tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17317522218922963002024-03-14T08:50:42.062+02:00Observations from AfricaGertjan van Stam in Africa, (Manzini, Swaziland, 1987), (Southern Africa, 1994-2000), (Murambinda, Zimbabwe, 2000-2003), (Macha, Zambia, 2003-2012)Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-69776512094826193892013-10-03T20:36:00.000+02:002013-10-04T14:43:03.873+02:00De-orphanize<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<style type="text/css"></style>Investigators research, battle to find love.
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Academics hypothesize, elude grounding in love.<br />
Engineers build, shun adoption through love.<br />
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Broadcasts are plenty, many desist an embrace by the force and
tenderness of love.<br />
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Is it because of the hard, unyielding, relentlessness of
unforgiveness,<br />
a bitterness instilling the uncertainty of "Why",<br />
or entitlement lingering after domination?<br />
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De-orphanize: invest love and harvest community.<br />
De-orphanize:
recognize freeing and justifying love.Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-21377303155218901252013-09-24T19:20:00.003+02:002013-09-24T21:19:48.962+02:00Inequality fuels Humanitarian Activities fuels Inequality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The world is becoming more unequal, rapidly. However, the deconstructed, binary representation of realities obscures the complexity of the distribution of resources. The difference between the poorer geographical areas and the richer geographical areas (including the middle income countries) is now much bigger than decades ago. Bridging the divides is not happening. This brings into play the role of technological creativity - including technological capacity or innovation - in economic progress. Currently, technology is often a vehicle for those in power to maintain their positions of power.<br />
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Although the term <i>humanitarian activities</i> might be deemed to emerge from compassion, it is mostly employed as <i>a fix</i> of rampant inequalities. Whereas humanitarian reaching out to one's neighbor is mostly based upon mutual trust and on knowing each other, humanitarian activities towards faraway, unknown people, might also be based upon a superiority feeling, and pride. Such activities do not necessarily aim at leveling of playing fields. Especially, strengthening one's economic positioning under the disguise of humanitarian activities is a divisive activity that sustains or even grows inequalities instead of providing a pathway of more equal distribution of resources and inclusion of all people in the global society.<br />
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In analogy to discussions taking place in the health-profession, engineering and ethics must engage in a dialogue between engineers and practitioners on the quality, validity and ethics of what is being proposed or done, avoiding the slipping of standards, poor practice, abuse or exploitation. For instance, there must be understanding of definitional differences in different contexts. Further, there is a need for debate over the objectives of engineering works, i.e. whether it is <i>a means</i> or <i>an end</i>, and about the applicability and appropriateness of the techniques and tools used, in an effort to assure the moral base of society.<br />
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Current pregnant issues in the world demand for new ideas. These new ideas, possibly modulated in 'the West' by 'the Rest', could contradict conventional and commonly adopted considerations of science and research in the western world. There are explicit needs for creating new knowledge from a desire of local relevance in all its aspects, rather than a regurgitation of hegemonic truths. There are pregnant questions and challenges from 'the Rest' towards accepted Western-centric norms and arguments.<br />
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It is time for tough questions to those in those in position of power. What do we want? Do we aspire equality? Do we want to 'live together' on mutual terms?<br />
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To assure enhanced opportunity, also for the disenfranchised, there is a need to aim for community, social cohesion and solidarity. There is no room for individualism showing off, propping up of egos, self‐promoting or self‐enhancing, harvesting on prejudices. Inequality is divisive; Without conscious efforts empathy and trust is felt only for those we view as equals, with those whom we mingle.<br />
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The current trends in the world, with a growing inequality and degradation of the environment, is bound to bring about a counter movement that deals with such inequalities. Material differences provide a framework round which social distinctions develop; People often use inequality in their stratification of society. Reducing inequality within professions is the best way of improving the quality of the professional environment. For instance, equality enhances real quality of life of engineers.<br />
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Leadership has to address underlying causes of current disparities in the world. Addressing the symptoms only, for instance by <i>flying in engineering expertise</i> into disenfranchised communities is not a sustainable approach. However, addressing the reduction of inequality is. <br />
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Flying in experts induces local engineers to regard those who fly in as role models. At the same time, the intervention deflates local engineers' self-confidence through shame of being dis-empowered to solve local challenges. On the other hand, the visiting engineers inflate with a self‐promoting, albeit insecure egotism, fueling a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/opinion/the-charitable-industrial-complex.html" target="_blank">self-effacing aid industry</a>. The unhealthy and fragility of the position of rising narcissism, for instance in considering Western engineering as exceptional, is witnessed by how it reacts badly to criticism. In general, in line with general psychology findings, it can be expected that western technologist will be driven to preserve their social status. They will be vigilant to threats that may jeopardize their social esteem or status.<br />
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A catalyzing <i>thought leadership</i> is needed to overcome these disparities in the engineering community through Social Innovation and active leveling of disparities between groups of engineers, world wide. This thought leadership must emerge from the inside, based upon lived through values, and norms. Its priority is to address inequality and build trust, leading to co-operation (rather than competition) between engineers, also in disenfranchised communities. This is a social capital building exercise based upon just economical behaviour where contributions and benefits are equally distributed, and on fruitful connections, both socially and politically.<br />
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We must crack the nut of the paradox of signals for a need <i>to fly in expertise</i> and <i>the damage such intervention does</i>. It is the underlying inequality that fuels this conundrum and keeps it in its tracks. In the mean time, humanitarian activities are bound to grow inequality, deflate local capacity, and inflate narcissism in the West.<br />
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This is the reason why it is often unhelpful <i>to help</i> and helpful <i>to foster</i>.Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-81966779834587250422012-10-19T16:53:00.001+02:002012-10-19T16:53:19.778+02:00The Universal Values of Humanity
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Different contexts and cultures do not
necessarily align. An advisable intervention route in one culture
could be antagonizing in an other, and visa versa. Cultural
expressions and interactions could look like the inverse of each
other.</div>
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What are our common grounds?</div>
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Without a shared history - and with limited
interest or narrow communication channels for dissemination knowledge and
intangible cultural heritage - in my view, common grounds are our shared, human values.</div>
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A worthwhile exercise would be the
formulation of “The Universal Values of Humanity”. A really
challenging excise, no doubt, and possibly one that could linger
long.
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Of course, we have got “The Universal
Rights of People”, but that is just one side of a reality. Where
are “The Universal Responsibilities of People”? </div>
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Can both be
reconciled in “The Universal Values of Humanity”?</div>
Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-71365676011160153922012-08-14T10:59:00.001+02:002012-08-14T11:03:05.165+02:00Cultural ChameleonInteracting, engaging, and merging with various communities and their cultures remains one of the most illicit and difficult issues to deal with in our shrinking world. Elaborate or complex schemes and models are proposed 'to do the trick'. I add mine with <a href="http://journal.webscience.org/339/" target="_blank">the Macha Works! Model</a> that depicts how activists can position for worthwhile interactions. With various authors, I keep busy drafting texts and finding homes for various papers with findings on the subject matter. For instance, now we aim to publish research theorized in an International Development Model.<br />
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It is not only for travellers to have cross-cultural experiences. Cultures travel too. Especially western culture travels to rural Africa via television, movies, education, and Information and Communication Technologies. Thus, even rural Africa has to come to terms with crossculturality. <br />
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Deep down in my heart I know it is all boils down to <i>living it</i>. It is about a genuine interest, an unquenchable passion, and a real desire and interest to know and merge with <i>the other</i>, whether in community or as an individual. Such interest is the prerequisite for learning. Further, it is about allowing oneself to live through constant changes in life's perspectives, disrupting one's thinking in line with Paulo Freire jottings “conversation with people requires a profound rebirth”. Engagement needs participation. Participation results in discovering. Discoveries birth change, inside, and outside.<br />
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Especially when living crossculturally, as we do in Africa, one has to rebirth into the culture and live. One has to become part of the community, accepted because of <i>being</i>, not because of <i>having</i>.<br />
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Now in our international community, we have a whole range of communities with diverse cultures, all of them getting closer and closer to each other. Will it be one culture remaining, will there be conflict, or will it be possible for us to become <i>cultural chameleons</i>? The latter are persons that can live several cultures at the same time. They live the individual shared values, and expected social behaviour in the different circumstances at appropriate times.<br />
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It is this ability for cultural chameleonness that is the real challenge. A challenge for which I have not seen much literature yet. Maybe it is not (yet) about literature, as our thinking still is in the phase of defining formal explicit specifications of a shared conceptualisation for this domain. It is still about discovering the ontologies to represent the needed kind of knowledge. <br />
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With the void of models, it is very much <i>Show-and-Tell</i>! Thus <i>living the life</i>, showing clear examples of practice of cross-cultural living, role modelling and exposing the personal and material effects of being a cultural chameleon.Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-10799096863570498412012-08-13T19:45:00.002+02:002012-08-13T19:45:58.728+02:00Vibrant Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This weekend I traveled by ZUPCO bus from Mbare Bus Terminus in Harare to Murambinda, in Zimbabwe. The bus was filled to capacity, as it is a weekend extended with two national holidays. People traveled to their rural home.<br />
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It was a lively affair. One of the passengers had a 'boom box', and the music became part of the bus' fabric. There were lively discussions, and all shared stories, emotions, and food.<br />
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The conductor climbed over piles of luggage, merchandise, and an occasional chicken. I admired his discipline and hard work. He provided the tickets and facilitated the process of embarkment and disembarkations. When conflict occurred, he defused the situation magisterial.<br />
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Wherever I go, I see people busy, hard work, tinkering, innovating, and making do. They are out and about, making and living a living. Most people in Africa, like people everywhere in the world, are hard working and caring people, virtuous and capable individuals. They are ethical with laudable values, understanding of being custodians of the environment, their communities, and individual lives.<br />
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Everywhere I communicate with people, framing as per critical ethnography. Actually, it is a never ending interview, an enquiring of my surroundings. I probe narratives to uncover meanings, functions, and the implications of unfolding events. Therefore, it is advantageous to live life within the space of direct communion in events and the actual environment. In my case, my interactions are aided by much travel, exposure and interactions on both sides of divides. I try to discern the meaningful and to classify the total experience of the story of events in theory. Through meeting people of all feathers, triangulating their inputs, I try to gain a measure of understanding.<br />
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Not unlike other areas in the world, change in Africa is fast. I notice chance every time I visit familiar places. Obviously there is lots of building going on, infrastructure being expanded, and change in interactions facilitated by cell phones, computers, satellite TV, and the internet. I keep probing on what this could mean for Africa's contribution to the world, as, undoubtedly, there is much to share from the wisdom of traditional philosophy and Africa's emotional honesty.<br />
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Observing and interacting with vibrant life as per metal cocoon – bus – is observing vibrant, living African humanity.Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-6025673934084503132012-08-08T16:33:00.001+02:002012-08-09T21:12:43.026+02:00Economic Systems Segregation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday, Tuesday 7 August, I made an online reservation with South African Airways to fly from Port Elizabeth airport. The flight became necessary as train and bus services could be affected by severe weather conditions in South Africa. For flight payment, I redeemed South African Voyager frequent flyer points. Although the flight is free, one must pay significant surcharges that include, among others, airport taxes and fuel levies. During the online reservation, one can choose for payment by credit card, or at South African airways offices within 72 hours. Zambian banks do not provide for credit cards; therefore, I had to opt for the latter.<br />
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Today I went to the airport to pay the surcharges. At this time, the airline representative told I must pay an additional service charge of ZAR 500 (= USD 60.75) as I was not paying online by credit card.<br />
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As mentioned, Zambian banks do not provide for credit card services. As to curb personal credit, they cannot be gotten in the country. The same might be valid in Zimbabwe and a number of other African countries. Recently the situation eased when Zambian banks could provide for VISA Electron debit cards, at least. South African Airways explicitly excludes payments by debit cards.<br />
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For a person living within Zambian realities, there is no way to avoid the extra SAR 500 'service charge'.
The South African Airways representative empathised upon hearing my complaint. She mentioned she was not aware of such a situation. There was no way around. The result: segregation forces to me pay an extra levy of SAR 500.<br />
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This situation is not unique. From our Zambian realities, we struggle with most international payments from Africa.<br />
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Flight tickets we buy online using US based Expedia, whom accepts VISA debit cards. Their system rejects payments from Africa often. However, after a costly call to their service center in the USA, involving sitting in a queue listening to music, payment goes through most of the times. If this fails, the only other option for me is to buy tickets online in the Netherlands, using a Netherlands based bank account. Such option is not available for Zambians.<br />
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For calling normal phones, we rely on Skype-out. This assures we can understand the other person, as phone quality from rural Zambia is mostly poor. Recently Skype stopped accepting payment using our Zambian debit card; subsequently we cannot call standard phones anymore.<br />
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Let me not discuss the difficulties of renting of cars or putting down a deposit in hotels.<br />
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I conclude, today, I received a SAR 500 <i>fine</i> from South African Airways for living in Zambia. And, Skype does not allow us to call ordinary phones as a consequence of our living in Zambia. When traveling abroad and paying a large amount of cash, for instance in hotels, I feel <i>peculiar</i>.<br />
