With the chronic food insecurity and uncertain climate, the Sahel is continuing to look very fragile.

Robert Piper

Categorized in : Lifestyle

Failure assumes the world is black and white - no gray. I've come to find, it's all gray.

assuming black-and-white world

Watching the news inspires me to keep going and reminds me why I should never complain. I'm inspired by those who don't let others define them: Martin Luther King Jr., James Dean, Vincent Van Gogh, Hillary Clinton, Tennessee Williams, director Steve McQueen. They've all changed the conversation by making their voices heard.

voice kings inspire

I try to stay on top of my game physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I have great friends. That's key for me for: surrounding myself with people who are supportive and kind.

supportive keys people

I don't buy into the word "failure." I used to but not anymore. Trying not to fail is the opposite of art.

opposites trying art

That's the message in this report, the fundamental message: Someone has got to step back and put the interests of civilians at the top of the queue for a change, we talk about the unlivability of Gaza. When you're down to two hours of power a day and you have 60 percent youth unemployment rates... that unlivability threshold has been passed quite a long time ago.

I see this extraordinarily inhuman and unjust process of strangling gradually two million civilians in Gaza that really pose a threat to nobody.

In the media, in the NGO community, and even in the Defence Ministry, you'll find plenty of thoughtful Israelis that will recognize that, firstly, the current trajectory is threatening for Israel's security and that a stable and prosperous Gaza... is also good for Israeli security.

The pace of demolitions has exceeded any previous records and we are only in the fourth month of the year. We are very worried about what the rest of the year holds.

The EU needs to reflect on its strategy and how it's going to respond ... This can't be left unaddressed. It's a provocation.

We also need to talk about forms of seeking financial compensation or restitution by the occupying power.

We have entered a new and fairly disturbing phase in terms of the confrontation between international humanitarian law and the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.

The legal arguments we come across we don't believe are particularly strong, the rights of Palestinians in these zones are frankly being denied.

Declaring the area a firing zone is just an excuse.

This is not a community that arrived yesterday.

Countries are becoming more aware of how to manage risk...

International donors need more reassurance and signals that things are improving.

The violence and conflict has a devastating effect... it is casting a shadow across the region.