"...VERY NORMAL PEOPLE..." by chukbyke

http://chukbyke.blogspot.com/2013/12/very-normal-people.html

.......VERY NORMAL PEOPLE.......

The story behind "that selfie"

US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron pose for a picture with Denmark's Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt next to US First Lady Michelle Obama during the memorial service for South African former president Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg. (AFP Photo / Roberto Schmidt)

  

By Roberto Schmidt

So here’s the photo, my photo, which quickly lit up the world’s social networks and news websites. The “selfie” of three world leaders who, during South Africa’s farewell to Nelson Mandela, were messing about like kids instead of behaving with the mournful gravitas one might expect.

In general on this blog, photojournalists tell the story behind a picture they’ve taken. I’ve done this for images from Pakistan, and India, where I am based. And here I am again, but this time the picture comes from a stadium in Soweto, and shows people taking a photo of themselves. I guess it’s a sign of our times that somehow this image seemed to get more attention than the event itself. Go figure.

Anyway, I arrived in South Africa with several other AFP journalists to cover the farewell and funeral ceremonies for Nelson Mandela. We were in the Soccer City stadium in Soweto, under a driving rain. I’d been there since the crack of dawn and when I took this picture, the memorial ceremony had already been going on for more than two hours.

From the podium, Obama had just qualified Mandela as a “giant of history who moved a nation towards justice." After his stirring eulogy, America’s first black president sat about 150 metres across from where I was set up. He was surrounded by other foreign dignitaries and I decided to follow his movements with the help of my 600 mm x 2 telephoto lens.

So Obama took his place amid these leaders who’d gathered from all corners of the globe. Among them was British Prime Minister David Cameron, as well as a woman who I wasn’t able to immediately identify. I later learned it was the Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt. I’m a German-Colombian based in India, so I don’t feel too bad I didn’t recognize her! At the time, I thought it must have been one of Obama’s many staffers.

Anyway, suddenly this woman pulled out her mobile phone and took a photo of herself smiling with Cameron and the US president. I captured the scene reflexively. All around me in the stadium, South Africans were dancing, singing and laughing to honour their departed leader. It was more like a carnival atmosphere, not at all morbid. The ceremony had already gone on for two hours and would last another two. The atmosphere was totally relaxed – I didn’t see anything shocking in my viewfinder, president of the US or not. We are in Africa.

(AFP Photo / Roberto Schmidt)

I later read on social media that Michelle Obama seemed to be rather peeved on seeing the Danish prime minister take the picture. But photos can lie. In reality, just a few seconds earlier the first lady was herself joking with those around her, Cameron and Schmidt included. Her stern look was captured by chance.

I took these photos totally spontaneously, without thinking about what impact they might have. At the time, I thought the world leaders were simply acting like human beings, like me and you. I doubt anyone could have remained totally stony faced for the duration of the ceremony, while tens of thousands of people were celebrating in the stadium. For me, the behaviour of these leaders in snapping a selfie seems perfectly natural. I see nothing to complain about, and probably would have done the same in their place. The AFP team worked hard to display the reaction that South African people had for the passing of someone they consider as a father. We moved about 500 pictures, trying to portray their true feelings, and this seemingly trivial image seems to have eclipsed much of this collective work.

(AFP Photo / Roberto Schmidt)

It was interesting to see politicians in a human light because usually when we see them it is in such a controlled environment. Maybe this would not be such an issue if we, as the press, would have more access to dignitaries and be able to show they are human as the rest of us.

I confess too that it makes me a little sad we are so obsessed with day-to-day trivialities, instead of things of true importance.

During Mandela's memorial service in Johannesburg. (AFP Photo / Roberto Schmidt)

http://blogs.afp.com/correspondent/?post%2FSelfie#.UqhYPjuLhyU.twitter

FESTEGGIANDO LA VITA DI MANDELA

correzione...(.... altre culture altre concezione....).la morte e funerale di Mandela non è un evento trieste nella cultura Africana...quindi ben venga balli, feste, fotografie , giochi...Si chiama da noi 'festa di funerale' cioè celebrando il bel grande passaggio all' altro stato con le feste: Quindi Go on Obama & co!!!!

by chukwubike.....


Un autoscatto da big. In occasione del memorial dedicato a Nelson Mandela, non mancano le foto ricordo per un evento che ha raccolto in Sudafrica i grandi del mondo. Al centro, tra Barack Obama e David Cameron, il primo ministro danese Helle Thoring Schmidt. Non è chiaro a chi appartenga lo smartphone ma negli Usa si leva già qualche voce critica per l'atteggiamento troppo scherzoso tenuto dal presidente in tribuna per un'occasione così solenne e triste (non assecondanto da Michelle, come si vede anche nella foto in cui il presidente scherza con la Schmidt). Il giornale di tech Mashable, ad esempio, già titola: "Caro Obama, i funerali non sono luoghi adatti a un autoscatto". Su Twitter molti utenti criticano il cattivo gusto, e anche la mancanza di tatto per non aver incluso Michelle nella foto. La fotografia è di Roberto Schmidt, Afp/Getty (afp)

PRESENTATION SCH ...by chukbyke

Presentation Sch Awgu (Enugu State of Nigeria)  cultural group ...welcoming visitors with a dance

BIRTHDAY GIFTS ....

Yeah !!!! today is our birthday/ Saint Charles  day  and many of you would like to send  some wishes and gifts across  to me: ok don’t stress yourself so much nor send  those’ HBD’ (an  ambiguous   abbreviation…can as well mean Have  a Bad Day ) hahahah .

