Unpacking Development

While conducting an HIV/AIDS and gender workshop for a group of women in a rural and predominantly Christian Orthodox community in Ethiopia, I encountered what I call a classic clash between traditionalism and modernism within development work. After a two day workshop on preventative measures to transmitting HIV, I asked the ladies in the workshop [...]

Last month I attended Case Camp, a social media “unconference” in Toronto. A meet up of social media professionals who heard talks from internet experts and enthusiasts speaking about the internet today and a bit about tomorrow. I’m bringing this up on Blog Action Day on Climate Change because I had a discussion with Trevor [...]

Before travelling to Africa with Belinda Stronach a couple of summers ago, Rick Mercer vowed never to “come back from Africa like one of the arseholes on TV who won’t shut up about Africa”.  After reneging on that promise (which is fine with me!) the two of them started Spread the Net, a charity (obviously) [...]

The Globe and Mail recently ran an article called “Banned Aid” on the new funding approach to international development agencies in Canada. Canada has made recent changes to their funding approach restricting their major funding to 20 key countries essentially abandoning countries like Malawi, Rwanda, Niger among others (they still give some aid but it [...]

A recap seems to be the thing to do in the blogosphere, although I’m a few days too late.  I got my inspiration here: Blood and Milk and Global Health Report.  So, here are the top five most popular posts on my blog in its first year – its a surprising mix! Ethiopian Nativity of [...]

Originally published in Juxtaposition Global Health Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 2. Summary: In Sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that 25 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, and 2 million have already died. There are hundreds of organizations working to eradicate the pandemic through prevention, care and treatment. Dominant prevention approaches focused on education have been [...]

World according to the Human Development Index Sometimes it feels like we only engage with Africa through demoralizing statistics. This many millions suffering from Disease X, this many billions in debt, this many millions living below the poverty line. I’m sick of statistics, and know they’re hard to engage with, but also know that they [...]

Last week, the US senate committee on Foreign Relations voted to contribute another $50 billion against HIV/AIDS. PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, has channeled funds to treat and care for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS around the world since its inception five years ago. This renewal of commitment has more than [...]

Yesterday I sat down and watched Black Gold, a movie about Ethiopia and the international coffee trade (its easier to procrastinate my thesis if I am doing other ‘productive’ things in the place of writing). I wish I hadn’t. Not because it wasn’t good, but because it forces me again to question my increasingly frequent [...]