What is the real story behind Slumdog Millionaire??

There's been a lot of hating of Slumdog Millionaire in India (except that they did enjoy the world's attention when it won several Academy Awards!). A lot of people have asked me if the issues outlined really are true.

So here, watch/read/listen to this. You make up your own mind.

Is the radio dying??

The oft heard, but rarely seen stars of NPR. (photo credit: FastCompany)

I think some technologies won't ever go obsolete. The radio is one of them. Even with iPods, CDs and every other kind of listening technology, people in the developed world seem to cling to the radio just as much as people in the developing world.

As a kid and even as an adult traveling through some remote regions of the world, the radio was and continues to be the center of most people's lives. Music, news, and shows continue to provide the soundtrack to most people's lives. Often "in the field," the radio is my one lifeline out of the space I happen to be in at that point. It connects me to the rest of the world. Listening to the BBC news gives me a level of comfort that I can't quite describe to anyone.

This is why I was pleased to read this piece in FastCompany about NPR's (National Public Radio - by far, the best radio station in the United States and one of the best in the world) ability to redefine itself and charge forward with high quality programming, in the face of stiff competition and the financial difficulties resulting from the economic crisis.

As Americans continue to find themselves stuck in the irritation of a long morning or evening commute between their work and homes, many continue to seek sanity in NPR's excellent programs.

One of my favorite shows continues to be This I Believe that gets input from over 90 countries from around the world. The program focuses on a fundamental lesson that a person has learned in their life. Check out the free podcasts and programs. I am sure you will also be hooked.

Links I liked

1. These guys are fast becoming my favorite environmental show hosts.

2. Finally even Harvard agrees that water scarcity means business scarcity (duh!)

3. A vegetarian diet can mitigate climate change-related issues by 70%!!

4. China goes to Africa, in pictures!

5. Sustainability, comic style.

100 Best Blogs for Those Who Want to Change the World

Best Universities.com has a great list of 100 Best Blogs for World Changers. You wouldn't believe it, but Tworque is on there...nicely sandwiched between Guy Kawasaki and Seth Godin. Who would've thought!!

I should have some champagne and celebrate! :-)

What Africans think about Aid-III

Following on the heels of Andrew Mwenda's talk, and Jen Brea's excellent article, I wanted to post this last talk by George Ayittey , who had set the tone for the conference in the first place. I would highly recommend browsing through the entire collection of excellent TEDAfrica talks here, and look at Ngozi talks for example. Be prepared to open your mind:

What Africans think about Aid-II

Freelance Journalist Jennifer Brea's article has caused quite a stir (photo credit)

Almost two years later, an article written by a young freelance journalist (now graduate student at Harvard) about African development and aid, is still making the rounds. Jennifer Brea was a Fellow at the TEDAfrica conference in 2007, when she happened to witness an exchange between fiery African Journalist Andrew Mwenda (whose talk I blogged about yesterday) and the West's passionate Africa advocate, Bono from U2. You can watch the  talk that Mwenda gave here (I believe the exchange between the two has been edited out, but from eyewitness accounts, it was quite an exchange!). 

Mwenda's talk resonated with many of the youth at the Conference who were tired of the extremely pathetic westernized view of African development. An inspired and incised Brea, put her thoughts down on paper. Probably not surprisingly, it became the most talked about article post TEDAfrica, and to date is still being circulated. Its how I came across it as well; a month ago, a friend of mine forwarded it to me and it got me thinking as well. 

So it begins...make sure you read the rest here. I promise you, its worth it! BTW, here is Brea's response to all the "brouhaha" that the article caused. 

What Africans think of Aid-I

I was listening to the following talk by respected African journalist Andrew Mwenda, and was floored. People who subscribe to the aid model are going to increasingly hear from voices like his and need to figure out a more effective means of philanthropy. Watch it: