Africa

They say that Africa is a humankind cradle. In Olduvai, an ancestor of the contemporary man appeared for the first time – Homo habilis and Homo erectus – and from the heart of Africa, it spread into the whole world. The area of the East African Rift Valley is rich for the many fossil findings and Olduvai is just here in Tanzania. However in year 2002, Brunet et al. published in scientific journal Nature^* about the oldest hominid petrifaction. This would not have been anything so strange, but question is: Where were found these petrifactions? The scientists found them in distance of 2500 km (1 553.43 miles) from the East African Rift Valley in central Africa in Chad and they estimated their age between 6 and 7 million years!!! This is Africa surprising.

Africa, these are the streets of Marrakesh, the pyramids near to Cairo, the temples in Luxor and Karnak, the cities like Casablanca and Alexandria, the lost Timbuktu with its doors, the endless plains of the deserted and sometimes green deserts like Sahara or Kalahari, or the deep and impenetrable rainforests with the richness of flora and fauna that often disappear forever.

Africa, these are the Nile River with its cataracts and with all burying Aswan Dam, waters of the Victoria Falls, with snow covered peak of the highest mountain known as Kilimanjaro and the deep mines with diamonds and gold in Kimberley and Congo.

Africa is also the extreme poverty in glamour of the riches. It is hopelessness, high unemployment, pain and sadness, worry and death. These are the depopulated villages. These are prejudices and superstitions. It is hunger, HIV and it is AIDS.

I was in Africa only once sometime in year 1985, it was in Algeria. Nothing of what I have now written, I have seen or experienced. Only the oleander flowers attracted me through their aroma and I drowned in them under rays of hot African sun.

Come back to the reality. Africa has materialized for me on just ending weekend. The theatre “Husa na Provazku” (Goose on String) in Brno has entertained some group of people, enthusiasts, doubters, but even faithful and selfless people and donators this Saturday (26.06.2010). Africa has materialized for me in the form of the large photos, beads and small baskets made by people that are far. Africa has materialized for me in the form of African drummers from Congo; by the way they live in Czech Republic. Their drums have totally overturned the world and the theater has become a furnace of Africa.

However, in an intermission we have listened narrative of Missis Gita Fuchsova about many projects that are under way in Kenya and in neighbouring countries. Missis Gita Fuchsova is the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the UNEP and UN-Habitat ((UNEP = United Nations Enviroment Programme, UN-Habitat = United Nations Human Settlements Programme).

The wide spectrum of programs has covered, for example, the preventive vaccination of dogs in Mt. Kula mountain chain in Kenya, which is every year made by people from the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno and they do it successfully. It is also “Doll for UNICEF” project, where the voluntaries sew some doll and it is offered to an adoption for 600 CZK. This amount is needed to revaccinate of one child in the underdeveloped countries against six mortal child illnesses.
And of course, it was Bwindi Orphans, because this civically association and its activities in Uganda were a midpoint of that day. It has begun by some afternoon talk and has continued then in the theater passage and in the evening also during the concert. It was not missing also a connection between Bwindi Orphans and the virtual world Second Life, which was tried to explain by Fanda Ryba. I think that he has succeeded it. At his presentation, he has shown us also several pictures from SL, where is also placed the school, for which there is a fund-raising campaign through the pink pigs that are on many sims of Czech and Slovak community in SL. Around this school you can see also picture made by the court photographer of Bwindi Orphans Michal Prihoda. The account amount is updated regularly on this web site and all donators (more than 400) are there listed even with the respective amount of Linden dollars. To this day (01.07.2010) people has donated 634 805 L$.

However, the performance of the band called Cankisou (maybe pronounced as Tschankeyshow). This band was founded by bigbeat musicians at some Christmas party in year 1999. With help of the most various instruments form the whole world, they threw themselves into absolutely new waters of ethno, world music and in an original way, and they based their work on some legend about an ancient uniped nation of Canki (Tschanki). During 10 years of it existence, the band has gained the solid place in musical sun and today they belong to the top of Czech world music.

To describe an atmosphere in an auditorium and even on a stage is quite difficult, one have to experience it. So, at least there are several pictures from this event here: ones on the official site of Bwindi Orphans and other ones on Zuza Ritt stream. Well, finally you can look at three clips of Cankisou only for an idea what they play.

Zuha clip was shot in Pakistan by LP Fish during our participation in World Performing and Visual Arts festival 2007 in Lahore. Borrega clip is animated one made by students at Film Academy of Miroslav Ondricek and Independent Film College in Pisek. Last one was based on materials that Michal Prihoda recorded and shot in Uganda.

^*M. Brunet et al.: A new hominid from the Upper Miocéne of Chad, Central Africa. Nature 418, 2002, 145.

Pictures: Offical site of BWO [only in Czech], Zuza Ritt stream

SLurl: 3D-model of the school on Shinyland

(Sources: Cankisou [only in Czech], UNICEF, UNEP, UN-Habitat, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Embassy in Nairobi, Wikipedia, YouTube)

Magic moment

Every day we live out the moment of an awakening into the new day. Sun rises above the horizon and shines with its lights all around. Sometimes, this day is somber and cloud over and only the shreds of the foggy morning most cover the hills. For all that, these are only the volatile and magic moments of our life.

Since some event will take place on Saturday June 26 in Brno, I have refreshed my memory with reference to the Bwindi Orphans project. Some of you knows that I written here about this project here several times. Only for reminding, Bwindi Orphans is Czech non-profit organizations with the seat in Brno, Czech Republic and it is focused on help to children in Uganda in Africa including a children long-distance adoption. There is already some donation for long time. Its gains will be used for the building of a nongovernmental school in Soroti.

To my big surprise and joy, I have found out that an account rise and mainly it thanks to many people form Second Life world. The possibility to donate Linden dollars via small pink pigs in SL achieved high popularity and the amount such gifted money surely is not small. It exceeded 600.000 L$ and totally there is 75.000, - CZK on this account. The list of people that donated is totally imposing, look here. It is possible to donate also in real world. There was another magic moment of the day.

And even if sun sets behind the horizon, nothing ends. Nigh world of Second Life is like created of seeking and making of the magic moments. Just find the right place.

(Sources: Bwindi Orphans official site (in Czech), SL donation fo Bwindi Orphans)

Urbanica

So, I am bit sad about it. Again one project finished and Urbanica city disappeared from the Second Life surface. Shiny Iceberg always makes some surprising. OK, it is his decision. For us only these shots remain.

School

With permission of Fanda Ryba I would like to offer you a translation of his article about Bwindi Orphans Project. It concerns a new school for the orphans in Uganda, see here for more info.

If it was all so simple in real life as it is in the virtual world. It would be sometimes too nice, but sometimes also not. If children had amongst themselves man like Shiny Iceberg in Ugandan village Angola. He would build the school them possibly without a blink. And maybe he also would fit the WC door by all manner of useful sensors. These children have maybe amongst themselves some like Shiny. So, their Shiny have to more learn. But where? Well, he has to go to the school. Do you think that he has a chance to prove himself in the classroom with other 150 classmates?

So, you know that there is some fund-raising campaign both in SL and RL to build the school.
Bigger chance could be given to all Shinys to learn something there. Do you know ever how this school should look? We acquired plans of the school that should be … What should … It WILL build even many of you. Therefore, Shiny Iceberg took the tools and he dared to call even me (Fanda Ryba) for some pair of helping works (but only to hold the timbers and to mix the clay in mix-machine). Now, you can scan through the model of the school that will serve the children in real world, the children, which receive school fees from some yours personally.

So, where is this school? HERE!!

(Pictures with permission of Fanda Ryba)

Bwindi Orphans is going to the big world

Yes, it is going, but to any old world. So, it is commonly known now that Second Life celebrates its sixth birthday. The big complex of several sims – SL6B – is the main place, where is concentrated whole event. So, there are a lot of things to be seen there. Bwindi Orphans is not missing there too. The project guarantors – Fanda Ryba and Shiny Iceberg – created nice stand with information about BWO, pictures of Uganda children and one surprise there. Such presence here is not only praiseworthy, but it is unique occasion to show, what our Czech and Slovak community knows and what it is doing for others.
SLurl: BWO na SL6B.

(Sources: Druhý život, BWO)

Closing

Saturday, May 2, was nice day for me too. There was nice weather in RL and I looked forward to nice meeting in SL. It was closing of some exhibition of snapshots of photographer Michal Prihoda and pictures from Iaoness Aichi. There were people in great numbers ass you can see on pictures below. The exhibition was placed in Nova Straaf Gallery at Deck 3 of SS Galaxy ship. This ship is really amazing and I have explored it yet. Maybe next time I will write something about it.

Fanda Ryba gave an opening speech and it was excellent. He mentioned Bwindi Orphans project and thanked all people that organized this exhibition including ship staff. After moving into the gallery, everybody could see presented works. Actually, I have mention that it was last possibility to see these things, because it is organized other exhibition every month there. After a deal with staff, you can find small pink pig there to donate some amount of lindens to building a new school in Uganda.

After that, I moved to La Fabrique café and listened jazz, blues and soul. Unfortunately, RL time passes same speed as in RL. Time to go.

SLurls: SS Galaxy, La Fabrique

Circle

Circle and its boundary called round are not only geometric objects that troubles students in lectures of mathematics. Circle and rounded shapes in general are nice to see and to touch. One speaks about magical properties of circle. Therefore, many amulets have such shape. Often different things and people are placed to form circle. There is circle symbol for Ying and Yang. Stones and steles are in circle in Stonehenge. Also Second Life is full of such circles, rounds and their 3D-complements – balls and spheres.

However, I would like to talk about other circle. Actually, one speaks that circle has no beginning and no end. This thing has been reminded me after opening and reading of one Email today morning. The beginning is distant time depths of my activity here in SL and it is connected with one small space under a sewerage lid. So, the starting point is at distant Valuta sim. Shinyland was the next stop and also one Friday’s evening. Many people came to nice office there and they listened somebody from the real world, how she presents them one project. The RL picture exhibition and meeting with real people that are part of this project were the next point. Also I met one avatar there that is responsible for this thing in SL. And therefore, it is not always enough exhibitions and parties in SL, so, one exhibition is installed on board ship SS Galaxy, which is anchoring by our Bohemia coast now. It is next point. And what party? Thus, one party will be on Saturday May 2 just on SS Galaxy at 7:00 PM our time (GMT +1, 10:00 AM PDT).

Circle is closed. But is it really circle? After all I said that circle has no beginning and no end. Yes, it is circle, because according definition: “Circle is a part of a plane bounded by a round and the round is set of all points that have same distance from on point, then center.” Just this project is for me the center. How you are already supposing, it is Bwindi Orphans. I wrote about it here. And these points are all my stops (see above). Last but not least, these points are all avatars that contributed to good thing with help of magic pink pigs. They are the avatars that just stand in same right distance from the center to create circle.

Thanks that you are here!

SLurls: Bohemia, Shinyland, SS Galaxy

Bwindi Orphans

A return to the roots can be very long, sad or painful, on the other hand also cheerful and very emotional. It has happened me yesterday, even if I have gone only back to the roots like such a human being, like Homo sapiens. Our ancestors come from the heart of black continent – from Africa. And just this continent has blown on me by an opening of pictures of children from Uganda. It was an exhibition called Bwindi Orphans – Orphans from Uganda in pictures. The exhibition is situated in an atrium of Faculty of Social Studies of Masaryk University Brno, Czech Republic till 22.04.2009.

I would like to mention several words about this project. Bwindi Orphans is a Czech non-profit organization, which organizes adoption of Uganda children. It operates in an area around Bwindi in southwest Uganda at the border with Rwanda and The Democratic Republic of Congo. There is a national park known for its big population of mountain gorillas, which are the main touristic crowd-puller here. The second area lies around town Soroti at opposite northeast Uganda end. The organization engages in

• funding of school attendance and essential needs of children
  
• rising a level and quality of schools attended by children
  
• ensuring regular medical and dental care for children
  
• organizing courses in practical skills which may later help children to earn living
  
• looking for opportunities how older children or families may sell their hand-made products
  
• improving living conditions of people in Uganda in cooperation with other international organizations
  
• providing publicity and information about current situation in Uganda
  
• arranging educational tours to Uganda including accommodation directly in villages
  

The opening has been very pleasant and richly colored by African music in front with Karel Herman from Cankisou band. You can look at some small video on YouTube. This one was made as an order just for Bwindi Orphans.




Thus, Bwindi Orphans has sponsored 140 children yet form year 2006. But the most important thing was the following news. Katerina Andrlova, the project coordinator, has said us that the finances are cumulated to build no state private school for these children in Soroti.

Small office is open also in Second Life at Shinyland sim and opening premiere was last Friday 03.04.2009 in the evening. Katerina Andrlova was in direct contact into SL via voice and she answered a lot of questions close to two hours. You can find there some pictures, which are at the exhibition and Karel Prihoda has made them. There is some possibility to support this school project with L$ amount using small pink pig. The other information is at this webpage, where your name appeared with relevant amount of lindens.

I have left this event with good feeling that somebody ever has done such things. There was also one nice thing this evening. Zuza Ritt has introduced me the main instigator of this project propagation in SL. It was nobody other than Fanda Ryba. In this moment, I have realized, when I met him for the first time and when he told me about this project.

It has taken me some time until I have remembered myself. There was on sim, where some cloaca lid was open. One could jump down into the underground, where the banks were or only one? Here, several people met each other. Here, Fanda told me about these children and showed me small shop, which was on the surface.

And thus the story began.

(Sources: BwindiOrphans.org, Virtualmagazine.cz, YouTube.com)