THROUGH MY EYES

THROUGH MY EYES

OFFICIAL LAUNCH (6.30-8.30)


The Winch ■ 21 Winchester Road ■ London NW3 3NR ■ 020 7586 8731 ■

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Through-My-Eyes/167011913392199 


http://twitter.com/#!/Through_M_Eyes
 

Eeeek COMING SOON!

Hello All,

It's been a very very long time... I have been busy with a bundle of different things but I have some exciting stuff coming soon...I really can't wait to share it with you..

The only thing I am going to say is:

December 1st
The Winch ■ 21 Winchester Road ■ London NW3 3NR ■

BE THERE!

Young Professionals In Human Rights

http://www.humanitea.yphr.org.uk/

Thought I would share this site with you... have great events planned. Come along and Enjoy!

I'm Not Convinced!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/oct/24/health-dilemma-high-heels

So, this isn't exactlly Human Rights but can be classed as a global issue. Nevertheless, High heels make a woman feel amazing.. and look bloody good! Enough Said!

Keep wearing those lovely heels women!

xoxo

BABAR AHMAD

Dear Readers,

Please take 1 minute to sign this petition...

Babar Ahmad is a British Citizen who has been detained in the UK for 7 years without trial fighting extradition to the USA under the controversial no-evidence-required Extradition Act 2003. In June 2011, the Houses of Parliament, Joint Committee on Human Rights urged the UK government to change the law so that Babar Ahmad’s perpetual threat of extradition is ended without further delay. Since all of the allegations against Babar Ahmad are said to have taken place in the UK, we call upon the British Government to put him on trial in the UK and support British Justice for British Citizens.

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/885 

xoxo

Organ Donation - The Forbidden Words?

So lucky readers I have been thinking A LOT about this topic and have been researching Organ donation for a while now, not only for the purpose of this blog but also for myself...

AND I have decided that I will sign up to the register immediately (well, after a quick chat with my parents) because really after considering many points of view I have come to the decision that it is well morally wrong of me to not do so! I feel the appropriate words are "If your ready to take, then be ready to give it" ...

Honestly though people, let's just think about this for a second because I know I have spent hours thinking about that critical moment when someone need's a heart, kidney, liver etc to save their life... and well there is nothing available despite the fact that so many of us pass away everyday. I know that deciding to donate your organs after death is a tricky subject and in some cultures a 'taboo' subject but it needs to be addressed. A lot of us do not want to think about the topic of death, or frankly what will happen to our bodies. But I really feel we need to! It is our responsibility as human's to look out for each other, to help each other even if well we're dead. I know that it is rather strange to be so morbid on a Thursday night... However, everyday people die because no organs are available for them. Some of you may say well that it was their time to leave... I agree that at times it really is time for people to pass away, but if there is a small chance at life... should we not take it?

I know of people who have had an Organ transplant that has saved their life and I also know of people who may need a transplant in the near future. All I can say is I hope that before it happens more organs are made available, and more people open up to the issue and decide whether or not they would like to donate. Because the truth is, it's not that we're not open to the matter its just that we're not educated about it.

I'm not an expert on the matter but If you guys have questions about anything I have listed some websites below... and feel free to ask me anything- If I can't help.. I'll do my best to research for you!

http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/default.jsp  (NHS)

http://muslimmatters.org/2008/01/20/organ-donation-something-to-think-about/ (For people seeking a religious guidelines on this issue... There are many more articles on the internet you can look to for sound advice)

As a Muslim for me the most important advice for me on this matter is from the Qur'an:

“Whosoever saves the life of one person it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.“ 

Holy Qur’an, chapter 5 vs. 32

If you intend for the good of the world... then trust just that!

Lastly, Let's do it people! Please sign up! AND GET THE WORD OUT!

XOXO
 

Steve Jobs

Hello again! I am well aware that I have been away for a while... apologies to anyone who actually looks forward to reading my blogs (Arooj haha)

First of all, I would like to take some of your time to speak about the passing of the great Steve Jobs. I was incredibly saddened just like the rest of the world when I heard that Jobs had passed away. Anybody who knows me, knows I am a crazy apple fanatic. My family and I share a number of apple products between ourselves. 

Nevertheless, Death is something we all have to face and I am sure that Jobs lived everyday like it was his last.

In fact, he said this himself. My favourite article or rather speech is the one that he made at Stanford University. Read and Enjoy!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/oct/09/steve-jobs-stanford-commencement-address?INTCMP=SRCH 

P.S I just realised my grammar is atrocious. Please forgive me it is 10am.

Organ Donation

Coming Soon!

