FOOD WEEK KOREA (NOV.6th. - NOV9th.)

Register online before Nov 4 to get free admission to FOOD WEEK KOREA (Nov 6-9)
http://foodweek.info/registration-information/

There will also be a Makgeolli Expo (Nov 6-9) and a Craft Beer Fest (Nov 8-9).

Check out their Facebook page.

17th. October - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

 

 

Theme for 2013:
Working together towards a world without discrimination: Building on the experience and knowledge of people in extreme poverty

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993, when the United Nations General Assembly, by resolution 47/196, designated this day to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries. Fighting poverty remains at the core of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the post-2015 development agenda.

Source

Malala with John Stewart

On the Daily Show Malala had some good laughs with John Stewart ..watch the entire show here (part 1),

Part 2

Part 3

Malala Meets Obama

Today is Hangeul Day (한글날)

The Korean Alphabet Day, known as Hangeul Day in South Korea, and Chosŏn'gŭl Day in North Korea, is a national Korean commemorative day marking the invention and the proclamation of the Korean alphabet (한글; 조선글), the native alphabet of the Korean language, by King Sejong the Great. It is observed on October 9 in South Korea and on January 15 in North Korea.

In South Korea, the holiday is also known as Hangeul Proclamation Day.

Reza Aslan on Faith Discourse

Reza Aslan, M.T.S. ’99, whose book “Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth” soared on the best-seller lists after an infamous Fox News interview last summer, spoke at Harvard Divinity School on Thursday, saying that while he is a Muslim, he also is “a follower of Jesus” whose “life is deeply influenced by Jesus.”
Aslan discussed his portrayal of Jesus as a historical figure and revolutionary insurrectionist against Roman authority rather than as a sacred figure. He also addressed the perils of discussing religion from a scholarly standpoint, his personal faith, and the challenges faced by a scholar who writes for a popular audience.
Aslan’s focus in “Zealot” on the secular Jesus has troubled some people of faith. His bold assertions, narrative endnotes, and determination to reach a lay audience have called forth objections from some in academia. But in front of a standing-room-only crowd, Aslan focused on his experience of trying to explain a religious matter in ways non-academics understand, and urged his listeners to learn how to bring tough religious questions before the public successfully.
As expected, Aslan was asked about his July 27 Fox News interview. In the exchange, which afterward went viral on the Internet, host Lauren Green repeatedly asked, “Why would a Muslim write a book about the founder of Christianity?” Aslan repeatedly defended his academic credentials and his treatment of the subject. The interview brought sharp criticism of Green’s journalistic approach, focusing on Aslan’s professed faith instead of the merits of his scholarly work.
“Look, I know what Fox News is about,” Alsan said to those gathered in the Sperry Room. “Honestly, I was more confused than anything else … The interview was over, and I thought ‘that was weird,’ and I just forgot about it until it became this phenomenon that very quickly stopped being about me, and … became about very important discussions about media and journalistic bias, religion and society, the role of academia in public life and in popular discourse.
“These are conversations we [in theology] have amongst each other all the time, and that nobody else listens to,” he added, as the room erupted in rueful laughter. “It was exhilarating to me.
“The problem with discussing religion is that everyone thinks they are an expert … If you read the Bible, you’re an expert on religion. When the news media have a conversation about the climate, they bring on a climate scientist. But when they want to talk about religion, they bring on some activist or religious leader, not an expert on religion.”
As murmurs of assent rose, Aslan emphasized:  “We have to change that. The responsibility rests on us.
“I take faith seriously,” he said. “What I am talking about is very deeply a part of someone’s identity, and they can easily feel as if they are under attack … For us [in academia], it makes sense that we separate our faith from our academic research. But until we figure out how to communicate better with the outside world — and to encourage it among ourselves — then [such an interview] is what’s in store for all of us.”
Aslan blamed some of the controversy on those in his field. Chastising the academy for “punishing” popular writing, he recalled how, as a young scholar, his determination to obtain a master’s in writing set back his academic career.  “This is the ethos of academia: Your wanting to be a better writer makes you a weaker candidate.” But he also sees change in the works: “I meet younger scholars who are more engaged in popular media and popular discourse, who are not afraid to break free of the ivy walls.”
He urged students to push back against the practice of writing work impenetrable to anyone outside of the scholarly world. “Simplify, simplify,” he suggested. Practice scholarly methods, but remember: “Your grandmother doesn’t care about your methodology and research. She just wants to get to your conclusions.”

Source

Malala at Harvard

Last Friday, the demure teen, wearing a plain white gown with a rose-colored scarf covering her head, stood before a crowd of nearly 1,000 at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre receiving one standing ovation after another throughout the evening.

“We are here to find a solution and it’s simple: education, education, education,” Yousafzai, now 16, told the audience as she made a plea for peace, education, and equality in her country and around the world.

“A war can never be ended by a war,” Yousafzai said. “You can only fight wars with education.

“Instead of sending guns, send pens,” she said. “Instead of sending tanks, send books. Instead of sending soldiers, send teachers.”

Yousafzai was in Cambridge to receive the 2013 Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award from the Harvard Foundation, which each year honors an individual whose work promotes equality, racial harmony, and peace. Previous recipients have included Elie Wiesel, Desmond Tutu, and Kofi Annan.

“This impressive young woman has touched many throughout the world,” S. Allen Counter, director of the Harvard Foundation and Harvard Medical School (HMS) clinical professor of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, said as he presented the award. He called Yousafzai “a refreshing new voice on the world stage.”

The benefits of education for girls in developing nations has been underscored by a World Bank study that showed improvements to economic productivity and decreases in child mortality rates when girls are allowed to go to school, said Paula Johnson, HMS professor of medicine and executive director of the Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, who also spoke at the award ceremony.

“Education and health are totally intertwined,” Johnson said. “Malala, our work at Harvard is inspired by you.”

Malala Yousafzai, who was joined by Harvard President Drew Faust in front of Massachusetts Hall, addressed a group gathered in Harvard Yard prior to attending the awards ceremony at Sanders Theatre. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer

Johnson’s remarks echoed those of Harvard President Drew Faust, who praised Yousafzai’s efforts at a meeting in Harvard Yard before the ceremony.

“We educate women because it is smart. We educate women because it changes the world,” Faust said.


Read more at the Harvard Gazette here.

Old Books Shop in Noksapyeong (Seoul)

South Korean Choco Pie in North Korea

Source

Some North Koreans have been shelling out up to a fifth of the average monthly income for a single chocolate snack, it's claimed.

Supplies of Choco Pie, a Wagon Wheel-style chocolate, biscuit and marshmallow snack, dried up earlier this year when Pyongyang closed Kaesong Industrial Complex - a collaborative venture between the two nations - amid heightened tensions in the region. The industrial zone's 35,000 workers had been receiving Choco Pies in their lunchboxes from their South Korean employers, and many sold them on the black market as a means of supplementing their income. Once supplies were disrupted, they ended up changing hands for 3,000 ($23 or £14), according to the Daily NK website. There are no accurate average wage statistics for North Korea but analysts estimate per capita income at between $1,000 and $2,000 per year.

Pyongyang seemingly launched a copycat version but people reportedly complained they were too sweet. With Kaesong's recent re-opening, the snack's black market value plummeted, and they're now reportedly selling for 500 won (about $4; £2.50). However, it's not all good news. Southern employers, citing the losses they've taken due to the plant's enforced closure, have taken the opportunity to slash the number of Choco Pies they hand out, Daily NK reports.

I think even for a regular vistor in Seoul, Choco Pies is a replacemnet of a souvenier from Korea. A good gift to give to friend and family.

Take Me Home (Acoustic) - Young the Giant (PureVolume Session)

the piano (+playlist)

HUMAIRA: THE DREAM CATCHER by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy with voiceover from ...

The voiceover for "Humaira: The Dream Catcher" is by Madonna.

An amazing documntary.

Khalida Brohi at Clinton Global Initiative

Khalida Brohi is a social entrepreneur from Pakistan. She received her BA in international relations, sociology, and economics from the University of Karachi in Pakistan. Currently, Khalida is the program manager of Sughar Women, a program of the Participatory Development Initiatives (PDI) that works to engage customs to end customary violence against women in tribal areas of Pakistan by providing socio-economic empowerment to women, and education to tribal leaders and men about the status of women. She is a speaker for Girls Fight Back!, an organization that helps women and girls to lead safe and peaceful lives. She also serves as a presenter for the Climate Reality Project, a non-profit organization of more than 3,000 volunteers personally trained by former US Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore to raise awareness about climate change.



Khalida Brohi and Humaria Bachal with Oprah at Asia 21 Summit

Read more about her project here.

THIS IS HOME - Kev Jumba

I have been entertaining myself with the intelligent comedy/humor of Kevin for past 5 years.

Malala to get Clinton's Global Citizenship Honor

 

Malala and Bono

Besides  Malala and New York’s mayor Bloomberg honorees include Hot Bread Kitchen founder Jessamyn Rodriguez, Bunker Roy of the Barefoot College fame and three others. Check out CGI to read in detail.

 

 

This honor in Clinton Initiative started from 2007

 For details read here.

Check out Malala Fund here.

Malala Has Opened her Twitter and Facebook Account

A few hours ago at Mashable's Social Good Summit, in NYC which also hosted the likes of Al Gore and Melinda Gates, Malala open her first ever Facebook and twitter account.

She also has an account on  twitter for Malala Fund where she chatted live @2:00pm Eastern from New York.  Here is Malala Fund on facebook. What is Malala Fund, read here an intro!

Find her on twitter at:  #MalalaFund

She said: “When I see this support and the love of people, I forget about the incident,” she told moderator Elizabeth Gore, the United Nations Foundation’s resident entrepreneur. “When I look at smiles, support, and love I think I am the luckiest, I am the most lucky girl. You all stood up for me.”

Buzz Korea Awards 2013- Apply Now!

In 2012, I was among the 12 participants who won Buzz Korea Awards 2012. The experience that followed was one of the most memorable, one of the best. Though I have lived in Korea for a long time, I got to visit new places, touristic spots, great restaurants and got to stay at some of the best hotels in town. Not just that, I met some incredible people from across the globe and we are still in touch.

It's 2013 and this is the time that members of Buzz Korea can send in their entries for 2013 Buzz Korea Awards, the event has kicked in today, September 24th  and will run until October 13th. 2013.

Check Buzz Korea website here for details on how to participate. I would highly recommend you to send in your entries since there is nothing to lose. It's a win-win event! It's an event that if you are not a winner you are still an integral part of the whole program which will conclude in November - on the Award Ceremony Day where you can go and enjoy the day!

Don't wait, jump in to be a winner on Buzz Korea Awards.

Best wishes for everybody!

Target Killing of Christians in Pakistan

Once again Christians are under attack in Pakistan where the state has completely failed to save the lives of the people. On Sunday two suicide bombers attacked a landmark 19th century church in Peshawar, killing 75 people and wounding dozens more.

The bombers struck soon after Sunday service, just as hundreds of worshipers were streaming out of the All Saints Church in the northwestern city’s old quarter. The church is one of the most famous in Pakistan, noted for its colonial history (it was built in 1883 by a British officer) and its elegant, white-walled and domed design that resembles many of the old mosques in this Muslim-majority country.Pakistan's long-suffering Christian community is among the country's most vulnerable minorities. In Punjab, Pakistan's most province, many Christians are converts and formerly low-caste Hindus branded as "untouchables" by bigots. Many are to find jobs only as sanitation workers or performing other menial tasks.

Sunday's attack is the second major bombing of a Christian church in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A church was bombed in Mardan last year. In past four years, there have been repeated attacks on Christians in which unsubstantiated charges of blasphemy are hurled at a member of the community before mob torches Christian homes, forcing residents to flee. In 2011 Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Christian member of the cabinet at the time, was brutally gunned down outside his mother's home in Islamabad for his opposition to Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law. People who stood in solidarity with the Christian community or have raised  voice against blasphemy law have also been targeted such as the late governor of Punjab Salman Taseer who was shot dead by his body guard.

Pakistan is indeed a country without a nation, a country deeply divided on religious and ethnic lines.

May Allah give strength to the bereaved families to bear the loss of untimely death of their loved ones and may the souls rest in peace!

Halal in Namdaemun Market

This kebab place is in Namdaemun at main street towards Namsan. The main road goes straight to Seoul station.

On the really opposite side a man sell rolls with glass noodles (chapchae) and vegetables, don't miss him out. It's also delicious with hot n spicy taste and is halal.

Buzz Korea Event: Thank you Gift!

I participated in Buzz Korea's event called "Thank you Gift" in which one will get a very pretty tumbler as well as gift vouchers worth 25000 won to shop at the duty free. If you haven't got yours yet, then hurry up and get this wonderful memorabilia.

I had to go to Chungmuro and stopped by the Donggok Univ .subway station which is only a stop away.  Direction on Buzz Korea website was confusing so I had to ask a lady on how to get to the  Shilla duty free which has co-sponsered this gift with Buzz Korea.

You can get this gift only at Shilla Duty Free  located at Dongdae Station in Seoul and no where else in Korea. I saw a lot of questions asking about getting this gift in Busan or at the duty free of the Incheon airport. The reason why there is an address in the event means that you have to go to that particular place, quite obvious, isn't it!

So back to how to get to Shilla Duty Free at Dongdae station on line #3?
The info. says that go straight out of exit 4 and you will get to the Shilla Duty Free which is right but simply going straight won't help. From exit 4, one has to go straight until the traffic signals and then cross the road and turn right. Walk another 200 meters and turn left. Go straight for 50 meters more  and that's where you will find the Shilla Duty Free on your left at the entrance.

There was no mention that passports were a prerequisite to enter the competition and that printed voucher meant nothing ( however, do take that). I went there without my passport so obviously I was told at the counter to present the passport or its photocopy (alien card is not acceptable) - of the page carrying info. and picture of you.

In all this, I lost my wallet which I later found but had to report it. For this, I went inside the Shilla and ended up on their 23rd floor . Took photos of the panoramic view of the neighborhood with Namsan tunnels, Donggok University campus and a view of Dongdaemun.

Namson 2 Tunnel

Here are a few shots I took with shaking hands of Dongdaemun area and Tuegaero:

Duty Free from Shilla Hotel's 23F

and the Dongdaemun area below where you can see Dosan Tower and a fine example of Korean garden in front of the Shilla's main lobby.

Fountain in front of main lobby

Dosan Tower/Dongdaemun area

Yaksu

Towards Namsan National Theater

This picture above is of the road that will taken you to Namsan theater as well as Park Hotel (old name) which is called the Banyan Tree Hotel now. I have commuted on this very road with my mom and brother for many years between 2002 and 2007 on weekly basis.

Aside from the pretty gift from Shilla and Buzz Korea collaboration, this neighborhood and roads took me back in times when I was living with my family, which was an entirely different experience then what I'm going through now. Good old days or nostalgia - wow, time flies!