October 17 2008 by The Systemic Analyst.

The movie below is written and directed by Peter Joseph. It is 123 min long and offers a lot of food-for-thought. We welcome your comments.

Posted in Identity Management, Security Measures, Health Preparedness, Economic Issues, In The News, Water Issues, Food Security, Africa, Asia, North America, South America, Environment, Politics | No Comments »

January 17 2008 by The Systemic Analyst.

The Kampala Monitor has reported that:

“Police say they are registering rising numbers of domestic fights and inter-family scuffles at Gbukutu and Maji Muzuri water points as natives exchange blows in the scramble to secure water for desperate families. It is envisaged that the water scarcity and resultant animosity would only worsen in the coming drier months of February and March.”

Water, like food, is an absolute necessity for existence. As a result, rising tensions among populations that experience shortages of either water or food should be expected. Unfortunately, most world leaders have been very short-sighted about the looming risks associated with such shortages, often failing to carry-out adequate preparations in advance. Although most westerners are quick to brush off incidents in Africa as isolated cases, the question begs, what will be the probable fallout of water or food shortages in Europe or North America?

Posted in Water Issues, Africa | No Comments »

October 30 2007 by The Systemic Analyst.

In world where the illegal trafficking of humans shows no abating, curtailing the apparently legal trafficking of exotic pets seems highly unlikely despite the clear benefits that might be derived by society.

The Times Online has reported that:

“Dorothy Crawford, Professor of Medical Microbiology at the University of Edinburgh, said that the risk to people from zoonoses – animal-borne microbes – had never been greater, and that there was a need to reexamine our relationship with wild and domestic animals.

Professor Crawford also predicted that global travel would need to be restricted in the event of an avian flu pandemic.

Most emerging infections, including HIV, severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and bird flu had been acquired from animals and no one could say how many other devastating diseases could yet mutate to human beings, Professor Crawford said. “Who knows what could be hiding around the corner? We really have to think about what we are doing,” she said.

Professor Crawford highlighted the example of a consignment of giant Gambian rats, which were flown from Ghana into the US as exotic pets. The rats carried monkeypox virus, which transferred to prairie dogs that were sold in the same pet shop. The prairie dogs then passed the disease to their human buyers. The chain of infection was only terminated after the microbe had infected 71 people. In another instance, crocodiles being farmed in Papua New Guinea to provide luxury items for the West had been infected by a virus from wild pig meat, which crossed to their keeper.” Click here for more.

It’s very unfortunate that the plight of billions of people will never improve until humans can manage to see so many issues from a better vantage point. Professor Crawford’s points are very logical and certainly valid. Are the needs driving people to have exotic pets so sensible? Should the rights of so few really override the safety of so many? If the exotic pet industry is really the only means for those in poorer countries to survive, perhaps it is our wider system that should be risked, not the health of a typically ignorant Western population.

Posted in Disaster Management, Health Preparedness, Africa, Europe | No Comments »

August 21 2007 by The Systemic Analyst.

The Voice of America recently reported that:

“Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe…signed into law the controversial Interception of Communications Bill, which gives his government the authority to eavesdrop on phone and Internet communications and read physical mail…Human rights lawyer Otto Saki told VOA that the law interferes and undermines the enjoyment of rights enshrined in the constitution and is a sign Mr. Mugabe wants to consolidate his power by “any means necessary or unnecessary.”

But Communications Minister Christopher Mushowe said Zimbabwe is not unique in the world in passing such legislation, citing electronic eavesdropping programs in the United States, the United Kingdom and South Africa, among other countries.

The claims of Mr. Mushowe would almost be funny if they weren’t so close to the truth. The U.S., in particular, should be hard pressed to denounce the similarity given the latest piece of legislation passed there regarding wiretapping.

Posted in Wiretapping & Surveillance, North America, Africa | No Comments »