I must admit to being very disappointed with the level of engagement with my top 5 lists. Surely there must be some wannabe Nick Hornbys somewhere in the audience? So I’m going to plough on with more musical inanities.

As some of you might have read in my email, I’m off to join the international jet set. I don’t want to resort to stereotypes or have to ask “where did you get that blank expression on your face?” but I think I’m going to enjoy myself. Yes, I’m leaving the VSO rat race, London’s concrete jungle and Lilongwe’s ghost town. Some colleagues have asked why and others have said it’s up to you. What I can say for sure though is that it’s going to be too hot and there might be the odd w***** c***** but that doesn’t make it alright – I certainly won’t do nothing.

Yes, this entry is marking two big events – me missing the Specials in London and the end of technicolour spreadsheets as we know it in VSO. I’ve got 2 weeks left here and 2 months until I start in Sri Lanka. In between there’s the small matter of reverse culture shock, reverse climate shock, dumping the contents of my brain before I leave and dumping the contents of my house before I depart (can I interest anyone in an exquisite collection of mid-80s indie vinyl?)

In other news, the fuel shortages continue here with long queues at many filling stations. Apparently it’s all to do with a critical shortage of foreign exchange, which the president blames on foreign elements saving their money outside of the country now that the World Bank has encouraged Malawi to liberalise its banking regulations. The arrival of the president’s new private jet is apparently unconnected to the whole affair. And today’s big news is that the head of the electricity company has been fired for incompetence. The position is going to be advertised internationally so if any of you fancy a little challenge…

From Yahoo News:

Malawi leader blames World Bank, IMF for forex shortages

Thu Nov 26, 4:44 pm ET

BLANTYRE (AFP) – Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika has charged the World Bank and the IMF with causing foreign exchange shortages by forcing the country to liberalise the economy, state media said on Thursday.

“The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank have been forcing us to have a free market economy…but now all foreign business operators externalise forex to Asia and the Middle East,” Mutharika said on public radio.

The two lending institutions are the major sponsors of Malawi’s economic reforms.

“The forex is ours, but there is no money at the moment. Right now we cannot import anything. How do I run this country? The forex is externalised to Dubai, Bombay and London,” said the economist turned politician.

He accused foreign investors of exploiting economy of the poor southern African and said they would be “deported and their companies closed.”

Global household goods manufacturer Unilever and British American Tobacco are some of the top foreign companies operating in Malawi.

The foreign exchange woes are plaguing country regardless of the receipts of over 472 million dollars a year from tobacco exports, which makes up 70 percent of foreign earnings.

The crunch has led to fuel shortages, resulting in long queues of trucks and cars outside garages.

Reserve Bank governor Perks Ligoya told a media conference that the forex shortage had reached “crisis” levels, adding that the demand was “much higher than supply.”

I worked in Malawi from 1989 to 1991 as a school teacher under the auspices of the Peace Corps back when His Excellency the Ngwazi Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the President For Life.

Then, too, the main foreign currency earner was tobacco. The official foreign exchange rate was about 3.5 Kwacha to the US dollar. I was not aware of any black market currency exchange. Current information from the internet shows an official rate of 145 Kwacha to the US dollar. Web sources indicate a black market rate of 190 Kwacha to the dollar.

The Malawi Investment Promotion Agency website describes what seems to be an investor – friendly environment, but the list of current projects and industries points towards Malawi’s biggest challenge – the country just doesn’t have a whole lot of resources or industries to generate foreign exchange. The situation is exacerbated by Malawi’s geography – as a landlocked nation, the cost of exporting bulk products makes it less competitive than its neighboring countries.

There are some tourism projects noted on the MIPA website, however I hold out little hope for Malawi’s chances of becoming an important tourist destination. There are, compared to nearby Kenya and Tanzania, no significant wildlife reserves.

In other Malawi news:

Chiefs, religious leaders and other stakeholders in Mulanje Thursday agreed that the current Witchcraft Act be amended so that perpetrators of witchcraft get punished.

The suggestions for amendment of the act follow a consultative meeting held at Mulanje organized by the Malawi Law Commission to solicit ideas from the public on how to address the witchcraft problem.

Yeah – when my Malawian fellow teachers told me stories about witchcraft going on, I thought they were pulling my leg. Things haven’t gotten better in twenty years, it seems.

http://www.bbc.co.uk

http://www.learningalive.co.uk/

Click here to find out about…

dfdshkfhsdljfh

This morning we rose early in order to go on the bush walk with our guide McLoud. We left the lodge on foot at 05.30 and walked through some of the desert mopane forest. We saw many baboons, impala and warthog and also leant a lot about the vegetation and the animal tracks we came across, as well as the noises of the bush. By the time we got back to the lodge for breakfast it was rapidly getting very hot! Not too hot for a delicious cooked breakfast though!

After breakfast we headed off for a boat safari down the Shire River. This is one of the highlights of a visit to Mvuu and Liwonde National Park.

We came across many different birdlife…

A Half-collared Kingfisher

Goliath heron

…and several hippo lounging around in the river!

Keeping lookout!

There are many pods of mvuu in the Shire River.

The hightlight of the boat trip for me though was sitting and watching a herd of elephant come down to the waters edge to drink and then to swim across the river to the banks on the other side. It was fabulous!

Watching the herd from the boat.

Feeling thirsty!

Drinking in unison.

Now time for a swim!

We were both keeping our eyes close to the lens just in case!

A true wildlife photographer!

Next we headed back to the lodge and saw a few monkeys playing around the camp. We watched them for a while. There were so many babies with them it was lovely to just observe them for a while until they were chased away by some of the guides. The monkeys are apparently very good at stealing food!

Something interesting down there?

Alien looking babies!

Posing for a family portrait!

There was also a family of warthog snuffling around. I can’t believe how tiny the babies are!

How cute!

Next we are moving to Mvuu Camp and heading out on another afternoon/sunset game drive!

Segundo os direitos dos trabalhadores, no início deste mês, durante uma rusga contra o crime, a polícia do Malawi, em Mwanza, prendeu 14 prostitutas que alegadamente foram forçadas a efectuar o teste VIH. As mulheres foram posteriormente acusadas de “deliberadamente praticar comércio sexual enquanto tinham uma doença sexualmente transmissível.”

Não existe nenhuma lei específica que criminalize o trabalho sexual, mas têm sido invocadas outras leis de combate à prostituição nas grandes cidades, referiram os advogados.

A polícia acusou as mulheres de Mwanza por terem violado a secção 192 do Código Penal por terem potencialmente disseminado DSTs, através da prática de prostituição, referiu Dave Chingwalu, um porta-voz do departamento. Os meios de comunicação locais citaram um funcionário do hospital de Mwanza que confirmou que os testes VIH de todas as 14 mulheres tinham dado positivo. Chingwalu negou que as mulheres tinham sido testadas involuntariamente.

“O consentimento informado não foi efectuado para as 14 mulheres,” referiu o Centro para o Desenvolvimento Pessoal. “Baseado apenas neste facto, o teste VIH é inconsistente com a Constituição e como tal é inválido.”

“O teste fez parte das nossas investigações,” explicou Chingwalu. “Fazemos isto em vários outros casos. Temos que fazer o teste VIH, ou de outra qualquer DST, para que consigamos estabelecer a extensão do nosso caso.”

As mulheres em questão não podiam ser rastreadas. Mas outra mulher referiu que durante uma rusga policial na semana anterior em Zomba, foi forçada a fazer o teste para o VIH. “Não é que nós tenhamos concordado em fazer o teste,” referiu a mulher, que é VIH positiva e falou em condição de anonimato. “Eles não nos perguntaram se queríamos fazer o teste, mas forçam-nos a faze-lo porque é o único modo de justificar as acções ilegais que praticam connosco.”

“Se este é um modo de lidar com o VIH/SIDA, então eles deveriam procurar outra forma,” baseada no consentimento e no aconselhamento, referiu Undule Mwakasungula do Centro para os Direitos Humanos e Reabilitação.

Dos 28 distritos do Malawi investigados, as taxas de infecção VIH entre as prostitutas variou entre os 70 e os 80 porcento, referiu a Dra. Mary Shawa, secretária do país para a pasta VIH/SIDA e Nutrição. Segundo Shawa, as prostitutas devem organizar-se para fazer parte da solução, em vez de serem parte do problema.

Charles Mpaka/Inter Press Service (Johannesburg)  – 10.10.2009

AidsPortugal – 26.11.2009

In case you are thinking of purchasing the new global version of Amazon’s Kindle for Christmas, be aware that there are still quite a few places that the global version will NOT work.  I was disappointed to find that the new version still will not work in my country.

Apparently the new global version will only work in SOME countries.   I thought it would be helpful to most expats to have a complete list of which countries it will, or will not work in (below).

It’s also interesting to note the PATTERN of groups of countries where the Kindle doesn’t work–some countries probably lack satellite coverage or delivery systems, while others probably don’t WANT readers to be able to download whatever they want by satellite.

STARRED (*) countries marked below indicate that Kindle needs to be ordered from a SPECIAL PAGE on the Amazon site.

The Global Kindle version DOES work in (as of Dec. 2009):

Aland Islands, Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Australia*, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Boznia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liberia, Leichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldovia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozembique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Réunion, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,  Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands – British, Virgin Islands – U.S.,  Wallis and Futuna, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The Global Kindle version does NOT work in (as of Dec. 2009) the following countries:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Antarctica, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Chad, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, French Southern Territories, Gambia, Guinea, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea – Democratic People’s Republic of, Korea – Republic of, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco (including the Western Sahara), New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Pitcairn, Qatar, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands, Sudan, Svalbard and Jan Mayan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tokelau, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uzbekistan,  Yemen.

Με τις ευλογίες του σεπτού Πατριάρχη Αλεξανδρείας και πάσης Αφρικής Θεοδώρου Β΄, και τη χάρη του Θεού, πραγματοποιήθηκε επίσκεψη του Σεβασμιωτάτου Μητροπολίτου Ζάμπιας και Μαλάουι, κ.κ. Ιωακείμ, στο Μαλάουι, από τις 8 Νοεμβρίου μέχρι τις 11 Νοεμβρίου 2009.

Αυτή ήταν η πρώτη επίσκεψη του νέου μας Αρχιεπισκόπου στη χώρα, αφού η επίσημη ενθρόνισή του αναμένεται σύντομα. Η αγάπη και η έγνοια του νέου μας ποιμένα δεν μπορούσε να τον κρατήσει μακριά από την Ιερά Πανήγυρη του Ιερού Ναού του Αγίου Νεκταρίου, όπου έσπευσε να παρευρεθεί και να συνεορτάσει μαζί με όλο τον ελληνισμό του Μαλάουι στον Μεγάλο Πανηγυρικό Εσπερινό στις 8 Νοεμβρίου και στην Αρχιερατική Θεία Λειτουργία με Λιτανεία, ανήμερα στην εορτή του Αγίου μας Νεκταρίου, στις 9 Νοεμβρίου.

Την επόμενη ημέρα εορτασμού, ο Σεβασμιώτατος, την αφιέρωσε στην Ιεραποστολή. Έτσι, την Τρίτη 10 Νοεμβρίου πραγματοποιήθηκε επίσκεψη στο Ιεραποστολικό Κέντρο Αγίου Γεωγίου στο Καμπότζι, όπου ο Σεβασμιώτατος ενημερώθηκε από τον ιθαγενή ιερέα π. Νεκτάριο για το έργο που επιτελείται εκεί. Ο Σεβασμιώτατος μοίρασε δώρα στα παιδιά του Νηπιαγωγείου και καλαμποκάλευρο στους ενήλικες ιθαγενείς, που σε ένδειξη ευγνωμοσύνης τραγούδησαν και χόρεψαν στους παραδοσιακούς τους ρυθμούς.

Μετά τη λήξη της επισκέψεως, όλο το Ορθόδοξο ποίμνιο, Έλληνες και ιθαγενείς του Μαλάουι, αναμένουμε να υποδεχτούμε και επισήμως τον νέο μας πατέρα στην ενθρόνισή του στον Ορθόδοξο Αρχιερατικό θρόνο της Ορθόδοξης Εκκλησίας στο Μαλάουι.

Από το γραφείο στο Μαλάουι της Ιεράς Μητροπόλεως Ζάμπιας και Μαλάουι

( http://www.iersyn.gr/news56.html )

ΠΑΤΡΙΑΡΧΕΙΟ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΕΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΣΗΣ ΑΦΡΙΚΗΣ ΙΕΡΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΙΚΟ ΚΕΝΤΡΟ ΜΑΛΑΟΥΙ

Μπλαντάιρ, 13 Οκτωβρίου 2009

Αγαπητοί εν Χριστώ αδελφοί και εκλεκτά μέλη του συλλόγου «Άγιος Κοσμάς ο Αιτωλός» χαίρετε εν Κυρίω πάντοτε.

Σας γράφουμε και σας ενημερώνουμε για το έργο που χρηματοδοτείτε. Με τη χάρη του Θεού οι εργασίες προχωρούν πολύ καλά. Ο Ιερός Ναός της Αγίας Άννας των 250 τ.μ. στην περιοχή του Μουλάνζι υπολογίζεται να μας παραδοθεί ολοκληρωμένος τους επόμενους 2 με 3 μήνες. Οι Ορθόδοξοι Χριστιανοί της περιοχής παρακολουθούν με χαρά την εξέλιξη του μεγάλου έργου για την περιοχή τους. Είναι καλοί και ευλαβείς και πολύ ευγνώμονες προς τον Σύνδεσμό σας που ανέλαβε αυτή τη μεγάλη δωρεά προς την περιοχή τους.

Ήδη συνεχίζονται οι κατηχήσεις και σε λίγο καιρό θα γίνουν περισσότερες βαπτίσεις σε αυtη την περιοχή. Τα καλά νέα δεν τελειώνουν εδώ! Από καιρό είχαμε πόθο να βοηθήσουμε τους κατοίκους αυτής της περιοχής και σε μια άλλη τους ανάγκη σχετικά με το πρόβλημα που αντιμετωπίζουν. Το πιο κοντινό τους νοσοκομείο είναι αρκετά μακριά και οι άνθρωποι πραγματικά υποφέρουν. Πόθος μας είναι να χτίσουμε μια κλινική δίπλα στον Ι. Ναό της Αγίας Άννας.

Στις επαφές μας με τις υπεύθυνες κρατικές υπηρεσίες για την περιοχή, οι υπεύθυνοι μας υποσχέθηκαν ότι εάν εμείς χτίσουμε το κτίριο, δίπλα στο Ναό, αυτοί θα το επανδρώσουν με το κατάλληλο ιατρικό προσωπικό και θα το εξοπλίσουν με ανάλογο φαρμακευτικό υλικό. Εάν η Εκκλησία μας προχωρήσει σ’ αυτό το έργο, οι ιθαγενείς θα είναι πολύ ευγνώμονες, διότι, όπως μαθαίνουμε δεν υπάρχει τόσο μεγάλη έλλειψη ιατρών ή φαρμάκων, όσο έλλειψη κτιρίων. Τα κτίρια στοιχίζουν ακριβά και η Κυβέρνηση δεν μπορεί να ανταποκριθεί και σαν αποτέλεσμα οι άνθρωποι υποφέρουν.

Σύμφωνα με την έρευνά μας μια κλινική σύμφωνα με το σχέδιο που μας δίνει το κράτος, κοστίζει 25.000 ευρώ.

Σας παρακαλούμε πολύ και προσευχόμαστε να βρεθεί ένας δωρητής από εσάς που θα καλύψει αυτό το ποσό. Με αυτό το έργο καταλαβαίνετε πόση αξία θα πάρει η ενορία της Αγίας Άννας, η οποία σιγά-σιγά θα εξελιχθεί σε ιεραποστολικό κέντρο που θα βοηθάει στην ψυχή και στο σώμα εκατοντάδες γηγενείς.

Περιμένουμε με ανυπομονησία νέα σας. Σας στέλνουμε την αγάπη μας και ζητούμε τις προσευχές σας.

