Friday Ramblings, Realities and -Isms- The One About My State of Feeling Defeated

Rambling is defined by Webster as:

• passing from one topic to another
• using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea

Reality is defined by Webster as:

• the quality or state of being real
• a real event, entity, or state of affairs
• totality of real things and events
• something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily

-Isms are just my own colloquialisms .

“I don’t drink, so I feel every punch to the gut”

— Fatimaah

“This week was tough mentally and physically. I have felt a host of feelings that range from defeat, stupidity, loneliness .......


”

— The Mind State of Feeling Defeated

Silk Road Thursdays

Silk Road Thursdays because the Silk Road was the most powerful display of cultural interaction between Africa and Asia. Both cultures were present in each other spaces through the exchanges of commerce, culture, religion, arts, theology, food, technologies, sciences, textiles and so much more!  The cultural diplomacy between the two occurred via land and sea routes connecting both civilizations for thousands of years.

The countries of South Korea, Japan and China have practiced varieties of Soft Power with Africa for quite some time now.

This cloud map is a nod to just about everything that made up the Silk Road. However my focus will be on the big three and as always I will touch on any interesting practices, I observe by Southeast Asia or even Central Asia.
 

Shah Abbasi Caravanserai - Meybod, Iran

Caravanserais were extremely popular for travelers along the silk route, they were inns found in desert regions. 

Pubic Health Wednesdays(PHW)-Celebrates International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

There is a still long way to go for indigenous people. I hope you read and learn something new.  

Click here for Portraits of Indigenous People throughout the World.

Public Health Wednesdays-PHW

Just a snap shot of Public Health

I will discuss public health concerns in African countries, South Korea, Japan and China. Time to time , I will mention strides of improvement  or concerns of public health in the western pacific region.

“July 31st 2017, The kingdom of Tonga eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem”

This is a picture of a person with  Lymphatic Filariasis.

 Click on the picture for how they pulled this incredible accomplishment. 

Credit: Pinterest

I hope to bring to your attention the use of "Security"  in health.  Security plays into the discussion of diplomacy and back to our favorite word “Soft Power”.  

“We need to capitalize on this moment. As deep and humanly unsettling as this moment is, shame on us if we can’t build from it.”

— Laura Holgate, Senior Director for Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism and Threat Reduction for the White House National Security Council on the Ebola Outbreak

Have you ever come across the terms Global Health Diplomacy??? Medical Diplomacy???

“A friend in need is a friend indeed”

— Unknown

In this friendship of diplomacy, sometimes our friends use our health issues and concerns to soften their images. African states do not have strong military capabilities but they are able to attract and persuade others to get the job done.

This brings me to another expression, I heard growing up in Cameroon.

“Nah condition make njanga e back bend”

— Said every Cameroonian....

This means roughly that the lobster has a hard shell out of difficulties but none the less it continues to thrive.
African countries will be able to thrive using sanctions as a very effective tool in their foreign policy agendas. There are some critiques that argue on the effectiveness of sanctions due to limitations. There are few countries currently appreciating the strength of sanctions and they don't seem to feel it as "weak" punishment. 

Health Diplomacy like any other niche diplomacy uses certain actors for attraction and persuading but in this context, it is for “health security”. 

African Countries must change the culture of hierarchy in health professions.

           PUBLIC HEALTH IS MORE THAN DOCTORS AND NURSES!!!

Students must major in fields of: Applied Public Health, Global Health, Public Health, Community Health, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Graphic Design, Marketing, Communications and so much more.

Why are Graphic Designers needed in Public Health?  
How do you intend to communicate with the public in a way that does not bore them to death? The WHO, CDC, UN can only do so much!
Graphic Designers communicate in the language that is best understood by the community and the communities within the community.

Anthropology in Public Health? Where do I start?

Do you want to understand popular health culture?
Risk Assessments and Protective capacities for your community in health are???
Health disparities???
What are the historical approaches to medicine within YOUR CULTURAL FRAMEWORK?
How does the pharmaceutical industry interact with your country??? 

“What is the link between colonialism, modernity and post-colonialism in medical practices?? I am just asking for a friend in need. ”

— Water & Cassava

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I hope you now understand that a country's poor approach to illness is simply another country's soft power tool in wellness .
 

We will also celebrate Health Month Observances.

Please ADULT!! There will be pictures and writings on overall public health.

 

                                     Welcome to Public Health Wednesday

Cassava Diplomacy: Before we start......

Cassava Diplomacy will be the term I use for African Soft Power. Soft Power in Africa countries is impossible, I have heard this so many times. The problem with the interrupted imagination is the inability of to see self in another framework outside of the imposed interruption.

Did you read the first entry of Mul-Day? That was my first time using the word interrupted imagination referring to self.

Every African country has the capability of using this cultural diplomacy tool known as soft power.  However due to current affairs of certain countries and regions out of the 54 countries, only 20 countries have the capability of sustaining this method of diplomacy. There is a possibility with proper strategic management and leadership that out of the remaining 34, 10 of those countries can start this conversation.

Source Nana Adwoa Sey.

I have observed that there is a hierarchy of appropriate professions in Africa and throughout the diaspora.
Professions in Fields such as: Medicine, Law, Engineer and Business are praised. 
Professions in Fields such as: Sociology, Anthropology, Arts & Languages are shunned.

“Would you care to guess who continues the narrative of African countries, cities and regions as dangerous, primitive and the breathing metaphor of hell on earth?”

— ??

“ Governments are responsible for communicating cultural diplomacy globally but the people share a responsibility in educating and promoting their culture as well.
”

— Water & Cassava

Until next time,

Let me know your thoughts on soft power and cultural diplomacy.