Igihe

Author: b_igi_adm1n

  • Are you Living or Existing?

    Most of us actually hardly manage to mark the difference between these two and yet there is a significant one.

    Not knowing the difference between living and existing shapes our lives according to the meaning that we give to these two words.

    By definition, existing means that we are here in the World but not really enjoying life and seeing the different hues of life. We can sum it up by saying that existing is getting done what needs to get done, nothing more, nothing less to it! There is actually no life in existing. What exists is the leftover of life, the thoughts, the ideas…

    It is when we exist that we are most affected by whatever comes our way, we depresss, we are in a hurry racing with the time, we forget our relationships.

    We do what we think should get done yet we have already gone off road, forgotten what really matters the most.

    While living, on the other hand, means that we are present and involved in every second of our lives.

    Muhammad Ali,a well known Boxer of all times stated that we shouldn’t count the days but should make the days count.This simply encourages us to live every moment of our lives, making each second really count.

    With the speed at which the World moves nowadays, it has become really hard to focus on the other side of life besides the office (work) and everything else that revolves around money.

    At the end of the day, we have worked so hard, got what we needed or maybe not, but actually fail to enjoy the fruits of our hardwork, we still feel as empty after all.

    Life has become a routine: waking up-work-exhaustion-sleeping kind of cycle that shuts us down from what is really happening in the real world, that routine keeps us in a kind of “boxed life”.

    The life we have should be lived unlimitedly, every second that makes it should be felt and received, we should embrace all that it brings us; emotions,laughter,memories,relationships,adventure,resting,helping around us, taking chances, and the list goes on and on.

    There comes a time in our lives when we have to let go of all the pointless drama and the people who create it and surround ourselves with people who make us laugh so hard that we forget the bad and focus solely on the good.

    After all life is too short to be anything but happiness. Struggles, bad surprises always occur in our lives but they are just a transition, they are also part of the life we live. Nevertheless they shouldn’t take our passion for life away from us.

    Most of us do exist and do not live. We ought to take a break, relax and enjoy all the gifts life presents to us, because as Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the USA said “In the end, it is not about the years in your life that count, it is the life in your years”.

  • Rwanda Students in Michigan Graduate

    The Rwandan Diaspora of Michigan and Indiana hosted August 11 a graduation party for Joseph Masengesho and Dina Imbabazi, both of whom graduated from the Notre Dame University in Indiana.

    Joseph Masengesho received a Master’s Degree in computer programming and Dina Imbabazi received a Master’s Degree in Electric engineering. This event was held in place in Niles Inn & Conference Center in Niles, Michigan.

    During the opening speech, Rutsobe Nsengiyumva, Michigan and Indiana Rwandan Youth & Culture representative, challenged the graduates as well as young people who were present to continue developing themselves physically, mentally and spiritually so that those in the Rwandan Diaspora can consolidate collective skills and abilities to hasten ongoing progress in Rwanda.

    Following Mr. Rutsobe’s comments was a prayer offered by Jaqueline Rufuku MI and IN representative for Gender. She took the occasion to welcome Dina’s Mom in Michigan on behalf of all the women of Diaspora.

    Gatete Gaetan, president of the Rwandan Diaspora of Michigan and Indiana, also congratulated the graduates and thanked all the members of the Rwandan community for all their support of these graduates and challenged them to continue these endeavors.

    He reminded the graduates to use wisely their knowledge to contribute to Rwanda’s development.

    In response to the event, the graduates were overwhelmed by the Rwandan community support promising the audience that wherever they maybe that they will do their best to perform well and most importantly represent their country positively.

    Rwandan students from Oklahoma Christian University and the youth from Indiana and Michigan had photos during the event as a sign of friendship and unity.

  • Rwanda Forest Cover at 23%

    The Minister for Natural resources, Stanislas Kamanzi has said that current status of Rwanda forest cover now stands at about 23% of national surface.

    Minister Kamanzi told IGIHE in an interview that through national afforestation and reforestation programs, Rwanda has committed to a systematic forest landscape restoration initiative which aims at increasing forest cover and protection of natural resources in general.

    He added afforestation and agro-forestry programs are planned in each District to achieve the National target of having 30% of national territory covered by forests.

    Though good progresses in terms of reforestation were made, there remains room for improvement in some Districts.

    “We have been noting cases where forests are mismanaged and even illegally harvested. Districts Districts Task Forces should contribute to have that put to an end” Kamanzi said.

