The Road to the Horizon

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Humanitarian News moved to a new server
2010-09-28 12:31:00
Those of you following my different blogs, will have noticed I have been struggling with GoDaddy, the hosting service for some sites since the longest time. After months of virus infections on some sites, security failures, lack of performance and repeated downtime, I decided to move some of my blogs to another host. The first, and most complex of all sites, Humanitarian News , was the first one to move. Since I started Humanitarian News, the site had completely outgrown its server: We... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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Shell in Nigeria.
2010-09-24 13:13:00
Discovered via Platform London Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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The Millennium Development Goals in pictures
2010-09-19 12:20:00
Remember my post announcing the UNDP-Olympus-AFP Foundation Photo Contest, called Picture This? People could submit pictures symbolizing the work done on the different Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The project received over 3,000 submissions from around the world, and some of them are simply breathtaking. Including the touching picture aboved, submitted by Joydeep Mukherjee, titled "Equal Work". While the purpose of the contest was to shed a positive light on the progress towards... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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New aidworker blogs
2010-09-16 23:09:00
The list of blogging aidworkers grows. Here are my latest additions: After Africa: Long time blogger and cyberfriend Pernille faces her new challenge: after years in Bosnia, Uganda and Tanzania, she now works an NGO back home in Denmark. Underwater Desert blogging, by Casey in the US, about Somalia. Or is it the other way round? Chhaya Path, is Nisha's blog, who shuttles between India and Kenya Shotgunshack blogs from different parts of the world, inspired by a video from the Talking... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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Viva Alitalia - This is why the pope kisses the ground after a flight
2010-09-14 16:56:00
As part of the series The Flying Fun on The Road, here is an interesting event to further relativate the "Science of Flying". When we landed with an Alitalia Airbus A321 last Sunday, the cabin sound and light installation went completely bezerk for the whole of the 20 minutes we were taxiing to our gate. Both the rhythmic flickering and rapping beat in the speakers made it look and feel like a night at the disco. I imagined one of the flight attendants coming from the back rapping to the... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
More About: Ground , Kisses , Pope

The Majestic Plastic Bag
2010-09-13 14:58:00
We featured several good and bad examples of advocacy for nonprofit causes. Here is a type we have not featured before: "The Majestic Plastic Bag" is a "mockumentary": it uses the format of a documentary, in a sarcastic jacket, to drive home a strong message. The video is made by Heal the Bay, a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to making Southern California coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy and clean. They use research, education, community action and advocacy to... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org

Turning plastic garbage into oil
2010-09-11 13:03:00
Discovered via Our World 2.0 Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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Major US bomb alert. A stuffed horse.
2010-09-10 14:42:00
Seriously, How deep can the fear of terrorism attacks run?... Not so seriously: Two-year-old Timmy Johnson, spokesman for Toddlers for Justice, who claimed responsibility for the stuffed horse attack, said in a written statement that if they can not burn Korans, they have a constitutional right to display horses in parks. His girlfriend, two-and-a-half year old Suzy Elderman confirmed they are planning similar attacks using Barbie dolls... Sarah Palin is rumoured to comment on the... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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Monsanto, aid and politics
2010-09-10 09:58:00
Two years ago, I published a post about "The World According to Monsanto - The Horror of Commercial GM Crops" which also included a link to a must-see documentary. The documentary showed clearly how Monsanto was encroaching on the seed (and thus food-) markets in developing countries in a pretty straightforward way: they buy up as many seed distributors as possible. Through this network, they offer their GMO seeds - which need their own pesticides to be productive - at a price far lower than... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
More About: Politics , Haiti

Pakistan: I wished I was wrong - Part I
2010-09-09 16:44:00
Remember, I predicted that despite all the humanitarian trumpet-ing that "Pakistan was the biggest humanitarian emergency ever seen", funding would not be forthcoming? Simply because the main donor countries would not step forward, and the world sentiment is not particularly filled with loved for anything happening in countries filled with mosques? Guess what. Of the 460 million USD humanitarian appeal, only 307 million is funded to date. Oxfam cries foul. And so does the latest hired... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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How Bush started
2010-09-07 08:36:00
For the "whatever" department of quotes... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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Human Rights for Dummies
2010-09-01 20:32:00
If you don't understand what human rights are all about, after this video, then mmm... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
More About: Dummies , Human , Rights , Human Rights

Give up, bail out or continue running?
2010-08-30 17:36:00
Just read this on Itinerant and Indigent, one of the aidblogs I following. Phil, an aidworker in Afghanistan , writes about his struggle to continue believing in the "Cause". The "raison d'être" of an aidworker: Why do we keep trying here? I am less and less sure that we achieve anything. I know, I know now that this work is not about us feeling good, or developing our CVs. And I am not an aid junkie, living on the high of the emergency, the thrill of saving lives. But I would like to see... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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Floods in Pakistan? Google's advice...
2010-08-30 10:22:00
When searching for "Pakistan Floods" on Humanitarian News, the Google ad at the bottom of the page displayed the appropriate advice. Kind of. Google could also have displayed an ad for one of the aid agencies or something, but maybe they were thinking of more longer term solutions.... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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How to be alone...
2010-08-29 14:26:00
Sweet... A video by filmmaker, Andrea Dorfman, and poet/singer/songwriter, Tanya Davis. Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org

Haiti: The complexity of aid
2010-08-28 10:49:00
..Looking at different sides of the need for aid and the effects of aid.. Video discovered via Global Envision Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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I Am an Aid Worker. And a Woman. Help!
2010-08-23 13:30:00
This is a post I wrote three years ago. It seems the subject is still ever so close to the hearts of many, so I brought it onto the foreground again. There are several excellent insights people posted in the comments. I'm interested to hear your point of view. In the previous post, Shylock explored, in a ironical, cynical, self-criticizing way, what personal future we, aid workers have. We wonder the earth, gradually getting used to travel all the time, often in harsh places, and very often... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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Breaking news: What? We are not winning the war in Afghanistan?!?!
2010-08-22 11:55:00
Here is some breaking news, fresh from the presses... It seems we are not winning the Holy War on Terror in Afghanistan . Surprise-surprise... And even worse: we have not been winning it since end 2001 neither. The timelapse video above is based on the famous WikiLeaks documents, listing military incidents. The darker the red, the more incidents.. Is it just my impression, but are those dark red blobs just getting bigger and bigger as time went by? Wanna make predictions for... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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Vogue turns oil spill into fashion
2010-08-20 13:52:00
Vogue Italy's August edition frontcovers models in the midst of an oil spill. A shoot by Stephen Meisel, a photographer now infamous for his fashion shoot amongst soldiers in Iraq back in 2007. In case you are interested: Kristen McMenamy (...) keeps her skin golden thanks to Self Tan Face Bronzing Gel Tint (to wear alone or with foundation): it takes care of the skin, while giving it a hint of color. Carbon, anthracite, and all of the earthy shades "dress" her eyes: Quick Eyes Cream... Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org
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World Humanitarian Day on August 19
2010-08-19 01:22:00
On August 19 2003, the UN headquarters in Baghdad was bombed, killing 22 people and maiming others for the rest of their lives. Humanitarian aid would never be the same after that. To remember this event, the humanitarian community decided to call August 19 "World Humanitarian Day". This year is clearly in a lighter note, celebrating "us", and the work we do while still remembering the hundreds that died while trying to help others... (More) Full post on www.theroadtothehorizon.org

Picture of the Day: Green versus Desert
2009-09-22 08:33:00
China is creating a 4,500 km (2,800 mi) long forest belt to control sandstorms pushing forward the sands of the Gobi desert. (More)More Picture s of the Day on The Road.Picture courtesy Biopact
More About: Green , Picture of the day , Versus , Desert

Copenhagen Climate Summit Heat: from business to condoms.
2009-09-21 12:50:00
The more the December Copenhagen Climate Change Summit comes closer, it is interesting just watching the headlines flashing by. It seems everyone and his dog is starting to claim their stake, and to put their own spin onto climate change trying to ensure they "profit" from whatever comes out. Financially, politically or visibility wise.If you do "Copenhagen summit, climate change", "business, climate change" or "climate engineering" searches on Humanitarian News, you will see the blogosphere and news heating up:Politics were first:US and Europe clash over Copenhagen dealIndia will be key player at Copenhagen conferenceMaldives too broke to attend climate summitChinese adviser: 2C target unrealisticUS climate change bill faces fresh delaysIf Obama Can't Defeat the Republican Headbangers, Our Planet is DoomedE.U. calls on U.S. to do more to tackle climate changeEmissions per person in parts of China above rich nationsMerkel and Sarkozy want carbon tax on importsThe business hook:Clim...
More About: Business , Heat , Condoms

Song of the day: Run Away (The Corrs)
2009-09-20 11:03:00
Say it's true, there's nothing like me and youNot alone, tell me you feel it tooAnd I would runawayI would runaway, yeahI would runawayI would runaway with youCause I have fallen in loveWith you, no never haveI'm never gonna stop falling in love, with youClose the door, lay down upon the floorAnd by candlelight, make love to me through the nightCause I have runawayI have runaway, yeahIf you are in for a magical life version of this song, try this.More music on The Road.
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Kicking people until they have a conscience
2009-09-19 14:16:00
When I was seventeen, as part of the tests to graduate secondary school, we had to read three books from one author, and make short summary. I choose Louis-Paul ("Lowie") Boon, a Flemish writer, columnist, socialist and anarchist. He was not really educated. He was a house painter. But he was a born artist and story teller.He lived in poverty while he wrote his first book. After 400 pages of it, he discarded the relevance, and hung it from a string on his bathroom wall, so he could save on toilet paper. His wife took the manuscript, read it, took the last page and wrote on it: "Etcetera, Etcetera, Etcetera". She wrapped everything together in brown paper and sent it off to a publisher. It won the Leo J. Krijn Prize for literature.I did not read three books from Louis-Paul Boon. I got fascinated by him and read all of his books, about 30 or 40 by then. Some of the books had the size of an encyclopedia. And I did not write a summary, I wrote a 100 page thesis. My teachers collectively...
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Climate change: 20% of China is now desert.
2009-09-19 10:54:00
Sean Gallagher is a photojournalist living in China . With the support of Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting to highlight the impact of desertification in China.Almost 20% of China's land is now desert, affecting 400 million people. In Western China over one million acres of fertile land turn into desert. Per year. Last year they suffered a peak drought.Climate change, wind and water erosion, industrialization, agriculture, untimely policy changes, you name it.China's desertification is not only a problem for the Chinese. It impacts the world as a whole. I am not talking about what 1,000,000 acres of desert mean to the world's climate, alone: the more fertile land turns into sand, the more China is looking for agriculture land abroad, competing with European biofuel companies and Arab countries trying to secure their food production too. And money buys land in Africa. Easily. Even if this means they need to reduce their own food production.Video courtesy Sean Gallagher. Discover...
More About: Climate Change , Change , Desert

New aidworkers and nonprofit blogs
2009-09-19 00:07:00
I have discovered four new aidworker blogs which are worth a read:Roving Bandit: Lee in South SudanKampuchea Crossings: Nathalie in CambodiaIn Development: Chris in KenyaFrom Here to Finvara: Kelsey in South SudanI added them to my aidworkers blogroll (see the widget in the side column), which I treasure. These are my colleagues from all over the world. You MUST check them out regularly. Their latest posts, you can find in AidBlogs .While I am on my soapbox, have also a look at Woody's blog. He works in DRC, and posts very short posts with pictures that always make me smile.As you have noticed, my nonprofit and development blogs list just grew too big to put in the side column. I moved it to my Delicious list. There are 342 blogs in the list at the moment. I publish a snapshot of their latest posts on The NonProfitBlogs. Check also their posts on Humanitarian News.Picture courtesy Kampuchea Crossings

Climate change: The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes
2009-09-16 18:59:00
With the media heating up for the December Climate Change Summit in Denmark, it is time to for some reflection.Does the name "Severn Cullis-Suzuki" mean anything to you? Severn was 12 when in 1992, she raised money to attend the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. She spoke to the summit members in a speech which became famous. A speech which -sadly enough- could have been given today. It makes one wonder what progress really happened in the past 17 year.Do we actually make progress on protecting our planet for the sake of our children, and their children? In an age where Green Goes Commercial, where corrupt companies like Monsanto and Cargill start dominating our food chain, and chase the food prices up so the poor no longer have access to food. A world where Western companies buy up fertile land in Africa to grow biofuel crops so less land becomes available for food agriculture?Did we make progress, or are we still sliding downhill?Check out the most recent news and blogposts about th...
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Summer is over. Snif.
2009-09-14 18:26:00
We hardly had a single drop of rain in July and August. Two weeks ago, it was that hot, I had to buy a fan.A week ago, almost at the flip of a switch, the weather turned around. Thunder, lightning, rain... I had to close the windows at night.And according to the weather forecast, it looks like the summer is over. In the next 10 days, we will have one day of sunshine.Time to go for a winter sleep.. See you all in 8 months. Bye!! ;-)
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Advocacy, the other way: "Why Congo Matters"
2009-09-13 17:52:00
The discussion around MSF UK's controversial video sparked quite a lot of comments around the topic 'How do you portray aid and poverty' or 'How do you make people think about these subjects'.So I thought it is a good idea to show another way. A way that touched me. Meet Emily Troutman.Emily Troutman is a writer and photographer living in Washington. She just came back after a month travelling around Kivu, in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She made a video collage of her pictures, mounted it with some gripping music and appropriate text. Its simplicity took me in, and contrasted sharply with the MSF video we talked about a few days ago. Have a look for yourself:I contacted Emily, and we had an interesting exchange:Why did you make this video?Emily: It was a rare opportunity to give voice to an issue that at this moment only exists at the fringes of the mainstream media.Was this your first trip to rural Africa?Emily: I also traveled with UNOCHA in the Gulu a...
More About: Advocacy , Matters

The dream of OLPC and the aid bubble
2009-09-12 18:40:00
Fellow aidworker Alanna wrote a provocative post on UNDispatch about the "end of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) dream".OLPC set out a couple of years ago, designing, manufacturing and distributing a simple laptop (or call it a "Netbook") geared towards kids, specifically in developing countries. Their mission was formulated as:To create educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. When children have access to this type of tool they get engaged in their own education. They learn, share, create, and collaborate. They become connected to each other, to the world and to a brighter future.From the beginning, the plan was ambitious, innovative,.. and controversial. "Tall trees catch a lot of wind" is surely applicable. The more as it was such an easy target for cheap sarcasm: "How will a laptop feed a hungry chi...
More About: Dream , Bubble , The Dream