Social Impact with Emma » human rights : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

There Are Many Ways to Be an Activist

February 11th, 2017

Activism (and advocacy, its first cousin) is like a tree with several large branches. Like our guango tree. Each branch grows in a different direction, but each branch is strong. Or, to use another nature metaphor, it is like a plant bearing many seeds. Like our moringa tree. The seed pods fall, and break. Sometimes […]

The Populist Or The Pragmatist: Which Do You Prefer?

January 15th, 2017

I have been thinking about the nature of leadership, recently. A few things have turned my thoughts in this direction: Donald J. Trump will be inaugurated as President of the United States of America in a few days’ time – a man who has been described by his predecessor (and more recently, by John Lewis, […]

Man and Woman: #Beyond16Days

December 16th, 2016

OK, so this is how it seems to go, nowadays: Man meets Woman. Man and Woman begin a relationship. It may be love, maybe not. The relationship becomes a little more serious. The Man and Woman make some kind of commitment – marriage or “common law.” A child may or may not be born. Dynamics […]

The Court of Public Opinion

October 27th, 2016

Dark clouds are hanging over the city again this afternoon. The last couple of weeks have been quite stormy (and not just the long, gloomy days we have been experiencing). There has been a great deal of upset over a murder trial, and the not guilty verdict delivered earlier this week. I am speaking of […]

Human Rights Begin At Home

September 27th, 2016

It was a busy evening in Half Way Tree. A huge thunderstorm descended on the area, just as rush hour started. Rain fell in bucketfuls, and traffic slowed and started to pile up outside the Webster Memorial Church Hall. Yet, a group of women fought their way through the puddles, arriving on the doorstep somewhat […]

The Book of Rules: Jamaica’s Obsession With Physical Appearance

September 12th, 2016

In the past week or so, the “Hopefield Prep Affair” has rumbled on – starting (and continuing) in social media and carried over into traditional media reports, current affairs and talk show discussions. Everyone has an opinion on this. The hashtag #unkemptJA has been quite overworked on Twitter in particular, accompanied by defiant “selfies” from young Jamaicans […]

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