Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

Benazir Bhutto, Renown Former Pakistani Prime Minister, Killed in Pakistan

Friends, we have very sad news this morning...Benazir Bhutto, the former Pakistani Prime Minster and current Pakistani Opposition Leader, was killed this morning (7:16 a.m EST and 6:16 p.m. Pakistani time) in Pakistan.

She was at a Political Rally (in Rawalpindi), in preparation for Pakistan's General Elections on January 8, 2008, when a lone suicide bomber shot her in the neck and chest and then blew himself up. So far, 16 other people have died along with Benazir, at the hands of this suicide bomber.

She was allegedly under tight security.

Harvard and Oxford-educated Bhutto was born in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1953. She was the eldest child of then-Prime Minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a Pakistani of Sindhi extraction, and Begum ("Lady") Nusrat Bhutto, a Pakistani of Iranian-Kurdish extraction.

Benazir became interested in politics, during her 5-year imprisonment, which occurred just before her father's execution in 1978. (He was convicted of killing an opponent.)

Benazir came to be known, the world over, when she became the first woman to be elected as Prime Minister, in any post-colonial Muslim state (Pakistan) in 1988. As a testament of the Pakistani people's love for her as a leader, she was elected twice as Prime Minister.

However, twenty (20) months after being first-elected in 1988, Benazir was removed on alleged corruption charges, by then President, Ghulam Isaq Khan.

She was elected the second time, as Prime Minister, in 1993, when Farooq Leghari, then Pakistani President, booted her in 1996, on similar charges.

None of the five charges made against her, received a court conviction.

Benazir went into self-imposed exile in Dubai, in 1998 and returned to Pakistan on October 18, 2007, when current President,General Musharraf, agreed to grant her an amnesty and drop all corruption charges.

(She continued to manage her party, Pakistan People's Party (PPA) while in exile.)

On October 19, 2007, one day following her return, she survived an assassination attempt on her life.

According to Bloomberg.com's article,"Pakistan's Bhutto Assassinated in Attack at Rally (Update 2)", Benazir wrote the following, after her attack.

"I know that I am a symbol of what the so-called Jihadists, Taliban and al-Qaeda, most fear. I am a female political leader fighting to bring modernity, communication, education and technology to Pakistan.''

She was thought to be the only serious contender for the Prime Ministerial position, in the upcoming January 8, 2008 elections.

Benazir was 54 years old.

She is survived by her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, son Bilawal and two daughters, Bakhtawar and Aseefa.

We at Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog, offer condolences to Benazir's family, the people of Pakistan and people the world over, who are grieving the death of this influential woman, who has helped shaped the political history of Pakistan and indeed the world!

Inset video 1 shows Benazir's interview with Sir David Frost on September 14, 2007, on his programme "Frost over the World", where she announces her return to Pakistan in October. It was uploaded to YouTube.com by Al-Jezeera English.

Please click this link to see Benazir's interview with Sir David Frost on November 2, 2007, on his programme "Frost over the World", where she discusses the assassination attempt on her life and Pakistan's future, in October. It was uploaded to YouTube.com by Al-Jezeera English.

Sources Include:

1) Article, "Pakistan's Bhutto Assassinated in Attack at Rally (Update 2)", by By Naween A. Mangi, Khalid Qayum and Khaleeq Ahmed, Bloomberg.com News, December 27, 2007

2) Article, "About 15 dead in blast outside Bhutto-rally police", Reuters.com, December 27, 2007

3) Article, "Benazir Bhutto", Wikipedia.org

Seasons Greetings to All GWAP Blog Friends!

Merry Christmas! Buon Natale! Frohe Weihnachten!
Originally uploaded by Montrasio International

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa, to all Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog friends!

Thanks ever so much for your support and patronage throughout this year.

It is our hope that you were thoroughly informed, educated and entertained by our Blog and that your precious visits will continue throughout next year!

We also wish for you a New Year, filled with continued reflection on how you can fulfill God's purpose for your life!

Many thanks to Jakob Montrasio, for the use of his inset photo, entitled, "Merry Christmas! Buon Natale, Frohe Weihnachten!".  It shows the Colosseum in Rome at Christmas time and was uploaded by him, to photo site, Flickr.com

Gillian

Giving the Gift of "You", This Christmas

Christmas gifts
Originally uploaded by brungrrl

As we prepare for the Christmas holidays, no doubt some of us may have already purchased presents, cards and tried to find that perfect gift for our loved ones, family, friends and associates.

Some of us may have even waited patiently in line to pay for our gift items, at our favorite stores, while soaking in the excitement, sights, feelings and sounds that the Christmas holiday brings.

Hmmh!

But wait just one minute...we may have excluded a very important person from our gift list...

Who? You may ask,

Well, friends - you!

But not only to give "you" a present, but to give the present of "you" to someone who needs "you", this Christmas.

And you don't come cheap...as the "gift of you" will require your time, emotions, energy and yes, in some cases, the costs of telephone calls, gas, car upkeep/maintenance, to get you to the person who'll need you.

For, the gift of "you" may mean:

1) Sitting and comforting someone in silence, who just needs you to be there and to listen.

2) Going out of your way to do household chores for an elderly neighbour who has no one else to help him/her

Or it may mean driving to deliver previously-worn clothing to a family in need.

