Not as bothersome as what’s been happening in North Africa, but caught my ears as I was driving with the radio on, was a news item on the number of deaths caused by lightning in the Eastern Cape. 39 so far this year.
Quick Google search says Brazil (as of 2002) has the highest in the world at 100. Well the Eastern Cape is doing a good job at challenging that right now.
Why the fascination? Here goes… Alice, the amazing woman who took on the daunting task of helping new parents (me and my wife) take care of newborn twins, told me stories of mysterious deaths by people she knows. Apparently lightning is one weapon someone with magical powers uses to inflict vengeance on an enemy – or so they believe.
Hmm. Enough blabber. Just throwing some thoughts around.
Here’s a LINK TO PHOTOS of lightning strikes in South Africa. No, no mangled, burnt bodies.
-o-
Oh, bit of news. My sample pages of my new books are now available for free browsing at Sribd.com — just type Jim Pascual Agustin — and they should come up. 🙂 enjoy. And hopefully one day buy when they become available online at Avalon.ph. I’ll keep you guys posted. Thanks.
Leave a comment | tags: Alice, Alien to Any Skin, Baha-bahagdang Karupukan, Brazil, Eastern Cape, Jim Pascual Agustin, lightning, lightning deaths, South Africa | posted in Africa, environment, Fragments and Moments, Latin America, Life in a different world, Sanaysay / Essays, Uncategorized
They come in a rain of flames and screams.
They seek the softness of flesh,
cracking points of bones.
But many of them unleash the horror
of their intent when all is quiet.
In silence they lurk
among the bushes. Still. Sinister.
Patient. Someone will walk
past them one day. Perhaps
someone who collects metal
scraps for a living.
Or maybe a child
will notice just one of them
with a bright yellow tail
playfully beckoning in the wind:
Take me. Take me.
Take me that I may be
One with your tender flesh.
Take me…
Sometimes there will not even be a scream.
-o-
Abdullah Yaqoob - DCA Archive
What are cluster bombs?
More information
What Human Rights Watch says about cluster bombs
Who has them?
Leave a comment | tags: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, cluster bombs, Cluster Munition Coalition, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Honduras, human rights, Hungary, India, Indonesia, innocent civilians, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, North Korea, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, US, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zimbabwe | posted in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Mga Tula / Poetry, Middle East, politics
Matangmanok 