Disaster Traveller

From Dadaab to Somalia

2011-07-16T12:44:00.002-07:00

Our team pulled out of Dadaab shortly after breakfast, on the road to Somalia. It’s a dry, dusty road, with thorny bush on either side. The road itself is badly rutted, so weave along the ditch, following two tire tracks in the sand. Occasionally, we jump up on the road and dip down the embankment to the other side, continuing the weaving through acacias, sand flying in little rooster tails behind us. Following closely is our security escort, a good natured sergeant in the Administration Police, and three kids so green they barely shave. They get sent to the border fresh out of school, to work them in for a few years. Before we left, their commandant, wearing a Candian hockey jersey and flipflops, proudly told us, “We’re the ones that pushed Al Shabaab back from the border. We dropped twenty bombs on them and pushed them into the Indian Ocean.”

Now, they chase behind us through the thorny wasteland. The only sign of life are the dik-diks, meercats, and the birds. The birds are also a sign of death. The road is littered with cattle carcasses, at least one every kilometer, and the Marabou storks gather around them. I have never seen so many Marabou storks before. They are the undertakers of the animal kingdom, overdressed in their black coats, strutting awkwardly around, and omnipresent at a funeral. As we pull into Liboi, I notice the storks are bigger than the goats, or even a small child. And they are everywhere.

While we take some tea in Liboi, it starts to rain. Irony. Rain in a drought. But this isn’t really rain. I only notice it on my specs. It’s such a fine drizzle, my clothes don’t get wet, and the ground is no less dusty. We head on, through a few checkpoints, and we are there. It comes as a bit of surprise, really. Our escort actually had to pull us over, so we didn’t cross the line. The Somalia border is signified by a stone. “That tree is Somali”, said our guide, “and this tree is a Kenyan.” As we waited for our vehicle from Somalia, we walked past the stone and looked around. This was it. I was in Somalia. There were bullets in some of the trees, a battle had been fought here. One of the soldiers handed me a shell. “Your souvenir”, he said.

I returned to Liboi for a few hours, while I waited for the team in Somalia. At the borehole, warthogs jostled with goats for water. They told me even giraffes and gazelles came into town to get water now. “What about the lions?” I asked. There are about 20 out there, was the response, but they haven’t come into town. Later I met a refugee, who had seen a man killed by a lion attack in his travels.

I visited the school. It was Saturday, but the boarding students were still there, sleeping through the heat in their dorms with insufficient mattresses, hanging their laundry to dry from the broken panes of glass in the windows. 300 boys aged 12 and up, their parents nomadic, trying to finish primary school. They have 2 toilets, neither has a door. During the week the school swells to 800, and with their pipes broken, they can’t afford the water required for the kids to wash their hands before meals.

In a small hotel, I found 100 refugees sleeping in the carport. They were waiting for evening to continue their journey. My guide told me to take their picture, that they said it was okay. The women covered their faces and looked away. They asked if I had any food. I didn’t, not for 100 people, and I felt like an idiot. The children all have watery diarrhea. I urge them, when they get to the camp, to take all their children to the clinic. “They will help you in Dadaab”, I said. I hope I’m right. I take the pictures, get in the car, and drive off. This is the part I hate.

When I met the team, they seemed a bit stunned. “It’s different over there. The ratio of soldiers to civilians is 4:1. Everyone has a gun.” And yet, the situation is really the same. Not enough food, not enough water, and not enough health care. They visited a hospital with most of the equipment intact, but holes in the wall from Al Shabaab mortars and bullets. The roof had been destroyed in parts, and other walls were cracked and falling. An NGO is subsidizing water costs there, so at least the water is not too expensive.

We headed back to Dadaab as the sun began to set. Along the way we met a refugee family and their goats. “We left Kismayu 30 days ago. We snuck out. Al Shabaab doesn’t want anyone to leave. They take our animals, and tell us it is a charitable tithe (zakat) for the poor. People are starving to death there.” The family of nine sleep where night finds them, all their belongings on a donkey cart. They lost all their cows, and decided to leave before their goats died too. The woman is pregnant, and the oldest child is about 12. “Many of our people are going to Dadaab. Being in the camp is better than Al Shabaab and drought.” I found two packs of biscuits and a carton of juice in the boot. Our guide, a better man then I, gave them fare for the bus he knew was coming, so the mother and children could ride for 50 kms. The red sun slipped below the horizon into night.

I'm building street cred, which is why I don't post blogs!

2011-07-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

While I haven't been working that hard at keeping this blog updated, I now have proof that I've really been blogging. In case you haven't been following my recent trip to South Sudan (which means you don't read Twitter or Facebook updates), I have posted several blogs through my work website, as well as photos and tweets from my site visits and South Sudan's recent Indedendence Day. You can click on the links below to read my blogs, but first, some validation. In addition, my photos were used here. The recent blogs I've written are here.

Tomorrow I'm off to northern Kenya, where I may run into Joy Portella of Mercy Corps. You may not know that northern Kenya, Somalia, and parts of Ethiopia (a region known as the Horn of Africa) are experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. On Friday I will visit Dadaab, the largest refugee camp in the world. Originally built to hold 90,000 people, it now holds more than 380,000, with 10,000 more arriving each week. In a land where war, lack of infrastructure, health services, or education already puts the people at severe risk, this drought has eliminated all chance of a coping strategy.

Hopefully, we can help people before they get to the refugee camps, reducing the strain on this overburdened system, and giving people a better chance of survival through this harsh time. Stay tuned for tweets, photos, FB posts, and maybe, possibly, a blog.

Mid year Review

2011-06-30T23:25:00.001-07:00

It has been months since I wrote a blog. I’m definitely not a writer. When I’m not forced to sit in front of a computer and type, it’s the last thing I want to do. I’ve been reading a lot of blogs, and bloggers just seem to have this gift for finding the thing they can write about without making their lives difficult. Or maybe they have a gift for writing in such a way that the difficulty upon them is not apparent. I don’t know. Confessions anyone? I think good bloggers are a bit off the cuff, but I’m so off the cuff, I feel that anything I type is a regurgitation of something I’ve already shared, digested or analyzed. Notwithstanding, I have a few anecdotes for now.

My dad’s blogging now. I won’t share his address, but email him and see if he’ll let you read. He’s an avid reader, but quite a shy writer. He shouldn’t be, his writing’s good, if a little polished. The joy of blogging is that there is no peer review to determine whether you should be published, just your own gut check. Blogging is refreshing in the way newspapers used to be before syndication.

I’ve decided that all the planning in the world cannot make me a planner. No matter how experienced a traveller I am, my bag will never look the same twice. In the same way, my desktop, my calendar, and my schedule are not followed, no matter how rigorously they are designed. I have a compulsive desire to build a patterned and disciplined life of repetition and consistency, but I’m not that guy. I also think everyone else figured that out long before I did.

Laura and I are enjoying life in Seattle, if not Seattle life. We still have a hard time finding restaurants that satisfy us, I’m gaining a chunk of pounds, and the rain never, ever stops. But, we have a great church family, a comfy home, friends and family visiting every month, and a simplicity to our life that is contenting. Plus there are mountains and ocean, which we will never under appreciate.

I have not read much lately, but that’s about to change, so maybe a blog on books is in the works.

Newsy news…or “What happened to the last few months?”

2011-04-28T17:10:00.000-07:00

Summer is fast approaching, and with it the second anniversary of the nuptials of Laura and Chris Sheach. The year has disappeared so quickly. In brief review, 2011 has gone this way so far: Chris went to Haiti, Laura spent 6 weeks commuting between Vancouver and Seattle, visitors came and went, Mr. and Mrs. Sheach went to Washington (DC) and Chris went back to Haiti. Thanks to our visitors, we have enjoyed your visits. It looks like our guest room is pretty solidly booked for the next six months, but please let us know if you’re planning a trip, and we’ll see if we have an opening!

Seattle this time of year is a mixed bag. It’s been pretty cold, even compared to the East coast, but consistent. We’ve learned to celebrate sunny days wholeheartedly. For those of you that have read Twilight, and think it seems a bit far-fetched that Edward would take EVERY sunny day off during the school year, let me share something. The Northwest has less “sun days” than the Northeast has “snow days” per year. As a matter of fact, I think the school districts here should just cancel school when it’s sunny – call it a mental health day or something. The school year might have to extend by a week or so, but academic performance would certainly be up.

Most readers of this blog know that the secret to the happiness of Laura and Chris is through our stomachs, and we’ve slowly started to find some new favourites. If you visit, be sure we will want to introduce you to Seattle versions of Mexican, bubble tea, Texas BBQ, burgers, and Chinese fusion. Of course, we’ve dabbled with various facets of the Seattle coffee scene, which is amazing. Not yet discovered: affordable Thai or sushi, great gelato, falafel, or Ethiopian. Any advice?

On a final note, I bought Water for Elephants (on the left) for my Kobo a couple of weeks ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Warning - it's a bit graphic. I'm guessing the motion picture is rated R, or doesn't do the book justice. So there's my first public book review. Try it, you might like it.

On better blogging...

2011-04-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

I recently contacted several former colleagues to solicit funds for the FREE THEM! 5K Run/Walk to stop Child Sex Slavery. For more info on how you can support that initiative click the links. What was interesting was how many replies I received in the vein of “I wondered what you were doing” or “How long have you been with World Concern”. Okay, that shows I am the world’s worst blogger. Now, what to do about it?

First, I’ve found that Twitter is much easier to keep up with, as I never travel without my phone. I’m more likely to think about what’s going on in 140 characters and/or a photo, than write the 500 words I feel a blog post deserves.

Second, the more I read other blogs, the more I realize I don’t have enough time or drive to add value to the great blogs on politics, aid, humanitarian interventions and travel. For more insight on these worlds, you can now peruse my blogroll on the right. Every post I’ve wanted to write over the last few months has been written by one of these people, so I just say “Like” to their posts.

Third, as part of my new job at World Concern, I am writing blogs for their website, and some guest posts for Interaction. This tends to drain my energy for creativity.

Finally, I had the opportunity in February to not only take a 7 Habits of Effective People workshop, but I also was trained as a facilitator. So, as part of my attempt to become more effective, and set a precedent before trying to share this method with others, I am going to be more proactive about blogging. Better to be consistent than verbose, so look for a steady trickle, rather than a flood.

Rising food prices - who will be affected?

2011-03-07T22:57:00.000-08:00

The Haiti earthquake. Flooding in Pakistan, India, Australia, the Philippines, Brazil, Sri Lanka, China, South Africa and more. The past year will be remembered for devastating natural disasters. Hurricanes, monsoons and cyclones wreaked havoc on four continents. Wildfires devastated Russia. Millions were left homeless, and the damage cost billions. But there is another deadly consequence. Rising food prices have driven an estimated 44 million people into poverty in developing countries, according to figures just released by the World Bank.

This article is reposted from my blog at Interaction.org

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Food Price Index shows that prices in January 2011 exceeded even the prices of July 2008, which incited riots in several countries, including Haiti, Cameroon and Egypt. The FAO predicts a steady increase in food prices: 35% of Sri Lanka’s rice crop has been destroyed, 7.5 million people in Pakistan need food support, 10 million need food in Chad and the other countries facing drought in the Sahel, and Russia has lost 25% of its wheat harvest.

In short, the demand for food is increasing, and the food available in the world has taken a sharp dive.

So, who is affected? In the U.S., the price of flour and rice jumped during the last shortage in 2008, but the price of bread was more stable because grocery stores kept prices low to retain customers. In a country like Sri Lanka, where an average 50% of income goes toward food, retailers are not so kind. An increase in rice costs translates directly to inflation in the price of all goods and services, and people quickly become unable to afford to feed their families.

For families in Sri Lanka, Chad, or Haiti, it’s possible that throughout the next year they will spend 75% of their income simply trying to eat. For an average American family, who normal spend 10% of their income on food, that would be equivalent to $3,000 spent on groceries each month, with a mere $1,000 to cover everything else. High food prices will no doubt lead to inability to pay for adequate housing, school or clothing. Already, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Pakistan and Haiti have been largely forgotten by the news media, but the effects of the global food shortage caused by disasters in these countries have only just begun.

It is certain we will see the price of a loaf of bread (currently pegged at $1.40/lb by the government) rise past $3, and perhaps reach $3.50 this year. Perhaps the shock of seeing rapid food price increases here at home will remind us how hard this crisis will be on those around the world who have already lost everything and now will struggle even more just to eat.

Should we cut foreign aid?

2011-02-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

Although I'm long overdue for a more personal post, especially concerning my recent trip to Haiti, I just read an excellent blog, which needs "reblogging" and comment. American and Australian governments are making cuts to foreign aid, and a recent poll suggests that more than 70% of Americans like the idea, despite the fact that it makes up a mere 1% of the budget. Now, I understand a percieved conflict of interest in my comments on this issue, but I don't believe Americans actually want to cut funding to foreign aid, they're just deluded as deatiled in this article from The Economist) as to how much of an effect it will have on their economy and the alternative, they are told, is to raise taxes.

Owen Barder writes:
"The idea that “charity begins at home” clearly resonates with many people. In part the phrase expresses the idea that we have stronger social ties and obligations to people who live in our neighbourhood than we do to people on the other side of the world. But few people really believe, on reflection, that we should pay no heed to people dying of hunger or for lack of medical facilities just because they are far away. Perhaps “charity begins at home” resonates for another reason: we can observe at first hand whether the effort we make to help our family and neighbours is actually working, whereas with foreign aid we can’t, and we have a sneaking suspicion that this means that it isn’t." As I agree with him in entirety, read the full article and share your comments.

Haiti - One Year On

2011-01-12T09:12:00.000-08:00

I have intentionally stayed out of Port-au-Prince this week, as Haiti doesn't need one more visitor. I will go on Monday and send a post from the ground then. Travel tip - don't try to go where everyone else is going!

Today is the one year mark from the earthquake that rocked that island nation, so I will honour the victims, as well as the survivors, with blog coverage. Below the jump are links to some blog posts, news articles and press releases updating a few of the stories I have shared on this blog before.

I ask everyone to stop at 4:30ish EST to consider that almost 230,000 died as a result of 30 seconds of terror last year. Think of the 1 million people still looking for jobs, homes, and a return to normal. Finally, remember all those volunteers, civil servants, and even aid workers (90% of whom are Haitian) that are trying to bring their country back.

If you're in the Seattle area, there's a prayer vigil tonight service at the Seattle Center Fisher Pavilion Rooftop from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m.

More after the jump...

Remember my coworker Jillian, who was trapped in the earthquake, and then came back to Haiti to face her fears for the sake of those who rescued her? Here are her reflections on healing and trauma.

The BBC has a series of articles and editorials, click here to start and then follow the links to the rest, including photos.

The Guardian has reviewed the reports of several aid agencies. Here is their review, with links to the reports.

Despte the criticisms of Yele Haiti and Wyclef Jean, they have a great spokesperson in Chelsea F.C.'s Florent Malouda. He speaks, quite frankly, on how visiting Haiti has affected him.

Also from the Guardian, a photolog of Haiti's history. It has never been easy there. And Alertnet has put together a great short film here.

Finally, the work I will be following up on next week can be seen on this video clip, and on our Haiti website.

Deputy Director of Disaster Response

2010-12-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

This blog post is a long time coming. Many of you know I have been seeking a post with World Concern in Seattle for some time. After more than six months of paperwork, I have been approved for a work permit, and have become an immigrant. For more details, follow the jump.

I became familiar with World Concern while surveying Myanmar for Food for the Hungry after Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, and added their site to my job scouting list. This process actually started in early 2009, when I applied for a position online, and did a few phone interviews. Unfortunately, I only found out they weren't prepared to offer the position after Laura had landed her new post in Vancouver, and my fate was sealed. It was more than a year later I received a follow up email to see if I was still interested in the position, and started the process of immigration.

The road to this position is a process that started in early 2009, when I noticed a position online.

Laura has been very supportive of this opportunity for me to follow my dream, and she has not had to sacrifice her career either. This has been an exciting and stressful time of transition for us, and we still haven't received our household items and furniture from the moving company yet. However, we look forward to where this road will lead!

Trash the 'Stache!

2010-11-30T14:58:00.001-08:00

"A lip without a mustache is like a body without clothing; and one must wear clothes, very few, if you like, but still some clothing." Guy de Maupassant

I can't believe it's already been thirty days of mo' madness. I know Laura has been counting them down, one by one, until she can have my clean face back! Nevertheless, she has been very supportive, even telling me that I'm handsome "even with the moustache". Oops, I wasn't supposed to tell that one! I want to thank all those who donated to Prostate Cancer Canada on my behalf. For those of you who wanted to, but forgot, there's still time! Click here! For those that are not financially capable of a donation, here's a reminder of the other nine ways you can help raise awareness. So, for this year, farewell to my dearest bristles - until next year!

The Taste and Texture of Words

2010-11-25T02:06:00.000-08:00

20 Awesomely Untranslatable Words from Around the World: "For myself, the hardest part about learning a new language isn’t so much getting acquainted with the translations of vocabulary and different grammatical forms and bases, but developing an inner reflex that responds to words’ texture, not their translated “ingredients”. When you hear the word “criminal” you don’t think of “one who commits acts outside the law,” but rather the feeling and mental imagery that comes with that word.

Thus these words, while standing out due to our inability to find an equivalent word in out own language, should not be appreciated for our own words that we try to use to describe them, but for their own taste and texture. Understanding these words should be like eating the best slab of smoked barbequeued ribs: the enjoyment doesn’t come from knowing what the cook put in the sauce or the seasoning, but from the full experience that can only be created by time and emotion."

That was Jason Wire, in a recent blog post for Matador Network. Many people know that I'm a quick study when it comes to learning languages. I think part of it is an ability to remember the "feel" of a word, when I hear it used. Although I've made some huge bloopers, I get into colloquial conversation much faster by recalling a word or phrase that "tastes" right for the context.

Do read Jason's article for the list of words. I think these words reveal so much about the cultural context: shadenfreude speaks to German humour, kyoikumama to Japanese competitiveness. One of my favourites is saudade, which I learned (and felt) in Mozambique.

Just give them cash...?

2010-11-24T11:18:00.000-08:00

It seems I'm not the only one struggling with facing poverty in the "developed" context (more about that later), as Roving Bandit finds African poverty easier to face as well. In the following blog, he does, however, link to research which says the solution to local poverty may be contrary to accepted thought. Studies in Mexico and the UK show that state-dependent unemployed/homeless, when given a handout, chose to get off the streets and eschewed drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. More below... Thoughts and comments?

Roving Bandit: Minimal evidence supporting the paternalistic view in this context…

Jet Lag makes me stupid

2010-11-23T13:04:00.002-08:00

Just a quick post for travellers - research shows we're dumber because of our jet lag. Thanks to Chris Blattman, IPA, and the team at Wired for breaking this story, based on this article, and supported by this one.

Community involvement key to disaster preparedness

2010-11-22T12:16:00.001-08:00

Here's a good article on current work being done in Bangladesh.

IRIN Asia | BANGLADESH: Community involvement key to disaster preparedness | Bangladesh | Aid Policy | Natural Disasters

West Coast Wonderland Reflections

2010-11-21T13:48:00.001-08:00

The first snow of the year came to the West Coast this weekend, and only our second snowfall since we moved here almost two years ago. It has a fascinating effect on people. First, no one believed it, even though the forecasters had a "snowfall warning in effect" - snow doesn't stay on the ground in Vancouver! Second, the lack of snow removal resources shut down parts of the city, and businesses stay closed. Third, drivers panic, resulting in serious pileups, as well as the just plain stupidity of driving 20 kph or less when the limit is 60. I'd rather oversteer than be rearended!

However, the sense of awe for those unused to snow is refreshing - snowmen were being made everywhere, and people just stopped and stared at the frosted trees, and the picturesque mountaintops. I guess, if you know the snow will leave in less than 48 hours, it's easy to love.

Movember Mayhem - Top Ten List

2010-11-19T15:22:00.002-08:00

Many of you will know that I have decided to support the Movember movement this year, by growing a moustache and bearing the indignity of unruly lip hairs. This is of course, to initiate conversation and raise funds and awareness of prostate cancer, which affects 1 in 6 men in Canada (I'm sure the stats are fairly equally in other countries). Two/thirds of the way through my furry growing stage, and with just over a week to raise funds, below the jump is the Top Ten Ways to support Movember.
10. Wear a fake moustache to work for a day.
9. Drink Granville Island Brewery's Lion Winter Ale - $1 from every pint supports Movember
8. Buy Movember swag
7. Pick one of every six men you meet on the street, and tell them statistically they will face prostate cancer.
6. Buy a drink for a random moustached guy, and congratulate him on his hardearned coiffery.
5. Get a pair of TOMS limited edition Movember TOMS shoes.
4. Pull co-workers moustaches to ensure the integrity of their fundraising. (Be sure to donate to authentic 'staches)
3. Sport your very own Demistache
2. Organize a party to celebrate the success of this year's Movember campaign.
1. Throw dough at a Mo Bro - http://ca.movember.com/mospace/992196.

And don't forget to sign up as a Mo' Bro or Mo' Sista next year!

Passengers hold themselves hostage?

2010-11-17T17:22:00.001-08:00

After delays forced a Ryanair flight to find an alternate landing site, passengers refused to deplane, insisting on being taken to their original destination - in a different country! Read the article after the jump.

http://uk.travel.yahoo.com/p-promo-3360210

November News

2010-11-16T16:47:00.000-08:00

Many may know I have interviewed for a position with World Concern, and am currently waiting for a work permit, so we can relocate to Seattle, Washington. This process has left us homeless, and we are living out of a (small) suitcase, with the rest of our worldly possessions in storage. I have now been wearing the same week's worth of clothes since September 24th, which increases the feeling of homelessness. Mr. Jingles is getting royal treatment right now as a pampered pet, with a professional sitter. Laura continues to work out of her office or from "home" as need dictates. Currently, we are making use of a homestay, which in another century would have been called a boarding house. Turns out this is a handy traveller tip: more on that after the jump. Currently, our goal is to be relocated by the 29th, right after American Thanksgiving. DV.

