Mareegta Facebook-ga Oo Shaaca Ka Qaaday Inay Soo Weerareen Hackers

Maamulka mareegta Facebook ayaa sheegey inay soo weerareen hackers computer-da dhawr engineer oo ka tirsan shirkadda. Sida uu sheegey madaxa security-ga Facebook Joa Sullivan, hackers kani waxay bar tilmaameed sadeen, computer-da ay ku shaqeeyaan engineer-da ugu sareeya shirkadda ka hawl gala, iyagoo baadi goobaya siday ugu u jabsan lahaayeen xogta dadka mareegta isticmaala.

Jao wuxuu sheegey inay fashiliyeen amuurtaas, kadib markii magic shabakadeed (Domain Name) oo ay hore uga shakiyeen oo ayka masaxeen uu dib dalab usoo dhiibtay.  Kaas oo markay dabo gal ay sameeyeen ay ku ogaadeen inuu dalab kaasi ka yimi mid ka mid ah engineer-da shirkadda computer-kiisa.

Kadibna, dabo gal dheeraad ah oo ay sameeyeen ku ogaadeen in virus la mid ah lala bartilmaameed saday engineer-ro kale computer-doonana. Joa waxa uu sheegey inay dabo galka wadaan, lakiinse, ilaa iminka ay hackers-kii ku fashilmeen isku daygoodii inay helaan xogta dadka shabakadda ku xidhan.

Madaxa security-gu wuxuu sheegey inay hackers-kani u adeegsadeen inay virus-kooda ku beeraan computer-da engineeradda barnaamij zero –day Java oo ku jiray  computer-dooda.

Joa Sullivan waxa uu sheegey inkastoo aanu isku daygani markii ugu horeysay ahayn oo uu kamid yahay isku dayo taxane ah oo lagu weerarayay mareegta Facebook-ga, inay u tuhun san yihiin shirkado kale oo uu ka dhexeeyo tartan.

Shabakadda twitter ayaa lafteeda la tuhun san yahay inay hackers-kani weerareen. Tuhunkaas ayaa ka dhashay kadib markii ay shabakaddu ka saartay mareegteeda isticmaalka Java-ga sida uu ku qoray boga Ars Technica.

 

How's that for good karma? Homeless man is given $100,000 by well-wishers after he returned diamond engagement ring to bride after it fell into his cup

• Sarah Darling mistakenly dropped her ring into Billy Ray Harris’ collection cup
• Rather than pawning it, he kept it safe expecting the owner would return
• To show their appreciation Darling and her husband have setup a fundraising page to help out Harris
• The site has raised more than $100,000 so far

By David Mccormack

 

A homeless man in Kansas City, Missouri is facing a windfall of more than $100,000 for his kindness after he returned a diamond engagement ring to its rightful owner, which she had accidentally dropped into his donation cup.

Billy Ray Harris, who is homeless and often sleeps under a bridge, was shocked to find that a diamond ring had been dropped in his collection cup while begging last Friday.


‘The ring was so big I knew if it was real it had to be expensive,’ he told KCTV. Rather than pawn it, Harris had a hunch that the owner would return for it and so he stored it in a safe place.

Human kindness: Billy Ray Harris returned a diamond engagement ring to owner Sarah Darling after she mistakenly dropped it in his collection cup

The ring belonged to Sarah Darling, who was devastated the next day when she realized she had lost it.

Darling had put her engagement ring in her purse for safekeeping, but then emptied the contents into Harris' collection cup 

 ‘It was horrible. It was such a feeling of loss,’ said Darling. ‘It meant so much to me beyond just the financial value.’


Darling rarely takes the ring off, but that day had put it in her purse for safe keeping after she had developed a slight rash on her finger.

She went back to look for Harris on the Saturday, but couldn’t find him. She tried again the next day and fortunately he was in the same spot.


‘I asked him ... “I don't know if you remember me, but I think I gave you something that's very precious to me,” and he says, “Was it a ring? Yeah, I have it, I kept it for you,'" said Darling.


She described finding the ring again as a miracle.

Billy Ray Harris, who is homeless and often sleeps under a bridge, was shocked to find the ring had been dropped in his collection cup while begging last Friday

To show their appreciation, Darling and her husband set up an online fundraising page on giveforward.com for Harris.


So far more than 3,800 donations have been made, totaling over $100,000. 

The money will be given to Harris at the end of a 90-day campaign.


‘In life what goes around comes around... Billy - your sweet actions, despite being in dire straits yourself, prove that there is humility in the world... you are one shining example. Lots of love from across the pond,’ wrote Chris and Mel, from Brentwood, England, who gave $20.

‘Several years ago, my mother's ring was stolen from my house. To this day, I recall the empty feeling in the pit of my stomach. Hopefully, your honest example will encourage others to pay it forward. Kudos to you, Billy Ray!’ wrote Tero Sturges who gave $10.

Darling and husband Bill Krejci have meet with Harris again to tell him that they've set up a fundraising page

‘Mr. Harris, Thank you for being a model of honesty for others. You are obviously a decent man. I am sorry that you have had to live under a bridge,’ wrote Robert in Miami, who gave $20.


The response has been described as ‘unreal’ by Darling's husband Bill Krejci, who posted an update the site on Saturday.


Krejci said he had met with Harris to tell him about the flood of donations and to get to know him better. They went together to make some repairs to Harris' bike.


'We talked about a lot of things related to my family's ring and the many donations. We talked about one day in the future the ring may one day be passed down to my daughter,' Krejci wrote on the website. 'We talked about how insanely positive all this has been.'


Harris told Krejci that he has found a place to stay where he is 'safe and sound.'

To show their appreciation for Harris, Darling and her husband have set up an online fundraising page on the giveforward.com

To show their appreciation for Harris, Darling and her husband have set up an online fundraising page on the giveforward.com

Harris has spoken out about the attention he has received since returning the ring.

'I like it, but I don't think I deserve it,' he told KCTV.


'What I actually feel like is, "what has the world come to when a person who returns something that doesn't belong to him and all this happens?'" he said.

Darling has said she is just grateful that Harris was so honest as many others might have kept the ring or sold it.


'I actually feel like I'm especially lucky to have this ring now. I loved it before. I loved it so much, but I love it so much more now. I feel like it has such great karma,' she told CNN.

Well-wishers from around the world are opening their wallets to Billy Ray Harris after his act of kindness

Landmark Workshop on Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Program in the Horn of Africa Underway

The workshop on the Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Program (DRSLP) in the Horn of Africa (HoA) commenced on Friday, February 22 at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The workshop, which runs to February 24, was jointly organized by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The objective of the workshop was to discuss the implementation of Phase 1 of the program, which was approved by the Bank in December 2012 (including Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia and IGAD) and to prepare for the Second Phase that is expected to be financed under ADF-13. The participants included the representatives from IGAD member states (Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda), members of the IGAD Secretariat, representatives of NGOs, CSOs, private sector, development partners and staff of different Bank Departments.

In his opening remarks the Executive Secretary of IGAD, engineer Mahboub Maalim, acknowledged the leadership of the Bank in embarking on the drought resilience program and supporting the shift from emergencies to long-term building of resilience in the region. He also expressed appreciation of the Bank’s responsiveness in providing support to the countries and reinforcing the capacity for the IGAD Secretariat to meet its obligations in the region. Lamin Barrow, the Bank’s Resident Representative in Ethiopia, expressed his expectation that other development partners in Africa will join the Bank in well-coordinated and efficient aid delivery. He reiterated the importance to ensure efficiency and complementarity in all operations implemented by various partners, working together for the same objectives particularly given the relatively scarce financial resources. He assured the IGAD member country delegates of the Bank’s continued support to ensure the countries achieve the national and regional objectives of the Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods program.

For his part, Abdirahman Beileh, Acting Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department, reminded the meeting of the urgency of the actions required, such as the need for adequate planning for food, animal feed and water management, particularly through investing in the necessary infrastructures along with conflict resolution and rebuilding of governance institutions. He reminded the delegates of the responsibilities and accountability to the vulnerable communities.
 

The Ethiopia Government Representative underscored the importance of the program for Ethiopia and noted that the main challenge is effective implementation. He gave examples of Ethiopia’s achievements in successfully demonstrating that drought does not have to result in famine. He assured the participants of his country’s commitment to play its full role in the program. 

The Bank team made a presentation on the overview of the DRSLP, outlining the challenges being faced such as the recurrent droughts that decimate and reduce the economic value of assets such as land and livestock, social and human assets and the purchasing power of already vulnerable households. The team also discussed the Bank’s vision to assist countries to effectively address the impacts of the recurrent drought. Following a presentation of the Phase I program components, sources of financing and roles of various actors, there was a better understanding of the program, its expected outputs, outcomes and the targeted beneficiaries.

There was an obvious interest of countries to engage in the second phase of the program. The workshop provided an opportunity to discuss financing options from the Bank, such as the performance based allocations, regional operations window, the Fragile States Facility and the Global Environment Facility. The country delegations were encouraged to formally express their interest in participating in the program and include it among the national priorities to enable the Bank provide the required support in a timely manner. The country representatives in the meeting took the floor and all expressed appreciation of the Bank taking the lead in an historic program of building drought resilience and indicated keen interest of their countries to be part of the second phase

Eritrean Australians Human Rights Night: CHALLENGES IN THE HORN OF AFRICA.

Eritrean Australians Human Rights Night. An Evening with our keynote speaker and special guest (Mr. Saleh "Gadi" Johar), Author, Human Rights Activist, Founder and Publisher of Awate.com

East Africa power update report: Horn of Africa

Big dams remain at the heart of Ethiopia's post-Meles electricity strategy. With an influx of donor funds into the transmission and distribution network, the government has room to finance its hydro projects with Chinese support. This six-page report takes a project-by-project view of the power sector in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. It includes a one-page opening analysis article and a full page map covering electricity infrastructure in the Horn of Africa.

Revised February 2013, the map provides a regional overview of electricity infrastructure across Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia. Planned and existing generation and transmission projects are clearly marked. The map illustrates Ethiopia's hydroelectricity and geothermal power potential. Transmission projects are shown from 500kV down to a number of smaller 66 and 33kV lines. Detail includes major cross-border transmission links.

Example project entry from the update:

 Gilgel Gibe III (1,870MW). EEPCo awarded EPC contract to Salini (July 2006) for power plant and 243 metre high dam with 14.7mcm reservoir.  Completion estimated 2013-14, to cost €1.77bn. Contracts: 

electromechanical and hydraulic steel structure works – China’s Dongfang Electric Corporation (agreement signed with EEPCo, May 2010; $500m contract underwritten by ICBC). 

China’s Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock Company Ltd to build transmission line to Addis Ababa. Concrete forming equipment and engineering support for dam wall – Harsco Corp ($2m contract signed June 2010). 

Consortium of Mott MacDonald (UK), Sogreah (France) and local AG Consult performed economic, financial and technical assessment. Finance: WBG, Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility, EIB and AfDB withdrew support in 2010. EIB explicitly stated that withdrawal was not due to technical, environmental or social assessment results. Significant funding from Ethiopian government with Chinese support. Project’s procurement and environmental impact have been controversial

Military Intelligence Basic Officer Course-Africa brings together officers from partner countries of Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and South Sudan

Randy Bretzin, Intelligence Training instructor, U.S. Africa Command, teaches critical thinking skills to East African service members at the Military Intelligence Basic Officer Course-Africa (MIBOC-A) in Nairobi, Kenya, Jan. 24, 2013. Military officers from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and South Sudan are participating in the eight-week course. MIBOC-A provides partner nation junior offices with the skills to work as part of a military intelligence staff. Marine Corps Forces Africa is conducting the training in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

NAIROBI, Kenya -- The eigth iteration of the Military Intelligence Basic Officer Course-Africa brings together officers from partner countries of Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and South Sudan for an eight-week course in Nairobi, Kenya, that began in January.

The MIBOC-A class will help strengthen interoperability between East African militaries by providing partner-nation officers with the skills to engage as part of a multi-national military-intelligence network and introduces topics such as: briefing fundamentals; creative and critical thinking; Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment (IPOE); social-network analysis; insurgency and counterinsurgency; and stability and peacekeeping operations.

MIBOC-A also enhances capacity for intelligence collection, analysis, information sharing among the participating nations, and provides an environment designed to promote collaboration methods within the region's military intelligence community.
Throughout the course, leadership training is presented and reinforced with individual briefs, group exercises in the classroom, and open discussion about intelligence techniques and procedures.

Course instructors include U.S. intelligence professionals from U.S. Africa Command's Regional Joint Intelligence Training Facility, Molesworth, U.K., with support from Marine Forces Africa, Stuttgart, Germany, and Combined Joint Task Force- Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

Upon completion of the course, participating officers will graduate and return to their home countries to put their skills to use. The program oftentimes invites graduates back to be assistant instructors for new iterations of the course. 

Hogaamiyaha Ugu Sareeya Kooxda Al Shabaab Axmed Godane iyo shan kale oo ku luglahaa Dilka Sheekha oo ay Dil ku xukuntay Maxkamad ku taal Puntland.

