tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20646936492718112112024-03-19T14:58:25.373-04:00The Black Thought ReformerPondering political and infrastructure development issues facing people of African descent all over the world, with a focus on subsaharan Africa.Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-17419831705614960262013-08-27T11:46:00.002-04:002013-08-27T11:46:27.560-04:00Thoughts on PaperIt has been well over a year since I blogged on this space, but it has been far from an uneventful one. In that time, I got married, assumed new responsibilities at work, created two new blogs and most importantly, finished my book. <br />
<br />
The other two blogs I created were designed to provide a much-needed split from my politically-themed tomes especially as they are more niche areas which are of interest to me. One is <a href="http://www.clean-efficiency.com/">www.clean-efficiency.com</a>, which is a social entrepreneurial venture I am pioneering around energy efficiency and sustainable development. The other is <a href="http://www.ourbeachcity.wordpress.com/">www.ourbeachcity.wordpress.com</a>, which I started with my wife and details our global travel adventures.<br />
<br />
Finishing the book was important to me and in order to do so, I purposely stayed away from commenting on socio-political issues affecting Africa in order to channel my creative juices towards the literary effort. The book is entitled "A Rainy Season" and it is a non-fictional account of life in Lagos, Nigeria during the turbulent days of the mid- to late-nineties, seen through the eyes of eight different protagonists. Putting my thoughts on paper in that most indelible of forms is thrilling as I cover many of the issues my writing in this blog and other news outlets has touched on. <br />
I will be providing a more detailed synopsis and information on obtaining a copy of the book in a future posting. Stay tuned!<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript"></script>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-75798273496749732262012-08-10T15:22:00.002-04:002012-08-10T15:23:12.778-04:00Funding African EntrepreneursThis was an interesting article written by Loren Treisman of the Indigo Foundation, a grant-making foundation that funds technology-driven projects that seek to bring about social change in Africa.<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19195665" target="_blank">Do African Entrepreneurs Need Charity?</a><br />
<br />
<br />
In the main, I agree with the premise of her piece, articulated around three main points:<br />
<br />
- Information technology is key to realizing the full potential of developing economies, especially in bringing about the reforms required to spark said economies.<br />
<br />
- The best solutions to Africa's challenges are likely to come from the communities affected by them; a completely different development paradigm to what has obtained historically.<br />
<br />
- Investment is required to make these enterprises and start-ups self-sustaining and drive them towards their stated goals.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Where I would quibble with Ms. Treisman is in the titling of her piece and the implied concept that 'charity' is required to make social innovations successful. Webster and his fellow dictionary gurus merely say that charity is the voluntary giving of help to those in need. In our cynic Western havens, the term 'charity' usually refers to an unmerited favor granted by someone who feels sorry for the recipient in order to provide short-term relief for the recipient and make the giver feel that they have made a difference.<br />
<br />
Social entrepreneurs in North America and Europe are funded by national agencies that have funding set aside for such programs. These are never referred to as charity because they are seen as a critical requirement for the growth and development of those societies. Where philanthropic investment is made, it is never referred to as charity because there is value in their output. Any enterprise which yields returns for its investors and/or clients is not on charity. It is not helpless. It is quite simply - in business.<br />
<br />
My minor issue with the title aside, this is a fantastic piece and is well worth a read.
<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript"></script>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-6768461019178365682012-07-26T09:20:00.000-04:002012-07-26T09:20:04.269-04:00Micro-Generation: A Key to Africa's FutureJust over a year ago, a friend asked me to contribute a writeup to her blog on Innovation. I've reproduced it below, especially as this is a topic which is near and dear to my heart. Enjoy.<br />
<br />
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
Some of the key questions facing the growing economies in Africa - especially in regards to improving infrastructure and creating new avenues for revenue generation – revolve around energy. The how, where, which, who and what of energy. <br />
<br />
<br />
How can Africa's vast potential to generate energy be harnessed? <br />
Where will this energy come from? <br />
Which forms of energy will be exploited? <br />
Who will be responsible for developing these energy sources - the government or private enterprise? <br />
What measures will be taken to ensure the sustainability - not just the renewability - of said energy?<br />
<br />
As is usual with questions like these, there are easy answers which require complex solutions, not to mention an acute awareness of the infrastructure and socio-political climate on the ground. <br />
<br />
This space is not enough for these questions to be answered with the required depth and technical detail, but I'm of the opinion that infrastructure development in Africa has to go past the fossil-powered 20th century and be driven by sustainable sources of energy. One of these is microgeneration, which I rank highly due to its ability to aid in development and revenue generation. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Microgeneration is the production of power that is less than 50 kW, enough to power most homes and small businesses. It is not a new concept by any means; in fact, energy consumers in urban parts of Africa where there are frequent outages are already involved in microgeneration. Yes, your noisy Chinese-made, diesel-guzzling, air-polluting generators!<br />
The twist this time is to be able to duplicate this energy production in a sustainable fashion - solar, wind, hydro...you get the drift.<br />
<br />
The cost required to install solar photovoltaic systems or geothermal systems or even a small windfarm in a remote desert area may be substantial, but what if this cost was passed on to businesses, rather than to consumers? Most of the power consumed in Africa today, and most of the power that will be consumed if the continent is develop in line with its potential, is consumed by the large skyscrapers and industrial plants in urban metropolises. Unfortunately, this power is mostly generated via the diesel generators referenced above.<br />
<br />
<u>Businesses</u><br />
What if governments were tasked with providing power to residential areas only, while businesses focused on harnessing their microgeneration? After all, diesel is a recurring expense and cannot be written off any tax books, whereas the wind farm in question would be a capitalized cost that can provide some tax breaks to business users. <br />
Businesses can sell excess power back to the national grid and having a steady cost of energy can allow for better financial forecasting, boosting the bottom-line. This is a technology and process that can pay for itself if harnessed properly. <br />
<br />
<u>Governments</u>Freed of their obligations to corporate consumers, national grids can then focus on providing power to citizens as well as the ability to draw upon the excess power not used by the microgeneration plants owned by the businesses. Also, with a diverse array of energy streams – conventional, wind, solar, geothermal and hydro – to draw upon, the power utilities can optimize their delivery systems to minimize cost to themselves and the end-user. This can all be done without any excessive dip into treasury funds.<br />
<br />
<u>Citizens</u>No longer dependent on inefficient, loud, poisonous and environmentally-harmful generators, the citizens can lead healthier lives, while also paying lower costs for energy delivery. The availability of microgeneration can be extended to the home front for those owners and communities with the wherewithal. Cheaper power will also provide SMEs who don't have the economic robustness of large businesses the ability to sustain their ventures and drive market activity exponentially.<br />
<br />
Microgeneration could well be the future of African power generation and economic activity. It provides a win-win-win-win for all stakeholders involved - businesses, governments, citizens and the environment. It will require some paradigm shifts in the way African financial houses operate, as well as in government regulations, but it is this writer's opinion that the benefits stand to outweigh the costs in the long run…and by a wide margin.<br />
<br />
<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-50113788809855493482012-07-23T08:53:00.001-04:002012-07-23T08:53:17.414-04:00A Little Of EverythingI've been away from the blogosphere for too long and for three primary reasons. The main reason has been my recent desire to focus less on discussing situations that appear untenable for the time being (i.e. Nigeria's hopeless political situation). I'm also determined to 'do more, talk less' when it comes to development issues facing black people the world over, and have recently taken steps (graduate studies at the London School of Economics) to fine-tune my abilities to combine the technical with the economic when preaching the sustainable development gospel. <br />
<br />
Other, more salient reasons include my upcoming wedding (who knew planning it could be as involved as it's been? Thank God for my bride) and almost as importantly, the recent completion (sans some editing) of my book, which is a story of everyday life in Nigeria circa 1990s. More information on that will be forthcoming.<br />
<br />
I will endeavor to post more to the blog, but these will focus more on economics and development-themed issues.Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-49259694195494017402012-06-01T16:15:00.000-04:002012-06-01T16:30:29.148-04:00Season of Change?It's that time of the year - in temperate, northern hemisphere countries anyway - when the snow has melted and even the cool spring mornings are getting to be a thing of the past as we herald the start of the 'fun' season known as summer. In the tropics, the heavy rains and attendant clean fresh air have swept in (along with the attendant flooding if you happen to live in a place where the government is more interested in lining its pockets than shoring up drainage systems). Quite literally, change is in the air.<br />
<br />
For students and alumni of the University of Lagos, Nigeria, this change came about in a more shocking way when they woke up on May 29th to find out that their dear <em>alma mater</em> had been renamed Moshood Abiola University. <br />
<a name='more'></a>Public opinion in Nigeria has been split, with many accusing the government of renaming the university, <em>unconstitutionally</em> they righteously add, as a way of currying favour from the South-West of the country ahead of the 2015 elections. These folks forget that the region, with the exception of one state, voted wholesale for the President (aided by the rigging machinery of both the PDP <em>and</em> ACN) during the last general elections. Others are against the move because they feel that it does not do enough to honor the name of Moshood Abiola, especially since the government is yet to acknowledge his win in the aborted 1993 elections. If we are to believe Mr. Abiola's daughter's twitter spiel, the government are "bastards who stole her father's mandate." Of course, Ms. Abiola and her ilk conveniently forget that this current regime - incompetent, corrupt and wretched though it may be - had nothing to do with her father's 'stolen' mandate. History also recalls that Mr. Abiola spent most of the years before his election 'win' financing coups and hobnobbing with the very same military who ended up stabbing him (almost literally) in the back. Maybe if he was a real democrat, rather than one who simply fought for his all-consuming desire to rule Nigeria, this corner would have more sympathy for him...<br />
Most of the protesters are upset, though, because they feel that the 'good name' of UNILAG has been "tainted" and as a result, they have taken to the streets to protest the sullying of the great name of their school.<br />
Yes, you read that right. Tainted. <br />
The same school where tenured Professors routinely coerce female students to sleep with them in exchange for good grades, where they receive cash and car bribes from male students in exchange for First Class or Second Class (Upper)-quality marks; where most computer labs belong to the 1990s and where natural and physical science labs lack both proper equipment and competent lab personnel. Dare we even talk about the libraries, where the term "under-stocked" would be credit to the quality of their stacks? A school whose graduate doctors are forced to retake at least 2 years of medical studies if they decide to seek greener pastures in G8 countries because their degree is considered lowly? <br />
Have the students carried out mass protests on the scale Nigerians saw this week over any of the aforementioned issues? No. Can neutral observers take their desire for 'justice' seriously? No.<br />
<br />
Once again, the priorities of the Nation - both the leadership and the led - have been called into question. Just like in January when the fuel subsidy issue (rather than corruption, insecurity and tribal intolerance) drove the protests and led to its untimely demise when a compromise was reached. <br />
Corruption is rampant at all levels of government, infrastructure development continues to lag most of the African continent despite the fact that the country's GDP is second only to South Africa and to compound matters, there is no credible opposition that can bring the country together with charisma, competence and a strong will to do the right thing.<br />
<br />
So yes, a season of change, but in the sleeping giant of Africa, so much remains the same.Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-69063292164389126912012-03-30T16:34:00.000-04:002012-04-26T15:43:00.261-04:00The Bahamas - a model for African DemocraciesOne of the common misconceptions about the stagnant development of African countries (and here I'm separating socio-economic and political development from raw economic growth) is that they were set up for failure by colonial powers, be it the United Kingdom, France, Spain or Portugal. The argument is that the systems, institutions and laws/policies put into place have somehow 'handicapped' African countries and prevented them from progressing in 'their own way'. We hear about the 'Nigerian' or 'Ghanaian' or 'Ugandan' way of doing something, as if those countries existed in their present forms before colonization!<br />
Of course, these are merely excuses for poor fiscal management, ridiculously high levels of corruption and lack of infrastructure development, primarily around education, healthcare, transportation networks, security and energy (electrical power, in particular).<br />
<br />
Recently I decided to visit the Bahamas, a trip influenced by the fact that my fiancee is from there. She had talked up the Bahamas before our visit, and I knew a lot about the history of the country, including its reputation as the 'Luxembourg' of the Caribbean (assuming the Cayman Islands is the 'Switzerland', and Turks & Caicos the 'Liechtenstein'). My historical knowledge and personal ties to the Bahamas could not prepare me for the level of development (again, not just economic!) that I witnessed. The road networks were fantastic, power was as regular as anywhere else in the developed world, the hospitals and schools looked to be top-notch; and the roads were well maintained. In its makeup, is the Bahamas really that different from any African country? <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Not really.<br />
<br />
The Bahamas gained independence in the early 1970s, very similar to most African countries (1960s-1970s), so we can't argue that they haven't had enough time to run down their infrastructure. <br />
Of course, there's still a healthy expatriate population (at least 10%), but that's equally the case in other less developed Caribbean countries. <br />
So why are things different? A lesson that we learned as children and as students is one that the Bahamas has put into living practice. <br />
Be the best at what you can be.<br />
The Bahamian economy is built around the simple but potent twin pillars of finance and tourism. These are practically renewable resources in the sense that as long as they are maintained, they should serve the citizens for several generations. The industries naturally lend themselves to the maintenance of quality infrastructure as well as a stable political arena. <br />
<br />
African countries on the other hand, have placed their faith in diminishing resources. Resources that encourage greed, aggrandisement and the concept of 'dealing'; leading to the situation where most visiting foreigners turn up their noses at the country in question and openly declare that their sole purpose for being there is to 'make money'.<br />
Countries that used to be considered agricultural Edens are now among the largest importers of basic foodstuff. <br />
Countries with several thousand kilometers of prime oceanfront territory - more than that of most Caribbean countries put together - cannot boast of a single resort or five-star tourist attraction. <br />
Countries with a rich cultural heritage, and some of the most stunning attractions in the world, have let those attractions fall to ruin or be obscured by urban sprawl and unchecked erosion.<br />
Countries with abundant sunshine, healthy winds and natural lakes are bogged down by dependence on fossil fuels and precious firewood for power.<br />
<br />
The time for African countries to reduce their dependence on mineral resources and start developing their institutions and economic pillars is now. Pillars that will stand the test of time and engender pride of citizenship and the collective will to sustain them. This paradigm shift holds the key to lasting economic growth and well developed socio-political institutions.<br />
If the tiny islands of The Bahamas can do it, Africa has no excuse.Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-63370451866881250732012-03-02T13:53:00.006-05:002012-03-02T16:39:18.161-05:00The Confounding Legacy of an African Freedom FighterNelson Mandela.<br />
Robert Mugabe.<br />
Emeka Ojukwu. <br />
<br />
All freedom fighters. Men who are revered by their followers. Men who at their peak were hated but importantly, respected by their enemies. Men who impacted their countries and indeed, the world. What is their legacy?<br />
<br />
<strong>Nelson Mandela</strong> had to be hospitalized last week and was treated to a hero's welcome upon his return home. The eulogies that have poured in for him - even in life - exceed those of several statesmen who have passed on. You can imagine that his death, whenever that is, will be mourned globally. Yet this is a man who at the height of his freedom fighting was plotting to blow up installations and destroy the country's economy in a bid to end apartheid. Today, he is a statesman and global legend almost without compere.<br />
<br />
<strong>Robert Mugabe</strong> was probably regarded as the finest freedom fighter since Che Guevara. A charismatic man who could whip up the fervor of any crowd, he went through several personal deprivations in order to ensure that Zimbabwe was free from the shackles of Ian Smith's Rhodesia and was globally regarded when he accomplished this (except in the UK, perhaps). Yet it didn't take long for him to slip down the slope of extra-judicial killings, corruption and nepotism. Today, Mugabe has lost his entire store of goodwill in the international community. His death, whenever it comes, will likely be greeted with more cheers than tears. <br />
<br />
The legacies of these two are pretty clear-cut. The third man on my list - Emeka Ojukwu - confounds and confounds totally.<br />
<br />
<strong>Emeka Ojukwu</strong> was buried in Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria, today. An Oxford-educated, silver-tongued orator and Army officer who led the breakaway Republic of Biafra when it seceded from Nigeria in 1967 until its collapse in 1970, Ojukwu and his legacy is a topic that has provoked many a heated discussion in Nigeria from then till now. <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Even an avid historian like myself cannot claim to know what went on behind the scenes in that turbulent period of Nigeria's history, and I suspect many of the protagonists on both sides have left out details either in the interest of the country or - more likely - to preserve their personal interest. Despite this, we know enough to aver that Ojukwu, more than anyone else in Nigeria, did a lot to prevent the massacres of Igbos and other Eastern minorities outside the Eastern region during tribal-inspired riots in 1966. He also ensured safe passage back to the North for many Northerners who feared reprisal attacks. <br />
His cross-border discussions with the likes of the Emir of Kano (his personal friend) and Obafemi Awolowo also demonstrated his desire to have a unified Nigeria. Anyone who argues these points doesn't know their history or has a bias against the man. <br />
<br />
That being said, for leading the East into a war the region could ill-afford, for his non-inclusion of the polity in decision making and for his exclusion (and persecution) of those in the military and public service who advised caution and diplomacy, Ojukwu demonstrated poor leadership traits. His capitulation and flight to the Ivory Coast was in my opinion his best wartime decision because it saved lives at the end of the war. However, some would argue that a leader who was willing to sacrifice that many lives <em>during the war</em> should have been convinced enough of his beliefs to stick around for the final push, <em>a la</em> Robert E. Lee in the U.S. Civil War. Combined with his reappearance in Nigerian party politics upon his return from exile, at a time when Igbos were politically marginalized, it's easy to see why his motivations and ambitions are questioned. <br />
<br />
In death he has been celebrated as a colossus of his times by intellectuals, political leaders and foreign leaders. Others have castigated him. These encomiums and denouncements have spanned the religious, tribal and economic spheres; tribute to a man who despite his enormous wealth became a military officer. Who despite his pan-nationalist outlook and deep personal ties to other regions of the country led a breakaway republic. Who despite his strong Catholic beliefs was best friends with Ado Bayero, the Emir of Kano (and technically the deputy spiritual head of Nigerian Muslims).<br />
<br />
Three men. Three countries. Three just causes. Three vastly different impacts. Three legacies.<br />
<br />
Above all, these men have shown us that it is not enough to have good intentions or even a just cause. Ultimately, the hand of followership has to be extended across hatred divides. Ultimately, in leadership we cannot make the same mistakes as those we replaced. <br />
Nelson Mandela followed these two tenets and is considered a hero.<br />
Robert Mugabe followed neither and is considered a villain.<br />
Emeka Ojukwu followed the first but not the second. Hero or villain? Your choice.<br />
This Nigerian nationalist who led a secessionist movement continues to confound and refuses to be defined, even in death.Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-13999045610350922542012-02-03T14:09:00.002-05:002012-02-03T14:12:47.368-05:00Unity without Understanding - A Logical Fallacy<u>PREAMBLE</u><br />
Those who follow my writings and comments on twitter, Sahara Reporters and this blog are well aware of my mantra: "<em>Nigeria, nay Africa, cannot progress without holding a National Conference</em>". <br />
<br />
Some have been upset by my insistence on this point, in particular those who envision a conference where different groups complain and drag up shameful aspects from the past that vested interests would rather see silenced. <br />
Others who are focused on their personal "unity" and "power to the people" projects may - understandably -be concerned that the reopening of old wounds and the potential realignment of 'progressive' forces along tribal-religious fault lines may spell doom for their 'vision'.<br />
Regardless of the reason for avoiding the debate, opponents of independent African nations holding sovereign national conferences are proving to be as blind to the real issues that plague the continent as the leaders they take joy in castigating, reprimanding and upbraiding.<br />
<br />
I will use Nigeria - as I often do - as my case study here, but the lessons and suggestions are equally applicable to any African country that has not had a citizen body gather to answer the age-old question that has bothered many a nation - <em>Quo Vadis</em> (Where Do We Go)?<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<u>PURPOSE</u><br />
Ultimately, such a conference would identify and propose implementable solutions to national issues starting with the question: "what does it mean to be Nigerian"? <br />
In answering this question and addressing the issues that divide us, we will be better able to understand our brothers and sisters from various tribes and religions. <br />
So which issues facing Nigeria would be solved by a National Conference - assuming its recommendations are signed into law?<br />
The answer is "all of them". <br />
Seriously.<br />
<br />
Let us examine the main issues that would be addressed by this potential conference:<br />
<br />
<u>ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED</u><br />
<strong>Fears of marginalization/domination.</strong> This fear led to the counter-coup of 1966, as well as the ongoing security concerns in the Niger Delta and North, <em>inter alia</em>.<br />
<br />
<strong>Federal Character/Quotas.</strong> This is also known as the <strong><em>lack of</em></strong> <strong><em>meritocracy</em></strong> and has caused a decline in the quality of education, healthcare and industry in the country. <br />
<br />
<strong>Structural Defects in the</strong> <strong>Federation.</strong> Whether you are pro-unitary or pro-confederacy or pro-federacy, I think we can all agree that the existing mishmash of unitarism and federalism does not work.<br />
<br />
<strong>Nature of Government.</strong> Do we want an executive that rules by fiat (a bastardization of the American system it was supposedly modeled after) as exists today or a governing parliament whose membership accurately reflects the diversity of the country and which can be recalled for non-performance?<br />
<br />
<strong>Injustice.</strong> The civil war discussion has never been fully had, including allegations of genocide, forced starvation and illegal acquisition of properties; Ogoniland and much of the Niger Delta is an environmental nightmare while leaders feed fat; Boko Haram and the lack of opportunities for Nigerian youth and the list goes on.<br />
<br />
"Wait a second", you may be saying. "What about all the constitutional conferences and how was Nigeria formed anyway if we never sat down at a table?"<br />
We didn't.<br />
<br />
Let us examine history.<br />
<br />
<u>HISTORY OF NATIONAL GATHERINGS</u><br />
<strong>Pre-Berlin Conference.</strong> Until the Berlin Conference of 1884-85, there had been no concept of nations outside of the tribes that existed in the area known as Nigeria today. For that matter, this pattern was repeated throughout the African continent. Ergo, the concept of 'Nigeria' would have been non sequitur. <br />
<br />
<strong>Post-Berlin Conference.</strong> After the Berlin Conference when the British 'right' to the area now known as 'Nigeria' was recognized, the Royal Niger Company was formed. It was in fact this consortium that spent the next sixteen years identifying the tribes and territories to be amalgamated into what became the Southern and Northern protectorates of Nigeria. Again, no one consulted the Igbo woman or the Hausa man or the Tiv woman.<br />
<br />
<strong>Amalgamation.</strong> This much-maligned event took place in 1914, not because the Yoruba man said he didn't like the idea of requiring a passport to visit his Fulani bride. No, it happened because the two protectorates were proving difficult to govern separately from an economic standpoint. Again, no one consulted the local population.<br />
<br />
