, the ‘collective village’ of all Sierra Leoneans) would be deemed by deep thinkers as worse than what the white man in America/Europe did when they enslaved the fore-parents of these Creoles in the Americas for over three hundred years. The land grabbers are simply putting fire on the forests to clear the land. The loss of invaluable biological life that results would make ardent environmentalists wail nonstop for ten years at the magnitude of such loss unfolding. Sierra Leone has lost over 95 percent of its virgin tropical rainforests. The tropical rainforests in these Creole villages are the few remaining with largely intact tropical rainforests. About 60 percent of plant and animal life remaining on earth can be found in such tropical rainforests. Over 65% of the ‘raw materials’ for the billions of dollar global pharmaceutical industries are found in such forests. Even locally, a large number of herbalists depend on these forests as the only ones remaining in Sierra Leone from which they can extract herbs from. These forests have been saved from being ravaged by subsistence farmers with their slash-and-burn farming methods, and by mineral companies in their rapacious drive for profit, because they are on treacherously mountainous terrain. No more. The rich land grabbers, lured by the scenic beauty of having their mansions on these mountainous areas, are defying all odds, spending three times more money to build their mansions on these mountains than if it were on flat ground, and causing irreversible and miasmic damage to the Creole (and national) heritage.

The Alarming Bio-Diversity Loss

Last week, I led youth from the Coalition of University Students’ Activists, and Youth Arise!!!, to get edification from Dr. Sheka Kamara of the Biological Sciences Department of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, on the Western Area Peninsular Forest Reserve (WAPFoR). WAPFoR, occupying the centre of the peninsula, covers about 17,000 hectares of closed forest. WAPFoR hosts a range of hills with a highest peak at 971 meters. There is alarming ecological degradation ongoing in the WAPFoR.

Dr. Kamara told us that “biodiversity loss apart”, these forests serve as “water catchment” areas for nearly all the about 2 million people living in the Freetown peninsular. In simple words, the water that flows into dams, and small rivers, where most people get their water from to drink and cook food with, and wash clothes, etc. come from these forests. You destroy the forests in these mountains and you starve people of water in nearly all of Freetown. Already, in most of Freetown, there is severe already water shortage. This results not only in serious dehydration, but, most of the common diseases in Freetown today – cholera and typhoid – are contracted through unmoving almost-dried-up streams, or, people coming from toilet and not having water to wash their hands.

In the survey costing $40,000, Dr. Sheka Kamara’s university team just last year tried to measure the quantum and quality of plant and animal life in just two percent of land area of the WAPFoR. They discovered 128 species of trees; and 58 species of undergrowth. The highest number of these families are called ‘legumimosae’. The Kent village forest has the lowest numbers of species – whilst the forest around No 2 River has the highest number of species. The forest in the Kossoh Town area has the highest species diversity. Regent village area – where the new United States embassy is located; and, which is the ‘in place’ for the burgeoning elite – has an alarming single species that is endemic to it: that compares with NINE SPECIES endemic to No 2 River, where the elite have not started building their houses yet. They were able to discover 160 species of birds – with 120 of these species ‘resident species’. (While some were ‘migratory birds’, coming from distant Europe). There is good news: most of the forests are still in the Guinea Congo Biome stage – a reason why there are still much appreciable diversity of birds.

Biologist, G. D. Field, carried out work in the 1960s and early 1970s and recorded 316 species of birds. In 1990, Ausden and Wood recorded 186 species over a period of three months. A total of 374 species, including occasional vagrants and migrants that visit water bodies within the forest, were recorded.

Before the ‘rebel war’ of the 1990s, before the elite in Freetown started rushing to construct their mansions on the mountains of Freetown as if there was a ‘gold rush’, one could easily bump into many species of mammals in the forests of Freetown. Authoritative studies done twenty years ago revealed that these mountains harbour over 50 species of mammals, of which seven species are primates, five of which were threatened even then – Western chimpanzee (En), Red Colobus monkey (Vu), Black-and-White Colobus Monkey, Sooty Mangabey (NT) and Diana monkey (Vu). Other threatened mammals include Leopard (Vu), Jentink’s Duiker (Vu), Black Duiker (NT) and Maxwell Duiker (NT). An endemic toad Cardioglosus aureolli could also be found. Dr. Sheka Kamara’s survey in 2012 could only identify 7 mammals – monkeys, squirrels, etc.

Management of the forests is now ‘National Security’ Matter

The management of the forest reserve is the mandate of the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS). The reserve was declared in 1916 and ‘gazetted’ as a non-hunting forest reserve in 1973. The conservation of WAPFoR has been identified as an issue of National Security by H.E. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone. In 2011, President Koroma’s government approved a revised demarcation line and protection mechanism of WAPFoR. The APC-majority Parliament is considering the declaration of “Nature Park Western Area”. Before his first term ended, President Koroma ordered the establishment of a Presidential Task Force to ensure long-standing environmental protection of the Reserve. This consisted of MAFFS, Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and Environment ministry (MLPCE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-SL) and Ministry of Electricity and Power (MEP), Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the Office of National Security (ONS). There are debates ongoing for the establishment of a Forest Protected Area Authority. The touristic and cultural assets of the Western Area Peninsula are managed by the department of culture in the tourism ministry; and the National Tourist Board; and the villages in the reserve area. All this appears to be mere semantics, given the flagrant land grabbing perpetuated today in these mountains. So much so that the forest guards last month told the German-born Manager of the WAPFoR that there is absolute need for military assistance.

