marvelous news from malawi

When I visited Malawi in July I was struck by the hopeful/positive attitude shared by many of the people I encountered. I thought it was just my perception of things in contrast to the widespread discouragement in Haiti....but today's NYT features an article about declining global child mortality rates. It showcases Malawi's effective efforts to build a network of community health workers that reaches families in rural zones. Through these and other efforts, under 5 mortality has been halved over the last 2 decades.

I've chosen a vocation where the news is not always so good... all the more reason to share it when it is!

but is he special enough?

Although he was not named head of USAID, Paul Farmer is now the deputy special envoy to Haiti - "assisting" Bill Clinton in his special United Nations appointment focused on Haiti. Exactly what that role is, no one can say...probably not even the envoys themselves. It's easy to be cynical and chalk this up as another bureaucratically driven attempt to make it look like something is being done about a situation (Haiti) that no one has any real clue about what to do about. But I've gotten really tired of being cynical - so I think I might try being hopeful instead...not naive, but a a little hopeful that Paul Farmer, someone who has done a lot of good for lots of people in Haiti and other corners of the world (not that I or anyone else always agrees with how it is done), can manage to facilitate a little more good with this extra title after his name.

Peru - buen provecho

Peru - making music

Peru - urban planning