Bayard Rustin: A Gay Man in the Civil Rights Movement.

Bayard Rustin was an American leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, pacifism and non-violence, and gay rights.

He was born and raised in Pennsylvania where his family was involved in civil rights work. In 1936, he moved to Harlem, New York City and earned a living as a nightclub and stage singer, and continued activism for civil rights.
In the pacifist Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), Rustin practiced nonviolence. He was a leading activist of the early 1947–1955 civil-rights movement, helping to initiate a 1947 Freedom Ride to challenge with civil disobedience racial segregation on interstate busing. He recognized Martin Luther King, Jr.’s leadership, and helped to organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to strengthen King’s leadership; Rustin promoted the philosophy of nonviolence and the practices of nonviolent resistance, which he had observed while working with Gandhi’s movement in India. Rustin became a leading strategist of the civil rights movement from 1955 to 1968. He was the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which was headed by A. Philip Randolph, the leading African-American labour-union president and socialist. Rustin also influenced young activists, such as Tom Kahn and Stokely Carmichael, in organizations like the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).
After the passage of the civil-rights legislation of 1964–65, Rustin focused attention on the economic problems of working-class and unemployed African Americans, suggesting that the civil-rights movement had left its period of “protest” and had entered an era of “politics”, in which the Black community had to ally with the labour movement. Rustin became the head of the AFL–CIO’s A. Philip Randolph Institute, which promoted the integration of formerly all-white unions and promoted the unionization of African Americans. Rustin became an honorary chairperson of the Socialist Party of America in 1972, before it changed its name to Social Democrats, USA (SDUSA); Rustin acted as national chairman of SDUSA during the 1970s. During the 1970s and 1980s, Rustin served on many humanitarian missions, such as aiding refugees from Communist Vietnam and Cambodia. He was on a humanitarian mission in Haiti when he died in 1987.
Rustin was a gay man who had been arrested for a homosexual act in 1953. Homosexuality was criminalized in parts of the United States until 2003. Rustin’s sexuality, or at least his embarrassingly public criminal charge, was criticized by some fellow pacifists and civil-rights leaders. Rustin was attacked as a “pervert” or “immoral influence” by political opponents from segregationists to Black power militants, and from the 1950s through the 1970s. In addition, his pre-1941 Communist Party affiliation when he was a young man was controversial. To avoid such attacks, Rustin served only rarely as a public spokesperson. He usually acted as an influential adviser to civil-rights leaders. In the 1970s, he became a public advocate on behalf of gay and lesbian causes.
On November 20, 2013, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded Rustin the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Sojourner Truth: Abolitionist and Womens Rights Campaigner

Sojourner Truth was ranked in the top 100 most influential Americans of all time for her work between 1826 till her death in 1883 as an Abolitionist, Women’s rights activist and Civil War recruiter for the Union.

Born Isabella Baumfree in 1797, Truth was born into slavery to the Baumfree family in Swartekill, Ulster County, New York.

Truth’s time as a slave is poorly documented, despite her work as an abolitionist regularly drawing on her own negative experiences. However, what we do know is that she was sold three times in 4 years between 1806 and 1810.

It would take another 16 years before Truth would escape, with her Infant Daughter Sophia, in which she did during 1826; a year before New York State enacted the emancipation act.

Sadly, Truth had to leave her other children behind because they were not legally freed in the emancipation order until they had served as bound servants into their twenties.

She later said “I did not run off, for I thought that wicked, but I walked off, believing that to be all right.”

It would later emerge in 1827 that her previous owner, John Dumont had illegally sold her five year old son into slavery. 

Requiring legal help, Truth sought the expertise of the Van Wagenen family, who helped Truth take the issue to court, eventually concluding the case in 1828 after several months of legal proceedings. Truth’s victory would be hailed as the first Black woman to go to court against a White man and win the case.

Truth had a life-changing religious experience during her stay with the Van Wagenens, and became a devout Christian. In 1829 she moved with her son Peter to New York City, where she worked as a housekeeper for Elijah Pierson, a Christian Evangelist.

During her time in New York, she befriended Mary Simpson, a grocer on John Street who claimed she had once been a slave of George Washington’s. They shared an interest in charity for the poor and became intimate friends. In 1832, she met Robert Matthews, also known as Prophet Matthias, and went to work for him as a housekeeper at the Matthias Kingdom communal colony. Elijah Pierson died, and Robert Matthews and Truth were accused of stealing from and poisoning him, however both were acquitted.

