1. What ails (in)sight? [by Guy Berger] Vancouver, 2008

2. Exploding some assumptions… 1.Imaging Africa 2.Developed & developing 3.Donor dependency 4. The info-poor 5.Internet to the rescue.

3. 1: Imag(in)ing Africa

4. Classics Vast black hole Dark continent Savage Crocodile-infested Tribalism Aids Conflict-ridden Child soldiers Starvation Coverage presents Africa as: WRONG?

5. True: Stats on poverty The number of poor people declined, mostly in East Asia and Pacific

6. True: safe water More than a billion people still lack access to safe drinking water

7. MDG poverty aims Reduce poverty from 29% to 10% World Bank predicts: Goal is in reach at worldwide level, but… Many countries will most likely not reach it: Particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa where average poverty rates remain above 40%.

8. Resulting reports All true. But…one- sided

9. 2. Developed vs developing

10. 2005: 28 countries Corruption—the bane of good economic management Respect for human rights on rise - with glaring exceptions Adherence to constitutions is getting stronger Legislatures & judiciaries are asserting independence The legitimacy & credibility of the electoral process have increased Voter turnouts are on the increase The political space is more inclusive Economic management is getting better Some progress!

11. Commission for Africa “1984/5 Ethiopian famine images fixed the world in its view of Africa as a place of despair and dependency. But, though such scenes still exist, as a norm they are increasingly outdated. “Things have changed significantly in the intervening 20 years, both in Africa and in the wider world.

12. Leaders, laggards BUT: Poverty is still seen as an historical stage behind that of wealth, and therefore that the game = catch-up. Thus: “Applause for Africa” “ “ You’re trying

13. Yet, another view… Poverty not only a contrast between disconnected wealth inequalities, but: Exploitation in a common relationship.. Poverty and wealth as two sides of one coin

14. Remembering … Poverty is also an effect of lingering inequality – colonialism, apartheid… It perpetuates a legacy condition under poverty-trap logic. + Abusive global & local relationships continue today.

15. 3: Donor dependent

16. Extreme poverty

17. Seeking adoption…

18. Nigeria: 40% in EP

19. Ibadan Polytech

22. Feeds vibrant press

23. Victims/survivors Not passive – but heroic efforts Not “bleeding heart” pity, but respect. Development Industry= one-sided pity. NO to: caricatures of helpless individuals, utterly dependent on rescue by the rich.

24. 4: Help the info-poor

25. Info under-load

26. Bird flu Tanzania: 529 000 Uganda: 685 000 Kenya: 905 000 Egypt: 1 170 000 India: 1 290 000 Canada: 1 280 000 France: 1 300 000 Australia: 2 130 000

27. Info rich … or poor? The % of Americans in 2003 believing: Links between Iraq & al Qaeda – 48% Weapons of mass destruction found – 22% World favoured the US going into Iraq – 25%. Overall 60% had at least 1 of 3 misperceptions. (Program on International Policy Attitudes. 2003).

28. Question? Why live in an isolationist ‘dumbtopia’ precisely at the moment when there is almost nothing which affects our daily lives, whether at the economic, social or culture level, which is not in some sense globally charged or driven? – Ian Hargreaves (2000).

29. Insularity What limited international news there is tends to be domestic news about citizens making news overseas. These info poor really need help!

30. 5: Tonto Internet

31. High hopes for web Claim: Globalization and the Internet have created a space for news and political discourse that overrides geography. But: ‘exporters’ of Net content are in the First World, and not much is imported by them.

32. Net to compensate? Publics can get foreign news themselves Most global medium could fill the gap. Via links, collaborations, content exchanges, even instant web-based translations.

33. But: Hype is for hyperlocalism

34. Open possibilities….

35. ----- Thank you 1.Skewed images 2.Poverty/Wealth 3.Aid: developers/ees 4.Help the info-rich! 5.Internet limits & possibilities… Drop blinkers, get insight into: