http://www.pix-aid.org en-us http://www.pix-aid.org N/A 5flagsweb@gmail.com Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:10:47 CDT 20 http://www.pix-aid.org/blogs/13/Learning-by-example.html Sergio, at right, planing with local farmers. Sergio is the founder of IIDAA (Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo Andino Amazonico) and is very passionnate about irrigation. It's a rare moment when Sergio speaks of anything else! Starting his blog today, we can follow him as he meets poor farmers in the high Andean Mountains, climbing up to 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) in his 4-wheel drive Toyota. Sergio speaks Quechua, the language of the people in these villages and can give us a peek into their lives.Today, I visited the hills of Mosocllacta where, for the third year in a row, the people are growing potatoes, peas and alfalfa with the help of gravity-driven irrigation.When I was there, the farmers from the neighboring community of Pamparqu-Choquecani (3780 m high or 12,400 feet) came to see me. The president of their community, Felix Escalante, asked me to help them with a similar project to irrigate 35 hectares (86 acres) belonging to 120 families in the valleys of the Churacancca Mountains.This project will need 1.6 km (0.6 miles) of tubes with an inverted siphon of 4 inches diameter in order to produce 20 liters of water a second enabling the farmers to have two harvests a year.These farmers are very poor, principally because of the lack of water. Irrigating these 35 hectares, the farmers can more efficiently use the waters of a nearby mountain lake and grow enough food for the entire community. The farmers have promised to provide the labor and IIDAA will provide materials and seeds for a period of four years with the financial help of the NGO « A Bridge to Latin America. »Irrigation will provide a better life in the village, encouraging young people to stay and not migrate to the overcrowded slums of the city.Sergio's entry in Spanish:Hoy visité los cerros de Mosocllacta donde por tercer año vienen cultivando  papa, arveja y alfalfa con riego por aspersión instalados con nuestro proyecto.Me buscaron agricultores de una Comunidad vecina Pamparqui-Choquecani a 3,780 m.s.n.m. cuyo presidente  Felix Escalante me solicita que a ellos también le ayudemos con proyecto de riego por aspersión para aprovechar  35 hectáreas  de 120 familias en las faldas del cerro Churcancca, personalmente hice el trazo de  1.6 km. de conducción del agua que mediante un sifón invertido por tubería de 4" de diámetro  conducirá  20 litros por segundo ( l/s) para producir  2 cosechas por año.Son agricultores muy pobres debido principalmente a escasez de tierras con riego; incorporando 35 Ha.  con riego ayudaremos a solucionar la carencia de alimentos, aprovechando eficientemente aguas de una laguna. Los agricultores se comprometen aportar la mano de obra no calificada y el IIDAA los materiales,dirección técnica, semillas y la capacitación por 4 años, gracias al aporte económico de Eng Bréck de Luxemburgo. Sergio Mora Quintanilla Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pix-aid.org/blogs/12/A-navigable-Artic-Ocean.html I've just returned from a shoot in Athens and Helsinki. As a freelance, the month of March has been very good with a lot of work, but which has left me with little time to write for Pix-Aid. This last shoot has maybe little to do with development and humanitarian aid, but was interesting nonetheless. It was about building more efficient and more ecological diesel engines. But not small ones... big 20 cylinder engines for tankers and other huge ocean-faring ships.The warmest March on record in Helsinki... no snow and little ice. Photo: Denis LoktevThe program is "Hercules", a European Union sponsored effort to make ocean transport more efficient. But that wasn't the interesting part of the trip, at least for me. I love to talk with scientists passionate about their work. They can go on for hours about all sorts of things and it is very interesting to listen and learn. Adjacent to the diesel engine research, scientists are trying to improve ship hulls for navigating through ice up to half a meter thick. With global warming, the Arctic ocean may become navigable. Even within 10 to 15 years, the ice may melt during the summer! Now, for forward thinkers, this opens up an iceberg of ideas. Trade between northern Europe and Asia or the west coast of the United States would be much quicker over the North Pole than to pass through the Mediterranean and Red seas or the Panama Canal. They even talk of oil reserves locked under the ice in northern Russia becoming economically exploitable. So for all this traffic, you need more ships and ships better able to safely plow through the ice as it becomes thinner.Europeans this summer need no convincing of global warming. Helsinki, at around 60 degrees north latitude, was a balmy 17 degrees (62 F), the warmest March in its history. Maybe it is too late to reverse the change of climate and we may just have to figure out ways to live in a different world of warmer temperatures and their consequences. Terry Winn Mon, 02 Apr 2007 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pix-aid.org/blogs/10/Uganda-Source-of-solutions.html 12 March 2007, Entebbe, UgandaHaving arrived at night, I didn’t notice that our hotel, besides being a 5-star, is located right on Lake Victoria! At 6:30 in the morning, Julian knocks on my door and says to grab the camera. His room has a view of the lake and a grand sunrise is in the making… possible opening images for our report.Getting up early was well worth seeing the sun rise over the second biggest fresh water lake in the world. The sun peeked out over the mountains to the east and cast its orange reflection across the water. We weren’t the only ones on the beach… probably a dozen Merabou storks and birds of all shapes and colors were pecking at the sand and fighting for bits of food.After breakfast and a shower, we go to the FAO office just down the street. Bart Hilhorst explains the Nile River Initiative. Basically, the water from the Nile is more than enough for the people of the region… for the moment. But as the waters become more polluted and the population grows, water should grow scarce by 2030. But there are solutions and as Bart says, “We just give people time. We show the situation and give a sense of urgency.”The FAO international group reviews different scenarios.Our mission today is to illustrate the problem and show some of the solutions. The problem is easy enough to film… heavy traffic in Kampala, a relatively small city, but already too big for its infrastructure, crowds of people and housing and factories taking over wetlands and encroaching on the lake.After about an hour in Kampala traffic and another hour on the road, we arrive at Kyekidde, a village of some 60 families or 240 people. We are with John Mackay, a government agronomist. At six foot four and comfortable mid-section that comes with age, Mr. Mackay commands respect. When he gets out of the van, three women of the village run up to greet him. They come up to him and bow down on their knees. I was a bit shocked and asked afterwards why that was. I was told women in villages always address men in this way to show respect. Men just shake hands.When I go to places I always try to learn a few key words. It’s fun to say them to people and see their surprise and it always brings a smile. The local language is Luganda, a Bantu language. Oli otya means how are you. Webale nyo means thank you very much. The village kids get a kick out of hearing me webale nyo them after taking their picture.Mr. Mackay has been working with this village and others since 2000. To prepare for water shortage in the future, the farmers have been trying to use the water more efficiently and to grow crops which have a higher rate of return of money to cubic meter of water used. Since 2000, the village has increased its fields by 60%.Apparently the farmers are very motivated… one of the reasons the village was chosen for this experimental project. They grow cassava, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, red peppers, sweet potatoes and aloe vera among other fruits and vegetables. Mr. Mackay is so happy he is planning on getting the village a motorized pump. With the irrigation, farmers can produce four crops in one year, which is especially profitable for them in the dry season when prices are high.After filming the village, we head to the source of the Nile for some beauty shots of the area. And it is very beautiful! This is the source of the White Nile, which contributes less water to the Nile than the Blue Nile originating in Ethiopia, but it is more constant than the Blue Nile which flows irregularly. It takes water three months to flow from here to Cairo, a distance of 4,000 miles or 6,400 kilometers.As evening draws, we sit down at a tourist diner on the riverbank for grilled Tilapia, known as Engege in the local language. When people think of Uganda, they may still think of Israeli raids to free hostages and Idi Amin, but the country has come a long way. The people were very helpful and the nature spectacular.13 March 2007, EntebbeUp again at 6:30, this time to just enjoy the sunrise, which isn’t as spectacular as yesterday. There are also a “brazilian” lake flies swarming in clouds. You can mostly just walk around the cloud, but if you have to go through it or accidentally walk into it, you’ll have these tiny little flies in your nose, mouth, ears and eyes before you can escape. They don’t bite but are just not nice. They must not live long because there are piles of dead ones all around. Today is mostly interviews before catching a plane through Nairobi and London back home. We interview Bart and his team and then go to Kampala to interview the Minister of Water and Environment, the Honorable Maria Mutagamba. Mrs. Mutagamba is very friendly and dressed in a traditional bright African dress. She was very knowledgeable and spoke very well.After the interview, she wanted to take our picture. Usually it is the other way around! It was the first time a Minister took MY picture!Back in Nairobi at the airport, there was a group of maybe 30 refugees on our flight to London. The last time I flew out of Nairobi there was also a group of refugees. They were all dressed pretty much the same and some of their clothes were marked with the assistance organization’s initials… IOM, the International Organization for Migration.They looked exhausted. Can you imagine what they’re feeling? Their eyes expressed fatigue and worry of what was ahead for them. In the plane I talked to one of their coordinators, Zack, an American of Somali origin. The refugees were from Somalia and had been in camps for the past 15 years. The children knew nothing other than camps and war. They were on their way to American cities and will be given shelter and help to get comfortable in their new home. I talked to Zack who I hope will keep Pix-Aid posted on this program.The rest of the flight went well and I arrived in Luxembourg on time to return the camera gear and get back to start posting this blog!  Terry Winn Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pix-aid.org/blogs/9/Euronews-Team.html This blog is the first in a series of blogs by Ali Raza, a young engineering student working in developmental aid. Originally from Pakistan, he comes from Minniapolis, Minnasota. Hopefully he will keep us posted on his adventures in helping others in Africa and soon in Pakistan. You can see his earlier blogs on his blog site.Ali and Maasai friends.The EURONEWS teamI was very excited about this post. It was my most eventful few days, I got a chance to spend 3 days with two very exciting people, one, a free lance journalist and camera person, Terry Winn with an illustrious past and exciting future and a very calm and serene Julian Gomez producer from EuroNews, and like icing on a cheese cake fantasy, I spent Saturday night with 28 very courageous and beautiful college students from 3 Universities in the US who are in Kenya for 4 months, studying and experiencing first hand life in urban and rural Kenya. Terry and Julian were here to film a documentary for the World Water Day, March 22, for which they were going to film the Maasai using the Solar Disinfectant Water Project to get cleaner water for their daily living. Terry and Julian arrived late Thursday night and on Friday morning the Bush Team (Saruni, Joe and I) with its latest members, Terry and Julian left for Longausua - Masaai Land. On the way I learned about the fabulous stuff these guys had been involved with over the years. Terry I must say is 'DA MAN', a war journalist, worked in Russia for years, been in over 100 countries and also has a Non-Profit with a very unique philosophy behind it (www.pix-aid.org), a must view. On the way, Terry shares his wartime and Russian stories as we all enjoy the wonderful scenery on both sides of the Great North Road.Finally we get to Longausua and I'm very excited to meet the kids in the school next to the ICROSS clinic. I had made a promise to them last week after seeing them kicking around what seemed like a paper football. I told them that I would get a real football for them next time I came. As I approached the school I saw the kids gathering behind me with huge smiles on their faces. I handed the ball to a teacher who was very grateful as he said that the football came when it was desperately needed. I wish you could have been there to witness the joy a small thing like a football can bring to life of dozens of kids. It seemed like a scene out of the movies, it was drizzling and dozens of kids were chasing after and kicking the new football that they were so excited to have. It was an image that could bring tears in the eyes of anyone. But the tears I had in my eyes were tears of joy, tears that were thanking God for giving me the opportunity to witness this (http://picasaweb.google.com/alirzaidi).Next we headed for the Maasai Mantyata (kind of masai village - a collection of Maasai huts) where Terry was going to film how the Maasai use the Solar water purification technique. The Maasai are very adamant about having their particular way of doing things. They for centuries are used to drinking water right from small lakes and water puddles in the forest. The same water that their animals also drink which has led the numerous water born diseases being very prevalent in the region. The Maasai do not like to boil the water as they say that the taste of the water changes, so what ICROSS has convinced them to do is pour the dirty water in plastic bottles and put them under the sun for 6-8 hours, during this time the UV rays from the sun through the plastic inactivate a lot of the bacteria in the water for up to 48 hours, during which they can have the water to drink and to wash their utensils in. Pretty neat right, well they say the Egyptians invented this 2000 years ago. This method has reduced the water born diseases cases by 30 percent in the area in the last 11 years. One of the scenes that the guys had to capture was the women going down to the water source and getting the water, so we all followed a few women and little girls only 8 or 9 years old down to the water source. Please do go to pics to see how filthy the water that they previously drank without boiling looks like, it's the same water that the dogs were having when Terry was filming the women pouring the water in the 4 gallon water bottles. Well after the water was collected we witnessed something very incredible, those 8, 9 year old girls strapping the water on their foreheads while it hung on their backs and walking 30 mins with it back to the village. Well, I thought I'd give it a try and trust me, I who thinks that he is pretty athletic would have barely been able to make it back and wouldn't ever try it again whereas these girls were carrying these bottles without breaking a sweat or having a frown on their face. They were just doing something they did every day. Makes you wonder what the hell we complain about in our lives; waiting an extra 15 mins for the meal at a restaurant, the traffic jam due to an accident, not getting our H1-B visas on time. Just thinking about the things that I felt were troubles in my mind makes be sick and ashamed now.After the Euro News team got their footage, we headed back to the base. It had been a very tiring day and the next day turned out to be the same where we went to a different location to shoot the Maasai girls getting water and the Euro News crew filming it. We had an addition to the team though, Jesse Goldfarb, an American boy who is a junior at St.Louis University and will be working for ICROSS in a month's time. Hopefully Jesse and I will be involved with a lot of development projects in the months and years to come. After we got back Saturday evening, Mike sat down with Jesse and I to go over what he had in mind for us for the next few weeks as he is heading out to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to develop the maternity health programs in those countries; which brings me to the part that I am most excited about. Mike has been talking to the director of CARE international for East Asia including Pakistan about a project dealing with women's' rights issues in Pakistan, and as the whole ICROSS philosophy is getting the project done without the bull shit involved in the middle, which means not paying outsiders to come and use up most of the money of the projects for things like staying at the Holiday Inn for a month, but to train from within the affected community as no one knows how their problems can be fixed better than the community itself. If the solution comes from within the society rather than from an outsider, that's what makes it credible, that's what makes it work. Anyways, so guess who is going to setup the project, Yes!! it will be me. When Mike told me that I'll be flying to Pakistan in a couple of weeks to talk to the leading social justice activists there and try to figure out all the logistics, for that moment, I was the happiest man on the planet. I thought I wouldn't be able to do something like that for years in Pakistan. Maybe after my PhD. and that also was a maybe! But here was my chance, within my first 2 months of Developmental work. It is more than a dream to be able to serve my own people, even before the start of my grad school. I have a million and a half ideas already in my mind on how to write the proposal, how to get to all the people, Pakistanis and non-Pakistanis all over the globe to contribute to this. To reach out to all who think that changing the lives of hundreds or thousands requires some sort of a miracle; one that certainly they are not capable of. But if a guy like me can be a part of something like this in 2 months then I think each and everyone who has the desire to do this can be part of making that change.I would greatly appreciate any help that you guys could give me in identifying who to meet or ideas for where there the greatest need lies for such a project, or any other advice that you guys want to give me.  Badae.  Ali Raza Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pix-aid.org/blogs/8/Kenya-waterbottles-part-2.html 8 March 2007, LondonI’m excited about going back to Africa, a very fascinating continent filled with surprises. Our trip this time has been extended so we can travel to Uganda to do another story, also on water. So I will be gone for a week and get to return to Kampala and the beautiful source of the Nile river!As London has been a target of terrorism; security is very strict to the level of overkill. Lines are very long. Transferring from terminal two to terminal four you have to pass through yet another security check. Turning the corner in a long hallway, I discover an enormous room filled with travelers. The English have a great sense of humor and the security officer ushering people into lines cries “Welcome to hell and chaos” as we join the mob. But the line goes quicker than I had thought and in 10-15 minutes I popped out the other end and could get to the gate on time.I try to avoid London because they are very strict on hand-baggage. As a cameraman, I have to carry the camera on board because it is so fragile. Usually, I carry an extra backpack where I keep an extra battery, tapes and things I could use if the baggage gets lost. That way, I can work at least a day until the baggage arrives. It also leaves space in my checked baggage for my personal items, like clothes. So now, I don’t have that extra space and will now be wearing the same clothes for a week!I meet Julian, the same journalist I worked with in Almeria, at the gate and he handed me a stack of documents to read on the plane, which I did, but only after watching the new James Bond film… I thought the film wasn’t as good as previous James Bond films. The flight was over eight hours, but the plane wasn’t too full so the flight was comfortable.At Kenyatta International Airport we were met by customs officials who said we couldn’t come in with camera equipment without importation papers. This is normal. For some incomprehensible reason, a single cameraman with equipment falls into the same category as a whole film crew, which can come into a country with truckloads of equipment. Anyway, our coordinator didn’t forward any equipment list so we were stuck.The worst thing to do in such a situation is get angry or lose patience. We called the people we were to meet and waited patiently. I talked to the customs officials and told them we were just filming for an NGO and told them about the subject. They were very interested and had heard of solar disinfection. I said we may be filming in Kibera, which is the one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, slums in the world. One of the officials used to live the there and we talked about the horrible conditions people have to endure there. After a bit, they said just go ahead and they wished us luck! I think a smile and respect go a long way further than anger and arguing.9 March 2007, Nairobi, KenyaWe are filming the work of ICROSS, an NGO working with the poorest of the poor in a few countries. They have been using solar disinfection among the Maasai people for over 10 years with success.ICROSS was founded by Michael Meegan, a man filled with passion for life. His story is incredible, having lived with the Maasai in their cow-dung huts for some 16 years and speaking nine different tribal languages!The water becomes a murky yellow after four hours in the sun.He gave me his newest book “Surprised by Joy” which he signed for me writing backwards! He said he has always written his notes backwards. You should pick up his book (proceeds go directly to finance his work at ICROSS) and gain from his long years of experience and adventure with the most fascinating people.This morning we are off to the village of Kaiyiongo in the area of Longausua. The ICROSS team, Saruni (a long-time Maasai friend of Mike’s), Joe, our driver and Ali, an American-Pakistani student doing research with ICROSS, accompanied Julian and me.Along the way we pass towns with small stores, repair shops and cafés lined up on either side of the Great Northern Road connecting Cairo with Johannesburg. A bad career choice here would be barber or hair dresser because it seems everyone has their head completely shaved, men, women and children. You see people dressed in traditional red clothes draped over their shoulders like Saruni as well as people dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. The Maasai are a handsome people… very tall and lean with soft eyes and although they may look at you at first with a neutral expression, when you smile back, their faces light up showing very nice white teeth! Nurse Silvia Gaaji prescribes medicine for a Maasai child suffering from Malaria. Dr. Steve Masenke brings us to the clinic set up by ICROSS in the village. He and nurse Silvia Gaaji work at the Dr. Joe Barnes (co-founder of ICROSS) Dispensary. It is the only medical center for miles and serves 40,000 people in this large region, treating all sorts of water-born diseases, malaria, trachoma, etc. Dr. Masenke confirms that since the introduction of solar disinfection, the rate of disease has greatly decreased and the people have adopted the system after seeing for themselves that their children were healthier. To illustrate our story, we went with some women to fetch water. It seems this is “women’s work” or even children’s work, because you never see men doing it. But they are probably busy with the cattle or fields. Fetching water is no simple task either. It can be some 10 kilometers by foot carrying heavy plastic jerry cans. Here the water is only two kilometers away and the sun is occasionally blocked by clouds so it doesn’t seem so hot. Sinchore and her perpetual smile. Sinchore is eight years old and has a perpetual smile on her face. I don’t know whether it was the excitement of the presence of these white foreigners with a big camera, but she skipped almost the whole way to the water hole! At the hole, she filled her jerry can and carried it all the way back, her smile as big as ever. She wore a faded, ripped dress and worn rubber sandals. To the right, a Maasai grandmother plays with her laughing grandson. Above, Sinchore and friend gaze at the camera with their youthful eyes full of wonder. Back in the mantyata, or village, I filmed them pouring the water into clear plastic bottles and putting them on the roofs of their huts. The water is dark brown, filled with sediments. After four hours the sediments fall to the bottom and the water is sort of yellow. Solar disinfection is energy efficient because they don’t have to use wood to create a fire to boil the water. Another point very important to the Maasai, is that it doesn’t change the taste of the water. I’m sure the water wouldn’t be to our taste (I didn’t try it!) but the Maasai like the earthen taste and have been known to add a little dirt to boiled water!Walking back to the dispensary, a cloud came up and it started to rain. The school next door had just let out and kids were playing football with what looked to be old rags tied together to make a ball. Ali, from ICROSS, had been to the village before and had promised to bring them a ball the next time he came. True to his word he gave them the ball and the children went wild, kicking it between them. Ali also had the idea to call ahead to a roadside restaurant to order Nyama Choma or charcoal broiled goat. On our way back, we stopped in a dimly lit roadside hut and a man came out with 3 kilos of roasted goat and proceeded to chop it up on our table. It was very tasty with minced and spiced tomatoes and onions! The bill came to 700 shillings, a little over 10 dollars for seven people… Ali’s gracious treat!So, between the smile of a young Maasai girl skipping along a dusty path for water and the benevolent eyes of a Maasai grandmother watching over her laughing grandson, my day was enchanting.10 March 2007After yesterday’s shooting, we think we have our story. But because there were quite a bit of clouds, we thought we would visit another village to see how they use solar disinfection and maybe to get some sunnier pictures. So we are off to the village of Oloomunyi where 20 people live, all from the Olowuas family.When you enter a Maasai village, the children run up to greet you. In a sign of respect, they bow their heads for you to touch. They are very curious, as most children. The smaller ones are a bit scared of these pale people. I was filming a few kids and when I stopped, one reached out to touch my arm. He stroked it then brought his hand back to smell his fingers. They were oily from the sun lotion I had on for protection.Naisimoi, 4 years old.He had never seen or smelt that! His father, who could speak English, said the kids were surprised to see hair on the arm and they thought the lotion smelled good! I stood there with about five kids feeling my arm and smelling the lotion and giggling.Gladys, at left, and her friend Nalamai pause a moment at the waterhole.This time we followed Gladys, 28 years old and Nalamai, 22 years old to the water source. They both have two children. The Maasai men can have many wives and I asked Gladys, who surprised me with her English, what she thought about her husband taking another bride. She said she didn’t really like the idea, but that’s the way things were and she couldn’t do anything about it. Rationalizing, she said another women would be able to help with the family chores. I put the same question later to Saruni who said he has one wife, but is looking for another.The women and children tied bands of cloth around the jerry cans and hung it on their forehead with the heavy plastic container resting against their back. I tried to do the same, but I must not have neck muscles at all because it actually hurt right away let alone walking for miles that way. They made it look easy... even the young kids did this!No exaggeration... this hurts!In the car on the way back to Nairobi, Saruni, still dressed in his red Maasai clothes, began to sing traditional songs for us. The songs are stories mixed with breathing and grunting sounds as he thrusts his chest in and out. The stories are of lion killing and bravery. A young Maasai boy has to kill a lion to become an adult. Today, they still do this, but go as a group. Saruni said it takes a lot to kill a lion with a spear. When the group kills the lion, the boys run up to it to try to be the first to cut off it’s tail and attach it to their spear. Everyone passes the test to manhood, but the boy with the tail receives special honors.11 March 2007Last day in Kenya… we interview Mike before he takes off on a long journey to Asia telling people about his experience and ideas on public health. After lunch, we head for the airport to take a plane to Entebbe, Uganda to start the next shoot. This one is about water as well. We will be working with the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), doing a story on the Nile Basin Initiative, trying to inform decision makers about the water situation among the ten countries depending on water from the Nile.We are greeted at the airport by Bart Hilhorst, water resources specialist at FAO. No problems at customs this time… went right through the green line (nothing to declare) with no hassle.I think Bart noticed our surprise at seeing the hotel. We had come from working with a small NGO being lodged at their office’s guesthouse, sleeping under mosquito nets to arrive at the Imperial Resort Beach Hotel. Actually, I prefer to stay at a guesthouse because you are closer to the people you are working with and I like simpler atmospheres. But the resort hotel was right next to the FAO offices and we got special UN rates of 82 dollars a night for these luxury suites. It is still a lot when you think that the people whose lives FAO is trying to better earn less than a dollar a day. I like a place with some security because of the equipment we work with, but a 5-star hotel is a bit much for me. On the other extreme, I don’t know if I would last long living in a mud hut either! Terry Winn Thu, 15 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CDT http://www.pix-aid.org/blogs/7/Spain-Sun-and-Waterbottles.html 28 February 2007As you’ve probably read on the “Who we are” page my “day job” is freelance photo-journalist, cameraman. I’m lucky to be able to work at something that I really like. Of course, not all assignments are interesting, but many are and a lot depends on how you go about the work. I mean even a simple interview can be interesting from a photographers point of view… trying to get the best possible lighting, angles, etc.Today, though, I’m off to Spain to do a story for the European television Euronews. I have been working with Euronews for many years and they call every once in a while with a report to do and they are usually very interesting. I am flying from Luxembourg this morning, through Barcelona to Almeria, Spain.I will be doing only camerawork on this report and they don’t usually fill the cameraman in on what the story is about until he/she arrives! So, I will meet the journalist at the airport in Almeria and I’m sure he’ll brief me. All I know now is that we will do the first half of this story in Spain and then, next week, finish the story in Nairobi, Kenya. Another hint is that it has to do with water. We’ll see!1 March 2007 Almeria, SpainAlmeria is in Andalusia just East of Granada on Spain’s southern coast. The city of some 180,000 people receives the most sun of any city in Europe and apparently the second sunniest city on the earth. Wikipedia didn’t say which city is the sunniest in the world.We’ve come here for the sun. It seems that if you fill a plastic bottle with dirty disease-ridden water, close it up and set it out in the sun for four hours, it will then be safe to drink (but it doesn’t improve the taste or color!).About a half an hour outside the town of Almeria, past the ghost towns set up for filming old westerns (the landscape resembles southern California’s dry rocky deserts), is the Solar Research Center. An impressive site of hundreds of mirrors, not solar panels, concentrates sunlight on three towers where scientists experiment on solar thermal power. Apparently, solar thermal power is much more efficient than solar panels charging up batteries. Solar thermal power concentrates the sun’s rays to heat water to 1000 degrees Celsius and the resulting pressurized steam is used to create electricity.An "other world" landscape of giant mirrors, pipes and towers at the Solar Research Center in Almeria, Spain. Some 120 personnel conduct experiments mostly in solar thermal power. The site is only for scientists and a group of them has come from all over Europe, from South Africa and Cambodia to coordinate efforts to find out more and improve this simplistic idea. This study is financed by the European Union to the tune of 1.9 million euros. But it is more work than one would imagine. The idea is simple, but in order to convince NGOs and governments, they have to test the idea in different conditions. Here at the Solar Center, they are testing different chemical additives to make the natural process more efficient. They are trying to work with additives, which would be readily available in poorer regions to keep solar disinfection cheap.Today is an intense day of information flow! I will write a more structured article about all this when we get back from Nairobi, so bear with me!2 March 2007This doesn’t happen very often, but this time my flight back isn’t until five this evening and Julian, the journalist from Euronews has already flown back to Lyon, France on a very early flight. Usually we film right up until we’re almost late for the plane and I have to pack up the equipment at the check-in counter.So I have the day to play tourist in this beautiful city, which is especially nice because it is clear and 25 degrees (77 F) while in Luxembourg it is probably 8 degrees (46 F) and raining. At the right is the view from my hotel, a very nice hotel which the Research Center got us at cheap rates! The big wooden structure near the horizon was built by the British to bring the production of their mines to the port, where it was directly loaded onto ships.I’m now sitting on top of a fortress tower at the Alcazaba, which gives a panoramic view of the port and city of Almeria. The Alcazaba was the seat of power during the Arabic era. It was founded by Abd al-Rahman III. The fort is divided into three sections, the gardens, the Arabic fort composed of houses and the royal palace. The third section is the fort built by the Catholic Kings when they took the city in 1489.  One curious footnote: Entrance to the Alcazaba is free to citizens of the European Union... all others must pay 1.50 euros. I wonder why that is? You'd think to be fair, everyone should pay or not pay the same amount. It may not be very much anyway, but the principle bothers me.Lunch in the moorish gardens is a "Bocadillo tortilla espanola", a sort of omlette with potatoes. Delicious and remindes me of days long ago studying Spanish litterature at the University of Salamanca summer classes.The Arabs had an elaborate system to capture water in this dry climate... holding areas for rain water, filters for run-off, pools and, of course, hammam or hot baths. At right, a pond adorns the palace grounds.So, here am I, sitting on what used to be the front lines of a long war between Christian and Islamic forces, which probably had as much to do with religion as today’s conflicts… waiting for my plane and then the next blog entry probably from an airport waiting for another plane to Kenya! Terry Winn Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:00:00 CST http://www.pix-aid.org/blogs/6/Ethiopie.html 18 novembre 2006: promesses C'est parti: la journée débute tôt - je suis à 5 heures du matin à l'aéroport de Luxembourg - et s'annonce longue. Décollage à 6 heures 25 et arrivée à Addis-Abeba à 21 heures 50 heure locale (deux heures de décalage avec Bruxelles). Une journée de transhumance, entre aéroports et vols toujours soporifiques, qui, à défaut d'être passionnante, est cependant synonyme de promesses et annonciatrice de découvertes.   Lors de ces vols qui en quelques heures me déposent dans un autre monde, je pense souvent à cette époque bénie (que je n'ai pas connue) où voyager avait littéralement un sens et où le temps jouait son rôle. Mettre plusieurs semaines pour arriver à destination permet de s'imprégner de l'esprit du voyage, de se documenter, de s'enrichir par des lectures ou encore de profiter pleinement de ce temps passé à imaginer l'inconnu. L'efficacité des transports modernes casse cette magie.Même une escale à Khartoum, la capitale du Soudan, ne viendra pas atténuer ces pensées nostalgiques. Khartoum, rien que l'évocation de ce nom fait rêver. En fait de rêve, l'hôtesse de KLM, peu avant l'atterrissage, prévient les passagers qu'ils doivent rester dans l'avion durant l'escale et que prendre des photos par le hublot est prohibé. Pour me dégourdir les jambes, je me rends à l'avant de l'appareil, la porte est ouverte sur l'extérieur et la passerelle positionnée. Une bouffée d'air soudanais vite volée face à un colosse de KLM de faction. Interdit même pour lui de poser ne fusse qu'un pied sur la passerelle soudanaise. Le risque de se prendre une balle pas perdue pour tout le monde est réel.Ce séjour en Ethiopie, je le fais en compagnie de collègues du conseil d'administration de SOS Faim et de son secrétaire général. L'ONG luxembourgeoise dont je suis administrateur est bien implantée dans le pays et soutient cinq partenaires locaux dont quatre pour leurs activités en microfinance. Durant ce séjour, nous devons par ailleurs accueillir le ministre luxembourgeois de la Coopération qui effectue une visite éclair pour découvrir nos projets éthiopiens. La microfinance constitue un des chevaux de bataille de sa politique, en cela elle rejoint nos priorités. Un volet "diplomatique" qui néanmoins ne constitue pas ma tasse de thé mais s'avère utile pour convaincre de la réalité de notre action d'aide au développement.Surprise à l'atterrissage à l'aéroport d'Addis-Abeba: je n'ai jamais vu de bâtiments aéroportuaires aussi modernes en Afrique. Tout est neuf et rutilant; pour peu, on se croirait en Europe. Il est près de 22 heures et le fond de l'air est frais (moins de 10°C) à 2400 mètres d'altitude. J'ai été inspiré en prenant ma petite laine. Bekele nous attend, je le rencontre pour la première fois, il dirige FCE, une ONG locale que nous finançons et active essentiellement en milieu rural.19 novembre 2006: décalage Premier jour à Addis, un dimanche ensoleillé, la température est idéale en journée (environ 25°C) pour faire un peu de tourisme en compagnie de Bekele qui se révèle être un précieux guide. Je suis surtout avide de comprendre certaines particularités du pays. Une principalement, amusante, m'interpelle car elle constitue un fameux décalage - aux sens propre et figuré - avec le temps occidental. Et convenir de l'heure d'un rendez-vous en Ethiopie peut se révéler compliqué. Explication. Vu sa proximité de l'Equateur, le pays s'appuie sur une constante: toute l'année, le soleil s'y lève à 6 heures environ pour se coucher vers 18 heures. Dès lors, pour un Ethiopien, 6 heures constitue l'heure zéro de la journée. Ainsi, s'il vous fixe un rendez-vous à 3 heures, il entend trois heures après le lever du soleil soit 9 heures du matin. Montre ou horloge de voiture ne sont donc pas réglée sur l'heure occidentale mais sur la leur. A 6 heures locale, il est midi. Singulier mais on s'adapte vite, il faut juste le savoir.Autre particularité: leur calendrier se base sur le calendrier et comporte un "treizième mois" de 5 ou 6 jours. Depuis la nuit des temps, l'année éthiopienne étant plus longue, le retard sur le calendrier occidental s'est prononcé et est de sept ans actuellement. Aujourd'hui, l'Ethiopie vit l'an... 1999. Troublant surtout lorsque - et c'est du vécu - notre ONG réclame des pièces comptables afin de vérifier du bon usage des fonds accordés aux partenaires locaux. Des factures datées de 1998 pour justifier la comptabilité de 2005, cela ne manque pas de sel! 20 novembre 2006: dans le vif du sujetIl n'y a pas photo: l'Ethiopie est l'un des pays parmi les plus pauvres au monde avec un indicateur de développement humain (IDH) de 0,359/1, le classant à la 170e place sur 177 pays étudiés (derrière, on trouve d'autres pays africains comme le Tchad, le Mali, le Niger ou le Burkina Faso). Autant dire que la microfinance, à défaut de constituer la panacée dans la lutte contre la pauvreté, est un outil de développement des plus performants pour venir en aide aux populations. Pour rappel, la microfinance - notion qui englobe le microcrédit, la microassurance, l'épargne et le transfert d'argent - ouvre les portes d'un système financier aux exclus du système bancaire traditionnel. Pas question de don donc mais bien de crédits (avec un remboursement obligatoire) assortis de taux d'intérêt à faire pâlir un banquier occidental (environ 15% par an en moyenne en Ethiopie, taux qui peu atteindre 5%... par mois dans certains pays comme le Congo Brazzaville). En outre, le client est tenu à une obligation d'épargne dans le double but de l'éduquer d'abord (lui apprendre les bienfaits et vertus de l'épargne pour affronter les difficultés futures) et, ensuite, de constituer une garantie dont se servira l'IMF en cas de défaillance de son débiteur.Par contre, les institutions de microfinance (IMF) ont recours à différents modes de financement dont la donation pure et simple des ONG du Nord est le plus répandu (avec le soutien gouvernemental ou le recours à l'emprunt pour les plus puissantes et autonomes). Autrement dit, en dépit du taux d'intérêt perçu, les IMF sont pour la plupart incapables de s'assumer financièrement et de se développer sans l'aide internationale. D'où l'importance du soutien d'ONG telle SOS Faim. Notre mission s'inscrit dans cette optique et à pour but de vérifier sur le terrain l'efficacité de notre apport. Outre les rencontres avec les responsables et les employés des IMF avec lesquelles nous collaborons, l'essence de notre mission trouve sa pleine justification avec les visites faites aux bénéficiaires finaux, c'est-à-dire les clients des IMF. Ainsi, une grand-mère (voir la photo ci-contre) qui a contracté au total six emprunts - le premier de 1.500 birrs (environ 150 euros), pour arriver progressivement à 5.000 birrs (environs 500 euros), le maximum légal en Ethiopie  - pour créer, développer et pérenniser son commerce.   Elle a débuté en fabriquant de la bière artisanale, a ensuite ouvert son débit de boissons pour enfin s'attaquer à la restauration en y servant de la nourriture traditionnelle. Bilan de cette success story: actuellement la grand-mère déterminée emploie six personnes, fait vivre une famille de seize personnes grâce aux revenus de son activité et, cerise sur le gâteau, parvient encore à épargner plus que ne l'y obligent les règles en vigueur dans l'IMF avec laquelle elle traite.De tels exemples sont fréquents: j'ai ainsi rencontré Zeritu Wendy qui avec son premier emprunt de 1.000 birrs (100 euros) a acheté des céréales (le teff est la base de l'alimentation éthiopienne) pour fabriquer des ingera (crêpe traditionnelle). Actuellement, elle en cuisine 200 par jour qu'elle vend aux restaurants via des intermédiaires. Résultat: grâce à ses revenus, sa famille de 8 enfants a considérablement amélioré son ordinaire et, dans sa maison minable des quartiers défavorisés d'Addis, elle possède désormais un ameublement décent ainsi que... télévision et lecteur DVD. Comme quoi les bienfaits de la société de consommation ne connaissent pas les frontières!21 novembre 2006: aide humanitaire et éthiqueOu s'arrête l'indécence? Certes, en visite dans un pays africain comme dans une capitale européenne, il faut bien se loger. J'ai pour ma part choisi un hôtel basique qui ne remplit pas (plus) les standards internationaux. Et ce confort sommaire coûte néanmoins 65 dollars par nuit. Normal dans une capitale africaine. Par contre, l'indécence porte un nom: Sheraton. Propriété d'un magnat arabe du pétrole, le Sheraton d'Addis se veut un modèle raffiné de luxe au coeur d'une des capitales les plus dramatiquement pauvres au monde. Véritable enclave dans la ville, l'hôtel s'étend sur une surface tentaculaire et son propriétaire n'a reculé devant aucun raffinement pour attirer une clientèle d'hommes d'affaires et de diplomates. C'est qu'il faut bien les loger ces représentants de l'Union africaine qui a son siège à Addis ou ces dignitaires européens en visite... humanitaire. Précision: la chambre est facturée 350 dollars la nuit hors extras.Heureusement, la délégation luxembourgeoise forte de 22 membres qui débarque au Sheraton ne paiera que 165 dollars la nuit grâce à l'intervention appropriée du chef d'escale luxembourgeois de Lufthansa. Par ailleurs, nombreux sont les représentants d'ONG occidentales qui s'y précipitent également. Soit, chacun ses choix et, surtout, chacun sa conscience. Mais l'indécence atteint son paroxysme quand on sait qu'un employé d'une IMF ne gagne qu'environ 40 à 80 dollars par mois selon les cas (un employé débutant d'une banque commerciale gagne environ 60 dollars). En clair, ces Ethiopiens s'escriment parfois pendant dix heures par jour pour l'équivalent de 1,30 dollar. Une misère à peine supérieure au seuil de l'extrême pauvreté fixé arbitrairement à moins d'un dollar par jour par l'ONU.Or, que ces Ethiopiens soient amenés à côtoyer des "coopérants" qui dépensent en deux nuits leur salaire mensuel est une situation surréaliste, preuve du mépris qui ressort du comportement occidental prêt à se donner bonne conscience en aidant le Sud mais pas au point de sacrifier son confort personnel et à engloutir au petit déjeuner plus que la majorité des Ethiopiens en deux jours.S'insurger contre ces pratiques n'y changera rien, ainsi va le monde, même celui de la coopération au développement. Et à défaut d'établir des règles, chacun appréciera en fonction de sa propre éthique. N'empêche, puisque l'aide au développement est aussi une affaire d'argent et que, lorsqu'il faut mobiliser des moyens colossaux certains se font tirer l'oreille, je pense qu'il serait opportun que le petit monde de la coopération se regarde dans une glace et arrête de faire de la misère des autres un business dont ils sont les premiers bénéficiaires. Voilà, j'ai craché mon venin!Fin du séjour: un tour à la campagne     Trois cents kilomètres de voiture, ce n'est pas la mer à boire. Et pourtant, nous mettons près de sept heures pour rejoindre Jimma, localité de plus de 130.000 âmes située au sud-ouest d'Addis. Le parcours débute bien: la route nationale est un billard digne des meilleurs axes européens. Après 160 kilomètres cependant, le trajet se transforme en une promenade à 30 ou 40 kilomètres heure. La chaussée est défoncée et même nos 4x4 absolument nécessaires sur ce type de route (oui, il y a des "luxes" qui sont réellement indispensables surtout pour ces représentants des ONG locales qui font ce type de trajet au quotidien) sont à la peine. Qu'importe, cela fait partie du voyage, les décors sont plus que grandioses et il n'y a qu'une chose sensée à faire: ouvrir grand les yeux. A l'arrivée, mes fesses sont en compote mais l'accueil des membres de FCE (Facillitator for change Ethiopia), l'ONG qui réalise un travail de tout les diables dans ce milieu rural, efface ces petits désagréments.Outre l'inauguration d'un bassin de retenue des eaux couplé à un système d'irrigation qui va permettre à quelque 60 familles de cultiver leur champ durant la totalité de l'année, j'ai pu voir l'efficacité de l'action d'une banque de céréales ou encore la détermination d'un club de femmes décidées à s'en sortir et, surtout, déterminées à s'opposer à la toute puissance de leur mari. Il faut dire que les habitants du coin sont musulmans.   24 novembre 2006: couleur localeAprès l'aller, le retour. Et l'état de la route Jimma-Addis ne s'est pas amélioré en dépit des panneaux rouillés qui la jalonne et indiquent que l'Union européenne finance la rénovation de l'axe routier. Bref je me laisse bercer par les nids de poule et le directeur de l'IMF qui m'accompagne m'explique une pratique locale (il faut dire que je l'ai sournoisement lancé sur le sujet). A l'image des Péruviens qui mâchent de la coca à longueur de journée, les Ethiopiens cultivent, vendent, exportent et mâchent du chatt (ou chat). Le tout en toute légalité selon mon guide. Le chatt est un arbuste pérenne sur les hauts plateaux éthiopiens et ses propriétés narcotiques sont avérées. De la théorie à la pratique, il n'y a qu'un pas. Nous arrêtons dans un village et il suffit de baisser la vitre, d'interpeller le premier passant venu ou d'avoir l'oeil pour repérer une boutique fournie pour s'approvisionner sans difficulté. 2 birrs la botte (0,20 euro). Il s'agit réellement d'une botte de feuilles de l'arbuste, la technique consistant à recueillir le coeur de la feuille, la plus tendre car naissante. On en rassemble une pincée et hop en bouffe. Et comme un ruminant, l'exercice consiste à mâcher, à réduire les végétaux en miettes pour ensuite avaler et rincer avec une gorgée d'eau.Mon guide ne tarit pas d'éloges sur les propriétés enivrantes de l'opération. Je reste perplexe. Nous avalons cependant la botte à trois convives et en rachetons une deuxième aussitôt engloutie (le tout en trois heures néanmoins). Résultat: l'effet est comparable à celui ressentit après avoir bu une bière, deux au mieux. Par contre, l'estomac est bien calé après avoir ingéré des quantités effroyables de la "divine" substance. Effet secondaire: les arrêts techniques sont fréquents durant la fin du voyage car après avoir englouti plus d'un litre d'eau, il faut évacuer! Mon guide lui est ravi d'avoir vu un "fareng" (je ne sais comment l'écrire mais cela signifie "étranger") sacrifier à la coutume locale. Et moi je suis ravi de le voir content.Demain soir, retour vers l'Europe, un nuit dans l'avion pour redescendre au niveau de la mer (et même sous) à Amsterdam puis Luxembourg.J'espère que vous avez apprécié le trip. Léonard Bovy Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 CST