Congo, Obama, Pirates, and the Internet: a collection of links of no immediate relation to each other

The Spoils: NYT feature on mining in Congo

This is Africa’s resource curse: The wealth is unearthed by the poor, controlled by the strong, then sold to a world largely oblivious of its origins.

On if Obama ran for president of a country in Africa. (Hat Tip: Africa is a Country)

And if Obama were an African and an candidate for the presidency of an African country? His opponent (any of Africa's George Bushes) would find a way to change the constitution to prolong his mandate beyond the expected term... being a candidate of the opposition party, he would have the opportunity to campaign. They would threat him, for example, as in Zimbabwe or in Cameroon: he would be physically attacked, arrested again and again, have his passport withdrawn. The Bushs of Africa do not tolerate opponents, do not tolerate democracy.

According to the WSJ, we just need better (American) policy to stop pirates in Somalia:

As Somalia falls apart and the pirates proliferate, it's been left to the U.S. and the rest of the civilized world to police them... Though relatively small, the pirates are a challenge to established authority in a way understandable to all. If the high seas are allowed to degrade into a no-man's land, the world's thugs will notice and press forward elsewhere. It's going to require an exercise of U.S. power to push back, or allow global piracy to flourish.

Need internet where there is none? Get one of these nifty guys:

This device, called a Network Relief Kit, weighs less than four pounds and “is a grand slam invention,” Mr. Lopes said. “It’s portable, light and brings the outside world to the most remote, disconnected places."

It was created by NetHope, a collaboration of nonprofit organizations and technology companies working to improve humanitarian aid around the world. Founded in 2001, NetHope, which is based near Washington, has engaged in relief efforts after natural disasters like storms and earthquakes, as well as armed conflict.

(As a side note, I've used a similar device called a BGan when filing photos and text from remote areas to editors in Nairobi. It's an amazing device, but quirky. It has to be pointed east or west, not north or south, have a direct and uninterrupted line to the sky to pick up satellite signals, and disconnects if someone walks in front of it and interrupts the line to the sky. It also gives said interrupt-er a low dose of radiation. Regardless of these quirks, it was pretty awesome to update my Facebook status from the bush on the Sudan-Congo border.)


And from xkcd: