Healthy Futures Foundation

08/09/2025

Ashes of the Living

Origins

The house sang in broken chords.
Love existed, yes—
but jagged,
bitten through with arguments,
stitched with apologies
that frayed as fast as they were spoken.

Mother clung with sweetness too heavy,
her arms vines that bound
as much as they comforted.
Father bore duty like a whip—
stern, devout, relentless,
measuring devotion in sacrifice,
weighing worth in obedience.

Four children were forged in that furnace:
one who left the world too soon,
one who fled across oceans,
one who stayed, kneeling to their needs,
and me—
the avoidant,
the one who slipped away,
who carved silence into a shield,
who mistook distance for safety.

The Fracture

I grew, but my roots never deepened.
Every dream sprouted, then withered.
Plans rose like scaffolding
only to collapse under hesitation,
under my own refusal to hold.

I blamed bad luck.
But the truth was simpler:
I could not stay.
I could not finish.
I could not breathe
within the walls I built myself.

Love came as fever—
burning hot by night,
ash by morning.
Bodies pressed close,
sweat silencing voices for an hour.
But permanence?
That was for others.
I was always the interlude,
never the epilogue.

The Leaving

Then came the years of flesh.
The city, a hunting ground—
nights thick with smoke and sweat.
Pills lit the neurons like fireworks,
powders drew thin white doors of escape,
and nameless lovers gave me glimpses
of heaven disguised as oblivion.

I worshiped at the altar of skin,
at the gospel of lust.
Obligations lay wrecked behind me.
Why chase ladders
when they only led to cages?
Why settle for duty
when ecstasy dripped
from strangers’ lips,
when God Himself
whispered chemical hallelujahs?

For a while I was infinite—
a star burning too fast, too bright.
Each climax eternal,
each comedown rehearsal for death.
And still I returned,
again and again,
to the ruinous paradise of the night.

The Return to Obligation

But the world demands its tithe.
Cooperation. Conformity.
Smile, shake hands, sign papers,
pay bills, nod politely.

I climbed, half-hearted,
into offices, into networks,
into the brittle choreography of belonging.
But my hands were slippery,
my heart elsewhere,
my eyes always flicking back to shadow,
where temptation mocked
the dull obedience of daylight.

So I played my part—
half-loyal partner,
half-son at the deathbed,
half-sibling, half-friend.
Always halfway,
never whole.

The Parents’ Decline

Now I watch them unravel.

Mother choosing dementia,
her smile wandering,
her eyes strangers,
her words looping like broken hymns
that still pierce me.

Father, rigid to the end,
stooped beneath the weight of duty.
His love—cracked and imperfect—
still pulses beneath the sternness,
still breaks with every sigh.

Together, tragic and tender,
sweet in their dysfunction,
a fire sputtering but not extinguished.
They will be split, inevitably—
by the theft of memory,
by the silence of a final breath.
And I stand helpless,
grasping fragments
before they vanish.

The Siblings

One gone forever,
a ghost haunting my dreams.
One gone across oceans,
their voice reduced to static.
One kneeling at the parents’ altar,
sacrificing self for their care.
And me—
the watcher,
the avoider,
the one who carries envy
and disdain in equal measure.

My Own Reckoning

I turn to my partner,
sleeping beside me,
warm, alive—
yet I feel the distance.

Why should he stay?
The sauna beckons,
the carousel of trysts spins,
muscle and wit chase flattery,
and age chases them all.
The lure is stronger than permanence.
I know it.
I would leave me too.

So I tell myself not to fight.
Why demand fidelity
in a world built on hunger?
I let the possibility of loss
sink into my bones,
pretending it doesn’t matter.

But it does.
God, it does.

The Street

And always—the streets.
Beggars crouched on corners,
palms stretched open,
eyes emptied but for need.
I see myself in them.

But for grace, I whisper.
But grace is fickle,
grace is fragile.
And I fear one day
my scaffolding will collapse completely,
and I will be the one
with nothing left
but an outstretched hand.

The Inheritance

This is what I inherit:
a family stitched with dysfunction,
a love that endured despite itself,
a lineage of fracture, loyalty, and loss.

And me—
a half-lived life,
dreams abandoned,
plans buried,
nights squandered on bliss and ruin.

It is not the legacy of children,
nor the permanence of hearth and home.
It is ashes.
But even ashes hold warmth.
Even ashes prove there was fire.

The Final Breath

So I breathe, for now.
Rise, for now.
Stumble forward—
half-built, half-undone.

I watch my parents fade,
watch love endure and fracture,
watch the world demand and punish,
while the streets whisper my name.

One day, their last breath will fall.
One day, my own will follow.
Between those two silences—
this is what I have:

This inheritance of ashes.
This fragile, unbearable life

06/09/2025

The Great British Hypocrisy: Blocking Asylum While Holding on to Africa’s Wealth

When the British government announces new schemes to stop asylum seekers from entering the UK, it does so under the guise of protecting its borders, sovereignty, and economy. Yet, the very crises driving people to leave their homes—poverty, conflict, climate vulnerability—are inextricably linked to centuries of British colonial extraction and the ongoing global financial structures that keep Africa and the wider Global South in economic chains.

This is the great hypocrisy: Britain cries foul about migration, but never about the historic and present-day flows of wealth that keep its economy afloat.

A Nation Built on Extraction

The United Kingdom’s wealth did not spring from industriousness alone. It was built on the back of colonial looting, slavery, and the exploitation of Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Britain extracted gold, diamonds, oil, and countless natural resources, while also stripping colonized nations of human potential through forced labor and systemic underdevelopment.

Even after empire formally ended, the money kept flowing. When Britain abolished slavery in 1833, it compensated slave owners with £20 million—around £16.5 billion in today’s value—while the formerly enslaved received nothing. That single payout amounted to nearly 40% of the British Treasury’s annual budget at the time, showing just how deeply Britain’s economy was tied to exploitation.

Today, the legacy continues.

How Africa’s Wealth Still Leaves the Continent

Far from being “aid-dependent,” Africa is a net creditor to the world. Each year, billions leak out of the continent through illicit flows, tax dodging, smuggling, and debt servicing:
• Illicit financial flows (IFFs): The UN estimates Africa loses about $88.6 billion every year, roughly 3.7% of the continent’s GDP—more than what it receives in aid.
• Extractive industries: According to the UN Economic Commission for Africa, up to $40 billion is lost annually through manipulations in mining, oil, and gas exports.
• Trade mis-invoicing: The under- and over-reporting of commodity exports robs Africa of $30–52 billion each year. Countries suffering high IFFs spend 25% less on healthcare and 58% less on education compared to their peers.
• Gold smuggling: A Swissaid report revealed that in 2022 alone, $30 billion worth of gold—435 tonnes—was illegally smuggled out of Africa, mostly to Dubai, Switzerland, and Turkey. Over the last decade, that figure reaches $115 billion.
• Debt servicing: Many African governments spend more on external debt payments than on health or education combined. In some cases, repayments are 10 times greater than healthcare budgets. Nearly 90% of low-income African countries’ debts to private creditors are governed under English law, giving the UK disproportionate control over their economic futures.

Could This Be the Real Reason for Brexit?

Brexit was sold to the British public as a matter of sovereignty, border control, and escaping Brussels bureaucracy. But scratch the surface, and a deeper question emerges:

Was Brexit also about protecting London’s role as the global laundromat for wealth—much of it extracted from Africa and the Global South?

The City of London is not just a financial hub; it sits at the centre of a vast web of offshore secrecy jurisdictions—the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Jersey, Guernsey, and Gibraltar—where trillions are hidden away in tax-free, unregulated zones. Academic research estimates that about 40% of global offshore wealth is controlled through Britain and its network of overseas territories and crown dependencies.

For Africa, this is not abstract. Oil profits from Nigeria, mining kickbacks from the DRC, gold smuggled out of Sudan—all find their way into accounts in London or its offshore satellites. The EU had been pushing for tougher transparency rules, stricter corporate registries, and action against tax havens. Staying in the EU risked exposing the flows of illicit wealth that Britain has quietly profited from for decades.

By leaving, the UK insulated the City of London’s offshore empire from EU oversight, ensuring that it could continue to serve as the “sinkhole” for illicit wealth—while publicly distracting voters with talk of migrants crossing the Channel.

So perhaps Brexit was never really about sovereignty or fish or even immigration. Perhaps it was about sovereignty over secrecy—the sovereignty to keep laundering Africa’s money.

Migration as Blowback

When African or Middle Eastern asylum seekers arrive in Europe, they are often fleeing instability, much of which has roots in imperial meddling. From Britain’s role in the Iraq war to its quiet backing of exploitative mining deals in Africa, the hands of the UK are rarely clean.

To then turn around and brand these asylum seekers as “illegals,” undeserving of shelter or dignity, is moral bankruptcy at its highest. Britain benefits from the global imbalance but wants no part of the human cost.

What If Africa Took Its Money Back?

Imagine if Africa and the wider Global South refused to play along. If nations united and demanded the return of stolen colonial wealth, reparations for centuries of extraction, and an end to the debt trap, Britain’s economy would be shaken to its core.

The City of London thrives because of financial flows rooted in empire. Strip that away, and the so-called fifth-largest economy in the world would look remarkably fragile.

Just retaining the $89 billion lost annually would mean:
• Universal healthcare for hundreds of millions.
• Massively expanded education systems.
• Investment in infrastructure, climate resilience, and job creation.

That reinvestment would reduce the very drivers of forced migration—poverty, unemployment, and conflict—while exposing the hypocrisy of Britain’s asylum stance.

A Call for Global Reversal

The British government wants to slam its doors shut on asylum seekers while keeping open its vaults for Africa’s wealth. But justice demands the opposite: open doors to those fleeing hardship, and the closure of loopholes that siphon wealth out of the Global South.

Africa and the developing world must begin to think collectively. The time is ripe to demand reparations, renegotiate trade and debt terms, and strategically redirect resources away from Western dependency.

For too long, Britain has had it both ways—profiting from Africa’s riches while demonizing Africans seeking refuge. The day the Global South decides to “take back the money” will reveal just how dependent Britain remains on the very nations it once colonized.

And perhaps then, the hypocrisy will finally be laid bare.

10/02/2025

Reflections on "To Hell and Back": The Haunting Legacy of Nuclear Devastation

Charles Pellegrino's "To Hell and Back" is a devastating chronicle that forces readers to confront one of humanity's darkest moments - the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Through intimate survivor accounts (hibakusha), the book peels away the sanitized layers of historical narrative to reveal the raw, horrific reality of nuclear warfare.

The personal testimonies are almost unbearable to read: people's shadows permanently etched into walls, victims whose eyes melted in their sockets, mothers carrying their dead children's bones in bags, and survivors who witnessed their loved ones literally disappear in flashes of unimaginable light. These accounts don't just tell us what happened - they make us feel the terror, confusion, and profound loss that echoed through generations.

The question of accountability for these actions remains contentious. While the bombings predated the modern international human rights framework (the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948), the scale of civilian casualties and long-term effects would today be considered potential violations of international humanitarian law? However, the context of total war and the argument of preventing even greater casualties through an invasion of Japan have been used to justify these actions historically.

Yet, this raises disturbing parallels to modern conflicts. From Vietnam to Iraq, from Syria to Yemen, we continue to see actions that raise serious questions about civilian casualties and human rights violations. The international community's selective application of human rights standards and accountability mechanisms often seems to depend more on geopolitical power dynamics than consistent moral principles.

Pellegrino's work serves as more than just a historical account - it's a warning about the true cost of warfare and the dangers of dehumanizing others. The book forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about moral responsibility, justice, and the often-arbitrary nature of who faces consequences for actions during wartime.

The aftermath of the atomic bombings established a troubling precedent: powerful nations can sometimes act with impunity, even when their actions result in unprecedented civilian casualties. This pattern has unfortunately persisted through subsequent conflicts, where stronger nations have often avoided full accountability for their actions in war.

The hibakusha's stories remind us that beyond political justifications and military strategies lie real human beings - mothers, fathers, children, and entire communities whose lives were forever altered. Their testimonies challenge us to question the notion that any military objective can justify such widespread civilian suffering.

As we reflect on these events and their modern parallels, we must ask ourselves: Have we truly learned from this history? While the international community has developed mechanisms like the International Criminal Court and various human rights treaties, their enforcement remains inconsistent, often failing to hold powerful nations accountable.

The book's most powerful message might be its illustration of war's futility and the urgent need to prevent such catastrophes from recurring. In an era where nuclear weapons continue to proliferate and military conflicts persist, these survivors' stories serve as crucial reminders of what's at stake when we fail to pursue peaceful solutions.

Reading "To Hell and Back" should compel us to work harder for peace, to strengthen international law, and to ensure more consistent application of human rights standards regardless of a nation's political or military power. The tears we shed while reading these accounts should fuel our determination to prevent history from repeating itself.

The question isn't just about why America wasn't held accountable then, but rather how we can create a world where such actions would be unthinkable now - where international law is applied equally and where the human cost of warfare is never again dismissed as mere collateral damage.

08/08/2024

Letter from Uncle Daddy - No. 5

Dear Kerishna,
I hope this letter finds you well, my dear niece. Today, I want to share with you a profound lesson I've learned that has deeply impacted my life – one that I believe can also be valuable for your own journey.
Growing up, I experienced a significant transition when I moved from a Catholic school to a government school in Mitchell's Plain. It was there that I realized I was quite different from my peers – I was not as "butch" or aggressive as them, but rather more effeminate in my demeanor. These differences often led to bullying, harassment, and even outright discrimination.
These experiences highlighted an important truth: people tend to use judgment as a weapon to dehumanize or control others, simply because it's easier than confronting their own biases and fears. As I grew older, I had relationships with women, not because that's who I was truly attracted to, but because I thought it would help me be accepted. The journey of coming to terms with one's sexuality can be fraught with internal conflict, especially in a society that may label being gay as wrong or unnatural.
The difficulty of thinking through these complex emotions can lead to self-judgment, a process that mirrors the external judgment experienced from others. I looked at the love my parents shared, which I had classified as "dysfunctionally functional," because I believed my orientation precluded me from being loved or even being worthy of love. This self-belief and need for acceptance led me on an interesting journey of psychological self-harm, a desperate need to fit in, and poor choices driven by a desire to be liked by everyone.
It was only when I realized that I had been conditioned to believe I wasn't worthy of love that I also recognized a profound truth: people really do find it difficult to think, which is why they spend so much time judging others. This realization was a turning point for me.
Today, I work in the abortion space because I choose to think, to make a difference, and to add value in a space often characterized by judgment and stigma. I've learned that the path of least resistance is to judge, but the true challenge lies in the courage to think, to understand, and to empathize.
Kerishna, I share this with you because I believe it's a lesson that can empower you to navigate the complexities of life with greater clarity and compassion. Remember, the easiest path is often the one of judgment, but the most meaningful one is the one that requires us to think deeply, to challenge our biases, and to see the humanity in one another.
I'm here to support you on your own journey of self-discovery and growth. May you always strive to think, to understand, and to make a positive difference in the lives of those around you.
With love and admiration,
Uncle Daddy

04/08/2024

https://chng.it/gdhGXG4sp8

🚨 This Women’s Month: Stop the Exploitation and Abuse of Women 🚨

As we celebrate Women’s Month, let’s not forget the urgent fight we’re still facing. Illegal women’s health clinics are exploiting, ra**ng, and even murdering women across South Africa. These dangerous operations, advertised on social media, lead to horrific outcomes—loss of reproductive ability, severe complications, and death.

One woman who came to our clinic endured unimaginable trauma after being lured by these false promises. Her story is just one of many.

This Women’s Month, we’re taking a stand. We’ve launched a petition demanding that social media platforms take responsibility and shut down these illegal providers. But we need your help.

Please SHARE this petition far and wide. Every signature brings us closer to protecting our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends from this nightmare. Let’s honor Women’s Month by ensuring the safety and dignity of all women.

Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can save lives. 💔



https://chng.it/gdhGXG4sp8

Demand Social Media Platforms Curb the Proliferation of Illegal Women's Health Clinics

12/04/2024

In a world that often rewards stoicism and self-reliance, the idea of vulnerability can seem almost counterintuitive. We're taught to don the armour of emotional detachment, to shield ourselves from the perceived dangers of opening up and letting our guard down. But what if I told you that true power lies not in the fortification of our defenses, but in the courageous embrace of our vulnerabilities?

As both a novice and experienced esoteric practitioner, I've come to understand that vulnerability is not a weakness, but a gateway to profound personal transformation. It is the portal through which we access the deepest wellsprings of our authentic selves, unveiling the undiscovered realms of our divinity.

Contrary to popular belief, vulnerability is not about exposing our flaws or surrendering our power. Rather, it is the act of consciously shedding the layers of conditioning, fear, and self-doubt that have kept us from fully embodying our truth. It is the willingness to stand naked before the world, to embrace the raw, unfiltered essence of who we are, without the need for armour or artifice.

When we courageously step into the unknown territory of vulnerability, we unlock a wellspring of esoteric power that has the potential to catalyze profound personal growth and spiritual awakening. By embracing our deepest fears, insecurities, and shadows, we create the space for true healing and transformation to occur.

It is within the crucible of vulnerability that we confront the fragmented aspects of our psyche, the parts of ourselves we've long denied or disowned. This process of self-exploration and integration is the heart of the esoteric path, for it is only by integrating our darkness that we can truly embody the fullness of our light.

As we peel back the layers of our protective armour, we find that the essence of our being is not fragile, but infinitely powerful and resilient. Vulnerability is the doorway to our most profound strength, for it is only through the embrace of our authentic selves that we can access the boundless reserves of our inner resources.

In a world that often rewards the outward display of strength and confidence, the act of vulnerability can be a radical and revolutionary gesture. It is a defiant proclamation of our willingness to stand in the face of uncertainty and embrace the unknown. It is the courageous choice to let go of the need for control and surrender to the sacred unfolding of our lives.

When we allow ourselves to be truly vulnerable, we open the door to a level of intimacy and connection that is simply not possible when we remain behind the walls of our defences. It is in these moments of profound vulnerability that we forge the deepest and most meaningful bonds with ourselves and others, transcending the boundaries of the ego and tapping into the universal wellspring of our shared humanity.

The journey of embracing vulnerability is not an easy one; it requires us to confront our deepest fears, and to let go of the familiar patterns and narratives that have kept us safe, but ultimately limited. It demands that we face the unknown with courage and curiosity, trusting in the process of our own transformation.

Yet, in doing so, we unlock the doorway to a level of self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and self-love that is truly profound. We discover that the vulnerabilities we once perceived as weaknesses are, in fact, the very wellsprings of our strength and resilience. We learn to embrace our imperfections, our flaws, our shadows, and to see them not as burdens, but as the richly textured tapestry of our unique and beautiful humanity.

As we continue to explore the esoteric realms of our being, we find that vulnerability is not just a personal journey, but a sacred act of service to the world around us. When we dare to show up authentically, share our stories, and connect with others from a place of raw honesty, we inspire and empower those who witness our bravery.

In doing so, we become catalysts for a collective shift in consciousness, a rippling wave of transformation that transcends the boundaries of our individual lives. For when we dare to unveil our vulnerabilities, we not only liberate ourselves, but we also open the door for others to do the same, creating a profound and lasting impact on the world around us.

So, my fellow explorers of the esoteric realms, I invite you to embrace the power of vulnerability. To step out from behind the armor that has kept you safe, but ultimately constrained. To trust in the process of your transformation, to surrender to the sacred unfolding of your life, and to discover the boundless wellsprings of your divinity.

In doing so, you will not only unlock the secrets of your inner power, but you will also become a beacon of inspiration and empowerment for all who cross your path. Together, let us forge a new path, one that celebrates the beauty and strength inherent in our vulnerabilities, and ushers in a new era of authentic, soulful living.

23/10/2023

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30/09/2023

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29/09/2023

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26/09/2023

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