Wararkii ugu dambeeyay ee naga soo gaarayo Magaalada Boosaaso ayaa waxaa ay sheegayaan in maxkamada Ciidanka Maamul Goboleedka Puntland ay dil ku xukuntay mas’uulka ugu sareeyo Kooxda Shabaab Axmed Godane ka’dib dilkii loo geystay Sh.caan ka ahaa magaalada boosaaso ee xarunta Gobolka nugaal oo lagu magacaabi jiray Dr Axmed xaaji C/raxmaan.

Maxkamadeynta Shan nin oo lagu tuhmayo in ay ka dambeeyeen dilka Sheekha ayaa iyana lagu xukumay Maxkamada.

Goobta uu dilka ka’dhacayay ayaa waxaa ku sugnaa qaar kamid ah raga dilka lagu xukumay walow uusan halkaasi kusugneyn hogaamiyaha Ururka Shabaab axmed Godane halka ay jiraan rag kale oo iyana qayb ka’ahaa dilka Sheekha oo ay haatan maxkamadeyntoodu socoto .

Maamul Goboleedka Puntland oo Eedaysay Dowladda Federaalka Soomaaliya

The FG is advised to invest its time and energy on repairing and rebuilding the disintegrated Federal Republic, instead of attempting to sell what little remains of Somalia. ......................  Press Statement issued by Puntland Somali regional administration

PRESS RELEASE 26 February 2013 

The Federal Government (FG) of Somalia is violating the country’s Provisional Federal Constitution (PFC), which the elected leaders were sworn to uphold.  The FG has actively interfered with the formation of emerging Federated States, such as Jubaland in southern Somalia, directly contradicting the principles and provisions of the PFC and abandoning the aspirations of the Somali people, who hope for responsible and accountable governance that paves the way for peace, stability and development, and promotes justice, political cohesion, outreach and national reconciliation.

Instead of focusing on principal priorities, the FG has adventured illegitimately on resource exploitation by hiring foreign advisers to build the ‘Somalia Petroleum Company’ and actively pursue oil companies – former concession holders as well as new companies – to renegotiate old concession or sign new Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs) to areas that are not under FG’s control. This is contrary to the PFC and the FG should refrain from such broker activities until all Federated States are formed, so the Somali people have a role in the fundamental decisions of their future.

This unilateral move is a dangerous ploy that threatens to unravel political cohesion and potentially imperil stabilization progress in Somalia. The FG is advised to invest its time and energy on repairing and rebuilding the disintegrated Federal Republic, instead of attempting to sell what little remains of Somalia.  The PFC clearly defines power belongs to the people, as represented by the Federated States, and defers political power distribution, revenue sharing, and natural resources management, until the Federated States of Somalia is completed and a negotiated settlement is reached between the Federal Government and the Federated States.  Until such time, Puntland State shall retain and exercise powers endowed in the Puntland Constitution.

Puntland calls on the FG to adhere to the country’s Federal Constitution, to support the formation of the remaining Federated States, to speed up establishment of the Upper House of Federal Parliament, to promote national reconciliation and justice, and to shun unreasonable maneuvers that trigger political crises in Somalia.

-END-

HOGAAMIYAHA PUNTLAND ABDIRAHMAN FAROLE & WIILASHIISA OO KU TAGRI FAL AWOODEED IYO MUSUQMAASUQ BAAHSAN KU HODMAY

Puntlandnews24 Editorial:

Waxaa maalintii Talaadada ee shalay Garowe gaaray wafdi balaaran oo ka kala socda Wadamada maalgeliya Qorshaha Dimuquraadiyeynta ee Puntland laga wado.

Wafdigan ayaa waxaa kamid ahaa madaxa Xafiiska Midowga Yurub ee qaabilsan Soomaaliya Michele Cervone d’Urso oo ay wehliyaan ergo ka kala socota dalalka Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden iyo hay’adaha DFID iyo USAID, guddigan oo la isku yiraaho [The Democratization Programme Steering Committee (DSC)].

Wafdigan balaaran ayaa markii ay soo gaareen magaalada Garowe waxay la kulmeen Madaxweynaha Puntland Cabdiraxmaan Maxamed Faroole, kulan kaasi kama aysan qeyb gelin Golaha Wasiirada ama xubnaha kale oo ka tirsan Xukuumada, marka laga reebo wiil uu dhalay madaxweynaha oo lagu magacaabo Cusmaan Faroole, oo isagu howlaha aabihiis ka wado madaxtooyada qeyb ka ah xilna ka haya madaxtooyada.

