Dear AFSP Alum and Friends:

I hope one of the enclosures is available to you. In it, you will find a very
interesting update on the elephants in and around Timbavati, which many of your
alums have visited. The Henleys continue their excellent field research, and I,
for one, appreciate these updates as a way of looking at their data and the issues
around elephant conservation in southern Africa.

It is also interesting to notice that, while we in New England grind through a
dry, largely brown and warm winter, southern Africa has excessive rains and flooding.
Some of you ...   more »

Dear AFSP Alum:

There is a terrific jon opoen ing at USDA's Office of Inbternational Programs
for a "Africa Program Specialist." It's at

https://jobs.smartbrief.com/action/listing?listingid=2A4D996D-8BEC-4491-BA8F-736CFCBA6C54&briefid=1e0c978d-2484-4c18-ae2c-8fcdca1382a0&sid=87191704-e048-4af6-8fbc-46f02502fb86

Prof. Shep

PS: I have pasted the description here:


Job Description

The Africa Program Specialist will assist the Africa Program Coordinator to develop
and manage projects across sub-SaharanAfrica. The Africa Program Coordinator supervises
the specialist. Most activities will include government and non-government entities
across Africa as well as interestedU.S.institutions, such as The Nature Conservancy,
The World Wide Fund for Nature, andU.S.government agencies.

In this position, the Africa Program Specialist has the following general responsibilities:


* Develops, ...   more »

Dear AFSP Alums and Colleagues:

Caitlin Pierce '09 (AFSP '07), who is currently working in Ethiopia, has very
kindly sent along the enclosed opening from the US Forest Service, International
Programs (USFS/IP).

USFS/IP is looking for a full-time Program Director for the Sustainable and Thriving
Environment for West African Regional Development (STEWARD) Program, a four-
year integrated natural resource management program funded by US Agency for International
Development (USAID). The program is based in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The details are in the enclosed. Please pass this along to someone who might be
interested (and qualified: it calls for 5-10 years ...   more »

Dear AfricaFSP alum and Friends:

Opps! I completely mis-read the Cathy Buckle piece, which is more about the ZANU-PF
meeting in Bulawayo, and the ancient character of Mugabe, than the death of the
musasa hanging tree in Harare.

Prof. S.   more »

Dear AFSP Alums and Friends:

This is a very interesting story from Cathy Buckle in Zimbabwe about the "hanging
tree" in Harare, which many of you saw during your AFSP time there. Those of you
who are interested in the role of traditional medicine might also enjoy this account.

All good wishes, for the Holidays,

Prof. Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Ho-HOOOO!

Here is the Nando's commercial, send in by Tia Hansen, who is in Durban, SA, for
the COP17 meetings.

Many thanks and all good wishes, Tia.

Prof Shep

--- Forwarded Message from Tia Hansen ---

...   more »

Friends:

More on the Bulawayo demonstration by WOZA. This one is also interesting in that
it details WOZA's research into electricity failures and power cuts in the region,
and the ZESA billing system.

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Mundy" ---

...   more »

Dear Friends:

This is very interesting for several reasons. First, it gives an unusual insight
into street demonstrations these days in Zimbabwe (here, in Bulawayo). Second,
it is interesting (to me at least) how WOZA is using "protest songs" in a manner
similar to the US civil rights movement; except in this case, they seem to adapt
the words of the songs to the incident they are facing. And finally, this enlightens
us as to the fear within ZANU-PF over such demonstrations and the use of police
to re-direct that fear onto the demonstrators.

Cheers,

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message ...   more »

Friends:

An update from Eddie Cross on the forthcoming elections and recent voter registration.
And details of the uncertainties of electricity in the rural sector, from Cathy
Buckle.

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Dear Friends:

A lively metaphor by Eddie Cross about a cattle dip tank -- some of you may have
visited one in Swaziland during the AFSP -- and the DPA and progress toward elections
with ZANU-PF.

And a political commentary from Cathy Buckle about the events of the (perhaps
suspicious) death of Gen. Solomon Mujuru and the history of how he obtained a
large commercial farm in 2001.

Interesting and good reading in both cases.

Prof. Shep

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Dear AFSP Aklums and Friends:

A very thoughtful article from Peter Soal in South Africa, by Eddie Cross, about
investing now in Zimbabwe.

Prof. Shep

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Dear Friends:

Enclosed is a document compiled inside Zimbabwe detailing the methodical terror
of its citizens since 2000. In addition to the above enclosure, the complete report
can be found at

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/6800

This is, I admit, difficult reading, and one should approach it cautiously. For
example, I opened the report on "Mt. Darwin South," since our program spent a
great deal of time there in 1998-2001 and I know the area better than other regions.
It is very difficult reading, but also it offers commendable and specific detail
(names, addresses, license plates, etc.) of the methodical intimidation documented
here.

Is ...   more »

Dear Friends:

This is a very important document prepared by the South African Institute of Race
Relations, a respected organization and research institute. "Preventing Electoral
Fraud in Zimbabwe" analyzes the most recent voter lists and comes up with some
surprising, perhaps laughable, facts: more than 366,550 new voters in a country
whose population is rapidly falloing; 49,239 new voters over age 50 where life
expectancy is 44.8 years; 16,033 new voters over the age of 70 years;1,488 of
them are over the age of 100, etc.

Read it and weep, and prepare for the elections sometime in 2012.

Jack Shepherd

...   more »

Friends:

Here are the recent contributions of Eddie Cross and Cathy Buckle. Mrs. Buckle
nicely captures winter in Zimbabwe and the continuing demands on rural women to
gather firewood for cooking and heating.

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Dear Fiends:

Two very interesting reports. One, from Eddie Cross, on the slow recovery of Zimbabwe
and the coming "political season." The other, from Cathy Buckle, on Zimbabwe's
wildlife and a "wish list" from veterinarians to help ill and wounded animals
survive.

Cheers,

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Dear Friends:

More interesting reading from Eddie Cross, which gives us aight into the current
state of the economy inside Zimbabwe. Cathy Bickle wriotes about the recent death
of Mike Campbell, the 78-year-old Zimbabwe farmer, whom I mentioned in my last
email.

All good wishes,

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Dear AFSP Alums and Friends:

Here is another thoughtful analysis of Zimbabwe by Eddie Cross.

Also, the NYTimes carried a recent obit about another white Zimbabwean farmer,
Mike Campbell, who stood up to Mugabe and was beaten in 2008 by ZANU-PF thugs.
He died from complications of that assault.

And, along the same line, I have just finished "The Fear," by Peter Godwin. He
is also the author of "Mukiwa" and "When the Crocodile Bites the Sun," both extraordinary
accounts of Peter and his family in Zimbabwe since the 1970s. "The Fear" is about
his return in 2008, following the ...   more »

Friends:

In view of the recent events in Egypt, the Eddie Cross account from Zimbabwe is
especially relevant and insightful. Cathy Buckle points at a significant problem
for Zimbabwse (and South Africa, for that matter) of the Chinese taking over the
resources of the country, in this case, farming, to feed its own people.

It is my belief that China is suffering domestically from problems of development
--especially the loss of arable farmland and water to industrial and residential
expansion -- and is now looking overseas to replace those losses, in particular
minerals and food.

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message ...   more »

Friends:

A thoughtful piece by Cathy Buckle, via Peter Soal in South Africa, with her insights
into Zimbabwe today compared to events in Tunisia and Egypt.

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Friends:

Nice return column from Cathy Buckle about daily life and observations inside
Zimbabwe.

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Friends:

This is a very interesting account of Zimbabwe's wealth and potential -- some
of it previously unknown -- by Eddie Cross (via our friend Peter Soal in South
Africa). Eddie Cross is a Zimbabwean, a member of the MDC opposition party, and,
if I am correct, a trained economist.

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Dear Africa FSP Alum and Friends:

I thought you might enjoy Pete and Verity Mundy's Christmas letter, especially
since it conveys so clearly the seasons in Zimbabwe and some of the political
climate as well. They are fine, the rains have been good, the green of mid-summer
is pleasantly upon them.

Some of you who went with Kathleen and me to Zimbabwe will also recall Pete's
outrageous lectures in the field about the quelea bird, which IRIN (the news agency)
has labeled "Africa's most hated bird". It certainly was that for Pete. (For those
who didn't hear the lectures, or ...   more »

Dear Friends:

A thoughtful update from Eddie Cross via good friend Peter Soal.

All good wishes for the New year.

Jack Shepherd



Looking Back and Looking Forward
 
I think everyone in Zimbabwe will agree that 2010 has been a very tough year for
all of us. Money has been tight, business conditions very difficult and the political
scene has never been so complex or confused. Despite this it is essential to look
back on the year and to try and ascertain if we made progress and if so in which
direction? No point in doing that if you do ...   more »

Dear Friends:

Here is Eddie Cross's account of recent budget hearings. I found the section on
the history of Zimbabwe's financial collapse and its recent start toward recovery,
very interesting.

Jack Shepherd

PS: Those of you who have enjoyed reading Peter Godwin's "Mukiwa" and "When a
Crocodile Eats the Sun" might like to check out his new book, reviewed last week
in the Economist, "The Fear: The Last Days of Robert Mugabe".


--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Friends:

Thought this discussion of Zimbabwe's chief election officer might interest you,
especially in light of coming national elections.

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Mundy" ---

...   more »

Friends:

I thought this might be of intertest, since many of you are following events inside
Zimbabwe and are also interested in WOZA.

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Mundy" ---

...   more »

Friends:

An interesting detailing by Eddie Cross of the MDC "road map" and plans for what
appears to be a called election coming in 2011.

Cheers,

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Friends:

This inspiring lecture about Nelson Mandela's Garden, via the Mundys in Zimbabwe.


Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Mundy" ---

...   more »

Friends:

I found this interesting in the context of a country trying to sort out its constitutional
framework. What kind of political system? Where and how would it work? Power-sharing
and term limitations, etc. Many of the issues other developing states are discussing,
even some people here in the US (term limitations for Congress).

Cheers,

Jack Shepherd

 
----- Original Message -----
From: bulawayo agenda
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 4:01 PM
Subject: THE DAILY AGENDA 21 JULY 2010

 

21 July 2010

Matabeleland South- Sources in Matabeleland South said that for the first time
since the start of the ...   more »

Friends:

An excellent analysis of events in South Africa.

Ready for the World Cup soccer? USA vs. Australia (Saturday 0830) in the final
"friendly" before England.

Prof S

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Dear Friends:

A charming story, especially for those of you who have (or will) become chicken
farmers.

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Peter Soal" ---

...   more »

Friends:

Here is a tape of the recent WOZA demonstration in Harare, with links to an earlier
demonstration.

Jack Shepherd

--- Forwarded Message from "Mundy" ---

...   more »

Dear Friends:

Jesse Foote (AFSO 2000) sent along the following, for which many thanks:

Position

Project Coordinator, OFS Green Building Services



Description

The Harvard Office for Sustainability (OFS) Coordinator, Green Building
Services (GBS), is responsible for supporting the GBS team as they
facilitate green building design, construction and operations across
campus. The position will assist GBS as they provide building
commissioning, energy auditing, energy conservation measure project
management, and green building consulting services and create and
deliver green building educational materials. There will be a large
learning component as the employee is exposed to a variety of different
tasks and ...   more »