“Why can’t I be more like them?” “I can’t believe how stupid I am sometimes.” “I will never be good enough for that position.” “I don’t deserve my girlfriend/my boyfriend.” If one of those thoughts crosses your mind, you may need to pay attention.
How to know if someone truly accepts themselves? When your self-worth goes up, things start to change for the better. A person who scores high on self-acceptance usually has a positive self-attitude. They are aware of and accept all aspects of themselves, good or bad. They are not self-critical or confused about their identity and they do not wish they were any different from who they already are. They hold awareness of their own strengths and weaknesses. They are realistic yet subjective of their own talents, their abilities and their general self-worth feeling of satisfaction with who they are despite deficiencies and regardless of past behaviors and choices. Some psychological benefits of self-acceptance include mood regulation, a decrease in depressive symptoms, and an increase in positive emotions.
So how to get more self-acceptance in our lives?
Sources: Psychology Today, Forbes, Anderson University, Mind owl
In the decades after the Civil War, thousands of farmers moved west into the Great Plains taking advantage of the cheap land provided by the Homestead Act. The act was signed by Abraham Lincoln on May 20th, 1862 to encourage Western migration. Under the act, settlers over the age of 21 could receive title to 162 acres of western land if they would build a house at least 12 by 14-feet in size and if they worked their land for five years.
Its impacts on the people and the future of the United States.
The idea of owning land prompted many people to file applications under the Homestead Act of 1862. Life was not easy; few understood or knew the difficulties they would face, from prairie fires to blizzards, drought, tornadoes, grasshoppers and more. 60% of all those who tried to become farmers failed, and some returned to the city. For others, there was nothing to return to, so they had to struggle and learn to survive. Those who managed to stay on their homesteads created an agricultural empire for a growing nation.
From the first homestead claimed by Daniel Freeman on January 1st, 1863, to the last homestead Kenneth Deardorff - who received that land patent in 1988 – the impact of the Homestead Act is still felt today. It is worth asking what the true cost was of giving up 270 million acres of public land, about 10 percent of the nation's land area, to private ownership.
For the prairie, the result of homesteading has been harsh; the land which for thousands of years remained intact has all disappeared in a few decades. Today, only small remnants of the once vast prairies remain. The American Indians, whose culture and way of life revolved around their connection to the land, have also been severely affected. Some tribes were moved from their ancestral lands to reservations, while others had their lands greatly reduced to make way for increasing colonization; the American Indians had no choice but to comply, at a very high cost.
The Homestead Act of 1862 was one of the most important and lasting events in the westward expansion of the United States. The Homestead Act also helped fuel the Industrial Age, as the ever-increasing need for goods in the West inspired the invention, production, and delivery of those goods. Farm equipment quickly moved from the use of hand tools to what we see today.
Life on the farm became easier with inventions like electricity, refrigerators, and indoor plumbing. One thing all homesteaders had in common was their desire for a better life for themselves and their children. During the 124 years of the Homestead Act, more than two million people filed homestead applications. Among these two million people, about 783,000, or 40 percent, have been successful. They met all of the government's requirements and were granted the patent for their property.
Today, over 90 million people are descendants of homesteaders. The Homestead Act of 1862 had a significant impact on the history of the United States.
Sources: National Park Service, History, Britannica, Archives, Khan Academy
The Donia festival, which means "beautiful life" in Malagasy Sakalava, is mainly focused on cultural exchanges between the different islands of the Indian Ocean. It is a cultural event created in 1993 by a group of friends. They envisioned to create a cultural festival in Nosy-Be, so they formed the association "COFESTIN" which is the organizing committee of the festival in the northwest of Madagascar.
The DONIA has become very popular part of the Malagasy culture.
As every year, the festival runs for five days and includes carnivals, concerts, motorized races, election of Miss and Mister Donia, and many other animations. The Donia festival sets the show in fire, in an atmosphere that goes beyond the borders of the country and sees the active participation of renowned groups from neighboring countries and islands.
