Liberia's female president

the BBC has a really interesting radio show: 'the Interview'

listen for example to

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia

Liberia means "land of the
free", but for the last quarter of a century the country has been anythingbut.

A series of coups and a brutal civil war has left an estimated 150,000
people dead and made refugees of a further 850,000. The econony is in tatters
and unemployment is a staggering 85%.

But hope is returning. Six months
ago, following the ousting of Charles Taylor, Liberians voted in Africa's first
female president.

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is a veteran of the political
scene in Liberia and says she aims for unity, reconciliation and development.

First broadcast 2 June, 2006

listen to the show

Sunugaal - Dj Awadi

Dj Awadi made a beautiful song about the migration problem in Senegal. Thousands of Africans leave from the Senegalese coast in rickety boats, attempting to reach the Canary Islands.

Dj Awadi sings about corruption and the politicisation of the legal system, with journalists and opposition politicians in jail, while thieves and robbers are set free, if they are ever arrested.

"You promised me I would have a job
You promised me I would have food
You promised me I would have real work and hope
But so far - nothing
That's why I am leaving,
that's why I am taking off in this canoe
Swearing not to stay here a second longer
I would prefer to die than to live in this hell."

Dj Awadi, 2006

Read the BBC article

and then listen to the song: Sunugaal

Vista vs IPCC

Some time ago Windows Vista was launched. 10,000 programmers are said to have worked on this new version of windows.

On the same day the IPCC's 4th assessment report was presented. 2,500 people (researchers, country representatives and businessmen) have worked on this report, representing 40 countries. The conclusion of this report is that global warming is irrevocable, and very likely (90% certainty) to be caused at least in part, by man.
Our world is changing, and it can no longer be stopped. We will have to deal with it. No place on earth will escape at least small climatic changes.

I personally find it unbalanced that Microsoft is able to bring together and pay 10,000 programmers for a commercial product which is only available for those who can afford it.
While a problem which affects the whole world community and will change the face of the earth, is tackled by only a quarter of that.

Spain 06/07

some snapshots from Spain

some of the many churches,
[left: Córdoba] [right: Granada]

[left: jewish quarters, Sevilla]
[right: ornaments in Alcazar, Sevilla]


[left: beautiful patios in Córdoba]
[right: La Mezquita, Córdoba]

Africa, step 1

The first steps have been made towards a few months of volunteering in Africa, so now here's a weblog as well. I chose to put my weblog here, because I don't have the impression that people take my personal weblog at geocheryl.com for serious. At least, no-one ever leaves comments. So maybe you prefer this 'real' blog?
let's hope so. and let me know..

So, what was done? Well, in December I filled in a taking-in form on the internet for the Yoho company. http://www.joho.nl/ and paid their 'borg'.
And now I've received a big load of information and advice. So the next step is just to read and find out what I want to do, and where.

I already have some ideas: I want to go to West-Africa, because we used to live there. And I want to go to a french-speaking country, to increase my skills in that. So I guess Senegal is a likely candidate. It is close to the Gambia, French-speaking, stable and safe (as far as I know) and on top of that they are well known for their djembe skills! So let's see whether there is something interesting around there..