From the Editors for the period 9 to 16 November 2025

 

This week, Rob Carr recalls a visit by Jim Grant to Northern Iraq, in 1992. Rob had only recently joined UNICEF and, as head of the office in Dohuk, he was asked to plan every hour of the visit. Jim Grant wanted to meet children..... but there were no children....

Contest 

Richard Bridle proposed a picture contest for all our readers. Anyone travelling, or having some old pictures in their shoe-box or on the smartphone can participate. Read on....

Our Contributors

Last week Thomas Ekvall's article on racism drew many comments. He is now following up with The Aid Illusion: Tanzania and the Failure of Good Intentions

Ken Gibbs recalls some episodes that prepared him well for future duties as Wat-San specialist in UNICEF. Unsurprisingly, they have to do with making it rain and using fishing twine to navigate.

Ramesh Shrestha philosophizes about the relationship between social values ​​and science.

Fouad Kronfol, Nadia and Fritz Lherisson had a night out together, enjoying a live screening of Giacomo Puccini's masterpiece "La Bohème". It was a unique experience - check out what happened.

Kul Gautam recommends the G20 Global Inequalities Report to us, and encourages everyone to sign the petition supporting the recommendation to establish an International Panel on Inequality.

Articles shared by members

"Inclusion NOT Exclusion - the Fur Trader Who Became Cherokee" has been shared by Gautam Banerji.

Niloufar Pourzand sent us UNICEF's James Elder's address at the National Press Club of Australia: "The lives of all children everywhere matter".

Shamsul Farooq shared Ten Trends to Watch in 2026.

Vivian Sakal sent us a link to the video by the Guardian about Sudanese civilians recounting their flight from El Fasher.

Kul Gautam tells us that El Paso Joins UNICEF USA’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative.

Tom McDermott shares the latest Plan for Gaza by the Trump Administration, as reported in the Atlantic. 

Tom McDermott recommends an article by the Guardian, reporting that Indonesia’s free school meals are tainted by food poisoning. He also has information on the Need for Digital Protection in Humanitarian Crises.

John Gilmartin has two articles the current Malaria Vaccine Rollouts, and a new Anti-malarial Breakthrough.

When Music Becomes Medicine: An article and the music by a survivor of the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda, shared by Niloufar Pourzand.

Reunion

Update #12 is available on the preparations for the 2026 Reunion in Zimbabwe.

Humor

Fouad Kronfol has a funny story on how an elder takes on her bank.

News Link

As always, Tom McDermott has maintained a daily log of important news articles on matters of relevance for our readers. News that you might have missed.

Missing You

Dario Loda, RIP

Grainne Moloney, RIP

Comments

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