Donkey business

Don’t get me wrong I like donkeys.  They’re very gentle creatures who contribute so much to the economies in the parts of the world in which I work.  There are great stories about donkey heroes and one even has achieved legendary status having carried the world’s greatest historical figure in the last hours before his death in Jerusalem 2000 years ago.  Sadly in many countries they are often abused and overloaded as the following picture shows. 

So believe me I DO like donkeys.  But when I visited the donkey sanctuary in Devon last week whilst on holiday with my family, I confess to feeling rather annoyed.  This charity, which does great work at providing “care, protection and/or permanent security anywhere in the world for donkeys and mules”, received £13 million last year from donations - more than the Samaritans, Age Concern and Mencap combined.  At a time when most charities are struggling financially it seems to me bizarre, obscene in fact, that we give more to animal charities than children’s charities or helping the elderly.  Is this what the Charities Aid Foundation means when it talks about “the eccentric nature of British philanthropy”? Could we have possibly got our priorities wrong.

Posted by jonhargreaves Posted in: Jon's Journeys Comments Off June 2008

Blogging in Bangalore

I first came to Bangalore in 1989.   Even then I remember it being described as “the fastest growing city in Asia.”  I don’t know who first made that statement or what criteria they used as a measure, but India’s third most populous city has certainly changed beyond recognition in the last 19 years that I’ve been coming.  Not surprising really as it’s known as the Silicone valley of India due to its pre-emnient position as the leading contributor to India’s rapidly expanding IT industry.  It is also home to the aerospace and defence industries, not to mention the numerous call centres which service companies in Europe, Australia and the United States.  Sadly all this growth has its down side.     Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by jonhargreaves Posted in: Jon's Journeys Comments Off May 2008

Community Radio Workshop Nepal

Twelve highly motivated Nepalis from different parts of the country have just completed a two-week forray into the wonderful world of community radio.  For most, this was the first time they’d laid their hands on a computer let alone made a radio programme.  Yet by the end of the workshop, all of them had successfully scripted, interviewed, recorded and edited their first radio programmes which were then broadcast via a Feba Chrysolite “suitcase studio”. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by jonhargreaves Posted in: Jon's Journeys 1 Comment » May 2008