But you can be rest-assured that, no matter how small the gesture, giving "the gift of you" this Christmas, will be the most most rewarding and fulfilling gift, that you'll ever give...

Well, that's providing that you give "the gift of you" in the true spirit of Christmas...that is to give, without expecting anything in return.

For this precious gift will definitely:

1) Be appreciated by the receiver

2) Add to the receiver's well-being

3) Give the receiver hope...a precious commodity that is always needed.

==========

So, have you included "the gift of you" on your holiday gift list?

Maybe you should, if you want to experience the most unforgettable and meaningful Christmas in your lifetime!

(Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog thanks brungrrls, who provided the inset Christmas gifts, via photo site, Flickr.com.)

Gillian

Thanks and Praises To Almighty God For Taking Jamaica, Safely Thru Olga!

Beaches of Jamaica Bonita Jamaica
Originally uploaded by Bonita Jamaica

Well friends, the Lord has done it again!

He certainly minized the effect that Tropical Storm Olga had on Jamaica,  by keeping her to the north of the island! (We only had heavy showers and manageable wind gusts.)

Girl With a Purpose Blog, wants to take the opportunity to really give our Almighty God a big, Hail Up and Big Up! (Jamaican, meaning thanks and praises!).

We thank Him for continuing to perform weather miracles for Jamaica and for His continued protection of our island!

We also pray that those in our sister island of Hispaniola (consisting of the countries of Dominican Republic and Haiti), who lost relatives and loved ones, and who suffered from property loss/damage, will find Him to be a source of comfort, during this time of grief and bereavement.

(We want to thank Bonita Jamaica for providing the lovely inset above.)

Gillian

Tropical Storm Olga Weakens to a Tropical Depression, No Longer a Threat to Jamaica!

Tropical Storm Olga has weakened and is now a Tropical Depression.

This means that Jamaica will experience wind gusts [of 45 miles/hour (72.4 km/hr) ] and lots of rain, (especially to the North of the island), but nothing like the stormy weather we had expected.

At 4:00 p.m. today, Tropical Depression Olga was located to the North of Jamaica, at Latitude 18.9 degrees North and Longitude 76.9 West.

Maximum sustained winds are at 35 miles/hr (56.3 km/hr).

It is still moving along a Westerly path at  23 miles/hr (37 km/hr), but is not a threat to Jamaica.

It will, however,pass over the Cayman Islands by tomorrow evening.

Olga is expected to bring lots of rain to Jamaica until tomorrow evening.

It is expected to move into the Yucatan Penninsula by Friday of this week.

Gillian

Sources Include:

1) Power 106 FM 5:00 p.m. News

2)Television Jamaica Nightly Weather at 7:53 p.m., December 12,2007

3) 5-Day Forecast Map of Tropical Depression Olga (showing Olga's position at 4:00 p.m. EST), Weather Underground website, December 12, 2007.

Tropical Storm Olga Weakens, Expected to Pass North of Jamaica Later This Afternoon

Tropical Storm Olga, is expected to pass north of Jamaica,later this afternoon. This is a strange phenomenon,seeing that the Hurricane Season officially ended on November 30, 2007.

But what seemed "strange" a few years ago, will become the norm, due to the effects of global warming.

At 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), the centre of Olga was located to the west of Hispaniola, at latitude 19 degrees North and longitude 76 degrees West.

At 12:00 p.m. EST, Olga's centre was located  102.5 miles (165 km) NorthEast of Port Antonio.

Olga will continue along a westerly track.

Although her movement has weakened to 23 miles/hour (37 km/hour), Olga will bring strong gusty winds and torrential rains to the island.

The island will be experiencing heavy rainfall up until Friday of this week.

But Jamaicans are praying that Olga's effect on the island will be minimal.

The US National Weather Centre, Miami, has stated that "Olga lacks the convection required of a tropical cyclone...and based on visible satellite imagery probably also lacks a closed surface circulation.  however...we will hang on to Olga for a few more hours just in case deep convection returns or west winds become evident."

Please click here for their full report and forecast re this storm.

[Girl With a Purpose (GWAP) Blog will keep you informed of the progress of Olga and her efffect on the island, as long as we're able to :)]

Gillian

Sources Include:

1) Nationwide Radio,8:00 a.m. News, December 12, 2007

2) Radio Jamaica 12:00 p.m. News, December 12, 2007

3) National Metereological Service website, December 12,2007

4) Report, "Tropical Storm Olga Expected to Weaken-Subtropical Storm Olga Expected to Affect Caribbean Cruises", Cruise Critic (Cruise News & Reviews) Website, December 12, 2007

5) Picture of Olga's 3-day Forecasted Track (Tropical Storm OLGA Public Advisory Number 7a), US National Weather Centre,Miami website,10:00 a.m, Wednesday, December 12, 2007

6) Picture of Olga's 5-day Forecasted Track, Weather Underground Website, 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 12, 2007

7) Weather Underground Alert: Tropical Storm Olga(Picture of Olga's Current Position), Weather Underground Website, 1:00 p.m. EST,  December 12,2007

8) Tropical Storm Olga Forecast Discussion, US National Weather Centre, Miami, website,10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 12, 2007