Jul 26, 2023
Thanks Nuzhat for the encouraging words of appreciation!
Jul 26, 2023
Hi Gautam,
the paintings are amazing! Love the stunning blending of colors. Thanks for sharing.
the paintings are amazing! Love the stunning blending of colors. Thanks for sharing.
Samphe Lhalungpa commented on "Letter from Afghanistan : Niloufar Pourzand"
Jul 26, 2023
First off, this should be shared with all coalition partners who provided support and assistance over the years. As UNICEF retirees, we can finally lobby our governments and so can we bring this to the attention of the political actors? Are there a group of MPs who form a Parliamentary Friends of Afghanistan. Interestingly, we have in the Canadian Vets who served potential allies, as they were the spearhead of efforts to bring over those their Afghan counterparts, who were should to shoulder with them. We must have well connected Canadian UNICEF wallahs who can knock on the right doors. From my very modest station in Ottawa, stand ready to help.
Samphe Lhalungpa commented on "Bangladesh: BRAC's the way : Devex"
Jul 26, 2023
As someone who at the working level had a lot of interactions with BRAC during my four years managing UNICEF's Non formal education portfolio, must say, consistency and scale were two hallmarks, some other NGOs had more seemingly innovative educational technologies but were unable to sustain them managerially and financially. I think the term Social Corporation best describes BRAC, with an enterprise arm that cross subsidizes the social/educational work. During my 8 week stint with SCF at the Rohingya response --as one of two Education Cluster Coordinators, I noted that BRAC fielded a contingent of some 800 field workers with good representation from their Africa based teams. Dr.Abed's other contribution was to keep his organization out of Politics that fiery flame that drew some charismatic NGO folks to the flame. Wonder if it is still OK to speak of a BRACAVERSE...
SDL commented on "Tons of Puns : Leo Goulet"
Jul 26, 2023
Thx Leo, such fun, only one that I can make up for now:
1. One goes to a Sushi Bar for a raw deal
2. A remedy for overweight fishermen, bait loss
3. Nock it off, said one archer to the other
1. One goes to a Sushi Bar for a raw deal
2. A remedy for overweight fishermen, bait loss
3. Nock it off, said one archer to the other
Jul 26, 2023
This is also the case in Canada, where we have had women ministers leave politics because of foul and degrading attacks, the coarsening of the public space and the lack of any behavioral markers -- encouraged by Social Media and an increasingly permissive stance towards extreme hate, racism and homophobia has all created toxicity on a scale that is deeply concerning. .
Jul 25, 2023
Great travelogue, Fouad! That was quite an adventure for those days, especially coming from Beirut. Very evocative of place and especially the era. It reminded me a bit of my own more recent trip through the Balkans from Vienna to Izmir in 2014, as well as an earlier sojourn behind the Iron Curtain, in Poland in the winter of 1970-71 ....especially the mention of having some “hard currency” and the privileges that brought! The contrast between these countries now and in the 1960s is of course more dramatic than comparing the countries of Western Europe even if many of the latter had their own share of “shabbiness” back in the day.
Yugoslavia, was of course a bit more attractive in those days, having pursued a more independent form of socialism under Tito. Bulgaria, with its beaches on the Black Sea, was also becoming a popular destination in the exploding summer holiday market (in England at least).
Your piece also brought back memories of an English folk-rock singer called Roy Harper who had a minor hit in 1967 with a song entitled “You don’t need money” which chronicled his experience as a busking musician travelling in Europe and contained the immortal lines:
“Nobody's got any money in the Summer
Oh dear me, what a terrible drag…
All the folkie student population wearing rucksacks
Taking my meal ticket over the seas
And half the blasted idiots are stuck in Yugoslavia
With hardly a Dinar
And looking no cleaner
Than a Chinese wrestler's jock-strap
Cooked in chip fat
On a greasy day”
Oh, the days of Europe on $5 a day!
Yugoslavia, was of course a bit more attractive in those days, having pursued a more independent form of socialism under Tito. Bulgaria, with its beaches on the Black Sea, was also becoming a popular destination in the exploding summer holiday market (in England at least).
Your piece also brought back memories of an English folk-rock singer called Roy Harper who had a minor hit in 1967 with a song entitled “You don’t need money” which chronicled his experience as a busking musician travelling in Europe and contained the immortal lines:
“Nobody's got any money in the Summer
Oh dear me, what a terrible drag…
All the folkie student population wearing rucksacks
Taking my meal ticket over the seas
And half the blasted idiots are stuck in Yugoslavia
With hardly a Dinar
And looking no cleaner
Than a Chinese wrestler's jock-strap
Cooked in chip fat
On a greasy day”
Oh, the days of Europe on $5 a day!
Jul 25, 2023
Thank you, Rohini!
Jul 25, 2023
Thank you, Rohini!
Jul 25, 2023
Creative!
Moncef Bouhafa commented on "Weekly Digest 16 - 23 July 2023"
Jul 23, 2023
On the immunization question. While not a complete analysis check out Bill Gates book on Avoiding the next pandemic. The section on immunization is quite informative
Jul 23, 2023
Three lovely South Asians reuning in a Mexican restaurant! Now that is what I call globalization or is it international cooperation ?
Jul 22, 2023
Thanks to all for your nice words about the article. It is gratifying to know that XUNICEF colleagues have appreciated a story that is mainly a personal one.
Myra..yes, I have kept many memories of this trip which at the time was an exceptional one for all three of us. Also I had kept a pile of photos in an album dedicated to the trip so it was easy to recall places and events.
The sad part is that my best friend Andy passed away many years ago so I wanted to share the story with his widow, children and grand-children. Moreover I lost contact with John more than fourty years ago which is also sad.
Myra..yes, I have kept many memories of this trip which at the time was an exceptional one for all three of us. Also I had kept a pile of photos in an album dedicated to the trip so it was easy to recall places and events.
The sad part is that my best friend Andy passed away many years ago so I wanted to share the story with his widow, children and grand-children. Moreover I lost contact with John more than fourty years ago which is also sad.
Ramesh Shrestha commented on "Social Contract: Ramesh Shrestha"
Jul 22, 2023
Sorry, Sree, it is supposed to be Sree not Steve. Self correcting technology. This is how technology will continue to take control of our lives.
Ramesh Shrestha commented on "Social Contract: Ramesh Shrestha"
Jul 22, 2023
Thanks Steve for your comment. Of course, the private sector has contributed substantially in boosting economy, no doubt. The communication is practically free with so many chat software in our mobile devices. My argument is private sector has totally marginalized the basic services such as health and education to mention a few. The cost of private education and health care is unreasonably high for the majority. Cost of everything goes up once it is privatized. The influence of private companies in making government regulations is assured. Given the current geopolitics and international financing and the current climate crisis my concern is for today’s children. What hope is there for them. With changing climate agricultural work will be greatly affected. Anyways, all we can do is remain hopeful. According to Al-Jazeera two days ago the temperature in Tehran airport recorded 66c, highest recorded ever. It is the maximum human body can tolerate. Yet, people’s lifestyle based on energy consumption is under the grip of private sector. All we can do is remain hopeful. Ignorance is Bliss. Unfortunately people like us appear to be outliers.
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