BOYCOTT AFRICAN UNION DAY FOR THE ATTACKS IN S A.

25th of May is slated for the annual commemoration of African Union Day. It is a day the whole of the African continent reflect on and also remember the founding principles behinde the organisation of Afican Unity.For most coutries this day is observed as statutory holiday. Although over the years many have criticised and questioned the relevence of this day, in our present times, I can not agree less with those critics. The time has come to boycott the celebration, if not to quash it altogether.

One of the major role of the Union at the time of it formation was to fight for the liberation of Africans from foreign oppression particulally to rally support for the freedom of Black South Africans who were suffering from segregation under the Aparthied regime.
So if today , South Africans have resolved to killing their fellow foriegn Affrican nationals who fought and sheltered them in those trying times, then i beg to differ but say there is no need for A U Day.

Over the last few days, what we have witnessed in the streets of South Africa is unspeakable and to think that this is not the first time in the history of the country that innocent migrants have come under this gruesome attack all in the name of xenophobia, without any serious action taking against SA from the AU, then I ask why do we have to waste precious time commemorating it.
Ever since reports of these attacks floaded the media, it got me thinking and each time I sat to write, I held on. It is unbelievable that humans will do this to their own kind, wherther black or white.
In the past, when this attacks took place, very little was said about it due to the fact that many of us did not see the actual events like we are doing today, thanks to social media and the availability of tecnology. Every right thinking member of society can not comprehened what is going on.
The total outrage and public out-cry from other African countries call for proper action and response from A.U. And when I say " response" I am not talking about the issuing of statements.
I have already seen a publication of such statements from the chairperson of A U, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma saying "...the commission has appaeled for dialogue in and amongst communities to address the challenges and find peaceful solution..."

'Peaceful"! yes we all wants peace but madam chairperson, what happens to justice. Justice for those who died in the past and those dying now under the same circumstances.

I hear ECOWAS has also issued a statements signed by the Chairman, President John Mahama of Ghana '... we welcome the statement of our brother Jacob Zuma and his assurances of a peaceful resolution, but we request for an urgent national action plan backed by a behavioral changed campaing..."
If people espercially innocent children die in this shameful and barbaric way and all we do as people given power and placed in authority to act, also join in the many voices to cry for help, then who will really defend us?

Mr chairman! this is not the first time it is happening, so behavioral changed?? this Xenophobia or what ever it is causing these killings are in clear violation of the foudamental principles of ECOWAS which is to foster cordial economic activities among member states of which South Africa is part of. So when the people are resenting fellow Africans for not any other reason but just beacuse they are accused of conducting business and working hard, then we expect more from ECOWAS than this.

Enough of speaches, talks,pageantry meetings and signing of treaties that ends up on lazy desks. We want to see more action from these Organisations to serve as a deterent measure and for the world to also take us serious.
Africa in recents times has seen a lot of bloodshed. From the activities of BOKO-Haram in Nigeria, Al-Shabab in Kenya and now to this Xenophobia in South Africa not to talk of the deadly Ebola which is still hovering oround our necks.The continent has too many problems to deal with so lets not pretend, those given power must act.

In the days of colonialism, African leaders like Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela and several others did their best to buy us the freedom we have now. Today, our generation and those to come are looking at the leadership for the kind of legacy they will leave behind. We need not to fail them so untill a deterent measure is spelt out claerly to our fellows in South Africa and the perpetrators, this Year's A U day must be boycott.

CONNECTIONS INDIVIDUAL FAMILY SERVICES EDUCATES PARENTS ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT.

CONNECTIONS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY SERVICES, a Non profit organisation is organising a-four-week serminar to sensitized parents, guardians, forster parents, grandparents and care-givers on child care development at the Early-Bird Appartment complex in seguin Texas.

Speaking at opening session this week,the host, Sheila Dawn Walsh CPC-intern said the serminar is as apart of activities marking this years Child Abuse Awarness Month which is commemorated in the month of April.
In the highlight of the programme line-up fo the week, she noted that participants will be taking throuhg different techniques and stratagies that will help increase sucess and cooperations among families.

This week's session focused on the different and important milestones of children development during different stages of life with emphasis on the ages between birth to age 11. Sheila pointed out the need for parents to develop a sense of trust in children at early stage of their lives (infancy to 18 month) by providing reliability care and affection.

During the discussions a concerned parent raised the question on the different between spanking and an abuse. Addressing the issue, Sheila said abuse is when the intended punishment results in bruises and as long as care givers do so without bruises, spanking is no offense.