The adoption of the name ‘Sojourner Truth’ would not come until 1843 whilst she was living in New York. The reason for the change of name is unknown as it was not documented, nor was it the name she took on upon her Christian Baptism.

Sojourner’s work as a Women’s rights activist is best surmised by her 1851 ‘Ain’t I A Woman?’ speech which she delivered in an impromptu style at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. The speech is best known for it’s recreation using a Deep Southern accent, however this is largely considered as a satirical take on the speech as Truth held a Dutch accent, due to her first language being Dutch.

During the Civil War of 1861- 1865, Truth helped recruit black troops for the Union Army; after the war, she tried unsuccessfully to secure land grants from the federal government for former slaves.

In 2014, Truth was included in Smithsonian magazine’s list of the “100 Most Significant Americans of All Time”.

SOURCE  :

Abdul Rob 

PUBLICATION :

Omotoso Ibukunoluwa

Black Power, A Forgotten Ally and the Olympic Games

One of the most recognisable images of the 20th Century is the image of Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the first and third steps of the podium, with their gloved hands up, heads down and feet bare.

The build-up to the 1968 Summer Olympic games in Mexico City, was quiet and scandal free. However, just above their northern boarder in the United States of America, civil unrest had gripped the nation for more than a decade, which threatened to derail an Olympic schedule which they had been expected to perform.
For the past 18 years, the Civil Rights movement had been picking up momentum, culminating in the passing of the 1965 Voting rights act. Yet for ‘African-Americans’, the previous three years had not brought an improvement in living or working conditions, nor how Black Americans were seen within their own communities or overseas.

It meant that for many Black Americans, such as Professor Edwards, the chance for Black Americans to perform at the Olympics for the USA was just that; a performance, as if the athletes were ‘performing animals in the games.’

Professor Edwards and his organisation, the Olympic Project for Human Rights felt so strongly opposed to the conditions that Black citizens were subjected to, that he called for Black Athletes to boycott the 1968 games.

It was a decision that divided the African-American community to the core. On one side, the argument was that Black Americans should not represent a country that views them as second class citizens, and if it meant the United States missed out on medal winning opportunities because of it, it was the United States’ own fault. In contrast, the opposition felt that using the platform for athletic excellence provided an opportunity for the world to see Black Americans as people who are just as good- if not better, at what they do as their white peers.

Whilst the two sides differed on action, their core intent was the same: to show the world that Black Americans should be treated no different from their White peers and that should help to apply pressure for legislative change back home.
However, neither side had agreed to make the medal ceremony for the Men’s 200m Final the staging area for a silent protest, yet when the gloved fists of Smith and Carlos went into the air and became Olympic folklore- the US, and indeed the world, were forced to listen.

But in the 48 years since this iconic day in 1968, a missing part of this legacy has gone unnoticed, even though, in every image; bar the statue in San Jose, California- features the third and final member of this iconic image; Peter Norman.

Peter Norman was an Australian athlete in the 200m discipline and was, until his untimely death in 2006, an avid anti-apartheid and anti-discrimination supporter. Yet despite his public support for Racial equality, his position in iconic image in 1968, was never questioned, simply assumed to be another White man in an image of Black freedom.

But Peter Normans role in this image is one of an ally and was entirely deliberate.
Before the three took their steps on the podium, the winner of their event, Tommie Smith asked Norman two simple questions.

“Do you believe in human rights?” and “Do you believe in God?”

Both times Peter Norman answered; ‘yes.’ Before saying “I will stand with you.”
By all accounts, the protest itself was not planned, yet it was intentional.

A closer analysis of the image shows that Carlos, the runner who placed third, has his glove on the left hand. This contrasts the traditional, right handed salute synonymous with Black Pride, as shown by Smith. The reason for this is simple; Carlos had forgotten his gloves back in the Olympic Village, and Smith only had one pair. However, if more pairs were available, Norman would have adopted a glove in solidarity with his fellow sportsmen.

Furthermore, the badge, which Norman wears, was not one he owned, but was borrowed from the US Rower, Paul Hoffman who he asked on the way to the podium.

These four men and their differing roles of involvement in the image, helped to create not only a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, but one that would go on to serve as an Olympic Icon.

Nevertheless, all three athletes felt the fallout from the protest. Smith and Carlos were immediately sent home from the games, but would go on to continue a career in sport, with Smith going on to be an NFL player and Carlos remaining as a Track Athlete.

Norman, however, would become ‘blacklisted’ in Australia, never once appearing on behalf of the country again, despite setting the national record for the 200m in 1968- a record that still stands today.

As members of the Black Community, we remember Smith and Carlos for their inspiring individual performances as Athletes, and for their contribution to the Civil Rights Movement as Activists.

Yet the truth is far more powerful than the narrative we have been lead to believe. Consider this. A silent protest against racial discourse took place on the winner’s podium at the 1968 Olympic games, and the three fastest men in the world each believed that all men were created as, and therefore should be treated, as equals.

SOURCE: Abdul Rob (black history)
PUBLICATION: Omotoso Ibukunoluwa 

WALTER TULL: How Black Soldiers Helped Britain in First World War

WALTER TULL has become the most celebrated black British soldier of the First World War. He enlisted in December 1914, suffered shell shock, returned to action in the battle of the Somme and was decorated with the 1914-15 star and other British war and victory medals.

Commissioned as an officer in 1917, Tull was mentioned in dispatches for his ‘gallantry and coolness’ at the battle of Piave in Italy in January 1918, but two months later he was killed in No Man’s Land during the second battle of the Somme.

With the centenary of the First World War from 2014 to 2018, there are many others who have been overlooked in the history books and need to be acknowledged.

After Britain joined the First World War on 4 August 1914, Black recruits could be found in all branches of the armed forces. From 1914 Black Britons volunteered at recruitment centres and were joined by West Indian colonials.

MOTHER COUNTRY

They travelled to the ‘Mother Country’ from the Caribbean at their own expense to take part in the fight against the Germans. Their support was needed, and they gave it.

Soon after the war started, soldiers from Nigeria, the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, Gambia and other African colonies were recruited. They helped to defend the borders of their countries which adjoined German territories and later played an important role in the campaigns to remove the Germans from Africa. Throughout the war, 60,000 Black South African and 120,000 other Africans also served in uniformed Labour Units.

No one could have been more loyal to his king and country than the Guyanese merchant seaman Lionel Turpin. He was just 19 years old when he enlisted in the British Army and was sent out with the No. 32 British Expeditionary Force to the Western Front in Europe.

He was in the battles of the Somme and his army service ended in 1919 with two medals,
two gas-burnt lungs and a shell wound in his back.

Lionel died in 1929 from the after-effects of war-time gassing. Lionel’s story is typical of many Black colonials who came to the aid of the ‘Mother Country’ during the First World War.

In 1915 a proposal for a separate West Indian contingent to aid the war effort was approved. Consequently the British West Indies Regiment (BWIR) was formed as a separate Black unit within the British Army. The first recruits sailed from Jamaica to
Britain and arrived in October 1915 to train at a camp near Seaford on the Sussex coast.
The 3rd battalion arrived in early 1916 in Plymouth while other battalions sailed direct to Egypt, arriving in Alexandria in March 1916.

SACRIFICE

By the war’s end in November 1918, a total of 15,204 black men, had served in the BWIR.

However, the Black soldiers of the BWIR were mostly led by white officers and used as non-combatant soldiers in Egypt, Mesopotamia and parts of Europe. For example, in July 1916 the BWIR’s 3rd and 4th battalions were sent to France and Belgium to work as ammunition carriers.
The BWIR spent much of their time at labouring work, such as loading ammunition, laying telephone wires and digging trenches, but they were not permitted to fight as a battalion.

By the end of the war the BWIR had lost 185 soldiers (killed or died of wounds).
A further 1,071 died of illness and 697 were wounded.

In Seaford Cemetery there are more than 300 Commonwealth War Graves and
nineteen of the headstones display the crest of the BWIR.

Some of the Black servicemen made the ultimate sacrifice but, with the passage of time, with the exception of Walter Tull, the contributions of black servicemen have been forgotten. It is hoped that the centenary of the First World War will change that.

SOURCE
Stephen Bourne’s Black Poppies – Britain’s Black Community and the Great War is published by The History Press in August 2014.

PUBLICATION : Omotoso Ibukunoluwa 

Joan of Arc (1412-1431) - The French Woman With a Brave Heart

Joan of Arc (1412-1431) is a French heroine and Roman Catholic saint. Born in obscurity to a peasant family, she travelled to the uncrowned Dauphin of France, advising him to reclaim his French throne and defeat the English. Joan of Arc was sent alongside French troops to the siege of Orleans and rose to prominence after the siege was lifted after nine days. She was later captured and burned at the stake for heresy. However, as she predicted, seven years after her death, France was reunited with the English defeated and Charles crowned King.

Early Life

Joan of Arc was born in 1412 Domremy, France. Legend says that she was born to an auspicious sign – held to be a forecast of national triumph. However, what is more certain is that her family were poor and her region had suffered from the long conflict between England and France.
“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.”
– Joan of Arc

From an early age, Joan of Arc displayed a sensitive and religious temperament. It is said by friends that: “She was greatly committed to the service of God and the Blessed Mary.”

From the age of twelve, she began to have mystical visions. In these visions, she said she felt the voice of God commanding her to renew the French nation. At her later trial, Joan of Arc said she felt these visions were as real seeing another person. The visions were often accompanied by light and the presence of saints such as St Michael and St Catherine.

“I was thirteen when I had a Voice from God for my help and guidance. The first time that I heard this Voice, I was very much frightened; it was mid-day, in the summer, in my father’s garden. ”  – Joan of Arc from her trial transcript.

These visions made Joan of Arc even more religiously inclined. She would frequently go to confession and, it is said that whenever she heard the bells for Mass she would immediately drop her work and run to church.

Initially, Joan did not tell others about her visions and inner commandments but in May 1428 the divine messages urged her to seek an audience with Charles de Ponthieu currently an ineffective and relatively weak leader of the French.

At the time of Joan’s childhood, France was seriously divided with a lack of national unity. In 1415 King Henry V of England had invaded France and defeated the French army at Agincourt. This famous victory over the French nobility left the country weak and divided. The main divisions were between the Dauphins and English supporting Burgundia.

Under Charles de Ponthieu, the French were without direction and without a real leader. When Joan of Arc came to the court she made a strong impression on Charles with her passion and conviction. It is quite remarkable that this 17-year-old peasant girl was, as a consequence, given control over an army and allowed to lead them into battle. Within a year Joan of Arc had led the French army to victories at Orleans, Patay and Troyes. Many other towns were also liberated from English control and it allowed a triumphal entry into Dauphin for the coronation of King Charles VII on 17 July 1429.

For her exploits and leadership, Joan of Arc and her family were granted noble status. She has also won the hearts of the French soldiers who looked up to Joan as an almost mythical leader. However a year later Joan was captured by the Burgundian forces at Compiegne and sold to the English. Her trial is well documented and provides a revealing insight into her character and destiny.

The English and members of the French clergy decided to put her on trial for witchcraft. In many ways, it was a show trial with the result cleverly orchestrated.

The leading church investigator was Pierre Cauchon – a staunch supporter of the British who hated Joan of Arc for her revival of French national pride. However, another interpretation is that Cauchon genuinely felt obliged to save Joan’s Immortal soul from damnation for the claims she was making. The conversation between Joan and Cauchon is revealing for Joan’s strength of character; she even offered a warning to the Bishop about passing false judgement.

“You say that you are my judge. I do not know if you are! But I tell you that you must take good care not to judge me wrongly, because you will put yourself in great danger. I warn you, so that if God punishes you for it, I would have done my duty by telling you!”
– Joan of Arc – Jeanne’s warning to Bishop Cauchon

The trial was a very testing experience for Joan. Initially, the trial was held in public, but her responses were much sharper than her prosecutors expected. Her answers stood a challenge to the authority of the church; Joan of Arc stated how.

“They do not order me to disobey the Church, but God must be served first.”

During cross-examination, she held her own and offered strong rebuttals to the provocative questions; her straightforward answers and modest demeanour gained her public sympathy. For example, the prosecution tried very hard to get her to blaspheme. She was asked:

Question at Trial : “Do you know if you are in the grace of God?”

