Stories about Development from May, 2012
Vietnam: State of E-Commerce
Chip 2.0 writes about the slow development of e-commerce in Vietnam
Africa: Development or Democracy, Which Comes First?
The question of whether Africa needs to sacrifice democracy in order to focus on economic development has become the subject of much discussion online after the Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi claimed at the World Economic Forum that there is no relationship between economic growth and democracy.
Kenya: #PayInterns Trending
#PayInterns is trending in Kenya. @mainneli writes: “Interns should be paid. they do the same work and same stuff like anyone else in the office,stop exploitation #Payinterns”
Gambia: The Glove Project Film
Matt blogs about a short film showing the work done by the Glove project in The Gambia: “The charity works in a relatively unknown area of The Gambia, north of the river, and seeks to work in partnership with rural village communities, improving health, education and sustainable enterprises.”
Singapore: Population, Migration, and Women
Syahidah Ismail provides an overview of various issues faced by Singapore women in the past half century. The author discussed some of the controversial population and migration policies adopted by the government in the past decades.
Ethiopia: The World Economic Forum in Africa 2012
Over 700 leaders from more than 70 countries are attending the World Economic Forum in Africa taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian from 9 - 11, 2012. The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world.
Bolivia: Development at What Cost? New Conflict Over TIPNIS Road
A proposed road project in Bolivia that plans to cross right through the middle of the Indigenous Territory and National Park Isiboro Sécure (TIPNIS for its initials in Spanish) is once again generating conflict. Indigenous organisations insist on their right to be consulted about policies concerning their territories.
Russia: Charity Crowdfunding
There is no lack of successful 'people' projects, financed by private philanthropy. While much activity exists only in cyberspace, the effects of charitable organizations' work is quite tangible and real, and confidence in these groups is undiminished. The proof: the Tugeza ("Together") community
Africa: White-Collar Crime, a Danger also for African Countries
Honoré Kouassi wrote [fr] on the webpage of L'intelligent d'Abidjan: “African countries, particularly those of Sub-Saharan African, are not shielded from the financial crime that has developed over the past ten years in various forms. This crime is a danger, not only for the economic and financial system, but for...
Kenya: Chronicles of a Kenyan Farmer Online
E.K. Kamwenji is a Kenyan blogging farmer residing in Nyeri. He believes that farmers need to use new technologies for networking and marketing of farm produce. His blog, Chronicles of a Kenyan Farmer, was nominated in the Agriculture Category in this year's BAKE Blogger Awards.
Africa: Will Local Content Policies Help Avert the Oil Curse?
In recent years, major reserves of oil have been discovered at various locations across Africa. This 'black gold' may represent an opportunity for economic growth, but the fear shared by experts and Sub-Saharan Africa citizens is that the windfall may not benefit local populations at all.
Georgia: Lazika, Facebook, and the Constitution
Despite growing concerns about plans to build a new city on swamp land, Democracy and Freedom Watch says that Lazika will be included in the country's Constitution. With no transparency in the decision-making process, the blog sarcastically notes that for now the city exists only in the form of a...
Brazil: Plans for a democratic vote on the Acquario Ceará
The construction of the Acquario Ceará, which has provoked many a discussion lately about transparency in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza, will be subject to a democratic vote [pt] this coming October, 2012. Adísia Sá had already suggested [pt] that the general public had a say. Meanwhile, a movement known as Quem...
Guatemala: State of Siege Due to Hydroelectric Plant Conflict
The Guatemalan government has declared a state of siege in Santa Cruz Barillas, following demonstrations and clashes sparked by the death of a community leader who opposed the construction of a hydroelectric plant. Citizens from this community have been using blogs and social networks to report on the current conflict.
China: Rural Left-behind Children
Acopy.net introduces a Chinese documentary, the Road, directed by independent documentary worker Jiang Nengjie on “left-behind children” in rural China.
China and Africa: Exporting the Shenzhen Model
Mary Ann O'Donnell from Shenzhen Noted discussed about the exportation of Shenzhen development model from China to Africa by Chinese investment.
Africa: Calls for Transparency Over Marked Increase in Land Deals
Almost 5% of Africa's agricultural land has been bought or leased by investors since 2000. Observers are increasingly worried about the fact that such land deals usually take place in the world poorest countries and how they impact its most vulnerable population, the farmers.
Georgia: Beyond Tbilisi
Beyond Tbilisi says that local authorities plan to clean up a river full of garbage in June. The blog run by Transparency International Georgia hopes to report on issues outside of the capital and is available in Georgian and English.
Mongolia: German beavers to restore ecosystem
14 Eurasian beavers – known as as ecosystem engineers – arrived in Ulaanbaatar from Bavaria, Germany, to build dams that shall bring about positive effects on the ecology of Tuul river in Mongolia, Bilguun reports.