Every evening for five days, a series of concerts gather more than 10 000 spectators. However, Donia does not only play an important role in the cultural identity of Nosy-Be; each year, the Donia festival generates jobs for the local population and important tourist revenues for the island.
The Donia is an event of regional scope which aims to bring audiences of all generations from all social and cultural backgrounds, around a rich, unifying and quality programming. The Donia can be described as a cultural proximity action in an urban setting. The festival is also designed to carry educational messages and to help the local population connect with each other and with professional artists.
The purpose of the artistic program is to promote the mixing of artistic genres and to bring people together around the same open-mindedness. All the proposed activities are imagined with the aim of giving to artists and all the participants the opportunity to bloom and express themselves. In a warm setting, the audience can participate in many activities: creative workshops to spread good practices, shows to entertain and gamble, themed walks to discover and enjoy the city of perfume and its surroundings.
As for the artists' hosting, the setting up and dismantling of the structures, the welcoming preparation, many local inhabitants generously and enthusiastically offer their help.
Nowadays, Donia is recognized as one of the most attended festivals in the northwest region of the Indian Ocean. It has become one of the most original among festivals, and the only one based on the theme of sustainable development. Over the years, it has become firmly rooted in the region. The festival has become a real touristic event and gives Nosy-Be and its surroundings a certain level of attraction. Festival attendees discover the richness of the territory, its natural and architectural heritage, and the local population.
It is no surprise that last year’s 27th edition of Donia scheduled for 27th to 31st May 2020 has been postponed. Even though it is expected to happen this year, no official date has been released yet.
Sources: Madagascar Treasure Island, Nosy-Be Tourisme
Throughout Madagascar's history, like some other countries in the world, hair type has always been a subject of discrimination. It is quite a sensitive topic within the Malagasy community, and it is not often talked about. In central Madagascar where the dominant ethnic group is the Merina - originally from Malaysia and Indonesia, the dominant beauty standard remains straight hair; and people with curly or afro hair are often victims of stigmatizing remarks.
Such discriminations rooted in the ancient history of Madagascar. Generally speaking, hair types were associated with castes. In the past, light-skinned individuals with straight hair belonged to the noble class and dark-skinned individuals with frizzy hair to the slave one. It is true that slavery was officially abolished in Madagascar in 1896, but still, prejudices persist.
For this reason, having a blow-dry every week is an almost common practice for women in Antananarivo. There are hair salons all over the capital, but they are mostly specialized in straightening and rarely in treating curly or afro hair.
Therefore, the taboo of curly hair has been broken by some young girls in Madagascar.
Many Malagasy women have recently decided to stop straightening and accept their natural hair. They have started to become “Nappy” — that movement which advocates the return of natural hair—in their own ways. More recently, quite a few groups and communities on Facebook have been created to encourage Malagasy people with curly, afro, or frizzy hair to accept their natural hair and not to fit in the standard of society. It is not just about showing off beautiful pictures on Facebook; the challenge is much bigger: it is about imposing oneself in society and assuming one’s hairstyle.
For Rotsy Koloina Andriamanantsoa, a young Malagasy actress, going back to her natural and curly hair has only brought positive changes in her life:
"I am more than ever proud of myself, proud of my hair. I feel free and I am not afraid of rain or sweating or anything that could damage my blow-dry. I live better now because I accept myself as I am. I accept my hair and I am not the only one, which is reassuring. We are all beautiful. It is true that it is not easy to live under certain social and cultural pressures. It is tiring to hear that only having straight hair makes you look pretty. Just be proud of yourself, and do not be afraid to show your true nature because there is no more wonderful thing than accepting yourself and taking care of what is created for you."
Source: Curly Aho Community, Rotsy Koloina Andriamanantsoa
Here we go again for another form of lockdown, a new lifestyle that can be somewhat difficult to live with, depending on everyone and his or her living conditions. Of course, living in social isolation does not make life easier, but on the other hand, living together in crowded conditions or in small houses may generate tensions within the family as well. In fact, stopping or pausing one's social, professional, or other activities may lead to a loss of meaning, a loss of hope, and consequently to the onset of demoralization and depression. Fortunately, here are solutions offered by a psychiatrist, Professor Antoine Pelissolo from Poznan University of Medical Sciences, to overcome depression, particularly in the period of isolation.
First of all, the most important thing to do is to maintain a lifestyle that is as close to normal as possible, especially in terms of sleep patterns—in order to be able to recover normally—, meal and activity schedules that are closer to normal life, even in the form of a certain ritualization. It is also necessary to keep social and emotional contacts as rich as possible through phone calls or internet exchanges.
Furthermore, it is truly important to remain kind to oneself. Of course, negative emotions, fear, sadness, anger, and frustration are tough to bear; but you need to accept them as normal reactions. What is more, it is highly needed to create positive emotions which are based on pleasure, relaxation, interests; and to hold onto many enjoyable moments, which may be somewhat trivial, as rewards for getting through this difficult period.
Lockdown is a long tunnel of which we cannot exactly determine its final exit, but we can be certain that it will someday come to an end. Therefore, it is better to rely on the values that are the reason for lockdown measures. Staying at home means protecting yourself, as well as protecting others and the health care system. Calling on these resources and on the values of solidarity is very helpful, as well as on spiritual and personal values which can be very useful in this situation.
Finally, if you struggle overcoming depression, professional help may be necessary. There is always therapy available to help you even during the period of lockdown.
Sources: Top Doctor United Kingdom, Poznan University of Medical Sciences
Marojejy is one of the most beautiful and wildest regions of Madagascar. It is a unique place in the world, with dense and lush rainforests, steep and high cliffs, and plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. If you feel like it, you can admire an ancient fossil of the famous Takthajania perrieri, a plant from the dinosaur period, discovered 120 million years ago.
As Henri Humbert said in 1938 about Marojejy Park, "It is a wonder of nature.” The famous French botanist was not mistaken: Marojejy, located 40 km from Andapa in northeastern Madagascar, is indeed one of the world's last primary rainforests. When the Regional Tourism Office's director mentions the site, the numbers go wild: 177 species of birds, 275 species of ferns, and 11 species of lemurs, including the famous silky sifaka. This white lemur has been constantly monitored since 2001 by Erik Patel, researcher at Duke's Lemur Center. Leaping from tree to tree, a sifaka spends a quarter of the day feeding on fruits and leaves, the rest of the time, it is at rest. However, this species is in danger of extinction. It is estimated that only a few hundred individuals remain in Marojejy and Anjanaharibe-Sud. Deforestation and hunting are to blame.
Despite the incredible biodiversity, visitors are not flocking to Marojejy. Only 1,400 tourists in 2012 walked the trails of this 2,100-meter high mountain. The mountain pales in comparison to the giant Isalo and its 30,000 visitors. However, it is precisely in its isolation that the park draws a striking charm. Steep paths, tangled branches and roots, Marojejy is a playground for young and old hikers. According to Joxe Jaofeno, former director of the ONTM –Office National du Tourisme de Madagascar—Marojejy is unique in more ways than one; it is one of the last.
Marojejy Park has remained untouched, and we encounter a shrub with brilliant green leaves dating back to the prehistoric era, the Takhtajania perrieri. Moreover, the area is well managed. Local authorities and villagers work together to maintain an ecosystem in balance. An association of women takes care of the cleaning of the site while the children of the 38 villages around are sensitized about its protection. More than a park, Marojejy is a global ecotourism development project. This is why the site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
What can you do in Marojejy Park?
There are plenty of activities in Marojejy Park for sports enthusiasts. The park offers many camps to stay in. After walking through the meandering rainforest, you will be eager to relax. The most adventurous visitors can cross the park in a more sportive way during special activities such as treks or specialized hikes. Many service providers will offer you personalized trekking or hiking hours, where you can admire the rich and colorful nature that the Marojejy offers.
Sources : Office National du Tourisme de Madagascar (ONTM), Madagascar Treasure Island
You log on to your computer just like you used to do everyday; but you only see your screen locked and your device unable to boot up. A message requesting money or bitcoins appears instead. It is important for every computer or mobile device user to address ransomware threats.