“If I am not, may God place me there; if I am, may God so keep me. I should be the saddest in all the world if I knew that I were not in the grace of God. But if I were in a state of sin, do you think the Voice would come to me? ” – Joan of Arc

Eventually, the trial was continued behind closed doors. It appears Joan was threatened with torture, though there is no evidence she was actually tortured.

As expected, Joan was found guilty and condemned to death by burning at the stake. Faced with such an overwhelming ordeal Joan broke down and confessed.

However a week later she regained her strength and recanted her confession. This meant the penalty of execution by fire would be re-implemented. Witnesses recount she faced her ordeal with dignity. It is said that over 10,000 people came to see her execution by burning. Afterwards, her ashes were scattered in the Seine. One legend tells how her heart remained unaffected by the fire.

Twenty-six years later the English were finally driven from Rouen and in a later inquest she was declared to be officially innocent and was officially designated to be a martyr. She was canonised a saint in 1920 and remains the patron saint of France.

Joan of Arc achieved a remarkable achievement in her short life of 19 years. In particular, she embodied religious devotion with great bravery and humility, her life helped change the course of French history.

Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan .
Publication : Omotoso Ibukunoluwa

Saint Francis of Assisi - The Unique Spiritualist

Saint Francis of Assisi (Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone; 1181/1182 – October 3, 1226) was a unique spiritual personality who gave up a life of wealth and social position to embrace a life of poverty and chastity – With the approval of the Pope, he founded a new Monastic Order, commonly known as the Franciscans. St Francis is considered one of the greatest saints in the Christian tradition and an example of a life lived in imitation of Jesus Christ.

“Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.”
– St Francis – Canticle of St Francis
St Francis of Assisi is also known as the patron saint of animals, the environment and one of the two patrons of Italy (with Catherine of Siena).

Francis was born in Assisi, Italy to Pietro di Bernardone, a wealthy cloth merchant in 1811. As a youngster, he was bright, popular and athletic, though he occasionally showed signs of his later love for charity and disdain for the world.

However, in 1201, aged 19, Francis joined a military expedition against Peruda. The campaign proved disastrous and, injured on the battlefield, Francis was taken prisoner for a year. During this period of imprisonment, a change within St Francis grew. He forsook the material pleasures and rewards of life and began to dedicate his life to Jesus Christ and the essential teachings of the Gospels.

“Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.” They are clean of heart who despise earthly things and always seek those of heaven, and who never cease to adore and contemplate the Lord God Living and True, with a pure heart and mind. “
– St Francis of Assisi

Various stories suggest St Francis began to display seemingly erratic behaviour – such as giving away his father’s wealth, giving away his own clothes,  going to various churches and looking after outcasts such as lepers.

It was during this period, that St Francis had a mystical vision in a dilapidated church. The Icon of Christ Crucified said to him, “Francis, Francis, go and repair My house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins”.

This vision gave Francis a clear mission in life and he embraced a life of poverty, chastity and devotion to Jesus Christ. He spent much of his time in prayer and meditation. Gradually, he began to attract other young men, attracted by his spiritual fervour and renunciation. Initially, Francis and his band of men were outside the traditional church hierarchy which caused some consternation among local bishops and powerful people. Because of the ongoing difficulties, Francis resolved to make a pilgrimage to the Vatican in Rome to try and gain an audience with the Pope.

Much to everyone’s surprise, Francis succeeded in not only meeting the Pope but, also gaining approval for a new order based on the principles of poverty and the spirit of the Gospels. It is said the Pope at first refused, but later had a dream where he was given to see the spiritual nature of St Francis.

With this papal approval, St Francis was able to grow his mission and his fellow friars travelled around Italy and Europe founding spiritual communities based on the teachings of St Francis.
St Francis also was a close spiritual confidant of St Clare of Assisi who also gave up much wealth and privilege to embrace a life of poverty.

In 1219, accompanied by another friar, St Francis went to Egypt hoping to speak with the Sultan of Egypt about Christianity. At the time a Crusader army was camped outside the city after a fierce battle the year before. But, Christian sources suggest St Francis was granted an audience with the Sultan of Egypt. It is not clear what transpired, but it was still a significant event for a Christian to be granted a friendly and peaceful audience with a Muslim Leader during the period of the Crusades. After the Crusader period ended, it was Franciscans alone of the Catholic Church who were allowed to stay in the holy city of Jerusalem as custodians of the Christian tradition and important places of worship, such as the Holy Sepulchre of the Lord.

Many miracles have been associated with St Francis. In particular, people recorded that St Francis seemed to have a close connection with all animals, especially birds. When St Francis would give a sermon, it is said birds would come to listen. St Francis said of birds:

“My sister birds, you owe much to God, and you must always and in everyplace give praise to Him; for He has given you freedom to wing through the sky and He has clothed you… you neither sow nor reap, and God feeds you and gives you rivers and fountains for your thirst, and mountains and valleys for shelter, and tall trees for your nests. “

St Francis was noted for his love of all of God’s creation, he often referred to “Brother Sun” and “Sister Moon,”. He saw in everything a part of God’s creation. One story about St Francis relates to how he was able to tame a wild wolf – in exchange for making a deal where the villagers would promise to feed the hungry wolf.

Around 1220, St Francis set up one of the first known nativity scenes at Greccio near Assisi. St Francis used live animals around the manger of Jesus; St Francis hoped that people would gain a much more vivid impression of the humble nature of Jesus’ birth. The nativity scene became an important aspect of the Christian religion at Christmas time

As the order grew in numbers, it became necessary to institute more rules and formal organisational structure. The order was too big to rely on St Francis’ personal example and simple approach to spirituality. After the rules were ordained by the Pope, St Francis began retreating from external affairs, spending his time in contemplation and prayer. St Francis was also a noted writer and poet. He wrote in common tongue Italian (a dialect of Umbria), eschewing Latin as he believed ordinary people should be able to read anything written.

Later in his life, it is also recorded that St Francis received the stigmata ‘five wounds of Christ on the cross’.

After a period of illness and suffering, St Francis died on the evening of October 3, 1226, singing Psalm 142– “Voce mea ad Dominum” .

Just two years after his death on July 16, 1228, he was pronounced a saint by Pope Gregory IX.

St Francis is often held up as an inspiring example of someone who most closely imitated the life of Christ in words, deeds and spirit. St Francis had a deep love for Christ and willingly embraced poverty, chastity and a sitime
 life of humility.


Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan .
publication : Omotoso Ibukunoluwa 

TOP TEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD AS REVIEWED BY WONDERLIST :PART TWO

4. Taj Mahal of Agra

It was constructed by famous Mughal ruler Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal is regarded as the best example of Mughal architecture and is widely recognized as “the jewel of Muslim art in India”. It is one of the world’s most celebrated structures and a symbol of India’s rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts more than 3 million visitors a year. In 2007 it was declared one of the top 10 Wonders of the World. 

3. Cristo Redentor Statue

It is largest Art Deco statue in the world and the 5th largest statue of Jesus in the world. A symbol of Christianity across the world, the statue has also become a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, and is listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The statue is 30 metres (98 ft) tall, excluding its 8-meter (26 ft) pedestal. The arms stretch 28 meters (92 ft) wide. It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and was constructed between 1922 and 1931.

2. Petra

It is an archeological city of Jorden that is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. Another name for Petra is the Rose City due to the color of the stone out of which it is carved. Established during 312 BCE as the capital city of the Arab Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan. It lies on the slope of Jebel al-Madhbah in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba.

Petra was named amongst the New 7 Wonders of the World in 2007. It is Jordan’s most-visited tourist attraction and one of the “Top 10 Places to See Before You Die”.

1. The Great Wall of China

Considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China was constructed 7th century BC. It is a series of fortification built to protect the Chinese states and empires against the raids and invasions of the various nomadic groups of the Eurasian Steppe. It is globally recognized as one of the most impressive architectural feats in history. According to an archaeological survey, the entire wall with all of its branches measures out to be 21,196 km.

In addition, the Great Wall of China can also be seen from the moon. The earliest known reference to this myth appear in a letter by the English antiquary William Stukeley, written in 1754. Stukeley 

Source:Wonderlist

TOP TEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD AS REVIEWED BY WONDERLIST: PART ONE

There is the list of top wonders of the world which are the masterpiece of the skill and handwork of the people of that era. Today we become astonished to see these wonders, that in so remote ages without any modern technology and machine, how so great construction were made.
Here is the list of top wonders of the world.

10. Roman Baths

The famous Roman Baths complex is a site of historical interest in Somerset. The house is a well-preserved Roman site for public bathing. It’s a reconstruction of the previously destroyed baths. It was destroyed in the 6th century, reconstruction of the baths occurred over time with the last additions being done in the late 1800s.

The Baths are a major tourist attraction of modern world. They receive more than one million visitors a year. It was featured on the 2005 TV program Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of the West Country. Visitors can see the Baths and Museum but cannot enter the water.

9. Leaning Tower of Pisa

This tower was build first in Pisa, a city of Italy in August 14, 1173. It is known due to its inclinations towards right side. Till now it is stable and nothing happened to it instead of its tilt.8Colosseum

8

The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. This is one of the greatest architecture ever built in the history of Rome. The Colosseum was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheatre and is the largest amphitheater to have ever been built in the Roman Empire. It is a circular structure that occupies a site east of the Roman Forum. This Amphitheater was built to organize gladiator contests, dramas and games like hunting animals, constructing mock sea battle and the public could also view it in the open, and cheer their favorites.

7. Chichen Itza

It was founded by the Maya civilization in 400 AD and it is located in the north central, north of Yucatan Peninsula now called Mexico. Chichen has a history that is 1500 years old and is located 75 miles from Merida. It is said to have been the main regional point for different ceremonies. During the earlier days & time, it was governed by priests. Chichen means “At the mouth of the well of Itza”. The word Chi stands for ‘mouth’, Chen for ‘well’ and Itza for ‘the Itza tribe’. The main belief is that people were thrown from the top as a sacrifice to make their god happy and the ones who could survive were the ones who were believed to be seers.

6. Hagia Sophia

The masterpiece of construction, Hagia Sophia is a former Christian patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. Hagia Sophia is currently the second-most visited museum in Turkey, attracting almost 3.3 million visitors annually.

From its initial conversion until the construction of the nearby Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque of Istanbul) in 1616, it was the principal mosque of Istanbul. The Hagia Sophia served as inspiration for many other Ottoman mosques, such as the Blue Mosque, the Şehzade Mosque, the Süleymaniye Mosque, the Rüstem Pasha Mosque and the Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque.

5. Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is the pre Columbian, Inca empire site that is located almost 8,000 feet above the sea level. The site is located on a mountain ridge above the valley of Urubamba in Peru. The city is also called the “lost city of Incas”. Machu Picchu was built around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire. It was abandoned just over 100 years later, in 1572, as a belated result of the Spanish Conquest.

WE HAVE NO PLAN TO INCREASE PETROL PRICE- NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol remains N133.28 per litre.Ndu Ughamadu, the NNPC Group Spokesman, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Tuesday.He said Nigerians should ignore any speculations that pump price will soon increase.
“The ex-depot price of PMS remains N133.28 per litre as at today and this is according to the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) template.NNPC remains the sole importer of the product and we have not increased the price we sell to marketer. There is no plan to increase pump price, Nigerians should know that, he said.He said the corporation had robust stock pile of products that would last the country for several days, adding that there was no need to engage in panic buying.

He said the corporation over the weekend had strengthen the partnership with Major Oil Marketer Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) to ensure adequate supply of products in the country. We also told them not to increase price but if they engage in that, it is illegal and we have instructed the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to sanction them. Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) had recently warned that the pump price of the PMS may sell above N145.

The IPMAN Chairman of Ore Depot, Shina Amoo, who gave this hint, added that the price of the product has increased at the private depot.
According to him, the private depot owners now sell the product between N136.50 and N137 per litre instead of the former N133.28 per litre approved by the NNPC.“IPMAN may soon start selling beyond N145 per litre if depot owners continued to sell between N136.50 and N137 per litre,” he said.

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MICHEAL JACKSON THE KING OF POP

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, entertainer, and recording artist. Michael Jackson epitomised the era of pop in the 70s, 80s and 90s, earning himself the title the King of Pop. He remained a global icon until his untimely death in 2009.
Michael Jackson began his music career alongside his fellow brothers and family members in the Jackson Five. His career began in 1964, aged only six. The group, led by Jackson’s father, worked hard touring many clubs and bars performing their mix of Motown hits. They gained the attention of record labels and in 1968 signed with Motown records. It was the youngest, baby-faced Jackson, that caught the eye of reviewers. Rolling Stone magazine wrote that Michael was a ‘prodigy’ with ‘overwhelming musical gifts’. Michael stood out for his exceptional enthusiasm and soft, infectious musical voice. The group produced four number one hit singles, including “ I Want You Back“,
ABC and “the Lover You Save.”
Despite achieving his goal to be a music performer, Michael’s childhood was far from happy. He was regularly beaten and threatened by his authoritarian father. This legacy of abuse left Michael scarred throughout his adult life.
Micheal Jackson Solo Career
By the late 1970s, Michael was increasingly looking to pursue a solo career. With the help of music producer, Quincy Jones, Michael produced the solo album ‘ Off The Wall ‘. The album was a great success, eventually selling over 20 million copies. The album gained much critical acclaim, and Michael secured the highest royalty rate in the music industry. (37% of album profit)
His second solo album, Thriller , launched Michael Jackson into a position as the most famous pop singer in the world. With little commercial advertising and promotion, Thriller rose to number one on album sales and remained at the number one spot for a total of 37 weeks. It gained one of many Guinness World Records for Michael Jackson, attaining 110 million global sales and 29 million sales in the US. Thriller included number one hits such as Beat It, Billie Jean .
Michael Jackson with the Reagans
In March 1983, Michael Jackson performed live on Motown 25, ‘Yesterday, today, forever’, – a TV special. He performed his distinctive and memorable dance move – the Moonwalk. In the dance routine, he effortlessly moves backwards with seemingly keeping one leg perfectly straight. His performance made him a global icon of not just music, but dance. Michael Jackson pioneered the importance of music video in promoting a pop artist. This iconic performance has been compared to the famous Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.
Jackson’s next albums were
Bad (1987) and Dangerous (1991). His final album was
Invincible (2001).
By the late 80s, there was an increasing number of stories speculating on Jackson’s personal life, health and physical appearance. Michael Jackson underwent numerous operations of plastic surgery to fix his nose and add a dimple in his chin. During the 1980s, his skin started to lighten; this was due to a rare skin pigment disease, but it didn’t stop a wave of speculative press stories that he was bleaching his skin colour. The press covered a range of speculative stories about Michael Jackson, including imaginary stories Michael had invented himself (such as sleeping in an oxygen tent to avoid the ageing process)
“I’ve been in the entertainment industry since I was six-years-old, and as Charles Dickens would say, “It’s been the best of times, the worst of times.” But I would not change my career… While some have made deliberate attempts to hurt me, I take it in stride because I have a loving family, a strong faith and wonderful friends and fans who have, and continue, to support me.”
—Michael Jackson
The press attention made Michael increasingly reclusive, spending much of his time in his ‘Never Land’ ranch.
Speaking on the Oprah Winfrey show, Jackson addressed the issue of skin colour change:
“OK, number one. There, as I know of, there is no such thing as skin bleaching…I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of the skin, it’s something that I cannot help, OK? But, when people make up stories that I don’t want to be who I am, it hurts me…it’s a problem for me, I can’t control it.”
He married Lisa Marie Presley in 1994; it lasted two years though they remained friendly after the divorce. In 1996, he married Deborah Rowe in Sydney. Together they had two children. They divorced in 1999 and Rowe gave full custody of children to Jackson.
Allegations of child abuse were first raised in the 1980s and re-appeared in the 1990s. This led to the trial of The People v Jackson on 31 Jan 2005, in Sante Maria, California. After five months of high publicity, Jackson was acquitted. Though the experience left him physically weak and emotionally stressed. He departed America for the Persian Gulf Island of Bahrain.
“The minute I started breaking the all-time record in record sales—I broke Elvis’s records, I broke Beatles records—the minute it became the all-time best-selling album in the history of the Guinness Book of World Records, overnight they called me a freak. They called me a homosexual. They called me a child molester. They said I bleached my skin. They made everything to turn the public against me.”
– Remarks at National Action Network headquarters (9 July 2002)
Towards the end of his life, he was increasingly plagued by money troubles and ill health. He increasingly became dependent on a variety of drugs, which was said to have contributed to his ill health and premature death. Despite concerns over finance, he is said to have made career earnings of $500m and had assets in Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalogue worth over $300m alone.
“In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe”
– M. Jackson Quoted by CNN June 2009.
Michael Jackson died on 25 June 2009, at a rented mansion in the district of Los Angeles.
Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan .