Monday, July 23, 2012

Bus Stand fiasco


Bus stand fiasco
EARLY morning from 7.30am to 9am and in the afternoons leading to the evening from 3pm to 6.30pm are rush hours at the Suva bus stand.
I would like to request the relevant authorities (LTA/traffic police) to please monitor the bus terminal at the rush hour times.
Not only to ensure that the bus drivers are following the rules but to also ensure the safety of passengers at the bus terminal.
The buses stop in the middle of the stand to let passengers on and off and chat with someone who just walked past the bus.
When the driver does this, the bus driver behind him gets impatient and begins tooting the horn.
This creates a very annoying noise pollution and causes an unnecessary traffic jam.
It is very dangerous for a pedestrian to go to the bus stand especially for unsupervised children.
Alzima Elisha Bano 
Nabua

Thursday, February 23, 2012

MUMS ID

MUMS ID

Four weeks ago baby Isaiah was abandoned by his mother at the Lautoka Hospital (FT 26/7 page 5).

There is no mention of who the mother is or where she went.

Does the hospital have any policy on documenting details of the patient:
1. Name of patient.
2. Current residential address.
3. Contact of at least two family members (contacts should be verified).

If they do not have this in the system maybe it should be considered to ensure that innocent lives like that of Baby Isaiah's is not neglected.
 
[This article was not published but is my opinion]

MORAL PRINCIPLES.

When i was a kid i reminisce running around playing with friends, doing homework in front of the television and relishing the support of my family in becoming a successful person.
Today -  i read about rape cases in the newspaper almost everyday. 
It is shocking to read that in most cases the perpetrator was someone the individual knew. 
Additionally shocking is the young age of the victims. These girls are being deprived of education, childhood, a bright future and their innocence.
Have relationships altered in meaning now?
Have we no respect for our children?
Where are our moral principles?
A simple plea from one citizen to the others – can we recall our moral principles and threat our children (and other community members) with respect and dignity.

ALZIMA BANO

[Published in the Fiji Times in July 2011]
 

FT: Quality reporting.

Quality reporting 

Kaila targets the young minds, when addressing such impressionable minds we ought to be more diligent in giving them information that would foster positive characteristic whilst being researched and correct, literally.
I fail to understand why Kaila reporter, Kerela Serelini, was allowed to publish an article with such poor writing standards. 
Her first sentence has a repeated ‘a’ (when is a, a boy). In paragraph 4 “Society is aware of such this but are not capable”.
The writer goes on to say that girls are ‘tomboy’ if they cut their hair short and display tough ‘guy’ behavior. Ms. Serelini should go out and observe the female athletes. 
They display ‘tough’ behavior. Are they ALL than gay?
It is appalling that the writer used a very demeaning tone while addressing a sensitive issue.
The writer dominated the topic with her own opinion. Responsible reporting requires an unbiased, researched approach of both sides of the argument which she clearly did not do. 
Also the (only) reference made to Ms. Serelini’s article was that of an American publication, we are not Americans and do not live in an American society, therefore their research do not relate to us 100%. 

ALZIMA BANO

[Published in the Fiji Times in June 2011]

FT: Life's a lesson | 21/02/12

Life is a lesson.

I was listening to some old songs yesterday and thought I should share a line I heard from one of my favorite songs.
Take a look around by Limp Bizkit.
"Life is a lesson. You will learn it when you're through".
So most likely, this God debate will end when our lives end.

Alzima Elisha Bano
 
[Published in Fiji Times on: Tuesday 21st Feb 2012]

FT: Textbook prices | 16/02/12 Thursday

Textbook prices

As some of anticipate the beginning of another study year at university others are worried over rising textbook prices.
Why is that textbooks have skyrocketed over the past few years?
Why is it that textbook editions keep changing annually or per two years?
Not everyone can afford university qualification.
And while some struggle to pay the high tuition fees, the book fees can give them a heart attack.
A friend of mine is on scholarship. The book allowance he receives is only half of what his books cost.
What are these students supposed to do?
Go without a textbook for the semester?
Previously it was convenient for some students to go with second-hand textbooks but if editions keep changing every year this is not the best option.
Education is about building capacity and building nations.
Education is about building a bright future.
How are we planning to build this bright future when the education of some young, innovative and bright minds are being compromised!
Maybe book manufacturers, distributions and publishers might want to consider the costs involved for students and also lets save our trees too.

