aid
The Uncertainty Principle: Somalia and the Art of Quantum Mechanics
Those who are not shocked when they first come across quantum theory cannot possibly have understood it – Niels Bohr If you are not completely confused by quantum mechanics, you do not understand it – John Wheeler It is safe to say that nobody understands quantum mechanics – Richard Feynman For a small part of […]
Beware Yachts in Distress
Andrew Mwangura, who monitors piracy from his base in Mombasa, is warning shipping to look out for the Carre d’As which was snatched a week ago. He believes its French crew have been put ashore and it is now being used as a mother ship to snare other unwitting sailors. Typically, boats like these are […]
Feeding Africa
Julius Njoroge Kinuthia and his biotech bananas The biotech debate has been rumbling along nicely in Africa recently. A couple of days ago William Ruto, Kenya’s agriculture minister, said he planned to allow the planting of genetically modified crops as the best way to improve yields. Then this morning the UK’s former chief scientist, Professor […]
A Very Rash Bet
You may remember that a couple of weeks ago I took issue with the standard, lazy size comparisons used for Darfur. If you bother to check the facts (ridiculous I know) then France and Texas are not nearly as accurate an area comparison as Spain. At the time I offered a prize for the first […]
Chasing Shadows
Today’s Standard splashes on mounting suspicion that someone in Kenya’s anti-terror police unit tipped off Fazul Abdulla Mohammed, a key terror suspect, just as officers were about to swoop. They arrested a family thought to be hosting Fazul in Malindi even as his dinner was cooling on the table. But there was no sign of […]
Sun City Rockers Whinge All the Way to the Bank
At the risk of getting boring… Queen guitarist Brian May has hit out a British TV network for not broadcasting the group’s performance at Nelson Mandela’s recent 90th birthday concert in London. The band, along with vocalist Paul Rodgers, were the final act to take the stage at the gig in Hyde Park on Friday, […]
It’s What Jesus Would Have Wanted
Dungu Bridge, one of the structures left behind by Belgian rule in the Congo OK, I give in. The Church – and the Catholic Church in particular – has its uses. I’d prefer the poor of Africa to spend their money on themselves rather than giving it to their priests. But that’s an argument I’m […]
Let Them Drink Coke – Cash or Food for the Hungry?
The Coke truck arrived just in time. After a long day in the sun watching an aid distribution I was in need of a cold lukewarm drink. But wait, these people in Kenya’s Kerio Valley were hungry. Many had not had a proper meal in weeks yet vendors seemed to come and go with chapatis, […]
Saving Somalia
Children are among the guards at a warlord’s home in Mogadishu In this part of the world it doesn’t take long to spot the problem with international aid to Africa. Or maybe I should rephrase things. In this part of the world it doesn’t take long to spot the problem with British aid to Africa. […]