Μέ αγάπη Χριστού

π. Ερμόλαος Ιατρού

( http://www.iersyn.gr/letters.html#km )

Στείλτε την αγάπη σας στο ιεραποστολικό κλιμάκιο του Μαλάουι μέσω του Ιεραποστολικού Συνδέσμου Άγιος Κοσμάς ο Αιτωλός Θεσσαλονίκης. Πληροφορίες ΕΔΩ και ΕΔΩ.

Ευχόμαστε και προσευχόμαστε να ευλογήσει ο Θεός τον νέο Μητροπολίτη Ζάμπιας και Μαλάουι και να του χαρίσει πλούσιες πνευματικές και ιεραποστολικές ευλογίες.

Nature and Animal Conservation

 

     Preserving species and their habitats is important for ecosystems to self-sustain themselves. Yet, the pressures to destroy habitat for logging, illegal hunting, and other challenges are making conservation a struggle.

Visit : http://www.globalissues.org/article/1…

 What is Biodiversity ?

 

    The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth.

   

    Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to recognize this as being integral to any approach. Almost all cultures have in some way or form recognized the importance that nature, and its biological diversity has had upon them and the need to maintain it. Yet, power, greed and politics have affected the precarious balance.

Does it really matter if there arent so many species?

Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.

For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.

And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife.

Who Cares?

  Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.

And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife.

Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions

It is feared that human activity is causing massive extinctions. From various animal species, forests and the ecosystems that forests support, marine life. The costs associated with deteriorating or vanishing ecosystems will be high. However, sustainable development and consumption would help avert ecological problems.

 

  

November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The white ribbon has become the symbol for the day.

Click on the picture to join the Community

Malawi Luxuslodge Safari wird Ihnen angeboten von African Dream Tour, Ihrem Individualreiseveranstalter für Malawi.

Wir möchten Ihnen einige wunderschöne Häuser in Malawi vorstellen und mit dem Huntingdon House beginnen.

http://www.ulendo.net/lodges/lodges.php?lodge=1239890090

Malawi Luxuslodge Safari wird Ihnen angeboten von African Dream Tour, Ihrem Individualreiseveranstalter für Malawi.

Buchung & Beratung & Planung nicole@african-dream-tours.de

I just discovered this delightfully-entertaining, half-hour episode comedy series about a diverse group of Muslims, set in a small Canadian town on on the prairie.  The 20-minute video above is the first episode.

The diverse group of Muslims in the town have the same disagreements among themselves that different groups of Muslims have in their own home countries, or even that different Muslim countries have with each other (between conservative and liberal views of Islam)–but all in an entertaining way.  Of course everyone in the town misunderstands things, in the same ways people misunderstand in real life.

Try this first video.  It’s a very cleverly done Canadian sitcom, filmed in Toronto, Ontario, and Indian Head, Saskatchewan.   The first episode (above) was filmed in Regina.  Little Mosque is the most popular sitcom in Canada and has been syndicated in France, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Turkey, Israel, the West Bank, and African countries.  It is light-hearted, and family-oriented.  Expats who have lived in Muslim countries will especially enjoy this humorous series!

Links to all Little Mosque on the Prairie episodes (Seasons 1 – 4) can be viewed HERE (scroll down the page).   The links are free.

OK. This is quite strange. I should be writing my millionth post at this stage but i’m just starting to blog. I’ve known about this stuff for a very long time but i’m still here. Well, not quite. I have blogged at Malawi Today before and i am now blogging at Zimbabwe in Pictures. Why Malawi and Zimbabwe? Well, I am a ZimLawian so that’s why.

Anyway, i am here now so let’s do this. Check me out also on Twitter @LeviKabwato

Amazon's Global Kindle Reader

I heard that Amazon now has a global version of Kindle. I was disappointed to find this morning that the new version still will not work in my country.

Since I’ve wanted one for some time, but have been waiting until they got a version that would work in my country, I checked out their website this morning, only to be disappointed again. Apparently the new global version will only work in SOME countries.

In case you are thinking of purchasing the new Global Kindle for a Christmas gift this year, since the new version will only work in SOME countries, I thought it would be helpful to most expats to have a complete list of which countries it will, or will not work in.

