TERRY PRACHETT - CHOOSING TO DIE

 TERRY PRACHETT - CHOOSING TO DIE

Remember it’s not murder it’s assisted suicide.

Kindran Ornitier

Terry Prachett’s ‘Choosing to Die’ one – off controversial television documentary filmed specifically for BBC Scotland, predominantly supports the notion of assisted suicide. Similarly, it poses ethical concerns as it seeps into the participant’s private life in order to drive the narrative. This intrusive documentary features a 71- year old motor neuron disease sufferer who was willing to take his own life in a very peaceful manner at the Swiss assisted dying organisation – Dignitas with his wife. Accordingly, it gave the audience an insight into how Terry might choose to end his life after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a few years ago. Although the film sparked controversy and was criticized by organizations that support life as well as Christian movements, the BBC was able to deny all the accusations it was bombarded with.

Furthermore, the approach of this documentary places the audience in an uncomfortable situation in terms of our engagement with the film. Although it is a film that educates and enlightens the audience, it also connects deeply with emotions which can sometimes be very detrimental in terms of emotional responses being triggered. It certainly is a documentary addressing the social/political issue of assisted suicide.

It prompts the question of whether attempted suicide is right or wrong and whether it should be legal in countries where it is still deemed as illegal.

In countries whereby religion is predominantly the opium of the people, assisted suicide will not necessarily be looked at as a pathway to peace rather, it would be seen as a pathway to fire and destruction especially from a Christian perspective. However, from a reality perspective which is a lot more black & white, it is deemed acceptable especially when critical circumstances are dominant with the person considering it.

In our opinion, if you a strong enough to consider suicide as the termination of your circumstance, you should be strong enough to overcome the zeal of committing suicide and hope a for a better tomorrow.

More like living in the hope of the unknown but being optimistic that your circumstance will get better.

According to the NHS (National Health Service), assisted suicide under the Suicide Act (1961) is illegal under the British Law as it is seen as encouraging an individual to kill themselves. It is punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment. However, committing suicide or attempting suicide is not a criminal act in itself.

The question still fondly remains that if you cannot give life, who are you to take life or assist someone in taking theirs?

What if there is a mind change in the process (after drinking poison) and it can’t be reversed?

Supporters involved in legalizing assisted suicide claim that everyone should have a right to freely do what they want with their lives as long as others are not harmed in the process. It is believed to be a freedom of choice and when some people want their lives taken with assistance, their choice should be respected. Some people are in circumstances whereby they are constantly in excruciating pain and are in the discomfort of terminal diseases, in this case it should be acceptable for them to take their life when they are ready to do so.

In the world we live in today, the 21st century can be viewed as a free world which supports the motive  -

‘To each their own’.

BLACKTIVISM WITH NTOMBI (Canadian Country Representative)

Ebolaphobia is the real disease here.

In recent months, the Ebola epidemic has plagued pockets of four African countries- Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. What I find to be more saddening than the actual disease, but nonetheless expected, is the devaluing of African (Black) lives by the West. Ebola has devastatingly killed about 4 500 West African people, and it has received little attention in that regard. When the epidemic was found in the United States, the international media had a field day. This reinforces the devaluing of our lives.

Although the outbreak of the epidemic is a gravely matter, one needs to also critically analyze how the Western media portrays our beautiful continent. The epidemic is localized and thus affects a minute proportion of our continent. The likes of CNN, and other sources of propaganda solemnly portray the actuality of our vast landmass; yet continuously recycle falsified stories relating to wars and famine in Africa. They conveniently efface the fact that that violence in Africa has reached one of its lowest levels historically. They also fail to communicate to their viewership that diseases control measures implemented and carried out by African people are, undisputedly, the most effective globally. One can analyze Nigeria as a case study. Twenty cases of Ebola recently afflicted Nigeria, yet the country has now been declared as ‘Ebola free’. Nigerian medical officials swiftly announced Ebola as a health care emergency when the countries first case was initially confirmed. Local doctors were then sufficiently trained. Later, officials used social media and other methods of communication to manage fear. Finally, the country has kept its borders open to its fellow African brothers and sisters from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Perhaps the United States could take a cue or two from Nigeria on how to contain the spread of the disease, instead of ignorantly claiming that it intends to halt all flights to our continent.  But then again, to successfully portray the African continent, always reinforce that it is a disease filled, dirty, poverty stricken, war torn and barren land mass. And also, in your sentiments, remember to speak of Africa as a country, and not a continent!

- NTOMBI NKIWANE

A NEW REVOLUTION?

Reference - THE NEW YORK TIMES

I saw this snap shot on twitter and thought it was worth talking about.

