100 Billion Note is Useless Now

This is a Z$100 billion dollars note for the nation of Zimbabwe.

It's worthless as not long after the new Z$100 trillion note was circulated to overcome the ever increasing inflation rate that was running into millions of percentages. To be precise, 231,000,000% in the third quarter of 2008.

The people in the Zimbabwean are no economists at all or do not have any good advise from any specialists in the nation. Everyone was in just to ride on getting the side incomes while working with the government. Unfortunately, at the detriment of the general public.

How much is Z$100 trillion dollars worthed actually? It's only US$30. Pathetic isn't it ...

The money is growing smaller and smaller each and the public was forced to withdraw more and more money to survive. How much can they withdraw to meet the ever increasing prices of daily goods required?

Banks do not have enough monies for the public to withdraw and people even found that it was more expensive to work than not to work. A teacher's present salary is only worthed US$1 and to catch a bus to the school is US$2 ...... thereby leading to an unemployment rate of 80% now.

I have been following Zimbabwe's predicament since 2007 and the central bank, under useless guidance from some so-called professionals, kept adding a numeric zero to their currency note to overcome the inflation and continued to print new monies.

I did mention that by adding more numeric zeros in the currency notes does not help at all as the root of the problem was not the money. In Aug 2008, the central bank re-valued their Z$10 billion into 1 Zimdollar, efffectively cutting away 10 zeros. They thought they have made it. How wrong!

The inflation continued and continued, the new currency was changed and changed again till it reaches Z$100 trillion dollars in Jan 2009 in a short five months.

Now, how are you going to carry your monies around when you require Z$1,243,255,000.00 to pay for your meal in the Victoria Falls Hotel.

The people in the Zimbabwean government and central bank, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, cracked their heads again ....... they could be really doing their work but they are really lost in their own world.

The solution? Cut the zeros behind the Z$100 trillion dollars ..... it's so simple only.


What's the value now? Z$1 trillion = Z$1.

To overcome the damages, foreign currencies are allowed to be traded and workers' salaries are payable in foreign currencies too. Practically, the Zimbabwean dollar is useless.
Tags: Zimbabwe, Zimbabwean Dollar, Trillion Dollar Note, Billion Dollar Note, Victoria Falls Hotel, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Special Agro-Cheque

Teachers Caned For Poor Exam Results

My thoughts have been that the Malaysian schooling system was quite exam oriented and schools / parents would ensure that their kids obtain good results that would bring honour to the school's name and parents would be proud of their children.

Schools that produces good results will bring honour to the staff (teachers) that sacrifices their time to bring the best out of the kids. But what if the students didn't do well. What if the results were worst than last year's examination.

Teachers, you can consider yourself lucky for being born and able to teach in Malaysia itself.

If your cschool's students didn't perform well or having all the students to pass their exams, you will be in great problem if you were in Tanzania, a nation in the African continent.

Nineteen teachers from three schools in the northern region of Kagera, Tanzania have been hauled up to explain on why their schools' examination results were poor.

Some of these nineteen teachers were late for classes or didn't show up for work during the past year that could be counted and the "little napoleon" found in District Commissioner, Albert Mnali, decided to take things into his own hands. He decided that such teachers should be caned for it was their lateness or absence that had caused students to have learnt lesser and as a result of that, the bad examination results.

Albert Mnali brought policemen to the schools to hunt for those teachers. A female teacher will only get caning on her palm. But I pity the male teachers for they have lie down on the floor to be caned on their backside.

The Tanzania Teachers' Union will be taking legal action against Albert Mnali for such uncalled for actions.

Reading: Shock as Tanzania teachers caned - BBC News/Africa
Tags: Tanzania, Africa, Kagera, Teacher, Albert Mnali, Tanzania Teachers' Union

Jailed For Being Idle

The title is straightforward ......... you will be jailed if you were proven that you were idling your time away. This is happening in Nigeria. According to its Sharia penal code, a person found idling around without any work or even school will be sentenced to jail time and be given strokes of cane.

Of course the court officials won't go out hunting for such people. A dad of the muslim community has reported his son to a Sharia court out of love for him. His son was mixing with bad hats and one way to save his son was to send him to jail and hoping that the jail term will wake his son up. Will his son wake up after getting six months jail and 30 strokes of cane? I will even before a single stroke of cane.

