Hi all,
I have to start this week's post similar to last week's one-thanking Monica Mukerjee, Tara Todras-Whitehill & Ben Chesterton for taking the time to talk at our students again, discussing Decolonizing MSF, medical ethics in humanitarian situations & digital storytelling with us! A really interesting, passionate panel + discussion!
We are also looking at Myanmar, the UK, Haiti & Congo as well as multilateralism, hunger, feminism & EU-Global South relations; new research on IOM & colonial continuities & participatory visual methods in Mali wrap up the #globaldev section. Plus, bad academic presentations continue online & offline and mining bitcoins is pretty bad for the environment...
My quotes of the week
“I do believe we need a new deal on how to articulate international, national, local, in a different way, and that local actors need a bigger say – and need a different say – in articulating what needs are. And what they expect is obvious. The question is, what happens then? Localisation suggests that locals just say what they need and internationals just deliver what locals need. And that's too simplistic.” (In conversation with Peter Maurer: An exit interview with the ICRC president)
If the EU really wants to get ahead in a complex, complicated and fiercely competitive world, it must move beyond the West-centric transatlantic frame and truly engage with the Global South. This means sharing Europe's knowledge, experience and wisdom with partners — but not lecturing and hectoring them.' (EU should admonish less, and listen more, to the Global South)
Be aware of the weirdness of what you’re doing. Most of you are in your twenties and you will arrive in your new country of work in the richest 1% of the population. You may be expected to have ‘staff’. You are primarily in that l be in that position not because of your genius – but because of the good fortune of the family you were born in to and the vast inequalities in our world. You owe it to the citizens you live and work with to always remember just how lucky you are - so be generous in spirit and sensitive to your wealth. (Dear ODI fellows...,)
