Ladies without plastic - Green Menstruation. Environmental challenge by Sofonie Dala, Angola. Day 9

 Women without plastic - Key to reduce our carbon footprints 👣 

Greetings for the day! 

Welcome to the ninth day of the Green Menstruation Challenge!

In the long run, a lack of education can have several devastating impacts on a girl's life, including the possibility of child marriage, early pregnancy and vulnerability to violence and abuse. 

Our program is supporting communities around the world with a life-changing skill and helping to protect the environment at the same time.

Today we have Marcelina, she has been participating actively in many of our shows, and now she is going to share with us about her  hygiene preferences.

Hello!

Hi. 

Please tell us which of these pads do you use?

I use this disposable pad. 

Can you tell why?

Well, I use this to protect myself. Furthermore, once I have used this pad, I can easily throw it away. 

Why is the cloth absorbent not your preference? 

Simply because I don't like to wash.

Safe, affordable menstrual products are essential for anyone who menstruates. But around the world, millions of women, girls and people who menstruate can’t afford to buy or don’t have reliable access to the safe menstrual products they need.

The use of conventional, disposable menstrual products is harming the environment. Most sanitary pads contain up to 90% plastic, while tampons have plastic applicators and sometimes come in individual plastic wrappers. The production of plastic and improper disposal of these products is causing pollution and filling up landfills.

Period poverty, including the stigma that often surrounds menstruation, stops many people from going to school or work, leading them to miss out on their education or vital income to support themselves and their families.

Special song from Marcia

Hello, my name is Marcia, since we are experiencing difficult moments in this pandemic, I will sing a song that has always comforted me.

Jesus died on the cross for me

Jesus died on the cross for me

he was falling and getting up, 

broken he was, 

abandoned by death

even so, he still said Father forgive them 

because they don't know what they do

Click here to watch free the entire program: 

https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/02/remembering-last-day-of-africa-educates.html?m=1

 CORONA VOICE . THE TOK SHOW WITH SOFONIE DALA 

As the pandemic has pressed on, people have found innovative ways to come together. There have been dances of gratitude, dances with masks, dances that connect, as a way of encouraging people to dance their blues away.

Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you our dancer Marcelina!

                                 

Hello everyone! My name is Marcelina. I have not been studying since May 1, 2020 because of  the covid-19, but this does not stop me from dancing.

How are you all making work under lockdown and what concerns has this crisis raised for you? 

Lockdown has given us permission to reimagine what making art might look like.

CLICK HERE TO FIND MORE ABOUT MARCIA: https://sofoniedala.blogspot.com/2021/01/corona-voice-angola-tok-show-with_27.html?m=1

Ghana Out As Canada Issues Travel Ban On Nigeria And Other African Countries

Canadian authorities have issued a travel ban on Nigeria in a bid to curb the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

The announcement was made on Tuesday December 30. Other countries affected by the travel ban include South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, Malawi and Egypt.

Canadian Transport Minister, Omar Alghabra, has said foreign nationals who had been to these countries in the previous 14 days would be temporarily banned from entering Canada.

Alghabra added that Canadians and permanent residents who have been in the 10 countries, even those who are fully vaccinated, must also be tested before entering Canada.

This is coming as the Nigeria Center for Disease and Control (NCDC) announced that two cases of Omicron variant had been detected in the country.

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Ethiopia PM says army to attack rebels in Amhara region

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has expressed confidence that federal forces will “disperse and destroy” rebels loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in the north-western Amhara region, the pro-government Fana TV reports.

Violence that broke out in TPLF’s northern Tigray region stronghold a year ago has spread to neighbouring Amhara and the north-eastern Afar region.

“The enemy is in that mountain called Gashena [in Amhara]. We are planning from here, but we have finalised a plan to disperse the enemy and be on that mountain tomorrow,” the prime minister said while standing in a mountainous defence line with a pair of binoculars hanging from his neck.

“Tigrayan youth are falling like leaves. They should realise that there will be no victory in their blind and tactless strategy and surrender to the national defence forces starting today,” Mr Abiy said.

Earlier, state TV reported that the prime minister had called on those fighting for the TPLF to surrender as “victory is imminent”.

The state-run ETV first showed Mr Abiy on the frontline last week, days after he said he would lead federal troops in battle.

For its part, the TPLF says it has made significant territorial gains over the Ethiopian military. There is no independent confirmation of either sides claims.

More on this topic:

ANALYSIS: Suspicion and sacrifice as fighting spreads

EXPLAINER: Why the Ethiopia conflict matters to the world

ANALYSIS: How Ethiopia’s once mighty army has been outflanked

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Japan suspends new reservations on all incoming flights

Japan has asked international airlines to stop taking new reservations for all flights arriving in Japan until the end of December as the country further tightens its border controls against a new coronavirus variant, the transportation ministry said Wednesday.

It said the request is an emergency precaution amid growing concern over the spread of the new omicron variant.

Those who have already made reservations are not affected, although flights may be canceled if there are insufficient passengers, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said. Transit passengers are also unaffected, it said. Japan is a major transit hub for flights to and from Asia.

The move comes as Japan confirmed a second case of the omicron variant in a person who arrived from Peru, one day after it reported its first case in a Namibian diplomat.

Japan banned all foreign visitors starting Tuesday as an emergency precaution against the new variant. The ban tentatively extends through the end of the year. The government is also requiring Japanese citizens arriving in the country to quarantine for up to 14 days.

The World Health Organization warned Monday that the global risk from the omicron variant is “very high” based on early evidence, saying it could lead to surges with “severe consequences.”

Japan on Wednesday started offering coronavirus vaccine booster shots to health care workers amid growing concerns over the new variant.

Japan’s initial vaccination drive kicked off in mid-February and some medical workers who received shots more than nine months ago are now eager to get additional protection ahead of a possible new wave of infections.

Much remains unknown about the new variant, including whether it is more contagious, as some health authorities suspect, whether it makes people more seriously ill, and whether it can thwart the vaccine.

A group of nurses and doctors received booster shots at the Tokyo Medical Center.

“It’s an important first step for our patients and their families to be treated with a sense of safety,” said hospital chief Kazuhiro Araki.

Even though the efficacy of vaccines against the new variant is still being examined, booster shots are important, Araki said, because the vaccines remain effective against other strains of the virus, including delta, which put heavy pressure on Japan’s health care systems this summer.

Those who received their second shot eight months ago are eligible for a third shot to prevent breakthrough infections. Eligibility may be shortened to six months if there is a resurgence of infections, officials said.

Japan’s vaccination roll out got off to a slow start but surged from late May, and now about 77% of the population has been fully vaccinated — a main reason experts cite for Japan’s steady slowing of infections since September.

Booster shots for elderly people, who received their initial inoculations starting in April, are expected to begin in January.

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Man who sold fried grasshoppers on plane faces jail

Man who sold fried grasshoppers on plane faces jail

A man accused of selling fried grasshopper snacks to passengers aboard a Ugandan Airlines plane has been charged by police alongside a second man who’s accused of filming it.

Footage has been widely shared since online since the weekend:

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Mubiru Paul and Hajib Kiggundu were arrested on Monday on arrival from Dubai and charged on Tuesday with three counts – creating nuisance, refusing to follow airline crew’s instructions and negligent acts likely to cause the spread of an infectious disease.

The charge for spreading an infectious disease attracts a sentence of up to seven years, the Daily Monitor reports.

The national carrier Uganda Airlines condemned what it called an “unruly” incident and local media reported that some staff were suspended.

Yet it Uganda Airlines it would consider adding the delicacy to its menu upon request, noting the excitement onboard from passengers was during a low season for grasshopper numbers.

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Energy price rises: Support payments plan for vulnerable in NI

Stormont’s Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has proposed a support scheme to help people in Northern Ireland who are struggling to cope with rising energy bills.

She told the assembly it would provide “one-off” payments to those in need.

The plan will require approval from the other executive parties.

Ms Hargey, a Sinn Féin MLA, said new legislation would also need to be passed before payments could be set up.

Consumers across Northern Ireland are facing higher prices this winter as gas and electricity providers pass on increasing costs to customers.

Why are energy bills going up?

Regulator hopeful for ‘mitigations’ for NI consumers

Along with the uncertainty and effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, many families have been affected.

On Tuesday Ms Hargey said she had been engaging with the Utilities Regulator and the Consumer Council about increasing support for those most vulnerable.

She said the energy payment scheme would help people already in receipt of specific benefits.

She said she had written to Finance Minister Conor Murphy to request that the £13.8m of Barnett funding set aside to support households during winter is allocated to her department to progress the scheme.

Barnett funding is extra money allocated to the devolved administrations from the Westminster government when a spending decision is made for England.

“In order to provide the necessary support for families who will need it over the winter period, an even greater amount will be required,” said Ms Hargey.

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