Action, Movement, Change

Action requires movement and this in turn maybe brings about change. Life is like that and if we do not move, maybe we won't experience some change. In Japan, thousands if not hundreds of thousands are threatened by the actions of a Reactor. In Libya, thousands have to react to an erupting war. Tensions below the surface bubbling up calling for Reaction of a different kind. How are the two examples even connected? It is not except it replaces each other on the world news headlines and I ask myself... do we need another war in this world? I remember two quotes I had on my wall growing up... one went like "for the tortoise to move, it has to stick its neck out" and the other one was "in war everyone is a victim". What more is there to say?

In Uppsala we are still expecting the spring to happen any time now. The first spring flowers stuck up for itself against the cold yesterday and it was a welcome relief after the almost 5cm of snow on Friday. I took on the shoveling, one of the few times this winter! Changing seasons always seem like a time to consider renewal of some kind. Winter to Spring, Summer to Autumn and if we live in places where the contrasts are stark and visible, we can somehow find a way to cope with its gifts and curses! I tried to find a picture of spring flowers in my collection, instead I offer this picture of an apple I took in Rorvik, a small village next to a lake in the Småland in the South of Sweden.


In contrast to the musings about change I am reminded that we are celebrating Human Rights Day in South Africa. A day to remember and cherish the battles we lost and won in pursuit of freedom! Our quest for change is ongoing. Transforming hundreds of years of oppression whilst struggling with the daily challenges of survival.

What can we do?
“We cannot eat democracy”
Is what I heard
Some people were reported
To have said
Whom?
Where?
When?
I can’t tell
They must have had
Their own motivation
Who am I
To judge
Their disillusion

“We cannot consult all the time”
Is what I heard
Some people said
Tired
Of the endless public meetings
Questioned?
Challenged?
Angered?
Democracy too costly
The protestors too motley
Maybe the kickbacks
Slowly becoming
A dream remotely

“We cannot wait any longer”
Is what we all said
When I grew up
Freedom’s gifts
We went after
Democracy
Human Rights
Peace
Emancipated
Liberated
Words kind
Suddenly
The global village
Comes with new borders
Survival of the fittest
Still
An old world order
Leaving us
Mostly blind

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, 21 March 2011. Human Rights day will always keep me thinking.

Connections
We look for connections
Across cultures
Within communities
Within families
Our search
Continues
Sometime with results
Mostly with only
Partial satisfaction
Without clear intension
Direction

We look for connections
Inside ourselves
Bringing history to pass
My nose like my fathers’
My hands like my mother’s
A sense of taste
Like a long-dead
Grandmother
It is only a guess
But it is there
Tangible and intangible
Familiar
Indispensable

We look for connections
Life partners
Someone
At least socially acceptable
Who can bear the brunt
Give support
Share love
Put ourselves before ‘
No one else above
A constant quest
Sometimes
Easily behest
A permanent houseguest
Treated with the utmost respect
We find
A soul with a like-mind
Incredible

We look for connections
It is
A constant search
A leader in the pack
Every new find
A set of common principles
We bind
Friendship, trusted deep
The list to keep
Growing smaller
As the years heap
A constant quest
New connectors
Resurrected

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, Wednesday, 21 October 2009

On a path
You are finding your way
Nineteen, twenty and a little bit older
All
Already with some burden
Some sleight
Other’s
Much more heavy
In all cases of growing up
It will take you to a place
When all the choices
Is only yours
To carry

You are using
Knowledge as weapons
Skills to gain
Minds independent
Brilliant
Resplendent
The world at your feet
Young blood
Full of heat
Innocent minds
Sentiments sweet
Judgements in this generation
Less replete

You are walking the path
We all did
More freedoms
We were unable to
At that age see
In hindsight
We all can
Wise choices repeat
Dominating partners
With intellect defeat
Seek out and discover
Inner strength
Act with confidence
It might just be
Experiences
Unique

By Simone Beatrice Naik Noemdoe, Wednesday, 21 October 2009 – for the young women in the world, particularly those who live in the isolated rural areas and inner cities of the south and north... seek a new way and grow progressively.