Tanzania business

Please check out the cool stuff happening in Tanzania!

The dar es Salaam Stock Exchange updated it rules .

I heard about his when I was there last summer.
Interesting developments!  

Achebe

Here is a link to an article honoring this great Nigerian, writer and human.

Happy St. Patrick's Day internet!!

Have a beer!

Enjoy.

Zimbabwe draft Cosntitution and the SADC Tribunal

There is an excellent website that follows Zimbabwe land policy.

The most recent article on the website discusses how the new draft Constitution in
Zimbabwe has responded to the SADC Tribunal ruling regarding land measures by including in
the Constitution language that directly addresses criticisms of the land acquisition policies of the government.

Some detail of interest discussed in the paper:

Chapter 16 Section 72 eliminates rights important to the rule of law, respect for international law,
right to notice or appeal when land is acquired.  

Section 56(5) grants persons the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of color unless it is
'fair, reasonable and justifiable in a democratic society.'

Women...maybe in binders..I can't tell.

Take a look at this excellent post about Women in Academics.

Happy 2013 and no Fiscal Cliff !!!

If these US lawyers in Congress were in any of my classes, asking for an extension on homework and handing things in at the last minute, I would FAIL them all. How very irresponsible of the US Government to put all of us through this drama over the potential cliff, when their average salary is $174,000   with benefits. President Obama is as bad as all of them lacking leadership skills and still campaigning instead of getting the work done.

I do not understand why people were not protesting outside the White House over THIS fiscal crisis. Why are Americans so complacent? As a good friend of mine used to say about Zimbabwe, people are just not unhappy enough to revolt.

We are all just happy enough to sit and watch Congress politicize our lives without complaining at all. We have it just good enough to be sheep.

On the continent of Africa, the Egyptian currency is struggling but the EGX seems to be holding steady. I heard the Prime Minister Hisham Qandil speak to the ASEA conference attendees in Cairo about the possibility of Egypt-very hopeful. Currently, he will be resuming talks with the IMF regarding a loan to help the economy. Here in the states we are so far removed from so many important places that we cannot understand the contrast and linkage between protests, voting and progress. It will be fascinating to watch Egypt this year. I really wish that I had opened a trading account while I was there!!    

I have a good deal of hope for 2013.

Chevron and the Activist

Chevron was recently involved in a lawsuit in Ecuador. An excellent blog explains many of the details of the suit. Chevron lost and the court in Ecuador awarded the plaintiffs $18 billion USD.  There environmental claims and strange goings on in a far away court. What interests me is the involvement of a Shareholder Activist, Trillium Asset Management. This investor has great interest in encouraging Chevron to care more about sustainable issues like the environment. Chevron recently subpoenaed Trillium for another suit in the US involving a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) claim.

Chevron seems to want information from the shareholder Trillium involving its actions to pressure Chevron to  settle the claim in Ecuador rather than going to trial. This seems straight forward enough.

What I find interesting is the tone of both the blog (see link above) and a December 9th New York Times article describing the activities of Chevron as muscling Trillium rather than seeking truth and Trillium seeking only the best for shareholders. Trillium has $1 billion under management. These are big boys playing big boy games all around.    

The tone of most of what I have read is that Chevron is guilty and Trillium, because it is seeking matters of sustainability, is lacks guile. How can one know the truth? I just think at least the media should reserve judgment. once the sustainable investor gets as large as Trillium, it is ok to suspect everyone of having an agenda.