Stuff to Read

"For God's Sake, Please Stop the Aid!" Fascinating views from a Kenyan Economist James Shikwati. I would love to quote the whole interview but that would not be nice. Read the piece it certainly is a very thought provoking interview. Here is one point on western people donating clothes to Africa.

Why do we get these mountains of clothes? No one is freezing here. Instead, our tailors lose their livlihoods. They're in the same position as our farmers. No one in the low-wage world of Africa can be cost-efficient enough to keep pace with donated products. In 1997, 137,000 workers were employed in Nigeria's textile industry. By 2003, the figure had dropped to 57,000. The results are the same in all other areas where overwhelming helpfulness and fragile African markets collide.

Beware the Bloggers' Bile It is about American blog bullies. But could easily be about anywhere.

Turkmenistan: Where Authorities Emphasize the Cult in Culture.

We rarely here anything about these countries in the media. Hell I guess most people could not point Turkmenisatan out in a map.

Who says small investors can't have a say. Then again half a million is not small. Then again how many small Vodafone share holders are in Ireland after Eircom?