    One of the ways to address this issue was the establishment of afforestation task forces in level of each district led by the vice Mayors in charge of economic affairs and this occurred starting last year for the season 2011-2012.

    After establishment of those task forces, the rate of tree survival after planting has gone much higher than before.

  • Ebola Vaccine Chances Out as Research Funds Cut Off

    Ebola vaccine may never be developed to prevent the onset of infection of the lethal viral disease–scientists have said.

    This follows the cutting of funding for research on Ebola.Two companies with leading vaccine candidates have had their funding from the Pentagon suspended in recent weeks.

    Research into development of a vaccine have been mainly funded by the US Department of Defense and the National Institutes of Health pouring millions of dollars into scientific research because of concerns that the virus could be turned into a biological weapon.

    Ebola is often described as the most frightening disease on Earth.The virus causes a severe haemorrhagic fever, where victims bleed both internally and externally.

    An expert said it was now “unlikely” a prophylactic vaccine would ever be used to prevent outbreaks of the disease.

    Since the Pentagon began funding this research, several vaccine candidates have been developed and have shown themselves effective in animal trials.

    Two companies, Sarepta and Tekmira have begun human safety trials of their vaccines.

    However, in recent days, both companies have been told by the Defense Department to temporarily stop work on their vaccines due to funding constraints.

    It is expected that a decision to either resume testing or completely terminate the contracts will be made by early September.

    Scientists say their understanding of the nature of the virus has markedly improved over the past decade.

    But the chances of turning that knowledge into a vaccine are very dependent on money.

    Ebola in Uganda

    Experts from the WHO and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention are in Uganda to advise health officials responding to the outbreak.

    Uganda has experienced three outbreaks of Ebola since 2000 when 224 people were killed.

    At least 42 people were killed in another outbreak in 2007, and there was a single confirmed case in 2011.

    Close to 17 people have died as a result of the latest outbreak that had Kibaale District, in the west of the country, as its epicentre.

  • Police Donates 33 Hybrid Goats to Widows

    Tuesday, 58 widows survivors of the 1994 Tutsi genocide in Rutunga sector, Gasabo District,were given hybrid goats to help improve their livelihoods.

    The donation included; 33 high breed goats, agricultural equipments; watering cans and pesticide containers.

    All donated items were valued at Frw 1,130,000 courtesy of contributions from Kacyiru Police Hospital staff members.

    ACP Daniel Nyamwasa the Commandant of Kacyiru Police Hospital, urged the widows to take good care of donated goats.

    “These goats are going to reproduce and play an impact in your lives once they are given good care.”

    James Nzirimu in charge of advocacy at the National Commission against Genocide (CNLG) thanked Police Hospital’s contribution towards the welfare of survivors of Genocide.

    Nzirimu urged reciepients on better care for the goats to have high production which he said would help to solve a number of basic needs.

    Sarafina Uwimana one of the recipients said, “Citizens in Rutunga, mostly survivors of 94 Genocide were extremely poor, but God has done us a miracle with us being the first beneficiaries.”

  • Explosion in Syria Injures Three

    Three people have been injured in a deadly explosion that struck a truck close to a military compound in Damascus,Syria near a hotel used by the UN’s observer mission.

    Syrian state TV reported that three people had been injured in the blast, but that none of them were UN monitors.

    The intended target of the explosion was not immediately clear.

    The UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, currently visiting Syria, has said it should be made easier for aid to be delivered to civilians who need it.

    Later on Wednesday, the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) is expected to suspend Syria’s membership over the ongoing violence.

    The 57-member organisation, meeting in the Saudi city of Mecca, is expected to endorse a statement put forward by its members’ foreign ministers, despite objections from Iran, Syria’s last regional ally.

    Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad visited the scene and told state media it was “a criminal act aimed at distorting Syria’s image”.

    He called on the international community to “work hand-in-hand against terrorism”.

    “Our primary goal is to secure the observer mission team and thank God no one from this mission has been hurt since it arrived in Syria,” he said.

  • Ethiopia Stops Forex Trade

    As the whereabouts of Ethiopia’s Prime minister Meles Zenawi remains unknown, Ethiopian government has suspended the provision of foreign currency in a decision that has been linked to the political uncertainties surrounding prime minister Zenawi’s deteriorating health.

    A notice to this effect has been issued by the regulator, the National Bank of Ethiopia, to the country’s commercial banks as Addis Ababa also appealed for food aid.

