Via Swaziland in pictures...Around Mbabane

Via Swaziland...in pictures!

Hello my friends, Its the Opinionated African here. I am back in Swaziland so things are a bit different.
For those of you who have been missing my sometimes boring sometimes brame and sometimes very amusing musings I am today very glad to let you know that I am now able to blog once more. As I have said before, I am in SWAZILAND. Because of that I have to change a few things in my writting approach. There are reasons for this of course but the main one is that I am now more Christian than before. This may look simple if not plain right stupid for you but I ASSURE you that it is a valid reason...especially once you remember that being Christians also means respecting those in power. Even more so when those in power are not against God.

With that tiny bit out of the way we can now go into the other reason. Put simply, Swaziland is a Kingdom. its politics are not dual in nature and they are not likely to be any time soon. In other words-this is not a Banana Republic. This means that what I usually write about is potentially troublesome here and as such I am going to have to go back to my roots and exercise some restraints. It is a huge minus I know but there are a number of huge pluses as well. CULTURE is one instance of those pluses and things here are rather tightly packed, meaning that with a little money I CAN go VISIT any part of the country I WANT TO VISIT. Oh and I can actually AFFORD TO do that nice bit for as little as R50(E50). Very much unlike South Africa.
Of curse, South Africa is great. That country has got things like FREE SPEECH, DEMOCRACY(which is democrazy these day) and freedom of association. Swazis are very familiar with all of these things(contrary to what modern history and propaganda would have you believe) but their practice is practiced in another way. The king called it MONARCHIAL DEMOCRACY. I haven't studied it much but I am very sure it is nowhere close to the DEMOCRAZY going on in SOUTH AFRICA. Non the less, it is a step into this monster they call democracy. What is ours as Christians and other God and peace loving folks in Swaziland is to hope we will not end up with another RUSSIA a few years down the line. A country like Russia is no good for unyielding Christian folks...JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES for an example.


All that aside, I am hopping Swaziland will prove fruitful. I hope I will be able to write more and grow spiritually strong and good. I promise I will bring some of the best SWAZILAND has to offer. Comming back here offers me an opportunity to explore my no politics side. I will find things of inerest and write about Swaziland in that light. A FEW have already bumped into me; things like UMHLANGA REED DANCE, MBABANE CITY, LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS IN SWAZILAND, WOMAN,YOUTH,AGRICUT RTAINMENT. Oh and some topics on CHISTIANITY of course.

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES BANNED IN RUSSIA

The RUSSIAN Federation never has added yet another victim to its 'do 'em bad list'.
As of April 20, 2017 the Christian ogarnization known as Jehovah's Witnesses is banned from working in Russia. This comes after a trial that started after a reported(disputed) find of extremist literature in Jehovah's Witnesses premises in the country.

There's a long history of bad blood between JWs and the Russian Federation. The origin for the bad blood is suspected to be caused by Jehovah's Witnesses origins. The religion started from the USA and was latter ported into RUSSIA in the 19th century. Russia and US are not friends. As such Russia does not trust movements of US origins.
Others within Russia say that the trial and ban have nothing at ĺl to do will extremism. The real culprit behind the ban, we hear, is the RUSSIAN Roman Orthodox Church. One observer mantains that Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia are being prosecuted because the Orthodox church is losing too many of its converts to JW.
Yet another factor to this fight is the history of religion. RF comes from communists hands. Religion had no pĺace then.
With these in mind,it is very easy for Russia to do what it has done.

I hope that God will help the JWs in RUSSIA. Please follow me @Masiza4000 for more.

Cup of Tea Cup of Poison, what's the difference?

Most Brands of Tea Contain THESE Harmful Chemicals!

Although tea is widely thought to be a healthier source of caffeine than coffee, pop or energy drinks, conventional tea brands have been shown to contain high levels of toxic substances such as fluoride and pesticides. The levels found in these products are so high that they are considered unsafe for consumption.

As with most products, all tea is not created equal. Opting to save a few dollars on cheaper tea can cost you a lot more when it comes to your health.

Conventional Teas may Contain Fluoride and Pesticides.

Most tea isnt washed before it is distributed into bags. If the tea was sprayed with pesticides, those pesticides will wind up directly in your cup.

Many non-organic tea brands have been found to contain pesticides that are known carcinogens.

Popular tea brands often get away with listing natural flavors as an ingredient, causing many consumers to think they are buying better, cleaner ingredients. But there is a whole list of what natural flavors could mean.

A study published in Food Research International found that a significant percentage of the United Kingdom population greatly exceeded the recommended dietary intake for fluoride, which can lead to detrimental health effects. It was determined that the overexposure was occurring specifically from the consumption of tea. Overexposure to fluoride can cause problems with the bones and teeth, as well as kidney problems.

Where Do The Toxins Come From?
Fluoride
Tea plants absorb fluoride from soil and accumulate it as they grow, so older leaves contain the most fluoride. Cheaper quality teas are often made from older tea leaves, which contain more fluoride.
These teas contain the least amount of anti-oxidants, lessening the health benefits associated with drinking tea. The truth is, there are too types of fluoride doing the rounds out there. Mainly, toxic fluoride and the naturally occurring fluoride. The toxic kind found in tea results from too much of it absorbed by the plant. It may also happen due to ill farming practices.

Other Toxins
Much of the worlds tea comes from India. Greenpeace India released a report called Trouble Brewing. The report reveals that teas produced in India have pesticide residues in them(September 29 2014).
I have a feeling that poisons like Monsantos RoundUp is also included. It nice to know that companies such as Tata Global Beverages(TGB) are trying to find ways by which tea could be farmed with little or no use of pesticides.  
  

Which Brands Contain The Most Toxins?
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation actually conducted an investigation on several popular international tea companies, including:
Tetley
Lipton
Twinnings
No Name
Uncle Lees Legends of China
King Cole
Signal

I know we like our teas. But I am beginning to think they are not really worth the trouble. God help us.
Sources
-www.greenpeace.com Trouble Brewing report.
-Gavin McFadden

The above article was adapted from Gavin McFaddens article. Thank you for reading.

Most Brands of Tea Contain THESE Harmful Chemicals!
Although tea is widely thought to be a healthier source of caffeine than coffee, pop or energy drinks, conventional tea brands have been shown to contain high levels of toxic substances such as fluoride and pesticides. The levels found in these products are so high that they are considered unsafe for consumption. As with most products, all tea is not created equal. Opting to save a few dollars on cheaper tea can cost you a lot more when it comes to your health.
Conventional Teas May Contain Fluoride and Pesticides
Most tea isn’t washed before it is distributed into bags. If the tea was sprayed with pesticides, those pesticides will wind up directly in your cup. Many non-organic tea brands have been found to contain pesticides that are known carcinogens. Popular tea brands often get away with listing “natural flavors” as an ingredient, causing many consumers to think they are buying better, cleaner ingredients. But there is a whole list of what “natural flavors” could mean.
A study published in Food Research International found that a significant percentage of the United Kingdom population greatly exceeded the recommended dietary intake for fluoride, which can lead to detrimental health effects. It was determined that the overexposure was occurring specifically from the consumption of tea. Overexposure to fluoride can cause problems with the bones and teeth, as well as kidney problems.
ginger-lemon-honey-tea
Where Does The Fluoride Come From?
Tea plants absorb fluoride from soil and accumulate it as they grow, so older leaves contain the most fluoride. Cheaper quality teas are often made from older tea leaves, which contain more fluoride. These teas also contain the
least amount of anti-oxidants, lessening the health benefits associated with drinking tea.
Which Brands Contain The Most Toxins?
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation actually conducted an investigation on several popular international tea companies, including:
Tetley
Lipton
Twinnings
No Name
Uncle Lee’s Legends of China
King Cole
Signal

The Art of Being Human...A Poem that aims to Remind You.

The art of being human:
It starts with being
humane,
Goes via compassion, up the valley of
love
To sip at the waters of joy and happiness,
Drenched at the straights of sadness and dispar
where patience and friendship are your only
substance.
Down we go
Homeward,
To the valley of Justice, serenity and never before
felt utter companionship and oneness
Where all who endure will not only see the light
of God
But will also see godliness in themselves
And live it out.
Call me a dreamer but that's what being a human
is.
You not just a collaboration of dust,
Failure
And lust.
Good morning my friends

Johannesburg Mayor chases out six 'Illegal Africans'

I am pissed
Timeslive.co.za has today reported that Johannesburg City's Mayor, Mr Mashaba of the Democratic Alliance party is pushing for the arrest of six non South African nationals who work at the Johannesburg Theatre. It is said that this is because the said individuals were found to be in possessions of fraudulent worker's permits and and some that are as of June 2016 expired.

Whilst many a South Africans(mostly men) are in a very jovial mood over the matter, I find the whole thing quite unsettling.
Not so long ago Mr JG Zuma, today's ANC and state president, illegally entered and lived at Mhlambanyatsi in Swaziland. Along side him was Thabo Mbeki, former RSA and ANC president.
Also, in a very many pro ANC books we are told of many a heroic ventures ANC cadets undertook to free South Africa off its segregationist policies. They lived and worked in countries as far away as Russia. And live there illegally.  
Today the Country, which is ANC led is tightening its boarders and chasing so said foreigners out even though we are the very ones who helped these ungrateful Hippocrates.

How quickly the wheels have changed.

PANGS OF MANHOOD

The pain of manhood is that
Although we may not
Admit it.
We man are first in knowing
The torture
The uncertainty
The heart wrecking
Soul wrenching pain
That is this thing
Called love.

These thorns are painful
But for the sake of this rose they
Protect,
This,
My fragile heart will endure them.
They do what they must
And I'll do the same

Good night my love
May your heart always be content, Always at peace:
Secure in knowing that mine longs To hold and cradle no other.
Sweet dreams dear duckling.
While you sleep and dream of beast I dare not know
I'll be busy dreaming away all your nightmares for you.

So dictates the pangs of manhood.

A prayer of thanks and the incoming year

To Lord God Jehovah Almighty,
King and creator of all there is,
Benefactor of all men,
Wise, loved and most feared:
I am the most base of all creations
Yet you have, in all your works around the world,
Below and above
Chosen to sustain me
Through out all my failings
All your disappointments
And all your grief.
For all that I am grateful.
I am grateful the great grandmas you've
Given me.
Im grateful for my mother and sister
Grateful for my aunts and uncles,
For the smile I get whenever I see my shop attendant
The twinkling eyes the young Indian from my spaza shop gives me
Whenever I come to book yet another bag of sugar
The firm, unapologetic handshake my white Jehovah's Witness brothers and sisters in Christ give me every time I visit them
I am grateful for my stupidity.
For through it I have learnt humility and the courage to say I am sorry
I thank you for my time alone for it has given me
A space to reflect on myself, see my strengths and my weakness.
Thank you for the hard times,
For from them I have learnt the value of lack and the have experienced the beauty of family.
Thank you for the impossible times Jehovah
For through them I have learnt of the value of faith in you and the practicality of miracles.
I have not seen the hands of angels yes
But I have witnessed them comforting me through every pain Ive suffered
I have felt myself getting stronger every day because of their ministry.
Thank you for this past twenty eight years Jehovah
And thank you for the thousand more that are to soon come to pass.
I may suffer all there is today but
To know that your Son Jesus is in his first century as King of kings
Gives me great comfort and hope for soon enough
Paradise earth will be a reality and human kind will
Once again be free of all pain and long suffering.
In Jesus' name
Amen.

Look At What GMO feed does to mice

If you are a Southern African resident, chances that you too might end up like the above mice are not so minimal.

The picture presented is taken from Dr Seralini's research report as appeared in the Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology.

Seralini is a French doctor who is very critical of Monsato's push for the adoption of genetically modified food as food equal to the traditional natural farm food our fathers grew up eating. His research is never mentioned by seed retailers in southern Africa since it details the dangers presented to man by use of GMO food crops.

Seralini found that the mice fed with Monsanto's GM seeds caused abnormal cell growth.
As seen in the picture, some of the mice developed big mammary glands, had enlarged livers and most horrid of all, lost their ability to reproduce.

Does this danger easily translate to the same problems happening to human beings?
I doubt Monsanto would like this revealed. Please await The Opinionated Africans next post to find out. We are still researching.

#thinkUnchained

Why we will continue dying at sea leaving Africa for Europe.

Africa, the dying continent.
Did you know that according numbers released by the BBC, 4886 people fleeing Africa into Europe have died at sea this year alone.

We may cite wars and all other issues as the 'becauses' but that would be running away from the basic truth.
African's tend to be more inclined to choosing and supporting bad leaders into power. Leaders who tend to value their own agendas than those the people they must help enrich, protect and inspire.
There are many examples of these sort of leaders, I need only to mention a country and the ugly head will just show itself.

The main reason Africans choose run away is war. It has left entire villages empty. The second one, often cause for the first, is poor economic inclusion policies. Many of the farm lands taken off European hands now belong to government linked families who fail to make them produce. The companies left by the Europeans have died down and the infrastructure is broken. Communication between those governing the continet's countries and the people within the boarders is just one sided in favour of the state but as is evident in Eritrea, it is brutal.

Countries such as Swaziland are stable. But their stability is too dependent on the leader's character than any thing else. The institutions that look out for the people and protect them from abusive, often heartless powerful individuals are lacking. In Swaziland, a chief has power to not only tax a perceived wrong doer in cattle but he can even demolish your home(the kaShali demolitions). Living in Swaziland's rural area's, termed Swazi nation land, means you are bound by Swazi law to participate in kuhlehla, a form of taxation that involves working for your local chief. That is keeping the traditional aspects of his homestead, umphakatsi, up to standard. Those who have money to spare let their money do the work. Those of us who can not afford losing money this way are forced to work.
In this, Swaziland and Kwazulu, in South Africa are the same. We cough out money for all sorts of things even those which traditionally, the chief sees to himself. A Sibiya chief solicited public funds just so he may pay the pride price of some unknown lady. Zimbabwe's long time president-elected by Zimbabweans- all on his own destroyed Zim's economy and forced many a brilliant Zimbabweans into being domestic workers and criminals in South Africa while Swaziland is all too happy Swazis can run to nowhere since South Africa has locked its doors to even us who have South African blood.

The migrant crises being felt by Europe is far from relaxing. The waves upon waves of Africans leaving for better life in a well managed peaceful and nurturing country  in Europe will go on ever increasing. South Africa's leaving the ICC will not help in any way because corrupt leaders on the continent will exit ICC and go on doing evils without accountability. Unlike South Africa, many of my people do not have South Africa's chapter nine institutions protecting them. Instead, countries such as Swaziland possess a constitution that is biased in favour of protecting those in power rather than the people. We the ants are left being trampled over by the very folks who must protect us in principle.

As mentioned, the main reason 4886 people have died at sea trying to reach Europe is war. But in truth war is only a symptom. The primary root is wealth distribution failure. If Africans go on electing bad people into power, we Africans will continue dying on our way to Europe.
I'm going too...Dark or blue I'm going.

Is Swaziland's Monarchy Really Illegal?

US president elect, Trump, the Trumpet is accused of having expressed a wish to remove ,rid Africa of its dictators.
As we went on laying points during one of our Times of Swaziland Open Again forum discussions I gathered that we Swazis lacked knowledge as to the legality of Swaziland's monarchy.
With this in mind I went to visit a few sources, people who can help me understand the ruler-ship of Swaziland. A Ngwenya uncle of mine happened to be the perfect point to start digging since he was one of the people who was centre stage in the political upheavals that swept Swaziland circa 1960 to 1973.
My mother says the old man said that in 1962~63 the British government pushed forward the possibility of a constitutional monarchy.
A system born in Britain that retains kingship but gives real political power to the people by way of political power and free association.
It is said that the King of Swaziland, then paramount chief ,pushed for a way to counter this through the mbokodvo movement and was successful. The Swazi democratically elected Imbokodvo into power and set their king on the Swazi throne. Via this mistake, Swazis lost their only chance at democracy and in 1973, Ngwenya was exiled over to Nelspruit(orginaly from Mkhakhweni), political parties were shut out the walls of Parliament. And Kingship was made legal.
It is this legality that fascinates me and has me wanting answers to the following questions.
1. How was Swaziland's kingship made legal.
The constitution of Swaziland enshrines the kingship and points out how the king becomes king but can we say that it( the constitution) makes a king the king? If so, how did the constitution itself get such powers since people say they never made it. And yet the king signed it at Sibaya before the people.

2. Swaziland was a legal protectorate of the British crown via the foreign office. Can we then say a protectorate and a colony are both property of their conqueror in the same fashion. Was Swaziland Britain's farm and was Independence a simple ownership transaction?

3. An ideal kingdom is one where the are Earls~what we call chiefs. The earls control the land on behalf the king and the king provides protection to all via use of the Earl's serfs as soldiers should trouble disturb the state's peace. The serfs do not own the land and should pay homage to the earls and king. The question is, does Swaziland still need this arrangement. If so, is it laid out in the 'people's constitution' such that we each know where we stand with regards to the king such that we the people are in agreement with the king and each other and fearlessly view this the legal fashion by which Swaziland is ruled.

3. Did we really reject the constitutional monarchy as was proposed by the British foreign office in 1963. Did we have legal if not  traditional grounds to refuse Sobhuza as king or did we not.

4. The Arabian or Islamic kingdoms like that of Qatar are part of the UN. Does that make them legal and does that in turn make Mswati's kingdom legal. Would this change if we were to have oil, good wealth distribution and a benevolent kingship?

6. What dictates the legality of a monarchy. Is it the UN, a network of powerful allies, benevolent or brutal kingship or simply a country's people and nothing more.

I could go on and lìst my musings but they will not resolve any thing.
I feel we are too fixated on the Tinkhundla system that we fail to deepen our true quest. To make Swazis self conscious of the roots of SD's problems such that they themselves lead the fight for re-inventing Swaziland and we never lack a leader.
I say reinvent because I for one am not sure democracy is what we want as Swazis. But need it because our king is proving himself questionable.

What The China-Philippines improved relations could mean for America and China's African friends.

Good morning
I stumbled upon a Philippines development I think will result in Obama's administration leaving the White House as the most fail prone administration the US ever had. It could also compound Africa's challenges too! Read on to find out why and how.

You see, dw.de reports that Duterte, the Philippines' Malema like president has announced an end to the US-Philippines thirty year old military alliance.

You might find this quite boring to mind but it is big news. It signals a shift in world power and puts the White house under immense unwanted and unprepared for pressure to adjust things a bit more in its fight for economic power against Beijing.
Duterte's move will force America out of a region so key in America's fight for oil with China such that because of it Beijing is prepared and I gather very much willing to fund millions into Philippines' economy.

The report even tells us that the deal is so sweet, China and the Philippines have gone so far as to leave territorial disputes just so they be able to eat this cake.

An African might ask: and how is all these going to benefit us African residents?
Listen. In the late 70s China firmly established itself as a world super power contender. It needed resources for this and Africa proved itself well endowed in one very precious resource no growing world power could ignore. It made head way and tried to secure as much oil as it could get. The South China Sea region it contends over with the Philippines has oil. But this oil reserves are not only inaccessible to China but are also very unverifiable because the Philippines, Vietnam and others will not let China eat this sweet cake alone. Because of the above reason, Beijing opted for Africa which had even at the time large oil reserves and a very willing bunch of nations who's need for billions worth of development funds dear old China could easily meet. This is why then Duterte's shift towards China proves itself very vital to an African. The China-Philippines development could mean Africa loses a mutual benefit partner worth billions of dollars.

My mother's country, Swaziland and many like it currently have no means to give China the resource it needs most but Swaziland is partner to & is influential to the Southern African Development community. It has very strong ties with South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique(among others). It would be very strategic therefore, of China to partner with such a country so tenderly because the neighbours have got the resources China and Swaziland both need. Like Swaziland many other developing African countries are in need of China. She gives so well when she gives. Losing her over to the Philippines and the South China Sea.

#thinkUnchained

Life is hard but it sure is worth living.
Follow me @Masiza4000. Thank you for reading.

#dataMUSTfall-A personal review on how good Data Eye and Opera Max are at saving you data on the Android O.S.

Good morning.
Today I finally felt ready to develop The Opinionated African blog's cover and add a page on technology. I will try to update the page as often as possible. I hope not to disappoint you my readers by presenting each article from a laymen African perspective.
The page will consist of thenology deemed good/bad for Africans living in Africa. I hope you bear with me and help where possible.
Here's my first techno themed post.
I'm sure many of you are by now aware of the #tag fees must fall movement current going on in my part of the world (South Africa). Unfortunately the is another one geared not towards Deans and universities but to our beloved but most the time frustrating network carriers. We call it #dataMUSTfall.
While many are busy calling for this we have been on the look out for an android phone application that will at least for now help us cope with high data prices by monitoring the Android O.S's data consumption rate.
This article points out two of those applications and aims to explore at least one of them. Namely Data Eye from some world. And the much advertised Opera Max from the very skilled developers of the well received browser called Opera Mini.
As hinted above I will, at least for this article, tell you about Opera max when pitted against Data Eye.
Need:Opera mini browser, latest version. Adds blocked
Opera Max app
Data Eye app
A website of your choosing. I used Fashion Bloggers for this test.
AVG antivirus app with its data counter refreshed.
All apps except Opera Mini must be blocked
Restrict background data usage
Run Opera Max and block all apps but Opera mini browser must remain running and connect. Do the same in Data Eye.
After doing all the above and connecting to Fashion Bloggers for 2minutes on each data monitoring app. This is what I got.
>119kb in one click on data eye an opera mini
>238 in one click on opera mini with opera max
5 adverts each
1 minute time
>Opera max had all apps on mobile saving no app was blocked.
Max seems to have the ability to save data right on running apps
Data eye focuses on blocking apps to save data.
>The problem with Opera Max is that to really see data savings on it you ought to have your YouTube app turned on. Data will indeed go on slow motion. Meaning you will enjoy YouTube longer than when with Opera max.
>Data eye lacks the ability to save data while apps are on the run (unlike Max) but it does put to question the need to have Max turned on when Data eye saves two times the data running just a single internet connected application.
Pointers to be noted when using opera max
1.Opera Max confused me a bit (which is how and how I discovered Data Eye). It is advisable to read the "how to" manual first and go on to use it. Otherwise you hate it for no good reason.
2. The top panel lets you see foreground saving, background saving and last and most important of all total savings. WiFi saving tab is also included but why would you save on WiFi besides your battery.
3.The above 4 named tabs help you navigate your max panel easily but their icon (two top left squares superimposing each other) serves the same purpose.
3.Below these two is the help tap telling how to save data on Opera Max application management tab.
4. Is the management tap itself. It is easy if you read manuals but is a turn off and useless if you do not read manuals.
The management tab has got its left and its right side.
The left side houses apps that are currently running and therefore enjoying data saving on the run.
The right side of the panel houses the apps that will be blocked from using data. Tap the top right little squares to determine whether you want to save back ground data behaviour, foreground data behaviour or total data behaviour.
5. To determine which of your android phone applications you want to block.
6.The reason I used Opera Max was to save data. To see how much data Opera Max managed to save you: reason why I used Opera Max was to save data on my android phone. To see how much data Opera max really saved for you just close the app. When you open it again you will be presented with your Max's data savings statistics.
The statistics presented are for the day, the month and for all time.
The two tabs (green and blue) are for data for the period in question(blue) and that period's saved data (green)
Taping the blue icon will show you both background and foreground data consumption.
In my use of my android phone, I noted that Max showed that much of my data was used on app background operations. These operations took 30 to 50 percent more of my data.
In other words, while I went online to research on thing, my phone used just as much to do things I know not. Are they spying on me?
.Opera Max is Opera browser development team's answer to the Android OS's hunger for data. It offers Android users a way to compress data and offer VPN level connection that protects internet connections. This however, is the app's greatest turn of becausee it can not compress data from twitter mobile app since it is already protected, regardless of how bulky it is.
The upside of Data Eye is that it simple. I hope to write more on it in future. What I find pressing for now however, is that the app has a whole panel dedicated to bombarding you with adverts termed as offers using your very own data. Luckily my network carrier does not take part in this ad space otherwise I'd be in trouble. Also, unlike Opera Max, Data Eye does not save data on YouTube so it sucks on that too.
Overall Data Eye and Opera Max are good. One more point to of note is that Data Eye is frank about its abilities and failures. I expected more abilities from Opera though.
Opera Max is a good app but its main marketing point-saving data-is questionable.
I hope they improve it a little and maybe we will once again be vindicated against network carriers and their milking us off our money using data charges.
#thinkUnchained.
Life is hard but it sure is worth living.

