Stories about Development from August, 2007
Madascar: It takes a village to raise an idea
It takes a village to raise an idea: “4 African bloggers from there have united on a project to make a difference. They aren’t just talking, they are doing something.”
Guyana: Flooding Expected?
“These are not freak occurrences but keep happening year after year with all kinds of excuses meted out for the cause of these floods,” says Guyana Providence Stadium, who is concerned that his countrymen “are just accepting these unnecessary floods…and taking them in stride.”
Cambodia: Encouraging Friends to Blog
Vutha is seeking ideas to encourage his friends to blog.
Cambodia: Why the Internet is Expensive
Borin blogs about the cost of Internet access in Cambodia and lists some factors that keep the prices high.
Malaysia: Fun Look at Sibu
Kempua Talk takes a fun look at her hometown Sibu.
Namibia: Digital tools for development
Gerard writes about LearnLink Project in Namibia: “I will simply start with LearnLink, especially their LearnLink Project: NAMIBIA that saw Ed's Net see the day of light.”
Africa: Leave Africa alone
Communist Socks and Boots lashes out against One Laptop Per Child: “It based on the wrong assumption that kids will take it with them to hunt, or use it in their clay-wall classes. Or that they will need easy translation from English to local languages.”
Zambia: Donor money for cars and iPods
Most people in Zambia want cars and iPods, writes Positively Zambian, but because of donor money available they set up organizations, which claim to fight poverty.
Malawi: Moving on Despite the Politics of Section 65
The phenomenal story of 19 year-old Malawian blogger William Kamkwamba continues to attract attention from around the globe. William began making headlines after his appearance at the TEDGlobal 2007 conference in Tanzania, in June, where he talked about how he built a windmill using locally available resources in a remote part of Malawi where the easiest means of energy is fuel, wood, kerosene and candlelight.
Taiwan: The Gentrification of Shih-Da night market
Shih-Da night market is one of the most famous night markets in Taipei. (“Shih-Da”(師大) is the abbreviation of National Taiwan Normal University(國立台灣師範大學) in Chinese. The night market is right next to the university.) Its own exotic character is quite different from other night markets. This is because, for decades, many...
Kyrgyzstan: Naryn
Ivar Dale takes his readers on a trip to Naryn, on which he meets characters that each tell their story of life in Kyrgyzstan's highest, coldest and poorest region.
Kyrgyzstan: Free trade effects
Ben Maritz says that the flood of cheap Chinese imports into Kyrgyzstan is at least partly responsible for the decimation of the Central Asian country's industrial base.
Tajikistan: Infrastructure development
Ian at Beyond the River says that Chinese infrastructure development in Tajikistan is more likely to win the hearts and minds of the local population.
China: Struggle Against Land Expropriation
Minjian has posted a very detailed report on the struggle against land expropriation in Zhejiang Lungchuen district in 2004 (zh). The report has very detailed description of the interest involved and the process of how rural villagers organized together.
Nigeria: Investing in the future
Oro writes an update about Ajengule Project in Nigeria: “This was followed by the ICT Capacity Building component of the program which was anchored by Korean Internet Volunteers (who were sent by the Korean Agency for Digital Opportunities and Promotion, to help PIN on the project). The first training segment...
Bolivia: Following the Swiss Example
Carlos Gustavo Machicado of Guccio's [ES] comments on a recent speech by President Evo Morales, who stated his desire for Bolivia to follow the example set by Switzerland. Machiado writes, “The reactions have been favorable because it is good that we want to be like Switzerland, and not like Venezuela...
Bahamas: The Value of Culture
An international take on a Bahamian song leads Nicolette Bethel to muse about “the general dismissal of culture in general (and, by extension, of our culture in particular)”, stating; “most of us…are missing the point when it comes to cultural discussions.”
Tajikistan: New legislation
At neweurasia, Madina lists several of the new laws and regulations that were stipulated by the Tajik government recently. Many of them are absurd and remind Madina of an 18th-century caliphate.
Central Asia: Which port to choose?
As a landlocked region, Central Asia is reliant on other countries’ maritime infrastructure to integrate with world markets. On Registan.net, Kayumars Turkistani evaluates two potential seaports, Gwadar in Pakistan and Chabahar in Iran.
Afghanistan: Situation in Herat deteriorating
Barnett R. Rubin retells a conversation he had with Homa Sorouri, a student from Western Afghanistan. According to Sorouri, the situation in Herat is deteriorating, and close family friends are affected.
Dubai: Home Away from Home
Dubai-based Seabee gives us a list of who's who, who have made Dubai their homes in recent years.
