Thursday, June 17, 2010
Does the world need nuclear energy?
Nuclear power: the energy crisis has even die-hard environmentalists reconsidering it. In this debate, Stewart Brand and Mark Z. Jacobson square off over the pros and cons. A discussion that'll make you think -- and might even change your mind.
From Amsterdam to Bamako
Documentary film on migration from Africa to Europe. The maker tries to take an African's perspective by reversing a migrant's journey traveling from Amsterdam to Bamako speaking with migrants he meets on the way.
'Tip' from Jadili Africa (Have you joined the group?).
Edit: You would understand why I 'bumped' this documentary film after watching it...
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Hard Pressed for Leaders
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation recently met to see if any new leaders (heads of government) fit the profile and qualifications of excellence in leadership and good governance. They decided that since there were no new candidates no prize would be awarded. To some this may seem like de ja vu, there was no prize laureate last year either. The only difference is that last year seemed more powerful and the political message was clear. This time around, there was hardly any news coverage or pomp and circumstance making people question whether this Prize will be around much longer. To be fair, the Prize Committee (the committee responsible for choosing the prize winners) are fighting an uphill battle. One is mathematical in that there will be years where no leader steps down or fulfilled his/her term limits, some term limits are 4 years, others 5, some 10 (see Tanzania). I am sure there will be a year with many potential candidates and years with none. The other problem is the lack of democratically elected leaders and visionary leaders that push for good governance and actually step down after their term without manipulating the constitution or becoming 'president forever.'
I am sure that the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is now thinking of "plan bs" and contingency plans to make sure that the money is used towards the betterment of Africa and good governance. One thing is for sure, we are still facing a deficit in effective leadership. This goes back to the importance of the youth and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is going to establish a fellowship program and I encourage all of you to watch this spot:
"The Foundation will shortly be launching the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships, a selective programme designed to identify and prepare the next generation of outstanding African leaders by providing them with mentoring opportunities in key multilateral institutions. The programme will seek to attract a number of highly qualified and talented professionals each year to serve in leading institutions whose core objective to improve the prospects of the people of Africa. “The Foundation is currently working with pan-African organisations to design the fellowships. It will announce further details of them at the Foundation’s annual celebration and forum on governance to be held in Mauritius in November. Applications will open shortly afterwards and we expect the first Leadership Fellows to begin their Fellowships early next year."
This could be an opportunity for all of us to put our ideas and thoughts into action.
What are your thoughts on the Mo Ibrahim Foundation's Prize? Does it hurt or benefit them that they have not awarded a leader in two years? Who has the potential of receiving a Prize in the coming years?
For more information, see this PDF file.
I am sure that the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is now thinking of "plan bs" and contingency plans to make sure that the money is used towards the betterment of Africa and good governance. One thing is for sure, we are still facing a deficit in effective leadership. This goes back to the importance of the youth and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is going to establish a fellowship program and I encourage all of you to watch this spot:
"The Foundation will shortly be launching the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships, a selective programme designed to identify and prepare the next generation of outstanding African leaders by providing them with mentoring opportunities in key multilateral institutions. The programme will seek to attract a number of highly qualified and talented professionals each year to serve in leading institutions whose core objective to improve the prospects of the people of Africa. “The Foundation is currently working with pan-African organisations to design the fellowships. It will announce further details of them at the Foundation’s annual celebration and forum on governance to be held in Mauritius in November. Applications will open shortly afterwards and we expect the first Leadership Fellows to begin their Fellowships early next year."
This could be an opportunity for all of us to put our ideas and thoughts into action.
What are your thoughts on the Mo Ibrahim Foundation's Prize? Does it hurt or benefit them that they have not awarded a leader in two years? Who has the potential of receiving a Prize in the coming years?
For more information, see this PDF file.
TAMASHA-Vijana na Ujamaa Hip Hop Darasa
Ukiperuzi haraka haraka kwenye hii makala unaweza ukadhani umepotea njia na uko kwenye blog ya Fid Q. Hapana -- hapa ni Vijana FM, mzee!
Kama nilivyosema wiki chache zilizopita, kuna baadhi ya mambo au harakati zinazofanywa na Vijana wenzetu ambazo mara nyingi hazitambuliwi; kwa maneno mengine, inaonekana hazipewi kipaumbele. Lakini nadhani Vijana FM itabadili hii desturi.
Nia hasa sio tu kuwafagilia tu Vijana wenzetu. Ni matumaini yangu kuwa makala kama hizi zitawapa wahusika changamoto na kuwahamasisha Vijana wengine kujiunga na kuwasaidia wahusika kwa namna moja au nyingine.
Leo hii nakuletea harakati za Winston Churchill na timu yake nzima ya TAMASHA-Vijana. Mchana wa leo (tarehe 16 Juni, 2010) ulikuwa ni maalumu kwa ajili ya Watoto wa Afrika, na mzee mzima Fid Q ndio alikuwa mgeni rasmi au mwalimu wa kwanza wa Ujamaa Hip Hop Darasa.
Kabla sijakupa dondoo za hili Darasa, ningependa kukuambia madhumuni hasa ya TAMASHA-Vijana/Ujamaa Hip Hop Darasa.
Winston anasema,"[Tunajitahidi] kufikiria jinsi ya kuwasaidia Vijana... maana tunaona wana vipaji lakini jinsi ya kuvibadili katika ujasiriamali bado imekuwa ndio changamoto. "
Kwahiyo wameamua kuanzisha Ujamaa Hip Hop Darasa. Hili Darasa litakuwa linatumia falsafa ya Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere: "Binadamu hujikomboa na kujiendeleza mwenyewe; hawezi kukombolewa na kuendelezwa." Na litakuwa linatumia taswira ya utamaduni wa Ujamaa wa Kiafrika na Hip Hop ili kuwavutia zaidi Vijana.
Darasa rasmi la kwanza la Hip Hop litaanza tarehe 26 Juni (Mikocheni, Old Bagamoyo Rd, Dar es Salaam). Licha ya kwamba Madarasa yatakuwa bure, waandaji bado wanafikiria namna ya kufanya mpangilio mzima uweze kujiendesha wenyewe.
Ukiacha Hip Hop Darasa kuna mambo mengine yatakayokuwa yanaendelea na kufanyiwa kazi -- kwa mfano, utengenezaji wa video (Research, Archive and Documentary on Hip Hop), Outreach and Relations, Uhuru Clothing na Film Project.
Napenda kuchukua fursa hii kuwatakia kila la kheri TAMASHA-Vijana na Ujamaa Hip Hop Darasa kwenye shughuli zao na nadhani timu ya Vijana FM itajaribu kuwasaidia pale itakapoweza.
Cha muhimu zaidi ni wasanii wengine, wataalamu wa mambo haya na Vijana kwa ujumla kuitikia mwito.
Nawatakia jioni njema!
Kama nilivyosema wiki chache zilizopita, kuna baadhi ya mambo au harakati zinazofanywa na Vijana wenzetu ambazo mara nyingi hazitambuliwi; kwa maneno mengine, inaonekana hazipewi kipaumbele. Lakini nadhani Vijana FM itabadili hii desturi.
Nia hasa sio tu kuwafagilia tu Vijana wenzetu. Ni matumaini yangu kuwa makala kama hizi zitawapa wahusika changamoto na kuwahamasisha Vijana wengine kujiunga na kuwasaidia wahusika kwa namna moja au nyingine.
Leo hii nakuletea harakati za Winston Churchill na timu yake nzima ya TAMASHA-Vijana. Mchana wa leo (tarehe 16 Juni, 2010) ulikuwa ni maalumu kwa ajili ya Watoto wa Afrika, na mzee mzima Fid Q ndio alikuwa mgeni rasmi au mwalimu wa kwanza wa Ujamaa Hip Hop Darasa.
Kabla sijakupa dondoo za hili Darasa, ningependa kukuambia madhumuni hasa ya TAMASHA-Vijana/Ujamaa Hip Hop Darasa.
Winston anasema,"[Tunajitahidi] kufikiria jinsi ya kuwasaidia Vijana... maana tunaona wana vipaji lakini jinsi ya kuvibadili katika ujasiriamali bado imekuwa ndio changamoto. "
Kwahiyo wameamua kuanzisha Ujamaa Hip Hop Darasa. Hili Darasa litakuwa linatumia falsafa ya Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere: "Binadamu hujikomboa na kujiendeleza mwenyewe; hawezi kukombolewa na kuendelezwa." Na litakuwa linatumia taswira ya utamaduni wa Ujamaa wa Kiafrika na Hip Hop ili kuwavutia zaidi Vijana.
