Archive for the ‘Developing Nations’ Category
Posted on June 16, 2009 - by Frank
Al Jazeera English – Africa – The pirate kings of Puntland
They don’t wear eye-patches or peg legs and you won’t find any parrots perched on their shoulders, but they are no less pirates for that.
Twenty-first century piracy Somali style is a far cry from the swashbuckling, sea dogs of old but, in recent months, they have captured both the headlines and the public’s imagination.
Their high seas hijackings have also forced the media to focus on Somalia, arguably the globe’s most neglected tragedy.
But who are these men and what drives them to carry out such audacious attacks?
I set off to Puntland, the semi-autonomous region in Somalia’s north-eastern corner, to find out.
Puntland is one of the poorest parts of war-torn Somalia and it is home to most of Somalia’s dreaded pirates.
The pirate’s ranks have been swollen by many of the region’s youths – drawn by the potentially huge profits of one of Somalia’s most successful, if unconventional, business enterprises.
Faced with limited options and even less optimism for the country’s future, the young pirates care little about the risks they will run at sea.
via Al Jazeera English – Africa – The pirate kings of Puntland.
The rest of the article is well worth a read and provides a rare look at the life of the Somali pirates. Well done to the journalist who was able to get so close. That’s what journalism is/should be about.
Posted on May 15, 2009 - by Frank
up:link – Podcast 7 – Maricar (CCT and Kaibeegan)
In this episode of the Podcast we talk to one of the people from our partner organisation in the Philippines, the Center for Community Transformation (CCT). CCT primarily works in micro-enterprise around the Philippines but has now also started a ministry working with street dwellers in Manila. We chat with Maricar about this work.
up:link - The TEAR Fund Podcast
To support the work of TEAR Fund, visit www.tearfund.org.nz or call us on 0800 800 777
Posted on April 13, 2009 - by Frank
Encouragement to Supporters
TEAR Fund has many generous donors who are engaged with various parts of what we do, whether it be child, sponsorship, micro-enterprise, community development, disaster relief or our peace and reconciliation efforts.
I was a TEAR Fund supporter long before I became the Education and Campaigns Manager. My wife and I support a number of TEAR Fund initiatives including child sponsorship, micro-enterprise, the work done through Watoto and various Gift for Life catalogue purchases. With this in mind I always found it encouraging to see what that money was achieving.
Posted on March 10, 2009 - by Frank
Poorer Nations Face Financing Gap
Al Jazeera reported this today:
Developing countries face a financing gap of $270bn to $700bn this year as trade income dwindles and rich nations vie for capital to deal with a global slump, the World Bank says.
Resources of international financial institutions would not be sufficient to meet their needs as more and more emerging and developing countries are hit, the World Bank said on Monday.
“Should a more pessimistic outcome occur, unmet financing needs will be enormous,” the World Bank said in a paper prepared for meetings of the G20 group of countries in London in April.
Last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said developing countries would need $25bn, and possibly as much as $140bn, in 2009 to meet their financing needs.
The World Bank said the crisis could have long-lasting repercussions for developing countries, which are contending with a drop in exports as world trade shrinks for the first time since 1982.
To read the full article, click here.
Posted on February 19, 2009 - by Drew
Vulture Funds
Vulture Funds are powerful financial organizations which prey upon companies and countries weakened by debt.
They buy up the debts of struggling nations at bargain prices then use bribery and legal muscle to extort the full debt plus punitive interest and court costs. Vulture Funds have successfully sued governments, frozen country’s assets and made vast profits from the poorest nations on the planet. Reverse Robin Hoods they rob from the poor and make the wealthy even richer.
In 1996 Paul Singer – the reclusive billionaire who is credited with inventing vulture funds – paid $11m for some discounted Peruvian debt and then threatened to bankrupt the country unless they paid $58m… which they did. Now he’s suing Congo Brazzaville for $400m for a debt he bought for $10m.
Posted on February 13, 2009 - by Frank
A Sponsor Child Visited – The Philippines
Clarissa & Stephen Wickens recount the visit to their sponsored children – 15 -16 December 2008
We had decided more than a year ago that we would spend Christmas 2008 and New Year in the Philippines with Clarissa’s family. Since we were going anyway it seemed like a too good an opportunity to miss to visit our sponsored child, Ronald, and by the time we were ready to make plans for the trip we had a second sponsored child in the Philippines – Lea, who had been given to us when a girl we had sponsored in Africa had graduated from her programme.
Posted on February 12, 2009 - by Drew
The Christian Placebo
Have you read the article that’s circulating at the moment in which self proclaimed atheist, Matthew Parris argues cogently that Africa needs God?
“Now a confirmed atheist, I’ve become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa, Christianity changes people’s hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.” (Matthew Parris from TIMES ONLINE 27/12/08)
Posted on October 8, 2008 - by Frank
The Strength of Co-operatives
When discussing Fair Trade and the use of co-operatives as a healthy business model in developing areas, I often get asked what a co-operative (co-op) is. Allow me to give an explanation here for people who may not have grasped an understanding of this business model before, and allow to me to share why I think it is a strong model for developing areas.
Posted on September 17, 2008 - by Frank
Zimbabwe Political Agreement in Full
The Zimbabwe MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) Party pressroom has released the full text of the power sharing agreement reached between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai. The agreement was facilitated by South African leader Thabo Mbeki. This is something that will be watched closely by the international community.
Thankfully it includes provision and a way forward around food and humanitarian assistance and it is good to finally see the MDC given a significant place in the governance of Zimbabwe. May this agreement serve the nation well and may all those in positions of government find the means to work together for the good of their people
The text follows:
The political agreement in full
16th September 2008 – MDC Pressroom
9644959
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ZIMBABWE AFRICAN NATIONAL UNION-PATRIOTIC FRONT (ZANU-PF) AND THE TWO MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE (MDC) FORMATIONS, ON RESOLVING THE CHALLENGES FACING ZIMBABWE
PREAMBLE
Posted on August 5, 2008 - by Frank
Jerald and Tina Hernandez – Dental Work in Guatemala
About the authors: Jerald and Tina work with YWAM (Youth With a Mission) and live about 3 hours away from Guatemala City. Jerald is from Nicaragua and Tina is from New Zealand. Their work focuses on healthcare and community development.
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Last week we were joined by Bill and Peggy Pratt, Luke their grandson and a family friend, Kelsey, all from Washington along with Jacobo and Janet Pineda from here in Guatemala.
Posted on July 22, 2008 - by Frank
Eleni Gabre-Madhin: Building a commodities market in Ethiopia (video)
Posted on July 15, 2008 - by Frank
Darfur: A Call to Action – Video
This is a challenge to faith groups, to act in the Darfur crisis.
Posted on June 5, 2008 - by Frank
Day of Light – Video
Day of Light from Matt Katsolis on Vimeo.
Posted on May 15, 2008 - by Frank
Slave Labour – India
Six young fashion heads from the U.K experience the labour in India used to make the clothes they love:
Filmed by BBC3.
Posted on May 13, 2008 - by Frank
Auckland Candlelight Vigil for Cyclone Victims
A candlelight vigil for the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Burma/Myanmar is being held at Auckland University on Wednesday, May 14 from 6.00pm-8.00pm.
Organised by students from the Burma Support Group at Auckland University, the candlelight vigil is an opportunity for Aucklanders to come together to show their support for the millions of people affected by the cyclone, which devastated towns and villages in Burma on May 3.
(more…)
Posted on May 12, 2008 - by Frank
Angels of Hope – Philippines Street Dwellers
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