Radioactive Waste Surfaces in the Coastline of Somalia - Where is Jack Sparrow?

A barrel found in the Northern Easter region of Somali, Puntland after the 2005 Asian tsunami.

As if we haven’t been hearing rumors of this for years, finally some truth to the madness is spilled. Literally, the toxic poisons have been spilling on the shores of Somalia for years. Apparently soon after the civil war broke out, the not so honorable warlord Ali Mahdi Mohamed of the first transitional government was low on funds and eager to take the money of the European firms so they may be allowed to spill thousands of tons of barrels of toxins. The culprits behind this sickening news have not be captured, detained or murdered the way the pirates who first set out to defend their waters have been.

Here is one article to explain a bit about this: http://bit.ly/gjjoZ1

Here is another recent article on how the Russians murdered 9 pirates on their ships:http://bit.ly/9Md9qd

I am not generally, yes generally, for thugs attacking ships to hold people ransom in order to loot and gain millions just for their own personal gain. What I am also extremely opposed to is European countries and their mafia firms targeting a defenseless countries and dumping thousands of tons of barrels of toxins off shore. It has been flowing onto the shores, killing and infecting the fish and now deformed infants and children plaguing the villages offshore, with nothing for them to eat and create a sustainable living with. For centuries, the people of Puntland and all along the coast of Somalia have lived off the natural resources of the sea.

It’s a sad world. The poor grow poorer, the weak and helpless have no fighting chance and when they try to do something about their ever growing problem the get labeled pirates, the ugly version not the Johnny Depp Pirates of the Caribbean version we love to watch...

Where is the UN, they have said they have been known about this for years. What is the Somalia transitional government doing? Should we expect nothing as usual?

Nothing can be done unless the people take matters into their own hands. May it be rallying for leaders who care or education in order to research methods of getting what we want done.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un
We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return to.

Having Facebook Profile Privacy Issues?

I just read through this article on how Facebook announced last week that it was making it possible for third-party applications to gain access to users' mobile phone numbers and addresses, but by early this Monday they took back the change till further notice.

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If you're ready to move into Facebook stealth mode and to keep your profile as private as possible, follow these simple steps:

• Visit Facebook.com, log in to your profile and click 'Account' in the top-right corner. From there, choose 'Privacy Settings.'

• From the 'Privacy Settings' page, click on 'View Settings' to see who can search for you, send messages to your account, see your education and work settings and more. Change all of these drop-down menus to 'Friends Only.'

• Return to the 'Privacy Settings' page and choose 'Customize Settings' near the bottom of the page. This new page will load a number of different privacy options, but you'll want to click through each one and change the setting to 'Only Me' so that nobody else can see your Facebook activity.

• Stay on the 'Customize Settings' page and scroll down to 'Things Others Share.' Here, you'll want to edit and disable settings so that your friends are unable to write on your wall, comment on posts and check you in to places.

• Return to the 'Privacy Settings' page and, under 'Apps and Websites' in the bottom-left corner, select 'Edit Your Settings.' This page shows all of the third-party websites and applications that you have given access to some of your Facebook information. If you see anything on this list that you want to remove, just click to remove it from the list.

• Stay on the 'Apps and Websites' page, scroll down to 'Instant Personalization' and select 'Edit Settings.' Uncheck the box at the bottom of this page to block other websites from accessing your Facebook interests. Select 'Confirm' when a pop-up asks you if you're sure you want to disable this option.

• Return to the 'Apps and Websites' page, scroll down to 'Public Search' and select 'Edit Settings.' To keep search engines from finding your Facebook profile, un check the box on this new screen.

We Need A Resolution | 2011

If I was asked to describe last year, 2010, with one word it would ‘regret’. To be really honest with you, 2009 wasn’t the most amazing year of my life either.

A good friend once told me, “What doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger.” I can only answer that with saying “well honey, I am the freaking incredible hulk”, but alhamdulilah I am grateful for what Allah has blessed with me and these recent struggles will at least shed some sins off my back.

I realized that we all talk a good game till we are faced some fitna. So it’s important to pay heed to others mistakes and for starters, our own. Since we are a few weeks in,here are a few lessons I have learned that might help make 2011 the most amazing year of your life bidnillah.

1. Be Selfish With Your Time

Not too selfish, but put yourself first No one else will.
By that I mean, countless hours outside your home(masjid, friends, etc) are taking the time away from something. Time for you to reflect on where you stand with your life goals, and how to achieve those goals and desires. Don’t let time management issues or lack of prioritizing your life get the best of you.

2. Be Picky About Who You Keep Around You

Needless to say, not every person you keep around you is going to bring you benefit. Sometimes all you need is Allah and one good friend to keep you from not going insane due to seclusion.

3. The Double Edge Sword

Activism and volunteering come second nature to me. It’s really hard for me to just sit at home and only focus on simple day to day tasks (school, work, sleep, chores, cooking etc). I have to have meaning in life, I have to be involved in something bigger than myself. I have had myself neck deep in commitments for the past two years. The past couple of past were mt time to “trim the fat“ on my extracurricular activities. It was honestly too much fun, but unfortunately now i am bored out of my mine. Its time to see what I can do without overburdening myself.

So there you go, my problems of ‘09-’10 without the details. No room to breathe and think, too many friends and distractions plus volunteering overdrive. I forgot how to say no, I forgot how to put people in their place and most importantly and disturbingly, forgot myself in the process.

2011 and this new hijra year look very bright to me. I have examined the problems, reflected on the mistakes and I am now looking forward to making the changes. Unlike Obama’s campaign slogan, these changes will be changes you can REALLY believe in inshaAllah ta ala.