Economy Archive
little screen America, Big Screen Africa
Posted by jimheck in "Modern" Africa, African Films, Culture, Economy on May 16, 2013
African films are exploding onto the Cannes Film Festival, opening Wednesday, as youthful African societies continue to develop this important art which is being so grossly neglected in America. The decline in the American film industry is today’s hot topic, but I think everyone’s got it wrong. The emphasis has been on America’s growing and [...]
Outside Threats
Yesterday’s deadly grenade attack in Arusha isn’t simply an indication of escalating religious tensions in Tanzania, but of the same escalating individual malevolence evident in the Boston massacre. In neither incident do I believe there is any kind of organized group involvement, despite FOX News, Representative Stephen King or the other crazies on Meet the [...]
Unusual Risks in Africa
Posted by jimheck in "Modern" Africa, Economy, Terrorism on May 2, 2013
Investors in new shopping malls for Kenya and Nigeria are expecting a first-year return of 12% and a long-term return of 25%, led by savy South African banks. Business plans for Africa have always astounded Americans. I’m mostly familiar with the tourism sector, and ROIs (return-on-investments) of less than a third are not considered worth [...]
Man vs Beast … Again
Invisible fences for pet dogs are common in the U.S., but they’re used with opposite purpose in Africa: to keep the unwanted out. Africa’s big game parks are mostly huge tracts of uninhabited wilderness but increasingly sophisticated agriculture and ranching impinges on many of the borders. There is the obvious social/political human/animal paradigm to work [...]
DisMobius Engagement
Posted by jimheck in Economy, Global Relations, Terrorism on April 25, 2013
Last night a prominent African businessman chastised Obama for “disengaging” from Africa, even as American military involvement grows ominously large. Obama as reflecting the “United States” is a curious shadow box of a troubled society. Are we (is Obama?) pulling inwards, constrained (perhaps by Congress?) to few good acts except our own security? Yes to [...]
Killing Two Birds with A Bird
The great rice fields of western Kenya are ready for harvest. But the battle that will determine who eats the rice is only now playing out. It’s man versus bird, and the rules of engagement are not pretty. This is such a perfect example of the folly of man trying to tinker with nature. I’ve [...]
Techtonic in Nature
Posted by jimheck in Ecology, Economy, Environment, Wildlife Management on March 28, 2013
Separate but Equal: A chilling phrase used throughout history to justify such barbaric ideas as apartheid and reenforce the power of the status quo has now been applied to African wilderness in an attempt to save lions. It’s more naive than offensive. Sorry to be such a drag on your week, but when the world’s [...]
Walkabout
Posted by jimheck in "Modern" Africa, African Traditions, Botswana, Economy on March 22, 2013
The Botswana bushmen have finally been excluded from their homeland, having lost the final skirmishes in more than a century of battling to retain their right to a traditional life in the Central Kalahari Reserve. As of today, Botswana’s ancestral San people may only enter the reserve on month-long permits, one third the stay allowed [...]
Borders and Blood
Posted by jimheck in "Modern" Africa, Economy, History, Politics, Uncategorized on February 25, 2013
by Conor Godfrey I’ve been accused of being a relentless Africa booster… this is almost certainly true. To fight back, however, I am going to offer a scarier version of the continent’s next thirty years that has taken up serious mind share recently. This idea will hopefully pass muster as a research topic, so I [...]
Apocalypse Masks Extinctions
The media hysteria about the increase in elephant poaching will not help solve the situation, not until facts are presented straight and the public realigns its reaction. Newsweek’s article published tomorrow, disseminated this weekend by the Daily Beast, is the perfect example. Margot Kaiser’s lengthy article might be considered detailed if it were not rife [...]
Konza of Kajiado
Posted by jimheck in "Modern" Africa, Economy, Kenya, Politics on January 24, 2013
Ground breaking my eye, what happened 35 miles from Nairobi yesterday was nothing less than the Big Bang. “Kenya’s Silicon Valley” they call it: 37,000 luxury homes and apartments, 70 acres of high-tech complexes, highways and public tennis and golf courts, several universities, high speed rail to Nairobi, 4-lane superhighways, buried electricity and fibre optics. [...]
Diamonds Are Forever
Botswana has had a remarkably long streak of luck; and lions don’t have enough lives. With less than a generation left of certain revenue, there is concern the stately country could fall into the dustbin of failed states. Right now Botswana is the richest country in Africa. With a GDP per capita around $15,000, it [...]
In-Depth Tourism
Posted by jimheck in Culture, Economy, Poverty, Tourism Trends on December 14, 2012
Death, destruction, despair and poverty … all for an attractive price! For less than $30 per person you can be guided into Kenya’s most famous slum! Kibera Tours dot com. “Experience a part of Kenya unseen by most tourists: KIBERA The friendliest slum in the world!” The half-day sightseeing trip in Nairobi promises to visit [...]
Maul Special
Posted by jimheck in Amboseli, Animal Attacks, Big Game, Economy, Kilimanjaro, Wildlife Management on December 13, 2012
Pretty story but not very effective: recruit Maasai morani – the legendary warriors that are expert lion killers – to protect lions. Sort of like hiring the ultimate teenage hacker to protect HSBC. Lion numbers are dropping alarmingly, and better than any other great African savannah animal lion are a true indicator of the health [...]