Darasa rasmi la kwanza la Hip Hop litaanza tarehe 26 Juni (Mikocheni, Old Bagamoyo Rd, Dar es Salaam). Licha ya kwamba Madarasa yatakuwa bure, waandaji bado wanafikiria namna ya kufanya mpangilio mzima uweze kujiendesha wenyewe.
Ukiacha Hip Hop Darasa kuna mambo mengine yatakayokuwa yanaendelea na kufanyiwa kazi -- kwa mfano, utengenezaji wa video (Research, Archive and Documentary on Hip Hop), Outreach and Relations, Uhuru Clothing na Film Project.
Napenda kuchukua fursa hii kuwatakia kila la kheri TAMASHA-Vijana na Ujamaa Hip Hop Darasa kwenye shughuli zao na nadhani timu ya Vijana FM itajaribu kuwasaidia pale itakapoweza.
Cha muhimu zaidi ni wasanii wengine, wataalamu wa mambo haya na Vijana kwa ujumla kuitikia mwito.
Nawatakia jioni njema!
Because this is 2010 Shanghai Expo!
By BK
Can you imagine a water city where you live like a fish, a space city where the city is in orbit, an intelligence city, characterized by sophisticated electronic meeting places, production, marketing, and distribution system. Or an eco-city where nothing is wasted but used in an ecosystem-like fashion? Can you imagine a toilet that intelligently detects biochemical substances? Can you imagine the kitchen of the future, or an energy garden?
This is an account of the places I found interesting at the Shanghai Expo 2010 and in the city itself. I will also write some of the things that my other group members and I did for the entire time of our stay. We visited the Expo 2010 courtesy of an award from a project competition we won at Jacobs University - our project: the usage of snake robots for underground pipe system maintainance in megacities.
Our journey was quite long but of a great experience. Having left Bremen on June 1 at 1815 (German time) we arrived in Shanghai on June 2 at 1355 (local time). We were then picked up and accompanied to our hotel. That evening we went out for a walk at the People's Square and on to Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road is a commercial street, nicely decorated with a lot of lights. We loved this place so much for its liveliness, and nice shops.
Nanjing Road, Shanghai
On June 2, we drove from our hotel to the Expo 2010 site. Located in Zone E at the Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA) we first visited the Jacobs University stand where we were shown the multimedia interactive exhibit of the university displaying the university's core objective of preparing leaders of tomorrow-who, in abundance, will become global citizens. We were then shown the Bremen Case-for Bremen and North-West Germany.
Future oriented projects are showcased that range from a simple but highly beneficial car-sharing concept and electric cars to nature, energy and science. Just like the name suggests, with a car-sharing concept, cars will be owned by a special body and everyone would use a car without having to worry about maintenance but their bills only that are payable at the end of the month. This would be of advantage to young people or people who cannot afford to buy cars. Most importantly, it would reduce heavy traffic and environmental pollution.
Bremen Pavilion at EXPO 2010
At the Bremerhaven stand, the Alfred Wegner Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), tells us that beautiful Shanghai will be underwater if proper measures to control the climate change are not taken. They have other nice projects too.
I personally loved the Beluga stand that proposes tapping wind energy using wind turbines carried in a huge ship that floats in an ocean. The concept is much more complicated involving a strong base for the ship to resist storm winds and water waves. Also the tapping of wind energy using wind turbines built in the ocean is exhibited.
Airbus, Kaefer, Werder Bremen, and Hochschule Bremen (University of Applied Science) are also there. We then helped out with some tasks at our stand before we went on to see the rest of the pavilions at the zone.
Oh, I loved the Pavilion of Future! Seeing it I was reminded that we human beings are highly limited by our imagination. While others dream the future others might just be observers. As you may anticipate, this pavilion showcases cities of future; water city, eco city, energy city, space city and intelligence city. They have a multimedia visualization projected on a really huge screen, in a huge dark building.
The intelligence city was so amazing. I think I did not grasp it well, but everything is "electronized" in this city. For example if you wish to move from one place to the next you do some "electronic magic" and you have a skate or something. Just nicely and all over a sudden you start moving. All you need is a remote control.
We visited the Hamburg pavilion. We saw the Theater of the Future at the Taipei Pavillion. I also went to Dusseldorf City, Seoul, Cairo, Information and Communications pavillions.
