Stories about Development from December, 2010
Ghana: Ghana's first oil production on Twitter
Ghana has started its first oil production. Will oil benefit the people of Ghana? Follow the conversation about this topic on Twitter using the hashtag #GhanaOil.
Ghana: Ghana's First Oil: A Blessing or Curse?
Is oil a blessing or curse for Ghana?: “Do you see the first Oil as a blessing or a curse to Ghana? Do you think, Ghana is fortunate in terms of this first oil? Which areas do you think, the oil revenue be used in developing Ghana? What are your...
Ghana: Let oil flow, let it flow, let it flow
Oil production started today in Ghana: “Today oil in large commercial quantities starts to flow for the first time in Ghana. There's a big ceremony full of pomp and pageantry underway off the shores of Takoradi.”
China: Ghost cities
Chandni Rathod and Gus Lubin from Business Insider presents satellite pictures of ghost cities in China. Ghost cities refer to newly built empty cities with very few residents. They one of the sources of China's GDP and economic bubbles.
Caucasus: Corruption
Social Science in the Caucasus comments on Transparency International's latest Global Corruption Barometer. While noting that corruption has increased in the world, it nonetheless notes that levels in Georgia are significantly lower than in neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Armenia: Smoking the Pipe of Peace
Ararat Magazine features a post by Global Voices’ Caucasus editor on Calumet, an ethnic lounge bar in Yerevan, the Armenian capital. Offering a laid back environment for local civic activists, artists and musicians, as well as foreigners, to unwind in, it concludes that the recently opened venue is a breath...
Caucasus: Average Internet speeds and prices
The Yerevan-based Civilitas Foundation compares the average speed and cost of Internet connections in the South Caucasus. According to that data, Armenia is well behind its two neighbors in the region with by far the slowest and most expensive connections available. Meanwhile, Georgia has by far the cheapest and fastest.
Azerbaijan: Looking in from the outside
For those living in a particular country, many things can sometimes be taken for granted. But when others from outside discover it for the first time, often experiencing new colors and traditions, a fresh insight is often the result.
Bangladesh: The Real Crowd
Jerome at Bangladesh, Canada And Beyond explains with pictures what is meant as “crowd” in Bangladesh.
China: Alleviating traffic jam in Beijing
Stan from China Hearsay comments on a set of drafted policy that aims at alleviating traffic jam in Beijing.
Senegal: Aid is not free
jdelrosario's advice for Senegal: “Based on what I have learned this term I have two major pieces of advice for the leaders of Senegal. First and foremost I would like to make it particularly clear that nothing is free, not even aid.”
Burundi: A documentary on land rights
A documentary focusing on land right issues caused by returning refugees from the Burundi genocides.
The Latin America Personal Democracy Forum As Seen by Bloggers
The Latin American Personal Democracy Forum took place on the 18th and 19th of November in Santiago Chile. Juan Arellano collects the thoughts, analysis and reports from the bloggers that attended the event.
Chile: Blog Against Reduction of History Class Hours
The blog Historia y Reforma [es] (History and Reform) collects “the different positions that have been manifested against the reduction of hours for History that are scattered in various media and social networks. At the same time, readers will be able to learn about the different actions that are being...
Burkina Faso: Coping with climate change
A farmer in Burkina Faso combines farming and cattle herding to cope with climate change: “Years ago, when the forest and grass were plentiful, the stover from millet and sorghum were left on the fields. But now they are carefully stowing it as animal feed, to be used during the...
South Korea: Free School Meals Debate Sweeps the Nation
A serious debate on the free school meals system has swept South Korea this week, as a minority opposition party succeeded in passing a bill through parliament that expands free meal coverage.
Uganda: My Country, My Death, My Destiny
Ugandan blogger Tumwikuje writes My Country, My Death, My Destiny: “The conflict I have about my country and my people, our being, our fate, our resurrection and our death is so overwhelming that I am paralyzed by fear, but running on desire.”
Sao Tome & Principe: “Africa is your Home”
Santomean sociologist Humbah Aguiar tells a story on colonialism and the repression of the African people. Part I, II and III [pt] from “Africa is your home” can be watched at his Youtube channel.
Burundi: One changed life
One changed life in Burundi: “Beginning with a loan of just $48, Adelaide Barutwanayo grew her clothing sales business in the markets of Gitega, Burundi, to a point where she could comfortably provide for her two children, ages 6 and 13.”
Africa: One brain drain phenomenon you haven't heard of
One brain drain phenomenon you haven’t heard of: “As it turns out, both in Kenya and Tanzania, flight controllers seem to be leaving the country for other regions and airlines. For various monetary reasons, the numbers of controllers have not been increased for quite a while.”
Mexico, World: The Impact of COP16 for Those Not Attending
Richard Grabman from The Mex Files writes, “Forgotten in there is who is affected by climate change the most — It’s not as if an Amazonian fishermen can buy carbon credits […] He… as much as Korean farmers, French pensioners, gringo bloggers, you… need to eat and are going to...