Lama yaqaano sababta rasmiga ah ee ka dambeysa in wasiiradii iyo madaxdii kale ee xukuumada Puntland aysan goob joog uga ahayn kulamadan cul-culus balse mid ka mida dadka ka faalooda arrimaha siyaasada oo aan dooneyn in la magacaabo ayaa Puntlandnews 24 u sheegay in wasiirada Puntland aysan Faroole u lahayn ahmiyad iyo qadarin macne leh, wuxuuna u arkaa inay yihiin dad uu isagu wax ka dhigay oo isaga u shaqeeya, wasiirada aad sheegeysaan maalin walba ayaa la dharbaaxaa, lagu bahdilaa aqalka madaxtooyada iyagoo loogu hanjabo anaga ayaa wax idinka dhignay ee ma cid ayaa idin rabtay.

Waxaa kaloo jirta in safiirada reer Yurub ee todobaadyadii u dambeeyey ku soo noq-noqnayey Garoowe aysan la dhacsanayn geedi socodka dimoqraadiyada laga hadal hayo Puntland, iyadoo ay horay u jirtay in mucaaradka Puntland ay ashtakooyin gaarsiiyeen xafiisyada maal geliya howlaha dimoqraadiyeynta iyo xisbiyada ee ka socda Puntland.

Political corruption is the abuse of public power, office, or resources by elected government officials for personal or family gain.

Cusmaan C/raxmaan Faroole oo maalmahan aabihiis kala qeyb galayey kulamada wufuuda Garoowe imanaysa xili wasiiradii Puntland Garoowe dhooban yihiin, wuxuu bishii December ee kal hore magaalada Boosaso gacanta ula tagay wasiirka maaliyada Puntland Faarax Cali Shire kadib markii ay ku murmeen qeybsashada saamiga dhaqaale gaarayey dhowr malyan oo dollar oo uu lahaa madaarka magaalada Boosaso.

Qoyska madaxweynaha Puntland ee sida joogtada ah ugu lug leh go’aamada iyo howlaha dowlada Puntland waxay kala yihiin Maxamed C/raxmaan Faroole oo haatan isku darsaday xilkii la taliyaha saxaafada madaxweynaha, iyo abaanduulaha ciidamada Bada Puntland iyo xilka agaasimaha shirkada shisheeye ee Saracen. Maxamed wuxuu kaloo amarada iyo socodsiinta howlaha maamulka kaga amar iyo gacan sareeyaa C/samad Cali Shire Madaxwayne ku xigeenka Puntland oo aan saamayn macne leh ku dhex lahayn xukuumada maamul goboleedka Puntland.

Maxamed C/raxmaan Faroole oo da’diisu tahay 49 jir wuxuu marka  laga tago dhanka awooda iyo maamulka ka sokow tabcaday dhaqaale lixaad leh oo uu geliyey ganacsi isugu jira shirkado shisheeye, hanti muuqata oo uu ka samaystay gudaha iyo caalamkaba.

Corruption – misusing public office for personal gain, for example, by accepting bribes or by charging personal expenditure to a public expenses account.

Khadar C/raxmaan Faroole oo isaguna kamida caruurta fir-fircoon ee madaxweynaha wuxuu isku heystaa dhowr xil oo ka culus wasaarado badan, kan ugu hilan culusna waa agaasinka macdanta, batroolka iyo maalgashiga Puntland, Khadar wuxuu kaloo xukuumada Puntland u metelaa shirarka caalamiga ah.

Madaxweyne Faroole waa madaxweynihii ugu horeeyey ee soo mara Puntland oo ugu yaraan 3 kamida caruurtiisa aya xillal aan lagula xisaabtamin loona dhaarin ay ka hayaan dalka, xillalka iyo shaqooyinka ay qabtaan oo u baahnaan lahaa in lagu dhaariyo amaanada aabahood u dhiibtay maadaama ay yihiin jagooyin culus oo ka miisaan badan wasiirada Puntlnad oo qaarkood shaqooyinkooda ayba marooqsadeen qoyska madaxweyne Faroole.

Nasiib darrada ugu weyn ee Puntland aan looga rajo qabin inay horay u talaabsato ayaa ah iyadoo aysan jirin haba yaraatee wax is xisaabiya [accountability] ama eega [track record]  haday noqon lahayd shacabka dulman ee iska aamusan ama haday noqon lahayd hanti dhowrkii dalka oo aan howl gelin, haatana kamid noqday xisbiga madaxweynaha ee Horseed Party.

source: Puntland News-24

Open letter UK Prime Minister

Dear UK PM Honourable David Cameron

UK Prime Minister Office

I find myself knocking your door again with one kilo of  Khat with me again I feel compelled to write this letter as a concerned member of the community almost exasperated at the lack of progress being made on this long standing issue. We as a community feel we have spoken with one voice by requesting in no uncertain terms that the UK government BAN Qaad, or catha edulis to call it by its scientific name. We have made this request on the basis of evidence of medical and social harm and not on the basis of our whims. I say we, because an online petition requesting that Qaad be made illegal managed to successfully garner over one hundred thousand votes in its favour.  I remind you that in opposition, the Conservative party pledged that it would ban Qaad if it came into office and now, three years into this parliament, we see no signs of this on the government’s agenda. Large sections of the Somali community voted Conservative almost against their instincts, thereby contributing to your political mandate more in expectation rather than hope that the Conservative party would help us help ourselves. Enthusiastic expectation that this would come to pass has now been transformed into dwindling hope that this will be seen through.

The intransigence on this issue is perplexing, particularly given the backdrop of the Conservative message being put out about taking individual responsibility in these tough economic times, is that we are essentially requesting in vain that the government help us overcome unnecessary barriers to our integration into wider society. Partly due to the fact that the last stable government Somalia ever had was a ruthless dictatorship, the concept of the Big Society did resonate with us in that smaller government would allow us to take control of our affairs and thereby allow us to regain a modicum of self esteem and dignity by contributing positively to our local communities and by extension, society at large. Somali society has unfortunately suffered over the past few decades from a brain drain and high levels of illiteracy in certain age groups as a direct result of  civil war. Seeing these very same people come together in modern day Britain to try and achieve the banning of Qaad in a democratic manner is in a way an achievement in itself. A lack of an end result will lead many to conclude that the many well-documented Qaad related deaths across Britain were in some way less important than the meow-meow related deaths that were given the oxygen of publicity in the national media in 2010. Does this therefore mean that if Khat were as widely used as meow-meow was that it would be banned? Its difficult to conclude otherwise.

The voluminous social and scientific, empirical evidence of Qaad’s harm has for some reason been offset by the claim that it is part of Somali culture. It is important to distinguish between cultural norms and individual vices and habits. The growing number of single parent families in our community has given rise to an increasing stigma being attached to the consumption of Qaad as its very mention conjures images of being the primary cause of family breakdown. The word Qaad itself linguistically means to ‘take’ in that once one consumes it, that individual is therefore ‘taken’ under it’s influence. The reference to the mosque in Cardiff that deems Khat to be permissible from an Islamic perspective is laughable and I feel confident enough to claim that you would be hard pressed to find any segment of Somali society (apart from those whose financial interests it serves) prepared speak in its favour.

The ACMD states that due to Khat’s bitter taste means that it would be unattractive for potential users. Well, we often hear that many alcoholic drinks are an acquired taste but on a more serious note, I put it to you that there has been an alarming trend of a growing number of UK born Somalis consuming Khat more regularly. Of real concern is the report’s alarmingly naive understanding of how Khat is sold and distributed. Does the ACMD honestly believe that Khat is sold, distributed and consumed in line with statutory health and safety legislation?

It is confusing to learn that both cathine and cathinone, while individually banned in the UK, are somehow rendered legal in leaf form when the combination of the two is found in Qaad. It is also difficult to comprehend how the UK is out of step with much of the EU (including most recently Holland, I might add), the USA and Canada with regard to the legal status of Qaad. Why is this the case? Is Britain out of touch? Or is the government’s position on this commensurate with the perception that Qaad only affects the Somali community and therefore pushed to the very bottom of the government’s to do list?

We appreciate that the coalition is facing immense challenges in terms of balancing the nations finances in the context of seemingly unrelenting economic crises in the Eurozone and the wider global economy, not to mention high levels of youth unemployment to name but a few. But we would like to play our part, however small, in at least contributing on a community level by assimilating, integrating and setting a positive example for our children. We call upon the government to remove the needless barrier of Qaad and help us unlock this undoubted potential as we are desperate to portray a positive image of our community and thereby at least begin to repay the hospitality granted to us as refugees from our war-torn homeland.

Yours sincerely

Abukar Awale (Qaad –Diid)

The Lead Anti-Khat Campaigner