In the evening we decided to cross the Huangpu River to go shopping at the Super Brand Mall in Pudong District. But we were late and the mall was closing. Because we knew that we could be late, we had plan B in mind; to visit Lujiazui where The Oriental Pearl Tower is located. This street is the skyline of Shanghai. It has many (expensive) restaurants, banks, hotels and offices. We could not climb the tower, but took a lot of photos. We later enjoyed a nice view of the Bund in Huangpu District from the other bank of the river. The Bund is characterized by European-like archicture. We took lots of photos and a video of it.
Apart from the fact that Shanghai Streets may be considered as very superficial with unnecessary lighting leading to power wastage, there is a lot of amazement in it.
Oh! Wait! I love the way business is done in Shanghai. No price is final. Bargaining is the right way to go. And you really have to be hard at it.
The energy garden, the future kitchen, and the elderly lounge, elderly bedroom, elderly parlor and bathroom are found at the Shanghai Pavilion. The Wine Bar at Barcelona's case is where Spain's famous Torres wine is sold is also a good place to chit-chat and enjoy the Spanish wine.
On Monday June 7 we met our professor while later in the afternoon we met our University president. We then went to Tongji University, one of China's finest universities to visit the Department of Environmental Research and the university as a whole. On June 8 I visited a large International Logistics Fair at Expo. On June 9 we visited Zhujia Jiao, an ancient water town. On June 10 my friends returned to Bremen and I went to Xi'an, Shaanxi province in Northwestern China. I will head back to Germany on June 18 to begin my internship.
BK, a Tanzanian national, is a final year student of Electrical Enginering and Computer Science at Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany.
Bremen Pavilion feature, ICS
Can you imagine a water city where you live like a fish, a space city where the city is in orbit, an intelligence city, characterized by sophisticated electronic meeting places, production, marketing, and distribution system. Or an eco-city where nothing is wasted but used in an ecosystem-like fashion? Can you imagine a toilet that intelligently detects biochemical substances? Can you imagine the kitchen of the future, or an energy garden?
This is an account of the places I found interesting at the Shanghai Expo 2010 and in the city itself. I will also write some of the things that my other group members and I did for the entire time of our stay. We visited the Expo 2010 courtesy of an award from a project competition we won at Jacobs University - our project: the usage of snake robots for underground pipe system maintainance in megacities.
Our journey was quite long but of a great experience. Having left Bremen on June 1 at 1815 (German time) we arrived in Shanghai on June 2 at 1355 (local time). We were then picked up and accompanied to our hotel. That evening we went out for a walk at the People's Square and on to Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road is a commercial street, nicely decorated with a lot of lights. We loved this place so much for its liveliness, and nice shops.
Nanjing Road, ShanghaiFuture oriented projects are showcased that range from a simple but highly beneficial car-sharing concept and electric cars to nature, energy and science. Just like the name suggests, with a car-sharing concept, cars will be owned by a special body and everyone would use a car without having to worry about maintenance but their bills only that are payable at the end of the month. This would be of advantage to young people or people who cannot afford to buy cars. Most importantly, it would reduce heavy traffic and environmental pollution.
Bremen Pavilion at EXPO 2010At the Bremerhaven stand, the Alfred Wegner Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), tells us that beautiful Shanghai will be underwater if proper measures to control the climate change are not taken. They have other nice projects too.
I personally loved the Beluga stand that proposes tapping wind energy using wind turbines carried in a huge ship that floats in an ocean. The concept is much more complicated involving a strong base for the ship to resist storm winds and water waves. Also the tapping of wind energy using wind turbines built in the ocean is exhibited.
Airbus, Kaefer, Werder Bremen, and Hochschule Bremen (University of Applied Science) are also there. We then helped out with some tasks at our stand before we went on to see the rest of the pavilions at the zone.
Oh, I loved the Pavilion of Future! Seeing it I was reminded that we human beings are highly limited by our imagination. While others dream the future others might just be observers. As you may anticipate, this pavilion showcases cities of future; water city, eco city, energy city, space city and intelligence city. They have a multimedia visualization projected on a really huge screen, in a huge dark building.
The intelligence city was so amazing. I think I did not grasp it well, but everything is "electronized" in this city. For example if you wish to move from one place to the next you do some "electronic magic" and you have a skate or something. Just nicely and all over a sudden you start moving. All you need is a remote control.
We visited the Hamburg pavilion. We saw the Theater of the Future at the Taipei Pavillion. I also went to Dusseldorf City, Seoul, Cairo, Information and Communications pavillions.
In the evening we decided to cross the Huangpu River to go shopping at the Super Brand Mall in Pudong District. But we were late and the mall was closing. Because we knew that we could be late, we had plan B in mind; to visit Lujiazui where The Oriental Pearl Tower is located. This street is the skyline of Shanghai. It has many (expensive) restaurants, banks, hotels and offices. We could not climb the tower, but took a lot of photos. We later enjoyed a nice view of the Bund in Huangpu District from the other bank of the river. The Bund is characterized by European-like archicture. We took lots of photos and a video of it.
Apart from the fact that Shanghai Streets may be considered as very superficial with unnecessary lighting leading to power wastage, there is a lot of amazement in it.
Oh! Wait! I love the way business is done in Shanghai. No price is final. Bargaining is the right way to go. And you really have to be hard at it.
The energy garden, the future kitchen, and the elderly lounge, elderly bedroom, elderly parlor and bathroom are found at the Shanghai Pavilion. The Wine Bar at Barcelona's case is where Spain's famous Torres wine is sold is also a good place to chit-chat and enjoy the Spanish wine.
On Monday June 7 we met our professor while later in the afternoon we met our University president. We then went to Tongji University, one of China's finest universities to visit the Department of Environmental Research and the university as a whole. On June 8 I visited a large International Logistics Fair at Expo. On June 9 we visited Zhujia Jiao, an ancient water town. On June 10 my friends returned to Bremen and I went to Xi'an, Shaanxi province in Northwestern China. I will head back to Germany on June 18 to begin my internship.
BK, a Tanzanian national, is a final year student of Electrical Enginering and Computer Science at Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany.
Bremen Pavilion feature, ICS
Tanzania's Education and Careers Exhibition
8 days to go!!! ( Date: June 24th & 25th, 2010)
Venue: Diamond Jubilee Hall, Dar es Salaam.
Tripod Media Company Limited is organizing “Tanzania’s Education and Career Exhibition” which will bring together Primary and Secondary Schools, Colleges, Tertiary Institutions and Universities in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi in a Careers and Schools Exhibition so that students/trainers/parents/guardians can interact one-on-one with representatives of these institutions on programs offered, careers, admission requirements etc.
Topics:
Career Choices -- Challenges and Motivation
Changing Career -- Refocusing
Going against the wind -- Choosing unpopular career path
Caught in between -- Incomparable Careers within an individual
Employment vs. Entrepreneurship
Politics and Leadership -- Is it a career path?
Speakers:
Susan Mashibe (Engineer and Pilot), Modesta Lilian Mahiga (Managing Director, Professional Approach Ltd.), Janeth Mbene (MP), Sebastian Ndege (Doctor, Radio Presenter and Public Speaker), Khadija Mwanamboka (Fashion Designer), Ali Mfuruki (Economist and Entrepreneur), Lady Jay Dee (Musician), Master J (Music Producer), Femi Banigbe (Engineer & TIGO CTO), Sadaka Gandi (Psychologist), Siana Nkya (Scientist) & Emelda Mwamanga Mtunga (Bang! Magazine CEO Relim Entertainment).
For more info about the event, click here...
Vijana FM Crew is wishing the organizers and all the participants all the best!
Venue: Diamond Jubilee Hall, Dar es Salaam.
Tripod Media Company Limited is organizing “Tanzania’s Education and Career Exhibition” which will bring together Primary and Secondary Schools, Colleges, Tertiary Institutions and Universities in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi in a Careers and Schools Exhibition so that students/trainers/parents/guardians can interact one-on-one with representatives of these institutions on programs offered, careers, admission requirements etc.
Topics:
Career Choices -- Challenges and Motivation
Changing Career -- Refocusing
Going against the wind -- Choosing unpopular career path
Caught in between -- Incomparable Careers within an individual
Employment vs. Entrepreneurship
Politics and Leadership -- Is it a career path?
Speakers:
Susan Mashibe (Engineer and Pilot), Modesta Lilian Mahiga (Managing Director, Professional Approach Ltd.), Janeth Mbene (MP), Sebastian Ndege (Doctor, Radio Presenter and Public Speaker), Khadija Mwanamboka (Fashion Designer), Ali Mfuruki (Economist and Entrepreneur), Lady Jay Dee (Musician), Master J (Music Producer), Femi Banigbe (Engineer & TIGO CTO), Sadaka Gandi (Psychologist), Siana Nkya (Scientist) & Emelda Mwamanga Mtunga (Bang! Magazine CEO Relim Entertainment).
For more info about the event, click here...
Vijana FM Crew is wishing the organizers and all the participants all the best!
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