Archive for March, 2010
The Berlin Conference Continues to Plague Africa 125 Years After the Fact
By Conor Godfrey In 1884-85, European governments essentially drew a map of Africa on the back of a cocktail napkin in Berlin. This map carved Africa into a series of illogical states and spheres of influence that took little stock of realities on the ground and laid the framework for more than a century of [...]
How the U.S. Could Transform the International Criminal Court
By Conor Godfrey This past week the International Criminal Court (ICC) added genocide to the charges currently pending against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. This seemingly unenforceable addition has rekindled debate over the relevance of the ICC. In March 2009, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Bashir, to which the Sudanese president retorted, “Dissolve [...]
On Safari: Migration Outstanding
Posted by jimheck in Big Game, Great Migration, OnSafari on March 23, 2010
It was slightly wetter than normal for my Gustafson safari which ended Monday, and the migration was outstanding! The unequivocal highlight was the day we left Olduvai Gorge for Ndutu, spending the entire day on the grassland plains northeast and south of Naabi Hill. We drove and drove and only rarely found areas with no [...]
Elephant Now Safe, Are People?
Posted by jimheck in Big Game, Politics, Wildlife Management on March 22, 2010
Elephant are safe for the moment, but what about the people they’re trampling? The CITES convention in Doha yesterday strongly rejected Tanzania and Zambia’s petition for a one-off sale of warehoused ivory. I think that’s the right decision, but will others step up to protect ordinary citizens? (And note that the Obama administration became a [...]
Is Guinea Ready to Exploit “A World Class Monster” Iron Ore Deposit?
By Conor Godfrey The feasibility studies are complete. The ore deposit in Simandou, Southern Guinea, is 66% iron (high quality), and is likely the largest undeveloped iron ore deposit in the world (110 km). One stockbroker interested in the project was quoted as saying– “It’s a world-class monster.” Over the next several years, mining giant [...]
What To Do With All These Ex-Combatants?
By Conor Godfrey A friend of mine currently serving in Liberia recently related the following story about his friend Abdoulaye. Abdoulaye’s store was robbed for several hundred US dollars. After hearing the night watchman’s account and looking into the evidence, Abdoulaye concluded that the burglar had military training and was more than likely an ex-rebel [...]
Guns, Germs, Steel, and Internet Access
By Conor Godfrey If you believe Jared diamond, geography gave certain parts of the world a first mover advantage that has exerted tremendous influence on world affairs from the dawn of agricultural societies to the present. Around 8500 BC, the Fertile Crescent had 32 large seed grasses that lent themselves to rudimentary cultivation; Sub-Saharan Africa [...]
Stunning: But Not All Africa Has to Offer
Posted by jimheck in Arts and Culture, Planning Travel on March 15, 2010
By Conor Godfrey Last week, the New York Times travel section featured a two page special on Dogan-country in Mali. Is West Africa finally on the tourism radar? Inside an artisan cooperative frequented by foreign NGO workers in Conakry, Guinea, I once saw postcards for sale with Massai Morani on the front. Stamps sold nearby [...]
Piracy on The High Seas
By Conor Godfrey Over the past several days, news that French naval forces had captured ten pirate vessels coincided with reports of pirates seizing new ships and demanding hefty ransoms. To Susie-Q public, piracy seems like a bad joke. Even the moderately well informed news consumer tends to picture a black Johnny Depp swilling rum [...]
What Do Mudslides in Uganda and Riots in Nigeria Have in Common?
By Conor Godfrey Last week mudslides in Uganda buried hundreds. Flash floods destroyed lives in Kenya, and deadly riots claimed the lives of 500+ people in Nigeria. Why do these belong in the same category? In each case lives and livelihoods were lost to environmental degradation. In the struggle to make people and policy-makers care [...]
Must See: Habib Koite & Bamada – Live in the U.S.
Posted by jimheck in African Traditions, Arts and Culture, History, Music on March 8, 2010
By Conor Godfrey This month Habib Koite and his group Bamada will be playing in venues across the U.S.—you must not miss them. Before I rave about Habib’s music, we should talk about the Griot tradition he comes from. When I first arrived in Guinea, I stayed with a Malinke family (an ethnic group prevalent [...]
Can Africans Afford the “African World Cup”—Does it Matter?
Posted by jimheck in South Africa, Tourism Trends on March 7, 2010
By Conor Godfrey World Cup fever is in full swing as the FIFA countdown clock hits 95 days, 22 hours, and 10 minutes. China’s olympic sized debutante ball in 2008 has made it all too easy for pundits to bill the upcoming World Cup as a continental coming out. I admit—I’ve fallen for the hype. [...]
OnSafari: Carbon Congestion
Kenya’s President Kibaki has advised the developed world’s working group out of the Copenhagen climate summit that the Third World wants carbon credits for protecting its forests. OK. And carbon debits, then, for their fuel inefficient commutes. My first four days on safari were spent on business in the capitals of Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam. I [...]
Homosexuality or Rabid Homophobia: Which is the Foreign Import?
By Conor Godfrey In less than two weeks the Ugandan parliament will vote on one of the most virulent anti-gay bills in history. Ugandan Anti-Gay Bill 2009 mandates the death penalty for some homosexual acts and significant prison terms for people who fail to report homosexual activity to the authorities. Mass rallies preceding the introduction [...]
The Coup d’Etat is Back
Clattering Coups By Conor Godfrey Anyone who followed African news in the 1960s, 70s, or 80s, would be forgiven for thinking that a coup d’état once every five to ten years was written into West African constitutions. Yet, like small cars and women’s boots, shooting your way into the presidential palace is back in style. [...]