Stories about Development from October, 2010
Bangladesh: Participating In Global Hand Washing Day 2010
“The students of The Dhaka Project staged 6 different drama’s addressing the importance of awareness of Global Hand Washing Day on 30th October 2010,” informs Touhid at The Dhaka project blog.
China: Debate on Rare Earths Export
With the rise of nationalistic sentiment in China, a majority of mainland Chinese support the government's policy in restricting the export of rare earths to Japan and other western countries.
China and the U.S: Fuss about rare earth
Adam Minter from Shanghai Scrap looks into the data of China agricultural trade and points out that the recent intimations of a ban on the rare earth elements has been overstated. On the other hand, the Chinese experts have underestimated the importance of low-cost soy beans and wheat to social...
South Africa: Dear Government
Controversial South Africa radio personality Gareth Cliff writes a letter to the South African government: “OK, I get it, the President isn't the only one in charge. The ANC believes in “collective responsibility” (So that nobody has to get blamed when things get screwed up), so I address this to...
China: Mapping violent evictions for homebuyer awareness
The many forceful evictions in China and their tragic victims are widely reported upon and discussed online, but what can be said about housing that goes on the market after the rubble is cleared and the people buying it up?
China: Blood house map
A google map that marks social conflicts related with force demolition and land acquisition.
Bermuda: Ahoy There!
Elaborate plans are afoot for the development of “a pirate-themed waterpark”; New Onion asks: “Who has deep pockets and is that bad of a businessperson other than the Bermuda Government?”, while Vexed Bermoothes says: “There has not been a well thought out business plan…there should be limited development on this...
Costa Rica: Young Professionals Work to Make San José Bike Friendly
The Tico Times Blog writes: “A group of young professionals calling themselves ChepeCletas [es] is poised to transform San José into a haven for bikers, and they are doing it one ride at a time. The group’s eventual goal is to make the city bike friendly.”
Poland: Krakow
Polandian follows the construction of Krakow's new pedestrian bridge and reports on the process in this photo post. Greetings from Kyiv visits Krakow, finds the city “gorgeous” and posts some pictures – here and here.
Bangladesh: Land Grab And Protests
In Rupganj, Bangladesh land-owners protested acquiring of land for an army housing project and they clashed with the security forces leaving 50 people injured and one dead. Bloggers react angrily.
Zimbabwe: When Will Zimbabwean Diaspora Return?
“When will Zimbabwean diaspora return?,” Glow asks: “…there is a niggling part of me that wonders how real change can come in Zimbabwe when such a large part of its wealthiest, most skilled and educated populace live and invest in faraway places.”
South Africa: Musings on Inequality vs. Poverty
Andries du Toit muses on inequality vs. poverty in South Africa: “The central and most urgent issue facing South Africa is not poverty but inequality… our economy, while generating wealth for a few, is also a poverty machine, perpetuating and exacerbating steep and deeply rooted inequalities that threaten the basis...
India: Community-scale Water Solutions
“Hopefully, one day the soul of India will be rejuvenated with clean drinking water across all of its 638,000 villages,” says Pooja Bhatia.
Africa: Africa Rural Connect 3.0
Lisa reports that African Rural Connect 3.0 is live: “After months of hard work, the National Peace Corps Association's Africa Rural Connect team has launched additional interactive tools and features in order to maximize the collaborative experience for members of Africa Rural Connect.”
Cameroon: Transforming Piles of Scrap Into Finished Products
Bill Zimmerman writes about men in the outskirts of Maroua, the capital of the Extreme North of Cameroon who gather together to transform piles of scrap iron into finely finished tools, stoves, replacement parts and other useful implements for sale to the local population.
D.R. of Congo: Mobile Phone Light Saves Life of a Mother
Mobile phone light saves life of a mother in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo: “Everyone is healthy in the end, but she was required to undergo a C-section. Apparently during the operation, the electricity at the hospital went out, and there was somehow no petrol on hand to run...
Zimbabwe: What does Zimbabwe have to offer children?
What does Zimbabwe have offer children?: “Away from personal experience, the law protecting children or, more accurately, the lack of law protecting children in Zimbabwe is shocking. Looking at the current constitution as of February 2009, there is no particular area where the needs of children are addressed.
Brazil: Day by Day in a Favela School
Follow Tia Dag's stories on violence, poverty and drugs, in a school in one of Sao Paulo's favelas, Casa do Zezinho, where she educates children, aiming to prevent them from joining Brazilian criminal gangs.
Ukraine: Yanukovych on Roads and Taxes
Ukraine's president Victor Yanukovych on roads for ordinary citizens and tax cuts for small businesses – at Ukrainiana.
Nicaragua: Open Government and the Evolution of e-Government
Juan Ortega writes [es] about the book Open Government [es] by César Calderón and Sebastián Lorenzo. He briefly explains what Nicaragua needs to do to improve transparency.
China: Whistleblower Exposes Guangzhou Metro Line 3 Safety Failures
A construction engineer Zhong Jizhang risked his career to expose the safety problem of Guangzhou Metro Line 3. ChinaSMACK has translated the story and some netizens’ comments..
