Illumination.

Today my state of carefree, summer-loving-ecstasy has been broken.
Well and truly.

And while I know that tomorrow I will again wake with hope and optimism, right now I need to bask in my own anger.

I know there is injustice in the world. I know there is a need for balance. I KNOW that I cannot change these things in my lifetime, on my own. I accept this, it no longer makes me feel depressed or hopeless or useless. But it still makes me angry. Ultimately, fuels me to grip onto my aspirations with all the strength I have. I clench my fists until nail marks are imprinted into my palms.

I was born in Kabwe Mine Hospital in Zambia, on the outskirts of Lusaka almost 20 years ago. I've had the fortune of being born to a good family, a financially stable family, two educated parents with incredible intelligence, opportunity and ability.

But if not? I would either be dead or in a state of suffering. And THAT is the reality that angers me. Lupe Fiasco described it as the rape of Africa. Settlers, colonised the countries they discovered, introduced 'progress', mined the land for all the riches they could find, and then left, leaving a history of brutality and apartheid, debris, instability and unrest.

And today when I searched for my birthplace, I found this: Kabwe- Africa's most toxic city.
Want to know why? Because years ago a massive lead-mining industry was set up. We all know the health issues associated with lead. But get this, the whole thing was completely unregulated until 1997- 3 years after the industry was shut down. And so now, all that's left is soil contamination, air pollution and children with 4-10 times the acceptable lead levels. And ok, just to clarify, the mines were government-run, so my previous rant about colonisation may not be exactly justifiable in this case BUT! The ridiculousness of the lack of regulation is.

Worse still is the lack of medical expertise available to these people, and testing resources. We live in a land of plenty. More than plenty. And I just remembered WHY I'm doing what I'm doing. And I feel stupid for my lack of awareness about these things. And sad. But mostly empowered. Reinforced empowerment.