"At present there is no internationally recognized symbol for human rights. The “Logo for Human Rights” initiative wants to change that! Logos win people over through their symbolic power, distinctiveness, clarity and universal applicability. The initiative was established out of conviction that a human rights logo will make a peaceful contribution towards the global spread and implementation of human rights. In order to find this logo, a global creative online competition with cash prizes and open to everyone is to be launched. The initiative has the support of renowned stakeholders, supporters and partners from all walks of life."

Thus says the current global initiative in searching for a human rights logo.

To date, there are already almost 7,000 entries to be selected by international juries which include Nobel Peace Laureattes Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar and Michael Gorbachev of Russia.

The following information were taken from http://humanrightslogo.net/ (which unsurprisingly is logo-less too).

How can you take part?.

Upload your logo on to www.humanrightslogo.net. Discuss and assess the logo competition entries with people from all over the world, supported by a team of experts. A prominent jury will make a pre-selection from all the entries. In a global public online ballot, the winner will be chosen from among the top 10.

Why should you take part?

Your logo can become the global symbol for human rights and be used wherever the focus is on human rights. What’s more, the winner will be awarded 5000 €, the runner-up 3000 € and the third-placed entrant 1000 €.

Rules

The way you produce your logo is up to you: sketch the logo with a pencil on paper, paint it on a canvas, design it with the computer, draw it with a stick in the sand, etc.
It must be possible to understand the logo without a text.
The only words that may be used with the logo are “Human Rights”.
Letters (like HR) may be used in the logo only if the logo is understandable without knowing the letters.
Purely text entries will not be accepted.
It’s not possible to upload video or audio files.

Tips: What makes a good logo?

Above all, a good logo is based on a good idea.
A good logo is simple and instantly recognizable.
A good logo can be reproduced using many different media.
A good logo can be reproduced in different sizes.
A good logo can be reproduced in colour or in black and white.

Timeline

From 3rd of May until 31st of July 2011
Anyone around the world can create, discuss and give support to logo submissions.

From 6th of August 2011 until 21st of August 2011
The jury chooses 10 finalists.

From 27th of August 2011 until 17th of September 2011
The world votes for the final winning logo.

The initiative is not without some critics composed of 'professional' designers who find the contest 'simply bad' and 'crowded'. Understandable, but the two designers perhaps forgot the very essence of why it was being put for the world to join in. It's for human rights' advocacy which means it's for all, regardless. Of the 7,000 or more logos which will enter the contest by end of July, I'm confident the best ten of them will be deserving of an honor.

I don't read Arab Times Online. I find their news weird, totally empty of values, unintelligent and bordering to sensationalism most of the time. I think this recent news is a classic example of what I mean. A friend sent it to me through email.



I would say the last paragraph clinches the absurdity of this news: "Islamic thinker Mohammad Al-Ansari described the proposal on purchasing slaves as “strange, odd and not in tune with the current times.” "

Ambait.

Makes me want to stab myself.

Loonies on the loose here. Watch out.

Water, in the Middle East, is costlier than gas.

Distilled, purified, bottled. Spring, mineral, tonic. They come in various sizes and forms and, in Saudi and Kuwait, come in a stiff price. (In Kuwait, a liter of water is costlier than a liter of gas -- roughly in peso: PHP13 water, PHP9 gas).

For Pinoys abroad, bottled water is an important commodity. Since I came to Saudi, I never drank tap water. I wanted to but I was warned that it's unhealthy to drink tap water. Ditto in Kuwait. In the Philippines, where I used to drink water straight from the faucet, we primitively use a water filter. (Primitively because other houses have a reverse osmosis machine installed in their kitchen; we don't).

And then I thought: Which of them bottled water in Kuwait is 'better'? More importantly, what makes a bottled water 'better'? Me know not so let's go to the authorities.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) listed calcium as a good source for reducing osteoporosis and magnesium for reducing cardiovascular disezase mortality.

Sodium is essential to our body and is present in almost all of the foods we eat. In a day, our maximum intake of sodium should not exceed 1,500mg or 2/3 of a spoon (and since it's present in most of our foods, most people take more than the recommended daily sodium intake). So I guess in bottled water (you can prove me wrong if you want and I'll welcome it), the lesser the sodium, the better.



Perhaps the ultimate reading on and about bottled water is this NRDC publication.

And on tap water, this WHO article.

With the influx of mineral water distribution stores in the Philippines which ironically get their water from tap faucets and who are not required to put mineral labels as commercially-sold bottled water do, how are we guaranteed that the bottled water is safe and indeed 'purified'?

In comes Manny Villar to the rescue -- or perhaps he has another business prospect in mind. Hmmm...them businessmen!

In support of Philippine Expat Blog Awards (PEBA)'s 2011 theme 'Ako'y magbabalik, hatid ko'y pagbabago'.

The graphics for these composites were sourced, with thanks, from the following:
From the archives of the United States LST Association
From the news clipping of All Voices on the exodus of Filipinos from Libya.

First thing first: I am may be wrong with Ever.

Last Friday, we went to Ahmadi Church to watch a Santacruzan. Here are some of the photos we took.

Santacruzan participants line up for the short parade. If you wonder who the man in brown cloak represents, that's Methuselah.

If truth be hold, I think the organisers of this Santacruzan was faithful to this list of characters in a Santacruzan.


Youngsters who played various characters in Ahmadi's Santacruzan.


This is the first Santacruzan where I saw an Aeta character featured in the pageant.


Reyna Esperanza who represents the virtue of hope.


The legendary founder of the true cross, Reyna Elena, accompanied by Constantine, her son.


Angelic-looking girl who is one of the Ave Maria's.


Santa Maria, madre de Dios at the end of parade -- carried by Filipino leaders of various Pinoy organisations in Ahmadi.


Father Fred Micua, the Filipino priest at Our Lady of Arabia in Ahmadi greets the faithful.

And then, I spot this gentleman. Hmmm...Is it Ever? Maybe not.



Or maybe, I'm right.

(Ever is a Kuwait-based Pinoy artist-cum-blogger behind Pamatay Homesick and countless articles for POC. He is also a member of Pindot, Kuwait's premiere Filipino digital photographers' group).

Other photos are courtesy of Rhyan Alcantara, an OFW in Kuwait.