The past couple of weeks have been intense. My apologies for the unanticipated hiatus. We had a fairly major break-in at our yard, which was unnerving, and the repercussions have been painful. We are, however, pulling ourselves back on our feet again and refocusing. As for poor old Jamaica… We are in great pain, I believe. Great pain.

Kayalicia Simpson was murdered in rural St. Thomas. She was over four months pregnant. No one in her family or community was aware of her terrible situation, apparently.

I have left it too long to talk to you about the killing of our children. Last month, I told you about fourteen-year-old, pregnant Santoya Campbell. Since then, four more children have been killed in terrible circumstances – all involving sexual abuse. Fourteen-year-old Kayalicia Simpson was chopped to death early one morning as she prepared for school at her home in St. Thomas. An…

Last Wednesday, I got two emails that forced me to write this column. I’d already been thinking about sharing a schizophrenic email that came in response to last Sunday’s column. Homophobia in Jamaica is still so fierce that even writing about the subject makes people point fingers at you. But my back is broad. So mi just a gwaan.

Here’s the first email, which I’ve not edited for punctuation errors, etc. So mi get it, so mi give it: “Hello Ms Cooper, how are you?I am an occasional reader of your column and it seems like homosexuality is one of your favourite topics.Tell me something are you in the closet yourself? If not then why such passion and sympathy for these folks. Well, if i am right and you need a hook up feel free to let me know. Peace, love and respect.”

My response: “Thanks for taking the time…

The Dignified Resistance of San Sebastián Bachajón Continues

New video about the struggle of the ejidatarios of San Sebastián Bachajón in Chiapas for their land and territory and in defence of our mother earth.

The video was made by Springfield No One Leaves and the Committee of the True Word of Alisal. It is in Spanish with English subtitles. In the video, the ejidatarios of San Sebastián Bachajón  make an urgent call for solidarity.

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LRInspire presents: learning to speak Lakota Where are you from? Nitúktetaƞhaƞ he?

When meeting someone for the first time one of the first questions always asked is, “Where are you from?” Non-Native peoples often interpret this as meaning where do you live, but the question is really asking about ones tribal affiliation.

(Egypt’s economic conference, via Ahram online)

Main Headlines

Monday

• Two banks attacked by masked assailants in Alexandria
• Egypt temporarily reopens Rafah border crossing
• Egypt supports UN political solution in in Libya
• Court date set for Mubarak’s presidential palaces retrial
• Individual seats might increase for Egypt’s next parliament
• ‪Egypt‪ agrees to 80% of UN Human Rights Council’s recommendations
• Arabtec to start Egypt’s housing project within days
• BP makes second significant gas discovery in Egypt’s East Mediterranean coast
• ‪‪Egypt sets price for shale gas at $5.45 per mmBtu

Tuesday

• Bombing wounds 25 Egyptian policemen in Sinai http://t.co/RGTNQ4jgce
• Second attack in Egypt’s Sinai kills a military officer
• Roadside bomb kills in Egpt’s Sinai 3 soldiers in Egypt’s Sinai
• Two killed, four others injured while making Molotov cocktails in greater Cairo
• 9 suspected militants killed in clashes with security forces in North Sinai‪
• Two killed in blast after attempting to plant…