Fairtrade Work

After about a week of getting settled in, a few excursions, and some lectures, it was time to get to work. Today was the first day we did field work for our social impact projects. As many of you know, my group is focused on fair trade in the handicraft industry with a special focus on the National Cultural Center in Accra. Mr. Abu, a shopkeeper and community leader, is working closely with us and we thankful for the time he gave us today. We had a wonderful one hour conversation with him and a few others that has re-directed our project in a new and exciting way. Here are a few snapshots from today's film footage.

Myself.

Secretary

Mr. Abu

T.J.

Naakorkoi

A few more from the Gardens

Photographic Paradise

Photos from the Aburi Botanical Gardens

This photo ended up completely different than intended, but I still love it. At center is a praying mantis.

My friend and teacher Dr. Kwame Essien sporting a flower on his ear.

This tree made my jaw drop. It is ten times more fascinating in person. This is all carved into a live tree. The next photo is a close up from the same angle.

A Ghanaian Profile

Click on the photo to enlarge. Then zoom in. You can see my reflection in his eyes. I especially love that part. I dedicate this photo to Bagel. When I first took it I immediately thought you would especially love it.

Drumming on the beach in Accra

The few of us learning to keep a beat from the locals.

Hey, Alison!

Alison tells bad jokes?

My favorite photo of the trip thus far.

Flower.

Peacock.

Liberator and first President of Ghana

Ghana Maymester 2010 Hookin' Em in front of the Kwame Nkrumah memorial. Notice the building behind. The sides are the shape of inner part of a machete knife. In Ghana, a machete facing up and outwards means war, but facing in and downwards means peace.

My friend Lanza in a candid moment.

This was the first statue in Ghana of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. During the coup d'état of Nkrumah, his statue was defaced and vandalised. You can see here what it used to look like. As a strongly influential and powerful leader of the Pan-African and Neocolonialism movement, it is strongly believed the United States CIA was involved in the military overthrow of Dr. Nkrumah.

Just as we were leaving the memorial the unthinkable occurred. The Honorary Sami Nkrumah was visiting her father's memorial. She was kind enough to take our picture and speakwith our Professor, Dr. Dorie Gilbert.

An address by Dr. Nkrumah:

A great Son of Africa

Whose struggle wrested in

INDEPENDENCE: -

Creating the Nation

GHANA

The Independence of

Ghana is meaningless

unless it is linked to

THE

TOTAL LIBERATION

OF AFRICA

Little Red Bug

I have no clue what type of bug this is, but I sure as hell dug its colors.

The only possible death is to lose belief...

Photos from todays visit to the W.E.B. DuBois Memorial in Accra.

Me, in front of Dr. DuBois' memorial. At left are the urns of his 2nd wife, Shirley Graham DuBois.
A statue in front of his memorial.

Last year a Ghanaian artist painted a letter from Dr. DuBois to Dr. Nkrumah, Ghana's first President, on the wall of the small museum that sits next to the memorial.

"One thing alone I charge you. As you live, believe in Life! Always human beings will live and progress to greater, broader and fuller life. The only possible death is to lose belief in this truth simply because the great end comes slowly, because time is long."

-Du Bois' last statement to the world - 1963. Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois died in Accra, Ghana on August 27, 1963.

the Unknown Soldier

Today was the first full day. It was hot and humid at first, but cooled a bit after a heavy rain fall. We had our first formal classes at the University of Ghana and later took a tour of Accra. This picture is taken at the Independence Arch of Ghana, the location where the March independence is celebrated annually and all new Presidents are sworn in. Pictured is the Statue of the Unknown Soldier. In Ghana's fight for independence, there were many known soldiers that sacrificed their lives. For those otherwise unknown, the Statue of the Unknown Soldier honors them.

Catters Hostel

Me, in front of the outdoor dining area of our hostel. The staff will be cooking at least two of our meals on most days.

That is all for today's posts. Breakfast is being served at 7:15 in time for orientation beginning at 9am.

Ghanaian Children at the Market

Right when I arrived the girls were eager to head to the market to purchase cloth for use in creating personal wardrobes - a very common practice in Ghana. They will use the cloths to have dresses, skirts, wraps, and more created for them. While that was going on, I stayed in the car and snapped photos of everything around me, particularly the darling children playing across the street. Their mother was excited by my interest in them. She encouraged her son to pose for a photograph with his sister which I captured in the second photo. The third picture shows the mother, son, and their friends getting a kick out of seeing their pictures on our camera screens. NOTE: The photos uploaded in reverse order for some reason.

"Layover" In Ghana

Apparently there was some confusion as to who was going to pick me up at Kotoka International Airport in Accra today. Two of our TA's had miscommunicated and it wasn't until 5 hours after I landed that my advisor realized the error. But to no worries, I am just elated to be here. In the meantime, a school class was on a field trip at the airport and I was able to photograph a child enjoying my foreign attention. Later, I captured a son waiting with his father for his mother's arrival.

Middle Eastern Mountains

I tried to upload a video of this, but the connection in Dubai is very slow. I will try again in Ghana. In the mean time, here is a screen shot of rather low quality. My apologies.

This was shot about two hours outside of Dubai from my window seat. If I had to guess I would say we were flying over either Iraq or Iran. I've always loved the image of the airplane wing and the ground below.

Layover in Dubai, U.A.E.

Greetings,

I've recently landed in Dubai and am in the complementary hotel room courtesy of Emirates Airlines. Tomorrow morning I leave for Accra, Ghana.

I decided that the best way for me to document this trip for my family and friends is through my two favorites forms of photography - still and video. I do not anticipate that I will be able to post something everyday, but I will update the blog as often as I have both worthy material and access.

Thanks,

Galen