· April, 2012

Stories about Development from April, 2012

Sri Lanka: Tackling Agricultural Surpluses

  30 April 2012

The Sri Lankan Government is facing a new kind of challenge, tackling surplus production of rice. However a Sri Lankan farmer sheds a light into the plights of the rice farmers in Sri Lanka, who are not obtaining a fair price for their produce.

Malawi: Time to Rebuild Brand Malawi

  30 April 2012

Austin explains why Malawi needs to rebuild brand Malawi: “Over the past year or so Malawi has not been projected internationally in very positive light. The warm heart has been mired in problems, shortages and intolerance of varying kinds and magnitudes.”

Martinique: Where has Creole gone?

  30 April 2012

On Martinican collective blog Montray Kreyol, a recent post [Fr/Fr Cr] wonders why Martinique 1ère [Fr], which is the local relay of the French National Broadcast Network, Fance Television [En], has almost no Creole language spoken on air.

Nigeria: New Media and Governance Conference

  29 April 2012

Enough is Enough (EIE) together with other partners wish to expound the rising profile of new media and governance in a conference "New Media and Governance: Tools and Trends". The aim of this intellectual gathering of "government policy makers, civil society, academic institutions, private sector and youth" is to analyse "the use of new media for improved governance, accountability and civic engagement." The conference is slated for May 14-15, 2012 in Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.

Côte d'Ivoire: Regarding Free Medical Care

  29 April 2012

Suy Kahofi writes [fr] on Africa Vox about free medical care in  Cote d'Ivoire : “The completely free care has, certainly, relieved the people, but it has been marred by problems : shortages in the supply of drugs, lack of nursing staff… The health professionals themselves  do not seem to...

Trinidad & Tobago: Talking Common Sense

  27 April 2012

The Lloyd Best Institute of the West Indies, based in Trinidad & Tobago, has posted video of the presentations from one of its Common Sense Convois series,  “Food First: Building An Economy From the Kitchen to the World”: Roger Pulwarty, climate scientist, and Sam Dowlath, former CEO of the National...

Zambia: Former VP's Death Highlights State of Local Hospitals

  24 April 2012

Immediate past Vice President of the former ruling MMD government George Kunda died on 16 April 2012 at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in the capital, Lusaka. Despite mourning his death, netizens seized the opportunity to criticize the current status of health care in Zambia and highlight the need for reform.

Trinidad & Tobago: Gas Revenues

  24 April 2012

Accountant/Consultant Derren Joseph shares the contents of an email he received which is concerned with the level of Trinidad & Tobago's gas revenue: “This gas is the property of EVERY CITIZEN of Trinidad and Tobago and we deserve to understand why any of our gas is being sold at a...

Georgia: Concerns over Lazika development

  24 April 2012

Writing on The PIK.TV blog, the channel's English-language editor, Tbilisi-based Nicholas Alan Clayton, comments on plans to construct a new city in Georgia. With little transparency in planning the Lazika development, recently referred to as an ‘instant city in a swamp’ by the New York Times, the blog says that...

Panama: Poor But Not Forgotten Thanks to Online Videos

  23 April 2012

Coco Solo was once a United States Navy submarine base on the Panama Canal Zone, near Colón, Panama. Today, Coco Solo is the home of some of the poorest, most marginalized Panamanians. Online videos are a few of the available online media that show life in this community.

Colombia: What Did the VI Summit of the Americas Leave Behind?

  21 April 2012

Netizens commented on various events, some serious and some lighter ones, related to the Sixth Summit of the Americas. They also shared their opinion on the agreements that were reached (like the free trade agreement between Colombia and the U.S.) and on those that did not meet consensus.

Video: Better Aid and Development Discussions Through Islam Crash Course

  20 April 2012

An ongoing discussion over at the Uncultured Project has been the relationship between the lack of knowledge on what Islam is about and how aid and development organizations relate to the Muslim community. Shawn Ahmed shares a simple and short video explaining what Islam is in an attempt to pave the road to better understanding of a large group of people who could be Aid recipients.