I realise now what it was that had caused me so much angst and reflection and challenge……. I had been missing – what with the travel and the freeze – the water ions, one of the things that makes me so happy in Geneva … the lake.

Deliberately, I had chosen a day to lunch alone. Not sure whether it was annoyance, confusion, tiredness, or a je-ne-sais-quoi,that led my feet to turn right rather than left and walk down to a little brasserie, late, where I KNEW there would be beautiful service, enticing delectable food and fabulous views….

Reading through a rather un-stimulating think-tank report on Euro-Atlantic relations, that provided little revelations whatsoever, my thinking was distracted by an increasingly audible our-neighbors-can-listen-in (which by this time was only me!) conversation by two rather dapper business men – one with a very alluring face.
Their conversation was, after their look-at-me-I’m-important-talking-about-percentages-and-business-prospects, hilariously suddenly attuned to the male-female dilemma, with one loudly proclaiming “I don’t need a relationship at present”, to then go on and ironically disparage his former partner, because as a business woman who managed a store, he criticized that she was too concerned with her business to be good in a relationship. This began to make me smile, if not laugh out loud, as the report I had just read (surprisingly short for a solution to the world’s current woes, by forming a new Euro-Atlantic dynamic), has as its 2 year old intellectual team, 24 men and ….yep, just one woman. And with men like the one at the table opposite me, I’m not surprised – either that women are still not equitable in these intellectual teams, nor finding the support for their careers.

Musing on whether to rudely interrupt/join in their conversation or make light of a quick departure, the fact that I had put a fresh Cohiba in my purse that morning, brought me down to earth and the realisation that Ella was singing one of my favourite songs on love, in the background in the brasserie.

Hence, feeling buoyant once again, I made stage left and my obviously rather clever and sensible feet (as opposed to my muddled head and heart of this week), led me the 20 metres to the lake….. which happily with the shift in today’s temperature, meant that there was no wind, a magnificent glow from the sun, and strangely, swans seeming to swim by the rule that they could warm themselves in the lake……

Thus the Cohiba was lit, a position leaning on the railings warming in the sun secured, and a reflection began on someone’s dilemma mixed with mine and the question of perseverance. In the theorem of San Tzu, there are several interesting interpretations…. Clausewitz on  war – perseverance ; a newly discovered San Tzu for Women on perseverance; and of course, from the original…..

Indirect tactics,

efficiently applied,

are inexhaustible as Heaven and Earth,

unending as the flow of rivers and streams;

like the sun and moon,

they end but to begin anew;

like the four seasons,

they pass away to return once more.

When do we act? How do we act and how should we act and why is it such a question.

The solution lies within the self and self’s reaction – to oneself and to those around. The simple framework to guide is to do no harm……to others, nor yourself.

Above all, retain your passion……

{Photo of Rocio Molina by F. Valaquez – ole! 6 Feb en Ginebra… http://www.leprogramme.ch/festival-antigel/rocio-molina-vinatica}

A history revision will of course explain that the Holy Grail is about a sacred object – interpreted throughout history from the mundane – as a cup or dish from the last supper (and then used later to collect Jesus Christ’s blood);

to the sacred – a vessel to hold the sacrament; to the esoteric – a vessel allegedly given to Joseph of Arimathea by Jesus Christ, which sustained the former’s survival for 42 years in prison;

to the valuable and powerful, a precious stone with miraculous powers; and finally the symbolic, as Mary Magdalene’s tomb and later as depicting the female womb and bloodline of Mary and Jesus. (Some say this is symbolised by an inverted pyramid, and shown in Da Vinci’s last supper).

Last Supper, painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, 1498, Detail from the Middle

http://listverse.com/2010/02/08/10-possible-resting-places-of-the-holy-grail/

The famous Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown) – based on Holy Blood and the Holy Grail research –  focuses on the depiction and interpretations of the, if you like – yin-yan – of masculinity and femininity and the threat of females to the church.

All this led to thinking of a previous evening out in Geneva celebrating the Old Russian New Year. A good night, with much revelry, dressing up  and rather expensive vodka! intriguing young people… but unfortunately and sadly, the it seems ever present, practically naked, women dancing on bars. What is the debate I wish to put forth here?

I suppose it is the question of balance and where on earth do we think we are going in the grand scheme of things? Do people honestly not think it is insulting to women in the bar to have this kind of display as if one is in a meat market? Where have we advanced to – from early A.D. and the attitude that women were threatening, hence burned at the stake/drowned in hunts for a period of over 250 years (~ 1480 to 1750), through to feminism in the 20^th century.

But for this latter phenomena, to emerge as a bizarre interpretation of ‘empowerment’ as women becoming re- and uber-over-sexualised as depicted at the Russian New Year bar. Coupled with the guest women tottering about on super high heels with an insane inability to walk.

