Here we see the one and only BMW R7 Prototype and that's a very rare motorcycle ! Build in 1934/1935 Number of production: 1 4 Stroke Boxer engine / Flat Twin 2 Cylinder 790ccm. 35 Bhp. / 5.000 rpm. 145 Kmh. / 90 Mph. Gear-shifter on the petroltank This is what BMBikes has to say about this remarkable motorcycle: Art Deco treasure After over seventy years languishing in a box the R 7 has been restored to its former glory. Although the motorcycle, manufactured in 1934, was only ever a prototype and never went into production it is one of the most important, innovative and visually stunning motorcycles ever produced. In BMW's internal model designation it was referred to as R 205 and in some postwar publications - including those from BMW itself - the bike is referred to as a prototype R17 or R 5. In fact the R 7 was always a distinct model that was the work of motorcycle engineer, Alfred Boning. Boning produced the R 7 to showcase both the design and engineering capabilities of BMW with the aim of turning it into a production model. It was a radical departure from accepted motorcycle design of the period, having enclosed bodywork, a pressed steel bridge frame and for the first time, telescopic front forks. The 1930s was a time of engagement with the fabulous and expressive world of Art Deco. The integrated design of the R 7, with its extravagantly valanced mudguards, clean flowing lines and extensive use of chrome and steel, perfectly encapsulated this era. It was a motorcycle like no other that had preceded it or, in many ways, has been produced since. Motorcycles had developed from the humble bicycle and that is what, at that time, they still very much resembled. Boning wanted to challenge that concept with the R 7. Gone was the old saddle fuel tank; in fact it was now hidden under the expansive bodywork - as is the case in many modern motorcycles. The chrome top cover housed the oil-pressure gauge and on the right hand side the 'H pattern', hand gear change. Hand gear change was common at that time but no one had made this form of cog swapping so neat and car like. It was an elegant and functional solution to changing gears. The rider sat on the sprung saddle and gripped the side covers (that opened to reveal the electrics) with his knees, with his feet housed and protected on the alloy footboards. The rotating disk digital speedo housed in the headlight section again was functional and different; following the style used in some prestige cars of the era. This was a motorcycle that had it been produced would have been aimed at the premium end of the market. A gentleman's express. The motor and the lower covers, along with the smooth rocker covers formed a visually clean surface tapering down toward the non-rotating rear axle. This ran parallel to the upper bodywork and flowed into the rear mudguard and was highlighted by the uniquely shaped exhaust. It was just one of many examples of form and function in perfect synergy. Even the taillight is sculptured in shape and has the word 'Stop' illuminated in the lens. The visual presence of the bike and the sleek and beautiful casting of the motor were enhanced by the lack of the usual frame tubing. The motor hung in position from the pressed steel bridge frame - something that was completely different to other motorcycles but again similar in concept to modern machines. The engine was also completely different to the BMW power plants of the era. The M205/1 motor was designed to take BMW in a new direction via a more modern design than had been seen previously. The 800cc Boxer engine (a proposed 500cc version was also in the series) was the work of Leonhard Ischinger. For the first time in a BMW motorcycle, the engine was a one-piece tunnel design with a forged single piece crankshaft. The con-rod big ends were split (like those used in car engines) and ran on plain bearings. Unusually the cylinder and cylinder head was a monoblock unit, removing the need for a head gasket, which at that time was a weak point in engine technology. The camshaft was located below the crank, which placed the pushrod tubes below the cylinder and so gave a better position for the valves and sparkplug. These innovations, when combined with a hemispherical combustion chamber, produced an engine with performance advantages over the BMW engines in production at that time. Many of these features did not see production until the release of the /5 Series in 1969, a project that was also headed up by Alfred Boning. The R 7 was a stunning motorcycle but it was deemed too heavy and expensive to go into production, so BMW changed its direction towards producing more sporting models. However, design features and cues of the R 7 can be seen in the R 17 (also a very expensive model with very limited sales success) and the R 5. The bike was not just a design exercise, but was a road-going motorcycle, and is mentioned in an old magazine article on the R 5. The journalist riding th

These triplets were among the Liberian refugees returning home by road from Sierra Leone. Their family were reluctant to return earlier because of concerns about the health and education of the trio. The triplets were born in the Jemba Refugee camp, Sierra Leone, in 2004. / UNHCR / S. Brownell / June 2007 Many refugees repatriate home even when situations are not yet conducive for return, as when a conflict has not completely ended, or security has been restored but economic and social infrastructure is lacking. In this context, UNHCR believes that voluntary repatriation should be based on individual choice and that the Office should play a part in the initial stage of reintegration. Voluntary repatriation (the free and voluntary return to one’s country of origin in safety and dignity) is the durable solution for a vast majority of refugees. In a returnee situation, this implies the restoration of national protection (to obviate the need for international protection) and, through the reintegration process, the ability to maintain sustainable livelihoods, access basic services and fully reintegrate into communities and countries of origin. In post-conflict situations, UNHCR situates its repatriation and reintegration work within a broader context of transition from conflict to peace and try to build peace and bridge the gap between relief and development so as to avoid creating a dependence of returnees on humanitarian assistance and to ensure returnees’ early and sustainable reintegration. (the "4 Rs": Repatriation, Reintegration, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction)