Africa
Mount Nyiragongo
There are some of those things that you dream of without really thinking it through. Hiking Mount Nyiragongo, the world’s most active volcano just outside of Goma, DRC, was one of those times.For months I had been dreaming it, not really ever taking into consideration just how difficult the hike might be. A colleague did…
Read MoreBonobos!
It seems that I can’t keep track of my own adventures to share with friends, family and beyond. I suppose I’ll start from where I’m at and share adventures of wildlife, hiking volcanoes, and other adventures in the days and weeks to come. I just downloaded my pictures and realize how much there is to…
Read MoreMedia Attention to Congo
The last several weeks of media attention to eastern Congo came as a bit of a surprise. After twenty years of documented use of rape as a weapon of war in these parts – unfortunately in many other places as well – I never anticipated the attention that would come from our recent response in…
Read MoreTragedy in Paradise
It is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Simply breathtaking. It is also the site of horrific abuses of human rights. The short story is that there have been attacks on a village that I visited back in June, where at least 4,000 people have fled into the forest, and at least 156…
Read MoreSay No to Conflict Minerals
HI Folks, As I’ve shared many times over, conflict minerals (i.e. your cell phone/laptop/ipod, etc) are fueling conflict here in the DRC. Please do your part by telling electronics companies that you aren’t interested in fueling wars and sexual violence. Peace, Miel
Read MoreSo No to Conflict Minerals
HI Folks, As I’ve shared many times over, conflict minerals (i.e. your cell phone/laptop/ipod, etc) are fueling conflict here in the DRC. Please do your part by telling electronics companies that you aren’t interested in fueling wars and sexual violence. Peace, Miel
Read MoreFashion Flashbacks
So I know it isn’t always nice to be a fashion critic, but let’s face it, many of us are. This can particularly be the case when being overseas, where fashions can be very different and people watching is always a great way to get to know a culture. Here in Zimbabwe, we noted that…
Read MoreChobe National Park
While I was at Victoria Fall, I did a day trip to Chobe National Park in Botswana (country #55). Chobe National Park is one of Africa’s gems that is a bit off the beaten path and less visited than other safari destinations.During the day trip, the morning was spent on a the water, tooling around…
Read MoreRafting the Great Zambezi
The Zambezi River, which Victoria Falls marks the half way point of, is one of the best whitewater rafting experiences in the world. Unfortunately for me, the best time to raft the river is during the dry season – September – November, depending on when the rains came.At this time of year, they just opened…
Read MoreClash of Counter-Bureaucracy and Development
Hi Folks, In addition to sharing my adventures in development with my friends, family, and other readers, I generally try to stick to a couple of principles in my blogging. One, I try not to involve my work to an extent that would jeopardize any of the work that we do. And two, I try…
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