STARRED (*) countries marked below indicate that Kindle needs to be ordered from a SPECIAL PAGE on the Amazon site.

The Global Kindle version DOES work in (as of Dec. 2009):

Aland Islands, Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Australia*, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Boznia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liberia, Leichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldovia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozembique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Réunion, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands – British, Virgin Islands – U.S., Wallis and Futuna, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The Global Kindle version does NOT work in (as of Dec. 2009):

Afghanistan, Algeria, Antarctica, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Chad, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, French Southern Territories, Gambia, Guinea, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea – Democratic People’s Republic of, Korea – Republic of, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco (including the Western Sahara), New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Pitcairn, Qatar, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands, Sudan, Svalbard and Jan Mayan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tokelau, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

From Monday, 23^rd November  to Sunday 29^th November, 2009 Trans World Radio (TWR) Malawi FM commemorates Radio Week. The purpose of this special week is to raise public awareness of TWR work in order to mobilize increased support in the areas of prayer, finance and practical involvement.

The theme for the week is Take Responsibility, TWR belongs to you.

Chichewa Theme: Senzani Udindo Wanu, Trans World Radio ndi Yanu

Several activities have been lined up for this week: These include:

• Special Radio Programs throughout the week.
• Listeners’ opportunity to visit TWR premises in Lilongwe and be briefed on the  work of TWR.
• Radio Sunday: Church commemorations of TWR work on Sunday, 29^th Nov. 2009.
• Visit to TWR Studios in Lilongwe by the Minister of Information and Civic Education.

How can you be involved in Radio Week?

1. Prayer for TWR Work in Malawi

• Watch out for Radio Week Prayer Point  in the morning from Monday to Sunday. This is a five-minute slot which will feature praise and prayer request for the Day.
• A Chichewa Prayer Point called Nthawi Yapemphero will be featured at –pm.
• Listeners  can arrange their own prayer group to meet and pray daily for the work of TWR guided by these prayer requests.

1. Giving

• Trans World Radio Malawi is a local ministry and has to raise most of its finances locally.  We need resources for a number of needs like production of programs, maintenance of our transmitters, administration costs and many more.

1. Involvement:

If you have any special skill you want to donate to TWR please contact us.

For more details, contact Trans World Radio on 0888744441. You can send your text message to 0888500222 or 01756642. You can also send an e-mail to radio@twrmw.org.

1. 1. Who owns Trans World Radio?

No one specifically owns Trans World Radio (TWR). This is a non-profit missionary radio network aimed at reaching people through the preaching and teaching God’s Word. At global, regional and national level, there are boards that that run Trans World Radio.

TWR was founded in 1954 by an American evangelist and missionary Dr Paul Freed whose heart was intent on reaching people of North Africa. So Trans World Radio started work in Africa. In 1974, it started shortwave transmission from Swaziland and TWR Malawi opened an office 1985.

1. 2. How do you get you the money? How Can I give my financial support? What is the cost of airing one programme?

Trans World Radio gets money primarily through sale of airtime to churches, people and institutions. There are also many committed people who either give regularly or make a one-time major contribution to the cause of Trans World Radio. On a small scale, TWR Malawi also gets some money though airing commercials (adverts).

Depending on the length of the programme, the cost of airing ranges from K8, 000 (approx 55 US Dollars) for a ten minute programme to K40, 000 (approx 275 US Dollars) for a 60-minute long programme. One can deposit the money into a TWR account on the following details:

1. 3. Does Trans World Radio recruit people from any church? Are all people there pastors?

TWR is non-denominational hence it recruits people from different church backgrounds.  The members of staff have to subscribe to the historical statement of faith.

Not everyone at TWR is an ordained minister of the Word of God or a pastor. There are many members of staff who are the laity in their respective churches.

1. 4. How can I be involved?

Everyone can be involved in TWR through praying for the radio work, giving towards the running of the radio as well volunteering the expertise and time.  Services can be in programming, technical, administrative, audience relations and organisational management and leadership. One can express their interest in writing to the National Director, Trans World Radio, P.O. Box 52, LILONGWE, 265 MALAWI or by email to radio@twrmw.org

1. 5. Do you accept adverts, commercials?

Trans World Radio Malawi does accept commercials from a cross section of advertisers. These adverts are paid for the clients and have to be about anything that does not seem to promote evil.

1. 6. You cover the whole world?

Trans World Radio has transmitting stations throughout the world via shortwave, the internet, satellite and medium wave. However local stations in most of Africa broadcast on FM like Trans World Radio Malawi with some programmes being received from the main play-out centres like Johannesburg and Swaziland.

In Malawi is heard loud and clear on nine FM transmission points covering all the country and surrounding areas of Mozambique but with an exception of Chitipa and Karonga. Its transmitters are in Thyolo, Blantyre, Zomba, Mangochi, Dedza, Lilongwe, Mzimba, Ntchisi and Dowa with a potential listenership of about 6 million.

1. 7. Do you have a website?

There is a regional website (www.twrafrica.org) under which Trans World Radio Malawi operates. However a desire to have its own in Malawi is yet to be realised.

1. 8. How can I get copies of the message I just heard?

It is possible to get copies of some message. However a proper plan is still being developed so that this better serves all requests. Currently the person requesting may have to give details of the messages and contribute a cd or so as well as wait for a while. There are also some messages where it is not possible for TWR Malawi to release copies because the owners of the programmes only expect people to listen to it on radio and not get copies.

1. 9. Where is your headquarters?

The international headquarters for Trans World Radio is Cary, North Carolina in the US and the regional heaquarters in Africa is Kempton Park, Johannesburg in South Africa. In Malawi it is housed in Area 3, Barron Avenue (Pl0t Area 3/513) off Likuni Road, Lilongwe. It has own property built in 1989.

10. Where are the pioneers like Mr Pearson Chunga, Mr Chombo, etc?

Mr Pearson Chunga is in Swaziland. Just like many others who have gone before, he does not work with Trans World Radio. Mr Maundi Chombo is in South Africa.

11. How do you get the preachers and teachers of God’s Word to be on air?

Some just approach Trans World Radio on their own, others respond to the radio appeals for such speakers. There are a few however that are approached to contribute on a specific topic or theme.

12. What are your major challenges?

The running costs are the most challenging part of Trans World Radio Malawi. Each month, the organisation has to pay K28, 000 (almost 200 US Dollars) per transmitting site where TWR co-sites with Malawi Telecommunications Limited. Then there are also annual fees per site that have to be paid to the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA). Of course capital equipment is very costly (i.e. transmitters, computers, etc)

Being a busy radio station, there is need for more vehicles and personnel. It is not strange to see a producer or presenter work for ten hours and more Monday to Sunday.

13. Is there anything special about Trans World Radio?

Yes. Being non-denominational and wholistic in its approach to programming, Trans World Radio Malawi provides a unique platform to reach people in Malawi and beyond without denominational and other biases.

You may wish to know TWR-Malawi is the second longest established radio institution in Malawi apart from Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). Before 2000, it operated only on shortwave but has since then being broadcasting on both shortwave and FM.

Trans World Radio programming is among the best in Malawi providing a quality product in a professional manner wholistically meeting the various needs of a Malawian.

14. Do you also give out Bibles?

Sometimes TWR does give out Bibles. However these are Bibles that may have been donated to TWR by people who want the organisation to send to those who don’t have. The station does receive lots of requests for Bibles.

15. Do you have news bulletins

Yes TWR runs news and Nkhani bulletins daily.

16. Do you also record music?

TWR Malawi used to record music in its studios at Area 3 in Lilongwe. These were mostly choirs in years before 2000. Due to several developments in the music industry in Malawi, TWR stopped recording the music. However you may be pleased to note that TWR has a unique library of music only available at TWR in Malawi. Some of this is what was also recorded during church or field visits in different parts of Malawi and Zambia.

17. How come we hear lots of girls (female voices) on airs

While it is true that relatively we have more female presenters and continuity announcers, the bulk of the content is delivered by males hence this design to balance-up.

