Category Archives: Africa

Spin Yourself to Victory, Morgan

Posted on 1 April 2008 by Robert

Each faction seeks to persuade the power-brokers that they are the inevitable choice, although in both the African and American examples, this can never be conclusively proved. Each candidate seeks to prompt a stampede of power-brokers in their direction. They need to engineer a self-fulfilling prophecy. Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, USA, Zimbabwe | Leave a comment

Fear and Loathing in Zimbabwe

Posted on 30 March 2008 by Robert

Zimbabweans have voted in presidential elections. Good luck to them. Ten years ago, I was living in Zimbabwe, working for the charity SOS. I lived in Chiwaridzo, a township attached to the town of Bindura, a mining town and capital … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa | 2 Comments

Voting for Someone Different

Posted on 18 January 2008 by Robert

Posting here has been light due to a catastrophe that I cannot yet bring myself to discuss.  Don’t worry, no-one has died, but its a bereavement of sorts. The political crisis in Kenya, and the US Presidential Primary season, remind me … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Debate, Multiculturalism, USA | 1 Comment

The World’s Regulator

Posted on 3 January 2008 by Robert

Britain: the World’s Independent Regulator! It has nice ring to it, don’t you think? Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia | 3 Comments

Interfering with the Anglican Church

Posted on 17 December 2007 by Robert

According to my Facebook profile, I am variously an anesthetist, and aesthete, and (less frequently) a non-practicing atheist. But whatever guise I choose for myself, I tend to look upon the tribulations of Dr Williams with the detachment of an … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Elsewhere, Religion | 1 Comment

Peers in Sudan, Pride in Britain

Posted on 1 December 2007 by Robert

Every time some there is some kind of flash-point between hard-line Muslims, and the nebulous cloud of values we call “western”, someone always pops up on the 24 hour punditry circuit, asking for the UK’s “muslim community” to “do more”. … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Multiculturalism, Religion | Leave a comment

Troops in Sudan

Posted on 1 August 2007 by Robert

It is good news that the UN is taking action on the Sudan crisis. Clearly any action to stop the massacres of civilians in Darfur is to be welcomed, even if many believe a UN resolution should have been made … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa | 2 Comments

Man without honour

Posted on 5 June 2007 by Robert

I missed the Sunday papers, but I am glad I spotted the news that The University of Edinburgh have managed to strip Robert Mugabe of his honorary degree (via This Is Zimbabwe). Its a gesture, but an important step in … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Zimbabwe | 1 Comment

One cheer for John Howard

Posted on 14 May 2007 by Robert

A robust multicultural policy, which proudly asserts the value of the Aboriginal culture in the face of unrelenting attack, is a good thing and should be encouraged. There is nothing ‘crippling’ about a bit of cultural cringe in this case, and Australia could do with a little more of it. Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Australia, Multiculturalism, Zimbabwe | 5 Comments

Caged again

Posted on 21 February 2007 by Robert

There seem to be quite extensive renovations going on outside the Royal Festival Hall at present. In past days, the Mandela sculpture had disappeared from its plinth on the South Bank. It has now been reinstated, albeit behind a wire … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Photo-Blog, Visual | 2 Comments