So what is the hidden meaning of a holy grail? It is not that which is secret because of its power. It is about understanding the differing aspects and respecting each human as equal. Women and men can equally have status, wisdom and opinions, and men should not be threatened by that – by burning women (a modern version would be acid in their faces or stoning), exposing them or covering them up.

It is about balance. And we each need to find our own path that. That is the secret.

Just returned from Mexico. In particular the Teotihuacan pyramids/temples.  Amazing. Need to go back though, as circumstances meant only had 2 hours to view and absorb a site at which one could spend a day.

Teotihuacan was constructed around 1-100 AD. An interesting (albeit very academic and not user friendly) archeological website delves in depth into the fascinating history.

A wise woman I know gives a different take on the sacrificial aspect, in that believing that the ‘human sacrifices’ allegedly occuring at the sites were symbolic rather than real (how does one prove people were buried alive 2000 years ago?)…

we are constantly discovering, as they did at the Sun pyramid mid-December 2011, the original burial site and a green stone mask…..

…. led me to delve into my information files now my Geneve life is sorting itself out, to review the list of women leaders.

Here is an update: (info from http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/index.html)

Female heads of states in 2011


19 PMs/pres

(geographic: 6 EU / 4 Europe; 4 Latin Am; 2 Asia; 1 Eurasia; 1 Pacific; 1 Africa)

10 Presidents:

Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Finland, India, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Lithuania, Switzerland


9 Prime Ministers:

Australia, Bangladesh, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, San Marino, Slovenia, Trinidad and Tobago

http://www.vitalvoices.org/node/2098

28 total

(geographic: 9 EU / 6 Europe; 7 Latin Am; 2 Asia; 2 Pacific; 1 Eurasia; 1 Africa)

3 Queens: Denmark, Netherlands, United Kingdom


3 Governor Generals. Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, St. Lucia


4 Understate Leaders: (Federation of Bosnia), Åland Islands, Bermuda, St. Maarten.

]]> http://gijigya.wordpress.com/2011/12/10/saturday-reflection/feed/ 0 gijigya ur leader a male female-pm2 FEMALE_KP http://gijigya.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/entrevista-con-giji-gya-libia/ http://gijigya.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/entrevista-con-giji-gya-libia/#comments Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:16:17 +0000 Sapere Aude http://gijigya.wordpress.com/?p=162 ]]> Entrevista de euroXpress con Giji Gya, Directora Ejecutiva del International Security Information Service (ISIS Europe), y Experta Asociada de la Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE)

euroXpress.- Las potencias occidentales y la OTAN están considerando la posibilidad de una intervención militar en Libia para evitar más derramamiento de sangre de civiles, ¿cree usted posible un nuevo escenario bélico internacional? 

Giji Gya.- En estos momentos se está considerando la posibilidad de establecer un espacio de exclusión aérea,pero una intervención con ataques aéreos sobre el territorio de Libia es otra cosa. Los países con la capacidad necesaria – incluyendo en particular a E.E.U.U. y Reino Unido – son reacios a involucrarse de esa manera en otro país después de las muchas críticas que han tenido por sus intervenciones en Irak y Afganistán. 

{English version}

eXp.- Los propios rebeldes libios prefieren solucionar el conflicto por ellos mismos. ¿Dónde queda la responsabilidad occidental ante la masacre de civiles?

G.G.- De momento, parece que existen diferencias de opinión entre los propios rebeldes libios. Pero después de los fracasos de la comunidad internacional frente a los genocidios de los años 90, tenemos ahora una«obligación global» respecto a la «responsabilidad de proteger (R2P). Un aspecto de esta obligación es que los Estados tienen ahora la responsabilidad primordial de proteger a las poblaciones frente a genocidios, crímenes de guerra, depuraciones étnicas y crímenes contra la humanidad. Y otro aspecto es la responsabilidad de la comunidad internacional de adoptar las medidas oportunas y decisivas cuando un Estado es manifiestamente incapaz de proteger a su población. Por el momento, la prioridad es que los libios encuentren por si mismos una solución sostenible en un conflicto esencialmente interno, eso sí, con el apoyo humanitario de la comunidad internacional.

eXp.- ¿ El establecimiento de una zona de exclusión aérea es una alternativa más viable y con menos requisitos internacionales?

G.G.- Imponer un espacio de exclusión aérea no es algo para tomárselo a la ligera. Se trataría de una operación multinacional a gran escala en un territorio extenso. Además, todavía no están claras las ventajas de tal operación porque la información disponible sobre la realidad de la situación es aún muy limitada. De hecho, establecer una zona de exclusión aérea no pondría necesariamente fin a los enfrentamientos que se están produciendo en el terreno.

eXp.- ¿Políticamente sería aceptable una intervención militar sin contar con el visto bueno de la Liga Árabe y de la Unión Africana?

G.G.- Primero hay que recordar que la única opción de intervención militar que se está considernado seriamente a nivel internacional es un espacio de exclusión aérea. Pero es importante que los organismos regionales estén fuertemente involucrados en la cuestión, de manera que se cree una mayor responsabilidad regional.

eXp.- ¿Cuál es, en su opinión, el papel que debe jugar la Unión Europea en el conflicto?