<strong>Colonial Conferences.</strong> The value of these conferences is hard to gauge. The nationalist leaders, for all their intellect and patriotism, were not necessarily concerned with the details of citizenship and governance. They just wanted the yoke of British rule removed. Warning signs of future conflicts based on utterances by certain party leaders were missed by many in their haste to be independent. After all, it is on record that the north would not have wanted a union with the south if they were an economically viable entity (Governor-General's Report, 1958).<br />
<br />
<strong>Post-Colonial Constitutional Conferences.</strong> All of these were convened by the military regimes in power who appointed mostly self-seeking political and economic jobbers to the conference. The result was a series of incoherent and bland documents, one of which we still unashamedly call a 'constitution' today. <br />
<br />
<em>I should note that only the Aburi Conference in 1967, constituted by young military officers, comes close to being called a 'national conference'. If a hastily convened - by men who knew nothing of governing - conference at the height of the nation's division can have such a profound impact nearly 50 years later, how much more one today in this age of social/citizen media!</em><br />
<br />
<em>Ergo</em>, we can conclude that there has been NO independent gathering of Nigerians in a democratic setting to sit down and outline their differences, unifiers and chart a clear path forward.<br />
<br />
<u>THE CONFERENCE</u><br />
I won't go into what I think the composition of the conference should be - those are details that an independent planning committee, made of a combination of unions, political parties and professional groups will determine. Suffice to say that for this conference to be successful it is important that all sessions are open-door with both local and foreign observers given full access to the proceedings. In addition, the resolutions of the conference should be subject to a referendum which every Nigerian will be able to vote in. The plan, if approved, should be passed into law and incorporated into the constitution as ammendments. <br />
<br />
If people want to gripe, moan and complain, let them. It is part of the healing process. Once everyone has done that, tackling the issues raised earlier can then be approached with an aware, understanding mind by everyone in the room and will be easier because there will be no pussyfooting or dancing around sensitive issues.<br />
Such an open, independent approach to nation building will do more for Nigeria's future growth than any "let's oust the present corrupt government in exchange for another one which may be just as bad" project. Nigeria needs invasive surgery, not a facelift, as much as some of us may want to hasten the process and get to the utopic future of our dreams as soon as possible.<br />
<br />
<u>CONCLUSION</u><br />
Early in the last decade, the late Beko Ransome-Kuti said "<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">without a Sovereign National Conference, the future of Nigeria remains threatened and monumental pitfalls await the country."</span><br />
Events of the last 12 years have proved Dr. Kuti right. Right now, our future is threatened and we have evidence of the monumental pitfalls that await us if we proceed along the path we are on. <br />
There can be no real unity without understanding the reasons for the disunity, and there exists no better way to identify and propose the solutions required to heal our ailing continent than the individuals of these countries voicing their fears, concerns and hopes through a gathering that pays no heed to tribe, gender or social stature.<br />
Only a sovereign national conference provides this avenue. In agitating, let that be our cry. A joint cry as an oppressed people. A cry for our voices to be heard.Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-43011932460088905392012-01-22T11:05:00.000-05:002012-01-22T11:05:17.841-05:00Of Africa and LeadershipI started this blog post with no discernible topic in mind, but with an end goal formulating somewhere in my cerebral complex. Let's take stock of some of the happenings over the last week in the political landscape of the African continent:<div>- The Ethiopian Prime Minister is stealing land from Ethiopian farmers (at least we could quasi-sympathize with Mugabe in Zimbabwe for taking land from white owners). This one? Not so much...<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script></div><div><br />
</div><div>- The Nigerian President's impotency shows no signs of letting up. It's doubtful that even Cialis will be able to revive this man's flagging fortunes.</div><div><br />
</div><div>- The #OccupyNigeria movement cascaded into a series of pointed fingers, 'betrayals' by certain elements in the Save Nigeria group as well as organized labor (although we expected this, we still expressed our righteous rage). </div><div><br />
</div><div> - Democratic Republic of Congo's Joseph Kabila is using his security forces to tackle opposition to his self-declared 'victory' in November's elections.</div><div><br />
</div><div>What is it with Africa and her leaders?</div><div><a name='more'></a></div><div>Will a time ever come when Africans will elect and be led by men and women of integrity, honesty and deep gravitas? Or are we to be forever the problem child of the world, stuttering from one crisis to another; constantly looking at the world with the big-eyed, 'help me' visage that those of us in West see in the all the aid agency TV ads?</div><div>How is it that the United States, once a bastion of racial intolerance (and still with many pockets of such), can elect an African-American as President while Africans continually look at the tribe and accent of the person who is interviewing for a simple secretarial position, not to mention for any position that exerts influence and authority?</div><div><br />
</div><div>Joseph de Maistre once said "every country deserves the government it elects". If we are to assume that this statement holds true, and I believe it does, what does it mean in the grand scheme of things?</div><div>It means that the acts committed by our leaders on a grand scale - and sometimes in full view of the world - are simply magnifications of the ones we carry out in our day to day lives. If we show preference to someone because they come from our part of the country, or were educated at the same schools we were, or are friends of the family - or for any other tie that binds - why should we expect our leaders to not appoint their friends and cronies into positions of trust? Certainly, if I wanted to rig elections and salt away the nation's resources for my benefit, am I not likely to appoint my friends?</div><div><br />
</div><div>For our leaders to change, we have to change. We have to change the way we view those whose views are different from ours and we have to seek the common good, not our own personal agendas. Using the #OccupyNigeria protests as an example, many acts of looting and violence were carried out in the name of "seeking justice". Many politicians and former technocrats who were part of failed administrations used it as a chance to score political points and push personal agendas. In all this brouhaha, is it any surprise that the movement failed to gain the critical mass required for it to become self-sustaining a la those of Egypt and Tunisia.</div><div><br />
</div><div>And what if our leaders are not representative of us?</div><div><br />
</div><div>Then the answer lies in choosing who we want to be our leaders. Not selecting from a godfather-approved list of self-serving vagabonds, but actually choosing the people we want to push onto those lists. It starts at the local government/municipal level. If there is someone who is dedicated to the community, who is selfless and who has accomplished much with little, we should be approaching them and telling them that their candidacy is of importance to the local government. This should be translated to the state and federal levels for both the executive and legislative arms of government. </div><div><br />
</div><div>There is a classic African example of this. When Nelson Mandela came out of prison, the people of South Africa approached him to become President. He was a successful one, especially in uniting a fractured country. When the ANC imposed Jacob Zuma as their candidate, sure he was elected, but how has he fared? South Africa today is more fractured it was in 1996. There's something about being the peoples' choice - invariably you reflect their will, whatever that will is.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Regardless of how one views the leadership in Africa today, it's clear that it requires a major overhaul. Moving this leadership to the 21st century requires paradigm shifts for us as individuals and the way we view those of differing faiths and tribes. It also requires proactivity in going after those we know are proven difference-makers and ensuring that our choices - not selections - are made in general elections. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The choice is ours.</div><div><br />
</div>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-66464037909860676242012-01-13T11:50:00.002-05:002012-01-13T12:32:10.598-05:00Boko Haram - A Threat to Occupying AfricaIn my post last week, I hinted at the ethno-religious faultline that threatens the total permeation of the #OccupyNigeria movement in the minds of the Nigerian polity. Some have asked me to expand on that idea, while others have forced my hand with their total avoidance of the issue. I'm interested in expantiating further in order to explain why #OccupyNigeria faces greater risks to its success than similar demonstrations in Egypt, Tunisia and Bahrain; countries which have more homogenous populations. The lessons learned from #OccupyNigeria - whether it succeeds or fails - will be important for the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, where tribal and religious faults and the perceptions that come with those go hand in hand with politics. Kenya, South Africa and Uganda are some countries to watch on this front.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
If there's one thing we learn growing up as children, it is that hiding that broken lamp or chipped china can only delay its eventual discovery by your parents and your subsequent punishment. As great as it would be to sweep dividing issues under the carpet and pretend they don't exist, every so often the carpet edge will be lifted and the dust laid bare for all to see.<br />
<br />
Boko Haram has made a show since 2009 of targeting security installations and security personnel. Most Nigerians were unaffected by these random attacks which did not display any coherence in pattern or targets. Recently however, their attacks have been focused on a combination of Christian or Southern Nigerian targets in the north. The turn of these attacks towards the sectarian has attracted the attention and concern of everyone, understandable given Nigeria's history with civil war, ethnic conflicts and the causes thereof. <br />
<br />
In particular, the questions being asked are - are the attacks political but designed to create tribal-religious tensions or are they religious to the full extent of Boko Haram's stated objectives of eliminating Western influences, including Christianity? Who is behind them if they are political? If they are religious, what does that say about the tolerance of Nigerians for different religions, creeds and tribes?<br />
<br />
While politicians dance around the Boko Haram issue and the intellectuals and 'progressives' in social media close ranks to prevent any discussion of these senstive issues, the truth is that South-Easterners and South-Southerners cannot continue to bear the brunt of any flare-up in the north, attacked whenever the passions and ire of some northern youth are stoked by selfish leaders intent on causing destabilization in the country. This identity and security issue could explain the "fence" position of Ohaneze in the recent mass protest and the overt support for the government by South-southerners, even those who oppose him on matters of policy. Their positions are not defensible, considering the ineptitude of Mr. Jonathan's government, but how do we bring the masses of these two geo-political zones into the #OccupyNigeria fold? <br />
<br />
The intellectuals may not want to address the root causes of the Boko Haram concern, lest they annoy the valiant northern youths who have so far been one of the two major prongs of the #OccupyNigeria movement (the other prong being the Lagos-based twitterati) but the fact that not all Nigerians are safe in every part of Nigeria is a concern. I believe however, that northern youths who are desirous of genuine change want to eliminate Boko Haram as much any other Nigerian, so why not address the pink elephant in the room and be forever rid of it?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
<br />
Until #OccupyNigeria brings the Boko Haram (and general security) debate to the table, it will be seen by those who have been attacked and told to keep quiet out of national unity as a movement which is "anti-government of the day" as opposed to a movement which is "pro-Nigerians". The differences between those two images are subtle but powerful. It is the difference between a nationwide movement and a movement whose biggest winners are opposition figures (some of dubious reputation) rather than the Nigerian people. <br />
<br />
The rest of Africa is watching and waiting.<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script> </span>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-8487594144770168362012-01-06T14:07:00.000-05:002012-01-06T14:07:04.233-05:00#OccupyNigeria. Then What?This week, Nigerians started doing something they haven't done in several years. <br />
They started pushing back.<br />
This push-back is primarily against a government and a political umbrella (the word "party" or "ideology" does not factor into this monolith's modus operandi) - the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - which has dominated the political landscape of the Fourth Republic. On a lesser scale, it is also against the political leadership of Nigeria, highlighted by the financial black hole otherwise known as the National Assembly.<br />
<br />
That it took this long to happen is not surprising. Recently, Nigerians have proven to be politically passive until government policies hit their pocketbooks. We can live with fraudulent elections, government corruption and the rape of justice; but make sure food and fuel prices stay the same! Ergo, the removal of the fuel subsidy - a move that makes perfect sense on paper but none whatsoever to a citizen living on $2 a day - was the perfect catalyst for such action. <br />
Not since the annulment of the 1993 elections has there been such a concerted wave of uprisings and civil mass action; welcome development for a country that was beginning to look like its citizens were completely apathetic and willing to roll over for tyrants to trample on in the hopes of being able to "chop one day".<br />
<br />
In the midst of this upheaval and social media-driven activism, there are some troubling developments as well as questions that need answering. These include the silence of the nation's religious leaders, the two-faced approach of organized labor and the geopolitical polarization/stratification of the mass action. Until these imbalances are reversed, the #OccupyNigeria movement will not gain the traction it requires to work.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Some might wonder why I have not included the silence of the legislature and the judiciary as causes for concern. However, those with any knowledge of the political landscape in Nigeria know that these two organs, supposedly intended to provide checks and balances for the executive arm of government, are merely appendages of a leprous body. In a country where over 75% of the citizenry live on less than $2 a day, legislators pocket an average of $1.2m a year in salary and allowances. The judiciary is corrupt, with revered justices competing to be the latest lapdog and "endorser" of whichever corrupt and fraudulently elected government is in power. The silence of these lambs is to be expected - why should they "pour sand in their garri" or "kill the goose that lays their golden eggs"? <br />
<br />
So let us ignore the three arms of government who have sold themselves for thirty pieces of silver - or millions of dollars a year, whichever suits your fancy.<br />
<br />
Where are the religious leaders?<br />
<br />
In a country - one of the few remaining in the world - where over 90% of the population still believe in God and belong to organized religion, why aren't the pastors, priests and imams speaking out against the removal of the fuel subsidy? Why aren't they speaking out against the treachery and tyranny of an imposed government (let's call a spade a spade - the April elections were farcical) which is causing untold hardships to millions of their flock? Why haven't they used their important positions as spiritual leaders to drive the people to action, as was done in Egypt and other countries where true revolution was achieved ?<br />
<br />
The answers are sad, but simple. In Nigeria, most religious leaders are all about themselves and not their congregation. We have pastors with several private jets, homes in Dubai and the French Riviera, for-profit schools and universities; and luxury cars. We have imams who collect money from politicians to get the youth vote in their favor, but who don't question the same politicians and call them to order when their corrupt practicies drive the people deeper into poverty.<br />
<br />
In the famous words of M.I, "God will indict", but people need to start speaking out against these mostly self-appointed religious leaders. They too, should be occupied.<br />
<br />
Where is organized labor?<br />
<br />
The NLC, since its days as a useful tool in the hands of autocratic military regimes, has graduated to bigger and better things. Despite the fact that representatives of most labor unions sit on the board of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), none of these supposed representatives of the common worker had the sense to mobilize citizens en masse and have them ready for civil action the same day the subsidy was removed, or to sound the alarm if - as I'm sure they'll claim - they were squeezed out of the decision-making/implementation process. Since then, they've been speaking from both sides of their mouth - vowing to resist the changes, but then having some of their sub-union (like the road transport union) leaders voicing support for subsidy removal. Coupled with the lack of coherence in their response and the rumors of secret meetings with no post-press conferences, it is obvious that money has either changed hands or is in the process of changing hands. Who shall occupy them?<br />
<br />
Where are the South-East and South-South? <br />
<br />
This is not an ethnic discussion - although that topic bears watching as well - but rather a geopolitical one, after all there are Igbos, Ijaws, Efiks, Ibibios, Itsekiris and Urhobos participating in the 'movement' outside the South-East/South. With the exception of Benin, which is practically in the South-West, there is not one South-East or South-South city that has demonstrated a high level of tolerance for the restoration of the subsidy. Certainly not any that can be measured in the number of people hitting the streets. <br />
<br />
Is it that they don't care? <br />
<br />
I don't think so. <br />
<br />
It boils down to education, awareness and opportunity. While it has been relatively easy for the twitterati of Lagos to mobilize as far north as Ibadan and Ilorin, or the folks in Kaduna and Abuja to engage the north; the same cannot be said of many in the South-East and South-South. These areas, despite possessing some of the highest levels of education in the country, also lay claim to being among the most politically apathetic. <br />
<br />
What is the solution?<br />
<br />
Just as has been done in other parts of the country, the enlightened twitterati and activists need to visit these parts of the country to sensitize them. Even in places like Ibadan and Kano, the average citizen who joined a protest may not have understood the basis for the protest but was mobilized because someone came there, spoke and energized. For the struggle to be far-reaching and impactful, this same proliferation has to extend to the South-East and South-South. They must occupy as well.<br />
<br />
Ultimately, the general polity still suffers from lack of education about the subsidy issue, as well as the need for people to stand up to the government when it fails to fulfil its roles. Where religious and organized labor leaders have failed, we the people cannot. This means extending hands of fellowship across the entire country and relying not only on those with an ethno-religious ax to grind with the President, or those who are knowledgeable enough about his government's misdeeds, but even on those who - knowingly or unknowingly - allowed their votes to count for him or who don't care about government. Only then can the real fruits of this movement - national unity, true democracy and transparent governance - be achieved.Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-76598306852132841792011-12-30T11:56:00.002-05:002011-12-30T11:58:50.268-05:00Reading for the Nigerian ProgressiveI recently mentioned an interest in getting more Nigerians to read books detailing the history of the nation in a bid to help them understand the hidden and not-so-hidden issues that continue to stifle growth in the country. A couple of people responded with requests for books that I would recommend, hence this blog. <br />
It is my belief that only in understanding our past - the good, the bad and the ugly - can we develop the lessons learned required to improve our present and secure our future. Unfortunately, our present leaders don't read or read without understanding. If this were not the case, we would not have rigged elections, a flawed judiciary, a comatose legislature and an impotent executive arm of government. <br />
This incompetence in government is highlighted by short memories in the polity, and that complex African tendency to "respect" those who lead us. Let us step away from these mental shackles and start using our intellect to challenge those who have failed to earn the right to rule.<br />
<br />
Others may have their own favorites, but I hope these 5 book selections juggle memories and re-awaken the fires of nationalism and progression that lie dormant in the hearts of many a Nigerian.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Here goes, in increasing order of relevance to me:<br />
<br />
5. <strong>My Command</strong> by Olusegun Obasanjo. <br />
<br />
Those who know me are aware of my latent dislike of General Obasanjo - mostly for gross corruption and lack of accountability while President of Nigeria - then again, there are not too many present and former leaders of Nigeria that I hold in high esteem.<br />
That being said, this work is notable and commendable. Obasanjo, or his ghost writer, does a fantastic job of weaving together the tapestry of the post-Ironsi Nigerian military during the civil war and how it evolved in the space of a few short months into the most fearsome army in Africa (and quite possibly one of the most equipped in the world). This evolution was propelled by both the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom, strange bedfellows no doubt, demonstrating the lengths to which the world was willing to go to keep Nigeria - the hope of Africa, apparently - indivisible. <br />
Military and civil war buffs will also enjoy the tales of battle and the subtle power plays that ensued behind the scenes; details that cannot be found elsewhere. All in all, a light and interesting read.<br />
<br />
4. <strong>Oily Waters</strong> by Ikechi P. Ihejirika.<br />
Okay, so I'm a little biased in this one seeing as my father wrote the book. This bias is founded in sincerity and merit, however. As someone who was an insider in Nigeria's oil/gas industry and a pioneer staff and leader in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Ihejirika was well-positioned to witness the power play between oil, national development and politics. His fictional account in this book traces the history of Nigeria from its discovery by Portugese missionary-cum-explorers in the 16th century to the issues that wracked the nation in its nascent years and beyond, in particular machinations by foreign powers greedy for Nigerian oil and their use of certain military and political elites to achieve their objectives. The prose is crisp, and the main character is one that many Nigerians will identify with. <br />
A worthy read for those lovers of consipiracy theories and those with interest in the often murky oily waters of Nigeria who may find out that there is some truth to the myths they grew up with!<br />
<br />
3. <strong>Why We Struck</strong> by Adewale Ademoyega.<br />
The classic story of how and why the first military coup occurred and partially failed. There are many consipiracy theories that surround this coup, including allegations of ethnic bias and selective killings. This book goes beyond mere appearances and explains - in frighteningly lucid detail - the real reasons for the coup. An unabashed socialist/communist to the very end, parts of Major Ademoyega's story tend to get very ideological as he delves into his socialist solutions for Nigeria. While some find these aspects tedious, I found them refreshing. I don't know how many of our current government figures, not to mention social activists and military figures have the intellectual depth that was displayed by the highly astute - and detribalized - trio of Majors Nzeogwu, Ifeajuna and Ademoyega.<br />
A must read for people who seek the truth in strange places and for anyone who has any level of interest in immediate-post-independence Nigeria.<br />
<br />
2. <strong>A History of Nigeria</strong> by Toyin Falola<br />
A true historical account of Nigeria by a leading historian, going back to 9000 BC. Mr. Falola examines Nigeria's pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial pasts with a fluid narrative that makes one feel that they are traveling through the ages, rather than the pages. Like Oily Waters, the book traces the global situations that have shaped - for better or worse - the geographic expression called Nigeria. In a way, one finishes reading his book and wonders how Nigeria can still exist. With the tribal, religious and political differences between the various peoples and groups of Nigeria, it is a minor miracle that the country stands - hope certainly for those who believe that there is greatness yet to be manifested by the Giant of Africa.<br />
<br />
1. <strong>Nigeria: Oil, Politics and Violence</strong> by Max Siollun<br />
In my opinion, this is simply the best narrative of Nigeria between 1960 and 1979. Tracing the genesis of the ethnic and political upheavals the young Nigerian nation faced in the 1960s and ending with the emergence of the second republic, Mr. Siollun presents a very balanced narrative of major incidents in the polity. The political landscape, the young military, the western region crises, the first coup, the counter-coup, Gowon's government and the assassination of Murtala Mohammed are presented with ease and familiarity. Primarily a narrative of the military that would come to rule Nigeria for the majority of its independent years, the book is as unbiased a narrative as can be found. Mr. Siollun has no sacred cows and no taboo topics. <br />
A book about Nigeria for Nigerians by a devoted Nigerian historian.<br />
<br />
All these books can be found online on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Happy reading!<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-10083352458567134442011-10-24T12:56:00.002-04:002011-10-24T19:29:54.848-04:00Doing Business in NigeriaI was going to title the blog "doing business in Africa" till I recognized the fact that doing business in Nigeria is quite different from most other places on the continent, and for the wrong reasons.<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script><br />
<div><br />
</div><div>We could discourse ad nauseum about the power situation, transportation network, security (or lack thereof) and the big grandaddy of all - corruption - but these are all common knowledge. Which begs the question - if we all know these are the problems, why aren't we doing anything about it? Why do we keep electing nincompoops to run the affairs of state? Why aren't our youth taking over the streets the way everyone else in the world is (for good or for ill)? </div><div><br />
</div><div>Of course, there are many entrepreneurs on the Nigerian scene - and some who are quite successful (I know a few personally) - but even they agree that a guarantee of the basic necessities would make their lives and businesses a lot smoother. It's truly a sad state of affairs when the government cannot deliver on its basic responsibilities.</div><div><a name='more'></a></div><div>I was fortunate to meet with one of the Trade Commissioners at the Canadian Deputy High Commission this morning. Trade Commissioners are empowered by the Canadian government to "make the way smooth", as it were, for Canadian companies looking to do business with the host country. Sylvia is a lovely lady and took the time to answer my questions - with healthy doses of both optimism and pessimism.</div><div>Normally, people of Nigerian origin are immune to negative comments about Nigeria from people outside the country (whether Nigerian or not). The general excuse is "well, you don't live there so you don't know what it's like". </div><div>Haha.</div><div>Try listening to a Canadian - we are do-gooders by nature - talk about the ills of the country. And she knows what she's talking about, having lived here for several years! It was an eye opener, and sad in the extreme, even for someone like me who is fairly critical of Nigeria.</div><div>After gently steering me away from any ideas I may have had about working with the government, Sylvia was quite helpful in providing me with potential pathways and people who may prove useful. It was quite a fruitful discussion and will help focus my efforts in areas where there is both a need and some level of support.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So how does one improve the environment and communities in it - and make a few bucks doing so - if the government is not a key stakeholder? This is the problem with doing business in Nigeria. The more removed a is from the government (or the less they have to regulate what you do), the easier it is to succeed. No wonder our infrastructure development is worthy of the twitter hashtag #epicfail.</div><div>This is a concern I have to overcome or else find another receptive African environment. The idea is great...the environment needs to catch up.</div>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-82001429721459471882011-10-21T04:14:00.002-04:002011-10-21T04:14:55.870-04:00Turning Words into ActionAs I write this quick blog (after a lengthy absence, although I've contributed articles to various media - Sahara Reporters and Think Africa Press - in that time), I'm on my way to Nigeria for what I am calling a "feasibility assessment". I've written a lot about the ills on the African continent, using Nigeria as a bit of a placeholder for all those issues. In my last few posts, I started talking about doing something. I have no idea where this trip will lead, but I'm keeping an open mind as I explore the terrain, seek out fertile ground and hopefully plant a seed or two. A bien tot.<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-21680712636559953382011-08-10T10:07:00.005-04:002011-08-10T10:09:23.377-04:00Al Gore, Global Warming and ChristianityI read this article yesterday and found it indicative of how far Christianity (at least in the United States) is moving away from the Bible and immersing itself unnecessarily in scientific politics.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/al-gore-goes-on-bullsht-rant-over-global-warming-53622/">Al Gore's Global Warming Rant via Christian Post</a><script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script> <br />
<br />
Christians the world over - including myself - often complain about how the world gives us an unfair rap. We're laughed at for not accepting Darwinism at face value (even though there is no actual proof of his theory as I ably pointed out to my High School Biology teacher, much to her speechless consternation); for believing that there will be an end to this world (even though physical evidence supports our spiritual beliefs); for some modern variations to the Gospel where material wealth is obsessed over and seen as something to be gained on earth (even though the Bible doesn't encourage that tenet). <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Moreso than other religions, Christianity is the subject for many a late-night TV gag reel or caricature on "contemporary" shows like Family Guy and the like. So perhaps, you can understand why Christians sometimes have an in-built defense mechanism.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, however, we Christians don't make things easy for ourselves. I recently came across this article depicting Al Gore's (latest) rant on global warming and his vitriolic words towards those who don't believe that the world is in imminent danger. I have no problem with that. My issue begins from about halfway into the article breaks down the argument over climate change into a Christian versus Others debate. <br />
<br />
I understand that it is the "Christian Post" and they have to try to slant everything (do they really?), but what does the viewpoint of Christians on global warming have to do with Al Gore's rants? Surely, Al Gore wasn't ranting against Christians - he's a confessing Protestant on paper - but against scientists and special-interest groups, which are more likely corporate than religious. <br />
<br />
By bringing the argument down to religion, the paper effectively strikes a blow at its apparent position on the topic. Reducing an argument that has significant scientific weight on both sides of the debate to one that supposedly juxtaposes religion with modernity smacks of the kind of silliness that has seen liberalism in the United States turned by the right-wing media (often claiming Christian antecedents) into a haven for druggies, communists and the sexually immoral. Not remembering that there is an element of liberalism that would naturally appeal to Christians - the teachings of Christ on love for one's neighbor, on being peace-loving, on sharing with the poor. Not to mention that the right-wing features in many cases, greedy, racist and judgmental people. <br />
<br />
It's the same in the debate over global warming. Many missionaries and people of faith have seen the effect of the earth's warming on indigenous populations the world over and have led the charge for something to be done. In the same regard, many atheist sociologists/anthropologists have denounced further action, saying that the world is just balancing itself, i.e. going through another phase of evolution and change as it always has for millions of years.<br />
<br />
In their haste to crucify all progressive theories as being counter to religion, organizations like the Christian Post and the Christian Science Monitor (who I used to be a fan of) are doing more harm to Christianity than the very theories they despise. As long as they continue to present Chrisitianity as a bastion of rigid viewpoints and one-track minded individuals, Christians will continue to get a bad rap and be hindered in their efforts to present Christ's gospel to an increasingly cynical world.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-34519341815534406052011-07-04T17:05:00.007-04:002011-07-04T17:20:47.140-04:00Waiting for Africa's Fifth EstateCivil War.<br />
Uprisings.<br />
Corruption.<br />
Drought.<br />
Nepotism.<br />
Rigged Elections.<br />
Dictatorships.<br />
<br />
Sounds like the Africa of old, right? The Africa that you grew up learning about in elementary school history classes. The Africa that you were inspired to change as a teenager in a classroom where there were more students than desks/chairs for them. The Africa that as a young adult, you experienced in your daily struggle…pardon me, <em>hustle</em>…to make it.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Actually, that is the Africa of today as events over the last few years have shown. In the midst of an economic growth (estimated 5.8% in 2012 according to the African Development Bank) that is the envy of the developed world, we are still finding ways to shoot ourselves in the foot - sometimes literally. At a time when we should be shining on the global stage, we are the mockery of a world that cannot wait for us to mess up this period of - potentially - exponential growth and high commodity revenues. <br />
<br />
Who can blame the West for their pessimism given the situation on the ground in various countries from Angola to Zimbabwe, Egypt to Nigeria? <br />
<br />
We have our excuses: western-imposed religion (although countries like Turkey, India and China haven't let that affect them), tribal differences (even though Switzerland, Luxembourg and India have major language breakdowns as well) and poverty-induced greed and corruption (although that didn't stop India, Malaysia or Indonesia). <br />
<br />
So what are we waiting for?<br />
<br />
We are waiting for Africa's largest resource - it's people - to rise up and take charge of their continent. If there's been one positive on the African landscape over the last few years, it has been the awakening of what I'll call the "Fifth Estate". This group has taken over social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Kliqy (Nigeria's own) and other such outlets. They have largely escaped the shadow of their parents' generation and have become a voice in their own right.<br />
<br />
<br />
It's not enough to own the social media, however. <br />
<br />
<br />
In light of the decay of our First, Second and Third Estates (Executive, Legislative and Judiciary) and the increased sectionalism and nepotism of our Fourth Estate (Media), it is up to us to decide for ourselves what is acceptable and what is not acceptable and to move beyond speaking about it to doing something about it. <br />
<br />
<br />
It's easy to hide behind the cover and relative anonymity of a write-up (as I'm doing and as many political commentators do), but how many are willing to defend their comments if called to do so by security agencies? How many are willing to march on the streets? How many more don't care if they end up in prison? Or lose their means of livelihood?<br />
<br />
<br />
Getting to this point - to the point where citizen-inspired movements can replace autocracies and demagogues as seen in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya - will require a close look at ourselves and the answering of some pertinent questions because as the famous latin maxim says: "He (or she) who comes to equity must come with clean hands".<br />
<br />
<br />
- Is it acceptable for a university graduate in the sciences who has a Second Class Upper (or better) to leave school and become a trader in the market or a bus conductor simply because there are no jobs in his/her field?<br />
<br />
- Is it acceptable for someone with a barely standard high school education, poor grammar and who hasn't achieved anything professionally (outside of being a hairstylist) to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives?<br />
<br />
- Is it acceptable to pay a bribe so that a passport application can be processed quicker?<br />
<br />
- Is it acceptable to give a technical job to someone who studied social sciences simply because their parent owns the company?<br />
<br />
- Is it acceptable for you to spout off on twitter on facebook about political reform when you were part and parcel of a government that contributed to the decline of your country?<br />
<br />
- Is it acceptable for you to jostle for political and corporate jobs on the basis of who you know despite campaigning fervently for meritocracy to be enthroned?<br />
<br />
- Is it acceptable for you to point fingers at corrupt elements in government and industry when your parents can't explain how they can afford to send a family of six to London or Dubai for the summer on a combined monthly salary of $1000 equivalent?<br />
<br />
<br />
For the disadvantaged folks in the scenarios I listed (jobless graduates, overqualified workers), why are you sitting down tweeting and facebooking instead of organizing rallies and demonstrating? Or is that only meant for the election season?<br />
<br />
For those who are on the other end of the spectrum - the ones whose parents (or themselves) are part of the corrupt system and the ones who have been given advantage on the basis of who they know - are you being honest in your social media commentary or are you just part of the crowd?<br />
<br />
<br />
The full awakening of the Fifth Estate - not the half-baked semi-slumber seen so far - will require more than my words and more than the hashtags, wall posts, blog posts and tweets that my generation puts out at an extremely prolific rate. It will require us to ensure that our hands are clean and that we are beyond reproach. What has often derailed the progressive movement in Africa has been the lifestyle or past antecedents of its proponents - from Laurent Gbagbo to Robert Mugabe, Daniel arap Moi to Nuhu Ribadu. The downfall or loss of faith in these men has been caused by their "talking the talk", not "walking the walk". <br />
<br />
Our continent's future is bright because of the stance that the African Fifth Estate is taking and because the daily activities of our governments show that they can hear us and are wary of our reaction to their activities, if not afraid of us. Let us not squander this opportunity. Let us be the generation that finally answered the call of our great continent.<br />
<br />
<br />
As the elders often say: a word to the wise is enough.<br />
<br />
<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-44581927533296548262011-07-04T13:44:00.006-04:002011-07-14T14:58:53.807-04:00Summary of my Europe Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>High-speed train and plane trips in Europe have nothing on touring the region by road. By the numbers, 8 countries in 6 days and over 3000km traveled. It was also a major bucket list item of mine that I was able to cross off and in the process, I learned quite a bit about western Europe that even a European-born, self-confessed Europhile like myself didn't already know. From crawling at snail's pace through the streets of Luxembourg City's old town to hitting speeds of up to 160km/h on the A6 leading to Paris (the speed limit, i.e. slowest speed - insert smirk - was 130 km/h, so don't judge, s'il vous plait), traversing the glorious 30-plus kilometers on the Grand St.Bernard overpass/"open" tunnel that links Italy and Switzerland through a stunning tour of the Alps, driving through the Italian and French rivieras, it was a trip that promised much and delivered on its pleasures.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8eneHp8jMJ4/Th88Ued8RhI/AAAAAAAAAGg/Kd3IcTeSr5Q/s1600/IMG_1385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8eneHp8jMJ4/Th88Ued8RhI/AAAAAAAAAGg/Kd3IcTeSr5Q/s320/IMG_1385.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The ingenuity and organization of the Swiss, the absolutely horrid driving but unwavering politeness of the French and Italians, the urbane dignity of the Luxembourgish, the polished cluster of the Monegasque, the quiet efficiency of the Belgians and Dutch...all proved valuable learnings (while I take care not to overly generalize).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n5mLVYS6KhI/Th85UPCQRmI/AAAAAAAAAGY/jgat6DMN0X0/s1600/IMG_1242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n5mLVYS6KhI/Th85UPCQRmI/AAAAAAAAAGY/jgat6DMN0X0/s320/IMG_1242.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luxembourg Old Town</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OqYg8fVCEqw/Th85Hh-fqII/AAAAAAAAAGU/Zs-Ll0G1kao/s1600/IMG_1370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OqYg8fVCEqw/Th85Hh-fqII/AAAAAAAAAGU/Zs-Ll0G1kao/s320/IMG_1370.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lausanne Harbour</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yH5bQ8gAk5c/Th85DfjfLUI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/p5RqfiriL0g/s1600/IMG_1352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yH5bQ8gAk5c/Th85DfjfLUI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/p5RqfiriL0g/s320/IMG_1352.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) from the Lausanne side</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bUfp8fRQF54/Th847DOTNOI/AAAAAAAAAGM/Qw_J6w93xLQ/s1600/IMG_1398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bUfp8fRQF54/Th847DOTNOI/AAAAAAAAAGM/Qw_J6w93xLQ/s320/IMG_1398.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mediterranean - seen from San Remo, Italy (Where's the sea? Where's the sky?)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYK6zr0o3aw/Th85aRz6FrI/AAAAAAAAAGc/ia15Ic_pJ6Y/s1600/IMG_1460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sYK6zr0o3aw/Th85aRz6FrI/AAAAAAAAAGc/ia15Ic_pJ6Y/s320/IMG_1460.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The architectural wonder that is Paris by the Seine River</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Claudia the Fiat, my partner in crime; close to a thousand pictures - half of which are no good since I took them while driving, the other half of which don't come close to replicating the beauty they sought to capture; memories that will last a lifetime; God granting me the grace to drive safely despite the rigour and exactness of my schedule. It was a first-class experience - in all things.<br />
A bien tot.<br />
<br />
(And back to regularly scheduled programming - i.e. my comments and rants on social, political and economic issues related to Africa and Africans in the Diaspora)<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-62892867985941924852011-07-04T13:19:00.007-04:002011-07-14T14:24:18.335-04:00Euro Road Trip Day 5 - Paris to Amsterdam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My amazing road trip was coming to an end, but there was so much more to look forward to with a weekend in one of the most exciting cities in the world - Amsterdam. Driving from Paris to Amsterdam therefore paled in comparison to the potential of the coming weekend, however it was a lot of fun - especially driving through lesser traveled towns that were, nonetheless, famous during the World Wars. An example of this was Arras, a small town just south of Lens, where 240 French Resistance members were executed by the Gestapo during World War II. Another was Antwerp, which as a major Belgian port, was a strategic control point for both Allied and Axis troops during World War II. Being in the presence of that history was amazing - sometimes better than the sanitized view one gets in museums and history books.</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mozn-HUTkKU/Th8wnHw6aFI/AAAAAAAAAGI/gjm0577afo8/s1600/IMG_1603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mozn-HUTkKU/Th8wnHw6aFI/AAAAAAAAAGI/gjm0577afo8/s320/IMG_1603.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Van Gogh Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><br />
Amsterdam itself was a lot of fun - it was my first time in the city proper and I must say, it's a marvel of engineering. In almost any other region of the world (except maybe Canada, Australia and Japan), a city like Amsterdam, located a bit of a ways below sea level, would not exist without some sort of periodic natural disaster overunning it. I'd add the United States to the list, but after Katrina I think it's fair to say that they haven't gotten it right when it comes to shoreline protection. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>The famous graachts and houseboats of Amsterdam's inner city - very walkable and very historic. You may recognize some of these places from movies and books :-) <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Xikz9mojm0/Th8wgwt6NKI/AAAAAAAAAF4/SxhjhNRybAQ/s1600/IMG_1562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Xikz9mojm0/Th8wgwt6NKI/AAAAAAAAAF4/SxhjhNRybAQ/s320/IMG_1562.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Houseboats on Prisengraacht<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxyNlMp_cCg/Th8wixwsHPI/AAAAAAAAAF8/ovYlAKsT3dc/s1600/IMG_1564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MxyNlMp_cCg/Th8wixwsHPI/AAAAAAAAAF8/ovYlAKsT3dc/s320/IMG_1564.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne Frank Museum - the lineups start at 8am</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZIJVjjjU2A/Th8wkac5M7I/AAAAAAAAAGA/KHGzVykBkd8/s1600/IMG_1587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ZIJVjjjU2A/Th8wkac5M7I/AAAAAAAAAGA/KHGzVykBkd8/s320/IMG_1587.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Centraal Station - one of the most iconic terminuses in the world</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ii4WdL_HApk/Th8weHlXeQI/AAAAAAAAAF0/DTC5_Tu0AuI/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ii4WdL_HApk/Th8weHlXeQI/AAAAAAAAAF0/DTC5_Tu0AuI/s320/IMG_1549.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leidsegraacht - very close to the world famous Leidseplein </td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zFEWkuHJdQk/Th8wb8KHyCI/AAAAAAAAAFw/roUYg2rDj9I/s1600/IMG_1547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240px" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zFEWkuHJdQk/Th8wb8KHyCI/AAAAAAAAAFw/roUYg2rDj9I/s320/IMG_1547.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern end of Leidseplein - very close to the Pancake House :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Amsterdam was a lot of fun - its residents epitomize the work hard/play harder maxim. The bicycle-riding gets a bit crazy, but I'd take it over the motorbikes of Paris.<br />
Of course, there's a seedy side to Amsterdam - and one that attracts a certain sort of tourist - but overall it's safe and its many historical sites and museums provide valuable learnings for all ages.<br />
<br />
Daily Summary - 520km traveled, 3 countries visited: France, Belgium, Netherlands<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-53640380594970274972011-06-15T20:44:00.004-04:002011-06-15T21:03:49.361-04:00Euro Road Trip Day 4 - Monaco to Paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">I didn't think it would take me a couple of weeks to continue recounting my Euro road trip, but c'est la vie. Monaco to Paris was the longest driving stretch of the trip. Almost 9 hours of pure driving, with added time for gas/rest stops - not to mention a side detour into the French town of Viviers, where I managed to pretend I was a native French speaker until the lady at the gas station got excited and let forth a steady stream of unintelligible French. Let's just say that she was disappointed with my patchy response...</div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">I think the natural topography of Europe is what I like about driving there - never a sedate drive like through most of North America (which is comparatively flat), other than the Allegheny mountains in Pennsylvania, which may explain why I always enjoy driving to Washington, DC. The pictures below show some of that...</div></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t422X6y-XE0/TflUdZSxTYI/AAAAAAAAADw/2GV9RISV4SM/s1600/SAM_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t422X6y-XE0/TflUdZSxTYI/AAAAAAAAADw/2GV9RISV4SM/s320/SAM_0376.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script><br />
<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aW6YhDhnQ5c/TflJ6uvqyuI/AAAAAAAAACc/0TQ0iXbdyCs/s1600/SAM_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aW6YhDhnQ5c/TflJ6uvqyuI/AAAAAAAAACc/0TQ0iXbdyCs/s320/SAM_0384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLBUyoJ-Ajk/TflKSfOrYhI/AAAAAAAAACg/IKalFVNqepE/s1600/SAM_0387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLBUyoJ-Ajk/TflKSfOrYhI/AAAAAAAAACg/IKalFVNqepE/s320/SAM_0387.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div></div><div>As a kid who grew up in Nigeria, it's always fun to see how far the Peugeot has developed :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h40OScdsS0A/TflKqvp045I/AAAAAAAAACk/vxobeK56QUU/s1600/SAM_0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h40OScdsS0A/TflKqvp045I/AAAAAAAAACk/vxobeK56QUU/s320/SAM_0418.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div> Not Your Father's Peugeot - Part 1</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hYbxz8fQQjg/TflMOg1KZ6I/AAAAAAAAAC4/7rQsyIT6uBk/s1600/SAM_0444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hYbxz8fQQjg/TflMOg1KZ6I/AAAAAAAAAC4/7rQsyIT6uBk/s320/SAM_0444.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div> Not Your Father's Peugeot - Part 2</div><div><br />
</div><div>The one French town I enjoyed driving through was Lyon. I've never been there before - nor have I desired to do so - but it just seemed like a city with so much character. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rzp83DYsMpE/TflL3efs5uI/AAAAAAAAACs/fXDX6ByqOEM/s1600/SAM_0441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rzp83DYsMpE/TflL3efs5uI/AAAAAAAAACs/fXDX6ByqOEM/s320/SAM_0441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div> Traffic in Lyon</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EaEklzzVWWQ/TflLg3OwTaI/AAAAAAAAACo/ha9TMkgIfy4/s1600/SAM_0422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EaEklzzVWWQ/TflLg3OwTaI/AAAAAAAAACo/ha9TMkgIfy4/s320/SAM_0422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>I think I'd like to explore Lyon during a future visit to France. Not to mention, it's in a great location between Paris and the Cote D'Azur region in general.<br />
<br />
I will say that the French are some of the worst drivers in the world - and they actually own up to it. Driving on the highways at speeds up to 150 km/h (the speed limit is 130 km/h, so don't blame me!) is edgy enough without a crazy driver behind honking for you to go even faster. Naturally, I obliged...again, don't judge :-)<br />
Then the way they drive in the streets of Paris...let's not even go there...Claudia came out unscathed, that's all that matters.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Paris itself was fun - I didn't spend as much time exploring as I would have liked, owing to the length of my drive, but I still got to enjoy the 11th Arrondissement as well as the Champs Elysses area and all its touristy attractions. In my opinion, Paris is a bit overrated, but then again I've always said so - it just doesn't appeal to me the way Barcelona, Amsterdam and anywhere in Switzerland do. Possibly because its most famous activity - shopping - isn't a favorite of mine. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yNM6U72BT2E/TflNKvLg-4I/AAAAAAAAADI/pKLPbh1a2lo/s1600/IMG_1445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yNM6U72BT2E/TflNKvLg-4I/AAAAAAAAADI/pKLPbh1a2lo/s320/IMG_1445.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7DzfI9t-exE/TflNjYWg_SI/AAAAAAAAADQ/z070bOOEF4c/s1600/IMG_1459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7DzfI9t-exE/TflNjYWg_SI/AAAAAAAAADQ/z070bOOEF4c/s320/IMG_1459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rHwLcwvA1qw/TflOA2vjVsI/AAAAAAAAADU/ijF5tbTyZwU/s1600/IMG_1482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rHwLcwvA1qw/TflOA2vjVsI/AAAAAAAAADU/ijF5tbTyZwU/s320/IMG_1482.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zl3ZNqLjRX8/TflOBvE16iI/AAAAAAAAADY/nDYZ-MLVtWA/s1600/IMG_1487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zl3ZNqLjRX8/TflOBvE16iI/AAAAAAAAADY/nDYZ-MLVtWA/s320/IMG_1487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qIUaGmNdERk/TflODaF1MQI/AAAAAAAAADg/OcbuV2OEuOI/s1600/IMG_1491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qIUaGmNdERk/TflODaF1MQI/AAAAAAAAADg/OcbuV2OEuOI/s320/IMG_1491.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_brva-Y5HNY/TflOEeNpa_I/AAAAAAAAADk/Xj3CO3PoUsE/s1600/IMG_1495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_brva-Y5HNY/TflOEeNpa_I/AAAAAAAAADk/Xj3CO3PoUsE/s320/IMG_1495.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Overall, another fun day filled with driving, lots of walking, good food and some up close and personal interactions with historical monuments. In retrospect, to save the driving time, I would recommend doing this leg by taking the high-speed TGV from Nice.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Daily Summary - 958km traveled, 2 countries visited (Monaco, France)</div><div><br />
</div>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-63485182909773947002011-06-03T11:24:00.004-04:002011-06-15T20:59:22.099-04:00Euro Road Trip Day 3 - Lausanne to MonacoThis was probably - no, definitely - the best drive I've ever taken. It was the sort of the drive where you literally missed something if you blinked. At the start of the trip, I wasn't sure if my route would take me through the Alps, or as a lot of modern highways do, route around them for a quicker journey. Looks like the Swiss have no qualms about constructing fast-moving highways and tunnels - all 100+ of them that I drove through - up, over and under the Alps. It makes for a stunning drive, but one that's at relatively high speed, so I had to watch those corners!<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y7hkma03rzY/Tej2btT9rrI/AAAAAAAAABw/-mNxp8lIdt0/s1600/IMG_1378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y7hkma03rzY/Tej2btT9rrI/AAAAAAAAABw/-mNxp8lIdt0/s320/IMG_1378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y7hkma03rzY/Tej2btT9rrI/AAAAAAAAABw/-mNxp8lIdt0/s1600/IMG_1378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UZG-kAtq7us/TejyLxiivmI/AAAAAAAAABY/IzhRLoD6J2s/s1600/SAM_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UZG-kAtq7us/TejyLxiivmI/AAAAAAAAABY/IzhRLoD6J2s/s320/SAM_0307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmC-DhBxywQ/Tej2hmKxaGI/AAAAAAAAAB0/Rq83PUPiD1M/s1600/IMG_1384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UmC-DhBxywQ/Tej2hmKxaGI/AAAAAAAAAB0/Rq83PUPiD1M/s320/IMG_1384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All the tunnels were exciting in their own regard, but the one that takes the cake is the Tunnel Grand St. Bernard, which connects Belfort, Switzerland with Aosta, Italy. Of course, the famous St.Bernard pass (no I didn't see the dogs) encompasses this tunnel - the pass is over 30km long and is sheltered (to prevent overhanging cliffs from shedding rocks onto cars) so it essentially feels like a 30km long tunnel with windows on the side. You can imagine the view - it was breathtaking. Too bad I couldn't take a picture in there - no spots to stop and too fast and winding for control of my in-car camera.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">However, you can see some of the sights I saw on the drive up, around and down....</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LeUdlybKjKM/Tej2xlnHaYI/AAAAAAAAAB4/-lU8gA5Ejus/s1600/IMG_1388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LeUdlybKjKM/Tej2xlnHaYI/AAAAAAAAAB4/-lU8gA5Ejus/s320/IMG_1388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OTxd885JRXk/TejxYhwGkoI/AAAAAAAAABQ/H0zR04QVUDI/s1600/SAM_0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OTxd885JRXk/TejxYhwGkoI/AAAAAAAAABQ/H0zR04QVUDI/s320/SAM_0305.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cb6nDvr2eTQ/Tej3ROPztBI/AAAAAAAAAB8/ETPulcVVn8I/s1600/IMG_1391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cb6nDvr2eTQ/Tej3ROPztBI/AAAAAAAAAB8/ETPulcVVn8I/s320/IMG_1391.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a9YwQv0JK9Q/TejxPRVjoFI/AAAAAAAAABM/eL_kTbGnc9U/s1600/SAM_0312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a9YwQv0JK9Q/TejxPRVjoFI/AAAAAAAAABM/eL_kTbGnc9U/s320/SAM_0312.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>I'm sure you can tell which camera I was using in the car and which I was stopping to go out and use :-)</div><div><br />
</div><div>Driving through Italy - land of my birth - was almost equally stunning. The view as I came south and began to turn east towards San Remo and the French border was amazing. You're driving up a mountain range, then you begin a descent, go around into a tunnel and come out staring at a backdrop of the Mediterranean. It was something special. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHQewQ06D4k/Tej0cjEhXjI/AAAAAAAAABk/j7ISir4lmFs/s1600/SAM_0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JHQewQ06D4k/Tej0cjEhXjI/AAAAAAAAABk/j7ISir4lmFs/s320/SAM_0353.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nPKFiP4fhNw/Tej0t2vkqvI/AAAAAAAAABo/15ijEPqLCCM/s1600/SAM_0359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nPKFiP4fhNw/Tej0t2vkqvI/AAAAAAAAABo/15ijEPqLCCM/s320/SAM_0359.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pUyh-5DSbKI/Tej3UO-b3GI/AAAAAAAAACA/ZI40RCSoxEw/s1600/IMG_1398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pUyh-5DSbKI/Tej3UO-b3GI/AAAAAAAAACA/ZI40RCSoxEw/s320/IMG_1398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5KqVE1SgD_g/Tej4a2BXtaI/AAAAAAAAACI/Rz_aLXQms3c/s1600/IMG_1399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5KqVE1SgD_g/Tej4a2BXtaI/AAAAAAAAACI/Rz_aLXQms3c/s320/IMG_1399.JPG" width="279" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>The French Riviera is everything you expect it to be - homes on hills, beach front hotels, fast cars, and some really great looking women. I was impressed with the area. They were prepping Monaco for the F1 race taking place the next week - it was fun to semi-race Claudia and pretend I was actually driving in the race, especially going through the famous Monaco tunnel :-). </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-44ED0ePjVI8/Tej4eDDNhuI/AAAAAAAAACM/Tea-Ah2u7sc/s1600/IMG_1408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-44ED0ePjVI8/Tej4eDDNhuI/AAAAAAAAACM/Tea-Ah2u7sc/s320/IMG_1408.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kCbEgdFA0EM/Tej4ehMqpmI/AAAAAAAAACQ/P58HHCWlqgs/s1600/IMG_1436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kCbEgdFA0EM/Tej4ehMqpmI/AAAAAAAAACQ/P58HHCWlqgs/s320/IMG_1436.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>For my money though, I'd prefer to live somewhere in Switzerland if I had a choice.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Altogether, another perfect day of driving and sightseeing. Well worth it for anyone contemplating a trip to Europe - even if you train it everywhere else, drive through Switzerland.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br />
</div><div>Daily Summary - 540km traveled, 4 countries visited (Switzerland, Italy, France, Monaco)</div>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-21628025319360737682011-05-31T01:37:00.002-04:002011-06-03T12:22:40.305-04:00Euro Road Trip Day 2 - Luxembourg to LausanneOne of the reasons why I picked Luxembourg as a destination on this trip was its relative lack of popularity. This isn't because it's not a fun place - on the contrary, it's phenomenally underrated - but because it's not filled with the tourist traps of London, Barcelona, Rome and yes, Amsterdam. <script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script><br />
<div>It was for largely the same reasons that I picked Lausanne, Switzerland as my second pit stop. Long in the shadow of Zurich, Geneva, Berne and Basel; I was curious to see this jewel on Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) and she didn't disappoint me.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tcc9dCKDH_E/TekKOUbSYmI/AAAAAAAAACY/iqPUSQAJAAA/s1600/IMG_1309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tcc9dCKDH_E/TekKOUbSYmI/AAAAAAAAACY/iqPUSQAJAAA/s320/IMG_1309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div>If the drive from Amsterdam to Luxembourg could be rated a 7/10, this one was definitely a 9/10. Traveling from Luxembourg to Eastern France - in particular, Strasbourg and Mulhouse (one of those German-sounding French towns, really close to the German border) - and then into the organizational and architectural (both natural and human-made) marvel that is Switzerland was especially gratifying. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RtJ1Zm3IVkc/TeR4Vt-BgYI/AAAAAAAAAAc/r_U1FdjbAMs/s1600/SAM_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RtJ1Zm3IVkc/TeR4Vt-BgYI/AAAAAAAAAAc/r_U1FdjbAMs/s320/SAM_0230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>The picture below is of a small town called Yverdon-les-Bains. It's natural beauty was a harbinger of things to come.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OewSelwq6Ck/TeR4v5AWGMI/AAAAAAAAAAg/7bo7d6t8dT4/s1600/SAM_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OewSelwq6Ck/TeR4v5AWGMI/AAAAAAAAAAg/7bo7d6t8dT4/s320/SAM_0245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>Lausanne itself was everything I expected it to be. I could see the Alps as I drove in to town and I was pretty excited about the prospect of being up close and personal with them. However, the topography of the city is complex to say the least. I practically walked throughout downtown Lausanne by following my limited view of the Alps before I finally made it to the coast and saw some of the most beautiful natural sights I've ever seen (the pictures below show my slow progression south...) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JfrSTjZOEIs/TeR6Z6YwgKI/AAAAAAAAAAk/x_ow-3-PBP8/s1600/IMG_1311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JfrSTjZOEIs/TeR6Z6YwgKI/AAAAAAAAAAk/x_ow-3-PBP8/s320/IMG_1311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mdBhmM9G11I/TeR6mg7abmI/AAAAAAAAAAo/2W6U0YHnhLQ/s1600/IMG_1315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mdBhmM9G11I/TeR6mg7abmI/AAAAAAAAAAo/2W6U0YHnhLQ/s320/IMG_1315.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tAqToSbGi3M/TeR6-ATUBdI/AAAAAAAAAAw/9L6lpQCfOPE/s1600/IMG_1326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tAqToSbGi3M/TeR6-ATUBdI/AAAAAAAAAAw/9L6lpQCfOPE/s320/IMG_1326.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>And finally, the Lake Geneva harbor...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZwA5vuoWCE/TeR7fJb33eI/AAAAAAAAAA4/-L_eFPjwTV8/s1600/IMG_1344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mZwA5vuoWCE/TeR7fJb33eI/AAAAAAAAAA4/-L_eFPjwTV8/s320/IMG_1344.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tnp9Fx05D0U/TeR7sFkGU9I/AAAAAAAAAA8/fcTZlIruRF0/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Tnp9Fx05D0U/TeR7sFkGU9I/AAAAAAAAAA8/fcTZlIruRF0/s320/IMG_1346.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>And yes, one of the best pics I took throughout this trip...lake to mountain to sky. Phenomenal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j5LbhDnXDm0/TeR8JcU0LcI/AAAAAAAAABE/qqgQqqMV4uM/s1600/IMG_1353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j5LbhDnXDm0/TeR8JcU0LcI/AAAAAAAAABE/qqgQqqMV4uM/s320/IMG_1353.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>I really could have spent the rest of my trip at this spot and not missed a beat - I haven't even shown a fraction of the stunning pictures I gleaned from this spot alone. Lausanne = highly recommended. </div><div>I like this other picture because it came out so well...this is a hotel in downtown Lausanne, right by the lake. Postcard-worthy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__rn-tfF88U/TeR8Z7iDhlI/AAAAAAAAABI/cOB0lPyFLOE/s1600/IMG_1374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-__rn-tfF88U/TeR8Z7iDhlI/AAAAAAAAABI/cOB0lPyFLOE/s320/IMG_1374.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Altogether, Lausanne was fantastic. Like much of Switzerland, a stunning combination of nature and the ingenuity of human beings. You can imagine how excited I was to travel through southern Switzerland (its most beautiful area) the next day after all the good that the north had shown me. I was particularly adamant about traveling through the Alps, even if it meant delaying my arrival in Monaco by an hour or two. The next blog will tell that story!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Daily Summary - 566km traveled, 3 countries visited (Luxembourg, France, Switzerland)</div>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-67615784566064672452011-05-31T00:54:00.001-04:002011-06-03T12:23:17.425-04:00Euro Road Trip Day 1 - Amsterdam to LuxembourgI flew into Schipol Airport via Frankfurt, Lufthansa being my airline of choice these days. Technically, I didn't hit the ground in Germany - being in transit only - but as the first Schengen country I entered, my passport was stamped there, so I've added it to the list of countries visited. A small cheat, but who's counting? :-)<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script><br />
<div>The funniest thing that happened was the German immigration officer looking at my Canadian passport and asking if I lived in Italy (I was born in Milano). Seriously, dude...if I lived in Italy, wouldn't I have flashed an Italian passport and wouldn't I have been in the line for Schengen citizens? </div><div><br />
</div><div>Flying into Amsterdam was short and brisk, other than having to check in my second piece of hand luggage because the flight was "full". That completely defeated the purpose of my taking carry-on luggage only and forced me to wait an extra half hour at Schipol. Oh well - I was too excited about the trip to care about something that trivial.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I picked up this gorgeous Fiat 500 at Schipol. I didn't name "Claudia" until I hit a moment of inspiration while journeying through the Alps later that week, but she does look like a "Claudia", doesn't she? :-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s0jgqXmfmSs/TeRzfEpPd_I/AAAAAAAAAAU/9yYEWc9aTtI/s1600/IMG_1246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s0jgqXmfmSs/TeRzfEpPd_I/AAAAAAAAAAU/9yYEWc9aTtI/s320/IMG_1246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Between Claudia and Alex, my trusty GPS, not to mention my pre-planned maps and routes, I was ready to hit the road.</div><div><br />
</div><div>First stop was Luxembourg, via Belgium. The drive there was very nice - in a countryside fashion. Lots of cows and farms, and of course, lots of windmills, especially in the Netherlands and northern Belgium. Luxembourg is a wondrous creation - the old city is built almost entirely within high walls (see below), most of the people speak Luxembourgish, German, French (and some English) and they are VERY multicultural. I had a very interesting broken French conversation with an African lady who looked and dressed like she was in her tiny French West African hamlet...which just seemed strange for one of the financial centers of Europe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FbtQ94ztYus/TeRz7gBHTDI/AAAAAAAAAAY/maWKwPytYNI/s1600/IMG_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FbtQ94ztYus/TeRz7gBHTDI/AAAAAAAAAAY/maWKwPytYNI/s320/IMG_1252.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>I got in around 6pm and spent most of the evening - till nigh on 11pm - walking around the old town, taking pictures and making myself (and Claudia) a general nuisance with my basic French and Nigerian-Canadian enthusiasm.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M-2-uYMlZrI/TeRzSrTcnqI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/77F5eHSvQWk/s1600/IMG_1242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M-2-uYMlZrI/TeRzSrTcnqI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/77F5eHSvQWk/s320/IMG_1242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>I also had this traditional Luxembourgish dinner at Mousel Cantine - roast pig's thigh with sauerkraut, green beans in gravy, farmer's bread and sliced roast potatoes. Washed down with pineapple juice, it was just what the doctor ordered.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nGawKfNuARY/TeRxVE4GbrI/AAAAAAAAAAM/FSPCRK5I9Og/s1600/IMG_1303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nGawKfNuARY/TeRxVE4GbrI/AAAAAAAAAAM/FSPCRK5I9Og/s320/IMG_1303.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>All in all, I had a great time in Luxembourg...I took more pictures and sight-saw more than I thought I'd be able to. Importantly, I discovered that I could actually hold basic conversations in French and even some German. Good news, considering that all my future destinations would be in French-speaking locales.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Daily Summary - 425km traveled, 4 countries visited (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg)</div>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-43629220772348391822011-05-29T23:53:00.002-04:002011-06-03T12:23:48.574-04:00How my random, spontaneous Euro Road Trip came aboutMay has been quite the interesting month for me - filled with non-stop action, multi-time zones and an absolute ton of things to see and do. In retrospect, I'd do it all again - except for Air Canada canceling my flight from Fort McMurray to Toronto.<br />
<div><br />
