The American Justice process is structurally, systemically & morally broken.

A Black man is presumed guilty until proved innocent.

He is arrested, beaten, murdered by white cops who are white-washed  by white jurors & judges.

Do we want a revolution – Yeah a moral revolution!

Remember no taxation (read justice) without representation.

Support Al Sharpton’s call for a national march on Washington this saturday.

A MORAL REVOLUTION – FOR COLORBLIND JUSTICE.

FERGUSON FLAMING

All sane citizens must condemn burning, pillaging, looting…

All sane citizens must ask why?

This is the London Financial Times, (not a marxist/leninist rag), analysis:

As Ferguson burned, everywhere helicopters, armored vehicles, guns, grenades, tear gas… all illusions of racial harmony also burned.

Visions of ‘Nam.

The poor urban population of Ferguson is 70% black with a median income of $36k p.a. versus $52k p.a. nationally.

– Unemployment: black 16% – white 8%.

– The Mayor & Police Chief are white.

– Local Government:  5 white – 1 black.

– Police Force:  53 white – 3 black.

– Stop & search: 7 times more likely for blacks than whites.

Ms Bowman said as she observed the wreckage « Obama should have come to Ferguson, instead he just read out a speech. He may have the same skin but he is just a white man in a suit. »

Sad – and even Sadder:

As an epilogue to the flames in Ferguson a cop shot dead Tamir Rice, 12, seen holding a plastic pellet gun.

Last night I spruced up in my ancient Miyake black & white smoking & forked out 200€ with high expectations for the evening’s défilé. Here follows a blow by blow account.

The Westin is truly magnificent, almost to the point where it overwhelmed, or vampirized the event – the intended hero of the evening.

The food, wines and service were impeccable, as was the accueil by the hostesses.

The guests were of Rodeo Drive elegance.

We saw some dazzling creations modeled by heart-stopping beauties.

From then on it went downhill:

– there was no programme on the dining tables identifying the designers, neither were they announced as the models came on stage. I have been to more defilés in all 4 corners of the planet than I have had hot dinners – this was the first that I went away not knowing the name of any one designer. Which is a crying shame.

– a minor irritation was the round tables, each with a name which nobody understood, making it difficult to to see the floor. Surely at a défilé the attention of everybody should be riveted on the, yes, the défilé. The défilé and the dinner must be organized at different moments of the soirée.

– the lovely singer, Tiffany went entirely unannounced – which is simply not very elegant.

– the evening lacked intimacy, conviviality and importantly the opportunity to chat with the unannounced designers.

The primary objective of a défilé is to bring the designer and her or his creations to the attention of buyers, the fashion & beauty media, major luxury Companies & fashion houses, influential fashionistas… this is even more vital for young, little known designers, for whom a défilé is a work intensive, high cost investment.

This, regrettably was not the case and I very much fear that the event will go unnoticed by the media, including, as with the recent Black Fashion Week, even by the french daily edition of Fashion Mag.

We all know that African designers & models are shunned, to the point of outright, shameful racism by the Fashion establishment. This makes it even more important that every event should have a clearly defined commercial objective.

Last evening’s défilé presented some absolutely gorgeous, beautifully crafted frocks – which cry for the attention of the Fashion establishment.

Goodness knows, it ain’t easy, but I do believe that all the afro-chic, aesthetic-ethical actors must re-calibrate their strategy to provoke cost effective attention where it really matters – a subject for serious analysis and discussion in the coming months.

To quote Oscar Wilde, « I never offend unintentionally » and I do hope that by playing the devil’s advocate I will provoke a lively discussion, because we owe it to the super-creative designers & beautiful models to break down the barriers. And to Frock against Racism.

Barack Obama steps up his game. To WIN against the Ebola virus in the ravaged countries of Liberia, Guinea, Sierra-Leone; to WIN for the World.

W.H.O. estimates the total cost at 11$ billion – Barack has upped the ante. So has Britain. Now it’s time for the other big countries to dig deep in their pockets : China, Russia, Germany, India, Saudi & the Emirates…

M.S.F. has launched a  massive fund-raising campaign to intensify their heroic work – saving lives, nurturing orphans. Protecting us at home.

Contact your mayor, congressman, senator, football club, church; get out there and shake a tin to join the war against the ugly sister of AIDS – before it’s too late.

WINNING THE EBOLA WAR.

My association Zen4Zulu has installed a cottage to lodge & feed volunteer doctors to treat & save on average 80 emergencies daily, mainly babies, little kids and grannies.

« 1000 Hills Community Helpers, KwaZulu » our partner, founded in 1989 by Dawn Leppan, to serve 31,000 souls, is located a mere 60 kms from Durban’s golden beaches & golf courses. It is blessed by nature but blighted by poverty and HIV/TB.

The Centre has a fully equipped Primary Health Centre, with 2 senior nurses, ambulance, home visitors, volunteer pharmacists, psychiatrist, safe house … but due to high cost relies largely on volunteer doctors to treat, and if needs be refer & transport to hospital.

The kitchen serves more than 1,200 tasty, nourishing breakfasts & lunches 5 days a week – rice, beans, chicken… freshly cooked by the voluntary valley chefs.

The Centre has also a daily crèche, toddlers inn, pre-school bustling with happy, loving infants, staffed by experienced ‘special care’ local women.

The Centre is rightly named « The House of Love » – love given & love received.

Evenings you are free to explore the local bistrots & pubs to discover the famous south african hospitality.

Weekends – a short drive to coastal villages & beaches, golf and a 3 hour drive to the amazing Game & Bird Reserves of Hluhluwe, Mfolozi, St Lucia bay…

Tempted? A working holiday, intimate contact caring for the zen Zulu valley folk, knowing that YOU are making a difference. You will love the experience of the Beloved Country.

Drop a line to richardbeardsley@zen4zulu.org & we will get right back to you.

Zen4Zulu – building a better future.

South Africa is short of heroes, aren’t we all, and particularly a hero who is loved & respected by, not just footie fans, but everybody in the rainbow nation. A role model to millions of kids.

Senzo Meyiwa was such a hero. He died putting his body in harm’s way to protect his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo. His last save!

Gunning down Senzo was not only savagely brutal, it was plain stupid – his murderers will be found & their lives, in or out of jail, won’t be worth a damn dime.

Murder in S.A. for the year ending March 2014 exceeded 17.000 souls – among the highest rates in the World.

USA & South Africa need political leaders, URGENTLY, with the balls to stop this shooting carnage. Now is the time for them to SAVE LIVES.

Football in South Africa is left poorer and so is the  Nation.

CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY.