Kenya commissions: "We are declaring the collapse of the GTV a national disaster, and are naming a 40 member team to investigate this matter."

Independent report card on Kenya's coalition published: http://www.dialoguekenya.org 

1 shisha session = 100 cigarettes

Job: UNICEF Communication Officer, Kenya (deadline 12 Jan 2009) 

More humanitarian games: Is this the first one that is not free?

"In the Netherlands, The Red Cross Game encourages online players to engage with a number of virtual public health and safety crises involving first an earthquake in Argentina and then conflict and dislocation in war-torn Zimbabwe.  Players who finish these teaser games and want to tackle the next task, a flood in Mexico, need to pay $19.95 to purchase the full version of the game, which functions as both an exercise in consciousness-raising and a fund-raising maneuver.  The game was created by I Sioux for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies." (from Osocio )

Contest: Vodafone Wireless Innovation Project

Advocacy/activist game with a message: "Raid Gaza!" http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/476393 

Social games: UNHCR gets into the gaming space with "Against All Odds" as does a UN initiative on natural disasters, the ISDR. (Tips: AlertNet)

Jobs: Editor, the Life and Peace Horn of Africa Bulletin 

Memorable Kenya news headlines (first in a series - if I get around to it): "Furious mother chews off son's ear over hunger claims" (Nairobi Star , 5/Jul/08)

More (potential) social games:

 

 

Sent to you by Ben via Google Reader:

 

 

Water Games

via Akvo blog by Peter van der Linde on 12/9/08

Representatives of the gaming industry spend free time on the bus, developing water game concepts.

On the 19th of August two busses headed of from Amsterdam to an international gaming convention in Leipzig. 20 professionals from the Dutch gaming industry used the trip to freely spend 400 hours of creativity on developing water games concepts that address global water issues.

I am happy to share the news that the concepts that have been developed are now publicly available here. In January we will organize a follow-up meeting with representatives from the gaming sector to explore possibilities for cooperation in more detail.

Photo: world water pipe game. One of the game concepts that has been developed.

Since August I have gained a particular interest in these hand washing and solar disinfection games (dutch) that were developed by Ellis Bartholomeus from Laika, for Simavi. I feel such games can play an important role in awareness raising, especially when they are 'cultural neutral' and shared openly.

I am excited to see what will come of this.

Peter van der Linde is the partner-director of Akvo

 

 

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Oh. Mail-to-Blogger has not worked for ages. Here comes my backlog of postings...

Forward of the day...

Somali Pirates in Discussions to Acquire Citigroup

November 20 (Bloomberg) -- The Somali pirates, renegade Somalis known for hijacking ships for ransom in the Gulf of Aden, are negotiating a purchase of Citigroup.

The pirates would buy Citigroup with new debt and their existing cash stockpiles, earned most recently from hijacking numerous ships, including most recently a $200 million Saudi Arabian oil tanker. The Somali pirates are offering up to $0.10 per share for Citigroup, pirate spokesman Sugule Ali said earlier today. The negotiations have entered the final stage, Ali said.  ``You may not like our price, but we are not in the business of paying for things. Be happy we are in the mood to offer the shareholders anything," said Ali.

The pirates will finance part of the purchase by selling new Pirate Ransom Backed Securities.  The PRBS's are backed by the cash flows from future ransom payments from hijackings in the Gulf of Aden.  Moody's and S&P have already issued their top investment grade ratings for the PRBS's.

Head pirate, Ubu Kalid Shandu, said "we need a bank so that we have a place to keep all of our ransom money.  Thankfully, the dislocations in the capital markets has allowed us to purchase Citigroup at an attractive valuation and to take advantage of TARP capital to grow the business even faster."

Shandu added, "We don't call ourselves pirates. We are coastguards and this will just allow us to guard our coasts better."

Jobs: (Development) Policy and Research Communication (UK) 

"DFID is seeking experienced policy and research communication specialists to help create and deliver a new service delivering high profile policy and research communications and ensuring research evidence is taken up. There are six posts which can be located in either London or East Kilbride.

The new Policy and Research Communications Unit will help implement the new Research Strategy - a strategy that will drive up to £1billion spend over the next 5 years to:

• ensure research makes a much greater impact on the reduction of global poverty and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals;
• manage high profile policy and research events;
• exploit developments in new communication technologies to promote DFID's profile in international development policy and research.

For more information and how to apply see the DFID website."

Nation Media Group's new Facebook-style (?) site: Zuqka


Update 9 December: it's half dead at http://www.zuqka.com/.

Test drive reports here