Stories about Development from January, 2007
Bahamas: Leaving the tourism plantation
“All of us can collectively turn our backs by remembering that tourism is a job that we do, it is not who we are. It is a necessary evil, it is not our reason for being. Serving tourists well is not the greatest achievement we can aspire to, and it...
Egypt: Dubai Sky-Scraper ‘Not Amusing’
Egyptian blogger Tom Gara isn't amused with the design of Dubai's latest skyscraper and is thanking the stars that it isn't being built in Cairo.
Nigeria: Nigerians abroad do not need to go home!
Omodudu does not think that Nigerians living abroad need to go back home,”Often we hear Nigerians living abroad declare, “I am going home”. I have news for all of you, Nigeria is not in dire need of your presence, actually you may be adding to the problem of overcrowding on...
India: In Bihar
Feringhee: The Indian Diaries writes on going to Bihar. “Every week, the paper has an account of a prominent person's child, or even just successful middle-class person's, kidnapped and held for ransom. The headlines of the “Bihar Digest” section sometimes defy belief (“Child's fingers chopped off for stealing spinach”; “Son...
India: Indians in Kenya
Sepia Mutiny on the Indian community in Kenya. “Today, the community in Kenya is perceived, not without justification, as wealthy and aloof. Rajan is critical of what he sees as the community's lack of engagement with Kenya's many challenges.”
Africa: African Journals Online
My Africa Today writes about African Journals Online, “African Journals OnLine (AJOL) is a service to provide access to African published research, and increase worldwide knowledge of indigenous scholarship.”
Kenya: drama at the World Social Forum
Mental Acrobatics writes about drama at the World Social Forum, “The poster says, “Reduce food prices in the WSF.” A demonstration organised by a youth group from Korogocho started a loud vocal protest outside the Windsor catering tent. Korogocho is the third largest slum area in Nairobi after Kibera and...
Kenya: another torch is possible
Kikuyumoja's Realm writes about an environmental-friendly torch in Kenya, “Instead of informing the public about a proper waste management, I can only repeat my usual prayers: what we need are eco-effective products. But until then, let’s start using more environment-friendly products such as this dynamo torch that just eliminates the...
Kenya: the revolution will not be televised
Black Looks writes from Nairobi, Kenya where she is attending the World Social Forum, “Maybe individual issues can be dealt with country by country and networking across the globe is positive – but another world – as Gil Scot Heron Said “The Revolution will not be televised” in this case...
Kenya: blogging the World Social Forum
The PANOS Institute West Africa and Fahamu, the publishers of the award-winning online forum for social justice in Africa – Pambazuka News, have jointly established a blog to bring daily news and commentary from the World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya: “Journalists and activists will be posting articles, commentaries and...
Vietnam: Saigon Night Shots
SaigonNezumi has some pictures of night time Saigon and he feels that Saigon's nightscene is no different from any big western city. Saigon also known as Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's commercial hub and one of the fastest growing cities in Asia.
Nigeria: African Digerati: Emeka Okafor
White African interviews Emeka Okafor: “Emeka Okafor is the first in the African Digerati series of interviews. He is a well established member of the African blogosphere, a leading thinker, and a doer.”
Africa: Africa's war on talent
Gavin Chait, blogging at whythawkratings, examines “the other losing battle: Africa's war on talent.”
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe in South Africa
Zimscoop writes about the increasing number of Zimbabweans fleeing the country, “Walking along Abel Street in Johannesburg's sprawling suburb of Berea, one might think he or she is in the Joburg Lines in Harare's Mbare high density suburb. But alas, this is South Africa where you here Zimbabwean music from...
West Africa: What is NOSPETCO?, Aid Does Not Work, Dogon Architecture and Tourism As A Therapy
As we delve into the West African blogosphere this week, our first stop is Nigeria. One issue that is attracting so much attention among Nigerians bloggers is NOSPETCO. What is NOSPETCO? According to the Nigerian blogger Deolu Akinyemi, If you have never heard of Nospecto before, it is an investment...
Trinidad & Tobago: New smelter location, same story
Taran Rampersad drops by Otaheite Village in Trinidad, the site designated for the construction of an aluminium smelter after protests the community at the previously designated site brought a halt to the project: “It is apparent how the residents near Bay Road in Otaheite Village feel about ALCOA's Smelter ....
Armenia: Bribe-Free Roads
At Blogrel, Harmick reports on the first step of a project designed to eliminate bribery by traffic police.
Botswana: positive impact of a village blog
A medical student from Nata village in Botswana writes about the impact of the Nata village blog on him, “Before the establishment of this website I must confess that I was a bit naive in as far as the exact impact of HIV/AIDS in Nata. I read thru the website...
Kenya: blogging the World Social Forum
Kenya Democracy Project reports from the 2007 World Social Forum secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya, “That is exactly how many days remain between now, when I am keyboarding these lines, and next Saturday when a Peace March segues into the opening ceremony of the 2007 world Social Forum at Nairobi’s historic...
Bangladesh: State of emergency, bloggers as information source
Bangladesh witnessed some dramatic changes recently. Last Thursday night president Iajuddin Ahmed declared a state of emergency and resigned as the chief of the caretaker government, the prime demand of the opposition grand alliance. He also postponed the January 22nd election, the process of which was alleged as being engineered....
India: The CookBook Project
Feed A Hungry Child Campaign on the CookBook project. “The purpose of this project is two pronged; that of documenting disappearing recipes along with practical hands-on cooking advice as well the larger goal of raising funds from the sale of the book for the FAHC (feed a hungry child) campaign.”