Tourism Potential will be Destroyed if we don’t Conserve the Forests

Last week, the Deputy Minister of tourism/culture, Kadie Sesay, along with NASSIT Director-General, Sam Bangura, National Tourist Board’s Cecil Williams, apparently taking a cue from the President’s warning at Tokeh Beach, went to inspect hotels being constructed under the aegis of world’s leading hotel chains – Cape Sierra (Hilton) and Mamie Yoko (Redisson Blu). (Details on this in subsequent articles). One thing that is clear to me is that there must be massive sensitization of all the citizenry, especially in Freetown, to develop a ‘Tourism Culture’ here. Destroy the forests in WAPFoR and all the millions of dollars being spent to construct five star hotels – and the opportunities for yearly billions of dollars income; and thousands of jobs being created - would come to go up in smoke.

Oswald Hanciles, Freetown

- See more at: http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/?p=55746#sthash.nB8LHRsq.dpuf

(The article above was first published in 2013. I republish it now, July, 2019. The issues I raise are still relevant for the Bio Administration. There is another message also: I was media adviser to former President Ernest Bai Koroma, with my office at State House, when the piece above was written. Too many of the educated elite and governing elite who were probably out of Sierra Leone, or, were not reading newspapers, work on the wild assumption that all senior government officials at State House were engaged only in propaganda. Over 97% of my published articles during my six years at State House were NOT praising the President, or, the APC; but, rather, focused on Development Communications – highlighting developmental areas that should be enhanced, or, problems to be solved. I would always laud, and thank, the former President for giving me the free hand to write and publish in THE OSWALD HANCILES COLUMN what I wanted to write – absolutely uncensored; never once with a reprimand from him, even when I would critique the former President’s words, and policies).

☝🏾President Maada Bio: Attention ‼‼‼🇸🇱🇸🇱🇸🇱

My dear "The Guru"! It did occur to some of us then players in the environment arena that establishing IMATT at and re-relocating the USA Embassy to the Regent/Leicester axis and thereby massively increasing the attraction and value of the mountainous land for urban development would rapidly destroy the pristine and serene environment that we knew and loved as students of Fourah Bay College. I was actually offered land around the present location of Limkong Win University- almost free - by a friend who worked at the Ministry for Lands and the Environment using these attractions as reason to compel to buy but I refused his offer. When during the One Party era of President Momoh we campaigned to elect a colleague from the Department of Chemistry - Wiltshire Johnson - to Parliament our key promise was to convert the entire Mountain forest into an orchard to be supplying mangoes, oranges, avocados, and other fruits to Freetown- in addition to the vegetable gardens that the area was already famous for. Sadly we were in the minority and our voices weren't heard. So greed and love of money of unscrupulous Agencies in the Land Ministries with the connivance of your uncles/aunts and invaders from the North have converted that environmental beauty that the mountain range of forests was into an urban "concrete jungle". Real sad!

☝🏾Prof. Tom Yormah, Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Standards Board Bureau (former Head of the Science Faculty at FBC, University of Sierra Leone) responds to an article in THE OSWALD HANCILES COLUMN... in Bondsu Politico Forum; July 22, 2019

Prof. Tom Yormah:

Your words undeline my charge for Reparations from the government of the United States for the construction of their embassy at Regent around 2009: "It did occur to some of us then players in the environment arena establishing IMMAT at and re-relocating the USA Embassy to the Regent/Leicester axis and thereby massively increasing the attraction and value of the mountainous land for urban development would rapidly destroy the pristine and serene environment that we knew and loved as students of Fourah Bay College (University of Sierra Leone)".

Sad. Dangerous. Challenging: environmental degradation must be to all Sierra Leoneans, especially the enlightened educated elite.

We can't afford to be apathetic, or, even lukewarm about the issues of alarming environmental degradation; global warming; man-made Climate Change.

At the global level, the African has contributed just

3 percent of the noxious gases pumped into the atmosphere to cause global warming and man-made Climate Change - but the African will be worst hit by it, credible scientific institutions and scientists around the globe have predicted. Those who are 97% responsible for man-made Climate Change - the West; lately joined by China and India - plan on a devilish 'Climate Change Apartheid', we recently learned from reputable media in the West. The world helped to overcome Afrikaan-legalised Apartheid in South Africa; Africans must energize themselves to overcome the global Financial and Economic Apartheid that could now graduate into a Climate Change Apartheid.

Environmental degradation as we both have pinpointed on the Freetown Peninsula have been caused, or, catalyzed, by a few myopic, and greedy, and insensitive bureaucratic and political elite: but ALL of us within Freetown, indeed, all Sierra Leoneans, would be victims of the ramifications of their pecuniary crudity - ranging from loss of clean drinking water, increased joblessness of youth and increased communicable diseases because of worsened scarcity of water ...to armed conflict.

Intensity!! Passionate intensity. Relentless proactive actions. Belligerent reactions.

As the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Standards Board Bureau, Prof. Tom Yormah, you can help tremendously in bringing issues of environmentalism closer home to people - by showing how environmental degradation negatively affects what they consume daily. No? I can help with that, please.

May the best in life gravitate towards you - robust health and longevity and wealth and wisdom and happiness.

I pause,

Oswald Hanciles, The Guru.

July 22, 2019

08:33 hours in Freetown, Sierra Leone

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