The Middle East so far has two role models for dealing with pro-democracy protests; Iran and Tunisia. They represent a choice as old as man; fight or flight. The rarer choice is a peaceful transition to legitimate democracy.
The fight impulse requires confidence and guns to succeed. In Iran, the protesters are being violently repressed [...]
Continue Reading →The voice of “The Doctor”, Remmy Ongala is quiet at age 63. This is more than a loss to music, it is a loss to all Africans who care about the issues of our continent. For instance, he was an early, important and effective influence on issues like HIV/Aids at a time when most of [...]
Continue Reading →The recent news about the opening of a streamlined new border post between South Africa and Mozambique would be particularly good news if it does indeed speed up the movement of people and goods between South Africa and Mozambique. A streamlined border will not only benefit tourism, but also enhance trade and Foreign Direct Investment [...]
Continue Reading →The importance of communications in a political campaign cannot be overstated. Jacob Sesinyi, associate at Baird’s CMC, believes that the American president, Barack Hussein Obama’s recent election campaign showcased communications at its best.
“Obama’s achievement illustrated the sheer power of good communication. His presidential campaign was not too technical or too philosophical. It just stated [...]
Continue Reading →The mobile phone sector is fast becoming the meeting point for those who want to do good and those who want to do good business, especially in the emerging markets. Cell phones are no longer just tools for communication, they are now also the medium for providing micro finance, healthcare services, business opportunities, and vital [...]
Continue Reading →“This one time, I was in a meeting of African health ministers, and they were being lectured by a group of very well-meaning Europeans and Americans (who, by the way, are very keen on lecturing Africans in general). Finally, the health minister of Cote-d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) had had enough of this,” Mark chuckles, “so he [...]
Continue Reading →I visited many places and learned so much on this trip. All these experiences are now part of me. But I also have the desire for more! On my next trip, I will definitely include a visit to Cartagena and the Galapagos. I’m immensely thankful to everybody who welcomed me during these two weeks and [...]
Continue Reading →Arriving in Caracas
Arriving in Venezuela was very different. My flight landed in the early hours of the morning, the temperature in Caracas is much higher than in the other places I had visited, I was unable to change money, and the airport has no proper taxi service.
Politics
Any social conversation – even conversations [...]
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