Cassava Tuesdays: World Economic Forum (DAVOS) & AFRICA

…SWITZERLAND

Whenever, I think of Switzerland

“Where all the power players in the politics, economics and every institution meant to hold a state together come and play.
Pay attention to the impact of such a forum to the IMAGE, BRAND, AND REPUTATION of Switzerland”

— World Economic Forum (WEF)-DAVOS

The theme was Globalization 4.0, pay attention to the language used to describe South Africa and Rwanda. While, I recommend following up on all the videos, for the purpose Cassava Tuesday, enjoy the following videos.

SOUTH AFRICA AND RWANDA

A SINGLE MARKET IN AFRICA???

By the way, the next meeting will be held in Ethiopia.

ETHIOPIA

See you next Cassava Tuesday

Mulday Mondays: Water Forums and Fukushima

JAPAN

“Fake it till you make it....
”

— The philosophy of Japan since the sun

…JAPAN WILL ALWAYS HAVE ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON EVERYTHING

The rest of the world sees this image if you say “Fukoshima Daiichi”

AP Photo

THREE YEARS AGO: THE PERCEPTION OF THE JAPANESE BUSINESS MAN

“Yes, Water from the same area......

I would like to try some. ”

— Buddha be a fence and filtration system on kidneys.

TODAY: GREENPEACE REPORT ON FUKUSHIMA

“ There are 16,280,000,000,000,000,000,000 Bq of potassium-40, rubidium-87 and many more radionuclides already in the world’s oceans and anything from Fukushima won’t affect these levels at all.”

— Scientist, James Conca

The plan is to slowly release the TREATED water into the pacific ocean. The pacific ocean has some other pressing issues and this will not be the reason for massive fish death or “disruption” to the ecosystem.
By the way, for massive fish deaths, just take a look at Australia. We have an interesting video below on the reasons behind these catastrophic deaths.

“Great Britain’s National Radiological Protection Board
(NRPB) predicts that there will be up to 1,000 additional
cancers over the next 70 years among the population of Western Europe exposed to fallout from the accident at Chernobyl. ”

— U.S EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

LET us PLAY the ADVOCATE for the DEVIL…

Increasingly, we notice that international organizations are becoming stronger non state actors in state affairs. However, there is a pick and choose attitude towards this “care for the environment and people”.

Where is the Greenpeace outrage on the United States Pacific Ocean States constantly recycling the pacific? As you filter the pacific, it gets saltier and can you guess the damage to the ecosystem?

The Mekong River and the South China Sea did not exactly blossom from the U.S administration’s use of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War or “Conflict”

RESPONSE FROM JAPAN

WATER FORUMS IN AFRICA AND ASIA…

UGANDA

Kampala will host the 20th Congress of the African Water Association with over 2000 actors expected to discuss and provide solutions on WASH concerns from a scientific and technical lens.

KOREA INTERNATIONAL WATER WEEK
Daegu, September 4-7

Just another example of South Korea displaying middle power behavior. The title is not just earned because a state is geographically in the middle of two different size states or on paper(economically speaking). The state must invest in forums and conferences that invite the world to deal with security matters such as water.

Korea International Water Week

Cape Verde-1st International Forum on Water Scarcity in Agriculture
Praia, March 19-22

This small island state is becoming more active in engagement through small state niche diplomacy. This forum will focus on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and West African States. The aim is to understand water scarcity in agriculture and capitalize on it for sustainable development, food and nutrition security, and tackling climate change. They will focus on six core areas: Water and Migration, Drought Preparedness, Mechanisms, Water and Nutrition, Sustainable Agriculture Water Use and Saline Agriculture. 

South Africa- Transforming Sanitation in Africa
Capetown, February 18-22

The Regional power will be hosting a water related conference. AfricanSan5 and FSM5 are the organizations behind this event of looking at Sustainability, Policies,Funding, Practices of Sanitation.

SIDEBAR

The focus of this blog is always on Africa and Asia but every now and then we get alarming news from our neighboring continents.

Australia is experiencing a very bipolar version of mother nature and a combination of human stupidity. There are mass fish deaths in some rivers with reports of over 1 million in a few weeks. Another concern is the raising temperatures in Australia with temperatures ranging from 1130°C (113°F) to 50°C (122°F) .

See you next Mulday!

Public Health Wednesdays (PHW): Africa & Asia Health Check

We will catch up more on Friday Ramblings. 

AFRICA

LIBERIA

Liberia and Central Africa Republic have issued health alerts on Monkey Pox outbreaks. Last year we discussed the zoonotic disease Monkey Pox, so if you need to catch up and learn more. 

PUBLIC HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE

Majority of African countries do a very poor job towards investments in health infrastructure. The consequences towards this lack of investment contributes to the exhausting inefficiency of countries providing overall public health services to the public.

There always seems to be an excuse for holding “leaders” accountable towards investing in their country’s public health.
International Non-Governmental Organizations that provide “aide” fuel this destructive attitude and ideology that African leaders ought not to be held accountable because of (Fill in the blank) towards their own public health. You often find such excuses come from those that hail from global north spaces that cannot even grasp the health security issues facing Africa.

It also comes from privileged people that hold roles in leadership within these African states that fear accountability. 

You cannot actively exploit “aide” that cripples your country while concurrently complain on former colonial masters exploiting your space.

At some point in time, African leaders must admit their failure towards building and investing towards their own public health.

COOL INVESTMENT FROM JAPAN 

Read here to understand the role of TICAD as a soft power tool from Japan towards Africa Public Health.

“Do you know by 2022, Africa will need $25billion-$30billion in healthcare investment? Hospitals, Clinics, HealthCare Assets, etc ”

SOUTH AFRICA: UPDATE ON LISTERIA

The cause of Listeria for our South African friends can blamed on bolony/polony.

Source of Listeria for our friends in South Africa

CHINA & BOTSWANA- PUBLIC HEALTH AS A SOFT POWER TOOL

Last year, we touched on Botswana as a country that had so much potential with branding and “soft tools” but the government chooses not to actively invest in such public diplomacy. 


Brush up on Botswana and those soft tools

We touched on 4 neglected pieces that could build a powerful brand for the country. It appears China will apply number 2 as a soft power tool.  

ASIA

JAPAN "Let's talk about Sex"

While Japan has no problem investing in the public health infrastructure of Africa, it is failing miserably in teaching the Japanese youth on sex education.

In discussing Sexual Health Education or (Reproductive Health Education), it is absolutely forbidden for teachers to mention the following: Intercourse, Birth Control and Abortion. 

Catch up more on the dilemma of talking about sex in Japan. 

THAILAND: SUPER GONORRHEA "THE CLAP"

“If you spread the Clap....is it called the applause?”

— Public Health Wednesdays bringing the humor in Sex

Public health officials say the world's first confirmed case of multi-drug resistant gonorrhea has been reported in the U.K. Health experts have expressed concern for some time about the rise of drug-resistant strains of the sexually transmitted infection (STI).

“Do you know that a person can contract Neisseria gonorrhoeae AKA gonorrhea outside of sexual contact (Vaginal, Oral, or Anal Intercourse)?

Skin to skin contact (with no sexual activity) can also pass the clap....”

Our Advice: Always use your umbrella no matter the enviroment. 

See you next PHW!

Mulday Mondays: Day Zero in Cape Town, South Africa

This is an oldie but goodie in explaining Water Security. 

CAPE TOWN 

In the beginning of the month, we touched on just how close Cape Town, SA was to Day Zero of having no water supply. The imbalance in distribution of water across the region including weak water policies have contributed to the water shortage in Cape Town. Other issues such as failing waste water plants and poor water system infrastructure to treat sewage that needed a major upgrade also made this situation worse. South Africa is the largest food producer for Southern Africa, the agriculture sector consumes about 60% of all water use in the country. This water shortage crisis in Cape Town will result to water stress towards neighboring countries that will also lead to Food, Water, and Energy security towards the entire region.

GOVERNMENT RESPONDS WITH A POINT SYSTEM

Cape Town has officially announced that each person in the city will be given an allowance of 25 liters a day (6 gallons) of water. Yet the public has heard no immediate solutions from the government on making sure this catastrophe does not repeat itself years later. Cape Town has failed to look at the other dangers that come with hygiene and water access.  

This is repeated so often in discussions with water access and challenges that face women in global south spaces, Menstrual Hygiene. The inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene for women brings more challenges than solutions and should never be gambled or minimized.

Put aside that poor menstrual hygiene leads to a host of health issues such as: UTI’s (ask any woman in your life just how great this feels), Constipation and a Range of infections.

What do you think school attendance will look like for girls attending school in the region compared to boys?

“Do you know that washing your hands can prevent over half of the water borne related illnesses? Granted the WATER IS CLEAN.
”

— Handwashing

Inadequate W.A.S.H(Water Sanitation and Hygiene) affects Public Health, Waterborne Diseases, Vector-Born Diseases, Nutrition, Gender, Education, and Disaster Management. Inadequate W.A.S.H(Water Sanitation and Hygiene) affects Public Health, Waterborne Diseases, Vector-Born Diseases, Nutrition, Gender, Education, and Disaster Management. The Cape Town government has been reactive and not proactive even at this moment. While Citizens are being asked to sacrifice their health and wellness, the government is still not working on the real issues.

The city recommends people take no more than 2 showers a week

The city also encourages using the ocean for washing. However, if people cannot flush often, care to guess how quickly Open Defecation might be an issue?

How much water do you use daily? Try this Water Calculator out!

                         TOURISM TAKES A HIT

It is reported that numbers of tourists are cancelling their trips to Cape Town. You can imagine tourists might not be okay with one flush a day, personal hygiene in the ocean or showering twice a week.
 

   CAPITALIST SEES ONLY SOLUTIONS 

RAINBOW GASTRONOMY WITH NO WATER

Cape Town Food Designers, are making the best of no water in Cape Town, by making sure to use only salt tolerant vegetables. This is the type of unique ingenuity expected from Chefs of the “Rainbow Cuisine”. Rainbow Cuisine is the term used to describe South African Gastronomy. This ingenuity makes South African chefs, cooks, and food designers important players in the overall narrative of African Gastronomy. This is also a tool that can be used for their niche Gastrodiplomacy in interacting with other countries that are experiencing similar water shortage issues.

DRY BATH-BATHING WITH NO WATER BY MR. MARISHANE

If you had to walk a mile for a jug of water every day, as millions of people do, it's unlikely you'd use that precious water to bathe. Young entrepreneur Ludwick Marishane tells the amazing, funny story of how he invented a cheap, clean and convenient solution: DryBath, the world's first bath-substituting lotion.

Want to know more about his products?

See you next  Mulday

.

MULDAY MONDAYS: WATERPLOMACY-TURKEY TO AFRICA & WATER SCARCITY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

TURKEY'S SOFT POWER IN AFRICA:- WATERPLOMACY  AND SO MUCH MORE

“Waterplomacy: The use of water as a tool in diplomacy. ”

— Water & Cassava

“Santa Clause, Father Christmas or St. Nicholas is not from the North Pole. Our Brother is from Turkey.
Stop leaving him cookies, leave him some Turkish Delights or Keebabs
HO! HO! HO! ”

— Water & Cassava is here to decolonize your mind.

Get a Turk in your life so you can find an Auntie. All shall be right in your life. 

“Turkish Delight also known as DRUGS, you cannot stop with just one. On a Turkish Airlines heading to Morocco, I asked four times for just a bit more. The flight attendant gave me the whole box, and everyone laughed at me. Listen, I ate that whole box from London to Morocco and I did not share with my neighbors that found my addiction to be funny. #Haters ”

— Baraka allahu bika

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

The Republic of Turkey. 

“Did you know in 2016, Turkey ranked second for donor countries providing humanitarian assistance?”

TURKEY MAKING THE WORLD GREAT AGAIN!!! SOMEONE SHOULD TELL THE FOLKS IN D.C WITHOUT THE STATES, THESE STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. 

