Thursday
I don’t have too much else to say about today. I just worked on reports. I bought Hotel Rwanda for what seems to be the going rate for VCDs: $2.50. I also saw a first fender-bender for the first time here. Which was very funny, because while we were stuck in traffic earlier this morning, I was certain we were about to be in one and thought to myself “isn’t it weird that I haven’t seen any accidents happen yet considering how people drive here?” Ask and ye shall receive.
On the way home in the tro-tro, “Barbie Girl” by Aqua came on the radio. Unfortunately, the driver changed the station after a minute or so. It was pretty surprising to hear that. Takes me back (grade 9, I think).
Last week, Transparency International released its annual report on perceptions of corruption worldwide. Out of a possible score of 10, Ghana scored 3.5, indicating serious (but not severe) levels of corruption. I guess the good news is that only six African countries scored higher. The whole continent has a long way to go though, considering only one country scored above 5 (Botswana). Canada was ranked 14th but: “In the case of higher-income countries such as Canada and Ireland, however, there has been a marked increase in the perception of corruption over the past ten years.” Corruption in Canada?
Dr. Addae and I watched Hotel Rwanda last night. It’s a great movie on several levels. It does a good job of shaming the West for their inaction, without removing the blame from the perpetrators. One thing that struck me given what’s been in the news lately is how important the RTLM radio station was in inciting the genocide. The power of speech should not be underestimated. That brings us to that great citizen of the world, the Iranian President. While most people (including myself) are probably inclined to shrug off what he said when first hearing it, think about it a little further. He called for the complete annihilation of another country. This is not just empty rhetoric—there is no way they should ever be allowed to have nuclear weapons.
On the way home in the tro-tro, “Barbie Girl” by Aqua came on the radio. Unfortunately, the driver changed the station after a minute or so. It was pretty surprising to hear that. Takes me back (grade 9, I think).
Last week, Transparency International released its annual report on perceptions of corruption worldwide. Out of a possible score of 10, Ghana scored 3.5, indicating serious (but not severe) levels of corruption. I guess the good news is that only six African countries scored higher. The whole continent has a long way to go though, considering only one country scored above 5 (Botswana). Canada was ranked 14th but: “In the case of higher-income countries such as Canada and Ireland, however, there has been a marked increase in the perception of corruption over the past ten years.” Corruption in Canada?
Dr. Addae and I watched Hotel Rwanda last night. It’s a great movie on several levels. It does a good job of shaming the West for their inaction, without removing the blame from the perpetrators. One thing that struck me given what’s been in the news lately is how important the RTLM radio station was in inciting the genocide. The power of speech should not be underestimated. That brings us to that great citizen of the world, the Iranian President. While most people (including myself) are probably inclined to shrug off what he said when first hearing it, think about it a little further. He called for the complete annihilation of another country. This is not just empty rhetoric—there is no way they should ever be allowed to have nuclear weapons.
posted by Tony at 12:00 p.m.
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