Kenyan food crisis

Something that did not make it in the headlines recently is the current food crisis that is occurring in Kenya. This crisis has developed for several reasons:

-Falling income, both at home and among family members abroad that typically send money back. This shows how the financial crisis has not affected just the affluent and also reminds us of who is hit the hardest during slow economic times.

-Short rains late in the year in 2008 has caused a drought which has resulted in crop failures.

-High food prices. The price of maize has soared to incredible heights, which obviously translates in people being forced to cut back on the very thing they need the most.

-Inflation and high fertilizer prices have not allowed subsistence farmers to plant the volume of crops desired.

This crisis is deep and wide. While subsistence farmers in rural areas are being especially hit hard, the urban populations are not immune. The World Food Programme (WFP) has recently announced that it will scale up operations to meet the needs of 3.5 million people who are expected to be affected the worse during this crisis. That number could very well continue to rise. The WFP will focus a majority of their energies on rural areas though. That means that the needs of approximately 4 million urban dwellers and 1.9 million people who live with HIV/AIDS who are feeling the effects of the food crisis will not be met through the operations of the WFP. What will happen to those people? It is nearly a guarantee that the Kenyan government will not be able to meet those people's needs, so who does that leave? The international community, the African Union (AU), local nonprofit organizations? I am not upset with the WFP; granted they are attempting to help those that are most effected by this crisis. My frustration ultimately comes down to a fact that continually haunts me. In a world that has so much, people still go hungry. We as a global community have not found a way to utilize our resources effectively.

This food crisis is a reminder of the importance of tapping into the most vital resource in Kenya..the people's aptitudes and entrepreunerial minds. This concept goes far beyond aid and is rooted in forming relationships and encouraging innovation. I am talking about empowering Kenyans through the use of income generating grants. There is an organization doing just that called The 10/10 Project..follow the link, educate yourself, and join the story.

Source: World Food Programme

The Element: A New View of Human Capacity by Ken Robinson

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
For us dreamers, books like The Element are thoroughly enjoyable because it encourages us to continue doing what we do best..dream. However this book is not exclusive; it does not have a specific target market and therefore would be readable for people from all walks of life. Outside of reminding myself to be constantly looking for ways to engage my passions, this book changed the way I think about certain things such as intelligence, creativity, and believe it or not, the education system. The author does a wonderful job of pairing the importance of discovering what we do very well with how that discovery can lead to personal growth and benefit those in our sphere of influence. Although challenging, it is not full of idealistic and unattainable concepts which is refreshing. I would especially recommend this book to those individuals that feel like they are not doing something meaningful or for those that feel unsure about what steps to take next in this journey we call life. If anything it will make you think, which is usually always a good thing.


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The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time by Jeffrey D. Sachs

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mr. Sachs is obviously approaching the poverty issue from an economic perspective, which was to be expected. What I appreciated was how the author attempted to create a balance between his macro solutions and how such solutions can benefit those on the ground. Much of what he has to offer in regards to reducing poverty is in response to his personal experiences. It was an enjoyable read and not incredibly difficult.


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'God Grew Tired of Us'

Recently, I had the opportunity to view a screening of the film 'God Grew Tired of Us' which describes the journey of the Lost Boys. These boys were forced to flee their homeland of Sudan over twenty years ago due to the violence that was breaking out, as armed soldiers from the North attacked people groups in the South. In recent years their story has been widely publicized, however this was a special evening because not only did those who attended the screening see the film, we also heard the personal testimonies of several of our Sudanese brothers who attend our university. Just like the stories of the men in the film, my friends and brothers gave heart wrenching accounts of murder, starvation, and cruelty. These men have experienced more suffering and sadness than any human ever should. Although they courageously discussed traumatic events that have taken place in their relatively short lives, it does not stop there. These men have decided not to let the past and the pain disrupt the life they are living now, and the dreams each of them have for the future. Dreams of progress, of peace, and of reconciliation. Their story is horrible, yes. However the hope they have is the most inspiring aspect of their experience. More than anyone else, these men have an excuse to be angry and hate filled..but they are not. Instead they are wise, joyful, and compassionate. From their stories, I am motivated to join them in their fight to end the violence in Sudan and encourage progress, but I am also challenged to live a life that is built around community, love, and purpose. To learn more about the film, and what you can do please click on the title.

Obama's address

President Obama recently made his first address to Congress, and once again he awed viewers and colleagues alike with his incredible speaking ability. The ever inspiring Obama needed to deliver a strong argument, justifying his recent stimilus package. I suppose it depends upon which side of the isle you sit on when determing whether his speech was sufficient and strong, however when details of the speech are observed, it is easier to determine how accurate and effective Obama was. Like many politicians and public figures before him who were also on a large stage, Obama's biggest enemy this evening were those people who sit in a small, enclosed room (at least that is how I imagine it) checking out each and every statement; a.k.a. factcheck.org. Here are some of their findings..

• He said "we import more oil today than ever before." That's untrue. Imports peaked in 2005 and are substantially lower today.

• He claimed his mortgage aid plan would help "responsible" buyers but not those who borrowed beyond their means. But even prominent defenders of the program including Fed Chairman Bernanke and FDIC chief Bair concede foolish borrowers will be aided, too.
  

• He said the high cost of health care "causes a bankruptcy in America every 30 seconds." That's at least double the true figure.He flubbed two facts about American history. The U.S. did not invent the automobile, and the transcontinental railroad was not completed until years after the Civil War, not during it.

No matter your political affiliation, I believe it is important to do your research when statistics and facts are spouted out by people of authority instead of simply taking that information at face value. It allows us as citizens and people who have an incredible amount of interest in the activities of our government to educate ourselves and discover what we stand for and why. Ok, enough of the soap box.

Factcheck.org information aside, my biggest concern was the protectionist tendencies Obama expressed. I am thinking of when he mentioned more than once the importance of keeping jobs here (which is fine in moderation but not in excess) and even placing taxes upon businesses that send jobs overseas. If we are to continue to abide by the free market principles our country has stood for in the past, the last thing our economy needs right now is to adapt protectoinist policies. History shows that such policies are completely inefficient. What we need in terms of spurring economic growth is to expand trade, open up markets, and limit tariffs and subsidies. Keeping this mindset will be key for the Obama administration because when things are bad economically, it is quite tempting to slow trade and focus solely on job creation domestically when in all reality an equal combination of both is ideal.

Overall, the goal of the Obama team with this speech was to provide general information on the stimilus package that would satisify the public while letting his enthusiasism and optimism encourage us. If that interpretation of what Obama wanted to accomplish is accurate, then he succeeded. I am not an economist or an expert on financial disasters, however if I could make a recommendation to Mr. Obama it would be to encourage trade, invest in education, and and reward innovation. Just like Obama, I am optimistic about our future but in a pragmatic way. I believe the economy will improve, however that will require tangible steps to be taken by our government and by leaders within the private sector.

For his first address, it was everything I expected and pretty good..maybe next time he can get a couple more facts straight.

Source: factcheck.org

ashes & humility

Humans undoubtedly have the ability to create. We are innovative beings that are able to adapt quite quickly to changing environments and such. However this creation ability can become a menace to society as we have seen in the recent economic crisis. Another aspect of our human nature emerges, greed, which can destroy everything that was previously created and intended for good. Today is Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of the lent season in the Christian faith. It is simply a day of reflection and humility. Amidst all the chaos and uncertainty that is currently going on in my country and abroad, it was refreshing to slow down and take a dose of the humble pill. Sometimes I think we let success and achievements go to our head, which blinds us from the reality that we are limited and fragile beings. On this day, ashes are used as a reminder..

Remember that you are dust
and to dust you shall return.

What do we do with humility? We turn it into a response built upon love. I have been humbled today, and have therefore been challenged to think outside of myself. The hungry, the oppressed, and the thirsty are on my mind and heart tonight. I hope to have a go at humility, and will look for opportunities to bring freedom to those that currently are not experiencing it. Create, innovate, and dream but do it with a gentle heart; with one that understands that we are ultimately part of something so much bigger than ourselves. I leave you with a prayer from a very special woman.

Lord, open our eyes,
That we may see you in our brothers and sisters.
Lord, open our ears,
That we may hear the cries of the hungry,
the cold, the frightened, the oppressed.
Lord, open our hearts, that we may love each other as you love us.
Renew in us your spirit,
Lord, free us and make us one.
-Mother Teresa

simplicity

It is interesting how the most inspiring thoughts can occur at the most random times. While munching on a chicken salad sandwich this afternoon at a local bakery, I was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of peace and contentment. There was nothing elaborate or unnatural about the sandwich itself or the atmosphere, however there was something incredibly unique about that moment and the joy I was experiencing. Initially bewildered, I let my mind wander in order to attempt to find the answer to the question that I immediately raised..why am I so pleased right now? I eventually came to the conclusion that there was something quite enjoyable about slowing down, savoring a meal that I was mightily thankful for, and realizing how sad it was that I normally do not enjoy such a moment. The power of simplicity reigned right then.

My nerdiness quickly emerged and I began to debate with myself the benefits of simplicity versus complexity in life. Of course there are advantages in both realms, however I wondered if I would have experienced the same joy at that moment in the bakery if I was instead going through a drive thru for lunch, while on my Blackberry, with talk radio blaring in the background. The obvious answer is, well..most likely not. Granted there are great aspects of each of those three elements. Each serves a distinct function that helps me go about my day. But I could not bring myself to say that drive thrus, Blackberrys, and talk radio would all simultaneously provide me with the same refreshing feeling of joy as solely focusing upon one element, the sandwich in this case. In the business world, companies that focus upon developing a few products versus many have experienced growth. The reason for this revolves around quality. If a company is providing people with a limited number of products, they can focus upon making those products reliable, desirable, and worth the buck. The same goes for our lifestyles. Instead of products though, it is possessions and to do lists. When I live simply, I am able to focus on the small treasures of life which allows me to become truly happy and content.

Simplicity is the antithesis of what we are taught to value in Western society. Instead, it is expected that power, making ourselves known, and acquiring as much as possible is to be sought out. However the more I think about how quick our time on earth is and how a lot of what people around me are striving towards is anything but eternal, I realize how attractive simplicity suddenly appears. Today I was reminded how fruitful slowing down, developing relationships, pursuing what I am passionate about, and therefore seeking simplicity can be. It is pretty amazing what you can learn from a sandwich.