President Erdoğan of Turkey made more visits to Africa in 2017, than any other head of state. The relationship between Turkey and Africa goes back to the Ottoman Empire Era. Turkey’s IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation has dug drinking water wells in Somalia for the consumption of  20,000 people daily. In addition to water, Turkey has built schools, hospitals and roads in the country of Somalia.
 

“The Ottoman Empire ruled parts of North Africa for over five centuries”

President Erdogan is very vocal of the exploitation of Africa and the role colonialism played in destabilizing African states. This is the seduction of Soft Power, you must have policies and a culture that is attractive to folk. On that culture piece, never forget that Intercultural Relations is the thread that holds the cloth of International Relations. 

““We see that the future is in Africa. We cannot put this future aside, we cannot miss it. We didn’t come here with colonial plans. Our history does not have any trace of imperialism. Our sole aim, which I also told the Chadian President, is to ensure that Africa can stand on its own two feet.””

— President Erdogan of Turkey

what does turkey get for such SOFT efforts AND BOLD STATEMENTS?

The Jeopardy Theme.

somalia (MILITARY POLICIES)

Turkey will be joining the United States, U.A.E in having its biggest overseas military base in Mogadishu, Somalia. This base cost our Turk friends a delightful $50 million. 

CHAD (ECONOMIC POLICIES)

Several trade deals and agreements are signed between Turkey and Chad, including technical development, investment and the fight against terror. TRT World's Kim Vinnell reports.

TURKEY & SUDAN WATERPLOMACY
(6 YEARS AGO-"CULTURAL VALUES")

Turkey supports Sudan's water development projects. The Turkish government has donated over US$3.5 million for implementing more modern water technologies to help provide drinking water to the people of Sudan. With the funds going toward the construction of over 40 wells throughout eight states, the project is being implemented by the Africa City of Technology together with the Turkish Development and Cooperation Foundation and Turkish Development Bank.

TURKEY & SUDAN (PRESENT)

-SOFT POWER FROM TURKEY TO AFRICA

Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erodogan, is in Sudan. He arrived in Khartoum on Sunday. It's the first time a Turkish leader is visiting the country. He's accompanied by an impressive business delegation, and has been focusing on investment opportunities.

WATER SCARCITY IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

What happens when a city runs out of municipal water? Models are clear on the severity: the tanking of the economy, the destruction of sewerage infrastructure, outbreaks of violence, the spreading of disease. As Day Zero threatens to approach the City of Cape Town, public consumption isn't the only problem.

Officially, as of yesterday, in Cape Town the water crisis has been upgraded to Level 6 restrictions. This translates to a reduction of over 60% water use of agricultural operations and 45% in the urban business sector. The drought in South Africa is concerning since it appears to be getting worse and if you pay attention to the graphs below, it looks quite grim.

Meteorologist can calculate rainfalls by looking at El Nino and La Nina patterns. The norm is El-Niño brings drought to South Africa, while La Niña brings wet conditions. The rain patterns are so inconsistent in SA, that both Nina and Nino are quite weak, so you do not get the expected rainfall.

STRICTLY INFROMATIONAL, REMEMBER SPARADIC IS THE WEATHER TODAY

THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL AND DAM STORAGE

NO CLEAN WATER IN  HARARE, ZIMBABWE???

“The chemicals needed to make water clean are no longer available in the city or are extremely low in quantity: Activated Carbon, Chlorine, Sulphuric Acid and
Aluminium Sulphate”

— The more you know??

Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni of Harare, capital of Zimbabwe has released official statements on the consumption of water in the city.

““We think we are providing you with water that is good for you and your family to drink,” he said. “We have seen experiences of water that does not look good, water that looks greenish and brownish, water that froths or foams. Let’s share the responsibility. While we assume and claim that our water is clean and safe to drink; we ask you to exercise caution wherever you are and make your own personal decisions about what you see, what you smell. Is it good enough for you to drink?”

— Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni of Harare, Zimbabwe

Let’s hope the new President of Zimbabwe, Bernard Manyenyeni will do something on the Public Health sector. Preferabbly starting with firing Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni immediately.
 

See you next Mulday!