Blood donation

Neelz Singh,  Lami

There is no substitute for human blood and you don’t need a special reason to give blood. You just need your own reason. The blood bank of Fiji is always looking for donors:

• Some of us give blood because we were asked by a friend;
• Some know that a family member or a friend might need blood some day; and
• Some believe it is the right thing to do.

Blood donors come in all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. One thing they all have in common is that they meet the basic requirements to donate blood.

Not everyone can donate blood such as:

• Surgery with transfusion of blood 
• AIDs or HIV person who, are on medication.
• Your tattoo was done in an unlicensed or unregulated tattoo and the list goes on.
• Whatever the reason, the need is constant and your contribution is important for a healthy and reliable blood supply.  And you’ll feel good knowing you’ve helped change a life. 

Thank you, boys

Shad Alfaz Ali,  Navua

The Vodafone Fijian 7s team’s victory over South Africa in Hong Kong would probably rate as the best in Fijian 7s history. The Fijians hunting down the previously invincible springboks was a scary sight. The darlings of 2016 – 2017 Sevens Series were not only defeated, they were battered, butchered and destroyed at the Mecca of Sevens.

Bravery of the highest order was on display and we must thank Osea and the boys for putting their bodies on the line. The boys played their hearts out and the bone-crunching tackles in the early parts of the game had clearly put   South Africa on the back foot.

Thank you boys and thank you Baber.

Coca-Cola Games

Dewan Chand,  Suva

Coca-Cola Games 2017 , the biggest sporting event involving the nations school children is once again upon us.

Later this month it will be held at ANZ Stadium in Suva where thousands of athletes, frenzied cheering crowds, parents, teachers and well wishers will descend  to make the three day event a memorable one. Athletes will compete with all their abilities to win. New records will be created.

You will witness the jubilation of winning and the euphoria which follows.

At the other end of the scale you will witness the pain of those who lost and the tears will flow non-stop !

In the three-day event thousands of litres of Coke and Coke products will have been consumed and tonnes of processed foods from McDonald’s and other food outlets in and around Sports City and Damodar City will be devoured.

Many new friendships will be forged and some will last a lifetime.

Organisers will discover new and emerging talents on the field and the future champions of our nation.

New romances will bloom and some will end up on the alter of marriage. Such is the nature of human relationships.

The Fiji Police Force and the Suva City Council will be out in full force to ensure that law and order is maintained and every ones safety will be paramount. In the past school rivalries have been stretched beyond normal relations and have ended in gang brawls . I sincerely hope that no such ugliness will emerge this time.

I write to congratulate the organisers of the event and wish the athletes every success in their endeavours.  Many of these children will travel to Suva for the first time and the festive mood will leave a lasting impression

on their minds.

Student involvement

Dhirendra Prasad,  Lautoka

Getting involved in community projects under adult supervision is a great strategy to keep them involved in constructive business. Keeping them idle is a recipe for breeding unwanted criminals in our society.

Students of Bulileka Sanatan College (Fiji Sun, 10/04) have taken a leading role while assisting the grieving family at Boca in Labasa. Initiatives such as this should be highlighted to capture other doing minds to come forward and become a useful member of the community they live in.

Keeping children within the confines of the four walls is not enough to mould them into desirable citizens but exposure at hand outside under good supervision with a vision is essential and a need in this era of rebellious children.

A lot is being said about children not obeying adults and not appreciating their cultural heritage in the name of globalisation. But very few (if any) religious and social institutions are taking proactive initiatives to inculcate the essence of our cultural values at the right age. I thank BSC for taking students out of the classrooms, sacrificing their time for doing such very much needed thought provoking tasks within their community.

The coming weekend would be full of conventions by various organisations where hundreds of our youths would be involved in sporting activities.

This is also an excellent platform to provide them avenues to upskill their organisational skills and leadership skills with ethical issues being discussed.

My humble plea to adults is to stop complaining about our young ones but to take up initiatives to guide them from the very first day of their life. Do something now before things get out of hands. It is us who expose them to such ills through our neglect and no one else.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj