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{Continued from page 10) white-skinned Muslim, of European heritage. Relief worker 'S life is full “of contrasts When I discovered that 44% of the population of Bosnia befOIe the War was Muslim,” she said, “I felt a link’ The television news in the spring of 1992 was full of pictures of mothers in the war zone putting their children on buses. Bhabha was deeply touched. She got on the telephone and located the Bosnian community in Toronto; how could she help, she wanted to know, what could be done? Her fist sojourn was in August (a year ago) with two other women, one Pakistani, and the other Bosnian with family in Morstar (the centre of the Muslim enclave). According to Bhabha it was suictly a fact-finding expedition. Sarajevo Was already blocked off. They went to the capital, Zagreb, which was relatively untouched. Except for the UN soldiers and the refugees in the streets, signs of war were few. It‘was here they first heard the stories of rapes. “I was shocked,” she said. “We didn’t want to believe.” Next they went to the town of Split on the Adriatic Sea where humanitarian aide was centred. “We saw thousands of refugees all along the coast,” Bhabha recalled. But it was early on in the war, the weather was fine and there still seemed. cause for hope. In Morstar, they stayed in the home of a cousin of the Bosnian woman. It was here they first heard bombs and ‘ caver 3 windows for one very low price! 0 ALUMINUM VENITIONS “MIX MATCH ANY SIZE, ANY COLOR” 0 5O COLOURS TO CHOOSE FROM We sell verticals, venetians and pleated shades at - BLINDWIDTHS - 73.” IO 81” T0 Since 1977 â€" Showrooms in London, Stoney Creek, antford, Guelph, Kitchener, Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville. Standard Size Wldth 0r Hflght In 1” Increments \L =AT§ EHRBE .‘ 410 Speers Rd., Oakville, 338-2603 MP ‘ aunns BLINDS BLINDS V/// 1,87: MERY. VERY LOW PRICES! Monday-Wednesday 10-5:30 Thursday 10-6, Friday 10-9 Sunday 10-5 ' Bhabha, whose life is full of glaring contrasts these days, said she was stm'ck by two things in Morstar. one was the physical destmction of the libraries, museums and mosques, anything Islamic; the other was the beauty of the sky, the mountains, the trees, the lus- cious tomatoes in the gardens of homes which had been levelled. shelling in the nighL She observed then, “Men can kill each other, but nature goes on â€" because it'is God’s work” Though she puts up a positive front in public, privately she admitted there have been moments of doubt, days even, of depression, unable to face another trip to the Price Club or a social evening of inanities. When Bhabha retumed to Bosnia for a month in December she was a delega- tion of one. She went from camp to camp to camp talking to people, usually women, children, old people, finding out where the need was greatesL Again she heard the stories of honible, despicable rapes, over and over. This past year the relief worker has become part of a multi-faith women’s group which meets and tries to work together. It includes Jewish women from Israel and Canada, Christian women, Roman Catholic and Protestant. “There is a lot of strength in the women 1 have met here and over there (in Bosnia),” she commented. “But sometimes I don’t know how they keep going.” “I don’t spend too much time think- ing about the why (of this war),” 7 Bhabha said, “if I did I would go crazy. As a humanitarian worker, as a peace activist, my energies are reserved for feeding people, clothing them, and get- ting medical aide.” When the war ends in the former Yugoslav Republic, and it must certainly end soon, Mrs. Bhabha looks forward to a new phase of “reconstruction.” The rebuilding of libraries, museums and mosques, the resettlement of intellectu- als, doctors and religious leaders. She says the BCRA is here to stay and, of course, her own life will never be quite the same. She will assist in whatever way possible, co-ordinating medical assistance with the Red Cross and Toronto hospitals, arranging transla- tors and cultural interpreters for the war injured. She will continue to rail against the injustice and brutality of the world. She said, “We have to make sure that Islamic heritage is not wiped away; As long as the Bosnian Muslims retain a piece of Bosnia â€" even the size of a table cloth â€" that is good enough. That is how Israel started. On that table cloth you can create something to feed the culture Lasting quality in denim, yarn-dyed denim, pigment twill, brushed twill, rugged flannels. Reg. Value $55.00 Reg. Value $55.00 v I Reg. Value $55.00 DENIM JEANS FROM REQUEST, BUFFALO GASOLINE LIMITED TIME ONL Y 3999 LADIES 100% COTTON BOATHOUSE ROW BLOUSES Your choice in denim, floral navaho prints or plaid flannel $ 3999 Reg. Value $55.00 menu: