The Green Revolution: Mozambique style

Just received this image with the caption Green Revolution in Mozambique. 

Really important stuff to know!

Sunday, Bloody Goat Sunday

Viking Lasagna and Mozambican Cerveja: Stuart's Birthday

Swedish Black-Face Female Genital Mutilation of an African Cake that Isn't Art

So many things wrong with this video and the "art" it displays in 'provoking us' to think about female genital mutilation. How to name the wrongs... a white Swede in screwed up tribal black-face posing as a fat, very dark-skinned African that looks like a southern African statue you'd buy in a market in Sub-Saharan Africa that screams in an obviously male voice every time you cut the cake (starting with the clitoris). Its stirring controversy because the Swedish culture Minister was the first to 'cut the cake.' Of course, there are defenders in Sweden about the purpose of the 'art piece as provoking a discussion on FGM.' I call bullshit. First the video, then the reasons is pure and simple provoking without any real 'discussion.'

(1) Where does FGM happen most? Not Sub-Saharan Africa. Not "Black Africa". Mostly in the Arab sections (Sudan, Somalia etc.). This cake/woman is clearly neither the body type or the color of your typical FGM victim in those countries. Bad research - or more precisely - no research. Think Ayaan Hirsi if you want a more accurate picture.

(2) Since when was FGM practiced on a full grown woman with a belly? No, unfortunately, its usually with 10-13 year old girls undergoing initiation, not fat post-child bearing women.

(3) Blackface? Come on. Are you really trying to tell me that you couldn't find a 13-16 year old (or even an 18 year old with a young face) to play the part? I realize you're 'a performance artist' or something. But you can direct a more realistic face. This just made it uncomfortable to watch (not because of the mutilation, but because of the overt racism of the face paint) and completely reduced the 'provoking discussion' part to a humorous interlude (for idiots).

Personally, I would have purposely made the mistake of thinking the head was part of the cake and provoked the bastard a bit more than he planned. A scar on the cheek to remember what mutilation really feels like, in a far less painful place... Hey - its art right?!

Sigauque Rehearsal

Rehearsal for the live recording last night. Check 'em out at http://www.sigauqueproject.com/

Here comes another one...

So, although we are working on delivering up North, theres now worry about the next one, currently riding over Madagascar and heading straight for Inhambane. Craziness... predicted to hit Maxixe directly sometime on the 17th or 18th.

For the dates, see below a map from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC):

Consumption to TB to MDR TB to XDR TB

So, I'm working on a project involving miners and TB in Southern Africa. I just happened to come across this photo blog about TB in the Ukraine. In turn, that reminded me of Paul Farmers amazing book Pathologies of Power which goes into detail about the public health issues of just letting TB in prisons, mines, and the various 'undesirable' populations, run rampant. It leads to horrible versions of TB that are not resistant. Mozambique is now in the throes of that problem, mostly from miners that may be going undiagnosed, or worse, diagnosed but not able to complete treatment due to cross-border movements. Thus MISAU and SADC are trying to figure this out.

If you don't know anything about XDR and MDR TB, check it out here. Wiki Paul Farmer, in case you're new to him. Suffice it to say, he proved that community health on TB worked in Haiti, which means it should in theory work everywhere else. FHI360, Vanderbilt (Friends in Global Health) and others in the public health sphere are all attempting to use his methods to stem TB in Mozambique today.

Post-cyclone humanitarian assistance (photos and video)

Emergency action

USG bringing in emergency supplies for Zambezia. We receiving.

Maxixe walking and piggery

Just a quick and dirty photo post today, from my recent trip to Maxixe - only the non-consulting related, so really the least interesting.

Pics of sick pigs and mango seedling planting below the fold...

Scandalous ads

And they said the 'preta boa' ad was bad. Usaid paid for this one.

Translation: "You come to be with them (female)? Don't forget your condom when you leave."

Agreed. I'm a 'libratarian' on free speech...

So, it still amazes me to explain and discuss free speech with my italian gf.  The basics are... Italy actually controls free speech, even on facebook, including discussions on abortion and (I'm sure), the following: Gerrmany is having an argument - links here and here - the issue is whether to have excerpts of Mein Kampf allowed onto the internets.

What amazes me, and her, is the fact that its an obvious right (to me) to have Nazis march, publish, argue in public in America. I don't like them, but I want them to argue, because then I know they exist, and can argue against them. Italians, and Germans for sure, don't have that luxury. Their history means they cannot allow it. Makes for an interesting difference, not on philosophical terms, but realistic legal and political fears...

But, it worries me in other areas. The same argument I just made above (and most of us Americans would agree to) is that Italy can't allow full "free speech" because of a Nazi/Fascist past. But, currently Facebook deletes pages or links she makes on abortion or against politicians in country. So, was the exchange worth it? I'm sure most Americans, and American politicians and technocrats back in the day agreed that Italy should not have the right to talk/speak/state its feelings on fascism (in favour) or antisemitism, but now you are limiting what you hear. The countries' are only allowed to talk about things through a false 'legal lense.' I'd rather know (1) who is anti-semetic; (2) who is fascist; (3) who has another anachronistic argument (a la Ron Paul...). But they do not have that luxury in the current system.

Placing the rapist over the fantasy terrorist...

A Must Read. Esquire's Tom Junod investigates the details of the story behind the Georgia Militia "Grumpy old terrorists" recently arrested by the FBI for a supposed plot to use weapons of mass destruction (maybe I've been out of America too long, but I really think WMD needs to be excised from our vocabulary).

Its long and well written, so just the quick facts that lead me to recommend it: (1) all the "terrorists" were over 65, with too little money and energy to pull off the supposed plot; (2) the 'informant' is somehow out on bail after attempted flight and months of incarceration concerning raping and molesting his step-daughters, owning child pornography, etc; (3) although not specifically stated by any source, the conditions of that bail seems to be the act of helping to create and push some old fantasy militia-type grumpy old men into jail for 'conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism', none of which they could have done without their pedophile compatriot handing them tools and suggestions along the way. It all may be backed by tape recorders, but I'm convinced any jury, upon hearing about the informant, will wonder what went on when the tape recorder wasn't rolling that likely would demonstrate clear acts of entrapment.

Somehow, I don't think that our government's resources are best used on this kind of case. Read it and weep.

Lichinga!

Mandatory condoms in pornos...

Check out the story here:
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/us/los-angeles-makes-condoms-mandatory-for-adult-film-actors.xml

Now, I'm all for safe sex portrayals in the porn industry, but I'm not convinced condoms are the perfect example. I would have preferred a choice: either (1) condoms; or (2) a mandatory section (like ads and the fbi warning in dvds and on internet streaming) where the actors talk to each other about their history, risks, and get tested together. Now that would be educational and informative, and demonstrate to people how adults do it.

A must read

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/hendrikhertzberg/2012/01/king-day-i-quote-unquote.html

Great run down of a controversy over King's words and meaning.

Slight variation on 'the uniform'

Regardless, always important to protect your ankles from the dangers of the sun. Especially on a wet and rainy day like today.

Photo Post: A typical Sunday afternoon

What's beneath a headline?

Considering yesterday's NY Times debacle - about whether or not journalists should seek the truth or not - it seemed appropriate to get into perspective a bit (as my namesake alberti would have us do).

The question is not just about truth, but research to gain perspectives, based in fact, on the truth (ideally closer to the truth than Rashomon). It seems quite obvious when I write it that way, but really doesn't happen very often. Take the lame excuses for examples given by the NY Times - you don't have to call Romney a liar, but if he says the President is "apologizing" for America, at least explain (1) why he might say that - reference the examples; and (2) give the reader the tools - likely from others - to seek out the truth on their own. I don't think the Truth Vigilante is the right word. But, the Skeptical Reporter might be more accurate.

Here's a more obvious example, and the more pernicious kind - that doesn't deal much with opinion - but in omission. Most of our news media just doesn't ask the other side, reports whats said, and if it sounds good, makes it seem like everyone is in agreement (in that place, town, club, etc.).

Check out this story: "Agreement on Mine Workers' Wages Signed". Sounds benign enough. The "reporter" (all africa is a clearinghouse, so I'm not sure of the source, but likely Noticias) tells us the story about why BCI, a bank, signed an agreement with the Mozambican government about payment of mine workers' wages in a more formal, efficient way. The story goes so far as to mention that "there are sad stories of people being robbed" when going to TEBA to receive their salaries in cash. Lots of good reasons. The Bank says its good, the government, the mines are cool with it. So, who's missing? Any omission?

The miners I've talked to thus far, are very wary of change. Most of them don't trust the bank, were fine with the old system, and wonder what recourse they'll have when they don't receive their salary correctly. You see, TEBA is their recruitment agent, has their contract, and deals directly with the mine. The Bank does none of that. So, there are reasons to worry. After all, they currently don't receive all of their insurance claims on health and funeral costs. So, who's to say the same won't happen at the Bank. Further, Mozambican banks don't exactly have a great image of solid foundations, trustworthiness, or oversight (without the death penalty for the overseer). And you wonder why they might be skeptical?

See my post on the Magermanes for a longer term reason for distrust of such agreements.