New blog site…

Hello! I have consolidated my Afghanistan and Sudan blogs to one blog site. Please come and visit at http://jjsworldadventures.wordpress.com

It’s almost the same name as this blog, but with just an ‘s after JJ.

Hope to see you there!

JJ

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of IWD

Today is the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day. When I was on the Board of UNIFEM – the United Nations Development Fund for Women – this was the day we worked toward to share awareness and provide a point of pride for women and people in Canada and around the world.

For a short history of IWD, click here

Speaking tonight at Carleton University in Ottawa

I’ll be part of a panel discussion tonight on my experiences in Sudan working on the South Sudan Referendum. Lecture will take place at Carleton University’s Institute of African Studies. Lots of pictures guaranteed!

For more info: http://www1.carleton.ca/africanstudies/events/panel-discussion-%E2%80%9Csudan-in-the-post-referendum-era/

Village in the White Nile/Kosti region of North Sudan

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Women’s World 2011 – Ottawa, Canada from 3-7 July 2011

Women’s World 2011 – I’ll be working at this event in Ottawa from 3-7 July. Hope to see you here!

Sudan Pics!

Thought I’d post a few of my faves!

Fishing in the White Nile

Baking bricks

Eating breakfast with my favourite Centre staff

Real camels!

Sand landscape with Referendum Flag blowing in the breeze

Back in Canada

The long 23 hour journey back to Canada is over and my body is recovering. My first visit to Africa is complete. The South Sudan Referendum results are expected within the next few weeks. Depending on the result, a lot of hard work will be forthcoming. Here’s the EU’s preliminary statement

Counting to begin tomorrow!

Last day of referendum observing is around the corner. After that..counting the ballots and watching the process of democracy complete its circle.

Took a ferry across the White Nile River today. The ferry will become extinct next month when the new bridge opens between Al Dwaim and the mainland. Turns out the bridge is being built with Chinese labour, and Chinese money on behalf of the Government of Sudan. Just one more example of how the Chinese have quietly infiltrated Africa…for its resources and food supplies. One of these days more will be written about this.

Voting!

All is going well here in Sudan. Just tired…long hours, lots of driving. But that’s nothing. I heard that some people in Southern Sudan walked over 20 kms overnight arriving at the polling station at 5 am to vote in this referendum. And once there, the long line-ups sometimes prevent them from voting that day. My tiredness is just a small insignificance when compared to the momentous piece of history in the making here in Sudan.

It’s the day before referendum…

It’s the day before the referendum and all through the north
People are stirring, expecting the worst
They’ve packed up their goods, their front door, their beds
And wait for the trucks to bring them to safety
To their families, their tribes, their people.
And the sun shines hot on the red parched earth.

With only 3% or 117,000 voters in the North of the over 3.7 million registered, those of us in the North know that the referendum will not be won or lost by the people voting in this region. What is important is to ensure that voting takes place in a fair and democratic manner. Any separation would require 60% of all votes needed.

The big story for us here is that many people in the North are returning to their traditional lands or homes fearful of consequences as a result of the vote. Kosti is a city of about 200,000 about 4 hours south of Khartoum that is in the crossroads of migration east and west as well as north and south through the river system. The city of Kosti and its neighbour Rabak are the transit and distribution points for the whole country and there is a whole infrastructure devoted to the movement of goods and people. Many Sudanese are passing through this town on their way back home.

Pictures are not allowed to be taken in this country but imagine large open bed trucks piled high to overflowing almost tipping with its load of furniture, bikes, and bed frames and headboards. The ones I’ve seen drive in convoys of 5-10 trucks. An amazing sight. These trucks are not as brightly decorated as those in Pakistan but truckers take pride in their vehicles by washing them daily by the side of the road.

More to follow when possible.

Heading out….

We’re being deployed today into the field. It’ll be a long day full of travel, reading, briefings and perhaps some courtesy calls. More later.