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There is still lots to learn and adapt for seamless service provisioning and fight segregation in a shrinking world.Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-78780443114841095542012-08-08T10:05:00.000+02:002012-08-08T10:36:23.526+02:00Relatio Economics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The indigenous traditions, background and values of African peoples are disregarded and often viewed as being behind the times. Colonialism implemented Western systems while disregarding established, functioning systems of African resource allocation. The western systems of interaction are out of touch with cultural priorities in rural Africa, a society much more complex than many assume.<br />
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In our paper “Relatio, an examination of the Relational dimension of resource allocation”, through a review of literature augmented by qualitative interviews and observational analysis, we show the evolutionary nature of rationality. Thus, two parallel systems for addressing basic questions of choice and resource management exist; a traditional “rational” Western system, and a “relational” African system.<br />
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In the current economic turmoil, these findings on African uniqueness do provide for refreshing inputs. Current views of economic choice can change to involve broader conceptions of its constitution, restraints, and motivations, involving both social and material forms of capital.<br />
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In a shrinking world, decisions taken somewhere affect us all. It is time for economic decolonization. I would hope that our publications counter-penetrates Western thinking, from rural Africa.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Reference: K. Sheneberger and G. van Stam, “Relatio: An Examination of the Relational Dimension of Resource Allocation,” <a href="http://www.businessjournalz.org/articlepdf/EFR-1408.pdf">Economics and Finance Review, vol.1, no.4, pp. 26–33, 2011</a>.</span>Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-53468159656417954012012-08-04T16:31:00.000+02:002012-08-04T19:18:22.422+02:00Belief Precedes KnowledgeThe philosophising chemist Michael Polanyi wrote essays in economics, philosophy of science, political theory, and epistemology from the vantage point of an outsider. He wrote: "one must recognize belief as the source of all knowledge". I think that is true.<br />
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I believe with Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence (US, 1776) "that all men are created equal" (in the eyes of God). I believe that I am called to love my neighbor as myself. And I believe one must strive for humbleness and consider others better than oneself. I believe I can, and do, learn from my sisters and brothers in Africa's rural areas.<br />
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Desmond Tutu declares "I am because we are" to pinpoint the preamble for sub-Saharan Ubuntu culture, with "being together" to be the ultimate goal of our existence. I think that is true.<br />
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When rural Africa has no access to Information and Communication Technologies, information cannot flow from that geographical area to any other area in this world. Then we cannot be truly together. Then outsiders cannot believe in, and then learn from, insiders. And knowledge cannot grow. I think that is bad.<br />
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I am sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see. That believe sourced the knowledge packed in my brains. With it, I try to invite you to believe, so knowledge can grow. I think that is worthy.<br />
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Current rationality restricts forms of communication, forces its content to conform as to align for vogue rational judgement. I regard our current forms of communication and thought processes restrictive, as real knowledge necessitates social interaction, and aspects with an ethical/moral form. We deal with forms of life.<br />
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I am allowed to be an apprentice to a rewarding form of life, to live it, in rural Africa. I learned that is a privilege.Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-35516691948152950152012-07-23T20:03:00.000+02:002012-07-23T20:06:02.401+02:00Value-Loaded Technology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today, The Washington Post counts more then 25,000 people convened in the US capital in tune with the AIDS 2012 conference. The theme is 'Turning the Tide Together'.<br />
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As a technologist I walk the AIDS 2012 conference's Global Village in awe, admiring the mix of research, activists, civil society, and the obviously massive investments for the public good. I listen carefully to rousing speeches of dignitaries like the president of the World Bank Group, all calling for an end to the pandemic, and linking the fight against AIDS with the others, like the fight against absolute poverty. They echo the sentiments I discussed with Vint Cerf last week.<br />
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However, I feel quite lonely, no exhibition of technology on display at AIDS 2012 at all, it seems. Are we turning the tide together?<br />
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Nobody denies that the fights against AIDS and absolute poverty are important, and supersede politics and, maybe, even economics. These fights are justified by basic human values, like loving care. Values are operationalised by human intentions, and if technology amplifies human intent, where are the technologists to turn the tide, together?<br />
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Technology and values are closely related. The creation and/or availability of technology is a value-laden enterprise. Technology is a material part of culture and society and therefore its availability, or even its creation, is a moral, and possibly even political, act. Of course, technology itself is neither smart nor dumb, moral nor immoral. It is in the targeting of its utilization where the values, and morals, play out.</div>
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Thus, the discussion of appropriate use of technology, for instance in HIV-AIDS care and systems, must be put on the agenda of any major event, especially during these times in which technologies do let the world shrink.</div>
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Traveling provides perspectives. On
places, on people, on environments, on communities. This morning, as
an unintended surprise, I attended a wedding in the center of
Washington DC, USA. It realigned me again on global virtues that
involve, among others, healthy measures of love, joy, peace,
kindness, and self-control.</div>
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In Africa I do encounter dependence
often, in both its healthy and unhealthy expressions. Healthy through
Ubuntu – a culture expressing that I am because we are – and
unhealthy, for instance, in the form of demands for others to take
care, and blame when such provision does not emerge.</div>
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In America I do encounter independence
often, in both its healthy and unhealthy expressions. Healthy through
innovation – blisful energy to enhance reality - and unhealthy, for instance, in self-serving use of natural resource forsaking the responsibilities of its use in a global, social setting of capacity, and disregard when others request for account.</div>
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Here and there on the globe I find
interdependence. Where interdependence reigns, a bold kind of
humbleness exists. While opinions exist, they are not the measure.
And circumstances are reviewed as per alignment
with inspired and shared vision. Ultimately goals are reached as a collective; A "<i>We, the Community of People</i>", where
worth exists from the outset.
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The world is shrinking fast. Unfortunately, exaltation of dependence, or independence, can withhold similar advancement of society to be together. Let us strive
towards interdependentness, a state of character where we do figure out harmonious sharing of our collective resources, and our collective
potential as, and with, any place, people, environment, and community.
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<br /></div>Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-78803964184836088592012-07-13T13:31:00.002+02:002012-07-13T13:35:54.325+02:00Mastering a Master's<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_k3G4RMNSVTE/TIfbGkiKSDI/AAAAAAAAAXE/okL2OvaKIYo/s1600/grad+smiley.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_k3G4RMNSVTE/TIfbGkiKSDI/AAAAAAAAAXE/okL2OvaKIYo/s200/grad+smiley.png" width="149" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I am in the process of <i>writing a
Master's</i>. It took me a while to understand what actually the purpose
of the exercise is. Now I start to comprehend that this work exists
to provide evidence of one's ability to define a (/one) problem,
describe a (/single) methodology, and present the (/one) outcome, all
embedded in extant literature. This process then certifies the
individual to address the (creation of the) body of knowledge.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The struggle to understand this is
fuelled by the obvious paradoxes and oxymorons involved in the
process. As if one could be able to understand and define problems,
as if methodologies are like clockwork, and as if outcomes do inform,
and if literature does contain it all. If one could, then only for an
instant..</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It took a while before I yielded to
this process. It helped to think it not to be about the
production of wisdom, but solely about the production of knowledge.
Of course, this was explained from the outset, but never really
landed with me. I guess one needs much wisdom to guide oneself
through the obvious dilemma’s and structural flaws, and ethically
stay in one piece.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In my view, in the world of big-data,
this process is pretty useless actually. It should be the other way around; All the outcomes are already known, like in the Zambian Smart Care
Electronic Health Record system all health profiles are already
computed using all possible methods. Thus the most important issue
one must focus on is: what are good questions?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Maybe fortunately, my subject matter is
not yet embedded in the big-data cloud. It is about people in
Africa's rural areas whom are not (yet) fully linked to global communication networks. I study the 'how' of access to information
and communication technology. Although the value seem obvious and
important, only a small amount of persons embark on such journey. Now, with
little to build upon, what is the right question?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Technology, which was developed by the
rich and powerful, is, of course, created to served their agenda. An
agenda to save cost on (and dehumanizing) labour, and to maximize
their profits. Although knowledge tells me I study technology, wisdom
thus tells me that I deal with power. Power to know, power to be
known. Power to connect, power to be connected. Power to control,
power to be controlled. About what, for what, to what? When dealing
with the 'how' of enabling communications network access through
technology, what is the real question?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
If the 'how' of ICT is solved, and
access is ubiquitous, what happens to the balance of power? What is the best question?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The answers are already known:
inequalities will continue to grow. Copiousness will lead to
waste, shortage to war. However, lack of information leads to
ignorance, and ignorance fuels opposition, which is not really
helpful either. Undoubtedly, access to ICT will raise costs, while
the digital divide continues to grow, and the affluent will
segregate. So, what is the question here?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
How to balance, how to partner, how to
socially contract - for morality, and systemic change? That is the real question.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As you can see, I am getting through
with the first phase of writing my Master's. Now, let's dive in the
data!</div>
Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-44607516617992727912012-07-12T21:57:00.001+02:002012-07-12T22:03:59.220+02:00Technological Servanthood<br />
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<a href="http://thelinknewspaper.ca/images/made/images/articles/Volume_31/03/saveHumanity_330_255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="http://thelinknewspaper.ca/images/made/images/articles/Volume_31/03/saveHumanity_330_255.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
When affects are ascribed to
technology people might deem it the cause. This instills false dogma. Although technology is valuable, it remains an inorganic artifact.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Life's focal point is people. They are
the dazzling subjects, the centre of earthly existence. Here morally-unable submit to the morally-able, and thus technology
submits to people.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Living people's interactions are
fruitful when empathy and compassion are facilitated in an ethical
setting, while serving other's well discerned needs in peace. Within
their context and culture, people do experience joy, discern wisdom,
and recognize knowledge. Technology never does. Everywhere not-living technology
can assist in absolute wonderful and stunning ways, or it can
obstruct and even destroy.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Through distinct phases of bewilderment
and amazement we reach out to expert and use technology. When
technology is constructed to be appropriate - that is: to converge
upon people's needs – it can be helpful. Mastered and controlled by
people, technology's utilization can be purposeful and innovative.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Technology facilitates, it cannot not
drive. Technology amplifies, it cannot initiate. Technology assists,
it cannot lead. Technology does not determine, nor dictates: it
serves. </div>Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-27745328003745446072012-07-11T13:51:00.002+02:002012-07-11T13:54:37.788+02:00Social Innovation Links Engineers Worldwide<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://semanticweb.com/files/2012/07/174723979_f1bae4124c_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://semanticweb.com/files/2012/07/174723979_f1bae4124c_m.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
An integral view of engineering is
desirable, so all engineer from everywhere can be included to the world wide body of knowledge and share the joy of practice and progress. Current status
leads to dull expectations on how engineers can relate, with most
discussions echoing lopsided reports, e.g. on technological determination or how one size should fit all. Acquisition of a global
view of engineering is not yet possible, as such necessitate
practical understanding and recognition of (still) foreign ways to represent data and
information. Current, dominant and singular definitions lead to
reduced analyses of achievement, in turn further narrowing
definitions and thus leading to (international) research unaligned
with the multifaceted local realities and needs. Contextual issues
like orality and relationality are not yet recognized as informing
understanding. Especially the almost exclusive discursive way of
communicating within the engineering professions and the hegemony of
western thinking seem to be huge barriers for inclusion of all engineers, worldwide.<br />
<br />
Social Innovation involves the
engendering of innovative activities and services that are motivated
by the goal of meeting a social need and that are predominantly
developed and diffused through organisations whose primary purposes
are social <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/centres/skoll/research/Documents/Social%20Innovation.pdf">Mulgan, Tucker, Ali, & Sanders, 2007</a>)</span>. The essence of
social innovation is the creation of new, innovative solutions for
social good. The term social innovation signifies a relative new
approach for solving major problems while ensuring that stakeholders
are equal partners and that wheels are not reinvented.<br />
<br />
Social
innovation allows transformation of the positivist, technical,
western dominated sciences to encapsulate the important information
of culture and context, and thus to include deemed intangible and
unquantifiable results of interventions, like social capital. Engineering is an engine of
progress for humanity, as it methodologically devised a
world-of-things to interact with the world-of-humans. Social
innovation augments engineering to address issues affecting us all.<br />
<br />
Social
Innovation provides an inclusive and intrinsic multidisciplinary
approach for sustainable progress for all engineers. It invokes
innovations in engineering sensitive of human relationships, and has
effects in education, management, development cooperation, and
co-creation in general. As such social innovation is instrumental to
lead the way, enhance and facilitate local capacity development, and
thus opens new venues for innovations and growth of knowledge, and
mutual beneficial collaboration.</div>Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-40431354520933165172012-06-08T14:53:00.001+02:002012-06-08T15:33:52.503+02:00Stability Enhancement<br />
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<a href="http://africa.wisc.edu/textimages/ACADEMICS-TrishBooks.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://africa.wisc.edu/textimages/ACADEMICS-TrishBooks.png" width="133" /></a></div>
No doubt the prominent partners responsible for stability of societies are Politics, Business, and Academics. At community level this translates in the incorporation of all stakeholders in the process of innovation, and thus change. The Macha case shows that such can be done successfully, with careful balanced results in tangible progress.<br />
<br />
When now contemplating the national and regional levels, imbalances become obvious. Political structures are often vibrant, and consequences of dis-balance are well seen. Business is often explicitly encouraged, although, if I may say so, only recognized when it is structured in a 'Western manner'. However, where is the voice of the Academics?<br />
<br />
Here in Port Elizabeth it is clear that South Africa boasts a developed academia. I am surrounded by people and documents with knowledge involving South Africa Country Studies on this, that, and the other. As I am not necessary studying (only) South Africa, when I toss those studies aside, a next pile of documents come into view. These are the cases in Europe and the USA... Oeps, that is not what I am looking for, I was hoping to get the ones from the African hinterlands. They appear not to exist. Normally then one sais “Let's call someone”. But which professor to call in Angola? Or which one in the Congo? Or which journal to dive into to get information on Zambia, or Zimbabwe, or Malawi?<br />
<br />
For peaceful and wholesome progress the balance of the essential social partners is crucial. Already at the start of my stay in South Africa it is more then clear that such balance is missing for most of our northern neighbours and regions.<br />
<br />
The academia of a country produces its future leaders. See Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, an acclaimed academic with a doctorate in quantum chemistry. Likewise, Africa needs nationals to research and develop thesis and solutions addressing local, national, and regional challenges. Such is the bread and butter of academic institutions. Thus, not only do academic institutions need to quadruple or more in size, to allow for the huge influx of young people in view of current population demographics, it also needs to show tangible results in research, utilizing and building out indigenous knowledge to assure local relevance, and contribute to the partnership for national and regional stabilities and holistically embedded national progress.Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-41316673906890480502012-06-07T21:12:00.000+02:002012-06-07T21:19:12.150+02:00Zimtale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/562158_10150888950458005_1552873729_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/562158_10150888950458005_1552873729_n.jpg" /></a></div>
The last five days I have been in Harare,
Zimbabwe. It has been an invigorating experience. Of course, we are
all aware of the difficulties the country has, is, and still might
be(en) going through. I witnessed snapshots of developments as a regular guest – and
sometimes resident - in 'Zim' since 2000. This visit I have been
meeting with intoxicating self-reliant Africans, emanating presence
and strength. It seems hardship and persecution bring forth a
generation of staunch believers, with faith in their future, emerging
and ready to progress.<br />
<br />
Does the rapidly connecting and
shrinking world play a role? Obviously IT does build bridges to even the
most locked out places, as I have been experiencing technology doing in
rural Zambia the past nine years. This week I have met a subset of urban
people who know what is going on in the world, whom are keen to build
their families, their country, and want to be a gift to the world.
