I am WOMAN - and proud to be

Image taken from Zain Bhikha's Better Day video

Too often women are looked upon as mere sex objects, with minimum intellect, not being able to decide what they want from life.


Women claim they have low self esteem, why? Because their confidence and rights have been snatched away from them by their fathers, brothers, husbands and sons. 


From November 25 to December 10 2011, South Africa is holding its annual Act Against Abuse - 16 days of activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. This campaign should not be limited by its geographical boundaries, or time period. 


Let's all, including the developed West and the struggling Middle East fight against abuse of women and children every day of our lives.   


If women stand up for their rights, they are seen as 'bad' women. Well let us be those 'bad' women, and revolutionise this male dominant structure of thinking. 


There is more to a woman than her appearance. Indeed she is caring, loving, sensible but she is also powerful, revolutionary, intellectual, confident, strong, influential and well opinionated.  


If you are being abused, physically or mentally by any male figure, remember: 
You are confident, 
You are powerful . . . 
You are WOMAN - and proud to be! 

 Video dedicated to Act Against Abuse, by South African singer, Zain Bhika

Radio Festival 2011 - Meeting Neil Fox

This year we were fortunate to have the annual Radio Festival in Manchester. I was even more fortunate to actually take part in it!

Costing about £400 a ticket, the Radio Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Britain, presenting some of the big names of British radio and TV, Including Footballer and Strictly Come Dancing star, Robbie Savage, Dragon Den's Duncan Bannatyne, The Gadget show's Ortis Deley and many more. Of course . . . it was also broadcast on BBC Radio.

Radio Festival 2011, took place at the Lowry in Salford Quays and being only a minute walk from where I study I was chosen to volunteer in this fabulous event on November 1. Just to mention 'I Kissed a Girl' singer Katy Perry, was also present at the festival - OMG!!!

Not knowing what I had got myself into, I began greeting the many upper class guests with a pretty smile, causing minor facial pain.

The Highlight of my day though was meeting Dr. Fox aka, Pop Idol's Neil Fox. As he and another were in a deep discussion, I politely disturbed them for a picture with Neil Fox. Very friendly, he was happy to get his picture taken and he asked me about my studies, as I showed him my stunning University Building at MediaCity.

Review: Red Hot World Buffet

Red Hot World Buffet, in Deansgate Manchester had me jumping with joy, for it's vast majority of international foods, from Italy to India, Mexico to China and Europe to the States.

The interior décor was glamorous, colour schemed with red and black. The waiters kindly directed us to our table, but the air conditioning was overwhelming, leaving us and the food cold.

For my main, I dashed over to the Italian - my favourite genre of food. To my disappointment there were only two options of pasta and three very British looking pizzas. 

The pasta was too spicy and the pizza tasted like school dinner pizzas. What I was expecting was a true, authentic Italian meal. Instead, it tasted and looked like something you buy from a supermarket and stick in the microwave for a quick fix!

After disappointment from the Italian corner, I thought I might find wonder at the Tex Mex with peri peri chicken, spicy wedges and quesadillas. However this also proved me wrong.

Without contentment, I had no choice but to quit the mains and head for a sweet finish. I circled the dessert corner three times, searching for something that would make my visit worthwhile. This was no success either. The portions were unusually tiny, not fit for satisfaction. 

Overall I was extremely dissatisfied with the quality of food. It came up to £10.64, but I must have eaten £3 worth of food. It could be that the quality of food was poor because I went at around 2pm on a weekday. I have heard they bring out the best in the evenings, when there are more customers.

I would not go again and I would not recommend Red Hot World Buffet (Manchester), rating it at 3/10!

Red Hot World Buffet (Manchester)      

http://www.redhotworldbuffet.com/redhot_manchester.html

48 Deansgate
Manchester
M3 2EG

Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Manchester

The Occupy movement began at Wall Street not long 
ago and has spread like a virus all around the world, including Occupy Manchester! 

The Occupy protesters are fighting against worldwide corruption, which seems to be on the rise even in developed countries. 

Passing the Occupy Manchester on my commute to university, I became curious about what was happening behind the large, purple banner, nailed to a few trees. 


On Wednesday 12th October after having only four hours of sleep, me and my 'production crew' set off to interview members of Occupy Manchester. 

It was cold, dismal and wet. I entered the muddy, damp park, with worn out tents dotted about; in my black, suede, knee high boots and Selfridges, fur trimming coat. My associates found it difficult to move around in their high, heeled brogues and glitzy handbags. 

I learnt that the Occupy movement is the "mouth" of the public. Their purpose is to bring back morality, to be humane. Their means to attain their objective are friendly and inspiring.

We live in a democratic society, yet we are forced to conform to unjust decisions. Arab Spring is evident of fighting against corrupt leaders. If Egypt, Tunisia and Libya can do it, so can we. It is our time to introduce real democracy!


For more information on the Occupy movement or to find one near you, click on this link http://www.occupytogether.org/