A Few of Many Fond Ukrainian Memories

(Picture-in a Ukrainian Hot Tub with friends Ruslan and Roman) During my four years in Ukraine there were many serious moments, much work, but also many warm and happy moments.  In this post I would like to share a few of those warm, some funny moments that will remain with me for ever.  

Election Observing

(Picture-with Election Partner Lorena) My work in Ukraine has led to  opportunities to participate in election observation missions in that country.  The first picture is with my observation partner Lorena Fernandez Alvarez who lives in Spain.  This was during the 2014 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Presidential election mission. 

Working and living in The Gambia

(Picture-with some of my Gambian Family) It has my good fortune to have spent time in The Gambia, first in 2011 when I spent the year there as a United Nations Volunteer working with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs developing a National Economic Plan called the Program for Accelerated Growth and Employment (The […]

Legality without morality

The world today worships the rule of law.  Everyone espouses it as a necessity for democratic governance and civilized society.  Yet, laws without a moral foundation are but words on paper and meaningless jargon to people suffering from those who interpret their actions based on such laws. 

A world of dislocation

Recent statistics from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees relating to the dislocation of people gives one cause to ponder.  What kind of world have we created?  What have we done to our somewhat developed and civilized society?

Ultimately a societal failing

(Picture of a young beggar in India) The financial gap between the haves and have-nots of society is a subject of much interest.  But, there are numerous gaps between the rich and the poor, which transcends many areas of their lives.  What is transpiring in the world today is genuinely a societal failing. There is […]

Shattering Youthful Dreams

If one could look at time through a wide angle lens the visible parallels between this period and that of the 1930s would be startling. In fact, analysis of economic charts shows almost a mirror image of the economy now and then.  An analysis of political activity might be very similar. Economic disparity and political […]

The Year that Twilight Enveloped the World

This appears the year that will never end as turmoil and discord continue to engulf the world.  There is no doubt that the world in entering into a new era and a new world order is emerging. In Canada it has been a year when corruption and political manipulation have taken centre stage.  There has […]

Self Sufficiency – the big lie

(Picture-Jatta-Earning a living in The Gambia is not easy) Much of the focus of the developed world and its austerity drive is on “self sufficiency”.  The belief is that if you isolate people from social support they somehow will become self sufficient.