Sorry for thinking Monsanto is dying

Good morning, well that is if you and I dear reader share the same time zone and also happened to be given the gift of rain at the same time.

While most of us farmers were busy praying for rain a couple of months ago, Bayer and Monsanto were busy courting each other.

I was busy looking for nice news (for a change) updates on Agriculture last week Monday on Twitter and as per usual I changed my twitter feeds and searched for feeds on dear old friend Agriculture in Africa. Many of the updates lived up to what I wanted. I hoped that for a change I will write and post something nice and maybe even inspiring this week. And well poor me I kept on looking and looking until, well there it was “Bayer and Monsanto to merge”.

Truth is I read the feed and took it as one of those tweets from fear mongers we seem to be farming on twitter these days. I therefore dismissed it and paid no mind to it.

This morning I came across a feed again that was from Dutch Welle talking about the two Agribusiness giants, Bayer and Monsanto merging and becoming one very happy family.

There it is; while we were busy thanking God for the rain blessings over the weekend, Bayer was very much thanking Monsanto for agreeing to wed him.

As pointed out by Mariam Mayet, CEO of Africa Center for Biodiversity (ACB)-South Africa, this wedding could result in negative impact for farmers and consumers.

Why does she say so? Well the the answer is very much as ever so simple. This merger will hurt us very, very much.

For starters, Monsanto’s relationship with its primary customer the African farmer, is strained because of the company’s bad track record. The company has had to suffer the humiliation of failing to have its GMO food crop deliver good yield to not only the African farmer but now, that of Europe as well.

Countries that been advocating for GMO food crops as the future and answer to the question of world hunger are now slowly but surely closing their doors to the GMO answer because people in those countries are becoming very vocal and choozey as to what they are to eat. The American market was once a very secure market for GMO food crops and seeds. Today the tides are very much changing and the public is choosing to listen to popular culture icons and eat the pricey organic alternatives.

It is therefore, easy to see the reason for Bayer’s need to marry Monsanto. The ultimate goal here is not just profit but rather the obvious well suited market Africa presents to Bayer and Monsanto. Bayer will become the biggest agri-business and Monsanto will be given a chance to redeem its tarnished image and be saved from death. The following little sample from ACB-Africa Centre For Biodiversity sums the whole Bayer and Monsanto problem in Africa quite nicely:

“The hype around the current wave of GM

research into non- commercial crops in Africa

is purposefully ahistorical and deceitful. It

does not mention past failures involving the

demise of Wambugu’s/Monsanto’s GM sweet

potato research in Kenya (DeGrassi, 2003;

GMWatch, 2015), or the quiet recognition by the

-Danforth Research Centre in 2006 that the GM

cassava it had developed had lost resistance

to African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) (ACB

and GRAIN, 2006). The recent case of Burkina

Faso’s reversal on GM cotton, due to the Bt

Cotton crop’s declining quality, is instructive

for Africa. Burkina Faso’s cotton companies

have committed to phasing out Bt cotton and

returning to the exclusive use of conventional

cotton, by the 2017/18 seasons. The sector is

seeking compensation from Monsanto for

the losses incurred and this is also extremely

telling (Dowd-Uribe and Schnurr, 2016)”.

(African Centre for Biodiversity).

Happy farming fellas…And sorry for thinking Monsanto is dying.

For more articles, please visit www.theopinionatedafrican.blogspot.com

#thinkUnchained

     

Ever wondered why Christ Agreed to suffer and die for you?

Ever wondered why it is that Christ agreed to come unto the earth live as man do do thirty three years and in the end allow himself to be subjected to the most unfortunate and unforgiving inhumane treatment and death ever imagined and carried out?

As is shown the Gospel, the reason for such a death was his Father's and his own personal love not just for mankind but for you who is now reading.
In Romans we are told for God so loved the world that he gave up his only begotten son to die for it.
The obvious reason the bible gives is love. In deed it is the prime reason but does it stop there.
No. The other more interesting reason for this is justice.
It is written that sin entered the world through one man and through sin we man reap death.  Romans 3:23 sums it all up in that it reminds each and every Christian that the mercy he got from Christ's death in his stead is actually undeserved. It was carried out because we who are born of Adam are by default sinful. But God being just chose that we be not wiped off the face of the earth but be first offered a fair chance and time for us to have a short  at his love and the eternal life he set for us in the beginning. More over the Devil had also sinned in that he converted Gods right to rule. So we are not the only players here.
The book of Job shows this clearly. Consider the reason behind Job's suffering. The angel Lucifer or Sameza disputes that Job is faithful for no other reason but because he knows that God protects the just against pain.
God let Lucifer try his luck to prove this and in the end Job's love for God is vindicated and the devil is proven wrong. Man can love God more his own comfort.
By leaving the comfort of heaven and living among man in perfection, Christ proved to the Devil Lucifer that Adam the perfect man could have lived perfectly had he chose to do so. In other words God's Justice towards Adam is just and indeed fair.
It also proves in our eyes that we can do it too.

In short: Christ death is more than a buy back. It shows you a way in which if u so wish you can live.
Praise Jehovah.

Can Revelations 21:4 be believed?

From Revelations 21:4 we read And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Can all these be true?
Before we answer the above question let us first ask ourselves one simple question. Can it be that the above words spoken by God himself could be true?
To validate the above words we need to look at the following.

Who spoke these words
The promise above was made by non other but Jesus Christ. Prince of all of heaven and the Son of God. In John 1:1~3 we learn that he is God's spoke man and in Genesis 1:26 Christ is hinted along side God in the design and creation of man. And again in the four Gospels he is shown as not only God's only Son but a faithful one at that.
In a number of passages Christ is shown as Jehovah's champion warrior and principal defender. The book of Jude and that of Daniel show him carrying out his fathers will down to the letter.
Unlike most man Christ proved himself loyal even to his own death. The Gospels show in detail his power. The very power he chose not to use even when his life was being taken from him. .Not many of us and maybe even angels would use that much restrain.
Why then would you not believe the promise as uttered by Christ. Such a faithful person?

Be heartened. Christ made the promise at Revelation 21:4   on Jehovah's behalf. It shall surely come to pass.
Praise Jehovah.

Praise Jehovah

For a time, I have increasingly found it difficult to go on being Christian because of my own personal failures and those of my fellow Christian brothers and sisters.
It took me a chat with a young non JW Christian girl to understand and perceive the value of what I lost in my life while I was busy rebelling against Jehovah because of failures I saw in my fellow Jehovah's witnesses life.
In doing so I ended up discouraged and hurt. My dispaire grew as I saw my life useless in light of being unable to provide for my family and being a constant nuisance to my relatives and friends.
My perception of life darkened every day and I constantly felt it more viable for me to die than to live and waste Jahs time.
My eyes were not on the Christ. As such it became easy for me to forget that Christ had walked my path. Peter had walked it too and as impossible as it was he finished it and is today among the twenty four elders ruling the heaven with Christ.
Christianity is not easy. It is hard way of life and it is not every day that Jehovah will answer your prayers the way you want them answered. Unfortunately once you have heard God's word you are compelled to change and know him at deeper level than usual.
I have grown from my 10yr old life struggles. It took me a 17 yr old non Jehovah's witnesses Christian child to do that.
Praise Jehovah.

Of What significant am I

Of what significance am I really?
I
Of what significance am I really?
To use the tongue
To hold my roots spell bound
Me!
Remind them who they are
What they stand for
Reduce them
To what they aren’t
Remind them of everything forgotten
 
That once upon a time they were more than black sweaty bodies
Sooty and sticky
Smelly, purely disposable;
Reduced to
Nothing
 
That a dog was once much
Better than they
That a whoring bitch-dog was to them, once of saintly
Status
 
That the oppressor’s tongue
Reduced my fathers,
My kings:
To nothing more than a wee-wee’s sound
Their back flesh wrenched in shreds
Like a tractor’s work in the fields they worked.
Big ,broad, strong hungry shoulders wet in sweat;
 
They are soldiering on,
Panting as they go
That’s who they were once
That’s who we were once
That is me
That is who I was.
 
Oh my tongue; soap is not enough to wash this off.