Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Beware Bush Meat

Well, I'm not overseas yet, but it's good to know that the state department's got my back. I got this e-mail this morning.



"The U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya would like to alert American citizens of dangers related to the purchase and consumption of bushmeat and of general contact with animals that could place humans at risk of infectious disease.  It is estimated that some 75% of emerging infectious diseases are animal-borne.  The encroachment of humans on animal habitat for new farms, lodging or eco-tourism is increasing the frequency of animal-to-human contact, and thus, the transmission of disease.  Several cases of disease transmission have been linked to exotic pets.  In this area of the world, the consumption of bushmeat now reaches 4 million tons.

"Due to recent developments in the availability of beef throughout  Kenya, there is an increased risk of unintentionally consuming bushmeat.  When the 2007 Rift Valley Fever outbreak here led the Government of Kenya to ban the slaughter or movement of livestock for a period of time, a
number of butcheries began selling illegal bushmeat as an alternative. The continued high demand for red meat has outstripped the supply of beef, providing yet another reason for a turn to the much cheaper bushmeat.  This month, the Kenya Wildlife Service intercepted a matatu bound for Nairobi Central Market with 450 pounds of gnu and zebra meat that was to have been sold as beef."



Monday, July 30, 2007

Other resources

Hi folks,



This blog won't get up to full steam until the middle of August, when I take flight. Once that happens, you can also check out http://www.jhr.ca/fieldnotes/index.php?view=section&iid=9447&sid=55 to see my posts on the JHR website.



Also, please comment on posts, once there is something worth commenting on. I'd be glad to hear from you.



Peace, S



Sunday, July 22, 2007

Buying Time

I am hereby selling off some of my time in Kenya. For just $50 ($100 on holidays, my birthday and my stop-over in Dubai), you can buy yourself half an hour in East Africa, via my eyes and pen.



What you get: A great letter, with lots of descriptive language and awkward sketches (They make great birthday presents! Christmas gifts! Valentines!)



What I get: A chance to write to you and an emergency fund. I am also willing to consider adding additional dates, if you�d like me to write you a letter on your birthday, anniversary, commencement, saint day or other significant date! Here are the dates (premium days in parentheses):



August 16 - evening (in Dubai)



August 19 - evening



August 23 - early morning



August 25 - morning



August 30 - evening Josephine



August 31 - early morning Fay



September 3 (labor day) - early morning



September 8 - afternoon



September 9 - evening



September 15 (Ganesh Chaturathi)- early morning Fay



September 17 - evening



September 23 (autumn equinox) - Noon  Josephine



September 30 - morning



October 8 (Canadian thanksgiving) - early morning



October 11 - evening -Richard S.



October 20 (Kenyatta Day, Kenya) - morning Josephine



October 31 - early morning Nikki K.



October 31 - evening Fay



November 2 - early morning



November 11 (Remembrance Day/Veterans� Day) - morning



November 11 (Remembrance Day/Veterans� Day) - afternoon



November 12 - early morning - Djahane Banoo S.



November 13 - evening November 22 (US Thanksgiving) - early morning  Josephine



November 30 -early morning Fay



December 2 - afternoon



December 5 (first day of Chanukah) - evening Fay



December 14 - early morning



December 16 - afternoon



December 25 (Christmas) - early morning Josephine



December 25 (Christmas) - morning



January 1 - (New Year�s) afternoon Fay



January 10 - evening - Rich T.



January 19 - afternoon Josephine



January 19 - morning



February 2 - afternoon Josephine



February 14 (Valentine�s Day) - early morning



February 14 (Valentine�s Day) - evening Fay



March 6 (my 30 birthday) - early morning Josephine



March 16 - evening Fay



March 27 - morning



If you decide to buy some time, send me an e-mail at sara_nics@yahoo.ca with your snail-mail address. I'll send you a guarantee and an address to which to send a check.



I promise to write your letter (complete with awkward sketches).



I can�t promise the efficiency of international postal systems. If you don�t get your letter within six weeks of the date of composition, let me know and I�ll write you a new one! Whether you buy time or not, please please please send me mail at



Sara Nics c/o African Woman and Child Feature Service



P.O.Box 48197 00100



Nairobi , Kenya



Also, if you�re in the �hood this weekend, my roomate Elena and I are having a joint going away party on Saturday night (the 28th). Stop by!



Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Background

Through the Canadian International Development Agency and Journalists for Human Rights, I'm working the African Woman and Child Feature service for 8 months. I'll be living in Nairobi, one of the sub-Saharan Africa's busiest cities.



If you want more information about the various programs, you can visit:



http://www.awcfs.org



http://www.jhr.ca/en/



http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/index-e.htm



I hope to regularly post work updates, photos and other information to this blog.





If passport and visa applications go smoothly, I'll be flying out on August 15th. Check back soon!