ALZIMA ELISHA
BANO

[Published in Fiji Times on Thursday 16th feb 2012 and can be read here ]

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

FT | Cigarette Warning | 12/12/2011


Cigarette warning
WE are all familiar with the dangers and harms of smoking.
The cigarette packets contain these warnings on them so the consumer can take heed.
Some of these cautioning labels include: Smoking harms unborn babies, smoking causes cancer and smoking causes heart diseases.
The astounding thing I have noticed is that people purchase their cigarette based on the health warning that appears on the packets.
While sitting in a shop with a friend I noticed customers coming in and asking for "one packet cancer".
There is a belief that the packet with the cancer label is stronger than the others.
Can someone from the relevant authority please shed some light on this situation?
ALZIMA ELISHA BANO
Suva

FT | Thank you driver | 15/10/2011


This was published in the Fiji Times on 15th October, 2011 (Saturday)

Thank you driver

I CAUGHT the bus one morning to work and it began to drizzle.
Three school kids were walking along the pavement and the bus driver stopped.
He asked the kids to board the (slightly vacant) bus and dropped them closer to the school just so they were not caught in the rain.
Vinaka driver. We are proud to have such people in the midst of us.

Alzima Elisha Bano
Nabua

PS: This letter won letter of the week in Fiji Times :) :) 

FT | men's Crisi Center | 02/08/2011


FT | Men's Crisis Center 
Women have been fighting for equality for a long time now. In most places (communities, families, schools, institutes and organizations) the value for women are being recognized but Feminist are still working around the clock to ensure that women are treated equally (with dignity and respect), that they receive equal opportunity and that they are able to work and live in a safe and secure environment. 

I found this letter (below) in our daily newspaper called the Fiji Times:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Equal rightsI believe in equal rights be it for woman or for man. One thing that come to my attention is while we have woman's crisis centre, social welfare centre's for woman and children but not a single organisation for man. Why the injustice?
Ashneel Prasad Lautoka28/07/11
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
I could not help but wonder, If men feel strongly about this so-called injustice then why don't they do something about it. Women did. So i decided to post a reply and here is my 5 cents. 

Mens Crisis Center 
When women saw a need for a Women's Crisis Center they got together the relevant resources and established one.I suggest for concerned men like Mr. Ashneel Prasad (FT 28/7) to do the same. If he thinks men require a crisis center he should consult with the relevant authorities and establish one.I am sure their is no rule against not having a center for men. 
Alzima Bano | Nabua. 
- - - - - - -03/08/11- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

But than again this my 5cents worth!!

FT | No Humor | 28/07/2011


No Humor | FT 28/07/2011


Our local dailies Fiji Times Newspaper has a section called the Letters to the editor and i have develeoped a sudden interest in voicing my opinion here. On 13th July 2011, Mr. Aisake Delai wrote in to the letters saying:
 
CANT UNDERSTAND.
 
Fifteen year old boys are strong, healthy and fit and they should be able to defend themselves against any kind of attacks by 70 year old's.Unless the 15 year old boy who accused his 70 year old father of raping him (FT 8/7) is a cripple or mentally retarded. I cannot understand why he could not defend himself against his 70 year old father.Well, there you go coach, Samu Domoni. In case you run out of firepower and energy in the forward pack, why not take in 70 year old's? 
Aisake Dekai | Nasinu.
 
Upon reading this letter i couldn't help but feel a rush of anger inside my head. How can you suggest a sports team to take on an elderly member of the society who has just been accused of RAPE!!! In the course of my studies i have learnt of a theory called "Fight, Flight or Freeze" - basically when a threatening situation presents itself to us we either: Fight the situation, Flight (run away) from the situation or Freeze (whereby our brain shuts down and we are unable to do anything). For people to consider such sensitive matters (like rape/abuse) as humorous is very pathetic (to be honest). Here we are trying our level best to ensure our children are protected from sexual perpetrators and than we have people like Mr. Delai who consider it a joke. The thought was still jumping around in my head and so i decided to post a simple reply to his not so humorous letter.Please find below my reply:

No Humuor.
What I fail to comprehend is the thinking and reasoning competence displayed by Mr. Delai (FT 13/11) in his letter about a 15 year old boy being raped by his 70 year old father..Did it occur to Mr. Delai that the fifteen year old boy might have threatened?Or that he might be a frail, petite boy who is weak (health wise)?Or he simply went through a freeze mode (refer to fight, flight or freeze theory by Walter Bradford Cannon).I doubt any coach in his or even her right mind would not want a perverted, immoral, disrespectful person on his or her team.I suggest for Mr. Delai to think twice before dishing such suggestions. 
Alzima Elisha Bano
Nabua.

It is very important for all of us to make a stand against CHILD ABUSE - we NEED to protect our future and create a safe, loving and caring environment for them.