Global Voices Online

Mma Ramotswa post a news article about making movies and documentaries in Botswana: “Over the past 10 or 20 years, digital cameras and computer editing have dramatically opened up filmmaking possibilities in “remote” places. Things are looking up for drama films and documentaries made in Botswana.”

Koluki on “local voices offline”: “Now We’re Talking” is part of a show on Gabz FM by top Botswana radio DJ and comedian extraordinaire Michael “Dignash” Morapedi (read about him here and here). It consists of a delightful series of pranks he plays on unaware, innocent people he manages to get on the phone…

Nata village blog describes daily life in Nata village, Botswana: “While most people in the developed world buy their beef wrapped in plastic at the local supermarket, many Nata residents still have to rely on their skills of slaughtering animals to put beef on the table. The two men pictured above are cleaning the stomache and intestines of a slaughtered cow. Many people enjoy the intestines cooked in a nice gravy served over maize meal porridge.”

Brian Awsumb writes about Zebras4Life initiative in Botswana: “The Zebras' HIV testing campaign (note: we're involving the national soccer team, not testing wild animals) is kicking into high gear. We received some extra funding from the CDC-BOTUSA project to scale-up testing efforts and take services directly to the people.”

The Nata blog from Nata village in Botswana is featured on two seminars at a UN conference on ICT: “Pictured above is Melody Jenkins presenting the Nata website at 9′oclock this morning to an international audience at the Global Conference on ICT and Youth for Development.”

Nata Village Blog wins Peace Corps ICT contest: “Back in January, we entered the Peace Corps Information and Technology Contest. We learned in June that we were one of 9 finalists. It was just announced that we are one of the top three winners named in the contest.”

Latest efforts in the fight against HIV/Aids in Nata village, Botswana: “Another new billboard in the fight against HIV/AIDS has appeared in Nata. This campaign is aimed at the men of Botswana. The men in Botswana have had a history of not taking part in the numerous AIDS programs that are being offered compared to women.”

You can make a monthly donation to people living with AIDS in Nata village, Botswana through Nata Village blog: “We are now accepting monthly donation payments! We are starting off with a small monthly payment of just $4! That's just $48 per year! This small payment can pay for one person living with AIDS to reach the ARV clinic each month.”

The face of brain-drain: “I found this document the other day at the Air Botswana check-in counter at the recently renamed O.R. Tambo International Airport, Jo'burg. It reads: “NOTICE TO AIR BOTSWANA PASSENGERS & STAKEHOLDERS
Air Botswana apologises sincerely to passengers who are affected by the current disruption to its services. This temporary situation is caused by factors relating to flight crew. In common with many airlines in Africa and elsewhere, Air Botswana has experienced a loss of pilots, whose skills have been recruited by carriers in the Middle East and Asia where the civil aviation industry is growing rapidly. This has resulted in a diminished capacity to maintain a full timetable for services, necessitating a rescheduling of some flights.”