Snow at Branch Brook Park

 After I watched the global evening news this evening I find that I cannot take it any more. There is turmoil everywhere in the world, including problems in USA.  I set myself in front of my computer and opened the file of my photographs that I took of snow at Branch Brook Park on Sunday, February 16, 2014.  I enjoyed seeing the park in the evening when the sun was starting to move toward the horizon.  The sun shone on the deep dark branches creating beautiful lace forms, with soft orange rays with four beautiful legs, two pointing to the sky and two pointing toward to the soft white snow that turned from white to soft pale orange.  The light created patterns on the snow, casting a shadow of the tree trunks.   This lovely view of natures made me feel at ease and calm.  I can go on to another day and hope that humanity will come to its senses, for life without calmness and happiness is not worth of living.  I tried to think about a happy occasion in life.  I also posted pictures and my poem I wrote about our daughter when she was a young girl.  I hope my photographs and the poem of mother love for her little girl will give viewers calmness and joy.

 Ing-On Viulbhan-Watts, Wednesday, February 26, 2014, 11:09 pm

Mali Loves Pink

Mommy, I want my pink dress

Little Mali loves pink

Memory surfaces

When I see vibrant Mandevilla trellis flowers

Pink is pretty

As pretty as this Mandevilla trellis flowers

Memory is pretty

Seeing little Mali wearing beautiful pink dress

Long ago,

I long for

Hugging my little Mali in pink dress again

It was a happy time then

And a happy time now

When pink Mandevilla trellis flowers

Energizes my brain

Remembering my little one in a beautiful pink dress

Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Thursday, June 6, 2013

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Jane Goodall Then and Now 

 We Love You Jane

To day I found, “What in the world”, article, Echochambers from BBC News that is very useful to people who have no time to read or listen or watch the news around the world.  The article gives brief news around the world.  The link is: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-echochambers-26328763 

Or you can read the content below: 

What in the world? Pieces of global opinion

What in the world: Jane Goodall spars with China over Africa

 A Chinese writer finds Jane Goodall’s comments on African exploitation “insulting”

 A Chinese writer finds Jane Goodall’s comments on African exploitation “insulting”

A review of the best commentary on and around the world…

Today’s must-read

Last Monday, noted primatologist Jane Goodall accused China of exploiting Africa for its natural resources.

“In Africa, China is merely doing what the colonialists did,” the scientist famous for her research into African chimpanzees told the news service AFP in an interview. “They want raw materials for their economic growth, just as the colonialists were going into Africa and taking the natural resources, leaving people poorer.”

On Sunday, the Chinese communist party newspaper Global Times fired back a response by a freelance writer named Wu Yi.

“It’s not only insulting, it’s wrong in many aspects,” he writes. “The European colonialists invaded Africa, dominated Africans, and took the continent’s resources for nothing, while the Chinese conduct business with the African, and pay reasonable prices for whatever they could. It’s a huge difference.”

He also criticises a recent episode of the BBC documentary series, The Chinese Are Coming, for reflecting what he calls “paranoia about China in Africa”.

He calls the influx of Chinese capital to Africa to purchase resources a “win-win situation”.

He concludes by noting that the Chinese feared exploitation when they opened up their economy to Western nations 30 years ago.

“It didn’t happen,” he writes. “China took the opportunity of dealing with developed economies, and became what it is now.”

US foreign policy

GOP leader wants a massive military – House Majority Leader Eric Cantor gave a sweeping speech last week at the Virginia Military Institute criticising the Obama administration for pulling out of Iraq and Afghanistan too soon, having a “light footprint” in Libya and Syria, and neglecting Asia. Conor Friedersdorf writes in the Atlantic that Mr Cantor’s demands are impossible to fulfil because he is asking for a military focus that is too wide. “We’ve got the largest military in the world by a significant margin, but it isn’t even close to big enough if we’re going to fight at least four wars in a region that he doesn’t even regard as our focus!”

Uganda

Homophobia silver lining – Uganda’s fight against homosexuality mirrors the fear of the LGBT population in all of Africa, writes David Smith in the Guardian. “It is a war marked by political opportunism, biblical fundamentalism and a clash between cultural relativism and universal human rights.” He argues that “the harsh laws being enacted may be a measure not of failure but of success, a reaction to gay and lesbians asserting their political identity and rights as never before”.

Scotland

Tired of a tight grip – Scots have “grown weary of being shouted at by ministers of governments we have emphatically not elected and whose policies we have rejected over and over again”, writes Scottish author and poet Kathleen Jamie for the New York Times. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has been frantically appealing to Scots to stay with the union and reject independence, but the Scottish people are no longer interested in being in the UK “brand”. Instead, Jamie argues, independence would be “exciting” and is necessary “because we seek good governance, and no longer think the Westminster government offers that, or social justice or decency”.

Mexico

What’s more important, the end or the means? – The arrest of Joaquin Guzman, the most wanted drug lord in Mexico, shows an improvement in Mexican security efforts, writes US ambassador for Mexico Eduardo Medina Mora in the Washington Post. Guzman’s capture involved all agencies of the Mexican federal government, showing an “integrated, holistic strategy focused on addressing and preventing the root causes of crime rather than simply combating their consequences”. The use of intelligence instead of force shows a noteworthy shift in the handling of crime, violence and safety that will lead to social improvements in Mexico, he concludes.

Japan

Is Prime Minister Abe encouraging right-wing “nut jobs”? – The recent news that copies of Anne Frank’s diary have been vandalised across Toyko has Bloomberg View’s William Pesek wondering if Shinzo Abe’s nationalistic rhetoric is creating a poisonous political atmosphere.

Venezuela

Blaming and begging the US – Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro’s accusations that the US is attempting to overthrow his government echo similar statements from his predecessor, Hugo Chavez. What is different, however, is that Mr Maduro recently called for talks with US President Barack Obama. Steven L Taylor of Outside the Beltway writes: “Maduro is saying that he, himself does not have the answers, which is a problematic stance for a leader in this context.” Mr Maduro’s request makes it seem as though Venezuela’s problems are both the fault and responsibility of the US.

Catholic Church

Catholics need to face the truth – The UN report on the widespread sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic Church is another attempt to degrade Catholic morals, only this time by using accusations “dressed up in the pink and blue” of children’s safety, writes John Zmirak for the American Conservative. Still, Zmirak argues, Catholics “must face squarely and manfully the sheer extent of the Church’s wrongdoing, and hold our leaders accountable for proving their repentance.”

BBC Monitoring’s quote of the day

Alleged attempts by the Turkish government to curb freedom: “Laws, which come one after another like train wagons, are passing from the parliamentary railroads! Internet censorship law… Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) law… National Intelligence Organization (MIT) law… A weird bag of bills which contains everything but democracy. Saying chuff-chuff, puff-puff, this chain of laws that are lined up one after the other is taking our country into a dark tunnel with an unknown end.” – Rahmi Turan in Cumhuriyet

One more thing…

NBC’s Olympic coverage “admirable” – Now that the Sochi Olympics have ended, it’s time to assess whether NBC deserves a gold medal for its TV coverage of the event.

It’s almost a national pastime to hate on the network every two years for its over-the-top melodrama, but the Los Angeles Times’s Steven Zeitchik thinks NBC did just fine, “despite obstacles such as a vast time difference, unfamiliar sports, a sense of culture shock, unexpected athlete narratives and a nasty case of pink-eye.”

Have you found an interesting opinion piece about global issues that we missed? Share it with us via email at echochambers (at) bbc.co.uk. 

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Snow Land at Branch Brook Park 

Newark, New Jersey 

On Sunday, February 16, 2014

On Sunday, February 16 about 2:30 pm John and I went out to do some shopping.  John drove through Branch Brook Park.  We saw snow covering all of the park.  The lake opposite Secret Heart Cathedral was frozen and covered with snow.  The white blanket of snow covered the ground contrasting with the tall dark brown tree trunks standing high in the sky.  Beautiful lace like forms of bare tree branches covered the blue sky.  I told John that I would like to take photographs of what I called the, “Snow land”, in Branch Brook Park.  We hurried to do our shopping, went home to get my camcorder and John’s camera.  We came back to the park in the late afternoon and enjoyed seeing beautiful and interesting Branch Brook Park even though we did not see green leaves on the trees.

 I always love the tall trees in the park with or without leaves.  Theses majestic tall trees are so graceful looking.  The deep dark brown trunks are contrasting the pure white snow that blankets the ground.  Far away, the edge of the park is lined with houses.  The oldest house in Newark resides inside of the park.  The house belonged to Mrs. Henderson and her husband.  Mrs. Henderson was one of John’s pottery students.  They passed away and they donated their house to Newark Museum.  I am grateful that Essex County takes care of the park, keeping it in good condition.

I imagine a time long ago, before the human settlements; this place was probably a forest with all kinds of tall trees, plants and animals.  Where are they?  There are so few animals left for us to see.   They are gone.

 We humans are so powerful; we can transform forest to parks, and towns, with tall buildings just like in New York City.  As the human population rises all over the world, humans need more places to occupy areas that once were forest and sanctuary for animals.

  It is dangerous for animals and for humans if humans over populate the world.  Humans will fight and kill each others for the resources and places to live.  There are places in the world where this takes places right now.  I enjoy the park and have a place to live, but cannot help but be concerned about the problems that can cause destruction to our planet in the future.

Humanity has progressed but sometimes at the cost of degradation and destruction of our environment.  In order for humans to live peacefully among ourselves and other animals that can have their own habitats, we need to be concerned about the consequence of the depletion of the forests.   The loss of forests can cause the global warming hence the rising of the sea water and other destruction that might come in the future. 

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Snow Day

Downtown Newark, New Jersey

 On Monday, February 3rd, 2014

 Snow on the roof

Old man moving the snow

Glass tree surface

By the church

Snow on top

Muted Symbol of cross

Cock crows West and East

By the cross on the sky

The clock is running

Telling time passing by

Old man is working still

Cannot stop time passing

And snow is coming down

Wishing for peace

On Earth with us now

Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Tuesday, February 4th, 2014, 10:29 pm

Snow and Time

Snow on the roof

Old man moving the snow

Glass tree surface

By the church

Snow on top

Muted Symbol of cross

Cock crows West and East

By the cross on the sky

The clock is running

Telling time passing by

Old man is working still

Cannot stop time passing

And snow is coming down

Wishing for Peace

On Earth with us now

Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Tuesday, February 4th, 2014, 10:29 pm

Snow on the Roof 2.3.14 Snow & Time  (9:06 minutes)

 Link toYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEb4xMLrvF4

 For more photograph and information link to Snow on the Roof Part 1 page:

https://ingpeaceproject.com/ings-photographs/snow-on-the-roof-part-1/

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Elephants at the Water Lily Pond

And their Environment 

Artwork by Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts

As the sun turns towards the horizon

 The evening begins

A herd of elephants are marching

 To their favorite place

 Their stomachs are more than half full

Their legs are tired

And the skins are baked

From the afternoon sun

 Fresh cool water

 Helping to quench their thirst

 Spraying water on their heated skins

 Pleasure for all

Especially fun for young ones

 Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Tuesday, June 8, 1999

As the golden rays of sun reflect on the water

It turns the pond and the elephants gold

 Bright pink water lilies

 Contrasting the large circular green leaves

 Accenting the beauty of nature

 When nature is in harmony

 Peace is present

 Humans should be willing to share

 This peaceful existence

 With all other livings creatures of the world

 Humans can make peace with themselves

 And other animals

 Only humans are capable of

Making the world better or worse

 No other creatures can

 Are we ready to make it better?

  Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Tuesday, June 8, 1999

 I produced Elephants at the Water Lily Pond in 1999, because I heard about deforestation.  I have been very concerned about humans invading the animals’ habitats by cutting down the forests for housing and farm land.  Some humans do not believe in global warming that is caused from mismanaging the environment so they go on making their wealth from destroying the land for mining and the forest for the wood products.  Some trees are cut down to produce throw away chopsticks and other wasteful products.  

Ing-On Vibulbhan-Watts, Sunday, February 02, 2014 

Please read the following article from National Geographic about the plight of elephants:

Photos: Elephants Moved Across Africain Risky Operation

Two of the rare mammals died in the process, group says.

An elephant wakes after being tranquilized outside of Daloa,Ivory Coast.

PHOTOGRAPH BY SIA KAMBOU, AFP/GETTY

Angie McPherson

National Geographic

Published January 31, 2014

Originally deemed as an impossible task, staff with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) have successfully transported four wild African forest elephants across the Ivory Coast (Cote D’Ivoire).

The challenging relocation was conducted to relieve growing conflict between the large animals and villagers in Daloa, a town near the elephants’ home in Marahoue National Park.

Four of the elephants made it, two of the rare mammals died—a loss that’s high but “not surprising” for this type of risky operation, said Joyce Poole, co-founder of the conservation group ElephantVoices. (Related: “Success and Tragedy: IFAW’s Project to Relocate Elephants in Cote d’Ivoire.”)

 PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL BOOTH, IFAW

An African forest elephant hides in the forests outside of Daloa.

Not only is it hard to move one of the largest animals in the world, it’s also difficult to find the notoriously shy African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), which was recently recognized as a distinct subspecies of African elephant (Loxodonta africana). (See pictures of forest elephants.)

One of the rarest subspecies on the continent, there are an estimated 60,000 to 150,000 African forest elephants left in the wild, according to Cornell University. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as vulnerable.

“Translocating elephants [as a] solution is only used as last resort—the operation is risky and very expensive,” said Céline Sissler-Bienvenu, a director at the IFAW.

“Instead of killing these elephants, which are the country’s national emblem, they wanted to find a humane solution, and knew we had moved elephants in Malawi before,” said Sissler-Bienvenu.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MICHAEL BOOTH, IFAW

An African forest elephant is shot with a tranquilizer dart from a helicopter.

Elephants vs. Villagers

Deforestation in Marahoue National Park is one reason that conflicts escalated between elephants and humans. According to Sissler-Bienvenu, an estimated 80 percent of the park has been converted to agriculture since the Ivorian Civil War began in 2002.

Without homes or food, the restless and hungry elephants began to roam, becoming dangerous neighbors for the residents of Daloa and other surrounding villages: The animals have stomped three people to death and eaten much of the local crops. (Listen to an interview about living with lions in the Serengeti.)

When villagers threatened to kill the encroaching species, the Ivory Coast government intervened in April 2012, asking the IFAW to help resolve the conflict.

So, to protect the pachyderms, the IFAW translocated four males, tranquilizing them and transporting them in trucks about 310 miles (500 kilometers) from Daloa to Asagny National Park, a federal wildlife reserve that consists of 19,400 hectares (47,938 acres) of forest and wetlands along the Gulf of Guinea.

Please view the following link for more pictures and information:

https://ingpeaceproject.com/elephants-their-environments/elephants-at-the-water-lily-pond-their-environment-1/ 

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