Undoubtedly, there is much suffering, maybe more here then there, as
anywhere. And a few days only limits one's abilities to experience, and
allows for witnessing of just some fragments of existence.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Yes, it can be inundating for an alien.
I have been walking through Harare center for many hours on two
separate days, and did not see a Caucasoid. I went in shops, met people, had a talk in the streets,
and we all happily acknowledged each other presence while passing by, each
person continuing on in their respective ways. Little sign of dependency,
less begging in the center of Harare then in the center of Atlanta-GA, and no over-the-top servitude; It was like living water on my purged soul.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I met with leaders in academia,
unashamedly calling for Afrocentric funding and research and
development, eager to exchange ideas on innovations, ready to
leap-frog and 'go-for-it'. I met people whom recognized
opportunities, and accommodated personal challenges.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
What a stark contrast with Harare
International Airport this morning, virtually empty with a small amount of flights,
a sign of isolation and stifled exchange. I saw crumbling physical
infrastructure in places, new developments in others, and poignant challenges in service delivery like electricity and water. On the other hand, local trade was vibrant in the streets, and the most busy shops were those of the mobile operators, spilling over with
customers onto the pavement. Asking my Zimbabwean friends what the people were doing
there, their quip response was: 'getting their lines upgraded for the
Internet'. Is this a new world, less travel, less infrastructure,
but with much and growing Information and Communications Technology,
bringing us together in new ways?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Observations, questions, thesis,
superficiality, wariness? As most societies in the current world,
also Zimbabwe seems to resemble a society build on the slope of an
active volcano. What volcanoes are going to erupt in the world, where and
when? Spilling what sort of lava? With new entrepreneurship adapting and
overcoming set terms of resource limitations, a new sustainable
progress, a new world order, African renaissance, or maybe just
chaos? Actually, what wisdom can these so-called chaos theories, game
theories, and emerging knowledge provide us in connecting the dots of this interconnected world of humans and things? Social innovation, is it being accelerated under pressure? </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
I am looking forward to continue
relating with Zimbabwe, ever more closely, and augment my experience in Southern Africa with experiencing how Zim's wonderful
people will connect all the dots. I am preparing the grounds for that further, now as one of the students in the School for Information and Communication Technology at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth, South
Africa.</div>Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-1858455229375157792012-06-05T19:31:00.000+02:002012-06-05T19:31:39.318+02:00Right, I Left<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tpo10.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Which-Left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://tpo10.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Which-Left.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
It is quite entertaining - and admittedly sometimes frustrating - to hear a soft whisper and sometimes even a loud voice that evanescents “what happens when he leaves?”. As if my person holds a magic wand that makes things happen and flourish, while at the same time fatefully implying that when 'someone else' 'takes over' such magic wand will have been gone.<br />
<br />
Those who raise the issue 'what happens when he leaves?' often appear blinded by opportunistic searchlights, that illuminate individuals instead of communities, focus on projects instead of people, and on threats instead of opportunities. Or, more worrisome, those that appear subdued by their outlook on reality encompassing virtually insurmountable mountains and unforgiving barriers, often pushing persons in various stages of inertness or, alternatively, rage.<br />
<br />
From the outset, per definition, one should aim to be involved where vision flourishes, as without a vision people perish. A vision must instil hope, talk about humans, and inspire associates and stakeholders to excel. Equally, one should only commit in situations where leadership can mention names of those whom are growing, and are being mentored to 'take over'; Names of real people that are prone to excel their predecessors, who bear the promise of expanding capabilities, whom are able to sustain, augment, mature, and expand (parts of) the vision. Including names of those whom will not hesitate to outsource, change, discard, insource, or do whatever is needed to sustain progress and the organisational health.<br />
<br />
My answer to these evanescent sounds? “Look carefully. Since April 2010 I have not been leading Macha Works, nor did make decisions, and neither was involved in any management meeting.” As with all people, my roles change constantly, and will keep on doing so, as dynamic transformation engenders such change, in this case empowering local talent endowed with growing authority.<br />
<br />
Instead of focus on the here and now, since April 2010 I have been observing and facilitating realignment of contacts and relationships. Result of the local team's examinations arrived in the form of external audit reviews. They have been favourable for two consecutive years. Overall budgets grew with 20% and local income surged with 400%. I am not amazed; The right leadership at the right time sustains progress and realigns priorities.<br />
<br />
Those were the good times. Since early 2012 there were bad times, induced by circumstances that were outside of the local leader's realms of influence. Thus after time of remarkable growth, now there were times of pruning, testing through fire, with weaker parts being blown over by the storms of life. Also a period of seeing fruits of the right relationships, and testing of seatbelts whom are provided by real friends. During April and May I was requested to help, to fire-fight, to prevent loss of assets, destruction of achievements and personnel benefits, and assure adherence to the stipulations of the environment. I am glad I could still recognize the institution, knew where to look, what to invoke, and where to apply antidote. Just for a short while though and from a relative distance, not being engrossed, only doing the necessary job, while engendering components for the next mentoring phase.<br />
<br />
I never stopped – and will never stop - to observe, to study, and to volunteer where I can. However, I did not return. I left Macha Works April 2010, and now, after quenching some major fires, obviously being affected by fall out, now pruning even my shade; I bodily left for academic peer-to-peer interaction on our findings on social innovations and systems, and to expand its thesis. Without a doubt, on the ground, the vision-carrying local talents are getting it right!<br />
<br />
What is left is encouragement and cheering-on: “Aim right, and move on!”<br />Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-23624538780495299862012-05-29T16:39:00.002+02:002012-05-29T16:39:26.075+02:00Seasonal Change<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://regent.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/01/15/01vicfalls_rainbow_long.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="152" src="http://regent.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2009/01/15/01vicfalls_rainbow_long.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
My days in April and May have been
filled with operational activities based upon methodological analysis
of very complex realities, as they exist in cross cultural
interactions and rural Africa. These months I came into play to provide
for crisis management due to a whole array of challenges following
two unprecedented delays in release of projects funding. These delays
effectively took the wind out of the sails of Macha Works. However,
after two months of purposeful and focused interventions, the
organisation is alive and back in local hands. It has been a rare
privilege to provide guidance in such challenging situations, ably
supported by backstopping through discussions with experts in fields
of accountancy, diplomacy, economy, management, ethnography,
development, engineering, etc.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Of course, not everyone has access to
such high quality soundboards, nor access to experts or an ability to
take an extra-personal perspective. In rural Africa, the affects of
these voids add significantly to the workload and social strains.
Such is exasperated by the pressure cooker situation in which crisis
management takes place, which severely limits one's ability to interact with
most stakeholders, or anybody else in that manner.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Without a doubt, in the specific
context and culture of resource limited environments in rural Africa
- with highly oral and relational communities - the strenuous work of
a crisis manager is little understood. This gives multiple views on
realities in the relational web of local, national and international
relationships. Actually, crisis management involves work that goes
against the grain of the individual whom is confronted with
individual loss and hurt, and as such seemingly feeds a collective
atrophy and self-destructiveness of hurting groups in society. In
rural Africa this all is further amplified due to a limited knowledge
base in management techniques and organisational concepts, and by
gossip run wild.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The relational society links challenges
and achievements to people, with little recognition of existence or
benefit of institutional entities. Thus management actions are
primarily related to the manager' person with little regards for the
(legal) entity being managed (for).
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
With the aim for Macha Works for the
locally embedded empowerment of the local person, and having gone
through a challenging, interesting, but also depleting, chapter of
crisis management, it now feels that I have reached the end of my
season at Macha. The dream has shown capability of being reality, and
the entity has proven structurally sound to respond to the
circumstances and environment in an appropriate manner. It is time
for me to move on. However, with all onlookers I look forward to
sharing opportunities of continuous learning on how local talent
will grow and augment Macha Works' social model of
implementation, and act according to the situation and the culture of
the society they operate in, in rural Macha. </div>Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-47974699171680764372012-04-10T07:47:00.002+02:002012-04-10T07:52:02.127+02:00Gratitude<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zpE9qNvToV8/ScvH5mdt0ZI/AAAAAAAAAcY/OU19bEoHqtY/s400/Taita-falcon-at-Victoria-fa.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 108px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zpE9qNvToV8/ScvH5mdt0ZI/AAAAAAAAAcY/OU19bEoHqtY/s400/Taita-falcon-at-Victoria-fa.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">New glasses on my nose, seeing the world afresh, crystal clear. For a while my glasses were scratched, off strength, and regularly popping out of their frame. What a change, what a blessing!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">The Zambezi river shows off its might. I watch in awe from atop the gorge at rapid seventeen. Unstoppable, majestic and fierce. Waters turned white, flipping passing rafters. Every second, massive, fresh, H2O, steaming wet life flows. We struggled a bit with water, as the site's water pump engineering failed functioning to quench human demands. However, nature's flow continues unabated, grinding the gorge.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Wow, a Taita falcon sped by. Elusive, stealthy, purposeful. Crafty bunch of feathers in full control. Through the airquarium it goes where it wants. I tried so last Thursday, in an obtrusive metal airplane. Clumsy, however, I did feel privileged and full of gratitude.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Kids squeal, jumping in a refreshing pool. Air at a temperature that cannot be sensed. Clouds shading a piercing sun. Air filled to the brink by the orchestra of nature, performing an enthralling masterpiece.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Easter. Bursting my seams with gratitude.</p>Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-40080457200182520812012-04-02T15:44:00.003+02:002012-04-02T15:51:23.540+02:00Discourse on Innovation vs. Discourse on Control<a href="http://whatdoclientsreallywant.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/trust-cufflinks.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://whatdoclientsreallywant.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/trust-cufflinks.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">It is in the reflection of great writings that one can link literate utterances to observations that were lacking words in which to describe them. In the absence of specialist bookstores in a range of over a thousand kilometers, only recently I am empowered to access good books, on Kindle and with Visa Electron downloaded through the internet. A world has opened to me, with a refreshing rain of well wrought wordings.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Each book brings me both balance and unbalance, relieve and stress. I try to recognize and puzzle with thinking patterns, especially those shown by psychiatristic daredevils like Freire or Fanon, or in structural seminal methodological textbooks like Sachs or Collins. Then I augment them with thoughts from inspirational writings on culture, anthropology, theology, humanism, and mysticism.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Has all be told, has all be understood? Certainly not! Context and cultures change, emerge and seemingly do repeat. I just aim to assemble theory to support progress, sustainably, helpfully, inclusively, unitingly, and lovingly. Progress needs new insights and theories of dynamics. Thus I relish my everyday school, which provides a healthy meal of theory and practise.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Oh, what a world of fortunate joy and unfortunate hurt! Through it I can understand cynicism when sharing my experience out of Africa. At the other hand, I feel for a Rwandan friend who shared his hurt feelings after a presentation on Rwanda's impressive achievements in the role out of ICTs. It was the question from the audience that stabbed, which could be summarized like “You are giving a positive presentation about Rwandan developments. Are you giving the complete picture? Could you please expand on what is going wrong?”.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">It is Fanon whom for me encapsulated the issue of us as the recipient being confused by the myriad signs of the [developed] world, so one never knows where he/she is out of line. Fanon explains how the subject is always presumed guilty, and how she/he in turn considers such judgement as a kind of curse, a sword of Damocles. This resonates with my own observations. We live in a dual and segregated world, with those being developed living in a world of foreign judgements stating 'you are guilty'.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">For its donors, Macha Works creates impressive and often highly detailed reports. Such is rather unique from a rural African environment that is used to share its relationships, not its information. Recently I noticed a comment “I do trust that goods have been purchased, but how can you prove they have been used for the intended purpose?”. This is example of a known cascade of precepts:</p><ol><li>when money goes to Africa, Africans will divert it;</li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">when money is not diverted, reports will be cooked;</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">when reports are not cooked, the utilization will benefit the boss (only);</p> </li><li><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">when use is not for the boss (only), then it is just a matter of time (for it to collapse).</p> </li></ol> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">For every step, a recipient in Africa is considered guilty unless proven otherwise, conform consistent cynicism.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">The paradox of the wish for breakthrough and innovation and a situation of pervasive fear and urge for control fuels a spiral that almost encourages inertia or wrong doings. When one is labeled questionable from the start, it is most luring to confirm such judgment. It is draining to be distrusted, even before one starts. No wonder that Fanon observes “[the person being developed] is made to feel inferior, but by no means convinced of his inferiority. He patiently waits for the [the person doing development] to let down his guard and then jumps on him”. This is in line with Leautier's observation that such change can come with high speed in Africa.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">I will continue to aim to engender an atmosphere of hope, trust, faith and forgiveness. Raise 'can-do' leadership, with creative, innovative attitude, ready to explore. And sustain entities that aim for the stars, leapfrogging vigorously, not necessarily avoiding difficulties, mistakes, or even failure. Such needs focus on Discourse on Innovation, one that I gladly envision.</p>Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-20106304137648936832012-04-01T13:05:00.003+02:002012-04-01T13:35:57.817+02:00The Man with the Key<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_0i6jOjmP9k/T3g9f-B92eI/AAAAAAAAAEs/-XmK55tlcAg/s1600/2012-04-01%2B10.09.26.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 104px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_0i6jOjmP9k/T3g9f-B92eI/AAAAAAAAAEs/-XmK55tlcAg/s400/2012-04-01%2B10.09.26.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726394545638070754" /></a>Undoubtedly one of the most significant person in rural areas is The-man-with-the-key. Who holds the key holds access to resources. In my experience there is often only one key to a door. And thus when at a door the issue is 'who has got the Key?'.<br /><br />Conveniently, on most of our doors the key number is scratched in the wood above the lock. So when the key is really lost, with most mortice locks in the country being of the same low-cost supplier, one can relatively easy source an other one. The number also helps when The-man-with-the-key has got a whole bunch of keys, so one can match the key with the door, and does not have to test them all.<br /><br />The challenge lies in to match The-man-with-the-key with the door, to be able to pass through it. Of course, the person is <i>somewhere</i>, and one has just to find her/him. The person could be at home, could have left 'for town' and handed the key over to someone else, or might be in the fields.