    The country’s foreign currency reserves are running alarmingly low and can only cover the importation of basic goods such as petroleum, medicine and food.

    The measure is likely to lead to a black market boom that would further weaken the country’s import-export trade, observers say, with shortages already being experienced.

    The country’s leading commercial bank has stopped issuing letters of credit–essentially a promise to pay–with fears of a rise in the cost of living.

    Banking in the Horn of Africa nation of about 85 million people is highly centrally regulated.

    Industry insiders argue that massive capital flight and illegal transactions are the main reasons for the rapid depletion of forex reserves.

    One of the fastest growing sub-Saharan Africa countries, Ethiopia’s growth has touched seven per cent annually for the last nine years, according to the IMF.

    Big businesses owned by Mr Meles’ ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) play a key role in the daily operation of the economy.

  • Banjul Capital Sinking

    Sea level rise due to climate change could submerge Gambian capital city Banjul, the country’s minister for works Francis Leity Mboge has warned.

    The minister was addressing a UNDP workshop held in Banjul on enhancing adaptive capacities and defences of coastal settlements.

    Gambia is one of Africa’s most vulnerable countries to climate change.

    “Gambia’s climate change vulnerability is likely to increase. Droughts, floods and storms are likely to increase in frequency and intensity.

    In coastal areas, sea level rise and rising sea temperatures will lead to saltwater intrusion, floods and coastal erosion,’’ the minister said.

    The minister said a one-meter sea level rise might wipe out Gambia’s human settlements, 60 per cent of mangrove forest cover, 33 per cent swampy areas and 20 per cent of rice fields.

    According to him, unfavourable climatic conditions will lead to a decrease in rice production impeding the county’s objective of producing 70,000 metric tonnes of rice annually.

    He added that climate change presents a serious threat to the country’s economic life-line such as tourism and fishing.

    “Studies both in Gambia and abroad show that climate change will have significant consequences on coastal regions, especially low-lying coasts with their mangrove ecosystems,” said Izumi Morota-Alakija, a UNDP representative.

  • Zuma to Mediate Zimbabwe Political Crisis Talks

    South African President Jacob Zuma is expected in Zimbabwe on Wednesday to mediate between warring political factions in Zimbabwe responsible for widening divisions and rising tensions.

    Zuma will meet the leaders of the three leading political parties to press for political reforms and new elections under a recently completed draft constitution.

    South Africa’s mediation efforts helped pave the way for the Global Political Agreement, which was agreed upon by the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) led by President Robert Mugabe and the then opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by the current Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

    Analysts say the agreement, which led to the formation in February 2009 of the current power-sharing government, was intended to help diffuse the post-election impasse that threatened to bring the country to a standstill at the time.

    South Africa has played the role of chief mediator since the violent and disputed elections of 2008, with President Zuma taking over from his predecessor Thabo Mbeki after taking over the presidency in 2009.

    The agreement, which led to the formation in February 2009 of the current power-sharing government, aimed at helping diffuse post-election stalemate that threatened to bring the country to a standstill at the time.

    The current government’s term of office is set to come to an end soon and fresh elections due to take place on a yet-to-be-specified date in the near future, little progress has been made on some of the most contentious issues.

  • Mai Mai Militia Burn Seven Villages

    Insurgency reports from Eastern DRC indicate that notorious Mai-Mai militia August 10 attacked fifteen villages about 80 km west of Goma, Masisi in North Kivu.

    At least five people were killed, three others injured, and seven villages burnt. Congolese forces in the region are said to have deployed since Saturday to secure the area.

    The Raïa Mutomboki attacked Nkokwe market to Remeka and the surrounding villages in pursuit of the rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

    During the attack on the market, a woman, two men, a girl and a boy were killed.

    The Mai-Mai are a vigilante group which performs popular recurring raids on the positions of the FDLR, considered in the area as a foreign occupation force.

    In the villages, these militiamen wounded elderly and children with machetes. Two seriously injured were transported Sunday to a hospital in Goma.

    The victims reported that Raïa Mutomboki burned at least seven villages and the people were left to die in burning houses.

    Hundreds of people fled Remeka by Friday to take refuge in Bukumbiri.
    Military sources in Ngungu, near Remeka have said a team of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) has been dispatched.

    Masisi Member of Parliament Jean-Bosco Sebishimbo, also confirmed the attacks. He asked the area authorities to investigate to determine responsibilities, but also to secure the local population.