by Mark Weston | Dec 17, 2009 | Africa, Economics and development
This morning I went to an orphanage in Bissau (see @markweston71 on twitter for more photos). Can there be a less promising start to life than being orphaned in Guiinea-Bissau? Actually, yes. Some of the orphans were disabled, physically and mentally. Others had been raped and were infected with HIV (unfortunately the southern African myth that you can rid yourself of HIV/AIDS by having sex with a child has reached West Africa, and orphans are an easy target).
Some of the children wanted to play and have their photos taken, and to touch your white skin and long hair. Most, though, just wanted a hug, and to rest their little head on your shoulder for a while.
by Mark Weston | Dec 17, 2009 | Africa, Economics and development
A dispute broke out in our neighbourhood in Bissau when a woman bought a plot of land and began to build a small shop on it. A neighbour objected, claiming the territory was his. The man who had sold the land to the woman remembered that a palm tree used to mark the border of the neighbour’s plot. “Where’s the palm tree?” he asked the neighbour. “It died many years ago,” came the reply.
Undeterred, the landlord asked the neighbour to get out his spade and dig in the place where he thought the palm tree once stood. This the man did, and he eventually found the roots of the old palm tree between his own land and the woman’s new shop. Realising his error, he apologised to the woman, who promptly got on with building her shop. Property rights, Guinea-Bissau style…
(For more on my travels in West Africa, see @markweston71 on twitter.com).
by Richard Gowan | Dec 16, 2009 | Cooperation and coherence, Off topic
It’s Stevie Wonder with one of his biggest fans!
by Alex Evans | Dec 15, 2009 | Influence and networks
Who knew how open source air traffic control data had become – now you can track any flight in real time as its journey progresses, or indeed track what’s heading into and out of any airport. The map below shows EGLL – that’s Heathrow to you and me – about 2 minutes ago. Via FlightAware.com.
by David Steven | Dec 15, 2009 | Influence and networks
Finally, the Evening Standard says what needs to be said:
By and large, bloggers remain writers who have not been able to find more rewarding outlets for their work and are therefore pre-packed with resentment, whatever subject they address.
How true this is! Writing for Global Dashboard will never be enough. I lie awake at night, green with envy, brooding over those privileged to pen their thoughts for a newspaper given away free to tired commuters on their way home from work.
The pain of exclusion – it really is too much to bear.
