Humanistic Leadership

Right now I am sitting at the airport in Copenhagen where I just watched a TV broadcast with Nelson Mandela, squeezed in between the football stories. Mr Mandela has been granted a long life; a significant life, a life of contribution and service to mankind. He serves as a beacon for all of us in terms of a great fellow man, a great leader and a great humanist.

It causes me to think of Europe today. Where are we heading? Who is our Nelson Mandela? Who serve as our lighthouse and provides our hope? Maybe this vacuum is actually the greatest leadership challenge we face in Europe today: We lack leaders that truly inspire our aspirations and who offer a sense of community and who facilitate a direction.

The European Union has been in many ways the great project of our generation. After a thousand years of wars and tragedies , Europe decided to start a project that would effectively prevent us from killing each other off again. A project that through trade, cooperation, mobility and economic growth would make Europe peaceful, as well as financially better off. But like all projects and organizations, we need a rationale – a purpose – that is legitimized and possibly renewed through coming generations otherwise its cohesiveness and coherence will run the risk of evaporating.

We have witnessed support and faith in the European project sliding. The economic crises, with the collapse in Greece as the most visible example, has put our faith and our capabilities to the test. What we need to see are leaders emerging, rising over the polarising rhetoric and articulating a common vision for us all to strive towards. This is the leadership deficit we are experiencing. What we need is an emergence of leaders with strong ethics and endowed with a purpose focused on positive change. Beware – this is not needed only for appointed leaders –  it is needed for us all. We must be the leaders we want to see in others. Now, there is an opportunity for us to re-examine what the European project could be about. We can identify the promise yet to be fulfilled of bringing the human side into the equation, setting our eyes towards the horizon and knowing that there is still more to be found.

Humanism + Leadership

Historically, humanism has taken root in times of turbulence, stress and upheaval.  Consider the eras  when  the  Renaissance and the Enlightenment emerged. Today’s upheaval comes in the form of the financial crisis we are experiencing, or, at the very least, its effects.  Is it just a financial crisis that we are experiencing or  is it not also a crisis in our societal order?  If so, then, this could be the time for a new humanism to take root.

Humanism as a philosophy places humans and humanity at the center, but it is not an egocentric concept. It is a deep personal conviction that by living an informed, conscious and compassionate life we realize our potential to do good for ourselves, others and mankind at large. This is something we can do and indeed have a duty to do. Leaders and leadership are central in the welfare, well-being and happiness of people
Leadership is itself  a timeless and universal idea no matter how differently it has been understood and applied.  Leadership is a way of making sense, making decisions, getting things done and of providing meaning, community and direction for others. It is also happens to be one of the most researched areas within business, one of the most common themes in management literature and one of the  most strived-for outcomes of MBA programs: the production of future leaders.

Getting things done through others takes leadership and it requires inflicting one’s will upon people and extending influence. However, leadership also has to be accepted since one is a leader  only tby the acceptance of others.  Someone cannot become a leader without having followers since it is the others that constitute the leader.   It is the course of action of others and  the result of their efforts, that is the true measure of leadership.

Humanistic Leadership

This form of leadership should be understood as humans having a value in and of themselves, not just as resources that can be calculated in relation to productivity.   Indeed, results without human growth are undesirable. Results, such as productivity and profit, are ways to measure human growth and not an end in themselves as not everything which is countable is accounted for when making up today’s balance sheets.

That which does comprise the philosophy of humanistic leadership rests upon and is guided by the following principles:

All individuals have the ability to be:

  • Value creators
  • Collaborators
  • Sensitive
  • Responsible

Furthermore, humanistic leadership has as its guiding principles that all individuals want to:  grow,    do good, live well, and create a better tomorrow. Bringing humanism into leadership means that it still needs to be be effective, deliver value and be competitive.   However, humanistic leadership recognizes that it is of and for the people and that it is about serving.  At its heart  it is about treating everyone with dignity and recognizing his or her significance. Humanistic leadership is about active values, utilizing potential and creating opportunities. Humanism requires leaders to set forth and show the way, and leadership requires the same from humanistic principles.


Friday the 13th (dunn dunn dunnnnn) - A Lesson in Patience
The wind today was incredible! I heard it trying to tear the roof off while we were in the attic, and later it howled down the chimney and startled the cats. It was too windy to go outside and work on the yard (I think the wind would have sliced my face off) so Theseus and I stayed inside and puttered around the house.

We lowered the platform on the baby's crib and I washed all his bedding in both of his beds. Then we sorted all his toys and packed up the ones he won't be able to use for awhile - up in the attic they went. We also put all the boxes of clothes he's outgrown up there, too (don't look at me like that!).

Once we got rolling, made a good dent in the storage area that used to be our spare bedroom. You can see the bed again! Apologies to anyone who has had the misfortune of sleeping in there. It's almost habitable again. Sorry! I want to eventually get some stuff up on the walls and some curtains on the windows. You know. Make it look like it's a part of the house.

So now we have a mountain of stuff to take to Goodwill. It makes me happy to clear out all the junk we don't need anymore... I just have a hard time getting started sometimes; I get overwhelmed easily. And if Theseus isn't also in the mood to clean - forget it. There is nothing as demotivating as a husband with his butt parked on the couch.

Oh! While you're here: check out today's photo! Don't forget, you can click the photo to see a larger size.

That's it. Good night!

- Antiope

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/ Engineering Department

Hope students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members, striving to answer novel research questions in a variety of engineering fields.

Impact-Loaded Structures

Simulation of a metal plate responding to a projectileDr. Veldman’s research seeks to understand how thin-walled metallic structures respond to high impact loading. Finite element analyses are first used to predict the response of a clamped structure to a projectile impact. Then these results are validated through direct comparison with laboratory experiments.

Nerve Stimulation for Phantom Limb Pain

Left: A anatomical model of the arm, showing the median nerve.  Right: A circuit schematic showing the ion channels of a sensory neuronDr. Polasek and her students are working toward designing a non-invasive, home-based therapy for treating phantom limb pain using electrical stimulation. In particular, better methods to activate nerves from the surface of the skin are being developed. Computer models are used to make initial predictions of effective electrode locations that are then tested on people with and without amputated limbs.

Responsive Material Systems

Computer simulation of a light responsive archPhotomechanical materials are specialized materials that convert light energy to mechanical work. Dr. Smith’s research group works on developing photomechanical materials that can be easily shaped or printed into engineered device components. This interdisciplinary project combines optical and mechanical testing, computer simulation and chemical synthesis.

Tetrahedral Walker Robotics Technology

Tetrahedral walking robot and model
Dr. Abrahantes and his students focus on developing a robotic system that can easily travel over rough terrain.  The robot design is based on shape-changing geometry with trusses that lengthen and shorten, thus allowing it to move through a tumbling motion. To enable fluid movement, this project focuses on intensive computational modeling and development of control strategies for the robot and pairs this with experimental validation.

Structural Monitoring of Civil Infrastructure

Sensor that records vibrations and can be used to monitor the health of bridges and other civil infastructure.Civil infrastructure is highly exposed to the environment and also can be subject to degradation due to normal everyday use. Dr. Peckens’ research team seeks to understand how these loads impact such structures over extended periods of time. Wireless sensor nodes are developed in the laboratory and used to monitor structures for fatigue and degradation. Data collected from the monitoring is analyzed for trends and insight into the system behavior.

Physical Property Modeling from Equations of State

In chemical process design, engineers need general methods for predicting physical properties of various substances as both liquids and vapors. Chemical engineers commonly use cubic equations of state such as Soave-Redlich-Kwong and Peng-Robinson. Dr. Misovich's research team uses common equations of state to predict vapor-liquid phase equilibrium or Pressure-Volume-Temperature behavior and apply mathematical methods to generate data for physical properties from these equations.


The Pilot

The Pilot
The Pilot

Monday, July 25, 2016

Creating Extraordinary Visions

Recently I was asked to give a condensed version of a photography workshop (How to See Photographically) I presented several times a few years ago. The new version turned out to be  a new presentation reworked from the original and was called Creating Extraordinary Visions. Its focus was to simply touch on the concept of what it takes to consistently create extraordinary photographs. It was more inspirational than instructional in nature although a few ideas did find their way into the program. Over the next several blog posts in a multi-part presentation I want to share bits and pieces about Creating Extraordinary Visions with you the readers. Hopefully, you will find some inspiration along the way.

It All Begins With Light

Creating extraordinary visions begins with light, for you see Light in all of its moods is what transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. As photographers, that is what we do...We Transform Light! We also see what others do not see. We develop an uncanny ability to look beyond what is visually in front of us and see into the potential of the moment, because photography is indeed 90% seeing and 10% photographing.

The 10% is important no doubt. It is the instinctive part of photography where we grasp the difference between what makes a great exposure and simply capturing a visual xerox image of what we see. It is where we understand all of the mechanics of photography; shutter speed, aperture, ISO, White Balance, depth of field, composition, and so on...and the relationships between all of those components. It is where we understand how the camera is going to react to a given lighting condition and then have the ability to use that understanding to capture a scene the way we want it to look as opposed to always simply capturing what we see. But, photography is 90% seeing and this is one of the most difficult aspects of the art for most to fully grasp.

The art of seeing begins with light. Some years ago I read a statement by a world class photographer, Jack Dykinga, that altered my understanding of who I was as a photographer. What he said was, "Cameras and lenses are simply tools we use to capture our unique vision....Concentrate on equipment, and you will take technically good photographs. But, concentrate on seeing lights magic colors and your images will stir the soul."

Think about those words for a moment. Lights magic colors....Images that stir the soul....Unique vision. After reading Jacks statement all those years ago, I for the first time began to realize what photography was all about. It isn't about the object or the equipment...It is about creating a vision based on light. What you photograph is less important than how you photograph it. When you look at the potential photographic solution from the context of light, your whole perspective of what you do is changed. Light then becomes the driving force behind all of your images. From the dynamic grandeur of the Grand Canyon to the simple beauty of a single blade of grass...light is what defines how the image is received visually and the way you approach taking the image is dictated by the quality of the light.

There will come a point in time if you continue to pursue photography toward a high level of accomplishment, you will need to ask yourself two questions.

1.  Am I a picture taker of things?
2.  Do I consider myself to be an artist?

You see, the Picture Taker captures images believing it is the camera and/or the object itself being photographed that creates the great image. Rarely does the picture taker take into consideration the quality of the light and is usually satisfied with a photo as long as it is technically good. His motto is; I have a good camera therefore I take good pictures.

On the other hand, The Artist uses Light to bring his images to life and approaches his craft from the context
of light from the very beginning. He can take the most simple of objects using basic equipment and turn it into a work of art that will indeed stir the soul. He spends less time trying to define the object as he visually sees it, and instead attempts to create a feeling or mood. He begins the process by visualizing what the end result will be before he ever points the camera.

Creating Extraordinary Visions begins with understanding this basic concept about photography.

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3 Daily Exercises to Unleash YOUR MIND

You are reading this sentence with YOUR MIND. You are thinking to yourself, “no shit Sherlock” with YOUR MIND. Your emotions feel humor because of YOUR MIND. You are beginning to drift to the multitudes of other thoughts in your head because YOUR MIND is vast.

YOUR MIND is like a muscle, it can only be strengthened through exercise. This post gives you three powerful exercises to promote your growth into living at your fullest potential.

YOUR MIND is YOU, YOUR MIND creates YOUR LIFE and therefore when you control your mind, you control your destiny. At the foundation of YOUR MIND is your core philosophy which creates every iota of your being. The progression looks like this:

[YOUR MIND] -> Your core philosophy -> creates your thoughts -> creates your attitudes -> which creates your actions -> which creates your habits -> which creates your character -> which creates your results -> which creates your life!