<br /><br />This weekend it took almost 24 hours to find The-man-with-the-key to open a power cabinet that supplies the internet equipment of our Internet Service Provider. The person's phone was off, and a pursuit was launched via people in his vicinity to track him down. This morning I was chartered to drive to his house about 5 kilometers away, where the LinkNet associate hunted him down. He was busy in his fields. Thus found, The-man-with-the-keys was instantly available, got his keys and we drove him to the equipment cabinet. With the door opened, after some investigation, a power fuse was found off. Resetting the fuse restored the internet feed. Then we brought The-man-with-the-key back home so he could continue his day.<br /><br />Anecdotal evidence suggest that, on average, it takes about one hour to get a door opened. This process includes a number of phone calls and travels and searches to meet up with The-man-with-the-key. Then, of course, after access has been secured and the work done, the reverse process takes place to facilitate the return of the key.<br /><br />Fanon states that, in an environment like this, a person must constantly aware of his image, jealously protecting his position. Such can be witnessed in the daily dance around access to resources. And The-man-with-the-key holds one of the major keys to that!Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-13750927030606265052012-03-26T20:24:00.002+02:002012-03-26T20:49:48.596+02:00Taking it Personal<a href="https://nrrcgreen.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/fruit_tree_pruning.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 146px;" src="https://nrrcgreen.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/fruit_tree_pruning.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><div>In the culture of rural Africa <i>juridical personalities</i> appear not to exist. This is a discovery that got me reeling the last weeks. It is again proof that even after 11 years full of overflowing days in rural Africa, one continues to stumble upon new and fundamental truths every day. How could I not have seen this before? And, now understood, how to integrate this knowledge in wise mentoring?</div><div><br /></div><div>Currently Macha Works is in the middle of a program called 'Pruning for Growth'. This program was initiated when during January and February two major expansion and donor commitments did not materialize; follow up Universal Service Funding expansion support for LinkNet, anticipated since May 2010, and delay in reimbursement for a large, executed target-based-funding building project. </div><div><br /></div><div>With financial sustainability under attack, and thoughtful of the aim for long term sustainable progress, while avoiding particularism, Macha Works management took the only possible and tough decision to lay off all staff per 1 March. A growing contingency of volunteering staff continue activities in March, while the process towards rebuilding of the organisation takes off. </div><div><br /></div><div>All this goes 'according to the management-handbook' and is a clear pass in the exam of local talent to sustainably operate an organisation in rural Africa, even under 'pressure cooker' circumstances! A signal that did not land on deaf ears and positivity exited most cooperating partners.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, in the rural area the message is not easily digested. Some former staff and community members did start a hunt for 'the person who did this'. As Macha Works is community owned and run by Local Talent, a twister of attention focusing on the 'who'-question wanders through the area. It aims to uproot the local individuals seen as liable. Outside of the cyclone most remains at peace. Still, the magnitude of the difficulties for the individuals involved attains levels that startle me. Thus we forcefully entered a new phase of local talent training and mentoring, and discoveries.</div><div><br /></div><div>One such discovery is that the concept of a legal entity, with a legal name and rights, protections, privileges, responsibilities, and liabilities under law, is not readily understood in the local culture and context. When I probe community members, local leadership, and even district dignitaries, they confirm this finding. Some even <span id="result_box" class="short_text" lang="en"><span class="hps">compassionately</span></span> welcome me in the community of those endowed with this knowledge from experience.</div><div><br /></div><div>Legal bodies in rural Africa seem to be a scarce and often bewildering artifact. It appears that, apart from the clergy that esoterically represent God, there are two entities that do exist in rural areas: the People and the Government. As such, anything that is not 'people' thus per definition is 'government'. One signal of such classification is that <i>writing</i>, necessary in the operations of corporate legal bodies, signals the separation of such bodies from people; People utilize orality and government literacy. Entities that utilize writings are thus seen to be necessarily part of government. Albeit the continuous review of an institute's government recognition, registration, and interaction. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the other hand, it seems that a community owned entity like Macha Works, is seen necessarily having all rights, protections, privileges, responsibilities, and liabilities connected to a person. And thus, when the entity goes through a challenging period, the community searches for the person whom should have the full responsibility. That is quite tough for institutional leaders, whom have to watch two fronts at once, one rational/institutional and one relational/personal! </div><div><br /></div><div>There is much to learn, and understand, and to educate, both for local talents, for communities, and, of course, for me. Never a dull moment!</div>Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-60377952887059803742012-03-13T23:49:00.006+02:002012-03-14T13:21:50.947+02:00ICT4R (Information and Communications Technologies for Relationships)<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nepwna0EZjg/T2AGQDrwE9I/AAAAAAAAAEc/8SkkPV85xEM/s1600/Cooperate.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 120px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nepwna0EZjg/T2AGQDrwE9I/AAAAAAAAAEc/8SkkPV85xEM/s400/Cooperate.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719578399697015762" border="0" /></a>It is a rare honor to be present at the Information and Community Technology for Development (ICTD 2012) conference in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. What a privilege it is to be 10.000 miles from home and share unique papers from rural Zambia, for the first time presenting facts on the <a href="http://machaworks.academia.edu/GertjanVanStam/Papers/1217536/Network_traf_c_locality_in_a_rural_African_village">locality of traffic in a rural African village</a> and how technology could <a href="http://machaworks.academia.edu/GertjanVanStam/Papers/1397205/VillageShare">facilitate local African content generation</a>!<br /><br />When taking in this conference, mulling over its significance, I wonder how to harness the significant sacrifices made by all that are present, both in body and spirit. Here we sit in the shadow of overarching, imposing sky scrapers, in facilities that give me and my two neighbors already a combined internet bandwidth that equals the total of all available bandwidth in the country of Zambia.<br /><br />I attend presentations of reports on (research) projects in developing countries, many in Asia and Africa, while being part of an interesting mix of passionate persons from both 'the North' and 'the South'. Of course, presentations entice the ubiquitous questions about sustainability and academic rigor. However, David Kobia's opening remarks on the 'D' in ICT4D - the academic space for most participants at this conference - still ring in my ears. He blamed the the ‘D’ - that stands for Development - to polarize and sustain cognitive dissonance between the institutional (western) organizations that seem to seek to bring technologies to marginalized environments, while such environments call for encouragement of locally relevant expressions of technology. His position was earlier posed by Erik Hersman in “<a href="http://whiteafrican.com/2011/11/02/the-subtle-condescension-of-ict4d/">the subtle condescension of 'ICT4D'</a>” which did invoke an insightful discussion that was well summarized by <a href="http://lindaraftree.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/the-field-formerly-known-as-ict4d-is-messy/">Linda Raftree</a>.<br /><br />There is clearly <span style="font-weight: bold;">an Elephant in the Room</span> that is called 'Who Says?'. Whom is talking from which cultural and contextual perspective, and under which authority? In my view, one should pose tough questions to any ICT4D activity that is not guided by, and embedded in, local culture and context. Activities that are clearly designed and planned from a western industrialized culture, with solutions emerging from western individualistic and hedonistic thought, and implementation done according to western rational planning, cannot be considered for just verdicts of 'success or fail' as per western evaluation. It is presumptuous to think that a foreigner from foreign lands offering foreign things in an other context and culture can be effective. Then<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="background: transparent"> academic research appears as a take-away text written in academic English appropriating local culture for private, foreign profit. The local community remains objectified and exploited, with real and potentially disturbing social consequences.</span></span><br /><br />In fact, we all undergo development. It is a human and extremely complex endeavor, heavily depending on relationships. Any form of communication involved is constantly changing and emergent. Undoubtedly, doing review on technology from within, and to the benefit of people in severely resource restrained environments, is challenging. However, as culture is the context in which things happen; out of context, even information and communications technologies can lack significance.<br /><br />My daily experience in the rural Africa is that cross cultural knowledge is hard to come by. Its apprehension takes much effort and time, and, when known, its consequences often baffles foreign people involved. Although ICT4D practitioners can argue that integrated technologies have a logic of their own that are not affected by culture, the objective dimension of technologies, including Information and Communications Technologies, do have totally different meanings that different local human cultures read into them. Thus, in any presentation of ICT4D activity, a multidisciplinary, ethnographic description of the context and culture is imperative, as ICT4D is a subset of ICT4R, Information and Communications Technologies for Relationships, which can only be researched as a complete human experience.Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-18115769543387720722012-02-13T21:51:00.005+02:002012-02-13T22:21:51.822+02:00What Time Does It Start?<a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/media/ALeqM5isDieDEOKdKVm8I9i27ormUVa40w?docId=photo_1329157599208-7-0&size=l"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 107px;" src="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/media/ALeqM5isDieDEOKdKVm8I9i27ormUVa40w?docId=photo_1329157599208-7-0&size=l" alt="" border="0" /></a>The final of the African Cup of Nations between Zambia and Ivory Coast was clear focus of attention for everybody last night. We planned to go to Vision Community Hall, where the game would be shown on a big screen, and we would watch with hundreds of others. We got ready for a meal at 18.00 hours, to assure we all - 2 adults and 4 kids - would be ready for the game, which we 'were told' would start at 19.30 hours.<br /><br />Just before the meal I went online to check the exact starting time of the final Zambia - Ivory Coast, in Libreville, Gabon. The starting time proved more difficult to find then I expected. Thus Janneke requested the info by SMS from colleagues and friends while I surfed the web and called around.<br /><br />SMS from a friend: “The game starts at 19.30 hours”<br />Phone call with an organizer at the Hall: “The game starts at 21.00 hours”<br /><br />This clearly needed more research, as to assure the kids would get enough sleep. Thus we continued communicating. Google did not yet point to a clear answer yet..<br /><br />A community leader said: “I think it starts at 21.30 hours, I am pretty sure”<br />A leading South African website announced covering the game, starting at 20.00 hours.<br />SMS from an ardent soccer fan, known to walk Macha with his Zambian scarf the whole last week: “Definitely, the game will start at 21.15 hours”<br /><br />The BBC website mentioned: “kick off at 19.30 hours”.<br /><br />Thus kids to bed quickly, to catch some sleep. We woke them up at 21.00 hours, and went to the lively Vision Community Hall. Kick off of the final proved to take place at 21.30 hours, the hall filled to capacity, and the game finished well passed midnight with a wonderful victory for Zambia!<br /><br />Back at home the kids went to bed around 01 hours. We woke them up at 06.15 hours, as usual. Upon leaving the home for school at 07.00 hours I noticed an unusual quietness outside.<br /><br />The kids returned home from school around 11.30 hours, well before the scheduled 13.00 hours. They said that only 15 of the 100+ children had reported for school, to little to continue classes.<br /><br />All this is a clear cut and understandable witness of the local culture's diffuse synchronicity, it particularist communitarianism, of course engrossed by an unusual external controlling event, Elephants failing to withstand Copper Bullets (Chipolopolo)!Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-28161583547753473812012-02-03T07:40:00.002+02:002012-02-03T07:50:09.449+02:00Shortage of Engineers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://publishing.unesco.org/cover/3104156co1150.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 195px;" src="http://publishing.unesco.org/cover/3104156co1150.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>When traveling through Africa, wherever I go, I am also always asked to have a look at operational or stalled computers. Often I venture to check settings to get them on networks, and to check the software to keep them working. Always I find slow or not working network connections, infected computers, and outdated software. Often I find computers without virus-scanner, 'old' programs, and frustrated users. From the colleagues at LinkNet I hear that too. Wherever they go, they encounter frustrated users, and too many requests and too much work to handle.<br /><br />Yesterday again, I sat at an hospital, doctoring on two laptops connected to a dedicated satellite connection. A simple change in settings solved connection issues, and I left with a number of downloads ongoing for virus scanner and software updates. Any IT engineer could have done this. But they are just not around..<br /><br />On a daily basis, we are confronted with needs for engineering in water, energy, agriculture, and many more. Retention of engineers is a daunting challenge in rural Africa. Actually, there are not many engineers to start of with in the first place..<br /><br />Many African countries pursue economic growth, aiming for sustainable service provisioning and access to cost-effective goods and services, as close to the communities as possible. Progress towards achievements of global and national development goals outcomes are fluctuating, certainly not helped by severe shortages of engineers for appropriate technologies. The engineering sector in many African nations is in crisis and there are shortages of engineers at every level.<br /><br />Clearly one of the major obstacles to sustain the economy and to reach the goals set by the Millennium Development Goals, and working infrastructure at the local level, is the shortage of human resource in engineering. <style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --> </style>Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1731752221892296300.post-33653078032854334402011-11-15T05:12:00.007+02:002011-11-15T05:35:58.000+02:00リーベン湖<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Hetzel_front_cover.jpg/220px-Hetzel_front_cover.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 98px; height: 150px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Hetzel_front_cover.jpg/220px-Hetzel_front_cover.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>On my way to Wall Street, New York, coming from New Brunswick, New Jersey, I get lost in Penn(sylvania) Station. Although it is day time, I have seen little daylight since hitting the tunnel under the Hudson River. Now I roam searchingly the mole's labyrinth of Penn Station, New York, New York.<br /><br />Finally I end up on a subway pier, unclear if I the coming train would bring me to lower Manhattan or the middle of the earth. At the quay, the first two persons neglect my inquiries, engrossed in mobile phone and/or music via earpieces. Inquiring from the third person hits humanity, resulting in a person fishing a (guide?) book from his pack. It is in Japanese katakana I think. The text apparently confirms this is going to be the right way. <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">“Where do you come from”, I ask the rhetorical question. “Anchorage, arrived at 02.00 hours at JFK today. Now on my way to the Statute of Liberty, and then maybe to Ground Zero, and tomorrow fly to ...”. I lost the name in the noise of the approaching train, but am sure it is a location in a far away land. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">“I live in Tokyo” is now added. The book and New York map thus must be in Japanese, indeed. “That is good, I am from Zambia, on my way to meet a friend living in the tents of Occupy Wall Street I think”. “Zambia? I will be in Uganda in three weeks I think”. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Where has this world turned into? Who is from where I am now, or where I am going, are we all travelers? Undoubtedly we (all?) are..<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Assimilatedly - and seemingly like what people do - tomorrow I will be in Denver. The next day in San Francisco, and then Macha.<br /></p>Gertjan van Stamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03918810392851902954noreply@blogger.com