Jonathan Dimbleby African Journey

[David Johnson]

Hi
Watched an episode of this last night.

Although it didn't gloss over the problems like corrupt government and food shortages in certain areas, the programme covered a lot of positive points about Africa e.g. Masai herdsmen using mobile phones to share info on watering places and the prices for their cattle etc.

Usually programmes on Africa seem to concentrate solely on the gloom and doom e.g. Darfu and Somalia so it was uplifting to see a lot of good projects being run by Africans for Africans' benefit.

Cheers
D

[max_tranmere]

I've seen both episodes so far and before the first one was broadcast the announcer said 'here is a glass-half-full account of modern-day Africa'. I do prefer it when they show the upsides rather than just the downs, but there are still many problems in Africa which need to be addressed.

I saw a programme on BBC3 two nights ago called something like 'Who is Nelson Mandela' where a British actress went to South Africa to look at the country, Mandela's past, the things he and the ANC did, and the state the country is currently in. I thought it was very amateur-ishly done and left out some very significant things. People who arent very well informed would have watched that programme and got the impression Mandela was like Ghandi and that the nation is now moving forwards.

A more accurate account of modern say South Africa was that series recently, also on BBC3, where 5 footballers girlfriends went to the country (it was called 'WAGs and World Cup Dreams - or something similar) and that showed the sad state that the nation really is in. It was very realistic but presented in a way that wasn't depressing.

[Arginald Valleywater]

He is a has been. His shows are easy viewing for do gooders. Africa has had 1 trillion dollars in aid since the 1950s and most of it is still in Switzerland or Nassau. Saville Row, Rolex and Mercedes all do great business with corrupt despots.

[David Johnson]

"Africa has had 1 trillion dollars in aid since the 1950s and most of it is still in Switzerland or Nassau. Saville Row, Rolex and Mercedes all do great business with corrupt despots."

And the basis for this view is what exactly?

[David Johnson]

While you are digging out your supporting information for the claim that most of the aid is in Switzerland and Nassau (don't worry I aint holding my breath), you might want to have a read of these links.

I would be so bold as to suggest they might have a bit better idea of what they are talking about than your good self.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7093912.stm

[urlhttp://allafrica.com/stories/201002040685.html[/url]

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/articl ... 2010-02-22

Cheers
D