G.G.- La UE debe insistir en llamar a la moderación y al fin de la violencia, debe continuar contribuyendo con fondos, y debe colaborar con la ONU y los países de la región para aliviar la crisis humanitaria actual. Además, la UE tendrá que replantearse sus relaciones con Libia y reevaluar su cooperación para el desarrollo, un proceso difícil que ya se ha iniciado según el comunicado del 8 de marzo de la Alta Representante de la Unión para Asuntos Exteriores y Política de Seguridad ,Catherine Ashton, denominado «Asociación para la democracia y la prosperidad compartida con los países del Mediterráneo meridional». Sin embargo, la política comercial de la UE en la región también debería ser examinada, haciendo especial énfasis en el concepto de «comercio justo» en vez de «libre comercio».

eXp.- El respaldo jurídico internacional que daría el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU no parece posible por el veto ya anunciado de Rusia y China, ¿qué margen de maniobra les queda a la UE y a Estados Unidos?

G.G.- Los países con capacidad de intervenir han afirmado que una resolución del Consejo de Seguridad sería necesaria. Aunque algunos Miembros Permanentes del Consejo están trabajando para obtener una resolución que permita establecer un espacio de exclusión aérea, otros como China, se declaran a favor de la no-intervención en asuntos internos. La UE como organización no tiene voz en el Consejo de Seguridad, pero ha dejado claro que la primera exigencia para una acción internacional sería una resolución del Consejo de Seguridad.

eXp.- Tras la experiencia de Irak, ¿Libia podría convertirse en otro fracaso de la comunidad internacional?

G.G.- La comunidad internacional sigue siendo cautelosa sobre una intervención en Libia. El actual proceso de libertad y lucha democrática en el Norte de África ha sido llevado a cabo «por los árabes, para los árabes». Es un tema de equilibrio muy delicado: la población civil de Libia merece todo nuestro apoyo para lograr sus propios y justos objetivos, – pero no hay que olvidar que debemos esforzarnos ante todo por soluciones no militares para la paz.

Vague recollection that there was a cohiba in a romeo y julieta case in the junk drawer (every good house needs a junk drawer) looked. Couldn’t find it. But in the meantime remembered where I’d put my yellow fever vaccination certificate for Saturday travel. Plus need to remember to get 2^nd dose of malarone for malaria prevention (Dr didn’t give me enough the 1^st time). Checked drawer again. Discovered where I’d left my penknife (useful for DRC?) ..then found cigar case! Empty. Oh. Need to go to Cuba…………..

It was with great hope, but then with sadness, that I read The Sunday Age (30/11). On the positive side, Leunig’s calendar for 2004 gave us a poignant message, subtly calling on us to look a little deeper and more philosophically.

It was then sad to find that the 64-page “Christmas essentials” merely pointed (by its immense size and content) to a deep problem. Christmas, essentially, should be about spending time with friends and family to talk and reflect on the year, and to indulge in a little feasting and revelry.

It is not supposed to be about how many, how extravagant or how desirable are the material possessions with which we bombard each other. It would do us good, as a nation and as individuals, to reflect a little on the past year: the invasion of Iraq, the threat of AIDS, the poverty levels in Australia and the world in general – and then to act for the good of humanity.

A more secure humanity gives us all security, and you can reflect this in your gifts. For example, you could buy coffee or hand-woven bookmarks from East Timor; use the Salvos’ envelope in the The Sunday Age to help a homeless child; support Community Aid Abroad or the New Internationalist in the promotion of fair trade; support a child’s health or education through the UN Global Parent fund; or provide help for humanitarian organisations working in Afghanistan, Iraq, Philippines, DRC; empower women by donating to International Women’s Development Agency.

Many aid organisations and NGOs (such as Amnesty and MSF) sell greetings cards, the proceeds going to their work. Give gifts that give twice.

Giji Gya
(former) Executive Officer, Medical Association for Prevention of War

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/16/1039656303847.html

I write regarding today’s curious article on the now required ID checks for posting items over 500 grams overseas. The article comments that Australia Post has supposedly put in place this mechanism for ‘enhanced security measures’ due to concerns of terrorism – perhaps using such ‘terrorist’ material such as toxic chemicals or biological agents or the odd batch of uranium.Yet have they not realized that this mechanism would exclude the infamous ‘anthrax letters’ that were found in the US (which were sent not by terrorists but allegedly an internal affair)?

A better solution is to insist on vigorously supporting enforcement protocols to safeguard biological, chemical and nuclear materials with international monitoring mechanisms by experts – not postal workers. These international protocols are currently being undermined by the very governments – in particular the US – that claim to be fighting a “war on terror” on our behalf.

Rather than putting the strain and consequence on the civilian population, governments should be safeguarding us through international law and abiding by international enforcement and disarmament agreements designed for the very purpose of protecting us.