What is a ransomware?
Ransomware is a form of malicious software or malware which restricts access to your computer or mobile device or encrypts data until you pay a ransom in exchange for accessing your device or data again. One typical example of ransomware is called ded cryptor which locks your devices and files until you agree to pay a ransom which can reach more than 1,000 dollars. This form of cyber blackmail is one of the most dangerous forms of malware today and one that is spreading rapidly worldwide. The number of victims of ransomware keeps on rising, along with continued increase in ransomware modifications. That makes it a constantly evolving threat.
Two forms of ransomware are currently the most widely used around the world Locker and Crypto ransomware.
Locker ransomware locks you out of basic computer functions forcing you to pay bitcoins to regain control. Crypto ransomware on the other hand encrypts sensitive data like documents and important files threatening to destroy them unless you a pay a fee. The three main ways ransomware can infect your computer is through spam, spear phishing and watering hole attacks. Scareware tactics are also used to spread ransomware by creating fake software or messages purporting to be from a legitimate source, but actually demand you to pay a ransom to regain control of your computer.
What can you do to make your device protected?
As dangerous as ransomware is, you are not helpless against it. It is essential to be aware of how ransomware is spread and what kind of defensive measures you can take to stop it before it becomes a serious problem. Avoid phishing scams that spread ransomware by not opening any suspicious emails or links and avoid visiting any suspicious website that may contain ransomware.
Know how to recognize scareware tactics by cybercriminals too. Be sure to back up your computer or mobile device and always use up-to-date internet security software equipped with specific anti-ransomware technologies. Above all, never pay a ransom as it only emboldens the cyber criminals behind these scams. Stay vigilant and invest in trusted security software today.
Sources: The New York Times, Kaspersky, Avast
Do you consider yourself a procrastinator? Do you ever find that despite a ton of work to do, you end up distracting yourself with unrelated conversations, random videos or maybe even chores? Maybe that is what you are doing right now. Procrastination is a very common behavior where people end up doing something at the very last minute, despite having plenty of time beforehand.
Nevertheless, it might not be a sign of laziness or an inability to concentrate. Procrastination is defined as the action of delaying or postponing something. In modern life, this can refer to anything—whether it be household chores, completing a report for work or writing a dissertation. The common thread that connects postponed tasks—which are affected by procrastinating—is that they are not seen as fun in their accomplishment, but rather, stressful.
Fortunately, these are three helpful methods to stop procrastinating.
1. Divide you work into small steps. It is like eating an elephant. How do we eat an elephant? Of course, it should be one bite at a time. You need time to digest, or you are going to get sick. It is quite better to reward yourself for getting through parts of the project rather than wait until the whole thing is over. Organize that project into small bite-sized manageable segments. Think about what needs to get done and set a list of what you are going to be doing to tackle this project hour by hour, and make sure it is specific. By breaking down this giant project into smaller tasks, this elephant will become a lot less daunting.
2. Make the motivation come into play. The hardest part about starting any project is the start itself. A good way to get around this is to start a project off with the tasks you like the best. When you do something that you like, your brain releases dopamine—which makes you happy and highly motivated. Maybe it can be decorating the cover of your report or putting on your favorite playlist while tidying your room.
3. Ignore the siren’s song. This one is straight out of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. In the Odyssey, our protagonist Ulysses is trying to get home. Unfortunately, this requires maneuvering through a straight of water where sailors are often lured onto the rocks by creatures called sirens. Instead of giving up, Odyssey instructs his crew to tie him to the mast of his ship and for all of them to plug their ears no matter how much he yells and screams to head towards the beautiful sirens. That way, the sailors have to keep on track. In fact, this is not to say that you need to tie yourself up to anything, but you can plan to clear any distractions that will hamper your ability to procrastinate later.
Sources: Psychology Today, Lifehack, Mindful
The current global COVID-19 pandemic is changing the way we live. Learning at university has changed as well. Recently, pursuing face-to-face lectures is no longer possible. Classes have moved completely online. Unfortunately, it is also easier to get distracted and feel unmotivated. Here are just some of the many ways you can rise to the challenge during these troubling times and stay motivated.
Make a daily routine. At the university, in normal times, you have a specific routine to boost you through the day. Morning lessons, break, mid-morning lessons, lunch, afternoon lessons, home. This routine helps you feel motivated as you already know exactly what you need to do every day. However, studying at home can be challenging because it is not that easy to set up that routine. So, try setting a few tasks for the next day the night before, create a morning routine, and get ready for the day. With a routine to guide you throughout the day, tasks will seem less pointless as you check them off.
Make sure your goals are achievable and, like a normal school or workday, give yourself appropriate breaks to switch off and eat. If possible, schedule a time to get out of the house and take a walk or do some home workout. This can give you energy for the day and release the inevitable build-up of stress. It also makes you feel good and puts you in a better frame of mind for the rest of the day.
When making a to-do list, write down the top priorities, the things you would like to do, and the things you can do if you have time. This way, you will feel successful even if you only do your priorities, and you can put off other tasks until the next day.
You do not need to feel guilty. Everyone is feeling a little down at the moment. Taking care of yourself is even more important than usual. Take time to watch your favorite show, take a bath, listen to music, meditate, or exercise. While doing this, you can freshen up and prepare yourself for the next day.
Just because you feel like you failed today, did not do enough, or did not do what you wanted to do; does not mean you must carry that disappointment over to tomorrow. Spend some time with yourself and allow yourself to be forgiven. If you feel compelled to stay up late and get everything done, you can write a list for the next day with priorities at the top. All of us have days that are not fruitful, and that is perfectly normal.
Try not to let COVID-19 anxiety overwhelm you. Covid-19 has caused anxiety for many reasons but let us do what we can to stop living in perpetual fear. For as long as you do your best to stay safe, toe the government line, and remain reasonable, you can try to consider this a genuine accomplishment. Just keep in mind that the world will eventually revert back to normal, and this situation will not last for eternity. Meanwhile, continue to celebrate your daily wins, remind yourself that you are trying your best and do not feel guilty. One last thing, try to stay in touch with your friends and family.
Sources: Northern Council for Further Education, Young minds
May Day is celebrated in 80 countries around the world as Labor Day. What about this strange idea: a day off in honor of work itself? In fact, that's what Labor Day is, celebrated in the U.S. and Canada on the first Monday of every September and on May 1st for the rest of the world.
The first Labor Day’s History.
On September 5th, 1882, the first Labor Day was celebrated in New York, when thousands of American workers and their families came to Union Square to spend a day in the park. It was not a national holiday but was organized by a union to honor workers and their hard work with a rare day of rest, halfway between the July 4th and Thanksgiving. There were picnics and a parade, but there were also protests. Workers gathered, not only to rest and celebrate, but to demand fair wages, an end to child labor, and the right to organize into unions.
During the period known as the Industrial Revolution, many jobs were hard, dirty and dangerous. People worked 12-hour days, six days a week, with no benefits, such as vacations, health care and pensions, and if you were young, you might work in manual labor instead of learning to read, write and solve fractions. Children as young as 10 worked in some of the most dangerous places, like coal mines or factories full of boiling vats or dangerous machines.
In order to win better pay, fewer hours and safer conditions, workers had begun to form unions in America and Canada, but the companies they worked for often fought hard to oust the unions and suppress strikes. Sometimes this led to violent fights between workers and company owners, where the owners were often backed by the police or even the army.
In some years that followed, the idea of Labor Day took hold in America with official celebrations reaching 30 states. But then came the violent Haymarket Square riot in 1886, which led to the death of several Chicago police officers, workers and the execution of four union leaders. After that, many labor and political groups around the world began celebrating Haymarket Square on May 1st, which became known as "International Workers' Day”.
In 1894, President Grover Cleveland ratified the law-making Labor Day a holiday in America, just days after he sent 12,000 troops to end a violent railroad strike that left many dead. The original September date was retained, in part to avoid the more radical May Day associations.
Sources: Britannica, History
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