Africa: The size of a continent

Many identify Africa with less-developed countries, disease and war ridden…
…but what almost all forget is the sheer size of that continent that will never allow one-size-fits all approaches. The map below provides a better understanding of the size by overlaying it with some of the largest countries in the world and whole continents…

Continue reading…

Worldprocessor: Data as Globes

Ingo Guenther’s “Worldprocessor” project that started in 1988 has created some of the most outstanding globes. Currently there are more then 300 different designs visualizing world statistical data as globes.
This project has been going for quite some time but the online catalog with hundreds of globes is still worth a look. We have selected a [...]

Granta: How (not) to write about Africa

UK magazine Granta has a great article online describing how many writers are exploiting cliches and stereotypes when writing about Africa.
It is titled How to write about Africa and written by celebrated Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina. Worth reading

Some quotes:…Always use the word ‘Africa’ or ‘Darkness’ or ‘Safari’ in your title. Subtitles may include the [...]

UN: 24-October-2006 United Nations day

Today is United Nations day and it is the last for Kofi Annan. Let’s see what the next 365 days will bring for this planet…

…For the tenth and last time as Secretary-General, I offer friends and colleagues around the world my best wishes on United Nations Day. I have spent almost my whole [...]

OLPC: Negroponte getting USD100 laptop ready for delivery

Nicholas Negroponte’s OLPC project is taking up speed with selected manufacturer Quanta Computer now having started the test production of the low-cost laptop intended for students and children in developing countries. Initial test run outputs should be available next month. Quanta has earlier selected its new plant in Changshu, China to produce the computer [...]

Interactive Map: World’s Most Polluted Places

The Blacksmith Institute has created a list and interactive map of the Top-10 worlds worst polluted places.
The list was compiled with the help of a technical advisory board including experts from John Hopkins, Hunter College and Harvard University. The Top-10 were selected from more then 300 potential sites by evaluating where human health is [...]