I first looked into homestay options when a friend was moving to Vancouver and had a few weeks before their new home was available. A Craigslist search revealed furnished rooms available on a nightly, weekly, or monthly basis. Briefly, the pros: furnished, usually with internet and cable, kitchen facility, sometimes meals are included, cheaper than a hotel, may take pets, usually quieter neighbourhood. The cons: not always private bathrooms, less private than a hotel, usually in suburban settings (access issues). The summary: I'll consider it on domestic trips, as cheaper than a B&B, especially since I don't need a 3 course breakfast every day, but only for 3+ days. For shorter trips, a hotel is more convenient, and I don't need a kitchen.

Save Haiti from aid tourists | Rory Carroll | The Guardian

2010-11-16T16:30:00.002-08:00

Another article on the consequence of amateur aid. Humanitarians are professionals. Please support us in our job (which may include connecting donors and beneficiaries in some way, as building intercultural bridges IS development). I will not knock any of the agencies mentioned in this article, not knowing them or their work directly, but 9,000 agencies helping Haiti is a problem. Especially now, with a medical crisis reaching pandemic proportions. Comments are appreciated!

Save Haiti from aid tourists | Rory Carroll | Comment is free | The Guardian

What's in Your Pocket?

2010-10-09T02:26:00.001-07:00

In preparation for my current trip to Chad, it was suggested that I “bring a good book”. Those of you who know me understand my predicament with the implication that there would be a lot of time to read. Even on the busiest of trips I tend to carry three or four. With more than 40 hours of flight time each way, airport layovers and literal days of waiting for bureaucratic approvals, how could I possibly have enough reading material?

I knew the answer was electronic, but the problem was trying to identify my need. Did I want an iPad, so I could do everything my laptop did, but in an easier tablet format, and for double the price of my netbook? Did I want an iPod, providing the same features in a less friendly (small) but more affordable format? Or, did I want to segregate these functions, and buy an ereader and/or a media player.

My problem became much simpler when I discovered the new Kindle 3^rd gen being released for $139. This is the WiFi only version, but with no data plan myself, and especially considering international travel, I didn't really need the 3G version anyway. For the uninitiated, the Kindle has continued to be the leader in eReaders: it uses the eInk screen (as opposed to the iPad screen which is backlit like a TV or laptop), so it can be read in direct sunlight, and really has the look of paper. The Wifi/3G means you can wirelessly download new books on the go, and the new price makes it the cheapest apples-to-apples on the market.

While in the US last month, I went in to Best Buy to pick one up, only to discover that it was not released in stores until the 26^th. Of course, I could get it on Amazon.com, with free shipping, in five days. Unfortunately, procrastination meant I was leaving for Africa in 30 hours. Scratch that idea. While searching Craigslist and Kijij for a quick purchase one a used Kindle, I re-read reviews of the Nook and Kobo, the closest competitors to the Kindle. The Kobo, available through Barnes and Noble or Chapters (in Canada), had just countered the Kindle price with a new low price of $129, and thrown in 100 free books. That solved it, I drove down to Chapters with Laura, demo'd the Kobo, and took one home.

The Kobo has no wifi or 3G, meaning it needs to be plugged in to load books. It's slightly slower to load pages, and is missing the keyboard (and all its features) of the Kindle. However, this is definitely the most exciting purchase I have made in a long time. It weighs less than a paperback, fits in my jacket pocket and can store up to 4000 books (with as SD card). It came with 100 preloaded classics, many of which are on my must read list anyways. It uses the ePub format (unlike the Kindle), which means I can check books out of the library electronically as well.

A quick search online lead me to a software called Calibre, which is kind of an iTunes for books, and can format documents to be read on the Kobo (or any other ereader for that matter, just tell it what you're uploading to and let Calibre do the rest). A neat feature of Calibre is the newsreader, with a list of papers and magazines in many languages that it will download on your schedule and upload to your reader in an acceptably legible format. This includes saving passwords for subscription services AND can upload your Google Reader to your eReader as well. What does this mean? Before getting on a plane, I can upload today's news from multiple countries, all the blogs I'm reading, a paperback (or 4), all in my jacket pocket with a battery that last for 8,000 page turns.

Just a few other thoughts: most older books are still not available as ebooks, and most sites (including the library) make it hard to search. Basically you have to know what you want, and hope it's available. Second, ebooks are still too expensive. Yes, they're the price of a paperback, and last longer, but I somehow doubt the author makes more money by not printing on paper. Third, the Kobo (and most ereaders) do not have a touch screen, can't take/save notes, or search quotes. In other words, they're like a book! Fourth, Project Gutenberg, which has been digitizing books for years, has got an amazing collection of older books (copyrights expire after 50 years in many countries), so you will never be short of free reading material. Finally, most bookstore chains are selling ebooks now. If you're like me, you'll find it easier to browse “real books”and then order the ebook, rather than trying to browse ebooks online.

In summary, if you travel, or have long waits, buy an ereader. It's really user friendly, and doesn't require a lot of computer skills, especially if you get a 3G one. The Kobo is a great little tool, but I recommend the new Kindle, since it's out already with a ton of features for only $10 more.

Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, 6" Display, Graphite - Latest Gener…

Amazon.com

$139.00

Haiti: Building Tomorrow Today

2010-08-15T12:45:00.001-07:00

Wylclef Jean (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Wyclef, in his recent announcement of his run for the Haitian presidency, has stated he wants to build the future of the country, through empowering the youth vote.

Although Wyclef appeals to the youth, there is still a strong current of support among the 30 and 40-somethings for the party of former president Aristide. His Lavalas party is not allowed to run in this election, for alleged misfiled papers, but a similar ban in the last general election caused the lowest voter turnout in Haitian history. In an election with about 20 candidates, a majority vote is required to win, meaning that even in the most fair and democratic situation, either a fractious split-vote run-off or a landslide victory will take place. Of course, with that many candidates, and with the populist party not in contentention, the latter is only likely if votes are fixed or ballots stuffed.

In the current post-earthquake Haitian situation, where many voters have lost their registration cards, and the populist Lavalas party is not running, what hope does any candidate have for a united country, or a government supported by the people? Is a top-down democracy really the right choice for Haiti, or can grassroots movements be supported?

Since the January 12 earthquake, many international and national agencies have been delivering aid through the assistance of comites de quartier. These committees are formed of recognized community leaders, and represent a population of a few thousand, depending on the density of the area. Now, these leaders are, of course, more often than not the ruling elite of the community, but they live in the community the represent. I have been told some communities even chooseto have gang leaders on their comite, for protection against rival gangs. The reality is, however, that these comites are held accountable. As community members, their own safety and reputation is governed by the will of the people. For many aid agencies, this has proved very effective in dealing with conflics and disputes, and reaching out effectively to the most vulnerable. Haitians have been quoted as saying,“It’s difficult for Haitians to have any faith in the election, we are so used to politicians taking advantage of us…The people living on the streets have other things to think about.”

By and large, the international aid community has not been involved with the government at the national level, prefering to connect on a much more local level, with municipal governments and the comites. As problematic as this may be, the bigger problem is that the federal and municipal governments are not connected, as municipal representatives make local decisions, rather than waiting for the national strategy to be detailed.

The future of Haiti, then, is being determined on two fronts: a national presidential campaign in the face of general electoral malaise, and a grassroots movement to rebuild communities by locally-acclaimed representatives. It is clear that political party memebership cuts across this division, and that certain parties are more likely to have community leaders on their roll than others. But isn’t that what democracy really looks like? Although myself not a convinced supporter of proportional representation, it is obvious that something is wrong when voter turnout has been consistently lower than 50%, and dipped as low as 28% in the last parliamentary election. In this campaign, would be candidates, including Wyclef, need to tap into grassroots governance, regardless of the parties involved, and build on the decision-making processes acknowledged by the people on a daily basis.

Now, I understand that a complete bottom-up government is probably un-constitutional, and would certainly be no more stable than any other regime.The fact is that the minority rich have historically instigated riots just as readily as the majority poor who would be empowered in such a system. Nevertheless, as mayors and other lower government positions are appointed by presidential decree, a wise leader could go a long way towards empowering the masses through supporting recognized community leaders for these positions, and giving municipal government increased autonomy. This suggestion is not completely ludicrous, given the successes post-earthquake in some municipalities with governments that act independently of the yet-to-be-completed national reconstruction plan.

If Wyclef does have a chance of winning, it’s because of the youth vote. However, despite being the future of the country, they are not the present. If he, or any other candidate, intends to help their country during a four-year term, they must also engage the community leaders of today, and promote good governance in which the leaders of tomorrow can be developed and showcased.

For further info and sources, see the following links:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100727/ap_en_mu/cb_haiti_elections_wyclef

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2010/0727/Wyclef-Jean-President-of-Haiti-Do-Haitians-like-the-sound-of-that

http://www.idea.int/vt/country_view.cfm?CountryCode=HT

http://www.theroot.com/views/can-wyclef-tap-haitis-youth-movement#comments

Packing your Go Bag - the hard essentials

2010-07-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

Hardware. I could go on for a month about the pros and cons of all the hardware needs one might have in emergency response or international aid. I am constantly trying to minimize the list, without compromising the effectiveness of the tools. For example, a camera phone does not replace your camera, nor can anything replace a pen and paper. For the minimalist list, please see below. Comments, suggestions and additions are appreciated!

Number 1, I don't leave home without a flash/thumb/jump drive. Even if I don't have my computer. More about that in another post.

2. A good midrange point and shoot camera. Try getting one with rechargeables, as in many countries it is hard to find AA with enough juice. Also best if coincides with #3 below. This quality of camera is more than enough for any one, even investigative journalists (my secret dream job).

3. An adaptable memory card is a great asset. SD memory is a standard slot in most laptops, reducing the need for a card reader.I like to save valuable documents (e.g image of passport) on my memory card, which spends most of it's time in my camera, not in my bag with my computer.

4. A cheap, unlocked GSM mobile phone. Available almost every where, although prices are better in Asia and Africa, $50 should get you a phone you can use in most countries in the world. Most of the places I visit (except the US) have kiosks in or near the airport, meaning I have a connection less than an hour after touchdown, and all my numbers are already there. For countries where I travel often, I keep the SIM cards and save local numbers to the card (e.g. the taxi company), and just need to top up minutes on the next trip.

4b. Don't forget the charger. I usually take two, because they're cheap, and I lose them often.

5. A laptop. Currently I'm trying a netbook, which is certainly lighter, but has its cons (small screen, processor, hard drive, everything...). In general, the lighter the better, but a DVD drive is always nice

6. Books. Currently, I take one novel for every 6 hours of flight (I read 1/3 of the time, and most novels take me 2 hours), and one non-fiction book for every week of travel, not to exceed 10 books total. This could all change with my purchase of an e-reader or ipad in the coming months, making it a must-have device. We shall see.

7. Noise-reduction headphones for the plane, and the airport terminal.

8. Headphones with a microphone for Skype. It would be great to find a 7&8 combo - any suggestions?

9. Outlet adapter set - especially good for layovers.

10. Notebooks and pens. I like having a scribble pad in my pocket (good for impromptu receipts and notes), a 3x5 hardcover for taking notes, and a journal size for compiling. Felt tips are the most consistent pens, gel points the worst, with fine point balls being the best compromise.

For links to what's in my bag, click the images below.

New year, new look

2010-07-24T10:33:00.001-07:00

I've taken some time off, refocused, and am ready to renew this blog (i.e. I've returned to the field). Here are a few posts to look for in coming days:

1. Haiti: State Expectations

2. First Impressions - how I got to fly first class for free, and what I thought of the experience.

3. Reader's Choice: Blogs I recommend

Guinea and China 'agree big deal'

2009-10-16T15:58:00.001-07:00

While the rest of the world is standing back and saying "tsk, tsk", or threatening economic and military sanctions after the bloodbath in Guinea, our friendly trading partner to the east has thought only of continued trade: "Guinea says it has sealed a massive mining deal with a Chinese firm, as protests against the ruling junta continue."

This is the same China that continues to trade in DR Congo, Sudan, Burma, Zimbabwe and every other country where human rights no longer exist. Oh, and the same China that President Obama, Prime Minister Harper, and other world leaders have recently courted, opening access for Western nations to receive Guinean oil at a fair price!

Child prostitution-increased or averted?

2009-10-12T09:52:00.005-07:00

I mentioned this on my other blog a while ago, but would appreciate thought and comments from readers here. The article after the jump is centered around the town of Caia, where I was posted for three months in Mozambique in 2007.

Save the Children had an excellent awareness program, showing a very proactive approach to child protection. However, despite their best efforts, "prosti-tots" still frequented all the bars in town, and sexual relations with bridge workers was still an ongoing issue.

Save the Children and WFP had a fundraiser at the local disco with a pop star guest, and all the NGO expats turned out and paid the cover charge, wading through the crowd of kids outside the bar and teens inside the bar, to pay money to stop prostitution. The irony was not lost on most, who left as quickly as possible.

Therefore, I was somewhat relieved to see this report, and the assumption that the prostitution rate was quite a bit lower because of their interventions. It is so hard, while surrounded by misery, to anticipate how much misery has been reduced by your labours and reading the article was an encouragement to me. I'm glad that SC can post successes, notonly in increasing awareness and gaining local support, but in preparing a valuable "Lessons learned" for the government of Mozambique and other developing economies.

IRIN Africa | Southern Africa | Mozambique | MOZAMBIQUE: Building much more than the Zambezi Bridge | Children Economy Education Gender Issues | News Item