Stories about Development from October, 2006
United Arab Emirates: eBook and Education
UAE students are now receiving their curriculums in e-books saved on a flash memory disk usable in any laptop or computer. The student can order any number of subjects taught in public schools to be included in the hand-held device. The current product includes only the Grade 12 curriculum of...
Africa: mud-brick building should be standardized
African Architecture believes that there is a need to standardize the mud-brick building in Africa, “The abundance of this material “Clay” makes it very popular and affordable for low income people living in hot dry climates of Africa to use as versatile building material, Hence there is a need to...
Voices from South Asia
Bangladesh: - What does Bangladesh need now for a better future? Angelmorn has a ten point prescription. - Rifat of Close your eyes and try to see is critic about the noise pollution in Bangladesh, especially using the loudspeakers. - Shafiur of imperfect world | 2006 informs that many of...
Malaysia: Human Capital Development in Ottoman Empire
Nik Nazmi in Malaysia reads a book on Ottoman ruler Suleiman and discovers the Ottoman people's desire to develop the talents of any exceptional person they encounter.
Trinidad & Tobago: Anti-smelter movement gains momentum
The movement protesting the establishment of an aluminium smelter in a community in south-western Trinidad gains momentum with the setting up of a protest camp in the north of the island, reports the Rights Action T&T blog. The camp will be launched on Friday to coincide with a demonstration in...
Tanzania: no praises for Tanzania's president
Tanzania In Focus is not tempted to sing praises to the current President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, “The first case in point is the electricity saga. Lets bring some objective arguments and facts here. NO COUNTRY can ever make any economic strides without setting up good and reliable power supply...
Nigeria: restoring Nigerian image
Grandiose Parlor on Nigeria's problems, “Now, some might ask, with such huge revenue from oil and gas why does the country not receive a proportionate and favorable coverage. Why are the people so poor in the land of plenty, and why all the negative distortions about Nigerians and Nigeria? To...
Ghana: Ghanian currency available on international market
Proudly African links us to a story in the Ghanian local newspaper about the Cedi, the Ghanian currency, “For the first time ever in this country’s history, and indeed in the history of any local currency in West Africa, the cedi, once rated among the most discredited currencies across the...
Ahmadinejad: Let the Population Grow
Kamangir reports about Iranian President's speech about the population growth. President Ahmadinejad said they say two children are enough [a famous slogan for controlling Iran’s population growth in the last decade]. I oppose this…if our population increases we will defeat them [Westerners]. The blogger adds it reminds me of what...
Dominica: The dubious benefits of CWC 2007
Kenny Green of Dominica isn't put off by reports that the Cricket World Cup, which is set to take place next year in the Caribbean, may be moved instead to South Africa: “Hosting any WC is like having a house party for someone else at your home, who pays you...
Africa: open source African architecture
Timbuktu Chronicles writes about Osafa, open source African architecture, “Osafa will be a Wikipedia-like platform where the ‘source code’ of construction projects, i.e. floor plans, building descriptions, drafts/photos and commercials calculations are being shared under an open licence, ready to be reused or adapted, without licence fees. We want to...
Malawi: Madonna and child
Madonna and little David: the debate continues, “Then again, my concern remains with this little boy who has been thrown in a mix of affairs between a poor father with no means and a foreigner with more than enough to offer. There is nothing wrong with adoption so long as...
Ukraine: News Digest
Orange Ukraine and Foreign Notes both discuss president Yushchenko's relationship with his own party. Foreign Notes also re-posts two newspaper stories from eastern Ukraine: on the ongoing rallies against high utility tariffs and the position on joining NATO.
Pakistan: Podcast on festivals, earthquake and Politics
iFaqeer has a podcast. “This program congratulates celebrants on Ramzan, Eid and Diwali, with some thoughts on the spirit of the season; discusses the first anniversary of the earthquake in South Asia and the role of the blogosphere in helping remember those in need; and throws out some political thoughts...
Tanzania: agricultural residues for low-cost housing
African Architecture and Design writes about the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy:”One of the 2006 finalists for using agricultural residues to fire high-quality bricks for low-cost housing is the Mwanza Rural Housing Programme (MRHP), Tanzania.”
Malawi: innovative use of SMS in Malawi
Mangaliso's World writes about innovative use of SMS applications in Malawi, “Observing carefully at the market cellular phone operators Telekom Networks Malawi is leading the way on added sms services initiatives. Theservices span from agriculture sector to your personal convinience.”
Vietnam: Rooftop View
The blogger at itsthefinalworld posts pictures of Saigon's skyline. Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City is one of the fastest growing cities in South East Asia with a rapidly changing skyline.
India: On Calcutta
Cuckoo's Call reflects on Calcutta and its people. “But you would'nt know all this when you first meet them. They are up-standing human beings, with a sense of self, with a sense of dignity, aware of their equality with anybody else in a democratic society, articulate; being crushed relentlessly by...
Trinidad & Tobago: The globalisation of Second Life
Trinidad blogger and Second Life player Taran Rampersad looks at Second Life in the context of the global economy: “Issues of Digital Divide are as much of a factor as the dominant cultural trends within SecondLife itself, but as more people come online – more people will enter virtual worlds....
Bermuda: Green Day
Adjustah provides a roundup of the recent commentary from his fellow Bermudian bloggers, noting that today several of them are observing “Green Day” in protest of the preservation of the Botanical Gardens in Hamilton. The Save the Gardens blog has posted photos of people wearing green, holding “Save the Gardens”...
Nigeria: economic benefits of railway transportation
StockmarketNigeria discusses the economic benefits of railway transportation in Nigeria: “The resuscitation of rail transportation in Nigeria had only been more of a political promise since the exit of the British from Nigerian governance in first October, 1960.The encouraging economic growth recorded within the colonial era due to agriculture was...