one for my Selfie September: Remember 30 things you may or may not know about me 11/30 ... dCap: don't forget ... this is just shot in remembrance of what happened on 9/11. There is no need to repeat or recount the actual events of the day here because we all know about it, we know what happened, and we know the way that it changed the civilized world. So, for the photo, it was shot to represent all that we can do on this day. We remember. We hold a two minute silence, we stop what we do and we remember. Its small things like this that can help to prevent a recurrence. We just cannot forget. When I heard of the events of September 11th, I was in bed, just waking up. I was between careers and had taken a 3 month temporary job working the night-shift at a local warehouse just to get some cash coming in. I started work at 10pm and finished at 6am. I moved boxes from here to there, and to this day it is one of the most rewarding jobs I've ever had: simple, satisfying, and a break from my norm. So, I was just waking up (around your normal lunchtime) and the clock radio turned on and said that a small light aircraft had crashed into the world trade centre. At the time, and I'm sure for most people, this didn't register for what had actually happened. It sounded like a freak accident and a 'small light aircraft' sounded like a 2 seater plane. This was before pictures of the event had gotten around the world. A little while later as the reports came in the picture being painted was something altogether more horrific. I was in the habit at the time of going to the pub around the corner for lunch (my breakfast), and it was there that I saw the TV pictures of what had happened. And the reports came in, and interviews. As the day unfolded and the pictures got worse, time just seemed to stand still for a bit. But actually for me, one of the most memorable moments was when some politician was being interviewed and used the words: 'this war on terror'. Frankly, that scared the shit out of me. I honestly saw this as the beginning of the next war. In a way it was, but each war is now focused on one area. The safety of being out of range. This would be the first war that would effect me, somehow. I remembered the Falklands war from when I was a kid, but now I was older. And I understood enough to be scared. Proper frightened. I lived at the time in an area of town known to others as pakki land, not a nice label at all, it was the ethnic centre of the city I lived in. A few days later an Indian girl was knifed in the face on the streets by some local, two streets from where I lived. This was how the country was reacting. There was a sense of uncertainty everywhere. Its nothing compared to what happened in the US, but it was directly related and just shows how widespread the effect was. I only know of one person indirectly involved, someone on an America Airlines flight on that day - grounded and the plane held for a countless number of hours with no explanation because it was unclear what was happening. The message he got home to people meant nothing and everything: "I'm okay". I do not want to know how it must feel to know someone that was murdered on that day. In context it does absolutely nothing to dwell on this. But, we can never forget, we have to remember. And we must move on.

Gnanasundaram Kuganathan is a simple man with a sweet smile. A protest was organised by Free Media Movement (FMM), Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance (SLTMA), Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum (SLMMF), Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (SLMETU),Media Movement for Democracy (MMD) and South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA).Nearly 47 journalists from Colombo traveled to Jaffna by A9 highway to show solidarity. They condemned the brutal assault by protesting in front of the Sri Lanka Transport Board bus stand in Jaffna on 16th of August 2011. It was a rare protest for the Peninsula people to witness. “?????? ????????????” ~ “Is there any problem?”, “???? ??????????” ~ “What is the problem?”, “????? ???? ?????????” ~ “What is happening here?” a few onlookers, passers ~ by and shop keepers asked me while the protest was getting underway on a balmy day in Jaffna. “????? ??????? ???? ????????? ~ “What is actually happening here” asked the owner of a newly built restaurant, while I was running to the restaurant roof top to capture the moments on my camera. There was chaos as the protesters arrived in Jaffna town with placards in Tamil. Police in the vicinity came closer and asked them not to block the traffic. Verbal argument took place between the Police and the protesters. But the protesters kept chanting and walking. The traffic came to a standstill for a couple of moments, as the protesters took the space on the mot busiest road in Jaffna, the Hospital road while carrying the placards in Tamil ~ “????????? ?????????????????? ???? ???????????” ~ “Who is responsible for the lives of the journalists in Jaffna?”, “??? ?????????? ????????????? ????????” ~ “Media freedom needs to be protected”, “????? ???????? ??????????????? ??????????????” ~ “When will the suppression come to an end in Jaffna?”, “??? ?????????????? ????????? ????????????” ~ Let’s unite to protect media freedom”, “???????????? ??????? ??? ????????? ??????? ??????”~ Assault on Kuganathan is an assault on the Truth, “????????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????????” ~ Eradicate Suppression Against the Media” “????????? ????? ????????? ???? ????????” ~ “Stop Attacking the Media Immediately”, “???????????? ????? ?????????” ~ “Don’t Suppress the voice of Democracy”, “????????? ??????????? ????????? ?????????????” ~ “Did they split the head those who lost the elections?” The protesters chanted “Let Us Write”,“Continue; Continue; Continue to Write”,“Do Not Kill; Do Not Kill; Do Not Kill Us; Do Not Kill the Journalists, Do Not Kill the Democracy”,“Uthyan was attacked, but nobody was arrested”, “Bring the culprit to the courts”“Do Not Attack; Do Not Attack; Do Not Attack the Media”, “Take Your Hands Off Media”“Stop; Stop; Stop the Suppression” “Kuganathan; Kuganthan who wrote the plight of the people”, “Kuganathan was attacked with Iron rods”,“Kuganathan; Kuganathan; Keep Writing, “Lift the Emergency Immediately” in Tamil and Sinhala. There were nearly 350 journalists, activists and politicians participated in the protest according to the organisers. “I want to continue to highlight the activities against the humanity” ~ Gnanasundaram Kuganathan. Please click passionparade.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-want-to-continue-to-... to read and view more.