The power of the mind is often under-rated, if the body weren’t necessary for life, exercising the mind would be the top priority! For a strong mind improves every aspect of your life.

When MIND is weak, situation is a PROBLEM, When MIND is balanced situation is CHALLENGE, when MIND is strong, situation becomes OPPORTUNITY.

3 Powerful Ways To Exercise YOUR MIND

1. Feed it Healthy Knowledge

To develop into your optimal self, make it a goal every day to absorb quality knowledge that will help you achieve your dreams. A good rule of thumb is to try to read 10 pages of a good book everyday or listen to 10 minutes of an audiobook or seminar. Choose a method of attaining knowledge that works best for you but remember to do it every day! 10 pages of a good book a day equals 3,650 pages, roughly a dozen books full of life changing information. When you take the information you learn and apply it to your daily life, the transformation will be immeasurable!

Knowledge without practice is useless. Practice without knowledge is dangerous. – Confucius

Your mind is like a sponge, be careful to avoid “mind-mushers” like TV, video games, and web surfing. These devices often feed your subconscious mind with messages that do not serve your dreams.

For an INSIGHTFUL video by  Darren Hardy that describes how the information input you receive directly hurts or helps your life, check out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T6LXuzfRwQ.

2. Meditate Daily

Start with 2 minutes a day! Tiny habits are easy to do and get you in the rhythm of creating a life-long habit. Only increase the amount of time when you feel you are ready.

The benefits of meditation are infinite as it is the true act of training your mind. Meditation increases your focus, memory, positivity, creativity, contentment, and alertness. Meditation also decreases your anxiety and stress. For a post that explains all of these benefits scientifically, go to bufferapp.com, I found the post to be very intriguing.

If you do not know how to meditate here is a video to get you started: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0rSmxsVHPE

I also explain 5 easy and simple steps that I use to meditate here: http://tinytweaks.com/how-to-meditate-5-simple-and-easy-steps/

3. Journal Nightly

Journaling is a great way to help your mind reflect on your day. Journaling helps you learn from each day and vividly process your emotions and thoughts. By writing about the most invigorating experiences during your day, you explore your mind at its deepest levels. This helps to increase your self-awareness and the understanding you have of yourself.

I have also found journaling to result in a more positive frame of mind for myself. I like to challenge myself each night to write about three things I am grateful for that happened throughout the day. This has subconsciously transformed my dreary life perspective. I now find myself looking for the best in people and situations instead of the worst.

Journaling nightly results in stress reduction, healing, personal growth, and enhanced problem solving.

For 100 benefits of journaling read this post from http://www.appleseeds.org/100_journaling.htm.

As you begin exercising your mind each day, you will feel an unrelenting momentum build within you. As YOUR MIND gets stronger, your life will get better! By using YOUR MIND as your greatest instrument, you will be everything you’ve ever imagined, and you will live everything you’ve ever dreamed!

In what one way does exercising YOUR MIND benefit you most?


The physical formula of power is Power equals Force multiplied by Velocity (P = F * v). For a more detailed deduction of the physical formula, check out the article

What is the Power Training Definition?
Power Training can be defined as the ability to exert force in the shortest period of time. For a more detailed definition, check out

What is the difference between Power Training and strength training, check out

Practical Power Training example

The definition of Power and Power Training makes clear, that there is a certain velocity or speed component involved in Power Training. Consequently, it is important how much force can be exerted and applied in a limited period of time.

One of the best examples, that I am using over and over again, is the sprint stride in running or sprinting. This example can be applied to other sporting actions as well.

In order to propel you forward during running, you need to apply force into the ground. The more force you can apply, the more you can propel yourself forward.

If you look at world class sprinters, they have ground contact times of 60 to 80 milliseconds, so the foot just makes contact with the ground of fewer than 100 milliseconds.

Now, this is the time, where the sprinters need to apply force into the ground in order to propel themselves forward.
This example makes evident, that the real constraint isn’t necessarily the force that is being produced, the constraint is the time available to apply the force.

I have outlined these time constraints for different sporting action, such as jumping or throwing in the article

So, does that mean strength training has no place in developing power for athletes?

By no means, if you look at the definition of Power, Power equals Force multiplied by velocity, you can see that there are two variables, that influence power, Force and velocity.

Consequently, you need to work both ends of the continuum. I have outlined that in the article

Power Training terminologies

You might have heard different terminologies, such as explosive strength, speed strength, strength speed.

In my approach to keeping things simple, essentially they all describe the physical quality of power. The idea behind segmenting it into different terminologies is to describe different intensity zones.

I have outlined that Power can be trained through a broad range of intensities in the articles

The idea behind using a different terminology is to describe different intensity zones, consequently

  • Speed strength refers to an intensity of 20 – 40% 1RM
  • Strength speed refers to an intensity of 60 – 80% 1RM

Using the term explosive strength, however, is a bit misleading, as the term explosive strength originates from strength diagnostics. In strength diagnostics, explosive strength and starting strength are two variables used to evaluate power capabilities.

  • Starting strength is the measure of force that can be attained in the first 30 milliseconds
  • Explosive strength is the measure of the rise in strengthening particular movement

Explaining both variables in detail and the interpretations that can be drawn from both variables would go beyond the scope of this article.

Takeaway message:

As Ralph Waldo Emerson phrased it eloquently

In my opinion, it is much more important to understand the principle of Power and Power Training, rather than different terminologies that may vary depending on the author.

What does Power Training improve – Power Training adaptations

There are three different ways to activate a motor unit. A motor unit is one nerve that activates different muscle fibers.

Bigger motor units have one nerve that activates many muscle fibers, these motor units are responsible for forceful gross motor skill. An example would be motor units that activate muscle fibers in the legs or hip region.

Smaller motor units have one nerve that activated fewer muscle fibers and is responsible for more coordinated fine motor skills. An example would be motor units that activate the fingers.

There are three mechanisms to activate the motor unit

  • Recruitment – how many motor units can be activated
  • Firing frequency – how fast motor units can be activated
  • Synchronization– the synchronised effort of activation

For more details, have a look at the articles

Adaptations to Power Training are an increased firing frequency, which means the muscle fibers get activated much faster and an improved synchronization, which refers to agonistic (working muscles) are activated while antagonistic muscles (opposing muscles) are deactivated.

Concluding What does Power Training Improve

Most sporting actions are characterised by time constraints, as the demonstrated example of a sprint stride made clear. It’s not important how much force can be produced absolutely, it’s much more important, how much force can be produced and applied in the limited time frame.

Power Training focusses on this quality of expressing force in the shortest period of time, consequently, Power Training should be a cornerstone of every training program where athletes have to develop and apply force quickly.

More information on Power Training

The 101 of Power Training for Beginners

The Importance Weight Training Has On Power

3 Steps to Develop your own Power Training Method

Power Training vs Strength Training – what is the difference?

What Is Power Training?

What does Power Training Do?

or the Power Training library


Saturday, April 7, 2012

Cell Membrane

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1. a) Bulk movement is the overall movement of a fluid. The molecules all

move in the same direction. Diffusion however is the random movement of

molecules which usually results in a fairly even distribution. In other

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similar to diffusion but is differentiated by the membranes behavior. The

cell membrane does allow water to move from higher to lower concentrations

but does not allow solutes do that. b) Water potential is the capacity of

water to move to a from a region where there is high water potential to low

water potential. This action happens without the affect of outside forces.

When outside actions due occur and they give water a high potential energy

than the water will move to the region where less potential energy is.

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure required to stop water the movement of

water. This is a method of measurement. The osmotic potential is the

measure of tendency of water to move through a membrane which contains a

solution. This occurs when a cell does not allow a hypertonic solution to

leave the cell membrane. The cell begins to increase with water but the

cell membrane can not release the solution and thus the water potential

within the cell increases. This causes the water to no longer enter the

cell. c) Hypotonic is less solute to a certain amount of water. Hypertonic

is more solute to a certain amount of water. Isotonic is the equal amount

causes by incoming molecules. Exocytosis is the expelling of a material

outside a cell. e) Phagocytosis is the process where the cell obtains

solid matter. This is different from the pinocytosis where the cell

obtains liquid matter. These both are endocytic processes.

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is the process where there are interactions

between a material and receptor sites on the cell. In this process the

cell accepts the material if it matches with the receptor sites. f) Coated

pits are areas which peripheral proteins indent the membrane. This is

where the vesicles for certain materials are formed. The vesicle which is

which hold two adjacent cells together. Gap junctions are the channels

which allow materials to flow between cells.

. The concentration gradient is the difference in the density of a

material from one region to another region. The concentration gradient

affects diffusion by allowing the substance to flow from high concentration

to low concentration. The concentration gradient affects osmosis by the

same manner it does in diffusion. The cell does not allow the solution to

exit the cell when water is entering. This keeps the solution in the cell

making the concentration high and thus no further penetration of water.

4. Diffusion is more rapid in gases because they are less dense than

liquids. They repel each other more resulting in faster diffusion.

Diffusion is greater at higher temperatures because of the greater kinetic

energy among the molecules. They push each other more making them less

5. The concentration of the solute is 1%. This happens because a 1% sugar

solution is isotonic with that of the 1% sugar solution in the tubes. The

% sugar solution was increased because the substance was hypertonic. The

membrane did not allow the hypertonic solution to exit because the pressure

from the hypotonic solution was forcing water in. This later reached an

equilibrium when the hypertonic solution was gaining water potential and

the water stopped rising. The vice versa happened in the distilled water

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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Book of the Night Women

Marlon James’ the Book of the Night Women is a riveting exposure of the dynamics of the lack of kinship, conflicts of interests, violence, punishments, arrangements of conveniences, fragmentation, social structure and struggle in a plantation society, during the enslavement of African people in the Americas.
The contrast between the major characters carries the book. The green-eyed females were all issued into existence by the overseer, Jack Wilkens, yet they displayed no sisterly love to each other. The bonding amongst the females seems to have been orchestrated by Homer. The head house slave was the major force in the social setting. Lilith is the primary character. She is strong willed, open-minded and most of all true to her own self interest. The interaction between Homer and Lilith exposing their differences and similarities is the focal point.
There were conflicts of interests between the House slaves and the Field slaves, slaves birthed in Africa and those born in the colony, slave drivers and the field slaves, the Maroons and the enslaved, the former Overseer and the present overseer, the Creole Europeans and those birthed in Europe. There are numerous references to historic events, such as the revolts in Jamaica and the slave revolt which matured into the successful Haitian Revolution.
The text is laced with sexually explicit language, and the harsh realities of exploited people on a sugar cane plantation. The characters in the text are superbly established. The characters have a sense of understanding the nature of the beast in their environment. It shows the undaunted human spirit. It also demonstrates the characteristics of the thought process of humans in the scheme of things.
The Book of the Night Women is an excellent tome, indeed. It is highly recommended, that, those, especially females, seeking an understanding of the triumphs, and failures of enslaved African people in a colonial setting.


Sam Vincent of Year 6 brought along a family vistor to Chess Club this past Wednesday morning. His cousin Sethuraman S.P., is a Grand Master of Chess. He was in Australia to participate in the Sydney Open Chess Competition where he was awarded fourth place. He travels all over the world competing in chess tournaments and is heading off to the Netherlands next.
He visited the Orana chess morning and competed against all the students, using their individual chess boards. The students were very excited. Thanks Sam for bringing such a special visitor to our school.


Review: 'The Matchmaker' in An Tain Theatre

Review: 'The Matchmaker' in An Tain Theatre

John B. Keane's first play, adapted from his novella 'Letters of a County Matchmaker' took to the An Táin stage on Friday May 6th, to a great house.