 All you have to do is to  top up my phone   with any amount; Usa At &T, Italian TIM or Wind, British Voda ,Cameroonian Orange,  Romanian Voda,Norwegian Telestial  or  Tele 2, NigeriaMTN,ETISALAT,VISAFON,AIRTEL;GLO.  If you don’t have any of my numbers in this country ,,,ok remind me and I shall send across my number in the country you reside.

Now  my good ladies and gentlemen who always run about looking for gifts for  me and coming  back home  with good reasons of not knowing what to give….here  you  are hahahahahahahah !!!!.

Meanwhile I wish the most beautiful and best wife in the  world  (Madam Ndidi-name and fact)a happy  birthday. !!

 I wish you all a very nice day and thanks  for  your   wishes both on FB.

ANTI CORRUPTION AWARENESS ORG. NIG (ENUGU COMMAND) AWARD CEREMONY

The Anti-Corruption Awareness Organization Nigeria (Enugu State Command)  ACAON  on the  31^st October 2013  held an award  ceremony  to mark their one year anniversary at the Filbon Hotel  New Haven Enugu. Three persons   received merit awards from the Association;
·       HRH Igwe  Col. I.O Mbah(retd) fes Ononenyi 1 of Nomeh Unateze,
·       Chief Dr Innocent Chukwuma 8ofr) CEO/MD  INNOSON Industries,
·       Prof. Edmund U. Agbo Promoter International Bio-Research institute  (IBI) Ugwogo Nike Enugu.
Prof  Edmund U. Agbo  was  also the Guest  speaker and  delivered  a lecture  themed ; CORRUPTION – A GUEST,A HOST OR A GHOST IN NIGERIA.

By: Chhukwubike OC & fotothoughts 

 

RESEARCH........HUMPHREY B. AKANAZU

9:38pm

Dear Friends, please do me a favor answer the questionnaire and help me forward it to your friends. It is for the fulfillment of my research on Nigerian students' global entrepreneurial competences: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HMXJWJ8Entrepreneurial Attitudes and Values Surveywww.surveymonkey.comEntrepreneurial Attitudes and Values Surveywww.surveymonkey.complease help me spread it in ur network

IGBO DAY 29 TH SEPT. 2013 ...OHANEZE...( Igbo is the strongest pillar of my administration–Jonathan)

 Igbo is the strongest pillar of my administration–Jonathan

By 247ureports

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Reports

IFEANYI EZUGWU, ENUGU.

Seven states; Rivers, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu and Delta converged yesterday in Enugu under the auspices of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigbo to mark this year’s Igbo day at the Micheal Okpara square.The annual event which is stipulated to commemorate the efforts of Igbo heroes who contributed steeply in championing the cause of Igbo had as its theme, “uplift the homeland” with an inter-denomitional service.

While presenting President Goodluck Jonathans’ address, his representative, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo expressed profound gratitude to Igbo for,”being the greatest pillar of support to my person and administration. My administration have taken cognizance of the unalloyed support of the Igbo. Igbo is the ethnic group that has supported my administration greatly and I promise that it will not be taken for granted”.“This is evident in the level of Federal attention the infrastructure in the south-east is receiving as examplified and in the roads, commencement of international operations at the Akanu-Ibiam airport, Enugu, the dredging of the river Niger to boost inland water ways transport. The Akanu-Ibiam airport will have all the trappings of an international airport. Federal Government is working assiduously to build Aerotropolis and inject vibrancy at the cargo terminals, befitting of international standards” said the President.President Jonathan disclosed that Igbo has been frontal in the believe of the co-operate existence of Nigeria adding that the Igbo is the highest investor in Nigeria’s economy even as he explained that,’Igbo carry the banner of Christianity and culture as they traverse the country in search of greener pastures typical of a republican’.He further urged Igbo youths to eschew the vices of kidnapping, armed robbery and assassination while appealing to them to imbibe the virtues of their forebearers in their various endeavours.Contributing, the Governor of Enugu state, Barr. Sullivan Chime represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chief Joe Mamelu urged,”Igbo to uphold the practice of speaking Igbo language wherever they find themselves to forestall the language from going into extinction”.In his remark, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey poisted that the way forward for Ndigbo is,”to speak with one voice in a clear direction. Emphasis must be in generating and directing these energies towards growth poles. We must unite in pursing commercial and industrial objectives and much more importantly, political challenges”.“We reiterate for emphasis that Ndigbo must seek the Presidency of this country at the expiration of the tenure of the south-south. This is in keeping with our stand that equity,justice and fair-play demand that we, the only zone remaining to hold the prime office in the country, should be allowed by our fellow Nigerians to so occupy it in unbroken succession after the south-south. This is an appeal to the political class of Ndigbo to put their house in order. We cannot afford to play a second fiddle forever” Igariwey noted.

IGBO DAY 2013 ORGANIZED BY OHANEZE. 29TH SEPT.2013 AT MICHAEL OKPARA SQUARE ,ENUGU

LADY CECILIA A. MBAH (OCHIORA-ADA IGBO) @80

 

Dr. CAME...Induction.....Hippocratic Oath

Congratulations!! to my lovely daughter Dr Chisom Adanna Miriam Ekwe (Dr CAME) as she is inducted into the Optometry Council today at Madonna University. God bless u dear, He is moving u to greater heights....Geraldine U. Ekwe ... A.k.a. MaryRose Chukwubike

Hippocratic Oath: Modern Version

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:
I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.
I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures [that] are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.
I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.
I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.
I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.
I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.
I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.
I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.
If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.