Comments on: Stilgherrian’s in Africa – the proof!

By: Marc Lehmann

Marc Lehmann — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:30:11 +0000

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!

By: Archie Law

Archie Law — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:10:42 +0000

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.

By: Archie@ActionAid · Social media ain’t fun and games

Archie@ActionAid · Social media ain’t fun and games — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:34:39 +0000

[...] Monday blog training kicked off in Dar and the first question coming from Albert and Abdul (the two ActionAid Tanzania staff members who will be blogging from Tanzania) was “please tell [...]

By: Mark Pesce

Mark Pesce — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:03:29 +0000

Good to see Stilgherrian is still alive. But he looks a bit sweaty.

By: Stilgherrian · Where in the World is Stilgherrian?

Stilgherrian · Where in the World is Stilgherrian? — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:37:37 +0000

[...] Meanwhile, check out the photos Lena Aahlby took, posted over at Archie Law’s blog. [...]

By: Desertgirl_2

Desertgirl_2 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:36:13 +0000

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?

By: Sylvano

Sylvano — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:54:27 +0000

It’s fascinating looking at the pictures with the echoes of Stil’s txt tweets back filling the context.

By: Col Cheers

Col Cheers — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:23:44 +0000

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

By: Lara Franzen

Lara Franzen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:19:14 +0000

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.