18. How can meet my favourite teacher and presenter?

One can easily meet some of the presenters when he or she visits the studio or indeed the same tour the places where the listener is. Note however that it may not be possible at all to meet some of your favourite speakers because of the geographical distance between Malawi and where they live.

19. Do you pay your preachers and teachers on air?

Most of the teachers of God’s Word on TWR do so on voluntary basis. However there are some who are engaged to undertake certain assignments and such are paid depending on the nature of the contract. You may also wish to know that there are others who come in through certain programmes that are run by their won churches of institutions. Such are therefore taken care of by the programme sponsoring churches or organisations.

20. How many programmes do you have?

By the end of each 24 hours, TWR Malawi will have broadcast an average of 50 separate radio programmes. TWR Malawi boasts of being one of the radio stations offering a big menu of God’s Word through various formats. These include magazine, musical, journalistic, news, drama, meeting the needs of children, youths, young adults and adults. Depending on the design, TWR programmes are designed to meet the needs of a cross section of people in their specific environment.

Florence Mhango and her daughter Tionge (10), known to her friends and family as Precious, were detained this week when they went to sign at the Home Office. They have been given removal directions for a flight to Malawi from Heathrow at 19.00 on Monday 23rd November.

Florence and Precious moved to the UK in 2003 with Florence’s husband – Precious’ father. Florence left her husband in 2006 after suffering years of domestic violence and abuse. Florence is terrified of returning to Malawi because of what her husband and his family may do to her and her daughter. Florence’s mother has already been threatened by her husband and his family and if she is returned there is a real danger that Florence and Precious will face harassment and violence.

Precious will also be at risk of Female Genital Mutilation if she returns to Malawi.

Florence is active in her local church and she and Precious are important members of the Cranhill community in Glasgow. The UKBA have said that Precious would be able to adjust to living in Malawi despite that fact she has lived here since the age of 4 and doesn’t speak Chichewa, the native language of Malawi.

Florence’s friends and supporters in Scotland are shocked by the UKBA’s attempt to forcibly remove them from their home in Glasgow. We are calling for them to be returned to live in peace in Glasgow where they belong.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

Please fax Kenyan Airways to tell them you do not want them to participate in deportation flights and that you want Florence and Tionge Mhango to stay in Glasgow where they belong. Please quote flight number KQ101, Heathrow to Malawi on Monday 23rd November at 19:00. Download model letter.

Kenyan Airlines: World Business Centre 3, Heathrow Airport, Hounslow, Middlesex, TW62TA

Tel : +44 20 82831800

Fax: +44 020 8283 1880

Also contact Alan Johnson, Home Secretary, asking him to exercise his discretionary powers to stop the flight and release Florence and Tionge from detention. Download model letter. If you are writing your own letter or email, please include their Home Office Reference number: M1369020.

Sources for this message:

UNITY

ANSU UK – Download more info in ANSU UK pdf

Fax: + 44 (0)20 7219 5856 Phone: +44 (0)20 7035 4848 or 0870 606 7766

By Email : johnsona@parliament.uk

Or: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

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In the news: MSP makes plea over asylum family’s Dungavel detention (BBC news)

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I’ve got just over two weeks to go and I’m going to continue the list theme with some reflections on my time in Malawi. Firstly, top 5 things I’m going to miss about Malawi:

• New unusual experiences every day, whether it’s visiting a high security prison or watching Taggart through a mosquito net
• Having Dan do all my cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing, tailoring
• The birds in my garden in the morning and the sound of nothing but crickets at night (no bin lorries or buses thundering past!)
• Fresh fruit every day
• My fingers not falling off when I cycle to work in the morning

Secondly, top 5 things I’m not going to miss about Malawi:

• The steam powered internet
• Little biting insects
• Coke and chips almost every day
• The amount of time it takes to get anything done
• Reading by candlelight

And finally, top 5 things I’m looking forward to having back in my life:

• Ruth
• Regular electricity
• Having an overwhelming range of places and cultural events to go to
• Comfort foods – haggis, rowies, irn bru, wispas, cheese & oaties, Belgian beer etc. (I know that’s cheating!)
• Pub quizzes