So it’s actually real. Stilgherrian is in Africa.
Let’s face it, up till now he could have been having everyone on!
The only communication we’ve had from him is a regular Twitter feed of his travels – and suspiciously little details of what he’s actually seeing in terms of ActionAid’s project work.
But the confirmation just landed in my inbox that Stil is well and truly on the ground in Tanzania - I have pictures!
Stil is travelling with ActionAid Australia’s head of campaigns Lena Aahlby, who just sent us her first progress update – I’ll write more on that later.
For now, I just wanted to share a few happy snaps of Project TOTO in action:
Looking hot and sweaty, Stilgherrian is having a meeting African style: shoes off, bum on ground, notebook in hand in the shade and away from the hot sun. He looks a bit shell shocked really!
Stilgherrian training ActionAid Tanzania's bloggers Abdul and Albert in the finer art of blogging - first question from the floor: "Please tell us what a blog is?" Well that's what you're there for Stil!
Stilgherrian enjoying some fun and games at an ActionAid Tanzania project. Looks like he's drawn quite the crowd.
PS: if you’d like to trade places with Stil, you might actually get the chance. ActionAid Australia is looking for the next outreach blogger to send to one of our program countries. You can register your interest on our website.
Tags: actionaid, Africa, blogs, Lena Aahlby, Project TOTO, Stilgherrian, Tanzania, twitter
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Great to see the first few pics of Project TOTO. I concur with the comment that Stil looks a wee bit shell shocked in the first photo… poor guy! I wonder if he really knew what he was getting himself into? Being selected as an outreach blogger sounds so glitz and glam however the on the ground reality I am sure is something quite different for him.
Keep us posted! Already looking forward to the next installment.
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What an amazing project I still can’t get my head around it. Not having been a great fan of blogs in the past for various reasons it’s great to see them being put to good use.
I will defintely be looking forward to the outcome of Stil’s and his contact’s inspirational work. Words fail me at the admiration I have for those who take the risks for others.
Cheers! Col
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It’s fascinating looking at the pictures with the echoes of Stil’s txt tweets back filling the context.
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The first few days of Stil’s tweets as he wrote about Zanzibar’s sights, sunsets/rises etc evoked such strong memories of Oman (just across the water) for me I had tears in my eyes.
Seeing these photos, I look forward to reading & seeing more of the project as it unfolds.
And my, isn’t his time simply flying by?
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Pingback from Stilgherrian · Where in the World is Stilgherrian? on 1 July 2009 at 5:37 pm
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Thanks for all the interest in Project #Toto which we really appreciate! The visit to an Australian Gold Mine in Tanzania promises to take the project into an entirely new diminesion given the devastation that mining companies have caused in Tanzania, and throughout Africa. I would love to be visiting the mine with Stilgherrian and Lena and two of my questions would be; 1) What impact has the mine has had on people who live in the surrounding area in terms of livelihoods, water and sanitation etc and what have you done/are you doing to mitigate this impact? and 2) what taxation revenue does the Government of Tanzania derive from your company’s profits? One of the main issues that ActionAid faces in Africa is how governments can increase their revenue from taxation therefore assisting with increased self reliance and reduced reliance on loans from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. This would be a healthy development given that the policies of the Bank and IMF are largely responsible for the human development crisis in many parts of Africa. Some actually believe that “lost” income from taxation is equal to the sum of development assistance, foreign direct investment and remittances which even if this is 80% true provides much food for thought on where our campaigning efforts should be directed.
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They are the two most important questions to ask them. Personally I don’t think mining can grow a communities happiness and living standards. The financial benefits can never exceed the associated costs because when you take something out (money/resources) of a closed system (community and it’s environment) you are left with less at the end of the day plus some problems caused by the external forces disrupting the social balance. Giving the community publishing power through blogging and other social media technologies is the best way to address by getting it known so well done ActionAid and Stilgherrian!
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