P.S I want to save this post until tomorrow because it is a subject that means a lot to me! Until then watch ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b015pt7t/Transplant/

Why We Should Listen To Young People

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2011/sep/15/radio-1-big-conversation-young-people

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2011/sep/19/youth-justice-ex-prisoners-teaching

Greetings readers! It's been a while and recently I have been thinking more about the presence of young people in society or perhaps 'lack-of'. Of course, we can all see young people, we walk past them everyday. We see them and our usual response is to shake our heads and say "When we were younger..." 

Well the truth is the world has changed a lot from when WE were younger. Now more than ever, young people have become isolated and NOT just by the government by US. We see young people as trouble and increasingly feel like they have nothing to offer society. We seem to forget the fact that young people are a product of the environment they live in. The Riots were ultimately wrong ... but we as a united society need to attempt to understand why they happened. My previous post highlight the words of Martin Luther King Jr who said, "A riot is the language of the unheard" and young people are most certainly 'unheard'.

So what are these problems that young people are experiencing?

1. Cuts! Yes, cuts. You may think that young people do not understand what cuts are but they do... In fact, places that are close to their hearts i.e youth centres have been closed down as result of cuts made by local authorities. It is as if people have completely put the needs of young people as well nothing.
2. Dispersal Zones... So, where do they go?
3. Job prospects
4. Tuition Fees
5. FAMILY (Yes, we all have family issues but when you are younger it is extremely difficult to deal with, especially when you have nobody to talk to)

To be honest I have only listed a few problems.. There are many more that need to be addressed. The point I really want to touch upon is that We Really need to LISTEN to young people. They have concerns, like we all do about the world and about their futures. They are human.. silly to say but I think we forget that these young people are the future so as adults we have the responsibility to listen and make society a better place for them. If we choose to carry on sidelining them, we will end up with a broken society if it is not already.

Finally, there is a second article that I posted about the benefits of ex-prisoners cutting youth crime. I have to say I agree! We need people who understand the motives of young people, so that we can deal with the root cause. It is pretty simple when you look at the facts... now we just need politicians to LISTEN!

Stay amazing people xoxo

In the Words Of Martin Luther King, Jr.

A riot is the language of the unheard.  

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Post Coming soon.... xoxo

Never Judge A Book By It's Cover!

Hello all! So I know it's been a day.. Shame on me! But as I mentioned in my previous post I am having some issues with my blackberry and that just kills everything.. I think I should do another post dedicated to 'How we would never survive without the internet' I am pretty sure the world would just .... 

Anyway, the title of my new post today is.. 'Never Judge A Book By It's Cover' a common phrase thrown about but I wonder how many of us actually apply it to our lives. You are probably thinking why I am dedicating a whole post to this actual subject, but It is because we all go about our lives making judgements about people we really do not know and understand.

For me, I get judged all the time because I wear a Hijab (A covering on the head) and have had a few incidents where luckily I have manged to look at the 'funny' side of things. However, I know ALOT of women who actually have been harassed in public because of it. To be honest I don't really want to go into a long, complicated and repetitive topic about the issue of headscarves. The point I really want to make is, and this is more to people who make judgements upon seeing a woman who wears one. I speak on behalf of many women in saying we made our own choices in wearing a hijab because for us it is a symbol of who we are. I feel It is a part of my identity, and so when people criticize women like me, by saying we are 'oppressed' or have 'no dignity' because we are not allowed to wear what we want. I have some pretty shocking news for you...Well, we WANT to wear the hijab. 

Personally, I feel it is of no business to anyone what I choose to wear in my life but I live by a code of values and made an informed choice at the age of 19 that I wanted to wear a hijab. Not a day has gone by where I have thought this has stopped me living life.. In fact, I am still living MY life and a very happy one at that.

To end, this post really applies to everything and everyone. It works both ways and in every situation.

Never judge a person because of their colour, lifestyle and where they come from. At the end of the day who are WE to judge. 

The world would be a much better place if we would just respect one and another and maybe just keep our 'thoughts' to ourselves. 

Until next time dear friends x

P.S Hope everybody is enjoying the heat, I am certainly NOT :-)

Issues

I know it's late.. blackberry issues.. and work always get in the way.

I should be blogging everyday! I actually had a really 'insightful' topic for everyone.. BUT I will save it for tomorrow! 

Night xoxo

P.S You may be thinking why I am informing you all of this. My reason is I don't want anybody to think I am slacking off on the blog side of things! All under control

DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE!!

You all may be thinking why on earth I have titled my post 'Don't text and Drive' but it's 'Serious Monday' and today I came across an article on The Guardian that sent chills up and down my spine. 

Read: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/sep/26/theyab-awana-dies-car-accident 

Why I think it is important: 'According to reports that the accident happened at the Sheikh Zayed Bridge when he was returning to Abu Dhabi from Al Ain with his brother Raad, a 13-year-old, after the end of his participation in the first training session for the national team, at the time of his driving he was tampering with his phone (BlackBerry) and lost control of the car and collided with a truck transfer, died before being taken to the hospital but his brother, died after several hours in intensive care'. 

I know ALOT of people that use the phone and text whilst driving, it gets me so angry!

People let's get real... Don't die before you have lived! 

We can all learn a lesson today.... Believe me... the text and phone call is not worth the risk.

What is Peace?

Dear late night readers (If there are even any) ...

I said I would blog again.. but actually I wanted to put all serious issues aside for the moment, you know with it being Sunday night and all and Monday is the day things get serious.. and so here's my attempt at being 'light hearted'... What is Peace? I guess people could say that actually the answer to this is really simple.. a place where no fighting exists and everybody is really nice to each other and you know the rest. But is it? When I was younger and well right up until last year, I used to think that achieving Peace in the world was simple.. Remove all the egotistical men ruling and replace them with women.. but then I am sure women would go to war almost over everything. But then how do we achieve Peace? I wish it was simple to say but as you get older you see the world for what it really is. Don't get me wrong I know some pretty amazing people.. but then I also really know some really un-amazing people who actually have made this world into something it really should not be..


So, what am I trying to say? I'm getting to it.. slowly but surely. I think Peace comes from within.. that sounds quite predicatable but it's true.. You can never offer any Peace to the world if you are actually not at Peace from within. Many of us lead lives that have been fractured in ways and tend to take it out on others without realizing.. but what we need to realize is that we need to fix ourselves before we can offer anything to the world.

I promise to stop now because all is becoming a tad serious.. and well its Sunday.

P.S I'm working on a Peaceful version of myself.. so stay tuned to hear how it goes xoxo

 

Happy Sunday and Yayy to Saudi Arabia for granting Women the Right to Vote

Happy Sunday! Hope everybody is enjoying lazing around.. mine consisted of an early morning work trip, but hoping to make up on lost time now..

(Oh and I am quite happy that I have had 72 views.. yayy somebody is reading!)

I am pretty ecstatic today that I have come home from work to find that Saudi Arabia has given women the right to vote. To be honest this should have come into practice a very long, long, long time ago but nevertheless progress is being made. It is a tad obvious that it was done because the media spotlight is shining over Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Arab world, and King Abdullah wants to appear like a just ruler. I guess I really shouldn't over scrutinize the motives and instead concentrate on what next for women in Saudi Arabia...

More importantly, 

"Now it is time to remove other barriers like not allowing women to drive cars and not being able to function, to live a normal life without male guardians" 

because the truth is women already drive but in blacked out cars and in actual fact CAN function without men so by disturbing their daily routine it does not actually benefit anyone. I guess what I am trying to say (and I know I talk a lot of gibberish before I reach my conclusion) is that actually it just makes sense to give women the vote, the freedom to drive and to live normal lives without continuous barriers. That's not to say I don't think of male guardians as protectors, I do and I would like to stress the importance of 'protection'.. we just should not blur the lines between 'protection' and 'oppression'.. 
 
I hope that King Abdullah will stick to his promise and build on the necessary freedoms for all..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/25/saudi-arabia-women-vote-elections

And because it is Sunday I may just treat you all to another blog later xx

Palestine Vs Israel ... One Winner?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/24/palestinian-statehood-tension-settlers

The Palestinian State bid has caused a lot of trouble between settlers and residents in the West Bank. I came across the article above and it got me seriously thinking about the heart of the conflict and if there is ever going to be a two state solution.


The image of women taking up arms is slightly disturbing and really it makes you think- Both sides will not give up. Each are determined to see their sides prevail over the other. I have always been for the idea of an independent state of Palestine BUT and I do not want to upset anyone here.. There has to be unity amongst the Palestinians. Hamas and Abbas have to unite and share a common goal. Hamas certainly needs to drop this idea that they will never recognize a state of Israel. But I get it people.. before you jump down my throat, 'Eye for an eye' and all that but let's remember the second part of that phrase 'makes the whole world blind'.. that's not to say that the Palestinians should accept being shot at or thrown out of their homes.. I just feel there is another way.. and I congratulate Abbas for attempting to go down that route but honestly hope for the sake of the Palestinians that Hamas too joins him and puts down their arms.


Now, Israel where do I start? 


Until next time...


Oh and Remember .. add your email to the 'follow by email' xx

Welcoming myself to the blogging world

Hello World!

So, I have been meaning to start up a blog for a while. Mainly because I keep boring my 'friends' on Facebook with endless links to pages and status updates all revolving around the topic of Human Rights and Politics. 

I am coming into this aware that actually I may have nobody viewing anything I write but then again I need an online archive of stuff that I am actually interested in, and I hope I don't get deeply offended if nobody likes what I am writing.

My Pledge as a newbie: I promise to be brutally honest about everything I read and come across!

One more thing: BE NICE BLOG WORLD!