I was chatting with a friend recently. It was a stimulating, thought-provoking conversation.
We agreed we wouldn’t allow ourselves to be stashed into categories by Another. Or, to be defined by the Other.
That is unFreedom.
We reserve the right to name ourselves.
We’re not the South. Or the Third World. Or the Developing World.
Names are not meaningless markers.
What’s our name? Kunta Kinte. Put Toby in a box and throw away the key.
And then I realised, lying in bed later that night, that even in thinking about how to lump all these diverse people together under one definition, those in South Asia and South America and Africa, I was already pandering to someone else’s view of the world.
Sigh. This is hard.It's my window, but I don't own the view.
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22:25
Politics and Race: A Left Wing Summary of the Howard Years
» Kenya Imagine John Howard was in power for 11 years (1996-2007) making him Australia's second longest serving Prime Minister. Australian democracy has no set terms, so leaders can keep ruling if they keep winning elections. Another quirk of our democracy allows incumbents to decide the date of the election within an approximately 3 month window. Until Kevin Rudd was elected in November 2007, there were many Australians who had no political consciousness without John Howard.
More.
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21:56
alles Sondermüll
» Kikuyumoja's realm 
Eine sehr gute Dokumentation von Kathrin Latsch namens “Die grüne Revolution” über Braungart/McDonough, den Stoffkreislauf für technologische und biologische Nährstoffe und mit jeder Menge guter Praxisbeispiele - die vom NDR leider auf den unmöglichsten Sendeplatz überhaupt gesetzt wurde: in der Nacht vom Montag auf Dienstag, 15.-16.12, morgens um 3:40 Uhr.
Michael Braungart wies uns letztens auf den Sendetermin hin, also schnell den Online Videorekorder programmiert und schwupps ist die Sendung auf dem eigenen Rechner. Wer eine Kopie der Dokumentation für den Privatgebrauch haben möchte - bitte bei mir melden. Sind 460 MB, DiVX-Qualität.
Was Ihr auf dem Screenshot seht, stellt den Windelbedarf eines Kindes während des ersten Lebensjahres dar. 1800 Stück. Wären die Windeln alle biologisch abbaubar, würden sie später nicht als Sondermüll enden. Braungart sagt in der Dokumentation u.a., dass das Feuchtigkeitsbindemittel in den Windeln beispielsweise auch zur Begrünung von Wüsten in Spanien eingesetzt werden könnte.
Unter anderem erwähnt er auch, dass 2/3 des Kohlstenstoffs in den Böden vorhanden ist - und weißt damit auf das Problem des Humusverbrauchs hin. Brennstoffe aus Biomasse? Gerne, aber nur dann wenn für die Anpflanzung von Zuckerrohr - aus dem in Brasilien u.a. Bioethanole hergestellt werden - keine Wälder gerodet werden. So gesehen ist der ecosan Ansatz das fehlende Glied in der Nährstoffkette - Fäkalien und Urin werden entweder getrennt gesammelt und kompostiert bzw. als Dünger eingesetzt, oder zur Gewinnung von Biogas vergoren und danach vererdet.
Vor allem aber wird auch in dieser Dokumentation (siehe die andere aus den Niederlanden) deutlich, dass Umweltschutz und gutes Wirtschaften sich nicht gegenseitig ausschließen, sondern gut ergänzen können. Genau diesen Ansatz verfolge ich auch mit meiner Diplomarbeit zum Thema “sanitation as a business” - gute Sanitärversorgung bringt wirtschaftlichen Mehrwert und eben nicht nur mehr Würde. Alleine schon aus volkswirtschaftlicher Sicht ist eine durchdachte Sanitärversorgung (nicht -entsorgung!) förderlich - man denke an all die Menschen, die aufgrund von Krankheiten (hervorgerufen durch mangelnde Hygiene, Toiletten, etc.) nicht am Arbeitsleben teilnehmen können. Dies betrifft alle Menschen auf diesem Planeten.
Unser kleiner Studienstandort Suderburg wird in der Dokumentation übrigens auch erwähnt. Und auch hier zeigt sich, dass Suderburg eben nicht nur im Wasserbau einen guten Ruf hat, sondern auch durch Experten wie Braungart überregional bekannt gemacht wird. Bleibt nur zu hoffen, dass die Kollegen vor Ort die Chance nutzen und ihr Studienangebot dementsprechend anpassen.
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9:55
Poem: Hell- the place I now call home
» Kenyanpoet Hellis a place Ihopeto see inhonourof those who will not see theholyland. My mind comes to ahaltwhen I try to think of howhighin disbelief, sin I’d have to be. Thoughts of mehornynaked, fornicating with men whom I should have told to take ahike.I find myself falling into a blackHoleWith no clue of how deep itsHuegoes. ThisHoleconsumes me like a sharp knife to ahenandhonestly,I feel like I need a touch that canhealmy mind. I see ahallof shame list withhornlike writings in thehotFlames ofHellthat is now myhost.This is the place I now callhome.--------------------------------------------------N. Wkenyanpoet(at)gmail.comAll rights Reserved©19th Nov, 2008--------------------------------------------------
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8:37 Peter Schiff: The Dollar is Going To Collapse
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com I was talking to friends last week and they mentioned how their retirement accounts were taking huge hits in this market. I then said that maybe we all need to do like the Somali’s and switch from paper money into gold. I mean, literally start wearing gold jewellry on your arms like those Somali’s you [...] -
8:36
Peter Schiff: Part Two
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com If you have a retirement account that is losing value, you must, must, watch this video. Had you watched it six years ago, you’d probably have been able to avoid some losses. However, even if you don’t have a retirement account, you should listen to this video because I think it explains very well, why people [...] -
8:35
Introducing Peter Schiff: Part 1
» Kenyanentrepreneur.com This video is unbelievable. Here is Peter Schiff, the head of Euro-Pacific capital, predicting this financial crisis SIX YEARS AGO. Like Roubini, people laughed at this guy then, but they’re not laughing anymore.
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5:07
What Are You Waiting For?
» My Life is...Mochalicious! Finally, Dj Edu gets nominated outside Kenya, if not in Kenya. Quick, click this link and cast your vote for the African Radio Dj of the Year – Dj Edu and also for the African Vocalist of the Year – Wahu. Looking at the current results, we may bag two awards on the night. So do the [...]
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4:39
They've Been Served: On Facebook!
» What An African Woman Thinks It's definitely a grey new world out there.
I'm increasingly fascinated by all the ways in which how we do things is changing in response to Web 2.0 and Social Media. It's so interesting how changes in the virtual universe are bursting the seams and leaking into the conventional world.
Allfacebook highlights a report from ABC Science in Australia about a case in which Facebook was used to serve legal documents because the defendants failed to show up in court and could not be found in any other way.
Apparently, the fact that their birthdates as listed on Facebook matched with available data and that they were listed as each other's friends was enough to satisfy the court that the right people were being served.It's my window, but I don't own the view. -
How Committed Are They Really?
» What An African Woman Thinks 
I just came across an interesting initiative at the Centre for Global Development.
They measure how 22 of the world's richest countries help poor countries on an annual basis and compile a Commitment to Development Index.
What I like most about it is that aid is not the only measure of overt commitment to development. The index also measures trade, investment, environment, security, technology and, yes, migration policies.
When all these factors are combined, you'll be surprised how the cookie crumbles. Or maybe you won't, but I was.
* Incidentally, congratulations are in order. This is the first time I've ever uploaded anything resembling an image on this blog. I'm trying to expand my boundaries. I didn't know how to get the legend for this particular chart to cooperate though. Which is probably a good thing because you get to go to the page yourself and learn more. It's my window, but I don't own the view.
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2:42
Kumekucha’s Unorthodox Methods
» You Missed This How I get my hot information
In my previous post about Diasporans being Kenya’s top foreign exchange earner, one of our oldest and most loved contributors, Phil challenged the information contained in my post. This is quite in order and indeed the very nature of such a forum as this one is to discuss, debate and even challenge information contained here. That is in fact what Kumekucha thrives on.
I have however decided to take this opportunity to clarify a few things for newer readers of the most popular political blog on Kenya. But before I do so let me just clear the air for Phil and all those who doubt the accuracy of my information on the post on Diasporans.
Officially Diasporans were the highest forex earner for Kenya last year and accounted for a whooping Kshs 70 billion. The World Bank estimates that unofficial remittances by Diasporans are about 50 per cent of the official figure which would bring the figure to 105 billion. Read this article for full details.
The truth is that the government has never taken this amazing source of forex earnings seriously until very recently. Indeed I got my information long before the whole thing became official and the truth is that this is the real reason behind the amazing strength of the Kenyan shilling against foreign currencies for a number of years now.
You see unlike many other blogs, I DO NOT read the daily newspapers and then recycle the information here. I usually do my own research. The sources I use and insiders give me the information in strict confidence and therefore I can never name my sources. Indeed many times I write in sentences to mask my possible sources of information because my number one rule is to protect my sources at all costs.
This policy has served me well over the years and that is something any reader can verify by going through old posts. You will notice that generally Kumekucha talks about things that become breaking news many months later.
Of course there is a weakness with this policy and the resultant writing style as far as journalism rules are concerned because a casual reader will think that I am picking up the information from the air or creating it in my mind because I hardly ever attribute information to sources.
Well now you know better.
Once again I thank all you patriotic Kenyans who have trusted me with extremely sensitive information some of which I have even been unable to publish here (hence the creation of my raw notes). A Big Thank you, guys. Kenya owes you.
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Book Prelaunch: In the Land of the Kitchen by Oluoch Madiang',Story Moja on 20th Dec @ The Sarit Center
» Kenyanpoet On Sunday the 2nd December 2008, IN THE LAND OF THE KITCHEN, a hilarious analogy of peace and conflict based on kitchen utensils won the Storymoja storytelling competition at Impala grounds, Nairobi. A few days later, we went to the ballots and the rest as they say is now history. Premonition??
Fast forward, 20th December 2008 the story has been developed with the help of child psychologists into an award winning book, with interesting illustrations and discussion section, it’s a must have in any peace loving home.
Story Moja invites you to the PRE-LAUNCH of this special book, and two other children’s titles, Kamau’s Finish and Peanut and the burning tank, bring your child along, come meet the Authors Oluoch Madian’g, Muthoni Muchemi and Boniface Gachugu and get signed copies.
Date: Saturday 20th December
Venue: Text Book Center, First Floor Sarit Center, Westlands
Time: 11am to 3pm
Price: 300/=
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Arts Contest: “Unity through Diversity: A Kenyan Perspective” 2009
» Kenyanpoet Wanted: Kenyan Artists to address the theme: “Unity through Diversity: A Kenyan Perspective.”
The United States celebrates its many cultures – native and immigrant – throughout the year. On January 20, America highlights this diversity in a unique way with the inauguration of our first bi-racial president on the day after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. A week later we mark February as Black History Month, and in March we will celebrate Women’s History Month. Besides the contenders from many backgrounds in the presidential primaries and elections, Americans elected people from all religions, races and ethnic groups, including the first Vietnamese-American congressman, to national office. And President-elect Obama is drawing on the widest possible range of Americans to fill his Cabinet.
Kenya, too, is a richly diverse society. And to celebrate our mutual respect for diversity, we invite Kenyan artists to celebrate with us “Unity through Diversity” by submitting representations on the theme in any of the following artistic genres:
* Song
* Poetry
* Visual Arts (painting, photography, collage, sculpture, etc)
* Dance
One winner in each performing arts category will be invited to present his/her/their piece at the various programs from January through March in celebration of Black History and Women’s History Month. Winning pieces in the visual arts category will be displayed at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence and/or the U.S. Embassy as well as during programming from January through March.
Criteria:
* Submissions must address the theme “Unity through Diversity: A Kenyan Perspective”
* Submissions should not be centered on President-elect Obama
* Submissions may be submitted by an individual or a group, but all participants
must be identified.
* Submissions must include the artist’s name, physical address, landline and mobile
phone numbers, and e-mail address, as applicable.
* Performing arts submissions should be submitted on CD or DVD.
Deadline: Artwork must be submitted to the U.S. Embassy no later than Friday, January 12, 2009.
How to Submit Artwork/Performances:
* Drop off artwork or performance pieces at the U.S. Embassy on United Nations Ave in Gigiri. Be sure to put your submission in a sealed package and address it to the attention of Ellen Bienstock, Cultural Attaché.
OR
* Send artwork or performance pieces to:
Embassy of the United States
ATTN: Ellen Bienstock, Cultural Attaché
P.O. Box 606
Village Market 00621
Nairobi, Kenya
*Artists should be prepared to have their performances filmed and used by the U.S. Embassy for programming without remuneration to the artists; however, all artists will be given credit for their work. The Embassy will be unable to return artwork that is not used for programming.
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Video Contest ; My Culture + Your Culture = ?
» Kenyanpoet On December 1, 2008, the U.S Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) launched the interactive Video Contest "My Culture + Your Culture=? Share your Story". People all over the world ages 14 and older are invited to submit videos, no longer than three minutes in length, containing any form of artistic expression including, but not limited to, dance, spoken word, poetry, and song. This contest is a call for engagement and action.
Videos will be judged on originality, creativity, effectiveness, and production quality. Four winners (two in each of the age categories: 14-17 years and 18+ years; one non-U.S., one U.S.) will receive the grand prize: an all-expense-paid, two-week cultural exchange program to the United States (for the non-U.S. winners) or from the United States to a country to be determined (for the U.S. winners).
Members of the ExchangesConnect international social network community will vote on their favorite top 40 video entries, and these entries will then will be ranked by a prestigious panel of judges who are ECA program alumni. In addition to receiving global recognition of their videos—on the ExchangesConnect network and through other promotional venues—the four grand prize winners will be eligible to participate in a fully-funded international exchange program of approximately two week's duration. (Visa eligibility applies.)
Contest opens December 1, 2008 and closes January 26, 2009. Winners will be announced March 16, 2009. Create your videos now for a chance to win an international experience of a lifetime
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1:30
President George Bush’s Legacy: A Hollow Shoe?
» The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business After eight years at the helm of the world’s only super power, the shoe and dog incidents beg more answers on the legacy president Bush is leaving behind.Put into perspective, a shoe is hollow and empty, ready to collect any form of dirt the wearer steps on. Bush's foreign policies over the last eight years have failed in many parts of the world - questioning the thought and reasoning behind his actions during his reign as president. For instance, the 2003 Bush led war in Iraq that saw a rise in insurgency and global terrorism is seen as a huge mistake made by his administration. Such mistakes created by thoughtless actions can only compared to an empty and hollow object such as a shoe.
Bush's farewell visit to Iraqi was met with the same mettle. Muntazer al Zaidi, a reporter with the Cairo-based al-Baghdadia television network, was courageous enough to hurl two shoes, one after the other and an abuse at the president during a press conference that was also attended by Iraqi’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
"This is a gift from the Iraqis; this is the farewell kiss, you dog!" hurled Zaidi before he was restrained by security agents..................Read More
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