· July, 2007

Stories about Development from July, 2007

Uganda Responds – and Doesn't – To “Stop Trying To Save Africa”

  31 July 2007

“Maybe I just go where the weather is better,” says Josh of In An African Minute. He’s referring to why he chooses to work in Africa rather than where his family is from in Eastern Europe, but also to the current ruckus that’s been unleashed by the essay "Stop Trying to Save Africa,” in the Washington Post by Uzodinma Iweala. The American raised and Harvard educated Nigerian novelist wrote a compelling essay, one which the Expats in the Ugandan blogosphere have almost all felt necessary to formulate a response to.

Central Asia: Expert interview

James of neweurasia interviews Central Asia specialist Dr. Eric McGlinchey – the topics of the long conversation include radical Islam, Russian influence, the regime in Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan's development.

Africa: United States of Africa debate

  30 July 2007

Bills writes about the United States of Africa debate: “What is also interesting are the historical origins of this debate and the passionate arguments being presented from prominent African figures such as the flamboyant Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, Nigeria’s new President Umaru Yar’Adua, AU Chairperson and President of Ghana John...

Africa: Design Africa

  30 July 2007

Ugo points readers to Design Africa: “Design Africa’s mission is twofold: to help today’s distinctive African design emerge, and to accelerate the economic development of the communities and countries involved through the positive impact of exports.”

Touring Libyan Blogs: Health Sector, Old Ladies, Confrontating a Racist Bully, Globetrotting and Another Libyan Writer

The case of the Bulgarian nurses (and the Palestinian doctor) is already fading into history - while speculation rages if they have been bought off, whether they were guilty or not, if they were hostage to a political settlement in the New World Order or who is it exactly that defused the situation? One thing is sure on this side of the world is that their innocence or the lack of it has not been proven 100 per cent. However, in the interest of self preservation Libyans are moving on, writes Fozia Mohamed.

Africa: Stop trying to save Africa

  28 July 2007

Joshua joins the “Stop trying to save Africa” debate: “Those in the Afro-blogosphere have heard these points many times, though they seem to stick more when they come from a provocative headline penned by a much acclaimed young novelist whose classmates (he graduated from Harvard in 2005) are the ‘perky...

South Africa: commodification of poverty

  26 July 2007

What is this commodification of poverty in South Africa?: “The commodification of poverty is becoming more fashionable by the hour. For instance, a new restaurant in Greenside, a trendy suburb near Johannesburg ’s CBD, allows its patrons to enjoy their dining experience as if they were in a shack.”

Russia: Cyclical History

From Russia With Blog looks at Putin's Russia from a “cyclical history” perspective – and also highlights “the apathy of the Russian masses” by describing the annual no-hot-water season.

Nigeria: This is Port Harcourt

  26 July 2007

Titilayo remembers her experience in Port Harcourt: “I am writing this from Kaduna, a commercial hub of northern Nigerian. I had to travel from Abuja to Kaduna by road and by Nigerian standards, I will call the roads…smoo0ooth roads. This prompted me to reminisce on my first visit to Port...

Turkey is Typing….Election Issue

The Turkish parliamentary elections were this last Sunday… and despite public protests in the last few months against the ruling party AKP, they still won with a resounding 47 per cent of the popular vote. Turkish bloggers wrote extensively this week about their predictions of the elections and what future...

Burkina Faso: starting a primary school

  24 July 2007

Keith blogs about education in Burkina Faso: “We are also looking at the possibility of starting a primary school in the region, and I will let you know as things progress. Education is one of the Millenium goals, and a priority in Burkina, where literacy (according to the 2005 UNDP...

Africa: Why the African Digerati can make a difference

  24 July 2007

A reader at Whiteafrica.com leaves a thought provoking comment about development in Africa: “… White African’s point … We can no-longer continue blaming corrupt African government and “evil ” multinationals for Africa’s woes without doing anything about it. Now, at an individual level, we have the very real potential to...