From my perspective, it seems vivid to me that a new revolution is ongoing. People of colour are now more than ever making education their legacy. In majority of the Western countries, where they have access to grants and benefits, a vast amount of students seem not to take advantage of it and just do the bare minimum to get through University.

Contrastingly, Nigerian's understand what hardship looks like; even if some of us have never had the experience, we have been exposed to it in our everyday lives growing up in Nigeria. For us, we see education as a timeless value, a source for steady income in terms of jobs and also a versatile platform that can directly expose us to excellence. Some of us who are privileged enough to be educated are not willing to sacrifice the opportunity which can put us at risk of facing hardship in the near future.

Due to these few facts, we tend to attain and soar in the world of education, hence our ability to achieve good grades to get into Top Ivy League Universities. It is simply because we have a growing desire for education. Ever since slavery when black education was constrained due to the fear of slave rebellion, I can fondly say that it intensified black people's desire for education.  

The White - Black educational gap continues to narrow considerably.

DON'T SHOOT WE ONLY WANT TO LEARN - WOMEN AND EDUCATION

The right to obtaining knowledge through education should be made accessible to anyone who is willing to acquire it. Education should not be used by oppressive members of society as a method for stifling young minds through the selective picking, choosing and distributing of knowledge to those who they regard as externally/physically worthy enough to obtain it.

Women through time e.g Marie Sklodowska Curie and more recently Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, have proven themselves to be more than capable of obtaining and, more so, surpassing men in regards to academic excellence. We as a gender should not have to keep proving ourselves as an adequate sex which deserves to be educated. The longer the struggle keeps being side-lined the more we will deal with saddening campaigns such as BRING BACK OUR GIRLS. This campaign was started after the extremist group Boko haram kidnapped 200+ girls with plans to sell them on the human trafficking marketplace in opposition to western education. Is it a fear of female excellence that makes such extremists oppress and stifle such beautiful young minds? If we unified on an international stage and were able to stop dwelling on sexual genitalia as a criteria for education and became capable of coming together to recognise female excellence such things would not occur. If we are unified in the importance of educating young girls and setting a premise for equality then maybe we can eventually move from this topic of unfairness and tackle other social and political issues.

The benefits of educating women can be seen in the current female president of Brazil Dilma Rousseff and other influential females such as the CEO of Xerox Ursula Burns who have uplifted themselves to great heights through education. The 21st century is characterised by change, innovation and the 21st century woman is more than capable of handling herself within such an environment. The decision to educate women should not be one that is even debatable anymore in this century and we do not need to keep defending out gender. It is absolutely disgusting that young girls like Malala Yousafzai get shot by groups like the Taliban for wanting to have equal rights and Western education. The campaign and equality movement that women like Malala, who has survived her persecution, fight for is a worthy cause. I am a strong human rights advocate and when it comes to gender differences I think that inequality is an injustice and like Martin Luther King said ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’. It is time that society accepts that women are intelligent and just as capable as our male counterparts.

This struggle cannot only be seen in the 3rd world countries but is still visible in the Western society. Although the equal rights revolution has occurred, we still see how some women are living in a state of limbo where some are now waiting for the changes to be accepted. This can be showcased in the recent issues with struggles for equal pay for women and other things which should have naturally come when women obtained the vote and other rights of that nature.

Everywoman has her desires and dreams and some do wish to be a housewives, but I think that for those who desire to make a mark on this world they should have the right to do so. The notion of a young girl not being allowed to choose her future is absolutely absurd. If being a housewife is their desired plan for life then by all means let them, but we should not subject those who do want to be educated to such a stereotypical role.

OLIANDLOLA

XO 

NEXT UP LOOK OUT FOR 

'BLACKTIVISM WITH NTOMBI'

PART 2

PART 2 

For those of you who are lucky in love and have plenty of dates lined up we have the perfect post which can help you dress to impress and look sexy yet appropriate ;) Now for those who are single and can not find any one to mingle with we say be patient and love will find its way to you. DON'T AWAKEN LOVE BEFORE ITS TIME. 

 

 

 

 

NIGHT OUT/ ELEGANT LOUNGE DATE

 

PARTY HARD AND SHOW YOUR FUN SIDE WHILST STILL LOOKING GOOD. 

 

* For a fun flirtatious date where you will be dancing and mingling with his friends we think this short cute outfit is perfect.

 

*We don't think the colour is too much, in fact, it's perfect for standing out and making sure he remembers how good you looked. The slick bad hair helps keep the look from being too dramatic and the lack of jewellery is an excellent choice.

 

* We would wear either a midi heel or a wedge as they are appropriate for walking as one isn't too high and the other is easy to walk in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAMILY DATE 

 

 

TIME TO MEET THE PARENTS - WHOOP WHOOP LOL

 

*For our lucky females who get to meet the parents and want to make a good impression the key to looking good is looking wholesome and respectable. 

 

*In the look, we would wear something like this if were going to meet the parents as it is stylish and elegant. White helps make her look more angelic and clean. NO MOTHER WOULD HATE HER LOOL

 

*We would also wear it if the occasion was a summer BBQ and you wanted to look feminine yet not over dressed. You can not go wrong with a nice dress . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CINEMA DATE 

 

 

*If your man wants to take you to the cinema and your struggling to find something that will look good yet appropriate then this outfit is for you.

 

*The jeans sit so well on her and the colour is amazing against her skin tone. If you are not as brave as her to wear bright jeans then a find whatever suits you and enjoy.

 

*She looks comfortable enough to be heading to the cinema but still looks breathtakingly beautiful. Her pair of shoes are perfect as she will be walking and you need to have shoes which can accommodate this. 

 

*You can either carry a clutch like her or get yourself a nice tote bag which can contain everything you will need.

OUR DATE OUTFITS

HEY THERE LUCKY LADIES 

 

1. LUNCH DATE 

 

*A lunch date is a great way to showcase your style while adhering to the casual nature of the date.

 

*The environment can determine to what extreme can you take your casual look. If your date has booked a nice restaurant and you are mostly gonna be sat having a calm lunch then putting on a heel can be perfect.

 

* If it's a more casual lunch date at a café  then a nice smart/ casual and stylish flat shoes will be appropriate.

 

*In this picture, we think this look is the perfect combination of sexy without the trash and stylish while casual enough for the daytime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. BEACH DATE

 

 

For all our lucky ladies who get to enjoy a handsome man's company while enjoying the sun, all we can say is - we are so jealous of you.

 

*In this picture she is wearing a loose wrap and has a gorgeous bikini. This shows she has understood the give and take methodology for the date. She has showcased her upper body and remained covered at the bottom (that's good).

 

*If you do not favour your upper body and have killer legs then we recommend shorts and a loose top and some nice sandals showing your PEDICURED toes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. DINNER DATE 

 

 

The classic dinner date is one of our favourites as we can pull out our freakum dress and wow the man of our dreams.

 

*With this look ladies if you have that one dress which just does wonders for your body then do not be shy pull it out and make him drool.

 

*We love her shoes they are perfect. Every woman should aim to have  gorgeous midi heels. If you find the perfect shoes then you will be slaying because your legs will be looking on point.

 

*We also love the high neck line on the dress as she is keeping some secrecy and understands that not everything needs to be seen at once. Also this simple clutch is doing wonders as an accessory because it is adding to the whole look. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ART DATE look no. 1.

 

 

 

*This look is for the fashion forward art types, it allows for your style to be present and resembles the creative nature of the date due to the design and pattern. 

 

 

*The aim with this type of date is to use creativity as you tool for looking amazing. --COLOUR is your friend. 

 

 

*Do not be afraid to look different as your outfit will  reflect the creative aspect of the art gallery that you will be visiting. So do not be too worried about branching out and being free with your outfit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ART LOOK no 2

 

 

 

For our flat footed art types this outfit is more appropriate as it allows you to look stylish and creative but a bit more casual than in the first look. 

 

 

*The creativity with the colours is still present as she is wearing red trousers and has paired it with a stripped blue jumper. Although, such colours should never be mixed in normal circumstances, in this situation, she looks perfect for the date environment.

 

*The jewellery and loose hair just help her look more free and creatively inclined which is perfect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOPE YOU ENJOYED OUR PART 1 OF THE DATE OUTFITS LOOK OUT FOR PART TWO

 

OLIANDLOLA 

 

HAPPY WEEKEND LADIES

 

XOX 

TASTEFUL TUESDAYS WITH TRACY

RELAX AND ENJOY TASTEFUL TUESDAYS WITH TRACY OUR INTERNATIONAL REP FROM FRANCE 

*****

TASTEFUL DESTINATIONS

Out and About with Tracy 

- MONTENEGRO -

 

*A  beautiful contact point between the earth and the sea*

 

The South East of Europe has been crowned with the beautiful Montenegro at its coast. It is a country in the  Balkan region of Europe along the Adriatic sea. Montenegrins are very cultured, close - knit group of people who preserve their history, language, religion and ethnic origin.

 

Tourists from all over the world come to Montenegro to enjoy the  crisp clean beaches. I'm talking clear blue water and white beaches! And it's hidden in these beautiful hills so you almost feel like you're in your own lush cave. Nature is prolific and creative in Montenegro. It is a  magnet for people seeking picturesque villas on the Mediterranean.

 

If you are thinking that a trip to Montenegro is expensive, it is quite affordable in terms of the lifestyle. A friend of mine recently visited and guarantees that you can have a fun, pleasurable experience at a relatively affordable rate. 

Looking for a quick getaway to a tasteful country?

 

How about giving the tasteful Montenegro a try!!! It is pure bliss and the whole point of the week is the weekend!! I will definitely be spending a few weekends here seeking adventures and opening up my mind especially when I feel like taking a breather from Paris.

  

*****

Hope you all enjoyed reading this, I'm about to have a raspberry tart  with a friend before heading back home.

 

Perfect end to a busy day.

 

 

 

Being smart in Love – A LOT CAN BE PERCEIVED IN SILENCE

 

SMART DATING IS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THAT NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE NEEDS TO BE RUSHED.  IT IS ABOUT PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM UNNECESSARY HARM BY DOING YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND THROUGHLY ASSESSING THE TYPE OF PERSON YOU ARE INTERESTED IN. IT IS THE ABILITY TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES AND OBSERVE THINGS SILENTLY AS A MEANS OF PREVENTING OURSELVES FROM FALLING BLINDLY IN TO TRAPS. 

 

1. TELL YOUR FEELINGS TO COLLECT SOME CHILL

 

In these situations sometimes you need to just relax on the intense feelings and administer some chill. If you are prone to falling to quick then make a habit of reminding yourself that sometimes slow and steady wins the race and also helps save face.

 

 It can sometimes be a little too intense if you are showing extreme feelings for a person who you have only just met, so please collect some chill.

 

Just because the person maybe physically attractive does not mean we should be blind to personality and important things such as beliefs and moral principles.

 

If you allow yourself to have fanciful eyes you might find yourself entering a relationship where you get along for a few years due to the happy honeymoon stage but then breaking up or divorcing depending on how far in you take the relationship.

 

Most people can tolerate someone who is different to them for so long but eventually they collide. If you fail to calm your feelings and investigate their beliefs and really look at the meaning of their actions and how they conduct themselves in comparison to other men or women then you might just be entering a doomed relationship

 

2. SIT BACK AND ASSESS

 

Most times ladies and gents it is good to sit and assess how you are feeling about the ‘relationship’, do not be in a rush to get in a relationship or be with someone to the point where you do not take time to assess the person’s personality. The personality that people approach you with on first impression tends to be a lie; everyone seeks to impress with their first impression so they tend to put their best foot forward.

 

You as a smart dater should be aware of this always and take time to get comfortable with the person so they show you their true nature. Do not get frilly and start losing all sense and logic just because you are getting attention, make sure you maintain a certain level of calm which allows you to SEE behind the little actions and habits that the person has. 

 

-FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER-

*EACH PERSON HAS CERTAIN IMPORTANT FACTORS WHICH THEY USE AS A TICK LIST*

 

FOR MEN

 

Is she sexually promiscuous and easy to get in bed?

 

Does she lose a lot of female friends?

 

Is she wifey material?

 

What is her moral compass like?

 

How did you attain her? – gives insight on how free she is.

 

Has she had drama surrounding her?

 

Does she have prospects? – (dreams and vision)

 

 

-Food for thought-

If she was your child would you be pleased by her actions ?

– whatever she does will be what she passes on to your daughter

 

FOR WOMEN

 

Does he have wondering eyes?

 

Does he have a history of cheating?

 

Does he cause trouble and get into drama?

 

What is his temper like?

 

Does he respect women?

 

 

RELIGIOUSLY (If you value religion)  

 

Does he/she believe in anything?

 

Does he/she pretend to be religious?

 

Does he/she actually have a godly heart?

 

Is she a virtuous woman?

 

Is he a man of valor?

 

 THE SUMMARY 

 

As a smart dater it is your duty to have your eyes wide open and look and guard yourself from fools by thoroughly checking out the person you are with.

 

WE (oliandlola) practice the art of observation with just about everything in life. Life has taught us that sometimes you need to take it slow and take time to ASSESS the situation before leaping head first. A lot of people approach us asking for relationship advice and what we have noticed is that they tend to get caught up in feelings a little too quickly and get hurt.

 

We understand that as we enter a certain stage of our lives we start to search for companionship and that person who can complete us. We search for the one person who we will grow old with, but in that search we can sometimes be a little foolish in the game of love. This is where we both employ the notion of smart dating. 

 

 

OLIANDLOLA

 

XO 

 

P.S BE IN THE KNOW AND LOOK OUT FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL REPS 

 

-LOOK OUT FOR MORE ARTICLES-

NEXT UP IS TASTEFUL TUESDAYS WITH TRACY STRAIGHT FROM PARIS.