This strict penalty is being practised in Bauchi state that adopts the Islamic Sharia law. Is this law good and effective which can be considered in the land of milk and honey - Malaysia?

Reading: Nigerian man jailed for idleness - BBC News/Africa
Tags: Nigeria, Bauchi, Sharia Court, Sharia Penal Code, Islamic Sharia Law

Record Inflation of 231,000,000%

When inflation sets in, many Third World countries will not be able to handle it. They are already considered poor nations but cost of living is rising daily.

Zimbabwe's economy has been spiralling downwards with no signs of any potential economy comeback.

Inflation rose from few hundred per cent up to an impossible rate of two hundred thirty one million per cent (231,000,000%). Many people will not be able to comprehend what kind of inflation is this. In layman example, a loaf of bread that was sold at 100 Zimbabwe Dollar in year January 2007 is now sold at 23,100,000,000 (that's hitting above Twenty Three Billion Zimbabwe Dollar).

The country tried to print bigger currency denomination to counter the increasing rate of inflation but to no avail. Then it changed the currency valuation by deleting the number of zeros. Is that the correct way to handle the economics? Whoever that gave this advise is really marvellous. Were they graduates from Cambridge UK or MIT, USA? Or local politicians that graduated from their local universities?

Hence, it decreases the value of the currency and on a positive note, it helped the citizens in the way of carrying lesser currency notes when they go for shopping. Effective Aug 2008, from the height of a 100,000,000,000 Zimbabwe Dollar (One Hundred Billion) currency note that equates to less than USD400.00, it now becomes 10 Zimdollar (at a rate of Z$10 billion = 1 Zimdollar).

As root of inflation was the political instability, inflation rate continued its climb. The nation needed to print bigger currency denomination notes again. Firstly, the 10,000 Zimdollar and now 20,000 Zimdollar (equivalent to US$20). You could only withdraw the maximum of 20,000 Zimdollar from your bank account ...... daily!

It will be neverending and by early next year, the 100,000 Zimdollar will be out on the street. By then, I would have lost count of the number of times it has printed new notes. Next level of inflation rate? This African nation is really one of a kind with the leaders in power, who are living in posh lifestyle, not considering the suffering citizens.

Reading: Zimbabwe inflation hits new high - BBC News/Africa

Related posts:-
* Zimbabwe's Growing the Wrong Way
* Just How Much is 500 Million Dollars?
Tags: Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Dollar, Zimdollar, Economics, Inflation, Africa

Somali Pirates Testing Superpowers

Somali sea pirates are taking their chances way too far with their last hijacking rendezvous. Of all ships, they hijacked a Ukrainian ship by the name of MV Faina, which was carrying thirty three numbers of T-72 battle tanks and some other weapons. Delivery was intended for Kenya but interrupted off the coast of Somali.

Majority of the hijacked ships are being berthed at the port of Eyl and would be released upon receipt of ransoms.

Whoever is controlling this group of pirates will gain a upperhand in the civil war between warlords in Somali, that is without a government for last seventeen years. Imagine having thirty three tanks in your hands. I think it's also a problem as you need more than thirty three experienced personnels to operate those tanks.

The sea pirates in realising this personnel shortage is now asking for US$35 million in return for the MV Faina ship. This demand has gotten up the nerves of the superpowers. Just this year alone, ransoms paid by ship owners or countries with interests in those shipments have reached approximately US$100 million. Not bad at all.

To ensure safety for the moment. USA has deployed one of their destroyers, USS Howard (DDG 83), to monitor the situation. Even Russia has commandered a warship to the region to assist. France has two of its navy ships serving in the same region protecting their interests.

Of course not forgetting my very own country's Royal Malaysian Navy that is being represented by our naval ships, KD Lekiu dan KD Sri Inderapura. They were there to escort two Malaysian-owned ships, MT Bunga Melati Dua and MT Bunga Melati Lima, safely to their final desitnation in Djibouti. Both these ships have been released by the Somali sea pirates after a reported sum of US$4.0 million has been paid to the Somali law breakers.

Is the Malaysian government condoning this hijack? Whose money was used? Whom did they pay to? This info will help the investigation in tracing the sea pirates by the international bodies.
Tags: Somali, Eyl, T-72 Tank, MV Faina, USS Howard, Royal Malaysian Navy, KD Lekiu, KD Sri Inderapura. MT Bunga Melati Dua, MT Bunga Melati Lima

Death Or 86 Wives?

If you were a given choice to choose, either 86 ladies or death, which one would you choose?

For men generally, where could you get 86 ladies at one go at your mercy ...... hehehe. But one of our brothers in Nigeria was able to do so. As blogged previously on Mohammed Bello Abubakar (aged 84), the Islamic authorities have given him an ultimatum, choose 4 wives out of the 86 ladies that he has with him now or the death penalty will await him.

Hmmmmmm that's going to be a big headache for him. He was supposed to have chosen the lucky 4 ladies where the deadline was yesterday.

He could be challenging the Islamic authorities in the sharia court as to which part of the Koran has placed a limit on the number of wives but he quoted that it was up to what your own power, your own endowment and ability allows.

Reading: Nigerian faces death for 86 wives - BBC News/Africa
Tags: Mohammed Bello Abubakar, Nigeria, Sharia Court, Islamic Authorities, Koran, Quran

How Big is Your Family?

How big is your family in terms of the number of people? Mine is small indeed. My parents gave birth to two of us only, me and my younger sister.

Two generations above me, my grandparents' era, have different thinking or maybe the cost of living was much lower in raising up kids. Those era would see five to ten kids in one family. Initially it would be taxing on the parents but as they grow up and with the grandkids coming along, it would be fun when it comes to a family gathering. Not all big families will have happy ending. Some will treat their siblings as enemies, a tragedy indeed.

But I'm quite sure that nobody could beat this guy in Nigeria. Mohammed Bello Abubakar could be trying to register himself with the Guinness World of Records for his feat, having a total of 86 wives.

Great idea? What's in him that attracted those women to him? If it was money I would understand but it wasn't to be. This guy has no job and none of his wives too. He needs US$915 (approx. RM3,020) to feed his family daily. Rumours have it that his children are out in the streets to beg and on a good day, they could bring in US$290.

Was it sex that drew their affection towards him? Mine you, with 86 wives and proper rotation a wife could only have him for four days in a year.

Apparently, some of the wives fell for him for his healing powers. Islamic authorities in Nigeria have labelled his family as a cult. Who are the cult members - his 86 wives and 170 children.

He has one advise for the men in the world. No, not the sexual advise part but he reminded men not to follow his footsteps unless you have the same strength as his which was given by god.

Reading: Nigerian advises against 86 wives - BBC News/Africa
Tags: Africa, Nigeria, Mohammed Bello Abubakar, Cult, Islamic Authorities

Zimbabwe's Growing the Wrong Way

Zimbabwe is growing indeed but it is growing the wrong stuff - inflation!

The latest report is that Zimbabwe's inflation has shot up to 2,200,000%. Bear in mind that this is an official figure from the government itself. Malaysia's official inflation figure is only at 7% but to me it should be much higher also, say between 10% to 20%. I'm sur many Malaysians will agree to that.

Zimbabwe's economy is really nosediving to an abyss, a place with no bottom. It was at one point, one of the richest country in Africa. Now, it's one of the worst in the world.

I followed closely on this situation not because I'm in Africa at the moment but more so of how are the citizens going to maintain their livelihood with such circumstances. It's really beyond everyone's expectation and ability.

To counter the effect of the high inflation, the Zimbabwean government kept issuing higher currency notes. Was it the right way in economic strategy in which case I'm not agreeable with it.

In January 2008 - Zimbabwean $10 million dollar note.
April 2008 - Z$50 million dollar note
May 2008 - Z$100 million, Z$250 million and Z$500 million dollar notes
June 2008 - Z$5 billion, Z$25 billion and Z$50 billion dollar notes

Reason for the issuance of new dollar notes was because prices for everything have risen so fast that in order to pay for those goods or services, you need to carry a suitcase wherever you go in order to get what you want.

So, by issuing larget note denomination, citizens only need to carry lesser monies. Guess how much is Z$500 million? It's only US$2.00.

As inflation shot up to 2,200,000% percentage, the Zimbabwean government has to issue the Z$100 billion to counter it.

Unfortunately, it was not enough fast enough as taking a public bus from the city centre back to home after work would have cost Z$250 billion dollars. One loaf of white bread is already Z$200 billion dollars. How to survive?

How now? The Zimbabwean government came up with a brilliant idea this time. They would issue new notes again but this time they will cancel the multiple zeroes. Effective 1 Aug 2008, Zimbabweans will need to go to the banks to convert their millions or billions of dollars at a rate of Z$10 billion = 1 Zimdollar.

Suddenly, a multi-billionaire could become a normal person overnight.

In Sudan itself, it's almost similar. It was 1,000 Sudanese Dinar = US$5.00. Then they changed by issuing new notes to 2 Sudanese Pound = US$1.00. Such African nations' exchange rates are not recognised internationally. Their currencies are not traded outside of their country therefore they can implement whatever denominations as they like.

This stack of Sudanese pound was equivalent to about US$12,000. It was to pay off certain expenses.
Tags: Zimbabwe, Africa, Inflation, Zimbabwean Dollar, Zimdollar, Sudanese Dinar, Sudanese Pound , Economics

Chinese Considered Black in Africa

Ethnic Chinese living in South Africa has been neglected for a number of years. They have been classified as whites all these years even during the apartheid period. Being classified as whites, they have lost their rights to qualify for business contracts and job promotions reserved for blacks and Indian origins. The government has changed a number of laws, especially the Broad-Based Economic Empowerment and the Employment Equity Acts, to eradicate the whites supremacy privileges.

This discrimination has ended when the South African High Court has re-classified the Chinese as blacks now. So they became Black Chinese South Africans???????? hehehehe

The court recognise the Chinese's contribution to the nation and by virtue of this re-classification, they are now part of South Africa origins.

In Malaysia, it's a totally different story. As of today, the ethnic Chinese and Indians are still considered immigrants and their privileges are different. There are fixed quotas for their various businesses and education. Government policy makers at times do call for the ethnic Chinese and Indians to return to their country of origin of their ancestors if they were not happy with the government's policies. See how nincompoop are those people who call for such actions.

Ethnic Chinese and Indians, for some, are already into the 10th generation living in Malaysia but government policy makers asked them to return back to country of origin ........ I really laughed out at these people, all the time.

What South Africa has done is really humane, logic and reasonable. Their decision to make this change is to see a pragmatic growth strategy that aims to realise the country's full economic potential. Malaysia?????

Reading: S Africa Chinese 'become black' - BBC News/Africa
Tags: South Africa, Chinese South African, Broad-Based Economic Empowerment and the Employment Equity Acts, Malaysia, Ethnic Chinese, Ethnic Indian, South Africa High Court

The Malaysia-Darfur Connection

Malaysia must stop supporting the genocidal government in Khartoum, Sudan.
By Sally Ong

April 13, named “Global Day for Darfur”, marks the fifth anniversary of the genocide in Darfur, a western region of Sudan. Since the conflict in Darfur erupted in 2003, at least 200,000 people have died and more than 2.3 million people have been displaced from their homes. Most of the displaced Darfuris are now living in refugee camps in neighboring Chad and in a network of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Darfur.

Although the conflict began five years ago, it has its roots in decades of neglect, oppression, drought and small-scale conflicts in Darfur. The current crisis began when two rebel groups attacked the central government in Khartoum. The two groups represented agrarian farmers who are mostly “non-Arab black African” Muslims from different tribes. In response to the rebel movement, the Khartoum government increased arms and support to local tribal and other militias, who later became known as the Janjaweed. Members of the Janjaweed are mostly “Arab black African” Muslims who herd cattle, camels and other livestock. Janjaweed mean “devils on horseback” and are thus named because members of the militia would arrive on horseback to systematically murder, torture and rape hundreds and thousands of Darfuris. In addition, armed bands of Janjaweed have destroyed food and water supplies, effectively wiping out entire villages.

Malaysia is, unfortunately, complicit in the genocide. We are currently the second largest investor in Sudan after China, and thus funding Khartoum’s genocidal activities. Petronas, Malaysia’s state owned oil company, is a major player in Sudan’s oil industry. As of April 2007, Petronas had invested approximately RM 4.8 billion (or US$1.45 billion) in Sudan. Petronas’ involvement has also facilitated significant investment of other Malaysian companies in Sudan. Ranhill Berhad, Muhibbah Engineering Berhad, Kencana Petroleum Berhad, Kejuruteraan Samudra Timur Bhd, Scomi Group Berhad and PECD Berhad are other Malaysian companies that have major stakes in Sudan’s oil industry.

All these companies have been identified by Sudan Divestment Taskforce, a U.S. based non-profit, as companies with highly problematic practices in Sudan. They are thus labeled because their business dealings 1) involve engagement with the Government of Sudan, 2) provide little to no benefit to the disadvantaged populations of Sudan and 3) may be inadvertently contributing to the government’s genocidal capacity.

Because of these business dealings, Malaysia has also strengthened bilateral relations with Sudan. Malaysia has provided military assistance and political protection to Sudan. A memorandum of understanding between the two countries signed in February 2004 included an agreement to cooperate on military matters. Although Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has expressed concern about the conflict in Darfur, he has not called for increased pressure on the Government of Sudan. Instead, he appealed to Muslim world leaders to provide help to the Sudanese government. When he visited Sudan in April 2007, Pak Lah also urged western governments not to impose sanctions on Sudan.

Malaysia’s involvement in the killings in Darfur, whether direct or indirect, is shameful and must stop. The Malaysian government must use its economic leverage to pressure the Sudanese government to stop the killing and destruction of Darfuri lives. Malaysian owned companies in Sudan should also do the honorable thing and withdraw completely from Sudan if Khartoum refuses to restore peace to Darfur.

I urge all concerned Malaysians to protest our government’s role in empowering Khartoum. To learn about the lives of displaced Darfuris, please visit here, a website with videos and journal entries posted by volunteers who visited sites in Darfur and Chad. Lim Yuen-Ling, a Malaysian, visited refugee camps in Chad last year as a volunteer for Stop Genocide Now. To sign an online petition asking the Malaysian government to unequivocally oppose the genocide, please visit here.

No one should have to die because of our economic interests. How many more thousands of people must die before we will speak up?
Tags: Africa, Sudan, Darfur, Global Day for Darfur, Darfuris, Janjaweed, Devils on Horseback, Sudan Divestment Taskforce, Stop Genocide Now, Genocide, Internally Displaced Persons, Non-Arab Black African, Arab Black African

Zimbabwean Bloggers

Wanting to hear the real or actual news in Zimbabwe? Looks like the scenario is the same in Zimbabwe as in Malaysia. Mainstream media is controlled by the ruling party and oppositions have no say and no way of getting their message across to the nation generally. So, Malaysia = Zimbabwe?

Zimbabwe held its latest so-called democratic general election on Sunday and after six days, the Election Commission couldn't release the full results. It's so tense in Zimbabwe now. Can you imagine that after inserting your ballot paper into the ballot box, you don't even know the results after six full days!!!!!

Read the following Zimbabwean related blogs to learn more about the Zimbabwean internal issues. You only hear the truth in such blogs (wonder why):-

This is Zimbabwe - Sokwanele - Zvakwana is a peoples' movement, embracing supporters of all pro-democratic political parties, civic organizations and institutions in Zimbabwe

Kubatana Blogs - an online community of Zimbabwean activists

Zimbabwean Pundit - the world as seen from the eyes of a Zimbabwean

Cry Beloved Zimbabwe - a Zimbabwean born writer, entrepreneur and political activist

The Bearded Man - a former Zimbabwean policeman but residing in England now. Convicted that the more people that hear about the devastating rule in Zimbabwe and the real problems therein, the better!

Enough is Enough - Seeing Zimbabwe from a different angle

Mugabe Makaipa - Retired doc, living a life of leisure in the rural Philippines

David Coltart - MDC Senator, has been a human rights lawyer in Zimbabwe since his return to the country in 1983. He was first elected to represent the Bulawayo South House of Assembly constituency in June 2000, and was rel-elected in March 2005. In March 2008 he was elected as a Senator to represent the Khumalo Senatorial constituency in Bulawayo

Related posts:-
* Nigerian Bloggers
* Kenyan Bloggers
Tags: Nigerian Bloggers, Kenyan Bloggers, Zimbabwean Bloggers, Zimbabwe, Zimbabwean, Africa

Landmine Main Reason for Pageant

Landmines are devices planted into roads, sidewalks, vehicle paths or wherever you name it in countries where wars are occuring and had occurred.

Such landmines came in various designs and could come as Blast Mines or Fragmentation Mines. When such mines blew up, it would normally destroy any object within 1m to as far as 200m away.

Lots of people have been killed worldwide and if they were not killed, they would have been maimed for the rest of their lives.

Lots of works have yet to be done to eradicate these landmines and a global network called International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) which represents over 1,100 human rights, demining, humanitarian, children's, veterans', medical, development, arms control, religious, environmental, and women's groups in over 60 countries, who work locally, nationally, regionally, and internationally to ban antipersonnel landmines.

In Angola, the government is working hand-in-hand with several local organisations and the European Union in coming up with the Miss Landmine Angola 2008 pageant (see the website on the contestant's profile).




The Miss Landmine Manifesto (in no particular order):-
* Female pride and empowerment
* Disabled pride and empowerment
* Global and local landmine awareness and information
* Challenge inferiority and/or guilt complexes that hinder creativity- historical, cultural, social, personal, African, European
* Question established concepts of physical perfection
* Challenge old and ingrown concepts of cultural cooperation
* Celebrate true beauty

The world's first Miss Landmine event is to be held in conjunction with United Nation's International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on 4 April 2008. The winner of this event would receive a custom-made prothesis from Norway's leading manufacturer.

Reading: Angola to host landmine pageant - BBC News/Africa
Tags: Landmine, Blast Mines, Fragmentation Mines, Anti-Landmine Campaign, Angola, Miss Landmine Angola 2008, Africa, International Campaign to Ban Landmines, ICBL, International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, United Nations, European Union

Inflation of 100,000% is Possible

Zimbabwe's economy is definitely heading somewhere - down the drains, yeah all the drains.......

Latest inflation figure was estimated at 100,000% (but compared against which year?). When a country was required to print a larger currency denomination, which in this case was a 10,000,000 (Ten Million) Zimbabwe dollar note, it has sounded to the world that their smaller denomination notes were of no further use. Why was that so?

Previously bus fares were at Z$1.5m (that's in millions) and now, it's Z$3m. School teachers have to quit their jobs and took up menial jobs near their homes leaving schools without teachers in the new year.

A pair of branded lady shoes was selling at Z$150m in early 2008 but it went up to Z$450m lately.

You would be considered lucky if you could get a job which pays you Z$500m per month which worked out to US$100.

Banks have issued new rulings due to chronic shortage of cash:-
* staff who earn over Z$1m a month must be paid by cheques (where high bank charges would eat up a portion too).
* no cheques of Z$50m or above (US$416) are acknowledged by the banks and there are limits on the amount of cheques that can be drawn each day.
* only Z$3m (US$21) could be withdrawn from the ATM (per day I presumed).

In a way, that piece of 10,000,000 dollar note that was issued lately could be quite worthless. Such hyperinflation could happen when a government doesn't control their spendings and when cronies were the ones getting paid if ever spent by the government.

Related blog posting:
* Zimbabwe's 10,000,000 dollars note
* How High Can Inflation Hit Us? 100%? 100,000%?
* What's Happening to Zimbabwe?
Tags: Zimbabwe, Africa, Inflation, Hyperinflation, Economics, Zimbabwe Dollar

HIV Infected People Will Be Arrested in Egypt

In Malaysia, those people who were HIV infected or diagnosed with the AIDS virus, would still get some freedom in moving about and get to do what they wanted. For those who were weak, they may be resting at home or homes catered for HIV/AIDS patients.

I do not have a friend or relative that has the virus so I won't know how I would react and certainly won't be scared stiff but certainly won't react the way Egypt has reacted.

The Egyptian authorities would go all out to arrest those people that came down with HIV/AIDS. Why did they do that to those people who were already suffering from that sickness? It seems that arrested men would be subjected to anal examination to determine whether they were homosexuals. Ridiculous way of examining. The moment these guys were found involved in unusual sexual desires, they would be chained to hospital beds and undergo further medical tests.

To the Egyptian authorities, this could be a method of stopping the virus from spreading to other victims once and for all. Is homosexual the issue here or was it the disease? I wonder how would conduct a test on a woman if found infected too.

The Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International found this arrest shocking. I called this an extreme case (religious extremists) and the Egyptian authorities were really not well trained in handling such homosexual cases or cases involving people striken with HIV/AIDS. No human feelings/sympathy at all. Would simply call this torturing too.

I have read about so many non-profitable organisations that opened up homes for the HIV/AIDS infected people throughout the world and this Egyptian step must be the first of its kind in this world too. Guinness World of Records may want to recognise Egypt for this.
Tags: Egypt, HIV, AIDS, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International

Zimbabwe's 10,000,000 dollars note

Believe it or not, Zimbabwe has to issue the 10,000,000 Zimbabwean Dollars notes to counter the hyperinflation situation in Zimbabwe.

The value of this 10,000,000 Zimbabwe Dollars is equivalent to US$3.90 or £2 or 2.60 euros. Reason given by the central bank, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, in issuing this note - further attempt to stabilise the Zimbabwean economy.

Situation in Zimbabwe hasn't improve since my last posting on "How High Can Inflation Hit Us? 100%? 100,000%?".

What's hyperinflation?
In economics, hyperinflation is inflation that is "out of control," a condition in which prices increase rapidly as a currency loses its value. No precise definition of hyperinflation is universally accepted. One simple definition requires a monthly inflation rate of 20 or 30% or more. In informal usage the term is often applied to much lower rates. As a rule of thumb, normal inflation is reported per year, but hyperinflation is often reported for much shorter intervals, often per month.

The definition used by most economists is "an inflationary cycle without any tendency toward equilibrium." A vicious circle is created in which more and more inflation is created with each iteration of the cycle. Although there is a great deal of debate about the root causes of hyperinflation, it becomes visible when there is an unchecked increase in the money supply or drastic debasement of coinage, and is often associated with wars (or their aftermath), economic depressions, and political or social upheavals.
Tags: Zimbabwe, 10 Million Dollars, Economics, Hyperinflation

Chinese Marching Towards Africa

In reading this article found in BBC News/Africa - China in Africa: Developing ties, it brought some memories back to me.

What triggered my old memories? This article mentioned that Chinese migrants are venturing into Africa land getting involved in the agriculture, construction and trading businesses. True statement. In Khartoum of Sudan, there is a convenient store that I will usually shop for chinese food/products.

In the construction sector, my company contracted two China construction companies as our subcontractors. Besides this two companies, there are quite a number of China companies involved in the same sector. Why are they in Sudan?

The Chinese migrants are flocking into Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Senegal too where agriculture is the main focus.

I remembered while walking in Khartoum city centre, the Sudanese sitting nearby would shout "Chinese, Chinese". I just smiled. At another corner, one or two other Sudanese would say the same thing and I would reply "Malaysie, Malaysie" (that's how they pronounce Malaysia).

Even in my office, the Sudanese cannot comprehend that I came from Malaysia. One guy was so sure that I'm from China, not Malaysia. Why did he think that way? He was more confused when I pointed at a Malaysian Indian colleague and said that he's from Malaysie too. To which my Sudanese colleague said "He's from India".

To them, Sudanese people are generally with the darker skin complexion and almost everyone looks like that. They just cannot understand how come an Indian and a Chinese can be a Malaysian. It was real hard to convince them.
Tags: Africa, Sudan, Khartoum, Chinese Migrant

Medical Treatment in Africa

After reading about a terrible mix-up of operations in the nation of Tanzania, it revived my memory when I was sick while I was in Khartoum, Sudan.

The mix-up incident in Tanzania was met with tragic. A patient (Emmanuel Mgaya) who has tumour in his head was operated on his knee. While the other guy (Emmanuel Didas) who was supposed to be operated on his knee, was given a operation on his head.

Mgaya died from late operation on his head.
Didas is now partially paralysed due to the unwanted operation on his head.
Reason: Both patients in the same hospital have the same first name.

So simple to wash their hands clean. When I had diarrhoea in Sudan the last round (a Saturday night), I had to buy medicine from a pharmacy as there are no clinics in Sudan. Even after being discharged from a hospital, you would have to buy medicine from a pharmacy instead. When you are really sick, you either admit yourself into a small or big hospital.

My diarrhoea continued on the whole Sunday. On Monday morning, my company's medical arrangement with a hospital, Fedail Hospital, arranged for a hospital medical officer to bring me to their hospital.

When it was my turn to see the doctor she enquired what happened to me.
Me: I had diarrhoea since late yesterday night but having stomach muscle cramp now.
Lady Doctor: Do you know what caused it?
Me: No idea as I ate the same food with my colleagues.
Lady Doctor: Did you take any medicine since yesterday night?
Me: Yes I did. I bought an anti-diarrhoea medicine from the pharmacy to stop the purging.
Lady Doctor: Was it effective?
Me: Yes but it seems that it had stopped all purging too effectively until I can't let go now and it's causing that pain in my stomach.
Lady Doctor: I will give you another medicine which will relieve your muscle cramp. Since you don't know what caused your diarrhoea, I need you to provide sample for me so that we could examine the cause of it.
Me: What do you mean? What sample? (I was really that naive)
Lady Doctor: Whatever you purge out later on, please get some sample of those stuff. I will provide a bottle for you.

Did I follow the doctor's instruction? Of course not. It was not the first time I had diarrhoea and where did that doctor graduate from. First time hearing that I was required to obtain my pooh so that a medical test could be conducted to determine what caused my diarrhoea. Goodness me! As if it was life threatening or an epidemic that has struck Sudan.

After taking the new medicine provided by this doctor, it did help my stomach to relieve what has been stopped by the medicine provided by the pharmacist. I rested well on Monday and went back to work on Tuesday.
Tags: Medical Treatment, Diarrhoea, Tanzania, Khartoum, Sudan, Lady Doctor

Sudan Has Split

Oh no! Sudan's unity government has split after South Sudanese representatives claimed that a number of deadlines that were supposed to have been accomplished are still outstanding.

Due to that, the South Sudanese representatives have walked out of the unity governmnet that was established after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Deal (CPA) signed two years ago between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the northern National Congress Party (NCP).

Amongst the deadlines stated in the CPA:-
* boundary demarcations between the north and south;
* the redeployment of northern troops from the south to be implemented; and
* chance to reshuffle its minister in the unity administration.

Must show my boss this situation. Definitely I'm not going back there with this latest outcome. I have already been through the tension once during the first 2 weeks of Aug 2005 and I don't need another to refresh my memory. It really did shake me. Lots of us were really affected then in terms of emotion / psychologically.

The government has stated that SPLM's pull out was only a tactical ploy to get the government to the discussion table.
Tags: Sudan, South Sudan, Comprehensive Peace Deal, Sudan People's Liberation Movement, SPLM, National Congress Party, Demarcation

AIDS Vaccine Went Awfully WRONG!

Merck & Co who tested their one of the latest vaccine in which was related to AIDS, found that the vaccine had instead caused people without AIDS to contract AIDS. They later abandon that vaccine testing programme. Where is the punishment against Merck & Co? They can just go scot free?

If you have watched the movie called Constant Gardener, it depicts the same scenario where international pharmaceutical companies tested their latest products in Kenya which caused many Kenyans to die later on. Africans were used as the guinea pigs or a trial ground. Aren't they humans? In the movie, the government authorities and pharmaceutical companies' officials were implicated but investigators' life were threatened when they wanted to expose the scheme.

Is Merck & Co doing the same thing in Africa now? Or was the movie actually relaying a message behind the movie that in fact, it is happening.

Merck's scheme, called Step, started its trial way back in 2004 and it was tested on 3,000 HIV-negative volunteers that came from ages of 18 and 45 band. Out of a sudden, 24 of the volunteers became infected with HIV, the virus that causes Aids. Another 21 was also infected with AIDS when a dummy version of the jab was given.

So, they were just testing whether their products were effective or not. Why didn't Merck & Co test it in USA first? No talks about compensation to the victims? Those are human beings just like you and me!!
Tags: Merck & Co, Pharmaceutical, Medicine, HIV Virus, AIDS, Africa, Guinea Pig, Trial Ground

South African Gold Mine

Elandsrand Mine, owned by Harmony Gold Mining had a mishap last few days when a power cable caused the main lift from operating.

This mine is about 2.2 km deep........ yeah more than 2 kilometres. And imagine the heat that could be generated from 3,200 breathing gold miners trapped down there.

It was mentioned that the mine is usually 30 to 40 degree celcius and all the 3,200 gold miners have been rescued now. Thank God! Otherwise it could have been a record number of underground deaths. Can you imagine the underground working area that could be very big to fit in 3,200 people.

Their efforts to save the 3,200 workers in view of precaution was done at a slow rate as only 75 gold miners could only be brought up to surface each time. Well, due to the depth and type of lift being used, you can't expect the lift to move as fast as those found in skyscrapers. One hour could only pulled up 300 gold miners and it took a solid 11 hours for that evacuation operation.
Tags: South Africa, Gold Mine, Mining, Mine Shaft, Elandsrand Mine, Harmony Gold Mining