Category Archives: Development
Where Does All the Money Go?
Give a man a dollar, and he goes out for a drink (or something like that). Give a woman a dollar, and she buys her family food, her children education, or secures suitable shelter.
Today I was reminded of this time- and aid-tested truth. Today I was also reminded of the questions that follow …
Why? Why do men spend money on themselves when women typically do not? Why, when your wife and children are starving and your home is in shambles, would you spend money on things – alcohol, cigarettes, prostitutes, and so forth – that offer only transitory pleasure for yourself alone? Read the rest of this entry
Values and Tradition
They say you should respect tradition, right? But when is it appropriate to retire tradition? More accurately, when is it time to usher in a new tradition?
Generally speaking tradition serves the important purpose of informing one’s value set. This value set then defines the worth of X person, place, thing or action as either positive or negative, worthwhile or simply wasteful, sacred or sacrilegious (to name but a few common dichotomies). From tradition to value set to worth, reality is translated and made understandable. In most cases, it seems to me that tradition is a positive force in our lives. It grounds us in our family’s past. It offers reason for the present and hope for the future. However, as we move forward – learning to work together, attempting to solve gross inequities, and challenging ourselves to embrace diversity – tradition can sometimes offer a significant stumbling block. Read the rest of this entry
Oranges & Sugar for My Mouse
My Pakistani orange supplier
This morning I awoke to the news that we have a mouse in our house. This came as somewhat of a surprise as none of my food had been nibbled. Spotted in the bathroom late last night, the mouse never made it to the gold mine that is my bedroom. If it had, s(he) would have found an abundance of Pakistani oranges (amazing!), sugar cubes, and instant noodles. Let loose in a veritable land of plenty, the mouse somehow can’t hustle up the necessary food that lies just around the corner. Read the rest of this entry
Bed Nets
Dear Reader(s) – getting hopeful there with the ‘s’,
I was reading this inspiring and informative article this morning Aid Progress which made me want to jump out of bed and head to Africa to help with this Millenium Village Project. Not only does it sound like a great way to help, but also, it’s very interesting from an Economics/Development point of view.
Side note, studying again at university has brought me back to my love for Economics. I feel so at home with the subject. Maybe a graduate degree in the future, eh?
Back to the point, toward the later half of the article there is a mention that simply giving bed nets would help these people with a very substantial problem; malaria. This got me thinking, if I were to go down there and help would I survive? There is logic behind this paranoia, I promise. Whenever in the outdoors (camping, hiking, running, laying in the grass on a cool fall afternoon, etc.) I am one of those people who get eaten alive by mosquitoes. I’m sure you think I’m exaggerating, but I assure you I am not. One time I went to a wedding. It was held at dusk on a horse ranch. I was smart and wore nice/thick jeans and a long sleeve sweater in the hopes that I would be covered in case of a mosquito attack. After a few hours I couldn’t take the biting anymore and I forced my date to take me home. The next day I awoke with bites all over my body, even ones on my legs (i.e. those devils had somehow bitten me through my jeans – how this happened I have no idea). Long story short, mosquitoes love my blood. If I went to Africa would I live? Or, would I get a nasty case of malaria and die? I know there’s drugs you can take to prevent malaria, but I’ve heard they have horrible side effects like hallucinations.
Thoughts?
Rotarians, Friends, Family UNITE
Everyone, I would really like to work in Human Rights following this MA in Gender Studies program. I need help – that’s where you come in. If you read this blog and know anyone who knows anyone who is a friend of someone, even if they’re just an acquaintance, who works in Human Rights please please pass along their info. I can even work for free for the next 6 months if needed. Help, contacts, and advice are greatly appreciated.
