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Natural DisastersSubmitted by Boko on 24 August, 2006 - 20:03.
"But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed…" - 2 Peter, 2:12
After the Tsunami hit parts of Asia in 2004, thousands of bodies washed up the shorelines, huge decaying piles of human remains strewn around like driftwood and debris – totally gut-wrenching spectacle! We pray such never happens again – but prayers may not always cut it with Mother Nature. Like all other fickle creation out there, SSA is not immune to natural disasters. As more details become available from Asia over how human and material losses in the Tsunami could have been avoided via early warning systems, you realize ICT can actually flip the script on Mother Nature. Herein lies the basic difference between man and lesser creatures (of instinct.) Via Timbuktu chronicles, we meet RANET, "an international collaboration to make weather, climate, and related information more accessible to remote and resource poor populations. RANET undertakes this mission in order to aid day-to-day resource decisions and prepare against natural hazards."
Wizzit
Also from Timbuktu, we are introduced to Wizzit -- "a cell phone based banking facility," which enables a user make payments, cash transfers, buy airtime – all from a mobile phone. Vis a vis my earlier blog on the dearth of e-payment systems, I guess I’d never get done pulling my foot out of my mouth! I truly agree that SSA is not immune to natural disasters. What SSA needs is a strong intergration of ICTs in development programmes. Reading through the story of 'early warning systems and how Asia could have avoided the tsumani", all shows that there is a need for such an intervention. Governments need to find out how different ICT tools can be best used in different development programmes. Intergrating ICTs in development programmes will not only mean developing ICT policies for each department in various ministries but it will also change the way in which ICTs are used. I guess developing an egovernment strategy fits in here. Therefore, ICTs can only serve as effective communication tools if a country has a clear ICT strategy. Initiatives such as RANET are one example of what our governments should be doing to eradicate poverty on the continent.
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Lillian, you are picking up on something very interesting here -- when you say "Initiatives such as RANET are one example of what our governments should be doing to eradicate poverty on the continent" Are you saying poverty on the continent is directly connected to lack of protection from harsh elements of nature, such as weather, high tide, etc. So conceivably, if an ICT initiative like RANET enables local market women have an accurate weather forecast for a whole week ahead -- it would enable them plan their sales/marketing better -- for instance a corn and softdrink seller would know to stock more roasted corn on a rainy wednesday and more cold drinks on a hot friday, thus ICT would directly enable her allocate her resources more efficiently instead of just dragging random quantites of her wares to market everyday, eh? Or a fisherman would know when there's going to be high and low tide or rain and plan his fishing trip accordingly? I think you have something here Lillian -- can you beef this up some more?
"A Child's education should begin 100 years before birth..." Boko,
True poverty on the continent is directly connected to lack of proper protection measures from harsh elements of nature. Let's face it that ICTs are not an end in themselves, but they are particulary effective tools to achieve other ends such as better enviromental and natural resource management, more productive farmers and greater access to global innovation information and knowledge. Yes if an ICT initiative like RANET,would help farmers plan ahead, this would not only increase their produce but it would also increase national figures in terms of per capita incomes. Farmers, vendors and every human being affected by these natural disasters would strategically plan for the future thus reducing further losses. Come to think of it, poor disaster management is the leading cause of crises in SSA. Imagine if effective ICTs tools are used to communicate an upcoming drought! Cases of famine would to some degree be prevented.Look at what is happening in Somalia and Niger, then see where this argument is heading. You wonder how people can survive or even expect to prosper in such an information-deficient situation. But truth is, Africans actually have old communication media or channels -- are you familiar with talking drums and town criers/village messengers? Downside of these: low-bandwidth and limited coverage area. Have you also heard of fishermen navigating by the stars? Downside: Try navigating by skies on a cloudy day when there are no stars. These ancient African techniques are totally inadequate alright, but sometimes I get a little nervous about completely phasing out a genre technology for another i.e. totally dismissing all the old communication paradigms we had in Africa and replacing them with the new. You could inadvertently expose the target African communities to different kinds of stress in the process and potentially lose some precious cultural DNA in the process. Can you think of any historical adverse impacts in African history due to paradigm shifts? For instance, how did African politics change when gunpowder and muskets replaced bows, arrows and spears? Can you think of any possible adverse impacts ICT might have when they replace old technologies in Africa? What do you think will be an ideal technique or process for phasing in new technologies in African communities?
"A Child's education should begin 100 years before birth..." People survive in such information- deficient situations but their chances of survival and prosperity are minimal. Truth is, Africa needs to move on with the information age. What makes Africa lag behind is the traditional or should i say "stone age" beliefs. We are not going to cling onto such communication channels in the name of protecting of "precious cultural DNA." Otherwise, the statement that was made that "Even if the America stood for 100 years, Africa would still not catchup" holds.
Yes, there is low bandwidth and poor coverage in many areas but what happens is that even the old communication tools like talking drums are phasing out. For instance, in most rural areas today, people associate drums with entertainment/parties not communication for community gatherings. Let's focus on more effective communication tools,for instance the radio. Have you heard of "community radios"? These have proved to be the best communication tools in many rural areas. I agree with you when you say totally dismissing all the old communication paradigms we had in Africa and replacing them with new ones will cause chaos. But when will we ever move on if we always hold -on to the past?! Africa needs to look at what ICTs works and what do not work and how these ICTs can be intergrated into their everyday lives. Phasing in new technologies needs African governments to lay out a clear strategy allowing ICTs to become part and parcel of every citizens' life. Intergrate ICTs in all sectors i.e education, health, enviroment e.t.c. That way, people will get used to these tools thus embrace them in the long-run. |
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