Foreign Area Officer (FAO) Reading list updated!

Foreign Area Officer (FAO) Reading list updated!

I have updated my reading list page: http://fuuo.blogspot.com/p/the-fao-africa-book-list.html


Please let me know if you have suggestions that I should add.  My list is still very weak on South American and Europe. 

I am also happy to link to any reviews you might have for any of these books. 

International Relations through a 20mm lens

As a photography enthusiast, I found Wide Aperture's latest blog post to be a phenomenal one (Wide Aperture is a photography subset of the online news magazine Current Intelligence).  The article doesn't directly pertain to Africa but it does speak to the power of the captured image to offer commentary and insight into a country and its issues.  Photographs can offer texture and context to circumstances that are difficult to address with the written word.  In the article the editors address this idea of photographic texture and context in Hannes Opelz's latest work, "The Dream of Occupation", a photo essay about the West Bank. 

What are your favorites blogs and websites and photography in Africa?

LINKS:
http://www.currentintelligence.net/wideaperture/2011/7/14/dreams-of-occupation.html

http://www.20mm.ch/the_dream_of_occupation/

http://www.currentintelligence.net/wideaperture

Starvation, Births, Diamonds and How to Pack Like a Spy: FUUO's recommended daily dosage

Starvation, Births, Diamonds and How to Pack Like a Spy: FUUO's recommended daily dosage

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/features/reading-lists  Some of these are a bit old (2009) but there are some more recent ones as well.  Regardless of the date, they are a good jumping off point for a wide range of topics and countries.  Sadly, there is not a specific Africa one.  HOWEVER, I have an extensive one here on this blog:  http://fuuo.blogspot.com/p/foreign-area-officer-fao-book-list.html

How to Travel Safely - Tips from a Former Agent.  This is a great little video that highlighted a couple of things I don't always think about when traveling abroad.  Worth the 5 minutes out of your day.  Also, if you are a member of FAOWeb you can access all of STRATFOR's material for free!

http://www.stratfor.com/content/video-travel-safe?utm_source=freelist-f&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20110714&utm_term=sweekly&utm_content=bluebox&elq=83d7ea8073534425807404526f892de7>

Africa: Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Hearing on Somalia - Assessing the Consequences of the Failed State of Somalia http://www.state.gov/g/prm/rls/rmks/2011/168614.htm

Sudan Updates: Two New Sudans: A Roadmap Forward http://www.state.gov/s/sudan/rem/2011/168657.htm

Pentagon Protesters and Sorcerers

NOTE:  For those who don't know,  every Monday morning the Pentagon allows only the biggest idiots best and brightest dissenters to post up on the grassy area by the Metro entrance escalators and display their signs. 

It's been a busy week and it's Friday afternoon (and the Harry Potter series finale comes out this weekend)so I will leave you with two great DC "bulletins" that I saw recently!

For the Metro Ride Home: More Southern Sudans, Cellphone Civil Wars and Stetsons in Africa

Now here would be a great app: one that allows me to download a series of articles to my phone (or IPAD..one day) to read on my metro ride home (the majority of that ride I don't have an internet connection). 

Here are the articles I would read today (and yes, they are biased towards The Atlantic Monthly...sue me; it's just about my favorite magazine, aside from Cooks Illustrated--and don't snicker until you've read CI--if you are a clueless guy whose always wondered why his scrambled eggs or boneless skinless chicken breasts are inedible, CI will be an epiphany!).

This article is certainly a controversial one but definitely contains some ideas that merit debate and discussion.  The author also has a book on the FUUO Book List.  After South Sudan: The Case to Keep Dividing Africa  by G. Pascal Zachary. 

 

This article is sure to make you feel a twinge of guilt...especially if you are reading it on your smartphone.  I also learned that the mineral 'tungsten' is what makes my cell phone vibrate...who knew!  Is Your Cell Phone Fueling Civil War in Congo? by Erin Banco.  And there's no need to put your cellphone down just yet--the criminals/murderers/thugs/rapists are still going to be the evil scumbags they are with or without a mineral demand signal.

An interesting historical (if biased) look at the US' role throughout the years leading up to July 9th.  Worth the read if for nothing more than the accompanying photo of President Salva Kiir rocking a Stetson with President Bush.  US Played Key Role in Southern Sudan's Long Journey to Independence by Rebecca Hamilton.

Texas In Africa is an informative and solid blog I read every day (and follow on twitter).  I came across the following two articles from his post today:

When I first read Kristof's article I thought it was an okay read.  After I read Bohnstedt's blistering rebuttal to it, I was reminded that I am a neophyte idiot still have much to learn and need to read these fluff pieces with a much more discerning eye.
An African Adventure, and a Revelation by Nicholas Kristof.

Africa's Bright Side Is Always Ignored by Andrea Bohnstedt

If you are interested in Maritime Safety and Security then Information Dissemination should be on your daily read list (it's on mine).  And I am not just saying that because he gave FUUO a shoutout in his post below: http://www.informationdissemination.net/2011/07/river-wars.html

Links:

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/07/after-south-sudan-the-case-to-keep-dividing-africa/241705/

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/07/is-your-cell-phone-fueling-civil-war-in-congo/241663/

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/07/us-played-key-role-in-southern-sudans-long-journey-to-independence/241660/

http://texasinafrica.blogspot.com/2011/07/while-we-were-out.html

http://the-star.co.ke/business/andrea-bohnstedt/31062-africas-bright-side-is-always-ignored-

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/opinion/sunday/03kristof.html?pagewanted=4&_r=2

http://www.informationdissemination.net/2011/07/river-wars.html

Ethiopia's Plan For A 'Power Hub' On The Nile

I came across this article in ACSS's excellent daily media review:

Ethiopia's Plan For A 'Power Hub' On The Nile

Ethiopia says it will build four more hydroelectric dams on the Nile river as part of a plan to become a power hub for Africa. Ethiopian power corporation manager Mihret Debebe said Wednesday the dams could produce up to 11,000 megawatts and that work will start after 2015. He says the electricity will be exported to neighboring countries. The

China's meeting with Africa Documentary--Screening here in DC?

Check out the article below (linked) and the trailer on this documentary! 

(I came across it in ACSS's excellent daily media review)

It certainly looks to be an interesting one.  When it comes to China in Africa, I am implanted firmly in the 'learn' mode so you won't see any incisive analysis from me.  For that you must check out (as I have said many a time before) Deb Brautigam's and Amb. Shinn's blogs:

http://www.chinaafricarealstory.com/

http://davidshinn.blogspot.com/

I look forward to hearing their thoughts, when and if they screen the film!


Incidentally, I have submitted a request to the company to allow me to screen the film here in DC for anyone interested!

China's meeting with Africa

Few countries capture the essence of the China-Africa relationship better than Zambia. Our film tells the story of the two countries in microcosm.

Links:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jun/30/china-zambia-relationship

http://www.blackgoldmovie.com/
http://whenchinametafrica.com/