<div>It started with work - formally met the boss's boss late in April and got some great feedback from both himself and my boss, which naturally has led to even more responsibilities at work: leading a rapid results project team, as well as being the designate for the boss when he's away; all this in addition to my normal duties as the Plant Engineer for the oldest primary upgrading unit in the world. Extremely busy and challenging, but as Nigerians are wont to say in such times "<i>We thank God</i>". Some have food but cannot eat, etc...(if you don't know the tune, don't worry).</div><div><br />
</div><div>Given the foregoing, you can understand why I needed a break, which the opportunity of my sister's wedding provided - technically, two weddings as is common in Nigeria: a traditional wedding on the 12th and the church wedding on the 14th. Shortly before the wedding, I also came up with the idea of a road trip through Europe. The stage was set for chaos, adrenalin and yes, fun.</div><div><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div>It all started when Air Canada canceled my red-eye flight that was supposed to get into Toronto on the morning of the 12th. I had already cut things close by coming in on the morning of the traditional wedding (I insist on blaming my workload in the office), so you can imagine that my parents - not to mention the bride - were not pleased, considering the role I was to play in the wedding as a "son of the soil". When I finally got into Toronto - at 7pm, an hour after the wedding started - it was without my luggage, forcing me to return to the airport midway through the wedding to retrieve my belongings and ensuring that in the interim I had to squeeze my poor feet into my father's size 9 shoes (for the record, I wear 11 wides or 12s). </div><div><br />
</div><div>The rest of the weekend was equally busy, albeit in a more normal fashion, with me shuttling people around, picking up suits and tuxes from stores, and generally running the sorts of last minute errands only a wedding can serve up. All's well that ends well and the church wedding on Saturday was great, despite the rain. All involved had a good time, especially with the food and on the dance floor.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Sunday was more laid back but at that point, I was craving my proposed, rapidly-planned Europe road trip more than a fat kid craves chocolate. The next few blog posts will detail how this trip went...</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div></div>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-22874623601934473592011-04-04T07:16:00.006-04:002011-06-03T12:25:18.993-04:00Which African Union?Sub-Saharan African leaders have continually shown undue deference to people with lighter skin than theirs, and in this day and age we see that trend continuing. Recent events in Ivory Coast and North Africa have only underlined this bold statement.<script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script><br />
<div>It's why our leaders sold off their people and historical artifacts for mere trinkets - most of which were worthless - to the Portuguese, French and English. The belief that the man with the white skin was a god that needed to be assuaged.</div><div>It's why our leaders allowed themselves to become colonial stooges (contrast that to the colonial experience in North Africa) and allowed what at the time were foreign gods and ways of living to become de jure.</div><div>It's why since "independence", our leaders spend billions of dollars yearly on foreign education, weaponry, goods and services, etc with very little care for developing the manufacturing industries in their respective countries.</div><div>It's why despite the turmoil currently surrounding North Africa - Libya in particular - the African Union has been relatively silent. After all, Libyans are our lighter skinned brothers, relatively wealthy and with a demagogue ruling the stable - the very recipe for the AU adopting a hands-off approach.</div><div><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div>Now I'm not suggesting that the African Union's (fronted by ECOWAS) hard-line approach to the growing crisis in Ivory Coast was misplaced. I happen to be one of the few who think the humanitarian situation there is worse than that in Libya, but of course they have no oil, so few outside the continent care. I believe that the ECOWAS response to Ivory Coast and their threat of military action against Laurent Gbagbo's illegitimate government may have saved thousands of lives, although many are still being lost on both sides.</div><div>What I am suggesting is that the incident on Libya is one that commands more international attention, if nothing else because that's where CNN, Fox News and the BBC want our attention to be. For that reason, it's where I feel our leadership, represented by the AU, should have stood up to be counted. Unfortunately, they were nowhere to be found, abrogating their responsibilities to the Arab League and the United Nations until it was too late. </div><div><br />
</div><div>First we saw Egypt, then Tunisia, then Libya. No strong condemnation from the AU. No similarly worded resolutions from the body asking for the maintenance of peace and civility in government response to protesters, despite the evident violence against protesters that became one of the hallmarks of the revolutions. No white paper released asking the reprobate governments and leaders involved to step down or summoning them for talks. As our leaders have shown over history, the Arab is above the black and has the ability to do as he pleases. Mubarak and Gadaffi are no different than Mugabe and Gbagbo, yet we are vocal over the very dark latter two, and silent over the very light former two.</div><div><br />
</div><div>So when the rest of the world decided to take action, the AU was once again exposed as a union of weak-willed, easily-dominated, self-centered individuals who probably thought it would be "cool" to have an organization because they saw it happening in Europe, South America and Asia. While those continents have used such continental bodies to develop trade, to improve security and share resources, the AU as a collective is more famous for its silence on critical issues affecting the continent. Biafra, South Africa (until the mid-70s when Nigeria took a lead in opposing Apartheid), Rwanda and Sudan readily come to mind. The AU is particularly silent in cases where outside groups like the United States and the United Kingdom have a vested interest. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I watched a recent BBC Hardtalk show where the African Union's Chairman, Jean Bing, said "no one approached us for our point of view" on Libya. I found his response to abound in misplaced annoyance and without substance. How can the world approach you for your point of view when you've shown no inclination to provide one? Do you really think the West is going to wait for your 'parleys' and 'deliberations' while thousands of people are killed (and thousands of barrels of oil not shipped, might I add)? We are, as usual, the architects of our growing irrelevance as an international bloc. Some questions for Mr. Bing and the AU:</div><div><ul><li>Why did the African Union release its condemnation of the UN resolution on Libya after said resolution was passed?</li>
<li>Why didn't the AU embed peace-keepers or other such observers in Libya, as other countries were doing?</li>
<li>Why didn't the AU publicly condemn Moammar Gadaffi?</li>
</ul></div><div>For decades, Gadaffi and Mubarak were allowed to do as they pleased on the African continent. They meddled in the affairs of other African nations: trying to speak for democracy, advocating the breakup of certain countries to avoid religious conflicts, posing as international diplomats...offering advice that they never practiced. The AU allowed all this and upheld them as statesmen until their people revolted. That, Mr. Bing, is why no one asked for your opinion - sadly we know what it would have been.</div><div><br />
</div><div>What will it take for the AU to achieve its potential? The people of black Africa waking up from their slumber and taking destiny into their own hands by electing the right leaders - individuals who understand the concept of pan-Africanism, who aren't looking for Western handouts, who are willing to stand for their views even in the face of opposition. Waiting until we are humanitarian situations on CNN and BBC is not acceptable, nor is it viable. Fact is, unless your country is a major supplier of oil, it will take a Rwanda-like situation to capture the world's attention. We often ponder the progression rate of African countries - especially politically and economically. This progress requires a strong African Union. Recognize, Black Africa!</div><div>We're seeing the potential start of such mass recognitions in Kenya, Nigeria and Cameroon. Let's hope it comes to fruition and sweeps the rest of the continent.</div>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2064693649271811211.post-36595086365920202572011-03-30T19:11:00.003-04:002011-06-03T12:25:47.667-04:00Do we have a revolutionary temperament?I've listened and read with growing amusement the articles, interviews, tweets and blog posts about the uprisings in the Middle East and how they are a portend for what was to come in Africa, in particular. It was only until I happened upon this article - <a href="http://mg.co.za/article/2011-03-30-how-african-is-the-arab-revolution">http://mg.co.za/article/2011-03-30-how-african-is-the-arab-revolution</a> that I said "finally, someone who understands the differences between black Africa and North Africa. <script src="http://track3.mybloglog.com/js/jsserv.php?mblID=2008022607512580" type="text/javascript">
</script><br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Now, before you crucify me, let me state without equivocation that I am a full believer in the need for a true revolution to remove the retrogressive and corrupt elements in African governments. Akin to what Jerry J. Rawlings did in Ghana in 1979, the benefits of which that country is now reaping. Also akin to Jehu in ancient Israel, as recounted in the 1st Book of Kings for those who know their Bible. Good? Great.</div><div><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div>That being said, I am of the belief that African people - and by extension, our leaders - do not have the stomach for, nor an inclination towards a true revolution. It is somewhat antithetical to our nature and to the way the colonists divvied up our lands and assigned us to "countries". Naturally, they knew what they were doing and our leaders were their willing pawns. To make my point though, I will emphasize some points from the article and make others.</div><div><br />
</div><div>First, 'Arab' countries tend to be more homogeneous and have more unity of religion than sub-Saharan African countries do. This alone means that during a revolution, they are less likely to be concerned with being top dog, or ensuring that their peoples' "portion" or "slice of the cake" is bigger; but are wholly and completely devoted to the cause. It also ensures that when the leaders are speaking to the people, you don't have one tribe hearing one message and the next tribe hearing a different message. That unity of language and religion makes them alike and makes them a powerful bloc, even if there is some internal dissent. Look at Biafra or Katanga - although there was some opposition within the majority tribe, their downfall was in not bringing in the minority tribes into their ambit of influence, allowing said minority groups to be turned by the central government. Yes, there are Coptic sects in Egypt, but they form less than 2 or 3% of the population. As much as they were "in support" of the Muslim majority, their opposition wouldn't have counted for much had that been the case.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Secondly, the black African opposition is extremely selfish. Even within the same political organization, there are often fights about who should lead, which tribe or religion a position be "zoned" to, who is "enjoying the fruits" while others are out in the cold, and other such petty concerns. This means that the opposition can be bought or compromised - as has been seen in Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya - and that even when the opposition get into power, their focus is on "getting their own share" or "payback". People with that temperament, going into office for altruistic reasons, are unlikely to die for the ordinary (I use that word lightly) citizen, a desire or will often required for a successful revolution. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Finally, there is a rather "romantic" and passionate fervor that the ordinary 'Arab' can be whipped to. Their leaders - especially religious leaders - have a way with words, to incite and to energize. Black Africans tend to be a bit more pragmatic, especially when it comes to religion. We know most of our pastors and priests are corrupt and speak out of both sides of their mouth, we know many of the mallams are collecting from the government so they don't speak out against them. We also know that in times of danger, they will be the first to flee to whatever exotic mansion they own in the south of France or in Dubai. As such, we tend to treat such fervor with a degree of suspicion and we ask ourselves questions like "this pastor who is asking us to protest or to vote for someone, what's in it for him/her?" </div><div>The labor organizations and media would ordinarily have been the ones to pick up the dropped standard, but again, many of them have been compromised or find themselves firmly planted in one political ground or the other, and in many cases, become the stumbling block to progression and transparency of our governments.</div><div><br />
</div><div>To conclude, I'm not saying we won't ever see an African revolution, but whatever we see has to be so powerful so that even the market woman who earns $2 a day and is offered $5 to sell her vote resists. It has to be so powerful that a labor leader who is offered an ambassadorial post in return for delivering his constituents to a corrupt party or platform resists. So powerful that the police guarding the polling booths risk their lives in order to prevent thugs from making off with ballot boxes. I proffer that we are not there yet - it requires a change in mentality, it requires a selflessness that our various tribes and religions actively discourage, it requires a willingness to go out alone even if there's no one beside you. </div><div>When that happens, we won't have to wonder why we have such corrupt and inept governments - we'll march out and sweep them out.</div>Black Thought Reformerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02502575415299942445noreply@blogger.com0