Marcus Bleasdale,
represented by VII,

Love in the Time of TB

Love in the Time of TB

A third of the world's population are thought to be infected with M. tuberculosis, and new infections occur at a rate of about one per second. More people in the developed world are developing tuberculosis because their immune systems are compromised either by HIV/Aids, poor nutrition and poverty as well as age and other immune compromising conditions. The proportion of people who become sick with tuberculosis each year is stable or falling worldwide but, because of population growth, the absolute number of new cases is still increasing. In 2007 there were an estimated 13.7 million chronic active cases, 9.3 million new cases, and 1.8 million deaths, mostly in developing countries. In addition, more people in the developed world are developing tuberculosis because their immune systems are compromised by immunosupressive drugs, substance abuse, or AIDS. The distribution of tuberculosis is not uniform across the globe; about 80% of the population in many Asian and African countries test positive in tuberculin tests, while only 5-10% of the US population test positive.

We constantly associate Tuberculosis with sadness and hopelessness. But, increasingly new treatments correctly administered mean patients recover and can continue with a normal life. Patients in Nepal are treated with the DOTS system and the treatment is free for all patients. Patients with multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB receive some payment for loss of income, but this does not even 1/4 of the monthly expenses for one person. In Nepal the TB patients are not hospitalised, and patients stay in families during treatment. This situation is challenging when it comes to infection control, but gives the patient a possibility to live and love together in family almost normally.

A Tale of Two Cities - Kashmir Srinagar - Part Two

In 1989, a widespread armed insurgency started in Kashmir, which continues to this day. India contends that this was largely started by the large number of Afghan mujahideen who entered the Kashmir valley following the end of the Soviet Afghan war
India claims local insurgents are Islamic terrorist groups from Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Afghanistan, fighting to make Jammu and Kashmir part of Pakistan. It believes Pakistan is giving armed help to the terrorists, and training them in Pakistan. It also says the terrorists have been killing many citizens in Kashmir, and committing human rights violations, while denying that its own armed forces are responsible for the human rights abuses.
The Pakistani government calls these insurgents, Kashmiri freedom fighters, and claims that it gives only moral and diplomatic support to these insurgents, though India believes they are Pakistan-supported terrorists from Pakistan Administered Kashmir.
Despite this Kashmir is beautiful and engaging. Srinagar circles Lake Dal and the haunting shadows and light of the city hide the daily struggle for freedom going on at a political level.

Congolese Symphony Orchestra

In a country utterly destroyed by war, pillage and corruption the mere existence of an orchestra seems unimaginable. But, founded in 1994 a handful of church musicians began practicing with a few violins, taught themselves how to play cello, added a church choir and gave their first concert ten months later.

Today, the “Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste” (OSK) consists of about 80 instrumentalists and a choral of about 60 members. None of them receive any money. Most have paid for their instruments (second hand from China) out of their own pockets, others rely on Albert Matubanza, one of the founding members, who is not only a gifted musician, but has also taught himself how to build string instruments using wood from the local market and cable wire to replace broken strings. Scores of Handel’s “Messiah”, Verdi’s “Nabucco” or Mozart’s “Requiem” are often copied by hand.

Albino Killings in Tanzania

Locally known as the Zeru Zeru, or ghosts, albinos in Tanzania have been stigmatized for centuries. Many are banished by their families who see their condition as a curse on the whole family. Over the past years albinos in east African face a much more deadly threat. They have become the prey of traditional healers or witch doctors, who kill them to harvest their body parts for get-rich-quick concoctions. Foreign Witch Doctors sell their trade to fishermen and miners who hope to benefit in business by wearing GriGri which contains the body parts.

Locally it is thought that the albino organs possess mystical powers that can make a person fabulously rich within a short time. To show how serious the problem is, recently buried albino dead bodies are sometimes exhumed at night in search of the magical organs. Since the mining and fishing industries are currently enjoying an unprecedented boom, the two sectors are attracting people from all walks of life and cultures and this factor has increased the albino risks.

The Price of Oil - Our Love Affair with the Automobile.

“Oil dependence is a threat to US national security, its economy and its environment. With a 21-million-barrel-per-day oil habit, the United States consumes a quarter of the world’s annual oil production. Oil imports now account for 40 percent of the national trade deficit, families and businesses alike feel the pinch from rising and uncertain oil prices. U.S. transportation, which is 97 percent reliant on oil, is the driving force behind the rapidly growing oil demand. This is partly because the fuel economy of cars and trucks has been stagnant since the 1988, and partly due to a lack of transportation choices in many communities.
Transportation also spews one-third of the annual emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide pollution. If the USA continues with business as usual, the transportation sector will be responsible for 80 percent of oil demand growth over the next 20 years and more than one-third of our global warming pollution emissions through 2030.”


National Resource Defense Council

The Price of Oil - Venezuela

A year after President Chavez seized control of the Oil assets in Venezuela from its foreign owners, the oil wealth is being sown amongst his people. PDVSA generated incomes go to facilitating cheap gasoline for all, a full tank costing $0.75. The monies are also being used for housing, health and education projects. The residents of the slums or 'popular' areas are happier than they have been in years. But, the middle class are less content and neither are the environmentalists. Venezuela being the fifth largest oil producer in the world is facing challenges to source and distribute its wealth effectively and responsibly.

The Price of Oil - Azerbaijan

On the outskirts of the Baku in Azerbaijan, is the beginning of the $4 billion Baku-Tbilisi- Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, that has just begun to pump oil on a 1,093-mile journey from the Caspian Sea to the Turkish mediterranean port of Ceyhan.

With oil revenues set to reach $160 billion over the next 20 years, what happens to the money and how it will be spent is what seems to be on everyone's mind in Azerbaijan these days. But many are warning that based on the problems Azerbaijan has had with combating large-scale corruption, the oil revenue could end up being as much of a curse as a blessing.

Some 40 per cent of the population live below the poverty line. Nurses and those in education earn only about $50 per month. And while the impact of the oil money can be seen in Baku - where high-class fashion rubs shoulders with begging Roma people - the areas outside the capital suffer from neglect and their decaying infrastructure.

The way to make oil improve the country's situation is through reform and the establishment of democratic and transparent government. But the outlook for Azerbaijan doing that could be bleak.

Roll Back Malaria - Zambezi

Kenya Ethnic Violence

The post election violence in Kenya has killed nearly 1000 and displaced 270,000. It is the most devastating violence to hit Kenya since its independence. Whilst politicians try to find solutions in Nairobi, the ethnic tensions in the Rift Valley reach new highs. Ethnic cleansing has led to killings and houses being burnt in a movement to shift different tribes out of their non-ancestral homes.

Huge parts of different cities across the valleys have been razed to the ground and the inhabitants forced to flee. In the villages, warriors from opposing tribes battle with bows and arrows, rocks and occasionally guns to gain or regain control of their land.

While the Politician’s talk, the future of Kenya will depend, not on the final results of the discussions in Nairobi, but on the ability of Kenyans to forgive and live together again. That will take much longer.

Husky Sledging in Norway

Sliding across a frozen lake in the Norwegian wilderness, the stars twinkling above you as a team of huskies pulls you onwards sounds lovely, wouldn't you say?

You might even think it sounds idyllic.
Well, let me tell you: it was horrible.
Here is my cautionary tale.

Jon Ronson is a writer and documentary film maker. His first book, Them: Adventures With Extremists, was an international bestseller. His most recent book is The Men Who Stare At Goats. Them was longlisted for The Guardian's First Book Award, until it was disqualified for not being, strictly speaking, his first book.