The intimate set, consisting of two tables, two chairs, a bench and three fully adorned coat stands, were used to illustrate the writing and passing on of letters from one character to another. The play, consisting of only two cast members, did feature some dramatic moments and monologues, but for the most part, played out like a perfect game of comic tennis.

The audience are introduced firstly to Dicky Mick Dicky O'Connor, the plays main character,

'The Matchmaker' himself. He reads his letters aloud, prior to sending, and signs off in a way that, toward the end of the play, the audience join in in shouting; “Dick Mick Dickyyyyyy O Connor”. John Kenny is fantastic, using great physicality in his character-acting to portray the authors of the letters.

Mary McEvoy is fantastic, as soon as she walked upstage, the audience were able to tell exactly which character she was about to portray by her gestures.

The two actors only interact face to face during the play's beautiful ending, a heart-warming scene, which received a standing ovation.

All-in-all the play showcased just how clever John B. Keane was.

The playwright was known for jotting down ideas and notes for his plays whilst pulling pints in his pub in Listowell, basing characters on members of the locality. A fantastic piece of theatre from start to finish.


Category Archives for "News"

Hiroshima Is Honored By The U.S. President’s Visit

Some meaningful and symbolic news are coming to Japan as the U.S. president visits Hiroshima to pay respects to the victim of the terrible nuclear bombing that occurred 71 years before. On Friday, May 27th, the president of the United States Barak Obama visited Memorial Park in Hiroshima as well as the notorious bomb site.

The nuclear attack on Hiroshima left more than 100 000 families without one of their relatives of a closer family member. Among Japanese citizens, there were also Korean casualties which count in thousands, and also American soldier that were prisoners of war at the time the bombs fell.

 This monstrous decision to end to war by dropping nuclear bombs on Hiroshima is something that the Japanese citizens will remember for a long time.

President Barack Obama is aware of the state of mourning the public is, so he prepared a respectful and motivating speech that lifted the crowd toward forgiveness and acceptance of the situation.
There is nothing we can change to undo the things that occurred more than 70 years ago. All we can do is to pay our respects to the lost lives and look in the eyes of human nature’s desire to destroy and make sure it doesn’t happen again. President Obama wants the only one from the presidential delegation to visit Hiroshima but is the first sitting president to visit Hiroshima. Among other members of the board, Susan Rice also accompanied American president to the site of the nuclear bombing.
Ever since the U.S. ended the war by sending two nuclear warheads to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the relations between these two countries are stirred as they are burdened by the events in recent history.

The U.S. President’s appearance wasn’t expected as the public confirms. The speech that uplifted the crowd at Memorial Park in Hiroshima leads to a direct contact of one member of the public and the U.S. president. The president and local Shiegaki Mori embraced each other in a form of a hug, exchanging few words of respect addressed to each other.

Other members of the public were not so thankful for the gesture of the U.S president. Some of the interviewed locals stated that they don’t want an apology.
There is a memorable inscription in the park that the president visited that quotes “we shall not repeat the evil”, as it took the attention of the U.S. President.

The white house states that this visit of President Obama doesn’t question or revise Truman’s decision that made history by ending the war. Whether this can be an official apology to the people of Japan the public press is still discussing.
President Barack Obama mentioned during his speech that there are no actual words to express the sorrow he or the American people feel regarding this devastating nuclear attack. He also added that all they can do is offer an apology and feel the remorse as a mutual feeling towards the origin of human nature- destruction.

U.S. President Visits Hiroshima

The U.S. President Barack Obama Visited Hiroshima on Friday, and became the first sitting president of the United States to visit Hiroshima. He stated that he called for the world without nuclear weapons after his appearance at the Peace Memorial Park.
71 years before on a sunny day without any clouds to appear in the sky, death fell from the sky obliterating life in its vicinity and changing the world as we know it. The fact that thousands of lives were eradicated that day in a cloud of fire and light flash proves that mankind is more than capable of destroying itself. Barack Obama stated this after his visit to the site where the first nuclear bomb fell.

The U.S. president’s visit was not expected to be apologetic in nature for the courses of World War II.
During his speech the U.S. president asked the public why do they include him as well in the question, coming to Hiroshima. He also responded in a satisfactory way, addressing with respect and mourning to the public’s families and loved ones who were lost during the World War II nuclear bombings.
The U.S. president directly interacted with the public at his speech, by hugging one of the survivors of the nuclear bombing. Shiegeaki Mori is the survivor of the atomic bombing who also created a memorial for the POWs killed at Hiroshima.
During his motivating speech, there was absolute silence in the Memorial Park during the ceremony. The only think that was obstructing this comfortable silence was the sound of helicopter and nearby ships.
The public was not expecting anyone to come and pay respect who is not Korean or Japanese, and certainly wasn’t expecting the U.S. president. But the Japanese people are honored and thankful that he did come to pay respects to the casualties of war.
The presidential delegation visiting the site included Susan Rice, the National Security Advisor, Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador for Japan, Ben Rhodes(advisor and speechwriter) and others.
More than 100 000 innocent Japanese citizens including women and children died during the bombing. Thousands of Koreans as well as some Americans that were being held as prisoners of war at the time.
This terrible crime against humanity did not happen than long ago. More than 70 years ago the nuclear bombing occurred and there are consequences still to this day.

Whether this is an attempt of strengthening the relations between Japan and U.S. it is an honorable and respectable thing to do, said one of the local citizens. While another citizen stated that they do not need apologies, so not all are accepting the gesture of the U.S. President Barack Obama. With the advanced technology that we have today, available for curing diseases, communicating over great distances, we should also be aware that this technology can be our doom if we don’t use it properly.

President Barack Obama stated that the words cannot express the mourning he feels towards the civilians that died in the bombing. He also added that it is our responsibility to look in the eyes of history to understand our nature better and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

The US President Finally Visited Hiroshima

Obama’s Visit To Japan

Recently, Obama met with Japanese representatives in Hiroshima. He became the first American president to visit that area, and he did that so they could begin their cooperation. However, many will say that this cooperation isn’t coincidental. Some may say that Japan is already American outpost to China and Russia. This complicated relations can be connected with the incidents happened in 2013.

Japan operated with two territorial disputes with China and Russia. When it comes to China, Tokyo has purchased the islands, which the Japanese call Senkaku, while the Chinese Diaoyu was bought in September 2012 from a private owner. China and Japan around these islands lead decades-long conflict, which culminated when the state bought the Japanese islands, which the Chinese consider their own. The islands are uninhabited, but the water around them is rich with oil and gas. Chinese people strongly oppose the move to Japan, which then led to mass demonstrations in Beijing.

Then they reduced the trade cooperation between the two countries, while in China fought with protests that were erupted demanding the boycott of Japanese goods. That led to reducing the sales of Japanese cars in China. Japan, on the other hand, significantly reduced exports of goods to China. However, the consequences of these conflicts were not only economic. The two countries were virtually on the brink of military conflict. Analysts have long warned about the possibility of military conflict which would have incalculable consequences. Very often there was a close encounter ship Chinese and Japanese Navy. One of the most serious incidents occurred when a Chinese frigate allegedly involved radar homing missiles to the Japanese destroyer. Then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe demanded an apology and recognition of Beijing that the Chinese frigate radar directed towards the Japanese destroyer in international waters. The request followed immediately after the Chinese Defense Ministry denied that the radar system was focused and locked on a Japanese destroyer, where the accused Tokyo to promote the fame of China threat. Also in 2013, near the disputed islands was erupted the incident in which they were involved warplanes of two naval aviation.

Japan has sent planes to the region to oversee type E – 767 and E – 2C so they could be able to monitor the movement of Chinese fighter aircraft. In the aforementioned incident were involved most modern Chinese hunters type J -10 and the Navy plane JH +7. Japan and they were there to meet Chinese hunters immediately with their cutting-edge fighter jets F- 15J US production and then followed the Chinese planes retreat.

They said that they have violated the airspace over the disputed islands, but they fly within what Tokyo title defense identification zone.

These things aren’t so available to the Medias. Although, some may say that this is just a conspiracy theory. But you may think about it. Why Americans always go to war, surely they don’t like that. Who normal likes war? But we should thank Obama because he tries to make a piece because let’s face it, Hiroshima situation changed the world and it’s important not to repeat.

President Barack Obama Will Pay His Visit To Hiroshima On May 27. 2016.

Some rather symbolic and meaningful news come from Japan these days. It is official now that the United States President Barack Obama will pay his visit to Hiroshima on May 27 2016. This visit will make him the first sitting president of USA to visit this city whose history carries tremendous warning for the whole world.
It’s been 71 years since President Truman ordered the atomic bombing of Hiroshima which made Japan the only country in the world attacked by the nuclear weapon. This devastating decision ended the World War II killing over 100 thousand people in one act.

Ever since, the relations between the United States and Japan carried the burden of history and this official visit is raising numerous questions. The White House has been hotly debating Obama’s plan and many politicians and historians are wondering if the visitation will be followed by the official apology to Japan.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sees this meeting as the opportunity for two highly influential politicians to pay tribute to thousands of victims, call for the world without the nuclear weapon and finally – send significant message to the future generation.
According to the plan, Abe and Obama will visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park located at the very place where the bomb fell. The Park is the unique monument dedicated to all those who were killed or injured during the attack, so as to the memories of their survived loved ones and brief history reviews. A short inscription in the Park states memorable quote: “We shall not repeat the evil”.
The whole story has opened some old wounds and accented some questions. “We shall not repeat the evil”. What evil exactly are we talking about?
On one hand, there’s the White House stating that Obama’s visit does not mean revising of Truman’s historical decision, nor formal apology. It is mere attempt to appeal to the world nowadays, pay the tribute and improve relations between Japan and USA.

On the other hand, President Obama is known for his calls and appeals for the world without nuclear weapons which brought him to Nobel Peace Prize.

Peace activists worldwide accuse him of empty words, hypocrisy and actual support of nuclear weapons by investing one trillion dollars into modernization of the USA nuclear weapons stockpile.
It is true that various agreements and actions during last few decades lead to limited development, prevented using and surrended nuclear material in many countries, but there is also a growing nuclear threat from North Korea and Pakistan, for example.

All the officials in Japan, so as the Japanese public broadly welcome Obama’s announced visitation, even if it doesn’t really mean formal apology. Public opinion surveys suggest that insisting on formal apology comes mostly from some historians and tough nationalists.

Mr. Obama’s visit to Hiroshima is announced for May 27. Is it going to improve relations between Japan and United States, show that Hiroshima’s history has taught us something valuable or turn into just another political strategy, it is yet to be seen.

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Teas Tips for The Average Joe

An Eye Opener on Why You Need to Consume Matcha Tea Nowadays Japan is country from which most of the Matcha tea in the world comes from. It’s rather greener nature makes it to be easily differentiated from other types of tea. This unique color is enhanced by covering the leaves from the sun for some time before the tea leaves are harvested. Once the leaves have been harvested, they are ground into fine green powder which is the matcha. The powder is then mixed with water to make tea called Matcha tea. Preparing matcha tea is very simple. The initial step is to put water to boil. Then add a teaspoonful of matcha powder into a cup. Unto the matcha powder, add a small amount of water. Thoroughly churn the powder and water until you get a fine green, sticky substance. Keep in mind that the water should match the amount of matcha so that the tea can be tasty. The now widely known health advantages of matcha tea have made matcha tea to be sought by a lot of people. Some of the benefits have been scientifically tested and proven to be true. Below is a guide on the importance of consuming the tea.
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Matcha carries a very high level of antioxidants in it. Matcha surpasses all the other carriers of antioxidants in the amount contained within it. Scientists have determined that antioxidants are very important in the body. Science has even associated them to being protection against some types of cancer.
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The rate at which fats are metabolized in the body goes up as more matcha is taken into the body system. Antioxidants assist in depressing the production of fat carrying cells in the body. Also, Matcha calories are broken down faster as they act as a catalyst in the whole process. In the long run, this helps in losing weight. The catechins in matcha helps the body in breaking down cholesterol which is harmful to the heart. Matcha also lowers the risk of suffering from high blood pressure. The high level of chlorophyll in matcha can help the body to break down heavy metals. Damage to the appendix is averted. Chlorophyll also contributes to better concentration. Matcha plays a big role in ensuring the skin is radiant and free of infections. This is known to prevent abnormal skin aging which is sometimes induced. The process of growing matcha is known to balance the caffeine level in it. This caffeine makes a person feel energetic. This regulated caffeine level can make a person feel relaxed, and it doesn’t make a person drowsy like in other sources of caffeine.


Jun 18, 2017

Jordan: Chief, Education , (P-5), Amman, Jordan

NGO/UN Job Vacancy

Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Jordan
Closing date: 22 Jun 2017

Purpose of the Position

Under the overall guidance of the Representative or Deputy Representative, the Chief of Education is accountable for the development, design, planning, implementation and management of the Education programme within the country programme. As Head of Section, s/he leads a group of professional and support staff to develop and manage the education programme in collaboration with other programmes and sectors and with government and key development partners. S/he is accountable for the overall quality of the programme design and for ensuring that it is effectively and efficiently managed and monitored.

The Chief is responsible for managing and leading all stages of education programs/projects from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of results on strengthening national education systems to improve learning outcomes, universal access to and equitable and inclusive primary/early childhood education and renewing involvement in secondary education especially, for children who are marginalized, disadvantaged and excluded in society.

The Chief is responsible for leading and managing and establishing the plans of action to ensure the achievement of concrete and sustainable programs/projects results according to plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM) and UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance and accountability framework

Key Expected Results

1. Managerial leadership

  1. Establish the Section’s annual work plan with the education team; set priorities/targets and performance measurement. Monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
  3. Supervise team members by providing them with clear objectives and goals and direction and guidance to enable them to perform their duties responsibly, effectively and efficiently.**

2. Program development and planning

  1. Lead/support the planning and conduct/update of situation analysis to ensure that current comprehensive and evidence based data are available to guide UNICEF’s strategic policy advocacy, intervention and development efforts on education programs and to set program priorities, strategies, design and implementation plans.
  2. Keep abreast of national/regional/international development priorities on education to leverage UNICEF position and competencies with donors, national governments, communities and constituents to advocate/promote education initiatives and policies.
  3. Lead, coordinate and supervise the development of education programs/projects (as a full component of the CO and/or UNDAF programs). Establish plans of action, program goals and results, using results-based planning methodology and terminology (RBM).
  4. Oversee the timely preparation of program recommendation and related documentation for inclusion in the Country Office Program recommendation ensuring alignment with the overall UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, regional strategies and national priorities, plans and competencies.
  5. Consult and collaborate with national/global colleagues/partners/allies to develop partnerships framework to address specific needs and to leverage resources for enhancing up education programs/projects. Ensure synergy, integration, coherence, and harmonization of programs/projects with UNICEF Strategic Plans and priorities, donors’ development strategies/policies, national priorities/competencies and UN System development interventions/initiatives.

3. Program management, monitoring and quality control of results

  2. Participate in major monitoring and evaluation exercises, program reviews and annual reviews with government and other counterparts to assess progress and to engage stakeholders to take required action/interventions to achieve results.
  5. Plan, approve, monitor and control the use of program resources (financial, human, administrative and other assets) certifying/verifying compliance with organizational rules, regulations and procedures, donor commitments and standards of accountability and integrity. Ensure timely reporting and liquidation of resources.
  6. Submit program/project reports to donors and other partners to keep them informed on program progress and critical issues.

4. Advisory services and technical support

  1. Provide technical advice to key government officials, NGO, UN system and other country office partners on strategies and best practices to influence approaches/policies and to support social/economic/political/legal development planning, implementation and delivery of results on education and other related issues.
  3. Participate in strategic discussions to influence policy and agenda setting for combating all forms of discrimination against children by advising on and advocating strategies and approaches that promote universal access to and equitable and inclusive education for children in the country. **

5. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

  1. Build and strengthen strategic partnerships through networking and advocacy with local/national governments, UN system agency partners, donors, internationally recognized institutions, NGOs, funding organization, research institutes and private sector to reinforce cooperation and/or pursue opportunities, leverage funds, to promote goals and achieve sustainable and broad results on education learning outcomes and equity and inclusiveness.
  2. Develop communication strategies and implementation plans and activities for maximum communication impact and outreach to promote awareness, establish partnership/alliances for sustainable results and support fund raising for UNICEF and Country Office education programs.
  3. Participate and/or represent UNICEF in inter-agency (UNCT) discussions and planning on education and related issues to ensure organizational position, interests and priorities are fully considered and integrated in the UNDAF development planning and agenda setting process. Collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues the UNDAF planning and preparation of programs/projects including emergency preparedness.

6. Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

  1. Promote critical thinking and innovative approaches and good practices for sustainable education programs/projects initiatives through advocacy and technical advisory services.
  2. Keep abreast, research, benchmark, introduce and implement best and cutting edge practices on education programs and management. Institutionalize and disseminate best practices and knowledge learned.
  3. Lead and/or develop policies and procedures and introduce innovation and best practices to ensure optimum efficiency and efficacy of sustainable programs and projects.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

An Advanced University Degree in education, economics, psychology, sociology or other social science field is required

Work Experience

Experience working in the UN system agency or organisation is an asset.

Familiarity with emergency response is an asset.

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Core Values

  1. Commitment
  2. Diversity and inclusion
  3. Integrity

Core Competencies

  1. Communication (III)
  2. Working with people (III)
  3. Drive for results (III)

Functional Competencies

  1. Leading and supervising (III)
  2. Formulating strategies/concepts (III)
  3. Analyzing (III)
  4. Relating and networking (III)
  5. Deciding and initiating action (III)
  6. Persuading and influencing (II)

How to apply:


Wharton, Clifton Reginald, Sr.

Wharton, Clifton Reginald, Sr. (b. May 11, 1899, Baltimore, Md.; d. April 28, 1990, Phoenix, Ariz.), American lawyer and ambassador who was the first African American to enter the Foreign Service and the first African American diplomat to head a United States delegation to a European country.

Clifton Reginald Wharton, Sr. was raised in Boston, Massachusetts, where he graduated from English High School and in 1920 received a law degree from Boston University. He received an advanced law degree from the same institution after practicing law in Boston from 1920 to 1923. After this, he left Boston and worked in Washington, D.C., as an examiner in the Veteran's Bureau and as a law clerk in the State Department. In Washington, Wharton embarked on his career in international diplomacy. From 1925 to 1945, he served as a diplomat in Liberia (1925-1929), Spain (1930-1941), and Madagascar (1942-1945). Following these assignments, he was consul general at the UNITED STATES Embassy in Portugal from 1949 to 1950.

Wharton practiced diplomacy under both Democratic and Republican administration. In 1953, he became the consul general in France. Five years later, President Dwight D. Eisenhower re-appointed him as UNITED STATES Minister to Romania, and in 1961 President John F. Kennedy appointed him UNITED STATES Ambassador to Norway. Wharton retired from the foreign service in 1964, one year after having received an honorary doctorate of law degree from Boston University.

Contributed By:
Aaron Myers


Create a Forest Diorama: Fun Ways to Learn Geography and More

By Dawn Marcotte

There are many different types of forests; creating a diorama is a fun way to learn about the geography, topography and animal life in a specific forest environment. First you'll discover about the plants, animals and weather associated with the types of forests, then you can build your own model.

Choosing Elements of the Diorama

Forests exist around the globe but have environments, plants and animals characteristic of their specific geographic locations. For example, a coniferous forest in the Rocky Mountains of the United States will have a different variety of evergreens than the same forest in Russia. A forest diorama can detail the plants, animals and landscape of any of the three major types of forest - Coniferous, Deciduous, and Rainforest.

A Coniferous Forest

A coniferous forest largely comprises plants and animals adapted to a cold climate. A model for this environment will include evergreens and other coniferous plants. Animals may include bears, elks, and wolves. The landscape may be covered in snow, since this type of forest is frozen through most of the year. Students making a coniferous forest should research the geographic area to be represented as the animals living in these forests vary by continent.

A Deciduous Forest

A deciduous forest has plants and animals that are adjusted to a more temperate environment. A deciduous forest may be a young forest withA decidous forest  fast-growing trees that are smaller and more underbrush or an old-growth forest with large trees that grow slower and very little undergrowth. Many trees and plants in this type of forest lose their leaves and grow new ones in an annual cycle. Plants may include maple, birch, oak, walnut or other deciduous plants.

Flowering plants would also be appropriate. Animals may include squirrel, deer, mouse, bat, fox or snake. Animal habitats in the deciduous forest may vary by the location of the forest.The ground may be covered with grass, dirt, fallen leaves or rocks as determined by the local environment. Water features include ponds, lakes and streams. The student should choose a specific season for the diorama, and create the landscape accordingly.

A Rainforest

The third type of forest is a rainforest, the most diverse type of forest. The plants and animals are adapted to a warm climate with a lot of rainfall. This type of forest actually has six levels that would need to be represented. Trees are very tall and form the top layer. A second level of trees forms the canopy where the branches interconnect. A third and fourth layer of progressively smaller trees form the sub canopy and the shrub level. The herb and floor layer can be represented with paint or dirt, as desired, in the diorama. Animals are diverse in the rainforest environment, and include insects, monkeys, leopards, reptiles, birds and amphibians.

The Planning Process

A forest diorama model requires creating all aspects to the same scale size. If students are going to include animals in the diorama it is best to use animals that come from the same pre-made set, so that the turtle isn’t bigger than the wolf. Decide if the diorama will be made inside a box or on a flat base. Students should then make a list of the plants, animals, landscape and water features they want to include in the model.

Once this list has been completed students will determine what can be made from scratch, what can be gathered from the local environment, and what can be purchased already made. Pre-made items such as plastic animals will make the model easier to construct. Some pre-made shrubs may be available at hobby stores, or even fish supply stores. The plastic shrubs used to build railroad models, or that are put into fish tanks, are ideal. Rocks and other features are also available at fish supply stores. Items that can be found around the environment include small rocks, twigs, grass or leaves that can be used to make model trees, or simply placed into the diorama. Items to be made may include the landscape and water features.

Building the Forest Diorama

A forest diorama model should be constructed from the bottom up, and from the back toward the front. Students should paint the background or ground area in a basic color such as brown or gray first. If a water feature is to be included, paint that area in blue.

If texture is desired, the student can apply a layer of glue and spread sand, or dirt, over the glue. Allow the glue to dry before turning the diorama upside down and gently tapping to remove the excess dirt. After the ground is completed the student can place the other items in the diorama, and make adjustments as needed to the placement of plants, animals and landscape. Once the final location is determined, glue each item in place. Additional landscaping such as crumbled leaves or pine needles can be spread on the ground. Allow all glue and paint to dry completely before transporting the finished project.

Forest diorama models can be a fun and creative way for students to explore a specific environment. The research required to create a model will allow them to learn about the plants, animals and topography of their chosen forest.

Resources & Image Credits

Deciduous Forest Photo -

Rainforest diorama by edenpictures