Oh, those Republicans

Usually, I don't associate the term "Republican" and "humor" in the same sentence. But this video is either proof that someone at the RNC is a funny guy/gal, although I'm not entirely sure it's not meant to be taken in the 1st degree. Let's hope not. For your viewing pleasure...

Point of View - Rony Brauman

My new life has so far not afforded me quality time for thinking/blogging - I need to refocus my energy! I've been reading a lot though, and feel constantly inspired to share thoughts with all (2 or 3) of you - after blogging about the ICC and Bashir's indictment last week, I read this great piece written by Rony Brauman, who was the head of Doctors Without Borders (as you might know, one of my all time favorite NGOs).

He also happens to be a former professor of mine, whose analysis and vision of the world had a profound impact on me. He is one of those disheveled guys that you would probably not think much of at first glance - but he is an amazing thinker (dare I say philosopher??), and is held in the highest regard by field practicioners who have worked with him.

This piece definitely characterizes his controversial take on most issues - his views are almost always counter-intuitive, but he is extremely convincing. His views on genocide are absolutely worth reading about - if this piece piques your interest, I strongly encourage you to look further into his work (drop me an email if you'd like some recommendations)

... Apart from the judicial inflation to which it gives rise, the major problem with this perception of armed conflicts as "genocides" (the former Yugoslavia, Sudan, and undoubtedly more to come) is that it removes them from history and politics, in order to subject them instead to a purely moral judgment. To qualify a war as genocidal is to leave the terrain of politics, of its relations of force, of its compromises and contingencies, in order to situate oneself in some metaphysical beyond in which the only conflict is between Good and Evil: fanatics versus moderates, blood-thirsty hordes versus innocent civilians....

Read the full piece here.

Meanwhile, African Union soldiers are wearing blue plastic bags on their helmets to indicate they now operate under the UN... Boy, do we care about the situation in Darfur or what?? Very unsatisfactory state of affairs - as much as I am a huge supporter of strengthening international law, I am even more a believer in putting your $$ where your mouth is... Which, quite unfortunately, most countries, most leaders fail to do, time and time again.

The Elusive Poverty Line

The $1 a day measure is a standard catch phrase for development and aid practicioners. It's also a hotly debated issue - while some argue that it's a useful measure that allows us to objectively assess levels of poverty in a country, others say that it's meaningless, as a person living with twice the amount (or a 100% increase...) is still trying to make ends meet with only 2 bucks a day.

Grossly, that's the concept.

I was just reading this interesting post on the CGD blog, about the World Bank's re-evaluation of the poverty line to $1.25. I can just picture the half dozen World Bank experts, slaving over this report, analyzing data, running regressions....to come up with that brilliant conclusion: $1.25 is a MORE accurate delimitation for absolute poverty than just $1. They also had this insightful conclusion:

Second, Ravallion and co-authors suggest that differences in different countries' choice of poverty line indicate that the definition of poverty is in fact subjective and depends on the social context.

Oh, is that so? I'm glad that we figured this out in 2008 - surely, no one previously had put forward THAT notion. So, finally, I suppose, this means that from now on the $1 a day measure is going to be used in a more nuanced way, by integrating qualitative analysis and contextual substance. A step in the right direction that should be acknowledged, in spite of the fact of the fact it's a realization that comes into the game a few decades late.

While I understand that objective, quantitative indicators and economic measurements are necessary to the development and analysis of policy and its effects, that $1 day a day measure (sorry, $1.25 now) really doesn't sit well with me. Particularly when I stumble across ideas such as these, ie. that people living on between $2 and $10 a day represent a "middle class" in developing countries. In the interest of full disclosure, I've only read the abstract of that paper, but regardless, while I see the rationale behind trying to understand

" the importance of relative prices in shaping consumption decisions or the power of norms/fashions in determining consumption",

it seems to me that this type of discourse demeans (for lack of a better word) the experience of people struggling in the developing world.

Sure, people who live with $10/day ($3650/year) have infinitely more opportunities than those who live below the absolute poverty line - but they still do not have the type of opportunities available to a genuine middle class, like we have in the West. $3650 per year doesn't allow for a lot of consumption choices, or choices in general, and definitely doesn't allow people to save up for their retirement for instance. These people won't get bank loans to get their kids to college, or a mortgage on their house, or have a credit card (or ten) that would deepen and broaden their horizons, their possibilities. I sure hope that a real middle class will emerge in the developing world - and here I'm thinking of the LDCs (least developed countries), since the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China) of this world are already experiencing this.



For families struggling across the developing world, whether they have $1, $2 or $4 to spend every day makes probably makes a difference in the short run - you can buy more food, pay for your child's school supplies, etc. However, in the long run, I believe these differences make only a marginal difference - and the lines between absolutely poor, relatively poor and "middle class" remain blurry.

The ICC and its Responsibility

Lots of talk this week about the indictement of Sudan's President, Omar Al Bashir. Journalists, analysts and bloggers are taking positions on this issue, and the terms of the debate seem to boil down to justice vs. peace. Indicting Bashir, it again signals the "end of impunity", also diminishes the possibility of negotiated political settlement in which the """"international community"""(many quotation marks intended) would play a significant role.

I am firm believer in the role of international law in guaranteeing respect for human rights and moving us towards something closer to global justice - in the long run. In the short run, however, it seems that political considerations (might I say imperatives?) need to be weighed appropriately when making highly charged legal decisions, such as indicting Bashir. Politically, the move hasn't garnered the high level support it needs to succeed. Beyond this, it also is a critical move for the ICC - if the indictment is challenged by the judges, the consequences for the Office of the Prosecutor should be interesting...

There are hundreds of opinion pieces on this topic - this one, from the LA Times, takes the position that the indictment probably delays the possibility of peace in Darfur (and in Sudan at large). I thought this quote really captured the essence of the debate, and I'll leave you with it:

"A harsh question: Is this [the indictment] about helping bring peace to Darfur or is it about furthering a political vision of the world, one based on human rights as the categorical political and, above all, moral imperative no matter what the real-world consequences?"(emphasis added)

Oh, the traps of idealism....

Long Time No Read!

I admit, I have been majorly slacking on the blog front in recent weeks, but I have some excellent reasons (no, really, I do). Following a year long search for the perfect job, I was offered a position as Program Associate for the Vancouver-based Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative in early June. Since then, I have been multi tasking more than ever, trying to wrap things up in Paris before moving to Canada, and with World Refugee Day events and all the Niapele work that needed to get accomplished, it was a challenge!

I've been in transit since late June, seeing family and friends in various locations before settling in Vancouver - a city that I had never set foot in until this past Monday. Needless to say, since then, it's been a mad race to find a place to live, figure out my way around, etc. As a result, I unfortunately had to put my blog and other personal endeavors on the back burner for a while. But I'm getting back on the proverbial horse, and will begin writing substantial posts again next week.

If any of you have any Vancouver recommendations for me, let me know! I don't know anyone or anything here, and welcome any friendly advice.

Since I have been by myself for the better part of this week, I've been having meals alone - so as not to feel like a social outcast, I've been bringing a book to the various eateries I have graced with my presence. The book in question is entitled "The Wisdom of Whores" by Elizabeth Pisani, and in spite of its seemingly R rated title, it's a fascinating read. Written by a journalist-cum-epidemiologist who has been involved in the fight against AIDS since the early 90s, it provides a really interesting perspective on HIV/AIDS, and the international response to it. I'm only half way through, and I prefer to have read the whole thing before giving a fuller account of it, but if you're in need of a summer read that will surely attract raised eyebrows in public settings (trust me on this one), "The Wisdom of Whores" is for you.