People on the ground often know better than the experts

I am presently reading Jane Jacob’s “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”. Jane Jacobs understood cities from the bottom up. She skipped a formal university education and instead learned how cities worked from careful observation, while she herself lived in the city. Her writings and actions have become classic in our understanding about the life in cities.

Into the mind of a billionaire

I have just finished reading “Brazillionaires; Wealth, Power, Decadence and Hope in an American Country” by Alex Cuadros. Brazil is a country known for its widespread corruption, its wealthy billionaires and its large poor population. It has one of the highest rates of financial inequality in the world. Brazillioniares reveals the lives and activities of some of Brazil’s billionaires (Eike Batista, Esteves, ---) and the role of some of its more recent politicians (Lula, Dilma, etc…). I read this book to try and understand the inner workings of the minds of the superrich. This is a topic that has intrigued me from an early age.

Development: Living in a world of affluence

I am incredibly privileged. I have never known hunger. If I fall ill medical services are available. I have had opportunities to study and work. I am surrounded by electronic gadgets that make my life comfortable and interesting. I can speak out freely. I can travel without hindrance... and so the list goes on and on.

Development: Malaria

My experience with malaria goes back a long way. In 1966 when I first arrived in Tanzania to work there I used to take quinine-based malaria medicine once a week, on Sundays. On Mondays as I headed off to work I typically had a headache. I reasoned to myself that it seemed like I really did not like my work very much, since going to work on Mondays gave me a headache. I have since learned quite a bit about quinine based anti-malarial medicine. More of that later. First let me share a few words about the nature of malaria itself.

Development: Diarrhea

I know a little bit about diarrhea – experientially that is. I have had it quite often while working overseas. As I look at my bouts of diarrhea I realize that many of them are a result of identifying with and eating with the people with whom I have been working. I have often been working to improve the water and sanitation systems overseas, but in the meantime I had to live in less than ideal situations.

Reflections on International Development

I have recently been to the Congo for the fourth time and have seen human development at its worst. As a result I have been reflecting on the whole development process. In the following I would like to explain (1) where I am coming from as a result of my personal experience with about 40 years of development work ( in water supply and sanitation) and human rights work, (2) review what other analysts are saying about the development  process and (3) give my concluding reflections on global human development.

Poem: Africa, land of sunshine

In 1966 our family went as volunteers to Tanzania. I taught engineering in a technical college and my wife taught English studies. The following poem was written after we had been there two years.