Fatimana died, we don't know what she died from yet we buried her this week, a gentle ceremony in a harsh and unforgiving landscape.
There on the edges of civilization in the heat, dust and poverty of the Air Mountains we laid her to rest, my aunt by mutual adoption left us, yet the memories of her burn strong in my heart.
I sit now in my air conditioned hotel room short hours away by our technological miracles, yet light years away in our neglect.
Fatimana, who showed so much courage to the world and had a dignity so rare upon this earth, died because she did not dare show weakness in a mans world.
May she be at peace, and her spirit glide upon the desert breeze.
The desert is a harsh and unforgiving place, the cultures of those who live within its embrace can be as brutal, yet within lies a reality we have lost, a rare dignity and acceptance of what life means when it can so easily be cut short.
Back in our pampered world its easy to forget just how brutal the world can be, yet all I can see is her smile and my ears remember her laugh. Joy can be found in the most desperate of places, for that reality, I cannot thank her enough.
Thank you, Fatimana for the reality you give me when I start to complain in this luxurious western world, if only you had been so lucky.
Now I remember once again for what we strive, and why we must continue.
Thank you Fatimana for showing me what dignity means.
Thank you Fatimana for giving me courage.
May we remember in our self inflicted austerity caused by our own greed to be generous to those who by our actions we are starving.
Climate change is man made, and our actions have consequences.
https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/...